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REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
NFC/ AFC North Predictions & NBA Opening Day / Christmas Day
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We react to the NBA’s opening night and Christmas Day schedule, then pivot into baseball’s playoff chase before diving deep into our NFC North and AFC North predictions. We call out the biggest offseason swings, the toughest stretches on the schedule, and the health questions that could flip both divisions.
• NBA opening night matchups and why Knicks vs 76ers stands out
• Christmas Day NBA slate plus the LeBron storyline and must-see games
• NFL Christmas tripleheader and why it becomes a two-TV holiday
• MLB playoff race snapshot with Padres positioning and Braves resurgence
• American League World Series picks and why Tampa Bay looks dangerous
• NFC North offseason changes, schedule strength and team-by-team outlooks
• NFC North predictions with Lions and Bears at the top of the debate
• AFC North roster moves, quarterback pressure and key injuries to watch
• AFC North win totals and why Ravens vs Bengals hinges on health
Welcome Back And The Plan
SPEAKER_02And welcome, welcome, welcome, everybody, to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, you doing all right today?
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir, I sure am, baby. I'm am. Let's do it, baby. Let's go. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02So uh we have uh uh a ton of stuff to get into. Uh of course, we're we've been breaking down. We took a week, uh actually two weeks off, I I believe. Uh so we're we're getting back into the divisions. We're gonna knock out two divisions for you guys this week. So we will go and break down the AFC North and the NFC North. So we will break down those teams, give our predictions uh and all that too as well. So um, but but first uh the NBA, they dropped some news. Uh Christmas Day. So the Christmas Day games and of course the opening night games. Um I'll go ahead and start. Well, first, hey, how you doing? How you doing, Doc? You doing all right?
SPEAKER_01You you doing good? Yes, sir. I sure am. I sure am, brother. I'm refreshed and I'm ready to rock and roll, brother.
SPEAKER_02Nice little trip. Nice little trip. Yeah, yeah, we're all right. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, yeah,
NBA Opening Night Spotlight Games
SPEAKER_02so let's go ahead and just do the NBA. We got opening night. Uh we have uh Tuesday, October 20th. Uh, we have the Celtics at uh Detroit, which which will be a good I mean, on paper, with looking at how Detroit had the year they had last year, that's gonna be great. Um, and then you have uh LeBron and the Sixers. Feels so weird saying that, but LeBron and the Sixers, they're gonna be at the Knicks on uh ring night as the New York Knicks get their rings, and the OKC Thunder and the Spurs will be the nightcap for that. So, Doc, I'll just ask you with just those three games, which one sticks out to you the most?
SPEAKER_01Oh man, come on, it's the 76ers and the Knicks, brother. You know, because you want to see the defended champs defend their crown on ring night against LeBron and those cats, Jalen, Jalen Brown, you know, it doesn't get any better than that, man, relative to uh what transpires in the league this year. So yeah, I'm looking forward to that game just because it's LeBron, the ex-Laker, ex-Mami Heat, my ex-clock cavalier. Some people consider him the GOAT, you know, Manister Square Garden, you know, in New York, you know. Um Brunson, all that. Now, the Knicks, they didn't lose Mitchell Robinson, which is a huge piece, an underrated piece relative to offensive rebounds and continuity, but the Knicks should be all right. But those two cities are less than a hundred miles apart. You can go with a bridge, you're in New York, or vice versa, you're in Philly. So that sticks out, man. You know, let's go, baby. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02I look at I look at the Thunder and I look at the Spurs. Um, you know, this was a uh it went to game seven for the match that they had, Western Conference Finals. So that was one I think that everybody thought that, you know, OKC should take care of business, but the Spurs went ahead and handled it. And so that's gonna be one I think that everybody's gonna watch, uh, be watching out for and see how Wimby bounces back. And uh, you know, the Thunder, they're they basically still have their same core team there. So we'll see how that how that plays out. So uh that is great.
NBA Christmas Day Schedule Reactions
SPEAKER_02They also did announce the uh Christmas games. Uh and with the Christmas games, we have we have five games as they normally do for Christmas. Uh Christmas normally uh up until about maybe what two, three years ago. Uh Christmas has been all about the NBA. And the Christmas games, we got Spurs at Knicks, Heat at the Celtics, 76ers at the Lakers in that that premier spot, uh, and then Thunder at Timberwolves, and then Nuggets at Warriors. And I remember the commissioner, he did say, hey, I really need LeBron to figure out where he's going because we need we got to figure out the schedule so we can release the schedule. So the full schedule is coming out soon. Uh, but on this one, Doc, I'll start with this. Of course, 76ers at Lakers. It's possibly the only time that LeBron may be going uh to LA. So that's that's gonna be the game. That's gonna be the game where everybody's gonna want to see. Absolutely. But I mean, uh, not to say that when he goes back to Miami, those games aren't gonna be important. When he goes back to Cleveland, that game's not gonna be important. But this one right here, his old team versus Luca. We'll see if Luca stays healthy, uh healthy enough up until Christmas. But that's gonna be a great game. Hopefully, Joel and Bede can stay healthy. If we can have both of these teams at full strength, um, that that's gonna be what everyone wants to see, and everybody can get their money's worth. But five great games, I think a very underrated game that people might not look at is gonna be the Thunder and the Timberwolves. And this is LaMelo's ball, Lamello Ball's first game uh on Christmas. That's right. And so between him and Anthony Edwards and them going up against the Thunder, I think that's gonna be a great matchup. But yeah, all five of these games are great, Doc.
