Dark Energy Predictions, NFL Kickoff and Brazil Game Previews!

23:35but Vic Fangio has the luxury of all of these rookies last year hitting and doing so well. So now those guys are in their second year and it's like you have this young nucleus that's almost better than expected. They sort of kind of developed before everyone thought that they would and he's moving Cooper DeGene all over the place. He just wants him on the field at all times playing every and any position and then Quinion Mitchell I think is also going to be someone who like steps up and kind of really grows into that role.

24:08Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, I think Quinone Mitchell might be on track this season after last his rookie year to be a defensive player of the year candidate. Makes plays on the ball and moves around the way that the, you know, Bo and Zach, who we just had on a few weeks ago, said that they still want to keep moving Quinone around and Cooper, obviously, to make him Cooper an unavoidable player. I think that this means that we're going to see a lot of Cooper DeGene, CeeDee Lamb, because what are they going to have to have CeeDee Lamb do, but run after the catch, make plays after the catch, get, be that short, quick outlet to avoid the pressure.

24:38Jourdan Rodrigue:And that's where you're going to see Cooper DeGene crashing down all around the box in that sort of star hybrid safety position where he's helping the linebackers out because they've got new pressure. They've got new pressure that they got to develop. They've got a couple new guys on the inside and then they've also got to manufacture pressure in different ways. And Vic loves to rush for, but their pressure might look a little different just because of the different pieces that they've added. Yeah. I think there's an idea too, that the defense, I think for the Eagles is going to take a step back that it is almost built into the DNA of this team that to start the season, they should take a step back because they have a lot of younger, newer players involved, like in that they'll make up for it by their offense being even better.

25:17Like the way we saw them finish the season instead of the way that they played throughout, like will Jalen Hurts just start throwing the ball around a little bit more? I think so. Will the, you know, the Cowboys offensive line, which is very young and getting Guyton back, man, I'm, I'm excited. That's one game preview down. We have how many? 275 or something. Greg is so excited right now. Smiling from ear to ear. Eight and a half is a lot though, but I guess if I had to choose, I probably, I just feel like I love that we're going to get a lot of points in week one because I think this is going to be a score fest.

25:48Jourdan Rodrigue:I can see. I can totally see it. I also think you don't really want to pass against this Eagles secondary. I think they're going to try because I was at camp a couple days. We have seen still no proof that this Cowboys team can run the ball, which you want to at least try to do to settle your offense down behind some of these, this reshuffled offensive line. And also, you know, they're, they're looking at a rookie at one of the guard spots as well. And so you're, you're trying to settle, but we don't know if they can do it. And you don't want to start up the game, just pass heavy against this secondary.

26:18Jourdan Rodrigue:Well, if you're the Cowboys, you don't want to do this. I feel like they do. Cause it's their only chance. It'll be like that. Were they in that kickoff game against the Bucks and Tom Brady a while ago, which ended up going back. Everyone gets so tired in these week one games, too, that middle of third quarter on is just so different. Schottenheimer's just going to have to go pure eff it, we ball kind of mode. He's going to have to go, you know what? It doesn't really make sense that we're doing this, but we're going to try it anyway because what do we have to lose? Sometimes sloppy games have a lot of points, and that's how this feels to me, like 41 to 27, or 38 to 27, something like that, where it's very high scoring, but not that close.

26:57The light that is beaming off of break. Okay, let's take a break.

26:59Jourdan Rodrigue:This is the most optimistic I've ever heard of him, I think. I mean, not about the Cowboys anymore. You have him scoring 27 points. That's optimism. Oh, I think their offense is better than the Eagles defense. Why not? I'm not optimistic about that seven and a half. We will revisit that next week.

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30:49Back on NFL Daily. And back from Sardinia. We are still back from Sardinia. Where is that exactly? It's in Italy. It's so the capital of Sardinia is one that I cannot pronounce. Caglari or something. It has its own capital? Yes. It's closer to Tunisia than it is to Rome. So that sort of gives you a little bit of a, you know, geography lesson there. Does it? Yeah. aren't you just like kind of in whiplash here that the summer of Colleen is over no it's such a hard reset

31:35Jourdan Rodrigue:to Chris Wesseling podcast studio from Sardinia we've done all the predictions just about actually we're going to ask Colleen for a traditional prediction too I'm making everyone who is on this show predict the Super Bowl see if anyone can get it right. Okay. So we'll do the rest of that. I'll come up with that. We'll do the rest of those on our preview show on Wednesday. Jordan will be part of that as well. I was going to say, you didn't ask me yet. Yeah, we'll do that on Wednesday. I was like, what do you mean you asked everybody? But we feel like we've done it all. I've made kind of, I put my, you know.

