Week 4 Preview Live From Dublin, Vikings-Steelers, Ravens-Chiefs, Half-Baked Takes, and Splitting the G With Gregg Rosenthal

Summary

The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Week 4 Preview: Live From Dublin – Vikings-Steelers, Ravens-Chiefs, Half-Baked Takes & More

Date: September 26, 2025
Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, Craig Horlbeck
Special Guest: Gregg Rosenthal

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Overview: Main Theme

This special live episode, recorded at Kennedy’s Pub in Dublin, brings energy and camaraderie from both the NFL’s international draw and the pub’s raucous atmosphere. The hosts and guest Gregg Rosenthal preview Week 4’s marquee NFL games with deep, offbeat analysis and fantasy implications. They break down the most fascinating matchups—Vikings-Steelers in Dublin, Ravens-Chiefs, and Packers-Cowboys—plus deliver spicy fantasy takes and veer into classic Ringer banter (“Half-Baked Takes”). The episode celebrates both the sport and its culture, all tied together with Guinness, Irish hospitality, and audience interaction.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dublin Experience & Steelers Nation Takeover

• Context: The hosts are in Dublin, noting the overwhelming presence of Steelers fans in the city for the international game.
• Observations:
  • “Every single flight was filled with Steelers fans. They started a chant at midnight on my plane. This pub we’re in right now, Kennedy’s, is a Steelers pub.” — Craig (03:44)
  • Vikings fans are almost nowhere to be seen, setting the stage for a Steelers home-game feel in Ireland.
• Vibe: Light, energetic, fun; frequent Guinness references and pub camaraderie.

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2. Vikings vs. Steelers: Analysis and Predictions

Steelers’ Quirky Success

• Steelers are 2-1 despite being outgained by 417 yards—the second-worst mark in the league. They’re living off turnover differential: “27 points off turnovers and allowed zero points off turnovers.” — Craig (03:53)
• The offensive struggles are balanced by opportunistic defense; Jalen Warren leads the team in receiving.

Quarterback Matchup: Rodgers vs. Wentz

• Aaron Rodgers (now with Pittsburgh) heavily scrutinized:
  • Second in NFL in touchdowns but second-worst per PFF grade.
  • Last in air yards per attempt: “5.1 air yards per attempt, tied for last.” — Danny Kelly (06:17)
  • Struggles against pressure and the Brian Flores blitz.
• Vikings’ defense lauded as #2 in DVOA, second against the pass.
  • Flores’ schemes referenced, with Rodgers having a disastrous history against similar looks.
• Wentz’s psyche and history also get attention: his last “revenge game” versus Rodgers triggered his benching for Jalen Hurts in Philly.

Ugly Defensive Battle Predicted

• “This will be another pretty ugly offensive game on both sides. I don’t think Wentz is going to move the ball. I don’t think Rodgers is going to move the ball.” — Heifetz (08:18)
• Expectation: A low-scoring, defensive-driven outcome (Steelers 17-13).

Memorable Quote

• “Their young offensive line… does not look good so far this season. They are not helping him out at all. Run game, pass—no.” — Gregg (07:04)

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3. Ravens vs. Chiefs: “Game of the Week/Year”

Chiefs as Underdogs at Home

• First time Mahomes is a home underdog in back-to-back games.
• Everyone’s gut: “You should bet on Mahomes in this situation.” — Danny Kelly (11:36)
• Injury report: Chiefs may get Xavier Worthy back; Ravens are banged up.

Ravens Paradox: Great Stats, Bad Record & Vibes

• On paper, Baltimore’s offense is “humming”—scoring 37 points per game, Derrick Henry averaging six yards per carry.
• In reality: “The margins—Henry’s fumbled three straight games, Lamar was sacked seven times last week, and the vibes are horrific.” — Heifetz (13:28)
• Defensive struggles: letting up 415 yards per game, second most in the NFL.
• Ravens’ offense, especially Lamar’s running, is their best chance: “He’s averaged 80 yards rushing per game against the Chiefs.” — Craig (14:15)

Key Strategic Notes

• Lamar vs. Spagnuolo: Historically, Lamar struggles as a passer against the Chiefs, success comes on the ground.
• Chiefs’ offense also struggling: “Mahomes is leading their team in rushing yards already.” — DK (16:33)
• Chiefs remain top-10 in EPA/play due to Mahomes’ scrambling.

Coaching/Late-game Dynamics

• “There’s something about Harbaugh that he seems so stressed that it stresses the rest of the team out.” — Gregg (19:53)
• Chiefs have “Andy Reid is just letting things happen… it’s too chill at this point.”

Debate: Are we overreacting?

• Ravens could still be the best team or just suffered bad early luck vs. elite competition.

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4. Packers vs. Cowboys: The Micah Parsons Trade & Its Fallout

Parsons’ Revenge?

• Micah Parsons, now a Packer, returns to Dallas; traded for two 1st-rounders and Kenny Clark.
• The trade is savaged: “It’s like the worst trade I can think of in the last 20 years.” — Gregg (23:35)
• Cowboys’ pass rush fell apart post-trade (“worst pass rush in the league”), stark contrast to Packers’ defensive rejuvenation.

Cowboys’ Defensive Collapse

• “They’ve allowed 9.1 passing yards per play—the most in the NFL by a yard!” — Heifetz (24:10)
• “They gave up 450 yards to Russell Wilson and then he got benched.”
• Reflections on Jerry Jones’s leadership and media presence.

Micah Parsons’ Reception in Dallas

• Debate over whether he’ll be booed or cheered. Consensus: Likely applause, fans blame the front office, not Parsons.

Fantasy Angles & Game Predictions

• Fantasy: Start Dubs, Goldin, Wicks (“Packers could have 300 yards passing.” — Heifetz (31:40))
• Dak’s under-the-radar great season: “11 big time throws on the season… it’s going under the radar that he’s been good again.” — DK (34:37)
• Packers’ historical dominance over Dallas noted.

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5. Chargers vs. Giants: The Jackson Dart Era Begins

Giants’ QB Carousel & Team Politics

• Giants bench Russell Wilson for rookie Jackson Dart; backstory involves front office drama and Daniel Jones's contract.
• Heifetz’s theory: “Joe Schoen and Dable didn’t want Daniel Jones, kept jobs because Mara insisted, but now their fate hinges on Dart's success.” (38:58–40:30)
• High hopes and anxiety for Dart, who shined in preseason but faces a daunting first start against the Chargers’ hot defense.

Dart’s Poise & Fit

• “He just feels a little aloof in a good way, where he doesn’t actually realize the gravity of the situation, which is good.” — DK (42:17)
• Team environment and play-calling may unlock his rushing and deep-ball skills, reminiscent of pre-injury Daniel Jones.
• Heifetz’s ideal: “I want him to throw for 400 yards, run for two touchdowns, look like an absolute revelation.” (46:26)

Coaching Continuity: A Cautionary Tale

• The hosts and Gregg strongly advocate stability: “Early career turnover at coach is one of the most obvious ways to fuck up a quarterback’s career.” — DK (46:51)
• Giants’ young defensive/foundation pieces highlighted as a rare asset for a rebuilding team.

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6. Half-Baked Takes: Rapid-Fire Fantasy & NFL Philosophy

Caleb Williams’ Down, Up, and Comp Dilemmas

• DK’s journey: “It took me to physically give up on Caleb Williams after week one for him to actually be good.” (50:15)
• Gregg argues Caleb’s floor is higher than Kyler Murray’s, but cautions on consistency.
• DK: “Last week Caleb Williams led the NFL in off-target throw rate.”
• Caleb compared to Kyler Murray: moments of brilliance, stretches of turnover-prone play.

Emergence of Coaching Supremacy

• Craig: “For the first time ever, coaches might be more important than quarterbacks.” (53:12)
• Argues that creative play-callers (Ben Johnson, Kevin O'Connell, Kyle Shanahan) can turn average QBs into efficient engines, with only “unicorn” QBs serving as true exceptions.
• “Infrastructure, environment… everything around it is built to elevate or drop a quarterback’s success.” — Heifetz (55:23)
• Examples: Jared Goff’s career rebirth under Ben Johnson, Bo Nix's struggles despite hype.

Bo Nix and Sean Payton: Rocky Beginnings

• Gregg predicts “at some point this season, Sean Payton will lose his mind on Bo Nix.” (59:33)
• Bo Nix’s volatility, tendency to “freak out under pressure” called out.
• Payton’s history of fickle, grudge-holding tendencies, especially frustrating for fantasy owners.

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7. Fantasy Nostalgia: Gregg on Giving Up Fantasy Football

• Gregg, a fantasy football deep-cut legend, describes life without a fantasy team: “Yes, on balance, I think so” (64:56)
• Explains how real-life work distractions made fantasy more of a stress than a joy.

RotoWorld Blurb Secrets

• Gregg reveals there was essentially no editorial oversight in the early days.
  • “I was the first full-time football writer they had… I think it’s fun when you’re a little sarcastic… you clearly have favorites.” (66:55)
• The iconic, often-sarcastic voice of RotoWorld blurbs is attributed to needing to stand out with personality.

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8. Global & Local Color: Dublin Stories & Guinness Appreciation

• The hosts wax poetic on the “crack” (fun) to be had in Dublin, and recount their interactions with local Steelers fans and cab drivers.
• Guinness is confirmed as tasting better in Ireland: “Creamier head… no metallic aftertaste, just chocolatey bitterness throughout.” — DK (75:34)
• They share a story from St. Stephen’s Green about an Irish ceasefire to feed the ducks, underlining the city’s unique kindness and charm.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (Timestamps)

• “Every single flight was filled with Steelers fans. They started a chant at midnight on my plane.” — Craig (02:44)
• “I kind of feel like the Vikings are going to win. Right now, Vikings are #2 in defensive DVOA, second against the pass.” — Danny Kelly (04:41)
• “The Steelers are one of the luckiest regular season teams and the least lucky postseason teams.” — Craig (03:53)
• “It is like the worst trade I can think of in the last 20 years.” — Gregg Rosenthal, on the Micah Parsons deal (23:35)
• “If the quarterback's good, he's going to be good—it doesn't matter who he's playing.” — Craig (44:38)
• “For the first time ever, coaches are more important than quarterbacks.” — Craig (53:12)
• “Infrastructure, environment—everything is built to elevate or drop a quarterback’s success.” — Heifetz (55:23)
• “I want him to throw for 400 yards, run for two touchdowns, look like an absolute revelation.” — Heifetz, on Jackson Dart (46:26)
• “Early career turnover at coach is one of the most obvious ways that you can fuck up a quarterback’s career.” — DK (46:51)
• “Caleb Williams led the NFL in off-target throw rate.” — DK (52:16)
• "Creamier head… no metallic aftertaste, just chocolatey bitterness throughout." — DK on Guinness in Ireland (75:34)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|------------------| | Steelers fans take over Dublin | 02:44–03:44 | | Vikings-Steelers preview | 03:44–08:45 | | Rodgers’ stats and Steelers offense | 05:48–07:29 | | Ravens-Chiefs preview | 11:14–20:28 | | Chiefs offense & Mahomes underdog status | 11:36–16:33 | | Packers-Cowboys & Micah Parsons trade | 22:45–29:01 | | Cowboys’ defensive collapse | 24:10–24:54 | | Jackson Dart takes over for Giants | 36:01–46:51 | | Half-Baked Takes: Caleb Williams | 50:10–53:12 | | Half-Baked Takes: Coaches > QBs | 53:12–55:23 | | Gregg on quitting fantasy football | 64:56–65:34 | | Dublin experiences & Guinness discussion | 72:46–76:17 |

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Final Thoughts

• The episode perfectly blends sharp football analysis, fantasy wisdom, and the joy of community—from the pub to podcast listeners.
• Humor, cultural asides, and authentic self-reflection (on fantasy woes, coaching trends, and QB faith) make this a rich, engaging recap of NFL Week 4’s most intriguing matchups.
• Whether you’re in it for fantasy insight, football philosophy, or pure vibes, this episode delivers.

