Power Hour 3: Ranking Every NFL Team with Bomani Jones

21 Jul 2025 · 58 min · 30 chapters

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In short

Bomani Jones joins Mena Kimes and Lenny/Beaumont Jones to power-rank every NFL team via rapid head-to-head picks, emphasizing roster talent, quarterback impact, coaching, and defense/offense matchups.

Guests

Bomani Jones (longtime NFL analyst and Detroit Lions fan since they finally made the playoffs; known for strong football takes). Hosts: Mena Kimes (football writer/podcaster) and Lenny/Beaumont Jones (co-hosts).

Key claims

  • Eagles are #1: “dudes on top of dudes” outweighs concerns about Patrick Mahomes; Mekhi Becton’s absence matters.
  • Ravens vs Chiefs: Ravens have more overall talent; coaching edge favors John Harbaugh; Chiefs’ defense is strong but Kelsey/age and coaching/overall team depth tilt Baltimore.
  • Bills vs Chiefs: Bills are the better team overall, but Mahomes is more reliable than Josh Allen; Bills’ window may have closed.
  • Lions are top NFC contender: Detroit’s defense can offset offensive questions.
  • Texans rise: CJ Stroud + defensive strength could drive a jump.
  • Commanders over Packers/Jets over Colts/Panthers over Titans: coaching/defense and quarterback trajectory drive picks.

Notable examples

  • 2020 and 2023 Super Bowl lessons: don’t rank purely by having Mahomes.
  • Lions’ “87% fourth-down conversion rate” and late-game execution.
  • Texans’ defensive ranking (second in a referenced top-10 defense pod).
  • Broncos/Bengals debate: Joe Burrow–Ja’Marr Chase connection vs Bo Nix skepticism.
  • Jaguars: skepticism about using Travis Hunter both ways despite Hunter’s talent.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

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Revisiting Past Podcasts

0:03 to 0:34

Mina and Bomani discuss their history and previous podcast appearances.

“And a throwback flick at the local drive-in.”

Revisiting Past Podcasts

0:45 to 2:11

Mina and Bomani discuss their history and previous podcast appearances.

“And this is the first time you've ever been on my podcast.”

Power Ranking the NFL Teams

2:11 to 3:59

Introduction to the power ranking of NFL teams, focusing on Eagles and Chiefs.

“going to go with the two teams that were in the Super Bowl.”

Eagles vs. Chiefs and Ravens

3:59 to 6:14

Discussion on the top teams in the NFL, comparing Eagles, Chiefs, and Ravens.

“I think, yeah, so I've been doing Ravens versus Eagles, but now you get to choose between the Ravens and the Chiefs.”

Bills vs. Chiefs Showdown

6:14 to 8:30

Analyzing the rivalry between the Bills and Chiefs and their respective strengths.

“The chiefs have not finished in the top two in the last two.”

Detroit Lions Assessment

8:30 to 10:32

Discussion on the Detroit Lions and their potential for the upcoming season.

“Oh, in like 20, you mean like, uh, four years, three years ago.”

Texans vs. Bills Comparison

10:32 to 13:00

Comparison of the Texans and Bills, including discussions on CJ Stroud's performance.

“and my case for the Lions continuing to win the division and whatnot, even if the offense takes a little bit of a step back, I think the defense not being a mash unit can mitigate that.”

Commanders vs. Packers Debate

13:00 to 14:01

Debating the strengths of the Commanders and Packers with a focus on Jordan Love.

“It didn't really happen last year, which makes me think it's coming in spades now.”

Evaluating NFL Quarterbacks

14:01 to 15:00

Discussion on the performance and potential of various NFL quarterbacks.

“It is interesting to watch him be allowed to be what he is.”

Comparing NFC Teams

15:01 to 17:40

Analysis of NFC teams including the Commanders, Rams, and Bengals.

“Uh, and I don't, like I said, I don't love that defense.”
Show all 30 chapters

Broncos vs. Bengals Showdown

17:41 to 20:10

Debate on the strengths of the Broncos' defense versus the Bengals' offense.

“oh the answer is going to be the commanders um because me you and nine of our friends we could put up 17 points against what the bangles are going to be trotting out there this year I didn't want to be hyperbolic, right?”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Analysis

20:11 to 24:15

Discussion on the Buccaneers and their quarterback situation.

“Like that's the, the, the, the, the Joe Burrow to Jabbar Chase connection is yikes.”

Steelers vs. Niners Debate

24:16 to 26:29

Comparison of the Steelers and Niners, evaluating their rosters and potential.

“The second place in the North, by the way, behind America's team.”

Steelers vs. Niners Debate

26:30 to 26:46

Comparison of the Steelers and Niners, evaluating their rosters and potential.

Steelers vs. Niners Debate

26:54 to 27:49

Comparison of the Steelers and Niners, evaluating their rosters and potential.

“it feels fast and precise for better scrolling zooming and swiping so everything just flows And with long-lasting battery life, it feels like nonstop energy.”

Power Rankings Discussion

27:50 to 28:00

Continuation of the power rankings, focusing on the Niners and Cowboys.

“Ipe Mitsuhara ran up gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation.”

Intro to Power Rankings

28:00 to 28:19

The hosts discuss the excitement around the latest power rankings.

“He was absolutely bananas, the amount of bets he was making.”

Niners vs Cowboys Analysis

28:20 to 30:13

An analysis of the Niners and Cowboys performances and injuries.

“Bo did not choose the Niners, so the Niners are on the board, and I am going to put them up against the Dallas Cowboys.”

Evaluating the Bears and the Seahawks

30:14 to 32:38

Discussion on the potential of the Bears and Seahawks in the upcoming season.

“I also really, I talked about this in the pod last week, but I really liked the Dennis Allen.”

Patriots and Cardinals Comparison

32:39 to 34:08

Comparison of the Patriots and Cardinals, focusing on their coaching and players.

“They still have this same problem with the Belichick era, which is, man, I don't know none of them dudes' names.”

Falcons and Jaguars Outlook

34:09 to 36:13

Discussing the future of the Falcons and the potential upside of the Jaguars.

“So we have a series of, can they put it all together right on their offense?”

Falcons and Jaguars Outlook

36:14 to 40:42

Discussing the future of the Falcons and the potential upside of the Jaguars.

“And I'm going to throw in a team that I think I'm a little higher on than a lot of people.”

Falcons and Jaguars Outlook

40:45 to 41:50

Discussing the future of the Falcons and the potential upside of the Jaguars.

“Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful, ready-to-go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code.”

Falcons vs. Raiders: Analyzing Team Strengths

42:59 to 45:07

Discussion on the Falcons and Raiders, with insights on their quarterbacks and coaching strengths.

“Oh, I'm taking the Raiders, and it's because I am certain they have a quarterback.”

