Hail on Three

Jayden leads Commanders to LA homecoming victory

• Josh Edwards • Season 1 • Episode 34

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Josh and James get together to discuss the Commanders impressive outing in Sunday's win against the Chargers (3-2):

- Lee's instant reaction in the stadium
- Game discussion 
- Coaches grades
- MOTM on both sides 

On to Chicago on MNF!

@HailOnThreePod

How would you describe the culture surrounding this football team? You know, the culture is actually damn good.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Welcome to another edition of the Hail on Free podcast. My name is Josh. I'm joined by James. You just heard from Lee, a man on the ground. In LA in Inglewood. In fact, coming outta the stadium, uh, a chip Lee celebrating a commander's victory Commander's role to three and 2, 27 to 10 victory over the LA charges. James, thank you for joining me. We're doing this on Tuesday. We've let things settle down a little bit. Uh, busy, busy guys, but we've let it settle down so we can talk, um, when we are both available and really get into things and celebrate the win. How are you doing?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yes. Hello Josh. Um, yeah, it was, um, a mutual decision to, uh, push us back to Tuesday. Um, my own reasons were probably linked to a very long day on Sunday, if I'm being honest. Um, very successful

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

I.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

you might say. Um, but one that involved a few drinks and, uh, a bit of a late night.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, I'm sure. Uh, why was it, why was it such a long day for you? Why was it so successful?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, well there was a certain little, um, east Ang and Derby victory earlier on in the day. Um, obviously, um, straight into a, a meetup with yourself and, uh, in Bodine's, um, sat at the bar and joined a few pints of Murphy's. Um, you got me onto the Murphy's in there. So, um, yeah, and then we both went our own ways and watched the games at home.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, that was great. A nice little afternoon celebratory drink. Um, celebrating IPS such's victory and then sort of getting ourselves GED up for the game, which was ideal timing actually to be like a late one, I think. Um, and I really did enjoy watching it on Sunday, although, as Lee mentioned, and I think we should start here before we get into grades and all that stuff, middle of the match. At one point we were, we were all very worried, I am sure, and everyone listening who's a Washington fan, at least, was very worried at nothing down in the first quarter. And the charges driving, and our defense particular looking like their old selves.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, there was, there was a lot of panic. Um, as, as the night wore on, it becomes a little bit more f or f more fuzzy for me. But, um, yeah, I was putting it in the chats and, um, that, that, that start was terrifying to be honest. Um.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

it was, and I don't think there was any, I don't think it was overreaction from anyone. Like Lee said this could get ugly. You were saying how, um, it's just the same old stuff again. It was right. There was wide receivers running open. So mis tackles at one point talking to miscommunications, lamore literally ran into, or they ran into each other trying to cover someone in, in the secondary. And I was just thinking, no, it can't be like this. Not after such a good morning and afternoon. Um, and yeah, at, at, at that point, I, I. I did think on offense. I thought, Ja, Jayden's gonna get into a rhythm at some point and he is gonna kind of get us back in this game even if we are 17. Nothing down, which would look like we could have been at one point. So I was less worried about that. I did think there was gonna bit of ru, a bit of rust there,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

really basically it was like, oh God, how the hell are we gonna keep up with them if, if, if

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Y

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

struggle?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, that was it. I think the way the defense started and then our first drive was thrown out. Right. I think it looked a bit rusty and. Jayden wasn't quite, wasn't quite there yet, and I just thought if he's not actually fully himself, there's no chance of winning this game. So how do we keep up? But that'd be ended up being the only 10 points. Um, they got

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

spoiler alert in case anyone hasn't watched it yet.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

I mean, yeah, it's too late now in it. I mean, they're ama amazing, really. I mean, I think lease spoiled actually straight away to That's fine. Um, yeah. Incredible. Um, to then shut out the charges to the rest of the game, something that. We expected at all. Um, I know you and Lee did predict a win, but it was, you know, a a a much more of a shootout style game, right? Or at least the charger scoring more points than that. Um, we didn't expect our defense to end up, not gonna say being so good because I think there's, there's some sort of context and, and factors in this, right? But you can't take it away from them. Um, I guess in terms of the points that were scored, um, but the charges were driving at Tender Lap, as I mentioned, and it was a play by Wan Martin, which, which was one of many big plays and sort of deciding big plays, which felt to me, um, like last season, um, we

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

of big plays in games that massively changed the momentum on both sides of the ball. And

