2026 NFL Week 1 Early Games Preview

22:01The Texans did not want Juice Struggs. Right. Like Isaac Tesla is that as their third running back. They don't have David Montgomery anymore. I don't know if we ever mentioned on the show, Isaac, Isaiah Pacheco, their backup running back is on injured reserve. So it's going to be either Jacob Saylors or Sione Iwaki, just like new players. There's a lot of new, a lot of questions there. How about Tyler Shuck, though? My guy with a few more weapons. I know they don't have Jordan Tyson, but if you look at some of the groups he was going out with at the end of last season at running back, the receiver depth, and then the offensive line, like those are all improved.

22:35For now, the offensive line is pristine and healthy, and I hope they stay that way because a lot of injury risk. But right now on paper with Travis H. And like it looks pretty awesome.

22:45Jourdan Rodrigue:And he's a threat in the passing game too. So some of that pressure that you expect the Lions at least try to bring, especially with Aiden Hutchinson, knowing that when Tyler Shuck takes a sack, man, does he ever take a sack? And so they're going to try to bring it early. Calvin Shepard is going to try to bring, you know, your, your typical four man pressure. If he can, we'll see if they actually can, but certainly Aiden Hutchinson's going to try to be active. And then I wouldn't, I wouldn't not, I would not unexpected. That's not even a right word. I would definitely expect Calvin Shepard to blitz as well.

23:21Jourdan Rodrigue:And so for me, I like the Saints offensive line. I like their, they're growing a little bit together upon the addition of David Edwards, who I heard in, you know, last year. That's a big pickup. HN's a big pickup. And HN's a big pickup for mitigating pressure because he can be a factor in the passing game. He was six touchdowns last year. so I feel like this is like he's he's got outlets he's got weapons he's got options but he's got options in every layer of the field which I like as well there's a lot going on with this Lions team that I nailed that you nailed it it's week one guys yeah DJ Wanham is starting like they Derek Moore is a second round pick who's an edge rusher for them they're starting Devin White at linebacker in the year 2026 that's a little crazy here are some players starting in their secondary Chuck Clark, who's been bouncing around the AFC North.

24:09Avante Maddox, who's been bouncing around the entire NFL. Christian Isian, who, you know, didn't have, like, there's just a lot of questions about this Lions team.

24:18Jourdan Rodrigue:It got on my radar a little bit that Dan Campbell was so publicly effusive about Eric O 'Neill, the undrafted free agent, who's going to be, like, playing special. He was on your list. Don't think I didn't read it. Thank you, Greg. Future hits. But wasn't really effusive. I get their transcripts all summer about Wanham, and has to take a big step forward, obviously. So for me, that was something that was on my radar a little bit. I'm going to put you on the spot here. Oh, great. Good. And just give me like one speed round, one quick thing, player, you're watching in this game that we didn't get to.

24:51Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, we kind of got to him, but I'm on Ross St. Brown. Because I think Drew Petsing's offense, what we know it to be true of it is that at least one player gets spammed, right? Like it, there's at least two receivers. There's a lot of use of the tight end and loves to run the ball. Something like 4.3 yards per 4.9 yards per carry average while he was in Arizona. Some say maybe a Clayton Adams merchant. I don't play in Adams, uh, who is now running the Cowboys offensive line. But what we know of it is there's going to be a lot of motion play action going to run the ball and got a really heavily spam and feature a quote unquote F type of player, a player who's either a power slot or a tight end in the slot who can dictate the play strengths and can really help shift matchups and be friendly for the quarterback.

25:40Jourdan Rodrigue:I'm on Ross St. Browd. Artie is that. I think that Jared Goff likes to obviously target him. For me, I'm curious about how he can continue to elevate with this offensive coordinator. I love that pick. I love points in this game. I don't like the Lions as some monster favorite, but I think they get out of here with the win. Do you think this could be like a shootout or something? Like, do you think there's a potential? I think there's actually potential. It is. Yes, that this game, I believe could be a shootout. We had a couple on the board where I just don't think the defense is going to show up in week one.

26:12The Bears Panthers wouldn't shock me either. Bears are favored in Carolina. No respect for the NFC South champions. Three and a half point favorites on the road in week one. I kind of forgot that Drew Brees was doing football games again. He's just permanently part of the group. And I appreciate that he's willing to do the work that he got better, but he he's accepting that, you know, he's number three, number four on the depth chart. He's behind guys like, like Daryl Johnston. And he's out there doing the work for kind of like the third or fourth best game of the weekend. You have the opening question here.

26:45Jourdan Rodrigue:Can the Panthers become the new live on the high leverage plays team? And the bears were this last season, Greg, which we talked a lot about on the show. The Bears' defense was predicated on how well it could force turnovers, especially in the passing game. And on offense, they really thrived on the splash play, but Ben Johnson has made it a point all offseason and training camp to be better down-to-down and situationally more sustainable. The Panthers, on the other side, they brought in Devin Lloyd, who was one of the interception leaders, certainly was at linebacker. They have Mike Jackson and J.C.

