Hail on Three
Three fans, two continents, one team. Hail on Three brings together Josh Edwards, James Barker and Lee Edwards to talk Washington Commanders football—the good, the bad and the downright baffling. Expect game talk, guests, hot takes and plenty of side tangents. Whether we’re winning or rebuilding (again), we’re along for the ride.
Weekly preview and recap shows throughout the season. Hail.
Hail on Three
Week 10 Preview Show - Commanders vs. Lions
Josh, Lee and James get together with a smorgasbord of topics and football chit chat ahead of Lee's jaunt to Europe and the (gulp) game against Detroit on Sunday:
- Intro and Lee's movements
- Jayden Daniels injury update
- Trade deadline shenanigans across the league
- Lee's Lions lookback
- James's Matchup Matrix
- Josh's Commanders Win If Statline
- Predictions
@HailOnThreePod
Ca catch the banter if you can.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:I can, I'll try.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Changed his chair up a bit. That's good.
How would you describe the culture surrounding this football team? You know, the culture is actually damn good.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:welcome to another edition of the Hail on Free podcast. My name is Josh. I'm joined by an early bird in Chicago, Lee and James across London. And the three of us are back together again. And, uh, we're in, we're in more high spirits than we were, uh, or have been in recent days, which I guess is a sign I am, it's a sign of things to come, which is both Madrid on the horizon and, uh, and Lee. Venturing across the Atlantic. Lee, how are you this morning? You all set for your trip?
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Good morning sports fans. I'm all set pretty much a very long day yesterday. You know what it's like when you are trying to get sorted for a, long, a long time out, so I don't usually go out more than a week. So this has been a bit, uh, chaotic, trying to get everything sorted. But yeah, I, um, I got packed last night. Um, I'm about to head to the office and I'm gonna go straight from the office to the airport,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Nice.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:to go?
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:James. James said he's going to tweet your movements hour by hour, so the fans can find you in the UK and in the cost of their soul. So if they wanna see you, they can, they can dox you and find you. Yeah, that's about right, James, isn't it?
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, if they want an
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:know, anything like that, um, yeah, we'll make sure we can find them.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:under the cover of Darkness,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:say, we always say, we say a zone one London pub tomorrow afternoon, Lee, that's as much as we'll give any information
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Lee, have you packed all your, um, comfy clothes for the flight?
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Well, no, I've left them out'cause I'll be changing into them
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Okay,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:what, what a callback that is from James
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:in.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:to an early hot take. Yeah. Good work. I.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:about any hot takes. It has been a stressful week. Uh, I, yeah, I dunno, I, I, I need to start like leaving on a Saturday morning or something. Be easier, but then it would ruin the weekend ahead, wouldn't it? So, uh, so no, once I get there, it'll all be good. And looking forward to, to seeing you tomorrow night. Should be good one.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, absolutely in person for the first time in a while. And, uh, my birthday weekend, which was gonna be on the schedule, one of the best weekends of the season, NFL related, the week before Madrid. And, uh, the lions and in my favorite slot, the 9 25 slot on the Sunday night, uh, hasn't worked out necessarily like we'd hoped. Uh, but as we said last couple of weeks, a gallow's humor is gonna get us through. At the very least. Uh, today we will have Lee's look back, the Detroit Lions who have James's matchup matrix for the game. I'm sure he spent hours pouring over that one and my. Detailed analysis of a command's win if stat line later in the pod. Um, but we got some stuff to talk about before then. And the, uh, obvious thing to start with, we kind of, uh, buried the lead last week'cause we wanted so desperately to talk about the game, which was a good idea. But this week we're gonna talk immediately about Jaden Daniels because there has been some, uh, news come out as of yesterday about the extent of his injury. Um, it's not. It's kind of clear as mud, I guess, in the sense that we haven't got like a definitive answer about his return, but we do have an answer there. Were no further breaks and no further. Um. Uh, complications after the elbow dislocation. Um, so we haven't, uh, heard about any ligament tears or anything like that that would've immediately ruled him out for the rest of the season. Um, my initial reaction before I I hand it over to both of you is in a way it's frustrating not to know that the extent and the obvious timeline at this stage, but as we said last week, the season's kind of over. So it is what it is. Uh, Lee what was, um. So you, you haven't heard anything else, uh, late last night, uh, stateside news wise. And what was your reaction at all?