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

of, uh, of Quinn and Johnston to coughed up the ball and, and re-cover it. I think Latimore fell on it. Um. Gave us the ball back and then we, then we rolled from there, basically.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, your, your boy Quentin Johnston. Um, yeah, no, as you say, it was big. There's a lot of big deciding moments. Um, well guess we'll get into it, but whether much actually changed in terms of what we were doing defensively or offensively outside of Jaden joining maybe not, is just kind of players making big plays in, in big moments, I guess. I think that was my takeaway from this.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Players making big plays in big moments. That was one of them. Um, talk about some more of them. I think one, uh, another one later on in the game. Um, on defense, the sand was still pick,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

which at that point I think there was a chance for the chargers to get back into the game and to really kind of make it a,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, that, that, that was a let off because, um, I think Brady even called it before it happened, like, this is going to Alan where he does that thing where he kind of runs into stops and like in between like four defenders. And that was, it would've gone, would've gone right to him. It wasn't tipped. So,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

curl

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

um. I think it would've, yeah, that's the one. And it would've been fairly similar to, um, who's called their first touched. Oh, I can't remember. But yeah, I think that was a let off because I don't think, yeah, that's it.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

first one.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

But yeah, that was, um, yeah, if, if that wasn't tipped, I, I was fuming because, um. It was obvious what was gonna happen even before Brady said it. I was like, well, this is gonna go to Keenan Allen

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

when they're that close and if he's throwing it like, um, so I was about to get annoyed, but yeah. Great, great play from, from Mikey.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

And it was, I think it was Johnny Newton who, who

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yes. Johnny Newton Tips. Yes. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

uh, no. Yeah, I mean, good for him to, to get his hand up there, get physical and get his hand up. And then actually it did deflect like. Uh, quite wildly. And, and that's always a tough one to come up with. So Mikey, who's been been struggling, like we've said this season, um, came up with a big play. So good for him. So that's a couple of, of big plays on defense. Um, many, many, many big plays on offense. Once Jayden started getting going, which I think you can say sort of justifiably in the second quarter onwards, um, we looked. Damn good offensively. We looked like last season, we'll get into the grades and players and, and stuff, but, um, watching it back and, and he said it got a bit fuzzy for you, but watching it at the time and watching it back, did he look limited to you at all? Physically?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

No. Um, I think if, if there was moments where he may be. It wasn't for pal, it would've been just'cause he's getting used to wearing a knee brace. But I didn't see anything there that suggested anything to be worried about, um, going forward and, yeah, no concerns from me.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

No, and I agree. And, and Lee Lee, uh, mentioned in the preview pods how he thought that Kingsbury should, should call a designed run early. And

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

And he did. Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

and he slipped. He had to change his cleats. You see

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

That was a, a bit of a worry that he was slipping around on a, on a dodgy knee. But once he, he changed those cleats, he looked fine. I thought, especially as he grew into the game, um, the amount of times he just made a free rusher miss

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

a play either with his arm, with his legs was just fantastic to

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

really looked like he was back.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

it was, it was great to see him just running around like laughing and stuff, you know, like, you know, you could tell he was in his groove and he is like, you know, even if a play didn't work out, you know, he is still laughing and like having fun and

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

just good to see. Um. Just by that I was okay. It's fully healthy and he's feeling good.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, absolutely. Um, let's get into coaches' grades then. Uh, if you are, if you're good with that. Um, we talked a little bit about the game and how it went, but we'll, we'll talk into detail again now as we talk about the coaches and our, our manner of the match on both sides. Uh, Lee has actually sent in his, uh, coaches' grades, uh, via text, so I can read those out and we can start with, with his each time. You can react to his

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Mm-hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

give yours, um. And we're starting with Quinn and he's given Quinn actually, do you wanna guess what he's given Quinn? That might be fun.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Well, I know he loves his pluses and minuses, so I reckon, I think he's gone b plus for Quinn.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

well, really close. B minus.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Okay.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

given a B minus and I think that the reasoning probably from him, um, he's mentioned a couple of little things. A slow start again obviously, um, quite a few penalties.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

a slow start on penalties, which, which has stopped it being anything above a B minus for Lee. Um, although he said he did like the end of the first half, how aggressive we were got three points outta that. And, um, generally speaking, um, from what I've heard, really fired up the team at halftime and, uh, both him and Jaden made speeches and, and were kind of like, right, we, we've got this, we really are, um, onto a win here if we can keep going. So yeah. Got B minus from Lee.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Were there, were those, those Lee words of yours about a halftime speech? Was he, was he on the ground sneaking in at halftime?

