NFL Week 8 Power Rankings
Another week, time to look at this week's Power Rankings for Week 8 in the NFL as we near the Midway point of the season.
Dave, Joe, and the Birthday boy break down the top ten, who fell out, who's in, and which teams won't be there next week
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TIME STAMPS
0:06 Bobby’s NFL Week 8 Power Rankings.
3:37 Mike Vrabel is a good coach, but he would be better with quarterback better than Ryan Tannahill
7:59 Is Ryan Tannehill a better quarterback than Daniel Jones?
11:17 Offensive and Defensive Struggles for the LA Chargers
15:59 Ja’marr Chase might be out for the season.
23:14 The New York Jets are the second-best team in the AFC East.
24:49 New York Jets vs New England Patriots.
32:13 The only thing that’s holding the Vikings back from being on the upper echelon of the NFL right now is Kirk Cousins
35:07 Why the Minnesota Vikings will win the NFC North in 2022.
41:32 How Good of a team are the New York Giant
43:40 New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
46:22 Cowboys or the Giants?
48:46 Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliot are overrated.
54:26 Josh Allen vs Patrick Mahomes,
59:28 Eagles are the Best team in the NFL right now, but they have not faced anyone.
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Hosts: Mike Marcangelo, Dave Clarke, Rayshawn Buchanan, Bob Kelly, Joe Malkin
Producer: Craig D'Alessandro
Inquiries: Craig@mtpshow.com
Welcome into missing the points. I'm your host D cases. We'll have Dave Clarke back again with the weekly power Ranking Show. We're going to talk about Bob Kelly's power rankings that kind of crazy, insane, ever changing organism that lives inside the missing the point world. We always talk about how much parity there is this season in the NFL. And I think the rankings often reflect that there's a lot of chopping and changing at the bottom, but also a lot of interesting things to talk about. With me today. I have probably Joe Malkin know Bob Kelly, because he's under the weather. So he's not here to defend himself, which is one of my favorite ways to do these shows. Filling in form is the birthday boy, Craig D'Alessandro, usually our producer extraordinaire. But has I asked him if he had one birthday wish in the whole wide world? What would it be? And he said to cure cancer? And I said, Well, how about you can just be on the show instead. And we thought it was a fair compromise. Close enough. So here's this. Here's Craig D'Alessandro and Joe Malkin to talk to me about a ever evolving but quite entertaining football season, then we're going to start right away with power rankings at number 10. We have and just for the listeners at home, we are recording recording this during the Thursday night football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So we're kind of following along. But the context of this show won't really feature the results of that game. And it's not going to matter, because neither of these teams are actually on the top 10 Even though you know, they might be just kind of amazing. It's kind of amazing. I mean, they might be next week. Like I said, the top 10 is an interesting one. Starting off with number 10 We have the Tennessee Titans who I you know, I can't quite put my finger on guys. Like I think they have a I think they have a good coach. I think we've all sort of seen what variable can do as a head coach. I think he's got a good football brain. I think he has guys play for him. But at very key positions. I don't think they're it. But they have a winning record. And they're kind of trucking right along. What do you guys think of the Tennessee Titans? They're they're at number 10 in Bobby's Power Rankings. Craig, do you think that they're gonna stay there? Do you think they're gonna move up to I think they're gonna move down? What do you make of this Tennessee Titans team.
Craig D'Alessandro:I'm a believer that you all that, at least in the NFL, you're gonna be as good as your quarterback until you and I still never will never have never will be a supporter of Ryan Tannehill. And I think he got away with a lot the last couple years because AJ Brown was still down, down there in Tennessee. But now he's gone. Now. He's gone to a team. We'll talk about, I don't know, 15 minutes from now, to give you some perspective. And so you know, luckily, you know, they celebrate rushing so great rushing. In fact, with Derrick Henry Brian Tannehill can run I don't think he's that much of a player anymore in that regard. They got good tight ends, they're, they're beaten good teams. Not risky. So that really they got blown out. They got blown up, blown out by the bills beat the beat the Raiders beat the call. Actually, they haven't beaten anybody how they're
Dave Clarke:not really not really. I mean, you know, I think the Raiders are probably a lot more disappointing than we all thought they're gonna be this season considering some of the personnel but and you know, this isn't an attack on you guys, but I think their head coach might be known. So actually, you know, like, when it's him versus rabl and, you know, you can kind of sucker McDaniels into making bad decisions. I don't know if that says that much about the Titans. Also, to your point, Craig, that rushing game. You rely on a guy that like Derrick Henry, the way he runs, I feel like it's going to be a diminishing return as the season goes on. Once he gets more and more touches. So I think we're in agreement there, Joe, this Tennessee Titans team I bet you're a fan knowing you and knowing how you watch football. I bet you're Mike rabl fan? I bet you're a fan of of the system that they're implementing down there. But could you really hitch your wagon to a Tannehill lead Tennessee Titans team? Wow, that was a lot of good alliteration right there.
Joe Malkin:Was there a mediocre above average team, but they're going to middle? That's just that's the kind of franchise they are. That's the kind of team it is. I think Bramble is a good coach. And I completely agree with Craig that he would be better with a better quarterback. We've really only ever seen him with Ryan Tannehill. So we don't really know what else what else he can do with it with a better quarterback. I think Ryan Tana Hills career was rejuvenated. And he's playing well. But again, you're hitching your wagon to a six foot four 250 pound running back that is going to be he's going to diminish over time.
Craig D'Alessandro:How many need surgery to I think,
Joe Malkin:yeah, and I don't know really what else they have there. So I mean, this foreign to record is great for them. But you're beating teams like the raiders and the Colts. And I mean, the Colts just sat down the quarterback that they hired to basically who they thought it was gonna be the next coming of Phillip rivers for them and I think I think I'm with you on the Raiders now. DK I think Josh McDaniels might just not be a good NFL head coach. And and that says a lot about what Jon Gruden did that his first couple of years. He was winning games. Oh, wasn't he? He was winning games. I don't know why they didn't stick with the guy that they brought in last year because I can't remember his name but
Dave Clarke:He he, well, they fell victim to this. This idea that's been sort of permeating around the NFL for the last decade or however long it's been since McDaniels didn't really get enough time in Denver. That he's this wunderkind that. I mean you don't mean a wunderkind for so long eventually you're just fucking old. But I mean that he's this sort of. He's this sort of great football mind that went went on leashed as a head coach is going to put together like the greatest football team anyone's ever seen when, in actuality, I think we saw a lot of his flaws already exposed as an offensive coordinator, New England like no offense, and you don't have to go through this anymore, but I think the Cam Newton lead offensive Newland patriots might be the worst offensive ever seen, and Josh McDaniels that came from the brain of Josh McDaniels. So I mean, we're not going to sit here and talk about the Raiders all night, but I guess I will begrudgingly admit that Jon Gruden is a better head coach and Josh McDaniels resume
Joe Malkin:clip that and put it on and put it on the interwebs. Okay. Well, yeah, I
Dave Clarke:mean, look, it's not the most it's not the most dynamic team to start out with in the Power Rankings. But I think they do deserve to be there. I think that there's a lot of discussion that could be had had honorable mention was for number 10. I think there's teams that are, like we said, like a lot of parody, like after the top three, and you know, we're probably going to do the top three, like we usually do grouping together at the end and kind of talking about who's who's poking their head out in this three horse race. But apart from the top three, there's not a ton of drop off. I don't think any team can beat any team, which I think for the neutral, which both of us sort of are all of us sort of bar because neither of our teams. But I don't know, we'll see about the various little c be Dallas, and I'm gonna read so insufferable. But yeah, I think I think that parody is making this season pretty entertaining, but also a little bit difficult to figure out, you know, Bobby's got a tough job this year, a little bit difficult to figure out who is the top 10 best teams and the lower you get in the numbers, you can probably tell me the best three and the worst three, but everyone in the middle could beat anybody else on their day. So as much as the Tennessee Titans might not be box office to talk about, I don't think that they don't deserve to be there. And I am keeping my eye on them. Because they could end up with a winning record. Like it could happen. They're gonna lose the chiefs, they serve the chiefs. But all those a lot of those other games are still up for grabs for them. I do I agree that Tannehill is not the guy. But could you draw some parity with with the Giants and what Dave has done over there. I mean, you have a great running back a mediocre quarterback and you just figured out a system to get the best out of both of them are keeping them healthy. And you sort of rely on your defense to win you games. And I think that that's or your front 70 At least if not your entire defense and special teams. But I think that's could be a model. You know, I'm not saying the Giants and we'll talk about them a little bit later, we're gonna go to the Super Bowl and win anything with DJ qB. But I think that I think that they can get themselves to a certain place in order to make themselves a valuable team that players want to come play for and and sort of escalate their stock. And I think the Titans are trying to do that but maybe a little bit of a different way and maybe their quarterbacks even more limited than than Dan Jones.
