REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
Doc and Marlon bring you the best takes from all of sports. #REALTALK #THATSRIGHTBROTHA
REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
Baseball Playoffs, NFL Week 3, Clemson, UGA vs BAMA and WNBA Drama
We break down all the excitement across major sports as playoff baseball heats up, NFL week 3 delivers shockers, and college football rivalries intensify.
• Milwaukee Brewers lead MLB with 95 wins as Christian Yelich quietly puts together an outstanding season
• Kyle Riley makes MVP case with 58 home runs as a catcher for Seattle, competing with Aaron Judge's .326 batting average
• Wild card races intensify with Mets, Reds, and Cubs battling in the National League
• Atlanta Falcons suffer embarrassing 30-0 shutout against previously winless Panthers
• Eagles stage incredible comeback against Rams, blocking two field goals including Jordan Davis's touchdown return
• Chargers surprise everyone with 3-0 start behind Justin Herbert's precision and strong defensive performance
• Green Bay Packers stumble against Cleveland Browns despite being crowned early-season favorites
• Clemson's college football program in crisis at 1-3 as Dabo Swinney refuses to adapt to transfer portal era
• Georgia-Alabama showdown in Athens promises revenge opportunity for Bulldogs after last year's heartbreak
• A'ja Wilson secures fourth MVP award, cementing her place among all-time WNBA greats
And welcome, welcome, welcome, everybody to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, you doing all right today.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, I am, brother. I'll tell you it's a wonderful Tuesday, man, One of the best times of the year. Man, you got college football in full swing, the NFL in week three going into week four, and then you got the Major League Baseball. Everybody's stressed for the teams that are in it, you know. So let's go, baby, let's do it absolutely so, we will.
Speaker 1:Uh, we'll get into a little bit of the, the college football and, uh, big alabama georgia game coming up. We'll get into all of the, the nfl week five or week four action, uh, and then recap week three. A lot of stuff went on in nfl week three, so, but we're going to start with the baseball. Um, yeah, as you were talking about, with the wild card, my Padres clinched. So what's your overall thought process on the recap of what's going on in baseball as we lead into the playoffs?
Speaker 2:It's been a great week, a great year, man, despite my Atlanta Braves falling apart and, ironically enough, you know my Atlanta Braves on a 10-game winning streak. You know they beat the Washington Nationals 3-2 to 10. They waited all year 20 games out of the first 18 didn't have to be exact to start playing ball 10-game winning streak. But it's been a great, great year, man. A lot of outstanding things going on. You know Milwaukee has the best record in baseball in 95 wins. You know Christian Yellich, their superstar, longtime superstar. He's quietly having a great year with a bunch of home runs and 105 ribbies. And then you know the Phillies are the Phillies. You know they lead the National League East and you know the Dodgers lead the National League West. But, as you referenced the Padres man, your guys, congratulations on clinching the playoff spot. You're only two and a half behind the Dodgers with five games left, game 158 tonight. And I think the fact that you know Machado and Fernando Tatis for your Padres and your pitching staff has done just enough, brother, to do the business and get it done. Now, as far as the wild card go, the Mets and the Cincinnati Reds and the Cubbies are battling that thing out in the National League and I just love the way the tension is going on down the stretch. The Mets is New York market, you know you're pulling for Soto, but Cincinnati with De La Cruz, he's good. And of course the Cubbies, chicago Cubbies, man Champs Cubbies they're doing the business too. So it's interesting. Now in the American League, marlon, you know Toronto ain't no joke. They lead the American League East over the Yankees, you know, and I think Toronto with Guerrero, is going to do some serious damage in the playoffs. Detroit and Cleveland are tied in the American League Central because Detroit had a 10-game lead early September. And here we are, on September 23rd. They blew that 10-game lead in a tie with the Cleveland Guardians who beat Detroit Tigers today, go figure, man Baseball is the only member. The Tigers were 14-and and a half game up prior to the All-Star break with the best record in baseball. And Scooble, everybody got him winning a Cy Young, but he pitched tonight and blew it to Cleveland. I just think that that American League thing is interesting. Man, you want to see the Yankees. This is a big market, but I don't trust Aaron Boone.
Speaker 2:I think Seattle or Kyle Riley and I'm going to get into this, kyle Riley, man, this guy's carrying Seattle up. In the Pacific Northwest. A lot of people sleep on the East Coast or the Midwest and Seattle. You know they got one of the better records in baseball. And Kyle Riley, man, he has 58 home runs. Marlon, Right now he's my MVP and I'll tell you why.
