The NFL Report: Will Lamar Jackson Suit up Against Josh Allen? + Bucky Brooks Joins the Show

Oh, ram it. Miles still isn't ready.

Coming up on the NFL Report, why Garrett still is not a go to.

Practice in Los Angeles.

Meantime, in Baltimore, is Lamar Jackson's health the real issue with the Ravens, or is it deeper than that? Interesting conversation in Owings Mills today that you need to hear.

And do the.

Colts tinker and trade Taylor before the deadline?

All of it.

Next on the NFL Report. We are back in studio. Great to be here. And we are presented by Nationwide.

Hi there.

In Los Angeles, my name is Andrew Siciliano. Coming up next, how the Lions can beat the Vikings.

Bucky Brooks will tell you that.

But first, what is news to me? Our headlines right out of the gate. Let's get to Lamar Jackson. For the first time since a week four ankle injury, he was a full participant at practice today. Does that mean he's going to play Sunday?

I don't know.

How about a definite maybe? But is his health really the Ravens' issue? Or, as discussed today, is it leadership after blowing double-digit leads the last two weeks?

Listen, we have a great locker room. We've got a great bunch of guys that really, really care. ton of capable leaders on our team one of the reasons I wanted this particular job was because of the guys in the locker room and the leadership capabilities that they have and so I think I think again me all of us there's things that we could have done better as as players coaches play callers leaders all those things and when stuff like that happens the really good ones respond in the right way. And that's what I've seen, you know, obviously in the last couple of days.

With Jesse, what's kind of been his message?

What's kind of been his tone that he said today?

It's been a very positive tone. I mean, there's a lot of things that we know we need to get better at, but we also know that we're really close to where we want to be and everything that we want is still in front of us. And he just wants us as the leaders on the team, the guys that have been here for a while to, you know, just step up and really convey that message.

I pride myself to be one of the leaders of this team, one of the vets. And I've been doing a good enough job as far as leading. When I talked about it being flat on the sidelines and when we don't have energy or things not going the way we're supposed to, somebody has to bring that spark, whether it's speaking or out there on the field making a play that turns everything around.

All right, Bucky Brooks, let's try to figure out the Ravens. Lamar is the shiny object here. We go through this every year. Hey, he's out.

They don't win. When is he going to come back? When is he practicing? All of that.

How about the fact that back-to-back weeks, they've blown double-digit leads against division opponents. And since 2020, Bucky, they have blown 17 double-digit leads.

What's going on?

You know, Bill Washington talked about champions behave like champions before they are champions. And when I look at the Baltimore Ravens, I do wonder if there's a leadership void. This team doesn't have what I call a championship maturity about them, meaning that they take care of business.

The teams that they're better than.

They quickly get rid of them and they don't allow these games to be tight.

And people have talked about this team being Super Bowl ready the last.

Three, four or five years. But for whatever reason, they continue to fall short. So they've changed coaches. They've done different things with the personnel. But yet and still, they still don't look like that championship team consistently.

To me, that's on the players.

And when we talk about the players and player-led teams, it's about the leadership group that can get this team over the hump.

And right now, we're not seeing that consistently.

So whether you talk about Lamar Jackson or Roquan Smith or Marlon Humphrey, even Derrick Henry, those guys have to carry this team, this franchise over the threshold.

And right now, they're not getting it done from a leadership standpoint.

You know, it's funny how this turns so quickly.

Bucky, a couple of weeks ago in primetime on a Sunday night, they beat the Falcons that game on the road. Kyle Hamilton in the locker room afterwards, and he had the game-winning pick back at home in Atlanta where he grew up, seemingly implied that this isn't the same old Ravens. Like, we're not going to blow leads. We are going to rally on the road. And then they lay an egg twice in division games. This week, it's just the Bills on the road in Orchard Park.

I mean, we can see what they're made of. This is a character game.

The Buffalo Bills may not be the most talented, but the one thing that we always get from the Bills, we can get their best effort. From the Ravens, we need to see them rise up to that level and exceed it in terms of their execution, their toughness, their overall physicality. Look, there is a thing for the Ravens for so long where they talk about play like a Raven.

When I was in the scouting business in the early 2000s, there was a feel about this franchise. You knew when you closed your eyes and the Ravens would come to town, You knew what kind of team you were getting. We need to see the Ravens get back to being the Ravens, and that starts with the leadership demanding that they play to the standard.

