What’s Wright - Chiefs TAKING OFF? Mahomes-Baker MVP race, Steelers-Bengals predictions | Nick Wright NFL

Summary

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Podcast Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "What's Wright" with Nick Wright

Episode: Chiefs TAKING OFF? Mahomes-Baker MVP race, Steelers-Bengals predictions
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Nick Wright
Producer/Co-host: Damanze
Presented by: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

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Overview of Main Theme

This episode is a high-energy, wide-ranging NFL conversation with Nick Wright, focusing on key topics such as the Kansas City Chiefs’ resurgence, the Mahomes vs. Baker Mayfield MVP race, the weekly NFL landscape (including deep dives into the Lions, Eagles, and quarterback eras), and sharp predictions for upcoming games (notably Steelers vs. Bengals). Nick also gives his signature takes on NFL and NBA historical rankings, reacts to media narratives, and sprinkles in betting insights—with his usual blend of humor, rapid fire debate, and accessible analysis.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Player Rankings & Jokic’s All-Time Case

(03:40–15:19)

• Debate over Ringer’s Top 100 List:
  Nick reacts with frustration to LeBron James’ placement at #11, behind Kevin Durant (#10):

  "There's just no argument that [Durant]'s better and there's no argument that he's more available. There's no argument that he's more durable or reliable." (05:21, Nick)

• Durant vs. Curry vs. LeBron:
  Nick sees LeBron as still better than Curry, and questions why Durant’s value is rising post-Golden State.

• Jokic’s Place in the All-Time Top 10:
  Nick analyzes Bill Simmons’ suggestion that another MVP and title could put Jokic into the all-time top 10, but highlights harsh “math” for who would be bumped out (i.e. Dream, Wilt, Kobe, Bird, Shaq, Steph).

  “Top tens are going to get really prickly for people if…Joker all of a sudden has multiple rings and four MVPs.” (08:45, Nick)

• Offense vs. Defense in All-Time Rankings:
  Nick sees Jokic as potentially a top 5–6 offensive big man ever but admits his defensive impact can't match the likes of Duncan or Olajuwon.

  “Duncan might be the greatest defensive player... post-Russell, Duncan’s one of the two greatest.” (12:38, Nick)

• Playoff Series as a Barometer of Greatness:
  Nick credits Bill Simmons for emphasizing playoff series won, noting Jokic is still behind Kobe, Duncan, Michael, and others in this area, which should temper all-time debates.

  “He has reached the ceiling…as high as a one ring player can be.” (15:20, Nick)

2. Chiefs’ Resurgence and Rashee Rice’s Return

(22:00–28:05)

• Chiefs' Expectations:
  With Rice back from suspension, Nick expects the Chiefs’ offense to fire on all cylinders—Mahomes “260, 270 yards” feels like a baseline expectation.

• Rashee Rice’s Journey:
  Nick is cautious, noting Rice must regain trust after his offseason issues, but he’s “excellent” as a player and will open up the field for Mahomes, Kelce, and others.

  "He is incredibly lucky he didn't end his career that day on the Texas highway. ... He now has to kind of earn back everyone's trust." (23:34, Nick)

• Lions' Complaints and Culture:
  Nick calls out the Lions for ongoing gripes about an officiating decision, arguing it was correctly called and Detroit needs to move on.

  “It is a level of whining that…is odd to me…that was definitively against the rules.” (25:11, Nick)

3. MVP Race: Mahomes vs. Baker Mayfield

(28:05–33:02)

• Odds and Narrative Context:
  Nick breaks down a Hard Rock Bet market offering Mahomes or Baker at -150 vs. the field at +105, framing it as a sharp bet given the weak fields this year.

• Other Candidates Diminishing:
  He notes most preseason MVP favorites (Burrow, Lamar, Herbert, Allen) have fallen off or lack the narrative/record. “Right now to me Patrick and Baker, their real competition would… be Josh [Allen].”

• Why Mahomes and Baker Stand Out:
  Baker’s hot streak and Bucs success surprise Nick less than most—he picked Tampa as a one-seed “on the preseason gambling show.” Mahomes' “narrative momentum” is bolstered by Rice returning and past heroics.

4. Eagles, Vikings, and the State of the NFC

(38:28–41:49)

• Eagles’ Slump and Vegas Perspective:
  Nick worries about Philadelphia’s form and Vegas’s skepticism (as reflected in a skinny spread vs. the Vikings), saying Hurts “has to be excellent” to pull them out of this “mini-spiral.”

• Team Maturity and Spiral Risk:
  Despite being defending champs, he believes the Eagles “don’t have the institutional maturity to not let this get out of hand.” (41:25, Nick)

5. Steelers vs. Bengals & The 'Old QBs Bowl'

(41:57–43:10)

• Preview:
  Nick expects Pittsburgh to win a game dubbed “the Icy Hot Bowl,” with two QBs over 40 (Rodgers, Flacco). If Cincy wins, their playoff hopes are alive; Pittsburgh loss would be a blow.

