Hour 1: NFL Week 11’s Big Stakes, plus ESPN’s Marcus Spears on AFC/NFC Contenders/Pretenders

0:00Rich Eisen:Thinking about refreshing the carpet in your home? Now's the time to do it. For a limited time at the Home Depot, get 10 % off installed carpet projects on trusted brands like LifeProof, LifeProof with PetProof Technology, Home Decorators Collection, and Traffic Master. Plus, with installation starting at just 49 cents per square foot, upgrading your space is more affordable than ever at the Home Depot. Offer valid June 11th, 2026 through June 28th, 2026. Exclusions apply. For licenses, see homedepot.com slash license numbers.

0:30Marcus Spears:Are all batteries the same?

0:34Rich Eisen:That's like asking if all soccer players are the same.

0:37Marcus Spears:Take Messi, the most decorated player ever. Is there any other player who has achieved that?

0:43Rich Eisen:No, just him. Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with Power Boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Goats only trust goats, because they're built different. And Messi only trusts Duracell. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can'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 richeisenshow and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show.

1:30Rich Eisen:Joe Burrow doing the gritty. This is the Rich Eisen Show. I'm a runaway train. Bring on Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Burrow has been throwing for a while. The plan, I think, is to get him seven on seven work. The Rich Eisen Show. Burrow, touchdown! Today's guests. ESPN analyst Marcus Spears. Former NFL general manager Mike Mayock. Actor Allie Larder. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Oh, yeah. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show on Disney+. The ESPN app and ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial here on the program. We say hello to all of you who are listening whenever you want on our podcast.

2:17Rich Eisen:All three hours, we greatly appreciate that through the Rich Eisen Podcast Network. And we've got some fun guests in store for you. The big Swaggy is going to be joining us. The great Swaggy. Swaggy. Marcus Spears from ESPN is going to join us to help set the table for the 11th week of the National Football League season in advance of the Jets and the Patriots on Thursday Night Football. Mike Mayock, my buddy from back in the day in NFL Network, will join us. It's a higher register Thursday, so we, and all of us, we realized sometimes you've got to go higher register to say what you believe. And a perfect example for that sort of thing is, I think we'll all be able to play it cool when the alley ladder starts by in studio in hour number three.

3:01Rich Eisen:I think everyone's going to be able to play it pretty cool when she stops by to talk about Landman. So that's going to be coming up later and I think it'll be fine. Everyone's going to be cool and chill. What's up, Chris Brockman? How are you? Rich, I'm excellent. The actual varsity plays tonight. How dare he? What is it? The Maction? What's going on tonight? Patriots, baby. What's up, DJ Mikey? Warm up the muskets, baby. I'm a Patriots fan now. That's what I'm doing. I'm just going to the Patriots. Why not? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I'm doing it. I'm just going to go. I'm just going to follow the good teams.

3:33Rich Eisen:Have you noticed that Mike is now wearing a Dodger hat all the time? All the time. To make it seem like he really is one? I mean, if I wear the other hat, you guys give me a load of crap. So I figure, you know, that hat's an abomination. I mean, no. Go back to just the Fox Sports hat that you normally wear all the time. What's going on? Whatever free Super Bowl hat you have. TJ Jefferson, how are you over there? Sir? I'm shaking my head at this nonsense over here. Go Patriots. 844-204-RICH, number to dial here on the program. A.J. Brown spoke yesterday, so did Jalen Hurts. Michael Penick said something that's created a ripple in Atlanta and throughout.

4:10Rich Eisen:We'll get to all of that on this program. And again, as you want to chat with us, 844-204-RICH, number to dial. Happy to have that conversation with you. Week 11 does begin tonight. And as I have been doing over the last few Thursdays, I am here to set the table for you to tell you what's at stake in this National Football League campaign as it reaches week number 11. And we start with the AFC standings because tonight, as Chris Brockman alluded to, the New England Patriots are playing tonight. And they are one of three 8-2 teams entering week 11 in the AFC. And none of them are named the Chiefs or the Bills or the Ravens.