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Oh, that, no, that, that's my, uh, research on X since, uh, it wasn't Lee telling us, uh, that that happened. I don't think he got into the locker room. He had some good seats by the looks of it, but I

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

was in the locker room. Um, but yeah, I know I heard that on, on, on x. A couple of

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

those.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Fair. Yeah. I mean, yeah, all. Yes, good points. I was a, I was a b plus. Um, I think there was no real game management issues. Yeah, as you said, I really liked how the end of the first half ended, given last week, and just in terms of how we finished out the game as well. Um, what keeps'em down, as you say, is those penalties still lingering, a bit of sloppiness in a, you know, slow start. So, um, that keeps him out of the, out the, a range for me.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, that's fair enough. I think, uh, similar to me, um, I kinda wanted to give him an A minus, but I think he, now, I'll go b plus as well. I mean, I think the slow start was. unfortunate free and out on offense and, and not really on Quinn at all on offense, but on defense was like just the same old stuff. It's hard to really pin that on Quinn, but, um, Okay. B minus for Lee b plus for both of us. Let's talk about the offense. Um, and can you guess what Lee's given Cliff Kingsbury.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I reckon he's gone a minus.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Unfortunately, Lee's gone off off type and hasn't given a minus or a plus. This time, just

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Oh, wow.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

A straight A

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Wow.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

for cliff. He says

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Okay.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

always gonna look better with healthy Jaden, but. I mean obviously, but said he called some really good red zone plays, um, mixed in the running backs, committed to the run, as we will talk about 27 unanswered points, long sustained drives, creativity, all that good stuff. It's really hard to argue any of it. I was gonna give Cliff a straight A as well. I. Couldn't see anything in the game play call wise that I was frustrated with, to be honest. And, and Jaden bailed him out, which he does. So, you know,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

about that before. Like Jaden bails out back, you know, middling play calls and what can you do? It's brilliant.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

yeah, yeah. No, I, a, um, for me, I, I think you say that I don't recall anything in the game being annoyed about that's how he usually base these things. Um, but yeah, as you say, commit to the run a bit more. Um, I guess it's easy to do that when you've got cross merit doing what he's doing. And, you know, we still have our number one wide receiver app. Um, so, you know, it still makes life difficult for him. Um, so props to Kingsbury for getting other players involved. And I mean, Deebo Samuel, I read something that's like the most, it's only like the second time or third time he's ever had over a hundred a yards.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Game. Um,'cause we know he is not really usually that type of player, but you know, he's got him doing things you wouldn't normally expect to see out of a player like Dbo Samuel.

Your commander's just gonna go with one 14. Go. It's Daniel's pressure, one for the Samuel. He's got it. That's the exclamation.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

um, yeah, definitely an a, um, obviously can't give an a plus'cause it's not perfect. But

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

No.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

there was nothing out there I didn't like.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, I mean, Sam Samuel was, was superb. Um, three, receiving touchdowns is as many as he got last year already nine. Uh, the receiving yards is most since the end of last season. Um, seven receptions in free games. It's like the stat's just racking up for Samuel, um, who's just become a, a key, I think, as we said. Um, a bit surprised at the fact that he is become such a passing threat, like you mentioned.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, didn't have a single rush. Um. This week.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Interesting. Oh, okay. Um, let's talk about Joe Whit Junior. Before we talk about, um, some more people on offense, I, I was just

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

talking about the offense and

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Bill, but let's talk about Joe Whit Junior first, because,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Well, we, we, we spoke enough about defense start of the week, so it's nice to talk about, um, the offense.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

True. Um, okay, let's go the grade from your guest on Lee's grade. Joe Whit, Jr.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I reckon he is gone. Depends when he gave these out. If he is walking out the ground, they might be more favorable. Feeling, feeling positive, but I reckon he's gone. I reckon he's gone. C plus.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Uh, nailed it. Well done. C plus. Yeah. You know, Lee, well, uh, hardest one to grade, he said, but c plus awful. Start terrible coverage issues again, but obviously shut'em out. Shut'em out through three quarters and. Were bailed out a few times with penalties and it's not perfect, but started to bring pressure and say, actually, do you know what? They cannot protect Herbert, and if he doesn't have enough time, he won't be able to find guys even if they're open. And that was the right tactic. It it clearly from, from how the game from. Transpired. So I'm glad that he did that. Lee was happy that he did that and gave him

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Mm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

but only a c plus because of that. The way we started and, and the fact that even later in the game on some of those sacks and some of those hits on Herbert, uh, there were people running open. Right?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. And yeah, I, I've gone to c um, because I think he was bailed out by some big individual plays. Um, otherwise the, the score would've been quite different. And as you say, a couple of penalties as well. So,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

That's a good point.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

um.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

you can't really give whit much credit for a

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Because, yeah, I mean, apart from, as you say, like bringing some pressure, which was good. Um, I didn't see really anything else, uh, different.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

