NFL Week 7: AFC West Heats Up, Dolphins' Implosion, 49ers' QB Conundrum

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0:31Rich Eisen:not so fresh off an airplane fresh back from london england i am rich eyes and along with chris brockman it is time for an overreaction monday for those who are listening i am literally wearing what i wore on the plane looks good it's got my hoodie got my running man hoodie your own logo my own logo you know what atta boy that's how i travel yeah we're not you know what i mean it's how i'm rolling and i feel really good you do well i do because i'm through the you know, the work part of being away and out of town. And I feel great about being back here because I got to be honest, first time in my entire life of an international flight.

1:11Rich Eisen:My bag was the first off the plane. Oh, wow. Yeah. So I think when we're done, I'm going to play some numbers. Yes, absolutely. And see what happens. Let it roll, man. First bag off the plane. So we are recording this about an hour before kickoff of Monday Night Football. Doubleheader, week seven. I'm feeling great because I got my bag. Yeah. And I'm like, ready to roll. Gravy. Okay. All right. Now that that housekeeping has all been handled, hit it. Hit it. That was terrible. That was crap. That was garbage. This play sucks. Overreaction. Mondays. Monday. All right, Christopher. Let's roll here.

1:54Okay, here we go. Let's start in Denver.

1:57Rich Eisen:That was insane. That was insane. Crazy. Honestly. And we thought the Sunday night football week one in Buffalo. Ravens-Bills. I said that that was the clubhouse leader for Wildest Affair of 2025. And it would take something really significant to knock it out of the clubhouse lead for that. Well, I think the Broncos Giants knocked it straight out of the clubhouse, man. That was insane. We were talking about it on on flagship today. Colleen Wolf sat in and I asked her, when did you know that the Giants had lost it? Oh, was it the dumb dart pick where he was? He was thinking he was going to lob it over the dart pick.

2:42The linebacker.

2:43Rich Eisen:Sternad picking it off. Yeah, that was at 26. Let me believe that this could happen. Okay. And then when. I think it was over at that point for me. No, when Dart scored with too much time left, I thought that they were going to just like fomfer around a little bit. They still had one time out in their pocket. You know what I mean? I know. And I thought they were just going to screw around a little bit, take some time off the clock, and then, you know, push Dart in the end zone. But when Dart left too much time on the clock, and then that first throw, was it to Mims? And then the second throw to Sutton.

3:26Rich Eisen:But the first throw to Mims, I'm like, okay, they're doing this. Or when the Giants missed the extra point. Either way, Denver pulls it out, and there's something special kind of brewing with these cardiac kids. Broncos are going to win the West and win a playoff game. um i'll still call this an overreaction because the chiefs look like the chiefs again because the chiefs look really good rishi rice scoring twice right off the bat we'll get to that we'll get to them but so yeah the chiefs are back as well but the broncos winning the manner in which they did um can make you feel like there's something special because they've won their first two games against the NFC East with fourth quarters for the ages.

4:15Rich Eisen:I mean, we thought that, we thought that that 18 nothing fourth quarter in Philadelphia was the, was the high watermark, but really it was just holding the beer of, of 33 points. Right. I mean, it's crazy. They almost doubled the number of points they scored against Philadelphia in that fourth quarter. That's nuts. But, and, and, and me calling their game against the jets, they struggled for four quarters. They did. And they struggled for three quarters against the giants. and against the Eagles as well. So there's still too much inconsistency for me to just dive in head first, cannonball triple Lindy my way into this.

4:50Rich Eisen:I'd buy that. And agreeing. I'd buy that. And plus the Chiefs are sitting there, pal. Okay. And the Chargers are going to get healthy. Don't just discount them. They're going to get Joe Alt's coming back. Omarion Hampton's coming back. They can't stop anybody. I get it. They can't protect either. Right now they are banged up. but they're going to get healthy and, and there'll be, there'll be a team that's battle tested. But right now it does appear to be Denver versus Kansas city for this. And, you know, Kansas city just looked really, really freaking good. Yeah. The Raiders are also Denver, Denver plays Kansas city in arrowhead on the second to last weekend of the season.

