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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
NFL Midseason Chaos: Is ANY Team Actually Elite? | John McNamara & Mike England
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Midseason Reset And Injury Chaos
SPEAKER_01Hey guys, John McMahon Vegas. We're talking about the sports business real estate. I want to make his podcast today. Come on, go with Mr. Mike England in the house. Let's go. Today is NFL Episode 2, mid-season report. We haven't had a pod in two weeks. The fans, I've had hundreds of messages. What's been going on? Guys had the flu. I apologize. But we're back.
SPEAKER_00We're back. He ate the lettuce.
SPEAKER_01Ate something. So excited to talk a little. We had you on a couple two months ago. Yeah, start of the season. We made some predictions of the NFL.
SPEAKER_00How are you feeling after I felt like, you know what? Like we made some good predictions, and then I made some pretty bad ones as well. I was high on the Texans and CJ Stroud, and that that that's not working out for me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, I think we both made some maybe silly predictions, and that's okay. That's that's the best part about sports, right? It's the drama. And then we make fun of each other. That was a stupid prediction, right? But actually, I'll say this the Texans, a lot of people had the Texans. Yeah. The CJ Stroud, I would say that was right. He has improved.
SPEAKER_00He looks good. He he looks good. I mean, uh, the part that has been a little bit shocking about the Texans is I don't think the defense has been as dominant uh this season as they were last season, and that's where you're seeing a lot of that. They've had some injuries. I mean, the injury bug in the NFL, I mean it's every year there's injuries, but it just seems like we've got some pretty pretty big ones, you know, the Jalen Hurts blood clot thing, he's out for the year. Um, the Eagles, you know, really stinking it up. Um, and uh a lot of a lot of teams, you know, trying to trying to recover, but it's uh it's still open, it's open. There's not any team that I feel is incredibly dominating. What do you think?
SPEAKER_01I agree. It's kind of exciting in that sense, right? Because everybody's like Rams, Rams, Rams. And we talked about it. I'm like, I don't remember a year where everybody was on a team and they actually won. Sometimes it can work against you because now everybody is trying to win that game, right? And I think the Rams are four and four, give or take. And they're kind of on the outside looking in right now, and I'm not sure. The Rams will talk about it, but and you're right, those injuries, I mean, fantasy football, after week two, I'm like, what the I've never seen a worse week two of injuries, and then week three was almost as bad. So it just seems like, yeah, it's been nursing year, but the cool thing is, I don't we're gonna somebody one of these teams is gonna come out of nowhere and probably win a Super Bowl.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, you know, I I uh seen seasons, right, where we've seen teams like the the Giants or the Steelers. I remember uh in the early 2000s, the Steelers were the last seed uh Rothlisburger and with Rothlisberger, and they ended up winning the Super Bowl. Yeah. Um we've seen the Giants do it twice with Eli Manning. So this could be one of those years where you just get in the the playoffs and you get hot at the right time as a wildcard team, as a as a six or seven seed, and you can you can do some damage. So it's gonna be uh I still think there's again, there's no team that's absolutely so dominating that you're like, okay, that's that's the team, or those are the teams. Um I mean 49ers and the Bills are probably the closest thing to it, but yeah,
NFC North Debate Bears Takeover
SPEAKER_00I was gonna say who has impressed you the most?
SPEAKER_01I would say it's actually Bills. I have the same. It's Bills and 49ers.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, I don't think uh, you know, we the Vikings look okay, but I thought they just hadn't played the same level of competition. The big surprise to me, and I, you know, again, I'm a Seahawks fan, so um, was uh the Bears. The Bears looked really good. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_01Especially after the Jeffrey Simmons trade. Oh.
SPEAKER_00Simmons was dominating.
SPEAKER_01Simmons has been in the league for a very long time. Huge fan of Simmons. My cousin is a huge Titans fan, so I've known about Simmons for a long time. But like, it's like he just started in the league then that last game. Like nobody knew about him. And he looked so dominant. He looked big, he was Seahawks had no answer for him. It's incredible what that one player can do for a defense. And the Chicago Bears, you and I were talking about the Bears, like, I think that was our team to win the NFC North. But now it's like, wow, after that, I they I would uh bet on the bit uh the Bears going to the Super Bowl.
