Lots to Say: Bobby's Power Rankings, Best WRs, and Week 8 Matchups!

Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and iHeart Podcast.

We got lots to say.

We're glad you're here and we hope you stay. Cause we got lots to say. Yeah, we got lots to say. Now here's Bobby and Matt. Welcome to the show. That's Matt Castle. I'm Bobby Bones. And let's start like we do most weeks. We have the power rankings for Bobby Bones, folks. Sounds like you're in a haunted house.

I like that.

I know. It's about that time of year. You want to take a shot at who's number one before I get there? Let's see here. One guess. One guess only. Yeah.

You're not going with the Vikings.

You don't know that? They're 6-0.

Yeah, you're not going with the Vikings.

That'd be weird to me not to. No, it wouldn't be. Okay.

Okay. I think you're going to put the Seahawks at one.

All right, let's see. At number five, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season.

I feel like Seattle exposed their concerns in the passing game. Obviously, their concerns were... All the injuries did not help their previous concerns that they had at the beginning of the year anyway. But one night does not undo their strong start. But yeah, injuries are definitely hurt in that receiver room.

It's... That's one part of it, but the other part of it was Seattle just out-physicaled them on both sides of the offense and defensive line. They got after them all day long, made Patrick Mahomes uncomfortable, and that was one thing that you hadn't seen a lot of, right? They'd been balanced. They'd been in rhythm. Kenneth Walker had been able to get going in the run game, but that Seattle defense came alive, and they just absolutely dominated that game from start to finish.

How'd you feel about Kenneth Walker not shaking hands with his Former teammates.

Hey, I don't blame him. I mean, you just got beat. You didn't have a great game. They got after you. I'm sure that there's a time and a place because you can come out of the locker room and see those guys after the game. But right after the game, when the emotions are high, you just got your first loss of the year. Hey, he's going to go into the locker room, regroup. It's nothing personal is what I would say. Other people would say, well, you should go out there and do this and the other. Everybody's a little bit different after a game.

And number four, the Seattle Seahawks. Okay. Okay. Seattle Seahawks.

There you go.

They held Kansas City to only three points. They never even reached the red zone. Yes. I think they showed their defensive ceiling for sure. Their defense makes them much more dangerous than their record suggests. Because if you look at them, you're going, what are they, four and three? I believe so. And you're going four and three. That doesn't look good. But look at their division. Look who they've played. And also they played without a starting quarterback for a bit too. Don't forget that. I have Seattle at number four. Anything you want to say about them?

Well, I mean, is anybody as good as Jackson Smith in Jigba? He's the best wide receiver in the game right now, in my opinion. He went for 150 in this game, had a touchdown. Nobody can cover him. Sam Darnold obviously took care of the football. I think he had one interception in this game for the most part.

But, I mean, he was efficient. He was good.

They got the run game going. And then when you put that defense, that defense will keep you in any game if they play at that level.

Number three. The Minnesota Vikings. The Minnesota Vikings. Your record, your record. They are 6-0. They are the only unbeaten team. Obviously, they deserve respect. I give them number three respect. Their defense is championship quality. Their offense keeps me from putting them first. 100% agree with you.

I mean, we're still waiting for that offense to catch up to that defense, but that defense will keep you in every single game. They are just dominant on that side of the football.

Are they? This sounds like such a clickbaity thing to say. Are they the worst team in their division? No, they're not.

They're the best team in their division, actually.

Okay, if you were betting money on it. We'll find out this week. If you were betting money on it, who would you bet would win that division?

I'd go with the Lions.

Really?

Yeah. Who would you go with? You just saw the Lions beat Green Bay last week. Green Bay did mess it up.

Green Bay's good. The Bears are good. The Bears. I think you can argue that any of those teams... would be the worst team in that division any of those teams would be the best 100 you could argue any which way yeah but they're six and oh so they're six.

And oh so right now they're flying high on number three on your power i like.

That number two the oft injured san francisco 49ers at six and one that was a really weird turnover heavy game four turnovers that was a bad team to lose to, but one turnover heavy game does not erase the other six really strong wins. They're still an excellent team. They just did not protect the football. It was just one of those days. Just one of those days. I love that song.

It definitely happens, right? You're going to have one of those letdown games where things aren't going to go your way. Obviously, Mike Evans is out. We've talked about the wide receiver position in general, but uncharacteristic turnovers. Anytime you have four turnovers in game, it's going to be hard to win.

in the NFL.

And number one, back in the number one spot, back to Buffalo Bills. I was going to go Buffalo Bills. No, I was going to because you didn't. I didn't at all. You didn't. Buffalo Bills 5-1. Josh Allen gives them the highest ceiling, in my opinion. They're the team I would trust most against a strong opponent today, even against one of those really strong defenses. If I had to pick an offense, well, a quarterback, it would be Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Yes, can agree with you more.

Josh Allen.

is that dude. He is Superman, and they can put up a bunch of points. Now, if that defense comes along at all and just remotely is competitive in any game, he's going to give you a chance not only to win, but more than likely your percentages go way up. So this is a hard offense to stop. They're so productive, but then when you have Josh Allen and the way that he can run, he can manipulate the pocket, extend plays, and everything that he does it's going to be really tough to beat the Buffalo Bills.

How about them Cowboys?