Speaker 2:As a catcher a catcher with all the extraneous activity, getting your pitchers staffed, all the mental fatigue this guy has 58 bombs and 121 RBIs. His OPS is .949. Now, aaron Judge, a lot of people love this dude, including me. You know he has a .326 batting average. You know OPS of 1.125. So it's slightly higher than Kyle Rowley's margin, but he has 49 home runs and only 105 ribbits. You know, here you go. If Kyle Rowley ends up with 62 bombs, you got to give it to him. Right now I'm giving it to him
Speaker 2:58 RBI. And then National League, real quick, before we
Speaker 2:move on. Of course, you know Shohei Itani. He has an OPS of 1.015 and 53 home runs and 99 ribbies. But Kyle Schwarber, you know he has a .950 OPS. This cat has 54 bombs, man, and 130 ribbies for the Philadelphia Phillies. You know we fall in love with these sluggers, man, but Kyle Schwarber has come on strong with 54 bombs. Our little tiny pitcher. He's pitching tonight. In fact you want to give it to him, but he only has 99 RBI. They have a stacked team Phillies. You know they're okay on the lineup, but when you have 130 ribbies and 54 bonds, I'm leaning toward Kyle Schwarber. So there you go, as far as Dr Falcon's MVP America League, kyle Riley with his 58 bonds and 121 ribbies, and Kyle Schwarber with his 54 bonds and 130 ribbies. So let's go, baby. Last week, in a regular season man, and I love Aaron Judge and I love Shohei, but the numbers speak for themselves, man, you know what I'm saying and you know you can fall in love with Shohei Tani at double duty and all that, but Schwarber's doing the business, you know.
Speaker 1:So there you go, right there good luck to your partners, thank you. Thank you, we all will be locked in. Uh, as you said, a week left before we lead into the playoff, so we will be locked into that. But, uh, we did have some week three action. A lot of a lot of action, some great, some bad uh and some ugly. And uh, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, everyone's favorite segment doc, get it off your chest my falcons got shut out 30 to nothing on the road in the division game.
Speaker 2:It's an absolute disgrace, man, 30 to nothing against the all a team that was oh and two going into week three and we couldn't score a point. You know, my new field goal kicker missed two field goals, one at the beginning of the game when it could have set the tone and the mindset for the Falcon players. He misses it. This is why we got rid of Yungway Kuzak because he missed some critical field goals. And the guy we replaced, he missed two field goals right out the gate. 30 to nothing. A shutout against Price Young, a Carolina team on, and if you remember that week 18 last year bounced us from the playoffs. So your mindset going in is that payback's a bitch. You got Kyle, I mean you got, you know, Michael Penance Jr, who's coming off a pretty good game against Minnesota on the road on a Sunday night, pretty much dominated the Viking.
Speaker 2:We go to Carolina thinking the spread was five and a half. I had no problem saying laying money on that five and a half point spread and we get a shutout 30 to nothing. I think the coaching staff is on fire. You know we already fired the receiving coach and our offensive coordinator, Zach Robinson, is going down on the field as opposed to the press box, but there's no excuse for Michael Penix missing wide open receivers. You know this team was 0-2, and we got shut out. A disgrace. It reminds me of the 76 Falcons you know with Steve Barkowski and those games when Barkowski was a young cat we were like 0-14 or 2-12, something like that. You know we're 1-2 right now. You want to be optimistic that that that's that can't happen, man. You know a 30 didn't.
Speaker 2:It's not like carolina panthers or playoff contenders no they were over two, so that's an absolute disgrace go ahead and you guys got the weapons.
Speaker 1:And it makes me wonder are you happy, as a falcons fan, are you happy to see that you guys kept kirk cousins and didn't deal them? Because, truth be told, you guys may mess around and bench Pennix within a game or two potentially, if this keeps going in the way that it's going.
Speaker 2:Well, to answer your question, that's a very good point, man, because all our iron firestorm was at Kirk Cousins' feet last year and Pennix had a solid last three games. So you're thinking this is his job to lose. We had to throw Kirk Cousins at the end of the game the last two series because Pennington stunk up so bad. So yeah, I'm glad right now, looking back on it, that we kept him, you know. But let's hope that Pennington doesn't blow up like he did in week three. And we got Drake London, darnell, mooney, ray, ray McLeod, let alone B John Robinson and Tyler Algier in the backfield.
Speaker 2:Solid offensive line. Not one is all that, but they can keep pennants clean. He was just missing throws man. You know he took a step back. I know this is only his fifth game as a starter and he's really young as far as being a football player and a starter in the league. But with those weapons and Kyle Pitts has shown up to play this year 6-6, a red zone threat. So none of our receivers have a touchdown pass. So we fired the receivers, coach. So, yeah, I'm glad we kept Kirk Cousins.
Speaker 1:Yeah, another bad loss. And we have some Vikings fans that listen to the show, so I know they're happy about the win. But we had John Baltimore on a couple weeks ago and going on about his bangles, and of course you lost Joe Burrow for the year. But Browning actually played decent last week when he came in. But this game it was just they. They can never get on a roll. I mean, you have all the. You have all the weapons as well. You got chase Brown, jamar, chase T Higgins. You have all the weapons too, but that offense couldn't get rolling, that defense couldn't stop them from scoring.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and they paid Trey Hendrickson, you know, and the backup for the Vikings, you know. He came in and put up 48 points on his ass On the what is his name? Ex-philly starter. He put up 48 points Carson.
Speaker 1:Wentz yeah.
Speaker 2:Wentz, yes, and so that's a lot of bad losses, man the Raiders, you know, without Jaden Daniels or Washington, they get clubbed in the head by Washington commanders, you know, and Geno Smith is turning out to be a flop in a big-time free agent move. They might as well have kept Ritter and the other cat from last year At least they were competitive.
