← The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Bill Simmons Podcast
A Quick NBA Power Poll, Minny’s QB Mess, Josh vs. Pat, and Week 9 Picks With Joe House and Peter Schrager
01:52:54
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- [00:00]
A
This episode is brought to you by Apple. Before we had the Bill Simmons podcast, we had the BS Report and it was just an idea. It began with a mic and my Mac and the conviction to take a chance on myself. It was like, whoa, I can just record conversations with my friends and send them out into the world and we'll just get it going. And then when I was on my own in 2015, same thing. Tried to figure out, could I record this in the. In the back of my house? How many producers do I need? Do I just need one? How do I get this out? What happens to it? Do I send it out? Is it a file? Is it an RSS feed? You just kind of figure it out as you go along and you watch it grow and it's pretty great. I mean, I think like over 10 years ago, October 1, 2015 was the first episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast. And since then we have the ringer. We have all these podcasts, all these people. And it all started with an idea. Once upon a time, no matter what you have an idea for, whether it's creating your own bestselling book, pursuing your passions and turning them into a media network, or making that next box office record breaking sports film, go for it. You just need to get started. Your great ideas start on Mac. Find out more on apple.com Mac the Bill Simmons podcast is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. We are also brought to you by the Ringer Podcast network where I put up a new rewatchables on Monday. That was super fun. We did Halloween too, because it's Halloween. This is my favorite week of the year. Me, Van Laith and Chris Ryan. Lot of jokes. Halloween 2, once scary, now more of a horror comedy. And we had a lot of laughs. So you can go check that out next week. Monday we're gonna have a celebrity guest. And we are also, I'll tell you the movie we're doing, Truman show, which is, which is just an awesome, awesome, awesome movie. And had a lot of fun talking about it. So you have the whole weekend to watch the Truman Show. I call it Truman show, but it is the Truman Show. Anyway, that's all coming up. No prestige TV anymore for me because task is done. I guess I'm just waiting for the next show. It's not going to be the morning show, I'll tell you that much. Wow, I can't believe the morning show. The morning show. Not a horror, not a comedy. I don't know what it is. I don't know what's going on with that show, but I watched every episode. I do like the Murdoch show on Hulu. I've been watching that one. That one's pretty solid. Although I do feel like everybody's worried about AI taking over Hollywood. And yet all of these true crime shows start with there's some sort of murder that happened and the person's either covered in blood or you see body and then it goes backwards three years. Like don't complain about AI but then start every true crime series the exact same way. I do like that show though. And I like Jason Clark. He's in some other show on Apple that seemed pretty interesting too. But we are back into everything is a B plus or worse World Series. Still recovering from game three. I know I talked about that on Tuesday and apparently the Dodgers are recovering too because they lost game four, Game five and and now Toronto has it all in their hands. Could this happen to the Dodgers again where they they win the 18 inning game and then it derails them for the rest of a World Series. Riveting, riveting Sports weekend ahead. We got football, got the World Series. The NBA is in full swing. I've already run the ran a gamut of emotions with the Celtics season. We were 0 and 3. I was convinced we were win 18 games. Now we're 2 and 3. Josh Minot is stepping up and starting to wonder if we could be a playing team again. Austin Reeves is an MVP favorite lot going on. Very fun. We're going to talk basketball at the very top of the podcast with Joe House because I'm going to talk about the one team I'm concerned about and then we're going to do a nine day power poll. And then old friend Peter Schrager joined us. We did Ringer 107 picks but we used shrags to just talk about all the teams as we did the picks. Then we settled on our favorite ones. That's all coming up. First, a break and our friends from Pearl Channel. This is the Bill Simmons podcast presented by FanDuel. If you're betting on the NFL, come on, FanDuel is the place to do it. They've got everything. Same game parlays, quick bets for when you want to jump in. Live your way so you can set your own lines on just about anything. The app's fast, it's easy to use, and best of all, when you win, you get paid instantly. I've been in Boston, Massachusetts recently. Guess what I did use FanDuel super fun. Download the FanDuel app or go to fando.com BS to get started, must be 21 plus President select states 18 plus in D.C. kentucky and Wyoming. GAM problem. Call win 800 gambler visit rg-help.com call 888-78-9777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut. All right, Thursday afternoon, Joe House is here. We're talking some basketball at the top and then we're gonna do football with our old friend Peter, Peter Schrager. We're gonna do some picks with them too, House. We're 500 now in our picks. We clawed back to respectability. I'm super excited about that. Super excited about this NBA season. I sent you a power poll. But before we go through it because we did it last week, I had to get time.
- [05:36]
B
Me too.
- [05:37]
A
There's an OH team through nine days and I and we haven't discussed this. I wanted to see if you had these same OH team.
- [05:49]
B
There's no question about it. We are in lockstep. Bill Simmons, I'm afraid we both took the over for this team. I'm pretty sure we did. It's a thousand percent. The New Orleans Pelicans. What the fuck is going on with the West Coast?
- [06:04]
A
Oh, I had an east Coast. Oh, yeah, there's a west Coast.
- [06:07]
B
Oh, I can't believe we're not in lockstep.
- [06:10]
A
No, New Orleans is an OH too. But I mean that, you know, they're, they're already having like injury stuff and all kinds of things.
- [06:16]
B
They competed in their first two games and then just got completely blown out. Rolled.
- [06:21]
A
Yeah. Well, the good news is they have their first round pick too soon. Listen, we knew with the west one of those that there was going to be one team that was probably going to be worse than we thought. But we just knew just by law there has to be 4 bad to mediocre teams. You can't have everybody be good. They're over. Under, I think was 30 and a half. We went over with that. I wasn't thinking of that team. I was thinking of the Orlando Magic.
- [06:48]
B
Okay, well, sure. I mean every. That's everybody's. Oh, that's the oh de jour. Is the Orlando Magic watching them give.
- [06:55]
A
Up the 1:36 to Philly. Talked about it with legs a little bit the other day, but then doing the deep dive, reading some stuff and there's already some stuff with the coach. What's going on here? The defense piece with them where like basically everything goes on Suggs, it's like, oh, you have two scores. Well, we're out of options. We only have one guy to guard everybody. I guess Jonathan Isaac's just not a guy anymore. I finally remember the two years ago when he looked like he was like 1965 Bill Russell.
- [07:30]
B
His whole career will come down to like he was just 15% of a guy. Never got to 20% of a guy. Even just 15% of a guy.
- [07:37]
A
But the nerds started turning on Paolo this week, including our own Kurt Goldsberry on Zach's pod when he was talking about how he was just concerned with some of the advanced stats. And then all week there's been stuff and there's been stuff.
- [07:53]
B
Does Free give you permission to call him a nerd?
- [07:55]
A
Well, I mean, he's an OG at the Sloan conference. That gives him nerd status. I'd like to consider myself a nerd.
- [08:02]
B
Great.
- [08:03]
A
If you can go to Sloan conference and hang with the nerds, you're a nerd. But yeah, there's some concerning Palo stuff. There is some weird defense stuff. And then there's that trade where they gave up all their first round picks and went all. In a trade that I fully supported. But have you watched them yet?
- [08:21]
B
Oh, yes. In fact, I was live tweeting during. Not tweeting, I'm sorry, live texting. Yes, during that Sixers game. Because it was so eye opening to me on both sides of the ball. On the one hand, I wasn't prepared for the speed that Philadelphia's backcourt plays at and the poise of those two guys. But on the other side of it, you know, I just kept smacking my head. It's like, this can't be just Suggs out on the perimeter. It can't be that and it can't be the case. And our boy Verno, you put in the thread this morning, validated texting with.
- [09:03]
A
Him about the, the Memphis and a whole bunch of things. And then Orlando validated that.
- [09:09]
B
It, it, it can't be the case that. Can. Tavius Caldwell Pope was the glue for that. For that defense. Like he was the, the guy for, for that Orlando defense. I'm. I don't. It doesn't make sense because he wasn't there the year before.
- [09:24]
A
Yeah, well, it's early. They're trying to incorporate Bain. The bench looks, you know, I mean, yesterday the bench had better stats just because they were getting blown out by Detroit, but Detroit kind of worked them. The shooting is still, is still, you know, like Yesterday they were 12 for 31 from 3. That's like a great day for Orlando. There's also Every year in the NBA, there's a team that's a younger team on the rise that gets a lot of smoke and just gets pushed up to the next level without having done anything yet. And I think that might have happened here. I'm not counting them out just because I think the east is just super duper weird. But we're going to go over the basketball. The, the. The little power poll. I did. And one of the things that jumped out to me was there was like five east teams that are all the same team. When you're watching Everybody on the TVs, it's like these guys would all. If they were in a tournament, they would all just go four and four against which I just wasn't expecting Orlando to be in that group. Right. Like you watch Orlando in Chicago or Orlando and Detroit or Orlando and Philly, whoever. It just seems like an even matchup. And they were supposed to be like a fringe contender.
- [10:36]
B
Yeah. Because their win total projection was like 51 games and that had them at the top of the east behind only the Knicks and the Cavs. And we expressed skepticism properly, I think on the Preview show with Mr. Zach Lowe. Yeah, I think we all. Oh, no, we didn't all go under one of us.
- [10:58]
A
I think Zach had a.
- [10:59]
B
One of us. Zach.
- [11:00]
A
Zach had a lock over.
- [11:02]
B
I didn't mean to call that out. He did.
- [11:04]
A
You did. You're throwing shots at Zach. He's then intentional.
- [11:07]
B
That was unintentional.
- [11:09]
A
Zach went over 50. 50 and a half lock.
- [11:12]
B
Woof.
- [11:13]
A
I. I told you, I texted you. I've cashed in one of my locks already. Even nine days in the season. I'm cashing in Brooklyn under 19 and a half. I'm just. That is a win. I'm not using pencil. That's a pen. That is one of the worst teams we've had in the league in some time. I asked Legra the other day whether, you know that I think the worst team other than the 16 Sixers, which went maybe 10 and 72, 11 and 71, something like that, was the. This Mavericks team from 92 or 93. I think that Brooklyn team has a real chance. But guess who's having a great time. Michael Porter. He's like, this is awesome. ISO clear out.
- [11:52]
B
I think Brooklyn suits him. I think he's going to be able to pursue his interests the best.
- [11:56]
A
What was cam Thomas's game? 40.0 assists. That was my favorite. All right, let's rip through the power poll and then we'll bring in Shrigs. So still have OKC is the favorites. I narrowed it down to three contenders and I have three possible contenders. And I want to talk this out because I'm happy moving any of the possible contenders up if you want to conciliar it. But I have Denver and the Knicks and Cleveland as the three contenders. Look whatever. Cleveland lost to the Celtics last night, but Cleveland doesn't have their team yet. I'm not concerned at all. No, I'm a little concerned about my 56 and a half over the lock if these guys are just not coming back anytime soon. But are you cool? Those three with contenders, obviously. But then the possible contenders, Houston, Golden State and I put San Antonio.
- [12:51]
B
So we have to have San Antonio here until further notice. And I don't, I don't have any objections. Right. Like if we keep getting these games out of Wemby, the impact on the rest of that team, they are very complimentary, they are deep and you know, it is of course like we're going to hyperbolize because we're only four or five games in to the season. Like remember the Washington Wizards with Spencer Dinwiddie and Montrez Harrell five years ago started off the season eight and two and you were congratulating me on that, that that team the first 10 games things will happen. We'll see some. They could be directional. They may not be directional. But this San Antonio team at this point in time with what they're revealing to us about the possibilities, about the potential, they belong right where you have.
- [13:47]
A
I've been betting on them every game. I've been betting in Milwaukee and San Antonio every game. So San Antonio, they have an MVVP candidate. They're second in defensive rating right now, which isn't nothing. They don't have Fox or Sohan yet. So when you think about that, where it's like their only problem is going to be how do they work those guys back and still have minutes for everybody when everybody's playing well and even guys like Kelton Johnson are playing well. So I think it's a clear contender. Same for Houston because Houston still has that ass kick gear and you saw it who they play last night, Toronto, they just like they put up 139 points on Toronto. But Golden State is the one that I really vacillated on whether they're an actual contender or a possible contender. And here's why I made them possible contender. I think there's a real chance Adam Silver hates Golden State because I can't think of another explanation. When I look at the schedule, this schedule they have starting tonight, they're playing at Milwaukee, Saturday at Indiana, home Phoenix on Tuesday at Sacramento, at Denver on a Wednesday, Friday, home Indiana, at OKC on a Tuesday at San Antonio, Wednesday at San Antonio, Friday at New Orleans, Sunday. These are all games that 17 days. They have 10 games and they're basically all in different locations. That's a fuck you from. From who? From the NBA schedulers, one of the.
- [15:19]
B
Oldest teams in the league. So.
- [15:22]
A
Yes. And that's why let's. I want to see where they are in 11, 16 for that new Orleans game. Who's already hurt, who's been sitting. How fresh are we looking?
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C
How.
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A
How impactful is Kamingo? What else am I leaving out?
- [15:35]
B
No, that's it. Like, can we continue to get. The continued high performance of Moody and Pods. Like, this version of Moody and Pods was supposed to be the thing that was propelling them last year, that was going to give them. And Kaminga, it's. He's a revelation. Is he going to be satisfied? He's satisfied right now. It's a high level.
- [15:55]
A
You laughed when I threw the Sean Marion. The Sean Marion concept. Concept still sounds ridiculous.
- [16:05]
B
Respectfully. Respectfully still sounds ridiculous.
- [16:08]
A
Guarding the best guys on the other team.
- [16:10]
B
That's a good idea. He's a. He's their. Their best guy.
- [16:13]
A
Run the floor guard, the other team's best guy. That's the Sean Marion blueprint.
- [16:19]
B
Okay, that's fine. Now we have to wait. You're right, though. It's. It's been good. It's a good version of Golden State. I'm happy to have it. So more chances of high, effective staff. I'm in favor of that.