Joe Malkin:I think he's definitely more limited. Tannehill is than Daniel Jones, I'm not going to tell you the Daniel Jones is a better NFL quarterback and Ryan Tannehill. Right now,
Dave Clarke:six, one half a dozen the other. Yeah, exactly. I
Joe Malkin:mean, we're talking about mediocre at best
Dave Clarke:ones playing better.
Joe Malkin:But that can be a testament to the coaches. I mean, is Brian table that good of an offensive mind. Because he made a very on dynamic looking giants team from last year it looked very dynamic. Whereas you just said it a couple minutes ago, the Tennessee Titans just aren't dynamic. It's just not their style of football there are more shoved down your throat type of football team where the Giants I mean, I think one of the best things that Daniel Jones does is run the football. Like honestly, he has these big runs, he finds space. And he's still doing that with a completely new offense put in place. So I think that that that allows them to be a better team than I think they will be a better while they are clearly a better team than the Titans. They're halfway up the the list but yeah, I think you're spot on. Tennessee's not dynamic double might be a better coach than than Mike rabl. I think we got to give it more than seven games. But yeah, I
Dave Clarke:mean, reactionary thing going on. And I'm sure we'll we'll be participatory in that when we get to number five in the power rankings with the whole New York. The whole the whole of New York essentially, what's going on
Joe Malkin:is wild that might be the most wild part of this entire Yeah,
Dave Clarke:yeah. I mean, at least thankfully the Yankees came up short but yeah, for the New Yorker all over the football map right now. So there's that. Moving on to number nine and that the biggest disappointment of the season for me easily is that these Los Angeles chargers I really did believe in the numbers that Herbert had coming in i To me it looked like he was gearing up ready to have a breakout MVP style year. You know, you saw stats, like the only guy who's got more yards per completion is Pat mahomes. You know, you gave him the old I test and you saw a guy that was that was so pro ready when he came in and he was just getting better and better and not to say that he's like a massive disappointment or he's like a bad QB or anything like that. I just think that he's had a little bit of a slump coming into this year. I think is like you know, we're talking about dynamism dynamism in the offense there's that's definitely lacking you can say quinoa has been here for most of the year but I think we're agreed that you got it if you're just in Herbert and you want to be the guy that everyone seems to think you are. You gotta be able to do it without Keenan Allen now there are four and three it's nothing to sniff at but it's been a difficult four and three it hasn't been anything to write home about so where do you see this chargers team going from here uh, you know, I think there's there's some parity between them and the Bengals the way that but you know, both teams look like they could break out in either direction. It seems the Bengals will come in and talk about that. That seems the Bengals broken out in the correct direction, Joe burrow kind of finding his own becoming the guy that he was at the end of last season and into the playoffs and in the Super Bowl, quite frankly, despite fearing for his life for the entire time, the worst offensive line in the history of the world playing the best defensive line, one of the best defensive lines, but I think I think the Chargers got a shit or get off the pot at this point, right? They got to decide what what kind of team they are. And if they want to actually have a dynamic offense and the defense that was on paper coming into the season.
Joe Malkin:Well, the defense hasn't been awful. I think they've lacked on offense. And yeah, Keenan Allen has been hurt. But Keenan Allen has been hurt most of his career. I mean, he just can't stay on the field. Austin Eckler has had injury problems here and there.
Dave Clarke:He's starting to save in them right now.
Joe Malkin:Sure. Without a doubt, I wouldn't say he's a top seven back in the league top 10 At the worst. Yeah, it's a good football team there for him three, they play in a what we thought was going to be a tough division. But clearly that hasn't happened. Really. They only have one team to compete with out there in Kansas City. They'll be fine. But I agree with you. They need to find that dynamism. I don't think Brandon Staley is the best coach and you just kind of compare them to one of the next teams we're going to talk about in the bangles. I mean, I had Zach Taylor out. What in 2020 I was like, Oh, he's gone. And then, you know, then he went to a Super Bowl and I I think he ended up being a pretty good coach. He's in his third year now they're still playing well. They're in Cincinnati, Brennan Staley? I don't know. You know, this is kind of the coach's theme here right now. That's, that's kind of jumped in. And it'll continue with the next few guys too. But, yeah, I think the Chargers need weapons. I think they need to go out and get him more weapons. I just don't think he has enough to throw to I think he's, I don't know if he's a guy that's going to make his receivers around him better. I think Mike Williams is a very good wide receiver. I think he's got Austin Eckler out of the backfield. He just needs he just needs more weapons and to be able to spread the field of the defense will be fine. Yeah,
Dave Clarke:I wonder if we can even make this comparison down to it's definitely not as big of a loss as Chase going down for the Bengals. But Mike Williams, it looks like the quote was weeks, not days for him with the injury problems in the receiving corps for Justin Herbert. I wonder if this is a make or break moment for him, though, if he can sort of help alongside the coaching staff? And you know, like you said, we don't, I don't have a ton of faith in that coaching staff after these games. I think a lot of the mistakes that they're making seem to come directly from will normally come from the coaching staff, the communication doesn't seem there. But I wonder if Herbert can sort of just grab his balls a little bit and start making things happen with the guys he has, because I think that that's something we've seen all what we consider the greats to be able to do. Now. It's asking a lot of him early on in his career, but, you know, Tom Brady had years and look, I know that a lot of times to any football show becomes the Tom Brady hour, but Tom Brady had years where there were guys that you're most avid college football fan had never heard of coming into his team from the draft that he made ended legitimate wide receivers because he threw the ball you know, Aaron Rodgers as much as I fucking hate him has never really had a bunch of first round picks around him and his receiving corps but he's been able to make guys look good if Joe Montana didn't have Jerry Rice, the greatest wide receiver of all time, and he I defy other than Dwight Clark, I had to find people to name a bunch of his wide receivers this far removed if you're of our generation. I can do it. That's only because I fucking really liked the 80s 48 this morning. That was a great time for Yeah, I mean, come on, I wasn't alive but coming into my football fandom and sort of doing the history reading part of it. I really enjoyed their highlights I really enjoyed Joe Montana as a as a guy and as a representative of the game and also sort of not to go off on a tangent but sort of the dichotomy of him being a Notre Dame like all American and coming in and being that dude in the NFL and that being the prototype of of a quarterback and then to change that sort of in the modern era as the undrafted guy that no one's heard of that has like the kind of pathetic combine to come in and be the goat I like you know I liked that I like that split but and you know the whole storyline with him and Steve Young and Steve Young going on to be one of the best and all this all this stuff with with those guys. But regardless, if there are quarterbacks in history that we consider the grades were their wide receivers made them look good but usually it's the quarterback coming in and telling us I'm not doing it it doesn't matter who I'm throwing to because I'm hitting him in the fucking hands and I got this offense worked out. I would challenge Justin Herbert to go do that. I think he's got more than just not having receivers as an obstacle. I think he's got it having a little bit of a fumbling bumbling coaching staff around him to I wouldn't I wouldn't say I wouldn't say it's his fault necessarily. That's just sort of, you know, the eye test of what I've seen it doesn't really seem like their communications there. But that's true a lot of teams this year to be quite honest with you. I think it's sort of a weird theme that's emerged so maybe we don't remember simply in the charge on that but we sort of alluded to number eight on these power rankings that is the former Super Bowl challengers the the AFC champion in Cincinnati Bengals seems like they might have a little bit of a resurgence and I'm Joe burrow looking like a stud out there last last week I don't have a stats in front of me but they were outrageous. Joe What do you think your your namesake here in the in the in the middle middle of America? Do they come back to the still too many holes what's going on with these Bengals?
