WEBVTT - #5: Do Minnesota Vikings deserve #1 spot? 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. 0:00:10.943 --> 0:00:12.303 Embrace the Chaos. 0:00:12.503 --> 0:00:14.703 There's been nothing but that over the course of the 0:00:14.703 --> 0:00:17.463 first few weeks of the NFL season. Welcome to Power Rankings. 0:00:17.623 --> 0:00:19.783 Mike am joined by Eric at Home and if you 0:00:19.823 --> 0:00:22.103 haven't seen the complete list of rankings, all you have 0:00:22.183 --> 0:00:24.463 to do is head to NFL dot com. And Eric, 0:00:24.503 --> 0:00:26.223 I love the fact that I get to read your 0:00:26.263 --> 0:00:28.183 column before it actually hits, and I think you made 0:00:28.223 --> 0:00:32.183 a great and accurate assessment of quite a few teams. 0:00:32.303 --> 0:00:35.343 More specifically something you said at the intro, which was 0:00:35.503 --> 0:00:38.263 expect the unexpected. I think a quarterway through the season, 0:00:38.263 --> 0:00:40.263 we've got a pretty good handle on how these teams 0:00:40.343 --> 0:00:41.423 might be playing the rest. 0:00:41.263 --> 0:00:44.543 Of the way. Yeah, we didn't have as much wild 0:00:44.583 --> 0:00:46.903 movement in Week four as we sorry week five as 0:00:46.903 --> 0:00:48.823 we did in Week four, but there was still quite 0:00:48.823 --> 0:00:50.103 a bit of movement. And I think if you take 0:00:50.143 --> 0:00:51.623 back a look back at what we had in Week 0:00:51.663 --> 0:00:54.423 one or even the preseason edition, there's been a lot 0:00:54.423 --> 0:00:59.303 of change. Obviously, especially on the NFC side, where Minnesota, Washington, 0:00:59.423 --> 0:01:03.183 Tampa Bay some teams have outperformed expectations are certainly in 0:01:03.223 --> 0:01:06.063 the case of the Commanders. But yeah, we'll see how 0:01:06.063 --> 0:01:08.583 long this can hold up too. I mean, Vikings set 0:01:08.583 --> 0:01:10.583 a four and a record not too long ago finished 0:01:10.623 --> 0:01:12.903 eight and eight, so that could certainly happen to this 0:01:12.943 --> 0:01:14.503 club if Sam Donald doesn't keep it up. 0:01:14.943 --> 0:01:17.223 So I watched the games now on Sunday a little 0:01:17.223 --> 0:01:20.103 bit differently. I think to myself, where's Eric going to 0:01:20.143 --> 0:01:23.023 have this team when the matchup is done? And there 0:01:23.103 --> 0:01:25.263 was one team in particular, I was like, maybe there's 0:01:25.263 --> 0:01:25.943 going to be a change. 0:01:25.983 --> 0:01:26.943 I didn't think there was really. 0:01:26.823 --> 0:01:29.143 Going to be a change at the top, but there was. 0:01:29.383 --> 0:01:31.943 Use name check Sam Donald and the Minnesota Vikings. We 0:01:32.023 --> 0:01:35.063 got a new number one. The Vikings still undefeated. They 0:01:35.103 --> 0:01:37.823 move into the number one spot on the power rankings. 0:01:37.863 --> 0:01:41.543 Kansas City drops one. They've been sitting there all season long. 0:01:41.863 --> 0:01:43.743 They did get a win, but it was a close 0:01:43.863 --> 0:01:46.663 one and there's obviously some injury concerns now with ever 0:01:46.743 --> 0:01:48.863 Street Rice at that wide receiver spot. 0:01:48.863 --> 0:01:49.703 The Detroit Lions. 0:01:49.703 --> 0:01:53.343 On Monday night, Jared Goff was perfect number four the Bills. 0:01:53.623 --> 0:01:54.623 A little surprise for me. 0:01:54.863 --> 0:01:58.503 Just one spot decline for Buffalo after a loss against 0:01:58.543 --> 0:02:00.903 the Ravens. We'll discuss that the Texans a comeback win 0:02:00.943 --> 0:02:01.743 against the Jags. 0:02:01.943 --> 0:02:02.943 They are at number five. 0:02:03.103 --> 0:02:05.703 This Ravens team that we saw on Sunday, this is 0:02:05.743 --> 0:02:08.063 the one that I think we expected to see all season. 0:02:08.303 --> 0:02:10.663 They move up two spots into the sixth position. 