WEBVTT - 2020 Week 3 Preview 0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:05.680 Be Around with the NFL podcast will also answer to 0:00:06.280 --> 0:00:12.160 Mr Name. Welcome do another edition of the Around the 0:00:12.160 --> 0:00:15.600 hat Abel podcast, presented by the United States and Marine Corps. 0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:17.560 My name is Dan Tansas, coming to you from a 0:00:17.640 --> 0:00:22.960 virtual room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. Week 0:00:23.040 --> 0:00:27.920 three previoud time, Boys, what's happening. I feel like we're 0:00:27.920 --> 0:00:30.680 settling in. You know this. It was a shock to 0:00:30.720 --> 0:00:35.159 the system initially, and now we're settling in. Three weeks in. 0:00:35.840 --> 0:00:37.240 You know, you can already can look at a couple 0:00:37.240 --> 0:00:39.400 of teams and say, I am not m scheduling you 0:00:39.520 --> 0:00:41.879 for a postseason birth. I'd like to get rid of 0:00:41.920 --> 0:00:47.160 some teams early, and they already have a few fork 0:00:47.240 --> 0:00:52.519 some teams. You hear every year the stat if you 0:00:52.600 --> 0:00:56.200 start oh and three, you're pretty much cooked. Now, that 0:00:56.360 --> 0:01:00.480 is not across the board, but that is certainly something 0:01:00.560 --> 0:01:04.080 that portends to doom if you can't get that first 0:01:04.240 --> 0:01:06.399 w within the first three games. We have a bunch 0:01:06.400 --> 0:01:08.560 of oh and two teams. So this is I wish 0:01:08.600 --> 0:01:10.720 Chris Westling was here, But this is what we often 0:01:10.800 --> 0:01:13.760 talk about as the caged animal game or the cornered 0:01:13.800 --> 0:01:16.399 animal game. And they're going to a bunch of them, 0:01:16.440 --> 0:01:19.240 because there are teams that no full well the pressure 0:01:19.360 --> 0:01:21.880 and what they'll put themselves, the position they'll put themselves 0:01:21.920 --> 0:01:23.720 in if they can't figure out a way to get 0:01:23.800 --> 0:01:26.440 to one and two through three weeks. So we're gonna 0:01:27.040 --> 0:01:31.360 break down all those games. Uh, and it's gonna be fun. 0:01:31.680 --> 0:01:34.559 And by the way, mark this time, about ten days 0:01:34.560 --> 0:01:36.920 from now, a quarter of the regular season will be over, 0:01:37.080 --> 0:01:40.959 so think about that already. Honestly, I think part of 0:01:41.000 --> 0:01:43.679 this thing about being home, the way that we are NonStop. 0:01:43.720 --> 0:01:46.679 It just feels like it's suddenly always um, We're suddenly 0:01:46.720 --> 0:01:48.480 doing the show, and then the rest of the week 0:01:48.560 --> 0:01:51.440 races by. Maybe this is the only thing of importance 0:01:51.440 --> 0:01:53.520 that I have in my life. Maybe that's what I'm learning. 0:01:53.560 --> 0:01:56.880 But we're here. I get your kids, don't it's the 0:01:56.960 --> 0:01:59.800 door closed listening to this. They they're not listening to 0:01:59.840 --> 0:02:02.600 any thing I'm saying. So the theme there is consistent. 0:02:02.720 --> 0:02:05.840 All right, So you know the theme of our Thursday shows. 0:02:06.640 --> 0:02:10.400 We have a draft where we pick each of the games, 0:02:10.639 --> 0:02:13.360 and it just so happens that the old Zeuser is 0:02:13.400 --> 0:02:17.440 picking first. And it is the no brainer of no 0:02:17.600 --> 0:02:21.080 brainers to get us going here it is Monday Night Football, 0:02:21.600 --> 0:02:26.760 it is the Ravens, it is the Chiefs, and my goodness, 0:02:26.800 --> 0:02:30.680 this feels like and it doesn't take a football genius 0:02:31.280 --> 0:02:34.680 and I'm not one to guess that this could be 0:02:34.720 --> 0:02:39.280 an a f C game championship game preview. And how 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:42.399 exciting it must be for the Monday Night football booth. Wow, 0:02:42.480 --> 0:02:46.799 Bob Greasy in a big spot there, Riddick. I mean, 0:02:47.000 --> 0:02:50.320 everyone has got to be on their top game because 0:02:50.360 --> 0:02:53.040 this is excellent. And you know, you look at what 0:02:53.080 --> 0:02:57.160 the Ravens have done the first two weeks. They've been dominant. 