WEBVTT - #3: Which team JUMPED 16 SPOTS? 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. 0:00:13.783 --> 0:00:14.623 Well it's official. 0:00:14.823 --> 0:00:17.583 You can say goodbye to week number two in the NFL. 0:00:17.623 --> 0:00:19.943 Welcome to NFL Power Rankings. To Mike Hamelong with. 0:00:19.983 --> 0:00:20.623 Eric at home. 0:00:20.903 --> 0:00:23.583 By the way, the rankings they are available on NFL 0:00:23.623 --> 0:00:25.903 dot com. You can scan the QR code to check 0:00:25.903 --> 0:00:28.983 out the entire list. Eric, I guess we can look 0:00:28.983 --> 0:00:30.743 at week two now and say, hey, maybe some of 0:00:30.783 --> 0:00:32.943 those biases that we had coming into the season, we 0:00:32.983 --> 0:00:33.663 can booth those. 0:00:34.663 --> 0:00:36.823 Yeah, I'm ready to throw most of mine in the trash. 0:00:36.903 --> 0:00:39.663 You can see my preseason rankings. Laugh at them at 0:00:39.663 --> 0:00:42.263 your own desire if you will. So, yeah, we've made 0:00:42.303 --> 0:00:45.263 the adjustments. We've tried to shift and adjust to what 0:00:45.303 --> 0:00:46.623 we've seen in the first two weeks. 0:00:46.783 --> 0:00:48.623 You know, there's one team in particular who we will 0:00:48.623 --> 0:00:50.063 get to in just a couple of minutes here, and 0:00:50.103 --> 0:00:52.343 I'm glad you were paying attention to some of my 0:00:52.623 --> 0:00:56.263 observations because they made a massive jump. But let's get 0:00:56.303 --> 0:01:00.063 through some of the top teams right now. And sitting 0:01:00.063 --> 0:01:02.463 at number one not a huge surprise to Kansas City Chiefs. 0:01:02.463 --> 0:01:04.583 No change there, just in case you're one. 0:01:04.823 --> 0:01:06.983 And I sent a message to our producer Madison when 0:01:07.023 --> 0:01:09.223 I got the updated rankings. I said, hey, Madison, I 0:01:09.263 --> 0:01:11.983 think I'm looking at the old rankings because San Francisco 0:01:12.063 --> 0:01:15.103 is sitting at number two. Apparently I was not. We'll 0:01:15.103 --> 0:01:16.623 talk about the Niners in just a moment. 0:01:16.623 --> 0:01:16.823 Here. 0:01:16.863 --> 0:01:19.263 The Texans sitting at number three, their first two and 0:01:19.263 --> 0:01:20.863 oh starts since twenty sixteen. 0:01:21.103 --> 0:01:24.223 The Bills dominated on Thursday Night football. They are four. 0:01:24.623 --> 0:01:27.783 The Lions, they lose a tough one against Tampa Bay. 0:01:27.823 --> 0:01:30.343 They sit at number five. The Eagles tough Monday night loss, 0:01:30.383 --> 0:01:31.983 they dropped two spots to six. 0:01:32.263 --> 0:01:33.023 The Chargers. 0:01:33.543 --> 0:01:35.783 It's Jim Harbaugh. His team is two and zero, Not 0:01:35.903 --> 0:01:39.023 John and the Saints, the whole the big time Risers, 0:01:39.023 --> 0:01:41.503 who we will get to in just a minute, moving 0:01:41.543 --> 0:01:43.223 all the way up to number sixteen. 0:01:43.463 --> 0:01:44.743 All right, break this down for me. 0:01:45.103 --> 0:01:48.263 You'll lose, and yet you're still the number two team 0:01:48.343 --> 0:01:49.463 on your power rankings. 0:01:49.583 --> 0:01:51.423 Make the case for the Niners not changing. 0:01:52.343 --> 0:01:54.823 Yeah, And you know, look, I hear what people are 0:01:54.863 --> 0:01:57.143 saying out there, right Deebo Samuel is going to miss time. 0:01:57.183 --> 0:01:59.983 We know CMC's already out, and you know they haven't 0:02:00.063 --> 0:02:03.263 quite looked themselves, especially on Sunday at Minnesota. But they 0:02:03.303 --> 0:02:05.983 lost up there last year, lost to a quarterback who 0:02:06.263 --> 0:02:09.263 has you know, practiced against this defense all year. Still 0:02:09.263 --> 0:02:11.703 a pretty close game. I know that that one turnover 0:02:11.743 --> 0:02:13.943 probably you know, helped make it a little closer than 0:02:13.983 --> 0:02:16.703 it should have been. But still I believe in this 0:02:16.743 --> 0:02:19.223 team long term. I'm willing to kind of invest in them. 0:02:19.223 --> 0:02:22.623 Maybe maybe two's a little high. I was prepared to 0:02:22.623 --> 0:02:24.783 move the Eagles ahead of them a little Monday night 0:02:24.823 --> 0:02:26.423 game got in the way there, So that was a 0:02:26.423 --> 0:02:28.823 little bit of a last minute freak out there where 0:02:28.823 --> 0:02:31.583 I thought, all right, I'll leave them be. I'll put 0:02:31.583 --> 0:02:33.503 them at the number two spot. I'll take the heat 0:02:33.503 --> 0:02:35.543 that comes with it. I still think long term, this 0:02:35.543 --> 0:02:37.663 team's gonna figure it out. They had some issues in 0:02:38.023 --> 0:02:41.103 early October last year. They're having them a little sooner 0:02:41.103 --> 0:02:44.423 this year. Consider me unworried, Mike. I'm sticking with them 0:02:44.423 --> 0:02:44.743 for now. 0:02:44.903 --> 0:02:48.303 Okay, So just macro vision of how you do these rankings, 0:02:48.343 --> 0:02:51.503 it seems like you're still future casting for San Francisco 0:02:51.623 --> 0:02:54.103 squad and it's not necessarily about where they sit right now. 0:02:55.063 --> 0:02:57.343 Yeah, I'm sorry, but there's gonna be a little bit 0:02:57.343 --> 0:02:59.783 of a weighted system for teams like the Niners, and 0:02:59.823 --> 0:03:01.823 even like the Ravens, who will get to later in 0:03:01.863 --> 0:03:04.063 the show. Who I didn't throw down the rankings twenty 0:03:04.103 --> 0:03:06.663 spots because they're row and two. So if you've built 0:03:06.743 --> 0:03:09.063 up a reputation and you have the same coaching staff 0:03:09.103 --> 0:03:11.743 in the same core in place, and you start slowly, 0:03:12.143 --> 0:03:14.023 I'm not going to throw you in the trash because 0:03:14.023 --> 0:03:17.863 you have a proven track record, and that to me matters. Now, look, 0:03:17.903 --> 0:03:20.503 that's not to say that the Saints or somebody like that, 0:03:20.783 --> 0:03:22.703 you know, can't keep moving up with wins, or the 0:03:22.703 --> 0:03:25.743 Buccaneers or somebody like that. But when there's a team 0:03:25.783 --> 0:03:28.463 that has that record like the Chiefs who almost blew it, 0:03:28.543 --> 0:03:30.703 like the forty nine ers who lost, like the Ravens 0:03:30.703 --> 0:03:32.623 who are row and two, we're gonna give them a 0:03:32.623 --> 0:03:33.903 little bit of a benefit of the doubt. 0:03:33.903 --> 0:03:35.623 In that case, well, I'm glad you bring up the 0:03:35.623 --> 0:03:39.023 Bucks because they score a giant win against the Lions, who. 0:03:39.103 --> 0:03:41.503 I'm sure that watching the film this week has got 0:03:41.543 --> 0:03:44.263 to be a little tough here one touchdown in seven 0:03:44.343 --> 0:03:46.263 trips inside that red zone. 0:03:46.383 --> 0:03:48.543 Hutchinson was terrific with four and a half sacks. 0:03:48.903 --> 0:03:50.303 You know, and once again, I mean, you look at 0:03:50.303 --> 0:03:52.063 these rankings, you make a case maybe the buck should 0:03:52.063 --> 0:03:53.823 be in front of the Lions. That's not how you 0:03:53.983 --> 0:03:56.143 have it, but why the line's just a two spot drop. 0:03:56.943 --> 0:03:59.503 Yeah. Another team that I think from really the midpoint 0:03:59.543 --> 0:04:02.343 of the twenty twenty two season showed that they, you know, 0:04:02.423 --> 0:04:04.783 are one of the better teams, if not one of 0:04:04.783 --> 0:04:07.063 the best. But the first two weeks, let's face it, 0:04:07.383 --> 0:04:10.103 they left points on the board. Jared Goff hasn't been great. 