All right, let's get to the Bill side of things. Bucky, stay right there. I want to hit Josh Allen, what he said today. They're coming off a bye. Buffalo is, remember, they had the L.A. game and then the game in Vegas, so the two-game road trip. Josh Allen, four and two in his career against Lamar Jackson. That includes the playoffs.

And then a year ago, they had that week one Sunday night classic in which they combined for seven touchdowns.

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. Um, he does some amazing things with the football with his arm and his legs. Um, so yeah, I mean, it's, it's obviously, that's why you play this game is to, to have matchups like this. And again, I'm not playing Lamar, I'm playing the defense, but you know, everybody wants to make the deal about, you know, what quarterbacks are playing against each other. But yeah, like, like I said, you

have to be at the top of your game to, to beat the other team that has these types of quarterbacks, um, you know, running their program and, and It's something that, you know, you live for.

Yeah, he gets it.

It's Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson on the marquee. In L.A., it was supposed to be Miles Garrett on the marquee, but now he's gone till November. Sean McVay says Garrett is not going to practice this week. Some had expected he would practice. Hasn't played since knee surgery after week one. Miles Garrett is staying on injured.

Reserve.

Is Josh Downs staying on the Colts? Is he the next guy out in Indianapolis? Jeremy Fowler reports the wide receiver has asked for a trade when Downs was asked about it today.

He didn't deny it.

All of this comes a day after the Colts put really a for sale sign on their front lawn and they shipped out that guy, Quentin Nelson to the Seahawks and DeForest Buckner back to the 49ers. Really two faces of the franchise. Shane, stike in your thoughts.

What was your message to the team today after having two of those players?

Yeah, I didn't sugarcoat it.

Anytime you lose those guys, they're tough to replace. we've got to understand that we're in a business. And this is a business, and there's tough decisions that have to be made in a franchise. And everyone's got a job to do. And we all signed up for it, and we get paid to go do a job. And we've got to improve and get better every single day.

How does this complicate your job specifically?

I'm worried about getting ready for the Jacksonville Jaguars. If I focus on something else, I'm doing a disservice to our football team.

Shane, is Jonathan asked to be traded?

No. No, I know there's stuff floating around out there, but JT's on our football team.

He is on the football team. Yep, and Mike McDaniel is still on the Chargers. If you thought Jim Harbaugh was going to give up on McDaniel during the bye week, think again, not happening. He is still the play caller as the Chargers face the Rams this week in L.A. Chargers, the worst offense in the NFL. They're scoring 15 points a game. And as for the defense, Derwin James not coming back, at least not anytime soon. Harbaugh says he's had a setback. Ian Rappaport says injured reserve is a possibility.

Hamstring injury possible. Derwin James has not played since week three. Jalen Waddell was seen on the practice field today, but officially he is a DNP in Denver. Ian says it is a chest injury, not thought to be long term, but his status with that 425 game against the Chiefs this week. Very much up in the air. All right, Vikings, Lions, this one's good. Actually, all of week five is good. Vikings, the NFL's best scoring defense. Lions have the NFL's second best scoring offense. Dan Campbell should be fun.

They understand the system. They understand where they are going to exploit you at and then where you're trying to okay, this is where my outlet is. They take that away, too. They exploit you and then take away your outlet. They're very good at it, and they just create, you know, havoc and chaos. And inevitably what they want and have done consistently is they force you to make massive errors.

It's one thing to get stops. They're forcing offenses. At the end of the day, man, it gets late. This is a tight game, and it's just wave after wave.

All right, Bucky.

Dan Campbell's Lions, 4-2. The Vikings, the only undefeated team remaining. Brian Flores has that defense cooking. They are 6-0. Flores is going to throw any and everything he has against Jared Goff, and he has faced it before.

How does Jared Goff handle it?

You know, look, Jerry Goff has to understand, even though it's Halloween, he cannot be afraid of the boogeyman. And the Minnesota Vikings have certainly emerged as the boogeyman in the league with the way that they bring pressure. Last week, over 87% of the dropbacks, Daniel Jones faced pressure, five man blitzes, where Jerry Goff is one of the.

Best in the business against blitz. In fact, he's one of the only quarterbacks.