No.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Um, I, I, there was still. At times moving the ball very easily. Um, but turnover's made the difference. So, um, and it's nice to have multiple turnovers in a game. Um, but yeah, I think, I think he's bailed out, but there's still, he's still on my radar. We can't, um, get too excited about the defense, but good to see individual players stepping up and making plays. Um, that, that always, that always helps. So, c, c for me.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah. Um, I. I almost want to give it a not applicable grade because of the way it was, but in just, just for the reason that like, as you say, it didn't look great on the backend. Still we did some good things. He got bailed out by penalties and individual efforts and it's like, well, what do I really give him for the credit for for that

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

it's not looking good? But I think that'll be a bit harsh. So I think I'll go with the, with the

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

plus as well.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Yeah. I guess you never know. Maybe there's something they've done in practice this week which has led to these turnovers. Maybe they're not just lucky turnovers, I dunno.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Um, so, but yeah, I think we can't give much higher than that

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

no. Good to, uh, good to give him, what was he a z last week from you? Quite the jump,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

bit of an upgrade

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

the z an

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

trend trending up.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

trending up where? Well, hopefully, and we'll talk about that moving forward and stuff soon, but, um, what, like, shit of the chargers up front, like they, they're literally starting random, random people off the couch on offensive line and

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, and not only that, they lost Hampton. I'm not sure when he went out. Um, but that had, that'd have massively helped us as well. Mm-hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

saw that. And he's, I think he's out for a few games now, so they're just, they, they seem to be cursed from the injury bug. Um, I did ask, uh, our Chargers fan friend Glenn, if he wanted to do a, a, a clip, um, to clip into this show and his reaction. And he said, I don't think it would be Airable, um, or legal, what he would wanna say about the team. which I think at this point he said is sort of basically. Um, gross negligence, the way that they're unable to keep Herbert, um,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

amount of times he's been hit and stuff is, is insane. So, yeah. Um, a shame for the charges, the way that things, uh, have worked out injury wise, but we, we certainly took advantage, which was excellent.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Mm. Tough shit.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Absolutely. Uh, let's talk about, uh, our players of the match and start with defense.'cause we'll probably talk more about offense, so on defense and, uh, Lee hasn't given me a guy for, for these, um, either way. Oh, no, he has, sorry, he has, I just saw that. Oh, okay. You can guess this as well then

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Okay.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

So on

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I reckon.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Lee's man of the match,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm. I reckon he's gone. Riel.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

uh, he hasn't, he hasn't,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Okay.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Dorrance, Armstrong,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

who said. You can only beat what's in front of you, but he really took advantage. Um, Armstrong had three, three tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss, and two hits on on Herbert as well, which is a lot. Um, also through five games. He has five, at least five sacks in the first five weeks, which is the most since Kerrigan 2014. fifth Ack of the season, which matches his total from last year already, which is fantastic.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, well good for Lee, but he's just stole all the stats I was gonna use from my defensive player of the match, Mr. Dorrance Armstrong. So kudos Lee. Yeah, no, I enjoyed watching him. I actually really enjoy just watching him play at the moment. So, um, yeah, obviously there's a few individual plays that you know, that could have got. Shout outs, but I think for the overall difference making throughout the whole period of the game. Um, certainly Armstrong for me,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, he's, he's, he's become a real disruptive force in there and it's nice to see. Um, and they've

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

they're obviously delighted with that. Um, considering they didn't give up. Loads of draft capital in the draft to, to, to get an edge or anything like that, or, or trade for someone with, with, with using lots of capital. So what they're getting from him is fantastic. Uh, I will mention Sam Steel. I mean Armstrong is mine as well. So we are, we're a sweep across the board there. I'll mention Sam Steel. He adds, he had a lot of tackles, seven tackles, two, two pass breakups and, and the pick, um, which is good. Um, he only had two picks last year. As well. So he's, uh, matched that now already, right? With two this year.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Nice.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

so that's good. Um, hopefully it'll give him a bit of confidence moving forwards. Um, and then the other one, just, just Von Miller, who, who had, um, one and a half sacks, they gave him and two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. Um, he's now. 14th, all time in NFL history and Sachs uh, has 132 and a half, which is tied with Lawrence Taylor. So really high company for Von Miller, who continues to be pretty useful, to be fair, I think so far

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, no good shout. Um, I was gonna call out. Latimore. Um,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

good way.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

believe it or not, I, I, I thought Lee put some stats in our group, but I saw something somewhere that was really impressive considering the, the weapons they have. Um, I know Herbert didn't have a lot of time, but,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Hmm.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

um, he wasn't a talking point, I guess, which is good. So, um. Yeah, I can't find it now, but I think by the sounds of it, I didn't really see any of him