- [16:33]
A
So they. I mean, at just those 10 games, 10 different locations, but they're also at Milwaukee, at Denver, at okc, and then back to back at San Antonio. Like, those are five of the hardest road games you're going to have all season. So we'll see. That's why. That's the only reason I have them in there. But I like what I'm seeing. Like the chemistry. The Al Horford thing still hurts my feelings. Next category, the Sleeper, which I had at San Antonio, but I think they graduated from Sleeper Dome. So we put Milwaukee in there and it's just Giannis and shooting. It's what we like before the year. This is one of our locks. I think this was the only one other than Sacramento's under that the three of us agreed on as an over. It was 42 and a half. Giannis has just Been best player on the court every game he's played so far. The shooting is there. They have these sneaky dudes, man. I've liked Ryan Rollins. I liked him before the season. I like him more now. Did you have him?
- [17:34]
B
Feels like it. Feel.
- [17:35]
A
I think you did. I think you had Ryan Vortex. Yeah.
- [17:41]
B
These guys. Yep.
- [17:42]
A
Cole, Anthony Green. Cole, Anthony Kuzma was actually playing defense the other night on Towns.
- [17:50]
B
He doesn't have a choice. He wants minutes.
- [17:52]
A
Yeah.
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B
Like, it took him a whole, like, post trade. He's like, what the. What is this? This is.
- [17:59]
A
These team.
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B
These guys are trying. This Milwaukee team. It took them that long to acclimate. Right. If we're being. If we want to be Kuzma truthers.
- [18:06]
A
I don't know if you're being super friendly to Kuzma. You could say it took him a long time to acclimate.
- [18:12]
B
Took a long time to accl.
- [18:14]
A
I continue to take this team seriously. I think I had them as a five seed. I thought they could climb as high as three if they got a healthy, honest season and some other luck. They've had some guys out already, but I just like the team. I like how it's constructed and it makes sense to me when I watch it. So I have them eighth. Next group. There's four teams title is. Let's see. In March, Minnesota, Dallas Clippers, Lakers. And I saw Minnesota in person on Friday moving the Lakers up. And I'll explain why in a second moved Minnesota down from the contenders just because of the defense. Now, Edwards hasn't. He's missed the last two, but Minnesota's 25th in defensive rating right now.
- [18:58]
B
It's just impossible to take Anthony Edwards off the floor and get any kind of a read. I mean, they. They used.
- [19:04]
A
Should they be 25th ever?
- [19:07]
B
But, like, who. You know, they. They play Mike Conley. Significant minutes and he's still a good contributor. But he, like, they still. He knows how to play. He's got a good basketball iq. They don't trust Dillingham. They won't play him. They can't get anything out of Terence Shannon. Like, they. This was the concern for the downside case when we were sitting and going through them at 49 and a half wins one. Yeah, like, the bench needs to get a little bit better. Divincenzo's been fine. He played.
- [19:40]
A
He's playing better. So I think it's that guard spot.
- [19:43]
B
Well, they don't have.
- [19:44]
A
They can't figure out the guard spot. It was supposed to be Dillingham at this point giving them 20 minutes.
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B
Yeah. And also Anthony Edwards is in plagues.
- [19:52]
A
Yeah.
- [19:53]
B
But it's fine to like, just say, okay, we're gonna. Let's let Anthony Edwards come back. They. They came all the way back against that Lakers team that was missing seven guys the other night. I mean, they should have won.
- [20:05]
A
I went to the game Friday, which I talked about the other day, and it looked like Minnesota was going to win by 30. And then all of a sudden their defense went sideways. Marcus Smart started diving for balls. Luka and Reaves just started doing things. And all of a sudden Minnesota was down 15. And it was one of those where you're watching the game going, wait, how are they down? What happened here? Why are they this far behind? I've been here the whole time and it. Some. It seemed like they were in the game, but the defense, I don't know. It's a red flag. We'll see. That's why I said we'll see. In March, Dallas, same thing with their weird team. Davis is already. Now. Now, what is it? He had some weird tendonitis. Who knows? They could be way further down. Next time we do this.
- [20:53]
B
Clippers some money on. On Dallas. We might lose some money on them.
- [20:58]
A
Or there could be the Ewing Theater Committee. We would have to be show up in Dallas. Clippers.
- [21:08]
B
Let me ask you a question.
- [21:10]
A
Am I concerned? Yes.
- [21:12]
B
Do you think that any of this indictment stuff, because it is apparent, it's revealing itself that Ty Lu is a pretty central figure in quite a bit of this, that Damon Jones, Chauncey Billups.
- [21:28]
A
And Ty Lou just say because he was friends with them? Yeah, well, yeah, I don't know.
- [21:31]
B
He was in some places at some times.
- [21:33]
A
Well, he. He was involved in two different things because that happened and then the. The whole aspiration thing. So two different things that just are pulling your attention away from trying to win basketball games, it shouldn't matter for.
- [21:46]
B
The Clippers because that is one of the deepest, smartest teams in, in the league. I haven't.
- [21:54]
A
When you have shit like that, it's never good. There's no upside to be like, oh, we have this really weird ongoing story that's just happening outside the basketball court. Much less if you have two of them, there's just no, there's no positive out of that. It's just stuff that's pulling your attention away from what's important. So I moved the Lakers up and the only reason I moved them up is because Reaves is playing so well. And like I saw it in person on Friday, he kind of took over the game for a couple stretches and this was a game where Luke had 48. And then now that Luka went out, he's been a one man show. That shot that he won the game with, awesome was just an. They knew he was getting the ball. That was like a fucking A plus Lister kind of shot. So I don't know what to make of this team now because I don't really like their 4 through 12 at all. I'm not sure they're going to be able to play defense, but with Luka and with Reeves and then you're just going to move LeBron back into this and say, hey, LeBron, just do LeBron stuff and set guys up and get. Get some stats. Like it's not nothing. I don't know what to make of it. What do you make of it?
- [23:02]
B
Well, you'll get in trouble if you ask this. So I can ask it. I mean.
- [23:06]
A
Oh, say it. You send in the buyout contract.
- [23:12]
B
They're already out there. I mean, they're. They're. You already see the trades. Like, you know, the trade, the trade. We didn't. We didn't have to wait for the maestro. We have to wait for you to be coming up with LeBron trades. The Internet is speaking. The Internet has spoken.
- [23:27]
A
What is the Internet saying? I'm not hearing the voices.
- [23:30]
B
There's already a trade.
- [23:32]
A
What was Your favorite one?
- [23:34]
B
LeBron and Bronnie back to Cleveland.
- [23:37]
A
Cleveland can't trade for LeBron. I went over this a month ago. They're not allowed to make trades.
- [23:41]
B
I don't know. Just. It doesn't have to be right away. DeAndre Hunter was involved. I can't remember. There was picks involved. There was a couple other things. So. Well, that's interesting.
- [23:54]
A
I can't figure out a trade destination. I tried. I'll do it again tonight, late at night when I can't sleep, I'll give it another test ride. I actually sent you a task.
- [24:06]
B
Yeah.
- [24:07]
A
If you spent six hours, could you come up with a conceivable Paul George trade? Forget about Embiid. He's off the table. Is there a single Paul George trade? Because I have Sixers fans in my life and once we trade Paul George, it's like, where. He's got three years left on his deal. Where are you trading them?
- [24:27]
B
The teams that make sense are veteran teams that could use a veteran guy that will be able to assimilate him and take where they are in terms of the playoff profile and elevate themselves. That's the logic. That's the thesis. That's why it teams to me like Golden State, like a Miami. Those are the teams where Paul Miami.
- [24:48]
A
Was the only one. I gave that one to Roger and Rozier's expiring Wiggins. Two years left for Paul George. Who says no faster.
- [24:55]
B
I. I did that. I did that on my own as well. I agree with you. That rosier trade, that that contract is a wonderful asset. Magically out of nowhere.
- [25:06]
A
Okay.
- [25:07]
B
Miami gets this incredible.
- [25:10]
A
Yeah.
- [25:10]
B
Asset. It. I think Paul George could make sense in Miami. I mean, why is Miami saying no because of the third year of that contract.
- [25:22]
A
Yeah. Because you're thinking, especially if you have bam and you're paying hero, could you be in play for the Giannis types two years from now? Do you want to tie up your cap? And is Paul George demonstrably better than Andrew Wiggins? Like, is he going to be that much of an upside that it's worth tying up your cap for a three?
- [25:42]
B
Fair question. It's a fair question.
- [25:44]
A
It's why we just have picks?
- [25:46]
B
We didn't have the answer. We didn't reach a conclusion.
- [25:49]
A
I do affiliates to do affiliates to bring back Paul George and hope he plays well for like a month. And then he goes right on the dark web ebay just like yo, Paul George. Any interest?
- [26:01]
B
I would say out loud, I don't even know that they need for him to play well for a month. That's just to validate that he has working for four limbs that work 10 digits on his fingers that work.
- [26:13]
A
Would you take him on the Wizards?
- [26:15]
B
No.
- [26:16]
A
If they gave you a pick or any sort of asset to enjoy the pick, an appetizer.
- [26:23]
B
It seems like they're going to be like a low 40 win team. So that. What's. Where's that pick you? They're not. They don't strike me as a lottery team right now.
- [26:32]
A
Well, we're proving our point. They're not going to be able to trade Paul George.
- [26:35]
B
Probably not.
- [26:36]
A
Have you seen the ad for RB steak tips? It's so funny season.
- [26:41]
B
I am literally having this conversation in a couple text threads right now.
- [26:46]
A
Shout out to my homeboy in text threads for. Well, I mean, I'm even an Arby's thread that I'm not in. That's that our place.
- [26:52]
B
I didn't start it. It came to me.
- [26:54]
A
As you would expect, you being in a Papageno thread. I mean, not being involved.
- [26:57]
B
No, as you would expect. I am a magnet for. For Arby's threads. It's the thread found me. I didn't go hunting for the thread. I understand, but there was a review in the Washington Post from my homie Tim. Carmen. I haven't had a chance to read the review. Somebody pointed it, put it in front of me.
- [27:14]
A
Um, did he review the Arby's steak tips?
- [27:16]
B
He, he, he ate them and reviewed them. And I'm not going to spoil it for anybody, but here's the thing, they're called nuggets, they're not tips. So this is part of the thing. I've had a really hard time with this because my affinity for Arby's is so well established, so well known. I thought the branding of this was a tiny bit off because they call them nuggets now. Nuggets, that's a word that we have an association with steak nuggets that are they breaded? What does that mean? If you called them tips or you called them, you try to do something like the burnt ends that the Kansas City has made famous, they look like burnt ends. And if what you're doing is conveying to people like, here is protein in a cup, here is some, here's some animal based protein in a fast food vehicle.
- [28:10]
A
But it tastes like protein in a cup. Taste the worst porn search in 2025. That's what this is.
- [28:16]
B
My problem though, the cup isn't appetizing like, and it doesn't convey a barbecue vibe. Like you don't eat.
- [28:23]
A
It's not like you get chick fil a nuggets, you get the box, you're like, oh yeah, now I want one.
- [28:28]
B
That little sort of envelope shape kind of thing where it might look like, yeah, they're all sort of nestled together because we were chopping off the ends and we put them all together and we slapped it on this thing and we put a tiny bit of slaw at the end, little vinegar slaw at the end of it. Okay, all right, now my mind's working. What they're showing on the commercial and the way they're, they're delivering it in this cup and the calling it nuggets just had, I had a hard time getting my head around it.
- [28:51]
A
I have to tell you, it's a great point. Like if you had veal nuggets or I'm trying to think, any meat, branzino nuggets, whatever it is, my head immediately goes with nugget to, you took a fish, a chicken, steak, whatever it is, you put it, you air fried it, you grilled it, whatever you did, and it's going to have an outside with like a breadcrumb type thing. And that's how I'm going to eat it. It's going be soft inside. Yeah, I'm getting hungry talking about it.
- [29:22]
B
Well, I want to try these things now. And I have put set aside. I bookmarked Tim Carmen's review of the, of, of the, of the steak nuggets. And I'm, I'm eager to get his because he, when he likes stuff, I tend to like it too. So I'm eager to get this. Wow.
- [29:37]
A
He's, he's like here. Your palate.
- [29:41]
B
My muse. My palate muse. Yes.
- [29:43]
A
Interesting.
- [29:45]
B
Here in the DMV here in the D.C. area.
- [29:46]
A
I'm glad we took that detour. Maybe we should do a food detour at everyone. I was watching football with some people on Sunday and that commercial came up and I just started laughing and I was like, I just think a house when I see Arby's steak nuggets on a giant tv.
- [30:02]
B
Let me. Did anybody say, oh my God, that looks appetizing. Oh my God, we have to rush out and try these.
- [30:08]
A
More confusion.
- [30:09]
B
It's more confusion that that's what I'm getting at. But there's a way to solve this. I mean, I'm going to eat them. I probably, maybe I'll do an Instagram on it. I'll get some this weekend.
- [30:18]
A
Watching football next Thursday. You should, we should just eat them.
- [30:21]
B
That's great.
- [30:22]
A
This is not sponsored content, by the way. We're getting zero from Arby's.
- [30:26]
B
Better than Instagram. Could do it right here on the Bill Simmons podcast.
- [30:29]
A
The funniest was anytime we've driven to Vegas, that one Vegas stop at like the two hour mark and they've got like the 20 different fast food places and you just like, you see the Arby's and it's like, dude, you, you.
- [30:45]
B
Train me like a dog. Yeah, you trained me. You train me to understand. I know where it is. I know when it's coming. My, my body starts responding to it.
- [30:55]
A
Next category, so let's say in March was Minnesota, Dallas, Clippers, Lakers. We're about to do a little drop off here and this next category is called. Sorry, I can't tell you guys apart. Detroit, Philly, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago. I just think if any of these two teams played each other in the playing tournament, any result is possible. Or in like the Emirates NBA cup, whatever you want. The interesting thing to me is that Miami and Chicago played themselves up into this, into this group. Right. Miami, I think is, is better than I thought they were going to be. And Chicago just seems really comfortable. And a big part of it is Buzz Ellis, obviously, but they've also been playing the same kind of style now for a couple of years. They're well coached, and I think those five teams are, like, right near each other.
