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The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The 2025 Football America! Mid-season Awards Show with Mike Ryan Ruiz and Ten Day Tony
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- [00:01]
Dave Damashek
Week 10 is upon us. We haven't a second to waste. We have to get to the first ever mid season awards for the NFL. I mean, but we don't live life fully in the rear view mirror. No, no, no. Philosophically we like to look ahead to the near horizon. That's why we have our week 10 picks up coming for you as well with Mike Ryan. 10 day Tony and the fellas stick around. You just have to sit through like a three second intro here. Start the show. Yes. Hi and hello, my fellow football Americans. Welcome to NFL Week 9. Welcome to episode 23 of Football America. We're presented as ever by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours. We have Mike Ryan and Tenday Tony coming in here for the mid season awards NFL style. The first ever awards of their kind on this show and in the history of mankind. Also We've got the NFL Week 10 countdown. Best games of the weekend. Who's going to win them and by how much did I say at the top of the show, NFL Week 9. I think I did. But there's no time to go back now. We're pressing forward. First, let's honor Geno and Mike. Mike and Gino Fuentes, the person who wore this episode's number best today. That number is 23. So I think we can have a pretty quick conversation here. I'm going with Mike Jordan, played for the Bulls, the Wizards, you probably remember him. Anyone else who from pro football is the best one, really? Devin Hester. I guess that's kind of good. If you're a fan of the U.
- [01:34]
Gino Fuentes
He's going to get, you know, the.
- [01:35]
Mike Fuentes
Representation there and isn't Devin Rester. Devin Hester, I feel like owns a lot of awards that because of new kickoff rules will never be broken. Am I right about that?
- [01:44]
Dave Damashek
Ooh, hot take. I like that. That's probably true.
- [01:47]
Mike Ryan
Found a good take after pronouncing his name the way that Scooby Doo would.
- [01:50]
Dave Damashek
Devin Rester.
- [01:52]
Gino Fuentes
All right, I'm gonna wait. Christian McCaffrey.
- [01:55]
Mike Fuentes
Is he 23? Is Christian McAffrey.
- [01:57]
Dave Damashek
No, he's no. 21.
- [01:58]
Mike Fuentes
No, 21. Is he 21?
- [01:59]
Gino Fuentes
Is he 21?
- [02:00]
Dave Damashek
No, he's 22. He might be 23. 22 or 23.
- [02:06]
Mike Ryan
What is this is what's going on in football.
- [02:08]
Dave Damashek
LeBron.
- [02:09]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah.
- [02:09]
Dave Damashek
This is what we do on the show. My Mike Ryan, we're getting to you in just one second. We have football expert Draymond Green, Don Mattingly, the late great Ryan Sandberg, Kirk Gibson, who hit a big home run Once, way back when.
- [02:22]
Gino Fuentes
By the way.
- [02:22]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, by the way. He wore 23 and he wears 23 with San Francisco. He wore 22 at Carolina.
- [02:27]
Dave Damashek
All right, here we go. Let's say hello to our two guests, our two pals, who. One of whom I just saw down there in south beach during my visit to the Le Batard show. And the great. The great shindig Thursday Night Football and all of that last week. Good times. He wasn't there to say hello to because he was off in Dallas, Texas, which proved to be a bad choice. Mike Ryan. How are you, fellow? What's the poop, fella?
- [02:50]
Mike Ryan
I'm still not good because of that. Terrible choice. Yeah, Dallas sucked. Don't go to Dallas because they wore the gr.
- [02:56]
Dave Damashek
Because they wore the green pants instead of the orange. It would have been a nice uniform.
- [03:00]
Mike Ryan
That's a better color class. You don't know what you're talking about, Dave.
- [03:02]
Dave Damashek
Come on. Really? Yeah. You like the blue jersey against the green pants?
- [03:06]
Mike Ryan
Yeah. Yeah, because there's red accents in the SMU uniform. I don't like red versus orange. Neither does Carson. Becky. He usually throws four picks when. When that's the case, I would love to hear.
- [03:18]
Dave Damashek
Let's ask 10 day Tony. This first question up before we get to our NFL Mid Season Awards here. How are you 10 day Tony? And how many teams and which ones are they that are going to get a bid into the tournament? The. The big tournament, not the ACC tournament from the acc. This is a bum conference. I don't know that any deserve a bid.
- [03:36]
Ten Day Tony
I mean, the champions going to get a bid? I'd probably say two. If I'm handicapping it, I'd probably put it at one and a half. Is the. Is the number. I'd probably say two. But Dave, I want to know how Kendall was. A lot of people that come to the show, that come to Miami don't end up in Kendall, especially in the hood that we were just at. How did you feel about what was going on?
- [03:54]
Dave Damashek
Oh, I thought it was. I thought the time was positively gay, as you promised it would be. Now what? You were wrong about 10day Tony. Was. I was. I was cautioned about how long the drive was going to be from downtown Miami to Kendall. And you're like, oh, 15, 20 minutes. No, no, it was an hour. It was an 20 minutes.
- [04:15]
Mike Ryan
At night?
- [04:15]
Dave Damashek
Night.
- [04:16]
Mike Ryan
Yeah, yeah, at night.
- [04:16]
Dave Damashek
Night.
- [04:17]
Mike Ryan
On the way over there. Yeah. That's midnight.
- [04:19]
Gino Fuentes
Two in the morning.
- [04:19]
Mike Ryan
It's 60 to 90. Yeah.
- [04:21]
Ten Day Tony
But you know it's worth it when you get to Kendall Flanagan's. It's worth it.
- [04:25]
Dave Damashek
Trust me.
- [04:25]
Mike Ryan
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no doubt.
- [04:26]
Mike Fuentes
I saw Dave.
- [04:27]
Dave Damashek
You know what?
- [04:28]
Mike Fuentes
Dave was partaking.
- [04:28]
Dave Damashek
The winner there was the wings.
- [04:33]
Mike Fuentes
My guy was smashing garlic rolls. I saw everything.
- [04:35]
Mike Ryan
The rock and rib rolls.
- [04:36]
Ten Day Tony
Rock and ribs.
- [04:37]
Gino Fuentes
Rib rolls were great.
- [04:38]
Dave Damashek
I missed the rib rolls but I. I had. I had one of those garlic rolls and it's all I've heard about for the last week that.
- [04:46]
Ten Day Tony
I heard you.
- [04:48]
Dave Damashek
The privilege of garlic roll. I had one of them at the end of the night.
- [04:51]
Mike Ryan
I don't even know what you're talking about.
- [04:52]
Mike Fuentes
You enjoyed the hell out of it though.
- [04:54]
Mike Ryan
You have a salad.
- [04:54]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah, sounds great.
- [04:55]
Dave Damashek
I'm not going to apologize for enjoying food. That's one of my passions. Very quickly, Mike and ten daytoni talking to Miami and I don't want to obsess about what's going on with the Dolphins or with the U. It's sad times basically if you're a football fan in Miami, I feel like right now. But a fashion question for you, Mike Ryan since we do drip drill on occasion and we do owe a division analysis, maybe we can do that in the next week. 2 Meantime, the World Series Game 7. Isaiah Kiner Falafa infamously slides feet first into home plate and he's called out. But everybody said we should have had first a slid but he had on the oven mitt. What if the margin of victory in getting the World series was the oven. Oven mitt. Where do we go as a society from there? Where do we come down on the oven mitt as a. As an amendment to one's uniform and it playing potentially a critical role. I mean we avoided it here but one day it's going to happen.
- [05:56]
Mike Ryan
If he did the oven mitt it would be near impossible to know if he's actually touching the plate when it gets over. We have that technology. We had a situation where some angles where the foot was hovering over but we know it didn't exactly hit. If it's the oven mitt, maybe the Blue Jays are the World Series champ. And therein lies the problem. Don't like the oven mitt.
- [06:15]
Mike Fuentes
Outlaw it.
