Week 3 NFL Power Surge: Who's on Top?
Navigating the Turbulent NFL Waters in Week 3: From Crushing Injuries to Surprising Triumphs, We Break Down the Unpredictable Landscape of the 2023 Season
Welcome to "Missing the Point" with your hosts Michael Marcangelo and Bob Kelly! In this episode, we dive into the thrilling world of NFL power rankings, setting the stage for Week 3 of the 2023 NFL Season.
First, we address a heartbreaking story—the devastating knee injury that has ended star running back Nick Chubb's 2023 season, leaving Cleveland Browns fans in despair.
Then, we shift our focus to the main event—Bobby's NFL Power Rankings. Here's a sneak peek at some of the stories we dissect:
- Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are on fire, driven not only by Dak Prescott's stellar performance but also by their dominating defense, led by Micah Parsons. Could Parsons be the early favorite for NFL Defensive Player of the Year?
- San Francisco 49ers: Despite a shaky performance from quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers continue to win thanks to their depth and talent.
- Philadelphia Eagles: While the Eagles are 2-0, there are areas that need improvement, including Jalen Hurts' passing game and the defense's performance.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Sometimes, winning ugly is a necessity, and the Chiefs did just that. We discuss Patrick Mahomes' perspective on the game and the crucial role of their defense.
- Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are off to a strong start, with Tua Tagovailoa leading a star-studded offense. Could they be on their way to elite status?
- Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens made a statement with a win over the Bengals, with Lamar Jackson delivering a stellar performance.
- Buffalo Bills: After a shocking Week 1 loss, the Bills bounced back impressively against the Las Vegas Raiders. Can they maintain their momentum?
- Jacksonville Jaguars: It's a time for reflection in Jacksonville after a lackluster performance against the Chiefs. Trevor Lawrence acknowledges the need for improvement.
- Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons are turning heads with their commitment to the running game and a balanced offense. Keep an eye on their progress.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Despite losing Tom Brady, the Buccaneers are finding success with Baker Mayfield at the helm. We discuss Mayfield's performance and their upcoming challenge against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
We also touch on some "almost but not quite" candidates for the 10th spot, including the Cincinnati Bengals, who are looking to rebound after an 0-2 start.
Tune in to "Missing the Point" for all the action, drama, and excitement of Week 3 in the NFL. Whether you're a die-hard football fanatic or just getting into the game, this episode has something for everyone. Stay ahead of the curve with the most entertaining and informative NFL podcast out there!
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Michael Marcangelo:
Welcome to Missing the Point. I'm Mike Marcangelo, filling in for DK Sizzle, dave Clark, but joined alongside the Real BK, bob Kelly, for the week Three power rankings were going to recap week two the NFL, another week, another injury Before we get into the power rankings. So, bobby, what was your take on on just what we saw in week two? It felt like it was. It went against everything we believed in, except for the Cowboys.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, that's fair. Yeah, man, it was. It was definitely a crazy week. I think the biggest storyline I mean I guess it's not like a happy storyline you already kind of mentioned it is the biggest storyline of this week. Nick Chubb, it might be right.
Michael Marcangelo:
I mean the way in which Nick Chubb's leg bent.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, that was. That was the worst. Worst I've seen since. Maybe what Greg Olson, a few like back they were like landed on it in his leg completely. Is that Olson or I don't?
Michael Marcangelo:
know, like this one was worse, this one though, like you said in the in the group in one of the group chats that were in, and you said it looks like it was a hit to the knee, but it wasn't right.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, that is so true.
Michael Marcangelo:
You just hate to see it too, because from all about like all reports right, nick Chubb is like the best teammate. He doesn't want all the praise, he just wants to go out there and play and in a year like an off season, where it really felt like the owners and the teams were conspiring against paying running backs. You hate to see a guy who did, who tore all of his ligaments in that leg when 2015 college man.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, and it's what made him a second round pick. So right, it's, sober it's. I think it's going to be tough for this dude to come back and be a semblance of what he was at this point. I mean, bro, that leg was literally like I've never seen anything like it in my entire life. Yeah, we don't. They, it was so brutal and they didn't show replay on TV. And they this is the same network that like zoomed in on that Louisville's guys bone popping out of his leg Like yeah, usually it's no holds barred, but they're like no, we can't show those again Because it was bad. Is that? This doesn't just such a superstar to just put kind of a sour note over the entire week, especially because it came in on Monday night. And then there's all these conspiracies about the Monday night football curse and like all this different stuff about.
Michael Marcangelo:
It's crazy, I mean three straight Monday night football games something catastrophic has happened. One DeMar Henland like that, that almost that was almost way worse than we. Like we couldn't even put in this category last week, or I guess week one, the truth. Or Aaron Rogers himself tears his Achilles, but I guess you get surgery that could allow him to come back if the jets make the playoffs, which is of course he did. Of course his surgery will allow him to heal a blood Achilles in 12 weeks.
Bob Kelly:
Well, it's funny because it kind of feeds into like another this week too. It's like the whole thing just feet. It's like the NFL is like sprinkling conspiracy theories around and they're like, hey, yeah, let's get him going. Like it's just. It's funny that that leaked right after all the reports that like the Aaron Rogers injury was rigged and like all this stuff.
Michael Marcangelo:
It's just like, but I didn't tell you. Like storyline wise, if we just focus on on the field, I get two. One is the chargers usually start off fast and they finish terribly. But for the chargers to be 0 and 2 and now to fall like week one, the Dolphins high powered offense, I get it, but to the, to the Titans, like what. How does that even happen?
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, and it's, it's there. They're the weirdest team because it's like they're biggest, treats them like they were 13 and 14 the last two years. And like the NFL world treats this team like. They're like a 13 win team perennially, but this is who they are and I don't know if if we really even need to think any harder about who this team is and like what their identity is right. They're like a very talented. They're what the Cowboys have been you know prior to, like the past three, four years, whereas like the Jason Garrett era if I will, that's what this team kind of reminds me of. There's like so much talent, so much promise, a team that should go deep every single year and it just they don't you know they don't is eight and eight, nine and eight, eight, nine blowing big playoff leads? It's, it's just who they are at this point.
Michael Marcangelo:
The weird thing about them too is that historically, the teams that do this have always been one sidedly stacks. They have playmakers conceivably on both sides of the ball. Yeah, I mean, obviously you're. You're you already know about offense like Herbert? I mean, if you could build a prototype of what you want to quarterback to do, it would be Justin Herbert. I mean Patrick Wilhombs, sure, but Justin Herbert, the size, the arm, strength, athleticism, everything.
Bob Kelly:
Austin, he's the, he's the prototype, if you want.
Michael Marcangelo:
I feel like I don't know if you were just echoing exactly what I said or you thought you came up with that yourself, but either way, I'm going to let it go.
Bob Kelly:
Did you? Did you literally say the word prototype, did you? I'm sorry? I'm sorry, katie. Katie texted me.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, no, that's.
Bob Kelly:
I was a fucker listening. Yeah, I actually watched.
Michael Marcangelo:
You stop listening. We've already gone through our one game of the fantasy football season where you're like, oh my God, austin Eckler is the greatest running back in the NFL.
Bob Kelly:
And then he gets hurt.
Michael Marcangelo:
And then there are playmakers on defense. I mean again, you would think that they would not allow a tight team to put up 27 points, Not a half hour.
Bob Kelly:
Ryan. Ryan Tano is slicing them up. He's like you have like an 81% completion percentage in this. Yeah, it's Ryan Tano Hill, a dude who looked like garbage, against who the Titans play. We are cult, right, they play Colt big one.
Michael Marcangelo:
No, they play the same right.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, they played the same big one, you're right, and he looked. He looked terrible. And against this charges defense man. I mean it's what it would like, I've done. So what it surprised you if Staley is fired before week five. If this keeps up right, they're one and four or two, even even two and three. I could see I could see something happen if they have a couple of another bad loss along the way.
Michael Marcangelo:
I think I don't think two and three gets it, but I think it's one and four net. And then we're in the Kellan Moore error. And for the chargers, which right, who knows, who knows he might be, a team might be. You know, I think he's one of those coordinators where you either love him or you fucking hate him. Nobody, nobody feels nothing about him, you know.
Bob Kelly:
I was 100% out on Kellan Moore when he ran a triple reverse, a triple reverse, triple reverse for the Cowboys, four plays into the goddamn season. I was like I'm officially out, like you have such little faith in your offensive system that you're like you know what we need to do right now. We need to run a triple reverse. We're going to trick them Like bro, you're four plays in it's.
