GMFB Thursday Hour 1: Lamar’s Return, Packers-Panthers Preview & Can the Vikings Keep Winning This Way?

0:04 Good Morning Football is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.

0:26 Hey everybody, welcome inside Good Morning Football presented by Old Trapper Beef Jerky.

0:30 It's Thursday, October 29th. Jamie Erdahl, Manti Teo.

0:34 The Visionary.

0:35 He's here. The Revolutionary? That's it. Okay, great.

0:40 That's it.

0:41 I ran out of words after that. You nailed it, though. It's right. The Visionary was written.

0:46 The Revolutionary was not. And it's one of those things where, like, I think I've heard this enough times that I can stick the landing by myself. Seth, we're all back from Philly.

0:53 Yes.

0:54 We made it. What a show that was. Oh, my goodness. Philly was a party, y'all. Yeah, it was. They brought the vibes.

0:59 Oh, man.

1:00 They brought the vibes. They set the standard for sure.

1:02 Did you bring a cheesesteak back in your man bun there and check baggage?

1:05 Dude, I went to Angelo's after we left.

1:07 I had the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia, which means maybe best cheesesteak in the world.

1:12 Totally.

1:12 Ooh, delish.

1:13 The best was that pretzel, though. The pretzel with the features of the hair.

1:16 You had your man bun. I had a man bun of sesame seeds. Shout out to Philly. I know.

1:21 Dedication to the cause.

1:22 Yes.

1:22 Ian Rappaport, you were missed. Next time we're on the road, we'll have you on GMFB. Until then, let's talk Thursday night football, shall we? Because there's a couple of players from Panthers Packers that we need to be updated on. But let's also start with the quarterback that we are patiently, ever so patiently awaiting his return to the field.

1:39 Well, that return is coming.

1:41 Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens star quarterback, MVP from a couple years ago, was not only at practice yesterday, but he was a full participant. That is an indication that Lamar Jackson, barring some sort of setback, is ready to return to the field. And it's been a long time coming, it feels like, for the Ravens and Lamar. Three games with an ankle sprain. I know after week one, Some people were expecting him back. Lamar Jackson wants to be 100% before he plays. He was working diligently to get there.

2:09 Wants to be his old, effective superstar self. That is the Lamar the Ravens believe they're going to get this week as he is expected to play. For tonight's game, for the Green Bay Packers, Matthew Gold nearly has emerged as one of the better young receivers in football.

2:25 300-yard games already. Very, very limited in practice this week.

2:29 Has a shoulder injury. Has a foot injury. Was able to practice yesterday. Listed as questionable.

2:34 I'm told is trending towards playing.

2:37 So there's a good chance for the Packers that Matthew Golden does get on the field today for Jordan Love and his teammates. Different side of the story for Jalen Phillips and the Carolina Panthers. He has not practiced this week. He's dealing with a hamstring injury.

2:52 He is already ruled out.

2:54 He is not going to go to the pass rush of the Carolina Panthers.

2:58 I would say very shorthanded going into tonight's game.

3:02 Oh, that's too bad for the Panthers rap sheet. Thank you so much. And don't think that you are escaping the first segment of GMFB without discussing the announcement that you had yesterday. So hang around. We want to talk to you about that. Until then, let's talk Panthers and Packers, shall we, from Thursday Night Football. Both dropped games in week seven. Carolina desperate to hold on to their lead in the NFC South, while Green Bay is scrapping to stay relevant in a highly competitive NFC North. Here are both coaches with Matt LaFleur starting things off, dispelling any assumptions that Bryce Young isn't a tough matchup tonight.

3:35 I would expect them fully to rebound and play much, much better. I think a lot of it was, you know, just the turnover battle. I think anytime you turn the ball over that much, no matter who you are, you kind of put yourself behind the eight ball a little bit, and that's what happened, and then it can pile up fast on you. So I'm sure we have a very motivated team coming in here, and certainly one that we know is dangerous. They came in here last year and beat us. But I think we're motivated as well, and we've got to bounce back.

4:09 Championship opportunity, a historic place, going back to Lambeau Field. And an incredible opponent, you know, a Packers team that's explosive on the offensive side, leading the NFL in turnovers. A really good, really good opportunity for us to get back to our football and to really focus on the things that matter.

4:28 All right, so the last time these two teams played was back in 2025, and the Carolina Panthers won 16-13 at Green Bay. Lambeau has not been some prolific home stadium for the Packers. They've struggled away and at home, and here they are back in Green Bay, Seth. So what are you looking for from this game on a Thursday night?