- [06:17]
Dave Damashek
Yeah, well, thank goodness the one thing we avoided. What a. What a splendid game seven it was. And in every regard and thank goodness that we didn't decide game seven of the World Series on an instant replay. In fact here a hot taker. Otherwise if they would have said actually the runner was safe on that play, the J should have said we're men of honor. No, we're not taking it we play, we're not going to win the World Series that way.
- [06:41]
Mike Ryan
You know, baseball America is taken.
- [06:44]
Dave Damashek
Oh, it is. Okay, let's, let's, let's stick to football here. 10 day Tony, who's. Well, before we move, I have to say the oven mitt. Who, why, why, who decided that? This is, this is, this is the height of the technology we got. Well, what choice do we have? We have to protect our base runners hands and the only solution is a giant hamburger helper oven mitt. Well, that we don't have other technology and effectively protect Some, some fingers we.
- [07:12]
Mike Ryan
Do in, in soccer goalie gloves they have splints. You have dexterity with the fingers and you could see them separated. You won't have like the oven mitt issue if they're sliding over. You could see space between them. Just put some splints and padding in the gloves. Have them wear soccer goalie gloves.
- [07:31]
Dave Damashek
Okay. Better idea for 2026. But the baseball season is wrapped. It wrapped for me, let's be honest. Outside of watching a couple of those World series games about two, three months ago. 10 day Tony, answer this one for me from a AFC east enthusiast. And you root for the Dolphins while you root for the Patriots. But you are in Miami. And then you jets just did.
- [07:53]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah, I take a man of the shield.
- [07:55]
Dave Damashek
Okay. That's right. Yeah, you need your Rob Low lid. Which is the better spot to be in. I was just on with our collective pal Zaslow on his show. Go back and listen to that one. It was a good time. But would you rather be today the jets who purge two tent pole guys and really now they have to go back into the market to replace exactly those two guys at a cheaper rate. But at least they have all those first round picks. Or would you want to be the Dolphins who are in this weird purgatory now? The only deal Jalen Phillips and keep Jalen Waddle and Bradley Chubb and the rest of them. Which is the better spot to be in.
- [08:32]
Ten Day Tony
Better spot to be in is the jets. Right. You're not saddled with a massive quarterback contract that you don't know if you can get out of. Plus you don't know if the guy's any good.
- [08:40]
Dave Damashek
Right?
- [08:40]
Ten Day Tony
So like let's just start there that.
- [08:42]
Mike Ryan
You don't have with.
- [08:42]
Ten Day Tony
With Justin Fields. Yeah, you deal a defensive tackle in Quinn Williams, you deal a corner in Sauce Gardner. But like you're hoping that your front office is smart enough to get guys in the first round, second round, and so on and so forth. In the draft that can kind of fill those positions you can develop up. The Dolphins right now are just in purgatory of A, we're not good. B, we're saddled with a bad contract. See, we think we have a lame duck coach. We don't really. Who's going to be the gm? Like, there's way more structural, architectural questions that are on the Dolphin side than the Jets. And the jets is just like, nail your picks and don't be idiots.
- [09:17]
Dave Damashek
Yeah, I think. I think you're right. Except the loophole in what you just said is that we assume that the jets will make good picks, which is already.
- [09:26]
Ten Day Tony
That's a big. It's a big asterisk.
- [09:32]
Dave Damashek
Hi there, my fellow football Americans. Fun fact about me, I like food. I have a hunch you do, too. Well, listen up then. Guy Fieri's got culinary chaos on his Christmas list. Don't miss the brand new series, Tournament of Champions All Star Christmas on Food Network. For the first time ever, superstar chef duos will go head to head in high pressure, high flavor matchups. All for charity. I should be there to taste test everything for charity. Get ready as game day intensity meets holiday heat. And the biggest culinary competition of the season. It's T o C like you've never seen it before. Don't miss Tournament of Champions All Star Christmas series premiere November 5th at 8. Only on Food Network. Or stream it next day on HBO Max. Or do both. Hey there, my fellow football Americans. You feel that chill in the air, don't you? I do. And I'm in Los Angeles. It's officially football weather out there, don't you know. And from tailgates to watch parties, there's only one beer to pair with fall and football. And I'm, of course talking about my beloved Miller Light, the light beer that's been the one beer for beer lovers since 1975. Fun fact about me, I'm a beer lover. And for me, it's still the go to every time. Why? Because Miller Light is the great tasting light beer for people who love beer. That's me, and maybe you. It's brewed for taste, and simply put, it just hits different. Not too heavy, not too light. The kind of beer you can drink from kickoff to the final whistle without missing a beat. It's that smooth, golden flavor that somehow feels like football season. After 50 years, Miller time is and always will be a good time. When the game's on the line and we're all holding our breath, there's comfort in having a Miller Light in hand. It's part of the ritual after all. Whether I'm in a crowded bar or kickback on the couch, it's the beer I reach for. It's dependable, like Brandon Aubrey from 68 Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.comfba to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Hey there, my fellow football Americans. A quick break from pigskin to remind you that the NBA season is officially rolling. And DraftKings newest game, Pick Six, is the easiest way to play for your shot at big wins. NBA stars are lighting it up now. Their numbers aren't just highlights. They're your shot to cash in. Here's how it works. You just pick more or less on two or more player stats. The better your picks, the bigger your payout. So nail your picks tonight. And don't just win. Stack up those payouts. Plus new DraftKings customers get $50 and pick six credits with just a $5 entry on your first pick set. So don't just watch basketball. Pick, play, cash in. Download the DraftKings Pick Six app now and use the code Damaschek. That's code Damaschek. D A M E S H E k play just $5, get $50 and pick six credits. Make the call. Ride the upside. In partnership with DraftKings pick six, the crown is yours. Should we jump into the to the NFL mid season awards? Of course. You guys are ready to do that? So let's go. Do we have any music, anything like that to play there? Mike or Gino?
- [12:48]
Mike Fuentes
I'll add it in post.
- [12:49]
Dave Damashek
Good. All right, here we go. First award. Wow.
- [12:52]
Mike Ryan
I love this tune.
- [12:53]
Ten Day Tony
Right to it.
- [12:53]
Mike Ryan
This is a great to it baby. Incredible. This is royalty free. You're kidding me.
- [12:59]
Mike Fuentes
Hard to believe, right?
- [12:59]
Dave Damashek
Can you believe it? We spare no expense in production. We go all the way or not at all. Here we go. First award. Guy who constantly gets mentioned as an MVP candidate but has zero chance of winning it and probably never had a chance in August and won't have one in January of 2026. I'm going to start with you tende Tony.
- [13:21]
Ten Day Tony
Since I had this take at the beginning of the season, it was just a matter of an injury and this guy getting a chance. It was Daniel Jones. I said at the beginning of the season, if Aaron If Anthony Richardson, we could just move him out of the way. Daniel Jones could potentially have an MVP season, and he's been doing just that outside of the p. The P. Pittsburgh game. Excuse me. I want to give it to Daniel Jones. I want to give a second one to Sam Darnold. Two guys that I feel like are playing at an MVP level that I.
- [13:47]
Mike Fuentes
Don'T think you're understanding.
- [13:51]
Mike Ryan
They can't have a shot.
- [13:52]
Dave Damashek
These are guys who cannot win.
- [13:54]
Mike Ryan
His answer applies because there's no way they're voting Daniel Jones.
- [13:58]
Mike Fuentes
But you can't go and say, oh.
- [13:59]
Ten Day Tony
I have CO MVPs now. Daniel Jones.
- [14:01]
Mike Ryan
I have CO guys that won't win the MVP. You can't be doing that.
- [14:04]
Ten Day Tony
Okay, Daniel Jones.
- [14:05]
Dave Damashek
My answer, okay, is a guy who you think is in the conversation but you know deep in your balls is never gonna win it at the end.
- [14:14]
Ten Day Tony
Of the day, especially because I put him in said conversation. Nobody else did.
- [14:18]
Mike Ryan
So it's just me.
- [14:18]
Ten Day Tony
It's just me talking myself.
- [14:19]
Mike Ryan
I hate this character.
- [14:20]
Ten Day Tony
No, no, I'm just saying. I'm just saying it's just me talking to myself. Nobody else has him in the MVP race except me.