6. Ranking QB Eras Since 2000

(43:17–47:25)

• Nick’s Top 10 of This Century:

  1. Tom Brady
  2. Patrick Mahomes
  3. Peyton Manning
  4. Aaron Rodgers
  5. Drew Brees
  6. Big Ben
  7. Kurt Warner
  8. Josh Allen
  9. Lamar Jackson
  10. Matthew Stafford
  • “I think of the 2000s to now your quarterbacking Mount Rushmore is Tom, Patrick, Peyton, Aaron.” (45:25, Nick)
  • Peyton is a clear #3: “There is a gap between Peyton and Aaron.” (47:28, Nick)

• Would a Rodgers Super Bowl Change This?
  “I actually don’t think that moves him… It would make it closer.” (47:28, Nick)

7. Fast Takes on NFL Games & Playoff Picture

(48:53–52:31)

• Jags vs. Rams:
  Nick’s faith in the Jags is waning due to offensive inconsistencies, especially with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne underperforming. Rams have “a litmus test” game, especially if Puka Nacua is out.

• Cowboys vs. Commanders:
  He thinks Dallas’s offense, led by Dak, is elite but their defense is “so bad they have to score 35 points.” The Commanders are facing a must-win scenario.

• Colts vs. Chargers:
  Nick is prepared to “get slaughtered” on his preseason bets but credits Indy’s offense: “The offense is excellent… I did not see this season coming.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jokic’s Place in History:
  “He is as high as a one ring player can be.” (15:20, Nick)

• On Rashee Rice’s Comeback:
  “He now has to kind of earn back everyone's trust.” (23:34, Nick)

• On the Chiefs’ Offensive Potential:
  "I think the Chiefs offense is going to look fantastic." (24:40, Nick)

• On the Lions’ Complaints:
  “It is a level of whining that…is odd to me…that was definitively against the rules.” (25:11, Nick)

• On the MVP Race Structure:
  “If you think Baker's going to fall off and the Chiefs aren't going to have a good enough record, you can just take the other side of it at plus money.” (33:02, Nick)

• On the Eagles’ Institutional Maturity:
  “I don't think they have the institutional maturity to not let this get out of hand.” (41:25, Nick)

• On Mahomes v. Allen v. Brady/Peyton TV Era:
  "About Brady-Peyton: It felt like a fair fight… Patrick being 4, 5, 6 and 1 against those three guys combined… makes it less compelling." (53:57–54:46, Nick)

• On Jokic or Bird/Kobe Top 10:
  “What's going to become popular … are all-time top tens that do not include Kobe or Bird.” (11:40, Nick)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• NBA Ringer Top 100 & Jokic’s Place: 03:40–15:19
• Chiefs with Rashee Rice Back / Lions Call Debate: 22:00–28:05
• Mahomes-Baker MVP Market Discussion: 28:05–33:02
• Eagles, Hurts, and NFC Spiral Risk: 38:28–41:49
• Steelers-Bengals, Old QBs Bowl: 41:57–43:10
• Ranking QBs of 21st Century: 43:17–47:25
• Quick Game Picks (Jags-Rams, Cowboys-Commanders, Colts-Chargers): 48:53–52:45
• Listener Q&A and Closing: 53:20–55:23

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Overall Tone & Style

Nick is incisive, passionate, and conversational—mixing humor with sometimes pointed criticism. The episode is fast-paced, bouncing from major NFL narratives to fun, “bar room” arguments about sports history. He’s analytical, fair, and never afraid to challenge consensus, but also pokes fun at himself and his own betting foibles.

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This summary captures the lively, detail-packed substance of a What’s Wright episode—perfect for listeners who want Nick’s insights, the key debates, and data-driven takes without wading through ads and sponsor mentions.

Transcript

[A]

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NBA champion Stephen Curry comes Shot Ready. A powerful, never before seen look at the mindset that changed the game.

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That's right, and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 60. It's in the name NFL Daily so you'll have fresh content in your feed all season long. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, in an all star cast of co hosts for preview and recaps of every single game. NFL Daily will keep you up to date with everything you need to know so you can sound smarter than all your friends. Listen to NFL daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Ends 28:26 Open to legal residents of the 50 US states and DC 18 and over. For complete details, how to enter prizes and official rules, visit toyotasgamedaygiveaways.com welcome in Watch Right with Nick Wright, episode 379. This episode, as always, in fact, let me just make it so you guys can see it is brought to you by our friends at Boost Mobile. If you're watching on YouTube when I do other People's podcasts. I turn the little mic flag like this to promote my own podcast. So it's in the screen, but when you guys are watching this podcast, you know what podcast you're watching. So I, my friends at Boost Mobile get the added visibility. Big day we have. We're going to be doing our gambling show later today that you guys will hear tomorrow. We have a ton to do today. It is also my wife and Daman's mother's birthday. So we are going to try to be as efficient with our time as possible. Because, pal, I'm a little behind on some of the birthday stuff and the birthday is today. So there, there might be some wrapping that needs to be done. There might be some purchasing that needs to be done there. Did I, did I just moments ago secure the cake? It's possible. Did you hear me on the phone to make sure they had the pck?

[A]

Yeah, I thought social media post or something. That was a cake.

