49ers beat Rams, Bills vs. Texans preview, Matt Leinart joins, Upset Alert & Nick’s Picks for Week 1

0:00I know yesterday I said Purdy had no chance of our playing staff, but I woke up feeling dangerous I'm calling the upset not a alert. I got the Niners winning this San Francisco's gonna get this game Purdy knows how to play against them Life in New York it's a show you don't even need to see the post game just watch the Show before the game get all the intel you need Just crushed it. This should be my upset alert. Can we make this my upset? It feels like it. We sadly know I Wish you good Can I pitch something because you have been a fluid with the rules on upset alert? We've made one tweak but go ahead I feel like you should have some discrepancy points to hand out Discrushing area points to hold up what's the difference?

1:04Yes, discretionary I think that's like that was good half a point here You know a big part of life is knowing your own limitations and I am one That is very Colleuctible so I don't like having I don't like I don't want to access to petty cash I don't want access to discretionary funds. I don't want access to discretionary points I need the guard rails in place because I'll tell you this once right now coach man genie is not above Slide me a hundred dollar bill for a little extra points First hour first things first today My home's ready to roll What would a huge game prove and the interesting comments as he left the podium? Yeah one part frustration one part Maybe two part frustration. I have to determine in the next 25 minutes how much I want to reveal Oh meanwhile college football this weekend how badly does Michigan need a win a real one

2:04Finally it's the return of the hottest segment in all of sports. It's upset alert and not wait Raining champion Eric man genie will be here shortly. Yes, it's almost like they were strong last day We're back to back years back to back years. They've been excellent. What about this is this is how I do it real quick in reverse Chronological order coaching Greg by a million last year. Yeah coaching Greg the previous year you By a million the year before KW each of the previous two years. That's kind of nice. It's like the NFL It was your thing you were you're kind of like the Lombardi star packers like you got it rolling Within the long drought. I still have some fans up. Yeah, exactly like wilds upside alerts like now my dad liked them We're starting in Melbourne the Rams won the offseason win list in the real season LA's high octane offense Sputtered and the Rams vaunted defense held the 49ers to 27 points miles Garrett

3:08No sacks no tackles only played a little more than Aaron Donald who didn't even make the trip Here's Sean McVeigh and miles Garrett I didn't do nearly a good enough job. This is a humbling day for us and This will define us only if we allow it to and today was one of those days and you know I always look inside out. I didn't do good enough job getting us ready to go There were some opportunities where maybe the game could have flipped but They deserve the win. They were ready to go this was the worst version of myself that I've put out there Now I've got to be better. I got to find a find a way to Recover and get back to the player. I know I can't be and I've shown that I've been before Brueh happened to the Rams Well look they got outdone in every way First of all Brock Purdy outplayed the rain in MVP Matthew Stafford We threw that question out there and he did I mean Purdy look great We'll get I get to him later, but Purdy look great. I thought and Stafford was Unusually bad like you you rarely see him be bad

4:12But his pass or rating of 61.2 the lowest since December of His first season with the Rams in 2021. Oh, yeah, I mean it was he was that bad Secondly San Francisco's defense surprisingly was better than the Rams defense the goal lines Tackle of Pukin the Kua was huge because it was if they scored at touchdown now at 70 40 is a whole different game But to stop him there and then on the next play the goal line stands on Stafford's QB sneak was huge on the other side The Rams gave up 174 yards rushing that six yards of carry for San Francisco thirdly Shanahan Nick out coach Sean McVeigh like that QB sneak and we showed that again I'm firing going for it. I thought it was a terrible call Matthew Stafford's 38. Well, he why you see he also has fewer than 20 sneaks in his career

5:17He had he's I think he has one rushing touchdown last eight years I see Kevin Wilde's eyes being like oh one yard touchdowns arenas easy as people say they aren't for everyone Right, he's not and he is Well, I think he is Literally historically one of the worst sneakers at quarterback we've had like my homes just they just doesn't do it So maybe he's the least like that's how he got hurt the um but Devonte came off the field and that's where he got all his touchdowns correct And so they decided to turn it to the Eagles that or and I don't mind them running it But just no to Kyron will and they were running fairly well last night the last thing is The sports science team for the Niners. I'm not gonna go deep into it They did out did the sports science team for the ransom and here's only thing that because I'm not an expert. I'm not going to claim to be The Rams looked on you like Stafford like I said we haven't seen yet. They look sleepy or something like that like

6:18They just look like they had jet lag now again. I'm not going to blame it on that. I won't give the Niners credit But it a clearly didn't work out however much you played into it. Let me start where you ended and then I'll get to the other stuff I don't know like listen Maybe the Niners sports science team is brilliant. Maybe it's a whole lab And maybe it's literally just some guy walking down the hall and it was like hey when should we get to Australia? And he's like not the day before and they're like aren't cool like so I think you take any trip anywhere Like after four days you're like oh we guess we live here But the kids in school so I don't know been so much the Niners cracked the code versus the Rams Roll the dice and came up you know and came up snake eyes now It I had been saying is it possible the Rams Were rolling the dice on this thinking they might not be in the best position for week one Because they think that what the way the Niners did it is going to have an adverse effect on them

7:19The Niners have off though the Rams got what nine ten days. I mean the rest play next Monday and those nine Is play Sunday so they're gonna have time. I would think I tend to agree with you know I'm saying I am leaving a 10% chance that if we're like oh my goodness the Niners look awful in weeks two and three That that we'll say okay, so this is what it is. I don't think it's likely I'm just saying I think for the Rams their travel planning was not just about week one But I also don't think that game came just down to the travel planning We'll talk about the Niners side of it in a moment But on the Rams side of it again, it's week one of course it's ripe for overreaction but there are Some legitimate concerns about a team that we discussed more likely missed the playoffs or go undefeated And didn't think it was like an outrageous discussion to have a team that went into the year Plus 500 to miss the playoffs and that's now been cut in half like just such massive favorites

8:22There's still big favorites to make the playoffs, but not the biggest favorites in football one is Their biggest offseason edition miles Garrett All camp was dealing with what Sean McVeigh called a lower body injury We up to and including yesterday on the show in some ways Poo Poo did because we're like a staffer Miss a lot of camp. Yeah Stafford to 10 years older than miles eight years older than miles Garrett plays a different position Wasn't changing teams wasn't changing systems Miles Garrett's injury reported training camp was a real thing He then confirmed to us. It was a real thing and we saw in the field now some of that's Trent Williams Being a first mile a farmer but it's true exactly right. So that to me is All right You know, I know that they're going to get Aaron Donald, but this was a team that was the huge favorites before Aaron Donald showed up It's not like well. What could you expect me to look like without Donald? So that's a concern The other defensive additions that I am very very acutely aware of their histories

9:26I want to talk about for a moment. I want to talk about Stafford If I am a Rams fan, I am anxious about the 17 million a year that I gave to Jalen Watson Hmm. There is Jalen Watson was a seventh round pick for the Kansas City Chiefs He was unbelievable given where he was drafted One of the reasons he was drafted where he was is because he wasn't a blue chip talent by NFL standards those guys in Spagged system Historically performed better than they do when they leave he got you know both of the touchdowns were on him I like the player is a champion with the team and he's a really good guy I it would I would be a little anxious and I was saying all offseason Trent McDuffy is a great player if you play him at his position He is the best slot corner in the league. He wants to play on the outside They paid him like they're paying him on the outside and yesterday they played him on the outside You are not going to get the best value of Trent McDuffy playing him in my opinion out of position

10:31So there is if they made him a lot of zone right and they played a ton of zone and he's on the outside And then last but not least is the reigning MVP Matt Stafford and this is the point I was making You know when I'm not skeptical the Rams are not as bullish as some people were What Matt Stafford are we going to get in 2026? Because 2023 2024 and 2025 Matt Stafford are not the same player right like if we just last three years Three years ago it's good and scary in the playoffs two years ago He's good and scary in the playoffs last year He's unbelievable and scary in the playoffs. Yeah, listen. He's a great player I said all last year. I think it's future all the famer But each of the last two seasons He was low to mid 20s and touchdowns and a 93 pass or rating You know and then last year he has more touchdowns those two seasons combined in 109 rating If if they are getting 2024 Matt Stafford

11:34They're not this unstoppable juggernaut for the time being and again I'm not taking a shot. It's you guys know how much I like staff up But those are all to me fair. Ooh. Absolutely. Yeah, but's about the Rams Absolutely One final note on the Rams Dusty can you show the sleeping celebration? there is an element of Huberst to the Rams that I think that we saw With winning the offseason they were very like ah and just all the expectations and hearing the noise like you know What we're actually smarter than you we're just gonna pop down play the game to the point where our celebration Is also going to be kind of mocking you that you think we're gonna be out They do the sleeping celebration after they pick off Brock Pertie and then Brock Pertie scores four straight touchdowns They Haven't won anything they won the offseason Uh championship. Yeah, it's very hard to win the offseason championship in the real championship very few teams have done that

12:37I think the Eagles won the offseason with Sequan Uh sure, I mean but not to this level. Yeah, you know maybe the bucks with Brady But even then people are like yeah Brady is you know, I'm not sure the way they play yesterday I don't know if that was a celebration market. I think they were just tired They want to go sleep The biggest thing is Miles Garrett. Yeah, like they They seven rush you didn't also didn't play that much. Well, so I mean do it and that's it Can we show the Miles Garrett sets real quick for him? Come on. I mean it was He played 62% of their snaps So you know he didn't play For the rounds what was he? No, he's 90. Yeah, no, no, I understand But my point is he wasn't just like a situational pass rusher He played less which to me confirms he is dealing with something. Yeah, I was gonna say somebody asked me He is dealing with something and you know depending on who you like for your pressures source He either had one or zero pressures

13:38He obviously had no splash plays. He never hit the quarterback like That that is just something to watch for a 30 year old changing teams Dealing with the lower body injury just wrote my expectations for Aaron Donald Even though he wasn't even on the continent Also went down just because Miles Garrett Oh, you didn't like he's not even healthy enough to go to Australia. He's not ready to go Miles Garrett Is less about the health and more about ramp up? So that's you know, he's not dealing with an injury On the 49ers side Brock Purdy Through three touchdowns of the 49ers look like the old 49ers Dibo was back in the uniform quad touchdown drake green law back On the team making plays Mike Evans in the end zone Brand new but old guy. Great 49ers look great. Here's Shanahan on Purdy I thought Brock played so well. I mean I had one play. I know he wants to take back the the interception alike But he made some big time plays and big time throws there the one the 99 yard drive There are so many plays there that he had to take off schedule where there wasn't an answer and Brock was unbelievable today

14:43What did the four oh party yesterday first three drives little slow? Yeah I mean Australia what's going on here? last six drives Completion percentage was I love shot up to 81 percent and look at that passer rating bro He's I don't know 20 passes away not even 20. I don't think from becoming all-time leader. What did the 49ers prove to you? You saw it? I'll start with Brock and obviously I've been a Brock guy on this show or period Nation a bit the last couple years, but you have been the Brock guy well and speaking of that like he hasn't been bad The last few years But he wasn't as good as he started his career. I thought last night. I thought he looked different He looked much better than he did in these last couple years and again. He wasn't bad last year but he was He wasn't being carried at all. He I mean, I know they had a good run game No, I agree with you, but he was doing it like he was surgical to check the right check downs

15:43um The obviously the 39 yard touchdown pass to DeMarcus Robinson That's the that was 44 air yards from the line of scrimmage. That was the longest air yards completion of his career. Oh, so he threw it about 50 yards, but from the line of scrimmage. Yeah, like 44 So I just thought his poise he was in command He looked different to me now. Maybe I'm overdoing it overstating it because they were playing a good team or whatever But I just thought Nick he looked different. I think you might disagree He's never I know Debo was great at one time. Debo was a great football player I don't know he wasn't like a top three receiver necessarily and Mike Evans isn't top three anymore either But did Mike Evans probably the best receiver he's had I you had a great year I was right before he got paid I would bet I you that year's better than Mike Evans now But I don't know about red zone target. Yeah, I haven't like the legit number one that obviously gonna be a hall of famer