27:22Jourdan Rodrigue:Horn on the perimeter. J.C. Horn's going to play a little slot, I think, as well. Those two guys combined for nine regular season interceptions. Devin Lloyd had five. I know we don't think interceptions are as sticky and historically they're not, but they also added pass rush in Jalen Phillips. So for me, it's like, can the Panthers now become the team that kind of gets carried or rolls on these high leverage plays? Can they become like the Bears defense? What the Bears was. But a better version of it, hopefully. Because even the Bears defense last year, they maxed out of what they could do. and to me they maxed out like getting close to average whereas I think the Carolina Panthers are gonna hope for better out of their defense.

28:04I think it's a big year for Giro Evero. We've kind of been hearing for a while how good of a coach he is in a bad situation. They wouldn't let him leave. A lot of people respect him around the league. They give him a little more talent. Unfortunately, they've lost some talent with Nick Skorton getting hurt and there have been injuries there but overall, if you're comparing these two defenses for what it's worth. Panthers got a better line. They're better up front. And I think they're better in the secondary. And they're going to need to be because it's a very tough matchup. But can Evero show that he can add a little schematic advantage and gum up this Bears offense, which in year two are going to be expected to take a step from year one, despite losing DJ Moore.

28:49Jourdan Rodrigue:And I cannot wait to see what this Bears defense does because Ben Johnson, through his actions and also some of the moves the team made in the draft in terms of bringing in Sam Rausch, a tight end, and some of the personnels that they already activated last year and will continue to do, plus some. This year, the second-year ascension of Colston Loveland, who already looked like one of the best tight ends in football. Last year, having guys who can really get the after-the-catch yards, Luther Burden, Roma Dunze, can never forget about him. I think we'd like to see him take another step forward.

29:25I'd like to see him play in this game and stay healthy. So he hurt his foot to give an injury update since we last taped. It actually happened in practice and he is considered day to day.

29:36Jourdan Rodrigue:I don't have an update. And well, they're calling him day to day. I think he is missing practice right now. It is a foot injury, which Ben Johnson insists is not the same foot injury that he suffered through all last year. It's never a good sign when the coach is always like, it's not the same injury. it's the same body part and it's the same guy who's been struggling with this injury but it's not the same is it the same foot it i mean i don't know it's a foot injury but he's got two yeah we each do try to christy's on the men back in the back i know she's got the boot on she's got she's got both feet working uh that that's important because on paper some of the bears optimism doesn't quite you know make sense they have a new center that i'm not in love with garrett Bradbury.

30:20That's a downgrade. Braxton Jones is back at left tackle, but you know, they were, they cut a guy that that was still like battling for the starting left tackle job, not that long ago. And you know, they're, they're not that deep at receiver. Kalief Raymond, I think is going to be a big part of this team. And yet because it's Ben Johnson and because Caleb Williams could get better, you just, you just kind of believe it's going to happen.

30:40Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, and I liked their run game so much last year. And I think that while you really hope that, you know, Kyle Menungai was dealing, I believe, with injuries in camp too. He missed about a month, but he is back at practice this week. Sounds like he'll play. Which is great. And so for me, him and DeAndre Swift were such a good combination once they really figured everything out. They were one of the highest DVOA teams in the run specifically last season after a certain point of year, like first third of the season. So once it clicked, it really, really clicked. And that's what Ben Johnson's offense is.

31:12Jourdan Rodrigue:There's new steps, new layers to it. Every year, I feel like it will evolve in some way and really adjust to his personnel. And I have all of that expectation. My question on the other side is, will the Panthers evolve? And if so, how? Because I think they're going to play more multiple tight end sets, Greg. And I know that's kind of like, we've been begging for that for a minute, but Darren Waller and Tommy Tremble are there now. There was these voids in the field last year when Tommy Tremble, you just see him like running across the field. And I'm like, why do more of that? You know, guys though, that, you're worried about as much as blockers.

31:48I think it's a larger question for the Panthers in general. Just how good is the depth of the skill position, guys? We like Jalen Coker. We love Ted Roa McMillan. This is 2026. You need to have more than two guys. So I think that's a good question. And they're not going to have much easier matchup than this. I'll go as far as to say, I feel like the Panthers kind of got to win this game. I know they're underdogs. Here's why. They're year three of their regime. we're supposed to be taking a step up. It's year two of the Bears. These two teams made the big trade. It should be mentioned when this game happens.

32:25This is what the Bears got in the Bryce Young trade. Caleb Williams, Darnell Wright, who's like an all-pro right tackle, Tyreek Stevenson, who's probably starting at cornerback in this game, and Luther Burton. There were some trades up and down, but essentially, that was what they got. Plus two years of DJ Moore, which was valuable to them. All for Bryce. So let's, let's step it up. And it's a good matchup for them against one of the worst defenses in the league on paper.

