Takes

I am officially adjusting Justin Fields' stats to remove drops and Hail Mary interceptions

I would like to say and get ahead of this before the end of the season when the Justin Fields debate happens... In my personal book for Justin Fields, at the end of the season, I will be adjusting his stats to include one more touchdown and two fewer interceptions.

The Bears cannot pass up Caleb Williams if he is as good as advertised

if you think that Caleb Williams is like as good as advertised you, you can't pass up drafting him. You can't. I'm just telling you, you're gonna regret that.

Flacco was a bum for the first three quarters and then elite — you have to Men in Black yourself to forget the boneheaded mistakes

Flacco was a bum for the first three quarters and then elite. That's what makes [Flacco] so confusing. You have to almost Men in Black yourself and take the device out and make you forget all the boneheaded mistakes that he made. Because he thinks he can make every throw.

The Buccaneers should just run it back with Baker Mayfield next year

If, if I'm, if I'm the Bucs, I think I might just run it back with Baker next year. Why not? Why not? You're probably gonna make the playoffs probably gonna win the division.

Matt LaFleur might be a coordinator killer

Do we need to talk about LaFleur as being a, a coordinator killer. You know how when you have a, a quarterback that's a coach killer? Yeah. That get slapped to that label. LaFleur might be a coordinator killer. So he's fired three coordinators in five years.

I hope the Chiefs keep Kadarius Toney around just to watch him blow a playoff game

I also just enjoy, I'm, I hope they keep Kadarius Toney around for the playoff run. 'cause watching him blow a playoff game would be just,

Whoever loses the Dolphins vs. Cowboys game is officially a fraud

I still think that whoever loses Cowboys Dolphins I'm out on officially. The loser of this game. No one will take serious. Yeah.

Vic Fangio is the reason I believe in the Dolphins

I stand by the fact... the whole reason that I have believed in the Dolphins in the last couple weeks is 'cause of Vic Fangio today. Their defense was awesome. Shut out. Hard to shut out a team in the NFL. It is, it is... That's why I believe in the Dolphins is Vic Fangio.

Derrick Henry has likely played his last game in a Titans/Oilers uniform

Derrick Henry spoke to the media after the game... 'this sucks because I might not ever put on this uniform after the season.' 'cause he's gonna be a free agent at the end of the year... realistically I'm probably not gonna be here next year.

Ron Rivera is intentionally not trying to win anymore

I don't think he's trying to do anything. He's fired. But he already is fired. Like I think they probably were like, Hey dude, you're a nice guy. We're not gonna fire you during the season... So he just doesn't give a fuck. He's not trying to win this game. No, he can't. There's, it's impossible for somebody to mismanage the end of the game unless they're doing it intentionally.

The 49ers are a freight train you should not bet against under any circumstances

49ers are a freight train right now and you should not get in front of them under any circumstances. Like if you're trying to bet against the 49ers right now, sit down and ask yourself like why am I doing this? They are really, really fucking good at football and every time they're healthy, they've killed everyone.

Brandon Staley will be fired immediately following the Chargers' blowout loss to the Raiders

I think Brandon Staley might get fired or he is fired already. He might be fired overnight. He might be fired right after this game because we're taping the rare taping in the third quarter of Thursday Night Football. It is 42 to zero. The Las Vegas Raiders versus the Los Angeles Chargers. PFT. He's gone. He has to be gone right now.

Brandon Staley has set the analytics community back 40 years

Really you could say Brandon Staley has set the analytics community back like 40 years. Because he's known as the analytics poster boy, the Wonder kid of the analytics movement and the fact that his teams have fallen apart so terribly really makes you think like, I don't want my head coach ever look at a number again.

The NFL will eventually host a Super Bowl overseas

They are trying like damn hell to get a Super Bowl overseas and we have to stop it. So let's all not watch the first quarter next year of all these games.

The Vikings will beat the Bengals because Brian Flores' defense will confuse Jake Browning

I kind of like the Vikings in this game. And I like him because Brian Flores... is doing stuff that people can't even figure out with his defense zone. Blitzes just... he's doing a lot of multiples... I think that this is gonna be Jake Browning's first test. True test because the Colts and the Jaguars aren't great defenses. The Vikings have been playing like a great defense.

You must bet the Steelers to bounce back against the Colts after losing to the league's worst teams

The Steelers just lost to the Cardinals and the Patriots. Two of the worst four teams in the NFL. Mitch [Trubisky] looked really bad. The Steelers have looked really bad. You have to bet the Steelers. That's the vibe. The harder they bounce back.