- [14:26]
Dave Damashek
Oh. Nobody has mentioned he was first.
- [14:29]
Mike Ryan
He was. He was. In this case, in this rare instance, Tony was indeed first on Daniel Jones.
- [14:36]
Dave Damashek
Well, I mean, Dave Danvershek sat in this very spot.
- [14:40]
Gino Fuentes
You were first from the Colts.
- [14:41]
Dave Damashek
A cold.
- [14:41]
Gino Fuentes
Yeah.
- [14:42]
Dave Damashek
Yeah.
- [14:42]
Mike Ryan
Well, you were the first to steal Tony's take. Congratulations. We give first place out for that, too.
- [14:48]
Dave Damashek
What's your answer, Mike Ryan.
- [14:50]
Mike Ryan
Matthew Stafford, I just don't think that's his story, even though he's deservedly in the conversation throughout his career. This has happened plenty. But I just don't think he's got the makeup. Like, a lot is put on McVeigh. They put a lot of talent around him. Matthew Stafford is an incredible quarterback, hall of Famer, but may not presently be the best player on his own team. I can't tell who's better at their job, Matthew Stafford or Puka. Who makes who better. They're both great in my opinion, but I just don't think Matthew Safford will ever win an mvp.
- [15:17]
Ten Day Tony
I like that.
- [15:18]
Dave Damashek
That's great. And it's funny that you bring that one up because it's the exact reason why no matter what Daniel Jones does, he has no chance of winning the MVP because he shares the backfield with Jonathan Taylor, who people of mentioning in the last three weeks.
- [15:32]
Mike Ryan
Hey, you got. You got to say this, Jonathan, he's.
- [15:35]
Dave Damashek
Got to be An MVP candidate. He does. Yeah, he should be, but he's not. Because there's no chance that they're going to give it to a running back in the year of our Lord 2025. So let's stop talking about it. Same goes for Jackson, Smith and Jigba, who may end up hurting Sam Darnold's case. It's going to be one of the usual.
- [15:50]
Mike Fuentes
Well, that's why I was saying, like, Josh Allen is the front runner for this award. Just. Just because all the other guys get penalized for having teams that put good players around them.
- [15:58]
Gino Fuentes
Yeah.
- [15:58]
Mike Ryan
And they have the weird offensive Player of the year award, which is just like you're. You're the actual mvp. Because we only pay attention to the offense because defenders won't actually win this. And you may be the. The best at your job, but MVP is a quarterback award.
- [16:11]
Mike Fuentes
Correct.
- [16:12]
Dave Damashek
It is the classic having your cake and some pie that. That these voters get. Like mvp.
- [16:17]
Mike Ryan
No, no.
- [16:18]
Dave Damashek
He's. He's the offensive player of the year. You understand there's a distinction. Can you explain what the distinction is for. For everybody? Because it makes no sense.
- [16:25]
Mike Ryan
Give me the situation in which it's Daniel Jones as MVP and Jonathan Taylor as offensive. Give me that situation.
- [16:31]
Dave Damashek
One note that is important when people bring up, hey, this guy's having a really good year. You really could make a case for him, is his team going to, at minimum, win the division. If not, then he has no chance. Stop this. Like, he's having a good individual year. When a guy like Joe Burrow last year. Do you think Joe Burrow was going to win the MVP with a team that. That was scraping to get into the playoffs? The answer is no. Okay, next one. Speaking of all that stuff, trying to get into the postseason and otherwise. Team currently in a playoff position but won't be by season's end. Mike Ryan, I start with you.
- [17:05]
Mike Ryan
I have two nominees here, but I don't want to steal one from Tony, and I saw how we rightfully chastise him for that. So I'm just going to go with the easy one here. Jags presently in the final playoff position in the afc. I just don't think they end up doing it.
- [17:19]
Ten Day Tony
I'm a Jags guy. I just. I thought long and hard about, yeah, I'm a Jags guy. I'm a Jags guy. Not for Duvalls County. Stand up.
- [17:27]
Dave Damashek
Are you against any team? I guess that's the shorter answer, right?
- [17:31]
Ten Day Tony
Are you anti questions? Now you're.
- [17:33]
Mike Ryan
Now you know his question. Now you Know, the only, the only team or person he's ever shorted in the history of football appears to be Kyler Murray.
- [17:42]
Ten Day Tony
That one seems to be budding quite nicely by the way.
- [17:44]
Mike Fuentes
Well, the real reason the Jags aren't going to make is because the team right behind them is the Chiefs.
- [17:48]
Ten Day Tony
Well, okay, but they have the head to head victory.
- [17:51]
Mike Ryan
Tony got it pretty smart. So then what's your pick? Is it still the Jags?
- [17:55]
Ten Day Tony
No, my team that is in a playoff position right now that won't be is the San Francisco 49.
- [17:59]
Mike Ryan
Yeah, that was my second choice there. You're just banking on the injuries catching up with them. They've navigated them.
- [18:03]
Ten Day Tony
I just think that they have two better teams in that division, the Seahawks and the Rams. And there's no way three NFC west teams make it.
- [18:09]
Dave Damashek
Why not?
- [18:10]
Mike Fuentes
That happens all the time. It happens all the time.
- [18:12]
Ten Day Tony
I know. Time or three teams.
- [18:15]
Mike Fuentes
We had the NFC and even the NFC East. We had a year with the Cowboys, Cowboys, Eagles and Commies.
- [18:20]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah, no, you're right. I just, I just don't think the 49ers have enough juice. They're doing enough with what they have with McCorkle and with their players. But like Ricky Pearsall, is he ever going to see the field again? We don't know.
- [18:29]
Mike Ryan
Like one. Jennings has got like the Howard Bryant injury. He's outside of bed. He tears. Yeah, Dave, what's your pick?
- [18:36]
Dave Damashek
Well, I mean if they were to go to a Super Bowl, I would just have to do away with the Jenga theory, which is if you remove the critical piece, the whole thing's going to implode. That would be thrown out the out the window because they don't have Nick Bosa or Fred Warner and they're still hanging around. Let's see what happens in the the second half of the season. The easy answer is either the Chiefs. Oh no, that's the team that's in a play I'm talking about.
- [18:58]
Mike Ryan
We all have Chiefs. We all have Chiefs that are presently.
- [19:00]
Dave Damashek
Oli. Yeah J. Tony said it. The Jags for what it's worth, did beat KC head to head and Baltimore is two games back of Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. And obviously Baltimore can overcome that by sweeping the the two games against Pittsburgh. But Baltimore, Houston is also hovering around. If you look at the way it stacks up in the afc, there's a gigantic drop off after the the top eight all the way down to three and five. Houston is not completely finished yet in the wild card chase because they have a head to head against the Ravens too.
- [19:36]
Mike Ryan
I hear your workshop and all this stuff. Let's settle on most likely. We're not having an NFL playoff without Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in it. Yeah, we know this.
- [19:45]
Ten Day Tony
Correct.
- [19:45]
Dave Damashek
I guess the easy answer here is where we started here. The Jags are, you know, they did jazz up that roster a little bit at the trade line. They're, they're a little bit better.
- [19:54]
Mike Ryan
So.
- [19:54]
Dave Damashek
Okay, let's do the other side of this one and continue where we are here. The team that is currently not in a playoff spot, that will be. We already started with the Chiefs and.
- [20:03]
Ten Day Tony
The answer for me is the Ravens.
- [20:04]
Mike Fuentes
Like I think that excluding the Chiefs.
- [20:06]
Ten Day Tony
You're saying excluding the Chiefs, but like a team that is not currently there that I think can still win the division is the Ravens.
- [20:11]
Mike Ryan
Right.
- [20:11]
Ten Day Tony
Like Dave said it, if they, if they sweep the Steelers coming up in the last little half of the season, like they're going to win the division, they're going to be in the playoffs. So like that for me is what I'm looking at. I, I got, I feel pretty good about the Ravens long term.
