WEBVTT - #4: Cowboys FREE FALL! 0:00:04.743 --> 0:00:07.343 NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in 0:00:07.423 --> 0:00:16.303 partnership with Iheartradioya. 0:00:13.743 --> 0:00:15.583 Oh. I think it's one of the hardest things to do, 0:00:15.663 --> 0:00:18.623 and that's come up with the rankings of NFL teams. 0:00:18.663 --> 0:00:21.823 Following week number three, Welcome to the show. I'm Mike Ann, 0:00:21.903 --> 0:00:24.063 joined by Eric at Home. If you go to NFL 0:00:24.103 --> 0:00:26.783 dot com, you can see a list of the entire rankings. 0:00:26.783 --> 0:00:28.743 But Eric, there was a line that you use that 0:00:28.863 --> 0:00:32.183 I thought was perfect. Very little makes sense right now. 0:00:32.223 --> 0:00:35.143 Please bear with us during this difficult time. Welcome to 0:00:35.183 --> 0:00:38.143 the show, and good luck trying to explain why you 0:00:38.183 --> 0:00:39.623 came up with these rankings. 0:00:40.103 --> 0:00:42.143 I hadn't written my intro at that point. I had 0:00:42.143 --> 0:00:45.103 written twenty eight of the thirty two team reports and 0:00:45.183 --> 0:00:45.503 was sort. 0:00:45.423 --> 0:00:46.983 Of figuring out, all right, this is gonna be great. 0:00:47.023 --> 0:00:48.263 I should be able to figure this out. 0:00:48.263 --> 0:00:50.823 About halftime of the games, I thought, well, let's rip 0:00:50.823 --> 0:00:52.943 the script up and start over again, because that's what 0:00:52.943 --> 0:00:55.063 I have to do every single week. Now, it seems 0:00:55.103 --> 0:00:57.423 it feels a lot more chaotic and a lot more 0:00:57.543 --> 0:00:58.623 unsettled than a year ago. 0:00:58.743 --> 0:01:00.623 But you know what, we're all in. Let's go, man. 0:01:00.783 --> 0:01:02.903 Yeah, I'm trying to figure out who's good who's not good. 0:01:02.903 --> 0:01:05.023 Some teams that I think are good that don't sssarily 0:01:05.103 --> 0:01:07.623 have great wins. There is a lot to digest here, 0:01:07.623 --> 0:01:10.143 but let's just jump right into the rankings. No change 0:01:10.183 --> 0:01:12.303 at the top. You got Kansas City, of course, coming 0:01:12.383 --> 0:01:15.103 up with a win against Atlanta on the road. We'll 0:01:15.143 --> 0:01:17.743 talk about that matchup a little bit later. Buffalo Bills 0:01:18.143 --> 0:01:20.943 thrashing of the Jags on Monday night. The Vikings don't 0:01:20.943 --> 0:01:24.103 look now, how about moving up twelve spots to number three. 0:01:24.183 --> 0:01:26.703 The defense holds C. J. Stroud and the Texans just 0:01:26.783 --> 0:01:29.823 seven points. Number four, it's the Lions who beat the 0:01:29.823 --> 0:01:33.303 Cardinals the Eagles. That defense handled a red hot Saints team. 0:01:33.703 --> 0:01:36.383 You have the Houston Texans sitting at number six, the 0:01:36.383 --> 0:01:39.463 Green Bay Packers at seven, and the Baltimore Ravens. Boy 0:01:39.543 --> 0:01:41.223 do they need a win in the worst way. They 0:01:41.223 --> 0:01:44.343 got in on the road against Dallas checking in at 0:01:44.463 --> 0:01:46.783 number eight. Let's start with the number two team here. 0:01:47.183 --> 0:01:49.303 I thought the Bills looked so good that there was 0:01:49.343 --> 0:01:51.143 an argument. I thought we might come to the studio 0:01:51.223 --> 0:01:53.423 and say, hey, maybe we're flip flopping here. We're going 0:01:53.503 --> 0:01:55.063 to talk about the Bills as the number one team. 0:01:55.223 --> 0:01:58.703 How much consideration did you have with maybe having them 0:01:58.863 --> 0:02:01.503 slot in front of the defending Super Bowl champs. 