Standing Pats? Previewing Every Week 10 Game

32:37I just feel like Tommy Reese in his first game as a play caller is going to be aggressive. He's going to pull out all the tricks and stops and try to get Jerry Judy singled up down the field. I just feel like now is the time to try to let Dylan Gabriel prove that he's the guy, create some explosives and I think this Jets defense is vulnerable enough for them to do so So I like the Browns here to win. And I think it's going to be because of Dylan Gabriel actually making some plays. I'm on the Browns as well. We don't actually know who's starting at Jets quarterback. I mean, I like fields is obviously coming off of the big win.

33:18Yeah. But there's no guarantee. Aaron Glenn is literally like playing dumb with the media after gaslighting the media for all season. Yeah. I mean, I think you'd rather have fields, but the Browns run defense is very good and it's a tough spot for him. And like you said, this is a huge opportunity for Dylan Gabriel against this defense and what's left of it. So yeah, I'm interested in seeing it. All right. That's that thus concludes our coverage of Browns. I'm taking the Browns as well. Okay, so let's go to a good game. um Patriots Bucks this is a good one uh I'll go first here I'm on the Bucks side of it uh so I was just pulling up the uh injury report but I'm gonna focus on the defense the Bucks defense because I think there's vulnerabilities of there that um New England can attack and and maybe you'll talk about those we'll see uh I wrote can you pressure Drake May without blitzing him because drake may this year has been an absolute assassin against the blitz first in qbr in the league in the nfl against the blitz and when he's kept clean he's been i mean drake may has been good at everything this year but i think the blitz thing too what strikes me is um they have a lot of guys who can beat you um and get yards after the catch when and it's part of the reason why his numbers are so good against the blitz and so we know tampa blitz is a decent amount but they've got some pass rushers who are playing okay you know yaya diaby's been good this year before the buy anthony nelson looked really good uh son reddick had been hurt so i do think with todd bowls who is you know a very very good defensive game planner you might want to dial back the heat in this one because i feel like if they send pressure drake may is just going to kill him Yeah, no, I think that's definitely possible.

35:15Drake May has just been so freaking good in pretty much any situation that's thrust upon him. He's answered the bell. Josh McDaniels putting him in a position to win down to down. I've just been so impressed with Drake May. I don't think if the Patriots lose this game, it's going to be because of Drake May. I think their inability to run the football is kind of a crutch to that offense. But for my key, I'm actually going to go with New England's secondary. I think that is a massive issue for this defense, which has by all accounts been unreal. They've been amazing at defense. I have a note on this one.

36:00Yeah. Keep going. I was going to say, yeah, yeah. So I think they are 10th in EPA in overall defense, but they're third in run defense. This is one of the best run defenses we've seen. These two teams are both. By the way, this is for both teams. Don't run the ball. Don't do not run the ball. Literally. You're going to lose both teams, Tampa and New England. Literally. And so I do think if you're Tampa Bay and Bucky Irvin didn't play today, or practice today is Wednesday, so we'll see if he returns or not. I feel he's probably not going to return. But if you're Tampa, you have to feel like you have opportunities to win down the field.

36:39And yes, Mike Evans is out. Your number one receiver is a rookie, Emeka Agbuka, who's been phenomenal. But the Patriots secondary has been vulnerable. You saw Drake London and Michael Penix just absolutely cook last week. Carlton Davis has just been okay. And even Christian Gonzalez, who I love, he has not played to the level of which you thought he would be as a potential all pro player and so i think there's going to be room for baker mayfield coming out of a bye uh to really cook against this new england passing defense and if they don't you know get pressure on baker i'm not sure where the stops are going to come i really think the tampa's offense is that explosive so i think that's honestly where the key to the to this game is I wrote Find Carlton Davis Not even that he's been that That bad per se But I just think Make a big book I almost did a Gronk there Oh no That was bad So Drake Lennon He was like Unconscious He's different It was crazy He stacked Gonzalez on the go ball, and then he hit the blaze out on Davis at one point, and I went like, oh, God, and then he had the one-hander in the end zone.

38:02So I do want to say he is a uniquely incredible player, but I also think that they can be had on the back end, to your point. You do not want to run the football against them, and I think that matchup is one that I like for Tampa, if they're able to find it. weirdly like not weirdly but you could argue marcus jones has been maybe their best he's been awesome for them in the slots so phenomenal um so yeah i'm in total agreement with you i think if uh want to go back to new england for a second though so we're in agreement you know both sides you want to pass the ball the one other thing i'll say you got to go after the linebackers in coverage that's just such a weakness on this the bucks dbs are playing really good, but the linebackers are very vulnerable in coverage.