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:From the snippets I've, I've heard over here on the various network shows, it does seem like it's the best possible knees of what it could have been since we saw him walking off the field with, with that cast around his, around his arm and his elway. So when I first saw it and saw everyone down their knees and saw him walking off, I was like. God, is he gonna be good for training camp? You know, so I, it does sound like it could be an even a four to six week injury, which would be incredibly good news. It will be interesting what they do because I'm pretty sure by the time is available, the season will be long gone if it isn't already, but literally mathematically gone. So that will be the next discussion, I guess. but yeah, it does sound like good news, which I'm pleased about.'cause in the moment you're just like, oh God, this is a nightmare. But the season's over anyway. So you kind of just kind of, you're just in the moment angry about the immediate, aren't you? But thinking about it, I don't wanna be in like March and April. Like, is it gonna be, you know, mid August or is it gonna be early July? So it does sound, it does sound the best case scenario from what we saw, at least when he was walking off the field.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yep. Sounds that way. And hey, Marietta, go win a few games. for Jane Daniels to come back for the unthinkable playoff charge to end the season.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Uh, it's only 1230 in the afternoon, so you haven't had a drink, have you, James, just to check at this point in the in, in the day. Okay. I like it. I like the optimism.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Just an oat latte.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:got the buy as well, haven't we? So he can obviously just, you know, that's an extra week. So he'd probably be back for the Broncos to get us to 500.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Uh, yeah, we haven't done worse best case scenarios out from, from, from the rest of the season after that last loss, but I guess that would be about as good as it could get. Um, no, really pleased for him not to have any further complications, obviously, um, the future of the franchise, uh, regardless of, uh, of the narratives that are out there, uh, the moment around regression, um, et cetera, did either of you see or watch. Or read about Kurt Warner's analysis of, yeah, James is nodding his head. So James, why don't you talk about Kurt Warner's analysis of a few individual plays from one game in the season. That has apparently meant that James Daniels is regressing.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I don't necessarily think he's
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:I.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I think it's, we're all afraid to even think about the possibility that maybe hasn't played well. I think it's. I think it's, he's not said anything outrageous. I think obviously the fan base is reacting to it'cause you don't like to think of even that being a possibility. but there's so many factors that have gone into it, which he can't even really say he's regressed because he's not really had a chance this year, that's been on the field or having anyone to throw to. So, um, I'm in the middle on it. I'm not really. to what he said, and I'm not necessarily necessarily massively disagreeing with him at the same time.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:I'll just really quickly, Lee, before you jump in, that the context of the plays that he did film breakdown on and not very eloquently did film breakdown on the Seattle game are, are very important, right? So there are games when quarterbacks and specific drives and plays where quarterbacks don't read the field very well and make bad decisions. And usually that's when you are a, losing really badly or b, play against an excellent defense that's got you running for your life. So I think those things in isolation are, are not indicative of his. Current state as a quarterback and his sort of journey arc as a quarterback in the league. So I get what Cowan has done. I don't think it really fits into the bigger picture necessarily. And at this point, what else would you kind of expect to be honest? Um, so I'm, I'm very lukewarm on that sort of analysis personally. Lee, what do you think about that sort of, uh, Twitter film breakdown, even if it is a hall of famer?
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:I actually rate Kurt Warner. I think his, well, I mean as a analyst, obviously rate him as a callback,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Don't rate him
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:But,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:rubbish.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Hot take.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Hall of Famer game out Canton. Uh, no. He used to love Kurt Warner. He was actually played in that Super Bowl, didn't he? Josh and we in. Watched it at London. Um,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:O2.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:with the NFL. NFL UK days. He played, that was the Cardinals, uh, Steelers. Hell of a Super Bowl, but I digress. Um, yeah, I do enjoy listening to his breakdown. I just think the context around this one is really what you need to look at. So he's picked individual plays from an individual game. Jaden was, had a career high pressure rate against one of the best defenses in the league with no receivers. saying he played, played well. I'm sure he missed a couple, but it's, uh, insert office quote here. More an issue of trust with some of those receivers, to be honest as well.
