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RUNNIN' VEGAS - The John McNamara Sports Podcast
Talking all things Las Vegas sports-from UNLV to the pros, and everything in between.
RUNNIN' VEGAS - The John McNamara Sports Podcast
🏈 49ers vs. Rams + NFL Week 1 Predictions | John McNamara & Mike England
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Welcome And Week One Kickoff
SPEAKER_00Hey guys, John MacWinner, host of Ronin Vegas. We're talking local sports, business, real estate. If you guys like what you see, subscribe, follow us on the Ronin Vegas podcast. Today, I've got my co-host, Mr. Mike England, in the house.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, thanks for having me on, man. It's uh week one, NFL. I'm super honored to be able to talk about what I love to talk about most. Yes, it is not real estate, it is football. I love talking about football.
SPEAKER_00So we're talking NFL today. This guy's a Hawks fan. I don't know if you guys know the JSN jersey on. So let's get into it.
Seahawks Patriots Recap And Darnold News
SPEAKER_00Yeah, let's get away. Game recap. Big win, Hawks over Pats, 13-10. What's your thoughts?
SPEAKER_02You know, uh, well, my thoughts were um, you know, week one, a win's a win. Obviously, the offense looked horrible for three quarters, but they pulled it out in the fourth quarter. Defense looked amazing. Sounds like Sam Darnold, though, is gonna be out for a few weeks, so they're gonna have to rely on uh Drew Locke. And, you know, I'm not I'm not a hater on Drew Locke, but I'm not a big fan either. Yeah, um, he's not gonna lose you the game, but he's probably not gonna win you the game, so they're gonna rely a lot on their their defense, and they're gonna have to run the ball better. But lucky for Seattle, they play Arizona in week two, and Arizona is probably the worst team in the league.
SPEAKER_00So they are. They could put up points though. What'd you think of the rookie running back price from Notre Dame?
SPEAKER_02You know what? I was actually expecting more from Price. Uh, he had uh about you know 50 plus yards, a little bit more than 50 yards rushing. He caught a couple, a couple passes. Um, I expected though, I thought he was gonna have a hundred all-purpose yards. Um I should I think they should have gave him the ball more. Um, and they kept trying to use other guys for the short yardage type stuff, and they were getting shut down on third down and fourth and one and stuff like that. So I don't think price necessarily did bad, but um I think they should build more of a scheme around him. I think he's super, he has the potential to be a pretty awesome back.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I overall I liked him. He had some some good runs there. Halani came in, third downs, and sometimes that could be difficult for rookie running backs in the beginning. Um, so yeah, it's interesting. And it's too bad with Darnold out, but I'll say this like if you're gonna have a backup quarterback, Drew Locke is pretty solid. Um, so yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you usually don't get a backup quarterback that's had over close to you know 30 NFL starts in their career that is kind of plug and play. He's not he's not uh super aged like a Joe Flacco, you know what I mean? Yeah, but uh yeah, no, I think I think they'll be all right. Um I you know, their their tougher part of the schedule is more towards the the middle of the the year when they when they play like the Rams and the 49ers. Um so you know that's that's where you're you're definitely gonna need Darnold. And and they're missing a few key defensive players too. So hey, 13-10, I'll take it. Uh Drake May um definitely uh at the end, horrible decision. Um probably should have thrown it out of bounds, kick a field goal, take it to overtime.
SPEAKER_00But yeah hey, I'll say this about Drake May. He played a lot better in the Super Bowl. He looked healthy, uh, but still, Hawks are he's still not fully mature as an FL quarterback yet. There's a lot of um progression that has occurred with this quarterback, and he he looks like a bright future for Patriots, but he still has a little to go. And that Hawks defense, probably top three in the league, you know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean, them, the Texans and the Rams are kind of probably your top three, maybe even the Broncos throw him in there. I like Broncos, too. Um, but uh yeah, the the lucky for the Patriots, they play new, uh they played the Jets twice and they played the Dolphins twice. So four wins.