0:02:10.743 --> 0:02:15.023 The Commanders, Hello, moving up nine spots, and I gotta 0:02:15.023 --> 0:02:17.463 be honest, it makes sense the way that Jaden Daniels 0:02:17.623 --> 0:02:19.543 and this team is playing. And then the Tampa Bay 0:02:19.703 --> 0:02:22.103 Bucks start three to one for the fourth time in 0:02:22.143 --> 0:02:25.383 the last five seasons. They check in at number eight. 0:02:25.423 --> 0:02:27.623 But Eric, let's start with the number one team, the 0:02:27.663 --> 0:02:28.743 Minnesota Vikings. 0:02:28.783 --> 0:02:30.303 Here. Break it down for me. 0:02:30.343 --> 0:02:33.623 Why you felt confident enough in what you've seen through 0:02:33.663 --> 0:02:35.863 these first four games to have them number one. 0:02:36.703 --> 0:02:38.303 Yeah, part of it had to do what's going on 0:02:38.343 --> 0:02:40.303 in Kansas City. We'll talk about that in a minute. 0:02:40.303 --> 0:02:43.063 But obviously we had a little bit of a Alabama 0:02:43.103 --> 0:02:45.543 Georgia thing going on up there in Green Bay, where 0:02:45.783 --> 0:02:48.183 you know, Minnesota came out twenty eight to nothing lead, 0:02:48.343 --> 0:02:52.183 looked like the dominant team, absolutely getting after Jordan Love 0:02:52.223 --> 0:02:55.943 defensively and seeing Sam Donald continue to throw passes like this. 0:02:56.063 --> 0:02:59.063 He's been spot on this year did have the one intercession, 0:02:59.063 --> 0:03:03.503 but Mike I saw Kevin O'Connell trust Sam Donald when 0:03:03.543 --> 0:03:06.223 the lead was starting to shrink away to throw the 0:03:06.263 --> 0:03:08.863 football and throw them to a victory. They had Aaron 0:03:08.943 --> 0:03:11.023 Jones back in his old house, right, You could easily 0:03:11.063 --> 0:03:12.903 hand off to the guy who made a ton of 0:03:12.983 --> 0:03:16.143 lamboat leaves in his career. None on Sunday, But instead 0:03:16.183 --> 0:03:18.823 they realize they have to remain aggressive. Jordan Love was 0:03:18.863 --> 0:03:22.743 starting to get hot after some early shaky moments, and 0:03:22.823 --> 0:03:24.743 I think the Vikings played it right. Coaching has been 0:03:24.743 --> 0:03:27.343 a huge part of what they've done this season. It's 0:03:27.423 --> 0:03:29.703 not to besmirch any other staff like Andy Reid or 0:03:29.783 --> 0:03:32.383 John Harbor, anybody like that, but what I've seen from 0:03:32.463 --> 0:03:36.023 Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores this season has been wildly impressive. 0:03:36.703 --> 0:03:38.983 In another big game for them on the road against 0:03:38.983 --> 0:03:42.263 a division opponent, making place like this to seal a victory. 0:03:42.663 --> 0:03:44.743 I want to put some context eric around how good 0:03:44.783 --> 0:03:47.343 this the Minnesota Vikings team has been. They've trailed for 0:03:47.463 --> 0:03:50.303 just three minutes and twenty six seconds through four games. 0:03:50.303 --> 0:03:51.943 That's the fewest in the NFL. 0:03:52.263 --> 0:03:55.743 Only team under twenty seven minutes that is wild, and 0:03:55.783 --> 0:03:58.103 that speaks to what you're talking about, a balance attack. 0:03:58.183 --> 0:04:00.143 The defense has been great and by the way they 0:04:00.223 --> 0:04:02.743 hit the road. Now they're going to London against the Jets. 0:04:02.743 --> 0:04:06.103 We'll talk about Gangreen coming up that matchup exclusively on 0:04:06.383 --> 0:04:08.983 NFL Network this coming weekend, so you want to make 0:04:09.023 --> 0:04:11.783 sure that you're tuning in for that. The Chiefs, all right, 0:04:11.983 --> 0:04:14.263 I got to imagine if they're completely healthy, this is 0:04:14.303 --> 0:04:15.903 a harder decision to drop them once. 0:04:17.663 --> 0:04:20.263 That's exactly right. I mean, I've been kind of stubborn 0:04:20.303 --> 0:04:22.623 about it. You look at other people's power rankings, they'd 0:04:22.663 --> 0:04:24.423 moved on from the Chiefs even with the four to 