SPEAKER_01Oh man, I tell you. And LeBron, it's gonna be rocking, you know, it's gonna be rocking, man. And uh, you know, you mentioned Melo Ball and all that. I want to see him stay healthy to showcase his skill set with a new team with the T-Woods to help out Anthony Edwards. The West in
NFL Christmas Games Collide
SPEAKER_01and of itself is gonna be rocking, man. So yeah, you got a couple other things on Christmas, you know. Oh man, we're gonna be our heads gonna be on the swivel because don't forget you got the NFL that day too. Three monster games. And Packers, Bears. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yep, yep. Packers Bears. And so that, and this is um I'm I'm almost of the mindset that this is a hard one because this is on a Friday. So normally on Black Friday, they'll have a game. Uh uh Christmas Eve, you you would have a game on that Thursday this year. Uh you're gonna have your slate on Sunday, and I believe they may squeeze in a game on Saturday. I'm not sure yet, or if that may be held uh for college uh for the most part. But but yeah, it's the NFL's gonna do what the NFL does. And you got three good games. You got Green Bay at uh the Bears, which those two teams are gonna break down coming up shortly. Uh the Bills and the Broncos, and then the Rams and the Seahawks, which is going to be a great game. So um I'm sure everyone will have, after you open up presents and all that stuff, you're gonna have two TVs up uh watching you know, basketball and football. It's gonna be a great, great, great day for sports.
SPEAKER_01Oh man, the NBA knew exactly what he's doing, playing copycat and let teasing us with the NBA and LeBron James and this, that, and the other. I can't wait, man. I can't wait.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And then you got the Nuggets playing somebody chat and California's Nuggets. You know, it's gonna be big boy stuff, you know. But yeah, so uh yeah, I can't wait, man. It's interesting, man. But remember now, the Knicks, they're still defending champs, so let's not get it twisted. So that East is gonna be a bitch. Detroit and Boston, Jason Tatum versus uh Cade Cunningham, that's a big one. So we'll see what's going on ready at, man. It's just a little snippet there relative to our conversation. But go ahead, brother.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely.
MLB Playoff Push And Braves Turnaround
SPEAKER_02So switching over on the baseball real quick, uh, we are uh it's it's getting ready to start to make that turn uh to the playoffs starting next month. So we're getting closer and closer to uh getting that started. Um so I'll look at my Padres, Doc. We'll go ahead and get into your Braves in a second. Uh we're still uh eight and a half games behind. Dodgers are still um, you know, it's it's it's in reach, but being realistic, eight and a half games. It seems like it's not a lot, but it is uh it's a little ways away. Diamondbacks are ahead of us in the the NOS. Um uh Champs, Cubbies, uh they're you know, five games behind the Brewers, not too far behind. Your Braves, Doc. 72 wins. You know, Doc, I I think about this. When we've been doing this podcast for a few years now, and there's been a time where every single time we brought up your Braves, it was last place. You you were just so depressed. It was it was yeah, it was a crap show. And and look at you now. How does it feel to just make this complete turnaround from a few years back to where you guys are at now?
SPEAKER_01Well, injuries destroyed those particular teams on the Snicker, and the Snicker had lost the voice and lost the locker room. We had injuries to the pitching staff and Ronald Acunio Jr. in back-to-back years. Uh, it feels good to ask you a question. 24 games over fine running. We shut out the mess today, 4-0. We're still eight and a half up. I mean, it could be, well, actually seven and a half, could be eight and a half before the nights over with the Phillies. It feels wonderful, man. You know, Chris Sail is an ace. He will be up for the Cy Young Award, but take it in Milwaukee crew, his military, whatever his name, Missyowski. Yeah, he's he's he's doing the thing, 170 miles per hour fastball. But to answer your question directly, it feels good that the Braves are in pretty much the control of the division, and we're gonna give a Dodgers uh run for their money, man. Remember, we beat two out of three of the Dodgers in back in uh late April, you know, in Los Angeles. So they got still got to come to the ATL. Now, granted, at that time, Marlene, they didn't have uh Otani, but I I'll take my chances with Olsen, Ocunya Jr. and uh Ozzy Albies and Michael Harris III is one of the most underrated uh center fielders in the sport. 67 ribies, 20 bombs. So yeah, I feel pretty good and feel it decent in that we can make a long run. Milwaukee Brew is notwithstanding because they got the best record in the in the sport. But uh we're number two, you know. And uh the Mets have been kicking our ass, though, to be fair. And they're in last place. You know, sometimes like that. Arizona and Colorado get the Dodgers fits within the division. So, you know, we we shut them out tonight, and the Mets are gonna make wholesale changes. Um, Bichette is gone, I think. Uh they'll keep Lindor and they'll keep Sloto, of course, but the manager is in deep trouble with Negro. That's $700 million payroll. Yeah. And they're 18, 19 and a half games out of first behind my Braves. So yeah, to answer your question, I feel good about my Atlanta Braves right now. Uh I'm pulling for, I believe the Padres and Arizona Diamondbats are uh for this final wild card spot, if memory serves me correct. I think you're tied, or one might be one game up. But uh good luck. I'm going down the stretch, Mom. Baseball's baseball. It's frickle. Things happen crazy in sport in a short game, five-game series. So good luck. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Yeah, we are as of right now, we are out. Uh you got the Cubbies, Diamondbacks, and the Phillies uh right now in it. So we are one game behind uh the Phillies uh to get into the city.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's that's nothing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So it's it's it's it's gonna be as you said, it's gonna be a dog fight to
AL Pennant Picks And Wild Card Talk
SPEAKER_02definitely get in. But Doc, going over to the AL, if, and I'm just gonna throw a curveball at you. If you were to say uh who are two teams that'll be fighting to get into that World Series uh out of the AL? Who who if you can pick two teams right now, who who you got?
