NFL Preview Part 1: Breakdown and Predictions for the AFC

[00:00:06] Speaker A: All right, welcome to the first episode of sources from the Sofa Sports podcast. I'm your host Rome. We also have Hollywood Aaron Toller, our picks guru for sports betting and also coach Jason Zinke. A little background story. We all used to be on the radio. About 18 years ago we were on the AM station for the Angels network. So we're not complete idiots, but we're here to give you our unbiased takes minus Aaron. [00:00:36] Speaker B: Come on, man. I give the best unbiased takes out there, man. [00:00:39] Speaker A: But today for the first episode, we'll be covering the NFL season as San Francisco has another fire alarm going by. [00:00:46] Speaker B: Another 49 ER down. [00:00:49] Speaker A: Thanks. [00:00:49] Speaker B: First four games of the year I'm. [00:00:51] Speaker A: Recording from San Francisco. Aaron's in the Ie as well as Jason. So where do you guys want to start? AFC or NFC? [00:00:59] Speaker B: Might as well start with the AFC. [00:01:01] Speaker A: Let's start with AFC. [00:01:02] Speaker B: They won the Super bowl last year, so let's go there. [00:01:04] Speaker A: Cool. Are you guys cool doing over unders for everyone and then maybe listing out number one through four in each division? [00:01:12] Speaker B: Sounds good. [00:01:12] Speaker A: Let's do it. Let's start with the AFC North. I think the number one division in football, my favorite division that also has my favorite team, the Pittsburgh. [00:01:25] Speaker C: That's why we started. That's why we serve the AFC. Okay. [00:01:28] Speaker B: That's why hey, the host gets to choose where we choose. [00:01:32] Speaker A: Go ahead. [00:01:33] Speaker C: We're 1 minute in from unbiased sports teams. His favorite team and his favorite division. [00:01:38] Speaker B: Exactly. [00:01:39] Speaker A: I'll be real honest with my team, but yeah, I think it's the toughest division outside of possibly the NFC west, but Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Steelers, who do you guys got winning the division? [00:01:54] Speaker B: I got the Bengals. I think the Bengals are going to bounce back this year in a big way. Defense is healthy. Got added a few more pieces on defense. I think most importantly Joe Burrow not injured coming out of camp. Obviously you got the chase saga going on, but they're my pick to rebound and win the division. [00:02:14] Speaker C: I think the Ravens tried and true. They're always going to be in the contention. The defense is always going to be solid. Lamar is always going to be making plays. I think this is an organization that's always at the top of this division. I think Bengals bounce back like Aaron says, but they have to prove that they can keep him healthy. I don't think he's had an offensive line in front of him that's been able to keep him healthier, upright. Even the Super bowl year, the offensive line was the biggest question mark. So I don't think the Browns and or the Steelers will be in contention. I think it's a two man race. Sorry Rome, but if you got two quarterbacks, you don't have one and Russell or Justin Fields are not going to be the answer to them in there. So I think it'd be a two man race. But I think the Ravens are going. [00:02:55] Speaker A: To win the division. So we'll come down the stows a little bit, but Ravens and Bengals are both at ten and a half for the over. I actually think the Ravens will be over. I'm not so sure whether the Bengals will either be at the ten or eleven winter mark, but I got potentially two AFC north teams as the wild cards with the Bengals, they've had slow starts every season, especially with Joe Burrow, but his wrist has been looking shaky. So if he goes down, that whole season's over. They really don't have anybody else behind him besides chase as like a really star player. Ravens have the fourth toughest schedule and they lost a lot of free agents this past year. So aside from the pickup of Derek Henry, what what do they got going? [00:03:37] Speaker B: Well, the Ravens lost a ton of pieces from both their defense and offense. And if you look at really just coaching staff losing your defensive coordinator, they lost a lot of other coaches that took jobs, position coaches elsewhere. I think the Ravens are in the mix. This division could go either way. Lamar's two time mvp. The running game looks to be an upgrade with Derek Henry. The O line's good. The wide receivers are talented defensively, they're good defensive line. They did lose a good linebacker queen to your Pittsburgh Steelers. Steelers loading up on defense, but for getting the other side of the ball. But we'll get into the Steelers here in a bit. But for the Ravens, it comes down to, you know, can they regroup losing all the pieces they lost in the coaching staff and their offensive line coach may rest in peace. Just passed away bye. A week ago. I believe that could be an underrated loss. Offensive coaches, especially offensive line coaches, are underrated both in collegiate and the NFL level. That's a really important position coach for both teams. I like the Ravens too. I think they're a playoff team. Lamar is going to be in the hunt again. For the Ravens, it's can they get over the hunt and win big games? They open the season tomorrow at KC. Winning there would go a long ways and towards possibly winning this division again. [00:04:57] Speaker A: I think Ravens actually open up with the win tomorrow. [00:05:02] Speaker C: I think you already got to it now, but I think I like defending Super bowl champions generally, you know, generally it's a tough game coming off where it's at. I think, you know, Ravens on the road, I think they generally lose. I think a lot of pieces. If you look at, you know, John Harbaugh's entire era there, like they're always getting plucked for coaches. They're always kind of going through players and taking what could be a cast off from another organization that becomes an impact player. As a Bears fan, they take Roquan Smith and, you know, anchors the middle of that defense there and they always kind of plug and play from a weapon standpoint, I think, oh, when they lost Hollywood Brown a couple years ago, that was the biggest thing. But you got Zay flowers. Can he be an impact player on that side? And then market and then Mark Andrews coming back, you know, from his injury, you know, tried and true right over. Let's get ten yards at a time, you know, dink it and dunk it down the field with Lamar's not escaping the pocket. So I think they always have answers. I think some of the scouting in that thing, there's always guys that you never heard of that they're going to come through. They're going to be, you know, guys that makes significant, significant playing time. So I think that's where it's at. [00:06:02] Speaker A: For the rest of the vision. You got the Browns, they had one of the top defenses last year, but they got Deshaun Watson. Man, he hasn't looked the same since. Everything that's happened in Houston, I think it's done. I was listening to something the other day where he was like five in one in the games that he did play last year, but the games that I watched, it didn't look that great. So that could. Is that a deceiving 501? Is that Brown's defense can even come back the same and lead into that? I think my Steelers with the revamped defense might have like that Brown season that they had last year and have maybe like the top, a top five defense in the NFL and just shut teams down this year. What do you guys think? [00:06:39] Speaker B: I mean, Cleveland's going to have a good defense. They're going to need to rely on it. Defense is what Cleveland is, their strength. I mean, obviously they're going to run the ball. Nick Chubb is out the first four games on the pub list out. So. But they, they've got talent on the outside. I mean, Deshaun Watson, that's, that's the big question mark. We haven't really seen him perform or play well, at a high level from basically since around Covid. And, you know, he's already got shoulder issues. They're already kind of nurturing him in, bring him along slowly. They start with the Cowboys. That's a big game on Sunday, home game, the game, their favorite, a game they need to win given all the tomorrow the Cowboys have had this offseason in training camp. But yeah, I think the question is, when you look at that division, the two things we know, if Lamar is healthy, Joe Burrows healthy, those teams are good. Cleveland, they got Watson. They spend a lot of money on them. Joe Flock was not there to rescue him. And as Jason mentioned, the Steelers, it's a, you know, a ring around the circus there at quarterback. You know, who's a third string guy, who's a guy that can bring up the practice squad. I think the Steelers could start three or