GMFB Monday Hour 2: Bills win, Week 6 highlights, Colts Change, and Game Balls

Good Morning Football is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.

Good morning football. That's right.

Welcome to our show, everybody. It's called Good Morning Football, presented by Old Trapper Beef Jerky. Monday, October 19th. We're in the middle of week six. Coast to coast. Jamie Urdal, Matt Titeo, Sam Macho in L.A. We got you covered. Kyle Brandt somewhere in New York in his basement. KB is back, of course. We got highlights to show you.

Sunday Night Football was obviously something to behold. We talked Packers-Cowboys at the start of last hour. But Kyle, now that the Bills stayed in Southern California all week, there's always a question whether or not that works for the team. They beat the Rams in overtime last week. How'd they fare in Vegas yesterday?

Let's find out.

Let's go right to the highlights and start the second hour. We did last night's game already. We did a bunch of games already. Keep up with us, guys.

All right.

Josh down on the Bills in Las Vegas. Kirk Cousins, 12 passing touchdowns this season, second most in the NFL.

All right. We have to do this.

This is the dog in your neighborhood that barks.

At you when you walk by. Just ignore it. It's just a dog that's going to bark. CJ Gardner-Johnson is ejected.

I can't imagine what he possibly has to say about it. Every once in a while, the dog pees on the floor, and that's just the price of having that dog.

But he gets ejected.

He plays a lot of football for that team, so it's a meaningful ejection. And then there's this play, third and eight. Someday when Josh Allen retires, this play will be in the montage.

You just know it when you saw it.

The lateral from Amari Cooper and the snow will be there, and this.

One will be there.

Sometimes you see a shovel pass go three, four yards, maybe six. This sucker went like 14.

Yards in the air, and that's just him.

That's what he does, and maybe the next time he does it, guys, it'll be intercepted, but he doesn't care.

He plays the way he does. 23 to 16.

Cousins!

Got it! The Raiders fought hard in this one. Trey Tucker makes a touchdown. They tie it at 23. Cousins threw two touchdowns.

He's played well this year. Even last week against the Patriots, he wasn't the problem.

Allen, guy wide open, third and three.

That's James Cook all the way inside the ten, inside the five.

Next play, first and goal for a three. They give it to Jimbo again.

Sometimes they say Josh Allen takes all his rushing touchdowns, so they gave him this one. It's his fifth straight game with a rushing touchdown.

Finished 22 for 95, also caught three for 58.

Jimbo, sometimes they call him Himbo, late in the fourth quarter.

Raiders down 10, have to have it. Look at Cousins! That is a beautiful pass.

A-plus.

Not an A, an A-plus.

So they're down three, and they see maybe the worst onside kick of all time. Certainly one of the strangest. Certainly one of the least dramatic. Bounces right into the hands of Khalil Zakir, who was the number one guy in the Bills that I would trust to catch that.

And they win.

33-30.

The Bills are 5-1. They did lose to New England.

The Raiders were 3-0. They've lost three straight, albeit a couple of close ones. Let's hear from the Bills head coach about his first place team.

For them to be able to handle last week leading into a Monday night game, a long Monday night game, staying out here, the way that they handled themselves all week, the trust that I had for them and The responsibility and the way that they handled it all and then just to come out here and, you know, find the way to win. You know, it's it speaks to the character and who we have. And I love that the guys know that we haven't played our best football. And so they're not they're not pleased with that. And but we're winning football games and I'm so proud of them for that.

The Bills are winning, and that's great. That's good for them. However, they keep giving up 30 points continuously, at least in four games this season. The rest of the NFL, when giving up 30 points, Sam Acho, are 8-42. The Bills are 4-0, so they give up the game, but they score more than the other team, and at that point, it doesn't matter. They're 5-1 in the season.

Well, I love how you started that statement, Jamie, and ended it. You said they're winning, and then you said at that point it doesn't matter because they're winning. Everyone's talking about the defense and they're not this, they're not that, giving up all these points. Yet they're playing a winning brand of football. There was a point in the game yesterday about the fourth quarter, close to tied, and it felt like, okay, is this going to be a situation where maybe Josh Allen throws an interception or turns the ball over, something negative happens for the Bills. But instead, what do the Bills' defense do? The Bills' defense went...

and created a turnover. They got an interception on Kirk Cousins. Then follow that up by Josh Allen doing what you just saw on your screen, that 25-foot shot put throw to Keion Coleman. And so I understand people talk about stats and numbers and, you know, is it going to be good enough when it matters? All that matters right now is that the Buffalo Bills are winning football games, and they're doing it on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Yes, you don't want to see a safety get beat over the top, By Trey Tucker, of course not. But when it matters the most, you're the one getting the interception, not the other team. You're the one that's keeping the ball. Josh Allen did not throw an interception. And so for me, it's about they're

finding ways to win. Just like Minnesota Vikings, right? Well, are they this? Bro, they're winning games. And I think that matters more than anything.

No, that's very, very true, Sam.

I'm going to push back on you a little bit because when you said when it really matters the most for the Buffalo Bills, when it really.