4:46 Can I say I'm looking for a Green Bay loss? Am I allowed to say that? You can. You're like, you're smirk. You're so happy.

4:54 I am.

4:55 Well, look, I love a Thursday night game. These teams need wins, right? They're coming off losses. They need wins. You know, you mentioned it there in the copy. You said Packers. That North is crazy, man.

5:05 Yes.

5:05 That NFC North is wild. On the Packers side, I was watching a couple weeks back, right? Bears Packers.

5:12 Yeah.

5:12 Big game.

5:13 Yeah.

5:13 Right.

5:14 Chicago fan. I'm going we got to get this win. We got to get that. We got to stop Jordan Love. They're not running the ball. We got this.

5:20 And then Jordan Love at some point in the game. started saying, you know what? I'm just going to throw this ball deep.

5:28 Yes.

5:29 And I'm just going to throw the ball deep every single play. And these Packers receivers, Watson and Golden, they cooked the Chicago Bears secondary like it was Thanksgiving dinner.

5:42 I know we're skipping holiday here. It was unreal.

5:45 They roast They wasted the turkey. They basted the carrots. They shredded Chicago up like some beef, man.

5:52 It was insane. So I'm looking again to see what Jordan loves.

5:55 And look at him.

5:57 He's leading the league this year in 20-plus yard deep ball completion. He is on another level when he throws it down the field. His accuracy is up around like 60% or something like that.

6:07 That's incredible.

6:09 That is an incredible number for a ball over 20 yards in the air. So I'm looking to see, is he going to continue that tonight on Thursday? And if so, I mean, they can put up a lot of points in Green Bay at home. It's something remarkable to see. He's got two incredibly talented receivers there. You know, we mentioned– Golden is questionable, but probably going to play. Watson's just an animal. So that's what I'm looking forward to seeing, Manti.

6:35 I don't know about you, but man, Chuck Zappal down the field is terrifying.

6:39 Terrifying. I'm a Carolina Panthers fan.

6:42 You know, I love you. And I know that you're a huge Bears fan. I know you just said it would be nice as a Bears fan to see the Packers kind of Fall short a little bit. I hate to tell you this, but it might get spicy if you go against the Packers now. Now that they have Josh Jacobs back, the reason why they're throwing the ball down the field is they had.

6:59 No run game. Zero.

7:00 They're the worst run game in the National Football League. But they did what Coach LaFleur said.

7:04 It was like, you know what?

7:05 We know we don't have a run game. We know we don't have a mid game in the Packers. We're just going to throw this thing deep. He averages over 10 yards of air passing yards a play. That's the highest in the NFL. Now, that safety has had to back up, right? Not only do you have one wide receiver, Watkins, but you also have Matthew Golden.

7:21 Both of them have to be back.

7:22 Now that you have Josh Jacobs, now that you have a threat at a run game, now this is where this cat and mouse game starts.

7:28 Now this is where football gets beautiful.

7:30 If I am a defense, if I'm the Carolina Panthers, do I move those safeties closer?

7:35 Do I put one back?

7:36 If you do, now it's going to be favor for the Packers and Jordan Love. So I know Jordan Love the past three weeks has.

7:43 Been phenomenal defensively. I think it's going to get even better.

7:46 And we talked about this division, the NFC North, as the most successful. They all have winning records right now. The Packers sit at fourth. I don't think they're going to be sitting at fourth much longer because not only do you have Josh Jacobs coming back, he came back last week, but Michael Parsons is about to. to return to that defense, and the defense is getting a.

8:07 Lot of turnovers at passing. It's great.

8:09 They're a great fit for what that division is. They score a lot of points, and they play a lot of good football, but having a threat in the run game is going to help Jordan Love out so much offensively that I'm sorry, Seth.

8:20 It's going to be nice. Let me ask you this. Let me ask you this.

8:23 Let me play devil's advocate because I think Josh Jacobs is fantastic. When he's on, so he comes back last week. Was it just the rust of being off? for weeks because he didn't look great in the Packers run game wasn't like it didn't just flip a switch and they were awesome last week they struggled in that game against Detroit still so do you think it's just a matter of him getting reps getting time on the practice field getting in shape and then them getting used to his style yeah I.