SPEAKER_00I bet over the Bears over, I mean the North in general is just loaded. Um but I do like the Bears. Um over the Vikings, too. I mean, um did the Vik but the Vikings just made an acquisition. Did they end up uh making a trade for or did they get Barkley or is that just a rumor? That's a rumor.
SPEAKER_01So uh yeah, the Vikings have a trade, they could use, and Barkley, I think, is out right now too. There's been a lot of rumors about Jonathan Taylor. Taylor, yeah. Um, but he hasn't been moved yet. And if I'm the Colts at this point, I would probably move him because I think he's 27, 28, he's in his prime, he's a running back, but they're looking for the right deal. I think they have until next Tuesday. And I agree with you, Vikings. I think they're a little overrated now. The defense is elite, top five defense, no question about it. But that offense just hasn't been humming. Um, Kyler Murray, um, just you know, plays like Kyler Murray. He likes you have some big games and you have some duds. So, you know, it'll be interesting to see if the Vikings go all in and get him, maybe a running back, maybe even a Daniel Jones, who knows the system. I know Daniel Jones hasn't looked great this year because he's coming off the Achilles, but yeah, he looked better than Kyler Murray. So I don't know.
SPEAKER_00What's your thoughts? Yeah, I mean, Murray just hasn't made that connection with uh just Justin Jefferson. I think Jefferson is, even though their record, um, you know, they have a great record. I think Jefferson is pretty frustrated. He's come out and said, like, you know, um he's voices concerns that he's not getting the football. So, you know, we'll see. Uh the Vikings, though, when they start having to play their divisional opponents, you know, we've we saw what it looked like against the Lions, you know, when they play when they start playing the Bears and stuff like that. Um, I think they're gonna come back down to reality. And I I I wasn't so sold on I think you were the one that predicted that Caleb Williams would have a big year. And man, um he's throwing over he his uh accuracy rating is over 70%.
SPEAKER_01That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00And I think you mentioned like if he just improved his accuracy by even 10%, that what would that do for the Bears? Well, we're seeing what it's doing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think he the year before was like 58. I'm like, if this guy gets to like 62, 64, yeah, it's it's interesting the the level up with the accuracy, and it just looks the arm even looks a little bit more library this year, too. Yeah. So it's been fun to watch. So here's the thing, because the NFC North is clearly probably the most fun division, and most of these teams are in the playoff hunt, you know. But only so many teams can get into the playoffs. So if you had to pick two or three uh from the NFC North to get in, who would it be? Because the Packers, I think, are five and three. Uh Detroit, I think, is five and three, two.
SPEAKER_00Five and two, yeah. I mean, I mean, I would tell you Parsons comes back at some point. So that's gonna make make uh Green Bay a little more little better. Um, but I still the Lions defense has been a little suspect at times. Um I still think offensively, though, they can be pretty explosive. I'm gonna go, uh I'm gonna actually go with three teams. I think that every team in the North makes it except for Green Bay. I think Green Bay will be the one that is on the outside looking in. Barely, though.
SPEAKER_01I feel the same way. My concern, and Parsons is coming back, and we just saw it with the Bears. They had that one defensive player that makes all the they went from like subpar defense to maybe a top 10, top five defense. So, how does that work? Because the Packers aren't the best defense in the world, but Parsons definitely gonna help, right? My biggest concern, and they've been in kind of talks about maybe getting a running back too, which I don't really understand. I get the whole Josh Jacobs thing. If it's about what's going on with that situation, you want to get rid of him. But to me, it's not a running back situation, it's an offensive line problem. That offensive line looks terrible. They should be bringing in like two offensive linemen to try to help that situation versus a running back. The passing game looks good, but I agree. I think Detroit just feels to me like they are a sneaky team in all of this, and they're under the radar, you know, because they had a couple good years and then they, you know, were kind of on top. There was a team to be, but I think Detroit could be a sneaky team that is dark horse to get into the NFC championship game.
SPEAKER_00Oh wow, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I like them. Yeah, I do too. I I know they lost some defensive players and stuff, and so that changed some things for them, but um Jack Campbell, that was scary. Yeah, oh yeah, that was. But I uh they're still explosive. There's I mean, it was just two years ago. What they won 13, 14 games. I mean, I mean, they still I I get it, they lost their coordinators, um, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, but uh yeah, they're looking good. They're looking good.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they're not on the same level they were a couple years back, but yeah, let's see. You know, and like you said, I have seen Nordis kind of kind of eat itself a little bit too. It's they can't all get in there, right? So um, so what have been some surprise teams for you, though, that I've kind of you've been impressed with? There's one team actually that you made a bold prediction on that was a surprise team
Giants Surprise Run And Backfield Talk
SPEAKER_01for me that you called was the New York Giants.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you know what? The the Giants I was thinking because I like Jackson Dart and now he's hurt, you know. Do you like J.D. McCarthy? I don't, I don't I'm not so sold. He's not a Michigan guy.
