We've got a jam-packed show for you this week on Lacie's Lineup, tackling the highs and lows of NFL Week 5. Ever wondered what's going on with the Giants? We brought in Chris Miller, a die-hard Giants fan, who offered his insights into the team's struggles this season, including the impact of injuries, their identity crisis, and the questionable performance of their offensive line. We also took time to analyze Coach Dybal's leadership and what the loss of Saquon Barkley means for the team.
Switching gears, we dissected the Cowboys' performance - or lack thereof - in their letdown against the Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. It's clear that Dak Prescott is wrestling with some challenges, and we took a hard look at Coach Mike McCarthy's old-school strategies. We also debated the role of defense in the team's future success. Spoiler alert: we didn't hold back on our critique.
And of course, we didn't stop at just the Giants and the Cowboys. Buckle up for a whirlwind tour of Week 5's winners and losers, including the Bills, Jaguars, Ravens, Steelers, Saints, Patriots, Lions, Panthers, Bengals, Cardinals, Eagles, Rams, Chiefs, Vikings, Raiders, and Packers. We highlighted phenomenal performances, shocking upsets, and the players to watch as the season unfolds. We even got into a heated debate about which teams have a real shot at the Super Bowl. Tune in to hear why the Lions, Dolphins, and Chiefs are our top picks.
We've got a jam-packed show for you this week on Lacie's Lineup, tackling the highs and lows of NFL Week 5. Ever wondered what's going on with the Giants? We brought in Chris Miller, a die-hard Giants fan, who offered his insights into the team's struggles this season, including the impact of injuries, their identity crisis, and the questionable performance of their offensive line. We also took time to analyze Coach Dybal's leadership and what the loss of Saquon Barkley means for the team.
Switching gears, we dissected the Cowboys' performance - or lack thereof - in their letdown against the Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. It's clear that Dak Prescott is wrestling with some challenges, and we took a hard look at Coach Mike McCarthy's old-school strategies. We also debated the role of defense in the team's future success. Spoiler alert: we didn't hold back on our critique.
And of course, we didn't stop at just the Giants and the Cowboys. Buckle up for a whirlwind tour of Week 5's winners and losers, including the Bills, Jaguars, Ravens, Steelers, Saints, Patriots, Lions, Panthers, Bengals, Cardinals, Eagles, Rams, Chiefs, Vikings, Raiders, and Packers. We highlighted phenomenal performances, shocking upsets, and the players to watch as the season unfolds. We even got into a heated debate about which teams have a real shot at the Super Bowl. Tune in to hear why the Lions, Dolphins, and Chiefs are our top picks.
It's your girl, lacey. Welcome to Lacey's lineup Week 5 recap. What a week five in the NFL. It was Chicago Bears get their first win. Cowboys did not show up for Sunday night football. Key injuries that can be a factor for teams moving forward and Jaguars turning it around in London by beating the Bills.
Speaker 1:I am ready to break down everything right now on Lacey's lineup Recap to week 5. Let's go. Hey listeners, and thanks for tuning in to another episode of Lacey's lineup Week 5. We got a lot to talk about guys. There was a lot that went down and there was definitely a lot that we thought was gonna happen that didn't happen. I am just so ready to start talking, even though I really don't want to talk about the Cowboys loss, being a true Cowboy fan. It was devastating, it was terrible and I hate to relive it here on the podcast, but I do have some thoughts on everything that went down and I'm ready to break it down. To help me with that, I do have a special guest again this week and his name is Chris Miller. He is a Giants fan, so his team might be more disappointing than mine right now, but we are ready to give our thoughts on our teams and everything that went down this week. So let's welcome Chris Miller to the show. Alright, thanks for coming today, chris. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:Thank you, I'm glad to be here.
Speaker 1:Unfortunately, our teams have not been performing. Yours might be a little bit more of a disaster than ours, but what is going on with your Giants?
Speaker 3:Man, I really don't know. Honestly thought, you know, coming off off of a fairly decent ending last year, that it was gonna be a much better showing this year. So I think the Giants right now are missing their identity. I just think that you know they really need to kind of figure out which direction that they want to go in, also being injury prone, we've been tattered with so many injuries on the offensive line right now. I think maybe one or two guys that are from the original starting lineup are in that lineup and, as of right now, it's not looking too good after the game that we just had and losing Saquon Barkley.
Speaker 3:And that's been an issue as well is just our key players have not been able to stay healthy. The offensive line has been super porous.
Speaker 1:I mean Daniel Jones gets hit all the time.
Speaker 3:All the time.
Speaker 1:And now he's hurt as well.
Speaker 3:Yeah, at that left tackle position. I think it's been a bit of a struggle and it definitely showed that's like really like a weak spot for the offense right now in protecting, you know his blind side. The last two weeks really showed that. I think we gave up. I think it was 11 sacks this pass game.
Speaker 1:I feel like every time I looked he was on the ground.
Speaker 3:Actually it was. It was six sacks this pass game, the game before that, it was 11. So really figuring out what we need to do on the offensive line is definitely a huge, huge weakness for us.
Speaker 1:I have a question though, because coach Dybal was coach of the year last year. As a Giants fan, were you kind of riding that bandwagon like did you believe that Dybal was gonna be a good coach for you guys?
Speaker 3:I mean I truly thought he was gonna be able to kind of rally the troops and kind of ride off the momentum of last year, but things have seemed to change. I can recall looking back this past week and there wasn't a whole lot of emotion on the sideline. It's just more of like frustration. Yeah just frustration. I can't wait for this to be over with. You know, with Daniel Jones being sacked so many times, I'm pretty sure he's just like you know. I'm just trying to survive.