8:47 Mean imagine he didn't do training camp you know he he couldn't be around the facility yep so that's all on you right there there's there's in shape and then there's game shape and I don't even know if he's in shape yet right so It's going to take some time, and I don't think that anybody expected him to be the 2025-2024 Josh Jacobs. And right now, the way that Jordan Love is playing with that passing game, I don't even think they need him to be that right now.

9:10 He just needs to be that threat, right? He needs to be that.

9:12 Decoy that you put out there like, Bring those safeties down if you want to. I'm going to hurt you over the top. Now you have the ability for Jordan Love to say, I can beat you 20 yards deep, or I can hand this ball off, and then this guy can hurt you for at least four rushing yards. And so that's where football, in my opinion, gets very, very beautiful offensively, because defensively, I either got to beat you with my front seven and my front seven alone, or...

9:38 I've got to bring somebody in the box, and you don't want to do that against Jordan Love, Matthew Godin, and Christian Watkins right now.

9:42 Yeah, over those two seasons for the Packers running back, he had 28 rushing tees, and now they look to bolster the run game, of course, for the Packers.

9:50 If you're the.

9:50 Carolina Panthers and you're looking on that side of things, Bryce Young had a challenging week last week. However, the Panthers, as I mentioned, still maintain, and they're gripping onto this thing with their little cat claws with a half game lead over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. So are you looking at Bryce Young to repeat what he did last week, which is a challenge performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or are We really saw a more positive Bryce Young in the first six weeks of the season before last week. So, Manti, which version of Bryce Young are we going.

10:22 To get tonight? Well, the Panthers to me was the NFC version of the Chiefs. The Chiefs went against Seattle Seahawks.

10:28 They were hot.

10:29 All the talk was about that offense, Kenneth Walker, and then they ran into the Seattle Seahawks defense and they didn't see the red zone. The same thing could be said for the Carolina Panthers. Going into last week, they're averaging 28 points, around 28 points per game, 300 passing yards, and over 100 rushing yards. Well, then, that was his QBR.

10:47 I mean, they had 13 points.

10:49 He only threw for 160 pass yards, and he was sacked five times. I think they go back to what they were before. Now, they did lose a key, key piece in their offensive line that helped keep Bryce Young.

11:02 Up on his feet.

11:03 But we know about Chuba Hubbard. You know about Ted Tyrone McMillan. I think the catalyst to this whole offense... is a man named Jalen Coker. Now, Jalen Coker been on and off the football field, but when Jalen Coker is in the slot and that boy.

11:16 Is cooking, I mean, week one, that guy went off.

11:21 So, if Jalen Coker is in the game, now it gives Bryce Young not only a title on one side, but then you have this big old maniac on the other, and now he's able to distribute that ball a lot easier. So, I do like what the Green Bay Packers have done defensively. I think with Bryce Young, Jalen Coker, and Ted Tyroa, that is an offensive outfit that gives a lot of defenses nightmares.

11:43 I guess when you're thinking about the Panthers, you're wondering, is it a blip last week, or is it going to be a slump? What version are we going to get? Because that offense has looked extremely dynamic through the first six weeks of the season. And then last week against the Tampa Bay team, look, Tampa Bay hadn't been lighting the world on fire. I know they got their guy Baker back, but even when Baker was healthy in the early parts of the season, Tampa Bay wasn't like... This dominant threat on offense or defense. You know, I think we came into the season thinking Tampa Bay was going to be something special possibly.

12:17 But they weren't. They were underperforming.

12:19 So then you come to last week, you go, okay, Panthers have been lightened up every single week.

12:24 Offense churning.

12:25 Bryce Young looks like the guy that was drafted number one overall, like Tets doing Tet.

12:29 Things, right?

12:30 Like this is going to be a squad that's going to run away with the South, right? And then they just get walloped. They just get, like, mollywhopped. I mean, just smack. I mean, I was checking back on the score, looking at it.

12:42 You're like, this can't be. This is not. When are they going to? Come on, let's go. Okay, okay, they come out of halftime. Let's go. Let's start putting some points up.

12:47 Nope.

12:48 And it just looked like, I mean, it was one of those where I'm like, ooh, ooh. I started to feel bad. I started to feel bad for the Panthers. I'm like, I kind of like this squad. They're looking good this year, and then they run into this. So the question is, blip or slump for me? And I'm saying, this is a good team. They're not going to lay another egg like that. I feel confident, so that's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for them to rebound as a team, as a squad. Somebody in that locker room, whether it's offense, defense, Somebody's got to step up.

13:17 And say, no, no, no.