Andy Bernard Pros, he's classy. He gets me. He went to Cornell. I trust him. Cons, I don't really trust him.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:So, I just look, there's no separation. He doesn't trust they're gonna win, does he? Off the line. So he is, just trying to do something with his legs and it doesn't look good on, on tape, I'm sure. But maybe it was just being there and seeing that in LA and yeah, I'm not, I'm not massively worried about it. I think this season, for a number of reasons, is there's reasons for the performance.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yep. Good, good. Um, measured response from all of us, I think. Um, yeah, like you say, he's good at what he does on there and fair play for pivoting to that. Um, enough then I think on, on Jane Daniels and the injury news, um, we've got a fair bit to, to whiz through. Um. Let's talk about the trade deadline and um, the headline for us as Commanders fans is that there were no headlines for Commanders fans. So we did not make, we didn't make any aggressive trades ourselves for pieces or for picks. Uh, and we did not, uh, no one came in with a bid that we, uh, looked at seriously enough to accept, or I don't think there was even much smoke. Was there a bit of deebo smoke? James, you mentioned.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Uh, yeah, a pretty reputable, um, bills reporter, um, said to keep an on d Samuel for them. Um, but obviously that didn't come to fruition. Um, I reckon we would've. In sellers at the right price. But obviously, you know, for the, the players we've got that the contenders might wanna take or go on a veteran, they're only gonna be off around like seventh round picks, right? So probably just thought best to just stay as is. Um, I, I suspect if there was a good offer, we would've been sellers.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:I was actually convinced there was gonna be a really boring like trade, like Andrew Wiley for a sick, and we send back a. Seventh or something like that. Nothing to move the needle, but I was maybe a little bit surprised that absolutely nothing happened, but
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah. We
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:talking to people.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:we're gonna have to get some picks from some, I mean, I'm sorry. No, I'm concerned because we've got two picks in the top, 100 and a ridiculous amount of holes. So, but we have got the cap room, so maybe we're gonna have to over overpay in free agency, uh, next year. But that's a bigger issue I
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Well, we've got, don't worry, we've got a basketball front office. So they're used to this kind of pick, changing around the draft to, to get in a better position. Right. Uh.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:uh, the, the one thing about the in-season deadline is it's genuine, genuinely outside of the Cowboys for teams that need something in like winow mode or to help them make, make a playoff run, right? So being said, if you look at our roster, there's only a few candidates on, there probably isn't there. That's really gonna. Gonna do that for you. So, um, yeah, I, I bet, I mean, I was probably over overthinking what we could get for pain. I think I said maybe a second or third. It probably was like way more like a fourth or even a fifth, wasn't it? So, I dunno, really. I mean, if I, I'd have been, I'd have maybe considered a fourth for pain, but if there was nothing that high, then I've just left it myself.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Hmm. You, uh, you mentioned our friends in Dallas there, Lee, uh, and talking about how really we talked about, sorry, Jerry Jones and the off season and, and his, uh. Kind of hold over the team and decision making as a gm. Still at this point in his twilight years, um, cowboy sent a 2026 second round pick and a 2027 first round pick and Azzie Smith to the Jets for Quinn and Williams. Uh, 27-year-old defensive tackle in an attempt to shore up their run defense, which is, as we know, uh, not good. Um. What can you really say? I guess other than thank God we're not in the scenario where that sort of thing is being done by our, our owner anymore. Um, because in isolation that looks like a bad trade kind of in a vacuum. But when you think about what the Micro Parsons trade before that, and then this as a kind of reactionary thing, it's crazy, isn't it?
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I, I think he backed himself into a corner because just hours before that Cardinals game, he was promising a trade the next day. Um, but then, then they lost the game. So he was probably thinking they were gonna win that game. So I, I reckon knowing him, it wouldn't be outta the realm possibility. Didn't really wanna do it even though,'cause they lost, but because he said it, just wanted to do it and just make, bring the cowboys back into the headlines again. Even though they need to win out what, need to win nearly all their games to get to the playoffs, most likely.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:I think for the last five years or so, Jerry's been fantastic content, but it's just getting better and better now, isn't it? I'd like, I'm enjoying every soundbite from him for a while. Uh, I don't really see the thinking or logic behind it outside of obviously having the extra picks from Green Bay. So you've got some capital to play with. Maybe they're using. Um, in season 2025, moves to get better for 2026, but I doubt it. I, I'm not sure that,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Well, the, the way that trade looks now is so they. Micah Parsons and a second, they've got Kenny Clark, Quinn and Williams and a first in 27 of that. So basically gained two players and they've upgraded a second into a first the way it
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:And you gotta think about the Packers first is potentially a very late first round pick, right? Late twenties you think, given the run that they might have. So it is a very, it, it's just like playing football manager when you're a kid. You make stupid decisions. It's just hilarious really to look up.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:And I believe the pick, I believe the pick that goes to the jets is whatever's the highest one, which will obviously be, um, the Dallas pick.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:maybe he's realizing that he is, um, getting to be. Later years, shall we say, of his life. And he's like, we've gotta make a run in the next couple of years here. So he is gonna do even more crazy stuff. They just didn't like Parsons. The one thing I'll say when I was there the other week, they genuinely, like none of them were like that upset about it when it was like came up in like a topic of conversation, which to me is absolutely insane with how good the player is. But they must have had bad feelings like inside the locker room or something. But that's wild. But whatever works for me.