38:49You have seen teams, uh, hunt them with both linebackers with success. And, um, they did some cool stuff with pop Douglas coming out of the backfield. And I think, um, the backs they could use in the passing game too. There's no reason for Drake may, like I said, they can pass on him, but it doesn't have to be like 20 hours on the field against this defense. Um, I think you can, you can win with short passes i'm taking new england here um i just think they're so balanced right now and i just think drake may it's very hard for me to find weaknesses in his game at the moment yeah i'm gonna go opposite you here so i think this might be our first okay good no this is a close one yeah yeah i think it's tampa at home tampa oh yeah it's in tampa sorry at two and Yeah, in Tampa, after a bye, I just feel like they're going to do enough offensively to get a close win, but I think it'll be a really good game.

39:48All right, let's do one more before the break. Let's see. Let's move on. Let's do Jags-Texans. Houston. This is me. This is a rematch. Always fun. So, the Jags, this is the one where you got to check the injury report because brian thomas jr's status is up in the air we talked about brock bowers catching a million passes new ride receiver jacoby myers um so i wrote uh jacksonville can you run the ball on them jags run game one because it's i wouldn't even call it the weakness of the texans defense you just can't throw on them i mean this past defense is unbelievable right now it's a huge mismatch that favors houston i mean jags barely have wide receivers and the texans have more dbs and they know what to do with and they have a devastating four-man rush but there's some vulnerability on the ground and when i look at this jack so the jags run game has really fall uh slowed since the beginning of the season after losing brenton strange um but they did something interesting against the raiders and it's like every week a new nfl team does this they went full jumbo have you noticed this every week yeah yeah they were doing that all all game last week so 32 percent of offensive snaps before that game it had never been over 8 percent um and when they did that they ran the ball decently well against a raiders run defense that's not horrible as we talked about earlier so um you know this game is kind of one of those which offensive line is going to get their ass kicked more.

41:30I do think for Jacksonville, you have to be able to run. This is true of almost every team against Texans, but you have to be able to run the football to give quarterback a chance against his pass rush. Yeah, I literally had that same thing written down. I think the key to this game is going to be the Jacksonville Jaguars running the football and trying to limit Trevor Lawrence being in long third down pass situations because that's when Will Anderson is going to tee off and then these corners are going to come up and play press. These receivers are just not going to be able to separate without Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas, who's looking like he may not play here on Wednesday at the very least.

42:11So I think definitely if the Jags can run the ball on the ground and the Texans without CJ Stroud, I think the Jags can win on the road. But if they can't get the running game going, I think then it comes down to which defense plays better, and then I would have to lean Texans. So I'm going to go with the Jags and pray they can run the ball. But don't feel good about it, but I'm going to roll with the Jags, and I think Etienne will get going on the ground. I'm going to go Texans here, so we'll split again. This is another very close one. Obviously, it's a one-point game, one-point line. I just don't know who Trevor Lawrence is going to throw to.

42:48So I just – I mean, that defense, whew, buddy, I love watching them. It's like week after week, they lose. And this is how I felt against the Broncos. And you're just watching this defense thinking, this is such a goddamn shame because this defense is – like they hunt. Oh, it's insane. I saw a tweet. Gosh, I'm blanking who tweeted it, but it was today. Like I think it's the top five lowest quarterback passer ratings in wins and three of them are against the Texans defense. So it just shows like even in their losses, this defense is just bawling out. Like it's not this defense's fault. It's not their fault.

43:24Okay, we'll come back and talk about the second half of games after the break. Legally, we can't say drinking Storm makes you smarter and more focused. But with zero sugar, 200 milligrams of caffeine, and immunity support, you're smarter and more focused for drinking Storm. Storm, good energy in, good energy out. Energy for life. So good, so good, so good. New summer arrivals are at Nordstrom Rack stores now. Get ready to save big with up to 60 % off brands like Rag & Bone, Levi's, Adidas, and Free People. Join the Nordic Club to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first, and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free.

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44:44So I guess chronologically I should have started with that. It's in Germany. so weird um so i'll go first i'm on the falcons side of this and really i i just watched colt steelers on tape this morning so it's kind of simmering in my brain like how did this steelers defense stop the laser hot laser hot uh scorching hot colts offense they just won on first down and i think that's something that watching the colts offense this year brentley they're so good the play action pass has been unbelievable. Daniel Jones has been bombing it. But you've had a lot of teams who have like aggressively played the run and they've punished them for it.