- [20:25]
Mike Ryan
I don't have a ton of conviction with mine. They're presently in last place, but they haven't had their quarterback most of the season and I just like how they play games. I think Minnesota with their defense hangs around. It's a tough division to do it, but if you were to bet on a last place team to do it.
- [20:38]
Dave Damashek
That'S a one, you lead me right into what I was going to bring up here. The Vikings. A lot of people have thrown dirt on them and it's super weird how fast people render their verdicts, especially on young quarterbacks. And I think that's why a lot of people are kind of like, yeah, the bikes are finished. As though JJ McCarthy is a, is a bust forever because he played a bad half a football after his girlfriend or wife or whatever had a baby. The Vikes are 4 and 4. So that then makes the Grimace bowl that they have upcoming against the Ravens all purple all day. It's a huge one for them and the Ravens. The loser of this one is going to be in some real trouble. And it also assumes the talk about Baltimore getting into this thing assumes at minimum a split with Pittsburgh. If that didn't happen, the Ravens would really, really be in bad trouble. Another one. I know there's some buzz about the Bears and after the way they won their game last Sunday, it kind of felt like, boy, it's 180° opposite of what happened to them last year with the. With the commies. And now they're five and three and this is going to propel them into the postseason. They still go at Philly, at Green Bay. They're still in that miserable division, so I don't think the Bears are going to get in. Sorry if that ruins anybody's parade. All right, next up, Mike ryan. You go first on this one. The NFC1 seed will be. And as a reminder, this is not an evaluation of who you think is the best team. It's who's going to wind up with the best record in the conference. How say you?
- [22:05]
Mike Ryan
I think it's going to be the Eagles. They have the head to head on Tampa. I'm really bullish on Tampa this year. More on that later. But I like the way that the schedule works out. I guess a big one will be Monday night when they play Green Bay. If they get that result. I think you can. I'm sure the odds will reflect this, but I think Philadelphia ends up being the number one seed.
- [22:23]
Ten Day Tony
Tony, I'm, I'm agreeing with Mike. I think the Eagles have the best roster, top to bottom. I think they haven't been playing to the full extent of what their talent is. Obviously getting more talent on the defensive side of the ball, which I heard Alexander with Jalen Phillips. I think Phanger is going to coach them up and have them ready to play. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go. Eagles, too.
- [22:39]
Mike Ryan
A lot of additions there, man.
- [22:40]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, I got.
- [22:41]
Dave Damashek
I mean, go ahead.
- [22:43]
Mike Fuentes
Can I zig a little bit where you guys are zagging? November 16th, Seahawks, Rams, big game. Whoever wins that game, number one.
- [22:50]
Mike Ryan
I mean, they play each other twice, too. So you're accounting for the split and wondering if the math. Maths there. I, I love the. But I just think it's almost too tough that it'd be really tough for one of those teams to come out clearly ahead of the rest of the division and take that one seed.
- [23:06]
Dave Damashek
I. You know, everything becomes rhetorical the more you talk about as much as we talk about pro football. But have you looked at the standings in the last week or so? I think I can now officially switch that switch over. For the last three, four years, we've said, oh, well, the AFC is where all the good teams are. I think it's now. The NFC is now a tick better than the afc. I mean, look, just the. Just the west alone, the heavyweights with the Niners, who were talking about not making it, and the Hawks, the Rams and Niners is Huge this weekend. One shout to the Bucks, though. They'll be their. Their fate is determined by their next three. The Patriots at Buffalo, at the Rams. If they can go two and one out of that, which is tough to do, but if they can, it's nothing but cupcakes ahead. That's even if they go one and two, they are going to have a shot at this.
- [23:55]
Mike Ryan
Aided by the bye, though, the buy came in a really good time for this team.
- [23:59]
Dave Damashek
Okay, let's switch it over to that aforementioned afc. Tony, you go first. Who's going to be the number one seed there?
- [24:05]
Ten Day Tony
I think this one's going to be a little bit of a crazy take. I think the New England Patriots are going to be the number one seed.
- [24:10]
Mike Ryan
Solid.
- [24:11]
Ten Day Tony
I think that their remaining schedule, if you look at it, seems very cake. And Drake May is getting really fat on bad teams. And somehow, some way, the Patriots, I guess, from last year, have just a very easy schedule. I think they're going to be able to run the table and get the number one seed.
- [24:26]
Mike Ryan
Take maybe. I, I really like what I saw from the Bills, Tony. I think that they figured it out. There was plenty of reasons to be curious about them going forward, their defense, and I know they have a ton of injuries, but they got Superman under center. Josh Allen is just a demigod. They'll. They'll have another matchup coming up. Patriots probably have one of the best wins, more impressive wins of the NFL season. I'm not bucking up too much against that. I think it's going to reside in that division, but I'll edge out the Bills in this one.
- [24:53]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, I think, I think like when it comes to what you said about New England, last few games have been kind of gimmes for them. New Orleans, Tennessee, Cleveland, Atlanta. Those are all games that beat Atlanta by one. You know, they had a bad loss at Vegas start the year they beat up on the Dolphins. So I think. I think we're excited about them right now.
- [25:10]
Mike Ryan
Kind of like the Big Ten, Tampa Bay, you're getting fat on the bottom half of the conference. But what do you want them to do if they're an underdog that got the greatest underdog head coach arguably in the history of the league.
- [25:19]
Mike Fuentes
It's not their fault everybody else is bad.
- [25:21]
Dave Damashek
I hear your noise. What's fascinating about this one is you would think if I told you the Bills beat the Chiefs and the Raven, you'd be like, well, then what are we even talking about? I mean, obviously they're the best team in the Conference, and maybe they are, but to Tony's point, they absolutely are in line to lose this division. The Bill's path the rest of the way is way rougher than. Than what Drake May and company have. I'm going to stick with the Bills here because they're my preseason super bowl pick, and I'm nothing if riding with the guy in the mirror as a vain person. Next up, Mike Ryan, QB you want for the remainder of the season. Now, if you want to go easy with training wheels, I'll give you Patrick Mahomes. Or even if you want Mahomes, is there somebody else who you might want under center for these big games?
- [26:05]
Mike Ryan
I never go easy. And I already gave Josh Allen his flowers, so I'm gonna. I'm gonna play the hits here. I'm gonna do Wonderwall right now. I want Baker Mayfield. Yeah, Baker Mayfield. Bold.
- [26:21]
Dave Damashek
Bold. And I like it quite a bit. We agree. It's not Jared Goff, though. For real?
- [26:26]
Mike Ryan
Yeah, for real.
- [26:27]
Dave Damashek
Ultimately, that remains the limitation for all the flowers he deserves to have gotten over the last couple of years.
- [26:33]
Mike Ryan
Give me a War Horse. And now Baker's entering War Horse territory. Stafford, too.
- [26:38]
Dave Damashek
Like, I'm not.
- [26:39]
Mike Ryan
I don't want it easy.
- [26:40]
Ten Day Tony
Speaking of War Horse.
- [26:40]
Mike Ryan
Oh, my guy. Is that your guy?
- [26:42]
Ten Day Tony
Stafford? I'm leaving. I'm leaving Mahomes. I'm leaving Josh Allen on the shelf. Obviously, those are the two answers, but outside of those top two, I want the old War horse, the guy who's been through everything and everyone and seen it all, done it all. Give me Matthew Staff.
- [26:54]
Mike Ryan
You're not surprising him.
- [26:56]
Dave Damashek
I. Tony and I are in lockstep.
- [26:58]
Ten Day Tony
Come on, baby.
- [26:59]
Dave Damashek
I go Stafford, too. And I go Stafford over Josh Allen as well. Stafford's done it, you know, and the other thing is, he is maybe the most eternal guy of the century, as much as that paradox can. Can be true. And he's only 38. It seems like he's been in the league as long as Tom Brady was in the league.
- [27:19]
Mike Ryan
He's an old 30.
- [27:19]
Dave Damashek
He's been around forever. Didn't look old last week. Okay, yeah, I'm going Stafford. Mike, you want to throw one in me?
