Hour 1: Bills-Dolphins TNF Reactions, plus NFL Insider Tom Pelissero

19 Sep 2025 · 46 min · 11 chapters

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In short

Rich Eisen and guests react to Thursday Night Football: Bills vs. Dolphins, focusing on Miami’s 0-3 start, Tua Tagovailoa’s turnovers, and Buffalo’s fourth-quarter execution. They also discuss Week 3 injury/quarterback news and preview other games, including Commanders-Raiders (Jaden Daniels status), 49ers-Cardinals (Brock Purdy), and Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s turf-toe surgery timeline.

Guests

Tom Pelissero (NFL Network insider; covers league news/injuries) and Marcus Spears (ESPN NFL analyst).

Key claims

Dolphins were competitive but lost due to “fundamental” Tua issues (5 turnovers this season) and a late Terrell Bernard interception; Dolphins’ defense has allowed 30+ points in each of the first three games, matching rare franchise history. Buffalo is portrayed as resilient and “inevitable,” winning despite injuries (Ed Oliver/Matt Milano absent) and capitalizing on mistakes (Zach Seeler punt block).

Notable examples

Dolphins’ early TD drives; Dolphins tying Josh Allen late; Seeler punt block leading to Allen’s next TD; Dolphins’ late interception; Daniels not starting (Mariota starts) due to limited practice; Purdy possibly questionable with toe/shoulder; Burrow surgery confirmed, 12–14 week clock.

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

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Setting the Stage for NFL Discussion

0:57 to 1:55

Rich Eisen introduces the episode's focus on NFL reactions and upcoming guests.

“Our expectation was to come in here and win the game.”

Thursday Night Football Preview

1:55 to 4:26

Rich discusses the implications for the Dolphins heading into their game against the Bills.

“Week three beckons in the National Football League, another weekend of college football.”

Game Breakdown: Dolphins vs. Bills

4:26 to 10:10

Analysis of the Dolphins' performance and critical moments during the game.

“listen um going into this game um the miami dolphins going into buffalo with uh the weight of the world on their shoulders as i mentioned the hardest oh and two in the national football I guess you are what you are.”

Dolphins' Challenges and Future Outlook

10:10 to 14:00

Discussing Tua's performance and the struggles of the Dolphins moving forward.

“in the same game for the first time since week eight, two years ago.”

Dolphins' Struggles and Future Outlook

14:00 to 19:33

Analyzing the Dolphins' performance and potential next steps after an 0-3 start.

“But 10 out of 10 times, if we're looking at that same thing, I think I'd still try to work that timing of hitting that spot.”

Injury Updates and NFL Insights with Tom Pelissero

21:56 to 28:00

Tom Pelissero discusses Jaden Daniels' injury status and the Dolphins' organizational health.

“Tom Pellicero, we're back on our ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance Airwaves and Tom Pellicero joining us from his front seat of his car due to Wi-Fi issues in his house.”

Analyzing the Dolphins' Struggles

28:00 to 30:56

Explore the challenges faced by the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa.

“He is due, forget the cap hits if you cut him, he is due$54 million fully guaranteed in 2026.”

Brock Purdy and Joe Burrow Updates

30:56 to 40:00

Latest injury updates on Brock Purdy and Joe Burrow's recovery timelines.

“Is there a shot for Brock Purdy to play for the 2-0 Niners against the 2-0 Cardinals?”

Buffalo Bills Performance Review

41:30 to 42:01

Review of the Buffalo Bills' performance and victories in the season.

“ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance, everybody, with insurance for cars, home, boat, motorcycles, RVs, and commercial vehicles at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and progressive.com.”

Buffalo Bills Season Review

42:01 to 46:05

An analysis of the Buffalo Bills' performance this season so far.

“Buffalo Bills football, again, they pretty much have won every different way you can so far.”
Show all 11 chapters

Luck and Potential for the Bills

46:05 to 46:32

Discussion on the Bills' fortunate moments and their championship potential.

“So the ultimate higher register, maybe this is their year.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00Tom Pelissero:You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the WNBA. Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo three. From beyond the logo. Every did you see that moment. You bet.

0:18Rich Eisen:What records are going to be broken this season? All of it right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN. All season long. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of the Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck.

0:37Tom Pelissero:You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show.

0:59Rich Eisen:Yeah, I'm going to call it. I'm going to retire.

1:01Tom Pelissero:This is the Rich Eisen Show. Our expectation was to come in here and win the game. Picked off by Terrell Bernard!

1:09Rich Eisen:Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Today's guests.

1:15Tom Pelissero:NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears. Plus, latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

1:55Rich Eisen:204 Rich is the number to dial to have a conversation with us today. Week three beckons in the National Football League, another weekend of college football. And I believe this is going to run out of weekends for Major League Baseball's regular season as the wild card weekends beckon as well. Thus, we're headed towards October. 844-204-RICH again is the number to dial. Tom Pellicero to join us, my colleague from the NFL Media Group on everything going on in the NFL. and Marcus Spears of everything ESPN. You see him on pretty much every show. He will join us in the middle of this program. Tom is up in about 18 minutes time, eager to know about Jaden Daniels, eager to know about Brock Purdy, all the injuries that you need to know.

