WEBVTT - #1: Are the Houston Texans a top-5 team? 0:00:04.743 --> 0:00:07.303 NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in 0:00:07.383 --> 0:00:08.903 partnership with iHeartRadio. 0:00:11.503 --> 0:00:13.703 Well, we have been waiting months to get to this point. 0:00:13.743 --> 0:00:16.063 We got our pre season power rankings. We're going to 0:00:16.103 --> 0:00:18.263 be doing this all season long. Mike am Eric at 0:00:18.263 --> 0:00:22.223 a home with you. If there's interest in finding out 0:00:22.223 --> 0:00:24.263 where teams should be slotted, there's no one better than 0:00:24.383 --> 0:00:26.143 Eric to give you the skinny on that. 0:00:26.183 --> 0:00:27.303 All right, break this down. 0:00:27.143 --> 0:00:29.543 For me, Eric, before we reveal some of your top 0:00:29.543 --> 0:00:31.663 teams here, would love to know what's the criteria. Is 0:00:31.663 --> 0:00:33.863 it simply just based off of end results from a 0:00:33.863 --> 0:00:35.423 season ago, a. 0:00:35.383 --> 0:00:37.663 Lot of dart throwing, a lot of responding to threats 0:00:37.703 --> 0:00:40.263 on Twitter. No, seriously, I do try to kind of 0:00:40.303 --> 0:00:43.463 balance things out with the analytical side, right, You got 0:00:43.503 --> 0:00:45.423 to use the numbers. You have to have some kind 0:00:45.423 --> 0:00:49.303 of evidence to back up your claims, but vibes do matter, right, 0:00:49.303 --> 0:00:50.863 And obviously you can see a team with a good 0:00:50.903 --> 0:00:53.983 record we're talking about Week twelve, like the Eagles last year, 0:00:54.023 --> 0:00:56.063 and you know ten and one, they must be number 0:00:56.063 --> 0:00:58.303 one team. Well, we could see that was a little 0:00:58.303 --> 0:01:00.023 bit of a house of cards. So there's always a 0:01:00.023 --> 0:01:03.183 little bit of an adjustment made kind of between vibes 0:01:03.303 --> 0:01:07.103 and analysis and try to ride the balance between the two. 0:01:07.183 --> 0:01:09.063 So it's not perfect, but we do our best. 0:01:09.223 --> 0:01:10.823 Okay, well, we will try to do our best the 0:01:11.023 --> 0:01:13.743 entire season. I want to unveil some of the top 0:01:13.783 --> 0:01:16.663 teams that you have in the NFL heading into this season, 0:01:16.703 --> 0:01:19.303 no surprise, sending at number one the raigning Super Bowl 0:01:19.343 --> 0:01:21.863 champs and the Kansas City Chiefs number two, the San 0:01:21.863 --> 0:01:24.903 Francisco forty nine ers at three, the Baltimore Ravens, who 0:01:24.943 --> 0:01:26.583 I think you could have made an argument was the 0:01:26.583 --> 0:01:28.503 best team in the NFL a season ago, had they 0:01:28.503 --> 0:01:31.223 not lost an AFC Championship game and then obviously not 0:01:31.303 --> 0:01:33.703 even get to the Super Bowl. The Lions checking at four, 0:01:33.943 --> 0:01:38.743 the Eagles at five, Cincinnati at six, at seven, Houston Texans, 0:01:38.743 --> 0:01:39.463 and at number. 0:01:39.303 --> 0:01:40.703 Eight the Buffalo Bills. 0:01:40.703 --> 0:01:42.663 And Eric will dive into a couple of these squads, 0:01:42.703 --> 0:01:45.463 but let's start at the top. From a super Bowl perspective, 0:01:45.583 --> 0:01:47.543 they're trying to be the first team to three peat. 0:01:47.703 --> 0:01:50.023 Is this as simple as you got, Patrick Mahomes, You 0:01:50.023 --> 0:01:52.063 get the benefit of doubt, and you should be number one. 0:01:52.983 --> 0:01:55.143 Yeah, it's hard to ignore the fact Mike that they've 0:01:55.143 --> 0:01:58.223 got most of the band back together, right mahomes Andy 0:01:58.303 --> 0:02:01.663 Reid obviously a great coaching staff there as well. Steve 0:02:01.663 --> 0:02:03.663 Spagnola might be a Hall of Famer one day for 0:02:03.743 --> 0:02:06.503 all we know. Travis Kelsey, you know the band by now. 0:02:06.983 --> 0:02:09.063 But you know they still have some pieces they have 0:02:09.103 --> 0:02:12.343 to worry about. No lagerious sneed that puts Trent McDuffie 0:02:12.343 --> 0:02:15.183 in that number one role and a rookie left tackle 0:02:15.303 --> 0:02:17.903 Kingsley Sua Mataia. You know, how is he going to 0:02:17.943 --> 0:02:20.463 hold up? Especially with some tough games early in the season. 