Colts and Jets: Evaluating Future Potential

45:08 to 48:26

Analysis of the Colts and Jets, focusing on quarterback situations and team dynamics.

“Can they finally get someone who can rush the passer for the first time since Abraham really?”

Panthers and Titans: Rookie Quarterback Concerns

48:27 to 50:25

Discussion on the Panthers and Titans, particularly the impact of their rookie quarterbacks.

“Maybe we should take her with the number one pick in the draft.”

Giants vs. Browns: Defense and Quarterback Dilemmas

50:26 to 52:48

Comparing the Giants and Browns, focusing on their defenses and quarterback situations.

“because I keep ending with the same two teams.”

Saints Outlook: Coaching and Future Prospects

52:49 to 56:00

Exploring the Saints' potential under new coaching and their quarterback situation.

“how much different would our conversation about them be?”

Ranking NFL Teams and Fan Reactions

56:00 to 59:49

Discussion on NFL team rankings and fan reactions, especially the Saints and Commanders.

“truly on any of the quarterbacks that the Browns have.”

Ranking NFL Teams and Fan Reactions

59:53 to 1:00:03

Discussion on NFL team rankings and fan reactions, especially the Saints and Commanders.

“That's why State Farm gets to know you, so they can help personalize coverage for your life and budget.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Shave ice by the beach. A trip to the state fair. And a throwback flick at the local drive-in. They're more than just items to check off the summer bucket list. They're also opportunities to earn 2 % daily cash back when you use your Apple Card with Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card now and use in minutes with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch. Terms and more at applecard.com.

0:33Welcome back to Power Hour with Mena Kimes and Lenny and Beaumont Jones. Bo, you and I have been friends for over 10 years at this point. Yes. And this is the first time you've ever been on my podcast. No, it's not. It's not the first time. I was on your podcast once. We recorded it in New York. We sat in the room because I watched you do the Lenny voice and asking me a question, which I have to say is one of the great joys of my career. Unfortunately, clearly this was a far more memorable experience for me than it was for the host of the show. I don't remember that at all. I've kind of blacked out all the original podcasts where I did the Lenny voice because, you know, I stopped doing it after when I shamefully had to do it in front of Matt Hasselbeck and then I said, No, no, that was early.

1:22I understand it, though. This is, it's very interesting because your show is so football that honestly, I appreciate you even finding a way to sneak me in here. You do love football. You love all sports, but you have really good football takes. And I'm actually really excited for you in particular to do this because I think you might go in a different direction from, I had Ryan Clark, Chris Long. I'm actually going to have Nick Wright on, your friend. Oh, that's going to be fun. Passionate opinions are all the way. I shouldn't even give him the Chiefs as an option. at one just to see how he reacts.

1:55So just to remind folks, we are power ranking the entire NFL. This moves very quickly. I present two teams for each slot. Bomani picks one, explains why. I have been starting with the same two teams, but I'm going to mix it up this time. And I'm going to go with the two teams that were in the Super Bowl. Very boring, but the Eagles and the Chiefs, Bomani to kick things off. Who do you think is the best team in the NFL? I am going with the Eagles on this one. And look, I don't, I'm struggling to figure out what to do with Mahomes in this, right? Because how good a quarterback is, is not really like, this isn't basketball, where it's kind of like a straight line, ascent, you reach a peak, and then you kind of come down.

2:37These things kind of go up and down here and there. Like if you like, when was Peyton Manning the best quarterback in the NFL? It might not be as long as you think. It might be longer than you think. Tom Brady, so forth and so on. Mahomes is the best quarterback I had ever seen. who hasn't necessarily looked like the best quarterback in the NFL for like a year and change, two years. And I still don't want anybody over him. But what that Super Bowl taught me is the same thing I should have learned in the 2020 Super Bowl. You can't just pick a team strictly because they have Patrick Mahomes and I don't want to pick against them.

3:07In both of those cases, they got their doors blown off. The Eagles just have dudes on top of dudes on top of dudes. Now, they're not quite as dude filled. For example, I think Mekhi Becton not playing there anymore makes a really big deal because the idea that they just had a 500-pound freight train playing guard as they just mauled people over and over again, I think that's a really big deal not having it. I think it matters. But I still don't think of these two teams, if I got to pick the one that's got the most talent, that's still got to be the Eagles, right? The Eagles are the best team. Well, there's another team, and I'm going to introduce them now, that I would argue is the closest to the Eagles.

3:43I had them in the past two in the top, but I wanted to introduce the Chiefs because of the Mahomes factor. It is the perfect quarterback versus team importance debate. Mahomes has become kind of the case study for that. The other team's the Ravens. I'll just say it right now. So we got the Eagles at one. I think, yeah, so I've been doing Ravens versus Eagles, but now you get to choose between the Ravens and the Chiefs. Ooh. Or are you going to take your second best team in the NFL? This is interesting because I was hoping that you were going to throw to Ravens up there against the Eagles because, and I think it actually gets us here, Raven Chiefs, where this gets to be fun.

4:22I was looking for some reason to talk about how I still don't think Nick Sirianni is very good at this coaching thing. He's not bad at it. I just don't think he's very good at it, right? Right, and it doesn't matter. How good do we think John Harbaugh is at this coaching thing at this point? He is primarily living off of glory from the years 2008 through 2008. 2012. Like that's the, it's been a long time since they won that Superbowl. Somehow Joe Flacco still plays in the NFL, but it has been a long time since that happened. You bring up a really good factor in this particular debate, which is, you know, the, the Ravens have a better team than the chiefs.

5:01I believe the chiefs have a better coach and that does matter. And that doesn't get brought up that often. So, you know, you're looking at the quarterback, the quarterbacks, I actually think you can debate at this point, but how much does coaching matter? Who are you gonna take here yeah i i am leaning ravens at this point like i think i think the overall talent level that they built up is strong enough for us to have this discussion the chiefs are probably not gonna have rasheed rice for a little while right i mean i imagine that that's simply unclear when that's gonna happen well well now that the now that the case has been resolved i have a feeling that they'll be parking his for four to six very very soon uh and maybe that works for the Chiefs, right?

5:40Because you get them back later. But the argument is their defense is super strong, right? Like the defense is now probably the best thing that they have going. And so do we think that they can do much like they did the last time they won the Super Bowl and just Patrick Mahomes manage whatever they hand him? At some point, Travis Kelsey, it has started last year, but I don't expect him to be good this year. Like we got to stop acting like people can play forever. I don't think he's going to be good. And if he's not, if everything we said about how important he is just because his ability to get open, then no, I got to go Ravens.