45:24The Steelers kind of flipped it on them by playing the pass more on early downs. And it felt like. Psychon was like taken by surprise and never really adjusted. Get to the Steelers. Like, honestly, I was screaming. I, I just texted Jeff Saturday. I help I'm becoming you. I'm screaming, run the ball, watching the damn Colts. But in any case, though, you know, The thing about this Colts offensive line, Brentley, is like, they're much better run blocking than pass. Yeah. And that was really, and obviously, T.J. Watt is, you know. But the Colts, the Falcons pass rush is very good, too. I think, like, the young players have played well.

46:00So, I think you just have to find a way to win on first down. And you can't, I would say this. If they play the pass the way Pittsburgh did, I suspect this time around, Indianapolis will hand it off more because of what happened last week. So for the Falcons, it just kind of comes down to, like, can you bow up enough in the front if they do run on early downs while also not getting got in the play-action pass, similarly to what Pittsburgh did, quite frankly. Yeah, no, and that kind of goes into my key, at least for the Colts, just the opposite. Can you guys establish the run early and often and avoid Daniel Jones being an obvious passing downs on third downs?

46:42because actually the Falcons, to your point, they get pressure. They get some pressure, and they're one of the better pass defenses in the NFL. It looks like they're seventh in EPA. So they have a clear strength, which is, again, in coverage, and then a clear weakness in run defense. It looks like they're 27th in EPA in the run game. So the Colts are the best running team in the NFL. So they should be able to establish a run early, let Daniel Jones not be in those really obvious passing downs like he was last week where the Steelers were able to tee off and they had five sacks on him. Daniel Jones did not look like the Daniel Jones we've seen this year or last week.

47:26And a big part of that was because they weren't able to run the ball efficiently. So if the Colts can run the ball on first and second down, get in kind of good field position, and get out of negative plays, I think the Colts are going to win this pretty handily. I think that's really, to me, the only chance that Atlanta has is if the Colts were stubborn and don't give it to Jonathan Taylor like 25 times. On the flip side, we're going to see Sauce Gardner. He's already practicing. He's wearing the Colts jersey. Looks crazy. How mad is Drake London right now? He's probably thinking, I'm about to cook.

48:04I'm about to eat. I'm just going to be sweet. Dude, watching the Steelers game, like the Colts' corners were just – I mean, they've had injuries, right? So, yeah, that makes it interesting. Atlanta's defense is like one of my – or offense for me. It's like one of the most frustrating units in the NFL for me week to week. It just feels like they're a very matchup-dependent offense.

48:29I feel like, you know, you'd really like to see Bijan get going in this one. I think the Colts' run defense is fine.

48:41I still feel like there's going to be opportunities for Bijan here.

48:49I'm kind of tired of saying the same stuff about the Falcons' offense. When you watch them, what would you say? Because especially when you watch Drake Lennon have the kind of game he did last week, do you watch that and you think, why doesn't this happen every game? Well, it's the same thing. It's like, it's not just that. It's like, okay, why don't you feed Drake London every game? We know the talent he is, but it's like also, where's the consistent volume to Bijan? I mean, I think the past few weeks, he hasn't been getting the type of carries that a top three, maybe four NFL running backs should be getting.

49:25Like he's clearly their best offensive player, but they're just not feeding him the ball. And I understand they played New England last week, and we just talked about how good that running defense is. So I get that. However, I just feel like even going back to the Niner game, they never got Bijan going. And I just feel like Bijan should be the focal point to this offense, and it hasn't been over the past few weeks. Love to see Bijan get going in the passing game as well. I feel like that is always an underutilized aspect of this. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, the Colts have a good rush. Actually, I was just going to pull up.

50:09I'm like, are they as good as I think? In my mind, they're pretty average against the run. Let me pull this up because I feel like. I don't think they're anything special against the run or the pass. I think they're just a kind of average defense that's been able to play with the lead. Yeah, they're kind of like in the 10 to 17 range on everything. um yeah so i i it is funny right like so even if gardener is on on london i would still take shots yeah um but i do think for atlanta you're probably gonna need a change up in the passing game now that the cornerback group is a little different um yeah i'm gonna go indianapolis here i think they bounce back and as we've discussed i do think that they're able to run the ball on Atlanta.

50:55I'm going with Colts as well. Point of emphasis. All right. Moving along.

