E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
Life is full of moments you cannot predict or control only experience and enjoy right? Come join Vernon, Isaac, Justin, and Jared every Wednesday where we lend our opinions about current event going on in sports. Every episode is promising to be entertaining, not necessarily informational.
E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
Women's Basketball Playoff Debate and Football Frenzy
Ever wondered if you could crack the betting code? This week on the Epic Podcast, we promise to share the secrets behind successful parlay bets and how they led to a triumphant sports week for one of us. But it’s not all about wagering; we express our shared frustrations with the WNBA playoff format and the missed opportunity for lower-seeded teams to host home games. Tune in to hear our thoughts on the future of women's basketball and the much-needed revamp of its playoff structure.
Shifting to the excitement of college football, we discuss how it stacks up against the NFL in terms of sheer unpredictability and thrills. We break down performances from potential Heisman Trophy winners like Travis Hunter, who’s making waves with his dual role, as well as Shador Sanders and Cam Ward. Curious about whether Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning should lead Texas? Or how Notre Dame's matchup with Louisville could make or break their season? We've got all the analysis you need, plus a look at other key games that could reshape the college football landscape.
The NFL isn’t left out either. We assess the 3-0 teams like the Chiefs, Bills, and Steelers, spotlighting standout performances and areas of concern. What’s the deal with the Bengals' defense, and can they turn things around? And what about the winless teams hopelessly searching for their first victory? We wrap up with our weekly NFL picks and offer insights into the must-watch matchups, making sure you're all set for another thrilling week of football action.
with it, we'll be right back.
Speaker 3:Yo yo yo. Welcome back to another episode of the Epic Podcast. Yeah, man, we had a bunch of volleyball this week, so we doing a Thursday show. I know a bunch of y'all probably getting ready or are watching the Cowboys-Giants game man, so hopefully we can be a little interruption in that. Man, but got Jared with me. Boom should be joining us here soon, but how was your sports week?
Speaker 1:man, I mean same old, same old bro. I'm never too high or too low, so it is what it is. I enjoy watching shit on, but me specifically, I mean, you know, it's same old, same old bro.
Speaker 3:Same here too. Man, same old, same old man I mean Coach finally got a win, even though the fever got eliminated from the playoffs. But outside of that man, it's been cool and mellow man. Like you said. Oh, I won some money betting this weekend.
Speaker 1:So that was that felt wild, did you like? Did you like just? No, it was a parlay that was in there, that was solid. Wow, like did you like? Did you like just?
Speaker 3:Nah, it was a parlay that was in there and I was like that's crazy. I just go through, honestly, I go through and I go through and I try to find parlays that would give me my money back, like what I initially put in. So let's say, if I put a hundred dollars in, I'll go through each parlay and I'll be like if I bet $10 here, it'll give me at least $100 back. I'll go through and I look at those. If I hit $1, if I do $10 bets, if I hit $1, I can at least get my money back.
Speaker 3:That's actually a pretty good strategy. That one actually hitting it doubled my money. I was, like you know, double my money, so I was like all right, cool. Yeah, bro, I tagged you in it just because I know how you feel about betting.
Speaker 1:You almost should have won like 50 grand off that shit, because that was a wild parlay. Like I still wouldn't bet that even if that had just happened. Like I still wouldn't bet that. Like that shit was crazy, like I still wouldn't bet that, like that's crazy, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3:So I was just like going through, like I was so close to hitting some other ones and then that one fell through. I'm like, all right, cool man, I can deal with it, I can deal with it.
Speaker 1:So nice Must be nice.
Speaker 3:It is. It is All right, man. Let's start off WNBA news. Man, talk about the playoffs real quick. So the first round has already been done. You had the Liberty defeat the Dream. It was all sweeps Liberty defeat the Dream 2-0. The Lynx defeated the Mercury 2-0. The Suns defeated the Fever 2-0. And the Aces defeated the Storm 2-0. Not toos defeated the Fever 2-0, and the Aces defeated the Storm 2-0. Not too much to say about this. The only thing I don't like about this is that in this best out of three format, the away team doesn't get a home game, so it's not 1-1-1. It's like two at the. Whoever the higher seed is get two home games and then you have to win one in order to get a home game, which sucks for like teams who fought to get in the playoffs, like had a fever you know what I mean and a dream and then came down to the last couple games to get in the playoffs, and now their fans don't even get to experience one home game. I think that's crazy.
Speaker 1:How do you play all summer in your season? The whole season comes down to two games. That's crazy. At least make it five. That's the same thing with baseball. I never understood why they have those little short-ass series. They play 162 games. You mean to tell me a team can be eliminated in 48 hours? That's nuts.
Speaker 3:The Dodgers and the padres right now fighting playing for the pennant. Like you know, I'm saying it's like bro, y'all ain't decided that yet, like all these games. So no, I agree with you. But yeah, um, you know it was good, it was a good year, good wmba year, man. Um, I'm excited for the next. I can honestly say I'm excited for the next season. I think they're going to change the playoff format because a lot of people are going to be complaining, so I think it may not be this way next year, but I'm definitely excited for next year. Got some more good rookies coming in, definitely excited in the direction that the WNBA is heading in For sure Next year is going to be lit.