0:04:24.463 --> 0:04:27.103 zho record, you know, just saying, hey, look, Mahomes hasn't 0:04:27.143 --> 0:04:29.783 been as great, you know, but I really think it 0:04:29.863 --> 0:04:32.943 has been enough of a good team to this point 0:04:33.183 --> 0:04:35.583 prior to the Rashi Rice injury that I would have 0:04:35.663 --> 0:04:37.503 kept them probably number one, or at least had a 0:04:37.543 --> 0:04:39.863 real tough debate in my head. But once the news 0:04:39.863 --> 0:04:42.623 came out on Rice, still some you know, lack of 0:04:42.663 --> 0:04:44.583 clarity on whether he's going to be out the entire 0:04:44.623 --> 0:04:47.183 season or what the deal is. But I'm assuming this 0:04:47.263 --> 0:04:49.503 is going to be another serious injury in line with 0:04:49.943 --> 0:04:53.583 losing Hollywood Brown in the preseason, losing Isaiah Pacheco a 0:04:53.583 --> 0:04:56.423 couple of weeks ago, you know, making some changes on 0:04:56.463 --> 0:04:59.223 the offensive line. I was very glad to see Travis 0:04:59.343 --> 0:05:02.183 Kelcey step up on Sunday. It was gonna happen at 0:05:02.183 --> 0:05:05.503 some point. And Kareem hunt is first game back since 0:05:05.503 --> 0:05:08.223 twenty eighteen in Kansas City, was a big part of 0:05:08.223 --> 0:05:11.103 finishing that one off. They had a bench Carson Steel 0:05:11.183 --> 0:05:13.463 early in the game after the fumble. There's still some 0:05:13.583 --> 0:05:15.663 uncertainty there. We're kind of back to where we were 0:05:15.783 --> 0:05:18.223 last year with all the questions about Mahomes weapons and 0:05:18.223 --> 0:05:20.543 how is he gonna get this done? We know he can, 0:05:20.743 --> 0:05:22.143 but you know, is he going. 0:05:21.983 --> 0:05:25.063 To Here's the best part about this from Kansas City perspective, 0:05:25.063 --> 0:05:29.423 there's lulls in the season and they're still winning football games, 0:05:29.423 --> 0:05:30.943 so they still have some time. I saw a report 0:05:30.943 --> 0:05:35.023 from Ian Rappaport saying the team exploring some possibilities of 0:05:35.063 --> 0:05:38.143 acquiring another wide receiver if the rice injury is as 0:05:38.183 --> 0:05:41.303 significant as we assume that it is. Number three the 0:05:41.343 --> 0:05:43.623 Detroit Allons I gotta tell you on Monday, and I 0:05:43.663 --> 0:05:45.783 don't know if we saw the biting of the ankles 0:05:45.783 --> 0:05:48.103 and the whole deal. But this team is tough, they 0:05:48.103 --> 0:05:51.183 are gritty. They were able to sustain a lead and 0:05:51.223 --> 0:05:53.223 hold on to it. I think there's a lot to 0:05:53.343 --> 0:05:54.783 love about the Lions. 0:05:55.943 --> 0:05:58.863 Absolutely, did they have their hands full defensively with Gino 0:05:58.983 --> 0:06:01.143 Smith and the Seahawks, No doubt, right. I mean, they 0:06:01.183 --> 0:06:02.663 had to hold off a team that had I think 0:06:02.703 --> 0:06:06.143 thirty eight first downs twenty seven them in the second half. 0:06:06.223 --> 0:06:08.903 Just an incredible job by Seattle to keep making this 0:06:08.983 --> 0:06:11.903 a game. But when you have the offensive efficiency that 0:06:11.943 --> 0:06:14.343 the Lions did Monday night, kind of regaining some of 0:06:14.383 --> 0:06:17.623 their mojo a little bit. Big performance from Tim Patrick, 0:06:17.703 --> 0:06:19.503 you know, he's now kind of entering the mix a 0:06:19.503 --> 0:06:22.623 little bit. Jamison Williams a couple of really important plays. 