0:02:01.943 --> 0:02:04.383 Oh, it was on the table, Mike, Absolutely. I sat 0:02:04.383 --> 0:02:07.023 there and you know, was watching them at halftime, basically 0:02:07.063 --> 0:02:09.343 when they had done the bulk of their damage against 0:02:09.423 --> 0:02:12.023 Jacksonville and you know, a team that was pretty desperate 0:02:12.023 --> 0:02:14.023 for a win. We thought or at least be competitive 0:02:14.023 --> 0:02:17.583 in that game. And I absolutely considered it, but didn't 0:02:17.623 --> 0:02:19.423 want to be the guy who knocked out the back 0:02:19.463 --> 0:02:21.703 to back Super Bowl champs, who with a three to 0:02:21.743 --> 0:02:25.263 zero record. I understand it hasn't been pretty completely start 0:02:25.303 --> 0:02:27.983 to finish in Kansas City, but they'll get going. I 0:02:27.983 --> 0:02:29.663 think we saw last year they don't need to have 0:02:29.703 --> 0:02:32.263 a great regular season to be the best team when 0:02:32.263 --> 0:02:34.663 it all you know, ends and matters the most. So 0:02:35.303 --> 0:02:38.103 Buffalo has been terrific. I you know, send some their 0:02:38.143 --> 0:02:40.423 praises this offseason. I said, I don't think their super 0:02:40.423 --> 0:02:42.583 Bowl windows over and we saw it in the game 0:02:42.663 --> 0:02:43.143 last night. 0:02:43.423 --> 0:02:46.343 You know, I was in Rochester for inside training camp 0:02:46.423 --> 0:02:48.663 for NFL Network and the biggest question was like, Hey, 0:02:48.703 --> 0:02:50.623 how's this offense going to look? There's so many changes 0:02:50.663 --> 0:02:53.863 to personnel. It looked pretty good last night, by the way. 0:02:53.903 --> 0:02:56.983 Next three for them at Ravens, at Texans, at Jets, 0:02:57.663 --> 0:03:00.263 stay locked in NFL Power rankings as we will find 0:03:00.263 --> 0:03:03.023 out how where this team really deserves to be over 0:03:03.063 --> 0:03:06.343 the next few weeks. Here Vikings at number three. We 0:03:06.463 --> 0:03:08.863 got to be buying this team first time. Minnesota is 0:03:08.903 --> 0:03:12.663 three and oh since twenty sixteen. Sam Donald is dealing. 0:03:13.663 --> 0:03:15.623 Just how surprised are you right now that you have 0:03:15.743 --> 0:03:16.903 him this high? 0:03:17.263 --> 0:03:19.023 Yeah, I'm like the guy who got in on the 0:03:19.063 --> 0:03:22.423 Microsoft stock like in late two thousands, right, a little 0:03:22.463 --> 0:03:24.463 behind on the party, but I'm willing to admit that 0:03:24.543 --> 0:03:27.143 I stole am on track here, right, I moved them 0:03:27.143 --> 0:03:29.183 all the way up to number three. I still had 0:03:29.263 --> 0:03:32.463 some reservations, right, We haven't seen Sam Donald really dominate 0:03:32.503 --> 0:03:35.223 for a whole season. Did they truly have all the 0:03:35.263 --> 0:03:38.023 defensive pieces? Well, through three weeks we have some pretty 0:03:38.063 --> 0:03:40.823 good evidence, now, not a complete picture, but a darn 0:03:40.863 --> 0:03:41.623 good one that. 0:03:41.783 --> 0:03:43.103 This team isn't going anywhere. 0:03:43.183 --> 0:03:45.383 And I think what matters most, Mike is the coaching. 0:03:45.423 --> 0:03:47.943 I mean, Kevin O'Connell has done a great job with Donald, 0:03:48.143 --> 0:03:50.423 with all the new pieces, they've made the most of 0:03:50.543 --> 0:03:53.903 a great offensive line. And then Brian Flores on defense 0:03:53.983 --> 0:03:55.983 did a masterful job of CJ. 0:03:56.063 --> 0:03:56.383 Stroud. 0:03:56.383 --> 0:03:58.703 You're not supposed to blitz the guy, but that's exactly 0:03:58.743 --> 0:04:01.103 what they did and went hellbent blitzing him in the 0:04:01.103 --> 0:04:04.183 first half, and it really seemed to disrupt the timing 0:04:04.223 --> 0:04:06.463 of what can be a very explosive offense. I know 0:04:06.463 --> 0:04:09.063 the Texans haven't shown it yet this year, but so 0:04:09.263 --> 0:04:12.263 impressed with the Vikings game plan and their execution. 0:04:12.863 --> 0:04:14.023 It really was fun to watch. 0:04:14.063 --> 0:04:17.063 Also, a nice game for Jonathan Garnard against his old teammates. 0:04:17.103 --> 0:04:19.343 It was a reunion kind of day for a lot 0:04:19.343 --> 0:04:21.983 of players. But he got to Stan Talless. 