PMT DB
PMT DB
Coach Ron Rivera on the '85 Bears, Riverboat Ron, and Week 10 Picks
The Bengals and Ravens just played one of the games of the year on Thursday night, and naturally, it ended in total chaos and heartbreak for Cincinnati. Joe Burrow played out of his mind, Jamar Chase looked like he was playing against a high school JV team, and they still found a way to lose. PFT is ready to call the season for them, even if they look like a top-tier squad.
PFT CommenterThe Bengals are one of the best teams in the AFC but will probably miss the playoffs
I'm walking away from this Bengals game and I'm thinking the Bengals are one of the best teams in the AFC. And they're probably not gonna make the playoffs.
Big Cat, on the other hand, is deep in the Joe Burrow tank. He’s refusing to let go, even with the Bengals sitting at a record that makes the playoffs look like a pipe dream. It’s a sickness, but he’s betting on the talent overcoming the Bengals-ness of it all.
Big CatI am never going to give up on Joe Burrow and I think the Bengals will still make the playoffs.
I'm never gonna give up on the Bengals. I don't know. It's a sickness at this point. I'm not gonna give up on Joe Burrow... I think they might be able to do it. If they can beat the [Los Angeles] Chargers, I think they can do it. It's crazy to say, but I think they might be able to do it.
The Riverboat and the '85 Bears
Coach Ron Rivera joined the show in studio and was absolute money. He’s in his first year out of coaching in nearly three decades, and he’s finally learning what it’s like to be a regular guy on Sundays. It turns out even an NFL lifer can only handle so much junk food and nine straight hours of RedZone before needing a walk. He told an incredible story about the origin of the "Riverboat Ron" nickname, which actually started with a 20-page report and a meeting with the legendary John Madden.
Ron RiveraJohn Madden's advice to ignore 'the book' and trust coaching instincts on fourth down changed my career.
I said to him, I was going by the book. [Madden] said, 'What book?' He said, 'Ron, you know enough football, you've done enough football to do these things. You know when's the right time to do it. Nobody else does.' I realized I was doing what was safe. What was acceptable. Because back then nobody went for it on fourth. From that point on, that's the way I looked at things.
Coach also got into the nitty-gritty of why analytics guys drive him crazy sometimes. For a guy who played for Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka, the idea that you can measure the game without accounting for the feeling on the sideline is insane. He’s seen momentum shift a locker room too many times to ignore the human element.
Ron RiveraAnalytics are flawed because they cannot account for the emotional impact of momentum on a football game.
There are some aspects of the game people don't believe in. It's crazy because people that truly believe in numbers, pure analytics, do not believe in momentum. They don't believe in the emotional part of the game. There's an emotion that goes throughout a player's body... this is not measurable. People that truly believe in the numbers don't understand how you can sit there and say, well, momentum has taken over.
He also gave us some insight into his time in Washington and Carolina. He specifically glowed about Christian McCaffrey’s arrival in the league, noting that CMC was more professional as a rookie than most veterans are at the end of their careers.
Ron RiveraChristian McCaffrey is the ultimate professional because of his meticulous pre- and post-practice recovery routine.
[Christian McCaffrey] got out early, he warmed up before practice. He got done, he warmed down after practice. He went in, he took care of his body. He got in the ice tub, he got in a hot tub. He did all the extra stuff that you're supposed to do... he was that mature when he showed up [as a rookie]. He really is one of my favorite guys, just because of who he was and the way he did things.
Week 10 Preview and Picks
Moving into the weekend slate, the board is looking weird. We have the Giants and Panthers heading to Germany, a game that PFT suggests everyone should boycott for the sake of the sport. Big Cat is actually backing the Giants because their defensive line might be the only functional unit on either side of the ball in Munich.
Big CatThe Giants will win the international game in Germany against the Panthers
I actually think the Giants are gonna win. Do you know the Giants are leading the league in Sacks? 35. Their defensive line is very good... I like the Giants in this game just because I'm gonna bet it because it's gonna be on.
In the noon window, the Commanders and Steelers is the clear game of the day. PFT is terrified of the Mike Tomlin road underdog juju, especially with the Steelers coming off a bye. It’s a massive measuring stick game for Jayden Daniels and the new-look Washington offense.
PFT CommenterMike Tomlin as a road underdog after a bye week is one of the most dangerous spots in the NFL.
Mike Tomlin underdog on the road off a bye where the Steelers are 13 and 4 after the bye under Tomlin. I don't feel comfortable about this game [as a Commanders fan] and I'm very uncomfortable about TJ Watt because he does bad things to good quarterbacks.
Big Cat is also eyeing the Bills-Colts matchup. While everyone is jumping on Buffalo, he thinks the Colts are in the ultimate "back against the wall" spot with Joe Flacco under center. It’s a classic trap game scenario with the Bills potentially looking ahead to their showdown with the Chiefs.
Big CatThe Colts are a great bet as home underdogs against the Bills because they are in a must-win situation.
I weirdly think this might be a good spot for the Colts... I like the Colts in this game simply because when you make the switch to Joe Flacco, you're essentially saying we have to make the playoffs this year. This is a must win for the Colts. Also kind of a weird spot for the Bills... they essentially wrapped up the AFC East and they have the Chiefs on deck.
Fyre Fest and Final Thoughts
Max is currently on the couch by decree of President Pug, and he's not handling the spotlight well. He’s also miserable because he’s started "preseason" dieting for his upcoming physical. It’s a move we’ve all done: logging every calorie for three weeks just so the doctor doesn't give you the "you're going to die" look.
MaxThe only way to successfully approach a doctor's physical is by dieting for three weeks beforehand so they don't yell at you.
I started counting calories this week. I started logging everything. I got a physical three weeks from the day I scheduled it so I could get three weeks of trying to lose weight preseason before I go to the physical... it's not going to be like, holy shit, you're gonna die. It'll just be not as bad.
PFT’s Fyre Fest involves the state of Louisiana and a potential Mike the Tiger imposter. Apparently, there’s a conspiracy that a fake tiger is being brought to the LSU-Alabama game, and PFT refuses to back a team that uses a stunt double for their mascot.
PFT CommenterI am betting against LSU because they are using a fake Mike the Tiger on the sidelines
It appears that they are now bringing a tiger back onto their sidelines... it seems like it might be a fake mike, the tiger that they're putting on the sidelines, because people took pictures... and they compared the stripes and they think that it's a duplicate Mike. It's a fake Mike the tiger... in which case I am going to be betting against LSU.
Whatever happens this weekend, just remember that if the Bears lose to the Patriots, Big Cat might actually turn into a pillar of salt on the gambling stream.