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For next steps:
Follow the Ringer Fantasy Football Show for weekly recaps, waiver tips, and Friday previews throughout the 2025 NFL season!

Transcript

[A]

Foreign welcome to the Ringer fantasy football Show. My name is Dana Heifetz and I am joined by Danny Kelly and Craig Rollback live in Dublin from Kennedy's pub in Dublin. We made it.

[B]

We're here.

[A]

We actually did. I actually can't believe they let us do this.

[B]

I know. It's 10:30 in the morning. We have a Guinness here. We're going to get this show started the right way.

[A]

So we are going to go through the biggest games of the weekend, if we're being honest. Obviously. Biggest game of the weekend. Steelers, Vikings, Chiefs, Ravens, Packers, Cowboys. Michael Parsons return to Dallas. Also, the Giants are starting to have a new quarterback. We're going through. I know. It's really all I want to talk about. We're going to have Greg Rosenthal from NFL Daily, baby, who's going to school us on how we're idiots in fantasy football and just basically don't really understand anything. So we're going through all that. Do the ringer. 107 picks at the end, but most importantly, going to split the G. We're going to split the G right now. We're going to. I mean, we're going to split the G, right?

[B]

No better time like the price.

[A]

Who's going to win?

[C]

Slanta.

[A]

Slancha.

[B]

Slancha.

[A]

Boom.

[C]

All right, here we go. Got it.

[A]

We all did. I split it a little. Oh, you guys didn't get it at all.

[C]

I mean, it is 10:30 in the morning.

[A]

That's. Well, yeah, I guess we'll need one more.

[B]

We'll be right back.

[A]

Yeah. This episode of the Ringer Fantasy Football show is presented by Hyundai. The all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid proves that an incredible SUV is so much more than the sum of its parts. It's more than a spacious interior. It's more than being able to navigate difficult terrain. And it's way more than driving farther than you ever thought possible. It's the all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid. So much more than just another SUV. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. All right. We are now joined by Greg Rosenthal of NFL Daily. Honestly, you pioneered the podcasters coming to Europe for the NFL games. Be honest, you did it.

[D]

We were the first. We were like Christopher Columbus getting all the credit for something we didn't really do first.

[A]

Okay, you started tough, but then you stayed there at Columbo, in this house, he's a hero. No. So we're going to go through Viking, Steelers. Obviously, the biggest game of the of the entire season. There's no bigger game. Steelers.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Rogers, Wentz. The matchup everyone's been waiting for.

[A]

Greg. Let's be honest. Yeah. This is a home game for Pittsburgh, is it not?

[D]

It is. I was at the gate in Los Angeles. All Steelers fans there. I got to my hotel here. There's 20 Steelers fans taking pictures outside. Like, Ike Taylor is just roaming around like a leprechaun on, like, every street corner. I don't know what's going on.

[C]

I haven't seen a Vikings fan.

[B]

I mean, we all three. We all flew from different airports, and every single flight was filled with Steelers fans. They started a chant at midnight on my plane. Go, Steelers. It was like, 80% Steelers fans. This pub we're in right now, Kennedy's is a Steelers pub.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

It's all Steelers.

[A]

At the end of the show, we'll do the Ringer 107 with. With the competition we did with the picks against this bread. We're gonna go on Greg's show. NFL Daily. Check it out. We're do picks against the spread. I'm gonna spoil mine. Right now. I'm. The Steelers are getting points, and I'm.

[B]

Like, I know this is gonna be.

[A]

Like 9010 Steelers fans. Like, if you just walk around. I've seen four Vikings fans, Literally thousands of Steelers fans. Yeah. But what do you think?

[D]

Saw this bar as we were getting in? Because you guys are big time. You closed down the bar for us to tape at 10:30. It's just a bunch of Steelers couldn't get in. Were come up to me, and they're like, is this the line to get in? I was like, I don't know. Like, they're. They're ready to go.

[A]

If you're watching this video on Spotify, there are lines we pull down. There are literal people just outside try. Just literally.

[C]

I can see a guy right now.

[B]

Drinking a Guinness in a Steelers jersey. He's wearing a T.J. watt jersey.

[A]

Popular. It's 11:00am What a stud. Craig, you're a Steelers fan. How do you. How do you feel about this game? Because on one level, I. The Vikings just won. What was it? 48. I don't even know what the final score was. 48 to 10. Cincinnati, on the other hand, I'm like, Aaron Rodgers, T.J. watt, Carson Wentz. I really do think the Steelers are going to win, though.

[B]

Yeah. This is a real vet game. You know, this is like a. Do your job. You're on the road. This is going to be an ugly 1713 Steelers win, in my opinion. The Steelers are so funny. I feel like they are one of the luckiest regular season teams and the least lucky postseason teams, you know? Yeah. Like their turnover margin statistics over the last five, 10 years are just absolutely ridiculous in the regular season this year, Steelers have 27 points off turnovers and they've allowed zero points off turnovers. They're like the weirdest. This year, the Steelers have been outgained by their opponents by 417 yards, which is the second worst mark in the league, and yet they're 2 and 1. So, yeah, I think this is going to be. I think that's going to continue to be. I think Rogers is like the Steelers way is for Rogers to throw for 180 yards and they win the game. And that's how the Steelers do.

[C]

Do I have to be the wet blanket here?

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Okay. I kind of feel like the Vikings are going to win. I feel like the Vikings defense is just too good. So right now, Vikings are number two in defensive dvoa, second against the pass.

[D]

And if you remember, a ton of tests.

[C]

If you remember last year, Aaron Rodgers played a Brian Flores defense.

[A]

The Vikings.

[C]

The Vikings in Europe in Tottenham.

[D]

Yes.

[C]

Did I say that correctly?

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

And got. He threw three picks, including one pick, six.

[A]

Got Robert Sala. Super fun. Right after that.

[C]

It didn't go well for Aaron Rodgers.

[B]

You're saying Tomlin's gonna get fired after this?

[C]

Well, that's. I'm not saying that, but I do think it could be. It could make Rogers life a little bit hard.

[A]

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[C]

By the way, I want to throw some stats at you, Craig, and I want you to react. Aaron Rodgers right now. Second in the NFL in touchdowns, which is great. That probably makes you feel good.

[D]

He's also react.

[C]

He's also. Sorry. Also.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Second worst quarterback per PFF grade so far.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

36 success rate. Only Cam Ward is worse.

[A]

I would do anything to have Aaron Rodgers sit with the PFF graders and go through every throw with him. Yeah.

[C]

5.1 air yards per attempt, tied for last thoughts.

[B]

The thing that terrifies me the most is that the one thing the Vikings actually have been a little bit susceptible against the run. Steelers can't run the ball. And also the Brian Flores blitz situation. Rogers has been terrible against the blitz this year when pressure. He's been really, really bad.

[D]

I have more stats for you on Rogers. Dead last in the league when pressured in completion percentage and. And I think like 29th or 30th when pressured yards per attempt. Can you guess by the way, who.

[B]

Is worse than him when pressured?

[D]

Yes to a no.

[C]

Bo Nicks.

[D]

Bo Nix is dead last and Cam Ward is the other one.

[C]

That's tough.

[B]

What do you think about this game?

[D]

I am just hoping because I'm a Rogers hater that it does go.

[B]

Everybody is. Yeah, it.

[D]

It's paying off finally. And I just like their offensive line. It would be my number one concern. I actually think when Roger's been protected this year, he's been good. But their young offensive line, which I thought was the path towards the Steelers having a surprisingly good season that on paper, other than Broderick Jones maybe I was like, man, this group could be pretty good. They have some upside and it does not look good so far this season. They are not helping him out at all. Like run game, pass.

[B]

No. Roger Jones I think is a disaster and we have to give up.

[A]

It was funny this week to see. Well, I agree with everything you're saying. The Vikings just what they're doing on defense with the front seven and like just how they're attacking offensive lines and then also just the coverage rotations and everything is like they're doing pretty crazy stuff. But the flip side is it is like super strength equipment Minnesota does on super weakness. I mean, the Steelers leading receivers, Jalen Warren, he literally leads the team in receiving yards at running back and then the other. But it's funny though because the flip side is we didn't have to see Carson Wentz do anything against last week. It was 34 to 3 at halftime. I think like Isaiah Rodgers, it sounds hyperbolic, but I think that really was the best half any defenders probably ever had in a regular season game ever.

[C]

Right.

[A]

So Carson Wentz didn't have to do anything. And I do think. I don't know, I do think this will. No offense to everyone here in Dublin, but I'm like, I kind of think this will be another like pretty ugly, like offensive game on both sides.

[B]

1713.

[A]

Yeah, I don't think Wentz is going to move the ball. I don't think Roger's going to move the ball. And I do think this is going to come down to fourth quarter defense and I think that you're right. The whole time it'll look ugly for Rogers and then I'm like at some point TJ Watts going to make a play in Carson Wentz. Both these guys are emotional because not only Rogers flailing versus Minnesota last year, Wentz's last game versus Rogers, not at the same thing was when he got benched for Jalen Hurts for the Eagles. He never played for the Eagles again. So I do wonder if that's in the back of his mind.

[D]

There's so many revenge games here.

[C]

Yeah, there's a lot.

[D]

Brian Flores versus Mike Tomlin, like one of the best defensive coaches in the league. Like most innovative versus innovative.

[B]

Yes. So you're right. Also Rogers wanted to play for Minnesota. That's where he wanted to go.

[C]

Oh yeah, he did want to go.

[A]

Just complete the fire of failing to get to Minnesota, which like I think.

[B]

Every quarterback just wants to go to Minnesota. Caleb wanted to go like I think that's Kevin OConnell.

[A]

Exactly. He's tall.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, so before. Any other thoughts here? I mean we got to a lot of Dublin takeaways and everything at the end here. Any other thoughts? One on this game, Greg, or just Dublin in general? Because been incredible. Thank you to Kennedy's. Thank you everyone. Any of the thoughts on just Dublin this game?

[D]

Yeah, it's been a 24 hours. I pretty much got a beat on exactly what this city is all about. I do. I do like your point on Wednesday because early in that game last week, I don't think people really watch that game. Like he almost threw an interception. He took a couple of bad sacks. He like freaked out. I think it's like seven turnovers total in this game between the two teams.

[C]

Oh my God.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Doing a great job of spreading the sport.

[B]

Is there any.

[A]

It's going to be like, oh yeah.

[D]

Carson Wentz, quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers, revenge against like Europe in general. Because last week, last year you mentioned that was the game that was over. He also had a disastrous game a couple of years ago too with the Packers. That helped kind of, you know, torpedo.

[C]

That's.

[B]

Can we. Can we just say there have been some Rodgers throws this year that have been incredible.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And the like Rodgers is completely washed narrative is dead.

[C]

I'm not saying that.

[B]

Yeah, like the.

[A]

You don't like him.

[B]

His back shoulder to Calvin Austin in the last game is a throw very few quarterbacks can still make right now. And he is one of them.

[A]

I Rodgers, it's funny too. On one hand, he looks like a guy that there are glimpses where you're like, I see why the jets traded for him originally before the Achilles where you're like, I see the idea where, yeah, this is a quarterback that in the Reds, like for a defensive. The jets and Steelers have the same logic. Defensive oriented team, horrific in the red zone. And you're like, go for it. Like, just, we want a quarterback, we'll turn the ball over. Rogers won't do that. But the flip side is the weaknesses of the same offensive line. It was funny this week to see Ben Roethlisberger of all people come out. I see and say, like, I see why he's getting rid of the ball because he doesn't trust the oi.

[B]

I keep. I see way too much Ben Roethlisberger.

[A]

In my time, when a friend defends you in an argument, like me with you guys, a friend defends you and you're like, oh, I actually feel worse about whether I'm right or not because you agreed with me. Roethlisberger agreeing with Rogers makes me more confident that this is bad. Like, Roethlisberger is like, I totally get it.