0:04:21.703 --> 0:04:22.543 In that one. Yeah. 0:04:22.543 --> 0:04:25.023 Look, they get the Packers and this is going to 0:04:25.063 --> 0:04:27.703 be a great football game coming up this week. By 0:04:27.703 --> 0:04:29.823 the way, on game day preview, if you're not checking 0:04:29.863 --> 0:04:32.383 out the show, Cynthia Freeland had said, Hey, how does CJ. 0:04:32.543 --> 0:04:35.503 Stroud handle the blitz? Because generally speaking, he does a 0:04:35.503 --> 0:04:37.903 really good job top five in the NFL with pressure 0:04:37.943 --> 0:04:40.183 in his face. It didn't play out that way. It 0:04:40.263 --> 0:04:42.623 just is sort of a remarkable feat that Minnesota was 0:04:42.663 --> 0:04:45.623 able to execute him look as good as they did. Well, Eric, 0:04:45.663 --> 0:04:47.823 another team that has actually been balling out right now 0:04:47.903 --> 0:04:51.543 is your number five squad, the Philadelphia Eagles. Take me 0:04:51.623 --> 0:04:53.423 through this because I think for as much as we 0:04:53.463 --> 0:04:56.183 talk about Saquon and the offense defensively, the fact that 0:04:56.223 --> 0:04:57.863 they were able to put the Saints in check that 0:04:57.943 --> 0:05:00.023 the way they did, I think that's the most impressive 0:05:00.063 --> 0:05:00.703 thing that we're seeing. 0:05:01.783 --> 0:05:04.903 Yeah, last week the talk dominated about Saquon's d on 0:05:05.023 --> 0:05:07.463 third down and all that, and Nick Sirianni's decision, and 0:05:07.503 --> 0:05:10.863 those are fair topics, but the defensive discussion I think 0:05:10.943 --> 0:05:12.623 was a big one that we kind of overlooked, right. 0:05:12.663 --> 0:05:13.343 It was a problem. 0:05:13.583 --> 0:05:15.743 They went into New Orleans, a team that allowed the 0:05:15.783 --> 0:05:17.663 Falcons to drive right down the field for a game 0:05:17.743 --> 0:05:20.743 winning score. They've had their issues, they're big guys up 0:05:20.743 --> 0:05:22.583 front had and shown up, and now they had to 0:05:22.583 --> 0:05:24.983 face a Saints team score in ninety one points in 0:05:25.023 --> 0:05:25.463 two games. 0:05:25.503 --> 0:05:26.623 Well, they did fantastic. 0:05:26.623 --> 0:05:29.223 I thought they were absolutely outstanding. Gave a little ground 0:05:29.223 --> 0:05:31.223 at the end there, but did what they needed to 0:05:31.223 --> 0:05:33.463 do to win the game. Red blanket ship, the game 0:05:33.583 --> 0:05:37.103 ceiling pick. Davis and Carter up front really did a 0:05:37.103 --> 0:05:37.703 great job. 0:05:37.783 --> 0:05:38.223 Took away. 0:05:38.263 --> 0:05:40.663 That Saints run game early kind of made them a 0:05:40.743 --> 0:05:43.663 left handed offense. And yeah, I thought that as much 0:05:43.703 --> 0:05:47.063 as anything, not to overlook Barkley, not to overlook Jalen 0:05:47.143 --> 0:05:50.023 Hurts and Dallas Goddard, but that defense coming through really 0:05:50.063 --> 0:05:51.703 helped me feel good about keeping. 0:05:51.503 --> 0:05:52.623 Them high in the rankings. 0:05:52.663 --> 0:05:55.063 And you know, I think among the elite contenders in 0:05:55.103 --> 0:05:56.383 this league, even with their warts. 0:05:57.023 --> 0:05:58.743 Eric, a couple of minutes ago, you told me about 0:05:58.783 --> 0:06:01.783 how impressive the Minnesota defense was against CJ. Stroud. I 0:06:01.783 --> 0:06:04.263 don't think anyone's hitting the panic button on the Texans, 0:06:04.263 --> 0:06:06.663 who far all three spots for you. CJ. Strott hadn't 0:06:06.663 --> 0:06:09.703 thrown an interception in seven consecutive starts. He throws two 0:06:09.743 --> 0:06:12.903 in this game. I'm not panic, but is there a 0:06:12.943 --> 0:06:14.623 level of concern that you have around Houston? 