0:06:22.943 --> 0:06:25.823 The run duo there was awesome. And then Jared Goff 0:06:26.223 --> 0:06:29.183 one of his eighteen for eighteen completions there on the 0:06:29.263 --> 0:06:31.783 night you throw in the touchdown catch you had I'm 0:06:31.783 --> 0:06:34.743 on Saint Brown and Lions were perfect as a team 0:06:34.823 --> 0:06:37.063 nineteen for nineteen. So you're gonna win a lot of 0:06:37.063 --> 0:06:39.343 football games when you don't have a pass hit the turf. 0:06:39.903 --> 0:06:42.063 But it took every single minute. Did love the way 0:06:42.063 --> 0:06:44.103 they closed out the game, right. They could have been 0:06:44.583 --> 0:06:46.823 a little tighter there, allowing the safety at the end. 0:06:46.863 --> 0:06:49.743 But man, this is I said in the column I 0:06:49.783 --> 0:06:52.623 lived in Saint Louis during the Greatest Show on Turf years. 0:06:52.663 --> 0:06:56.063 There's a lot of similarities between the two teams. Highly explosive, 0:06:56.463 --> 0:07:00.023 a little volatile, always interesting. And I'm gonna keep watching 0:07:00.063 --> 0:07:02.303 these guys because there's so much fun and they seem 0:07:02.343 --> 0:07:03.783 to be kind of getting back on track a little 0:07:03.823 --> 0:07:04.503 bit offensively. 0:07:04.863 --> 0:07:06.743 Yeah, they are fun and look, it was the most 0:07:06.783 --> 0:07:09.023 memorable play of the game with im and Ross Saint Brown, 0:07:09.063 --> 0:07:11.223 who had never thrown a pass in his college or 0:07:11.383 --> 0:07:14.463 NFL career. He's now one for one with the touchdown pass. 0:07:14.503 --> 0:07:16.503 He's probably telling Jared, Yo, your job is pretty easy. 0:07:16.543 --> 0:07:18.983 Look at some of my stats and my percentages. And Goff, 0:07:19.063 --> 0:07:22.303 by the way, his second career reception in his first 0:07:22.303 --> 0:07:25.903 career touchdown I saw. Obviously, we had the postgame show 0:07:26.103 --> 0:07:28.703 on NFL Network and we had played some of Jared 0:07:28.743 --> 0:07:30.703 Goff's comments after the game. He said it was his 0:07:30.743 --> 0:07:33.183 first touchdown that he could remember since he was like 0:07:33.303 --> 0:07:36.783 seven years old, which is just wild to me. Moving 0:07:36.783 --> 0:07:39.703 on to number four. Here the Bills, they dropped two 0:07:39.783 --> 0:07:43.543 spots Eric Ause, I'm watching that game against Baltimore and 0:07:43.623 --> 0:07:46.143 seeing how they lost. I actually thought there was a 0:07:46.183 --> 0:07:48.663 world where you drop them more than just two spots. 0:07:48.823 --> 0:07:51.383 Why the amount of respect that you've given them to 0:07:51.423 --> 0:07:52.543 still keep them where they are? 0:07:53.423 --> 0:07:55.263 Yeah, I mean the first three games of this season 0:07:55.263 --> 0:07:57.743 they had been really good, I thought, and especially the 0:07:57.823 --> 0:07:59.783 last two, and so they had flexed their muscles a 0:07:59.823 --> 0:08:01.423 little bit. And this is a twenty one to ten 0:08:01.543 --> 0:08:03.903 game where the Ravens kind of kept the door open 0:08:03.903 --> 0:08:06.783 with some of their mistake I think had that trick play, 0:08:06.823 --> 0:08:09.143 the one where Allen fumbled and you know the one 0:08:09.143 --> 0:08:12.343 that Joe Brady says after the game he regrets, had 0:08:12.343 --> 0:08:14.223 that play gone a little differently, or if they've been 0:08:14.223 --> 0:08:16.903 able to make something happen on that drive, we'd have 0:08:16.943 --> 0:08:19.063 a different final score and a different story. Not making 0:08:19.103 --> 0:08:22.103 excuses they didn't play well defensively, they had their issues 0:08:22.143 --> 0:08:25.263 with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Offensively, we know they 0:08:25.303 --> 0:08:28.223 were drop passes, there were missed kind of connections there. 0:08:29.023 --> 0:08:31.303 And it was the first time in forty three games 0:08:31.343 --> 0:08:34.143 that they lost in regular season games. That they lost 0:08:34.183 --> 0:08:36.223 by more than ten points, so it does speak to 0:08:36.263 --> 0:08:38.863 the fact that they are highly competitive. Josh Allen keeps 0:08:38.903 --> 0:08:42.343 them in almost every game. Sunday was obviously an exception 0:08:42.423 --> 0:08:44.423 to that. Does it look a little strange that I 0:08:44.463 --> 0:08:47.263 have the Ravens below them? Yes, but this is sort 0:08:47.263 --> 0:08:49.343 of the balancing act you have to do. Where the 0:08:49.423 --> 0:08:51.903 Ravens had two losses, one of them pretty bad to 0:08:51.943 --> 0:08:54.823 the Raiders, how do you kind of weigh those two 0:08:54.903 --> 0:08:57.263 teams head to head? Is only part of the equation. 