4:49Rich Eisen:And those are the three teams that every single year, everyone assumes going in, has a shot at the one seed, or certainly Cincinnati if Joe Burrow is healthy. And then there's always that higher register. I don't know, maybe this is the year the Texans actually take over the AFC. You know, like none of them are 8-2. The Colts are 8-2, and they're on a bye week, which means the two other 8-2 teams have a chance to take the lead in the AFC this weekend. And it starts on a Thursday night with the Patriots taking on the Jets. first of two times Aaron Glenn versus Mike Vrabel two former players in this rivalry who know what's at stake from those days and then in terms of the New England Patriots seven straight wins seven in a row once upon a time one and two seven in a row going into tonight's game and now they are in the realm of winning games they're supposed to win and how do they perform in those games.

5:51Rich Eisen:Well, guess what? They performed pretty much in games that nobody expected them to win or against the Carolina Panthers, expected them to win and then they did or winning games like the one last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming off of a bye and then just beating them. So they can win and if they win tonight, they will have a half-game lead in the AFC over the Denver Broncos prior to their game against the Kansas City Chiefs coming off their bye week. And the AFC West is something of interest because going into October, the Chargers were not only 3-0 in conference, but in their division.

6:35Rich Eisen:They beat every single team in their division, and that is how they go into this weekend, into Jacksonville. while the Chiefs and the Broncos play one another in the AFC West. And if you look at those standings, the Chargers are the game behind Denver. And if they win in Jacksonville in the early window, they sit back on their flight home hoping that the Wi-Fi is working and watching what goes on between the Chiefs and the Broncos. And you could say that the Chiefs are in must-win territory if they want to continue their streak atop their division as winners. Mahomes has never gone into a playoff season as a wildcard team, starting in that respect, needing to come from behind in this division two and a half games out.

7:35Rich Eisen:Now they have Andy Reid, who, as you know, is the wizard of winning off of his bye. Denver has a problem starting offensively. On occasion, they have finished very well offensively. Didn't last week, but still won. Last year, as we know, Denver started showing signs with Bo Nix. Showing signs with Nix and Sean Payton went into Kansas City in one of those, well, Denver had them dead to rights. One of those Chiefs get lucky games. Blocked field goal at the end. Even though those things aren't just luck. They are the residue of design. AFC West at stake this weekend in week 11. Important movement there.

8:18Rich Eisen:The entire AFC North plays each other. The Steelers, speaking of the Chargers, coming off of that loss just up the road on Sunday night football. Rodgers looked brutal. The coach is like, asked about Rodgers' performance. How would you assess it? And he goes, how would you? we're wondering what's going on there defensively they eviscerate the Colts one week at home next week they can't do very much at all on the road in Los Angeles now they're back home against a Bengals team that is coming off of a bye and during the bye week who returned to practice having a window opened up it's Joe Burrow and if the Bengals want Joe Burrow to play meaningful comeback and play meaningful football and have them make a run for the playoffs they've got to win this game because they'd sweep the Steelers and they'd send the Steelers to five and five and everybody's been talking about how the Ravens are going to run them down the Ravens once upon a time one and five they can get back to 500 if only they could go to the city that loves to beat them because this is where they once belonged as we all know Cleveland Ohio where the head coach, despite two coach of the year trophies in his case, he's on a hot seat.

9:37Rich Eisen:Kevin Stefanski sticking with Dylan Gabriel. Lamar's playing well, getting better each week. Can the Ravens get back to 500? Can the Bengals surprise the Steelers? Can we have a tie atop this division at 5-5 entering week 12 with the Bengals just a game behind, or will there be separation? from the Bengals between the Steelers and the Ravens, or can the Browns surprise and give the Steelers a nice gift? That's at stake. And then you've got the teams that are sniffing it in the AFC. The Texans. Looks like it might be another Davis Mills start for them. They're in Tennessee. They can get back to 500 like the Ravens.