Speaker 1:It's hard to read him, though he's a very hard read.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he is like even kill. You know, I think for me, I would really like for him to kind of show some emotion, so show some grit and kind of rally the troops there, I think.
Speaker 1:I mean, he's in a leader position.
Speaker 3:Yeah, lacking leadership. He's got to really step up to the plate and kind of rally the troops, especially with the offensive line being the way that it is right now and then you know, our offensive weapons are. It's really inconsistent. I think we've got some really good guys on the team that they're just not even getting on the ball.
Speaker 3:Slayton not getting him the ball. Darren, you know they're having issues getting him the ball. Although he did have a pretty decent performance this past game, I still thought that there were some times where he should have caught the ball. You know, if it touches your hands, you got to catch it. You got to bring it in and in this game, you know, with the Dolphins, I think that penalties was was definitely factor as well.
Speaker 1:You guys stay behind the chains a lot.
Speaker 3:Definitely stay behind the chains a lot. I think that we're just like maybe one or two plays from actually turning the season around in a lot of ways.
Speaker 1:so and that was it. I mean not to put salt in your womb, but starting the season not even scoring Cowboys beating you 40 to nothing and then turning around and being down 20 against a Cardinals team in week two. But I really thought that's when your momentum was going to shift. You guys rallied back, you took it one play at a time and then it started seeing like okay, now your pieces are going together and you you won, but you didn't build off of that win. It kind of seemed like you went back and that could be injuries.
Speaker 1:I mean you lose Saquon Barkley, which is kind of Daniel Jones's safety blanket right kind of helps pull that pressure away, and you have to respect a guy like that. So now you don't really have a strong run game and you know that he's going to pass the ball and that's why those blitz are coming. But I'm not a Giants fan, you know this. I don't mind seeing them like this. But I get it like it's frustration. And you can see the team is doing it and it's week five. I mean we're going into week six. So how, how do you get this turned back around with the players you have?
Speaker 3:I think at the moment, right now, defense is really where we have to focus on. I think that there's no veteran leadership or anybody that wants to stand up, kind of be the leader there. I felt like McKinney was kind of not really taking accountability in his interviews post games of you know, just basically saying that you know it's not just the defense's fault, which you know I do agree with that but at some point in time you got to be able to make a play, make a stop. I think that Pinnock did an excellent job on this pass game, really stepping up to the plate. There's got to be more players that have got to make plays.
Speaker 3:I think Tibidow has been, in all regards to me, pretty big disappointment. You know, as far as, like his production of play. He's was one of the highly touted draft picks not too long ago. I think he was like top two or top three draft picks In his rookie season. It took him about six or seven games to get his first sack and even this season it's been a bit of a struggle for him to kind of get pressure on the quarterback. So defense is definitely a place where we can.
Speaker 1:And Waller. I mean you have a huge weapon there and you can't get him the ball. I mean you finally found him a little bit in this past week, but it wasn't enough and you can tell he's frustrated. I mean he's publicly spoke about his frustration and that's just gonna have turmoil go through your team.
Speaker 3:Yeah, most definitely, and you know it's a funny thing too. You know, just kind of touching back on, waller was super excited to pick him up in the free agency there Huge pickup. Thought that, you know, we were gonna be able to utilize him as like the likes of, like a Jason Witton. You know any of those other?
Speaker 1:I mean, you could even put him in the rounds of Travis Kelsey.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, I know he hasn't performed that much, but he's that type of physical player.
Speaker 3:They were able to kind of move him around in the offense and kind of mismatches was definitely the way to go, kind of helped open up things From the offensive standpoint. I think that we need to figure out what we're gonna do with the offensive line. Just the health there, the offensive line, is just really a huge factor of us moving forward. If we can't get them together, you know the run game is not gonna be established. You know, and people aren't gonna be feared to. You know, rush forward and keep. You know, drop back, you know the rest of them. So you know, once we get that run game established with the running backs by committee, at this point in time you know we're not really a threat and we're kind of one dimensional.
Speaker 1:I'm actually shocked because you look not to jump ahead, but, like San Francisco, perti is good. His offensive line is amazing. I mean you could put Daniel Jones behind the offensive line and he will perform. I'm not taking things away from Perti, but it all starts. I mean even the Cowboys that I'll get to in just a minute. Their offensive line is depleted. I mean they're old, they're injured. I don't know why teams don't focus on making sure offensive lines are put back there and stop paying our quarterbacks. It doesn't matter how good you are, if you don't have more than two seconds to throw the ball, it's not gonna be effective.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I mean you know there's a silver lining in it all. You know, with this game I think they definitely showed some flashes where they can compete, especially against a high caliber team such as the likes of the Miami Dolphins. You know, with the turnovers they were able to get had we scored touchdowns instead of field goals, we'd be talking about a different game. So you know, they're not too far off from being a really good team. It's just unfortunate that, you know, in this game you know it could be those one or two plays that can knock you straight from the top down directly to the bottom in a matter of two or three weeks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you can't dig too much bigger of a hole where it's gonna be really hard to climb out of. But as a Giants fan, daniel Jones, we call him Danny Dimes right, danny Dimes.
Speaker 3:Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1:Is he your quarterback? I mean, do you want to see him longer or you feel like he's kind of run his time and you think we need to get a new guy in there?
Speaker 3:I think he's a I like Danny. I think that he has shown that he can definitely compete. I think that he has shown that he can manage the ball and manage the offense and run that pretty well when it's rocking on all cylinders. The health there, I'm not sure he's gonna be able to withstand too many beat downs. You know, I think as of this entire year he's been sacked 28 times. How much of a pounding can he really take Our backup tie rod? You know he's getting pounded as well, you know, while he's in there.