32:09Mark? I've said who I think is going to be good. Like the over-unders to me is basically, okay, those are the teams that I'm for, I'm against. We've pretty much said it all. But now, instead of just doing an average one, our final predictions are going to have some sort of dark, chaotic energy to them. Colleen, get us going. So I actually did awards. That's fine. That's what we said initially. Predictions awards are good. It's an award prediction, a prediction for this award. And this is the Emotional Damage Award. Goes to the fan base most broken by its one true love. And this award goes to the Giants.

32:47Oh, she's playing the hits. And the reason is they kind of get the edge over all of the other broken fan bases because of the brutal schedule this year. The fact that the NFC East, they have to play within the NFC East. They're playing the NFC North. They're playing the AFC West. They have a chronically bad offensive line. And you have Russell Wilson there as your quarterback coming off the bad stretch to end last season. And then you have the rookie Jackson Dart that is right over his shoulder waiting, lurking, lurking. They're 40, 91 and one since the start of 2017. Their only winning season 2022.

33:32And they went nine, seven and one and a balls first season as a head coach. They just had to watch Saquon Barkley smoke every opponent last year and then win a Super Bowl. And I just think the only good news is that they'll be better than last year because of the defense, but they are still going to be emotionally damaged as fans.

33:53Jourdan Rodrigue:How much joy did you take in this particular section of notes that you recent research? I would say no joy at all. None. They also gave out a franchise crippling contract because of that one winning season. So even when they won. And then, yeah, they watched Daniel Jones get cut. I'm on the other side of this, though. You know, I have them as one of my teams, I think, will win more than expected. I mean, granted, their over-under is five and a half wins. I was going to say, what is that number? Yeah, it's five and a half. I just think they'll be tough. I just think they'll be frisky. Okay. And I don't really worry about Russell Wilson because they announced today Jackson Dart's officially the backup.

34:37And I wouldn't be surprised if Jackson Dart is starting like week two. Yeah. I actually think like the over under is like week three. So I think it's going to be a Jackson's art season and they're in a nice spot. I would argue with a young quarterback, unless he ends up being terrible, which is always possible. But, we're like, as long as he is, gives some promise, as long as he has some promise, they could win six games and be happy this year. That's actually not the worst.

35:03Jourdan Rodrigue:Colleen is tapping her fingers gleefully together as Greg talks, but I cannot wait to see how this turns out. Like, I can't wait to talk about these teams. Okay. Week four. Like give me four weeks in and then I'm ready. Put a pin in that. We'll revisit. All right, you're up. Yes. And I'm actually going to segue into my second one first because I feel like I thought of what are the most chaotic scenarios that could possibly happen early in the season. Your point on Jackson Dart. Thank you so much for setting me up like this. You're welcome. Because I do think that two quarterbacks at least will change teams specifically via trade ahead of this year's deadline and during the season.

35:42Jourdan Rodrigue:And when we're talking about what that room looks like right now, we're also talking about Jameis Winston is kind of just left hanging out there. We're looking at Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. Kirk Cousins still raising his hand in Atlanta. You know, there's a lot of movement that could happen. And I think about all of the chaotic energy that we might be able to get at that position early in the season. A little in-season quarterback carousel. Unfortunately, we probably need injuries for those. You think, like, what would a spot where someone could just lose their job and get replaced for performance reasons?

36:18Jourdan Rodrigue:Indianapolis. Indy, Indy. Sorry to laugh evilly after I said that. But, you know, you know. That would be one. Jimmy G is another guy who, in theory, could be available if the Rams liked Stetson Bennett enough and Matthew Stafford. I think you underestimate how much they love Jimmy G. Sure, but I'm just saying. I think that's also underestimating, you know, how. That is kind of a dark energy because, yeah, you're almost projecting an injury there. Someone else to lose their job or another team needing a backup or an injury. And I don't want to wish or predict injuries, but there is a darkness ahead of the trade deadline.