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, a couple of other headlines across the league just to touch on some teams attacking success. Um, the cults attacking success, um, taking advantage of the Jets Fire sale trading for source gardener, a kind of trade that I love to see that, but looks good for both teams when I first react to it, um, which is really nice. Um, and then obviously as well, we are the Seahawks and after their demolition of us, um. Added, uh, Rashid Shaheed as well from the Saints. So teams that are in spots that we just wished we'd been in to, uh, manage to attack that success at this point as a, uh, a kind of opinion you, you made yesterday, James, that it's frustrating to be looking in again from the outside.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:It is. loved to have, you know, if we are in a winning. Get a guy like Shahid or even Chris VE from the Saints was probably available at the right price. And yeah, you're just kind of bystanders now watching it all unfold,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:yeah.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:I like the, um, cults move. I like the aggression. I mean, they're not, it's not like they're a. A football team that are in this position in early November, very regularly. Is it? So I do like it, but it seems a little bit of an
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, two firsts for a cornerback. I mean.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:it's not like Jalen Ramsey and his pulp either, is it? Like he's a really, really good player. Um, like one of the best currently. But he had a bit of a down year, didn't he last year? Dunno, it just
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I, I think if,
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:of an
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:but I think if you asked the Rams about that Ramsey trade, probably didn't even work out really with what they paid up for that as well. Like,
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:really. I just think at the time as hit like what he, where he was on a pedestal was probably a bit higher. Right. So,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:yeah,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I, I, I guess for the Jets, they're just like, well, our defense isn't really even. Playing that well anyway, even with these pieces we've got, so I don't really, it kinda makes sense to them. They gotta try and get a quarterback, so,
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Oh, I love it for the Jets. I think that's really smart. I've been their hand off for that, getting too fast. That's that's really
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:It is all in on a quarterback for them though, right? Because there's, those are two relative, two players that, that aren't over the hill yet that are roster pieces, so they're just,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:well they, yeah, they
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:yeah.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:first round picks over the next two years, so
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Yeah, and they're gonna have such
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:pick this year, so they're gonna be in the best position ever to either like. Even if they wanna wait a year, they can like
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Hmm.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:cut it like stockpile can't, and then trade off again or whatever. So yeah.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:And they kept onto, uh, Brie Hall as well, right? So they managed to retain a piece as well. Alright, that's probably enough about around the league stuff, uh, on a relatively short window for this podcast. Uh, so instead, I'm gonna hand to everyone's favorite. Um, segment of our weekly show in the, uh, look forward to the games, which is Lee's look back to a game. And this week we have the Detroit Lions on Sunday evening. And, uh, the rules I guess, prohibit certain, um, recent games and recent memory to use for this one, Lee.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:They do. Uh, also, it's a
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Exactly.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:So I couldn't do the, do that either. Um, there were various games I did think about doing. I, firstly, I'll say our record against Detroit is. Pretty incredible, uh, 28 and 16 in the regular season, if you include playoff games, it's 32 and 16, but they were obviously a bit of a poverty franchise, weren't they? Way back in, in the day,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:There was a 34 year win streak at one point for us, and I think this game is part of that, isn't it?
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:that's insane. I actually was at the game the same season you came over James, in 2013 for that Bears game. I was at the Lions game that year, and we lost that game. Nate Burleson was catching touchdowns for them that day. Um, Stafford was playing, we'd lost that game. That's the first game they'd ever won in Washington in 2013. So I did think about that one. But we've had enough misery for one week with losses, I think so. There's another game. Maybe I had this as my, another memorable mention, I guess. Um, remember the Haskin selfie? Do you remember that when he,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yes.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:it might have been his first win. I think we were one and nine in 2019 and we beat, the Lions who also had a losing record. Um, but I'm gonna go back to the mid nineties for this one. Uh, RFK an interesting era.'cause we actually kind of. Fell off a bit of a cliff after that Super Bowl win in 91. We were supposed to be a very good team in 92. didn't make the playoffs when we had a nine seven record. Then after then it got, it got pretty miserable there in the mid nineties. We had an awful record in 94. Uh, this game, I'm going back to October 22nd, 1995. Skins were, uh, three and five. Lions were two and five, this was a game with a Gus for Rock. Lead Redskins and there was a few players that stand out, um, that were still playing, but a lot of their Super Bowl team in 91. Had retired, um, Brian Mitchell was in the backfield for us, which is always, always good. Always fun. And a one. Darryl Green was still on the field, uh, more, more of him later. Um, but it was a bit of a field goal game to start back and forth. Um, got in at halftime 13, all, it was still a tight game. And then in the fourth quarter, uh, Scott Mitchell passed. Brett Perryman 51 Yards. Put Detroit up 30 to 27, they're very close to getting their first win in Washington. Gus Farro dries us down the field with a, and then a 39 yard. Eddie Murray field goal takes it into overtime.