0:02:20.503 --> 0:02:23.303 I mean, you've got Baltimore week one, Cincinnati Week two, 0:02:23.663 --> 0:02:27.183 Houston and Buffalo on the schedule as well, so you know, 0:02:27.543 --> 0:02:30.183 AFC West has gotten tougher. They place some of the 0:02:30.223 --> 0:02:32.943 heavyweights in their conference. It's going to be a battle 0:02:32.983 --> 0:02:35.743 as usual. But you know, last year proved Mike that 0:02:35.863 --> 0:02:38.063 they don't even have to have a great regular season 0:02:38.103 --> 0:02:40.303 and they could still be the best in the top 0:02:40.343 --> 0:02:41.863 of the mountaintop when the season ends. 0:02:42.063 --> 0:02:43.863 Well, the team that had the best season in the NFL, 0:02:43.983 --> 0:02:45.983 least in my mind, was the Baltimore Ravens, who you 0:02:46.023 --> 0:02:49.263 have sitting at number three statistically speaking, first team since 0:02:49.343 --> 0:02:53.103 nineteen seventy to leave the NFL scoring defense, takeaways and 0:02:53.183 --> 0:02:55.343 sacks in the single season. They don't have Mike McDonald, 0:02:55.423 --> 0:02:58.743 their defensive coordinator, who now heads to Seattle. Did you 0:02:58.783 --> 0:03:00.343 think about slotting them number two? 0:03:01.543 --> 0:03:03.183 I did, Yeah, obviously it's it. 0:03:03.383 --> 0:03:05.663 You know, it looks like I just cut paced last 0:03:05.703 --> 0:03:08.903 year's conference championship games in the top four slots, and 0:03:09.183 --> 0:03:12.503 you know that's a fair criticism. But I do worry 0:03:12.543 --> 0:03:14.943 about the offensive line a little bit. You mentioned the 0:03:15.023 --> 0:03:18.743 defense to Mike McDonald, gone, you know, Zach Orr, thirty 0:03:18.783 --> 0:03:21.623 one year old defensive coordinator. He's got guys on his 0:03:21.703 --> 0:03:25.103 defense older than he is. That's a question mark. But yeah, 0:03:25.143 --> 0:03:27.103 the offensive line, I mean, you could argue there are 0:03:27.143 --> 0:03:30.023 questions at four of the five spots. Possibly you know, 0:03:30.103 --> 0:03:34.263 first year starters at right tackle, Roger Rosa Garden, left 0:03:34.263 --> 0:03:37.623 guard Andrew Worries was seventh round pick, didn't play last year. 0:03:37.703 --> 0:03:40.503 So I realized Lamar and Dereck. 0:03:40.263 --> 0:03:42.943 Henry their new running back. Those two guys can kind 0:03:42.943 --> 0:03:45.263 of make up for a bad offensive line with their 0:03:45.303 --> 0:03:48.463 ability to either break tackles or run around him. But 0:03:48.943 --> 0:03:51.183 there still has to be that protection up front. There 0:03:51.303 --> 0:03:53.903 still have to be the takeaways and sacks on defense. 0:03:53.943 --> 0:03:56.703 So I didn't feel like they quite stacked up to 0:03:56.743 --> 0:03:59.503 where we saw them for most of last season. 0:03:59.863 --> 0:04:01.703 Wow, I feel like you're going to get some heat 0:04:01.703 --> 0:04:02.983 on this Derrick Henry alone. 0:04:03.023 --> 0:04:07.103 Yeah, No, probably look teams in in the AFC, certainly 0:04:07.103 --> 0:04:09.063 in the NFL, they almost build their rosters to take 0:04:09.103 --> 0:04:12.023 out Kansas City. I think the addition of Derek Henry 0:04:12.023 --> 0:04:14.063 in that backfield might be that missing piece we saw 0:04:14.343 --> 0:04:17.703 in that AFC Championship Game two design runs for Lamar Jackson. 