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- [00:00]
Chad Millman
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:05]
Brandon Anderson
My uncle Chris was a real character, a garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama City alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
- [00:37]
Simon Hunter
Join iHeartRadio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one year anniversary of iHeart Women's Sports.
- [00:44]
Brandon Anderson
With powerful interviews and insider analysis, our.
- [00:46]
Chad Millman
Shows have connected fans with the heart of women's Sports.
- [00:49]
Brandon Anderson
In just one year, the network has.
- [00:51]
Simon Hunter
Launched 15 shows and built a community united by passion podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports. Thank you for supporting iHeart women's sports.
- [01:00]
Brandon Anderson
And our founding sponsors E L F.
- [01:02]
Simon Hunter
Beauty, Capital One and Novartis. Just open the free iHeart app and search iHeart Women's Sports to Listen now. Hello, this is Ruthie Rogers, host of Ruthie's Table 4. Ali called me the stray dog because I would always turn up at my mate's house at meal times.
- [01:18]
Chad Millman
This week I'm talking to Bono.
- [01:20]
Simon Hunter
All of my ideas about social justice, or rather the lack of it, came from my father too. People have to have health, housing and education drilled into me and his values. Listen to Ruthie's Table 4 of the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:38]
Brandon Anderson
Who are the 25 greatest football players.
- [01:41]
Chad Millman
To grace the gridiron since the year 2000? Introducing NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years.
- [01:50]
Brandon Anderson
Join me, Greg Rosenthal and an all star cast of media personalities including Mina.
- [01:55]
Chad Millman
Kime, Steve Weiss, Kevin Harlan and more. For a look at Florida football's best since the turn of the century.
- [02:02]
Brandon Anderson
Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players.
- [02:04]
Chad Millman
Of the last 25 years starting on.
- [02:06]
Brandon Anderson
June 30th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple.
- [02:10]
Chad Millman
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:22]
Simon Hunter
Welcome to the Favorites the Podcast part of the Volume Podcast Network. I am Chad Millman of the Action Network. Today we officially kick off our 2025 NFL season preview episodes. Training camps open at the end of next week. We've made it through a long, hard, cold winter of no football. Our division by division betting breakdowns will begin at the end of this month. But before we get to that, Simon and I we'll do our table setter episodes to frame what we think when it comes to all things betting in the NFL. Today, we're going to start with the big picture playoff prognostication. Before I dive into the topic, let me bring in my co host, my companion, my compadre, my bff, professional better Simon Hunter. Hello, Simon.
- [03:19]
Brandon Anderson
Chad. How we doing?
- [03:22]
Simon Hunter
I guess we're ready. I guess it's time. I guess all the planning, all the research, all the conversation, all the debate, it's time to quite literally put some of that into action. Today we're going to play a little game with the help of our Action network colleague, Brandon Anderson. He actually did this a few weeks ago on the action pod with former colleague Anthony DeBundo, now of the Ringer, and we loved the concept. We are going to predict this year's 14 playoff teams, which you and I do every year. But with Brandon, we're incorporating a little bit of a twist. Brandon, you are broadcasting from your dungeon bunker, visiting your family in North Dakota, where apparently they no longer have electricity. The whole state has gone fully off the grid. So, you know, people who are watching understand the circumstances for you, but explain what we're doing today.
- [04:26]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I mean, look, the great news is the Internet speed is slowly getting better here in North Dakota. My family's been at 10Mbps for years. We're up to 50 now, but they got flags in the backyard. They're finally putting in like the optic cable. So I think maybe a year from now, next time I'm here, we'll actually have real Internet and have the good setup. But here from the dungeon, either way, concept pretty easy. Since we moved to 14 playoff teams year by year, about eight of the 14 teams return the next season, about six drop out. So that's almost half. That's one away from half. Obviously over 40%. So more turnover than we expect. We know how NFL is the league of parity. So the exercise DiPondo and I did was okay. We have to choose six teams to drop out and six new ones to come in. You got to follow the rules. Like if you, if you drop out a division leader and you have no one from that division, you've got to have someone in, etc. So today we're doing a little bit differently. We didn't tell you guys the twist. We just picked our playoff teams and we're going to kind of see where do we overlap, what do we end up with? We end up with three teams that all three of us have in, in nfc, three in the afc. So we'll kind of quickly, yada, yada, those and then I think talk through the teams that, that we differ on and kind of see where we overlap.
- [05:43]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, look, I think that we ended up naturally sort of finding a way to get to that 6 of 14 average just by doing it blindly, not even knowing that this was the concept. So start with the AFC playoff picture I think is a lot clearer. All of us have the Chiefs, the Ravens and the Bills. Obvious none of us agree on the final four teams. So let's dive in here. One obvious AFC team that missed last season with a notable caveat was Cincinnati with Joe Burrow coming off of the injury the year before and then the team really struggling to start the year. Brandon, you and I both have Cincinnati getting to the playoffs. I'll be honest, I had Cincinnati winning the division. So when I went through this, I had the Ravens as the wild card team from that division. Simon, you had Cincinnati to miss. Explain yourself.
- [06:55]
Brandon Anderson
They're bad. Chad. It's pretty, pretty, pretty simple when you break it down. They are a really bad run team organization and they got lucky, right? They stumbled into Joe Bro, the number one pick and they're very fortunate. So every year they will have a chance to make this playoffs. But you, you can get them at a plus number to miss the playoffs. This is a bad team, a really bad defense that could get potentially get worse before they ended the season. Like they just keep doing things wrong and it's catching up to them. Where? Oh great, we resigned. Chase and Higgins, our stud receivers with Joe Burrow. That's not their issues, their issues, that offensive line and the defense, two things they have not really attacked this offseason. So to me, you know, they got lucky to even be close to making the playoffs last season when they played so poorly against winning teams and they had a pretty easy schedule. Right. They caught a bad Browns team that had backup in. They caught a bad Pittsburgh team when Pittsburgh was kind of on the downslope towards the end of the season. So to me it's going to be a lot tougher in that division. And the Ravens I just put so far above them, I don't think it's close. So that's just a team that's gonna be overrated because it is Joe Burrow who we all know top 10, top six, top five quarterbacks. So to me it makes sense why you guys would pick them. I'm just the other way. I hate the way it's coming into the season. Even the drama with their first round pick, all of it. And Hendricks, it's. It's so bad to me. And their defense to me might be bottom five in the league.
