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Now. On with the show. What a try to begin the season for the Chicago Bears. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
JJ McCarthy. Today's Gasps. two-time Super Bowl champion and green light podcast host, Chris Long, comedian Bert Kreischer, plus latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number two, the Rich Haisen Show is on the air.
Now that one week in the National Football League season. And two weeks in the college football season, essentially, are in the books. Lots to talk about. 844-204 rich is the number to dial. Whether you're watching us on Disney Plus, on the ESPN the app, and if you are, you'll see me wearing a crisp light blue shirt.
Or a royal blue shirt that might be one button, two unbuttoned. Not going to lie. I got to say, when I walked in this morning, I noticed that. And I thought, oh, that's whoa, whoa. You know, I think it looks great.
I'm just going with that. He doesn't think that rich. And I'm just describing the word picture. If you're listening on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance or listening on SiriusXM Channel 80. I guess Howard Stern lit up the serious XM world yesterday by making it seem like he was quitting, and then he didn't.
Oh, really? Andy Cohen. And he was all like shook, like, yeah, I know I'm here. I know you're wondering why I'm here. And then, surprise, he was just pranking everybody.
I love Howard. Uh growing up in New York, um my goodness. I listened to him on WNBC. WNBC. And we got Chris Long joining us in the middle of this hour, the green light.
Uh partly Green Light with Chris Long, podcast host, is joining us. I love chatting football with him. He makes me smarter, and he just comes at it from a point of view. He's won two Super Bowl rings. He's a football legacy for crying out loud.
Time. Top pick in the draft or second overall. Second, yeah. My gosh. He just knows it and talks it in a way that a few do.
And I love having him on. He's about to join us. Burt. Kreischer is going to join us in stadium hour three. Sure, soften.
No, I mean, let's hope not. Are we going? 844-204-H being the number to dial on the program. The San Francisco 49ers have some considerable. Injury issues.
We knew George Kittle heard his hamstring. That's usually a four to six weeks, or what I'm reading, like three to five weeks, which is just an odd way of putting it. Odd wave. Is that the optimistic side of four to six weeks? I don't know, man.
So. What a bummer. It is because it's just, I love watching him play football. He plays it with such dominating against Seattle. He plays it with such an enthusiasm that just leaps through the television set.
And he's. One of our favorites. I mean, I know I say that a lot. We have a lot of favorites. But he's one of us.
We are people people. We are. We're like the human fund of sports programming. And so. Brock Purdy though Came out with a toe injury that might keep him out of the game.
This week? Shoulder and toe. He's dealing with two ends.
Well, apparently, the toe is worse than the shoulder. And, you know, I mentioned all the time whenever I see a toe injury, that's what caused Dion to quit playing the game. It wasn't anything else, it was his toe. that he eventually, as you know, had to I had to get surgery to handle by removing it. Didn't Jack and Embert also have turf toe?
Isn't that? It's nasty. I don't know if that's what it is. There's a toe injury. They're at New Orleans in week two.
So Mac Jones might be the first backup quarterback to play, unless Adam Markall Screener gets what he wants him to be Tyson Bagent for the Bears.
So there's that. Is he all right back there? I feel like I should take a phone call just to see if he's okay. He wants to call in physically from the back. We'll get him.
And then the Niners made a move that I think fans have been wanting for quite some time. Um Kyle Shanahan has had enough of Jake Moody. I guess one Michigan guy succeeds and the other guy has to leave. Jake Moody, a day after J.J. McCarthy just took care of business.
To the Vikings, uh he's been cut. Moody?
So Highly drafted Jake Moody. All he has to do is stay ready. He'll not fill no rings. Dude is one of the best field goal kickers I've ever seen Michigan have, and he just. Couldn't kick straight.
So, the Niners already with injury issues where Brandon Ayuk's not coming back for a while. And apparently, Jawan Jennings is better than we thought.
So, that's good news there. Good news there. But it could be Mac Jones versus Spencer Rattler week two in in the in the dome. Who thought that to be possible? But thankfully, McCaffrey looked like McCaffrey and Robert Sala being back just means so much for this team.
Huge. And I think it string some wins together. They've got a last place schedule, and the 49ers can be. The team that everybody thinks they can be, which is back in the Super Bowl conversation, they just have to get healthy and fast. Because after that game in New Orleans, they've got some division games.