Joe Malkin:Well, we found out Thursday that they lost Jamar chase for four to six weeks possibly more. Yeah, that's huge. Yeah, it's that's massive. I mean that I don't want to call him a binky. I just think him and burrow have such a great relationship.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, some of the greatest chemistry I've ever seen out of the gate, wide receiver and quarterback which odd for obvious reasons, you know, and they play together. LSU but I think the I think that it's so hard to translate that so successfully and it's just it's awesome.
Joe Malkin:It's amazing because I mean, you think of some of the best, you know, quarterback wide receiver tandems ever Marvin Harrison low you at you had one I mean, Joe Montana, Steve Young with Jerry Rice. You had Brady and Gronk Of course it's a tight end and receiver let's be honest, yeah, he was receiver. You had Peyton and Marvin Harrison. So
Dave Clarke:I would say the more accurate honestly, I know that they didn't win the Superbowl but the more accurate kind of partnerships are probably Brady and moss like single season is probably the best.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, sure. I wouldn't say Jamar Chase is more closely. talent wise closer to get no I liked this Bengals game. I still think their offensive line is terrible. But they still have some which is why, which is why it's just wild and some fucking linemen do they? They improved their offensive line and it's still the worst offensive line in football and Joe burrow is still trying to and he's still doing what he's doing which blows my mind the kids, the kids the real deal. Number one, Zach Taylor's a good had a good NFL head coach again two years ago, I hadn't fired and now he I think he's an actual good NFL head coach. He's doing a lot with a very young team, bro still has options and that defense is still pretty good. Sure they're four and three were only seven games and and it's gonna sound so funny because they only added one game to the NFL season last year, but it feels like they added more like 17 games for some reason feels like so much more than 16 They're one of those teams that will be just fine. I think they can find their way through this this middle of the season without Chase. Get him healthy. Come back. You know the the Ravens have been playing well, the Browns are not a good football team and the Steelers don't look great. So I think they're going to be all right in that division.
Craig D'Alessandro:Do you think Cleveland's gonna get better when the song gets there and week? 11
Dave Clarke:I fucking hope not. That guy sucks.
Joe Malkin:I think that organization you know, I think we have the obvious bad owners in football the Dan Snyder's the Kalmyk nares of the world, I think
Dave Clarke:so you're invited on the podcast whenever you want to come on open invitation. We'd love to have you Yeah,
Joe Malkin:without a doubt. We would love to have you. Who's the who's the owner of the brown who's named slipped man. He's one of the worst owners in football. He's one of the worst owners in sports and he blew up his team and that now again, I know we're talking about the Bengals but now we're on the AFC north. And Craig asked the question, are they gonna get better? No, they're not. They're a bad organization. They keep shooting themselves in the foot. And while Baker Mayfield is not Tom Brady, he's also not Trent Dilfer, but one thing that Trent Dilfer does have the baker Mayfield will never have is a Super Bowl ring. And I think that if the Cleveland Browns in this sounds very like Jimsy like if they treated them better, but if they treated them better, and they actually gave them and they continue to grow the franchise around him. The team would have been fine.
Dave Clarke:And I feel like I feel like Baker Mayfield is exactly what you think he is when it comes to talent. I feel like he talks a big game. I feel like Joe burrow came in and commercialism he was he was talking about being he was all fucking talk that he was all lip service. He didn't actually make any any moves. He had fucking Nick Chubb running for him. He's an absolute fucking beast, probably the best redzone running back of all time. You know, this is a guy that had everything that he needed to be successful to be quite honest with you,
Joe Malkin:because that was for a competent owner and a good head coach.
Dave Clarke:Maybe but I mean He had talent you know and as far as I say I hope not it was as far as what's his knuckles the fucking sexual assault are coming back into fucking I mean not to say I will pick them up for fantasy just to see how he's doing but I already got great correct stealing he's just like I'm gonna stash everyone
Joe Malkin:the leaves guys are suspended and tired the second
Dave Clarke:half of the season is gonna be great but here's the thing like I I think that he's probably going to come in and be the best quarterback the Browns have ever fucking had I mean like that's probably what's going to happen because talent wise he is
Joe Malkin:now I think it's careers go to die I think
Dave Clarke:you might be right I'm not saying he's gonna win a circle there but like Damn man like that dude was not too long ago in our in the scope of our lives that dude was up on fucking Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game like
Joe Malkin:yeah, he's he was a an above average to great quarterback he use a below average to despicable human being.
Dave Clarke:But I mean it's very funny. I mean, how many people would really say that about here in the sports podcast you know, I don't know can you separate the dance from the dancer? I don't know you fucking tell me I hope he doesn't succeed I hope that the city of Cleveland never succeeds. Like and I mean that both in the in a sporting sense and like I just think Columbus forever like just just absorb all the good parts of it but now I mean obviously I hope the best for the people that live in but I hope their sports teams lose forever so but also
Joe Malkin:Cincinnati Bengals yeah right
Dave Clarke:i mean Look what it's the Bengals are another team which is a lot of what makes this this football season difficult to talk about it It remains to be seen team I mean we needed another few weeks I thought we have everything figured out by now I've been saying this on the power rating shows for the past three four fucking weeks I thought we'd have everything figured out by now but realistically that's it's still a wait and see there's too much parity there's too many weird teams and a lot of injuries need to sort themselves out so we're just have to see where we are speaking of injuries the next team on the list we have is the New York Jets I think deserving of the number seven spot in the Power Rankings quite frankly because of their their play the teams they beat which I'm always I'm always harping on Bobby to factor in strength the schedule more on these power rankings because a lot of times it's like ah, that seems six and out it's like well who were they beaten? They beat the fucking bad news bears you know it's like nobody gives a shit about the teams they beat now the Jets they went out beat the Green Bay Packers were for whatever you have an opinion on on their season. Aaron Rodgers is everybody's fucking Darlington you know Iowa Oscar and or knio Wasco so at the end of the day that's a good win I really liked sauce Gardner walk around with the cheese head but breeze halls hurt now and there's some other injuries that look look like they're going to be season ending where do you see it for me I'll just I'll I won't bury the lead here for me if any of these kind of high record unexpected teams are going to drop off for me it's going to be the Jets injuries. Their personnel in general will like what I thought they're going to achieve coming into the season but there's some other teams in the system we might come to where it might that might be your guys's opinion so Craig I'll start with you. What do you think of this New York Jets team unbiasedly I understand their injury division they are representative of the city in New York but if you can try to put your your sort of unbiased head on for this New York Jets team where do you think they're gonna go up or down on this power ranking?
Craig D'Alessandro:No, I think the Jets right now are probably the I don't know second third best team the AFC East right now which is something considering three out of the four teams in the AFC this upcoming week. Yes, this game we're playing them a one o'clock.
Dave Clarke:It'll tell us a lot.
Craig D'Alessandro:I think it will but as far as the Jets go, I liked this just seem I've always liked the Jets. I don't have this bitter hatred of the Jets at some Patriots fans do and for good reason. They're a good team now and Bryce Hall was having such a good season sucks. He went down. He was having a great rookie year, if rotten? Was it James Robinson Robinson.
Joe Malkin:Also, you
Dave Clarke:know, he seems to be he he's fitting in the locker room talk seems good.