36:58Jourdan Rodrigue:Teams that are either really, really desperate or teams that are a couple pieces away. There's really not a middle ground, you know? There are a couple guys that, yeah, you also could, like, I would hate to imagine a world where they're like benching Justin Fields for performance reasons. I guess you have Tyrod there. But that could that could certainly be one. And there are more like useful backup quarterback veterans like like you mentioned, then I can remember. Yeah. Marcus Mariota is in Washington. Jacoby Brissett is in Arizona. Well, so I was thinking of Arizona and I was wondering, like, you know, what is going to happen, first of all, with them in general?

37:34but Kyler Murray feels like potentially he could be a candidate for someone who doesn't necessarily get hurt, gets hurt, but maybe things go so sideways. That would be the darkest and most entertaining chaotic energy.

37:48Jourdan Rodrigue:Look at the pit in which I have dragged. I know. Is Kyler Murray getting traded mid season? I'll jump off that then. And first just kind of like throw out some teams that I would describe as chaotic good. You know, it's going to be chaos. Greg's like a real optimist so far. It's going to be chaotic good. I should have warned you about that. He's been like earnestly speaking about, you know, he's been sharing his truths, his feelings, you know. Greg. Have I? I don't remember. Ever since that episode all about death that you guys did. It was a real breakthrough, I think, for both of us. It's true.

38:26You got to enjoy. Who knows how many weak ones we have left. You're right. So the Falcons, I think, could be chaotic. I think they could be kind of fun. The Jaguars, I like this year. The Vikings. I think the Texans have a chaotic sort of energy if we're looking at higher level teams. But then I came up with what would be the ultimate dark energy Super Bowl. So this is not my Super Bowl prediction, but it's like the Super Bowl that would have the most chaotic, darkest energy that I actually think is somewhat realistic. And I'm going away from Kyler going wrong. How about if it goes very right and we have a Chargers-Cardinals Super Bowl?

39:10That would be... What? Like the dark energy chaos Super Bowl to end all Super Bowls that I actually think like they'd have a chance of happening. We used to have random teams in the Super Bowl. Remember like the Ravens stunk that year with like Joe Flacco. No one thought they would be there. The Cardinals stunk that year when they were in there. The Panthers, like, they were kind of great. But, you know, they were the Panthers. Let's bring back some random teams in the Super Bowl. Not all this chalk. Cardinals, Chargers.

39:38Jourdan Rodrigue:I do love that this means the Chargers finally getting past the Charger curse. That's also its own brand of dark chaotic energy. You know, this would mean a lot of things would have to go right for those Chargers. This is less like a hardcore prediction of just like this is... Aspirational. I tried to think of what is the most off the board Super Bowl matchup that I could actually see happening. And then if they were playing against each other, which like voodoo would win out? Because you can say that the Chargers have had a lot of bad luck and bad voodoo over the years. Go check out the Cardinals history.

40:12There's a reason they've been moving those cities. They've got some bad, like we used to be really racist undertones. There's some issues there with the Cardinals. so if they met up in the Super Bowl I don't know who would win but I would be fascinated to see it

40:25Jourdan Rodrigue:a sudden rip would emerge on the 50 yard line shattering the space time continuum I think probably yeah that's like logically what would happen I think that would be the only way to explain it truly 49ers fans have to watch the Cardinals in their home stadium oh my god in the charts alright give me another one coming up this year my prediction for this is his year award goes to the player poised for a breakout season in year five specifically. So congratulations to former fourth overall pick Falcons tight end Kyle Pitt. This is your year. Pitt has the most loyal soldiers dedicated to this cause I've ever seen.

41:10I can't believe I'm still seeing Kyle Pitts making the leap in year five. I don't even know what to say about it. Yeah, sure. I would love for it to happen. But it just feels like no matter how bleak it gets, Pitt's crew. Oh, wow. That was good. Pitt's crew remains so devoted and they just have this steely resolve. They will not leave their man's side. And yeah, so this is your year, Kyle Pitts.