Speaker 1:I feel like it's going to be pretty decent for years to come. I'm looking forward to it already.
Speaker 3:A lot of top talent coming out. Let's jump over to some college football. I was wondering About some early Heisman Candidates. On top of the great games we got going on this weekend, who Do you, I mean, I guess, early on, who are you looking at for a Heisman man?
Speaker 1:I think there's so much. I mean, I guess, early on, who are you looking at for a Heisman? Ooh, man, I think there's so much parody in college sports right now. It's really getting good, it is. I mean, you got to look at your door. If they keep winning, possibly Travis Hunter I mean Quinn Ewers, I think, had a shot before he got hurt, so we'll see how long he's out. Man, you just it's a few guys. Man, I mean Cam Ward down there in Miami. Man, it's a few guys. It's some good football being played in college right now and it's like that's why I kind of enjoy college more than nfl, because there's there's a lot more parity. I mean, obviously there's a lot more teams, there's going to be a lot more good teams, but competition is just on point. Like every single you know whether you're watching a low level game or high level game.
Speaker 1:Guys are out there competing you know I see too much of you, of the pros, where it's just too lopsided. It's almost like the NFL should institute I think I've talked about this on here before institute a competition committee to where teams are held accountable for just continuing to suck for so long. You don't really have you do have that.
Speaker 3:But when you have owners, though, it's kind of up to the owners to make the right decisions.
Speaker 1:You can't really yeah, but what I meant by that is that you should be required to try to win, you should be required to take necessary steps to make your games and your team competitive. That's all I was saying. But I'm just also going back to college. Is that I feel like college has just been where it's at, man, like I've been entertained every time I turn on a TV screen. So, yeah, man, college has been looking good. But I think those guys are on the short list of candidates for the Heisman. But I could be wrong. No, no, no.
Speaker 3:You had two of them right Out of the people you named. Two of them are on the list right now.
Speaker 1:Who are?
Speaker 3:they Travis Hunter and Cam Ward.
Speaker 1:Yeah, see, I don't know how you would give it to Travis Hunter over Shador, but I mean that's going to be kind of difficult because you know they already want to give it to a quarterback always anyway. So that might be tough, especially if he does say he gets, you know, 10 receiving touchdowns this year where they're all coming from Shadur. So if they keep winning and he keeps spreading it around, I don't think a wide receiver is going to make it over a quarterback on that same team with that kind of notoriety. But he's definitely easily, pound for pound, the best college football player in the league right now. Yeah, arguably, I mean you know.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but I mean playing both sides of the ball is already tough. Yeah, that's right. The amount of snaps he plays on both sides of the ball, the ball is already tough.
Speaker 1:yeah, there's an amount of snaps he plays on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that makes it even. I mean, I think that just propels him into another, uh, another level. When you're just talking about players, either receivers or corners, I mean he's literally you know, I mean I can, you could possibly say he's top five at both. Yeah, you could probably say top five at both, you could definitely. Yeah, so right now they got at number five, smu's tailback, brashad Smith.
Speaker 1:Yes, y'all know who that is Me neither.
Speaker 3:I mean I haven't been keen in on SMU games, but right now they got him Ole Miss quarterback Jackson Dart. Yeah, they got him at number four. Right now they got him. Ole Miss quarterback Jackson. Dart yeah. They got him at number four. Right now he's averaging like 13 yards per attempt and completing 80% of his passes, so that's crazy.
Speaker 1:I don't think they really play anybody though.
Speaker 3:No, I think they got a good game coming up though.
Speaker 1:So yeah, we'll see. I think we'll know more about Jackson Dart when he damn that sucks watching his game. Yeah, I think we'll know more about Jackson Dart when he damn that sucks watching his game. Yeah, I think we'll know a little bit more about him when he really gets into. You know SEC play. But yeah, you got to take it for what it's worth. Now, if he balling he balling Like I'm- yeah, Boise State running back A'shaun Gently. Boise's. Oh yeah, he's nice too. Yeah, he's really nice.
Speaker 3:He's leading the country in rushing yards per game. He's averaged 195 yards a game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's nuts. I watched him against Oregon and he looked real good. They actually should have beat Oregon actually.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he's tied for second in rushing touchdown, with nines in just three games. That's crazy. And he's 5'9", 215. And he was second a year ago in all-purpose yards with 159, a game with 19 touchdowns.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 3:He can catch the ball at the backfield. He definitely should be in the running. And then, like you said, cam Ward right now he's completing 72% of his passes, almost 1,500 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He's had at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in each of his four starts. So he's been balling. So if he keeps this up, they definitely will be in the playoff. So if he keeps this up, they definitely will be in the playoff. And then you got Travis Hunter man to have 100 receiving yards and a defensive form, a fumble against Colorado State. He had two receiving touchdowns and interception 100 receiving yards off of 13 receptions. He's also got five receiving touchdowns a decent defensive interception. Like I said, he won the game with the fumble against Baylor.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that was tough Every game they played. He's impacted the game and almost the single reason why they won that game against Baylor single-handedly. If he don't force that fumble, make that hit on the goal line, Definitely score a touchdown there for sure. That's a touchdown, that's game.