2:38Rich Eisen:Good to see you over there, Christopher Brockman. What's up, brother?

2:40Tom Pelissero:Rich, getting a little worried about the Sox, not going to lie.

2:42Rich Eisen:Okay, yeah, the Guardians are closer and closer and closer. Once upon a time, finished, and now they're right there. one and a half back. Good to see you over there, Jason Feller. Jay Feller is here. What's up, Rich? TJ Jefferson, I hear you rustling over there. What's going on? How's it going?

2:59Tom Pelissero:I'm just thinking about how happy Pete Alonzo's made me the last four games. Yeah, the polar bears taking you off

3:03Rich Eisen:the griddle.

3:04Tom Pelissero:Home run after home run after home run. Me too. Fantasy finals.

3:07Rich Eisen:Oh, good. Good for you guys. Terrific. And TJ, after today, heading off to Indianapolis, Indiana, where you and O'Shea Jackson Jr. will be honchoing a two-hour pre-wrestle-palooza show on the ESPN YouTube and Facebook pages. We're very excited for you and about that. I'm starting to get a little nervous. You'll be fine. And a 15-minute post wrap-up show. You got your fit picked out?

3:37Tom Pelissero:What are we doing with? Shoes and t-shirts?

3:39Rich Eisen:How many pair of sneakers do you think I went through last night?

3:41Tom Pelissero:Probably 80. Like five or six.

3:44Rich Eisen:All I know is he's checking three bags. Because that's what he does for a two-day trip. And I'm not going on this trip, which means, you know, you've got to do whatever you'd like to do. You've beaten me over the head enough with it. It's carry on. Wow. Wow, that is top story. That is top story. Breaking news. My eyes, see. Outstanding. And it's always right here on the Rich Eisen Show on our El Segundo campus where there's hardly a soul. The two people who are here are standing directly in the camera behind them.

4:20Tom Pelissero:to be honest there were six back there right before we went on air so okay let's get jumping

4:25Rich Eisen:to it here please our competition's already at halftime of the thursday night football listen um going into this game um the miami dolphins going into buffalo with uh the weight of the world on their shoulders as i mentioned the hardest oh and two in the national football I guess you are what you are. 0-2 is 0-2. When you're 0-2 with a blowout loss in Indianapolis to start the season that causes a players-only meeting to happen two days later, and then you lose your home opener five days after that, there's a banner circling ahead. Somebody's paying for a banner to read, you know, hey, fire everybody.

5:02Rich Eisen:And then you lose a division game at home. And then five days later, you've got to go to western New York where the history, recent and even not so recent, says the Buffalo Bills are about to take you down and out because that's what they do to the Miami Dolphins. And when we talk about the Bills in short order, you will hear exactly why everybody thought that, because they wound up doing it again. That said, the Miami Dolphins performed way better than a lot of people thought that they could or would. Chris Brockman, your higher register on Thursday was, I think the Dolphins can make it a game.

5:41Rich Eisen:Well, you're higher register. Spot on. You nailed that one. Thank you. Because the Dolphins came out with an impressive drive to open it. A touchdown. Marched right down the field. And Ollie Gordon, their rookie back, who is bringing some heft to the running game.

6:00Tom Pelissero:Big boy.

6:01Rich Eisen:Yep. Okay. He pops it in the end zone. and the Dolphins not only start the game that way but they finish the first half with another touchdown drive with eight seconds to go and there's Jalen Waddell in the end zone after it looked like the Bills had gotten their sea legs under them on a short week game for them coming off of a 20 point beatdown of the Jets on the road not too far from western New York in New Jersey I'll give you Bill Sands that piece of red meat the only team that plays in New York Petty. So, well, it's not petty. It's facts. Listen, the Miami Dolphins are in this football game.

6:44And then as a matter of fact, not only in this football game,

6:48Rich Eisen:but they do something that is so rare to be done to Josh Allen at home in a game. In the fourth quarter, it's tied. And they got Josh Allen off the field with 10 minutes to go. And then two of the Miami Dolphins captains make plays that they want back in the worst way. Like this morning, Zach Steeler has got to be waking up with the pit in his stomach and feeling like I feel every single time I lose a fantasy game.

7:25Rich Eisen:Which is you need consolation and need to remind yourself about good things that are happening to you in the world. I mean, he absolutely folds the Buffalo Bill blocking him on a punt and just gets in the backfield, and he probably is thinking about glory as he reaches out for the punter, Cameron Johnson.

7:48Tom Pelissero:He probably thought he blocked it. Also, inertia took over. He's 6 '6", 300 pounds. What do you want him to do?

7:54Rich Eisen:Just maybe not try and block the punt. I know that's 2020 hindsight, but it was a turnover. It was essentially a turnover. You're not going to see it in the turnover column, but the 15-yard penalty puts Josh Allen back on the field. And just like those horror movies where you know the calls that are coming from within the house are going to take somebody out, you knew. Josh Allen wasn't going to go three and out with this extra opportunity. You just knew. The inevitable was just who's scoring and when. And it was five plays later in Khalil Shakir for the third touchdown pass of the night for Josh Allen.