Aaron Rodgers' injury is the most human thing ever, not a superhuman recovery

Aaron Rogers is not even human. I'd actually say missing the entire season because you got injured is the most human thing ever. Well, was he injured scenes? That was, I mean, he's literally showing that he's human. The fact that he hasn't been playing.

The report that the Patriots have decided to fire Bill Belichick is 'fake news'

As a Patriots fan on this podcast, I'm just gonna say that that seems like fake news to me. Seems like a fake news media report from Tom Curran. You know, the media's been out to get us since 2000... Belichick didn't do anything wrong... there's no chance. 0% chance. I don't think Belichick would leave.

The NFL wants the Chiefs to play on Wild Card weekend to maximize ratings from Taylor Swift fans

I think if the NFL wanted anything, they should want the Chiefs not to get the bye. 'cause that's one extra game of ratings for the Swifties Super Wild Card weekend.

Dolphins fans are insufferable and it would be funny to see them lose the AFC East

Dolphins fans are annoyingly cocky and Bills fans... I feel more of a connection to... Dolphins fans are insufferable. Like they're super annoying. They're super cocky. They haven't won shit. And seeing them blow a season and somehow lose the AFC East would be funny.

Derek Carr is hurting the Saints by playing at 80% while significantly injured

If you're not playing to the level that we need you to play to, you are hurting us... the game is played in the margins and there's too many good players, right? It's just too many dudes who are that good at 70, 80%. Man, you just ain't cutting it... When you're seeing guys at each other in repeated weeks, that's when you know something's really there.

Eric Bieniemy's absence is a major reason for the Chiefs' offensive struggles and lack of discipline

The enemy not being there, it matters. I'm not saying that Andy Reed and these guys aren't great coaches, but Bieniemy had some nastiness about him, right? He had some significant conversations with their players, whether that's Mahomes or other people. And with him not being there, it does get into a place where maybe some things have been allowed or tolerated to a different degree... I do think the enemy not being there hurts because those players in the room are ultimately the guys who have to execute it.

The Super Bowl will be a matchup between the 49ers and the Ravens

I'm gonna go... I think it's gonna be KC in Baltimore and the AFC, I think Baltimore's gonna go... and I think San Fran... I'm taking San Fran and Philly [in the NFC Championship]... and I'm gonna take San Fran walking through it. So it'll be San Fran and Baltimore in the chip.

Roger Goodell will eventually implement two Monday Night Football games every single week

I'm calling it in the future, it might not be next year, might not be the year after Goodell's gonna want to try to get two Monday night football games. And the fact that these two games [Giants/Packers and Titans/Dolphins] were so good, it's gonna make him think like this was the best idea of all time.

The Bears must beat the Browns to realistically consider themselves a playoff contender

They have to beat the Browns. If they don't beat the Browns, then it's just like, this is all, this is all, but if they beat the Browns, then I'm gonna start thinking about playoffs. But it has to, you have to get through that hurdle. And the Browns are really good to get to a point where I can start realistically, like I'm having fun with 'in the hunt.' I'm not actually thinking playoffs right now.

The Philadelphia Eagles are actually frauds

Are the Eagles frauds? Are the Eagles frauds? [Max: No.] Are the Eagles frauds? [Max: Yes, like you guys like set this whole thing up.]

Tyreek Hill is the most important player on the Dolphins and should be the NFL MVP

I do consider myself part of TuAnon, but saying Tyreek Hill is the MVP does not diminish Tua. I think Tua is a very good quarterback when Tyreek Hill is on the field... He looked to me like he's the most important player on the Dolphins and he probably should be considered MVP.

The Bills will not make the playoffs in 2023

Six and seven. Six, I'm gonna go with the Denver Broncos. And seven, I'm gonna go with the Colts. [Big Cat: So Bills out?] [PFT: Bills out.]

Reports that Bill Belichick will leave the Patriots after the season are fake news

Tom Curran, who is not, he's not a fan fictionist, he's, he's real news good reporter, said that at the end of the year, the Patriots and Belichick are probably gonna part ways... I'm just gonna go with the fact that it's a report and it's not true. It might be fake news. I'm hoping it's fake. I'm in the denial stage right now.