0:04:17.743 --> 0:04:20.143 Something tells me Lamar ground to pound if we get 0:04:20.143 --> 0:04:24.063 a rematch this upcoming season. The lines were darling last 0:04:24.103 --> 0:04:27.543 year heading into the NFL campaign. You have them at four. 0:04:28.223 --> 0:04:30.663 They're no longer you know, they're the team that's now 0:04:30.663 --> 0:04:33.223 getting hunted at this point. Did you hedge a little 0:04:33.223 --> 0:04:34.943 bit and maybe want to slide them back a little bit? 0:04:35.783 --> 0:04:38.063 Yeah, I mean, you still have to see improvement on 0:04:38.103 --> 0:04:41.543 that defense, right, and we know how explosive that offense is. Obviously, 0:04:41.623 --> 0:04:44.943 Jared goffback Ben Johnson, the talent and play caller, gave 0:04:45.023 --> 0:04:47.623 up a head coaching opportunity in Washington to stay in 0:04:47.703 --> 0:04:50.543 Detroit and keep this train rolling, and you know they 0:04:50.543 --> 0:04:54.303 can score with anybody, But have they made enough defensive improvements. 0:04:54.343 --> 0:04:56.263 That's where I just hold back a little bit. I 0:04:56.303 --> 0:04:59.063 want to see it first. And they made additions in 0:04:59.103 --> 0:05:01.743 the secondary. They added to the front line as well. 0:05:01.863 --> 0:05:04.143 DJ Reader Marcus stab and poured a little bit of 0:05:04.143 --> 0:05:07.783 the question with his injuries in the past. But those 0:05:07.783 --> 0:05:10.943 two rookie corners, Arnold and Rakestraw rounds one and two 0:05:11.343 --> 0:05:15.423 clearly targeted that as a major area of need of improvement. 0:05:15.943 --> 0:05:18.743 So if there are significant strides on that side of 0:05:18.783 --> 0:05:21.503 the ball. They were actually decent defensively the first handful 0:05:21.503 --> 0:05:23.783 of games of the year and seem to regress as 0:05:23.863 --> 0:05:24.423 time went on. 0:05:25.063 --> 0:05:26.543 I'd love to see the opposite right. 0:05:26.583 --> 0:05:28.983 If they start slowly, that's fine, but by the end 0:05:29.023 --> 0:05:30.703 of the season, as long as they're in that kind 0:05:30.743 --> 0:05:35.263 of middle of the pack, opportunistic defense, get key takeaways, 0:05:35.383 --> 0:05:38.103 make red zone stops, whole teams the field goals. 0:05:38.743 --> 0:05:40.343 Boy, what a difference that could make. 0:05:40.383 --> 0:05:42.143 That could have cost you know, that could have cost 0:05:42.183 --> 0:05:44.783 them a seventeen point lead in San Francisco in the 0:05:44.863 --> 0:05:47.783 NFC Championship game. That defense is certainly going to be 0:05:47.783 --> 0:05:50.223 in the spotlight this year, but I think Detroit, you 0:05:50.343 --> 0:05:52.543 have to put them among the super Bowl contenders. They're 0:05:52.543 --> 0:05:54.903 one of my Super Bowl teams this year, so I'm 0:05:54.943 --> 0:05:57.103 excited about what might happen in Detroit this year. 0:05:57.223 --> 0:05:58.903 Yeah, we had to do it for one of our shows, 0:05:58.943 --> 0:06:01.343 and I actually went with the Lions as the team 0:06:01.343 --> 0:06:02.823 that I thought could get to the super Bowl. And 0:06:03.023 --> 0:06:05.703 I'm with you, I'm sort of buying on some strides 0:06:05.743 --> 0:06:07.023 on that defensive side. 0:06:07.383 --> 0:06:08.903 You know, I was privy. I get your list and 0:06:08.943 --> 0:06:11.983 by the way, Eric's fullest on NFL dot com. You 0:06:12.023 --> 0:06:13.543 can go one through thirty two. 0:06:13.863 --> 0:06:15.863 Last night, I'm analyzing it and I took a deep 0:06:15.863 --> 0:06:19.263 breath and I said, Philadelphia sitting at five, and I 0:06:19.263 --> 0:06:21.503 don't hate it. But at the same time, I saw 0:06:21.543 --> 0:06:23.423 a collapse last year where this team lost five out 0:06:23.423 --> 0:06:24.103 of the last six. 0:06:24.263 --> 0:06:26.303 I get at Saque's there, but they lose leadership. 