13:18 That is not the identity of this football team. We are not going to come out looking like that. We were embarrassed last week. We're going to put that on the shelf. We're coming in on a short week, and we're going to dominate on the offensive side of the ball like we know how to do.

13:30 I want to follow up on something you said, Kobe, about the Bucs, because it kind of gives a little context as to the Panthers. The Bucs did have a rough start, right? But then defensively, defensively, I can't speak for the offense. I know Jalen Daniels was there. Defensively, I mean, when they played the Cowboys, them boys against Dak Prescott was making turnovers. And against the Steelers the very next week, I don't think that Aaron Rodgers then saw the end zone until like the.

13:52 Fourth quarter, right? That's fair.

13:54 Going into this game, I think you look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers like, ah, sleepy. But then you don't really consider the defense and what Todd Bowles had been doing for the past two weeks. So I think the Carolina Panthers ran into a defense that has been giving their confidence back a little bit and may have overlooked the Bucs defense a little bit. And then they got punched in the mouth. So this, to your point, is going to be one of those games where... blip, rut, whatever you want to call it, this is going to be a statement game for Coach Canales and Bryce Young and their offense to see, hey, are we in a groove or are we in a rut?

14:26 And they're going to be able to make that decision today.

14:29 Look out for the ball popping up in the air tonight as well. The Panthers have seven takeaways so far this season. Five of them came against the Falcons in a single game. They haven't had a takeaway in the last three. Their secondary is decimated with injuries at this point. whereas the Packers have 13 takeaways.

14:43 So look out.

14:44 Ball's live.

14:45 Jump on it.

14:46 And we might become a little turnover party in Green Bay. As you can see inside our GMFB studios, we're well within the window of ghosts, goblins, and skeletons decorating the streets of the neighborhood that you live in. So let's play a game, new game here on our show, dead on or dead wrong. Topic is presented, and Manti and Seth will tell us why it's dead on or dead wrong.

15:11 First up, all eyeballs on the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. Here's their head coach, Kevin O'Connell, acknowledging the attention that's finally being paid to his squad.

15:22 There wasn't a whole lot of eyes on us when we were a team that people expected to be in the bottom of the division or whatever they thought. We're a team now that people are trying to figure out and it's not always really exciting to figure out, not turning the ball over, time of possession, being a very minimally penalized team. A lot of things that probably don't warrant a lot of advertising dollars, and I understand that, but at the same time, I see what I see on the film and the things that I need to fix where I can be better and our players can be better, and that's what we're trying to do.

15:58 All right, it might not be the fanciest bowl in the China shop, but the Vikings have won six games. That is, they are undefeated, dead on or dead wrong. Guys, this Vikings defense is good enough. to not worry about their offense.

16:15 Manti? You are dead wrong right there. You need to be able to have some sort of offense because I.

16:21 Do love that defense. I do love the Minnesota Vikings. I was very high. I mean, Jamie can tell you.

16:27 I am still very high on the Minnesota Vikings. But defensively, you need some rest. You need to be able to have some respite as to... an offense that can sustain a drive, right? You need to be able to have that confidence. The last thing you want to do is start to split this team.

16:41 Like offense, you do your thing, we'll do our thing, right? That's the last thing you want to do.

16:45 And when you have an offense that has been struggling like the way that the Minnesota Vikings offense has been struggling, oftentimes that happens.

16:52 So, you do need that.

16:53 Not to mention, in the NFC North, you have the Lions, who put up about 30 points per game. And you have the Bears, who put up around 25 points per game. And that's including the games that Caleb hasn't played. And if you just consider those games, it's more than 25 points per game. So, you need to be able to put up some points, get that defense some rest, give them some time to get on that sideline and recover.

17:14 So, you are dead wrong. What you got? You know what? I would love to be able to argue with you. I don't know if you... Sorry for.

17:21 You or not, Jamie, but I'm just jumping on this wagon, man.

17:25 I'm not sorry, actually. I'm not.

17:26 But I'm going to put it right over here. And look, it's just not sustainable, guys. It's just not sustainable. I mean, look, defense wins championships. I'm on that bandwagon for sure. And let me tell you, Beak Flow, Minnesota Vikings, they have an absolute championship caliber defense.

17:42 Scheme-wise, it's incredible.

17:44 The players... elite. Everybody's doing their job. It's just not sustainable for a full season for their offense to be struggling as much as it is to get all the way through to where they want to go. Because this squad, they got championship aspirations. You don't start a season 6-0, this dominant of a defense.