51:03Let's go Arizona-Seattle. This was a sneaky, important game. We got big news, which is Jacoby Brissett is starting. Not entirely surprised. Ben and I recorded on Tuesday after Monday Night Football and they were like, we don't know who's the star. I was like, yeah, right. And Kyler Murray has actually been IR'd. So the last time these teams played, Kyler Murray was the quarterback. So it's very different. But this is, of course, a much bigger challenge defensively for Jacoby Brissett than the Dallas Cowboys defense. So what would be your key in this matchup, this divisional matchup? Yeah, so my key is, will the Cardinals defense be able to replicate or roll out the same type of performance as they did last week against Dallas.

52:00Because I thought last week they were phenomenal. I mean, the coverage looks, the pressure they were able to get against Dak, I thought was just awesome. However, the Seattle offense is arguably the best in the NFL right now, which is crazy because they don't have a running game. But I think with the way Sam Darnold was playing, and Arizona outside of last week, which they were able to get to Dak, which is awesome. Walter Nolan had a great game. They're only 25th in pressure rate in the NFL. And if you don't get to Sam Darnold, they don't pressure him. He's able to sit back in the pocket and pick zone defenses apart.

52:37I think the Cardinals run zone 75 % of the time. So this is a great matchup for Sam Darnold. Him and JSN just have great unreal chemistry. They traded for a receipt to heed, so we'll see if he's involved this week or maybe have a few packages. But I just feel like in order to kind of disrupt Sam Darnold, you've got to have pressure. You've got to be able to get him off his spot at least early on. And outside of last week, the Cardinals really haven't been able to do that. So I think my key is, is this Cardinals pass rush for real or is last week an anomaly? Because if it is an anomaly, I think the Seattle passing game is going to just continue to roll and shred this defense.

53:23I'm really interested in the Cardinals' defense right now. And I thought it was a really eye-opening performance from the young players. Will Johnson's been good all year for them. Baller. Dr. Nolan was so good against the run in that. Jordan Borch making some plays. Yeah, man. Right. What a draft class, by the way, right? And that was more impressive to me than ripping up the Dallas Cowboys' defense. He's like, let's be real. And that's going to be way more challenging, particularly reset this Seahawks defense. But so the Cardinals defense, though, actually did a decent job against Seattle last time these teams played.

53:57Something I noted, I think I mentioned this on my pod with Ben when talking about their huge trade. Seattle's defense has really feasted on teams playing base defense against them, meaning putting three linebackers on the field. and they've really played a lot against single high. And they've been able to do so because they put heavy body. They put tight ends and fullbacks, a fullback on the field. The Cardinals defense plays too high at the fourth highest rate in the NFL. If I'm Arizona and Nick Rouse is a very smart defensive coordinator, I'm saying run the damn ball Seattle because you're not good at it, right?

54:33So I think this could be weirdly challenging for Seattle. I'm not saying that they won't be able to beat it. I just think this particular defense is tricky, and I think we're going to see more and more defenses basically beg Seattle to run the ball. And I'm interested in seeing if they can punish them for it because that's been the one weakness of this Seahawks team is they can't run the football. I'm a Kenneth Walker guy. I just don't know what's going on with the Seattle's rushing attack. I don't – I've never been a running back committee guy. I really think a running back has to kind of get rhythm throughout the game, kind of feel the defense out, and kind of just gain energy as the game goes on.

55:24I would love to see Seattle commit to one of them just for a game and kind of see what it looks like. Right now they just have so much just constant rotation. I feel like neither player can get into a rhythm and get going. I'd love to see Seattle feature Kenneth Walker against his defense and just see if that's the spark that they need. They're literally, I think, the worst running game in the NFL. It's not there. And if Seattle wants to make a deep run in the playoffs, there can't be this unbalanced, especially as the weather gets colder. Still taking Seattle. But, I mean, the other side, I just think this Seahawks defense.

56:03I mean, I'm obviously hugely over in the Seahawks offense, but I just think this Seahawks defense is so legit. They're so balanced, so good at everything. They've got so many guys to throw at you. I'm just saying, you know, Carl's defense is tricky. That was my big takeaway from Monday Night Football. I was like, ooh, they got some guys. They got a draft. And, you know, they got a quarterback who could play on time and execute the Drew Petsing offense. Okay, I'll be quick on, for obvious reasons, Panther Saints. Panthers, man. Five and four. Mine's simple. if New Orleans sells out to stop the run, which they should, can Bryce Young beat them, right?