6:14Don't tell Nick I said any of this. No, I, the chiefs are falling. The chiefs have not finished in the top two in the last two. So you're not, you're in company. Uh, I suspect Nick might break that trend. Uh, now we're going to put the chiefs against a team that I think, I, I believe personally, there's a pretty clear top four and I'm going to introduce the other team, which is the Buffalo bills, the team that the the Chiefs edged out in the AFC championship. Bills, Chiefs, who do you think is a better team? I generally believe that the Bills are the better team, but I'm not sure how much that matters in this discussion really, right?

6:50Like, I guess it is your discussion. I'm just, I'll throw two things out there, right? One of them is that like very clearly, Patrick Mahomes is that guy. Like Patrick Mahomes with Josh Allen feels more like as a comp to me now, it feels like, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger or the Steelers and the Patriots where the Patriots would just get them over and over and over again. I go back to let us not forget Tyler Dunn, whose newsletter is like kind of gold stand. I don't want to call it a newsletter. That feels like there, like it's a real live publication that he's got there. Right. That Sean McDermott, the Buffalo Bill series he had about a year and a half ago with the Sean McDermott stuff.

7:29None of that stuff really changed. Right. Like, like there's, I always feel like, I feel like that team's window really might have shut. They had their chance, and it might not have gotten over, at least with this run and this incarnation that they have. I still trust Mahomes more than I trust Josh Allen, even though Josh Allen's seven-year Rubbin and Bowen Mina's face tour just continues, and it just keeps doing bigger and better numbers. We took our L on that like four years ago, and it's been smooth sailing ever since. We did. You're right about that. It's so much better was we didn't have anything left to hold on to.

8:02like okay cool taking the L in sports media is so underrated it's so freeing to to watch him and just be able to enjoy him these last four years even though I will make the point we were right when we were right y 'all were when we were right y 'all were wrong I can't help it I can't help it okay so we're going Chiefs here right yeah okay okay so the number two team in the nfc i still think is the detroit lions but i do think your detroit lions which you can but i i think it's quite close there's a cluster i think the eagles are pretty the afc like those three teams i think are very close together nfc is not that way i am still going to produce the lions here though so i'm going to put your so for those who don't know bomani is a bandwagon fan of the detroit lions that's not true i was there the year they didn't make the playoffs.

8:56What do you mean you were there? You're not from. I was, I had, I had jumped on board. I was already down with the. Oh, in like 20, you mean like, uh, four years, three years ago. Yeah. Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. He's a longtime fan as of three years ago or four years or whatever that was. That's right. Uh, okay. Three years ago, Detroit Lions versus the Buffalo Bills. Pick with your head, not your heart. Okay. I just want to point out that everything we saw with the Lions last year, and it ended terribly, of course, this was after they were down all of their players, right? So we are presuming that they will be healthier, though it could be a Kyle Shanahan sort of situation where something about your style of play results in your players dropping like flies, right?

9:43Maybe that's it with the kind of physical brand that they play, but they didn't have Aiden Hudson at the end of last year. They're going to wind up having him back. I know that we are generally high on Ben Johnson, his old big brain. I have very good things to say about him, but when their season is on the line and he put the ball in the hands of the person with the worst judgment in the building and asked him to throw a pass and that person is not a quarterback, maybe we might be a little better off with a little simple-minded thinking out here rather than getting all cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Aaron Glenn, who I think can be a very good head coach, was not an infallible defensive coordinator.

10:18I I don't think it's impossible for you to get somebody that can replace him. So I am going with last year who were the best team in the NFL until they started losing all their guys. I am going with America's team, the Detroit Lions. We just did the NFC North pod, and my case for the Lions continuing to win the division and whatnot, even if the offense takes a little bit of a step back, I think the defense not being a mash unit can mitigate that. Really, I am Lions defense. So I don't hate this pick. I would have taken those, but I don't hate it. This is where it gets tough for me, actually, because I think it's kind of like quarterbacks, actually, where there's like a big four right now, and then after that it gets kind of hazy.

10:58I feel the same way about the NFL. It's funny because this has been kind of the big four, but five is tough, man. So the Bills are still here, and I put them up against – I've tried some different teams in this spot. I'm going to throw up a team that I have not, to this point, ranked this high. I'm going to put the Houston Texans here. Houston Texans. CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans versus the Buffalo Bills. Who you got? Okay. I am still going with the Buffalo Bills here. Like I'm still there. But I do believe that the Texans have the chance to make a big jump by making a change that doesn't look like a change.

11:38But I know you people who are more football nerd inclined will agree with this. Our man Bobby Slowick, I ain't really never seen it go for sugar to quite as fast as it did from him from one year to the next. I think they're making a big jump just by getting somebody else in there with Stroud. No, I think it was a much – I was like pleasantly – I don't think it's a real point in D 'Amico Ryan's favor because how many times have we seen defensive coaches be like, I don't know, it's not my side of the ball, I'm going to keep the guy. He made that move judiciously, and I do think it was the right move to your point.

12:12Okay, so the Texans – so you don't think that – So you don't think it's too crazy to have the Texans this high then? I think that comes down to how good you think CJ is. And I think that if you get a little too locked into stat stuff, like I did not watch CJ Stroud last year and think I saw a guy that was regressing in his second year. I saw a guy that wasn't necessarily playing as well, but it didn't seem like, oh man, they got to the bottom of this, right? No, I think he's probably set to do. I mean, we were talking about him as the way we talk about Jaden Daniels is the way that we talked about CJ Stroud just the year before.

12:43And if you made me take one or if you asked me to take one of them now, I'm still taking Stroud. Well, you just made this choice very easy for me. I'm giving you the Texans versus Jane Daniels commanders now for the sixth spot after Buffalo. Who are you going to take? I have still taken the Texans and the bowl. I don't even know if it's the hot take last year, which you did not have, which was been an annual NFL occurrence that you and I have talked about was the Cliff Kingsbury fade where everybody figures out what he's doing through the course of the year. It didn't really happen last year, which makes me think it's coming in spades now.

13:17The Cliff Cliff is what I've called it on his pod. Yeah, we'll see. I do not love the Commander's defense, and I love the Texas defense. Ooh, do I love watching this Texans defense. They finished second on my top 10 defenses pod behind a team that is going to come up pretty soon. So even if I feel like the offensive line isn't totally fixed, that defense will carry them a long ways. All right, we're going to stay in the NFC and do an NFC head-to-head here. Commanders versus Packers. Okay. I am a Jordan Love guy. I think I am a Jordan Love guy. Because I don't root for them, how good he is. Is that a secondary?

14:00It's a lot of fun. It is interesting to watch him be allowed to be what he is. But when he looks good, because he's so big and he's so strong, and he makes, he's on that, there ain't really a whole lot of people who can do this list when he gets to go. Yeah, yeah. I would not be surprised if this is like a leap type of year for him, which we thought last year could be. And, you know, it was a little wonky coming through the year, but I felt like by the time we got to the end, we were there for something. I think there will be statistical progression from Jayden Daniels. Not like he's going to get worse, but I don't think their offense is going to be as good as it seemed.