Michael Marcangelo:
I was done so second story line on the field and I have a vested interest in this is what's going on in Chicago and with the Bears. I have a vested interest in this because I picked that. I was part of a team that picked them to be, I think, like nine and eight or 10, 10 and seven, and right now you know we were talking about this today it doesn't look right. Justin Fields does not look right, his dropback doesn't look right and I don't know. That's why I want to talk to you about it. Like, is it? Is it all him, or do you think it is the coaching around him as well?
Bob Kelly:
I think it's both I do. His comments today were a little weird to everyone out there. Probably saw where he's he's blaming, saying he felt like a robot in the offense. I think he actually blamed the coach to you two hours, two hours later he walked that back. He did. Okay, oh, I wonder what happened. But then I thought it was funny too. They released Peterman, which I think is funny that I got this guy. This guy might be so shitty that he's rubbing off on Justin Fields as the back of quarterbacks. We got to get him the fuck out of here. It's his fault, it's got to be, but no, so I do think it's both, because obviously Justin Fields is thinking he needs to be a passer. So, like, judging by what we saw last year, I just feel like that's coming from somewhere, right and it's. It's not something that he's just deciding like hey, I'm not going to run and be Justin Fields anymore. That's, that's absolutely a directive from somewhere in his offense. Like they're like the best way for you to be successful in this offense is to be a passing quarterback, and it just feels like he's not being his optimal self. You know he's, he's, he's when he's thinking, that's when he gets in the trouble. You saw on there's that one play where he he takes a sack and he has like four open dudes in the end zone and it's like, bro, that play cannot be a sack. It cannot be a sack. 100 out of 100 quarterbacks in the NFL that are starting quarterbacks. Should find someone.
Michael Marcangelo:
Someone on that play or at least get rid of the ball.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah. And then the screen pass at the end of the game. That that wrapped it up was one of the worst plays like we're in fact ever seen in my life. To pick six, that was like the nail. That that was as a field truth or like I feel like, like we invented, like the. The wheel on Justin Fields is this, this hype train, and I mean, I don't know why you would say that it's not like I picked him to be MVP. Yeah, I don't know, I, I, I regret my stock. I feel like I'm the star of the big short right now.
Michael Marcangelo:
You know what I mean.
Bob Kelly:
Like I'm like, bro, I'm like fucking. So we're bare bare sterns in the meeting with Steve Grom. We got to get the fuck out of here, man. It's over.
Michael Marcangelo:
But the thing that doesn't make any sense about it is that, like, if you, if you think about what they did in the in the offseason, it felt like they added pieces around him. Obviously, dj Moore I mean we have another year with Chase Claypool, cole Comet as a serviceable tight end, but what made, what would make the bears better and that offense better is if there, if it was a run first and then deep pass play offense. And it feels like the thing that I mentioned, you know, when we're talking about this day before the show was just just go back and watch to a drop back and how and when he plants that back leg or that back foot, how long it takes for the ball to come out like spoiler alert is like point three seconds. And when Justin Fields hits his either his third or his fifth step, he kind of just kind of opts around for a while. I don't and I don't know if he wants to run first and he's just trying to tell himself look for the, look for the big play, look for the big play. But he has all the God given talent to be better than 16 of 29 for 211 yards.
Bob Kelly:
And some of the worst break down breaking down of the defense I've ever seen in my entire life is I can talk it was. It was really bad. It was really bad and the defense looks bad. Like I feel bad for DK because I know how high his hopes were and like it wasn't even manufactured it felt like like he actually had those high hopes is like I didn't blame them. You know what I mean. Like the optimism rip, but they've lost 12 straight games at this point and it's like it just feels like it's the same bears with the same thing and it feels like Fields needs to get out of there if he wants to be successful. It's at that point where it's like I don't know if it's either Flues, if it's just a change of scenery, if it's something, but something's not right there it's. It's definitely not right.
Michael Marcangelo:
I was going to argue against that, but I don't think that I would be able to do justice for DK, so I'm just going to let him ravage the shadow. You want to get back next week For saying that. What were your two big storylines of the week?
Bob Kelly:
So one is also one I have invested in your state. Dk just maybe rebound on my, you know just tearing down his bears and I apologize for that, but he was 100% right about Minnesota Vikings.
Michael Marcangelo:
They're really bad. We both agreed seven and 10.
Bob Kelly:
And yet you know I'm saying you guys were right about how bad they were and I tried to steal yeah what you. And saying I said they were going to be 10 and seven. I think I didn't think it was going to be that far fall down. I mean, they won 13 games last year, but releasing Dalvin Cook was out of replacement Doesn't seem to be the best decision for their offense, because Madison is absolutely just garbage.
Michael Marcangelo:
But not to worry, because as of today, the 20th of September, they got can make the other can make us the trade. Yeah, for can makers? Who? Who, even though Yahoo or ESPN or whatever you use for your fantasy football source, has tried to prop him up as a top 10 running back to the last three years, every year, bro, he still isn't one every year and, yeah, their defense is garbage and I just don't it's.
Bob Kelly:
It seems like that they just it's Jefferson or bust and like even even the rest of the football world now is. I mean you saw the tweet that was going around from FanDuel. That was like who says no to this trade and it's Jefferson to the past, and like people were talking about cousins to the jet, so like the football world is feeling it too. That like this is this is the prime team for a downfall in. The two teams that we just talked about actually play this coming week in a in a loser leaves town match where it's charges liking, so that that'll be a fun one, because the loser of that game, their season, is completely turned upside down. You know, one of those two teams were playoff teams after this week is going to be on three. So that's, that's, that's like a death sentence on your side. Has anyone ever made the playoffs at all?
Michael Marcangelo:
No, no, I think I think if this was still a, if this was still like a 16 game season, they would have statistically been eliminated. But there's, there's not really enough data on the whole 17 game season. I don't think anyone has, but I do think I think oh and three in a 17 game season is like starting one in three in a 16 game. And there are, I think there are like 30 teams that have made the playoffs after starting one in three. Thanks, one in three. Oh and three, oh yeah, yeah, wait. Well, yeah, yeah, it's gonna be tough but I'm all for a loser leave town match. You know I love my pro wrestling, so yeah, I'm in.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, the other one. I was between two things, but we're going to talk about another team in order, but so Probably towards the end of the show. Yeah, so I would say the Giants come back on the Cardinals Seeing a team get outscored, so it literally looked like the Giants season was over, right. I mean they were down 20 to nothing against the Cardinals, after getting blown out 40 to nothing against the Cowboys. It's 60 to nothing through three quarters of football or six quarters of football. Yeah, six quarters of football, six quarters of football. And then that comeback man. It's like they rose from the goddamn dead. I don't know what happened.
Michael Marcangelo:
Or they played Cardinals.
Bob Kelly:
That's true, but I mean, obviously they coins out now, but they would really save their season. I don't see a team led by Brian Dabble having that type of start or having this kind of comeback and not being able to build off of it. You know what I mean. Like, the coaching staff there is so excellent that like I just I just feel like that has to be a launching point for them. If not, then like Daniel Jones, obviously isn't the answer, but I just think that was a huge news.
Michael Marcangelo:
I just want to know, like, what is giving? Like, why do you have this raging Brian Dabble in your shorts for him after one year?
Bob Kelly:
But what he did last year, that team is garbage. Talel wise, they have nothing. He, he, he took. So you remember, he took Josh Allen from a turnover ready quarterback who did nothing you to what he is today. And now all of a sudden he leaves and Josh Allen is another turnover ready quarterback. And then you have Daniel Jones, who is the same exact thing. You know, has athleticism, but turns the ball over too much, doesn't make the right decision. All of a sudden, Dabble comes in. They both dabble. I'm terrible at things, Brian. Dabble. They both, they both. It's like I do it on purpose.
Michael Marcangelo:
I actually thought that you did there.
Bob Kelly:
Maybe I do subconsciously.
Michael Marcangelo:
You know, you know you kind of dabble in it and dabble in it.
Bob Kelly:
But yeah, I just the progression of the quarterback's man is is the biggest thing for me. To be able to take Daniel Jones, a guy that was dead. He was dead in the water Like everyone wrote him off and he got him a $68 million contract extension. You know what I mean.
Michael Marcangelo:
Like that's come on, that's, that's impressive and refuse to give Saquon the big money, and then we to he I mean, he's got a ankle sprain, he's gone for three weeks. I mean you hate again. It's this assault on the, on the running back position which, by the way, even since we can't really the terrestrial airwaves way way back when you and I've been preaching. that says you running backs are good to have, but if they, if they are your best player, you're not going to win. So here, before we get into the actual top 10, you didn't mention that, that you had some honorable mentions to get there, and I do have a couple of questions that I want to. I want to give you the, give you the floor and give, give your honorable mentions for the top 10 spots. So for number 10, they didn't make it, but they were honorable mentions.