0:06:15.703 --> 0:06:17.623 Well, they still had to kind of integrate some of 0:06:17.623 --> 0:06:19.903 the new pieces, like Stefan Diggs. I know Diggs was 0:06:19.943 --> 0:06:22.383 pretty busy on Sunday, but it ended up not helping 0:06:22.423 --> 0:06:24.463 them that much. And you know, look, some of the 0:06:24.463 --> 0:06:27.303 protection up front has to be better. CJ's allowed a 0:06:27.343 --> 0:06:29.143 bad game every now and then. I know he's been 0:06:29.183 --> 0:06:32.223 this sort of robotic superstar and played at an unbelievable 0:06:32.303 --> 0:06:35.263 level the last year plus, but he wasn't on his 0:06:35.343 --> 0:06:37.743 a game. They were down their top two running backs 0:06:38.023 --> 0:06:40.303 on the road against the team that we now know 0:06:40.383 --> 0:06:42.703 should be up there amongst the elites in the league. 0:06:42.743 --> 0:06:44.743 So is this the kind of game that. 0:06:44.583 --> 0:06:47.783 That changes our perception of the Texans. Maybe let's get 0:06:47.783 --> 0:06:50.223 a little more evidence, let's see them a little bit more. 0:06:50.263 --> 0:06:51.783 I know that the Bears game was a little bit 0:06:51.823 --> 0:06:55.143 of a struggle offensively too, and they're still figuring things out. 0:06:55.183 --> 0:06:58.743 Remember this team lost to the Carolina Panthers last year. 0:06:58.783 --> 0:07:01.583 They had some ugly games even with the late season 0:07:01.663 --> 0:07:04.263 flourish there. So they'll get in their groove eventually. But 0:07:04.383 --> 0:07:06.463 right now, now, you're right, it doesn't look all that 0:07:06.783 --> 0:07:07.943 well jointed, you. 0:07:07.903 --> 0:07:10.703 Know, Eric, he made a reference to Microsoft stock if 0:07:10.743 --> 0:07:12.943 I was buying stocking an NFL team. Right now, the 0:07:12.983 --> 0:07:17.263 Packers feel like a good dividend, consistently good here, move 0:07:17.343 --> 0:07:19.783 up three spots there at seven. I don't know, is 0:07:19.783 --> 0:07:23.503 this more of a reflection on Tennessee or the Packers 0:07:23.783 --> 0:07:24.703 legitimate right now? 0:07:25.583 --> 0:07:27.383 Hard to ignore that I move Titans down to the 0:07:27.383 --> 0:07:29.583 basement this week, So I know that's a little bit 0:07:29.583 --> 0:07:31.663 of a teaser for later. But still they're playing one 0:07:31.703 --> 0:07:33.743 of the worst teams in football at least through three weeks, 0:07:33.743 --> 0:07:36.663 a mistake prone team. But still got to credit the 0:07:36.703 --> 0:07:39.063 Packers defense for the eight sacks. Still have to look 0:07:39.103 --> 0:07:41.903 at jay r Alexander's big pick six early in the game. 0:07:41.943 --> 0:07:43.063 That kind of set the tone. 0:07:43.263 --> 0:07:45.423 And oh, by the way, we talked about coaching earlier 0:07:45.463 --> 0:07:48.023 with the Vikings, how about Matt Lafleur. The game plan 0:07:48.103 --> 0:07:50.503 that he devised two weeks in a row from Malik 0:07:50.583 --> 0:07:53.503 Willis kind of kept the trading wheels on against the Colts, 0:07:53.503 --> 0:07:55.983 but I felt like loosen the leash a little bit 0:07:56.223 --> 0:07:58.223 and let him do his thing in his old stadium, 0:07:58.223 --> 0:08:00.703 I mean Nissan Stadium. Had we saying why do we 0:08:00.703 --> 0:08:02.663 have Levis since, I mean instead of this guy, right, 0:08:02.903 --> 0:08:05.663 you know, one month ago he was he's competing with them. 0:08:05.703 --> 0:08:09.023 So a bizarre scene for Titans fans and a welcome 0:08:09.063 --> 0:08:11.623 one for Packers fans. They're two to zero without Jordan Love. 0:08:12.143 --> 0:08:14.863 Love could be back this week. We're not sure, but 0:08:15.583 --> 0:08:18.983 this entire team is very well coached, very determined, and 0:08:18.983 --> 0:08:20.823 I think a real threat in the NFC North. 