SPEAKER_00Here you go. You only need six more. Well, you would think, but I feel like the Patriots lose the Dolphins at Miami every year, but you never know. It's like they're getting sale for whatever reason. Exactly.
Rams 49ers Preview Plus Injury Talk
SPEAKER_00But okay, big game tonight, though. It's Rams and 49ers, divisional rivals in Australia. What's your prediction?
SPEAKER_02Um, I I predict that uh unfortunately um the Rams are probably gonna win, and I think they're gonna win decisively. Uh I am rooting for the 49ers, not because I'm a 49ers fan, um, but because I believe that uh Seattle being a Seahawks fan, I think they're gonna need every game and every edge because it's gonna come down to the end again uh between the Rams and Seahawks, probably for that division. Makes sense. Um, but uh I do predict the Rams are gonna win. I think the spread is uh minus four. Um I think that the the Rams are gonna win by uh two scores at least. I think it's gonna be, you know, uh 20 28-14 or something like that, 28-10. I think it's gonna be a little bit of a blowout.
SPEAKER_00I think so, too. Fortnite is already dealing with injuries. Mike Evans is coming back. Uh Kittle is coming off that Achilles. I guess they're gonna have him on a snap count tonight, too. But you never know. It's Australia, these guys might be jet lagged, it's week one, like we saw last night. Pats and Hawks, there was there was times where both teams looked rusty. So it's interesting. So do what so you're picking for another is it because CMC is on your fantasy football team?
SPEAKER_02No, well, no, I'm rooting for uh I do, I actually do have them on my fantasy football team.
unknownI didn't know that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I do, I really do, I do. Um, but uh no. That's what I mean. That's what we need. You know what the problem is, though, they sneeze on CMC and he pulls a groin. So we'll see if he even makes it through the game. He was already kind of questionable uh going into it. Now he's gonna play, probably. Um, I think he's he has confirmed that he is gonna play, but he's always got something going on. And so it's week one, and he's already dealing with an injury, so so we'll see. I mean, their defense is a little more watered down but than it used to be. But Fred, I think Warner's back, and you know, some of the other guys that they didn't have at the end of last year on the defensive side of the ball. So we'll see see how it goes. Aaron Donald's didn't travel with the team, so he's not playing today.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so that's what are your thoughts of Aaron Donald returning?
SPEAKER_02I think that if they get if they get even close to Aaron Donald uh the the the of past, I mean, even 80% of like Aaron Donald's potential with Miles Garrett, I mean, that's gonna be scary. I mean, you you better get rid of the ball in two seconds.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um, because they're gonna be on you uh, you know, the whole time. And they improved their defensive backfield with McDuffie and Watson. So yeah, they're gonna be defensively, if they if they click, there's it's gonna be really hard to beat these Rams. So, but even without Donald uh uh or without uh Aaron Donald today, um, you know, Miles Garrett, man, he is just a force. He's gonna be all over Brock Purdy. Um, Debo Samuel is back for the 49ers. I don't know if that's enough of a difference.
SPEAKER_00Um, he's a show himself, but yeah, Garrett, what do you have? 23 sacks last year, give or take? Uh on the Browns. On the Browns. On the behind all the time. So it's interesting. They're gonna be up.
SPEAKER_02And most of the time with their ears pinned back, passing down. So it could be another big year for him. He might have he might break the record again.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Any thoughts on uh stribbling for 49ers? The rookie got drafted. Everybody thought it was too high, but he's been kind of like the wide receiver darling of the preseason.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you know what? The 49ers uh seem to always kind of find that next guy at the wide receiver position. Yeah. Um, and they always draft a guy, usually in the second, third, fourth round. I mean, look at Ricky Purcell, uh, you got, you know, even Debo, um, Samuel when they first got him, Ayuk. So they always find that next guy. So yeah, he could be that surprised guy where we go, wow, he ended up with, you know, 1,100 yards and 80 receptions and seven touchdowns. You know, he could be that guy where he actually might have better stats than even Mike Evans. Yeah. Um, so we'll see. We'll see.
