2026 Week 6 Early Games Preview: Ravens-Browns and Patriots-Jets Rivalry Games, Panthers Statement Game and more!

0:05 Welcome to NFL Daily, where if we had one word to describe week six, that word would be juicy. My name is Greg Rosenthal. I'm here in the Chris Wesseling podcast studio with my friend Jordan Rodrigue. We are going to give one word to describe each one of the week six matchups on this show. You will hear the early Sunday window of matchups. And Jordan, I heard a little rumor that the people in the streets are doubting the quality of the week six slate. And to that, I say poppycock. Yeah. There's one word for you.

0:37 Do you know what that word is?

0:38 Yeah. I, it's basically, I refuse the premise. I think that's garbage. I think that's garbage. Yes.

0:44 I think that this is actually as someone who drafted really well this weekend games, I think that this is a great setup for me personally and specifically.

0:54 You did draft well. Shook with another disappointing draft. People are starting to whisper. We'll go over that on Sunday when we're recapping the games. For now, we're previewing them. And we're going to start, why not, with the Ravens and the Browns in the early slate. And this is what people are trying to get at. There's only one game between two winning teams. And we're not doing the London game until our next podcast. And this is it.

1:17 So I wanted to give the Browns the respect they deserve here. The Ravens are five and a half point favorites in this game on the road. Not getting a ton of respect that way. Or with the broadcast team, it's Kevin Kugler and Moose Johnston. That's like the three team on Fox. And the one word that I'm going to use to describe this matchup, we're doing this for every single matchup, is litmus test. That's the test that Deshaun Watson will face against Jesse Minter.

1:49 Yeah, I like that. You're starting out strong with that. And Jesse Minter's defense, you can really you could see the vision week over week. There was a little shakiness at the start, but you could almost see the blueprint or the picture that these guys were trying to construct. Getting players back as they went really helped and really has become a very, very interesting and I think ascending group. much, much better progress than we've seen in recent years from the Ravens.

2:16 Are you interested in a definition of litmus? I'm not doing this for each word, but for this one, I just, I, it, it caught my fancy. It depends.

2:24 Do you think I don't know, or do you just want to tell me?

2:26 Well, I mean, I didn't know all the details cause you know, originally it's a, it's a blue color coloring matter obtained from certain lichens, especially Rosella Tinctoria. So like in an alkaline solution, the litmus turns blue in an acid solution. it turns red. And we commonly use it, yeah, as a test. And in this case, yeah. Can Deshaun Watson get his bearings against a good defensive coach? Because last week, I know it was rainy there, and that had an impact on the game in terms of the Jets-Browns.

2:59 But he took eight sacks. He fumbled the ball three times. They had 100 in net passing yards on 41 dropbacks. That's about three yards per game. dropbacks. And Todd Monken, who is very positive when it comes to Deshaun Watson and did try to spread blame around, did say that Watson holding on to the ball is an issue. We need to get the ball out of his hands faster.

3:24 And one thing that's not helping Deshaun Watson is they're a very one-dimensional team. And I think about this matchup against Baltimore, they are last, the Browns are in terms of running the ball right now in terms of efficiency. And so You're one-dimensional, and you're holding the ball as Deshaun Watson against this Ravens defense. I think they're going to throw a lot that could scramble him.

3:46 Well, and they should.

3:47 And they've done it in games previously, and Jesse Minner did it previously when he was coaching the Chargers, too.

3:52 They moved players around.

3:53 Kyle Hamilton, as we've seen week over week, Lines up everywhere, but he's not the only one who moves around the defensive formation and they they're really strong and confident in their rotations. They're rushing the passer a little bit better. And to your point, it almost seems like they've just been hoping and praying on the Brown side that they can get Dylan Sampson back as soon as possible. Todd Munkin said he was supposed to practice this week. It's obviously quite early in the week. So not totally sure what his status is going to be as we record this, but it's, you can't, if it is depending on or seeming to feel like this guy is our chance to get this right, then, and not maybe addressing some of

4:30 the issues up front, then yeah, I think it's a huge red flag to me.

4:35 He was out at practice on Wednesday, Dylan Sampson, but will probably be listed as limited, didn't do any drills, didn't have a helmet on when media could witness him. There are a lot of injury updates for the Ravens, which are very positive. Trey Hendrickson is expected back in this game. He's on the Ravens. On the Ravens. I mean, people kind of didn't even notice he missed the last two weeks because the pass rush is getting a little better.

5:00 Mike Green has been better, but he missed the last two weeks. Lamar Jackson, important fellow. Sounds like there's a good chance. We don't know early in the week, but there's optimism that he returns for this game. Cam Juergens, who they traded for at center, probably back for this game. And Jacoby Lane, their rookie wide receiver, who I'm interested to see. He's getting out of his chair. I am getting out of my chair because I am going to make my tiny... Table take, it's a pretty tiny take, which is just that the Ravens are going to embarrass this Browns team. They're going to embarrass the Browns offense specifically.

5:33 It's just, it's not going to go well for this Cleveland team. It's been a nice story at three and two. Not really that nice a story when you get embarrassed by your rival Ravens. Yeah.

5:43 One of the issues that could pop up for the Browns defense, which I think has played creditably under Mike Ruttenberg.

5:50 They have been good.

5:50 It's been quite exciting at times.

5:52 Especially with all those young players that are the real story of this football team, by the way. Carson Swessinger's dealing with, what, an ankle injury? He hasn't been ruled out of the game yet, but just against a quarterback as dynamic as Lamar, against all the different types of things that they're going to present in the run game.