SPEAKER_01It'll be Tampa Bay, man, and the White Sox. And then don't laugh at the White Sox. The White Sox, they're a young team. They can drive the ball, they can hit bombs. I don't know what's going on in Seattle, but uh you can make an argument for Houston and uh, you know, Jordan Alvarez with his 35 bombs and 83 RBIs, but they don't have pitching. And Tampa Bay is a shoe in. I got Tampa Bay winning the AL straight up, man. Everybody thinks the Yankees are gonna overtake them. But the Yankees are judge and Bellinger, and yeah, they got the pitching, but Tampa Bay has proven they can sweep the Yankees, you know. And the Chaz Redstock at the red house, but they'll be in the wild card. But I think to answer your question, two teams, I think it's the Tampa Bay Rays. Uh small market team now, and that's a small market, and they're winning, you know. Uh or Riz Arena, I would think that's his name, and some of the other cats on Tampa Bay, they're staving off the Yankees and they'll push. So I think they're five and a half, six games up on the Yankees, in fact. And I think the Red Sox are uh a game and a half behind the Yankees as far as getting second. But White Sox and uh Rays, man. Tampa Bay, baby. Mark this, mark it down.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Okay.
NFC North Offseason Moves Breakdown
SPEAKER_02So uh getting into uh let's go ahead and start with the NFC uh north on this one. So uh of course you got the the you got the the uh oh I'm drawing a blank here. You got the the cut the the cubs. The bears, you got the bears, bears, packers, Vikings, uh, lions, and um I'm over here trying to do three different things. Uh and and the Packers. Bears, Lions, Packers, uh, and Vikings on this one. So as we look at just just gonna throw some stuff at you right now as far as the uh the acquisitions that some of these uh players got. So the Bears, uh they did uh pick up a center. Uh they did get uh Devin Bush, I believe, from the Browns, Billings from the Cardinals, uh, and then they got uh a safety uh Brisker. They did get him, the Detroit Lions, uh they got an edge rusher. Um, I'm gonna say his name wrong. Uh his first name is DJ, one on, I believe. Uh and then they ended up getting who else they get uh worthy of note, nobody else. Uh Packers. They did get uh linebacker Tyrod Taylor, which is nothing really crazy. They did get Sky Moore from the Chiefs. Uh the Minnesota Vikings, Kyler Murray is the big one. He was just announced as a starter. Uh Juwan Jennings. Uh, and that's basically it for them on that one. The Bears did lose uh DJ Moore. They lost uh linebacker Edmonds. Uh let's see, let's see. The uh Lions, of course, David Montgomery. That's a huge one that they lost. Uh the uh to do the Packers, uh Malik Willis, Romeo Dobbs, uh, who they lost, and last but not least, the Vikings, uh Jonathan Allen from the D-line, uh, Jonathan uh Grenard. So that's just a few, and then uh Jalen uh Nair from as far as a receiver. So just looking at overall the offseason uh from the teams, some noise. I think that the Vikings picking up uh Kyler Murray obviously was huge uh with the Packers. They were trying to figure out what they were gonna do with Romeo Dobbs, and he went over to um uh New England. So that was obviously a a huge loss for them, but I think just financially they they they they just couldn't do it. So um and then the Lions, um David Montgomery losing him, but they were putting everything all into Gibbs. And I think if I'm not mistaken, did they get Pacheco? I think they picked up Pacheco.
SPEAKER_01Okay, okay.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. So uh they got him. So between that one, two tandem, that should be decent. I think they drafted um a guy too as well. So uh and then and then the Bears losing DJ Moore. I was never a huge DJ Moore guy. Uh right, but you know, they lose him to the Bills. We'll see what he does there. Uh, but you you got Caleb, you still have um you got the running back out of Georgia, you still got him. So uh Swift. Swift. So we'll see. So overall, what were your thoughts uh on the offseason from the uh the NFC North as a whole?
