WEBVTT - #12: Are Philadelphia Eagles a top-3 team? 0:00:06.343 --> 0:00:10.303 The uncertainty of the NFL season continues to unfold before 0:00:10.463 --> 0:00:13.143 our eyes. Welcome to a brand new edition of NFL 0:00:13.263 --> 0:00:16.623 Power Rankings. Mike mp Eric get home with you. If 0:00:16.623 --> 0:00:19.063 you want to see complete analysis of all thirty two teams, 0:00:19.103 --> 0:00:20.543 just head to NFL. 0:00:20.463 --> 0:00:23.263 Dot com a complete list of rankings. 0:00:23.783 --> 0:00:25.583 Eric, Look, I've been thinking about you the last couple 0:00:25.583 --> 0:00:27.823 of days. We've seen some chaos NFC West. I don't 0:00:27.863 --> 0:00:29.223 know what to make of the division. I don't know 0:00:29.223 --> 0:00:31.903 who goes and wins it. The Houston Texans drop a game. 0:00:32.023 --> 0:00:35.463 I cannot wait to find out where they actually sit 0:00:35.543 --> 0:00:37.863 in your rankings. The reality is you got a tough job, 0:00:37.863 --> 0:00:40.303 but it's your time to try to figure out where 0:00:40.303 --> 0:00:41.743 these teams are supposed to be slotted. 0:00:43.543 --> 0:00:45.263 It is my job, right, I mean, they're still in 0:00:45.263 --> 0:00:47.063 the playoff picture. But it's hard to rank some of 0:00:47.063 --> 0:00:50.463 these teams, especially after Week twelve. We had some funny results, 0:00:50.503 --> 0:00:54.503 even some wins, some expected wins ended in unexpected fashion. 0:00:54.903 --> 0:00:57.183 Oh yeah, the Kansas City Chiefs, by the way, one 0:00:57.223 --> 0:01:00.103 of those teams that figured out a way to get 0:01:00.103 --> 0:01:02.023 it done. But boy, oh boy, I was like there 0:01:02.103 --> 0:01:04.463 might be a free fall in the rankings. 0:01:04.623 --> 0:01:05.263 According to Eric. 0:01:05.263 --> 0:01:07.543 But let's get right to it. Teams one through eight 0:01:07.583 --> 0:01:09.823 in the rankings. No surprise here. The Lions, off to 0:01:09.863 --> 0:01:11.863 their best starts since nineteen thirty four. At ten and 0:01:11.983 --> 0:01:14.223 one sit at the top spot. Are they the best 0:01:14.263 --> 0:01:16.303 team in the NFL? According to Eric and I think 0:01:16.343 --> 0:01:18.383 a lot of us, the answer is a resounding yes. 0:01:18.423 --> 0:01:19.223 The Bills at too. 0:01:19.463 --> 0:01:22.183 The Eagles flexing the seventh straight win for them. They 0:01:22.223 --> 0:01:24.943 are at three. The Kansas City Chiefs they fall just 0:01:25.063 --> 0:01:27.623 one spot, got all they could handle from Carolina. The 0:01:27.743 --> 0:01:30.663 Ravens check in at number five with a nice road 0:01:30.743 --> 0:01:34.023 win on Monday Night Football against the Chargers. Vikings are six, 0:01:34.103 --> 0:01:38.623 needed overtime to survive. The Bears, Packers easily a winner 0:01:38.703 --> 0:01:40.103 against the Niners at seven, and. 0:01:40.063 --> 0:01:42.503 The Steelers fun game for everyone because of the snow, 0:01:42.703 --> 0:01:44.743 but maybe not fun for them. 0:01:45.383 --> 0:01:48.263 Time for the team of the week, the Philadelphia Eagles 0:01:49.183 --> 0:01:51.903 sitting at that number three spot here, Eric, I gotta 0:01:51.943 --> 0:01:54.383 tell you there is a legit argument right now. I 0:01:54.423 --> 0:01:57.623 know the Lions and Buffalo are two teams that you 0:01:57.703 --> 0:02:00.423 really like. I don't know if there's a team outside 0:02:00.503 --> 0:02:03.663 of maybe Detroit that's playing better over these last few games. 0:02:03.743 --> 0:02:04.623 Than Philadelphia. 