56:44Like, Panthers run game is a force. Rico Dowdle has been, it's interesting because, like, some of it is a blocking in the scheme, but Dowdle himself has just been phenomenal this year at creating on his own. I think NGS has that set rush yards over expected, which is basically, like, how much is the back doing on his own? If he's not the top, he's top two or three. I mean easily but I'm sure he's just he's he's phenomenal he's so freaking good and um Saints run defense has not been good so nothing about the Saints you know so um I think that's that's my biggest question for the Panthers this feels like a gut check week we're like can you do this can you do this so this is my because because Bryce wasn't good last week against you know or or like the Packers.

57:32So I would like this to me feels like an opportunity for a Bryce Young Ted McMillan get right game. Yeah. I think this game is just so big for the Carolina Panthers as an organization. I was just doing some research earlier this week. I don't think Carolina has won as a favorite since 2021. like it's been like that drastic um i might be wrong on that might be a little less but it's been multiple years since the panthers has won as a favorite so you know they'll win a game have an upset people get excited about them and then they just they choke right and so i think if the panthers can come out they're a clear favorite so coming off a big win against you know at green Bay, this is a game they should win.

58:26Go out there and do what you're supposed to do. Run the ball. Bryce Young, take good care of the football. Make some plays down the field with Ted McMillan. Defensively, just get after Taylor Shuck. Just get after him, rattle him, get him off his spot, create some pressure. And this game should be easily available for you to win. Can you guys do it? Because you haven't so far. So I'm fascinated to see if this is the time. Such a weird team this year like they win the games they're supposed to lose they lose the games they're supposed to i just never know there's been like blowouts it's such an odd team i but there's some very clear things which is they can run the football and they can actually stop the run this year which has been really one of the biggest quietly the panthers run defense has been one of the most improved units in the entire nfl shout out derrick brown who does not get talked about enough and is an unbelievable football player um okay all four games the final four are pretty good well no sorry lions commanders is not a good game at all we'll breeze past this one there's three good games in one more bad game uh let's do rams niners this is a big one yeah i hate it when there's only three there's two 125 games whatever but but uh this is the one that everyone's gonna have eyes on And the Niners, against all odds, are still 6-3.

59:48The Rams are 6-2. These teams played. People forget. And this was the, oh, my God, how is Mac Jones winning this game? And Mac Jones won. Yeah, they were eight-and-a-half-point dogs. Like, it was wild. Was it Thursday night football, right? Yeah. There's not football, yeah. They're eight-and-a-half-point dogs, and Mac Jones came out and shredded them. Okay, I'm on the Niners. You're on the Rams. Why don't you go first? because my thoughts are pretty Mac Jones or they're up. They're about that. Yeah. So kind of going back to that. So when they first played, I think it was week five, there's a night football.

1:00:22I think it was Mac Jones, maybe his first kind of official start or whatever for rock party. You know, he came out and shredded them. And I think he threw for 342 yards. This Rams defense actually did a really good job against Christian McCaffrey. They held him to just 57 yards. So my key to the game is this, Mina, Can the Rams front four get to Mac Jones? Right now, Mac Jones' average time to throw is 2.67 seconds. So that's the third. Yeah. Just gone. It's the third fastest in the league. And the 49ers offense lacks big plays. So it's all about yards after the catch with George Kittle, with McCaffrey, with Juwan Jennings.

1:01:07And that's how they can move the ball. Well, if the Rams front four can get to Mac Jones before he's able to dump it off to his playmakers, I don't see how this Niners offense can move the ball against his defense. This defense is so good, but the only way for the Niners to really move the ball is just literally yards after the catch. So I'd love to see the front four of the Rams get to the quarterback, and then it's night-night for the 49ers. It's very funny because my key for the Niners was if Mac Jones can throw the ball super quick again, can you get yards after the catch? Because that was what happened in the last game.

1:01:45So he had a 2.56 time to throw in the last game, and the Rams allowed 184 yards after the catch, which is the most they've allowed in the entire season. This was the Kendrick Bourne game, right, if I remember correctly, where he went straight. Yeah, he literally went off, just went ballistic. and the reason I think I'm sure you as well are focused on this side of the ball is the other side just looks like such a mismatch to me I mean this Rams offense right now is just a juggernaut so good so balanced I mean it's unbelievable and the Niners do not have the corners to handle what the Rams and they lost Mikel Williams he was one of their best run defenders to an ACL I mean it's just they don't have enough bodies anymore I think to keep up with this Rams offense, the way Stafford is playing.