Speaker 2:Geno Smith needs to step up. I think the Jets had a devastating loss. The Giants were in it against Kansas City on that 79th thing. Just bad losses, man Heart attack losses. 49ers win on a late field goal. They're 3-0, you know how. About Cleveland, marlon? You know you talk about recapping the league.
Speaker 2:These are the Cleveland Browns. They beat the Green Bay Packers mainly because Micah Parsons jumped offside and moved the ball a little closer for the field goal kicker. We're talking about Joe Flacco, who's older than me, he seems like he's in his 50s and he beat a great Green Bay Packer team that many think is going to— it's the NFL brother, and there's some other devastating losses out there, but go ahead.
Speaker 1:But staying with that game right there. This is a Green Bay team that everybody crowned, oh yeah, they are the best team in the league, and this and that, and you saw what the Ravens did to the Browns last week and you couldn't go. Since you're the quote, unquote the best team Everybody's crowning them as the best team in the league you can't go to Cleveland. Yes, they have a decent defense, but you know, their offense isn't is it's pretty terrible. So this, just, I will give them a pass and say, okay, look, Jordan, love, okay, everybody has a oneud game that they should win. Let this be your one-dud and show to the world that, hey, we are still the team that everybody thinks we are with the best offense and the best defense in the league.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a very good point, man. But Cleveland has a great defense now led by Myles Garrett and the other cat on the other side. But there's no way in the world, green Bay and Jordan Love is who he is, man, he melted down again. Can he lift his team offensively as the quarterback, the leader of the team, to do what he has to do to take this team to big-time performances in the postseason? I know it's only week three, but you don't lose to Cleveland and you only score 10 points too. It's not like Cleveland put a 40, you know. So, yeah, there you go.
Speaker 2:But here's the thing, man, the game of the weekend. How about the Rams and the Eagles? The Eagles were dead in the fourth quarter and all of a sudden they blocked two field goals and destroyed the Rams on a devastating loss. And the big boy, jordan Davis, out of Georgia, runs the black field goal, pack, their second field goal, block of the game and scores a touchdown with his big ass. One of the most exhilarating moments being a Bulldog fan, but as an NFL fan. The Rams had their game up 26-7. Total meltdown.
Speaker 1:This was the same in the playoffs. You know they have these games, they go there, they punch them in the mouth and they're essentially winning, and it comes down to the last player or one of the last drives. So as a Rams fan, it's, I mean, every aspect. Devontae Adams was there, puka, all of the players, the running back was doing good too as well. So they just got to find a way to close these games out. And here they are, they're two and one, with that being their loss. But the rams are going to be a problem in the nfc still, whether they got a home foot advantage or not, because, like I said going to philly last year, they should have been in the super bowl last year. So we'll see what happens, but they will be. They will make some noise for sure in the in the uh in the nfc this year oh, a lot of great action, brother.
Speaker 2:Your charges man did the number on the AFC rival Endeavor Broncos that many thought would be fighting for division. Here you are 3-0, and I know you didn't think this prior to the season 3-0 in the AFC West and 3-0 overall. You know, going to the game this weekend against Indy at home, a red-hot Indianapolis Col Coast team is also 3-0. So it's one of those things where you've got to give Justin Herbert and Mary Hampton your defense. Despite missing Khalil Mack. You're showing up, man. You're showing up big time. The ball is in your court. You hit the crib this week. I know we're getting ahead of ourselves, but congratulations on your charges man, because they're doing the number in the business of the AFC West that many thought would automatically go to either Denver or Kansas City. Nobody picked you guys.
Speaker 1:Go ahead, especially with the Slater injury. Nobody picked us from that and it was just the whole division got better. The Chiefs are still the Chiefs, but Broncos got better, especially on defense, and they picked up JK Dobbins. You know, you look at what the Raiders did new quarterback-coach combination and Pete Carroll and Geno Smith and of course you can't forget about Jente. So it was the whole division elevated.
Speaker 1:And then with the injury, just like Adam says all the time, after that Slater injury, you just couldn't pick us. But yeah, we're here, we're playing smash-mouth football. We, you just couldn't pick us, but yeah, we're here, we're playing smash-mouth football, we're trying to get the run game going. Najee Harris he tore his Achilles so he's out. So now you've got even more pressure on Amarion Hampton. But Herbert man, especially that last throw, running to your left throwing it on the other side of his arm, and Keenan Allen of course he's always open. Herbert can make every throw, we know that, but it's, it's in the defense.
Speaker 1:The defense did great for the most part, but they were. Jk Dobbins was scoring. It was looking like one of those Charger games where it's like oh man, here we go. Let me turn off the TV. My dad was over at the house and he said well, no matter, your son, like it's, it's, I don't want to see us, you know, lose this way. It's it's, I don't want to see us, you know, lose this way.
Speaker 1:And so he's listening to the game on the way home, and then we have this couple stops, you know, touchdown here, there, and we get that last second field goal. So it's amazing to feel to be a Chargers fan 3-0, 3-0 in the division and we are actually in, which leads me to who we play this week. We're in New York, which leads me to who we play this week. We're in New York, so we have Jackson Dart. So we have no film on him, obviously, but we should throw a lot of defensive schemes with Derwin James and the crew trying to confuse him. So I'm definitely excited for this matchup going up to New York this weekend.
