Two for the Win
Mike is a U.S. Navy Veteran and Bryan has more than a decade of civil service experience. Together, these blue collar guys dissect the latest sports headlines and events.
Two for the Win
Two For The Win - Episode 06
What if the NBA in-season tournament could redefine your sports calendar this winter? Dive into the excitement kicking off November 12, 2024, where basketball meets drama and debate. From Klay Thompson's poignant return to the Bay Area with the Mavericks to the strategic breakdown of East and West groups, we map the tournament's pulse as it surges through the league. Expect engaging predictions on matchups like the Celtics over the Hawks and the Knicks battling the Sixers. With football's viewership shadow looming, we stir the pot on the NBA versus NFL talent debate, aiming to amp up NBA engagement before the holiday season.
Switching fields, college football serves a platter of surprises in the latest playoff rankings. Georgia's unexpected fall after facing Ole Miss has reshuffled the playoff picture. Get insights into how teams like SMU and Georgia, standing on the cusp of playoff contention, navigate this heated landscape. Boise State's clash with Ohio State and Alabama's face-off against unbeaten Indiana set the stage for riveting contests. We unravel the impact of recruitment dynamics, NIL, and the Transfer Portal, leveling the playing field and fueling fierce competition.
In the unpredictable realm of the NFL, chaos breeds thrilling narratives. The Chicago Bears' coaching woes contrast sharply with the resilience of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Caleb Williams' bumpy transition to pro football adds another layer to the drama. Engage with our analysis of nail-biting games like the 49ers' win over the Buccaneers and the compelling Chiefs-Bills showdown. With everything from Baker Mayfield's standout performances to the Cardinals' surprising season, we keep you at the edge of your seat, gearing up for the excitement Week 11 promises.
Welcome back, everybody. November 12, 2024, one day after Veterans Day, by the way. Once again, happy Veterans Day to all you veterans and active duty service members out there. I'm Brian with an I and I'm Mike, and we are Two for the Win. Mike, what do we got for tonight?
Speaker 2:Well, we're going to discuss the NBA end-season tournament, which starts this evening. We're going to talk college football rankings and we're going to touch on some action from Week 10 in the NFL and look forward to Week 11.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, we have quite the agenda tonight, it sounds like, and of course, things getting hot and heavy in the NFL. But let's start with the NBA in-season tournament.
Speaker 2:Yes, it starts tonight being the 12th. The games on slate for tonight are the Hawks and Celtics, the Heat and the Pistons, the Hornets versus the Magic, the Knicks versus the Sixers, the Raptors versus the Bucks, the Suns versus the Jazz, the Mavericks versus the Warriors and the Timberwolves versus the Trailblazers. And I think one of those matchups has really got well, more than just one of them, but one of them in particular for me. I think holds a little bit of an extra tune-in factor, because Klay Thompson is playing for the Mavericks now and he was a longtime Warrior, so now he is going back home playing the warriors in california in the bay area for the first time, wearing a different, different uniform. So it's a, you know, one of those moments in sports when it's like are they going to come out and light us up or are they gonna, yeah, come out and just have a decent game? You know like do they hold a grudge?
Speaker 1:Either way, it's got to be bittersweet. You got a pick in any of these matchups.
Speaker 2:Man. I mean, obviously the Celtics will probably win against the Hawks and for me I kind of think the Knicks will beat the Sixers. I mean they do get Embiid back, but who knows, with that team I mean they've been so up and down with injuries and dealing with Embiid's off-the-court stuff. But you know, after tonight you're not going to have a next set of games until Friday, and this is going to carry on, where on the 19th there'll be a set of games, on the 22nd there'll be a set of games, the 26th there'll be a set of games, the 29th there'll be a set of games and the December 3rd there'll be a set of games. 29th there'll be a set of games, yep, and the December 3rd there'll be a set of games that will lead into the qualifiers, which will be on the 10th and 11th of December, and then the semifinals, which will be on the 14th of December, and then the championship will be on December 17th. So the way they've done this tournament is they've broken the teams up into different groups. Okay, so normally in basketball you have the East and you have the West, right, you take those. Just like in football you have the NFC and the AFC and you take the best for the championship. That's right. So they've done this Theoretically Well, they've done this breakdown where they've broken them into groups.
Speaker 2:So for the East you have Group A, b and C. So Group A would be the Knicks, the Magic, the Sixers, brooklyn Nets and the Hornets make up Group A, so somebody would come in out of that group as the lead horse. And then you have the Bucks, the Pacers, the Miami Heat, the Raptors and Detroit Pistons, who make up group B for the East. And then group C out of the East is the Celtics, the Cavaliers, the Hawks, the Bulls and the Wizards. So that makes up all of the East, is the Celtics, the Cavaliers, the Hawks, the Bulls and the Wizards. So that makes up all of the East. Now for the West, they also have an A, b and C group which is comprised of the Minnesota Timberwolves. For A group it's Minnesota Timberwolves, the Clippers, the Kings, the Rockets, the Trailblazers. That's everybody in Group A. Group B is the Thunder, the Suns, the Lakers, the Utah Jazz, san Antonio Spurs. That's Group B for the West. And group C is the Nuggets, the Mavericks, the Pelicans, the Warriors and the Grizzlies. So the West is pretty loaded with some really good teams. So it will be interesting to see who pulls through on those groupings, because some of the groupings you have some heavy hitters. The West is loaded.
Speaker 2:Let's not get it twisted. Just look at the past few champions. They've been out of the West, minus the Celtics this past year being the champions. It's an interesting thing they've done because they're trying to generate interest Because, as we've discussed before on our show, that most people don't really pay attention to the NBA until after Christmas. You know, it's just a fact. I mean, everybody knows it. But they've created this tournament not only to engage the fans in something exciting, kind of like March Madness, but it did prove last season that the numbers were up, viewership was up.
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, I mean, you know, everybody knows football dominates. And then you know, hit me if I I'm wrong, but college football right behind it, right, uh, typically do you have your diehard nba fans, you diehard basketball people. You know, yeah, yeah, they're always watching, but I I kind of agree with you you really don't hear much about basketball or any of the other sports until football. More specifically, the NFL is kind of winding down.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean yeah. They have more compelling storylines. That's not to say the NBA, doesn't? The NBA still has amazing action any given night.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because there's just an abundance of talent in the NBA.
Speaker 1:Oh, there's a ton of talent. There's an argument right now as to whether or not there's more talent in the NBA than in the NFL. You could put a player from every NBA team on an NFL team, but you can't do that in the reverse in the reverse.
Speaker 2:I feel the opposite. I feel that you could put NFL players on the NBA court and they could hold their own, whereas if you take an NBA player who's not used to taking hits who's not used to, I mean, it depends on what position you're putting them in If you're making them play quarterback or you're making them play wide receiver I. I could see that, yeah, some of these guys. They don't have the build to take hits, like you see, some of these nfl players well, yeah, you do.
Speaker 1:You do have a point on the physicality factor, uh, that's not to say the nba isn't physical.
Speaker 2:Trust me those guys. They've run up and down that court.
Speaker 1:Look, I'm not knocking the NBA, but look, let's say the NFL is one of the most physical sports out there. Okay, I mean you're running into each other with pads on like Mack trucks. Okay, like your concussions are happening on a regular.
Speaker 2:I don't think it has anything on hockey, though.
Speaker 1:No, I didn't say that.