[B]

No, no, it wasn't a social media post. It was a cake for your mother's birthday. And you know, how old is your mother today? There's no way to tell. And so the. Yeah, and so now there's no way to tell. You don't know. Believe it or not, Daman's a. You don't know. And so there is just a lot we need to do, which is why I expected today to be a very efficient. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. And then the producers just chummed the waters, reminding me about some of my pal Bill Simmons and the Ringers latest rankings and I cannot stay away. So before we even get to straight to voicemail brought to you by Boost Mobile, let me just address two things as quickly as I am able to. So the latest ringer top 100 came out and Braun is outside the top 10. And on he's 11. And on its face, I don't actually. That is within the range of what is, you know, in my opinion, an acceptable ranking. But it is what kills me is who is number 10. So let me make sure I have this right. And this is a little frustrating to me and I think it's fair. So 11 is Braun. Number 10 is Durant.

[A]

I knew it. I didn't, I didn't even see the list. I swear I didn't even see the list. That's crazy.

[B]

There's just no argument that he's better and there's no argument that he's more available. There's no argument that he's more durable or reliable.

[A]

So.

[B]

And by the way, Steph was seven. I I don't think I I think Braun is still better than Steph that at least though intelligent people can disagree like all that that is a debatable point. I don't get why like people like well LeBron's 40 Durant's old too and Durant misses way more time and and so I just that that that just on its and this is not a shot at Kevin Durant. He is if he Steph and Bron are all rewriting what is realistic for old guys in this league to do but it is I don't get why Durant and I think this is a good that because you can do and this is a great interactive they do a really good job with these the visual pieces of these articles But Durant ended last season 14th. I don't know why you jumped to what happened where he jumps to 10. I just don't, I don't, I don't get it. And again I think Durant is unbelievable. The Rockets might be my pick to win the championship this year. This is I am not trying to beef with Durant. I just were yet to have the moment certainly yet to have the moment post Golden State where there is a credible evidence or even eye test based argument that Durant's better. So that's a little frustrating. The other thing they put in there was a quote from Bill where he said if the Nuggets win the title and he wins MVP again I assume again I haven't listened to this. I've been so in football mode. I don't think he means Finals MVP he means Regular Season MVP. He's indisputably one of the 10 best players ever. And so I don't think that he being Jokic is what I don't know if I said that on the front end. I don't think that is necessarily even an incorrect take. It just though does bare mentioning because as you guys know I am the self appointed czar of top tens having to have ten people in them. If you are arguing that if they win this title they being Denver Joker is top 10 then you are arguing three of the following people are not okay Braun, Kareem, Michael, Magic, Russell, Wilt, Duncan, Kobe, Bird, Dream, Shaq, Steph. That is I think a pretty universally agreed upon top 12 with respect to Jerry and Oscar and hell if we want to go super old school Mike in and with respect to Dr. J and Moses and whomever that's the top 12. So if Joker wins I think most people are going to say Dream is out if he's. If he's in or not. So there. That's the easiest one to take out. I think Bill might say Wilt is out. I wouldn't, but I think Bill maybe would. And then. Then it gets a little tricky, which is who is. If we're just saying Dream and Wilt are the easy outs, which. And again, I think Wilt's the sixth greatest player ever. But you taking out Kobe, Bird, Shaq, Steph. I don't know. So four MVPs, which is what it would be for Joker and Two Rings would. And by the way, I didn't. Excuse me. When I said that's not including. It's not including Durant. I didn't even think about that. But Durant's not in the top 10. It is. Top tens are going to get really prickly for people if let's say this hypothetical happens and Joker all of a sudden has multiple rings and four MVPs and has kind of elbowed his way in there because it's not going to be as simple as okay, we're just dropping Dream, who by the way, I don't have as 12th. I have his 10th. I. The. The. The list I gave you guys was the order of my 1 through 12. But is joker better than Shaq? I. That's it. That's a tough sell. Maybe like it's. It is. Do we think he's already better than Steph? I don't. With one more ring. Maybe it's the There you're going. What's going to become popular Demands A in 10 years are all time top tens that do not include Kobe or Bird.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that is hard for me to wrap my mind around, but I've got Kobe 8, Bird 9 and that's with them ahead of Steph, Shaq, Joker. I know some people disagree with it. So it just.

[A]

That's Yoko, one of the most complete NBA players I've seen. Like, I think he has everything. I do think he's probably gonna sneak in that top 10 by the end of everything.

[B]

Well, he is unequivocally, I don't know if I should say one of the greatest. He's one of the greatest probably five or six offensive players ever. I struggle a bit with.

[A]

With the defensive side.

[B]

Yeah. Well, because the. No again. And I don't think he's like some massive liability defensively. It's not the point, but there's some.

[A]

Holes on that side now.

