Hour 2: Baker Mayfield’s MVP Turn, plus Mike Mayock Talks Eagles, Raiders & More

18:25Mike Mayock:Give them credit. They coached and played better than we did. That's what the NFL is, you know. So I think our guys realize that. But I did tell them, Bob, you know, everybody in there from staff, to the coaches, the players, to everybody in there, the clock is ticking. It doesn't matter if you're a number one overall pick, a Pro Bowl safety, a third-year head coach, first-year assist, it doesn't matter. We have to do a better job to close out games.

19:01Rich Eisen:First team in the Super Bowl era to lose in a walk-off field goal as time expires, three straight games. It's never happened. along with the other stuff that I've it's crazy. You can't say what Demercado did never happens. It happened last week. But the other stuff like the interception that turned into a fumble for a touchdown for the other team within seconds. Have you ever seen anything like that? I can't remember seeing it. I said it out loud watching it with Suze and Coop yesterday.

19:30Mike Mayock:I wasn't even convinced it was legal. I was like can you advance that? If it's in the last

19:36Rich Eisen:seconds of a half you can't. The person who fumbles it has to recover. You can't advance. Unless it's from the other team, though. You're right.

19:45Mike Mayock:See, there's a lot of ifs

19:45Rich Eisen:and spliffs, and I don't know. Is this real? I think it's the holy S-roller.

19:51Mike Mayock:Did you guys notice the catch Marvin made in the first? You and I text each other, and we thought it was a touchdown, and then I realized five minutes later, like, they didn't give him I thought Di Mercado's I thought he kind of had it in his hand when he crossed the line. That's what I thought. And you know, so all of what I just mentioned,

20:13Rich Eisen:Seattle losing the final seconds and Arizona losing again in the manner in which they lost, you could make the case the team that had the best week five, the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers, they go here on a short week to the Rams, beat the Rams shorthanded to go 4-1, 3-0 at Mac Jones. They make the defensive plays with all these kids that you need to have name tags to know who they are. And they beat the Rams and the rest of the NFC West lost. They're 4-1. The Rams are 3-2, a game and a half behind them. The Cardinals drop a third straight game like they did, and the team to do it to them first was the Niners, so they're now 2-1 up on them.

21:02Rich Eisen:And the Seahawks, who they've beaten, are 3-2. They're a game and a half up on them. so say what you will about the Niners smoke mirrors this that it's gonna finally gonna come home to roost on them when is Kittle coming back when is this guy coming back when is it coming they're in front they're 4-1 and watch them with their smoke and mirrors going to Tampa and maybe do to them what Tampa's done everyone else yeah man how about the Niners what a week it was for them and i know a buddy of mine uh michael wright who's a diehard ucla fan i texted him i'm like buy buy a powerball michael and count me in for 20 he's a niner fan and a ucla fan wow good week yeah thursday to saturday to sunday damn yeah what's up Michael 844-204-RICH is the number to dial Michael Mayock is going to join us next I believe he's already zoomed in I look at him I have that look of saying Rich shut up I'm on time why are you not that's next on the Rich Eisen Show

22:15Rich Eisen:the Rich Eisen Show podcast

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24:24Rich Eisen:Back here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance, Mike Mayock joining me here. And Mike, you just mentioned how, you know, the Eagles' offense needs to find an identity. how does it happen that you only get six carries in a game from Saquon Barkley? I mean, how does it happen calling plays where you kind of lose track of that sort of thing? And in tandem with that question, I ask, could it be possible that the conversation from A.J. Brown saying, hey, throw me the ball and Devontae Smith may be saying the same thing behind the scenes leads to a more pass-heavy situation? Mike, what happens?

25:04Rich Eisen:here?

25:05Mike Mayock:Yeah, I think there's a little bit of the latter, Rich. You know, A.J. Brown's got a big personality like a lot of elite wideouts. And while I disagree with his messaging and the way he went about his messaging, I certainly understand his frustration. And to be honest, if the Eagles are going to repeat as Super Bowl winners or get anywhere close to that, their pass offense has to be a lot more consistent. It's been a tale of two halves most of their games this year. They've either been really, really good in the pass game, or like yesterday, they score a touchdown coming out of the locker room for the second half and punt four consecutive times and lose a 14-point lead.

