Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

All Right, here we go. It is a Monday. We are live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. A lot to talk about wherever you may be, and however you may be late listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Colin Wright, Colin Wrong one hour from now, jamat so close to your checks? Hey, how do you feel this morning?

All Right, here we go. It is a Monday. We are live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. A lot to talk about wherever you may be, and however you may be late listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Colin Wright, Colin Wrong one hour from now, jamat so close to your checks? Hey, how do you feel this morning?

Are there moral victories in sports?

Are there moral victories in sports?

I feel like Deon Sanders has asked that question over the weekend, or maybe it's the quarterback was I don't know.

I feel like Deon Sanders has asked that question over the weekend, or maybe it's the quarterback was I don't know.

It feels like a moral victory if you're allowed to have that.

It feels like a moral victory if you're allowed to have that.

All right, So let's start there. Kansas City ekes by and beats the Jets in New York. So, if I'm a Chiefs fan, I say we played poorly. Mahomes was off his game. We're on the road against the great defense. The opposing quarterback played out of his mind and we won. Check. If I'm a Jets fan, I'm like Zach Wilson. Hey man, that guy was great. Refs did not give us a break, you know what I'm saying, Hey, Mahomes, we gave him nothing but trouble and we overcame a seventeen to nothing deficit. We should have won. I buy the Chiefs argument. Yeah, Kansas City has become lebron I don't really worry about an occasional regular season stinker. They'll figure it out. Kansas City last year lost to the Colts early in the season and had a special team's meltdown. The Texans were awful and took him to overtime. This week, you had the Travis Kelce Taylor's swift relationship stuff all over the papers, all over the distractions. Listen to Jets. I know you're feeling great today. You lost. You weren't remotely ready to play. You trailed seventeen nothing at home. Zach Wilson still had the key turnover a fumble late in the game, and when the Jets defense, that great defense, had to make a stop. Mahomes toyed with it fifteen plays, seven minutes, twenty four seconds, and then to add insult to injury, he slides right before the goal line. He completely, completely, absolutely got what he wanted. There's a reason Aaron Rodgers is in the building. The franchise moved off Zach. He's not the guy, so moral victories don't work for me. When you needed him to make a play, he fumbled. When you needed your Jets defense to make plays. Mahomes manipulated you for seven minutes and twenty four seconds. Buffalo's three and one, they're better. Miami's three and one, they're better. New England already beat you, and now you got to go play Miami twice at Buffalo, at New England Chargers Cleveland on the schedule, Philadelphia two. Last night was a game there for the taking, and you didn't take it. Ask yourself this. When it comes to movies, if it has a great beginning and a great end, it's almost Owa's a great movie, right Kansas City seventeen to nothing, lead sealed it with a long drive. That's a good movie. Congrats on dominating the second quarter. I know I'm supposed to be mister positive here, but Mahomes struggled. Zach Wilson played out of his mind for big chunks of that game, and you lost. In the beginning. Kansas City had a better game plan, better efficiency. He jumped out to a huge lead, scuffled in the second quarter, a little bit in the third, but when it mattered, my Holmes again, big drive. So you can see it two ways. I see it this way. A great franchise had an off night and still figured out how to have a great ending and win the game. Get on a flight home, and a bad franchise with a quarterback they've already bailed on. Let's be honest, they bailed on, and that's why Aaron's in town out played for big chunks of the game in the middle the Chiefs, but when it mattered, they fumbled and couldn't make a stop. So I understand that everybody's taking these positives away. But in the end, what do you have this morning? Another loss? Aaron promising he'll come back late in the season. Let's be honest, he won't. He can't. That doesn't work that way. His age and that surgery. I know, there's supposed to be a bunch of positives here. I don't see it. That game was the Colts game last year where the Chiefs stunk for big chunks of it. Colts beat him. This game was the Texans game last year. Texans took him to overtime. You couldn't make a stop. So you can talk about all the victories and the moral stuff. I'm not trying to be negative, but we know in the end what happened. What happened was Kansas City didn't play well and still won. That's what they do. That's what Lebron did in regular seasons. Lebron for about a ten year stretch would end up in the finals. And that's why Kansas City ends up in super Bowls. They don't play well, they're on the road, the other quarterback plays out of his mind, and they leave the building fly back home with a W.

All right, So let's start there. Kansas City ekes by and beats the Jets in New York. So, if I'm a Chiefs fan, I say we played poorly. Mahomes was off his game. We're on the road against the great defense. The opposing quarterback played out of his mind and we won. Check. If I'm a Jets fan, I'm like Zach Wilson. Hey man, that guy was great. Refs did not give us a break, you know what I'm saying, Hey, Mahomes, we gave him nothing but trouble and we overcame a seventeen to nothing deficit. We should have won. I buy the Chiefs argument. Yeah, Kansas City has become lebron I don't really worry about an occasional regular season stinker. They'll figure it out. Kansas City last year lost to the Colts early in the season and had a special team's meltdown. The Texans were awful and took him to overtime. This week, you had the Travis Kelce Taylor's swift relationship stuff all over the papers, all over the distractions. Listen to Jets. I know you're feeling great today. You lost. You weren't remotely ready to play. You trailed seventeen nothing at home. Zach Wilson still had the key turnover a fumble late in the game, and when the Jets defense, that great defense, had to make a stop. Mahomes toyed with it fifteen plays, seven minutes, twenty four seconds, and then to add insult to injury, he slides right before the goal line. He completely, completely, absolutely got what he wanted. There's a reason Aaron Rodgers is in the building. The franchise moved off Zach. He's not the guy, so moral victories don't work for me. When you needed him to make a play, he fumbled. When you needed your Jets defense to make plays. Mahomes manipulated you for seven minutes and twenty four seconds. Buffalo's three and one, they're better. Miami's three and one, they're better. New England already beat you, and now you got to go play Miami twice at Buffalo, at New England Chargers Cleveland on the schedule, Philadelphia two. Last night was a game there for the taking, and you didn't take it. Ask yourself this. When it comes to movies, if it has a great beginning and a great end, it's almost Owa's a great movie, right Kansas City seventeen to nothing, lead sealed it with a long drive. That's a good movie. Congrats on dominating the second quarter. I know I'm supposed to be mister positive here, but Mahomes struggled. Zach Wilson played out of his mind for big chunks of that game, and you lost. In the beginning. Kansas City had a better game plan, better efficiency. He jumped out to a huge lead, scuffled in the second quarter, a little bit in the third, but when it mattered, my Holmes again, big drive. So you can see it two ways. I see it this way. A great franchise had an off night and still figured out how to have a great ending and win the game. Get on a flight home, and a bad franchise with a quarterback they've already bailed on. Let's be honest, they bailed on, and that's why Aaron's in town out played for big chunks of the game in the middle the Chiefs, but when it mattered, they fumbled and couldn't make a stop. So I understand that everybody's taking these positives away. But in the end, what do you have this morning? Another loss? Aaron promising he'll come back late in the season. Let's be honest, he won't. He can't. That doesn't work that way. His age and that surgery. I know, there's supposed to be a bunch of positives here. I don't see it. That game was the Colts game last year where the Chiefs stunk for big chunks of it. Colts beat him. This game was the Texans game last year. Texans took him to overtime. You couldn't make a stop. So you can talk about all the victories and the moral stuff. I'm not trying to be negative, but we know in the end what happened. What happened was Kansas City didn't play well and still won. That's what they do. That's what Lebron did in regular seasons. Lebron for about a ten year stretch would end up in the finals. And that's why Kansas City ends up in super Bowls. They don't play well, they're on the road, the other quarterback plays out of his mind, and they leave the building fly back home with a W.

All Right.

All Right.

The other game that is worth noting, so Miami Buffalo. So when you look at all these teams that we sort of you know, we all kind of agree on teams that feel like they could get to a Super Bowl. You got San Francisco, you got Philadelphia, you got Buffalo. Who did I write? You got Dallas? You know, you got Miami. Maybe there's six or seven teams we talk about. Only one of them is pretty weak defensively in terms of personnel. I love Vic Fangio for Miami, the coordinator, but their personnel is very average. They've allowed the fifth most points in the league. And so when you look at them now, statistically, I think Miami is built for track meets and not fistfights. They're not built for alley fights, and that yesterday was a little bit of that. If you look at the stats, first downs, time of possession, yards per play, passing yards, you would have thought this thing went to overtime. But if you'll watch the game, you saw Buffalo push Miami around, and that's really the issue. You can beat San Francisco Philly, you generally don't push them around. You can beat Kansas City, you generally don't push them around. The Chargers offense pushed them around, and Buffalo pushed them around on both sides of the ball. And so Josh Allen in the red zone against Miami, it looks like varsity against JV. Miami doesn't have the dudes. They in the last twelve games against Josh Allen, they're ten and two. His passer ratings about one to ten, and in the red zone it becomes so obvious they don't have the personnel to stop Josh Allen. He's just better than all their athletes. He's just better than everybody they have on the defensive side, whether or without Vic Fangio. And here's the thing.