0:08:57.703 --> 0:08:59.783 So that's kind of how I arrived there. Don't worry 0:08:59.863 --> 0:09:01.983 Ravens fans. I love your team. I never moved them 0:09:01.983 --> 0:09:04.023 out even and zero and two, so I stuck with 0:09:04.063 --> 0:09:04.463 you guys. 0:09:04.703 --> 0:09:06.303 Yeah, no, I'm with you there, and I think you 0:09:06.383 --> 0:09:09.023 actually slotted it the right way, because it's got to 0:09:09.063 --> 0:09:11.383 be the entire body of work. And to be fair here, 0:09:11.423 --> 0:09:14.063 Baltimore hasn't had and I don't think there's someone higher 0:09:14.223 --> 0:09:16.703 on the Ravens than me inside our building here an 0:09:16.823 --> 0:09:20.703 NFL network, the Ravens the whole season. They deserve to 0:09:20.703 --> 0:09:23.303 be at least right now behind the Buffalo Bills. By 0:09:23.343 --> 0:09:25.983 the way, I thought, Diggs, you know we're talking about 0:09:25.983 --> 0:09:29.343 Buffalo not having questions around personnel. I think it showed 0:09:29.423 --> 0:09:31.543 up how much they missed him in a game like this, 0:09:31.623 --> 0:09:33.743 and it hadn't creaked its ugly head through the first 0:09:33.743 --> 0:09:34.783 couple of weeks of the season. 0:09:34.983 --> 0:09:36.863 When name checked the Ravens, they. 0:09:37.223 --> 0:09:39.663 Or assuse me, they move up to the sixth spot 0:09:39.703 --> 0:09:42.903 here Derrick Henry, Derrick Henry, and last time I checked, 0:09:42.943 --> 0:09:43.343 the King. 0:09:43.263 --> 0:09:44.543 Is still really good. 0:09:45.663 --> 0:09:47.983 Unbelievable to make a statement that early in the game. 0:09:48.023 --> 0:09:50.863 It really kind of changes your defensive mindset, right, you 0:09:50.903 --> 0:09:52.783 have a thirty year old running back at that weight 0:09:52.863 --> 0:09:55.943 and that kind of power ripping off that long a touchdown. 0:09:55.983 --> 0:09:58.863 The last two weeks, obviously last three really we've seen. 0:09:59.183 --> 0:10:01.383 You know, this guy is entirely capable of being a 0:10:01.463 --> 0:10:03.623 huge part of the offense. Didn't happen in week one, 0:10:03.703 --> 0:10:06.983 but they found that right mix of getting Henry involved. 0:10:06.983 --> 0:10:08.823 And you know, it wasn't a huge throwing day for 0:10:08.903 --> 0:10:11.063 Lamar Jackson. They didn't need him to right. Everything was 0:10:11.103 --> 0:10:14.943 going so smoothly up front, so almost a near perfect 0:10:14.983 --> 0:10:17.783 offensive script. As I mentioned in the Buffalo part, there 0:10:18.383 --> 0:10:20.463 still want to see them cut down on those mistakes 0:10:20.503 --> 0:10:22.943 they could have taken this thing and blown it wide 0:10:22.983 --> 0:10:26.143 open earlier than this, but did kind of leave the 0:10:26.143 --> 0:10:27.943 door open a little bit. We know that was an 0:10:27.943 --> 0:10:30.823 issue in Dallas held on for victory. It was an 0:10:30.863 --> 0:10:33.143 issue against the Raiders. That's one thing they have to 0:10:33.143 --> 0:10:35.303 clean up. But the talent's there for a top ten team, 0:10:35.343 --> 0:10:36.303 no doubt. Yeah. 0:10:36.423 --> 0:10:40.223 Look the way that they won this football game reminds 0:10:40.263 --> 0:10:42.703 us of what this Ravens team is in terms of 0:10:42.743 --> 0:10:43.423 team identity. 0:10:43.503 --> 0:10:45.183 Run the football almost two hundred. 