- [31:42]
B
Which one of those five do you think is the best? Because I have an answer to this.
- [31:50]
A
I think Detroit's probably the safest bet for best.
- [31:53]
B
Okay.
- [31:54]
A
I think Philly has the highest upside because of what's happening with Maxi.
- [31:58]
B
I must be square because obviously I thought Detroit was the right answer. I can't. I mean, but the Maxi piece.
- [32:04]
A
I was talking to Chris Ryan because I saw him after the comeback win against your Wizards. The Maxi thing is like, if this is just who he is now, this is like, we're now in Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, like, area territory, you know, which. Which just changes their ceiling.
- [32:24]
B
Absolutely, positively cannot rule out that this is just where he is.
- [32:28]
A
This might just. He might just be a 28 points a game scorer now.
- [32:30]
B
He's effing dominant. He is unstoppable. He's got.
- [32:34]
A
He seems like the fastest guy in the league now, other than when Ja decides to dial it up. You know what I mean?
- [32:39]
B
Yes.
- [32:40]
A
Like, from just coast to coast, like, he's just like a blur.
- [32:42]
B
He's got a ton of that SGA movement also.
- [32:46]
A
Yeah.
- [32:46]
B
His body.
- [32:47]
A
Awesome.
- [32:48]
B
The way he can move inside the lane.
- [32:52]
A
Atlanta is the one that I think could fall down from this group if they don't. Trey. Trey's already banged up. They haven't. The defense just hasn't been there. Even though I like some of their defensive guys, but I. They have too many players I like, so I. They're. We'll see. The next one is the. I smell smoke. That's Orlando. We covered them. I really. One of the subplots I didn't want to happen this year is for Paolo to become the Trevor Lawrence of the NBA. So let's hope that doesn't happen. Next category. Water.
- [33:23]
B
That's very disrespectful.
- [33:25]
A
Water Treaders is our next one. Boston and Memphis. Boston stumbled into something really interesting with this Josh Minot who didn't really play the first two games. And I think if he had played opening night, the way they're using him now, I think they actually would have won because there was this moment where they could have brought him in in crunch time when Kada fouled out and they didn't. But I just think he has it like, he's a real rotation guy and he gives rebounding and defense and a little size. And I don't. When I say this, don't just be careful.
- [33:58]
B
You be careful.
- [33:59]
A
He's doing a reasonable Tatum imitation.
- [34:02]
B
Okay, okay.
- [34:03]
A
Of the rebounding defense piece.
- [34:06]
B
Okay.
- [34:07]
A
Not the scoring, but the ability to actually, like, protect you a little on the boards and guard people. He did a really good job on Evan Moby last night. I was, like, genuinely excited. And then Memphis, we were texting this morning. This Cedric Coward is a revelation.
- [34:22]
B
There was some good sentiment out there coming in that he was going to be a hidden gem. I think our own.
- [34:28]
A
He's unhidden. He's.
- [34:29]
B
Isn't our own Tate Frazier on record with that?
- [34:32]
A
No, he's just a gem. I don't even think it's hidden. All you have to do is watch a Grizzlies game. It's like, who's that guy guarding everyone on the other team and making open threes? So I'll admit defeat on the Bane trademark. I'll do it right now. They trade Bain for all those picks. It's like, why are you guys doing this? And their attitude was, we feel like we can replace Bain. Well, they've already replaced him because Coward's going to get all those Bane minutes and he's a better defender than Bane was. Not as good of a shooter yet, but so great trade for them. I love watching Coward. This draft is a 10 out of 10 so far.
- [35:05]
B
They still Memphis. I need to see the defense every night. I just don't. I mean, they're going to be.
- [35:11]
A
They're going to have some 35.
- [35:13]
B
They've had some absolute stinkers on defense already.
- [35:17]
A
Water treaders only. Because if they can, as Verno always points out when John Triple J actually play, they're pretty good.
- [35:25]
B
Next time, get their front court back. They're. They're still dramatically undersized.
- [35:30]
A
Can they tread water until those guys come back? Next category is, wait, where's our coach? That's Portland. Portland's just legitimately frisky professional basketball team. Drew has been really involved. It's been good to see him doing. Doing old school Drew stuff every night. And even though no, you know, the scoop piece, they've been able to kind.
- [35:52]
C
Of patch it together.
- [35:53]
A
He's like, running offense for them. I was really interested in that game they played last night actually with him. And just like, I don't know. Portland's not bad. And if they were in the east, they'd be maybe in that conversation with Some of those other east teams we mentioned.
- [36:08]
B
No, they're talented. Um, it does remain to be seen. I think they've won every game since, since the indictment was returned or they did they lose one in there?
- [36:19]
A
I think. Well, they are three and two. They've won two in a row. Interesting team. I like Clingan too. When you think about that draft, like, I think Clingan went after Dillingham. I think if we redo that draft, he goes higher. Next category. Thank God for the World Series. That's Toronto. So we taped the last time they were one and oh, and they killed Atlanta. And we were like, oh my God, maybe we were wrong about Toronto. Well, they haven't won since.
- [36:47]
B
Well, no, I, I, I mean, I'm going to lose a bet. I gave them out as a lock at like over 38 and a half or 39 and a half. I can't remember what it was. I thought for sure they were going to be in the low 40s. This team makes, still makes no sense. It's amazing. All these years we've been going on.
- [37:04]
A
Yeah.
- [37:04]
B
Preview shows, talking during the course of the season make it make sense. And still now, look, last night they were missing Pearl and you know, Houston is huge, so sanguine. Sengun got, came within one assist, bad match. Two rebounds of a double double last night. And I only know that because I lost a parlay. I had Houston and Sengun getting a double double without Pearl. That was a good bet. That was a good bet. Plus 135. That was a goddamn good bet. But I lost because Sengun couldn't get one more assist or two more rebounds.
- [37:42]
A
It's not his fault. You did great, Sengun. Don't listen to House.
- [37:46]
B
Maybe I should stop calling him Sengun.
- [37:49]
A
Where do you think Toronto is in defensive rating after nine days?
- [37:53]
B
Near the very bottom. I can tell you with certainty they are 29th.
- [37:57]
A
Yeah, I watched.
- [37:59]
B
They are way down there.
- [38:02]
A
There's the other issue with them. It's a team that makes sense for 41, 42 minutes. But if we're in a sword fight at the end of the game and it's like, all right, that team has Tyrese Maxey. We're going to run a pick and roll quickly or we're going to try to do the thing where everyone stands around and watch Brandon Ingram, they have all these options that are okay, but all these other teams they're playing have like, oh, that they have Giannis.
- [38:28]
B
And the flip side to just that same point is last 4 minute defense yeah. To stop. It's fine to say we're a team that's going to like get out in transition. We're going to force turnovers. Okay, that's fine for 40, you know, to 43 minutes. Now it's the last five minutes of the game. Nobody's running. You're in the half court. Stop somebody.
- [38:49]
A
I'm not ruling them out, but it doesn't look good. Early next category, league pass all star. Charlotte. Fourth and scoring. Just doing their job. The only criticism I have with Charlotte Vayner Miller's already hurt. But my only criticism is don't get blown out. Let me enjoy you for more than an hour before you're down 25. Like I want to see you guys go up and down.
- [39:07]
B
We had a fun thing like who's going to play center? It's Cap Brenner.
- [39:10]
A
Yeah, he's fine.
- [39:11]
B
He's fine. That's the answer.
- [39:13]
A
Oh, and newsflash. Concanimal is good right away.
- [39:17]
B
Yeah.
- [39:17]
A
Immediately only told people that since June. Next category. Shopping for tanks. Indiana. I look they've this is the year from hell already. And then last, last ones.
- [39:29]
C
Why are we here?
- [39:30]
A
Phoenix, Sacramento, Utah, Washington. Let's just tank. Oh, wait, we can't. New Orleans. And then dumping for Darren, the horrendous Brooklyn Nets. Who we can talk about with Peter Schrager in one second. He's in the waiting room.
- [39:43]
B
Yeah.
- [39:44]
A
Fresh off arguing with Dan Orlovsky on NFL Live. We're gonna take a break. Peter Schrager, Joe House next. The Bill Simmons podcast is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. FanDuel turning up the heat every Sunday with Power Hour every Sunday from 3 to 5pm Eastern. FanDuel is giving you a profit boost to use on live bets. They're in the most intense stretch of the NFL slate. This is when games flip, underdogs, rally parlays hit. That's pretty fun. I think there's going to be a couple down to the wire games this weekend. We jumped on a bunch of them in Ringer 107. I feel like even though we took the bears in Ringer 107, bears, Bengals, feels like that's going to be right down on the wire anyway. It's called power hour for a reason and it happens every Sunday only on FanDuel. Head to FanDuel.com BS to get started, you must be 21 + present in select states or 18 + in President, DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Opt in required bonus issued as non withdrawable profit boost tokens. Restrictions Apply including any token expiration max wager amount. See terms@sportsbook.fandrel.com, gAM problem prom. Call 100 Gamble or visit rg-help.com, call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org ChatInCeneticut this episode is brought to you by Little Caesars, the official pizza sponsor of of the NFL. I love pizza at Little Caesars. The pizzas are always large, so you always get more bite for less buck on game day. I'm a simple pizza orderer for football, especially when I have friends over. You gotta get a cheese, you gotta get a pepperoni and then maybe get one wacky one with like, I don't know, mushroom peppers, maybe pepperoni or sausage. But don't get too wacky every time I've this is one of my passions in life. Don't be the person that orders the crazy pizza that then everybody leaves and there's five slices left. Order pizza that people want to eat. Go with the basics. Go with the safe ones. Right now you can get 15% off orders of $15 on NFL game days with code Gameday Order now@LittleCasars.com or in the Little Caesars app. Offer ends February 8, 2026. Offer good at participating Little Caesar stores on app and online orders, excluding third party online sites with nonline purchases. $15 or more only available on NFL game days. Enter promo code at Checkout to get 15 DOL off your online order. Max discount $5 limit 1 per person per day cannot be combined with any other offers +tax where applicable. Prices may vary. Delivery available from participating locations with online orders only. Copyright 2025 LCE Incorporated. All right, our friend Peter Schrager is here. He's going to do Ringer1:07 picks with us and talk football and, you know, basketball starts shrags gets he gets a little antsy that he hasn't gotten an invite. When we get in October, it's like, wait, I'm right here. Then it's like, then I make the joke about, well, you're McAfee's guy now. Then he gets it and then he doesn't know if I'm serious or not. We have this whole dance we do and then it always ends in the right place. With you here on the BS podcast, it's good to see you.
- [42:42]
C
You never want to be in the Bill Simmons blacklist or on the cold seat and I just like to throw a couple sprinkles in here because eight weeks have gone by and not a single invite. We text all the time, but no invite. And then you said Joe House was on and I got very excited.
- [42:58]
B
Let's.
- [43:00]
A
You've been on during the season, right?
- [43:02]
C
I think I did preseason where I told you that the Dolphins were going to win the super bowl and the Lions were going to be terrible. So I think we have time to redeem ourselves here.
- [43:09]
A
Jesus. My apologies for not having you on another time during the season, but I'm glad you're here. Plus, you get to be here with House.
- [43:17]
C
Love it.
- [43:18]
A
House has a hard out hour and eight minutes from now, so we're going to Zoom through Ringer 107 possibilities in a second. But what. What's been the dominant doing these shows on espn? What's been the number one go to story in October?
- [43:34]
C
What's his defense? Baby, let's break it down.
- [43:37]
A
That's what it is.
- [43:37]
C
Break it down. What is going wrong? What is Matt Eberflus doing wrong? Should they have traded Parsons now that they have made this bad trade? What do they do? Should they go get Hendrickson? Lot of Cowboys defense talk. And just this week we, we shifted a little bit. Lot of Drake May, Bill.
- [43:57]
B
God damn it.
- [43:58]
C
It was as if we, you know, these, we. They beat the Bills on that Sunday night and then Monday morning we did a lot of Drake May. Then it went away for a little bit. But then this week it's been a lot of Drake May over at the Worldwide Leader and I'm, I'm loaded to bear. Like, I'm ready to go. I got so many notes. I'm like, good. My wheelhouse. I, I only could say so many things about, you know, Overshone's return for the Dallas Cowboys defense.
- [44:20]
A
Well, House had last year's, last year's darling for the shows, Jaden Daniels. Just segment after segment about how special he was. And now Drake May just said, hey, Jaden, have a seat over there. I'll be taking all these segments now for the time being. Tough matchup this week, though, with Atlanta. Oh, it's gonna be a nice little test. They have good secondary. There's a lot of momentum now at the Pats. Could they be the one seed? It's just, it's a lot of trap elements. I know Houses studying. We are not putting the pats in Ringer 107. I'm just letting you know.
- [44:50]
B
Really, this week. Well, look, stay away. I want to, I want to ask if I have permission to do this little segment with Shregs because this is The. I think this is the first time we've been on together. Second. Second time at most.
- [45:02]
A
But we definitely shared food.
- [45:04]
C
Yeah, we've hung.
- [45:05]
B
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [45:06]
C
This is, this is the second time we did one. Like maybe like Covid, like 2020, going through like coach hirings.
- [45:11]
A
And I was like, I don't remember any podcast I did for two years during COVID So I would believe that.
- [45:17]
B
The segment I want to do is, what the fuck is going on with Blank? Okay, the question since we're now on this new, this New England Atlanta thing, what the fuck is going on with the communication issues with the Atlanta offense?
- [45:34]
C
Isn't it weird?
- [45:35]
B
I don't understand it, what's going on with them?