[D]

Yeah. Ben Roethlisberger's podcast not being good is the least surprising news I've ever heard.

[B]

He's definitely just saying whatever he needs to to like make the headline each week about the Steelers and.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's very obvious.

[A]

Yeah. So with that said, we're going to go to the game of the year. Of the week.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Which is. The Baltimore Ravens are at the Kansas City Chiefs. Ravens are favored by two and a half. Even though since Andy Reid took over, The Ravens are 1 in 6 versus the Chiefs.

[B]

This is the first time that Mahomes has been an underdog in back to back home games ever.

[A]

And I. So I want to just. Dk, I want to start with you. Just what. What do you think about just Mahomes being an underdog at home versus the Ravens? Just initial takeaway.

[C]

I mean, the initial takeaway is that he. You should bet on Mahomes in this situation. There's just so many examples over the years of Mahomes like coming through in the clutch. You know, the way he plays in the end of games and elevates the crew. Like I've talked about this a lot of times. Like the Alexander, the great thing where no one thinks he's like, can be killed. You can't kill this guy. That's my first thought that comes to mind here. The Ravens defense really banged up and has been really bad this year. So I don't know if that's going to be enough for the Chiefs offense to look good because they've looked pretty terrible. But that is my first impression.

[A]

What is your first impression?

[D]

Xavier Worthy is supposed to come back to this game, which is good because I didn't like living in the world where it felt like the Chiefs offense kind of hinged on Taekwond Thornton. It's like, it's like if Taekwond's not making big plays, we have no big plays. And he's actually made a couple big plays, which hurts me as a Patriots fan.

[A]

Which of worst three plays this season did you really lie were encouraged by with the Chiefs?

[D]

Yeah. When the Taekwond Thornton catch, when he caught the ball and lifted the. This is actually if Taekwond Thornton ends up having a great career, it kind of does end the Bill Belichick, Andy Reid debate. Like Andy Reid fixed Taekwond Thornton in a way that Bill Belichick could never.

[A]

So I. Greg, I'm really curious, actually. There's so I think this is a crazy, fascinating game. Obviously Chiefs and Ravens are one and two each. The idea that one of these teams is going to be 1 in 3 is. I actually want to talk about the Ravens for a second. The offense is humming on paper, the Ravens, you know, I mean, scoring 37 points per game, most in the NFL, pretty good. They scored a touchdown, 40% of the tries for Baltimore as a touchdown. And so you look at Derek Henry, six yards of carry. So you look at it on paper, it's incredible. And yet in reality, Ravens are 1 and 2. Derek Henry's fumbled three straight games after he'd fumbled three times combined the last two seasons. And the margins took seven sacks. And the vibes are horrific. And yet the offense is performing in theory really well. And I'm the defense is also struggling. They were letting up, I mean the most 415 yards a game. I think second most points in the NFL. So I'm curious, Greg, where are you at on Baltimore right now as a team that's like hyper efficient, destroying everybody and also just losing.

[D]

But they're kind of not hyper efficient on offense even though they're scoring all those touchdowns like since the third quarter of that first game, their running game has been terrible. And DK mentioned it already basically that the Ravens rush defense is terrible. The Chiefs rush defense is both is also pretty bad this year too. So you would think Derek Henry would get it going, but he's very Boomer bust. It's either like a long run or he's getting stopped behind the line of scrimmage. I just don't know if, like, the Chiefs are the team to slow him down ultimately, like the Ravens offense is the one thing in this game that I trust the most.

[B]

The only thing that the Ravens have been able to do against Kansas City is basically have Lamar run. Lamar as a passer has been really bad against the Chiefs. He's never thrown multiple touchdowns against the Chiefs. He's one in five against the Chiefs, but every time he plays them, he's averaging 80 yards rushing against the Chiefs per game. So I think that's going to have to be a huge factor. Yeah, Lamar versus Spags has never worked out. And remember the last time they played was week one last year. That was that Isaiah likely game where the Chiefs won by seven because likely caught that touchdown at the end of the game, but it was one toe out of bounds.

[D]

He might be back.

[B]

Ended up losing. He might be back.

[A]

Spagnolo has always wanted the Ravens. Ravens to not have design runs to the running game. And as cliche as it sounds, they don't want the Ravens to get a design running game going and they want the ball in Lamar's hands. Yeah, like they like as a rusher and they have. I mean, even as a rusher this.

[B]

Year actually hasn't done a whole lot. He's been rushing less than he ever has.

[C]

This is a factor this week, I think, especially because last week he had seven sacks, you said.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And for most of his career, five of those were in the red zone.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So he was just trying to hold on to the ball. I think there's going to be a focus this week probably for them on look, if you don't see the play just take off because they had so many of these sacks where he's trying to hang out in the back and like scramble around in the pocket and then got tripped up like three or four times. You don't ever see that with him, by the way. He's like so slippery in the pocket.

[A]

What did you make of that with. With the Lions actually managing seven sacks from Lamar?

[D]

I think he was surprised that receivers weren't open that he's just not used to seeing that. But I think dk, you hit it too, that if he had just gone like just take off.

[B]

There were plays to be in the whole game, too.

[D]

They almost have too many. Not too many guys. But it is hard to like, find the balance. You would think you'd see more Justice Hill or Keaton Mitchell, too. You would think you would see more of the secondary receivers. Like, they do have enough players, I think likely will help a lot in that regard.

[A]

And I do think. I just. Overall, I do think the Ravens sometimes get a little in their heads. Not just in the player. Something about John, you think, yeah, this.

[D]

Is like the stress ball.

[A]

And it is. And also, I, I, at some point, people are humans. They're emotional. And again, Distress bowl. It is. Distress bowl, everybody.

[B]

One in three.

[A]

Well, the stress on the Chiefs, that's the thing with the Chiefs offense, too. The Chiefs are moving the ball. They're somehow 8th and EPA per place. DeBundo at the ring right here. I couldn't believe that stat, but I realized it's just scrambling for Mahomes because Mahomes is scrambling the way he does at the end of games and the end of the season all game, because it's the only way they can move the ball, to be honest. They can't run. He.

[C]

He's leading their team in rushing yards already.

[A]

Are you.

[D]

Are you guys enjoying the. Isaiah Pacheco marched to 100 yards this season. It's like they should stop the game this week if he crosses 100 yards.

[B]

A jacket. Yeah.

[A]

Like with LeBron when he broke the scoring record.

[B]

They stopped the whole game and they lost. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. We're giving one of these hats, too.

[C]

There was a play in the preseason, I think it was, where he, like, took the ball, like, bounced off a defender, bounced off another guy, then bounced to the outside and then just got pushed out of bounds and literally went head first into a wall. And I was like, this feels like a really bad omen.

[B]

DK hates Isaiah.

[A]

Yeah, you do. I'm going to give you two hours.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Three weeks from now, you're going to be on your show talking about either one of the two things. Ravens, you're deeply concerned about what's going on with this team. They've really not looked right since the first three quarters of the first game. And you're worried they might not even make the playoffs or. The Ravens are clearly the best team in the league and they just. We all freaked out about. They happen to play the Lions and the Bills in the first three weeks and then look not great against the great Browns run d. And it just. Oh, yeah. Okay. Versus the two best teams in the NFL. The Bills had a crazy comeback and The Lions played 40 on the Browns. That's the thing. And so which of the. What do you think is More likely that we're overreacting to they happen to play two of the best four teams in the NFL or that they're actually of issues.

[D]

I have them winning the super bowl so I'm going to cling to my team, be too emotional. I do think that is more likely. Like they have more weapons than the Chiefs in this game and their schedule. Unlike, like the Chiefs have the Lions coming up too. Like it feels more like the Chiefs. Even if they lose this game. I'm not going to go too crazy. Like I, I feel like they're going to figure it out. But figuring out might be the sixth seed and you have to win three games on the road because the Chargers look so different now.

[A]

Do you feel that way too?

[C]

DK yeah, Yeah. I think it is a lot of early season variants with these teams and they're so good that you can look for the Ravens in particular. They're so good. They'll figure it out. They need to get healthy on defense.

[A]

I mean we have Kyle Van Noy is hurt.

[D]

Everyone on their team looks like they're out.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Jair Alexander hasn't played since Week 1.

[D]

Stanley might be out for this game.

[C]

Which, yeah, he hasn't been good anyway.

[B]

If Derek Henry doesn't fold their three zero.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And also it's like so random that he fumbled these three times. Right?

[A]

Like he'll figure out that's not random anymore because the reality is it's. He's now a.

[C]

You think it's in his head but like I don't.

[A]

It's not necessarily in his head. It's that everyone. This is. It's not.

[B]

I think it is the definition of random.

[A]

It is. It has been random. But now he's a target because yeah, how do we tackle this guy? Everyone is better at the peanut punch than even three years ago. Never been 10 years ago. Every team I think used to have like 0 to 1 guys that could do the peanut punch really well. Like 10 years ago, 15 years ago. Every team has six guys now that can do it. And I do. Like the whole thing is he just runs through. I don't know. I. I'm a little nervous about it going. He's not going to fumble in the game.

[B]

If I set the over under on two and a half fumbles for the rest of the season over.

[C]

I think I would take it under.

[D]

I would go under one and a half. I just, I'm a little nervous.

[A]

I want to see the Ravens figure out their goal line off. Frankly, it's cliche. They need to finish. They need to finish seasons, obviously, but, like, they also need to finish these drives where they can score.

[B]

It does feel like they can score from 20 out, but they can't score from one out.

[A]

It feels when the Mark Andrews touchdown looked easier for them from 20 yards out. Yeah, then they just need to get a. They need a second one offense and stop getting their own head.

[D]

There's something about Harbaugh that he seems so stressed that it stresses the rest of the team out. Like, the two coaches are so opposite Andy Reid. I almost am worried it's too chill at this point. He's just letting things happen. Like, did you guys even know Travis Kelsey bumped him on the sideline last week? Like, imagine if George Pickens bumped Brian Schottenheimer. That would like, provide like a week. Everyone's just like, oh, it's fine. It's Travis.

[C]

It's happened a few times.

[A]

Kind of crashes out. There's like the hardball when obviously Belichick did the substitution stuff or whatever at Harvard, Barbara crashed out. But even I don't know, I do think Spagnolo not getting in his head, but they do stuff to mess with the Ravens sometimes.

[C]

Also, Andy Reid is like, big enough. He could like go out there and play Andrew Reed.

[B]

Did you guys see it? At halftime of the Chiefs game last week, Andy Reid did a, like a sideline interview, but he refused to. To stand still. He walked with.

[C]

Yeah, I saw that.

[A]

I thought that everyone's obsessed with the walking interviews now. Everyone loves the walking interviews. I got things to say. Kelsey's coming for me. Oh, my God. All right, we're going to keep rolling with these games, but first, the Ringer fantasy football show is brought to you by FanDuel. It's one of the biggest weeks in sports and FanDuel is turning it into a full on celebration. Introducing FanDuel Boost Fest, where every day from September 25th to September 28th brings you a 50% profit boost in the biggest matchups in football, baseball, golf, and more. Yeah, I kind of want my homes as a home underdog and I'm taking the Americans in the Ryder cup and the Steelers at home because honestly, it's just, you know what, Boost all those things. However you play, the 50% profit boost is ready to go every single day during Boost fest. Download the FanDuel app or head to FanDuel.com Ringer Fantasy to jump into BoostFest, where the games are big and the boosts are bigger. Must be 21 + in present in select states or 18 + in present in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Opt in required bonus issued is non withdrawable profit boost tokens restriction supply including any token expiration and max wager amount. See [e-mail] gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut.

[D]

This is a real good story about Bronx and his dad Ryan.

[A]

Real United Airlines customers. We were returning home and one of the flight attendants asked Bronx if he wanted to see the flight deck and meet.

[D]

I got to sit in the driver's seat.

[C]

I grew up in an aviation family and seeing Bronx kind of reminded me.

