Hello, every want to welcome me, dud and then QB Podcast with Gilberto Manzano and I Matt Berdan. We are back. It is October twenty fifth. We are a day away from starting the week eight a fresh off of the rarest of the currencies. Kirk Cousins looked great in the primetime game and forty nine Ers have lost to straight Mark. We're going to get into all that, especially the Niner side, and a little bit more. We've got, of course, our top five games from week eight with the lines from SI Sportsbook. We've got the storylines, and then of course what's going on at the end. But first things first here as we head into week eight. Gilberto, how you doing? What's going on?

Hello, every want to welcome me, dud and then QB Podcast with Gilberto Manzano and I Matt Berdan. We are back. It is October twenty fifth. We are a day away from starting the week eight a fresh off of the rarest of the currencies. Kirk Cousins looked great in the primetime game and forty nine Ers have lost to straight Mark. We're going to get into all that, especially the Niner side, and a little bit more. We've got, of course, our top five games from week eight with the lines from SI Sportsbook. We've got the storylines, and then of course what's going on at the end. But first things first here as we head into week eight. Gilberto, how you doing? What's going on?

I'm not doing well, Matt. It was a rough week for me with the picks challenge that we have at the MMQB staff week seven. And I'll admit it, and I'm like, you know, and I'll start with like a little ramp. People have not admitted their mistakes about the Ravens. I admitt that I was wrong with the Ravens, and I was wrong a lot in week seven. Three and ten I said it. Three and ten was my record a week ago.

I'm not doing well, Matt. It was a rough week for me with the picks challenge that we have at the MMQB staff week seven. And I'll admit it, and I'm like, you know, and I'll start with like a little ramp. People have not admitted their mistakes about the Ravens. I admitt that I was wrong with the Ravens, and I was wrong a lot in week seven. Three and ten I said it. Three and ten was my record a week ago.

I was four or nine. But the good news is we were not called out by the Ravens. You know, there was a tweet, so they obviously they hammered Detroit and I don't want to you picked Detroit as well, right, I know I did. I did too, Okay, so we both did. And the Ravens social media team rounded up experts who had picked the Lions to win the game and basically shamed them in this one tweet.

I was four or nine. But the good news is we were not called out by the Ravens. You know, there was a tweet, so they obviously they hammered Detroit and I don't want to you picked Detroit as well, right, I know I did. I did too, Okay, so we both did. And the Ravens social media team rounded up experts who had picked the Lions to win the game and basically shamed them in this one tweet.

Uh.

Uh.

And it wasn't just guys from our our team here at SI, it was CBS and I think the ESPN is in there and whatnot. But it was funny because they shamed Breer connor Or and John plum our editor like John somehow was shamed and Connor they didn't expell his name, right, so the double shame there. We avoided that so that that to win. Even though we lost, we won because we weren't shamed publicly by the team itself. I enjoyed that immensely and I'm thinking about getting that that tweet printed out on a T shirt and send it to those guys for Christmas.

And it wasn't just guys from our our team here at SI, it was CBS and I think the ESPN is in there and whatnot. But it was funny because they shamed Breer connor Or and John plum our editor like John somehow was shamed and Connor they didn't expell his name, right, so the double shame there. We avoided that so that that to win. Even though we lost, we won because we weren't shamed publicly by the team itself. I enjoyed that immensely and I'm thinking about getting that that tweet printed out on a T shirt and send it to those guys for Christmas.

But the funnier thing, Matt connor Or actually picked the Ravens so they called out the wrong persons his name too, and yeah, I don't know. That was a strange thing about picking a chees and I'm like, I'm kind of offended that, you know, we didn't make it and like we chose wrong, Come call me out.

But the funnier thing, Matt connor Or actually picked the Ravens so they called out the wrong persons his name too, and yeah, I don't know. That was a strange thing about picking a chees and I'm like, I'm kind of offended that, you know, we didn't make it and like we chose wrong, Come call me out.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I've only had a team every day to me one time, and that was a couple of years ago. Twenty twenty, the Cardinals beat the Bills on Hell Mary, and I tweeted out with whatever ten seconds left, like wow, huge win for the Bills, tough loss for the Cardinals or whatever. And then that play happened and the Cardinals like quote tweeted it and they're like, and then what happened? What happened? You know, which was fine, it was Yeah, it was funny. But that's the only time that I can think of anyway that's ever happened. But yeah, so our colleagues getting caught out on the carpet, as you said, and you're right, Connor Man was even wrong. He was actually right, and they threw them under the bus anyway, So tough tough day for Connor. Not where you want to.

I've only had a team every day to me one time, and that was a couple of years ago. Twenty twenty, the Cardinals beat the Bills on Hell Mary, and I tweeted out with whatever ten seconds left, like wow, huge win for the Bills, tough loss for the Cardinals or whatever. And then that play happened and the Cardinals like quote tweeted it and they're like, and then what happened? What happened? You know, which was fine, it was Yeah, it was funny. But that's the only time that I can think of anyway that's ever happened. But yeah, so our colleagues getting caught out on the carpet, as you said, and you're right, Connor Man was even wrong. He was actually right, and they threw them under the bus anyway, So tough tough day for Connor. Not where you want to.

Be, speaking of being all right, Matt, you I saw your tweet. I'm sure your comments are pretty uh were interesting than to say the least, when it came to you bashing the Colt's uniform, you're correct, those those things were offu to watch, and maybe that's why the referees to a bunch of flags against them.

Be, speaking of being all right, Matt, you I saw your tweet. I'm sure your comments are pretty uh were interesting than to say the least, when it came to you bashing the Colt's uniform, you're correct, those those things were offu to watch, and maybe that's why the referees to a bunch of flags against them.

They deserve to lose your social uniforms a lot. I don't understand, like you know, Gilberto, I am a I am a traditionalist, and I mean, but I'm I'm a pragmatic traditionalist. I understand that we live in a day and age where you're trying to merchandise everything and trying to sell everything, and so the more crap you can sell, the more money you're gonna make. Some dope, we'll buy it.

They deserve to lose your social uniforms a lot. I don't understand, like you know, Gilberto, I am a I am a traditionalist, and I mean, but I'm I'm a pragmatic traditionalist. I understand that we live in a day and age where you're trying to merchandise everything and trying to sell everything, and so the more crap you can sell, the more money you're gonna make. Some dope, we'll buy it.

Even if.

Even if.

The Colts have one of the more iconic uniforms and sports dating back to when they were in Baltimore, I mean, the blue and the white and then you know the white helmet with the horse shoe. Want, how do you bastardize it to that level? I mean, how is it that hard like come up with an alternate? Fine, you want to wear all blue and you want to do like a little color rush to have fine? Whatever, go nuts, Okay, the Chiefs do whatever. They look like catchup bottles whatever. Fine, Like, I don't have a problem with that. To screw with the helmet, it's like dark blue with the black. It looks awful. It looks absolutely atrocious. And so the Colts listen, they got screwed by the officiator, the officiating, and that sucks, but everybody got screwed because I have to watch that game and look at that team for three plus hours, and so I don't feel all that bad for them.

The Colts have one of the more iconic uniforms and sports dating back to when they were in Baltimore, I mean, the blue and the white and then you know the white helmet with the horse shoe. Want, how do you bastardize it to that level? I mean, how is it that hard like come up with an alternate? Fine, you want to wear all blue and you want to do like a little color rush to have fine? Whatever, go nuts, Okay, the Chiefs do whatever. They look like catchup bottles whatever. Fine, Like, I don't have a problem with that. To screw with the helmet, it's like dark blue with the black. It looks awful. It looks absolutely atrocious. And so the Colts listen, they got screwed by the officiator, the officiating, and that sucks, but everybody got screwed because I have to watch that game and look at that team for three plus hours, and so I don't feel all that bad for them.

