One Score Supermen, Simmons Sleeves, and Love Wins (feat. Nick Kostos)

Week 9 is in the books. And it felt like we survived it instead of enjoying it. The Browns game was brutal. The Giants needed JJ and Jameis to beat Joe Milton. JOE MILTON!? But amid the garbage, we have the NFC North. That’s a truly dominant collection of teams. It’s wild to think the Green Bay Packers at 6-3 are in last place. Or that Caleb Williams can throw 4 picks and still win a game. Or that the Lions can simply game manage their way to the Super Bowl. What a time to be alive! Our friends Ten Day Tony and Nick Kostos join the show to break it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November 9, 202657:29

In brief

Episode summary

Dave Damashek and Nick Costos analyze the AFC and NFC playoff landscape following Week 9, highlighting the Green Bay Packers' explosive but run-deficient offense and the emerging postseason race in the NFC North. The discussion also covers the disappointing winless streak of the Chargers and a viral moment involving Sean Payton.

The Houston Texans are projected to overtake the New England Patriots for the final AFC wild card spot due to superior quarterback play.

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Transcribed from “One Score Supermen, Simmons Sleeves, and Love Wins (feat. Nick Kostos)” by Dan Le Batard, who holds all rights to the original and has not licensed or reviewed this page. Rights holders can request removal.

This transcript was generated by speech recognition and the summary and chapters by AI, so they can contain errors. BestPodcast is not affiliated with the creator.

Can we not smoke in here? Can we not smoke in here? They don't allow smoking in in the post game pressers and haven't for about 50 years there, coach. Hi and hello, my fellow football Americans. Welcome to the NFL Week 9 review. We have to review a crazy Saturday, a college football as well. News on that front. Welcome to Football America, presented as ever by our pals over at DraftKings Sports, available in all 50 states. Thanks to everybody right out of the gate here who checked out last week's midweek YouTube exclusive show that Nick Costos, Major Randy Social Media and I did.

And thanks for dropping us a line there. We're going to keep that going. Keep dropping us a line so that the conversation rolls forward as we head into Week 10 of the NFL. Oh, it's a grand slate of games upcoming. Let's say hello very quickly. Gino Fuertes is out to get the to set the scene for you, my fellow football American. Gino got sick, apparently, somewhere on the freeways of Miami and had to turn back around and head home. So now in the studio alone is our guy 10-day Tony Caladiude, author of the 10-day Tony Substack, a great review of the week and I assume upcoming for your eyes and for your heart.

How are you, Tony? Right? It's not out yet, is it? Not out yet. Sick of my balls about what happened Saturday night, but I'm guessing we'll get to that at some point. Was it a catch? You think so? The easiest catch of the day, but whatever. We'll we'll we'll digress. Do we are we really going to indulge that? I really I we only have so much time. Well, we only have so much time to talk. Are we really going to discuss what plainly wasn't a catch or pretend like we thought it was?

Football move, two steps. You catch the ball and you go outside and then it gets hit outside of the playing area. should be a catch. Whatever. Your your show. Okay, I have no rooting interest in that game sincerely or maybe I have some minor concerns about you know how it impacts my favorite team in the mix for the 12 team tournament. But that plainly wasn't a catch if you watch it in real time. It just wasn't a catch in real time and then you move on.

So let's well we're going to get into it. It's episode 98. Buddy Bedalski filling in for Gino behind the glass. So Buddy, how are you and who wore the number 98 best in football, nay in all of sports history? I mean number 98 right now when I think of that number, what comes to mind is Conor Bedard up in Chicago and just how the Chicago Blackhawks have completely abandoned him and left him out to dry. Though we are monitoring the Roman Cancer off situation there in Chicago.

In the NFL though, we've got Robert Mathis, Jessie Armstead, Casey Hampton, Tony Siragusa, and right now of course we have Max Crosby, who is just dominating the league. Incredible names and and and Buddy starts a Hockey America. What are we doing? What are we doing here? Buddy Buddy Buddy I watched puck all weekend. I I don't want to think about football right now. I don't want to think about No, I watched football all weekend and I don't want to think about a lot of football because the Gators lost again and it was What about the what about the big snack Casey Hampton who belongs in the Hall of Fame?

Hey, by the way, in the meantime in the here and now the Packers are in last place. They're also a wild card. The Canes, as we say, lost in South Bend, but it seems like the good news, Tony, is that they're going to make the playoffs, so you don't have to sweat it too much. The trade deadline is fast approaching, a matter of minutes until that wraps up, literally. And a huge Week 10 on the near horizon. Steelers-Bungles, really I feel like that's going to settle the hash of the AFC North.

Niners and Cowboys getting it on, Vikes and Packers, Texans and Browns, a big one, obviously, now for the Browns if they want to stay relevant. And the Patriots and Lions overseas somewhere in Europe. I can't remember where. I think Germany, Munich specifically. And the college football playoff and ESPN, to the surprise of no one, has now officially expanded 5 years, 1.7 billion dollars, 24 teams. Like I say, I actually I guess it's more frustrating than anything if you're a fan of Miami right now because were it a year from now you would be absolutely safe, no matter what happened up in South Bend.

Now it's a little more perilous, like I say, I think you do wind up in I do think that the message is is that what does what will any of these games matter a year from now when 24 teams, all the ham and eggers that that's going to allow? Let's talk about that, but I really want to focus on pro football right now with our guy from You Better You Bet, 5 days a week making his noise 9:00 a.m. to noon on the East Coast for you.

He's looking a little like the hair. He had shaved it all down a few weeks ago. Now as it's coming in, he's starting to look like a speed era Keanu Reeves. It's Nick Costos. How are you, fella? I'm 43 years old. I'm trying to think. Is that the best compliment I've ever been paid? I didn't say your face looked like Keanu Reeves. I just said your hair does. I was going to say, you look like Keanu Reeves in Speed is maybe the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.

So you we've started the show off on a great foot, Dave Damashek. It is great to be here with you on Football America, my fellow football American. You're a you're you're really a swarthy Keanu Reeves in a way. You know, as we just hear Sean Payton talking about burning nails in the press conference and all of that sort of thing. Just randomly, you don't strike me as somebody who enjoys a drink. Am I wrong about that? Well, I so at this era of my life, so my wife does not drink.