41:42Jourdan Rodrigue:You know, it is one of our favorite annual traditions. Yeah, I think, you know, It's kind of like he has a hive, like quarterback prospects sometimes do. Like the Darnold Hive never really fully gave up. And he was... Good for them. They were justified. Exactly. We'll see long term. But yes, they had their moment. They had their moment. Sideswipes him every time. I know. I'm just saying like, what year was he in? He was in year seven or something like that. So Kyle Pitts has that sort of belief. Yeah. I think because people just like thought he was that good as a prospect. like that generational type of prospect.

42:19I mean, look who the Falcons took them over. Don't look if you're a Falcons fan.

42:24Jourdan Rodrigue:It's crew. I like that one. It's crew. Yeah. It's crew. It's crew. All right. You're up. Okay. So I was again, thinking of the most like dark energy, chaotic scenarios, and I decided to invert it, right? Normally every year, one of the most chaotic things that can happen to a team is the one and done head coach. There have been seven one and done head coaches since 2021. I predict that we will not have any one and done coaches this season. But I'll get to my next part a second. But I predict we will not have any one and done's. There are a lot of first year head coaches, Ben Johnson, Kellen Moore, Aaron Glenn, Liam Cohen, Brian Schottenheimer.

43:03Jourdan Rodrigue:Not first year head coaches, but first years on different teams are Mike Rabel, Pete Carroll. That's a lot of potential candidates for such a scenario. but I don't think anyone in Duns this year, I do predict we'll have at least two interim head coaches in place by December. Okay. Ooh. I know. Cause this is less chaos. It'd be good. It has become crazily normalized that guys get fired after one year. Nobody has patience. It used to never happen. Like we always used to mention, Oh, Freddie Kitchens. That was the only one like him and did Rob Chudzinski last more than a year? It was always the Browns.

43:40Jourdan Rodrigue:Nate Hackett. Right there. Like it was so rare, but starting with about Hackett, now it's like it happens every year. Sometimes they didn't even make it out of the first season in terms of Hackett. Yeah, sometimes owners are paying, team owners are okay paying the remainder on a contract or understanding that coach may get hired elsewhere and that team may absorb the contract. Or in the case of Pete Carroll, which to me is a sign that they just want to win very quickly while he is at the age that he's at. But on the surface, only signing a three-year contract versus some of these five or six year deals that coaches have gotten before.

44:15Jourdan Rodrigue:He could, you know, this is one of those that like, I don't think he's a one and done, but like just on paper, that contract is shorter than usual for a head coach. But I just think that these guys, you're gonna, there's a lot of potential here with this group. It's, you know, Aaron Glenn, I hope gets the resources and the patience with a pretty good Jets roster. Brian Schottenheimer is in a rebuild, whether or not his owner thinks that he is. I hope he gets that patience. Liam Cohen's got a lot of work to do in Jacksonville. Ben Johnson is building up a quarterback and a new offense and a system.

44:54Jourdan Rodrigue:It's just that Kellen Moore's in a rebuild. There are none that are logical, but I guess you could always say that about a one and done because there's always... On paper, Gerard Mayo was not logical either. It just got so chaotic there and it became so missed expectations there that... Yes. You know, so that's... By this time last year, though, you were feeling it a little bit. But that was a rebuild. That was a rebuild. A lot of these other... I'm just saying, like, we've seen this happen every single year. I don't think we see it this year. I agree. If I had to choose one now that you went through it, if we're trying to get dark, it would probably just be the entire structure of New Orleans changing and him, unfortunately.

45:38bearing the brunt of that.

45:39Jourdan Rodrigue:Him being Kellen Moore. So related to Ben Johnson, this is just a random... I guess this is more of an award. These are just coaches to me that are most likely to freak out at some point this season in a way that will just be vaguely terrifying. And two coaches actually are going to win this together. Ben Johnson is one of them. Oh, yeah. That just he is gripping that lectern kind of tight up there, you know, and he's trying to like be positive and maintain everything. And he just kind of loses it and has a Dennis Green type of moment, whether it's on the sideline or in front of a podium. Just it's icy sometimes.