5:34Rich Eisen:And then their first game is coming up in week 11 before they're by at home. So I'll just call this an overreaction, but what a game. Unbelievable. New clubhouse leader for wildest affair. And maybe that I've seen in the 22 plus seasons I've been with NFL Network. It's up there. Crazy. That was wild. That was wild. You know what else, Rich? You know, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And I think it's time to party like we're in the 2000s, because either the Colts or the Pats are going to be the one seed in the AFC. that's Chris how many more weeks are we going to have to do this where you just dismiss them because they're in the teeth of the who have they really beaten that is their schedule look at their entire schedule is how they're playing the game in Buffalo is a wonderful one to hang your hat on and now to start beating up 12 point buck to start beating up opponents that you're supposed to beat up on is another thing to hang your hat on The thing that you can absolutely hang your hat on is a quarterback as on fire and as Drake May.

6:42Rich Eisen:And he is in the MVP voting right now. And things that you've been pounding the drum on over the last few weeks, I'm beginning to start to soak in a little bit. This is one of them. All right. The other one that I think you said either on this, this podcast or the segment that we do on Tuesdays. Yeah. or it was Thursday this past week in London, that a running back is going to be in the top three of MVP voting, if not top two. Jonathan Taylor is that guy. McCaffrey too. For sure. But Jonathan Taylor is that guy. Okay. This is his Saquon moment. This is him dominating. Dominating. This is him knowing that we all know he's going to get it, and it doesn't matter.

7:28Rich Eisen:That's the type of running back he has now become in the NFL. And Daniel Jones not making a single mistake in playing remarkable, efficient football and finding Alec Pierce in this particular. It was an Alec Pierce game in Los Angeles while Tyler Warren scored a touchdown again. Again, yeah. And, you know, Pittman getting his. they could be the one seed. You're throwing the Patriots in this mix. They're one, two. I understand why you're doing it right now. Obviously, Colts more than New England. For sure. I'm excited for you. I even texted you the video of Drake. And I did enjoy it. I saw it in the middle of the night here in London time.

8:21Rich Eisen:And I texted you, Drake May, the video of him giving the game ball to Vrabel. I just wrote, enjoy. I did, several times. You have every reason to be so pumped up and excited. Certainly, you should beat the crap out of Cleveland at home. Atlanta coming in, you know, I think you can out-physical them maybe. You got the Jets twice. You've got Miami again. You're at Baltimore. We'll see if they don't make that run that I think they can. That's in week 16. They could have the U-Haul backed up. you got Buffalo at home for the chance to to upset again and sweep them. I mean it's in the ether. It's in the ether.

9:01Rich Eisen:It is, which I have to give you, but I'll say that this is not an overreaction because I think it's the Colts. So. At Tampa, that's fun. That's a good one. Rich. Micah finally did it. He had a great game. Three sacks over the weekend. And if Micah Parsa wins defensive player of the year, which he is the betting favorite right now to win such award. Indeed. Is he really? Yeah. Macca. Thank you. Dude. If he wins the award, that trade is going to go down as the worst move of Jerry Jones's career. If he wins defensive player of the year, just this year. I mean, for it to be the worst move of Jerry Jones's career, he'd have to win the Superbowl on top of it.

9:49Rich Eisen:I mean, We already saw, Chris, the template for this sort of thing. Last year. But Saquon Barkley. But that wasn't a trade. Having a remarkable season. Not a trade, though. I understand that. But the template is go to a rival, which the Packers technically are not division rival. Not division rival. But conference rival. I understand. Long-standing rival, for sure. Okay. Go there. Win a remarkable award because he deserves it. based on the absurd stats that he puts up, right? Like, so the template, using the Saquon template, it would be he wins defensive player of the year, because Saquon won offensive player of the year.

10:31Rich Eisen:Correct. He'd have to have over 20 sacks or join like a 20 sack club, right? Right, sure. Sort of like the 2 ,000, whatever the sack equivalent of the 2 ,000 yard club is. I like that you're talking this out. And then win it all. Yeah. That's the template. But Saquon showed us what the template is about making it the worst move of whoever lets it happen. Not a career, not a trade. And they just got back draft. I got it. I got it. I got it. And especially the position that the team really needs is a edge rusher and a stopper. So then this is an overreaction. OK. Plus, I think it's an I mean, I saw Nick Benito with my own two eyes, dude.

11:08Rich Eisen:I mean, that guy's a monster. I'm surprised. Is that like, you know, Packer bias? Maybe. You know what I'm saying? It might just be a name to get the tickets. But Mike is a favorite right now. That one surprises me a little bit. But good for him. I'm glad that he's a favorite. But this is an overreaction. It's not enough. It's not enough. It's not enough. Saquon is the template. What if I add the other stuff? Would that make it the worst move of Jerry's career? Then I would agree with you. That would not be an overreaction. But this is what you've done. and we've got to stick with it. All right.