So she will have like she will get tipsy once a year, let's say. So by virtue of that, I don't really drink anymore. We went to brunch on Saturday. These are the things you have to do when you work in this profession. Saturdays, we went out and had had something to eat, went out with a couple friends. I had a glass of wine and I was buzzed at the end of the glass of wine because I don't drink during football season. Now, if you had talked to me two decades ago, because I'm busy all the time.

If you had talked to have a young kid. If you had talked to me two decades ago, I was basically blacked out for my entire 20s and early 30s, both living in South Florida and in Manhattan. I didn't used to this wasn't just like blackout. This would be power failure. The grid is down in the entire neighborhood. So I I'm happy I'm alive and that social media wasn't really around a couple decades ago. So I used to love a good drink. Now you really couldn't find me dead drinking.

And I and I like my life better as a result of it. All right, I guess good for you. I don't like when people get evangelical about their sober lifestyle. It's too Well, who said I was sober? I just don't drink. Okay. Well, I okay, I'm picking up what you're laying down. But yeah, I don't I I don't dig the the whole my life is better now. My right. My my life is better now. I'm cleaner. I'm living a healthy lifestyle. Really, it's your wife's fault because it's not fun.

You think like I don't care you go out with people and they're like, I don't care if you drink. You should enjoy one. Like it's going to be weird if I sit here and am drinking alone. I've overcome that those concerns though over the years. Yes, I I can tell based based on based on how weathered your face looks. Like I I can tell, but I haven't drank It can be a problem, but now but now I'm not worrying about it. No, but like I will have like a drink, maybe two drinks when I go out.

I just cut it off there. I just don't have 17 like I used to. So that that's where the cut I don't not drink. I just don't drink to get drunk. Who do you think you look like if not Keanu Reeves in Speed? At this moment right now, if I am were to honestly assess myself, I think I am in an ugly period at this moment. And it's making me very upset. My hair is growing back. I put a couple I got a walking pad in my office.

I used it the whole day yesterday while I was watching games here. It was great. I'm trying to drop a couple of pounds. So I'm actually very bullish on where I'll be, probably early December. But right now I'm not that pleased with my physical appearance. So I I I can't give you a great someone ugly. I feel like I'm pretty ugly. In mid-season form, which I always think isn't the most flattering way to describe a team when the season starts. They're already in mid-season form. What you want to be is in post-season form, right?

And so what you're trying to do is get into post-season form in time for the post-season. Speaking of that, before we go through the consequential games of Week 9, the ones that we circled going into the weekend and what they end up meaning, I think we can kind of look at the results here and take a 30,000 foot view or something in between there. Because if you looked at where the standings are, I don't mean the divisional standings, I mean the playoff seedings as they are structured right now.

It's very interesting. I mentioned at the top, obviously, a lot of people are going to be buzzing about the fact that the Green Bay Packers, as mighty as they look, are in fourth place in the Mighty NFC North. But starting in the in the AFC side after the whipping that the Packers just put on the Patriots in Foxborough, the Patriots are now five and four and so are the Browns. And then you have the Ravens at four and five. And like I said a week ago, I do not think that they perceive themselves to be cooked.

I do not think that we will hear between now and the trade deadline's arrival that Derrick Henry has been traded. I think that they are going to make a playoff push here, especially with the news that Lamar Jackson sees himself as returning in about six or seven weeks just in time for the head-to-head, the first head-to-head against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And then you have the Texans at three and five, who are in all likelihood chasing the Jags and probably not going to catch them, but still kind of a player on the outside of the wildcard chase there.

And then that's it. So Patriots and Browns at five and four and I don't think with Shedeur or with Deshaun anybody really takes the Browns as a legit team. And then the Ravens That's it, man. The teams, in other words, that are in the playoffs right now are likely to hold on to those spaces. How say you? I I actually disagree with that as far as the AFC is concerned. And I will answer your question by asking you a question. Which quarterback, Dave Damashek, do you think, cuz you watch all the games, right?

Who has been better this year and is it close? C.J. Stroud or Drake May? And this will lead to another question after you answer this one. Stroud, of course, right? Not even close. So C.J. Stroud has thrown this year, after his after he nuked the Chargers yesterday, 16 touchdown passes, two interceptions. Drake May in one more game, 18 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions. So as it stands right now, the Patriots are five and four. I anticipate them in the international game this this week against the Lions getting boat raced.

I love the Lions in the game. So I think through 10 games, the New England Patriots are going to be five and five. I agree. The Texans are three and five. This week they're on the road in Cleveland against Deshaun Watson and the Browns. I love the Texans. I think they will win and move to four and five. Then they host whatever the remains of the Indianapolis Colts will be after the trade deadline on a short week on Thursday night. So I think both the Texans and Patriots, after 10 games, will both be five and five, comparable schedules down the stretch, except the Texans have the better quarterback.

I think the Texans will be the final playoff team in the AFC, Dave Damashek, not the New England Patriots. Okay, you know what? I have to take that back and I'm going to tangentially or that's not what I mean to say, but a stray I'm not going to Jerry Orbach it here because I I agree completely with what you just said there and I think I I misspoke in in getting into that. Yes, the Patriots are going to fall away, but that's the mix of teams that are in the wildcard chase.

What did you get too much sun this weekend, Buddy? Like you're looking like you're a little haggered right now. Did you fall asleep in the sun? What I don't even know what that so what what you're even getting at. You look you look weathered right now. Like what happened? Did you fall asleep outside? No, I what what I will if I do look red, there was a lighting issue before the show started just before it didn't start it started flashing. The lighting looks fine. It's just your face.

You you look like Johnny Drama in Entourage when he said, I'm orange and it'll turn to a maple syrupy brown. You haven't turned to the maple syrupy brown yet. You look orange. Now, I well, maybe the the lighting's a little bit off, but I compliment you with Keanu Reeves and now you can compare me to one of the mooks in in that dreadful show. I don't know That dreadful show was great. I don't I never get the the people who are otherwise have good taste in things and good sense of humor.