Well, luckily we got to see the Kelly Green on the Eagles or something that football, and yeah, that's the classic. So I think we're in the same pasee there.

Well, luckily we got to see the Kelly Green on the Eagles or something that football, and yeah, that's the classic. So I think we're in the same pasee there.

How do you not, like, if you're the Eagles, just go back to them permanently, like go back to them again. Look, I'm a big nerd with like field design stuff. The Eagle on the fifty yard line with the football in its towns, that's class. I love when the Bucks were their creamsicles and they had that massive Tampa Bay Cream School helmet on the on the field. I think it was like twenty yards wide. I like all that stuff. It's fun. It's they're like you know what, like how many teams in the course of the end, and of course we don't think like go, you know, team by team here, But like, how many teams have changed their uniforms in the last twenty five years and people have been like, that's absolutely unequivally a better luck. It's rare, right, Like I think the Bengals probably upgraded. The Chargers did a nice job with their new uniforms. They're very nice. Most teams screw it up. Most teams are like, yeah, man, I don't know about that, Like, I'd probably go back to the old ones, and I think that's where we are with this nonsense.

How do you not, like, if you're the Eagles, just go back to them permanently, like go back to them again. Look, I'm a big nerd with like field design stuff. The Eagle on the fifty yard line with the football in its towns, that's class. I love when the Bucks were their creamsicles and they had that massive Tampa Bay Cream School helmet on the on the field. I think it was like twenty yards wide. I like all that stuff. It's fun. It's they're like you know what, like how many teams in the course of the end, and of course we don't think like go, you know, team by team here, But like, how many teams have changed their uniforms in the last twenty five years and people have been like, that's absolutely unequivally a better luck. It's rare, right, Like I think the Bengals probably upgraded. The Chargers did a nice job with their new uniforms. They're very nice. Most teams screw it up. Most teams are like, yeah, man, I don't know about that, Like, I'd probably go back to the old ones, and I think that's where we are with this nonsense.

Yeah, Like the Buccaneers try something I guess new is you could call it for a few years, and I hated the numbers of the way it looked, and they kind of came back to the two thousand era Buccaneers two thousand and two, and then with the LA team. That's funny because they did, you know, the Charges went back to the powder blue. But it's kind of like, you know, from the classic days, and then the Rams tried something new, went back to the classic days. You're right, Usually when you go backwards and go with throwback, you usually get it right. When you try to go a new age and something new, you usually get it wrong.

Yeah, Like the Buccaneers try something I guess new is you could call it for a few years, and I hated the numbers of the way it looked, and they kind of came back to the two thousand era Buccaneers two thousand and two, and then with the LA team. That's funny because they did, you know, the Charges went back to the powder blue. But it's kind of like, you know, from the classic days, and then the Rams tried something new, went back to the classic days. You're right, Usually when you go backwards and go with throwback, you usually get it right. When you try to go a new age and something new, you usually get it wrong.

By the way, with the Rams and I love their their colors, can you can you fix the helmets so it's an actual horn. It drives me nuts, it doesn't wrap around. It annoys me. It's like, by the way, we're gonna get a great uniform this week with the Seahawks, going back to the silver helmet. Look, that's right, just stick with a man. There are a million times better than this crap. And look, I don't even hate their uniforms now, Like when they first came out with them, you were kind of like, whoa that that's so different. I don't hate them, but the helmets are so much cleaner. So like, all right, we could we could go down this road for Denver should go back to their helmets from the Lait days.

By the way, with the Rams and I love their their colors, can you can you fix the helmets so it's an actual horn. It drives me nuts, it doesn't wrap around. It annoys me. It's like, by the way, we're gonna get a great uniform this week with the Seahawks, going back to the silver helmet. Look, that's right, just stick with a man. There are a million times better than this crap. And look, I don't even hate their uniforms now, Like when they first came out with them, you were kind of like, whoa that that's so different. I don't hate them, but the helmets are so much cleaner. So like, all right, we could we could go down this road for Denver should go back to their helmets from the Lait days.

Just whatever.

Just whatever.

But we're also gonna get the Houston Oilers, which, by the way, we hear that's a good way to dovetail. How do you feel about the the the Tendency Titans. We're in Houston Oilers uniform. I know obviously they came from being the Houston Oils. I understand that, but of course now you have the Texans, Like, do you think the Oilers should be warned by the team that they technically were or the city that they came from.

But we're also gonna get the Houston Oilers, which, by the way, we hear that's a good way to dovetail. How do you feel about the the the Tendency Titans. We're in Houston Oilers uniform. I know obviously they came from being the Houston Oils. I understand that, but of course now you have the Texans, Like, do you think the Oilers should be warned by the team that they technically were or the city that they came from.

Yeah, I don't like it. That's a Houston thing, Houston Oilers.

Yeah, I don't like it. That's a Houston thing, Houston Oilers.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I get it that when Tennessee or when the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee, they were the Tennessee Oilers for a bit. I get that, but it just feels wrong to me, Like even with the with the with the Chargers, they try to bring San Diego history and I'm like, you live in LA and that's it's all kind of weird to me. But you know, I say, you know, make a deal somehow with the Houston Texans and give it back to them because it just feel so wrong to me, or just don't even don't bring it up. And you could, you know, give them like a day to bring back the alumni from Houston days. That's fine too, but we're the uniforms. If I'm if I'm a Houston fan who grew up during that era, I would be I would be pretty offended to see that for a Tennessee team.

And I get it that when Tennessee or when the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee, they were the Tennessee Oilers for a bit. I get that, but it just feels wrong to me, Like even with the with the with the Chargers, they try to bring San Diego history and I'm like, you live in LA and that's it's all kind of weird to me. But you know, I say, you know, make a deal somehow with the Houston Texans and give it back to them because it just feel so wrong to me, or just don't even don't bring it up. And you could, you know, give them like a day to bring back the alumni from Houston days. That's fine too, but we're the uniforms. If I'm if I'm a Houston fan who grew up during that era, I would be I would be pretty offended to see that for a Tennessee team.

Yeah, I agree, like I and I love those uniforms, but it just it drives me that, Look, when you move a franchise, you should not get to take the history with it. That should belong to the city. And I know it's not the way it works. I understand the financial reasons why are else, but I feel like the city invested. Now I give Oakland ever got another football team, but sorry, should be the Raiders now. Of course not gonna be. It's not gonna happen. But like you know, I'm an okla As fan in baseball, which I hate to admit publicly or privately, but you know, when they move to Vegas and John Fisher screws every single fan of the team and moves them over there for an extra eight bucks, like they should have to leave their history in Oakland, California, and you know, go be the Las Vegas Aces or whatever the hell you want to be, and go go be cheap there and those one hundred games in the desert, and no Nobile'll care because everybody's gonna be there for the strip and nobody's watching one hundred and sixty two baseball games in Las Vegas. But I digress. All right, Look, let's get into the storylines week eight, and we'll start where week seven left off, which is, of course the Vikings beating the Niners. We do respect the Minnesota. We will touch on later on here. Uh, let's get to San Francisco. I mean, should there be concer learn about a rock party and b the nine saw party that can played pretty well through three quarters, and he threw two picks at the end. Neither one was a particularly good throw. You know, it wasn't like a one of some guy's hands. It was was right out buying them in both cases. And the Niners they've lost too straight still leaving the NFC West by halfkam morph Seattle, but all of a sudden finding themselves in a little bit of a tailspin as they get ready to host the Bengals. Are you worried about the quarterback the team? Neither both? Where do you stand?