[A]

Of myself when I was that age.

[D]

That's Andrew, a real United pilot. These small interactions can shape a kid's future. It felt like I was the captain.

[A]

Allowing my son to see the flight deck will stick with us forever.

[B]

That's how good leads the way.

[A]

I want to get to one of the rare games that you can really just mark your calendar to is just completely, utterly, disproportionately fascinating which is the Green Bay packers. Right. The Dallas Cowboys.

[B]

For us to mark our calendar because it starts at like 1am I know we really.

[A]

Yeah, we didn't. We scheduled this whole thing before the Parsons trade so but yeah so this is Sunday Night Football obviously this is the Michael Parsons revenge game. And just to recap, the Cowboys got, they sent Micah Parsons and they got two of the packers next first round picks, 26, 27 and they got Kenny Clark and then the packers signed Michael Parsons to a four year deal with 120 million guarantee signing.

[C]

Calling it a revenge game is funny though because I understand like the disrespect is there but it's like thank you for sending me to a hundred conversation Micah.

[A]

So before we even get into this Greg, we were actually live on a show when this broke during I take part.

[D]

I saw you later that night.

[A]

Yeah, you did. And I'm curious what. Well I guess don't bother with like what your reaction was at the time but how do you feel now as a like about this trade? Like just to restate the obvious for a second because our reaction was this is preposterous.

[D]

It, it is one of those where the most obvious take is actually more right than you even thought at the time. It's like the worst trade I can like in the last 20 years and it and it looks even worse now because you can see the multiplying effect that Parsons has on everyone else in Green Bay. And then you can see the subtracting effect. I thought the p. The Cowboys were going to have a good pass rush, that they actually had all these other guys that would pop and they're the worst pass RS in the league. Like, they couldn't get anywhere near Williams. And if Parsons was there, I'm sure Donovan as a raku and Sam Williams and Nean, like, they would all look better.

[C]

Yeah. Don't worry, though. They fixed their run defense.

[D]

Right.

[A]

Dallas is allowed 9.1 passing yards per play, which is not only the most in the NFL, it's the most by a yard, like, in the entire spectrum is between five and a half and nine. And no one else is at eight. They're like, they're at nine yards of play. I don't know if you guys know this. There's only 10 yards to a first down.

[B]

They gave up 450 yards to Russell Wilson and then he got bench. Has that ever happened before somebody. So 450 yards and two weeks later, he's been bench.

[C]

It bought him exactly one week.

[D]

I just came up with a theory on that trade that. That Jerry Jones, because he did that Netflix show this year and got really into the whole Herschel Walker trade, he just started being like, hey, we got to go back and play the hits. We got to go back to that.

[B]

The old days.

[D]

Like, this is our new Herschel Walker trade. Except let's get like the 27th best defensive tackle back in the trade.

[C]

Right?

[A]

I. It really is just honestly incredible. I do keep coming back to the succession line in the first line of succession where Logan Roy just says to Kendall and he's just like, sometimes business is just a big dick swinging contest. And I just think that really is what happened here between Jerry and David Malagetta and Micah. And I do keep coming back to that.

[C]

I was somebody. I don't remember who this was. I saw it on Twitter and it was like someone was asking, why is Jerry Jones giving a post game press conference? And I think someone was like, you new here? Like, yeah, what? Like, he just like inserts himself into every aspect of it.

[A]

Jerry Jones still older than Joe Biden.

[B]

It's an extra tough beat for the Cowboys that the packers just. The Browns. Oh, it's.

[A]

It would be way more better for our jobs if they hadn't just lost to the Browns. It's probably better for them to crush this game, though. Like, if they were two and one come up the Browns. I do think they're probably More focused. I do want to just say, to your point there about the lack of revenge, Micah said this week, I think they're going back to Dallas. And Micah said, I think they're going to give me a round of applause. There's no hard feelings there. At least for me. It's going to be a great atmosphere.

[B]

I kind of think he's right. Yeah. Yeah. I think so, too.

[A]

He's not going to get. Could be like, do you think you're going to boot? He's like, I think if you booze or applause, what do you think, Parson?

[D]

I think it's going to be booze because they're just mad about the whole thing. You think that's their way to get back at Jerry Jones?

[B]

They need, like, signs that you.

[C]

Someone else.

[B]

Yeah. Like, we're booing the situation. Don't boo Luca when they. When they went back to Dallas. Like, they didn't. Right?

[D]

No, Luca, they.

[B]

They didn't boo Luca in Dallas, right?

[A]

Oh, that's a good question. No, I don't think.

[D]

I feel like they boot Nico.

[A]

They chant fire.

[D]

Yeah. I think they were giving him love, though. Yes.

[B]

I don't think you boo Michael first.

[A]

We're being told that they cheered.

[B]

I don't think you boom. You can't boom if you're a Dallas fan. You don't boom.

[C]

You boo James. They'll boo. Fans are fickle.

[D]

Speaking of, they love him.

[A]

He wanted to stay. It's like, yeah, more than you don't fool him.

[B]

No. He said he's going to feel bad hitting Dak Prescott.

[D]

Considering, though he was like a generational pass rusher. I do think he's the best pass rusher to be drafted in the NFL this century. I feel like the Cowboys fans had mixed feelings about him.

[A]

Hold on.

[D]

Yep.

[C]

Other than Gary.

[A]

Right.

[D]

It's either him or Garrett. Yeah, it's either him or Garrett. But from the day he entered the league, he's been better his first four or five years because he was defensive player of the year, runner up as a rookie.

[C]

Right. Which, I mean, he was, like, immediately a huge impact.

[A]

You're probably right after, I would say Miles Garrett, but you're right, he probably is the second best pass rusher. And the idea that just. So our reaction when this happened was he's like Reggie White. Like, you just don't let players like that go. And not in their prime. But they're. But I get the point where it's like, we can't play three players half your cap. But Bill Barnwell makes the great point. It's like, that's your fault because he put a number on it. The Cowboys exacerbated the overall cost of these contracts by dragging it out for attention. CD Dak and Micah by Basically, the number is $90 million is how much they blew on the deals. And it should be 37%, not 50.

[C]

But the opposite of hitting the glory hole.

[D]

Yeah. No, you said sports, you know, or business sometimes comes down to like a dick swinging contest. And like, the older I get, the more I think, like, it also comes down like people keeping their jobs or not comes down to, like, who's a dick or not. And Michael Parsons has a podcast much like Ben Roethlisberger, except, like, people listen to it. And people in Dallas did not like that podcast. Teammates did not like Michael Parsons.

[A]

Have you seen C.J. stroud splits before? And after having a podcast?

[B]

They literally. CJ Stroud got rid of his podcast because he was so bad that stopped.

[D]

He was good at podcasting.

[A]

Yeah, that's the point.

[B]

That he had to stop.

[A]

It's like Baker's progressive commercials. And you're like. Then he's like, make them. When you win. It's like, like all the Levis commercials.

[B]

You need a Super bowl ring to start a podcast. As a player, that's my opinion.

[D]

Between the lines, when you listen to Dak and them talk about Micah, where it was like, yeah, we like great player, but Micah's Micah. That's always. That's always a problem.

[A]

He could be defensive player of the year. Second, when you're a rookie, you could do it. I. We even mentioned. So the Cowboys are banged up, so line is six and a half. And also there's two things we didn't go into. One, obviously, that packers history of owning and destroying the Cowboys. You can go all the way back 60 years to like the ice ball and the packers being the first dynasty and then the Cowboys taking over. But even since, like, the recent history of the Cowboys in the playoffs, it's kind of just getting rocked by Green Bay.

[B]

Their last playoff game, they got destroyed by Jordan love.

[A]

Murdered. Like, McCarthy got fired. I don't think Jerry. Jerry Jones even wanted to fire McCarthy. But then I think that led to ultimately, like, it was so embarrassing. It was kind of hard to come back from. But then you go back to the Descartec game. Like, Honestly, I think McCarthy got hired in the first place because the packers kept beating Dallas, right? And then McCarthy got his ass kicked by Dallas in the playoffs. Like the last 10 years of Dallas in some ways got wasted by Green Bay and so now Parsons gets sent there and I kind of think Green Bay is going to come in a rock Dallas because looking at this game CD Lamb is a high ankle sprain. He's probably. I mean he's going to be out. Tyler Booker, the right guard also sign ankle sprain. He's going to be out. So TJ Bass is at right guard. Cooper BB broke his hand so he's. So it's gonna be Brock hoffman at center. T.J. bass at right guardman. Brock like the Cowboys O line pretty bad. Yeah.

[C]

Brock Hoffman, he's. He's an anchor on the Channel 12 news.

[B]

Sounds like he's in the movie Anchorman.

[A]

I know. I mean Greg is it. I mean again you mentioned the obvious take being right is the obvious take that the Green Bay will once again just kick the out of six and.

[B]

A half is low.

[D]

You think it's low. I agree. I agree with you. Yeah, check out the NFL Daily Pick show with you guys. That's coming up. I. I agree. Because like the Cowboys defense is like setting new ground for being terrible. And you, you think about like the packers owning the Cowboys. How about Matt LaFleur owning Matt Eberflus and like he just doesn't have the guys. He's running a system that made sense with like the players worked for Dan Quinn. They do not work for Matt Eber fluss and they just lost. I always like a good team coming off of a lot.

[B]

That's why the Browns lost is a really good.

[A]

That is such a great.

[C]

We're like talking about going undefeated. Like dude, come on.

[A]

That's such a good point about lafleur running Eber flus because I got to tell you what an if Eber flus can't beat Caleb Williams where he just coached the rookie quarterback for a year and then the best performance of Caleb's career is against you. Who are you supposed to beat?

[B]

I know Greg. We call the Dallas defense the stripper that you think is into you because you can't tell if when a player plays the Dallas defense and succeeds like Caleb Williams have like the best game of his career. Is that real? Is Caleb actually improving or is there. Are they just playing the Dallas defense?

[D]

Matthew golden is that guy this week too like fantasy. Like this is your Matthew golden week a little bit. But you would think like he'll go crazy.

[A]

He's going to have 170 yards and three touchdowns. You'll put him in your lineup the next week and then you're going to bench him this week, and then next week you're gonna be like, oh, wow.

[B]

Good question. How many Green Bay wide receivers are you starting in Fantasy.

[A]

Oh, that's a great. I. I think I. I actually think you can play Dubs, golden and Wicks. Nine yards of pass. Also, here's the thing.

[D]

Wicks is bald.

[A]

Before the Browns game. Before the Browns game, Wicks is playing less. I would actually rather play golden, believe it or not, because the playing time slipped. But before the Browns game, Packers were sending it downfield. One of the rare love is one of the last quarterbacks left that rips the ball downfield the way I like the Favre. Yeah. And so we kind of keep joking that love is aesthetically Rogers, but he has Brett Favre's brain, which is like just overall tough combo on the football field. On the. Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Yes. Super great, Claire. Thank you. That's so we don't get sued comedy show. But no, I do think they love. But the Browns game I don't think is representative. I think they're gonna rip the ball downfield. And I do think golden and Dubs is playable. So you probably should play them. They're gonna have 300 yards passing. The.

[D]

The Cowboys passers doesn't have anything. Like, Caleb had so much time last week. It is a good test, though, of the. How low is this going to get for Josh Jacobs? Like, is he actually going to take advantage? Because Josh Jacobs quietly is like. Like a cornerback who just has a great year like every other year. And I know he's backed up a couple years in a row, but he reminds me a little of like. Like Dominique Rogers. Cromartie, every three or four years would be the best cornerback in the league. Like, that's kind of where Jacobs is at right now. And it does not look good. Their run blocking is bad. But you would think this week weird stuff.

