May 24, 2024

NFL Schedule Release Special Pt. 2 - Best Matchups for 2024 (AUDIO ONLY)

NFL Schedule Release Special Pt. 2 - Best Matchups for 2024 (AUDIO ONLY)
The player is loading ...
NFL Schedule Release Special Pt. 2 - Best Matchups for 2024 (AUDIO ONLY)

NFL Schedule Release Special Pt. 2 - Best Matchups for 2024

In this episode, Alex Hardy and Nick Ferguson dive deep into the newly released 2024 NFL schedule, discussing key matchups that have caught their attention. The hosts analyze various engaging games, including Week 8's Washington vs. Bears featuring rookies Caleb Williams and Jaden Daniels, Week 2's 49ers vs. Vikings, and the classic rivalries such as Cowboys vs. Steelers in Week 5. Nick highlights intriguing divisional contests like Giants vs. Eagles in Week 7 and Packers vs. Vikings in Week 4, while Alex discusses potential playoff implications with the Ravens' matchups against the Chargers and the Texans. The podcast offers insights into the potential performances of rookies, the impact of new and returning players, and the strategic elements that may influence the outcomes of these games. The hosts also draw parallels to high-pressure performances seen in the NBA playoffs and how they might inspire NFL teams. Tune in for an in-depth schedule analysis from two seasoned sports analysts.

00:00 Kickoff: Diving Into the NFL Schedule and Matchup Excitement
01:08 Highlighting Key NFL Matchups: Quarterback Showdowns and Team Dynamics
01:49 In-Depth Game Analysis: Week 8 Washington vs. Bears and Beyond
05:30 Exploring More Intriguing Matchups: From Rookie QBs to Division Rivalries
08:37 Anticipating High-Stakes Games: Week 14 and Playoff Rematches
31:56 Wrapping Up: Final Thoughts and Offseason Insights

#NFL2024 #PodcastRelease #TopMatchups #NFLFans #FootballTalk #SportsPodcast #SundayFunday #FantasyFootball

1
00:00:09,432 --> 00:00:10,352
Alex Hardy: We are those guys.

2
00:00:10,352 --> 00:00:12,752
We hope to be your guys
bringing you the latest.

3
00:00:13,022 --> 00:00:18,692
Again, continuing our conversation
about the NFL schedule release, knowing

4
00:00:18,692 --> 00:00:22,972
full well that, while taking a look
at the big picture, uh, the week the

5
00:00:22,972 --> 00:00:24,922
schedule came out, here we are now, Nick.

6
00:00:24,922 --> 00:00:28,092
We've had some time to digest,
and there are some matchups,

7
00:00:28,252 --> 00:00:30,872
particularly, that pique our interest.

8
00:00:31,142 --> 00:00:34,902
And, uh, I guess we should
probably dive in after we say,

9
00:00:35,022 --> 00:00:36,332
what's going on Nick Ferguson.

10
00:00:36,982 --> 00:00:40,382
Nick Ferguson: Hey, Alex
Hardy, what's going on?

11
00:00:40,532 --> 00:00:43,862
Alex Hardy: I I'm trying to figure
out how cute I want to be because when

12
00:00:43,862 --> 00:00:48,322
we talk about game to game matchups,
right, we talked about, uh, the

13
00:00:48,322 --> 00:00:55,172
teams that, um, That are just kind of
presumed to be winning a lot versus

14
00:00:55,182 --> 00:00:58,752
the ones that aren't, and kind of how
some schedules shook out with travel.

15
00:00:58,882 --> 00:01:02,312
If you missed that previous episode,
make sure to catch it right here.

16
00:01:02,492 --> 00:01:06,212
Uh, those guys, Ride the Wave Media,
wherever you get your podcasts, Apple,

17
00:01:06,212 --> 00:01:08,822
YouTube, for our most recent episode.

18
00:01:08,972 --> 00:01:13,862
But today, the thought process is, let's
put some quarterbacks, mano a mano.

19
00:01:14,052 --> 00:01:16,607
Let's Get some reunions.

20
00:01:16,617 --> 00:01:21,027
Let's talk about rematches of
playoff games from a year ago.

21
00:01:21,307 --> 00:01:27,407
Particular matchups that Nick Ferguson,
you have circled on the calendar, uh, with

22
00:01:27,407 --> 00:01:30,457
this NFL schedule fully out and available.

23
00:01:30,717 --> 00:01:32,217
So, I'll start with you, Nick.

24
00:01:32,247 --> 00:01:36,287
I think we have four matchups each, so
we're going to talk eight games in total,

25
00:01:36,517 --> 00:01:40,632
where we are just intrigued with what it
looks like on paper, knowing we've got

26
00:01:40,632 --> 00:01:42,772
a long way to get to the regular season.

27
00:01:42,772 --> 00:01:47,172
So, Nick, I'll tee you up the first
game that you have circled on the NFL

28
00:01:47,192 --> 00:01:49,152
calendar from a matchup perspective.

29
00:01:49,912 --> 00:01:54,252
Nick Ferguson: The first game it
is Washington versus the Bears.

30
00:01:54,272 --> 00:01:57,312
It's a week eight matchup
between Dayton Daniels.

31
00:01:57,897 --> 00:02:02,797
And Caleb Williams, but by this point
in the season, week eight, we should

32
00:02:02,797 --> 00:02:08,507
have some kind of idea of what direction
both organizations are going down.

33
00:02:08,737 --> 00:02:13,717
And it would have given either player
Daniels or Caleb Williams an opportunity

34
00:02:13,727 --> 00:02:15,487
to kind of get their feet wet.

35
00:02:15,887 --> 00:02:18,977
So they're going to have their butts
and bruises along the way, but the

36
00:02:18,977 --> 00:02:21,877
guy that went one and two, we get
a chance to see them in week eight.

37
00:02:23,447 --> 00:02:27,277
Alex Hardy: So, week eight, we can
presume, well, Caleb Williams, uh,

38
00:02:27,657 --> 00:02:31,157
you know, already named the week one
starter, which is absurd considering they

39
00:02:31,157 --> 00:02:34,547
haven't played any organized football,
you know, whatsoever, but that's the

40
00:02:34,547 --> 00:02:37,997
approach that this team is taking
with their number one overall pick.

41
00:02:38,227 --> 00:02:42,637
Uh, week eight, you'd think that Jaden
Daniels is ready to roll, um, fully

42
00:02:42,647 --> 00:02:46,187
entrenched if he doesn't win that job
over Marcus Mariota in the summer.

43
00:02:46,377 --> 00:02:48,227
So, what kind of rust?

44
00:02:48,592 --> 00:02:54,022
Do you think, or, you know, experience
these rookies can gain so that they may

45
00:02:54,022 --> 00:02:57,862
be starting to click come week eight,
as opposed to, let's say we saw the

46
00:02:57,862 --> 00:03:01,432
number one and the number two overall
pick duking it out week one or week two.

47
00:03:02,332 --> 00:03:06,102
Nick Ferguson: Well, the biggest
thing is once again, look at when

48
00:03:06,102 --> 00:03:09,422
this matchup actually takes place,
we're talking about week eight.

49
00:03:09,952 --> 00:03:13,172
So obviously, like you said, Matt,
you've already jumped down and said,

50
00:03:13,172 --> 00:03:15,622
well, Caleb Williams is our starter.

51
00:03:15,632 --> 00:03:18,092
You take a guy over one,
number one, overall, you

52
00:03:18,092 --> 00:03:18,932
figured that's going to happen.

53
00:03:19,292 --> 00:03:22,652
Now with Jaden Daniels, obviously you
have a veteran in Marcus Mariota like

54
00:03:22,652 --> 00:03:26,942
you mentioned, but at that point of
the season, you're eight games in.

55
00:03:27,482 --> 00:03:27,812
Right.

56
00:03:27,862 --> 00:03:32,162
So Peters and Dan Quinch and
have somewhat of an idea of what

57
00:03:32,162 --> 00:03:33,392
direction that they're going in.

58
00:03:33,682 --> 00:03:37,302
If Mario, his name was starter
and things are not going great.

59
00:03:37,552 --> 00:03:40,082
At that point, you can go
and use Jayden Daniels.

60
00:03:40,082 --> 00:03:45,512
You get an 8 game, 9 game sample size of
what he could be as you roll into 2025.