Speaker 1:So yeah, man, that might have been game they would have had a chance to.
Speaker 3:Well they'd have had a chance. But I just I mean the fact that they were battling like and to run the ball at him, thinking that, you know, like he's probably the weakest link, probably the you know what I mean and just trying him and he comes up with a fumble, puts his helmet on the ball.
Speaker 1:What I thought was kind of interesting too is like I feel like he was lined up at safety a little bit last game too Like because, even on that play the direction he was coming from.
Speaker 1:He was coming from like a safety spot, like I couldn't remember if there was a wide receiver out that way. But I do remember, like even a couple of plays before he was kind of inside and back as opposed to up close and outside. So I I thought that was pretty interesting. I was like, wow, buddy is. Uh, that's serious, they could move him around like that, that's yeah, yeah, man.
Speaker 3:Um, yeah, no, that's. That's crazy. Um, he's played more than 100 snaps every single game in our week four, so I don't know they talking about scouts. Don't know whether to draft him for offense or defense.
Speaker 1:Shit, just drafting. Figure that out. Just drafting.
Speaker 3:I was like just drafting, like whoever gets the number one, I just to end up in somewhere, probably like Carolina, I don't know.
Speaker 1:That's lit.
Speaker 3:Come on, that's just. That makes up. Yeah, I'm knocking on that. So hopefully, I don't know man, hopefully, just me being selfish. Of course you want to see him on your team. Coach, give Carolina Whatever they want and go get him. I know there's going to be a lot of people trying to jump whatever they want and go get him. I know there's going to be a lot of people trying to jump up in the draft to get him. Like, no matter if you put him, like you said, on offense or defense, just draft him.
Speaker 1:Right. I mean I think you can play him a little bit of both. I think people are overthinking trying to. He can't play both. I mean just let him cook first, let's see.
Speaker 3:And play him on both and see where he has the biggest impact at.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean. If he's you know what I mean dominating more as a receiver, giving more snaps on the offensive end. You know what I mean. But, like we were saying, though, like if you put him in the slot, or which everybody's running nickel now, but you know dime packages, like you said, rotating man at safety, if you're running cover three you know what I'm saying Like different things just move him around on the field and allow him to make plays. Or even if you put him in the slot on offense, or if you put him you know what I mean if you're running spread, like, just get him on the field, right. So, with that, we got top games this weekend. Of course, everybody's talking about Alabama-Georgia. Luckily the game is in Alabama and not in Georgia. With that hurricane coming through. They're talking about Tallahassee, georgia shoot pretty much the Carolinas. All that stuff is going to get hit, really hit, really, really bad. They're talking about this must be a record storm I'm wondering if uh charlotte gonna you know.
Speaker 3:I'm saying be it with that, yeah, I think I think, yeah, I think it's supposed to die off, like in the in the tennessee area, uh-huh, but I don't think it's gonna go that far east. From what I heard, I mean, it may still be some rain and you know, I mean everybody's going to get, you know the, the rumblings of it, but I don't think it's going to get hit like that. But yeah, now I'm at T's and P's to everybody down there Hope everybody you know survives, everybody's taking their proper precautions to be safe. Yeah, but yeah, that about sucks. I'm glad.
Speaker 3:Ike is in Ohio right now but hopefully he don't come home to a mess. But yeah, but top games, man, you got Miami the U versus Virginia Tech, you got BYU and Baylor, oklahoma State and Kansas State, michigan, minnesota but it's a big team game. So they're Kansas State, michigan, minnesota, but it's a big team game. So they're going to play each other tough. Kentucky and Ole Miss. I think that's going to be a good game. Remember we was talking about Ole Miss and their quarterback. I think that would be a good matchup, just with how Kentucky played Georgia. I think that would be a good especially a good defensive take.
Speaker 1:Yeah, their defense has been decent for sure.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you got Arkansas and Texas A&M, which again that's another game that always plays tough Louisville and Notre Dame. So Louisville's ranked 16 and Notre Dame's ranked 16. Notre Dame needs this win to even think about sniffing the playoff.
Speaker 1:It's already tough sledding. If they lose again to anybody, it's over.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they got to be Louisville who's ranked and they got to better hope. Usc stay ranked by the time it's time to play them. That's the only way they will have any chance of making the playoff. And they got to dominate these other random schools that they play in. And then you got Wisconsin at USC. That ought to be an interesting game. Oklahoma and Auburn all these new games Like with these teams coming over to the SEC. You see Oklahoma and Auburn Like that's crazy. Mississippi State and Texas Texas trying to figure out who's going to start. Who do you think should start between Manning and Ewers?
Speaker 1:I think Ewers should start. If he's still you know what I'm saying If he's good to go, Ewers should start. Absolutely, Manning's time is coming. I think everybody knows. I think Arch Manning knows that it's just there's no reason to sit Ewers right now Like no reason. And it's not like Manning is playing Follis. Didn't he have two picks yesterday?
Speaker 3:or Saturday, I think so.
Speaker 1:Not saying that that's, that's not bad.
Speaker 3:He won the game. It's not good though.