Speaker 2:I said it's one of them. We're talking about the physicality, I think hockey is way more physical. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:To be honest with you, I mean, I even think NCAA wrestling is, you know, mat wrestling to an extent, but it's a whole different breed of thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a whole different thing. But I'm saying, like, when you're talking physicality I mean hockey is a fast-paced physical sport I mean, yeah, guys, get concussions, Guys get, you know, teeth busted out, yeah and don't get me wrong, I'm not disagreeing with you at all.
Speaker 1:Hockey is also very physical. Now, whether or not you can put guys in the NBA on the hockey rink, now that's a new hypothetical.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't know if NBA— Can these guys skate?
Speaker 1:That's the one problem you can run, you can hit and you can throw, but can you skate?
Speaker 2:Now that's an one problem. You can run, you can hit and you can throw, but can you skate? Now that's an interesting thing, like if they could, if they could skate, because you might be surprised, they're very athletic guys. Maybe some of them can skate and we just don't know. You know because they could. Maybe they grew up in an area where hockey was pretty prevalent and it wasn't their first love, but they did it because all their friends were doing it.
Speaker 1:Could you imagine just seeing like seven foot tall, like I don't know, Shaq or somebody, guarding your goal? Because those guys aren't seven feet tall in hockey.
Speaker 2:Hockey players are quite tall.
Speaker 1:I mean they're tall, but I'm saying they're usually crouched down.
Speaker 2:Could you imagine just seeing, I mean some goalies in the nhl are six, five okay, yeah but kind of an average.
Speaker 1:NBA players are ready to break eight feet, nine feet, but like well, yeah, seven and a half is like the short guy. But like I'm saying, could you imagine just seeing you know I am kazam in front of your hockey goal, you're like, damn, I got to get by this guy.
Speaker 2:See, I don't know why nobody's tried to get like a sumo wrestler to sit in front of that goal. Good luck getting past him. He blocks the whole goal.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and he'll absorb everything. Oh, got it. Drop it like a cookie. What was that?
Speaker 2:He just kind of like something hit me in the belly. What Drop it like a cookie. What was that? He just kind of like dropped it like a cookie. Something hit me in the belly.
Speaker 1:What was that? Yeah, that's a very interesting hypothetical, though. Who can hold up on hockey rink? Sorry, I don't watch hockey that much.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, hockey is kind of one of those sports. You're either in it and like it or you don't.
Speaker 1:I'm definitely in it and I definitely like it, but I've got to make more time for it. I barely have time for football and other things.
Speaker 2:Well, speaking of football, you know what just came out just recently the college football rankings in the new playoff picture.
Speaker 1:Yeah the college football rankings in the new playoff picture.
Speaker 2:So we had some pretty big shakeups because of the losses and stuff that happened this past weekend, notably Georgia losing to Ole Miss. Now these rankings hot off the press as they just came out, hot off the press as they just came out. So we're going to start this with. We're going to skip ahead to the team that is second out. So the team that is second out right now is SMU. Now the first team out, and this was the surprise, this was what everybody was wondering what is that loss gonna do? Georgia is the first team out, sitting on the 12 spot for the bracket sitting on the bubble, so they're they're on the bubble.
Speaker 2:They're that? That loss they took uh holds a lot more weight than everybody thought. So moving ahead to the 13th spot, or yeah, yeah, no, the 12th spot, my apologies. The 12th spot held by number 13, boise State. They're going to be going against the number 5 spot, which is held by Ohio State.
Speaker 1:Ohio and Boise Going at it man.
Speaker 2:So we're just hitting on the first round, trying to get that all broken down.
Speaker 1:And both these teams are 8-1.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. Well, we're going to have some teams in there with a few losses, which is a total shakeup of what it used to be, where if you got one loss, your season was over. So, speaking of Ole Miss, Ole Miss is now in the 11 spot and they are ranked 11. And if it shook out right now, they would be facing in the sixth spot, number four, Penn State. So they would be right there battling Penn State in the first round.
Speaker 1:You know, honestly, I really like that matchup as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, me personally, I think Penn State will probably take that one. But moving on to the number 10, spot.
Speaker 1:I always like a good upset pick.
Speaker 2:Moving on to the number 10 spot. Bailed by the number 10 team, alabama, and they would be going against the number 7 spot, which is currently held by number 5, indiana, undefeated. They have 10 wins, no losses, but their strength of schedule has not pushed them over the edge of being a higher-ranked team, but they have been blowing out and handling their wins.
Speaker 1:Now this is interesting here. All right, alabama at number 10. Do you think that's where they truly should be, yes, or do you think they're falling from grace? Or do you think they're better than where they're at?
Speaker 2:No, I think they're ranked and they're placed where they belong. Okay, because, yes, they've been a historic college, they've won a historic college, they've won a lot of championships and been ranked high over the years. But what you're seeing now is it being a balanced playing field where Bama's not getting every single five-star recruit like they used to. So now the competitive balance thanks to the NIL and Transfer Portal, players have been able to go to other schools and still make a little money, and colleges that don't normally get top-level talent are now getting that talent. You're seeing that in these records.
Speaker 1:I think that it's consistent with what you're saying as well. I mean, just for reference, there's only been two teams who have been ranked first more than 10 times Georgia at 15. Alabama has been first 24 times, yeah. So I been first 24 times, yeah. So I think you're right. We're seeing teams truly for what they are and what they're actually capable of.
Speaker 2:Well, I think what it is is you're allowing teams to have a fairer balance.
Speaker 1:Yeah, other teams are gaining some steam, some momentum with their programs. Now I mean, I'm not going to go over them, but if you look at the list it's pretty consistent with the powerhouse teams that have always been there. And now to see things shake up a little bit, it's a little interesting. I kind of like it.
Speaker 2:So, moving to the number nine spot in the bracket, it is held by Notre Dame, who is ranked eighth, and the eighth spot is being held by Tennessee, who is ranked seventh. So that would be your first round. You would have Boise State versus Ohio State. The winners from that would move on to face the number four spot, which is currently held by number nine, Miami. So the number nine and number eight spot, which are being held by Notre Dame and Tennessee, they would move on to face the number one spot held by Oregon, which, no surprise there, Oregon's been playing excellent football. So the 11th spot and the sixth spot go against each other in the first round of Ole Miss and Penn State. The winner of that would move on to face the three spot, which is held by number six-ranked team BYU, and then the number 10 spot and the number seven spot held by Alabama and Indiana. The winner of that would move on to face number two spot, number three-rank ranked team Texas.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's another good matchup. I mean all of these are good matchups, but a few of them I definitely want to keep my eye on here.
Speaker 2:So the thing I want to kind of point out here is, like you're probably wondering why the first few teams are not the first, the top ranked teams, and that's due to the fact that there's a lot more factors than just your record it's. It has a lot to do with strength of schedule. It has a lot to do with you know how your team team is, is their conference. So if your conference is a stronger conference, you're probably going to get a little more clout than some of these lower-ranked schools. And that's probably why you have an undefeated team like Indiana, not in one of the top spots, and they can't take two teams from the same conference and throw them in the top. They're trying to do this where the conference winners get those top spots.
Speaker 2:So if you don't win your conference, you won't have a top spot. You won't be in the four, the one, two, three or four spot if you don't win your conference. So that's first and foremost. But it'll all shake out as we go on through the schedule. As we see, you don't want to lose any crucial games at this point because Georgia's now outside looking in. So we'll see if they can pull it out this next week and get back in there. But that's the rankings as it stands right now.