SPEAKER_01I think the NFC North is one of those divisions where it's up in the air because the Bears, they're gonna have a stronger schedule. And Luther Burden, the third, the receiver, they lost in training camp. That he's not gonna play the rest of the preseason. But it goes noted, man. You still got Caleb Williams going in his third year under Ben Johnson, and that's a weapon in and of itself. The Vikings picking up um uh Kyler Mary, that is huge, man. You know, I don't know why they picked up uh McCarthy 10th overall to begin with. I criticized the move then. Kyler McMurray, I just heard an interview, and he he's he's the leader in that locker room. They believe in him. And remember, Vikings picked up the big defensive lineman out of Florida, 6'6, 325. Caleb Thanks, the help out coach Flores on that side of the ball. They're gonna be dangerous on that side of the ball. But now you put Kyler Murray on offense, you know, and that that that's scary, you know. Um, you mentioned um uh the Packers. I like with uh Jordan Love, you know, as long as his receivers uh you know uh stay healthy. He can make plays down the field with an army has, man. The question is consistency with him, you know. And and I I I like the dude, but you in a big spot. Well, hey, as one at Dallas, put a 48 on the ass. Let's do a consistency this year in a tough NFC North. And then the Detroit Lions, Gib's got a huge contract, he's motivated. Uh, he's one of those people with speed kills. You know, I love the uh the receiving. Umar St. Brown. I know I messed up his yeah, I know I messed it up. Yeah, but they get the tight end back. The tight end was all pro. So, you know, uh, they get him back in his third year. Yeah, yeah. And and and remember the Lions drafted a big tackle who I love coming out, Blake Miller out of Clemson. You know,
NFC North Predictions And Win Totals
SPEAKER_016'6, 315. They needed that to go with Panay Sewell. And and it's one of those things where, you know, don't count the Lions on who obviously they have an easier schedule this year where the Bears got tougher, you know. So right now, if you had to ask me, man, you know, right now, I'm gonna pick uh the Lions to win that division. Call me crazy. Because you got the edge rusher, Hutchison Hutch. I got the Bears going second. I like what the Vikings do. You know, they can squeeze some games out and make the postseason with Murray, you know. And the Packers, you know, they they already are, but remember, you know, there's one of those things where they they they lost people on defense. You know, they lost Walker and they lost the other cat. Defensive lineup, you know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I I look at uh I'm looking at the schedule uh for for Detroit. They got a uh week, uh what is that, a week six bye, I believe. After the bye, you got Green Bay, Minnesota, at Miami, New England, Tampa Bay, Chicago, and all those were a couple three-game stretch at home at Atlanta, your Falcons, and then Tennessee at Minnesota, Giants at Chicago, at Green Bay. So you have a uh nice stretch at home. Definitely think they can, it's it's definitely a little bit easier versus if we want to go ahead and go to Chicago, they have a later buy, but after the bye, they're they're home versus New Orleans at Detroit, Jacksonville, at Miami, at the Bills, Green Bay at home, Detroit at home, and then at Minnesota. So that's a tougher stretch. Uh it is for sure. It is, brother. And I think go ahead.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. No, I'm just saying that uh those top two teams in that particular division, the NFC North, can be divided by one game. Who says the Bears can't repeat? But with the scheduling, losing DJ Brown and some other things, uh the Booker, the edge rusher who's never healthy, but he's talented. He shows out in preseason. He has to stay healthy. Uh, but I just think Detroit, Hutch, Hutch. I love the coach Campbell. You know, Gibbs is motivated, Panay Sewell on the offensive line to go with Blake Miller. I I I like what they have, as well as the receiver, man. You know, and they get the tight end back. Uh, I know week one, uh, Packers at Bears. Oh, no, not week one, but it's on Christmas, excuse me. That's a huge one. That's huge. Which means the Bears have to play at Packers somewhere in the early, you know, and that's not gonna be easy. But um, the Vikings, they're intriguing enough because I like the coach. Well, what does Kyler Mary prove? Just because he beat out uh McCarthy, Doc? Come on, I know you got the one of the best receivers in football, Jefferson Marlin. You know, he's a he's a beast.
SPEAKER_02This is the best team that he's played on, the best offensive line that he's played with. Uh that's right. Even on the other side of the ball, this is the best defense that he's been affiliated with in his in his NFL career. So I think now he knows this is good. He's on a prove it deal. He he was with the way the quarterbacks are set up uh in the NFL, unfortunately, you can just be above average and because of what the market says, you can make over $50 million. That's just that's just that's just how it is. But in this situation, you're on a prove-it deal. They they picked you up, you're making what, a million dollars. I don't know however much he's making, but it's it's probably league minimum at this point. Go ahead and prove yourself. Prove that you can not just be a Call of Duty guy and um just just play your games, not really focused on on winning, and you you have one of the best receivers uh of easily top two or top three right now. Yeah, uh uh a solid O-line, uh Aaron Jones, a little bit older, but for the most part, decent running game and a great defense. So you your division is tough. Now, last year, uh 11 and six for the Bears, uh, and then the Packers, um Packers, Vikings, and Lions both had nine wins, but remember the Packers did have. have that tie um in the season last year.
SPEAKER_00Destroyed them.
SPEAKER_02So yeah. So nine, seven, and one. So you I mean you you got a shot, you're in it. And and as you alluded to earlier, Packers have the uh no I'm sorry, the Bears have a tougher schedule. And also too, I'm just gonna say it. If nobody wants to say it, I'll say it. I don't think that the Bears are going to be as lucky as they were last year, where everything almost kind of fell their way with the heroic last uh drive throws and the fourth quarter cardiac kiss.
SPEAKER_01Cardiac kiss that's not gonna happen this year. That's a good point.
SPEAKER_02It's not same with the Broncos too as well I'm just gonna throw that out there but uh as but as far as with with them I don't I just don't see it happening. And Caleb love the guy I think he's I mean pains his nails a little weird but you know it's beside the point but it is he's a great player and and I love what the Bears are doing. Ben Johnson um definitely love what what he's done but I just don't see them having the same success that they've had it's gonna be a tougher road for sure.