- [27:29]
Mike Fuentes
And, you know, we're discussing, like, Sam Darnold. I mean, but then, you know, Josh Allen, like I said Josh. Josh Allen's kind of like an easy take, like how Pat Pat would be, but, you know, also like Stafford.
- [27:39]
Mike Ryan
You guys hipsters.
- [27:41]
Ten Day Tony
Oh, the guy.
- [27:42]
Mike Fuentes
The guy who said Baker. Yeah, the guy's a Baker.
- [27:45]
Mike Ryan
They went head to head.
- [27:45]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah.
- [27:46]
Mike Ryan
All Right.
- [27:46]
Dave Damashek
Okay.
- [27:46]
Mike Ryan
They went head to head. How'd that work out?
- [27:48]
Dave Damashek
I'm gonna be hipper. Still a guy who we haven't seen play in at least a month and a half. How about Brock Purdy? Really? I'm not talking about the guy at the trigger.
- [27:56]
Mike Ryan
You don't want Brock.
- [27:58]
Mike Fuentes
You're lying.
- [27:59]
Mike Ryan
You're telling lies.
- [28:00]
Ten Day Tony
I like Purdy.
- [28:01]
Dave Damashek
No, I'm taking Kyle Shanahan is what I'm taking. And when I. When I say I just.
- [28:05]
Mike Ryan
It might be Mac Jones or it might be Brock Purdy.
- [28:09]
Mike Fuentes
Listen, I hate Jordan Love. I take him over Brock Purdy. Yeah, I don't like Jordan Love at all.
- [28:14]
Ten Day Tony
I don't know about that.
- [28:14]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah.
- [28:16]
Dave Damashek
Listen, I'm not saying Brock Purdy anywhere in pro football. I'm saying as the quarterback who was hand picked by Kyle Shanahan, who's one of the three OG true bonafide play.
- [28:29]
Mike Fuentes
Callers out there, he was the second option. Trey Lance was the hand pick going.
- [28:32]
Mike Ryan
Deep into the mixtapes right now.
- [28:36]
Dave Damashek
I just wanted to throw it. I wanted to be hipper still. Okay, team you'd least want to be rooting for right now. I feel like you guys kind of answered this one before we got into the mis proper. But. But, Mike, take this one.
- [28:49]
Mike Ryan
Everyone else has Dolphins. We can check that. I learned from me. I am so happy I don't have to root for the Cleveland Browns anymore. And I am especially loving that I don't have to root for them this year as someone that has fully recovered from their Browns fandom. It's the Browns, really. Yeah. Yeah. They're in way more dire straits than the Miami Dolphins are. You want to talk?
- [29:09]
Dave Damashek
You.
- [29:09]
Mike Ryan
You mentioned TUA is an albatross of a contract to get out from under. Their guy you forgot about. That's how bad theirs is.
- [29:16]
Mike Fuentes
He doesn't even show up to the facility.
- [29:18]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah, the checks keep getting sent.
- [29:21]
Dave Damashek
Mike Fuentes called me and Joey Mullinaro, fellow Steelers, fan out, earlier this week on the jerk list for being overly negative as Steelers fans. First place and all of that. And the. And the five and three to. Well, whatever. I mean, I know what the history is. I get what I say. I said, yeah, five and three. I do like to periodically remind myself. And it's nice the way that the US Map sets up with Cleveland so close. Like, it could always be worse. It could always be worse. Steelers fans. You could root for one of those teams in Ohio. It's clearly the Browns. They are way worse off than the jets. And the jets are an Ongoing embarrassment themselves. Browns to the left of us, Ravens to the right. Here we go. All right, best. Oh, good one for Mike Ryan here. Best single get up of the season so far. Single uniform, not uniform matchup.
- [30:12]
Mike Ryan
Well, it's tough. We delved into the uniform matchup in previous episode. If I had to pick one from those two, I'm going Bucks throwbacks. Here's why. Slight knock on the Seahawks because with a new Nike pant, it's hard. I love it when it's a sparkling silver pant with that Seahawks look. It's a little dull for the Seahawks. Slick. The helmet has beautiful flints in it. I want the pants to reflect that. So I'm going with the road throwback whites unveiled by the Tampa Bay Bucks this season. That was an incredible looking game, Dave, between Seattle and Tampa when they don those bad boys. I just love the road whites.
- [30:45]
Dave Damashek
I like that you call it pant. Why is. Why is it that pants are. Are plural and it's because you have two legs. But then why is your shirt not plural? You have two arms.
- [30:57]
Mike Ryan
These are things that I ask myself all the time when I'm on 20 milligra.
- [31:01]
Mike Fuentes
But say, but isn't it a question of like the pants On a pair of pants, the feature part is the extremities. Where on a shirt. The feature part is torso area, especially where damage.
- [31:13]
Mike Ryan
I just always say it together.
- [31:14]
Dave Damashek
I'm no Matt Khalil.
- [31:15]
Mike Fuentes
No, but. But it's correct.
- [31:17]
Mike Ryan
I like it when people call. Call it pant.
- [31:19]
Mike Fuentes
But you know what?
- [31:20]
Mike Ryan
That's a good looking pant.
- [31:20]
Mike Fuentes
You sound like a fashion aficionado when you say that.
- [31:22]
Dave Damashek
Yeah.
- [31:23]
Ten Day Tony
You kind of.
- [31:23]
Mike Fuentes
It's kind of a little elevated.
- [31:24]
Mike Ryan
You talk like, you know, it's a little like Jeff Goldblum. Like, this guy must know something. He doesn't call him pants.
- [31:29]
Mike Fuentes
It's like the guy who talks a shirt. Oh, I have a bunch of T shirts. Something goes. I have a bunch of pieces.
- [31:34]
Dave Damashek
Ooh.
- [31:34]
Mike Fuentes
You know, you're a little more. It's how you come.
- [31:37]
Dave Damashek
Yeah.
- [31:37]
Mike Ryan
It's how you come off as intelligent without actually having to be.
- [31:40]
Mike Fuentes
These are some nice pieces I like here, you know? Yeah. Makes you sound smarter.
- [31:45]
Dave Damashek
All right, we'll skip uniform matchup because we have kind of covered that.
- [31:48]
Mike Ryan
I mean, that was a universal winner.
- [31:49]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah.
- [31:49]
Mike Ryan
I mean, there was no way Tampa.
- [31:51]
Ten Day Tony
Bay, Seattle is my best uniform match.
- [31:52]
Dave Damashek
You mentioned both.
- [31:52]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah.
- [31:53]
Mike Ryan
There's no touching it. There's a huge goal. I think second place is also Seattle against the throwback commie uniforms because why the Seattle uniform was there.
- [32:01]
Ten Day Tony
It's great.
- [32:01]
Dave Damashek
Yeah.
- [32:01]
Ten Day Tony
I. For me, the best get up of the season. Kelly green Eagles with the gray pants.
- [32:07]
Mike Ryan
I love it also.
- [32:09]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, it's green.
- [32:10]
Dave Damashek
Good job.
- [32:11]
Ten Day Tony
It's Kelly green.
- [32:12]
Mike Ryan
The ugliest green.
- [32:13]
Mike Fuentes
And also no mention of the Denver Broncos orange crush.
- [32:18]
Mike Ryan
I mean, paired against. We. We've talked about the. The layered onion that is the. The Cowboys uniforms. Doesn't make any sense, but when it comes to contrast can look like a million bucks.
- [32:27]
Mike Fuentes
Now that you mentioned that, how did you feel about the Cowboys singular red.
- [32:30]
Dave Damashek
Stripe on the back look? The.
- [32:31]
Mike Ryan
The uniform. The uniform makes zero sense. Why not throw a red stripe on there too? Let. Yeah, let's just go crazy.
- [32:37]
Dave Damashek
Here's as we've discussed, if you're going to do that, if you're going to go like half ass with the red stripe like they did in 76, then go all the way and go flat finish on the pants. The shiny pants is what made it look like just a mess. Like what did you guys forget? Did your. Did your equipment manager forget to pack the correct pants or something like that? They just did not match at all. I'm sorry.