Speaker 1:It's going to be interesting and you know a lot of good teams, a lot of good football coming up. I'm excited to see how this shakes out, man.
Speaker 2:Well, one thing I want to hit from that Georgia game, though there was a backup safety, jake Pope no Pope, sorry Pope who was celebrating after his team had lost, and it looks optic-wise. It looks really bad that a Georgia player is out celebrating when the other team won.
Speaker 2:But what it turns out is Jake had a few of his friends surprise him make the trip up to see the game. He had no idea they were showing up and they ran up and greeted them and they so they were all jumping and having a good time like oh my god, I can't believe you're here rough, rough timing on that man, just just bad timing.
Speaker 1:And well, I feel for you. But yeah, perception is everything, straight up.
Speaker 2:Well, and given what his coach said afterwards, which was, you know, he just basically said it was dumb, he shouldn't have been doing that.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I'm sure he'll be reprimanded, but he shouldn't be. I mean honestly, it's an honest mistake. He was celebrating that he was seeing his friends. He wasn't celebrating that his team lost. I don't think anybody who's a competitor in any sport is going to celebrate that their team lost.
Speaker 1:And you know, you've got to think of it, these kids are still young. You know, this is, in my opinion, this is a learning, uh, a situation oh, for sure yeah, uh. So I mean, hopefully they don't scold them too bad. It does look bad, you know you might have a meme or two made about you, but you know we'll all get over and move on yeah, it'll be.
Speaker 2:It'll be forgotten in two weeks.
Speaker 1:Nobody will ever remember oh yeah, but I'm sure there'll be plenty in two weeks. Nobody will ever remember, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm sure there'll be plenty more drama by then. Speaking of drama, NFL's getting kind of spicy.
Speaker 1:Spicy. Look, it's spicy.
Speaker 2:Well, the Thursday night game we had the Bengals and Ravens and that was just an all-out brawl, Just both teams putting up points, going back and forth, and it really was like you really couldn't tell who the better team was, because both teams were just scoring at will.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean yeah, it seemed it at one point, it seemed like they were just going tit for tat. I mean, baltimore would drop a touchdown, then out comes out jamar chase boom one hit, one hit literally literally one.
Speaker 2:One throw, one play and they get a touchdown with jamar chase, I mean jamar jamar. He had over 200 yards receiving in that game and three touchdowns. God dang, yeah, he had a day.
Speaker 2:You know, if I was doing a blind stat resume and said, hey, you got a guy on your team, he's going to have over 200 yards and he's going to have three touchdowns, you'd be like, I'll take it, my team's going to win, yeah, no, no, no. That's not what happened this time, unfortunately. They went for two at the end of the game, which you know it's kind of been a thing If you're the visiting team, you go for two to try to get the win and get off the field. You don't want to go to overtime. It's just been the play for many years.
Speaker 1:I know that's the play but honestly I say go with your gut man. If you feel better about tying it up and just resetting the clock, go to overtime.
Speaker 2:I say do it, man. Well, with the way they were scoring, they probably felt pretty confident in their ability to get the two-point conversion.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they probably just wanted to wrap it up at that point and there was some controversy in that play.
Speaker 2:I mean, you had Mike Gasicki throwing his hands up because he's being held, not being able to come off his route. Now, granted, the play didn't go to him, it went to Hudson, right, yeah, and Burrow kind of had a case for roughing the quarterback because one of the defenders his hand hit him right on the face, like ran the face mask kind of jarred him a little.
Speaker 2:Now credit to Burrow. He didn't say squat, he didn't complain, he just all right, it happens. But by the letter of law both of those incidents could have gave them another shot.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But at the same time, if you don't see it, If they don't call it.
Speaker 1:I mean there's probably an uncountable number of references for this one. But I mean, you're right, it just didn't go that way. But at the end of the day, you gotta think you should, you probably should have done more to ensure the wind didn't come down to that moment, like you probably should have locked it up a little while ago, true, but you know, and again, side note, ravens wearing new uniforms got a new logo. Look good, I like them.
Speaker 2:Oh, the Ravens alternates.
Speaker 1:But it clearly wasn't enough to get them to win. No, not enough bling in the world to buy that one, but I gotta give it to the Bengals for stepping up, man.
Speaker 2:I mean, honestly, the Bengals have been playing, at least from Joe Burrow's side and Jamar Chase's side. They've been playing some pretty decent ball. It just the defense hasn't really been holding up. I mean, they've lost a lot of pieces over the years and they've had a few injuries this season that have kind of made it not so great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean they've been hanging, you know.
Speaker 2:Well, they don't have the same pieces they had on their Super Bowl run. Yeah, but we had an early game on Sunday morning. We had the New York Giants going against the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 1:From.
Speaker 2:Munich, which I thought it was kind of funny. It was kind of pointed out that on Veterans Day weekend you're going to have a game in Munich, germany. You're going to have a game in Munich, germany. Kind of hits the ears, kind of bad, when you say we're going to play a football game in Germany on Veterans Day weekend.
Speaker 1:Listen, sir, I think you're the only person to point this out to me. I talk to a lot of football people all day long. No no, no, no, no, sir, I talk to a lot of football people all day long.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, no, no, sir, because Chris Berman of ESPN made a comment about it in his quick three minutes on Sunday Night Football. Well, that's ironic. Well, not Sunday Night Football, monday Night Football. My apologies, he said something about it and I agree with him. It does look bad, terrible. That game actually was a little back and forth. Daniel Jones wasn't the reason that they lost this time, it was their running back, tracy, fumbling in overtime, giving the Panthers the ball on their side of the field so they could kick a field goal to win.
Speaker 1:Look, I picked the Panthers to win this game a long time ago, okay.
Speaker 2:They're playing better ball.
Speaker 1:They might be playing better ball, but they still can't seem to stop anybody.
Speaker 2:No, I mean well, I mean case in point. Danny Euros didn't show up there.
Speaker 1:Danny Euros. I like what you did there. I think it's called Danny Pounds, right, isn't Euros bigger than Pounds? Pounds is English.
Speaker 2:I don't know. Let's move on. Let's move on.
Speaker 1:We're in need of direction, sir.
Speaker 2:We're going to move on to the Patriots and Bears game. And what a sad state of affairs that was for the Bears and not so much the Patriots and Bears game. And what a sad state of affairs that was for the Bears and not so much the Patriots. The Patriots were all over Caleb in that game.
Speaker 1:Look, we have been watching the Bears unravel since like what? Week six.
Speaker 2:Well, they fired their offensive coordinator yeah, he's out Because they literally had players coming up and saying Coach is hard, we want to be coached hard.
Speaker 1:And you know their play scheme.
Speaker 2:You have receivers literally in almost the exact same spot with not enough distance between each other, like if you're trying to layer a play. You shouldn't have receivers within five yards of each other.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's just. I mean coaching and preparation, but on paper the Bears should have been balling out this year, man.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean a lot of people said that in the beginning, but the point of the matter is the Bears' ultimate problem is coaching. They never fixed the main problem.