- [45:37]
C
Okay, so I did their Monday night game two weeks ago when they beat the Buffalo Bills and I was the sideline reporter and they opened the roof up and we get a production meeting with the Atlanta Falcons. And I sit with Raheem Morris, who. It can light up a room and he's like, shregs. I coached, you know, Cooper cup his triple crown season. I coached Julio Jones our Super bowl year in Atlanta. I was the wide receivers coach. I can go back and I coach RG3. When he had that rookie season, I was in the. On that staff. He goes, this guy Bijan is not only in that conversation, he might be the best of all. And he's like, our entire team runs through him. Our entire offense runs through him. He is the heart and soul of our team. The defense respects him. They've scored 10 points since that 250 yard game in two games in a row. And it's so confusing. And Zach Robinson's the offensive coordinator and he looked like he was dialed in. They moved him down to the sidelines. Everything was right in that Buffalo game. They penix look good.
- [46:37]
A
You had guys out for the Bills. The suspended guys weren't back yet. They just were wondering, like what?
- [46:43]
C
Like, what the heck? And then they lost, you know, some offensive linemen along the way. And I know people tune out when you start talking offensive line as the reason, because you're looking for a bigger, you know, Raheem Morris, can't get these guys ready to play and that they, you know, to lose to Miami is a fireable offense and all this. Trust me, Falcons are as frustrated as anyone this game here. For them to kind of be the upset, underdog trap game, like, it's so out of this world. If you were there in that building two weeks ago where it looked like this was a Super Bowl Contender. So House, I am with you. Two head scratching efforts. 10 points in back to back games. I know cousins looked 100 years old last week. Even so to lose to the Dolphins that way, where the Dolphins run the ball 37 times down their throats like that does not add up with what I saw and what they did against the Washington Commanders a couple weeks earlier before that. So Atlanta, one of the great frustrations around the league because everyone thought they made that turn after that Monday night game and that was a national coming out party for all those young players and they've been just the pits ever since. No pun intended. He's been actually pretty good.
- [47:47]
A
Well, you know. You know what they did, House? They landed themselves on the DNB list.
- [47:52]
B
They sure did.
- [47:53]
A
To do not bet list.
- [47:54]
B
Do not bet.
- [47:55]
A
There's a fucking stay away. They killed us last week.
- [47:57]
B
They killed us.
- [47:59]
A
The thing with cousins, it's like if you go to a restaurant and they accidentally bought some bad, I don't know, bad branzino and the whole table got food poisoning. Do you blame the restaurant or the branzino? I guess is the question. Like Cousins was so bad, you just. They had no chance really from the get go. I dare stay away to me. Here's the thing. The Pat's run D has been ridiculous.
- [48:25]
C
No running back has had more than 50 yards.
- [48:27]
A
What but Bijan and on wheel routes and screen passes against these Pats linebackers is a nightmare. This is what my Pats fan friends and I are talking about. Like if they get Bijan in space, Pitts in space. The one problem with the path, the Pats are 28. The defensive DBOA and their big issue is like when their linebackers are in space, they can stop the run, they can push the line. They have a really good secondary. But that middle of the field, I think it's one of my favorite.
- [48:57]
C
One of my favorite things you've had on a podcast in the last several weeks was Monday. You're like, everyone's raving about Spain 14 visor, badass henches, texting. You can't stand him in coverage.
- [49:09]
A
No. Yeah, yeah. Hedge hench has had a lot of spoiling texts. It's tough because there's just times when you get the. You just see the play and you just see in the TV there's two people and a lot of grass. You're like, oh no. Oh my God. Anyway, I have that game is in the no thank you pile. House.
- [49:30]
B
Yes.
- [49:30]
A
I'll just tell you the four stay aways unless we're doing Parlays Chargers minus nine half Titans. You didn't have that one House. Right?
- [49:39]
B
Why not? Titans in a game getting, you know, less than 10. What. What's the thesis for the Titans being competitive? It's more about the Chargers and the. The Jekyll and Hyde when they're offensive line. We know that Joe Ald is playing this week. Is. Am I right about that? Shregs.
- [49:59]
C
That's the word. He's great.
- [50:00]
B
He's playing football this week when he plays. And Beckton. Beckton's playing too. It seemsly.
- [50:07]
A
Quinton Johnston.
- [50:09]
C
Quinton. Quinton had a zero last week. Didn't do much. I don't know. Was he on your fantasy team?
- [50:13]
B
I got. I got guillotined with Quentin Johnson 0.
- [50:17]
A
And in our guillotine league I picked him up.
- [50:20]
C
I have.
- [50:21]
A
I have them now. I'm your zero. Yeah.
- [50:23]
B
My zero.
- [50:24]
A
Chop my head off.
- [50:25]
B
And now you have.
- [50:26]
C
By the way, did you happen to see the interview with Kamari Vidal last.
- [50:29]
A
Week after the game?
- [50:30]
C
Like I love this because Justin Herbert's not going to give you much like let's try Kamari Vidal not exactly going to be working on the ringer anytime either. It's just hilarious of like Kamari Vidal is getting the interview like usually it's like the Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford. Kamari Vidal had that opportunity but wasn't one of many words. I'll say that.
- [50:50]
A
I wouldn't say Herbert is Mr. Dynamo either.
- [50:53]
C
No. Did you sit near him at that Dodgers game? How close were you?
- [50:58]
A
Well so he was at the. He was. I was at a Laker game that he was at and a Dodger game that he was at and neither night was he breaking down the Titans defense. I was doing this week I want to put the Chargers in a moneyline far away situation.
- [51:14]
B
Okay, fine, fine, fine, fine.
- [51:15]
A
Rams, saints. It's minus 14 and a half. It's just stupid. That's a flash sale price. It should. That line should be 11 and a half. I don't know dude. Rams.
- [51:23]
C
Rams coming off a buy where they feeling really good about themselves. Saints in full sail fire sale mode. All the veterans must go. That might be a 20 point 30 point game.
- [51:32]
B
Dude, I'm kind of fine with selling on. It's. It's mother shucker's debut. You're. You're afraid of the mother shucker.
- [51:40]
A
That. That's like how do you get excited for that game if you're the Rams that said those gate those 14 and a half. Sorry me who they pass every one.
- [51:48]
B
Of Those games matters. They need to just go like it matters.
- [51:52]
A
They get it.
- [51:53]
B
The Colts just did that to the Titans.
- [51:55]
A
The next two weeks they're at San Francisco and then playing Seattle.
- [51:59]
B
Okay, that's the season.
- [52:02]
A
Let's take a 10 point lead and just start handing the ball off and let's go home and let's get ready for San Francisco. I don't know. That one worries me. So I had that one in the pile of the stay away and then the last one was packers, panthers, packers minus 13 and a half at home against the Panthers. Give us where do you stand with the packers these days right now, Peter Schrager.
- [52:23]
C
I think that second half that they had against the Pittsburgh Steelers as good as any half a team has had all season. And their defense is so good and they've had a couple lapses. There's like two moments. The Cowboys second half was bizarre and then they gave up a couple big plays against the Browns in that weird loss. But other than that, they have been lights out. And that defense, coached by Jeff Halfley, who by the way is going to be one of these guys that everyone's talking about and head coaching conversations in the next couple of months is only, you know, complemented by an offense that is so dynamic with all of these different receivers and tight ends that you don't really have a way to stop them if they're feeling it. Now he completes 20 straight passes and we do all that. But to who he's throwing to, it could be Matthew golden, it could be Kraft, it could be, you know, Heath, it could be all these guys. They have so many different players that it's really hard to defend. And whereas the Eagles, it's so much friction and there's so much like outside noise. Like I'm pretty plugged in with these packers guys and the players and the coaches. It is like kumbaya up there right now. They're all on the same path. Micah is, is like the. Lighting up the room, like a complete joy. Anything you might have heard about his personality, he is like House. He is just pure, pure happiness and he brings it the best out of everybody. So packers to me right now, if you're asking me Week nine, like a team I wouldn't want to face, it's those guys.
- [53:50]
A
It's funny, they're so loaded at receiver. I waved golden in the Guillotine League not because I don't like him, but because in Guillotine you just have to have guaranteed points, right? You just got to make sure. I actually ironically waved him for Quentin Johnson. But the packers have so many receivers. I don't even know like anybody even like Kraft, who's awesome, who looks like Baby Gronk. Sometimes even he might have a game where he has like one catch for 11 yards.
- [54:17]
B
Totally.
- [54:17]
A
They have all these different ways they can go.
- [54:18]
C
It's. And they have another tight end, Musker. Like they have a lot of different guys. And last week they got Christian Watson back and he's a really good deep threat and Romeo Dobbs. Like, so it goes on and on. The question is the Lions game is in week 13. Like, I'm already circling that. Like, can they keep it where they're a game up or they're tied with the Lions and then can they sweep the Lions? Because home field is going to matter. Interestingly enough, everybody's, you know, team that they're picking apart, the Eagles go there next week for a Monday Night Football game. I think we'll learn a lot about both teams. Philly on the road in Green Bay with Green Bay probably getting all the hype train going into that.
- [54:56]
A
Well and how so you know that the tie is going to matter somehow with these seeds. It's just law of average.
- [55:01]
B
Yes.
- [55:02]
A
Like right now they're the 1 seed because they're 51 and 1 in Philly's 6 and 2. But I think, you know, if they win this week. But I who could figure it out? But you just know it's going to come into play. When a good team has a tie, it's always like, well, that could be one, maybe four.
- [55:20]
C
Yeah.
- [55:22]
A
How so you went on that Philly team. Where do you stand on a betting standpoint these days with them?
- [55:26]
B
I've come around a little bit.
- [55:28]
A
Okay.
- [55:29]
B
Now, the Giants were lively against them and I really feel like that bad whistle that the Giants caught was undeserved. I'd be interested in hearing what the scuttlebutt inside the NFL for, you know, around that because they. They both deserve better. That was. That was a tough whistle the Giants got. But I this whole thing everybody keeps talking about all I think you know, Peter Schrager, I'm so happy he had time to break away from a full day. He hosted First Take this Morning. For Christ's sakes.
- [55:56]
A
Did you host First Take this Morning?
- [55:58]
B
I did. I did Stephen A guy.
- [56:01]
A
And then you did NFL Live.
- [56:02]
C
That did NFL Live.
- [56:04]
A
So we're getting like a gamey like kind of beat. This is like a 15 inning. You're like Will Smith catching the 16th inning for the Dodgers It's a, it's.
- [56:12]
B
A tremendous, tremendous job. But everybody's talking about this idea like Michael Jordan.
- [56:16]
C
I don't believe in load management. Just cut up this interview 16 times.
- [56:20]
B
Over the course of this season. He wants the people to see him. Goddamn right. Everybody loves this idea of the Eagles under center as opposed to out of shotgun, that, that Jalen Hurts under center. It creates, you know, the, the, this uncertainty. There's no question that the offense has been better. And the ironic thing is that it's because the kid can't snap shotgun comfortably. Is that, isn't that the explanation for it? Dregs?
- [56:47]
A
Well, they stumbled into it.
- [56:48]
C
They never, they never were playing anything under the center to start the season and they were struggling now the last two weeks against the best pass defense in the league. Two weeks ago, Jalen Hurts stood for 330 yards. Then last week against the Giants, they ran for 250 yards. That's what scares you if you're an opposing team like, oh, okay, wait, they actually can do both of these things and they're both working. Offensive line's been an issue for them, which is such an interesting change from years past with Jeff Stoutland and that unit. But let's see if they can get healthy and let's see if they can keep it going. But yes, the shotgun versus non shotgun. They were exclusively a shotgun team and now all of a sudden it's like, wait, maybe we're better this way. It's, it's finally, it's fair. Fair to wonder why it took to week eight or week nine to figure that out.
- [57:29]
A
Shrigs, do you feel like Hertz has been struggling against the triple umbrella? Bernays.
- [57:35]
C
Robert.
- [57:35]
B
Hilarious.
- [57:36]
A
You're hilarious. I'm just. One of my things I'm going to start doing on the pod is I'm just going to make up defenses that are just sound.
- [57:44]
C
I got caught. I got caught on get up last Friday because I tried making an analogy and like you have like, they give you like 15 seconds and I said with the AJ Brown stuff, I'm like, all right, so this is the equivalent of that couple that doesn't, you know, that's always fighting and instead of them getting separated, they decide, screw it, let's get pregnant, right? Let's have a kid. And that's an analogy, you know, House, you know that analogy. People talk all the time. It could be fully support it.
- [58:10]
A
And that means have a kid.
- [58:11]
C
It means let's double down. I mean, we get that Harry Douglas is next to me, Bart Scott's Next to me, the second I said a man getting pregnant, they're like, what?
- [58:19]
B
What?
- [58:19]
C
And I'm like, oh, God.
- [58:20]
B
Okay.
- [58:20]
C
Like, this is. There's not going to be. Okay, I just put it out there. There's no selling going on. We've talked about this, Bill. You got to sell me, guys. You got to laugh there. So then I'm like, oh, no, you're right. You're right. Go back to the triple robber high safety talk that we just broke down from robber and that fell. That fell flat too. And then I'm like, okay, screw it. Just. Just someone break down the Sluggo. Because that's what we do. Break down the Sluggo. They actually threw a sluggo this week. I'm like, I know, I know. They threw the darn Sluggo. Okay, enough. But like, yes, I get. I'm trying to fit in my little analogies on these shows and my little jokes and my little quiz there. We got it. But in the meantime, we're going to break down the double high robber Sam Scissor route and we're just going to have to talk that way for.
- [59:01]
A
For the.
- [59:02]
C
For the crowd of high school coaches that are watching. You know, we got to.
- [59:05]
A
House wants food involved in some of these defenses. Wants like somebody to have a Bernays blitz or the Arby steak. Arby Steak Nuggets.
- [59:14]
B
Savory creamy.
- [59:15]
A
Yes, savory. Savory should be in there.
- [59:18]
B
Savory linebacker. Things that make. Yeah. Spain. Savory Spain.
- [59:25]
A
I have three. Three Pat's Falcons in the. No thank yous. I have three more games that I don't think should be in the. Let's actually seriously talk about this for Ringer107 and either of you hit the button.