The center back here, 39 yards away, and we're tied with four seconds to play. Please call it while the coin is in the air, please. Tails. Tails is the call. It is Heads Washington. You have won the choice you will receive. They're good on their side of the fifth, second, nine, four.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:So it's an overtime game. this is the play that me decide to do this as the look back. Because it was a pretty two nothing teams back then midseason, but deep in his own territory. Scott Mitchell is intercepted a hell of a catch by of Famer, the veteran Darryl Green, doing it in 1995. Interception inside the Lions 10 runs it back. For a touchdown and wins it for the skins in overtime.
I've gotta go 96 yards for a touchdown, probably inside the 35 for a field. Try Mitchell. Oh, it's picked off and taken in Touchdown. Washington wins. Dar Green covered two.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Say Darryl Green 15 years later from his debut, still doing it wins the game for Washington. I.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Brilliant choice Lee, A game that I do not know a lot about. Apart from that play, it's a, it's a play that I recognize in many highlight clips and I've seen many, many times over the years, but not a game that I knew too much about. So I'm really pleased that he chose it, kind of walked us through things. He would've been like 35 then, I guess at that point of his career. He's pretty old in terms of the, the broader scheme of things.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Yeah, so I think I'd say 15 years, but it's pretty bit less than that because I think his rookie season was either 82 or 83. Um, but yeah, he playing at that level. It's unbelievable. Um, all those years later, and just if you see it, if you want, anyone wants to check that play out, it's a hell of a catch. And yeah, just a signature win for Washington. So a very random one to pick, but I quite enjoyed it. Just I think haven't got had enough Darryl Green love on this podcast since we started.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:No, not
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:was my
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:good, good, good work. Not enough Dar green love and not enough positivity in recent weeks. So a win and a walk off win like that is nice. Um, uh, I've clipped in. Some highlights for people to listen to. The one that I really particularly enjoy is the, um, coin toss reaction, RFK when we win the coin toss. Um, which is hilarious really in the end that obviously it was a pick six that took it in for the win, but you really hear the crowd juiced up at that point, even though we were not a particularly, uh, good record at the time.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Yeah, because that would've been sudden death over time back there.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:a field goal, would've won it, but we had to punt
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yep.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:and then, and then Green came up with the play, so
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:And he kind of stumbles, doesn't he? Near, near the, like, stumbles right at the end. And, and, um, one of the linebackers is like, is running with him and helps him over the line. It's, it's a great clip. Dunno, James, if you've seen that one before.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:No, I have not. But as usual, I will go back and look at, highlights from whatever Lee brings up on his look back.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:So do we, do we sense 30? The only thing I think that could be that close Sunday is a points total.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah. Or, uh, time of possession, 36 24 or something. I don't know.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah. Uh, let's not ruin our predictions at the end of the episode, but thanks for doing it, Lee, especially when you're so busy, um, heading over to Europe for the trip. Um, so that's, that's good stuff. And some really good, um, good highlights on there. The, the calls were particularly good for that game'cause it's starting to get into that era where, um, you're hearing voices that you, that you still hear. I think it's, I had to double check on who it is. Um. On the first call, but it's a really nice package, um, from the TV company. Um, so yeah, great look back and, uh, we'll certainly take that on on Sunday, uh, ahead of Madrid. But, um, James, you are gonna lead us into talking about the game on Sunday that we probably won't spend as much time as, as we have been on, but let's hear your matchup matrix for the week. Play that music. It's bobbing his head to the matrix soundtrack.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Thanks Josh. Um, yeah, if you are looking for positivity, you've come to the wrong man. matchup matrix, uh, pick your poison, I guess. Um. I've gone So the, the lions can beat us in a number of ways. Um, I think they're gonna use this as almost like a practice match to try and get certain elements of their offense that haven't been clicking, um, for the most part this season. Um, and I think they've been lacking that explosive downfield play this year. Um, so obviously we are the perfect opportunity for them to fine tune that head of more important games for them. Um, so we're looking at Jameson Williams. Um. Versus whoever's playing at cornerback on, on the outside for us. So, um, I think he made a splash play last week and coming outta the bay, they did speak about getting him more involved. Um, he had a pretty quiet, start to the season. They haven't really had that downfield threat. Um, they're gonna need that if they're gonna really want to go far, uh, this season. So. This seems to me like a perfect spot for them to move the ball downfield and get Jameson Williams and maybe a few others involved, um, to fine tune their offense going forward. So I think that's what they're gonna do early. Um. could beat us with running the ball if they want to, but I think they're gonna look to really, um, get click on their passing game and then they'll run the ball out, um, in the second half. So Jameson Williams versus whoever we got playing at Cornerback,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:So I guess with the news that Latimore is out for the season, um. Trey Amos, or potentially Mikey? Sam still on the outside. And if it's not Mike Cassandra still, who is on the outside, on the other side.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Exactly.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah. Probably Jones. So a good one to pick James.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Quinn did actually mention Noah i's
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Hmm.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:in his press conference yesterday, some of us have been calling for, for quite a long time. So I, I, that will be interesting to just see how that unit looks. I'm assuming not very good having never played together before, but. Yeah, we'll see what happens.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Joe Wets on the sideline. Remember, so.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:True.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:He, he, he could,
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:spark we
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:can he do like you, you know, kids, kids, football, when one of the coaches tries to tackle someone along the sideline, maybe Joe Wick can do that when Jameson Williams is running down the field. How confident are you that we have any chance of stopping Jameson Williams James, as part of your matchup matrix?