61
00:03:46,417 --> 00:03:50,557
And I'll say this, I haven't looked at
the odds yet, the Vegas odds, but I would

62
00:03:50,597 --> 00:03:55,067
give the nod to Caleb Williams simply
because I believe that he has a better

63
00:03:55,117 --> 00:04:00,687
overall offensive supporting cast around
him than Jayden Daniels, but it'd be great

64
00:04:00,687 --> 00:04:05,627
to see those two quarterbacks who, we
don't know this yet, but the future of the

65
00:04:05,907 --> 00:04:10,727
NFL from a franchise standpoint rests on
the shoulders of those two quarterbacks.

66
00:04:11,312 --> 00:04:14,232
We get a chance to see them play
and you see which guy is a little

67
00:04:14,582 --> 00:04:15,812
more superior than the other.

68
00:04:17,322 --> 00:04:17,842
Alex Hardy: Yeah.

69
00:04:17,892 --> 00:04:20,082
You know, just one head to head matchup.

70
00:04:20,112 --> 00:04:24,332
I mean, Bryce Young did beat CJ
Stroud when they met last year.

71
00:04:24,482 --> 00:04:29,082
Does that mean Bryce Young is the better
quarterback based on one performance?

72
00:04:29,112 --> 00:04:35,142
Or is it just about, uh, seeing what these
two teams have built around their rookie

73
00:04:35,142 --> 00:04:37,152
signal callers halfway through the season?

74
00:04:37,572 --> 00:04:41,572
Nick Ferguson: It's basically seeing
how that particular player plays,

75
00:04:41,592 --> 00:04:45,642
because Every single year and every
single matchup as we go through,

76
00:04:45,652 --> 00:04:49,882
we're going to say, it's the battle
of the quarterbacks in its entirety.

77
00:04:49,922 --> 00:04:50,992
No, it's not.

78
00:04:51,202 --> 00:04:52,942
They're just two guys
who are under center.

79
00:04:53,192 --> 00:04:57,562
It's about which quarterback has the
better supporting cast and the best team.

80
00:04:58,442 --> 00:05:01,852
Listen, there was a lot of talk
between the Carolina Panthers and the

81
00:05:01,852 --> 00:05:05,592
Houston Texans, who was going to go
number one overall, but it gave Bryce

82
00:05:05,592 --> 00:05:10,392
Young, who didn't really have anything
of that much to root for in 2023,

83
00:05:10,812 --> 00:05:12,012
it gave him something to celebrate.

84
00:05:12,092 --> 00:05:17,012
Let's be told you went out and beat
CJ Stroud, a team that was right there

85
00:05:17,422 --> 00:05:23,002
on a precipice playing in Baltimore,
knocking on the door, but they fell short.

86
00:05:23,232 --> 00:05:26,052
But to say that, you know what,
as crazy as last year was?

87
00:05:26,597 --> 00:05:29,887
I beat you, so that gives
you a little bragging rights.

88
00:05:30,667 --> 00:05:35,007
Alex Hardy: Well, I would like
to move on to my first game that

89
00:05:35,007 --> 00:05:36,907
may involve a rookie quarterback.

90
00:05:37,747 --> 00:05:38,887
This is Week 2.

91
00:05:39,017 --> 00:05:43,217
The San Francisco 49ers, after hosting
Aaron Rodgers in the Jets in Week 1

92
00:05:43,227 --> 00:05:48,117
for Monday night, they've got the short
turnaround and travel to go to Minnesota.

93
00:05:48,357 --> 00:05:50,747
We have the Kevin O'Connell vs.

94
00:05:50,777 --> 00:05:52,767
Kyle Shanahan matchup.

95
00:05:53,007 --> 00:05:57,257
The, uh, the, the Jedi Master
versus the Padawan, right?

96
00:05:57,267 --> 00:05:59,047
To give you a reference you appreciate.

97
00:05:59,377 --> 00:06:01,277
Uh, we, Hey, you know what?

98
00:06:01,357 --> 00:06:03,317
Sam Darnold was with the 49ers a year ago.

99
00:06:03,317 --> 00:06:04,657
You have familiarity there.

100
00:06:04,897 --> 00:06:07,607
And I'm curious if it's
Darnold starting or J.

101
00:06:07,607 --> 00:06:07,787
J.

102
00:06:07,787 --> 00:06:08,547
McCarthy.

103
00:06:09,212 --> 00:06:14,842
In my opinion, the 10th overall pick
with a Brock Purdy skill set, we're not

104
00:06:14,842 --> 00:06:20,122
sure which quarterback we get from, from
Minnesota, but we have the Kevin O'Connell

105
00:06:20,132 --> 00:06:22,792
pupil, the first up against Kyle Shanahan.

106
00:06:22,822 --> 00:06:26,082
I'm not quite going to count Robert Sala
on the defensive side of the football,

107
00:06:26,252 --> 00:06:30,232
though we served under Shanahan and
you coached with them in San Francisco.

108
00:06:30,402 --> 00:06:32,082
So a meeting of the minds.

109
00:06:32,082 --> 00:06:34,572
You've got O'Connell versus Shanahan.

110
00:06:34,702 --> 00:06:35,512
Week two, Nick.

111
00:06:36,352 --> 00:06:40,912
Nick Ferguson: Well, I'm going
to give the nod to Kyle Shanahan.

112
00:06:41,052 --> 00:06:42,032
Alex Hardy: Of course, of course.

113
00:06:42,082 --> 00:06:43,172
You're the better football team.

114
00:06:43,302 --> 00:06:45,662
Nick Ferguson: Yeah, the master and
the apprentice because let's not

115
00:06:45,662 --> 00:06:48,632
forget, even though Kevin O'Connor
was the head coach in his league,

116
00:06:48,862 --> 00:06:50,802
he was the quarterback's coach.

117
00:06:51,137 --> 00:06:55,507
And the pseudo officer coordinator
under Sean McVeigh with the Rams.

118
00:06:55,767 --> 00:06:58,297
But Kyle has been at this for a while.

119
00:06:58,297 --> 00:06:59,147
Could you imagine?

120
00:06:59,467 --> 00:07:02,157
Hey, you have someone of an
apprentice trying to run the same

121
00:07:02,157 --> 00:07:04,637
scheme that you're running, but
you've run it more than he has.

122
00:07:04,687 --> 00:07:07,947
And oh, by the way, one of the
guys who the architect of the

123
00:07:07,957 --> 00:07:10,287
office is your father, right?

124
00:07:10,287 --> 00:07:12,827
You get the whole comeback to Star Wars.

125
00:07:13,147 --> 00:07:14,747
Luke, I am your father.

126
00:07:17,527 --> 00:07:18,597
That's the kind of whole thing.

127
00:07:18,597 --> 00:07:20,027
And then you talk about Sam Donner.

128
00:07:20,197 --> 00:07:22,247
Yes, he was with the 49ers.

129
00:07:22,477 --> 00:07:23,367
Did he play?

130
00:07:23,807 --> 00:07:26,567
Absolutely not because of Brock Purdy.

131
00:07:26,607 --> 00:07:28,247
So it's week two.

132
00:07:28,287 --> 00:07:31,087
So you have to figure, okay,
well, How far along would J.

133
00:07:31,087 --> 00:07:31,327
J.

134
00:07:31,327 --> 00:07:32,657
McCarthy actually be?

135
00:07:32,987 --> 00:07:36,897
So I'm thinking Sam Donnell being the
elder statesman, knowing the offense

136
00:07:37,187 --> 00:07:39,097
because it's a similar type offense.

137
00:07:39,417 --> 00:07:41,717
He's going to be the guy
playing against Brock Purdy.

138
00:07:41,887 --> 00:07:43,087
So that's going to be the narrative.

139
00:07:43,097 --> 00:07:45,977
It's not going to be
about Kyle and O'Donnell.

140
00:07:45,987 --> 00:07:49,307
It's going to be Purdy versus Sam Donnell.

141
00:07:49,647 --> 00:07:53,497
And that's going to be really interesting
to see because Brian Flores, their

142
00:07:53,497 --> 00:07:58,057
defensive coordinator, I mean, he is a
hell of a coach, but to see him match

143
00:07:58,157 --> 00:08:01,667
wits with that of Kyle Shanahan, that's
going to be interesting to watch.

144
00:08:02,227 --> 00:08:06,087
Alex Hardy: And the last piece of trivia
I have for you, Nick, regarding this game.

145
00:08:06,097 --> 00:08:10,707
The last time the 49ers won
in Minneapolis was 1992.