Speaker 2:Well, I'll tell you what man. It's one of those things where I'm on that. Justin Herbert got tired of the criticism. After throwing four INTs in a post-season game, came to camp in great shape. The arm talent and the skill was always there. He got the size and now he's put it all together. He lost weight, came to camp in great shape and remember, now he lost Slater one of the best tackles in football, top three tackles, and he's out for the year prior to his training camp. So congratulations on that. But you know, overall man, you look at the league man, it's just upside down, it seems like. Look at baltimore's cap has a performance. The ravens, you know they might still go for him in the bowl man, but if henry keeps fumbling around, I don't know not you know the quarterback, lamar jackson, is doing his business you.
Speaker 2:But you came from Iraq and you let Detroit come in your house and stomp you and run you to the ground on what used to be a physical defense, led by Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton. They ran for over 250 yards, it seemed like, and let Montgomery run 70 yards for a touchdown late. That's not Raven football. I'm sure they'll clean that up, but that AFC North is upside down. You're an AFC guy, guess, who tied for first the Steelers and nobody thought this would happen, because you know the old man, aaron Rodgers, with no running game. You know you can say what you want about Warren, but he's not a stud running back. They're 2-1.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's just one of those things where I know it's early, but it's interesting. You look at 49ers they're out, the quarterback Purdy is out and they're still winning games. They're undefeated. Yeah, so late field goal, and if they lost?
Speaker 1:Bosa, that's going to be a kill, but go ahead. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. It hurts, but I mean, at least with some of these games, even the Colts, with them being 3-0-2 as well, and the Bucs are 3-0. We haven't even mentioned the Bucs yet. So some of these games, it's great that some of they're gonna play, but, but, um, it's a lot of pressures on Lamar, um, just to make something happen sometimes, because now I feel like, depending on whatever situation they're in, with him fumbling every single game, it's like, man, I don't. Can we trust you? Can we trust you with the ball when the game is on the line? And I know he's hard on himself and I know he'll figure it out, but, yeah, man, overall that defense is bad. It's bad. Lions' defense isn't great either, but this defense and you're at the crib playing like this giving up all those points.
Speaker 2:So yeah, it's bad. Yeah, and that just goes back to the argument of Lamar Jackson. When the big game, this was a big game for Baltimore, they had to have it. You know you can't get too far. They already lost to Buffalo, you know, and they won the game behind them for the overall record. Now you're 1-2.
Speaker 2:But, marlon, it's one of those things where, man, you know, you are who you are, you know you are who you are. You know Derek Henry never fumbles over 640-something carries in his career and he had three fumbles. We are in week three and he has a fumble in each game Critical. You know. And here you are. You know, and you know football is football. They got to clean that up, you know, and take it from there Now. But Pete Thits, champion of New Mexico's Bears, and you didn't see this coming, you know the quarterback, caleb, went through four TD passes. We'll finish it up in our recap.
Speaker 2:But I'm happy for Caleb. They were on his ass big time. Big market in Chicago. You know, sometimes it's unfair. You look at his numbers. He only had five interceptions last year but it seemed like he got sacked a bunch of times and killed some drives because he held on the ball. He only had five interceptions this year. You know he started off solid but four touchdown passes against a beleaguered Dallas Cowboy defense man you talk about bad defenses. You know this is unheard of for Dallas. I know they lost some Appalachian but they still got Bland and they got Diggs at corner in that secondary and they got a couple of D linemen. But you know Dallas is in trouble. You let Caleb Williams throw 14, he probably made them look like Warren Moon out there. You know zipping the ball. I know they got weapons but I'm happy for Caleb and not to mention on the other side with Dallas.
Speaker 1:Cd Lamb's probably going to be out for three to four weeks and your offensive lineman, I think, is out too. I don't know if he's out for the year, but your offensive lineman is going to miss some time if he's not out for the year. So they're in trouble. I don't know. Go from there. Pickens is now your number one. So now, if you shut Pickens down, you get some of these. You know the number three, number four wide receivers out there and you have Ferguson at the tight end spot. So it's not looking good for him. And of course, next year. I love a good story. I love good drama filled storyline. And now you have the Green Bay Packers team who got beat in Cleveland. Now they come to Dallas and Micah Parsons' first time home coming up on Sunday. So I can't wait for that. And Green Bay always beats Dallas in Dallas, always.
Speaker 2:So I don't see it being anything different.
Speaker 2:Well, if Jordan Love comes to play, you know he did it two years ago and put a 48 on Dallas in the postseason. You can't forget that 48, but you're in love. But he's regressed so I'm pulling for the guy. It's going to be a great Sunday night game. One thing before we move on for this weekend in slates the quarterback for the Giants, jackson Dart, your call on that. Did they pull Russell Wilson too quick? I mean he's two dart. Yeah, have they your call on that. Did they pull your russell wilson? I was done quick. I mean he's two weeks from 450 yards passing, but that's against the dallas defense. But he looked horrible sunday horrible. So you're gonna put the kid in there and we're gonna see what they're gonna do and and take it from there, jackson dart they drafted him for a reason he's, that's your call.