0:02:06.143 --> 0:02:08.103 Absolutely, and that's why I moved them up over the 0:02:08.183 --> 0:02:10.303 Chiefs in spite of the Chiefs winning Sunday because it 0:02:10.343 --> 0:02:12.103 wasn't that impressive. We'll get to that in a minute, 0:02:12.143 --> 0:02:15.103 but Philadelphia was impressive. They really put on a show 0:02:15.583 --> 0:02:19.263 Sunday night, flexing on both sides of the ball. Saquon Barklay, 0:02:19.303 --> 0:02:22.343 I mean, we debated the value thirteen million dollars per 0:02:22.463 --> 0:02:25.223 year plus you know the first the fumble against it 0:02:25.343 --> 0:02:26.783 Land early in the year, was it going to be 0:02:26.823 --> 0:02:29.063 worth it? I think he's worth it. I think they've 0:02:29.063 --> 0:02:32.943 done pretty well for themselves ROI wise, and you know, 0:02:32.983 --> 0:02:35.103 you hit for two fifty five on the ground in 0:02:35.103 --> 0:02:37.543 a game, you're doing something right. Ninth best rushing game 0:02:37.663 --> 0:02:41.143 all time. And that doesn't even begin to mention the 0:02:41.183 --> 0:02:43.263 defense and what they've been able to do on that 0:02:43.343 --> 0:02:46.543 side of the ball. They targeted big areas of need 0:02:46.863 --> 0:02:51.743 another explosive offensive player, improving that secondary, the pass rush. 0:02:51.823 --> 0:02:54.423 They've done it all. Vic Fangio and Saquon Barkley have 0:02:54.503 --> 0:02:56.983 been two massive additions. That's why they're rising up the 0:02:57.063 --> 0:02:57.623 charts right now. 0:02:58.103 --> 0:03:00.383 Barkley the fourth running back in the Super Bowl era 0:03:00.463 --> 0:03:03.303 to have at least three hundred scrimmage yards in a game. 0:03:03.543 --> 0:03:06.543 For what it's worth, I didn't think the Rams played 0:03:06.543 --> 0:03:10.143 that bad. I just think Philadelphia was that much better, 0:03:10.303 --> 0:03:12.863 which is eye opening because I like the Rams for 0:03:12.903 --> 0:03:14.863 a few weeks here and now I'm questioning just because 0:03:14.903 --> 0:03:17.183 of the way the division shapes up for him. The Eagles, 0:03:17.183 --> 0:03:19.623 by the way, matching up against the Baltimore Ravens this week, 0:03:19.663 --> 0:03:22.303 that is going to be one of the best games 0:03:22.303 --> 0:03:24.783 of the entire year. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, you 0:03:24.823 --> 0:03:27.143 made reference to it. They drop a spot here. What 0:03:27.183 --> 0:03:29.423 am I supposed to make of this football team? Because 0:03:29.463 --> 0:03:32.303 it's again another one possession game for him. They figure 0:03:32.343 --> 0:03:34.703 out a way to get it done. But when you're 0:03:34.703 --> 0:03:36.863 coming off of a loss, your first loss since December 0:03:36.943 --> 0:03:39.383 of last year, you would imagine that they would absolutely 0:03:39.423 --> 0:03:42.343 put a thumpin on Carolina. Should I be worried right 0:03:42.383 --> 0:03:43.303 now if I'm a Chiefs fan? 0:03:44.703 --> 0:03:44.943 Yeah? 0:03:44.983 --> 0:03:45.223 I mean. 0:03:45.223 --> 0:03:47.303 Look, I was reading a story by Nate Taylor or 0:03:47.343 --> 0:03:50.023 The Athletic, and he was describing the postgame scene in 0:03:50.023 --> 0:03:52.183 the locker room and Charlotte after a win, right after 0:03:52.223 --> 0:03:55.223 a dramatic victory with a new kicker, and they drive 0:03:55.303 --> 0:03:58.103 down the field for the game winning score. But the 0:03:58.103 --> 0:04:00.623 way Taylor described it, it felt more like a funeral, 0:04:00.703 --> 0:04:03.463 more like a sigh of relief than it was joy 0:04:03.503 --> 0:04:05.743 in there. So look, I mean, Patrick Mahomes has ways 0:04:05.743 --> 0:04:07.783 of doing things as a great scramble at the game 0:04:08.383 --> 0:04:10.423 at the end of the game setting up the game 0:04:10.463 --> 0:04:13.623 winning score. They had no trouble really moving the ball day. 0:04:13.663 --> 0:04:16.583 They did bog down quite a few times. But defensively, Mike, 0:04:16.663 --> 0:04:19.783 this is where my concern lies. They've allowed these either 0:04:19.903 --> 0:04:23.543 game winning or game tying drives at the ends of games. 