Was there ever anything funny in that show? You might have found it compelling, the story of a superstar who brings his pals with him out the Was anything funny in Entourage? Did you laugh watching that show though? Of course. I I mean, this was in my blackout period. I was laughing at everything. Absolutely.

Jeremy Piven was the was the comedic breakout star of that show. That's all you need to I mean, he is funny. Is he? Okay. In in that show. I think his hair plugs are funny, that's for sure. Um so then you have the Steelers and the Chiefs at six and two. And like I say, a massive one in the AFC North. Pittsburgh heading to Cincinnati. You know what? While we're on that one very quickly, I'll give you my formal pick later in the week. But Costos, we won't talk with you before then.

How do you see that one playing out? So I I I don't know yet. I have a bunch of pretty strong opinions already on Week 10. This one's flummoxing me a little bit. I think Joe Burrow's going to win MVP. And if he's going to win MVP, they they kind of have to win this game. Like they have to win the division if he's going to win MVP. So a betting opinion, since he's a 3.5 point favorite right now, almost four, I think I would take Pittsburgh plus the points.

Part of me wants to just take the Steelers to win the game outright. I'm I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I don't think Pitts that Cincy will win the game by margin. I think Cincinnati minus three is the right number in the game. So I will bet Pittsburgh. My guess is Cincinnati wins a very close game probably at the end. I am now say it's funny cuz I am leaning in the direction of the Cincinnati Bungles in that one and you just said it.

I think that Joe Burrow is tracking to get an MVP. I think the Bengals are legitimately, I said it in August, and I stand by it are a legit Super Bowl contender. I do think when all hash is settled, right now, let's wait out the trade deadline cuz you see stuff like Jessie Bates moving to the Jags and that only makes that defense better, which is by the way, I don't know if everybody's paying attention to it. I know I always talk about the apathy around the Jacksonville Jaguars and that it feels uninspiring to the football world that that team might wind up in the Super Bowl with the turquoise and and the the the dumb helmets and the lack of enthusiasm emerging from Florida around this team and all of that.

Their their defense is real good. I think Cincy has a great shot at getting getting there too and let's see what happens when the trade by the time the trade deadline arrives. But I also think we need to see Cincinnati beat a good team. I don't think the Steelers are one of the three best teams in the AFC. But Cincinnati, I think that's what their resume needs to convince me is that they can hang with a good team because their defense is not from a scoring perspective an atrocity.

It is in terms of yards, but it's right in the middle of the pack. It's right in line for what it matters with where the Bengals when they went to the Super Bowl five years ago, about on par with where that defense was. So it's not it's limiting, but it doesn't mean that it precludes them from making a Super Bowl run. So anyway, that's the AFC side. And then on the NFC side, Costos, you have the Hawks and Rams both on the outside at five and four because as it sets up currently, all the NFC North teams are in the playoffs.

How say you about how this resolves? And this NFC North is tracking right now the 2026 NFC North, Dave Damashek, to be the best division in the history of the NFL. And what if they get Kirk what if the what if the Vikes heard Nick Costos on Football America a week ago say that they should go get Kirk Cousins? Cuz guess what? The Raiders should definitely be listening to that. And I I if you think well, Fernando will learn at the knee of the savvy vet Kirk.

I get that story. But what's more important at this point if you can get a a decent pick for him again? I think that I think they think they can I don't think they can. And I'm guessing by the way you said that, you don't think they can. They're going to try and make the playoffs. I think you're right. And they're going to hold on to him. I think it's a mistake. They should be playing Fernando Mendoza. They should trade like the Vikings should call and make a Godfather offer for Kirk Cousins.

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Make your game day delicious with Little Caesars. Officially delicious. Hey, by the way, I I you know what? I'm a real heel here. I'm a you know what? Maybe I did get too much sun even though I wasn't really out in the sun all that much. You know what though? Hoover Damashek did have a 12 under 12 soccer game on the middle of the day on Saturday and I was outside for an hour, so that's probably why I I'm a little sun-baked here. I haven't involved 10-day Tony in this conversation.

Tony, how say you on all that? First of all, do you agree with our assessment that it's the Texans who ultimately close out close in on the Patriots and claim that final wildcard spot? Yeah, so as I was looking through the last couple of weeks, probably starting in Week five or six where Houston was one and four, one and five, I was like, man, something something's going on here cuz they're playing well and it seems like the sum of their parts is better than what's actually being put out on the field fielding and and and competing competing week week to to week.

week and now they're starting to fall in line with what we thought earlier on in the season. Browns, Colts, Ravens, Steelers their next four. Like this is a team that could be six and five by the end of week what do we call it 11? Uh this is a team that I really like to sneak in the playoffs. Nick said it. Drake May has just not been good. Like counting stats and everything that we look at 18 touchdowns and the running ability and whatever like he just hasn't been good flat out.

You can't turn I mean in in in 2026 you just can't turn the ball over at the rate that he does. It's you know it's not 1983. I'm just I'm just surprised at how many teams have one or two losses all the way down the line here when you look at this AFC right like the Bengals are the six seed and they're six and two. Like when have we ever seen this many high grade teams this late into the season. It feels like there's always three or four losses somewhere in the three to six range.

And then you go to the other side the other conference the Packers are six and three and in last place in the NFC North and holding down the last playoff spot in the NFC right now. The Rams and Seahawks both at five and four are out of the playoffs. Something is going to shake out there where the Rams or Seahawks Buddy are you just repeating stuff Dave Damishek has said in the last like few minutes of the show because he's I've been a little flustered. Buddy we're going to get to you.

We'll get to you in a second. Listen well well well we'll hear from you in a second. It's amazing how loaded these two conferences are. Get back in your coma. Buddy Damishek literally Dave literally said the Packers are six and three and last and the Rams and Seahawks are outside looking in. They come to you and you'll go hey you know what Green Bay six and three and in last place and the Rams and Seahawks are on the outside looking in. Oh well wait so why why are you jumping in for?

