The Ryen Russillo Podcast (The Ringer)

Episode: Eagles Win, But Hope For the Cowboys? Plus, 32 NFL Team Questions and Super Bowl Picks With Willie Colon.
Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Ryen Russillo
Guests: Willie Colon, Ceruti, Kyle

Episode Overview

This football-heavy Friday episode drops after the NFL’s opening night in Philadelphia, with the Eagles narrowly defeating the Cowboys. Ryen Russillo gives a full breakdown of the matchup, addresses the Jalen Carter spitting incident, and explores whether the Cowboys showed enough for optimism. Willie Colon joins to dissect the Thursday Night Football drama, and for hard NFL talk, Russillo and Ceruti speed through one question for every team in the league. The episode wraps with Super Bowl picks and a spirited Life Advice segment, keeping a balance of smart football analysis and trademark locker-room banter.

1. Eagles vs. Cowboys Recap & Jalen Carter Spitting Incident

[00:11–13:23]

Game Flow

• Eagles 24, Cowboys 20:
  • Wildly entertaining shootout early (both teams scored on first eight possessions).
  • Dallas fumbled at the PHI 10 (4:44, 3rd quarter), leading to a 65-minute lightning delay.
  • Post-delay: five straight punts, turnover on downs, Philly kneels it out.
• Jalen Carter Ejection:
  • Carter was ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott after a heated exchange. Initial confusion regarding blame, but replay revealed Dak may have unintentionally spit near Carter while jawing—a heated but not malicious sequence.
  • “Even if he was wrong to spit on Dak, you understand why he did it… Whether it was a misunderstanding, whether it was him being immature, who cares? Maybe it’s all of those things. Maybe it’s none of those things.” – Ryen [07:00]

Philly’s Defense

• Pre-delay: Dallas moved the ball at will, especially after Carter left (Eagles defenders were “lost and bewildered” per Willie [49:08]).
• Noted Philly’s D is talented on paper but missing Carter and recent departures (Brandon Graham); looks like regression up front.
• “Once Jalen Carter got ejected, they seemed lost and bewildered...” – Willie Colon [49:08]

Offensive Stars

• Jalen Hurts: 2 TDs, 14 carries, 62 yards. Went 5/5 on 3rd downs to start, escapability was the difference.
  • “The most important part…was the scrambling ability of Hurts and breaking down any kind of stop Dallas thought they were going to get.” – Ryen [09:30]
• Dak Prescott: Leaner, made good decisions, aggressive but smart. CD Lamb (despite drops) was always open; Dallas offensive line played strong.
  • “If you’re a Cowboys fan, you have to wake up this morning feeling good about what you saw out of him [Dak] specifically.” – Willie [50:19]
  • “Dak will retire and we’ll still never feel comfortable about thinking about where he slots in with his peers.” – Ryen [51:28]

Cowboys’ Outlook

• Despite the loss, the panel was upbeat on Dallas’ offense and general prospects.
  • “I was encouraged by the Cowboys’ play...I didn’t walk out of there feeling like, oh, man, the Cowboys are in for a long season.” – Willie [54:05]

2. Jalen Carter/Eagles Defense Discussion

[45:34–50:17]

• Spitting Incident Revisited: Willie explains from a player’s view how spitting is wildly disrespectful but not usually premeditated – “just football things, man.”
• Philly D under scrutiny: Both Ryen and Willie are surprised by how easily Dallas moved the ball on the Eagles, especially after Carter’s ejection.
• Injury Updates: Dickerson injury noted, may impact Philly line play going forward.

3. 32 NFL Team Questions — Speed Round

[13:23–42:54]
(Ceruti rapid-fires one question per NFL team, division by division)

Sample Highlights & Takeaways

• Bills: Are they as good as ever? Ryen—possibly a worse record but still a “Super Bowl team” by roster. [13:41]
• Pats: Best chance to unseat Bills in AFC East? “No—Miami with healthy Tua has better personnel.” [14:21]
• Jets/Justin Fields: “No hope left for Fields. Fields Army = strongest fanbase with the least evidence.” [15:56]
• Baltimore: Sneaky best overall? “Yes, top to bottom, perhaps the best roster in the AFC.” [17:24]
• Chiefs: Is the revenge narrative real post–Super Bowl? Ryen admits he underestimates “narrative,” but sees real motivation. [23:01]
• Chargers & Broncos: Division is still KC’s until proven otherwise:
  “I would say picking them to win the division is trying to be different. I just don’t know how you would pick anyone over Mahomes ever.” [25:02]
• Eagles: Still top-to-bottom the best team? “Yes. It’s the most talented roster.” [26:02]
• Lions: More likely to win the Super Bowl or miss playoffs? “Super Bowl. Roster’s way too good.” [30:41]
• Packers/Jordan Love: “Properly rated” after being underrated, then overhyped—still needs to cut dumb turnovers. [30:58, 72:18]
• Vikings/JJ McCarthy: “Everyone from draft analysts to their own moves screams they think he’ll be really good.” [32:13]
• Commanders/Jaden Daniels: Would you take him over any NFC QB to start a franchise? Ryen waffles, ultimately choosing Hurts but admits “it’s really close.” [26:47–28:52]

4. Super Bowl Picks: Ryen & Willie

[56:57–62:22]

• Willie Colon:

  • AFC: Buffalo Bills
  • NFC: Detroit Lions
  • Explains he sees KC “end of an era,” loves Denver’s defense, Buffalo is “knocking on the door,” Detroit “needs it to happen this year.”
  • “I think we’re going to witness an end of the era with the Chiefs this year...I have the Broncos winning that division.” [57:26, 59:04]

• Ryen Russillo:

  • AFC: Buffalo Bills
  • NFC: Philadelphia Eagles
  • Bills beat Eagles in his pick.
  • Expresses deeper skepticism about KC being able to repeat OL and turnover margin luck; expects a “reset” year.