16:43You saw the red zone touchdown. I just thought Purdy was fantastic. So that was that was something look at and then the defense Which you rightly thought was gonna struggle? I got you Raheem Morris some credit who is a very good coach I believe he's their defense coordinator Fred Warner Nick Bosa those guys look great Nick and this is I gave you the staffer passer rating since 2021 The Rams in staffer its career in LA With him starting a game have never been held to seven or fewer points That's 75 games. Yeah, have been once in a playoff Seattle held him to six like 20 Few years ago you were worried about Robert Sala. You mentioned Raheem Morris. So I'm right in the middle This is Raheem Morris's last two games Against Stafford one with Atlanta and yesterday Two wins completion percentage way down passing yards. He was okay against the Falcons But the passer rating 64 and 61 the and look at the bottom line the Rams DC from 21 to 23

17:46Always like a little bit of a revenge factor like he knows them. Yeah, that may have played I mean more so I think is a very good coach, but that may have played but you were worried about Sala That felt like a big so listen I miss for you and now see what's built typically when I Doubt the Niners it's because Doubt I have about the quarterback to be fair to myself Yesterday going my analysis yesterday was I thought the Niners could score 27 Right, but I thought the Rams were gonna score 35 plus like I thought that My so I was as wrong as you can be about the Niners defense I said again and again. I didn't think they could get a stop They got nothing but stops like the it was Stunning to me how good that defense was Fred Warner is we're throwing around Hall of Famer a lot on this A block But Fred Warner is the the the best Player at his position of his generation Luke Keekley was on the call Luke Keekley had the mantle probably before him

18:49Fred Warner has has it post him so he has been He transforms their defense Nikki Bosa did not look hurt at all I mentioned at key on white the Patriots got rid of him he looked good the back end which I had huge questions about every single one of Their defensive backs they played well that They didn't lean on McCaffrey that much they they ended Katelyn Black no it Katelyn Black at least in the first half had more Rushes than him finished the game with 14 McCaffrey had 10 and I think that by the way is smart to you know try to be able to ramp McCaffrey up so The if the Niners defense is Anything close to the level they showed yesterday They are a dangerous team because CMC at that for the time being is healthy I know he wasn't a good yesterday. I still will you know last year wasn't that efficient. It was high volume Trent Williams Has an argument that

19:51You know he's the best offensive lineman this century. Yeah, he's 38 years old and just pitched a shutout yesterday Pertie was great like that there is I'm not gonna the negate me look he looks I thought His the one touchdown pass the bomb that you showed the one where he scrambled and you know kind of went off schedule That was great the mic Evans play is more mic Evans But you got to put that in the right spot like pretty made one mistake. So what he's that's the thing is he's going to He's gonna and if you're a high volume touchdown guy. I don't mind You know certain guys throwing a pick is more damaging because you're not gonna get the upside to it but if that defense is 75% The rest of the year of what it was yesterday. They're a dangerous team I thought they were gonna have a bad defense that defense looked awesome that you know I don't want to overreact to that but that from what we saw that was a great performance. What a more thing. Yeah, go

20:51Dusty I told it I told you I was right remember he was like he wouldn't be number one on MVP He asked for it after two games and I said I was like well. We did it On fire for the season. Yeah, but right now He is the me give me this two games for him warning 11 tackles yesterday back from injury J. S. Yeah, great play Uh, game winning maybe the girls like he's not gonna be MVP in a well Friday right now. He's one week at number one good spot right now 49th place for 51 Hosted office next Sunday news out into England AJ Brown is going on injured reserve. He'll miss the next four games at least Home against the Steelers in Jacksonville at Buffalo and then home against the Raiders How concerning do you think this is it's not a total surprise by no, but it's the the confirmation If they thought He's probably missing four weeks. I don't know if they put him on IR

21:51That when a guy gets put on IR it means we know he's missing four weeks And so I don't think the audience should read it as okay, he'll be back in five right that's the earliest he can be back Listen As a guy whose team Got blown out in the Super Bowl and then in week one had a disappointing loss and their number one receiver got hurt And was out for the next few weeks It didn't set the table for a great season that I enjoyed I also think that The underwhelming nature of the rest of the weapons with the the only now to in my opinion the only explosive Playmaker you have is Travion he's hurt now. I don't know how badly he's hurt bad hurt badly enough to miss week one That worries me the fact that I don't know how good your running game is going to be Um against a defense that isn't the Seattle You know what I mean like Seattle's run defense so good last year. There's good and everything But that is I think it is a big deal and I think coaches point that last year his two favorite weapons digs and booty are both gone

22:59And now the guy I think I would imagine you spent the most time this off season with yeah getting a rapport with a J is going to be gone for a very important stretch of your season Pittsburgh Jacksonville Buffalo at the plus the Raiders at the very least I think it's a pretty big deal KW It's big you're going to start one in three I'm just letting you know because you're playing some tough teams and as much as I don't think Pissburg is going to make the playoffs I mean they're not you know Chop liver and then you got Jacksonville and the bills and so you're gonna. I think start one in three I don't know you know there have been people out there that said oh the very blue thing obviously they move past that But if they start slowly now, I think people will attribute the slow start to AJ being hurt things like that But who knows maybe that comes up or and I Because Nick brought up what you're receiving for his now-wilds I don't think Drake's gonna have a huge start And so I think that's going to become a story in and of his cell. Is is he really that good?

24:00Is he the guy we saw last year or was it the schedule? So I think this is huge and a bad sign for the past Glass half full sure and this is like when we talked about putting this in the show Like I kind of expected and I've emotionally moved past it Partially because Sam Darnal goes out right away and then AJ Brown goes out, you know a few minutes later So even as devastating as it was I felt bad for AJ Brown I felt even worse for defending champion Sam Darnal who didn't even get one full drive But I still feel bad for AJ Brown, but it's actually like there's no fracture It's just a high ankle spring which is still bad, but still it could have been worse And then if it's I'd like everyone to be healthy for the entire season go Injuries off maddening style as you like to say But if it's gonna if injury has to happen Having extra time we played on a Wednesday you get extra time early in the season I get that I'm just I'm just not as stressed now. I'm like you say yeah

25:04I doubt is just gonna be for a game. No, I might be five of them. It's the jets jets I know It might be five and he's not and he comes back less than a hundred percent and it's I let me just say this Go on the record with this it is a big slice of the potential AJ Brown season pie That he finishes this year with 370 yards and two touchdowns that this that he is out six weeks that he comes back. He's not what I don't want to mean I'm 80 percent I'm not saying that is my you know I'm predicting that but he is but he is and it would now would be stunning If you have a thousand yard if he has a thousand yard season be stunning to me And and so like it's oh just a not a lost season for him But potentially lost season really on the board. You missed the Seahawks game is five. Yeah, you got miss another one All right coming up next will we see MVP mahalms on Monday that night that's next on fs1 the Fox Sports Channel on serious xm

26:13Check out the podcast and our youtube channel jiana is just doing a fantastic job lots of original content and the podcast Just flying up the podcast charts. So great job to our entire team Welcome back to first things first coach man genie is here Patrick mahalms releasing a new height video on his Instagram. That was cool in conjunction with a dentist is talking about What what is on what am I looking at here? I think you're looking at a lion a lion But it all out that he talks about basically waiting and when People think that you're the prey when you're still the prey. Yes Yes, yes, yes, also had a press conference where he seemed done with questions about his surgery take a listen Thanks Part Joe part serious mahalms last three games against the Broncos one and two Team is scored let average less than 15 points. Yep. It's pass rating

27:15Solid and some deep plus like the it's hard to have that pass rating with that many yards for game And it's because he has had some bad interceptions. He pass rating doesn't incorporate how good or bad the interceptions are But they have been bad. What would a great mahalms performance prove to you or mean to you A few things first one is that The odds makers in Vegas have a much better pulse of this team and its potential than the media That they are that the favorites win the division but not by the picks we see you know what I mean like they are they are Minus significant money to make the playoffs But again not by the picks we see it's about 50-50 They have the fifth best odds to win the super. Yeah, that's a pride. No one has ram sea ox bills Ravens chiefs is the you know, and by the way There's a lot of teams right there with the chiefs the Niners jumped up to right behind them like you know It's a very it's slim numbers between that but that's where they're at mm-hmm and I think me and Barnwell are the only people that you actually didn't say the only people the only ones that I saw in the national media to pick them to win

28:22So that's the first thing I mean the second thing it would it would mean is that The whole aFC is probably a little bummed out That there is because this is a you are up against what is supposed to be an excellent defense b You are he you know without one of your more important Offensive pieces in the left tackle nobody told what I'm saying that's a piece that you think you're going to have back In short order and see we would think this is the worst Patrick's going to be as far as the rustiest however You would do it in the road to recovery. So if under those circumstances he's great It's gonna be I would be very surprised if Baltimore or Buffalo or Houston can have a performance this weekend That makes me feel like or the general public feel like At the aFC doesn't go through Kansas City Obviously that he's great in a win. I'm saying like it'd be weird

29:26If he if they lose 38 35 and this young defense just looks awful Maybe that changes things a little bit, but I'm assuming it would be if he looks great to win those are to me What it would mean coach? Yeah, I don't even think he has to look great for people to be put on notice. I think if he looks good in this first game or or Significantly better than he was last year Then it's a pretty strong message because it's not just coming off the injury But it's coming off the injury off of a season that was one of his his worst seasons his worst so yeah So you combine those two things against the team that led the league in sacks should be again very good defensively So so he doesn't have to he doesn't have to be classic Patrick Patrick my homes To scare people and and put him on notice He just has to be good in this first game and to me That changes everything in in the division because I do feel like Typically with a normal athlete

30:27There's gonna be an adjustment period coming off an injury where you go from a controlled environment and practice To having to react and for a guy like him who is so good with his feet He starts showing that ability in this first game off of the injury It's it's could be a problem for a lot of people to your point coach if they win period Even if he looks bad I think that's scary for the AFC because obviously their face and Denver and you know he's going to get better They don't have probably won't have Josh Simmons. So I Even if you don't play well and they win it'll be scary if he plays great That is Terrifying for the rest of the AFC because they there is a feeling I think Obviously people still respect him But there is this feeling of okay They're not yet whether that or certainly you know with Brady and neighbors This page was still really good during those 10 years where he didn't win it But that was 10 years he didn't win a Super Bowl

31:28And so I think people are starting to feel like this is a little whether to be 10 years or not But this is a little gap where we can the chiefs aren't what they used to be if he goes out and plays great Then you got to be like oh Maybe they will be what they're used to be and we're scared and you gotta give you'd have to give Eric be in to me some credit too Because him coming back as a L.C. and people you bring up the 10 years a win the Super Bowl That is to me less of a comparative concern than The Patriots in the middle of that 10 years went three years without winning a playoff game Yeah, oh seven Brady got his knee blown out. They made they missed the playoffs. They win 11 games with missed the playoffs oh eight they go 10 and six and that was if I remember correctly, I think that was That was a raven the ravens destroyed them That wasn't the Ray Rice playoff game doesn't matter what it was the rate they they get beat up and then oh nine They're really good But lose to the Jets and Mark Sanchez in that playoff game and so the three straight years in the middle of Brady's prime

32:33Where they don't win a playoff game that would be the concern for Kansas City that you're in that you know what I mean type of you know kind of dip Go ahead. No, just for for this game. It's interesting that it's on Monday so we get a Of view of all the quarterbacks on Sunday. We've seen four quarterbacks play The Super Bowl champion is gone. Yeah, the MVP number one played terrible MVP number two played terrible and Brock Purti who was up and down last year played great The thing that I'm worried about and I believe in my homes and I believe that he attacked You know his rehab and everything But throughout his whole career and you've been on this and Andy Riesman I was like we play hard in the preseason so we're ready to rock we won and he didn't do that So even outside of the injury if he just if he was healthy and didn't play in the preseason that would be a headscrew So that so listen there is that flip side to that coin is He took more reps This training camp than last year's even if you include the reps he missed in the actual preseason games

