Well everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of the Monday Morning Quarterback Podcast. I am Matt Verderam, joined by Gilberto Manzano as always. I know we haven't been around lately. There's been a lot of moving parts, but we're back. Show's the NFL with the NFL schedule coming out on Wednesday night. We're recording this year on Thursday afternoon, so we have the full two hundred and seventy two games slate, a lot to chew on, team by team, primetime, all that stuff. But first things first, Gil what's going on? Hey doing man?

Well everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of the Monday Morning Quarterback Podcast. I am Matt Verderam, joined by Gilberto Manzano as always. I know we haven't been around lately. There's been a lot of moving parts, but we're back. Show's the NFL with the NFL schedule coming out on Wednesday night. We're recording this year on Thursday afternoon, so we have the full two hundred and seventy two games slate, a lot to chew on, team by team, primetime, all that stuff. But first things first, Gil what's going on? Hey doing man?

Yeah, good seeing you, Matt. It was a little I guess rocky a couple months, but we got back to work again on that schedule, and I gotta say it, man, I don't know what you did, but you're you're a machine when typing out those schedules, because I'm a little behind with those.

Yeah, good seeing you, Matt. It was a little I guess rocky a couple months, but we got back to work again on that schedule, and I gotta say it, man, I don't know what you did, but you're you're a machine when typing out those schedules, because I'm a little behind with those.

Well, first of all, look, you did God's work. We'll leave it at that. But I was facing in incredible time crunch because my daughter, who's in kindergarten, had her little musical concert. It was being held at the high school, which thank god, is literally across the street, and it was a sixth Central, and so I didn't have the luxury of being done at seventh Central. I had to be done at like five point fifty five. And I finished it, and legitimately just in basketball shorts and a T shirt. I just threw on sandals and ran across a four lane road. It looked like Frogger, I'm sure, and ran into the auditorium and I walked in and the second I walked in, they started singing their first note. So it was perfect timing.

Well, first of all, look, you did God's work. We'll leave it at that. But I was facing in incredible time crunch because my daughter, who's in kindergarten, had her little musical concert. It was being held at the high school, which thank god, is literally across the street, and it was a sixth Central, and so I didn't have the luxury of being done at seventh Central. I had to be done at like five point fifty five. And I finished it, and legitimately just in basketball shorts and a T shirt. I just threw on sandals and ran across a four lane road. It looked like Frogger, I'm sure, and ran into the auditorium and I walked in and the second I walked in, they started singing their first note. So it was perfect timing.

All that pickleball, you know, paid off in that moment of endurance.

All that pickleball, you know, paid off in that moment of endurance.

Yeah, twenty pounds ago, it's not happening. I was moving. I was moving big time. Yeah. But no, man, and then you did. You did great work and we were able to get it done. And I told John, our editor, John Pullham, I told him, They're like, look, man, it's probably about one hundred typos, so keep an eye out. And I don't to my nominus, there weren't any of that he mentioned, and I know John John would have mentioned him, so I h I don't know. I had a little help there for sure, but we got it done, which you can go to side dot com for all you know. We have my AFC predictions, Golberto's NFC predictions. We have Connor or dropping his uh most challenging schedules games to look for. Albert will have you know, water wall coverage, as he always does with insider notes in terms of what you know what teams inside the league are thinking about the schedule. Let's start here because I found this interesting. So now even Wednesdays aren't sacred with the NFL because Christmas is on a Wednesday, and we're still getting a Netflix doubleheader. So we have Wednesday doubleheader on Netflix. We also have games that are on Peacock as we know, we have Amazon games, we have NBC, ESP and CBS and Fox. I'm sure if if like the Animal Planet was able to put together a package, the NFL would be willing to put games on like Tuesday at three am. Are we getting to a point with the NFL where it's too much? Do you think we're to a juncture where it's I don't say jumping the Shark Show to speak, but a little bit of a saturation point.

Yeah, twenty pounds ago, it's not happening. I was moving. I was moving big time. Yeah. But no, man, and then you did. You did great work and we were able to get it done. And I told John, our editor, John Pullham, I told him, They're like, look, man, it's probably about one hundred typos, so keep an eye out. And I don't to my nominus, there weren't any of that he mentioned, and I know John John would have mentioned him, so I h I don't know. I had a little help there for sure, but we got it done, which you can go to side dot com for all you know. We have my AFC predictions, Golberto's NFC predictions. We have Connor or dropping his uh most challenging schedules games to look for. Albert will have you know, water wall coverage, as he always does with insider notes in terms of what you know what teams inside the league are thinking about the schedule. Let's start here because I found this interesting. So now even Wednesdays aren't sacred with the NFL because Christmas is on a Wednesday, and we're still getting a Netflix doubleheader. So we have Wednesday doubleheader on Netflix. We also have games that are on Peacock as we know, we have Amazon games, we have NBC, ESP and CBS and Fox. I'm sure if if like the Animal Planet was able to put together a package, the NFL would be willing to put games on like Tuesday at three am. Are we getting to a point with the NFL where it's too much? Do you think we're to a juncture where it's I don't say jumping the Shark Show to speak, but a little bit of a saturation point.

You know, I'll go off of O'Connor, you know, wrote a bell, you know, SI dot com and like it's gonna test them that's the thing. We like, we're getting to that point, like you're asking me the question, right, we're thinking about Okay, is it little too much? Now? Like football on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. And I think you brought it up, man. I think the Chiefs play pretty much on every day of the week.

You know, I'll go off of O'Connor, you know, wrote a bell, you know, SI dot com and like it's gonna test them that's the thing. We like, we're getting to that point, like you're asking me the question, right, we're thinking about Okay, is it little too much? Now? Like football on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. And I think you brought it up, man. I think the Chiefs play pretty much on every day of the week.

Every day, Tuesday all Tuesday, six day.

Every day, Tuesday all Tuesday, six day.

Yeah, so that's wild. And yeah, I think a lot of people like to watch Mahomes and Kelsey, but there's a lot of part people in the country. They don't like them because they went too much in the whole Taylor Swift aspect. So for sure, maybe that could be a little too much and that turns. But you know, they are pushing it. I do want to see how people react to it. But pardon me, wants to say it won't be too much. Obviously, football is king here in the United States. They're trying to go global now with Brazil, Germany, England. They had games in uh, you know, in Mexico. I'm sure in Canada too, so they're trying to expand there. And then you know, I kind of like it the old way, like you know, let you know, the high school kids get their Friday night lights, get the college kids on Saturday. You know, you know, but I get it. You know, think you want it's a business. You want to make money. And that's where we're kind of that's the fine line, right like, is it is it too much of a business? Do you care about the players? Do you care about the product? And we've discussed that many times, Matt, Like, you know, you get to a Sunday's Slay, it's like, okay, what do we got here? Because you're you're trying to pack everything on a Monday, trying to pack everything on a Saturday. Now we're doing these Black Friday games. Those Black Friday games, if I remember correctly, are pretty bad. I remember the Jets and the Dolphins. We're gonna do it again. It's pretty bad. And then selfishly like I don't want to be working on Christmas Day, but we're going to be doing it now as a tradition. And on a Wednesday too, we're talking about okay, well it won't happen this year on a Wednesday. So it did happen Netflix, And good thing, Matt that I cut the court a long time ago out and I had DirecTV or whatever, because I figured out stream is gonna be the way, but now you gotta spend money for peacock Netflix prying video and that could be something that noise people too, like why are we buying NFL Red Zone or Sunday Ticking now when you have all these products and different streaming proprietors.