0:02:57.200 --> 0:02:59.080 I had to bump them up to number one of 0:02:59.120 --> 0:03:02.520 my power rankings a week because they're clicking in all cylinders. 0:03:02.560 --> 0:03:04.880 And the last thing that we were waiting for them 0:03:04.880 --> 0:03:07.079 to do is look like the Ravens of last year 0:03:07.120 --> 0:03:09.440 on the ground. And then what do they do against Houston? 0:03:09.760 --> 0:03:11.760 They run for a hundred and fifty three yards in 0:03:11.800 --> 0:03:14.480 the fourth quarter to go well over two hundreds. So 0:03:14.520 --> 0:03:17.240 you've got Lamar Jackson passing better than ever, you have 0:03:17.240 --> 0:03:20.040 the running game just as dangerous. You have the defense 0:03:20.120 --> 0:03:23.680 making life hell for the opposition. I just think the 0:03:23.760 --> 0:03:25.920 Ravens are the best team in football right now. But 0:03:26.040 --> 0:03:28.720 the Chiefs, of course, greg are the defending Super Bowl 0:03:28.800 --> 0:03:30.919 champions and they're also off to a two and oh start. 0:03:31.000 --> 0:03:33.480 So uh, make the case why the Chiefs can win 0:03:33.520 --> 0:03:37.560 this game? Well, because it's Patrick mahomes Because it feels 0:03:37.640 --> 0:03:41.040 so wrong that everyone is picking the Ravens here, that 0:03:41.120 --> 0:03:44.520 the Ravens are a significant favorite and that Patrick Mahomess 0:03:44.560 --> 0:03:47.720 has a significant underdog in any game seems wild. But 0:03:47.760 --> 0:03:50.360 I'm doing it too because I don't. You have to 0:03:50.880 --> 0:03:53.680 judge it based on what you've seen, and the Ravens 0:03:53.760 --> 0:03:56.320 are better right now then the Chiefs. You look at 0:03:56.320 --> 0:03:58.560 the matchup when the Ravens are on offense and the 0:03:58.640 --> 0:04:00.720 young players that they had, they and just come back 0:04:00.760 --> 0:04:03.640 and be the same. They're better, they're younger, they're faster. 0:04:03.800 --> 0:04:07.200 Guys like Devin du Varney is faster. J K. Dobbins 0:04:07.440 --> 0:04:09.560 is faster. Myles Boykin is back and he just looks 0:04:09.600 --> 0:04:12.400 faster to me. And you think of those guys matching 0:04:12.480 --> 0:04:16.120 up against the Kansas City Chiefs linebackers who so far 0:04:16.240 --> 0:04:18.840 has have really struggled. I mean, you can't name them. 0:04:18.839 --> 0:04:23.840 It's it's Nieman, it's Wilson, it's mismatches against the tight 0:04:23.920 --> 0:04:26.120 ends and the running backs of the Ravens, and I 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:28.360 think that this Chief's defense is gonna have a hard 0:04:28.360 --> 0:04:31.640 time getting stops. You know, I would look at Baltimore's 0:04:31.680 --> 0:04:34.040 defense to which you know it's gonna get overlooked because 0:04:34.080 --> 0:04:37.039 of all the all the weapons and Lamar Jackson. But 0:04:37.440 --> 0:04:39.800 two weeks in a row. I mean, you you watch 0:04:39.839 --> 0:04:41.560 what the Browns did against the Bengals, and you go 0:04:41.600 --> 0:04:44.560 back to the way that Cleveland looked against Baltimore and 0:04:44.600 --> 0:04:49.200 the way that Houston looked against Baltimore. Baltimore's defense turns 0:04:49.279 --> 0:04:52.880 the opponent into an identity free offense. The Houston Texans, 0:04:52.920 --> 0:04:55.400 to me, did not look like themselves at all, because 0:04:55.440 --> 0:04:58.479 you've got guys like Patrick Queen, the rookie linebacker making plays. 