Craig D'Alessandro:They also lost a big offensive lineman this week. But their defense man they have such a good defensive line and their secondaries second to none right now they've had they had they had a great offseason. I can't even come close to denying that. So they're going to be in it. I think that I think maybe the Patriots squeaked by him this week, but I don't know man. I think the I think they're they're gonna be in it for the FCS as long as Zach Wilson stays healthy for a while.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, I mean, it's you bring up a good point, I'll redirect to Joe. I think that the issue they have is that they're in the AFC East, right? Because they're not going to they're not going to beat nor will they surpass the record of the Buffalo Bills, you're gonna win in that division. So best they can hope for is you know, the, essentially the playoffs they're the rest of the league, the rest of the AFC to take pity on them record wise, which they're going in the right direction. Don't get me wrong. We'll definitely see him play the first week of the playoffs, but will like if they get in we'll definitely see him play week one, but will they get inja?
Joe Malkin:Yeah, I think they will. I think they're I think they're the real deal. I don't think they're gonna fall too far in the top 10. I think they'll remain there the rest of the season. Pre saw going down was huge but then for them to, for them to have the mind to go out and make that big of a move to bring in James Robinson, who I'm sure is has Martin as a smart move to leave Jacksonville and go to New York. I mean, in other seasons we'd be like, oh, there's a lateral move. But this year I mean, Craig You said it about the defense. Robert Salah has always put together good defenses he did it in San Francisco it's the reason why everybody keeps saying no Jimmy G the defense got you to the Super Bowl great good because now he's got the New York freakin jets at five and two in week eight of the NFL season. And ever since he came out and was like I'm keeping receipts on people talking shit about the Jets. They I don't think they've lost so basically he's a motivated he's a motivating guy. He clearly has his guys playing well for him. Zach Wilson looks like an actual NFL quarterback. They got him some weapons in the offseason I don't think the the the loss of briefs Hall is going to hurt that team very much.
Dave Clarke:Oh my god, is it good running back to you? Like he's Oh, yeah, no, no, I think he's pretty tall. But I think he's a good running back. I think he's gonna come in and, and I think at least alleviate some of the damage because it's not as if they were relying on him to be say, Quan Barkley in the first place. He's just having a great season. Don't get me wrong. But you know, we talked about this all the time with running backs, like, it's really difficult to tell unless you replace the running back, how much of it is the offensive line? How much of it is the scheme how much of it is that they're afraid of the quarterback, which I'm not 100% convinced that that's the case in New York for either New York team, to be honest with you, but I think my partner can come in and be a serviceable substitute. I wouldn't be wholly shocked. What about you
Joe Malkin:know, I wouldn't be you can also
Dave Clarke:run the Patriots. As we learned last week. Well, I
Joe Malkin:was just gonna say this week is a big test and I say this unbiased ly and I say this because one patriots teams have beat the Jets the last 12 times in the regular season. Brock
Craig D'Alessandro:Obama was still in office when Obama was still in office now these
Joe Malkin:days in the playoffs, but no, I I think this is a very telling week for the New York Jets as a football team. They're going up against a conference divisional opponent that they haven't beaten in a very long time. They do have a few injuries, the Patriots are probably going to be a little pissed off after their blowout loss to the Chicago Bears. Would you call it? I would, I would. I would I think it would just want to hear you say no, it's an absolute lack and it was an absolute shellacking. Dave and I, you know, it was so funny because I was like, oh, yeah, I literally had that. I was like, oh, yeah, Dave's Dave's a Bears fan and it had just been so busy and I'm like, watching the game and no, it was an absolute shellacking. And
Dave Clarke:you know, the point I made just since we're about to move on to the Minnesota Vikings, and I think this is a good segue. The point I made about that game is I think you guys might have just caught us on the worst possible week to catch this team like I'm not saying we're gonna go on the bears are gonna go on to, to you know, win the Super Bowl or you know, even maybe even make the playoffs but I think there's been a lot of almost games for us it's not as if we've been losing badly to teams. It's just been like, Oh, we're there we're there. We're in the game. We're in the game, which is I think what the young team should be the philosophy it's like just stay in the game and like give yourself a chance to win and the ball was just like never in fields his hands to win and when it was like people were letting them down so once it was and once he was like trusted more and that was clear well what happened with the Patriots it was like let's just loser win on Justin fields like let's let it happen. And that dude is fucking dynamic.
Joe Malkin:He had an outstanding game that might that might I think it's best game as a professional, easily,
Dave Clarke:easily easily not even close. It's like easily his best game and I think that what what's what you can do now what you can draw from that game as you can say, okay, and we're coming on to talk about the Minnesota Vikings is where I talk about this. Okay, is that division really locked up? Because the Packers don't look that good? The Packers don't look that fucking good. The Minnesota Vikings I think there's a little air in that record. I really do. I think there's a little air in there not a lot of meat. I think there's a world in which we maybe catch up to these fuckers you know that like to see the season is young I mean I don't want to get completely out of hand I don't want to be Bobby when the Cowboys win a game by by two points. But I think you know we're coming into play Dallas this Sunday and if we put on that same performance win or lose if we if we come close there's a lot to take from it and all I would ask of Justin fields if I was showing them getting tape this week is when you start to run once the play broke down when you waited until the last possible second when when they thought they had you that's when the big things happened when your patient when he broke off when he went bought the play book and the plays broken down and he started running not so much so patients he's he's the most sacked quarterback in the league right now. Like that's just the case. So it's tough to ask patients of a guy like that. But you know, I'm looking at this Vikings team number one before it
Joe Malkin:before we move on to that I kind of want to relay that back to my final point on the Jets because so I look at the game of Justin fields had
Dave Clarke:ever had. They are similar Are there the offensive are sort of built similarly,
Joe Malkin:but ever, ever flu is put together a really nice game plan against the Patriots he out he out coached Bill Belichick on Monday night, like that's plain and simple. Justin fields played the best game of his career ever flew south coached him and he exposed the defense, whether it was good or bad, he exposed the defense to the entire NFL for the New England Patriots. And I think that comes back to the New York Jets, where they are similar offensively, the Jets and the bears. But also now you get the Patriots on a little bit of a short week, some guys are banged up, there's been some trade talks, you kind of put yourself into a situation with a quarterback controversy. This is a huge game for the Jets. If the Patriots come out and win this and put the jets to five and three. I might have some more questions about it next week. But if the Jets go out and beat the Patriots, the Jets are the real deal. And I'm not saying that because I
Dave Clarke:think the Patriots are there's a game plan there for them to use. Right without a doubt.
Joe Malkin:Exactly. And I think if they use that and they execute that the right way. They beat New England, they knock New England down another peg and and they keep climbing up the ranks in the AFC East and they're a good football team. And that's I and I know you guys, they did the NFL show already this week. But I would have the JetSpeed in the Patriots this week in the middle of this.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, I mean, they are at home. They are steaming, but you know the Patriots are are a hit dog like they might be pissed off. Yeah, I mean, you never want to play Bill Belichick when his backs against the wall. So moving on now to the Minnesota Vikings. And like I said, I think there's a little air in that tire. Correct. Talk to me about what you think from your perspective. I'm pretty biased. I never think the Vikings are good. I think for me, I've watched the Vikings have better records than they deserve since I was nine years old. That's how I feel about them, I think or wherever you lead. Yeah, I think her cousins in primetime is a safe bet to always fail. I think all playoff games are primetime. And, you know, maybe not the traditional time slot, but they're they're under the lights. And he's under the microscope. So I just don't see him doing anything. But I mean, can you make an argument the other direction? And if you wouldn't mind, tell me how hopeful I should be that the bears might be able to catch them after last week's performance. Well,
Craig D'Alessandro:the defense played like they did against the Patriots this last week, you actually I would be rather on cards because let's be real, the only thing that's keeping the Vikings back from being you know, higher on this Power Rankings is the fact that Kirk Cousins doesn't do anything good. Other than being a competent passer. He's the one thing holding this team back from being on the upper echelon of the NFL right now. If you ask me if I had to, if I had to pick what team I felt had the most dynamic playmakers or best combined team would probably be the Vikings. They have Dalvin Cook, who's one of the best running backs in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, who I think is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Adam Thielen five, you know, five years ago was the best wide receiver in the NFL. They have herb Smith with tight and
Dave Clarke:make an argument for Cooper cup still, but I hear you
Craig D'Alessandro:are arguably let's put it that way. He's up there. He's
Dave Clarke:there. He's right.