14:37And I also think, yes, they made it to the NFC Championship game, but they got to have some pretty good luck. America's team was beset by all sides on the American and the Pacific by pestilence and all kinds of other stuff. But if they had caught the Detroit Lions as they were truly intended, then y 'all would calm y 'all selves down and not be talking about stuff like the Super Bowl with this team. The Hail Marys, the game last-minute drives, the 87 % fourth-down conversion rate. The signs are there. Uh, and I don't, like I said, I don't love that defense. I'm glad you're with me on Jordan Love.

15:12I call him my and one quarterback. Cause he's just like, he's mixtape love. I just love him. I don't know. I just love watching him. I it's very divisive by the way. A lot of people have turned on him. Uh, all right. Commander. I'm going to do another NFC team here. I realizing now that there's the big three in the AFC and then there's kind of a drop off. Whereas the NSE has like a one that's way above. I'm going to go commanders versus Rams. Who? Interesting, right? I lean toward commanders here, right? Fair. But. But. Hold the pen. I can just never tell what I'm supposed to be thinking or feeling about Matt Stafford.

15:56I never can. I like, he's Carson Palmer to me. Carson Palmer with a Super Bowl ring, right? I think one of them is a three-time Pro Bowler. One of them is a two-time Pro Bowler for people who somehow think that this is offensive. Like these are kind of your car from granite quarterbacks. Absolutely looked apart. And when they're at their best, they look incredible. And they're going to give you a chance or two where they're going to try to give you the ball. Right? Like that opportunity is always going to come. He's older. We saw the thing happen with the Rams as they were trying to figure out what to do with him.

16:24And like when we say he's older, it's easy to forget. This is year 17. Yeah. For him. Like we still, yeah, we still holding on. this was 17 with a lot of miles, by the way. Like this would be a year. If you were to guess that the decline like starts really mattering, this would be the year when it would really matter. On the other side is we don't talk about McVay in those genius terms anymore, but he's still pretty damn effective.

16:52So you go in Rams. Oh, Rams. How moved are you by the Devante Adams edition? you know how you can't tell if somebody's good anymore. But I am intrigued. You know what I mean? Like, I think at the very least, it's that. I mean, he's wound up in not great situations for however many years, right? Like, maybe, you know, he's probably got one more in him. That's what you get when you can't quit your ex. You can't quit any of them. Nobody's fault if you're your own, my guy, any of them, right? Okay. Rams. The Rams are, I think, definitely a top 10 team. got the pass rush jared verse i saw him with the svs last night holy smokes that dude is impressive looking in person um okay so commanders i'm gonna bring in the bangles here oh the answer is going to be the commanders um because me you and nine of our friends we could put up 17 points against what the bangles are going to be trotting out there this year I didn't want to be hyperbolic, right?

17:59Like, I didn't want to be like, we could put a 50. Then that would just take the opinion out of here completely. But I think that we could get 17 on them. I love the fact that Shamar Stewart, if he ever shows up, will probably be named the team captain. I mean, when is a rookie ever showing up and be like, you see what they be doing? Look what they do with a trade. They just cheat. And I'm sure the whole locker room has to be like, hey, that's a leader right there. uh sorry i'm still thinking about us and what we'd be running on them it's like when people put out those tweets are like do you think you get one yard in the nfl essentially you know with with 10 tries um yeah uh it's not great defensively but they're gonna win a bunch of games 45 to 41 maybe so well anyways okay so the commanders are finally there at nine uh bangles are still on the board here.

18:50I shall bring in the team that I had as the number one defense in the league. And that's the Denver Broncos. Yeah. So Broncos versus Bengals elite offense versus elite defense. Who you got? I am not a Bo Nix guy. I will not be a Bo Nix guy for a while. And I think that I had what I have in common with the other not Bo Nix guys is how much college football you watch. and so I saw you let's say I saw your guy Solak make this point that if you were not high on Bo Nix going into the draft and there really wasn't that much in the season that should change your mind it's a lot of passes behind the line of scrimmage a lot of like use the scheme to make it easy for you um and that catches up to you right no matter how good you think Sean Payton is you can only scheme your way but so far if that's the scheme you got to do to make it work with your quarterback, but that defense is monstrous, monstrous to be fair to them though.

19:52There's only so much Sean Payton can do, but he has to be the most adaptable of the offensive geniuses. Right. Like I just can't think of anybody that could decide, okay, we're doing something else. He's like Belichick, but offense in that way. I love that. I was vindicated last year as a Payton fan because people were so out on him after the Russell Wilson experience. And I was like, no, no, no, no, no. I'm buying all the stock. Y 'all don't remember like this is one of the greatest offensive coaches in the history of sport and i felt like what he did with bo nicks year one making the offense competent uh wait so we're taking the bangles over the broncos or i'm oh wow those are my choices aren't they these are your choices this is we're in flawed territory everybody's got flaw yeah you know what i will go with the bangles just because i mean while we could get the 17, they would score 150 on us.

20:41Like that's the, the, the, the, the Joe Burrow to Jabbar Chase connection is yikes. What are you supposed to do? What is your option? Higgins. Yeah. Okay. Broncos are still on the board and here I shall bring in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South champions. Ooh, um, I'm going to go with the Broncos because they have that defense and where are you on Baker? I feel like people are getting carried away. I think that he is a starting quarterback, which is not the same thing as a franchise quarterback. Yeah. I think that he is a quarterback you can win with. And I think right now they are stacked around him.

21:25So I'm high on Baker. I think if you took away some of those pieces, we might have a different conversation, but look at the P I mean, I don't disagree with you with the Broncos by the because the defense, but like, look at the situation in Tampa. I mean, that wide receiver, they're like running four or five deep down their offensive line, Bucky Irving. So that's, I know it's a little bit of a cop out, but like, I think he's gonna still be good. Yeah, I I'd agree there, but it is. I just think we have the problem in the league where everybody, is he a franchise quarterback? No, he's a starting quarterback and that's okay.

21:56right like that you can do a lot with a starting quarterback can you beat the chargers who i'm going to put up against the bucks here who have a nice quarterback i am going to go with the chargers okay and that for me is just i have a jim harbaugh faith that maybe is a bit outsized but like he's my we're going to figure this out one way or another you were down on John up on Jim. Oh, I'm big up on Jim. I'm big up on Jim. I'm up on Jim in the way where this Justin Herbert thing don't start looking like people say it's supposed to, and then I just got to fully blame him. Like, I think we're just still waiting.