8:29Rich Eisen:and it's just like, okay, are the Dolphins going to fold now? And the answer to that question is no. Tua comes out, and he starts marching down the field in a drive where I'm sitting there with my poker buddies, and we start talking out loud, would they go for two? I thought the same thing. If they score, and you're in Western New York, and you're 0-2, and you're scoring a touchdown, and what are you going to do? Give the ball back to Josh Allen? You know? Nope. let the old man Prater do to you what he did to the Ravens and then Tua another guy with a C on his chest throws a brutal interception I mean a brutal interception Terrell Bernard just steps right in front of him

9:15Tom Pelissero:never saw him

9:18Rich Eisen:and that's all she wrote now it's all she wrote and you're starting to wonder now what Miami Dolphins 0-3 for the first time since 2019 when Brian Flores was their head coach. They started 0-7, finished 5-11, got the fifth overall pick, and chose Tua, who now you're sitting here saying, what's happened to him? This is a guy, if you remember, in Mike McDaniel's first year, puts a 40-burger on the Ravens in a fourth quarter that the Dolphins were finished. and then the next year he put 70 on the Denver Broncos in an offense that you're wondering, who's going to stop this offense? Is this the newfangled thing going on?

10:01Rich Eisen:And now two of his first three games this year, he hasn't even topped 150 passing yards. And last night was one of those games and he found both Tyreek and Waddle for touchdowns in the same game for the first time since week eight, two years ago. And he still couldn't pull it off.

10:20Rich Eisen:uh you know and so you're wondering like how when's this all going to get put together can it be put together and you know Tua said last week or two weeks ago that he keeps the outside noise off goes home and his kids put on Disney plus well we say hello if the Tango Valoa household is, they probably don't turn us on if you want to turn off the outside noise on Disney+. They might be hitting that Pixar tile more than anything in their house. But now what? Now what? Because they played well. They did. And if you're questioning whether Mike McDaniel has the locker room, they came out prepared. They made plays in just two captains.

11:13Rich Eisen:I mean, McDaniel had to be back on the flight thinking to himself, two guys that I got to depend on.

11:20Rich Eisen:This is what McDaniel had to say afterwards about, hey, I guess higher register question. Hey, you guys did play well. I mean, can you take something from that, like silver lining conversation?

11:31Tom Pelissero:I'm never proud of a loss. And I'm not, we came here to win. and I refused to take moral victories as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. It wasn't good enough, so that's where I'm at.

11:52Rich Eisen:He's got to be sick to his stomach. And then he asked about, again, he's put in a position. How do you handle calling your quarterback out?

12:05Rich Eisen:Again, we'll ask Kurt Warner next Wednesday, or I'll see him on Sunday. He might be watching the all 22 and he understands why Tua did what he did or route wasn't run here or whatever. But it always looks bad on a quarterback with three minutes to go and you're on the opposing team's 21 and you're marching down the field and I'm sitting there thinking, you know, does Mike McDaniel go for two? Do you wind this thing down with less than 30 seconds to go and give yourself a chance for one two-point play, one play from the two-yard line, and instead Tua just throws it right to Terrell Bernard, and it's all she wrote.

Read the full transcript

12:41Rich Eisen:This is what McDaniel had to say. I wanted to protect the ball.

12:46Tom Pelissero:I wish I could. You know, I think the quarterback has to be responsible for it. However, I wish I could just put it on him. I think it's a tough job to do when there's someone in your face. Everybody needs to do better, and we can't, you know, if you've got to ditch the ball to the flat in moments like that, and that's what we have to learn from.

13:27Rich Eisen:So, all right, before I comment, I think Tua was talking about that. I think we have that soundbite as well. Let's load that one up. Here's what Tua had to say about that pick. You know, I thought I was in rhythm in timing of the play, seeing the flat defender go over the top of Jalen. Jalen's turning around. I think that was a really good play by the defender.

13:51Rich Eisen:and had some color in my face trying to maneuver the throw as well.

14:00Rich Eisen:But 10 out of 10 times, if we're looking at that same thing, I think I'd still try to work that timing of hitting that spot.

14:12Tom Pelissero:And I think the linebacker made a great play on that.

14:15Rich Eisen:Well, I guess he and McDaniel are going to have a conversation about, no, the flats, where are you supposed to go with it? If he's thinking about nine more cracks at it, he'd do the same thing. Listen, this is now going to be, and he knows it too, Tua now knows it's going to be an extra half a week of the question of like, did you make the wrong decision by signing this guy long-term? Because it is just not on tilt anymore. This offense isn't on tilt anymore. And then the defense has given up 30 points a game now in every game this season. Last time the Dolphins defense started a season with giving up at least 30 points in the first three games, it's only the second time in franchise history the last time they did it was their last 0-3 start where they went 0-7.

15:08Rich Eisen:Last team to do it in the NFL period was the 2020 Falcons who finished 4-12. So if that's the canary in the coal mine, this season's over.