6:10 You know, it's one thing for Carson Schlesinger to look very capable in diagnosing these things. Can he move his physical body to get into place for these plays or to make sure that everything is set up for the defense the way that it I think it's exciting to have Jacoby Lane back for Lamar Jackson. Zay Flowers has been awesome, but having even more dimension in that passing game after Jacoby Lane had a really exciting training camp, we'll just have to see. I like the potential, and I gassed up Declan Doyle last week. I think it's really coming together for that offense.

6:42 I think they've just been steadily improving. That's where this take is coming from, steadily improving each aspect of the team. It's a team that's figuring themselves out that I think is very different than they were in week one. And you're right about the improved Browns defense, but Schlesinger is a huge guy to watch. Quinchot-Junkins, who I mentioned is a big part of that running attack, was not at practice on Wednesday, so it could be Odrick-Estimate as their starter. And, you know, the defense for Cleveland, one thing I did notice last week, I mean, it's not a big issue when it's against Geno Smith, but they lost contain a couple times on Jared versus side on a couple big runs against Braylon Allen. And that is something that's stuck

7:18 in my head with Derek Henry and Lamar Jackson coming up this week. All right, let's move to our next game. And this was your first pick.

7:25 I believe an overall draft pick for you.

7:28 Yes. Not in the whole draft.

7:30 Um, but the bears, I did get, I had the second pick.

7:32 The bears were two and a half point favorites. They're in Atlanta. This is the Tom Brady game. I mean, the Falcons go from three straight primetime games in which they did their part. And now they get the national game early against Chicago. It sounds like Michael Penix is trending towards playing in this game. it sounds like Caleb Williams is trending towards playing in this game.

7:54 Yes.

7:54 Which brings me to my word that I would use to describe this situation.

8:00 Instagram.

8:01 So Caleb Williams changed his Instagram profile picture to that of John wick. For those who are not familiar, somehow action movie icon known for coming back from crazy injuries. Again, This injury does not match the, I would say, Wickian level of what that.

8:18 Man goes through. But, you know, Caleb Williams, he.

8:21 Has that sort of star power that he is going to make that comp every single time. If he gets a chance to make a comp like that, he's going to make it. He changes his profile pic. He starts practicing. He also captions it. I'm inevitable. So, yes, this man is playing this weekend.

8:39 I love that. Did not know that. Have not seen a John Wick movie. Good show. I know I should. I know I should.

8:45 Good films.

8:46 I can't wait to watch this Bears team because, yeah, like the Case Keenum week was cute. It was fun. I mean, it was great. Like, I loved it. But the Tyson Bajan experience had diminishing returns over the last couple of weeks. And this was an offense that we thought. could be the highest scoring offense of all time. They are right now 13th in scoring in the NFL. So they're barely better than average. But you can't really take too much out of their season because they play in the rain against Minnesota. Caleb was struggling that day, but gets hurt and then three games of backup. This is the real Bears team we want to see. And I think they've done a good job getting to three and two.

9:22 I do have questions about their defense.

9:23 Yeah, I have questions about their defense.

9:25 I'm glad you brought it up because anytime you now see the Falcons on the schedule, you're going to look at what the other team does against the run, right? So I went back and watched and then also was kind of trying to peel back some of the numbers a little bit better because what it looked like to me is that they were doing extremely well in limiting.

9:41 Those explosive runs.

9:43 But also allowing push and allowing the pick that, you know, people to chip away at them in the run game. And it actually, the numbers bear that out. They're number 28 in defensive rushing success rate. So that's near the bottom of the league, but they are actually, yes, doing well in limiting those explosive runs.

9:59 They just have 12.

10:00 12 runs allowed of 10 or more yards, which is tied for eighth in the NFL right now.

10:04 So that does that does bear out with what we're watching.

10:07 And of course, the Falcons absolute superpower is getting those explosive runs with Bajon Robinson.

10:12 These are the two most frequent outside zone running teams in the NFL, both over 50%. Wrap that up too. Very effective and... That's like one part of each team that I think will have some success. And for the Falcons, they could be going against a Bears team. Not only without Montez Sweat, we hit his suspension on our previous show, but Dio Dengbo is going to miss this game. He's another edge rusher for them. TJ Edwards had what looked like a potentially serious injury. Last week, he could be out for this game. And so the Falcons are in a better spot on offense because of the injury.

10:51 Yeah, absolutely.

10:52 And then just one more note on the Bears offense and kind of how they want to run the ball to your point with that outside zone.

10:58 They are one of the teams.

10:59 That often we see sets up a lot of their sort of movement game, the screens, the sweeps, the handoffs, the end rounds, those types of things. Using that in tandem with their outside zone, what I thought the Packers really did a nice job of last week was, was limiting that perimeter space because they send these extra defensive backs as blitzers, but they allow them to peel or detach and cover, or they allow the, another defensive lineman to get free and cover in that space.

11:26 They're playing so much better.

11:27 With their eyes on those types of like wide perimeter or middle perimeter things that, that the bears were trying to do. Jeff Ulbrich coaching the Falcons is going to see that and going to try to use his players in similar ways. I would imagine because it is a very sort of scheme, scheme, reliant part to whole type of defense. So I think that is an interesting matchup to watch for me. And I think the Falcons actually, even as much as we love the bears run game, I do think it is the Falcons that have the real advantage here because you are going to be trying to attack those perimeters, especially on the edges where the bears are very vulnerable right now.