Bob Kelly:
All right, I'm an asshole and don't have pulled up.
Michael Marcangelo:
So I was like all right, you gave the Bengals Titans, Argers, commanders, giants and maybe the Lions.
Bob Kelly:
So the one I want to talk about is one has to keep saying I have vested interest in it from the prediction show man and that's the Cincinnati Bengals. I know it's a lot like last year, you know a slow start, but it just feels different. I don't know. Something feels off with that team man and I don't know if it's just Joe Burrow. Not looking at anything like Joe Burrow, he might be heard again. The defense doesn't look as good. He just, you know, Lamar, Lamar Jackson controlled that entire game this past weekend and it's it's. It's scary for me for a Joe Burrow bandwagon. You know I swear before I got there Joe, Joe Burrow bandwagon, extraordinaire that I'm. I'm worried about, I'm worried about Cincinnati Bengals. I really am.
Michael Marcangelo:
I think what? What makes it worse is that they're own two in their division already. Like that, that's hard to do to lose, to come back from O2 and have those full speed divisional games. You know you can always shock up the Cleveland Brown game, like that it was. It was shitty weather, whatever. First week, another year, brands have their number. Yeah, joe, not having a training camp. The Browns have whatever this weird thing with the Bengals, but this game was. It was alarming, in the sense that you're right. He never looked like the guy that we've seen over the last two years. That can just come, that can just pull out of nowhere and win a game. He just we never saw it.
Bob Kelly:
I mean, is it because they don't have? He doesn't have enough time, but it seems like they're not making those shots to Jamar Chase, and that's when. Or T Higgins, and that's when. The Bengals are the Bengals, you know what I mean when, when they're firing over the top, hitting Higgins on his 60 yards out route, or hit Jamar Chase ought to go down the sideline and he just makes a ridiculous catch. It just feels like those playmakers aren't making those places here.
Michael Marcangelo:
And it just, it's a little it's a little worried so far. Higgins went like eight for 89 and two touchdowns, so like if you just read his stat line you'd be like, wow, the Bengals won by 30. And then they actually lost because Jamar Chase had really nothing in comparison.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, it's, but like even the eight for 89, like it's not usually at least one of those two guys, if the Bengals are the Bengals, one of them is like seven for 140 and a touchdown or two. You know what I mean. Like because they have those big plays, the 20 yards, 30 yards, but then they also get like a 60 to 70 yard completion downfield, because you know those two guys are just electric man and it's the fact that that's not happening is very worrisome, because it's not like I mean I guess borrows under a lot of duress, but it's not like it wasn't past years. You know what I mean. It feels like he's up right a little more this year. I don't know what's going on.
Michael Marcangelo:
It's worrisome, it almost looks like he doesn't know what to do with the time that he has back there, like if he's not under duress. He panics. You know, does the team on that list the commanders what?
Bob Kelly:
You know, to know, man, to know, you know, it's like they're, at least we're in.
Michael Marcangelo:
I look at the right, next to the chargers dude. So what does that say? Either about the commanders or the chargers yeah, it's, it's.
Bob Kelly:
It's funny, it's weird that the, the commanders, are similar in a way to those two teams, because it's like you, but like in opposite ways. I mean like, so the chargers are rowing too and you know that, like, the chargers will come back and have at least a somewhat of a semblance of a season, just because you know to there, nine and eight, 10 and seven, that's what they're going to do, the commanders to me to set a three and a, four and a and no matter what, they're going to be seven and eight, yeah, it's seven and 10, eight at the end of the season, there's no doubt about it, because it's like as high as you can get on them. They really haven't played anyone good, but they're two and oh, so there at least had to be, had to be at least thought about for the top 10, you know in the same breadth as the O and two chargers.
Michael Marcangelo:
So it's just worth noting.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, it's, it's. It's been a weird year. It's been a weird the lion, the lions. What do you think about your darling lines? I don't know, the lines are always.
Michael Marcangelo:
No, I know that it was said last on this particular program that the most at that point was the first one to talk about the lion scene being good, I call bullshit. You can go back and listen to the 2020 NFL prediction show. I picked the lines to win that division because Aaron Rogers was in his demise. I was wrong, but at the time, listen, I, I, I think, I think in in this game. It was. It just came down to two. It was too many bad coaching decisions, but in reality, reality, the the, the past that broke up Jerry Gough's uh, you know contention for the longest active streak, with a exception in the NFL. That pick six was awful, yeah.
Bob Kelly:
It wasn't good.
Michael Marcangelo:
It was. That was a terrible throw, and I mean that that did it. But you can't the the lions have fight then that they just. Everything about them is likable, even Jerry Gough, even sunshine like he is. He is you. I'm rooting for him.
Bob Kelly:
I wish you would grow his hair, just cause you know. I just want to see what it looks like.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah.
Bob Kelly:
If he has the locks, and I bet he does- he's he, I bet he can.
Michael Marcangelo:
And I just ask a question before you go uh, when do the lions? Uh then tend on making Jameer gives like an actual part of their offense.
Bob Kelly:
Well, so this this week, I think, because, uh, montgomery got hurt at the near the ends of that game. So I think this week but yeah, no, I agree, he's obviously the better running back there it's. It's like a Tony Pollard, Zeke Elliott situation where everyone's sitting there like what the fuck are you guys doing? Do you see who the fuck this guy is? The lions or the coaching thing. I'm glad you pointed that out because it's not even like I mind Dan Campbell going for it when he does, because like, aggressive is aggressive and I I really like coaches that are just like, fuck you, I'm going for it, I don't give up, fuck yeah, but still play for overtime at the end of that game. To me, when, when you still have time on the clock and they had like 30, 40 seconds left and they let the clock run down and kick a field goal, and it's like, bro, you could take two, three shots at the end zone, you've been going for it literally the entire game. And now is when you get conservative, when the game is on the line, now is when you get conservative, it's just like if, if, if you want to be the guy that goes for it, be the guy that goes for it. You know to ride or die on that and that's usually what he does, but I think in in this case it costs them the game. I think that the moment got kind of big for him because it was a big day for, like, detroit Lions football. You know, yeah, if you, it was like Barry Sanders statue day and like all this stuff, and I just think the moment got a little big for Dan Campbell and like the game was on the line.
Michael Marcangelo:
I mean sold out, sold out stadium for the first time in a couple of years by a couple of, you can with yeah, with optimism, and like a two and oh start on the line.
Bob Kelly:
And I think he just was like oh, we can't fuck this up, I can't, I can't go for this and that. Have it be an interception or like whatever. But, like bro, you didn't even get the ball back Right. So, so, like what, you know what I mean, you might as well just go for it. And I couldn't believe it. I was shocked, shocked when I saw the clock running down. What are they doing?
Michael Marcangelo:
man. I mean we're 30 minute city. Do we should actually start talking about the power rankings?
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, I guess.
Michael Marcangelo:
so yeah, Uh. So I was surprised by this, uh, by the number 10, because I honestly thought that they probably could have been a little bit higher. But then I realized higher Okay. Yeah, but then I realized you know we were talking about the commanders and two and oh, but who they played? So number 10, who do you have?
Bob Kelly:
So yeah, 10 is the bucks and you know I'm just going to look them right into it and for everyone out there, nine is the Falcons. To me, these two teams are the most surprising two teams so far. I've actually been really impressed by the bucks. I, you know, we all, every single person on this podcast had them under five wins coming into the season. Didn't right, you did. Dk also did. I definitely did.
Michael Marcangelo:
But I think we met at like six and 11.
Bob Kelly:
I think, but like you guys started at like five maybe four you know, like and bro, they still have a lot of that team that would have super bowl and if Baker Mayfield can be what he was this past two weeks, man I I don't see any reason why this team can't compete and make the playoffs in his own seas, south, and in any reason why they can't compete with really anyone in the league. Honestly, because you know Baker's one of those quarterbacks that, like when he's going man he's, he's got to be so fun to play with. You know, I mean like when, when he's in the huddle with you, he's such a cocky, arrogant asshole but like in such a like a grow way where you like bro.
Michael Marcangelo:
I want to run for a while.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, exact, exactly, man, and it's, I don't know. I like this box team a lot. The only thing that scares me, though, is lovey Smith.