Yeah, so that's wild. And yeah, I think a lot of people like to watch Mahomes and Kelsey, but there's a lot of part people in the country. They don't like them because they went too much in the whole Taylor Swift aspect. So for sure, maybe that could be a little too much and that turns. But you know, they are pushing it. I do want to see how people react to it. But pardon me, wants to say it won't be too much. Obviously, football is king here in the United States. They're trying to go global now with Brazil, Germany, England. They had games in uh, you know, in Mexico. I'm sure in Canada too, so they're trying to expand there. And then you know, I kind of like it the old way, like you know, let you know, the high school kids get their Friday night lights, get the college kids on Saturday. You know, you know, but I get it. You know, think you want it's a business. You want to make money. And that's where we're kind of that's the fine line, right like, is it is it too much of a business? Do you care about the players? Do you care about the product? And we've discussed that many times, Matt, Like, you know, you get to a Sunday's Slay, it's like, okay, what do we got here? Because you're you're trying to pack everything on a Monday, trying to pack everything on a Saturday. Now we're doing these Black Friday games. Those Black Friday games, if I remember correctly, are pretty bad. I remember the Jets and the Dolphins. We're gonna do it again. It's pretty bad. And then selfishly like I don't want to be working on Christmas Day, but we're going to be doing it now as a tradition. And on a Wednesday too, we're talking about okay, well it won't happen this year on a Wednesday. So it did happen Netflix, And good thing, Matt that I cut the court a long time ago out and I had DirecTV or whatever, because I figured out stream is gonna be the way, but now you gotta spend money for peacock Netflix prying video and that could be something that noise people too, like why are we buying NFL Red Zone or Sunday Ticking now when you have all these products and different streaming proprietors.

That's the thing that I that's where I think this is going, Like fans are gonna watch the games, okay, and like, look, I'm not gonna be the guy who's I can't believe I have to get Netflix now, look I already have Okay, Like it's now. There are people who legitimately like it's a struggle, and I feel for them, And that's that is that is a real situation. That said, most people have Netflix, most people have these streaming services, and so I'm not gonna be the goggs nuts about that, although for some of these a reasonable concern. My thing is like if I'm CBS or Fox, I'm pissed because I'm sitting here going look, I'm paying you more than anybody, so I'm hosting the bulk of these games, and my Sunday Slate kind of sucks like we have so I pulled up Week three just at random. But the reason I, well, it's a total random, partially random. The reason I did it is if you look at the Monday night football schedule this year, four weeks have a double header and then it's going to be a fifth week the last week of the year, but that's not announced yet. So like excluding Week eighteen, four weeks have double header Monday night football games Week three, Week four, Week seven, Week fifteen, and Week fifteen, by the way, has Falcons Raiders in a game that might set the sport back one hundred years. But like you look at week three, so you've got a double header on Monday, and you also have the Thursday night game and of course the Sunday night game. So the Thursday night game is Pats and Jets, eh okay, fine, Sunday night game is Kansas City at Atlanta. And then the Monday night double headers Jacksonville, Buffalo, Washington and Cincinnati. When you look at the twelve o'clock Central ties at one o'clock games one o'clock games, you have seven of them. Browns Packers at Titans, Bears at Colts, Texans at Vikings, Eagles at Saints, Chargers, at Steelers, Broncos at Bucks. I mean, maybe two of those games are respectable, like if Minnesota's good, Houston and Minnesota is interesting, and then like the Chargers at the Steelers, maybe you know, the Eagles at the Saints squint. Maybe it's like who who wants to watch this? I mean, who who's exciting? You're nobody's sitting down going, man, these are great games here, Like maybe you get lucky with the Bears and the Colts. It's like Richardson against Williams or something. But it's it's it's at AFC versus NFTY games on a ton on the line. That's the problem that I have with the way this is going. And by the way, just to prove a point, like if you go to the following league, there's a another doubleheader Monday night Tennessee and Miami shadow on Detroit. The Thursday night game is Dallas in New York. The Southern night game is Buffalo a Baltimore. So like you're twelve o'clock s late Sat. Falcons, Rams, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Colts, Steelers, Broncos, Jets, Eagles, Bucks, Bengals, Panthers, Jacksonville, Houston, like it's not awful, Like there are a handful of games in there. They're like, okay, pretty good games. But like if I'm CBS and Fox, okay, guys, can we have like a couple of games in here that include the big heavy hitters, you know, the Cowboys who are a big draw at the time in Kansas City, and Kansas City has I believe it's three noon kicks the entire year. Last year they had won. So it's like if you're one of these these you know CBS or Fox executive, yeah, you're happy you're getting them in the three twenty five, four to twenty five slot, But like nobody's watching, you know, Colts Jags at one, Like it's not enticing anybody. I do think that becomes a problem at some point for the league.

That's the thing that I that's where I think this is going, Like fans are gonna watch the games, okay, and like, look, I'm not gonna be the guy who's I can't believe I have to get Netflix now, look I already have Okay, Like it's now. There are people who legitimately like it's a struggle, and I feel for them, And that's that is that is a real situation. That said, most people have Netflix, most people have these streaming services, and so I'm not gonna be the goggs nuts about that, although for some of these a reasonable concern. My thing is like if I'm CBS or Fox, I'm pissed because I'm sitting here going look, I'm paying you more than anybody, so I'm hosting the bulk of these games, and my Sunday Slate kind of sucks like we have so I pulled up Week three just at random. But the reason I, well, it's a total random, partially random. The reason I did it is if you look at the Monday night football schedule this year, four weeks have a double header and then it's going to be a fifth week the last week of the year, but that's not announced yet. So like excluding Week eighteen, four weeks have double header Monday night football games Week three, Week four, Week seven, Week fifteen, and Week fifteen, by the way, has Falcons Raiders in a game that might set the sport back one hundred years. But like you look at week three, so you've got a double header on Monday, and you also have the Thursday night game and of course the Sunday night game. So the Thursday night game is Pats and Jets, eh okay, fine, Sunday night game is Kansas City at Atlanta. And then the Monday night double headers Jacksonville, Buffalo, Washington and Cincinnati. When you look at the twelve o'clock Central ties at one o'clock games one o'clock games, you have seven of them. Browns Packers at Titans, Bears at Colts, Texans at Vikings, Eagles at Saints, Chargers, at Steelers, Broncos at Bucks. I mean, maybe two of those games are respectable, like if Minnesota's good, Houston and Minnesota is interesting, and then like the Chargers at the Steelers, maybe you know, the Eagles at the Saints squint. Maybe it's like who who wants to watch this? I mean, who who's exciting? You're nobody's sitting down going, man, these are great games here, Like maybe you get lucky with the Bears and the Colts. It's like Richardson against Williams or something. But it's it's it's at AFC versus NFTY games on a ton on the line. That's the problem that I have with the way this is going. And by the way, just to prove a point, like if you go to the following league, there's a another doubleheader Monday night Tennessee and Miami shadow on Detroit. The Thursday night game is Dallas in New York. The Southern night game is Buffalo a Baltimore. So like you're twelve o'clock s late Sat. Falcons, Rams, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Colts, Steelers, Broncos, Jets, Eagles, Bucks, Bengals, Panthers, Jacksonville, Houston, like it's not awful, Like there are a handful of games in there. They're like, okay, pretty good games. But like if I'm CBS and Fox, okay, guys, can we have like a couple of games in here that include the big heavy hitters, you know, the Cowboys who are a big draw at the time in Kansas City, and Kansas City has I believe it's three noon kicks the entire year. Last year they had won. So it's like if you're one of these these you know CBS or Fox executive, yeah, you're happy you're getting them in the three twenty five, four to twenty five slot, But like nobody's watching, you know, Colts Jags at one, Like it's not enticing anybody. I do think that becomes a problem at some point for the league.

Yeah, you know, if you want to find out what the league feels about you, if you're entertaining or not. If your schedule says a lot of one pm East cost of times, that means you think you're expect to be boring and but shout out to those teams, Matt, because when we were typing out the schedule, I was tasked with doing the times, like the codes and the Titans and the Jaguars and the Vikings a lot of one PM games, so copy paste, copy paste, copy paste, one PA. But you could tell that tells you, Yeah, they don't have a lot of prime time action. The Chiefs one most difficult, the Cowboys forty nine ers. But Matt, I think we're maybe overlooking. It's like people are gonna care because of gambling and fantasy football, so that always gives you something to watch. There there's times like you mentioned, what was the Titans Jaguars, Well, maybe you have you know, Trevor Lawrence on your team, by the way, Guys like that. By the way, I'm surprised that the Colts didn't get much love. I thought they're a little entertaining, but I get not a lot of star power. But that's the thing, like you're gonna be driven to the individual players and your bets because of fantasy football and gambling.