SPEAKER_01And I think to your point the Lions are going to be motivated Vikings are going to be motivated uh the the the Packers are always in it somehow but I I just can't see the Bears and and and champ if if we could have had him on he could have come back and and fought with us but I just can't see the lucky uh the the luckiness if you will come week after week after week those games build character they build continuity the last second wins but it goes noted man they were gifted last year with that now Caleb Williams has probably one of the top two strongest arms in the league to drive the ball in cold weather the other being Josh Allen of course but I think Caleb Williams he's not gonna regress it's just that the tougher scheduling might do some harm on him and that offense, you know and and defense too you know and it's one of things where that's a good point.
SPEAKER_02Now the Packers are going to eke out some wins in the division on the road as they always do but somewhere down the stretch Jordan Love has to prove to me and prove to everybody the Pack of Nation that this story franchise can count on him in a big stretch you know down the stretch you know because I I I love the running back Jacobs you know I love some of the receivers and that's another thing can there can Watson stay healthy their main guy you know and uh he's coming out of uh North Dakota State or whatever small school he has skill set but he can't stay healthy man you know and they lost their tight end from the farmland I forget his name he was a great story he has to stay healthy they had injuries so let's see what Jordan Love does down with craft yeah craft yeah yeah he he's talented yeah you might not be as talented as one in Arizona who's a machine but craft is good man yeah yeah so I'm gonna and this this is the last thing I'll say about this division and we can give our predictions as far as who's gonna win it and all that um and then we'll go ahead and go to the AFC but there is I believe after week so week uh one at Carolina and then you got Minnesota for Chicago at Carolina home against Minnesota but then this is where it gets tricky you have Philly at home which that can be a tough one uh you have the Jets at home which they shouldn't have an issue with the Jets but then you know listen to this you have uh at Green Bay at Atlanta home versus New England which will be a tough one at Seattle at Tampa Bay and then you got your buy so that's so that's a stretch especially yeah so so that's a certain stretch we'll we'll we'll we'll see what this team really is because that's that is what eight games before the bye and six of those games are are losable games so we'll we'll see if this should be the the cross country trip to Seattle and then you play at Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield's piss so you know he's gonna bring in bring him yeah on the road and they're fighting for their life in the NFC South so Bear Nation has to bring it man got to bear down and if champ's listening we love you man but you know we speak the real on this show champ you know we love you but uh you gotta bring it man you know let's go but yeah I digress absolutely okay so on to the AFC North uh we didn't do our prediction yet oh sorry yes yes yes predictions yes yes yes so I will I'll start on this one um yeah let me go ahead and go I I do like I like the Lions last year didn't make the playoffs which was a huge huge disappointment I just think with with that offense they they have all the pieces you got the coach um the the the defense could use a little bit of help um but I I I can't put my trust and faith in Kyler Murray don't necessarily I think they'll be okay I think he'll do good enough to get a a a nice uh little contract possibly with another team or an extension or or get re-signed with the Vikings um I the Bears I again like I said before I don't I don't think the heroics is going to happen again this year. And as far as the Packers I know they're always in it I do think the Packers do make the playoffs uh with uh I'll give them nine I'll give them ten wins um but I do like the Lions with uh 12 wins this year I do think that it's gonna be a good year uh for Gibbs he did get that contract you still have um uh I'm in Ross St. Brown uh Jamison Williams Laporta you still have that there's a ton of weapons and they do a great job with making sure that because golf doesn't have the strongest arm he's not the fastest but you he you have some good coordinators uh that can at least figure out you know Ben Johnson's gone obviously but they they can at least figure out how to how to make it work uh this next year so definitely think that um the the Bears um I can't see it but yeah give me the the Lions with uh 12 wins uh winning the division and the wild card I do like the uh packers with 10 wins wow okay that's interesting I'm going lions bears uh Vikings and Packers I just love the Vikings D I love coach Flores man down at D they got a strange D a good D we're gonna see what Kyler Mary's is about in Minnesota with Justin Jefferson when the live bullets fly got them coming in third and unfortunately as much as I love Julian love and it's tough division got him finished last man you don't lose Clay Walker and and and and the uh the other defensive tackle you went somewhere and it does not affect you you know and then you got the injury as a receiver year to year you have to stay healthy I just I'm I'm sticking by that man you know I got a Packer buddy he knows your love consistency so yeah I'm going in that direction lions bears Vikings Packers I got the Lions winning 12 the
AFC North Roster Changes And Storylines
SPEAKER_02Bears winning 11 okay maybe even 10 and then uh Vikings I'll give them nine and eight and then the Packers man unfortunately I'll get seven okay maybe even eight if things are yeah yeah I like it I like it I like it okay on to the AFC North so I'll do this quick rundown really quick uh the Ravens they did uh get Hendrickson which we saw um the from the Bengals we saw how all that played out so he's gonna be motivated to go after Joe Burrow for the first time and hit him in practice um DeAndre Hopkins he's there um uh Kyle Van Noy's there too as well so um and losses Linderbaum to your wife's Raiders Isaiah Likely is going now to the Giants um who else is relevant now on to the uh Bengals uh Dexter Lawrence which we know from the Giants uh how that happened uh Jonathan Allen from the Vikings the D lineman um and then uh losses for the Bengals of course Hendrickson we talked about that one um and then the edge I'm no I'm gonna say his name wrong Joseph Osiah to the Jets uh the he's out by the way yeah uh the Cleveland Browns uh you know they uh Jared verse which you talked about that with the whole uh Miles Garrett thing um and then that's that's one of the main ones then they got Devin Bush from the Chargers which uh he might not get that much playing time but you know just mentioning it. And of course the losses Miles Garrett he's gone uh that's that's basically oh and David Njoku which now he is a charger which that's going to be a great addition for us. The Pittsburgh Steelers Michael Pittman that's gonna be probably the sneakiest uh in the division one that's probably gonna make the most impact I think Aaron Rodgers really really loves uh this connection so he is gonna be great um and then uh it's probably the biggest addition uh losses uh Gainwell Gainwell was a huge one he had a lot of uh some big plays uh here and there was Calvin Austin he's trying to make the team with the New York football giants uh Adam uh Adam Thieling which I don't think Adam Thieling was with the Pittsburgh Steelers so I need to check my sources on that one but um yeah so um yeah that's what we have for the AFC North doc I'll go ahead and let you start on this one what are your thoughts on the division uh and uh the Bengals are a fun team man because you got the course dude the the crazy offense man assuming Barrell stays healthy and that's a big F.