Laugh all he want. Arizona's beating him up there. And Arizona. Can beat him. That's a possibility 100%.
They have to come here on a short week for the Rams, and they're at Tampa. Uh Which Has the one weekend offensive rookie of the year, right? And Mecca Abuka's on the poll position, just one. eighteenth of the season in.
So the Niners got some terrible injury news, and then they just booted their kicker. They just booted booty. And um But Juwan Jennings apparently is okay and They got the win. If they didn't get that win, that would be. This is now a, we're talking about something a little more dire.
So Meanwhile, We love it when Jerry Jones talks, don't you? What do you think, Chris? You love it when Jerry Jones talks? It's aces. Top-notch.
Mike, you love it when Jerry Jones talks. Marvelous. Because you have so many drops from all the years. These are all the drops that you have from his weekly Tuesday appearance on 105.3 the fan in the Metroplex. 10, 11, 12.
Just play him. Play some Ace, Mike. I mean, it's in the same place. It's been one of the things. The squirrel I've eaten a lot of raccoon.
Okay. Delicious. Seriously.
Okay. What else you got?
Well, I mean, that's not him. I know, but that's what they're doing. I want Jerry Jones over there this morning. This takes a nice chunk out of the pie. Settle down just a little bit.
I don't have the patience to jack with you. Get your damn act together. There is less pie.
Okay. No, that was not from his radio show, but that is, again. We got more generations. Oh, Dr. Jones with my rubber glove is going to make sure every one of you are safe.
Ladies and gentlemen. That's it. Stephen A. Smith or something, but he would have been pulling something from the landman apparently. I had to throw that one down.
That was an intermezzo. That was a palate cleanser. That was totally for TJ. That's it there.
So, TJ, you don't particularly like it when he talks. But guess what? We're going to find out. We're going to get inside the whole Micah Parsons trade situation. I'm feeling this is going to anger me.
I don't know. Oh, yeah. Oh, okay.
Well, he. Does it anger you to know that when he was asked? How he received the trade request. For micropartisan services from the Philadelphia Eagles. Does it make you upset when he said he didn't even respond to it?
I'm happy to hear that. See what I'm saying?
So, him talking confirmed that. You don't want to hear. That oh, I entertained it. I got it. I went back here for Hallie Roseman.
Hey, here we see.
Okay, so here we go. Is that how long it is, Mike? We cut three minutes of it? I mean, oh, okay. Oh, I've seen that.
Oh, we got to do the break. Yeah, because we got Chris Long coming up and we want to have time for it. No, no, no, no. Here we go.
So, this was his answer. He said that he did not even respond to the Eagles' request. Good. And then went on making. The thought all along was to see where the interest level was.
And that was very important. And from the get-go, That was an effort on our part to chum up interest. And that's a part of what was going on during those months that we were talking about, MICA. And as it would happen, as it always happens, once that interest started really peaking, then you started having that phone ring. And that's exactly what the plan was to see if that phone would ring and the proposition be there.
And I have to For us to make the move. It was always a case of, we understand what kind of player Micah is. He's a Outstanding player, great player. Uh he's a great player. Uh but if Uh the the principal Specifically is with our System the way we have it today, if we can get forward.
five, six players for one player. That's better for the opportunity to win the thing. And that's what it was about. And It uh didn't surprise me. We had others calling it.
Oh. the closer we got to the time we traded NICA, The more the the phone started uh ringing. Good news for you, TJ, is that there's only three weeks left in this conversation. Because that's when Micah strolls into The Metroplex on Sunday night football in week four. Oh, yeah, because then he'll stop.
No, no, no, no. That'll be a page turn. Then it'll be a page turn. And the next time we hear about Micah and the trade is if. Green Bay goes further in the playoffs than Dallas or goes the distance and then that'll be a very long Super Bowl week for you.
If they're there. In San Francisco. It'll be a very long Super Bowl week for you with Micah at the at the uh Media night, and then throughout the week, and when we get bored on Thursday and Friday, it'll be like what happened there. Certainly, if he's if it's Green Bay and the Ravens, like this guy over there thinks. Uh, man, it'll be a long-ass week for you because it'll not only be well, Micah's on Green Bay.