Yeah, you know, if you want to find out what the league feels about you, if you're entertaining or not. If your schedule says a lot of one pm East cost of times, that means you think you're expect to be boring and but shout out to those teams, Matt, because when we were typing out the schedule, I was tasked with doing the times, like the codes and the Titans and the Jaguars and the Vikings a lot of one PM games, so copy paste, copy paste, copy paste, one PA. But you could tell that tells you, Yeah, they don't have a lot of prime time action. The Chiefs one most difficult, the Cowboys forty nine ers. But Matt, I think we're maybe overlooking. It's like people are gonna care because of gambling and fantasy football, so that always gives you something to watch. There there's times like you mentioned, what was the Titans Jaguars, Well, maybe you have you know, Trevor Lawrence on your team, by the way, Guys like that. By the way, I'm surprised that the Colts didn't get much love. I thought they're a little entertaining, but I get not a lot of star power. But that's the thing, like you're gonna be driven to the individual players and your bets because of fantasy football and gambling.

Yeah, no, it's it's true. I know the NFL people are gonna watch, but it's I think at some point you start to piss off some of your bigger partners because the games just are so spread out all over the plaint. Now, if youre the NFL, you're going, hey, you know what, You're still going to pay for him because we're king. I mean, if you're an advertiser, where would you rather put your commercial dollars? Right, I mean, if you're if you're targeting just about any demographic in the United States, the NFL is a pretty good place to hit. And it's live TV, it's live sports. Look that being said, it's pivot here. Did you do anything stand out to you like or what did stand out to you when you're looking at the schedules? Was it a team, was it a primetime game, a game you're really excited for. What stood out to you when you saw the unveiling of the schedule.

Yeah, no, it's it's true. I know the NFL people are gonna watch, but it's I think at some point you start to piss off some of your bigger partners because the games just are so spread out all over the plaint. Now, if youre the NFL, you're going, hey, you know what, You're still going to pay for him because we're king. I mean, if you're an advertiser, where would you rather put your commercial dollars? Right, I mean, if you're if you're targeting just about any demographic in the United States, the NFL is a pretty good place to hit. And it's live TV, it's live sports. Look that being said, it's pivot here. Did you do anything stand out to you like or what did stand out to you when you're looking at the schedules? Was it a team, was it a primetime game, a game you're really excited for. What stood out to you when you saw the unveiling of the schedule.

Honestly, the I guess the quirk is the Thursday night games. A lot of teams got I want to say, a couple of teams got three Thursday night games. A good amount of teams got two Thursday night games. A lot of teams did not get any. So I remember last year the whole thing about we're going to flex them in on Thursdays. I don't want to. I don't think that ever happened. And I was like, you're going to be forced. There's no flex about it. You're going to be getting two or three games, so that to me, you know, we'll see. I know the Prime Video people, which by the way, they hite to be called Amazon Video. They keep saying it's Prime Video because they spend so much money on the product. And now they're trying to make sure they're gonna be some good games. But the problem is, you know, Aaron Rodgers got hurt last year just you can't really predict it. But now they're going out of the way to somehow protected by getting really good teams to go on twice. And I don't know how teams feel about that, but I'm guessing they can't like it much.

Honestly, the I guess the quirk is the Thursday night games. A lot of teams got I want to say, a couple of teams got three Thursday night games. A good amount of teams got two Thursday night games. A lot of teams did not get any. So I remember last year the whole thing about we're going to flex them in on Thursdays. I don't want to. I don't think that ever happened. And I was like, you're going to be forced. There's no flex about it. You're going to be getting two or three games, so that to me, you know, we'll see. I know the Prime Video people, which by the way, they hite to be called Amazon Video. They keep saying it's Prime Video because they spend so much money on the product. And now they're trying to make sure they're gonna be some good games. But the problem is, you know, Aaron Rodgers got hurt last year just you can't really predict it. But now they're going out of the way to somehow protected by getting really good teams to go on twice. And I don't know how teams feel about that, but I'm guessing they can't like it much.

Yeah, I mean, I'm with you. So I've got it pulled up in front of me. Here just a quick glance shows me the Jets play week three and week nine, the Rams play Thursday night, Week eight, Week fifteen, the Seahawks play week six, week seventeen. So, I mean, you've got a handful of teams in here, and maybe I'm even missing one. I'm just trying to look and see.

Yeah, I mean, I'm with you. So I've got it pulled up in front of me. Here just a quick glance shows me the Jets play week three and week nine, the Rams play Thursday night, Week eight, Week fifteen, the Seahawks play week six, week seventeen. So, I mean, you've got a handful of teams in here, and maybe I'm even missing one. I'm just trying to look and see.

Ye.

Ye.

Yeah, Week six, Week fifty.

Yeah, Week six, Week fifty.

I mean, Ravens, do you count that first opening that game?

I mean, Ravens, do you count that first opening that game?

That's not they don't count that technically seras night football, but yeah, they play week one. Week ten. The Chiefs do not play a Thursday night game, which is interesting. They play Friday. They play the openers on a Thursday, of course, but again that's technically Thursday night football, and then they play the Black Friday game on Prime, so they they kind of fulfill their requirement. But yeah, I mean, I will say this, the Thursday Night's late. Forever. We've always laughed at it because it's always these ridiculous games. Like for years it was just colour rush games where it looked, it looked just impossible to even even fathom how they came up with these uniforms. Most of these games this year are actually pretty good. You know, first one, Bills Dolphins, good game, Patch Jets or it's Patch, but maybe it's Rake made so interesting for the most part, like you got you got some pretty good games Vikings, DRAMs, Texans, Jets, Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Browns, Rams, Niners. Late in the year, that's good game. Bengals Browns could mean something. In Week sixteen, Packers Lions. So like there are a lot of divisional games. I think it's a pretty good slate, and then you know, if you look at if you look at the Sunday night games, with the Sunday night games are usually the marquee games of the week, and I think they pretty much nailed it again this year. You know, you start out with Rams line, which is a rematch of the NFC Wild Card game. Uh. You know you have Cowboys, Steelers week five, you have you have Chiefs, Falcons Week three, Bills Ravens week four, we thirteen, you have Bills and Niners. Uh, you have a lot of a lot of good games. Eagles at Rams. I was I was surprised that, you know, I thought Jacksonville would get a little more love just because of Trevoran Lawrence. They only have one game on Sunny Football. It's Week nine, it's at It's at Philly. They do have a Monday night game as well, but only one. It's Week three, it's on the road in Buffalo. So Jacksonville is getting a little bit of the shaft. The one thing I want to mention and maybe you've seen this, Gil, maybe you have it. I'm not sure. Have you seen the back end of Pittsburgh schedule?

That's not they don't count that technically seras night football, but yeah, they play week one. Week ten. The Chiefs do not play a Thursday night game, which is interesting. They play Friday. They play the openers on a Thursday, of course, but again that's technically Thursday night football, and then they play the Black Friday game on Prime, so they they kind of fulfill their requirement. But yeah, I mean, I will say this, the Thursday Night's late. Forever. We've always laughed at it because it's always these ridiculous games. Like for years it was just colour rush games where it looked, it looked just impossible to even even fathom how they came up with these uniforms. Most of these games this year are actually pretty good. You know, first one, Bills Dolphins, good game, Patch Jets or it's Patch, but maybe it's Rake made so interesting for the most part, like you got you got some pretty good games Vikings, DRAMs, Texans, Jets, Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Browns, Rams, Niners. Late in the year, that's good game. Bengals Browns could mean something. In Week sixteen, Packers Lions. So like there are a lot of divisional games. I think it's a pretty good slate, and then you know, if you look at if you look at the Sunday night games, with the Sunday night games are usually the marquee games of the week, and I think they pretty much nailed it again this year. You know, you start out with Rams line, which is a rematch of the NFC Wild Card game. Uh. You know you have Cowboys, Steelers week five, you have you have Chiefs, Falcons Week three, Bills Ravens week four, we thirteen, you have Bills and Niners. Uh, you have a lot of a lot of good games. Eagles at Rams. I was I was surprised that, you know, I thought Jacksonville would get a little more love just because of Trevoran Lawrence. They only have one game on Sunny Football. It's Week nine, it's at It's at Philly. They do have a Monday night game as well, but only one. It's Week three, it's on the road in Buffalo. So Jacksonville is getting a little bit of the shaft. The one thing I want to mention and maybe you've seen this, Gil, maybe you have it. I'm not sure. Have you seen the back end of Pittsburgh schedule?

I have not. Is it pretty difficult?

I have not. Is it pretty difficult?