If you have too much your plate then why are you jumping in? All right. There's three grown up having a conversation. I'm going back into my coma. I'm going back into my coma. I will say this the Rams are making the playoffs. Flat out. Are or are not? Are not. Are not making the playoffs. It's over. What we thought going into the season is this the could they have a perfect season? I have the best defense ever. Their offense this and that. The Rams are not going to make the playoffs I'll say it right here on November 10th or what 11th or whatever we are.

I mean if Puka's out long term for a long time. Dave has always said it the Jenga piece is Puka Nacua and they're running him into the ground like a rented mule. How many targets can we get you? 19? Perfect. If you're going to catch 14 of them you're going to get hit 19 times in those 14 catches. Like I just don't see how sustainable he can be throughout a 17 18 19 20 game season if you get to the playoffs. This offense just has no juice.

Terence Ferguson got hurt again uh tweaked the hamstring. He's going to be out a couple more weeks. Devante Adams is hammy we don't know when he's coming back like who are you going to play? They have nobody. Here's the the the the the devil's Damishek of that is and I completely agree and obviously I said Puka Nacua if it's not JSN the Jenga piece of pro football this season was going to be Puka Nacua and it's kind of played out that way. The thing is though the other side of it is Myles Garrett is now back and looked real good back there and now you turn it over to the defense and dominate and the Seahawks won the division and won the Super Bowl with that method a year ago so why not the Rams doing that?

There the the answer is probably because they have a long way to go still to catch up to the Niners but I think that the Rams are are not cooked because their offensive Jenga piece but Costos you can weigh in on that but also weigh in I I I it's a perennial thing. It's insane that the South sucks every year but it sucks again. And I mean I I what's going to happen is with it if it's not happening today it's about to get rolling in in full throat is why do we have to send any NFC South team to the when you have What year is this?

I I I like I think that that's the way it goes. That's the way the cookie crumbles and the way that the SEC and Big Ten might be better than the Big Twelve but if you win the Big Twelve you are guaranteed a a a a bid into the tournament. That's the way the NFL structured. How say you? Yeah I mean absolutely. I mean if if all of that were true we wouldn't have gotten the Peacemaker game against the New Orleans Saints in Seattle in the wild card game when I believe the Seahawks finished under 500 that year and won the NFC West.

So yeah like obviously we're going to see a team from the NFC South make the playoffs. I actually think it might be the Saints. They were the only team in the NFC South that won this weekend. If the Saints beat the Panthers on Sunday Dave New Orleans will have sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Yeah here's the thing what we have to resolve is are we going to as a as a football nation and as a show that wears I'm humbled by the fact that we represent the entire conversation around football in in in in these United States can we just decide as a a collect let's just not talk about the NFC South until they require us to talk about them.

It's a waste of our breath. Let's talk about the teams that matter because we know whoever wins that division might pull who knows what might happen on wildcard weekend and win a game but they're not going to the Super Bowl and so let's focus in on on those teams. What do you make of the Green Bay Packers because it's not just fascinating that they're in last place and that they're a wildcard team it's that they can't run the ball and yet it seems to matter not at all.

I think that they are the purest expression of offense in all of sports right now. Yeah but they can't run the ball and that's offense which is fascinating. Yes yes yes yes yes and you literally said that it doesn't matter and and it doesn't. They are like the Walter White blue meth of offense in the National Football League. This is the purest expression of offense. This is an offense where like when I played football video games throughout my life starting at Tecmo Bowl to age myself to this past version of Madden.

This is how I play offense in a video game. Bombs away. This is was Al Davis's dream. This is Darryl Lamonica back in the day with the Oakland Raiders. Jordan Love is the new Mad Bomber and he has two wide receivers and Christian Watson might be like 75% of prime Randy Moss which is a tremendous compliment to Watson. Matthew Golden is literally always open it's just is he going to catch the ball? He did yesterday 10 for 164. Watson seven for 171. Jordan Love is as locked in as it gets right now.

Micah Parsons is going to come back and my question Dave Damishek is not like are the Packers going to make the playoffs? My question is are we sure the Packers aren't going to win the Super Bowl when it's all said and done? Well I I you know I did say it a few days ago before these games were played that if Jeffrey Simmons makes the Bears if he elevates them and that's sort of the the the the rhetoric around him now that he's been put into that now they're a Super Bowl contender.

The same must be true for one the Rams with Myles Garrett right? That was the whole offseason conversation and Micah Parsons going to the Packers. I do wonder is it a limiting you know in the last um was it in the last 10 years or so the Patriots had offenses that could score a lot of points and really couldn't run the ball. So there's evidence of teams going to all the way to the Super Bowl at least without a run game to speak of. Um I you know are the Packers now I I I'm with you completely with Micah Parsons do they need to try to solve that before the trade deadline and a Jonathan Taylor or otherwise?

Yeah I so I don't think they need a running back. I think Jacobs is fine on the field maybe not off the field but on the field is fine. And look like can you get a decent run game with Pierre Strong and Caleb Johnson and Chris Brooks and Marshall and Lloyd if you have a decent offense Lloyd. That's Jeremy Piven in Entourage playing the role of Ari Gold. I don't know if you knew that. Um I think That was a pretty good call back just for for such an uninspired TV show that that's what you quote.

I you know I I quote Cheers and the Simpsons and Larry Sanders and you're you're out there quoting that that Bro buddy buddy you are you're so old and you have no idea how old you come off when when you say like when you say Larry Sanders I know who that is but I don't know if the football Americans know the Larry Yeah Milwaukee yeah he's a great Milwaukee Buck. Okay well I guess I guess the the I guess the crew knows about Larry Sanders. I had Mike Arif shameless plug had our buddy Mike Arafailo on my show you my national my national radio show.

You bet you bet this one. Yeah no I appreciate it. He floated out Robert Hunt the Carolina Panthers interior guard as a potential trade candidate for the Packers. If I'm Brian Gutekunst I'm running the Green Bay Packers here and you look at what Chicago did with the Jeffrey Simmons trade Seattle trades for Quinton Nelson the Niners go get DeForest Buckner. I think the Packers can win the Super Bowl. It is in their range of outcomes. Go get an offensive lineman. Quinton Nelson's off the board go get somebody else.