15:19Rich Eisen:Last team to do it finished 4-12. The last time the Dolphins did it, they were 0-7 and wound up picking fifth overall. Let's put up the schedule, if you don't mind. Let's hunt and peck for a silver lining before Tom Pelissero joins us from what looks like his car. You've got a Monday night-er home against the Jets who could stroll in their 0-3. the Jets have Tarod Taylor in Tampa for the Buccaneers home opener and if the Bucs do to the Jets what they've done to the first two opponents it's going to be a long day for the OG Tarod Taylor they're at Carolina and home for the Chargers now that's going to be obviously a significantly important game if they win their next two and maybe their toughest opponent with all due respect to Buffalo by the end of the day we might see it that the Chargers are the toughest team in the American Football Conference period.

16:16Rich Eisen:I mean, can you say there's two games that they should win when you're 0-3, but when you see an opponent like the Bills be beatable last night and then two foot shoots at the worst possible time in the fourth quarter, one by a defensive captain, one by an offensive captain? Go figure that, the captains. they got to win the next two just there's no there's no if fans or buts about it and then they're at clear i mean there are some games that the dolphins if they put up points and just slice a touchdown off of what they're giving up it's possible it's possible i mean there but the light at the end of the tunnel is quite dim and um i don't know what it's like in south florida you can call us from there i know we're on the air on espn radio down in south florida i phoned into the station a couple of days ago.

17:11Rich Eisen:So we say hello to everybody out there. Call us. I mean, what's the mood like down there? I can assume what it is, but, you know, Steven Ross might hear it and make a rash move. I don't think he should do that. I think there was just enough what we just saw on Thursday Night Football to stay the course and see what could happen. Clean this up, clean that up. And I know Mooch says it all the time on Sunday mornings, and it kind of frustrates me because I need, as a fan, to hang something more on it. Just play better. That's what he says. Play better. Coach better. Yeah. And that's what coaches say.

17:48Just clean this up.

17:51Rich Eisen:Clean that up. They walk out of Western New York with a win. But, as we all know, if a particular matriarch had wheels, she would be a particular vehicle.

18:07Tom Pelissero:It just seemed like to me...

18:08Rich Eisen:I'm talking McDaniel now. You know what I mean?

18:10Tom Pelissero:This version of the Dolphins, to me, just kind of died on the frozen turf of Arrowhead a couple years ago.

18:17Rich Eisen:Interesting that you say that, Chris, because I got one last stat for you here, courtesy of the National Football League Network research staff. And of course, I did not peg it, but they are, since that loss, in Kansas City. They have only eight wins, I do believe, since that loss in Kansas City on that frozen day. That was the ESPN article. Let me get that out before we throw the break and get Tom Pelissero here for the first time on this Friday program.

18:55Tom Pelissero:And unfortunately, maybe Tom can clarify this too. They're kind of stuck with Tua. His cap hits are monstrous for the next couple of seasons. I thought I heard he's owed more money than Josh Allen. They can't move off of him, unfortunately.

19:09Rich Eisen:Eight and three since that wild card loss in Kansas City in 2023.

19:14Tom Pelissero:Eight and 13, maybe? Eight and 13.

19:15Rich Eisen:Did I say eight and three? Eight and 13, yeah. Conveniently for Miami left off the one. Not good. Maybe that's my like for Mike McDaniel that I dropped that one. All right, let's take a break. Tom Pelissero is in his car, everybody. but he's still going to dispense information like nobody can. That's next. Marcus Spears of ESPN and you at 844-204-RICH on a what's more likely Friday as well. Rich Eisen here with some advice. If high interest credit card debt is grinding you down, it might be time to call an audible with a SoFi personal loan. It consolidates your debt into one low monthly payment with no fees required.

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21:51Rich Eisen:Terms and conditions apply. The Rich Eisen Show podcast. Tom Pellicero, we're back on our ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance Airwaves and Tom Pellicero joining us from his front seat of his car due to Wi-Fi issues in his house. We're all fully up to speed here on the program. Let's jump into things with Jaden Daniels. First up, what do we know about him? The media didn't see him out practicing on Friday, and we heard he was mentally preparing or preparing mentally, as Dan Quinn said, giving me an idea for a new racehorse name, should I ever own one, like, I guess, like your colleague, our colleague, Ian.

22:33Rich Eisen:What do you think here about Jaden Daniels, Tom?

22:37Tom Pelissero:Jaden Daniels is not going to start on Sunday. It's going to be Marcus Mariota for the commanders against the Raiders. Daniels was able to get out there after the media viewing period. He did a little on the field, but you go back to what Dan Quinn said at the start of the week, which was they were going to proceed with caution. They had to see him practice in order to play. Well, he got, again, some limited type of activity today, but clearly not enough. They also made very clear, DQ did, that they weren't going to put Daniels on the field unless he was full go. So all those things together obviously got you to the point where they feel most confident moving forward with Marcus Mariota.

23:11Tom Pelissero:So Marcus Mariota's playing enough teams now that we could have any number of revenge games around the league. This is certainly one of them. He was a member of the Raiders at one time. He'll be out there against Las Vegas.

23:20Rich Eisen:Okay, so there's a question looking back, and now there's a question looking forward. First up, the question looking back, when did this happen in the Thursday nighter game in Green Bay? Do we know when this happened?

