Hour 2: NFL Power Rankings, Chief-Cowboys Ratings Bonanza, plus TNF’s Andrew Whitworth

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1:00Rich Eisen: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. This is the Rich Eisen Show. The Patriots. This team destroying everyone in front of them. How far can they go? Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Kurt Warner.

1:47Rich Eisen:Coming up, Prime Video TNF analyst, Andrew Whitworth. Savannah Bananas left fielder, Robert Anthony Cruz. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air here on this busy Wednesday. We just said farewell to our friend Kurt Warner and another Walter Payton man of the year. Andrew Whitworth is going to join us in the middle of our number two. This one. We just have good people. We have good people here every day. We're good people. Some of us, some people that might not be here today, we question. Well, I mean, yesterday was a giving Tuesday. Today is just a regular, what do you want from me Wednesday?

2:30Rich Eisen:leave me alone what do you want from me Wednesday giving Tuesday Mad Dog has making it mad Wednesday what do you want from me Wednesday followed by tomorrow's leave me alone Thursday hell going on Thursday and Friday is like forget about it now stop it we're on Disney Plus we're a family program every day sometimes your name here we're open for business and we're family friendly. Yeah. Tell your mother for me. We talk a lot of the NFL, and this just in. The NFL's popular. So are the Chiefs and so are the Cowboys. Now, we did a what's more likely on Wednesday, one week ago. Just a what's more likely for the Thanksgiving games.

3:20Rich Eisen:And your what's more likely was what's going to be the higher total, total points between the Cowboys and Chiefs or the ratings. In millions. In millions. Yes. And because going into the season, we had Mike North, who is the executive in charge of scheduling. He has a fancier title, I'm sure. He said, because the AFC North is playing the NFC North this year. He's the vice president of broadcast planning and scheduling. Thank you. Very good. And I think he's also the executive vice president of man buns of the NFL as well. What's up, Mike? Hey, listen, there's not many guys walking around the NFL offices with a man bun.

4:05Rich Eisen:Not here here. Not here either. Don't look at us, right, Chris? Or you too, Jay. All right. I have the capability. We digress. But Mike came on and said, because there's so many compelling matchups based on how good these teams are and how it's all working out with one division playing another division, and we're able to have tons of filet mignon to place on plates that ordinarily we don't place them on because we need to have a matchup to be boosted by the beachfront property like, say, the middle game of Thanksgiving. And because they could open the season, because of that, they were able to open the season with Eagles-Cowboys.

4:46Rich Eisen:Yeah. Right? And then have Chiefs-Cowboys on Thanksgiving. And Mike said at the time that could set a record. Well, guess what? It did. And what's more likely, 59 total points between the Cowboys and the Chiefs. 31-28. And America in millions missed it by that much. What was the number? So close. 57 million and change is the grand total number. That is an insane number. That's what happens when you put the varsity in a prominent schedule placement. Excuse me, sir. Every year, the middle game of Thanksgiving is it. Where are we usually? Well, which is what the Dallas Cowboys usually are. Then you place the Chiefs at 6-5, and the Cowboys playing well, and the game was tight.

5:4457.23 million viewers watched everything that is awesome including

5:52Rich Eisen:george scrape his pickings on top of mcduffie in this almost having the play of the year right there that is one of the coolest photos i've seen wait a second is that what amy reed meant about like no oh goodness what a number this is and the thing is you said 50 million right and it was almost it was underestimated i did which is crazy because people in the comments were like 50 there's no way yeah right well laughing laughing well they ain't laughing now richard look at this that's a heck of a number and um because the total for the game was 52 and a half obviously the overhit and i'm pretty good decent does it get to 50 you know both teams you know could could play some defense nope they both crushed it um han schroeder the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the national football league and nfl media will be on thursday's show to talk about this because he asked and my contract's up wait a minute wait a minute no it's a big story you know everything rich it's like it's like the howard stern thing the fans of both teams watched, but then how much was this hate watch?

7:06Rich Eisen:Sure. People, they hate the Cowboys, and they hate the Chiefs, and yet they said... It's Thanksgiving. Why would there be a hate watch? Because you know people. Have you been to a Thanksgiving where there's no people? I understand hate watching your family, but you know? It's the exact opposite. You would like to think that. It's... Listen, man. It is amazing. And this weekend's slate is incredible. I mean... And that's with the Niners and Pats on by. That's right. That's right. Great games. So congrats to all involved. CBS, my goodness gracious. Oh, my gosh. And the NFL. And again, Hans Schroeder's on tomorrow's program to talk about it.

7:47Rich Eisen:Hans Schroeder. Indeed, sir. What a name. It's a great name. Don't wear it out. That's a great name. Excuse me, sir. I think Nakatomi Plaza. Yeah, exactly. It's Christmas time. We're going to fire up Die Hard, and we're going to talk to Hans. Oh, is that right, sir? You know what I mean? Wow. Yippee-ki-yay. Let's hope it'll be a better ending for this Hans, okay? You know who we should have on? Correct. Who? Argyle, the limo driver.