Michael Marcangelo:
He scares the shit out of you because I think he's a terrible coach, but well, and the fact that in the next three weeks they go against the Eagles, the Saints in the line. So there's a real, there's a real probability that they're going to be two and three by very possible.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, but this might be the last time we talk about the box. I'll see that's possible.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, the reason why I was surprised. I thought they should be higher. But then I thought to myself well, knowing how Bobby you know, kind of thinks about these, they're weak. One win against the Vikings, In context now doesn't look like it was really anything right, because we know what the we kind of knew before you mentioned what the Vikings were going to be and I think that they they got the Vikings at the right time, they got the Bears at the right time. I mean, I'm not listen, I don't, I don't mean to tear down Baker Mayfield and all, obviously like Mike Evans going six for 170 and a score like that is. But he just does that. He does that. It doesn't matter if it's magic, if it's TV 12, if it's James Winston, he's going to get his thousand yards always.
Bob Kelly:
He's also going to probably hold his hamstring at like week six or seven. You know what I mean. That's, that's inevitable yeah.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, okay, so we have the, the bucks, at 10, you kind of mentioned lost over the fact that the dirty birds were at nine, but that is. That is surprising.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, that's a storyline. That's a storyline, man, the fact that the NFC South has these two, two and oh three, two and oh teams. I left the Saints out, Saints two and oh yeah, the Saints are two and oh, they're not in top 10. They weren't even on my on my list yet, just cause they don't seem to have an offense.
Michael Marcangelo:
Chargers, I head up another two and oh team.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, no-transcript more I think about it. I think I wrote them off too fast because their defense the Saints is pretty solid. They've held two teams under 20 points so far Granted. One of them was who did they play on Monday? The Raiders? They played the Raiders in the Panthers.
Michael Marcangelo:
No no, no, that's not true, I lied. They didn't play the Raiders on Monday, they played the Panthers on Monday. Yeah, who did they play week one? Uh-huh? Didn't we just say this Was it the Raiders? It was the Raiders, it was no we can cut this part out. No, let's keep it. This is good.
Bob Kelly:
It was the Titans. Titans, week one.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yes, we started them.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, it was Titans week one, but they still have it scored over 20 points. So they scored 20 points week two and 16 week one, and it's just like they have too many weapons to me for them to be faulting like they are. You know, they have a live egg, they have Michael Thomas, they have Rashid Shahid, they have some ballers on offense and even Derek Kars any kind of scrub. You know what?
Michael Marcangelo:
I mean Only one more week without Alvin Tamarra.
Bob Kelly:
That's very true and obviously he adds a whole new element to everything where it's like receiving everything out of the backfield. I mean they could definitely appear on this list soon, but I just because of the unexpectedness of this Saints in the box, you like that recovery Because of the unexpectedness of the Falcons and the Bucks that's why they ended up making the list ahead of them, because, when it comes to the Falcons, I love the way Arthur Smith is running this team man. It's crazy to me that the Falcons, with a quarterback like Desmond Ritter, are two in O man and it's kind of been an impressive two. I mean Bijon Robinson and Tyler Alger might be the best running back 10 of an NFL Right. I mean at least top five.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, but Alger is really hurting his chance, bijon's chance to be rookie of the year, and I feel like he's because he's not a workhorse, he's just putting the carousel.
Bob Kelly:
Which again goes against my my pick.
Michael Marcangelo:
But he's like he's so good in space and if you, you just can't tackle the son of a bitch if you try to go power through you.
Bob Kelly:
That one, that one move where he broke that dude's ankles was just so fucking ridiculous. I think it's possible that Robinson might be the most electric back in the NFL already. Right, I mean, it's he's, he's, he's my, he's in my top three of dudes. That like when Red Zone flashes to the Falcons, I'm like, oh shit, let's go Bijon. Bijon's on right now.
Michael Marcangelo:
It reminds me a lot of like early Zeke. Like yeah, because when Zeke was in the open in his early, early men's career, he could make people miss, he could catch, he could run through people. Now let's hope that this guy doesn't, you know, teeter off six years.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, he doesn't have the fat gene. You know you could always tell Zeke had the fat gene. You know he had the cheeks and, like you know, you can always tell it was there, yeah.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, oh, you know. If that does happen, you know, bijon, we'll see you here up in New England about seven years. Can't wait for it. All right, so we have. We have the Bucks of 10, the Dirty Birds, the Atlanta Thugs at nine and number eight. I feel like you wanted to put them higher than where you put them, because you, you love Trevor.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, you couldn't, I know, you know so to me the Jags have a chief's problem. I don't I don't look too much into this week. I didn't want to drop them too much because they're lost to the chiefs, because I just think that the chiefs are in this team's head. I heard a stat earlier today that was like the Jags are in their last 11 or 12 games, 10 and one against the rest of the NFL and oh and three against chiefs. So it's like listen, this team is really good. They just can't beat the fucking chiefs, no matter how hard they fucking try. That game kind of sucks, by the way, which is really disappointing. Yeah it was bad, yeah, it was really shitty game. But yeah, I just, you know I like the Jags, I don't look too much into this loss. I couldn't put them higher just because of who's ahead of them on this way. I mean, I don't know how good some of these teams have looked, but they're definitely still in that upper echelon in the like fringe contenders. You know, I mean they're not in that top tier, but they're there, they're there. They're lingering for sure.
Michael Marcangelo:
I remember last week DK went on, for he wanted to make sure that he get as much of an answer out of you as possible. He's talked to you about Jaguars or week one, all the expectations, and he's like well, bobby, why do you so? Tell me why you have them here and he's one? Tell them really.
Bob Kelly:
And he disappeared. This week he did disappear, he did.
Michael Marcangelo:
I couldn't like. They can't afford hit. They cannot afford. For him to be a boomer bust, he needs to level off, and if his leveling off is seven for 90 and a touchdown every week, like that's awesome, whatever Right. But well, christian Kirk had a great week. I think he had like 10 or 11 grabs for 110 yards, but no scores. Ridley is the answer. He will elevate the rest of the receiving core and it was. It just felt like he disappeared. I was, I was. I wanted this to be a shootout. I wanted, I wanted to see Trevor Lawrence come back. You know, down 10, make this like 30, 38, 35, whatever, and we get 17, nine, come on, do you think so?
Bob Kelly:
Is it possible that the chiefs just have, like, well, obviously, get to them, but is, do they just have the top tier defense? Is that like, is this a different era of the chiefs that we're looking at? Where it's not? I guess I'm getting ahead of myself, but like I feel like that's that's. I don't think so. I feel like the bucks are not the bucks, the jacks just got shut down by a Chris Jones led defense and like I don't know if that's just again a factor of like the chiefs own the Jags, but it just it felt like it was a defensive struggle and like it feels a little I mean, I'm always never in this back to New England, but it feels a little like early 2000s Patriots cults, right, where we just had their number and so, until eventually, what we didn't.
Michael Marcangelo:
but if I were to tell you that Travis Kelsey and Chris Jones are coming back for the game and, by the way, the chiefs are playing the Jaguars I bet you would not pick the final score to be 17 to nine. No no, definitely not. So it was a weird game. It was weird, that's why.
Bob Kelly:
I don't want to look too much into it.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, the Jags. I feel like the Jags. They held their own. But here's number seven is my favorite team to talk about. It's like the biggest Jekyll and Hyde. So go ahead. Number seven and the week three power Rangers.
Bob Kelly:
So it's the Buffalo Bills. Man, I know that I'm probably going to get some hate for this. You know it seemed they came back out of their graveyard after week one lost to the Jets. But that Jekyll and Hyde thing, man, the teams that are ahead of them, like I know what the bills have been the last three years. I know that they are a top tier team. They probably belong in the top four. You know what I mean. They're definitely a part of that tier, talent wise and like, projection wise for this season. Like, I definitely expect them to be back at the top of this list. But right now, with the way that the teams that are playing ahead of them, I can't feasibly take this team that I saw lose to the Jets, and weak one, and put them ahead of the rest of the teams on the list Without.
Michael Marcangelo:
Aaron Rodgers.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, without Aaron Rodgers, exactly. And it's like you cannot lose that game if you are a top tier team in the NFL, you just can't. So I couldn't put them higher. I know what the projection is for this team. Listen, I get it, but right now they're not a top 16 in the NFL, definitely not.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, no, I agree. Listen, I think when you say like I know what the projection is for this team, I think what you mean to say is I know what the expectations are around the country Right For this team, but based off of the first two weeks, like you just blend it together, it doesn't. I'm not convinced that they want to do what we think they can do. I don't. It feels like you know, josh Allen's in like his breadfire, minus the percocet phase, where he's just going to just swing the ball all over the place and he's going to alienate his top target, stefan digs. That's going to kind of percolate over. And we, the last four years I'll say four years, the last four years we've always been tricked into thinking that the the rushing attack for the bills will not actually be all of Josh Allen, but they're going to have a running back that will take some of the some of the load off. This week it was, it was, it was what. Jared Cook, 17 carries, 123 yards yeah, I bet next week he has. He has under 45. Like that's just what happens.
