2026 NFL Week 3 Late and Primetime Games Preview

17:34Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, that's That's a cool crew. Might have to assign myself it. It's just a fun matchup because these two teams, I think have been more exciting than expected. My number that I'm going to point out, I'm going back to pass block win rate, 63 % for the Raiders. That is first in the entire NFL through two weeks. It's a good matchup against the Saints, but on paper, the Saints pass rush is not great. The numbers and the eyeballs tell me they've actually been solid so far because Chase Young and Caden Ellis blitzing has been a really big addition to this team. But that could be a mismatch for the Raiders.

18:11You give Kirk Kesent some time and you protect them and good things can happen.

18:15Patrick Claybon:Yeah, and you give him a generationally gifted tight end back for the first time in the 2026 season where it's the idea that the Raiders would be 2-0 and 2-0 without Brock Bowers. Outrageous. It's nuts. Coach Kubiak has got it. They're dialed in. Kirk's dialed in. Trey Tucker had a 40-yard touchdown last week. And in terms of winning on both sides of the ball, because the offensive line, the defensive line, Max Crosby, it's break up the Raiders. I'm excited for it, too. Trey Tucker, one of our five making the leap candidates. We had to narrow it down to just five. So we've got a lot of stock here in Trey Tucker.

18:53Wow, that's heavily invested. We're feeling good.

18:54Jourdan Rodrigue:We're counting on you, Trey Tucker. You know what's kind of crazy, though, thinking about this, is the Raiders are pass-protecting that well. on the other side of the ball, they're number one in pressure rate right now. Like, it's crazy, especially, and this is so unfortunate because you've talked Kelvin Banks up for so long. Greg started out the year really well, and then obviously he's going to be out now with the ankle injury. So that really is frightening because the Raiders being number one in pressure rate, they have eight sacks, they don't have to blitz very much either. So they can afford to get that pressure going one-on-one against these outside tackles.

19:27Jourdan Rodrigue:They can mix up on the interior pressure a little bit too. that's where I do worry because we know for all of his bent, his, for all of his positive traits, Tyler Shuck is going to take a sack. If the sack is there, he is, he is going to take it. So he'll take a hit and deliver too, but not to take anything away from, from your beloved Tyler Shuck, Greg, I know, but that to me, this to me is a, one of the sneaky, cool surprises in a good way. Both of these teams are, because I think the saints, we have really liked their progress over the last year, but the saints are more fun to watch than I think people expected.

20:02Jourdan Rodrigue:But then also the Raiders up being, being this good so far, very limited sample size, being this good up front this early in the season is such a good thing. When your quarterback is Kirk cousins and Kirk cousins is feeling comfortable enough to actually throw the ball down the field the way that he hasn't in a while. Like this was, this was cool to watch in early. I tend to think your defensive ranking has more to do with your opponents than anything. Like that's the most important thing, But they are eighth overall in DVOA. So that's just total efficiency. So we've talked a lot about the offense, but Rob Leonard is their new defensive coordinator.

20:38And they just look cohesive. It's a lot of new pieces. N 'Kobi Dean has shown up and been a difference maker. He's forced and fumbles. He's getting run stops. And they have a rookie, Hezekiah Massis, who had a couple interceptions in week two. And we'll see. But I think one of the great tests for like, does Clint Kubiak have it? Like, can he hire? Because that was an interesting decision. He elevated someone who was on the staff that the outsiders don't know as much about. And so far, so good. And they're matching up against a Saints offense, which is living in third and long and winning that way, which is just an impossible way to live.

21:15The stats against the Ravens were insane. They went eight for 14 on third downs, averaging eight and a half yards on those third downs. And they still go over 50 percent. Here's the one. Yeah, one of them's just kind of bad, bad defense by the Ravens where Juwan Johnson goes yards after catch. But he also made you miss with some yards after the catch and breaking tackles. And Shuck and Olave are right there with the best combinations in the league right now. I don't know if Chris Olave has ever paid ball any better than he is right now.

21:44Patrick Claybon:No, he's incredible. One of the best. Like, I also said it because I said he was quietly having one of the best fantasy seasons of all wide receivers. and we should maybe make it a little louder so people pay attention to what Chris Olave is doing. But the matchup here has to come down to Tyler Shuck. He's faced more pressures than anybody in the NFL. And the Raiders are pressuring quarterbacks more than anybody in the NFL, where we could get an alarming result here for the New Orleans Saints. So it sounds like we're all a little high on the Raiders here. It is in New Orleans.