10:24Rich Eisen:We'll talk about the Bills in a minute. in the NFC. What's at stake there? Nothing tonight, as we know. But the next game when America sits down with the sun down, and it's a standalone game on NBC. The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles return home atop the NFC, taking on a Detroit Lions team that is atop the NFC North. For the moment. Dan Campbell, Clark coordinator with his glasses, bringing his Lions in, coordinating up against Vic Fangio's defense that just sent the Packers into a tizzy at 5-3-1. That is a massive football game, and we're all wondering about distractions in Philadelphia.

11:17Rich Eisen:As you know, I consider the distractions for them oxygen. they're just practicing football photosynthesis there you know all the trees that are chopped down to make the newspapers and the headlines providing that oxygen you know and all the eagles do is put that co2 right back into the nfc and keep on winning football photosynthesis i just called it just made that up let's trademark um that's at stake, the NFC at the top, because in the NFC West, you've got two teams that'll be battling it out beforehand for the right to tell the Philadelphia Eagles, you match us. You try to keep up with us, and the us are the Seahawks and the Rams, the first of two games between these two seven and two teams in the NFC West.

12:13Rich Eisen:Winner takes the lead in a big-time lead, one and a half games. They're flat-footed tie right now. Now, whoever wins this game, one and a half. One game in the win column. And then, of course, the half game being the tie break that the two teams will try to equalize. The loser tried to equalize in the final game of the season. Pardon me. My bad. The next time the Rams and the Seahawks play one another is week 16. So that is pretty damn big. And Brock Purdy's coming back for the 49ers. And all he sees is Arizona. So the NFC West plays one another. That's a big scenario at stake in week number 11.

13:00Rich Eisen:The NFC North, I already mentioned how the Lions are playing on Sunday night. They're tied right now record-wise with the Chicago Bears. And we all know the Bears got boat raced in Ben Johnson's return to Detroit in week two, which is the pivot point for Detroit, we thought, on the season when they then went on a four-game win streak. But the pivot point might be Dan Campbell taking the reins of calling the plays from the man who was doing it when Ben Johnson left. But the Bears now are in division taking on Minnesota. And that'll be a game that the Lions are paying attention to as they're getting dressed or ready to head to the stadium for Sunday night in Philadelphia.

13:50Rich Eisen:that's a massive game because if the Eagles beat the Lions and the Bears go to Minnesota and win that game, the Bears can enter week 12 as a first-place team in the NFC North. Because even if the Packers win, they can't catch them. If the Bears win while the Packers are taking on Jameis Winston, which makes week 11 that much more interesting anytime Jameis is active. makes it more interesting. He's out there quoting Hamilton yesterday. Why would he not be? The Bills, as I mentioned, now let's take the pin out of there. They're taking on the Bucs. The NFC South, in my estimation, is not really up for grabs.

14:35Rich Eisen:I know the Panthers are sticking around. But at some point, the Bucs are going to get healthy again. And all they've got to do is just win games like this, which is a tall order. But which team are the Bills? Who are they? who are they and two quarterbacks that have been mentioned as mvps of this season at certain points of the season taking on one another baker mayfield and josh allen who make plays and it's exciting and somebody's gonna have to win this football game and you know regardless of what happens with the box they're still in first place at the end of the day the bills need to keep pace with the Patriots team that could have nine wins by the end of tonight.

15:19Rich Eisen:Big game there. Lots at stake there, even though it's an out-of-conference game for both and in the NFC standings. You take a look at the sniffing at teams. What's at stake for them? As I mentioned, the Niners already. They're taking on Arizona. Carolina. Carolina. Carolina is in Atlanta, which is not even on the screen at sniffing it Because their 3-6 isn't better than the Cowboys 3-5-1 there in Vegas. We mentioned the Vikings as well. So much at stake in Week 11. Falcons need to hold serve at home and get to 4-6, get back on the sniffing it trail, and make a run. The question is, is who's in their quarterback's ear to help them out?