0:04:23.623 --> 0:04:26.463 We saw the Panthers come down tie it at twenty seven, 0:04:26.783 --> 0:04:29.183 the Broncos the week you know before, or two couple 0:04:29.223 --> 0:04:31.823 weeks ago, we're about to win the game, Buffalo goes down, 0:04:31.903 --> 0:04:34.423 you know, Josh Allen on fourth and two. Even the 0:04:34.423 --> 0:04:36.863 Tampa Bay game, letting Baker Mayfield kind of move down 0:04:36.943 --> 0:04:39.383 the field there at games in I mean, this has 0:04:39.423 --> 0:04:42.583 been a repeated problem here, and you kind of wonder, Look, 0:04:42.663 --> 0:04:44.783 the defense had been kind of carrying this team for 0:04:44.783 --> 0:04:47.143 a big stretch last year. In this year, are they 0:04:47.143 --> 0:04:49.423 able to do it again if the offense can't kind 0:04:49.423 --> 0:04:51.263 of pick up the slack. That's why I moved them 0:04:51.303 --> 0:04:54.543 down a slot. Still recognize they are able to beat 0:04:54.583 --> 0:04:56.663 almost anybody on any given day. I just don't know 0:04:56.663 --> 0:04:59.743 about their long term ability and whether they can repeat 0:04:59.783 --> 0:05:00.143 this year. 0:05:00.503 --> 0:05:02.583 Well, look on Black Friday, they will get an Aidan 0:05:02.623 --> 0:05:06.303 O'Connell led Raiders squad, and look, we will talk Panthers 0:05:06.303 --> 0:05:07.063 a little bit later. 0:05:07.623 --> 0:05:08.623 I know I'm not alone here. 0:05:08.663 --> 0:05:10.703 I actually is pretty happy for Bryce Young because he 0:05:10.703 --> 0:05:13.663 gets benched. There's a lot of negativity around him. Played 0:05:13.663 --> 0:05:15.743 pretty well, and I think maybe we're turning the corner 0:05:15.743 --> 0:05:19.343 in terms of his career and maybe even that future 0:05:19.343 --> 0:05:21.863 in Carolina that looked really grim just a couple of 0:05:21.863 --> 0:05:24.543 weeks ago. All Right, take a closer look at the 0:05:24.583 --> 0:05:26.343 odds in the AFC North. 0:05:26.783 --> 0:05:27.703 How about this. 0:05:28.023 --> 0:05:30.543 Steelers just beat the Ravens a couple weeks ago, and 0:05:30.583 --> 0:05:33.823 it's Baltimore in pole position according to Fandle. Then it's 0:05:33.863 --> 0:05:38.463 the Steelers, then Cincinnati, followed by the Cleveland Browns. But 0:05:38.583 --> 0:05:40.943 let's circle up on this number five team and that's 0:05:40.943 --> 0:05:43.863 the Baltimore Ravens. They move up two spots for you, Eric, 0:05:44.023 --> 0:05:46.343 When you look at this squad, this was an impressive 0:05:46.463 --> 0:05:48.423 win for them. And I think the other aspect of 0:05:48.463 --> 0:05:50.263 this is they're going up against the number one scoring 0:05:50.303 --> 0:05:53.383 defense in the Chargers. Light them up offensively, most points 0:05:53.383 --> 0:05:55.423 that the Chargers have given up so far this season. 0:05:55.703 --> 0:05:57.343 This is the Baltimore team that I thought we were 0:05:57.343 --> 0:05:58.903 going to get at the start of the year. When 0:05:58.903 --> 0:06:01.423 they're at their best, Eric, they can beat anyone. 0:06:02.423 --> 0:06:04.583 Yeah, as I wrote, I think they can heat up 0:06:04.663 --> 0:06:07.343 as quickly as anybody Lamar in that offense, when they 0:06:07.343 --> 0:06:09.743 get cooking, there is no preheat time. They go from 0:06:10.063 --> 0:06:11.783 cold to nuclear, and that's what we saw at the 0:06:11.863 --> 0:06:14.623 end of the first quarter. They turned it over quickly, 0:06:14.903 --> 0:06:17.703 Lamar hitting this long deep pass to kind of get 0:06:17.703 --> 0:06:20.223 them spurred a little bit. And then also the fourth 0:06:20.223 --> 0:06:23.103 and one from their own sixteen. Boy, I remember how 0:06:23.103 --> 0:06:25.463 blue in the face we got talking about Belichick going 0:06:25.503 --> 0:06:27.943 four years ago from his own twenty nine. Late in 0:06:27.983 --> 0:06:30.623 the game, here are the Ravens kind of rewriting the 0:06:30.703 --> 0:06:33.343 rule book, if you will, and getting it without two 0:06:33.423 --> 0:06:36.543 best players touching