32:51Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah. Their offensive line is so banged up right now. Monroe Freeling is going to start, uh, get a start as a rookie right tackle. And I think for me, it's an Elton Jenkins at left tackle too, because remember Taylor Moten and Iki Akwamu are still recovering from potentially serious injury for Taylor Moten with the blood clots. And then Iki is supposed to be back at some point, but just, it's, it's just a process. Maybe Rashid Walker at left. Excuse me. And Rasheed Walker, left tackle. And I think that it's important because this pass rush, we don't know whether we can buy it at all with the Bears.

33:23Jourdan Rodrigue:It's almost like the Bears went about their offseason. Like they knew something we didn't know about their defensive line. But I feel like I'm pretty sure we know already. And then the secondary spent the whole preseason getting hurt. If you haven't been listening to NFL Daily throughout camp, if I'm ranking different sides of the ball that had the worst preseason and in general had a bad injury luck this preseason. It's the Chicago Bears. Like they don't have much of a pass rush. They are missing a lot of their players on the back end. And so you are counting on some backups. Kyler Gordon is not going to be available for this game.

33:57You know, you lost Kobe Bryant, who is supposed to be your big free agent ticket. And you're asking a lot out of rookie Dylan Thienemann. So a lot to watch here. But yeah, this could be a points game too. This was the one I was thinking about where I think Carolina is actually advanced enough in their maturity. They should take advantage of easy matchups. This is an easy matchup. It really is. All right, let's take a quick break. We've done four games. You said there's a lot of games, Jordan, in week one, but we only have four more of this early set. So we'll do that in just a few minutes.

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37:42Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Must be 21 plus and present in a state where Bet 365 operates. Please gamble responsibly. Restrictions and terms and conditions apply. Void where prohibited. Download the app today. Back on NFL Daily, just laying in the cut. Here is like the fifth game on the rundown. We haven't assigned the games yet. Well, you got Texans bills.

38:09Jourdan Rodrigue:Certain promises were made. Yeah, you got Texans bills. I might have to take Ravens at the Colts. I am fascinated to see these two teams in week one. I did the show with Mina. Like, who do you want to see in week one? She took the Colts as like her first pick or so, which totally makes sense to me. Just, you just want to see what it looks like. And I want to see what this Ravens team looks like. They are three and a half point favorites on the road. It's Andrew Catalan, Logan Ryan, AJ Ross for CBS. Not a lot of respect for this game. I'm giving a respect. I'm taking it. My big question is about a player.

38:42I feel like we haven't talked enough about who is one of the biggest acquisitions of the off season. It's Trey Hendrickson.

38:49Jourdan Rodrigue:And my note to myself is Trey Hendrickson is also, here guys. And it's him sort of as an example of this Ravens defense. But the question is what happens if and when Trey Hendrickson gets Daniel Jones off the spot? Because then we'll really see the Achilles on the move. Like what does it look like? Does that happen a lot? And what sort of Daniel Jones are we going to see? Because he was incredible. Didn't against pressure last year. It doesn't feel sticky, but he was the best quarterback in the league statistically against pressure last year. What I'm so curious about is, man, the reports about him.

39:31Jourdan Rodrigue:This was not a training camp I was able to go to in person this summer. You can only pick so many. I regret that I didn't pick this one because the reports, you know, our friend James Boyd at the Athletics, Stephen Holder at ESPN, Ben Solak was out there saying that this did not look like an injured quarterback or a quarterback who's coming out of injury. And the comparison to that is guys like Kirk Cousins, who, yes, a lot older, but who looked so slow and creaky coming off of such a significant injury and the cutting and the actual live speed of that. Like it's I have like a morbid fascination toward this.

40:08I do, too. And one of the reasons why I can imagine that working, number one, you know, you're not really getting pressured in the training camp practices. You know, you've got to stay away from the quarterback. Yeah. What is getting off your spot? Like, what does it look like? He never has been a quick Twitch athlete to me. He's an incredible, like, straight line athlete. Why are you laughing? Me saying that?

40:27Jourdan Rodrigue:No, he reminds me of, like, a Lego character where their legs only go one direction. Sure. I can imagine that. But, like, a very fast one that occasionally trips on himself. Like, running his ass off. Right. Big dude. He's, like, a physically impressive guy. But I kind of want to bring up Hendrickson, too, because this was such a disappointing Ravens defense a year ago. Namdi Madabuike finally started to practice in team drills this week. Now, does that mean he's going to play week one? The reporting around him right now indicates he might play week two. So he might be a week away or they won't use him much.

41:04But you have Trey Hendrickson. You have Calais Campbell. That's fun. Are we going to get improvement from like year two, Mike Green, who they took high? Travis Jones is a good young player. And so that's a really good matchup against a good offensive line and a quarterback who looked better in that system than I ever thought he would look in the NFL, period.

