2025 Week 3 Recap: Block Party!

21:44But they're doing it with these last-second drives. Baker Mayfield, the second quarterback in the history of this league to have led three straight fourth quarter game winning drives in the closing seconds. And they did it after just a lot going on in this game. They found a way. Another quarterback that we'll talk about later in this show just authored his fourth career game winning drive. Baker Mayfield has three, like you said, in the first three weeks. That is how fun this team is. They're electric offensively. watching Baker is just a thrill ride from start to finish. He's making all the plays you want.

22:17He's shaking off injury. He's firing passes to a Mecca. Buka who's making highlight reel grabs. Their defense is playing well. Todd Bowles is blitzing with no regard for any like negative outcome. He just doesn't care. He knew the jets couldn't stop the blitz. Say he just sent the blitz all afternoon and it worked for the majority of the game, but they left the door open. They left the door open. They allowed Will McDonald to block a field goal and return it for a touchdown. And Aaron Glenn with a great celebration on the sideline. And suddenly the Jets are back in it until it's back in Baker's hands and it goes down and wins the game.

22:46And that is why the Buccaneers are my favorite team in the NFL to watch. I am concerned about Mike Evans because he did have a hamstring issue and left this game, which showed up in that last drive. You had Baker try to hit a receiver downfield and overshoots him, but he leans on a book. Again, they get into field goal range. But overall, right now, Buccaneers are just an absolute joy to watch, even if, you know, you're on the edge of your seat thinking they might not win this one. Just it's been that much fun. Yeah, think about what they're facing on their offensive line. So if you missed it, Cody Mock, their guard is out for the season.

23:17Luke Gedeke is now on injured reserve. He's going to return at some point. That's the right tackle. Left tackle, Tristan Wirfs is out. They actually don't have a single offensive lineman as a starter that's playing in its intended position. You're losing Jalen McMillan. You lost Mike Evans late in this game. You had this killer blocked field goal in this game. You went one for five in the red zone and you just find a way to win this game. And yet you got to give the Jets a little bit of love here. They were down 23 to six, getting totally dominated in this game. The yardage was absolutely sick.

23:51Then Tyrod leads an 80-yard touchdown drive to cut it to a 10-point lead. They give up a field goal drive back like the Bucs did a good job. It wasn't their offense collapsing. Tyrod leads another long touchdown drive, 11 plays, but does it in two and a half minutes. and that sets up a moment, yes, where it looks like the Bucs are going to put the game away, going for a field goal to go up nine. Todd Bowles chooses not to go for it on fourth and short. I think that's a defensible decision, especially with McLaughlin, who's been good over the last few years, although it hasn't been great this year, to be fair.

24:27And then this is what happened. Maybe the most electric moment other than Jordan Davis in an electric day. The snap clean. the placement down it's blocked it's loose in midfield it's scooped up by Will McDonald there he goes to the 20 10 5 that's a jet touchdown that's a jet touchdown off of the blocked field goal we're tied with 149 to go unbelievable Aaron Glenn with the absolute celebration of the year and I love that I hope no one gets on him at all for that. He was enjoying life right there. You watched it closely. Shooky, like how did this all happen? Essentially, the offensive problems that plagued the Buccaneers in the red zone became problems in the fourth quarter.

25:22But more than anything, it was Tyrod being able to lead this offense that had gone nowhere earlier in the game. His experience suddenly just dotting the field, getting them down the field, into scoring range, converting, converting, converting, preserving just enough. hope for a play like that to tip the scales because you know like you just said if they make that field goal this game's over we're not talking about this it's not an electric finish but they did the little things right in those moments yes they lost the game but this is what i kind of talked about in the preseason about the jets thinking like all right they have like an adult in the room now and aaron glenn and they may turn the corner eventually toward like a competent franchise that's not always getting in its own way and it showed for about a quarter quarter and a half in this game they fought they battled they have talent on this team will mcdonald pulls off what we call the Miles Garrett, which is leaping over the snapper to block the field goal.

26:07And it gives them a chance. And it makes us all, I think, respect them more. They're 0-3, but they're an 0-3 team that I enjoy watching. The vibes aren't bad with them. They're just losing games closely like this one. And they battled. They absolutely battled against a team that's better than them. But I like the trajectory that they're headed in, even with playing with a backup quarterback.

26:26Patrick Claybon:Yeah, 0-3, you could easily make the case that two of those games could have been wins, especially the first one where a special team snafu and a fumble by Xavier Gibson essentially costs them the game. Here, a great play on special teams by Will McDonald. And I won't – this was minutes after the other blocked field goals. And so we're coming back from break. Yes. And I say it to my microphone. It's like, well, the Bucs got this one, unless, of course, the Jets block this field goal and return it for a touchdown. Seconds later, Will McDonald does it in one of the more proud moments of my career.

26:56Patrick Claybon:Of course, it's not on air because we don't record things when I'm not on air because that will be dangerous. People will lose their jobs, especially me. But ultimately, wait, what do you mean? It wasn't on air? No, no. OK, that was why. OK, we're just you know, I know it sounds like sometimes because Greg's over there in the newsroom. It may sound like I'm I'm doing the show because it's it's impossible to tell when I'm not because, you know, I'm just weird and yell things. The newsroom is upset. I mean, compared to Chris Rose, you're nothing. I love Chris Rose. But that guy has got a rose brings the energy set of pipes at him.

27:28But yes, Patrick is taping game day live as this is all happening. And at that moment, it really felt like, man, anything could happen in the NFL right now. Like the NFL is just totally off its rocker. And I liked how positive Aaron Glenn was after this game, loving the fight and trying to spin it positive. On the flip side, though, their success rate running the ball was like 20 percent in this game. You know, Brees Hall couldn't get anything done. Actually, the Bucs were almost as unsuccessful. Bucky Irving was under three yards per carry. So was Rashad White. Like no one got anything done on the ground in this game.

28:03I do think the Jets have some clear shortcomings that are going to bug them all year. But it just goes to Shoshuk. There is a big difference between them and the Bucs, a 3-0 team and an 0-3 team, especially with how injured the Bucs are. But like, man, it's just the details sometimes. It's a long way to improve yourself on 0-3. And when you're 3-0 like the Bucs, now you can afford a loss or two here and there while you get healthy because you found a way in these early weeks. Yeah, yeah, the details. I felt like I was a broken record writing up some of these games today because a lot of these games just came down to the details.

28:37What team was better at them than not? Usually the teams that have won consistently over the last few years are better in the details, and that proved to be true in this one, and this was not the only game that was true. But I do want to tell you guys this. 2 ,000 miles away from you while you're enjoying it in the newsroom in L.A. I'm here in my house in Cleveland. My youngest sister lives with me. She comes home. She walks in. She sees the Browns block the field goal. She freaks out. She goes into her bedroom and then they blocked the field goal in the Tampa Bay game. And I start screaming and she's like, what?

29:04What happened? And I'm like, another field goal got blocked. This is insane. It was that type of Sunday. It really is incredible. Like this, it was the best witching hour of the season. The NFL, like it took a couple of weeks. I feel like like we've just been warming up and it just fully delivered here in a in a day. By the way, I just got to give a shout out to Yaya Diaby. if you get 11 pressures in one game, you're going to get mentioned on this show. Four quick pressures, 11 pressures. The amount of quick pressures on Tyrod Taylor today would indicate that his box score was an act of heroism by him because I've never seen it as crooked a number.

29:44I'm counting them up here. I think I count.

29:47Patrick Claybon:Multiple defensive backs in on this as well. I think there's 19 or 20 quick pressures, which is under two and a half seconds. That's it. I've never seen a number near that big. So the fact that he even kept them close is a credit to him. And this win is a credit to Baker Mayfield, who noted this game was personal. I loved it. And it's also their D coordinator was the one that cut me in Carolina. So it was a lot of stuff was personal today. Son Reddick, former Jet, a lot of people. Ooh, a little Baker Mayfield, Steve Wilkes heat that I wasn't expected. You know, ultimately that that release when he was back with the Panthers and Steve Wilkes was the interim head coach.

30:24which I don't know if he had personnel decision-making power at the time, although he did bench him for Sam Darnold. That led to Baker's career turning around and getting to the Los Angeles Rams for that game, and everything's been better since.

30:35Patrick Claybon:Yeah, Baker knows to bless the broken road, you know, that led him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hassan Reddick's beef with the Jets, far more legitimate. Significantly so. That was an amazing three-pack, but we've got more great finishes, more great games after the break. Let's take a look at the teams that I'm going to be watching in person. And I'm going to be helping to announce the game on TalkSport Radio. Steelers and Vikings highlights next.

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35:23Oh, that's actually really simple. Safe Balance Banking, one less thing to figure out. Learn more at bfa.com slash earn100. Terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC. Rodgers has Warren to his left. Raises the foot, gets a snap. Back to pass. Looking, throwing left towards the end zone. Back shoulder. Touchdown, Pittsburgh Steelers. It's Calvin Austin in the end zone. Rodgers to Austin. Second touchdown pass in the game for Rodgers. And the Steelers have retaken the lead at the 2-16 mark of the fourth quarter. Oh, Aaron Rodgers didn't have a lot of dimes on Sunday, but he saved the best for last there.

36:04Touchdown to Calvin Austin. That was Rob King on WDVE. Steelers go into Foxborough and win 21-14 in a game where the Steelers are who we thought they were. And we let them off the hook. It's like the defense full of holes. Patriots moving the ball throughout the day. Aaron Rodgers looking old. A hole zero for four on plays where he was pressured. Didn't get much done after the first couple of drives, but five turnovers for the Patriots. Only one punt the whole day, and then a turnover on downs on their final drive. A fourth down completion from Drake May to DeMario Douglas, where DeMario Douglas decided, after being one yard away or maybe right at the marker, decides to try to back up to pick up the first down and make someone miss.

37:03He admitted after the game, if he just kind of dove forward, he very likely gets that first down. And yeah, the Patriots, they've been a sloppy team. Both of these teams watching this game are sloppy teams, but the Steelers are a better sloppy team.