33:36And I think the going hard in the preseason games is more beneficial for everyone but the quarterback because it's not like patch was getting hit He obviously never gets hit in the training camp practices But he wasn't getting hit in the preseason games either like they're you know, he's getting the ball out But this is this is the thing I want to say about The competitor Patrick my homes is He dislocated his kneecap in 2019 he missed two games He suffered the injury that is knocking AJ Brown out for a month a high ankle sprain in the playoffs in 2022 He missed zero games. He missed the end of that game and then the Or he no he didn't miss the end of that game. He came back in that game. Yeah He missed a drive to get it x-rayed came back through a touchdown pass on one leg Maybe you didn't want to get it x-rayed and then you know ran for the biggest play in the AFC title game Ran for the biggest play in the Super Bowl He now is coming back from an ACL and about the shortest time that we've seen anyone do it

34:40And there was not a single moment This offseason He ever doubted he was playing week one. He from the very beginning He knew he was gonna walk before his 11 month old Dance at Travis's wedding and play in week one. We know two for three of those he confirmed it at the dancing yes Pixard didn't happen I haven't seen I haven't seen anything I haven't seen it Yes Unfriendly environment for Josh and the bills considering they haven't won in Houston in 20 years Josh hopes a new season and a new coach will yield a new result take a listen We understand what their defense is and has been You know they have a fantastic coach over there those those guys are gonna be ready to play They got after a slasher. There's no secret about it This is Josh's career on the road in Houston. This includes the playoffs. Oh for four

35:41This team scores a ton of points. This is less than 18 passer rating 66 coach. Do you expect Josh to struggle? This is also the sight of against the Texas throw the ball over his head. Oh real Very early in his place first ever playoff game. It was against the Texans to the ball over his head. Yeah I Don't I don't see what's so different. We just saw New England play Seattle With the same offensive coordinator and the same Quarterback and at a very similar result and and to some degree a worse result right and so Last year when they played it was eight sacks. He was hit 12 times. He threw two interceptions the two really bad Interceptions and to me what what's the philosophy difference between Disregime and the last regime is this gonna be let Josh cook is that is that gonna be the new deal because remember the last time They let him cook any through 18 picks and then then he they rained them back in and he became the MVP of the league

36:44So we going back to That philosophy. So if we go back yes We're breaking even though Brady is the one that rainy and the difference is is James Cook last year at 17 attempts for 116 yards and 6.8 yard average So if you want to slow down the defensive line and not have Hit your quarterback 12 times. You probably should run the guy who gets 6.8 yards per carry and and but but I think it's probably gonna be the other way of Hey, he's been he's been held back. So I'm sorry. He's not a hype video where he's coming out of you some cave and Introducing you know the new year Whatever that is It's hard for me coach to sit here and say he's going to be as bad as he's been in these last few games against it like you mentioned 12 hits two interceptors last time the game before that when he was nine for 30 nine for 30 nine for That feels one of the lowest completion percentage. I think it was the lowest completion percentage on a 30-past attempt game in the history of the

37:48Yeah, and for a superstar that that's unbelievable So I don't think he'll be that bad and I think it would be horrific if he were because I get it jobraty was there last year And he's the OC But still it's a new head coach. You got a new number one receiver There's all this hype about the team if they come out and it's the same result against Houston for him and the team That is terrible So I think I don't think he'll cook against it like I mean I mean, I don't think you'll have great numbers against them. He'll dominate them I do think buffalo can win and I think if they win I think he'll have moments. So I don't think we'll look at this and say oh josh was terrible again I think we could look at it as Josh was really good But not because he threw for 280 yards It'll be because he'll have a moment or two or three where he runs for the decisive touchdown or throws the big pass

38:49I think he can have moments against them. I don't think you have a great game with buzzer to buzzer The strange thing about last year is he had a 70% completion rate He had 253 yards past negative place. Yeah, it was so like from a production standpoint the numbers if you looked at the byline And you think oh this game he must have a great game But then are you going to get those numbers again and allow the guy to get hit 12 times and and I understand he's big He's physical. He can take hits I mean I'll wear them getting your quarterback hit 12 times and sack the eight of them. That's rough last two games the corner one sharp Josh was pressured 43% of the time and 44% of his dropbacks I think you're right coach. I Part of me hopes that this just looks like Patriots Seahawks like you guys kicked our butt We don't have any Saul for your defensive line and so you're gonna. Yeah, they do again. That James Listen, I know I know we're not allowed to acknowledge the fact that the bills last year had the number one pass

39:54Defense in the NFL and the rushing champ because the bill's story is Josh Allen and 52 orphans and Buffalo They had the no one pass defense. Have you heard anyone say that all year? Yeah, why they? They're rushing the run But they still they put the little they allow one like 167 yards passing again So again, I a week ago to little aster. It's gonna be running. I'm just saying as far as yards allowed they had the number one pass Devon's wasn't horrible no last night. I'm talking about the number one pass defense. They intercepted twice They ran it In an upset alert. Yeah, I've been calling it for real literally oh since the world that's what I thought so just guys has to a quick question 30 seconds Because I don't necessarily disagree with you might show up in next picks to oh If the bills Look good and win How nervous will you be about your biggest flag plant of the offseason that the bills are not that good and they're missing the playoffs long season

41:01Okay, all right great answer An asterisk of CJ's proud look all good I think You know else made upgrades in the offseason. Well, Marjacks. I got a new coach. Yeah He opens up an Indianapolis week one first look at the two-time MVP with a new coach and new OC Lamar has lost his last two openers, but buckle up cults. This is Lamar and week one foreign three seems like oh, that's not bad Look at the points 33 points. Yeah, 300 yards 15 touchdowns only two picks pass rating at 120 are expecting an immediate Impressive a game from Lamar. Yes I just like I expect like when my homes. I expect him to win basically. Yeah I expect Lamar to just put up great regular seasons, you know like like obviously Two years ago when he didn't win the MVP. He had 41 touchdowns four intercept like just great

42:05Last year before and I know he wasn't injured enough to miss game well, you didn't miss some games Before the injuries whatever they were yep, he had 10 touchdown passes one interception before he got hurt against Kansas City in first four games And even the last game we saw him against Pittsburgh He had three touchdowns 121 pass rating name they lost it because of the kicker missed the field goal, but I yes, he's gonna cook and I think coach just I know he's got new offense We all know the last time he had two new offensive coordinators He won the MVP, but I think him being under center more They're now going with some three receiver sets like I think he's got it the offense is gonna be totally more Unpredictable than it was last year it was like last year if Henry's in there. Oh, they're running If he's not there, you know, so I think that's just gonna make him more dangerous I will like to watch and see how much he runs or uses legs may not need to Indian Indian I was not a great defense under shames like and so they might just cook them through the air

43:07But I think he's gonna have a great numbers and Henry to what week did he go on IR last year was it the second week of the season? I know he's totally no, he knows I are No, you got hurt against the chief He had ten times he was cooking coach the team was losing because of the defense He's a hurtful I know you got a defender your I'm making him miss the playoffs I just got confused because I keep hearing how that was that was the problem so they had to move on from everybody So they're playing I would be surprised if he doesn't absolutely light it up actually I would be disappointed if he doesn't light it up the culture 31 and 31st against the past last year And they didn't really add much to the deep well they added sauce during the year and then he got hurt So like they remember that they traded for sauce because They thought they'd go in to address that but go ahead. Yeah, well I mean hopefully one corner can take him First to count five and past the offense. I don't think that's gonna be the case

44:09But other than that, I know they drafted a safety in the third round They signed a couple guys that were sort of mid to low-range contracts that to reinforce things But there wasn't the dramatic overhaul that we've seen from other teams that have struggled in a similar fashion So now you to me like the start of the season he's obviously They're reinvigorated in terms of the change and that all those things say that this should be a gigantic number from from Lamar And if he puts up big passing numbers against what was the 31st best past defense just maybe So I'll listen if I'm a Ravens fan. I am so happy That for the first time in a few years we are starting I know Jamar chase hates it One o'clock Sunday afternoon in a local window two years ago Coming off an absolutely devastating heart-breaking playoff defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs

45:13The NFL is like hey Guess where you get to start off in Kansas City and watch them drop the banner Last year coming off an absolutely devastating heart-breaking playoff defeat to the Buffalo Bills With the drop by Mark Andrews. They're like hey Guess where you guess how you get to start off the season against Buffalo And both years they lost heart-breaking games in the regular season The chiefs it was the Isaiah likely play with that denied him the opportunity to be able to go for two Last year there up 15 was it in the fourth quarter like six. Yeah with AI and Derek Henry fumbles and it gets away from them Now they get the cults It uh, you know at one o'clock there is no scar tissue between these Franchises I guess except for that the cult used to play in Baltimore brown thing anybody cares about I do Oh, that's a long time ago So I Listen to be clear it's not like Lamar was bad in those

46:13lived the the chiefs and bills losses. I'm not saying that though you know in the bills loss He was unbelievably good actually. I just think the Ravens And I was saying it at the time that I thought it was crazy that they had to start their seasons where they did now the NFL did it to the Patriots this year so maybe that's their thing But I so I do expect him to play really carefree and well We don't know the rules of upset alert which is coming up in five minutes but I've been Flirting with a one real pick and what I call the e 40 pick will sprinkle me just a little sprinkle yeah 40 Bay Area the cults last year started seven and one Mm-hmm. This is how many points they scored in their first seven games 33 29 41 20 40 31 38 Jonathan Taylor is going to run the ball I'm very interested in this new defense that everybody loves but I'm interested in a little so here's what I'm here's what I'm willing to tell you you know what

47:17There is an upset alert rules a dendom That is coming game name during upset alert In a couple minutes. Wow what a great job with the team probably Well sprinkle upset alert coming up in five minutes a brand new segment new rules and a hype video for coaching Greg That's next same result remember him coat light was it light ale Mitchell line or I'm missing a running back for the cool But I was part of that first Ravens sapphic Live from New York it's a show it's fixing college football It's the second hour of first things first today Matt liner joins us live from Ann Arbor Arbor How badly does Michigan need a win? I mean while a fresh Premier edition of upset alert and next picks Nick would like to take some time out of the show to remind you that he won the regular season picks and the post season picks

48:17Championship the day ain't that's not a chance fake it is I know it's what I just said Is it fair to say you won the regular season he won the post? No, it's not because that's not how it works It's not how it works. Oh, so post season wins don't matter the in this specific every sport. It's It's just Any does a good job What he does exactly right? 49ers went down under then got over on the Rams 27-7 pretty start slow That was rolling coach picked apart the Rams new defense Raining MVP meanwhile only through for 155 yards travel plan discrepancies huge storyline here's the two coaches take a listen Took us a couple days to kind of get our mind right but um, you know our hotel the city just the whole organization Would bring in everything the cooks every it felt like home once we got here

49:19Um, I'm glad the guys went out and played like that too Sometimes sports can humble you and today was one of those days. I make no excuses and You know whether you want to say it's about travel whatever we just weren't good enough in that window I didn't coach good enough and uh, and we'll look at it and we'll move forward Coach were you surprised the 49ers dominated the Rams? I like the little shot there the you know it took us a couple days. Yeah, yeah I felt that way too We bought everybody made a great time. It's nice. They get it's that is a really nice To be able to do for an organization and and when you take those trips if you can include, you know other people from the organization Mm-hmm. So you get not only get the benefit of the win but you get the benefit of building an off site Yeah, well, yeah, it is like a nice built-in off site and then the other side I can't imagine that anybody is ever gonna follow this travel protocol again to it A trip that extensive and I get I get the thought process because it worked when they went to London But they were on the east coast and they had already you know taken up that three hours and so it's it's different