Yeah, I agree, like I and I love those uniforms, but it just it drives me that, Look, when you move a franchise, you should not get to take the history with it. That should belong to the city. And I know it's not the way it works. I understand the financial reasons why are else, but I feel like the city invested. Now I give Oakland ever got another football team, but sorry, should be the Raiders now. Of course not gonna be. It's not gonna happen. But like you know, I'm an okla As fan in baseball, which I hate to admit publicly or privately, but you know, when they move to Vegas and John Fisher screws every single fan of the team and moves them over there for an extra eight bucks, like they should have to leave their history in Oakland, California, and you know, go be the Las Vegas Aces or whatever the hell you want to be, and go go be cheap there and those one hundred games in the desert, and no Nobile'll care because everybody's gonna be there for the strip and nobody's watching one hundred and sixty two baseball games in Las Vegas. But I digress. All right, Look, let's get into the storylines week eight, and we'll start where week seven left off, which is, of course the Vikings beating the Niners. We do respect the Minnesota. We will touch on later on here. Uh, let's get to San Francisco. I mean, should there be concer learn about a rock party and b the nine saw party that can played pretty well through three quarters, and he threw two picks at the end. Neither one was a particularly good throw. You know, it wasn't like a one of some guy's hands. It was was right out buying them in both cases. And the Niners they've lost too straight still leaving the NFC West by halfkam morph Seattle, but all of a sudden finding themselves in a little bit of a tailspin as they get ready to host the Bengals. Are you worried about the quarterback the team? Neither both? Where do you stand?

You know, I'm not too worried about a Brock party, And I get people need to make hot takes and make rankings, and you use the quarterback rankings.

You know, I'm not too worried about a Brock party, And I get people need to make hot takes and make rankings, and you use the quarterback rankings.

Heerire match.

Heerire match.

So this is your job here. But when brock Purty has all his weapons, let's just keep it simple. He as Deebo Samuel Trent Williams. He's a great quarterback, They're fine. That's what they need him to do with a complete team. You have to go do with Jimmy g couldn't do it and go win a super Bowl. And yes, you don't have deal with Samuel Trent Williams. You might be a game manager, you might be an average quarterback. I don't really care about that. Even though I have been I've been very I've been giving a lot of words of encouragement for Brock Purty, like like checked the Troy Aikman, by the way, in the broadcast, kept saying how much he knows about Rock pretty he loves Rock pretty cool.

So this is your job here. But when brock Purty has all his weapons, let's just keep it simple. He as Deebo Samuel Trent Williams. He's a great quarterback, They're fine. That's what they need him to do with a complete team. You have to go do with Jimmy g couldn't do it and go win a super Bowl. And yes, you don't have deal with Samuel Trent Williams. You might be a game manager, you might be an average quarterback. I don't really care about that. Even though I have been I've been very I've been giving a lot of words of encouragement for Brock Purty, like like checked the Troy Aikman, by the way, in the broadcast, kept saying how much he knows about Rock pretty he loves Rock pretty cool.

We get it. But but move on.

We get it. But but move on.

But you know, I'll just say that Brock pretty with all his weapons, they'll be fine.

But you know, I'll just say that Brock pretty with all his weapons, they'll be fine.

To me.

To me.

The bigger story, man, Like what happened to that defense is a top five defense, maybe the best defense. Where has Nick Bosa been all year? That's a little concerning. Even Fred Warner had had a rare day off and to see Kirk Cousins just lighted up. All the rumors and stories about Kyle Shanahan want and that guy Kirk Cousins came up again. That's how great he was. And know justin Jefferson the top buttut. So I have more concerned about the defense than I am the offense. But you know, it is football. Injuries are gonna happen. You're not gonna have the perfect roster coming playoff times. So maybe that's a little concerning. But the defense playing that bad, that's a little head scratching to me.

The bigger story, man, Like what happened to that defense is a top five defense, maybe the best defense. Where has Nick Bosa been all year? That's a little concerning. Even Fred Warner had had a rare day off and to see Kirk Cousins just lighted up. All the rumors and stories about Kyle Shanahan want and that guy Kirk Cousins came up again. That's how great he was. And know justin Jefferson the top buttut. So I have more concerned about the defense than I am the offense. But you know, it is football. Injuries are gonna happen. You're not gonna have the perfect roster coming playoff times. So maybe that's a little concerning. But the defense playing that bad, that's a little head scratching to me.

Yeah, you know, I I'm not worried about them in terms of like, I still think they're They're a phenomenal team. I think they're top three in the league. And I think Party is what he is. He's an average quarterback. I've had him. The highest of had him in my rankings is ten. I think the lowest have had him is like sixteen. I think right now he's fourteen something like that. He's right there. He's slightly above average quarterback. My question has always been about perty and we've seen it the last two weeks. And to be fair to him, walk because Jake Moody hits a field goal at the end that game in Cleveland, they win the game and nob be sitting here talking about any of this. But in both those games when he has been behind that, he's had to throw the ball and teams have known he's had to throw the ball. It's gotten a little bit uglier. Now you could say, well, that's the case for ninety percent quarterbacks in the league. You could also sit there and say, well, he's got to be better. Fine, you can split the difference either way. My main thing with the Niners right now is just look, you can't afford to lose that many games. For Philadelphi, he's not going to lose so many games. And in the NFC, this isn't like it used to be, where you get two teams are gonna buye week and hey, you know what whatever for the two seed, a right, you got to go on the road for a game. The bigger difference to me, and the bigger advantage to me is not so much that you get home field advantage. Matt Helps, that's nice. They're gonna be wrong. You're the only team now that gets an extra week off. So you are just sitting there and yet the Niners are gonna play something like if the Niners are the two seed, yes they're gonna play some team they're gonna plow in the wild card round. But you get beat up when if some guy gets hurt. You know that happens. It's the NFL, So I'm not worried about them. I think they'll be completely fine. But I do think that it is showing a little bit that they do have to play a specific way. I forget where I saw it on Twitter, it was kind of all over Twitter after the game. The Niners in their last thirty six games with Kyle Shanahans as a coach, when they're trailing by eight or more points in the fourth quarter, they're zero to thirty six. That tells me you don't have to play a quarterback. That that's the problem. And in these games like if you can bottle McCaffrey up in Minnesota their credit did, it becomes a totally different game against San Francisco, And so how many you could do that? Probably not many, So I don't want a bunch games. But yeah, I do think there's only some notes to be made out of that game.

Yeah, you know, I I'm not worried about them in terms of like, I still think they're They're a phenomenal team. I think they're top three in the league. And I think Party is what he is. He's an average quarterback. I've had him. The highest of had him in my rankings is ten. I think the lowest have had him is like sixteen. I think right now he's fourteen something like that. He's right there. He's slightly above average quarterback. My question has always been about perty and we've seen it the last two weeks. And to be fair to him, walk because Jake Moody hits a field goal at the end that game in Cleveland, they win the game and nob be sitting here talking about any of this. But in both those games when he has been behind that, he's had to throw the ball and teams have known he's had to throw the ball. It's gotten a little bit uglier. Now you could say, well, that's the case for ninety percent quarterbacks in the league. You could also sit there and say, well, he's got to be better. Fine, you can split the difference either way. My main thing with the Niners right now is just look, you can't afford to lose that many games. For Philadelphi, he's not going to lose so many games. And in the NFC, this isn't like it used to be, where you get two teams are gonna buye week and hey, you know what whatever for the two seed, a right, you got to go on the road for a game. The bigger difference to me, and the bigger advantage to me is not so much that you get home field advantage. Matt Helps, that's nice. They're gonna be wrong. You're the only team now that gets an extra week off. So you are just sitting there and yet the Niners are gonna play something like if the Niners are the two seed, yes they're gonna play some team they're gonna plow in the wild card round. But you get beat up when if some guy gets hurt. You know that happens. It's the NFL, So I'm not worried about them. I think they'll be completely fine. But I do think that it is showing a little bit that they do have to play a specific way. I forget where I saw it on Twitter, it was kind of all over Twitter after the game. The Niners in their last thirty six games with Kyle Shanahans as a coach, when they're trailing by eight or more points in the fourth quarter, they're zero to thirty six. That tells me you don't have to play a quarterback. That that's the problem. And in these games like if you can bottle McCaffrey up in Minnesota their credit did, it becomes a totally different game against San Francisco, And so how many you could do that? Probably not many, So I don't want a bunch games. But yeah, I do think there's only some notes to be made out of that game.