Who completion rate, passer rating, his overall yards per attempt, It increases against the Blitz versus when he plays coverage. So now the Minnesota Vikings are going to have to make a decision. Are they really going to heat Jerry Goff up? Are they going to use these simulated pressures where it looks like six are coming, but only four are coming and they have max coverage in the back end?

The one thing that we know about Jerry Goff, when he is in rhythm, he's one of the best to do it. Look, I'm looking forward to seeing this matchup because this is the ultimate chess match between a high-end quarterback and one of the best defensive coordinators in the league.

I mean, if the Lions come out of this, Bucky, because they're averaging nearly 31 points a game, if they drop 30 on Brian Flores, you would say what?

I would say that the Detroit Lions have an opportunity to go without a defense. Their offense is so good that they'll be able to dictate the terms with Jared Goff leading the way.

I also would say this.

If Jared Goff lights up the Minnesota Vikings, he certainly has to be in the conversation as an MVP. Look, the only guy this season to have multiple games with 300-plus yards, multiple touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

He's a real one.

Bucky, you know what Thursday night football is tomorrow, don't you?

No, what is it?

It's the Bucky Brooks Bowl game. It's one of Bucky's old teams against another one of Bucky's old teams. It's the Panthers and the Packers at Lambeau for the second straight year. Packers lost to the Lions, heartbreaking, last week. Also lost last year at home to the Panthers.

Obviously, the game, review that game from last year, you know, a lot of the same coverages, principles that they do. Obviously, I think they want to keep the top on as their defense and defense. limit those explosive plays. I think, you know, you look at the stats, they've been pretty good against the pass this year. And I think the runs got them a little bit. So, you know, I think we'll have a good plan. And obviously, I think from that game last year, you know, it's we got to be able to score in the red zone. You know, we had I think we talked about a seven drives last year, didn't punt one time and really just couldn't finish in the red zone.

That was a huge win for the Panthers last year at Lambeau. Got them to five wins on the season. Tomorrow, no Jalen Phillips. That's big. He's got a hammy. Damian Lewis is still out. Guard, maybe their best offensive lineman, has not played since a game in late September in Cleveland. Meantime, also, the Packers O-line, a bit banged up. Matt Schneidman, the best Packer writer in the business, by the way, not just because he went to Syracuse, tweeting... Your Packer injury report.

The Bucky Brooks Bowl, keeping in mind that the Panthers got destroyed by the Bucks in a division game at home last week.

Bucky, who bounces back?

Oh, I think the Green Bay Packers bounce back because they know they need to bounce back to keep pace with the rest of the NFC North. And when I look at this Packers team, Jordan Love is playing really well for them. And when they're getting the contributions on the outside from Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, this offense can light it up. But the one missing piece from for the Packers has been their rushing attack. The running game has not been what they wanted to be. And so Josh Jacobs coming back is everything. But they need Josh Jacobs, the one that was the NFL rushing champ, to show up. Because if he can balance out this offense, then they can pick and choose how they want to attack the defense. More importantly, they can protect the defense

in the second half. They need the running game to show up because they need to be a balanced team if they're going to be a team that can be one of the last ones standing in the tournament.

Are you flipping the coin tomorrow? Are they doing anything to commemorate your participation in both of these franchises?

Well, look, I wish they could. I wish they would.

But right now, I think the Green Bay Packers would probably get a little more of my heart, considering I played there for three years.

But I have love for the Panthers.

No direct flights from L.A. to Green Bay, or I'm just saying. You should do it.

Bucky and I know air schedules pretty well. Coming up next, is the Bears' offense too good?

I'll explain. I know that makes no sense.

But what the Bears have in the spotlight as they get ready to go to Seattle straight ahead. All right, you're watching the NFL Report. We told you about the Thursday night game. Let's skip ahead to the Monday night game because the Bears are back in primetime. They played Thursday a week ago. They beat the Patriots, and that Caleb Williams guy looked good. 308 and a couple of touchdowns, but now Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams have to get ready for a fairly stingy Seahawk defense.

Yeah, I think they do a great job affecting the quarterback, number one, up front. They've got good rushers, and they're able to get and affect the quarterback without having to pressure a whole lot.

In passing downs.