146
00:08:11,747 --> 00:08:14,377
Uh, Steve Young getting the
victory for San Francisco.

147
00:08:14,377 --> 00:08:18,457
Who was the Vikings quarterback in
92 when they lost to the, uh, 49ers?

148
00:08:19,297 --> 00:08:22,237
Nick Ferguson: When they lost
to the 49ers, the Vikings coach?

149
00:08:22,377 --> 00:08:25,377
Alex Hardy: Yeah, the Vikings have won
seven straight at home against Minnesota.

150
00:08:29,157 --> 00:08:29,677
I don't know.

151
00:08:29,917 --> 00:08:34,727
Coach Denny Green and his quarterback,
former NFL MVP, Rich Gannon.

152
00:08:35,037 --> 00:08:36,957
Uh, which moves me.

153
00:08:37,322 --> 00:08:41,022
To my favorite, I think of the
four games that I've picked.

154
00:08:41,132 --> 00:08:42,642
I think we'll do a
little snake draft here.

155
00:08:42,642 --> 00:08:44,452
I'm just gonna go right
ahead and march on.

156
00:08:45,022 --> 00:08:45,972
Week five.

157
00:08:46,042 --> 00:08:48,332
So I'm hitting the fast
forward button a little bit.

158
00:08:49,002 --> 00:08:52,722
We've got the Cowboys hosting the
Steelers on Sunday night football.

159
00:08:53,002 --> 00:08:55,582
You've got two of the
most storied franchises.

160
00:08:55,582 --> 00:08:57,972
They met in the Superbowl three times.

161
00:08:58,042 --> 00:09:02,752
Pittsburgh beat Dallas twice, uh, for,
uh, two of their, half of their four

162
00:09:02,752 --> 00:09:06,502
championships in those seventies with
the steel curtain, and then Dallas beat

163
00:09:06,502 --> 00:09:11,372
Pittsburgh in Superbowl 30, which was
also the last time Dallas got out of

164
00:09:11,382 --> 00:09:12,902
the divisional round of the playoffs.

165
00:09:13,172 --> 00:09:17,532
So assuming it's your guy, Russell
Wilson for Pittsburgh, he's three and

166
00:09:17,532 --> 00:09:20,142
one all time against Dak Prescott.

167
00:09:21,277 --> 00:09:25,947
Uh, time that Dak beat Russ
was in the 2018 wildcard game.

168
00:09:26,427 --> 00:09:29,737
Uh, when Russell's with Seattle,
however, Russell's got the better

169
00:09:29,737 --> 00:09:34,717
stats, nine TDs, zero picks and four
starts against Dallas where Dak has

170
00:09:34,747 --> 00:09:36,797
six interceptions in those four games.

171
00:09:37,097 --> 00:09:40,967
So clearly you've got both teams
at a crossroads, Russell Wilson

172
00:09:40,967 --> 00:09:43,397
and a brand new, brand new scenery.

173
00:09:43,557 --> 00:09:47,347
But as we've seen with his history,
He's had the ability to step it up

174
00:09:47,417 --> 00:09:48,857
when playing the Dallas Cowboys.

175
00:09:49,797 --> 00:09:51,777
Nick Ferguson: Yeah, he definitely has.

176
00:09:51,777 --> 00:09:52,717
And here's the thing.

177
00:09:53,087 --> 00:09:57,517
This matchup comes down to who
has the better supporting cast.

178
00:09:57,987 --> 00:10:02,777
When you look at the Dallas Cowboys,
Michael Parsons has been a monster, but

179
00:10:02,997 --> 00:10:09,037
as Dan Quinn found out himself, I can't
line him up every single play on all

180
00:10:09,037 --> 00:10:12,177
three levels and have a level of success.

181
00:10:12,467 --> 00:10:16,077
And let's talk, you say this
game is week four, week five.

182
00:10:16,092 --> 00:10:20,662
Are you saying that CeeDee
Lamb has reported to camp?

183
00:10:20,722 --> 00:10:22,652
We don't even know what's
going to happen by that time.

184
00:10:22,652 --> 00:10:23,782
He wants a new contract.

185
00:10:24,182 --> 00:10:28,462
So if CeeDee Lamb is there, it makes
things that much easier for Dak Prescott.

186
00:10:28,472 --> 00:10:33,832
But if he's not there, it's even tougher
because who has a better defense?

187
00:10:34,162 --> 00:10:35,007
The Steelers?

188
00:10:35,407 --> 00:10:39,047
Or the Cowboys, and I'm going
to lean towards the Steelers.

189
00:10:39,227 --> 00:10:40,047
Yeah, Pittsburgh.

190
00:10:40,407 --> 00:10:42,627
We don't know, will Russ be
the starting quarterback?

191
00:10:43,067 --> 00:10:44,597
To me, it doesn't make a difference.

192
00:10:44,857 --> 00:10:48,147
Because if Justin Fields is the
starting quarterback, both of those

193
00:10:48,157 --> 00:10:50,447
guys possess the same skill set.

194
00:10:50,667 --> 00:10:51,617
One's younger.

195
00:10:52,057 --> 00:10:53,307
And one's just a little older.

196
00:10:53,397 --> 00:10:55,937
It's almost like a used car and a new car.

197
00:10:56,437 --> 00:10:56,777
Alex Hardy: Right.

198
00:10:56,817 --> 00:10:59,437
And you have familiarity with
both of these play callers.

199
00:10:59,447 --> 00:11:03,137
The Cowboys have Brian Schottenheimer
who took over for Kellen Moore.

200
00:11:03,357 --> 00:11:07,047
Meanwhile, Arthur Smith steps in after
his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons.

201
00:11:07,237 --> 00:11:09,437
These are both guys that
want to run the football.

202
00:11:09,617 --> 00:11:12,847
They just have to have the personnel
to match the Steelers making.

203
00:11:13,117 --> 00:11:18,097
Uh, moving heaven and earth to add
offensive linemen in the draft and,

204
00:11:18,167 --> 00:11:20,017
uh, an emphasis on that running game.

205
00:11:20,147 --> 00:11:22,827
Also trading Deontay
Johnson, their top receiver.

206
00:11:23,037 --> 00:11:26,797
This team is telegraphed,
we want to run the football.

207
00:11:27,177 --> 00:11:31,287
And the Dallas Cowboys, I think
based on having no pass catchers

208
00:11:31,287 --> 00:11:35,327
outside of CeeDee Lamb and Brandon
Cooks, we want to run the football.

209
00:11:36,297 --> 00:11:39,697
And Zeke is back for his swan
song after leading my New England

210
00:11:39,697 --> 00:11:41,397
Patriots in rushing yards last year.

211
00:11:41,397 --> 00:11:41,767
Wait, wait,

212
00:11:41,977 --> 00:11:42,067
Nick Ferguson: wait.

213
00:11:42,437 --> 00:11:43,117
Come on now.

214
00:11:43,357 --> 00:11:48,357
Well, that's not hard to say, leading your
New England Patriots in rushing yards.

215
00:11:48,397 --> 00:11:48,777
Alex Hardy: Yes.

216
00:11:48,817 --> 00:11:53,657
Nick Ferguson: Because, look,
even though Zeke seems to still

217
00:11:53,667 --> 00:11:55,972
be a very reliable, right?

218
00:11:55,972 --> 00:11:59,427
And I use that word very
loosely, reliable running back.

219
00:11:59,737 --> 00:12:00,347
Three yards

220
00:12:00,347 --> 00:12:01,227
Alex Hardy: on a cloud of dust.

221
00:12:01,227 --> 00:12:05,977
Nick Ferguson: I mean, when you look
at the Pittsburgh Steelers, that's how

222
00:12:06,017 --> 00:12:10,287
that franchise had been built on doing
two things and doing two things well,

223
00:12:10,747 --> 00:12:13,327
running the ball and stopping the run.

224
00:12:13,587 --> 00:12:16,767
So if you, if you were
suggesting that somehow.

225
00:12:18,092 --> 00:12:20,802
Jerry Jones is going to be able to
move heaven and earth and Zeke is going

226
00:12:20,802 --> 00:12:23,172
to have a great day on the ground.

227
00:12:23,582 --> 00:12:25,542
I'm going to say, nah, no.

228
00:12:25,652 --> 00:12:26,621
That's not going to

229
00:12:26,621 --> 00:12:26,877
Alex Hardy: happen.