0:04:10.143 --> 0:04:13.503 They let Baker Mayfield get after him early. Defense was 0:04:13.543 --> 0:04:16.503 actually pretty good after a certain point, but they've got 0:04:16.543 --> 0:04:18.143 to find ways to get in the end zone. You know. 0:04:18.183 --> 0:04:21.303 Ben Johnson turns down a head coaching opportunity to return 0:04:21.343 --> 0:04:24.063 to Detroit and get this thing done. Some of it 0:04:24.103 --> 0:04:26.503 is on golf, some of it is on his receivers 0:04:26.503 --> 0:04:29.383 and protection. But right now it's just a little bit 0:04:29.383 --> 0:04:31.743 of a disconnect. And I thought they would finish that 0:04:31.823 --> 0:04:35.503 game off Sunday against Tampa. I just couldn't get it done. Again. 0:04:35.543 --> 0:04:37.943 Another team that I feel like I've kind of bought 0:04:37.983 --> 0:04:40.743 into a little bit in terms of long term investment, 0:04:40.823 --> 0:04:44.463 but short term some stuff to work out, no doubt. Yeah. 0:04:44.503 --> 0:04:46.503 Look, they got a tough trip now on the road, 0:04:46.503 --> 0:04:48.903 and yes, I said tough trip against the Arizona Cardinals. 0:04:48.943 --> 0:04:50.183 We'll talk about the Cardinals. 0:04:50.383 --> 0:04:52.663 One of those teams for Eric that is rising Monday 0:04:52.743 --> 0:04:54.503 night football boyle boy. 0:04:54.503 --> 0:04:56.503 A late game collapse again. 0:04:56.543 --> 0:04:58.903 They've had four of these games over the course of 0:04:58.943 --> 0:05:01.063 the last tool this season and then last season where 0:05:01.103 --> 0:05:02.943 they have a lead with two minutes to go here, 0:05:03.103 --> 0:05:05.103 but yet you only have the Eagles dropping two spots 0:05:05.103 --> 0:05:06.823 to six. It sounds like not too much panic here 0:05:06.823 --> 0:05:07.663 without aj Brown. 0:05:08.583 --> 0:05:11.143 Yeah, I mean the Brown loss for a couple of weeks, 0:05:11.143 --> 0:05:13.423 I think they can manage. They managed it last night, right, 0:05:13.463 --> 0:05:15.863 I mean Siquon Barkley outside of the third Town drop 0:05:15.903 --> 0:05:18.463 had a really good game. DeVante Smith came up with 0:05:18.463 --> 0:05:21.063 some big catches. Dallas Goddard was ignored most of the game, 0:05:21.103 --> 0:05:23.663 and then you know, came up big late. So you know, 0:05:23.703 --> 0:05:26.943 you look at this. Was it a play calling thing, No, 0:05:27.063 --> 0:05:28.663 it was the right call if they had it. Was 0:05:28.663 --> 0:05:31.343 it a drop yeah? Was it a flukey thing? Absolutely? 0:05:31.903 --> 0:05:34.063 I still feel like they probably should have gone for 0:05:34.143 --> 0:05:36.543 it on fourth down and run some more clock off 0:05:36.623 --> 0:05:38.263 or run the ball there and then run it again 0:05:38.343 --> 0:05:41.743 on fourth. The field goal ended up doing nothing. So, yeah, 0:05:41.743 --> 0:05:43.903 this is a team that has found ways to lose 0:05:43.983 --> 0:05:46.423 games that they probably shouldn't and that was an issue 0:05:46.423 --> 0:05:48.943 that you know, kind of plagued me with them all 0:05:49.023 --> 0:05:51.143 you last year. Even if they were you know, ten 0:05:51.183 --> 0:05:53.783 and one at one point, there was still that doubt 0:05:53.903 --> 0:05:56.463 because of games like this. So this one is going 0:05:56.543 --> 0:05:59.383 to be hard to swallow over a ninety nine percent 0:05:59.463 --> 0:06:02.223 chance to win it according to next Gen Stats when 0:06:02.263 --> 0:06:04.063 they had when they lined up for that third down 0:06:04.103 --> 0:06:06.943 place kind of wild to see it happen in front 0:06:06.983 --> 0:06:09.463 of the Lincoln Financial Field crowd, and yeah, it was 0:06:09.463 --> 0:06:10.743 a church quiet after that one. 0:06:10.903 --> 0:06:13.103 Yeah, they're not the only really good team in the 0:06:13.183 --> 0:06:16.303 NFL that has issues closing. The Baltimore Ravens one of 0:06:16.343 --> 0:06:18.583 those squads, and we'll talk about the Ravens coming up 0:06:18.623 --> 0:06:22.423 in just a bit here. Meanwhile, the Chargers, Hello, I 0:06:22.423 --> 0:06:24.143 don't even know if we've seen this team at the 0:06:24.143 --> 0:06:26.343 peak of their powers right now, but the one thing 0:06:26.383 --> 0:06:27.943 that we knew heading into the season it was going 0:06:27.983 --> 0:06:30.023 to look a lot different. It has and it's run 0:06:30.063 --> 0:06:32.823 the football, run the football and run the football. 