SPEAKER_02No, no, you know what?
SPEAKER_00Uh I think he's a good systems quarterback. Yeah um and he's doing a good enough job. That D the reason I was also big on the Giants is I think their defensive line is is pretty good, their pass rush, uh, their front seven. So um I think that the Giants happen to be the best team in the NFC East, which is one of the weakest divisions in football. So I think they're gonna win it with eight or nine wins. I think it's gonna be uh they're not gonna need a whole lot more wins to actually like push through in the NFC East.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's probably whatever gets nine wins when the NFC. I mean, the NFC East is just so bad. And the Cowboys, we were making fun of them last time, which I love, because like how do they not win this division right now? Like, you gotta do something. The division is like the worst I've ever NFC East used to be the division about five, ten years ago. And it's just there is nobody good right now. So the the fact that Giants have a winning record and uh they lost a starting quarterback and keeping things moving, I think it's uh impressive. I think they're maybe one of the teams that could add one of those running backs, like a Derrick Henry, uh Jonathan Taylor, uh something just to help the running game. I don't know, you're scatabow guy?
SPEAKER_00I I I do like Scatabow as like kind of uh a secondary back, somebody you give five to ten touches a game. He's not your he's not your bell cow running back. Derrick Henry, if they ended up with could get somebody like a Derrick Henry, that would be I mean him and Scatabow, I mean, they would just punish defenses. Yeah, be a good one-two punch. I agree with that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Scatabow's fun to watch, but he's not fast. He's, you know, how long does he has that guy hold up? You know, and so far he, for the most part, he has. Yeah. But that's always been my concern about him because um great break tackler, but as soon as he breaks the tackle, somebody else is on him. He breaks that tackle, and then somebody else, you know, he doesn't really go anywhere. You know, he moves the chains. He's just really solid. I think he's a really good two. But like a yeah, lightning/slash thunder. Henry is still underrated, he's fast. Nobody wants to ever tackle him, so they all give away and just hope he trips up.
SPEAKER_00But I Scatabo is like uh he's like a poor man's um Mike Allstott. Remember Mike Allstott? I like that. So not quite as good as Mike Allstott, but but some similarity. Oh my god. But they have work done and allstott. So I think the Giants can kind of create that that kind of like you said, thunder lightning um type situation. Um Ron Dane Tiki Barber.
SPEAKER_01Rondane Tiki Barber. Look at it coming up in the past. I love it. All right, so what's your surprise team in the AFC though?
Raiders Stock Up Plus QB Trade Scenarios
SPEAKER_00Uh the AFC, you know what? I'm gonna actually uh not because just because I live in Vegas, but I'm gonna say the Raiders. The Raiders have surprised me. I mean I like it. They're four and four. They've yeah, they got blown out by uh the Patriots, but other than that, they've been competitive in even their losses. I mean, it came down to the wire with the Chiefs and the Bills. Yeah. So um the Raiders are our sneaky surprise. Um, do I think they're gonna go to the playoffs? No, but could I think they have a respectful season where they go, oh wow, they're heading in the right direction. I think that is kind of the surprise. I kind of predicted the Raiders to maybe win five games this year. Now, you know, they're already at they're what, four and four? Four and four, yeah. So, you know, they're already pretty much there. I think they could win seven or eight games.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, they've been fun to watch. Kubak's done a great job with that um roster, you know. Nakoby Dean's looked really good on defense. Uh Trey Tucker is really stuff. Bowers is off. I mean, Bowers might be maybe the best tight end or top top three. Yeah, I mean, uh he's almost like a receiver. That's how good he is. Like he's a different level. So it'll be interesting when they re-sign him since they paid Mayer all that money. But yeah, Cousins looks really good. I think he's got like 19 touchdowns for the year, something crazy like that. He's on track for what is that, 38 touchdowns? Yeah, that's like MVP numbers. That's it's crazy.