0:04:58.680 --> 0:05:01.960 Klaias Campbell has been an awesome signing for Baltimore, and 0:05:02.000 --> 0:05:03.960 Marcus Peters seems to pick the ball off in a 0:05:03.960 --> 0:05:06.480 big spot week after week. I just think this is 0:05:06.520 --> 0:05:09.279 a fascinating matchup to see if the Chiefs can look 0:05:09.360 --> 0:05:13.080 like the Chiefs against this defense. And you know, boys, 0:05:13.120 --> 0:05:16.599 that I am the owner of the Kicker Club, which 0:05:16.640 --> 0:05:18.560 is a place where all kickers could come in and 0:05:18.560 --> 0:05:21.680 gather and dance to some hot club music and get 0:05:21.720 --> 0:05:25.719 bottle service. And not only is this the matchup of 0:05:25.839 --> 0:05:28.520 arguably the two best teams in football, it's the two 0:05:28.520 --> 0:05:31.239 best kickers in football. Justin Tucker is off to another 0:05:31.320 --> 0:05:34.200 indestructible start for the Ravens. He might go down as 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:36.800 great as kicker of all time. But what Harrison Bucker 0:05:36.880 --> 0:05:39.839 did on Sunday put the whole league on notice that 0:05:39.880 --> 0:05:42.600 he is right there in that conversation and and and 0:05:42.760 --> 0:05:44.480 you know, I kid about the kickers, but it is 0:05:44.520 --> 0:05:47.880 a reminder how great these teams are at all three 0:05:48.000 --> 0:05:50.440 levels and how they and the Chiefs. You know, they 0:05:50.480 --> 0:05:53.880 didn't play great against the Chargers, but it was interesting 0:05:53.920 --> 0:05:57.039 to me to see how the defense and special teams 0:05:57.080 --> 0:05:59.120 was able to pick up Patrick Mahomes. It's not just 0:05:59.200 --> 0:06:01.160 a bunch of saddle. It's around Mahomes. And I know 0:06:01.440 --> 0:06:04.080 their defense might not be an all time defense, but 0:06:04.120 --> 0:06:07.480 it is a reminder that they can really win a 0:06:07.480 --> 0:06:09.960 lot of different ways. They just it's not just Mahomes 0:06:09.960 --> 0:06:13.719 and pray not against the Ravens. Though you gotta score points. 0:06:13.760 --> 0:06:16.040 They're they're relying a little too much on Bucker. They 0:06:16.040 --> 0:06:18.800 are not the same Chiefs offense. So far, it's two weeks. 0:06:19.080 --> 0:06:21.960 It is nothing to worry about. But Patrick Mahomes has 0:06:22.000 --> 0:06:24.640 completed one pass that went over twenty yards in the 0:06:24.640 --> 0:06:27.599 air the entire season. I mean that is not Patrick Mahomes. 0:06:27.880 --> 0:06:30.640 He he has less twenty yard completions this season. That 0:06:30.800 --> 0:06:34.880 includes runs after catch, then Dreff Jeff driscoll. So I'm 0:06:34.920 --> 0:06:37.960 not that worried about them. But early in the season, 0:06:38.040 --> 0:06:41.640 and this was similar to when they played last the 0:06:41.760 --> 0:06:44.200 Chiefs started out and they looked like the better team, 0:06:44.240 --> 0:06:46.960 and the Ravens were very lucky to hang with Kansas 0:06:47.000 --> 0:06:49.480 City last year, also in Week three. Why why are 0:06:49.480 --> 0:06:50.960 we playing in this in Week three? By the way, 0:06:51.520 --> 0:06:53.960 later in the season, And I don't think the Chiefs 0:06:54.000 --> 0:06:56.479 are ready right now, just like the Ravens weren't quite 0:06:56.560 --> 0:06:59.520 ready for the Chiefs early last year. I mean, Chief's 0:06:59.560 --> 0:07:01.120 hat a couple games last year where they were a 0:07:01.120 --> 0:07:03.599 little slow out of the gates. Mahomes had sixty yards 0:07:03.600 --> 0:07:06.159 passing at the half last week. So the idea that 0:07:06.200 --> 0:07:10.160 they're this invincible spaceship ready to just rip through sixteen 0:07:10.160 --> 0:07:11.960 opponents is not the case. They have to work through 0:07:11.960 --> 0:07:14.360 a few things themselves. But I kind of. I mean, 0:07:14.480 --> 0:07:16.640 I would rather this be late in the year maybe, 0:07:16.720 --> 0:07:18.600 but I like seeing this right now, just to get 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:20.480 a measuring stick for where we are with the a 0:07:20.560 --> 0:07:23.320 f C. Because everyone clumps Baltimore in Kansas City together 0:07:23.400 --> 0:07:25.040 at the top, and they should, I mean, then the 0:07:25.080 --> 0:07:27.800 fall off is steep after that. But I'd like to 0:07:27.800 --> 0:07:30.000 know right away who who's going to take this thing. 0:07:30.000 --> 0:07:32.200 And I think it's an interesting test for mahomes. I 0:07:32.240 --> 0:07:34.880 really do. And I I mean, I'm just gonna sit 0:07:34.920 --> 0:07:36.880 down on my couch and watch this thing. Shut the 0:07:36.920 --> 0:07:39.680 doors no one's allowed in and correct me if I'm wrong. 