Hour 3: Rich’s Top 5 NFL Week 1 Games, plus Chiefs Superfan Paul Rudd

0:00Rich Eisen:We all know Saturday's game time can get a little messy. Your crew just came over to watch. Snacks on the table, drinks in hand, and somebody's celebrating like they just won the whole season and beyond. And when that energy gets going, your walls can end up taking the hit. Whether it's a big spill or a noticeable scuff, that's where Behr Ultra Interior Paint comes in. It adds an extra durable, stain-blocking finish that helps your walls hold up for the whole season. It also delivers outstanding coverage and hide in fewer coats with easy application and a smooth, even finish that goes on clean from the first pass.

0:34Rich Eisen:Plus, that easy, clean finish helps walls stay looking new longer. So before the next kickoff, give your space game ready defense and coverage that goes the distance. Bear Ultra, only at the Home Depot. ESPN's going to Super Bowl 61 and so can you. Enter for a chance to win the trip of a lifetime. Four tickets to Super Bowl 61, plus a three-night stay at Disneyland Resort where you and up to three guests can enjoy the magic of Disney, plus the Super Bowl champion cavalcade. Enter at www.espn.com slash sblxi by December 31, 2026 for your chance to win. No purchase necessary. Ends 12-31-26 at 11.59 p.m.

1:08Rich Eisen:Eastern. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., who are 18-plus at time of entry. For odds of winning and full official rules, visit www.espn.com slash sblxi. Void where prohibited. This weekday is on Disney +, from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Mutual agreement by the coaches. They know it's over. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

1:47Rich Eisen:DeMarcus Robinson. Devo brought it down. Mike Evans, touchdown 49ers. Today's gasps, Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young, actor Paul Rudd, plus latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

2:16Rich Eisen:All right, everybody. It is hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show on the air. Paul Rudd, hour three. John McEnroe, hour one. Great chat with Johnny Mac. And we kick off hour number two with a Hall of Fame friend as well of the program and someone who I hold near and dear to my heart because I just love talking to him. and every time I see his face is I see Steve Young now on the Rich Eisen Show screen. Good to see you, Steve. How are you, Matt? Good to see you, buddy. How's it going? Really good. Really good. Do you believe that one second was put on appropriately from the Michigan game? Steve Young.

2:49Rich Eisen:Right from the get-go. Steve Young. Steve Young. Everything that I've seen. Come on. Everything that I've seen says that, yeah. Yeah, really? Okay, I just want to clear the air. But let me ask, if we're going to jump. No, no, no, don't go there. I don't want to conflate the conversation right away. Conflate the conversation would be a great late ad on a fantasy team lane, by the way. But in all seriousness, though, it's not like they put the time back on for a tush push from the half yard line, Steve. I know. I know. Still had to do it. Okay. Still had to do it. How are you? You good? You got your rest?

3:23Rich Eisen:Because it sure looked like the all-niners got their rest. You know, you talk to people. Well, I ran into a friend who just got back from Australia. She's from Australia, from Melbourne. And she said, why are the Rams – like anyone who's ever taken that flight, like what theory would you have that you're going to try to play a game after you're getting off the plane? And I go, I don't know. They got some crazy idea. And everyone wondered. And then you watch the game. You're like, oh, yeah, that did not work. That was flat. That was as flat as a pancake. So, I mean, clearly you've got to get to the place, acclimate, because you're going to play 1130.

4:04By the way, did it look funny with the sunshine?

4:07Rich Eisen:Yeah. Like early morning sunshine? I mean, for an NFL game, it was like a high school game. And, you know, it looked weird because of the time of day. Yeah, and have to feel out of body just to play in the game, period. And listen, the Rams showed up late to London last year. The Jaguars were there for a week. and the Rams punked the Jaguars. I guess it is different going east to west. We just had Johnny Mack on in hour one. He said, I've been to Australia 40 times. I would have told you that you shouldn't do that, is what he basically said, similar to your friend as well. But at the end of the day, the Niners, regardless of whether it was rest or not, they certainly appear to have the better day, the better advantage.