- [08:14]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, look, the. We're going to do a training camp questions and episode and definitely one of the questions that I'm thinking about is can the Bengals stop bangling because of what they're doing with Trey Hendrickson? Because of what they're doing with Shemar Stewart, their first round pick, who they're, you know, trying to set precedent setting contracts with for first round picks. Brandon, what is your reasoning for the Bengals being in the playoffs?
- [08:49]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I, I think actually for me the reasoning is just that the offense is so good with Burrow, with T and Chase, especially last year when those receivers were both on the field. I know it's not a given. We got the contract settled. Now when those two and Bur were on the field, they were an unstoppable offense last season, like Jamar Chase is, is breaking records in some games and doing just crazy stuff. T was really good. The offense being that good historically puts you in the playoff picture. Like as long as you just have Burrow, T and Chase healthy, you're in the playoff picture. They have won nine games or more in four straight seasons. So all they really need to do is stay mostly healthy and please for the love of God, not start Owen 3 every single season. Can we just have a normal September and not dig a hole immediately? I don't know. So I don't know if we can bet on them to make the playoffs. I think you're right, Sam, to point out that the plus number has been a good bet to make at the start of the year because they usually dig themselves a hole. And if anything, you can just bet plus on the other side and just be done. I got some money either way. Go ahead, Bengals, do your thing. I need to worry about it anymore. To me, Burrow belongs. Look, we. We named off Chiefs, Bills, Ravens. For most people, that would be your top three quarterbacks in the NFL. For me, Joe Burrow is in that group with those three, not necessarily as the fourth option. If you have a star quarterback that's that good, you are in the playoffs and in the afc. I have a lot more teams that I'm pretty comfortable leaving out of the mix in the nfc, I would not put them in as easily, but I kind of needed teams, frankly in the afc. So I'm happy to put the Bengals as an option here.
- [10:28]
Simon Hunter
By the way, a little preview for a future episode that we're doing later this week. Our top 10 quarterbacks, which a lot of people talking about quarterbacks this week and their top 10 lists, and Simon and I do it every year, but we also incorporate a lot about quarterbacks that we'd want to be betting on or that we'd be afraid to be betting against at the end of a game. You say Joe Burrow would be, you know, top four. Brandon, I don't disagree. One of us on this podcast right now had Joe Burrow outside his top five. That's how down he is on Joe Burrow. The thing about the Bengals, and I agree with you, like, I am all in on Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow's biggest issue sometimes in this offensive line is terrible, but the issue is Joe Burrow. And Joe Burrow likes to play hero ball. He will hold the ball too long with a bad offensive line and continue to try to make plays, which puts himself in trouble physically. And. And also make sure that he gets a lot more sacks than any other quarterback, which is a constant problem. So it can't all be on the offensive line. It can't all be on the defense. And as good as Joe Burrow is, he has made catastrophic mistakes in inopportune moments, either by taking sacks or throwing bad balls when he's under pressure. So I understand Simon's position. I'm just choosing to believe that they have to get it right and that this will be the year and that two teams will come out of the AFC North. And I don't think it's going to be all right. And I do think it's going to be the Bengals and the Ravens. The Cincinnati Bengals came roaring back. Next one. Simon, you and I both have the Texans back in the playoffs. Brandon does not. I know why I believe it. Tell me why you believe it.
- [12:28]
Brandon Anderson
Just the defense. Like, to me, they're so talented with the coaching. It's in that division that there's. They're the only team with something legit.
- [12:37]
Simon Hunter
Great.
- [12:37]
Brandon Anderson
All the other teams have questions, right? I have so many questions about Jacksonville. I mean, hell, we'll get into Houston. Here we have questions about the offensive line. Like, that's. That's what we're freaked out about. Is C.J. gonna take another step? Because last year, we all agree he just didn't play up to the level we were expecting after his rookie season. So if. If they're in any other division, chat, I probably would be more down on them because they're in that division. Last year. They shouldn't have won it and they just. All these other teams fall apart and they just kept turn it out because they have such good coaching, such good defense. It just keeps them above water. So to me, I'm. I'm with you. I was trying to force in the Titans. You know how much I love the Titans this upcoming year. But I'm just trying to be realistic here and I know people put hard earned money on this bet. So to me, if I'm going to go with a side, I got to go with Houston making that division, you know.
- [13:24]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. I think in the end I was really impressed with CJ Stroud and how he played in the playoffs even with a terrible offensive line. And if, if they can recognize how to improve that offensive line just a little bit and he can get a little bit better at getting rid of the ball quickly and improve his QB pressure rate in which sometimes he was just taking sacks. I think because he was trying to make a play and was scrambling and invulnerable positions so soon after the ball was snapped. They are legitimately just the more talented team. He's a more talented quarterback than anyone else in the division and their defense is really fantastic. I think they've got the more established coach than any other team in the division. So it was a toss up between Texans and the team that Brandon liked. Brandon, go ahead and tell us who you think will make it instead of the Texans.
- [14:28]
Chad Millman
So for me this really is a bet against the Texans. Like I just, I found last year's team hard to inspire. They finished with a zero point differential on the season. The defense was great. No doubt on paper the Texans defense is the best unit in the division. It's a terrible division. Like Simon said, if we had other options here, it'd be a lot easier. I'm not excited truly about the option about to give you, but I, I'm following the rules. I can't just knock the whole division out. I don't believe in the Texans. I'm not there yet on the Titans. I think they'll be better. I like the reasons you like them. Simon just I'm not, I'm not ready to go better enough to win the division. I am going to reluctantly take the Jacksonville Jaguars and part of the case here is again looking at defense. I agree Simon. The Texans I thought maybe were a top three defense last year on paper could be the number one defense this year. Defense is really unpredictable and not sticky season this season I can predict pretty consistently who the top offenses are. Like we can do the top offenses Podcast and it's going to be name the quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burr. Like elite quarterbacks or elite year to year and have elite offenses. Defense is a lot more malleable. It changes a lot more. So I agree the Bengals defense was a bottom five defense last year, but historically there's a decent chance that they go from like 28th to 22nd and just that amount of difference, even just accidentally getting a little better matters. When the offense is that good with Houston, it's the other way. If you fall from second or third to eighth and you're still a pretty good defense, well, if the offense didn't improve a bunch, that's a pretty big drop off. And so to me, I'm going to like default to offense. Feeling better. So I have the, the Texans falling down. I'm going to go with the Jacksonville Jaguars. You hear the excitement in my voice, right? The pick here is Liam Cullen. And I hope that Liam Cohen can do with Trevor Lawrence what he's done at pass stops. I think especially Brian Thomas looks like the next just stud receiver and now I don't even know what he's going to be yet. But whatever Travis Hunter is, maybe it's a little boost at receiver, maybe it's a little boost on defense. The area of where he can help them, I'm not sure yet. But I do believe in his talent, what he can do there. And I like the coaching changes that they made. I think there's a lot of low hanging fruit from the team. I can see a world where with Liam Cohen, with these receivers, could Trevor Lawrence be the best quarterback in this division? I think that's a very possible world out there. The talent is there. It's not going to be Cam Ward yet. It's not going to be whatever Indianapolis has. Like I never consider them because I can't even get on board with who their quarterback is. Could it be Trevor Lawrence? Could it be 9 and 8 or 10 and 7? That's probably enough in this division. Houston's offensive line I think got worse even than it was last year. With Laramie Tunsil gone, they might be the worst offensive line in the league. And that's another more predictable thing. Usually I'm kind of just taking the unpredictable. With Jacksonville, I don't really know what I'm getting, but there's plenty of talent there. There's a lot of talent on defense, even if it hasn't been good yet. Maybe a new coordinator, maybe some new plans can get things going. There Just give Jacksonville a chance because I got to pick somebody in the division. That's the case.
