WEBVTT - #2: Who PLUMMETED after week-1? 0:00:04.743 --> 0:00:07.343 NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in 0:00:07.423 --> 0:00:08.943 partnership with iHeartRadio. 0:00:13.823 --> 0:00:15.463 Well come to NFL Power Rankings. 0:00:15.463 --> 0:00:19.383 It is presented by energizer mikey Ham along with my Guru, 0:00:19.943 --> 0:00:22.063 and you can see his entire list of rankings on 0:00:22.183 --> 0:00:24.783 NFL dot com. Eric at Hoolm is with me and Eric. 0:00:24.783 --> 0:00:28.023 Look Week one officially now in the rearview mirror. Just 0:00:28.063 --> 0:00:30.143 like every other year, we think we know something heading 0:00:30.183 --> 0:00:32.143 into the first set of games, and it turns out 0:00:32.583 --> 0:00:33.263 we really don't. 0:00:34.543 --> 0:00:36.863 I guess I should have paid past attention to Bengals 0:00:36.943 --> 0:00:39.983 Week one performances, right, I had everybody, you know, I 0:00:40.063 --> 0:00:42.503 was just I didn't realize that that was like a 0:00:42.543 --> 0:00:45.263 bye week for them. But yeah, I mean passing yards 0:00:45.303 --> 0:00:47.343 are down, rushing yards. I mean they had some big, 0:00:47.383 --> 0:00:51.143 resurgent running back performances from guys we'd maybe push to 0:00:51.143 --> 0:00:54.023 the side a little bit, and great kicking two unbelievable 0:00:54.023 --> 0:00:57.503 and some fantastic finishes in the first few primetime games. 0:00:57.663 --> 0:00:59.423 Very very exciting and interesting Week one. 0:00:59.663 --> 0:01:02.143 Look, we won't leave with Cincinnati, although I think there's 0:01:02.303 --> 0:01:05.463 an our argument here on power rankings on where they 0:01:05.463 --> 0:01:07.543 are going to sit. I promise We will get to 0:01:07.583 --> 0:01:10.343 that in just a bit, but let's unveil one through it. 0:01:10.463 --> 0:01:13.423 We did see some movement in the top, but not 0:01:13.463 --> 0:01:17.103 necessarily at one and two Kansas City and San Francisco. 0:01:17.423 --> 0:01:20.503 The Chiefs in Week one victorious, as were the Niners 0:01:20.503 --> 0:01:21.463 on Monday Night football. 0:01:21.503 --> 0:01:24.023 So Casey at one, San Francisco at two. 0:01:24.103 --> 0:01:28.143 The Detroit Lions a GOUTTI win in overtime against the Rams, 0:01:28.223 --> 0:01:31.623 Philadelphia team that actually flashed the new offensive toy in 0:01:31.663 --> 0:01:32.423 Saquon Barkley. 0:01:32.503 --> 0:01:33.543 Yeah, he was spectacular. 0:01:33.583 --> 0:01:36.583 The Ravens obviously suffered that loss against the Chiefs. They 0:01:36.583 --> 0:01:40.583 fall two spots from those preseason rankings. Now sitting at fifth, 0:01:40.823 --> 0:01:43.863 Houston run game, it's strong. We'll talk about the Texans 0:01:43.863 --> 0:01:44.343 in a moment. 0:01:44.503 --> 0:01:45.063 They're six. 0:01:45.183 --> 0:01:48.183 The Bills got a scare against Arizona, but Eric's got 0:01:48.223 --> 0:01:51.263 him sitting at seven. And then those Dallas Cowboys, Yes, 0:01:51.343 --> 0:01:53.383 Dak got paid, CD got paid. 0:01:53.503 --> 0:01:55.223 And the Cow's Cowboys. I don't know. 0:01:55.263 --> 0:01:57.583 Maybe this nfccas might lec a hohole a lot different 0:01:57.583 --> 0:02:00.183 than we had anticipated. More on that in just a moment, 0:02:00.223 --> 0:02:02.223 but let's start at the top of Kansas City, at 0:02:02.303 --> 0:02:04.063 least on paper. I felt like Kansas City was going 0:02:04.103 --> 0:02:05.943 to be a better team heading into this season than 0:02:06.063 --> 0:02:06.543 last year. 0:02:07.103 --> 0:02:08.863 I thought they looked absolutely terrific. 