18:02 And go, oh, yeah, we'll be fine. We're going to get to the playoffs.

18:04 No.

18:04 You want, and I know KLC, he's on that clip and he's talking about, look, I see the things and they're great and I'm making the adjustments that I need to. But in the back of his mind, he would love to be putting up Oh, yes. He would love to go down and just punch in these drives with touchdowns. He doesn't want to be relying on field goals and defense to win these games in time of possession.

18:24 That's all great. But these are all buzzwords. You want to put up 30 points a game. That's what you want.

18:29 So sustainability in this league, you're going to have to put up some points.

18:33 The time of possession is not lopsided, though. So the defense is getting their rest on the sideline. It's just that every time the Vikings march the ball down the field, and while they might take their time, it ends up with three on the board. Shout out to Will Reichert. He's having a great season so far.

18:46 All right, we get it.

18:47 One more.

18:48 Okay.

18:51 Lamar Jackson may return. Okay, let's clear our Vikings logos off the scary red skull. Lamar Jackson may return to the lineup for the Baltimore Ravens this weekend, just in time to take on a familiar AFC foe in the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Joe Brady now is tasked to prepare his defense with a two-headed monster in the Baltimore backfield.

19:12 Lamar, there's a reason he's MVP, one of the best players in the world, right? And then you couple that with You know, with what Derrick Henry's, you know, you've got another Hall of Famer in there. And, you know, Declan obviously does a great job with the offense. So, yeah, I mean, they're two-dimensional in everything that they can do. And, you know, it's going to be a huge task for our defense. And, you know, but it's a great opportunity for us as well.

19:34 You know, we've got plenty of guys on this team that can make a play, that can spark the game and change the whole dynamic of how the game is going and just believe in one another.

19:45 All right.

19:45 Dead on or dead wrong. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are still the scariest backfield in the NFL.

19:51 I mean, to me, this is a no. Absolutely.

19:58 Still, we're saying it like there's anybody even close. I mean, when Lamar Jackson is healthy, this backfield is terrifying because you have a guy, and Derrick Henry, who is a bona fide Hall of Famer, first ballot, no question, maybe one of the greatest running backs of all time when it's all said and done. He will run through you.

20:16 He will put you on the ground. He will make you cry all night. All of the above. And then you've got Lamar Jackson, who, when he wants to take off, can do the same thing. He can shake you out of your pants, or he can just stay behind the line and chump.

20:28 The ball down the field. There is no duo in the.

20:31 NFL with a one-two punch like this. And, Manti, it's not even close.

20:35 No, it's not. It's not even close.

20:37 I agree with you, Seth. They're definitely the scariest. Now, I've been able to play against Derrick Henry. I've been able to play against a very young Lamar. I've never had to play against both together.

20:48 Would you cry the way that he just implied?

20:51 Would you cry? Would they make you cry? Would there be tears? Would they shake you out of your pants? Make me shiver a little bit. Would I have to move up a little bit so it's not?

20:59 But scariest can also be taken a different route, right?

21:04 Scariest as far as production. No, you're not going to say. You're going to say dead wrong. I think. Okay, wait.

21:10 I think I know what you're going to do.

21:11 Is it red?

21:13 It's red and blue. Where are they?

21:15 Oh.

21:15 Right here. Boom, boom. You see this team right here? Oh, what? You see Josh Allen and James Cook? Whoa.

21:22 Let me tell you something about scary. When you talk about putting up numbers, when you talk about putting up yards, just take a look at this graphic right here. Ooh, combo pack.

21:30 See that combo? You see the touchdowns?

21:33 You see the rushing touchdowns combined, passing touchdowns combined, rush attempts less.

21:38 But look at the yardage. So I do agree, brother, that.

21:42 Pre-snap, if I'm looking at Lamar and he's going through his cadence and I look next to him, it's number 22.

21:47 Yeah, I'm quaking in my boots.

21:50 But post-snap in 2026, Josh Allen and James Cook has been cooking and they've been scaring defenses. And I think Josh Allen alone makes people scared because of what he does with the.

22:02 Football in his hands. Come on. Go ahead. Well, you got to put that graphic back up.

22:06 Go ahead.

22:06 We have to put that graphic back up after we see these awesome Buffalo Bill highlights.

22:10 Bring it up. Get that graphic back up. There's a there's a very look at look at this asterisk here on the bottom. Very true. Jackson, four games played.

22:19 All right.

22:19 So he you're working at a deficit here. Okay. I don't control the deficit.