And what if the Cowboys did actually take Derrick Henry's phone call when he was a free agent? Are you trying to like. No, I'm just giving you, I'm just trying to upset you. I'm just trying to give you a lot, Bobby. I'm upset.
No, the good news is it's three weeks left. That's it. And then it'll be a page turn. Yeah, okay. And plus, and your Cowboys look better than a lot of people thought.
Yeah, we lost, guys. What are we talking about here?
Okay. There's neither horseshoes nor grenades, in the words of Bobby DeBrain Heenan.
Now if you can't Put pressure on Russell Wilson this week. Then again, that'll be the conversation. Certainly, if Green Bay on Thursday night is already. You know, gotten all over Jaden Daniels, who, by the way, is the last quarterback Micah sacked as a Dallas Cowboy. And we'll see if that builds.
and then builds again when Dallas visits Chicago. which could be windless at the time. And then it'll build, you know. even more after Green Bay. in their uh third week visits Cleveland.
and could be three and oh strolling into Dallas. Then it will build, then it will quiet down, and then we'll see what happens later on. That's the roadmap in terms of Micah Parsons. But hey, he told Philly to pounce in, eat static.
Sort of like what Khan told Captain Kirk back in the day. It all goes back to Wrath of Khan for me. None of this makes me feel better.
Okay. And that was me and Jean. Fine. Yeah.
Okay. 844-204-Rich, number 1. Chris Long's going to join us when we come back. All a week one unpacked with one of the best football minds talking about it coming up. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast.
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It hardly needs an introduction, but I gave it to him anyway because he's one of our favorites. He's the host of the Green Light with Podcast. Green Light with Chris Long, podcast host, two-time Super Bowl champ, Chris Long. He's here. Hello, Chris.
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love a good introduction, Rich. Bro. Look at us.
Week one. And a sick week one. What a crazy week one. Where were you watching Sunday night thinking? What were you thinking?
That game, Bills, Ravens, Chris? I was sitting right over there preparing for a Monday show with one eye on the fourth quarter of the Bills-Ravens game. And I turned to our producer, Calboy Reid, and I said, Hey, in five minutes, this game could be electric. And really, yeah, yeah. What gave you that sense?
What the hell gave you that sense that this game could be electric in five minutes? The Ravens? The Ravens doing what they do. I think that like. That to me is the biggest story coming away from the game.
Like, the Bills were down to. You know, basically, their third corner with Harrison on IR. And, you know, they're starting a rookie, I think, sixth-rounder opposite Benford. and they look small in the run game and all that. and they're down two scores and people are leaving the stadium.
But I think the saying, I said this on my show: that hope is not a strategy. It is a strategy when you play the Ravens because you could just hope. That eventually they're going to make that big mistake, and that's what they did. And credit to Ed Oliver for making that play. But if you hang around with the Ravens long enough, you can beat them.
And I think the thing for the Ravens is You know, you draft starks, Jair Alexander comes in. You try to retool that secondary that really was in pretty good shape after week 10. Last year, and they continue to lose games where their defense has to defend the two-minute drill. I mean, and and it is the Bills, but they lost games like that. against the Browns and the Raiders last year.
It's a troubling start to the season for the Ravens, but I think on paper Their roster is as good as anybody, so they'll be fine. It's just that's kind of their reputation at this point. Yeah, I mean certainly the way they've gone out of the playoffs. That it's just something always seems to crop up, whether it's Zay Flowers getting the ball knocked out by the Kansas City Chiefs in the red zone. It looks like he's going to turn and score.
Obviously, what happened awful stuff that happened with Mark Andrews. Yeah.
Last year, it just seems to be, or Deion Dawkins having Chris Jones throw. getting thrown Deion Dawkins into. Josh Allen's lap when he has a a game go-ahead shot. Against the Chiefs, and then they wind up. kicking a field goal and missing it.
Like it just seems to be stuff that that we see from the bills. and the Ravens every year that they can't get past the Chiefs. And now the Ravens can't get past the Bills. In this respect, makes you think what happens to the Ravens when it hits in January. You know what I mean, Chris?
It just seems like, can you fix it? I guess my long-winded way of just saying, can you fix it? That for the Ravens. And how to Well, you know, you'd like to be sitting where the Ravens are and say, hey, there's nothing on our roster that's going to keep us from playing in the big game. Like, if you look at that roster, you think.