Speaker 1:He's not showing anything or giving anybody any reason to not put Quinn Ewers back in there when he's healthy. So it's just like. It's just it's over with. Like I didn't think, I didn't think that there was even a like there. They know that he's, he's up next. Like there's just no reason to do that. So, yeah, I think something crazy would have to happen for that, for that to start. If Ewers is healthy, he will finish his season off.
Speaker 3:I agree, I agree. So yeah, coach said this would be a game-time decision. I mean, I think if Ewers is 100% back, then playing.
Speaker 1:but if there's any doubt, then that may be one room where, again, it's Mississippi State. See, and that's another thing I feel like if it was on the road at Georgia, alabama, quinn Ewers would definitely 100% win, even if he's not fully healthy.
Speaker 3:But I don't think you rush him back against Mississippi State unless you just want to get him just back in shape, back in form, before you get into that tough SEC schedule. Right On top of that you got Stanford and Clemson that ought to be interesting. Iowa State and Houston nah, ohio State, go to Michigan State, that's our first real game. I was about to say that'd be your first real game, of course.
Speaker 1:You said what I said. Welcome to the season, buckeyes, I know right.
Speaker 3:You got Illinois and Penn State. That'd be a good game. Illinois is ranked 19th and Penn State ranked 9th, but again, this could be a trap game for Penn State. They haven't looked super, super good. I mean they've been playing well enough to win, but looked super super good. I mean they've been playing well enough to win, but Illinois is a definitely challenger.
Speaker 3:Lsu and South Alabama that won't be too much. Washington State and Boise State and then Arizona and Utah and then Oregon and UCLA. So that's all the top 25 teams that's playing this weekend. But of course everybody's tuning in to the Alabama-Georgia game that night. But you got a couple games to watch before then. Definitely will watch that Louisville-Notre Dame game, the Oklahoma State and Kansas State. That'll be a good one. And Virginia Tech and Miami-Florida always tend to turn up. They always have good games. So those will be the ones I'll be tuning in to. All right, moving right along. I don't think we're going to get boomed today. Man, he messaged me back. He's jumping into the grown man's league. Man. With that being said, which 0-3 teams are due for a reality check? So right now we got 3-0 teams. You got Kansas City. You got Buffalo Bills, pittsburgh Steelers, seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 1:Man, I'll say all of them. I think all of them have overachieved and I feel like maybe I mean it's not for the Chiefs, but I got something interesting on them too Well.
Speaker 3:I mean, let's look at their wins. Their win against Baltimore 27-20. Tough game, like literally a big toe out away from losing Cincinnati 26-25. Cincinnati played very good. Again, one play away. If Cincinnati kick a field goal or two, that's a different game.
Speaker 1:If Cincinnati didn't get that pass interference.
Speaker 3:Or that pass interference. Yeah, that's game two Atlanta 22-17. Again, another call. Like literally, atlanta went for it a couple times, could have kicked some field goals. That's a game they could have kicked some field goals in. They could have possibly won that game. So the Chiefs haven't been like the Chiefs, they haven't been really dominating.
Speaker 1:I get that. That's actually going into a point that I was getting ready to make. I've been thinking about this for a minute and I didn't say it anywhere else because I wanted to talk about it here. I think long gone are the days where the success of the Kansas City Chiefs is riding on Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelsey. What do you think about that?
Speaker 3:I agree. Travis Kelsey has like three catches this season.
Speaker 1:That defense is nice. I mean they are elite. Bolton, chris Jones, they lock up in the secondary, other corners can tackle. I don't know who 13 is. Shout out to him. No disrespect, I just don't recall his name. But I mean I've of him no disrespect, I just don't. I don't recall his name, but I mean I seen him make a tackle, you know, while getting blocked like to the ground. He's he making tackles. That defense is tough and I think the defense is keeping kansas city where it's at. Don't get me wrong, patrick mahomes still gonna make some stuff shake. He's. They're gonna make a little simple offensive plays when they need to. But that defense, I think, is the saving grace of the Kansas City Chiefs right now, after five or six years of it just being you know the offense. I think it's time to get Spagnolo, spagnolo, spagnolo, spagnolo, yeah, his flowers, because that defense is really good. That defense is really good and these ones.
Speaker 3:We're not talking about top picks on this defense either. We're talking about guys that have really been developed through that system Right 100% to coaching. I agree, I agree with that.
Speaker 1:That defense is tough, they are tough.
Speaker 3:I agree with that. And, like you said, travis, kelsey is not saying Travis, he's more of a decoy. Now, right, and even patrick mahomes said it himself. He's like look, I want to get kelsey the ball, of course, but every time, you know, he runs his route when I'm getting ready to hit him, you got a linebacker and two safeties, that's, you know, closing in on him.
Speaker 3:So that's how he's getting the rice is open and every you know, you know he's basically a decoy and he's getting everybody else open. So, like you know, eventually I think of course they will get on, you know.
Speaker 1:Damn. Buddy has eight catches for 69 yards on the pass. That's crazy.
Speaker 3:So I think eventually they'll you know they'll get back to it, they'll figure out. You know, especially Andy Reid, he'll scheme up a way, a different way to get him open than he has in the past. But moving right along, we got the Buffalo Bills, now their wins, arizona 34-28, miami 31-10, and then Jacksonville 47-10. I'm rolling. They look good man. All right, that's. Allen is the number one passer in the league. Like everybody talked about his weapons and, da-da-da-da, he leads the league in QBR at 92.6. Like he's been MVP-ish, like you know.