11:47Rich Eisen:So overreaction. Okay. What else? Onward. Onward. Onward. Onward. Onward. Onward. It was an ugly game in Cleveland. Can you tell I'm... I like it. I'm feeling it right now. I'm loving it. I'm loving it. Because my bag was first out of an international flight. A hundred people on my plane. Probably 300 people on your plane. Dude. First out. Did you bribe the baggage? I did. No such thing. Okay. Just a second. That was a Michael Jordan. No such thing. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back.

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13:03There's no place like Chrome Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18 plus rich dolphins are going to have a new head coach and quarterback next year week one

13:15Rich Eisen:no no no no no two is the quarterback someone's going to take this job if mike mcdaniel does get fired um and and have to deal with two why why would you want to i don't know but i don't know about you but we have the drop right i don't know about you but it looks like money because guess what that's what it's about yeah but denver showed us the way that that doesn't matter anymore i don't know about you, but that's 57 million bucks that they're on the hook for. So just eat it. Denver had showed us the way. That doesn't matter anymore. You can just take a guy who you signed dead cap. See ya. Out the building.

13:54Rich Eisen:Two is still going to be there. I don't think they're going to do it. I don't think that's going to happen. I don't know about you, but that looked like money. I don't know about you, but that looked like money. Thank you, sir. That was even twice. Two times. I think he made a mistake. Mikey two times. He's pointing at us like he meant to do it. I don't think he meant to do it. I really don't. That was an overreaction by your finger. I don't know about you, but that looks like the bench. Hey, he did bench him. Put Quinn Hewers in there. Man, you know, poor Zach Wilson. What does Zach Wilson got to do to get some run?

14:26I don't know. Mike McDaniel did say on Monday that both guys are going to compete for the backup job. Wow. Good for him. Which struck me as who's going to be starting in a couple weeks.

14:34Rich Eisen:Mike McDaniel's soundbite quote of him saying that when you damage, essentially, I'm paraphrasing, damage the team routinely. I think he did use the word routinely. He's mandated to evaluate others at the position. He's right. And he's, I mean, Tua was asked after that week one in Lawson, Indianapolis, where he had multiple interceptions. Somebody said, when you throw one, it just seems to come in bunches. And he bristled about turning it over in bunches. And that's what he's done pretty much the entire year. So I don't believe the Dolphins are going to have a new quarterback week one next season.

15:20Rich Eisen:They might not have a new head coach, though, unfortunately. So, yeah, it's half a proper reaction, half an overreaction. Only half and half. All right. All right. All right. Well, let's see if we can go full Monty here with this one. What do you got? The 49ers did it again. Mac Jones is four and one as 49ers starting quarterback. Made a$400 ,000 bonus for his fourth win as a backup. Deserves it. Yes. Kyle Shannon and the Niners, they officially have a quarterback problem. Okay. Dude. I don't know. When Brock Purdy is returning, but guess what's going to happen? He's playing. Yeah. And what if he doesn't play well when he comes back?

15:58Then what?

15:58Rich Eisen:I don't know. Then you've got to sit here and wonder. What does that look like? He's, he's as ineffective as Russell Wilson. He's ineffective as, or he's as damaging as Tua. Yeah. Turning it over. Offense isn't running smoothly enough. They lose. Cause Mac Jones has won at 80 % of the time. Well, I mean, will Christian McCaffrey be as, as helpful? Sure. As it is now, but if they're not winning games and it's because of the quarterback, then you got a problem. No, I'll just say, so what's the problem that they would bench Purdy? and give him all this money. I don't think that's going to happen.

16:35Rich Eisen:That's not happening. We'll see what happens when Purdy comes back. By the way, their buy is not until week 14. Yeah, they have the last possible week. They have the last possible buy. So they're going to have to sit around and wait for Purdy to actually get this thing done. And at this point in time, it's a first-class problem. Champagne problem. But this is not a problem. There's no quarterback problem in San Francisco right now. You don't think there's any type of controversy here. Zero, none. Point zero. Guess why? They're five and two. The guy that Shannon had wanted in the draft and seemingly got overruled is now with your team and you're four and one with them.

17:06And there's no problem. No.