- [59:40]
C
Wait, can I interrupt real quick?
- [59:42]
A
Yeah.
- [59:44]
C
How. How about everybody going, oh, the. The NBA, NBC and Amazon, they're teaching us basketball. This is what we really want. And oh, we don't want inside the NBA being critical. It's similar to what I was talking about. Let's give this a couple weeks of everyone being coached like they're a high school basketball. I'll take slow down with how bad inside the NBA is. Guess what? When they're on espn, when they're on tv, they're pretty damn good and I can get the basket and maybe from text winners later on in my life too. I'm good.
- [60:12]
A
Yeah, I still enjoy inside the NBA.
- [60:15]
B
This is a good moment. I don't. Did I text you Shregs? That three. That three. That bucket. That three. When you were where why? Why were you taking threes on camera?
- [60:24]
C
McAfee invited me down to do the show down there in Indianapolis when I.
- [60:28]
A
Was talking about the Knicks form.
- [60:30]
C
Guess what? High school basketball player, good player. Love him.
- [60:33]
A
Love shooting three. Could have played three and three with this house.
- [60:36]
B
I already made it.
- [60:37]
A
He could have spaced the floor for our pick and roll.
- [60:40]
B
We already made a joke about protein cup, but I'm gonna go for. I'm gonna double down right now. The stroke was so. The stroke was velvety.
- [60:48]
A
So it was made you want to put the protein.
- [60:51]
B
It was pure, baby.
- [60:52]
A
It was dressed.
- [60:55]
C
That was Draws and Petrovich. That was Mark Price. Those are my guys. Those are the guys I used to watch. Yes.
- [61:00]
A
49Ers Giants 49ers favored by two and a half in Jersey.
- [61:06]
C
Yeah.
- [61:07]
A
The San Francisco defense was on the field for 41 minutes and 18 seconds last week against Houston that can't block. The Giants just lose major guys that their Fans love every three weeks. Giants defense is 30th against the rush and 26 yards per play. To me it's a stay away. Unless you guys feel you've been following.
- [61:29]
C
The Dexter Lawrence, Carl Banks controversy in New York this week.
- [61:34]
A
He got a little saucy with them, right?
- [61:36]
C
Carl Banks is the in house guy. Usually pretty positive out of nowhere. Just takes a. Takes a very contrarian view on Dexter Lawrence who has been. No one's been criticizing his play. He's a very highly paid defensive tackle. Gets a lot of love. Reputationally. He's saying this guy isn't playing, he should be dominating. He's playing a. An eighth string center last week against the Eagles and he's getting mauled. Dexter Lawrence fights back Giants right now with the scatter Boo injury with the neighbors injury with, with. With all the different issues they' and then you take in the Broncos loss and the way that thing went down. It has been a very deflating few weeks. They've won their last two home games. They did it in heroic fashion. And we loved the Eagles game. You love the victory against the Chargers. But I don't know if this team has can get off the mat again after the last two weeks and what's been going on in that building.
- [62:30]
B
So this is crazy because I think that this is the season, the game of the season for San Francisco. They cannot lose this football game and.
- [62:39]
A
Make the playoff marks for that reason.
- [62:41]
B
Yes.
- [62:42]
A
The problem is we don't know who's playing for them. And their defense was on the field for 41 minutes last week.
- [62:46]
B
I can't name five of their defensive starters.
- [62:48]
A
Yeah, I think it's a stay away but I feel like on Sunday I'm going to bet on the Niners. Yeah, I'm going to be like, oh he's playing.
- [62:55]
B
That's the best way to do it.
- [62:57]
A
I just want to say I'm mildly afraid of Tyrone Tracy. If I have a Niners bet good player and I have him on multiple fantasy teams this week I picked them up. Lions, Vikings. This was a flash sale price. Lions minus eight and a half over the Vikings. Feels like it should probably be like six because it's a kitchen sink game for the bikes. Cashman and Van Ginko are back.
- [63:19]
C
Yep.
- [63:19]
A
They can play the Bernays Robber with those guys.
- [63:22]
C
Robber.
- [63:22]
A
We love Bernays Robber. They might even be able to play the Savory Steak Nuggets blitz.
- [63:27]
C
Isaiah Rogers can go the Peppercorn blitz.
- [63:29]
A
If we need right. And yet McCarthy tell us what do you House is the most in on this story of any story of J.J. mcCarthy may be terrible.
- [63:38]
C
I think it's the most fascinating story in football this week. Honestly like I could do, I could do a full hour with you both on this because the way it's stacking up. As much as Giants fans are like oh man, Daniel Jones and Saquon, they're just better when they leave us. Think about what was in the room last year. Sam Darnold's 5 and 2 and could be the MVP if the Seahawks keep winning. Daniel Jones is 7 and 1 is basically the MVP right now. Both those guys were in the quarterbacks room. They let them both walk. They could have franchised Darnold. They didn't. And then Aaron Rodgers had made overtures. I'm told that there was interest in Aaron Rodgers going to Minnesota and they.
- [64:15]
A
Were like that's a tough one because that, that's, that would have been a.
- [64:18]
C
Nice one year Band Aid, who knows. They bring in your boy Sam Howell, they get him in a draft, they trade for him in the draft and then like after a couple months they're like we're actually good. We're going to sign Carson Wentz in August and he's going to be the.
- [64:32]
A
Guy all on the thought that House's spaces are great.
- [64:36]
C
We're all good because we got jj. We're all good and we're all in now. They traded up in a draft for them for two years ago and House I will, I will give you this nugget. The commanders thought they were going to get Sam Darnold last off season in March. And then Jaden Daniels was going to be the rookie with him. At the Last second, Kevin O' Connell offers Sam Darnold more money, $10 million. They go to the Vikings and he's going to basically play that role for J.J. mcCarthy. McCarthy goes down with the injury, everything happens from there. They traded up to get McCarthy. And I feel like it was like, we drafted this guy, we went all in on this guy. We're not going to abandon him now. But a 142 season before those two losses at the end, that's a tough one to swallow if you're a Vikings fan. And now the weight of the world is on McCarthy because you add that on with both of your quarterbacks being in the same draft class with Bo Nix being in that draft class, and it's like there's two separate things on his shoulders. There's, oh, my gosh, I've got to be the savior of this franchise. And we let all this quarterback talent out the door. And oh, by the way, all my contemporaries, all my peers are fucking awesome on their teams.
- [65:45]
B
Well, the thing that befuddles me is, what do you go into that locker room and tell all those badass that were on a team that went 143 last year? What do you tell Ben Ginkel? What do you tell Cashman? What do you tell Justin Jefferson?
- [66:03]
A
What do you tell Justin Jefferson?
- [66:04]
B
That would be my first TJ Hawkins. People are saying TJ Hawkins is having a down here. Oh, is he? Because J.J. mcCarthy and Carson Wentz. The, the corpse of Carson Wentz, God bless him, he shouldn't be on an NFL football field.
- [66:17]
C
He wasn't until August.
- [66:19]
A
Crying.
- [66:20]
B
He's crying on the sideline. I mean, I have empathy for the man. I don't wish bad things upon him. He shouldn't be playing professional football. That's on the franchise. The franchise did this. What do you tell all those guys that were, that tasted the playoffs last year, that had every reasonable expectation that run this back? How do you keep that room set? Because I think they're going to get waxed this week. I think they're going to get annihilated.
- [66:45]
C
They might. Look, we, we are very. We have a great luxury to look back in hindsight and do this now. Those eight days, that final Sunday night game against the Lions and then that treacherous Monday night game in Arizona against the Rams, Darnold looked awful. So it was almost like 14 wins was great. And your comeback win in Seattle was huge. Your comeback win in Chicago was huge. And all those amazing throws you Made all season when we needed you most, you weren't there. And I think that's what they put their head on the pillow with. Like, all right, we drafted this guy when it mattered most. This guy wasn't able to play him.
- [67:19]
A
He's a moneyball piece too, though. Like, it would have been at least 30 million a year to keep Domino, franchise him.
- [67:25]
C
And you eat that 40 million for one year and then say, okay, JJ waits another season and then we got.
- [67:31]
A
Money to get like a couple defensive linemen. Like, they, they tried to spread that money around. It's more a thing of like. Like, if you're the owner of the Vikings and you, you moved up to trade for JJ McCarthy and you just got hurt. And then a year passes and they're like, hey, here's what we're thinking of doing. Maybe we'll franchise tag Darnold. If I'm the owner, I'm like, what about J.J. mcCarthy? We traded up to draft him. Are you telling me he can't play like Jaden Daniels played last year? Bo Nix played last year? Like, why wouldn't we play that guy? The part I don't understand is why they let Daniel Jones out of the building, who they obviously liked when they got him. Yeah. And he would have been a cheaper version of Darnold. Why didn't they just do that and try to keep him 15. Yeah.
- [68:12]
C
And they wanted to bring him back. The Colts offered about the same money, if not more, but basically told him like, you have a real shot at winning this job. And he went to Indianapolis and he left. But Minnesota was very interested in retaining him. They would have love to have him in the room, but he took Indianapolis's offer instead. So what, give him 20? I don't know. Like, I, to me, it's all.
- [68:33]
A
It's, it's.
- [68:33]
C
It's amazing that they're at this spot where they're like elevating John Wolford because they might need him. And this is people like the backup Bosmer. People love the.
- [68:42]
A
The backup.
- [68:43]
C
And you've heard all this talk.
- [68:44]
A
He gets announced as a starter. The line might not even move. House. It sounds like Shrags is. Has more McCarthy information than he's letting on. You don't sound optimistic about McCarthy.
- [68:55]
C
Here's the other part of it. He's still 22 years old, so it's like you don't want to bail on it yet. It's just, I love the sliding doors aspect of it of like, what could.
- [69:06]
A
Have been another non denial denial by Shriggs like, he's getting a lot of McCarthy stuff as a disaster on that jiff. This isn't a Josh Rosen situation, is it?
- [69:18]
B
How could it possibly be? He hasn't played any professional football games. We have no idea. We have no idea. But he said in the coach's office, all season, last season, every Thursday, we have a meeting.
- [69:28]
A
Needed a meeting. They ran through the schedule like he wasn't hurt. All right, so it sounds like we're putting the Lions in some sort of pile.
- [69:37]
B
The good pile.
- [69:39]
A
And then Cowboys, Cardinals is the other one. Cowboys minus two and a half Cardinals. I don't want any part of this game.
- [69:45]
B
Game.
- [69:45]
C
Why not, huh?
- [69:47]
A
Why? Who do you like in this game?
- [69:48]
C
I don't know. I could see Kyler running for about 150 and throwing for 350.
- [69:56]
A
At all.
- [69:57]
B
Dominate in Dallas. And you're supposed to take Dallas this week because they're back home. The offense, you know, there's nothing wrong with that offense.
- [70:04]
A
Shoddy had taken them again.
- [70:05]
C
Shotty was pretty fired.
- [70:07]
B
Stick it up the ass, whatever he said.
- [70:10]
C
Like, I don't care about offensive stats.
- [70:12]
A
Where the hell.
- [70:12]
C
I mean, first time I'd seen him ever talk like that in 25 years. I loved it. But Monday Night Football, I feel like, Spotlight game, maybe. Maybe Kyle. I wouldn't. I either wouldn't. I would bet Arizona or I wouldn't bet at all on this one. That defense is so bad. I spoke to Michael Irvin this week, had a very interesting take. I want to hear both of your thoughts on this. I love this take. It's not. It's one I hadn't heard yet. There's a million Michael Parsons takes. Irv had a different one. He says, even if Parsons goes on and wins Super Bowls and all this stuff should have never left the Cowboys. I'm like, go on. He's like, the money would have eventually been the same. Jerry was a million dollars off. Whatever. You don't pay taxes in Texas. You pay taxes in Wisconsin. And the podcast that Micah had, if you're a Dallas Cowboy, is infinitely more valuable than your Green Bay packers podcast. Oh, and by the way, Micah lives in Texas. His mom lives in Texas. And the value of being a cowboy for life is so much different than being a cowboy for the first three years of your career and then moving on and doing something else. I'm like, I have heard a thousand people talk about Micah Parsons. I have not heard this version because to everyone's naked eye, it's like, oh, Parsons got out of Dallas and is Riding high. And Green Bay was where it was. But like, Irv was like, no, no, I've never paid for a meal in Dallas and I go everywhere and I'm royalty for the rest of my life. It's the greatest thing in the world. He's like, parsons can't do that anymore. I'm like, fascinating taker, but love it.
- [71:37]
B
But it is. It is fascinating. You're doing a kind of financial modeling. Because if he wins defensive player of the year, would he have ever won defensive player of Year in Dallas? Like, how do you measure those two trajectories? How do you put them next to each other? It's very interesting.
- [71:51]
C
Bill, your thoughts?
- [71:54]
A
Michael Irvin never had to pay for anything in Dallas. That's a long list of a variety of things.
- [72:00]
B
You'll be the first attendant.
- [72:02]
A
If I'm Michael Parsons, I'm pretty happy in Green Bay Planet. An awesome team versus a deranged franchise owned by a really old guy who just does crazy stuff. We gotta take a break and then I gotta talk about my five favorite games. This episode is brought to you by Paramount Plus. Now streaming on Paramount plus. It's an all new season of Mayor of Kingstowne. Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner. My guy returns as Mike McCleskey, an ex con fighting to keep peace both inside and outside the prison walls of Kingstown as he faces off with the new warden played by Emmy award winner Edie Falco.
- [72:38]
B
Wow.