How about them Cowboys? You know, it's so funny. From one week to the next in the NFL, the ups and downs, but the Cowboys in particular, they just go out and dominate. They get the run game going. They look great. And I didn't think that they could run the football that effectively against the Philadelphia Eagles because that's the one thing that has held the Eagles together is their defensive unit. And they ran through them all night long.

And I think that's their recipe. When they throw the ball too much, I think they don't have balance, and Dak inevitably messes it up. When they have balance and they run the football and they're efficient in the passing game, that's their secret sauce.

As we're doing this podcast, the Colts are selling everything. Wholesale. Yeah, and I don't disagree with them for doing that, but we don't know where Jonathan Taylor's going to go. Right now he's nowhere, right? Yes. And there's really only been... One big movement, which is the Colts traded Quentin Nelson to the Seahawks.

Yeah, that's a big get for the Seahawks for, I think, a third and a fifth round, a third this year and a fifth rounder next year.

Was that what it was? And that doesn't seem like enough. He's like a nine-time, eight-time pro bowler. Yeah, eight-time pro bowler.

Yeah, the guy is an absolute stud.

He's on an expiring contract, though.

To be fair. Right, to be fair. And that's usually when those type of trades happen for a guy who is a staple player. of your organization that they might not be able to figure out a deal next year. But Seattle, they're the breadwinners in this one. When you bring in a dude like that and you can install him right there at the guard position and they already have a good offensive line, man.

Rich get richer. Rich get richer. Am I crazy to think that, I don't know, the Rams are back?

Well, let's give it one more week.

I know.

I think the Rams are back.

I know.

I mean, I love Stafford. I love everything about the Rams. It's just, I need consistency. How many games now have they won?

Two, three?

Three, I think. They're three and four on the season. And they've had a tough schedule moving forward. But I mean, if they can get it going, because offensively, they're going to have production with that unit that they have in Matt Stafford under center. Now, defense getting a little bit healthier. They need to go on a run because it's going to be a competitive division. Let's just win a playoff game first.

Let's just win a regular season game. I win one with an Eagles team that They didn't have the receivers. They didn't have the quarterback, obviously. But you know what? They do have the quarterback because Tanner McKee's a quarterback now. Yes, they do. I didn't realize he was such a unit. He's 6'6. He's a big dude. He's a monster. And he threw the ball pretty well. Yeah, I agree. I think they're going to be annoying to their own fan base and win a few games.

I do too. I mean, it's such an interesting division too with Washington, the Giants, Dallas, and the Eagles because this division's completely.

Up for grabs right now. And that's going to annoy their fan base because if you're going to have a season where you're not going to win, you hope to lose so you can win the next year. It'd be nice to load up and get a really high draft pick next year.

But that fan base also is miserable. In general. Right now, Nick Ceriani, in their belief, if you go to Philly, completely on the hot seat, he's the worst coach, everything else. They don't take into account everything else that's going on.

All right, now time for the DiGiorno, fresh from the oven. Ha ha, hot takes. Hot takes. We're gonna do bears at Seahawks, so what's gonna happen is Castle's gonna give us three hot takes, and then I will basically say why you're right or why you're wrong. That sounds fair. It's time for Fresh from the Oven Takes, brought to you by DiGiorno. Just like a pizza, fresh out of the oven. These takes are so hot. They're so fresh.

They're ready for Monday night. Let's break down the matchup. We got Bears at Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Matt Castle, let's hear your first hot take. Hot take number one. We got Sam Darnold will throw more interceptions than.

Touchdowns, but Seattle will still win the game.

The reason? Darnold has thrown eight touchdowns this year and also eight interceptions. I don't hate it. I don't think it's so hot. I think that if... I think Seattle... And shouldn't they be getting their running back soon? They're back.

Charlemagne's coming back.

Charbonnet was going to play last week.

And Jadarian Price is also coming off the IR, going to be able to practice this week as well.

So that's going to be why I think that that's probably not accurate. I think they will be able to run the ball a little better. Charbonnet was playing until all of a sudden last week, they were like, Charbonnet's out. And so they're two running backs down. I'm going to go, that's extremely hot. So hot, it's uncomfortable. I don't agree with it. I think they're going to be able to run the ball a lot. And I do think Seattle will still win, though. So I give you... I don't know.

How do we score this? You get a pineapple and a piece of pizza. Okay, that sounds good. You get one slice.

One slice.

You don't even get your individual.

All right, next.

All right, number two.

We got Caleb Williams will throw for 300-plus yards and three touchdowns.

Reason?

Williams just threw.

for 308-2 TDs against New England on a very short week. Caleb Williams is really freaking good.

Gosh, he's good.

I think you get no pieces of pizza for this one. I don't think he'll throw for 303. Seattle's defense is just too good. I do think that Caleb Williams is the reason they win or lose. I think he has been so dynamic.

Luther Burden, too, was dynamic in that last game as well.

And it's allowing Roma Dunze to, whenever he does make a drop, not have to focus all on him because Luther Burton has been that dude.

Yeah, they've got so many weapons.

Yeah, they have so many weapons. I'm going to go, there's no chance he throws for 303, but I expect a good 220 and one.

Yeah, he's been playing super consistent and taking care of the football as well. But then the plays that he makes, dude, there's only a few guys in the entire league that can make those type of plays. You're talking about the Josh Allens of the world You're talking about Patrick Mahomes.