0:06:33.623 --> 0:06:36.463 Yeah, I mean Jim Harbaugh basically said on day one 0:06:36.543 --> 0:06:38.663 what he was gonna do, and we all said, well, okay, 0:06:38.703 --> 0:06:40.983 sure he's got justin Herbert. You know, he's got a 0:06:40.983 --> 0:06:44.303 good pass blocking a line. But he's done exactly what 0:06:44.343 --> 0:06:46.343 he said he would do. And you know, the identity 0:06:46.343 --> 0:06:49.303 of this team has completely changed, and all the defensive 0:06:49.383 --> 0:06:51.583 laps is you know, haven't added up the way they 0:06:51.583 --> 0:06:54.463 did last year. Not perfect, but Sunday was an easy 0:06:54.543 --> 0:06:58.143 chair game. You know, they really took control early, made 0:06:58.183 --> 0:07:01.423 life heck for Bryce Young and sort of put it in 0:07:01.423 --> 0:07:03.703 an auto drive a little bit. The competition will raise 0:07:03.743 --> 0:07:05.943 There's no doubt these two games were not their most 0:07:06.023 --> 0:07:08.783 challenging too on the schedule, But I like what I've seen. 0:07:08.823 --> 0:07:11.903 Herbert looks a little bit more comfortable and JK. Dobbins 0:07:11.983 --> 0:07:14.943 is sort of a founder resurgence here. You just hope 0:07:14.983 --> 0:07:17.623 it's gonna last because he's had such an injury plague season. 0:07:17.703 --> 0:07:20.623 But so impressed with the early performance of the defense. 0:07:20.783 --> 0:07:23.343 Love the direction of the team right now, and yeah, 0:07:23.383 --> 0:07:25.503 they're flying high for now. Even if they do have 0:07:25.543 --> 0:07:26.023 some words. 0:07:26.223 --> 0:07:28.743 Yeah you mentioned levin Lock being competition, they will hit 0:07:28.783 --> 0:07:31.743 the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, it is time 0:07:31.823 --> 0:07:35.143 for our future champions and taking a closer look at 0:07:35.143 --> 0:07:38.463 the standings and in the NFC South and the odds 0:07:38.503 --> 0:07:40.943 to win this look the Saints. I'm not surprised that 0:07:40.983 --> 0:07:42.663 they're sitting there at the top. I think there's a 0:07:42.663 --> 0:07:44.623 real case for the Bucks. And don't look now, but 0:07:44.623 --> 0:07:46.823 the Atlanta Falcons with the road win in Philadelphia, I 0:07:46.823 --> 0:07:47.543 think they're in the mix. 0:07:47.583 --> 0:07:48.303 The point is. 0:07:48.383 --> 0:07:51.063 This is a log jam here. I like the Saints 0:07:51.103 --> 0:07:54.223 coming off of Week one. Apparently now you've we had 0:07:54.303 --> 0:07:55.983 room on the train, and I get that, but you 0:07:56.143 --> 0:07:58.623 really like them now. This is a massive jump sixteen 0:07:58.663 --> 0:08:00.623 spots into the top ten at eight. 0:08:01.383 --> 0:08:04.183 Mike, we have set a power rankings record, at least 0:08:04.263 --> 0:08:07.303 under my watch. Right my predecessor, I'm sure has had 0:08:07.343 --> 0:08:10.863 a few that exceeded that, but I could deny it 0:08:10.903 --> 0:08:13.143 no longer. You beat Carolina at home in Week one, 0:08:13.183 --> 0:08:16.383 Bully for you, that's great, good job. You beat Dallas 0:08:16.423 --> 0:08:19.063 in Dallas, a place where they or they'd won sixteen 0:08:19.143 --> 0:08:21.903 straight regular season games, A whole different story. And Mike, 0:08:21.943 --> 0:08:24.183 this wasn't a floky game. Anyone who watched it knows. 