Maybe it's Hunt maybe it's elsewhere but I think the Packers Dave to your point do need to take a swing here to try and fix this run game if they want to raise the Lombardi Trophy. Tony you remember like a month ago maybe it was five weeks or so ago where there was a lot of noise that it was over for Matt LaFleur in in Green Bay. I do. I mean the offensive line was terrible. Jordan Love didn't have a second to throw to anybody and now it's been completely flipped and we don't really know why.

Right? Like it's not like they got added pieces to the offense. It's not like they got Josh Jacobs back and he's been abysmal at least from a efficiency standpoint but they haven't really done anything. It's just Matthew Golden and Christian Watson coming out of the ambulance in full pads just seem to beat everybody. They beat Christian Gonzalez like a drum yesterday. I like I kept updating the stats and I'm like oh my God they have how much? Oh my God I can't like when you're watching it you realize okay yeah they're getting big chunks but then you actually see the stats and it's crazy and I just why why can't this brand of offense and and I'll open it to you guys why can't this brand of offense win a Super Bowl without a running game?

Can this be the new the new evolution of offense going forward of all right we're going to stretch the field and force you guys to play a a style of defense that nobody ever really does which is just prevent because we're going to throw long every single time. I have to I have to meet with my pastor and and other people close to me to really figure this out but I I where you're going and what Costo said 10 minutes ago for the soul of football I think that we are now far enough away from the Super Bowl with the Seahawks and all of that and you know when it's going on it's a big event and you know you don't you're not going to diminish it in the run up to it and then after the fact Vrabel and Rasini happens and then that's sort of like obscures everything else that's going on in

football weirdly for for a little while and it's all led up to and was Drake May heard and all of that really as you get some distance from it that's one of those unsatisfying Super Bowls that we that we saw there. That Patriots with Drake May not quite right and everybody felt like yeah it really should have been the Broncos and the Seahawks and Sam Darnold and like they weren't he wasn't that great. He's not the reason they won the game it was that defense. I think it's good for pro football that this is happening.

Deep shots over and over again stop us from doing that. Everything is safe. Everything is is two high safeties. Don't let them kill you deep just make them drag the the this is this is the antithesis of that and I think the teams that have the QBs that are playing great right now this is the most obvious statement I could possibly make and yet I'm making it now Costos. The teams that have the QBs that are playing great doing superhuman things are the teams in 26 that I'm circling including Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

Wow. More Wow. Last year Wow. Wow. Let me finish my thought. Let me finish. can win the Super Bowl. Wow. I'm not down yet. I'm not down yet. I'm not down yet. I'm not done yet because I am reacting to what we saw 10 months or so ago which was the Seahawks the Broncos the Patriots and even the Texans if CJ Stroud hadn't forgotten to throw the ball for six weeks they would have been a bigger player they obviously were in the divisional round as it was.

It was all defense nine months ago and in the push and pull of NFL of the NFL the offenses are pushing back this year. That's my point. I would I would love it and I'll just from a Green Bay perspective quickly we'll get a lot of answers I think next Sunday when they host the Vikings. We remember what happened in week one Flores blitzed a 108% of the time which is crazy because you only have 100% but they blitzed like hell. The Vikings had the big comeback at the end of the game.

If the Packers and Jordan Love and can survive this blitz and get the ball down the field next week to Golden and Watson and company I'm going to have a lot of faith they can do it against anybody. I think next Sunday against the Vikings will give us answers as to if this Packers passing offense without a run game is going to be viable in the post season. Out on the road it's nice to have a partner who can help you make the most of your journey a partner like the Loves Rewards app.

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The NFC South doesn't matter and so I don't want to talk a lot about it. I also feel like the NFC East is kind of sort of like that too and I want to get your thoughts on my pick that the Cowboys are still going to win it and you're holding on to your Giants. I'm happy for you and for New York based football fans out there that the Giants are are halfway decent this year. But first I don't know Buddy Badalski you know he was licking his wounds I don't know what happened to him if he suffered a head injury but a week ago he was in a coma.

He missed the entire weekend of football and since he's an empath he's now going to provide the information a quick five five bullet points for anybody who happened to be in a coma this past weekend. Is that right? Well no what happened is the Saints and Browns put me into a coma and I've suffered an injury here as you can tell while while asleep but so I have my observation while while asleep. The thing yeah you know it happens sometimes. Do they put people in a neck brace people in a coma get a neck brace?

I've never heard of that. It's just what I could find around here to make sure that everybody they didn't put it in the hospital they didn't take your cap off. They they were like just work around the cap. Hold on let me let me get right here. There we go. I'm doing a lot back here. Anyway no what happened is I I've seen him do nothing for 25 minutes. Buddy buddy buddy buddy buddy what are you what are what are you digging ditches buddy? Yes. I'm digging ditches.

I got a shovel back here. Yeah anyway okay. I I would actually like to I would like to know what Buddy's doing. I'm I'm organizing the whole show back here. Interrupting conversations easy organizing the whole he's organizing the whole show while while while Damishek is at the I'm pulling sounds I'm I'm cutting things for Wild Mo I nothing anybody cares about is going on back here but just know that I'm doing a lot. So anyway I so so and then and yet you feel the need to keep bringing it up.

The Browns you bring that up in your when when you're sitting with the bosses for your performance review. Nothing anybody cares about that boss that's what I did. Anybody listening to the show cares about it but it's so wear the wear the wear the neck brace wear the neck brace to try and curry some favor. You may need it. Smart. I'll do that. Anyway the Browns and Saints put me into a coma so I have the top five things that I couldn't believe when I got out of that coma.

Are we ready? Okay. Number five we'll start right there. The Browns had a two point conversion to win the game in overtime? What happened? How did that game go to overtime? How did the Browns have a chance to win? There was a touchdown in overtime like Harold Fannin galloping through the secondary I saw. What happened? Number four. Yes. Buddy buddy buddy we're not off to a great start here. Let's see how this progresses. The Broncos won their 17th consecutive one score game. How is that possible?

How do they keep how does Bo Nix keep getting away with this? Threw another terrible interception yesterday. There was an interception that got batted off the ground off the off an arm into they are the luckiest team in the NFL. I don't know what Buddy is looking at but probably himself but I like it better when it was one question Costos like the Broncos won their 17th one score game in a row. And then then and then it leads leads it to him reading you guys so I had to expand.