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Uh, zero minus.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:minus confidence. Um. I feel similarly, I mean the, the, you know, our luck isn't, hasn't been great obviously of injuries and stuff this season, but our luck to, to face teams that are coming off a, a loss that they shouldn't have had and they're angry has, has been really annoying as well. And obviously the Lions having lost to the Vikings was the Vikings right last week. Um, and getting us as a get right game is annoying and frustrating. Um, and as you say, um, Willis Williams himself having a bit of a breakout.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:As I said to you guys earlier in the week, they'll be quietly annoyed about this, like Lions fans because been penciling this game in. As like a bit of a revenge game, but it's not really gonna, if they win, it's not really gonna feel like much for them. So one little victory for us as as
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:That really is a little victory. You did hear in the intro a a clip from last year's playoff victory, the Terry McCluen touchdown, just to get our ourselves a bit nostalgic and positive. I dunno if that might have done the opposite for some people. I clipped that in instead and, and thought that of Lee having been at that game as well. Um, it would be good to hear that, but you're right. I mean, I guess that's changes things a bit from that trip you made last, uh, January. They're not as excited, are they?
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:I can't believe it's this. It's this calendar year.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Crazy to think about. Lot happens with football.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:It does. Um, who knows? We play Spoiler and really piss'em off. Maybe we can. Um, and, and look, they're a, what, they're five and three team, um, with some tough losses against good teams in Kansas City as well. Um, so, okay, let's move on to my, how we win this game. Uh, stat line, if.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah. Go. Yeah, go on Josh. Lay it out for us.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:I did. I did. I, so I've done,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:What's the blueprint? Josh?
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:there's, there's no, well, okay. This, this is one of the ones I was like, what, what one can I find that, that on its own might, might be the reason? It's really tough to, I think that four or five things have to happen for us to beat a team like Detroit in our current scenario. However, I did do a bit more detailed analysis on this one because I have a bit more time, um, in Detroit's losses. They were only two of six before, this is before last week. This is before the last, last week. There were two of six in the red zone and their losses for touchdowns in their wins, they're absolutely money in the red zone, so their red zone offense in, in their wins. They were 18 of 21. For touchdowns, for red zone trips, which is a really, really high percentage. They're in the top five in the league for red zone conversions into touchdowns at 67, sorry, 68.75%. So they get there pretty often and they're very good at converting in those games that they've won. Um, hilariously we are still second in red zone. Conversion percentage at 77.27,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I don't need to bother getting
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:but we don't get there enough
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:is the problem. So in terms of a stat line that I think we could maybe be in a good spot is if Detroit a sub 50% in red zone success rate, and that's both field goals and and touchdowns. If they get into the red zone and they're sub that, then I think we have a chance. Now I will add one wrinkle to it. I think we need them to get there and then fail. Like James, I think you're hinting at is that we can't have 60 yard bombs because it doesn't count as part of that statistic, right? So it's almost that they need like six trips into the red zone and to be under 50% because it means they'll have long drives where they haven't converted, and that'll keep the score low enough for Marcus Mariott to do his thing. So under 50% red zone conversion rate for Detroit is my win stat line.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Very impressive, Josh. Um, I wouldn't have known where to start, so yeah. Fair play.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:a great, uh, data dive, Josh, fair, fair play. Indeed. I was secretly hoping it might have been a stat line about like their defense or something being awful against the run, but I, I had no idea. I don't think they're awful at anything. I was just, I was like, give me some hope somewhere that we can like, move the ball because I feel like they're gonna score 45, but who
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:So the way that, that, so to, to go a bit deeper as well in, in, in those scenarios, the way that. The red zone trips have failed, have been fur downs and, and fourth downs, and third and fourth and goal And teams have got pressure and managed to get him off his spot, uh, and, and not be able to get to his first or second reads. Um, that's not gonna make you feel any better'cause we can't get any pressure. But that's the way to do it in those spots. Um, it's a bend don't break, and then it's a genuinely don't break when you get down to the bottom. Who knows, maybe we can turn it up again like we had that half against Kansas City and if we take a bit of a lead because we were able to do something on offense, then the game suddenly gets a bit weird and messy. But I could, I couldn't have my stat line be weird and messy game. It doesn't work as well. Right. I.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:No, unfortunately, unfortunately not. But it was, it was interesting. I, I'll be, I'll be interested to see, if there's any shakeup on, on defense in terms of, well. We're kind of run outta players anyway, but there was a few weird personnel calls at times last week. Um, like Martin apparently didn't start the game. We just tried to beef up the edge, but then they ran to the outside, straight away, et cetera.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Hmm.