four quarterbacks this year. [00:07:53] Speaker C: It's no shade on the seat. It's no shade on the Steelers. But I mean, you, you know, at least Mike Tomlin's going to deliver a nine and eight season. Like the man does not have losing seasons. So he's going to pull through whatever he can to, you know, bring them through. But you, you know, I agree with Aaron. I think, you know, Russell's going to start the season. I think Fields is going to be in there and then, yeah, there could be a third quarterback at some point that that's going through. There's just been no consistency in the position and, you know, whatever's around them from an offensive perspective, they do running back by committee basically. At this point, there's no one true, you know, running back they have there between Najee and Warren. But I think it's a team that's probably finishing both good. I was like, but like, you know, is it going to be good enough from a playmaker standpoint around, you know, what they have? I think Cleveland, going back to them was your first question. You know, I agree with Aaron at that point. Like, no Joe Flacco, but at the same time, the defense is going to keep them in ball games. But if you're matching, you know, year to year, the one thing most people are going to tell you is defense doesn't translate year to year all the time. I think you got a good pass rush that you're going to have, but is the rest of it going to be able to keep them in ball games? And then, yes, it's a tough division. I think it's probably like, I agree with Brom. I don't know if it's the best division, especially the toughest. [00:09:05] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:09:05] Speaker C: Because you got you know four teams that put a lot into defense every year and every game you know is, is a grounded out in the, in the north of the country especially when you get late in the season and the weather's bad. [00:09:17] Speaker A: Cold weather. Yeah. So last year Ravens finished 13 and four followed by the Browns eleven and six. Steelers at third ten and seven snuck into the playoffs and Bengals were nine and eight. I don't think the Browns going to replicate the success that they had last year. [00:09:30] Speaker B: I got, yeah, I think the Browns are about nine and 18. I know Jason mentioned it. I've never been want to go against Tomlin. I know every year he's finished above 500. I think the Steelers finished below 500 this year. I think this is the year they finished below 500. I think they're seven and ten team eight and nine if they're fortunate. [00:09:48] Speaker A: I'm a little torn with the Steelers because I don't want to see another year with like a, with like quarterback committee and watching another 1013 game, a 1714 game drawn out. Don't know what quarterbacks to be playing in and day out but I do think they're going to hit the over over eight and a half for them. I got the Browns over eight and a half for them Bengals depending. That's kind of like a maybe don't touch thing because they're, they're at the ten and a half. Ravens are definitely going to go over ten and a half, maybe 1112 win season. [00:10:21] Speaker B: Ravens feel like eleven one team. I think since he's right there they could go ten. They could go eleven. Cleveland, what's their over under eight and a half? [00:10:30] Speaker A: Eight and a half. Them and the Steelers. [00:10:32] Speaker B: Yeah, I think Cleveland probably gets nine. I think Steelers get eight. [00:10:36] Speaker A: So you're going. [00:10:38] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm going under Steelers. I mean I never go against Tomlin. I've always said I've always backed them but this year I'm, I'm not high on a man, I'm just high on them. [00:10:47] Speaker C: I'll switch it from Aaron. I would take the Steelers, I would say the Steelers over the Browns under like you, Erin, he talked about and Rome talked about like our history. Think about the last time we recorded any sort of audio. Aaron was talking about who the hotshot defensive coordinator from Minnesota was and since the time we recorded this last podcast the man hasn't had a losing season as head coach of the Steelers. So I mean that's, that's how you know he's gonna come through. Whatever happens to this team, they're gonna lose. They're gonna have injuries, but they're gonna, they're gonna sneak some, like 13 to ten game out on a Thursday night, like, in the middle of whatever that you're not gonna, that you're not gonna be surprised on. [00:11:24] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, it's like I said, I don't want to go against Tomlin in the under eight and a half, but I'm going to. I just, I think there's time. I mean, it's. Pittsburgh's been living on the edge for the last three, four years. Every time we think they're done, they find a way to win. Like, three out of their last four are there, like eight and three. They lose five in a row, and you're like, oh, man, they're done. And they sneak into the playoffs. [00:11:45] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:11:45] Speaker B: I think this is a wake up call for Pittsburgh that, you know, they need to stop playing around, get a franchise quarterback, commit money to a quarterback, not these one under $2 million per year quarterbacks that they got on the roster right now. So, yeah, I'm going under. [00:12:00] Speaker A: You're going under on Steelers. Okay. Who do you guys got winning the division? [00:12:05] Speaker B: As I mentioned, Cincinnati. [00:12:08] Speaker A: Aaron got some Bengals. Jason gots, Ravens. [00:12:12] Speaker B: So I got. I got Cincinnati winning, followed by Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh. [00:12:18] Speaker A: Pittsburgh. Glass, you're full of shit, dude. It's a fucking joke. All right. Love it. Do you guys know the Super bowl odds for the Ravens, or you guys want to make any predictions on that or. We'll come back to that when we talk about some other contenders. [00:12:32] Speaker B: We'll do all divisions, and then we can look at playoff teams who we like. Roman already knows my Super bowl matchup, but, yeah, you know what? [00:12:42] Speaker A: I'm kind of agreeing on some things. Actually only on one pick. [00:12:47] Speaker B: Okay, so you're coming, too, man. My wisdom starting to wear off on you then. [00:12:53] Speaker C: Okay, great. I gotta have a dissenting opinion. If you guys are already agreeing on everything in the first episode, it's not a good look. [00:12:58] Speaker A: No, actually, we're not bad when we agree on something, you know, it's usually a winning pick. So AFC south, you guys want to do that? [00:13:07] Speaker B: Yeah, let's do it. [00:13:09] Speaker A: AC south. I think this is pretty, like, cut and dry for me. You got Texans, Jaguars, Colts, Titans. I think the top two teams have some promise. Bottom two, not so much. Titans, definitely in last place in that division. Texans. I have winning the division coming out. They're at a nine and a half on the over. I got a really comfortable over for them. Jaguars over for them at eight and a half as well. But let's start from there. [00:13:40] Speaker B: Yeah. So for the AFC south, as you mentioned, I think it is a two team division race with the Texans and Jaguars. Indy show some promise last year with Richardson, but he's still raw. He only started 13 games in college and what I think he only made it through the first month last year. [00:13:57] Speaker A: Pretty raw. [00:13:58] Speaker B: Play a lot in the preseason, but can he stay healthy? We know he's just a guy that's, he's super, ultra talented, but he takes a lot of chance. He takes a lot of risk. He's got to get down, he's got a slide. He's got to get out of bounds. Can't be taken on 250 pound linebackers. Your shoulder is going to go out like it did last year. And Tennessee, new coach, basically new staff all around, a lot of new players. They brought in on defense and offense. So it looks like they are committed to bring in some players. And then Jacksonville, who seemingly had the division wrapped up last year before Trevor Lawrence got hurt and then they just kind of like hang. The defense got tired. They fell apart late in the year. And then Houston, as you mentioned, CJ Stroud, they had Diggs at the wideout, added some good pieces on defense, too. So they're going to be, they're going to be tough. So, I mean, I've got, I've got Houston winning that division, but I don't think, I don't think that division is going to be as easy as people kind of think it looks like on paper right now. [00:14:58] Speaker C: Yeah. I hate to make this uninteresting, but I agree with Aaron pretty much on that. I think Houston's the class of the division. I think they proved it last year. Jacksonville, I just, I haven't bought Trevor Lawrence