22:37We're just still waiting. Like, he's not been bad, right? But we're still waiting. William's just retired, by the way. I did see that he retired. Like, that's funny. I thought that he retired every time I put him in my fantasy football lineup in the many years that I had him on my team. Like, don't you worry. You leave Mike Williams on your fantasy football bench, you'll go for 150 yards every single time. What is the cop for Mike Williams? Like grafting? Is it like going to like a Lauren Hill concert? Yes. I'm like, right. Right. Right. Right. Right. After you leave, she's going to play two and a half hours of the best music you've ever heard.

23:11I guess it wasn't her fault. Sorry. I don't want to slander her. Uh, this last one. Oh, okay. Bucks versus Vikings. Ooh. So the question really is, is a rookie that hasn't played a game make you feel more confident than Sam Bradford? Not Sam Bradford, Sam Darnold, your guy. Yeah. You know, a rookie walking into getting handed the keys to the Lambo. Yes. Yes. Gets to throw to one of the two best wide receivers in the NFL. I don't there was never a time when J.J. McCarthy was at Michigan that I thought I was watching the first round pick. So it's hard for me to like super jump into the idea of him.

23:56However, I was 100 percent positive that you could not win with Sam Darnold. The Sam Darnold was like, watch me prove you right. So I their chances of being a winner have improved by having him just because I just don't think you could win with Sam Darnold. So I am going to the Vikings, who, by the way, I believe, went 14 and three last year. Let us not forget. I will lean toward them. Okay. Wow. The second place in the North, by the way, behind America's team.

24:26All right. Bucks versus Niners. I am going Bucks there. It just feels like little by little, this thing is just whittling away up there. They had a window, and I don't feel like they blew their window. They came very close to winning Super Bowls. But with the basic core of what this team is, I just think it's done. It's not a Brock Purdy isn't good enough situation or any of this. I just think that thing has gone as far as it can.

25:03Very, very injured last year. Does that sway you at all? They'd be always very injured. They're going to be very injured. They're hard when you play as much football as they have going that deep. it takes a toll. That's true. Okay. I think that's fair. To wrap up this half, Niners versus Steelers. Ooh, am I the only person that thinks the Steelers feel a lot like the Dream Team Eagles, I believe, of 2011? When they went and got all the old guys and brought them in to make it happen? Like, it feels very similar. It's just how good do you think Aaron Rodgers is? Because somebody could put together a series of good Aaron Rodgers from last year, and you would think that it was still Aaron Rodgers, right?

25:51He's going to have people to throw to. We presume that defense is going to be okay. T.J. Watt's old woodchopping. He's going to be out there, money or not, don't you worry. His sense of decency is just going to be a little too strong for him to do what he needs to do to get that money. Okay. Okay. Well, to answer your question, because we talked about this at length in the AFC North preview, I think Aaron Rodgers is probably somewhere in the 15 to 25 range. Okay. Is that good enough? Because this is a team that has made it to the playoffs consistently with substandard quarterback play. Do you think it's better than Niners?

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26:26Yes, I would say that. You're taking Steelers as well? Okay.

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27:51Ipe Mitsuhara ran up gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation. The inside story of the biggest scandal in modern baseball. He was absolutely bananas, the amount of bets he was making. I've never seen anything like it. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, this is The Betrayal of Shohei Otani. Presented by Gusto. New episodes available now. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. All right, we are back with 16 on our power rankings. Bo did not choose the Niners, so the Niners are on the board, and I am going to put them up against the Dallas Cowboys. Oh, I'm taking the Cowboys here. We forget a lot of significant injuries, most notably to the quarterback in Dallas last year.

28:41Now, granted, the annual quarterback injury seems to be a thing to where we are on like a first name basis with Cooper Rush. We're very familiar with him in a way that we should not be. But if they stay reasonably healthy, they should be good. And look, this is going to be the best version of George Pickens there's ever been. yes I agree how good that is we're gonna see but if he can't keep his keep his eye on the prize this year then it's hopeless and I'm going to assume that he's gonna do at least enough this year I think the Dallas Cowboys offense is gonna be good I do too um okay the Niners are dropping will that stop against the Chicago Bears oh I feel like this is a Caleb Williams question right and so while I think the Lions can do okay without Ben Johnson I also think that Ben Johnson will probably be pretty damn helpful for Caleb Williams to have because one thing I say about Ben Johnson that I do like is he's a bold one right and I think that there could be a tendency like I know this is the strategy the Panthers use with Cam Newton Young which I supported by the way which is get an offensive coordinator that ain't gonna make it too complex and let your big talented your quarterback shine, do it through play action, but simplify it and thereby let the talent go.

30:01Well, Kayla Williams isn't that physical, isn't physically talented in that way where you can do that. You need somebody that's got some big ideas, I think, to figure out what the best way is to use that guy. And I think they got a guy with some big ideas. So bears over Niners. I'm taking the bears. I also really, I talked about this in the pod last week, but I really liked the Dennis Allen. Nothing I love more than a head coach who was like, maybe not a great head coach going back to be doing what he's good at. It's like my favorite tropes in football. He's like poor man, Wade Phillips. We're like, Wade Phillips is a better head coach than he gets credit for, but he's a defense coordinator.

30:33Totally. Brian Flores, another good example of that in some ways. Okay. We did the Bears. Niners are still available.

30:45Niners versus, let's put the Seahawks here. It's higher than I've had them. You know, I feel like if this was a broadcast that we got the Niners walking around the basement, stressed out, taking phone calls, not wanting to talk about it, wishing they could smoke a cigarette, but these cameras are standing around here. But what the Niners don't have is Sam Darnold as their quarterback, who I know you can't win with. Go, Niners. Oh, damn, that's right. I wasn't even thinking about that when I said it. The Vikings won 14 games. No, I'm not. My case for the Seahawks is really nothing to do with Sam Darnold.

31:21I really like defense, and I think the coach is a big defensive coach, but I think the Niners do make sense here. Okay, Seahawks versus...

31:34I'm going to throw up a team real early that I have not had this high yet. That's the New England Patriots. Ooh. Would be a big jump, obviously, for them to get to 19 from dregs. So what we are saying here is, is Mike Vrabel, the 2025 version of Mike Vrabel, that much of an improvement over the previous head coach? They've added guys, right? They've added. They've done that. You're correct. But this is, well, I guess it's not, wow, I had completely forgotten already that Gerard Mayo happened. Because I was thinking like a jump over Belichick. I was like, wow, bold statement. This jump over Mayo, apparently, no, this could probably check out pretty well.

32:21I think I'm still going to stay. I'll stay with the Seahawks on this one. I am generally leery of the second-year quarterback, I admit. It is a lot for that guy in the second year. Yeah, it's a lot. So I will go with the Seahawks for now. But I do think the Patriots will be much better than they were. They still have this same problem with the Belichick era, which is, man, I don't know none of them dudes' names. on defense in particular maybe like 11 dudes we picked up from the home depot and they'll go out there and they'll be top 10 dboa all right

32:58patriots versus cardinals think on it think on it for a little bit because the cardinals are feisty they are last year i think it's easiest for us to forget that last year went a lot better than we expected for it to go. And I think Gannon, from what I can see, I'm not going to pretend like I watched them that much, but Gannon seems to have something going there. He seems to know what it is that he's doing. I like him, dude. They actually really do. You know, and I am probably a little higher than on Kyler Murray than a lot of people. Like, I think he is a starting quarterback who could do franchise quarterback type things, right?