- [33:02]
Mike Ryan
I actually saw. I was in Dallas and I did like a whole thing at the facility. The history of the pant and why the pant is that color. And it. Your eyes don't deceive you, Dave. A year to year the color changes because material changes. And they also go out of their way to make the hue closer to the original. And some years they're like, we'll just make it a little bit more silver this time. They're messing with us, pal.
- [33:24]
Ten Day Tony
Wow.
- [33:24]
Dave Damashek
And then sometimes it's. It's this faint turquoise. It was for like 10 years and then they amended that.
- [33:31]
Mike Ryan
It's not even blue. It's seafoam green.
- [33:34]
Dave Damashek
Right.
- [33:34]
Mike Ryan
It's foam green. It's not silver. It's not blue. It's a green.
- [33:41]
Dave Damashek
I love the Seahawks. I love the Buccaneers. I like the Eagles a lot. But the 1960 throwback is superior. So that's not on my list. The best throwback that's out there that we see once in a while. Pat Patriot.
- [33:54]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah, the Patriots.
- [33:55]
Dave Damashek
Red is great.
- [33:56]
Ten Day Tony
That's a great one.
- [33:56]
Mike Fuentes
Pat Patriot.
- [33:57]
Dave Damashek
All right.
- [33:58]
Mike Fuentes
Terrible looking helmet. Looks stupid.
- [33:59]
Gino Fuentes
Boo.
- [34:00]
Dave Damashek
Bradley's not here for this discussion, so we can't really have it. I was going to ask who's the most handsome football American?
- [34:06]
Mike Ryan
Kevin o' Connell could wear a hoodie. Yeah, it's Kevin o'.
- [34:11]
Dave Damashek
Connell. I was talking about this show you're talking about the most handsome football.
- [34:20]
Mike Ryan
Sometimes you don't want to do the upper chest workout or the wide chest, but he. Dude, you got to do.
- [34:25]
Mike Fuentes
My guy is in early on Mondays, buddy. That's chest day. He's there. Yeah, my guy is cancer. My guy's out there like.
- [34:33]
Mike Ryan
No, no, no. It's just the chest, dude.
- [34:34]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, the chest and lafleur immaculate fade.
- [34:37]
Mike Ryan
Oof.
- [34:38]
Mike Fuentes
That fade is perfect.
- [34:39]
Mike Ryan
Yes. I mean, that's what all they were doing at on that staff chest in Washington was like, hey, who's your barber? Who's your chest guy?
- [34:46]
Mike Fuentes
Exactly. And like, Daniel, I think it fascinating.
- [34:50]
Dave Damashek
That Mike Fuentes and Mike Ryan park their cars in the same garage, but that's what I find off putting about Matt LaFleur is the. Is the styling of the facial hair. It's. It's very precious. I can. I'm. Mike. I can tell that's what you do, too, but. But it ain't.
- [35:05]
Mike Ryan
I don't shave my own face. I don't. I go in every eight days, and someone just gets it at the same length. Yeah.
- [35:14]
Mike Fuentes
This is like. Yeah.
- [35:16]
Dave Damashek
I, by the way, shout out to Dave Canales. He might be on the handsome coach list, too.
- [35:20]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah.
- [35:20]
Mike Ryan
He was trying to wear a hat, and you know what? Didn't hate it.
- [35:22]
Ten Day Tony
Yeah.
- [35:22]
Mike Fuentes
Young up and comer.
- [35:25]
Dave Damashek
Okay, let's wrap it up here then, with two answers. Tony, you go. First team that's going to lose Super Bowl 60, the Buffalo Bills. Oh.
- [35:36]
Ten Day Tony
I think they get past the hump of Kansas City. I think they get to the promised land, but they don't. They can't get in because I know the team is in the way.
- [35:44]
Dave Damashek
And then. How do you feel about that if you're a Bills fan? We did it. We finally killed Thanos. We. We did it. Roll the end credits. Wait. We still have another game. Oh, now we lost it. What does any of it mean? Right? Exactly. You don't feel satisfied if you're a Bills fan. If you don't get the Lombardi, even if you do vanquish Mahomes Mike Ryan, how say you?
- [36:07]
Mike Ryan
I think the Bucks lose the Super Bowl.
- [36:09]
Mike Fuentes
Wow.
- [36:10]
Mike Ryan
I don't think The Bucks are the 1 seed AFC champion, but. But I think the Tampa Bay Bucks make it out of the nfc. I. Even though that. That Philly game got away from them. They made some special teams plays. I don't think Philadelphia wants to see Tampa in the playoffs. I really don't. And I think guts, guile, and a little bit of Baker Mayfield and getting Healthier at the right time. I think that the Bucks are built for this man. How great. How great is Baker Mayfield to watch? It's a universal beloved truth on Sundays. It was a bye week and something was missing. It was Baker Mayfield, America's quarterback.
- [36:46]
Dave Damashek
Did I mention that the Browns are an ongoing punchline? Baker Mayfield is. Has jumped to the very top of that list. Also, the guy they traded to get to replace Baker Mayfield is 1A to that answer there. Mike. Mike Fuentes. You want to jump in here?
- [37:03]
Mike Fuentes
Actually, no, you don't.
- [37:05]
Mike Ryan
You don't want to pick a Super bowl loser.
- [37:06]
Mike Fuentes
No.
- [37:07]
Mike Ryan
You're just winners only.
- [37:08]
Mike Fuentes
I just feel like if I say the Bills again, I'm just going to come off as a hater.
- [37:11]
Mike Ryan
Well, we can just skip right past you since you didn't have an opinion. No, you punted on that, Dave.
- [37:15]
Dave Damashek
All right, here we go. No one's mentioned this team yet in either direction except that they hate the quarterback. The Green Bay packers are going to lose Super Bowl 6.
- [37:24]
Mike Ryan
I have a ticket. I have. I have a Super bowl winner ticket on Green Bay. But I, I don't like how they approach these teams that aren't. That are not good.
- [37:32]
Mike Fuentes
They. They have a very much of like a play up to competition mentality and then played down severely to competition.
- [37:38]
Mike Ryan
Yeah.
- [37:38]
Gino Fuentes
Also, they just lost.
- [37:39]
Dave Damashek
Well, then I got great news for you because they're not going to be playing any bad teams come playoff time. Yeah, right.
- [37:45]
Mike Ryan
They might be built for it.
- [37:46]
Mike Fuentes
It's funny you got them losing the super bowl when they're not even going to make it. That's crazy.
- [37:50]
Dave Damashek
Yeah. Listen, I'm bold if nothing else. All right, let's bring it home now. The team that's gonna win Super Bowl 60, Mike Ryan.
- [37:57]
Mike Ryan
I don't think it ends in heartbreak for Buffalo. I think they get past Patrick Mahomes and I think they, they get over this hump. But I think Bill's bucks. I mean, your kids better be going to bed at 6:15. They don't need to be seeing this. It's whoever has the ball last, and I'm betting on Josh Allen to have the ball last. Do not leave more than four seconds for Baker Mayfield. All right, great. All time Super Bowl. I'll be crushed as a Baker backer, but I love the Bills fans. They welcome Browns fans into their stadium. When the Browns left Cleveland. Always a weird little kinship over there by the lake. I want their fans to win this. I love Josh Allen. I love their story. I love their team. Bunch of good guys. I'm rooting for them. Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl.
- [38:35]
Dave Damashek
Wow. Well, I already said Bills are going to the super bowl, so that gives away my answer. I think they are going to beat the Green Bay packers in the Super Bowl. Of course, the best super bowl would be for one that is realistic. Still, as we sit here midway through the season is Bill's Lions. If those two fan bases could go up against each other, but also Packers, Bills, two delightful fan bases as well, what a gay time that would be in Santa Clara. Tony, bring it on home here with.
- [39:02]
Ten Day Tony
A good one, guys. I think the Villains win again. Eagles beat the Bills in the Super Bowl. Tush push is all over the field. They can't stop it. Fourth down and short doesn't matter. Jalen hurts, scores an octopus based just on the tush push. Scores a touchdown, scores a two point conversion.