0:08:20.743 --> 0:08:22.823 Would be a huge boost. As I made reference to 0:08:22.903 --> 0:08:25.223 they get the Vikings coming up this weekend. On game 0:08:25.303 --> 0:08:27.463 day preview, we had our insider Mike Aarrofolo with us. 0:08:27.463 --> 0:08:30.503 I couldn't believe we were actually having conversations about Shordan 0:08:30.583 --> 0:08:33.463 Love potentially returning. He is close and to your point, Eric, 0:08:33.983 --> 0:08:35.703 there is a chance that he's actually going to be 0:08:35.743 --> 0:08:38.583 playing this weekend, which maybe even rises that stock a 0:08:38.583 --> 0:08:40.623 little bit more. With two teams now sitting in your 0:08:40.663 --> 0:08:43.023 top seven going head to head, well it's time for 0:08:43.063 --> 0:08:45.223 future champions. As we take a look at the odds 0:08:45.263 --> 0:08:48.863 for the AFC North, the Ravens still the favorite, followed 0:08:48.863 --> 0:08:52.543 by the Steelers Cincinnati and the Cleveland Browns. And Eric, 0:08:52.583 --> 0:08:54.423 you and I were talking off air about this, this 0:08:54.503 --> 0:08:57.863 Ravens team. Look, they look dominant last week at times, 0:08:57.863 --> 0:09:00.103 but this is back to back weeks where we're seeing 0:09:00.103 --> 0:09:02.343 a run by their opponent in the fourth quarter. 0:09:03.103 --> 0:09:06.023 And it's been a chronic issue, something that you wouldn't 0:09:06.023 --> 0:09:08.943 normally associate with a team coached by John Harbaugh, one 0:09:08.983 --> 0:09:11.983 of the best, Lamar Jackson, two time MVP, and now 0:09:12.023 --> 0:09:14.223 they have Derrick Henry to how to you know, bleed 0:09:14.383 --> 0:09:16.383 clock and take the air out of the ball. So 0:09:16.423 --> 0:09:19.303 the formula is there for the Ravens. They won a 0:09:19.343 --> 0:09:21.743 lot of football games, but recently, at least in the 0:09:21.823 --> 0:09:25.103 last few years, blowing leads in the fourth quarter has 0:09:25.103 --> 0:09:26.303 become kind of an epidemic. 0:09:26.343 --> 0:09:26.463 You know. 0:09:26.543 --> 0:09:28.623 They came back in Week one against the Chiefs, made 0:09:28.623 --> 0:09:30.783 it a close game, almost won it. But the last 0:09:30.783 --> 0:09:34.063 two weeks have been concerning, even with the first three 0:09:34.143 --> 0:09:36.663 quarters in Dallas, which look to me, they look like 0:09:36.703 --> 0:09:39.143 a Super Bowl contender during their first three quarters. So 0:09:39.503 --> 0:09:42.623 how much do we weigh the Janis face of the 0:09:42.743 --> 0:09:46.023 Ravens right, the good versus the bad, the early versus 0:09:46.063 --> 0:09:48.303 the late. It's part of the problem with evaluating him. 0:09:48.303 --> 0:09:50.423 But I had him pretty high last week, a lot 0:09:50.423 --> 0:09:52.783 of respect for an zero and two team. That's why 0:09:52.823 --> 0:09:54.703 I didn't bump him up too much because of what 0:09:54.783 --> 0:09:55.783 happened in the fourth quarter. 0:09:55.863 --> 0:09:57.743 And you know I already had him up there pretty well. 0:09:58.143 --> 0:10:00.223 Positive sign here and no one in the building is 0:10:00.303 --> 0:10:02.543 higher on the Ravens than I think I am. Derreck 0:10:02.583 --> 0:10:05.463 Henry went off in this game, and maybe they're there's 0:10:05.543 --> 0:10:07.903 something brilling here in this backfield. We didn't see it 0:10:07.983 --> 0:10:09.823 in the first two weeks. But Henry goes for a 0:10:09.863 --> 0:10:12.663 buck fifty in this one. All right, more to come here. 0:10:12.703 --> 0:10:14.703 You know a we could go on power rankings. Eric 0:10:15.063 --> 0:10:16.983 had the Niners sitting at two despite a loss. Well, 0:10:16.983 --> 0:10:19.943 guess what they lost again? There is a drop. How 0:10:20.063 --> 0:10:21.863 far did they fall in the power rankings? The answer 0:10:21.943 --> 0:10:33.783 is coming up next. Welcome back to NFL Power Rankings 0:10:33.823 --> 0:10:38.143 presented by Energizer. Here are Eric's teams nine through sixteen. 