33:41so yeah I will go there I will go with them I find the Seahawks it's funny because like looking look at this ranking they ended up back to back to back see at Niner Seahawks Cardinals but that's how I feel about the NFC West like there's the Rams and then got three teams here it's I don't know kind of could go anyway I feel like you know what I mean it's not like some of these divisions are very clear the order of things I the NFC West is kind of crazy um okay Patriots still on the board. So we're out, we got to 20. We have, we're at the bottom 12 now. Um,

34:15let's go Falcons here.

34:19So we have a series of, can they put it all together right on their offense? Yeah. We're in Phoenix. I haven't talked to you about him in a while. I don't. So I watched the games with Pennix last year, and I guess I'm a little worried that he's as old as he is and played as much quarterback as he has but he looked to still be that raw um as he as he did I think they made the right move in going to him I mean I think Cousins is finished I think we're asking for a lot for him coming off an Achilles in the first place um I I see why they did everything they did in order to get him I don't know when it's going to start bear fruit but the truth is with the with the drafting that they've done it shouldn't require that much out of Penn.

35:01So Drake London, I haven't given up on Kyle Pitts being an impact player yet, and you know how I feel about Bijan. You shouldn't need that much from your quarterback, I don't think, to get your offense going. That's my thought. But it's coming down to them and who do we have them against? Patriots. Yeah. I am going Patriots here, and that is, it is nothing against Raheem, who I like, but I do think Vrabel is a value add guy as a coach. Yeah. Patriots, you know, also like they added a lot of guys on defense. Stephon Diggs is going to be a fun experience there. Yeah. Oh, God. Let me tell you, you want to talk about reality TV show?

35:42I want to watch Stephon and Cardi do Boston. They broke up. I thought it turned out they was actually still something. They broke up. Oh, you know what? You're probably right. I'm not going to admit it. Yeah, that appears to be a relationship that one would describe as being fiery. If I was like playing matchmaker between celebrities, that would have been one that I would have chose. Yes. Yeah. Anyways, no further comment. Okay. Patriots there. So the Falcons are still on the board. And I'm going to throw in a team that I think I'm a little higher on than a lot of people. And that is a Jacksonville Jaguars.

36:26Ooh.

36:31they last year seemed to be a team that it was all falling apart right like this was definitely and look our good buddy Doug Peterson maybe he's that guy right there's only so long that this is going to go before things start getting to be a bit toxic I guess but they should not have been as bad as they were this year and so I would assume that they are going to be better right I would assume that they're going to be able to pick this up. So yeah, I will lean in their direction. But I have to say this, though. The fact that they're trying to have Travis Hunter play both sides of the ball does not give me a lot of faith that they know what they're doing.

37:12I am so perplexed by that. I've been perplexed by that since the draft. And it's not that I'm perplexed by it at all. I'm perplexed by the way they've gone about it. like if they had come out and said okay he's going to be a corner with few packages to receive right all right you know like like there are ways to do it that I think makes sense but did you see that clip this is a little bit of digression sorry but I'd love to get your thoughts on it of Travis Kelsey talking about how if he plays both sides of the ball defenses are just going to run deep on him like how yeah what was your reaction to that because I was not and And they're just going to wear him out.

37:51Yeah. They're just going to wear him out. The other thing for me is what he didn't appear to be at Colorado is durable. Like that shot that he took. He's a smaller dude. Yeah. That shot he took his first year at Colorado from that Colorado State got him. And I think he missed a few games. I don't know. He had like a broken spleen or something crazy like that. That wasn't a crazy hit. Yeah. Like I don't, I don't, I, I'm floored that they're actually going to try to do this. I can't, I can't. And by the way, gave up draft capital that implies that the only way to make it worth it. I am convinced that this is going to be like three weeks, and then they're going to be like, all right, let's just dial this back a little bit.

38:26We'll see. I love him as a player. Again, a big part of my reason for being a little optimistic about the Jags is I think he is that dude. But the deployment, the devil is going to be in the details on that one. And then obviously they got Brian Thomas Jr., who's like an absolute superstar. And they got that dude, though. That's their coach, right? He's a good coach. He's a good coach. Yeah, it is their coach, unfortunately. He's a good coach. You need to watch his back when he goes back to Temple. I wish they were playing. I don't think they are because that would be amazing. Yeah, the way that all went down.

39:00Okay. Falcons versus the Miami Dolphins.

39:08I'm going with the Dolphins. I'm going with your face when I said that. Yeah, but I really think about it, And it's like, I feel like we're a little too down on them. That's what I want to hear. Yeah. Like, I think the things that are good about them are still pretty good. But people are just all the way down on them. Now, like, does Mika Fitzpatrick still have something left? That's going to be an interesting question. Like, the idea that that was basically a one-for-one trade, it does not really happen in this sport. That was a kind of wild thing to watch. But I don't, like, I feel like we're down here.

39:40Like, when you pour a bowl of cereal and it's not all flakes, you know what I mean like like like like we're we're getting the leavens of the league and I don't feel like they down there with the leavens the leavens I love the when you're down to the crumbs I will pour that into my mouth straight from the bag but if we're talking but I guess the equivalent here is like the Giants the Browns do the same yeah that's what I'm saying like I'm thinking about who's left um you're right about the Dolphins and sentiment I think there's a thing I think we've seen this Jordan love is actually like a victim of this where when something is so hyped and then it disappoints people turn harder than they should because of that whiplash.

40:20And I think the Miami dolphins, cause we've just seen the, that, you know, what it's happened in January or the end of the year play out now. I just think people can't get excited about it anymore. They still have good players though. They still have good players. So I think that's completely fair. Okay. The Falcons are dropping. they are the foul ones if you've shopped online chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify you know that purple shop pay button you see at checkout the one that makes buying so incredibly easy that's Shopify and there's a reason so many businesses sell with it because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10 % of all e-commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started.

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41:43Sign up for your$1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com slash network. Go to shopify.com slash network, shopify.com slash network. In a contracting business, you're either growing or you're grinding. Success is no longer about hard work alone. It's about using AI to accelerate impact. Service Titan is the only integrated intelligence that seamlessly automates your entire workflow from first call to final invoice. Born in the trades, built for visionaries ready to stop operating and start automating. Service Titan, AI for the trades. This is Buster Olney for La Quinta by Wyndham.