the ball. So they have ways of 0:06:36.623 --> 0:06:39.783 confounding people, even the best defenses like the Chargers. Maybe 0:06:39.783 --> 0:06:42.583 they were a little exposed against the Bengals, and certainly 0:06:42.623 --> 0:06:45.503 on Monday Night against the Ravens. But I'll tell you what, 0:06:45.623 --> 0:06:48.663 if they play moderately well on defense, they can overcome 0:06:48.703 --> 0:06:50.983 some of these penalties, which are a problem every single week. 0:06:51.023 --> 0:06:53.423 They can overcome a slow start on offense because they 0:06:53.423 --> 0:06:56.703 have the chance to get nuclear hot all of a sudden, 0:06:56.703 --> 0:06:58.623 And that's what makes them so dangerous this year, even 0:06:58.663 --> 0:07:00.703 if last year's team was maybe the better model. 0:07:01.063 --> 0:07:02.743 Yeah, three for three. By the way, on those fourth 0:07:02.783 --> 0:07:04.583 down conversions he highlighted one of them. 0:07:04.703 --> 0:07:07.903 Was certainly huge here. And you can story what could 0:07:07.903 --> 0:07:09.983 have been an undefeated season for this team if you 0:07:10.023 --> 0:07:11.303 think about some of the losses. 0:07:11.383 --> 0:07:12.903 Isaiah Likely in Week number. 0:07:12.703 --> 0:07:14.783 One against the Kansas City Chiefs back of the end 0:07:14.823 --> 0:07:15.703 zone looked like it was good. 0:07:15.743 --> 0:07:16.743 It obviously wasn't. 0:07:17.263 --> 0:07:19.023 We saw them with a ten point advantage in the 0:07:19.023 --> 0:07:21.303 fourth quarter against the Raiders. They lose that one. Jamis 0:07:21.303 --> 0:07:23.503 Winston comes in for his first start. He goes and 0:07:23.543 --> 0:07:25.343 beats them. You know, the point is, they are these 0:07:25.383 --> 0:07:29.263 tight games, but Baltimore at their best as dangerous as anyone. 0:07:29.583 --> 0:07:33.343 To number six, we go Sam Donald in overtime, big 0:07:33.423 --> 0:07:36.343 drive leads to a game winning field goal. I don't know, 0:07:36.663 --> 0:07:40.703 I'm I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm buying on this Viking squad, 0:07:40.703 --> 0:07:42.383 and it looks like you are too. With the six 0:07:42.423 --> 0:07:43.503 position on your rankings. 0:07:44.223 --> 0:07:46.023 Yeah, I mean I dropped him down a spot because 0:07:46.023 --> 0:07:47.743 I thought, boy, they shouldn't have led it to get 0:07:47.743 --> 0:07:50.543 to overtime. But the best thing that came out of 0:07:50.543 --> 0:07:52.023 that game was the fact that it did go to 0:07:52.023 --> 0:07:55.063 overtime because Sam Darnald, I thought, had his best series 0:07:55.103 --> 0:07:58.263 of the season, six for six ninety yards passing to 0:07:58.263 --> 0:07:59.903 set up the game winning field goal. Hard to get 0:08:00.023 --> 0:08:03.063 ninety yards passing on a single drive, but Sam did it, 0:08:03.103 --> 0:08:07.143 overcoming a couple penalties to do so. Made decisive reads, 0:08:07.303 --> 0:08:10.503 accurate throws, looked like he had command. You know, there 0:08:10.543 --> 0:08:12.503 have been times where it's been a little shaky this season. 0:08:12.543 --> 0:08:16.423 We know Donald's reputation from previous stops in Carolina New York, 0:08:16.463 --> 0:08:19.983 but this was arguably one of his best moments of 0:08:19.983 --> 0:08:22.223 the year. Again, I don't like the fact that they 0:08:22.223 --> 0:08:24.863 blew an eleven point lead with a little over ninety 0:08:24.903 --> 0:08:28.303 seconds left, but you know this, this Vikings team has 0:08:28.303 --> 0:08:30.183 to feel a lot better about itself. Didn't get a 0:08:30.223 --> 0:08:32.743 whole lot from Justin Jefferson It was all Jordan Addison 0:08:32.743 --> 0:08:35.223 in this game pretty much. He had career high numbers. 0:08:35.263 --> 0:08:39.623 Jefferson had one seven yard catch until about halfway through overtime. 