0:08:24.223 --> 0:08:27.383 Tom Brady knows. The Saints got after them early. Their 0:08:27.463 --> 0:08:31.503 big play percentage is super high. Their efficiency has been amazing. 0:08:31.583 --> 0:08:34.503 Derek Carr hasn't thrown forty passes, but he's probably the 0:08:34.583 --> 0:08:37.543 league's best passer statistically right now. Look it off. Alvin 0:08:37.583 --> 0:08:40.543 Kamaras Juice is back in his legs. He's got five 0:08:40.623 --> 0:08:44.303 touchdowns this season. So everything has worked perfectly with Clint 0:08:44.383 --> 0:08:48.223 Kubiak's offense. The defense has not been an issue whatsoever. 0:08:48.583 --> 0:08:51.623 And boy Talise fuuaga in that offensive line, what a 0:08:51.743 --> 0:08:55.823 question was coming into the season and what an afterthought 0:08:55.863 --> 0:08:58.423 it is now because they've been paving the way up front, 0:08:58.543 --> 0:09:01.383 really hasn't been a problem. I'm sure they'll hit static 0:09:01.423 --> 0:09:03.023 at some point. But here's a number for you. My 0:09:03.783 --> 0:09:06.903 three teams and history have crossed the ninety point mark 0:09:06.943 --> 0:09:10.503 through two games. The seventy one Cowboys, the two thousand 0:09:10.543 --> 0:09:13.463 and nine Saints, and now this year's Saints. First two 0:09:13.463 --> 0:09:16.383 teams won the Super Bowl. Guess where the Super Bowl 0:09:16.423 --> 0:09:19.703 is this year? New Orleans, baby. So I'm just saying 0:09:19.743 --> 0:09:22.463 it's kind of lining up to where, if it is 0:09:22.463 --> 0:09:25.743 indeed a special season, the final game will be in 0:09:25.783 --> 0:09:26.463 their hometown. 0:09:26.703 --> 0:09:28.823 You know, I'm going to be asking you to reference 0:09:29.063 --> 0:09:31.143 that stat throughout the course of the season. I'm starting 0:09:31.143 --> 0:09:33.023 to get higher and hire on this Saints team as 0:09:33.023 --> 0:09:37.183 we move closer to really the goblin of the season. Meanwhile, 0:09:37.223 --> 0:09:39.183 there's an zero and two team that's still sitting in 0:09:39.263 --> 0:09:39.983 the top ten. 0:09:40.143 --> 0:09:41.223 Find out who that is. 0:09:41.383 --> 0:09:48.783 It's coming up next on NFL Power Rankings. Welcome back 0:09:48.783 --> 0:09:52.263 to NFL Power Rankings presented by Energizer. This is a 0:09:52.303 --> 0:09:55.903 look at teams nine through sixteen according to Eric and yes, 0:09:55.903 --> 0:09:57.463 you got a Ravens squad O wing two for the 0:09:57.463 --> 0:09:58.903 first time since twenty fifteen. 0:09:58.983 --> 0:10:00.503 They sit at number nine. 0:10:00.823 --> 0:10:03.103 Number ten the Packers, who needs Jordan Love right, Milake 0:10:03.143 --> 0:10:04.063 Willis watched. 0:10:03.783 --> 0:10:06.223 His backfield run. Wild's Number eleven. 0:10:06.263 --> 0:10:09.903 It's the Cowboys, a stunning defeat at home. Meanwhile, the 0:10:09.943 --> 0:10:12.783 Tampa Bay Buccaneers four straight years now they are off 0:10:12.823 --> 0:10:14.503 to a two and h start and they are in 0:10:14.543 --> 0:10:17.583 the twelfth position. At thirteen, it's the New York Jets 0:10:17.623 --> 0:10:19.743 who scored that first win of the year. 0:10:19.783 --> 0:10:21.143 It's on the road against the Titans. 0:10:21.183 --> 0:10:24.143 At fourteen, the Steelers also still perfect on the year 0:10:24.143 --> 0:10:27.463 at two and zero. The Vikings only at fifteen after 0:10:27.543 --> 0:10:31.223 taking out San Francisco, who Eric still has at number two, 0:10:31.623 --> 0:10:34.383 and at sixteen it is the Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow, 0:10:34.423 --> 0:10:36.263 by the way, one and nine in weeks one and. 0:10:36.183 --> 0:10:37.543 Two in his career. 