4:49Rich Eisen:So what did you see watching this game? I saw a team that we know is really susceptible to injury and that we've got became a theme and it's all we talk about and we've all said if if if if healthy you've got five hall of famers on that football team and if if if healthy they could be in the mix with anybody anytime and that's the fact and so don't anyone who sleeps on the Niners is an idiot like don't and and maintaining and keeping people on the field they're going to be in the mix they're going to be there at the end of the year and they're going to be you know there's going to be some big games right at the end of the year that they're going to be a part of.

5:29And so that's the truth. And we'll just every week as a fan, you're going to have to say, did anyone get hurt? You don't know. OK, good. We're fine. We're fine.

5:39Rich Eisen:No, and I thought that, too, when Stribling did go down with what looked like an Achilles, but apparently isn't, which would be good for the rookie wide receiver. But you just referred to, you know, Hall of Famers that are on the team. Mike Evans, if he stays healthy, you could see he's clearly somebody that can get things moving on every front between the 20s, but most importantly in that red zone, if not end zone. You could see that already. Well, think about it. Kyle Shannon has proven over and over and over again to have an innovative mind and keep sharpening his saw. And if he has players, he's going to be there.

6:23And so all of a sudden you get people who really know what they're doing, spatial relationships out wide with special abilities, Hall of Fame kind of credentials. Like that's my Kyle's going to, he's going to thrive. I mean, Christian McCaffrey showed up from, from Carolina. Why did he pick San Francisco? Why did we get a Hall of Famer just dropped in the bucket? And then what we can do with them, Kyle's going to get the most out. So you keep giving him these kinds of assets that, that stay healthy. It's going to be special.

6:53Rich Eisen:Steve Young here on the Rich Eisen Show. And, you know, let's talk about the quarterback, Brock Purdy, three touchdown passes after a terrible interception that he was tapping his chest over and to three different receivers on top of it as well. It's his 14th career game with three or more touchdowns, tying him with Jeff Garcia, fifth place on the all-time San Francisco 49ers list. There you and Joe are at the top, 38 for Joe, 36 for you. And then I heard you in my head watching the game last night, Steve, when Purdy took off for first downs and used his legs because that's what you've been advocating every single time you've been on this show.

7:35You have to. It's the game today. There's too many free yards. And Matthew Stafford is a sophisticated enough passer. He can get away with it, but no one else can. You have to be able to go get those yards. And I've encouraged Brock. I liked how when you break into the league, focus on the sophisticated pocket passing because that's where you have to do it. I mean, no matter how much movement you have, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, it doesn't matter who it is. You have to master that or you can't get to the Super Bowl. So I appreciate Brock spending the time there. But now it's like time to expand and use those legs in unique ways.

8:16and the more it's like no i'm not telling him run more run less i'm just saying you have to be able to do that and uh and and he's showing that that's really cool so how sustainable is what we just see saw from the niners in your estimation if if if right just if everybody i mean you know my mike's got to stay healthy you know trent's got to stay healthy like everybody's got to stay healthy and then let others get healthier right because nick bosa's coming off surgery george kittle it's always the second year back from achilles tears when you finally get back healthy that's when you're in your 20s so expecting george to be elite george right now is like that's not fair and so like as people as the season goes on and we stay healthy and healthier and healthier we're gonna people are gonna they're not gonna then the music's going to be pumping out of the box boom boxes they come out of the tunnel like 2023 and that's

9:14Rich Eisen:when things were that's when they were really tough and then as for the Rams Steve um is this something you could just chalk up to the bad idea of coming showing up late that they looked flat and jet lagged because of that or there really is something in this copycat league that other teams can look at the film and say the Niners did this we can do that against the team that was a prohibitive Super Bowl favorite. The fight in the NFL is for parity. You have to push the rock up the hill constantly and daily to work against parity. And the teams that have done it, the Patriots did for 20 years, the Chiefs have done it for almost eight or nine.

9:57You know, it's like it's hard. The Bills, like it's hard. And so every year, more and more, they throw teams together, and let's go see how it goes. September is the preseason. Don't get too overwrought. You just don't want to be worse than two and two coming out of September. Like the way the league is today, these games, we'll look back at these games and they're almost, look, I'm going to say meaningless, but that's just, it's conflating again. But it's not meaningless, but it's also, are this, is there a little smoke come out of this? Is it fire? Is it just a little smoke? And so it's like, I'm not, the Rams are fine, but as you throw teams together and the dynamics work in the locker room a little bit differently and everything else kind of changes is there something and then also you know football is that kind of weird emotional game where all summer they've taught they've read about how great they are well they haven't played a game but you're great and they get anointed and sometimes it gets into your head and then you're out you don't you don't work as hard you're not as focused you're not as great you're not as gritty as you were last year and so that part needs to get tested as well so i would i'm not overreacting anything about the rams game but the way the league is today, you have to be a little wary that a new season is a truly new season, unlike 15 years ago, for teams.