41:26Jourdan Rodrigue:This is going to sound crazy for half a second. Jesse Minter, what he was able to do with a true star veteran pass rusher plus complimentary pass rushers in Los Angeles. Cleo Mack is not Trey Hendrickson, vice versa. Trey Hendrickson is certainly not Khalil Mack. I'm waiting for the crazy. That's I mean, the the the the interpreted comp sounds crazy when I say it out loud. I'm just saying schematically picking spots, understanding leverages, setting guys up for success, rotating them so that it's not necessarily such a huge workload, especially for a veteran player as Trey Hendrickson is with an injury history as Trey Hendrickson has.

42:10Jourdan Rodrigue:I think there's such a high ceiling here, especially when you factor in a dynamic space eater who still got juice in Calais Campbell in the middle of all the action. You have to just keep an eye on one of these guys at all times, which really helps mathematically, especially if you're past rushing in a rotation like we know Jesse Mincher likes to do with his front structure. I like that idea too, because Hendrickson is 31 years old. Khalil Mack has aged very well and consistent, but actually Khalil Mack has a little Calais Campbell to him where you don't want to play him in September or October.

42:42By the end of the year, they...

42:43Jourdan Rodrigue:You're like, what a great signing. Like, no, by the end of the year, they tend to start looking their age more when you pile up all the snaps. So maybe week one is a bad time to go against him. But Hendrickson has to show that he can age well. I have a crazy stat, though. Next-gen stats. This is why it's good to just check with next-gen, like what little notes they have. Bernard Ryman, the left tackle that Trey Hendrickson will be lined up against because he's traditionally just lining up on one side, had his worst game. And I think in general, like for pass rushers, he's faced at least 20, 30 pass rushers in his career.

43:18Trey Hendrickson has the highest pressure rate. He always gave Bernard Ryman problems. I mean, he gives a lot of people problems, but that matchup was particularly bad for him. I also get to live out in this matchup, something that I always think about was like, what if like Lamar Jackson played his whole career indoors? I mean, that changes your career. Like Peyton Manning's career was way better because he played indoors. It's just a fact.

43:41Jourdan Rodrigue:Starting in a box, right? So you put him on this fast track in Indianapolis and go against Lou Anarumo. It's the first game for Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. It's just a lot's going to be going on on that side of the ball too. I thought it was super telling that Jesse Minter in our interview on power players last, was it this week? This week? That he alluded to Declan Doyle being able to run basically everything modern that we're seeing in the NFL right now, to me, that indicated multiple tight end sets that indicated motions that indicated a dynamic and multi-layered run scheme. That's some gaps, some zone, all of those things, a little bit of pace, some tempo.

44:20Jourdan Rodrigue:Our friend Nate Tice really thinks tempo is going to be huge, a huge thing this year in the NFL. So all of those types of things. I mean, I've been saying that all off season. Why you got to give credit to, cause I like him better. He is taller, He is taller. And better at football for sure. So, but I think that it was telling that he said, but Declan Doyle will have his own little twists and wrinkles. And of course he will because he has Lamar freaking Jackson. And so I think a lot of people forget how much Lamar Jackson was a factor in the run game at the start of last season. Sometimes at the start of seasons where he is healthy, you'll really see that.

44:54Jourdan Rodrigue:I think it's the reporting out of Baltimore right now is that Lamar Jackson wants to be like way more activated in, in all of that. And I think that's really, really exciting. I want him to stay healthy also. But I think that's so exciting to think about. You can do all of these different things that we know are so effective. We don't see them often with a quarterback of Lamar's talent and ability. I have a lot of questions about the Colts defense too. You know, they drafted CJ Allen in the second round, presumably to start. He's not going to start. Like at this point, it's Jalen Carlisle and Akeem Davis Gaither, just players that haven't started a lot in the NFL.

45:30It's an older pass rush, but they're hoping that Leatu Latu steps up. You have Sauce Gardner kind of added to the mix. You have a rookie starting at safety, an A.G. Halsey, but you don't know if you're going to have Charverius Ward at quarterback. There's just like a lot of questions there. And then I think about also what Jesse Minner said on the other side, just getting back to their defense. That, you know, the number one thing he wants to do when you look at the numbers in the NFL is stop explosives. And when you think about the Colts offense last year, Pierce, Taylor, and a little bit of down.

46:03Certainly Daniel Jones, like all about explosives.

46:06Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, and so Daniel Jones being able to potentially extend plays to help create those explosives is going to be so incredibly important. That's the movement thing that we come back to. Just want to also say, I spoke way too soon on our little happy moments are bringing me joy segments earlier this summer, because I was like, oh, the Ravens finally have a center. Yay. And they still didn't all the way into camp. And now it's Javon Gwynn who is going to be starting for them at center. According to reports out of Baltimore, he was a Falcon seventh round draft pick in 2023. Something to watch. Yes.