They're at least, if not the best roster in the NFL, one of them. But this was a game where I thought this is where you get the bills. Yeah, I had the Bills in the Super Bowl, and I feel like this was the game considering. Multiple guys suspended defensively. Joshua Palmer kind of working in offensively, Hairston on short IR.
Like, there's all types of reasons that I thought. That this matchup would kind of mirror last year, where it was in the first game, the Ravens run all over them. They did that. But the big difference for me was the Bills offense. This offense is in such a better place than it was.
When they played the Ravens in the middle of 2024 and they got thumped. Obviously they added a Mari Cooper after that. Um, but that didn't really make all the difference. I think Keon Coleman's come a long way, and uh, and he was big for them. You know, also, uh, late in the game, Joshua Palmer made some big plays and some really tough downs for Jair Alexander to kind of finish the game.
So, you know, if you're the Ravens, you're sitting there thinking, damn, we're not quite where we want to be defensively if that's the benchmark playing the Bills' offense. And if you're the Bills' offense, You're kind of thinking, damn, this is as good as we've looked against a really quality opponent to start the season. The one thing that I think gets lost in the shuffle is. They do such a good job protecting. And the Ravens are going to have to bring more pressure in games like that, which is a scary prospect if they can't get home with four.
Chris Long here on the Rich Eisen Show. And the big part about. The Bills winning is they not only have a leg up on the rest of the AFC East. I don't think That that that's any shocker. Everyone's got a game.
They got for the Jets. We'll get to that game in a second. And then they're now one up on the Ravens, and they're one up on the Chiefs. As well, after the Chargers beat the Chiefs. And the one thing I want to hit you from that Brazil game, Chris.
is the Chris Jones Rush at the end. And Justin Herbert taking advantage of the way Chris Jones rushed him. And then Drew Tranquil barking at Chris Jones afterwards, telling him basically, do your job. When you see that, is that something that should set off an alarm with Chiefs fans? No, you're shaking your head.
What's your opinion on that? Not the yelling at each other part. I mean, that's part of being on a great defense. You know, when I got to New England and I was a veteran player, had had my highs in the league. And I'll never forget Dante Hightower yelling at me for the first time.
And I was like, man, after I dusted myself off and I was like, okay, I just have to do that better next time. I was like, I love this younger guy. Kind of taking charge of the huddle. And I think that's leadership. It's championship DNA.
This team has been places before.
So, you know, a heated exchange that gets caught on camera is not a big deal. Like we saw that with Andy Reid and Travis Kelsey before, and obviously totally different situations. But This group is fine from that standpoint. The thing that should raise alarms for Chiefs fans is more just the way they're playing defense right now. I think the offense.
will be better. Before the end of the year, I think the offensive line will give Patrick more opportunities to make plays downfield than he's had in a couple of years. I think Josh Simmons is going to make a big difference at left tackle. Kingsley's a work in progress at left guard. But I think this is the best pocket That I've seen him throw out of in a couple of years, it feels like just by solidifying the left tackle.
I don't want to take anything away from the Chargers, I thought they were fantastic. And, you know, while Rashawn Slater is a big loss, you can see they've gained a lot of ground in this matchup. Um I think as for the end of the game. Chris Jones is trying to win a rush. I heard people coin it, you know, like a selfish play, that sort of thing.
He's trying to win a rush, and part of what he's conditioned to do is be the guy on a defense where they don't have pass rush outside of him. I think that's one of their biggest Achilles heels. He's got to try to win.
Now, the situation demands for better rush lanes, not because it's third and 14 with the game on the line. It's because they're in man coverage behind the front. And when you have man coverage behind the front, as a front, you need to rush, knowing the defensive backs. don't have zone eyes on the quarterback and their backs are turned to the rush. Uh if that were cover three or cover six or something like that.
You know, you're able to take that inside move. And I would say, Dana, who's inside of him. He's in a three technique. You can't heavy up. Your job is to do whatever Chris Jones wants.
So if Chris Jones takes the up and under, you need to cover him. And you'd like to see somebody bail Chris out, but ultimately it is a no-no against man coverage. I think that's the key. when you look at that that situation at the end of the game. But I do have concerns about the Chiefs.
