Hour 2: Chargers Manhandle Steelers, Ravens AFC North Odds, Next Giants HC Debate

0:00Laminya Mal steps into McDonald's, looks left, sees Pulisic, looks right, sees Jimenez. Gives a nod to Ronaldinho in the corner with a FIFA World Cup meal. Ronaldinho sees Son in the booth. Son finds Beckham going for extra Big Mac sauce. He's got Davies at the table just behind him. Davies going for his collectible cup. A steal by Henri, who pulls his own collectible cup. Collect one of nine legendary cups with a FIFA World Cup meal. At participating McDonald's for a limited time. While supplies last. All rights reserved. 2026 McDonald's at FIFA World Cup 2026. No one goes to Hank's for his spreadsheets.

0:32They go for a darn good pizza. Lately, though, the shop's been quiet, so Hank decides to bring back the$1 slice. He asks Copilot in Microsoft Excel to look at his sales and costs to help him see if he can afford it. Copilot shows Hank where the money's going and which little extras make the dollar slice work. Now Hank's has a line out the door. Hank makes the pizza. Copilot handles the spreadsheets. Learn more at m365copilot.com. 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.

1:13Miss 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. Let's go! Roquan Smith just decapitated Aaron Jones. What's that bull doing? This is the Rich Eisen Show. Touchdown! There's the record breaker for Jonathan Taylor! HM have a game. The Rich Eisen Show. Keenan Allen. Reception number 956. Today's gasps. Seahawks defensive end, Leonard Williams. Monday Night Preview. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

2:00Rich Eisen:Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Hello, ESPN Radio, presented by a progressive insurance audience listening to us. Sirius XM audience, hello to you. If you're listening to us on our podcast, we appreciate it. All three hours available. At the same spot, you can listen to the latest episode of Overreaction Monday, recorded before the show, meaning recorded before we learned, as we did in about the last 20 minutes, that the New York Giants have parted ways with Brian Dayball. So we've got a new interim coach in the National Football League, and it belongs to the New York Giants, Mike Kafka.

2:30Rich Eisen:The offensive coach that's been around there, Philadelphia as well, he's going to be taking the reins of the New York Giants, who lost in Chicago yesterday despite leading 20-10 instead of 24-10, like maybe Dayball would go back in time right now and try and go for a touchdown on the half-yard line rather than settling for a field goal. The Giants will be visiting, going back home to take on the Packers next before they go to Detroit. and then a Thursday night visit to New England. So that's only against a 5-2-1, 6-3, and 8-2 teams. Good luck, Mike Kafka, in that gig. 844-204, rich number to dial.

3:10Rich Eisen:Leonard Williams of the 7-2 Seahawks after boat racing Arizona, getting set to take on the equally now 7-2 Rams after they boat raced the 49ers in the spot where Super Bowl 60 is going to be going down in February. 844-204, rich number to dial. We'll take your phone calls in a matter of moments. Don't you worry about all that. So I'm, again, fortunate to do what I do for a living here and NFL Network and other opportunities that come my way, as you know. I'm able to globetrot calling games. Call you Metal Ark Rich. Thank you, sir. I appreciate that. Oh, God. Metal Ark Eisen. Metal Ark Lime. Oh, there you go.

3:54Rich Eisen:Okay. Or Kerber. Anyway, Metal Lark Etrog for those. It's a Sukkot reference for all those non-Jews out there. At any rate, the Jews right now are pulling over their car laughing. Listen, I've been able to call and see a couple Chargers games in person. One of them I called. I called a Chargers home victory in Brazil. And last night as a spectator, I watched a Chargers road victory in Los Angeles. because that was a road game. It sure was. In the home of the Chargers last night. I don't care what they're, you know, with the Bugles and first down and all the Charger PA guys screaming and yelling at me for four quarters.

4:37Rich Eisen:Look at that shot on the screen. That's not Pittsburgh PA. That was SoFi Stadium on Sunday night. Torrible towels out there. Dude. My buddy has Charger tickets. He texted us that he went to the bathroom, and it was 40 Steeler fans and him. Honestly. Honestly. but the chargers fans were the one last standing and and and they're the ones who know you got to beat the traffic you got to get going there was one shot on the oculus last night when it was 22 to 3 or 20 whatever the hell the score was at the time and they had they showed the fans leaving en masse and the charger fans who were there were just giddy excited a bit because this team that is down their all-world left tackle only to be replaced by their terrific future right tackle moving to left tackle and Rashawn Slater and Joe Ault, they're missing those guys.