11:16And you got to beware, because maybe they're a team that got aged and didn't get to stay healthy, and then all of a sudden they're in the middle of the pack.

11:23Rich Eisen:So let's just say it's more, the NFC is a bit more wide open than thought over the last few weeks. Well, yeah, but I mean, again, all the talk's been from April to July. yes sir who cares i mean it just doesn't it's all theory right it's like doesn't like we you're saying expectations from july are not being met well okay that's fine uh but yes it is more wide open and but yet i like i would not take september as the preseason let people get their legs under them let them start to stretch out and find out who they really are what is miles going to do he's not going to make no tackles and no sacks for the rest of the year so like let it play out a little bit hang tough for september i've always said that for since the rule changes chill for september but don't go worse than two and two and then we'll see how we go all right well i mean the patriots just lost aj brown for at least a month he's now on injured reserve that happened uh just as we were zooming on uh to each other here steve and what'd you make of drake may's performance on Wednesday night?

12:31Drake, I feel like Drake to the upside, right? It's like, he does a lot of stuff. There's big plays he makes and like, I really you got to say a lot of cool things. And then the last play of the game, you're like, no, that can't happen in eighth grade. Like the game's going to, you know, you're set for the field goal to tie. You can't that's just that tells me that there's a place yet in his game where there's a blank space that doesn't it's not filled yet and look young players a lot of that so i'm not shocked but it just it just reminds you that because as you play there's no way that an experienced player gets in that spot gets rushed loses his visibility moves to his throwing hand side and just pops up a lollipop like to end the game like that just can't happen it doesn't happen and so in that way the drake may project i think is a really cool project that's i feel like it's going to be really good project but that just reminds you that there's work to be done because that just cannot happen

13:42Rich Eisen:so which quarterback that's got a new head coach or coordinator and that's a large subset of people but um you've got Lamar in Baltimore you've got Herbert out here across the street for the Chargers you've got Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia you've got technically Jackson Dart as well Josh Allen's got a new head coach but it's his coordinator um which which quarterback are you there's Jaden Daniels there's Kyler Murray in Minnesota which one intrigues you the most that you can't wait to see week one and i said kyler because kyler i i talked to kevin o 'connell we played golf together this summer i'm like kevin you think you're gonna lock this he goes i don't know i'm gonna i'm gonna really work at it you know it's like i think kyler can get on so i'm intrigued by the project of kyler getting somewhere like that with kevin see how it goes i think justin herbert is the one i like mike i love mike i blink he can bring incredible help.

14:47Rich Eisen:Taking a quick break to tell you how Saturday's game time can get a little messy. Your crew just came over to watch. Snacks on the table, drinks in hand, and somebody celebrating like they just won the whole season and beyond. And when that energy gets going, your walls can end up taking the hit. Whether it's a big spill or a noticeable scuff, that's where bare ultra interior paint comes in. It adds an extra durable stain blocking finish that helps your walls hold up for the whole season. It also delivers outstanding coverage and hide in fewer coats with easy application and a smooth, even finish that goes on clean from the first pass.

15:21Rich Eisen:Plus, that easy, clean finish helps walls stay looking new longer. So before the next kickoff, give your space game-ready defense and coverage that goes the distance. Bear Ultra, only at the Home Depot. Did you know every 36 minutes a child in the U.S. is diagnosed with cancer? which means some of the bravest warriors you'll ever meet aren't professional athletes or superheroes. They're the kids in this fight. That's why I'm proud to support Hyundai Hope on Wheels. For the past 28 years, with support from Hyundai, their dealers, and every new Hyundai sold, Hope on Wheels has contributed over$300 million to childhood cancer research, helping save more than 40 ,000 kids.