Craig D'Alessandro:Or herb Smith has been a competent, tight end and there aren't that many good tight ends in the NFL. And their defense has been out there too. The only thing keeping keeping them back is Kirk Cousins. When Kirk Cousins is under the lights, he melts like Donald Trump in that one video. The Regis hates it, he's like, turn those lights off. I don't like him. But when it's one o'clock or over when it's four o'clock or earlier, when it's not a prime time when the focus is not on him. He lights people up, he doesn't do anything good. But he doesn't do anything bad enough to put the Vikings in a position to lose.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, but I mean, he can lose your games and like, you know, he will fuck up. Like and that's I think the issue, it's like, you can't be the best wide receiver in the NFL. If the service isn't good. You know, the ball doesn't start in your hands, the ball, the ball, start in someone else's hands. And if it starts in the hands, a guy who's almost certainly going to fuck up when it matters the most. You're not feeling great. And I think that they're all these guys are looking at him and being like, well, that's our leader. That's our guy. And I think you're trying to believe in Him. But they know too, you know, so unless Kirk Cousins can plug and turn the ship around. I just don't see it. And I think there's a good chance we catch up Joe what he said was
Craig D'Alessandro:there anything whether the thing with the Vikings or their offense, it's just so dynamic, you can just hook it down the field and someone's gonna catch it. Yeah,
Dave Clarke:you would think that but I mean, that's it's like literally never worked. When I when it matters, you know, like it works. Like you said it works at 10am. I mean, it's my time 10am On Sunday, but it doesn't necessarily work on Sunday night. And I think that that says more than the time slot that says, you know, or do you grow when it matters most do you rise to the occasion or do you shrink like a violet under the light and I think that what we've that's what we've seen about Kirk Cousins now I'm not saying he can't go on to prove me wrong. But it wouldn't really be proven me wrong because what I'm saying is and what I'm what you're saying is based on the empirical evidence we have in our hands right now, so he can change the narrative. He can change that evidence, because he's got more games to start in the NFL but it this is what it is right now. This is the truth of the situation. So how You believe in the in the in the Minnesota Vikings Joe? Put yourself in a position where you have to tuck yourself into the Minnesota Vikings. You have to do it.
Joe Malkin:Oh, I've I've already done it. And you don't need to force me. I think the Minnesota Vikings will win the NFC North. I think they'll stay in that. Thanks a lot, man. And here and here you go. And hey, y'all, and I'll give you a few reasons why Cardinals commanders, bills, cowboys, patriots jets, lions, colts giants, packers bears, that's their that's their, the the rest of their schedule. I see 1234 losses left on there. I have them losing to the bills. The Patriots only because it's in primetime on Thanksgiving, cheer the Jets, because I think they're a better team. And the Giants because I think they're a better team. I think they can beat the Packers. I think they can beat the bears. They should beat the Colts and the lions. And
Dave Clarke:are you sad? But are you also seeing the same time that the Minnesota Vikings are gonna be the weakest team with the bye week going into the playoffs?
Joe Malkin:No. Well, weakest team in the bye week. I mean, we're talking about only two teams, you know what I mean? So like, I don't necessarily believe that they will be the number one seed in the NFC because again, there's only one bye week,
Dave Clarke:they might be with that record that you just gave them?
Joe Malkin:Well, I know. But I mean, let's let's get up to the to the Giants, the cowboys and the eagles that we, you know, big market teams on where they are here and possibly in the top 10. So, I mean, I just think that I think that the Vikings defense,
Dave Clarke:but I mean, I guess my point is you're saying, you know, you're saying these, these are the losses I see for them, the winds are not, you know, you're basically saying every good team they come up against, they're gonna they're gonna lose to so that
Joe Malkin:every good team, I have them beating the Cowboys that might be alright. With that, I mean, I, I It has nothing to do with having a Cowboys fan on the podcast,
Dave Clarke:or I don't have beaten the Cowboys to be honest.
Joe Malkin:I know. But I but I do. And so just to prove my point that I don't have them losing to every good football team. I think the Vikings are our good football team. I think their defense is good. And I think if Kevin O'Connell can prove that he can coach in the NFL, that'd be fine. Do I think that Kirk Cousins is going to win them a Super Bowl? No, do I think they're gonna win them? What
Dave Clarke:do they do it?
Joe Malkin:They're gonna be one of the weaker teams going into the playoffs? But at that point out what are they not going to be the number one seed so they could get bounced in the first round?
Dave Clarke:Yeah, but like that, what are you doing? Like if you're sitting there talking yourself, and they're either talking themselves into Kirk Cousins, or they know
Joe Malkin:they already talked themselves into Kirk Cousins if they would have done something awesome.
Dave Clarke:I hope I hope that that remains the case for all eternity. I hope he lives forever. So no,
Joe Malkin:because because I hope that that happens for you so that when he says he's still the quarterback, you just don't see this is where your bias is showing. So yeah, of course I'm not trying to hide it. So let's let's not let's
Dave Clarke:not be no but I genuinely think that like I you know, this is the issue when you're talking about your divisional teams. And you guys run into this when you talk about the bills and the Jets and the Dolphins Yes, I'm biased. Yes. I hate them. Also, I watch them more than everybody. Right so
Joe Malkin:there's just told us to not be biased and Craig told you that he doesn't hate the Jets.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, but that's not my point. My point is yes, of course I have a bias against them. Yes, of course I want them to fail. But that doesn't mean that I don't watch them enough to not know empirically whether or not they're good or bad like I know when the Packers are good I know when they're going to win the the NFC North which is fucking always been the Vikings them. I genuinely think they're still sort of phonies, like I think that like as much as they're good in those skill positions. Yesterday, the Kirk Cousins conversation we've had to death at this point. But also like, I just think that they like the bears almost came back against them. And it was it was the bears that shot themselves in the foot. To have that come back. You can't be letting that happen. If you're if you're going to be like the one of the six best teams according to these power rankings in the NFL, you just can't be letting that happen.
Joe Malkin:But the one of the six best teams in Weegee, we're not talking about one of the six best teams in week seven.
Dave Clarke:But but we are though, because it's like we're talking about one of the six best teams as of right now in the NFL. That's the context of the conversation. So what do I think of the Vikings as of right now, I don't think they're one of the six best teams in the NFL. I don't think they're going to remain in the top six to eight best teams in the NFL. But I do think that they they flatter to deceive. I think that they they put on a great show every season for like what they're going to be I think, you know, I think people are always high on him. Because I think you can get four to five guys that look like things that appear in fantasy football leagues that hurt you or help you. And I think that's why people are always fucking high on the Vikings because they operate from a perspective of fantasy football. Not to say that I don't not to say that. I don't know a shitload more about the charges because I do have to Justin Herbert Mike Williams, if you couldn't tell from our charges section of this fucking podcast, but that I think is what the Vikings are. I think they're a fantasy football team. They're a fantasy. They're fucking imaginary. So I think I think I mean, this is a great little. I'm glad I'm glad we had this conversation to be totally honest with you because this is a great market. post from from this point forward, this is the week where it's do or die get good or get bad teams are going to have to start winning and teams are going to have to start losing not everybody can be fucking eight, nine, or nine and eight, you know. So that's just not how the math is gonna shake out. So I think we look at this Minnesota Vikings team, I think you have a very good point and a very clear perspective on the idea that they have a ton of skilled players, I think that Craig has a very good point of very clear perspective on the fact that they maybe have, you know, players at the top of their position, but their quarterback might let them down. And what I'm telling you is, this might be the way to figure it out. We don't know the answer. But I'm glad we had the conversation. So we can mark this in the post and say, you know, either you were right, or I was right now, I hope I'm right, because an emotional race and the race but like whatever it is, we can't
Joe Malkin:tell none of them I can tell by the way your jittering and scratching your neck is you're talking about
Dave Clarke:this and here's the thing, I agree with you that they have studs all over the field. I really do but
Joe Malkin:but but at the most position of the most important position on the field,
Dave Clarke:they don't I'm glad they bought the best paint in the store. But if you don't have a good painter, all that is is a color. So moving on from the from the lovely, lovely Minnesota Vikings, let's talk about the New York Giants for a second a team I'm sure when you win five, the two that you know the two heartbreaks you will last is probably don't haunt you too badly. But it's a theme of this since the theme of bias has emerged here. It's a bit hard for you Craig to to look at the New York Giants. It sort of emerged when you thought they were going to be shooting this season. Or can you look at them now as a team, much like you said about the jets that great. I like this team I you know, I like to I like to coach I like what they're doing. I like say Quan Barkley, and I treated him to Dave like, what? How do you feel?