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

No,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

from when he ran into someone and when he collected the fumbles. So,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

that's

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

um, if, if, if I'm not sitting there getting annoyed about him, he's probably, he's staying outta my way.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

This is

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Um,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

your new format for how

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

at people here if you don't notice them.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Although, you know, several parts of Guinness or Murphy's will help you evade my attention.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah. Yes indeed. Um,'cause we don't talk about special teams really much, um, unless there's big plays. It is worth saying that gay was two for two on the field goals and three for three on extra points. So at one point he was the worst kicker in the league. Through three weeks, I think he was a 50%, he's now nine for 12. field goals and 13 through for 13 on extra points. So no missed extra points and only three missed field goals. So as Lee said a few weeks ago, like, don't, you know, pump the brakes a bit, let's give it till mid-season at least. Um, and he seems to have maybe settled down a bit, which is good.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm. Yeah, that's good. Um, and yeah, I mean. It's great to see we're having impactful kick returns, punt returns every week. Um, it seems to be a real weapon for us at the moment as well.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, it does. It's, it's very impressive. Um, I believe McCaffry, what did he have? He had, he had some solid yards. I did. I can't find it now, but I think he had another good,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm, he did. Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

oh three kickoff returns for 92 yards. I mean, that's huge, isn't it?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Mm-hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

the whole field. Um, which is good. Let's talk about the offense then. Um, and our. Man of the match, but also lots of contributors on the day. I'm sure. So can you, can you guess Lee's I, I think there's one of two really ultimately, but can you guess which

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

way Lee's gone?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Lee's definitely gone. Crosky Merit.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yes. He has

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

best rookie running back performance, um, he's seen in a long time. Um. Obviously he did have that fumble, but that was, uh, that was tough to really blame on him'cause it was kind of blown up Benson. It was kind of blown up in the backfield if you watch that back and it just didn't go right from the start. It wasn't like he was five yards downfield and dropped it or did a, um,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

a Jackson Dart if you saw that.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yes.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

so yeah. Anyway, um, Lee said hard not to give it to Daniels on his homecoming. But Bill him was the man of the match. He, um, had 111 yards on the ground, two scores on the ground, caught two passes for 39 yards. Um, and looks really, really good, right? Like I tweeted it the other week. He looks to me, looks a bit like Lefton Bell. I know that sounds crazy, but the way he plays his vision and his patience, I just think he's superb.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, no, I'm never gonna fault anyone talking up Crosky Merit. He was a big difference maker in this one, and I think it's fair to say I've won Jaco rewatch. Is that fair to say?

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

uh, yeah. Yeah. I think we can say that that's well and truly over, if that's, if that was a competition, then you have

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Well, I, well I'm making it one now and then, um,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

won.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

yeah, let's just say I won. Um, yeah, no, he, he was, he was amazing and you know, he, that's how he's looked every game. It's just, it is been in a, in with more volume, um, at the weekend. So,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

I.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

yeah. And obviously a real threat when we do get down the red zone as well. So not only can he deliver, you know, game changing runs, um, from one end, but once we get down there, he can finish a drive off as well. So, um. Yeah. Really excited to see where he can go from there. Uh, this season.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

his, it is his backfield, isn't it? I mean,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

clearly the most elusive, the most best vision and, um, the, the most home run potential outta the free backs. Um, and they can spell him with two good guys when they need

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

And they've obviously got the, the rushing of

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

as well now for teams of contenders. So that will help cross him

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

he could have a monster season.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

No, I was about to say if, if, if they continue to trust him, they do trust him as that lead. And it's not just like game plan driven. I mean, they can't, they can't put the lining back in the bottle now. Um, it was a great shot being offensive. Rookie of the year at this point?

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, that's a fair, fair point. Yeah. Um, is he your man of the match as well? Sorry, did you say?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Uh, no. Just'cause I knew Lee was gonna go there. Um, I, in one of the chats at the time, he was quite excited about it, so.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Well, he's mine, so I, I,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

And it's, it's,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

about it

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

it's a, it's a bit predictable for me as well'cause I'm always talking about him. But I've, I've just gone Jane Daniels because I was just so happy watching him out there, running around, laughing, um, doing what he does and just looking back to his old self. And that's the difference maker at the end of the day. Um, it was just, yeah. Makes you feel good about the rest of the season, doesn't it? Because not only when you come off a loss and. He's missed some games, but you're wondering if he is gonna be back or if it take a couple of weeks or, or whatever. So really exciting. And it is just felt like last season again, watching him play. So, um, definitely Jane Daniels.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Nice and totally fair. I think my, um, prediction for a loss was hinging a bit on whether or not he was healthy and I just didn't have the information. Clearly he was, um, he looked great once he got out of the initial funk and, um, played brilliantly. He was 15 of 26 for 231 yards, but doesn't tell the story. Some of the phrase he made was, was just superb, same as last year stuff,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

using his legs as well.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, let's give a shout out to Jayden Lane,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

hmm.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

um, that huge play, and obviously Luke McCaffrey as well with that 50 yard bomb, so,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