0:06:26.383 --> 0:06:30.183 Kelsey gone, Fletcher Cox now on the defensive side, he's gone. 0:06:30.823 --> 0:06:34.223 How much did you waiver on having them as a 0:06:34.263 --> 0:06:35.583 top five team in the NFL? 0:06:36.703 --> 0:06:39.063 Yeah, I mean, as I said in the intro there, 0:06:39.063 --> 0:06:40.983 I mean, they were a ten to one football team. 0:06:41.023 --> 0:06:43.623 But at the same time, when you watch closely. They 0:06:43.703 --> 0:06:45.703 had a loss of the Jets, they almost lost the 0:06:45.703 --> 0:06:47.943 Patriots Week one. They had a couple other games where 0:06:47.943 --> 0:06:50.423 they really had to grind their gears. 0:06:50.103 --> 0:06:50.863 To get the victory. 0:06:50.943 --> 0:06:53.143 So, you know, this is a team that only outscored 0:06:53.143 --> 0:06:56.383 its opponents I think by five points last year, despite 0:06:56.383 --> 0:06:58.703 a pretty good record, even with the townfall at the 0:06:58.743 --> 0:07:01.023 end of the season. But yeah, what happened in December 0:07:01.063 --> 0:07:03.463 and January has to worry. 0:07:03.183 --> 0:07:05.343 People on the big scale. Is this to carry over? 0:07:05.543 --> 0:07:10.543 Is the perceived awkwardness between Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts 0:07:10.983 --> 0:07:13.263 going to kind of cloak this entire season. I don't 0:07:13.303 --> 0:07:15.143 know the answer to that, right, I'm not inside the 0:07:15.183 --> 0:07:17.743 locker room. But Hurtz has had a good preseason. He's 0:07:17.783 --> 0:07:18.583 had a good camp. 0:07:18.943 --> 0:07:21.663 He's got that quiet, stoic style. Will that translate. 0:07:22.023 --> 0:07:25.183 Look, with all the weapons they have and now Vic Fangio, 0:07:25.263 --> 0:07:28.983 the guy they wanted on defense, maybe that unit stops 0:07:29.063 --> 0:07:31.823 underperforming and maybe the offense can finish drives just a 0:07:31.903 --> 0:07:35.703 little bit better this year with Saquan and all those weapons. 0:07:35.303 --> 0:07:37.103 They You know, you mentioned that defense. 0:07:37.143 --> 0:07:38.943 Back half of that defense a year ago was the 0:07:38.983 --> 0:07:41.903 walking wound in and we saw them address that in 0:07:41.943 --> 0:07:43.863 the draft with their first two selection, brought in some 0:07:43.943 --> 0:07:45.823 free agents. One of the leaders of that team a 0:07:45.823 --> 0:07:48.783 couple of years ago in CJ. Gardner Johnson. So I'm 0:07:48.823 --> 0:07:52.103 with you, cautiously optimistic. Maybe that awkwardness is in the 0:07:52.103 --> 0:07:54.623 rear view mirror and this team can really thrive. 0:07:55.103 --> 0:07:56.303 Cincinnati at six. 0:07:56.463 --> 0:07:59.023 Joe Burrow when he's healthy, Eric, and you know this 0:07:59.063 --> 0:08:01.943 that they're playing inn AFC Championship games. He wasn't a 0:08:01.983 --> 0:08:05.303 season ago. He missed the final seven games. I just 0:08:05.383 --> 0:08:07.943 get worried. It's a risk injury for him. But you 0:08:07.943 --> 0:08:10.103 have him as the six ranked team heading into the 0:08:10.103 --> 0:08:12.023 season in the NFL. It seems like you're not concerned 0:08:12.063 --> 0:08:12.423 about it. 0:08:13.223 --> 0:08:15.743 Well, it's one of those balancing acts again, Mike, because 0:08:15.863 --> 0:08:17.343 I have him as a super Bowl team and I 0:08:17.383 --> 0:08:20.543 fully recognize their shortcomings or there are potential weaknesses, their 0:08:20.583 --> 0:08:22.383 achilles heels, whatever you want to call them. 0:08:22.783 --> 0:08:25.543 If Joe isn't protected, we know what happens. 