I would argue it is the toughest eight game stretch I've ever seen on an NFL schedule. I mean, you, so, they get the bye week Week nine, they come out and they play at Washington. Their last eight games in order home to Baltimore Thursday night, are at Cleveland, at Cincinnati, home to Cleveland at Philadelphia, Saturday at Baltimore, four days later on Christmas home to the Chiefs Cincinnati. The last eight games they play three games on short rest they play and by the way, those short rest games are against the Browns on the road, the Ravens on the road, and the Chiefs they play at Philly, and all six divisional games in that eight week stretch. I mean, that's insane. I kept looking at it. I'm like, am I reading this right? They before the Christmas Day games. Of course, we're playing on four days rest, four road games in five weeks. I mean, that is about as brutal as schedule as you can get. And like their early slate is obviously easier, even that's not easy. Three of their first four games are on the road. They have Dallas at home week five. They got the Jets at home week seven. Both those are some of the night games. They got to go cross country to Denver, they gotta go cross country to Vegas. I mean, I got Pittsburgh. If Tomlin gets them to the playoffs, they're gonna earn it because that is a gauntlet. I mean, there's a world those last Ay games, they go like two and six and they don't even play that poorly. It's very, very tough sledding.

I would argue it is the toughest eight game stretch I've ever seen on an NFL schedule. I mean, you, so, they get the bye week Week nine, they come out and they play at Washington. Their last eight games in order home to Baltimore Thursday night, are at Cleveland, at Cincinnati, home to Cleveland at Philadelphia, Saturday at Baltimore, four days later on Christmas home to the Chiefs Cincinnati. The last eight games they play three games on short rest they play and by the way, those short rest games are against the Browns on the road, the Ravens on the road, and the Chiefs they play at Philly, and all six divisional games in that eight week stretch. I mean, that's insane. I kept looking at it. I'm like, am I reading this right? They before the Christmas Day games. Of course, we're playing on four days rest, four road games in five weeks. I mean, that is about as brutal as schedule as you can get. And like their early slate is obviously easier, even that's not easy. Three of their first four games are on the road. They have Dallas at home week five. They got the Jets at home week seven. Both those are some of the night games. They got to go cross country to Denver, they gotta go cross country to Vegas. I mean, I got Pittsburgh. If Tomlin gets them to the playoffs, they're gonna earn it because that is a gauntlet. I mean, there's a world those last Ay games, they go like two and six and they don't even play that poorly. It's very, very tough sledding.

I got to check out your story then ABC Predictions, because I'm now curious how those teeterers did for those wins wins and losses there.

I got to check out your story then ABC Predictions, because I'm now curious how those teeterers did for those wins wins and losses there.

I mean, I think I haven't near five hundred, I believe, but I mean I got to I think they're gonna rack up most of the ones early in the year, like it's gonna be, you know, because the hard thing is, you know, is like when you get late in the year, those are really good teams. They're putting the hammer down at that point. They're trying to clinch divisions and clinch seeding like they're you know, you catch one of those good teams in like week three, there's a little bit of Okay, hey, look we're trying some stuff. We're trying to find ourselves. We're working guys in you get Baltimore week fifteen, Like Baltimore is not scrolling around that, you know, you get the Chiefs week seventeen. I mean that might be for the one seat. They might be like, look, we're we're gonna win this game at all costs because we want to rest.

I mean, I think I haven't near five hundred, I believe, but I mean I got to I think they're gonna rack up most of the ones early in the year, like it's gonna be, you know, because the hard thing is, you know, is like when you get late in the year, those are really good teams. They're putting the hammer down at that point. They're trying to clinch divisions and clinch seeding like they're you know, you catch one of those good teams in like week three, there's a little bit of Okay, hey, look we're trying some stuff. We're trying to find ourselves. We're working guys in you get Baltimore week fifteen, Like Baltimore is not scrolling around that, you know, you get the Chiefs week seventeen. I mean that might be for the one seat. They might be like, look, we're we're gonna win this game at all costs because we want to rest.

Yeah, I mean, who's the quarterback at that point too? Justin fields of Russell Wilson. That's the other problem too, Like how's that roster gonna be with a quarterback?

Yeah, I mean, who's the quarterback at that point too? Justin fields of Russell Wilson. That's the other problem too, Like how's that roster gonna be with a quarterback?

Russell will tell you Russell Wilson is going to be feeling it by about week fifteen. I mean you got you got short rest to Cleveland, short rest of Baltimore, short rest against Kansas City. I mean that is going to be you're talking those are the three last year, those are the three best defenses in football, and you're get all three of those teams on a short week in the back half of the schedule. That's gonna be. That is going to be a challenge. Man. That is that is rough.

Russell will tell you Russell Wilson is going to be feeling it by about week fifteen. I mean you got you got short rest to Cleveland, short rest of Baltimore, short rest against Kansas City. I mean that is going to be you're talking those are the three last year, those are the three best defenses in football, and you're get all three of those teams on a short week in the back half of the schedule. That's gonna be. That is going to be a challenge. Man. That is that is rough.

Yes, But the quarterbacks maybe justin fields who I guess are there maybe considering moving on the special teams, which I don't know if that's a real accurate report, but justin fields and Russell Wilson maybe have a little combo there, but yeah, and that's the thing too, He reminds me. I think the conversation that went viral between TJ Stroud and Michael Parsons, which to which the vision is which the visit of the toughest of the NFL TJ went ABOc North And that's right there. That tells you when you play the back end of your scheduled with a bunch of AFC North teams, it's gonna be difficult.

Yes, But the quarterbacks maybe justin fields who I guess are there maybe considering moving on the special teams, which I don't know if that's a real accurate report, but justin fields and Russell Wilson maybe have a little combo there, but yeah, and that's the thing too, He reminds me. I think the conversation that went viral between TJ Stroud and Michael Parsons, which to which the vision is which the visit of the toughest of the NFL TJ went ABOc North And that's right there. That tells you when you play the back end of your scheduled with a bunch of AFC North teams, it's gonna be difficult.

The other thing I want to chat about with you is the uh the Jets schedule, I gotta tell you. And Connor wrote about this, By the way, people should check out his piece. If you don't like watching the Jets, you might want to move out of the country because the Jets, I mean week one Monday night football at San Francisco, come back from across the country. Short week at Tennessee. That's just a one o'clock game a Thursday night, or against New England. Then they come home or they stay home. The New England games at home as well. They played Denver, Okay, fine one o'clock game, then they go to England play Minnesota. That technically by the way, a home game for the Jets. Then they play Buffalo, which is a Monday nighter, also at met Life, and then they have the Steelers on a Sunday night on the road in heinz Field, a one o'clock game on the road against New England and Foxborough, a Thursday night game on Prime against Houston on Halloween, a four to twenty five game at Arizona, and then a Sunday night game against the Cold. So if you're keeping score, that is the first eleven weeks and they finally get a bye week one, two, three, four, five, six. Seven of their first eleven games are standalone games. They've been a hope Aaron Rodgers is healthy and good because if he's not, oh my god.

The other thing I want to chat about with you is the uh the Jets schedule, I gotta tell you. And Connor wrote about this, By the way, people should check out his piece. If you don't like watching the Jets, you might want to move out of the country because the Jets, I mean week one Monday night football at San Francisco, come back from across the country. Short week at Tennessee. That's just a one o'clock game a Thursday night, or against New England. Then they come home or they stay home. The New England games at home as well. They played Denver, Okay, fine one o'clock game, then they go to England play Minnesota. That technically by the way, a home game for the Jets. Then they play Buffalo, which is a Monday nighter, also at met Life, and then they have the Steelers on a Sunday night on the road in heinz Field, a one o'clock game on the road against New England and Foxborough, a Thursday night game on Prime against Houston on Halloween, a four to twenty five game at Arizona, and then a Sunday night game against the Cold. So if you're keeping score, that is the first eleven weeks and they finally get a bye week one, two, three, four, five, six. Seven of their first eleven games are standalone games. They've been a hope Aaron Rodgers is healthy and good because if he's not, oh my god.

I was gonna say, that's a big gamble. They're taken after what happened last year. What a few plays in he's out and they have to keep putting Zach Wilson in primetime and when everybody hated it. So I know he beat the Eagles at one game, but you know, yeah, to do it again against what a forty year old you know, forty one, I forget what age I get? They did, you know, improve the oppositive line. They added some pieces and maybe they're expecting better for two point oh Aaron Rodgers. But it's a big, big gamble.