Matters the most has always been in the playoffs.

And when you talk about that defense, I'm looking at the front, the pass rush.

I have no issue with the pass rush. They're very, very good.

The linebackers, I have no issue with the linebackers. That's secondary, though. I have a big issue with them. They are a huge liability on this team. Now, last year, number one pass defense in the league. They're allowing 156 pass yards per game around there.

This year, it's double that. It's nearly double that. It's like 285 around there.

Yesterday, they gave 378 total yards.

227 of those came in the fourth quarter alone.

They gave up 188 of those fourth quarter yards.

Via the air.

So when I'm looking at this defense, when I'm looking at just the Buffalo Bills.

Experience in general, all right, this is, we know what Josh Allen is going to do. We know what the offense.

The defense has always been that point of emphasis for the Buffalo Bills. It's can you rely on that defense to make you some big plays? I thought after that Chargers game where Josh Allen had five turnovers and that defense was coming, I was like, hey, they're great.

Everything's good.

Ever since then, guys, KB, that secondary, they're young. You can see their youth. The guys are covering guys they shouldn't be covering. People are running down the middle of the field. You got a receiver splitting down the seam, down the middle of the field, catching a bomb, a 45-yard bomb down there. That is losing football when football actually counts because we know the Bills are going to be in the playoffs. What they do in the playoffs, they're going to need that secondary to come with.

It, KB.

Yeah, they don't look great in the secondary.

We know that.

You know that.

You watch the game, and it does feel like a lot of other Bills teams, but they have time. They have a new defensive coordinator.

We'll see.

Hopefully, I mean, listen, a lot of things can change in the next few months when the playoffs start, but let's just talk about that shovel pass. Why the hell not?

It's a cool highlight on a Monday morning. Let's talk about it. We've seen him many times. Favre used to do it.

Let's see what yard line he's on when he decides to do it.

I'm going to put him on the.

14 and it's five yards deep in the end zone i'll call that a 19 yard shuffle pass and if you're like yeah well josh allen's crazy he shouldn't be doing.

That stuff i don't know you might be right he even talked about it after the game.

I saw him i saw him but once it comes out you know you kind of get hit and tumble around and it's so hard in these away games which feel like home games um once you hear the crowd go crazy you're like i don't know if it's a touchdown i don't know if it's an interception so um again he finds him finds himself in the right place at the right time and Finds a way.

To get open.

See, that's funny.

So he's down on the ground covered in Raiders, and he's judging what happened to the pass based on the cheering. So if there's a lot of cheering, it's a Raiders game, you'd think it was an interception. But no, there was a lot of cheering because there were Bills fans there.

And it's like, you ever.

Go to a game of any kind, and you go to get a beer or something, and you hear the crowd roar, and you're like, oh, that sounds like it's good for us, or that sounds like it's bad for us? That's what he's doing except he's playing in the game and has no idea what happened to him. And I know there's a lot of people who will watch this and be like, that's not a cool highlight. That's irresponsible football, and that's going to get the Bills beat in the playoffs.

You might be right. I don't push back there. You might be right.

And there may be like a sister or a twin shovel pass that shows up in late January.

Or something that gets intercepted. Don't know.

But in the meantime, what date is it right now? It is October 19th. It's a hell of a highlight.

I said it.

When he retires, there'll be a two-minute highlight package that the NFL makes.

That one will be in it.

Yeah, the evil cousin of the shovel pass is the behind-the-back pass. And if Josh Allen's doing that in January, then we don't want to see it. Scheduling thing to keep an eye on. The Vikings have to play the Colts this weekend. After that, it's Bills-Vikings on Monday Night Football. So there is a chance you could have an unbeaten Vikings team hosting a 5-1 Bills team because the Bills are on a bye now, Kyle. So they get to rest up after staying in California all week. Kyle, Chargers-Chiefs, take it away.

Let's get into it.

Here we go.

Chiefs coming off a bye. Haven't seen him in a while.

Beat the Raiders last time. Patrick Holmes looking for his 100th win in his 131st start.

That's pretty incredible. Kenneth Walker is the best player in the universe.

I mean, it's like he's the best football player ever. I'm sorry, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Jerry Rice. It's Kenneth Walker. He's amazing.

9-0.

Harrison Bucker misses the extra point.

All right, Chargers.

Do something. Justin Herbert pressured. Throws. Don't do that. That's intercepted by Jack Cochran. He returns at 48 yards.

Herbert came into the game as the only quarterback to throw an interception in every game this season.

That's a cheery stat. He threw only one, though, in this game.

That's better.

Second quarter. Chiefs are up 9-3. Sleepy little first half.

Mahomes.

Kelsey.

Go.

And he kind of just falls down. I get it. Why take the big hit at the end? That's Khalil Mack. You don't want to mess around with him. There's his wife in the stands.

You've probably heard of her. Three plays later, second and goal on the two. Walker breaks the tackle. Best football player ever. Kenneth Walker has had a tidy little 19 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Just an absolute beast. One of the great signings of the 21st century already. Hey, there's Mike McDaniel. He's had a year.