0:10:38.303 --> 0:10:41.343 The Steelers one of four undefeated squads in the AF 0:10:41.383 --> 0:10:44.063 See the Saints. They sit at number ten. They average 0:10:44.063 --> 0:10:46.063 forty five points in the first two weeks, had twelve 0:10:46.063 --> 0:10:49.743 though this past weekend against the Eagles. Meanwhile, at number eleven, 0:10:49.783 --> 0:10:51.503 the Seahawks three and zero for the first time since 0:10:51.543 --> 0:10:55.103 twenty twenty. The Niners, Hello, they dropped ten spots after 0:10:55.143 --> 0:10:57.903 that loss to the Rams. The Jets Aaron Rodgers at thirteen. 0:10:58.143 --> 0:11:01.783 He looked sharp on TNF the fourteenth ranked team. The Chargers, 0:11:01.903 --> 0:11:05.103 just helth a lot of concerns right now about his health. 0:11:05.503 --> 0:11:08.183 Checking in at fifteen the Buccaneers. A head scratching loss 0:11:08.343 --> 0:11:11.623 against Denver and an impressive win for the Commanders, who 0:11:11.623 --> 0:11:14.863 are the sixteenth ranked team. Let's circle up on number 0:11:14.983 --> 0:11:19.703 nine here the Steelers, Eric, are they a good football team? 0:11:20.383 --> 0:11:23.463 I think so, yeah, I mean good, yes, great, we'll 0:11:23.503 --> 0:11:25.943 see right. I mean, justin Field's in that offense, it's 0:11:26.023 --> 0:11:29.663 kind of taken baby steps forward each week. Zero touchdowns 0:11:29.663 --> 0:11:32.343 week one, one in week two, and then two this 0:11:32.423 --> 0:11:34.503 past week, and it just feels like they're starting to 0:11:34.503 --> 0:11:36.823 get a little rhythm. And I'm impressed with Field's accuracy. 0:11:37.143 --> 0:11:39.183 You know, this was not necessarily the player he was 0:11:39.223 --> 0:11:41.943 in Chicago at all times. He's still pushing it down 0:11:41.983 --> 0:11:44.463 the field occasionally, like that throw right there to you know, 0:11:44.503 --> 0:11:47.223 George Pickens, and they get their medium shots in there 0:11:47.503 --> 0:11:49.903 yards after the catch Calvin Austin. I mean, that's really 0:11:49.943 --> 0:11:52.623 how they're generating big plays. Still doing it with the 0:11:52.703 --> 0:11:55.663 run game. And you know, they lose their left tackle 0:11:55.663 --> 0:11:57.863 and Broder Jones steps in and does a pretty good job. 0:11:57.903 --> 0:12:00.583 The defense takes care of its business. You still have TJ. 0:12:00.703 --> 0:12:03.343 Waco and against the rookie offensive tackle, that's going to 0:12:03.383 --> 0:12:05.703 be a win for the Steelers. So he's playing at 0:12:05.783 --> 0:12:08.223 extremely high level. The defense as a hole is doing 0:12:08.343 --> 0:12:11.143 very good job. Maybe they're taking advantage of the schedule 0:12:11.143 --> 0:12:13.263 a little bit, but you know, I thought last week's 0:12:13.263 --> 0:12:15.823 win was pretty or Sunday's win rather was pretty impressive. 0:12:15.943 --> 0:12:19.503 So I still got this team moving up having seen 0:12:19.543 --> 0:12:20.303 a lot of fields. 0:12:20.343 --> 0:12:21.023 I don't know if. 0:12:20.943 --> 0:12:23.263 He's ever gonna be special. And you got Russell Wilson 0:12:23.263 --> 0:12:24.743 in the pen. I don't know what's gonna happen, but 0:12:25.263 --> 0:12:26.943 I'm still tuning in. They're interesting to me. 0:12:27.183 --> 0:12:29.943 Yeah, that's becoming a juicy storyline. Russell Wilson won that 0:12:29.983 --> 0:12:32.303 starting job. We haven't even seen him start a game 0:12:32.503 --> 0:12:34.303 so far. If this team continues to roll here, I 0:12:34.303 --> 0:12:36.263 don't know what Mike Tomlin does. They are on the 0:12:36.343 --> 0:12:38.703 road against the Colts in this coming weekend. Meanwhile, at 0:12:38.783 --> 0:12:41.623 number eleven, the Seahawks moved up eight spots. They also 0:12:41.743 --> 0:12:43.943 hit the road. They're an undefeated team and they match 0:12:44.263 --> 0:12:46.823 up against the Lions. It feels like you're giving a 0:12:46.823 --> 0:12:49.063 lot of respect to this squad, to Mike McDonald's team, who, 0:12:49.143 --> 0:12:51.263 by the way, has looked dominant at times. 