Bob Kelly:
It does seem to be the bills, I know. However, however, on that same point, if they can have a running back that can actually do this and take that load off of Josh Allen, if James Cook can be a lovely cook that we saw in the past, then yeah it's. It's this the disguise to learn for this team, because that's what they've been missing. And Devin Singletary was awesome, but he wasn't an electric playmaker. He wasn't ever going to go for 17, for 14 and 150. I think Cook does have that ability, but I do agree that the bills. History tells you that this next week he's not going to get more than seven carries.
Michael Marcangelo:
You know that's what the bills do in your right there, so that's why they couldn't go any higher. How much of it? How much of it for you? On to the next one. How much of it is there A running back not wanting to take the reins from Josh Allen as much as Josh Allen not wanting to give the reins up to the running back? I bet it's a little bit of both the.
Bob Kelly:
The efficiency of Josh Allen in the red zone definitely has something to do with it. You know what I mean. Like I bet he gets a cup. He definitely has freedom at this point within that offense to be able to be like this is my fucking play and that's what happens. So I definitely think that that has something to do with it. So maybe you know, having confidence in Coke will change that, because you know I definitely think he showed more willingness to give him the ball and not keep it on those RPOs this week. But I don't know. He reminds me a lot of I don't think of a good comparison for Josh Allen Tony Tony Romo. He he does, because with Romo man, when the game was on the line or when shit hit the fan, he was going to turn the ball over. It was gonna happen, it was, it was, it was, it was a matter of you think he's more like Tony and then then like breadfriars. Okay, I see the breath far comparison, or more. I see what you're saying there, because I do think he's a little bit above a level of Tony Robo. So I won't hate on Josh Allen like that. Okay, yeah, so exactly in prototype. You know what I mean, where it's like. Does that word again Get a little bell out of it? Yeah, you know where it's. That's actually be the title of this episode, just prototype. You know? Week three, prototype, week two, week three. What the fuck is this? Yeah, and that's the style of quarterback he is, is it's a Brett Farr, tony Robo Gunslinger, where it's like that. There's moments where it's amazing and where it's like he looks like the best quarterback in the NFL. But there's moments where you're like, what the fuck was that Like? What are you? Well, like. I can't even fathom what you were seeing on the football field, like that, that air section against the jets in the quarter of the ends or in the the the front of the end zone.
Michael Marcangelo:
I mean, it was the field.
Bob Kelly:
It was offensive Reed, bro, a grievous, just just like. I assume there's balls in the air. You're like, oh no, you know. Oh no, that's good. Yeah, no, he he's just unfathomable sometimes. But there is moments, like I said, where he just looks like the best quarterback in the NFL. It's just it depends how far apart those moments are. I guess you know what I mean.
Michael Marcangelo:
So yeah, number six, a team that it doesn't feel like they've hit their stride yet offensively, but if and when they do, they're going to move about further up this list. So who have?
Bob Kelly:
a number six. Yeah, that's the Ravens man. I'm, I'm, all I know the Ravens. They haven't done enough to join that top tier yet, but we've been saying it for years, for years yeah, get to get this dude some help, get him some guys, man. And they finally did. You know OBJ. You know he's not OBJ he was definitely not, but he's still OBJ. He's still making plays. You know he's going to get dinged up throughout the season, but he's a guy, zay Jones man, zay flowers, zay flowers. Who's? Zay? Zay Jones and Jack. Yeah, zay flowers, this dude is the real deal. I like Zay flowers a lot and I think that's what BC1 was up to. Right, love it. Yeah, love it.
Michael Marcangelo:
And then I think one of the most ridiculous things about Sunday was that Nelson Aguilar contributed more to this one game for the Ravens than he did for two seasons of the Patriots.
Bob Kelly:
Except, I guess, the Cowboys. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the only game he gets the boys. Just don't.
Michael Marcangelo:
But I mean I think his stat line was it was like it was what? Five for 60 in a touchdown. But the thing now is is when you look at the Ravens offense dude is you now have like Lamar has options? You're going to see consistently three guys with more than five catches and definitely more than five. You know seven targets and Andrews flowers, aguilar Beckham I mean Bateman is your fourth. Yeah.
Bob Kelly:
He was, he was, he was one two years ago. Well, yeah, that's, that's what's so crazy about the Ravens. It's just like there's been all these expectations for all these years and they've. They've literally run it like that, not to like rub salt in the wound a little bit, but like the Patriots have run their playmaking for the past three years and it's like, obviously you, I just don't understand what the disconnect is with NFL teams and not realizing that an elite quarterback needs fucking guys to throw the ball team Like I don't. I don't understand how teams just don't understand that. And the Ravens were the main culprit of this four years. I mean, they got, who was it? They got last year I forget who they sounds is Sammy Watkins is two years ago and everyone was like, well, no two years.
Michael Marcangelo:
This is your boy.
Bob Kelly:
Throw the XF, they the X here that does right, and it's like every bad wide receiver they bring in is like four years old. This is the best guy that Lamar has ever thrown the ball to. It's every single time, man. And it's like how can you keep doing this to this guy? And like then you don't want to resign him. And it's like year in and year out, Well, Mar shows that like he's not Justin Fields, he's not. Are you going right?
Michael Marcangelo:
after DK.
Bob Kelly:
Bro, I love Justin Fields but like, even listen, if you guys listen to PMT, even big cat, the biggest Justin Fields supporter of ever see is is is hurting on this guy right now. It is don't, don't get me on Justin. So those, those, those. But no, it's just OK. So I I will make a personal DK.
Michael Marcangelo:
All right, so you already made a personal with me, billy, which is to summarize what you're saying here two years ago, nelson Aguilar would have been his number one. This year is his number three.
Bob Kelly:
Right, but like for every Russian quarterback, walmart Jackson is defying those odd. We've seen this before man, we've seen this script and it doesn't end well, but for for a lot it seems to be ending well to me. We'll see what happens with the Super Bowl, what happens in the playoffs, but like I don't see this guy going away and it's time to get him to fucking help. And he finally has it. So we'll see.
Michael Marcangelo:
Your number five pick. I mean, I have a couple of questions about it, but I'll just let you intro and tell me why you have the, the dolphins, at number five.
Bob Kelly:
I don't know. So they just they look amazing in the first two weeks, man.
Michael Marcangelo:
Amazing.
Bob Kelly:
The they look. Read that office. We'll see what happens to Waddle. I'm a little nervous about his health, but when those two guys are on the field and they have McDaniels's coach, they have a defense that looks pretty solid. I mean, granted, the first week they gave up a lot of points of the chargers, but I feel like a lot of teams are going to do that this year. Yeah, I just, I love that offense and I think, as long as two is healthy, they deserve this spot, man and they're. They're as close to the NFC elite and chiefs as we're going to get in the NFL. The talent wise. In my opinion and you know what I mean when you have those two wide receivers, no one in the NFL and match that speed and there is not a team in the NFL that has a secondary to match up with it. The number one team on this list we will get to later might have an opportunity to do that because of who they have. Tell it wise, but it's got to be tough. We're going to see it, which is going to be an amazing game or it'll be.
Michael Marcangelo:
it'll be six to three. That's the LSU.
Bob Kelly:
Alabama style and very possible. But yeah, no, it's. They're going to be a tough team. If they stay healthy, that's obviously a very big Abbey on the Miami Dolphins for this year. If they stay healthy, they are a team to be reckoned with, at least through the first two weeks of the season.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, I mean listen 100 percent. If I were to tell you that Tyree kill was only going to have five catches for 40 yards before the game, you would have been like, oh, the South, the Dolphins, are going to lose. But they didn't, because Jalen Waddle stepped up. Rihanna Mostard looks like he's the Rihanna Mostard from San Francisco and is what was it? What was it like? 18 for 120 and two touchdowns.
Bob Kelly:
He had that one too. That was like he had that most speed again, man, where as soon as he got through that line he was fucking gone. It was Wow. Was it the 40? I think it was 45 yards, 40 yards up.
Michael Marcangelo:
The thing that stuck out the most to me we kind of talked about this when we were talking about Justin Shields earlier, though was was just the timing of Tua Right, If you compare what he looks like now to what he looked like when Brian Flores was the head coach of Miami who, by the way, I believe Brian Flores should still have a head coaching opportunity but he was not pro to us, Right, Like he. That was not the offense for him. But now it's one, two, three, back foot, damn Five, and then it's a five step drop, Bam it's out. He gets a lot of shit for only making like his first read. Well, listen, if they're fucking open, you just throw.
Bob Kelly:
I mean you just throw in the ball.