50:26But we now know the answer to which way you should follow. Well, I sucked by party. Yeah, I was I as I I guess less about that than More about how ineffective the Rams changes that they made defensively were I was I was excited by the defensive backs that they added. I thought those guys were gonna have significant impact I was I thought that Miles Garrett would have some impact in the game at all He's talked a lot about how ineffective he was and how bad he was and on all three touchdowns I don't think he was in for any one of those touchdown passes that that party through Which is and when you look at that That they threw that deep because I knew gear The probably like I'm this on this pass play right here the guy runs through the secondary they're playing quarters He literally just runs by the safety Which was disappointing on the the last touchdown debosamuel the defensive end comes inside look at the end up top comes inside

51:26Allows party to roll out. That's how it's to maintain and hit some of the back It was some of it was self-inflicted some of it was lack of performance by guys that you thought were definitely I believe we're gonna have an impact and have So you think that you sound like you think that's definitely related to the the travel situation It didn't you guys as you're watching the game feel the energy a little bit from The way that the port in eyes were hitting it was a little bit like the New England game like I thought Seattle came out and Putting it on New England early and you can hear it even in the TV copy the way the pads hit the the intensity of Contact it felt a little bit that way Maybe not initially in this game, but definitely as the game war pass maybe the first quarter coach I didn't raise an eyebrow I mean I thought I thought that the nighters are gonna win and they did now

52:30I was surprised at the dominance. I thought it'd be a good game. I thought it'd be maybe 27-20 something like that I was surprised at how bad staffer look god. I didn't look bad. You rarely see him look bad He he looked bad you missed some throws. He wasn't moving that well What one third down. Yeah, yeah, he just I mean I said earlier coach lowest passer rating for him since his first season in L.A. in 2021 Seven points was the lowest they've scored in a game since he's been with the Rams as a starter Um, I was surprised Miles Garrett was just completely ineffective. I give Shanahan credit They coached him out of the game, but he also and he sounded like he's not healthy We know he missed some time in the preseason. So I was surprised about that. I was surprised at this Niners dominance defensively like that was really encouraging and I give her a he more so out of credit But they look great defensively and I was surprised to Nick at D-bow I mean he looked good like if he I don't know if they'll get that D-bow the whole season

53:35But he looked really good and fresh so yeah, that was the two old guys contributed and the stripling who yeah, I was really excited and going in the game and up Unfortunately, and the guy who had danged and uh luck But the I was again from watching on the stripling thing. I felt I was sick I was watching with my nephew at my sister's house and I was like all this poor guy I was like I think he just tore his Achilles because the way it went Oh, I know but no, but they said it wasn't okay. They like he they they did the you could see him on the field They did the test and then he went off with the cart with and so it was but they they Shanahan said after the game It's an ankle not Achilles. Okay, so that is you know, it's that's brutal like a guy's first game if I made quickly on the Rams and the Niners I The Miles Garrett thing is decidedly not nothing He's 30 years old. He missed a lot of training camp with lower body stuff We now know it wasn't just the Matt Stafford veteran have planned It's something and what gets lost in the Miles Garrett acquisition was it was not the Trent McDuffie acquisition

54:35Where you traded away draft picks for the player you traded away draft picks and an excellent player at his position Which the only reason I mentioned that is What percent Does Miles Garrett need to be to where he's not better than Jared verse? You know what I it's like the Rams lost Jared verse. Yeah, so if Miles Garrett is 75% of Miles Garrett that's not that's not enough right and I think Jared versus getting better getting And so that's a listen Miles Garrett we were talking about could he's had 25 sacks this year So I'm not gonna I'm not trying to overreact to it But if he is dealing with something and is not you know close to 100 percent Then the Rams until Aaron Donald shows back up did not get better at past russia You know what I mean like that and so like that to me is and did this something that is dealing with suddenly show up or did this happen What when he was a ram? I don't know if it was I don't know if we have the reporting on if it was Like in no I don't think there's like no, I don't think there was one event

55:39I think he was he's been dealing that they're very they don't even say what type of they say lower body You know what I mean they don't give us a lot of the details and then the And the ram secondary I think Trent McTuffy is a great slot corner there not playing him in the slot And I I'm interested see if jail in Watson if that was spag scheme or a seventh you know But they paid him 17 million bucks the biggest shocker to me I thought the re the Niners were going to have a bad defense and they had an unble they yesterday an unbelievable defense Nick Bosa looked healthy Fred Warner is Fred freaking Warner is just an all-time great player And then a lot of guys that I didn't have a lot of faith in played great if that Niners defense coach Can be I thought they were going to be a C- at best if there are B plus and yesterday they were an AA plus There are B plus then that teams a real NFC contender and so that I think is Sorry, bro. We have to cut you off because it's time now For a segment as hot as my grandmother's special iced tea

56:42It's absurd. Absolutely. You know what happened My grandmother passed away years ago from the iced tea well certainly didn't help Do sorry do we need to go over the champions and we are We made a season over we made a special We made a special video for coaching Greg. It's not a banner. It's just a fun video Take a listen Time now for the hottest segment In all the sports it's up to the edge. I'm going with the Atlanta Falcons wow The Cleveland Brawls Caroline over Green Bay Oh Carolina Panthers upsetting the LA win Steelers over your ratings I'm going Panthers over Bucks

57:46Back to back up settler champion It was the parade I mean Looking back on it's just a guy who loved the Panthers So before we get to coach's pick for new viewers yes a quick review of the rules of up settler It's a very simple system It's not like Johnny had this online right so I will just give you a four instance for instance this week the Denver Broncos are two and a half point dogs against Kansas City If you pick Denver as your up settler and they win outright you get three points for picking them Plus whatever the points spread is so you'd get five and a half points You get more you get three points for being correct plus whatever the spread is if that we added this last year If you just cover You get one point you get one point for covering and not doing it Kevin Wilde has now asked For the ability to parlay up settler sprinkle The sprinkle is denied the parlay is allowed very simply added this year to prevent

58:52Coaching Greg from being able to run away with it you may Parlay two upsets and become eligible for the points from both upsets however If you don't get both upsets correct you get zero points for the way you have to get two outright winners correct You have to get them both exactly right And then you can get a points bonanza Tell me right now you run the map on this is that a good is that a good thing to do what it is I mean it helps if you're down it helps you're down or you have massive or if you have there's a couple ways It would make sense you have massive conviction on games then it would make sense You don't want to pick a nine and a half point team you don't think you win But two small dogs you think we'll win pick them both But if you just like a regular parlay one and one get you zero you got to go to I love it What's the what's the downside for doing that every week? I'm gonna parlay every week If you don't get both

59:57I'm telling you that's coach You're this is this is why the sportsbooks and I run this one Love parlay's the audience thinks they're great. I'm telling they're hard to do coach. Don't change your system You're the Yeah Kick us off week one upset alert. I think we know where this is going The Washington command. Oh We did there. Oh, that's too small Jayden Daniels we all I mean all we've talked about is drape May we saw how that went Then we talked about Kaelin okay, we'll see where that goes I probably should have parlayed this and then we're gonna talk about Jane But we're gonna talk about jaden a totally different late Because I think we're gonna get back to the jaden that we saw a couple years ago And I I feel pretty strongly that the Stefan digs effect is gonna is gonna come into play here In Washington like it did in New England where he had his troubles early on his career But now he's a new man and not only is he producing at a high level

1:01:00But he's also had a very powerful impact in the wide receiver room in the team chemistry and providing some veteran leadership And you're saying wait a second that defense is pretty wasn't very good But they've made they've made a lot of changes. They brought in sunny styles So I think it's gonna be an excellent linebacker and they brought in two defensive ends that both had almost double digits Act's last season They overhauled a significant amount of the defense in general seven players and look Philly We'll see where they go with a new offensive coordinator We'll see whether or not all the team chemistry issues have been worked out But in week one where everybody thinks Washington is pretty much Dead dead on arrival They're gonna show some life and people are gonna start wondering how many Maybe that should look there. I'd be eight and a half points Eight people is five and a half plus the three point winner'd be eight and a half points just market that throw throw throw Parley on there. No throw Opinions on there. I would like to

1:02:01I'll wait a week. Yeah smart coach. I Came this close to going big Huge game hunting. Can I guess? Yeah Cleveland. Oh Sounds like he likes that I really You know what I thought about it. Yeah, do it. Someone's got to do the parley It was your idea You know what I am going I was gonna it was between that and Tampa Bay I'm not parleyin You adding no no no I'm not parleyin Who never left my job Half-way goes I mean I don't know what parley. Yeah, get those Television work. I changed it. All right, so I got to step Because I was going with bucking ears over Bingles. Yeah, so the big show. So what are you going with actually? I

1:03:02The graphics probably gonna show but yeah, definitely they're gonna. What do you want to do? What do you want you could change your Your charger the graphics game that away Leave me alone Cuz of more like coach I don't know if coach was messing with me, but he sounded like he like He really So I'm going with the graphic Bucking ears over I don't want to give away behind This someone bake yours that an upside I'm going with bucking ears over the bangles that's three and a half Yeah, six and a half points. Yeah, I love the chaos of this segment makes no sense time now for the bucks time A little football and make his upset alert why can't you put time for football cover the fur and a little log I always tell him just a coincidence. I am going with the pick that I've had for months

1:04:05As soon as spain won the World Cup I started hammering this The Houston Texans won 10 games in a row and everybody picked them to beat the mighty patriots in New England But then all of a sudden you don't like every everybody that Josh Allen loses yet again To the Texans in Houston Pretty simple. He can't beat the Texans defense and just like we saw Drake May who can't beat the C-Ox defense Josh can't beat the Texans and we're gonna see chapter at this point checkers. We agree with Demiko Yeah, they're a kind of close I guess if you watch the game tape like I do or just the broadcast Remember last year despite all of it they had him Josh had him inside the red zone with a chance to win And that's when he threw his last pick. Yeah, yeah It was also Davis Mills and not yeah CJ Stroud who I think is going to have a bounce back season And only does the abcation on booting from New England But Nico is back friend of the show was on in the Super Bowl

1:05:06Most receiving art since 2024 at Puka, Jamar, JSN and when talks about Nico He's he's playing great and finally This one a little bit worried about Patrick mohomes. I'm worried about all great quarterbacks going up against pretty good defenses You know play you don't play the offseason because you're too good. You're supposed to have it all figured out come out a little bit rusty We saw Drake play Pretty poorly we saw Stafford play pretty poorly Josh these are the top three MVP vote getters What's Josh gonna do? It's gonna light them up. Maybe it's just an anecdotal coincidence But I've got straight up Texans overbills again, and no one is doing the parlay for the first time We just learned about it seven seconds ago Someone's got to do it. Yeah, it was it's hard. It just it just popped up. Yeah, it's straight up Straight up a straight. I'm doing the parlay. Wow. I'm doing someone's got to do it

1:06:07I'm in for the parlay right away. Okay, what's the a straight victory that no one's got that's how it is right? We're yeah, no straight victory. We don't do point. No, but this is straight up. Yeah, I Did my vibes remember my vibes thing I did? Yeah, pull out said what's the vibes of your team? And this teams local fans have crazy high vibes. You said you guys don't deserve this, but why did I do the pull? Because the local vibes no more than the national media Colts straight up over the oh my god. Wow Wow I guess that no, it is about This means it's not alert. So that means I'm doing the math in real time So it KW so to be clear before we do next big This is the power of the water award winning next big. Yeah, if Washington beats Philadelphia Coach gets eight nap points. Oh, if Tampa Bay beat Cincinnati, Brugat six nap points if Houston beats Buffalo and The Colts beat the Ravens you get 11 points, but

1:07:10Yeah, that's all you can get that's okay the coach is Right No, no, no, no, no, there's no covering buddy. I'm picking the Time now for Nick's picks award winning indeed One last year champion You dare win. Thank you, bro 28 wasn't great year barely profitable, but still 28 25 and one you'll see six on one locks like Nick It's 18 week regular season why only seven locks because I'm not giving out locks I don't believe in them. You know, I have someone's you know someone's lying if every week they have a lock exactly If every time you go to a restaurant and the waiters like this is the best thing I've ever had here He's lying to you if once if once a month. He's like is the best thing. We've had some different exactly right unprecedented And I didn't know this was happening. Oh, it's here it all of Nick's picks have been discussed in one direction or another During up settler. Oh, wow not great for TV, but well, maybe I disagree. Oh I'll tell you who I don't disagree with Chris Prussard and luckily he spent all this time debating his picks