SPEAKER_00We'll see. I mean, Mike Evans, I can't remember the last time he's gone through an entire season, but he plays tough. He always gets like his thousand yards, but he always misses a couple games. So yeah, it'd be big for struggling to step up. He looks big, physical, you know. Um, I like what I see in the in the preseason so far, but regular season's a different animal. So they're gonna be able to do that. But like you said, they're gonna be able to do that. They have a knack for drafting wide receivers. They never stay healthy, but they draft him pretty well until they get injured.
SPEAKER_02They get injured. Well, and and they need him to perform. I mean, if if he, you know, I I think you're gonna get you're gonna get your seven, eight hundred yards from Mike Evans. I don't think he's gonna hit a thousand again. Um, I think that's a done deal. I think he didn't hit it last year. I don't think he hit it last year. Didn't I hit it last year? No, he didn't hit it last year.
SPEAKER_00So he got his bonus or something. I can't remember. I remember like through at the end of the game or something, so he got his bonus.
SPEAKER_02Like maybe a reception bonus or something. Baker gave it to him. Um, but yeah, I think he I think that then you're gonna need this guy to to step in. Um but you know, it's the 49ers, you know, they're they're the all ambulance team.
SPEAKER_00So we'll see how that goes. Love
Best Week One Games To Watch
SPEAKER_00it. So, what are your favorite matchups for uh week one? Because this is what we're really talking about today. Week one, we're doing division uh predictions, who's gonna win the divisions, Super Bowl predictions. But what what hey, week one, what this weekend, what are the games you're like super excited to watch?
SPEAKER_02I mean, uh the the number one matchup um that that is gonna, you know, that everybody should tune into um as far as not rivalry, but based upon the quality of these teams is gonna be the Bills and the Texans. Yeah, I love that. That that's the game of the week. You've got um the Texans defense is incredible. I mean, they were insane last year. If they had a semi-decent offense, they would have been the Super Bowl. And you know what? Stroud had a great, he he played good his rookie season. So could we get a bounce back year? If they get a bounce back year from Stroud and they put up even if they could score, all they have to do is score 20 points or more a game, and they're gonna win the majority of their football games. Um now the Bills, you know, they kind of retooled a little bit on offense. I still think they're, you know, Moore is still not that exciting as a wide receiver, in my opinion. You know, he's not a game changer, he's a good number two wide receiver, so they still lack that number one guy. Um, so Allen's gonna have to be Superman again. Um, so I do think the Texans are gonna ultimately, surprisingly, win that game, but it's gonna be a close one. I wouldn't put any money on that game because it's that close of a matchup. But it is Josh Allen can win any game. He could anytime.
SPEAKER_00And yeah, that was my game. Bills, Texans. I like Packers, Vikings, so I think that we're gonna talk division a little bit, but that's an interesting game. And then also Broncos Chiefs, you know. Um, so there's there's some fun games this weekend.
SPEAKER_02Out the gate, divisional games, you know, week one. That's pretty crazy. Like in I the other one is uh the Sunday night football game. Uh the Giants, Cowboys.
SPEAKER_00Giants, Cowboys. I think you What do you think about the Cowboys this year? Everybody's like hyping them up like they're gonna win the division. I mean, uh the Cowboys get hyped up week one every year. You know, what is the I don't think that's terrible last year.
SPEAKER_02They were like I'm sure it's better this year, but I don't know. I think that's they want to talk about all the they they want to reminisce about Super Bowls in the 90s, they win the 49ers.
SPEAKER_00So um a lot of predictions for them to win the division this year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, not mine. I yeah, not you know what that whole division, um, I I still think it's the Eagles to win uh or lose. Um, but the Giants are kind of that sleeper team. You don't know that their front uh their uh front seven on defense, their defensive line, I mean, is incredible. Like their pass rush has the potential to be top three in the league.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So how long does it take? Does it take week one, though, or like halfway through the year? Because they got some younger players. They do. So when is that when does that start going?