Speaker 1:So you might actually see him this coming week.
Speaker 3:Yeah, exactly so you know, we don't know. So, as far as the health there, I don't know if he's gonna be able to withstand it.
Speaker 1:but I would love to see. He has a lot of neck injuries right and this is an X-Rist one.
Speaker 3:And I think he has a lot of upside. I think as far as, like those middle of the pack quarterbacks, I think he's one of the top tier ones that can easily slide up into a top tier quarterback, given the right tools and the right players to surround him with.
Speaker 1:So Well, I won't make you dwell on your giants right now too long, but before we move on to our next topic, as a Giants fan, how do we get rid of this frustration? Is it one game at a time? Are we looking on to the next season, or are we still hopeful for this season?
Speaker 3:Oh my Lord, it's just so many things to. It's a lot of fires to put out. You know, Again, the defense. They've got to create some type of identity. A lot of arm tackling going on there, not really standing up and just plugging the holes the way that they need to. I think me being a former player, I'm looking at these plays a little different and just being like, oh, why is this player scared to tackle, or why is this player tiptoeing in the hole? But defense really has to step up. I think that's really where the pulse lies within this team right now. I don't think the offense is going to be the ones that are going to rally the troops together Put up a lot of points too.
Speaker 3:And so I think the defense has got to bring their A game in order for us to change, or change the trajectory of what we're trying to do. We're at least trying to make it to the playoffs, and if we don't get it together in the next couple of weeks, that's pretty much a done deal.
Speaker 1:That's pretty much that yeah. So you heard it defense is key giants, got a good defense, get this going Well. I won't make you dwell on it anymore. I think we'll move on to my next topic, which is a heartbreak for me, and that would be the disaster of the Cowboys performance in Sunday night football under the spotlights. We did not show up and lost 42 to 10.
Speaker 3:Tough loss, very, very tough loss. And for the Cowboys man it's I don't know man, it's kind of hard to figure out. You know where they're going to go, whether they're up or down, or whether they want to be the one of the top contender teams in the league, or and that's what's frustrating.
Speaker 1:I think my frustration probably could be more than yours right now, because you guys have a lot of injuries. You don't really have all the pieces around you where the Cowboys do. Defense was strong. I know we lost Trevon Diggs and that was an emotional and not that that's an excuse why we lost to the Cardinals. But I feel like late on a Thursday we find out that Trevon Diggs is at season ending and we didn't really have time to adjust things. That's why everything look not an excuse, but move past it. This was anticipated. These guys have knocked us out of the playoffs for the past two years. It's just always been a bad matchup and I don't understand how it's a bad matchup. We have just as many key players as they do and we just can't. They're like our kryptonite and we're going to have to get past them if we ever want to get to the big show, but right now it is just not clicking.
Speaker 3:Yeah yeah, I think it's a combination of a lot of things there. I think, starting off with Dak it was. I think the lights were just a little too bright for him.
Speaker 1:And that's where he folds every time.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and so I think he's what two and eight against teams that are ranked in the top of the division, versus being twice, three times as many as that. As far as winning, it's kind of the flip side of that when you're playing teams that aren't really relevant or aren't part of the conversation. Kind of stepping up on that big stage and performing is kind of where he tends to lack at.
Speaker 1:And he knows that. I mean the media tells him that all the time so for him to go in and perform the way that he did because I loved Dak when he came in. Obviously his rookie year has proven to be his best year so far. But he came in and he looked like he was finally. I mean he had that injury and then it was like the next year it was could he be mobile again? So that was a struggle because he didn't really. I'm sure he was scared to move out of the pocket, but this is his eight season. He keeps proven everybody right that he cannot win these high pressure games. So great guy, great leader, not a bad quarterback. But he's not the elite quarterback that is gonna take this team because you have all the parts.
Speaker 1:Now I'm not saying it was all Dak. I do believe that he made very poor decisions. I mean some of those interception throws. I know the last one was just a desperation throw to try, but he just doesn't go through his progressions. It's like he panics and I just don't understand why he feels that way. Could it be the offensive line, maybe, but roll out. I watched actually some guy do a film breakdown and it showed CD-Lam was open a lot yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:A lot. So that's him not looking, and CD is your number one. I mean you should find him no matter what, and if he's triple team, then you do your check downs, but for him to be wide open and you not find it, that's on Dak.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I would definitely have to agree with that. I think too, another part of that as well is the coaching. I think Mike McCarthy's way of playing the game is a little dated. He needs to kind of evolve, if you will, as far as like what defenses are doing now.
Speaker 1:It's no longer. He doesn't ingest.
Speaker 3:No, he doesn't adjust at all, and so, being kind of set in your ways, you know, kid, really come back to haunt you, especially with you not even being in the Super Bowl since 20, what?
Speaker 1:10, 2012, somewhere around there. No, it's way down 95.
Speaker 3:You know, from that standpoint.
Speaker 1:Oh, mike McCarthy, sorry with the Packers I was like not the Cowboys. We have not seen the 2000.
Speaker 3:So you know, with him running that dated offense, it's just, it's just.
Speaker 1:and you see, that I mean you're seeing this with billichick, with the Patriots, these old coaches who have won Super Bowls they think their combinations work because they've proven it and you're seeing these young coaches who are new, inventive and growing with the game, right and out, coaching these guys because they don't want to adjust. I mean McCarthy obviously went in with one game plan and stuck with it the entire time, even though it was over in the first quarter.
Speaker 3:Adjust yeah, and I mean he's pretty predictable what he was running. So huge, huge disappointment with the Cowboys.