being the guy that he was supposed to be at this point and take the team. Like if you looked at, you know, as the irrational Bears fan, I was looking at his stats basically compared to Justin Fields forever in a day, talking about them being lined up as similar, you know, similar passing statistics early on in their career. So if this is the guy that the Bears, you know, push aside Justin Fields for and Trevor Lawrence is giving similar, you know, similar stats from the quarterback position, like how, how are we thinking he's going to be out dueling in this division from Houston, who took such a huge step forward last year? You know, Tennessee, I don't think it's anyone surprised. That's the bottom of the division. But when it comes to Richardson from the Colts. Like you guys said, ultra talented, but, you know, is he, is he a better fantasy quarterback than versus what's talking about the actual, like, play on the field. Hey, fun to watch. That's great. But, you know, again, like the, the ability to pass, taking too many chances. A lot of times, like, you play the 17 game schedule, you know, you're gonna see a bunch of backups play. You know, are how many games he'd be able to play this year and continue to develop as a passer in the league because, I mean, that was a pick when they drafted him. A little bit of a reach, tons of athletic ability, but from a quarterback position play like in college, was there a ton of passing that he was known for? And I was more for his athletic ability, getting out of the pocket and making plays happen. Tough to do at the NFL level with that many, you know, that many games and taking that kind of beating if he's not doing what Aaron's talking about. [00:16:36] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm going to touch on Richardson. I mean, with Shane Steichen, we've seen what he's been able to do with quarterbacks in this league. I mean, he was Justin Herbert's rookie quarterback. Coach OC best year Justin Herbert's had in his career, probably his rookie year. You saw what he did with Jalen. Hurts, turning him around, making him an mvp caliber quarterback, getting that team to the Super Bowl. I think Shane Steigan is one of the better coaches out there. I think he was the perfect selection for Richardson to learn from. I think Richardson, if he could stay whole, fee is going to take strides forward. But again, he's like, you know, Jason said he's green. Mandev, 13 career starts in college, I think four on the pros. He's young, talented, arm strength, speed, power, accuracy is kind of a question, but we'll, we'll see. Man, I think Stike and Stike and has proven that he can turn quarterbacks into real players, and I think that's a real benefit for him and the Colts going forward. [00:17:30] Speaker A: Yeah. So last year, Texans obviously finished it, then followed by Jaguars, Colts, Titans. I actually think it's going to be the same order this year, and you can actually bet on it. It's plus 650 for that order, which I'm kind of digging on that. [00:17:44] Speaker B: So that's what Texans, Jaguars, Colton and Titans plus 650. [00:17:51] Speaker A: Mm hmm. [00:17:52] Speaker B: That's real nice. That's real nice. [00:17:53] Speaker A: That's a really nice return. Texans nine and a half, which is kind of weird. They had ten wins last year. I think shrouds better. They're healthier. They got Joe Mixon. They beeped up some, some holes on ball, both sides of the ball. So I usually got them winning maybe like 1112 games. Jaguars over under is eight and a half. They won nine last year with a banged up Lawrence, but as you guys said, he's talented, but who knows, you know, can he finish the whole season? They did beef up their old line, though, and I don't know, I'm kind of leaning towards, like, they might be like a surprise pick, maybe like a potential wild card. So I got them on the over eight and a half. I think they're a nine or ten win team. Colts tightens. It's eight and a half, then six and a half, respectively. The Titans new coach Henry's gone. What else do they got to play for? I think it might be like a four or five win team over there. [00:18:44] Speaker C: I mean, they're definitely starting Owen one, so I can tell you that. [00:18:48] Speaker B: I hope you're right, jason. I hope you're right, man. [00:18:50] Speaker A: Who they played. [00:18:53] Speaker C: The Chicago Bears. That's why, you know that the Titans are starting. [00:18:57] Speaker B: Overdose. That's why I'm telling Jason's going to be getting on that plane flight no problem, drinking on that whiskey and tie ins. It'll be a two touchdown lead by the time he boards. [00:19:07] Speaker A: Yeah, Tynes might be in the running for one of the worst teams, so I wouldn't be too worried about that game. [00:19:11] Speaker B: I mean, will Levis doing all these Mayo commercials, man, he better hope he doesn't have any mayo on his hands when he gets sacked, because you're right. That ball, that ball comes out pretty loose when you got a little Mayo on those hands, man. [00:19:21] Speaker C: I mean, it could be a good strategy on the field. I mean, is anyone going to tackle him if he's smelling like Mayo all around? It could be. It could be a good strategy at that time, too. [00:19:29] Speaker B: So it could be, like, some vaseline, a little slick, too. You don't just slip out of those tackles. [00:19:34] Speaker A: So do you guys agree? Texans, Jaguars, colts, Titans, in that order. Texans take it all. [00:19:40] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's. I guess that'd be chalk on the lines across the board, but I agree with you guys on that. [00:19:45] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm gonna agree with that. And I'm. I mean, you got the over unders, nine and a half. This is one of my NFL locks of the year that's been over nine and a half wins. Bet it big, bet it hard. [00:19:56] Speaker A: Okay. I think we should do that 650 pick, too. [00:20:00] Speaker B: I like it, man. I think that's worth $50. Action easy, at least a couple hundred. I like it, too, man. [00:20:08] Speaker A: Yeah. I just don't see Jaguars doing better than the Texans. I don't see them doing worse than the Colts either, so. [00:20:14] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, like you said, I think Jacksonville's kind of a wild card team here. They've got their talented on offense. They upgraded their offensive line. They got tight ends, they got receivers, they got running backs of. I like the new defensive corner they brought in from Atlanta. They're gonna be more aggressive. I like their coach. Yeah, I mean, he's a risk taker. He's a winner. He won a Super Bowl. Lawrence has won in the playoffs, too. So I think Jacksonville's the only team that shakes up the division, if at all. I mean, I think, like we mentioned, Tennessee's four or five win team, maybe six. I think the Colts of Richardson are their borderline between seven and nine wins. I think they probably get eight. Jacksonville feels like a ten win team to me, and I think the Texans are between eleven and twelve. [00:20:57] Speaker A: Nice. We're in agreement on everything. That's crazy. Let's move on. You guys want to head east or the west? [00:21:06] Speaker B: Let's head east. [00:21:08] Speaker A: East. I'm kind of torn. I'm a big Josh Allen fan. You know, it sucks being a Steelers fan now because now my favorite quarterback is Joe Burrow. I was kind of rooting for the bills. You know, I kind of do root for them in general now, but I think they might have missed their window for winning a Super Bowl. I think I might be gone. We're going to find out how good he is as a player now that they have pretty much depleted the whole roster. You know what? We didn't talk about them losing their wide receiver to the Texans. If there's any wild card of the Texans kind of season derailing, it's because they got that drama queen at wide receiver. [00:21:50] Speaker C: Thanks. I think. I think, you know, digs going to them, along with mixing what you meant to kind of backtrack in here, though. But I think that's, that's playmakers for a second year quarterback. That what you really money. Well, you know, I think that's, you know, if we're going to go into a half hour later of me talking about the bears, I think the Texans, you know, going that with the same thing as you get a quarterback on a rookie contract, that's when you're able to have kind of these additional tools that they could spend extra money on. So I really think, you know, Diggs was the, was the game changer, you know, in Buffalo when he went over there to take Josh Allen to the next level, you know, and I think he'll do the same for Stroud. But as far as for Josh Allen right now, like this is that crucial, I think, part of a quarterback's career. Where can they make