22:16Jourdan Rodrigue:I've been waiting for the moment to finally be like, I am having fun watching the Raiders. Oh, yeah. I am in. And I'm having, this is why I'm really excited about this game. I'm having fun watching both of those teams. Like, Olave's making the tough contested catches. Devon Vele is a dude. They really haven't missed Jordan Tyson. The problem is they also haven't stopped the run on defense. And so that's where our guy Brandon Staley, who's done a great job, but he wants to play with those lighter boxes. They are 32nd. That is out of 32 in efficiency stopping the run so far. And Ashton Gentry, for the most part, has looked good.

22:51Mike Washington's look good. And so there's a lot of areas I think the Raiders feel like they can attack.

22:56Patrick Claybon:Can we discuss the Saints run game just briefly? Yeah. Like, is there one to discuss? I was going to say where. It's very discombobulated. It's a lot of just, like, it's bad blocking sometimes. But a lot of it's just, like, execution where, like, they don't know the play and it's a mess. Like, they're trying to throw tosses and it's not working. Like, it's just bad.

23:18Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, well, and that's part of the reason why they're... I don't know what to say. And they're going with a lot of... It's a lot of Kamara and not a lot of HN, which is a little surprising. Well, that's why they're getting set up in third and forever so often. And so obviously that has to improve. And the Raiders are going to absolutely tee off on those third and longs in ways that, yes, even though the Ravens' pass rush looked somewhat improved early on, like Max Crosby is an entirely different... Yeah, what if the Ravens had somebody like Max Crosby? I feel like we're all we're all are we getting okie-dokie?

23:49Are we just wanting to believe the Raiders are going to be three at oh? What? Listen, I've the Saints are favorite here. The Saints have a better quarterback here. The Saints are at home. It's a legit home field advantage there that they did. This Saints crowd is going to be very excited. The Dennis Allen arrow. They just did not enjoy that.

24:07Patrick Claybon:They have they have both of these fan bases feel that way. They absolutely love Tyler Shuck. He has made himself a king of New Orleans, and here we are with this game. We'll see. We'll see. I can't wait.

24:21Jourdan Rodrigue:Are you taking this game? I don't know. We have not divvied up the games yet. I have had these two teams a lot, so I might give this one to you if you want. Vikings and Bucs. I'd be interested in taking this one. Even though the Bucs are 0-2, I think it's a fascinating game. The Vikings are favored by 1.5. The announcers for Fox are Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma. It's fascinating to me because the Bucs are a team that has a lot on the line this year. And they are 0-2, staring at a potential 0-3. What's the number that helps to illuminate this game, Jordan? 20. As in, the Minnesota Vikings, who rank number two in pressure rate so far, are pressuring quarterbacks at a 20 % higher rate than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are number 26.

25:10Jourdan Rodrigue:It's 49 and a half versus 30 % pressure rate differential between the two teams. Tampa Bay has been underwhelming relative to expectation in terms of the pressure they are not getting on quarterbacks. Meanwhile, the Vikings, who are also at something like sitting at like a 76 % blitz rate over their first two games because Brian Flores is a badass, um, is they are not just getting to the quarterback, but they're also getting turnovers. They are 37 and four under Kevin O 'Connell when they win the turnover margin. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are having a really, really hard time led by quarterback Baker Mayfield holding on to the ball and not giving the ball away.

25:53Jourdan Rodrigue:So to me, splash plays, high pressure rate, creating chaos for the quarterback. That spells super advantage for the Vikings, potential disaster for the Buccaneers. And look, Flores has gone from, hey, we're going to lead the league in blitz rate to we're going to lead the lead in blitz rate by about 30%. That's just what B-Flow does.

26:12Patrick Claybon:So that's our play style. And, you know, we'll throw a change up here now, every now and again. But, you know, our fastball is, you know, we're going to try to be aggressive and be physical, play with good fundamentals. I know there's a lot out there about blitz percentages.

26:31Jourdan Rodrigue:Yes, there is.