- [17:49]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. I think it really comes down to which quarterback do you believe in. Right. And C.J. stroud, now two years in a row, Playoff victories in each year, division titles in each year, even with a dreadful offensive line. Trevor Lawrence, third coach in five years. Really only one good season, even on the field when he's been healthy, consistently missing touch passes in the red zone, consistently being inaccurate, not making the big plays. I am not willing to bet on his unpredictability versus C.J. stroud's upside to me and Simon. You're with me. Simon and I are together.
- [18:31]
Chad Millman
Yeah.
- [18:31]
Brandon Anderson
And it also feels like we're all going to look at the year and be like Daniel Jones. The Colts, they won this division. We should have known. So that's. I'm with Brandon. This feels like a really stupid division. So I get why he's going upside. I just. I'm. I'm playing it safe, as we all are here in the afc. It just feels like we're in an era where it's very top heavy in both divisions, where the best are truly the best. And then there's the rest that are just trying to make into that little group. So the Texans, I'm with you. It's. There's a lot of questions, but, man, is this division just gross.
- [19:01]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, that. That was sort of. It came down to Houston and Jacksonville for me, and it was a flip of a coin. Last year's wild cards, Chargers, Broncos, Steelers. Brandon and I have the Chargers back in Denver and Pittsburgh out. Simon has the opposite. Denver and Pittsburgh in. Chargers out. Simon, I want you to go first. Explain why you like Denver and why you like Pittsburgh and why you don't like the Chargers.
- [19:34]
Brandon Anderson
Yeah, really, really boring. Once again, just went back to it where it's the coaching. I feel like they make such a big difference. And we saw last year where, you know, Pittsburgh and Denver, pretty shocking to see them make runs where Pittsburgh did it with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, like, that's pretty incredible. And the fact that, you know, it's a team that just feels like this is their run. Right. All the. They have all these guys, all these veteran players that kind of know this is it. I mean, the. Obviously, what's going on with TJ Watts, a big difference here. Like, if we were doing this later and I knew he was already gone and traded, probably would be a difference maker because he is that important to that defense. Me and Chad talk all the time about the splits when he plays for them, when he doesn't play for them. But just looking at this team on paper, I just, I just trust the coach. Like he just always finds to make it work. And that's such a big deal in afc. And then same with Denver. It's like Denver, another team that might have a top five defense, top three offensive line. Bo Nix, that might have been the peak, what we saw last season. Like, he's old as I get it, but that peak was pretty good. Like, he kept improving. That's what you want to see when these rookies. The NFL season is so long and it's such a mental game. And that was so impressive about Jaden Daniels and Bo Nicks is that, you know, a lot of the other rookies, they hit that rookie wall at some point. These guys broke through it, they kept improving. Their teams did make the playoffs. So with Denver, it's just really about the coaching and the fact that they've just drafted so well and they just have a great team there. So I, again, I wanted to take them out. Like, I like putting in new teams. It's just who are these other teams I trust more than those two teams? Like, I just. When you're talking about the head coaching, those two guys are hall of Famers. It's. It's tough for me to trust the coach in Cincinnati rather than the coaching of Pittsburgh and Denver. So that's where it's like, it gets really hazy there at that final, final spot, putting in these wild card rounds.
- [21:28]
Simon Hunter
Brandon?
- [21:30]
Chad Millman
Yeah, to me, this is really, with these teams, especially two of them, it's about floor versus ceiling. And with Pittsburgh and Denver, I, I can't get to a spot where I'm excited about a ceiling being really above like 10 wins. And I know 10 wins gets you to the playoffs, but 10 wins is a win or two wins away from missing the playoffs. And I don't think Pittsburgh or Denver are going to be bad teams. But like Pittsburgh, we know with Tomlin the 500 streak, right? We know that every year we talk about the 500 streak. What we don't talk about is they've had 10 wins or last six of the last seven seasons. So that is a hard cap on a ceiling for a team that like, okay, you blow one or two games and now you're 500 and now you're out of the playoffs and we got Aaron Rodgers, T.J. awad, Cam Hayward, probably maybe the three best, most important players on the team certainly up on the list. All ancient in football years. And Aaron Rodgers 14 and 21 the last three years as a starter. I just feel like the ceiling is capped there and I don't like Aaron Rodgers fit with Arthur Smith offense at all. So I don't know how that's going to go. I don't know how it sets up. But we've seen this not go well with Rodgers recently. With Denver, to me is just a pile of red flags. I talk about not believing in defense from year to year. Denver was top five defense and special teams last year and both of those scream regression to the mean. And, and if it's even a little bit, Denver's offense I don't believe in much at all. I'm not a bonex guy, never have been a bonx guy. I think last year probably was the best we'll get if the defense was worse. Now you're starting with a ball maybe 15 yards further back on the field and now Bo's got to actually make some throws right now. He's got to actually do the thing and be quarterback, not just be game manager. And I think the offense gets worse as the defense gets worse. I don't believe in that coaching staff quite as much. I don't believe in Vance Jo Joseph on defense to have them be that incredible again. And in both teams cases, Pittsburgh and Denver, they're both in tough divisions too, right? They're both in divisions where each of us has two other teams in Pittsburgh's division in the playoffs. Well, I guess Simon has Pittsburgh in the playoffs, but tough divisions, there certainly are three clear playoff contenders. Chargers with the other division as well. So I think too, you know, that's like if you look at Chiefs, Chargers or Ravens, Bengals, that might be three losses already right there for either one of these teams as well. So to me, the Chargers are not a ton different on the floor ceiling thing. The difference is I'm going to come back to the quarterback again, Justin Herbert. And no, we haven't seen it long enough, but we saw him make a better leap in the second half of the season. We saw more passing as they kind of open up the offense a little bit. They added Becton on the line. Now they're going to get year two of LAD McConkey. And again, here's ceiling versus floor. We talked about the ceiling capped with Tomlin and with the Broncos. Jim Harbaugh's floor. To me, in five seasons of the NFL, he's never finished below.500 either, but he's at 11 wins or more four of the five seasons and most of those are in the 16 game seasons. Right. So 11 and five are better. I'm not excited about the Chargers. I don't think I want a Super bowl ticket on the Chargers. But Justin Herbert to me has the talent to maybe push into that top four or five quarterback range if he ever pulls it together. We're running out of time here, but I can see a floor and get excited about the ceiling. And I'd rather have that Delta pushing up than the other two teams where the Delta seems down to me. So I have Chargers in with the high floor. Add the Steelers and. And the who. Who am I talking about? The Steelers and the Broncos. I have out with the cap ceiling.