wide receivers versus getting the, you know, premier wide receiver for them. So, you know what you give credit to Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady back in the day, you know, they were developing guys that were not seen at those, know, top lash line wide receivers. They can let somebody go and they're going to develop someone behind them and make them a playmaker. You know, under the salary cap rules, you can only afford so many people. I think this is, would be a definite turning point for Josh Allen. Can he continue to have the success offensively with new guys? I think you're right. Like it could be a step back for them or, hey, this is how they can do what Kansas City does, you know, when they let Tyreek go and mahomes able to win two Super Bowls without know one of the best players in the game. I think that's where Josh Allen's really have to prove himself. Now. [00:23:15] Speaker B: This is Josh Allen's time to prove whether or not, like Jason mentioned, he's up there with the Tom Brady's Mahomes. Can he get to the hall of Fame? Josh Allen has always had talented players around him with Diggs. He also lost Davis to Jacksonville, to Gabe Davis. So he's lost both his top whiteouts. So that's, that's, that's a lot of players to lose. You also got Joe Brady, who came in midseason last year as the OC, now is a full time OC. They lost some guys on their office line. They got some good tight ends, still got the running back cooks. But yeah, as Jason mentioned, you know, great quarterbacks. You give them, you know, average wide receivers, they make them good. And that's what we're going to find out with Josh Allen is can he take these guys to the next level? There's talent there. They got keen. Coleman, rookie out of Florida State, super athletic, strong, quick. Could be, you know, one of the top five receivers taken in the draft this year. But for Josh Allen and Buffalo, I think this is a big step for his career in maturing. You know, he's, he's going to have to be less of a risk taker and I don't want to use the word like game management. But he's going to have to not take as many chances and be like, okay, hey, don't not enforce it here, let me punt it. Let's play defense. Have the defense get him off the field, get back out there and see if they can win games. So it's going to be an interesting year in Buffalo. They've got Arizona Cardinals starting at home, so it'll be an interesting week. One matchup for sure. [00:24:45] Speaker C: Aaron mentioned James Cook. I think that's what you see early on in this season until, you know, Keon Coleman, some of these other wide receivers can really prove themselves. Like how much more do they mix into the running game versus what they were the past couple years where they were just very happy having, you know, pass happy offense. A lot of stuff going there, maybe a little play action there, but really didn't see a ton out of the running game. I think in James Cook's third year right now, you know, we're getting the fantasy talk. You know, he's one that's kind of rising up the ranks there as, you know, kind of a late 1st, 2nd round pick from a fantasy perspective. You know, they can see them feeding the ball a lot more to take pressure off this, especially when you get to those late December games in Buffalo where, you know, you know, you can't be running around loose with the ball. Got to be able to protect it, control the clock, you know, and that could be some of the key for Buffalo this year. [00:25:32] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, James Cook, we know is going to run the ball a lot. We know Joe Brady wants to run the ball like Jason Mitchell. I think James Cook's a good fantasy player. Pick up and Dalton Kincaid, second year tight in out of Utah. He's going to get a lot of love, a lot of touches. Those could be Josh Allen's, his go to guys as he starts to build more confidence rapport with his new wide receiving core. So, you know, Buffalo could be one of those teams that gets off to a slow start. I mean, they've lost a lot of players on defense, too. It's, it's going to be an interesting season coming up for Buffalo for sure, and an interesting division. [00:26:00] Speaker C: It's a tough schedule to start, too, because you mentioned they start Arizona. That may be their easiest game in that first month because then they're going to go at Miami. At Miami in September is like the absolute worst road game to play. It's going to be like 100 degrees with no shade on the sideline over there where everyone, like in Miami and Dolphins are always going to be the September team. I know we'll get to that more in the as east, but you know, they're going to be letting the ball thrown all over the field and putting up high scoring offense in September. After that, Buffalo's first and Jacksonville at home, then they're playing at Baltimore, at Houston. So you look at that first like five, six games for Buffalo. You know, if they're coming out of it three and three after first six, that may be a win for them before they get later in the season because overall, like, you know, they're going to play San Francisco this year. They're going to play Kansas City. No, I think they're at home for Buffalo there. They're at home for there. They're at the Rams at Detroit. I think. [00:26:57] Speaker B: Yeah, Buffalo has the 49 ers at home. I'm looking at Buffalo schedule. I'll break down more of their schedule here, but yeah, their schedules brutal early. It's, and I think I'll get into it now. I think Arizona is gonna beat them week one. That's, that's, I think that's, that's my upset the week in. Week one, I think the Cardinals are going to go in there and beat Buffalo week one. And looking at their schedule, I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo starts. Oh and five, I know it's crazy to talk, but oh and five, I think it's a real possibility for Buffalo. [00:27:28] Speaker C: You're fucking crazy. It's crazy, but it's not unrealistic as I'm saying. [00:27:33] Speaker B: The first game schedule at Miami, Arizona. [00:27:37] Speaker A: Jacksonville, I mean, they got to be. [00:27:39] Speaker B: They got to be Arizona and Jacksonville. They got at the Jets. I mean, dude, yeah, you go, it's. [00:27:45] Speaker A: A tough six game stretch to start for sure. [00:27:49] Speaker B: I mean, we'll get more into the division, but I don't, I don't think, I don't have Buffalo making the playoffs this year. [00:27:55] Speaker A: So you don't. So they're over unders at ten and. [00:27:58] Speaker B: A half based off that schedule right now. Pin me down for the under now. [00:28:02] Speaker A: You got the under? Yeah, I have the under as well. I got them as nine or ten win team. On the best case scenario, Jetse are listed at nine and a half. Do you got the winning the division or you guys have Dolphins? [00:28:17] Speaker C: I think the Dolphins win the division. Yeah. I'm a huge McDaniel fan. I think one of the best offensive coaches out there, like I said, I think they're going to be throwing the ball all over the place, putting up huge offensive numbers in September and October and get out to a fast start for them. It comes down to do they have home field advantage as they go down to the playoffs? We saw last year when the weather was tough, a little bit harder to play. But you know, this is an offense that you have to the best wide receivers, you know, pairing in the, one of the best wireless repair in the league and yeah, yeah, I think they've added some depth in the running back and McDaniel comes from that Shanahan kind of system where they're always going to have some guy that's going to potentially rush for 1000 yards and, and go, but they could also throw the ball up and down, you know, to his health is going to be the thing to talk about. But I mean, he played the entire season last year and they were able to keep him healthy. So I think, I think the Dolphins, you know, I think in the first time in a very long time, I think you could say the Dolphins could be, you know, a player to potentially go to the Super bowl. The Jets, I think people are going to be talking, jets are going to be talking about the jets. But, you know, it takes one Aaron Rodgers injury and you know, they're in the toilet again, too. So I know Aaron's, you know, going to be coming back looking for, you know, a big fu season after missing last year and what he's going to be won for. But I still think, I still think Miami is the class of that division right now. [00:29:38] Speaker A: See, I got the Jets. I think they're just really talented. It all hinges on Aaron Rodgers and they really don't have any other backup. I'm kind of don't know which way to go because if you see other quarterbacks his age, like Peyton Manning, I think he had way more interceptions