Speaker 3:I guess now we're not having to really focus on, you know, the offense around Diggs and trying to scheme a way to get Diggs open and get the ball to him. Like you could really just throw it to everybody. You got two good tight ends. You got two decent young receivers on the outside. Your running game is strong. Offensive line is giving him gang of time Like they're only taking, he's only getting taken down. He's only getting hit on two, on 3% of his dropbacks. Like that's crazy, that's a crazy percentage. Last year he ranked 18th in QBR and, like I said, this year he's leading the league. So hey, man, hey. If I had to vote for an MVP right now, it would be him.
Speaker 3:And I don't even like the Bills.
Speaker 1:I know Justin's somewhere cringing man how he feel about Josh Allen. But I mean, hey, but see, I've never really thought Josh Allen was weak, like I don't care about who won the championship, I don't care. Like, bro, nobody can do that on their own. So I say that all the time, like I'm never going to base one man's success or one man's skill level off of a team accomplishment. That's nuts to me. So like I've never been off the Josh Allen train. I mean I've never been off the Josh Allen train. I mean I've always thought he was a good quarterback, that nigga hoops, like one day they'll put it together. Maybe We'll see.
Speaker 3:The only thing with them I mean is, you know, of course, the defense, but when you lose White, you lose Poirier, you lose Hyde, Milano, hurt you know what I mean for the season. And then Teron Johnson went down Like Bernard, the backup linebacker, he got hurt, like. So them like scoring a lot of points and then trying to, you know, glue together a defense to compete. And what they doing now, like you said, like what they did to Jacksonville last week, like Jacksonville, like a high school team, Right.
Speaker 1:I mean they beat us off of them, bro. That shit was crazy. I mean they beat us off of them, bro, that shit was crazy. I mean shit, we got done the same way defensively.
Speaker 3:It's just, our offense was actually our offense was actually good, but we couldn't we couldn't buy it, we just couldn't get a stop.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you can't win football games like that man.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, I agree, man, I agree. Pittsburgh, no, I agree, man, I agree. Pittsburgh Steelers man, they got a win at Atlanta 18-10, a win at Denver 13-6, and a win at the Chargers 20-10. Like these are Pittsburgh scores, like this is Steeler games, like all those numbers. I am not surprised Again, mike Tomlin's team starting off very well. I think they what the year before last they started off 10-0 or something like that. Like they've been winning games the way the Steelers win games.
Speaker 1:Hey bro, I definitely said that we can run the clips back, but I definitely said that after they acquired both those quarterbacks, I was like, man, they low-key can be, they low-key can win the division. Bro, like, because you know they're gonna be disciplined, you know they're gonna play defense. All the quarterbacks have to do is just literally, literally not give the game away. Like, and they're gonna be able to compete. Yeah, like I, I saw that one coming. No, I, I agree. Yes, man, not really sure, but I definitely saw that one coming.
Speaker 3:Nah, I agree, I agree. And then again, man like third down red zone their opponents is only converting on 21% of their red zone attempts. So it's like one touchdown every six red zone attempts. They give up Offensive 52% in the red zone. Trips in the touchdown they hold them to 17% inside the 20. Like that's crazy, bro. Yeah, that's nuts, that's crazy. Justin Fields is doing his part. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3:They're running the ball and they're using the run to set up the pass. They're not doing nothing. Fancy Justin Fields putting the ball on the money, pushing the ball down the field Like it's making the simple reads like.
Speaker 1:That's what you got to do. That's the name of the game.
Speaker 3:You know he was getting sacked 12% of the time in Chicago, like now, after three games. He's only being sacked at 7%, like. So that's in half, which is 14th best in the league, middle of the pack. But hey, you can't beat that when you're getting compared to hit a lot of times versus now, you're not. You can't beat that when you're getting compared to hit a lot of times versus now, you're not. He only thrown one interception and only taken six sacks in three games, so that's two. But I think they're just eliminating the negative plays, man, like. Everything Pittsburgh do is positive.
Speaker 3:You know they run the ball four yards you know what I mean Even if they throw a short pass. Five yards like everything's moving forward, which I feel like last year it was just they just couldn't move the ball forward.
Speaker 1:And granted, I haven't watched one snap of the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, so I'm going to keep it a bean. I can't even really I haven't. I've watched zero snaps of them this year.
Speaker 3:Well, I'll be watching them this. I'll be watching them this weekend because they play the Colts.
Speaker 1:By default too, be watching them this. Uh, I'll be watching them this week.
Speaker 3:They play by default too, because you know that game will be on for yeah, so they'll be. They'll be playing the coach so I'll be. I'm actually, I'm actually hoping y'all beat them too man, me too, me too, we need, we need a win like that, but with that defense, bro, and the way our offense has been playing it's just a struggle.