Speaker 1:He's getting the treatment that Justin Fields got in Pittsburgh. Justin Fields wasn't playing that bad, but they wanted Russ to be the guy. So for me personally, I don't see why you pay the dude just about dang near $20 million a year. I think it was just a one-year deal, but you're paying $20 million. You got to roll him out there and see what you got. I mean, unless you're just going to let $20 million sit on the bench, which at that point I'll be a Kirk Cousins just sit and get paid. So if you really want to roll with this guy, this is the same thing with Shador. You want to roll this guy out there so soon and so early.
Speaker 1:Not everybody's going to be Jaden Daniels, that's not. You know some guys need development. You know Jordan Love wouldn't have looked like how he looks now if he went out and played his rookie year. Some players need development, so is they can roll them out there. And the problem is you're going up against a really tough defense and I know Jesse Mentor is going to get the guys ready and throw so many different schemes at him that it's. It could be really bad for him. But even though you're at home you were. You were just at home sunday night. You pretty much got beat pretty bad against the chief. So, um, I would have rather him go to and play next week against the saints if you want to roll them out there against a team that's pretty bad and in your division who haven't won a game yet, but if you want to go up against one of the best defenses in the league, if you're the coaching staff, I hope you guys know what you're doing, because Derwin James and the crew they're going to come for his head.
Speaker 2:Well, you have to beat the Giants to improve on your stock man and take it from there. But New York I mean Dayball's ass is under enormous strain and he put himself in this position with James. You know Russell Wilson, you brought in, but you drafted the kid, so we'll see how the kid reacts. I don't have a problem with it. You know Jackson Dart and we'll take it from there, man. But good luck just the same. All right, that's it for last week, slate. But let's go, baby, what you got? We talked about a free game, but we can delve into it more in week four.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. We got our first international game. That's starting, so you'll be rolling out of bed. Uh, at 6 30 your time. The vikings and the steelers. They are playing in, uh, dublin, ireland. So that's, that'll be a good one on that one. Uh, minnesota's laying two and a half on that one. Um, yeah, we'll see. I think, with the highest minnesota's been playing, definitely think they're going to keep it rolling. Um, steelers have a lot of problems. They're barely winning some of these games so, so definitely think the Vikings will take care of business on that one.
Speaker 2:I think so too, because you know, justin Jefferson, steelers secondary has no answer for somebody like that. And remember now, carson Wentz balled out and put up 48 last week. And the Steelers they don't score like that. You know they really don't. And TJ Watt has not performed up to par, despite the big contract he recently signed. And you know Cameron Hayward, he's 36, a nose guard, nose tackle. I think the Steelers are in trouble, man. You know Brian Flores' defense. You know, with Dallas Turner and those cats they're going to be after the old man Rodgers. I mean, it is commendable that they started 2-1 in Pittsburgh Steeler land, but they're going to lose this one. They're going to lose this one. Brian Flo is not playing that with old man quarterbacking the Steelers.
Speaker 1:I think with your game it's going to be very interesting because you got the commanders. There's no scary. Terry may be out again, but they had Mariotta and he did pretty good. I think he had a rushing touchdown and a couple passing touchdowns. So what Falcons team is going to show up? This will be a decent game for you guys, but you guys definitely need a bounce-back game to somewhat be competitive in the division.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm looking forward to going back and finish 200-400, I mean 500 at the end of four weeks. We're at the crib and Mariota did have a cup of coffee with my Falcons two years ago and you know so we're very familiar defensively with what he brings to the table. But you still have to play the game, man. You know what's the mindset. Now that we got crushed 30 to nothing last week, you want to think that the players are eager, given that we fired a couple of coaches, position coaches and all that and people on edge and the pressure is on Raheem Morris. So I would think that we'll be favoring. We'll win by three or four.
Speaker 2:Just give me a win B. John Robinson doesn't have to carry the ball 30 times. You know, put the ball in the air. Let one of our receivers score their first touchdown by the receiving court for the year. That's insane, man, because Penix Jr has a gun for an arm. His arm talent is sick. That's why they fired the receiver coach. None of our receivers have a touchdown, including the tight end. The touchdown was to De'on Robinson in week one. So you know we'll see how it goes. You know we're at home and can my defense do what they did week two against the Vikings with the young linebackers and edge rushers and provide some sacks. That's why we drafted their asses Made Bryce Young look like a flying target. So yeah, I'm still pissed off, but go ahead.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's three big games this weekend. You got the undefeated Tampa Bay Bucks against the undefeated Eagles. That one's in Tampa Bay, so that one's won. Yeah. You got the Colts undefeated Colts. They're going up there in LA at the Rams, so that's going to be a good one. And then you got the Ravens and the Chiefs both one and two both need to win desperately. So, uh, you know what? What game you think you're looking forward to the most out of those three?
Speaker 2:The Ravens and the Chiefs, man, because you got two former MVPs under enormous strain with their respective teams and you know, one and two is one and two but it's an arrowhead and I don't think Lamar has yet to beat Mahomes. But you can't see Lamar going. One and three. But then again you saw the Ravens' defense get smashed. But Kansas City don't have that kind of offense. Pacheco doesn't run a rock like that, they run like Montgomery and Gibbs. So it's going to be interesting, man, just because it's in Kansas City, you got to go. Kc man, you really do Not, unless Lamar just shows up and just goes to Andrews and Zay Flowers and all that. Kansas City's wide receivers are beat up, but it goes, noted, man. They can't lose either. They cannot lose, they're gone. This is still Mahomes, so I got to take Mahomes at the crib.