12:02 Yeah, they've been the better defense, certainly here. Jalen Johnson has had a tough year. He has allowed the most amount of yards of any cornerback in the league, according to next-gen stats. And a little bit of adversity here for Ben Johnson. They haven't had many low moments in the Ben Johnson era, but getting waxed like that last week was definitely a low moment. I think their defense has issues, and it'll be interesting to see how they cook up the pressure against Michael Penix, who had some...

12:29 disturbing moments I would say against the Ravens in primetime as great as he looks on third and long on the pure drop back he has the lowest success rate in the NFL right now while under pressure he's 5 for 17 passing his athleticism was never a feature of his game right now it's problematic to the point where like you know he's in the Rogers cousins territory maybe worse right now where he's just not a natural mover he does not look comfortable eye test wise I I have a few more concerns about him than, than the numbers would indicate. And so that's a bonus on the, on the flip side, before we go, I just, I saw this stat from next gen. It was kind of shocked that, uh, Gervon Dexter and Brandon Dorlis have 40

13:14 pressures combined as defensive tackles, which is by far the most of any defensive tackle combo. So that's something to watch for Caleb Williams.

13:23 Yes.

13:24 Yeah.

13:24 And like I, Yeah, like I sort of mentioned, it allows the extra players to peel out and cover the perimeters if you can get that kind of push up front on the interior.

13:31 It's two teams.

13:32 It's like we did this together today.

13:33 I know. It's two teams. I'm like, not quite sure where we're at here. The Falcons, as frisky as they look, could fall to two and four here. They are home underdogs.

13:43 Well, my word was also litmus, but I just decided to go at the last second to change it from yours.

13:48 You are a great improviser. All right. The Panthers win. are heading to Philadelphia. The Eagles are only one and a half point favorites. I find this game absolutely fascinating for a number of reasons. Sneaky fun game. And my word for this game is anti-climax. And it's about whatever this next period for the Eagles is going to be, feels like an anti-climax to me, to what has been an incredible run as one of the dominant franchises in the NFL. It doesn't mean that they can't get back there at some point, but this season does not feel to me like they are going to be swimming in the deep end. And the possible changes that happen after the season, to me, are almost more fascinating to think about than what this team is going to do. And yet...

14:46 They could get Landon Dickerson back this week. We'll see about Devante Smith and Saquon Barkley. This is a team that has enough talent to win the NFC East. It's just they're not, to me, like a Super Bowl contender. And so already I feel like this Eagles season is anticlimactic.

15:02 Yeah, I almost wonder if they're going to try to do one of these very, very difficult to do things, which is where they try to do their rebuild like during the season or try to orchestrate their rebuild again. even before the trade deadline, they are going to be such a team to watch for me on all of that.

15:19 And whether or not they win their next, what, two, three games before the trade deadline, that really doesn't matter to me at this point anymore. Because to your point, they are facing this real pivot point of their franchise where they have to be fluid and they have to be agile. And they have to make these inevitable decisions immediately, as I brought up on a previous show.

15:37 And yet... If you watch their defense the last two weeks, most of the game against the Rams, and then last week... they're back. Like Jalen Carter looked like the best player on earth last week. The secondary was playing with incredible cohesion and scrambled Trevor Lawrence's brain in a way that we have not seen in a long time.

16:00 That hasn't been the problem.

16:01 I mean, even when it was kind of an issue this year, it's still overall is not the problem.

16:05 No, but I think the first three weeks of the season, they were good. If they can be that level, they can win games like this Sunday against the Panthers. They can win this division. And I think it matters, obviously, for everyone in that locker room. And I do think it's an amazing test for Bryce Young, who probably gets Jalen Coker back this week, it sounds like. And that's why when the Panthers have the ball specifically in this matchup, It's just like one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league against one of the best secondaries, one of the best defenses. It's good on good. Can they protect them against this Eagles defensive line that's probably not going to have Jalex Hunt? They're coming off their bye because this

16:46 is a winnable game for the Panthers to be like, okay, the rest of the NFC South is probably not going to beat the Eagles. Maybe we can. That's an advantage for us.

16:54 This is where I think we see an element of Bryce Young's game that is a bit of a double-edged sword. And that is his ability to pick and poke underneath and distribute fast and see things fast and get the ball out quickly, which sometimes can give you the label of system quarterback, which sometimes can give you the label of, you know, like how, you know, to a hat all the time of just sort of like point and shoot quarterback with Bryce. It's different because playing against this defense.

17:24 Vic Fangio's defense in the way that it is intended requires you to go into that death by a thousand paper cuts mode and to be completely comfortable as the quarterback doing it. We've seen previous other versions of this system earlier in the year against great quarterbacks, such as Drake May, who just get really, really impatient, not the Eagles specifically, but just get really, really impatient and try to punch a hole right through that shell, right through that zone. And often they can't do it because the playmakers are so good or they make mistakes. Bryce Young to me is exactly the type of quarterback who we've seen him throw it down the field and push the ball is also the type of quarterback that does not

18:01 have sort of any qualms or ego about being patient in that way and picking apart the little areas that are available to him, inclusive to getting the tight ends involved as they have been inclusive to Jalen Coker, being able to move around Tet McMillan, being able to move around. I think this is a fantastic opportunity for them to really continue to ascend and make quite a statement against a great defense.