I mean I don't think they're a Super Bowl team this year. I could be wrong. That has nothing to do with what I saw on Monday. Monday only confirms some of the suspicions. And then you get Worthy running into Travis Kelce and losing that deep ball element.
Rashi Rice is out. The screen game is going to suffer in the interim. They don't have a lot of cap space to make a move, like, say, the Eagles who went out and get Bigsby and Zadarius Smith. They're more stuck in their current state.
So, if you had to choose between the Steelers and the Chargers who have entered the chat for AFC. Um For the AFC Championship, which one would you choose based off of week one? Chris Long.
Well, listen, I I thought the Rashawn Slater injury Was really going to hurt them. I thought they were a playoff team. You know, they played like a playoff team week one, but I thought the injury might keep them. From taking that step forward, I think the Chiefs are a weird barometer because they don't have the horses outside Chris Jones. Obviously, you have to deal with Spaggs' pressure.
But I do think Justin Herbert is in his current form closer to an elite quarterback than Aaron Rodgers, even though Aaron looked really good the other day. And I think. The biggest concern coming out of last year with Aaron Rodgers is obviously how does he gel with the Steelers? I thought he would put on a brave face and. And be the best version of himself in Pittsburgh.
They have a program that, you know, that almost precedes him there. And so I thought he'd be on his best behavior, but it's mostly about what he'd look like two years off the Achilles. Generally, we think players take two years. But I wasn't sure what it would look like on a 42-year-old guy or whatever he is. He looked really good.
All the staples of what makes him. Yeah.
We're on display, the quick game. You know, you can get the ball on a slant to DK Metcalf, and he can go to the house. You know, I saw the back shoulder stuff. They're going to feature Johnny Smith heavily. I saw he caught like a jet sweep in the red zone.
But the troubling thing for me is. the run defense is hard to explain. I know the Jets are going to be tough to deal with this year. They're going to be a tough out. But if they can't stop the run, that's going to be a problem.
It's a one game sample size. I think the Chargers I would lean Chargers because of what I just said about the quarterback. Out of those two teams. And I also think Minter's done a great job on the defensive side of the football. It's kind of like LaFleur.
and you know not LaFleur Halfley in Green Bay. Who I think a lot of people undervalued that defense because maybe they didn't have a bunch of superstars.
Now they have Micah Parsons. You can really see what a good job Half Lee's done, keeping things in front of them, playing sound defense. I think the Chargers have done a lot of the same stuff. They just don't have the star power. But I get a lot of respect for that football team, especially after seeing them play Monday.
Chris Long, the host of Green Light Pod with Chris Long, two-time Super Bowl champion here on the Rich Isen Show. Let's talk, Packers. You were the first that I saw to mention the Micah Parsons acquisition by Green Bay potentially being bigger in that locker room for them to be able to walk around. Like they've got a big-time shot to win the Super Bowl thanks to that shot in the arm and the attaboy from the front office by landing Micah Parsons. Did you see that in week one against the Lions?
Did you see that? Chris? Yeah, as somebody who took him in the north and thinks that the mica trade changes everything. I was really pleased to see what I saw from them. I mean, like.
I'll say this. Michael Parsons played 29 snaps. He makes a big difference. When he's on the field, obviously. In that matchup alone, you see that you take him in the Penne Sewell matchup.
That offensive line has taken a step back. They're replacing or reshuffling three guys on the interior. You've got obviously Mahogany having to play a lot of snaps now, Glasgow at center, Ratledge, who's a rookie, and then Decker at left tackle. I was mostly impressed. Just in the fact that the physicality in this matchup The balance of power when it comes to playing physical football has shifted a great deal in a calendar year.
I think a lot of people, if you're a Packer hater, When they ship their stud defensive tackle away, who's been there almost a decade, everybody says, well, they're not going to be able to stop the run anymore. Kenny Clark's in Dallas. I think the interior is ready. And I think when you make a move like that, It's not only a vote of confidence in your team saying, hey, the window is wide open. Let's go for it.