8:16Rich Eisen:What is happening around here? That's your man right there. That's your man. That's what happens when the Cowboys are playing well and the whole country's stopping to watch. It gets giddy. Yeah, I was angry for most of the year. We're literally a game over 500. we'll talk about that next game against the lions on thursday night tomorrow night with our friend andrew whitworth in about 13 minutes time when he joins us from detroit already rudy in arizona yeah welcome to the party rudy in phoenix arizona what's up rudy rudy you don't want to fight rich do you want to rich uh season greetings to you and your family and all the fellows on the show today appreciate we always appreciate having a rudy who's on sides what's Okay, so listen, really appreciate you over the weekend, Rich, coming on and assuring all our Eagles fans to have hope.

9:04Rich Eisen:Yes. Eight and four. Right. What are you worrying about? Right. Don't worry. You're in good position right now. You just got to win a couple games. Right. Just relax. So I really appreciate you coming on this weekend and reassuring us. How did that work? How did that work, Rudy? Because in the mentions, it didn't work. It didn't work at all. Rudy. Well, we'll see. We'll see what happens on Monday, right? I had a lot of viewers place their jerseys on the table and walk out. Just for me, Coach. Not me. I'm not one of those. Okay, good. Good. Good. That's your call? Is it just saying they're thanking me for reassuring you?

9:40Rich Eisen:Yeah, that's my call. Okay, good. Thank you for reassuring us. Because you should, Rudy. Have hope. Let me triple down on it now. Thank you. You know, yesterday, and thank you for the call, when we did our Giving Tuesday with Seth Rollins sitting here, Again, Seth sitting here in his Matt Sui throwback. That was a Gary Fencing throwback. Nice. Good one. Good one. When we did our Giving Tuesday segment, I went and I'm like, what would you give to an NFL team? He said he would give Cam Scadaboo a new right leg. Yeah. and so I said I'd give the Bills a number one receiver for Josh Allen honestly I thought about it going home I'm like I screwed it up I would have given the world's largest chill pill to the Philadelphia Eagles I should have done that whatever chill pill there is I would give to them again again again.

10:45Rich Eisen:The Eagles schedule the rest of the way. Two games against Washington. Now I understand they took Denver to the limit. They haven't given up. There's no U-Haul backed up yet. Or they may not be one because there's people like Bobby Wagner who's probably saying if there's a U-Haul, I will drive it off the property before you back it up. But there's a game against Vegas and then this game against the Chargers. This is exactly what can happen here. This could be what they need to try and play in a manner that they have been playing in the past, even at some points of this season, a home game on the road.

11:27Rich Eisen:And I do not say this to disrespect our neighbors across the way with the Chargers. I was there when the Steelers were there on that Sunday night, and the Chargers killed them. And to their credit, because they had to go silent snap count in that stadium. It was Accra-Sure West. And they were giddy. Okay, they were giddy. And then when the Steelers started playing poorly, no one was booing.

11:53Rich Eisen:So the home fans showing up on the road for them to turn it into a de facto home game on Monday Night Football, where the Eagles, if they do run into adversity, which could happen against people like Khalil Mack and Derwin James. You know, these are some real people. And Jim has got this team thinking they can win this division as well. They should. But Justin Herbert's coming in with a surgically repaired left hand. Who knows? It could be Trey Lance at some point. And when things do go a little bit sideways for the Eagles, even though that doesn't usually happen for them in this building. Don't forget last year when they were here against the Rams, it was Saquon Palooza.

12:45Rich Eisen:And they feel comfortable in this building because there's Eagles fans everywhere who aren't prone to go nuts and require a chill pill. The minute something goes awry as if last year's Superbowl parade didn't happen. Now I'm, strolling the line of criticizing Eagles fans, which I know is very dicey. There's no silver lining in that playbook. But let's just see what happens this week, and you win, and we'll see what happens with the Cowboys against the Lions, and then you got the Raiders, and you start building some momentum, and let's go. Find your inner excellence. Take a chill pill and read a book.

13:30Rich Eisen:Dare I say. All right, it's time for my power ranking. Week 14 Power Rankings presented by Sonos. My first December Power Rankings. Hit it.

13:43Rich Eisen:Power Rankings. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Power Rankings. That is correct. It is my Power Rankings presented by Sonos. The first of its kind in December 2025. The last of its kind in November of 2025. I debuted a team on this list from the state of Texas at 10, and Thanksgiving proved me right for putting the Cowboys on it. I know we're top five now, though. I'm going Houston Texans here. Oh, interesting. I'm putting the Texans on this list for the first time maybe all year, if not forever, probably all year, because they started 0-3. This defense is no joke, and you heard Kurt Warner say in hour number one, hey, C.J.