0:12:52.183 --> 0:12:54.023 Yeah, I mean there's no doubt they've they've done some 0:12:54.023 --> 0:12:56.983 really good things defensively. Granted it came against Bo Nixon 0:12:57.023 --> 0:13:00.143 his first start. You know, the Patriots are offensively limited, 0:13:00.223 --> 0:13:02.103 so you know, there's some things that we can. 0:13:02.183 --> 0:13:03.383 Put asterisk next to. 0:13:03.583 --> 0:13:06.103 But they're going to to get Kenneth Walker back, They're 0:13:06.103 --> 0:13:07.343 going to get NWOSU back. 0:13:07.383 --> 0:13:08.063 On defense. 0:13:08.423 --> 0:13:10.903 I do worry about the injuries to Byron Murphy and 0:13:10.983 --> 0:13:13.663 Leonard Williams and all that. Gino Smith was hot in 0:13:13.703 --> 0:13:15.623 the first half, cold in the second, you know. So 0:13:15.703 --> 0:13:18.663 there is a little bit of a disjointed nature to 0:13:18.703 --> 0:13:20.663 what they are right now. But McDonald looks like a 0:13:20.743 --> 0:13:23.023 very good coach right now for the three games they've 0:13:23.063 --> 0:13:25.943 taken care of business. The schedule does stiffen. There's no 0:13:25.983 --> 0:13:28.223 doubt that the games get tougher from this point and 0:13:28.263 --> 0:13:30.823 that defense will get tested. But I have a pretty 0:13:30.823 --> 0:13:33.183 good feeling in time we're going to see some really 0:13:33.183 --> 0:13:35.103 good things out of that unit. And I think McDonald 0:13:35.183 --> 0:13:35.983 was brought in just to. 0:13:35.943 --> 0:13:36.423 Be that guy. 0:13:36.503 --> 0:13:38.583 He just added more juice to that side of the ball. 0:13:38.623 --> 0:13:41.063 That's been the most exciting thing is that things had 0:13:41.063 --> 0:13:43.623 gotten a little bit stale the last few years defensively, 0:13:43.663 --> 0:13:46.343 and there's really no problem in that regard right now. 0:13:46.583 --> 0:13:48.423 No, by the way, speaking of that team's defense, I 0:13:48.423 --> 0:13:50.783 saw a stat which I was so impressed by Seahawks 0:13:50.783 --> 0:13:53.703 first team since the nineteen seventy nine Steelers to start 0:13:53.703 --> 0:13:55.943 three to zero and allow fewer than one hundred and 0:13:55.943 --> 0:13:59.343 fifty passing yards in those first three games. That secondary 0:13:59.423 --> 0:14:02.343 has been terrific. I couldn't wait to do the show 0:14:02.343 --> 0:14:03.983 with you just to find out where you were going 0:14:04.063 --> 0:14:06.263 to have the Samisco forty nine ers. You drop them 0:14:06.263 --> 0:14:08.943 ten spots to be fair and once again, and Eric, 0:14:08.983 --> 0:14:11.023 I know you know this, but who played for the 0:14:11.103 --> 0:14:13.703 Niners might be the biggest question. Injury is all over 0:14:13.743 --> 0:14:17.343 that squad. The Rams also had injuries, but make some 0:14:17.423 --> 0:14:18.783 sense of the ranking. 0:14:19.823 --> 0:14:22.343 I probably should have factored in some of their injuries. Now, 0:14:22.383 --> 0:14:24.383 a few of them were late breaking last week after 0:14:24.383 --> 0:14:26.543 we take the show, after I wrote the power rankings. 0:14:26.583 --> 0:14:28.623 But you know I had Vikings fans saying, hey, we 0:14:28.623 --> 0:14:30.783 should have been up at number two and they should 0:14:30.783 --> 0:14:33.303 have been at number twelve. Well, I pretty much fulfilled 0:14:33.343 --> 0:14:35.823 their dreams this week because I couldn't ignore it anymore. 