26:32Patrick Claybon:But, you know, I think that's our play style. And, you know, I tell our guys all the time, you know, if we're going to go down, we're going to go down a certain way, you know. And so, you know, we're going to go down, you know, blitzing people.

26:49Jourdan Rodrigue:Hell yeah. I like how, like, aggressive B-Flow is, you know, presumably behind closed doors and as a coach, but so chill at the podium. Are you chill thinking about this game, Pat?

27:01Patrick Claybon:Yes, I am chill. So chill. In fact, I would like to utilize a very tiny table. Oh, let's go. Tiny table take. He is standing on the table. It's a small one. It's a baby Bjorn. And he is going to make some sort of statement or prediction about this game. A lot of production value here for everyone watching on YouTube. Yes, it is actually a resolution. Whereas Zach Robinson's offense appears to be only a tree derivative, maybe a graft or a seedling and not a branch. Whereas actual branch Liam Cohen's offense torched the Browns a week before, acknowledging the week-to-week nature of the National Football League.

27:42Patrick Claybon:Whereas Baker Mayfield, outside of the tackle box right now, is 3 of 9. And last year, Cousins and Pennix were a combined 14 of 33 outside of tackles. Whereas Zach Robinson's play-calling opportunities mainly take place in the United States South, leading to an average offensive point breaking of 17th, matching our correlated offensive coordinator. Whereas the correlated offensive coordinator is Dirk Cutter. Be it resolved, Zach Robinson is Dirk Cutter. Wow. I need to unpack that. It's incredible. What a showman. What a performer.

28:24Jourdan Rodrigue:At the moment. Patrick is. I don't know about that. If Baker could just play his best when the lights are bright like you could, they wouldn't be on two. Wait, Dirk Cutter. What do we think about Dirk Cutter? I thought Dirk Cutter was kind of underrated. Dirk Cutter was fine. Yeah. So was Zach Robinson. Okay. You're saying he's fine.

28:43Patrick Claybon:Yeah, he's fine. I think that there's not a lot of these opportunities. We have opportunities by hot-named offensive coordinators and their adjacency to other things and other people. I wonder, you know.

28:55Jourdan Rodrigue:Even on the crawl at the bottom. Yeah, that's it.

28:58Patrick Claybon:And I just wonder where a lot of times late in the Dirk Cutter tenure in various places in the United States South. Why? I'm starting to ask those same questions with regards to Zach Robbins. I think that's fair. Cutter, I thought, was like when he wasn't the head coach, he was fine.

29:14Jourdan Rodrigue:This Bucs team, though, they could not afford to come into the season and be meh. They could not afford to come into the season and be worse than meh, which at times they haven't been. Yeah, they're worse. I mean, Baker is 30th in the NFL in EPA per play. And of course, that's heavily weighted by the turnovers. But when you look at QBR success rate on a per play basis, he's still like 25th, 26th, 27th. Like last week, they couldn't do anything in the first half. He still gets to the back of his drop. And it's so rare that he just lets go of the ball. He starts scrambling to his right. It's the same thing that would happen in Cleveland.

29:50And he's made some plays. He had some dimes. He also just had like an ugly interception and couldn't finish out that game. I know there was weather, but to me, this is just such a tougher test than the two that he's had. I know we're giving the Bengals defense plenty of credit. To me, they are not at the level of what they're going to present before the snap that the Vikings will.

30:09Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, and the fact that the Bucs defense is far below what we expected them to look like. Kyler Murray is back this week. You know, he is practicing. Kevin O 'Connell expects him to play. He's cleared the concussion protocol. this is absolutely where we actually see if there is going to be anything here. It certainly is not sustainable with Carson Wentz as the person who drew that game last week. That was a disaster to a near disaster through most of that game. That was sort of the range. And it just isn't going to work. Now, one thing to sort of sneaky keep an eye on here, Aaron Jones went over 100 yards in the run game last week.

30:48Jourdan Rodrigue:They're still not super high ranked in terms of success rate and anything like that. But you could see the vision with this run game, run pass with Kyler Murray back and able to throw the ball down the field, actually hit the wide open receivers that Kevin O 'Connor was able to scheme against the Bears defense. But the passes would sail over their heads or fall into the dirt ahead of them or things. I know whether whatever. But still, this is one of those things where I would like to see vision meet reality. You can see the pieces start to come together. I think it's a big opportunity for the Vikings to make a statement as one of the better teams in the NFL right now.