46:21And then it would be the man who I probably give this to every year because I think this is under the radar. It's John Harbaugh. I mean, John Harbaugh, there is just something simmering beneath the surface. And everyone is like, he's like the nice Harbaugh. He's like the normal Harbaugh. But like when he is upset and he's in a postgame situation or it's after the players or he's mad at the reporter, there is just something there that I find personally terrifying. Beneath the surface. Yes, it is beneath the surface. Very, you know, very nice guy by all accounts. But these would be the two coaches.

46:58if we're giving dark energy predictions. I just try to think who has some dark energy among the coaches out there. And these were two that popped in my head.

47:05Jourdan Rodrigue:Wasn't John Harbaugh also like pretty openly on the record as being thrilled that he's like beaten the crap out of his brother the times that they've faced off as coaches. I mean, to be so open about that is a level of energy. That's fair. You are not shy about these things behind closed doors, I'm sure. There's a lot of pressure there too. There's a lot of Super Bowl predictions for the Ravens. Yeah. a lot of expectation now I'm thinking about the different coaches that could like pop off at some point this season I mean Rabel but that's just also like Rabel's personality that's like Tuesdays and Wednesdays for me I feel like I feel like we're gonna get like at one point this year a really really good like Dan Campbell moment whether it's in the heat of for sure playing against the NFC North opponents and how stressful that can get we've even gotten you know some spicy Matt LaFleur moments at times in years past.

48:00Jourdan Rodrigue:A lot of these guys are respectfully nuts. So he's got a little, Matt LaFleur's got a little hard bot to him where he does seem very buttoned up and together and well-groomed in LaFleur's cases. And yet there is like, you know, there's an edge to him, which I guess you kind of need. You're a head coach. I kind of love that against Ben Johnson, the Bears, Bears Packers. That's when it happens. Keep an eye on that game. Especially after the trash talk. A lot of Patrick Bateman energy over there, you know? Do we have any other ones you just want to throw out as extras or should we move on to our Brazil predictions?

48:34I know you have another one. I forgot I had another one. I think I'd ask for it too.

48:37Jourdan Rodrigue:Whenever you ask like that, I know you actually want to share. I've learned him. Does anyone else in the class want to share? Raise your hand if you have another dark prediction. I had one more, which was the teams I didn't want to predict bad things for. But I thought we were leaning into the darkness here. but you know you gotta predict bad things for some teams and like I feel the worst about the Bengals because their fans just I feel like deserve better and yeah I feel like it's a tough situation with their defense there uh the Raiders because you want to live in a world where that all works out but you just look at the roster and I'm rooting for Gino but you just look at the defensive roster I disagree with you I'm super high on the Raiders really in the part the reason that you're super high on the Cowboys or not super high, let me be careful with saying that, but like they're high on the Cowboys.

49:27Jourdan Rodrigue:I just think they're going to score a lot of points. Hopefully. I think they're going to score a lot of points and I think that they're going to, a lot of these young players on defense are going to have to grow up as they do it, but I think they've got some really, really solid opportunities on offense at least. A lot of faith in Chip Kelly. I could have that faith like three weeks in, but I guess I just got to kind of see it first. The other one's the Panthers too, because like if they just fell right back into being one of the worst teams in the NFL. But when we did the exercise with DJ and I was thinking like, who would be like, have a chance to have the number one overall pick?

50:00I feel like the Panthers are in that mix still and that would just feel terrible for them. For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters. Tremphaya offers self-injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self-inject Tremphaya, proper training is required. Tremphaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

50:40Serious allergic reactions, increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them, and liver problems may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Tremphaya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit TremphayaRadio.com. Lowe's knows Sundays are for football. So tackle your home improvement projects by Saturday and earn your Sunday with great deals on LG and Bosch appliances. Select Ego, DeWalt, Filtrete products, and more. Then once your to-do list is done, get ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy the game.

51:24Shop in-store or online now and earn your Sunday with help from Lowe's, official partner of the NFL. Life moves fast. At American Military University, they're ready to help you keep up. AMU's flexible, affordable online programs in cybersecurity, IT, space studies, and more are designed for service members, veterans, and their families. AMU provides the support you need to take the next step wherever life takes you. American Military University. It is made for what's next. Learn more at amu.apus.edu. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze.