14:27Rich Eisen:Stroud played his best game of the year. okay let's go and they're going into kansas city and and this would be approved them and everyone else right game they've won four in a row they are having momentum and that defense is scary and then number nine on the list you've been asking me where is this team for weeks i'm putting the 49ers at nine that's too low but nice to see okay too low you tell me what you You think... It's Kentula. Okay, you'll tell me later on what you think. But the Niners are 9-4. They're on a bye. Purdy's back. He's knocked some rust off. He's out there dugging. He's dugging.

15:09Rich Eisen:He's dugging. I never thought I'd see Brock Purdy hit the dug. Why wouldn't you? Because it's Brock Purdy, and he can do no wrong around these parts, as you know. McCaffrey is playing MVP caliber of football again. The defense with Sala without some of their name players is balling out. They're on a bye. They're 9-4. They're number 9 on my list. Number 8. Down 4 spots. I'm putting the Eagles here. I'm putting the Eagles here. Even though I keep telling everybody chill pills, but over the last two weeks, I'm looking at the teams that I'm about to name, and I'm wondering, would they be able to beat them?

15:41Rich Eisen:They should, but the way that they're playing, I'm concerned. I'm not putting them any lower than 8. I was even hitching my giddy up on putting them at 8. I'm putting the Cowboys at 7. And the Cowboys just came back. 21 down on them and they're up three spots they're sitting there at seven and i'm putting back on the list the packers right there the packers are at six at eight three and one and the reason why i'm putting them at six is because at five is the bears so the bears are now nine and three they're in my top five for the first time all year they're a half game better than the packers in the standings They play each other this week, and I figured 5-6?

16:25Rich Eisen:7-8. No, okay. So, you know what I mean? Like, they're right there. They're right there. I'm putting them right there in the middle of my top 10, and that's what this game is about. For the lead of the division, for the right to be top five in my power rankings, I don't know which stakes are bigger. I know which they are, but I'm just not going to say it. So, they're 5. I'm putting the Seahawks at 4, 1-up here, because they are just destroying everybody, man. If I told you that the Vikings would hold Jackson Smith and Jigba to a total number of yards that's almost equivalent to his uniform number and they would also be able to keep Sam Darnold from lighting him up, that would be enough, right?

17:09Rich Eisen:But if you come in with some weak you-know-what on offense, they're going to chew you up and spit you out, and that's what they did to the Vikings. and they're four at nine and three, and I'm putting, here's my top three, I'm putting the Broncos here at three. No change. Stays like before. Stays like a buffalo. Like the godfather to a run. I'm keeping them here. I'm just, at some point, can we see coming out of the gates on offense, clicking, please? Can we see it a little bit more easy on offense? It's just such a struggle sometimes. They're on a struggle bus a little bit too much, and I'm nitpicking for a team that's won nine in a row, but I'm putting the Rams here at two, and your Patriots, Chris, are the first time at number one.

17:54Rich Eisen:I can't sit here and say anything but. The Rams going on the road and losing to Carolina, I'm not penalizing them anything but one spot. These things happen. They happen in the rain. They happen with pain. I'm going to full Dr. Seuss rhyme on you here. But the Rams are still, in my estimation, the best team in the NFC, and damn near close to the best team in football. If they take on the Patriots, the Patriots would have their hands completely full. But New England is playing in all three phases. They've got an MVP quarterback just like the Rams do. They have a defense that is, you know, bending, but definitely not breaking.

18:37Rich Eisen:I think the Rams might have a more ferocious defense than New England, but New England is just as stout as they come, and boy are they laying the wood as you saw on Monday night. And then special teams. They have got a special player in Marcus Jones. Yeah, man. Game breaker. All right. He's doing things like that only Deion's done. I'm serious. Look it up. So New England's playing like it and they have finally climbed to the top of my power rankings because they are not only the top of my power rankings, they have the most wins in the NFL. Off the list are the Ravens and the Colts. I told you I was concerned about the way the Colts are finishing.

19:12Rich Eisen:and the Ravens just, you know, I can't have a 6-6 team that just lost on a Thursday night at home and a quarterback that hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in three games still on my top 10 with the way with the Texans and the Niners are playing. My power rankings are brought to you by Sonos. Explore soundbars, speakers, and more at sonos.com. Sonos products look as good as they sound. Would you put the Niners above the Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, Bears? Would you really? Seahawks? I'd have the Niners probably above the Cowboys I don't know about that you guys are playing really really well by the way a Niners-Cowboys playoff game remember what I've said for years though the Niners are that hurdle that we just cannot get over I thought you always like pointing out the Niners have not won the Super Bowl longer since the Cowboys that's being petty at this moment I wasn't going to be petty Well, let's not be petty because we got to keep up with this Walter Payton, the man of the year theme.