SPEAKER_02I mean, if they click uh sooner than later, that you know, we'll see. I mean, um, the raw talent that these guys have and the speed they have off the edge, probably the fastest uh defensive ends off the edge. You know, Texans probably arguable, you know, as far as you know, Anderson being super fast as well, but man, they got some dogs. And uh so we'll see what they do. The question big question mark is can they put up points? Is Jackson Dart dependable enough? He's exciting, yeah, but is he dependable enough to win the close games? Yeah, you know, Scatabow is he's fun and he runs into people, but does he hold up for a whole year?
SPEAKER_00Same with Jackson Darr. I like Darr too. Kind of like Baker, but without the arm. Um, he's tough physical. He's fun to watch. Neighbors is obviously a great receiver. They did a better job this offseason of surrounding him with more talent with uh Zaya likely at tight end. Uh that brought in Fields, third round, trap pick, good trap pick. Uh Notre Dame, big receiver. He's fun to watch last year. Watching Notre Dame games, doesn't have to separate, but he can get catch those 50-50 balls. So they're surrounding him, but yeah, I like the Dark Horse Giants pick. They can but maybe make some rumbles this year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, you know. I mean, uh, so we'll we'll see. I mean, this first week is gonna be a big deal for them. Same with your Broncos, the Broncos Chiefs matchup. Um, I mean, it's still I saw that Mahomes is still questionable. He might play. Um that would be interesting. They think it fields, though. That's their back. Yeah, you know, Fields. I don't know. Does Fields throw football? You know, he does, just not well.
SPEAKER_00I'm like, I don't know. The last time I remember a Field. He is a I would just run the ball 50 times a day with Phil RPOs all day. Like he yeah, I mean he's a he's he can you take it to the house every time, right? I mean, like, you just need him to win a couple games. You know, if he's not the starting quarterback, what the heck? RPO with Kenneth Walker, boy. Come on.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I I don't know anything about Kenneth Walker. Um, but yeah, no, they're they're gonna that'll be an interesting matchup. I mean, obviously they got a little depleted on the defense uh with the defensive backs. We stuck um so you know, but the Chiefs are always you never know what you're gonna get with them um just because of history, but the Broncos are looking pretty pretty good. And Bo Nix did, he looked fantastic until he got hurt, you know, um in the playoffs. So I it'll be an interesting matchup because uh is it in Arrowhead? Is it I believe it is. I believe it is, yeah. So that you know, of course, that's a great uh home field advantage for them. Um that's a great stadium uh to play in and have that uh loud loud crowd as well. So yeah, it'll be it'll be that'll be a good matchup. Um we'll see.
Sleeper Players And Fantasy Angles
SPEAKER_02I could see a possible upset there.
SPEAKER_00So what are some players um that you think are gonna have big this year that not not a lot of people are talking about? Well, not the Josh Allen's, obviously, or the Mahomes, but what are some guys you are looking, you know, you think you're gonna have some big a big year? Not JSN. Yeah. He already did that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think you're gonna get a uh I think you're gonna see kind of a re uh like kind of a shuffle of wide receivers that um not that it's they didn't have bad years, but I think that your Justin Jefferson's and your Chases are gonna take the mantle again. They'll be the top two wide receivers. I think Puka Nakua obviously incredible year last year. I think he's originally from Vegas, Puka Nakua, and then he played like his youth ball here. Um and uh, you know, I think he's incredibly talented and everything, but I don't think he's gonna have his monster of a year. I think they're gonna spread the ball out more there. So yeah, I think Chase and Jefferson are gonna they're gonna be the ones that that kind of they take the mantle again. And even being a JSN, I mean he had 122 yards last night. So he's a lot thrown him. He'll still be in the mix, but uh, but those guys are gonna, I think they're gonna do well. I think Jefferson with Murray, Kyler, that's that's my sleeper. I think people are sleeping on Kyler Murray. I think he's when he is on his game and he's running around with his short little legs, you know, you know, uh that I think he's gonna be good. I think he's gonna be good with Minnesota with his with his little legs.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, okay. Okay, I like the sleepers. Um I got yeah, Kyle Murray is a crazy athlete. It's just does he stay focused or not? Because there's too many games where yeah, he goes off, runs 100 yards, 300 yards pass, it's three touchdowns, and the next game it's 115 yards and doesn't do anything.