Speaker 1:They didn't even reach the red zone, so you know we were three and nine going into that in the red zone and, like you mentioned, with your Giants, phil, goals are not going to win games, especially against the 49ers. Yeah, you got to put points on when you leave points against a good team nine out of ten times, you're not winning that game.
Speaker 3:Most definitely freaky happens most definitely, and I think, to give a shout out to the 49ers. I mean, they're probably the most complete team that I've seen play to date. Right now, as you said, brock Purdy is pretty good. So you know, with him being 10, 10 and 0 is a starter, you know. So far, right now, he's got 20 touchdowns, two interceptions. That's pretty good. Coming in first five games he's nine touchdowns, no interceptions. He's got the highest quarterback rating right now. So I think, as far as him, you know, he's doing all the right things making the right decisions, making the right play calls, not being too aggressive in moments where he knows he's not going to be able to win, and he's super, super accurate night and day compared to Dak Prescott right now. And for him to be, you know, mr Irrelevant is the title that they coined him. You know, I think that he has definitely evolved a lot quicker than, say, a Dak Prescott right now, who should be leaps and bounds, you know, in his progress in these types of games.
Speaker 1:So no, I agree with that. I mean 49ers, they have it all. I think Kyle Shanahan is the best coach in the league offensive and defensive mastermind. He had just on everything. I mean going into this. I could know his game plan, micah Parsons. He did not want to be effective and if you look at it, he made sure that he wasn't. Their game plan was for Purdy to get that ball out before Micah could even get across the line, and they did that. We saw it. I could see it, as you know, sitting at home on the TV. How did they not adjust that? Move Micah? They talked about how Micah is so good that we can put him anywhere and Dan Quinn was doing a good job, but he never moved him. He never moved him and made them second guess. And they kept him with Trent Williams which, oh, you shout out, but yeah, poe Bowler and just kept him lined up there. So why? I don't understand that matchup and I don't understand why we left him there the entire game.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think the San Francisco offense to make you play every blade of the grass you know. So you're playing the full field. You've got so many different weapons there and Debo you've got.
Speaker 1:Kiddles you got McCaffrey, which is the best trade.
Speaker 3:Right, that is Happen.
Speaker 1:I mean, that was what they were missing, yeah, and now they have it.
Speaker 3:Exactly. You know they just played physical ball the entire game and just kind of really punched the Cowboys in the mouth and dominated and did exactly what they wanted to, one of those being one of those things being established in the run game.
Speaker 1:You know McCaffrey had an excellent game and that, which is crazy though, but we contained him. We contain him every time. We play him, yeah.
Speaker 3:And.
Speaker 1:I think that's what they go in wanting to do. We got a limit, mccaffrey, you do that, but then your secondary blows up.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah. So I mean he only had.
Speaker 1:He had one touch Down which was on the one yard line, so that's not a true McCaffrey touchdown to me, because he's used to going far and he was limited to only 60 yards.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, you can win a game when you keep him content. But then George Kittle bragging, he didn't even get tackled.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And had three touchdowns.
Speaker 3:Tuddies Like he went to work. He put his hard hat on and went to work, so so frustrating?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can't, and that's what it is. I just never know as a Cowboys fan and I know you're married to a Cowboys fan- yeah. You just don't know what team is going to show up. Is it the team that dominates, or is it the team that doesn't even know how to play football? Our schedule is only going to get harder. We got Chargers on Monday night, which Eckler is supposed to return, and Herbert, who is good. I think he's underrated and not talked about, but he's a really good quarterback.
Speaker 3:He is very good.
Speaker 1:I mean they lost Mike Williams and injury last week, but they still have Keenan Allen. I mean they have guns and they put up points. I mean that's their thing, so we're asking Dak to match those points.
Speaker 3:We'll see what happens. I mean, I don't know, in a lot of ways I think, I think that the Giants and the Cowboys are like, or in parallel universes. You know, if the Giants had an offense aligned similar to the Cowboys, I think it would be a different story, and vice versa. I think that there were a few pieces that were changed, you know, within the Cowboys offense. You know, having say Kwan or a DJ, you know, would definitely change some things and open up the offense a little more.
Speaker 1:The 49ers are in the driver's seat for sure. I think if they wouldn't have had the Perti go down, they would have been in the Super Bowl and I think, would have won it last year.
Speaker 3:I think so too, I mean that was just a fluke.
Speaker 1:And the Eagles I was like that couldn't have happened one week earlier.
Speaker 3:For us Most definitely.
Speaker 1:But I mean if they can stay healthy. Obviously, mccaffrey, the reason he was traded was because he didn't play a lot for the Panthers because of injury. Somehow, in San Francisco, he's staying healthy. You always have to question, though, because they give him a huge workload.
Speaker 3:Very huge workload almost too much.
Speaker 1:I mean they still had him in when it wasn't even a game with us. I mean you take those players out right?
Speaker 3:most definitely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just don't know. And then to end with, though, what do you think about Tony Pollard? Are they utilizing him the right way?
Speaker 3:to be honest with you, I don't think they are utilizing him the right way. I think that you know they got to be a little more creative in the plays and how they utilize him, spreading him out, you know, getting him in the space a little more instead of trying to, you know, have him run between the tackles.
Speaker 1:I think he's not that player. No, he's really not so explosive.
Speaker 3:Put him on the edge, yeah and that's something that you know they're going to have to make adjustments on as far as like making sure that they utilize those players, those explosive players, to get explosive plays.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because Zeke, I think it was right to move on from Zeke. I mean, I think it was a year too late on that, but you have to replace him with another Zeke, like now. I'm not saying Tony Pollard deserved to be RB one this year, but you have to have another quarterback that is physical and can get those big like third in one right, it's just not and you need someone to help pass, protect your quarterback. I mean, pollard shows and he he'd probably be the first one to tell you he's not that person. I mean, they run him over. Yeah, he was trying to block Bosa.