230
00:12:26,877 --> 00:12:31,632
Well, it's one of six primetime
games that the Dallas Cowboys have.

231
00:12:31,862 --> 00:12:35,002
Uh, Nick, I believe next up for
you, you've got a game not quite

232
00:12:35,002 --> 00:12:38,402
in primetime, but an exciting
divisional matchup nonetheless.

233
00:12:39,092 --> 00:12:40,222
Nick Ferguson: Yeah, you know what?

234
00:12:40,242 --> 00:12:44,522
Let me see which direction I want
to go, but I'm going to go Week 7.

235
00:12:45,022 --> 00:12:45,842
I'm going to go Week 7.

236
00:12:45,922 --> 00:12:46,472
7.

237
00:12:46,932 --> 00:12:51,092
Uh, NFC East Giants versus the Eagles.

238
00:12:51,352 --> 00:12:55,012
And the reason I love this
matchup is because these two

239
00:12:55,062 --> 00:12:56,632
cities, they hate each other.

240
00:12:57,852 --> 00:12:58,852
They hate each other.

241
00:12:58,912 --> 00:13:03,842
Everything, every sports team, hockey,
baseball, they hate each other, but

242
00:13:03,842 --> 00:13:06,522
the hate was only inspired more.

243
00:13:06,742 --> 00:13:10,442
By the idea of Saquon Barkley
going and joining the division

244
00:13:10,442 --> 00:13:15,492
rivals and his back and forth on
social media with, uh, Tiki Barber,

245
00:13:15,492 --> 00:13:17,552
Alex Hardy: that

246
00:13:17,732 --> 00:13:21,032
Nick Ferguson: only is going to
add to the energy of this game, but

247
00:13:21,032 --> 00:13:24,682
we know when we look at, you know,
Philadelphia, they lost the Andre Swift.

248
00:13:25,267 --> 00:13:30,217
To Chicago, and now you got Saquon
Barkley, a guy who carried the Giants.

249
00:13:30,417 --> 00:13:32,697
He carried them by himself, literally.

250
00:13:32,957 --> 00:13:33,577
The face of that

251
00:13:33,577 --> 00:13:37,117
Alex Hardy: team, without, without, I
mean, granted we're seeing Daniel Jones

252
00:13:37,117 --> 00:13:42,077
with those tan pants and the new uniforms,
but Saquon Barkley was that franchise.

253
00:13:42,387 --> 00:13:45,577
And they, they set, they cast them
astray because of positional value.

254
00:13:45,927 --> 00:13:46,786
And listen, I

255
00:13:46,786 --> 00:13:52,842
Nick Ferguson: can tell you this,
It's great when someone passes on you.

256
00:13:53,252 --> 00:13:56,772
It's even better when it's
someone that you were so

257
00:13:56,782 --> 00:13:58,412
thankful for them drafting you.

258
00:13:58,862 --> 00:14:04,782
Now, you go to your another team who's
a rival in their backyard and you get a

259
00:14:04,782 --> 00:14:07,352
chance to force feed it down their throat.

260
00:14:07,602 --> 00:14:13,572
See, this is one of those games I really
love to watch I know you look at the

261
00:14:13,622 --> 00:14:18,082
NFC, the AFC North as being the black
and blue division, but no, no, no, no.

262
00:14:18,392 --> 00:14:22,022
This game is going to be the
black and blue game between

263
00:14:22,022 --> 00:14:23,532
the Giants and the Eagles.

264
00:14:24,042 --> 00:14:28,712
Alex Hardy: Now I've got notes for both
one, Nick, I want to congratulate you

265
00:14:28,902 --> 00:14:32,512
and tell you well, well done because
again, the division matchups, you

266
00:14:32,512 --> 00:14:36,332
got two of them, but this week seven
matchup, yes, it's Saquon Barkley

267
00:14:36,332 --> 00:14:38,332
going back to MetLife, but also.

268
00:14:38,722 --> 00:14:42,812
The next time they meet is week
18, when we already know the

269
00:14:42,812 --> 00:14:44,152
Giants are out of contention.

270
00:14:44,192 --> 00:14:46,812
I won't say that the Eagles are
going to run away with the division

271
00:14:46,812 --> 00:14:48,002
like they did two years ago.

272
00:14:49,132 --> 00:14:53,092
What I've said on this podcast,
and I'll reiterate it here, is

273
00:14:53,142 --> 00:14:54,982
that Drew Locke is going to be.

274
00:14:55,052 --> 00:14:58,632
The Giants starting quarterback
by the time we get to week 18.

275
00:14:58,642 --> 00:15:01,842
We talked about this with
Russell Wilson's example for a

276
00:15:01,842 --> 00:15:03,252
guy that's never been injured.

277
00:15:03,512 --> 00:15:07,302
Sean Payton benched Russell Wilson
because of the injury guarantees.

278
00:15:07,532 --> 00:15:10,722
The New York Giants can get out
from the Daniel Jones contract.

279
00:15:11,062 --> 00:15:14,502
Unless he gets injured this
season because he's got two

280
00:15:14,572 --> 00:15:16,352
years worth of injury guarantees.

281
00:15:16,642 --> 00:15:20,612
So we get to a certain point and we
figure out that this Giants team isn't

282
00:15:20,612 --> 00:15:26,612
going anywhere, or even worse, they're
500 and picking 12th or 13th overall.

283
00:15:27,432 --> 00:15:30,132
Daniel Jones is going to be riding
that pine and your guy, Drew

284
00:15:30,132 --> 00:15:32,162
Locke, is going to have to step in.

285
00:15:32,432 --> 00:15:36,832
Uh, you know, if not for some Tommy
DeVito nonsense, we get again.

286
00:15:38,722 --> 00:15:43,232
The week seven matchup is the juicier
one, even though the NFL prides

287
00:15:43,232 --> 00:15:46,362
themselves on putting those divisional
matchups at the end of the season.

288
00:15:46,732 --> 00:15:52,452
And yeah, I just think it's, uh, it's
kind of the put up or shut up time for

289
00:15:52,452 --> 00:15:56,302
the Giants, if they can't beat Saquon or
those Eagles in week seven, we may see

290
00:15:56,302 --> 00:15:58,282
Drew Locke sooner than, than we expect.

291
00:15:58,282 --> 00:16:01,467
Because again, If we're going to
bench Russell Wilson, who's never

292
00:16:01,467 --> 00:16:04,607
had a significant injury, what do
you think the Giants are going to do

293
00:16:04,807 --> 00:16:10,807
knowing his long injury history and
the type of guaranteed money Daniel

294
00:16:10,807 --> 00:16:16,057
Jones would be given, um, compared
to, you know, wiping themselves clean?

295
00:16:16,297 --> 00:16:19,057
You know, we're also going to
get my second point on this.

296
00:16:19,257 --> 00:16:23,537
We're also going to see a, uh,
Malik neighbors match up with a

297
00:16:23,537 --> 00:16:28,497
pair of defensive back rookies
that the Eagles selected and

298
00:16:28,497 --> 00:16:31,017
Quinion Mitchell and Cooper Dejean.

299
00:16:31,227 --> 00:16:36,017
So it'll be interesting to see how
the Eagles, by week seven now, deploy

300
00:16:36,027 --> 00:16:39,687
those look rookies into one of the
league's worst secondaries where

301
00:16:39,687 --> 00:16:41,357
you've got the veteran experience.

302
00:16:41,802 --> 00:16:45,662
Um, pieces on the outside, adding
two rookies into the formula.

303
00:16:45,842 --> 00:16:49,472
It'll be interesting to see how the
Giants combat that with neighbors and

304
00:16:49,722 --> 00:16:51,402
not a whole lot of weapons otherwise.

305
00:16:53,062 --> 00:16:54,602
Just shout out to Evan Singletary.

306
00:16:54,682 --> 00:16:55,262
You go ahead.

307
00:16:55,412 --> 00:16:56,652
Nick Ferguson: Well, I'll say this.

308
00:16:56,702 --> 00:17:01,432
Here's how the Eagles are going
to really slow down neighbors,

309
00:17:01,432 --> 00:17:02,752
because let's be totally honest.

310
00:17:03,322 --> 00:17:08,522
Who do they have on the wide
receiver front that is a real threat?

311
00:17:08,592 --> 00:17:12,712
Neighbors is just going to be
a rookie wide receiver and you

312
00:17:12,712 --> 00:17:16,632
need multiple threats to really
make it difficult on the defense.