5:32They were the ones who were delivering the blows to the team that turned the Colts over six times last week in the Steelers. And the Steelers drew blood first with their serial killer of a kicker hitting one from in the middle of the lightning bolt in the middle of the stadium from 59, 60 yards out. But Khalil Mack got things rolling for the Chargers

5:55Rich Eisen:with a sack safety of Aaron Rodgers beginning a very long night for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Very long night. Steelers went 2 of 11 on third down. You are not winning football games. Giving up a sack for a safety, unable to protect your quarterback, not getting the chunk plays down the field, and certainly putting your defense back on the field because you can't convert a third down for your life. Jalen Warren had another nice game, but Aaron Rodgers, it looked brutal last night. He couldn't do anything. And you got to tip the cap to the Chargers on that front because they watched the Broncos go to 8-2 and the Chiefs are sitting at home on a bye week at 5-4.

6:40Last thing you want to be, man, coming out of this mix is you're only a half game above the team or a game and a half. Let's put it as one game in the loss column without putting more distance between you and the Chiefs after you beat them in week one. And you've beaten everyone in your division.

7:01Rich Eisen:So just keep winning these games. You've already won games in division. And win a game like this in the AFC, this is a massive win for the Chargers. absolutely massive win for the Chargers who are now 7-3 as opposed to 6-4 over the Chiefs had to have it they are in the mix for this division 100 % and then the Steelers I mean even in week 6 when they're 4-1 coming off their bye after winning that game in Cleveland or against Cleveland at home and they're 4-1 and the Ravens lose to the Rams and they're all banged up. They're injured. They're 1-5. Even at that point in time, there's still people saying this is the Ravens division.

7:58And the Steelers

7:59Rich Eisen:had a 2.5 game lead after week 6. They're going to enter week 11 with a one game lead. That's it. And the Ravens offense is cooking. Even though it's not easy against Minnesota. But the Ravens are now a game behind the Steelers. And the Steelers win over the Colts. That just got erased by the Los Angeles Chargers last night. In front of the home faithful. And by that, I'm referring to the Steelers fans who were there last night. Really. I mean, it's loud in that building. It always is loud in that building. Because neither Los Angeles home team can let you sit in that stadium in silence for a split second.

8:40Rich Eisen:And I'm not talking about the fans. But I sound like an old man on the front lawn. I should not. Your text message did seem a little front lawn. Listen, SoFi is an incredible stadium. Like you go in there, it's like you're watching a game through VR goggles. It's unbelievable. But long story short, it is a wild, wildly missed opportunity by a Steelers team that could not do anything well last night. Other than, I guess, not even kick, right? I mean, their kicker, their serial killer of a kicker missed one, too, which was a surprise. And Mike Tomlin was chippy with the media after the game, and I can't blame him.

9:22I'm not lacking confidence. I don't need a pat on the back. We stunk it up tonight. We'll be back. Is it just one of those games, literally? I'm not trying to frame it in any way. I'm just telling you guys what happened. You guys write the narrative. How did you assess narrative performance tonight? How about you? Next. Do you think you're going to run the ball more often? Guys, like 0 for 9 or 10 on third down, you're not going to have enough snaps. Like, we've been over that discussion a lot.

9:56Rich Eisen:Next. A lot of nexts. Something out of the Drew Rosenhaus press conference lexicon. Next question. um rogers talked about he was a little bit off is what he said i've got to play better i will if it's better checks if it's better throws whatever it is i got to play better i will well they have to because it's now one game difference and i'll tell you what you finish second place in this division you might not you might not make the playoffs you may not make the playoffs. This may be a one team situation. Oh, and by the way, guess who in the middle of this soliloquy on the AFC North is just returned to practice in limited capacity.

10:45His name is Joe Burrow. Heard of him. There you go.

10:52Rich Eisen:I knew he wasn't going to sit around and go, oh, we're three and six. Oh, we might be three and seven. I'm not coming back. God bless. A doctor may step in. Mike Brown may step in. I don't know what's going to happen. But boy, have the Steelers had that four-in-one situation leading a Ravens team at one and five and a Bengals team that was clearly, after six weeks of this campaign, struggling with Jake Browning. Now they look towards Flacco. They've only won once since. This is now you'd look at the Ravens and it was everybody could see it coming, right? The Ravens at one and five coming off their bye with Lamar coming back.