0:02:08.903 --> 0:02:11.183 And the one thing that I was confident in, just 0:02:11.183 --> 0:02:13.023 like everyone else, was ever Worthy was going to be 0:02:13.063 --> 0:02:15.063 a stud and change the complexion of this team. 0:02:15.103 --> 0:02:16.343 That's exactly how it played out. 0:02:17.263 --> 0:02:19.543 Yeah, I mean, he he's proved positive that you can 0:02:19.623 --> 0:02:21.583 have kind of a gadget player, if you will, at 0:02:21.663 --> 0:02:23.703 least at this stage of his career, who could touch 0:02:23.743 --> 0:02:26.303 the ball, you know, three, four, five, six times in 0:02:26.343 --> 0:02:28.863 a game and have a profound impact. And you know, 0:02:28.903 --> 0:02:31.343 he's sort of exactly what they were missing last year. 0:02:31.703 --> 0:02:33.103 There's a reliability factor. 0:02:33.103 --> 0:02:35.503 I'm sure he'll drop some passes at some point this season, 0:02:35.583 --> 0:02:38.343 but right now he's got Patrick Mahomes trust, at least 0:02:38.343 --> 0:02:41.143 in a limited capacity. And then the growth of Rashi 0:02:41.343 --> 0:02:44.023 Rice as well, kind of you know, bookending that, so 0:02:44.503 --> 0:02:47.063 you know, they don't have to have Travis Kelcey have 0:02:47.223 --> 0:02:49.423 a monster game like he did against the Ravens and 0:02:49.463 --> 0:02:52.503 the playoffs last year to win one of those big contests. 0:02:52.503 --> 0:02:54.143 So I was impressed with the diversity. 0:02:54.503 --> 0:02:57.143 Isaiah Pacheco ran hard in the second half, and that's 0:02:57.143 --> 0:02:59.183 the kind of formula that I think is going to 0:02:59.183 --> 0:03:02.463 be a little smoother offensively and work wonders this year 0:03:02.503 --> 0:03:05.183 compared to last year, which look, they won this Super Bowl, 0:03:05.183 --> 0:03:06.743 but still we know how much of a grind it 0:03:06.823 --> 0:03:07.703 was to get to that point. 0:03:08.063 --> 0:03:10.543 Eric, I think most weeks we will probably be starting 0:03:10.583 --> 0:03:12.263 the show with the Kansas City Chiefs, and I think 0:03:12.263 --> 0:03:14.303 the San Francisco forty nine ers who sit at number 0:03:14.303 --> 0:03:16.303 two will also be in this conversation. 0:03:16.543 --> 0:03:19.343 Who needs Christian McCaffrey, right, I mean whatever. 0:03:19.823 --> 0:03:21.943 Just get Jordan Mason, a guy who had never carried 0:03:21.943 --> 0:03:23.903 the ball more than twenty two times in a game 0:03:23.943 --> 0:03:24.703 since high school. 0:03:24.743 --> 0:03:26.943 Give him six more than that shocked. 0:03:26.623 --> 0:03:28.463 Him when he found out after the game how many 0:03:28.503 --> 0:03:31.903 touches he had and run that same kind of outside 0:03:31.983 --> 0:03:34.663 run off the tackle, tight end gap, the sea gap 0:03:34.743 --> 0:03:37.903 out there, and you know, they kind of simplified things 0:03:37.943 --> 0:03:40.983 and the Jets didn't adjust to it. So credit to 0:03:41.263 --> 0:03:43.983 Kyle Shanahan. I thought his game plan was terrific. You know, 0:03:44.063 --> 0:03:46.183 he caused the Jets to kind of burn some time 0:03:46.223 --> 0:03:49.023 outs there and you know, have some personnel issues getting 0:03:49.023 --> 0:03:52.543 the right people on the field, and yeah, six field goals, right, 0:03:52.583 --> 0:03:54.983 they'd love to convert some of those into touchdowns. But 0:03:55.343 --> 0:03:57.663 when Jake Boody has a career night and you know, 0:03:57.703 --> 0:04:00.463 you score thirty two points and hold the opponent under twenty, 0:04:00.943 --> 0:04:04.863 pretty good formula, right, So Noaan McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Rand 0:04:04.903 --> 0:04:06.783 and I you still kind of gearing up. You know, 0:04:06.783 --> 0:04:08.903 Williams left the game, laid Iuk had kind of a 0:04:08.983 --> 0:04:12.223 quiet game, and there's still this dangerous against the team 0:04:12.263 --> 0:04:15.583 that supposedly has a very good defense. So yeah, beware, 0:04:15.663 --> 0:04:17.383 forty nine ers don't appear to be going anywhere. 