1:08:13So he didn't give any of the rationale so I Baker never lost to Joe Burrow. Oh the bangles every year Start oh and two or oh and one or oh and three separate last year last year though They won 17 16 over the brown Burrow through to like a buck 40 felt terribly about a buck. They won. Mm-hmm I think the bucks are better than Cincinnati. I think Baker's flying high in a good way Maybe as a younger player he needed the chip on a shoulder now as an older veteran I don't think he needs it. I think a mecca of Lucas gonna bounce back Shamar Stewart listed as doubtful for Cincinnati Obviously and again, I don't need outright winners even though I do think bucks went outright I'm going against spread here. This is a three point game one director another I'm getting three in the hook. I'll take Tampa Bay next KW convinced me Even CJ this is purely and a Kind of I don't want to sound annoying, but like a veteran gambler play in that

1:09:13This should be Houston by a point and a half it just what at there at home These are roughly equivalent talent teams that they even if you think the bills are a tiny bit better That's why it's a point nap not two and a half so I think the lines just wrong by three points now Those aren't super valuable points that it going from minus one and a plus one and a half But they're there scenarios where the bills win but don't 21 20 they don't cover the point now There is something I think Houston can win outright. I just think the line's wrong Yeah, so I'll take Buffalo minus the point and a half number three and last but not least is this a lock? No, okay But it's my one favorite and it goes against coaches five and a half FTF here's here's why and it's not just because obviously you know I believe in the city of Philadelphia all their sports franchises Loves the flyers loves them the fillies Um, it's actually for the one reason that I'm shocked coach is going with Washington

1:10:15But again this new coach 2026 coach just likes fancy passives. Yes, you know what I like I'm liable. You know what I like Like reliable offensive lines. Oh, you know who doesn't have that Washington You know what I think can end a game immediately Jalen Carter and that Philly D line against this Washington offensive line I understand it's five and a half points to him laying a lot, but it they're at home I think can't we can't I think their D line is such a mismatch against the commander's offensive line that I think Philadelphia Could dominate this game. So I am taking Tampa Bay plus three and a half in Cincinnati Houston getting a point and a half at home and Philadelphia laying five and a half on Fox go Sunday afternoon three and a half Three and a half start Three and a half start Let's go Coming up next I think Matt Liner live from Ann Arbor What are the vibes like in Michigan? We just got next Start Saturday strong big noon kickoff live from Ann Arbor Michigan 10 a.m. Eastern then at noon iconic programs and

1:11:21National Powers collide Oklahoma taking on Michigan big noon Saturday on Fox on with us right now live from Ann Arbor is Matt Liner Matt welcome to the show We're gonna start talking about Michigan. I had two animated Conversations last week about the Michigan Western Michigan game with some alums first alarm very fired up Greg Jennings from Western Michigan Just thought they were robbed who he was furious Second alarm my buddy who went to Michigan was more of mad than Greg Jennings He was mad at the team Rushing the field he was mad at the ruling so it was it's a he was like this is a no way He's like I would have it would have I would have preferred to lose with no controversy What are the vibes like right now in Michigan? Gosh, yeah, I mean interesting interesting way to kick off the season I would just say to Michigan fans you still want to know that's all that matters whether we think it was fair or not

1:12:21I mean it's still just bizarre to me that this is how this game ended I really do feel bad for Western Michigan because they should be one and oh Michigan should be oh and one But yeah, this is what happened Bryce Underwood obviously see the play there they made a play like I think the vibes are I don't I don't know we did our show today. We taped this stuff. There's some fans out there There's just uncertainty. They're like what do you think? What do you think we're gonna get our our butts kicked? You know tomorrow against Oklahoma I'm like, yeah, I'm like you might I don't know it's an interesting time You know, we were talking about on the show today like is it is it a rebuild because this team did win nine games last year But it kind of feels like maybe it's a rebuild But there's still a lot of town on the team and obviously the question marks the guy we could probably can talk about Bryce Underwood in the quarterback situation, but you know that the offense line didn't play very well That was not a typical Michigan offense line that we see in the past So I think the vibes are a little uneasy. I think there's some uncertainty around what this team is this year and again

1:13:22It's only one week so you don't want to overreact So that that's where I'm at to a degree the controversy notwithstanding a couple years ago is of top my head But I feel like Notre Dame maybe and the guys first game as a head coach lost like Northern Illinois And then went on to have a great season the we Michigan was Before Western Michigan Michigan kicked off Michigan was a two and a half point favorite in this game tomorrow And then when the game ended it had shifted to where they were a five and a half point dog. It's now four and a half That never happens in football unless a quarterback got hurt So you know I even quarterback it's hurt so I do wonder if there has been an Overreaction because I personally would not be surprised at all if Michigan wins tomorrow Would you be Yeah, no, it's interesting Nick I think a lot of this obviously has to do with

1:14:23The quarterback development of Bryce Underwood right? I mean that that's just what this is and and then Kyle Woodingham's Quote and comments this week about just you know this job isn't certain and he's got to play better which I know he does And again, Western Michigan was I think a 10 win team last year. I think it's a good program Right, I mean, still excuse like if you're Michigan you should beat this teams, but look at Oregon barely beat boys He's state last week, you know, an Oregon is picked by to win a national championship by a lot of people So look at this is college football. This is still Michigan. It's still the big house 100,000 people No, that wouldn't shock me. It definitely wouldn't shock me because their defense is really good And again, I think also a point I like to make too is like I don't Necessarily think Michigan opened up everything against Western Michigan. Oh, I just want to see them I want to see them play to this young kid's strengths He is struggling throwing the football. There's no doubt. I think he struggles through progression That is something that he's just going to have to figure out and learn and they're going to have to get better This kid is sick. He's came Newton this kid is six six two hundred thirty pounds. He could run. He's big

1:15:27He's strong start tailoring this playbook Around him and those strengths and that means you have to run him 15 to 20 times a game then so be it That's what Kyle Woodenham teams were at Utah. They were run first dominate the line of scrimmage They never really had great quarterback play Throughout there and so Your question is I would not be shocked the only issue is Oklahoma's defense is elite Oklahoma's really really really good on defense Brent Vennibles maybe the best defensive coordinator obviously had coach in the country And then on the flip side for them you have John Matier who people forget last year He he was pretty good in this game last year He was the highest in trophy leading candidate going into week five or six whenever that was when he got hurt Yeah, this kid is really really special. So I wouldn't be shocked the numbers interesting as you said it just flipped like that actually thought it would be a little bit higher But yeah, I mean, I wouldn't be shocked. It's called football and think it happened You may have just answered this man because rice underwood was a huge recruit

1:16:29Right, yeah, and I was gonna ask you why hasn't he been successful there yet But it sounds like you just think they're not putting him in the right system I don't they're not likely to change it right now, but what What would you say to him and or him to be successful with the way they've been planning Well guys, I don't know if you know this, but he didn't have a quarterback coach last year There was not a quarterback coach On Michigan staff, which is completely freaking crazy like think about that Yeah, so You're at he's 19 still so you're you're the number one again I'll say this like there's no excuse the kids making a lot of money. These are professional players now Like this is how we're treating them in a sense, but that being said He goes in at 18 years old. He doesn't have a quarterback coach I don't know what that looks like for them in those meetings in the staff Then they deal with all of the Distractions of the coaching staff and everybody gets fired and then Kyle comes in and Kyle is great Kyle's a different level of

1:17:31Standard and and and all that kind of stuff for his program So it's just a lot that this kid has been been put on his plate, you know getting paid aside And then on top of that, you know, man he has struggled mentally with the quarterback position So again, I can't speak for him I would just say to him like Playing the quarterback and I learned this like you just got to grind and you got it You got to you got to ask questions you got to sit down for coach say hey, how can I be better? These are the things that I love these are the things that I feel really comfortable doing I remember shoot when I was in the NFL Even as professional athletes they would you sit down with your quarterback coach and say All right, Matt like like and I was a backup most of my career But when I had a chance to play like what do you love like what do you love in this game? Oh, okay coach I love I love these plays. I love when we get into third down I want to do this and then they tailored around you Those are the conversations that I'm sure they're having and they need to have so Bryce can feel really confident going into this game And then during the game you got to adjust and you got to adapt and do all those things and I think that's the issue is

1:18:32You know, he played however many games last year and then you go into this year and and after one game It's like oh, we don't really see the improvement. I don't think that's necessarily fair to him It is just one game So we'll wait and see I mean again the problem is is Oklahoma is really good and then the big 10 schedule stuff We're gonna say last question for you Matt Ohio State Texas what do you match up do you have your eye on quarterback battle wide receivers? What what are you looking for this game? Yeah, well, I mean you guys just talked the NFL I mean obviously the NFL talent and the stars in this game you have arch and Julian saying obviously great quarterbacks Then you got cam Coleman and Jeremiah Smith were the two top receivers eligible for the draft next year You got running. I mean you just got a lot of dudes on this field So that I just excited about that to see these guys play um a couple I think a couple matchups to keep an eye on um Ohio State's defense the others five I think they're replacing eight or nine starters five all Americans. We know about all the first round guys

1:19:33Now going up against archmanning who's a year better all of those skill players I mentioned like how are they going to be able to slow them down and then on the flip side You know can can Texas get pressure at call and Simmons is a first round pick can they get pressure on Julian saying I think the one knock on Julian saying is he's just he's not going to beat you really with his legs It's just not his game so if you can get to him and pressure him but first round talent everywhere guys enjoy this game and again the big picture real quick Big 10 SEC conference supremacy playoff elimination game all these games because both of these teams have really Really difficult schedules moving forward. So these two these two are the two massive big non-confer games this weekend You're gonna keep your eye on it for the you're your draft prep. Oh, yeah Yeah, you can never get too early to have right and not necessarily next year's draft But overall as far you might have 12 first round picks playing in this Ohio State Texas game as far as when it's all said I'm done That thank you very much have a great game. We'll see you next week. Thank you, man Boys see you more first things first after the break

1:20:36That'd be great game Sunday the NFL's back on Fox week one double header First up Falcons at Steelers then at four it's America's game of the week commanders Wow Beyond the lookout Nicky could be an advantage against each other wow only on Box And Sunday night got the Cowboys off and taking the field in New York Can's John John Harbock and look if you think he's gonna tell you the place that he's running Think again. He's not gonna do it. Okay. Stop asking him for the playbook George Pickens excited for this game take a listen Yeah, we definitely think we're the best yeah now for everybody else brains and mindsets I don't know what they're gonna say but for us. Yeah, we do best Uh, brew. We're all very high on deck Do you expect the Cowboys to put the NFL on notice? Yeah, and I love Pickens attitude not a sign of dismay

1:21:37Just I'm ready to play and have a great season. I love it Not a lot of noise out of Dallas. I know Steven and Dac have been talking But there's not the zaning this that areas with Jerry Jones right They are Allude to the idea they might make a big trade My cuz I I'm thinking that I'm across I think the way they put the legal notice is with the defense looking pretty good So I'm predicting the offense nobody's gonna be oh they wow their offense is great. We know that 3417 Cowboys win I think Jackson Dart and scatter boor are a bit too cocky And I think the Cowboys want to put them in their place. It's a division opponent So even though the Giants haven't been good for a while You're you're not overlooking them because they are a division opponent. So you know what's tough I'm sure the Cowboys would love this in a message like the Harbaugh's first game. No nothing changed

1:22:38We still own you put the young boys in their place And I just think the defense is so much improved that yes coach and again the schedule is tough for them As much as I'm predicting a great season for the Cowboys tough schedule So you can't let these games against teams. You're better than you know go the wrong way just before you go just so you know Because you weren't here for Friday of predictions week. That's why we did the extra with you Greg KW And brew all Independently picked that press got to be the league and be picked Wow, so they so that's that's that's that side of the tables. I expect you feel free to bet for the Cowboys this year But go ahead and he picked himself too He's talking to little guy manifesting setting alarm the t-shirts classic t-shirts Uh probably borrowed t-shirts. I mean you'd have to borrow it because it's been 25 years