The other game that is worth noting, so Miami Buffalo. So when you look at all these teams that we sort of you know, we all kind of agree on teams that feel like they could get to a Super Bowl. You got San Francisco, you got Philadelphia, you got Buffalo. Who did I write? You got Dallas? You know, you got Miami. Maybe there's six or seven teams we talk about. Only one of them is pretty weak defensively in terms of personnel. I love Vic Fangio for Miami, the coordinator, but their personnel is very average. They've allowed the fifth most points in the league. And so when you look at them now, statistically, I think Miami is built for track meets and not fistfights. They're not built for alley fights, and that yesterday was a little bit of that. If you look at the stats, first downs, time of possession, yards per play, passing yards, you would have thought this thing went to overtime. But if you'll watch the game, you saw Buffalo push Miami around, and that's really the issue. You can beat San Francisco Philly, you generally don't push them around. You can beat Kansas City, you generally don't push them around. The Chargers offense pushed them around, and Buffalo pushed them around on both sides of the ball. And so Josh Allen in the red zone against Miami, it looks like varsity against JV. Miami doesn't have the dudes. They in the last twelve games against Josh Allen, they're ten and two. His passer ratings about one to ten, and in the red zone it becomes so obvious they don't have the personnel to stop Josh Allen. He's just better than all their athletes. He's just better than everybody they have on the defensive side, whether or without Vic Fangio. And here's the thing.

I love.

I love.

Miami still best watching the league. Arguably they're a very strong offensive team. But this happens in September, in early October, the weather's good. Remember you scheme up your plays in the offseason, and he reads one of the best September coaches of all time. You catch people off guard. You also, defenses don't tackle particularly well in September because now starters don't play in the preseason. You also, in the summer, you get quarterbacks, tight ends, wide receivers, running backs all playing together. Right, you don't have defensive guys that go meat in California and Arizona and stand around. So offenses generally have an advantage over defenses early in the season. Then the defense gets some film they can exploit you, They find tendency, the weather gets cool, and now be honest, New England held Miami to twenty four points and Buffalo held them to twenty. So the two defensive coaches they've faced have pulled them back down to earth. Now, Miami's speed is so phenomenal, there's no question about this. They're gonna make Denver's Swiss cheese defense look awful or the Chargers poorly coach defense look bad. But against Belichick and Sean McDermott in a decent pass rush, and now you don't get everything you want, and that's in September. Try playing those guys when it's thirteen degrees in Windy So I think when I look at the Miami Dolphins, they're gonna go probably obliterate the New York Giants in a short week. Next week, you can bet that game. Right now, Miami's gonna probably obliterate the Giants. But I think through four weeks, when you look at the Miami Dolphins, here's what we have. Wildly creative, brilliant offense, much more built for track meets than street fights. Early in September, they caught people off guard. They're gonna win a bunch of games against bad defenses or bad defensive coaches, a lot of lobsided wins. But we do have a little tendency here, when you play McDermott's defense or Belichick's defense, it's just not quite as impressive. And when you face a great quarterback, which the AFC has Lamar and Josh Allen and Mahomes and Herbert, they kind of walk through this defense. Never forget most of us thought the Chargers had that game one, up and down the field. Buffalo did have that game one. So it's fun to watch. It's interesting. They're attract meet. I love Miami, but four games in now we got a little sense here. You can move them all up and down the field if you have an elite quarterback, and that's who you're gonna face in the AFC playoffs late an elite quarterback, both Herbert and Allen up and down the field, and I think there's limitations to that. I think they're gonna be a great regular season team. I'm sure they'll win a playoff game. But we got four games now. They're an avil lanch against bad defenses, and they come back down to Earth against good defensive coaches and good defensive cultures, and they have no answer for Josh Allen, absolutely no answer for Josh Allen. Jay MC. It was interesting yesterday you know, I've been on this thing for a couple of years about defensive coaches and how they don't do great with young quarterbacks. And I still think New England doesn't really know what to do with Mac Jones. But you can't qualify, quantify, you can't call Josh Allen a young quarterback anymore. And the truth is Miami, he does whatever he wants, and Miami now has shifted to an offensive culture, so Brian Flores in Miami couldn't stop him. Mike McDaniel's culture now is it's offense. That's what they spend their time at, That's what they're great at. There is still a huge issue for Miami. Josh Allen does whatever he wants against that franchise.

Miami still best watching the league. Arguably they're a very strong offensive team. But this happens in September, in early October, the weather's good. Remember you scheme up your plays in the offseason, and he reads one of the best September coaches of all time. You catch people off guard. You also, defenses don't tackle particularly well in September because now starters don't play in the preseason. You also, in the summer, you get quarterbacks, tight ends, wide receivers, running backs all playing together. Right, you don't have defensive guys that go meat in California and Arizona and stand around. So offenses generally have an advantage over defenses early in the season. Then the defense gets some film they can exploit you, They find tendency, the weather gets cool, and now be honest, New England held Miami to twenty four points and Buffalo held them to twenty. So the two defensive coaches they've faced have pulled them back down to earth. Now, Miami's speed is so phenomenal, there's no question about this. They're gonna make Denver's Swiss cheese defense look awful or the Chargers poorly coach defense look bad. But against Belichick and Sean McDermott in a decent pass rush, and now you don't get everything you want, and that's in September. Try playing those guys when it's thirteen degrees in Windy So I think when I look at the Miami Dolphins, they're gonna go probably obliterate the New York Giants in a short week. Next week, you can bet that game. Right now, Miami's gonna probably obliterate the Giants. But I think through four weeks, when you look at the Miami Dolphins, here's what we have. Wildly creative, brilliant offense, much more built for track meets than street fights. Early in September, they caught people off guard. They're gonna win a bunch of games against bad defenses or bad defensive coaches, a lot of lobsided wins. But we do have a little tendency here, when you play McDermott's defense or Belichick's defense, it's just not quite as impressive. And when you face a great quarterback, which the AFC has Lamar and Josh Allen and Mahomes and Herbert, they kind of walk through this defense. Never forget most of us thought the Chargers had that game one, up and down the field. Buffalo did have that game one. So it's fun to watch. It's interesting. They're attract meet. I love Miami, but four games in now we got a little sense here. You can move them all up and down the field if you have an elite quarterback, and that's who you're gonna face in the AFC playoffs late an elite quarterback, both Herbert and Allen up and down the field, and I think there's limitations to that. I think they're gonna be a great regular season team. I'm sure they'll win a playoff game. But we got four games now. They're an avil lanch against bad defenses, and they come back down to Earth against good defensive coaches and good defensive cultures, and they have no answer for Josh Allen, absolutely no answer for Josh Allen. Jay MC. It was interesting yesterday you know, I've been on this thing for a couple of years about defensive coaches and how they don't do great with young quarterbacks. And I still think New England doesn't really know what to do with Mac Jones. But you can't qualify, quantify, you can't call Josh Allen a young quarterback anymore. And the truth is Miami, he does whatever he wants, and Miami now has shifted to an offensive culture, so Brian Flores in Miami couldn't stop him. Mike McDaniel's culture now is it's offense. That's what they spend their time at, That's what they're great at. There is still a huge issue for Miami. Josh Allen does whatever he wants against that franchise.

The only guy who could stop Josh Allen is Robert Tala in the New York Jets. They bottled up Allen, intercepted him a bunch in the opener, Josh Allen's having thirty plus on anyone else in the league, Colin, I don't know Bill's.

The only guy who could stop Josh Allen is Robert Tala in the New York Jets. They bottled up Allen, intercepted him a bunch in the opener, Josh Allen's having thirty plus on anyone else in the league, Colin, I don't know Bill's.

Gonna be number one in the hierarchy tomorrow.

Gonna be number one in the hierarchy tomorrow.