16:01Rich Eisen:Join our fight at HyundaiWarriors.com. Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com. Terms and conditions apply. To Jim and the offensive mindset and how, like, I've been frustrated.

16:40Even you and I have talked about it, frustrated with unlocking Justin's true ability and giving him the opportunities, giving the players and the scheme to go be great. He's always been great, but, I mean, to be the best. And I think he can be the best. And I'm super excited about what could happen this year with Justin and Mike McDaniel and how they will, if given the opportunity and the freedom, the two of them can commune in a way that's going to be, you know, otherworldly. I just I think they're both both of them can bring that kind of potential to the charges and the charges. I've not had that for a while.

17:20Rich Eisen:I know. I'm sure you've known McDaniel since he was the run game coordinator for Shanahan in San Francisco. But why? Why? Because he's because look, if you look at the tree out of the OGs, right? Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Sean Payton and Andy Reid, the people that have come out of there are now filtered all over the league. And there's some guys that have they've seen it. So that's why they've been given the toolkit. They've given it freely in the spirit of Bill Walsh. They've been given it freely. And the people that have innovative minds and really kind of unique ways to attack, They're given the foundation to go be great, and then they can go do it.

17:59And I thought in Miami, I felt that. Did it work out perfectly? No, did it not. But as far as innovative minds in this offensive schemes that you see today and the way that they want to attack, like I'd want to go play for Mike McDain. I'd want him to call the plays. I want him to put in the system. He'd be in the top tier of guys to do that. And so that's why I'm excited.

18:21Rich Eisen:So can we throw Rogers and McCarthy in together as a quarterback that's got a new offensive coordinator and head coach? You can throw it in there. I just, you know, Mike is, you know, if they could get into the 2026 version of it all, I think it'd be great. I just don't want to see the 2015 version of it. And so that's going to be an innovative. I want to see the innovation. uh i'll watch for that too because look look i love they've had a lot of success together and uh but the 2020-15 version won't it used to be that you could do the same stuff not anymore it changes almost not week to week but quarter to quarter as far as the you know the month to month we'll say and you got to keep sharpening your saw and so if you want to run plays like the cowboys have for the last 15 years the the old play like they're not going to work you've got to get in and watch what those four guys I just talked about, Andy Reid and the Tushans and Kyle, watch what they're doing, watch what they continue to innovate to do, and then you've got to copy it or else you're going to get, you're not going to beat them doing something else.

19:28It's just not going to happen. You might be able to defend your way through it, but offensively, there's no one else out there that's doing something that's going to beat them. And so you got to join them and then get better at what they're doing. And that's what you see, what Kevin's trying to do and the floors are trying to do, what Mike tried to do in Miami, what really all over the league's trying to do. And I think that there's certain guys that can really do it. You want to take your swing on it? Mike McCarthy is not, to me, is not proven that that's what he wants to do.

19:57Rich Eisen:Do you want to take your swing at Sean Payton and Andy Reid Monday night? What do you think? You've got Mahomes coming back from an E-injury. Well, this is where, these are the games. It's like when Sean, it's like yesterday, that's why I was so disappointed with last night's game. Because when Sean McVay and Kyle get together, it's usually you see stuff that's just so cool and so they just empty the tank on each other and it was like i don't know it's first game or whether it was that how far away it was just it just that didn't happen but when you see any of these four go against each other they have they they feel like that's the moment to really show all of the stuff that they're really thinking about and that's why it's going to be fine that that game the chiefs and broncos to me is that same kind of game i hope to see really cool stuff that maybe not even has been seen before done in a different way and and and kind of innovation that that i think rules the league today the innovators are ruling the league it's not the conservative guys that are winning it anymore well before i let you go i know this is kind of a sports talk radio question but you did say earlier the niners in your estimation have five hall of famers on them on that right now can i guess who you're referring to right now this is fun because i got how could you not like it's go for it it's okay you're i see you're saying go ahead but i was i was george and nick and trent and christian and and maybe george that's what i i got kittle right um bosa right you're going nick bosa okay fred warner without question right absolutely um and without question you've got um Trent Williams, who, by the way, I mean, we can.

21:33He's probably, he's in the argument for the best football player that ever played.