18:23 Yeah. The linebacker level for Philadelphia had been a little shaky, but they've kind of bent the hot Campbell. And so Trotter is probably going to be back there on the other side. Look, the Eagles offensive line, we're in a place where is the weakest part of their team, which is wild to say, does the Panthers have enough juice to take advantage? If, if not, you know, Jalen hurts is coming off one of his better games of the season, I would say. And I am curious to see, like what they do if Devante Smith is back, which we don't know with Darius Cooper, because it just seems pretty clear.

18:56 He's their second best wide receiver. And if he's not, he's definitely better right now than Makai Lemon, who if Makai Lemon didn't go out of bounds, you know, on one of those last Eagles plays, they win the game. The saying like Makai Lemon isn't giving them a ton. And so just something I'm curious to watch between him and Wicks. We'll see if Devante Smith is out. It doesn't really matter. But there should be holes in that Panther.

19:22 There should be yards to be had because of the injuries they have at the outside corner, obviously, which have been their problem for a couple of weeks. Now the run defense, I mean, with Saquon Barkley on the field versus off the splits are like cut in half, like their yards per game, basically chop, right.

19:37 Or yards per carry, basically.

19:39 Chop right in half when he is on the field versus when he's not behind this offensive line.

19:43 Well, I, there are a couple individually. Like I thought Willie Lampkin looked great.

19:47 I mean, I, I, the whole unit didn't look great, but I, I thought like, you know, some of these players who have to continue to ascend into whatever the next version of this line is going to be fine start, especially out of position as he was.

19:59 But, and I think he's probably getting benched this week. Cause I, I think Landon Dickerson, who I thought was never going to play again for their team for some reason. And now sounds like, no, he's going right in there and they're going to get their center back. Pete Kendall. It sounds like so. it will be a different looking Eagles line.

20:12 Yeah.

20:13 Again, which is again, a wild thing to even say, but you see, you see the, the long-term vision, I think with some of these guys, but I think with, with this run game there, there's really no balance to it. It doesn't set up the past game. Well, the past game doesn't set up the, the rest of the past game. Well, Jalen hurts is playing. Like you said, playing great. I think he's seeing it.

20:31 Well, he's calm.

20:33 But at the same time, I mean, errors by receivers not named Devontae Smith and also Darius Cooper's only catching touchdowns, which is great.

20:43 But he's easily their best blocker. Like when you like their their positive plays, like in terms of like the quick passing was was with him on the field, not Mikhail. And he's just he's as a force. I love that Ross Tucker is on this game. Great draft pick by me. Pretty late here. Getting Ross Tucker, who is the preseason voice of the Eagles, get in this game. I am intrigued.

21:04 You have Saints Giants. which I think is going to be beautiful in terms of its mess. What is your one word for Saints Giants?

21:12 Yes, I either got really, really great games or beautifully ugly games. My one word for Saints Giants is heat. And we don't need to rehash Gail Benson's pointed comments about the team this week. You and Colleen covered it on a really fantastic Tuesday show I very much enjoyed listening to. Kind of shocked she made it upright into the building after the travel that she had, but that's why she's the GOAT.

21:36 We put her out of here like in a cart.

21:38 Yeah, you wheeled her right out.

21:41 Um, there is heat on this saints team and it also seems based on like, I've noticed sort of a subtle shift in the local reporting also, like it's that heat is going all the way to the top. And that means Mickey Loomis as well. But heat also refers to the pressure that Tyler Shuck has faced recently. Last week, we know the Vikings blitz a lot. We know that they did last week, but they also had this strategy of dropping the and then tempting shuck to almost baiting him into holding the ball a little bit more when they did a little bit longer. And when they did, when he did that, they actually pressured him more. They actually got a 60% pressure rate per next gen stats when they weren't blitzing relative to about 40% pressure rate.

22:20 So to me, I think the giants are a team that are capable.

22:24 Of doing that. They obviously don't want to blitz a ton.

22:26 Anyway, they want to try to get home with the front they have, but because the secondary is a weakness for them, I do see them giving more help to that area. Even if it's simulated at first, giving more help to that area, dropping people, trying to get Tyler Sheck to hold onto the ball as long as possible.

22:40 And Greg, I hate to say this, but also clogging up the middle of the field.

22:44 Sure. Why not? Why do you hate to say that?

22:47 Because it's your beautiful boy, Tyler Shuck.

22:50 He is not my beautiful boy. You're disappointed in him?

22:53 No.

22:53 I like watching him play football. I would not consider myself a Shuck boy. like some out there. In fact, I was way too negative about him coming into the draft. I've just enjoyed like his development and think.

23:05 I think we need like a real super cut to be built of you, in fact, proving yourself to be a Shuck boy over the last several months.

23:12 I guess it depends on levels. I think he will. And I have no qualms about how he's played this year. I love what Denard Wilson has done. They have become a chaos defense. They have really cranked up the blitzes the last couple of weeks. They're doing a lot. They've become a chaos defense and they've done it in a way that they know they don't have a good four-man pass rush like abdul carter they're.

23:35 Out of their plan they're out of their plan.

23:36 Cave on tibideau is not making himself any money the way he is playing in free agency uh and with a free agent year you know coming up um but they're really getting a lot of heat from the secondary and mixing it up and stunts and when they've cranked it up the last couple weeks it's really worked so i think Against this Saints offensive line, that's definitely going to be the strategy.

23:56 Yeah, and that's kind of what I mean by, like, you see the pivot or the flexibility with the Giants, despite the fact that they have, on paper, limited personnel in the back end. Denard Wilson has been comfortable saying, OK, we want to rush four. If we can't, here we go. Try to send extra and scheme it up a little bit more. To me, though, I mean, Tyler Sheck, it's not like he's been, you know, all world against the blitz or anything like that.