0:04:17.463 --> 0:04:19.943 Yeah, I think he touched on some really important big 0:04:19.983 --> 0:04:22.903 picture points, especially with Brandon Iuk and Trent Williams. Williams 0:04:22.903 --> 0:04:24.703 played really well. I think it was like sixty five 0:04:24.783 --> 0:04:27.063 consecutive snaps, whatever it was. But the point is he 0:04:27.143 --> 0:04:29.183 was even joking. We had the interview on Monday Night 0:04:29.183 --> 0:04:31.103 Football on our post game show on Game Day Final 0:04:31.303 --> 0:04:33.823 with Omar Ruiz and he kind of chuckled and laughed 0:04:33.823 --> 0:04:34.663 about conditioning. 0:04:34.863 --> 0:04:36.183 He's not quite there. 0:04:36.303 --> 0:04:38.943 He's close, but it's the guy that wasn't out there 0:04:38.943 --> 0:04:41.503 for a good stretch of pretty much the entire preseason. 0:04:41.543 --> 0:04:43.823 He did not play, so the San Francisco forty nine 0:04:43.863 --> 0:04:46.783 are still scratching the surface here at number three on 0:04:46.823 --> 0:04:49.343 your list the Detroit Lions, And I think this is 0:04:49.343 --> 0:04:50.903 fitting based off of one and two. 0:04:51.183 --> 0:04:52.863 The Lions deserve this spot. 0:04:52.983 --> 0:04:55.743 That was in my mind, an impressive one and it 0:04:55.783 --> 0:04:57.463 give a lot of credit to the Rams here. But 0:04:58.143 --> 0:05:01.023 I think we learned some things, especially about this team's offense, 0:05:01.063 --> 0:05:03.503 and we've been waiting for James and Williams to sort 0:05:03.503 --> 0:05:06.143 of be the wide receiver that we had anticipated and 0:05:06.143 --> 0:05:07.223 saw when he was in college. 0:05:07.343 --> 0:05:09.583 I think this might be that breakout year for him. 0:05:09.943 --> 0:05:12.263 Yeah, there have been a lot of roadblocks for Jamison 0:05:12.303 --> 0:05:15.183 Williams prior to this. We'd seen the flash plays, obviously 0:05:15.223 --> 0:05:17.743 the touchdown against San Francisco in the playoffs, some other 0:05:17.783 --> 0:05:20.583 flash moments even back to his rookie year, but he's 0:05:20.623 --> 0:05:22.703 never been able to put it all together, you know, 0:05:22.823 --> 0:05:26.063 since tearing his ACL some offfield stuff, just some maturity 0:05:26.103 --> 0:05:28.823 and growth said, that's happened, and you hear Dan Campbell 0:05:28.863 --> 0:05:30.703 and the rest of the team talk about him, It's 0:05:30.783 --> 0:05:32.543 clear they have a trust and a belief in him. 0:05:32.583 --> 0:05:35.183 And thank goodness, right I'm in ross. Saint Brown had 0:05:35.183 --> 0:05:37.023 probably one of his worst games as a pro, or 0:05:37.023 --> 0:05:40.423 at least impactful at the very least. And the run game, 0:05:40.623 --> 0:05:43.103 you know, looked okay early but really didn't get going 0:05:43.183 --> 0:05:46.023 until that last drive there in overtime, so you know, 0:05:46.063 --> 0:05:49.223 they didn't have the full offensive picture. 0:05:49.543 --> 0:05:51.423 Sam Laporta took him a while to get him the 0:05:51.463 --> 0:05:52.143 ball as well. 0:05:52.303 --> 0:05:54.503 Jamior Gibbs had a kind of a limited role early 0:05:54.543 --> 0:05:57.183 in the game, So even though the Lions built a lead, 0:05:57.263 --> 0:06:00.063 they did it with kind of limited offense and Williams 0:06:00.103 --> 0:06:02.743 was really their one true threat in that game. Still 0:06:02.823 --> 0:06:05.423 worrying about the secondary, you know, Matt the staffer behind 0:06:05.463 --> 0:06:07.743 a beat up offensive line was picking them apart there 0:06:07.783 --> 0:06:10.303 at the end. Terran Arnold was up against it and 0:06:10.383 --> 0:06:12.743 he left a game briefly at the