SPEAKER_00And he's got incredible celebrations. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Oh my god. Whatever this is. It's working, whatever it works. So that's a question, though, because I mean the cousins has been playing out of his mind. Yep. Um, perfect fit for that system. Do you just keep riding this until the wheels fall off? Or because Mendoza, I mean, there's uh I think a lot of fans want to see it, but it it may get you out of the playoffs. They're still in the playoff, huh? Yeah, I don't see them getting in, but that but you just never know.
SPEAKER_00I think um Mendoza having him keeping him on the bench and learning for as long as possible is the best case scenario. We saw that with Alex Smith and Mahomes, and we've seen it with other situations before. So the longer they can kind of have him develop and learn that way um is gonna pay off in the long run. Um little bit concerned about Ashton Genty. I don't think, you know, he just doesn't seem motivated. His game is not translating well in the NFL right now. But the other running back, uh, the rookie, uh question Janet. Yeah, that guy, you know, he his combine was incredible. He was kind of underrated going into the draft. He fell a little bit farther. What a great pickup for the Raiders. I think that guy, you know, hopefully Genty and in Washington could be that one-two punch, kind of like that uh, you know, Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson kind of situation. But I like that comparison. But we'll see. We'll see. I do like Washington, though.
SPEAKER_01I have a fun trade scenario. Okay. Kirk Cousins to the Vikings. You liked it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I I I've I've uh read some uh Vikings forums, and uh they they uh definitely they they still like cousins, so yeah. I mean I don't see a happening.
SPEAKER_01Anything would be updated in Murray right now.
SPEAKER_00But yeah.
SPEAKER_01I agree, you know, that was the it's interesting with the Genty thing. Um, because I thought he got overdrafted. I understood it at the time when they drafted him. I mean, he was he he he was more hype value, you know, he was Heisman. Um I don't know if he's runner-up, but he was one of the contenders for it. He looks great. He also played in the Mountain West. I really like Genty. Got to see Genty multiple times play Unil V. Very impressive running back. To me, he was more of a late first, early second guy. I think he so a lot I think he gets a lot of um slack because of how early he went. And you're right, like it hasn't really translated, but I don't think he's I think he's a good running back. But in the beginning of this year, too, when I was watching preseason, beginning in the first game, I'm like, I don't know. Mike Washington Jr. looks like a better, not better running back, but a better runner than Genty. Yeah. Because the thing with Genty, he breaks account, he's really good receiver back, he's really solid. Um he doesn't have that next level athl, you know, athlete like Mike Washington Jr. is. I don't know if Mike Washington Jr. is necessarily the answer, but I think, like you said, I think they're a really good one-two punch for each other. And I think Genty's gonna ramp it back up. You know, he's I think he's a good running back. I just don't think he's an elite running back, if that makes sense.
SPEAKER_00So do you think the Raiders um I mean, obviously they got two great tight ends, two two good running backs. Best tight ends in the lane. Um Cousins is playing well, defensive backfield sucks. But you think uh, you know, maybe the Raiders make a move and they try to pick up a wide receiver. Maybe uh Josh Downs or somebody like that, you know, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01You know, I like Josh Downs. I don't know if that'd move the needle. Brian Thomas Jr. would be very interesting to me because he's big, he's fast, he can play that vertical. I think that's what they're kind of missing in the the offense because nobody scares you deep. And if you want to open up that running game and create better play action as you need somebody who's big and fast and get down the field, then you're right. They don't have that alpha receiver unless you're saying that's Breck Bowers, but again, Brett Bowers is not um, he's not running nines for you. So I think he's but I agree. I don't know. I don't know if they do it. I if it's a young receiver that we can build around, I'm open to it. But um this class apparently
Bills Window And Defensive Upgrade Targets
SPEAKER_01is gonna be a good receiver class, too, and there's free agency. I think we're a year away. I don't know if um, but say um like the Buffalo Bills, like Josh Allen playing out his mind, like when are they gonna get a Super Bowl for this guy? Because it's not on him. Did they make a move on defense? Because you saw the difference it made for the Bears.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Is there a defensive player out there that could that could help the Bills?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I think his name's uh Khalil Mack. You know, I know he's I like that. Yeah, I know he's what 34, 35. He's he's kind of getting up there, but he still is productive. He brings that extra, you know, level of pass rush. Um, they do have some good guys on the on the defensive side of the ball, but that is a guy that they could probably get, you you know, they they wouldn't have to give up much for him.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, and so it's pass rushers, I like that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Just get a gifts.