[A]

And I do think that is the packers weakness is probably on the old line. It's kind of hidden well because their offensive coordinator is one of two or three in the NFL. It's actually like an offensive line coach. And I do think they in some ways scheme it up in a way that you forget about it, but then you remember it at important moments, especially when injuries and they have just weird things going on. Jordan Morgan still wants to be a left tackle. It's just. There's a lot going on there. But I don't know if, you know, this the worst moment in the history. Well, there's been a lot of mistakes. They've made. But the worst one probably ever was Josh Jacobs. I just told everyone to avoid him the year that he ended up leading the league in rushing, which is.

[D]

No, he was coming off some terrible years.

[A]

Well, he looked awful with the Raiders.

[C]

Right.

[A]

I.

[C]

Wait, when did he, when did he lead the league in rushing? Was it with the Raiders or with the Packers?

[A]

The Raiders. Your memory is.

[C]

I don't, I can't remember who won the super memory.

[B]

I think four years ago, 2021 season, I think.

[A]

All right. Any other thoughts on Packers? This is just unbelievable. I think this is an amazing. NBC must be thrilled that this is Sunday Night Football. Any before we move on here, any parting thoughts? And Packers, Cowboys? I, I do think Micah. I, I think he gets applauded. Luke got applauded.

[B]

And I think that we bet on that. That he'll get applauded.

[A]

Yeah. What's the fandom line? Sure.

[B]

I think it's.

[D]

I'm not allowed to as an employee, but maybe like a Guinness Sunday night or something.

[B]

There we go.

[A]

Yeah, it will put that in boost fest.

[D]

I think he gets boots. I do like the possibility of it just being George Pickens time now. It's like he's going to be like, I'm the, I'm the man now. And like they're trailing by 20 and just like, what happened?

[B]

He's going to be stoked. He'll have 15 targets. They'll lose by 15, but he'll be happy.

[A]

He's. Yeah, he's going to be having fun.

[B]

120 yards. That'll be great.

[A]

He's fighting. Yeah, he's going to fight people when he doesn't get targets at the end of like, you know, games they actually could win. And then this one. Yeah, you're right.

[C]

The other thing to mention here is this is just for fantasy. Dak has been really good this year. He is the, pfft, number two rated quarterback. He has 11 big time throws on the season. I think it's just going under the radar that he's been good again because their defense sucks so much.

[B]

I can't believe that.

[A]

One and two and.

[B]

I can't believe that's a real stat. Big time throw. That's what I mean.

[C]

I think it is actually a cool throw. It's a cool stat because it gives you an example. It gives you an idea of like.

[B]

They just like need to give it a better name.

[C]

Like the most ridiculous throw.

[B]

Yeah. It just sounds like it was made up by like a kindergartner. Big time. Big time. The big league champ. How many big time frozen do you have? 11.

[C]

Why are you so good at kid talk?

[D]

Yeah, it is really funny that it's like the foremost analytical site in the world. But like Steve Palazzolo's like son in.

[B]

Created this one wearing a suit on ESPN. Jack Prescott. It has 11 big time throws. The. Does that mean.

[A]

Like I threw up?

[B]

You know what it means?

[C]

You know what it means. I like it.

[A]

Oh, my God. All right, let's get to game of the week.

[C]

Most important game here.

[A]

The game is the game of the year.

[C]

Psyche.

[A]

I don't even want to say anything. The Chargers are at the Giants.

[B]

We know what. We know what your thoughts are.

[A]

I know. Six and a half chargers three zero. First time since 2002. Greg, they've benched Russell Wilson. Jackson Dart is going to start this week.

[C]

I.

[A]

What do you. What do you think of the situation?

[D]

I think they waited. It was weird. They waited three weeks too long. I don't. I am buying the preseason of Jackson Dart.

[B]

I am too. Like, you think he should have started game one?

[D]

Skeptical. So I, I am already giving up.

[B]

I thought he was going to be terrible and I thought he looked. I'm. We're. I'm worried that I'm falling into the Kenny Pickett trap where it was the second year.

[C]

He only threw like 11 passes.

[A]

He was.

[B]

Yes, that's fair. That's fair. He was like 11. He's like 12 for 16 for 20 yards. And everybody was like, pick it had the year to develop. He's a leader.

[A]

That was in the further we get from the picket thing. It's like the Steelers didn't like leave their offices and like, did you guys know there's a quarterback that works in this building?

[B]

Yeah, people. And they just took that guy.

[C]

There's also kind of. To me, that's a little bit of a red flag now in retrospect. And I'm thinking about this with JJ McCarthy too. It's like that they didn't play him very much in the preseason. Like Kenny Pickett, I'm talking about.

[A]

He.

[C]

He had like, at one point he.

[D]

Was like three touchdown drives.

[C]

It was like, we're good. We're gonna keep these vibes going. We don't want him to like start sucking and then the confidence and then people start calling for his head, whatever. Like JJ McCarthy. Same deal he had.

[D]

He.

[C]

I thought he played like a few series in the preseason. Look pretty sharp. And then you get out in the regular season. It's like, I don't know about this.

[D]

Dart had I think like 50 something dropouts and it's like a full game's worth. He was doing all the things like I didn't think he was gonna do which was like he was getting to his second read. He was decisive. He was pretty accurate at the game against the Patriots is what did it for me was the last week too because she speaking of big time throws.

[B]

Like big time throws really big throw.

[D]

Those equate daddy.

[B]

Mark that down as a big time throw.

[D]

He had like he only played I think the first quarter or quarter and a half of that game, something like that and he had three or four dimes downfield.

[A]

Trigger Fred, come on, use the term.

[D]

Anything else to Bo Collins and Jalen Hyatt. I think they dropped them but I just was like okay, I'm. I'm so in right now that he's a better option. It was a two part thing. I also never understood why anyone thought Russell Wilson was an upgrade on anything they had last year. It didn't really make any sense.

[A]

The reason that reason Russ and Jameis are on the roster. I mean we could just start from the beginning.

[B]

Timeline.

[A]

Yeah, it's Dable and Shane kept their jobs. In my opinion. This is not reported or anything. I just think big time that Chris Marrow brother, the owner. Big time throw big time. Take it.

[C]

We should have a big time segment.

[A]

Big time take big time.

[B]

Take Josh of the week.

[A]

Big time throw.

[B]

K Whip Williams, Tawoma dun. That's gonna get old.

[D]

Really quick turnover where they play turns into like ouchie.

[B]

My biggest.

[A]

I think Joe Shane kept his job and Brian Dable kept their jobs because I think they didn't want Daniel Jones to get signed to that deal. I think Chris Mara who's the owns the team is in the personnel department. He wanted him and I think that they kept him because they're like we can't fire these guys for Daniel Jones sucking when they didn't want Daniel Jones so they gave him a year. But they're also like fucking make the playoffs.

[B]

They ball wanted to resign Jones.

[A]

I think they say things they have to say.

[D]

I don't change your theory.

[A]

Like Joe should put at the end of the day hard knocks Joe Shane's kids are on the show like in the office talking about I want Jaden Daniels, I want this guy Drake May. They didn't want Daniel Jones.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Let's be honest. Kids saying shit that are like eight with their parents. What do you think? Joe Shane's coming up the office and talking about that his kids are in his office saying, I want different quarterbacks. Do you think that he's a huge fan of Daniel Jones that they're talking about this? Like I'm just reading the tea leaves here. Like why would they keep him if he did, if he signed this deal? Clearly he said I don't think we should and they did it. In my opinion, he the simplest answer is Joe Shane didn't want to do it. They did it anyway because again Chris Mera like is that runs the personnel for the Giants and he owns the team. So. And he was there when Daniel Jones was drafted. So with that said, you come into the season and they're like having said that fix the quarterback position. So they're like okay. And they come and they're like we would veterans. We would want Stafford as a trade market. Maybe Rogers. Then they're like rookies Cam what's going to take. And we're like do dart Shador. They obviously want to dart and whatever but in the free agency in case we can't get those guys will sign Russ Jameis. Russ is the fall guy for Jameis and if we can draft a guy then James and this is exactly what happened. They ended up getting Dart. They didn't have to trade that much to get him. So that to me that's the long answer. But that's to me why Russell's on.

[D]

The team but Seamus is better than Russell Wilson.

[A]

I agree with that. I can't explain that minus the turnover. I do think the turnovers generally speaking. I've always felt James has to play for an offensive coach because a defensive coach could never handle the volatility. I also think frankly they were trying to avoid exactly what happened which is the bad record to start the year immediately fighting for your life in the playoffs and like you lose this game in the season's over the Giants. You know what I mean? And so I think that's what they were thinking. But I agree fundamentally I am trying to be vulnerable here and like be still my beating heart and thinking I actually kind of do want Dart to be good. I kind of do think he's going to be good. Obviously I want him to want to.

[B]

Be good my quarterback.

[A]

I'm saying like I want to be good immediately I wanted to believe that what I saw in the preseason against Buffalo. Yeah my and like I am going to flip the fuck out if he's awesome. My fear is why I'm a little. This to me is like not worst case scenario. Maybe I'm just being nervous Nelly. But I'm like, they're throwing him against a Chargers defense that looks unbelievable. Jesse makes sense.

[B]

Impulsive and like, they're not. They're not following a plan.

[A]

It feels like the plan is saved. Brought my job. Like, you know, there's a Family Guy joke where he pulls Stewie out of the car. He's like, all right. Out of the hospital. And they're like, all right, bud, time for you to save this marriage. And then they walk in the house, and I'm like, it feels a little bit like this. Like, yeah, I want to be great. I'm also like, this feels to me to save this marriage. And they walked in, and I'm like. It feels to me like. It's like, all right, Jackson. Like, yes.

[C]

No pressure.

[A]

No pressure, bud. Just save our season, my job, everything. Go and beat the Chargers, who look like they are just cutting edge on defense, doing incredible shit. And if you don't, we're 0 and 4 and can't make the playoffs.

[B]

I do think Dart feels ready for the moment, at least from a personality standpoint. He does feel like he has that kind of.

[C]

He's got to me, like, when I watch him, he just feels a little aloof in a good way, where he's like. He, like, doesn't actually realize the gravity of the situation, which is a good thing.

[B]

Yeah, he's like, I'll just rip it, right?

[A]

It's like, I'm just gonna be ripping it down.

[D]

He would not be, like, mean mugging the camera, eating the W with Jameis Winston on the sideline.

[C]

That wasn't real.

[D]

Yes, it was, but he didn't really.

[C]

Put his fingers in his mouth.

[A]

That was A.I. actually, he never figured out of his A.I.

[C]

No, I saw the original video.

[A]

Have you seen this video?

[B]

I saw the video.

[C]

And then they added, like, the full penetration.

[A]

If you're listening, can someone say something to tell me if a video is AI or not? I want to plug in a link and just be like, AI or not. Someone fix this.

[B]

That's a huge problem. I think that's the first video I've ever seen if that was not AI. Wow.

[A]

Reality is over.

[B]

I. Yeah, like Brian Dable.

[D]

Like, the light came on in his eyes, though, in a way that I have not seen since. Like, he was with the Bills when he was in the preseason. The whole offense was different. It was like this up tempo, athletic quarterback. And meanwhile, you have Russell Wilson, who never fit, like, Brian Dabel's offense in the first place. So it's like they talk about like Dable during regular season practice is on another field coaching up Jackson Darth I do feel like he'll be more inspired at the players I think will be more into it. I like it.

[A]

I overall though I I, I was concerned about Dart as a prospect coming out for a bunch of reasons. The I mean the Lane Kiffin offense and also just I think he played a lot and didn't improve as much as I would have hoped in college. But overall I I actually think as much as it's going to sound stupid if he sucks ass and I'm talking about the preseason in retrospect I'm like they had their starters in for Buffalo and I do think the deep accuracy he has a lot of the good traits of Daniel Jones which is the mobility. It's so nice to watch a mobile quarterback again. Like that is phenomenal. And then also the toughness putting his body on the line. But I do think the deep accuracy he had in the preseason made me miss actually the pre neck injury. Daniel Jones that could rip it. Like no one talks about Daniel Jones before the neck injury had a really nice deep touch and I would like to see that again. I am deep down really hopeful that this will work and I kind of think it will. I'm just a little freaked out that this is going to be Chargers a Saint Sojourn and then it's Eagles, Broncos Eagles and I'm like this could the Dart looking awesome in the stretch is going to change my life. And Dart looking horrific. I'm worried we'll get everyone fired and then they're going to be in the cycle.