I mean, he's special. Luther Burton's funny because coming out of Missouri, he was, according to a lot of draft experts, a problem. So much so that that was being talked about that the coach in Missouri Drink had to go on basically a speaking tour to go, he's not a problem. Right. Like he is a legit number one guy and he works hard and he's not a problem. And I don't think I've seen any problematic behavior. so far with Chicago.

Have you guys? No, I haven't heard anything. Yeah. But do you guys remember that coming out of the draft? Like, doesn't work hard, doesn't show up late to meetings. If he has been a problem, we haven't heard anything about it. So I'm actually rooting for the Bears. I do.

I'd love to see them be successful.

All right, last hot take.

All right, last hot take. Number three, we got both teams will attempt a fourth down conversion from their own side of the field. Reason, it's primetime matchup between two good teams, and I think the coaches will be aggressive.

How am I going to argue with that? Those were your fresh from the oven hot takes brought to you by DiGiorno. Make Monday night pizza night with fresh from the oven taste. Monday night. Make a pizza night. Man, it's not delivery. It is DiGiorno. There you go.

Big DiGiorno fan myself.

Yeah, DiGiorno's really good.

Especially with a lot of kids, you know, you don't have to worry about it. You just pop it right in the oven.

You want another list? I got another list. Yeah, go for it. I got a good one though. Okay. Every week I try to bring something a little bit newer.

I'm going to have to start evaluating my list.

So this is my power rankings of Former number one overall picks playing in the NFL right now. That's a good one.

That's a good one.

I didn't get to finish. You cut me off. No, I'm just excited about this. Former number one. Really good. Oh, my God.

Oh, my gosh.

It's so good. Throw my laptop in the screen. So here are my top five. Everybody understands the concept, right?

Former number one.

Overall. Overall.

Picks.

Right. Do you want to take a guess who I have number one?

Kayla Williams.

Okay. That right now is your guess. I like it. You went strong. You went hard. Yeah. Okay. And number five, Kayla Williams. Really? He's played great recently. He played great last year. Yeah, he's fine.

Okay.

He's had big growth. I think of last year, too, in training camp when we were watching him throw the ball backward.

Oh, that was so great.

It was like, does he even know north from south? The viral clips. Yeah. So he had 305 against Atlanta, 308 against New England, three passing touchdowns and no picks across those games. So I have him at number five, barely below number four. Matthew Stafford. Number one overall pick in 2009. Stafford has right at 2,000 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. The evaluation is just for this season, is what you're saying? Yeah, no, lifetime. So far, it's just seven games. He has done seven picks. That's why he's not higher. And I also, I think the Rams are back, baby.

They're back, baby. I think the Rams are back, baby.

Let's go. That choo-choo train is starting to pump that steam out.

We're going to go.

Just rolling down the tracks.

Okay, I have three left. Any other guesses? Trevor Lawrence is on there. And number three, Trevor Lawrence. Yes. He was drafted overall number one in 2021. He has 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. That's it. That's solid.

Good stats.

106.2 passer rating. That uniform just shouldn't be producing like that.

Yeah, it's not my favorite uniform.

It's weird.

Yeah.

It's like however good you're doing as a Jaguar... You like pull back 18% of it because it can't possibly be good.

Because people can't continue to watch because the uniforms are just so ugly.

It's weird. Yeah. Number two, Joe Burrow, drafted number one in 2020. Here's his numbers. 1653 in yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. He threw four touchdowns against Baltimore. Oh my gosh.

They just opened up the offense because they were trying to, you know, run the ball, stay balanced. They said no. This is what we are. We've got Jamar Chase. We got Tee Higgins. We're going to rip the ball all over the field. And that's exactly what they did.

Jamar Chase apparently gave some real impassioned speech at halftime.

I would love to be a fly on the wall.

Were you ever a part of a real and passionate speech that affected a game?

I don't know how much passionate speeches actually impact a game. People are passionate. They're competitors.

They come in.

You get the rah-rah, scream, yell. It's a wake-up call as a leader. to the rest of the team like, hey, let's go out there and be more competitive, basically. I don't know if that ever dictates the outcome of a game. What it does do is give you maybe a little bit more focus going into the second half, but at the same time, Joe Burrow still has to go out there and make those throws. They gotta make the catches.

They've gotta execute at a high level. So I'd say, I don't know if raw, raw speeches necessarily change just the outlook of the second half as much as it is going in, making halftime adjustments, and going and executing the game plan.

Honorable mention was Bryce Young. I still have number one to come. Bryce Young, honorable mention. Real tough day at the office. 2023, so far this year, 1,700 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, four interceptions. You know what? That performance last week kept them out of the top five.

Right, because, I mean, Tampa Bay also, they've got a young, aggressive defense, and I think they sacked them like five times in that game.

That was never a game. They had four turnovers.

Think about this.

Tampa Bay.

threw for like 50-something yards in the entire game. They rushed for over 200, and they scored 40-something points.

Yeah. It was over halfway to the first quarter.

It was crazy.

Where I didn't even need to go back to it on my Sunday ticket. Do you guys want to guess number one?

Gosh, you got a lot of guys on that list.

Number one overall picks. There's one that I haven't mentioned. I have them also ranked at number one. I'll give you a stats. 1,788 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Oh, Jared Goff. Jared Goff. He's done 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions. I did not realize that. It is the best combination of production, efficiency, ball security against Green Bay through for 3-0-3.