and touchdowns. True breeze as well. It just goes on and on and on. It might be tough, but they are talented, though. And this is a make or break here for Salah. I don't know if he's a good coach or not. I've been saying he hasn't been a good coach. I think Aaron's been a big salad guy, but I do have him right now winning the division. [00:30:10] Speaker B: I got Miami winning the division. I think Miami, like Jason said, they're going to get off to a hot start. It's going to be hot. You're going to be playing in 100 degree humidity. It's going to be 120 on the field. McDaniels is going to have you guys running around a lot of motion a lot of misdirection plays. Miami is a team that starts really strong and it's gonna be a war. Nutrition for them. Can they keep it going as we get into November, December, as it gets colder, once teams kind of get more film on them, kind of pick up their tendencies, what they're doing with all their motion. Scheme wise, players get hurt, it gets colder. Speed's not as big as a factor when it's Tim below zero, but tua, he's proven if he can stay healthy that he can move the ball and they can score points, they're going to score points again. They got ultra talented players. Their own line is good. Plenty of running backs, plenty of receivers tied in plenty of good offensive schemes. And defensively they've got players, but they got a lot of players that got hurt. Phillips coming off the Achilles, they lost, I believe it was walk ins or walk ins to the Raiders. That was a big loss in their interior lines. Also lost big Fangios or defensive coordinator. So there's question marks for them, but I got the Dolphins winning the division. As for the Jets Aaron Rodgers, I think they're going to be in the mix. They're going to be. This is going to be Aaron Rodgers try to go out with bang, right? If he can get the jets to the playoffs in a deep run into the Super Bowl, I mean, it would, it's everything he wants. It's right there on the table. Everybody's running him off. The same Robert Sala. I don't know how good of a coach he is. We know he was a good defensive coordinator. I think he's a good motivator. I think he's respected in the organization and the team. [00:31:48] Speaker A: Well, here's my argument for the judge as well. They were seven and ten last year and that team stunk like shit. They were just really disappointed to watch game in gay out. If they have Aaron Rodgers, I think he's worth at least three more wins. [00:32:01] Speaker C: I think it could be. You'd have to check me Rome on the strength of schedule, but I think like, I'm looking at the jet schedule right now. Like they could be a team that's six and one, five and two out of the gate and we're in. New York's going to go crazy for where they're at. Besides the opening week for San Francisco, then they're going to play the Titans, then they're playing the Patriots, then they're playing Denver, then they're playing Minnesota and they're playing Buffalo. Like all of these are winnable games. [00:32:25] Speaker B: They should be all wins. I mean, I believe they'll probably be favored in all those games. [00:32:29] Speaker C: I would think they're favored after San Francisco. They're probably favored all the way up to potentially week nine when they're playing Houston at this point. So what, you know, if they're playing basically third place, last place schedule and what they're at, like, they don't have a ton in front of them. They don't play in Miami until December, which, you know, I talk about it, but it's just, it will, it will be a constant when you have these home games in Miami for whoever plays Miami in September when it's a thousand degrees like we've been talking about, but then playing Miami late in the year. So I think that's the thing for the jets is they could have, they could be hot out of the gate if they don't blow any of these semi very winnable games in September and October. I think they're a playoff team. I just think it's Miami's division to lose right now. And I think, I think they have the edge at coach right now. Like Salah. I think he's great defensive, but I think, I think McDaniel superior right now from a coaching perspective. [00:33:18] Speaker B: Yeah, I think McDaniel is better to coach right now. You got to give him the edge. I mean, he's been in the playoffs twice, hasn't won a playoff game yet, but he has been in the playoffs and you know, they know each other coming from the Shanahan system, the staff there were the 49 ers, jets. [00:33:34] Speaker A: Right. [00:33:34] Speaker B: Like their schedule lines up great. When you finish bad in the division, you get an easier schedule. Yeah, they're going to be favored. I think every game going into that, Houston one and then they don't, like Jason said, they don't get Miami. They go, I saw they get Jacksonville and Miami back to back in Florida. So they've, their schedule lines up good. They don't really have a lot of weak pieces outside of their offensive line, which they spend a lot of money on getting the veteran Tyron Smith from Dallas, they drafted a rookie. They got weapons on the outside. The running back hall. Bruce hall is a beast. Obviously, Hackett, that OC is a very questionable OC. But I think Aaron Rodgers can call his own plays and kind of, you know, can get into his schemes. He knows what you're running. He's seen everything. He can get everybody lined up. I think the jets could possibly steal his division, but I'm going to lean towards the more consistent team in Miami here. But I do have the jets coming in second. And I do have the jets as a wild card playoff team. [00:34:32] Speaker A: Cool. Do you guys say jets over nine and a half? [00:34:35] Speaker B: Yes. [00:34:36] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:34:37] Speaker A: Dolphins. Fair. Fair to say above nine and a half for both you guys? [00:34:42] Speaker B: Yes. [00:34:42] Speaker C: Yep. [00:34:43] Speaker A: Is that a. Is that a given? Is that a lock? [00:34:45] Speaker B: I'd bet it. [00:34:48] Speaker C: I bet both of those bills. [00:34:50] Speaker A: Ten and a half under. [00:34:52] Speaker C: I go under. [00:34:53] Speaker A: I was going under anyways. I think, as I mentioned, nine or ten, best case scenario, but without the weapons, it's gonna be pretty tough. And then Patsy, they won four games last year. [00:35:05] Speaker C: I think they're winning four games this year. [00:35:07] Speaker B: I got them at four wins. [00:35:09] Speaker A: The over is four and a half. [00:35:15] Speaker B: But I wouldn't bet it. I wouldn't bet. I mean, we know Jacoby Bursett's going to play the opener. I think they're the biggest underdog week one at Cincy. Like eight and a half, nine point dog. Drake May is going to come out there, but Jacobi Bursett's going to kind of take the licks, take the beatings. I. I'm not sure. I think the pagers got a pretty tough schedule to start the year, too. That's kind of why I think they're going to sit. Drake may go. I think they come out of that stretch probably one in five, and then Drake May, you'll probably see mid October, maybe right before Halloween, and then kind of let him run with the keys and see what happens. But, yeah, I'm not high on the Patriots. [00:35:49] Speaker A: Well, it depends on what you think about Seattle, which we'll get to later. But yeah, they open up at Cincy, at the jets, at San Francisco, then Miami, Houston, Jacksonville, then Jets again. They're all playoff teams. They get a little break versus Tennessee. That might be winnable. Chicago. You gotta imagine that they're gonna lose there, too. [00:36:08] Speaker C: But they're 100% going to lose there. [00:36:11] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't see t wins there. I was listening to Bill Simmons podcast and this guy's like so down on his. On his paths right now. Already stuck. [00:36:20] Speaker C: I would say my family in New England is the same, but, you know, they had a. They had a good 20 year run. [00:36:26] Speaker A: It's a good run. Great. [00:36:28] Speaker B: Sorry for you. [00:36:29] Speaker C: I know, I know. Boston majority there. It's always like a complex, but about not having winners and stuff, but it's been the most successful city in sports for our entire adult life at this time. I think people our age have seen nothing but winning coming out of the New England area. So I think the Patriots, they really just got, they got to add a ton of talent. You know, they're just, right now it's a total is a multi year rebuild. I don't think they're walking to anything from a, you know, game changing perspective. They got rid of Judah and got some more future assets there. [00:37:02] Speaker A: That's a good trade. [00:37:03] Speaker C: Yeah. I was hoping he was going to get to the Bears, but, you