0:10:44.943 --> 0:10:46.743 Yards for Dereck Henry one hundred and ninety nine of 0:10:46.783 --> 0:10:48.823 the exact, by the way, which is the most rushing 0:10:48.863 --> 0:10:51.863 yards by a Ravens player since Ray Rice back in 0:10:51.903 --> 0:10:55.183 twenty eleven. And then defensively, this is a good Buffalo 0:10:55.303 --> 0:10:58.103 offense and they looked good on that side of the football. 0:10:58.543 --> 0:11:01.623 And Eric's super excited for power moves as the Commanders 0:11:01.663 --> 0:11:03.983 move up nine spots to number seven. 0:11:04.103 --> 0:11:06.143 Jayden dan Niels has got this team rocking. 0:11:07.943 --> 0:11:10.103 He's been special, you know, and I thought he had 0:11:10.103 --> 0:11:12.143 a great chance beginning of the year to be offensive 0:11:12.223 --> 0:11:14.263 Rookie of the Year. And Cliff Kingsbury was a big 0:11:14.383 --> 0:11:17.223 reason why he goes back to Arizona exacts a little 0:11:17.223 --> 0:11:19.823 revenge against his former team, but you know, didn't make 0:11:19.823 --> 0:11:21.143 a big deal out of it because he's got this 0:11:21.263 --> 0:11:24.463 star quarterback and they are in simpatico right now, and 0:11:24.503 --> 0:11:26.783 it's been fun to watch the design of the offense. 0:11:26.823 --> 0:11:29.303 Some power, some spread, a little bit of this and 0:11:29.383 --> 0:11:32.943 a little bit of that. They're explosive offensively, they're hard 0:11:33.023 --> 0:11:35.503 to defend the run games there, and the defense is 0:11:35.543 --> 0:11:38.823 overachieving too. You can't say enough about the job that 0:11:38.903 --> 0:11:41.223 Dan Quinn, Adam Peters and the rest of the crew 0:11:41.263 --> 0:11:43.903 there have done and rebuilding this locker room and this 0:11:44.023 --> 0:11:44.783 roster as well. 0:11:45.343 --> 0:11:47.663 Jayden Daniels for context on what he's been able to 0:11:47.663 --> 0:11:50.743 accomplish last two games, for him, five touchdowns, three in 0:11:50.783 --> 0:11:52.463 the air and two on the ground. 0:11:52.703 --> 0:11:54.383 I'm going to repeat that five. 0:11:54.183 --> 0:11:58.463 Touchdowns, Eric six incompletions over the last two games. 0:11:58.503 --> 0:12:00.983 It is he's over eighty for said he leaves the league. 0:12:01.023 --> 0:12:02.503 It's nuts, it's crazy, it's. 0:12:02.663 --> 0:12:04.023 It is, it's wild. 0:12:04.063 --> 0:12:06.183 And I think you said something in your column once 0:12:06.223 --> 0:12:09.223 again on NFL dot Com analysis on all thirty two teams. 0:12:10.263 --> 0:12:13.663 Why not Washington win this division? Considering how Dallas and 0:12:13.783 --> 0:12:18.263 New York and Philadelphia are playing so just I can't 0:12:18.263 --> 0:12:20.543 believe I'm saying that the Washington Commanders might win the 0:12:20.663 --> 0:12:22.703 NFC East, another team that's on the move. 0:12:22.903 --> 0:12:25.543 Seven spots, Tampa Bay up to eight. 0:12:26.103 --> 0:12:29.623 I think the win that you witnessed, Eric made you 0:12:29.743 --> 0:12:32.543 even pause, because this is a significant jump, and I 0:12:32.583 --> 0:12:34.183 think you were a little on the fence about this 0:12:34.263 --> 0:12:35.703 team over the last few weeks. 0:12:36.703 --> 0:12:38.783 Yeah, I mean two weeks ago didn't have him too 0:12:38.863 --> 0:12:41.503 much lower than this. The big drop after the Denver game, 0:12:41.543 --> 0:12:43.263 I think we realized, Look, Denver went on the road 0:12:43.303 --> 0:12:45.423 and won a tough game against the Jets. Maybe they're 0:12:45.463 --> 0:12:48.103 a little better opponent than I realized some other folks did. 0:12:48.103 --> 0:12:50.263 I don't know, this was I think we're going to 0:12:50.303 --> 0:12:51.983 look back at that Denver game and just say that 0:12:52.103 --> 0:12:54.463 was kind of their their hiccup, their mulligan, whatever you 0:12:54.463 --> 0:12:57.103 want to call it. Baker was back in command. The 0:12:57.183 --> 0:13:00.663 defense got after the Eagles. Shorthanded Eagles team, Granted, you 0:13:00.663 --> 0:13:02.983 