Michael Marcangelo:
A couple of a couple of his throws against the Patriots, my New England Patriots. He threw them open, Dimes. Yeah, they weren't open when he threw it and he threw them open. So I think you know. Obviously you want to make sure that he stays healthy, but from all the precautions that they take him with with this helmet, with his WWE classes or Taekwondo classes that he's been going to in the off seasons, phone out of fall. It doesn't matter if you, if you have Tyree Kill oh, that was a rock reference. You're right. If he has Tyree Kill and he had a lot of them they're open. He, he, he. He releases the ball within two and a half seconds. He's not going to get hit that much, he's not. And, by the way, that defense is only going to get better as the year goes on. I mean I said it on the show with Ray I've released this week. Check that you know in the show notes. But the Patriots made Andrew Van Ginkl look like a Demarcus wear. So, like that team is, they're good and I think they're better than five. I think they are.
Bob Kelly:
Oh, the top four, I think, are a set from the rest of the league. I think the top four tier that we're going to get to in a second is a separate tier altogether from the rest of the NFL.
Michael Marcangelo:
I would just argue with. I think that they're better than the third team on your list. You think so, and having seen my team lose them already, I can tell you that, yeah, I do.
Bob Kelly:
The three did see them both. So, OK, that's fair. That's fair and judging by what the weakness is, we're not to spoil it yet we won't. But judging by what the weakness is on that third team and how bad that weakness actually is, I understand what you're saying. I do, but I can't put them there yet. No, not quite yet. Give me a couple more weeks and they might get there. However, Mike McDaniels is my favorite part about the NFL right now. I just want to make that so clear that he is my fucking guy. Like. I feel like if we hung out with him in college he would have been one of our best fucking friends. Man, I'll say that every single week. My favorite part about this week in the NFL actually was the half time. You know they always do the following the coach, you know, with the camera into the NFL. Mike McDaniels sees it and he just starts fucking dead script bro, just as fast as he can, run away from that camera. You can see the cameraman trying to catch up and he's just like bro, this fucking hilarious. If you haven't seen it, go see it. Yeah, they're not part of this top tier yet. Should we, should, I, should? I just jump right into that? Yeah, go ahead, all right, so before this, this, this might surprise a lot of people and you know it's kind of a running storyline on this. I promised I wouldn't do this at the beginning of the season. I promised I wouldn't downgrade this team. It's not some of early losses. I was like, no, I'm not being stupid this year. No, I'm, I'm sticking with this team, but based off of the early play I've seen, number four is the Kansas City Chiefs.
Michael Marcangelo:
Bobby, you just.
Bob Kelly:
I do it to myself. I do it to myself, I know.
Michael Marcangelo:
Well, I think you're working yourself into this shoot Like you. You talk yourself up all off season Like you. Know what I promise you guys. I'm smarter, I've learned by no, no matter what, I am not dropping the Kansas City Chiefs below like number two, because they're Patrick Mahomes week two. Yeah, the number four. I mean by the way they were higher after losing than they are after winning.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, I know it. Just I'm not thrilled about what I'm seeing on the offensive side. Man, I know Mahomes is going to figure it out. I get it, I know he is. He's Patrick Mahomes. You know what I mean. He's the best quarterback, best talented quarterback we've ever seen. You know, talent wise, talent wise. We're not starting that conversation again. I'm not going to get my.
Michael Marcangelo:
I'm not going to shape up a little bit here, but I will just say I can't get Brady boner away from I just say Well, let me just ask you a question, because I think that this should help elevate them moving forward. This list is now it's, it's, it's out there, so we can't change it. Well, I could against any one of the teams that's in front of the of the of the Chiefs right now in a must win situation, would you bet? Would you bet against Patrick Mahomes?
Bob Kelly:
How to maybe top to have a think about it, how to? It would be this OK, so you know number three is the Super Bowl runner-up, so I shared that they be the Philadelphia Eagles. I think I would. I think I would pick them over the Eagles. But just based off of the Eagles putting up 34 points on a Thursday night and working a little bit like the Eagles of old, having switched in that running game and to pick itself back up, is what hooked me back on the Eagles, because that's what the Eagles are going to have. So the Eagles have that running game again. I think they're tough to beat and the Chiefs just haven't showed that. That offense of firepower man, I know it's the same thing that we said last year. I get it, but Cadarius.
Michael Marcangelo:
Oh no, fuck you. Don't do that. I didn't, Darius. This is what you said last year. I know I don't say we Fuck, so we. This is I. I.
Bob Kelly:
But there is Tony being your top wide receiver option is a fucking Roblin man. That is a Roblin. I don't care who is your fucking order of that. Yeah, that's all right. That is a problem. I know Travis Kelsey is there, I know, I know. I know he's a different tight end. He's different. You know it's a different position for Travis Kelsey. I get that, but you still need to have some receiver help and you got to have something on the outside. You got to have a slot, you got to have something, and it's like they're not even utilizing your tenant, right? They're not. Nothing looks right about that offense and I just want to see one week where you're like, ok, ok that's, that's the fucking chiefs.
Michael Marcangelo:
Just get ready for when your number 10 team is like two and five and they trade Mike Evans to the, to the chiefs. Then it's just fucking lights.
Bob Kelly:
Right, yeah, that is Randy Moss all over again. Bro, yeah, for Tom Brady. That's what it would be like, skymore. I heard this on a podcast earlier this week and I got to steal it because I couldn't agree more. Skymore needs to change his fucking number. He 22 is not a wide receiver number. I feel like it's weighing him down a little bit. I mean, to his credit, he hasn't acted like a wide receiver all year. So that's what.
Michael Marcangelo:
I mean dude, so he's just a big receiver.
Bob Kelly:
That's what I mean, dude. So he can't be number 22 anymore. They just switched it up with someone and, yeah, it just looks weird and I just don't believe he's the one receiver when he's out there All right, so gun to your head.
Michael Marcangelo:
We already said that you think that the chiefs might have a shot to beat the Eagles, who are your number three in the power rankings, in a must win situation. But that's good. And now the next team was the team that they actually be in the server bowl three years ago and in a must win situation.
Bob Kelly:
That's weird, isn't it?
Michael Marcangelo:
So I go to the postcard.
Bob Kelly:
The Interfels just repeating itself over and over again. But wait, so before we get on to that, I have to ask you something. So you said the so far the Pats who you know no surprise to anyone here is my favorite team have played the Dolphins and the Eagles so far this year, and you said you think the Dolphins are better, based off of what you saw in that game. What makes you think that? Because I am very intrigued by that. I'm very high in the Dolphins and I would love you know me. I would love to put them ahead of the Eagles. That would be like my favorite fucking thing ever to drop the Eagles down this list because I'm sick of them being a topic. Fuck, I hate the Eagles yeah.
Michael Marcangelo:
So I just felt like a week one against the Eagles. We went down 16 nothing, and that was primarily because of the mistakes that we made on offense and didn't really highlight what they did well on defense. Right, there was more self-sustained wounds. I thought that the game and this is what I, you know, I said I talked to it very earlier this week I think the Patriots are more like the teams, the team that you've seen them be in the first half of both games and then the other team lets up. The reason why I think the Dolphins were are better than the Eagles is because the so we've kind of seen like a little bit of a drop off in the play of Jalen Hurts this year. Right, and I don't know if you know it could be a couple of things. Maybe you can figure him out on film, maybe this is all scheme, but to a, he didn't throw for 464 yards against the Patriots, but it felt like he didn't, like there was never a chance where, where I, I, I looked at that, at our pass rush or our defense, and was like you know what we're in his head? Yeah, the ball, the ball that's high where Christian Gonzalez picked him off, but it just it's good, by the way.
Bob Kelly:
I'm going to.
Michael Marcangelo:
I'm going to tell you this here's why it never felt like there was a momentum shift in that game compared to the Eagles game. That's fair, that's fair.
Bob Kelly:
That's fair. I hear what you're saying. The, the bit, the, the ego, secondary scares the shit out of me If I was an Eagles fan not.
Michael Marcangelo:
not because of it, because Patricia's coaching them up now, so they're going to suck this year.
Bob Kelly:
Is it Patricia?
Michael Marcangelo:
over there, is it? Yeah, he's the defensive special coordinator or whatever, whatever.