And it leads it to him reading the AP game recap from there. Like Bo Nix threw for 241 yards and they intercepted a pass in the end zone and it and Sean Payton called out a reporter for smoking a cigarette. Top line rhetorical stunning question that's what we want for this one. Okay go ahead. J.J. McCarthy and Jameis Winston beat Joe Milton and the Eagles? See like see you have to stop and then you go on to the next one. See that's that's pretty decent. Okay.

That is a wild result of you if you really were in a coma starting in like on like August 31st and you woke up and you're like what the hell's going on in that in that division? Wait J.J. McCarthy you can't take off your neck brace. Don't take off your neck brace. Come on. I got to adjust it. It hurts so much. All right you have two more to go go ahead. All right number two. Mike McDaniel calling plays from upstairs didn't magically solve all the Chargers problems?

Like it's see like this is this is the winning formula. This is good. They still stink. So what a shock what a shock. No you don't go bad Okay and you don't go bad and also yes and you can editorialise and be like oh what a shock. Number one Chasen Higgins combined for three touchdowns and were not the best wide receiver duo in the league yesterday? Hmm. All right. Pretty good. I'm surprised that's your number one but that's but but but still pretty good. Costos any notes before we move on?

I think it's I I well I think it just needs to be so the neck brace was okay. I think it just needs to be just the question and And I I do do like like how how the the voice voice rises rises. at the end of it. So I think like that's the winning formula and you just lay out and just let silence tell the story and then you go on to the next air. The dead air is very uncomfortable because I'm like is it funny is it not funny did I did this land But that's what makes it funny.

Yeah, that's a good point. Like if you leave the dead air and you leave us to just stare at you that's what's funny. Okay. You're uncomfortable. We'll give it another go next week. I'll spruce it up a little bit more. Maybe I'll actually do it from a hospital bed. Yeah, you could do like a press conference. You need a roll in a gurney. back here. And do that. What do I got to do everything around here buddy? Yes. Tony see what you can do to to have him in an actual hospital bed.

I'm I'm going to try my damndest. Well, I mean I I I think your fist your your two fists could see to it to securing a slot in the hospital for him. Hey, real quick. This segment is brought to you by Labatt Brewed for the chirps, the rivalries, and the sacred art of trash talk. Labatt Brewed for the roast. Yes, roast and toast. A few things. First of all, let's go back to where the show started. Sean Payton right after that victory that Buddy just mentioned there taking a moment to say this to to an innocent reporter.

Um can we not smoke in here? Please. Oh, you're not smoking. You got a pencil. I'm sorry. I thought you were smoking. I owe you. All right, that's enough. I had a flashback thinking who's smoking a cigarette. All right.

What what the hell? What a pain in the ass this guy is. And and you know the only thing worse than starting a sentence with um the way he did there is when people type it on social media. Um dot dot dot. Don't type out um and don't say it if you're the head coach of a pro football team. Um can we not smoke in here? It's so Karen. How say you Costos? Um I think he was doing his best with um his best Mean Gene Okerlund impersonation there when Ric Flair won the WWF WWF title at the Royal Rumble in 92 and he said to someone off screen put that cigarette out.

So I wonder if Sean Payton is a closet WWF fan from back in the day. Yeah, I mean Payton seems to be a curmudgeon. He seems to be I would say settling into this role but really he's been in it for quite some time. I don't really have a problem with it. If anything the reporter that he called out is going to be more famous as a result. So I I I got no issue with it. I'm fine with that. I if you want to be a hard ass be a hard ass.

Like what do you know about when Payton gave gave it to that guy? I mean he's obviously recurringly a jerk. Like What do you know about running downhill? Was his thing a year ago. At least that was being a hardo. This is this is Karen. Um can you go ahead and not smoke in here? Well, I mean to be but to be fair like this is 2020. People don't smoke indoors. You'd probably be pretty alarmed if you saw that, no? Let the guy smoke a cigarette.

I wouldn't be policing. What I wouldn't what I wouldn't do is police other grownups in a in a bar in a press conference or otherwise. But isn't that but isn't that so his job one of his is to police like his football team, right? No. So he's his team. The reporter's not on his team. But but it but it's like but he's in charge of the Broncos organization. These people are not like directly representing the organization but they are kind of under his purview. So if the head coach says stop smoking I think that that should be grounds for the media and I am in the media.

He's I think that's grounds for them to stop smoking. I think he's within his rights here. I I I think this is disgraceful stuff that we're learning about you right now. You you you listen to what the man tells you no questions asked. I just think I just think that if we want to if we want to be in a society where where rules don't exist and like laws don't matter I don't want to be a part you can go live in Lord of the Flies with that reporter smoking the cigarette.

He's not smoking a cigarette. That's the point. But but but but but but he but he thought he was. But he thought he was. Mind your own business Sean Payton would be my answer to that. And as far as this goes He's right. If someone's smoking a cigarette during a post game NFL news conference you'd be like why is this guy smoking a cigarette? Come on man. What the hell? He's on the other side of the podium. Who cares? Let the let the reporter smoke a dart.

Who cares? That's exactly that's the It's a no it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a professional setting and he's the head coach of the team. He's within his rights to ask for that to stop. It's a reason reporter first of all and the tradition is that he should be burning a nail while he pounds out on on on on the typewriter his pages to to to make it in time for what is burning? What is what is burning a nail?

Is that like like a torture stick in Carolina? That's going in the archives. Burning a nail? Yeah, it's smoking it's it's smoking a cigarette like like like his forefather would have done as a reporter. And while we're on the subject whether it's whether it's Labatt or otherwise you should be drinking if you're a reporter covering a game. Why this has become an evil in me I'll never understand. Next. Well, can I can I can I can I can I just throw this out there? When when I was drinking all it would take was one drop of alcohol and I would want to eat a cigarette sandwich.