[B]

So. So Duncan might be the greatest defensive player. Well, Dream post Russell Duncan's one of the two greatest defensive players post Russell. And to me Duncan's offense is better than Joker's defense obviously and but offense is worth more than defense. It's tricky. It's tricky. I'm not again I'm not here to say that's an outrageous take like Joker has earned it. It is also the other thing just real quick that Bill, Bill when he was talking about Giannis mentioned the fact that Giannis has only won eight playoff series which was crazy like to think about like that he did a. Bill did a really good thing where he's talking about the you know, all time playoff series one and Braun has 41. Duncan has like 35. Kobe I think 32. Again this is Bill's thing, not mine. But just from listening to it I Jordan had I think like 31 and he mentioned how Giannis has eight. I was like wow, like he won four the year they won the title.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Joker has 10. So when we are again this, this assumes he actually gets to 14 because he wins four more. I have a little allergy to saying a guy who's been past round two twice ever and now it would be three times if they win the title is you know we're going to bump him ahead of Kobe Bryant who when you went to seven NBA finals like you so that, that part of it just is just reflexively it feels. I mean Duncan went to six finals. I don't even know the conference finals off the top of my head. That part feels a little premature. Wrong. Yeah. But it maybe it's not. And so I the I do think though for Joker he has reached the ceiling. He can get to as far as where he's ranked absent another title.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Like wherever he is right now, he winning he has maxed out how high you can climb based on individual accolades. Like he is as high as a one ring player can be. And people can say that's reductive or that's silly, that it's not. It's totally fair in a. The. It's just totally fair. And the guys are telling me Bill said he'd be there with Bird and Magic. I think Bill has Magic rated lower than I do. I think Bill has like to me Magic is in a slight tier above Bird and I think that Bill has Bird and Magic in the same tier. But that okay for a show that I said was going to go really fast. We just spent 15 minutes on something that wasn't even in the rundown. So that's great. We haven't even Gotten to straight to voicemail. Straight to voicemail. Brought to you by Boost Mobile. So let's get right to it. Go ahead, pal. Or no, not go ahead. I do that. Brian Branch is one game suspension's been upheld. Lucas scored 25 in his preseason debut. And the Boston coaches beat the Boston media 57 to 4. They said. Do you think the what's right crew could score more than four? Yeah, I mean I think Damani could hold his own. I feel like the go ahead.

[A]

I mean I'd have like 15 alone if we. I don't know what like quarters they were but they were doing half.

[B]

Here's the problem.

[A]

Because it's the staff. Here's the problem, guys. Ex dogs.

[B]

Well, yeah, I mean they. There's some former pros on the staff.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean some former. And Missoula was a 5 year D1 player. The problem would be this.

[A]

What.

[B]

What's that look?

[A]

I mean, Joe Missoula. Yeah, 100%. I would. I would.

[B]

Joe. Joe Missoula played 130 games at West Virginia and he was gritty.

[A]

100%. He looked like a gritty guy. But yeah, I mean these days he's probably got the check.

[B]

Here would be the problem for us. We would. I honestly think we maybe would need you like to come off the bench.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

If we wanted to. Like if the whole goal was let's get to double digits and funnel it through demons A. I think if we just started the game like that they would just correctly be like, okay, he's doubled at all times. The other four idiots got to go four on three and we might just be cooked. I feel like I can't prove it, but I feel like Vic is probably a good athlete. I don't know that I can prove it. Me, Dan and Matt are just drawn dead that these are the things I know. And so I. It would re. We would really need The Demons a Vic 2 man game to be crushing. I don't know. I would imagine. I think Paul's probably fine, but you know Matt. Matt, now that he's a big bougie executive, you know, is enjoying the spoils of success. We got to throw Daniel's. I've. I've seen Daniel's Twitter avatar picture. I just don't think he's instilling a lot of fear in the opposition. Sorry, Daniel. I mean, I'm not either. For the record. Who just said we've met. Oh yeah, I know. No, Oh, I know that, Daniel. But I'm trying to be relatable. For the audience as well. No, Daniel, he was at the Trentage years ago. Okay. We now still haven't even started the show. This is a disaster. Look, if you smoke or dip, I'm going to give you a few good reasons to try Zen Nicotine Pouches. First, Zyn is America's number one nicotine pouch brand. And and Zen offers an unbelievable rewards program. There's a lot of options for nicotine satisfaction, but there's only one Zen. Visit zen.com find to find Zen at a store near you. Again, that's zen.com find zyn spelled z y N. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Greatness doesn't just show up.

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Hey, this is Matt Jones and I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit more different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit toyota.com NFL now to learn more.

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Or wherever you get your podcasts Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit toyota.com NFL now to learn more. Like Rate Subscribe Review Please hopefully everyone's enjoying today's programming. Let's get to the actual topics at hand.

[A]

So your Chiefs are looking normal again. The offense is humming. Rasheed Rice is off of that six game suspension. Mahomes is saying it's going to be hard to keep him off the field. Andy Reid saying that he looks good and he's in shape. Are you expecting the Chiefs to kick it into a new year with Rasheed Rice back? I'm expecting like 260, 270from Holmes in this game.

[B]

Oh, is that, is this. You got a little, you got a little.

[A]

I don't have a little taste on.