24:19 But if the, the Eagles are.

24:21 Excuse me, I keep thinking Kellen Moore, Kellen Moore and the saints offense, they really want him to get the ball out fast. And if you can tempt him to hold it, he's in, he's in trouble.

24:30 I mean, he could be back with the Eagles by before the end of the season at this rate. The Giants are a fascinating team because, you know, they're 3-1-1. On some level, I think John Harbaugh has delivered on his promise on a certain.

24:45 He's building a system.

24:46 Like, toughness. And yet, they're terrible at running the ball.

24:50 Yeah.

24:50 Like, they're one of the worst teams in the NFL, 28th right now in terms of DVOA. Part of that is the fumbles that they have, but Cam Scadabit, like, they're not an effective down-and-down running team. And yet, they're going up against the worst running defense. So, like... The Saints have been, I would say, on both sides of the ball among the least physical teams in the NFL.

25:10 There's just like not a lot of pop there.

25:13 They're not juice forward.

25:14 They are not. And the Giants have a physical passing game, I think. They've done a really good job protecting Jameis Winston overall, who... has played to what they want him to play the last two games. Ultimately, he is now playing like a plus backup. He's a backup. It's never going to be great with a backup. But he's done enough the last couple weeks. You had the good moments from Jameis the last couple weeks, and the balance is there.

25:43 And Isaiah Likely, to me, is the free agent pickup of the year just about right now. He is awesome. He has great hands. They built the whole plane last week out of him and Neighbors. And Neighbors is not moving, I don't think, as well as he did as a rookie. But he is so athletic that his movement being... Down 20% is still a top 25 wide receiver and his hands are great. And there is a certain physicality to the way they're hitting these tight window throws that I think could be problematic for the Saints.

26:12 Yeah, it's a good point too, because I think I always got the impression with these Harbaugh teams that they don't really mind being one dimensional, if that makes sense, because they want to in one phase or the other, they want to overpower you. And so in the past, it's kind of funny to see it in the passing game versus the run game that was promised. But I've always thought that he seems to me and right or wrong.

26:34 And right now it's working for him. And in December, it probably won't. But being one dimensional, as long as they can get that extra like physicality or teeth in that phase. He's always seemed to be kind of like perfectly happy sitting in that space.

26:47 They have enough just dudes between, you know, the two tackles that I talked about, between the two pass catchers, including Isaiah Likely, who the Ravens, I think, really miss. And between, you know, Arvel Reese and Abdul Carter. I actually think the secondary, like there are guys in the back end that are making plays for them that weren't in the past.

27:05 I'm not feeling sticky about them yet.

27:07 No, I'm not either.

27:09 I mean, when you.

27:10 When you go watch, like, and I know you do, it's like when, it's like half the time you look up and somebody's making just a huge, a huge mistake, you know, half the time you look up and you're like, oh, okay, I can.

27:20 See where they're trying to go with this.

27:21 There's very little difference between them at 3-1-1 and them being 1-4, like the Saints. 3-1-1! But they, they're not getting blown out like the Saints are. It's interesting, the lack of respect that the Giants have. The Saints are actually favored in this game in the Meadowlands, so... You know, we'll see them in Paris. It would definitely ease things up just a little bit if they could get a win before that.

27:44 How much of them will we see in Paris is the question.

27:47 They're getting to Paris. They won't pull the trigger that fast. They're getting to Paris.

27:51 They won't pull the trigger.

27:52 Drew Brees is probably happy they're going to Paris because he's had to watch them three straight weeks. He's on the call for this game with Adam Amin. He was, you know, in the house watching them, you know, stink it up. uh, against the Falcons. And then he called last week. He's going to call it again.

28:05 That's an unintended benefit for me in getting this game in the end is my very last pick because I would just like to hear him be disappointed. I mean, I hope it's a good game, but I just like, it wouldn't matter.

28:18 I mean, Gail Benson, who called out Mickey Lewis and Kellen Moore by name, uh, said, you know, how disappointing it was to, to see Drew Brees have to watch this slop that they put out. All right, let's, Take a little break, and we will be back with the rest of the early games in just a minute. Jets and Patriots. One of the better rivalries in the NFL.

28:48 Back on NFL Daily, Jets-Patriots. It's a rivalry that's been mostly one-sided the last couple decades, but the fans, they really do kind of hate each other. This is the thing. It's about the fans. And that's why my one word that popped in my head for this game was enmity.

29:06 You got some bangers today.

29:07 I just like that word, enmity.

29:09 I probably can't say it because it's the double, the M and the N together. So I struggle with double consonants together.

29:15 Enmity is described or defined as a feeling or condition of hostility, hatred, ill will, animosity, antagonism. And that's what these two franchises have. I think it's going to be... You did it. Nice. I think it's like a sneaky tough matchup for Drake May, who has feasted the last couple weeks on some defenses. Well, the Raiders defense didn't really struggle until the Patriots played them, but I think they exposed some one-on-one deficiencies in their secondary, and I think the Bills defense has their issues. On paper, and actually to my eyes, the Jets defense is a tougher matchup.

29:56 I think the Aaron Glenn calling plays... experiment that ownership basically made him do has worked I think he's provided an advantage and it's definitely helped that he's gotten some good veteran players so it's Aaron Glenn in this matchup against Drake May Aaron Glenn not surprised that the young quarterback is playing well to.