0:07:39.760 --> 0:07:42.440 There's a different structure now at the playoffs, where only 0:07:42.480 --> 0:07:45.480 the number one seed has a buy. So think about 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:48.080 what this could mean. The winner of this team, winner 0:07:48.080 --> 0:07:50.600 of this game has the tiebreaker head to head, which 0:07:50.600 --> 0:07:53.640 means whoever loses not only has to finish UH with 0:07:53.680 --> 0:07:55.640 an equal record, No, they have to finish one game 0:07:55.680 --> 0:07:58.560 better if they hope to have that number one seed. 0:07:58.560 --> 0:08:00.560 If it does indeed come down to the two teams, 0:08:00.920 --> 0:08:02.880 do we all have the Ravens because that would feel 0:08:02.880 --> 0:08:07.040 like the kiss of death. Yes we do, alright, Congratulations 0:08:07.080 --> 0:08:10.120 Chiefs on a three and oh, start al right. Up 0:08:10.160 --> 0:08:15.920 next in the draft, Gregenthal, Okay, surprise pick here. I 0:08:15.960 --> 0:08:19.280 am going with the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles 0:08:19.480 --> 0:08:26.360 Rams in Buffalo. I'm excited about this game. Two undefeated teams. 0:08:27.000 --> 0:08:31.840 Farrell fourth overall reach. Well, you know what, Farrell made 0:08:31.880 --> 0:08:34.920 a game winning play last weekend. I love the I 0:08:34.960 --> 0:08:38.600 love this matchup early because I know that Josh Alan 0:08:38.800 --> 0:08:41.000 believers are gonna be out in force. It's a great 0:08:41.080 --> 0:08:43.720 litmus test. I've been seeing them come after me because 0:08:43.760 --> 0:08:45.959 I'm kind of I've been a bit of a doubter 0:08:46.080 --> 0:08:48.559 over the last few years. Even Mark Sessler is coming 0:08:48.600 --> 0:08:51.320 after me. I mean he he puts a tweet out 0:08:51.600 --> 0:08:54.480 he says it was an ugly Sunday for Josh Allen 0:08:54.520 --> 0:08:57.640 Hayter types he and then talking about Alan he floats 0:08:57.679 --> 0:09:00.720 today as a godlike figure from the wilderness. And all 0:09:00.800 --> 0:09:03.280 I want to say to you, Mark is like, why 0:09:03.280 --> 0:09:06.240 don't you just at me? I mean, if you're saying 0:09:06.800 --> 0:09:09.320 put my name in the tweet, just say what I mean. 0:09:09.440 --> 0:09:11.480 Like this says a lot more about Greg than it 0:09:11.520 --> 0:09:13.440 does Mark. I'm clearly in your head. I mean, there 0:09:13.480 --> 0:09:15.880 are people all over the place on Josh Allen. That 0:09:16.000 --> 0:09:21.559 was not specifically a Greg's centric missive from me. Well, 0:09:21.679 --> 0:09:23.960 maybe maybe it should have been, because I I've I've 0:09:24.040 --> 0:09:27.000 killed this guy, and uh, he might be a system QB. 0:09:27.440 --> 0:09:29.720 But you know what, that's okay, Jared Goff's system QB 0:09:30.320 --> 0:09:33.280 to like, that's what quarterbacks are there in a system 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:35.840 and the way they've built this system around Josh Allen's 0:09:35.920 --> 0:09:39.000 legs in short passing, which he's undeniably improved. I mean, 0:09:39.000 --> 0:09:41.880 he's been more accurate, his touch passes have been better, 0:09:41.960 --> 0:09:44.200 and the players around him are awesome. They're they're fun 0:09:44.200 --> 0:09:46.320 to watch. But I do have some doubts too that 0:09:46.480 --> 0:09:48.840 when he plays a better defense in this RAMS defense 0:09:48.880 --> 0:09:51.520 I think counts. Um let's see how they do. Because 0:09:51.720 --> 0:09:53.440 he has played the Dolphins and the Jets and some 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:57.480 dropped interceptions last week. You know, I'm until a little doubt. Yeah, 0:09:57.520 --> 0:10:00.640 let me tee you up on this mark, because Alan 0:10:00.800 --> 0:10:04.000 is still a bit confounding to me. And I'm not 0:10:04.200 --> 0:10:06.920 saying I'm I'm holding out and all this, but you 0:10:07.000 --> 0:10:09.720 watch the two games. The numbers are through the roof 0:10:09.800 --> 0:10:11.560 compared to last year, and you can't take that away 0:10:11.559 --> 0:10:14.000 from he's really producing at a