SPEAKER_01Because they're up. So like usually teams have to pass on you. Like, create something, help Josh Allen out. Because that's the I'm a Patriots fan, but I would love to see Josh Allen. I mean, he's just a good guy. It would be great for the city of Buffalo. It would be amazing for that to happen. That's what I'm really rooting for for the year. Um, so we'll see. But that defense, they need to do something. I just feel like they're the Bills are always in this position every year, and they just don't make big enough moves to get them over the needle. And this is the year in the AFC where anybody could win it. Like, it's not a scary AFC. It wasn't scary AFC last year. So this is this is the time. It is Baltimore's all beat up.
SPEAKER_00Like Baltimore's done, they're toast. Yeah. Um, the the uh your Patriots, you know, they're they're still they're still competitive. Drake May still looks good. Got nobody to throw to, though. Yeah, nobody to throw to. Um Brown hasn't really performed.
SPEAKER_01AJ Brown, that really hasn't been. Yeah, he's been injured. Apparently, the knee's starting to give out. That was a terrible trade. He already he looked bad the year before. I was I know Vrabel and like AJ Brown, they're buddies, but I was not super excited about that trade because he when he came into the league, he had knee issues. That's why he dropped it second round. Yeah. So now he's at the end and it's they're it's starting to wear down on it. You can tell he's he's not the same player. I think uh either last week or this week, he's out because of the knee, and nothing has occurred. So it's the pieces are starting to fall apart a little bit with AJ Brown, unfortunately.
SPEAKER_00I don't think it was I don't think that was a good move. Yeah, no. So I mean you got so you once you take them out. I mean, the Broncos looked uh look okay. They look pretty good uh defensively. Uh, you know, Bo Knicks is looking better every week. It was a big win against Kansas City, um came down to the wire. But again, I don't think the Broncos are dominating. The Chiefs aren't dominating, their defense is is pretty suspect. So you're right. It's it's completely open. I think we're gonna get a team. If it's not the Bills, you're gonna get a team that maybe we don't even we we don't even expect. You know, it's gonna be it's gonna be a fun uh AFC playoff.
SPEAKER_01Who's healthy at the end of the year? Yeah, that's it. Yeah, it's kind of like fantasy football.
Surprise Players MVP Picks And JSN Hype
SPEAKER_01Okay, my surprise team was Pittsburgh Stalors. Just crazy. What they're six and two, and Rogers throwing down the field. One of my surprise players that I really and I want to know what your surprise players were. Me, I thought Purdy has stepped up, but Jalen Warren has looked phenomenal. It's like he's got another gear this year.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh maybe it's because they signed Rico Doddle, pissed him off. I don't know, but he looks like a different back this year. He's always been a good back, but he's clearly like in that top. Top 10, maybe fringe top five running backs in the league now. Wow. So Pittsburgh's here. The other guy I liked was uh Christian Watson. He's looked really good. He's healthy finally. Jordan Love has been throwing him. He's been balling out. So who's some of your surprise?
SPEAKER_00I like it. I like the Warren one. Um, you know, they've schemed really well with him on the dump off passes, and they've really kind of taken the pressure off Aaron Rodgers. Um, they're not expecting Aaron Rodgers to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns every game. And so him kind of just dumping it off and letting Warren do his thing, that's been great. Um, some other uh other players that Jeremy Bernard has been really good for the Steelers, too.
SPEAKER_01The rookie from Alabama second round, he's played well for the Steelers.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01And made some plays for him because Michael Pittman, that was supposed to be Michael Pittman's role, and Michael Pittman hurt his foot. So Jeremy Bernard has really stepped up and he looks good, as if another good young receiver for the Steelers.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, he's been he's been good, and uh used to I'm a Husky uh University of Washington Husky fan, and he used to play for the Huskies, so I'm all I'm all for it.
SPEAKER_01I did not know that. Fun fact, I love it.
SPEAKER_00Well that would make sense because your coach went to Bama, right? Uh yep, yep. De Bohr uh went to Alabama, took a bunch of players. So now I root now I root for I never really rooted for Alabama. You cut me deep on that one, yeah. I didn't know it.