Speaker 2:You can go and get all the best pieces, but you have to have a good coach Ever flying away and sticking with a defensive coach to coach what was touted as a can't-miss kind of prospect, a once-in-a-generation kind of player, you're doing a disservice Now. Granted, caleb owns some blame in this too, because he's been holding that ball too long. He's trying to play hero ball and play like he was in LSU still or not LSU? Sorry. He's trying to play like he was still with the Trojans Sorry. I don't know why. Was in LSU still or not LSU? Sorry. He's trying to play like he was still with the Trojans. Sorry, I don't know why I said LSU. I guess I still got Burrow on the mind.
Speaker 1:No you're thinking of good old Jaden Daniels.
Speaker 2:No, I'm not thinking of Jaden Daniels. We'll get to him that slick guy. We'll get to him.
Speaker 1:That slick guy right there.
Speaker 2:But the point I'm trying to make is he's trying to play like he's still in college and you can't do that at the NFL level because you would literally have to take and throw guys open. You can't wait for people to get open in the NFL. Open in the NFL looks like covered in college.
Speaker 1:Well, there's something wrong with how they prepare. He doesn't look. I mean he's.
Speaker 2:With how they prepare. He doesn't look. I mean he's. I mean the guy has been sacked repeatedly in back-to-back games. You can't win if you're on your back every game at least eight or nine times every game.
Speaker 1:Where I'm from, we call that counting lights.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, that's what's happening. You can't play like that.
Speaker 1:You're not going to get wins, having your quarterback being sacked multiple times every game. Yeah, and I agree with you. I think they're going clean house because they seem to kind of drop the ball. You fire the OC in the middle of the season, which is kind of a scapegoat move, okay.
Speaker 2:Well, let's face it If you're an OC in the NFL, you sit on the most ready to be pointed at for blame, because if you're not scoring points, they're going it's your fault. Fire him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the OC. Firing the OC to me is one of the first signs that the head coach is gone. Next, people fire defensive coaches and then they come okay, we'll tweak defense, we'll find a new defensive coach. Offense has much more emphasis placed on it here in modern game. Here recently, you see an OC go in the middle of the season or even before the season's over. The head coach is right behind him.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think they would be wise to do that.
Speaker 1:I think so too. They have a ton of talent and it seems like they're not managing it.
Speaker 2:well, they're a few pieces, pieces away but they do have some good foundation there they have some good foundation, a little more protection, but uh well they have had some injuries on their offensive line, which doesn't help matters, but still you got to coach the players you have I mean, the steelers have seven wins and they didn't even know who their quarterback was starting this season. No, I think they knew. They're just, you know, tomlin doing Tomlin things.
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, I mean, that might be a hair different. By the way Justin Fields was with the Bears and he wasn't exactly balling out with the Steelers, but he kept them competitive okay, and I'm not saying he's better than Caleb Williams, but you know I am.
Speaker 2:Caleb Williams is better than Justin Fields. Let me say that that's what I meant.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think Caleb Williams is better than Justin Fields. I'm not saying Fields is better than Williams, but I'm saying Fields played well enough to keep the Steelers competitive, while not technically or necessarily being quite as loaded as the Bears are.
Speaker 2:Right, right. But you know he found a landing spot with the Steelers and the Steelers have been playing good ball yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean it's Russ's show now, so that's a good point.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and they snuck out a win against you guys, against the Commanders. I mean, the Commanders played a good game, did you just commanders?
Speaker 1:played a good game. Did you just pinch me? I feel like you just pinched me, no I I get hurt a little bit. When you said that, I felt something sharp well it.
Speaker 2:It is what it is, man I mean.
Speaker 1:You know your team played well, they just didn't play well enough to get the win honest to god, I'm not mad about it and we don't really talk like I'm on the team Not necessarily we. I say we, but the team. They don't have time to really dwell on it because this Thursday night they have Philly.
Speaker 2:Fan is short for fanatic and we get a little bit emotional and irrational when our team that we cheer for because we invest our emotions into it, we get. We get upset when they don't win.
Speaker 1:I didn't I just said I wasn't upset though I, I, I bet, I bet. During the game you were freaking out no, because I was working on that car, but that's besides the point I have watched games.
Speaker 2:I have watched games with you before, sir and I.
Speaker 1:I have seen you lose your cool, all right this one I was in and out because I was out working on a car, so I had to tune in and out for this one because I didn't get it done.
Speaker 2:Part of that game. I want to play a little clip from that game, that kind of see if people missed this call with Mike Williams, see if you guys catch this.
Speaker 1:Listen toward the end here.
Speaker 3:Williams. He's got it. Touchdown, mike Williams, the newest stealer scores. They're an extra point away from taking the lead. Welcome to the Steelers. Mike Williams. And they gave him plenty of gap, meaning that space between him and St Juicy didn't press him and turn it into a go route, he just simply ran by him and they talked about his small package of plays available for Mike Williams today. You knew if he had a small package, a go route and jump plays were part of that package.
Speaker 2:Now that Now did the announcer just say that Mike Williams has a small package.
Speaker 1:Now that was kind of funny when she pointed it out. I didn't hear it at first. When you pointed it out, it was funny talking about it. This is a small package. This is a small package.
Speaker 2:I'm sure Mike Williams is like no.
Speaker 1:If they knew he had a small package, they would have pulled it out.
Speaker 2:When I heard it I was just like wait, well, that's going to be on a blooper reel somewhere packed in with all the other sayings. That got people like what? I hope so. What did the announcer just say? I hope so.
Speaker 1:Small package. We like small packages.
Speaker 2:Going down some of the other games from this past week. We have Buffalo beating out the Colts 30-20. Now that score doesn't really show how bad Flacco really played. He turned the ball over multiple times in that game, yeah the score makes them look better than they actually were.
Speaker 2:But the thing that's crazy is the Colts have said they're going to stick with Flacco as their starter. So you brought the guy in to kind of show Anthony Richardson how to play the position, but now that he's played horrible, you're going to stick with him. I don't know what's going on with the Colts.
Speaker 1:That's another team that I think is probably going to. They might clean house.
Speaker 2:I don't think they're going to clean house, but I think they need to figure some stuff out. I mean, you can't sit here and pull the rookie to say, hey, you're going to watch the veteran and he's the better option, but they were more competitive with Richardson. So, now you're going to put Flacco in and let him just keep throwing interceptions.
Speaker 1:I don't know, man. Colts seems like where quarterbacks go to end their career now. It used to be Washington, but it seems like the Colts is that place now. I remember Matt Ryan. We miss you, brother.
Speaker 2:So we also had the Vikings and Jaguars, which was a confusing game for me, because the Vikings have been playing great to start out the season, but they go to Jacksonville, who has a bad secondary, and they have good receivers on the Vikings. So you would think they're about to go off with the passing yards. They're about to just light them up and it's going to be one touchdown after another. No, the score is 12-7.
Speaker 1:How you know, like, how does that happen? I don't know, man. I think the vikings are skidding a little bit. They seem to be struggling since, especially since their bye week or maybe the week before it. Um, they started so hot and every year we see those teams right, they just start hot, red hot, like they. We see those teams right, they just start red hot, like they're going to the playoffs. But the Vikings, you know they're not doing too bad at 7-2, but they seem to be slipping a little bit. They're not playing as crisp.
Speaker 2:It hasn't looked like you would expect, and I've been saying this Pretty wins.
Speaker 1:I've been saying this for a while Jacksonville, watch out, man. I like Jacksonville a lot. Their day is coming. Not sure totally what they're missing but, I, like what they're doing down there for the most part by day coming.