Speaker 3:It's been a struggle, bro. So, unless they turning around, and then our defense ain't been playing the best either. So it's like, hopefully we put it together, like at this point we just need a complete game. So, and this would be the team we need to do it against, what's the last Seattle Seahawks? So their wins is 26-20 versus Denver, 23-20 versus New England and 24-3 against Miami. If I had to say anybody was due for a reality check, I would probably say it was Seattle. The teams they beat are not good teams and the games were very close. So you beat Denver by six, you beat New England by three and then you beat Miami by 21. But, of course, miami without Tua.
Speaker 1:Hell, I think the backup got knocked out. That game too.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, yep, he got hurt too. So, like I mean, they have no quarterback. So, yeah, they played the easiest schedule so far. Their schedule is ranked 31st so far in the power index, but they played the Lions coming up, so this will be their big test. I think the Lions will give them all they can handle. But if they beat the Lions then you know I may have to what they recant my statement.
Speaker 1:No, I mean, I wouldn't even think you'd have to recant it. It's just that's what you thought before, based on what you've seen. If they prove you wrong, they prove you wrong, but I don't think you'd have to recant anything. But after that, stop talking about sports Like we're all saying what we think, like nobody's out here, like betting the house that we're right. It's just yeah. You know what I'm saying? Based on what? You've seen your, you know what I'm saying. Your opinion is what it is.
Speaker 3:But their next game? Even after the Lions, they get the Bills, the Jets, the Packers and the Vikings in two games against the Niners. So Crazy. This season can turn around real quick for them. With that being said, I'm going to talk about these 0-3 teams. I'm going to let you start off with the Bengals. What do they have to do? Everybody using the Bengals normally start off slow, as I don't want to say a cop-out, but that's what everybody's saying. They always start off slow.
Speaker 1:That's a fact. It is what it is. I'm never going to go into the facts, but, man, bro, we've been talking about this for a while, bro, like and I'm waiting for you to like to like, shoot me some bell because I've been right, man, the defense just is not good, bro, like we've been, we've been bend on break for I don't know how many seasons and like we're finally even the first two games of the season. We were kind of bring, don't break. Like we, we, we were forcing field goals. We just couldn't get a stop. Like, and all those same guys, minus a couple, all those same, it's the same team that we had in the super bowl.
Speaker 1:You still got sam hubbard. You still got uh hendrickson. You still got uh, uh gaither. You still got logan wilson. You still got jermaine Pratt, but you don't. But Mike Hilton was still on that team, dax Hill was on that team. There's a lot of guys that were on that Super Bowl team, like, and they weren't any good then and they're not good now. Like, the defense is terrible. They can't get a stop against a rookie, like you're not. I mean, it's nothing else really.
Speaker 3:But I also think too, like those guys. Like those guys are on the team, but then you had other guys that were better, that was on the team, that they let go.
Speaker 1:Who.
Speaker 3:Who, who, oh boy. So I you can't just debate, but he's been playing good in Atlanta.
Speaker 1:He still ain't doing what we needed. He still ain't tackling no damn body. He still ain't getting in the backfield Like he's still not locking anybody up in coverage, like I mean. I feel like it's pretty simple. It's pretty, it's easier to be a high-rated safety. I mean you just playing zone. You have no man-to-man responsibilities, hardly ever Like bro. I saw Buddy out there getting his ankles broken too.
Speaker 3:But when you're talking about the team, when you're talking about who's left on that team from the Super Bowl year, like All week, Vernon.
Speaker 1:Okay. So the year after he left, the defense was the exact same. Look it up, these are facts. We still was the same bend on break the Bengals. Don't give up a whole lot of points, bro. We don't give up a whole lot of points, that's just. That's been our makeup for a long time. You never see anybody put 31 on the Bengals hardly. We probably get 30 points, maybe two or three times, I want to say last two or three seasons, like we know, know that. So it's, it's not, it's not him. Like it's just. We don't have what I wanted from him. We don't have that dynamic defensive player that's going to take a game from anybody and like we didn't have it then and we still don't have it now. We don't have that defensive lineman. That's gonna.
Speaker 3:That's gonna command you double team. That's gonna take away a side of the field. That's gonna set an edge, that's gonna make that sure tackle like I don't know if you've seen the post, so looking at, like I'm just looking at last year, like you gave up, you gave up 30, you only gave up 30 twice that's I said.
Speaker 1:I said about two or three times the last two or three years. It's not a lot. We don't give up a ton of points. That's just not how we're beating. We're beating because we just don't have that dynamic player that's going to make that sack on third down.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but again like last year, like you lost to Cleveland 24-3.
Speaker 1:That was the start of the season. Like I just said, it was fast.
Speaker 3:No, no, I'm just looking at the difference in losses, like the point differential. Like losing to Tennessee last year 27-3, losing to Pittsburgh 16-10, which that's close, that's Pittsburgh, though Nothing else was really a blow. I mean losing to Pittsburgh twice actually. That second one was 34-11. But you didn't have Burrow those games though, but without Burrow you still went 4-2. Or 4,. No, you were 4-3. I mean, so I don't know man, the defense is just weak.
Speaker 1:Like I'm not, like that's at this point there's no debate Like the defense is weak. They got destroyed by a rookie and it is. I mean, that's just no, no, that's, that's yeah, that's just what it is.
Speaker 3:So yeah, so I mean. But with Carolina coming up, I mean Baltimore. Y'all know Baltimore and y'all always play Baltimore too. You get the Giants after that.