0:14:36.103 --> 0:14:38.703 They get off to the fourteen nothing start against the Rams. 0:14:38.743 --> 0:14:42.063 Things are looking okay, but Brandon Ayu doesn't deliver that 0:14:42.223 --> 0:14:44.223 huge game that we would hope you would be able 0:14:44.223 --> 0:14:46.783 to deliver. In these kinds of situations, you know, the 0:14:46.863 --> 0:14:49.063 defense gave up those long drives. At the end, they 0:14:49.063 --> 0:14:51.903 were caught flat footed on a fake punt that led 0:14:51.943 --> 0:14:55.023 to a touchdown. So you know, really all three aspects 0:14:55.063 --> 0:14:56.583 of the forty nine ers are kind of out of 0:14:56.663 --> 0:14:58.903 sync right now. If you go back a year ago, 0:14:58.903 --> 0:15:01.103 it was about this time where they had that weird 0:15:01.103 --> 0:15:04.143 little streak, the game in Cleveland, the game in Minnesota 0:15:04.143 --> 0:15:07.423 where things just didn't look right. We're there now. Injuries 0:15:07.463 --> 0:15:09.743 are a big part why I dropped them down. They 0:15:09.743 --> 0:15:12.063 could certainly get back into the top five. We know 0:15:12.103 --> 0:15:14.983 their reputation, we know their talent, but you got to 0:15:15.023 --> 0:15:18.063 get kiddled back. We don't know McCaffrey's situation. There are 0:15:18.103 --> 0:15:21.143 a lot of unknowns right now, even with bench players 0:15:21.183 --> 0:15:23.103 like Juwan Jennings who could step up and have a 0:15:23.103 --> 0:15:26.343 three TV game. That defense wasn't dominant at all on Sunday, 0:15:26.343 --> 0:15:27.543 and that worries. 0:15:27.223 --> 0:15:30.303 Me have an opportunity in what I would call a 0:15:30.383 --> 0:15:33.503 get right game. They get the Patriots, at least on paper, 0:15:33.703 --> 0:15:37.143 they should handle business in a dramatic way. Well, it's 0:15:37.183 --> 0:15:40.143 time for power moves. The Commanders move up twelve spots 0:15:40.183 --> 0:15:42.863 to sixteen, and Eric the story of this one is 0:15:42.903 --> 0:15:45.743 all about Jaden Daniels, who, Yeah, he's the best working 0:15:45.823 --> 0:15:47.023 quarterback in the league right now. 0:15:48.383 --> 0:15:51.463 Imagine completing eighty percent of year passes in your first 0:15:51.463 --> 0:15:53.783 three games in the league, a guy who is you know, 0:15:53.863 --> 0:15:56.503 almost off the NFL draft ratear at least is a 0:15:56.503 --> 0:16:00.383 top five pick entering last season. So his ascension over 0:16:00.423 --> 0:16:03.783 the last you know, twelve thirteen months has been pretty 0:16:04.143 --> 0:16:07.623 dramatic and remarkable to watch. And what struck me, Mike, 0:16:07.743 --> 0:16:10.543 the poise, the comfort level. He was out there looking 0:16:10.623 --> 0:16:14.103 like a seasoned veteran, you know, manipulating the Bengals with 0:16:14.143 --> 0:16:17.023 his arm, with his eyes, with his legs. Looked to 0:16:17.063 --> 0:16:18.943 be in total command. Had the one sack at the 0:16:19.023 --> 0:16:21.183 end didn't bother me. He picked himself right back up, 0:16:21.463 --> 0:16:24.783 got in position. They drove for five touchdowns and six drives. 0:16:24.783 --> 0:16:27.223 Six scores and six drives. The only way he can 0:16:27.263 --> 0:16:30.223 stop him is in kneel down situation, so they haven't 0:16:30.263 --> 0:16:32.823 punted in two games. Mike, this is This has been 0:16:33.063 --> 0:16:36.023 unbelievable to see, and I can't wait to see where 0:16:36.023 --> 0:16:38.223 he is at the end of the season, next year 0:16:38.223 --> 0:16:40.383 and beyond. This is a talented kid who's got all 0:16:40.383 --> 0:16:41.423 the confidence in the world. 0:16:41.623 --> 0:16:43.943 Look, you're gonna go wherever your quarterback leads you. Dan 0:16:44.023 --> 0:16:46.663 Quinn made some some gutsy play calls, especially on that 0:16:46.783 --> 0:16:52.623 lead drive there. Seven minutes, twelve plays, two third down completions, 0:16:52.703 --> 0:16:54.583 Not to mention, he went forward on fourth down and 0:16:54.583 --> 0:16:57.343 they were able to pick up obviously the move to 0:16:57.423 --> 0:17:00.623 change there, which set up the Terry McLaurin touchdown, which, 0:17:00.663 --> 0:17:01.183 by the way. 0:17:01.103 --> 0:17:03.223