high level. But if 0:10:14.040 --> 0:10:18.559 you watch these games, he's still doing the things that 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:22.360 killed the team in January that have had doubters like 0:10:22.400 --> 0:10:25.280 Greg and to a lesser extent myself, sitting back a 0:10:25.280 --> 0:10:27.520 little bit, putting the ball on the ground, throwing balls 0:10:27.559 --> 0:10:30.040 up for grabs and he's not been getting busted for 0:10:30.120 --> 0:10:33.199 it yet. Will that happen as the competition gets better 0:10:33.280 --> 0:10:35.760 and it is better this week? The Rams have come 0:10:35.800 --> 0:10:39.199 out of the gate very good on defense. I'm I 0:10:39.679 --> 0:10:41.400 kid Greg. I think it is a good pick because 0:10:41.400 --> 0:10:43.840 I think it's a great game mark. Have you seen 0:10:43.880 --> 0:10:46.480 that from Alan? Some of these mistakes that are hit 0:10:46.559 --> 0:10:49.000 in a little bit by the stats, I think that's 0:10:49.000 --> 0:10:51.160 fair because I could I could look at a past 0:10:51.280 --> 0:10:54.240 last week where he clearly could have had Steffon Digs 0:10:54.240 --> 0:10:56.480 for a touchdown and it was overthrown and you get 0:10:56.520 --> 0:10:59.040 some of that malarkey down field a little bit. I 0:10:59.080 --> 0:11:01.120 would also say that was maybe one of only two 0:11:01.240 --> 0:11:07.040 or three ill passes he threw. All I just think 0:11:07.080 --> 0:11:10.760 that the overall Josh Allen experience, it has been improved, 0:11:10.800 --> 0:11:14.040 and it's markedly improved over these two weeks. The productions there. 0:11:14.120 --> 0:11:16.920 I think that Brian Dable is someone whose name is 0:11:16.920 --> 0:11:19.480 going to continue to get magnified as the season goes along. 0:11:19.720 --> 0:11:22.120 He works really well with Josh Allen, and he works 0:11:22.160 --> 0:11:24.360 really well, and Stephan Diggs is fitting. I mean, there's 0:11:24.400 --> 0:11:27.120 another world we live in where Stephan Diggs is upset 0:11:27.200 --> 0:11:29.800 right now and you know, not making plays. He has 0:11:29.800 --> 0:11:32.400 fit right into that offensive think called easily John Brown. 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:35.040 They've got a good group of wide receivers, a good backfield, 0:11:35.040 --> 0:11:37.760 so it doesn't have to be all on Josh Allen alone. 0:11:38.480 --> 0:11:40.720 And on the Rams side of things, here's a great 0:11:40.720 --> 0:11:43.920 stet we've we'd speculated as Sean McVeigh feeling more free, 0:11:44.679 --> 0:11:47.760 uh now now that he doesn't have to worry about 0:11:47.760 --> 0:11:53.680 feeding Todd Gurley. Uh. Seven players had rushing attempts and 0:11:53.800 --> 0:11:58.400 Sundays win, so six different players had at least two catches. 0:11:58.400 --> 0:12:01.560 Are more so, the Rams are spreading things out on offense. 0:12:01.880 --> 0:12:03.760 McVeigh looks like he's having the time of his life. 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:07.280 Jared Goff looks comfortable again. How much of this greg 0:12:07.320 --> 0:12:09.520 goes back to the offensive lines seeming to be getting 0:12:09.559 --> 0:12:14.360 back on track. Rob Havingstein, the right tackle, has gone 0:12:14.400 --> 0:12:16.440 from one of the best in the league to a 0:12:16.440 --> 0:12:18.680 disaster last year. Because he was banged up to now 0:12:18.679 --> 0:12:20.640 he looks great again, and that makes a huge difference. 0:12:20.679 --> 0:12:23.079 And they have a system where they rely on guys 0:12:23.120 --> 0:12:24.960 to make plays after the catch, you can get rid 0:12:25.000 --> 0:12:27.160 of the ball quickly. Cup is playing awesome. Woods is 0:12:27.160 --> 0:12:29.440 playing awesome. Higbie is playing awesome. And that's why I 0:12:29.440 --> 0:12:31.480 picked the Rams this week because I think the Bills 0:12:31.520 --> 0:12:34.480 defense has had some concerning elements over the first two weeks. 