0:08:39.743 --> 0:08:42.103 So you know, it's on the one hand, good that 0:08:42.143 --> 0:08:45.783 they can win these games without Jefferson going off. They 0:08:45.783 --> 0:08:48.623 can have other people, you know, sort of carry the load, 0:08:48.663 --> 0:08:51.903 if you will. But seeing Donald convert that drive after 0:08:51.903 --> 0:08:54.703 the Bears punted, I think was a big confidence statement 0:08:54.743 --> 0:08:56.743 for them, and knowing that at some point they're going 0:08:56.823 --> 0:08:58.663 to need a drive like that in a huge game. 0:08:58.663 --> 0:08:59.783 No no question about that. 0:08:59.823 --> 0:09:01.543 By the way, I like where you have the vikings 0:09:01.583 --> 0:09:03.663 because those teams that you slotted in front of them, 0:09:03.823 --> 0:09:05.863 it makes sense to him. The only pushback that I 0:09:05.943 --> 0:09:08.463 have for you from a Chicago perspective, they're playing some 0:09:08.463 --> 0:09:11.183 of the best ball that they've played this entire season. 0:09:11.263 --> 0:09:13.943 Is just not equaling wins for them at this point. 0:09:13.943 --> 0:09:17.143 But I think you're spot on from a Minnesota perspective 0:09:17.543 --> 0:09:20.063 the Steelers. I was telling people here in the building 0:09:20.343 --> 0:09:22.383 before this game, I go, I'm telling you, I think 0:09:22.383 --> 0:09:23.463 the Browns are gonna win this thing. 0:09:23.463 --> 0:09:24.543 It feels like a leftown. 0:09:24.623 --> 0:09:28.063 I wasn't overly impressed by the win against the Ravens 0:09:28.063 --> 0:09:30.543 because of how it looked on the field and how. 0:09:30.343 --> 0:09:32.223 Baltimore played in this game. 0:09:32.503 --> 0:09:35.623 But is there anything cooler than watching a game in 0:09:35.663 --> 0:09:37.823 the snow and seeing some of those high risk slow 0:09:37.863 --> 0:09:39.423 motion videos on social media? 0:09:40.623 --> 0:09:40.863 Oh? 0:09:40.903 --> 0:09:43.103 Man, I love it. I absolutely love it. I look, 0:09:43.143 --> 0:09:45.383 I live in a winter climate. I'm here in Chicago, 0:09:45.503 --> 0:09:47.383 so obviously the snow is sort of my friend, or 0:09:47.383 --> 0:09:49.623 I've learned to embrace it. But yes, there is nothing 0:09:49.623 --> 0:09:53.703 more cinematic, more exciting than to see a game in 0:09:53.703 --> 0:09:54.023 the snow. 0:09:54.063 --> 0:09:54.183 Now. 0:09:54.183 --> 0:09:56.583 Players may not like it, guys from the southern part 0:09:56.583 --> 0:09:58.343 of the country, and the Steelers may not like it 0:09:58.343 --> 0:10:00.623 because they didn't perform all that well. It started getting 0:10:00.663 --> 0:10:02.983 heavier and they were trailing. They found a way to 0:10:03.023 --> 0:10:04.983 get back in the game, but just couldn't hold on 0:10:05.063 --> 0:10:07.463 at game's end. So, you know, I'm worried about the 0:10:07.503 --> 0:10:10.063 Steelers offense a little bit too hot and cold. I 0:10:10.103 --> 0:10:12.863 know they came in with a lot of points scored 0:10:13.223 --> 0:10:16.863 on average, but you know that dry, that streak of 0:10:16.903 --> 0:10:20.783 twenty two straight quarters with the points ended in this game, 0:10:21.223 --> 0:10:23.063 and by games end, you could see they were having 0:10:23.063 --> 0:10:26.343 trouble handling the ball, having trouble with communication up front, 0:10:26.343 --> 0:10:29.263 didn't hit enough big plays, and they lost a crucial 0:10:29.263 --> 0:10:32.183 division game. So yeah, I mean, it's it's hard to 0:10:32.223 --> 0:10:34.463 know exactly what we have with the Steelers. Clearly better 0:10:34.503 --> 0:10:36.623 than a year ago, Clearly a team that could win 0:10:36.663 --> 0:10:39.143 a playoff game, but I think at this point their 0:10:39.183 --> 0:10:42.663 limitations are starting to become a little more outsized. 0:10:42.503 --> 0:10:44.743 And they will match up in another divisional matchup in 0:10:44.783 --> 0:10:47.223 a game that one team is very desperate, and that 0:10:47.383 --> 0:10:50.343 is the Cincinnati Bengals. Still more to get to though. 