end. But if 0:06:12.743 --> 0:06:15.743 they could figure that secondary out, you know, and still 0:06:15.783 --> 0:06:17.503 be able to win games like this where they're not 0:06:17.663 --> 0:06:20.343 a plus on offense, I still really like. 0:06:20.303 --> 0:06:21.703 The formula and think they're going to be one of 0:06:21.703 --> 0:06:22.503 the winners this year. 0:06:22.663 --> 0:06:24.863 Yeah. Look, they try to address that secondary, and I'm 0:06:24.903 --> 0:06:27.183 glad you pointed it out. It does feel like that 0:06:27.303 --> 0:06:29.223 is still a work in progress. Last year it was 0:06:29.223 --> 0:06:31.903 an issue you mentioned Arnold. They drafted him. It's going 0:06:31.983 --> 0:06:34.063 to be fascinating to see how this plays out from 0:06:34.103 --> 0:06:35.983 Alliance perspective. And by the way, I do want to 0:06:35.983 --> 0:06:39.063 love up the Rams, I promise here on NFL Power Run. Yes, 0:06:39.103 --> 0:06:40.703 we will do that in just a couple of minutes, 0:06:40.743 --> 0:06:42.183 because there's a lot of hat tips that I think 0:06:42.183 --> 0:06:44.543 we can give to Sean mcvay's squad. Meanwhile, it's time 0:06:44.583 --> 0:06:49.223 for Future Champions, presented by FanDuel. This is the odds 0:06:49.303 --> 0:06:52.743 right now in the nfcas Philadelphia, who flexed in such 0:06:52.743 --> 0:06:54.703 a big way and their opener in Brazil with sa 0:06:54.823 --> 0:06:57.783 Kwon Barkley. According to FanDuel, certainly the favorite. The Dallas 0:06:57.823 --> 0:07:01.943 Cowboys not too far behind the Commanders, and we'll save. 0:07:01.783 --> 0:07:05.223 The Giants for the end of the show. And there's 0:07:05.223 --> 0:07:06.463 a good reason for that. 0:07:06.743 --> 0:07:09.583 But look the Eagles, you have them moving up one spot. 0:07:09.583 --> 0:07:12.383 They are fourth right now. I don't know if the 0:07:12.423 --> 0:07:15.423 debut for Saquon Barkley like he dreamed about it before 0:07:15.503 --> 0:07:18.023 this game, he didn't even envision a performance like this. 0:07:18.983 --> 0:07:19.983 Yeah, I'm sure. 0:07:19.783 --> 0:07:21.703 This was the kind of thing that they sold him 0:07:21.703 --> 0:07:24.223 on in free agency. Look, you know, we haven't been 0:07:24.263 --> 0:07:27.423 associated as a team that has these big feature running backs, 0:07:27.423 --> 0:07:29.823 but they kind of reimagined things. And I'm sure Kellen 0:07:29.863 --> 0:07:32.943 Moore had some input onto that as well, but basically 0:07:32.983 --> 0:07:36.383 just saying, you know, with everybody focusing on DeVante Smith 0:07:36.423 --> 0:07:40.223 and everybody focusing on aj Brown, you and Dallas Goddard 0:07:40.223 --> 0:07:42.543 have a chance to absolutely gut teams. He did it 0:07:42.583 --> 0:07:44.783 with that great wheel route on the outside. He did 0:07:44.783 --> 0:07:46.023 it up the middle with power. 0:07:46.223 --> 0:07:46.863 He did it up the. 0:07:46.823 --> 0:07:48.903 Middle with finesse too, So there was there was a 0:07:48.943 --> 0:07:53.463 great showcase of everything he brings. A healthy Barkley brings 0:07:53.503 --> 0:07:57.463 to an offense. Now, I think internally they would probably say, look, 0:07:57.503 --> 0:07:59.583 this is the guy who's missed at least a handful 0:07:59.623 --> 0:08:01.863 of games every year, in some cases more than half 0:08:01.863 --> 0:08:04.903 a season. So I'm sure they're prepared for lou using 0:08:04.903 --> 0:08:06.943 Barkley at some point. But when they have them, they 0:08:06.943 --> 0:08:09.663 are a different kind of offense, I should say, and 0:08:09.703 --> 0:08:11.343 then you have a breakout on the other side. Was 0:08:11.423 --> 0:08:13.983 Zach Bond too, a guy who Vic Fangio I think 0:08:14.023 --> 0:08:15.983 has kind of weaponized in a new role as an 0:08:16.023 --> 0:08:18.063 off off the ball linebacker. I mean, he led the 0:08:18.183 --> 0:08:21.263 NFL and tackles in Week one, had two sacks, including 0:08:21.263 --> 0:08:24.783 the game clincher there. So you know, two new faces 0:08:24.823 --> 0:08:28.823 along with Fangio and Kellen Moore. That that quartet really 0:08:28.823 --> 0:08:30.623 had a nice debut in Brazil and they're going to 0:08:30.663 --> 0:08:32.223 bring up back home and I can't wait to see 0:08:32.223 --> 0:08:33.343 how it works out this season. 