17:09Rich Eisen:Cause you're five and two overall and your other guy can't, isn't ready to return yet. Sort of like last year. Remember that last year when Justin Fields went four and two and then Russ was there and, and everyone's asking about what, you know, what about your quarterback problem? And, and Tomlin was just like, there isn't one. My other guy's not ready. Call me. Come to me when he's ready. Purdy's not ready. So right now. All right. Guess what? San Francisco at Houston next week. Is that Mac Jones's start? Okay. Yeah. And like Pittsburgh, you're wondering maybe they, if they should have stuck with fields, we might be wondering if they should have stuck with Mac Jones at the end of the season.

17:47Are you wondering that right now? Yeah. We're playing the result of this season. I'm talking about, I'm talking about last year, last year watching Russ. You're like, man, they should have went stuck with fields.

17:57Rich Eisen:I'm just saying whatever, whatever's happening right now with the Jets, where Aaron Glenn is like, I don't know. We'll see who's, who's, we got a best chance to win. I just need a win. Is it Terod Taylor? Great. It's the same quarterback that the Steelers say you may have him for 20 million a year in New York Jets. Organizational issue. Overreaction here. What else do you have? Chiefs are the best team in the NFL. That's your statement? Yep. Oh boy. you got me right in the feels right there you know that I just hit you with a 1-2 bam they're going to be you know how many power rankings this week are going to have them number one I can't do it in mine you didn't even have them in the top 10 last week I didn't because they were 3-3 coming off of a loss against Jacksonville but your eye test told you where they are and the odds have them number one for Super Bowl but now they're healthy and now they're fully constituted you know what I'm saying and Josh Simmons, I don't know what is happening with their left tackle.

18:58Rich Eisen:That is an odd situation. It is an odd situation that we're all talking about. Hey, finally, this guy's solidified. It's his 11th different starter to be having his blind side since he's come off the campus at Texas Tech. And that's one of the stats I said over and over again in week one in Brazil. Yeah. Calling that game. And now Simmons is out for the last two weeks, and they've looked terrific. And Rasheed Rice is back. and who knows, will they be in the market for a running back to add to that depth? Because right now, I mean, all three of them, this new kid. Yeah, Brashad Smith. You know, wearing Sky Moore's number.

19:34Rich Eisen:Yeah. You know, along with Kareem Hunt to come in for some half down the goal line in the third quarter. I mean, third down. Yeah, I know. And then Pacheco doing his thing. Pacheco looks great. So they might not need to make a move. Chiefs, the best team in the NFL. Here's the thing. This is what we talked about on flagship on, on Monday. You look there eighth, right? They're not even in the playoffs right now. They started tomorrow, right? It's their record, but there's still the betting favorite and who above them in the standings in a head to head matchup. Would you pick over Kansas city? 12 Indianapolis.

20:07Rich Eisen:You're really going to pick Daniel Jones instead of over Patrick. I will not. I will not, but who can do it? Denver, Denver can do it. I mean, if Buffalo comes back and reminds themselves they have a guy named James Cook. Something's off with Buffalo, man. Because they stopped giving the ball to James Cook. That's why. I don't trust any of their receivers or pass catchers. He said that all last year, all the way until they made it to the Final Four. I guess. So, I mean, there's a difference between they're the best team in the NFL and can they be beaten. I mean, this is in any given Sunday situation.

20:47Rich Eisen:Sure, of course. Of course. Just saying. Oh, man. I'll just call this an overreaction for the moment. I'll just call it an overreaction for the moment. But they're getting there. I thought you were going to do it. They'll definitely be on my power rankings this week. Let's put it that way. Oh, good. Oh, good. Good. I can't believe I'm the one stumping for the Chiefs. Here's the deal. I look at what's going on in Minnesota. The Vikings should be taking way more heat for completely botching their quarterback this year. How have they botched it? What do they do? Look at the guys they let leave. Why did they do that?

21:16Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones. They let walk out the door. And they have for a guy who's played one good quarter of football and Carson Wentz,

21:26Rich Eisen:a guy who played one good quarter of football was the player of the week and then suffered a high ankle sprain that everybody thinks is a soft bench. It's just a soft benching because his second week was so brutal. um no i'm i'm i'm just gonna say at this point in time they have not botched it um and we'll see what happens when jj mccarthy comes back you just knew when you were going to hand the reins to a guy who's never done it before there'd be ups and downs they knew it but they just they just gave him the keys without any evidence he could drive the car well it was time for him to drive the car Just as in fact, Xander, my 17-year-old, he may not be ready to drive the car, but it's his time to be ready to drive the car.

22:12But he at least had a learner's permit and passed the test. That's true. McCarthy didn't pass any tests.