You know, it's like a signal, it's a public declaration. It's like when the Niners trade for Sky Moore in training camp, that's a declaration that we're in trouble at wide receiver. Or, you know, Jakorean Bennett in Philly, let's get some corner help. That's a declaration that we don't feel great. When you trade for a star like that, And you give up two first, albeit low first-round picks, which makes the deal a little bit easier to stomach.
You're saying we are ready to win a Super Bowl. Let's take a stab at it. I thought everybody around Micah Parsons, with him on the field or not with him on the field, was a lot better. Lucas Vanessa had probably his best game as a pro. Rashawn Gary is going to get a lot less slide now.
He's going to be able to run through people's inside shoulders. I thought the guys inside played great. You know, Cooper is a stud at backer. Quay Walker played faster. Evan Williams is a hell of a player.
They really are sneakily one of the best defenses in the league. And I think we got a little confirmation bias for all these years of watching the Packers in recent memory not being able to stop anybody. In the first half of the year, they're kind of getting their bearings in that defense. The second half of the year, remember, they were like kind of they walked around like a top 10 defense, top 10 defense. And when they played the Eagles in the playoffs, What are those scores in a relatively low-scoring ballgame for the Eagles?
was the result of a special teams mishap right off the bat in that game.
So the Packers are coming in this season, and I feel like a lot of people are overlooking them. And then they make the trade for Michael Parsons. It really unlocks everything for them.
So I think the thing that we're not talking about is Jordan Love. And we should be talking about Jordan Love. There's a reason some people get on ESPN and say, hey, whose league is it in five years? And it's an open-ended question. I hear people say, Jordan Love.
There's only a few people, but they're not saying it for effect. They're not saying it to get absolutely slaughtered in their mentions. They believe it. Jordan Love in league circles is believed to be an elite talent quarterback who, if he can take the next step, Is going to be one that we're going to be watching make a lot of big plays. And I think if he can play more like the guy in 23 than 24, they've got it going this year.
I think the 24 Jordan Love was injured, and I don't think he ever got his feet under him. They dropped a lot of footballs on that side of the ball.
So I think Jordan Love and the Packers are really dangerous, and probably after one week, Look like the most talented team top to bottom in the NFC North, and maybe one of the most talented teams in the NFC. I would put them up there with the Eagles. And the Bucs, I throw the Bucs in there as well. I think the Bucs are fantastic. We'll get to the Bucks in a second.
And the Commanders. Yeah, and we could throw the Rams in there as well, perhaps. Rams, if Stafford's healthy, fantastic. Right. Chris Long here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Confirmation bias. I love that. You know, by the way, if I had a racehorse or a cover band, that might be the name. Confirmation. You know what I mean?
Down the stretch, they come here as confirmation bias. But because it's real. It's real in our profession, no question about it. And certainly week one games, we are all hunting and pecking to see if narratives we've been talking about for months have shown up with an actual game. And I'm wondering if the Lions missing their coordinators showed up.
Like, did we see that, or is it something different? I think it showed up, but I think like as they're making a scheme adjustment, I think Ben Johnson would have a hard time making this adjustment. I think all of a sudden the offensive line looks really human. And that was such a. A strength for them.
Like the Eagles' offensive line has never looked human, not since I've been there. Like, they always look like the Monstars. And they're coached by one of the best coaches in the league. Obviously, Detroit has Hank Fraley, who's a hell of a coach as well. You know, I'm talking about stout in Philly, but that interior three was so valuable to them.
And, you know, the way they kind of reset the line of scrimmage, they kind of set the line of scrimmage in that pocket.
So that Jared Goff, who's not the most mobile guy, doesn't feel that pressure up the middle. And, you know, at times, I've screwed this up where I've said, hey, Jared Goff isn't great against pressure. Statistically, he's probably very good against pressure, but he's not great off-platform. And, you know, when I say versus pressure, I'm talking about the pressure that moves Jared Goff off his platform. And right now, he's making an adjustment to a new look in the pocket.
Like all of a sudden the guards are in his lap. You know, and the Packers played really well in the middle. But at times, like even in the run game, they were backed up on the goal line after taking a sack. And they let the tackle run free and almost pick up a safety. I mean, like.
They're having a hard time up front right now. It's early. I'm not saying they can't figure it out. But what you see when they get in these long, you know, third and longer situations, the tackles are really good in pass pro, but they're not elite. Like, I don't want to sound crazy.