Herbert throws it out to Keandre Lambert-Smith, who fumbles, of course. We're covered by Drew Tranquil, which is how the Chiefs were feeling at the end of this game because.

They're the Chargers.

The Chargers now are 0-6 for the first time in 26 years. But more importantly, the Chiefs, these allegedly rebuilding, getting off their knees, Chiefs are undefeated at 5-0. And let's hear from Patrick Mahomes.

My honest first reaction is like, they've said this from like 97 on. I'm like, when did Tom lose another game? Because I feel like every game I win, I tie him. And so, no, but in all seriousness, it's always an honor to be in any conversation as far as winning football with him.

That's the GOAT.

He knows how to win football better than anyone really in any other sport. And so if you can be mentioned in any category with him, it's special.

It's inevitable. The longer you play, the more the stats are going to look like this. And that is the fact that in fewest starts to reach 100 regular season wins, Mahomes did it in 131 games. Brady did it at the same clip, Montana and Bradshaw. Hell of a list. Great quarterbacks, but this is the current era we're living in with Patrick Mahomes. Congratulations to him. He looks tremendous coming off of his knee injury. That being said. Sam Macho.

Chiefs move to 5-0. But shockingly, and I'm sure to the great relief of the quarterback, it doesn't come strictly at the hands of Patrick Mahomes. Instead, it comes at the hands, oftentimes, of the reigning Super Bowl MVP who now starts his push for a regular season MVP at a non-quarterback position.

Yeah, it's Kenneth Walker. And it's not just the relief of my home. It's the relief of this entire offense. I remember the first week I came on here, thought about quantitative easing, how to make things easier for everybody else. And that's literally what Kenneth Walker is doing. There's a point in this game early where Travis Kelsey, star tight end, was limping. He had to go out for a couple plays.

It didn't matter because Kenneth Walker stepped in. There's been a point in the season where you're wondering, OK, who are like the best running back statistically? You're thinking, OK, would it be Derek Henry who's leading Russian?

Nope.

Would it be James Cook?

Nope. B. John Robinson?

No. It's Kenneth Walker who's leading the NFL in rushing yards with 665 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The greatest part about what Kenneth Walker does for this offense is twofold. Number one, if receivers get injured or Kelsey gets injured or Mahomes injured, hand it off. Number two, what we've seen in the great Chiefs teams is this. Oftentimes, when that pass game is going, all of a sudden, there's two safeties deep. And what happens? Kansas City changes their offense about halfway through the season and starts to run the ball. When all of a sudden, it may be the opposite. You just keep on handing it off to Kenneth Walker. All of a sudden, you put a safety down the box, and it opens up the pass game

down the field. So, Kenneth Walker has been an outstanding addition. Super Bowl MVP, but he's picking up exactly where he left off, and it's really dangerous for everyone else because the evolution of this offense, we've seen it in the past, we might see it again, it's going to be Kenneth Walker-led, then the receivers will be second.

Yeah, this is the first time that Patrick Mahomes has ever had a running back of that caliber, right, to be able to run for those many yards and to be that kind of a threat. This is kind of new territory for the Chiefs. You know, speaking about new territory, Every year there's one or two offenses that it's just hard to watch.

It's hard to watch that brand of football. Like last year, maybe the Raiders.

I remember Ashton Genting getting hit behind the line of scrimmage so many times. I remember watching the Tennessee Titans with Will Levis and just doing the sporadic– the throws and people just they'll just literally just just brutal.

It was just brutal watching the Chargers.

It is hard to watch this offense play football.

Oh, yeah. Okay.

So you think about okay, what do they what do they do? Well, I don't think they do anything. Well the run game. They have no run game yesterday. They had 73 yards rushing majority of that came from your quarterback scrambling for his life the past game. Justin Herbert was sacked four times. They lead the league in turnovers.

Their leading wide receiver was Quinton Johnston, who had one catch. They had a huge stop on the goal line. Their defense did.

They almost got a safety three times in a row.

They couldn't even run.

They got a loss of a half a yard.

On a quarterback sneak. Like, how does that happen?

So when I'm referencing all of these offenses that have been bad in the past.

You're like, Man, it kind of makes sense. For the Chargers, it doesn't make sense.

You have Justin Herbert, who is this guy that has all of these abilities, and you're like, man, it should be better. You have Mike McDaniel, who is this supposed guru. I'm watching these reverse little pivot handoffs, these fancy.

Little play developments. I'm like, you can't even get a yard just handing the ball off regular.

It is hard to watch this offense play.

It is hard to watch this offense compete.

And right now they have a defense that's doing everything they can, KP.

Offensively, it is just a nightmare.

Yeah, you're saying like they're trying to do backflips, but they can't even tie their shoes. So what's the point of all that type of stuff? I don't usually advocate for that. I don't like the coach firing part of our job. I mean, I don't know what McDaniel is still doing there. You have Justin Herbert and you're 0-6, you scored six points. You have to make a change, right?

Isn't that why these things exist?

I don't root for it, but why else do we do this if we don't do it for this? The Chiefs are undefeated. It's an incredible story, and it's.