- [72:38]
A
Now streaming on Paramount plus it's an all new season of Mayor of Kingstowne. This episode is brought to you by Whole Foods Market. At Whole Foods Market, you'll find great everyday prices for this Thanksgiving. Check out their 365 brand. No antibiotics ever. Turkeys start at 149 a pound with Prime. With organic birds at $2.99 a pound, you'll find Thanksgiving essentials like condensed soups. I love those. Instant mashed potatoes. Like those too. Organic baking, spices. Plus low prices on everything else you need from fresh produce to frozen appetizers. Enjoy. So many ways to save on your Thanksgiving spread at Whole Foods Market. Terms apply. Bills, Chiefs. Hello, friends. Bill's Chiefs yet again. Bills have been a little better in the regular season. Chiefs have obviously dominated the playoffs. There's some Buffalo, so some slight injury stuff. They lost at Oliver. They just can't keep that defensive line altogether. KC played Monday. That has to be factored in. Buffalo's run defense 31st. But I don't really like any of the Chiefs running backs. Rahomes is probably their most dangerous runner, Buffalo, first running attack. Casey 11th against that and just feels like a really tight game. Bill's getting one and a half at home. Which Bills as a home dog. There's some good stats with this. Can I interest you in moving that Bill's line up a little bit into the four and a half, five and a half range? Would that. Would that entice you?
- [74:09]
B
I don't want to bet on this game. I would prefer to just watch it and enjoy it because there are, to me, two very plausible competing game scripts phenomena. And I can't choose which one I think is going to be the one. In my mind's eye, I can see this Chiefs offense scoring 41 points. No problem. I can see them firing on all cylinders. I don't like the Pacheco injury, but it kind of feels like they always have another guy coming back, you know, that's like he's only getting a dozen touches or so a game. Anyway.
- [74:47]
A
Can I interrupt you for a second?
- [74:49]
B
Please, please, please.
- [74:50]
A
We're putting this game in Ringer 107. This is a playoff game.
- [74:53]
C
I like that. Right away.
- [74:54]
A
Put the fucking chest hair in your chest. Have a drink of trying to win. Scotch.
- [74:59]
B
We're trying to win. Like you tell me the prevailing outcome is going to be.
- [75:04]
A
It's a playoff game. Shrags Josh Allen at home.
- [75:08]
C
Yeah, but Josh Allen at home might not be enough because I watched the Ravens put up 40 points on that team in Buffalo. I watched Drake May go into that building and win in Buffalo. I. Look, the Ed Oliver thing is huge.
- [75:23]
A
It's.
- [75:24]
C
He's the best player on their defense. He's been a game wrecker all season. Now you're asking, you know, this rookie Walker to step up and play that role, which is asking a lot. They need Daquan Jones to step up.
- [75:34]
A
When he gets back.
- [75:35]
C
And like Bosa and Russo have to be better than they've even been. I. The Bills are in a real tough spot here. They lost their best defensive player and they've got a long season ahead of them. And I'll add, they have zero cap space, so. Whereas your Patriots have the most cap space in the league, the next $48.5.
- [75:53]
A
Million house, the next four days, they.
- [75:56]
C
Can play around, they can do models they can figure out, they can make phone calls. The Bills, they can't do crap. Last year they brought in Amari Cooper and he helped down the stretch. I don't see. The Bills can't make a move. They've got like a million dollars of Wiggle room. There's nothing they can do. So the injury bug has hit them way too early. But that said, Josh Allen, you've been knocking on the door for all these years. You're right there. This is the. You're the mvp. This is your moment. Go and win your fifth game against Mahomes in the regular season and go control that division, which you should not have to worry about. The Patriots in 2025. This should have been a 2027 problem.
- [76:32]
A
That they're dealing with. Yeah, you forgot about one thing. Forgot about Drake May Drake. I'm with you for most of that. I think Buffalo can overpower the Chiefs and run the ball down their throats. And when they're not running the ball down their throats, use Josh Allen to continue to run the ball down their throats. That would be. As a Chiefs fan, that would be my fear that we're just getting pushed backwards and we don't have the ball a lot. And it's just one of those weird games.
- [76:59]
C
Who's this game matter more for? I know it's Buffalo. I do too.
- [77:03]
A
Oh, I think this is a must.
- [77:09]
B
There's any more games.
- [77:10]
C
The Chiefs are in a bind with the one seed for sure and the Broncos and Chargers are going to keep winning. So, like, it's a good question. It's not just a. To me, Buffalo psychologically, like, if you lose another one, it's at home. And the Chiefs, again, like, I just, it's a lot.
- [77:26]
A
I feel like for Buffalo, this threat of the Patriots is a real threat because the schedule that the Patriots have, combined with the fact they've already won in Buffalo, that if you lose this Chiefs game and you fall back, who knows what the pat scat they might finish. Like, I don't know what the record's going to be. I don't even as you know, I feel like this team has holes. They might go like 12 and 5 or 13 and 4. Right. So you have that plus you have the Chiefs hole. That whole dynamic, whatever that is. The cloud, the cloud of the Chiefs. Whereas the Chiefs are always fine. They could lose any game. And it's like, we're fine. We'll be back next week. Like, I just don't think. I just don't see the Chiefs being like, we gotta get this. They treat every game the same. Every game they have is like a Monday night game or some division rival.
- [78:18]
C
Game, which is the most underrated value like thing of this whole run ever. I mean, whether it's in Brazil or it's On a Black Friday or it's Christmas Day. The Chiefs have the most unorthodox schedule. The NFL just shoves them in these primetime loan windows and they never complain, and they just go out there and they play football and it's like it never catches up with them. It seems like they're always ready to go. Which is why, to me, it's almost like Buffalo needs this one.
- [78:41]
A
And I'm going to say mention one thing, Triggs. That Buffalo schedule is weirdly hard considering.
- [78:48]
C
Because teams got good that we didn't expect. It's supposed to be a cakewalk. Look at their schedule.
- [78:52]
A
So, yeah, they have Bucs, week 11, back to back at Texans on a Thursday and then at the Steelers the next week. They're playing at the pats in week 15 and then at the Browns, week 16. Who at least is going to be able to throw defense on them then? Week 17? The Eagles.
- [79:09]
C
Not easy.
- [79:11]
A
They already have two losses. To me, like, they're. What do you think, House? 12 and 5.
- [79:17]
B
That sounds right to me. 12 and 5.
- [79:19]
A
This is probably swings it between 13 and 4, 12 and 5. So I don't know. I feel like they need the game. All right, well, we'll table that one for a second. House, what's your favorite game in the slate?
- [79:31]
B
I have two. I absolutely adore Detroit. I just think the idea of getting J.J. mcCarthy into Detroit is phenomenal. Anything less than 10 is attractive to me. And then I also like Houston, and I know that people are going to say, we. I keep trying to fade Denver, and all Denver does is jam it right up my rear end. Especially Bo Nix. Keep. Keep doubting Bo Nix. I got a lot of that in the timeline last week. But I do like the idea. You did encourage it.
- [80:03]
A
You did say, if Bo Nix jams it in my butt, then. So, like, you did like, kind of.
- [80:07]
B
He did it against the Eagles. 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Eagles, went on the road one. That's their. That was an impressive.
- [80:15]
C
Can I empty the notebook on the Broncos a little bit?
- [80:19]
B
Let's hear it.
- [80:20]
C
So they beat the Giants in this historic fashion and they're celebrating all this shit. Sean Payton Monday morning has it cut up from his assistant. The last six biggest comebacks in regular season history. The following week, that team lost. So Sean Payton puts together a sizzle reel for Monday morning for these guys of those teams being on the other end of the other team taking a knee in the game afterwards. And he put music behind it. And basically a Monday morning when everyone is riding High over this Giants game is like no time for that. History tells us there is a natural letdown in this and they go out and they kick the shit out of the Dallas Cowboys. And like that's kind of the pace they're at. Where it's. There is no. This is a sprint for them. There is no Broncos like ah, well, that was a good win. Two back to back wins at home. So to me, I know the Texans are favored in this game. I don't, I don't quite understand. I know Sir Tan is a huge player as defensive player of the year, but to me, like you're not going to get a complacent Denver Broncos this week.
- [81:22]
A
My answer might surprise you on this game. This is my favorite game on the board. Oh, I love the Houston Texans.
- [81:30]
B
Let's go.
- [81:32]
A
As do I. I heard your whole case, Shregs.
- [81:36]
C
I love the story of cinematographer.
- [81:38]
A
It was good and Peyton's done a good job. We've been in on Denver this year. They're 6 and 2 like I. But you know, Houston's defense I think really might be the best defense in the league. Their top five basically rush, pass, yards per play. Name it. Denver's played five crap defenses. Tennessee, Cincinnati, the Giants, Dallas and the jets. Plus Indy, which I wouldn't call the 85 bears. And certain being out is like massive.
- [82:07]
C
It's huge.
- [82:08]
A
But who's scared?
- [82:08]
C
I would say that's the top five.
- [82:10]
A
Most important defensive player to be out.
- [82:12]
C
Which receiver are you scared of? From the Texans? Are you, are you losing? Sleepover Xavier Hutchinson. I know but like I don't think. All right, that's fine, Nico. I'll give you. Nico's a top 10 receiver in this league. He's.
- [82:23]
A
So here's what I think. I think this game is just ugly both ways. Cause the Texans won't really be able to block. But I don't think Denver's going to move the ball against this Houston defense. I really.
- [82:35]
C
Defense is awesome.
- [82:36]
A
I'm really nervous.
- [82:38]
C
Yeah, they, they lost by two scores to Seattle. They also turned Seattle over four times and their defense was absolutely.
- [82:46]
A
They just kept getting the ball back.
- [82:47]
C
It was crazy. And they. And no one watched because it was two in the morning eastern time, like. But Houston's defense dominated the Seahawks that day. You didn't see it in the box score but they had four turnovers. They sacked Darnold and Will Anderson and, and, and Hunter were unblockable. So like I'm with you on that defense. It's very good in the back End Stingley and Lassiter are as good a combo in the backfield as anyone. However, I just don't know. I don't know if they've got the offense and the offensive line to keep off that. That amazing Denver defense. They are good. Even without certain. They are good. They get to the quarterback, they lead the NFL in sacks. They're really. They could dominate that offensive line in Houston.
- [83:23]
A
Well, if Houston pulls this off, they would be 4 and 4 and then a little Jaguars, Titans combo, they'd have a treat after that. But then it gets. They go Bills, Colt, Bills at Colts at Chiefs, three in a row, which is pretty brutal. So they're kind of in must win zone. Whereas I look at Denver like, all right, if they lose this, win this game, they're playing the Raiders on Thursday. Four days later, they'll, you know, they'll win by 20 and they'll be fine. But House, I. So we saw.
- [83:53]
C
I'm.
- [83:54]
A
It's so funny. Like, we. We've been aligned on some of these. We don't talk House. I don't talk about the ones. This was the one that jumped out to me.
- [84:00]
C
You both like the Texans.
- [84:02]
B
We do.
- [84:02]
A
I. I felt like this should be a two and a half or a three because their defense at home. I still have Bo. Nick's questions. I still watch him. I know that he heats up and I know that there's games where he's finished with stats. I think he misses a lot of throws.
- [84:15]
C
He missed a couple last week. He tried throwing a. No, look, he pass and it got intercepted last week.
- [84:20]
B
Piece that we haven't talked about that I do like, is C.J. stroud back? I mean, we get to do it that way.
- [84:26]
A
He's bad if it's you guys. If he's back, if it's a bad defense.
- [84:28]
C
Can I tell you, I had him in the production meeting and it was when they were and it was before that Seattle game. He had so much, so much swag in this meeting. Like, he hears it all. I think he knows that people are present and he's like, don't worry. Like, I'm good. And I came away. I wasn't Stroud. I don't know. I don't know him that well. I came away walking away like, okay, not a vocal. Not a huge vocal guy. Not an in your face guy, but clearly the leader of this team and has a lot of confidence, even though their offensive line is not even close to what it was two years ago when he had that breakout season.
- [84:58]
B
Yeah, well, they Added the sixth guy and it looked like that might have helped the offense, the running game a little bit. So if we just get a little variety in that offense.
- [85:06]
C
Their offensive coordinator is interesting. So they had Bobby Slowik, who was tremendous. And then last year down the stretch didn't. Didn't gel as well. I still.
- [85:14]
A
Bobby Slowik's going to be a head coach. T shirt from 2023. I don't know if you want it.
- [85:19]
C
I'll send it about 30 interviews. They hired Nick Kaley, who I think you like this, this, this guy, Bill. Eight years with the Patriots under Belichick. So he comes from that world and then himself is like, I need to diversify. This goes and works for McVeigh for two years. So you've got the Belichick influence and the McVeigh influence.
- [85:36]
B
What a tree.
- [85:37]
C
And they bring him in and it was a little rocky at first, but super talented young, young offensive coordinator where you get the feeling like he's going to. It's going to start clicking as the season goes on.
- [85:48]
A
One other thing with the Texans, and I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, I genuinely like Woody Marks. I think he's good, like, and he's good out of the backfield, too. And they might have hit on Noel at least with those rookie receivers.
- [85:59]
C
Iowa State, rookie wide receiver.
- [86:01]
A
He's the one that's always open or seems like he can get open. And then Collins coming back, that's another one. He, you know, no certain. Maybe he makes a big play. I like the Texans three more quickly. Colts, Steelers, Colts minus three in Pittsburgh and Colts outdoors. Steelers as a home dog. And there's just a slew of insane Tomlin home dog stats that we don't need to just read through. They're going to have the field goal edge yet again. You're always like -6 when you're playing in Pittsburgh with field goals. But Pittsburgh's defense, 32nd against the pass. And the Colts are just a juggernaut ripping through everything. We haven't talked about the Colts yet. Trigs, do you believe? Are you in?
- [86:46]
C
How could I not? And the only issue is I haven't seen them play like prime time or a big game or with a lot of pressure on them. They always feel like they're like the Scott Hansen, like, constant break in on red zone, like team. I. I haven't watched, you know, a matchup with them with, you know, all the spotlight on them. I feel like even though this isn't that game, there's a lot of attention this Week like Steelers on the road and a lot of people now doing this. Like, let's poke a hole in it. Let's see. That said, like Daniel Jones, the stats are insane. I think he's like number one rated quarterback regularly. Number one rated quarterback under pressure. And then Jonathan Taylor is doing what he's doing. And then Quinton Nelson's probably the best player on the entire team. Just absolutely dominating at the offensive guard spot. The question is, I don't know how they're doing this on defense. And they are like they're stopping everyone and they're getting turnovers with not a lot of names.