Speaker 3:He's like the pants and I mean he may give you one or two good blocks out of a pass block, but it ain't going to be too many times where he's going to just take those hits, play after play, after play.
Speaker 1:So and this is the third week that he really has not been effective, and that's another. I think it falls on the coaches as well. The play calling and hey, where are we going to put him? Where he's a strength and can help us and relieve DAC, you know, in his throwing and give us some space, yeah, and they just haven't done that. So that's on the coaches, but they got to get it together. We go all in on things and we keep thinking that we have all the pieces and, of course, starting out the season, but, like you said, you play, you guys, no offense, but you know is just an unsure team and you've been that. You guys aren't really that team right now.
Speaker 1:But, and then the jets where Aaron Rogers goes down, and then you lose to a cardinals who were supposed to be almost like a bye week for us. And then the Patriots, which are just falling apart completely. I mean, the Saints destroyed them. This past weekend and then you come against your first big match up, which is what Cowboys said all week is our measuring stick? Well, that was our measuring stick. We're in trouble.
Speaker 3:You're in big trouble. I mean, hopefully you guys get to see him in the playoffs. I think the Cowboys will make it to the playoffs.
Speaker 1:I don't think they're gonna bills, dolphins, chargers, eagles twice. Yeah, like our schedule is about to get right. Lions, who I think are a sleeper team.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm more concerned about the defense, though. You know the loss of Trayvon digs, I think, has softened the defense up a lot, you know, and they're having to kind of overcompensate For that, whereas you know Trayvon was able to cover his third of the field and you wouldn't have to worry about any of that, so you had Well, they throw away from him.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you had a much bigger playbook there, whereas now you've got to be a lot more innovative and creative on how you approach teams going in for the rest of the rest of the year and the Cowboys got a very, very tough schedule, so it's going to be and we ignite off of our defense.
Speaker 1:I mean that's they almost score more points in our offense or at least give us short fields to where we can get points, and I mean even the start of the 49ers game. They scored first. Obviously we were three and out, but we they caused a fumble on McCaffrey and we turned around and Pollard fumbled the very next play in their red zone and. I mean, I'm sorry, that was crazy how that ball literally just stayed in bounds for like three yards, that's just the way this game is going to go.
Speaker 3:I mean, it's a game of inches, so, but still protect that ball.
Speaker 1:You're in their red zone. That's so true, but I mean that was a blow, and I think the defense. I think if we could have converted points off of their turnover, we could have switched.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But Cowboys I mean Cowboys and Giants were in this pool together were frustrated. Hopefully we can turn things around. Last year that we were both in the postseason. I just I don't know. I think it's only going to be one of us.
Speaker 3:It might be one of us, and then again we might both be sitting on the couch next to each other.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we might be watching it from afar, so we'll see who Giants have who this week.
Speaker 3:That's a great question. I'm trying to think off the top of my head. I mean, I haven't even looked past the this week, I've just been kind of like digested.
Speaker 1:I think.
Speaker 2:I bills.
Speaker 3:You're exactly right.
Speaker 2:You do have bills.
Speaker 3:We do have the bills, so Sunday night. Yeah.
Speaker 1:You're in prime time. It's not a good Not not looking forward to that.
Speaker 3:But I think it's possible chance that we may have Daniel Jones back. We may have maybe.
Speaker 1:Taylor is somebody that can ignite you, though Maybe it's something good to see not saying he takes Daniel Jones's place, but maybe fresh legs, maybe he can run some. I don't.
Speaker 3:I don't think I don't think it's going to change much if that offensive line isn't ready to go. I think he's who is kind of really in his head right now. He's covering the left tackle position and he last two games of just really terrible. But you know it's not really his fault. He's playing out of position.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's, he's new to the, to the NFL, so well, you have bills, we have charters, so let's hope we turn things around this week.
Speaker 3:I don't know any given Sunday.
Speaker 1:Sunday. That's true, the Bears did win. Yeah Right, exactly, speaking of the Bears Thursday night football Bears finally get their first win against the commander's team that had been trending upwards for a little bit and they won 40 to 20. They finally found DJ Moore.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So that was exciting. But were you shocked to see the Bears win?
Speaker 3:I was a little bit shocked, I think overall the performance between Fields and DJ Moore I think that you know they were just rocking on all cylinders was able to be on the same sheet of music with each other and kind of exposed the weak spot of the commander's defense really early in the in the game because of them being able to catch that so early really resulted in a pretty big point spread by the half. I think it was 27 three.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then they really well, they came back, I think, in this start of the second half and it looked like, ok, this is what the Bears do, right, they let them come back and they fold. But you brought DJ Moore in yeah, that was supposed to be your guy and this is the first time you've looked at him and he proved that he is that guy for you on this team.
Speaker 3:Most definitely. Eight receptions, 230 yards, three Tuddies. You know he came in with his hard hat, ready to work and hopefully we can see more consistency out of that. It seems like it's a flash in the pan to me. I'm not really truly convinced that. You know the Bears are going to take this momentum and take advantage of it and use it to their advantage. But good for them being able to snap the 14 game losing streak. You know it's been almost a year to the dates, or they haven't won a game.
Speaker 1:It might be more frustrated than us, yeah.
Speaker 3:I would venture to say, and I think you know, the Bears have been just a really bad organization for a pretty long time, you know, so I can't.
Speaker 1:They talk about, they don't really develop the quarterbacks Right, yeah, that's been something that they taught. But Justin Fields 15 for 29, 273 yards and four touchdowns, not to say his stats, are not always bad. I like Justin Fields.