SPEAKER_01You know every year it's something with him but I love Jamar Chase I love the guy on the other side. As far as the draft I I I I it might be an ugly draft to some people draft an offensive lineman the Browns picked up Spencer Fonnell the big tackle from Utah uh I think he's a great A guy to protect Shador or whoever's quarterback there. You know the Ravens picked up the big O from Penn State uh Ola Langanaga Lone Ojo Lona that's his name Lone Loney yeah out of Penn State the best pure offensive line I call in the big O. They usually consensus all American to protect Lamar Jackson man. You know the Steelers picked a big match taking boy out of Arizona State which was such a surprise I thought they were going receivers there with Metcalf. But uh it's gonna be interesting man but the Browns did come back and get KC Concepcion.
SPEAKER_02So they're gonna out of the speed out of Texas uh out of uh Texas AM it's gonna be interesting in that particular division because you won so bad to pick Cincinnati but Lamar Jackson's way this the pressure's on him forget Josh Allen at least Josh shows up in the post Lamar Jackson's on enormous strength he stayed the whole offseason in OTAs in Baltimore you know and uh of course stealing nation with the old man he's older than me and you combined we'll see what he got they need a running bang that the offensive line is older edge rushers or wide as old and of course the nose tackle Hayward I love but that that's an Asian team though man Pittsburgh but don't tell Pittsburgh nothing you know it's still a nation uh Cleveland you know as a reference um they got the the the receivers to help out whoever I think KC concepts you know might be in running running for the uh rookie of the year as far as on offense because I watched him at AM and he runs a 4-2 to be fair you know and um but I think it's Baltimore's division to to lose Lamar Jackson as I referenced he's playing for a new contract seemed like he's in for contract every year but he still if he stays healthy he's still the top two or three quarterback in the league remember the big running back the big horse Derrick Henry's in ungodly shake I don't know how he does it you're not gonna ask him to carry the bar 300 times in one year no more you give him two twenty two thirty two forty carries and you got the other catch behind him you know I I I can live with Baltimore when in that division man you know but Cincinnati to their to their defense line they picked a big nose tackle up from uh the Giants his name escapes me and that's a huge gap yeah Dexter Lawrence he's top three in the league at that particular position him Vita V in our missing one uh but so that's huge to help out the middle of that line you know on defense because that's what they were hurting you know they were getting gas and Dexter Lawrence in this fold yeah i i it it does make a difference but it depends on the quarterback man you know I'm taking um Baltimore to win that division uh Cincinnati coming in two uh unfortunately I'm gonna pick Cleveland to come in last but I'm gonna give the Steelers nine wins and that's a that's an iffy nine because you gotta assume that at some point Father Time's gonna catch up and he didn't really play well last year but he's all they got Rogers and uh so yeah go ahead so this is so this is last year's standings uh Steelers 10 and 7 Ravens eight and nine the uh Bengals 6 and 11 and the Cleveland Browns five and twelve now oddly enough Rodgers was the healthiest quarterback in that division uh remember the Ravens had uh the issue with Lamar where I'm not sure if it was his his leg his foot uh something happened where he didn't play for at least um I I think he must have been out at least about maybe six or seven games something like that.
SPEAKER_00That's right.
SPEAKER_02So they obviously didn't do well. Joe Burrow of he it's always something with him and and and it always he made it to a Super Bowl yes but he did that pre-COVID pretty much so that's right I it may have been a little after but but still it's it's we we give him this praise but he this guy can't stay healthy and so we'll you know we'll see so my questions are yeah will can with Zay Flowers he did get that contract so it is this gonna be a situation where Zay Flowers can step in and be that number one you know they they haven't really had they've tried the D Hop experiment they've tried um the Odell Beckham experiment they've tried different uh experiments with some of these guys and it just never works and they want to try to get Lamar weapons but Lamar's not that type of quarterback that's gonna go and get you 10 12 targets a game that's just not him so see that's it that's it right there and that's a good point.
SPEAKER_01Yeah Lamar's not a peer passer. No.
SPEAKER_02Now you take his legs away the pressure is can he still make plays with his arm especially with the tight end you know and remember they lost um likely to the Giants to the Giants yeah they lost him yeah so which I'm definitely excited to see where his career goes. But but as far as to the Ravens can we see Lamar that you know but but here's the thing if you take away his legs of course he's not the same quarterback but you need him to use his legs but you know you you don't want him to use him too much and and RG3 himself or or do what he did earlier and get hurt. So we'll see and Derrick Henry 36 year old Darren Camer is he able to continue what he's been doing his whole career and just be that broomer and something came out that said that he they're gonna still use him like normal.