SPEAKER_02Did he play Call of Duty the night before until you know two in the morning?
SPEAKER_00You know, so we've heard. But can he stay focused for a year? Which I think there's a good chance he's got a great quarterback coach and the head coach for Minnesota Vikings, so I like that pick. Uh, my guys, they take the like the next step. I know Caleb Williams had a great year last year. I I think he's got potential MVP. Everybody's back. You know, he had rookies with Loveland and Burden last year. Yep. They're gonna be second-year guys in the system. Uh, Dunsey's gonna be a third-year guy now. I'm excited for be that Bears first player to go over 4,000 yards passing. He barely missed it last year. So Caleb Williams is kind of my guy who takes that like next step. And it's not super accurate, but if his accuracy just gets a little bit better, those numbers go up tremendously. Yeah, yeah. So I like him. Marin Hampton for Chargers, another guy like um rookie last year got drafted. McDaniel's offense um was actually they had some tapes of him going against 49ers, just running people over. So I think he's a good fit there. My JSN this year, and I love the takes of Jefferson Chase. I do think they're back too, as long as everybody's healthy, of course. My JSN this year, though, is Zay Flowers. Got paid. Um, they don't really have anybody else's throw to for the most part. Um, and I think that new offense, they're gonna try to sling a little bit more. Um, so those are the guys I'm kind of excited to see this year and get my uh Tennessee football shares.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Zay Flowers, I like I like that one. I mean, he he's he's dynamic. Uh, you're right, they don't have a lot of other targets. Um, he is gonna get some double teams, but he's got he's fast, he's twitchy.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um he always like a video game out there. Like sometimes it's just like it's crazy to watch him go and he's just like wide open sometimes.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's a that's a good one, yeah. And I think uh but the Ravens, man, their window is uh getting, you know, it's starting to close. So if the Ravens are gonna do something, they're gonna have to do it quick. Because how much, you know, Lamar Jackson, you know, he's another guy that seems to be getting injured every year, you know. So yeah, they gotta make it happen.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, he's uh athletic quarterback, so eventually, yeah, they can get run down, right? We saw Cam Newton was like overnight, he was just like a different player. So um, yeah, we'll see. Yeah, because you're right. Ravens may have like a year or two window here. We'll see.
SPEAKER_02You know, it's like the you got the Ravens and the Bills should really be, you know, they've had this opportunity for the last two or three years to be the that team in the AFC. And neither one of those teams can get over the hump. Yeah. Um see one of them. It would be, and it bangles a little bit too. I know they did make it, you know, but I like the Bengals just say it's a good thing. They have to score 40 points to win.
SPEAKER_00It's a bottom, bottom, you know, third defense, you know, so it's it's hard, you know. And Burrow needs to stay healthy. And I get why he's frustrated because it's they're not really building offensively, they did. They paid his receivers, but you need to have a top, you know, good offensive line, a good top 15 defense to win championships.
SPEAKER_02So oh yeah, no, absolutely. And um, you know, and the the thing is, is with with uh with Burroughs and stuff, they're great. Uh Cincinnati Bengals offense, anybody getting on that offense is great for fantasy football. Yeah, because you know they're always gonna have to put up a ton of points to compete. So they're ultra aggressive. Um, and he's gonna, you know, like you said, if he's healthy, he's gonna throw over 300, he's dependable, 300 yards a game, at least two touchdowns. Um, Chase is gonna get one of them. Um, so they're they're a great team to draft off of for fantasy football.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, or if one of your matchups is against the Bengals defense. So either way. Yeah, like over-under spreads, over-under, man.
SPEAKER_02I'm always anybody Bengals is always an over for me. You know, awesome.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
Division Winners Rapid Fire Picks
SPEAKER_00Well, let's go into division predictions. We got 10 minutes.
SPEAKER_02All right, let's do it. All right, AFC East, who you got?
SPEAKER_00You've been talking about Bills.