31:24Big statement there. I agree. Juwan Jennings, who was out with a personal issue last week, is back. So he'll be there. Aaron Jones might not be. He mispracticed on Wednesday. He he has not had more than 12 carries in a game or like more than a calendar year. And then they used him heavily. And next up, because Jordan Mason is on IR, is DJ Dallas and Daman Claiborne. And DeMond Claiborne's a sixth-round rookie. And Dallas, I think a guy they picked up off waivers. So that is absolutely something to keep an eye on against a Bucs team who can stop the run well, did it very well against the Browns.

31:58Are you concerned, Patrick, a little bit about... Reuben Bain's kind of been held out-of-the-box score so far. In general, they're...

32:07Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, if he had longer arms. Yeah, stop it. If, you know, some of their big acquisitions this offseason, Alex Anzalone is another one that stands out to me, have been struggling for this Bucs.

32:17Patrick Claybon:Yeah, a general concern about everything at Tampa Bay. It's borderline panic. They were close in both games. It is one of those things where they, you know, one of them was against the Browns, but yeah, 0-3 would be tough. That's why I'm excited to watch this game. This is a mystery team, the Minnesota Vikings. I want to see if the Bucs can get off the schneid. Let's take a quick break, and when we come back, we will hit the Monday night football game where we don't know who's going to be playing quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

32:59Back on NFL Daily, Monday night football. The Eagles favored by four and a half going to Chicago. It's all your favorites on Monday night. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge. Got to be the busiest woman in show business. See you around the college football games on NFL live on the Monday night football. The Eagles are favored by this much. I thought it'd be more because Case Keenum, as we tape, is expected to start. They are not ruling out. Caleb Williams. So you never know, but it seems unlikely.

33:32Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, he's not practicing all week. That's that's what Ben Johnson said earlier. We'll find out, I guess, as the week wears on if that could possibly change. But yeah, it looks like it's going to be Case Keenum for the first time in three years playing. That's why I thought it'd be more interesting to talk about the Eagles. My number, 60.6. That is the percentage of the Eagles success rate on late downs. That is outrageous. They are the worst team on early downs. This is EPA per play. First and second down. They are the worst offense in the NFL right now. They are the best on late downs. That gap is a major problem, and they need to get that running game going to solve it.

34:18Jourdan Rodrigue:I was going to say, I have specific names for all of those problems. On the early down issues, it is interior offensive line, Saquon Barkley, run game issues. On the success rate, incredibly so. On the later downs, that's Jalen Hurts and Devontae Smith. Yes. I think everything we expected or that we heard and where the talking points in Philadelphia going into the season have been totally flipped. Everyone said the running game looked great in training camp and in the joint practices in Saquon and zone blocking. They've just been totally discombobulated. They changed their center after one week and it's not just because they benched Landon Dickerson.

34:55I mean, they could have kept Cam Juergens there, but they weren't feeling good. And Tyler Steen is at guard and has struggled as much as anyone. So it's not just the new guys. The running game has been a disaster, but Jalen hurts. Patrick is doing all the things we heard he couldn't do. It's a lot of getting the ball out at the top of his drops. It's a lot of layering throws over the middle and they're still quite low in terms of under center rate, but it's still a lot higher than it used to be. The bigger thing is just on time throws, whether it's to the inside or the outside, he's played really confident.

35:27He's the reason this offense has stayed afloat while the rest of every, you know, the group has struggled.

35:33Patrick Claybon:Yeah. And I just, the general question in response to that is who are who are the ones who are saying those things and and what types of things that they generally say about play uh in the nfl uh specifically regarding jalen hurts i did notice it's about 10 higher for devonta smith and again it's a small it's a small sample size it's two games but 10 more on the outside and is that aj brown is that where you're just deciding to play devonta smith um incredible catches down the stretch where it was really just him. Like, I know it was Cooper that came up with the game-winning catch, but that was because the Tennessee Titans had their eyes fixated on Devonta Smith after he fell down.

36:12Patrick Claybon:Like, he's on the ground and he was still a threat.