Speaker 1:Another thing I said about my team is that we play worse against backups and guys with you know nothing to lose. Like we play really bad against backup quarterbacks and guys that we like I'd almost rather well of course, I'd rather play Bryce Young than Andy Dalton at this point, but like, give me your starter. Like I don't know if that was last year or the year before, when we went to Dallas and we played Cooper Rush and got beat.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, that was the year before last year.
Speaker 1:We played really bad against backups and just guys that's just out there playing free. I legitimately think that we're going to lose.
Speaker 3:I legitimately think we're going to lose. I see you put that in the chat. You picked. Carolina.
Speaker 1:I actually need to finish putting my things in, yeah.
Speaker 3:I mean, I think, even if y'all lose at Carolina, which I just don't see, y'all going 4-0. I mean 0-4. I don't see that.
Speaker 1:I didn't see us going 0-3.
Speaker 3:Me neither.
Speaker 1:Me, neither Me, neither Not getting a stop against the Washington Commanders, bro, I would have bet 0-4.
Speaker 3:But I think but those last two games, like the Washington Commander game and Kansas City game, like very easily could have been wins Like very easily.
Speaker 1:I mean, all three of them could have been wins. Yeah, yeah, the New.
Speaker 3:England game too. You know what?
Speaker 3:I mean let's just say the New England game is just a fluke Game one. You don't have no film, you don't know Whole new regime, whole new team, you just don't know how to play them right there. So let's just say, that's just a fact. But I'm just saying, with the Kansas City and the Washington, like you said, those are very two games that could have went the other way. So like, like I think Carolina, y'all kind of, I think y'all get back into it. I think y'all beat Carolina, compete at Baltimore, beat the Giants, beat the Cleveland Depending on how Philly is at that point in the season into October, you can possibly get them because they're gettable Then the Raiders and then Baltimore again, like, I mean, y'all can definitely get back on track.
Speaker 1:I can say that the offense woke up like man, the offense looked really really good, like yeah. And then it's like you got these little clowns on tv. Uh, shannon sharp going off about joe burrow didn't do this, like I, just that kind of, that kind of talk, just it, just it's just goofy, like I mean how can, how can you say a quarterback didn't do his job when the defense didn't get a stop, not one stop, the entire game, yeah, yeah defense, defense.
Speaker 3:They get paid too, so it's like you got. You gotta do something like if you can't get the other team off the field not once not once at home, and you're playing a rookie yeah come on man yeah, like jayden daniels is definitely shown he, he has the possibility to be very good, but, like, like you said, like you can't get one stop one stop bro, yeah um, moving on to the other two 0 and 3 teams, so jacksonville and tennessee, which I am extremely happy they are, because then I mean, like, if we can, the texans just lost last week.
Speaker 3:I mean we got a chance to, to tie this division with them. So, um, it looks like this is going to be a two-team division, even though before the season they looked like they could possibly be one of the stronger divisions because Jacksonville got a ton of talent. I just don't know what's going on. I think they're eventually going to get rid of their coach. I can't remember his name. And then the Tennessee Titans again, a ton of talent, but you got to fucking I don't even know what to call him at quarterback. I don't even know what to call him because I called him Carson Wentz and everybody jumped down my throat for calling him Carson Wentz. But I don't know. Man, will Levis, like I don't know. I don't know what to say. Like they just need better quarterback play.
Speaker 3:Defense is good, like I said, said they got all the talent. You just got to play better, better quarterback play. But if they keep, uh, fumbling the ball, we could just find a way to um again, we struggling too. Our defense, our offense, haven't played complete games at all. But, um, the jacksonville is going to get rid of their coach. I can see that happening In Tennessee. You really can't get rid of your coach because this is only his second season. You got to find a way to turn it around offensively with your quarterback play because their defense both the defenses are solid. That's how I feel about them. Of course, jacksonville, tennessee, feel free to keep losing. Keep Indiana in a position to at least try to chase down the Texans.
Speaker 1:Nah, that's real.
Speaker 3:With that man. That's really all I got. Nothing crazy really going on. Man, ike just sent me an updated oh shoot, updated. Records of the Pick'ems. I didn't get the update. I'm going to put this up here, but this ain't the updated record. He sent it to me kind of late this week that just passed. Justin went 5-11. I went 10-6. Jerry, you went 9-7, and Ike went 8-8. Oh man, yeah, justin jumped down on a limb on a couple games. Huge oh man.
Speaker 3:Yeah, justin jumped down on a limb on a couple games, but overall he's 24-24. I'm 25-23. You're 30-18. And Ike is 32-16. Yeah, so last week, wow Justin, he picked the Chargers, the Texans, the Saints.
Speaker 1:They all lost. He picks the Browns, the Bears and the the Saints.
Speaker 3:They all lost. He picks the Browns, the Bears and the Raiders they all lost. He picked the Cowboys, the Niners, the Jags and the Bengals. Yeah, that was a wild week, which the ready one. He was early. I mean, well, it's kind of I don't know.
Speaker 1:I didn't hear nothing. You just said, bro. Oh man, you can't hear me.