37:19Patrick Claybon:Yeah, better sloppy team that in a game that featured an Aaron Rodgers bounce pass fumble to a teammate that the Steelers were able to recover. But the Patriots did recover from not just the five turnovers. Two of those turnovers were inside the six yard line. One, a Drake May interception, and then one that Ramondre Stevenson ball that got punched out where there's only so many opportunities you can give an opposing team. And the Patriots gave the Steelers literally every single one today. and the Steelers managed to survive despite having all. And yet it felt like, despite giving up all those opportunities, and yes, that Drake May interception comes after a 17-play drive to close out the first half where they overcame a lot of penalties.

38:06Drake May did so much good today. I feel better about Drake May after today, despite the two turnovers. But then he takes a huge hit where his head slams against the ground. They show it in slow motion. He holds his head. They never even look at him. I don't I'm not saying that that affected the next couple of plays, but he gets hit on the very next play. And then that was a tip pass where he could have arced the ball a little better. But Cam Hayward, who was a monster in this game in key spots, had a forced fumble, deflected that pass. And that led to an interception. And then, yes, Ramondre fumbles on the goal line.

38:41He also fumbled earlier in the game. There was a sequence where right after the Ramondre fumble in the second half, they bring in Antonio Gibson, then he fumbles right away. And yet, you know, they had the ball with a chance to go win the game, take the lead in Steelers territory. And then Drake May fumbled after the pocket closes in on him very quickly. I am curious because I'm a dark fan. like I like to embrace the darkness of what it sounded like on Patriots radio when Stevenson fumbled on the goal line so let's check it out I have not heard this yet

39:17Patrick Claybon:right main center Hollins to the right two receivers digs in the slot hoody to the outside handoff Stevenson tripped up behind the line but he searches forward with a guy Remindry Stevenson is touchdown with the ball loose and it's a touchback it is a fumble the second lost fumble today by the Patriots. Yeah, I can't pitch burn. And Ramondri Stevenson, and the second turnover for the Patriots. I can't see anything from up here. We need to look at this again. So it's a give up inside. The three. It's out. Or inside. He just fumbled it. In this case. Oh, Scott Zolak. Never want to call the touchdown before, you know for sure.

39:59It did look like, you know, Stevenson scored there.

40:01Patrick Claybon:It's interesting to hear denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance all in the call there. We went through all five stages instantly on the Patriots call. Yeah, Shook, you know, looking at this Steelers team through three weeks, ultimately, like, they did find a way to win this game. They, after the first couple drives where Arthur Smith had it all over the Patriots defense and they were just dialing up easy play after easy play, you know, they went for a four-drive sequence where they gained a total of six yards and Rodgers threw a clunker of an interception. and I thought, okay, they've kind of got them dialed in, but they have pounded away here to go 2-0 against the AFC East lesser team so far.

40:44Yeah, it's really hard to figure out who they are right now because of the way that these two games against the AFC East went, and I also take into account the Seattle game because for all the potential of the Steelers offense that we saw in week one, we also saw the potential for crushing mistakes last week and a little bit of both today, yet they come away victorious. Like the drive chart for this game, for the Steelers, really for both teams, but especially for the Steelers during that stretch is just gross. Punt, end of half, interception, punt, punt, punt. And it's not until after they get that Drake May fumble that they cash in for another touchdown that decides the game.

41:16So it's like, who are they at this point offensively? I feel like Arthur Smith is a better pairing with Aaron Rodgers than what he had at quarterback last year. And yet they, you know, again, details. It's just that in a matchup against a team like the Patriots, who managed to fumble like, you know, Remindry Stevenson did on the goal line. you come away victorious but I think it's going to be a bit of an up and down season for them unless they correct some of these small things and the other thing that I kind of know stood out to me the rate at which they blitzed in this game considering how good their defense is supposed to be and how much money they spent they blitzed 20 times they put 20 times and got a pressure rate of 19 like that's a lot of blitzes for a defense that's not supposed to be manufacturing pressure that should be able to get after the quarterback without blitzing now Cam Hayward had a great game like you said.

42:01But yeah, there are some sneaky holes or weaknesses in this team that they still need to iron out. It was very confusing because Nick Herbert had an incredible game just killing Will Campbell. Will Campbell gave up seven or eight pressures. T.J. Watt had a ton of pressures in this game and gave Morgan Moses the business. The problem was that the Patriots were going to max protect like a decent amount of times and it was either all or nothing. They were either getting quick pressure or they weren't getting anything. And like I mentioned, it was a roller coaster game for Drake May. But man, I think Josh McDaniels has done an awesome job through three weeks.

42:35Maybe it just is comparing him to previous, you know, Patriots offenses the last few years. But guys are open. Guys make sense. In an offense that clearly has a number one receiver in Hunter Henry, they've been remarkably efficient and had a lot of open plays. And I'm confident now when they're in third and long that like Drake May is going to rip one or he's going to have a good run, which he did today. Seven carries for 45 yards. Like they overcame a lot of negative situations despite penalties, despite sloppiness. And then on the other side, like I mentioned, they kind of let Rogers off the hook.

43:06He had a fumble overturned by a penalty. The first drive, when they scored a touchdown, he skied one out that shouldn't have, you know, they ended up, they should have had a field goal, but a penalty bailed them out. They benched Alex Austin after another pass interference, bailed out a throw way out of bounds. They've just been sloppy. Their missed tackle rate is the highest that any Patriots team has had in nine years in this game. And last week, it was like incredibly high. Screens killed them. They've just been undisciplined on both sides. But ultimately, this year is all about Drake May to me.

43:39So I feel good. I'm going to try again.

43:42Patrick Claybon:I'm just saying he feel good. I mean, this is in credit to Drake May, who saw his career yards per carry average actually fall today. He's still ahead of Michael Vick career in terms of yards per carry. And he made there was multiple times today where he made the Steelers defense look old because they could not catch the Drake, maybe, but a lot of people can't because he's one of the best. Let's go. The Pittsburgh Steelers, 2-1, heading over to Dublin, wanted that game to be as spicy as it could be, and the Vikings, they did their part. Tight end Drew Sample to the right of Jake Browning out of the shotgun, throws a quickie right, caught Noah Fann, his fifth catch.

44:20He dropped the ball. Isaiah Rogers picked it up. No way. He is gone. On two defensive touchdowns for number two, Isaiah Rogers. Well done, young man. Oh, where were you for that Isaiah Rogers game? 66-yard fumble return. I wanted to hear, like, the incredulity in Paul Allen's voice there because it was the second touchdown that Rogers had of the game. That was on KFAN Let's not even wait around I just want to hear the other call Let's hear the pick six too Browning second and nine from the Vikings 29 takes the snap four man rush Jake floats to the left Now he looks to run to the right Now he throws and it's intercepted Isaiah Rogers Look out he's fast 30, 40, 50 That is loose Isaiah Rogers is gone Come on!

45:24An 87-yard pick six by Isaiah Rogers. Love that call. And I also love the fact that Isaiah Rogers not only had two touchdowns, he had two forceful moves in this game. Outrageous. Vikings win, by the way. Should have mentioned that. 48-10 in Carson Wentz's first start.

45:45Patrick Claybon:And Carson Wentz didn't have to do much because, as you mentioned, the Isaiah Rogers game that started where Jake Browning is hit as he throws, the ball kind of goes off of Harrison Smith's hands. Also, welcome back Harrison Smith coming back to this game from injury. Also, Christian Deresaw returning from injury, playing in this game after tearing his ACL week eight last season. Actually got the game ball from KOC for his return. Played pretty good in it. But again, Isaiah Rogers, if you saw that ball get tipped and he goes back for his first career touchdown, you may think, oh, it was tipped.

46:15Patrick Claybon:Is this really the Isaiah Rogers game? No. In the Noah Fant fumble. It may look like his teammate smacked Noah Fant. That was after Isaiah Rogers had already punched the ball up. Picks the ball up that he forced, the fumble that he forced, takes it back for the touchdown. Later, he punches another ball away from Jamar Chase. And it's just an incredible performance where the Vikings looked like the Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings against an overmatched Cincinnati Bengals team with their backup quarterback. Five turnovers for the Bengals. And, you know, we'll have a chance to talk about the Colts, but justice for Lou Anarumo.

46:53Patrick Claybon:This was a rough one for Al Golden's squad. And Carson Wentz comes in, starts off the game with a touchdown to Josh Oliver, where Christian Derisaw had a key block. Like, it may be, like, undervalued and under-discussed how much Christian Derisaw meant down the stretch for the Minnesota Vikings. But if he comes back, again, that's not a long time. Like, 11 months for the ACL and PCL injury that he had. Yeah. Like it's a really impressive bounce back for Christian Darasol. Huge for them. I want to stay on the Vikings for a sec. Cause it's 48 to 10. We'll get to the Bengals. It's literally the worst loss in team history.

47:29So that's, Hey, they started to know though, Greg, I mean, they are two and one, but the Jake Browning optimism is going away. And you look at this score and you think, okay, well that's fluky. The, all these return touchdowns and everything was like, okay, Jordan Mason also averaged 7.3 yards per carry. They also just about doubled them up. They did more than double them up in terms of total. yardage and almost yards of play. Wentz gets Jefferson involved and obviously their defense played great even on top of the five turnovers they had. What impressed you about the Wentz offense? What did he look like to you today?

48:03Patrick Claybon:I don't want to say the game managed situation as though it's a critique, but it's all you can ask for in a game where your defense is scoring touchdowns. And you've got an opportunity to come back and play. I thought he had Justin Jefferson on a couple of plays where Jefferson looked very, very explosive after the catch. But the most Jefferson that we saw today was him on the sidelines celebrating things that Isaiah Rogers did. Like this was a game that was so dominant by the defense where all the offense had to do was go move. Will Reichert hit a 62 yarder right before the half. This was a total domination.