I was gonna say, that's a big gamble. They're taken after what happened last year. What a few plays in he's out and they have to keep putting Zach Wilson in primetime and when everybody hated it. So I know he beat the Eagles at one game, but you know, yeah, to do it again against what a forty year old you know, forty one, I forget what age I get? They did, you know, improve the oppositive line. They added some pieces and maybe they're expecting better for two point oh Aaron Rodgers. But it's a big, big gamble.

That is. By the way, I miss the Minnesota games count as a road game, but I regardless of England, So I mean whatever. In terms of the scheduling, that's that's just unbelievable. I mean, by the way, like you get some traveling in you're going all the Sancisco coming back short week down to Tennessee, coming back, then two weeks later going to England, coming all the way back, I mean, and then there's Arizona week ten. You gotta travel there and the jet is Like my thing with the NFL is is everybody really that hype to see the Jets? Like, I don't know any I don't know one human being in my life who's like, you know what I need more Aaron Rodgers, that's what I need. Like they should do it. They should sit down with him and just do like a ted talk with him for twenty minutes for the game, so let him give his thoughts on everything and anything. Who's asking for this?

That is. By the way, I miss the Minnesota games count as a road game, but I regardless of England, So I mean whatever. In terms of the scheduling, that's that's just unbelievable. I mean, by the way, like you get some traveling in you're going all the Sancisco coming back short week down to Tennessee, coming back, then two weeks later going to England, coming all the way back, I mean, and then there's Arizona week ten. You gotta travel there and the jet is Like my thing with the NFL is is everybody really that hype to see the Jets? Like, I don't know any I don't know one human being in my life who's like, you know what I need more Aaron Rodgers, that's what I need. Like they should do it. They should sit down with him and just do like a ted talk with him for twenty minutes for the game, so let him give his thoughts on everything and anything. Who's asking for this?

Yeah, they had their moment last year and it didn't work out like I think we've all moved on. But you know, I don't get anybody saying, you know what, I've been so eager to get to Aaron Rodgers Jets season that I'm so excited for these seven eight primetime games, whatever the heck it is. Yeah, I don't know. It's kind of maybe a lazy approach from the NFL, Like they do favor a lot of star quarterbacks, but like Aaron Rodgers, he's older. That's some of these other young quarterbacks because a little more love in primetime. We don't even know if he's good, Like he wasn't good on that team too.

Yeah, they had their moment last year and it didn't work out like I think we've all moved on. But you know, I don't get anybody saying, you know what, I've been so eager to get to Aaron Rodgers Jets season that I'm so excited for these seven eight primetime games, whatever the heck it is. Yeah, I don't know. It's kind of maybe a lazy approach from the NFL, Like they do favor a lot of star quarterbacks, but like Aaron Rodgers, he's older. That's some of these other young quarterbacks because a little more love in primetime. We don't even know if he's good, Like he wasn't good on that team too.

I mean so, now, Mike North, who is the NFL's vice president of Broadcast Partners, had a video conference with reporters and this is per Rich Simini over ESPN. This is a this is an all timer of a quote. So Samedian legs in by just writing the New York Jets landed a record number of primetime games over the first three months of the twenty twenty fourth season because of the appeal of four time MVPR and Rodgers was too great to ignore. The NFL acknowledge there's day quote. Yes, it's an awful lot of primetime games early in the season. But obviously I feel the Jets kind of owe us one end quote, what are you kidding? Men? And then he has another quote here a little bit further down the story quote. When we had this conversation a year ago, we were all of us all in on the Jets, and for that guy to last four plays was disheartening from many of us. I feel like we could run it back, and certainly our broadcast partners, and they came to us early in the process talking about what storylines they want to focus on early in the season. Obviously Aaron Rodgers return was a key one for everybody. Look, man, like, that's not a great way to word this entire thing, like they owed you one. Yeah, and the broadcast partners want Aaron Rodgers. Okay, I understand that part of it. I get it. Did Jets owe you one? And I lovelways like that guy last in four plays then he screwed us.

I mean so, now, Mike North, who is the NFL's vice president of Broadcast Partners, had a video conference with reporters and this is per Rich Simini over ESPN. This is a this is an all timer of a quote. So Samedian legs in by just writing the New York Jets landed a record number of primetime games over the first three months of the twenty twenty fourth season because of the appeal of four time MVPR and Rodgers was too great to ignore. The NFL acknowledge there's day quote. Yes, it's an awful lot of primetime games early in the season. But obviously I feel the Jets kind of owe us one end quote, what are you kidding? Men? And then he has another quote here a little bit further down the story quote. When we had this conversation a year ago, we were all of us all in on the Jets, and for that guy to last four plays was disheartening from many of us. I feel like we could run it back, and certainly our broadcast partners, and they came to us early in the process talking about what storylines they want to focus on early in the season. Obviously Aaron Rodgers return was a key one for everybody. Look, man, like, that's not a great way to word this entire thing, like they owed you one. Yeah, and the broadcast partners want Aaron Rodgers. Okay, I understand that part of it. I get it. Did Jets owe you one? And I lovelways like that guy last in four plays then he screwed us.

Okay, Man, weren't they on Hard Knocks like they had a whole reality? Yeah, like it didn't work out.

Okay, Man, weren't they on Hard Knocks like they had a whole reality? Yeah, like it didn't work out.

By the way. I also, speaking of Hard Knocks, I love that Hard Knocks is doing the Giants off season. Hard Knock who the hell is watching this?

By the way. I also, speaking of Hard Knocks, I love that Hard Knocks is doing the Giants off season. Hard Knock who the hell is watching this?

I was gonna say that did it take place already and in February through May and it's over?

I was gonna say that did it take place already and in February through May and it's over?

I was like, there's this a camera on Joe Shane when he found out Saquanum's going to Philly, like what you know? And like when he found out that Daniel Jones is still under contract.

I was like, there's this a camera on Joe Shane when he found out Saquanum's going to Philly, like what you know? And like when he found out that Daniel Jones is still under contract.

Yeah, when the Patriot said no not to the trade offer for Drake May, like, okay.

Yeah, when the Patriot said no not to the trade offer for Drake May, like, okay.

What are we doing? I love football. I am the biggest football junkie. I think imaginable, and yet I wouldn't watch this if they paid me. In fact, we are paid, I still wouldn't watch this. Like there's no way in hell I would sit there and watch this nonsense. So I mean, this is this is one thing with the NFL, Like we really we to go full circle when we're talking about at the beginning, who the hell is asking for this? Like at some point here you have it? Great, it's great. Stop jamming all kinds of crap into every single nook and cranny of the calendar. Hey what about this? What about the Like I don't care if they go eighteen games because like, what the hell, I'll take an extra week of NFL football. That's fine, but like the Giants Hard Knocks off season, You're kidding me. The Giants shouldn't watch that. It's it's incredible. You've got the Rangers in the playoffs and Nicks in the playoffs. I'm sure. I'm sure New Yorkers just can't wait for Giants off season training camp. Hard knocks whatever. You know, maybe got a little ota action in there, some guy running around in shorts.

What are we doing? I love football. I am the biggest football junkie. I think imaginable, and yet I wouldn't watch this if they paid me. In fact, we are paid, I still wouldn't watch this. Like there's no way in hell I would sit there and watch this nonsense. So I mean, this is this is one thing with the NFL, Like we really we to go full circle when we're talking about at the beginning, who the hell is asking for this? Like at some point here you have it? Great, it's great. Stop jamming all kinds of crap into every single nook and cranny of the calendar. Hey what about this? What about the Like I don't care if they go eighteen games because like, what the hell, I'll take an extra week of NFL football. That's fine, but like the Giants Hard Knocks off season, You're kidding me. The Giants shouldn't watch that. It's it's incredible. You've got the Rangers in the playoffs and Nicks in the playoffs. I'm sure. I'm sure New Yorkers just can't wait for Giants off season training camp. Hard knocks whatever. You know, maybe got a little ota action in there, some guy running around in shorts.

A lot of footage of people with no pads on and nobody hitting each other, so yes, they're pushing it. I was okay with maybe with during the season hard Knocks, like okay, yeah, I'm I'm too busy, don't care and watch just too many football games going on, and okay, maybe off season actually I don't really care, So yeah.