36:14Jourdan Rodrigue:What could he do? What's he going to do next? Meanwhile, Cooper's celebrating in the back of the end zone.

36:19Patrick Claybon:Where, yeah, like, these two are going to be successful regardless of all the things that change around them. But is the team going to be in position where they can be successful? Right, where they're not. They're kind of like a different version. Having to do that at the end of the game and like on late downs is not sustainable, especially in Tennessee. Look, they've played two below average defenses in terms of talent. And the running game has been this bad. Saquon Barkley went to get an MRI on his shoulder as we're taping. We still don't know the results of that MRI. So on one hand, big problems for Saquon.

36:54On the other hand, they're playing the Bears defense who are dead last in the league in stopping the run in terms of success rate. So it's kind of a weakness on weakness. Maybe this is a week they could get it going.

37:05Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, well, if they can't get it going against this Bears defense, then I'm not sure we're going to see the full version of this, you know, in the first third of the season at all or the first half of the season at all from the Eagles. I've really been impressed to... This is also a Bears defense that apparently you could pass the ball on as well, even though they were sort of built and constructed to stop the pass. They've been dealing with injuries. Still very weird situation. No update on Kyler Gordon and sort of a wish we knew more about what was going on with his injury and how murky that has been.

37:38Jourdan Rodrigue:And they've been banged up. And we saw it. Even when it's Carson Wentz at quarterback last week, just massive voids open for the taking. And this is a very similar type of offensive system that Kevin O 'Connell does run or from of the same, you know, tree adjacent sort of family. And Jalen Hurts is feeling is playing so calm and so like pinpoint, just like it's just directing everything. And I just think that this is going to be another heavy passing game for him, even if the run is there, especially because the injuries that they're facing and the offensive line being what it is right now, you know, he is getting the ball to his playmakers.

38:18Jourdan Rodrigue:And Devante Smith has just had a couple of gorgeous catches. I just think this is one of those real dangerous games for the Bears in that regard because they are susceptible in all of the ways that the Eagles are successful right now. Yeah, they don't have much of an interior pass rush, which I think how you get after the Eagles in terms of rushing the passer. Montez Sweat and Odengba's been okay. It could be worse so far. I want to see a little more out of the Eagles defense. Now, both of their games were played in extreme heat and both games they really faded in the fourth quarter and that's been used as, you know, maybe an explanation, which would make sense, where they mostly look good through two and a half, three quarters of each game, and they really did not.

39:00They kind of collapsed and were pushed around in both games by the opposition offensive line. You're just not expecting to see that, but they've been close. Like, it's been a lot of pressure. It's been a lot of, like our guy Jay Luxon, one of the making-leap guys, a lot of pressure not finishing plays. So can they finish it against Case Keenum? Man, four and a half does not seem like enough. if Case Keenum is really starting this game. Let's listen to Ben Johnson and the challenges that come with starting a new quarterback.

39:29Jourdan Rodrigue:The biggest thing for our offense right now is really just getting used to being in the huddle with a different voice. As much as we want all the cadences to sound the same, they don't. And so we still want to be able to get off the ball at the same time and use that as an advantage. But we got three big days here to make sure that we're all aligned and on the same page of what we want that to sound like if it's not Caleb. And, you know, I got a lot of faith and trust in the fact that we got three guys that have won games in this league and played big on a big stage, which Monday Night Football will be.

40:06Fair. Case games, want some big games? Legendary games. As the namesake of this studio, Chris Wesseling once said, let your Case Keenum freak flag fly. I can't say that. Let your Case Keenum freak flag fly. Close. Never going to say it. Let your Case Keenum freak flag fly.

40:28Jourdan Rodrigue:Yes. Double L's. Boom. Yes. Double L's at the end. Triple G's. Do it, Ben Johnson. Impress us all. Kenny Moore is a member of the Eagles defense now. Now Cooper Dejean and Andrew McCuba are playing through injuries. That's just a wild addition. I mean, it's just like a very rare league. Okay, name some dudes. Kenny Moore is a Philadelphia Eagle now. That's a fun pickup. And they've been running, Vic has, Vic Fangio, the lowest rate of split safeties, which he's kind of known for, of his entire career, or at least since 2019, when they started keeping track. So something to watch there as well.