0:08:25.623 --> 0:08:27.903 Right the seasons where he's been able to play sixteen 0:08:27.943 --> 0:08:30.663 games or more, the Bengals have had team success. They 0:08:30.703 --> 0:08:33.463 got to a super Bowl, they've reached an AFC Championship, game. 0:08:33.863 --> 0:08:36.543 In seasons where he's started ten or fewer games, including 0:08:36.543 --> 0:08:39.623 his rookie year and last year, things haven't gone as well. 0:08:39.703 --> 0:08:43.103 So there's a direct correlation between how the Bengals perform 0:08:43.223 --> 0:08:46.583 and how Joe Burrows is feeling health wise, So it 0:08:46.663 --> 0:08:48.903 worries me. Trent Brown is out, They've got to count 0:08:48.903 --> 0:08:51.823 on Amarius Mims, the rookie right tackle, but he's looked 0:08:51.823 --> 0:08:52.743 special early on. 0:08:53.223 --> 0:08:53.943 He's a talent. 0:08:54.463 --> 0:08:56.583 They have a lot of second and third year guys 0:08:56.663 --> 0:08:59.303 right to elevate in roles, and so maybe that defense 0:08:59.343 --> 0:09:01.103 in that run game. Those are probably the two other 0:09:01.143 --> 0:09:03.943 big worries. Maybe they're not as big a concern when 0:09:03.943 --> 0:09:07.863 you have guys like Chase and Higgins and andre Usibas. 0:09:07.863 --> 0:09:09.463 I think it's going to have a good year as well. 0:09:09.663 --> 0:09:11.823 We assume Chase is going to be there, right I 0:09:11.863 --> 0:09:14.263 have a lot of things, a lot of plates spinning 0:09:14.263 --> 0:09:17.703 in the air right now and crossing fingers and doing 0:09:17.703 --> 0:09:20.703 whatever I can to make it work. But assuming Goadjavar 0:09:20.823 --> 0:09:22.863 Chase shows up, I feel great about. 0:09:22.663 --> 0:09:25.823 This team in the long run, even with all the questions. 0:09:25.983 --> 0:09:28.583 The division is brutal. Just throwing that it in there, 0:09:28.583 --> 0:09:29.063 which is going. 0:09:29.023 --> 0:09:32.103 To be another factor. But I'm with you, Joe Burrow 0:09:32.143 --> 0:09:33.783 when he is healthy. I mean, the dude is just 0:09:33.783 --> 0:09:36.183 throwing darts out on the football field. And there's a 0:09:36.223 --> 0:09:38.703 reason why it was back to back AFC championship games. 0:09:38.823 --> 0:09:40.863 Obviously last year. That didn't happen in a nine and 0:09:40.943 --> 0:09:41.663 eight campaign. 0:09:42.023 --> 0:09:45.063 Checking in at number seven here you have Houston, and 0:09:45.303 --> 0:09:47.183 I can't help but think that that front off is 0:09:47.183 --> 0:09:48.823 two years ago, is sitting there going, hey, this is 0:09:48.863 --> 0:09:51.103 going to be a project. We got our quarterback. This 0:09:51.183 --> 0:09:53.943 thing is going to get built out over time. Next thing, 0:09:53.983 --> 0:09:56.463 you know, they're thinking about a Super Bowl right now. 0:09:56.503 --> 0:09:58.703 They bring in digs on the offseason. Daniel Hunter, I 0:09:58.743 --> 0:10:01.143 don't think we talk nearly enough about that addition. On 0:10:01.183 --> 0:10:04.543 the defensive side. I think Stout's a tough five quarterback 0:10:04.703 --> 0:10:06.903 in the NFL. Like there's a real argument, Eric and 0:10:06.943 --> 0:10:08.703 I think fans and Houston might sit here and go, no, 0:10:08.983 --> 0:10:10.703 we should actually be higher than seventh. 0:10:11.583 --> 0:10:14.623 Yeah, I've been pumping the brakes ever so slightly. I'm 0:10:14.623 --> 0:10:17.623 not selling stock, I'm not dumping, I'm not offloading. I'm 0:10:17.663 --> 0:10:20.023 just saying, hey, let's keep an eye on the fact 0:10:20.063 --> 0:10:22.583 that they had a pretty easy schedule last year, right, 0:10:22.583 --> 0:10:24.103 I don't want to put too much stock into that, 0:10:24.143 --> 0:10:28.263 because Strau was amazing, Will Anderson was terrific, Demico Ryans 0:10:28.343 --> 0:10:30.823 was a brilliant first year head coach. I think this 0:10:30.903 --> 0:10:33.823 team is going nowhere but up. But to me, they're 0:10:33.863 --> 0:10:36.223 a little bit in that same place that the Jaguars 0:10:36.223 --> 0:10:38.623 were one year ago. Everybody's darling. They had the big 0:10:38.663 --> 0:10:42.623 playoff upset Trevor Lawrence. Things are finally right. They started 0:10:42.623 --> 0:10:45.783 eight and three, crashed down down the stretch. So could 0:10:45.823 --> 0:10:47.983 I see something like this happening with Houston with a 0:10:48.503 --> 0:10:51.223 loaded schedule and everybody now kind of having them in 0:10:51.263 --> 0:10:52.143 their crosshairs. 