know they were missing some star players, no doubt about it. 0:13:03.023 --> 0:13:06.863 But I loved what what the Mayfields, Yeah, what the Mayfield, 0:13:06.903 --> 0:13:10.223 the fighting Mayfields did against that Eagles defense that really 0:13:10.303 --> 0:13:12.863 kind of shut down the Saints the week before, made 0:13:12.863 --> 0:13:15.543 it tough for them to keeping them on the field 0:13:15.543 --> 0:13:18.783 for long drives and explosive plays, and it was a 0:13:18.823 --> 0:13:20.983 feel good game, a get right game for the Bucks, 0:13:21.023 --> 0:13:23.343 and they certainly made that big statement. And you know, 0:13:23.383 --> 0:13:25.863 they're my favorites for the NFC South. But there's another 0:13:25.903 --> 0:13:27.383 team I know you like, we're going to talk about 0:13:27.423 --> 0:13:29.183 later that could give them a little push. Yeah. 0:13:29.383 --> 0:13:31.703 Look, the division is still really competitive, but to your point, 0:13:31.743 --> 0:13:33.343 I think they have to be the favorite. And by 0:13:33.343 --> 0:13:36.343 the way, just I do think it's important to highlight 0:13:36.383 --> 0:13:39.263 this the lives that have been affected in the South 0:13:39.303 --> 0:13:41.703 because of the hurricane and the absolute debate was able 0:13:41.743 --> 0:13:44.783 to get a win like this. I mean, look, it's 0:13:44.783 --> 0:13:47.143 a small level of solace, but I think a lot 0:13:47.143 --> 0:13:49.943 of people need those distractions on the weekends and Sundays 0:13:49.983 --> 0:13:52.663 to think about what's happening in their actual lives. That 0:13:52.663 --> 0:13:55.143 it's not good right now. So our thoughts and prayers 0:13:55.343 --> 0:13:57.103 and good vibes that we were sending to everyone that 0:13:57.223 --> 0:13:59.703 was affected from that perspective. But hopefully if you're watching 0:13:59.703 --> 0:14:02.383 the show, we're making a little fun for you. In fact, Eric, 0:14:02.383 --> 0:14:04.863 there's one team and Tampa Bay fans can laugh all 0:14:04.903 --> 0:14:06.823 that they want because they were a Super Bowl contender 0:14:06.823 --> 0:14:07.423 and yet they. 0:14:07.303 --> 0:14:10.143 Are free falling. We will tell you who that team is. 0:14:10.183 --> 0:14:19.183 Come it up next on power rankings. Back here on 0:14:19.263 --> 0:14:24.063 power rankings presented by Energizer Erics. Teams nine through sixteen. 0:14:24.143 --> 0:14:26.463 The Green Bay Packers following the last still stay in 0:14:26.543 --> 0:14:29.583 the top ten. The Steelers, they were perfect on the season, 0:14:29.583 --> 0:14:31.183 but they lost to the Colts, so they dropped to 0:14:31.223 --> 0:14:34.503 the tenth position. Seattle, there were questions around how good 0:14:34.503 --> 0:14:37.423 this team was. They stay flat at number eleven. The 0:14:37.543 --> 0:14:40.063 Niners also flat. They get back into the win column. 0:14:40.183 --> 0:14:43.383 They're number twelve. The thirteenth ranked team the Philadelphia Eagles, 0:14:43.383 --> 0:14:45.823 who have a free fall. We'll talk about them dropping 0:14:45.903 --> 0:14:49.943 eight spots. The Saints are at fourteen, the Jets at fifteen, 0:14:50.063 --> 0:14:52.423 just ahead of that game in London, there's some tension 0:14:52.503 --> 0:14:53.663 brewing in New York. 0:14:53.783 --> 0:14:55.063 And the Colts at sixteen. 