0:08:33.503 --> 0:08:35.783 Yeah, they will get to the Atlanta Falcons, who will 0:08:35.823 --> 0:08:37.503 touch on a little bit later here, and not the 0:08:37.543 --> 0:08:40.663 debuting her cousins was hoping for. But the Eagles and 0:08:40.743 --> 0:08:43.503 the Falcons will be playing on Monday Night football. 0:08:43.583 --> 0:08:44.983 Meanwhile, at number five. 0:08:44.743 --> 0:08:48.743 The Ravens, you know, in our preseason rankings were not ours, 0:08:48.903 --> 0:08:49.823 yours on. 0:08:49.743 --> 0:08:52.343 Our show last they are all of ours. 0:08:52.343 --> 0:08:53.903 Okay, Well, I had said this to you. 0:08:53.903 --> 0:08:55.703 I thought the Baltimore Ravens last year are the best 0:08:55.743 --> 0:08:58.743 team in the NFL, and I thought the ranking was deserving, 0:08:58.743 --> 0:09:01.783 But they dropped two spots after this loss against Kansas City. 0:09:01.943 --> 0:09:03.583 I gotta be honest with you, Eric, like there were 0:09:03.623 --> 0:09:06.503 some moments where I'm like, they don't necessarily look like 0:09:06.543 --> 0:09:08.343 the team that I saw last year. You know, some 0:09:08.343 --> 0:09:12.743 breakdowns on defense that were certainly uncharacteristic. As the dominant 0:09:12.743 --> 0:09:14.743 team on that side of the football a year ago. 0:09:16.023 --> 0:09:18.423 We knew they lost some stuff we knew obviously. You know, 0:09:18.463 --> 0:09:22.183 Mike McDonald taking the Seattle job, you elevate Zach Orr, 0:09:22.183 --> 0:09:24.023 who was thirty one when he took over the job, 0:09:24.063 --> 0:09:27.623 one of the youngest coordinators or you know, anyone at 0:09:27.623 --> 0:09:30.623 that level in the NFL with that much responsibility. So 0:09:31.023 --> 0:09:33.743 there was always going to be an adjustment period there. 0:09:33.783 --> 0:09:36.783 But didn't feel like there was a consistent enough rush. 0:09:36.903 --> 0:09:39.383 Didn't feel like the coverage was tight enough, didn't feel 0:09:39.423 --> 0:09:41.943 like the tackling. And you know when you see the 0:09:41.983 --> 0:09:44.863 same slant go to Rashi Rice every single time and 0:09:44.863 --> 0:09:47.063 they don't have an answer for it, you know, you 0:09:47.063 --> 0:09:49.903 get a little concerned. I realized the game essentially came 0:09:49.943 --> 0:09:52.223 down to one toe, right. The Ravens could have won 0:09:52.263 --> 0:09:55.423 this game very easily had one play gone a little 0:09:55.423 --> 0:09:56.463 different than the next play. 0:09:56.543 --> 0:09:56.743 Right. 0:09:57.343 --> 0:09:59.783 But at the same time, to your point, I just 0:09:59.863 --> 0:10:03.103 kept seeing mistake after mistake, a lot of them self inflicted. 0:10:03.183 --> 0:10:03.343 Right. 0:10:03.383 --> 0:10:05.583 These aren't physical mistake in a lot of cases, they 0:10:05.583 --> 0:10:09.223 were mental mistakes. And the Ravens just can't have that, right. 0:10:09.263 --> 0:10:11.063 I Mean, they're not kind of built to be this 0:10:11.343 --> 0:10:14.423 huge comeback team. They're built to play from ahead. We 0:10:14.463 --> 0:10:16.943 didn't get to see a ton of Derrick Henry. You know, 0:10:16.983 --> 0:10:18.943 the formula was just sort of thrown out a whack 0:10:18.983 --> 0:10:21.263 a little bit with their own mistakes. And if I 0:10:21.303 --> 0:10:23.103 know John Harbaugh at all, he's going. 