Speaker 2:You mean firing their coach.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I never hope for anybody to get fired, but I'm not a big fan of doug peterson, but oh, well, that's probably just harboring bad feelings from him being a eagles coach why they didn't keep him around either yeah, I know the eagles have a thing they get something out of you and and then they fire you. Now coming down to the next matchup. After that we'll move along here. This was my upset pick of the week. All right, and I almost nailed it the Broncos at Kansas City.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean a blocked field goal kept them from winning that game. I mean they were playing the Chiefs tough, they really were.
Speaker 1:I believe the Broncos have turned a corner. They're not always showing up.
Speaker 2:They're building towards something.
Speaker 1:But I think they know what they're doing.
Speaker 2:Well, they have Sean Payton.
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, I mean, there's a lot of good coaches that are doing well right now.
Speaker 2:Well, I'll say it for this If you put Sean Payton with a team that is not doing well, he's going to turn that team around, because you remember last year when he had Russell Wilson.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Russell was go look at the numbers.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I remember what was it Week two when somebody walked into their house and put up 76 points on them.
Speaker 2:I think you're talking about that Dolphins game they had, where Dolphins scored like 70 points on them. Yeah, it was nuts, but he's turned this team around and if you look at Russell's numbers, they were better than they had been the previous year with Seattle, so he did get him to play better. It's just Sean Payton didn't want him on the team because it wasn't a fit for him.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because he wanted Russell to let the ball go, throw it where it needs to go, and he was just holding it.
Speaker 1:He wanted to be Russell Wilson.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he wanted to do Russell Wilson things extend plays. But going back to that game in particular. So I heard a take earlier today Nick Wright, who is an analyst on Fox, who is an analyst on Fox. He was on a show and he said that the Chiefs are doing something that none of the other teams in the NFL are doing, and he said that the Chiefs are doing practice in the first half of games, that they're not playing the game, that they're practicing their plays. So I think that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life.
Speaker 2:I got to say it's a little far-fetched Because of the fact that these teams practice all week long to get into the game. If anything, andy Reid feels confident in his defense that he can take a risk on a play, but they have always had plays that are kind of weird. You know like little double shovel passes, or you know where they'll do a little little. You know double move and then there's a shovel pass incorporated in that move, or they'll walk up to the line and do a pirouette and then get in position like it's just the Chiefs.
Speaker 1:That's what they do yeah, I don't like that people jump on it that hard. I mean congratulations, they are undefeated, right, it's hard to do that, especially through 10 weeks, but, um, I think you're also discounting the hard work they've put in. Because if you're saying that they're out there just practicing, I feel like not only are you devaluing, uh, the competition that they're going against, you're watering it down, but you're also watering down the accomplishment of being undefeated. If you're saying they're going out there and practicing, you're basically saying, well, y'all basically ain't playing nobody. So you're special, but you're not that special. That's how I would read that. I'm like nah, bro, yeah, because you want to say you've been beating good teams and you're undefeated in a tough league. You don't want anybody to say you're going out there and practicing during games because it seems like then it seems like you're playing on a lower, on a level that's below you, and that's also disrespectful to me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like the whole comment, and I mean Nick Wright, I don't really like his takes. You know, yeah, the guy freaking looks like a caveman first off. You know, he doesn't look put together when he puts on a suit. He's got his tie tucked into his belt sometimes and just has these hacky takes.
Speaker 1:It's like dude.
Speaker 2:you know, just because you spit out a couple facts doesn't mean that what you're saying. When you come up with a, take that it's legitimate. I mean, he's a known Chiefs fan and he's a fanboy, so everything he says is way over the top and he's a LeBron apologist. Anything bad LeBron's ever done, he apologizes for it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and don't get me wrong, the remaining teams on their schedule. They're probably middle of the pack. I mean, the Chargers are pretty good.
Speaker 2:Well, let's face it.
Speaker 1:The Texans have been all right, but they have beaten good teams. By the way, all right, but they have beaten good teams. By the way, the buccaneers baker mayfield is is out playing. Baker almost beat them. Yeah, he almost out. He almost beat they always out past them, he almost beat them without his top receivers baker is one of the is a red hot quarterback.
Speaker 1:He's one of the hottest quarterbacks league right now and nobody's really even talking about him, or at least I haven't heard much about him I've heard a few people mention it, but the Chiefs are doing what the Patriots used to do.
Speaker 2:You play in a division that is not the cream of the crop, it's not the best division in the sport, so you get kind of six wins pretty easy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean get an easy six.
Speaker 2:Yeah, get an easy six and then, if you can go at least 500, you're guaranteed in the playoffs. Now, granted, are they playing above that? Yes, but if you go look at Patrick Mahomes' numbers, this year he's thrown more interceptions than he has in any time in his career. He's playing horrible football by his standard.
Speaker 1:I think he's barely averaging one and a half touchdowns a game that's through the air and on the ground combined. I need to double check that, but he hasn't been hitting much score for scoring recently.
Speaker 2:So I mean sitting here touting that they're the best team ever, they're going to go undefeated in three-peat just stop.
Speaker 1:First of all, we know who the best team ever was, and it was the undefeated Dolphins.
Speaker 2:Yes, the 72 Dolphins are the only undefeated team to win it all.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're the best ever because they did it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they did it, and until another team does, they're the only ones. And that's not to say it's not possible for the Chiefs, it's just to say let's slow down, because when you're barely squeaking by on wins on teams that you should be beating, it's not a good look.
Speaker 1:And I agree. And clearly, since they won't lose, I'm not going to pick them to lose again this week, but I am going to pick the Broncos to win. But when we get to that point we'll talk more about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we'll talk more about it. So, speaking of teams that started out hot, atlanta kind of hit a little skid this past week because they lost an in-division match against the Saints.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is Given. The Saints have been trying their hardest to find new ways to lose, week in and week out. I mean, I applaud them just for experimenting. But to come out and actually win against a team that was probably looking playoff ready.
Speaker 2:Well, and they hit two deep passes to Valdez Scantley, who I didn't know. He was with the Saints. I'm sure a lot of people didn't know, but I guarantee you a lot of people are going to try to pick him up for their fantasy team next week.
Speaker 1:Nobody probably knows who Spencer Rattler is either right now, but hey.
Speaker 2:Well, he wasn't the one throwing the ball.
Speaker 1:Derek Carr was. Derek Carr was back in. Yeah, Derek.
Speaker 2:Carr was back in. That's kind of probably why they went for the deep ball like they did.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that might have a lot to do with it. Carr balls out.
Speaker 2:So, moving on to the San Francisco 49ers versus the Tampa Bay Bucs Niners squeaked it out, they won 23-20. And I'm going to say they should feel lucky that they came away with that win and they really need to knuckle down and start fixing some of their problems, because you had the kicker miss three field goals. Now, granted, he is coming back from injury.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But you don't put him out there if he can't make those kicks. And they were good enough distance and height-wise. He just was missing them a little.
Speaker 1:Well, a little left or a little right honestly, I didn't get to see a lot of that game either, but I gotta give it up to san francisco because, going back to what baker mayfield's been doing, this was an off game for him no, he was playing his butt off.
Speaker 2:I mean he was literally was stiff, arming bosa at one point on. Oh yeah, I mean he was playing his butt off.