1:02:37I just don't think they're going to come up with those stops. So can the Niners offense score enough points against the Rams? I don't think so. So I'm going to Rams here on the road, but well, but the last time they played Matthew Stafford threw a 47 times for 389 yards and three touchdowns and they lost. Just they boat up in the red zone. That was big. I'm taking the Rams this time I just think it was like a weird like okay Kendrick Bourne how many receiving yards it was unbelievable he had 142 yards yeah 142 yards yeah crazy and then CMC through the air was a big factor which you know something you want to do again you probably want to attack the second level the Rams defense who have been much better it's been a weakness of theirs in the past but yeah I'm going Rams in this one I don't think it'll happen again I just think the Rams offense is too good.

1:03:29Yeah, agreed.

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1:04:36With Mint, you can get premium wireless for just$15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments, but that's weird. Okay, one judgment. Anyway, give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three-month plan, equivalent to$15 per month required. intro rate first three months only then full price plan options available taxes and fees extra see full terms at mintmobile.com all right i do lions commanders i'll be real quick i mean this is to me just a bloodbath um yeah uh the lions run game against the commanders run defense is about as big of a mismatch as you'll find in the nfl particularly the commanders defense is bad a lot of things but they runs outside the tackles have just been a nightmare for them and by God, that's Jameer Gibbs music.

1:05:25So, I mean, we talked a little bit about the Commanders. You know, like the Lions losing to Minnesota, I just feel like they ran into a great Brian Flores game plan defensively. I think at the beginning, they were fine after the first quarter. It was just kind of like a weird divisional opponent, great coach. I'm not terribly worried. You know, I think teams are going to continue to attack Gibbs. And that's something I suspect Washington will try to do after watching the tape last week. is try to keep Gibbs in as a pass protector and attack him. So that's something that John Morton's got to have a change up for.

1:06:00Running the football will help, you know, actually just handing it off. And I think that'll be easy to do with this one. Yeah, I think this is going to be a tough one for the commanders. I have a Mariota jersey back there, but, you know, I think it might be a bad day for Marcus and his team. I think Jared Goff, Amon Ross St. Brown, Jameson Williams, I think they're going to just destroy this depleted secondary for the commanders. Martian Lattimore, who wasn't even having a good year towards ACL last week. Like they're just too banged up on defense to keep up with this lions offense. I think lions are going to score at will here.

1:06:37And like Dan Campbell after, after a loss, Mina, he's 12 and Oh, since 2022, like the ultimate, the ultimate like motivator, like you able to use a loss and just hype his team up. I think they're going to come out for blood on Sunday. So it's going to be a tough one for the Commanders. I hate to be them right now. No, this is – yeah, this is ugly. Commanders. Also, maybe should have been Sellers. Just going to throw that out there. Another team where I'm like, Debo perhaps? Okay, two more games. Two good games. Yeah. Steelers, Chargers. Let's see this one. Oof. This is a good one. I'm on the Chargers side of it you're on the Steelers who just came off a massive upset of the Colts what are you on for the Steelers in this game?

1:07:27I think it's really simple can you pressure Justin Herbert and take advantage of this Chargers banged up offensive line I mean the splits when Joe is in the game this year is so depressing they're the 6th best offense in EPA when he's playing and then they just dramatically fall to 23rd when he's not in the lineup. They just have no shot to protect for Herbert when he's not in the lineup. This is brutal. The Steelers finally found some pass rush last week. Alex Highsmith, T.J. Watt, Derek Harmon's playing well inside. I just feel like this is the perfect spot for Mike Tomlin on this defense to tee off and get after the quarterback and make the Chargers run the ball.

1:08:12And I think that's really the Chargers offense's only shot is if they run the ball. Hey, you're taking my key. Run the damn ball. I know. I'm sorry. Yeah, no. I just – can you punish them on the ground if they aggressively – because that was the thing against the Colts. They just played the pass so aggressively in that one. I mean, the TJ Watt strip sack was play action. You know, like he's been in the backfield. He doesn't even look at the back. I think it was, yeah, like first – I mean, it was the first time. Anyways, in any case, he went straight for Daniel Jones. And the backers were playing the pass really aggressively.

1:08:46Now, I think, you know, that was a pretty Colts-specific game plan for sure. But I think for the Chargers, you got to run the ball to punish the pass rush for being aggressive. You got to run the ball because it's your really only chance given the discrepancy between. And you got to run the ball because you're decent at it. Even without going to go out, they've actually been okay running the football. I think Vidal's been good for them, a good back. and herbert's got to be a part of that run game too i think to have a shot in this one um and i'm not you know i'm not buying the steelers defensive turnaround entirely to be honest like i think moving ramsey to safety was helpful and i think they had a great game plan against the colts but i also think the colt should have just run the ball more in that one and and i think it'll be interesting because the charges have been very pass heavy this year but if i'm roman and I'm looking at my offensive line, I'm looking at that defense, I really try to find ways to get going on the ground.