0:10:23.023 --> 0:10:25.063 To get this thing fixed. They usually do, and they 0:10:25.103 --> 0:10:26.063 almost always do. 0:10:26.623 --> 0:10:29.503 But that's got to be a primary concern that they 0:10:29.583 --> 0:10:32.023 focused on during this this kind of mini buyas they 0:10:32.063 --> 0:10:32.943 gear up for Week two. 0:10:33.183 --> 0:10:34.703 Look, this is probably the worst that we're going to 0:10:34.743 --> 0:10:37.303 see this team play, and by the way, almost could 0:10:37.343 --> 0:10:40.663 have won it on the road against the Super Bowl champs. 0:10:40.743 --> 0:10:41.823 By the way, two quick things here. 0:10:41.823 --> 0:10:43.423 I don't know if you saw the postgame press conference, 0:10:43.463 --> 0:10:46.823 Patrick mahomes some advice to to likely there, you wear 0:10:46.863 --> 0:10:47.543 the white cleats. 0:10:47.583 --> 0:10:48.783 Please wear the white cleats. 0:10:48.903 --> 0:10:50.383 Smart man, he knows. 0:10:50.343 --> 0:10:52.143 And very quickly here, I just want to get your 0:10:52.143 --> 0:10:54.663 take when when the touchdown looked like it was a touchdown, 0:10:54.663 --> 0:10:56.143 I don't know if you saw horror on the sideline, 0:10:56.143 --> 0:10:57.663 He's like too, they were going to go for the win. 0:10:57.783 --> 0:10:59.983 Here, are you with me? The King was going to 0:11:00.063 --> 0:11:01.463 find a way to get into the end zone. They 0:11:01.463 --> 0:11:02.223 would have won this thing. 0:11:03.183 --> 0:11:05.063 I think they yeah, right, they was going to end 0:11:05.143 --> 0:11:07.143 on the next play, right, that was when the game 0:11:07.183 --> 0:11:09.263 was going to be decided. You saw Harbaugh, he wasn't 0:11:09.303 --> 0:11:11.503 gonna be able to drag his team through overtime or 0:11:11.503 --> 0:11:14.023 one more defensive series. They wanted to go win it. 0:11:14.943 --> 0:11:16.263 Yeah, I would. 0:11:16.303 --> 0:11:17.943 I wanted to get you in trouble on social media 0:11:17.983 --> 0:11:19.743 by saying that they were definitely going to win. I 0:11:19.783 --> 0:11:20.703 thought they were gonna win. 0:11:20.903 --> 0:11:21.703 Houston Texans. 0:11:21.743 --> 0:11:24.823 They check in at number six here, Eric, two of 0:11:24.863 --> 0:11:27.383 the big pieces on the offensive side that they brought 0:11:27.423 --> 0:11:29.823 in absolutely balled out in this game. 0:11:29.863 --> 0:11:31.783 Diggs and Mixing were terrific. 0:11:32.783 --> 0:11:34.703 They sure were, especially Joe mixed Right. 0:11:34.743 --> 0:11:37.023 I mean, we've obviously seen Stefan Diggs perform at a 0:11:37.103 --> 0:11:39.623 high level, but running backs in general tend to wear 0:11:39.703 --> 0:11:42.063 down at his age, and you know, we'd seen the 0:11:42.143 --> 0:11:45.343 kind of gradual decline. There was a reason why Cincinnati 0:11:45.423 --> 0:11:47.823 was ready to move on from him despite having no 0:11:47.943 --> 0:11:51.183 obvious replacement for him. So yeah, I mean, I felt 0:11:51.223 --> 0:11:51.823 he looked great. 0:11:51.903 --> 0:11:53.783 Maybe it was the scheme. Maybe it was the fact 0:11:53.783 --> 0:11:54.583 that obviously c J. 0:11:54.703 --> 0:11:58.183 Strouds a quarterback and he's got you know, tankdll, Nico Collins, 0:11:58.183 --> 0:12:01.703 Stefan Diggs and all the others, and it just looked 0:12:01.703 --> 0:12:04.503 the way that Mixon did in his first few season 0:12:04.503 --> 0:12:07.503 the league as a slasher, as a downhill runner, but 0:12:07.663 --> 0:12:09.743 somebody with a little juice. That was the most spring 0:12:09.783 --> 0:12:11.983 I'd seen in his step in a while. And yeah, 0:12:12.023 --> 0:12:13.823 they had to fight through it defensively a little bit. 0:12:13.863 --> 0:12:16.383 Those Colts had some big plays. You know, they didn't 0:12:16.423 --> 0:12:20.263 run many, but their big play percentage was extremely high. 0:12:20.303 --> 0:12:22.343 So that's still an issue as they headed into a 0:12:22.343 --> 0:12:23.223 big game against. 