Speaker 3:I do too.
Speaker 1:I liked him at Ohio State. Yeah, like I thought he was a great player. I thought he got overlooked because I think size wise. But he is a mobile quarterback and they just aren't utilizing him in that like he should be running the ball and he's an accurate thrower.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think so too. I don't think it's Fields that is the issue. I think it's more of an organizational problem. You know, again, bears have not been that good of an organization for quite some time and haven't done very well in the draft either. So, fields, kudos to him for winning, you know, the first game and getting that monkey off his back. I think they can build off that momentum.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I mean they got a. They've shown now that they can get it to DJ more. Dj more showed why you brought him here. So this is going to be a big test for them this week if they can continue to find him and move the ball as well as they did last week.
Speaker 3:Yeah, on the flip side of that, I think the commanders have a lot of issues themselves. Last year they had a really strong defense and this year they're not really stepping up to the plate and playing up to the par that they were anticipating playing. I think they're just forcing a lot of things to try to make plays, you know, in the game.
Speaker 1:Do you like Sam Howell?
Speaker 3:He's not bad he's. He's still got to grow on me a little bit. I think that he had a really good game. Stat wise he's been doing fairly decent. You know, as far as like the tools around him, you know they're not consistent, a lot of guys dropping the balls. You know wide open passes. The commanders like main bread and butter was the defense. You know they were one of the ones that were tops in takeaways last year. They're not getting those takeaways now so it's just been big, big debacle there as far as like getting everybody on board and I think to you know the coaching, you know Ron Rivera and this might be.
Speaker 3:He might be on the high yeah, I think he, I think it might be done, and I think that it was not by accident or coincidence that Eric B enemy is there. I, you know as far as you know, kind of grooming him into a head coaching role. I think that's why he's at the commanders right now. I mean, when you think about it, eric B enemy was probably the top offensive coordinator in the league, scoring the most points in the last five years that out of any other offensive coordinator, and yet he hasn't had a coaching job yet. But other guys that have lost to him now have coaching jobs.
Speaker 1:So I mean magic johnson taking over this team and. I think they're kind of building those blocks and I don't think they expected to be good this year. I think it was a little shock and they felt like it, but it probably best for them to tank the rest of the season and try to get like a Caleb Williams right, if possible, from USC.
Speaker 3:I don't know, we'll see.
Speaker 1:I mean the bears might go up for that.
Speaker 3:They get one in two right now they do have one in two and they got that number one pick from the Panthers. You know that that's even more hurtful right now with the way the Panthers look.
Speaker 1:So yeah, but then you wonder I mean whole another story is Caleb Williams. Would he go to the bears? I?
Speaker 3:think I think that was one of the teams that he said. I think he said New York, dallas.
Speaker 1:San.
Speaker 3:Francisco and there was another giant giant yeah, but I don't know if there was another team in there or not, but maybe. But I mean, I wouldn't mind taking him, you know I would, I would mind now I'm not doing that, yeah, but congrats to the bears.
Speaker 1:I guess we'll see how they build off of that and hopefully Justin Fields proves he can play in the NFL. If it's not with the bears. I hope he does find his place. He's too good to not be on the field most definitely.
Speaker 1:But another game which I love, these London games because they started 830, so I get a full day of football, right, but surprised Jaguars Bills 25, 20 Jaguars when? Do you think that's because they played there two weeks in a row and stayed and we're in that time zone this week. That's an excuse, but I'm just asking.
Speaker 3:I think it is more of an excuse. I think that the Jags just really came to play. I think the fact that they're just playing with like just pure raw talent it's a young core, young quarterback I think that you know they're just going out there having fun and they're just playing and I think that they can lay their hat on any type of inconsistencies. They can chalk that up to the inexperience. The bills can't really say that. You know it's. It's like, hey, you got a shake or you got to go. You know like they have to figure it out. So you know what the inconsistencies there. I think that One of the big things that hurt them was mental mistakes. You know the offense had 11 penalties, over 100 yards of those penalties.
Speaker 1:So Josh Allen was was playing in a hole, you know, in terrible field position the whole entire time and when he does that, when is back, he feels like he has to do overdo and I've talked about this on.
Speaker 3:He needs to calm down because his competitiveness, I think, gets him into trouble because he's trying to do too much and that ultimately makes him throw, you know, a turnover yeah, you know, in the, in the grand scheme of things, I think that he balled out I think he will this team to almost win the game, minus the interception that he had. I think that you know he was able to find digs, he was able to, you know, move the ball and and really get some, some play and some action from from his team there. But I think the defense was just, you know, they're kind of really struggling, their injury riddled themselves.
Speaker 3:You know on Miller was on a snap count so he's still coming back which is crazy and it's like you know, like who, who made that decision for him not to be, because they were one.
Speaker 1:I was like they were on the ground every other play exactly. Defense was getting very bad, yeah, and.
Speaker 3:I mean, he was out by third quarter and it's like you know as a coach me personally If he's on a snap count, I'm going to spread that out across the game pretty evenly so that at least have him in the fourth quarter is no excuse that he's not in there with his experience and what?
Speaker 3:exactly you know even not a hundred percent right is better than they were on their third string yeah, and you know they did lose to Davis white the week before, so you know that was Like a big, big hit towards them. They exposed that, jackson will expose it.
Speaker 1:So but Jaguars, they're a good team. They made it to the. I think they were the sleeper last year. I think the Lions are the sleeper this year, but and then they added Calvin Ridley yes you know and that was another one, kind of like a DJ more they weren't finding him.