SPEAKER_01So yeah so we'll we'll see but it but Marlon real quick it stands a reason Father Tom I mean he's a physical specimen man but he's not you don't expect him to get 1500 if he gets 1200 yards that's a gift that's a blessing absolutely but 1500 yards 17 no he's not doing that you know and then this is a man's lead man he comes up on you fast he had a great year last year with over 300 carries but but can he do anytime you're 32 33 and 34 as a running back you know that that that that's uh there's only one Jim Brown and Jim Brown didn't even play to he played until he's 29 Azonka went down badly after 30. Horrific and he's a Hall of Famer so I admire Henry but it goes noted man it's all on Lamar and the pressure's on him.
SPEAKER_02Let's go what I'm saying there was something that came out today Nate Wiggins was carted off the cornerback for the uh the Ravens so hopefully it's not too serious. They did get uh our defensive coordinator um uh oh Jesus I for I forgot the dude's name uh but um mentor yes Jesse Mentor yes uh so they did get him so we'll I know that defense is gonna be ready to go um so yeah we'll we'll see what the what the ravens do the Bengals the only questions I have for the Bengals is Dex Lawrence is gonna be enough to turn that defense around you did lose Henderson how's that gonna work out for you um the offense we know what the offense is going to bring the only thing that we are as fans would just want to see is just health from Joe Burrow you have Chase Brown you have uh Jamar Chase you have T. Higgins you have your weapons can you guys stay healthy enough to because the defense is going to give up points but just like with the Bills their defense gives up points but they have Superman on the other side and Superman is going to go down there and score. So as football fans we need Joe to stay healthy be Superman your defense will give up some points just go score just stay competitive and let's let's see how that can play out.
SPEAKER_01So well Marlon if you look at the Bengals they have a massive offensive line man you're massive you know the kid from Georgia 6'7 360 uh believe still got brown on the other side or no not orlando but it's another cat uh but they but Barrow he gets these fluky injuries at wrist you know he gets the calf it's nothing like you say he he got a foot you know so it's one of those things where it's just fluky stuff it's not ACLs or MCLs it's just dumb stuff for layman's term so let's see him show his skills with the kid that came out of LSU I want to see that guy that took the team to the bowl with all those weapons as you referenced and uh take it from there. But go ahead.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely the Browns we we know that they're gonna be in last place. Shador most likely will not start um it it will be Deshaun until he loses the job. Wow but there's just it's just so many question marks around this team um I don't even want to spend too much time on them honestly you know yeah but they got young talent man they had the defensive rookie of the year linebacker you know they got people you know and I may mention some of the draft picks they have in Concepción and the big tackle uh final so I'm not so sure that Watson's gonna start man you know uh I don't know that it'll be Shadur Shudour I think it'll be Shadour he's been showing out but but Doc it it comes a point in time where you've realized that you've invested so much and his contract got restructured a time or two but you can't just let that much money ride the bench you have to see you invested in him and after all the Achilles tears and the injuries and all that stuff he's back and he's ready to go he's ready to play. If he's going to lose his job allow him to lose his job on his own and then put Shador in you know but it's unless and here's the thing you you you you can cut him if you want you're gonna have to pay him be paying him for years so I it's I mean he's most likely going to be the starter I think Shador potentially could be the starter by week six or seven eight maybe right around there when when he loses the job but um you you you have Junkins as a running back Jerry Judy uh Tillman uh Concepcion what you were talking about so you have there Fanning Jr. uh is a great one I think who you were talking about it's either um uh Titus Howard or um oh uh uh Fannel Spencer Fannel I think that's who you're talking about yeah Spencer Fannel yeah yeah yeah yeah so I mean that they they they have picks they have uh for the most part decent weapons but um and I I think if go over their schedule real quick uh just the first half of their schedule and take it from there real quick. Cleveland that's such a loyal fan base man you feel for them this is Cleveland yeah you know but go ahead at Jacksonville to to open up the season at Tampa Bay so that's that's yeah uh home against Carolina I got a lot of I can't wait till we actually go break uh go break down the NFC South because Carolina's a team that that uh they're they're they're they're up and coming so um and then so home against Carolina home against Pittsburgh uh that could be 0-4 right there um yeah it could be at the at the Jets could be their first win uh home versus Baltimore that's a loss at Tennessee you know shaky you know we'll see what happens with that one at Pittsburgh at New Orleans home versus Houston doc they can go 0 10 yeah and that's unfortunate for that franchise man you you you you you you want to say they'll beat the Jets or maybe sneak in another
SPEAKER_01Win somewhere, but those road games to start the season, man, at Jacksonville and at Tampa, that's brutal. You know, to start the year.
SPEAKER_02Just to start.
SPEAKER_01They got a Thursday night game.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, they got a primetime game versus Pittsburgh. So they showed them some love with primetime. That'll be the only one they get. But uh every single game is at is that uh is at one o'clock.
SPEAKER_01All right. Win totals, brother. Go. You go first in that division.
