The Ryen Russillo Show

Episode: MVP Drake Maye, Scary Seahawks & Ravens Back with Albert Breer. Plus a Heisman Rant
Date: November 10, 2025
Host: Ryen Russillo
Guest: Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated, MMQB)
Producers: Ceruti, Kyle

Episode Overview

This episode, Russillo dives into a packed week of football with recurring guest Albert Breer, focusing on the meteoric rise of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (whom Russillo now frames as the MVP frontrunner), a “scary” and dominant Seattle Seahawks team, and the resurgent Baltimore Ravens. There's also a pointed conversation on the constantly controversial Heisman Trophy race, spirited life advice, and some inside-baseball on the new Barstool partnership, merch, and show mechanics.

The show stays true to the Russillo tone: part stats nerd, part locker room chat, with quick-witted rants and plenty of football-lifer sensibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Drake Maye: MVP Favorite and the Patriots Transformation

(Timestamp: 02:24 — 34:25)

• Maye’s MVP Case:
  Russillo spends the first extended segment making a robust statistical and narrative case for Drake Maye as the NFL’s 2025 MVP, highlighting:

  • Maye’s leading completion percentage above expected (tied with Darnold).
  • Flawless play since an early season stumble—carrying an offense many fans struggle to name beyond the QB.
  • “He’s making some plays every week where...you're like holy crap, did he just do that?” — Albert Breer (18:27)
  • Poor supporting cast: subpar rushing (23rd), a WR1 (Diggs) with middling production, O-line injuries, and a “patched together” defense.

• Inside the Patriots Building:
  Breer contrasts this “spackle holes” approach to what the Commanders did a year ago:

  • “All these guys they brought in...were guys they had background with, where they knew what they were getting.” (18:27)
  • Roster construction feels “ahead of schedule,” and the staff is “not getting over their skis.” Pats are holding picks for future drafts; focus is methodical rebuild, not shortcutting.
  • The sense in Foxborough: they finally have “the guy” for the next decade.

• Belichick Era Comparison/Transition:
  Discussion on how the Patriots' staff and operations shrank, became insular and archaic; the new regime is modernizing quickly, helped immensely by the “franchise QB” presence (22:33).

• Maye exceeding expectations:
  "He's better than they thought. His instincts—it's what surprised them. Not just tools, but consistent, smart, instinctive play." — Breer (25:18)

Notable Quote:

“May is basically doing all of this on his own...That kind of toughness, that competitiveness, and to be able to deliver a ball that perfectly and lead the receiver, it's not like he just hit somebody who was open. That's an unbelievable throw.” — Ryen Russillo (08:30)

2. Young QBs, Schemes, and the Changing NFL Offense

(Timestamp: 27:13 — 34:25)

• On Caleb Williams (Bears):
  • Discussion about QB development, the need for “escape hatches,” patience as young QBs develop read progression skills.
  • “The way to develop these quarterbacks now...is you give them that escape hatch...while buying yourself time to develop the other stuff.” — Breer (34:15)
  • Caleb’s improvisational play style: “Every other dropback looks like a Hail Mary. It’s a free-for-all." — Russillo (29:12)

Notable Quote:

“You have a chance to be a pretty dangerous team come December and January if you can leverage what Caleb can be...this is a team that's winning different ways now.” — Breer (32:00)

3. Scary Seahawks & Colts: Who’s the Real No. 1 Seed Threat?

(Timestamp: 34:25 — 41:51)

• Seahawks’ Surge:

  • Russillo: “Are people paying attention to what they’re doing? They’re murdering teams.” (34:45)
  • Seahawks were “impossibly complete,” with balanced roster of young talent and veteran pickups.
  • “They've scored in the 30s in the first half three times this year. I don’t know if that’s ever been done before.” — Breer (37:48)

• Colts’ Offensive Line Concerns:

  • “My big question is, if a team jumps on them early, can they come from behind? Is that offensive line as good as advertised?” — Breer (39:15)
  • Jonathan Taylor’s resurgence is a big story, as is the O-line’s recent “crater.”

• Running Back Value Returns:

  • Russillo and Breer discuss the cyclicality of RB value, referencing big off-season moves by "smart teams" landing Barkley, Jacobs, Henry.

Notable Quote:

“Now it’s a huge value to have a great one, because you’re paying the guy half of what you’d be paying a top receiver.” — Breer (41:51)

4. Dan Campbell, Rams’ 13 Personnel, & Play-calling Trends

(Timestamp: 43:04 — 52:35)

• Dan Campbell Takes Over Play-calling:

  • Campbell’s emotional EQ is “the best I’ve ever been around” per Jared Goff.
  • “What Dan’s really, really good at is...knowing exactly what his team needs...I’d be stunned if that’s not the reason why he’s doing this, because he knows he’s got a really good group of players who maybe had lost a little bit of belief in the direction of the play calling.” — Breer (45:09-48:27)

• Rams’ Evolution to 13 Personnel:

  • McVay’s adaptation after repeatedly losing to the physical Niners.
  • Strategic shift: using three TEs to force opponents to play base, then splitting them out for matchup nightmares.
  • Roster moves (Michael Flohr, Ryan Wendell, Nick Kaley) specifically target building “toughness and countering NFL trends.”
  • “You can see the grinning that Stafford and McVay have. They feel like they’ve got opponents on a string now.” — Breer (49:19)

Memorable Moment:

“It’s like, you know, we’re the ones sort of controlling the chessboard now.” – Breer on Rams ending game on a hard count (51:50)

5. Baltimore Ravens Resurgent — Why People Wrote Them Off Too Soon

(Timestamp: 52:59 — 57:56)

• Injury Misconceptions:

  • “They had over $100 million in cap money on their inactive list that week, and 20 Pro Bowl selections...” — Breer (53:03)
  • Ravens' depth developed during injury adversity; now getting healthy at a key point.
  • Upcoming schedule (Browns, Jets, Packers) softens, setting them up for a division run.