I'm really pleased for Kari to get something like that, like a a, an actual kind of down the field,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

mm-hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

it in traffic. Great fro and great catch, and a really big, um, uh, moment actually in the game to get that.'cause it's deferred down, I think, wasn't it?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, you know, if they don't, obviously don't quite trust him yet to take a ton of volume, but I mean, if he's able to, um, deliver impactful plays over something like that, then happy days.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, for sure. And just to put a kind of underline that how Daniels has played since he was drafted last season. Uh, he's the first, first quarterback in NFL history to have 4,000. Passing yards and a thousand rushing yards in his first 20 games. And he, um, is the first quarterback to rush for a thousand rushing yards in, in his first 20 games. So it, what he is doing is, is remarkable. And people, I think now, um, hopefully that he's healthy obviously, and can get rolling again, we'll start to recognize him again this season.'cause I think people just sort of, uh, across the league, obviously, when he has two games out and we've struggled a bit and two and two sort of forgot a bit. And I hope he can sort of put people on notes again.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, nice reminder, we're not going anywhere. Um, and we've got Tony MCC Macron to come back. It's hopefully,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yep.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

hopefully next week. And if he's, if he's a hundred percent himself and we've got Daniel's a hundred percent, you know

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Bates,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

sky's the limit.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Bates was back and played 50% of the snaps. so they had him in half the time and Ertz in the other half the time. And that sounds about right really for Russian Pass kind of situations. Um. Oh, shout out myself on, shout out for myself, not myself. Sorry. A shout out from myself for Laramie Tonsil. Um, so

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Oh, I thought you, I thought you were gonna pat yourself on the back for the Quint, your stat line, or you wait for me to do that at some point? I guess so. You don't have to do it.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

do that in a minute. Um, I'll, I'll that myself in the back in a minute. No, Laramie Tsel in his last three starts, he's had 97 pass protection snaps. In those three starts, two pressures, no quarterback hits, no sacks.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Wow.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

pressure rate, all pro level. And obviously that's

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

games of Marriott and one with Daniel. So,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

so far so good. Laramie tonsil as a left tackle.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Worth calling now'cause it's, you know, it's unlikely we're gonna give offense an offensive tackler man, the match on offense.'cause

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

No.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

it's kind of how that goes, isn't it? But yeah. Good, good. Shout out.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Uh, and the other, the other side, um, right tackle. So Josh Connolly. So this game with the amount of kind of, uh, creativity from Kingsbury Worth watching back on some of the runs and some of the pass action stuff to Deebo and stuff. Conley's in space a lot and really good at that. That's clearly his strength. His feet are brilliant. Um, and it's clearly why they drafted him was, was to be a bit of an offensive, not a weapon, obviously with the ball in his hands, but a weapon to kind of help people. Um. And create running lanes and get out in space like, um, Trent Williams was good at Conley's. Excellent at that. It's worth people having a look at that just to, to show kind of his progression already. So that's good. okay. Slap me on the back then. What did I get right again?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Uh, yeah. So your stat line last week for us to win the game was to keep Quentin Johnson under a hundred yards and we win the game.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah. Yeah. it was a bit reductive, but I think the fact that like if he had. Big, big game open plays, catching more than five or six balls and going over that yardage would mean that our defense really did struggle.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

only had four for 40. Um, had the fumble as well, which obviously helped. Um, I'm glad that we were able to kind of mitigate those big plays by just getting to Herbert so early, really. So I was pleased with that.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. And um, maybe me, Lee can get a pat on the back. We got our, we got our point total,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

it.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

correct.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

20. That's the first time you got half, half of the point.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Half the points. Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Which is actually pretty hard to do. So well done.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Cheers.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Confidence in this offense.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Never in doubt.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Never in doubt. Um, I So with three and two, lost. Which was

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yes.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Finally, their luck ran out

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yep.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Denver. Denver, pretty good actually. Um, a bit of a weird game that originally was on in the bar. Um, we were watching in Bodine's and then they changed it to Red Zone, um, which was fine, but we then kind of lost the, the,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Sorry, I'm laughing'cause there's a whole thing around that wasn't there?