SPEAKER_02Uh, you know what? I am gonna I'm gonna go with the Bills.
SPEAKER_00You're going Bills. Okay. I like that pick. Uh I'm going Patriots. Okay. Um, just better defense, Drake May. I'm rooting for the Bills, though. I would I would like to, I grew up being a Patriots fan, um, but I couldn't get season ticket for Patriots because there's like a 20-year uh waiting list. So I actually had a season ticket for Bills for like two years. Okay. Went to that old stadium, Bills Mafia. Saw it all. People going through tables. Uh, I would really like to see the Bills and Josh Allen won a Super Bowl, though. I think I would I'd be rooting for that. I think Josh Allen has incredible talent. Um I I overall I think the Patriots are a better team than last year. And I think the Bills have gotten a little bit better, but that defense still isn't there. Um I you know, Brady's a good coach. James Cook, you know, they can run the ball well. We'll see DJ Moore. Again, like you said, I don't know. Everybody's hanging up DJ Moore. I'm just I I think he's a good athletic receiver. I just I don't see elite talent with him. Um, but overall, it'll be fun to watch. I got Pats, you got Bills. Uh either way, I I I think both of them are getting into the playoffs.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah. Okay. Yep, yep.
SPEAKER_00Cool. Number next, AFC North. Who you got?
SPEAKER_02Uh, you know what? AFC North, I am uh I do believe that the Ravens are going to win that. Their window is uh They don't have a big window, so they're gonna have to put it together. I think they're gonna feel that urgency this year. Um, I feel like we're getting a um, I just feel like Lamar Jackson seems pretty motivated. Um and the defense, you know, they always have a pretty good defense. I know they lost McDonald a couple years ago to the Seahawks. Um, but uh, but they still they put together a good defense, you know. So I still think the, you know, I think that the Steelers, Aaron, you know, Father Time's caught up with Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, you know, so he didn't look pretty last year. You know, the Browns are the Browns. Um so, you know, I mean, it's gonna be between them and what the Bengals. And I just think they're the Bengals can't, you know, they can't stop a cold. So it's gonna be the Ravens for sure.
SPEAKER_00I got Ravens too. I think that defense is back. Lamar Jackson's gonna be ready to go. And because I see Derrick Henry, um, root for Derrick Henry too. He's been in league forever. He's a beast, he's a great example of a good football player who's been around and hasn't really slowed down. And I don't know how he is 32, 33, something up there. He's a freak, man. It's it's it's so fun to watch players like that. So I'm rooting for Derrick Henry. Don't like the Ravens, but I do like Derrick Henry. I like to watch him. Yeah, all right. I got Ravens too. I got nobody else in the division. I think the division's terrible. Uh we'll see, Bengals, maybe, uh, but that defense just is too bad for me. AFC South, who you got?
SPEAKER_02Uh definitely going uh Texans. I think that the offense is gonna figure it out this year. Um and I think CJ Stroud's gonna have that bounce back here. Uh, they just they brought on uh Montgomery at the uh running back position. I love Montgomery um with the Lions. I mean, he was fantastic, and I know that he was splitting a lot of time, you know, obviously with Gibbs, because Gibbs is uh, you know, arguably, you know, top three running back. But uh yeah, Montgomery, I think he's gonna do fantastic um with the Texans. And, you know, fantasy football-wise, if you have the opportunity to pick up a Montgomery, uh, you know, I would definitely pick him up. But yeah, I think it's absolutely gonna be the Texans. I think they're not gonna only win the division. I think they're gonna sh have I don't think they're gonna lose more than three games. Wow.