5. NFL Quarterback Deep Dive (Willie & Ryen)

[75:43–83:21]

• Willie’s personal QBs ranking (for future franchise):
  1. Bryce Young (highest upside, impressed with resilience)
  2. Caleb Williams
  3. Drake Maye
  4. Cam Ward
• Willie’s worry for Caleb: not skill but “neck up”—the mental grind/pressure.
  • “What Ben Johnson did in Detroit is not just going to happen in Chicago.” – Willie [77:01]
• College-to-NFL transition: Ryen laments "programmed" college QBs, lack of freedom/creativity, which may slow NFL adjustment.
  • “Quarterback position has less trust, through high school, college, and first years in the NFL, than maybe we’ve ever seen before.” [80:06]
• Both argue Bears fans should give Caleb the patience they didn’t give other QBs (like Josh Allen).

6. League Trends & Quarterback Progress

[83:27–85:52]

• Noted: 16 Black QBs start Week 1; NFC East is “strong in it.” [83:27]
• Defense of Jalen Hurts’ winning and efficiency, though fans/media underrate him due to "too much talent around" or unorthodox stat lines.
  • “He put the team before his stats...I don’t know why we don’t put him in that top-five category.” – Willie [85:52]

7. Green Bay Packers & NFC Outlook

[68:39–73:11]

• Discussion around why there’s so much Green Bay Super Bowl “hype”: Ryen feels the team is being overvalued due to recency bias, likes the skill crew, but “it can’t look like that again” from Jordan Love if GB is going to close the gap to Philly or Detroit.

8. Steelers Outlook (Willie’s team)

[63:09–66:08]

• Willie's expectation: Pittsburgh will make the playoffs if healthy (credits improved OL and Aaron Rodgers’ surprising effectiveness in camp).
• Wonders how Rodgers’ unique personality will mesh with the young team, ultimately sees it as likely positive.

9. Life Advice Segment

[91:40–118:51]

Notable Calls & Conversations

• Saltwater Pool Debate: Listener corrects Kyle—saltwater pools are chlorine-based, just more skin-friendly; banter ensues. [96:44–98:44]
• Stadium Fights/Confrontations: Listener asks if he should’ve punched a drunk CU fan at a game. The hosts counsel that holding back is usually correct—rarely worth it unless you’re directly threatened.
  • “I’ve had a few moments… where for weeks after I thought ‘maybe I should have.’ But it’s never as good as it seems in your head.” – Ryen [105:25]
• Nickname Trouble: Listener calls a nephew “Thor” even though his mother dislikes it. Advice: Drop it—parents have final say.
  • “If the parents don’t like it, that’s the end.” – Ceruti [115:06]
  • “Don’t do this to your brother; you’re inviting extra conflict.” – Ryen [117:19]

Other Banter

• Pool basketball, T-shirt sizing, post-football partying, and the social contract of “not being a fighter.”
• Brief, comic speculation about stadium “undercover cops” and modern etiquette in stands.

10. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jalen Hurts’ Difference:
  “For me, the most important part was the scrambling ability of Hurts and breaking down any kind of stop that the defense for Dallas thought they were going to get.” – Ryen [09:30]

• On Dak’s Performance:
  “CD Lamb owes this man a steak dinner, a Rolex...Dak couldn’t have played any better than what he played last night.” – Willie [50:19]

• On Green Bay’s Hype:
  “I just have a hard time believing he’s [Jordan Love] this huge mistake. But it can’t look like that again.” – Ryen [72:18]

• On Super Bowl Picks:
  “I think we’re going to witness an end of the era with the Chiefs this year...I have the Broncos winning that division.” – Willie [57:26, 59:04] “I’m picking Philly to get back there. Buffalo beats Philly in the Super Bowl. So there's my pick. Official pick. I've put so much thought into the entire thing.” – Ryen [68:39]

11. Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Casual, deeply informed football talk—Ryen oscillates between sharp analysis and jaded fan, with sarcastic asides and an affection for nuance over hot takes.
• Willie Colon brings player insight and a “been there” attitude but isn’t afraid to admit uncertainty (“I ain’t gonna bullshit you, Ryan. I don’t know” about Super Bowl pick at first [56:59]).
• Ceruti helps keep the lightning round moving and brings a loyal co-host energy.
• Life Advice adds levity and closure to the show, strengthening the “for the fans, by the fans” vibe.

12. Timestamps of Key Segments

• Eagles vs. Cowboys Breakdown: 00:11–13:23
• Jalen Carter Spit Incident: 07:00–08:00, revisited 45:34–47:07
• 32 NFL Team Questions: 13:23–42:54
• Super Bowl Picks (Willie & Ryen): 56:57–62:22
• Green Bay Packers/NFC deep dive: 68:39–73:11
• Steelers Outlook (Willie): 63:09–66:08
• NFL Quarterbacks Ranking Discussion: 75:43–83:21
• Jalen Hurts Respect Debate: 83:52–85:52
• Life Advice: 91:40–118:51
• "Thor" Nickname Life Advice: 111:13–117:19

Summary prepared for listeners seeking an in-depth review and key insights—whether you missed the episode or want to revisit key moments from Russillo, Colon, and crew.