0:12:23.023 --> 0:12:23.903 Chicago week two. 0:12:23.943 --> 0:12:26.703 That look, I know they weren't great offensively, but this 0:12:26.743 --> 0:12:28.823 will be a good test for this defense to face 0:12:28.863 --> 0:12:31.583 an athletic quarterback and some quality receivers because Week. 0:12:31.503 --> 0:12:33.463 One, you know, they didn't have a ton of answers. 0:12:33.583 --> 0:12:35.223 Yeah, I think it's actually more of a testament to 0:12:35.263 --> 0:12:36.863 what the Colts are going to be this year on 0:12:36.903 --> 0:12:40.023 the offensive with a healthy Anthony Richardson. 0:12:40.063 --> 0:12:41.343 All Right, more to come here. 0:12:41.343 --> 0:12:44.543 On NFL Power Rankings presented by Energizer, we touched on 0:12:44.623 --> 0:12:46.663 Cincinnati at the top of the show. How much of 0:12:46.703 --> 0:12:49.463 a free frawl was there in the rankings After losing 0:12:49.503 --> 0:12:51.423 a game that quite honestly, no one thought they would 0:12:51.423 --> 0:12:52.903 lose against the New England Patriots. 0:12:53.023 --> 0:12:57.343 That's coming up next. 0:13:01.863 --> 0:13:05.503 Back here on NFL Power Rankings presented by Energy, Eric's 0:13:05.583 --> 0:13:07.103 rankings nine through sixteen. 0:13:07.143 --> 0:13:08.903 The Miami Dolphins sitting at nine. 0:13:08.943 --> 0:13:12.023 Tyreek Hill was obviously the story before the game, during 0:13:12.023 --> 0:13:14.823 the game, and then after the game. Cincinnati, they fall 0:13:14.903 --> 0:13:17.063 to tenth. More on them in just a minute. Eleventh 0:13:17.143 --> 0:13:19.103 is Green Bay not going to see Jordan Love now 0:13:19.423 --> 0:13:21.863 for a bit? Twelfth the Chargers. 0:13:21.983 --> 0:13:22.263 JK. 0:13:22.383 --> 0:13:24.903 Dobbins certainly balled out in this one. The Jets coming 0:13:24.943 --> 0:13:26.903 off of a loss on Monday Night Football. They are 0:13:26.903 --> 0:13:30.383 sitting at thirteen. The Rams, a tough loss in overtime 0:13:30.663 --> 0:13:33.103 they against the Lions are fourteenth, the. 0:13:33.063 --> 0:13:33.943 Bears at fifteenth. 0:13:34.023 --> 0:13:36.543 Kayleb Williams tough stats, but he does get that w 0:13:36.703 --> 0:13:41.303 and sitting at sixteen the Tampa Bay Bucks. I feel like, Eric, 0:13:41.343 --> 0:13:44.263 you were being kind to Cincinnati with the tenth ranking. 0:13:45.903 --> 0:13:47.783 Part of it was being kind, part of it was 0:13:47.823 --> 0:13:49.263 protecting my Super Bowl pick. 0:13:49.383 --> 0:13:50.463 I'm not afraid to admit it. 0:13:50.543 --> 0:13:52.503 Like I looked, I look a little silly right now 0:13:52.623 --> 0:13:54.183 putting the Bengals in the Super Bowl. 0:13:54.223 --> 0:13:55.863 But hey, that was two weeks ago. 0:13:55.943 --> 0:13:58.943 Man. A million things have happened since then. But hard 0:13:59.023 --> 0:14:01.503 not to look at that game against the Patriots. Now, granted, 0:14:01.543 --> 0:14:03.743 our opinion of the Patriots has formed from the last 0:14:03.823 --> 0:14:04.583 couple of years, but. 0:14:05.143 --> 0:14:07.263 Hard not to look at it and think what happened? 0:14:07.303 --> 0:14:09.743 Right, But you do look back at recent week one 0:14:09.863 --> 0:14:12.223 history with Cincinnati and they've had some clunkers. 