30:18 Me I go back to the last year and I look at everything he's done and obviously he was up with MVP and And then I keep saying this is, man, I wish that, you know, all of my players can have like a great game.

30:35 That's just not going to happen.

30:37 You know, and he's had some some some a couple of games where, you know, he didn't play as well.

30:42 But now you see exactly who he is.

30:44 At some point, God's going to go back to exactly who they are. You know, they will never stand that rut for a long time, especially guys of his his magnitude.

30:51 I love that.

30:52 Cause he, he sort of went down one path and then saved it big time.

30:57 What that even our guys don't play well every week.

30:59 He said, I wish our guys would play every, but then he, but then he, but then he correct course corrected midway through and then saved it.

31:06 And I was like, nicely done there. That's a play caller. Aaron Glenn.

31:09 That is the podium. He has gotten a little better in that front. And it's why ultimately like the ceiling, not, to bring everything back to Justin Herbert, but the ceiling for Justin Herbert's career is maybe not quite as high as I thought. But ultimately, if you show a certain level in the NFL, you can get back to it.

31:26 It shows that it's there. And that's one thing when I was talking about the matchups here is Aaron Glenn is actually taking some veteran players, and I think they look better right now under him. Kingsley, uh, in Iqbari right now is probably their best edge player as, as well as David Bailey played last week. Like he did get a couple of cleanups. Like he's all effort all the time. Like he's a rookie that's still figuring things out.

31:51 I love that out of him. And Iqbari has made a huge difference when he has been on the field. to the point where they don't play Will McDonald that much, except as a situational pass rusher, which he's very good at. Demario Davis has been really good for them. He's always good, but I think he's really at home in this defense.

32:06 And I think Minka Fitzpatrick, when he's been out there, has been a really big impact maker. So all these veterans that you talked up, like the idea of raising the floor, it really has raised the floor. And I think it's going to be a tougher matchup for this Patriots offense than maybe Patriots fans want to admit.

32:20 Well, you hit the nail on the head. the three-man pass rush rotation. When Will Campbell is week to week with a knee issue, as.

32:30 Of the latest report.

32:31 Yes, very likely to miss this game.

32:33 When their offensive line finally put together a really, really good week of pass protection for Drake May, that was why they got off to such a hot start that they did with that long opening touchdown drive last week. This to me is is a very underrated and I think, uh, under, under the radar and probably a little unscouted three man pass rush rotation, because there isn't a lot of tape, of course, with David Bailey being young and then this kind of being a newly designed plan that they're trying to rush with. There isn't a lot of tendencies you can use on it. And, and will McDonald has been a lot in a lot in those got to have a splash play situations or those must rush or known pass rush. But they've been consistent and really have set

33:18 a tone for that defense that is going to be a handful, I think, for the Patriots offensive line.

33:23 Yeah, it's probably Caleb Lomu at left tackle for the Patriots who they drafted in the first round. It's been a swing tackle, although they do have this seventh round pick from a year ago that was ahead of Lomu and he's coming off IR potentially. So who knows? it's just a weird offense. AJ Brown was taken, you know, not off IR yet, but he is practicing the windows open.

33:43 It's possible that AJ Brown could play in this game, but they do have two games in five days. They have Thursday night against the bears next week. And so will they ask him to come back that quickly? It was just weird watching them be so effective last week. with such small receivers to be out there with Afton Chisholm and DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams, who's very slight.

34:05 He's tall, but slight. Like it's just a different look than most teams get. On the other side, I am curious about like whether Milton Williams keeps it up because that was the 2025 Milton Williams really for the first time all season. And you mentioned like an unheralded pass rush trios that the Patriots have one too, but it's a really tough matchup against the Jets. edge group. And so look, you knew I was taking this game first overall.

34:28 I haven't watched the Patriots live the last two weeks, but I was like, Gino versus the Patriots. I'm not going to get this too often.

34:34 You had me on a Patriots watching streak and they were winning. So I do want you to understand what you've potentially done here. And also in my notes, I have it written. Make sure to ask Greg what he thought about the Drake May tape, because I told you how much you are going to enjoy that. Did you watch it? as the full broadcast version? Did you like sit and simmer and enjoy it? Did you make sure it was condensed tape?

34:56 How did you, Oh, I, I like to do, uh, may with the all 22 specifically with him, but yes, I mean his, he's got the best deep ball. I think if he's protected, well, he's got the prettiest deep ball in the league. Cause it's just like, he's handing it off. to Kyle Williams and Douglas and on some of those throws. The one to Raritan was probably the best.

35:14 Yeah.

35:14 He's a rookie tight end who you like, who, who's going to be a bigger factor. Like keep stacking weeks though. We know, we know he can do that. That doesn't, that doesn't surprise me. This is kind of a swing game. I think for both these teams, this would be a big upset on paper. If the jets win, there's seven and a half point underdogs. And yet I don't feel that comfortable about it. And I, like if the jets win, they have a much different season at three and three and the Patriots are at three and three. And if not, then they're kind of two ships going in different directions.

35:40 You are happy either way.

35:42 Cause if they win, it's probably Gino Smith doing something cool.

35:45 Sure. I'd be most happy if it's 37, 27 and Gino plays well.

35:51 Oh, you're predicting that many touchdowns are scored.

35:54 I'm not predicting it. I'm saying that would be the result that makes me most happy. I see. Gino looks great, but it's fairly comfortable in the end.

36:01 Okay. Okay.