- [25:09]
Brandon Anderson
You're not worried about regression there from Chargers defense?
- [25:13]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I am worried.
- [25:14]
Brandon Anderson
They really exceeded what they should have done last year. You can agree with that. That was incredible.
- [25:19]
Chad Millman
The talent on certainly of these three teams, there's no question which defense I feel least good about going into the season. It just again, kind of fitting my theme here, especially in the afc. I don't feel great about a lot of teams in the conference. I'm going to trust the quarterback and the offenses that I feel good about. I'm basically saying I trust my ability to evaluate offense better than I trust my ability to evaluate defense. Defense is just going to push toward the middle. And I trust, yeah, I'm taking what might just be the five best quarterbacks in the NFL and put them in the playoffs. And so I don't mind doing that in the afc.
- [25:56]
Simon Hunter
I cannot disagree with any of the analysis from Brandon. It's why I have the Chargers in. I'm betting on the better quarterback. Simon, we love Sean Payton. He's a great coach to bet on, but so is Jim Harbaugh. And there were games last year, especially a game between the two of them where Harbaugh just out coached Sean Payton and won a game because of that. I'm going to bet on Harbaugh. I'm going to bet on Herbert. I'm not going to bet on Bo Nicks. That's really what it's coming down to. And I think Aaron Rodgers has just been fading. He's just not that good of a quarterback anymore. So that's why I ultimately decided on Cincinnati in that division instead of Pittsburgh. To summarize, we've all got Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo, really going out on a ledge with those picks. There's nothing like sinking into luxury. At washablesofas.com, you'll find the Annabe sofa, which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, love seat or a luxuriously large sofa sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop now@washablesofas.com Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
- [27:44]
Brandon Anderson
Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up is the right thing to do.
- [27:48]
Chad Millman
You know a Degree Cool Rush deodorant?
- [27:50]
Brandon Anderson
Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go well with their fans.
- [27:55]
Simon Hunter
Degree's whole thing is it turns up.
- [27:57]
Brandon Anderson
The sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring back the original formula. One guy even started an online petition and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up and are bringing the original Cool Rush sent back. And it's exactly how you remember it.
- [28:17]
Chad Millman
Cool, crisp and fresh.
- [28:18]
Brandon Anderson
It's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason why it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you never tried it, it.
- [28:32]
Simon Hunter
Might be a good time to see.
- [28:34]
Chad Millman
What the fuss is about.
- [28:35]
Brandon Anderson
Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.
- [28:41]
Simon Hunter
Hello, this is Ruthie Rogers, host of Ruthie's Table 4. Ali called me the stray dog because I would always turn up at my mate' at mealtimes.
- [28:50]
Chad Millman
This week I'm talking to Bono.
- [28:52]
Simon Hunter
All of my ideas about social justice, or rather the lack of it, came from my father too. People have to have health, housing and education drilled into me and his values. Listen to Ruthie's Table 4 of the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [29:11]
Brandon Anderson
Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. We go behind the scenes and explore the stories of those involved. San Diego Coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this.
- [29:27]
Simon Hunter
Region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.
- [29:30]
Chad Millman
We need veteran players and we need young players.
- [29:33]
Brandon Anderson
Like you're building a team from scratch. And so the succession plan of long term success needs to be defined. We need to embrace this community.
- [29:41]
Chad Millman
When I was 13, my uncle took me to a quality qualifier and we.
- [29:46]
Brandon Anderson
Watched Paraguay against Chile, pouring rain.
- [29:49]
Chad Millman
Just watching the fans jumping up and down, I think that was definitely a.
- [29:53]
Brandon Anderson
Watershed moment for me.
- [29:54]
Simon Hunter
Not only was that gonna be my.
- [29:56]
Brandon Anderson
Game, but it was gonna be my life.
- [29:59]
Chad Millman
Listen to San Diego FC behind the flow now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple.
- [30:05]
Brandon Anderson
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [30:11]
Simon Hunter
To summarize, we've all got Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo. Really going out on a ledge with those picks. My next three, Houston, Chargers, Cincinnati, Simon, Houston, Denver, Pittsburgh, Brandon, Chargers, Jacksonville, Cincinnati. One more spot for each of us. Brandon and Chad agree. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots. And I will kick it off and say a I love Rabel. I think is an instant difference maker. I think he can make this team two to three games better. I like that. They drafted high for the offensive line. They've nominally improved the receiving core. Drake May showed enough last year that when he had no weapons, he had moxie and an ability to move the ball. And defensively this team is also improving. So you know, it. It's not commanders like, but to me it is commander's light. So that's why I liked the Patriots. Brandon, back me up.
- [31:32]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I mean, I think you made the case. I agree with all that. I love building in the trenches. Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury. This was probably the worst line in the league last year. This could be towards a league average line once they kind of gel and get used to things. Drake May I am very excited about. I think there is a world where Drake May is what we think about last season into the year. CJ Stroud, what we think about maybe when we've done with Trevor Lawrence where we bump him up into like the eighth spot, you know, that young quarterback that makes the leap. I think Drake May looked really good last year, especially given the context of terrible blocking, no real weapons and he still played really good football. I, I frankly don't love long term the vrabel and Josh McDaniels thing. I'm less excited about the future five years from now about Drake, Drake May, but I think in the immediate future this again is a ceiling floor thing. I think they add a lot of floor. They they increase the offensive line on defense, they get Milton Williams, they get Harold Landry, Carlton Davis the best corner in the market. I think Davis and Christian Gonzalez could give them maybe the best corners in the league if things turn out well there. So I think just raising the floor by saying, okay, let's just get some guys, get some guys who can actually play football for us and give us a chance. The only bummer here, Chad, is that everyone else thinks this too. Like the Patriots, there's no value on betting them to do anything because what are they favorite in like 11 games already going into the year when they were terrible last year. So I don't know, I wonder if I ended up swerving on this just trying to find value somewhere else because there's really no way to bet this right now because everyone's already in on the Patriots.