Craig D'Alessandro:Well, it's a con Berkeley is a huge reason why I like you know, obviously a great reason why I like them. Other than that, you know, I don't know how that's gonna go for them moving forward, we'll see moving, we'll see how God's Of course, he's been injured. So you know, pretty much the only difference I've seen between this giants team and the previous ones is brand new coaching staff and say, Quan Barkley is actually healthy. I'm not gonna lie to you and sit here. I don't know a lot about the giant, I think they're
Dave Clarke:keeping them healthy, though, right? Like, the way they're using them is a little bit more responsible.
Craig D'Alessandro:I think he's where he has been in the past. And that's one of the most dominant running backs in the league. And that's gonna be enough to keep them on, you know, keep them on paces on there. And the entire season. I you know, their upcoming schedule is not that difficult. So I think they're going to be in it for the remainder for pretty a good chunk of the season. But, you know, when it comes to crunch time, when it comes down to which quarterback is better, you know, the questions are going to be there. And if they Quan Barkley isn't going to be able to do and I don't think in this court, I don't think those NFL if your best players running back, you're really going to go far. And
Dave Clarke:yeah, there's been cheer right. I think we've we sort of have that as a truism on this show at this point. And
Craig D'Alessandro:I do think Daniel Jones was taught coming into the season that like, you know, he was gonna be a bus now. He's not playing particularly well, but his team is what they are.
Dave Clarke:He's winning football games. Yeah. You know, I mean, it's, it's, I don't think you'd have as quite as much of a body of work to criticize them as you do. Like the kirk cousins of the world where you could say he's winning football games where you know when he's going to stop, but look at this New York Giants team and look at who's number four Joe on the on the Power Rankings? And could you not see the Giants and the and the Cowboys meeting in the first or second round and the Cowboys fucking losing? I mean, you could see it, right, like the Giants team that's like it built to win football games. It's bid is both a win good for big, good football teams against good teams. And I think that they, they're the team on this list that maybe I didn't expect to be talking about at this point. But they're the team on this list where I could see them winning a couple games in the postseason, and based on how they're playing, what do you think it is this giant team? I know you're big on head coaches. So
Joe Malkin:well, here's where we are with Brian Danville has proven himself as a very good defensive coordinator in the NFL. And he is one of I don't want to say he's, he's in he's in short and short company. He's gonna He's in a small group of head coaches that have been this successful with a relatively bad football team right away. He's he's made Daniel Jones look like a serviceable NFL quarterback, somehow say, Quan Barkley is staying healthy. I think Elijah more for the New York Jets and Darius Tony of the New York Giants or now of the Kansas City Chiefs, I think they might live together and there's something in the water in their building, because those two guys came out and started complaining about playing time and injuries and how they've been being handled. And it's like boys at some point, like, you got to just, you know, stop the yapping and you're on good football teams, good football teams that haven't been good in a very long time. Of course, the Giants have been good more recently than the Jets, but you're on very good football teams. Right now. This New York Giants team is the real deal. But Dave, as you just said their handicap is going to be the fact that they are currently playing in the best division in football saved for the commander's who are not. They're not awful, but they're not a good football team later on. I don't I don't think they're awful. There's worse teams in the NFL than the Washington commanders. But they're, but they're not the reason why this AFC East is the best. It's why, you know, number four, another team that might may or may not be above them. Yeah, like Craig said, their schedule right now doesn't look too bad, but they do still have to play the Eagles and the Cowboys. So I mean, let's, let's
Dave Clarke:see, that's probably too else to me, to be honest with you the way the Cowboys been playing the way the Eagles have been playing. But if they're gonna win either those games, they're probably going to be the Cowboys. I don't see him handing the Eagles their first loss, but I like to see it. We'll talk about this we got on the Eagles. But I would like to see the Eagles tested. You know, I don't I'm not sure how tested they've been, you can't take away an undefeated record, you know, you can replay what teams are put in front of you. But it's not as if the you know, they've had the kind of game where the chiefs in the bills had to beat each other that beat each other up for a game in primetime. You know what I mean? So I want to see the Giants go and test the the Eagles and I think we'll know a lot more about both teams once that happens. But it to me that the giants in the Cowboys be a neck and neck and this power ranking says it says a lot because they're very similar. They're very similar positions as much as we might have expected more from one than the other Craig. You know, they're, they're sort of on a precipice in their season. They shared the vision and they could go either way. So like, if you were to take either the Cowboys or the Giants and ride with one of these teams for the rest of the season, who would it be?
Craig D'Alessandro:Right now? I would take I would take I would be I would you know ride on that saddle and get on the Cowboys really quickly because they have interesting champion they have championship? Worthy No, no, no, no championship worthy defenses to word. I was gonna say that defense is elite. It's so good. And the Giants did. I was gonna get a no, I'm sorry, the Cowboys did exactly what the Patriots should have done with the Mac Jones quarterback situation. You know, backprop Scott got hurt. Yes, Cooper rush filled him for a couple of games and that you know that
Dave Clarke:except the right things sort of the opposite. Or indeed, you mean that they let Cooper rush go in and fail. They
Craig D'Alessandro:let him become what he was. Right. You know, he had a very good couple of games at the beginning of the season, then you know, the shine came off that Penny real quick. And then there was no controversy. What they did was they put they named Dak. The Monday DAX, the starter he'll be starting the against the Jaguars came in, didn't do that well against the Jaguar. No, I'm sorry, that was a giant some like under the giant. Whoever like cowboys face last week didn't have a good game. I think it drew through two or three interceptions, but they stuck with him. They proved that they let him know that he is the guy. And there is no question about it. And that's where the Patriots screwed up. But going back to the Cowboys, they're still the Cowboys, they're still gonna be a good team, you know, they're gonna shit their pants in the postseason probably. But until then, they're gonna be up there in the upper echelon of the team there. You know, Jerry Jones loves paying for great regular season wins.
Dave Clarke:I think that there's a little bit of a back fact, emerging in Dallas, though, like it or not, I think that their offensive coordinator might be lacking in his creativity and his ability to put together a really good offense around the players that he has. But at the same time, there's, you know, there's guys like Zika, merging back into kind of what they paid for theirs. They are establishing a running game, and they're gonna ride with Dak one way or the other. So what do you think Joe is as the as essentially the guy with the perspective on the coaching staffs across the course of this podcast? What do you think? I mean, kellen moore, right. Is, is their offensive coordinator. And I think that, you know, I've heard his name too often for an offensive coordinator to to think anything good is going on at his job. So what do you think's going on there?
