Hour 1: Eagles Concern Level, Philip Rivers’ Possible Return, plus ESPN’s Jeff Saturday

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0:26Rich Eisen:Fourth of July savings are happening now at the Home Depot with select appliances starting at$398. Plus, get free delivery on appliance purchases of$398 or more, no membership required. Upgrade your kitchen with a modern and sleek GE profile refrigerator featuring hands-free autofill for the perfect pour every time. And make laundry day easier with two-in-one washer-dryer combo innovation that completes laundry in about 90 minutes. Shop top brand appliances now at The Home Depot. Offer valid June 17th through July at the U.S. only C-Store online for details. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody.

1:00Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. 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. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Come on, me! Intercepted, big man! Oh, and the ball is out! Intercepted, Dante Jackson has it! Live from the Rich Eisen Studios in New York City. High intercepted, Cam Hart has it! Intercepted, game over! Today's guests, ESPN NFL analyst Jeff Saturday, actor Tony Goldwyn, and now it's Rich Eisen!

1:58Rich Eisen:All right, everybody. Hey there, and welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show from the ESPN Studios in New York City. The Rich Eisen Show studio is up and running for the rest of the week. Yes, baby. From lower Manhattan. Hello to our Disney Plus viewers. Hello to our ESPN app viewers. Hello also to those who are listening to ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We've got our guys here, Chris Brockman. Hey, Rich. What's up, man? TJ Jefferson. What's up, fellas? You made it. Mike Del Tufo. You're here right here in your old hometown. Good to see you. How are you? I'm a Yankee fan again.

2:36Rich Eisen:Okay. Get out of here. Absolutely not. Bringing weak sauce from Los Angeles. Good to see you. By the way, if you're sitting there on Disney +, you're streaming it, you're watching it on the ESPN app, you're like, that looks a lot like the Get Up set. It is. And we're thrilled. I mean, I have not done a show with the ESPN letters on a desk. and I mean well I guess since I did the sports center in August I was going to hit the way back machine not coming this year well at any rate we've got Tony Goldwyn the actor making his way to the studio in hour number 3 Jeff Saturday who was on GetUp earlier today he is going to be our first guest coming up in just about 20 minutes time our phone lines are still working 844-204-RICH is the number to dial with whatever you want to talk about here on this show, and we obviously are going to start with the Monday night game that went down the road from what we usually do a show from.

3:35Rich Eisen:The game was drunk. It was off the rails. Six turnovers in the second half. Since the NFL started tracking play-by-play type coverage of a game in 1991, there's never been a single play that's resulted in one player turning the bowl over twice in the same play that happened to Jalen Hurts last night and I'm sure fantasy football players were losing their minds over that whether it was how many matchups flipped on that play alone it was uh insane how the Chargers and the Eagles were just hitting each other in the mouth over and over and over again and what ended up happening was a game that went into overtime for two eight and four teams that needed this game for various reasons in terms of the chargers they needed the game to stay in the race for their division if not potentially the one seed the eagles needed to stay in this race uh for the one seed by getting that win last night the division is still theirs over the Cowboys by one and a half games.

4:49Rich Eisen:Had they won last night, it would have put this division on the precipice for Philadelphia to win once again and become the first team to win back-to-back, the last team to win back-to-back titles in the division were the Andy Reid Eagles. And that's still in the ether for them. But right now, what you have is a Chargers team that's in the mix in the AFC West still because they beat the Denver Broncos. They're the last team to beat Denver, and we'll talk about that later on on this program when we focus on the Chargers. But for the Philadelphia Eagles fans, I have been telling you to relax for two plus weeks.

5:30Rich Eisen:Well, what about now? Well, I'll get to that. I'll get to that. What about now? And all I'm going to say is look right down the camera and tell the Philadelphia Eagles fans who watched last night's game chock full of mistakes, chock full of turnovers, chock full of drop passes, chock full of a lot of hair on fire moments. And look at you in the face if you're watching on Disney Plus or the ESPN app and tell you. Say it with your chest. Keep relaxing. Oh, come on. Oh, Rich. Are you serious? No, you are not Frankie Goes to Hollywood. I'm going to tell you to keep relaxing because what we saw last night was enough positive things.

6:17Rich Eisen:I didn't see any. I saw Saquon Barkley going on a mad dash. I saw the running game. One play. He had one nice play. Untrue. He had multiple carries that were first down carries from jump. Multiple carries that looked a lot like last year. Multiple moments. And there were also great throws from Jalen Hurts. two of them A.J. Brown dropped for touchdowns and one of them A.J. Brown had his hands on and was one of the four interceptions that Jalen Hurts has on his record from last night and so there was enough positive things in addition and I'm sober I am sober because I know what Eagles fans are thinking and saying right now but on top of that The Philadelphia Eagles, after that awful loss, that gutting loss, that hair on fire loss, that long ass plane ride home loss.