52:08Bahamar, located in Nassau, Bahamas, offers your choice of three luxury hotels. The richly refined Rosewood, the playfully hip SLS, and the stylishly modern Grand Hyatt. With over 45 restaurants, bars, and lounges, Baja Mar serves up delicious dining from world-renowned chefs like Daniel Bouloud and Marcus Samuelson. Nightlife venues like the new Jean Batiste Jazz Club and the Caribbean's most luxurious casino. At Baja Mar, you'll find every pleasure under the sun and one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family. like Baja Bay, our 15-acre lush tropical water park, interactive wildlife experiences, including our daily flamingo parade, world-class golf, tennis, spa, and so much more.

52:50Visit BajaMar.com today and discover a vacation destination where memories are made for a lifetime. Baja Mar, life spectacular. Picture this. You're on the beach with the whole family. The sun is shining, the water's warm, and your kids are finally getting along. This is when it hits you, that Myrtle moment. It's the second everything clicks. When you realize Myrtle Beach is more than a getaway, it's right where you belong. Don't just daydream about it. Find your own Myrtle moment at visitmyrtlebeach.com. Back on NFL Daily, it's time for Who Will Deliver, presented by Uber Eats. This is fun. Chiefs, Chargers.

53:39The Chiefs are three-point favorites. They're in Brazil at Arena Corinthians. Love seeing that. Yeah. Little surprise it's so close, a point spread, but that's given props to Chargers and the talent base that they had and maybe looking at the games a year ago and that were very competitive. Although, as always, the Chiefs always find a way in this matchup. This is going to be on YouTube with our coworkers, Rich Eisen and Kurt Warner.

54:08Jourdan Rodrigue:Ooh, fun. That's a good crew. That's awesome. It's like a one-time... That's like an all-voice team. Honestly, I'm thinking about the voices there. It's a one-time YouTube crew, right? Because I don't think there's another YouTube game this year. So I think it's like a one-time, very unique, will be their first game. So that will be really fun. We're taping this Tuesday afternoon. The Chargers are already on a flight down to Brazil, whereas the Chiefs practiced today on Tuesday and they're going to fly a day later. What stands out to you, Jordan, in this game? I mean, the possibility that Najee Harris is on that plane as well and who told reporters this week with massive sunglasses on after this eye injury that we still kind of don't know a ton about.

54:53Jourdan Rodrigue:We can only assume, obviously don't want to assume the worst, but he is wearing massive sunglasses and wouldn't take them off. And he's finally back at practice, and he says that he is going to play this week. Now they're in a really good spot behind him with Omari and Hampton, who I've heard really great things about all through camp. And he's built like every other one of their players on offense, which is like the size of a sycamore tree. So it's like, this is like the all massive human offense and Omari and Hampton fits right in with that if Najee Harris isn't a full go. I'm excited about that.

55:30I also just feel like with the amount of international games this year, we will be talking so much about travel, travel schedules, who's going early, who's deciding to stay back. Does it matter? I'm not sure what other ways to spin the conversation. And I don't know if it does matter or not, but I would for sure be going early as early as possible because, you know, I like to travel and it's really fun. I'd like to go to more of these international games. But I'm interested to see how Travis Kelsey does after the catch. If he can gain some sizable yards after the catch, considering the Chargers are such a good tackling team.

56:09I feel like we haven't talked about Travis Kelsey as a football entity all offseason. Gee, I wonder why. It is. It is interesting to imagine because, you know, he's talking a big game of how bad last season ended and then he's put everything into it. He does look just physically like he slimmed down a little bit. And he has come out the last few years looking sluggish. And he's worked his way into the season. And that worked for him for the most part in both of the last two years until it didn't in the Super Bowl last year. But he did play his best games. I think people forget, like in the playoffs right before the Super Bowl, their best offensive game of the season was probably the AFC Championship right before their absolute worst game.

56:53But I do think it's instructive when teams are playing the following season, it's division games, you have the same coaches. I do think that history matters. So the Chiefs played 19 games last year, not counting the week they sat all their starters at the end of the regular season. So they started, played 19 games last year. Their worst game on offense in terms of expected points was the Super Bowl, because they don't give you much credit for those late nonsense ones. And that was just disaster. But their 17th best game, Their third worst game all season was against the Chargers. And then their 14th best game, like their sixth worst game all season, was against the Chargers.

57:33So Jesse Minter kept the lid on this offense, held them under 20 points both times.