0:10:37.703 --> 0:10:40.703 Just a really odd stat that I was in to 0:10:40.823 --> 0:10:44.063 dig up. All right, Ravens nine zero to two. I'm 0:10:44.423 --> 0:10:47.383 I'm not worried, but I don't like this if I'm 0:10:47.383 --> 0:10:48.303 a Ravens fan. 0:10:50.063 --> 0:10:51.743 Talk to a friend of mine who's a Ravens fan 0:10:51.823 --> 0:10:54.143 in Baltimore the other day and he said, the vibes 0:10:54.143 --> 0:10:56.343 are a little bit ugly right now. And I get why, right. 0:10:56.383 --> 0:10:58.063 I mean, it's not just the oh and two record, 0:10:58.103 --> 0:11:00.343 it's kind of how those games have unfolded. It felt 0:11:00.343 --> 0:11:02.663 like the Ravens had a great opportunity to win both, 0:11:02.783 --> 0:11:06.943 especially Sunday, giving up some plays to Devonte Adams and 0:11:07.263 --> 0:11:10.503 Gardner Minshew, the Ravens slayer. He went in there last 0:11:10.543 --> 0:11:12.303 year and beat them with the Colts did the same 0:11:12.383 --> 0:11:14.983 thing Sunday with a great fourth quarter. But you know, 0:11:15.183 --> 0:11:18.263 you look at eleven penalties, a deflected ball off for 0:11:18.343 --> 0:11:21.303 shod Bateman's hands for a pick. It just felt like 0:11:21.343 --> 0:11:23.503 there were a lot of flukey things that worked against them. 0:11:23.503 --> 0:11:26.103 And I'm like you, I haven't panicked yet. I'm not 0:11:26.183 --> 0:11:28.263 saying to bury this team. I don't think they're dead 0:11:28.303 --> 0:11:30.743 and gone. And just look at the AFC North Mic. 0:11:30.823 --> 0:11:33.423 I mean, you know, the Bengals are struggling, the Browns 0:11:33.423 --> 0:11:35.863 are kind of going sideways. It's hard to know exactly 0:11:35.863 --> 0:11:38.423 where these teams sit right now. Steelers look pretty good, 0:11:38.463 --> 0:11:41.063 but what are we rating those wins? So I'm still 0:11:41.103 --> 0:11:43.703 saying the Ravens are the you know, the champs of 0:11:43.743 --> 0:11:45.183 this group until further notice. 0:11:45.343 --> 0:11:47.223 Yeah, we'll get to the Steelers here in just a moment. 0:11:47.263 --> 0:11:47.663 I'm with you. 0:11:47.743 --> 0:11:49.823 The way this division is going to shake out with 0:11:49.863 --> 0:11:52.663 two teams like Cincinnati and Baltimore sitting at owen two, 0:11:52.903 --> 0:11:54.983 this race during the season is going to be an 0:11:55.063 --> 0:11:56.263 absolute juggernaut. 0:11:56.383 --> 0:11:58.263 Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys. 0:11:58.183 --> 0:12:00.583 You know, Eric at eleven, they didn't just lose, they 0:12:00.623 --> 0:12:04.063 got absolutely throttled at home against the Saints team, who, 0:12:04.063 --> 0:12:05.663 by the way, you have the top ten right now. 0:12:05.703 --> 0:12:07.903 But I just I don't know what to make of 0:12:08.023 --> 0:12:08.943 dak in the squad. 0:12:09.903 --> 0:12:13.143 Yeah, you know, a statement Week one victory followed by 0:12:13.183 --> 0:12:15.703 a dud at home and that's the danger of Week two. 0:12:15.743 --> 0:12:19.143 We sit in this sort of delicate place where team's 0:12:19.263 --> 0:12:22.623 identities haven't been defined, and you know they teams are 0:12:22.663 --> 0:12:25.223 allowed bad games, right, No, they lost to the Arizona 0:12:25.223 --> 0:12:27.503 Cardinals last year I think in what Week three on 0:12:27.543 --> 0:12:29.183 the road, and it was kind of a flukey game 0:12:29.223 --> 0:12:31.103 at least as far as how most of the regular 0:12:31.143 --> 0:12:33.463 season went. So do we chalk that up as this 0:12:34.143 --> 0:12:36.783 or the Saints truly among those elite teams and they 0:12:36.783 --> 0:12:39.143 don't stack up head to head. You couple this with 0:12:39.223 --> 0:12:41.383 the loss of Jordan Love and the Packers and the playoffs. 0:12:41.463 --> 0:12:44.103 That's too straight. They've lost now at home, and so 0:12:44.183 --> 0:12:46.343 have they lost their edge? I don't know, but there's 0:12:46.383 --> 0:12:47.863 something a little off now all of a sudden. 