A lot of footage of people with no pads on and nobody hitting each other, so yes, they're pushing it. I was okay with maybe with during the season hard Knocks, like okay, yeah, I'm I'm too busy, don't care and watch just too many football games going on, and okay, maybe off season actually I don't really care, So yeah.

It's ridiculous. Who the hell is watching this crap? I mean, at some point, at some point we have hit a juncture, like come on, come on, I mean, we've we've seen it. Hard Knocks, I would argue, has kind of outlasted it's usefulness anyway, for the most part, like most years, I feel like it's just the same thing every year. You know, how many times can I get sucked in watching some guy who's trying to make the fifty three man roster and they're like, yeah, listen, bring your playbook because you're the ninth receiver on the roster. And you know, maybe it's because we cover the league and like you understand how all this stuff works. And I'm watching, I'm like I was just at that team's camp, Like that guy, that guy was getting like sixteen reps. Here he's not making the roster. And then you turn on HBO Hard Knocks and like so and so is making a late push, Like no, he's not. He's making he's making a late push right off the unemployment line, like that's that's where he's headed.

It's ridiculous. Who the hell is watching this crap? I mean, at some point, at some point we have hit a juncture, like come on, come on, I mean, we've we've seen it. Hard Knocks, I would argue, has kind of outlasted it's usefulness anyway, for the most part, like most years, I feel like it's just the same thing every year. You know, how many times can I get sucked in watching some guy who's trying to make the fifty three man roster and they're like, yeah, listen, bring your playbook because you're the ninth receiver on the roster. And you know, maybe it's because we cover the league and like you understand how all this stuff works. And I'm watching, I'm like I was just at that team's camp, Like that guy, that guy was getting like sixteen reps. Here he's not making the roster. And then you turn on HBO Hard Knocks and like so and so is making a late push, Like no, he's not. He's making he's making a late push right off the unemployment line, like that's that's where he's headed.

They even cut back on those type of like of films where like you get play cut, comes in and gets cut and like, oh we don't want to show that, So what else can you really show? So I don't know.

They even cut back on those type of like of films where like you get play cut, comes in and gets cut and like, oh we don't want to show that, So what else can you really show? So I don't know.

Yeah, it's just it is what it is. But I I am to the point where I think we have we've maybe we've maybe gone a step too far. I think we've gone a step too far. Let's circle back here real quick. I'm not gonna even bother talking about the preseason because that's you've got to be a Sheral killer to be excited about the preseason. Uh, week one, give you a second pulp to schedule Week one. I'll lead off here to give you some time. I want to talk about the best game, the game you're most excited about. So we know off of Baltimore Kansas City in Green Bay at Philly and Brazil on Friday night, and then you've got a whole slate Sunday, and the Monday night game is Aaron Rodgers and the Jets out out playing the NFC champs in San Francisco. The Sunday night game is the Rams and the Lions in that aforementioned NFC rematch, NFC game rematch. Excuse me, I'm going to stay on for the game I'm most excited for because I think the best game is probably the first game, which is Baltimore Kansas City. But I think the game that I'm most excited for on Sunday, I think it's got to be the Rams and the Lions and the Sunday night win. Though I'm fascinated by the Lions. This year, you were half away from going to the Super Bowl for the first time. Francise history, and let's call it what it is like you should have gone, You should have gone. I think they're even a better team this year. You know, they drafted Rakestraw and Arnold to four to five, the secondary, didn't lose any big piece of brond in Carlton Davis in a trade from the like they they should be a much better team defensively. Now for Aaron Glenn the coordinator there. You know, they've got the pass rush with Hutchinson up front, and I'm curious with the rams Aaron Donald's gone. You know, what does that defense look like? You know they have offensive playmakers, but what do they look like defensively? What game were you most tuned into Week one?

Yeah, it's just it is what it is. But I I am to the point where I think we have we've maybe we've maybe gone a step too far. I think we've gone a step too far. Let's circle back here real quick. I'm not gonna even bother talking about the preseason because that's you've got to be a Sheral killer to be excited about the preseason. Uh, week one, give you a second pulp to schedule Week one. I'll lead off here to give you some time. I want to talk about the best game, the game you're most excited about. So we know off of Baltimore Kansas City in Green Bay at Philly and Brazil on Friday night, and then you've got a whole slate Sunday, and the Monday night game is Aaron Rodgers and the Jets out out playing the NFC champs in San Francisco. The Sunday night game is the Rams and the Lions in that aforementioned NFC rematch, NFC game rematch. Excuse me, I'm going to stay on for the game I'm most excited for because I think the best game is probably the first game, which is Baltimore Kansas City. But I think the game that I'm most excited for on Sunday, I think it's got to be the Rams and the Lions and the Sunday night win. Though I'm fascinated by the Lions. This year, you were half away from going to the Super Bowl for the first time. Francise history, and let's call it what it is like you should have gone, You should have gone. I think they're even a better team this year. You know, they drafted Rakestraw and Arnold to four to five, the secondary, didn't lose any big piece of brond in Carlton Davis in a trade from the like they they should be a much better team defensively. Now for Aaron Glenn the coordinator there. You know, they've got the pass rush with Hutchinson up front, and I'm curious with the rams Aaron Donald's gone. You know, what does that defense look like? You know they have offensive playmakers, but what do they look like defensively? What game were you most tuned into Week one?

Yeah, you know that that would have been one of my top choices. Obviously a lot of these primetime games get a lot of love, but you know, before I get get give you one from the Sunday Slay. I think maybe that Brazil game. You know, Packers and Eagles be very entertaining. Like you know, if you check out my NMC prediction stories or a story at SI dot com, I'm not as high as the Packers as it was last year. You know, maybe it could be maybe a little regression there from Jordan Love. But we'll find out early if I'm right or wrong, you know, or what about the Eagles they are also like the Lions will be tooled the secondary there, you know, you know, hitting on Quinon Mitchell and Cooper Djon uh, you know, getting bright up too for the front side that Brazil game. Just the atmosphere, like you know, Matt, like you know, when people when Mexico started, when the NFL went to Mexico, I covered a couple of games in Mexico. I think it was Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders, Patriots, and they all say, hey, Mexico says exciting for the NFL, And I walk around the city like nobody really cares. It's like you go to the game and you're excited for that the day of the game, but it's not like a wild environment. So I'm curious to see how Brazil takes it, you know, is it just for the day of the game or the people actually love football out there. But that's gonna be very entending game. Obviously you got the Ravens and the Chiefs, but you know, just to kind of give you one, you know, maybe you know a divisional game. I kind of want to see the Colts and the Texans. Yeah, the Colts aren't that sexy, but the Texans. It's interesting because Daniel Hunter, you know, you added you know, Joe Mixing, Stefan Diggs, so you get to see the new look Houston Texans and a lot of times, Matt like you know, when you bring a lot of star power for a team, it's a lot of old star power, like guys who are in the background of their prime were no longer in their prime. And then you see like that graphic they do on social media, look at CJ. Stroud and all his weapons. I'm like, yeah, it's a good roster in twenty nineteen or twenty twenty, or maybe I'm being a little harsh, and I want to see what they do with these older guys would have studed in CJ. Stroud. And then the Colts went the way they went went down last year. On that fourth down, it was a good play I thought from Shaney Steichen, it just wasn't executed and he dropped it. And then you have Anthony Richardson, who didn't really play much, who was very entertaining for four games. He couldn't stay healthy so I just you would have asked me two years ago, even last year to be excited for Texans Colts, I wouldn't believe to believe you. But with two quarterbacks, very intriguing.