57:39Jourdan Rodrigue:Kept the cap on it, Greg. I like to keep the lid on it. But you know what? It's cool. This was the number one scoring defense, meaning fewest points allowed, 17.2, 17.3, something like that in the entire NFL last season. and Jesse Minter out coaching and getting this roster to sort of outperform what it looks like. On paper, you mentioned Travis Kelsey. Well, he's going to be having his hands full with Derwin James, who's still moving all around this defense. And with Dion Henley, who's one of the best young inside linebackers in the league and has really emerged with Jesse Minter's offense. And everyone talked about, you know, like losing Joey Bosa, who obviously signed elsewhere in the offseason.

58:18Jourdan Rodrigue:But this pass rush still has Khalil Mack on. And by the way, I do want to say when I was at the practice earlier this summer. Cleo Mack looks great. You want to talk about someone who looks a little bit slimmer, who looks so fast and explosive off the line of scrimmage. It's hard to remember that he is the age that he is. He's a nine-time pro bowler, and he's going to be going against, either he's going to be going against Josh Simmons or Tui Pelotu or Bud Dupree. I mean, they have the three rotation of these pass rushers still against this rookie left tackle who, as you know, Greg, I'm so high on.

58:49Jourdan Rodrigue:I love this guy. He's so great. Yeah. I love that you brought that up. Khalil Mack is in very, in some ways, like the reverse Travis Kelsey. It is absolutely a pattern. Every single season, he shows up and is one of the best pass rushers in the league for about a month or six weeks, eight weeks, and then he fades. And maybe that's an age thing because he puts everything possible into getting the most out of what he gets. But it's very consistent that every early portion of the season, it's like, wow, Khalil Mack is really, really back. And then he just becomes like a solid, good enough player.

59:23And maybe by the end of the season, almost like a little bit of a liability. So I am really curious if that pass rusher is going to be enough against this Kansas City offensive line, which I think has really improved. Like, I think the Chiefs offense will be better this year. And I think it needs to be better this year because I think their defense is not going to be as strong. All these teams, like the alchemy changes on a year-to-year basis. And I do kind of buy what the Chiefs are selling in terms of trying to be more explosive and having a better receiving group and mostly having a better offensive line with Josh Simmons there at left tackle.

1:00:03And this will be like an amazing first test against this Chargers. And I love these division games between these two. They're always fun. They're always exciting. And seven of the last eight times they've played, it's been one score or less these games. So it's always a close game. I hate a blowout week one. And also it's like a primetime game because it's on, it's an Island game. So yeah, I think it's a fun one for Brazil too.

1:00:27Jourdan Rodrigue:I do love that. We have like two of the best quarterbacks in football. It's obviously Pat Mahomes and Justin Herbert, but this still will be a game defined by line play on both sides. Because yes, I talk about the pass rush that the chargers have, but like Chris Jones is still Chris Jones and my guy Becton is the newcomer on the inside in Los Angeles. and he missed three weeks of training camp with what he's described as an ongoing knee issue that he continues to deal with. And then Joe Alt has moved over from the right to the left, obviously because of injuries. Apparently looks really, really good.

1:00:59Jourdan Rodrigue:Looked good in the preseason as well, playing on that left side. But when you have Chris Jones and then you've got the Greek freak on the inside, Karloftis also rushing with him, you can continue to move Chris Jones around. I am curious about how much he moves because they have, like I said, chippers the size of trees on the outsides and their tight ends and their fullback, Scott Matlock. So I don't know how much you want to move Chris Jones to the edge, but that middle might be a little bit more susceptible to pressure if you're the Chiefs pass rush. It's also why they got knocked out of the playoffs last year.

1:01:30Harbaugh left that game saying how bad they were on the interior of their offensive line. And now it's a year later and they mostly look the same, except they did add Mekhi Becton. But because you lose Rashawn Slater, the offensive line doesn't look any better. And yet, I think they're in a better position. I don't know if the Chiefs, like, I don't know if the Chiefs have enough pass rusher. It's kind of a bad pass rush on paper. Like, Karloftis is an oak. I think he's a little overrated. Like, he's not a great pass.