Not that big of a story because out of respect for them, I guess we're not that surprised it's the Chiefs. We talk about the Vikings and how good they are, and the Niners are a cool story, but the Chiefs, it's below the fold because even though their quarterback blew his knee out and they had a terrible season last year by their standards, they're 5-0, and we're like, no big deal.

We're never in doubt of losing this game. A lot of Chiefs coming up, folks.

Because we're going at Seattle, at Denver, which I know Seattle and Denver struggle a bit, but those are two road games, like the homes on the road, like probably the two toughest places to play in the entire NFL. I wish I could contribute more about this game, but there's not a lot of substance about Chiefs Chargers because the Chargers are just so bad.

We know Walker's good. We know Kelsey's still playing it.

This was just the Chiefs treading water. I would just say, though, that optic-wise, this was really a sad one because we've had these moments over the last couple of years, certainly when Harbaugh showed up, where it's like, can the Chargers finally rise up and take out the Chiefs? That hapless, fall-on-your-face 22-6 loss It was supposed to be a new emergence of a Chargers team with Herbert and Harbaugh and maybe even McDaniel that with the Chiefs down, maybe they run the West now.

And my God, that is so far from the truth.

So far.

So this game represented very few things, but the one important thing it represented is that the Chiefs still rule the West and the Chargers aren't even close. Sorry to put it that way, but play better football.

It's perfect that we highlighted the two games in this first segment of our second hour on GMFB being the Bills game and the Chiefs game because it's The Bills may have missed out on a shot last year when the Chiefs were down and out because the Bills look good, but the Chiefs might look better. And that's the AFC conversation as a whole, considering the way that everybody else is playing. Let's get the latest from around the league from our own NFL Network insider, Ian Rappaport. Rap sheet, we have to have a C.J. Gardner-Johnson conversation this morning.

Headlines involving his name are never good, not for the right reasons. So what do we need to know?

Yeah, let's start right there.

Well, actually, first, I want to go back to what you guys were talking about with the Chargers and Mike McDaniel and the discussion about what they're going.

To do offensively.

Jim Harbaugh was asked after the game, are you considering offensive changes? Basically, he said, I think what a lot of coaches say in this situation, which is that everything is on the table. He said offensively, it has simply not been good enough. He was asked about specifically play calling for Mike McDaniel. He said they're going to look at that. They're going to look at everything offensively. He said the effort in meetings with his players, that is something that he has for sure seen. It is just simply they are just not good enough. Now, inside the Chargers building, up until basically right now, there has been no hints at a change.

We have discussions of a change.

Mike McDaniel's offense is one they knew would take some time, just didn't know it would take quite this much time. So it's unclear right now if change is imminent. But what is clear is they're looking at absolutely everything. Adam Gase is a senior offensive assistant on the staff. He has been an accomplished offensive coordinator, would be potentially an option.

If they do decide to make a change, more information coming on that possibly today.

Now let's get to C.J. Gardner-Johnson. We saw earlier in the highlight. He spit.

He was ejected.

He posted an apology. This is it right there.

Gross.

Posted apology on Instagram saying.

There's no excuse.

Obviously, he takes full responsibility. Apologized to his opponent and says his actions will speak louder than his actions.

I guess spitting.

That was my interpretation.

The NFL is going to review this for possible discipline. It has been one of a lot of things for C.J. Gardner-Johnson, so we will see what the NFL decides here.

Thanks, Rap Sheet. I liked all the Rs, and you're gross. And for all the statistics that we track, we go back-to-back years doing this, back-to-back years doing that. Now we have back-to-back years of spitting in there. So let's move along from this behavior, everybody.

Exactly.

It's gross. Moving on on GMFB, we've got one more game on the Week 6 slate, and it's taking place tonight in Northern California. It's the unbeaten 49ers. They're like, we get it. The Chiefs are similar to us as well, but we still have a game to play, and we could remain unbeaten as well. Hosting a Commanders that have a tie at the end of their record. We're going to have a handful of injury updates ahead of this game with Rap Sheet later. It's Commanders, Niners, a lot of different ways to watch across the family of networks.

Coming up, you lose one of the best pass rushers in NFL history. Your defense is going to be the worst, right? Don't tell that to the Cleveland Browns, you.

That defense showed up and so did their kicker, KB. We're going to talk this game coming up. What else we got?

Let's talk some Browns. It's a pretty cool thing we're talking Browns. All kinds of stuff going on. We also got the Steelers in the AFC North. Mount Washington had a touchdown. They needed overtime.

The Steelers are on fire right now. Rodgers broke his streak of throwing for three touchdowns, though.

He only threw two. We'll get into it.

Good morning, football.

We were waiting so patiently for this to happen for the Patriots, and that is A.J. Brown's return after a high ankle sprain early in the season. First game, actually, and now he's back. Supposed to be great, right? It didn't really work out that way. It was Drake May who had all day, long enough for me to explain that situation, but it's not A.J. Brown in the end zone for that. It's Romeo Dobbs for a 42-yard catch.