25:53Mike Mayock:So to answer part of that question regarding Barkley, I think there's a lot of answers, and their head coach, Nick Sirianni. I read this transcript from his press conference last night after the game, and he was asked the same question. How do you forget Saquon Barkley? Why does he get six carries? And, you know, his answer was it's a lot of things. It's part of not everything that we call in there gets run. Sometimes you're tagging it and the quarterback makes a decision. The defense has a decision with the fronts they play. Yes. And to be honest with you, Rich, I think a lot of teams are choosing, because I've watched every one of their tapes, because I have a daughter that's a pain in my butt and makes me go on her podcast every week with the Eagles.

26:46Mike Mayock:And I watch that tape every week. And I'm seeing teams playing their run game a little bit differently. and the Eagles have got to be really good with how they choose how, why, and when to throw the football and to run the football, to be honest with you.

27:02Rich Eisen:Sure, and it's an interesting point that you make, not about Lee and her Believe podcast on the Eagles. She's very persuasive. But, you know, the point that you make is the defense has something to do with it. Denver was basically saying, try and run Saquon. We got defensive player of the year named Pat Sertan that's traveling. With A.J. Brown, good luck with that. Maybe that's why Devontae Smith had his best day in terms of yards as a receiver this fall. But the question that, just to really get deep into it here, just to answer what some Eagles fans are saying, the play calling coming in late and the late snaps and the pre-snap routine for a defending Super Bowl champ that really hasn't changed many parts except for the offensive coordinator in Kevin Petullo.

27:53Rich Eisen:You know, how does that happen? It is fixable too, right, Mike? I mean, that's something that can be fixable, yay or nay, here.

28:01Mike Mayock:I get frustrated with, there are so many ways to lose football games, and it's such a competitive league. When you start losing games over things you can control, pre-snap penalties, getting stuff in late, two guys in motion, those are the kind of things you can control okay and I know the Eagles coaches are painfully aware of that you never know what a play caller is or he isn't until he becomes a play caller Petulo Kevin Petulo was was there the last several years okay he's been a big part of their pass game but we don't know I still don't know what kind of play caller he is yet I mean there's some elite guys out there.

28:46Mike Mayock:The guy in San Francisco, the guy with the Rams, you know, there's a bunch of several elite play callers on both sides of the ball, but not everybody is. And right now they're disjointed on offense. And I think the first thing you got to question is when the players are saying, hey, we're not getting it in quickly enough. We're not ready to snap the football. That's a problem.

29:08Rich Eisen:Yeah. Another another elite play caller was on the sideline that beat them in Sean Payton. And now The Broncos are 3-2, flat out in the mix for the division in the AFC. Mike Mayock joining me here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's go deeper in what you saw out of the Patriots and Drake May and just repeat for those here who might not have heard because they were just listening on the radio what you said about May and who he reminds you of, Mike.

29:34Mike Mayock:He reminds me of Justin Herbert in that not everybody's a natural thrower of the football. He's a big, strong guy. He naturally can throw the ball with air under it. He can drive it. He can throw it deep. He's athletic for a big guy, and he's tough. I see a lot of similarities between the two of them.

29:56Rich Eisen:And how sustainable is this? I mean, that's the question. It was pretty damn impressive what we saw from the Patriots last night. They've got to be feeling good about themselves at 3-2. Obviously, Milton Williams making a difference up front. And you could see how that's just affecting the whole defense. Carlton Davis, another nice addition on the back end. Vrabel knows what he's doing. McDaniels is as good as they come. You obviously know about him. And then, long story short, May, how sustainable do you think this is for the Patriots in just this year, in 2025?

30:31Mike Mayock:It doesn't have to be sustainable this year where they go 12-5, in my opinion. It has to be sustainable over time. Okay? And whenever you walk into a franchise that has struggled winning recently, I mean, there's got to be a bunch of changes, and it starts with culture. Everybody thinks culture happens overnight. It doesn't. It happens over doing the same thing the right way over a period of time and getting players to believe. So I love what's happened with Elliott Wolfe, and I love what's happened with Vrabel. And organizationally, it looks like they're in lockstep, which I love. I think the most important thing is they keep developing that quarterback.