1:09:47On the other side, it's an interesting matchup on the other side because we know what the Rodgers offense is. The Chargers defense has had some regression, I would say, and you've seen they're not quite as good as they looked at the beginning of the season. But they're still good against short passes. They'll still blow up a screen. They still tackle well. They're getting good pass rush now with Khalil Mack. So it's not an easy matchup for Aaron Rodgers. And I would say it's a more difficult one than the Colts without their cornerbacks were last week. Yeah. And then Adolfo Owe quietly, one of the best in season trade acquisitions.

1:10:19I think he has four sacks since he's been traded to the chargers a month ago. So he's coming on strong. I do think from a charger, his defensive backfield standpoint, I do like the DK matchup for the Steelers. I don't know if the Chargers have a corner that can match up with DK on the outside. Like DK is just a physically imposing receiver. I think he's going to have some ability to win and separate. And then, you know, I love Durbin James, but the other safety, I'm blanking, I think it's Tony Jefferson, you know, against these tight ends, I think it's going to be an advantage Steelers. So I like the Steelers actually on the road here in a surprising one.

1:11:04I think they're underdogs as well, but I just feel like there's more. It's going to be close. I just feel like the Steelers have more advantages. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think for me, it's like how much am I weighing the Steelers defense? Because the Steelers defense has been such a nightmare. And it's like, wait, they just had their best game of the season. It was a great game plan. I think the Colts were really taken off guard by it.

1:11:31And I really am nervous about the Joe all injury against this Steelers defensive line. Maybe I'll go, I'm going to go Steelers too. I don't love it, but I'm going to go Steelers too. Don't feel great about it, but I just, I don't know until I see this offensive line without Joel string, good performances together. I just can't trust it. One thing the chargers, by the way, have really struggled against designed rollouts. they are dead last in yards per attempt and 31st in EPA per play. And that's something they'll throw in a few of those with Rogers to, to mix it up off of the, the boots. So something to keep an eye on.

1:12:07Okay. So I think for Rogers though, you can't just, I know you're, it's going to be a lot of dink and dunk. It always is, but you want to be able to run the football. I think we're going to see a lot of jumbo in this one and then they'll probably play action off of it. All right. Eagles Packers. Ooh, buddy. I have to go to green Bay for this one. um such a good game oh my gosh great game the packers reeling off of the defeat by the panthers um the eagles coming off of the bike looked like they figured things out the eagles who have been very active you add jaylen phillips you add michael carter the third so they're gonna kick dejean out i mean there's so many storylines here i'll go first packers offense is my focus in this one because i i did a little rant about them on tuesday they were one of our wuss of the week um and i'm going to reiterate something that i mentioned in that one but i think is important here stop playing for third down just stop it stop it like it's all it's either dink or dunk or it's like shots i um tuesday i ranted about the absence of the intermediate passing game um if they try to come out against this eagles defense with a bunch of screens and you know sweeps it's not gonna work you gotta attack them downfield and and it doesn't have to i don't mean to mean deep i mean over 10 yards carter if he starts a slot is the guy who i'm i'm trying to isolate in this yeah you circle him for sure just you know it's always with the eagles team whoever's not Dejean and Mitchell.

1:13:42And it's interesting because Kraft had been such a weapon for them in that regard. It's either going to be golden. They put Watson in the slot a few times. Dobbs is very good there as well. Just normal. I just want to see on first and second down, Jordan Love throwing the ball over 10, you know, in that 10, 20 yard rate. Like, please, because this Eagles defense is too good against the quick stuff and the Packers cannot continue to play for their downs the way they've been yeah Matt LaFleur like he coaches I think this is literally like why they lost last week he coaches not to lose rather than coaching to win like and I think that kind of goes into your point like he's so conservative exactly worse opponents yeah exactly he's so conservative just down to down.

1:14:35It drives me crazy because Jordan Love, if you unleash Jordan Love, I think this Packers team is one of the best teams in the NFL. I love Jordan Love. I like the way he plays, but he has just handcuffs on him by his coach. I don't get it. But anyways, so my key for the Eagles is on their offense. I think that if the Eagles can run the ball here, the Packers don't stand a chance. The Eagles are the fifth best rushing team in the NFL. The Packers are just average on run defense. And I feel like coming out of their Eagles bye week, they probably did a lot of self-scouting and realizing, hey, why isn't our offense looking like how it did last year?