11:41Rich Eisen:Everyone's like, here we go. And then Snoop Huntley had a start. That win, that win with Snoop Huntley is something that we may be looking back towards the end of this season. Once the regular season in January hits and then moving into the later parts of January, We may be talking about that win by Snoop Huntley coming out of the bye at home against Chicago, which that win only looks more and more impressive. Like we take a look at it in terms of college football terms, right? Victories that become stronger as another team begins to get stronger after you beat them. This is now two wins in a row with Lamar being back.

12:21Rich Eisen:The defense, though, that's the answer. That's the one. the defense that in the first five games of the season uh giving up 37 points to kansas city that was their best in terms of points allowed in those five games and then the defense gave up 17 of the rams puka did get hurt in that game but it's still a rams team that we've seen what stafford's done since then it's done nothing but throw touchdowns and no interceptions and the only done is keep winning 16 points against the bears six against Miami and 19 against the Vikings yesterday that's the win and now they're at Cleveland and home for the Jets and then they got Cincinnati who knows three weeks from now if Joe if Joe's limited now maybe they come back that would be amazing prime video is basically begging for that to be a Burrow return game in week 13 if not You'll see Burrow maybe Week 15 against the Ravens.

13:19Rich Eisen:They've got two against the Ravens. The Ravens have two against Cincinnati and two against Pittsburgh left. Their next game is at Cleveland, which is announced. It's still Dylan Gabriel's show after the Browns lost to the Jets. Jets, who are now, by the way, 2-0 against Ohio, and then winless against the rest of where football is played in America or internationally. Somehow that makes you feel just a little bit. Oh, listen, you know I love when somebody can say, oh, we don't lose against Ohio. At any rate, I digress. Tom Petty. But the Ravens, this is kind of like right now, playing out like one of those horror movies.

14:03Rich Eisen:And I know this is like the Steelers fans thinking this is a horror movie. It's like those horror movies. It's just like, okay, listen. Don't you see the guy with the axe standing right there in your shed? Why are you walking outside without your phone or no lights on? What are you doing? You know, the calls are coming from within the house. You really going to go down to the basement? By yourself, knowing what's happening? I mean, you're walking to the basement in a movie with the words Halloween in the title. By yourself? Yeah, come on. Don't you hear that noise with the hockey mask guy standing outside like he's Ashton Gentry waiting for a handoff?

14:44Rich Eisen:Could never be me. Listen, it's happening. It's happening. Everybody saw it coming. Ravens are only a game out of first place. And Lamar, again, what are we, we don't call it a balaclava. What are we calling this? Oh, a shysty. A shysty? Okay. I mean, indoor shy-sty, outdoor shy-sty, 80-degree shy-sty. He's still wearing it because he's coming for you with his shy-sty. Hit it. Do you feel this team has turned a corner yet? Yeah, but, you know, there's still a lot of ball left. You know, we've got to stay locked down. Can't be complacent or nothing like that. You know, we've got to stay locked down.

15:27You know, everyone's happy when they win, you know, but I feel like our mood hasn't changed. You know, we're still locked down. And, you know, we still feel like we won in the Falco. We're still behind, you know, in our division. So we got to, like I said, can't get in a place to stay locked down.

15:38Rich Eisen:Yeah, I look at him like I look sometimes at some of these guys in the gym here in Los Angeles, you know, with their pimples in spots where there shouldn't be pimples. And they're wearing these winter hats working out. And I'm like, listen, where I'm from, that's a necessity, not an accessory. You know, that's a cold weather gear. Why? I can't get over it. Why is he wearing it? They played in a dome yesterday. indoors he played in south florida that just might be a cultural thing because i'd be wearing scullies okay you know but that is a mask that is like it's zero degrees and i need to feel my face after you know what he does you know what if you're the ravens it's just like you be you man no ping pong tables we get it long-term deal we got it because all he does is win football games With the win in Minnesota yesterday, he now has 73 wins in his first 100 career starts.

16:32Rich Eisen:His first 100th career start was in Minnesota. Look at the names he's on this list. Most quarterback wins in his first 100 career starts in NFL history. He's fourth on the list. That win yesterday separated him from the snake, Ken Stabler. Once upon a time, as you know, studied plays from the light of a jukebox. I see five Hall of Fame. Three behind Staubach and Brady, five behind Mahomes. And everybody on that list are Hall of Famers or future ones. How about that 73 % win percentage for Lamar Jackson? Not bad for a converted receiver, right? Still waiting on Bill Pullian. Still waiting for that route tree to be on.

