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NFL With Brian Baldinger, NFL Trade Deadline, College Football + We Elect A President

Wednesday, November 6, 202418 takes

Its an important day in America so we have decided to formally elect a president (-). We talk MNF (-) and NFL trade deadline and the Commanders may be all in (-). We talk college football, chaos in the Big 12 and James Franklin can't win the big one (-). Hot Seat/Cool Throne including Gerrit Cole opting out of his opt out and Ja Morant is a highlight reel (-). Brian Baldinger joins us to talk NFL, how to stop the Lions, what freaks he's been watching on film, what teams are still frisky and who would be the best 2 win team (-). We finish with listener submitted roasts (-).

Brian Baldinger on the Unstoppable Lions, Trade Deadline, and College Chaos

While the rest of the country was glued to the news, Big Cat and PFT focused on the most important vote of the year: electing a President of the podcast. In a landslide victory, Pug was named Commander-in-Chief with Blake Bortles agreeing to serve as his Vice President (after checking if he was allowed to decline the top job). The new administration immediately got to work, with President Pug promising a free popcorn machine for the office while the guys turned their attention to the Monday Night Football clash between the Chiefs and the Bucs.

Watching the Chiefs right now is like watching a horror movie where the killer just won't stay down. No matter how many mistakes they make or how many injuries Patrick Mahomes seemingly suffers before jogging them off, they find a way to break the opponent's heart in the fourth quarter.

Win
Nov 6, 2024
#24875
Big CatBig Cat

The Chiefs follow a predictable pattern of looking beatable before executing perfectly on third down to win

The Chiefs are going to play every game the exact same way where you think the Chiefs might lose and then they're gonna be perfect on third down and they're gonna get a big defensive stop and Patrick Mahomes is gonna make a big play.

The Chiefs continued this trend throughout the season, finishing with several one-score wins despite often trailing or looking stagnant.

Big Cat and PFT were specifically incensed by Todd Bowles’ decision to kick an extra point rather than going for two at the end of regulation. It was a classic vibe-check failure that ignored the reality of playing against Mahomes in overtime.

Win
Nov 6, 2024
#14544
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Todd Bowles is a coward for not going for two against the Chiefs

Todd Bowles is the biggest fucking coward in the world... You somehow got yourself in position where you can win the game, score a touchdown, and then you have the opportunity to go for two on the road Monday football against an undefeated team. Or you can kick an extra point like a coward, go to overtime and think that you can win an overtime against literally Patrick Mahomes.

The Buccaneers lost in overtime without their offense touching the ball, essentially proving the 'cowardice' led to a loss.

The Trade Deadline and a Bears Funeral

The trade deadline saw the Commanders and Lions bolstering their rosters for a deep January run. PFT is officially feeling the soup in DC after the Marshawn Lattimore trade, and Hank is even looking at the top of the NFC standings with some lofty expectations for the Commies.

Loss
Nov 6, 2024
#24877
HankHank

The Commanders could finish as the number one seed in the NFC

I was looking at the schedule and the standings. I think you guys [Commanders] could be the one seed.

The Commanders did not finish as the 1-seed; the Lions secured the top spot in the NFC.

On the flip side, the mood in Chicago is subterranean. Big Cat has officially entered the "let go and let god" phase of Bears fandom, convinced that the organization is a black hole that will eventually consume Caleb Williams’ talent while every other rookie flourishes elsewhere.

Push
Nov 6, 2024
#14545
Big CatBig Cat

Caleb Williams will get ruined by the Bears and every other rookie quarterback in his class will be better

I'm officially down bad, and Caleb Williams is gonna get ruined. Drake May's gonna be better, Jayden Daniels is already better, Bo Nix is better, Michael Penix is gonna be better. They're all gonna be better and I'm just back in the whole cycle.

Daniels finished as the OROY, while Caleb and the Bears struggled through a coaching change and offensive identity crisis.

College Football Chaos and the Franklin Problem

The first CFP rankings are out, and Big Cat is leading the charge for the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers. The disrespect for Curt Cignetti’s squad is palpable, especially when compared to the one-loss blue bloods getting a pass based on their logos.

Void
Big CatBig Cat

Indiana should be ranked ahead of Ohio State and Texas because they are undefeated

I think you should just like, as a personal belief, the undefeated team should be ranked ahead of the team with a loss no matter what the schedule is like at this point in the season... Indiana's undefeated. And you could say, well they haven't beaten anyone. True. But if you go common opponents... Indiana beat Nebraska by a million.

This is subjective regarding ranking philosophy, though the committee did eventually rank Indiana very high, just not above everyone.

Meanwhile, Penn State fans are once again living in Groundhog Day. James Franklin lost to Ohio State for the 10th time in 11 years, further cementing his legacy as a coach who can win 10 games every year but never the one that actually matters. PFT isn't convinced he has another gear.

Void
Nov 6, 2024
#24879
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

James Franklin simply cannot win big football games

Can James Franklin win the big one? No... Ohio State is Penn State's big one. Yes. But Penn State is not Ohio State's big one.

Subjective opinion on Franklin's career trajectory, though supported by his poor record against Top-10 opponents.

Brian Baldinger’s Film Room

Friend of the program Brian Baldinger joined the show to break down what he's seeing on the tape. Baldy has been grinding every single game and says the Lions have reached a level of offensive efficiency that makes them virtually impossible to scheme against.

Win
Nov 6, 2024
#14547
Brian BaldingerBrian Baldinger

The Lions are essentially unstoppable on offense

I feel like every team is a man short... They just have the perfect combination right now of Montgomery, who's your mutter and closer, Jahmyr Gibbs, who's your home run hitter. And oh, by the way, Jared Goff doesn't miss an open receiver. So they're, they're pretty much unstoppable on offense right now.