42:31When work puts you on the road during baseball's postseason, mornings matter. At La Quinta by Wyndham, fuel up with a free breakfast featuring hot waffles and other favorites before your workday begins. Then, when the day's wrapped up, sit back and enjoy October baseball in your spacious suite. Earn Wyndham Rewards points with every qualified stay. Tonight, La Quinta. Tomorrow you shine. Book your next trip at LaQuinta.com. Terms and conditions apply. Let's go Falcons versus Raiders here. Oh, I'm taking the Raiders, and it's because I am certain they have a quarterback. You know, you and I, we hold it down over here for Gino.

43:17I mean, look, and Pete Carroll, here's one thing I know about this. You're not going to be bad. Yeah. Your team may not be great, right? They may not be as good as they should in some ways, but your team is not going to be bad with Pete as the coach. Yeah, I think this offense is going to be sneaky good, honestly. It's just the defense that we're in. But we're in the territory now. We're at 24. Yeah, I feel bad, Gino. No need to revisit that. All right, the Falcons continue to drop. I'm not going to bring in their divisional rival here just yet. There's two left. One definitely not bringing in.

43:55let's go Falcons Colts here. I would love for this to be the Colts because for this to be the Colts, it would mean that my guy, Anthony Richardson has gotten this thing together. They are skeptical of him, not as a talent, but as a professional is, can you fix all that in one year? Basically. Because I did think that after he came back, when they sent him to his room and put him on punishment and acted like they did not put him on punishment last year, I thought he was pretty good when he came back in off of that. Did enough happen to make him lock in and decide that he could be that guy? Because he is Cam Newton, Josh Allen, physical talent level.

44:42And in fact, maybe just like in pure measurables, probably superior to them. But we haven't seen that guy. So I can't pick the Colts yet. I wish I could, though. All right. Falcons. Oh, no, no, no. We go on the Colts now. I'm taking the Falcons over the Colts. Yeah, you're taking the Falcons. So the Falcons are at 25. So the Colts are still on the board. Yes. Yeah, I think with the Falcons, too, whether or not they can rise above this and actually be competitive and admittedly a very easy division, any of those two pass rushers they picked up work out, you know, that's kind of going to be what it comes down to.

45:24Can they finally get someone who can rush the passer for the first time since Abraham really? So yeah, I don't know. It really has been that long. You had to break out John. Like when you break out somebody named Abraham and it feels like it's been since like the Abraham era, you know, when they was just commonplace. It's a tough go. We'll see. They certainly tried in the draft. Okay. We have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven slots left. Colts. I shall do. I'm going to put the jets here. Maybe it's a little early. Okay. I'm going to go with the Colts here. And it is only because I think this, I am not a field guy, right?

46:07Like, I don't know if slow processors stop being slow processors, maybe not even a slow processor, but a slow, get the ball louder. How about that? Right. That's that's, I don't, I don't see that change very much. I am. I am very curious how this goes for the jets. It's not like they don't have players. They've got guys, but I don't, I don't, I, I, I would not have done what they did at quarterback. That was a stop gap sort of move for a team that I think would have been better off going super young or super old. It's a referendum on the draft, right? Just like not wanting to do it. Okay. So we're putting the Colts here.

46:44I think the Colts defense could be a little better this year too, by the way, with Sweet Lou and Arimo. They've added some pieces. But yeah, the quarterback is the question. The Jets, I'm going to put up against a team who I want to hear your thoughts on him as a quarterback. Carolina Panthers. Oh, here we go. Because I have to say, Bryce Young in the second half of the season got himself in the Jarrett golf. I didn't know you could be so bad and turn out to be this decent program. It looks okay. It looks possible. They don't look that good, like in some total, but he looks like he could be a starting NFL quarterback.

47:28I think you're a believer. I think he can be. It is possible. I am. I am no longer a flat out doubter. Yeah. Which I was how everybody felt, you know, it's well, Well, to be fair, I was an early adopter on it. I recall you being a little blown away. The best I can say about him is the little homie's doing the best he can. That was – I think about that every time we talk about him on TV. Every time we're trying to have like a serious football conversation about Grace Young, who I really like as a person and a player. I think about – you're a little – you appear as like the devil on my shoulder saying little homie doing the best he can.

48:09I try not to like say it. It's just in my head. I'm just saying. You were the worst thing. He's doing more than the best he can now. Little homie is doing all right. He is, but you're the worst thing that ever happened to his draft. I don't want to talk about it. You're the one that stood next to him, and we were like, I don't know, number one pick in the draft. Can't tell. Maybe we should take her with the number one pick in the draft. I know. I was going to say, I haven't taken any pictures next to the quarterback since then. All right. So we're going Jets then or Panthers? I am going Jets because I think everything else about the Panthers is startling.

48:41The Panthers defense is still not great. Just defense could turn things around too. I feel like that's not talked about enough. Like they're still really talented. Yes. They got players. They've got players. It's just, I mean, it's just the fields better than Aaron Rogers was last year. And if you were to ask me last year, I probably would have said no. I like Aaron Glenn too. And I think I don't, I cannot even, I just can't imagine a defense playing as bad as they did under Aaron Glenn. That is true. Okay. Okay, Panthers versus, let's put in a rookie quarterback here, the Tennessee Titans.

49:17I can't get a great handle on what I think of Cam Ward as an actual NFL quarterback because he seems that he was just better than those other guys, right? Like I don't feel like if you were bad enough to get the number one pick, he's not the guy that's changing your fortunes. You change the things around him, okay, cool. But no, we may go all the way to the end. no, the Titans are not going to be dead last for me, but they are, they're going to be pretty close. So Panthers. Yeah. I mean, I would also take the Panthers here for me. It's actually less about Cam Ward and more about the pieces around Cam Ward, right?

49:51Like looking at the skill players and Brian Callahan, don't know how we feel about him necessarily. Defense has a lot of holes. So I think it's, I think Bryce showed us enough last year to feel good about or the direction that they're going in with him. All right. We are in the gruesome foursome at the bottom here. The remaining teams, I don't think any of these teams have risen above this part. They are the crumbs of the cereal that we were about to pour into our mouths.

50:25Titans, I want to mix things up because I keep ending with the same two teams. but it's so hard for me to make a case for them. I mean, I know one of them, but I'll let it play out.

50:41Let's go. I can't. I can't mix up the order. Let's go Titans-Giants here. We're going Titans for no other reason than they are not the Giants. And I will just say this again for the people at home. Either take a quarterback in the teens or take them in the 30s in the second round. but the quarterback in the 20s is a bust. Does the Giants having Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Caven Thibodeau on the defensive line move you at all? It does move me. And if they could ever force a third down, I think they'll have a chance to really make something happen. But no, that does move me. If there's any franchise that knows the value of the you can't have too many pass rushers adage, it is them.