48:41Patrick Claybon:I had a chance to see another dominating performance by another team today. but this was against the backup quarterback the Bengals clearly were overmatched. Yeah, the numbers shook for the Bengals offense in this game were so rough for most of it. I mean, they stayed that way. Eventually Jamar Chase finishes with five for 50 but I know it's the Vikings defense. What does this make you think about what this team is going to look like by the time Joe Burrow gets back? If he does get back, we heard today that mid-December would be the hope. I don't want to sound too extreme, but I think there were signs of this being a possibility in their win over Jacksonville last week with the way that Jake Browning threw passes into traffic as if the speed of the game was too much for him, which shouldn't be the case.

49:26He's got experience as a starter in place of Joe Burrow, but it just felt like that. And it definitely felt like that today. Your offensive success rate is below 29%. Your quarterback is overwhelmed for most of the game. He's making crushing mistakes. It's not a good outlook. And yes, you're right. It is against a Brian Flores defense, a defense that is traditionally opportunistic, but also a defense that likes to manufacture pressure. They blitz 12 times. So it wasn't a matter of like, hey, we have to create pressure and get him off his spot and harass him. It just happened naturally. And it concerns me about how they're going to handle, you know, some other competitive opponents.

49:58If you go look at their schedule, they play Denver next week, then they play Detroit, then they play Green Bay, then they play Pittsburgh. If they play like they did today, they'll lose all of those games. And that 2-0 start is not going to matter a whole lot. So hopefully they get these things corrected because it is only one game, but it's just a bad sign of what could be possible. Yeah. Brian Flores is a unique challenge. I think unlike really any other. And so Zach Taylor and Jake Browning together clearly were not up for that challenge. And next week, I'm really excited about being able to see that game live.

50:28And we'll be helping on Sky Sports, by the way, too, along with talk. And imagining Aaron Rodgers against this defense is tricky. It is worth noting, like Dallas Turner started this game because Van Ginkle, I think wasn't 100 % they were rotating him in. Harrison Smith came off the bench in this game too. So they are at a point with Wentz as their starter that they need their defense to carry them. And that's going to be their recipe. I thought it was very interesting, Patrick, that right after the game, Kevin O 'Connell said that Carson Wentz will be the starter next week. They're not even going to kind of like see how much their young quarterback is improving.

51:06I'm reading a little into that. Call me a conspiracy theorist. Yeah. JJ is hurt. He's hurt. An extra few days of the plane ride is not going to make him. Okay. If he was, he's hurt, but let's say he's Kirk Cousins from four years ago or whatever, and he's a week off of that sprain. I don't think they would be declaring Carson Wentz the starter on Sunday night already. I really don't.

51:27Patrick Claybon:In the event, JJ McCarthy was multiple time pro bowler and multi-time huge contract receiver, Kirk Cousins. Yeah. It would probably be different, but Carson Wentz one out there. I got TJ Hockinson back involved. Jalen Naylor had five targets today. Justin Jefferson got seven targets, 75 yards. Carson Wentz is back, baby. Take a command. I do love a Carson Wentz redemption story. As we all know, excited to really go ahead and start to take command. Let's go. I misspoke earlier this week when I said he was the first quarterback to start for five different franchises in five straight years? No. It was six.

52:05I did not recognize your game, Carson Wentz. Love to have you back in the league. Let's go to Los Angeles. Right across the street. Snap good. Hold good. Kick is good! Cam Dicker! The kicker secures victory as the Chargers start the season 3-0, knocking off each of their AFC West division foes in the process. Oh, what a start to the season for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. It truly gets no better. Like Matt Money Smith pointed out there on KFI. Good job editing Eric, not letting Daniel Jeremiah into the highlight. Beating your three division opponents to start the season is incredible.

52:58And they did it, Patrick, in a way that is so opposite of how the Chargers used to handle these late game situations.

53:07Patrick Claybon:Yeah, there was a such a sense of aggression. And this is against a Denver defense that was all over Justin Herbert down the stretch. One particular play, Nick Benito, got such a great jump. And Nick Benito had, I think, two and a half sacks in this game. I'll go check here in a second. but the second step of Herbert's drop back from the shotgun, Nick Benito's there. Like in Herbert was able to get the ball away just enough there. But the, the final moments, what wound up being the game winner and we'll go through everything that went wrong for the Denver Broncos was Justin Herbert showing just how talented he is, gets away from pressure is getting hit in the face by Nick Benito and has a throw of the year candidate to Keenan Allen for the game winning touchdown.

53:50Lad to the left joined by Keenan. Herbert to throw. They rush four. Herbert has time. Now he doesn't. Climbs the pocket, and now he's going to use his legs. Throws to the end zone. Caught Keenan! Touchdown! Touchdown, Chargers! Keenan Allen carrying Riley Moss as a backpack. Comes up with the grab, and they're an extra point away from tying this game. Normal quarterbacks are tackled right there. If you're Justin Herbert, you just shrug it off and throw a touchdown pass. Oh, DJ was thinking I can get into NFL daily if I jump into this fast enough. That is absolutely a throw of the year candidate.

54:29The more angles that you see it from, the better it is. Like Herbert is having a moment right now.

54:36Patrick Claybon:Yeah, he is. And it contrasted where over on the other side, and I call that the game winning throw. Ultimately, it took another possession and a Bo Nix incompletion deep down the sideline to Cortland Sutton just off of the outstriks, fingertips. tips and then we go back a couple of other times uh marvin mims was open deep in the third quarter nicks overthrew him and then we go back to the first half marvin mims was open deep and bo nicks missed him so those three shots all resulting in broncos punts eventually if i'm not mistaken two of them were on third down one of them was on second down where the broncos had opportunities to score didn't the last one to courtland sudden really uh kind of kind of stands out to you because he put a whole lot of air under it and Sutton just could not quite get to it.

55:21Patrick Claybon:But you just contrast that with a great quarterback who's playing great, making plays at home. Again, like getting his helmet spun all the way around as soon as he releases that ball. And yeah, good call. Good call on getting Keenan Allen to come back to Los Angeles. Keenan Allen's kind of changed his team, don't you think, Nick? Yeah, definitely. And it's really about his role in this bouncing out their receiving core and the distribution that Justin Herbert is able to achieve on a week-by-week basis. Like, if you look at their catches, you got six from Quentin Johnson, seven from Keenan Allen, six from Omari and Hampton, five from Gadsden, four from McConkie, including a big one that sets up the game-winning field goal.

55:58Like, he's got so many options. He's in complete control and comfortable, and he's just spreading the ball around the field, and they're moving down the field. And, yeah, they didn't put up a ton of points today, and there was a stretch there in the game where you thought, maybe they won't get this done. But ultimately, he did. He's found that clutch gene because of the options that are at his disposal. And that's a big reason why they're 3-0. You cannot look at this 3-0 start and say Justin Herbert isn't the linchpin of this offense, isn't the key reason, the Jenga piece of that tower or whatever, that they're having such a good start to the season.

56:28He's playing fantastic football. And in the biggest spots, like he did today, he comes through in a game that, like you said, in years past, they would have found a way to lose that game. Instead, because of him, they're winning these games.

56:38Patrick Claybon:And you talked about the overall talent of that receiving group. I know Quentin Johnson's having a great season, and folks are like, oh, is Quentin Johnson the one now? Vance Joseph showed you who they believe the one is because it was the reigning defensive player of the year, Patrick Sertan, one-on-one with Ladd McConkie in that gotta-have-it situation. Ladd got the win. I know Sertan's playing, coming off that injury. They finished the game last week, but they're so good in so many different spots, and a rough one is Najee Harris is most likely going to be done for the season. they're doing an MRI their concerns it's a Achilles injury but also you know Amarin Hampton finished the game great like the Chargers showed their talent and also on the sideline Khalil Mack had the e-stim machine working you could see the electronic stimulation on his elbow during the game they're committed Greg they are committed the Chargers are three now that is wild really sad yeah about Najee Harris you could see the disappointment in his face as he was carted off the field in that game.

57:40Hampton finishes with 129 yards and the offensive line, it sounds like didn't play as well. And that's what great quarterbacks do. In time, Bo Nix could be a quarterback that elevates rather than just kind of goes along with what his surroundings are. But right now, I feel like he is more of a product of the team. Not that he didn't make some plays today, but they've just haven't been consistent. They've been consistently bad in these one-score games. Sean Payton's record in one-score games with the Broncos is brutal, especially since the start of last year, but you pick up nine first downs in a game where the Chargers had 29.

58:23I mean, that's a Jim Harbaugh stat if I ever saw one. They somehow scraped out 29 first downs and only 376 yards. But that is a Jim Harbaugh station to station offense. And I love how Shook just throwing Gadsden in there. That's a Rondé Gadsden Jr. I don't believe he had a catch before today. I'm not sure if he was, he's been active for games, right? But he suddenly just pops in there and goes six for 59 and they could use a little bit of a tight end threat too. So that's nice for them.

58:54Patrick Claybon:Yeah, the talent disparity in previous years has been against the Chargers, where it's been a top-heavy roster, and now you see the way that they're filled out, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With so many guys making plays, they did this without Khalil Mack, as we mentioned, where you want to fall back to history and say, like, oh, this is the Chargers. But no, this is a very good football team that is in first place, and maybe, you know, first place for a while. Long way to go, but a couple games up in the division is not a bad place to be after three weeks. Let's go to another team that's 3-0.

59:33They played in San Francisco, but I'm not giving away who won the game because it was an undefeated matchup here between the Cardinals and the 49ers. This will be a 35-yard try for Pinheiro. It's down. The kick is on the way. And it is good! And Eddie Pinheiro wins it for the 49ers. What a game under the circumstances. Kyle Shanahan in this mass unit of players with all the injuries, and you could say it on both sides of the ball.

1:00:06Patrick Claybon:My God, is that inspiring. Another game-winning field goal. 16-15. Another season full of 49ers injuries. Why does this keep happening? And another good call there by Guy Haberman and Tim Ryan on KSFO. Eddie Pinheiro from 35 yards out. He not only hits it, he lets you know afterwards that he's that dude. You don't talk about Eddie Pinheiro because that's what will happen to you. 16 to 15, 49ers, 3-0. Shooky, tell me what mattered the most in this game. Well, first off, it was a rock fight. If you like low scoring games with some mistakes and some just the lack of overall offense and the lack of fireworks that you like to see from some games, then you'd enjoy this one.