41:02You know that they're going to run the ball, or at least try to, all over the Eagles. Let's wrap up with the Cardinals and the 49ers. the 49ers heavy favorites at home for the second straight week. This time it is by eight and a half. It's a Kevin Coogler Moose Johnston game. Patrick, what is the number that helps explain it? 60,

41:21Patrick Claybon:60 is the pressure percentage that the Seattle Seahawks got on Jacoby Brissett in the second half last week. It's an insane amount of pressure that he faced against what was a fully operational battle station as Nicky Manmori was back for the Seahawks. they are a destroyer of worlds we kind of have to throw everything out in terms of evaluating them versus any other team including a team that's in their division where we have to look back to the 47 to 22 legendary loss for the Cardinals last season when Jacoby broke the completion record in a in so good forget in NFL history I'll never let anybody forget there's some injury issues in the 49ers secondary where it all comes down to pressure and the 49ers have been able to generate that pressure, albeit against a, you know, whatever the Rams were in week one and then a Dolphins team in week two as they kind of try to figure out what they want to be as a franchise.

42:17Patrick Claybon:So I think we get points here. I'm looking forward to it because I like the LeFleur Cardinal. On both sides. So you think that eight and a half is a lot of points. So if you think there's points, you think maybe this is going to be a little more competitive than that would indicate. Yeah, I don't know where things finish. I am not involved in any gambling programs. anymore so I can't say gambling is bad nobody should do it game debut was not a gambling you don't use the G word on NFL

42:43Jourdan Rodrigue:network only the G word Greg that is not used on NFL network either but yeah

42:51Patrick Claybon:I think you know it could get wiggly at the end considering the way that Brock is playing right now as with so many 49ers games I'm constantly hitting refresh on the injury report to see where things stand because like Jack Jones, Mike Evans, a lot of things could really impact this game based on who's able to play in it.

43:11Jourdan Rodrigue:Speaking of naming some dudes, Brandon Cooks is a San Francisco 49er now. Don't know. He didn't even try out. Don't even know if he's going to play. Peace squad for now, but they could. He's still Brandon Cooks. Like you look at him, it's like, oh, that's Brandon Cooks. He's cool as hell. Yeah, just a rule of cool. He's got to play. I just love it. Could Brandon Cooks play in another Super Bowl 49ers? Who knows? The way Brock Purdy is playing, anything is possible. He is about as clean right now as any quarterback. He is making the on-time throws, but I love that play that George Kittle pointed out after the game specifically, where he pump fakes a defender right in front of him, knowing that after he does that and continues to roll left, that the throwing window that he has down the field, I think it was to Mike Evans on that play is going to open up and it's just pinpoint.

44:06He's playing about as well as, as any quarterback in the league. And you do worry about this Cardinals defense, Jordan. I don't think they've gotten like a lot of attention, but you know, as, as your guy, drew lock was going up and down the field. That was against a group that, you know, was feeling good after week one and not so much after last.

44:22Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah. Cause they played well in week one and then week two, they just got pushed around. I mean, both sides of the ball, Seattle up front, push them around. And certainly that it remains true. with the Seahawks run game, the way they could run the ball, the way that the Seahawks could run the ball, led by new offensive coordinator Brian Flory, is very similar to the way that the San Francisco 49ers can run the ball. Brian Flory's old team that he used to coach for. So this is an interesting dynamic to see if the Cardinals, LJ Collier, you know, your guy Walter, like, can bring the physicality that we saw in week one because they just got knocked off the ball multiple times.

44:58Jourdan Rodrigue:And then they're banged up in the secondary, too. So for me, I do think that this has a potential to be a points game because I have, I, even after last week, you're, you're playing the death star when you play Seattle. Honestly, they are going to just absorb all matter into them and then just vanish it. They're so good. I feel like they're dominating the Cardinals 49ers preview. Well, yeah, that's the thing I'm saying. You have to sort of throw, you have to sort of almost throw it out. Like I do think that the 49ers defense looked frisky the first couple of weeks, but you do have to sort of throw out the Cardinals last game and go back to the basics, which is I think the skill guys can move the ball down the field on this 49.