0:12:48.023 --> 0:12:50.103 You know what the worst part is from a Dallas perspective, 0:12:50.143 --> 0:12:51.903 we think they're a good team. 0:12:51.983 --> 0:12:53.623 I don't know if that's necessarily a case. 0:12:53.703 --> 0:12:55.463 Right, Like the last couple of seasons here they're beating 0:12:55.503 --> 0:12:57.343 up on the bad teams in the NFL and then 0:12:57.343 --> 0:13:00.543 the good ones they're struggling with. So it's hard to 0:13:00.583 --> 0:13:02.743 really gauge where they should sit. Top half of the 0:13:02.783 --> 0:13:05.543 league makes sense. Eleven, maybe a touch high, especially when 0:13:05.583 --> 0:13:08.703 I look at the Buccaneers one spot behind him, Tampa Bay. 0:13:08.783 --> 0:13:10.703 I think they got better wins. Right, Well, clearly they 0:13:10.743 --> 0:13:13.223 have better wins because the road went against Detroit. Any 0:13:13.263 --> 0:13:15.503 consideration of maybe having Tampa Bay in front. 0:13:15.303 --> 0:13:18.343 Of Dallas, yeah, they were. All these teams were all 0:13:18.423 --> 0:13:20.383 kind of real close. There was this group at the 0:13:20.383 --> 0:13:22.663 top where you know, we had the Chiefs and you 0:13:22.663 --> 0:13:24.503 know a few other teams that you feel like belonged 0:13:24.503 --> 0:13:26.423 in there, and then there was this drop off to 0:13:26.503 --> 0:13:29.063 this next group and that included Tampa Bay. And you know, 0:13:29.103 --> 0:13:31.623 what they did Sunday shouldn't be overlooked at all. It 0:13:31.663 --> 0:13:34.663 was a break game performance by Baker. You see him 0:13:34.703 --> 0:13:37.503 scrambling with his legs. He made some big throws too. 0:13:37.783 --> 0:13:40.623 The offense definitely slowed down in the second half. I 0:13:40.663 --> 0:13:43.263 don't know that Detroit's a fantastic defense, but the point 0:13:43.303 --> 0:13:45.223 is they won the game. They made more plays than 0:13:45.223 --> 0:13:48.343 Detroit did and that's ultimately what matters. They dragged that 0:13:48.463 --> 0:13:51.743 secondary in there and somehow got out alive. But I 0:13:51.783 --> 0:13:53.783 want to see them be a little bit more productive. 0:13:54.063 --> 0:13:56.423 I still don't know if it's a great division. Hard 0:13:56.423 --> 0:13:58.463 to say. It does feel like it's a little better 0:13:58.503 --> 0:14:01.423 than people thought. But give them one more week and 0:14:01.463 --> 0:14:02.903 then and then we'll see if we can crack the 0:14:02.943 --> 0:14:03.263 top eight. 0:14:03.343 --> 0:14:05.503 If they win again, we have Denver, so they got 0:14:05.543 --> 0:14:08.223 a good opportunity to go and do that. They did 0:14:08.263 --> 0:14:10.023 move up four spots, so it's not like he didn't 0:14:10.063 --> 0:14:12.463 love them up, but as sitting at twelve, I don't know. 0:14:12.463 --> 0:14:13.823 I think there's an argument they should have been a 0:14:13.863 --> 0:14:18.743 touch higher. Meanwhile, the Steelers they're at fourteen. Okay, they 0:14:18.743 --> 0:14:21.383 got one touchdown, one offensive touchdown so far this team. 0:14:21.703 --> 0:14:23.263 I don't know what to make of this team's offense. 0:14:24.223 --> 0:14:26.663 Yeah, I don't either, and it sounds like Justin Fields 0:14:26.703 --> 0:14:28.743 is going to get another shot this This calf injury 0:14:28.743 --> 0:14:30.823 has been lingering for Russell Wilson. I mean, they have 0:14:30.903 --> 0:14:33.583 two road wins right in a big test coming up 0:14:33.623 --> 0:14:36.383 against the Chargers. I think kind of a measuring stick 0:14:36.463 --> 0:14:39.263 for both of those teams, and you know that'll help 0:14:39.343 --> 0:14:41.223 sort our rankings out the more of these head to 0:14:41.263 --> 0:14:44.263 head matchups between teams in the top half teams in 0:14:44.303 --> 0:14:47.063 the bottom half. And so look, you know, their defense 0:14:47.103 --> 0:14:50.263 has been really good. They've led what eight scoring drives, 0:14:50.343 --> 0:14:53.223 nine scoring drives they've gotten position. It's been a lot 0:14:53.223 --> 0:14:57.303 of field goals, not enough touchdowns. As Fields gets more comfortable, 0:14:57.303 --> 0:14:59.103 though he may not give this job back if he 0:14:59.183 --> 0:15:02.903 keeps playing. I would argue moderately well, not amazingly, but 0:15:03.383 --> 0:15:06.463 fairly well. And you beat a Falcons team at home 0:15:06.503 --> 0:15:08.143 that looked pretty good on Monday night. 