1:01:54Jourdan Rodrigue:Chiefs fans are going to come for you. They love that guy. Justin Spaggs, Greg. He's a very good NFL player. And he's a solid, like, number two pass, like, edge pass rusher. But on this team, he has to be number one in terms of the edge player. They have one real difference maker as a pass rusher. And like, I think they have questions in terms of their secondary in ways that they haven't over the last couple of years. So like, will the Chargers be in position to take advantage? Will they pass the ball is what Greg's really asking here. I think they, yeah, they want to run, but like, I don't know.

1:02:27Like, I don't know if their receivers are that much better necessarily the Chargers this year. But if Trey Harris, like the rookie and Cali Lambert-Smith, like step up, it's a very different Chiefs-Chargers matchup, that'll probably end the same way that everyone ends. I wonder if the Chargers are going to actually do the same exact thing that they did last year and start off so run heavy and then finally start to kind of ease into the passing game.

1:02:54Jourdan Rodrigue:Maybe. I mean, Justin Herbert's healthy to start this year, this time. So I almost wonder how much do you use him as sort of that threat as well. You try to move the point of contact. You try to move the line of scrimmage a little bit. with the quarterback, I kind of wonder what, you know, Greg Roman has in his bag of tricks involving, like I said, and I cannot emphasize this enough, some of the largest human beings I've ever seen. Like why? Like they just want to smother over people. This is what this offense wants to do. And that was Who Will Deliver presented by Uber Eats. When football makes you hungry, get game day meals and deals on Uber Eats.

1:03:33The official on-demand delivery partner of the NFL order now. I also just am a little anxious about counting on Keenan Allen to have a big role in this offense. Or maybe he won't. Maybe he won't end up having that big role. Is anyone taking the Chargers here? Or no?

1:03:49Jourdan Rodrigue:You know what? I'm going to do it. I'm going to take the Chargers. I'm going to take the Chargers. I like that. I like this team a lot. I'm really high on the Chargers this year. I think I took the Chargers in our preview show, so I need to stay consistent. That is like what someone with integrity would do. I must go or just even be aware of what you did you know did in your preview show well there is only like one week here now so it's not like I am in mid-season form and everything is blurred together yes so I would hope that I know my week one picks yes check out calling every single Sunday morning game day morning game day morning uh-huh there's also a preview show which I'm sure you can by the time you hear this it might already be out Thursday night but that's right if not check it out I'm sure she's back.

1:04:37Who really knows? And so is Mooch. Me and Mooch on Mondays. Love that. Yeah. So a little pregame Monday night football action. It's going to be great. And Jordan will be back with me on our preview show, which will go up on Wednesday. And we're going to do our Super Bowl picks then. But we haven't gotten yours, Colleen. Before you go, I want... Let's do conference chance. Give me like who wins the conference championship games and then who wins the Super Bowl. So you have to have a final four. Final four. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So I am going to go the Bills. Yes. They beat the Ravens. Okay. They get to the Super Bowl.

1:05:24So week one rematch in the conference. Yeah. No respect whatsoever for the Chiefs. And the Eagles beat the Lions. I am shocked at this pick. The Lions, they beat the Lions. And then, yeah, I mean, it's kind of crazy, but I'm going to go ahead and pick the Eagles to win the Super Bowl again. Let's repeat. I'm stunned. I know. It's kind of stupid not to. I know, it's a good pick, honestly. When you root for one of the favorites, I think they are the favorite. They have the best odds of any team because the NFC is viewed as a little weaker, so their path is a little easier and more just because we're all dumb animals.

1:06:08I can't control who you play. All right. All right. Colleen's got the Eagles.

1:06:15Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, I do. Let's be clear. She's always got the Eagles. And the Eagles have always got you. Oh. If you were a real seer, you'd be like Cynthia Freeland and have the Eagles before last season when everyone was a little down on them going into the year and she somehow nailed Eagles over Chiefs before the season started. I would never stop talking about that if I was Cynthia. And that's why I won't on our Friday pick show, which is going to be back. Seamless plug right there. That was good. We're into our regular season schedule. So like I mentioned, we will be back on Wednesday for our preview show.

1:06:54We will be recapping both the games, the Thursday night game and then the Friday night Brazil game with Nick Shook right after both those games are over. We've done it. She's back. Hey-oh, we're back. Football is back.

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