- [33:11]
Simon Hunter
Val Simon giving you an option right here. Lay it on us. Who's your seventh team?
- [33:17]
Brandon Anderson
Well, I will say to the Patriots, just what you guys talk about feels like they're dead on arrival. Everyone's just in on it because they have an easy schedule. The variable bump, Drake May, year two jump. I get it. I didn't pick them obviously because to me it's, it's, it's going to come down to I trust coaches that are in new spots like Vrabel that are talented but with a veteran quarterback that I can trust as well. And that's why I ended up on Vegas. And I'm going to save it because there's a lot of data to back it up. I want to, I want to dive more into it, but Geno Smith splits between outdoors and indoors is massive. And going from Seattle to Vegas, it's going to be a big deal for him. And especially in that offense where, you know, to me it's going to be a really old school. What Pete Carroll wants to do with the Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson type of style, right? They're going to be a run heavy team with Genti and I love Gina Smith aspect of it. So I'm. The hardest part is trying to find the last place team that makes the jump. Like that's what I'm looking for here because we always know that randomly happens. I don't know, I don't know why I ended up on Vegas. It really again, I was looking at Tennessee but I was just like, man, this just feels like the type of spot that like we're not, not overlooking them, but we kind of are, right? It's Pete Carroll on the Raiders with Geno Smith. It's not sexy, it's not fun. It's not being talked about really by national media. So that's why it just. They feel like the perfect under the radar team that sneaks in there in that final seven spot. But again, I get, I get the Patriots love. They got the schedule. They obviously have the talent, you think, across the board if their quarterback takes that year to jump. But that's the big question, right? So to me, I'm playing it safe here, going to veteran quarterback and what I think is gonna be a big deal, going from Seattle to an indoor eight, nine games out of the year is going to be a big deal for Gino.
- [35:05]
Simon Hunter
Well, you could be right. That's a sneaky, smart play that the Raiders might have made to give themselves a little bit of a higher floor with a coach who, you know is 70 something years old and might not have that many years. So you want to take advantage of what he's trying to build there as quickly as you can. NFC is interesting because we all agree on two returning teams of the seven that can make the playoffs and it's not teams that you would expect. We agree on Philadelphia and Green Bay and we agree on a third team that missed the playoffs last year in San Francisco. Before we get into anything, quick, yes or no, do we all agree San Francisco could end up being the number one seed in the nfc? Simon, yes or no?
- [35:57]
Brandon Anderson
Yes. Just because of schedule.
- [35:59]
Simon Hunter
Brandon?
- [36:00]
Chad Millman
Yes. They are my 1 super bowl ticket right now.
- [36:03]
Simon Hunter
Chad. Yes. They are one of my two super bowl tickets right now. Okay. That leaves four more teams. We don't even agree on whether or not last year's number one seed will make it. Chad. Chad. I'm getting too used to referring to myself in the third person. Simon and I agree that Detroit is in. I will say they were one of my last teams in. Brandon, you like Detroit to miss, so explain yourself.
- [36:34]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I just, I love to bet on fading the brain drain on teams and the brain drain coming in Detroit is going to be huge. It's. Everyone's going to be talking about it. Ben Johnson and we're going to come back to him in a bit. I know, but Ben Johnson out the door. We haven't seen what this offense is going to look like without his play calling even seen. Everyone loves Dan Campbell's aggressiveness. Okay. Are we sure we love it when we don't get Ben Johnson's play calling with the aggressiveness? We're sure that we love that version of his aggression. You know, we've Seen coaches over the years where that aggression runs out and it suddenly doesn't work anymore. We, we've seen Jared Goff without Ben Johnson, without Sean McVeigh be a very mediocre to bad quarterback. And we saw him in this Lions team not look good until Ben Johnson started making the calls. Aaron Glenn on defense really surprised me last year. I didn't give them enough credit. That defense really overperformed and then and I think everyone loves to revision his history and say oh the Lions had the year from hell because they had all the injuries at the end of the season. They certainly did. But I thought it was a Lions year for like three fourths of the season. I thought it was the Lions year that they were the team that man, everything is perfect. They're going to be the super bowl team this year. And so you get both sides. Both of those count. I do like for them. DJ Reed I think is a really nice addition for them with Tyrion Arnold. So I think actually Detroit's defense could be better maybe than they were last year. They're getting Aiden Hutchinson back. He was probably the defensive player of the year till he got hurt. So it's, it's. Yeah, it's not a team that I'm like super loving to fade because it's a very talented roster. But I think the defense can be a little better but the offensive line gets worse. Frank Regnau is a really big loss for them. The splits with him playing and not playing is a big deal. And then you take the, the play calling away, you make golf a little bit worse. And now I think you just have like a round a league average offense and defense maybe even slightly above average on both. But the NFC is tough. I could see this team being like a nine win team and still missing the playoffs, especially in a very tough division. So you know, just a team that when you lose Ben Johnson, lose Aaron Glad and lose Frank Ragnow, like that's coaching and offensive line, that's my stick. Like that's my thing. So if you're going to lose that much drain in those areas, it has to be a team I'm out on.
- [38:56]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, look, those are all the reasons why I potentially left them out. Ultimately decided that's downgrading a little bit too much given how high their ceiling was last year. Simon, you're with me. Explain for the both of us.
- [39:12]
Brandon Anderson
Detroit, it's still gonna be that Detroit offense, right? I do think they'll take a step back. They obviously won't be the 1 seed, but could they still steal this division somehow or make the wild card. I think they will because they have just so much talent. And to me it's, it's what you just talked about though. It's the beginning of the end. Like their window, we know football's window is two to three years usually and then you kind of have to re read remake who you are. Like you have to become a whole new team and build out throughout the draft and they have drafted so well that maybe they have another year or.
- [39:43]
Chad Millman
Two to do it.