Bob Kelly:
It makes a lot of sense. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. They don't want to turn over. So you know, I, just I was just you know it, just get your opinion on it, just because you know I, I really am high on dolphins and I really do want them to be a part of that upper right along, but I just I couldn't hear it, oh yeah. So anyways, back to number three. So number three on my list, our number two, sorry for matters, only question mark coming into the season to me man was Brock Purdy. He obviously had that injury at the end of last season. He had a noodle arm, you know, coming into the season, but he looked good through the first two weeks. He looks like a real solid NFL quarterback. You know he's not going to like the world on fire, but he's definitely not going to lose you any games and he might win you a game here or there with the weapons they have, the defense they have. And just the first two weeks they beat teams in a fashion that it's like, okay, this team is here for real. You know what I mean Like. So week one against the Steelers, who the Steelers look pretty, you know they look pretty good. In week two they absolutely dismantled them. And then the Rams game. Listen, I know Sean McVey might have a deal with fan duo or something like that to kick that steal at the end of the game.
Michael Marcangelo:
Did you watch First Take? Yeah, yeah. Did you see Mad Dog today? Yes, yes, oh, I mean, he cost me $10,000.
Bob Kelly:
So fucking good, then it's like the funny part about the whole thing is like there really is, so he explained it by saying so, if everyone out there, there is no time left in the game. I think there's four seconds, like three seconds, something like that. Rams were down by 10 and Meg May decided to kick a field call with four seconds. They have literally be knowing time would run out and there is no reason to do that, other than that the Rams were a or the 49ers were a 10 point favorite in this game.
Michael Marcangelo:
I thought they were. I thought they were seven and a half, it was seven.
Bob Kelly:
It was seven. No, it was seven, and it turned into a push or a seven and a half.
Michael Marcangelo:
There were seven and a half and this, seven and a half, yeah, this and then and then McBain goes. Well, you know we did that for point differential at the end of the year.
Bob Kelly:
Fuck you Like fuck, get out of here. No, you didn't. I checked, checked, checked his bank account, everyone. He had a super boost. He had a super boost going. Yeah, it was Bob, but so that wasn't as close as seven points. You know, if you look at starting to 23, you're like, oh, that was a close game. No, the 49ers handily beat the Rams. The Rams hung in for a while, but the 49ers all the way. At the end they were clearly more talented football team and I just think that's the way it's going to go for the rest of the year. And to me, I think we're we're we're kind of on a new dawn of the NFC, that we're going to see the rival rate come back again. We've already seen two iterations of it. Obviously, everyone out there knows who the number one team is on this list. We've both. We don't need to transition to it yet, but I think it's coming back. I think I think the rival is coming back and I think the 49ers are obviously a team that's going to be reckoned with for a few years to come. And that defense, the offense Debo, christian McCaffrey, you know, you go on the list and it's just like these dudes are ballers and if they have a quarterback that that can not lose the game, and maybe one of you they're going to do.
Michael Marcangelo:
Listen, I wholeheartedly agree that they they are the second best team in the league. I think that Brock Purdy is in the best situation possible as Mr Arellano, where he doesn't have all he has to do is stay healthy and not cost them a game, and this team will win 14 games in a season. I mean McCaffrey, debo, I, you, and then, if you need him, if you need him, george Kittle's still there, like you know, like he's the like fourth offensive option, which is fucking wild. So, no, I really agree with, I think, the one thing that, just to call back to when we first started the show, storyline is it hookah? How do you say his last name?
Bob Kelly:
Nakuha, nakuha. Is that right, nakuha?
Michael Marcangelo:
Does he? Is it? Does he have 30 receptions in the first?
Bob Kelly:
Fucking absurd man.
Michael Marcangelo:
He's wild, he's so I mean 15 for 147.
Bob Kelly:
Is so. Is Cooper Coppa? I heard this earlier this weekend. It really made me think it's Cooper Coppa, system receiver. Is that? Is it just a system? And it's like certain wide receivers are just going to thrive in this ram system because he's he's lighting the world on fire with these numbers. This is, this is like on race numbers what he's doing in these first two weeks. Man is fucking wild and this is a dude that was undrafted in every single fantasy draft out there. There was not one fantasy draft where this dude was drafted and he's just. I think he's number one receiver in fantasy right now. Right.
Michael Marcangelo:
Well, if you're in a PPR league, yeah, because he has 30 points just for catches. Well, maybe All right, so I'm not to drag this out a little bit long, but I do want to just tie back the number. But you know this game and the chiefs. I'm asking a question If, if the Rams are still good, that we know that there are lacking draft picks, if the chiefs offer you A first and a second for Cooper Cup, do you do it? Wow, because if, if, if what you just said is true and maybe, maybe, like maybe, your hypothesis has proven into an actual fact that the Cooper Cup is a system wide receiver, you get to two at well, who's who's averaging seven catches a game? You got Puck. Who's averaging 15.? If they're the chiefs, why don't you send them an offer? Because Cooper Cup and the Holmes, that would be naughty.
Bob Kelly:
Wow, hmm, mike, you might have just started something, bro, that might be. You might have just started a NFL rumor. If, within the next few days, we see that trade were pop up, I'm going to be pissed. I'm ready for that. Started that, started here. 100 percent, that's right, it's juicy. I didn't think about that because you know you're 100 percent right where it's like. You see these numbers, just do this, put it up. If I'm the Rams GM, I'm at least thinking about what you can get for them, because of what you want from pick for the next seven years. They try to. Yeah, that's true Wow.
Michael Marcangelo:
Just saying Ready to hear first.
Bob Kelly:
You just dropped to Brad Stevens moment. Remember when you like calls for Brad Stevens being fired three years ago.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, you fucking lost your mind.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, you just kind of blew my mind or whatever. I didn't even fucking consider that. That's wild, that's, that's, that's. That's a legitimate trade rumor that would look out for.
Michael Marcangelo:
And it transforms two teams.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, hmm, like you're you're, you're smart guy man. That's, that's something.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, that locked me in the shed. That's something the number one team for the second week in a row. It's two, it's them boys, it's the Dallas. You know, I'm.
Bob Kelly:
I'm not going to lie, though I'm scared out of my fucking mind. I'm so terrified about this man because, like you, you, you and anyone else has nothing to even argue, and that's what's so scary is like I can sit here and be like the Cowboys and the best team in the NFL right now, and you, like you, were the one who would point out every single hate that you could possibly do about this Cowboys team. You just, you know you're like, well, yeah, they, they might be. You know what I mean. It's very possible they're the darlings of the NFL right now, because there's deep ends and I'm scared shitless about it. I've never been in this position where I'm like I'm trying to rack my brain for, like you know what I mean, I'm, I'm a, what they are.
Michael Marcangelo:
Teen in three, like four years ago. What do you mean? You've never been in this position.
Bob Kelly:
But there was always like kind of like a shadow over their head, of like even that year was like two ruckies, you know what I mean? It was like there was always something that someone could point to and be like this is your flaw, but like, do you see one through?
Michael Marcangelo:
the first few weeks is what it would make you feel better if I, if I, if I found one. Yeah, yeah, please do, please, zach, you played fucking Zach Wilson.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, but we fucking dominated. Yeah, as you should. The pages are about to.
Michael Marcangelo:
So if the old one to Patriots dominated the team that you're just dominated, does that make you feel better or worse about yourself? Yeah, but like we, it's 60 to 90.
Bob Kelly:
It's 60 to 10 in the first two weeks, man.
Michael Marcangelo:
Sixty to 10. Yeah, and 60 to 10. And like 30 of those points are squared by your defense, you're off.
Bob Kelly:
It's like we we, we haven't even hit our highest level yet. That's what's so scary about this team is like they're only going to get better Gary talked about it where it's like there's, there's one team in the NFL that when the Dolphins are clicking, it also and there's can stop them, and that is it Dallas fucking Cowboys. And that is crazy to me. Maybe, maybe, right, but I mean Stefan Gilmore and Trevon Diggs are the two.
Michael Marcangelo:
Well, it's only because Diggs bites Like he's aggressive, which I love, and this isn't a not, but he's not as aggressive anymore.
Bob Kelly:
That's the thing.
Michael Marcangelo:
is like he's not, he had to be aggressive against. Again, it was the Giants, and I know, I know the Giants, but like, who's their best offensive? Well, they don't really have one, ok. And then it was the Jets, and it's Gary Wilson. You know, Wilson, he locked that motherfucker down. Zach Wilson was on the ball, mr, and then we were going to get what? The cartels. But like three, three, three. You know every three. You know, bobby, don't worry about it.
Bob Kelly:
How much are they going to beat the fucking cartels by this week?
Michael Marcangelo:
Oh, I'm pretty sure that over, I'm pretty sure the spread is, is it 12?
Bob Kelly:
is 12. Yeah, I feel like I might get higher than that. Feel like I could go up to 14.
Michael Marcangelo:
I took the under, by the way, I took the what's, what's the out under the spread?
Bob Kelly:
You think they're.
Michael Marcangelo:
Oh sorry, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I took the cartels in the spread, like I mean, because I just think that they could yeah but they're not going to.