36:01 That's where my loyalties lie. Let's go to Tampa, where the Buccaneers are two and a half point home underdogs to the Steelers. Now, I think that line assumes Baker Mayfield is not playing in this game, which at this point seems more likely. But there was a report out of Tampa that he was going to try to start throwing the ball and see how his thumb reacted on Wednesday.

36:26 So keep an eye on that situation because I think as well as Jalen Daniels played last time out, I think Baker would give them a better chance to win.

36:35 My word for this game, which could I think apply to both teams, but specifically I want to use it to talk about the Steelers here, is Mercurial. I'm still trying to figure out Who these Pittsburgh Steelers are week over week because their identity is not clear or set and it keeps shifting to me and at their best, which I think their defense played one of their best games, if not their best game in the season, even though the volume of yards they allowed was a little would maybe a skew your opinion if you were just to look at the box score. I thought it was one of their most well-rounded games. They showed that they can be a good tackling defense. They showed that even their older players that they're paying a lot of money to

37:15 all over this roster can step up and make plays when, when that's required. It's a defense that isn't going to necessarily smother the yardage down, but they will prevent the touchdowns.

37:25 They will prevent, they will be able to.

37:27 Bottle up the run game again, if they're tackling at the level that they were. And at worst we've seen, they've had major issues tackling the, major issues containing the plays like many off. And then on the other side, like many offenses, this one completely changes in tone. If it just gets one or two explosives. And I just think it's so different when it plays tight, small ball versus when it even breaks one explosive play. You saw it with Jalen Warren last week. I don't know if it's that sustainable for the Steelers to be leaning.

37:59 On this every week.

38:00 But they kind of have had to because DK Metcalf is not a factor. So I don't know what the identity of this team is yet because it changes all the time. And so that's why I think they're Mercurial.

38:09 They both are. And they're both, I think, slightly better than consensus. Yeah. The Bucks, maybe even more than slightly. They're 12th right now in total DVOA, which is wild. They're fifth on defense. They, I said last week, were one of the best 0-4 teams of all time. And then they got a good road victory. And so they're a defense that I think will test. Has Aaron Rodgers really gotten better? I think he's moving better and making better decisions. But last week, like the average depth of target was still, you know, right at the line of scrimmage.

38:41 He's not pushing the ball down the field. They have some injuries there. So they'll need the rookie Jeremy Bernard to step up.

38:46 The way that the Buccaneers are defending the run specifically is helping, you know, boost their their overall numbers because they are so, so good. At limiting rushing explosives specifically, they are tied fourth in the league with just nine run explosive.

39:04 So it runs over 10 plus yards per next gen in the league right now.

39:08 And that really has skewed their, I think, entire, like what they look like on paper because their pass rush is not there. They're one of the lowest pressure rate teams in the NFL, which is shocking still to me based on the investments they've made. but they're not allowing teams to break open the game on the ground against them, which is literally the way the Steelers won last week when they looked like the best version of themselves. So I think it's a sneaky, good, interesting matchup specifically in that phase.

39:35 I like that call. And look, if the Steelers can win this game and get a little like Wind in their sails, heading into Paris. It'll happen, but I mentioned the receivers. Yes, they're important. Pittman, you know, Michael Pittman's on IR. Roman Wilson's going to be out for multiple weeks. So they're really going to be counting on Jalen Warren, which is tough. I think Jalen Warren is becoming the new Tyler Lockett, which no matter what he's just mentioned as underrated, like let's just properly rate him. He's great.

40:05 Like he is, they're building the offense out of him. He has 490 yards over the last three weeks, which it's him. It's Jameer Gibbs. It's Bajon Robinson and Ken Walker as like the big yardage guys. Once they kind of handed the ball over to him, I want just like a little bit more out of their defense this year.

40:23 It's like a little, I know they're fine. Like overall efficiency, and I know it's not perfect DVOA, they're 12th in offense, surprisingly solid, and 13th in defense. Like they've just been okay.

40:35 Well, yeah, but that thing, that to me in part, it really is informed by some of the explosives on one side versus the other. Like to me, I do think explosive plays are telling a, I think, much deeper story to what these teams are. And inclusive to last week, the Steelers preventing the explosives by making those key plays right at the right time. It's not like they weren't limiting yards. The Colts got a ton of yards against them over three 50, I think, but they weren't allowing them to score and they were making up, breaking up those deep passes. They were doing those in a previous game this season when they did still look at their, look like their best selves. That's also what they're doing.

41:13 So they can just be those guys. I just don't know if it's sticky.

41:16 Yeah, I, I agree. They're an unpredictable team. So are the Buccaneers who, who, Look, is Jalen Daniels a Mercurial quarterback? There hasn't been enough tape. I like him. Baker Mayfield definitely is. I think the Buccaneers have a real chance to win this game with Jalen Daniels. I think Baker would always be competitive and confident enough that he would want to get back on the field as quickly as possible.

41:38 But there might be a part of him that's like, man... I don't want Jalen Daniels to go win another one of these games and making me look bad. No, he was, as Jalen Daniels said after that game, helping him out so much during the week, during the game. And you do love to see that out of your veteran quarterback.

41:53 And I'd love to see everything that I've seen out of Bucky Irving this year. If we're looking for explosives from this Tampa team, he is a guy that will test your tackle breaking. All right, let's go to Tennessee and Indianapolis. The final game on our early slate. The Colts are favored by a touchdown. And just really, well, the Colts have, you know, profiled as a below average team. Oh, totally.

42:18 But the Titans, it's tough.

42:20 Yeah.