- [87:34]
A
We know how they're doing it. They're playing shitty teams.
- [87:37]
C
That's another way to look at.
- [87:39]
A
They play tennis twice.
- [87:41]
B
That kind of helps.
- [87:41]
C
Helps.
- [87:42]
B
Yeah.
- [87:42]
A
They played Miami Week 1. They played Las Vegas.
- [87:45]
B
Which way are you leaning on this BS Because.
- [87:48]
A
Oh.
- [87:51]
B
Boy, I'm nervous for. For. For the Colts. I'm nervous about. For them.
- [87:55]
A
Well, I talked you into the packers last week.
- [87:58]
B
I was happy. I was. I loved it. I loved it when you did it. It was a great zag. I. I endorsed it. I was thrilled.
- [88:05]
A
Things on the Steelers defense. Shrigs.
- [88:07]
B
Yeah.
- [88:07]
C
Yeah.
- [88:08]
A
Is like when he hosted First Take. It feels like 38 hours ago now.
- [88:13]
C
What a long day. I got to empty it quick here. No.
- [88:18]
A
Well, house can leave and we can still go.
- [88:19]
B
We can just. I have another 25 minutes. I'm good.
- [88:22]
C
I want steak nuggets. Let's go.
- [88:24]
A
So I felt this way when the Pats played the Steelers and really dominated them the last three quarters and turned the ball over five times and just left all this offense on the over and over moved the ball in the Green Bay last week. By the time we get to the second half, it was like whatever they wanted, they were just getting. And Indianapolis has a better offense than both of those teams, so why wouldn't they just get everything they want in this game? What is the Steelers defense showing us? Fucking Joe Flacco. Not Joe Flacco. Joe Flacco. Yeah, Joe Flacco. I know Joe Flacco was lighting them up. And you know the numbers can't light up the Steelers.
- [89:01]
C
They're 32nd chase was targeted 23 times in that game, which is the ultimate insult to a defensive backfield. Like we. We will throw. We will tell exactly what we're going to do. And we know you can't stop it. He had 16 catches and then to see what Jordan Love did 20 in a row. It's maybe the most disappointing unit in all of football. This Steelers defense, because you go through the list of names, it's not only TJ Watt, it's Cameron Hayward. Then you go to Patrick Queen and then you get to the defensive backfield and it's like it's Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slade. This is not a young team. This is not a cheap team. This is not a.
- [89:32]
A
It's a team you would have wanted in 2019 is the problem.
- [89:36]
C
Yeah.
- [89:36]
A
Or a defense that you would have wanted.
- [89:37]
C
And it's a Tomlin coach team, which at the very least you knew they would at least show up every week. This is. This is tough to pick them in any game with that defense being such a sieve.
- [89:46]
A
Well, that they. They traded for Kyle Duggar this week from the Patriots, who was just an atrocity in coverage last year. Like, he's basically was a linebacker playing safety. And this year, Vrabo, even though he had a pretty big contract, was like, I'm out. I'm going to play this Craig Woodson over you and kind of buried him. The Steelers traded for him this week and I think he's going to play.
- [90:07]
C
Yeah.
- [90:07]
A
Because Deshaun tells you all you need.
- [90:09]
C
To IR another veteran that they brought back that might not have his best football in front of him. So that's where I would say, like, it's home. You got the terrible towels, you got the sticks. Renegade. I get all that. I don't know if that can cover up what they have on defense, which as much as we cry about the Cowboys defense, the Steelers defense is way more disappointing because we actually expected them.
- [90:31]
A
To be a strength of the team team in house. Packers. What was that? Would that line end out two and a half Sunday night? Two and a half.
- [90:38]
B
Finally it went down.
- [90:39]
A
So Colts are favored by three. So that means the market is saying the Colts are better than the Steelers, which, I mean, I. Than the packers, which I don't think is necessarily true. I just think after that Sunday night game, it's like the big people are like, oh, the Steelers really are bad on defense. And I don't. Other than that the. The Metcalf plays and occasionally Warren will get like any. I don't really know what the Steelers are good at. The only thing, I just don't think they're that good.
- [91:06]
C
They don't even try to go deep.
- [91:08]
A
It's like.
- [91:09]
C
And Rogers tape.
- [91:10]
A
You get on them. The more you're like, oh, they do these four things.
- [91:13]
B
The only thing you can point to is the Colts defense is super susceptible to tight ends. They're one of the worst, you know, defenses against tight ends.
- [91:21]
A
How about giant, tall, big tight ends? How are they against those?
- [91:24]
B
Pittsburgh loves to. To the Pittsburgh has five tight ends, it seems like, you know, well, they.
- [91:29]
A
Run that parmesan robber zip.
- [91:32]
C
Robert.
- [91:33]
B
Yeah. Yeah. Robert.
- [91:36]
C
Yeah, Carrie.
- [91:37]
A
The Colts is going to be one of my picks only because I think getting it at three, I think sounds great.
- [91:42]
B
It's your pick. I just want to say I. I can't make a case for the Steelers other than just the voodoo that we watch. That's all.
- [91:49]
A
It's the. It's the fucking typical Pittsburgh at home where they do this field go hits an upright.
- [91:54]
B
That's the case.
- [91:56]
A
Running back running down the field, then his knee hits the ball and it bounces up in the air and the Steelers recover, like. But we thought that was going to happen last week and it never happened.
- [92:04]
C
Well, you look at the numbers for the Colts offense, and it's astronomical. Like, the best rushing team, the best passing team, the best. Like Alec Pierce leaves the league in receiving yards, you know, per catch. Like, it.
- [92:15]
A
It's.
- [92:16]
C
You know, it's.
- [92:17]
A
They're a nightmare. They can do everything.
- [92:19]
B
They can.
- [92:20]
A
They can throw D, they can throw short. They got warrants rookie who's the best.
- [92:23]
C
Tight end in football. So it's like, what the hell? And an amazing offensive line with a Hall of Famer.
- [92:28]
A
I honestly think this line's a miracle. I think this line should be minus four.
- [92:32]
C
I think they might win by 20.
- [92:34]
B
Daniel Jones is an RPO savant. Like, this is the mode, the best function. No, I know. I watched it on ESPN today. You were you to watch a lot of it. You were there.
- [92:44]
A
All right, two more just quickly. Bears, Bengals, Bears minus it set it at minus two and a half in Cincinnati. Since he's defense, the thing I look at, I don't know if I've ever seen a defense that's bottom three in all the categories. Like, there's not one where they're like 28th. It's just there's a three in front of every number, pass, run, first down, efficiency, third day. Like, it's. It's across the board. And then they can't run the ball either. The 31st and run, they don't try the ball. They don't even get blackball, Chinese food in the fridge. It's fun for like two days. But two weeks gets a little gamey and. And I think the Bears could be the good, bad team. They win this game. They're 4 and 3 right now. They win this game, they play the Giants next week, they play Minnesota at Minnesota and then Pittsburgh. Like, as crazy as this sounds, they could be 8 and 3 after and I don't even think the Bears are that good. But please talk me out of this because I want to bet on Caleb Williams.
- [93:44]
C
Well, I, it's hard to roll with the, like Trey Hendrickson limited in practice. You know, obviously he's on the trade block potentially Logan Wilson might want out. He's. He's not practicing. And then Joe Flacco shows up on the injury report with a shoulder injury. So you might be going back to Jake Browning if Flacco can't go. So that loss, that loss of the Jets, I mean, I got emotional. I knew obviously what was going into that game with not only the jets, what, what was, you know, their own needs, but with the Mangold stuff was like real. Like that was a wild morning to wake up to that news and the jets rall that. But that is an inexcusable loss at home of that many points to the jets with Justin Fields and no Garrett Wilson and no Sauce Gardner. I, I can't pick you in good faith after that, that performance. And I'll add this, we always kill the coaches for time management. Aaron Glenn, who has been the joke of New York for his time management bill, did you see what he did? Down, down a. I love it how it's like, like a David Chang perfect down eight, down eight, they go for two to cut it to six. Everyone's freaking out. What are you doing? We doing? And then they won in regulation. They like did the analytics the right way, which everyone preaches and no coaches ever actually do. He did it when they were down two touchdowns and then one touchdown. They got the two point conversion on both of them and it actually worked out. They won in regulation. And it's like Aaron Glenn claps to you.
- [95:09]
A
It's one of those things when you bet on the other team and the team does it and gets it and they're down 6, you just automatically think you're going to lose. It's like, oh my God, I was at 14, now I'm going to lose.
- [95:19]
B
I haven't tested on the money line in that game.
- [95:21]
C
Did you really before the mangled or after the mango passing news? Because to me that totally shifted my entire approach to this game.
- [95:28]
B
I, I will confess that I hadn't, I didn't factor in the mangled aspect of it.
- [95:33]
A
No, I had just loves betting on bad QBs.
- [95:35]
B
It was very, it was a tough Card last week finding underdogs that I felt like could win outright. But the Bengals jets is like okay, this is. These teams are not that far apart part that that was really it.
- [95:46]
C
See Bengals were coming off an all time win on the Steelers. A long 10 day break. Jets. Jets on.
- [95:52]
B
How did you even think. Give me some Jets.
- [95:55]
C
That's an incredible bet.
- [95:56]
B
All of the guy guys missing. Yes. Nobody know who the hell any of these jets are. Let me have it.
- [96:03]
A
Yes, the Bengals are bad. We're in alignment.
- [96:07]
B
We're in alignment.
- [96:07]
A
Seahawks minus three at Washington. So this line was going to be on my card. Yeah, it was three when we locked the Lions to three. Which it was changer.
- [96:17]
B
Why?
- [96:18]
A
Because Jaden is. I don't know what happened people that because Jaden Naples might play and McLaren was out. McLaren's out.
- [96:25]
C
I don't. Why would. Why would anyone even think.
- [96:28]
B
Because I guess the other direction. Why wouldn't it be Seattle by four or four and a half.
- [96:32]
A
Yes. Three is Seattle's first in dvoa which is notable. Third in yards per play offensively first against the run. Second against yards per play with defense. Washington's defense.
- [96:45]
C
House.
- [96:45]
A
I would describe it much like you old and slow.
- [96:47]
B
That's not nice.
- [96:48]
C
That's mean.
- [96:49]
A
That's much like me too. We're old.
- [96:51]
B
I can guard my. My man. I can't really guard him. He goes right by me.
- [96:55]
A
Your bottom 10 in every category. I'm trying to think what the case for Washington is without McLaurin. And it comes down to it's a kitchen sink game.
- [97:04]
C
It is.
- [97:05]
A
And Darnold on the road and that's. Is there any other case?
- [97:10]
C
I have no case. They have a long break here. The last time they played I was there. It feels like it was a month ago. They beat the Texans in Monday night. I was at Monday night. Kansas City, Washington, they started off okay, but like Washington is the oldest roster in football and last year they put these pieces in and it worked like all of those guys were perfect for the position group rooms. This year all of those guys, they look like the oldest team in football. And I got to say the two best addition like Tunzel and Debo are actually playing well this year. Those guys are really good. And Wild Bill in the backfield is really good.
- [97:44]
A
Incredible.
- [97:45]
C
They've got. They've got guys who are playing it just. They don't have that same juice. They don't have that same Mojo. And I just watching them last week, I can't in good faith say that just because Jaden's back. They're suddenly going to get that. That thing back. It feels like last year they were way ahead of schedule. Everything went their way, and this year we're starting to see a regression and it might be, hey, they actually have the oldest roster in football. And it's starting to show.
- [98:08]
A
What are your thoughts, House? It's your favorite team.
- [98:11]
B
I've been on this show, every show that anybody put me on, saying that I think this Washington team, the ceiling for them is six wins. They. They were. They. They could not lose the Chicago game. That was. That was the season. And it will. We will look back, and it's funny. Chicago last year had their season derailed by Washington with that Hail Mary pass, Washington went all the way to the NFC Championship game. This season, Washington host Chicago. Chicago comes in and gets the win right at the end off of a turnover by Jaden Daniels with three minutes left.
- [98:43]
A
He can't catch the revenge.
- [98:45]
B
Yep.
- [98:47]
C
We did the hindsight. House, I got a question. We did it with J.J. mcCarthy. Would you pay Terry McLaren now, after seeing what we've got this season, would you pay him that huge contract he got? We know team leader, all that stuff that he's paid as if he's one of the best wide receivers in the league. Yeah, they had to.
- [99:01]
A
To.
- [99:01]
B
I never. I never had any issue with it. I mean, it's like we're trying to establish an identity, a new culture. You have to remember we're fighting 25 years of a. Of a devil. We're trying to get. Satan, be gone. Satan, be gone, Satan. One.
- [99:14]
A
One of the ways you do that.
- [99:15]
B
Is to pay a guy who's a standup guy who, who straddled both of the regimes, right? And. And he is a team leader for a team that made it to the NFC Championship game. It is a contract that is a reward, not a prospective. That's a great deliver on it.
- [99:29]
A
That's what it is. That's what it is.
- [99:30]
B
It's a reward. So thank you. I mean, I. I personally say thank you to Terry McLaurin.
- [99:35]
C
Okay.
- [99:36]
A
Shriggs, has a holdout ever worked where the guy came back and was awesome?
- [99:40]
B
No.
- [99:40]
A
Does that ever happen in the history of football? No, I. I don't have any basketball or any sport. Emmett Smegler brought this up on Tuesday. I was like, that's such a good point, Emmett. It sounds like we're over a million.
- [99:50]
C
Emmett was. They were 02. Emmett took him to the brink, and then he came back and was the best running back in football. And I guess 93 when he did that. That's. But like for all the millions of August good morning football shows where we're detailing Jaded David and Clowney's, you know, holdout. What's the latest? Like, I don't remember any of these guys ever coming out and being what they were supposed to be before they got the money.