Bob Kelly:
This defense is too good man. This isn't so like I. I know the mindset and I get it. I totally do.
Michael Marcangelo:
You're freaking out.
Bob Kelly:
No, this defense is different, bro. They're the floor to. This defense is like it If we play a team that is below average offensively and has a quarterback that's prone to mistakes. It's going to be like we saw week one against the Giants. Or it's going to be like we saw against the Vikings last year. Like it's, the defense is up to kill the sheer man. Plus, we don't even have Jonathan Wilson back yet. Who is our starting safety? Who who is one of the best pass rushing safeties in the league. So again, he can struggle in coverage. He he's not the best guy one on one, but he doesn't need to be when you have those two corners. You know what I mean. He can be that hard hitting safety Plus you had. I can't believe I've gotten this far without mentioning him Maybe the best defensive player.
Michael Marcangelo:
Since this was.
Bob Kelly:
Taylor, Mike Parsons. Man, this dude, I've never. Have you ever seen a dude that's faster and stronger than every person on the football field? Every single play, every single play. You see him, you're like. This dude is better than everyone, Everyone. He's unbelievable.
Michael Marcangelo:
You listen? I'm a huge Michael Parsons fan.
Bob Kelly:
Well, this week he had to hit two sacks. It's nine quarterback Haris and I think it was like four tackles for a loss. And that play where he literally just fucking took the ball from that, that will cook, that will cook. And running like ours is like no bitch. That's my fucking ball and it's talking from him. You should have touched down. Can't, just Can't.
Michael Marcangelo:
I've never seen anything like the LT thing is. I can't make a comparison because LT played in an era where it hasn't transitioned to fully offensive. Oh, I'm just asking a question and just please try to take off your cowboys onesie for one second when you're answering this. Do you think that Michael Parsons right now is better, is better than a young Ray Lewis?
Bob Kelly:
I think he's comparable I said better no I think he's. I think he's comparable.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, I would say the exact same thing. Yeah, there has not been a disrupter Like an attitude of Ray Lewis. Yeah, I mean, Michael Parsons has done it and I ruins.
Bob Kelly:
He ruins game plans, man, you see. You see it where it's like they, they have something they're trying to do and my good, just fucking sniffs it out and he is to the spot that they want to go every fucking time. I, yeah, I think that's a great comparison. It's like I'll T Ray Lewis and Michael Parsons, ray Lewis and Michael. If Michael continues on this progression that he's going on, man, he is 100 percent in that category of defensive players because it's it's it's unheard of Like you see good DNs, you know. I mean. You see the Watts, you see. You see, you know David and clown and you see a Miles.
Michael Marcangelo:
Gary, those are literally the two names that I was going to make the comparison to you, but they're linemen.
Bob Kelly:
I was like those the first to pop up was county and what it put. The difference is is they can disappear at times because they are one. You know what I mean. They, when it comes down to it, they're not going to be able to get sideline to sideline. Micah, micah, depending on the play man, you, you see it where it's like. He just reads it and he, he's on the line and he steps back and all of a sudden he's on the fucking hash marks and you fucking get there, man, he's, he's unbelievable.
Michael Marcangelo:
He's like. He's like a linebacker or Revis.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, yes, where she's just you. You expect a big play. That's, that's a perfect comparison, because it's like you expect a big play where you see it set up and you see it in the burning. We've all seen, you know, we all sit here, we all know ball, as they say. So you see a play unfold and you're like, oh, like you know the set up. You're like, oh, fuck, this isn't good. And all of a sudden you just see someone come out of fucking nowhere to bust the play up and you're like, oh, that was fucking cool. And fuck yeah, that's my department's in a nutshell, where you just like we're fucked. Oh no, we're not, because we have Micah Parsons, so we're not fucked, we're, actually was a four. Cool, yeah, it's, it's, it's amazing, it's a different level, you know it's.
Michael Marcangelo:
I might have been a. I might have been a little low with my nine and eight projection for the Cowboys, but I'm just going to ask you one last, hopefully mind blowing, question before before I turn it back over to you. Yeah, through two games, have you noticed that this kind of feels like the 2019 Patriots the book, the boogeyman defense that started out eight no, but never actually beat anybody.
Bob Kelly:
I get what you're saying because of who. They played the first two weeks and, no, no three weeks, because they're, they're. What They've all been Cardinals yeah, that's. Let's see that's gonna be fun. I'm just getting happy thinking about all this shit is gonna happen this week.
Michael Marcangelo:
I would. If they lose the Cardinals, they won't. I don't know what will you do if they do.
Bob Kelly:
They will. I am not. We're gonna let that, I'm not going to let you do that to me, because like there's.
Michael Marcangelo:
no, it's gonna be bad.
Bob Kelly:
It's gonna be bad. There's no way. There's literally no way, because this defense, because of this defense, the floor is so high for this team, like if the offense doesn't turn the ball over 14 times, there's no way the Cardinals can beat them, because they're just not going to be able to move the ball. It's literally a boss. That's the clip right there. That's it. I'll jump off the bridge. Is what's going to happen if they lose the fucking Cardinals? But yeah, I mean it's. It's special. I haven't felt I was texting my buddy earlier, who's who's? Also that hair Cabo is fit and you know we've been friends since we were like 10, 11 years old, so there's more of you. We've we. There is more of us I know who grew up in Massachusetts and see he live right there. It was fucking crazy, but we've been through some shit when it comes to the Cowboys. We've we've seen some fucking teams and we've seen some some, some heartbreaks. We've seen a lot of shit when it comes to Cowboys, but we both agree that this is the best defense we've ever seen on a Cowboys roster since we started watching this team. It is like the the floor is the highest that I can imagine for any Cowboys team, where it's like if they don't, if, if they can't get past any team except maybe the 49ers, is the only team I'll accept defeat to in the NFC. It would be such a massive disappointment because of who this team actually can be and who they are. You know what I mean. Like the only way I can see this season going south is if that really turns into that turnover reading quarterback and the offense loses it its way and doesn't keep running the ball and they don't play towards that defensive strategy.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, I don't think. I think we have a lot that happened, though I don't think that's gonna.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, I don't think that's gonna happen, man, and and that's another thing, so that's a good point. So McCarthy's really impressive.
Michael Marcangelo:
I hate to say.
Bob Kelly:
I hated him last year but, like the penalties are down, the Cowboys mistakes are down, those those moments where you're like, oh, here we go, that's not happening and it's just like it feels. Like McCarthy just was like fuck this, fuck this, you know not being held accountable, fuck all this shit. I am taken over. This team, this is my team and that's what we're seeing, because I mean that's, if you remember, that's what the Packers teams were back in the day, man, they made no fucking penalties. They had a really good defense, was like Woodson and Rogers was really good, but he he wasn't. He wasn't the amazing Aaron Rogers that we knew him, that we came to know over the years. Like that 2007 Packers team man, wasn't this electric, crazy Packers team? Remember they were the arm it was still.
Michael Marcangelo:
That was so bread far.
Bob Kelly:
The no, the one, that that lost to the Steelers or that beat the Steelers, the one that beat the Steelers 2011. Yeah, 2002.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, whatever you know that wasn't like the was.
Bob Kelly:
That wasn't that the relaxed Packers. That was like the RELA X. Packers, where it was like an offense that was struggling but the defense carried it and they were just disappointed as fuck and that's why he was like relax, everyone's going to be OK and they ended up winning the Super Bowl. That's the type of team Carthus trying to build where it's like. It's not about trying to be the most electric. I know we have the playmakers, but we have the special defense and that's what we're going to ride on and that's what it seems like they're doing so far. I'm excited for week four or week five. Play the 49ers. That's obviously like the biggest test. What week four, bro?
Michael Marcangelo:
Week four bro Patriots.
Bob Kelly:
dad is Patriots. Week five is the 49ers. The Patriots games get weird. I just have a feeling that's going to be a weird fun game. It always is, don't know Bill can scheme, it always is man.
Michael Marcangelo:
Well, I mean hopefully, bobby, you're three. No, I'll go into the Patriots game. I really I really hope you are, sounds like. If you're not, then you're going to be jumping off a bridge which we do not condone, endorse or support. All right, but I think that does it for the Power Rangers show, right.
Bob Kelly:
Yeah, two weeks in a row. I'm going to mention it every week so that I can keep the Cowboys up before At the top position. Two weeks in a row, guys, let's make it three, come on.
Michael Marcangelo:
Yeah, with that one. Cardinals, good for you. So for the real VK, bob Kelly, this is Michael Marganjula saying. Thank you so much for listening to this and the point. We'll talk to you next week.