313
00:17:16,972 --> 00:17:19,702
And even though I know Philly is
going to have some young, you know,

314
00:17:19,702 --> 00:17:21,922
corners, Darius Slay is still there.

315
00:17:22,132 --> 00:17:25,072
That defense that they drafted,
all those guys from the University

316
00:17:25,072 --> 00:17:27,372
of Georgia are still there.

317
00:17:27,582 --> 00:17:31,742
So that's way that you, whether it's
Daniel Jones or Drew Lott, This is

318
00:17:31,742 --> 00:17:33,522
the way that you slow those guys down.

319
00:17:33,532 --> 00:17:37,212
Being able to put a lot of pressure
on that quarterback, speeding up that

320
00:17:37,212 --> 00:17:39,032
clock, even if neighbors is open.

321
00:17:39,322 --> 00:17:39,612
Alex Hardy: Yeah.

322
00:17:39,692 --> 00:17:40,852
Nick Ferguson: Get, get it to him.

323
00:17:41,242 --> 00:17:41,442
Yeah.

324
00:17:41,692 --> 00:17:44,592
I'm going to give the early night to
the Philadelphia Eagles over the giant.

325
00:17:44,692 --> 00:17:45,292
Alex Hardy: Of course.

326
00:17:45,292 --> 00:17:49,522
And at six foot 200 pounds, you know,
Malik neighbors as a Goliath compared

327
00:17:49,522 --> 00:17:52,152
to the four or five tiny slot guys.

328
00:17:52,152 --> 00:17:55,752
You mentioned Darius Slayton,
Wandale Robinson, Jalen Hyatt.

329
00:17:56,072 --> 00:17:57,322
Isaiah McKenzie.

330
00:17:57,482 --> 00:18:00,822
Oh, but hey, they did just add
Alan Robinson into the fold, so.

331
00:18:01,202 --> 00:18:01,832
That giant's offense.

332
00:18:02,232 --> 00:18:03,432
That giant's offense.

333
00:18:03,642 --> 00:18:04,182
My goodness.

334
00:18:04,682 --> 00:18:08,822
Uh, I think you've got, uh, you've got
another pick that, uh, you can make, Nick,

335
00:18:08,872 --> 00:18:14,642
uh, with your best matchups, uh, looking
head to head for the 2024 schedule.

336
00:18:14,952 --> 00:18:17,632
Nick Ferguson: Yeah, this one I
really, another one I really love

337
00:18:17,642 --> 00:18:21,672
because I love watching guys, uh,
face off against their former teams.

338
00:18:22,102 --> 00:18:25,322
Kirk Cousins against
the Vikings in week 14.

339
00:18:25,452 --> 00:18:26,132
Yes.

340
00:18:26,512 --> 00:18:29,602
Alex Hardy: Shout out our first,
uh, the first team that we've both

341
00:18:29,602 --> 00:18:31,482
mentioned are the Minnesota Vikings.

342
00:18:31,512 --> 00:18:32,102
Shocker.

343
00:18:32,447 --> 00:18:33,927
I'm genuinely a shocker.

344
00:18:34,137 --> 00:18:34,377
Nick Ferguson: Yeah.

345
00:18:35,497 --> 00:18:39,077
Now listen, really quickly, this
is going out there on a limb.

346
00:18:39,487 --> 00:18:44,327
I know the Falcons and Terry Fontenot,
I mean, screwed up the draft or

347
00:18:44,327 --> 00:18:47,467
shocked everyone by taking Pinnock's.

348
00:18:47,777 --> 00:18:50,297
Do you think by this time in week 14?

349
00:18:51,637 --> 00:18:53,847
Could Penix be the starter?

350
00:18:54,307 --> 00:18:58,027
Alex Hardy: Just, I mean, if Kirk Cousins
could get injured, you know, this is

351
00:18:58,027 --> 00:19:02,377
why it's hard to crown paper champs
because you can't account for injuries.

352
00:19:02,587 --> 00:19:05,807
Now, are you saying he could take
the job from a healthy Kirk Cousins?

353
00:19:05,807 --> 00:19:06,837
Is that what we're asking?

354
00:19:07,127 --> 00:19:12,237
Nick Ferguson: No, I'm saying that it's
going to, it could be an injury that

355
00:19:12,237 --> 00:19:17,887
derails Kirk Cousins season that puts
him out and kind of forces, you know,

356
00:19:17,887 --> 00:19:20,197
Raheem Morris to go with Michael Penix.

357
00:19:20,217 --> 00:19:24,657
Alex Hardy: No, I mean, it's very
interesting because then, you know,

358
00:19:24,657 --> 00:19:28,047
you, you had, I see, I sense a theme
here because you have the number

359
00:19:28,047 --> 00:19:31,637
one and the number two picks with
your first matchup and now you're

360
00:19:31,637 --> 00:19:36,097
looking to more rookie quarterbacks
come week 14 as a possibility.

361
00:19:36,367 --> 00:19:40,617
So, you know, you've obviously
have, uh, Kirk cousins against

362
00:19:40,617 --> 00:19:42,127
his former team in Minnesota.

363
00:19:42,497 --> 00:19:45,227
Um, and beyond that.

364
00:19:45,617 --> 00:19:49,237
Uh, Raheem Morris and Kevin O'Connell,
as you said, both under Sean McVay in L.

365
00:19:49,237 --> 00:19:49,547
A.

366
00:19:49,777 --> 00:19:53,607
There's a lot of familiarity
with these teams.

367
00:19:53,887 --> 00:19:57,787
And by week 14, we're going to
understand, uh, the play caller for

368
00:19:57,797 --> 00:20:02,517
Atlanta, Zach Robinson's identity in
his first opportunity call and plays.

369
00:20:02,767 --> 00:20:04,417
So I'm, I'm fascinated.

370
00:20:04,597 --> 00:20:08,537
Of course, by week 14, you hope we
have everything kind of shaken out

371
00:20:08,537 --> 00:20:10,157
because correct me if I'm wrong.

372
00:20:10,167 --> 00:20:13,497
Week 14 was kind of a, uh, a
healthy scratch game for B.

373
00:20:13,497 --> 00:20:17,177
John Robinson, more or less, or he
played a handful of snaps and Arthur

374
00:20:17,177 --> 00:20:18,727
Smith sat him with a migraine.

375
00:20:18,917 --> 00:20:23,822
It was, Kind of bizarre, and the mystery
surrounding this team, I'm hoping,

376
00:20:23,972 --> 00:20:29,332
dissipates when we see, come week 14,
against the Vikings, we know how the

377
00:20:29,332 --> 00:20:33,302
Falcons can utilize Bijan Robinson
and Tyler Algier in the backfield.

378
00:20:33,492 --> 00:20:39,772
The, the, the pass catchers in Drake
London, Kyle Pitts, um, uh, oh gosh,

379
00:20:39,812 --> 00:20:42,772
uh, coming over from Chicago, um, Who?

380
00:20:42,952 --> 00:20:44,062
Why is his name escaping me?

381
00:20:44,242 --> 00:20:44,992
Darnell Mooney.

382
00:20:45,202 --> 00:20:45,992
Darnell Mooney.

383
00:20:46,882 --> 00:20:52,012
So, like, look, you've got weapons
on that side, you have Jefferson,

384
00:20:52,042 --> 00:20:55,062
Addison, a healthy TJ Hawkinson, right?

385
00:20:55,062 --> 00:20:57,662
We won't see him week two when I,
when I brought up the Niners game.

386
00:20:58,612 --> 00:21:03,012
You've got weapons all over the place,
whether it be Kirk Cousins or Michael

387
00:21:03,012 --> 00:21:07,032
Penix, Sam Darnold, or JJ McCarthy.

388
00:21:07,982 --> 00:21:12,132
We could have an exciting matchup
if both of these offenses know how

389
00:21:12,132 --> 00:21:14,332
to get all of those pieces involved.

390
00:21:14,622 --> 00:21:17,852
Meanwhile, you have two
rebuilding defenses.

391
00:21:18,242 --> 00:21:21,552
I'm just going to, you know,
think about this matchup.

392
00:21:21,742 --> 00:21:25,502
This could be one of the highest
scoring games in the NFL season.

393
00:21:25,912 --> 00:21:27,632
Nick Ferguson: Just wait,
wait, you really think so?

394
00:21:27,632 --> 00:21:28,282
Because.