The Baltimore Ravens are the best team in the AFC

I do think they're the best team in the AFC. I still believe in Lamar. I still think the defense, even though Stafford shredded us... objectively, I still feel good.

All Pro Edge Rushers should wear numbers in the 90s, not single digits

Fucking edge rushers need to be wearing nineties. Or if you're really fucking cool, maybe a 50... It's fucking weird. It looks like college football and I hate that.

I can throw a football over 70 yards

How far can you throw a football? [Jayden Daniels:] Honestly? Probably over 70... on a good day.

Puka Nacua's diving catch against the Ravens is the catch of the year so far

That one diving catch that [Puka Nacua] had. I'm putting that, that's my catch of the year so far. Wow. When you take into account everything around it with the weather and the stage and who it was against.

The Ravens are currently the best team in the AFC

I believe in the Ravens. I think the Ravens are the best team in the AFC.

Joe Flacco is Baldinger's cat — both elite and not elite at the same time, and the debate always ends with 'but so did Trent Dilfer'

I call him Baldinger's cat because he's both elite and not elite at the same time. And he makes everybody furious depending on what your take on Joe Flacco is. And here's how the conversation always goes. Is Joe Flacco elite? Yes. Why? He won a Super Bowl. So did Trent Dilfer. And that's the end of that conversation.

The Jaguars are a smoke and mirrors team

The Jaguars feel like they're smoke and mirrors team. And it's starting to, we're starting to kind of get through the fog and we're like, 'Hey, wait a second. Why did we anoint the Jaguars?'

I want the Bears to draft Caleb Williams and move on from Justin Fields

I think they're gonna take Caleb Williams, which I'm all for. ... I don't think I want Justin Fields back.

Dak Prescott is the frontrunner for MVP with serious momentum

Dak looks really good. I think Dak, MVP. ... Dak MVP feels like it's got some momentum now.

Zach Wilson is the perfect backup quarterback but can't play a full season

I think he's not good, but I think he's just the perfect backup quarterback where a guy goes down, he goes in, gives you a spark and that's it. ... Can't play a full season.

The 49ers at their best are better than any team in football

I would say the 49ers at their best are better than any team in football. Yes. At their best. They can't be beat.

The Broncos can still win the AFC West

The Broncos can still win the AFC West. If Mike Pence has the courage. They're one game out. ... There's a world where they only lose one of the remaining games.

The Eagles will lose in the first round of the playoffs

My overly direct take of the weekend is that the Eagles are gonna lose the first round of the playoffs. ... I was watching the defense. Defense wins championships. And the Eagles defense doesn't exist.

The Broncos, Bengals, and Bills will all make the playoffs as AFC wild card teams

My overly direct take... is that the Broncos, Bengals and Bills are all outta the playoffs right now. They're all gonna be the wild card teams in the AFC.

The Steelers are not a playoff team

The Steelers are bad. And I'm, listen, I don't think the Steelers are a playoff team. They shouldn't be. They're now officially outside of the playoffs, which is good for football.

You can't win a Super Bowl if you used the 9/11 hijackers for motivation

I'm gonna say you can't win a super Bowl if, if that happened. I'm gonna agree with that. I'm gonna go, you know what? So everything we said, we we're no more glazing. We have not glazed anymore. Pardon, My, Take. We're removing the glaze.

The Patriots' era of dominance was more about Tom Brady than Bill Belichick

Pretty soon Bill Belichick is entering the sift Lord type of realm where I think that fans are gonna start to hate him. They realize that the Patriot wave was more about, you know, Tom Brady than it was him.

Mark Andrews is to the Ravens what Travis Kelce is to the Chiefs

I feel like Mark Andrews is to the Ravens, what Travis Kelce is to the Chiefs. Yeah. He's not as good as Travis Kelce. He's still very, very good. One of the best. He's baby Kelce.

The Colts will win 10 games this year

I think the Colts are gonna have 10 wins this year. You think? You think Sean Peyton ever did a bounty on a punter.

Bill Belichick will stay with the Patriots next year

I truly believe that he will be here next year. But if he does go to another team like the Washington Commanders, I mean it doesn't really, you know, ri rival with the New England Patriots... But I just don't see that happening after this year. I think he'll definitely have another year to redeem himself.

The Superdome is no longer a home field advantage for the Saints

The dome is not the dome. Yeah. It's, it goes, the dome has been aging along with a lot of the roster. Right... they're 0 and 5 against the spread this year at home... five and 15 against the spread at home since 2021.