• Ravens Playoff/Super Bowl Outlook:

  • Russillo: “If the Ravens are in and rolling, only Buffalo or KC might have better odds of reaching the Super Bowl.” (56:06)

6. Heisman Rant, College Football Playoff Picture & Social Media Fandom

(Timestamp: 62:52 — 77:09)

• Heisman Hysteria:

  • Russillo rails against the “vibes-based” Heisman, citing QB Mendoza getting hype for one late drive vs. actual best players like Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith.
  • “If the award is supposed to be the best player, then Jeremiah Smith’s my pick for it.” — Russillo (87:03)
  • Bill Conley’s stats-based Heisman lens is highlighted and compared to mainstream narrative.

• Ohio State, Indiana, and the Culture of Fan Anxiety:

  • Debate about Ohio State’s dominance, online fan toxicity, and the ever-controversial selection arguments.
  • “The vocal Ohio State fan on social media, I think is the worst fan of any fan base in American sports.” — Russillo (69:02)

• Playoff Seeding and Team Rundowns:

  • Russillo gives his Top 12, breaking down the case for and against teams; debate on auto-bid mechanics for future playoff expansion.

Notable Quotes:

“The Heisman is the most uneducated voting base of any major sports.” — Russillo (72:52)
“Maybe I’m just trying to figure out a way not just to reward a quarterback on a top team.” (72:52)

7. Listener Life Advice: Cheating, Transparency, and the Modern Dating Dilemma

(Timestamp: 111:24 — 125:17)

• The Dilemma:
  • Listener asks whether to retroactively admit to his new partner a non-physical “cheating” mistake from late teens, due to transparency—when exes from the same social circle could, theoretically, spill.
  • Panel's consensus: Don’t over-disclose:
    • “I think it’s not explicit enough for you to be like, I screwed that up...are we telling all the mistakes we made around the high school age?” — Kyle (117:20)
    • “What’s the end game? Is she gonna be proud of you for that?” — Ceruti (118:13)
    • "Nobody starts a relationship going, 'I really enjoyed this week, hope you got a pen...'" — Russillo (124:39)
  • “Know your opponent” (assess the personalities in play) – don’t volunteer guilty info unless truly necessary.

8. Sports ‘Best Athletes’ Debate

(Timestamp: 103:32 — 110:34)

• Lively debate about which sport produces the “best athletes”—baseball, football, basketball, soccer—and the self-serving bias of insiders from each.
• “If Bartolo Colon can play your sport, you can't be in the contest for best athlete. Sorry.” — Ceruti (105:06)
• General consensus for defensive ends, NBA players, and perhaps combat sports/MMA for mental and physical demand.

9. Barstool Partnership, Merch, and T-Shirt Brainstorming

(Timestamp: 99:38 — 103:16)

• The Barstool move: enthusiastic, “fourth show in and already everyone has attitude again—love it.”
• Merch plans revealed—“non virgin” and “I’d rather be alone than annoyed” in the running for T-shirt ideas.
• Inside banter: “Pitch me five T-shirts each.” — Russillo (103:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Maye:
  • “That kind of toughness, that competitiveness...it'd be one of the best throws of the entire season.” — Russillo (08:30)
  • “He’s making some plays every week where...you're like holy crap, did he just do that?” — Albert Breer (18:27)
• On Seahawks:
  • “They’re murdering teams. It’s hard in this league to keep doing what they’re doing on the point differential front.” — Russillo (34:45)
• On Dan Campbell:
  • “He just knows what his team needs. If he thought the players were out on the play caller, that’s why he steps in.” — Breer (48:27)
• On Heisman:
  • “The Heisman is the most uneducated voting base of any major sport.” — Russillo (72:52)
  • “Are we just picking the quarterback on one of the top teams?” — Russillo
• On Fanbases:
  • “The vocal Ohio State fan on social media...is the worst fan of any fan base in American sports.” — Russillo (69:02)
• On Life Advice:
  • “Nobody starts their relationship just going, I really enjoyed this week, hope you got a pen.” — Russillo (124:39)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Drake Maye for MVP and Patriots Transformation: 02:24 – 34:25
• Developing Young QBs (Maye, Williams): 27:13 – 34:25
• Seahawks vs. Colts in the NFC/AFC: 34:25 – 41:51
• Dan Campbell Play-calling, Rams 13 Personnel: 43:04 – 52:35
• Ravens Injury Turnaround and Playoff Case: 52:59 – 57:56
• College Football & Heisman Debate: 62:52 – 77:09, 87:03 – 93:51
• Listener Life Advice (Cheating & Honesty): 111:24 – 125:17
• Best Athlete in Sports Debate: 103:32 – 110:34
• Show/Merch Mechanics & Barstool Banter: 99:38 – 103:16

Summary for New Listeners

This episode showcases why Russillo’s voice stands out in sports media: sharp analysis, deep context, blunt honesty, irreverent asides, and layered opinions, especially about QBs and team-building DNA. If you want a strong blend of advanced football talk, behind-the-curtain league nuance, passionate college football takes, and “real guy” discussions of honesty in relationships, this is top-tier sports podcasting.