Speaker 1:But as far as passing stats quarterback stats goes, this was an off game for him.
Speaker 2:But look, he's sitting here stiff-arming Bosa on a fourth down. If he doesn't get a first down on this, it's over. Game's over. Stiff-arming him and he throws the ball and hits his receiver, gets first down, keeps the drive going.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And then he gets the team down. Now, granted, they still had time Niners kind of bend, but don't break stopped them and held them to a field goal, which then gave San Francisco another shot with the ball to go down and kick a game-winning field goal. But prior to them-winning field goal, but prior to them kicking that field goal, there was actually a dust-up on the sideline with the long snapper Pepper and Debo Samuels, where Debo actually went at his throat and kind of choked him a little and shoved him and when he did that he hit the kicker Moody in the face mask when he did it, so he kind of got a two-for-one there. Yeah, yeah, but football's an emotional sport and guys on the sideline they do that kind of stuff. They kind of go at each other and there's things said on sidelines that you probably wouldn't want a mic to hear.
Speaker 1:Yeah, these guys are talking on the field. Okay, just because you can't hear it on the TV. Sometimes you do, yeah, sometimes you hear some of it if a clip slips through, but don't get it twisted. These guys are on the field. They're not just playing. They are talking to each other. They're talking smack. They are talking to each other. They're talking smack. They're talking to the other team. These guys are communicating back and forth the entire 60 minutes. They're not going out on the field and just looking at each other like this. It's going down out there okay, oh, and it's not.
Speaker 2:It's not just that they're talking at the other team, they're talking to each other. That way, you know you'll, you'll get back on the sideline and someone will be like how come you didn't hold that block? Or how come you didn't, why weren't you in?
Speaker 1:position Like when DK Metcalf went over to the phone. Hey, Ryan Grubb, can we throw past the markers please? And he hangs it up. Can we please throw past the markers? Click, that was a good clip. That was early in the season. We already talked about them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we don't need to dwell on Washington's rare so, moving on to the Chargers and Titans, the Chargers pulled off the win.
Speaker 1:Look another team. I'm kind of excited about the Chargers man. Six wins under Jim Harbaugh in his first season.
Speaker 2:It's the Harbaugh effect, the Harbaugh. What he's doing is he's getting the most out of the talent he has Now granted. They've also added some pretty decent talent and their first pick was an offensive lineman. So, lo and behold, harbaugh's doing the same thing he did when he was with the niners. Yeah, and his draft offensive line, draft defensive line, and try to build from that out oh yeah, and he already has the quarterback. He's good and he helped him out by drafting labd McConkie and a receiver, so to get him more receiver help.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and on top of it, I mean his brother helped him out too.
Speaker 2:I mean JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards were both on the Ravens last year. Yeah, I guess you could say that. But I mean they're free agents, they go where they want to.
Speaker 1:They're free agents, but they probably went on a good word over there.
Speaker 2:Well, you can't blame them, because Harbaugh loves to run the ball.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So yeah, if you're running back, you're going to go to the team where they're going to run the ball and JK is having a career year right now.
Speaker 1:I mean, he's having a really good year. How about the Jets man?
Speaker 2:That was my pick for the upset and I was just thinking, you know, it felt like it could have been one of those trap games where a team is playing bad and they go play somebody that they don't normally play and catch them offhand slipping. But give it to the Cardinals, cardinals, put it on them.
Speaker 1:They're killing it right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they did not let up they're very under the radar.
Speaker 1:They're leading the division.
Speaker 2:They're leading the division right now at 6-4, so there's no reason not to think that, given what they've done because they've beaten good teams there's no reason to think that they can't keep up this trend. I mean, they still have a tough division to go through and they could still technically lose their spot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean they got a little irrelevant. But what do you think about the Jets man? They've been hot, They've been cold, They've been hot, They've been cold. I mean they've been more cold than hot. Again, on paper, you would think they're balling out right now. What do you make of their situation?
Speaker 2:Paper doesn't play the game.
Speaker 1:No, paper does not play the game okay.
Speaker 2:The players on the field do, and right now what I'm seeing is a diminished Aaron Rodgers, looking like a guy who's unengaged.
Speaker 1:Look, I'm not an Aaron Rodgers fan, but this guy has been diminished since 2015,.
Speaker 2:Okay, he's been well. He's been diminished in the last three years. But the point I'm trying to make is, when you're the quarterback and you're supposed to be the hands-down leader of the team, you need to get your players in line. You need to get things going. You need to get your players in line. You need to get things going. You need to be barking, you need to be fiery and getting your guys accountable. Just sitting there going, oh well, that guy dropped the ball. I'm not throwing it to him anymore.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't think he's. I think he needs to be front and center man and he's not.
Speaker 2:He's not, and he's forcing the ball to his favorite target, Devontae Adams.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I watched some of that game and he kept just throwing to him whether he was open or not. Come on, you can't win games that way.
Speaker 1:Well, let's hope they figure it out, man, because they got a lot of talent and I'd love to see their fan base just get somewhere with some success. Do we even need to talk about Philly and Dallas?
Speaker 2:Yes, we do. Everybody knows what the dumpster fire in Dallas is.
Speaker 1:I never thought I'd see Jerry Jones huddled around a barrel fire in a back alley before, but that seems like what Dallas is right now.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, they started the game with what was their backup quarterback's name, Cooper Rush. Cooper Rush, that's it. I can't remember his last name. I knew it was Cooper something. So Cooper Rush started the game, and then they brought Trey Lance in.
Speaker 1:Now they have a quarterback by committee. They're really pioneering some things.
Speaker 2:Well, they signed Will Greer to the practice squad, so you know things are going really well with their quarterback room.
Speaker 1:Dang, I bet their practice squad is ballin' bro.
Speaker 2:But the thing that it's not so much the game itself, because it was a landslide and it wasn't even remotely competitive. The Eagles had that from Jump Street.
Speaker 1:They didn't even score a touchdown.
Speaker 2:So during the game there was a point where CeeDee Lamb doesn't catch the ball because the sunlight is coming through those big annoying windows that this stadium has had.
Speaker 1:You know, I've noticed that.
Speaker 2:Everybody who has ever seen a Dallas game since they've been in that stadium knows about that sun coming through and how it's an annoyance for both teams because eventually you've got to swap and go the other direction on the field.
Speaker 1:At one point it was a problem in the Texans stadium, as well.
Speaker 2:So here's the thing. They asked Jerry about it. And Jerry says ask Jerry about it. And Jerry says well, every team in the NFL has certain advantages in their stadium and that's just one advantage that we have in ours. Jerry, that is dumb.
Speaker 1:It is not an advantage because okay, let's think about this for a second he missed. Let's think about this for a second. He did not understand the assignment. Think about this for a second. He missed he missed.
Speaker 2:Let's think about this for a second. He did not understand the assignment. Your team, that's their home stadium, so you're playing more games in that stadium than any other stadium. The team that comes in to play you only has to deal with it for two quarters out of the game. So which team is being hindered more the team that plays multiple games throughout the year, having to deal with that sun being in their face, or the team that comes in for one game and has to deal with it for only two quarters?
Speaker 1:Just get some window tint, bro, it'll be all right, that's all I'm saying, jerry, stop being dumb, just get some window tint, you ain It'll be all right. That's all I'm saying, jerry, stop being dumb. Just get some window tint. You ain't got to take the windows out.