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

yeah. So, okay. Let's, was gonna do a hot take. I'll do a hot take now. Okay. Right. This is a hot take. We haven't had a hot take since the off season. If you are gonna get really pissed. Which I'm more than happy with people doing if they do it safely, drink moderation, blah blah blah. Um, if you're gonna get really pissed at the NFL London game, don't just be loud 12 afterwards and make everyone think you're a dickhead. Watching American football in a bar, which is what we had in Bodine's, unfortunately, probably, I mean, hopefully doesn't listen, but I've been that drunk. Obviously I've been worse than that, but the loudness and the stupid a name takes and trying to talk to everyone in the bar when you're just trying to watch stuff at like, what, 7:00 PM really pissed me off. So. Have fun, but just don't be a loud garish twat.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, I guess it depends on the, like read the room. Um, it was very much quite quiet in Bodine's and just a few us and a couple other people just kinda sat at the bar having a couple of drinks and just watching the games. Nothing too, uh, too hectic going on in there. Um, but yeah, he sure made his, his presence known. Um, maybe that was just his voice.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

It was

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Um, yeah, but it was, as you say, quite, um, basic takes and, um, didn't actually have a team. Um, I know we got some friends in our teams, but like, he was just quite loud mouth general NFL fan.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Um,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

and then, then he was blowing smoke up a giants fence. Anyway. Doesn't, doesn't matter.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

there was a whole thing. It was a sort of per sour note on the end of, uh, of BeIN's. Um, but yes, so that was a take. Um, where was I? I can't remember now

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I don't know, actually. Uh,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Oh, Philly lost. Uh,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

yeah, that's it.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

So Philia four and one. So only one, one game back, which is

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Which doesn't

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yes.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

be right.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Great. And, um, Lee's mate, Jimmy Kemps, uh, local. Beat writer in Philly, uh, reported yesterday or today, um, that AJ Brown, Jalen Hertz and Saquon Barkley sat down for a productive two hour positive chat. So

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

two

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

where that, that's where they're at in the season. Um, I, I believe Barkley only had six carries, um, in a game they were leading for most of it, which is bizarre. Um. And obviously AJ Browns doesn't really getting the ball much so that I think that is on the verge of imploding.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

I.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

They can talk about, well, people can talk about, well, you know, they're winning games, so you know if that's what's working. But at some point you're gonna need the buy-in of your Devonta Smiths, your AJ Browns, and you. If it gets to a game where you do need to get past happy and you know, they're not feeling particularly invested and there's been blowups, it's gonna hurt them in the long run. So, um, I've said before, they're always on the edge of like, sort of genius or just implosion. So, um, maybe it heads that way at some point or maybe they just ride it out and, you know, it's not, it's not a nightmare situation for them, you know, they're four on one or whatever, but, um, something to keep an eye on.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah. And, and they go, they play on Thursday night football in, in,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

um, Meadowlands against the Giants, this week, which will be really interesting. Um, my kind of fear is like they, they come back and they blow the giants out and they show that they're that far superior team, but I'm not sure that that will

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

We'll

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I think, I think that'd be a tight game actually.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Mm. A two hour productive chat if you told me. Oh, uh, yeah, things have been a bit, bit difficult. I had a two hour productive chat with my boss there, and I think, I think it'll be all right. I'll be like, oh, fuck no. Doesn't sound good. Like, it's not something you wanna have to do, is it?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna find the exact quote now. Um, I just need to unblock this guy. Hang on. Um, I'm told Jenn hurts. AJ Brown and Sako Barklay. He had a long, positive conversation today, lasted a couple hours,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Hmm.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

that was yesterday.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Couple of hours. Not ideal. Cowboys two and two. Interesting team at the moment, this point in the season through five games, I always like to take a bit of a bit of stock, um, as to how things are in the division. And at the moment, actually across the league, there's obviously no one who's, who's, um, five and oh now. Um, lots of close divisions and we are one of them. We've, we've

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

three, three or two games between the top three.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Dallas are an interesting one. I think their offense and Dak look really good. Um, I think they're gonna be like a feisty team that will cause some problems, but I don't think they're a serious team.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Um,'cause the defense and obviously C lamb's still out injured. I'm not sure when he's back, but D's playing out of his mind and the offense. It's clearly quite explosive. So there'll, there'll be a problem for some teams, but I don't think they're like a serious team, if that makes sense.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah, it makes sense. Hopefully not a problem for us when we play them, but they can play spoiler and help us out in, in the division and in other NFC matchups. That'd be nice. Um, but ultimately fail. Um, so that's, that's a bit chat about the division, just a bit off the cuff actually. Um. We moved to, uh, a game against the two and two Chicago Bears on Monday night Football. So a bit of a rest after heading out west for Lee and for the team. Um, and we go home to play the Bears at Northwest Field. Um, I don't know how we're gonna do a preview pod at the moment with our various movements. So I'm