Wow. And also, when he needed to make a play late, that seam route late to basically secure their field position, they're able to run out the clock. I mean, he makes big throw after big throw. I didn't realize he had zero interceptions on the year. I don't think he gets enough credit.

Why do you think that is?

I just don't, never do you hear when you're talking about the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the NFL, do you constantly hear Jared Goff?

You usually hear he's a really good quarterback.

And I don't know why, because he has been so consistent throughout his years, even going back to the Rams. He took the Rams to the Super Bowl. And then everybody forgets about him because he gets traded for Matthew Stafford. Matthew Stafford goes there, wins the Super Bowl. And they've put together some great seasons. And really, for Detroit and that organization, has changed the outlook of how the perception of what they are in the NFL. But I just don't think people always give him his due.

Seven years ago, Detroit was a joke. Right. It was a loser brand, loser colors. We feel sorry for the fans in Detroit because it ain't getting any better. I kind of like.

Their colors, though.

Yeah, but it's associated to a color. Everything's associated. If you're on a team that loses all the time, everything about you is bad. Yeah, silver and blue is terrible. Your mascot's bad. Your logo's bad. Your colors are bad.

The taste of the coffee in the building doesn't taste right.

Once you start winning, we're like, you know, that ain't so bad. That silver and blue do look pretty good together. It's pretty sweet. Yeah, so Jerry Goff, quiet guy.

Quiet guy. Not out doing all the commercials and all that stuff and just consistent pro. And they've got some dudes on that team too.

And now Matt Castle's going to lead us through a segment called Is It Real? Is It Real? Is It Real?

I think this first one is going to be pretty easy, but I'll see what you say. Number one, is it real? JSN is the best wide receiver in the NFL. He's first in receiving yards, first in touchdowns, and has six 600-yard gains this season.

I think he is the best this year. I do put him in the upper tier. It's kind of hard to say Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase are not those dudes, especially when Justin Jefferson doesn't have anybody throwing the ball.

Right.

Calamari can't see him. He can't see over the steering wheel.

Well, how many times has Justin Jefferson's starting quarterback been hurt? He's still just an absolute dog.

We hold it against him. Well, he's not the best anymore because the guy can't get on the ball. I think JSN has moved into that top tier of the elites. And I think there are three of them. And I think it's those three... And congratulations to him. He's awesome. All Seattle does is try to get him open all game.

That's all Seattle does. How can we get JSN open? Is he the best wide receiver this year in the NFL? This year, yes. And he also was playing with a backup. Really? Yeah, a better type backup, though. But Joe Burrow is Jamar Chase's quarterback. I'm not putting Jamar Chase into this conversation. I think JSN and Jamar Chase are both the best. Okay.

I'm just saying, Justin Jefferson, what's he supposed to do? Just try to get open. I know.

Throw me the ball, babe. Throw me the ball.

And he does get open. He can't get the ball. I know.

It's a frustrating, it's really a frustrating offense to watch because you're just waiting for them to start to have that explosion. And the defense has kept them in every ball game. And it's just like, just get enough. I mean, they scored 16 points last week and won the game. It's crazy.

I think that's the upper tier. Who do you put in the second tier, though?

You know, a wide receiver that has really started to go up. Have you seen Parker Washington for the Jacksonville Jaguars? That dude, since the end of last year, throughout this entire season, all he does is make plays. You got to talk about Puka Nakua, obviously.

Puka's at the top of that second list. A hundred percent. I thought he wasn't going to play because they were acting like his boo-boos were hurting. And I think he was limited in practice all week. And then he showed up and actually played pretty well. And they said he wasn't able to drive off, but he drove. Yeah.

And he's a tough dude. He's been playing through injury throughout most of this year. I have to put CeeDee Lamb in that category. CeeDee Lamb, to me, great route runner, exceptional hands, another guy that can create separation in a phone booth. He's just a special wide receiver.

I'd put Nico Collins in there too. Nico? I would put him. I think he's, I don't want to say the bottom of that tier, but I do think he has, even this year, as he plays, that offense goes. Yes. When he's not there, they can hem up that offense completely. pretty easily because they don't really have a running game right and nico collins is the dude yeah uh who are we forgetting anybody kind of my kevin in that tier two that's a really strong tier two by the way.

That's a really strong tier two t higgins comes oh yeah t higg.

It's tough he's so overshadowed i know but it's just but.

Because of name though you look at stats even last week i mean he went for what 150 in that game yeah i mean does.

He go for 150 because jamar's Across from them.

That's part of it, but you can make the same argument for Pukunuku and Devontae Adams, even though Devontae's out right now. I mean, usually CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, there are dudes out there. I think JSN, who's the second guy there that scares you? Cooper Cup.

Right, Cooper Cup.

He's a good player, don't get me wrong, but he's not those dudes. And so all of a sudden, the thing about JSN, every single defensive unit that goes up against him says, we have to stop him. We've got to know where he's at. They do a good job of moving him inside, outside, and all those things. But he just gets open against everybody. So that's why I think he's pretty uniquely special. Yeah, the top tier, Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase, Jackson Smith, and Jake Baer. How about Amon Ross St.

Brown? Would you put him in the second tier? Oh, good point. I would definitely put him in there. And I would probably put one more in, and I would base this mostly off of what he's done this season because he was injured a lot of last season. Malik Neighbors. That dude.