[B]

Four and a half or something. I mean that, that's what that sounded like to me. So here's what I think. I think the offense is going to look excellent. I do want to say I don't know what's going on with Josh Simmons. It seems to be a serious personal family issue. The fact that he left the team abruptly and he won't talk about it. He referred it to Brett Veach. I have no insight on this, but you know, I would not expect him to play this week. Luckily, Jalen Moore more than acquitted himself well last week and I think he's fine in the short term. I actually think veteran Jalen Moore is probably about as, maybe I'm wrong, as good as rookie Josh Simmons. Josh Simmons is so exciting because as a rookie he's been good. I and so it's about what he's going to be. What I do think is the Chiefs are now going to be able to hit every quadrant of the field and Rasheed Rice. I, I think people had forgotten what Rasheed Rice was doing before he got hurt from the playoffs through the regular season once he got a hang of it and I said this on the show, I'll say it again and then I want to actually talk about the Lions. I am not Rasheed Rice is not a conquering hero returning. Okay. Rasheed, if he, if it was just he blew out his knee and he's been out a year, that would feel one way. Instead, listen, he is incredibly lucky he didn't end his career that day on the Texas highway. Okay. And he's even luckier. He didn't end somebody's life. I am not going to hold that against him forever moving forward. But I also am not going to act like, you know, that this is like he's coming off a super feel good story. You know what I like. So he, he was very, very fortunate that that didn't end worse than it did and he now has to kind of earn back everyone's trust. Now that that has been said on TV and on the pod repeatedly, I now feel comfortable talking about him. Just the player. And from Thanksgiving of his rookie year through the when he got hurt, he played nine games, not including the playoffs. In those nine games was 987 catches for 90 yards a game and in the playoffs he had another 260 yards. He's excellent and he's going to play the juju intermediate role. So Travis will have more open spaces, Rasheed will have more open spaces, Thornton and Xavier taking the tops off the defense and it's I think the Chiefs offense is going to look fantastic. I also however want to talk about the other side of last week's game for a moment, which is the Lions, their media, their fans and most notably their coach and quarterback still as of yesterday, whining about a correct call. I've never seen anything like it that Dan Campbell was still and I like Dan Campbell a lot. He was still yesterday complaining that they took the Jared Goff touchdown off the board. There seems to be some real it's in dispute whether or not the refs on the field got help from New York or not on it. What there is not a dispute on is that that was a penalty. It is the Lions stance seems to be yes it was against the rules but the refs didn't instantly call it. Therefore it being called is unfair and and to the point to where now I wish they had just gotten it because the Chiefs controlled that game. Regardless, like it is a level of whining that for something that was definitively against the rules. That is odd to me and it's not my it's, it's no one's fault but your own that you didn't know that if golf is under center and goes out for motion he has to pause for a beat and if he's in shotgun he doesn't. That's. That's not being as buttoned up as you should have been. So it's weird to me with a game demand a Monday night against Tampa that if they win it they are effectively back in first place in the conference and if they lose it, they're 4 and 3 having lost a head to head tiebreaker to Tampa and already being a game down in the head to head with Green Bay. It's just weird. All right. I want to Go back to the Chiefs just for a moment to talk league mvp. This segment is presented by our great friends @ hard rock bet. All right, go ahead, pal.

[A]

So Baker has climbed to number two in MVP odds. Ahead of him is Mahomes. Those are both of your guys that are in the MVP race. We're sponsored by Hard Rock. So they've created this marker for you. They've got Baker, Mahomes or Baker to win MVP at minus 1 50. Or you could bet the field at plus 105.

[B]

So here's. So shout out to Hard Rock on this, not just making this. And this market is currently available in Florida, by the way, for making this an either or side, meaning I don't love when it's just. When it's one way markets because then you can't tell what the fair price is. Does that make like if it's just a yes bet or just a no bet? You can't, you can't get a feel for what the fair price is when it's a two way market. Minus 150 and plus 105. There's obviously some juice in there because they're not the same number. But those aren't. It's not minus 150 and for either or. And then minus 150 for no. And I've got to tell you, I think Baker or Patrick to be able to get either one of them to win MVP at only minus 150 is a pretty solid bet. Now, full disclosure, I won't be making it because I already have this bet covered. I have Baker in the preseason at 35 to 1 on Hard Rock. And I have every year. It's like an annuity. Every year I bet Patrick to an mvp and then every three years or so it pays. So I. So I already have them. I have these bets covered. But if you guys remember our preseason gambling show, I said I thought Tampa was going to be the 1 seed. And if Tampa's the 1 seed, Baker's got a real shot at MVP. I didn't expect it to be this type of, you know, insanely hot start. The reason I like the Baker or Patrick piece of it, Demons A is so many of the preseason favorites are just out. So obviously Joe Burrow is out. Literally. Yeah, I think Lamar is out like the.

[A]

I. I think he's definitely.

[B]

You agree?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. I mean, I think too much ground missing, missing two games doesn't knock you out. But I just think being one in five, like they would have to go. They would have to go 10 and one the rest of the way for Lamar to have a case. Right, Right. Okay. So then you look at the other teams that could have great records. Right. Daniel Jones is not going to win league mvp. Especially because a lot of people think Jonathan Taylor's been the best player on that team. Daniel Jones been excellent. But it's just he to me, Daniel Jones is not going to be league MVP. But they right now are the 1 seed, right?

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Rogers team only has one loss. He doesn't have the numbers and I don't think he's going to. So he's not going to win league mvp. I you go to, you know, Herbert was a trendy pick. They. They fell off some. Josh Allen is still obviously a viable candidate, but he's had some hiccups the last few weeks. Right. You go to the nfc. Jaden's team isn't that good record wise. So he is and his numbers have been fine. But he's also missed time. He's got an uphill battle golf. I just, I don't see it. Maybe I'm like. And also the team's records fine. But. And you might be like nick, the Chiefs are three and three. No, I understand that but I also feel like Patrick somehow like has a narrative momentum going for him with getting Rasheed back. So right now to me Patrick and Baker their real competition would And I don't think Jordan Loves had some crazy year. The real competition to Monza is Josh.