So when you're able to do that with just four rushers, I think it's really hard to get guys open with a lot of space. They're doing a phenomenal job taking away explosive plays in the passing game, and it's hard to stay on schedule consistently and march it down the field and score in the red zone on these guys.

It's hard to run the ball, hard to throw the ball, and it's going to take a team effort here to win.

This one this week.

All right, Bucky Brooks, only two teams in the last 20 years have given up fewer yards through seven games than the Seahawks have given up with Mike McDonald this year. Yet the Bears are leading the league in time of possession, and it's not close, like 35 minutes a game.

So what gives here? Because the Bears are well-rested.

Yeah, the Bears are real rested. They can run the football. DeAndre Swift is going to be the bell cow for this team. But he's running to a defense that just shut down K-9. Kenneth Walker held him to 36 yards. Only gave up four yards per play to the Kansas City Chiefs, who entered the game averaging over seven yards per play. And the thing about the Seattle Seahawks, They're doing it with the littles on the field, meaning they are a team that last week against Kansas City Chiefs, 100% of the defensive snaps, they had nickel or dime personnel on the field.

So what they do is they can outmaneuver, they can outrun.

You, they can beat you to the spot, and their speed and strength overwhelms you. This is going to require the Bears to be at their best. For them to move the football against maybe the best defense in football, they're going to have to dominate the line of scrimmage, and boy, it's going to be tough to do that against that front and those 11 guys that are really coming after it like wild hyenas.

Hey, Bucky, quick follow here.

I've talked to people in Chicago that think that the time of possession thing is a bad thing, that the offense is actually getting worn down.

Does that make sense to you?

I mean, I can understand the number of plays, but if anything, that's what you want because the more your offense is on the field, the less their defense is on the field. And some teams with a creative offense coordinator like Ben Johnson, they want their offense to be their best defense by playing keep away.

So to me, I feel like the Bears are.

Playing complimentary football by keeping their offense on the field and minimizing the exposure toward the defense.

Bears have the number one run game in the NFL, and that is the definition of a first-world problem.

We're on the field so much, we're tired. Bucky, don't go anywhere.

Baker Mayfield barely got tired last week because he barely threw the ball last week.

7 of 11. That's it. And yet the Bucs put a 40-burger on the Panthers.

This week, it's your Baker Revenge Game, 2026 edition. Kevin Stefanski's Falcons are coming to town.

Your former coach, Kevin Stefanski, is on the other sideline. I don't know if he's talked to you at all or sent you any good luck notes, but.

Does his familiarity with you or you with him have anything to do with this.

Game at all?

No, I haven't spoken to him since 2021.

Does that.

Still eat you a little bit? No, I'm doing all right.

I love it.

All right.

Go back to February when Stefanski, remember, he had been fired in Cleveland, got the job in Atlanta. D. Orlando Ledbetter, legendary writer there for the AJC, wrote this story and took shots, kind of, at Baker with the tweet. Baker fired back, not necessarily at Stefanski, more like at D.

but it looked like he was firing at Stefanski. I don't know.

Bucky Brooks, the best baker is salty and angry baker. Let's do buy or deny. Bucky Brooks, the question is, the Bucks are 2-5. They're only one game back in the win column here. The Buccaneers will win the NFC South. Bucky, buy or deny?

Deny, deny, deny, deny.

The guy that Baker Mayfield has a little bit of an issue with is going to lead his team to the division title, and that's Kevin Stefanski. I love their talent on offense, particularly when Michael Penix is back at quarterback. He's utilizing all of the weapons, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, but the running game with the Robinsons, Bijan Robinson, Brian Robinson, running effectively between the tackles. To me, the Atlanta Falcons are the most balanced team, offensively and defensively, of the group.

That's why they're going to be the team that wins the division.

Are the Buccaneers, if they lose this game, and this isn't scripted here, Bucky, but roll with me, are they sellers potentially in a week?

I mean, I guess you have to have assets that people want to buy. I don't know if they have enough assets that people want to purchase. But I do believe the situation is critical if they don't win. For Ty Bowles and company, the seat is already high. There's a lot of conversation about job status. The Buccaneers need to win to get back into the hunt. And for some of that conversation to die down a little bit down in Tampa.

All right interesting let's get i also find this one interesting to fernando mendoza who has played in three games but this past sunday kirk cousins came out and said hey if it's time to make a move let the best man play quarterback we got the raiders and the jets this week bucky the game is in new york buy or deny the raiders should play fernando mendoza.