He makes plays.

He's everywhere doing everything.

He makes plays. Coming off an ACL, not really knowing whether or not he's going to play early in the season, but also with their quarterback situation as well.

J.J. McCarthy's good. I'm going to go ahead and say it right now.

Wait until next week. We'll find out. That was one start. He did come in and really played really well.

250 yards in the fourth quarter the game before that. I know. Give him the Heisman. Give him the Heisman. He's back.

Minnesota is having big issues right now in the front office for even trading him.

I know all this. Just wait a week.

Let's see how he does next week.

What's crazy is that's the conversation, right? It always is. But they're 6-0 and the conversation is still... Can you believe they got rid of J.J. McCarthy? They're 6-0. Their coaching staff is doing a fantastic job. Do you have seller's remorse?

I was like, no. Did you see him play for our organization for over the last two years or not play because he was injured?

No.

That was a great trade, which we all anticipated. And now he gets a fresh start, goes in the Giants. They've got some dudes out there that can play. They've got a run game and a really good defense. And their offensive line is good. They've got a great squad.

Is it real?

The Raiders don't think Fernando Mendoza... is ready to play. Coach Kubiak said, there is no QB controversy and Cousins will remain the starter despite losing four straight.

Let me tell you why I like Kirk Cousins. He was already talking about this last week. He was like, eventually there's going to come a time, if not sooner than later, that Fernando's going to start. Like, he knows what's up. He knows his role. He also knows that he can perform, but that they're not winning. And the team has to make a decision based on how they're performing versus their quarterback situation. I think the longer that you can not play Mendoza, the better. If you have that opportunity and that option, season one, because we see so many of these guys come in, we could list them.

Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young.

Go down the list.

Yes. They come in and it's a nightmare because they're expected to perform season one or it's almost as if their growth is stunted. Because they're thrown in so early season one. Right.

And all the adversity that comes along with that. And then all the noise on the outside. Oh, well, this guy doesn't have what it takes. He's played one season, but he wasn't ready to play in the first place. But this guy... Fernando Mendoza can sit behind a true professional, a guy that does it the right way, learn how to study, what to do off the field. And then when you get on the.

Field and you do get the opportunity, you've seen in.

Totality what it's like and what you have to do to be successful in this league. And we're not talking about the Raiders getting blown out in these last four games, every single game. They're competitive in all these games and had a chance even against the Chiefs coming back late and doing all that stuff. So at the end of the day, I think it's the right decision. I love that Clint Kubiak made that Very definitive statement. He's our starter, but eventually we will see Fernando Mendoza.

I think Kirk Cousins is actually playing pretty good too. It'd be different if they were losing and he wasn't performing. Yes. It's not his fault they're losing. Right. So as long as you can let that quarterback sit and learn and not have to play season one, I think that's a bonus. It is.

I mean, Carson Palmer, who I obviously a good friend of mine, when he was the number one draft pick overall, he went to Cincinnati. He sat behind Kitna. the entire first season, did not play at all, other than some maybe mop-up duty late in the game. But by the second season, he comes in, he's the full-time starter, but he knows what to anticipate. So I think that there's a huge benefit for Fernando Mendoza in the situation that he's in right now.

All right, last one.

Is it real, despite being 6-0, Kevin O'Connell regrets trading J.J.

McCarthy? I don't think he regrets it.

I don't either.

I think right now, The temperature is, he messed up. But he knows way more than we do about JJ McCarthy, about that situation, about the quarterback room, about the expectation. I just will, in this moment, allow him to do what he's great at. And that's find developed quarterbacks. He didn't see it. For whatever reason, he decided to let the little bird fly. And if it comes back, it's his. Yeah.

But it ain't coming back. It's not coming back. Yeah.

But at the same time, that's more probably on the front office of making that decision. He has to sign off on it. But ultimately, the GM or the powers that be, whoever make personnel decisions, that's a discussion internally.

It happens.

They say, look, he's our third string quarterback right now. And we're going to get some trade value and some draft value here. Let's trade him now. Carson Wentz is our backup quarterback.

We're good.

Good in that situation because Wentz has already proven he can come in and win games when need be so they moved on and now JJ's played well so good for JJ getting a fresh start taking advantage of it over these last two weeks we'll see again if you're able to consistently maintain that.

And that's is it real okay let's look ahead what games are good this week the Monday night game well pump the brakes bro.

Sorry bro are we going sexy or not sexy.

Yeah oh You're sexy and you know it. If we could play music during a podcast, that would be the theme song for sure. Like back in the good old days, you could play music and podcast and you wouldn't get sued.

And now you gotta pay for it yeah yeah we don't we don't need that i can sing.

Need it we don't have the money to do it you do you do pay it you can look up your money on the internet bro all right thursday night panthers and green bay is it sexy Not sexy to me. I think it's pretty sexy. It's a Thursday night game. That's always sexy. I think it's a pretty sexy game. You got two winners playing each other. Two winning records playing each other. All right, I'd say this. I can't convince you to find something sexy if you don't. But I'm just saying, I'm going sexy. I'd say she's still dressed, but she's slightly sexy. Okay. Let's go to Sunday. The Ravens at the Bills. This game is only sexy if Lamar plays.

Lamar Jackson.

I was going to say, that's what makes it really sexy. It's only sexy if Lamar plays.

It's only sexy.