1:00:56It was a classic divisional battle between two teams that know each other very well and two teams that couldn't get out of their own way in certain stretches. And they kind of mirrored each other for most of this game. It was six to three at halftime. It was it wasn't even it was 13 to 13 early in the fourth quarter. a safety because of a holding penalty in the end zone gives the Cardinals a two-point lead but of course they can't ice it the third down in completion gives the ball back to the Niners they go down the field kick the game-winning field goal Mack Jones battling through a knee injury they get stopped in a turnover on downs on the goal line because Mack Wilson's playing with his hair on fire and decks Christian McCaffrey right when the ball arrives there's just a little bit of everything in this game Mack throws a terrible pick and they still somehow bounce back and then he leads that game-winning drive that's the quarterback I mentioned by by the way, fourth career game winning drive, Mac Jones.

1:01:41There's a fun little stat for you. He got the job done for the 49ers today. That's undefeated starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Mac Jones. And you know what? He's probably going to get to sit on that. And I'm a man who roots for healthy players for the rest of the season because Brock Purdy, according to reports, has a very good chance, is really expected to return next week. And so Mac Jones did his job as a backup. I thought it was a legacy drive scenario. Now, of course, if Kyler Murray can actually move the ball when they get the ball back after the safety, then Mac Jones never gets a chance.

1:02:18Patrick Claybon:If the Arizona Cardinals had caught the balls that Kyler Murray threw the air, this would be a completely different game. There was a drop by Marvin Harrison Jr., albeit you could say he was going to score a touchdown. Fred Warner, as Fred Warner does, was screaming down the field he might have caught him because Kyler got hit as he threw. And so Harrison was coming back to the ball. And then the most egregious one was in the red zone. Amari DiMicardo had a walk-in touchdown that he dropped. And the last one was Zay Jones. Glad Zay Jones is back in the NFL. But there was a play that got broken up by the 49ers that could have given the Cardinals a chance to extend the game and kneel the ball out.

1:02:57Patrick Claybon:Where I've been watching this Cardinals offense and begging for some layups. but every single layup the Cardinals got today, they absolutely smoked at the rim. And it felt like a touch, Greg. I'm not saying, not to take anything away from the gutsy effort from Mac Jones, Eddie Pinheiro, who for some reason hates the Arizona Cardinals. I don't know what was going on in the celebration. I spent 15 minutes trying to look up if there was a player on a coaching staff. He's just fired up. He's pointing at the field like, this is where we play. It's like, dog, you just got there. You had to use Google Maps to get to the stadium.

1:03:33Patrick Claybon:like you have not been there for that long. But ultimately, a touch of a donation from the Arizona Cardinals with the opportunities that were presented. It's hilarious because the first person who's coming up to Pinheiro is Kendrick Bourne, who's familiar with how to get to the stadium, but has also only been there a couple weeks and has caught key third downs in each one of these games. Man, Chuck, this wasn't all McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall offense, it looked like, for the 49ers. They're playing on Thursday night. They have some injuries to worry about. I'm a little worried about the fact that McCaffrey had 27 touches in this game and is going to have a quick turnaround.

1:04:10Yeah, and he's had a lot of touches through the first three weeks because they've just lacked healthy talent around them. Ricky Pearsall has done a great job as the de facto number one, by the way. It's the second game of 100-plus receiving yards in his first three weeks of his second season. Remember, this is a guy whose career was, you know, the start was interrupted by getting shot before the start of the season. And now look at the season he's starting to put together for them. He's making clutch grabs. He had an incredible catch on a fourth and two ball. Mac Jones lays it up there down the sideline for him, snags it over a defender, keeps his feet inbounds.

1:04:39That sets up the touchdown pass Kyle Juszczyk, which is a big moment in this game. He's just playing really well for a guy who still doesn't have a ton of experience in such a prominent role. And it opens up opportunities for guys like Kendrick Bourne on that last drive to make a couple of key catches. But you're right. The crux of this offense is Christian McCaffrey, a guy who finishes with 10 catches for 88 yards, also runs 17 times for 52 yards. He is the engine behind this offense just because they don't have a lot of other options, especially with George Kittle out. So I worry about that too.

1:05:07Durability over the course of a long season, but we haven't since week one heard about health and that's an encouraging sign. Until we hear about health, I'm just going to say continue doing it. Maybe manage the reps a little bit more as you get further into the season, but it's what they have to do right now. And they are winning these close games are three and oh for a reason. No, they got to manage them better. They got to manage them better. They got Brian Robinson. this is not sustainable. They're doing 25 to 30 plus touches every week, especially when you got a Thursday night, it's a problem.

1:05:34And we alluded to the injuries. So Nick Bosa left this game after the game. They said they'll get an MRI at first. Kyle Shanahan said they didn't think it was an ACL, but they can't rule anything out. So he'll get an MRI. And then James Connor on the other side, unfortunately had an ankle injury that did not look good. and we'll await the word on that, but it could be Trey Benson's backfield for the Cardinals. They just, they haven't been as consistent running the ball. I know Kyler scrambled. Their success rate on their passing plays today was really low. And yeah, you mentioned, you know, Fred Warner.

1:06:14I mean, he was just flying around. He's been everywhere. Bryce Huff is helping out this defense. Dee Winters is helping out this defense. and ultimately they held the Cardinals 260 yards. Big win for them. Every single team in the NFC West has a winning record. And yet with these two teams, especially Cardinals 49ers, I'm still not really sure what they were, but you know, it's early. We don't really know anything. We think we know something. We don't know anything. Let's take a break and let's come back to another division, which is a lot different than we expected going into the season.

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1:11:12Safe balance banking. One less thing to figure out. Learn more at bfa.com slash earn100. Terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC. 27 seconds. Jags 17. Texans 10.

1:11:25Patrick Claybon:27 seconds to play. Third and one Texans from the 28 of Jacksonville. Shotgun formation. Collins now on the near side. Dropping a CJ Stroud. He gets hit as he let it go. The ball's floating up there. The ball is picked off. The Jags, I believe it, picked it off The Jags have picked it off The Jags have picked it off They take over at the room Four yard line What a wild, exciting call From Frank Frangie On WGXL CJ Stroud In another frustrating performance Was intercepted on a play where you can't blame him. You have to give the credit to Josh Hines Allen. That is why you pay that man all that money.

1:12:18He beat the rookie, Arante Urseri, who we've talked about quite a bit on this show, around the edge. So fast. Gets his paw out. Deflects it. And then a great diving interception to cap off a great day for the Jaguars defense. 17-10.

1:12:36Patrick Claybon:A game-saving play by Josh Hines Allen because Christian Kirk playing against his old team did win, and they did hold him. He's calling for the flag, but Christian Kirk, the defender, none of them could see the fact that Josh Hans-Island got his hand on that ball, causing it to fluff up there. It was actually the second pick that C.J. Stroud threw on the day that was intended for Christian Kirk in a game that, down the stretch, it was very 2025 Houston Texans and kind of 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars, if you look at the way that they made the donation to the Bengals last week. both C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence had some fourth quarter turnovers with the Jags had Nico Collins running through the secondary trying to get bonus yards able to force a fumble there gave them a bonus possession that they took advantage of in the fourth quarter to go ahead where Trevor Lawrence hit Brian Thomas Jr.

1:13:27Patrick Claybon:for 46 yards after the quote unquote good conversations he had with Liam Cohen this week so good on everybody in Duval and then I can't tell if the Houston Texans let Travis Etienne score. They did. On the go-ahead touchdown. It was very easy-looking. For sure, for sure. Touchdown from about four yards out. And Etienne, right when he scored, was like, shoot, should I have done that? But that's on the Jaguars coaches for not talking about it. If they wanted to, they had a situation where they could have gotten very close to the end and kicked the field goal. Yeah, and considering Jags history, go ahead and get into the end zone.

1:14:00Patrick Claybon:You're playing against a Texans team that's seen almost everything that could go wrong, go wrong in terms of the results. They've managed to get out of some of these games healthy, but it's just a familiar refrain for the Houston Texans to see the way that the game ended. And your Hunter snap watch, he had 79 total snaps. No, I don't want to talk about it right now. No? Okay, go for it. Okay, Travis Hunter snap watch, 79 total snaps, played a majority of the offensive and defensive snaps, truly going both ways, had one catch for 21 yards. There are those out there who's like, oh, he's giving up receptions.

1:14:32Patrick Claybon:I think Travis Hunter played just fine. He's a two-way player. he makes contributions on both sides of the ball third game give him time yeah i'm not worried it hasn't been a great first three weeks i want to see the cornerback snaps especially i am worried about his impact as a wide receiver early this season he clearly isn't a consistent part of the offense neither is brian thomas jr at least in terms of being effective for a lot of this game everyone is just wondering is he in his own head whether it's drops it's running the wrong routes It's him not even really getting open, the numbers are showing.

1:15:07And you would hope that that catch to basically win the game where he hit the fastest miles per hour that any wide receiver has on a play this year just leaves him feeling better and that he is able to play with a little more confidence. They'll need him. Deami Brown got hurt in this game. And, you know, Parker Washington can't be leading them in targets every week. He did today, though, and it worked. this defense shook against the Texans. Like this Jaguars defense, I think is for real. I think this team in general is for real, at least in terms of being a team that can compete with, with most any team.

1:15:44And I just think they're going to matter all season. I think they're just going to be in the mix. They certainly are here at two and one, and they really put the Texans in a spot at Oh, and three looking up at two teams in the division that they have not really had under D 'Amico Ryans. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I'm not taking anything away from the Jaguars, because they obviously have to create the problems that they created for a play like the last play that we just heard, the interception. You have to get that pressure and everything else. That's an achievement on your part. But I think that some of this story is also just a reflection of how bad of a state the Texans are currently in offensively.