- [39:20]
Dave Damashek
Eagles repeat again and then they throw the tush push out forever.
- [39:25]
Gino Fuentes
Yes, that's what I was going to say.
- [39:26]
Ten Day Tony
Sunsetting of the tush push happens on an octopus game winning drive for Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia.
- [39:33]
Gino Fuentes
This is the game that makes America really sick of it because both teams can do the tush push. So it's going to be tush pushing back and forth all the way down.
- [39:39]
Ten Day Tony
Like a rugby scrum.
- [39:40]
Gino Fuentes
Yeah, exactly.
- [39:41]
Dave Damashek
You're so. That's exactly right. That's what we talked about. The tush push is weird because as it now everybody has their version of it. Almost everybody except the Chiefs. I think it's going to cost them a game in January. Finally, everybody. It's not like they're seeing it here and there. Every team can do it to them. So it's a competitive disadvantage that they refuse to Give it to 15 or anyone else on that roster to do it when it's available to them. And I think you're absolutely right. It's not as bad as ending a season on a replay or something like that. But it's going to be real bad if the Eagles win it. It leaning on the tush push and then they throw it out the window. Like what are we supposed to think of of the Eagles at that point? Wait, the rule that you've done away with because you thought it was. It was. It was unfair. They get to keep their lombardi though. It's a little. It's a little murky, right?
- [40:34]
Ten Day Tony
It is. But again, if you don't like it, stop.
- [40:36]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, they're getting it in before it's banned.
- [40:38]
Ten Day Tony
Don't like it, stop it. That's my simple answer.
- [40:39]
Mike Fuentes
It's not like they're doing it while it's. You banned it after.
- [40:42]
Dave Damashek
No, I get it. I just think it's going to be unsatisfying. We're going to be like yeah, but you wouldn't have won if you hadn't had that. That dumb play that everybody has agreed is now stupid. And so enjoy your Lombardi.
- [40:52]
Gino Fuentes
But Dave, I think history is littered with stuff like this. Like Michael Jordan, the way he used to guard people. They had to outlaw it at the end of his career because you couldn't do that.
- [41:01]
Mike Ryan
Shaq.
- [41:01]
Gino Fuentes
And the way he. You know, eventually teams, eventually this stuff gets outlawed because people are so good at doing it.
- [41:06]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, this is over. This is a real across sports if A then this thing would be B situation.
- [41:12]
Dave Damashek
All right. Ten day Tony, Mike Ryan, what a pleasure times two. Thanks so much for joining on the mid season awards. I think these went swimmingly and I think we should do them again next year.
- [41:22]
Mike Ryan
Glad to finally be joining you when it's okay to be having an MVP conversation. Kept jumping the gun and now it's we finally decided mid season we can hand out some hypothetical awards.
- [41:32]
Dave Damashek
Gotta get over the peak of the halfway point in the season. I'm sorry to leave on a sour note. You were wrong. The the hurricanes definitely should have worn the orange pants. Dark green versus dark blue. Fat.
- [41:45]
Mike Ryan
It was just regular blue, not dark blue. You're color. You might be colorblind, pal.
- [41:54]
Dave Damashek
Ah, good times there with those awards. Now we press forward with the Week 10 pick 6 presented as ever by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours. All right, Geno and Mike. Mike and Geno last let's establish our half dozen picks here. I'm going touchdowns mostly here like I have been. We've got to conquer the beast. We must get that million dollars already. Starting off with. I know I just said bad things about you Jared Goff but I do like you to throw more than one and a half touchdown passes. You've done so in four of your last five. Why not do it again? Sam Darnold, same deal for you. Two touchdown passes or more. He's done that in three of his last four. How about this? Marcus Mariota for a single interception. Great bet. Of course, right? If a little negative. Michael Badgley over seven and a half kicking points. And there are those touchdowns I promised you. Derrick Henry, he's one of those cats who feels to me like he gets into stretches where he scores a lot of touchdowns. He did that last week. He continues that role this week and A guy who's about as dependable as it gets at getting into the end zone. Jameer Gibbs. Any issues, fellas?
- [43:03]
Mike Fuentes
So I don't love betting interceptions in general even like, I know he's a backup, I know he's Marcus Mariota, but it's just whenever I seem to pick or depend on an interception, it almost never works out.
- [43:13]
Dave Damashek
We have bad human beings. Is that what you're worried about?
- [43:16]
Mike Fuentes
I don't know what it is. It's like to attack a bit loa.
- [43:18]
Dave Damashek
Right.
- [43:19]
Mike Fuentes
Our homegrown quarterback here leads a league in interceptions.
- [43:22]
Gino Fuentes
He throws them in bunches.
- [43:23]
Dave Damashek
Yeah.
- [43:23]
Mike Fuentes
Whenever I decide, you know what, we're going to try to make some little quiche off of two interception. He never seems to throw it. So if it's a dependable thing, I don't know because. Yeah, maybe I'm just not hoping for the negative but replace it then. Yeah, that's all.
- [43:38]
Ten Day Tony
I agree.
- [43:38]
Mike Fuentes
My replacement would be Devonte Adams. Touchdown Puka. Nakua a little bit banged up. Devonte Adams seems to be a nice red zone target for Matt Stafford. I think he has like five in his last two games or something like that. Something ridiculous number like that. But I like Devonte Adams to get a touchdown.
- [43:50]
Gino Fuentes
If Puka's out, then for sure.
- [43:52]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, Puka's out, I'm in. But he has like a rib thing and I know he plays through that stuff a lot. But even then it looks like Devonte Adams, along with a, you know, a whole legion of tight ends seems to be the red zone target down there for Matt Stafford in the Rams.
- [44:06]
Dave Damashek
Don't Forget Shannon owns McVeigh, Man. That has been for their entire head to head career. So you might want to consider that if you're making any wagers on that game. Gino, you want to throw any in there? I like Mike's calling it quiche. I haven't heard that one.
- [44:20]
Gino Fuentes
Well, I was, I was going to go James Cook, but they don't have it listed. I don't know if it's. It's because he's questionable or just because it's so obvious, but I'm going to go Josh Allen rushing TD here and let's take out Badgley because F kickers.
- [44:32]
Dave Damashek
Yeah, yeah. I'm kind of with you. And it's, you know, who knows, week to week if they're going to be in the spot where he's swinging the leg.
- [44:38]
Mike Fuentes
You're about to have Bradley coming in like a comet through here to be.
- [44:41]
Dave Damashek
Like, what about the kickers? What about the kickers.
- [44:43]
Mike Fuentes
You know, every time, every time kickers have mentioned Bradley comes in like a freight train.
- [44:46]
Dave Damashek
We're going to talk about kickers this week. I was surprised there was no one shouting out any kicker in the year of the kicker actually when we did the mvp. All right, let's do game picks as promised. Time now for the Week 10 countdown. We're gonna count down the half dozen best games and who's gonna win them and by how much. I want to throw one in real quick. I know we don't have time for this, but I'm doing it anyway. I'm surprised the Dolphins are only +9 and a half against the Bills. How say you Fuentes boys?
- [45:16]
Mike Fuentes
Yes.
- [45:18]
Dave Damashek
Shouldn't that number be more like 13 more?
- [45:20]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah. How come like other teams are getting like 14 point spreads and stuff like that? Dolphins only getting nine and a half. That's weird. And the over unders 50 and a half. I could see this.
- [45:28]
Dave Damashek
James Cook can't be worth that.
- [45:29]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, I could see this easily being like one of those like 42 to 8 games. And it just misses the under. Like the Dolphins get a late touchdown, late two point conversion. That doesn't matter. And it's like 42, 8. Finally just missed the under.
- [45:43]
Gino Fuentes
Because part of the thing is that they have, they haven't changed the guy like leading the team on the field. They just changed the GM and they've made the defense worse.
- [45:50]
Dave Damashek
Right.
- [45:50]
Gino Fuentes
Trade.