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Wales. I mean, that's not that far away obviously, but I'm gonna be pretty busy hopefully trying to hike up Snowden and stuff. Uh, and you are in China.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Uh, yeah, from from Friday.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Yeah,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

tough'cause I'm in Wales from tomorrow night. Lee's busy and stuff so we will see, I'm sure, I'm sure we'll manage something, um,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

out. Maybe it'll be a Lee solo, as you said in the pub,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

He'd relish in that, I'm sure,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

two hours on, on the Bear's preview. Um,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

to our monologue.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

talked a bit, I think, I dunno, I can't remember when we talked about this. Probably a few Murphy's down, but you're saying a bit. about that Bears game, um, after the way we, you know, beat them on the Hail Mary last year and how things are looking defensively for us.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I think I, this was actually, yeah, before our game just now it happened. I obviously feel more confident now, now that I know Jaden is, is properly back. Um, but I still think that's gonna be a really tough one. Um, there can be very motivated for that. And there's still some of that weird Ben Johnson stuff probably, um, that. He's a bit of a strange bloke. He'll probably be really motivated by that. We, we don't, we don't really know what happened there, but, um, he seems to take anything he can to use as motivation. Um, bit of a strange bloke, but, and they're just coming off a by as well, right? So, um, they were playing okay anyway, but there might be some tweaks, um, where maybe they get, you know, a couple more of their rookies involved. Uh, Luther Bird I know is a guy you like Josh. Um. Maybe they get him involved in things like that, but they'll be fresh and fired up. Um, whether that's enough, I don't know, but it would be a be a tough game.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

It will be a tough game, and I'm going to put you on the spot here. We have five games before we go to Madrid and play

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

We play the Bears at home, away at Dallas, at the Chiefs. against the Seahawks, home against the Lions. Uh, three of those are primetime games. Uh, Monday night football, Sunday night football, and I think that's Thursday night football. I can't quite see on the, um, so five more games. We we're three and two at the moment.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

you see us when we go to Madrid?

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

I think we'll have three more wins.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Okay.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

We have two losses. Um, I actually think, I actually think would beat the chiefs. Um, the Seahawks and Lions matchups. I don't feel good about at this moment in time. Um, lions, you obviously know why, um, a they'll have, they'll want to right some wrongs from last year and they just look, you know, maybe even better this year, possibly. Um, and Seahawks. They're causing some problems. That might be a tough, a tough matchup. Um, but, you know, things can change in those few weeks injuries or momentum and things like that. But I'll go out and say, we'll have three more wins. So, well, I put six and

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Six and

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

six and four heading into that.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Six and four heading into Madrid. I'd be be pretty happy with the schedule that we've had.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Um, that would be a four win streak. Um, if you're saying we beat the Bears, Cowboys and Chiefs, and then we'd have a couple

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

perform, perform a drinks,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. That wouldn't be ideal actually.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

just to, just to share one up a little bit and, uh, and get

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

before we go and play a pretty Dolphins team

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

at least.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Yeah. Hmm. Yeah, that's my gut at the moment, but now I'm talking about 2, 2, 2 defeats before we head out to Madrid. Doesn't sound ideal, but hey,

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

It's what it's,

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

them's the matchups.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

are. And then after Madrid, we only have six games left, uh, four of which are divisional games. So the season goes, comes thick and fast once we get into it. Um, but it's been brilliant so far in terms of, of doing this with you guys. Really enjoyed it. And at three and two, I'm feeling much better than I did on Friday night, let's say, when we were a bit worried about how things might go if we slipped to two and three and under 500 for the first time in a long time.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Hmm. Yeah, definitely. Um, before we head out, just wanna shout out the, um, the commentators on the Carolina Panthers.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

Oh yeah.

james_1_10-07-2025_144256:

Game at the weekend. Um, excellent entertainment. And, uh, there's several clips out there, so I think we should chuck one in because, um, everyone we spoke to in all our chats was loving his, uh, in particular his Rico dole, um, enjoyment in that game.

josh_1_10-07-2025_144257:

The first time it happened when we were in the pub, I was like, this guy, chill the fuck out. This is annoying. And then after a couple I was like, oh no, I love this. This is great. This is what he, if this is what he does for every play, then it's fine. Like this is level of enthusiasm. So you'll clip that in for sure. Good shout, James. Um, great. Alright. Thanks for coming on. Thanks Lee for, for dialing in from Inglewood. Um, and we will surely get something out for the Bears game, hopefully. Um, but until next time, hail