Yeah, you know, in terms of the big picture, it is concerning because you watch the Eagles on Sunday and at football, just controlling the clock, you get to touch, push or the betterly show, whatever you want to call it. Keep your offense on the sideline. We're gonna go down the field for seven eight minutes, take the clock off, and then score a touchdown because you can't do anything about it. So when the game script is not going their way like Miami, and I guess maybe the forty nine ers too, like Philly is going to control everything. And if, like you mentioned, if the Eagles get the home seed one week off and you get to go into Philadelphia in a tough road environment, I just don't see the Forigniners pulling it out. So that is concerning. I'm not saying the forig Niners. I like the Dolphins. I think the forty niners have much more to offer. But if it's physical, a low scoring, controlling the clock type of game and you're behind, I do have concerns about that stat you just mentioned about being down eight points and you don't have a quarterback to be able to operate that we haven't seen pretty in that situation, like a big time game in playoffs, but see will be seen in the past two weeks, and it is a little concern about that.

Yeah, you know, in terms of the big picture, it is concerning because you watch the Eagles on Sunday and at football, just controlling the clock, you get to touch, push or the betterly show, whatever you want to call it. Keep your offense on the sideline. We're gonna go down the field for seven eight minutes, take the clock off, and then score a touchdown because you can't do anything about it. So when the game script is not going their way like Miami, and I guess maybe the forty nine ers too, like Philly is going to control everything. And if, like you mentioned, if the Eagles get the home seed one week off and you get to go into Philadelphia in a tough road environment, I just don't see the Forigniners pulling it out. So that is concerning. I'm not saying the forig Niners. I like the Dolphins. I think the forty niners have much more to offer. But if it's physical, a low scoring, controlling the clock type of game and you're behind, I do have concerns about that stat you just mentioned about being down eight points and you don't have a quarterback to be able to operate that we haven't seen pretty in that situation, like a big time game in playoffs, but see will be seen in the past two weeks, and it is a little concern about that.

Let's move to the AFC, where another team that I think everybody felt at least going through the year was a bare minimum and contender struggling and struggling more than right now than San Francisco, which is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are four and three. They're coming off of a game in which Mac Jones looked like Joe Montana twenty five to thirty over nine yards in attempt, led them down the field it was twenty five twenty one, you know, late in that game, and led them down the field for a touchdown to win it. Twenty five twenty two, I think that actually was. Regardless, he leads them down in the final seconds to win. The Bills are sitting at four and three. They've lost to their last three Jacksonville and New England. They very very easily could have lost the other game to the Giants where they had to hold onto one yard line and needed the Giants kind of be the Giants in that game, or they would have lost. They now said a game out in the A East, which does not change from a week ago because Miami lost as well. But they are sitting in the seventh seed in the AFC and they have a hard schedule head Okay, they still play the Chiefs on the road, the Eagles on the road, the Chargers on the road, the Bengals on the road, the Dolphins on the road, and they played Dallas at home. Those are six games that are not layups. Level of one scale one to ten one, you're not where at all. Tens, five, warm fire. How worried are you about Buffalo?

Let's move to the AFC, where another team that I think everybody felt at least going through the year was a bare minimum and contender struggling and struggling more than right now than San Francisco, which is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are four and three. They're coming off of a game in which Mac Jones looked like Joe Montana twenty five to thirty over nine yards in attempt, led them down the field it was twenty five twenty one, you know, late in that game, and led them down the field for a touchdown to win it. Twenty five twenty two, I think that actually was. Regardless, he leads them down in the final seconds to win. The Bills are sitting at four and three. They've lost to their last three Jacksonville and New England. They very very easily could have lost the other game to the Giants where they had to hold onto one yard line and needed the Giants kind of be the Giants in that game, or they would have lost. They now said a game out in the A East, which does not change from a week ago because Miami lost as well. But they are sitting in the seventh seed in the AFC and they have a hard schedule head Okay, they still play the Chiefs on the road, the Eagles on the road, the Chargers on the road, the Bengals on the road, the Dolphins on the road, and they played Dallas at home. Those are six games that are not layups. Level of one scale one to ten one, you're not where at all. Tens, five, warm fire. How worried are you about Buffalo?

You know, I don't want to go too high, but I'll say seven. You know, it is very concerning, and maybe I should go higher because Matt I already called them pretenders and one of my stories, and people were not happy about that. You know how Bill's mafia is. They're gonna be uh, they're gonna they're gonna speak out with they don't like something. But we got to keep it real. You know, they're four and three. You know, they almost lost to a then one win team Giants. You know on Someday that football that was a terrant performance and they couldn't survive against mac Jones. Like the Pitchers came into that game with twenty points combined and they're prior three games they got twenty nine on this Bills defense. And that's probably like the biggest alarm is that defense. Like I wanted to kind of see how they'll do it without Matt Malone. If you can't stop Mac Jones in the Patriots offense, you have big issues effectively, So you know these guys are not going to come back. So I'm very concerned about the defense. Offensively, they can figure it out, but when are they gonna do it? Matt Like It's been a year and a half with Ken Dorsey. There's some type of disconnect there, you know, you know, I'm not watching the entire all twenty two every single week of the Bills to give you legit answer.

You know, I don't want to go too high, but I'll say seven. You know, it is very concerning, and maybe I should go higher because Matt I already called them pretenders and one of my stories, and people were not happy about that. You know how Bill's mafia is. They're gonna be uh, they're gonna they're gonna speak out with they don't like something. But we got to keep it real. You know, they're four and three. You know, they almost lost to a then one win team Giants. You know on Someday that football that was a terrant performance and they couldn't survive against mac Jones. Like the Pitchers came into that game with twenty points combined and they're prior three games they got twenty nine on this Bills defense. And that's probably like the biggest alarm is that defense. Like I wanted to kind of see how they'll do it without Matt Malone. If you can't stop Mac Jones in the Patriots offense, you have big issues effectively, So you know these guys are not going to come back. So I'm very concerned about the defense. Offensively, they can figure it out, but when are they gonna do it? Matt Like It's been a year and a half with Ken Dorsey. There's some type of disconnect there, you know, you know, I'm not watching the entire all twenty two every single week of the Bills to give you legit answer.

But it's not right. It ain't clicking.

But it's not right. It ain't clicking.

And if you don't have Stefan Diggs going off like that tends to lead to hero ball for Josh Allen. Josh Allen, they don't make like a lot of mistakes, you know in the Patriots game, but say Diggs is having a bad game in the playoffs are shutting them down. They have to focus on him. Who do you go to? I know Kink had a decent game. Yeah, Where's Scape? Where's Cape Davis? Where's James Cook being consistent of running back? What happened to a rushing attack without Josh Allen doing all the work? So if Allan is playing hero ball and it's carrying more than he needs to offensively. That's a recipe for disaster. Or we've seen that too many times. And again I'm going back to a seven, maybe even eight, because I don't trust his Bills team come playoff time.