16:09Rich Eisen:That is, again, part of the storylines entering Week 11. and what is at stake? Oh, baby. Let's go. I believe I've set the table. I've set the table for Marcus Spears. He's going to join us next right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Oh, yeah, Paul Skeens did win the NL Cy Young Award. Shocking. Did you meet Paul Skeens? No. He says he's staying with the Pirates. We'll talk about that later on on this edition of the Rich Eisen Show that's off and running.

17:06Rich Eisen:We'll be right back. It's already here. Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA.

17:37Rich Eisen:apply nmls 696891 fast funds terms apply at sofi.com slash debt play the rich eisen show podcast chisen show on disney plus the espn app and espn radio presented by progressive insurance uh joining us once again here on the rich eisen show one of our favorites been a too long marcus spears back here from espn and all the terrific football programs that feature him good to see Marcus, how are you?

18:03Marcus Spears:Rich, what's up, man? My apologies on not being available, brother. What are you talking about? Marcus. I'm just saying, man. I've been wanting to come on, but just dealing with a lot of other stuff outside of work with kids, sports.

18:16Rich Eisen:Listen, I'm with you. I love, despite the sign here on my desk, blaming things on my children. So I totally understand that. I get it. But I also see where you are. I see where you are. So, you know, freezing your tail off in the state of Wisconsin, you know, so what do you make of the Philadelphia Eagles and everything that goes on and A.J. Brown and what he said yesterday that it's a group thing and Jalen Hurts was echoing that. And, you know, I personally think it's their oxygen, but I'm wondering what it is from your perspective that ails them or is there anything that you are concerned about, Marcus?

18:57Marcus Spears:Rich, I agree. I agree with you that it's their oxygen. I mean, when you think about this team, we've tried to figure out ways that they were going to suck for like the last three years. And they've continued to win, make the playoffs, and obviously winning the Super Bowl last year. And I give some credence to what A.J. Brown said. I'm very fond of A.J. I think he's a deep thinker. But he wants to be competitive. He wants to win. But he wants to do it in a dominant fashion. And if you think about the guy's career, coming from Tennessee as a dominant wide receiver without having the opportunity to win a Super Bowl, to becoming a Super Bowl champion with Philly, you have expectations.

19:37Marcus Spears:And, you know, I would rather that come from A.J. Brown. And obviously, if you listen to him, it wasn't about him necessarily in the grand scheme of things. It's about how much he knows that he can help this team and how much they feel like they're struggling offensively to maximize what they have at their availability. But I'm with you, Rich. I said a couple weeks ago I was on First Tape, and I said I was with Mad Dog and Stephen A., and I was like, this team, they operate in dysfunction. They're just fine with the outside noise. They're just fine with some internal stuff. And, you know, it's one of those rare situations where I don't think it breaks the team.

20:20Marcus Spears:It actually galvanizes them and pulls them together. I remember Jalen Hurts sitting on an interview after a game of throwing for 300 and asking the whole world, that's what y 'all wanted to see? But they are just fine winning 10-7, 3-0, as opposed to 31-0 or 31-7. And I think that's the makeup of a really good football team of keeping the main thing the main thing, even though, you know, we're going to make a big deal out of everything that they say.

20:48Rich Eisen:Well, what is it then, Marcus? I mean, I kind of go back to the movie A Few Good Men. You know, if Santiago wasn't supposed to be touched and no one was supposed to order a code red, then why was he touched? You know, if you have A.J. Brown and Saquon and Devontae Smith and Jalen Hurts and Dallas Goddard to dominate, then why aren't they dominating?