SPEAKER_02Um last thing, one last thing. So my my couple questions on Pittsburgh. It's gonna be just with Rodgers. So uh Rogers obviously is in it. We know this is his last year. Ken, he loves the connection with Pittman. Let's see what happens. So I'm I'm I'm hoping for some just some consistency.
Browns Schedule Worries And Final Picks
SPEAKER_02Uh I think Rogers can show he's been healthy, so I do like that. Um I think this is Baltimore's year. Um last year they weren't able to uh win the division. I I do think Baltimore is gonna win it. Uh it's gonna be a tight race. I don't think they're gonna run away with it, but I'll give them 10 wins.
SPEAKER_01Um wow, okay.
SPEAKER_02But I don't I don't know that depending on Joe Burrow's health, I can see the Bengals maybe getting a wild card spot. Um, but it wouldn't surprise me if Baltimore wins the division and none of these teams make the playoffs.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I want to see what Jared Verse does. You not have him take over from Miles Garrett, of course, but he was a player for the Rams. I want to see what he's all about with the young linebacker on defensive rookie of the year. Unfortunately for the Browns, they'll they'll they'll they'll lose they'll lose a lot of games, you know, 20 to 7. And their defense is gonna be stout, but they can't score. You mentioned the Bengals, man. I mentioned earlier that they're a fun team to watch, Marlon, and they are, man, because offense. I think Chase Brown is gonna be like a 1,200-yard rusher because of the receivers, you know. I think he had over a thousand in last year, but it goes noted, man. When you have a weapon like uh your boy uh uh Chase, and you got Higgins on the other side who could be a number one on most teams, uh, it all depends on the health of the trigger man. So yeah, I I I I gotta agree. I gotta agree with you relative to Lamar. I'll give Lamar 11 wins. I'm giving the Bengals 10. The Steelers will go eight and nine, and of course the Browns, they'll probably win five or six. Let's go in that direction. Did you did you finish off the final two? Or did I jump ahead? Go ahead.
SPEAKER_02Um no, you're okay. Uh I can I can see if I have the Ravens winning 10, uh, I'll do Cincinnati at nine. Uh I'll probably put Pittsburgh at nine, too as well. Uh let's go ahead and do Cleveland at uh let's give them six wins. And that's really me being generous with that with the six wins.
SPEAKER_01The Brownies, the fan base, you know, that stadium, going back to the Brian Sype years. That's unfortunate for them, man, in the late 70s, early 80s. They've been through hell. Remember, they had to fumble twice against Airway, the running back Mac, or I think it was Mac and Kevin Mac. Just Cleveland just they just don't have it, man. It just bungles. And then you gave 230 million to your boy, and it goes noted, man. You figure he's not gonna ride the bench, and that's good. Can he still play though? Yeah, you know, but that's the thing. So I don't know, man. The best thing they had going was uh Chubb out of Georgia, and he blew two ACLs in that uniform, the running back, Nick Chubb. So I don't know, man. Just a snake-bitten franchise, man. You know, yeah. I want to give them a win against the Jets, but that's that's no gimme, you know. Aaron Glenn got that thing going, especially on defense with all the I mean with uh David Bailey out of Texas Tech, but we'll see on that. You gotta be fair. You gotta be fair. This is a real show. If some feelings are gonna be hurt, I gave him five or six wins, you gave him five or six. Um, we all we both agree on Baltimore. Lamar, he has to make he has to get it done, man. Yeah, you know, and uh, of course, Barrow, that's a big if. So yeah, it could be a fun division, but you remember you got the old man there, and he's a name, he's just a name now. You know, Steeling Nation is massive worldwide. So we'll see how it goes on that morning.
What’s Next Week And Wrap
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02Good dialogue. Absolutely, man. So um, well, shoot, that's all we got for you guys. Doc, you got anything else for us when we get out of here?
SPEAKER_01No, we covered uh we gave a snippet about the NBA and then and then Lil' League and the little schedule for Christmas and open today. It all centers on LeBron and the Knicks, and then you got the Lakers posting uh LeBron on Christmas. So that's big, man. Then you got the baseball coming down to the you got six weeks left, Marlon. So good luck on your Padres, you know. My wife and daughters are Dodger fans, so you can't mess around. But the Dodgers have been tripping, man. It's baseball, you know. So we'll see. Which is good.
SPEAKER_02We need him a trip, just like the Raiders. We need we need him to trip. Yeah. We need him a trip. So okay. Yeah, we got we got four divisions left. We have the NFC West, the AFC South, the NFC South, baby, and the AFC East. So uh we will try to break down um two of these divisions uh for you next week. We'll have a predictions week too as well. Uh S will be back on and he will uh give his predictions. We will give our uh uh final predictions for the season as it starts leading into week one. Um and of course we got college football to break down to as well. So we will uh dive into that and uh get some uh predictions for college football uh as it gets closer and closer. Because really, college football, we got about what, two weeks uh before we go.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we got two weeks, man. We could do a show on college football alone, man, and some of these new changes that they're claiming the SEC want to go out on their own and don't share with nobody. It's a different college thing now than when you and I grew up or when you me and your father grew up watching. You know, everybody's about the money now. There's no reason why USC should be in the Big Ten and travel all the way to Rutgers, you know, in New Jersey. But everything's about money now. That's a topic for another day. That's college football. But uh yeah, this was a great show, brother. I can't wait. Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02Okay, all right. We will uh appreciate everybody for listening, and we will catch you guys next week. Peace. Peace.