[A]

And Stafford and if they start winning games.

[B]

No. No chance.

[A]

No chance.

[B]

No, no. I mean Dax not going to have a better year than Burrow did last year. And the Cowboys aren't going to do better than nine wins like Burrow did. And Burrow didn't have a real shot at it. Stafford is viable. Right. But Puka being banged up hurts his chances.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I do think bake you getting basically you get Baker or Patrick at minus 1:50. I think that's legit. And if you think Baker's going to fall off and the Chiefs aren't going to have a good enough record, you can just take the other side of it at plus money. So that's. I think that's a sick bet by our friends at Hard Rock and this show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet. If you love betting on sports, you just love sports and want to try betting. The Hard Rock Bet sportsbook app makes it simple. Plus packed with great insights non stop promos every day of the week. Week seven kicks off with Steelers Bengals. I'm looking ahead already to Sunday in Kansas City, Hard Rock Bet Stats Hub right here in the app. Here's what the app is showing me. Arrowhead you guys. They've won 13 in a row at home as a favorite. They're massive favorites over the Raiders and are on a six game streak though of failing to cover against divisional teams. That's interesting. Maybe they snap it Sunday. If if so, probably need a little help from Cream Hunt who scored a touchdown in five straight. This is a weird one. Cream on his scored a touchdown in five straight week seven games. How about that? Also need Xavier Worthy. He's on a four game touchdown streak on Sunday Games when the Chiefs are favorites if you haven't tried your first bet on Hard Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get $150 in bonus bets. If you win, just place a five dollar bet and if it hits, you get not only your winnings but also an extra $550. Pardon me. In bonus bets. And tonight on Hard Rock Bet, you can get a Thursday night profit boost for the game Boost your same game parlay or SGP Max. So your bet pays extra winnings. New promos every day. So if you're listening to this later, just open the app and check out what you've got. Any day of the week. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today, Take a look around and make your first deposit payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Or call 1-888- admit it in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-809 with it gambling problem. Call 1-800- GAMBLER in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. If you smoke or dip, I'm going to give you a few good reasons to try Zynn Zyn Nicotine Pouches. First, it's America's number one nicotine pouch brand, and Zynn offers a robust rewards program. There's a lot of options for nicotine satisfaction, but there's only one Zyn. So if you go to zyn.com find that's z y-n.com find to find Zyn at a store near you. This product does contain nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[A]

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[B]

Hey, this is Matt Jones and I'm Drew Franklin and this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that?

[A]

That.

[B]

Oh my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit toyota.com NFL now to learn more. What's up everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks. We take you inside the scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots. From college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow, we break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape.

[A]

The league year after year.

[B]

Whether you're a die hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, Damanze, let's get to some of these other games. Quickly please.

[A]

So the Eagles are coming off that two game losing streak, the last one being the Giants and they're headed to Minnesota and you went from wanting to see the passing game to then them just playing a normal game. They failed at both those tasks. What do you expect to see them. You see out of them in this game?

[B]

Did this line surprise you? It's a little weird only being point and a half favorites against a Vikings team that's going to be starting a backup quarter quarterback. A Vikings team, that's been fine, but you know, I don't think has wowed people. To me that was. That's real evidence. Vegas is cooling on the Eagles a bit. Yeah, that, that they are.

[A]

See what's happening with him.

[B]

It's.

[A]

They're just weird.

[B]

Yeah, they are weird. And I don't think Saquan's going to be able to save them. I think the 480 touches from last year is just. He doesn't seem to me to have the exact same burst. And the offensive line isn't quite as good. This is. And the defense is just mediocre. This is demanze an opportunity for Jalen. Hurts to show the world who he is. And that. That's. Don't clip that. That sounded that. That's because listen, the guy's one. He's literally the reigning super bowl mvp. But so let me rephrase it. For the Eagles to pull themselves out of this mini spiral, Jalen's going to have to be excellent. That's what I think. I don't think they have a great defense right now and right now they don't have a great running game. What they do have is a good to very good offensive line and star receivers. And so then it falls on Jalen to make the offense work that way. And I'm very interested to see how it goes. Go ahead. Do you think that's an unfair.

[A]

I, I. Yeah, that's fair. I mean, I just. It just seems like none of them are on the same page. But. No, but yeah, I mean you do have the, the infrastructure.

[B]

Go ahead.

[A]

So to speak. I mean, you have the tools.

[B]

Here's the other thing. I also think if they lose, it can really, really get away from them. Yeah, I don't think they have. I don't think they have. Despite being defending champs. The.

[A]

That fear factor with other teams, I.

[B]

Was going to say like the institutional maturity to not let this get out of hand.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And because we saw them when they were the defending NFC champs in 10 and one a couple years ago, it spiraled on them.

[A]

And so it's the weird thing, they seem so dis. Like they seem like a disciplined bunch, but it just. I don't know.

[B]

They, they.

[A]

It's just an emotional heads a lot.