22:24 You're working, but you have to take the deficit into account.

22:28 I do get that. I do get that. I love James Cook.

22:32 I think he's one of the most underrated backs in the NFL because he has to play in the backfield with a guy like Josh Allen who throws the ball and runs the ball.

22:39 But. James Cook, all due respect, and I love him. Please don't take this the wrong way. No, don't.

22:44 You are not striking fear into the hearts of defenders the way Derrick Henry is. And it could just be because, you know, Derrick Henry is like half a person bigger than James Cook. But you are just not striking fear. When he gets the ball, if I am, dude, I'm backing up.

23:01 You know what I mean? I'm getting out of here. I'm going this way. I'm not going that way.

23:04 See, there's a fear of getting run over, and there's a fear of getting ran out the stadium. I think there's two different fears right now. And right now, I think under Declan Doyle, he takes, because Lamar's under center a little bit more, he takes a lot of that fear out of him running, Lamar running a lot more than he used to in the past with Todd Munkin and Greg Roman, all of those guys. So there's different types of fear.

23:26 I agree with you. I'm just bringing a different team. I respect it. I respect it. A different side of that.

23:30 Let's also keep this healthy conversation in mind as to why it's only been four games for Lamar Jackson with the high ankle sprain because of the way that he dynamically plays that quarterback position. That would be why he may not want to return to the field as quickly as possible because he's not just sitting there patting the ball five times and throwing it. He has to be able to get out. And if his ankle is good, then it's good for football fans because it's Bill's Ravens this weekend.

23:51 Finally.

23:52 It is Thursday.

23:54 Yet here is Dan Campbell still trying to explain himself on his fourth and one decision from week seven. And I'm telling you, he's going to pull out all the stops to help the media in Detroit understand why this just made sense for him as a coach.

24:12 I think that's just part of my flavor and what I believe in a little bit. You guys ever seen Uncle Buck? I think I'm a little bit like his fedora, the hat that he wears, right? It's a little bit of a flavor. And it's my favorite hat, but just the mere sight of it, I think, really bothers a lot of people. So I always think Uncle Buck a little bit, man. John Candy's wearing that.

24:38 Is it the hat? Is it the hat?

24:41 I had no idea the fedora was an annoyance to movie buffs. We need Kyle Brandt on the show, who's, by the way, on his way to Western New York to talk to Josh, I'm sure, ahead of Bill's Ravens this weekend. But there's Uncle Buck with the hat and a drill, and apparently that bothers some. I love how the hat matches the jacket.

25:01 Moving on.

25:03 Dead on or dead wrong, Dan Campbell would be the current NFL head coach that would make the best comedic.

25:09 Appearance I do love Dan Campbell. Comedy? I don't think so. Motivation?

25:15 I would definitely go Dan Campbell.

25:17 But I hit this little logo right here. Oh, there it is.

25:19 You see this thing right here?

25:21 Make it bigger.

25:21 Monken?

25:22 You're on the Monken wagon. This year has been hilarious. Okay?

25:27 He talks about telling the fans who live around the practice stadium or practice field with the noise. He said, well, you better move. When he gave the kicker the game ball after he got that game-winning field goal, and he's.

25:40 Like, that's it. Get the bleep out of here. The guy's hilarious, bro.

25:44 I like this Todd Monken. First time as a head coach, you start to see his character come in. You start to see his personality kick in.

25:50 I love Todd. I think he's hilarious.

25:52 Like, I would love to watch Todd Monken in one of those comedy movies.

25:55 I think he's very fitting. Todd Monken. I respect that. Thank you. Because I love Munkin, too. You know what else I would love?

26:02 I would love to see Dan Campbell in the Uncle Buck fedora. I would love to see if it fit his giant.

26:07 It feels like a natural next step, right?

26:09 John Candy also has a giant.

26:11 I'm going to go dead wrong on this, too, but I got my own. My favorite coach... is this guy. This guy right here. Look, he's already got his start. He's already got his start on the commercials that he does.

26:26 Yeah, that's true.

26:28 The litmus test for me, my wife's a bit of a football fan, but not like huge, right?

26:33 Way to go back.

26:34 She'll watch a little bit.

26:36 If she sees something on TV and she laughs at it from a football perspective, so when you see him on the State Farm commercial, he's like, it's a hard time getting up.

26:45 He's like, I'm coming. The airplane one.

26:46 I just love his drive wit. He's such a funny guy, man. I love Andy Reid.