They put six and then seven on the board to take a 7-3 lead. Fourth quarter now. Jets not just going down gently. Geno Smith drops back. He's trying to find Kenyon Sadiq, who's had a great season thus far, but he's picked off by Charles Woods. Drops the toes in, inbounds for the interception. Patriots are able to hold on to a win, 26-19. The final, they're 4-2.

Patriots on a little roll there.

Let's go to Cleveland, Ohio, where the Browns took on the Ravens. Lamar will be out for the second straight game. Tyler Huntley, enter the chat. Fourth quarter, 42 seconds left in the game. Game tied, 10-10. Deshaun Watson hits.

Jerry Judy! His number is called, and he answers the bell. Goes 33 yards to the Ravens, 29.

Enter Andre Schmidt for a game-winning field goal.

It's good.

The Cleveland Browns beat the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 and are number one in the AFC North. There's Todd Munkin, who spent three years as the offensive coordinator in Baltimore.

Congratulations, coach. Congratulations, Brown TV.

Well, they also beat the Steelers, who are now trying to beat.

Well, hold on.

Why is Big Mike limping off? Why is there a head coach in the tent? Mike McCarthy injured his ankle. He spent half time in the medical tent.

We'll get into it shortly.

16-3.

Steelers, what? Trailing to the fighting Jalen Daniels. I like this Buccaneers team. So Rodgers rolls out. He's got Mount Washington there.

You can't miss him. That's a five-yard touchdown. McCarthy and Rodgers love it. He had two touchdowns. Rodgers to one interception.

Later in the fourth quarter, 16-all. The Steelers have scrapped back. Tries to go to Emeka Agbukun. It's picked off by Jamel Dean.

And that is your big, big turn of almost a pick six.

Dean played seven seasons, of course, with the Bucs. He won a Super Bowl with them. It's his first season with the Steelers. Pretty cool story for him. Next Steelers possession. Rodgers is going to go to DK on third and goal, who has a six-inch height advantage on Jacob Parrish. And Jacob Parrish just says, not today, big man. Ends with a field goal. Steelers take a 19-16 lead. Baker Mayfield looks on. We haven't seen him in weeks. Chase McLaughlin from 53 yards out.

Got it. Got it. Going to OT at 19 all. I remember I told you guys, every game has to go to overtime now. It's the rules. If you don't, you have to pay a fine.

Aaron Rodgers, second and goal on the Tampa 6 after the Bucs win the toss. Jeremy Bernard, guy who's making plays every single week. Second rounder out of Alabama. 11 catches in this game. 11 for the Rook. Rodgers ties Peyton Manning.

Third most passing touchdowns.

In NFL history.

Next Bucs possession.

They need a touchdown.

So it's fourth and eight. They go for it. And they got him. Jalen Ramsey with the walk-off. Yes, you can take your helmet off. The game is over. Rodgers super fired up as he should be.

Jalen Ramsey had 10 tackles and two sacks plus four tackles for a lot. Jalen Ramsey should get a game ball on this show. If he doesn't, we're missing out. 26 to 19.

The Steelers are red hot four and two.

Here's their 42-year-old quarterback who is four and two.

These are the most important, you know, moments for us as a team to grow because this is a trajectory altering win today. But, you know, to be four and two now, to win our first road game, to beat a team we should have beat. You know, there's no two ways around it. You got to beat teams like that if you want to get to where we want to get. And it didn't look like a win for a long time. So I'm proud of our guys. Defense kept us in it. Offense finally made a couple plays.

Kyle, I know you like when Aaron Rodgers is kind of cranky, but he's so peaceful and happy. Two-touchdown day. He ties Peyton Manning for third on the all-time list with 539. So he must be happy with his day in Florida.

Huh, KB?

Yeah, I just remember a couple weeks in, I think it was Gronk who was like, Rodgers should have never come back. And we all love Gronk and everything, but that was a very premature take.

Like, he looks great.

Again, I think he's thrown 11 touchdowns in the last four games.

Looks really good. But the Steelers were getting worked in this game.

Make no mistake, since 26-19, they were way down, and the Bucs were going to beat them just like they beat the Cowboys. I could give you a million takes and perspectives and angles that I just feel strongly about. But we had a coach in the tent. We had a coach miss all of halftime. So what do we do when we have an injury? We go to the sheet.

Ian, I'm not happy about this. I'm not relishing it. But what can you.

Tell us about the injury status of Mike McCarthy, of all people?

Okay, now we are not going to make light of injuries on this show or in life. These are serious things, and these are people who put their bodies at risk for this game. So here's what happened to Mike McCarthy. Sources say somebody stepped on his foot, and it probably hurt.

I would guess it hurt a lot.

So while you're seeing here using the person, a staffer, as a crutch to get off the field was in the blue tent at halftime and came out, was not in a boot, but was in the blue tent. And sources say, walked to the podium, did his press conference, toughed it out, and now he's going to France because they play in France.

So that is the Mike McCarthy update.

That sucks.

He's got to go on the flight now with the sore foot. I just wonder, please tell us if Mike McCarthy is doing the Russell Wilson high knees up and down the aisle on the way to France.