[B]

Yeah, it's really, it's really odd. We'll get to more on this in tomorrow's gambling show. All right, let's get to the old quarterbacks.

[A]

Bengals and Steelers are facing off on Thursday Night Football tonight. Cameron Hayward is calling this the Icy Hot Bowl. For the only the second time in NFL history, two quarterbacks over 40, Rogers and Flacco will be facing off. What are you expecting from this game? Oh, Rogers also called it a great thing for, for the old guys out there.

[B]

Yeah, listen, I think Pittsburgh will win. I think that if Pittsburgh doesn't win since he's going to feel like we're alive if Cincy wins this game since he is sitting at three wins having beaten Pittsburgh head to head and Pittsburgh sitting at four wins now since he has been just the worst team in the league since Burrow went out or you know that's a little disrespectful to the Titans. Jets.

[A]

Are pretty bad.

[B]

Yeah, Ravens been pretty bad too. That is true. But I actually I expect Pittsburgh to win this game. The producers had a follow up question in here that I, I'm going to try to do quickly that I think would be fun.

[A]

How would you, how would you break down the quarterback eras of this century? Could you rank them?

[B]

So I don't know that I'm just. I think what they want me to do is ranked the quarterbacks of this century. I don't know about eras. So here is, this is a cursory ranking of how I would have it and basically Brett Favre and older are not eligible. Does that make sense? So the 1, 2, 3 for this century to me is very simple. Tom Brady is one, Patrick is two, Peyton Manning is three. That to me is pretty undeniable for of the last quarter century. I also think number three or number four is pretty undeniable and that's Aaron I think of the 2000s to now your quarterbacking Mount Rushmore is Tom, Patrick, Peyton Aaron. Five gets tricky because eligible for that fifth spot and tell me in the dock because I am doing this on top of my head if you guys think I'm leaving anybody out but just eligible for that fifth spot is Breeze, Big Ben, Lamar and Josh. To me is there, is there anyone that I am going to be like oh my God, Nick, what a terrible job that I forgot. I don't think so. I would have fifth on that list be Breeze. I would have sixth on that list be Big Ben. Oh, there is one Guy that is. Well, I don't. Hold on. I think. Is Kurt Warner older than Brett Favre? Kurt Warner is born in 71. I'm gonna. Brett Favre was born in 69. So, Kurt, that makes it okay. Tom, Patrick, Peyton, Aaron, Breeze, Ben, Kurt Warner, Josh, Allen, Lamar, and then number 10. I'm going to put Stafford. And just. So that would mean just missing the cut would be Philip Rivers, Cam, Russ, Matt, Ryan, Eli. Those are the guys. So that's how. But I think. Listen, Aaron. Aaron. Maybe Aaron had an opportunity to be at least to pass Peyton and to be the guy that Patrick was chasing before he got to Tom or before he gets to Tom. But Aaron. Aaron didn't have the postseason moments for it.

[A]

What if Rogers got a Super bowl this year?

[B]

Like Peyton's final one in Denver? Yeah, I actually don't think that moves him. I'm not going to put him. That, to me, wouldn't jump him above Peyton. And, like, I think there is a gap between Peyton and Aaron. It would make it closer. He'd certainly listen. He certainly wouldn't be ahead of Patrick. And Tom's Tom. But I. And I also think everybody has Aaron ahead of Breeze and Big Ben. I just think he's firmly fourth of the 2000s. I think it's very difficult to have him ranked anywhere else. Hey, guys. You ever notice how everything keeps going up? Rents going up, streaming services going up? Your favorite burrito spot suddenly thinks should charge a little extra for salsa. But with Boost Mobile, you and your phone bill don't have to play the will this go up soon? Game. Why? Because Boost Mobile is unlimited talk, text, and data plan at a price that'll never go up. In fact, same price you'll pay for life. So switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only at boost mobile. After 30 gigs, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan. All right, Damani, let's quickly get to three other games here before we do our gambling show for tomorrow. Go ahead.

[A]

So your Jags are headed back to London, where they always win, to face the Rams. You put Jacksonville in the probably not good enough tier to win a Super Bowl. So is your love fading for them? What's going on there?

[B]

No, I. Listen, I just think that they haven't been good enough. And it's disappointing because a lot of it has to do with the fact that Trevor and Travis haven't been as good as they need to be. I Know they have a good record and you know, Trevor had the great moments against Kansas City and then actually had a good stat line last week, but they scored 12 points against Seattle and Travis, instead of being, you know, one and a half players, they're getting the production of like 3/4 of a player. So that to me concerns me for the Jacks. I'm also the rams offense only scoring 17 against Baltimore. It, you know, flagged to me. Now part of me feels like the Rams went into that game feel with the stance of if we don't turn the ball over, we cannot lose. So we're going to be very conservative, very cautious because Cooper Rush is not moving the ball in this defense. And that was correct. So if that's the reason that they were the first team not to just move the ball at will against Baltimore other than the Browns, then that's fine. But Puka might miss this game and he's wildly important. So to me this is a, this is a nice litmus test for both of these teams, both of whom sit there at 4 and 2 feeling fine about their record but also probably feeling we can play a little better. And my lean in this game would be that the Rams can get it done. With that said Jack, the Jags are way more used to this trip and it's a much shorter trip for them. So that concerns me a bit. Next.