Speaker 2:It looks dumb anyway that you have sun just kind of blaring on the field blinding the players.
Speaker 1:It does affect the picture on the TV as well.
Speaker 2:It looks dumb.
Speaker 1:I use a tube TV, so everything affects it.
Speaker 2:Regardless they have a dumpster fire going on. I mean, they they had micah parsons in an interview stating that, like they asked him, do you think mike mccarthy will be here next year? He's like that's above my pay grade, but we got guys on this team like zach martin who have more, more experience than coach mccarthy, or however however he said it. Basically, what it boils down to is he basically said that mike mccarthy doesn't need to be here, that we all we need to be playing for the other guys on the team that deserve it more than mike yeah and uh.
Speaker 1:By the way, this coming season, Zach Martin, Demarcus, Lawrence D-Law, among other names, are free agents.
Speaker 2:Unrestricted. Oh, and I guarantee you they're going to go elsewhere.
Speaker 1:They're going somewhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because they're probably done with the circus the.
Speaker 1:Cowboys have a long road ahead and, as a Redskins fan, I know the roads you're about to travel. Bro, I have a phone number you can call if you need.
Speaker 2:It's probably a support number, it is.
Speaker 1:It is a support number.
Speaker 2:They need it. So, moving on to the Sunday night game, which was the Detroit Lions against the Texans. The Lions man talk about a tale of two halves. They looked like hot garbage in the first half.
Speaker 1:Man. Both these teams did not look that great. You're talking back-to-back interceptions.
Speaker 2:In the first half the Texans looked pretty good because they got out to that lead and then the Texans didn't score a single point in the second half, that's true.
Speaker 1:The Lions came back unanswered.
Speaker 2:The Lions came back to win.
Speaker 1:that, I think it was like 14 unanswered points or something like that. Golf threw like five picks. Yeah, I think it was the. Wasn't it an NFL record or something like that most picks in an NFL game?
Speaker 2:Well, they said it's the first time it's happened in decades where a team has thrown five picks and still came out with the win. Bro, that's not a stat you want.
Speaker 1:I don't remember who it was. I'm pretty sure I mean the last thing. I remember D'Angelo Hall getting four picks. I believe it was against Jay Cutler. That was 2008.
Speaker 2:Oh, saying that Jay Cutler threw a pick is like not that surprising.
Speaker 1:No, but the same player. To catch four of them is the surprising part, Right right right. That was the feat. They weren't talking about him. They were talking about D'Angelo Hall.
Speaker 2:So the Monday night game. But uh, freaking, Houston threw a pick it but freaking Houston threw a pick.
Speaker 1:It was like he'd throw a pick, then Houston come out and throw a pick, golf throw a pick, then he'd come out and throw a pick. It was really back and forth like that at one point or there'd be a turnover.
Speaker 2:It was, it was, it was. I mean, there was a point where Tank Dell was open in the end zone with nobody around him and the entire stadium's going throw it yeah, yeah, yeah he held the ball for a second. He should have thrown it. If he would have thrown it right when he was right, when he came open, he would have had a touchdown but here we go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I, I agree with that, this one. This one might be more surprising than the Detroit-Houston game. I mean, the Rams did not even score a touchdown had a showing of their defense.
Speaker 2:They really did because, although the Rams didn't come out with the win, they did pick off Tua a few times and there was a point where they literally turned the ball back and forth to each other. And one of those plays I don't know why Tua did it, but Tua went in and tried to lead with his head on an interception to try to tackle the guy who intercepted him.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:Tua said he went up to him afterwards. He's like why didn't you just go out of bounds? Or, you know, why didn't you cut back in? He goes, I had nowhere to go.
Speaker 1:Man I bet Tua was that kid that his dad was like man, you got to use your head, and now he's literally using his head even when he shouldn't.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the only thing he was using his head for there was trying to stop a play, and that's not good for a guy who has a concussion history.
Speaker 1:I know he's balling out or trying to, but you got to protect yourself, man.
Speaker 2:I mean his running back wears a guardian cap, why can't he? I mean, it may look dopey, but if it means that you're gonna have more protection, but that you're wearing a chin strap on your head just I mean, dude it's, you only get one brain, you know, you only get one, you only get one life, one life one brain, one body, if you screw it up, you're done, and the more concussions you get, the more you are susceptible to having another one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then complications from those as well that you've got to factor. It's just a domino effect of problems. But you know, congratulations, miami 23-15, getting the win.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that might be taking out the Rams' chances of making the playoffs. I mean, it's going to be a pretty hard road to climb because their schedule gets a lot tougher from here on out.
Speaker 1:Now real quick, before we jump into this next week and into our picks. We're going to do some fan interaction here. Okay, we didn't get a lot on the last one, who you thought the scariest player in the NFL was? You know that was their Halloween one.
Speaker 2:I think Derrick Henry.
Speaker 1:I think that's what I said. Are you copying me?
Speaker 2:Well, I'm just saying like if I was in a situation where I had to try to tackle derrick henry. You know that stiff arm's coming and he, he would just throw me. He do he pull, pull a josh norman on me and just throw me. Yeah, you know, like just yeah, I mean my answer was derrick henry as well.
Speaker 1:Um, but I say here okay, two exciting matchups coming up. Okay, the chiefs Chiefs and the Bills, the Ravens and the Steelers. Okay, the Ravens and the Steelers. Pretty, two evenly matched teams. This one's going to decide the division title for the time being and then, you know, at least until the end of the season, it's very likely going to hold it. I mean, there's only a few more weeks left in the season and then the Chiefs-Bills Chiefs undefeated. The Bills only have one loss. Go to Two for the Win. Go to our Facebook page. We're going to put a poll up. Let us know. You can pick both games. You can pick one game. Who do you think's coming out on top of these games? Ravens-steelers, chiefs-bills. Now, here we go.
Speaker 2:Jumping into Week bills. Now here we go jumping into week 11.
Speaker 1:First game of the week Washington and Philly.
Speaker 2:That'll be a good Thursday night game.
Speaker 1:This is going to be another. We are in it for a treat this week y'all. Week 11 is going to be hot. We got Washington and Philly right out the gate. This is another division decider the top two teams in the NFC East. Phillies rolling hot, Commanders rolling hot. Who do you take, Mike?
Speaker 2:Honestly, I'm I really, I want to say commanders, but I just, with the way that Philly looked last week, I just can't pick against them. Man, I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:You mean against the Dumpster Fire Cowboys? Is that what you're referencing?
Speaker 2:Yes, I know they played the Dumpster Fire Cowboys.
Speaker 1:Look, I thought we were friends man.
Speaker 2:We are friends. I'm just saying, man, my gut feeling is that the Eagles will win, but that's not who I want to win.
Speaker 1:They do have a tighter defense. I will give Philly the edge, but you know I'm taking the commanders. I'm always going to stand by my team, but that just comes with the territory sometimes. But I'm taking commanders with full confidence. I think the defense will pull it together even better. I think Saquon Parkley, I think they hold him less than 100 yards, which is less than 100 yards, which is less than 100 yards 100 rush yards, or 100 yards total, because he does catch out of the backfield. Rush yards.
Speaker 1:Okay 100 yards rush yards. He might put up like 175 total yards, I don't know, but less than 100 of them will be rushing yards. That front's going to get it together. Then we're coming into the 1 o'clock lineup here. What do you like about this game? The Packers and the Bears?