They look really good. Well. I also think we have to be honest about this week one throwing the garbage. I mean, Seattle looked awful, Buffalo looked awful. Like there's some things you can take from it, but in the end, because nobody plays starters in preseason, it's now a seventeen game schedule. Just take out week one and I feel like I know what the league is. Like week one, I'm like, I'm not sure what anybody is And all of a sudden, now the one thing we did see is Pittsburgh against the good defense Demiko Ryans and then the Niners, like well coached defenses like Kenny Pickett can't play like, I mean, honestly can't play it.

They look really good. Well. I also think we have to be honest about this week one throwing the garbage. I mean, Seattle looked awful, Buffalo looked awful. Like there's some things you can take from it, but in the end, because nobody plays starters in preseason, it's now a seventeen game schedule. Just take out week one and I feel like I know what the league is. Like week one, I'm like, I'm not sure what anybody is And all of a sudden, now the one thing we did see is Pittsburgh against the good defense Demiko Ryans and then the Niners, like well coached defenses like Kenny Pickett can't play like, I mean, honestly can't play it.

Now.

Now.

Steelers, they were disgusting. But it's interesting that week one theory.

Steelers, they were disgusting. But it's interesting that week one theory.

So Bill Belichick's used to be throughout the first four weeks. Remember first September is like an inkbation period. We see what's going on. You're saying now, just week one is the only one just talking. I just think it's impossible to get your arms around it. Because offensive coaches Sean McVay goes up to Seattle and Pete Carroll has no idea what they're doing.

So Bill Belichick's used to be throughout the first four weeks. Remember first September is like an inkbation period. We see what's going on. You're saying now, just week one is the only one just talking. I just think it's impossible to get your arms around it. Because offensive coaches Sean McVay goes up to Seattle and Pete Carroll has no idea what they're doing.

They catch them totally off guard. Now the Seahawks and the Rams feel very similar. That game wasn't even competitive, So I think offensive coaches like Mike McDaniels got such an advantage over all. These coaches scheming, and it's like now they've come back down to earth when they face defensive cultures. So it's this is what you have. But I found yesterday. I feel like I kind of know what everybody is now. Now. We had a good, blazing five obviously, but I do feel like we're a month in after that Miami Buffalo game. I kind of have a feeling strengths, weaknesses, liabilities, shortcomings. I kind of feel like I kind of know the league today right now.

They catch them totally off guard. Now the Seahawks and the Rams feel very similar. That game wasn't even competitive, So I think offensive coaches like Mike McDaniels got such an advantage over all. These coaches scheming, and it's like now they've come back down to earth when they face defensive cultures. So it's this is what you have. But I found yesterday. I feel like I kind of know what everybody is now. Now. We had a good, blazing five obviously, but I do feel like we're a month in after that Miami Buffalo game. I kind of have a feeling strengths, weaknesses, liabilities, shortcomings. I kind of feel like I kind of know the league today right now.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noone Easter Not a Empacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noone Easter Not a Empacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

We talk about this a lot that when you're a young quarterback in the NFL, you're trying to figure stuff out, you need all the support you can have from your owner, from your team, from your roster. I thought two defensive coaches did a really disservice, a really bad job for the young quarterback. So Chicago can't do anything right. Their defensive coach can't figure out defense huge problem. Time to go. So it's twenty eight to twenty eight. Justin Fields gets you into field goal position. It's fourth and one, kick a field goal. Give Justin Field a win, doesn't matter. If he loses the game, it doesn't matter. He needs positive vibes. So Justin Fields bring you down fourth and one. Super creative play. What a shock you don't have one? They fail, Denver gets the ball backed, goes and kicks a field goal, and then you give Justin Fields the ball with about a minute left and say, hey, save us kid, this is bad. You let him give you a thirty one twenty eight lead. Positive vibes. The kids getting rushed on radio, crushed on TV, crushed by fans. He gives you the lead. If your defense fails, Matt Eberflus couple of years now, it's still awful. That's your side of the ball. If the defense fails, then the coach can get crushed all week. But give the kid a win. He got you in field goal position. He played pretty well for most of the game, not great late, but pretty well. Lead you to a thirty one twenty eight lead. Positive vibes all week. If your defense can't hold it, can't hold anybody. That's a u problem. But you give your young quarterback a shot instead, it's an uncreative shocker. Run into the line. You do not put the ball in the hands of your best offensive skill player, which is Justin Fields. Didn't I rip the Charger coach last week for that. Give your star the ball, move him, pick up a yard if you're gonna run a play, if not field goal, take a lead. You were in that game. You outplayed him. Fields had his best game as a pro. You had a chance to cap it. Even if you lost that game, the last thing you remember is, hey, Fields got us down there. We led Justin Fields. There is hope for the future. Instead, he fails there. You put the ball in the wrong hands. These defensive coaches can't figure it out. Would you give your best player and a fourth and won the ball? Like Philadelphia Jalen Hurts yesterday the Chargers, to their credit on a fourth and one. I hated the call, but they gave it to Justin Herbert. You give it to a back, What are you doing? Okay? Then Washington, huge underdog goes on the road in Philly. Sam Howell has a great, great throw to get you within a point. So let's roll the tape on that great play by Sam Howell. Played his butt off. You're a huge underdog on the road. You don't want to go to overtime with Jalen Hurts and a better roster on the road, go for two after this, go for two if the kid doesn't make it. The story all week is hey, Sam Howe played his butt off. He gave us. Nobody expects you to win this game. In fact, after this touchdown pass, if you failed on the two point conversion, you don't get crushed for it. Those are hard to make. Instead, you kick the extra point, go to overtime. Is a ten point dog on the road against the better roster, Philadelphia was averaging six point six yards of play heading into overtime. You couldn't stop him anyway. They're a better team with the better quarterback and a better roster in a better old line. So these are two great examples. Set your young quarterback up for success. When you're in a game at home and can take a lead, do it for the kid. When you're on the road as a huge dog, Philadelphia's defense is worn out, been on the field end of the game, and you can win it and walk out of there and steal a win and go for it. This is obvious stuff. This isn't deep contextualization. This is easy stuff. Just think about it. There's a difference between playing at home, playing on the road, plan a division rival, being a huge underdog, overachieving. It's amazing to me. Just two examples of defensive coaches that don't understand, just basic stuff. This is why so many young quarterbacks are failing with defensive coaches they don't know. I mean, Pittsburgh's a great organization. Kenny Pickett, you're two years in. He's regressing. He wouldn't be regressing if he had Mike McDaniel. He wouldn't be regressing with Sean McVay. How McVeigh is getting all these young backs, young receivers, young offensive linemen to play. You think it's coincidence. You think it's crazy that every time they bring somebody into the forty nine ers with Kyle Shanahan, they flourish. Christian McCaffrey's one of the best players in the league. Now half you hated.