23:31Tom Pelissero:It was a play where he got tackled awkwardly from behind. It was in, I believe, the second or third quarter. He just kind of got wrapped up. He came up limping a little bit. He did have a wrap on it in the locker room after the game. They MRI'd him. It's a knee sprain, you know, so there is a ligament involved here. It's not something that's expected to be long-term. I would not anticipate Jaden Daniels goes on injured reserve. He may well be back in week four, but it makes sense. I mean, you know, we don't have to bring up the comparisons to another young, bright Washington quarterback who had a knee injury, and they rolled him out on the field.

24:02Tom Pelissero:made it worse and his career was never the same again obviously commanders fans don't need to you know relive rg3 all over again but this is not that injury this is not as significant this is very much a conscious decision that yes if this were a playoff game maybe the decision making is different but it's week three there's a long way to go for a team with high expectations so hold jayden daniels back this week he'd probably put himself on the field if we're solely up to him but hold him back right now uh get him fully healthy and i would anticipate in the coming weeks here he'll be ready to roll.

24:30Rich Eisen:Well, I mean, the next two games for Washington are against two teams that in the first couple weeks of the season have shown some pass rush, to say the least, at Atlanta at the Chargers. Tom, so you think it's possible he's back for week four at Atlanta?

24:47Tom Pelissero:Raiders also have Max Crosby who can make your life miserable regardless of how mobile you are back in there in the pocket. It certainly seems like this is a day-to-day type of a situation. They gave him the week. He was able to get out there a little bit today. Not enough to convince them, so Mario gets to go on Sunday.

25:03Rich Eisen:Okay, before we continue on with any other injuries of note to keep an eye on in week three, Tom Pellissier here on the Rich Eisen Show. What happens with the Dolphins at 0-3? Any temperature, pulse check of Steven Ross here that's worthy of looking at, or the Dolphins aren't even thinking about this sort of stuff?

25:24Tom Pelissero:here's what i would tell you rich because there's there's going to be people who talk about that game last night which was a loss still even though they were certainly competitive in that game as well they saved their jobs you know they took i never got the sense in speaking with people and understanding the situation i never got any sense that this was even a consideration now you lose a hundred to nothing last night a lot of different things can change that was not that type of game. You saw that they were competitive, especially on the offensive side of the football. You know, you got the ball in the hands of Tyreek.

25:55Tom Pelissero:You got the ball, at least in the end zone, once to Jalen Waddell. You really seem to have found something in Ollie Gordon. You know, the issues that they ran into were very much the issues we've seen through the course of this season, and a lot of it boils down to Tua Tunga-Vailoa. I know that the quarterback gets, you know, more of the credit than they should when you win. They get more of the blame when you lose, but he's got five turnovers this season, and they have been some big ones, and they've been some fundamental ones. You go back to week one in Indianapolis, Luan Arumbo just calls a standard zone drop, and Tua throws a ball right to Leatu Latu that looks like he's targeting him on the play for a pick as that thing kind of got away from him.

26:35Tom Pelissero:Last week against the Patriots, there were operational issues late in that game too, which were not great, but Tua, from a decision-making standpoint, it wasn't great. Then, and I heard you guys talking about this in the last segment, there's Tua's version saying hey you just made a great play there's McDaniel's version saying the ball's got to go to the flat when I watch that play back and I am not you know a quarterback guru you certainly could follow up Rich you've got enough of those guys in the rotation on this show but that play which is a concept by the way the Dolphins don't run a lot this was I know that there was a comment made by Terrell Bernard that what we saw things on tape they don't run that play a whole lot when I watch that play and knowing what it's supposed to look like the whole thing looks rushed.

27:15Tom Pelissero:Watch Tua Tungavailoa on that play. He's in the shotgun or the pistol on that play, but there's still supposed to be a drop. He kind of gets it and doesn't entirely look off the flat and then just kind of comes back and his feet are stuck in cement. The whole thing just looked like it was sped up. And so when the timing is off and the angles are off, if there's things with your drop or the timing of the play, that creates opportunities for defenders to make plays on the football um you know there's obviously other things that happened in that game last night the zach sealer punt block why are they trying to block the punt why is zach sealer on the field why is zach sealer anywhere near bill burr or the new punter johnston for the bills um and then the you know the jordan brooks one where it looks to me i've watched that play back it was running over and over on a loop on tv this morning i've watched it 10 times it looks like brooks is kind of yeah he maybe has given him the business a little extra but he's trying to ease off and he kind of falls awkwardly official throws the flag you just can't put yourself in that in that type of a position but in terms of if you're looking for has mike mcdaniel lost the locker room have the leaders bailed on this thing does tyreek hill look like a guy who's going to push the eject button um i don't i don't sense any of that there and i don't sense that in the building the other part of this rich and i know you alluded to this as well the dolphins are very much tied to Tua for the 2026 season.