0:10:52.143 --> 0:10:52.663 Possibly. 0:10:52.903 --> 0:10:54.543 I still think they're good, but you look at the 0:10:54.583 --> 0:10:57.343 number of teams they play, it is daunting. So how 0:10:57.343 --> 0:10:59.343 will they hold up in some of these early season 0:10:59.383 --> 0:11:01.743 tests and you know, against like the Bears for instance, 0:11:01.783 --> 0:11:05.063 and kind of these second tier teams that'll that'll give 0:11:05.103 --> 0:11:07.143 us an idea how they can stack up against the 0:11:07.143 --> 0:11:08.943 heavyweights later on in the season. 0:11:08.943 --> 0:11:12.463 I'm excited, believe me, I am, but I also recognize. 0:11:11.943 --> 0:11:14.663 That maybe we're just elevating them a little too fast 0:11:14.703 --> 0:11:15.583 at this point. 0:11:15.863 --> 0:11:17.623 There's a part of me that's almost buying what you're 0:11:17.663 --> 0:11:18.103 selling there. 0:11:18.143 --> 0:11:19.863 But at the same time we're showing video and if 0:11:19.863 --> 0:11:21.703 you're watching this, you can see CJ. 0:11:21.783 --> 0:11:23.103 Stroud out on the football field. 0:11:23.143 --> 0:11:25.223 And if you're listening to this podcast right now, you 0:11:25.223 --> 0:11:27.623 can just close your eyes and just picture what Straud 0:11:27.663 --> 0:11:28.823 was able to do with season ago. 0:11:28.863 --> 0:11:31.183 The guy was absolutely remarkable. 0:11:31.303 --> 0:11:34.343 Eric, we are just getting underway here preseason power rankings 0:11:34.543 --> 0:11:38.183 for everyone. The tire list is available on NFL dot Com. 0:11:38.183 --> 0:11:39.663 But it's got us thinking about. 0:11:39.543 --> 0:11:41.463 Some of the teams that Eric doesn't. 0:11:41.143 --> 0:11:44.583 Have necessarily in that top eight. Gang Green is one 0:11:44.623 --> 0:11:46.903 of those squads still to come. Here on power rankings, 0:11:46.943 --> 0:11:49.023 we will focus in on the Jets team. Where does 0:11:49.063 --> 0:11:50.503 Aaron Rodgers and this team sit? 0:11:50.743 --> 0:11:51.983 That's coming up next. 0:11:55.103 --> 0:11:57.263 Back here on power rankings and Eric at a home 0:11:57.303 --> 0:11:59.863 you'll be able to catch his entire list of rankings. 0:11:59.903 --> 0:12:01.663 You can go through one through thirty two. 0:12:01.663 --> 0:12:03.543 You could scand the QR code or just head to 0:12:03.663 --> 0:12:06.543 NFL dot com. Sitting at number nine the Green Bay Packers, 0:12:06.543 --> 0:12:09.263 who just paid Jordan Love two hundred and twenty million. 0:12:09.463 --> 0:12:12.143 They won six of their last eight games last season. 0:12:12.223 --> 0:12:15.263 Dallas CD is paid. They check in at number ten 0:12:15.743 --> 0:12:19.023 Miami eleven after tu Tungo by Loa. 0:12:19.143 --> 0:12:21.303 I ended up getting over two hundred million dollars. 0:12:21.303 --> 0:12:24.103 The Jets at twelve, the Chargers at thirteen, the Cleveland 0:12:24.183 --> 0:12:26.383 Browns at fourteen. In what is a make or break 0:12:26.423 --> 0:12:29.903 season for Deshaun Watson. The Rams, I think, is a 0:12:29.943 --> 0:12:31.543 team that's on the short list maybe to make a 0:12:31.623 --> 0:12:34.223 run in the NFC. They check in at fifteen and 0:12:34.263 --> 0:12:36.703 the Chicago Bears at sixteen. 0:12:36.983 --> 0:12:38.903 Eric I want to start at number twelve. 