SPEAKER_01Just twist the knife over here.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, uh quarterback play though, um, absolutely, you know, the surprise to me. You predicted Caleb Williams would have this, you know, breakout um year, but man, it's been you know, I I knew he'd be good um because he's got the the talent, the raw talent, but man, he's playing at MVP type level. Obviously, Brock Purdy is too, but um, but yeah, Caleb Williams, he's he's rolling back like some Patrick Mahomes, he's look-alike type stuff out there. And he he looks great. And um that whole wide receiver group that he has, Luther Burden and some of those guys, uh Rome uh uh Odunze. That's your boy. Um that's my guy too. So, you know, both of those guys they're looking real good. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, so question four, yeah. So I think we agree, you know, MVP. I mean, I think we both like Josh Allen, right? You said Caleb. Unfortunately, Caleb hasn't played the whole year, too, right? So we'll see how that goes. But if you couldn't pick a QB, who would you pick as MVP right now?
SPEAKER_00Oh man, that's that's an easy one. My boy JSN.
SPEAKER_01That's my two, yeah. Yeah, you guys have to have a winning record for him to be MVP. But yeah, he just stands out. I love seeing JSN. He's still like just bawling out. Doesn't matter who's playing. We got Drew Locke throwing to him.
SPEAKER_00He is the dude. He he is open on pretty much every play. Doesn't matter if you put two guys on him. Probably the best route, one of the top 10 route runners, in my opinion, in NFL history already. Yeah. Um, he's you know, I mean, obviously there's been some, oh, he runs routes like Jerry Rice, Devontae Adams, great route runner, Antonio Brown, guys like that, Marvin Harrison, but he's right up, he runs routes just as good as those guys who. Um, he's 100 yards every game, touchdown every game, 10 receptions. I mean, we we were joking, I don't know if it was on the lost podcast or it's just doing a happy hour, but uh we were joking. They all gotta blur together. They all kind of blur together. But we said who's gonna be the next JSN? And it's like, no, JSN is the next he is that guy.
SPEAKER_01He is the next JS. That's funny too, because I think it was on another podcast. I asked, uh we have a fantasy podcast. I'm like, who was in the who's the next same thing, it was JSN. I thought it was gonna be Zay Flowers, but he's got hammy issues, but we'll see. Well, that yeah, that's right. Zay Flowers was year one for the three. He's got no quarterback
Biggest Disappointments Chargers And Herbert Future
SPEAKER_01now. But um who has disappointed this year? I feel like it's two clear teams, but I want your thoughts.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, uh, and I I know what what what your clear teams are too, and I I agree. Uh Chargers oh and eight, oh and seven. I mean, they came terrible, yeah. Oh and terrible. I mean, that thing is a dumpster fire.
SPEAKER_01Because I know the offensive line got injured, but wow, like you think at minimum that's a 500 team, you know, a little under that. But yeah, that has been bad. At least Philly. Philly's been bad, but they've had so many injuries, you're like, okay, it's just one of those bad years when all everybody gets injured. Like it happens once in a while. But Charters have just that's gotta be one of the most I mean, they were hyped. They weren't Rams hype, but they were hyped going this season. I was more concerned about the defense because they lost their defensive coordinator. But that offense, I mean, what are they doing over there?
SPEAKER_00I'm not sure. And Mike McDaniel is supposed to be an offensive, you know, mastermind. And then everyone thought that him and Herbert, that would be an incredible connection, but they can't run the ball. Um, Herbert has not looked comfortable one game this year. Uh, and they the wide receivers just they're they're not good. I mean, Ladd McConkey at best is a number two wide receiver.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, Johnson, I think they're gonna probably McConkey can't stay healthy either.
SPEAKER_01That's the problem.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you know, I mean he's got three injuries going into every single week. Every week, yeah. He's got a stub toe or whatever. I don't know. But uh, yeah, no, they they look awful. And I think uh Chargers have got a real problem. You know, there you go, they signed Harbaugh to this long contract, and it's kind of like where the Raiders were a few years ago, and that's where the Chargers are gonna end up landing. They're gonna have to rebuild this whole thing. Yeah, and it's it's it's looking bad. It's looking bad.
