PMT DB
PMT DB
Coach Jon Gruden in Studio, Joe Flacco's TNF Masterclass, and Week 7 Picks
The vibes are high because Joe Flacco has officially saved Thursday Night Football. The Bengals outlasted the Steelers 33-31 in a shootout that felt like vintage Flacco, and Big Cat is ready to start planning the parade route in Cincinnati. While the defense still has some major holes, the connection between Flacco and Jamar Chase is undeniable, and it has the guys looking at the playoff picture through rose-colored glasses.
Big CatThe Bengals will finish 10-7 if they beat the Jets and the Bears in their next two games
If they beat the Jets and the Bears... that would be five and four. They play the Patriots, Ravens, Bills, Ravens. Let's say they go one and three there... that would make 'em six and seven. Then they beat the Dolphins, Cardinals and Browns to finish the season. By my math, that's 10 and seven.
PFT pointed out that Mike Tomlin’s obsession with the veteran quarterback might actually lead to a reunion down the road, mostly because Tomlin is tired of having to gameplan against him twice a year.
PFT CommenterJoe Flacco will eventually play for the Steelers because Mike Tomlin respects him so much
I think one day [Joe Flacco] is gonna end up playing for the Steelers. Because Mike Tomlin absolutely hates Joe Flacco. He respects him and he hates playing against him.
Week 7 Preview and the Dianna Russini Interference
The Week 7 board is loaded, starting with a London game that actually features two teams with winning records. While the Rams are dealing with a weird travel schedule, Big Cat is leaning heavily on their recent performance for the gamblers out there.
Big CatThe Rams against the spread are a must-bet because they are 11-3 in their last 14 games
The Rams are just knocking people out against the spread recently... they're 11 and 3 against the spread in their last 14 games. Yep. One of those was the blocked field goal by the Eagles... they should be 12 and 2 at that point.
Transitions got a bit chaotic when Max started spiraling about the Eagles and their lack of offensive identity. To get to the bottom of the AJ Brown trade rumors, the guys called up Dianna Russini to see if Max's season was officially over. Dianna didn't exactly calm Max's nerves, though she did provide some clarity on the roster situation.
Dianna RussiniThe Eagles are not currently trading AJ Brown
Right now, I will tell you 'cause it just was something that I was part of the last few hours. They they are not trading [AJ Brown].
Max wasn't the only one feeling the pressure, as he declared the upcoming matchup against the Vikings as the point of no return for Philadelphia.
MaxIf the Eagles lose to the Vikings, their season is dead
This is the do or die game. If you lose third week in a row, to Carson Wentz... if they lose this game, I think it comes crumbling down.
Elsewhere in the picks segment, PFT dug into the Mike McDaniel era in Miami, pointing out a staggering stat about how the Dolphins perform when the competition actually steps up.
PFT CommenterMike McDaniel's record against winning teams (3-15) proves the Dolphins are frauds who can't beat good opponents
I looked into Mike McDaniel's stats in terms of teams that he's played with losing records and teams that he is played with winning records... his record against winning teams [is] three and 15. And against teams with losing records... he is 26 and 13. So much, much better against bad teams than good teams.
Jon Gruden Talks Grinders and QB Tiers
Coach Jon Gruden joined the show in studio to do what he does best: talk ball and highlight the guys who are out there grinding. He's been deep in his film room, and he's seeing a massive resurgence in Tampa Bay, specifically with a quarterback who reminds him of a Green Bay legend.
Jon GrudenBaker Mayfield would be the NFL MVP if the season ended today
We were on that Fox show and they asked me who I thought the MVP would be and I said, if we did it today, it'd be Baker. And I just compare him to Brett Favre when we were in Green Bay. He brought life to the huddle.
Gruden didn't hold back on the Eagles either, echoing some of the concerns Max has been shouting into the void all morning. He noted that the championship DNA from their Super Bowl run seems to have evaporated, leaving a team that looks disconnected on the field.
Jon GrudenThe Eagles lack the chemistry and caring for one another that they had during their Super Bowl run
The Eagles aren't the same team. The chemistry of the team is not the same... They're not as good because the players that won the Super Bowl aren't there. And offensively... It just doesn't look like they care a lot about each other right now.
However, Coach is a massive believer in what Raheem Morris is building in Atlanta. Between a dominant run game and a defense that plays with a collective chip on its shoulder, Gruden thinks the Falcons are the real deal.
Jon GrudenThe Falcons are for real because their defense and young offensive weapons have reached elite status
I like 'em man. I like 'em... What they did coming back, beating Washington, going on a buy and coming back and taking it to Buffalo on national television... I think they have a lot firepower, man. Drake London is starting to play like Andre Johnson. Kyle Pitts is showing why he was the top 10 pick.
I think the Pittsburgh Steelers have arguably the best fourth quarter pass rush. They got three ends that can kick your ass.
Fyre Fest and Final Thoughts
Fyre Fest of the week featured PFT dealing with a hydration-related disaster in his car and Zac dealing with a mystery flood in his apartment that might involve a serial killer neighbor. Big Cat is also struggling with his annual fall attempt to "dress like an adult," which mostly just involves people making fun of his new jeans.
If the Bengals keep winning with Flacco, we might actually have to start taking the AFC North seriously again.