0:12:39.343 --> 0:12:42.703 With the Jets' longest playoff drought in the NFL active 0:12:42.823 --> 0:12:45.343 drought at thirteen seasons. Right now, they were the talk 0:12:45.383 --> 0:12:46.903 of the town a season ago, every show that we 0:12:46.903 --> 0:12:49.143 were doing on NFL Network, it seems a year ago, 0:12:49.183 --> 0:12:51.183 as Aaron Rodgers was in the A block and then 0:12:51.223 --> 0:12:54.903 he gets hurt. Almost feel like a remade offensive line. 0:12:55.263 --> 0:12:57.503 There's an argument they're going to not only be in 0:12:57.503 --> 0:12:59.103 the playoffs, but they can make a run, don't you 0:12:59.143 --> 0:13:00.783 think absolutely? 0:13:00.983 --> 0:13:02.823 I mean part of me wants to say, hey, look, 0:13:02.863 --> 0:13:04.863 we have to reflect the team that was put out 0:13:04.863 --> 0:13:07.103 there last year, where you know, some weeks they were 0:13:07.183 --> 0:13:10.143 terrific defensively and the offense couldn't do anything other weeks, 0:13:10.183 --> 0:13:13.063 the offense was at least passable and the defense. 0:13:12.743 --> 0:13:14.463 Would let them down in key moments. 0:13:14.703 --> 0:13:16.943 Look, I still think this is a top ten defense, 0:13:16.983 --> 0:13:19.943 and if there's a healthy Aaron Rodgers out there, I 0:13:19.943 --> 0:13:22.583 don't know about seventeen weeks, but for the majority of 0:13:22.583 --> 0:13:25.143 the season, I think they have a terrific chance. Garrett 0:13:25.143 --> 0:13:28.503 Wilson is a superstar. Bres Hall another year removed from 0:13:28.503 --> 0:13:31.583 ACL surgery, and the biggest thing for me, Mike just 0:13:31.663 --> 0:13:34.303 kind of making me feel warm and fuzzy about the 0:13:34.303 --> 0:13:38.143 whole operation or a little better anyway. The offensive line depth, 0:13:38.303 --> 0:13:40.503 that's the biggest thing. You got Tyron Smith, you got 0:13:40.543 --> 0:13:43.543 Morgan Moses, two veteran bookends, and then you draft Ola 0:13:43.543 --> 0:13:47.023 Fashion as well. I think they're protected on the outside, 0:13:47.063 --> 0:13:49.623 and that was such a big concern obviously four plays 0:13:49.663 --> 0:13:51.783 end of the season, it was a concern, but it 0:13:51.823 --> 0:13:52.423 continued to. 0:13:52.423 --> 0:13:54.623 Be an issue all year long. They seem to have 0:13:54.663 --> 0:13:55.543 it fixed now. 0:13:55.663 --> 0:13:59.503 I'm hoping this u uh Hassan Redick holdout doesn't last 0:13:59.543 --> 0:14:02.103 too much longer because they lost Brice Off. 0:14:02.143 --> 0:14:02.623 They need some. 0:14:02.623 --> 0:14:05.303 Juice on that pass rush. Do they have it without them? 0:14:05.383 --> 0:14:06.023 I'm not sure. 0:14:06.823 --> 0:14:09.623 Starting new left tackle starting new left guard, brand new 0:14:09.663 --> 0:14:12.143 right tackle. If you watch some of our inside training 0:14:12.183 --> 0:14:14.863 Camp shows, Aaron Rodgers was a guest on it. Loved 0:14:14.943 --> 0:14:17.263 up that unit in a big way. I talked to 0:14:17.303 --> 0:14:19.103 a former Jet over the weekend. He said, look, this 0:14:19.183 --> 0:14:21.863 was a team that was third ranked defense total defense 0:14:21.863 --> 0:14:22.503 in the NFL. 0:14:22.583 --> 0:14:24.903 Yeah, they don't need Aaron Rodgers to be the MVP. 0:14:25.303 --> 0:14:27.103 Just be really good. They were thirty first in. 0:14:27.063 --> 0:14:29.943 The NFL in total offense. So you play the averages. 0:14:29.943 --> 0:14:31.543 The Jets are going to be a better football team 0:14:31.623 --> 0:14:34.623 this upcoming season. The squad that you have slotted right 0:14:34.663 --> 0:14:37.543 behind them at number thirteen, the Chargers lose Keenan Allen, 0:14:37.663 --> 0:14:40.623 lose Mike Williams, lose Austin Eckler. And for context, here 0:14:40.783 --> 0:14:42.983 you have teams like the Browns, the Rams, the Jags, 0:14:43.023 --> 0:14:45.183 the Steelers, the Falcons, and the Bucks all. 0:14:45.023 --> 0:14:47.543 Behind the Chargers. Please sell me on this selection. 