Yeah, you know that that would have been one of my top choices. Obviously a lot of these primetime games get a lot of love, but you know, before I get get give you one from the Sunday Slay. I think maybe that Brazil game. You know, Packers and Eagles be very entertaining. Like you know, if you check out my NMC prediction stories or a story at SI dot com, I'm not as high as the Packers as it was last year. You know, maybe it could be maybe a little regression there from Jordan Love. But we'll find out early if I'm right or wrong, you know, or what about the Eagles they are also like the Lions will be tooled the secondary there, you know, you know, hitting on Quinon Mitchell and Cooper Djon uh, you know, getting bright up too for the front side that Brazil game. Just the atmosphere, like you know, Matt, like you know, when people when Mexico started, when the NFL went to Mexico, I covered a couple of games in Mexico. I think it was Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders, Patriots, and they all say, hey, Mexico says exciting for the NFL, And I walk around the city like nobody really cares. It's like you go to the game and you're excited for that the day of the game, but it's not like a wild environment. So I'm curious to see how Brazil takes it, you know, is it just for the day of the game or the people actually love football out there. But that's gonna be very entending game. Obviously you got the Ravens and the Chiefs, but you know, just to kind of give you one, you know, maybe you know a divisional game. I kind of want to see the Colts and the Texans. Yeah, the Colts aren't that sexy, but the Texans. It's interesting because Daniel Hunter, you know, you added you know, Joe Mixing, Stefan Diggs, so you get to see the new look Houston Texans and a lot of times, Matt like you know, when you bring a lot of star power for a team, it's a lot of old star power, like guys who are in the background of their prime were no longer in their prime. And then you see like that graphic they do on social media, look at CJ. Stroud and all his weapons. I'm like, yeah, it's a good roster in twenty nineteen or twenty twenty, or maybe I'm being a little harsh, and I want to see what they do with these older guys would have studed in CJ. Stroud. And then the Colts went the way they went went down last year. On that fourth down, it was a good play I thought from Shaney Steichen, it just wasn't executed and he dropped it. And then you have Anthony Richardson, who didn't really play much, who was very entertaining for four games. He couldn't stay healthy so I just you would have asked me two years ago, even last year to be excited for Texans Colts, I wouldn't believe to believe you. But with two quarterbacks, very intriguing.

It's an interesting game. I'll give you another one. The AFC that I think is interesting and sold under the radar is the Dolphins and the Jaguars, and that game is That game is in Miami. I think it's a really interesting game because Jacksonville fell apart down the stretch last year. There were eight and three. Part of it was injuries, but part of it, let's just call it what it was. I mean, they just they couldn't stop anybody. They couldn't play pass defense. And this is going to test their pass defense because you know in Miami they're going to throw the ball quite a bit. And if you can't, if you can't stick near Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle, you got a problem. I am very curious in this game, new defensive coordinator Jacksonville went out kind of revamped that defense a little bit. What does that look like? Is Jacksonville back to being there? Because this time last year we were all sitting here talking about Jacksville being maybe like an up and coming contender and everybody in the world that they were gonna win that division going away. They didn't make the playoffs. What is Jacksonville? And then the other side of it, I think is a fair question too, like what is Miami? You know, Miami last year had Earlier in the year, they're scoring like Chris seventy points against Denver, you know, Tyreek Hill, two thousand yard pace, all this stuff, and by the end of the year you're looking at him going, yeah, Okay, they're fun and they can light you up every once in a while, but against good teams are not good, and there's not a whole lot to be excited about in terms of like actual being like a contender status. Tua has not gotten an extension. He is still sitting there waiting for that money. Jared Goff got his extension, you know, but to was sitting there. The Dolphins looks like they're gonna make too a play this thing out, and if they do, like, can you go out and prove they you deserve the money. I mean, I would argue this year, if you're if your Tua hey man go in the division, you guys had it on your racket last year and couldn't do it and granted some of an injury, but some of it was just down the stretch not playing particularly well. The Bills are not as good as they were a year ago. They lost a lot of guys. The Jets are better on paper, they're also relying on like nine guys who are fifty not to get hurt. And the Patriots turning to rebuild. If you're Miami, if your TUA, like this better be the year you get over the hump and you win that division and you have a home playoff game, and you win that home playoff game, because it's not going to be twenty degrees under below zero in Miami like it was in Kansas City. I am very curious to see. I feel like whoever loses that game, even though it's one week and it's not like there's gonna be a lot of pressure on the team right away, like, oh, they're own one, Like they didn't finish well last year. Now they're own one again. They could have won. I'm curious to see how that shakes out.

It's an interesting game. I'll give you another one. The AFC that I think is interesting and sold under the radar is the Dolphins and the Jaguars, and that game is That game is in Miami. I think it's a really interesting game because Jacksonville fell apart down the stretch last year. There were eight and three. Part of it was injuries, but part of it, let's just call it what it was. I mean, they just they couldn't stop anybody. They couldn't play pass defense. And this is going to test their pass defense because you know in Miami they're going to throw the ball quite a bit. And if you can't, if you can't stick near Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle, you got a problem. I am very curious in this game, new defensive coordinator Jacksonville went out kind of revamped that defense a little bit. What does that look like? Is Jacksonville back to being there? Because this time last year we were all sitting here talking about Jacksville being maybe like an up and coming contender and everybody in the world that they were gonna win that division going away. They didn't make the playoffs. What is Jacksonville? And then the other side of it, I think is a fair question too, like what is Miami? You know, Miami last year had Earlier in the year, they're scoring like Chris seventy points against Denver, you know, Tyreek Hill, two thousand yard pace, all this stuff, and by the end of the year you're looking at him going, yeah, Okay, they're fun and they can light you up every once in a while, but against good teams are not good, and there's not a whole lot to be excited about in terms of like actual being like a contender status. Tua has not gotten an extension. He is still sitting there waiting for that money. Jared Goff got his extension, you know, but to was sitting there. The Dolphins looks like they're gonna make too a play this thing out, and if they do, like, can you go out and prove they you deserve the money. I mean, I would argue this year, if you're if your Tua hey man go in the division, you guys had it on your racket last year and couldn't do it and granted some of an injury, but some of it was just down the stretch not playing particularly well. The Bills are not as good as they were a year ago. They lost a lot of guys. The Jets are better on paper, they're also relying on like nine guys who are fifty not to get hurt. And the Patriots turning to rebuild. If you're Miami, if your TUA, like this better be the year you get over the hump and you win that division and you have a home playoff game, and you win that home playoff game, because it's not going to be twenty degrees under below zero in Miami like it was in Kansas City. I am very curious to see. I feel like whoever loses that game, even though it's one week and it's not like there's gonna be a lot of pressure on the team right away, like, oh, they're own one, Like they didn't finish well last year. Now they're own one again. They could have won. I'm curious to see how that shakes out.

Let me give you one bad game that I'm actually looking for it to watching just for selfish reasons, and you know, I'm getting a lot of heat on social media for my Vikings prediction. I'll say I picked them three and fourteen. It's really bad and just as bad as the Carolina Panthers, and they're not happy with me right now. So and the way I kind of determined, like who's gonna be better is like if the Vikings could beat the Giants, you know, in week one, and I'm like, well, you're gonna have Sam Darnald, you're gonna have JJ McCarthy, like these quarterbacks ready with a new offense. Like I'll give the nod to the experienced team, you know, with I know Daniel Jones, but he's been around, he knows Brian Dabo, me and Milik Nimbus does something. So I favored the Giants in that game. But and that's why there was kind of a free fall for the Vikings. And Okay, then I started seeing a bunch of games like yeah, I don't see them beating this team and that team. So if they come out and they look good with whoever the quarterback is, JJ McCarthy or Sam Donald, and they crushed the Giants, and I'll definitely eat my words or whatever. But somebody I had to pick a couple of teams to do poorly, and they had to be you know, the Giants are another one another team, the Panthers and the Vikings. So I can't pick every team to win ten games. So that's part of it.

Let me give you one bad game that I'm actually looking for it to watching just for selfish reasons, and you know, I'm getting a lot of heat on social media for my Vikings prediction. I'll say I picked them three and fourteen. It's really bad and just as bad as the Carolina Panthers, and they're not happy with me right now. So and the way I kind of determined, like who's gonna be better is like if the Vikings could beat the Giants, you know, in week one, and I'm like, well, you're gonna have Sam Darnald, you're gonna have JJ McCarthy, like these quarterbacks ready with a new offense. Like I'll give the nod to the experienced team, you know, with I know Daniel Jones, but he's been around, he knows Brian Dabo, me and Milik Nimbus does something. So I favored the Giants in that game. But and that's why there was kind of a free fall for the Vikings. And Okay, then I started seeing a bunch of games like yeah, I don't see them beating this team and that team. So if they come out and they look good with whoever the quarterback is, JJ McCarthy or Sam Donald, and they crushed the Giants, and I'll definitely eat my words or whatever. But somebody I had to pick a couple of teams to do poorly, and they had to be you know, the Giants are another one another team, the Panthers and the Vikings. So I can't pick every team to win ten games. So that's part of it.