We talk about this a lot that when you're a young quarterback in the NFL, you're trying to figure stuff out, you need all the support you can have from your owner, from your team, from your roster. I thought two defensive coaches did a really disservice, a really bad job for the young quarterback. So Chicago can't do anything right. Their defensive coach can't figure out defense huge problem. Time to go. So it's twenty eight to twenty eight. Justin Fields gets you into field goal position. It's fourth and one, kick a field goal. Give Justin Field a win, doesn't matter. If he loses the game, it doesn't matter. He needs positive vibes. So Justin Fields bring you down fourth and one. Super creative play. What a shock you don't have one? They fail, Denver gets the ball backed, goes and kicks a field goal, and then you give Justin Fields the ball with about a minute left and say, hey, save us kid, this is bad. You let him give you a thirty one twenty eight lead. Positive vibes. The kids getting rushed on radio, crushed on TV, crushed by fans. He gives you the lead. If your defense fails, Matt Eberflus couple of years now, it's still awful. That's your side of the ball. If the defense fails, then the coach can get crushed all week. But give the kid a win. He got you in field goal position. He played pretty well for most of the game, not great late, but pretty well. Lead you to a thirty one twenty eight lead. Positive vibes all week. If your defense can't hold it, can't hold anybody. That's a u problem. But you give your young quarterback a shot instead, it's an uncreative shocker. Run into the line. You do not put the ball in the hands of your best offensive skill player, which is Justin Fields. Didn't I rip the Charger coach last week for that. Give your star the ball, move him, pick up a yard if you're gonna run a play, if not field goal, take a lead. You were in that game. You outplayed him. Fields had his best game as a pro. You had a chance to cap it. Even if you lost that game, the last thing you remember is, hey, Fields got us down there. We led Justin Fields. There is hope for the future. Instead, he fails there. You put the ball in the wrong hands. These defensive coaches can't figure it out. Would you give your best player and a fourth and won the ball? Like Philadelphia Jalen Hurts yesterday the Chargers, to their credit on a fourth and one. I hated the call, but they gave it to Justin Herbert. You give it to a back, What are you doing? Okay? Then Washington, huge underdog goes on the road in Philly. Sam Howell has a great, great throw to get you within a point. So let's roll the tape on that great play by Sam Howell. Played his butt off. You're a huge underdog on the road. You don't want to go to overtime with Jalen Hurts and a better roster on the road, go for two after this, go for two if the kid doesn't make it. The story all week is hey, Sam Howe played his butt off. He gave us. Nobody expects you to win this game. In fact, after this touchdown pass, if you failed on the two point conversion, you don't get crushed for it. Those are hard to make. Instead, you kick the extra point, go to overtime. Is a ten point dog on the road against the better roster, Philadelphia was averaging six point six yards of play heading into overtime. You couldn't stop him anyway. They're a better team with the better quarterback and a better roster in a better old line. So these are two great examples. Set your young quarterback up for success. When you're in a game at home and can take a lead, do it for the kid. When you're on the road as a huge dog, Philadelphia's defense is worn out, been on the field end of the game, and you can win it and walk out of there and steal a win and go for it. This is obvious stuff. This isn't deep contextualization. This is easy stuff. Just think about it. There's a difference between playing at home, playing on the road, plan a division rival, being a huge underdog, overachieving. It's amazing to me. Just two examples of defensive coaches that don't understand, just basic stuff. This is why so many young quarterbacks are failing with defensive coaches they don't know. I mean, Pittsburgh's a great organization. Kenny Pickett, you're two years in. He's regressing. He wouldn't be regressing if he had Mike McDaniel. He wouldn't be regressing with Sean McVay. How McVeigh is getting all these young backs, young receivers, young offensive linemen to play. You think it's coincidence. You think it's crazy that every time they bring somebody into the forty nine ers with Kyle Shanahan, they flourish. Christian McCaffrey's one of the best players in the league. Now half you hated.

The trade, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays and nooneaster not a empacific.

The trade, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays and nooneaster not a empacific.

It doesn't matter if you're at work or not. But if you're struggling at work, you're struggling in football, you're struggling become these moments where your bosses are watching you, or your teammates, your employees are watching you, and you have a great moment and everybody's like, he's gonna make it. Eli Manning had a few of these in his first three years when he was struggling Zach Wilson. Maybe that was the moment yesterday for New York. I don't think it is. I think they've moved off him, but he had a great moment justin fields. Maybe got some allies in the building yesterday with his performance. But I thought yesterday was a not only a bad day for mac Jones. I think they've emotionally moved off him in New England and I think they're going to draft a quarterback. So it has been reported New England coaches in the offseason were furious with Mac Jones. That's been reported for seeking advice outside of the building. That happened about a year and a half ago. The coaches were furious. It's well documented. I've been told his cheap shots, he was confronted by a teammate last year. His teammates don't like the cheap shots to players. He's had four or five of those, and then you just watch him athletically in the AFC alone, Josh Allen, Mr Jackson, Justin Herbert Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence. He looks junior varsity. He just doesn't have it. He doesn't have can he be accurate? At times? He looks so overwhelmed against feisty, fast defenses against the Jets, against the Bills before in this game against Dallas, like he's pathetic, and so where is allies in the building? When Mits Trubisky struggled in Chicago, his teammates liked him. When Justin Fields has struggled at times in Chicago a lot, it feels like his teammates like him. Where are the allies for Mac Jones? He was called McEnroe Jones at Alabama. He's ticked off the coaches. Basically, Belichick's just told Bill O'Brian, you have him. I don't want to deal with him. He's apparently I've been told. Last year, confronted by a teammate over the cheap shots, nobody rushed to his defense this year. Nobody publicly defended him on the Sauce Gardner Show. And then you watch the body language you watch him yesterday. I have never seen a Belichick team that listless with that little fight. Ever, forget the score. That team had no juice, no energy. They weren't ready to go. Kansas City was struggling, but you could sense Mahomes yelling, talking. There's a body language quotion. There's a sense that Mahomes is never out of a game. You see this a lot with good quarterbacks and respected players. I don't think he has any allies in the building. I don't think the coaching staff loves him. I think he's short with people. I don't think you know he and Juju Smith Schuster like don't work well. Whose responsibility is that make it work? If I'm going to criticize Aaron Rodgers for not working with young receivers last year and I did well, Jujus Smith Schuster's a veteran receiver, Max been in the league now several years. Make it work. That's your job. A receiver can only do so much. Make it work. Mahomes makes it work. Burrow Allen, make it work. Stefan Diggs, Josh Allen had drama. They talked it out. Now it's working again. That's a quarterback's responsibility. A wide receiver can only do so much. Josh Allen, you got to make it work. He did. And so I've just never seen a new England team. No energy, bad body language. I mean, I'm not going to say they quit, but it's like that effort. Now, Christian Gonzales got hurt. That's a problem. But here was Belichick after the game. He pulled mac Jones and had to answer some questions.

It doesn't matter if you're at work or not. But if you're struggling at work, you're struggling in football, you're struggling become these moments where your bosses are watching you, or your teammates, your employees are watching you, and you have a great moment and everybody's like, he's gonna make it. Eli Manning had a few of these in his first three years when he was struggling Zach Wilson. Maybe that was the moment yesterday for New York. I don't think it is. I think they've moved off him, but he had a great moment justin fields. Maybe got some allies in the building yesterday with his performance. But I thought yesterday was a not only a bad day for mac Jones. I think they've emotionally moved off him in New England and I think they're going to draft a quarterback. So it has been reported New England coaches in the offseason were furious with Mac Jones. That's been reported for seeking advice outside of the building. That happened about a year and a half ago. The coaches were furious. It's well documented. I've been told his cheap shots, he was confronted by a teammate last year. His teammates don't like the cheap shots to players. He's had four or five of those, and then you just watch him athletically in the AFC alone, Josh Allen, Mr Jackson, Justin Herbert Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence. He looks junior varsity. He just doesn't have it. He doesn't have can he be accurate? At times? He looks so overwhelmed against feisty, fast defenses against the Jets, against the Bills before in this game against Dallas, like he's pathetic, and so where is allies in the building? When Mits Trubisky struggled in Chicago, his teammates liked him. When Justin Fields has struggled at times in Chicago a lot, it feels like his teammates like him. Where are the allies for Mac Jones? He was called McEnroe Jones at Alabama. He's ticked off the coaches. Basically, Belichick's just told Bill O'Brian, you have him. I don't want to deal with him. He's apparently I've been told. Last year, confronted by a teammate over the cheap shots, nobody rushed to his defense this year. Nobody publicly defended him on the Sauce Gardner Show. And then you watch the body language you watch him yesterday. I have never seen a Belichick team that listless with that little fight. Ever, forget the score. That team had no juice, no energy. They weren't ready to go. Kansas City was struggling, but you could sense Mahomes yelling, talking. There's a body language quotion. There's a sense that Mahomes is never out of a game. You see this a lot with good quarterbacks and respected players. I don't think he has any allies in the building. I don't think the coaching staff loves him. I think he's short with people. I don't think you know he and Juju Smith Schuster like don't work well. Whose responsibility is that make it work? If I'm going to criticize Aaron Rodgers for not working with young receivers last year and I did well, Jujus Smith Schuster's a veteran receiver, Max been in the league now several years. Make it work. That's your job. A receiver can only do so much. Make it work. Mahomes makes it work. Burrow Allen, make it work. Stefan Diggs, Josh Allen had drama. They talked it out. Now it's working again. That's a quarterback's responsibility. A wide receiver can only do so much. Josh Allen, you got to make it work. He did. And so I've just never seen a new England team. No energy, bad body language. I mean, I'm not going to say they quit, but it's like that effort. Now, Christian Gonzales got hurt. That's a problem. But here was Belichick after the game. He pulled mac Jones and had to answer some questions.

Bill went to the decision to take Macou at three forty one remaining in the third quarter. I think there was any point leaving him in the game. Will he be starting next week against the Saints. Yeah, So there's no point leaving him in the game. So though he was he benched for bid.