1:23:38already So could they put the league? No, they can't put the league. I noticed they cannot put the league on those when you talk that much Trash about how great you are the only thing you can do is look bad. That's it. That's it if they don't if they don't hang 30 or 35 Well, well, that's a problem. How much is that is because it's the Giants? Like they went out there and pounded like Very good team. This is this is self-induced by them. They they are the ones Greatest receiving core greatest running game greatest off like that that's not Jerry Jones Jerry Jones Been quiet Jerry doesn't been outstanding this all season and then they pumped it up and against the Giants defense It's being retooled. They didn't really retool. I don't know how they're gonna stop the run I mean they haven't really addressed that but if they don't to me I hope Dallas wins the game because I'm a shot and I were a fan. I like John too, but I'm a Brian shot and I were a fan But I hope it's six three that

1:24:41That would be Or maybe six five Five is something they went on like a safety lead That would be perfect. I don't know you you alluded to what my real feeling is. I don't I don't have enough belief in the Giants To feel like any game against the Giants can put the league on notice. I again, I to be clear I think the Giants are better than the Cardinals But if the question were congested in Herbert and Mike McDaniel put the league on notice this weekend My answer would be no because like I the way you put the in not to twist the knife a bit A great drake-may performance Wednesday night that would have put the league on this You know what I mean like the oh No, that's a great example of something that didn't have the 40 Niners put the league on notice. Yeah, what we were still here Earlier if my homes is great Monday night. Yes, it puts the league on notice. So is that's all is that's kind of you need the right dance part

1:25:43Yeah, in that and now listen that might be my own Preconceived notions about the Giants not being very good. I know Danny really believes them They are somewhat trendy playoff pick. They're a light sleeper not a deep sleeper Go the other way. Yeah, go ahead. Could you think this could go the other way? Oh? Absolutely the Giants put the league on notice well a hundred percent. Yes Would people look at that is I think people look at that as a weak one and there might be a little bit of same old cowboys Like is the so I'm trying to think of that if they do to the cowboys what San Fran did to the Rams. Yes That would Jackson Dart is gonna have so much swag. It's gonna be unbelievable. So I just can he out swag that though? Oh, yeah, oh yeah, yeah, that's it. Well, that's a That's right Mary. Yeah, I mean So I just to be clear I do expect Dallas to win this game what I am but I

1:26:45Five three no, I just need to I don't know what I'm gonna take from this game because if Dallas's defense looks really good In the back of my head part of maybe in the front of my head is gonna be see I knew that Giants offense wasn't what people thought So I just won't know why I'm seeing what I mean it would have to be an out that I imagine like a 44 It would have to yeah an absolute dropping would be a lot to me But the cowboys maybe I'm underestimating the Giants And just beating them on the road is a really good win But if the Giants are who I think they are the cowboys are just supposed to win the game Live from New York's first things first overtime today they quote from wow On Justin Herbert that might be too Danny doesn't agree with it. He's no longer a harbour Error. Oh whoa whoa. He's no longer a harbour guy. It's impossible It's Me well who's got more pressure on them this weekend the bake show or Joe burrow and Finally, it's controversial, but that's what makes it so hot

1:27:49week one Predictions from Danny Parkins who I need to be very serious really right now did not win last year, okay? He won the playoffs But turns out that doesn't matter The playoffs to the regular season that doesn't They're explaining your losing he won the year before in record setting fashion You got a time-square billboard about it. He's still wears a full gaze. He chained because of it But it is not last year. It is not last year. That is true. I can confirm that. Yep. So it's starting fresh start for I mean Beach you last you in the regular season. Yes, which is the champion. Oh, that's the chip. He beats you The regular season is the champion You can't just say for me. You can be me the record. Jesus Thank you. We're ready to go. I appreciate it. No problem. Leave that in the past. Rams won the off season 49ers won the real season want to know L.A.'s offense spotted the Rams defense

1:28:49I was told was gonna be amazing not so much held the 49ers to 27 points miles Garrett Goosex everywhere. Yeah Uh Take a listen to the 49ers The game worked um, you know, I mean at win or lose I knew everyone was gonna make a big deal about that um for either team Um, you never know how much that factors into it Um, you just try to do the best prepare for three and a half hours. I like how we prepared Um, but more important than I liked how we played when did they get out here seriously? Oh, hey, maybe a few days earlier would have been ideal But no matter what we don't care if they came a week or two weeks earlier You know, we had it on our mind to come out here and execute and we did that Great leadership from Mike Evans So what happened to the Rams Danny I think the most surprising thing about the whole thing is seven points Seven points The Rams scored seven points in a football game and

1:29:50Listen, I mean you guys reference all the time Patriots Raiders week one last year like weird things happened in week one last year week one JJ McCarthy outdoubled Caleb Williams. Oh, that one put that in same category. It was pretty weird It's pretty weird based on how the rest of their I mean it was JJ McCarthy outdouling anybody turns out was weird Yeah, it was in hindsight. Yes, at the time. It was like oh, yeah Yeah, well, no, but that's what but that's kind of my point is that My gut tells me that when you add Week one weird things happen to week one in Australia We're gonna look back and reference this four weeks eight weeks 12 weeks from now and just be like the Australia game And it's gonna it's gonna be an outlier for the Rams More so because of the Rams. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, you know expected nineers just fall apart Not at all. I'm saying the most surprising thing to me was the Rams scored seven points I wanted to put that into context of how shocking it was that a Matt Stafford lead team a Sean McVeigh team could do it

1:30:53And this is what we came up with it's their largest loss in 38 games It's the fewest points in a game that Matt Stafford has started in 84 game well his lowest pass or rating in seven in 70 games so I mean that is a Jarringly terrible offensive output for a team that had the MVP has arguably the best off Focusing football has Pukinakua Devante Adams Kyron Williams and the whole thing and you guys talked about this in your A block I Feel like I could do an hour on this. I love Sean McVeigh. I think he's a great coach I will never understand the decision to sneak Matt Stafford like If this is so ridiculous He's 38 years old. He's had a bad back. They have some offensive wine questions Kyron Williams has been one of the most consistent running backs and football Matt Stafford has one rushing touchdown in the last nine years Nine years you do he finished

1:31:53I know kneel downs reduced like one yard he finished last season with one rushing yard One single rushing yard and you have an opportunity to be down 17 14 It's a whole different game. It's a whole different game. I should just kick to field goal Danny Honestly, obviously in hindsight Then they drive down the 99-yard drive credit to them. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered 24-7 ballgame But so like I thought obviously miles Garrett party. There's a million things. There's a fascinating game But I just cannot stop thinking about the ineptitude of the Rams offense. That's fair Especially when we didn't I I don't know if I was as strong as Nick on it But I didn't expect their defense. I thought it was capable of really the Niners defense of struggle of costing them the game Yeah, I didn't cost them. They were a dominant. Yes, so that was surprising But to me, and this is just obvious. I mean miles Garrett being a total Non-fact. Oh, sure. Yeah, I mean that really was like he wasn't a factor

1:32:57All you mentioned it zeros across the board unless you know some people gave him a pressure But I credit the Niners staff or you know game planing him out of it and Trent Williams Yeah, Trent Williams obviously did a great job and and I just do think that Garrett I think this is something to worry about for the Rams and I tend to agree with you that You know, they're still gonna be should be fine, but He sounded like he's really having some lower leg problems And he certainly played like it and I don't want to I just thought this out. I don't know where you were going Nick Stafford I would be surprised if he really just falls off this year. I don't expect him to do what he did last year, but at 38 years old and in your 18th season And early in your career playing with the Lions where you obviously took a lot of hits and things Is not off the table That he really could just be in the in major decline so he looked like it like I would be surprised

1:34:03But it's got to be honest. He's not 32 Yeah, I don't know listen, I mean the guy led the league and touchdowns in one MVP last year But that's I don't know that he's gonna fall off a cliff like I regression here Rogers went from what envy I know he got hurt, but the MVP season no no the MVP season in green Bay to the next year He really wasn't nearly as good as right. They he won back to back in VPs in the next year His last year in green Bay they missed the line entirely. Yeah So I wanted to talk about Stafford you guys write about Miles Garrett listen if Miles Garrett is not Miles Garrett Then they didn't get better at edd russure. Jared versus awesome. He is and that's even Disregarding the future picks it costs you and the extra money and all that Let's just assume that at some point Miles Garrett's gonna look like Miles Garrett again If not that's a that's a disaster correct The Stafford thing to me is really worth digging into for a moment Because I don't think he has to fall off a cliff for them to be at the moment up

1:35:04Pretty overrated team not like all overrated, but where they are is there the huge favorites to win the Super Bowl He just has to go back to being the guy he's been His whole career prior to last year Like that the Stafford has amazing talent He even you know his whole time with the Rams has been a playoff riser You know you you feel like his a game can go toe-to-toe with anybody's all that's been true for years It's also been true That he's been a good not great regular season quarterback and then last year was the outlier if we show his last three years So I'm not even including 2022 when he got hurt the year day one the Super Bowl He was excellent. Yeah, yeah, and then he got hurt and then those two years after He's fine. Well one of those years they started slow and then they just caught fire. Yeah, I forgot what you hear that I don't I don't remember his numbers, but again, I mean like mid 90s passer rating

1:36:07It here's I guess a good way to put it Those stats in years 2023 and 2024 look a lot like the Mahomes stats we were putting up prior to last year of like evidence that what's wrong with Patrick You know what I mean like mid 20 touchdowns pass rating in the 90s is what it looks like so I Last year was the outlier for his whole career that was the holy crap And it was and because he has so much talent is number one pick and he'd want a Super Bowl It's what made people like me say he's now a Hall of Famer as an MVP to go along with it But it is absolutely on the board that Matt Stafford finishes this year with 23 touchdowns and 10 picks Like that's what he was in this offense with Puka Nakawa. Yeah, and this version of Puka though. I mean Puka is Puka in 2024 Danny was 1500 yards He was excellent. It would it would surprise me if he backslid that far just given how great last year was I think everybody gets better the longer there in a system

1:37:08Certainly on the board, but even if you're right and that is what he is if the D because you said assuming Miles Garrett's health Like Miles Garrett Aaron Donald and 2024 Matt Stafford a team that almost be Philly in the snow in that play. I'm not I don't know that team can still win. Yeah, of course they can there's a huge difference though between can still win And I know you didn't pick like um and should be the huge favorite and I Aaron Donald We'll see what they get from him. We will all you know everybody was certain that the two chiefs corners Are going to fix their secondary. We will see on Jalen Watson. I was not I am appreciative of what he did for the chiefs I was not upset the chiefs did not match that contract and they are at least through a week one They are playing Trent McDuffy out of position He is the best slot corner in football. They paid him to like he's an outside corner He wants to be an outside corner. I don't think that is using him properly. We'll see but I think there are Real at least concerned points not panic. Yeah, so it's not to pay what I'm in the Patriots. That's panic This is concerned

1:38:09Rand toast the Giants next Monday night chargers start off their season In Arizona this Jim Harvoy had some great compliments for his QB might have overdone it a little bit But hey, that's just my opinion take a listen Allow me to call my shot like Babe Ruth pointing over the the bad over the center field Just in Herbert when it's all said and done When his when his career comes to end I predict he will be known as the the greatest best ever to play the position of quarterback We're gonna look back and say yep. That's the best that ever did it I just Just can't say you just can't you just It's a it's a you oh man. It's a you unacceptable opinion the job Kate I'll get absolutely Yeah, no other way to describe I think Danny you would even emit that Yeah, he would have switched too far It actually did make me start thinking about like what is the furthest I'd be willing to go and that's been a fun thought