Buffalo's three and a half point favorite, which I think that means they're playing in Buffalo. I think they think Lamar will play. Otherwise, I think the spread will be bigger than that.

Much bigger. And we'll find out as the week goes on.

The Titans at the Bengals. No. That gross. Not sexy. Cardinals at the Cowboys.

I think this has a potential to be a pretty good game. I'm not going to go all the way sexy. I'm going to go half sexy.

I'm going disgusting. Cowboys should have won this. Walk away.

You know the Cowboys. They can't deal with success.

I know. Vikings at Lions. Red hot sexy. Like literally Victoria's Secret sexy.

Good one. Good one.

The Colts at Jaguars. Nah. No. Colts are selling all the cards.

They're selling their cards. They're out on this season. Quentin Nelson's gone. We'll see if Jonathan Taylor's there by the end of the week. I like the Jacksonville Jaguars. I just think that it's not sexy.

Raiders at Jets. Browns at Steelers. Sexy. This is the ugly duckling. Didn't look like it was going to be very cute when it started, but now I think that it's starting to develop a little bit.

Are both these teams 5-2 now?

5-2.

Battle for supremacy. But at the end of the day, I think this is going to be a good matchup, like I said, for first place. And the AFC North, dude.

I think the Steelers are extremely slightly below average and the Browns are below that. The Browns, for three quarters every game, they're not a good football team.

Yeah, but all you got to do is play for that one quarter.

And how about your boy Deshaun Watson? That's not my boy. Do not say that's my boy.

Your boy Deshaun.

Watson threw for over 300 yards. You're the one that went to his live party. Let's go. All right, next up. The Falcons at Bucks.

That's sexy. Are you kidding me? After Atlanta upsets the 49ers last week, we got Tampa Bay coming off a huge victory, which they smashed.

Yes, this is sexy. You got too much recency bias.

Well, I mean, these two teams are both definitely in it.

Chargers at Rams. Gosh, I wish the Chargers were better.

They're coming off a bye week. It's the Battle of L.A. I'm going to go sexy.

Why not?

Let's go.

Are you giving... Charity sexy now?

Yeah, sure am. I want more sexy in my life than I want non-sexy.

Chiefs at Broncos. That's another one.

It's definitely sexy.

Patriots at Dolphins. Eagles at Commanders. And then Bears at Seahawks on Monday night.

That is the ultimate sexy game.

You think that's the best game of the week?

I think Chiefs Broncos have an opportunity to be.

I think Buffalo and Baltimore has a chance to be good if Lamar plays.

Yeah, with those two quarterbacks, you love watching great quarterback play and those two guys go head-to-head.

And that 12 o'clock block, the noon block, I like that Baltimore-Buffalo game. And at 3 o'clock, we like the Chiefs and the Broncos. And the Monday night game is obviously the Bears and the Seahawks.

That's going to be a hell of a game.

That's a good one. Here's my top five worst quarterbacks of the year. I love your list. Top five worst quarterbacks of the year.

I got to wrap my head around this one.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Versus expectation, obviously. Versus expectation. Okay. You want to go ahead and guess number one? Malik Willis.

Okay. Quality guess.

Let's see what happens. At number five, Sam Darnold. Yeah. You said it earlier.

ATDs, eight interceptions, was injured for part of the season already. Not playing to the standard or the level that he did in the playoffs last year. I'm with you.

Seattle's defense has given him way more support than his ball security deserves. That's a great statement by you. Thank you. I wrote two different ones. I don't like that one the best. Yeah, I do too. I beat him, and that was the one I liked the best. And number four, Malik Willis with the Dolphins.

At least he made the list, yeah.

So he's only throwing at 57%, and he's got four touchdowns and four interceptions. They beat the Jets... They did.

Beat the Jets, and he played really well in that game, both with his legs and his arm. And I think also, let's be honest, this season for the Miami Dolphins, particularly their offensive unit, they kind of threw this guy to the wolves, right? From what they went to in terms of the wide receivers that they had, train away, Jaden Waddell, obviously Tyreek Hill got hurt last year, and he's not playing.

But they don't have the same personnel group. And number three. Cam Ward.

Yeah, there's a lot higher expectations.

Four passing touchdowns, five interceptions. Some of those expectations are because of Cam Ward, but some of them are also because of the new staff going in. Right. And Deval being the offensive coordinator. And you're going, oh, they have to do more with him than the predecessors did. But it's not good because Tennessee's not good. Nothing's good. I have him at three.

Okay. I like that. And they went and spent a first round draft pick on a wide receiver. You'd think that they'd be better there. They just, you know, early on in the season, again, it's getting caught up to speed in the new system, but it's just never looked like it was in rhythm, right? You're not in sequence.

Their uniforms don't look terrible, though. Yeah, I do like their uniforms. I kind of like their uniforms, too. I've never been a fan, but they look pretty good. See, there's a positive. You're coming around. Yeah. Look at you. At number two, I'll read you the stats here. Four touchdowns, seven interceptions. Ouch. Only averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. Too few explosive plays. Who do you think that is? Is he still playing or is he hurt?

He's still playing.

Only four touchdowns? Five interceptions? Seven interceptions. Four touchdowns. Seven interceptions. Yeah, four touchdowns, seven interceptions. It is Daniel Jones. Yeah, he's had a tough go. He's had a tough go. Tough go. It's just going to get tougher, my friend.