The Lions finished the regular season with one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league.

He also touched on the resurgence of the Eagles’ ground game and why he believes Saquon Barkley is destined to take home some hardware by the time we get to the postseason.

Win
Nov 6, 2024
#14548
Brian BaldingerBrian Baldinger

Saquon Barkley will win the NFL rushing title

I think Saquon's gonna win the rushing title. I know Derrick Henry leads the league in rushing, but I think Saquon's gonna win it... I think their offensive line is better than Baltimore's. And I think that you watch Mekhi Becton in there at right guard, like he's just, you know, there's just, he's just a freak.

Saquon Barkley won the 2024 NFL rushing title with 2,005 yards, surpassing Derrick Henry (1,921 yards). Baldinger was correct.

When asked about teams that might be dangerous down the stretch despite their records, Baldy pointed to a specific two-win team that is playing much better than their record suggests.

Loss
Nov 6, 2024
#14549
Brian BaldingerBrian Baldinger

The Tennessee Titans are the best two-win team and will play spoiler

Tennessee Titans... seriously, like they can, they legitimately can run the football. Bill Callahan's coaching the offensive line... J.C. Latham was the right pick at left tackle... they've been in a lot of games. They won last week. They put up 400 something yards of offense against Detroit the week before. That's a team... I wouldn't take that team lightly on any given week.

The Titans remained a bottom-tier team record-wise, though they were occasionally competitive on defense.

Hot Seat/Cool Throne

Hot Seat/Cool Throne featured a look at Ja Morant’s incredible 360-layup, which prompted PFT to suggest a complete overhaul of the NBA's All-Star festivities.

Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest should be replaced by a Layup Contest

I think they should do a layup contest instead of slam dunk contest. [Ja Morant's 360 layup] was sick... I thought to myself like, with enough practice I could possibly do that. Also not true. But it still made me think.

The NBA hasn't replaced the contest, making this a subjective suggestion.

On the MLB front, Gerrit Cole opted out of his contract only to immediately opt back in once the Yankees called his bluff, and Max is preparing to see the Phillies or some other deep-pocketed owner break the bank for Juan Soto.

Win
MaxMax

Juan Soto will sign a contract for a 'stupid amount of money,' potentially worth $700 million

I think he's gonna get 700 million... Yeah, no, I'd like to walk that take back. I think he's gonna get a stupid amount of money. But the fact that the way he's going about it just means that like, yeah, it doesn't, he doesn't give a fuck who's giving him this money.

Soto signed a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets.

Don't let the popcorn machine run dry, President Pug.

nflcollege-footballlionsbearscommandersmlb

More Takes

Win
Nov 6, 2024
#24876
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Chiefs aren't the best team in the NFL right now, but they will be by season's end

The Chiefs, they're not the best team in the NFL, but they will be the best team in the NFL. They're the team. No one would want to play in a playoff game because I would think they would win every single playoff.

The Chiefs ultimately entered the playoffs as a top contender and historically perform better in the postseason.
Void
Nov 6, 2024
#24878
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The CFP committee and ESPN will force Colorado into the playoff if they are anywhere close in resume for the ratings

Do you think that the College Football playoff cares about ratings? Yeah... I would predict that if Colorado and SMU are anywhere close in terms of resume, ESPN is gonna be like, we need Colorado in the playoffs.

Colorado ultimately fell out of the playoff hunt due to late-season losses, making the scenario moot, though the sentiment remains a major point of debate in college sports.
Loss
Nov 6, 2024
#24880
Big CatBig Cat

Penn State will eventually hire Curt Cignetti away from Indiana

I'll throw out a name with Pennsylvania Roots... Curt Cignetti to Penn State. I think he's from Pittsburgh.

Cignetti signed a massive extension with Indiana shortly after this to remain the Hoosiers' head coach.
Win
Nov 6, 2024
#24881
Brian BaldingerBrian Baldinger

Brock Purdy's output through eight games hasn't been good enough for the 49ers' offense

The quarterback [Brock Purdy] has thrown 10 touchdown passes in eight games. It's not good enough. They're not good enough in the red zone right now.

The 49ers struggled with red-zone efficiency and injuries all year, ultimately missing the playoffs.
Loss
Nov 6, 2024
#24882
Brian BaldingerBrian Baldinger

There is still a path to the playoffs for the Jets if Rodgers and Adams find their rhythm

There's a path. They go to Arizona after this buy... you beat a good team on the road. You start that feeling. You could see how Aaron and Davante are starting to come together... I feel like the best football can still be in front of him.

The Jets failed to find consistency and were eliminated from playoff contention early.
Win
Nov 6, 2024
#24883
Brian BaldingerBrian Baldinger

The Chargers are the best defensive team in the NFL right now

Chargers... they are the best defensive football right now. They've had three games this year where they haven't given up a touchdown... The Harbaugh effect is taking effect.

Statistically, the Chargers defense finished the regular season as a top-3 unit in scoring defense.
Void
Nov 6, 2024
#24884
Brian BaldingerBrian Baldinger

Bills OC Joe Brady is calling a masterclass in the passing game by creating easy space for Josh Allen

Joe Brady in Buffalo... is that guy. What he does by formations and his route combinations is he just creates space. It's easy throws for Josh and then at the end of the day when he has to make a play, he's still Josh Allen.

The Bills offense remained one of the most efficient in the league, with Allen finishing as an MVP finalist.

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