7:21Rich Eisen:Okay. All of that. Go home and take on a Las Vegas Raiders team that suddenly can't tie its shoes and hasn't been able to do so for a couple of months. and they also have not one but two games against a three-win Washington Commanders team that is just coming off of a shutout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. In such a fashion, the Vikings just became the first team in the history of the NFL to be shut out by 25 or more points in one week and come home and shut another opponent out a week later by 25 or more points. That team is on the docket twice for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Commanders.

8:11Rich Eisen:Now there's a visit to Buffalo that might be one of those measuring stick games. I will tell you right now, that game against the Buffalo Bills will be one of those moments of, all right, Eagles have straightened themselves out, but now here's the measuring stick for the playoffs. And if you're sitting here saying the ultimate goal is to go back to back and win the Super Bowl again for the Philadelphia Eagles, I will look all the Eagles fans in the face and say, I'm concerned for you. But all you need to do is punch your ticket to the playoffs. All you need to do is win your division, which they're going to do.

8:48Rich Eisen:The only way they lose. Excuse me. Do you feel put the Cowboys schedule up if you don't mind them boys. Killed the wabbit last night. No, listen, I know you're very happy watching as a Cowboys fan an Eagles team losing their third in a row. They were on the march last night in overtime to win that game and saw some great throws from Jalen Hurts to put them in position. Dallas has got the same Minnesota team that I just said, just shut out the Washington Commanders. They should win that game. the Chargers team that we saw last night hitting people in the mouth. They can't block anybody. Justin Herbert is running for his life on every play.

9:31Rich Eisen:And yet won the game. And they do have two winnable games at Washington at the Giants as well. They need to sweep that and have the Eagles lose twice. The Eagles will have to lose once to the Washington Commanders and then maybe against the Buffalo Bills. That is the way that the Philadelphia Eagles lose this division. Is it possible? Yes. Is it going to happen? It is unlikely. It is unlikely. So what the Eagles need to do is play just well enough, get this division in their hands and go home and get ready for a home playoff game. If you put up the NFC standings through 14 weeks, they're going to have their hands full.

10:16Rich Eisen:The Bears might be coming back into their house again. They're currently the seventh seed. The Lions, if the Lions make this playoff race, the Lions might be the team to come in. The 49ers might be the team to come in if you take a look at the NFC standings through 14 weeks. These are the teams they might have to face because they're not going to be any lower than the three seed. They're not going to fall to the four seed. The four seed is going to be your NFC South champions. So this is the reality of it. It looked bad a lot last night, but it also looked good. That third and 15 throw in overtime after they're called for holding, Jalen Hurts hits his back foot.

11:02Rich Eisen:That was a dot to Devontae Smith. He also made some terrific throws in the fourth quarter leading to these moments. But we're all focused on the negative because it's the Philadelphia Eagles, and I understand they do not look like a Super Bowl contender right now. Are they going to lose the division? No. Are they going to make the playoffs and host a home playoff game? Yes. Are they going to have their hands full in that game? 100%. Could they be one and done? For sure. Nick Sirianni had this to say after the game about turning things around. We'll drag ourselves through the mud on the plane ride home, look forward to watching the tape, see what we need to fix, and then you don't have a lot of time to feel sorry for yourself.

11:47You've got to have that same confidence, that same joy that you come in every single day, and I'm looking forward to getting back to work.

11:56Rich Eisen:I understand. You guys are looking at me with skepticism. The 2023 Eagles were 10-1. I understand. And then lost five out of six to end the year and got absolutely boat raced in the playoffs to the Bucs. What's the difference between that team and what we're watching right now with the way Philadelphia is playing. They're not going to lose five of their last six. They've lost three. What do you mean? They've lost three in a row. They could lose seven in a row to end the season. Okay. If they do, then they won't make the playoffs. And then everything that I've just said, I would be shocked. You think they're going to lose to the Raiders?

12:33Rich Eisen:You really think they're going to go home to Philadelphia? I don't, but I don't think it's going to be a resounding win. It's going to be ugly. So now it doesn't matter. They're 9-5. They're 9-5. Then they go to Washington. You think they're going to lose to Washington? I think that Jaden Daniels with a couple of games under his belt with a full complement of weapons. Jaden Daniels didn't even finish the game in Minnesota. He came out of the game, and he's throwing his helmet around wondering, why am I playing right now? And more and more and more, there's going to be – Zach Ertz is gone for the season.