21:37Rich Eisen:Really? You have to, you can't, nobody, like there are tackles, you know, Anthony Munoz is like this, right? It's like they played the game and nobody bothered him. Nobody. No matter who he plays for 15 years, nobody bothers him. I mean, like there's certain corners that maybe you can say that about, There's certain positions, but that dude, and again, two Hall of Famers, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams, show up to the 49ers early 20s and like, hey, anyone want to play? Like, bro, this is pretty great that you showed up. And that dude, he's 38, 39. I don't, I think he's one of the rare guys.

22:24quarterbacks have proven that the game today is safer and easier not easier but better for quarterbacks and they can play longer tom proved it aaron's proving it matthew's proven i get that so that the longevity of quarterbacks has been proven there's no other position really in football that has been able to take advantage of what the quarterbacks are able to do and say at now at 35 you can be a great running back or that you could be you know i mean like it just that does not happened in other positions but trent is showing he's such a unique human specimen that he might be able to play 43 top level tackle if he wants to evans and mcaffrey so that's six you know right you know what i said fred trent evans i should have said six but mcaffrey is a hall of famer right steve oh yeah 100 right 100 mike those three on offense are 100 fred i think is 100 And Nick is close.

23:22Right?

23:23Rich Eisen:I hear you. Yeah, he's had some injury history, obviously. And all right, then screw it. First ballot, Trent's first ballot, right? Yep. Okay, Fred on that track? I think by the time he's done. Right. By the time he's done, yes. Okay, because first ballot receivers. And Christian, by the time he's done, yes. But Evans could be a first ballot receiver, which is one of the toughest things to be. 100%. It's very rare. and that's why if if if everybody can stay healthy with kyle doing his thing the rest of they'll run through the rest of the league pretty if they stay healthy pretty well and now it's just going to be those games against seattle another game against the rams against the eagles at the end of the season maybe the pack like maybe some someone shows up at the end of the season there's going to be a playoff game or two and that's where it all happens and you know, we could probably just jet ahead to January and see where we are.

24:18Rich Eisen:Jet ahead to January. I don't want to do that. Look at me. It's after one game. Let's go! Hopping the DeLorean, Steve. And I don't even have to play. I just can say it and I can just go home and go home. That means we won't see more football, which I'm psyched to see. It's great to see you too. Thanks, Steve. Appreciate it. Great to be with you, buddy. Right back at you. That's Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Nice. sofi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible overcoming high interest credit card debt walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed rate monthly payment no fees required and as soon as the same day funding that's correct pull off your own debt defying stunt with a sofi personal loan visit sofi.com slash trick to learn more loans originated by sofi bank na member fdic terms and conditions apply nmls six eight six nine six eight 9-1.

25:11Rich Eisen:I've got a great, by the way, did you know on Mike Evans? I loved it. You want to just do this before then we'll go to break? Sure. Okay, here we go. Mike Evans has now, just in backing up what Steve just said, first ballot Hall of Fame type numbers, he's now got 109 career touchdown receptions, and of those, 81 have been caught in the end zone with 46 of them coming on goal-to-go plays both of those marks are the most of any player this century. Great stat. Did you know? Did not know. That's awesome. I know he's a bad man, but he's a bad man. He stays healthy. Bad man. The Niners now have that in their offense.

25:57Rich Eisen:So I draft him in my main league. Okay. Let's take a break. That was so much fun with Steve Young. Back on the Rich Eisen Show in a flash. The Rich Eisen Show podcast. 44204-H, number to dial. We're going to take a call, which we're going to do in a second. But there is breaking news out of the National Football League. And go ahead and hit it. Here it comes. And my eye seat. Breaking news. Christopher, what do you have over there? Yeah, news from the ATL guys. Tua Tungabaiola has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh with an oblique injury. Cooper Rush. Cooper, we'll start. Rush time in Pittsburgh, PA.

26:44Rich Eisen:Did you see the Tua video when he went down? Well, he grabbed his lower back, and then he just sat down on the ground, which is what happens when you have a back spasm. I've done it. You've done it. Jason Feller, have you ever done that before? You did it five minutes ago, most likely, with your back. How many back surgeries? Three. Well, let's not wish that into existence. Nobody knows the back. Let's not. We've all. So Penix can't answer the bell because he's coming back from his knee. And Tua can't answer the bell because of his back. And so it's Cooper rush time, everybody. Yep. Cooper rush time.