They were the best. I also heard you talking about Sydney Sweeney as the one. Is is that your your point? No, this was a Garofolo I know but you got you agreed that like she is the one that makes other women the craziest right now. Like if you hold up as like Sydney Sweeney is is the ideal woman in 2026. Is that right Buddy? You're the youngest among us. Is that sort of the the or we picking up what you're what your generation is putting down there?

Are we right that she's the one? She's the number one. Like like per woman that pisses other women off or that is in a lot of trouble Dave. Unless you ask a really specific question. Really tough spot here. That's it. Went back into his coma in the in the big spot here. That'll put me in a really tough spot. No, no Tate McRae is the number one woman right now to me. That's she's my girl right now. That was this is not the question is Buddy who do you fantasize about?

That's not the question. That's how I'm dodging the question. All right. Okay, more more more roast more roast. I don't mean to extend this more than we need to. Opponents I I get the idea that like when you're going out to play another team that you're at odds with them. They're your foe for the next three hours. But that can't apply to the people making the uniform decisions for the two sides. You need to work together so it's aesthetically pleasing. So that it coordinates in such a way that it is not an eyesore.

And that's what we send overseas. Did you see the Bengals and Falcons? It was an attack. The Falcons are limited. They have to wear their red jersey. Okay, so that's Atlanta's side. Now, Cincy you're nominally the road team to wear the orange pants was an attack on all of our eyes and it was a needless one. Wear the black pants. Wear the white ones and let's call it a day. Don't do that to me. I want to sit there and watch the game and now it's a I wish there was a black and white setting on my TV to to to do away.

Was too too Technicolor for me. Um another one is quickly is the broadcasters predicting what the flag on the field is for and then being wrong about it. Just shut up. We'll wait for a more seconds. But they're usually I feel like they're usually right. No, they're not. Pay attention. This is going to drive you crazy when they're like looks like we got a holding on the defense and then they come back like hands to the face on the offense. Like shut up then. Why why if you don't know you know what are you Well, focus on what's happening there.

For people that don't know apparently Dave Damishek people that have never been in a broadcast booth when like a TV a game's being called on radio or TV. Is there someone called the spotter who is pointing out to the color analyst like what it is? So Chances are I'm just going to use Troy Aikman as an example. Like Troy Aikman is not getting that wrong. The spotter is getting that wrong and giving him incorrect information. Don't share it on the air. I don't care. Like I we're we're not looking for for you to look into your crystal ball that sees four seconds into the future.

We'll wait for the referee to tell us the Why does it bother you? I just don't it's the same you ever play golf? When the guy goes or or or or you play pick up basketball and you shoot a three and and the and your teammate walks away. Sort of like Larry Bird in the warm up jacket walking away in the three point shooting contest but it doesn't go in. The guy who's like we when you you hit a 20 foot putt and it looks like it's going to go in and he's like you got it you got it and then it's and then it lips out.

I hate the guy for talking that way. I I and not that I think he cursed it or anything. It's just like why did you why did you open your yap? I don't think he even jinxed it. It just is an annoyance. Like I it didn't go in. Why did you what were you going to get from from being two seconds ahead of of reality? Nothing. Can I Can I share you just at the risk of taking off off track for a second? Am I okay if I do that briefly?

You'll like it. I promise. Um so Sunday night football Todd Bowles opts for a field goal at the end of the first half instead of going for a touchdown, right? And then he explained I I didn't love it. Explains himself to Melissa. It wasn'k the word. Aaron Glenn would have gotten up there and been like so at least Todd Bowles explained himself, right? And and and made himself sound okay. So then we go to Maria Taylor and Mike Tomlin. And Mike Tomlin I think has been pretty delightful on TV this year.

And Tomlin immediately launches into this diatribe about how if Todd Bowles wants to win this game he needs to be more aggressive and unconventional in how he calls and makes decisions. And I'm sitting there on my couch thinking hey Mike you are aware that we watched you coach the Steelers for 20 years, right? And that you would like the way that Buddy thinks about Tate McRae you would think about sending Chris Boswell out to kick a 22 yard field goal. Like you are aware that we watched you be so conservative you could headline the the prime time block on Newsmax, right?

We all watched it and I was like Todd Bowles needs to go for it. Really? Like Mike you would have sent the field goal unit out. You're a Steelers fan. Like am I crazy here? No, you right you you your comments for the last 20 seconds are spot on. We park our cars in the same garage. I was thinking the same thing but I also agree with your larger point. I'm surprised by how good Tomlin is. I didn't I I didn't think he was going to be so delightful to your point.

You know, he's I thought he might be well informed and provide some keen analysis but he blows away like what have we been messing with Jason Garrett for all this time? I mean I think we are Tony's favorite. That's Tony's favorite. Tony loves Jason Garrett. Most electric man on TV. Yes, he always knows where the cameras are gentlemen. Always. He's electric electric in the way you take a toaster plugged in into the bathtub with you. Electric in that way. And we're that moves neatly in. You bring a toaster in to toast and now it's time for the Labatt toast and that goes to my boy Jean-Claude Van Damishek who sees an nay his entire high school football career ended on Friday night.

They went down 35 to 14. It looked like a wrap and so it ended up being. They rallied back. The they had a couple of he's the long snapper among his many duties on on his football team. And it wasn't his fault. I'm not casting any blame on anybody any 17 year old kid. They missed a couple of extra points in the second half. I'm not there listen whatever happened they missed a couple of You you you you you you hate the kicker that missed the extra points.

We can all tell it's a No, it was a bummer because it really wasn't. They they got the ball with seven minutes to go at 41-39 and the rally was a furious one. All of a sudden the other team that was a real good team couldn't move the ball. They were trucking them in the first half second half couldn't move the ball. Crespi my boy's school was was was driving and as we can tell by as you can tell by the score pulled off this great rally and they got the ball with seven minutes to go down two and came up just short.

What a disappointment but I got to say what a play to to see this boy this number 23 better than the C in a playoff game meaningful snaps last week to win the league back to back and then this week out there playoff games Cali California high school go football. There's no jive at this level that they're playing at. The teammates that he has and has had over the last couple of years will and are playing division one and and and this boy my progeny is out there playing with him.