Speaker 2:The other two, the Rams, they got to bounce back the Colts. Are they living with mirrors? My buddy's a Colts fan, but they are who they are. They're 3-0 with a solid defense. Remember they dropped it last. Two, the edge rusher from UCLA Like they're playing great defense, but I think Stafford and those cats are going to bounce back man at home in LA after a devastating loss. You can't mistrust Sean McVay. Let's put it that way. And what was the other one?
Speaker 1:Yeah, Eagles at the Bucks.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, man, I hate to say it, but I got to go with Tampa Bay. Remember, tampa Bay went up to Philly two years in the postseason, beat them, or late, or something like that. You know this, this Baker Mayfield, he's put his name up for MVP back to back, late game heroics and plays where they kick the field goal and win. Baker Mayfield is who he is and he's revived his career from Cleveland. I've got to take Tampa in that one. I love Philly but it's in Tampa and there's a reason why they're undefeated and they're in the NFC South Plus they're at home. I know they lost Evans, but Emeka Ibuka, he's a machine out of Ohio State, yeah, yeah. So I got to go with Tampa Bay at home because Baker has a hit factor. I'm not saying that Hurts doesn't, but when you got Vita Veya, the nose tackle for Tampa at 350, they can somewhat stop that funky formation that Eagles like to run, the push-push, so to speak. He's .350 or .360 in the middle and they're at home in Tampa. I'm taking Tampa, go ahead.
Speaker 1:And then the last two things before we get to college football. We got two Monday night games this week again, so I think these ones will be a little bit earlier, not last time, when we had a game that started at 10 o'clock at night. So the Jets and the Dolphins so one of these teams are going to get a win and then the Bengals and the Broncos, so that one. I'm not too excited about that one either, but yeah, it should be a good week. We got two Monday Night Football and, of course, the international game, so yeah, go ahead, good week we got two Monday Night Football and, of course, the International Games.
Speaker 1:So yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 2:I mean I'm pulling for Tua, but the Tyreek Hill thing is he's made some bad throws man under enormous pressure. That's what the quarterback position is pressure. And Miami, that coach, he's going to get blown out by week seven. That's a train wreck in Miami. You got to pull for Aaron Glenn and the Jets. I'm pulling for them because he has something built in there and not just defensively like they used to do. They got something there, you know. And as far as the other one, denver has to bounce back man, you know, I know they're in your division. They have to bounce back and Bo Nates has not played well at all the first three weeks. Former number one pick, I think he was number 12. So just got to keep an eye on one of those games, just one eye, you know, and take it from there.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, and a little college football action. What is going on with Clemson?
Speaker 2:and.
Speaker 1:Davos Swain. What is going on over there Go?
Speaker 2:ahead.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry, I was going to say what is going on over there at Clemson man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, davos taking a tremendous heat, of course, because prior to the season some people had him in the CFB including myself, based on TJ Park and the other heads rushing first-round picks next year. But when you lose the Syracuse, you lose the Syracuse. Let me say that one more time. When you lose the Syracuse, things are all right, and this is after losing the Georgia Tech and you lost game one to LSU in the night game. I could forgive you for that, but you can't lose the Georgia Tech and you can't lose the Syracuse. Now you're one in three. They should beat somebody at an FBS school, a garbage school, but they refuse.
Speaker 2:Dabo refuses to have a major impact in the NIL transfer portal thing. He wants to do it the old-fashioned way and when the NCAA allows you to have what amounts to a college football free agency, you got to attack it with vengeance. Man, this is Clemson. You know this is not. You know, virginia Tech of Virginia. Clemson has pedigree and the one in three they're done. They'll be in a tax layup. Oh, he just seemed like he's above everybody. Everybody else is using the portal to add pieces here and there to the respective teams and he said I'm not doing that. He added three guys in the portal in the last three years. You know what I mean. And the faithful in Clemson, they want him out, they want to buy him out. This guy has won three national titles, two against Saban. So I don't know, man, he just does, he just refuses to adjust to the times.
Speaker 1:But go ahead. Yeah, and of course we know about the big game in Alabama and Georgia, so I know that you'll be locked into that one on ABC Saturday night. But also, too, lsu Ole Miss is a great one, and you can't forget about Penn State and Oregon. So which one of those two are you looking forward to?
Speaker 2:Well, Penn State-Oregon is one of them. Can James Franklin and that quarterback, Drew Alar, win a big game? Oregon under Dan Ladding ain't no joke. Man, they got big boys out there. The Nike cow, the guy that throws millions into the program billionaire Oregon, ain't no joke. I don't know where that game's played at, but I want to say it's in Happy Valley in Pennsylvania. I don't know where that game's played at, but I want to say it's in Happy Valley in Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2:But you know this is one of those games that Franklin finally has to win. A big game, man, and don't fall apart. Three-all-r is picked to be a number one pick, late, but can he elevate himself and the team Now? They got running backs. Now Singleton is up there with Jeremiah Love for Notre Dame as far as a primary runner, but it all depends on, you know, franklin, the head coach of Penn State, and the quarterback, drew Allard, lsu Mississippi. That's a Southeastern conference where I think LSU is going to handle business. Nussmeyer hasn't been all that as a quarterback going to the draft next year but they've done enough defensively where LSU should have no problem with Ole Miss and I love Lane Kiffin but Ole Miss has problems. Otherwise I think LSU's going to win.