I want that report from you.

Listen, I don't need a source.

I'm going to go with no.

I'm just going to go with no.

Okay, yeah, probably no.

Some of those Biscoff cookies, though, Ian, some of your best work, thank you very much.

I'll throw it back to you guys.

If you've ever stood on a football sideline for more than like a half an hour, at some point you get your foot stepped on. And if you're Mike McCarthy, every single person there is over 200 pounds.

A lot of them are over 300 pounds.

They got those big-ass screw-in cleats right in the top of the foot.

That can break a bone. But we're feeling for Mike. And you know what?

Do respect Mike McCarthy. This kind of works for you, this toughness, grit thing. You're winning, you're fighting through somebody stepping on you, and now you fly to France, which is pretty cool. I think it's a good look for Mike, and I'm sure he hates it, but I respect that.

KB, the thing about what you're trying to do to the breakfast table right now is you're talking to Sam and Manti, who had cleats on when someone stepped on them. Cleats are very tough. They have a lot of layering on the top. They are fine if they get stepped on. You and I stand on the sideline or coach. We just have regular old tennis shoes, and that's.

When it really hurts. You got those Nike Vimeros on right now.

Right?

That mesh. And when you're on that field, if you played on that field, the Pittsburgh field, you have to have those screw-ins. It's not the molded.

There's different degrees to the amount of pain that happens in your step.

The molded ones, not too bad. The screw-in ones, those ones, Sam, they got a little tough.

Vimeros.

You got to be more agile.

If you're going to be on the sideline, you have to know there's people moving around. You got to move out the way. Don't get your foot. Move out the way. Be more agile. Don't step in the blue tent because you got an injury.

The tent is flat, too. Someone had to erect the tent in order for him to walk in there. I actually can't believe he went in there, Kyle. It really does surprise me. That's a big effort.

I can't believe I.

Heard the word Mike McCarthy and agile in the same sentence. Mike's been in a lot of things. He's a super winning head coach.

He would be the first to tell you that if we were to do one through 32 agility rankings, I mean, he makes Andy Reid look like Jameer Gibbs, guys. He is not agile, but I respect him. And this is the kind of thing you can joke about.

Why?

Because they win every single week. The Steelers are on fire. They're still behind these guys in first place, but who cares?

It's early, they're winning, and it's all working.

And Mike, you know what?

I would tell you to get in the cold tub or something, but Mike, get in the hot tub, get some pretzels, maybe a Diet Coke or something like that, and enjoy that flight to France.

But even the point you're making about how the Steelers are winning, then you start to hear the way that Aaron Rodgers is talking. That's a little bit dangerous. He's talking about, man, this is a trajectory-altering win. You see the way he starts to play in that fourth quarter. The defense is going to be the defense. Yeah, we can joke about it because Mike McCarthy is kind of this football-tough guy, knows how to win, but also Aaron Rodgers has that same kind of mentality. So it's interesting to see how even Aaron Rodgers said, hey, we didn't really need Mike McCarthy at halftime. Yeah, Because at halftime, we're good. So shout out to Aaron Rodgers and get on the ladder maybe, the speed ladder or something. No,

stop trying to make him do things.

Coach, you're going to Paris. You got rest, ice, compression socks for the international trip and elevation, and you'll be right by the time you got to take on the Saints who are coming off the win as well. Monday morning of week six, we have breaking news here on GMFB. We hadn't gotten to the highlight yet, but the Titans earned their first win yesterday over the Indianapolis Colts. And with that, we welcome in Ian Rappaport, our NFL Network insider, with us this morning. Rappaport, what do you have on the Colts this morning?

The Colts have made the dramatic decision to fire general manager Chris Ballard after an embarrassing loss to the winless Tennessee Titans. It was team great Robert Mathis took to Twitter last night saying this is a fireable offense. This kind of loss, the kind of loss that can ripple through an organization. Carly Ursae Gordon, the team's owner, who you've seen on the sideline taking notes, very involved, knows everything that is going on in this organization, has a very close relationship with with General Manager Chris Ballard. She made the decision, announced it in a statement just moments ago, that they're moving on from the GM they have had for a little under a decade. And as far as her statement goes, I'll read you parts of it. She

talks about how grateful she is for the contributions of Chris Ballard. She said at the start of the season that.

There is urgency.

for this team that they basically needed to win. She believes a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard. Ursae Gordon also says.

She wants to be clear the.

Decision does not change the goals for the season.

There's a lot of football in front of us.

She expects them to improve. And the fact that she did not move on from Shane Steichen essentially, potentially, would keep the on-field product alive. There, for the team to improve, kept the coach in place, made the statement of firing general manager Chris Ballard. There have been misstep after misstep for years and years in this organization. All throughout, finally now, Chris Ballard has been fired as GM of the Colts.