Speaker 1:Like that's your guy, they do have more weapons. But you brought him in and you got to get him the ball and I finally found him and he was making plays and it seems like now they're kind of trending because they know what it takes.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and he's taking care of the ball a lot better now too yeah, and I think Ridley really helped open up the running game as well. You know ETN had a stellar of a game as well.
Speaker 1:He had a heavy load. Fantasy points were really high up there.
Speaker 3:Twenty six carries. A hundred thirty six yards to Tudys yeah, I mean, that's averaging about five yards a clip. Being able to open up that running game made it even hard for the bill's defense, because now you've got to put you know six down in the box to try and stop the run. Six to eight players, and it's like how are we going to be able to balance out this mismatch over here with Ridley, you know, going against our secondary and he really did his thing.
Speaker 1:So he did. I mean, they have all the weapons, they just utilize it. They're not as depth, isn't as there, but they can stay healthy.
Speaker 3:They have all the pieces to make another postseason run most definitely they're definitely going to ruin some, some, some folks dreams and journeys on the way to the.
Speaker 1:I think so. I think people are going to look past them, yeah, and they know what it takes to get there, and I think they're going to figure it out yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean other other games over the weekend stillers beat the Ravens, saints beat the Patriots, lions beat the Panthers Bengals. It looks like Joe Burrow is playing like Joe Burrow again. Even though it was against the Cardinals, he just looked like he could get that deep ball again. Eagles beating the Rams, which was heartbreaking, I feel like for me and you, because you're like you always, it's always a good day when the Eagles lose yeah, I felt like, with Cooper Cup coming back, like Eagles were had a chance to lose cheese beating the Vikings.
Speaker 1:I think we're seeing the end of Kirk cousins. Pretty much especially in Minnesota, and Raiders over the Packers on Monday night football, which it was. It was a game and it I didn't really see too much like. It was almost like who didn't screw up more.
Speaker 3:I'm like I'm a fan of Jordan love right now, like I think he's got a lot of upside. The more he gets the reps in to be able to get that game time experience, it's only going to make him better. And then, to you know, the team being healthy there, they can go pretty far.
Speaker 1:I think next year we'll see a whole different love. Yeah, I think he's still making rookie mistakes yeah like the panic at the end of that game. But out of all these games that I just mentioned, is there anyone that surprised you?
Speaker 3:I would have to say the Rams Eagles. I really thought that, you know, with the air attack coming back, you know our Cooper Cup being being coming back and On the other other end there I thought that they were really going to give the Eagles, you know, a run for their money. But the Eagles just really came in composed and really handle business. And you know the Eagles have been doing their thing. A lot of their wins have been pretty but you know they've been getting the job done.
Speaker 1:So I know, unfortunately, and it's crazy because to me the Eagles still don't seem like they have it all together and but they're still undefeated, so that's what makes them scary. Yeah, I'm like, can we not play them earlier?
Speaker 3:Before we get to play twice.
Speaker 1:can we do this before they do figure it out? Definitely, but yeah, they, they still have all the pieces. I really didn't think they were going to be as dominant as they were last year because I thought, you know, they lost a lot of players, but Seems to be that they're starting to mold back together and these ugly they might be ugly, but they're winning yeah yeah, I mean Hertz is a stellar quarterback and he's proven and he, I mean they play for him.
Speaker 3:Talk about leadership. Yeah, like he, he's definitely like under pressure. You just don't see him like losing sense of who he is or losing command of his offense, like he knows exactly what he's doing and he does that so.
Speaker 1:And they come up. I mean, their schedule is going to get harder to, but they have the jets this weekend, which I do think. Zach Wilson is trending upwards again and defense is starting to play for him again, so it could surprise us, like you said, any given Sunday.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean for the Jets. I mean they really don't have much to lose at this point. You know they're star. Future Hall of Fame or quarterback is out. You know it's like, hey, we're playing with house money, let's go out here have fun and let's try to ruin somebody's day.
Speaker 1:Well, let it be the Eagles. Please Ruin the Eagles. You heard that.
Speaker 3:Go on, zach Wilson.
Speaker 1:Have your best game. All right, chris, before I let you go, I just have to with all my guests. Based off of week five only, who do you think was the worst performance as a team in week five?
Speaker 3:well as as much as I hate to say it, I have to say the Cowboys were definitely a huge disappointment in this week's performance. I think that With all of the weapons that they have Mike McCarthy at the helm, dag Prescott leading the offense, mike Parsons leading the defense I just think that there were a lot of exposures to who they are and they're gonna have to figure out how to adjust on that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Unfortunately I'm gonna have to agree with you worse to the week. And not just that. Like the Cowboys fan, I mean. This game has been talked about since week one. I've been talking on it on my podcast since week one.
Speaker 1:This was the anticipated big game. You know, like how, like I said before, cowboys measuring stick, but we all wanted to see this matchup because it kind of showed what it was about and you had to bring your game. I know there's some injuries. Doesn't seem like Dbo was a little banged up, but let's to be honest, they probably just said that like he looked fine to me.
Speaker 1:Yeah but it wasn't even a game. I was at a friend's house watching, you know, ready all excited After the first. I mean we knew it was over after the first quarter.
Speaker 2:I mean.
Speaker 1:I knew it. After that fumble I was like this is the way this game is gonna go. I. Mean cuz you know you're like okay, we got this team like a ball team, like we got this team tonight, but it's scary, our road is getting harder, and I mean Cowboys that we can't have another performance like this. No, this was ugly, but on the flip side, I guess let's talk about fans that might be happy on who was the best of the week five.
Speaker 3:I'd have to go with San Francisco. I think that from top down they are just a very complete team. Kyle Shanahan has the offense dialed in the way he likes. I think he has the right quarterback running that offense. You couldn't have a better person running that offense for you and then to on the defensive side. I think that you know they're just really dialed in. It's almost like they've got nine or ten Micah Parsons on that side of the ball, where you know anybody on that team is gonna make a play.