42:21 I think being a touchdown underdog this early in a winless season is the Nadir of the Tennessee Titans. That is my word defined as the lowest point, the point of a greatest adversity or despair. Also, it is a, uh, aeronautic word, uh, the despair. It is the point on the celestial sphere. This is a different usage of it, uh, directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the Zenith, which makes sense. If you, if you think about it, I did not, I did not know that.

42:53 It makes space word.

42:54 It makes perfect sense.

42:56 Uh, this is as bad as the Titans have ever been. I think they're even worse than they were a year ago right now, just at this moment, since they fired Mike Rabel, they are six and 33. I mean, that's outrageous. Uh, If you actually take it back to the end of the Mike Rabel era, because he lost seven straight to end his time there, they're 6-40. I mean, that's almost impossible.

43:16 They are firing executives four weeks into the season. It's like, why are you doing that four weeks later? into the season. Like if that was your plan, like you would have done it earlier. People in Tennessee literally want to bench Cam Ward for Mitchell Trubisky, which does not make any sense to me. I know he's not playing very well.

43:35 This is a matchup where I think they can pick on the Colts linebacker position a little bit. I think the Colts at that position had some problems with the Steelers last week. And I do think with some of the underneath players, receivers that the Titans have, whether it's Carnell Tate kind of on shorter routes or Wandale Robinson and the tight ends and the running backs, Tajay Spears.

43:56 I actually do think there are aspects of this Colts team where you could maybe get a victory and get out of that Nadir, but it is as low as it's ever gotten for the Titans.

44:04 Yeah, I would agree.

44:05 And it stinks because I wouldn't say there was a ton of optimism to start the season, but you could see flashes of potential. And so for them to be, I think, just sort of wallowing a little bit here and When teams start losing like this and it compounds the way that it does, it's really hard to get out of your own way. It's really hard to say, okay, this answer is going to be the right thing for us.

44:26 I have a solution to this. It's almost like whack-a-mole, like one just pops up the second you get one down.

44:33 For the Colts, I would say to lose to this team, if this is a loss, to lose to this team, not only would be a nadir advantage, I think I said that right.

44:43 Sure.

44:44 But also a total catalyst, I think, for the organization.

44:47 Good call. There are these games you're expected to win as a mediocre team like the Colts that are dangerous, that they're almost bigger games. And it's a division game, 2-4 Indianapolis. So they know it's big. Robert Sala knows it's big. For the most part, the Titans have been a little like the dolphins and that they've been competitive each week and you could find things to like in close losses last week was not that way. And Salah knows it.

45:11 We took a terrible step back period. Uh, that's as an entire, as an entire football team coaches, players, all of us. Uh, but, but, but I don't want to lose perspective and in terms of what they had been doing prior to that. And I'm not gonna let one game define what I think there's the, the trend at which they're trying to develop a, um, an identity. And so for the offensive line to get back on the horse, protect the quarterback, open up run lanes like you have been, and this Cam just continue to trust what they're going to give you.

45:39 You said cool.

45:40 Conversations or anything else you can tell us about what you guys.

45:43 Are going to discuss? No, I'll keep it with me and him, but Cam's in a great spot.

45:47 Great spot might be... exaggerating it. I also think Cam Ward's given a lot of cover to Robert Sala, whose defense is ranked 30th right now. It's actually worse than the Titans offense in total efficiency. And I think Borgonzi should take some heat because he's paid a lot of money to Cordell Flott, who's getting flamed every week at cornerback.

46:05 They're not playing their high pick, Keldrick Falk, at all. He's not really getting on the field. The team build is a little concerning. And yet, you look at this matchup and some of the matchups, you don't feel that bad if you're a Titans fan.

46:19 Competent plan and a competent organization would actually be able to identify those things and attack them As clear on paper, on tape, as some of those things look, come up with a plan. The problem that I have with this team is I have not yet seen them put together a plan for the totality of a game where you are, even in theory, even if the pass isn't complete, even if the receiver drops the ball, which has happened.

46:47 A lot of drops last week against Houston.

46:49 Yes, even if that you can still see the plan and see that, that, you know, that that's what I think fans really want from Tennessee is to see that there is, there are attack points and there is direction and there are blueprints. And that type of a thing is something that does give fans hope. And that is why the dolphins, which don't play this week, but we're going to bring them up anyway, just to piss off our fan base. You know, just they, that's why you can, that's why there is a vibes difference between the two.

47:17 Also, they didn't spend, they did the opposite of spending the most amount of.

47:21 I'm going to get so many messages about that.

47:23 Yeah.

47:24 Sorry guys.

47:26 The Colts though, like they do feel like they can't keep getting away with this team. You know, you take care of business here, beat the Titans and you're three and three. And yet, you know, It doesn't feel like they've been a three and three team. You know, you're throwing jump balls to Laquan Treadwell and Keenan Allen that the average depth of where Tyler Warren is catching the ball is within three yards of the line of scrimmage.

47:47 And I don't see quite the same like tackle breaking ability. He's also just not a guy you can build an entire offense. He needs to be a piece of an offense and he just doesn't have enough around him. And yet they're good enough to win games like this. So go ahead and do it. We're good enough to make even a Titans-Colts preview sing. That used to be the old TNF game back in the day. Like during the baseball playoffs, it'd be like Titans-Colts. But it would be Derrick Henry, maybe even a little Andrew Luck. It's not quite where it used to be. Let's end this show right here. But we're not done in terms of our preview show. Check out our late and island game preview show.

48:27 It's in your feed next.