395
00:21:28,612 --> 00:21:32,592
Once again, now we're still talking
about, is it Darnold or is it J.

396
00:21:32,592 --> 00:21:32,772
J.

397
00:21:32,802 --> 00:21:33,272
McCarthy?

398
00:21:33,422 --> 00:21:37,212
Because if it's Darnold, they
may stand a chance because

399
00:21:37,612 --> 00:21:39,072
Aaron Jones is a running back.

400
00:21:39,142 --> 00:21:43,562
And you talked about, you know, Jefferson
and Addison, you have an opportunity.

401
00:21:43,632 --> 00:21:46,212
But if it's Mike McCarthy,
not Mike McCarthy, but J.

402
00:21:46,212 --> 00:21:46,362
J.

403
00:21:46,362 --> 00:21:51,302
McCarthy, then it makes things a little
more difficult as far as a rookie.

404
00:21:51,562 --> 00:21:53,162
And then here's another
thing to keep in mind.

405
00:21:53,542 --> 00:21:58,632
It is week 14 and I still think
that the Falcons will be contending

406
00:21:58,662 --> 00:22:00,732
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

407
00:22:00,952 --> 00:22:04,752
So it's going to be a game that they
can't just relax because in order

408
00:22:04,812 --> 00:22:08,872
to overtake the Bucks and win the
division, that's going to be one of

409
00:22:08,872 --> 00:22:10,282
those games that they really need.

410
00:22:10,312 --> 00:22:12,592
So who is the quarterback?

411
00:22:12,622 --> 00:22:13,282
We don't know.

412
00:22:13,282 --> 00:22:16,682
A lot of things can happen at that
time, but That would be a game

413
00:22:16,682 --> 00:22:19,532
where you can't rest your starters
because you're still trying to

414
00:22:19,822 --> 00:22:21,462
think about seeding in the playoffs.

415
00:22:22,252 --> 00:22:26,052
Alex Hardy: Uh, my last two, Nick, I
think are kind of the low hanging fruit.

416
00:22:26,092 --> 00:22:29,902
I thought I'd get fun with, you know,
the first two games that I picked out.

417
00:22:29,902 --> 00:22:36,462
But if you Google best matchups of 2024,
I couldn't leave these off because in

418
00:22:36,462 --> 00:22:40,092
Week 12, you have the Brother Bowl,
you have the Ravens at the Chargers.

419
00:22:40,602 --> 00:22:43,872
John Harbaugh going back to face Jim.

420
00:22:44,227 --> 00:22:45,317
Uh, correct me if I'm wrong.

421
00:22:45,317 --> 00:22:48,327
The last time they faced off
was the Superbowl, right?

422
00:22:48,667 --> 00:22:48,997
Right.

423
00:22:49,047 --> 00:22:55,327
So, uh, you also have the angle where,
you know, the brain trust of the Ravens

424
00:22:55,327 --> 00:23:00,067
and Joe Horwitz, who was in Baltimore
for 25 years under Ozzie Newsome, under

425
00:23:00,067 --> 00:23:02,377
Eric DaCosta in the scouting department.

426
00:23:02,727 --> 00:23:05,847
Is now running the front
office for the Chargers.

427
00:23:06,087 --> 00:23:07,727
You see Gus Edwards, J.

428
00:23:07,727 --> 00:23:07,907
K.

429
00:23:07,907 --> 00:23:11,687
Dobbins, other Ravens type players
that, that, that go over there.

430
00:23:11,887 --> 00:23:18,487
Uh, Jesse Minter, who left Baltimore
to, uh, um, Michigan when Mike McDonald.

431
00:23:18,657 --> 00:23:19,827
Went to Baltimore.

432
00:23:19,887 --> 00:23:23,247
You just, obviously the brothers and
their style of football, there's cross

433
00:23:23,247 --> 00:23:26,717
pollination between these two teams
that will show up on the football field.

434
00:23:26,917 --> 00:23:31,637
And then Lamar Jackson, his first
playoff game in 2018 was a wildcard

435
00:23:31,637 --> 00:23:34,917
loss to the Chargers where we were
starting to see those flashes.

436
00:23:35,107 --> 00:23:35,907
We had debates.

437
00:23:36,297 --> 00:23:38,087
Flacco should be starting next year.

438
00:23:38,607 --> 00:23:40,407
Lamar Jackson went on to win the MVP.

439
00:23:40,597 --> 00:23:45,807
So I just think that While it
may not be as high scoring as the

440
00:23:45,807 --> 00:23:50,427
Falcons and the Vikings come week
14, Nick, I'd like to see a lot of

441
00:23:50,427 --> 00:23:54,477
fireworks and maybe the most rushing
yards in a single game this season.

442
00:23:54,977 --> 00:23:58,027
Nick Ferguson: You think the
most rushing yards in a single

443
00:23:58,087 --> 00:24:00,057
season will come in that game?

444
00:24:00,967 --> 00:24:01,367
Alex Hardy: Yeah.

445
00:24:01,467 --> 00:24:01,687
Yeah.

446
00:24:01,687 --> 00:24:05,657
Between what Jim Harbaugh wants to do
with that offense and the combination

447
00:24:05,667 --> 00:24:07,387
of Lamar Jackson and Derek Henry.

448
00:24:07,407 --> 00:24:09,947
I

449
00:24:10,627 --> 00:24:13,177
Nick Ferguson: can see that that
is a very interesting matchup and

450
00:24:13,217 --> 00:24:19,447
anytime you are competing against a
sibling, whether as kids or adults, it

451
00:24:19,447 --> 00:24:24,397
definitely makes things that much more
interesting because the last time I

452
00:24:24,397 --> 00:24:27,407
think John beat Jim in the Super Bowl.

453
00:24:28,057 --> 00:24:31,707
So I don't think this is going
to change that particular outcome

454
00:24:31,717 --> 00:24:33,647
because it's not way the same.

455
00:24:33,647 --> 00:24:34,687
It's not the Super Bowl.

456
00:24:35,002 --> 00:24:37,942
But beating your brother and
being able to stick it to him.

457
00:24:38,312 --> 00:24:39,332
Yeah, you will.

458
00:24:39,342 --> 00:24:40,582
You would definitely like to do that.

459
00:24:40,582 --> 00:24:44,832
But once again, it goes back
to who has a better team.

460
00:24:45,202 --> 00:24:46,722
It's like, do you believe in Lamar?

461
00:24:46,722 --> 00:24:48,702
Do you believe more in Justin Herbert?

462
00:24:49,312 --> 00:24:54,982
I believe in a combo of Lamar and
Derrick Henry to a point where you don't

463
00:24:54,992 --> 00:24:57,359
really have to have a high scoring game.

464
00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:02,752
You can win a game like 1310 and
the Ravens have those capabilities.

465
00:25:03,442 --> 00:25:04,752
Alex Hardy: Jim Harbaugh is just.

466
00:25:05,202 --> 00:25:09,852
Like, like, salivating at the thought
of a 13 10 football game against

467
00:25:09,852 --> 00:25:11,502
his brother, you know what I mean?

468
00:25:11,752 --> 00:25:15,702
Like, that is, that is a
dream for his, I'm sure.

469
00:25:15,852 --> 00:25:19,192
And obviously, with where the Chargers are
in their rebuild compared to the Ravens,

470
00:25:19,362 --> 00:25:22,552
just coming off an AFC Championship
appearance, I think like we've seen

471
00:25:22,552 --> 00:25:28,092
in the NBA playoffs, that's a tease
for Nick before we split, Jim may want

472
00:25:28,092 --> 00:25:32,767
to drag his big brother down into the
muck of, you know, You know, how the

473
00:25:32,777 --> 00:25:34,077
Chargers are going to play football.

474
00:25:34,307 --> 00:25:37,787
And my last one again, with the low
hanging fruit, uh, Merry Christmas,

475
00:25:37,817 --> 00:25:42,237
Netflix, you give us the Chiefs and the
Steelers, but my matchup, uh, again,

476
00:25:42,307 --> 00:25:47,477
back to back with the Ravens week 17
Ravens at Texans, uh, just a piece

477
00:25:47,487 --> 00:25:50,172
of how the Ravens, we talked about
the Steelers, uh, and the Chargers.

478
00:25:50,312 --> 00:25:53,872
Last episode, uh, they have six
division games plus the Eagles and

479
00:25:53,872 --> 00:25:55,212
the Chiefs to close out the year.