1:39:15He has 95% of the talent is Patrick Mahomes who's the most talented player ever 95% It's fine. It's about right I That Justin Herbert will win an MVP. I think he will win a Super Bowl But he doesn't need those things He has my test but also I think he's gonna get to 70,000 yards. Oh my god Four guys ever have done it. Yeah, but that's That's Like we're in the passing area. It's gonna be more guys putting those That's not a sports number. Okay. I mean that's sure You know it though. It's I mean no, I don't I mean if you would ask me who the top four in yards I would say Tom Brady Drew breeze Is it patent next? Yeah and breath far. Okay. Yeah, I'm the same 70,000 For those who I still believe and we can just throw up the graph because it's fun and I made it but like the I

1:40:21Through the first six seasons of a career. God. He's right there. I didn't play. I know I know that and Matt Ryan's on it I would I know in the future. I would tell Troy to For He doesn't win Ryan doesn't help at some point like marinos at all time great But he didn't win that's you like I You know made a superl in his second year and one of the Znvp's second year You know what you know what members were video game like in that I He'd be in be like six thousand yards. That's right. They do have that like Finally have an agreement here if your take Is that Justin Herbert If everything goes just right Could end up as Matt Ryan I To a super bowl right I will take the under on Herbert reaching Matt Ryan

1:41:22But I'm saying but the but it's well again Matt Ryan is actually yeah like it's so like if that if that's the comp like highly touted highly drafted You know what I mean throws for a bunch of yards The and has has a moment where like there's a seasonal two where it's like oh He's one of the best quarterbacks in football so be it like that I can buy can I ask you a question Do you think this is just Zaniness I forget which harbors as they remember their own birth him? Yeah, okay, so there's a there's a folder of just like yeah, and remember his brother said the same about Lamar So that's a least About the past right now. Thank you Lamar yeah, but Lamar also has like a yeah, I can make a real statistical argument Um Jim hard drink some milk with his steak like just these weird thoughts. I did too growing up Yeah, um, do you think there's actually like a strategic advantage? Do you think this is unlocking he's lacking confidence? No, was this just oh harbors?

1:42:23Hold on you don't let this hurt to me this or it hurts that's the other hurt. It puts pressure on oh no one takes Jim No, no one thinks he's gonna be the greatest quarterback, but this If if Justin Herbert is feeling like Everybody saying I'm not living up to the billing He's not and he's you know he hasn't yet I gotta go out there really do something prove. I'm as good as a lot of people say and now your coach is throwing this I think he's doing it to Give him confidence and hey man. I believe in you, but I think this just adds pressure. I also Don't agree with you that Justin Herbert is full of confidence. I thought Justin Herbert in that playoff game last year played played scared I thought what we saw and I'm not trying to do a whole career playoff history thing But I thought if if you just go back and watch that game It was so different than how he looked all season and it felt like a response the previous years playoff game He threw those four picks and then in that game he seemed afraid to make a mistake and because of that

1:43:28He was not making throws He was throwing short of the sticks and it was it was a player that to me was in his own head So I you know it I do and now maybe that's gone from the offseason Maybe he doesn't feel in the regular season. I don't know. I'm always worried about a guy when their last game was that when we see the next How he's gonna look in the next game? So I do think there's a level of Harbaugh trying to build him up. He also has a little extra Harbaugh sauce on it. Yeah Um, but it's just there are certain If it that'll be very quick. I think my I think my youngest daughter. I think all my kids are great But I think my youngest daughter daughter is very sharp And if I came to you KW and I was like I You know what I think she's in eighth grade. I think she might end up going to an Ivy League school I think you would take that statement seriously. Sure. If I came to you are like I think she's the smartest child in the world You would all of you would be like all right now. No, no, I think maybe she's dumb Like you're not gonna take her like day

1:44:29So he went too far with the comp you know what I predict Justin Herbert will be the best quarterback in the NFL this year I like that's a legitimate acceptable opinion. Yeah, it's wrong sure is yeah All right It's time now for parkance picks bit of a jade and Daniel's ask path for parkance Fantastic year one little dip in year two also thin Year three a lot of doubts, but also a lot of fans are you ready to debut your first round of picks parkance Almost just want to remind people 65 percent got this chain is what I won Yeah, no, it was good. It's good and we have the I'm expective from last season just to remind everybody how was it was I Choked at the end of the regular season, but if you include the playoffs did I beat next Elison you can say oh that's just a graphic that we created But would I have this 53 and a half percent chain from last season? I only get chains if I win

1:45:31I only get changed if I win if you wear I have I'm telling you right now this better be a one-time wear What do you mean? I get changed when I win I Go to your picks. It's time to the picks Let's go right to something I football Giants over I like this a lot. I was you knew he was going to get to three by the time the game comes around But that's gonna be fine Jackson guard people are like, why do you believe in Jackson dart? Yeah terrible situation last year Coach gets fired doesn't play any full games with Malik neighbors How did he do in the seven games against teams that ended up going to the playoffs 16 touchdowns total touchdowns. He's a dual threat quarterback his coaches comparing him to Lamar Jackson Castle rating of nearly 99 230 plus yards games score in 24 game four and three against the spread those playoffs teams if you're wondering Chargers Broncos Niners bears patriots and the Eagles twice Jackson dart better numbers and drinks Yeah, that's exactly thank you, please better numbers than drag

1:46:31Division game at night home dog love the Giants to win that game out right But I'll gladly take the two and a half and it's gonna get to three by kickoff. Do you get it at two and a half? I have a two and a half this is when this is where it's locked in but just for the gamblers out there You might want to wait because it's gonna get to three Next up Cooper rush has been named the starter Of the Atlanta Falcons So I'm weighing it with Pittsburgh This was three and it was three and a half and it was four and a half and now it's five and again the worst possible number I am getting the worst possible number sharp. Thank you Cooper rush Actually worse than two of two has had reps with these guys with the ones Cooper rush is not how did Cooper rush do last year for Baltimore Through you might remember some of these games 52 passes five turnovers Guys checking out everyone you know what maybe you should check down to B. John Robinson that would actually be okay Steelers defense last year really good. They're gonna guard B. John Robins 27 takeaways 48 sacks Cooper rush gonna have a Long day at the office Steelers win that game by two scores love Pittsburgh in the survivor contest and last but not least

1:47:39This is one of those games where you can name your number you want him to score 30 not a problem 35 not a problem 40 Not a problem come on Danny bears are putting up a huge number 40 in care They're the Andre Swift is gonna just he just got paid. It's gonna be a thousand degrees He's gonna run for 150 plus yards They're gonna dominate running the football and listen that guy right there. Tett Mcmillan is very good But Jalen Johnson back healthy having a great camp. He'll lock up Tett Mcmillan And I just want to remind people because you're gonna be seeing this graphic a lot during the game That's what the bears got for Bryce young. Oh, it is a little bit of revenge game This is the first time Bryce and Caleb have ever faced off Caleb did beat the Panthers 32 10 I believe third 36 to 10 his rookie year, but Bryce young didn't play that was against Andy Dalton so bears minus three Giants plus two and a half stealers minus five and a half. Wow. Those are your picks for week one May I just ask you a very quick question go right ahead you want much am I correct in saying

1:48:42That in the Steelers game and certainly in the bears game You were on the massive public square side Well I guess that's probably okay. All right. That's fine How how the public do what I want 65% I probably 65% Excellent excellent start to park in picks. Yeah, we'll see you don't know that. Oh I can't tell you how they could be terrible. I'm I'm a results Independent of results. I don't I think it's just a good segment. You want to see that excellent job Very expensive Coming up next it'll tell me Genie is back. It's a custom Talking Baker and borrow that's next we'll see you on Monday. Did our guy can he print that for you? Oh, that's cool Welcome back to the OT coach man Genie joins me now and we started in Carolina where coaches Panthers

1:49:46Which is a real thing coach loves the Panthers They host my bears and you could catch that Sunday one Eastern on Fox Bears OC press Taylor spoke to the media on Caleb and where he's at ahead of the debut to the 2026 season take a listen You look at you know our record and one score games or you know what we did in the fourth quarter some things and a lot of that's Caleb coming alive making plays for us I think there's just probably certain guys that whether it's the clutch gene whatever that is you know Some guys are just really thriving that moment and I think that's something Caleb's displayed early in his career Look at this graphic and it's not just because your son's a fan you know all the coaches you believe in Bryce Young Me and coach squaring off week one Get in a little nervous coach. Be like there's a pretty good. I think I'm pretty good looks like a little nervous Now people see what the compelling arguments we make okay You didn't you didn't see Caleb Williams tower over Bryce Young in that graphic and get a little nervous But the objective here is to make the case I will be making the case for the Bears in the spot

1:50:51I don't know if you know this but I think they have the better quarterback I think they have the better quarterback. I have the better coach. They What are you doing? What I just keep going yeah just keep going okay I've not been warned about this prop that coaches is gonna bring out here. I believe the Bears of the better coach They have the better quarterback Just sitting here in this and you're compelling argument all right You're gonna talk to me about Tatmik Millen and the Bears have Jaylen Johnson. You're gonna talk to me about it What are you doing I'm banging the drum baby? In the drama you have a drum. I wasn't giving you the only segment that I don't get to not get props You do not get a drum like this because your team does not merit a drum. I guess I'm not drum-worthy Wow that is that is that is the major do you have that? That's really like that. I have to set the house So during the games yeah when I'm in full-body paint Carolina

1:51:52Third down. Yeah, I'm just banging the band to make it loud like I can affect the game That's really impressive because fans do have that effect from their house. I don't know if you knew I I can't I know that okay. I will change over cushions. I will make all sorts of different things Very flustered here. I will say this. I don't I think that Carolina is improving But I think a lot of people are holding on to they looked good against the Rams Like they didn't look good against the Rams But the other playoff teams they played last year were largely blowout losses like they they did not play well The rest of the season against the good teams. They did play well against the Rams And I cannot explain why they played well against the Rams But they did play well against the Rams even if they didn't play well against basically any of the other teams They got out scored by about 11 points per game against all the other teams that ended up going to the playoffs And I think sometimes when I watch Carolina They're playing on offenses. Let's just find Technic Millen and throw it to him And if Jalen Johnson was not back and healthy for this game. I'd be concerned

1:52:53But he is they're gonna match up Jalen Johnson with Technic Millen and they are gonna dare the rest of the panthers offense to beat him And I don't think that cocker is a real good or chubahubbered I don't think that those guys are talented enough to put up the number that the Bears offense is gonna put up on Carolina And I think the Andre Swift runs right through the panthers defense even with Derek Brown Jalen Phillips and the like Well, nobody thought they could win the division last year and they found a way to win the division With Bryce he made improvement and I know we talk all the time about how Caleb made improvement and different guys make improvement And and this should continue into the next year right that progress should continue But for some reason with braces improvement that progress won't continue right? He's just he's who he is And I don't think that's unfair and and again talking about guys from last year who had good seasons Who we saying we've seen Drake May right he had the great season we thought now with another year in the system This should be so much better what happens not quite what you expected you look at the MVP

1:53:54We saw that last night coming off an unbelievable season should carry over doesn't carry over So Caleb you know could be the next one to fall in line with with that that progression And all they've talked about is how good they're going to be it's not it's not that they're going to win the game It's just a function of how much they're going to win the game by even though they're on the road and all Carolina has to do is show up and lose right and and Carolina is not going to be willing to do that and and they've Retooled the offensive line. I really like They're first on drapec. I think he's going to be outstanding and when you look at Chicago They tried to address some of the problems defensively But it wasn't some sort of massive overhaul and then one of the pieces that they put in place Kobe Brian Unfortunately, he he's gotten hurt and what are the odds that they're going to lead the league in turnovers like they did last year Probably not very high. So you haven't improved defensively You're probably not going to have the numbers that you had turnover wise You're banking on the fact that Caleb's going to make another huge jump Which we've seen now two examples in the first two games of guys that haven't played as well as they played last season