0:10:50.463 --> 0:10:52.863 On NFL Power Rankings, one team in the NFC. They've 0:10:52.863 --> 0:10:55.423 been making a ton of headlines most of the season, 0:10:55.463 --> 0:10:56.783 but now they're dropping some games. 0:10:56.903 --> 0:10:59.263 Or the Commanders pretenders. 0:10:58.543 --> 0:11:01.303 Plus a stat about the Chargers that you gotta hear that's. 0:11:01.143 --> 0:11:01.783 Coming up next. 0:11:07.983 --> 0:11:10.343 Back here on power Rankings, as we go through Erics 0:11:10.383 --> 0:11:13.903 teams nine through sixteen, the Chargers lose a tough one 0:11:14.023 --> 0:11:16.343 at home on Monday Night Football. No change, though, still 0:11:16.343 --> 0:11:18.583 sitting in the top ten at number nine. At ten, 0:11:18.623 --> 0:11:21.463 it's the Broncos snap an eight game road losing streak 0:11:21.503 --> 0:11:23.503 to the Raiders. Don't look now, but bo Nix is 0:11:23.703 --> 0:11:27.263 really coming on strong here. The Commander's at eleven the Texans. 0:11:27.263 --> 0:11:29.263 What is going on with the squad We will discuss 0:11:29.303 --> 0:11:31.943 in just a moment. At number twelve, the Bucks dominate 0:11:31.983 --> 0:11:34.223 the Giants. They are at thirteen. Don't look now, but 0:11:34.503 --> 0:11:36.463 Seattle all of a sudden making some noise and got 0:11:36.463 --> 0:11:38.743 a real chance to go and winning that division because 0:11:38.743 --> 0:11:41.263 they took out the Cardinals who sit at fifteen, and 0:11:41.303 --> 0:11:43.943 the Miami Dolphins might be the best second half story 0:11:43.983 --> 0:11:47.383 in the NFL at sixteen. At number nine, I want 0:11:47.383 --> 0:11:49.263 to get your take on this Charger squad because I 0:11:49.343 --> 0:11:50.903 like them. And let me preface this by saying, I 0:11:50.943 --> 0:11:53.543 think they are a dangerous team once the postseason comes 0:11:53.543 --> 0:11:56.263 around because of style of play. But Eric, they've beaten 0:11:56.343 --> 0:11:58.783 one team this season with a winning record, and that's 0:11:58.823 --> 0:11:59.783 the Denver Broncos. 0:11:59.823 --> 0:12:01.543 So what are the Chargers? 0:12:02.863 --> 0:12:04.583 Yeah, I think you make a good point. You know, 0:12:04.703 --> 0:12:07.743 could they go on the road to the AFC South winner? 0:12:07.823 --> 0:12:10.863 Presumably Houston win that game. Sure, but as we've seen 0:12:10.943 --> 0:12:13.383 when they are stacked against some of the league's heavyweights, 0:12:13.823 --> 0:12:16.143 lost of the Chiefs, lost Monday night to the Ravens. 0:12:16.143 --> 0:12:18.503 There are a few more games like that. They just 0:12:18.583 --> 0:12:22.223 haven't weighed in the same class as those teams. Right, 0:12:22.263 --> 0:12:24.023 they take the early ten to Dozhering league kind of 0:12:24.143 --> 0:12:27.543 establish their their dominant force up front. Then they start 0:12:27.623 --> 0:12:30.943 dropping passes, penalties. They had at least one penalty by 0:12:30.983 --> 0:12:35.543 every single starting offensive lineman, just mistakes on defense, blown coverages, 0:12:35.583 --> 0:12:38.343 couldn't tackle, bad angles to the ball. All the things 0:12:38.383 --> 0:12:40.383 that had made them a good team seemed to come 0:12:40.423 --> 0:12:43.623 on glued and for whatever reason, when the talent level rises, 0:12:43.943 --> 0:12:46.103 I think that's when you see their challenges kind of 0:12:46.103 --> 0:12:49.583 increase a little bit. So, yes, dangerous team style of play. 0:12:49.623 --> 0:12:51.783 I think all those things are right. Can we please 0:12:51.783 --> 0:12:55.023 get Justin Herberts some better receivers. There are some more receivers, 0:12:55.023 --> 0:12:57.423 guys who can hang on to the football. Because until 0:12:57.423 --> 0:12:59.663 that happens, till they catch the ball consistently, I am 0:12:59.663 --> 0:13:01.063 a little worried about their potential. 