28:35Tom Pelissero:He is due, forget the cap hits if you cut him, he is due$54 million fully guaranteed in 2026. And if he's still on your roster, I think it's the third day of the league year in March, which when you own$54 million fully guaranteed, it's a good bet he is, another$3 million in 2027 becomes fully guaranteed. So if you move on from, let's say, Mike McDaniel right now, which again, I've never gotten the sense that was a consideration three weeks into a 17-game season. What purpose is it serving? What are you trying to get out of the next 14 games? And oh, by the way, then you're locking yourself into what we have to hire a new head coach for 2026, and that head coach is going to be told, all right, we got$54 million in Tua.

29:16Tom Pelissero:What are you going to do with them? This has to be your quarterback. That may not be palatable to a lot of people. I mean, there's not enough said, And I don't mean to just be a Mike McDaniel defender here, but there is not enough talked about with the hoops that Mike McDaniel has to jump through on a week-in, week-out basis to design a game plan for a quarterback who can't get hit. You can't have him holding the ball. You can't have him design runs. You can't really run quarterback sneaks. we've seen some of the you know in relative terms the least athletic quarterbacks in the nfl get exposed at times as runners tom brady ran a pass route in a super bowl it didn't end well but they put that in the game plan you can't do that with tua you can't run a naked bootleg you're not going to run zone read with him just to keep people honest if you watch the game last night whether it's he's not trusting the protection whether it's he doesn't want to get hit or he's been told don't get hit he's not stepping up in the pocket everything when there's pressure he's going out the back of the pocket and he's flushing left and all those things combined make it really hard to produce on a weekend and week out basis that even when you draw up a play that maybe has a chance to succeed he either doesn't go the right spot with it or the timing and the drop is off it's just a lot of different things that go into this and having said all that rich they've still if you look at the schedule on the other side of the buy they've got four or five winnable games coming up here where they've got a chance to get back in it, but they've got to get better as a team.

30:47Tom Pelissero:They've got to clean up those self-inflicted errors, and Tua's got to play a lot better than he's played through these first three weeks.

30:52Rich Eisen:Tom Pellicero with the latest on the Miami Dolphins here on the Rich Eisen Show. Is there a shot for Brock Purdy to play for the 2-0 Niners against the 2-0 Cardinals? You want to talk about a game somewhat under the radar. What do you got for me on that one, Tom?

31:08Tom Pelissero:We had Calais Campbell on the Insiders the other night. rich and you know he's back obviously he was gone for almost a decade from arizona i'm like this is probably the biggest game they've had since you were there the first time and they went to the nfc championship game and then got their their doors blown off in uh in carolina in that game but there's not been a lot of those opportunities and for a cardinals team that's been steadily building with a really young dynamic coaching staff this is huge this is a moment to kind of say we're not just the team that kind of hangs around and they're fun hey yeah you won seven games congrats no like we're actually a playoff type of force ian rafford and asked Calais, like, what quarterback do you want to face?

31:43Tom Pelissero:Calais, do you want the honest answer? Yeah, I'd rather face Mack Jones. He just got there. You know, Brock's a master of the offense. He's like, nothing against Mack. But I'd rather face him just because, you know, he doesn't have all the time on task that Brock Purdy does, which I appreciate the honesty of that answer from Calais, who's seen a lot through the course of his career here. But, yes, it does sound like Brock Purdy's got an opportunity and there's a possibility he could go. But there's, you know, there's several different moving parts here. One is they're seeing how his body reacts.

32:11Tom Pelissero:He's got a left shoulder and a toe. The toe's the real problem. It's on the bottom of his foot. It's kind of like a variation of turf toe, not nearly as severe as what Joe Burrow had, but it's uncomfortable. And so he's got to see from a functionality, a pain tolerance, a body response perspective, how he gets through these practices. And then the other part of it is, do the 49ers want to put Brock Purdy out there if Brock Purdy is not 100 % from how he protects himself, just how the game plan can function, what you can put in it here. So there's going to be some discussions, but you heard Brock Purdy say to himself to reporters yesterday that, you know, he, you got to see how he's feeling on game day.

32:46Tom Pelissero:That would indicate Brock at least wants the opportunity. Hey, list me as questionable. Give me another 72 hours. Let's see how I feel here. You know, we don't know on the outside exactly what the division of reps has been through the course of the week here. This may just be the ramp up period in Kyle Shanahan's mind, play Mac again, and then the following week get Brock out there but there's they have not ruled him out kyle has said that there's a chance we'll find out a

33:08Rich Eisen:little bit more this afternoon okay and then you mentioned about burrow's toe i guess is today's surgery day for him and walk me through what his process might look like and and because i know when we were talking about it last week tom you were saying three months from now um would be cincinnati's game, home for Baltimore on week 15. So even if he gets some more rest time, it's Jake Browning's show potentially for the rest of the regular season, unless you tell me differently right now.

33:46Tom Pelissero:That's been sort of the belief, you know, Joe Burrow being a competitor and frankly, having missed as much time as he's had and, you know, not being one to be labeled about, you know, the guy who's just always got the injuries. He can do everything he can to get back, assuming that Jake Browning can keep the Bengals in this thing long enough for Burrow to get back. But three months is really the baseline here. This is like, you know, 12 to 14 weeks probably from the people that I've talked to familiar with this injury. You know, a grade three turf toe, you're talking about things torn under there.