And if you don't have Stefan Diggs going off like that tends to lead to hero ball for Josh Allen. Josh Allen, they don't make like a lot of mistakes, you know in the Patriots game, but say Diggs is having a bad game in the playoffs are shutting them down. They have to focus on him. Who do you go to? I know Kink had a decent game. Yeah, Where's Scape? Where's Cape Davis? Where's James Cook being consistent of running back? What happened to a rushing attack without Josh Allen doing all the work? So if Allan is playing hero ball and it's carrying more than he needs to offensively. That's a recipe for disaster. Or we've seen that too many times. And again I'm going back to a seven, maybe even eight, because I don't trust his Bills team come playoff time.

Yeah, I'm actually the same number. I'm the seven. And it's like, you know, Gabe Davis had that hole from his fourth listen if one of the great Cans were saying receiver played, but he had that two hundred yard, four touchdown game, that thirteen seconds game in Kansas City and Romo that night was like, oh, it's big game, gave and gave him his nickname. It's kind of stuck. I mean there's gotta be then, like the ying t Yang that right, Like at some point then it's like, what didn't show up Davis? I mean half the games you're like, is he active? Where the hell is he? I mean it's bizarre. And look, he's not having a terrible year. I mean he's on pace for that eight hundred and fifty yards, so it's not he's done nothing, but it is like you look at his games this year. His yardage totals are thirty two nothing ninety two good game, thirty five on one.

Yeah, I'm actually the same number. I'm the seven. And it's like, you know, Gabe Davis had that hole from his fourth listen if one of the great Cans were saying receiver played, but he had that two hundred yard, four touchdown game, that thirteen seconds game in Kansas City and Romo that night was like, oh, it's big game, gave and gave him his nickname. It's kind of stuck. I mean there's gotta be then, like the ying t Yang that right, Like at some point then it's like, what didn't show up Davis? I mean half the games you're like, is he active? Where the hell is he? I mean it's bizarre. And look, he's not having a terrible year. I mean he's on pace for that eight hundred and fifty yards, so it's not he's done nothing, but it is like you look at his games this year. His yardage totals are thirty two nothing ninety two good game, thirty five on one.

Catch, nothing.

Catch, nothing.

Oh it was a touchdown, granted, but still one catch, thirty five yeards. Three catches for sixty one yards in a touchdown, like, okay, a decent game. Jacksonville six catches, one hundred yards and touched a very good game. Last two games, he's combined for four catches and twenty seven yards. I mean, I don't know what to do with that other than to sit here and say, yeah, it's not great, Like if you're on that team and you've relied upon as a main weapon, it's not great. However, it is better than when Dawson Knox has given him who to seven games and now now he's on IR with an injury. He has one hundred and two yards in seven games, So that's not great. Dalton and kid had over seventy last week. Prior to that had really been a non factor. Maybe that gets him going, Maybe he gets rolling a little bit here, You're right, Like, take it from somebody who actually did sit down and watch all twenty two of the bills this week, because I did. One of my plays was picked by Josh Allen, the all twenty two piece I roll out on Wednesdays. There were so many plays in that game where it was digs or bust and it's like if that, if he's not open, you're screwed. And then there'd be other times where Diggs would get open anyway and Alan would just miss him. I mean there were three times in that game that he incregiously missed him on like meaningful throws rose that would have been first downs, chunk plays, one of which would have been a walking seventy yard touchdown, misses him deep throws it five yards over his head. Look, everybody wants to just shift blame immediately to McDermott and Thorstey, and I think there's a lot of blame to be had there. They have not done a great job this team in my opinion. But if I'm placing my line's share of blame, it's on the quarterback. I mean, at some point here, man, you can't have nine turnovers in seven games. You can't lead the league in turnovers. Again. Last year he led the league in turnovers. He's on pace to blow pass that total, and at some point, like you don't have a top five defense anymore, that's gone day. Kwon Jones is out for the year. Matt Mulano's out Tredavious White out like it's over. You're not von Miller. He played six snaps on Sunday. I don't know is he healthy? Is he not healthy? Like, I don't know what's going on. Doesn't look great. You don't have a defense that can just bail you out from having twenty plus turnovers this year, they lost that game Week one because Josh Allen couldn't stop turning the ball over point blank. And I'm not saying that he's the reason they lost to New England and he's the reason they lost to Jacksonville ball. Like they had seven points in each of those games going to the fourth quarter. You can't tell me you're a top five guy in the league and then go out there and be a disaster for six of the eight quarters. And it's not just the turnovers. It is the misthrows. It is locking on to Diggs in everyone Now again, part of that is, I think, to be fair to him, they're not getting a whole lot of separation and some other places under the use and Kate enough. And then there's also the fact that they run the ball like three times, and they'll run it well, and then they don't throw it again. For a quarter and then so it's all this stuff mixed in. But right now they look like a good team. They don't look like a very good team. They don't look like a great team. They're look good team that's gonna go about ten and seven and go to Baltimore in the wild card round and get handled. Maybe that changes, but right now it's not great. They played thursdy Night against Tampa, and I don't know how you feel about, Like, should they win that game? Yeah? Would I be shocked if they lost that game? No, not the way they're playing. So you know, we'll see how it goes. But it has been a rough start for Buffalo.

Oh it was a touchdown, granted, but still one catch, thirty five yeards. Three catches for sixty one yards in a touchdown, like, okay, a decent game. Jacksonville six catches, one hundred yards and touched a very good game. Last two games, he's combined for four catches and twenty seven yards. I mean, I don't know what to do with that other than to sit here and say, yeah, it's not great, Like if you're on that team and you've relied upon as a main weapon, it's not great. However, it is better than when Dawson Knox has given him who to seven games and now now he's on IR with an injury. He has one hundred and two yards in seven games, So that's not great. Dalton and kid had over seventy last week. Prior to that had really been a non factor. Maybe that gets him going, Maybe he gets rolling a little bit here, You're right, Like, take it from somebody who actually did sit down and watch all twenty two of the bills this week, because I did. One of my plays was picked by Josh Allen, the all twenty two piece I roll out on Wednesdays. There were so many plays in that game where it was digs or bust and it's like if that, if he's not open, you're screwed. And then there'd be other times where Diggs would get open anyway and Alan would just miss him. I mean there were three times in that game that he incregiously missed him on like meaningful throws rose that would have been first downs, chunk plays, one of which would have been a walking seventy yard touchdown, misses him deep throws it five yards over his head. Look, everybody wants to just shift blame immediately to McDermott and Thorstey, and I think there's a lot of blame to be had there. They have not done a great job this team in my opinion. But if I'm placing my line's share of blame, it's on the quarterback. I mean, at some point here, man, you can't have nine turnovers in seven games. You can't lead the league in turnovers. Again. Last year he led the league in turnovers. He's on pace to blow pass that total, and at some point, like you don't have a top five defense anymore, that's gone day. Kwon Jones is out for the year. Matt Mulano's out Tredavious White out like it's over. You're not von Miller. He played six snaps on Sunday. I don't know is he healthy? Is he not healthy? Like, I don't know what's going on. Doesn't look great. You don't have a defense that can just bail you out from having twenty plus turnovers this year, they lost that game Week one because Josh Allen couldn't stop turning the ball over point blank. And I'm not saying that he's the reason they lost to New England and he's the reason they lost to Jacksonville ball. Like they had seven points in each of those games going to the fourth quarter. You can't tell me you're a top five guy in the league and then go out there and be a disaster for six of the eight quarters. And it's not just the turnovers. It is the misthrows. It is locking on to Diggs in everyone Now again, part of that is, I think, to be fair to him, they're not getting a whole lot of separation and some other places under the use and Kate enough. And then there's also the fact that they run the ball like three times, and they'll run it well, and then they don't throw it again. For a quarter and then so it's all this stuff mixed in. But right now they look like a good team. They don't look like a very good team. They don't look like a great team. They're look good team that's gonna go about ten and seven and go to Baltimore in the wild card round and get handled. Maybe that changes, but right now it's not great. They played thursdy Night against Tampa, and I don't know how you feel about, Like, should they win that game? Yeah? Would I be shocked if they lost that game? No, not the way they're playing. So you know, we'll see how it goes. But it has been a rough start for Buffalo.