know. [00:37:08] Speaker B: Bears, Bears have already been loading up on for the last third years. [00:37:13] Speaker C: We have, but, yeah, I don't, there's much more of the Patriots. I think they're the definitely last. It's rebuilding, I think trying not to get May heard early on, like Aaron talked, talk to him and then get him in there, you know, later in the year when they have, you know, potentially some more, you know, winnable games when they start playing at Tennessee, Indianapolis, you know, stuff like that. [00:37:33] Speaker A: Well, he didn't really play that much in college. If there's any quarterback that got drafted this past year that can use a year off, it's him. Just sit back, look at everyone else, get pounded, lick the wounds, and then maybe come back and play next year. But we'll see what happens there. [00:37:47] Speaker B: I mean, yeah, Drake May, Drake Mays, he's, he's a project. I mean, he did play, you know, basically two years at North Carolina, but the level of competition he played against wasn't great. [00:37:56] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:57] Speaker B: When he played against good teams in the ACC and out of conference, he didn't play well. He's looked okay here in preseason, better than people thought. But, you know, he's going to get second and third string guys. Um, no reason to throw him out there. This is a bad football team. It doesn't have a lot of offensive weapons. They don't have a good offensive line. AK May is going to be running for a lot. You just don't want to, you don't want to break his confidence early on and get him where he's just overthinking things. So I think sitting him as a good idea. [00:38:29] Speaker A: Yeah, not worth it. Let's tackle the last division, AFC west. You got Chiefs, chargers with the new hardball hire. Raiders hiring their interim coach. A lot of mixed reviews coming out of there, whether they're gonna be competitive or not. I think Aaron has some takes on that. And then Denver, another year quarterback. [00:38:54] Speaker C: I mean, Aaron's got takes on something. So that's what I want to hear right away. What's. [00:38:57] Speaker A: I know, man. [00:38:59] Speaker B: What is the take, manda? I mean, I, my facts are just facts, man. Nothing controversy about it, dude. Now, I mean, for the AFC, he's. [00:39:07] Speaker C: Got, he's got sources on something, you know, from the sofa, you got something. [00:39:11] Speaker B: Hey, everybody that's got a sofa is a source out there, man. You got a sofa, you're a source. All you need is the phone in the number. We're hitting you up, man. So I got sources everywhere. C West, I got this Kansas city chiefs, man. I mean, the Chiefs are the Super bowl champs two time, three in the last four. They're the king of the hill, king of the division. You know, I just don't see Chargers, Raiders, Broncos right now knocking them off that throne. So I'm taking the chiefs and win that division. [00:39:40] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's pretty, pretty much slam dunk that they win the division, which is crazy. I think if you think two, three years ago, this division stacked top to bottom, you have the Chargers making trades for Khalil Mack and everyone getting all these like edge rushers, you know, to try to compete against, you know, Mahomes and them. But now Mahomes and the Chiefs are still at the top. All other three teams are basically falling off and are going on to different quarterbacks, different coaches and kind of retooling it. I think it's a, it's a pretty much cakewalk that they run away with the division. I think, you know, those three teams are going to basically fighting for second place. But I wouldn't be surprised if like the Chiefs are the only winning team in that organization in that division at the same time this year. I mean, the other three could. The other three could easily finish below 500. [00:40:26] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what happened last year. You got two a night. Teams charged were last at five and twelve. That was after a playoff year. Chiefs were eleven six, even though it was like an up and down year as well. They looked like crap in the playoffs until they got hot and luckily won the Super bowl. That's my opinion. They're over under is eleven and a half. [00:40:46] Speaker B: I have to pull up their schedule here. [00:40:48] Speaker A: I think they might take it easy because they now they know they basically won on the road whenever they wanted to last year. Kelsey's a little bit older. They short up their wide receiver core. I think they know they got it when they need to turn it on. [00:41:01] Speaker C: It's a tough repeat, it's a tough line. But I think they're, you know, division games. If they go six and O in the division, you know, that makes it much more palatable. But then they're playing a first place schedule. So they got Baltimore week one, Cincinnati week two right out of the gates. They're playing the two top teams that we talked about in the NFC North. I think they get probably a gift in Atlanta, but I think Atlanta's looking to do something this year with Gatton, Kirk Cousins and a bunch of the weapons they have. So that's not, you know, a pushover game in week three. Then, then they're into their schedule, you know, into their division schedule with the Chargers and then a pretty winnable game in New Orleans. So I mean, I think in division, you know, they can definitely put up some winnable games and then they're going to play Carolina and Tampa Bay and a bunch of other winnable games there, too. So I think it's right on the money. They got us some really hard games, but interdivision games and a couple very good teams in the schedule at all. It's going to be right up against it. But I probably would lean over, but I don't know if I'd bet it. [00:41:57] Speaker B: I'd lean over to eleven and a half. It's right there. They probably go twelve and five. I think that week three game against Atlanta is a trap. Obviously they get the first two games with Baltimore and Cincy at home, especially if they win those games. You go into hot Atlanta on a Sunday night game, you know, the Falcons will be fired up for that one. That could be it. That could be a trap game where they're kind of just like, hey, we just beat two playoff teams. Two teams that have, you know, since, I mean, I don't believe my homes has ever beaten Joe Burrow in the regular season. [00:42:28] Speaker C: So he only beat someone. It matters in the playoffs, man. Don't matter about the regular season games. [00:42:33] Speaker B: Talking about the playoffs and that's split that split one on one. I mean, if it wasn't for that dumb personal foul penalty, I, that game probably goes an overtime in Cincinnati, probably wins that one, too. It'll be interesting to see if Cincinnati does win that game week two, if it does get changed back from Arrowhead to Burrow head, that would be the talk. That'd be the headline coming out. [00:42:55] Speaker A: It all depends on how healthy Burrow is. If he looks kind of shaky the way he's kind of looked in a. [00:42:59] Speaker B: Few, I think, bro, I think Burrows can look fine. He's going to look great against those New England Patriots on Sunday. [00:43:05] Speaker A: So I do got Chiefs winning that division as well. But I also have the Chargers possibly going over. They have eight and a half wins, new coach, maybe playoffs. They have the second easiest schedule in the NFL. [00:43:21] Speaker B: Chargers, man, Chargers are one of those teams. I don't have a really good read on them. They could do they, they feel like a team that could go seven and ten, maybe ten and seven. I think they finished second in that division. I mean, they're, defensively, obviously, we know they're going to be a better coach with Harbaugh coming in and bringing everybody from pretty much Michigan over, but they lost a lot of talent. They have really nil proven wide receivers outside of Palmer. They lost Mike Williams to the Jets, Keenan Allen to Jason's Bears, two running backs that have been banged up, and Edwards and Dobbins. I mean, Dobbins, he's played about as many games as I have over the last three years. And their offensive line obviously is stacked and Herbert's, you know, a Pro bowl quarterback. But I think for the Chargers, man, it's, can they get enough offense from the pieces? They have to be a team that can compete for a playoff spot, let alone get over 500. [00:44:21] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's a tall ask. I think, you know, the Chargers are kind of like the punchline for the Chargers are going to charger at some point. Does Harbaugh kind of change their luck and fortunes by the Herbert, you're, you're kind of having the same conversation with Herbert that you are about Josh