SPEAKER_00Okay, I like that prediction. Uh I have Texans winning the division as well. Yeah, David Montgomery, great zero uh back strategy for fantasy football. I like that. He's gonna get a ton of touches. I keep saying Woody Marks may be part of it, but I think they're gonna re-establish that running game. They did a really good job in the offseason to bring in like three, four offensive linemen. Um we'll see with Stroud. I we the thing is Stroud looked amazing his first year in the league, looked like he was gonna be all-pro quarterback, and he's just he's regressed every year. He's also had a bottom third line. He's had Nico Collins when he's healthy, and then nobody else to throw around. So can this line figure it out? You know, establish the run game with David Montgomery. Obviously, that defensive elite. Can another receiver step up? I like I like Jalen Knowle uh from uh Iowa State, went third round last year. He's a slot, kind of in that tink doll role. He needs other options, he gets out for the year. They got booty from the uh trader booty from the Patriots. So he's gonna have a little bit more weapons and the offensive line should prove in the running game. So things are lining up for a Texas run. I I can I can see that for sure. It's just a Stroud. Is it because of those reasons or is because he just hasn't been working on his game? So we'll find out this year. Yeah. So all right, conference number next, AFC West. Who do you got?
SPEAKER_02So AFC West, you know, is definitely the best uh the best division in the AFC. Um, so it's gonna be highly competitive. The Chargers won 11 games last year. So a lot of people forget that the Chargers were halfway decent last year. I mean, they lost like a couple games they should have won. I mean, if they would have won a couple more games, they would have been right in the hunt. But despite all that, this is I still don't think the Chargers are gonna win the division because I still think it's the the Broncos. I think uh Bo Knicks is the real deal. Um, and I he's uh he's an ultimate competitor. Uh and I think that defense is just it's it's a top five defense. Um they have uh you know uh Patrick Sertan, they've got uh their defensive line, just the whole line can get after, you know, rush the passer. So um yeah, I think it's gonna be the Broncos. I think the Raiders win maybe five games. Uh I think that's what you're gonna expect from the Raiders. Uh Mendoza will probably be put in halfway through the year, and the best thing for the Raiders is they get some hope for next year. Okay or like it is every year. Hope for what maybe three years from now would be, and then you know, hopefully they can get that going. But yeah, and I I'm still the Chiefs are such a you just don't know what you're gonna get with the Chiefs this year. I mean, um they could be amazing or they can be like they were last year. So yeah, I think it's the Broncos. It's gonna be between the Broncos and the Chargers, but the Broncos probably take it. Broncos take it. Okay.
SPEAKER_00Is this my sleeper pick? Oh uh. Can we even see that? Yeah, it's a Raiders hat! It's a Raiders hat. You can't see it. But I got a Raiders hat on. I do not believe they're gonna win a division that I got Broncos too. I love the defense, and yeah, Bo Nicks looked uh incredible at the end. It looked like he took that next step.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And Chiefs still to me, uh a lot of turnover this year. I think there might be a year away. That defense, they had there's a lot they need to replace. Kenneth Walker, bring a running game. We'll see if they even run it. Um I think Chargers are probably number two. The defense looked good last year, but now their defensive quarter is gone. They probably take a step back, even though the majority of that defense there. It's gonna be fun to watch McGill's offense. Um, and Raiders, yeah, I think Raiders are a year away. I'm hoping we'll see a good thing from Mendoza. They had a great offseason building that defense, a lot of younger players in their prime. So they're probably like an offensive lineman or two in an off a wide receiver way. Good thing, though, is this year, this 2027 draft class is quarterbacks and receivers. So um uh Raiders are setting up well for the following year. So I'm excited. We don't have a lot of time. So, NFC East, who do you got? All right, rapid fire. NFC East. I have uh the Eagles. Eagles. I got Eagles too. I'm never picking the Cowboys.
SPEAKER_01Never I'm never picking the Cowboys.
SPEAKER_00Uh NFC North. This is the one that gave me the most problems picking. NFC North, who'd you got? Oh man, you could go all of them.
SPEAKER_02You could go all you could really go all of them. Um you know what? I'm gonna go with the Bears. I just feel I agree with you that Caleb Williams is gonna take that next step. You know, his his uh accuracy rating is usually, you know, under 60%. I think he's gonna hit a little bit that he's gonna get a little bit more. Yeah, he's still gonna throw picks, but he can win, he can throw three picks and still win you the football game. Yeah, he's clutch. Um, I mean, he's like the like he reminds me kind of like the the Russell Wilsons, the the the John Elways, the Brett Faves, where you could throw a bunch of picks and you're still clutch. You're always in the game when you got to get it. Never out of it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Everybody's like, well, he's not gonna do that again. I'm like, I think that's who he is. I think he's literally that player. He's that guy. I guess you gotta do it a couple years in a row. I got Bears too, great pick. You know, Packers are interesting. Alliance, any of those teams. I got Packers in the in the playoffs, but we'll see. Anybody can win that division. AFC, excuse me, NFC South.