1:16:19They scored 10 points. They had less than 300 yards. And this is a game against a quarterback that completed just 50 % of his passes and Trevor Lawrence finished 20 for 40. and you can't capitalize on that. That's a product of your defense being good and your offense just being miles behind. So yeah, I think you're right. The Jags are going to be in the mix. I think that they'll play spoiler, but they're also in a division that is pretty wide open. I mean, the Colts obviously on a hot start. We know what the Titans are. We don't know that the Texans can be good other than the fact that they have a strong defense because they're 0-3.

1:16:48So the Jags are in the mix, but this feels like a classic AFC South game where it's close because they're familiar. We don't really learn a lot other than our previous opinions potentially being reinforced in the first month of the season. And I feel like more of those were reinforced with the Texans and their struggles than the Jags, but a good win for them, of course. Right. This is why I think it's good to check success rate because I look at Chubb and Woody Marks' numbers and they split the carries pretty evenly today and it looks fine. They had a design success rate on their runs of 13%. I mean, that is an offensive line that can't do anything.

1:17:23It can't pass protect, it can't pick up stunts, and it certainly can't run block either. And it's a really big test of two guys I really believe in, CJ Stroud and D 'Amico Ryans moving forward because they're in a spot they just never expected to be in. And they found ways to lose three games against three good teams, but they found ways to lose them all at the end. That's going to be tough to recover from, especially when you got a juggernaut in your own division, a juggernaut led by Daniel Dimes. Daniel Jones under center, eye formation. Tyler Warren is the H-back. They give it to Taylor right up the gut.

1:18:01Big hole, 40. Cuts back to his right. Spinning upfield, still going. Good. Slips out of the tackle. He's at the 20. He's at the 10. He's at the 5. Touchdown! Jonathan Taylor rips it from 46 yards out. Touchdown, INDY. Yes, sir. It was tough to pick a highlight from this game because the Colts, they're so watchable. That's the thing that gets me. I was about to call them the best team in the NFL coming into this. Why not, Greg? Do it. Well, I don't believe that they are the best team in the NFL in terms of, you know, if you play on a neutral field, who do I think is better? But who has played football at the highest level in the year 2025?

1:18:47I think they have the best resume. Their offense is just absolutely ridiculous. And you can say, oh, it's the opponents. It's Tennessee. You know, it's Miami. Hey, how about they did it against the freaking Broncos a week ago? And then today their defense gets into the mix to 41 to 20. It's not all just about the schedule. It's about the playmakers on this team. Michael Pittman running over guys. Alec Pierce, on a day where, unfortunately, he got checked for a concussion, his head slams on what almost was a great long catch. He still adds four catches for 67 yards. Tyler Warren's in the mix. Shane Steichen is in his bag.

1:19:29He is the coach of the year through three weeks, no doubt. The opening script with this throwback play that they had to downs down the field, just beautiful. It's a lot of first reads for Daniel Jones. He looks better in the pocket than I would expect, getting away from pressure. And then more than anything, Jonathan Taylor is just freaking amazing right now. He's just awesome. So you add that all up and their offense, Shooky is a juggernaut and the defense, whatever. It's good enough. It's good enough to get out to these big leads and then just hold on and beat the Titans very easily on the road.

1:20:02Yeah, this was one of the least surprising results. Not because the Titans are terrible. I mean, we know that they have struggles, but because the Colts are the perfect team to win a game like this handily because of what you just said and because of offensive balance. That has been the defining trait of this team through three weeks. They have been able to do it on the ground. They've been able to do it through the air with Daniel Jones. He's comfortable. He's not facing immense pressure because teams have to respect Jonathan Taylor. It makes them a tough team to defend. And you got Shane Steichen at the controls cooking everything up.

1:20:33I agree. I think he is the leader for coach of the year right now because this is what the Colts envisioned when they hired him as a former play caller, as elevating him to the head coach role. and it felt like he just needed the quarterback. He needed the quarterback who could handle the operation. Daniel Jones is handling the operation really well through three weeks and he's spreading the ball around. Tyler Warren being a part of this offense is huge, I think, because it gives them the option outside of receiver that they've lacked in recent years. But it all starts with Jonathan Taylor. And by the way, that touchdown run, I think in the last two weeks, we've gotten two of the runs of the year.

1:21:03Last week from James Cook in New York, this week from Jonathan Taylor in Tennessee. So we're on a roll right now, baby.

1:21:09Patrick Claybon:Yeah, I was bemoaning the lack of layups for the Arizona Cardinals. It feels like Dimes just gets all the layups, especially when you consider how versatile this team is, because I know we talk about Tyler Warren doing everything. On the shot of the Taylor run, Tyler Warren was lined up in the backfield at fullback. And so you get your all-world rookie tight end who's willing to make plays in the blocking game as well. And made a great block. Yeah, this isn't some like, oh, give up, you know, this run in there and kind of get in the way, like sometimes we do for backup offensive linemen or defensive linemen like on the goal line no like Tyler Warren had a great block in the hole for Jonathan Taylor to spring him there and and they can just get you so many different ways that it feels like yeah it's it's Shane Steichen at the buffet he's picking and choosing how he wants to attack you it's all led by dimes and and I am sorry like I will pin an official letter to Daniel Jones because I'm like oh well you know you don't get to use Alec Pierce taking the top off the defense.

1:22:07Patrick Claybon:No, like there's a bomb to Alec Pierce every single game. And I hope he's all right because it's fun to watch right now. It's crazy. And the game did start with a big Cam Ward mistake where he threw a pick six to Kenny Moore, one of the best slot corners in the league, whose mom was at the game. So it was cool that he brings the football to his mom. Great moment for one of the best like veteran, just real dudes in the league, Kenny Moore. Yeah, maybe a candidate for Unca the Week, although Tony Jefferson's back in the mix once again. Cam Ward, though, was under so much pressure in this game against a team that hasn't had a lot of pressure this year.

1:22:45You know, Quiddy Pay had a nice game. Taequann Lewis had a good game. And I'm trying to figure out, like, is Cam Ward inviting the pressure or is the pressure just happening because of a bad offensive line? And it's definitely both, but a lot of quick pressure on him today, too. and I gotta say, by the end of the game, I was impressed again with Cam Ward's performance. There were a lot of jaw-dropping throws. He had a 27-yard rip to Calvin Ridley. He had another throw across his body. I think it was to Ayo Manor again. Like, Okonkwo had a solid game. Calvin Ridley dropped about three to four passes depending on how generous you want to be.

1:23:25So they put up 20 points in this game. It absolutely could have been more. Ridley's having a bit of a nightmare season right now and they're not getting anything done on the ground. So I think Callahan is facing some heat in Tennessee. People wondering, what is it that you are adding to the mix? Because you're supposed to be an offensive line guy. And just some of the decision making from Brian Callahan to me has been suspect. He goes a couple times early in this game, lining up for these long, like 64, 63 yard field goals from Joey Sly, who misses them both. and it sets up the Colts on these short fields in one case, right at the end of the half where it set up the Colts for a field goal.

1:24:08And shout out to NFL Daily Week listener, Amanda Balionis, for asking a good, tough question to Callahan coming off the field about those decisions. Too often we hear like, oh, you don't get anything out of these sideline interviews, especially now they've added the ones coming off at halftime. But that was great. I like to hear a good strategic question. and I think Titans fans were asking those sorts of questions because this team really hasn't been overly competitive through a couple weeks. They also lost Tavondre Sweat, by the way, to injured reserve. I hate these late-week injured reserve ads.

1:24:42It just slips through the cracks of the show. So I just wanted to say Tavondre Sweat. They already weren't in good shape. Dre Greenlaw, by the way, is now on injured reserve for the Broncos. Hasn't played at all this year. Just wanted to throw that out there.

1:24:54Patrick Claybon:Yeah, Devondre Sweat definitely would have helped in this situation going up against Jonathan Taylor, who's the engine of the offense. But going back and looking at Cam Ward and the way he played, and again, it's another loss, and I understand. That was his first career interception, the pick six by Kenny Moore. In these hitch routes, he was 7 of 7. The plays to the sideline, 8 of 9 total, where you see the arm strength and the decision-making. the flat route of course got picked by a veteran who caught him slipping there but still a lot to feel positive about but I'm with you on the things not to feel positive about for the Tennessee yeah that was just a case of him being a little too slow to get to his check down I think on the pick six and a veteran really being able to read it but overall man the Indianapolis Colts are one of these stories of the season undefeated.

1:25:50Let's go to the Chicago Bears, who entering today was one of the stories of the season for worse reasons. Two to the left. A gun to right, two left. Takes the snap, looking, scanning. Now running right. Gonna throw back in the end zone. Middle, DJ Moore. Touchdown. Touchdown, Bears. That's four, baby. Four Caleb Williams touchdowns. I've done more high fives in my career from Bears fans today. Bears up 30 to 14. That wound up being the final score with an extra point added 31 to 14. The Bears win. That's Jeff Joniak. And I could watch that failed celebration from Alameda Zaccheaus with DJ Moore again and again.

1:26:36He just goes flying through the screen expecting something to happen. I don't know what he wanted to happen. Supposedly, they had something planned where maybe Moore was going to jump up with him and Moore just was laughing and was clearly not on the same page. Great job by our producers, Eric Roberts and Chris Babona, just showing this thing on a loop. That kind of day. And I wanted to make that the highlight, not just because this is happening again and again. It just gets funnier every time. It reminds me of that pick six where Andy Dalton flew through the screen. Do you remember on a Monday night football after a pick?

1:27:16And you're just like, where did he come from? I wanted to show that because, Shook, it was shocking how open Bears receivers were in this game. And Caleb Williams deserves credit for buying a little extra time in that play. And I thought he used his legs very well today. And he got 298 yards on 28, you know, reception and 28 attempts. But man, like Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams and the Bears receivers did such a great job just creating so much space today. And it was a revenge on what Matt Iberflues did to the Bears fans for a few years. Yeah, yeah. Every time I had this on like a second screen and every time I looked over, I just see a Cowboys player throwing their helmet on the sideline.