0:14:12.303 --> 0:14:13.303 Last year was ugly. 0:14:13.503 --> 0:14:16.703 Burrow was terrible against the Steelers, lost to Mitch Schrubisky 0:14:16.743 --> 0:14:19.343 two years ago. So look, they ended up in the 0:14:19.383 --> 0:14:22.943 AAFC Championship Game two years ago that season. I'm okay 0:14:22.983 --> 0:14:25.383 with that, but still the product is what it is. 0:14:25.543 --> 0:14:26.463 It did not look good. 0:14:26.743 --> 0:14:29.543 Yeah, sitting at number twelve here the Chargers and by 0:14:29.583 --> 0:14:32.143 the way, Eric, this just looked like a very different 0:14:32.263 --> 0:14:35.263 Chargers team on offense, dramatically different than what we've seen 0:14:35.303 --> 0:14:36.223 the last few seasons. 0:14:37.543 --> 0:14:40.543 Yeah, a couple bus on defense, riding coverage. They're still 0:14:40.583 --> 0:14:42.663 tightening that up. And they had the one long game 0:14:42.703 --> 0:14:45.743 from Madison. They gave up, but hard fought, they were 0:14:45.783 --> 0:14:48.023 getting after it. There was population of the ball on 0:14:48.063 --> 0:14:50.823 that side of the ball, slow start on offense, but 0:14:50.863 --> 0:14:53.503 when JK. Dobbins ripped off those two big runs, it 0:14:53.543 --> 0:14:56.463 was the perfect formula for a hardball win twenty two 0:14:56.543 --> 0:14:59.503 to ten, Ugly, tough. There was a fight at the end. 0:14:59.543 --> 0:15:01.223 You know that was a spur of the moment thing. 0:15:01.303 --> 0:15:04.143 But still I think it looked vastly different from what 0:15:04.183 --> 0:15:06.023 we saw Brandon Staley's team a year ago. 0:15:06.343 --> 0:15:08.463 I think they're legit. Maybe I had him too high, 0:15:08.503 --> 0:15:09.103 but I believe. 0:15:09.383 --> 0:15:11.583 Yeah, I think most of us are starting to believe 0:15:11.583 --> 0:15:14.783 because this was the philosophy that we expected, strong upfront run. 0:15:14.823 --> 0:15:16.623 The football just gonna look a whole lot different with 0:15:16.703 --> 0:15:18.823 some of those weapons on the outside or lack thereof 0:15:19.143 --> 0:15:22.903 perceive weapons. For Justin Herbert at thirteen the Jets, there 0:15:22.903 --> 0:15:24.983 were moments in the first half, Eric where I felt like, hey, 0:15:25.023 --> 0:15:27.063 Aaron Rodgers looks pretty good. Converted on a bunch of 0:15:27.103 --> 0:15:30.143 third downs, third and long situations to Garrett Wilson. They 0:15:30.223 --> 0:15:32.943 just didn't have the ball mutch most of this game 0:15:32.983 --> 0:15:34.143 and really couldn't make a run. 0:15:35.303 --> 0:15:37.303 Got it off to a tough start. Those first two 0:15:37.343 --> 0:15:40.183 series went badly. Then we saw that third drive when 0:15:40.263 --> 0:15:43.903 Rogers and breist Hall and everybody else. Wilson was looking terrific. 0:15:44.663 --> 0:15:47.663 We saw the magic late the old school, get the 0:15:47.663 --> 0:15:49.823 guy to jump off sides, and it was Leonard Floyd, 0:15:49.823 --> 0:15:52.103 the guy who injured his achilles. So it was a 0:15:52.103 --> 0:15:54.823 cool moment for Rogers there he's still got it. But 0:15:54.903 --> 0:15:57.863 what about that Jets defense, Mike, I mean, this was 0:15:57.903 --> 0:15:59.983 supposed to be a top ten unit. I know there 0:15:59.983 --> 0:16:02.543 were a handful of games where they had clunkers last year, 0:16:02.743 --> 0:16:04.463 but for the most part, they were good on that 0:16:04.863 --> 0:16:06.783 of the ball. They did give a bad offense a 0:16:06.863 --> 0:16:09.183 chance to at least try to win games. That was 0:16:09.263 --> 0:16:11.343 not the case. They could not adjust the same run 0:16:11.383 --> 0:16:14.103 play over and over. The coverage, the mistakes, the penalties, 0:16:14.143 --> 0:16:16.703 the substitutionaires, it was all there. It really let me 0:16:16.783 --> 0:16:19.943 down and it kind of spoiled Aaron's re entry into 0:16:19.983 --> 0:16:20.463 the NFL. 0:16:20.543 --> 0:16:22.623