To the information rap sheet and to your point, part of that statement also reads waiting would only delay the importance of the work that needs to begin now. Now, Carly Ursae Gordon has been out there, Kyle, and saying this is why I stand on the sideline. I need to understand the ripple effects and how the decision making goes through our organization. So she has clearly identified what she feels is the issue with the Colts and their success in 2026. But a couple of poppy headlines for the Colts in the last couple of years was the Sauce Gardner trade, of course. Just the fact that Daniel Jones is there instead of Anthony Richardson succeeding. So what do you think?

Well, I'd like to hear from her because someone has to go, right? I don't know how this immediately impacts the 2026 team. I don't know what the general manager in the middle of October getting fired is gonna suddenly translate to wins. Whereas you look at the head coach, the bench, the.

Quarterbacks, those all things are immediately football decisions.

Chris Ballard, I don't know how he's going to change this team this year, certainly in the draft.

And the offseason.

Listen, this is a guy who's been there a decade, taken a lot of heat, had some good moments, had plenty of bad moments, and there's a lot of fans who like to treat him like a piñata. And so I think this is more about the messaging to the fans, the message to the team, this is not acceptable, and so we're going to fire the GM. I don't expect the Colts to come out gangbusters next week.

The fact is, last year, the Colts were 8-2.

They were an 8-2 team.

And they've just completely fallen apart since then. Daniel Jones got hurt. Phil Rivers this. It's been a mess. I'm very glad that they did not do something with the head coach. I think Shane Steichen can coach.

I really do. I'm a Shane Steichen guy.

So in this sense that I'm glad that they didn't make that choice. But if you're going to be down there in the sideline, heavily visible, as is her right, which I respect, and you're making this kind of decision, the debrief is owed to the fans as well. Because if you're doing this to send a message, great. But indulge the fans and explain the message. How does firing an under-fired GM going into week seven change what product.

Is going to be on the field for the Colts next year? That's what I would love to hear. Next week, rather. That's what I'd love to hear.

They allowed the Titans to outscore them 26-7 in the second half. Chris Ballard not within his job responsibilities now with the Indianapolis Colts as of week six of Monday morning. Breaking news on GMFB. We got you covered. We'll have more game highlights when we come back on our second hour of the show.

Good morning, football.

49ers are undefeated. Can the Commanders disrupt that? Keep in mind, the Commanders have done this before in years past. The Eagles were unbeaten in November, and they ruined their season right before Thanksgiving. So the Commanders have some spice to them, and they have a tie at the end of the record.

The Commanders are in town up in the Bay Area. They're taking on Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers. Monday Night Football, a lot of ways to watch tonight. 8 p.m. Eastern is your kick. ESPN and the family of networks. Ian Rappaport, we got to emotionally prepare for this game tonight. Any game status for injuries and players and whatnot? Oh, Rappsheet putting the phone down. What else did we track on something else? Rappsheet, what are we doing there?

It's been a little bit of a busy morning, but sure, I'm here to talk about injury updates. That's very important. Mike Evans, the San Francisco 49ers receiver. We know he has been battling injuries the entire season. This time, it is about his Achilles. It's not a tear, but it seems to be. some sort of tendonitis there. He's also got the hamstring. He is questionable for tonight's game, has not yet practiced. That is one status that we are going to continue to monitor up until kickoff. Good news at the fullback slash tight end position, Kyle Juszczyk, their do-it-all.

Peace for the San Francisco 49ers offense. Has been dealing with a knee injury, a bone bruise, missed just one game. So off the injury report and good to go. That is a bit of a surprise. It has been a little more than a week, I should say, since the injury. But this is excellent news.

He will play today.

For the Washington Commanders, Stephon Diggs. He has been questionable. He was limited in practice this week. He's dealing with a hamstring injury. Another player is expected to work out pregame, and we'll see his status. Meanwhile, Joukowsky, Crosby, Merritt, the Bill, essentially they call him. The reason is because his name is tough to pronounce. Joukowsky, Merritt, there you go, finally nailed it. He is dealing with a groin injury, did not practice this week, officially out for tonight's game.

Ian, Dan Quinn, very easy to pronounce, very hard to understand what the hell happened in the last Commanders game. It's been over a week, and we're still trying to figure it out. But more importantly, they have to bounce back from that tie against the Giants to now go against the most dominant team in football on national television.

Let's just say things don't go well for the Commanders tonight, and I hope they do. But if they don't, what might we be talking about tomorrow?

Well, things would have to go very, very badly for us to be talking about a potential head coaching move for Dan Quinn. That is my sense of the situation. Josh Harris, the owner for the Washington Panthers, does not like midseason firings, does not want to do it, does not plan to do it. The hope is they come out, they are competitive. The hope is they come out and maybe win. And then you can see that all of the accountability that everyone took in the building for last week's debacle, they've moved on from, they've learned, they've done better.

They've improved, and they come out and win.

That would say a lot.

They come out and play competitive, probably stick with what is happening right here for the Commanders with hopes that in a division that is pretty bad, they can still end up somehow in playoff contention. If it gets real bad and real ugly, if it's clear that the locker room is out on head coach Dan Quinn, which I don't sense at all, but if that is the case, then you might see a move sooner rather than later.

But I think it's fair to say all eyeballs are going to be on this game and on the sideline tonight for the Washington Commanders.