21:09Marcus Spears:Rich, we don't give enough credit. Like, we talk about this like it's a monolith, right? Like, them dudes on the other side are very, very good. and defensive coordinators are staying up 72 hours a week trying to figure out how not to let that happen and obviously philly has some things that they want to continue to get better at but you been doing this show for a long time two years ago we thought we were sitting in like this the worst offense we've ever seen in our life and obviously they had that downturn and they lost the tampa bay in the playoffs and everybody was like yeah we saw it coming and and this could potentially be one of those seasons as well but i don't believe so i believe this is a super bowl championship team that's getting everybody's best shot they're everybody measuring stick now they're young they're a different football team and i think we're starting to see some things come back to life that we saw from them last year nobody's talking about a defense giving up seven points in a football game because we so enamored with jalen hurts and and aj brown and davante and saquon not running it well and Dallas Goddard like you mentioned like I I get it I understand that everybody wants 40 points a game but a NFL football team went out and just gave up seven points to an offense that's supposed to be pretty good and we all we're talking about is why are they not scoring 40 a game well it's hard to do it's hard to do it we watched Kansas City last year struggle them way themselves all the way to the Super Bowl so again I'm I'm I'm for it I understand it i know why people are up in arms about how it looks and and it needs to look a certain way if you have all of these guys last time i checked rich and you know this as well as me the most important thing after that game over with is what the w winning that's it end of story because i don't see any photographs in the standings ever me neither they win man marcus

23:02Rich Eisen:here on the rich eyes and show all right so you're you're a parcells guy um he always said you know uh right around thanksgiving is when you know whether you got it or not we're not there yet we're close so i want to run through some teams with you and you tell me if you think they're super bowl worthy like that i'm gonna keep it short i know that i know that and i let's start

23:24Marcus Spears:with the patriots are they super got it yeah got it yeah got it i'm a i'm a i'm a huge fan of mike rabel um i've been a huge fan of mike rabel i still don't understand what the tennessee titans were thinking uh we're letting him walk out of the door but you see the tone and you see how how much it has changed and then too they got seemingly have the most important position in football right and that's the quarterback and sometimes being young and dumb makes you a really dangerous team and i don't i don't care if you know i don't care if it's uh a game in foxborough or a game in uh berlin or a game in tottenham where you've been a bunch of times rich they just gonna go out and play and do whatever it takes to win.

24:07Marcus Spears:I think that's Mike Vrabel's mentality. And he got a quarterback that don't know no better other than just to go out there and make plays and ball.

24:14Rich Eisen:Yeah, Belichick had one as well in his second season in the National Football League, and they won it all and didn't know any better either. So, okay. What about the Broncos?

24:24Marcus Spears:Very shaky on the Broncos, Rich. Offensively, I worry about them. And that's crazy to say with the Sean Payton team. But defensively, this team is really, really good. And can they get hot? Yeah, we've seen them get hot and score 33 points in a quarter. So, yeah, but it's been a little volatile on that offensive side. It's been too many slow starts for me to make them 100 % a contender. If they can get hot and Bo Nix can get streaky, a team that absolutely has a chance because that defense is phenomenal, but I worry about the Broncos offensively a lot. Eight and two Colts.

24:58Rich Eisen:They are a Super Bowl contender right now.

25:02Marcus Spears:Rich, can I just say this, brother? Please. And I know I'm scared of Daniel Jones. I haven't loved what I've seen from him the past two weeks. Without Jonathan Taylor taking over these games, I'm not sure if he's not going to be mistake prone in some critical situations for me to pick them as Super Bowl contenders. I get very nervous. I'm starting to see the fumbles in the pocket, which is the thing that plagued him in New York, the interceptions. And it just looks shaky. and I hate saying this because the dude is having his best season that he's had in the NFL. I worry about that, though, because we know majority of the time you're not just going to be able to run your way to winning the Super Bowl, as we saw with the Philadelphia Eagles and Saquon Barkley not being dominant and Jalen Hurts being the dominant factor in the Super Bowl last year.