46:41Yeah. They had a, unfortunately an injury there. And then they also have a veteran in Ethan Pochuk who's coming back from a torn Achilles. So that is a good X factor to watch in this game. Good one. Let's go to the Falcons and the Steelers. The Steelers are favored by three and a half points. They get Joe Davis and Greg Olson and Pam Oliver. Interesting that the Sunday slate, not quite as loaded week one with like box office games. Cause they're all in, in prime time. Still. I like this. I have the question. I'm so I was asked to be nice. Oh, by our producer, um, about his Steelers. And I think the question has actually optimistic.

47:25it is can Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers be different? Like that's, that's the number one thing I'm curious about with this season. I don't think, I think they can't win if he's not different, but I think there is a world where Mike McCarthy's coaching and offensive scheme has Aaron Rodgers playing better and different this season. And then we're cooking with a medium amount of gas.

47:52Jourdan Rodrigue:I see your question and I raise you a question. Do you think it's at all a red flag that Mike McCarthy also said this offense is inspired by what Aaron Rodgers likes to do? My slightly paraphrasing. No, I think that makes total sense. What are you going to do? You know, like you brought Mike McCarthy in, I think in large part to make Aaron Rodgers better, which is, which was a crazy. But this version of him, can he do the things even he wants to do? I mean, at the beginning of camp, he talked more about play action, about, you know, trying to create a little bit more downfield, all of these types of things.

48:29Jourdan Rodrigue:Once he gets on the field, he he hasn't played like that. So that's I guess what I'm getting at with the question, which is McCarthy, who is good on the details and consistently has well run operations for offense. Can he get Rodgers a little bit out of what's been Rodgers' comfort zone since coming off the torn Achilles and get him hanging in the pocket, get the operation, including the receivers, kind of being on their marks? If everything is just run better, Rodgers will feel more comfortable. And I think the ceiling is relatively low for Rodgers. But he was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league last year.

49:05If they can get him to be average and just a little more versatile, I like the rest of this roster. I've been talking about it the rest of this offseason. So I think that is their route to winning 10, 11 games. And I think this is a fascinating matchup to start with because it's against a Jeff Ulbert defense in Atlanta that doesn't have a lot of juice, but does throw a lot at you.

49:27Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, and I, you know, when you said it kind of, you alluded to it with the word you used, like I like how Mike McCarthy designs his passing game. I always have liked how Mike McCarthy designs his passing game and they have multiplicity built into this roster, Michael Pittman there is great. Tough, physical, is going to do the things that basically says, okay, DK Metcalf, just go, right? Go run, you know, run the routes you want to run. Be the go guy down the field and have Michael Pittman Jr. sort of grind out the yards after the catch things that can help with some of the pressure. They have layers in their passing game in that regard.

50:07Remember we had him on after the Super Bowl and he kind of indicated he wasn't sure if he was long for the Indianapolis Colts. I know. Do you think I'm being too hard on my son Walker? He took Pittman like eighth round in fantasy. I know you're not a fantasy gal, but just like fairly high. And I was like, that's a boring pick. I don't like that.

50:25Jourdan Rodrigue:Oh, it's Daniel Jeremiah. You know, you can't just point out people walking by. This is an audio medium. But I'm such a fan. It's also a visual medium. You just got Jeremiah mogged. Everyone should check out the new Move the Sticks, by the way. Our old friend with a new podcast. Very cool. He had Howie Roseman on. I love him even more if he gives me his Chargers Texans. I think Walker is amazing. I don't care about his fantasy football team or yours. Do you think Pittman's numbers will be good this year? Yes, I do. Over under 900 yards. Probably right about 900, I think. Do you think he gains more than DK Metcalf?

51:04Jourdan Rodrigue:No. Okay. So DK is still the one. Well, especially if he's creating explosives, which they absolutely have to do in order to win games this year. Are you interested in my tiny table take? Oh, I should have set this up at the beginning of the show for each episode this season that we preview all the games. And yes, we do the early and light games, but just one tiny table prediction per week. This is a tradition that we started before our very first season. We stand on the table. It is a tiny table, which you neglected to bring in this week. And we're going to stand on it next week. But just rhetorically, you're going to stand on a tiny table and make one big prediction a week.

51:52It's in this game.

51:52Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, you could stand on the tiny table and make a tiny take. And but I'm standing on the tiny table for this tiny take, which is that if you're not going to pay Joey Porter Jr., you got to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys. This is my tiny table take. That's a trident table take? That I'm standing on this week. And it could age poorly by the end of the show. Well, what does that even mean? I mean, okay. I mean, they're not going to do it. I thought we were doing some sort of predictions, you know? Because you can't get this wrong. They're not going to trade him. They should. They should. That's your take.