Speaker 2:Now Alabama and Georgia, baby. I think I've been a Bulldog fan since 1979, 78. I forget I was in high school. This is before Herschel. Alabama owns us, man, even when we had Vince Dooley, you know, and I just feel like the past year we did beat them for the natty four years ago when they had Jamison Williams. And you know, I can't think of the quarterback's name but Mack Jones. I think it was. No, it was Bryce Young. But we lost the game last year when we should have won in Tuscaloosa. But Ryan Williams, their all-world receiver, I think he's as good as the kid at Ohio State but he just doesn't get the opportunities. He scored a touchdown late on Georgia's defense and we haven't forgot.
Speaker 2:This game is in Athens, georgia now Marlon and the payback is a bitch, yeah, and Kirby Smart, even though we barely beat Tennessee and should have lost. I think the bye week help would probably clean some things up and the secondary that I think is going to do later. Three and a half man. I could see us winning 27 to 14. You might say well, alabama's been scoring. Well, they played two. I think they played two pats passes since they got mopped up by Florida State week one.
Speaker 2:I'm not scared about Alabama, you know so. It's a border rivalry. They own us the way we own Tennessee with nine straight wins against the Vols. But payback's a bitch man. You know, last year we should have won that game and they started out fast and we came all the way back and took the lead until Ryan Williams did his late game on Roards. We're going to have to double team that kid receiver and take it from there, brother, you know, athens Nice game, Nice game, marlon, you know so. The crowd is going to be into it. It's going to be blacked out as far as they're wearing the black uniforms and the crown. And all that, 93,000 plus in Vince, dooley Field, stanford Stadium. So, yeah, you're calling that game. Man, you're not really a college game. What do you see on the outside, looking in? You know my feelings.
Speaker 1:Go ahead From everything that you've told me for shoot weeks and weeks and weeks about this, even going last year with the Georgia Bulldogs. I think it's your time Alabama's coming in this. They already got a loss. So I think the confidence that you guys have is there. It is in Georgia. So I think that you guys got it, man. I think that you guys got it, man. I think that you guys got the confidence. As you said, I'm about to put me a bet in. Now lay the three and a half and come away with some money.
Speaker 2:Smart man, man, that's good. It all starts at the line of scrimmage. Georgia has five-star recruits, all of them sophomores, juniors, seniors on the offense and defensive line. We didn't lose that much. I know we lost Jalen Walker and some other cats, but Elijah Griffin number 90, is the number one crew in the country on the D-line and he knows he's a true freshman and keeping an eye on that cat. And then, privately speaking, I speak to some Bama people, including my wife. They weren't killing DeBoer out of there. He's not a Southern guy, he's not a southern guy, he's not a south guy, he's from Washington, pacific Northwest. And the only reason they got two wins, as I referenced, they played two FDS schools and they looked good against that. So this is a step up in class going to Athens. They want him out, you know, but it is what it is.
Speaker 1:So yeah, there you go right there, brother. The only thing that would scare me is that receiver. That's the only thing that would scare me. But if you guys have a good defensive plan for him, I think you guys would be okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Ryan Williams, yeah, yeah, and it goes noted, man, we did film work and he tore us up last year with 175 yards and a touchdown. So yeah, you better believe Kirby Smart got that thing locked up. Now I want to close with the WNBA. The playoffs are going. What you got, man? You know the Aces they did their number on the Fever's last night and my Atlanta dream is gone. But there's some surprise teams. Can Nafisha Collins from the Minnesota Lynx, can she do the business and finish the stick out? Or the Aces with Aja Wilson, one of fourth MVP. You know what? I grew up watching Cheryl Miller. I say she's the greatest women basketball player. And of course you got Lisa Leslie. You got some other girls, but this Aja Wilson, you're calling this one before we make predictions, when would you put her as far as the pantheon of great women basketball players ever? And that's including Cynthia Cooper and Tara Tarassi, or whatever her name is.
Speaker 1:Diana Tarassi, diana Tarassi, yeah. At this point. She has a very strong case. I hope you're sitting down. She has a very strong case to be top seven of all time. Asia Wilson, when you look at what she's done, because I believe she's won gold medals. This was her third MVP. I think she got third or fourth.
Speaker 2:Fourth. It's the fourth, yeah, fourth.
Speaker 1:When you look at all of that and the championship, and she's, I'd say, top seven, I mean, and her game is only getting better. She's taking the ball down the court a little bit. She obviously has a postgame Defense is out of this world, so she has to. I'm a Brianna Stewart guy myself, but Asia for sure Top seven. I'd say Brianna top ten. But yeah, asia's a beast man, she's a beast.