17:18By the way, guess what?

17:19Rich Eisen:They might be able, if Bill Pullian, knock on wood, may he be so lucky, can one day be at that induction ceremony and be able to, as Lamar unveils his bust with the jacket put on him, say, yeah, sorry I made you say no to working out at the combine as something other than a quarterback. Is Lamar's bust going to have one of those? Yes. Was it the first time to shysty bust? Why not? By the way, that would be great. I can't believe these are words I'm saying, but hey, man. Lamar's shysty bust. Is there any question the Ravens aren't winning this division right now? Bueller? Bueller? I would be stunned if they didn't.

18:00Like I said, the Steelers had a path, and that path has been blocked.

18:05Rich Eisen:No, no, it's not. That's the point I'm trying to make. It's not blocked, and it's not over. But you're not feeling good about it. Would you bet your firstborn? No, I would not. Definitely not his third. Again, I told you, was it two, three weeks ago? I look at the Ravens' schedule, and I don't know the next time I won't be picking against them. And it may be that game against the Patriots if the Patriots keep winning. But New England's got to go to Baltimore. Man, some old school stuff right there, right? John Harbaugh against the newest Patriot. I'm not, you know, a victory-laden team. That's the only way I'm going to go and call them right now for New England.

18:47Rich Eisen:But again, two against Cincinnati, two against Pittsburgh, and their next two are against Cleveland and the Jets, who I think it's amazing. For the second straight week, we saw the clocks turn back. One actual and one figurative. Browns and the Jets turned back the clock. You know, remember my higher register? My higher register last week was that the Jets, despite everything that happened. We're probably going to beat down the Browns. Well, my higher register last week, the Jets are going to win more than you think. And his higher register was about Caleb Williams, right? Caleb Williams. I think he's fair.

19:27Rich Eisen:Yeah, which is why, Del Tufo, you were wrong in going higher register about that. That was a good segment. Because it really was. You don't have to go higher register about it. I love checking our work. Despite the fact how long it takes to get to that point. All right, that's your AFC North update. Let's take a break. Take your phone calls. When we come back, we'll talk about the Bears, Leonard Williams and the Seahawks, still to come here on this busy Monday.

19:56The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

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21:40ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance along with Disney Plus and the ESPN feed as well. We're live streaming every single day. Let's go to Michael in Arkansas. You're here on the Rich Eisen Show. What's up, Michael? Rich, I'm doing, I guess, okay. I thought I was going to end up jumping off a building last night after watching my Steelers. Nothing like the 60s. I'm sorry to hear that but you seem in good spirits this morning though Michael I'm getting better as I go along once I had my cup of coffee and sitting here relaxing in 25 degree weather but I have a serious question for you Rich it's been a couple of years since I've spoken to you do you still think Tomlin should be our head coach why are you looking at me like that chris why are you looking at me i'm just you know i'm awaiting your response chris knows what does he know michael he knows what does he know um i know what you know i i let's put it this way i think he's a hall of fame head coach

22:54Rich Eisen:I think he is remarkable at plugging into the athlete. I think he is remarkable at taking the passion for football and instilling it in a team. And I think that if this falls apart, I wouldn't be surprised if the Steelers finally say, let's figure something out, and then Tomlin shows up somewhere else. Like the Giants. And let me ask you, if I may. The Giants wouldn't be a bad spot. I think Tomlin is 100 % going to be a coach in this league for as long as he wants to be. But I totally understand that Steeler fans are like, we're done with seeing something that has flashes of excellence in the regular season only to wane prior to the playoffs.

23:42Rich Eisen:This wane is now the middle of the season. But we are still, let's be honest, eight days removed. One week ago, we were talking about how the Steelers look terrific and the Colts, maybe they turn him back into a pumpkin. and the reverse happened. And I'm telling you, last night was a home game. Last night was 100 % a home game for the Steelers, and they just blew it. But you've got to tip the cap to the Chargers, though. The Steelers have become the retirement home. Wilson last year, Aaron Rodgers this year. I mean, if we can get them to stop burning the incense out there and maybe come alive a little bit, we might have something.