34:14Tom Pelissero:That's why there's no rehab option. There was no, hey, hope the pain goes away and, you know, heal up and maybe you're back. No, that's not possible. This is not a Brock Purdy type of an injury. This is something really severe here. So the plan was to have the surgery today, but the swelling needs to come out. And so they were going to evaluate. I don't know at this moment whether they actually got the surgery done today, but that has been the plan. That then starts that three month or 12 to 14 week clock. So sometime late in the season, you know, this reminds me a little rich of Aiden Hutchinson last year, where there was always that carrot out there for Aiden Hutchinson of, hey, the Lions get to the Super Bowl.

34:51Tom Pelissero:that's the soonest. Maybe you can get back. With Joe, it's like, hey, if the Bengals can stay alive until the end of the season, maybe you can get back. It's not a guarantee that you're going to be in that situation. It's not a guarantee everything's going to go right from a rehab perspective. But I also know from talking to Lions people about Aiden Hutchinson, different injury, obviously. But the reason that you've heard Dan Campbell and others say, hey, Aiden looks better than he ever has, part of that is because they feel like because he was so aggressive and attacked the rehab the way that he did, He actually came back and was in a better position than he was previously just because he had rehabbed so aggressively.

35:28Tom Pelissero:Maybe you get something similar here with Joe Burrow. He'll push that timetable. It does sound like it'll be three months, and we'll get our first real taste that can Jake Browning keep this train on the tracks on Sunday against Carson Wentz and the Vikings.

35:39Rich Eisen:Right there in that town in Minnesota, Tom. I'm pleased to be able to give you information for a change. I think quite literally while I was asking you the question, Zach Taylor in Cincinnati confirmed he did have the surgery, Burrow did have the surgery today. So that timeline you just laid out for us is now officially a clock that's running. Before I let you go, my weekly question that I promised you I would ask you every single time is, because again, I know the way your life is and the information men and women in our business constantly getting texts from people around the league looking to you for information as well and also to maybe spill tea or want to gossip about other teams, which team has been, I guess, blowing your phone up the most in terms of interest, whether because they're 2-0 or 0-2 or wondering about their situation, which is the team that's showing up on your phone from around the league the most?

36:37Tom Pelissero:Well, I think we covered Miami pretty thoroughly. So let's set them aside for a second and assume that over this, this mini by things calm down a little bit, at least locally and nationally around that team. I would say the team that I'm asked about the most is what's going on in Cleveland. What is the Browns plan here? They have been ineffective offensively to this point. They have a 40 year old quarterback in Joe Burrow who certainly can operate the offense, but it's not operated at a particularly high level. You know, Quinchon Judkins, who just got back, and who knows how long he will be able to stay on the field if the NFL does, in fact, enact discipline, which that process is still ongoing.

37:18Tom Pelissero:He's not yet been able to make the impact that they wanted him to make. Jerry Judy is your top receiver. Where else is the playmaking coming from here? And, oh, by the way, you drafted two quarterbacks who are both sitting and biding their time. I'm not saying the Browns right now are on blow-it-up watch. What I would say is a lot of people within the league are going to be monitoring what is happening with the Browns in the coming weeks. Remember, they got a week five game in London against the Vikings. We all know that when teams have pressure on them, those international games, the flight back, the bye after.

37:52Tom Pelissero:I can't remember if they actually have their bye immediately after, but that's a lot of times. They do not. They don't have their bye after. But neither did the Jets when they fired Robert Saul on a Tuesday. So you've got a unique type of a situation here where people are just wondering, like, what buttons are they going to push? Could they be a team that ends up, you know, wanting to sell? Can they do they feel like they can afford to be sellers at the trade deadline if this thing does not turn around? Again, they could go out and they could stun the Packers on Sunday, but failing that, they're going to be an 0-3 team in a division where you've got at least one team in the Ravens who looks, regardless of how things ended against Buffalo, they look like they could be one of the NFL's best.

38:33Tom Pelissero:You're chasing the Steelers, you're still chasing the Bengals who are 2-0 despite everything that they've got going on here. Where does it lead in Cleveland? There will be a lot of focus on that. The trade deadline is still, I believe, seven weeks away. Right now it's the first week in November. As we lead up to that, and there will be, of course, additional scrutiny if you continue to lose games on the coaching staff, on the front office. But the short term is, at what point do they change quarterbacks? At what point could they become sellers? Those are all questions that people within the league are asking right now about the Browns.

39:05Rich Eisen:Yeah, and in the short term, where do they go after the home game with Green Bay at Detroit before they then head to London against the Vikings? and potentially still Carson Wentz or J.J. McCarthy. So keeping an eye on all of that. Tom, I really appreciate you going the extra yard after your Wi-Fi goes out in the house. Now, please go home so you can respond to the text as to whether the Wi-Fi is back on. And also, to be honest, I think you're creeping people out in that parking lot sitting in your car for 25 minutes talking to the windshield. I might go get some wings, to be honest. Please do that.

39:42Rich Eisen:I can actually smell it. It's waft and waft. Okay, all the sensory.

39:47Tom Pelissero:Thanks, Rich. Thanks to my boys in the studio. Hey, Tommy. Tommy. See you, buddy.