- [39:43]
Brandon Anderson
But I'm with you guys. Like I was looking forward to betting them on the division last year. Looking forward to betting them to potentially win fc. I didn't do any super bowl futures. Me and Chad talked about, I just didn't think. I just something about the fact that it's Detroit and it's golf. I was like, there's some, something's going to go awry here. And sure enough, pick six later against Washington, it happened. So it's, it's a tough spot with Detroit. Chad, I think me and you feel the same way where we know the possibility them falling off a cliff is real because football is so dependent on coaching. But man, you just, when you break it down, it's like the talent's there. The question to me at the end of the day will be is that new offensive line they're building, is it going to work? Because they've had some major departures and we talk in najm about it, but it's such an important cog to the NFL machine, that offensive line. So to me that ended might be in the Achilles heel of his team, but to not make the playoffs, that's, that's a nice, that's a nice plus number. Brandon, do you remember what the number was on that? To bet Detroit not making the playoffs or. No, because I bet you that's what, plus 200, you think? Plus 250 at least, right?
- [40:46]
Chad Millman
Yeah. I haven't seen the number in recent times in the, in the dead of July here in the dungeons in North Dakota. But yeah, it's, it's definitely a nice plus number because you know if you're, if you're picking the one seed to miss out the following season, you're going to get a number on that. To me, I know we talk about like the super bowl losers curse. Who's that team that's going to fall off from last year? They didn't make the super bowl, they didn't win a playoff game. But I think Detroit is that team this year. I think they're the team that has the weight of what last year was and what this year isn't anymore coming back to them. And I think partly it's because the division is so strong.
- [41:21]
Simon Hunter
Well, look, we can talk about the division because that's where we also have some discrepancies. The one thing I'll add, Simon, you talked about offensive line. Brandon, you mentioned Frank Ragnow. They also lost Kevin Zeitler who was one of the best guards in football and made a huge impact on their ability to run the run the ball and convert so frequently on fourth down. So I do think that's an. I think the weight of expectations and Brandon, I think that's a great way to frame it. You talk about that super bowl hangover for the team that lost. They feel the same weight like they feel they should have been there to not get there for a second year in a row. The San Francisco loss a couple years ago I think was inspiring. The one last year was a little bit deflating the rest of the NSC north is interesting. I've got the Bears. Brandon, you've got the Bears in Minnesota. Simon, you've only got Detroit. I will say for the Bears obviously as well. What's that?
- [42:24]
Brandon Anderson
I also have Green Bay.
- [42:25]
Simon Hunter
Right? You have Green Bay. I have Detroit, Chicago and Green Bay. Brandon has Chicago, Minnesota and Green Bay. Simon, you have Green Bay and Detroit. I say this as an unbiased way as possible. Everything the Lions lost for Ben Johnson, the Bears are getting. I believe that they're offense. They are peaked at skill positions. They made their offensive line into what I believe can at least be a top five or top ten offensive line. The biggest challenge is going to be what have they done to improve their pass rush. Not as much as you like as a fan, but I like what they did offensively enough for them to make the playoffs. Brandon, you've explained why you're out on Detroit. Explain Minnesota with a touch of a compliment to what I said about the Bears.
- [43:23]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I mean with the Bears, really it's the same thing as the Lions. Literally it's Ben Johnson, but it's the same points. I believe in investing in the lines, winning in the trenches and winning with good coaching. I think those are two edges as a better especially in the futures market that we have a big edge on. And I think what the Lions lost quite literally was what the Bears gained here with Ben Johnson and what Caleb Williams year two should look like with him. But also investing in that offensive line, I'm never going to not like what you did. If you go and get Joe Thuney and Drew Dahlman and Jonah Jackson, Grady Jarrett on defense, like if you're bringing all the boys in the middle around the football, I'm going to like what you did. So what Detroit didn't do that I didn't like is what the Bears did do. And frankly it's kind of what the Vikings did as well. The Vikings get back Christian Derrisa. Him and Brian o' Neill, I think are one of the better tackle combos in the league. On the offensive line, Derrisa only played six and a half games last year, but then they rebuilt the interior of the line with what basically was a pretty good Colts interior of the line in the last couple years when healthy. They also go out and get Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave as swings in the defensive line, adding to what was already a really talented defense. Now this was a defense that was really, really good. And by my own thing I've said just half an hour ago, shouldn't I be weary that won't they fall back to the earth? I am wary of that. I think Brian Flores defense, we've seen that within the season before. Even where they kind of get found out a little bit, the corners are still pretty weak on this team. Just to me, this is a high floor formula. We have a great offensive line, a ton of weapons on offense, a really good defense. That may not be number two, but we know Flores gets defenses to perform in a top 10 level year after year when he has some talent there. The trenches are good, the court, the coaching is good. There's just a lot to believe in and I haven't said the one name that you maybe don't believe in, which is J.J. mcCarthy. We don't know about J.J. mcCarthy, but we didn't know about Sam Darnold last year either. And frankly we had all the reasons to not believe in Sam Darnold. Why can't JJ McCarthy be as good as Sam Darnold? Why can't he be as good as what Jared Goff was with a good play caller? Why can't JJ McCarthy be better than Sam Darnold? I don't know with this blocking and I think too I'm excited as a Vikings fan and I will say normally that would make me bet against Minnesota, not for them. So don't take that with too much a grain of salt. But I'm excited to see what can this offensive do with a quarterback that can move a little bit. That's one thing that KOC has not had is a guy that can move out of the pocket, create a little bit with his legs. I think McCarthy gives them a new dimension to the offense. They haven't had with the weapons, with the run game that they found last season with the line. I just think there's, there are a lot of outs for Minnesota to still be good. I know that it all says 14 and three expected wins, like 11 wins. They were nine and one in all the one score games. We know all the reasons that they should be worse this year. This is a team that I traditionally would choose to be out on. I'm kind of purposefully swerving and saying, okay, I think they can be worse than that record. They were not that good last year, but I think they could be a better team this year and still have a, a, a floor and a structure that puts them in the mix in the playoffs.
- [46:42]
Simon Hunter
All right, Simon. Anti Bears, anti Vikings. Explain yourself.