52:26Jourdan Rodrigue:That's my take. I like that. They should use him. Listen, pay him. First of all, my thing has been, my stance has been pay Joey Porter Jr. and Christian Gonzalez just got paid. I thought that there was just some eyeballing of seeing where each corner stood financially, and then maybe the contract getting resolved. After then, I think he's one of the best corners in the NFL. I think so. I think he has such a high ceiling. And there's been some streakiness, sure, but I think he has such a high ceiling. And if the Steelers don't want to pay him, and reports as of this recording is that they're still far apart.

53:06Jourdan Rodrigue:Now, remember, some of that reporting also held true for the Christian Gonzalez situation. Then seven hours later, the deal got done. So we just don't know. But this, to me, if teams like the Dallas Cowboys are out there saying our secondary needs help. We have a lot of money. We have a lot of money. By the way, we have a lot of money. My only thing with trading anyone this time of year is just the picks are going to be there in February. But you love trades. You also love trades. I love them. You know, maybe if you get into the scene, there's just no advantage to me for Pittsburgh. This is my tiny table.

53:39Jourdan Rodrigue:I'm standing on the tiny table. If you are not going to pay him, you should pay him. If you're not going to pay him, just move on. If it is inevitable, make it immediate. We should talk about the Falcons quickly. Kevin Stefanski, Bill Callahan. Can their run game get better with a very similar offensive line and the best running back in football. Pittsburgh was very good stopping the run. They were very good really just in general last season defensively. And they did not, you know, stop opposing pass rushers very well. I think they have a good reputation. The Falcons offensive line is like a good pass rush group.

54:18They actually gave up the fifth highest quick pressure rate in the NFL last year. So that's something I'm going to be watching with the three co-starters. How about they listed Nick Herbig, TJ Watt, and Alex Highsmith as co-starters? Giving Herbig a little pop there.

54:33Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, well, you kind of have to. Imagine not listing him as a co-starter after you gave him the contract. I guess, but will he actually be starting? Which, by the way, I love that contract. I feel like, again, a guy who, snap count-wise, may be a little bit underutilized. He'll get more this year, for sure. Could really take off even more this year. Tua Tungo Vailoa is starting this game. We hit that story at length on our Tuesday show with Nick Shook. So people can check that out. But it's a game. It's a week to week proposition for Tua. It's a brand new offense. And yeah, we'll see how he can bring it together.

55:09Tough one on the road in Pittsburgh. Let's go to Tennessee where the Titans are one and a half point favorites in a must win week one game. I saw that bandaid about by Paul Kaharski. I don't know. How can a week one be must win? but I get what he means that.

55:24Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, it's a Robert Sala revenge game. It's a Robert Sala revenge game. It's a massive game for both teams because it's an opportunity for each of them to go one and O. And yet if you lose, you're like, man, we couldn't beat the jets. And if, and if you're the jets, it's like, man, we couldn't beat the Titans. And if you're Robert Sala, um, you're going to be having some gristle after losing the Sala bowl. Let's, let's listen to cam ward. Well, it means everything does. Um, we, we want to win, uh, not only for, you know, ourselves and the culture that we're setting, but we want to win for him too.

55:55Jourdan Rodrigue:You know, not a lot of coaches, you know, coach the style he coaches with. He's very straight to the point. And, you know, this is a big opportunity for all of us. We get to go, you know, show, you know, the new Titans, you know, what we're about, the physicality, the fast, the violent that we continue to preach each and every day. And, I mean, I'm happy to be a part of it. I'm happy to be, you know, a key, you know, factor in whether we win or lose a game. I went more big picture with my one big question for this game. This was the one where I told you pre-show. It really helps if you imagine me saying this in a Patrick Starr impression.

56:29Okay.

56:30Jourdan Rodrigue:Who are these teams? I mean, I thought you could have just given it a better effort there. Who are these teams? There we go. That was great. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know who they are. They are two of the teams that spent the most in free agency. Yep. The Titans were second and the Jets were surprisingly only ninth, but it was so concentrated on defense that, that caught my attention. So they are teams that are counting on a lot of new players to make a big impact. Just specifically, I think about the Jets when they have the ball, Gino Smith at quarterback, Frank Reich as the offensive coordinator.

57:11Jourdan Rodrigue:I liked your little pause that you gave there. Just exciting. Gino Smith. A.D. Mitchell was very active for this Jets team late last season. And so I'm thinking about the matchup of A.D. Mitchell and Garrett Wilson versus a Titans secondary that I have questions about. You're starting Cordell Flott and Alante Taylor. You give a lot of money to them. Will they step up at safety? You have a second-year player I kind of like in Kevin Winston. You have an unknown in Marcus Harris. It's a lot of unknown. If I was going to find one advantage for either team in this game, I mean, I think the Jets passing game could look pretty good.

57:43How about that?