[C]

You should just just not expect him to look off.

[B]

I'm a believer. And if the quarterback's good, he's going to be good. And it doesn't matter who he's playing and like if he's going to be a guy, he's going to be a guy. And it doesn't matter if you play him in week four or week seven or week ten, you'll know if he's good.

[D]

Everyone said this last year too about oh, you can't start Drake May for the first time against Houston. How dare you do that. And you know what? Their coaches were a mess. They won one game the rest of the year but everyone knew that Drake May was good. So yeah, Dable might get fired still, but it's fine. But as long as Jackson Dart is good, have I did I tell you guys that I randomly watched Bill's Ravens in the playoffs with Jackson Dart and his father for Some reason.

[A]

What? Definitely not. Please tell this story.

[D]

Daddy Dart, he was at NFL Network for some reason. I think he was on the morning show.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

And then I think he was just invited to just hang out the rest of the day. And we watched the game in like a theater room. So it was like me and Chris Rose and Daniel Jeremiah and like Maurice Jones, Drew and Jackson's Dart and his dad just watching Bills chatting Raven. Yeah, he was a good hang. Was, you know, like, I want to know.

[A]

Did you ask him about why he want. So he was gonna name Jack, was he?

[D]

They weren't as locked in as he kind of wanted them to be. I'm like, I'm prepping for the biggest.

[B]

Game of the year.

[D]

No, no, they were cool. They were cool, but we were just like talking and everything. Everything. They were great.

[A]

That's so fun.

[C]

What's Jackson Dart's dad's name?

[A]

The brother's name is Diesel. Named Jackson Diesel and it popped out look like a Diesel.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So they named. They named the brother Diesel.

[D]

It was one of those things where like if you just like interview a player for like a couple minutes or in this case watch a game with them and they're cool, they're like, oh, yeah, he's got it.

[C]

He's cool.

[B]

Yeah. What's your best case scenario? Do you want Dart to be good and then the fire day ball, or do you want Dart to be good in the keep day ball?

[A]

I want him to, I want him to look for. I want him to throw for 400 yards, run for two touchdowns, look like an absolute revelation. I want him to be. I want him to be.

[B]

Do you want day ball to sign a five year contract if Dart's awesome, or would you rather have a slow start? They get rid of Dabel, bring a new coach in and then start the new. The new job.

[A]

I'm an idiot who believes, yeah, I'd rather Dable succeed and at work. And I think Dable's been handed some bad cards. And it was like, if Dable's maybe able to get Dart to play well, I don't want to fuck with it. I don't want to overthink. Yeah.

[C]

The best case scenario is that he plays well and they keep day ball because early career turnover at coaches is like one of the most obvious ways that you can fuck up a quarterback's career.

[A]

Giants are in such better spot than the Commanders because the Giants, Dexter Lawrence, Abdel Carter, even if K. Thibodeau leaves in free agency, Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter and Brian Burns and Andrew Thomas, Jackson Dart neighbors all under 27.

[B]

What's the how long has Day Ball been there? Four or five years.

[A]

Too long. It's three. This is his third season.

[B]

No, no, fourth.

[A]

Sorry. Four season. Sorry. Four season. Three straight openers without a touchdown. First time since the Lions went to World War II to fight the Nazis.

[B]

What's the longest? It's like what is the longest time it's taken for a coach to like to be good and stick around? Like I feel like it's pretty rare that a coach has been bad for four seasons and then they begin they made the playoffs.

[D]

That was the thing is he was.

[A]

The worst season of the 10 right.

[D]

To because they had that in their back pocket. I think that's helped them bought them some time because I agree if they win five or six games but Jackson Dart is good, you still get a high pick. You keep everyone. It reminds me a little bit of the Browns you at first you guys asked me to come up with some like half baked takes.

[C]

We're gonna do that. We'll do that.

[D]

And one of them in my head was like, you absolutely do not, you know, have to hand it to him. The Browns, the organization that traded for two, deshaun Watson, you, you don't have to give them any credit but it might still work out pretty well. Actually now that you look at this rookie class that they kept Andrew Barry and Stefanski together because I actually think they're kind of building something and ultimately like to get it back to Shane and Dable. That's better. Like if you can have some continuity and the Giants have a lot of good young players.

[A]

It's a great point. And the I will say. Well we joked oh we were at the combine. I know that you thought we were at the combine. And we called him an energy vampire. Like you know, from what we do in the shadows to the energies who feed off, you know, other people's energy. And I turn and they're like tapping on the shoulder. Turn around. Andrew Berry's doing an interview next to us. I was like, oh my God, he's right there. But what's the last thing I'll say the crazy thing about the what we've never really talked about this but the Browns insured his contract so insurance company is going to charge him back for the cap. Long story short, so they're going to get away with it anyway. Theme we're going to go through.

[C]

We're going to get away.

[A]

I don't know what. Anyway, yeah, half baked takes. Yeah we're going to get to that real quick. This episode is brought to you by Verizon. The new iPhone 17 Pro just dropped and honestly, why would you get it anywhere but Verizon? With the best 5G network in America, you can catch every play every game, no problem. New and existing customers can get the new iPhone 17 Pro, designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever with eligible phone trade in and unlimited ultimate any condition guaranteed. Best 5G source Root Metrics data United States 1st Half 2025 all rights reserved. Additional terms and conditions apply for phone offers. Seeverizon.com for details. This episode is brought to you by FXX and Hulu. All new season of Futurama is back. Blending heartfelt moments with razor sharp humor while accidentally saving the day. The Planet Express crew is back to find gravity and common sense. From the creator of The Simpsons comes 10 new episodes where the romance is hotter, the threats are bigger, and the action hits harder. Don't miss the all new season of Futurama. Watch it Mondays on FXX or stream it on Hulu. All right, we're gonna get into some half baked takes right now. Yes.

[B]

Not full baked. I want to make that important. These are half baked.

[A]

These are big time takes.

[B]

Yeah. These are stodgy in the middle.

[A]

Stodgy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Big time takes. DK this.

[C]

Yeah. Mine's not even really a take so much as a realization that if you love something, you have to let it go and then maybe it will come come back to you. There's a saying or a song about that. It took me to actually in my heart physically give up on Caleb Williams after week one for him to actually be good. And now I'm, now I'm starting to think he might actually be good. It looks like the guy that I thought he was gonna TK's at the.

[B]

Strip club right now.

[A]

I'm like, man plays the cowboys once.

[B]

I think she's in love with Peppermint's on right now.

[C]

Caleb and I have a connection and.

[B]

He'S like, you know what? I think this is it for Caleb.

[C]

So anyways, I actually, I just want to get your take. I truly actually kind of gave up on, on Caleb Williams week one. And then now I'm like, oh, crap, I shouldn't, I shouldn't have like gotten off the train. What do you think of obviously the first three weeks so far?

[D]

I think it's dangerous to let someone go that you really care about right then. You could, they might not even realize that you cared that much. And they'll just leave and you'll just be like, man, I should have let them know. Yeah, I think you're in a dangerous spot as a Takesman right now because.

[B]

The worst on the Razor's Edge, like.

[D]

The worst spot to be is to wholeheartedly believe in something and then make a whole show about it of like I'm finally giving up on them and then go back. But then you're wrong on the going back.

[B]

It's like you with Travis Hunter.

[A]

It's like me with Travis Hunter.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

I feel like these two weeks were good signs, but I'm not convinced out of these two weeks because if you watch even, even last week where the numbers were crazy, the receivers are so open, there were some crazy throws by him that weren't good. Like he actually had like four or five or six clunker throws in that game. And I know he can make the really special throws. I think his floor is higher than people realize. He hasn't been as bad, but in terms of being that like next level Ben Johnson guy, like he missed five or six throws even in that game that Jared Goff would have just like nailed.

[C]

I, that, that's a good point because I was, I was actually not looking for Caleb Williams stats, but last week Caleb Williams led the NFL in off target throw rate. And I was like, what I thought he would like, I thought he had a good. And I was like, wait, there's something wrong here by Am I starting number one?

[B]

Boo boos.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

So I, I think that I'm coming to the realization that people who compared him to Kyler Murray coming out were probably, that was probably the closest good comp for him. Because I think Kyler Murray is still at a point where, I mean, just last night when the Seahawks played the Cardinals, like if you're looking at Twitter, it's like Kyler Murray fucking sucks. And then in the second half it's like, wait, he's pretty good actually. I like him like some made some big throws. So it's like, I think. But that's like the encapsulation of his entire career. It's like when we decide Kyler Murray sucks, then he'll have a good game and kind of like bring us back in or whatever. So I feel like that's probably going to be ultimately where Caleb Williams career goes.

[B]

But I don't know, this kind of segues into my half baked take. Like I feel like right now, maybe for the first time ever, coaches are more important than quarterbacks.

[A]

Whoa.

[B]

I think because of X's and O's.

[C]

Not Jimmy's and Joe's.

[B]

I kind of think because of the nature of college sport, college football, I think the nature versus nurture thing where I think a lot of these quarterbacks coming in are all like really green. You don't, you can't tell based on what they're doing in college if they're actually good or not. The Caleb just scrambling around thing, half these guys aren't doing anything in the combine anymore. Like, like you can't actually see if these guys are good. It's all based on kind of perception and the raw athleticism you see in college. They show up and it's like the Vikings fans, I think would take Kevin o' Connell over any quarterback. They would, they would rather keep Kevin o' Connell than any quarterback. I think Bears fans, if it was like right now you have to give up Caleb or Ben Johnson. I think they give up Caleb. The Jags, it's like, I think you would keep Liam Cohen over Trevor Lawrence. I think the Niners, if it was like you can have Kyle Shanahan or Brock Purdy get rid. Like they would keep Kyle Shanahan.

[C]

I don't know.

[B]

I think there are the, the Unicorns, obviously. There's the Mahomes, there's like the Burrow. There's the Lamar, Josh. They are that. And when you combine that with a great coach, you get Super Bowls. But I'm starting to think now that like, like Greg was just saying, like these guys are fucking wide open for Caleb. And it's like, that's Ben Johnson and you can get a guy like Jared Goff who's a good quarterback. Maybe not an elite quarterback, but it's more important now to have the co. The coach that can scheme up these guys to be wide open than actually finding the, like Peyton Manning at the line of scrimmage. Changing things like those guys aren't as common anymore. That's my half baked big time fro. That's a big time fro.

[A]

What do you think of that?

[D]

I like it. I. I push back. But you, you made the right exception, which is the unicorn, of course, you just like Herbert, for instance. I would much rather have than Kevin o'. Connell. Yeah, for sure. Even that level. But there are probably only six of those quarterbacks at any given time.

[B]

Right.

[D]

The only thing I'd push back is like, that's always true. There's only. It's not like there was some age where there was just great quarterbacks all over the league. There's always like Five or six.

[B]

But I think now are able to like there are awesome offenses with mediocre quarterbacks now and it's because of these, these unicorn play callers. And I think that's what the difference is now is like Minnesota Sam Darnold can throw 35 touchdowns with Kevin O' Connell now which is different.