51:24I just think their offense, the league neighbor's going to be so mad, man. Just furious.

51:32And so will Brian Dable. He will also be angry and furious. I can't imagine how insufferable he's going to be by week three. He still has a job. He should be. All right. He needs some gratitude. Dude, have you looked at the Giants' schedule? I have not. Is that bad? Hold on. I actually want to read this to you just to see your reaction. Okay, this is from week one on. the Russell Wilson led because he'll be starting quarterback. Oh, that's right. And this is what makes it so hard because we know that they're going to pull the trigger at some point on dart. Teams always do. From week one, here we go.

52:09Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Saints, Eagles, Broncos, Eagles, Niners. So one and a possible? Or like, yikes. We have not brought up the Saints. Yo, I have been living here. This will be my ninth football season, and I ain't seen a good football team yet. Like, I've seen one make the playoffs, but I ain't seen a good one yet. That's brutal. All right, well, the Giants are still on the board, and I'm going to put them up against the Cleveland Browns. Ew. I mean, if the Browns didn't have whatever that quarterback room is, how much different would our conversation about them be? two good defenses.

52:56Yeah. Going head to head. Yeah. Like that's, that's kind of where I'm at, but so what is Joe Flacco, Dylan Gabriel, Shador Sanders, and Kenny Pickett. That's right. I'll take Russell Wilson over those guys. I think right now. So damn. Yeah. Go on. Oh, I forgot. I forgot Deshaun Watson. He does still play for them. He's just a little hurt. Nobody really brings up. Of those, the Browns QB room. if you had to bet right now, who do you think ends up starting the most games? This is impossible. First of all, don't hold him to this. I get asked this all the time, and I always cop out. I'm like, I don't know.

53:34It's an impossible question. Okay, so I think it will go in this order. Joe Flacco to Kenny Pickett to Shadour, to Dylan Gabriel, then Shadour Sanders. I think it will go in that order. And I guess, I mean, there's a real argument that Shadour gets to start the most games because they'll have to burn through the other guys so fast and they may get hurt out there. I can't, like, what people have to understand is that year that Joe Flacco played for the Browns and you thought he played good, he did not actually. It just worked out okay. Because unlike most backup quarterbacks, he's already rich.

54:09So he just goes out there and has fun and makes big plays. And so you're like, oh man, you see the big plays? But he was cheeks then. They tried to give him the job in Indianapolis last year. He was cheeks there. He's gonna, but they love him. so he's going to get to go at first yeah i i think he'll go first because they just they want to run a certain kind of offense they know he can do it unless one of these two guys dazzles in the preseason which can he pick it drafted in the 20s yes although well let's have an offline conversation about can you pick it um okay brown saints i by the way i think it's out now i think i know that's Next week, I have an interview with Tyler Shook.

54:54Oh, okay. Who I love. So I'm a little biased now. I'm rooting for this dude. I also want to have an offline conversation with you about. The Saints have finished at the bottom every time I've done this thus far.

55:12So I understand the skepticism around Shook, but I also understand why somebody would buy in, right? From watching the clips of them, I see why somebody would do that. But they just seem to be kind of all-around bad. All the years of kicking the cap down the road, we're here. We've been here for a little while, but we're kind of really here right now. But I don't feel like they're the worst team in the NFL bad. Are the Browns? Because of them quarterbacks, yeah. I have more optimism about Shuck than I have for any of those names that we just listed. I'm glad we're having this because everyone keeps doing the same.

55:48Saints. The Browns have a better defense, but the Saints, I think, have the best quarterback of the group. Yeah. I'm a good coach, too. I think Kelly Moore's a good coach. Yeah, I see no cause for optimism truly on any of the quarterbacks that the Browns have. Like, Gabriel, I mean, I guess. I don't think Sanders is physically talented enough. Joe Flacco might as well have gone to high school with me. And Kenny Pickett, no. It ain't happening. So we can go Saints. I'm gonna go Saints. All right. Have you ever seen the Saints block party pod guys on socials? I have not. They keep posting every time I have the Saints in the bottom, and they have a hashtag for this season, hashtag ArchMyBack.

56:33No, that's what they're trying to do. They're trying to get Arch to come home. They're taking for Arch. We don't even know if Arch is any good. I know. Any good. But, you know, if you – Well, here's what we do know. The Saints are bad, so. Yeah. Oh, no, the paper bags are going to be out this year, and they're going to hear from me about it, too. All right, yes. The final ranking. I want you to read this aloud, and then I want you to tell me who you think went too low. If there's one team you're like, maybe their fans might be justifiably mad. Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, Lions, Bills, Texans, Packers, Rams, Commanders, Bengals, Broncos, Chargers, Vikings, Bucks, Steelers.

57:18That's your top 15. Cowboys, Bears, Niners, Seahawks, Cardinals, Patriots, Jaguars, Dolphins, Raiders, Falcons, Colts, Jets, Panthers, Titans, Giants, Saints, Browns. All right. I do think that Commandos fans got a reason to be perhaps a little bit salty coming off their best season in 30 something years, right? I get why they might be salty. And to the Bengals fans, you are welcome. After this all shook out, I am amazed that you guys are this high on the list. I don't necessarily have anybody below you that I necessarily think is better, but I just, I really think you guys are going to give up 75 points a game this year.

57:57Yeah, I think the Commanders fans are going to be the angriest looking at this. I think you're right. And maybe Falcons fans. I think they seem optimistic right now yeah but see you have to understand that if you decide to root for the falcons then you have to be optimistic you have no other choice like otherwise like why are you still here why would you keep doing this the man of the year got busted soliciting a prostitute before one super bowl and then the next time you went you blew a 28-3 lead um in a game that you thought you were going to win that had to be heartbreaking and terrible for where you were standing and so if you keep keep keep coming out here and you know going to kick the football you see lucy right there it's the same lucy has always been but here you go raring back you know what i'm saying like someday someday it'll be better right my favorite fans in football the atlanta falcons fans uh you know i i just love i love the resilience that's all i'll say i will say this you need to get yourself to a georgia dome to the georgia dome for a there is no nfl environment quite like a Falcons home game at this point.

59:03It is very Atlanta. You need to see this. That's Bomani Jones, the host of The Right Time with Bomani Jones. You guys are listening to this. You probably know him, but you also know Dominique Foxworth who appears on his show regularly. Football season's coming up, so hopefully he invites me over to his side as well sometime to podcast together. This has been extremely fun. We got the AFC East coming out this week, so tap in for that. And then, of course, this interview I just teased with Tyler Shook. And I'll see you guys then. Thank you so much, Amani. Hey, thank you. Wow!

59:49This episode is brought to you by State Farm. No two football players are exactly alike, and the same is true off the field. That's why State Farm gets to know you, so they can help personalize coverage for your life and budget. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

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Mina and Bomani rank all 32 NFL teams.

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