- [100:12]
B
Levy on Bell.
- [100:13]
A
All right, so we're going to figure out rigor. 107 whole season.
- [100:16]
C
Leon. That's crazy.
- [100:18]
A
Yeah, that was tough. We're putting the Bills in a parlay and I'm going to give you three options. Bills plus four and a half with the Chargers money line against Tennessee. That's minus 118. Chargers pack, moneyline. Both have to win with the bills plus six and a half. That's minus 119. Packers would have to beat Carolina at home. Chargers would have to beat Tennessee. That's option two. Option number three, Chargers. Moneyline, Lions. Moneyline. Bills plus seven and a half against. I knew House would like that.
- [100:59]
B
Finally, finally we got some RB steak.
- [101:02]
A
Tips on top of it.
- [101:04]
B
Big nuggets. If they call them tips, I think they'd be flying off the shelf.
- [101:08]
A
Here's one of the many things I like. So we get to bet against J.J. mcCarthy or whoever's playing for Minnesota. We get that chart. We get to bet against Tennessee again. And then Bills plus seven and a half. Shrigs gives us like cheap touchdown potential. Gives us. The Chiefs can't run the clock out because they're running backs. Are Kareem Hunt and that other guy and Mahomes trying to run on. So it just kind of keeps the Bills hanging around, which I think would be fun to root for. House is so happy you're going to do this bad. I can feel it.
- [101:38]
B
Well, you're giving me a heart attack. I need you. Finally got to a number with the Bills where I'm comfortable because to me it's a seven point swing on either side. Can count in seven either way, but. So give me the seven and a half. Four and a half doesn't do anything for me. Six and a half doesn't get you there. Seven and a half. Now we're there.
- [101:55]
C
You like that? You like that?
- [101:56]
A
Chargers, Lions, money lines. Bills plus seven and a half. Good to go.
- [102:00]
B
Great.
- [102:01]
A
Texans minus one and a half against Denver. Shrags didn't love this one, but House and I, this was our favorite bet.
- [102:07]
B
Shreg's a Peyton guy. I am. It's fine.
- [102:10]
A
Yeah, he's a we. Yeah, I don't totally trust you. Broncos. Too many meals with Sean Payton.
- [102:15]
C
Yeah, they might be undefeated this year. Both of them. Broncos and Rams. Just my. I have my love.
- [102:18]
A
My Sean's Colts minus three against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. We're grabbing this.
- [102:23]
C
I like that.
- [102:25]
A
This is going to be my pick.
- [102:26]
B
I've heard my cautions, that's all.
- [102:28]
A
Yeah, yeah, that's all right. I'll take it for mine. Seahawks, they are minus three against Washington and we're going to grab that. And then last but not least, Bears minus two and a half against the Bears. Bengals, we got two out, so we have a great number.
- [102:47]
C
That's a great number.
- [102:48]
A
Three road favorites, unfortunately. Okay. But there's nine home underdogs on the slate. So what are we going to do?
- [102:55]
B
It's a funky week.
- [102:56]
A
This episode is sponsored by Anthropic, the team behind Claude. Every sports fan has debates. Should your team rebuild? Do the analytics miss what makes players great? Well, that's where Claude comes in. AI that thinks through problems with you. Analyzing complex data, researching historical traits, working through complexity step by step to help understand the real why behind roster moves. Try Claude for free at Claude AI Simmons and see why the world's best problem solvers choose Claude as their thinking partner. This episode is brought to you by Shakey's, the People's Pizza Parlor. When it's game day, it's group day at Shakey's Pizza. Nothing beats piping hot pizza, a pitcher of ice cold beer, and rooting for your favorite team with your pals at Shakey's Pizza Parlor. Me, I'm going in with Shakey's ultimate meat pizza. Golden Fried Chicken Legendary crispy mojo potatoes, man. Order online at shakey's.com or watch the game at your neighborhood Shakey's with handcrafted pizza, chicken and mojos turn football fantasy into reality at Shakey's, the people's pizza parlor. So Ringer107 brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook Final picks Chargers Moneyline Lions Money line with Bills plus seven and a half. Texans minus one and a half at home against the Broncos. Shregs is nervous, but you did get to see that defense in person. Awesome hats on the ball.
- [104:22]
C
A great line from d' Amico Ryan, what he said. He goes, you know, we're, we're going to hit you. We're going to play this way. We're very aggressive.
- [104:28]
A
And he goes, he goes.
- [104:29]
C
And I tell the guys, if they don't like playing this way, that's cool with me. You just Won't be a Houston Texan. And I was like, oh my God. I almost got out of the room.
- [104:35]
A
Like, let's go. Nice. So we got Texans. House is excited that we're get to bet against The Titans and J.J. mcCarthy with the Bills. That's two Colts minus three against the Steelers. Just this might be our last chance to ride the best offense in the league before people realize, holy shit.
- [104:54]
C
12 and 199 with the Rams, like where they came out of nowhere.
- [104:57]
A
And it was, I remember betting on it. It was great.
- [104:59]
C
And it was like I had, I remember that was. I was, you know, in college and we had fantasy football and I had all those guys, Warner, Holt, Bruce. And I remember it being like not until they beat the Niners in like three or four. And then they kept doing it week after week after week. Is that what we're dealing with here? Is this the 99 Greatest Show?
- [105:14]
A
It's such a good analogy because Warner, I remember all of us didn't trust it until like it's like it was about week seven and you're like, all right, every pass the guy throws is dead on to a guy in stride at some point. This is an accident.
- [105:32]
C
That's what this feels like. It came from literally out of nowhere. This Colts offense. No one in a million years and all the fast.
- [105:39]
A
And there's some good parallels with that because Falk and Jonathan Taylor just being like these all world running backs. But the Rams are slightly better receivers. They were on turf. Seahawks -3 over Washington is our fourth pick. And then so we're riding Texan Seahawks. Those are your two best defenses. Anybody else you would have in there.
- [106:00]
C
Defensively, the Colts are really good. Turnover and all that stuff. But they're not in that competition.
- [106:04]
A
Yeah, Texas Seahawks best Broncos.
- [106:08]
B
Broncos not with certain out.
- [106:10]
A
Yeah.
- [106:10]
C
Denver, Houston, Seattle are my defenses. And gosh, Seattle was good on that Monday night game that I saw them.
- [106:17]
A
And then the fifth pick, Bears -2 and a half at Cincinnati House. If Caleb lets us down here.
- [106:26]
B
He's not going to do it.
- [106:27]
A
He would be upset. He would be Kyler Murray for us after that. He's not going to do it. Dnb.
- [106:31]
B
He's.
- [106:31]
A
He's like DNB list. Did you have any thoughts on my. My crazy prediction that Tyson Bajan will be the bear starter by week 13? Is it even conceivable?
- [106:40]
C
Well, you, you did lay it out that they paid him a lot of money to come back as the backup. Everyone loves him. His dad is a professional arm wrestler. There's this Great story there. But I don't think they would bench Caleb. It would have to be like Caleb got hurt. This guy did great. And it's. Oh, he had to make a decision.
- [106:54]
A
That's how I look. Get it? Okay. That was the ringer. 107. It was brought to you by Fanduel Odds. Subject to change. We have house for five more minutes. Shrigs.
- [107:05]
C
What?
- [107:05]
A
Any last topic for you? Is there a new.
- [107:09]
B
On the 107? He didn't give us a one. Let's go. We needed that.
- [107:13]
A
He gives the let's goes to McAfee now.
- [107:15]
C
Have you had.
- [107:16]
A
I saw it.
- [107:16]
C
Have you had Lucali?
- [107:17]
B
Lucali? Yeah, of course I've had Lucali. Is that a question for me? No, I bet he hasn't. I bet he hasn't. Have you had Lucali? Is it in Brooklyn.
- [107:26]
C
Your next trip? We got. We got you on this one. So Mark Iaco is the. No relation to Sal. I don't think is the proprietor. It's his little shop in Cobble Hill or Carol Gardens. The line is out the door. Only about eight tables. Very hard to get a seat. My son's 8th birthday or 9th birthday last week took him to Lucali. We got in there calzone. Own pizza. No. No alcohol. You bring your own. And it's only cash. And it's a sit down. And Bill.
- [107:55]
A
I love the only cash. Only cash.
- [107:57]
C
We're not gonna have any accounting for any of this stuff. Bill. I think it's one of the greatest meals I've ever had. And I'm not looking for a table or anything from those guys. Trust me, they're not worried about me. We gotta go. Next time you come in town house, what's.
- [108:09]
A
What's your ideal calzone? Is there anything special that needs to happen with the calzone?
- [108:13]
B
It's gotta have spicy meat inside of it because you know you're dealing with a mass right? With. With the. The dough I love and the way the cheese is like, you know, it's. It's a. It's a big, like. It's a big carbo boat kind of thing. So give me something that's gonna get a little bite to it and that's like a nice sauce.
- [108:31]
C
Oh my God, the sauce. And. And I. I am such a calzone fan. I love better a. I love it all. I think it's so good. And I think it's the most underrated food. Everyone loves their chicken parm. Everyone loves their pizza. A good calzone. I usually put pepperoni in there.
- [108:45]
B
I Don't know.
- [108:45]
C
Is that.
- [108:46]
B
That right down there? That's.
- [108:48]
C
And I just drown it in that marinara sauce. And I'll tell you, this is not a commercial for that place or any. But even just talking to you two, talking about a good calzone has me ready to run through a wall. Let's go.
- [109:00]
A
I feel like in general, especially with the, with the, with the Uber eats orders or whatever you're using, I always feel like they're light on the extra. The side of the tomato sauce. Like if I'm getting the chicken parm, I want like a big ass thing of tomato sauce next to it that I can pour all over the chicken par.
- [109:16]
C
Sometimes on these door dash and the ubereats, you've got to go to that extra thing where it's like sides and they'll have like a 50 cent extra sauce. I'll put seven of those in there. Yeah, just. Just give me seven of them. It's worth the seven dollars. Whatever it is. I'm in and how.
- [109:28]
A
So with the Chinese food, why don't they just put the mustard in? Yeah, I know you have the hot mustard. Put it in the order. Just throw it in the bag. They never do. They act like never do.
- [109:39]
B
It's the turning commodity. It's like it's gold. It's liquid gold to them.
- [109:43]
C
The Chinese, I was the kid, like 12 year old kid with the noodles before the meal, I would be dipping it in the hot mustard. Everyone else is going, duck sauce. I was a hot flavor.
- [109:52]
B
The flavor of the mustard, what it does for your palate, it sets you up for the rest of the meal. Let's go.
- [109:56]
A
All the vinegar in that, people don't realize it would get rid of COVID Hot mustard did.
- [110:02]
B
Could have probably.
- [110:03]
A
If you ate enough hot mustard at certain Chinese restaurants, Covid just disappeared. It was better than the vaccine seen.
- [110:11]
B
I can't talk about.
- [110:11]
A
No, I love that I. The mustard is my favorite and they always skimp on it. It's weird because then. Yeah, it's true.
- [110:20]
C
I had a great dining experience last spring. Again, we're naming restaurants. These are not to get hookups or anything. Trust me. I just.
- [110:27]
B
They could.
- [110:27]
C
Have you been to Charleston House? Have you been to Hall's Chop House in Charleston?
- [110:32]
B
I don't. I've been to Charleston. I haven't been to Halls.
- [110:35]
C
I don't want to say this is my favorite dining experience. Maybe in the last 10 years. I felt like a gentleman. The service was incredible. The food was incred. The stakes were incredible. I came Away from that meal, saying, okay, you know, when you have that truly epic meal. I have nothing to gain from this. I'm not going to Charleston anytime soon. Not doing a commercial for them. Hall's Chop House. Charleston, Bill. You got to get you down there, House.
- [110:57]
A
When's. When's the latest you can eat steak where it becomes dangerous for you as an old guy in your 50s?
- [111:04]
B
You mean like at night?
- [111:05]
A
Yeah.
- [111:06]
B
Doesn't matter. I'm fine. I can eat. You're just going regardless of a midnight.
- [111:10]
A
Red meat past, like, 8:30.
- [111:12]
B
Gets.
- [111:12]
A
Gets. That's potentially a little.
- [111:14]
B
I get it.
- [111:16]
A
I wish we had taken advantage of our 20s more.
- [111:18]
C
No, I know.
- [111:19]
B
Like, we kind of did.
- [111:19]
A
I mean, I guess I did with all the cigarettes and Jack and Cokes.
- [111:22]
B
Feel like we did. Okay.
- [111:24]
A
All right, House, go drive your kid to basketball practice.
- [111:27]
B
Can't wait.
- [111:28]
A
Good luck to him, Shregs. A true pleasure. Give us a. Let's go. Just for our time.
- [111:33]
C
Let's go.
- [111:34]
B
Let's go.
- [111:35]
A
Good to see you. Keep in touch. Thank you, fellas.
- [111:39]
B
Love you.
- [111:40]
C
Appreciate it. House, you're the man.
- [111:42]
A
All right, that's it for the podcast. Thanks to House and Shregs. Thanks to Gao and Eduardo as well. Rewatchable's coming on Monday. We're doing the Truman show, so don't forget to watch that over the weekend, if you haven't seen that already. And thanks to the LA Times for an awesome, awesome story today about the negligence and all the bad leadership and all the dumb stuff that happened and that led to the Palisades fire. And I would encourage people to go online and read the piece. This is still a massive story, obviously, in Southern California, and I don't think the ineptitude has been properly covered. So I urge you to go read that. And I hope people keep reporting about it and writing about what exactly happened here and how preventable all of this was. So I'm going to leave you with that for the weekend. Enjoy the weekend. I will see you on Sunday. See them when we live with them. Must be 21 plus on President select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino, or 18 + on President D.C. kentucky or Wyoming Gambit Problem. Call 100 Gambler, visit rg-help.com, call 888-797-777 or visit ccpg.orgchatandconnect Connecticut or mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 877-8-HOPE NY or text Hopeny in New York.