Speaker 2:I like it for the Packers. I don't think the Bears are going to have much of a fight.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Packers got actually a pretty good defense to complement that offense.
Speaker 2:And they're coming off a bye.
Speaker 1:They're coming off a bye. They should have Jordan Love back. Chicago's struggling. Yeah, I'm with you, man. I'm taking Green Bay here. Let's roll on down here. Jacksonville, detroit what do you think about this? Onesonville is not exactly hot or exactly a competitor, but they can play competitively.
Speaker 2:um detroit, they did just win, but they're coming off a very poor performance of their quarterback lions are running that game I think it's gonna be like it's gonna be like the dallas game against the eagles yeah, man, I I really tried to sell it now.
Speaker 1:If jacksonville comes out and wins, we're both gonna feel like idiots here, but I think that might, that might be the kiss of death right there. The lines will just lose yeah we're just gonna skip those other ones coming down. Okay, yeah, this is one fan interaction Baltimore-Pittsburgh along with the Chiefs. Real quick, baltimore-pittsburgh Chiefs-Bills. Who are you taking in those two matchups?
Speaker 2:I feel like we're going to see probably Pittsburgh win that game. As much as I hate to say that I feel like they might win that game, I want I hate to say that I feel like they might win that game I want to see Lamar win it, To be honest it's hard to call this one.
Speaker 2:It is a very hard one to call, but let me just say this Lamar Jackson doesn't get enough credit for how he is as a quarterback, Because he used to be first look run. Because if he didn't have the first look he would run.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Now he does his progressions, he is thrown from the pocket. He's not as much of a runner but he will run if he has to. He has grown over the years and I posed this question to somebody not too long ago because I remember the draft where he was drafted and a buddy of mine who's a Patriots fan. He was getting all hyped because he was like you know, the Patriots need a quarterback. Patriots need a quarterback. Lamar's still on the board. And I was like okay, and then the teamots need a quarterback, patriots need a quarterback. Lamar's still on the board. And I was like okay, and then the team before picked somebody else and he's like we're going to get Lamar, we're going to get Lamar. And I'm like okay.
Speaker 2:And then they didn't pick Lamar. And then the Ravens jumped back in the first round to pick up Lamar. I remember that I posed this question. I remember that I posed this question. I said well, do you think that Belichick would still be in the NFL if he had had Lamar? I think he would have. I think he would have had a better chance of winning with Lamar.
Speaker 1:Honestly, I don't know. It's hard to argue because he had, I say, Tom Brady's name and he's got five championships and he did all these great things for the franchise. They did it actually together as a team, like a tandem. But do you think Belichick would have been as successful early on with Lamar, early on in his career? I mean, Lamar is good now and he knows what he's doing now. But even Ty, he still has times where he slips a little.
Speaker 2:But he's gotten better every year. He's okay.
Speaker 1:Now the other thing is he doesn't cause any drama.
Speaker 2:He's always saying the right thing. He doesn't cause any drama. He's always saying the right thing. He's making sure his players are accountable. I've seen him on the sideline going up to guys and be like dude, you ran the wrong route. Or hey, get this guy off me. He's put me on my back the last three plays.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean he's got the leadership that you want to see, very different leader from Tom Brady. But I think the system that Belichick runs Brady was his quarterback, I mean. But it doesn't mean he wouldn't have maybe molded it to Lamar, but you know that's an interesting take. I wonder, would he still be around? Because yeah. Lamar is younger. Yeah, and for a short bit they did have some weapons Possibly.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So you know, honest to God, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Sorry to stop you in your tracks.
Speaker 1:No, you're good, that's a good thought. Do you want to call that one or do you just want to keep on rolling these matchups? You know the Vikings and Tennessee.
Speaker 2:Let's roll down to the Chiefs and Bills.
Speaker 1:Chiefs and Bills Real quick. My pick this week is the Broncos. I picked the Chiefs to lose last week. This week I'm going to pick the Broncos to win. I think that's a trap game for Atlanta.
Speaker 2:Well, Chiefs and Broncos, I think we're going to get a good Lipman's test here.
Speaker 1:Chiefs and Bills sorry.
Speaker 2:I think that's going to be a good Lipman test.
Speaker 2:Lipman's test whatever, I'm the one drinking anyway. So, given the way the Bills have been playing, they've been playing some really good ball and they've looked tough. They do have a few guys out, like their rookie receiver. He's going to be out for this game. They're also going to have well, it's not official yet, but their tight end Kincaid is dealing with a knee injury but he might be able to go. We'll see. They're still trying to figure that out. But losing two pass catching options going into a tough game is not exactly a big, not something you want if you're Josh Allen.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I mean they very well. They very well could be undefeated. I mean, they didn't have a good game against the Ravens in week four. That's their only loss, chiefs. On the other hand, some of the teams and some of the way they've been playing look like they should have more losses than they do have. I'm interesting to see if these two teams level out. Who are you picking in this one man?
Speaker 2:Well, it's kind of hard to pick against the team that's undefeated. Yeah, they're not dealing with so much injuries as the Bills going into the game other than the ones they already have had. I do know that the Chiefs have designated Pacheco to come back from IR, so his 21-day window is now open, so could be seeing him coming back soon. Okay, so that'll be an added piece.
Speaker 1:Honestly, I'm going to pick the Bills here Straight up. They're healthier on offense and their defense, I think, is slightly better than Kansas City's. That's just my opinion, though.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, it's a good thought, yeah.
Speaker 1:We shall see. See what the money line is. Yeah, la and New England the money line is yeah, la and New England.
Speaker 2:I'm thinking for my upset. I'm going to choose the Patriots to beat the LA Rams.
Speaker 1:I almost picked that one earlier. I was looking at that matchup. Given the fact that the Rams didn't even score a touchdown, I agree with you. I think the Patriots. I think this is a very winnable game for them.
Speaker 2:Well, derob Mayo's been having them play some good ball and the coaching is showing in their play. They've gotten a little better as the season's gone along and you know, I hope for you know, patriots fans sake, they don't and I don't think they will. I hope they don't go. Oh well, you didn't do squats so we're going to let you go. I don't think that's going to be the case because you know Gerard's been there for years and Kraft likes him, so he probably will stick around, but his coaching is showing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's evident. You know you've seen the things that they need to fine-tune out, but you've also seen where they've taken significant steps forward, even under just year one, under Gerard Mayo. So I think he's doing okay over there. I think he's doing pretty good.
Speaker 2:I think so too.
Speaker 1:We got, while you pull that up, houston and Dallas a game of Texans.
Speaker 2:Yeah, battle for Texas.
Speaker 1:Look.
Speaker 2:I don't think it's going to be much of a battle. To be honest, I think Texans is just going to just tear them up.
Speaker 1:Look, if Dallas wins this game, I'll eat my own foot, but I think Don't say that.
Speaker 2:Don't say that. Are you trying to give them a win?
Speaker 1:No, they're not going to win this. Look the tandem of Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are not going to win this, okay all right, I just you know, bold statements never pan out well oh, I'm not gonna bet on it, but I'll stand by it. Well, all right, thank you again. Everybody. Seems like a lot of exciting stuff going on, especially the NFL here recently, and we got an exciting week coming up once again. Happy Veterans Day. Thank you everybody for joining us. I'm Brian and I'm Mike and we are Two for the Win.