480
00:25:55,402 --> 00:25:59,992
Well, after the Ravens go on by Week 14,
they're at the Giants, at home against

481
00:25:59,992 --> 00:26:03,842
the Steelers, at Houston on Christmas Day,
and they wrap things up against Cleveland.

482
00:26:03,982 --> 00:26:05,762
But this Texans matchup, C.

483
00:26:05,762 --> 00:26:05,952
J.

484
00:26:05,952 --> 00:26:12,482
Stroud, Lamar Jackson, uh, the AFC
Divisional Round rematch when the Texans

485
00:26:12,932 --> 00:26:18,552
just got by Cleveland in the wild card,
and then they just They, they, they found

486
00:26:18,552 --> 00:26:22,332
out what it was like to go up against a
consistent perennial playoff type of team.

487
00:26:22,772 --> 00:26:24,762
Tank Dell coming back off of injury.

488
00:26:25,002 --> 00:26:29,662
The addition of Stefan Diggs, plus
the additions of, I don't know, a

489
00:26:29,662 --> 00:26:33,152
healthy offensive line for once Joe
Mixon in that backfield, I think

490
00:26:33,152 --> 00:26:37,332
the Texans have the type of punch to
at least stay in a store, a scoring

491
00:26:37,332 --> 00:26:41,092
contest with the Ravens, given all the.

492
00:26:41,587 --> 00:26:45,327
Departures on the defensive side of
the football, including Mike McDonald,

493
00:26:45,687 --> 00:26:49,087
the Texans might be able to punch
the Ravens in the mouth here just

494
00:26:49,097 --> 00:26:51,357
before we get to the postseason.

495
00:26:51,487 --> 00:26:55,527
So again, a rematch of the playoffs
and the penultimate week of the

496
00:26:55,527 --> 00:26:59,697
regular season, we could be jockeying
for, uh, maybe the number one seed

497
00:26:59,697 --> 00:27:01,407
in the AFC between these two teams.

498
00:27:01,937 --> 00:27:05,147
Nick Ferguson: You know, that is a
very intriguing, you know, matchup.

499
00:27:05,257 --> 00:27:09,277
Lamar Jackson, you know, who's
been an MVP in the league twice.

500
00:27:09,902 --> 00:27:10,062
C.

501
00:27:10,062 --> 00:27:10,232
J.

502
00:27:10,232 --> 00:27:14,752
Stroud, who was in that conversation and
played sensational in his first year.

503
00:27:15,312 --> 00:27:19,392
The way that I look at this, thinking
about my time in San Francisco

504
00:27:19,392 --> 00:27:21,932
and knowing this Bobby Sloag
is their offensive coordinator.

505
00:27:22,312 --> 00:27:26,752
He now has a do everything type of
versatile running back in Joe Mixon.

506
00:27:27,522 --> 00:27:30,492
And this is going to be a run fest.

507
00:27:30,542 --> 00:27:34,662
And I know these are the type of games
that Joe, he's used to playing against.

508
00:27:35,082 --> 00:27:37,792
You know, the Baltimore Raven is
a friend of the Cincinnati Bingo.

509
00:27:37,792 --> 00:27:43,772
So, this is going to be a game of
which team has the ball the last.

510
00:27:44,272 --> 00:27:46,512
And which team runs the ball the best.

511
00:27:46,532 --> 00:27:50,642
And if you look at what the Texans have
done on the defensive side of the ball,

512
00:27:50,652 --> 00:27:54,482
I mean, Will Anderson was impressive
as a rookie last year, but they've

513
00:27:54,522 --> 00:27:57,692
added, uh, some other guys opposite him.

514
00:27:57,692 --> 00:28:00,882
That's true to make that a front seven.

515
00:28:00,942 --> 00:28:01,242
Alex Hardy: Yeah.

516
00:28:01,352 --> 00:28:02,242
Daniel Hunter there.

517
00:28:02,522 --> 00:28:02,792
Yeah.

518
00:28:02,982 --> 00:28:04,102
Plays at Johnson Greenards.

519
00:28:04,102 --> 00:28:04,532
That's right.

520
00:28:05,112 --> 00:28:08,502
Nick Ferguson: You know, run against, so
they've gotten athletic, more talented,

521
00:28:08,742 --> 00:28:12,032
more aggressive on that defensive
side of the ball for the Texans.

522
00:28:12,062 --> 00:28:14,262
And it looks similar.

523
00:28:14,602 --> 00:28:19,172
Like if you, if you put each roster
side by side, it looks like both

524
00:28:19,172 --> 00:28:23,292
of these rosters kind of are mirror
images of one another, because the

525
00:28:23,302 --> 00:28:27,472
idea is getting at the, after the
pass rusher, I mean, getting after the

526
00:28:27,472 --> 00:28:32,232
quarterback with your pass rushers,
but also having that physical nature.

527
00:28:33,122 --> 00:28:35,322
Always punching someone in the face.

528
00:28:35,832 --> 00:28:39,122
That's kind of the idea that
both teams want to have.

529
00:28:39,122 --> 00:28:41,482
So, once again, I dare say it again.

530
00:28:41,642 --> 00:28:43,532
We know defense wins championships.

531
00:28:43,832 --> 00:28:47,732
But that could be the theme of
this season for so many teams.

532
00:28:48,517 --> 00:28:52,017
Last season, a lot of teams
struggled scoring points in the

533
00:28:52,027 --> 00:28:55,487
red zone, and when you build your
defense, it makes it really tough.

534
00:28:56,307 --> 00:28:59,327
Alex Hardy: Well, I just thought it
was kind of funny seeing, uh, the

535
00:28:59,327 --> 00:29:00,767
defensive additions that they made.

536
00:29:00,767 --> 00:29:04,507
Certainly, I mentioned Hunter,
Danico, Autry on the defensive line.

537
00:29:05,317 --> 00:29:11,427
They're collecting, uh, they're collecting
bust top 10 cornerbacks in Houston.

538
00:29:11,692 --> 00:29:15,992
Like, there were infinity stones on
Thanos gauntlet because, of course,

539
00:29:15,992 --> 00:29:17,602
they drafted Are you talking about Jeff

540
00:29:17,692 --> 00:29:18,102
Nick Ferguson: Okuda?

541
00:29:18,362 --> 00:29:20,192
Alex Hardy: I'm talking
about Jeff Okuda and C.

542
00:29:20,192 --> 00:29:20,392
J.

543
00:29:20,392 --> 00:29:24,802
Henderson joining Derek Stingley, who was
outstanding as the third overall pick.

544
00:29:24,802 --> 00:29:28,322
And, like, Lonnie Johnson was
a high second round selection.

545
00:29:28,492 --> 00:29:32,622
They're just stacking these, you
know, incredible athletes that may

546
00:29:32,622 --> 00:29:36,747
have flashed in college and Just
it didn't work out in Jacksonville

547
00:29:36,917 --> 00:29:39,647
or Detroit in the case of Akuta.

548
00:29:39,727 --> 00:29:43,397
They're just, they're rolling the
dice on these incredible athletes that

549
00:29:43,527 --> 00:29:46,867
hopefully can give them quality corner
play, which was a huge issue for them.

550
00:29:47,127 --> 00:29:49,627
Uh, the Texans that is this past season.

551
00:29:49,627 --> 00:29:52,017
So Nick, you've got one more
matchup that you're looking

552
00:29:52,017 --> 00:29:53,537
forward to on the 2024 season.

553
00:29:53,537 --> 00:29:57,527
Nick Ferguson: Before we get
that, I'll say, even though what

554
00:29:57,527 --> 00:30:01,967
you're saying is true, you former
first rounders, second rounders.

555
00:30:02,262 --> 00:30:03,852
Being poured in by the Texans.

556
00:30:04,212 --> 00:30:10,322
The idea is that if You make your
pass rushers that much more superior.

557
00:30:10,352 --> 00:30:13,492
We talked, uh, Daniel Hunter and
we talked about Will Anderson.

558
00:30:13,882 --> 00:30:16,682
It's going to make everything lovely
in the back end because the quarterback

559
00:30:16,682 --> 00:30:17,732
is not going to have that much time.

560
00:30:17,742 --> 00:30:18,492
He's got to get rid of the ball.

561
00:30:19,282 --> 00:30:23,842
So you can get the best out of
those guys with a better pass rush.