0:14:55.103 --> 0:14:59.183 Anthony Richardson banged up Joe Flacco, Jonathan Taylor, the keys 0:14:59.623 --> 0:15:02.583 to success against Pittsburgh all right at number eleven. Here, 0:15:02.663 --> 0:15:05.383 I think the conversation should start with the Seattle team. Eric, 0:15:05.503 --> 0:15:07.223 this is a squad that was perfect. We said, hey, 0:15:07.303 --> 0:15:09.783 who are they beating? How good are they? I know, 0:15:09.863 --> 0:15:12.703 the score might tell you one story against what we 0:15:12.743 --> 0:15:15.543 saw in Detroit against the Lions. I actually think they 0:15:15.663 --> 0:15:17.303 hung tough and I think this is a pretty good 0:15:17.343 --> 0:15:18.383 football team. 0:15:18.903 --> 0:15:21.663 Absolutely yeah. I think when you also consider the fact 0:15:21.703 --> 0:15:24.103 how much they were actually missing on defense. You know 0:15:24.263 --> 0:15:28.943 Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, the first round pick, NWOSU, you know, 0:15:28.983 --> 0:15:31.863 boy Mafe had a sack in every game up till 0:15:31.903 --> 0:15:35.663 till Monday night, so a lot of defensive firepower. They 0:15:35.703 --> 0:15:38.503 lose Julian Love during the game as well, so they 0:15:38.503 --> 0:15:40.863 were up against it. But you look at what Gino 0:15:40.943 --> 0:15:43.983 Smith did, and he played a tremendous game, like really 0:15:44.023 --> 0:15:47.183 one of his best career games, and was constantly keeping 0:15:47.223 --> 0:15:49.903 them in the game with darts all over the field. 0:15:50.263 --> 0:15:53.183 Kenneth Walker, I swear traverse half of Michigan on Monday, 0:15:53.663 --> 0:15:57.183 barrowing through Lions tackles, and he had a great return 0:15:57.183 --> 0:15:58.943 of the field after missing a couple of games. And 0:15:59.263 --> 0:16:01.543 you know what those receivers can do. You know that 0:16:01.583 --> 0:16:04.343 one DK turnover really cost him early, but he was 0:16:04.823 --> 0:16:07.343 him all night, so was Jackson Smith and Jigba. Mike 0:16:07.423 --> 0:16:09.663 McDonald I think gets it. He's a good coach. He 0:16:09.783 --> 0:16:12.063 found the right script after they fell behind to kind 0:16:12.063 --> 0:16:14.983 of keep them in the game. Trust the Gino, you know, 0:16:15.103 --> 0:16:17.383 did what he could defensively. But when they get healthy 0:16:17.383 --> 0:16:19.103 on that side of the ball, I think they're going 0:16:19.183 --> 0:16:20.703 to really push the forty nine ers. I don't know 0:16:20.703 --> 0:16:22.743 if it's going to be all season long, but I 0:16:22.783 --> 0:16:25.983 think they're going to have some firepower to stay in 0:16:26.023 --> 0:16:27.103 the NFC West race. 0:16:27.343 --> 0:16:28.303 Yeah, I couldn't agree more. 0:16:28.343 --> 0:16:30.503 Three hundred and ninety five yards for Gino Smith, career 0:16:30.583 --> 0:16:33.983 high for him. Three rushing touchdowns for Walker, also a 0:16:34.103 --> 0:16:36.583 career high. Couldn't wait to talk to you about this team, 0:16:36.623 --> 0:16:41.263 the Philadelphia Eagles. I think it's probably panic in Philly. 0:16:41.303 --> 0:16:43.103 I get what that fan base is, but let's keep 0:16:43.143 --> 0:16:45.943 in mind here the wide receivers Brown and Smith did 0:16:45.943 --> 0:16:48.383 not play Lane Johnson on that offensive line. I can 0:16:48.583 --> 0:16:53.263 story this team still being a very quality football team, 0:16:53.303 --> 0:16:55.183 and yet based off of your power rankings and the 0:16:55.183 --> 0:16:56.663 fact that we're doing this every single. 0:16:56.383 --> 0:16:58.703 Week, I felt like you had to drop them. 0:16:59.663 --> 0:17:02.063 I did too. I just sat there and said, look, 0:17:02.263 --> 0:17:04.623 as impressive as Week three was, it was a big 0:17:04.703 --> 0:17:07.063 win for him. They take a big step back here, 0:17:07.143 --> 0:17:08.023 even shorthanded. 0:17:08.103 --> 0:17:08.223 Right. 0:17:08.263 --> 0:17:10.263 We talked about the Seahawks just a moment ago and 0:17:10.303 --> 0:17:12.943 what they were able to do that felt more impressive 0:17:12.943 --> 0:17:15.423 than what the Eagles could do. Again against the good 0:17:15.423 --> 0:17:17.463 Bucks team, I think we need to give them their respect. 0:17:17.463 --> 0:17:21.423 But the same problems are cropping up. Jalen Hurts another turnover. 0:17:21.583 --> 0:17:23.783 Those have been adding up. He's got twenty seven of 0:17:23.823 --> 0:17:26.983