Yeah, we're going to take your centerpiece out of the offensive line. Maybe you're running back.

And Josh Downs is probably going to be gone too.

Gosh, that's difficult.

And number one, five touchdowns, eight interceptions.

Five touchdowns, eight interceptions.

Yeah, the gap between his ability and his production is enormous. Some people could say— Herbert. Yeah. I was going to say, see, he's getting Yoko Ono'd a little bit. Yeah. He distracted. I was trying to think, who was that? Justin Herbert.

And that schedule has just beat him, too. It's been a really difficult schedule.

They had to win those first couple of games, and they didn't.

They just needed to win a game. We looked at the schedule. I vividly remember going through their schedule and going, they could be 0-9 to start this season.

Yeah, I think the Jets were their first game that we thought they had a chance to win.

And the Cardinals, we've won.

But they didn't win. That's my point. They had to win those first couple. Yeah. Man. You ever been in a locker room where you just keep losing and you don't... Yeah. It was unexpected that you were losing?

Not unexpected. I think that my first year with the Chiefs when we came in, it was one of those that we needed a roster turnover. And they had won, I think, eight games in the previous two years we went four and twelve that year and it was a long season now we put up a good fight and all that stuff and lost some close games but i'll tell you what it is uh it's tough week in and week out when you're losing consistently and can't find the answers because the league just chews you up and spits you out and the noise just gets.

Louder and louder on the outside Okay, now time for situational awareness. Your team loses their first game seven weeks into the season, so much like the Chiefs.

Yes.

And the 49ers.

We're 6-1.

Yeah. As a quarterback, are you more upset about losing the perfect record or relieved that the pressure is off?

I was on a team that literally finished the season with the Patriots in 2007, 16-0. We went to the Super Bowl 18-0. We were never talking about the perfect record, but we knew it was at stake. And we knew the pressure was mounting. Everybody was talking about it on the outside. But at the end of the day, if you lose a game during a season, you never anticipate perfection in this league. But if you can continue to put yourself in a position where you win your division, go to playoffs, get a home game, let alone a bye, that's all you're thinking about.

So when you lose a game a little bit, are you, I don't want to say happy, but are you relieved that the talk about it can stop? No. It doesn't matter either way.

It doesn't matter either way. You're going to go back to the drawing board and figure out what you did wrong. You know you're a good team. You're 6-1 at that point in the season. All you've done is put yourself in a good position moving forward. Because at the end of the day, if you don't perform well in November and December in this league, all that stuff goes by the wayside. All right. Situational awareness for you, my friend.

You bet $ 500 to win $ 1, 500, and you're offered $ 900 to cash out at halfback.

Are you cashing out? So you don't bet a lot.

Yeah, I would take that.

I know what I'm saying.

That would be obvious to me. I'm just doing the math in my head. I'm at halftime and you're offering me $ 900?

Well, they're offering you $ 900 because... They might have to pay you an extra $ 600. Well, because that's where they feel it is right now if you were to hedge the bet. You could go make a second bet, try to hedge the bet. I'm not a big hedger. And I'm also not a big cash out guy. Okay. I like to go. I like to let it ride. Yeah.

For the most part, I like to let it ride. So I'm not doing that. I love that. Have you done that often where you could have taken the money?

Oh yeah. Every time. And then you've absolutely messed on the bet. Both.

Yeah. I've lost big that way. I've won big that way. Okay. But for the most part, I feel like if I'm betting it, there's a reason I'm betting it. So I'm just going to ride with it.

You're going to have conviction to it. That's what I love about Chicago.

Some of these guys will message me and be like, I bet $ 1 and I can cash out now for $ 1. 08. What should I do? I mean, shut up. That's what you should do. Shut up and don't text me for $ 0. 08.

Yes. Kevin? Kevin?

I can't believe you're betting bucks, dude. It's $ 1.

90.

All right, you're the backup quarterback. You're playing well, but the injured starter is cleared to return. Are you fighting harder to keep that job or are you accepting your role?

I did this multiple times.

Yeah.

Tom Brady is one of those situations where when he returns and when he's healthy, it's you understand your role. You're going to try to take advantage of your opportunities because you know the 31 other teams are watching. And then there's times when I was in Minnesota and Christian Ponder was the starter when I got there. I was backing him up. He got a little dinged up and went out, performed well in my first game against the Steelers in London. But he went back into the starting lineup and not accepting the fact that you're a backup in that type of situation. But there are circumstances where you understand when he's healthy, he's coming back, he's the face of the franchise, and he's earned that right.

So it just matters if the quarterback that's injured is the long-term dude or not. 100%.

Because there's sometimes where there's, like myself was the bridge guy, and they bring in a young guy like Teddy Bridgewater when I was in Minnesota. And I get hurt, he goes in, and that was inevitable. But I broke my foot that season, so I was out. He got to play the rest of the season. So the writing's on the wall at that point. Then there's other situations like I was with Christian Ponder where he gets hurt, and there was a little bit of instability at that point.

He was still trying to prove himself to where late in the season, they made the decision that I was going to start the last four weeks of the season, if that makes sense. It's a setback that is really difficult to deal with, especially when it's season ending. Like when I broke my foot and I knew I was done for that was week three of the season. That becomes a really long year, not only from a rehab standpoint, but also when you were in that position as a guy that was starting those first three games. And then they had drafted Teddy, I think 27th or 26 in that year's draft. He gets an opportunity to go in. Well, you're starting to realize I'm probably not going to be here unless it's in a backup role. And that's, difficult

situation because you earned the right to start that season you battled throughout camp and now that goes by the wayside and so you got to figure out it's kind of touch and go on.