0:13:01.383 --> 0:13:03.543 Yeah, at one point in the second half, Quinton Johnson 0:13:03.863 --> 0:13:06.063 gets hit in the hand with the football, drops it. 0:13:06.063 --> 0:13:07.543 He had so much green grass that might be a 0:13:07.583 --> 0:13:10.383 touchdown And maybe we're talking about a different game. Lad mccauckey, 0:13:10.423 --> 0:13:12.823 by the way, has emerged as Justin Herbert's go to 0:13:12.863 --> 0:13:15.943 wide receiver. Yeap think he's a really, really good player, 0:13:15.943 --> 0:13:17.863 but you're right, they need some other pieces that are there. 0:13:18.463 --> 0:13:19.823 And look, JK. 0:13:19.863 --> 0:13:22.623 Dobbins going down did not help the cause. Monday night 0:13:22.743 --> 0:13:27.423 against the Baltimore Ravens at number eleven, here are look 0:13:27.463 --> 0:13:30.703 I teased it. I said that the Commanders are they contenders, pretenders. 0:13:31.223 --> 0:13:33.703 They've lost some tough games here the last couple of weeks. 0:13:33.943 --> 0:13:36.143 I still like the squad, do you. 0:13:37.583 --> 0:13:37.863 I do. 0:13:38.023 --> 0:13:40.263 I like the fight, but I also realized that, look, 0:13:40.303 --> 0:13:42.023 these types of games are the ones we kind of 0:13:42.063 --> 0:13:44.023 expected them to lose this season, right, I mean, it 0:13:44.023 --> 0:13:46.063 wouldn't have been a shock to suggest that the Cowboys 0:13:46.063 --> 0:13:48.303 beat the Commanders, and you know, everything we've seen up 0:13:48.343 --> 0:13:51.383 to this point has pretty much belied that. But you're 0:13:51.423 --> 0:13:53.903 starting to see the cracks in the armor a little bit. 0:13:53.983 --> 0:13:56.743 The offense has not been nearly explosive. I mean, prior 0:13:56.783 --> 0:14:00.063 to that long touchdown to Terry McLaurin, they stall, they 0:14:00.063 --> 0:14:02.823 didn't have the same kind of juice. You know, Daniels 0:14:02.863 --> 0:14:05.463 was having trouble finding his receivers open. He had some 0:14:05.623 --> 0:14:08.423 scrambling room, but Brian Robinson in the run game not 0:14:08.503 --> 0:14:12.303 exactly humming as well. So issues on that side of 0:14:12.303 --> 0:14:15.703 the ball. Obviously some questions on defense, and then the 0:14:15.743 --> 0:14:18.383 way the game ended, the Special Team's disaster one of 0:14:18.383 --> 0:14:20.543 the worst sort of three or four play stretches that 0:14:20.623 --> 0:14:23.663 you'll ever see in a game. But even before that, 0:14:23.783 --> 0:14:25.583 I think some of their troubles did come out. So 0:14:25.663 --> 0:14:28.063 I love the job they've done, but they're hitting the 0:14:28.103 --> 0:14:29.823 wall on both sides of the ball, and that is 0:14:29.863 --> 0:14:31.343 a problem heading into the home stretch. 0:14:31.583 --> 0:14:33.903 I have four touchdowns scored in the final three thirty 0:14:34.143 --> 0:14:37.703 of the game. What a wild finish and the Commanders 0:14:37.743 --> 0:14:41.303 this close to pulling this thing out. I don't know 0:14:41.343 --> 0:14:44.703 what to do with the Texans. Legitimately concerned. I was 0:14:44.743 --> 0:14:47.303 fascinated they lose this matchup, and I think to myself, 0:14:47.303 --> 0:14:48.703 where is Eric gonna slot them? 0:14:48.903 --> 0:14:50.463 I'll be honest, at twelve I thought it was going 0:14:50.503 --> 0:14:50.983 to be worse. 0:14:52.463 --> 0:14:54.983 Yeah, I mean that says something about this group, though, 0:14:55.063 --> 0:14:56.543 doesn't it. Mike. I mean you kind of look and 0:14:56.623 --> 0:14:58.423 all these teams have a little bit of a question, 0:14:58.503 --> 0:15:00.943 a little something holding them back. Maybe it's their record, 0:15:00.983 --> 0:15:03.383 maybe it's their quarterback. That's not really the case with 0:15:03.423 --> 0:15:06.023 the Texans. They're in great position to win this division. 