Yeah, you know, you could see you're okay with seeing Kenny Pikett struggle for three quarters and then have a comeback in the fourth quarter. You can't have that with Josh Allen. Who's you know, you're paying like a top five quarterback. He should be playing top five, you know, or an elite quarterback. So yeah, to be doing this for like, like you mentioned, it wasn't Josh Allen's fault, you know, particularly last week, but the full sample side of the season. He has turnovers, he's missing throws, he missed a bunch of throws in that Giants game, the one that Dawson Knox comes to mind. That's why Tyrod Taylor got one more chance to win that game and they didn't. So, yeah, they're a good team, good team. They could make the playoffs. I don't maybe they'll win the AFC East. But even if they win the AFC, I don't trust this team in the playoffs. So you know, it's gonna be interesting to see what they do with their trade deadline because they need a move defensively, offensively, they need something that sparked this team, and you know, I don't know what's going on with their cap situation. Can then bring in like a big time player, make it make it work. I know people got to do some cap space kind of maneuvers to get it done. But you've got to make a move. You gotta do something because I know they're in different conferences, but the Eagles don't settle even when they have a good team. They go get players and they make sure they're right for the playoffs. So this Bills team that's been you know, you know, second round, first round, whatever it is, you got to do something because it feels like you're headed for no divisional exit again.

Yeah, you know, you could see you're okay with seeing Kenny Pikett struggle for three quarters and then have a comeback in the fourth quarter. You can't have that with Josh Allen. Who's you know, you're paying like a top five quarterback. He should be playing top five, you know, or an elite quarterback. So yeah, to be doing this for like, like you mentioned, it wasn't Josh Allen's fault, you know, particularly last week, but the full sample side of the season. He has turnovers, he's missing throws, he missed a bunch of throws in that Giants game, the one that Dawson Knox comes to mind. That's why Tyrod Taylor got one more chance to win that game and they didn't. So, yeah, they're a good team, good team. They could make the playoffs. I don't maybe they'll win the AFC East. But even if they win the AFC, I don't trust this team in the playoffs. So you know, it's gonna be interesting to see what they do with their trade deadline because they need a move defensively, offensively, they need something that sparked this team, and you know, I don't know what's going on with their cap situation. Can then bring in like a big time player, make it make it work. I know people got to do some cap space kind of maneuvers to get it done. But you've got to make a move. You gotta do something because I know they're in different conferences, but the Eagles don't settle even when they have a good team. They go get players and they make sure they're right for the playoffs. So this Bills team that's been you know, you know, second round, first round, whatever it is, you got to do something because it feels like you're headed for no divisional exit again.

Yeah, and their cap space situation is not great. They're gonna have a hard time. I mean, they're way over the cap for next year and they're pretty tight up against it. Now, all right, let's move to the Ravens. The Ravens absolutely demolished the Lions thirty eight to six. They were twenty to nothing before the trade at a first down. Lamar Jackson well over three hundred and fifty total yards in the game for touchdowns, played great as a flowers ad another nice game. He has been one of the better rookies this season regardless of position, and the defense leads the league in sacks a shutdown yard goffin company. They're sitting at five and two now. They don't have a big lead in that division. They are a half game up on Pittsburgh. They are a half game up on Cleveland because that division is so damn good. Where do you if you had the power rank the AFHG right now, where do you put them? I mean, where are they in your hierarchy.

Yeah, and their cap space situation is not great. They're gonna have a hard time. I mean, they're way over the cap for next year and they're pretty tight up against it. Now, all right, let's move to the Ravens. The Ravens absolutely demolished the Lions thirty eight to six. They were twenty to nothing before the trade at a first down. Lamar Jackson well over three hundred and fifty total yards in the game for touchdowns, played great as a flowers ad another nice game. He has been one of the better rookies this season regardless of position, and the defense leads the league in sacks a shutdown yard goffin company. They're sitting at five and two now. They don't have a big lead in that division. They are a half game up on Pittsburgh. They are a half game up on Cleveland because that division is so damn good. Where do you if you had the power rank the AFHG right now, where do you put them? I mean, where are they in your hierarchy.

In the ash? Yeah?

In the ash? Yeah?

So we got a Kansas city, right and I'm trying to think after that, because you got Miami, you know, Buffalo. The Jaguars could be number two, you know, because I don't. Here's the thing, Matt, Like, I know you're put him on the spoting and I'll give you an answer, But you know, I want to say the Ravens are a Super Bowl contenders, but at the same time, it was one really good game. Like That's why I'm a little annoyed with all the praiser getting in and saying Lamar Jackson is a super I mean, an MVP. This Todd Bunkin higher was great from the start. I'm like, a couple of weeks ago, we were all bashing Todd Monky and Lamar Jackson because of what they did against Pittsburgh. They let a game go there and they couldn't score. They couldn't even throw past two hundred yards. I know Lamar's was completing these passes, but they weren't explosive. They weren't going down the field. No Rashot Bateman, no OBJ And yeah, suddenly a great game, fantastic. You destroyed a very good Lions team. So for that signature victory, I want to say you're a Super Bowl contender, But at the same time, it's one big win, like obviously it's a Chiefs, but you know, you still got to beat the Bengals. You still got to beat the Browns and the Steelers in a very tough division. The Dolphins could could wake up and maybe eventually beat a winning team. I don't know, but I do like the Dolphins as well too, So I guess to answer your question, maybe three or four.

So we got a Kansas city, right and I'm trying to think after that, because you got Miami, you know, Buffalo. The Jaguars could be number two, you know, because I don't. Here's the thing, Matt, Like, I know you're put him on the spoting and I'll give you an answer, But you know, I want to say the Ravens are a Super Bowl contenders, but at the same time, it was one really good game. Like That's why I'm a little annoyed with all the praiser getting in and saying Lamar Jackson is a super I mean, an MVP. This Todd Bunkin higher was great from the start. I'm like, a couple of weeks ago, we were all bashing Todd Monky and Lamar Jackson because of what they did against Pittsburgh. They let a game go there and they couldn't score. They couldn't even throw past two hundred yards. I know Lamar's was completing these passes, but they weren't explosive. They weren't going down the field. No Rashot Bateman, no OBJ And yeah, suddenly a great game, fantastic. You destroyed a very good Lions team. So for that signature victory, I want to say you're a Super Bowl contender, But at the same time, it's one big win, like obviously it's a Chiefs, but you know, you still got to beat the Bengals. You still got to beat the Browns and the Steelers in a very tough division. The Dolphins could could wake up and maybe eventually beat a winning team. I don't know, but I do like the Dolphins as well too, So I guess to answer your question, maybe three or four.

I'll go four.

I'll go four.

I think the Jaguars have been very impressive to win four games in a row, nineteen days, three different cities, So let's go. Let's go Chiefs. Jaguars doesn't seem right to be number two, but I'll put them to Dolphins three and then Ravens four because it's just one game. But I do like what I saw in that one game.

I think the Jaguars have been very impressive to win four games in a row, nineteen days, three different cities, So let's go. Let's go Chiefs. Jaguars doesn't seem right to be number two, but I'll put them to Dolphins three and then Ravens four because it's just one game. But I do like what I saw in that one game.