Speaker 1:Yep, and I mean we must be synced up. This week we could have just watched Sunday Night Football, right, but 49ers, I mean they're just proven to be dominant. I mean not that Cowboys really gave them a lot to test this past week, but just week after week. I mean it hasn't been. I had a 49er fan goes. I don't even know how we play from behind.
Speaker 1:We've only been behind for a minute and 45 seconds right, yeah and I was like rude Must be nice to not have any panic, but they are continuing. The only thing that can stop the 49ers is health. If they don't have there, if they get any injury problems that expose any part of them, then that's when they can struggle. But if they stay healthy, they'll be in.
Speaker 3:They'll be in Las Vegas come yeah, I couldn't agree with you more there.
Speaker 1:It's looking really bright for the San Francisco 49ers, so yes and last, just based off of from week one through five, so you can go for the first five weeks of the NFL season, both Conferences, your top five, who you think can make it to the Super Bowl this season?
Speaker 3:Uh well, I'm gonna start from the bottom and work my way up to the top. I think at five sitting at five, we've got the Detroit Lions. I just think that they are coming and gelling together at the right time. I think they've got a really, really good, solid offense and consistent defense there, even with Amarad St Lord.
Speaker 1:St Brown.
Speaker 3:St Brown you know, with him not being there, them being able to figure it out. I think that they've done a really good job of kind of filling in the gap there. At number four, I'm gonna put Miami there. I think that they're still a really really good contender to kind of be in that three spot, but Miami right now is doing really well. There are some some, some little Exposures. You know they're on the offense and then on the defensive side as well.
Speaker 3:I'd like to see a little more of them this season playing, you know, some top contenders, to see if they're gonna move up in that power ranking. At three, I have Kansas City. I think that anytime you have Pat Mahomes at the helm, kelsey out there on the wide out or on the end of the line, it's kind of hard to bet against them. I think Pachinko has been doing really well in his production, so it's really hard to kind of bet against them in that sense. At number two, I've got the Philadelphia Eagles. Obviously it's pretty self-explanatory one of the other undefeated teams In the league right now and I think that in their future, in the next few weeks, they will have a pretty challenging schedule, but I think they're gonna come out fairly, fairly good with that schedule, as long as they stay healthy. And then, as you know, at the top spot, none other than San Francisco 49ers, who I think Ultimately will make a make their trip to the Super Bowl this year and competing and possibly win it.
Speaker 1:So that's what I have, pretty much. I have one, three and four in the separate order. Is you but my top five Lions for sure? Gopas has a new breath of fresh air coming in. We thought he was kind of on his way out. I don't think he really liked the trade when it first happened in Detroit, you know leaving the Rams. But he is now coming alive and I think a lot of people are gonna be surprised. But I think Lions are gonna go far in the postseason For his chiefs.
Speaker 1:You can never count out Patrick Mahomes, ever. I mean, they're still defending Super Bowl champions and they find a way. I didn't think they were ever gonna make it. Last year with, you know, after Tyree kill leaving right, and they found a way now Kelsey is did get hurt in this game. He came back in. I don't know if that was adrenaline, so I think we need to keep a close eye on that, cuz you're gonna have to have Kelsey to make that run. Yeah, dolphins are my number three. They're still performing, still high power. I think two is doing a great job. Losing a Chan this week, though tough, is gonna be big because Mr I can never say his last name, but he's been struggling, he's been losing the ball a lot, so now he's gonna take that back over. I know they're gonna bring up the other guy, but he was kind of their explosive guy.
Speaker 1:Hey, yeah and I think it'll be interesting to see how they go. They're still my up and down team, but they're still performing well and I think that they're gonna continue to keep going To a hated Eagles. They're still there. They're still undefeated. I this is my my list is fluid, so I really need this to fluid the Eagles out of there.
Speaker 1:Cowboys were up there at one point in time but they've dropped. But I mean Eagles. Like I said, it's ugly but they're winning and it's only gonna get better for them. So Eagles are my number two and then number one 49ers. It's just what we've already talked about, just dominant force. They stay healthy. No one's gonna touch them. And as a cowboy fan, it's really sad because I'm gonna have to go through the Eagles and the 49ers, if I want to get to the big stage.
Speaker 1:So hopefully something falters there. Like I said, it's fluid. Hopefully we can knock them down. But those are my top five, no question. Yeah, most definitely but I appreciate you coming on today and Hope you enjoyed it. But before I let you go, I just always like to give my guess the last word. Is there anything you want to tell the listeners?
Speaker 3:Success and nothing less.
Speaker 1:Y'all mean nice Thanks for coming, chris.
Speaker 3:Thank you.
Speaker 2:What is up, guys? It's your boy, man Skyler, back on Lacey's line up here to give you week six predictions. First up, thursday night football chiefs Broncos. I have to go with the chiefs by 12. Now Sunday's lineup first, 49ers Browns going with, sadly, the 49ers by 8. After that, texans Saints going with the Texans by 10. Lions bucks. It's gonna be a good game. So I'm going with the Lions by three. Eagles and Jets. We do not want the Eagles to win, but I'm sadly gonna have to pick them to win by seven and.
Speaker 2:Then Monday night football. To end week six Cowboys Chargers. I'm gonna of course go with the Cowboys by four, and that is your weekly predictions. I'll see you next week. For week seven predictions Skyler out.
Speaker 1:Well, that's all we have for this week's episode. Excited to watch another great week of football going into week six, I will be back next week same time to debate everything that went down until then. Your girl is signing off.