1:27:58Like they're just that frustrated with how they perform defensively. How do you have time for guys to get open and for Caleb to buy another second or a half a second when your pressure rate lands at 25 percent? How do you get there? You lack effective guys that can get after the quarterback. That is the story of the Cowboys defense so far. Yes, we should not be surprised. This is a team that gave up a ton of points to the Giants last week. They're going to give up a ton of points to the Bears. Are the Cowboys the get right team for every offense in the NFL? We don't know that yet, but they've been that type of team for the last two weeks.

1:28:27And it's a perfect time for the Bears who desperately needed this to really kind of give their fans a bit of evidence of the Ben Johnson offense and how it can work when they're not under constant duress. And then when you have a flea flicker that goes to Luther Burden for a touchdown and a play like that to DJ Moore that seals up a fantastic day for them. You just feel better about this team, given what they've gone through in the two previous weeks. So good day for them. Maybe a preview of what's to come. And Caleb getting to show off the arm a little bit is always good for his reputation. Yeah.

1:28:55Roma Dunze opens up the scoring first drive of the game. Trevon Diggs slips on the route wide open for the touchdown. You mentioned the Burden play. I'm going to go ahead and say it. It's a throw of the year candidate. Just want it to be considered. And Caleb let her center drags Komet into the backfield. He'll line up as a fullback for DeAndre Swift from the 35-yard line. One safety back deep. Here's the pitch to Swift. Tosses it back to Caleb Williams. Looking deep down the left side. Going for Luther. Burn it over the shoulder 20. 10, 5, end zone. Touchdown. Touchdown, Bears. Ben's bag of tricks, baby.

1:29:35that's number one Ben's bag of tricks fans are going berserk they loved it yeah the bag of tricks

1:29:41Patrick Claybon:well going up against Matt Eberfluse's 2025 Dallas Cowboys defense uh the bag runneth over uh with with opportunities there and I owe an apology to Greg Rosenthal who had the number for this game it's 67 points and they didn't get there but I think the reason why uh was the injury by Noah Pasul making a tackle on CeeDee Lamb really limited the Cowboys opportunities to get involved in the score fest here in this one. But even if they did, just the allowance, I guess, of this Cowboys secondary of opportunities, it's a little too bountiful. But again, another solid performance by Dak Prescott. We saw that this Cowboys offense without CeeDee Lamb does take a little bit of a drop back, but he loaded up Ferguson with targets.

1:30:31Patrick Claybon:one of those reasons that one helmet was being slammed on the ground was George Pickens had a ball go out of his hands that was ultimately intercepted and he was frustrated about that but a frustrating game for the Dallas Cowboys is there might be a few more of the season yeah I can't believe that going into this game Dak had the lowest yards per attempt of his career and it's going to bump up a little after this game but not not a ton you got to watch to to see how well he is actually playing in this game yeah the two interceptions were off of a drop and then And we're off of a fourth down desperation throw at the goal line where Dak was right to just throw something up because he was under pressure.

1:31:05That gets picked, too. They did move the ball quite well all day. They actually outgained the Bears in this game, but they they just couldn't make it happen. And without CeeDee Lamb, this offense is a little DOA. They just don't don't have enough. I mean, they could be better than some of the offenses in the league, but not enough to remotely keep up with this defense. I misspoke earlier when I said that Roma Dunze, you know, made that catch on the first drive of the game. It was the first Bears drive of the game. But the game started with the Cowboys running the ball down the Bears throat. And Javante Williams, who looks like a man possessed, he was incredible today.

1:31:4210 carries for 76 yards, just crushing some people on some of these runs. Had the ball ripped out of his hands by Tyreek Stevenson. And that really set the tone for a Bears defense that it wasn't pretty, but they just need to be opportunistic, make a few plays. And that was an awesome individual play from Stevenson, who made a couple, also deflected a pass. And Montez Sweat made a couple plays. And ultimately, they were pretty good in the red zone. They forced four Cowboys turnovers. Joe Milton played in this game. We had some surprising quarterbacks play today. Max Brosner played today for the Vikings.

1:32:15We haven't gotten to the Falcons, but we have a surprising quarterback appearance in that game too. This Cowboys team is one and two now. Now, both of these teams are one and two. We'll see where they go, but it was a really necessary bounce back performance by the Bears. I think Shook hit the number one and most important point here. The Cowboys pass rush is a big problem. Ezeraku hasn't looked great. I thought this group was going to be one of the most dynamic in the league. It's one of my preseason takes that is the most wrong. Now, I thought Micah Parsons was part of it, but I thought the rest of the talent was so good behind Parsons that the whole group was going to be amazing.

1:32:53But I think we're learning that Micah Parsons is such a force multiplier that, man, everyone looks worse, including his teammates on the defensive line when he's not there. All right, before we go, a lot of talk about Caleb and Ben Johnson's relationship. Let's listen to Ben Johnson after the game. Two of the game balls went to Caleb. You know, I'm looking at his numbers. 142.6 passer rating and four touchdowns. I thought he was he was really good. and you know the thing that you don't see on the stat sheet is he's getting a lot more comfortable calling those plays in the huddle we're able to get out of the the huddle a little bit faster and we were able to get on the line and operate a little bit cleaner as well so was proud of him for that that is noteworthy because I do think that's something they struggled with early in the season I think they're still trying to figure out how to get DJ more and more involved he looked frustrated at one point after making a catch.

1:33:46Never seen a guy look so unhappy after making a first down. So not everything's perfect, but man, everything will taste better. Everything's life will be better in Chicago after a Bears win. Let's go to our nation's capital where, dare I say it, the best backup quarterback in the league resides.

1:34:03Patrick Claybon:In motion, Chris Moore. Here's the snap. Hand off right up the middle. That's Jeremy McNichols bouncing off the three Raiders. Breaks into the free. 40, 30 by 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5. Unbelievable touchdown run. Touchdown. Touchdown Washington. Jeremy McNichols broke through the Raiders' game. Oh, it's our old friend, Bram Weinstein. WBIG, Jeremy McNichols with a 60-yard touchdown run. It was a game full of big plays. You had McNichols. You had a punt return touchdown. We'll listen to that in just a second. by Jalen Lane. You had a big-time reception to Terry McLaurin. Unfortunately, left the game with an injury, I think, from that play, 56-yard catch and run where he nearly scored.

1:34:56He even had Luke McCaffrey get into the mix, got behind the defense on a busted play for 43 yards late when the Raiders were making it a little more interesting. 41-24. I came up with the hot take, shook that Mariota could be the best backup in the league. And I just mean in this system. I'm just really confident when he gets out there, he can run this system and he goes for almost 10 yards per attempt and they keep his attempts right down at 21 so that he doesn't have to do too much. That's a perfect recipe for the commanders. Yeah, I was hoping, you know, when you're listing all the accomplishments made by the commanders in this game, that you would tie it all together with the mention of Marcus freaking Mariota leading a team that finishes with 41 points on a Sunday.

1:35:39And I'm glad you did. but yeah i totally agree he's he's a experienced backup quarterback who has seen it all and can handle this system very well has the tools and the skill set that kind of mirrors jayden daniels in some ways he gets a two-yard rushing touchdown today for example he still has the threat to run you can run a read option with him he wanted to it fits well and even when they because like we've talked about how this receiving core felt a little thin after they lost guys like olamide zikias and other guys in the offseason and yet on a day like today the mention of mcafrey getting involved I think is important because Mario is where it all starts and he's able to distribute the football while keeping his attempts low enough obviously it helps you with the big plays when you have a number of different running backs combined for you know like 150 rushing yards that also helps too but I think you'd be in a much worse place if you had a lesser backup so totally on board with you on that and I hate to pivot it this way but at one and two now the Raiders are starting to concern me we knew they were kind of maybe got worse on defense in the offseason and And a game like this raises a couple of eyebrows that maybe things aren't going to turn around very quickly.

1:36:40Patrick Claybon:Yeah, you could call it a great run by Jeremy Nichols for that 60-yarder. You could also say the Raiders exhibited some very poor tackling on that play. And I remember back when they initially made the kickoff change, the first thing I thought was Debo Samuel. A player like Debo Samuel can make a huge play, and that's how the game started, was with the kickoff return from Debo Samuel, where maybe a few years back, Debo was celebrating in the end zone on that. he got caught but that's what put the commanders in that position to get that early score with marcus mariotta there mario had a great run in this game he had the ball punched out so it didn't quite uh make it into everybody's memory but he showed the explosiveness a little bit there he's moving yeah he had a good clip i have to check next gen stats to see what marcus uh how um much speed he gathered on that uh but but ultimately a game where it was never really in question and still had some scary moment for Michael Mayer and the Raiders' offense as Brock Bauer still looks to be a little slowed from that knee injury, and he's such a significant part of it.

1:37:43Patrick Claybon:But the real winner down the stretch was just fantasy points in garbage time because the commanders, once they got up, decided covering Trey Tucker was not something that they needed to worry about. He's your wide receiver one this week. It's not even close. It's outrageous. Trey Tucker goes eight for 145 and three. And now, to be fair, he looked good in the first half of this game, too. He was getting open. I said it this season. I love the way he snaps off his routes. He is so fast. That kind of speed and that kind of route running, Geno Smith, I think, is going to love throwing to him. And on one hand, it felt like garbage time.

1:38:20It started out as 10-10, like late in the second quarter. Then the commanders go on a run and get it all the way to 34-10. But there was a possession there before that McCaffrey play where it felt like the Raiders are almost back in this game. You just never know. Ultimately, watching the game, the biggest difference in these two teams was the line play in terms of the defensive lines, especially. Washington's absolutely dominated, and Las Vegas was just fine, like Max Crosby did his thing, but otherwise, Mariota had time, and the running success rate was pretty good for Washington throughout the course of the game.