[A]

So the Cowboys season has gotten off to a rough start. Jerry Jones is still hopeful though. That offense is humming and they play the commanders this week who are coming off that brutal loss to the Bears. Is it crazy to say the 13 seed cowboys are still a feisty team? This might be a pretty good game.

[B]

Yeah, listen, no, I, I don't think it's crazy at all. I do think the Cowboys are dead to make the playoffs, but I also think because the offense has been so good, they can beat anybody. And George Pickens playing the best ball of his life, they, they might get CD back this week. They will get him back. If not this week, the next week. And that Dak is playing great and the passing offense has been elite. The defense is just so bad that they have to score 35 points. Washington on the other hand, Demons A if they lose this game, it might be good night. And I know that sounds premature, but they're right now 12th. They're three and four. I'm sorry, they're three and three. With a loss they'd be three and four. And their next three games might be the toughest three game stretch anyone has in the NFL. All year at the Chiefs, home for the Seahawks, home for the Lions. So this is a literal must win for the Commanders. All right, last one.

[A]

So you called the Colts a legit good team there. They haven't really faced any great teams. They got the Chargers coming up who are also riddled with injuries. Is there a chance the Colts are still closer to the 24 Saints than the 24 Vikings?

[B]

No. Yeah, and I'm going to break away. I'm going to just have just absolutely get slaughtered on my Colts preseason bets. And no, I mean, they have a legit offense. The defense isn't as good as the numbers suggest. The offense is excellent. And I, you know, I think they will likely go to Los Angeles and beat the Chargers. And is the, the I did not see this season coming from for the Colts, but I have to give him credit. All right, let's get some listener questions, pal.

[A]

Brett asked Nick, is it really true that you've never seen that you've never seen Rounders? That'd be like a Pro Am golfer having not seen Abby Gilmore. And also, hey, what's going on?

[B]

No, it's not true that I haven't seen rounders. Wilds just says that for some reason because he thinks it's funny. Not only have I seen Rounders, I'm good friends and play cards with the guy who wrote it and created it, Brian Koppelman. So, like, Wilds just says it because he's an idiot. All right, next.

[A]

No ass. Do you think Brady Payton era was more fun to watch or Mahomes Alan, bro.

[B]

Lamar, here's the thing about Brady Payton. It felt like a fair fight. And they split games like Peyton was three and two in the playoffs against Tom. Tom won the first two, Peyton won the last three. Patrick being four, five, six and one against those three guys combined. And having one one, two, three, four straight against them makes it. It's fun for me, but it's not as compelling. Why are you shaking your head?

[A]

Yeah, I mean, I don't know. Like, it's like hard not to shake my head. Yeah, it's fun for you. They're good matchups, you know, they're all.

[B]

I mean, they're good matchups like that. But my point is Brady, Peyton, Big Ben, they all beat each other, right? Like that. And that's just not what we've gotten so far. Next.

[A]

Danny asked the Raiders try to reunite Russ and Carol at the trade deadline.

[B]

That's the rudest thing anyone said about Gino in 10 years. No, they should not. Next.

[A]

Scott asked, do you agree that because they don't play in preseason games that the first four through six games are not near as good as they are before when they played in preseason games?

[B]

Yes. Yeah, absolutely. And I think teams are. It's also why it didn't happen this year. But typically, teams like the Chiefs that have really tough training camps are usually better than the rest of the league in September because they're actually ready to play football. All right, reminder everybody. Like Rate Subscribe Review we're going to stick demonte and I are going to stick around and do our Week seven gambling show. You guys will get that in your feeds tomorrow morning. As long as you are you are subscribed to the pod. Thank you to all of our great sponsors, Hard Rock, Bet Boost, and of course, Zen. Thank you to the Volume and the Blue Duck. Talk to you guys soon. What's Right if you're a smoker or dipper ready to make a change, you really only need one good reason. But with Zyn Nicotine Pouches, you'll discover many good reasons. Zyn is America's number one nicotine pouch brand. Plus Zyn offers a robust rewards program. There are lots of options when it comes to nicotine satisfaction, but there's only one Zyn. Check out zyn.com find to find Zyn at a store near you. Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. This is the story of the one As a custodial supervisor at a high school, he knows that during cold and flu season, germs spread fast. It's why he partners with Granger to stay fully stocked on the products and supplies he needs, from tissues to disinfectants to floor scrubbers, all so that he can help students, staff and teachers stay healthy and focused. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Johnny Knoxville here. Check out Crimeless Hillbilly Heist, my new true crime podcast from Smartless Media, Campside Media and Big Money Players. It's the true story of the almost perfect crime and the nimrods who almost pulled it off. It was kind of like the perfect storm in a sewer. That was dumb. Do not follow my example. Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The NFL is rolling. That's right, and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 60. It's in the name NFL Daily, so you'll have fresh content in your feed all season long. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, in an All Star cast of co hosts for previews and recaps of every single game. NFL Daily will keep you up to date with everything you need to know so you can sound smarter than all your friends. Listen to NFL daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Ends 28:26 Open to legal residents of the 50 US states and DC 18 and over. For complete details, how to enter prizes and official rules, visit toyotasgamedaygiveaways.com this is an iHeart podcast.