12:59Rich Eisen:That team is just going to be a shadow of itself, and it's going to really test Dan Quinn's ability to get everyone to say, don't listen to that U-Haul backing up. The season's over. Don't pay attention to Zach Ertz playing this game, and now he's going to be rehabbing the rest of the season, the rest of the office. Marcus Mariota had the Broncos beat. I don't know who that is. I know who Marcus Mariota is. Oh, interesting. You got to say it. They're right. That's my fault. You know, honestly, you have to just take a look down the road. And the other thing is that 2023 team fell apart so badly, they didn't even win their division.

13:35Rich Eisen:They had to go on the road. They got one and done in Tampa. They're going to play a home game. They're going to play a home game. I'm going to quote you. We can't definitively say that the Eagles are winning the NFC East. I'm saying if they – how about this? They don't deserve to win it if the Cowboys win out and they lose a game to the Washington Commanders or the Raiders. Then they don't deserve it. Then everything that I believe in them with their superior talent at certain positions that is just – just like the Chiefs, things just are blowing up. They're not working. There's a hold here. There's a mistake there.

14:12Rich Eisen:There's a drop ball here. But then there's also Cooper DeGene who erased Ladini McConkey last night. Erased him. The front four was getting after it without Jalen Carter. At some point, it's all going to hopefully be able to be pulled together, and they have the opponents coming into their house to pull it off. But so much for the positivity. Chargers line, though, right? They're missing. I would also like to point out that is now a third straight 100-yard game for A.J. Brown. And what happened? What's the result? I understand that he lost them all. And he dropped. And had he caught the one instead of settling for a field goal, they scored a touchdown at the end of the game.

14:54Rich Eisen:That was a dime by Hurts. That was a great throw in the bucket. To start the game when there was nothing going on and A.J. Brown takes off down the field and they connected mentally. And they connected physically. But the ball went off of Brown's hands. and after the game he took responsibility for that. He should have had the one in overtime. I'm just saying there's enough there. But I understand they've lost three in a row. It's Philadelphia. Every single mistake that they make gets compounded. I thought they were winning that game last night. When they converted on third and 15 and then another throw to Dallas Goddard.

15:26Rich Eisen:It did feel like it. And it was just a risky throw into coverage. I thought maybe if he had checked it down, just been a little bit more patient. But there was only three minutes to go. I'm sitting there thinking a tie. Doesn't really do much, except it would keep them two in front of Dallas. Would have kept them two in front of Dallas. So a tie kind of would have helped them. But I'll tell you this, though. The conference is gone for the Philadelphia Eagles. That, I think, went by the wayside last night. That they're not going to be able to catch the Rams or the Seahawks. Yeah, I think what you said is right.

16:00The winner of the East is probably the three seed. And so that's – you just got to just take a beat.

16:06Rich Eisen:Take a breath. And I know relax doesn't really help right there. Or, you know, what hopefully the Eagles will be able to do is to tell the committee, listen, we had a quality win against the Rams. It's a committee. Right? And, hey, this is a quality loss. The Chargers have nine wins. Okay. You know? Well, wait a minute. My bad. This is the version of football where the records matter. I still like the NFL committee idea. And it's a schedule that's put together by a home office that runs the sport. NFL committee. And uniformly makes it a professional. Defending champ gets an automatic bid. Yeah.

16:45Rich Eisen:One of the things I like most about you is your optimism, right? And the thing is. Thank you, TJ. Philly fans, and I'm staring at one right now off camera, they don't believe a word you just said. Yeah, that is true. They don't believe it. Well, I'll tell you, Nick. The roof is on fire. Did you ever help last night? It helped last night to be, as I mentioned, a home game on the road. Okay, were all those fans, were they booing when the ball went off? Could you imagine if this game was at home? Oh, man. If this game was at home, all the Philly fans were there. All the Philly fans were there. Most of the Philly fans were in SoFi last night just happy to be there, seeing their team and rooting them on like an old-school fan base.

17:24Rich Eisen:I know I always tread into some dicey waters when I criticize Philadelphia fans because East Coast fans are all from the same – we're kind of the same chip. All us East Coasters. I get it. Sure. I flew over it. But seriously, if this game was at home, I don't even know if the Eagles would have had a chance to come even keep playing and winning. They were in a position to win. Yeah. Okay? And they made some smart play calls. They did. It's just some of them didn't work out. And that's what's happening right now. And it's tough for all of us, I think, to wrap our arms around or at least I'll talk, I use the royal we here, is that all the teams that last year were Super Bowl contenders, many of them might not even make the playoffs this year.