1:15:18And I think that starts and ends with 26. With Saquon Barkley getting him going, and I think that's going to be a focus moving forward for the later part of the season. and so with the Packers not being the best run defense they don't run the ball particularly well either and they're one of the worst maybe the worst red zone offense I've ever seen like they're so bad in the red zone last week was ridiculous I mean the right receiver screens and then the loss of Tucker Kraft and the red zone is not going to help as well I just feel like the Eagles should shorten the game run the ball they're a great red zone team and I think they'll be able to kind of kind of control this game and get a win on the road so I love the Eagles here and them running the ball is the reason why they win yeah the running thing is really interesting because it was like such an issue at the beginning of the year and then you saw them like slowly figure it out and then before the bye Saquon finally explodes right and a lot of it was those under center duo runs I think those will be effective against Green Bay if they can sort of replicate what we saw against New York.

1:16:25Now, that said, Packers have been mid. The diet's stuck. And I think I don't want to overreact too much against the run. I think in the pass defense, the Packers can actually stop them. I think Halfley will come out with a good plan to force Jalen Hurst to throw over the middle of the field. I think, obviously, if he gets to third down, you've got some matchup advantages there with that pass rush. I think you've got it Can you run the ball on them? Can you do it? For me, it's like Green Bay Can you run the ball? Philadelphia, can you run the ball? Green Bay, can you throw on them? You know, play action I want to see like first down play action Against this Eagles defense I think both of these teams Are going to like have done a lot of self-scouting Yeah And I think we're going to see like improvements On both sides You know, like I think LeFleur has been frustrating this year, but I think he's a very smart coach.

1:17:23I think he will find ways to get Watson. I think we're going to see Watson in the slot. I do. Part of me wants to take Green Bay, but I'm like, because it's in Green Bay. They're just such... They're so inconsistent. It's an inconsistent team. I mean, the team you saw against the Steelers two weeks ago, where was that? That was like a Super Bowl caliber team. and they worked up the Steelers who just why you don't look good I think Jalen Phillips also potentially could be big in this one because the Packers offensive line is really struggling and they're banged up too up front I think Eagles front sevens will be able to make a strong impact in this game for sure Jalen Phillips, Jalen Carter I like the Eagles here I think I'm going to take the Eagles as well but I reserve the right to change my mind at some point.

1:18:16I think it'll be a good one. I think it'll be close. I do, which the line reflects that. Alright, that's every game. Oh, I picked one, two, three, four upsets, so we'll see. Oh, there we go. Oy yi yi. Brentley, remind folks where they can find your work? Yeah, you can find my work at A to Z Sports. Also, I do some things for Underdog Fantasy that's posted on their YouTube. And then my Twitter's at Brentley12. Great to have you here i will be back on tuesday dominique will be back to recap which should be an amazing monday night game uh on my tv pod with david dennis jr viewer discretion we are recapped we just finished love is blind we're moving on to married at first sight which is an insane show uh i think after a few weeks then we'll get to stranger things so that'll be fun though are you excited for the new season or what's what's your vibe what happened on the last it's been so long since the last three years.

1:19:13I genuinely don't remember either. It's like Vecna is a bad guy. I can't even tell you. Stranger Things was on. Aaron Rodgers was a Packer, I feel like. So maybe that's wrong, but it feels right in my brain. It feels right for sure. Thank you as always to my friends at Omaha Productions who make this show. Kirsten Sebecki, Owen Saylor, Jack Foster, Tucker Tash. And oh, also I mentioned this every week, but we launched a show Instagram. It's at Mina Kimes show obviously and I doing these top five power rankings every week. Brentley, I have no clue who the top five. I, I, I, I, I kind of tried to think about it on the plane ride back from Dallas.

1:19:49And I was like, I need to sit on this. Cause this is the most top five teams in the NFL. Yeah. Like who? I mean, in order is the hard part. Who's the best team in the NFL? Let's just do that one. Who do you think is the best team in the NFL? I think the best team in the NFL right now is probably the Bills. Don't love it. Really don't love it. Yeah, but all those NFC teams will be able to run on them. It's so hard. They'll be in my top five. I can't put the Seahawks in that one, even though they're definitely in the top five. The Rams, the Eagles. Are we kicking out the Chiefs and Lions just because they lost?

1:20:31It's tough. It's tough. It's tough. Never been harder. All right, well, go check out Meena Kaim's show. I will put that out later this week. And I will see you guys then. Bye. Whoa!

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