39:52Rich Eisen:Creeping people out in a Minneapolis parking lot. Tom Pellicero. He goes for the rest of the day. Love it. All right. Hey, Rich, say hi to Tom. I'm a synonymous. What's up? I'm not supposed to do that. Why am I? Gotcha. Why am I lending credence to this silliness? I don't know. Because it's hilarious. Right. We will take a break, come back, talk about what the Bills did on Thursday night and how they move forward. And more of your phone calls at 844-204-RICH.

40:25Tom Pelissero:O, O, O, O 'Reilly!

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40:48Tom Pelissero:Oh, oh, oh, O 'Reilly. Auto Parts.

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41:45Rich Eisen:Everybody, check that out whenever you can. We'd greatly appreciate it. Great mold coverage, too. So, by the way, we were very 0-3, Dolphins are in trouble-centric to kick off the program. Buffalo Bills football, again, they pretty much have won every different way you can so far. One at home in a track meet where they're losing, and it looks like they're not going to be the best team in the AFC, just one game out of the gate, and we'll use this as a prism for the rest of the year. Certainly having a problem with the Ravens and a tiebreaker throughout the year, and then boom, fourth quarter for the ages, and it's a 40-burger over 40-burger win.

42:28Then they go to MetLife to take on the Jets. They win by 20, beat the Jets straight up,

42:37Rich Eisen:knocked the quarterback out of this week's game, and Josh Allen accounts for zero touchdowns. They still win by 20. And then last night's a 10-point win when Allen scores, you know, has three touchdowns, but they needed a little bit of the luck, where for some reason Zach Zeller roughs their punter. And they take advantage. That's what championship teams do. You make a mistake, we're going to beat you over the head with it. I talked about how the Eagles are doing that now and the Bills are doing that as well. Also, they win a game without Ed Oliver, without Matt Milano up the middle. So their next man up is doing what they need to do.

43:23Rich Eisen:The guy on the screen now. When you play for the Buffalo Bills, it's tough to be their MVP when Josh Allen is suiting them. Okay? Right. But James Cook is playing most valuable snaps. He's logging excellent repetitions for them. And thank goodness they signed him.

43:49Tom Pelissero:Yeah.

43:50Rich Eisen:They took care of that business because what James Cook is doing is getting the ball in the end zone and creating massive problems. Massive. I know, listen, not everybody is rostering Khalil Shakir or Keon Coleman. Dalton Kincaid scored almost a second time last night. Where was this Kincaid last year? But James Cook, man, as Allen is doing his thing, 13th career win against Miami, Only Tom Brady has more career wins against Miami. 24, I might add. 302 offensive touchdowns now for Josh Allen. Fastest player in NFL history. Reached 300 career offensive touchdowns, including playoffs. Surpassing Mahomes in that regard.

44:37Rich Eisen:86th career quarterback win. First reigning MVP since Mahomes in 2019 to start 3-0. But James Cook, man. he is putting the ball in the end zone rushing touchdown in seven straight games now tied for the longest streak in the history of the buffalo bills back-to-back 100-yard rushing games for only the second time in his career he's getting it done as a match-up nightmare and the bills are outstanding i say it all the time i'll say it again when you look at them you're like really They won by 20. They won by 10. And each time you're like, it feels like it's more than that. Because they have a sense of inevitability.

45:21Rich Eisen:Josh Allen is as dominant a quarterback as we've seen any time. He's that good.

45:31Rich Eisen:And they are maybe the best team in the NFL as a sum of its parts. Together, collectively, coaching McDermott at the helm. Joe Brady as their offensive coordinator. As a sum of its parts, you're looking at them and you're like, individually, really? Am I scared of that guy? Am I scared of that guy? Am I scared of that guy? Together, they're frightening. And the team that they cannot beat in the playoffs is 0-2.

46:05So the ultimate higher register, maybe this is their year.

46:11Tom Pelissero:Well, you mentioned the luck aspect, right? They're getting kind of the bounces and that type of lucky stuff that we've seen Kansas City get during their championship run here.

46:22Rich Eisen:Maybe so.

46:22Tom Pelissero:So you're wondering, yeah, maybe the tide has turned Buffalo's way. Certainly it would be fun for the league, and obviously their fans deserve it, and they've got Josh Allen, so anything's possible.

46:31Rich Eisen:Tie break against the Ravens in their back pocket. Chiefs are 0-2. They do not play the Chargers in the regular season, and the other 2-0 teams in the conference are the Colts and the Boroughless Bengals. Things are looking good for the Bills after three weeks. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast.

From the publisher

Rich recaps the Miami Dolphins falling to 0-3 on the season after their
‘Thursday Night Football’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in their AFC East showdown to kick off NFL Week 3.

NFL Insider Tom Pelissero and Rich discuss Jayden Daniels’ status for
the Commanders in Week 3 and beyond, if the hot seat under Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is getting hotter after Miami’s TNF loss to the Bills, if Brock Purdy could return to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, when Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow could return from his turf toe surgery, and if big changes could be coming to the Cleveland Browns if they remain winless after Week 3.
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