26:51 He's my kind of humor. You know, it's humor. It's a different type. It's personal taste. He's my kind of humor. Sorry, Dan Campbell.

26:56 You're going to go 0 for 3 on this one for me.

26:59 So we got.

27:00 We got Todd Munkin. We got Andy Reid. And I think comedic actor best delivered oftentimes is in the deadpan delivery.

27:11 Yeah.

27:12 Where are they? Where are they? Because if you can get this guy to stand there and with his dry, dry. Zero smile crap, zero dimple shown, zero hint of like, I know this is so funny, but I am not going to change my face. That's my favorite kind of comedian.

27:32 I love this.

27:32 This is like Ben Johnson.

27:33 He's got his own version of the stinky leg thing.

27:35 Yeah, but he keeps the face doing it.

27:38 It's great. This is a good lineup. It's a good lineup, guys.

27:40 Enough with the Hallmark movies, all right?

27:42 We got to go like, we got to make these guys compete on like a stand-up comedy show.

27:46 That's a different type of show. That's good, yes.

27:47 Here we go. Yeah, I think the competitor wants to go out there and compete against the best of the best. And since Lamar's entered the league, I mean, he's been one of the best, if not the best quarterback. And what he's consistently done when he's on the field is unbelievable. He's a very special player. I've got so much respect for him. He does some amazing things with the football with his arm and his legs. So, yeah, I mean, it's obviously that's why you play this game is to have matchups like this and Again, I'm not playing Lamar.

28:24 I'm playing the defense. But everybody wants to make the deal about what quarterbacks are playing against each other. But, yeah, like I said, you have to be at the top of your game to beat the other team that has these type of quarterbacks running their program. And it's something that you live for.

28:42 No, Josh is right.

28:44 Straight up on sports television, we like to pit the two faces of the quarterbacks against each other on the graphics.

28:49 But look at the head-to-head.

28:49 It's like we have nothing to do with each other, but we know that people like to compete, so we get it. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, that's what we're trending towards this weekend in the matchup between the Bills and the Ravens. We haven't been without Lamar for a couple weeks now, and we need more information on this and this matchup as well. So let's get in one of our NFL Network reporters for GMFB today, Cam Wolfe.

29:08 What's going on, Cam?

29:09 How are you?

29:09 What up, Cam?

29:11 Jamie, what's going on, fellas? What's up? Appreciate y'all having me. Absolutely.

29:16 So, Cam, you're going to be covering this game on Sunday. And while everybody, like Josh just mentioned, wants to make it about the quarterbacks, the real matchup is Allen against the Ravens defense, which is potent in and of itself. What are you unearthing in your research and coverage of this game leading up to the matchup?

29:32 Well, Jamie, first of all, I can't wait to be on the sidelines for this game.

29:36 One of the.

29:36 Sneaky good rivalries in football. Josh Allen mentioned it. Every fan base wants to compare their guy to the other guy They came in the same draft class. They both won MVPs. They've yet to win the title. And Josh has said, I want to play Lamar. He doesn't want to play Tyler Huntley. He wants to play that guy.

29:52 As far as Josh, Josh has been empowered by his new head coach Joe Brady this offseason to be himself and be the fullest version of put the Superman cape on Josh Allen. In previous years, they used to try to balance that, tell him not to do it all on himself. This is the type of game they're going to let Josh explode, and he's playing a Ravens defense that has been the worst in football in the second half of the season. The last time these two teams played, it was 41-40. Josh and the Bills came back on the Ravens, and don't... Don't think the Ravens haven't thought about that all week. Clay is Campbell was discussing the identity of this Ravens team being in jeopardy. He said Lamar Jackson, one of the best players, a league that

30:32 certainly has a big deal with our identity. I'm eager to see just what the emotional level of Lamar Jackson's likely return will do on a Ravens team this That really is in peril right now. Jesse Minter has really talked in depth about needing leadership to step up in this losing streak.

30:48 Who is going to step up?

30:49 If you can't step up for Josh Allen and the Bills, what are you doing? And so I think this matchup, like all of them, is going to be defined on which quarterback mates plays when the game is broken down. The Bills have a really good defensive front, but they can be exposed in the back end. And as we've mentioned, the Ravens defense is really susceptible in the second half of games.

31:08 Well, Cam, you mentioned that the Baltimore Ravens and the losing streak. Well, that division hasn't done a lot of losing. So let's start with a pair of AFC North teams. Who would have thought that the Steelers and the Browns would be sitting at 5-2?