You know, Ian, I remember way back in 2017 after the 28-3 Super Bowl, Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitrov, the Falcons GM at the time, came on Good Morning Football and debriefed with us about what that was like. And they said, sometimes you just have to eat a bleep burger and keep going on. After that 28-3 season, the Falcons were in the divisional round of the playoffs the very next year and lost on the last play of the.

Game to the Miracle Eagles.

I love the report, and I also think I'm not going to predict a win. I think the Commanders are going to be very good tonight. I just have this feeling that Dan Quinn is going to have them ready to play, and I hope, Ian, when we talk to you tomorrow, it is about the great effort and maybe a few injuries for the Commanders, but that is it.

Appreciate you, man.

I've been trying to rattle off anti-dandruff products here in the commercial break. Time for Head Scratchers on GMFB. Manti, you're up first.

I'm up first.

There's a lot of different topics of discussion this year. It's been overtimes, injuries, and one of them has been officiating. And my biggest Head Scratcher from yesterday came from the Rams-Cardinals game. Probably one of the most controversial calls this year. Jacoby Brissett steps back. He throws the ball to Jalen Brooks.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, was called an unnecessary roughness. Josh Wallace, cornerback for the Rams, just brushes against the receiver.

I don't care what the situation was.

I'm not mad that it put him into field goal range. This could be the first play of the game. This could be a last play of the game. This could be a play to get him to tie the game. It'd be a game where they're getting blown out. This call was the biggest head scratcher. Maybe I pulled some hair out when it happened, but that was it right there for me, Sam.

You're... Your demand for physicality, it ripples into heads as well. Listen, we all know what it's like to have a bit. We know what it's like to try to pull a ruse, to try to fake out the fans and get you to buy into something. I don't think this is what this was. This is genuine concern for Jim Nance after he attempted a peanut punch. With like, probably pound for pound, the strongest analyst in an NFL group right now. JJ Watt is up there trying to explain that this is how players hold- falls.

Is that my ice pack, Jamie?

And then he goes, he goes, Jim, give it your best punch. Jim, that was not an actual invitation to give it your hardest punch. Nansen says, and I quote, I think I broke my wrist.

And then he shows up in.

The booth on another on camera with, like, an ace wrap and, like, an ice pack on his wrist. Jim, I'm told this morning, according to sources, he's just a little sore. So, Nance, don't worry. He's probable to call whatever game they have next week.

Hey, you might still need an MRI, though, because I think he really did. The way he said, ooh, he said, ooh. Ha, ha, ha. I think I broke my wrist.

Hey, Jim Nance. It ain't that easy, Jim.

It ain't that easy.

I wasn't being serious, Jim.

What are you doing?

Here's my head scratcher. It's a man by the name of Yaya Black. So, Yaya Black blocked a field goal in the Pittsburgh Steelers game yesterday. And the field goal was blocked, but even he started scratching his head after the block.

Watch this play. Boom, it was blocked.

You see number 94?

Like, that's it. That's it.

Wait, no, but I thought that I... I had.

A full hand up there, bro.

It's like I didn't break my hand. I'm playing the NFL. I'm 6'5, 330. Tipped it. Usually tips like that end up being a missed field goal, but the field goal still went in by Chase McLaughlin. So, Yaya Black is kind of still scratching his head. Like, he's so excited out of Iowa.

Oh, man.

Like, how did that.

I thought the rule was.

Oh, sorry, Coach.

That's a powerful tip. Danny Smith doing his thing. He's got KB.

Listen, I had my own, but I'm just having too much fun. We got to go back to Nance. Run Nance again. This is so awesome. I love Jim Nance throwing the punch.

Roll it.

Look at it. Hello, friends. Bam.

That is not the last punch that Jim Nance has thrown. It's certainly not the first punch. Take me on to campus at University of Houston.

Put up your dukes. Nance knows what he's doing.

Never mind that JJ is such a tough guy and such an enlightened meathead that he's got the ball up so high. Jim Nance could have hit that ball with his BMW and it wasn't coming out.

It wasn't even moving.

Peanut Tillman himself in 2005 couldn't have made that thing budge if he had a 50-yard head start. JJ has it so high and tight against his giant bicep and pectoral. It could have been Ronnie Lott with the cage of his face mask, and that.

Thing wasn't moving. But Nance was going to sit there just pounding that. Like, don't try Jim Nance.

There's a tradition unlike any other, and it's him kicking ass.

If you give him a challenge on live TV. That was awesome. JJ was like, now you're going to do this? Don't come up to him in Butler Cabin with a ball.

Boom!

I love that Nance went for it.

I love it.

Good job, JJ.

You're awesome, Jim.

Well done.

We'll be back on GMMP tomorrow. Enjoy Monday Night Football tonight.

Ice up, Jim. Ice up. You're good, Jim.

GMFB Monday Hour 2: Bills win, Week 6 highlights, Colts Change, and Game Balls

Kapitelklicken springt direkt hin

Shownotes

Transkriptvom Podcast bereitgestellt · Zeitmarken springen hin