0:15:08.263 --> 0:15:10.423 Yeah, that was a quarterback competition that went to the 0:15:10.543 --> 0:15:12.823 bitter end. I mean to the end of the end 0:15:12.863 --> 0:15:16.183 of the preseason before Mike Tomlin decided to make that announcement, 0:15:16.263 --> 0:15:18.343 and it was supposed to be Russell Wilson but banged 0:15:18.423 --> 0:15:21.303 up right now, Well, Eric, one team whose offense were 0:15:21.383 --> 0:15:23.183 not worried about are the Vikings. 0:15:23.223 --> 0:15:24.423 It's time for power moves. 0:15:24.463 --> 0:15:27.743 As Minnesota moves up five spots to fifteen, they do 0:15:27.863 --> 0:15:30.623 move up five spots for you, Eric, I gotta tell you. 0:15:30.823 --> 0:15:31.463 To love it. 0:15:31.543 --> 0:15:33.903 Just took out the number two team in your rankings, 0:15:33.943 --> 0:15:35.783 in the San Francisco forty nine ers, And I know 0:15:35.783 --> 0:15:37.743 they throttled the Giants in week number one and the 0:15:37.783 --> 0:15:40.583 GM Unfortunately for the fans like myself, they're not a 0:15:40.583 --> 0:15:43.623 great football team. But this squad, this Vikings team, has 0:15:43.663 --> 0:15:44.503 looked really good. 0:15:45.423 --> 0:15:49.263 Yeah. The disrespect tour just keeps rolling on, doesn't it? Right, Mike, 0:15:49.343 --> 0:15:52.223 and I hear people like it. People say, how do 0:15:52.263 --> 0:15:55.143 you not have teams like the Bucks and Vikings in 0:15:55.183 --> 0:15:57.623 your top fifteen, your top twelve, you know, your top ten? 0:15:58.143 --> 0:16:00.223 Keep moving them up the rankings the way they looked, 0:16:00.223 --> 0:16:01.783 and I think that it's fair to point out, but 0:16:02.383 --> 0:16:05.623 Jordan Addison banged up, Justin Jefferson banged up. You know, 0:16:05.703 --> 0:16:08.223 still have a small track record on Sam Donald. As 0:16:08.263 --> 0:16:10.383 strong as he looked and as confident as he looked 0:16:10.383 --> 0:16:13.343 on Sunday. Love what I saw out of Brian Flora's defense. 0:16:13.423 --> 0:16:15.663 Think they had a really good game plan, good execution. 0:16:16.343 --> 0:16:18.223 Still need to see a little bit more. And you know, 0:16:18.263 --> 0:16:20.383 they face a good Houston team. If they beat them 0:16:20.503 --> 0:16:22.903 or stand toe to toe with them next week, I 0:16:22.943 --> 0:16:25.463 think I'll have a lot more evidence to say, yes, 0:16:25.623 --> 0:16:28.863 this team can win with Donald, this coaching staff is excellent, 0:16:29.023 --> 0:16:31.343 and they'll find ways to replace those injured players. 0:16:31.543 --> 0:16:34.023 Well, one of the other dramatic moves and it went 0:16:34.143 --> 0:16:37.383 the wrong way the Cincinnati Bengals. They dropped six spots. 0:16:37.823 --> 0:16:42.623 They're sitting oh into right now on the season. I 0:16:42.943 --> 0:16:44.463 don't know, man, I still think They're a really good 0:16:44.463 --> 0:16:46.223 football team, and if you would have said to me, hey, 0:16:46.503 --> 0:16:48.463 are they a top ten team? You can't make the 0:16:48.543 --> 0:16:50.623 argument based off of the record right now, and you 0:16:50.743 --> 0:16:54.543 certainly didn't. But I mean, I'd put them in that conversation. 0:16:54.583 --> 0:16:56.303 I mean, it's a tough loss against Kansas City. They 0:16:56.303 --> 0:16:57.903