SPEAKER_02Uh NFC South, the worst division in football. So anybody that has a pulse and the ability to run the yard the ball four yards is probably gonna win that division. So who's got this? Yeah, so you know what? I'm gonna, I'm just gonna go. I like what the Saints are building. Dude, we didn't even talk this before the spot. Um, I like I actually like this quarterback, Shaw. Uh, you know, um, so you know, the Saints could be the one, the team that wins with eight, you know, wins the division with eight wins. You know, anybody's gonna eight or nine wins probably wins that division.
SPEAKER_00I agree. Hopefully, it's not an I hate it when like teams, if they have a losing record, if they get in. But I have Saints too. I like that. I like that offense. I think that defense is underrated. Um, team in there is interesting, Bucks and Panthers, but I think Saints get it done this year. Uh NFC West, who you got?
SPEAKER_02Well, you're gonna be a homer? I am gonna be a homer because I couldn't do it any other way. It's gonna be the Seahawks, and it's gonna come down just like last year. It's gonna be the Rams, Seahawks. I don't even know when their last game of the season is, but whenever they play their second game, that's probably gonna be the one that decides who wins that division again. It's gonna come down to those two teams. One game that's gonna separate them. That's it.
SPEAKER_00Okay, yeah, I got Rams. I everybody's picking Rams, but I think they look amazing this year. We'll see the Hawks. That in the Pats have a legit defense, but that offensive coordinator, it looks like a setback from Kubiak. Obviously, Kubiak is one of the best offensive minds in the league, but I was not impressed what I saw last night with the offense.
Conference Titles Super Bowl And Wrap
SPEAKER_00Um okay, AFC Championship. Who do you got?
SPEAKER_02Uh the AFC Championship. I'm gonna have um I'm gonna go Texans Broncos. Texans Broncos. Who wins? Uh Texans.
SPEAKER_00Texans, okay. I got Gem Bills. Uh Bills are gonna get against the AFC Championship. I can't get it done. I got Genver in the uh in the championship. All right, NFC Championship. Who you got?
SPEAKER_02I've got uh I've got the Seahawks and I got the Eagles. Ooh.
SPEAKER_00Really? Who do you have in that game?
SPEAKER_02I think the Eagles are gonna have less distractions this year. Um, and I think that the Eagles are gonna look a little more like they did a couple years ago, but I'm I I'm not picking it. The Seahawks are gonna they're gonna go back. They're gonna go back to the Super Bowl.
SPEAKER_00Okay, that's a bool prediction there. All right, uh Rams, I got Rams in Philly. I got Rams in the Super Bowl. Who you so for the Super Bowl, who you got winning it?
SPEAKER_02Uh so you're gonna have Seahawks, Texans. They played last year in the regular season. It was a great game. Um, and it's a highly competitive, uh, mostly defensive uh battle, but there's no way I'm picking against my Seahawks. Um, I think that they are going to uh they didn't look fantastic last night offensively, but if you can still win football games and not look your best, I mean that's that against a really good opponent. I'm still riding, I'm riding with my Seahawks, but the Rams really scare me. They scare me.
SPEAKER_00So that is a I like it, though. I like it. Stick to your guns. Okay. Uh I got Rams versus Denver. I got Rams win the Super Bowl. We'll see, though. Uh it's very unusual for the team that everybody's predicting to win that actually wins. So either way, it's gonna be fun. I'm glad football's back. Oh, me too. We're gonna wrap this up. Mike England, thanks for being on, brother. Appreciate you. You guys see him in the state and body, my bear, guys. Brother Vegas, take care of yourselves today.