Joe Malkin:But Bobby's right about kellen moore and he has been saying to us for two or three seasons now that he's not the guy he's not at. And and I think he might at this point be right, I've always also been under the impression that Dak and Zeke are overrated. That's my personal feeling on those two players. Maybe that would be different if they had a better offensive coordinator. Maybe kellen moore is and I think Bobby's onto something there. You know, whether we've agreed with them or disagreed with them. I think this is a good time to point out those deficiencies because their defense is kind of doing the job for them right now. I mean, they won What did they go three in one with us? So I mean, that's that was all defense. I mean, Kabul rush, manage the games, but he wasn't putting up, you know, Dak Dak Prescott numbers for a guy that I just said Prescott at his best, right Dak Prescott at his best for a guy that I just said was underwritten about, but we're looking at a defensive team. And this is why I mean, you know, Craig said, at the end of the day, they could go into the playoffs and just get their you know, poop kicked in. I don't know at five and two, I do see them losing to the Giants. I think the giants are just the better team and I think they're the better coach team. I would see them have they played they're definitely a better coach team,
Dave Clarke:that's for sure. Yeah, have they played that
Joe Malkin:they have those two teams played yet? I don't think they have. So they still have two games. But I mean, I think the Giants either split or sweep that. And then you know, I would have Philadelphia towards the top of that division. And if some of these other NFC teams kind of start getting better, which I think will happen, and we see with the Cowboys every year where they kind of flounder towards the end of the
Dave Clarke:year now, sorry, they hadn't played the Cowboys beat in 2316. Okay.
Joe Malkin:All right. So in the second meeting, I would have the Giants beating them. And then I think there is a chance that the Cowboys could fall down out of the top five here, you know, of course, we kind of read that on the top 14, because that's how many teams make the playoffs, but they could fall out, they could fall out they could something could happen here. Were again, seven weeks. This is kind of a good marker, as you said, Dave, but I I don't know. I'm kind of like Bobby, I don't really trust any cowboys teams, but I don't root for him. He does.
Dave Clarke:I guess we'll see a lot on the put the bears this weekend, you know, the bears coming off a big win looking like they can maybe do some damage against a good on paper defense. We'll see. I think we'll know a lot about both those teams come coming into the week. I know the smart money is probably on Dallas, but I'm starting to believe gentlemen. All right, moving on. And we're going to do what we usually do in these power rankings because the top three hasn't moved all year, which makes a lot of sense. I told you, I have a new Yes, I have a new cast of characters here. relatively new, I'm gonna do what I started doing with with you, Bobby Joe few weeks ago, which is, I'm gonna ask you to pick your either the Buffalo Bills, or the Kansas City Chiefs as your AFC team. And explain to me why. And then we're gonna go on and talk to, you're going to talk to me about where they are against the Eagles if a potential surge will happen between these, two of these top three teams. So I'll start with you, Joe, where you told me you were Kansas City last time I think we taught you and or is that still the case? Or do you see some deficiencies emerging in the Kansas City world?
Joe Malkin:I actually see their deficiencies going away. I see them getting better as a football team and they're already a good football team. I think they're starting to iron out some of the issues that they may have had at the beginning of the year. They did just trade for Darius Tony on Thursday. I don't know how good this kid is because he hasn't been around long enough. But they don't know
Dave Clarke:how much it's gonna matter. To be honest. I
Joe Malkin:don't know. I don't know how much it's gonna matter, either. But I mean, you know that.
Dave Clarke:It's good fun, you know?
Joe Malkin:Yeah, sure. Why not? I mean, this is kind of what they do. They bring guys in and they clearly can succeed without Tyreke hill. They have a nice two headed monster in the backfield, and Edwards, Hilaire and Chico, they still have number 15. Back there, Craig at the Craig number 15 Patrick mahomes.
Dave Clarke:Now that he's still playing Craig, thanks. So
Craig D'Alessandro:now, a lot of make fun of me. Now that said,
Joe Malkin:the Buffalo Bills are a wagon. And I still believe that I still believe they're a wagon. They're good football team. The running game has gotten better. They're just head to head. They won the head to head their passing game has not gotten worse. And you keep saying it. I'm big on the coaches. I like Sean McDermott. Andy Reid is huge.
Dave Clarke:But let Hold on. Andy Reed is the best head coach that has had three teams like we're all
Joe Malkin:without a doubt without a doubt. I I think and well I'll tell you what I think about the other the the other coach on the other side, but I have Kansas City winning that matchup again, like if this was the AFC Championship games,
Dave Clarke:I personally think it's bad that they played a game like that in the regular season for the bills. Like it's reminds me remember the 16th game of the season against the Giants for the pit that the patriots like shouldn't have tried so hard. Like maybe they should have just taken the 15 one season habit
Joe Malkin:of them against the Jets in the in the two seasons.
Dave Clarke:I think that's jet Andy Reid, Andy Reid knows to not show his whole playbook in that game. I think that the Buffalo Bills did everything they could to win that game. And I think that that gave the basically the biggest scare that the Kansas City Chiefs have in the AFC in the Buffalo Bills game, a little bit of a radar on him. And I think that we're going to see that because I've seen that theme so many times. And when these two big teams collide, they have a close game. But maybe one coach kept a couple of things a little bit closer to his chest because you can take that one out in the regular season because when it's going to matter is if you meet head to head in the in the probably the AFC Championship game, I think that the way that they're the way that their seasons are going so yeah, I mean, I agree with you, I it's you're talking about margins at the top right once your time on margin to the top, they're very, very small. If somebody was to sit here and make an argument to me that if you bottle the talent of Josh Anthony bottled the talent of Patrick mahomes, that the Josh Allen bottles would be a little bit more full. I mean, I wouldn't agree with him, but I would see where they're coming from, you know, like the guy has a lot of things. He's essentially the new prototype of an NFL quarterback, but I just I've seen Patty do it. You know, I've seen him do it when it matters. So to me, he's always gonna be the guy until that changes. So,
Joe Malkin:Craig it's so much fun. No, because there's those two guys ya know, it's
Dave Clarke:great. It's a new era of rivalry I mean so different. It you know, we grew up we now look at it's It's so lucky. ie to see the rivalries at quarterback and the big teams that we saw play against each other like the big quarterbacks when we were kids being the Tom Brady's the Peyton Manning's. The Ben Roethlisberger is the Aaron Rodgers a little bit later the Brett Farve a little bit earlier. You know the fun ones in there like Mike Vick, the Steve McNair, you know, like these, these rivalries emerging in the new generation is really cool to watch, I think and to see what are essentially emerging as the two best guys because as much as like the Philadelphia Eagles are fun to watch. I'm not sure you can really put Jalen Hertz in the conversation with Pat mahomes and Josh Allen at this point. But not yet. I mean, not ever probably. But if you if it just it just me, that's just me, but correct. So you got to AFC juggernauts ones when they head to head me and Joe over here agreeing that it's still the cheese. What do you think are you on Team David? Jared, do you think you have a you have an alternate point on the Buffalo Bills being the the emerging talent in the scene this year? I just
Craig D'Alessandro:think the Buffalo Bills are so good across the board. I you know, I know what the Kansas City Chiefs are. And I know the bills play in our division. But I just you know, I just still feel like the bills are up and coming. And I mean that in a good way. And I'm saying the chiefs are bad. But ultimately I think those teams are so good. I think they're so even keeled. It really ultimately comes down to who has the home game? Yeah.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, that's a good point. I mean, I think I think a lot of people are putting a lot of onus on the fact that the bills rolled into what's probably the hardest stadium to go into right now in the NFL, and win a game and they went into arrowhead and they won. I think that's a really different proposition in the playoffs. And it's a really, really different proposition than in an AFC Championship Game, which is more than likely where these two teams are going to meet who do you think's going to get the home field advantage, then because it sounds like you're saying the Buffalo Bills needed in order to get to a triple?