[A]

It's a lot look, it's the same. It's probably this honestly at some level the exact same conversation as the NBA which is. Or in baseball if you want to win one game and it's about starting pitching. It's probably all the same thing where it's option A is an unbelievably talented person at the most important spot. Whether that's a superstar NBA player, whether that's a Lamar Josh Allen level quarterback. Like that's absolutely number one. And but in the absence of that. Yeah. Infrastructure environment like what's. It's not just coaching though. It's offensive line, it's receivers, it's the defense. Everything around it is built to elevate or drop a quarterback's success. And you look at who is a better example of this to me than Jared Goff who now looks like someone who could play till 40. And Jared Goff is unbelievable and in a system where with it where you've invested a crazy amount in offensive line hit on all your picks at these skill spots and have an offensive play calling infrastructure that obviously it's like Ben Johnson was 100% or 0% now it's obviously he built something that can last and like Jared Goff looks like a sub MVP caliber player in that kind of ecosystem. And he also looked cooked like four years ago and that was with Sean McVay. And I think that that's someone who also even now when he goes to throw off platform looks like he couldn't play in college football nevermind NFL. And I think the platform and that to me is kind of a metaphor for the whole thing. Bo Nix is similar to me with that where it's like when his feet are set looks great.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And when the Bronx looks like that.

[C]

Bronx fans would take Sean Payton, right?

[D]

Well yes, Broncos fans would take Sean Payton I think think to bring it with Caleb back to this conversation the idea he was one of the best quarterback prospects of the last X amount of years that you thought he would be that unicorn. I do think it's like early to rule that out. It like if you think about Jared Goff like where would was Jared Goff at this point as his career like second you know first year with Sean McVay just starting out. The signs aren't amazing but. But Kyler Moore to Kyler Murray to me is a pretty low floor even for him. I think his floor is probably even higher than that which isn't bad. Which means like if he keeps getting better, which he should then you can win with him.

[A]

And it's still early though to the Caleb point. How did Mahomes do his rookie year?

[C]

He didn't play.

[A]

He didn't play. And I'm like they went 12 and four with Alex. They had won five division titles before at last.

[D]

Yeah he was literally the best player in the league.

[A]

Fair.

[B]

And I would put pushback.

[D]

The last start of that year was so good.

[A]

It was good.

[D]

I wrote a huge piece about it in the off season. Being like this start was better than like almost any quarterback had in any game all last year. He's so freak. Like he looks so good. It was just like why are we even starting Alex Smith in the playoffs that year?

[A]

He looks I'm a radical with this. The Chiefs had won I believe four division titles before Mahomes was even drafted. The Ravens went 9 and 7 and were the Ravens before they like played Lamar Jackson. The Bills had broke the playoff streak before they like drafted Josh Allen. They had made the playoffs with Tyrod Taylor and then they blew it up again and teared it down. The Seahawks with Russell Wilson had the best defense like ever. Dak Prescott stepped in, had the best offensive line in the NFL. All like all the quarterbacks and I guess you could with the exception of Joe Burrow even then pretty crazy situation. Get you more Chase we played with in college all the quarterbacks for the most part almost all of them had a lot of pre existing success in the environment when they went to that succeeded and it is very hard to find any recent examples of a quarterback that played as a rookie for a team that was bad and then made the team good. Honestly the history is Andrew Luck for the winlet for the Colts, Cam Newton for the Panthers. Those are the real like a Chrysler 300 looks like a phantom till a phantom rolls up. Those are the real best prospects I ever saw.

[D]

That's why most of the Lamar did when they when they went in the lineup they won. They won. They were terrible.

[A]

But when they took him they went 9 and 7 the year they took him.

[D]

But I think he didn't start till they were about 2 and 6 fair. Then they went on a run. I have DK's memory so that could be totally Off.

[A]

No, you're right. That is great. And they went 8, 2 and 6. They finished 6 and 2.

[B]

That's why the hit rate for number one overall picks is so. It's so mediocre because you're going to terrible teams and it's easier if you can hit on a quarterback who's pretty good in the later rounds to show up on a good team. It matters that much more. The nurture versus nature.

[A]

The perfect example. This is Bo Nicks and you had mentioned you want to talk about next and I'm just curious like these are pretty good examples. Sean Payton, Knicks at the Broncos.

[B]

What is your half baked Knicks take?

[D]

It was a two parter but part one is that at some point this season Sean Payton will lose his mind on that. This is a relationship that so much was built up into and like the early days were so like magical and romantic that they, they were in the honeymoon.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

And that like right now we are seeing the beginning, maybe not of the end, but them just like starting to see when they wake up in the morning, like, oh, like what's happening here? You're not quite the guy that I thought.

[C]

I'm noticing weird things that annoy you about me or annoy me about.

[B]

You're like last night at the bar when it was dim, things looked pretty good. Now not so much like, because Knicks.

[D]

The last couple of games, Sean Payton's out there scheming up wide open receivers. First couple games, like he's letting Bo Nicks like do like Knicks is trying all this crazy Mahomes stuff. I mentioned the numbers under pressure like dead last in the league. When he's gotten under pressure this year. And even sometimes when he isn't, he's just like, he has too much energy. You can almost like see he's getting like freaked out. And just knowing Sean Payton's history, I just feel like you saw them like kind of yelling at each other again on the sideline. Like, if this continues, there's going to be some sort of like deep sourced Broncos reporter in week 14 that like starts ragging on Bo Nick and the.

[C]

Source is Sean Payton.

[B]

I do think kind of the alchemy of their personalities. Bo Nicks is a little bit more fiery than I thought he was. Like, he will talk back to Sean Payton. He's a little bit more of like a Disney movie villain because he looks like one. But his personal caddies also kind of acts like one. Like he's kind of shit talking his receivers. He's yelling at them. He's yelling at Sean Payton already. It is weird. I didn't realize that he was such a kind of like a. Like a fiery individual at quarterback. He's just like way more much of a shit talker than I thought he was.

[A]

He is dead last. I believe in pff grade. You can take that as you wish. I don't know where he ranks in big time froze big time throw Ray. But to the point I do think, I do kind of. It's never this simple, but I do just think if you look at some of the ones he's missed, I'm like, yeah, when he tries to throw off platform, it's kind of ugly. And when he tries to throw on platform, I kind of think he's going to be able to write that. But he kind of needs to have his feet set up. He's talented enough to throw that. His feet set.

[C]

You think he's just listening to all the praise this offseason a little too much? Feeling himself a little bit too much or what?

[D]

I do think there's something that's baked into this take is that Sean Payton said they could win the super bowl this year and all the Broncos fans are like really upset right now. And they lost two close games against.

[C]

Two good, like they played good defenses.

[D]

They should not be panicking.

[B]

I mean they should have beaten the Colts.

[D]

But Bonix kind of has been their biggest problem this year. Which gets to my theory. Yes, I, I like that you pointed out Sean Payton will be the source.

[C]

He's gonna be like he's through channels. Yeah, I'll never forget groundwork for moving on.

[D]

I'll never forgive him for like yelling at the Saints reporters at one point because he was like, how dare you like say that I would possibly leave for the Cowboys. That I'm like extorting this really old owner for more and more money when I have three years left on my contract. Every single off season when it's like we know it's your agent planning all those stories like it is literally you that you are blaming on.

[A]

It's totally lost in the Sean Payton stuff is the reason the Dolphins lost the draft pick is because Sean Payton and Tom Brady plotted on Steven Ross's yacht to go to the Dolphins together. And to the point where the NFL found enough evidence they literally took a draft pick from the Dolphins and then may or may not have extorted the Chargers with one of the lesser financed NFL teams to then get $70 billion Walmart family to give him the money.

[C]

Yeah, I mean just I do Think this I. This validates my beliefs in Sean Payton. Everyone who listens to the show knows I, like, hate Sean Payton. He's a good coach in the NFL, but like, we're a fantasy show. And he's the most annoying fantasy coach, like, in terms of like playing the players you expect to play, giving people a lot of snaps that they get the most touches. It's like he's rotating everybody. They drafted a second round running back he's barely playing in in favor of a guy they signed in like August or whatever. You know, it's like, just drives you insane. But the reason, the heart of that is because I think Peyton is really fickle with his players. And that is why that's. This is really validating because it's like, yeah, he just develops these grudges against guys. It's like Shanahan, like, if you get in the. If you get in the Peyton doghouse, you're fucked.

[D]

I want to say after I bury Sean Payne that like he other it's him and Andy Reedus the best offensive play callers of the last 20 years. Clearly he is a Hall of Famer. And, and the generous way to point that out for you would be like, all of his offense have like seven or eight options that are good and he's gotten the best out of like, Devere Henderson. Like, you'd be shocked when you look at super bowl highlights. So much of it's like, you know, Robert Meacham and Lance Moore and all these like, random guys that he's gotten the best out.

[C]

No, I try to be clear about that. He's very clearly a good football coach, and the Broncos fans should be happy that he's their coach. But everything after that for, for like our purposes is annoying as hell.

[A]

So with that said, the last thing I want to say before we get out of here, unless anyone else says something, I just want to ask Greg. So you covered fantasy pretty about as in depth as it gets. You worked for Rota World for a decade.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And you covered fantasy about as in depth as it gets. And you told us you don't have a fantasy team this year.

[D]

I do.

[A]

And I wanted to ask you, are you like, happier without it? Like, are you happier without fantasy football?

[D]

Yes, on balance, I think so.

[B]

Is that because you work for like, in the NFL or no?

[D]

Yes. I think that's a big reason why that you're at work on Sundays and it's distracting on some level, like hosting a show or, you know, when I was just on around the NFL like being part of the show and you have different things during the day that are making you miserable. Like your fantasy team and like your picks. You know, I get really into like whether my picks are right or whatever, so. So it's just kind of like one thing that doesn't ruin your day, but when it's great, like nothing beats that too.

[A]

Okay, and sorry, one last thing. If you had 50 years and 30 people for unlimited time, do you think you could build Stonehenge?

[B]

Okay, so let's provide context. So you basically get the same materials that the people or aliens who built Stonehenge did. So you're in that era, but you have 30 friends and unlimited time. Could you recreate Stonehenge?

[D]

How long do I have until you die?

[A]

Decades?

[C]

Forever?

[B]

Well, no. Yeah, it's just your life.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

You think you can get the stones on top of one another somehow you and your buddies could figure that out?

[D]

Well, like, hopefully someone is giving us this idea, like the idea man to begin with. Maybe I'll be that person. I'm gonna just be assuming one of those 30 is like an engineer. Like I'm not the one leading the way to, to figure it out. But I think if the odds are between 30 people, I feel like you would have one person to be able to figure that out.

[A]

Maybe.

[D]

Idea man.

[C]

I think 1 in 30 people knows how to build Stonehenge.

[A]

A lot of time in our answer.

[C]

I think Greg could.

[B]

Wait, hold on. I do have one last question for Greg. So you said you used to work for ROTOR World. Did you write the blurbs?

[D]

Yes.

[B]

What goes into that?

[C]

How, how emotional can you be?

[B]

Cu. You know, there's a blurb that's like, like, well, Cooper cup sucked again. And you're like, wow, this guy, I.

[C]

Think he was the one who like pioneered that.

[D]

I.

[B]

What was the oversight on riding the bus?

[D]

No, none. I was the first. I was the oversight. But I was the first full time football writer they had like before me was like just the baseball writer doing like when I was on the train home from work, if news happened while I was on the train, like it did not get put up or whatever. So I think it's fun when, when you're a little sarcastic or whatever that you clearly have favorites. But the, the process, at least back then was you're just like reading every source possible. Like every morning we used to have the morning news thing when like you could get into all the sites free and you just like read two or three newspapers for every team and you put up news that you just look for anything that would be helpful.

[B]

We have a joke that, like, if you're. If you're making a trade in fantasy and you're trying to sell someone off to somebody else, they can't have a negative blurb because if there's a really fiery, angry blurb, no one's like, the more.

[C]

The more sarcastic. You're, like, not getting that trait done.

[D]

You can tell when it's like Pat Dardy. It's definitely Roto Pat.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Rotopat has like a. He's like a signature, you know, like another C.J.

[B]

Stroud dud. Are you surprised?

[C]

He's like a serial killer signature.

[A]

Greg, thank you for coming on the show, man. We really appreciate it.

[D]

This was a treat. I'm a huge fan of the show and what you guys are doing, so this is a lifelong dream I've had since a few years ago.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

Oh, my God. Thank you, Greg.

[B]

Yeah. Thanks for coming.