- [46:49]
Brandon Anderson
Yeah, the Vikings One's pretty easy. Just you have to pick some teams that made it last year to miss. Everything he just highlighted is. It's all red flags. Like me and you were so down on them coming to the season. It was pretty simple. We just didn't believe Sam Darnold and he outperformed anybody's wildest expectations in all those fourth quarters. Any game that was tight, the other other team wilted and he always stepped up and eventually it ran out like we saw in that Detroit, then the Rams game. It just, he, he had a peak and then eventually it just came crashing down. So it's all there like that Defense obviously overperformed because they were so well coached in Minnesota, but it's another thing, it's the unknown quarterback. So yeah, they could potentially be a team to make it, but betting odds, going off past history and one score wins, we see it fluctuates and it is dependent on coaching. Like coaching can be so good. You can rise above it. We've seen Pittsburgh do it for years, but, but it's unlikely just in your division. It's so brutally tough. Like all these teams are so talented, so well coached. And that's where it's tough with Chicago. Chad, you have an offensive coordinator coming in doing his first coaching job, NFL year one. We've seen it time and time again. It could be beautiful for five, six weeks and then just crash and burn. One little thing goes wrong. He loses the locker room. Whatever it may be, it could be really bad. We don't know what type of coaching style he has yet. We know he's a psycho. Like we've seen him talk and he's all in. I love it. Like he's an exact type of coach you want. Perfectionist. Makes him run the same play 10 times until they run it the exact way he wants it. That's what you need in the NFL. You need someone like that to that pays attention to every little detail. So can it work if they win? Hell yeah. But if it goes bad, we've seen Chicago, it goes really bad because it's just so much weight on that team in that city and it's a first year head coach. So with me and them it's. It was really tough because I took Detroit over them. That was. That was like I was in between Chicago or Detroit because I have Green Bay in the winning division, you know, if I'm betting wise. So that's where it just came down to. It was just tough. Am I really going to take Chicago year one to me, I mean you talked about a little bit Chad. I just think this is another growing year for Caleb Williams. I would be so happy if they made it right. They string together a couple of those one score wins. Right. Huge jump because the offensive line, the coaching staff, no one be shocked. Chicago making it's just unlikely because it's just such a tough division.
- [49:09]
Simon Hunter
We both have Simon, you and I both have Dallas in. None of us have the commanders in.
- [49:18]
Brandon Anderson
Okay.
- [49:19]
Simon Hunter
It's interesting, right?
- [49:20]
Brandon Anderson
Yeah.
- [49:21]
Simon Hunter
This just feels like a natural regression regression for defenses. Figuring out how to stop Jaden Daniels, the regression on fourth down conversions, the way he plays, who knows. The injury possibilities are just higher. That defense, as Brandon pointed out, it is inconsistent year to year. Last year they were better than expected. Did they do anything to get that much better during the off season? Simon, you and I both like Dallas in I like it more because their defense is going to be healthier and they have Dak back. Can you give a little bit of insight because I want to do this one quickly because we got a lot still to get through but a little bit of insight on Dallas.
- [50:05]
Chad Millman
Yeah.
- [50:05]
Brandon Anderson
And I'll save all for when we do divisional talks with Dallas because you know how I feel about them. But it really is that simple. As Chad said, it's just a team that's coming off a down year. They're going to have their quarterback back, have a number two receiver in Pickens. That's a big upgrade. I think the office line will be better because they were so young last year. They should have a running game and just that defense like that Defense is a ton of talent. They just simply could not stop the run and they feel like they've addressed that here in this offseason. So for me, that was easy one with Washington. I don't know if we're all in agreement, but it's kind of what Chad said, right? It's the regression of Jaden Daniels and just that defense, like they have not improved that defense in any way and they just overachieved in so many ways. And we talked about that Chicago game. Felt like it flipped their season though. Felt like they could have gone either way, right? They lose that game, Chicago, and it goes the other way. They win it, they go on the up and up. Chicago's got the other way, right? Chicago win another game for like five, six weeks after that loss to Washington. So, yeah, that's Washington. You're playing with house money. Like those fans, they don't care what we're saying right now. They believe in Jaden Daniels. They think they have the greatest quarterback ever. We all agree he's highly talented. But 80% of fourth down, it's just, it's not, it's. There's aggression. It's impossible. We like, he, he, he maybe is neo. He's going to break the matrix. But we've seen the NFL. These guys get paid millions and millions of dollars. They will figure it out. We, they always do. Like, doesn't matter how great you are, they will find your weakness and they will attack it after six months of grinding tape in the off season. So, yeah, Brandon, where are we at with Washington? You're in the same boat as me, Chad. I can't believe all three of us have them out.
- [51:38]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I very similar. I think the fourth down conversion rate is just crazy outlier and has to come down. I think too. This is this year's Houston. This is the hype team with the young quarterback that everyone's excited about. And I think they got a little bit of their own excitement too. We see a team each year that's like, you know what, we're one or two pieces away. So what do they do rather than going out and building the roster the right way. Washington wasn't supposed to be this good last year. They're supposed to be slowly building up and they're like, oh no, we're going to go get Debo who hasn't been good for a couple of years anyways, and we're going to get Laramie Tunsil and who's going to fix our whole offensive line. But oh, wait, there's still four other guys on the line and their line got really found out as the season went on last year too. So I think we see those teams that make the big splash moves and everyone's excited. I we already had a good team. Now we added these two stars onto the team. They I think are the team that finished 9 and 1 in games under a touchdown, including four straight to make the playoffs. Then Tampa in the playoffs and then frankly, right place, right time to take advantage of the Detroit defense that just had nobody left in the NBA. We see teams make the conference finals and then get high on their own juice and be like, oh, here we are. You know, the Atlanta Hawks did it, the Portland Trailblazers did it. We see year after year and they're like, okay, we're all in on this core now. And it turns out that was the best it got with that group. You gotta still kind of pivot and go somewhere. Growth isn't linear. So I think Washington, I'm not out on Jaden. I just need the rest of the team to come with it. I think the rest of the team is going to take some work. Dallas, I'm less excited, but if you like Dallas, I think Parsons defensive player of the year is a good way to invest in Dallas.
- [53:16]
Simon Hunter
I like that. Growth isn't linear. All right, we all like Philadelphia, Green Bay, San Francisco. We all have very different choices for winners of the NFC South. I like Atlanta. Simon likes Tampa Bay. Brandon likes Carolina. Let's think about that as we go into sort of figuring out what our final equation looks like. Brandon and Simon, you guys agree that your final team in the playoffs is the Los Angeles Rams? I'll let you start. Brandon. You have the Rams going in, so your final seven, I believe would be Rams, Bears, Vikings, Eagles, Green Bay, San Francisco and Carolina.
- [54:18]
Chad Millman
Yes.
- [54:20]
Simon Hunter
Why the Rams?