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:that's, I wanna at least see, see the players in there that have been flashing a bit more.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, and I, I, this point in this sort of season, I do start to hone in on like individual players and their output a bit more, less of a collective team effort. Sometimes when winning isn't gonna make as much of a difference come the end of the year. So like, I'm, I'm gonna be really interested in Crosky merit and kind of how he's able to run the ball or not after. Such an exciting breakout and then less than three yards of carry in three straight games. So I think there's, there's individuals like that that I'll be interested in. Similarly to you Lee, like who's being used and how are they being used on defense and on offense. So I started to get a microscope out a little bit more and less of a kind of big picture on, on these sorts of games, but who knows? Um, let's lead into our predictions then, James, Mr. Positivity until your matchup matrix. I fought today bringing the energy positive thinking. What's your prediction for this game?
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Uh, yeah, I'm going 45 to 18, which
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:for us.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:will be a score army.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Oh, nice. Is that still going? Sk
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:good.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:So I thought well try and make it interesting with score. Um. I, yeah, I, I dunno what else to say. I think that's a fair prediction.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:A big loss heading into Madrid, but like a very, very big loss.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:think maybe the way, the only way it doesn't happen is if they get up early and they kind of just take their foot off the gas a bit and it maybe gets closer to 30 20 or something like that. But,
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Okay,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:um, um, I'm at least gonna shoot for a score Army.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:nice. Lee, your prediction for this game,
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:I just had a little look and they're nine and a half point favorites. And considering we've on the road
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:say 12 points.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:it. Yeah. And considering lost three straight games by 20 or more. I am confident that Joe Wick can keep that, that form going. So I am gonna go,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I thought you were about to say you're
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, that was very good. Very good.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:perfect. Wasn't it? Perfect delivery. Uh, I'm going 41 20 Detroit. Nothing to really say about game script or anything. We know, we know it's happened. Maybe a, garbage time. Touchdown. Late on to someone. Surprising. Gimme John Bates in the end zone late.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:John Bates in the end zone late and not as much of a blowout, but very much so an easy victory for Detroit. Uh, he would roll to six and three. Uh, okay. I like the John Bates shout. Um. Scheming up John Bates or Ben Sin for like one catcher game is not gonna get him a head. Well, it might get him a head coach in job, who knows? But it's nothing to get too excited about these days. Um, my prediction is not going to be a win. Just to, to calm you guys down in case you thought I would on my birthday weekend, I ahead of Madrid, go for a win is not, but I do think it could be quite close. Uh, and I think it'd be quite close because of a bit of a, no, I do a bit of a messy game similar to, to Kansas City, but, um, I think that. Even though they're coming off a loss and we'll be angry, I think they're really expecting us to kind of lie down and die. And if we don't early, it could be a bit messy. I'm gonna go through a Detroit 24, Washington 20 Loss, 24 20. So probably the under and certainly to cover. But I do think that one of those weird games where the pressure's just off now. People could play a bit more freely, could be a bit of part of it. There's not as much pressure on Mariotta who doesn't have to try and keep up the records to something that Jaden could come back to probably, even though some people are hoping for that. So yeah, 24, 20 and, and a bit of a tighter game and keeps me, keeps me up to 1:00 AM rather than kind of turning over or getting an early night.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I, I must admit that your thinking there did creep into my thoughts yesterday.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:enough clearly.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:But, but I let those same thoughts creep in last week when I started thinking about the Sea Horts game and what was on the line for us. And it didn't matter because didn't matter. So I'm going with my head on this one.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:That's a really bad loss for Detroit, isn't it? Last
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah,
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:like that's surprising.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:yeah, yeah. And I don't think, we'll, we'll beat them. I don't think it'll be a two in a row for them, but I do think it could be a bit closer.'cause we'll be playing with a little bit of, uh, a bit of, almost a bit freedom and kind of. Heading towards, it's not just a buy, obviously, but Madrid and then a bi. So bit of novelty, but who knows if it's, you know, 50 to 20 or whatever, or 45 to 20, whatever James predicted. 45 to 18. Was it Sig Army? Yeah. 18. An interesting number. Um, then, and I'll have hold my hands up before Spain, about 24 to 20 for me.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:I.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Cool. Alright. Um, before we sign off, James, you reminded us of, uh, the fact that, and this is gonna be interesting'cause there's a very different, uh, lens on this now. Washington is in, is on the in-season hard knocks this season, which is across the whole of the NFC. Is that right?