31:14Mike Mayock:I thought it was cool that Diggs had all those catches last night. What did he have, 10 for over 100 last night, Rich? Yes, sir. You know, I mean, he made a couple throws to him, expanding the pocket and getting out with arm strength and athleticism that were beautiful. And Diggs still has explosion, and he's got game. They're continuing to develop that offensive line. I think Vrabel has a blueprint that he believes in. Not a lot of BS to him. I think Elliott Wolfe compliments him well. So I think they're a team on the rise, Rich. I don't know what it's going to translate into wins and losses, but I like where they are.

31:54Rich Eisen:Mike Mayock here on the Rich Eisen Show. What do you think the Raiders should do? I mean, Gino leads the league in interceptions right now. He's on pace for a 30-interception season. You know Pete loves him, obviously. Brought him in and believes in him. but these turnovers are killing this team right now as they're trying to get a win. They haven't won except week one in New England. What do you think they should do, Mike?

32:19Mike Mayock:You know, Rich, I'm probably not close enough to that situation to be overly critical. I haven't seen much of them. What I would tell you is, you know, if you juxtapose their situation with the Jaguars who are now 3-1, And why are they 3-1? Well, they're taking care of the football. They've generated 13 takeaways on defense. They're only allowed on about 18 points a game. They got a defensive coordinator named Anthony Campanelli who's doing a hell of a job there. So they're cleaning up all that kind of stuff with a new group. Okay? Your quarterback can't throw nine interceptions in five games, especially a guy that's a veteran that's played for that head coach.

33:04Mike Mayock:So, obviously, that's at the top of you can't have the interceptions. You can't have the penalties. You know, guys like Brock Bauer is being hurt certainly doesn't help. But that really, Rich, I can't get much beyond the surface because I really haven't seen much, if any, of their tape this year.

33:24Rich Eisen:Okay. And yeah, I mean, they got, they do have Kenny Pickett sitting there, but Pete doesn't seem to be ready to, to go and make that move as the Raiders now fall to one and four, which is just an unfortunate development. I've got Mike Mayock here on the Rich Eisen show. Then I'll open it up to you. What, what, what jumps out at you from week five of, of something that you, you want to talk about that you think we should know, Mike, I'll just give you that floor on that front. What do you think?

33:53Mike Mayock:Yeah, I think the Ravens thing is really surprising. One and four, and they're quarterbacks out. We all know that. Difference makers are hurt on defense at every level. I mean, they had two defensive backs out, Humphrey, and they had Roquan Smith and Matt Abike at defensive tackle. But beyond that, especially defensively, what's going on? It's 35 points a game to one of the best franchises who I respect as much as any franchise in the league. You know, what is it? Why is it? You know, you see them and there's some missed tackles out there. That's not a John Harbaugh team. You know, what really is it driving this?

34:42Mike Mayock:And I think it's an aberration. I hope it's an aberration because I believe in them. But, you know, defensively, the two things you got to do to start with fundamentally are you got to tackle and you got to have block destruction, meaning get off blocks and get to the football. Well, what's beyond that? Then you get into scheme. I think if I remember correctly, Rich, last year, they brought Dean Pease back in, you know, October or November to kind of help with Orr's transition to a defensive coordinator. and there's a lot of noise out of there right now about their defense and the safety or not of that young coordinator be interesting to see they've chucked Paganos on that staff you know be interesting to see if they bring in another senior guy like they did last year to to try to help stabilize it but if I know Harbs I think he's going to just kind of get everybody in and kind of close the doors and say it's us against the world and it starts with us no more penalties no more turnovers we got to get healthy we got to do the fundamentals but rich i find that really intriguing um i thought that tampa bay seattle game was awesome to watch awesome awesome loved it loved it yeah one of the things i love about that whole thing is kind of the sub story of the quarterbacks that were formerly high picks that are now making headway in the nfl Baker Mayfield, I think he's a top seven or eight quarterback right now.

36:11Mike Mayock:Darnold. How about Sam Darnold?

36:12Rich Eisen:Yeah.

36:13Mike Mayock:I mean, does he look like the guy that was with the Jets? I mean.

36:19Rich Eisen:No. And both of them with Carolina, right? And Baker is playing defensive and scout team when he was with Carolina. Look at them now.