Bill went to the decision to take Macou at three forty one remaining in the third quarter. I think there was any point leaving him in the game. Will he be starting next week against the Saints. Yeah, So there's no point leaving him in the game. So though he was he benched for bid.

No, I said, there was no point in leaving him out there, so I took him out. Not good. So I wrote down a list of the teams that I think are going to go and draft a quarterback early. We kind of know who it is, like Atlanta, the Desmond Ritter stuff. It doesn't work. He's not a franchise quarterback. Las Vegas. Garoppolo's hurt. Aidan O'Connell's a backup, He's got something. But Josh McDaniels, you know it's Vegas. They're going to go draft a big quarterback. It's a great college quarterback class, you know. And I was writing down all these names, some obvious, some not so obvious. Minnesota probably, if not moves Off, drafts a quarterback. The Jets probably at some point, not first second pick, maybe third pick. They got to have somebody in the building. I think New England's going to draft a quarterback. If you look at their roster, they need a speed receiver. They have no history of drafting them well in the first round. I think they're going to go get a quarterback. I think when you're losing, you gotta have something. You got to have co workers, coaches. Culture. By the way, you think Bob Kraft likes all those cheap shots on his brand, that's bad for the culture. Belichick doesn't like him. He can say whatever he wants, but he doesn't have the allies. And that felt like a quarterback that just wasn't ready and quit did it not a little.

No, I said, there was no point in leaving him out there, so I took him out. Not good. So I wrote down a list of the teams that I think are going to go and draft a quarterback early. We kind of know who it is, like Atlanta, the Desmond Ritter stuff. It doesn't work. He's not a franchise quarterback. Las Vegas. Garoppolo's hurt. Aidan O'Connell's a backup, He's got something. But Josh McDaniels, you know it's Vegas. They're going to go draft a big quarterback. It's a great college quarterback class, you know. And I was writing down all these names, some obvious, some not so obvious. Minnesota probably, if not moves Off, drafts a quarterback. The Jets probably at some point, not first second pick, maybe third pick. They got to have somebody in the building. I think New England's going to draft a quarterback. If you look at their roster, they need a speed receiver. They have no history of drafting them well in the first round. I think they're going to go get a quarterback. I think when you're losing, you gotta have something. You got to have co workers, coaches. Culture. By the way, you think Bob Kraft likes all those cheap shots on his brand, that's bad for the culture. Belichick doesn't like him. He can say whatever he wants, but he doesn't have the allies. And that felt like a quarterback that just wasn't ready and quit did it not a little.

I think the concerns are a little greater than that Colins.

I think the concerns are a little greater than that Colins.

So this is the third game this season they have started completely flat. They were down sixteen nothing to the Eagles, like that. Mac Jones was a big part of it. They were down seventeen to three to the Dolphins instantly, and now they're down twenty eight three to the Cowboys. Mac Jones a heavy reason. But I'm not gonna give Belichick a pass. And i gotta ask you third straight season Belichick has started one to three. Last year, everybody can blame Matt Patricia the rocket scientist.

So this is the third game this season they have started completely flat. They were down sixteen nothing to the Eagles, like that. Mac Jones was a big part of it. They were down seventeen to three to the Dolphins instantly, and now they're down twenty eight three to the Cowboys. Mac Jones a heavy reason. But I'm not gonna give Belichick a pass. And i gotta ask you third straight season Belichick has started one to three. Last year, everybody can blame Matt Patricia the rocket scientist.

He's the reason.

He's the reason.

Oh okay, Bill brought in You know Bill O'Brien, and Bill was the one who drafted Bill Belichick mac Jones.

Oh okay, Bill brought in You know Bill O'Brien, and Bill was the one who drafted Bill Belichick mac Jones.

Ultimately, this is all funneling back to Belichick.

Ultimately, this is all funneling back to Belichick.

And I'll tell you now that defense of Gonzales injury if that's significant, and Judehn went down late, so you're talking your two best defenders are now out Colin.

And I'll tell you now that defense of Gonzales injury if that's significant, and Judehn went down late, so you're talking your two best defenders are now out Colin.

They have the second toughest schedule in the league. I was here in September.

They have the second toughest schedule in the league. I was here in September.

Or August saying, hey, this might be a five or six win team. The Belichick hot seat stuff is good to be the topic.

Or August saying, hey, this might be a five or six win team. The Belichick hot seat stuff is good to be the topic.

Inst is my takeaway though, And I do think right now with Gonzalez out and Jude on her they're a bottom seven eight team and in that division, which is arguably Buffalo, Miami or two of the top five teams, it's very realistic to think they're gonna have a top eight pick.

Inst is my takeaway though, And I do think right now with Gonzalez out and Jude on her they're a bottom seven eight team and in that division, which is arguably Buffalo, Miami or two of the top five teams, it's very realistic to think they're gonna have a top eight pick.

Okay, that's fair.

Okay, that's fair.

I think you have to draft a quarter Okay.

I think you have to draft a quarter Okay.

The bigger question, Colin, do you let Bill Belichick draft a quarterback?

The bigger question, Colin, do you let Bill Belichick draft a quarterback?

Given he took Mac Jones. Mac Jones looks.

Given he took Mac Jones. Mac Jones looks.

Woefully unathletic in an era where you need an athletic, mobile quarterback.

Woefully unathletic in an era where you need an athletic, mobile quarterback.

And when Patriots' offense looks stuck.

And when Patriots' offense looks stuck.

In the mud, he's going and given Juju Smith Schuster a big contract, who can't separate? Matt can't run, He's immobile. Like listen, Belichick has done a lot, he's the greatest coach ever. Blah blah blah. Are you letting him make that pick at quarterback in the top seven.

In the mud, he's going and given Juju Smith Schuster a big contract, who can't separate? Matt can't run, He's immobile. Like listen, Belichick has done a lot, he's the greatest coach ever. Blah blah blah. Are you letting him make that pick at quarterback in the top seven.

Well, if he has a top seven pick, he's not going to get Drake may or Caleb. But I think there's gonna be a packing. I think the first five guys outside of Caleb all feels similar. If Sanders kid doesn't come out, shouldar Sanders. I think there's Caleb here, and then I think there's like five guys. You could take any of them. If you got Michael Pennix or Drake May, I'd be fine with both. I think pennis are the prettiest ball in college football. So my takeaway is that draft was different. Mack was clearly the lowest ceiling of the Trey Lance justin field, like there was no They didn't move up to get him, They just sat and waited he fell to them, So that mac Jones was clearly the least athletic. If you look at this draft, there's Caleb Williams and there's a gap, and it's a fairly sizeable gap. If Shduer Sanders doesn't come out, and I think you could take any of the next four quarterbacks, and if New England's in the top ten, because by the way, you have a great receiver, two great offensive tackles, maybe the best college tight end I've seen, and a great player a defensive end. So if you have a tenth pick, you'll get a quarterback. Because there are Harrison maybe one of the best receiver prospects. Ever, the O line prospects, left tackle prospects are outstanding. So if you're in the top ten, you're gonna get the third, fourth, or fifth best quarterback and they're all kind of feel the same.

Well, if he has a top seven pick, he's not going to get Drake may or Caleb. But I think there's gonna be a packing. I think the first five guys outside of Caleb all feels similar. If Sanders kid doesn't come out, shouldar Sanders. I think there's Caleb here, and then I think there's like five guys. You could take any of them. If you got Michael Pennix or Drake May, I'd be fine with both. I think pennis are the prettiest ball in college football. So my takeaway is that draft was different. Mack was clearly the lowest ceiling of the Trey Lance justin field, like there was no They didn't move up to get him, They just sat and waited he fell to them, So that mac Jones was clearly the least athletic. If you look at this draft, there's Caleb Williams and there's a gap, and it's a fairly sizeable gap. If Shduer Sanders doesn't come out, and I think you could take any of the next four quarterbacks, and if New England's in the top ten, because by the way, you have a great receiver, two great offensive tackles, maybe the best college tight end I've seen, and a great player a defensive end. So if you have a tenth pick, you'll get a quarterback. Because there are Harrison maybe one of the best receiver prospects. Ever, the O line prospects, left tackle prospects are outstanding. So if you're in the top ten, you're gonna get the third, fourth, or fifth best quarterback and they're all kind of feel the same.