20:12Rich Eisen:We already had Kurt. Here comes Andrew Whitworth next talking about Cowboys Lions tomorrow night to kick off this Greek week 14 and more.

20:23Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show podcast.

20:30Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here. You can always tell when something big is happening in a city. I know what it's like when I'm traveling for big games and events. I remember being in Pittsburgh earlier this year and experiencing the beautiful architecture and passion those fans have for their home teams. That was so infectious. Now, it was a great trip. But you know what it's like dealing with the travel. The airport is packed. Hotels are booked up. Restaurants all busy. And when you have that kind of influx of visitors in your city, a lot of them are searching for a place that feels a little bit more like home during their trip.

21:02Rich Eisen:That's why this can be a smart time to think about listing your own space on Airbnb. If you've got plans to be away this summer, consider listing your space on Airbnb while you're gone and earn some extra cash. It's simple. You're already traveling, so your place doesn't just sit empty while your city is busy. And from my experience on the road, having a comfortable home base can change the whole experience of a trip. So whether it's a big sports weekend, a concert series, or a major event coming to your area, this could be the right time to list your space on Airbnb. Your home might be worth more than you think.

21:36Rich Eisen:Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host. While the world watches the stars of the FIFA World Cup, Hyundai has its eyes on the next generation of talent. Future stars who are already turning heads at age 14. Because next doesn't wait for an invitation. And neither do we. Hyundai has always moved the future within reach. We did it when we made advanced safety standard on every vehicle. And engineered EVs with ultra-fast charging capability. And we're still doing it every day. because the future isn't some far-off concept. It's already here. Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA.

22:11Rich Eisen:Save money on your next oil change with O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Get a$15 O 'Reilly gift card after rebate when you buy five quarts of Mobile One full synthetic motor oil for just$35.95. Stop by your local O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Welcome back to The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. What a big-time football game to kick off Week 14. Chock full of them. Dallas at Detroit. Full complement of rest coming off of each of their Thanksgiving Day appearances. It's on Prime Video, and joining us now to talk about it is one of the Prime Videoers, but most importantly, a Walter Pate Man of the Year, and maybe even more importantly than that, the man who paid the entirety of Lane Kiffin's buyout so he could coach at his alma mater.

23:02Rich Eisen:Andrew Whitworth. That's right. My kids aren't getting anything for Christmas, Rick. Is that what it is? You paid it all. That's what I heard. Every last dime that Lane got to walk to come to coach your alma mater came out of your pocket. Right, Andrew? Is that what I'm talking about? Hey, listen. You got to make sacrifices. Go Tigers, baby. Let's go. Okay. Go Tigers. We'll get to that in a second. How big is this football game, brother? How monster big is week 14 on your network? Man. It's huge. I mean, you look at these two teams and how they're coming into it. I mean, Dallas, obviously, you know, on a hot streak here, seems like they're getting hot at the right time, and a lot of things are coming together for them and the belief they have in their head coach.

23:43And, you know, I think Brian Schottenheimer's done an amazing job. And I think that, you know, really when you start to see that belief word, that confidence word in the NFL start to be something the team talks about and their whole aura is that they think they can do anything. And so they want to play anybody, anywhere, and that's a scary thing because you're going to Detroit. This is a place Detroit plays great at, and listen, coming off of a loss, nobody's been better since 2022 than them. I think 14 straight games, wins after losing, so this is going to be awesome. This is a game Detroit normally bounces back and plays great after a loss, and Dallas is coming in hot, and a lot of things that's set up in this game.

24:22Detroit's going to play man-to-man coverage. Dallas has got some absolute aliens to throw the football to, and Jack Prescott loves throwing it, so it's going to be fun.

24:29Rich Eisen:Well, let's take it one at a time. Dallas looks like a different team, right? Over the last three weeks, where clearly they're playing with passion and they're also playing with grief about their teammate in Marshawn Neyland. They're also now playing with Quinnen Williams. They're playing with DeMarvian Overshown. And as you pointed out, they're playing with George Pickens, playing like he's Terrell Owens reincarnate. You know what I mean? Like, you know, in the body of DK Metcalf conjured up by Michael Irvin. Like this is what he's playing like right now. It is. It's special to see them really bond and what they've been able to do over the last three weeks.

25:08Obviously an unbelievable tragedy to have to go through losing a teammate. I've been there. You know, we lost Chris Henry when I was a Cincinnati Bengal in the 2009 season. It was a horrible thing and really tough. But it's something that different than, you know, in the NFL. I think we talk a lot about a loss of a game or a player and those kind of things. And how does a team respond? I don't think that something like grief is something you respond to. It's something you bond through. And I think it's something that you pull closer together and you realize, man, you start to appreciate every little moment and every little thing you have.