Allen because Aaron mentioned all the, all the weapons he lost. [00:44:40] Speaker A: So. [00:44:40] Speaker C: Cool. Who is Herbert going to elevate now, you know, with this go round after he gets his big contract and, you know, be able to pay, you know, to be able to develop wide receivers? I think that's the big question for him. I don't, I don't see it in Wheaton in year one for Harbaugh. I think he's probably going to set a foundation. They're probably going to be really disciplined on defense and really make games difficult. But I don't know if they have the playmakers necessary for everything they've lost on the offensive side of the ball to make the difference right now. [00:45:09] Speaker A: What do you guys think about the Raiders? They won eight games last year, interim coach. They don't have a quarterback, but they do got Crosby on defense, some pretty big playmakers. [00:45:19] Speaker B: I think they're going to be better on defense, pretty favorable. I think they're going to be average on offense. I mean, like you mentioned, I mean, Minshew, he's up and down. You don't know what you're going to really get from him. He had some good years. Again, go back into Shane Steichen. He was good game. Philadelphia. He worked from the Colts. He did well before that. We know he can be very turnover prone. Raiders are going to do what Antonio Paris, they're going to bring physicality. They're going to play very similar to the Chargers, where it's going to be run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, try to run it down your throat, play good defense, and then try to hit a home run over the top with Devontae Adams. And obviously they got the two tight ends. They got Meyers, second year guy out of Northern, Brock Bowers. They all the all American out of Georgia. So they've got some decent weapons. Their old line is not very good defensively, good d lineman. They got a big pickup out of Miami from the Dolphins. They got no linebackers. Their secondary has always been bad, so that's always been a problem with them. I've got the Raiders. What's their win total this year? [00:46:17] Speaker A: So this changed. It went up a little bit. It's at six and a half now. What was that? Five and a half? And we got Denver at five and a half. [00:46:23] Speaker B: The Raiders feel like about a seven win team to me. I mean, I think they. I think the Raiders probably get seven wins, maybe eight again if they're fortunate enough, but I think they're. They're on a borderline six, seven, one team. [00:46:34] Speaker A: Some people are picking them up. I don't have the odds in front of me. We got to find that out. But they're in the running for one of the worst teams in football. Same thing with Denver. Denver at five and a half, which I think is pretty low. They won eight games last year and I think they got a better quarterback. Right. [00:46:49] Speaker B: I think Denver's going to be better than they were last year. Um, I think Bo Nicks. Bo Nicks is the Drew Brees 2.0. You're basically. You're basically getting Drew Brees 2.0 with better movement, better mobility. I think he's got the smarts, basic same arm talent, and he's got the one common denominator, Sean Payton. I think the Broncos are going to surprise some people. I got him over five and a half wins. [00:47:13] Speaker C: I can't wait for the bad Netflix movie for the sequel to the, you know, Sean Payton movie that they had already, you know, about this story that Aaron's gonna try to spin. I don't know about Bo Nick's this first year with Sean Payton and whether, you know, I'm mixed on what they're doing in there because you bring Sean Payton in to really fix what they had with Russell Wilson and they say they bring him in, he just torpedoes the whole thing and then wants to start all over again. Sean Payton's the quarterback whisperer, like, to talk about. He made you breeze. I. It's hard to go against his track record, but he made one guy. So, you know, are you, are you having the, you know, you know, you'll have the Brady Belichick conversation forever about, you know, Belichick didn't make Brady, but like, you know, is, is, did Peyton make breeze or debris make Peyton look good? You know, I don't know, but I think both teams are bad. I don't, I don't. I think Bonix is going to have highs, but a lot of lows. I think, though, that the Broncos could potentially beat the Raiders in the division. Aaron's talking about Garden Minju and the stuff he did before, but when you look at Minshew and Aiden O'Connell like they don't have an NFL starting quarterback. They got two, you know, really good backups that are there and Devontae Adams ain't happy. And if we're in, if we're not and if they're not getting him the ball every day, like, I, you know, I don't know what they're going to be able to do offensively. You know, I think Aaron's right for the defense from Antonio Pierce. I think that's what's going to keep him in games and make a lot of this stuff competitive and make them close to maybe the seven or eight win team that they were last year, but they got to be able to score points again. I think that's another thing where they're going to be playing the Chargers and they're playing the Broncos. Those inner division games are what's going to be, maybe some of the stuff they'll be able to win, but outside of that, they would play some more aggressive stuff. It's going to be a little harder. [00:48:59] Speaker A: One thing interesting about the AFC west, you always see like a lot of those season series being split. So I do think they'll get a win against the Chiefs. I do think they could possibly get a win against the Chargers. They're going to get some wins. [00:49:09] Speaker B: Well, they beat Kansas City last year, I believe, on Christmas Day. [00:49:12] Speaker A: I was happy. [00:49:15] Speaker B: You do have that going for you. I'm looking at the Broncos schedule right now. I just pulled it up. It's, it's not too bad. I mean, I going back. I. Bo Nicks, yeah, he's gonna have ups and downs, but I think Bo Nicks, like I said, I think over time he started, what, 60 plus games in college. He has experience. He's good. [00:49:33] Speaker A: It's not like a check anything. [00:49:34] Speaker B: Yeah, he's, he's played at the biggest levels. He played 38. He should be bright playing the packed well, like I said, he. He's, he's Sean Payton's Drew Brees 2.0. Exactly what Sean Payton needs. I think it's. I think it's a max made in heaven. I think it's going to work out perfect for him. Probably not this year, but, you know, give Sean Payne a lot of credit, man. He took Russell Wilson, who couldn't win with Hackett, got him to eight wins, and then shipped him out of town and said, hey, Tomlin, you take on the scraps. [00:50:06] Speaker A: Okay, so we got Chiefs winning the division Chargers. You guys sound like you're both under the eight and a half for them. I'm kind of torn on that one. Maybe I'll come back after the first few weeks. I do got the winning at least eight games, so might be the under. Raiders six and a half, Denver five and a half. [00:50:26] Speaker B: I like Denver over five and a half. I got Chiefs winning division followed by Chargers, Broncos, Raiders finishing last. [00:50:34] Speaker C: I agree with Aaron. [00:50:35] Speaker A: I got that same order. [00:50:37] Speaker C: No, he said Raiders finishing last, right? [00:50:39] Speaker B: Oh, Raiders finish last. [00:50:40] Speaker C: Raiders finish last. Yeah, I agree with Aaron on that. I think the quarterback thing, as much as you know, you're going to get Peyton credit for Bo Nicks on a certain point. I don't think garden Aiden O'Connell is going to be the answer. I think they have. They have the worst quarterback out of the four teams in the division. [00:50:54] Speaker B: Yeah, they got the worst quarterback for sure. So, dare I say it, the worst coach, too, in the division. [00:50:59] Speaker A: Not a good combination if you go on reputation. Yeah. I still don't think Sean Payne is shit, but we'll see another 30 year disappointment. [00:51:08] Speaker B: You got Reed with Super bowl ring. Horrible. Been to a Super bowl, national championship ring. Peyton with a Super bowl and Antonio Pierce, he's got. He's got a Super bowl ring with playing on the field, but not with the headset on. [00:51:21] Speaker A: All right, let's wrap up this division. Who's in the playoffs? Who's the wild card? Who's winning it? Who's in the, who's in the AFC championship game? Who's representing it in the Super bowl? [00:51:30] Speaker B: Well, our division winners. If you go back, I've got Cincinnati, Miami, the Chiefs, the Texans. So those are my four division winners. And for the wild card, I've got the jets being in there as a wild card team. I'm going to take the Ravens as a wild card team and