0:14:48.903 --> 0:14:51.943 Yeah, historically, I'm not looking very smart right now. Right 0:14:51.943 --> 0:14:54.503 you're looking past performance now. It doesn't have anything to 0:14:54.543 --> 0:14:58.143 do with future performance. But knowing what the Chargers have 0:14:58.263 --> 0:15:02.183 been through recent times, historic times, this is a leap 0:15:02.223 --> 0:15:04.343 of faith. But I believe in Jim Harbaugh. I think 0:15:04.383 --> 0:15:06.703 he's terrific coach, and I think you look at his 0:15:06.783 --> 0:15:09.943 pattern history everywhere he's been year one, he's made the 0:15:09.943 --> 0:15:10.583 team better. 0:15:10.783 --> 0:15:12.303 They had a lot of bad luck last year. 0:15:12.343 --> 0:15:14.343 They were five and twelve, not a great football team, 0:15:14.383 --> 0:15:18.863 but losing Justin Herbert, losing close games, not maximizing their 0:15:18.903 --> 0:15:21.343 talent on defense, so many things here. 0:15:21.503 --> 0:15:22.983 I think they have good special teams. 0:15:22.983 --> 0:15:25.383 Cameron Dick are one of the best kickers in the game. 0:15:25.743 --> 0:15:27.663 They're going to have a run game. They added tight 0:15:27.783 --> 0:15:30.503 ends and backs all offseason. That offensive line is a 0:15:30.503 --> 0:15:33.863 good unit. So if they just get better at stopping 0:15:33.903 --> 0:15:37.183 the run, making a few takeaways on defense, getting a 0:15:37.223 --> 0:15:39.983 guy like Derwin James maybe to have his best season ever. 0:15:40.223 --> 0:15:42.343 I think the Chargers can push the Chiefs a little bit. 0:15:42.343 --> 0:15:44.223 I don't know about take over the AFC West, but 0:15:44.783 --> 0:15:46.543 I think they're in that mix for one of the 0:15:46.583 --> 0:15:49.103 final playoff spots if they get a little luck and 0:15:50.103 --> 0:15:52.543 start bringing some of that hardball early in the year. 0:15:53.023 --> 0:15:54.463 I'm not going to get into the weeds on this 0:15:54.463 --> 0:15:57.143 as a preseason show, and we will look next week. 0:15:57.183 --> 0:15:59.383 When we do this, I want to see Justin. 0:15:59.263 --> 0:16:02.063 Herbert out there healthy, little concern right now with this 0:16:02.103 --> 0:16:04.903 foot injury, A few guys that I've talked to have said, 0:16:04.943 --> 0:16:06.823 this is one of those injuries that lingers for a 0:16:06.863 --> 0:16:10.463 long period of done. So hopefully he is aoka because 0:16:10.503 --> 0:16:14.583 he is really the engine that's going to drive this team. 0:16:14.783 --> 0:16:16.463 Chicago sitting at sixteen. Eric. 0:16:16.503 --> 0:16:18.783 A couple of years ago for nfil Network, I was 0:16:18.823 --> 0:16:20.983 covering the draft. I had the Niners, they had the 0:16:21.023 --> 0:16:22.983 third pick in the draft, and I remember sitting on 0:16:23.103 --> 0:16:26.303 Zoom at the time, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan, they would 0:16:26.303 --> 0:16:29.303 tell you before the draft, teams that picked this high 0:16:29.463 --> 0:16:32.543 don't have rosters that look like ours, and those guys 0:16:32.583 --> 0:16:35.663 were right. The Chicago Bears picked number one overall, they 0:16:35.663 --> 0:16:38.823 get Caleb Williams. This is not a reclamation project. You 0:16:38.863 --> 0:16:40.623 have them at sixteen. But I don't think either one 0:16:40.623 --> 0:16:43.623 of us would be surprised if they're well, clearly they're 0:16:43.623 --> 0:16:45.783 sitting around the middle, but really are pushing towards that 0:16:45.823 --> 0:16:46.783 top ten, right. 0:16:47.503 --> 0:16:49.823 Yeah, I mean even in a really tough nofcn orth 0:16:49.863 --> 0:16:51.463 and I do think that division is going to be 0:16:51.503 --> 0:16:53.463 a bear, right, I mean, they think about the Vikings, 0:16:53.983 --> 0:16:55.943 we're steaming the division, but pretty good. 0:16:56.063 --> 0:16:58.303 Right, So in the Bears case. 0:16:58.383 --> 0:17:01.783