45:33Yeah, and I think if the 49ers have a problem, it's a run defense problem. They let the Dolphins go up and down the field on them in the first half of that game with just a heavy run plan. It limited the 49ers to just two possessions in the first half because they just could not get off the field with A-Chan and Malik Willis running the ball. And they weren't really great against the Rams stopping the run either. And you look at their interior defensive line, none of those players, other than Nick Bosa, and I'm talking about the edge and the interior, are good run defenders. You look at all of them, and they're better at rushing the passer than they are at stopping the run, whether it's Odigizu or Keon White or Grayson Halton, who's this rookie who's playing really well.

46:13So maybe the 49ers have a vulnerability there that the Cardinals can take advantage of. Maybe that sets up the Cardinals and the passing game where Marvin Harrison Jr. now has one catch through two weeks and he's become a big topic for Mike LaFleur at the podium.

46:30Jourdan Rodrigue:It's like, well, just get some easy completions to get going, and that's fine. You also have Trey McBride, who's one of the best underneath guys in the world, and there's only about 60 to 65 plays a game, and you've got to run the ball, and you've got Kendrick, who works underneath pretty well, too, so everyone's kind of got their role right there. Doesn't mean that we won't this week if we think that's what's best in terms of, you know, working them underneath. But that's not what we thought was best through the first two weeks. Do you know, there was, with this conversation, it's dominating the local, you know, airwaves and print space in Phoenix right now.

47:08Jourdan Rodrigue:Is Marvin Harrison Jr. going to get more plays? A reporter asked Mike LaFleur in the press conference, and I'm paraphrasing the question about, like, effort on plays and their social media going crazy about it and all of this stuff. And I thought Mike LaFleur handled that question really well because he, he had his players back. He said, when you're his frame, the way you run is going to look different than the way, like someone with a little compact frame is going to run. The way that you move is going to look different. So he's like having his players back in a, what's very much clearly a work in progress here.

47:43Jourdan Rodrigue:So I just, I think it's a, it's obviously a conversation we need to talk about. It's dominating that market right now. It's a big conversation. It's a big question. Is he going to get more involved in this offense? I think he will. He will because you can't get less involved. But that video going around of like some of his routes, multiple things can be true. Yes, because of his frame, I don't think he looks as quick and agile as expected. But that's true of his entire NFL career that like he hasn't moved as well as expected against NFL competition. He can't get open as easily as expected. And a lot of those routes that were shown on the clip going around are like clear out routes where he knows he's the fourth or fifth and the progression.

48:22And I think that's where Mike LaFleur is kind of getting at there. It's like, yeah, McBride and Michael Wilson are just clearly higher priorities for the progress of the quarterback, what they're looking at. And that's just how it is right now. Yeah, it's not the crisis for Mike LaFleur to solve

48:41Patrick Claybon:that people are making of it. Yeah, good way to put it. He's not that guy in this offense. And frankly, it's causing people, what people should go back is look at all the great plays at Ohio State and see how exactly open Marvin Harrison Jr. was in those situations where maybe in terms of the construction of the roster, the assemblance of pieces, there's probably a mismatch there. Unfortunately, it's the name. It's the fact that people take him high in fantasy, so they're interested. It's the fact that a lot of draft analysts had him as one of the best wide receiver prospects in X amount of years, and it just hasn't worked out that way.

49:16Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, let the young man have some weight taken off his shoulders then. I would just say like the expectations can just crush you. Yeah.

49:23Patrick Claybon:So like a fifth rounder to the Baltimore Ravens and maybe take them.

49:27Jourdan Rodrigue:There you go, Patrick. That would be good. Personal interest. There you go. I was going to say, maybe take some weight off those biceps. Remember that storyline in the offseason? Oh my gosh. The offseason body watchers got to be stopped. You know who can't be stopped? It's Patrick Claibon. Was great having you back on the show, my friend. and check them out almost every day on NFL Fantasy Live on NFL Network, also hosting Insiders on Friday. That's what Patrick's schedule is. That's my schedule. Of course I know your schedule. We got to start trying to plan around it if we can. Jordan and I will be back on Sunday night's show, but the next show in this feed will be what?

50:06Who even knows? Thursday night recap. That's going to be our friend Andrew Siciliano. Woo! Guest hosting the show with Nick Shook. It's going to be a fun one. Check them out live on YouTube.

50:18Jourdan Rodrigue:This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.