What the future holds you got wally pipped no i just got broke brah do you know wally pip wally.

Pip is the one that went in for.

You got this focus focus what team new york yes yes it wasn't Wasn't Joe DiMaggio. Talk to it. It's not Joe DiMaggio. So far, you're right. Mickey Mantle? If you. I'm in the... Do you commit to Mickey Mantle? Yes. Wrong. Damn it. Who else was on that team? Why do you drink water like a goat?

Dude, I just open up the... Because I'm thinking.

Like... All right.

It's just a habit.

Goats actually get down.

I've seen a goat.

They get down in a trough and... The position was first base. Oh, it was a mantle. It was a.

Lefty.

He had all the home man. It's with the M. Who plays first base for them? He had a nickname with a horse.

Stallion.

He was known as the iron horse.

Why am I blanking right now on this? I should know this like right now.

Boom.

Can you just tell me at this point?

He gave a very famous speech at the end. Lou Gehrig.

Lou Gehrig.

Yeah, dang it.

I should have known that in a heartbeat.

You were Wally Pipp. You got injured and- He just took the reins. Took the job. Yeah, it happens. One of your boys wants to go to school dressed in a costume that you know is controversial. Do you let him do it?

How controversial?

Ah, something political maybe.

No, I'm going to try to talk him out of that. I don't want that type of smoke. And they don't even know what they're doing. They might think it's funny. If they're doing it for a particular reason because they thought it was cool or this, I would explain the situation, let them know what people are going to think about this and play both sides of it. But I'm probably going to have the ultimate say at that point.

Final one for me.

You're at a Halloween party and someone shows up wearing the exact costume, but theirs is better.

Are you upset about it? I'm not going to be in a costume.

Yeah.

Actually, I'm not going to be at a party. You're not going to be at a party or a costume. Yeah, yeah. That one, no, I'm not actually. I'm not going to be upset at all because I will not be at the party. So I will not be in a costume. So no one will show up with the same costume. Unless the costume is a pair of shorts and a cutoff t-shirt, I ain't going to be in it.

Or maybe a sweater.

Well, I won't be in my work attire, which every day I wear a cardigan sweater, but that's work. They're great looking.

How many cardigan sweaters do you have in your closet?

40, all different types of colors. What if I had 39 of one color and then one of a different? That would be hilarious.

But I know that's not true because I've seen so many damn sweaters on you over the years.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you play Madden? Do I right now? Yes. No. Have I a lot?

Yes. Even in the last couple of years, a lot. As an adult male, is there a cutoff for playing Madden in video games?

No, I think the cutoff is how much are you actually playing. Yeah. There's a difference. I enjoy video games and I play a lot of college football or I play Madden. Since I had a baby, everything's been different. I haven't even played golf. So all of that has kind of gone to the side. So that's when I say, I haven't played Madden, but I'm not better than Madden. Actually, I love playing Madden, having a baby. And I have a room upstairs that has three big screens all beside each other. Middle would be PS5, and I have games going on on both sides. It's a pretty good setup. Yeah, except now the whole floor is baby floor. And it's baby stuff everywhere. I don't even know where my gaming chair is. That's a problem. Yeah, so.

Don't kids ruin everything?

Everything. Do I play Madden? Right now, no, but yes. Why do you ask?

Well, because I had another question here, because the other one was obviously a hit and an absolute miss, or a swing and a miss, I should say.

A hit and a miss, I like it.

All right, yeah, well, a hit and a miss by the first baseman. Lou Gehrig missed the hit. Okay, you're playing Madden against a friend, and you're up 28 points in the fourth quarter. Are you running out the clock to be respectful? Are you running up the score to embarrass him?

I'm running up the score. If I'm up 28, four possessions, I'm going four verts constantly. And then when he tries to do that, I'm running nonstop hooks because the safeties are so far back, and I'll just keep doing that.

Listen to the offensive quarter that is mine.

Well, because if I just keep running the four verticals over and over again, he's just going to drop everybody back. And when he does that, I'll just play short, and I'll just keep running the score up. I'll keep running the score up.

I love that about you.

Yeah.

I love that about me too. Don't take your foot off the gas pedal, babe.

I don't, babe.

Yeah, babe.

That's it.

I love that Kevin knows you so well that he like constructs questions. That is absolutely all you. Other than the costume one. Hitting a mess.

Why don't you take credit for the questions? You're really showing behind the curtain here.

No, what's going to end up happening is you're just going to cut that whole part, as I said.

No, we're leaving it in.

Yeah, so it's not a big deal.

We're leaving it in. All right, that's it. Thank you, everybody, for being a part of the show. That's Matt Castle. That's Brandon Ray. That's Kickoff Kevin. And let me check one more time before we go. If anybody else has been traded. As of right now. Josh Allen's traded. Nobody traded. All right, that's it. Thank you, everybody. We will see you next week. We've had lots to say. Goodbye, everybody.

Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and iHeart Podcast. For more podcasts from iHeart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Lots to Say: Bobby's Power Rankings, Best WRs, and Week 8 Matchups!

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