57:44Jourdan Rodrigue:Oh, you do? do you? In fact, I'm going to stand on the tiny table and I'm going to make a prediction. I'm not going to have a take. I'm going to say Geno Smith goes for over 250 yards, lights up the Titans, a couple of touchdowns. Basically, Geno Smith balls out week one. That's my tiny table take. I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you. I just feel like week one, let's eat while they're eating could be good. Hey man, I hung onions on mine. That's a, that's a heck of a prediction. Okay. So you're treating it as a prediction. Okay. I mean, they should do it. They're not, it would be wild if they did it.

58:19Jourdan Rodrigue:You, I love how you go, Jordan, what's this idea that you have for this section? I said, tiny table take. And you said, bet, I am not going to make a take. I'm going to make a prediction. And your sucks. Oh, that's what you just said to me. That's what I heard. No. Well, mine is because how, I love yours. If you just, if you nailed that trade in week five, wouldn't you'd be so incredibly right. But by then it'd be like a month from now. And it's like, I want something we can keep track of next week. You know, I still said it. We'll make a doc. I learned from you. At least if you say it, you can't be wrong.

58:53You know, when it comes to this Jets defense, before we move on from this game, just, you know, for people who haven't been locked in it, so many new players, Aaron Glenn's calling plays, even though he wasn't planning to, you bring in David on Yamada. We don't know if to bondre sweat is healthy, but you traded for him. You have an exciting young player in David Bailey as a big time pass rusher, but then you have a lot of new names. Joseph Asai has been hurt. He is not going to help out at edge. Sounds like for a little while. Demario Davis is there at linebacker, the old hand like Minka Fitzpatrick reportedly looked awesome.

59:26And you're going up against a Titans group that reportedly struggled to the point in the preseason and train camp that I started to get a bad feeling that some, there are some years where one offense struggles throughout camp and it actually continues into the season. Do you think it will continue for the Titans?

59:44Jourdan Rodrigue:I like Cam Ward. I was, I was curious at the beginning of all of this, bringing Brian Dable and how bumpy it could be at the start, because it's not like it's always smooth sailing when you bring in a new offense, when you onboard an offense that is very adherent to what the play caller wants to do. and it's also a entirely new culture, entirely new system. You've got a head coach and a head coach who is your offensive coordinator. It's a lot of dynamics at play. A lot going on. A lot going on. And to the point of my initial big question, who are these teams? I think that when you spend the way that you do in free agency and you get a lot of floor raising what I think are bridge players and you spend in that direction, it's really hard to establish what your identity is.

1:00:33Jourdan Rodrigue:You have to almost play out from underneath those guys in the moment. And that's a hard thing to do. And it's a sour thing to do. And sometimes the vibes can be bad, which is why both teams should be really excited that they're playing against each other week one. Because I believe if either of these teams gets over expectations, they're going to be much different, much better in weeks, 10, 12, 15. And so any win you can stack early while it's a little bumpy is absolutely. And I'll tell you what though, to, to your point, to your very impeccably done tiny table take. I can't wait to see this. I feel bad.

1:01:07Jourdan Rodrigue:I can't wait to see this offense. Geno Smith, a couple of good receivers, a great offensive line. I like it. I hope you're right. And the pass rush for the Titans looks improved too. So they could give them problems, but I like that Jets offensive line. Let's finish with the Browns and the Jaguars. Biggest number we've had so far early. The Jaguars favored by eight and a half. Tom McCarthy on the call for CBS and Robert Turbin. Have we had Robert Turbin games? Turbo? I don't think so. I feel like he's new to the mix. And our friend Tiffany Blackman. Oh, Tiffany. I used to work with on the sidelines.

1:01:39The Jaguars are favored big. You have the question here.

1:01:44Jourdan Rodrigue:I want to say this in a WWE voice, but I just am not going to be able to do it. Who's ready for the Travis Hunter show? Oh, yes. Yes. I wanted to tee you up for a little joy because we've talked about Travis Hunter as just being the epitome of joy, just the way he is, the way he carries himself, his potential, the ability. I'm curious that more apropos question, what's the snap count look like? Cause it sounds like he's going to mostly be playing corner based on the reporting out of like camp and out of the local great, great group of beat reporters down in Jacksonville. But I'm curious because I feel like in a game like this, you could maybe just try stuff, try different things.

1:02:22Jourdan Rodrigue:I'm going to put, I'm going to put a guess out here. Okay. He plays virtually every snap on defense. Yes. 60 snaps. and like 10 snaps on offense. I think they might go the other way. Like we have Jacoby Myers back. He is at practice. Barker Washington's back. He's at practice. Right now we're healthy. Playing the Browns. Not that they're probably quite thinking about that. You're playing the Miles Garrett-less Browns. Maybe we don't need him on offense this week. Let's save him for a tougher matchup. Well, no, with Rutenberg Bible, a defensive coordinator, in his first game as the defensive coordinator of this group that's minus Miles Garrett, that's developing a new identity.