36:28Mike Mayock:Look at Daniel Jones in Indy. Daniel Jones. I mean, you can bitch and moan about him as a giant all you want, but at the end of the day, a couple years ago, I did their game in the playoffs at Minnesota where they beat Minnesota in the wild card, and I thought they won the game because Daniel Jones used his arm and his legs. He's pretty talented. He's not a natural thrower of the ball, but used correctly with a good run game and defense. And you're asking me what I see around the league. I see Indy playing some pretty good defense under Lou Anarumo. I see them running a ball 48 % of the time, Rich, which is I think fifth in the league.

37:10Mike Mayock:Who are the other teams in that group? Ahead of them, Buffalo, Seattle, Detroit, and Green Bay. They're the only guys that have run the ball more than Indy. So this retro quarterback craze, I love it because what you're saying is when the fit is correct, The talent was always there.

37:33Rich Eisen:And in terms of quarterback retrograde, before I let you go, Mike, is Jake Browning is 0-3 now as a starter in place of Joe Burrow. Can you walk me through the difficulty of calling another team if they want to do this in the outset of October with a month to go before the trade deadline and ask for somebody like Russ or Jameis or even Kirk Cousins, which would cost the Bengals money next year as well, which is something, as you know, Mike Brown, for somebody who has no, they have no intention of playing Kirk Cousins next year, obviously. I don't know if Mike Brown would do it. Can you walk me through, you know, the general managing that's going to be required to maybe fix this if they start to realize that they need to do something with Browning or come to that realization?

38:20Rich Eisen:Mike?

38:21Mike Mayock:So the preface to this is the kid played last year. We know that he started several games. I did one of them at Pittsburgh and I remember watching all his tape and then doing the game and think, wow, this is so hard for Cincinnati with him at quarterback because there's a huge drop off. He's trying not to turn the ball over. They're having problems getting the ball to their playmakers. And they're just kind of, you know, the margin of error going from Burrow to Browning is minute. Now the kid's throwing interceptions. And to be honest with you, when Burrow went down, I said to my son, I think the first phone call has got to be to Atlanta and Cousins.

39:05Mike Mayock:I mean, yeah, he's got a $27 million guaranteed salary, but so what? You've got a team talented, you put all this money into your offense, and you've got a chance to make headway in the AFC. Now's the time. You've got to call them. Other people talk about Winston or Russell Wilson. I'm not sure they're the answer other than just kind of average football. So you think they should call for Cousins with those

39:29Rich Eisen:wideouts? You think so? They should do that, Mike, right now?

39:32Mike Mayock:I thought they should have done it three weeks ago, to be honest with you. I mean, I don't know their salary cap situation, but you can always work that stuff out. And the problem is if you go for Cousins, They're going to ask you, obviously, for some draft capital. And I get all of that. But you've got some talent on that roster, especially offensively. And in my opinion, and what do I know? I'm a fired GM, and I get it. But in my opinion, the first phone call should have been and may have been to Atlanta. I have no idea. But beyond that, you've got to do your homework everywhere, and you've got to be talking to those people.

40:15Rich Eisen:Well, what you are is definitely consistent. You were saying all offseason that you think that the Bengals definitely need to get T. Higgins wrapped and bring him back because you got Burrow more than maybe if they have to make a decision. You know, Henderson and they got them both. You know what I mean? And they're ready to go now. And if Browning, he's now 0-3. If he's not equipped to do it, maybe they make that call and see if Fontenot won hold him over a barrel. You know, like that's maybe why you do it sooner rather than later. You know what I mean?

40:48Mike Mayock:Yeah, and I thought sooner was, you know, a couple weeks ago. And Pittsburgh's 3-1. They had a bye. So it's not like they're going to run away and be 13-4, okay? I think the division is still there. But you got to go, I believe, you got to show your team that, hey, we believe in you and we're going to bring in a big-time guy.

41:13Rich Eisen:Mike, you're the man. Thanks for the time. really appreciate it we'll get you back on real soon thanks for the two cents that's mike mauck everybody right here on the rich eyes and show let's beat it uh on down the line head to break so we uh take your phone calls and we come back right here on the rich eyes and show the rich eyes and show the podcast

41:37Mike Mayock:a bandwagon fan the biggest insult in sports but this summer during the fifa world cup it's an invitation, America. Never watched soccer before? Perfect. Think a corner kick is a karate move? Sure, why not?

41:52Rich Eisen:Prefer sports where players can use their hands? Me too. Just here for the snacks? Now we're talking. So grab a bag of Lay's and jump on the bandwagon. We're undefeated. Lay's, the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. 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. And with as soon as the same day funding, you can make the right play fast. Call an audible on your debt today at SoFi.com slash debt play loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A.