Speaker 3:Nah, Okay. So now I was looking at Justin and who he picking, how he went 5-11. So he picked the Chargers, the Texans, the Saints and Tampa they all lost. He picked the Texans, the Saints and Tampa they all lost. He picked the Browns, the Bears and the Raiders they lost. He picked the Cowboys over the Ravens, we all picked the Niners. But he picked the Jags over the Bills and we all picked the Bengals. So really, the Jags game, the Cowboy game, the Bears game, the one that we all picked, the other team, except for him, which that still would have put him at what, that would have put him at 8-8. So but yeah, overall I mean he's 500. Nobody's below 500 right now. So we all doing pretty good, man, Pretty good, Pretty good. But yeah, man, that's all I got. Really good, yeah, man. I guess we can jump into final thoughts, man.
Speaker 1:Shit, I don't really got nothing. Like I said, I'm going to be traveling to to the bingos, uh game in charlotte this weekend. So same travel, appreciate that. Um, but yeah, man, I guess, check them out in person. I'm not too thrilled about it, as you can probably tell, but uh, yeah, I'm gonna go check it out with pops, we're gonna, we're to see what they're talking about in person and then whatever else is whatever else. Yeah, man, that's all I got.
Speaker 3:Yeah, man, they get one on the board man. Oh, let's do it. I guess we can do our picks. Let's not forget to do that. Put them in the chat. Oh, we already did. Yeah, I'm doing mine now, oh, okay, okay, you finish yours up. I'll talk about my pick.
Speaker 1:Now I hate Jaden Daniel, jaden Daniel.
Speaker 3:I pick Dallas over New York, I pick Cincinnati over Carolina, I pick New Orleans, cincinnati over Carolina.
Speaker 1:I picked New Orleans, ooh, buffalo and Baltimore, yeah, yeah, oh, I'm tapped into that.
Speaker 3:I picked New Orleans over Atlanta. I picked Jacksonville over the Texans, so hopefully Jacksonville get their first win. I got the Jets over Denver. I got Minnesota beating Green Bay, which that's a toss-up because that can go either way. Both teams are playing well. I got, of course, the Colts over Pittsburgh. I got the Rams and this is kind of my surprise pick. I picked the Rams over Chicago. I guess that's not really a surprise, but the Rams are hurt, like they got a lot of injury, but the way they battled back against the Niners every time they have a comeback win like that they end up just fucking falling flat the next game. So that's the only reason why I say that. But I picked them over Chicago, philly over Tampa. I just I don't know. Tampa got a lot of injuries on defense, so that's really my only reason for picking Philly. If Tampa was more healthy I would definitely pick Tampa over Philly. But I picked San Francisco.
Speaker 3:I think they bounced back over New England, I think even without McCaffrey in there, I think there's still too much firepower for New England. Even though New England got a solid defense, I don't think they can score enough points, even though Brock Purdy, I think, is dealing with some back soreness. I think they can still get it done against New England Washington. I think they keep riding high man. They beat Arizona Even though their offense is very, very good. Washington defense have been playing okay, but I think they outscored Arizona, kansas City, over the Chargers. I don't know if Herbert's playing. No, actually no, he is not playing, damn really. Yeah, he's what's he call it. I forgot who's starting. Is it?
Speaker 3:Trubinsky no, who is it? Who is they back up? I know who you're talking about. I'm about to look right now. This is going to be the first thing pop up when I click on 18. Heineke, taylor, heineke. Oh wait a minute. Oh man, I might have to change that, that's who started for the Chargers?
Speaker 3:Yeah, you got them over Kansas City anyway. No, I got Kansas City over them. But shoot, hold on Heineke first off. The Chargers always play them tough. And Heineke, hey, heineke ain't no slouch, play them tough. And Heineke, hey, heineke ain't no hey, he ain't no slouch, hey you know what I'm going to change that? They're not beating Kansas City, all right, all right, and it's in Los Angeles.
Speaker 1:Zero percent chance.
Speaker 3:Hey, I'm changing my pick right now and you know I don't even mess with the Chargers like that. I'm changing it right now. I'm putting it in the chat. So yeah, I'm picking the Raiders. I picked the Raiders over Cleveland.
Speaker 1:I just think Cleveland, I didn't even see that game. Yeah, I must have missed that one.
Speaker 3:Raiders over Cleveland. Oh yeah, you didn't even see that game. I must have missed that one. Raiders over Cleveland oh yeah, you didn't put that in there. Baltimore over Buffalo. I think this ends Buffalo's undefeated streak.
Speaker 1:I don't know.
Speaker 3:It's actually a hard game. It's really a hard game, but I just think Baltimore is just tired of people talking crazy, man. I think they just put and it's in Baltimore. So who else? Miami over Tennessee, which I just want Tennessee to lose, which I just want Tennessee to lose. Tennessee may very well win that game, but I'm picking Miami because I want Tennessee to lose. And Detroit over Seattle. Man, like I said, I think this stops Seattle's undefeated streak. Also, I think Detroit probably has a little bit too much to handle for Seattle and you know that gives them their first loss. Fair enough, all right, man. That's it, man. I appreciate y'all joining us. This has been an epic podcast, man. We'll see y'all next week, probably definitely on Tuesday, pending any volleyball games. See y'all next week.