Man, I could agree with you more. I also hate when one game happens and people just me imediately are prisoners of the moment to the nteenth degree, and oh, well, did you see what happened now? This team? Yeah, man, I saw it again. It I mean, it was a great game. It was one game they've lost to Gardner Minshew and Kenny Pickett this year, I mean, and it took them four quarters to put away Tennessee, so I get it. Great win their fourth for me too. The only difference for you and I is I'd swapped Miami in Jacksonville two and three. That that's it. I would switch those like Lamar Jackson and I actually did Altoy two on the Ravens as well this week, so I watched a lot of them. Lamar Jackson's other world that he played great, and Jay Flowers looks awes me and everybody started talking about, like you said, Todd Munkin in this offense and look how they're throwing the ball. But do you know how many yards Lamar Jackson's on pace to throw for this year?

Man, I could agree with you more. I also hate when one game happens and people just me imediately are prisoners of the moment to the nteenth degree, and oh, well, did you see what happened now? This team? Yeah, man, I saw it again. It I mean, it was a great game. It was one game they've lost to Gardner Minshew and Kenny Pickett this year, I mean, and it took them four quarters to put away Tennessee, so I get it. Great win their fourth for me too. The only difference for you and I is I'd swapped Miami in Jacksonville two and three. That that's it. I would switch those like Lamar Jackson and I actually did Altoy two on the Ravens as well this week, so I watched a lot of them. Lamar Jackson's other world that he played great, and Jay Flowers looks awes me and everybody started talking about, like you said, Todd Munkin in this offense and look how they're throwing the ball. But do you know how many yards Lamar Jackson's on pace to throw for this year?

About three thousand, thirty nine hundred, okay, under four thousands.

About three thousand, thirty nine hundred, okay, under four thousands.

Like I mean, I don't want to be dismissive, but like, who cares thirty nine hundred yards in the NFL today. It's not terrible, but it's not you know, like, oh my god, Like I mean, it's it's fine. It's fine. He's also on pace for nineteen touchdown passes. Again, like not spectacular. I mean, it's it's it's I mean, nineteen touchdown passes. There are guys in the league right now at fifteen it's not Halloween yet, so I like the Ravens. But at the same juncture, it's like, here, here's my here's my thing. I have seen this song or I've heard this song, I've seen this movie. Where they're really good in the regular season, and then we get to the playoffs and you'll look at him, all right, man, well, who can I trust in a big game? And it's maybe Mark Andrews, Probably Mark Andrews. I like Jay Flowers a lot, but after that, like, do you believe in Nelson Agualore in a playoff game? Because I don't Odell Beckham. I mean, listen, I certainly love his high end talent, but like he has one hundred and sixty two yards receiving this year, Rashad Bateman has been a hood ornament. It is one hundred and eighteen yards receiving. Like I, they don't throw to their backs. So I look at this and I'm like, look, I think they're good. You know, I've heard a lot made of well, they lead the league in sacks, and you have to take that in account. So I always try to like, Okay, how much of that is is a little bit smoking mirrors? And how much that's real. I mean, they do lead the league in sacks. They're twenty fifth in the league in pressure rate. So it basically says like when they get home, they're unbelievable at getting home. Then I get home that much like they're they're toward the bottom of the league in quarterback knockdown percentage, they're towards the bottom. As I just mentioned, in terms of pressure, they are dead last by a mile in hurry rate by a mile, not even to me. I love it that they're that they're in their middle of the road and blitzer rate, so they're actually blitzing a decent amount. It's still like to be any pressure. Kudos to them that they've got twenty nine sacks, but that also tells me against a better quarterback, like if you're not getting consistent pressure, you got a problem. And so I like the Ravens. I think they're a good team. I don't see them in the same way I see Kansas City, Philadelphia, San Francisco. I don't see them in that that group. I see them in the next tier down with the Jacksonville, Miami, you know, Seattle, Will I think that's more their their territory.

Like I mean, I don't want to be dismissive, but like, who cares thirty nine hundred yards in the NFL today. It's not terrible, but it's not you know, like, oh my god, Like I mean, it's it's fine. It's fine. He's also on pace for nineteen touchdown passes. Again, like not spectacular. I mean, it's it's it's I mean, nineteen touchdown passes. There are guys in the league right now at fifteen it's not Halloween yet, so I like the Ravens. But at the same juncture, it's like, here, here's my here's my thing. I have seen this song or I've heard this song, I've seen this movie. Where they're really good in the regular season, and then we get to the playoffs and you'll look at him, all right, man, well, who can I trust in a big game? And it's maybe Mark Andrews, Probably Mark Andrews. I like Jay Flowers a lot, but after that, like, do you believe in Nelson Agualore in a playoff game? Because I don't Odell Beckham. I mean, listen, I certainly love his high end talent, but like he has one hundred and sixty two yards receiving this year, Rashad Bateman has been a hood ornament. It is one hundred and eighteen yards receiving. Like I, they don't throw to their backs. So I look at this and I'm like, look, I think they're good. You know, I've heard a lot made of well, they lead the league in sacks, and you have to take that in account. So I always try to like, Okay, how much of that is is a little bit smoking mirrors? And how much that's real. I mean, they do lead the league in sacks. They're twenty fifth in the league in pressure rate. So it basically says like when they get home, they're unbelievable at getting home. Then I get home that much like they're they're toward the bottom of the league in quarterback knockdown percentage, they're towards the bottom. As I just mentioned, in terms of pressure, they are dead last by a mile in hurry rate by a mile, not even to me. I love it that they're that they're in their middle of the road and blitzer rate, so they're actually blitzing a decent amount. It's still like to be any pressure. Kudos to them that they've got twenty nine sacks, but that also tells me against a better quarterback, like if you're not getting consistent pressure, you got a problem. And so I like the Ravens. I think they're a good team. I don't see them in the same way I see Kansas City, Philadelphia, San Francisco. I don't see them in that that group. I see them in the next tier down with the Jacksonville, Miami, you know, Seattle, Will I think that's more their their territory.

You know, it's kind of funny with the Baltimore praise. I think it's reversed. I think the current praise should be on the defense to making it work with what you have, Like that's great coaching by Mike McDonald. Then, like you mentioned, you know that they're still getting home but it's not great numbers. But come come a playoff time, you have no edge rushers, no start players in the defensive front. That could really bite you. But currently they're doing a good job. Now the other way, offensively, they've been they been up and down. Let's keep it real. It's not you know, the entire seaton. It was one really good game. But here's the thing. I do like Matt, if they somehow, you know, really click with the passing game, because we've seen a run heavy Ravens team where Lamar Jackson doesn't work in the playoffs, you got to throw the ball, you know, a good amount of time. So if he's really you know, flourishing with this game and surpasses four thousand passing yards at the end of the season and he's going into the playoffs being a very electric pass first quarterback, I like their chances, but I am concerned about that defense. So I think that praises a little flip. It should be currently on the defense and then let's wait and see on the offense. But I'm very intrigued about this team, but a lot of question marks, like you mentioned, yeah.

You know, it's kind of funny with the Baltimore praise. I think it's reversed. I think the current praise should be on the defense to making it work with what you have, Like that's great coaching by Mike McDonald. Then, like you mentioned, you know that they're still getting home but it's not great numbers. But come come a playoff time, you have no edge rushers, no start players in the defensive front. That could really bite you. But currently they're doing a good job. Now the other way, offensively, they've been they been up and down. Let's keep it real. It's not you know, the entire seaton. It was one really good game. But here's the thing. I do like Matt, if they somehow, you know, really click with the passing game, because we've seen a run heavy Ravens team where Lamar Jackson doesn't work in the playoffs, you got to throw the ball, you know, a good amount of time. So if he's really you know, flourishing with this game and surpasses four thousand passing yards at the end of the season and he's going into the playoffs being a very electric pass first quarterback, I like their chances, but I am concerned about that defense. So I think that praises a little flip. It should be currently on the defense and then let's wait and see on the offense. But I'm very intrigued about this team, but a lot of question marks, like you mentioned, yeah.