0:12:34.720 --> 0:12:37.959 Levi Wallace at cornerbacks really struggling. Their linebackers are a 0:12:38.000 --> 0:12:40.440 little banged up. They haven't quite been the Bills defense 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:43.439 that we expect. So I expect this game to come 0:12:43.480 --> 0:12:44.920 down to the end. But I kind of like the 0:12:45.000 --> 0:12:47.760 Rams offense putting up a lot of points. I'm with you, Greg, 0:12:47.800 --> 0:12:50.560 I think the Rams, like watching their game last week 0:12:50.600 --> 0:12:53.440 and reflecting on the Cowboys game two, are playing really 0:12:53.679 --> 0:12:56.480 um like top seven in the league football right now. 0:12:56.559 --> 0:12:58.400 And I mean, you're a little banged up at running back, 0:12:58.440 --> 0:13:00.680 Darryl Henderson probably will get a lot of work. But 0:13:00.720 --> 0:13:03.120 to your point, Dan, I mean Higbie, who really was 0:13:03.160 --> 0:13:04.920 not at part of the equation a couple of years 0:13:04.960 --> 0:13:07.640 back when they were so centered and funneled around Girley 0:13:07.840 --> 0:13:09.559 is a huge part of the offense. Now. I think 0:13:09.559 --> 0:13:11.680 that this is like Rams two point oh and McVeigh 0:13:11.960 --> 0:13:14.480 probably was driven he heard everyone saying he's not the 0:13:14.559 --> 0:13:17.480 little boy genius anymore. We'll look at he's reorganized the 0:13:17.640 --> 0:13:20.480 entire attack. They're fun to watch, and I mean they 0:13:20.720 --> 0:13:22.280 put it on the Eagles, and I know the Eagles 0:13:22.320 --> 0:13:24.280 are having the issues, but the Rams are for real. 0:13:24.600 --> 0:13:27.000 We saw Sean McVeigh. He made it be known that 0:13:27.080 --> 0:13:29.360 he's been working hard in the gym and that hard 0:13:29.440 --> 0:13:31.400 knocks premier. He doesn't want to be seen as a 0:13:31.440 --> 0:13:35.000 boy anymore. He's a man, He's not a boy. All right, Mark, 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:38.480 you're up next. I'm up next. And I love what's 0:13:38.480 --> 0:13:40.600 happened here in the draft so far. You guys took 0:13:40.640 --> 0:13:44.280 the obvious picks. There, at least Dan did. I'm going 0:13:44.360 --> 0:13:47.560 one out of the blue Las Vegas Raiders at New 0:13:47.640 --> 0:13:51.160 England Patriots. This game to me, you know, you look 0:13:51.200 --> 0:13:52.559 at you look at the slate every once in a 0:13:52.559 --> 0:13:54.920 while you say, this sticks out to me. The Raiders 0:13:54.960 --> 0:13:58.360 were fascinating on Monday Night football. And you know John Gruden, 0:13:58.440 --> 0:14:01.000 who I basically dismissed a couple of years ago is 0:14:01.040 --> 0:14:03.080 doing a good job. Can you imagine if you're John 0:14:03.120 --> 0:14:05.400 Gruden and in the course of a week you knock 0:14:05.440 --> 0:14:07.280 out Sean Payton and now have a chance to take 0:14:07.320 --> 0:14:10.000 out Bill Belichick. That's telling everyone put me back up 0:14:10.040 --> 0:14:12.240 there on top of that mountain. I'm not a has 0:14:12.280 --> 0:14:15.400 been hanging out in the desert. The Raiders are built 0:14:15.440 --> 0:14:19.120 around some really interesting star players and Darren Waller, who 0:14:19.200 --> 0:14:22.000 was incredible on Monday Night, and Josh Jacobs, who I 0:14:22.000 --> 0:14:24.120 think is as fun to watch right now as any 0:14:24.200 --> 0:14:27.600 running back in the league. He has completely grown as 0:14:27.640 --> 0:14:29.600 a running back in terms of his ability to catch 0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:31.720 the ball out of the backfield. I think this Raiders 0:14:31.800 --> 0:14:34.520 offensive line, which is a little banged up incognito out 0:14:34.520 --> 0:14:36.400 of the mix now too. That's a little bit of 0:14:36.400 --> 0:14:39.120 a concern against the Patriots team that is well coached 0:14:39.320 --> 0:14:41.880 as any sports team in all of sports right now. 0:14:42.160 --> 0:14:45.280 And I'm telling you the idea of seeing Cam Newton 0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:49.080 go up against the Raiders. I like this game. Guys. Wow. 0:14:49.200 --> 0:14:52.840 Giving Belichick love even over the Tampa Bay Lightning coaching 0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:58.520 