Yeah, you know, that's it, right, I mean, that's that's the hard part. Right now. Everybody thinks their team is going to find the way to win ten plus game. Everybody. Everybody, Hey, you know what if this breaks this way and this breaks that way, and all five of these guys are really good, and our draft class is great, and then this happens, and that happens, and the moon lines up, we have another eclipse, and then they read like your piece on the NFC or my piece on the AFC, and they're like, you don't understand the greatness of bow Nicks. He's like, you're right, I don't You're right, You're right. Yeah. Look, I mean somebody's got to underwhelm somebody. Look, that's the one beauty about the NFL. There's always two or three teams every year. You are that team's gonna be really good. Then there's just not. And the flip side that's true, where you'll look at two or three teams like that teems not any good and all of a sudden, like, man, how are they really They're gonna win eleven games or ten games or whatever it is? Like like for me, last year, I thought the Rams are going to be a pretty who hum team. I think they went three games. I thought they'd be like, you know, seven to ten something like that. They made the playoffs, and I ended up I picked them, I think to beat the lie I really liked them by the end of the year. I thought they showed a lot, you know, But then there are other teams you looked at like I was one of those people. I didn't think Jacksonville was gonna win the Super Bowl, but I thought jacksonvilleuld win the division, be in the Divisional round play. Well, no, it didn't happen. You know, a lot of people thought the Steelers would be a real threat last year. Oh Kenny Pickett. Second, No, it turns out now east Kenny Pickett. So it happens any other team like the Bengals, who just because of injuries, Yeah, you know, Burrough gets hurt and you go for me to the super Bowl contended to a team that finishes last in the division so that you know, the Jets another team like that. So I mean that's where in the NFL is a weird beast man. You never know, you know who's gonna rise up and who's going to surprise you and win seven. When you think they're gonna win.

Yeah, you know, that's it, right, I mean, that's that's the hard part. Right now. Everybody thinks their team is going to find the way to win ten plus game. Everybody. Everybody, Hey, you know what if this breaks this way and this breaks that way, and all five of these guys are really good, and our draft class is great, and then this happens, and that happens, and the moon lines up, we have another eclipse, and then they read like your piece on the NFC or my piece on the AFC, and they're like, you don't understand the greatness of bow Nicks. He's like, you're right, I don't You're right, You're right. Yeah. Look, I mean somebody's got to underwhelm somebody. Look, that's the one beauty about the NFL. There's always two or three teams every year. You are that team's gonna be really good. Then there's just not. And the flip side that's true, where you'll look at two or three teams like that teems not any good and all of a sudden, like, man, how are they really They're gonna win eleven games or ten games or whatever it is? Like like for me, last year, I thought the Rams are going to be a pretty who hum team. I think they went three games. I thought they'd be like, you know, seven to ten something like that. They made the playoffs, and I ended up I picked them, I think to beat the lie I really liked them by the end of the year. I thought they showed a lot, you know, But then there are other teams you looked at like I was one of those people. I didn't think Jacksonville was gonna win the Super Bowl, but I thought jacksonvilleuld win the division, be in the Divisional round play. Well, no, it didn't happen. You know, a lot of people thought the Steelers would be a real threat last year. Oh Kenny Pickett. Second, No, it turns out now east Kenny Pickett. So it happens any other team like the Bengals, who just because of injuries, Yeah, you know, Burrough gets hurt and you go for me to the super Bowl contended to a team that finishes last in the division so that you know, the Jets another team like that. So I mean that's where in the NFL is a weird beast man. You never know, you know who's gonna rise up and who's going to surprise you and win seven. When you think they're gonna win.

They give you one more. We had and I guess my part was picking the Seahawks, and I guess the Chiefs and the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs won super Bowl, so we got that right. I'm gonna take credit that eight team that you chose a map, but the Seahawks and not make the playoffs, so there you go.

They give you one more. We had and I guess my part was picking the Seahawks, and I guess the Chiefs and the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs won super Bowl, so we got that right. I'm gonna take credit that eight team that you chose a map, but the Seahawks and not make the playoffs, so there you go.

I thought, see this should be better. So I don't thin they would't make Super Bowl. I was with it. I thought they'd be good. But then they have a team like Philly who looked like they were gonna win the Super Bowl halfway through the year, and by the end of it, my god, they went out with a whimper. They couldn't even compete in the wild card round. It's just, you know, it's the way it is. Man. It's a weird league. You know, with every other sport on North American sport, you have either eighty two games or one hundred and sixty two games, Like there's such a massive sample size in the NFL. You know, you got off to a good start, like maybe a couple of breaks go your way, and you face some team it's a little injury riddled. All of a sudden, you're sitting there like, man, we're going to the playoffs, you know, and now, especially with the way that they've expanded the playoff field at seventeenth in each conference, Like I think it's the NFL is almost like the NCAA Tournament in the respect that you can get a team that goes on a Cinderella run and you're like, man, I can't believe the team made the playoffs. But just like in the n CUA TI tournament, most times, in the end, it's still Duke and it's North Carolina and it's all these blue Kentucky New cla Like it's the blue bloods at the end kind of sitting there. It's just what happens in the NFL. You get the championship Sunday and it's the forty nine Ers and the Chiefs, and you know, it's the teams you expect to be there. But along the way you get all those surprises that, so what makes the sports so much fun?

I thought, see this should be better. So I don't thin they would't make Super Bowl. I was with it. I thought they'd be good. But then they have a team like Philly who looked like they were gonna win the Super Bowl halfway through the year, and by the end of it, my god, they went out with a whimper. They couldn't even compete in the wild card round. It's just, you know, it's the way it is. Man. It's a weird league. You know, with every other sport on North American sport, you have either eighty two games or one hundred and sixty two games, Like there's such a massive sample size in the NFL. You know, you got off to a good start, like maybe a couple of breaks go your way, and you face some team it's a little injury riddled. All of a sudden, you're sitting there like, man, we're going to the playoffs, you know, and now, especially with the way that they've expanded the playoff field at seventeenth in each conference, Like I think it's the NFL is almost like the NCAA Tournament in the respect that you can get a team that goes on a Cinderella run and you're like, man, I can't believe the team made the playoffs. But just like in the n CUA TI tournament, most times, in the end, it's still Duke and it's North Carolina and it's all these blue Kentucky New cla Like it's the blue bloods at the end kind of sitting there. It's just what happens in the NFL. You get the championship Sunday and it's the forty nine Ers and the Chiefs, and you know, it's the teams you expect to be there. But along the way you get all those surprises that, so what makes the sports so much fun?

Yeah, and look at last year the Bengals and the Jets. We all thought they're gonna win ten eleven games and it did not because of injuries.

Yeah, and look at last year the Bengals and the Jets. We all thought they're gonna win ten eleven games and it did not because of injuries.

You never know, all right, any final thought on the schedule, what you're looking at, what you're seeing, anything moving forward, any stories you want to plug show.

You never know, all right, any final thought on the schedule, what you're looking at, what you're seeing, anything moving forward, any stories you want to plug show.

You know, in terms of the schedule, you know, it kind of feels like, Okay, we're done with the off season. You got the freegency, you got the draft, and then you get the schedule, and you know, I forget how important the schedule order is because they could really make a breaker season. So when we're doing these grades at the freegency in the draft, like we're all waiting for the draft, it's like, okay, that's pretty much it. And then you see then I started sitting down doing the picks week by week, I'm like, oh crap, there's actually a gauntlet here. It's gonna be very difficult. I know they got better in the off season, but I don't see them beating this this team and during this week, and that team is coming off a bie weekend, that team, this and that. But that's kind of the last hurdle. I feel like I've kind of getting through this off season here. Uh, stay tuned for the Giants offseason on Hard Knocks, by the way, because we're all done with that, all be ready, so that that's probably the final thing. And then to plug the story, you know, I'm going to interview a couple of rookies out here in Los Angeles for the Rookie Premiere. I did it last year when I spoke to CJ. Strout and Bryce Young. It looks like I'm gonna get a good amount of wide receivers for the one in the first round. To talk to them, so it was a cool event to see how they how they do. I remember last year CJ and Bryce talked to me after they spoke to Tom Brady. I'm like, oh, what a drop off you go from Tom Brady to talking to me. So okay, whatever, I'll make this quick here, so to do it again, it's gonna be pretty cool and check out for them. I think those more Q and A Q and A Style stories will come out next week.