Now, okay, but those quo you mentioned Pennix, Shador Sanders, we could even toss in the kid got injured over the weekend. Like, I don't know if those quarterbacks are what Belichick wants, Like he needs a pocket guy. That's what works in his archaic mind. Like he's playing like his team looks like a nineteen seventy. I know that doesn't work in the modern era. Are you seeing the motion that McDaniel and Shine They're they're playing two different sports.

Now, okay, but those quo you mentioned Pennix, Shador Sanders, we could even toss in the kid got injured over the weekend. Like, I don't know if those quarterbacks are what Belichick wants, Like he needs a pocket guy. That's what works in his archaic mind. Like he's playing like his team looks like a nineteen seventy. I know that doesn't work in the modern era. Are you seeing the motion that McDaniel and Shine They're they're playing two different sports.

Yeah, I know. It's it's a problem. So I've been highly critical of Brandon Staley of the Chargers More Craziness yesterday, so true to his brand, leading by a touchdown three and a half minutes left against a backup quarterback and Khalil Mack is dominating the game, he decides to go for it deep in his territory. I would not have. But at least they ran the right play with a six or five quarterback, which is you know, the Philadelphia shove right like, they ran the right play. I would not have gone for it. But they ran the right play. They gave it to their best player, and this is his identity. He's going to go down with it, but this is his identity. He was true to his identity and they ran the right play. Of course, Jalen hurts. Squat's about six hundred pounds and is very small, hard to get a shot at. So maybe it's just the Jalen Hurts play more than anybody else in the elite. So I wouldn't have done that. But you did the best you could win that decision after you made the decision. But the other part that's maddening is a Sante Samuel then saves Brandon Staley with a pick could have gone for a pick six. That right tackle is not catching him and he went down as Staley's on the sideline waving waving. I don't know what he's waving. He looks chaotic. What is a Sante Samuel doing? You lead by a touchdown? Pick six is fourteen. Khalil Mack is literally obliterating your offensive line. I don't care what analytics say. New rule on the show, if you can have a pick six with two and a half minutes left and go up by two touchdowns against the backup quarterback. You do always. I don't get it out thinking the room. You're facing a rookie quarterback who's a backup quarterback with an offensive line getting rolled. You think that team's gonna get fourteen points contextualization. So I don't know what he was flipping, flopping on the sideline, what he was saying, but this and by the way, what happened. Unlike the Chicago and the Washington quarterbacks who are not good enough to save coaching, I question Justin Herbert is and save the day with a great third down throw to Palmer for the first down. Again, Herbert saves the team again, like last week in Minnesota with the dubious decisions. Herbert is so gifted, so great that without Austin Eckler, without Mike Williams, he'll still figure out a way to save the team. It's just it's everything with the Chargers, even the last two weeks wins. I can't stand these fourth quarter deep in your own territory call and in both games your pass rush is getting a ferocious rush on the opposing quarterback. You're a defensive coach. You've got really interesting personnel. Khalil Mack was unblockable, but Herbert and Bolth instances, Sam Howl and Justin Fields aren't ready yet to overcome coaching miscues. They're just not their kids. Justin Herbert's young, but he's a star. So there are no easy wins with the Chargers. It's craziness every Sunday, great TV, exhausting.

Yeah, I know. It's it's a problem. So I've been highly critical of Brandon Staley of the Chargers More Craziness yesterday, so true to his brand, leading by a touchdown three and a half minutes left against a backup quarterback and Khalil Mack is dominating the game, he decides to go for it deep in his territory. I would not have. But at least they ran the right play with a six or five quarterback, which is you know, the Philadelphia shove right like, they ran the right play. I would not have gone for it. But they ran the right play. They gave it to their best player, and this is his identity. He's going to go down with it, but this is his identity. He was true to his identity and they ran the right play. Of course, Jalen hurts. Squat's about six hundred pounds and is very small, hard to get a shot at. So maybe it's just the Jalen Hurts play more than anybody else in the elite. So I wouldn't have done that. But you did the best you could win that decision after you made the decision. But the other part that's maddening is a Sante Samuel then saves Brandon Staley with a pick could have gone for a pick six. That right tackle is not catching him and he went down as Staley's on the sideline waving waving. I don't know what he's waving. He looks chaotic. What is a Sante Samuel doing? You lead by a touchdown? Pick six is fourteen. Khalil Mack is literally obliterating your offensive line. I don't care what analytics say. New rule on the show, if you can have a pick six with two and a half minutes left and go up by two touchdowns against the backup quarterback. You do always. I don't get it out thinking the room. You're facing a rookie quarterback who's a backup quarterback with an offensive line getting rolled. You think that team's gonna get fourteen points contextualization. So I don't know what he was flipping, flopping on the sideline, what he was saying, but this and by the way, what happened. Unlike the Chicago and the Washington quarterbacks who are not good enough to save coaching, I question Justin Herbert is and save the day with a great third down throw to Palmer for the first down. Again, Herbert saves the team again, like last week in Minnesota with the dubious decisions. Herbert is so gifted, so great that without Austin Eckler, without Mike Williams, he'll still figure out a way to save the team. It's just it's everything with the Chargers, even the last two weeks wins. I can't stand these fourth quarter deep in your own territory call and in both games your pass rush is getting a ferocious rush on the opposing quarterback. You're a defensive coach. You've got really interesting personnel. Khalil Mack was unblockable, but Herbert and Bolth instances, Sam Howl and Justin Fields aren't ready yet to overcome coaching miscues. They're just not their kids. Justin Herbert's young, but he's a star. So there are no easy wins with the Chargers. It's craziness every Sunday, great TV, exhausting.

Hey, this is Tom Berducci from Fox Sports, MLB Network and Sports Illustrated.

Hey, this is Tom Berducci from Fox Sports, MLB Network and Sports Illustrated.

And I'm Joe Madden.

And I'm Joe Madden.

We're going to be around to talk a little bit about managerial decisions and what may have occurred to the dugout, maybe in the nineteen eighties.

We're going to be around to talk a little bit about managerial decisions and what may have occurred to the dugout, maybe in the nineteen eighties.

It's the Book of Joe podcasts. I can't wait for this, Joe. We're going to dive into what goes on in the dugout and behind the scenes in Major.

It's the Book of Joe podcasts. I can't wait for this, Joe. We're going to dive into what goes on in the dugout and behind the scenes in Major.

League Baseball, cars, wind, whatever else we want to talk about.

League Baseball, cars, wind, whatever else we want to talk about.

Yeah, well there are no boundaries, right. Listen to the Book of Joe podcast on the iHeartRadio app, on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Yeah, well there are no boundaries, right. Listen to the Book of Joe podcast on the iHeartRadio app, on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Where Colin was right, Blazing five had a great week four and one. We've won cent of our seven of our last ten. After a rocky start, we took the Titans, Vikings, Jags, and Bills. The Jags nobody watched.

Where Colin was right, Blazing five had a great week four and one. We've won cent of our seven of our last ten. After a rocky start, we took the Titans, Vikings, Jags, and Bills. The Jags nobody watched.

I did.

I did.

I was up at six thirty in the morning Pacific time watching that ugly thing. Atlanta's bad, like one of the worst quarterback situations in the league. So we were right down the board, and good god, were we wrong on the Patriots. We've won seven to ten. We're on a roll.

I was up at six thirty in the morning Pacific time watching that ugly thing. Atlanta's bad, like one of the worst quarterback situations in the league. So we were right down the board, and good god, were we wrong on the Patriots. We've won seven to ten. We're on a roll.

Where Colin was rough.

Where Colin was rough.

I bailed on the Buffalo Bills too early. I think it's the whole defensive coach thing. But in the last three weeks, Josh Allen has has been incredible. Now I get Josh Allen not throwing picks. His accuracy has improved. Between Gabe Davis Defon Diggs, they got a couple of tight ends. I like they are less dependent. That was a great play Buds DeVaughn Diggs, wasn't it. They're less dependent on Josh Allen running the football. So to Buffalo's credit, they're listening to their critics and it looks like they're they've solved some of their offensive.

I bailed on the Buffalo Bills too early. I think it's the whole defensive coach thing. But in the last three weeks, Josh Allen has has been incredible. Now I get Josh Allen not throwing picks. His accuracy has improved. Between Gabe Davis Defon Diggs, they got a couple of tight ends. I like they are less dependent. That was a great play Buds DeVaughn Diggs, wasn't it. They're less dependent on Josh Allen running the football. So to Buffalo's credit, they're listening to their critics and it looks like they're they've solved some of their offensive.