1:39:00Bobby Wagner, ton of pressure in this game as a blitzer. He's really turned himself into a good blitzer. Deron Payne, ton of pressure in this game. Doran Armstrong, ton of pressure. And so there's the pressure on Geno Smith, who I thought played pretty well despite it, even early in the game when they weren't moving the ball. He looked scrambled and harried, but he was avoiding negative plays and hitting some plays when he needed to. He ends up with 289 yards and three touchdowns, a lot of that in garbage time. but even before that, his yards per attempt were pretty good. The problem was his offensive line stinks and it stinks for Ashton Gentry too.

1:39:35For the season, Ashton Gentry is still getting contacted on average behind the line of scrimmage. He has negative yards before contact for the season. That is outrageous. I get it that you'd like to see him make people miss a little bit more and be a little more explosive, but he is running over guys a decent amount. He is breaking tackles. the offensive line to me is the problem and they were not particularly competitive as you mentioned

1:40:02Patrick Claybon:for the second straight week that's it's concerning yeah you'd like to get ashen jenty in space but i can see where the thought that he's going to be contacting before he even gets the ball maybe starting to play a role in how he actually performs where the the blocking was better for him from boise state in situations where you could say boise was overmatched right it's it's like boise Boise State. I wish they were as creative as Boise State. Where's it at, Chip Kelly? I don't know. This Raider seems frustrating. Shout out to Dan Quinn, by the way, who took an absolute shot from Marcus Mariota on one of his scrambles, got knocked backwards.

1:40:42They should have been checking him in the concussion protocol because it looked like it hurt and that he was seeing stars when his head slammed back. But his face is bloody and he's on the sideline and never did a coach get more credit from his players in the locker room from being one of them dudes. And no one has ever questioned the toughness of backwards hat wearing Dan Quinn. So this to me was a signature Dan Quinn moment. And anytime you can win with a 40 burger going away with your backup quarterback, and that means you're doing something right as an organization. Let's take one last quick break.

1:41:16We'll come back with a few blowouts and Sunday night football.

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1:45:53Patrick Claybon:Pennix out of the gun here on second down and eight from the 16th. Powell pits. Motions to the right. Pennix the snap. Looking right. Now checks down left. Intercepted by Damani Richardson who walks it in for a touchdown. Now Shaw Smith weighed. Shaw Smith weighed the nickel. Read the screen, picked it off after a little juggle, and it's a walk-in touchdown. Ooh, Shaw Smith-Wade with a pick six. Very similar play to the Cam Ward interception earlier. Michael Penix late going back to his check down in the flat. Good anticipation. Part of a balanced Carolina Panthers 30-0 victory. What? I say like what's happened yeah literally watching this uh was just watching this disaster unfold for the Atlanta Falcons a week after a big defensive win over the Minnesota Vikings where the ground game takes over and you're playing against the Carolina Panthers team that has been uh very like historically bad against the run but for two straight weeks now the opponent has not been able to hold true to the run game against the Carolina Panthers it was 10 nothing when the Shaw Smith way jumps in front of that pass that Michael Penix throws to be John Robinson a little bit late in the flat, close to his own end zone for the pick six, but he was two of eight for 26 yards when pressured today, which matches the blitz numbers.

1:47:20Patrick Claybon:He was three of eight against the blitz for 13 yards where you're, you're watching a game where Bryce young didn't really have to do too much. He's 16 completions, 121 yards. It's like we said, coming into the year, just take care of the ball. Let this historically good Panthers defense get you wins. But that's, that's what happened today. like consistently making plays and maybe a zero Evro and this defensive unit have figured something out or the Falcons were just so bad that like Kirk cousins is coming in at the end of this divisional game to finish things out where it was just a Sunday to forget in Atlanta.

1:47:53Yeah. Raheem Morris confirmed afterwards, you know, that's just cause it's a blowout. Let's let's make sure Michael Panix that stays healthy and that he will be starting next week. No, no controversy there. I'm not surprised that they asked it, but a lot of decisions weren't working out for the Falcons. They cut Young-Waiku, and John Parker Romo comes in, misses two kicks early in this game, just like establishes some bad vibes. I know the numbers weren't great for Bryce Young or the Panthers' offense in general, but I do feel like just thinking about that third-down reception where Tetaro and McMillan just skies up to just pluck the ball away from the Falcons secondary.

1:48:34They were without AJ Terrell. It's more important than almost any takeaway from these first three weeks for the Panthers. Like, they did it. They finally drafted the right receiver. They got a dude, not just like, hey, he's going to be pretty good in the NFL, but a number one receiver dude. I feel confident in that after three weeks.

1:48:52Patrick Claybon:Yeah, the opening score for the Panthers saw a crucial third down where it was before that play, I believe you're talking about the pass in the flat that was elevated over the defender and T-Mac goes up and makes the grab where it's a 26-yard gain and he absolutely just loses the defender up the sideline, a great route, great catch, great finish, got some run after the catch where you can see what he brings and clear number one. There's no question. He's their number one and you can make a case, he as well as Ibuka in Tampa Bay, that they could be going back and forth for this rookie of the year conversation.

1:49:27Every once in a while, just a name will pop up in the show and it'll make me feel bad about what happened earlier in the show. Like we didn't make up nearly a big enough of a deal about Abuka in this game.

1:49:37Patrick Claybon:The one handed catch down the sideline? I mean, six for 85, like Mike Evans is out in this game hurt and you find your own number one. So yeah, the NFC South has found a couple of dudes and I was surprised to get this text. Friend of the show, my friend Mike Berkowitz, who's helped us out over the years, helped out the program, just killing Michael Penick. In a week where I said he looked like a veteran beyond his years, delay a game on a third and short, they kind of ran out of clock at the end of the first half. That can be on the quarterback. That can be on the coaching staff. Just a couple of clunkers of misses.

1:50:14He has been inaccurate at time. And then that pick six. So he takes a step back. It's funny how the season works out too because if this had been week one, just the vibes would be so different with these two teams. but in the end, beware the moral victory. The Falcons did lose that week one game to the Bucs in the end even though they outplayed them. And the Panthers, they just beat them down. These two teams are both 1-2. They're both two games now behind the Buccaneers and the Falcons' defense, which got a lot of love this week, on paper did their job but not well enough. Let's go to another blowout.

1:50:49But before we do, I do have to point out that was Jordan's survivor pick, the Atlanta Falcons. Now, Jordan, I was moving on to the next game. I know Jordan is a loyal listener when she's not on the show, even when she is on the show. She's just a pro. I wasn't even going to mention it, but Eric said to mention it. You feel bad because she's listening right now. What would you like to say? I don't. I'm just going with continuity. You brought up yours. So I figured we have to bring up hers. I don't know which is worse, losing on an 11 or 12-point favorite like I did with the Packers or losing your survivor pick 30 to nothing.

1:51:24They're both pretty shameful.

1:51:25Patrick Claybon:I don't think there's any shame involved. You guys put your heart and soul. As you said, I was demeaned for not taking things seriously, perhaps, and taking the Dolphins in week one. And you guys, who were taking it so seriously, lasted two more weeks. There is some salt in the wound in both of these picks because you pointed out that Jordan flipped on her beloved Panthers in the preview episode. And Patrick gave you an out because you forgot your pick, brought it up during the Colts game, and he said, you pick in the Colts and you said, I will do no such thing. And went back to pick against the Browns again.

1:52:00You know what was the... Eric's got all kinds of receipts, Greg. You know what was the more obvious pick? Search a transcript. It's pretty easy. You should always go for home teams. I mean, why not? It's a survivor pool. Go for home teams. The obvious pick was playing out in the Northwest. Kroger during warm-ups and he had a couple of rainmakers and here's one. This is a long high spiral. Horton back at his own five. Gets one block. Gets two blocks. Turns up field. Got some running room across the 30. 35. He made no 40. One a block. To midfield. 40. 30. 20. 15. 10. 5. Mr. Horton. Touchdown! Seahawks!

1:52:42Unbelievable blocks. Great run by the rookie. 95 yards. Oh, Steve Rable on K-I-R-O. I thought he was going to say, Mr. Horton, here's a house call or something like that. What a first quarter for this Seattle Seahawks special teams, really the entire teams, but the special teams alone had that punt return touchdown, also had a punt block, also had Sam Darnold playing at a very high level. They were up 21 to nothing within about 11 minutes of this game starting. They were up 35 to three midway through the second quarter. Shooky, you just don't see beatdowns this decisive, this fast in the NFL too often.

1:53:33Yeah, if you blinked, you missed the first three touchdowns. I mean, that's how quickly that the Seahawks were in complete control of this game. And it just kind of snowballed from there. this was a great example of I think the vision of what the Seahawks had in their minds when they made their change at quarterback this offseason and also how certain matchups can't be a measuring stick because I don't think you're going to look at this win over the Saints and be like the Seahawks are a juggernaut but everything that they envisioned with getting Sam Darnold and changing their offense and kind of building it around his strengths came true in this game he was great on the rollout he threw a beautiful touchdown pass it was timing it was trust to Jackson Smith and Jigba and they were in the red zone but the way that he rolled out to his left and found him was just it was beautiful stuff it's stuff that that you picture you want your Sam Donald offense to look like but it's also the Torrey Horton day we had the Isaiah Rogers day in Minnesota it's Torrey Horton day in Seattle because not only did he have that punt return touchdown he caught a touchdown too so a great day for him and the Seahawks a dominant performance and if you're the Saints you get back on that flight across the country and you think we got a lot of things to figure out right now.

1:54:38Yeah, it's funny because I didn't think the Saints offense even played that poorly in the first half. They actually were up in time of possession, 22 minutes to seven. And part of that is just the Seahawks are scoring so quickly and on special teams. But the offense was moving the ball. It was just one of those days if your special teams plays that bad. Shuggy mentions Horton, by the way, who played about the same number of snaps as Cooper Cup and Jackson Smith in Jigba. So that's interesting to me and got more targets. than Kup in this game, who's coming off a good game and had a couple nice grabs in this one.