Craig D'Alessandro:The Chiefs tough, it's tough, because I feel like it's these teams are just so close. It's really so they have they're stacked in pretty much every position. It's pretty much a wash. It's pretty, you know, we would say the head coach, maybe
Dave Clarke:I don't you know, I mean? Yeah,
Joe Malkin:if I think Andy Reid is the best head coach of the top three in this top three. And
Dave Clarke:there's also something to be said for what he looks like in the playoffs. You know, he does tend to come up short display short, and he did things
Joe Malkin:for so many years, but he does have a Super Bowl of Kansas City. I think he kind of watched some of that away. I think sometimes that's just going to happen. I mean, Andy Reid, Andy Reid right now is the best coach in the NFL. Yep. Yeah, right now he's my best coach in the NFL. And, and I think Sean McDermott may tell
Dave Clarke:you a little something about a man named ever flew.
Joe Malkin:He'll get I still gotta tell you, I don't want to keep going back to him. I don't want to pump up your tires too much. But as disappointing as that game was from a Patriots standpoint, on Monday night, knowing you being on this podcast, whether you're talking to you every day, it was it was really encouraging to see that kind of a game plan and have the balls to just go out and attack one of the greatest coaches of all that's the
Dave Clarke:only way to beat Bobo check. No, I mean, the unfortunate reality is that Doug Peterson Put the fucking pen to paper as much as like as a douche. The only way to be Bill Belichick is to beat him in his own game and go out and head to head Yep. He's a seminary. Yeah,
Craig D'Alessandro:and just push them for fucking well. Yeah,
Joe Malkin:but see, here's the
Dave Clarke:Yeah, I feel like any reads made a made it made us some sterner stuff, though. He's a big dude. So you know, the theme of taking these top three as a top three. Over the past few weeks when we've been doing this power ranking show has been whoever comes out of the AFC is the championship is the champion. All three players in this podcast seem to agree on that. Does anyone think that at this point now? The six no eagles are beating either the Buffalo Bills or the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl? Crikey.
Craig D'Alessandro:Are the Eagles going to beat the Chiefs or the bills? I really don't think so. Yeah, I
Dave Clarke:don't either. either. You know, I want I want,
Craig D'Alessandro:you know, as a part of me that wants to say yes, but I just don't see it. Yeah,
Dave Clarke:it's gonna be a fun Clip to play back when Joe do the Philadelphia Eagles beat either the bills or the chiefs? I mean, if they got the next AFC team on the list, I think they're Super Bowl champions. But do they eat beat either the Buffalo Bills, or the Kansas City Chiefs right now in a Super Bowl? primetime. Prime Minister times the most watched show in America. Do they win that game?
Joe Malkin:No. No. I think that the best team in the NFC right now. There's only four teams and Bobby's top 10. And that's actually pretty close across the board, actually. All the way. What did I say?
Craig D'Alessandro:Don't worry about one. Don't worry about it.
Joe Malkin:You just threw me all off. Craig. No one man. What's wrong with you? It's your birthday. And you just think you can do whatever you want. Philadelphia Eagles aren't beaten either one of those teams and I actually disagree with you, Dave. I think if the New York Jets met the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, the New York Jets would be your Super Bowl chair. evidence. Do I see that happening? I don't I don't see right now I am where they're six. No, so I'm not at the same place. I was with Zack Taylor that I am with Nick Sirianni. But I think Nick Sirianni is actually a fraud. I don't think he's a good NFL head coach. I think right now they're rolling. I think they have the personnel. I think they've they've made the wise roster moves, I think they've put the best players on the field that can fit with the other best players on the field. Their defense is really good. They're good football team. I just don't see. I just don't see Nick Sirianni having an enum to beat buffalo or Kansas City and a Super Bowl. And I think Robert Solow would beat him up too.
Craig D'Alessandro:And here, here's the thing I'm looking at, you know, they're six and all right now, the only time that scored over 30 points is opening, we can get the lions. And then I look at the regular
Dave Clarke:schedule I've been saying. I've been saying
Craig D'Alessandro:I just looked at it. I was dumbfounded. So they beat they beat the lions. They blew them out. But they also gave up 35 points in that game as well. They beat the Vikings Great. blew out the command my
Dave Clarke:whole point about D goes all year. This is my whole point. So
Craig D'Alessandro:then the Jaguars, the Cardinals and the Cowboys, which was a good win, but then
Dave Clarke:just look at the scouts. The divisional win, though, so you got to take that with a grain of salt.
Craig D'Alessandro:But then just look at the schedule going forward. They got the Steelers this week, though when the than the other than the Texans. The commander's though when that when the Colts, though when that packers, they might lose that Titans.
Dave Clarke:They might lose that they match up kind of badly against the Titans. But I mean, they could they could potentially be like 12 or 12. And oh, by the time we're at this point, you know, and then they're like undeniable because of their record. But nobody. This has been my whole point. Every week for the past six weeks, we've done this power Ranking Show. And I've said what happens when the number one team on the Power Rankings meets either the two or the three team in the biggest game of the season. And no one, including the man who makes the fucking Power Rankings themself has been able to look me in the eye and tell me that they win that game I can right
Joe Malkin:now. Right? Right now the Eagles are the number one team in the NFL. And I don't necessarily believe that because
Dave Clarke:I'm not saying they shady. I'm not saying they shouldn't be number one. What I'm saying is, and I'm not even saying that they're not the number one team in the NFL, if tested, I'm not even saying they're not that I'm saying they haven't been. So it's important to remember that. There's definitive flaws built in on paper to this Eagles team. They're completely untested when it when it comes to huge games against elite teams. And I think there's a world in which they play either the Buffalo Bills, or the Kansas City Chiefs. And they get fucking blown out. It's like, these are two teams that are so good. And they're so good. Why? Because they play really good teams all the fucking time and they wait to win the game. Yeah. And on that note, I think we can walk away. But go ahead. Yeah,
Joe Malkin:just one more thing. I was here, let's team and it's not necessarily a defense or against Bobby here or you either.
Dave Clarke:He has an ultimate number one, and they don't.
Joe Malkin:But this is what this is what I'm going to say because he doesn't have to put them number one, because in 2020 when the Steelers were undefeated, and they remained undefeated, and they started 11. And no, he had the same. But he had them in number one once. So what I'm saying is it's like just in the context of football. I don't think he's wrong here.
Dave Clarke:I will just say like you look at think that there's probably more of a chance that they're not fraud, then humans seem to make everybody really mad, which I get great enjoyment out of. But I think that when you Philadelphia Eagles team, like there's probably a higher percentage chance that they are legitimately this good. They are six and Oh, good, then that then that Steelers team, so I get it. For me if I was making these pairings, which I don't. So it doesn't matter. I just host the show. They can see she's not one that would be that would still be true of me. But like Bobby told me he admitted he said the quiet part out loud. He was like That's boring. So that's why we have this. And honestly, it's an easier thing to talk about. It's an easier to just talk about when you have it like this. So it's great.
Joe Malkin:Which is funny too, because I have the Kansas City Chiefs, like in the realm of right now. I have the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl, and yet I would have the bills, I would have the bills number one. So yeah, I mean, but I mean, those three teams are still my top three, just not in the order that Bobby has them not to bring
Dave Clarke:down the whole house of cards, but that's why the power anything seems to matter once once the game starts to matter a little bit more so on that note on the power ranking show no. I mean, I love that we have these I love that we're keeping track of it and I love that we have a show built around it because I think it's a lot of fun to talk about who the best to the worst and who the also RANS are in the NFL. And it's a really difficult season to make a Power Rankings like we said because there's a ton of parody teams that
Craig D'Alessandro:are smart people words.
Dave Clarke:There's a there's teams that are supposed to be better. There's teams that are supposed to be worse and it turns out supposed to be doesn't mean anything when you enter an NFL season it only is what is so it was because
Joe Malkin:at the end of a sentence doesn't mean that it's fact.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, that's very true, but at least it means it's grammatically correct so you can go off that but unless it deserved a semicolon or perhaps a comma, so for Joe Malkin, Craig D'Alessandro and myself, I wish you all a wonderful week of NFL football, and we'll see at the same time next week, thanks so much for listening.