31:19 But here we are.

31:20 What does that say about these two head coaches?

31:24 Yeah, let's start with the Cleveland Browns and Todd Munkin. I heard y'all talking about him earlier. He's my favorite for coach of the year so far. And I've talked to players in Cleveland. They've talked about how he's energized this fan base. And I want to point you back to a week two moment. Todd Munkin gets a win after Mike Tomlin says the Browns are the Browns.

31:42 And he makes with his full chest this statement. Browns are going to Browns that. OK, so the guys took that to heart.

31:54 Thank you.

31:57 Look, this is who the Browns were.

32:00 Munkin has talked in that locker room of we cannot be bullied anymore. We are not the laughingstock of the AFC North, and they're not. They're atop the AFC North. This is a different Browns team. And talking with people in the locker room, Munkin's a big reason why he allows the young players to be loose. And Deshaun Watson was really energized by him defending him. in a moment where nobody was defending Deshaun, and you've seen that late in games with those game-winning drives. On the other side, Mike McCarthy has to follow Mike Tomlin. We talked about following a legend and how difficult that is. They've figured out ways to win close games. Their ante has been yards after catch. They throw short, they run long, and

32:39 they haven't been consumed with not having the big play. One of these guys is going to walk away top of the AFC North after this game, and I can't wait to watch it.

32:48 Cam, let's switch gears a little bit. Let's talk offense. Let's talk NFC.

32:53 Let's talk reigning, defending, offensive player of the year, JSN. And man, oh man, he is looking to reclaim the crown. But maybe not just offensive player of the year.

33:08 No.

33:09 Maybe something bigger. Is there a chance? Talk to me, Cam.

33:13 Is there a chance if he keeps playing at this level, we're talking JSN players, MVP?

33:21 Give me your take. What you got? What you think? Is it possible? Seth freaking Rollins talking stars with the star. I love it.

33:28 JSN is definitely a Dark Horse MVP candidate. And look, I do a poll where I've polled 16 executives. of the top MVP candidates at this stage of the season. Most people pick Brock Purdy or Josh Allen, but my eyes open when one exec picked JSN as his first place vote and another GM picked JSN as a second place vote. A wide receiver has never won MVP, but this is why JSN has a real chance. He is on pace for the first ever 2,000 yard season. He has roughly half of the Seattle Seahawks, yards and receiving, taking over pretty much the entire team and putting it on his back. He is right on the edge of a triple crown. If he gets 2,000 yards, if he gets the triple crown, why not JSN? And we saw the impact this past week when they went out and

34:14 beat the Chiefs and JSN went off. You saw Brock Purdy, who's the front runner for some, have a slower game. Why can't this be a year where maybe the best player in football so far this year, JSN, takes over and leads the Seattle team on his back and maybe.

34:31 Get some MVP votes? I'm with it. Let's shake it up.

34:34 Let this be the year where it's a non-quarterback that wins.

34:37 And why not JSN?

34:38 Yeah, for the health and validity of the award and the voting process, someone needs to break the cycle here and have it go to a non-quarterback. So at least the consideration should go to Jackson Smith and Jayba. You're absolutely correct, Cam Wolf. Cam, before we let you go, hey, you're bringing it on GMFB. You're bringing it on your Sunday morning assignments. But also, what's up with you popping up on NBA Live? The Miami Heat need a guy.

35:01 And now there you are on NBA Today with Malika Andrews.

35:04 Talk to us, man.

35:05 You doing double coverage here?

35:08 The more you can do, Jamie. I love it. I love basketball.

35:11 The Heat probably don't love me as much because the Heat went on an 0-4 run after I did this, but they got their first win.

35:19 I love sports. I love telling stories.

35:22 It excites me, whether it's the hardwood, whether it's the gridiron. I just love being out there in the action. So you'll see more of me in the NBA space, the NFL space.

35:30 Who knows? I'll do it all.

35:32 Maybe I'll have a Seth Rollins wrestling match I'll do here in the future.

35:35 Oh, all right.

35:36 Yeah.

35:36 Come in the WWE space, too, my man. Let's see what you got.

35:41 But, like, outside the ring, okay? Let's keep Cam safe, okay? Protect Cam at all costs. Cam Wolf, thank you very much. Enjoy your coverage this weekend. And also, yeah, pick a different NBA team maybe to put them into a slump, all right? We'll talk to you soon, Cam.

35:53 Appreciate you.

35:55 Thank you, family.

35:56 See you.