1:55:10They can be a complete team. They're able to run the ball. Darnold was efficient. I think they made a couple nice catches on Darnold's throws that weren't perfectly accurate. He had some that were amazing. He averages way over 10 yards per attempt, and the defense is just full of beasts.

1:55:25Patrick Claybon:Yeah, it was kind of the recipe of the very aggressive deep passing attack that we saw from Sam Darnold last year with the Minnesota Vikings, and you wonder how much Mike Mack was going to let him be that aggressive. Well, they're like the governor was off and this went against the Saints considering the way things started where like one of the things I'll remember about that Torrey Horton return is Chaz Surratt got that huge block and he's throwing his arms up to celebrate a touchdown. They're at the 40 yard line. Yeah, that thing was it was over from the onset there and we saw how explosive Horton could be in the passing game.

1:55:58Patrick Claybon:I just go back because it's 14 of 18, 218 yards, two touchdowns, like almost a perfect passer rating. like if Sam Darnold is going to be that efficient watch out and again it was against the Saints but I mean if you want to play like transitive property right football like if you're a college football fan and it's like oh this team beat that team and it's like we can't do that here you got to win every single game no they also weren't easy throws the 45 yard throw to JSN was incredible on the money down down the field you mentioned the touchdown pass too so he gets all the credit in the world.

1:56:30I'll continue to say that this Saints defense has been worse than I expected. And the Saints offense has been better on balance than I expected, but obviously not good enough today. Kellen Moore with some curious decisions. I've just haven't loved his game management at times. Yeah, this season, he went for a 53 yard field goal late in the first half on fourth and two when they were down, I believe 35 to three or 28 to three at the time and he missed it. He got punished and then he did kick the field goal from 23 yards out to end the first half to make it 38 to six. You're like, you're like, you know, we call both of those what sad field goals.

1:57:14That was one of the saddest

1:57:15Patrick Claybon:field goals I've ever seen the one at the end of the first I actually thought the first attempt was even more egregious because I because it was a long attempt from a relatively shaky kicker lately and you're on fourth and two and you're down by five touchdowns just play play some football but you're right at the end of the half it was sad uh they asked him after the game about it and his response was uh we just wanted some points well yeah thanks we know you wanted some points got it gotta go gotta go and feeling positive when it's 38 to 6 by the way that's the answer for every coach if you're gonna ask why they kicked the yes obviously you would like the three points coach we want to know what played into the decision to try to get the three points there as opposed to doing something else, which is like scoring a touchdown when you're getting blown out on the road.

1:57:58And it's a small pick to knit, but you could have brought Tyler Shuck into this game earlier. And I think get the rookie sometime. It's 44 to six and you're not bringing in the rookie. He does end up coming in.

1:58:09Patrick Claybon:Drew Locke was in the game way before Tyler Shuck. Right. He's in Spencer Rattler. I thought played like he's played this season pretty well, all things considered. But bring in Shuck and just give him a fourth quarter or even a little more. He ends up going 0-2 in limited duty. The Seahawks, they're frisky. They're interesting. They're 2-1. They're on Thursday night football against the 49ers. We're going to say goodbye to Patrick right here, but we're not taking a break. We're going right to another primetime game in the Meadowlands. Twist in the middle by the Giants. Backing up is Mahomes. Now launching long again on the left side.

1:58:43The pass is going to be caught. It's caught at the one-yard line. An incredible catch by Tyquan Thornton. If you don't do it the first time for 34 and a touchdown, you do it the next time for 33 yards at the one-yard line. Oh my goodness, what a catch by Tyquan Thornton. His hands outstretched

1:59:04Patrick Claybon:with Drew Phillips all over him. Oh, you know, it's a different Kansas City Chiefs offense when Tyquan Thornton feels like the linchpin to all of it. That was Mitch Holtis on KFNZFM. And yes, this was a Sunday night game without a ton of amazing highlights to the point that we actually chose a catch that wasn't even a touchdown. 22-9, the Kansas City Chiefs get off the schneid. They are 1-2. And yes, Nick, that was a beautiful throw. He's rolling out, throwing it across his body. An even better catch by Taekwon Thornton. And when his arm went up, you know, behind the Giants defenders, I thought like that's the best first down signal I've ever seen.

1:59:52Taequann Thornton ends up with five catches, 71 yards and a touchdown. And the Chiefs get out of a game that felt like it was week 16, 17 and everyone was getting fired. And yet it was week three, 22 to nine. The Giants are 0 and 3. Let's start kind of with the Chiefs taking a while to get going in this game. Did this make you feel any differently about this Chiefs group? No. You know, all the promise of the explosive plays and everything, I think we left that behind in week one when Xavier Worthy got knocked out. And I think that we've collectively accepted that this is what the Chiefs look like offensively, that they're not going to be a super flashy team and that they are going to try to push the ball on the field, but you don't know if it's actually going to work or not.

2:00:33But ultimately, they're going to do the things correctly that they need to do to beat a team like the New York Giants on the road. and I know the Giants just gave up a ton of points to the Cowboys last week, but I have respect for what they bring to the table in their front seven and I felt as if it might give the Chiefs a bit of a challenge. So this is about what I expected, including the way the game ended. Right. It ended with, first of all, we should point out, the Chiefs played well after halftime on offense. It was just an ugly first half, 9-6 at halftime, with the Chiefs getting a late field goal.

2:01:06really the game turned around. The play of the game was amazingly a Patrick Mahomes fumble slash Patrick Mahomes forced fumble. It will go down in the box score as a fumble. He throws a backwards pass. He realizes it. He runs after the play and he gets the ball right back. It was an amazing like athletic play by Patrick Mahomes and heads up and just I can't believe that it actually happened. And if the Giants were going to win this game, it was holding on to the ball in that moment. It was a backwards pass to Pacheco there. Bobby Okereke picks it up for a half of a second and then Mahomes swipes it away.

2:01:47They end up getting three points at the end of the half with this crazy pass interference call and then played much better on offense after halftime. But it was one of those types of games, Shook, where... Thank you. It still just made you uneven. Like the connection to Travis Kelsey is so weird. There was like the play with the triple pump fake where Mahomes just throws it into the dirt. They're trying to hit him deep. That's not working. Like Juju Smith Schuster is just too involved. They just cannot wait until Rasheed Rice and Xavier Worthy are back in the field. And they needed to get this win because they have some tough games coming up with Baltimore.

2:02:24They have an at Jacksonville and a Detroit coming up. Like all three of those are challenging. and they had to get this one. You mentioned how the game ended. I think you're alluding to the Russell Wilson red zone fun. Was that the last that we see of Russell Wilson? Because, man, this performance was ugly from him. Yeah, you want to talk about ugly. I think it is uglier on the Giants side. And, yeah, it felt pretty strongly like we were watching the final minutes of Russell Wilson as Giants starting quarterback, which is hilarious because a week ago we were lauding him for a career day against the Dallas Cowboys.

2:02:59and going over 400 yards and all that magic. But this is the reminder of who he really is in this Giants offense. They're limited. They once again ran into issues in the red zone. It frustrated their fans so much that they were just raining booze down on them after every play. Russ throws it away on second down and gets an intentional grounding. He essentially throws it away on fourth and kind of to goal with the game kind of on the line, like it's their last ditch. And it just kind of explains who they are with him at quarterback. and you could hear the cheers from the fans every time Jackson Dart came in as like a runner as a quarterback who was just going to run some sort of option look and how much how displeased they were when Russ replaced him it's just like you could feel the tide turning toward it and I understand why I thought Chris Collinsworth did a really good job of explaining why they bring Dart into run and what he brings to the table as opposed to Russell Wilson and he kind of diagrammed it with George Karloftis playing the edge and he was like when Dart's in there he has to stay home because darts liable to run outside, keep the ball and take off the outside.

2:03:57And then like three plays later, they try to run the same thing with Russ and Karloff just swallows it up because he doesn't have to respect Russ because Russ doesn't bring that to the table. And if Brian Dable is going to save his job and maximize the potential of his offense, it's not going to be with Russell Wilson. And I think we're real close to a change. Yeah, I think he's got to play next week. People are like, oh, you can't play him against the Chargers. You got to play him at some point. They play the Saints the following week. Like, why are we just trying to time it? I think he's going to play next week.

2:04:21We're taping this immediately after the game. So we're not sure what Brian Dable is going to say in the postgame press conference. I don't think he's going to be thrilled. Cam Scadaboo had an amazing game. Cam Scadaboo led the team in rushing and receiving 60 yards, rushing 61 yards, receiving on 16 touches overall with the touchdown and a backflip and a lot of missed tackles. But if the whole offense is Cam Scadaboo, that's not the greatest sign in the world. Malik Nabors didn't have a catch until late in the game. Tyrone Tracy had an injury in this game. They did get Andrew Thomas back, which I really think is going to help at left tackle, but he was on a snap count.

2:04:54So he was not out there in the second half. And it is a bummer. Yeah, you mentioned that sequence at the end, just throwing balls out of the end zone and stumbling on an RPO that clearly Jackson Dart would be better suited for. It's kind of a bummer of a way to go out. This isn't a moment for the Chiefs where it feels like everything is solved, but they outcoached them. And Chris Jones and the defense ultimately has played pretty well in back to back weeks. So they are just happy to get out of there with a W. Chiefs at 2-1, or rather 1-2, whereas the Giants now at 0-3. That is it for our Sunday night, week three recap.

2:05:35We will be back on Monday night. Yes, me and my little buddy, Nick Shook, who's really not so little. I'm sorry if this thing starts to stick. No, it's already stuck. We keep hearing. I'm your little buddy. About the little buddy. But this is our Monday night show where we're on live after YouTube. And it won't be nearly as late as it was, of course, last week when we had the doubleheader. And it's a banger of a game, Lions and Ravens. So join us. It's fun in the chat. We'll have the recap right after the show. Man, it's going to be a big week. I'm getting ready. We're going to Dublin. But there's still a lot to break down with the rest of this week three.

2:06:21And we still got the game of the week coming. We'll see you Monday night.

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