staff right now is a big I'm fascinated by this. 0:14:58.560 --> 0:15:02.120 Belichick and Gruden have always had a mutual appreciation society, 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:04.760 and I think the way they're running their offenses says 0:15:04.800 --> 0:15:08.120 a lot about where the NFL is in. I think 0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:12.280 the Raiders and the Patriots offenses are built specifically to 0:15:12.360 --> 0:15:15.640 go up against these dime defenses like the Patriots have. 0:15:15.760 --> 0:15:19.720 I think the Raiders are perfectly positioned to grind defenses 0:15:19.720 --> 0:15:23.640 which count on these cornerbacks into dust. You mentioned Josh Jacobs. Uh. 0:15:23.640 --> 0:15:26.800 They also have a great group of tight ends including 0:15:26.880 --> 0:15:30.000 you know, Fabian Moreau and Jason Witten's and they're blocking 0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:32.720 and they are a power team. And I think the 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:35.400 Patriots built their offense in a way to go up 0:15:35.400 --> 0:15:40.040 against these nickel and dime lightweight defenses and grind them down. 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:41.960 So I think it's a mismatch this week when when 0:15:41.960 --> 0:15:45.320 both offenses have the ball, they're bigger, they're stronger, and 0:15:45.360 --> 0:15:48.400 I think they're gonna have successful long drives. It's one 0:15:48.400 --> 0:15:50.320 of those games. I don't expect a lot of possessions 0:15:50.320 --> 0:15:52.960 and I don't expect a lot of stops by either defense. 0:15:53.080 --> 0:15:54.720 You know, I thought it was maybe the kiss of 0:15:54.760 --> 0:15:57.640 death for your fantasy team if you're uh, if you 0:15:57.720 --> 0:16:01.040 owned Darren Waller in your leagues when Bill Belichick started 0:16:01.040 --> 0:16:03.040 this week off by saying, you know, it's been a 0:16:03.040 --> 0:16:04.800 long time since there's been a guy in the league 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:08.360 like Darren Waller. So now you think about it. Okay, 0:16:08.400 --> 0:16:11.960 So it's definitely on Belichick's radar that the Raiders offenses 0:16:12.040 --> 0:16:15.200 running through Waller, and you get a feeling that he's 0:16:15.240 --> 0:16:17.520 gonna go out of his way to try to shut 0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:20.720 down Waller and see if Derek Carrent company can make 0:16:20.760 --> 0:16:25.080 things happen without that dynamic tight end because Waller was 0:16:25.160 --> 0:16:27.600 so important. And I know he's a little banged up 0:16:27.640 --> 0:16:29.480 this week too. He's on the injury report with the knee, 0:16:29.480 --> 0:16:31.880 so you wonder how that factor in factors in, but 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:34.960 you know he is. He was so important. Every time 0:16:35.520 --> 0:16:38.160 Derek Carr needed some needed somebody you need to pick up, 0:16:38.200 --> 0:16:41.440 whether it was ten yards or three yards or fifteen yards, 0:16:41.440 --> 0:16:44.200 Waller was the guy. And that's why he only had 0:16:44.240 --> 0:16:46.600 a hundred and three receiving yards on twelve catches, but 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:48.760 it felt like he had three hundred yards because every 0:16:48.800 --> 0:16:50.800 time they needed a plane and to move the sticks there, 0:16:50.840 --> 0:16:53.640 he was. Yeah. I mean the Saints had no answer 0:16:53.640 --> 0:16:55.600 for him. I would also want I think Brian Edwards 0:16:55.640 --> 0:16:58.080 is an interesting rookie and wide receiver too, and I 0:16:58.080 --> 0:17:00.040 mean they need some of their young white else to 0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:02.680 make a contribution. For Derek Carr, who I think. You know, 0:17:03.000 --> 0:17:06.359 they had three sacks in the first quarter and somewhat 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:08.360 one of those was definitely on car just holding onto 0:17:08.400 --> 0:17:10.639 the ball too long too. I I to me, I 0:17:10.640 --> 0:17:13.520 I cannot wait to see what Josh McDaniels does. Though. 