0:15:06.343 --> 0:15:08.503 They just have to win games and stop shooting themselves 0:15:08.543 --> 0:15:10.783 in the foot. Look, I got CJ. Stroud through two 0:15:10.983 --> 0:15:14.703 bad interceptions, two picks that were on him, and we 0:15:14.783 --> 0:15:16.623 haven't said that very often. Doesn't have a lot of 0:15:16.623 --> 0:15:19.343 two interception games in a short career, but that one 0:15:19.423 --> 0:15:22.223 right there, staring down the linebacker, not able to float 0:15:22.263 --> 0:15:24.423 the ball to the second level. You know, we saw 0:15:24.463 --> 0:15:26.663 it in other games as well. Here's the safety at 0:15:26.703 --> 0:15:29.743 the end of the game. You know, just too many mistakes. Now, 0:15:29.743 --> 0:15:32.903 the pressure they're giving up is a problem. But Stroud's 0:15:32.903 --> 0:15:34.783 got to take some of this responsibility too, and that 0:15:34.823 --> 0:15:36.823 defense has to tighten up. Too many big plays. 0:15:37.063 --> 0:15:39.463 Yeah, they've lost four out of their last six games 0:15:39.503 --> 0:15:42.983 at this point, a season low twelve points, three for 0:15:43.103 --> 0:15:45.303 thirteen on third down, not going to get it done. 0:15:45.343 --> 0:15:46.783 In fact, in the second half they were zero of 0:15:46.823 --> 0:15:49.303 six on third down. They had just four first downs 0:15:49.303 --> 0:15:53.063 in the second half. You don't expect that from this team. 0:15:53.183 --> 0:15:56.023 Expectations much higher. Get an opportunity to get back in 0:15:56.063 --> 0:15:59.383 the win column with a matchup against Jacksonville. All right, 0:15:59.423 --> 0:16:03.543 the Seattle Seahawks. They're proving some doubters wrong here. I 0:16:03.543 --> 0:16:05.063 know it was a strong start, then they hit a 0:16:05.103 --> 0:16:06.663 little bit of a lull. Now all of a sudden, 0:16:06.663 --> 0:16:09.383 they're beating some good teams, right San Francisco. Well, I 0:16:09.383 --> 0:16:11.423 don't know how we feel about San Francisco being a 0:16:11.463 --> 0:16:13.703 good team, but they beat them in the Bay Area, 0:16:13.783 --> 0:16:15.863 and then they take out a Cardinals team where the 0:16:15.983 --> 0:16:20.103 arrow was pointing up. How much of the Seahawks stock 0:16:20.103 --> 0:16:21.783 would you be willing to buy at this point of 0:16:21.823 --> 0:16:22.223 the season. 0:16:23.183 --> 0:16:25.503 Yeah, well, they've certainly won the most important games, right, 0:16:25.543 --> 0:16:27.783 the division games. They had to do it on the 0:16:27.863 --> 0:16:29.903 road at San Francisco and then coming back with no 0:16:29.983 --> 0:16:32.383 hot water in the facility for several days last week 0:16:32.383 --> 0:16:34.543 because of the power out it is, they toughed, threw it, 0:16:34.543 --> 0:16:36.583 and they found a way. It was a defensive battle. 0:16:36.863 --> 0:16:40.183 That's what you'd expect in a Mike McDonald Jonathan gannon game. 0:16:40.543 --> 0:16:43.343 But really credit the Seahawks defense, I think for keeping 0:16:43.423 --> 0:16:45.863 Kyler Murray and that Cardinals run game under wraps. They 0:16:45.863 --> 0:16:47.503 could not get go and that's how they kind of 0:16:47.583 --> 0:16:51.143 kickstart their offense. Get James Connor and those guys, Benson 0:16:51.223 --> 0:16:56.183 going de Marcarro. But yeah, they couldn't find any rhythm offensively, Defensively, 0:16:56.503 --> 0:16:58.543 you know, it was just an impressive effort, and that's 0:16:58.583 --> 0:17:02.343 two weeks in a row, big NFC West victory with 0:17:02.463 --> 0:17:05.183 their defense kind of leading the way. You shout out 0:17:05.183 --> 0:17:07.623 to Jackson Smith and Jig but who got him going offensively? 0:17:07.663 --> 0:17:10.383 And Gino made enough big plays. Buddy also threw a 0:17:10.383 --> 0:17:13.383 couple of light picks. So it's possible that McDonald's defense 0:17:13.463 --> 0:17:16.303