I'll go Jacksonville as a wild card team. [00:51:54] Speaker A: Jacksonville. [00:51:57] Speaker B: Those are my seven teams out of the AFC making the playoffs. [00:52:00] Speaker A: And who's in the championship game? [00:52:04] Speaker B: AFC championship game. [00:52:06] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:52:06] Speaker B: Houston Texans versus New York jets. [00:52:10] Speaker C: Oh, interesting. [00:52:13] Speaker A: And Aaron, do you want to reveal who you have going to the Super bowl to Jason and everyone else? [00:52:19] Speaker B: Might as well. Houston Texans in the Super bowl. There we go. [00:52:25] Speaker C: Interesting. [00:52:26] Speaker B: All right. [00:52:26] Speaker C: All right. [00:52:27] Speaker A: What you got? Jay said you look like you're a little stunned right now. [00:52:30] Speaker C: I'm not, I'm not stunned. I mean, the Texans are gonna, you know, they're gonna lose week two to the Bears. I mean, that's, that's a foregone conclusion there. But yeah, I think you go back for the winners. [00:52:41] Speaker A: Yeah. Who you got? [00:52:43] Speaker C: I think, you know, I had the Ravens winning the north, Dolphins winning the east. Um, chiefs win in the west, and Texans win in the south. And agree with Aaron. I think the jets are a wild card team. We already talked about their schedule early. I think then the Bengals agree with Aaron. You know, they're at least a wild card team under the wood division. Through a wild card team, it'll come down. If I think Jacksonville and, or probably Rome Steelers and I want to make this, you know, because I picked them third, you know, that and AFC north I think can deliver. Man, this is going to be so boring. But I'm agree with Aaron. I think Jacksonville, they got the weaker interdivision schedule. They're going to be playing the Titans twice. They're going to be playing the Colts and some stuff. So I think we have, I know we got the same seven teams. That's not how you tell you draw numbers there, but I think that's the. [00:53:40] Speaker B: Way it's going to sneak a light. Mandeh, why is guys think alike? [00:53:43] Speaker C: I guess I'll, I'll differ with Aaron. If you're looking at the AFC championship game, I think you're getting a repeat of the Chiefs. They're driving for three and then playing them, the Ravens again. I think it's the raven where it's at. And I do think the Chiefs are going to go to the Super bowl again. They're going to try to make it three in a row. [00:54:01] Speaker A: Wow. Okay. I do got the jets winning the AFC. [00:54:07] Speaker B: So you got the chance going to the Super bowl. [00:54:09] Speaker C: And man, he's, he's gonna, he's. Oh, okay. You said AFC. They're going to Super Bowl. I was ready. [00:54:15] Speaker A: See, it's my bad. Okay. [00:54:16] Speaker C: I was ready for Rome to be running out with the american flag with Aaron Rodgers going to the Super bowl. [00:54:21] Speaker A: You know, you know, I've torn both my ACL so I don't think so. [00:54:25] Speaker B: He might be at Levi's stadium with that Aaron Rodgers jersey on, if that's the case on Monday. [00:54:30] Speaker A: You know, I was thinking about picking actually the jets for that game upset. [00:54:34] Speaker B: I like it. [00:54:35] Speaker A: I got Texas winning the south. Of course, I do have the Chiefs. So we're unanimous on those two divisions, AFC north. Unfortunately, I do have the Ravens winning it. I guess my better judge, Grant, you know, every year there has to be at least three teams on each division that don't make it. And I just don't see the Dolphins making the playoffs again. And I don't see the bills making it either. I got Jaguars as a wild card, as a ten win team. I got my Steelers as a wild card. [00:55:14] Speaker B: Talking about bias, he was over here. I'm biased. And the Steelers are in the playoffs. [00:55:20] Speaker C: Hey, if it's good behind Justin Fields, I will support former Bears quarterback Justin Fields. You know, leading you to the promise. [00:55:27] Speaker B: You know, a Roman, you want to put a steak dinner on that. Pittsburgh going to the playoffs or what, man? [00:55:33] Speaker A: Possibly. Possibly. [00:55:35] Speaker B: I don't want to possibly, man. You got a man or not man? You're confident or not, man? [00:55:39] Speaker A: Well, initially I had the bills in there, but after looking the schedule with you guys, you know, you guys talked me out of it. You know, it is a tough six week stretch. So did I mention the Bengals already? [00:55:52] Speaker B: No. So, okay, so you got the Bengals as your last team or 7th team, man. All right, so who's the AFC championship? [00:55:58] Speaker A: AFC championship. I think it's going to be Texans against the ravens. [00:56:04] Speaker B: Okay. [00:56:07] Speaker A: And I got the Texans in the Super bowl as well. [00:56:10] Speaker B: There you go. [00:56:11] Speaker A: I just think they're too loaded, they're too good. Great coaches, talented. Even if guys go down, they're just really deep. Won the, well, more stacked up teams and I think they're hungry. This war of attrition comes down to the Chiefs. You know, they're not going to make it. They got lucky last year. They look like shit for the first three rounds. I don't see that happening again. Texans in the Super Bowl. [00:56:34] Speaker B: I mean, Chiefs, obviously, this back to back Super bowl champs, they're going to be tough to beat, but everyone's going to be gun inform. Everyone's going to give them their best shot. Losing their star cornerback is going to hurt them. They don't have as much depth at the whiteouthe. Kelsey's getting a little older, starting a rookie tackle, and he's breaking up with. [00:56:51] Speaker A: Taylor Swift, allegedly later this month. I don't know if you guys heard that. [00:56:55] Speaker B: Was that breaking news? Is that a source from the sofa? [00:56:57] Speaker A: It's already, it was on Reddit earlier today, and then it broke down and then it broke out on a barstool that there's a pr release already planned for the breakup holdings, a sham. Chaz Kelsey is gonna break in his leg afterwards and it's all over. [00:57:11] Speaker B: There you go, Mandy. [00:57:13] Speaker C: The interesting thing with Kelsey this year, they've added some weapons in Kansas City. Rasheed Rice, I think is, you know, a playmaker. They're had. They're gonna get. Hollywood brought a certain point, like, how much are they gonna load management Kelsey throughout this season just to have him, like, ready. Like, I think there's a real, a real argument for that. Like, you know, a lot of people were talking retirement for him at the end of the year, but I really think there's an argument for, hey, they got some tough games early in the year. They put him out there, but then, hey, we start seeing them load management him throughout the season to make sure he's ready for the playoffs. [00:57:41] Speaker A: Tough games. But their wide receiver core is like ten times better than last year. They still won eleven games. That's what kind of makes me a little worried that they will hit the. [00:57:48] Speaker B: Over on, that they're more talented. But I mean, rice is a second year guy. Hollywood Brown, I mean, what big game has he ever played in? And he's always hurt. He's hurt again already. [00:57:58] Speaker A: Look at Juju. He did great over there. [00:58:00] Speaker B: I'm not buying Juju, man. He can't, I don't like him. And then Worthy's a speedster, but he's small. He's not much bigger than me. Weight wise, I think he's about 100 and 6575 pounds. Can he handle the grind of the NFL season? There's a lot of question marks for Kansas City. Obviously, even my homes and Reed, they're going to be in the mix. But Kelsey, he's slowing down. The running back, Pacheco is good. Their offensive line is questionable. Starting a rookie, like I said, that tackle, it's going to be awfully tough to go and do a three peat, man. Nobody's done it. I think all the odds are really against them. Baltimore was a better team last year, just had a bad game. I think right now on talent. If you took my homes off that team, they're probably the four for best, best team talent wise. With Mahomes and Reed, they can make up for a lot of stuff. But I'm not high on Kansas City this year. The division's not strong, so I think they'll look good there. You're probably going to have to go into Arrowhead and beat them. [00:58:58] Speaker A: You're high. [00:58:59] Speaker B: We'll see what happens. [00:59:01] Speaker A: All right. I kind of dig it. I kind of dig it. Let's take a little break and then when we come back, we'll do the NFC. How do I pause this shit? [00:59:15] Speaker C: Keeping that in the pod? [00:59:19] Speaker B: Might as well. [00:59:20] Speaker A: I probably should. Yeah, it's pretty hilarious.