18:11Rich Eisen:It's a whole different world right now. And so the Eagles are still one of those 10-win teams from last year who have a chance to make the playoffs and go on a run. Commanders aren't. You take a look at the Ravens. They're 6-7. The Chiefs are 6-7. You take a look right now also at the Lions. They're on the outside looking in. The 14-win Vikings are history. The 12-win commanders are history. So it's a completely – normally when it's a different type of playoff community from year to year, it doesn't change from cream of the crop one year to the outhouse the next for those. It's normally a mix and a match of some teams that barely made it the year before that's out and another team that's on the rise this year.

19:00Rich Eisen:It's just difficult to wrap your arms around. But the Eagles, out of everybody that I just mentioned, of the final eight from last year, commanders, Lions, right? Vikings were going in. The Vikings were in the final eight. Ravens, okay? Like, Chiefs. The Eagles are in first place. They're the closest to the finish line. And they're one and a half games in front of another team that has to finish perfect in order to win it. So Jeff Saturday is going to join us. And one of the things we're going to talk to him about is the Indianapolis Colts reaching out to Phillip Rivers to say, what do you think?

19:41Rich Eisen:Yeah, they did. That caused a little bit of emotion. That was awesome. I thought to myself, and we'll get to Jeff in a second, that it's a perfect story to have on our docket as we're walking into a building owned and operated by Disney because that sounds like, you know, a guy who's at home with his 10 kids and his wife and it's a family. Coaching high school football. Coaching high school football and getting a call at age 44. Hey, you want to come back to the last team that you played for in the NFL and we need you? and the season's on the line. It was his birthday yesterday. Honestly, like, is Dennis Quaid available to play Phillip Rivers?

20:25Rich Eisen:You know, I mean, that's what I thought of. Bradley Cooper in the comeback. Yeah. That's exactly what I thought of. And then I also thought of, like, listen, I can't put anything past Philly Riv. You know what I mean? Like, that guy is unlike anybody that I've met in the 20-plus years of covering the sport, from his, you know, sidearm frisbee-type throws to him. His non-cursing trash talk. Using Disney, right? Dad gum. Dad gum it, right? Dad gum. And plus, the one thing I loved about him also is he would show up post-game in his bolo tie, his ostrich boots, like he's shot out of a cannon, like treating a wind like he's an eight-year-old still.

21:03Rich Eisen:That was great. But my favorite part about Philip Rivers is that he reserved his one particular brand of red ass specifically for Jay Cutler. And I thought that was always thumbs up, brother. you know like i got you yeah uh we we see each other you know um but i i also think to myself you want to put anything past him um if if if his family loves him you got to look at him and go really you want to you want to take on you take a look at the indianapolis colts final opponents oh yeah and there are some people that can uh you know have dad in a in a cold tub pretty fast You know what I mean? But you mentioned he has.

21:44Rich Eisen:They've got the Texans. The Texans are on the team. I know, but he's got 10 kids. Man needs a break. Oh, my God. He's got to go play football. He needs a break from these kids. Why'd you come back? Love of the game. These daggone kids. You always thought that you could try it one more time. Get out of the house, Rich. I got too many kids. I am done. Get me out of here. You know? At least he's had a chance to do 11-on-11 drills, though, right? Get me out of here. Please take me away. So it really is wild. And just in case anybody is wondering, the Hall of Fame did put out a statement last night.

22:20Rich Eisen:Did you see this? Oh, no. If he signs to the practice squad, because he's a semifinalist for the 2026 class. He's a semifinalist. If he signs for the practice squad and doesn't play, he's good. If he's signed to the active roster for even a split second, the clock resets. Oh, that's not. But let's be honest. Was he going to make the Hall of Fame this year? Probably. I don't know. I don't. But next year is possible and the year after. But he goes and wins a chip this year. He has to reset the – listen. Wow. Think about it. Comeback player of the year? On the board. Let me see if there's odds. I'm surprised Cooper didn't text that to you already.

23:03Rich Eisen:He's got to be coming back from not having to be home about being a dad. That's what he's coming back from. He's got to get out. All right, Jeff Saturday. Now we're all set at the table for Jeff Saturday. Joining us next, he's our first guest of our New York week, the actor Tony Goldwyn in studio hour number three. It's also an overreaction Monday on a Tuesday. We're off and running from lower Manhattan on The Rich Eisen Show.

23:31The Rich Eisen Show podcast.

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