- [45:51]
Dave Damashek
So it's one of, of a number of funky numbers to my eye. I'm not a bookmaker. I don't know if I've mentioned that before, but nevertheless some of these stand out as weird. I mentioned the Grimace bowl at the top of the. Of the show and Baltimore and Minnesota. Purple, purple and more purple. The Vikings at home talking about a weird number plus four and a half. What did I miss? The Ravens are now world beaters again because they won a game last week. Maybe they are. Mike Fuentes, where do you land on this one?
- [46:22]
Mike Fuentes
I mean that's a big Lamar Jackson effect, right?
- [46:24]
Dave Damashek
I mean. Yeah.
- [46:25]
Mike Fuentes
And he came out, he really slang at four touchdowns. It gets a terrible Miami team that couldn't do it.
- [46:30]
Gino Fuentes
Brian Flores is going to send the house.
- [46:31]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah.
- [46:32]
Gino Fuentes
I mean which might be a good thing for. For Baltimore if he's. If he's picking the.
- [46:36]
Dave Damashek
Yeah.
- [46:36]
Mike Fuentes
You kind of, kind of perplexed me here, Dave. Because it's true. Why is that like that? I guess J.J. mcCarthy, they don't have a lot of faith in the kid. I would though, however, am going to pick.
- [46:44]
Dave Damashek
I mean that defense for the Ravens, I know their pieces are back so they're a different defense than they were three weeks ago. But still they, they have not been over the course of a half season. World beaters plus four and a half because they're playing JJ McCarthy who looked good last time we saw him.
- [46:57]
Mike Fuentes
Yeah, but I don't know that that's a weird game. I probably would pick Baltimore just because I feel like Lamar Jackson could do Lamar Jackson things. But honestly, if I was like putting my money down, I'd probably stay away from these.
- [47:08]
Dave Damashek
You can put your money down on there. By the way, from quiche, Mike Fuentes goes slang. He's Lamar Jackson slang the ball. I'm not sure. I don't know if that's the correct. Why is it slung? He slung it.
- [47:21]
Mike Fuentes
He slang.
- [47:21]
Mike Ryan
I'm not sure.
- [47:22]
Mike Fuentes
He threw the ball really well. How about that? Four touchdowns against.
- [47:24]
Dave Damashek
Tell you, tell you this much, whichever of the two Twin Cities this game is played in, the home team is going to wind up on the right side of that. Plus four and a half. I don't know if I'm willing to call them an outright winner, but I think that number is too big.
- [47:36]
Gino Fuentes
Next up, I would the under on that because I think that that Minnesota defense is going to make life pretty difficult for Lamar Jackson with all the blitzing and I think Baltimore is going to make their defense is probably going to make life difficult for JJ McCarthy. So I'll take the under on that maybe.
- [47:52]
Dave Damashek
But you know, the secondary of the Ravens, Kyle Hamilton's existence notwithstanding, is their liability combined with their, their pass rush. So I could see, you know, the Vikings actually having a big offensive day. So from the Grimace bowl we go to the grimacing fans bowl. Boy, this is an all timer and I feel real sad for Browns fans. Not really, but the Browns are playing the Jets. I feel even worse for the jets fans because they're at home are the jets and they're two and a half point underdogs to the Cleveland Browns. You can't get any lower. This is, this is, this is very, very sad stuff. Gino Fuentes, who are you taking in this all time mess?
- [48:33]
Gino Fuentes
I'm taking Cleveland here because the jets just traded away two key defensive pieces and that one might have been their only advantage in that game. And I think Cleveland is probably going to run all over New York now. Yeah, that's my answer.
- [48:44]
Mike Fuentes
A big win for Dylan Gabriel. I think I'm going to pick the Browns too.
- [48:48]
Dave Damashek
I'm going with a final score of 2 to 0.
- [48:50]
Gino Fuentes
Yeah, it's going to be bad. It's going to be hard to watch.
- [48:52]
Mike Fuentes
Do the jets cover.
- [48:54]
Dave Damashek
I'm going to take, I'm going to take. I mean flip all time, flip a coin. I mean this is slowing down to look at a car wreck kind of, kind of effect, right? I mean who can tolerate this game? I'm glad it's in the early window and the Steelers are on in primetime. So I can really look at this one for a Fair Percentage of 3 hours here so I can sit there and laugh and feel better about my team. Next up, I've got. I guess I should make a pick here. Yeah, I'll take the, I'll take the Jets. How could if you, if you're putting money on this one. If you're looking to have your quiche on Sunday night because of this game, I don't know what to tell you. Look in looking to some help. Next up, the Jolly Green Giant Bowl. It's the Eagles. It's the Packers. The packers at home minus two and a half total at the time of this recording, 44 and a half. Mike, I'll say you.
- [49:50]
Mike Fuentes
I'm gonna take the Eagles and the points here. I think the Tucker Craft injury is one that their, their offense is gonna have a tough time rebounding from. And I don't think the defense is that good. I think the defense been kind of like wishy washy all year. Philly can be very methodical. They beat you up inside. So I'm gonna take Philly and the points.
- [50:06]
Dave Damashek
I think everybody, when they look at pro football week to week, you react to what you just saw. And so people are a little down on the packers because they lost at home to the Panthers. But of course they're human beings and they could look at the schedule and say at Pittsburgh, huge for Jordan Love versus Aaron Rodgers and and LaFleur and all the rest of it. And then on the other side we host the Eagles while we have to do is get through the pants.
- [50:27]
Mike Ryan
Panthers.
- [50:28]
Dave Damashek
They overlook the Carolina Panthers. That cost them. They get right this week. They win that game outright. Gino, any thoughts on that one?
- [50:34]
Gino Fuentes
I think the part of that Micah Parsons trade that stands out is that they made their interior defense weaker when they did that. And now Green Bay, like the way you beat the Philly defense recently is with the tight end down the middle of the field and that's how graph's gone. So I'm gonna go with him.
- [50:52]
Dave Damashek
Okay, next up, I mentioned the prime time game. It's the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Los Angeles Chargers in saf. Home team is laying two and a half. I'm going to take the Chargers in this one. Easy peasy. I know the offensive line is in tatters and the pass rush should feast for the Steelers, but I'm taking Justin Herbert in this one to outscore Aaron Rodgers.
- [51:16]
Mike Fuentes
Mike Fuentes, I'm taking Pittsburgh just because that'll basically be a home game for your Pittsburgh Steelers in Los Angeles.
- [51:20]
Dave Damashek
Kind of will be, yeah. I don't think I'm going to be in attendance for A lot of people have asked me. It's so hard getting out of Sofi, especially late on Sunday night. Next up, a team that plays in SOFI Stadium, except they're up in San Francisco or Santa Clara, I should say. Here's the other crazy line out there in my book. The Niners are plus four and a half. What are we talking about? The Rams are great but they're not that much better, are they? Especially since the Niners own the Rams in this head to head coaching situation. Gino, which way are you leaning?
- [51:50]
Gino Fuentes
I'm gonna take San Fran here just because I think it'll be closer like you said. But I'll take the over in this one because these two offenses, even with, even if it's McCorkle out there, they, they just light up the scoreboard.
- [52:01]
Dave Damashek
I'm taking the Niners for the reasons I said. Shanny has owned McVeigh throughout their careers. Lastly, number one here, it's the Pats, it's the Bucks, it's the Tom Brady Bowl. Buccaneers laying two and a half. I'm going with the Buccaneers at home. Mike Fuentes, bring it on home.
- [52:16]
Mike Fuentes
I'm also going to take the Buccaneers at home. I think this is probably one of the last really competitive games New England Patriots are going to play and I think Tamar Bay going to take advantage of it coming off the buy.
- [52:25]
Dave Damashek
All right. We had a lot to go. That's why our voices sounded like they were at two time speed because we were talking a little more quickly because we had a grand time doing the mid season awards. Thanks to 10 Day Tony and to Mike Ryan for making the time for that and thanks to you for sticking with us here on Football America. Keep spreading the good word. Make sure you're downloading it, subscribing all the rest of it and until the other side of NFL Week 10. Thanks so much football Americans. It's been a thin slice of heaven.