And look, by the way, just to put a ball on it, they are number one defensively in yards for play again, so they are doing a nice job there. And last year, if he threw for thirty nine hundred yards, that would have ranked them tenth in the league. So it's not bad. I mean, it's certainly not bad, but it's also like, okay, I mean it's not he's out there going for forty five hundred yards. I mean, it's it's fine. In nineteen touchdown passes would have put him squarely fifteenth in the NFL. So again, not bad, not bad, but just kind of like a little bit above average. And so that's where I said, all right, let's get into our big story and our bigger a big question here. Sunday football Eagles win. They went thirty one seventeen over Miami. Miami basically got ten points off the defensive plays, obviously the pick six, and they got to fumble deep in Philly territory that converted for a field goal is the bigger story that the Dolphins haven't been a good team yet, or that the Eagles are starting to look strong and find themselves.

And look, by the way, just to put a ball on it, they are number one defensively in yards for play again, so they are doing a nice job there. And last year, if he threw for thirty nine hundred yards, that would have ranked them tenth in the league. So it's not bad. I mean, it's certainly not bad, but it's also like, okay, I mean it's not he's out there going for forty five hundred yards. I mean, it's it's fine. In nineteen touchdown passes would have put him squarely fifteenth in the NFL. So again, not bad, not bad, but just kind of like a little bit above average. And so that's where I said, all right, let's get into our big story and our bigger a big question here. Sunday football Eagles win. They went thirty one seventeen over Miami. Miami basically got ten points off the defensive plays, obviously the pick six, and they got to fumble deep in Philly territory that converted for a field goal is the bigger story that the Dolphins haven't been a good team yet, or that the Eagles are starting to look strong and find themselves.

Yeah, you know, I want to go with the winning team with the Eagles, and I'll show the Dolphins a little low while I'm not too worried, but just watching that. So then that football game mat it was like, yeah, they have the most complete team and they could win and playoff football. If you want to go down the field, no problem, aj Brown, you know Devonte's maid. Oh you want to shut these guys down down the field? Intermediate game datas god her oh, Deandre's hooker cats to want to run the football. Deandres fail so Jalen hurts Touchbush. You can't stop it. So you know, they were just great. And you get Kevin Byer too, like they got like Matt like, I need to win this week. So I'm just gonna pat myself on the back for our piece that comes out Thursday. I typed them for the Egos go acquire Kevin Bayer, but I couldn't have that one because it happened two days too early. But you know they're making things work in the secondary. So yeah, maybe you want a little more help with another cornerback, maybe a linebacker.

Yeah, you know, I want to go with the winning team with the Eagles, and I'll show the Dolphins a little low while I'm not too worried, but just watching that. So then that football game mat it was like, yeah, they have the most complete team and they could win and playoff football. If you want to go down the field, no problem, aj Brown, you know Devonte's maid. Oh you want to shut these guys down down the field? Intermediate game datas god her oh, Deandre's hooker cats to want to run the football. Deandres fail so Jalen hurts Touchbush. You can't stop it. So you know, they were just great. And you get Kevin Byer too, like they got like Matt like, I need to win this week. So I'm just gonna pat myself on the back for our piece that comes out Thursday. I typed them for the Egos go acquire Kevin Bayer, but I couldn't have that one because it happened two days too early. But you know they're making things work in the secondary. So yeah, maybe you want a little more help with another cornerback, maybe a linebacker.

But this team is ready, they're ready to go.

But this team is ready, they're ready to go.

And with the Dolphins, like you know, I don't want to call them solve, but like it felt like they were missing that physical element. They needed some more power there. They need something, you know, offensively, but defensively, They'll get Jayleen Ramsey back. I think he'll ad an element of toughness there. I like what I saw from Balley Chubb and Jaleen Phillips, So you know they're they're improving defensively, but they need some more physical elements to this game here.

And with the Dolphins, like you know, I don't want to call them solve, but like it felt like they were missing that physical element. They needed some more power there. They need something, you know, offensively, but defensively, They'll get Jayleen Ramsey back. I think he'll ad an element of toughness there. I like what I saw from Balley Chubb and Jaleen Phillips, So you know they're they're improving defensively, but they need some more physical elements to this game here.

I couldn't agree more man in terms of the physicality of it, Like I think the Philadelphia to me, it's the bigger story with Philly in the sense I just have always believed feled Off he's gonna be fine. They're so talented, they're so well coast, but they're gonna be fine. And they're six and one. I mean, for all the hand ring, all affilia, what's wrong on Philly? There's six and one. I mean, nothing's wrong Philly. They're gonna be fourteen and three. The biggest story than me right now? Is Miami not so much having me a good team yet, because they're five and two and they've blown out all the bad teams they've played, And I don't think they're frauds many any stretching the imagination. What I would say, and what you just alluded to is in those losses to Buffalo in Philadelphia, they have been bullied upfront. They have just been handled up front. And if you're gonna win in January, you can't be bullied all over the field. You just can't. There have been plenty of teams in the history of the sport who have been finesse teams who have won the Super Bowl. The Niners in the eighties or a finesse team. The Niners are one of the best physically defensive teams of that era. I mean, ask Ronni and who got his pinky amputated to play in a playoff game. Okay, they the ninety nine Rams were finesse tine. The Rams are sixth in defense that year. You know, these are teams. Not everybody's got to be the eighty five Bears of the two thousand Ravens. Nobody's asking the Dolphins to be that. But The Eagles basically lined up in that game and said you're soft. They're gonna punch you in the mouth. Here it comes. And the Dolphins like, you're right, we can't. We can't do anything back that's not gonna fly. Look, they've got the Pats this week. They ought to win. Then they go to Germany and play Kansas City. There's another opportunity. Kansas City right now is top ten defensively in just about every metric there is. And the Chiefs, despite on offense certainly being more of a finesse team, are physical defensively. They have Chris Jones up front, Carlostis up front, and men who up front. Me, that's a team that they're gonna hit you like the Dolphins. Can you go out there, God knows Tyer Keill is gonna be motivated in that game. Can you go out and can you show something? Can you prove something? But I I still think, look, i still think Philadelphia is the best team in the NFC. I've felt that all year long. I think the Dolphins are still a team. They're gonna be there mid January. They got to figure it out a little bit upfront because upfront, right and some of that's injuries, right, Armstead's hurt and win went out. Now he's on ir But like they they got to figure that out because the good teams, the good teams are just gonna say, fine, we're gonna punch you in the mouth ball game long and at some point that's gonna that's gonna bear fruit. Let's go into our five games of the week with the lines as always provided by SI Sports Book. And by the way, I usually say this to the end, but I'll slip it in here. If you're listening and you like to show or you like to show the Connor and Alberton hopefully like them both. UH, go to UH wherever you get your podcasts, whether it be Spotify or iTunes, wrapple play, and subscribe to the m QB podcast. Leave a question and leave a comment UH with a rating and a review. And if you'll leave a question, we'll answer it. So please go ahead and do that if you would. All right, Week eight, we are approaching the midway point of the season and we are gonna start with the Jacksonville Jaguars. We're five and two. They are leading the AFC South. Startupull away a little bit here for game win streak, putting that on the line in Pittsburgh taking on the Steelers, Steelers coming off of a win after thereby they handled the Rams. It's so far. They moved to fourth too. They're a half game back in the AFC North Jaggs laying two and a half here. You like Jacksonville on the road. Do you like the Steelers to find the way?