This week deny not quite yet continue to let kirk cousins play because kirk cousins is playing really well.

And this is what we anticipated a little bit.

Those who know how he plays under Clint Kubiak, you thought that Kirk Cousins would be able to play well.

And he's throwing the ball all over the yard.

They don't have a lot of weapons on the outside. At some point, he will give the ball to Fernando Mendoza. I just think there's still a flicker, a sliver of hope for the Raiders to kind of get back in this hunt. Until then, I'm going to ride with the veteran. And when they're out of it, then I hand it over to Mendoza to get some experience.

I mean, I'll tie this back to the trade deadline.

If they do decide to make a move and there are no indications they are right now.

I mean, Kirk Cousins, the way.

He started the season, three touchdown passes in each of the first three games there right out of the gate. I mean, to me, that's an attractive trade piece.

Very attractive. But do you get Clint Kubiak to come with him? Because Kirk Cousins has always played well under Kubiak.

I doubt it. I don't think that's part.

Of the deal.

If you don't get the play caller to go with him, I don't know if you're going.

To get the same Kirk Cousins that we've seen.

All right, Bucky, you know the Jaguars, and you were there when Travis Hunter, before the bye two weeks ago, went for four for 59 and had a touchdown. Last year in London, he had a breakout game there as well in the loss against the Rams. He should just move to London and do this full time. Buy or deny, Travis Hunter will be more involved after this past game in London moving forward.

Oh, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye.

Yes, I'm buying all of the Travis Hunter stock. And the reason why, Andrew, you've been around enough coaches. You know what coaches like? They like guys who make plays. And every time I looked up in London and saw number 12 on offense, he was making plays. So to me, that means he's going to get more opportunities.

To make plays.

We also saw on the defense was at the ball. People have been asking, hey, is he going to travel with the number one receiver? So they finally let him travel with Nico Collins.

And what did he do? He got an end zone interception.

He's beginning to look like everything that people thought he would be as the number two overall pick.

So yes, we're going to see more Travis Hunter.

I can't say how much, but we're going to see a lot more because guys like playmakers, and he is definitely the quintessential playmaker on the Jacks.

You can't say how much because you don't know, or you can't say how much because you do know and you can't tell us.

I don't know.

I just know guys make plays. You put them on the field.

Bucky Brooks, Jaguars broadcaster. We thank you, Bucky. Don't go ahead.

Coming up next on the NFL Report, another honor for Gronk. This one is real. This one is back in Foxborough. We'll tell you what it is straight ahead.

I missed this copy up yesterday. Not going to do it today.

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All right.

Let's move on and do some quick hits.

Some other stories from around the National Football League. David Bailey, five and a half sacks, pretty good. Yeah, the rookie is dealing with a groin injury. Was not on the practice field today for the Jets as they get ready for a Sunday game in MetLife against the Raiders. Also not on the practice field today, Jared... Cleveland. It's a knee injury.

Todd Munkett did not seem too concerned.

On the podium, said there's some swelling, and they decided to hold him out of practice versus should, for now, be good to go for the Browns. Huge game Sunday, 1 o'clock in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. Harrison Butker's been having some issues. What did Andy Reid do today? He brought in Justin Tucker, the former All-Pro Ravens kicker. Hasn't played in the league since 2024. He served a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after allegations of sexual misconduct. when last we saw Justin Tucker in Baltimore. Congratulations, Gronk, being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. That's coming up, not this week, but next week when the Patriots are at home. We have time, ladies and gentlemen, for one

more thing before we go. Do you have a favorite sports show?

I do.

I mean, other than the NFL shows. We'll put the NFL shows aside. My favorite non-NFL show is the one that man hosts, Inside the NBA. Ernie Johnson today with a heartfelt video announced this is it. Final season doing the Inside NBA with Chuck and Shaq and Kenny Williams. He's 70 years old. He is stepping aside. Still going to do the Final Four of the tournament and stuff like that. But we will miss Ernie because that show is the best show.

This show is trying to be that. We'll see you tomorrow. I'm Andrew Siciliano. See you.

The NFL Report: Will Lamar Jackson Suit up Against Josh Allen? + Bucky Brooks Joins the Show

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