[A]

Check out Greg NFL Daily. And we're going to be on that. And also just, I mean, it's one of the best pods there is. So check out NFL Daily with Greg. All right, today's Ringer 107 is brought to you by FanDuel. We're doing this Ringer 107. We're competing with all the AirPods. Tied for first.

[B]

We are tied for first. No big deal.

[A]

Still under 500.

[C]

Don't look at the ring.

[B]

Why would you say that's what we need to know?

[A]

Okay, I want to just read you a bunch of games I was thinking about. I want to know what you guys think. So we have to pick five. Steelers getting points when all I see walking around are Steelers fans and it's Aaron Rodgers versus Carson Wentz.

[B]

And I don't believe bold out of you.

[A]

Eagles giving three and a half to the Tampa Bay. And I know the Bucs play the Eagles tough, but I'm like, tampa Bay is really injured.

[B]

Super injured.

[A]

Texans giving seven and a half points. And I'm like, should they give seven points to anyone? I kind of want to take Titans getting seven and a half. Don't think about it. I watched Houston, okay, I know that's insane, but I kind of like Titans getting Texans. How are the Texans going to beat anyone by a touchdown when they can't score? And then the Chargers giving six and a half to a rookie quarterback. Don't think about it. Did any of those guys cross your mind? Any of those teams crush your mind?

[C]

I had Denver, okay, They're minus seven and a half against The Bengals. The Bengals defense is atrocious. I do not have as much faith in Jake Browning as I did two weeks ago in terms of what they're doing on offense. So I had that one circled. What was the one that you talked about? The Chargers.

[A]

Chargers giving six and a half. Jackson darts. First start. Jackson Dart can look great, have an awesome career and the Chargers can win by 10 points.

[C]

I would sign off on that one.

[B]

Yeah, I like that one. I am a little nervous. Dart's going to be great. But no, I like that one.

[A]

That's called a win win for me.

[B]

Also, you said Houston was minus. Was. Was favored by six and a half. It's seven and a half.

[A]

That's what I mean. Seven and a half.

[B]

Titans by a touchdown.

[A]

Titans get seven and a half. And I'm just bit like, okay, it's close because Texans can't.

[B]

Do we know if Derek Stingley's playing? He has the oblique thing.

[A]

It's one of them. If you. Even if he plays. I don't know if it's great, but I kind of like.

[B]

I. I actually don't mind that one, to be honest. I mean, you know my thoughts on Houston.

[A]

Houston beating anyone by 10, even if Cam Ward sucks. It's like moving the ball at the end of the games. I don't know. I just. Maybe it's a stupid bet.

[B]

Can I give you two?

[A]

Please.

[B]

The bills minus 15 and a half against the Saints. The Seahawks covered that in the first quarter against Saints.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

But they had a punt return touchdown. And I can't remember, there was another, like, short, short field.

[B]

Those are destroying everybody. And the Saints are the worst team in the league. I think they're going to win 35 to 7.

[A]

We could do it if you want. It's just one of those where it's like you can be winning the whole game and they can just get a touchdown at the end.

[B]

I feel like those spreads. This is so anecdotal, but in my head those spreads always work. It's like the team that's always favored by 15 wins by 40.

[A]

And then one time a year, the team just wins.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

One game a year. The Saints just win the game. But only one of the. All right, fine. Okay. So we're doing double. That's crazy. Bills minus 15.

[C]

You want to take my Bills? The Titans.

[A]

Oh, my God. Titans getting. This is crazy. The Bills minus 15. The Titans and getting seven and a half.

[B]

Plus seven and a half. I think.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[C]

What about the Packers?

[A]

Take the Steelers. We're here.

[B]

Come on. How do you. I think we have to stick to tradition and bet the Colts. The Colts are plus three and a half. Verse the Rams. Let's do it. Do it until they burn us.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

They're getting a field goal and a half. Let's do it.

[A]

Fine. Fine. Oh, my God. So what's the fifth one?

[D]

What?

[B]

They're plus three and a half. They've only hunted like three of the.

[A]

Eagles giving three and a half. I feel like the offense woke up. I really do think what happened at the end of the game is going to stick and the passing game's going to work. And I'm like, three and a half. I love the Bucks. The Bucks playing really hard.

[B]

Mike Evans, Chris Godwin.

[A]

Maybe Baker and her.

[B]

Maybe worse.

[D]

Maybe I.

[A]

But, man, I. I'm like, they got that one.

[B]

I'm down. Let's do that.

[A]

Eagles. All right, so that'll be the five. So Bill's giving 15 and a half, which is insane. Titans getting seven and a half. It's insane. Steelers getting points in here in Dublin. Two and a half. And then the Colts riding the wave. That's. And then what's the last one? We just said Eagles. Eagles. And we're not doing the Chargers. All right, fine. Screw you guys.

[B]

Well, do you want to swap Eagles for Chargers or no?

[C]

Oh, yeah. I think we should.

[A]

Really?

[B]

What do you think? Do you have to pick one of those two?

[A]

You.

[B]

Let's not bet against dart.

[A]

Fine.

[B]

All right, let's enjoy dart.

[A]

All right, fine. Bills. All right, we'll do those. All right.

[C]

We're enjoying dart.

[A]

Today's Ringer 107 is brought to you by FanDuel Odds. Subject to change. All right, so anything else in Dublin before we get out of here? We have another show coming Sunday. We're not going to reminder for people we're not going to have a waivers episode this week. It's going to be attached to the Sunday one. We'll be back for power. We have Monday, the episodes the rest of the year. The only other thing I wanted to say about Dublin so the Guinnesses, I was told, would taste better different in Dublin in Ireland. And they did.

[B]

I'm having a second, unlike you cowards. Can I tell you, somebody just brought me a second one.

[A]

That guy was Shout out. That guy. Can I tell you guys one story I learned about Dublin?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So it's been really interesting to be here, obviously. Walking around. I've never been to Ireland before.

[B]

Same.

[A]

But she'd never been any to Another English speaking country, actually.

[B]

They gave us these hats.

[A]

Kennedy's pub gave us his hats from home. Yeah. Shout out to Kennedy's pub. This has been the best. It's so hospitable.

[B]

Amazing publishers.

[C]

They also gave us breakfast, which was delicious.

[B]

Breakfast. These cool hats.

[A]

Yeah, you come to Dublin. Come to Kennedy's Creamy pores. I have to tell you guys this story. Jack and I, we walked. Jackie's here too. We walked around St. Stephen's park yesterday. It's in Dublin. And there's. They have all these little plaques telling the history. And there was this thing called the Easter Rising, like an uprising in 1916. It's obviously, there's like a whole history here in Ireland about that stuff. And I just want. I'm not going to get into that.

[C]

But I want to tell you, there.

[A]

Was a whole thing where basically there was this Irish volunteer force that was pinned down by English forces that were like. They had a Lewis machine gun on top of a thing. And there was this whole thing they had across the street. There was like a resistance that was kind of holding down the park. And I wanted to tell you guys about this because I couldn't believe this is on a plaque in a park. This is like, official. And they were like, every day during this conflict, there was a ceasefire twice a day for Guinness so that one man could come into the park and feed all the ducks in the park. No, I swear to God, twice a day they had a ceasefire. And they talked about how this guy came in, and I think it was like weeks, this guy. And they were like, there's a real chance this guy was gonna get shot doing this. But both sides agreed every single time to let him feed the ducks in the park.

[B]

I wonder how that started. How was that? Was he running through during the Civil War? And everyone's like, hold, wait. What's this guy doing? Is he on your side or what?

[A]

1917 with the Run and the. The trenches, but it's just the feed of goddamn ducks, man. Anyway, I just thought that was truly, in the true sense of the word, unbelievable.

[B]

Dublin's been really fun. We've only been here for 24 hours, basically, but.

[C]

But I feel like we've lived a whole lifetime.

[B]

We bopped around, we've had a great time. Dk, Carlos and I had it. Had the best taxi driver of all time. The most Irish man. Exactly what you would think of if.

[C]

You think of a Dublin taxi driver, right?

[B]

Older guy, lived here his whole life, really strong accent. I could hardly understand what he was Saying taught us.

[C]

Calling everybody a gobshite.

[B]

Gobshite.

[A]

What does that even mean? I don't even want to know what that means.

[B]

We literally asked him. We said, gobshite. What does that mean? And he goes, you're gobshite. We were like, got it. I now know.

[C]

And then we also asked him what the crack means. And he's like, yeah, it's like the crack.

[B]

Having a crack.

[C]

Having a crack.

[A]

What does that mean?

[B]

Right now we're having a crack.

[A]

Beer?

[B]

No, a crack.

[C]

It's a very versatile word written in the bathroom.

[B]

Been crack. Well, maybe that's for a different reason, but today's been crack.

[C]

It's been the crack. We're having the crack. It's a versatile term. From what I understand, that means having a good time, you know, hanging with the. Hanging with the lads, as you will.

[B]

What I've noticed, Guinness from the source versus Guinness in America, two things. One, cream your head up top. You know what I mean?

[C]

Totally.

[B]

I know you're into that. Secondly, you've known that, Craig. Secondly, I think the biggest thing, honestly, is in America, you get like the tinny metallic aftertaste. Not here at all. Like, the chocolatey coffee kind of bitterness is just rides throughout. There's no metallic tinniness at the end. That usually sits in your mouth.

[C]

Yeah, I agree with that big time. Also, I don't know if you noticed, but I think the cups here are more substantial. The Guinness. Like in the US, the Guinness Cups are a little like.

[B]

Are these 20 ounces or 16?

[C]

Well, I don't know if they're bigger, but I'm saying they're like glasses. 30 or substantial?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, that's a good call.

[B]

What's the over under on Guinnesses you're having this week?

[C]

26.

[A]

I don't know. I've already had.

[B]

You gotta get moving.

[A]

Oh, my God. All right, thank you, dk. Craig, we have a lot of people to thank for this trip. Thank you, honestly. Thank you, everyone at the Ringer for sending us. Thank you to Bex and Carlos who are here making the show with us. Thank you to Greg for coming on the show. I mean, dude. Thank you, Rob and everyone here at Kennedy's, thank you. Shout out Kennedy's pub.

[B]

Shout out Kennedy in Dublin. Steeler Bar.

[A]

Thank you. Yeah. Steelers. Shout out to Michael McQuay, the king of Irish football. Shout out Sunny Meta, the NFL.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Shout out everyone. Anyone. All the people who said it's Dublin recommendations. Thank you. They were incredible.

[C]

Yeah, we got a million advantage thank you to everyone.

[A]

And thank you everyone for listening. Like, this has been so much fun.

[B]

And we're gonna be like, Friday, Saturday, we're going to the Guinness Factory later today. So we're gonna put up a ton of stuff on social.

[C]

More than 26 now, actually.

[B]

Yeah. We're gonna see how many beers we can. We can get down DK's gullet.

[C]

Gullet.

[A]

And of course. Thank you, Lord.

[B]

Lauren.

[C]

Thank you.

[D]

The Cranberries.

[A]

Oh, dude.

[C]

Wait, is that them too?

[B]

Yes.

[C]

I was thinking of you have to let it linger.

[A]

Linger.

[B]

Oh, those are the two big songs, I think.

[A]

Cranberry.

[C]

Good singing boys.

[A]

Zombie is an all time cover. Like covers. There's just like a plot playlist of Spotify just covers a zombie. It's amazing.

[B]

I like when you can tell where an artist is from by their singing because often times you can't. The accent disappears a lot. But I love that with the Cranberries you can really tell.

[A]

Zombie. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Have to let it linger?

[A]

Linger? You got me wrapped around your fingers, man. Do you have to let it linger? Do you have to?

[C]

We're gonna keep going.

[A]

I can't do it anymore.

[C]

He's having a good time.

[A]

Cheers.

[B]

You guys gotta catch up.

[A]

Goodbye, everyone. Must be 21 + in present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 + in present in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com, call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY in New York.