0:17:13.560 --> 0:17:15.640 I think Josh McDaniels because he's been in New England 0:17:15.680 --> 0:17:17.760 forever and had Tom Brady, you know, it's like, yeah, 0:17:17.800 --> 0:17:19.360 we get that he's good, But I mean to come 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:22.240 and create this entire offense around Cam Newton and and 0:17:22.320 --> 0:17:24.600 trust Cam Newton on the ground, but also to throw 0:17:24.640 --> 0:17:26.800 the ball the way he has been and now Julian 0:17:26.920 --> 0:17:29.639 Edelman play the way he has last week, Julian Edelman 0:17:29.680 --> 0:17:31.720 that was the best game of his entire career and 0:17:31.760 --> 0:17:33.840 it looked like it. I just I to me, this 0:17:33.880 --> 0:17:36.000 Patriots team, you can point it to all the weaknesses, 0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:38.359 but I don't really care about that. With New England, 0:17:38.400 --> 0:17:40.200 they find a way to get it done no matter 0:17:40.200 --> 0:17:45.760 who's on the fields. McDaniels with Cam Newton, but just 0:17:45.760 --> 0:17:49.680 don't trust him with a handshake. That's all. That's a 0:17:49.720 --> 0:17:54.600 fair point. I mean, McDaniels, let's let's give him some credit. 0:17:54.840 --> 0:17:58.280 And you know they're they I know what it means. 0:17:58.320 --> 0:18:01.240 They're steaming up some plays, I think because they don't 0:18:01.280 --> 0:18:04.400 really have a ton of athleticism. But let's give most 0:18:04.400 --> 0:18:06.040 of the credit to Cam Newton. I mean, give me 0:18:06.080 --> 0:18:08.240 a break, this guy. It's not like it's the old 0:18:08.320 --> 0:18:10.639 Cam Newton. This is better. I mean, he's throwing the 0:18:10.680 --> 0:18:13.080 ball better. And it was one performance in terms of 0:18:13.080 --> 0:18:16.119 how he was throwing it, but that was as accurate 0:18:16.560 --> 0:18:20.639 down the field consistently as he's ever been in his 0:18:20.840 --> 0:18:24.000 entire career. So whatever the reason for that is. And 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:26.640 the past protection has been awesome, and so that's part 0:18:26.640 --> 0:18:30.320 of it. If he throws like this, I mean, it 0:18:30.440 --> 0:18:33.040 is outrageous that he's on the Patriots right now. They 0:18:33.040 --> 0:18:35.920 didn't want him, No one wanted him. I mean they 0:18:36.040 --> 0:18:38.040 they're paying him less than Brian Hoyer. He was a 0:18:38.080 --> 0:18:40.840 free agent for three months and he's out playing and 0:18:40.880 --> 0:18:43.439 throwing the ball like he's never done it, and with 0:18:43.520 --> 0:18:45.800 the threat of the run, that's going to change defenses. 0:18:46.000 --> 0:18:48.399 I'm so impressed. I think it's one of the biggest 0:18:48.440 --> 0:18:51.880 developments of this young season. How how good Cam Newton looks. 0:18:51.920 --> 0:18:54.560 It's outrageous. You're you're mad, Dan, because you said the 0:18:54.600 --> 0:18:58.239 Patriots weren't special anymore. Cam Newton's special he can make 0:18:58.520 --> 0:19:00.520 he does look special. I mean one and one is 0:19:00.560 --> 0:19:03.880 not that specialist. Let's calm down. But you know what, 0:19:04.280 --> 0:19:07.240 the Patriots have been blessed with more than their share 0:19:07.359 --> 0:19:09.720 of luck over the last twenty years, and this is 0:19:09.760 --> 0:19:11.679 more of it. I mean, there's no reason. You're right, 0:19:11.720 --> 0:19:14.280 there's no reason he should be on the Patriots playing 0:19:14.320 --> 0:19:18.320 for one million dollars. But when a little bit of 0:19:18.359 --> 0:19:20.760 like excellent preparation, though, Dan, it's not when you've been 0:19:21.119 --> 0:19:23.960 by the hand of God, but luck when you're touched 0:19:23.960 --> 0:19:25.760 by the hand of God the way the Patriots have been. 0:19:25.840 --> 0:19:27.560 I don't know what they did to deserve this, but 0:19:27.640 --> 0:19:30.800 good for them. Uh. And Cam Newton, who does look 0:19:31.119 --> 0:19:35.080