1:02:58Jourdan Rodrigue:Some really solid players. Can you explain the Rutenberg Bible? Oh, Mike Rutenberg is there. I can never not think of that word when I think of Mike Rutenberg's... Brand new coordinator. Probably a nice man. I don't know. Taking over for Jim Schwartz. Did you know the origin of the printing press related to that Bible? It was the first... Something like that. Yeah, you didn't know. No. That was the whole bit. I'm with you. Travis Hunter. I'm on all pro watch. I can't wait. Literally, because I'm going to vote. And that was my point. It's because I... That's awesome. I can't... What a flex. I can't wait to see because I do think...

1:03:35Jourdan Rodrigue:I mean, he is a top corner for them. He's obviously like a full-time starter for them immediately this year, now that he's healthy. And I can't wait to see how, first of all, he gets his feet back under him, metaphorically and literally, in that position. But then also how they just start to sprinkle him in and increase. because one thing I do know about this group is that, yes, they will probably take a more cautious and smart approach because he did get injured last year, but I have zero doubt that they're going to still try to make this happen in some way, this two-way player thing. I would believe it with every fiber in my body that they're going to make it happen.

1:04:12I agree, and I just don't think it's necessarily an every week heavy thing, but even 10 snaps, 10 more than most cornerbacks are out there getting. So we'll see. I'm very curious how much worse the Cleveland defense is without Jim Schwartz. There's no reason they're going to be worse for sure. I think Jared verse had one of like the quietly best training camps by all accounts. And you hope Carson Schwester is a hundred percent. He missed a lot of training camp because Liam Cohen is going to throw a lot at you. This is a big number for week one, but he loved how the running game looked in, in the preseason and in training camp.

1:04:50And they have, you know, a very different offensive line. If Colvin Landon is back and he's uncertain to be back at right tackle, they've switched tackle spots. They actually, I believe this is true between these two teams. Stuff that my head, I believe only one of 10 offensive line starters between the two teams were starting in the same position a year ago. And that would be Robert Hainsey.

1:05:15Jourdan Rodrigue:I was going to say, is it Hainsey? For the Jaguars. like otherwise like both teams even though the Jaguars have a lot to feel good and build about there are a lot of questions about their offensive line specifically and they're going up against a pretty good front yeah I can see this being one of those Shanahan tree type of circle the linebacker I think Carson's question is amazing first of all but again you mentioned that the injury situation through camp this is one of those quick hits across the middle Parker Washington Jacoby Myers like just establish the spine of this offense. Don't worry too much about anything fancy.

1:05:49Jourdan Rodrigue:Get the run game going. Really test the mettle of this defense. Again, Jared Verse brings them such an edge, no pun intended. He is he's awesome. Browns fans are going to absolutely love this guy. Love watching him play. Love his personality. But it's a big unknown factor. It's a big unknown factor. And then they also will see on tape that there have been some issues in the past with upon first contact, overshooting the quarterback, overshooting the run when you're playing the run, maybe missing that first contact. And I hope, you know, for his development that he does clean that up. But that's one of the things that they're going to see on tape from when he was with Los Angeles.

1:06:26Jourdan Rodrigue:And that's one of the things that a team like Jacksonville with a quarterback that can move a little bit and also with a run game, the way that it looks the way it is, is going to try to capitalize on. So, you know, we talked about looking forward to seeing Travis Hunter. It's fun to think about the matchups. Like it could be him against Casey Concepcion. Oh my God. It could be him again. Denzel Boston. This is the most exciting rookie receiver tandem in the NFL. The problem is they're playing for the Browns. Will Deshaun Watson throw the ball deep? Will he feel comfortable? Will he not just like go to his check down right away and not like...

1:07:01Jourdan Rodrigue:And throw it a yard ahead of him. Right. And just will he go through his reads? He just hasn't been a comfortable quarterback for a long time. And I think he's got a two-week tryout here. And if he doesn't play well against two pretty good defenses in Jacksonville and Tampa the next two weeks, I don't think he's going to be starting week three in Cleveland. But he has a chance to really change the course of the rest of his career for the next couple weeks. And I think he's got some fun talent around him with Harold Fannin and Quinchot Junkins is out there. There's an argument to be made that the Jaguars defense could take a step back with not all the turnovers they had a year ago.

1:07:37I think they will be just fine. this is one big line that I still would take the favorite. All right. That's it for the early games. Stay tuned if you're watching us on the Fast Channel or if you're listening to us, go check out our late game preview. That'll be next in your feed. We'll see you then. So there's a golfer in your life and a birthday or a holiday.

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1:09:35Jourdan Rodrigue:around the league. Get new episodes of the NFL Report Monday through Friday, all season long. Listen to the NFL Report podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sykema. If you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the field, check out our show, NFL Pro. Every week, we break down the biggest plays, trends, and matchups using exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content you will not find anywhere else. Whether you're new to football, a fantasy football fanatic, or a diehard fan, NFL Pro will help you analyze the game like a pro.

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