1:54:59And and when you start over or underestimate an opponent which I'm sure Chicago's doing because that's what they do They overestimate how good they're going to be and they underestimate how good other people are going to be They're overlooking their weak one opponent Based on the fact that they're going to be the greatest offense in the history of the NFL It's going to be it's going to be blowouts and shutouts. Do you think they're sitting back going wow this Carolina teams a real problem for us? I know there's there's sitting back and saying well, okay, who do we have next week after we after we walk over Carolina All right, what tune in on Monday to find out who's right we're facing get your drum at my website Autographed I'm not buying this drum. You're not going to get that. I am a little jealous of the drop I'll stand with that. I'm a little jealous of the drum I didn't know that this was a segment with props the next segment has props Well, let's go to Cincinnati Joe borough in the bangles host Baker Mayfield and the bucks Sunday one Eastern on Fox Baker got his long-awaited contract extension just on Tuesday

1:56:01That might be extra motivation ahead of this season. He faces Joe borough who's got super bowl aspirations But a lot of week one struggles coach if you look at this how Baker starts it Every other week Joe borough is amazing. I said Baker Joe Joe borough But in week one for the guys who start a lot of week one games It is the worst of any past rating quarterback since 2020 So who do you see as being under more pressure? Joe borough with the slow starts Baker off the contract Which quarterback is under more pressure in week one? I would think that Joe borough is under more pressure and I say that because the expectations are higher And and to me Joe borough is an elite quarterback and he's shown that Over the course of his career whether it's getting to the super bowl or whether it's two seasons ago Or the 43 touchdowns and nine picks. He's had multiple 4,000 plus yard seasons So so that's in place Then they've committed to the offense in a way that has been detrimental to a lot of the rest of the team

1:57:03Three of the guys have 30% of the salary cap him and the two wide receivers So you've got that firepower so all that's in place. They got over the hump last year with getting a win in week one And and and that being said they actually spent money organizationally and traded Things they don't typically do to try to retool this defense and make a run so all that adds pressure On the flip side of that we always say to whom much is given much is expected And much has been given now to Baker Mayfield a little bit of that edge and anger has been taken away Get a little bit Little bit more comfortable check the rest of posit not necessarily where a space where he lives and thrives. I think Baker He's got a chip on the shoulder for so many different things like I'm not expecting him to become complacent because of the contracts But I do agree with you that there's more pressure on borough your favorite You're at home. You are the better player and you have higher expectations

1:58:06So I In terms of weapons right well, he has said also that this is the most talented team they've had since he's been there Yeah, you were in the Super Bowl You've been in the AFC championship game so like he has talked big you talked about like what you say in the offseason So I think Joe burrow is putting a ton on this season and like they invested on defense They spent the fourth most money of any team and free agency on the defensive side of the ball like they you know Unprecedented trade right huge trade top 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence and paid him I would also just want your opinion on like Every week one game. I think this might be the most fascinating X's and O's matchup of Tampa thinks they can have a top 10 defense again defensive coach Todd Boles a lot of injuries last year Used a first round pick on Rubin Bane Tampa absolutely believes that they can be carried by their defense and that last year was the blip and since he Is one of the handful of teams that think that they can be the best offense in football There's not as many like this is like a good on good best on best type of matchup

1:59:08I'm very interested to see how Joe burrow it looks explosive for burrow at home against what should be a pretty good defense Yeah, and I almost Wish this was taking place a few weeks down the line as opposed to opening game because There's so many unknowns and you go into it with your game plan and a little little bit of be a function of how well each side Adjusts to what they actually see versus what they expected going into the first and second quarter Coming up you're going to be welcomed into the First things first over time casino. It's time for chips on the table some of the biggest games ahead of week one in the NFL It's coming up on the O2 We welcome you back to the O.T. where coach man genie and I head to the casino It's time now for chips on the table coach and I making our wagers every week This is exciting. It is really always this is like combining all my passions Casinos, gambling, football and give in takes you off the ground rules coach. Yeah, if we get some food next time

2:00:11Kind of be happy. It's an evolving situation where you get some food in your eyes Here are the rules for chips on the table each team starts With 50 chips. I'm a team and just like I've said alert you and Greg will be a team each team will play say wager on the match That is dealt straight up not against the spread so just who's going to win the game So we're going to pick games that are going to be pretty close with a win a player the next week will receive their wager back Plus the amount of chips. So if I put a chip on a game bears panthers bears win next week I would have two chips each of us are starting with 50 and a lot of pressure on you because Greg Jennings takes over your chips next week. It's just another game we can win That's another game we can win A trash talk with the casino. I like it. Are you ready? Yes, here's the first matchup In OT history of chips on the table. Oh One of the smallest spreads on the board bills and Texans. I'm going to go first coach Week one's weird. There's a lot of history between these teams

2:01:15Two chips on the Buffalo bills Josh Allen slays the dragon That is the Houston Texans defense. I don't think that anything is stopping this bills Offense this year with the addition of DJ Moore It is getting him a number one receiver just like with Stefan digs a great offensive line great tight ends great running back Great quarterback I think the bills get over the hump against the Texans and put the rest of the league on notice and Jim Leonard going to Buffalo Their defense turns over CJ Stroud They get over the Houston Texans he sort of slayed the line last season He had 70% completion. He had 253 yards, but unfortunately he had three interceptions right so that was a problem Then he was sacked eight times and he was hit 12 times So you you move on and change all offensive coordinated and sense of he now becomes the head coach So I'm guessing that they're going to double down the pass name because who did they had they had it a wide receiver now last year the one Special right spot for them was James Cook wherever at six point yards of carry

2:02:17But I doubt they're going to ride him in this first game and it's going to be more of hey Let's let Josh Allen even throw the ball more than he did so that being said. I see more sacks more turnovers And I'm going three for the Texans like three on the Texans Okay I can't have you betting bigger than me. That's a little embarrassing. Well, I'm a little well I mean I guess you are not a felco Our confident in our best I worked in local radio For a number of years. All right. We ready for the next one. Yes. Okay. This is very exciting here. Hope I was ready to move on there All right Next up Here we go chips on the table our new match up is Giants and cowboys would you like to go first coach make a wager? Sure I'll go first. I you know, I don't love the godly. You know, I don't love the manifesting You know, I don't love the wide receiver talking about how they get the greatest duo in the history of of wider receiver duels

2:03:17And it goes on and on and usually it's Jerry Jones who's providing this this fodder going into week one But I do agree that they're an outstanding offense I like the fact that they're in the second year of the system with Brian shot and heimer and there should be There's continuity. There should be growth collectively. They've got a ton of weapons I was very impressed that Jerry went all in when he said he didn't even say he was going all in but he did He whether it was the trades of free agency the volume of draft picks to try to get this defense right and and to me That combination of things should carry the day and I feel so confident about it I'm going no 10 on the Dallas Cowboys. Oh my gosh. You knew 10 right off the bat 10 on the Cowboys I got to be honest with you I'm embarrassed I'm embarrassed Because I was listening to I was listening to your rationale and the whole time I'm thinking I'm like can you make the bet I mean, it's not really exciting until you actually put your

2:04:19Yeah, we've just coached not know that we're doing television here I then 10 and that's that's 20% of your whole bankroll on Dallas And I thought I was being bold picking the upset and I'm only putting three I'm the judge I want to adjust. Oh, I'm throwing chips We got him show I'm so Too bad so we got him so nobody told me that he's putting 20% of his bankroll on one game listen I think the Dallas has serious offensive line problems the Tyler Smith injury is significant the Giants past rush last year was excellent They just were not in a situation where they were able to rush the passer off that much and Jackson dart He had double-digit touchdowns in 10 of the 12 games that he played It's a division game at home at night to open the air. I don't know if my week neighbors is gonna be able to play every snap But he's playing and Isaiah likely's playing and you add our villa Reese to that defense Which should help the Giants run defensively? I think the Giants got a lot better on both sides of the ball

2:05:20And at coach this offseason so I'm thinking okay I'm picking the Giants straight up in an upset I'm making a big bet for like six percent of my stack and you come over the top 20% I was out of the drum because I really didn't listen to anything you said Um, and I'm throwing ships on the table. I am sure this is this is good because the drum threw you off early And now we've got you so flustered you can't keep your chips on the table It's literally called ships on the table and you're not I know my chips are on the floor I I prep all day for this hour of television and the drum the drum threw me off all right great coach What a teammate all right? Let's get this out of here. Are we ready? for the third and final game Of chips on the table. What do we got? Oh, we have to wait till Monday Chiefs and Broncos I'm going five chips. I'm not going to let you upstage me here. I'm going five chips On the Denver Broncos

2:06:20Another upset outright winner for Denver the chiefs have the better quarterback They're at home And I will say sure they have the better coach even though Sean Payton is also excellent So I would argue that that's pretty close to a wash, but Andy Reed deserves that Everything else is on Denver. Denver has the better offensive line They have the better offensive weapons. They have the better defensive line They have the better pass rush and they have the better secondary and I find it to be An underdiscuss story even though we've discussed it a lot How could the plan be for the most valuable asset in the NFL Patrick Behomes for his first game back from Me be is the injury the ACL surgery His left tackle is going to be an undrafted rookie in kool-eal Benson You're protecting the most valuable asset in the league with an undrafted rookie to start week one Left tackles are not undrafted rookies in week one. That is an insane plan Nick Benito's on the other side

2:07:23The Broncos had 68 sacks last year 11 more than second place I can't believe the chiefs are in this spot to do this in week one I think Denver wins the game outright five chips on the table come over the top The good news for for Ken cities they did have other options there at left tackle that had played left tackle But they decided that the undrafted Pre-Agent is is a is a better option So that to me is is encouraging I'm concerned about Patrick not Not only because he's coming off the the injury and he's playing for the first time with Real real-time reactions But it's also that he played poorly at the end of last season. So how well is it it kind of go that being said As much as I want to go with Patrick because I love him I'm going with Denver too, but only with two As you can make up a little ground. I I sort of got bigger I'm so relieved that I have a bigger bet than you are like I'm the I'm the gambler. It's my idea

2:08:24But you're only going to pick up three if if you win is with I think I know With five and then eliminated your bet Oh my gosh, this is this competitive side of you. I've never done upset over you This competitive cutthroat side of coach man genius Greg. We got to make sure we eliminate him pretty early And let me make me unbelievable. All right. I'm going to pick up my chips from the ground This is chips on the table. Thanks for hanging out in our casino We're going to tell you though. This is our power of predictive power to the OT What we're going to be talking about on Monday, but it's only Friday. Let's coming up on the OT Splash the project We head to the printing press coach. Yeah, sure Monday morning headlines brought to you. I'll read anything Brought to my coach man genie and myself the leading story that will be on the front pages Monday morning in the FTF Universe. What do you got mine is gonna go bangles bucket ears and here's what it's gonna say didn't know you're gonna be shocked by this This cat can still play Bucking ears get mauled in the jungle by Joe borough in the bangles. Oh, so you think this game's not you think it's a mauling

2:09:31I think that with the retool defense and Cincinnati we're gonna be Pleasantly surprised by the progress they make we both had them in the AFC North champs I forgot how far did you have them in your in the play? I had them all pretty deep in the blue pretty deep in the Early statement. I had burrows in my MVP and burrows your MVP. All right. That's big. They've got to work together Yeah, well, so I'm I'm all in on my result for the Giants and Cowboys game coach and you know, we they do they do some pretty fancy headlines here here in New York City Probably on the back. I've been the good to know for those show coach with the New York tabwoods are gonna be saying Jackson dart get it action. Yeah, that's fantastic Dart Giants silence doubters with upset win over Cowboys and week one and what's gonna annoy me about this? What's that and we're gonna frame it correctly. Okay, then it happens on the OT Everything is gonna be through the prison of Dallas Cuz Dallas is the hyped team Dallas is favorite American steam. It's gonna be a hole where we wrong about the Cowboys Are they not going to post what's wrong with house as opposed to well no, maybe Dallas is good and the Giants are good also

2:10:37Jackson dart is good. I would imagine if they beat him and play well defensively Then then the headlines are gonna be much more giant centric than you think we'll see Maybe in New York. I'm not sure about nationally, but all right. He's got the bangles leading. I got the Giants We are so excited that the games are back. We'll talk about it all on Monday. I'm the OT