42:29Rich Eisen:member FDIC terms and conditions apply NMLS 696891. Fast funds terms apply at SoFi.com slash debt play. on the rich eyes and show simulcast let me talk to you about sonos the speakers that bring every game to life at my own house and all the music you zone it up what do i mean by that your kitchen is a zone your living room is a zone your bedroom could be a zone hey now and there's so many different ways for you to listen to music in one room and a tv in another and it's all sounds like you're certainly if you're watching a game you're right there in the stadium sonos fills every room with incredible sound.

43:05Rich Eisen:Set up is easy. Just plug in, open the Sonos app, and you're ready to go. I should know. I use it in my own home. It is awesome. Explore soundbars, speakers, and more at Sonos.com. Sonos, they look as good as they sound. Christian in Toronto, where the Yankees went and got as many hits over two days as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did. What's going on, Christian? How are you, sir?

43:29Mike Mayock:How about that, Rich?

43:31Rich Eisen:By the way, I'm not lying. Six hits for the Yankees in two games, six hits for Vlad Jr. in two games, including a Grand Slam home run. That's what's going down.

43:42Mike Mayock:Can't lie, I didn't come on to gloat, though.

43:45Rich Eisen:It's interesting, you call it electric, I called it a turning the electricity off moment. I actually flipped it, turned it right off. But what's going on, Christian? What's happening? Canadians don't taunt. They're too nice. I know. That's true. The wins are worth more, though.

43:59Mike Mayock:Too many blown leads, so I'm not going to get there yet. But anyway, I came to talk about the commanders as great as Jaden did play and Bill I thought the defense holding them and going 27 on the answer was pretty spectacular it's weird because this defense has games where they get gashed by the Falcons and then they come back next week and they close down Justin Herbert an MVP candidate so I just thought maybe we can get your thoughts on that like what you've been seeing and what you think this team can do

44:27Rich Eisen:well I what I saw was a team that looked like last year for the first time that's what i thought and i'm going to talk a little bit more about it in hour number three uh i saw a team that for the first time last year had shades this year had shades of last year where where daniels was difficult to stop and so was some of the passing game and the run game showed up and the defense balled out in a way that i have not seen from the commanders over the first four games this year so that was a terrific game and it's very odd that for two straight weeks we've seen thanks to the call christian um you bet and we that we've seen um the charges is a get right game for their opponent in the nfc east you know the giants got right and the commanders leave Los Angeles feeling they got right.

45:23Rich Eisen:And, you know, for Jim, he was saying they got to stop the bleeding. That's two in a row for them. You know, the Chargers' next game is in Miami where crazy things happen. It's an early window. Those things are tough for West Coast teams, but the commanders have got to feel really good about themselves right now. That's the way I looked on that front. Chad in Reno, Nevada, we've got about 30 seconds for you. What's up, Chad? Chad? Rich, being a Cardinals fan, I just need to – I have to vent a little bit,

45:54Mike Mayock:but you know the document that you want to give TJ to get rid of the Cowboys as a fan? I might need that document. Oh, no, Chad.

46:02Rich Eisen:No, Chad. Uh-oh. Well, first of all, Jay Feli's not here to get the paperwork already. But if you want, Chad, we can arrange for that for you.

46:11Mike Mayock:Rich, you know, when I had to get on a plane yesterday, we were up 21-6. I'm watching the game and then I leave I get on this plane I'm sitting next to a two-year-old who thought I was a clown and then as I'm watching the game unfold I'm thinking you know what you're right I am a clown because my team is a clown

46:29Rich Eisen:Chad let's just do it Chad why would a two-year-old think you're a clown are you dressed as are you dressed as one were you there to amuse it I'm trying to

46:36Mike Mayock:make him laugh you know okay five-hour flight that's like I got a kid tired because he's got to go to bed. But making faces and stuff, I really was a clown, Rich. Little did I know. Little did I know it was a prophecy.

46:53Rich Eisen:Chad and Reno, everybody. It's kind of strange that the baby had a rattle and celebrating and then just released it. Wait a minute. Sorry, Chad. Here's a hug. That's the way we wrap up Hour 2 on our SammoCast right here. Well done, Chad and Reno. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.