Speaker 2:Remember they started out slow, they had a losing record and then they got on a 17 or 18-game winning streak with Asia Wilson dominating man and you know I'm with you on that man and if she finishes this thing out she might even be in the top five. We didn't even mention Maya Moore, who's a dominant player. Maya Moore was dominant. A lot of the audience might know her accomplishments, but she was big in the WNBA for years and I already mentioned Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie and all that, and Diana Trost, and you mentioned Breonna Stewart.
Speaker 1:But yeah, it goes without, brother, but yeah, we talk about these playoffs in the WNBA real quick we would have to sit there and and go one by one, all the accolades because it's, it's, it's tough because some may have more championships but when you got four MEPs, I mean come on now like that's and that's, that's you that has to take account for something. So if we're talking about especially individual player um, but yeah so, um, my liberty got knocked out the mercury, they, they're ready, they're, they're ready, they're here. Nobody really picks them. They're not a sexy team.
Speaker 1:The links with nefisa that they are the team that everybody is anticipating to make it. It was supposed to be the, the links and the liberty, and now it looks like it very well could be the mercury which could beat the links with um, elissa, thomas and and, uh, uh, bonner and and those girls versus the aces who, as you said, they started off slow and we didn't know if this jeweloy trade would go, because they traded, did a three-way trade with uh, kelsey plumb out of there. I love kelsey plumb and I love the defense that she has and what she brings with the team, but this team is turning around with jackie young, chelsea gray, um, you know, jewel lloyd and, of course, uh, asia wilson is they're, they're turning it around, they're figuring out, they got, they got healthy and they're peaking at the right time. So it's this aces team. Sure seems like. Hey, we got hot when we needed to and we're ready to go all the way.
Speaker 2:Oh, excellent basketball. I watched the games with my daughter. She would know all these names, man. But when they lost Kelsey Plum, it took an adjustment. Apparently that's why they started so slow. But then they've been kicking ass. So 17 or 18-game winning streak, including A, including AJ Wilson winning her fourth I don't know who Phoenix Mercury got, you know. And then, of course, seattle Storm was doing the business and I don't know what happened to them. Well, atlanta Dream they were three seed and we just got bounced man last week.
Speaker 2:This is terribly disappointing the guard Gray, but it just goes to show man, this thing can go wide open, you know, even though A's is a problem to be favored. But Nafisha Collier, she missed some time and I think that killed her links, killed her, you know, and from the outside looking in, they had a squad before she got hurt. They had the best record in the WNBA, you know, and she was up for everything, but then she missed like two or three weeks with a serious injury. They just went dead, I don't know. Minnesota Blink there you go, man. My take right there as far as WNBA.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, Definitely should be a great one right now. The Mercury they did win in its halftime right now with the Aces and the Fever Aces are up by 11 points.
Speaker 2:I don't mean to cut you off, but the Fever and they wanted to blow the coach out when Kalen Clark was playing. But they're doing the business man without Kalen Clark, the face of the league. You know who's there. They got the big girl from South Carolina, I don't know anybody else other than Kaitlyn Clark and the big girl Aaliyah Boston. Yeah, yeah so she's doing good.
Speaker 1:Of course you have Kelsey Mitchell. She's the main, in my opinion, the main star. But they have a lot of role players and this team was built around um caitlyn clark and now, with her not being there, it's hey, next woman up. But uh, kelsey mitchell, they're a different team with her, because you, you defer to caitlyn, and rightfully so it's. She's one of the best shooters that we've seen all time. On, on, on, uh, in general, not even just for women, just in general. So, of course, your game plan, but without her, I think they found a rhythm to figure out hey, how are we going to make this work without deferring to Kaitlyn all the time?
Speaker 2:Well, it seems like they're not waiting for Kaitlyn Clark to do the business. It seems like they rounded the group together and they're actually playing better because the role players have stepped up. Man playing team ball Nothing against Kaitlyn Clark, but people tend to stand around when she's draining this. But if she misses they will lose them. But I don't know, man, it seems like they're playing better ball without her. And I'm not saying that the league don't miss them, because they do, but the Eagles are doing it. That coach was on. She was on the firing line. You know they were going to get rid of it the first half, I remember. If they were saying it, if she didn't like Coach or Kaitlyn Clark, she goes out. And it seemed like they played a better basketball. Go figure, but go ahead, yeah.
Speaker 1:No, I agree, I agree, so yeah, well, that's all I got for you, doc. You got anything else for us?
Speaker 2:No, man, this is great. I'm looking forward to week four. Not because of our respective teams, man. There's some great matchups around the league that we referenced. So, yeah, it's going to be interesting. Man, you know, and take it from there, odell's going to be either mad or happy. I'm leaning toward happy, given that we're at the crib and, of course, with you, with you going against the rookie quarterback and you got the Rams hosting the undefeated Colts. So there's a lot of stuff going on there, you know, waking up, seeing the Steelers and the Vikings at 6.30 Pacific Standard Time. I'm very much looking forward to this, man. And, yes, I'm guaranteeing a Georgia victory over Alabama, joe Namath style. But yeah, that's all I got. Great show, short and sweet baby, absolutely All right.
Speaker 1:We'll catch you guys next week. Peace, peace.