562
00:30:24,172 --> 00:30:25,322
Alex Hardy: Yeah, exactly.

563
00:30:25,322 --> 00:30:25,977
Exactly.

564
00:30:26,337 --> 00:30:27,377
Making life easier.

565
00:30:27,607 --> 00:30:30,997
Uh, making, uh, our last matchup, Nick.

566
00:30:31,427 --> 00:30:31,667
Nick Ferguson: All right.

567
00:30:31,667 --> 00:30:35,407
Last matchup week four, we're
talking about the Vikings versus

568
00:30:35,407 --> 00:30:37,047
the Packers division matchup.

569
00:30:37,317 --> 00:30:41,697
You have Aaron Jones playing against
his former team and every guy wants to

570
00:30:41,697 --> 00:30:46,177
play well against his former team and
going back to Kevin O'Connell and what

571
00:30:46,177 --> 00:30:47,347
he wants to do with his running back.

572
00:30:47,607 --> 00:30:48,747
You got a dynamic guy.

573
00:30:49,277 --> 00:30:52,927
I mean, when you go back to watching
Aaron Jones play against the Cowboys

574
00:30:52,927 --> 00:30:57,007
in the playoffs, playing against the
49ers in the playoffs, still showing as

575
00:30:57,007 --> 00:30:58,777
though he's got that burst and explosion.

576
00:30:59,067 --> 00:31:03,237
Now you add that with some superiority
at the tight end position, the

577
00:31:03,237 --> 00:31:06,737
two wide receivers, that opens up
everything, creates a lot of space.

578
00:31:06,787 --> 00:31:11,667
So it's going to be great to see
how Aaron Jones responds to Blane,

579
00:31:11,667 --> 00:31:16,312
his former employer, who told him
at the last minute, You know what?

580
00:31:16,632 --> 00:31:21,201
We're going to take on Giants Jacobs and
we're going to send you out the door.

581
00:31:21,201 --> 00:31:25,962
Alex Hardy: So, to wrap things up,
Nick Ferguson's four games that

582
00:31:25,972 --> 00:31:28,072
he has circled on the 2024 season.

583
00:31:28,322 --> 00:31:30,352
Week 4, Packers Vikings.

584
00:31:30,352 --> 00:31:32,042
Week 7, Giants Eagles.

585
00:31:32,042 --> 00:31:36,032
Week 8, the battle of the top
two picks, Chicago Washington.

586
00:31:36,317 --> 00:31:42,277
Week 14, Atlanta and Minnesota,
the Kirk Cousins game.

587
00:31:42,497 --> 00:31:45,667
Uh, on my end week two,
you've got the 49ers Vikings.

588
00:31:45,927 --> 00:31:50,147
You've got the Cowboys and Steelers on
Sunday night, week five, the brother

589
00:31:50,147 --> 00:31:55,897
bowl Ravens chargers week 12 and week
17, you've got the Ravens and the Texans.

590
00:31:56,167 --> 00:32:02,517
Nick, before we split, I mentioned the
NBA playoffs, and I wanted to talk about

591
00:32:02,907 --> 00:32:07,297
just The type of, um, performances, right?

592
00:32:07,317 --> 00:32:10,727
We've seen, you know, whether it's my
Boston Celtics or your Denver Nuggets,

593
00:32:11,047 --> 00:32:15,997
is there some way to translate, let's
say, as a Denver Broncos football player

594
00:32:15,997 --> 00:32:17,927
watching Nikola Jokic in the playoffs?

595
00:32:18,187 --> 00:32:22,067
Is there a way to understand the heart of
a champion on the hardwood and have that

596
00:32:22,067 --> 00:32:27,297
translate to a team in the Denver Broncos
that have those type of aspirations?

597
00:32:27,437 --> 00:32:30,712
Meanwhile, in New England, are
you talk about Uh, you know, the

598
00:32:30,712 --> 00:32:33,992
New York Knicks with their two,
you know, uh, football teams.

599
00:32:34,642 --> 00:32:39,072
Uh, how, how can you watch success in
another sport and try to translate it to.

600
00:32:39,457 --> 00:32:40,987
Winning in your program.

601
00:32:41,607 --> 00:32:45,707
Nick Ferguson: Well, the idea is taking
the page out of Nicola Yoki's book, where

602
00:32:45,707 --> 00:32:48,187
you just said, I don't give a damn, right?

603
00:32:48,357 --> 00:32:53,947
I don't care what people say about me
as being a three time MVP of the league.

604
00:32:54,227 --> 00:32:57,217
And you know, yeah, he doesn't
have the foot quickness.

605
00:32:57,217 --> 00:33:01,597
He doesn't have that, uh, that
I guess gravitas that we used to

606
00:33:01,717 --> 00:33:03,547
seeing centers of the past have.

607
00:33:03,847 --> 00:33:04,547
But guess what?

608
00:33:04,577 --> 00:33:06,417
He's not going to allow
people to slow him down.

609
00:33:06,597 --> 00:33:07,317
He's big.

610
00:33:07,317 --> 00:33:08,367
He's hard to get around.

611
00:33:08,632 --> 00:33:09,782
He's got a mid range game.

612
00:33:10,112 --> 00:33:15,252
He's a type of center that even Shaq,
if he was honest with himself, would

613
00:33:15,252 --> 00:33:18,672
admit, you know what, when I grow
up, I want to be Nikola Jokic, right?

614
00:33:18,872 --> 00:33:21,032
Because he has an all around game.

615
00:33:21,252 --> 00:33:21,792
That's what you do.

616
00:33:21,812 --> 00:33:25,222
You look at other guys and
say, well, how can I bring that

617
00:33:25,232 --> 00:33:26,527
type of tenacity to the game?

618
00:33:26,777 --> 00:33:31,117
To my particular sport and don't really
give a damn what people in the media

619
00:33:31,327 --> 00:33:32,997
or the fans actually think about me.

620
00:33:34,197 --> 00:33:35,287
Alex Hardy: He's Nick Ferguson.

621
00:33:35,397 --> 00:33:36,277
I'm Alex Hardy.

622
00:33:36,277 --> 00:33:37,267
We are those guys.

623
00:33:37,427 --> 00:33:40,837
We hope to continue to be your
guys throughout the 2024 season.

624
00:33:41,087 --> 00:33:45,257
We've got two episodes now,
deep dive on the calendar

625
00:33:45,257 --> 00:33:47,027
release with the NFL schedule.

626
00:33:47,157 --> 00:33:50,857
So you can check either of those
episodes, this one right here, which

627
00:33:50,857 --> 00:33:55,007
you just finished or our most previous
one, when the schedule first came out.

628
00:33:55,242 --> 00:33:56,272
Kind of a bigger picture.

629
00:33:56,272 --> 00:33:59,872
Look at things, Apple podcasts,
wherever you get your podcasts, YouTube.

630
00:34:00,192 --> 00:34:03,022
And we're going to continue
keeping you updated throughout

631
00:34:03,022 --> 00:34:04,282
the course of this off season.

632
00:34:04,612 --> 00:34:07,942
Times may be appearing slow, but
that's never the case when you're

633
00:34:07,942 --> 00:34:11,942
working with a former 10 year
NFL veteran and Nick Ferguson.

634
00:34:12,147 --> 00:34:15,157
So my guy, Nick, what do you have to
say for the people on our way out?

635
00:34:15,597 --> 00:34:17,047
Hey, remember,

636
00:34:17,417 --> 00:34:19,397
Nick Ferguson: don't eat before you swim.

637
00:34:22,117 --> 00:34:22,587
Alex Hardy: That's it?

638
00:34:23,497 --> 00:34:23,997
That's it.

639
00:34:24,297 --> 00:34:25,047
Like, at all?

640
00:34:25,737 --> 00:34:27,277
Yeah, I mean, you're not supposed to eat.

641
00:34:27,327 --> 00:34:29,587
Usually cramp, like, only
after like half an hour.

642
00:34:29,607 --> 00:34:30,887
Can you, like, take a bite?

643
00:34:31,347 --> 00:34:32,987
Nick Ferguson: You don't want
to eat before you swim, man.

644
00:34:32,987 --> 00:34:34,857
You get, you catch a cramp and you drown.

645
00:34:35,217 --> 00:34:36,457
That's why you don't eat before you swim.

646
00:34:36,597 --> 00:34:37,957
Alex Hardy: Because you'll drown.

647
00:34:37,957 --> 00:34:38,428
Yes.