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, and I think we had all forgotten
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Good God.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:and I think everyone's forgotten about that. So we've still got that to come, I believe in early December. Um. Who knows what that's gonna look like at this
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Hopefully a lot of Joe Witt
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:recording or if it's literally they're literally recording in December or if it starts in a couple of weeks. I'm not
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:I, I'll have a, I'll have a little look into it and we'll see and, and see.'cause I think there really will be gallow humor watching that stuff, but maybe we'll see a bit of behind the curtain. It'll be interesting to see. But yeah, good reminder. Bli me.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Yeah, that, that's gonna be interesting how much, uh, content we get considering it's a combined hen of
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.'cause you've got three other interesting. You got like the whole like dark scatter thing before, obviously he's hurt now. And then you've got the circus in Dallas and you've got a contender in Philly. So we, we just get barely any FaceTime like we used to'cause of the injury in the record. Who knows?
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Uh, and Joe Witt probably ends up as unlikable as he is a poor defensive coach.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Maybe you'll fall in love with him.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:I'm gonna,
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:hopefully it won't be there.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:yeah, I'm gonna have to watch his press conference today. Just because it does, I know it annoys, it just gets you like fired up when you listen to him, but there is some interest, like what could you even say at this
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah. And it is, it's not, it doesn't annoy me like Ron did. He'll never get to that level of, of, of, of annoyance and frustration and like genuinely bubbling anger when Ron Rivera used to speak. Um, it's a very different kind of thing. Um, so yeah, maybe, maybe I will put myself through it again. It's Thursday afternoon. Um, cool. We haven't done this for a while, but put you on the spot, James. How can people get in touch with us, especially prior to our Madrid trip?
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Hmm, good shout. Um, you can get us on x our handlers at hell on three pod. we will be out in Madrid and we do have a number of business cards to hand out with QR codes you can get us on Spotify as well.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:They're gonna be littered around tapas bars.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Absolutely nice.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:and hopefully we'll see a few of you for a beer. I know a couple of people have reached out on it already.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Absolutely. Let's, let's, let's do that. Let's get as many people, uh, involved as well. I'm gonna be doing a Madrid diary style podcast where when we get back we'll be hearing a kind of live. Um, interviews and clips throughout the whole weekend from various people on the pod and guests and maybe some random people. And who knows, you might even be able to get a couple of interviews with Washington Redskins grates or people associated with the team at some point in the city. So we'll get that done. But, um.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:Yeah, talk, talking of X and Twitter, like after this Lion's game is over. we can kind of put that, put that to bed. So I don't think we'll be, we'll be celebrating Monday morning. We'll get, we'll get ready for Madrid. We'll get hyped up'cause we're gonna go on there, out there and enjoy ourselves. So look, look out on the account. There'll be some, some fun facts about Madrid as a city just to get you all in the mood for those are, are making the trip over
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:And if anyone needs a ticket, we still have a spare ticket.'cause someone can no longer make it
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Oh yeah, that's true.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:charge.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:charge.
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Matt.
ledders_1_11-06-2025_063112:is donating it.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:like and follow. And you might get a free
josh_1_11-06-2025_123111:Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. If not, we'll just bring some random tapas bar owner who's gonna be, you know, gonna suddenly be our greatest fan. Um, alright, Lee, uh, thanks for joining before work, uh, as what is a busy time before you come over. Looking forward to see you tomorrow for a beer, James. Uh, I'll see you soon as well. Uh, and until next time, everyone hail.
james_1_11-06-2025_123111:Ha.