- [54:21]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I think just with the Rams, they had a ton of injuries last year and still made the playoffs. Anyway, now they get Devonta Adams and replacement for Cup, Devonte Adams. Plus Puka, I think, can be just a really, really good receiving core. The offensive line also had a ton of injuries last year. Alaric Jackson, left tackle, missed the first two games. Steve Avila was hurt a lot of the season. Rob Havenstan was hurt. I think this year you get a better line. Stafford historically has very much reflected the play of his line and frankly, so has Sean McVay's offense. We think of Sean McVay as this like crazy attacking offense. His offense goes where the run game goes and when the line is better, the run Game with Kevin Roman is going to be better. So I think this offense, when healthy, which we can't just assume they're going to be healthy, they're not going to be. They're going to miss some games. When you have Devontae Adams and Puka and Stafford, they're going to miss a little bit of time, but when healthy, they're going to be as good as anyone. We saw that Bills game last year, right where they just looked, you know, they could put up any points, any score they needed to the defense. I don't love it, but I think it's young and improving, heading in the right direction. Matt Stafford has been my first MVP bet for the season. Not because I'm all in on the Rams, far from it. I'm not really believing the team, but if they hit what they could be, I think this offense, if they're healthy all year, could be like a 13 win team. And Stafford is a 50 to 1 MVP ticket is a ticket worth investing in for once. No brain drain in Los Angeles. Sean McVay finally didn't lose everybody that he's ever talked or had a coffee with before. So we just kind of get to run back a team that was pretty good already. So a lot of options. I like the other teams in that division as well, but for now I've got the Rams in.
- [56:02]
Simon Hunter
Simon?
- [56:04]
Brandon Anderson
Yeah, just, I just love this Rams team. I like them more than 49ers. I know you guys are both bigger on the 49ers right now and I agree for season long that's fair because we've just seen this Rams team every year. They feel like they start slow and then they play catch up second half. So to me it's, it's understandable why people would be higher in the 40, 49ers. But when you break down the Rams, I just think across the board they have so much talent and adding Adams to this team is just insane. Like, I can't believe that got him with Puka. That's just such a nice combo. And you know their defensive line, I think they're just severely underrated. Like they're a young, hungry group that we've seen time and time again. If you coach it right, they grow and they get better. It's a big deal. Last year, their final five, six games, that D line got so much better for that Rams team, they really improved. I feel like that Bills game was a turning point for them. They really figured some stuff out after that, different combinations and I just love the way they played Heading especially in the playoffs, like that Vikings game, that D line dominate against the Eagles. They are really, really talented and dominant. So yeah, that Rams team, if I'm going to make one futures bet in nfc, it wouldn't be the Eagles. It would still be this Rams team to win the Super Bowl. I just think they have the best value. Been there, done that, right? Head coach, quarterback, we talk all the time. That's such a big deal in football. Like knowing you've already climbed that mountain, you won't get phased in those tough moments in the playoffs. That's a big deal to me. So yeah, Shanahan, I love him but man, we've had some brutal, brutal losses on futures on him with that 49ers him these super Bowls. So yeah, just confidence level. I'm all in on this ramp scene this upcoming season.
- [57:31]
Simon Hunter
All right, Simon, give me your final seven for the nfc.
- [57:39]
Brandon Anderson
So I went Dallas Eagles out of the east, believe I buck south, Green Bay, Detroit for the north and who do I have west? I believe I have 49ers and just the Rams. So yeah, the lone division gotta go the south, right with the Bucks. It's just that that one's such a toss up. I know a lot of pros just like Brandon here, they like Panthers, me and Tre, me and Chad, we drank that Kool aid. I would love for that to work out. But give it on this show. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna play it safe in case people are betting the stuff we're giving out here and just go Bucks. It's just I know they lost, you know, arguably the best office coordinators in football. But yeah, just we can't stop our Baker love. We just love Baker on this show.
- [58:21]
Simon Hunter
All right, I am on Philadelphia, Green Bay, San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta. Brandon, one more reminder. Philadelphia, Green Bay, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Minnesota and the Rams.
- [58:44]
Brandon Anderson
That'd be wild.
- [58:46]
Simon Hunter
I mean that's. We're given. Everybody's got an option for something with this one. Brandon Anderson from the Dungeons of North Dakota, thanks for coming on the podcast and creating this game that we could play called who will make the playoffs in the NFL. The favorites will will return with our next episode Thursday on the Action Network YouTube page with special guest Rich Rebar talking top 10 quarterbacks. Also check it out with clips and highlights at real Chad Millman on YouTube. Download us from Spotify, Apple pods, wherever you get your pods. Rate Review. Subscribe. Leave us five stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Till next time.
- [59:32]
Chad Millman
Love you.
- [59:40]
Simon Hunter
Action Network reminds you, please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you care about has a gambling problem, help is available 247 at 1-800- gambler my uncle Chris.
- [59:52]
Brandon Anderson
Was a real character, a garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama City alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
- [60:23]
Simon Hunter
Join iHeartRadio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one year anniversary of iHeart Women's.
- [60:29]
Brandon Anderson
Sports with powerful interviews and insider analysis. Our shows have connected fans with the.
- [60:34]
Simon Hunter
Heart of women's Sports.
- [60:35]
Brandon Anderson
In just one year, the network has.
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Simon Hunter
Launched 15 shows and built a community united by passion podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports. Thank you for supporting iHeart women's sports.
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Brandon Anderson
And our founding sponsors E L F.
- [60:48]
Simon Hunter
Beauty, Capital One and Novartis. Just open the free iHeart app and search iHeart Women's Sports to Listen now. Hello, this is Ruthie Rogers, host of Ruthie's Table 4. Ali called me the stray dog because I would always turn up at my mate's house at meal times.
- [61:04]
Chad Millman
This week I'm talking to Bono.
- [61:06]
Simon Hunter
All of my ideas about social justice, or rather the lack of it, came from my father too. People have to have health, housing and education drilled into me and his values. Listen to Ruthie's Table 4 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Who are the 25 greatest football players.
- [61:27]
Chad Millman
To grace the gridiron since the year 2000? Introducing the NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years.
- [61:35]
Brandon Anderson
Join me, Greg Rosenthal and an all star cast of media personalities including Mina.
- [61:41]
Chad Millman
Kime, Steve Wych, Kevin Harlan and more.
- [61:44]
Brandon Anderson
For a look at football's best since.
- [61:46]
Chad Millman
The turn of the century.
- [61:48]
Brandon Anderson
Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players.
- [61:50]
Chad Millman
Of the last 25 years starting on.
- [61:52]
Brandon Anderson
June 30th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple.
- [61:56]
Chad Millman
Podcasts or or wherever you get your podcast. This is an iHeart podcast.