Stuff where Colin was right.

Stuff where Colin was right.

June twenty seventh, I said, Dame to Milwaukee, not Miami. Dame to Milwaukee is the better fit Miami is seen as the place to go. May I suggest, after some homework this morning, Milwaukee, if you send Dame, a smaller aging player to the Bucks. Jannis is twenty eight, Dame is thirty three, and that fits the championship model. Milwaukee's not as flashy. Maybe it's because they had a very quick exit. Miami doesn't work as well as Milwaukee. A dominant big and a great shooter. Yep, it worked. They made the deal. I thought back in June twenty seventh, it was the better fit than Miami.

June twenty seventh, I said, Dame to Milwaukee, not Miami. Dame to Milwaukee is the better fit Miami is seen as the place to go. May I suggest, after some homework this morning, Milwaukee, if you send Dame, a smaller aging player to the Bucks. Jannis is twenty eight, Dame is thirty three, and that fits the championship model. Milwaukee's not as flashy. Maybe it's because they had a very quick exit. Miami doesn't work as well as Milwaukee. A dominant big and a great shooter. Yep, it worked. They made the deal. I thought back in June twenty seventh, it was the better fit than Miami.

Where Colin was wrong.

Where Colin was wrong.

I said, give Lincoln Riley another year. He'll get that defense fixed. It's worse. Outscored twenty seven to fourteen in the second half, gave up thirty two yards to Colorado, thirty two first downs. Colorado outgained Kayleb Williams in USC's deep offense. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, his units ranked one hundred and third, and they have absolutely upgraded defensive personnel, especially in the front seven. It's not a great It's not Georgia. I'm not saying it's Notre Dame or Michigan, but they're not the one hundred and third best defense and usually defenses with a big lead can pin their ears back and kind of know what the offense is gonna do. They did and still couldn't stop Colorado, by the way, a week ago, they couldn't move the ball against Oregon's defense, and Oregon's defensive head coach USC's defense, to me, looks the exact same. Can't tackle, can't hold leads. It's ugly where Colin was right. When Christian McCaffrey got traded to the Niners, about at least half the people said they gave up too much, and I said, no, no, no, no, you just gave the great artist Kyle Shanahan a blank canvas. Watch how great Christian McCaffrey is with Kyle Shanahan. He's got twenty touchdowns in seventeen games. He scored in thirteen straight games, several touchdowns yesterday. I love when you give great offensive, creative coaches more gifts and more presence. Christian McCaffrey, despite the critics and naysayers, has not only been worth it, it looks like a steal now as he has to be considered in the MVP.

I said, give Lincoln Riley another year. He'll get that defense fixed. It's worse. Outscored twenty seven to fourteen in the second half, gave up thirty two yards to Colorado, thirty two first downs. Colorado outgained Kayleb Williams in USC's deep offense. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, his units ranked one hundred and third, and they have absolutely upgraded defensive personnel, especially in the front seven. It's not a great It's not Georgia. I'm not saying it's Notre Dame or Michigan, but they're not the one hundred and third best defense and usually defenses with a big lead can pin their ears back and kind of know what the offense is gonna do. They did and still couldn't stop Colorado, by the way, a week ago, they couldn't move the ball against Oregon's defense, and Oregon's defensive head coach USC's defense, to me, looks the exact same. Can't tackle, can't hold leads. It's ugly where Colin was right. When Christian McCaffrey got traded to the Niners, about at least half the people said they gave up too much, and I said, no, no, no, no, you just gave the great artist Kyle Shanahan a blank canvas. Watch how great Christian McCaffrey is with Kyle Shanahan. He's got twenty touchdowns in seventeen games. He scored in thirteen straight games, several touchdowns yesterday. I love when you give great offensive, creative coaches more gifts and more presence. Christian McCaffrey, despite the critics and naysayers, has not only been worth it, it looks like a steal now as he has to be considered in the MVP.

Race where Colin was raw.

Race where Colin was raw.

I called the Bengals before the season a Super Bowl contender and they're officially a mess. Is at Zach Taylor the head coach Joe Burrow still getting pounded and too often. They upgraded their old line, it still hasn't helped three basically three offensive touchdowns in four games. They don't look prepared well coached. Jamar Chase, the star receiver after wasn't shy about complaining.

I called the Bengals before the season a Super Bowl contender and they're officially a mess. Is at Zach Taylor the head coach Joe Burrow still getting pounded and too often. They upgraded their old line, it still hasn't helped three basically three offensive touchdowns in four games. They don't look prepared well coached. Jamar Chase, the star receiver after wasn't shy about complaining.

In four games this season, do you feel like you've had less time to get open and create space for yourself?

In four games this season, do you feel like you've had less time to get open and create space for yourself?

Now I'm open, I'm always open. Excuse me, my fan, I'm sorry.

Now I'm open, I'm always open. Excuse me, my fan, I'm sorry.

Nothing to be sorry for.

Nothing to be sorry for.

Where Colin was right.

Where Colin was right.

Never a huge fan of Kenny Pickett, I said, listen, he's not going to go to Arrowhead or Buffalo and out dual star quarterbacks. Now, I don't blame him entirely. The protection So so and Matt Canada to me, is just not creative enough. But this is bad. He now has a seventy six passer rating. He bails very early in the pocket. I don't blame him. Young guys get hit, they get tired of it. But Kenny Pickett, now injured unfortunately, feels like he's come back again. This goes into my defensive coach, defensive culture. They just don't quite know how to elevate young quarterbacks and it's hard. I'm not saying it's easy. But Kenny Pickett I've never been a huge fan of It looks like he's a problem now.

Never a huge fan of Kenny Pickett, I said, listen, he's not going to go to Arrowhead or Buffalo and out dual star quarterbacks. Now, I don't blame him entirely. The protection So so and Matt Canada to me, is just not creative enough. But this is bad. He now has a seventy six passer rating. He bails very early in the pocket. I don't blame him. Young guys get hit, they get tired of it. But Kenny Pickett, now injured unfortunately, feels like he's come back again. This goes into my defensive coach, defensive culture. They just don't quite know how to elevate young quarterbacks and it's hard. I'm not saying it's easy. But Kenny Pickett I've never been a huge fan of It looks like he's a problem now.

Where Colin was raw well.

Where Colin was raw well.

I picked LSU to win the national title. They allowed seven hundred yards to Old Miss and lost for the second time. They're now zero to two against ranked opponents. It literally looked like a Mountain West game from the eighties. It was, and Lane Kiffin can score points. I've always been a fan of Brian Kelly. I think he didn't get the credit he deserves, but I mean they are They can't stop anybody already. Two losses, can't stop the really good offenses from ranked teams. I was clearly wrong where Colin was right well, I said June eighth, I thought the Celtics needed to move off Marcus Smart and to get a better offensive veteran point guard to work with Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum. And that's exactly what they did with Drew Holliday. I think he's got a little bit more of a stable, predictable personality. That's important, and I think he's a better offensive player. Everybody on this show has loved Holiday forever. He's just a He's a total pro. And this is I think putting Boston as the favorites in the East this morning, I think Drew Holiday is that good and this is what I felt they needed if Jalen Brown. There was so much pressure on Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum to carry the team, like who's your third score? Drew Holiday is a dependable third score. Porzingis a four, can be dynamic at times. This is what the doctor ordered and the Celtics, who have been very well run for most of my life, landed a huge offensive defensive piece, a great two way player. In this morning, I feel like Boston is the best team in the East, Milwaukee right behind Miami. What do they have? They don't have enough, They don't have enough parts. They can't give up Butler and Bam. They don't have enough to give anybody. And the Celtics between draft picks Brogden Williams Robert Williams did.