SPEAKER_01Question for you. I mean, this draft that was coming up was super hyped up. I think that the hype has gone down a little bit now. Now we're at where it's like I feel like every year though, quarterbacks are gonna be amazing next year, they just never are. They're still, I think they're predicting three to five first-round quarterbacks this year, give or take, depending on how things shake out. But now they're saying 2028 is better. With how bad this year go went and Justin Herbert, he's not getting younger. I think he's 20, 29, he's somewhere in that range when the season ends, right? I think he's gonna be 29. Um, do you move on from him? Or, you know, he's always been interesting because his talent to me is elite. Like to me, he's a top five elite, but nothing has ever come together. I don't know if that's his fault or the coaches he's had or mixture, but the fact that it still hasn't come together, they may want to get off this train, you know, before the wheels come off because something's not clicking. Because I've seen a lot of elite quarterbacks being on bad teams, and and something occurs. Yeah, and it's just like he doesn't look good right now.
SPEAKER_00What's your thoughts? I mean, I don't think they would do this, but I agree with you. His value is still high enough, you could get a probably a first-round draft pick for Herbert. And the team is is gonna be in a rebuild mode. Do they rebuild it around Herbert? Who, you know, you probably won't be good again until he's what, 30, 31, which is not that bad. Yeah, it's not bad. But he's got a big contract, and so, you know, but you could you could get a lot of value after uh trading him to a team that absolutely needs a quarterback, you know, mid season right now. You know, we talked about the Vikings. Vikings. Um imagine Herbert, you know, in the Vikings. Imagine if the Ravens said, you know what, we're not gonna, we're not, we're, we're not, we're gonna still compete, and they ended up getting a Herbert, you know, or whatever. You know, there's a lot, there's a few different spots.
SPEAKER_01Big Bursette went to Ravens, but it's a good point because now there's a lot of the rumor meal has already started that Lamar Jackson has played his last down for the Baltimore Ravens. They're they're off of it now. So that's the rumor.
SPEAKER_00We'll see if that occurs. But yeah, I forgot Brissett left there. So he had one bad game because the Cardinals have actually been sneaky competitive. They've been fun. And Minshew is not Minshew is like uh Fitzpatrick, you know. It's like he's gonna throw for 400 yards and four touchdowns, and the next week he's gonna throw for four interceptions. That's a good comparison, you know. So that's what you're gonna get there with the the Cardinals. They're gonna get blown out this next week by the Seahawks.
SPEAKER_01So I know your big prediction was the Seahawks being the Super Bowl. We'll see what happens. I actually I I still I think the Seahawks actually look good. I know you guys are four and four, but I think they're in the playoffs. I think they're competing. I think they still have a chance to win a Super Bowl to be that defense looks great, and Sam Dr. just needs to get healthy. But say the Seahawks uh don't win a Super Bowl this year.
Dream Super Bowl Winners And Wrap Up
SPEAKER_01Who's that one team you you would like to see? Not Bills, because I just say Bills, who's a team you like to see?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01That'd be fun to or a surprise or a surprise pick that you think may win a Super Bowl that we should be talking about right now.
SPEAKER_00You know, uh the couple teams that just franchises that have never won a Super Bowl and would be huge for, and I like the Bills one, but imagine the Lions. Imagine the Lions or the or the Bengals with Burrow. Yeah. You know, either one of those ones would that would be a lot of fun. I would I would like Bengals too.
SPEAKER_01I just feel like the Bengals, I have no trust in the Bengals. I don't know what's going on over there, but something's off there too. Yeah. I know they're having a decent season this year, and they could probably make in the playoffs, but there's something about that team you're like, I don't know, I don't see them winning a Super Bowl or go getting to a Super Bowl.
SPEAKER_00So your point, they are somebody that they should be making uh some trades and and uh loading up that defense. Because if they could they have to score over 35 points, I feel like to win every game. Yeah. And but imagine if they only had to score 28 points and they had a defense that could even hold a team to 24. Yeah, and that's probably a pass rusher or or two away from being able to compete at that level. So they're not far far off.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think that's a good point. And because here's the thing, too, is Joe Burrow's already made some rumbles like, hey, he's kind of starting to get over this. They're putting he's playing well, the offense puts up points, but that defense, and it looked like they in the beginning of the year was starting and then it's like starting to fall apart again. But yeah, I like that. I like that. Bengals, Lions, Bills, one of these teams with a Super Bowl would be a fun year. But guys, we're gonna wrap this up. Mike, thanks for being on. You see this car, you bought him a beer, guys. Run to Vegas, take care of yourselves today.