It it it has been better than seeing the Steelers in the Super Bowl five times in a row. I grew up watching Lynn Swann and my favorite guys. Swann, Lambert, Dirt Winston but my all-time favorite football player Jean-Claude Van Damishek now and forever. Great stuff from him. I mean I really just said that was was just was a was a was a joy. Can I can I do an impersonation of somebody? Yes. Ready? Wait. Crespi came back and almost won the game. Who's that? Who are you doing there?

You got to add another point though Nick. You got to add another point that didn't make sense. What are you doing there? Is that me? That's supposed to be me? Um Costo since we won't get to talk with you. Oh, you know what? Let's get into it everybody. We got can we all squeeze into the Delorean real quick? Leave Buddy behind you know I don't know. got that bad neck in the game. There we go. All right. It's really rough on the neck right now I got to tell you.

Before you go Costos jump to Thursday night. It's the Commies who you contended and I didn't think it was a crazy thought and they looked halfway decent against the Rams on Sunday. But the Commies are more or less finished now. At the first place New York Football Giants how say you in the in that game? Two thoughts. Orville Reese is Micah Parsons. That's what this is going to be. He is a transcendent defensive player. He will win defensive rookie of the year. I believe he will wreck this game.

Number two and the reason why I am confident in the Giants my Giants winning on Thursday night. John Harbaugh and Dan Quinn You already saw the game. That's why we went to the Delorean. We went to Thursday Oh, yes. Yes. Friday 1:00 a.m. All right. So it's not as it's not as fun what I was going to say. They will win because Dan Quinn doesn't know what day it is and John Harbaugh is a good coach. The end. I had a really funny thing to say.

Now I feel like I can't because I'm constricted by the stupidity of Oh, but I mean you were but listen did you learn that the knee of the great comedy of the 21st century Entourage? Surely you can summon a hilarious quip here. Yeah, so here what I was going to say is it's like when you play FIFA against someone online and they use like San Marino and you use Spain and they beat you six one because they're better at the game than you. John Harbaugh is better at the game than Dan Quinn even if the Commanders are better at football than the New York Football Giants.

That will be the difference in the game. This will be a John Harbaugh win much like Sunday against the Eagles was a John Harbaugh win and a game that Brian Dable would have lost and a game that Pat Shurmur would have lost by 20 and Joe Judge would have lost by 30. The Giants won. In the same way they have won already as we are looking back from the Delorean, right? In the same way they beat the eight now I get the bit. It's a stupid bit.

It's one of the best bits you do. It trips everybody up. It's great. It's a it's a it's a it's a bad bit. You're a stupid bit. Beat it Costos. Ca make sure you check him out tomorrow. He'll be there for you at 9:00 a.m. to noon. You better you bet. Uh he's very good. I was going to say best in the business but not after that insult. Not after that. Not after that. Um there goes the great Nick Costos everybody. Tony, we don't have time for anything more.

Quickly, what you're we're still in the Delorean. We have not returned to to Monday morning yet. Perfect. Bills Vikings give us the final. What a game and the quarterback that you thought was going to do it didn't do it. Josh Allen falls to the knee of Brian Flores. What a game by Carson Wentz. Wow. Threw a couple of touchdowns to Justin Jefferson. Josh tried to rally him late like the Crespi cells fell just short to the defense and a massive blitz package that sent Josh Allen really running by you know how Josh Allen does where he runs the opposite way and then turns around to throw.

They ended up getting him for a sack on fourth down and the and the Vikings barely escaped with a three point victory. What a game. Carson Wentz beat Josh Allen in a game? I don't know who you're doing there. Who are you naming there Dave? Is that me? Let's round it out with this presented by Jägermeister serve it cold or don't serve it at all. Jägermeister damn that's cold. For more visit jagermeister.com. Drink responsibly and it is not cold in Los Angeles. In fact, even by LA standards it's a little warm outside.

I don't know what's all bullshit aside though. What in hell Chargers? I mean you haven't won a game. It's one thing to not live up to the high expectations that a lot of us had for you. But you're O and eight now. You're halfway through the season. You haven't won a game. You're worse than the Titans and the Dolphins who are trying to stink. And I've now decided I mentioned it a week ago but I'm now going to double down on it. This is good for you Chargers.

You've crossed a line. You're not making the playoffs obviously. I would not blow it up. You might want to get rid of Mike McDaniel but I'm talking about the roster for the most part. If you have expired in contracts maybe you move those. Do not give away key young assets because this season has been as sour as it has. Because Jeremiah Smith is transformative for the Chargers but also the Titans. Think about who this guy is. 6-3 220 receiver in scarlet and gray. Maybe when I say that out loud you get a little bit of deja vu in a bad way because of Marvin Harrison Jr.

because I kind of just described him. But of course Jeremiah Smith is not Marvin Harrison Jr. just as Marvin Harrison Jr. is not Marvin Harrison Sr. and Jeremiah Smith is worth it. He is worth the shame. You don't want to have a donut in the win column when it's over with but anything better than that one strike in the win column and if it gets you Jeremiah Smith it will be worth it. I know this is a weird time to bring it up except we're in a weird spot in the college football world right now and I wonder if it's about time for Jeremiah to be winding it down to per to to preserve preserve himself himself for for 2027.

This is where things now stand and the boosters won't like it and I get why they won't like it, but as half the NFL is getting ready for 2027, trading away a lot of big assets for the future. So too should these guys were making millions of dollars for their college team if their college team is now out of the mix to play in the tournament. But seriously, my main point is Chargers, what in the hell is going on? Anyway, we'll try to figure that out on the next episode.

Maybe we'll do another YouTube exclusive. I don't know if Costa will join us. I hope he will avail himself to wear one of his $75 black T-shirts for us. Major Randy social median I will take your letters or your notes, your comments, your questions. So send those along on YouTube, on Reddit, wherever you send them. We will find them and we will answer them on the show. Maybe it's a college football exclusive YouTube thing we do every week. We have to figure that out. We'll definitely be back for you on Thursday morning right after the Lebatard show ends live.

We appreciate you subscribing wherever you find your audio podcasts and on YouTube. And until next time, thanks so much, my fellow football Americans. It's been a thin slice of heaven.

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