I picked LSU to win the national title. They allowed seven hundred yards to Old Miss and lost for the second time. They're now zero to two against ranked opponents. It literally looked like a Mountain West game from the eighties. It was, and Lane Kiffin can score points. I've always been a fan of Brian Kelly. I think he didn't get the credit he deserves, but I mean they are They can't stop anybody already. Two losses, can't stop the really good offenses from ranked teams. I was clearly wrong where Colin was right well, I said June eighth, I thought the Celtics needed to move off Marcus Smart and to get a better offensive veteran point guard to work with Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum. And that's exactly what they did with Drew Holliday. I think he's got a little bit more of a stable, predictable personality. That's important, and I think he's a better offensive player. Everybody on this show has loved Holiday forever. He's just a He's a total pro. And this is I think putting Boston as the favorites in the East this morning, I think Drew Holiday is that good and this is what I felt they needed if Jalen Brown. There was so much pressure on Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum to carry the team, like who's your third score? Drew Holiday is a dependable third score. Porzingis a four, can be dynamic at times. This is what the doctor ordered and the Celtics, who have been very well run for most of my life, landed a huge offensive defensive piece, a great two way player. In this morning, I feel like Boston is the best team in the East, Milwaukee right behind Miami. What do they have? They don't have enough, They don't have enough parts. They can't give up Butler and Bam. They don't have enough to give anybody. And the Celtics between draft picks Brogden Williams Robert Williams did.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noon Easter not a im Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one. And the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noon Easter not a im Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one. And the iHeartRadio app.

All right, Greg Olsen is ready to go. Fourteen years. He's been a great analyst for us. We're so lucky to have him. So you had Cowboys and Patriots, and that thing was over by the second quarter. Greg. What jumped out to me as a consumer, as a viewer is that Christian Gonzalez's injury is obviously a problem. But they were listless. And this is the third time this year where New England just gets their doors blown off in the first fifteen to eighteen plays. You tell me, aren't they Are they not scripting them? Is it an energy thing? What did you see from New England? This is the third time I've seen them get into these huge holes. You played in this league for a decade and a half. Who do I point at for that?

All right, Greg Olsen is ready to go. Fourteen years. He's been a great analyst for us. We're so lucky to have him. So you had Cowboys and Patriots, and that thing was over by the second quarter. Greg. What jumped out to me as a consumer, as a viewer is that Christian Gonzalez's injury is obviously a problem. But they were listless. And this is the third time this year where New England just gets their doors blown off in the first fifteen to eighteen plays. You tell me, aren't they Are they not scripting them? Is it an energy thing? What did you see from New England? This is the third time I've seen them get into these huge holes. You played in this league for a decade and a half. Who do I point at for that?

I think it's a good question.

I think it's a good question.

I think we said kind of at the start of the broadcast yesterday that if you're Dallas, you don't want to play New England style of ball rich, which is, you know, slow it down, ball control, trade punts. We saw New England was able to do that and beat the Jets, you know, in Week three, but both teams came out Dallas came down, went immediately down the field again, had red zone issues, struggled, but then in New England's first offensive possession they hit a big play on a scramble by mac Jones.

I think we said kind of at the start of the broadcast yesterday that if you're Dallas, you don't want to play New England style of ball rich, which is, you know, slow it down, ball control, trade punts. We saw New England was able to do that and beat the Jets, you know, in Week three, but both teams came out Dallas came down, went immediately down the field again, had red zone issues, struggled, but then in New England's first offensive possession they hit a big play on a scramble by mac Jones.

They went right down, matched them field goal for field goals.

They went right down, matched them field goal for field goals.

So their first drive, which really turned out to be their only good drive, they actually started out fairly aggressive.

So their first drive, which really turned out to be their only good drive, they actually started out fairly aggressive.

Hit a play action pass to the tight end Henry.

Hit a play action pass to the tight end Henry.

Then they had a scramble they got down there, couldn't punch it in KASICKI just missed it in the back of the end zone. From that point on, their offense was was really inept and I think it's a combination of Dallas's defense is really good. We knew that going in, but if they don't start figuring out who are the weapons, who are the guys in the passing game that we can rely on. They lined up on third, you know, third and six and seven. They're in three tight end sets Colin. It's just in today's NFL that's very unheard of. But obviously it's what they feel is in their best interest, gets their best players on the field, but they have to develop some talent. They have to develop some wide receivers to support mac Jones or else. Unfortunately, what we saw out of this offense so far through four weeks, there's really no indication that it'll change.

Then they had a scramble they got down there, couldn't punch it in KASICKI just missed it in the back of the end zone. From that point on, their offense was was really inept and I think it's a combination of Dallas's defense is really good. We knew that going in, but if they don't start figuring out who are the weapons, who are the guys in the passing game that we can rely on. They lined up on third, you know, third and six and seven. They're in three tight end sets Colin. It's just in today's NFL that's very unheard of. But obviously it's what they feel is in their best interest, gets their best players on the field, but they have to develop some talent. They have to develop some wide receivers to support mac Jones or else. Unfortunately, what we saw out of this offense so far through four weeks, there's really no indication that it'll change.

You know, it's interesting. You get to me a fascinating game next week. I cannot wait to watch the Eagles, a talented team not playing particularly well. And the Rams, I don't know how talented they are, but they're playing really well. I mean, they really outplayed Seattle on the road, outplayed the Colts, outplayed the Bengals for most of it. So it's it's and the Rams are at home in this game, although it may be maybe a fifty to fifty crowd split. But it is interesting watching Philadelphia in all your years. We say this all the time. We know head coaches matter, in quarterbacks matter. Sometimes we forget a Dan Quinn a coordinator, or a Shane Steike and a coordinator, and Shane Stiken leaves Philadelphia and you'll start looking at film here. It's not that it's not productive, but there is some thing it's just not quite it. I don't know what you tell me, is Philadelphia hangover? Super Bowl loser? Hangover? Is it? Coordinator? We know the old line's great. Do you see it I mean, they are, they are undefeated. What do you make of what you're seeing with Philadelphia?

You know, it's interesting. You get to me a fascinating game next week. I cannot wait to watch the Eagles, a talented team not playing particularly well. And the Rams, I don't know how talented they are, but they're playing really well. I mean, they really outplayed Seattle on the road, outplayed the Colts, outplayed the Bengals for most of it. So it's it's and the Rams are at home in this game, although it may be maybe a fifty to fifty crowd split. But it is interesting watching Philadelphia in all your years. We say this all the time. We know head coaches matter, in quarterbacks matter. Sometimes we forget a Dan Quinn a coordinator, or a Shane Steike and a coordinator, and Shane Stiken leaves Philadelphia and you'll start looking at film here. It's not that it's not productive, but there is some thing it's just not quite it. I don't know what you tell me, is Philadelphia hangover? Super Bowl loser? Hangover? Is it? Coordinator? We know the old line's great. Do you see it I mean, they are, they are undefeated. What do you make of what you're seeing with Philadelphia?

You know, it's a good question, and I'm actually anxious to dive into it, you know, throughout the course of this week, because as you said, they're getting ready to go out to LA and we're you know, we're I think that I agree it's a sleepy, good game. I don't think before the season we had LA playing in many major matchups, especially after last year, and then we find out week one Cooper Cup's going to be out.

You know, it's a good question, and I'm actually anxious to dive into it, you know, throughout the course of this week, because as you said, they're getting ready to go out to LA and we're you know, we're I think that I agree it's a sleepy, good game. I don't think before the season we had LA playing in many major matchups, especially after last year, and then we find out week one Cooper Cup's going to be out.

We'll see how long that lasts.

We'll see how long that lasts.

But yeah, I think LA has kind of, you know, overachieved and you know, surpassed the expectations. But for Philly, you know, they're not the juggernaut offensively through four games. They're not going out there and just bludgeting people like we saw them do, you know, so often last year on their trip to the Super Bowl. But what I will say is what they've learned early in the season is unlike a lot of teams in the league, they can win without playing their best. And I don't think we've seen Phillies best yet. And I think for the rest of the league and especially the rest of the NFC. I think that's a scary thought. I think once they get familiar, there's some coaching changes. They lose both coordinators, you know, to be head coaches. I think there's always an adjustment. Even though it's the same system, it's still a different play caller, it's still a different you know, play designer. So I think as they continue to progress, if you know they got they got all the pieces right, there's no question for personnel for them to be four to oh not really play their best ball, not play even you know, really to the level that we saw you know, most often last year. For them to be undefeated and really not say we've played our best ball, I think it is a testament to just how good they have a chance to be. And they can win different styles. They can win with defense, they can win with run game, they can win with Jalen Hurts throwing it. They can win with them you know, running ten quarterback sneaks. It's it's a hard team to beat because there's no one formula to beat them. And I think la is going to have their work cut out for him. But with a healthy Stafford and McVeigh and and and you know, they can't get cut back to go along with the rookie who's blown everybody away. It's it's a serviceable group, and I think it's gonna be a better game that people think.