Like, Penney Seoul is one of the best tackles in the league. But the situation that Philly has, and this is what frustrates me at times when people compare those two offensive lines, Philly has two all-world tackles.
So, when you get in these third and longer situations, because you can't run the ball as much, you looked at like 21 of their runs, like 15 of them got hit in the backfield. That's a crazy stat when you think about a Detroit offense.
So, I want to give Morton some time. And I think Dan Campbell's a hell of a football coach. It is a privilege to have to replace two of your coordinators. That means things are going well. This is something if Detroit and Brad Holmes and Dan are going to be there a long time, which I think they will, they're going to have to do this again at some point.
So, I would like to give them time. I think the offensive line, the interior three, really matters. There were times in the game when Jared was just dumping the ball. When there was no pressure, because he was sped up. And Green Bay changes the picture in the secondary.
So that's an extra layer of processing for Jared Goff.
So, I got a couple more left for you before I send you on with your Tuesday Chris Long. The Bucs have entered the Super Bowl contender chat. You really believe it? For real? Yeah.
Oh, for sure. I put them on a very short list. I mean, you know, when you do the preseason thing, you're throwing darts from Super Bowl matchups. I haven't gotten one right since I've been in the league. And I'm pretty, I'm nails in the playoffs.
So I need to look at it before I really do it. You know what I mean? I know that. I'll admit that.
So, if I pick your team to go to the Super Bowl, you almost don't want that. But I did put the Bucs in the Super Bowl this year before the season started because I just think they quietly got so much better. Not only that, they've kind of owned the matchup with Philly, which pains me to say, but like, you know, historically, recent history, they've owned that matchup. They got a lot better on defense. I think, again, confirmation bias.
We look at the Bucks last year, not a big market team, and we see them on red zone, or we catch little snippets of them. The Falcons score like 100 points in two games against them. A lot of it's because they had injuries. And you think about the quarterback of your defense, Antoine Winfield, who's fantastic. Missing much of the year.
He might as well not play. Like when you're injured that long in a season, you're never going to be yourself. Servasier Dennis, they didn't really have a pass rusher opposite Yaya Diabi. I think Cancey and Vea are fantastic inside. And they add Hassan Reddick, who had a big sack in the red zone.
It's a four-point sack. Alone on Sunday. That's his first big play as a buck. I think that the key, though, is Todd Bowles was giddy. This offseason, talking about the two-man corners that they were able to draft, and Morrison and Parrish, and Parrish playing in the slot.
And Parrish made a big play, knocking them out of field goal range on Sunday. Morrison didn't even play.
So they have depth now. They also are like, Yeah, we've got a bunch of great receivers, but we didn't have all of them last year. Let's go draft this Abuka guy who scored. Two touchdowns for him on Sunday. Yeah, you hear what Mike Evans had to say, basically, and Baker, that he called a shot, and that they're both raving about how.
Beyond his years, he already is. Yeah.
They love it. They love him. And again, like Tampa is one of those true programs. Jason Light does a fantastic job. And so I think they've just really like last year, they were closer than people thought, but they weren't healthy.
And then this offseason, they filled a lot of the holes. And obviously, the big question is going to be the offensive coordinator, Grizzard. But Baker's had about 12 of them in his career, and it's never slowed him down. He looked a little rusty Sunday, and he would tell you that. But I think for a team that didn't play their best ball, left some points on the board, didn't see Otten when he was butt-naked in the secondary, didn't connect, could have gone up two scores late, missed kicking game stuff.
They still beat Atlanta, who probably got better this year. Didn't probably get better. They definitely got better. The defense got better. I think Pennex gives you more upside at quarterback.
So that's got to feel like a good thing to go on the road. Either down 7-0. They're almost down 14-3 at one point. They make a big stop on fourth and one. I thought it was.
I thought it was a big win for them, and I think they'll be right there at the end of the season. All right, Lenny, I would be remiss if I did not ask you about the Monday nighter before I let you go, your opinion of what you saw. Obviously, the first 15 scripted from Ben Johnson made everybody feel like this thing was now finally had fairy dust sprinkled all over our soldier field. And then, you know, and then there was a struggle after that. And then J.J.
McCarthy could not have looked more lost. First half, and then he throws a pick six, and then boom, all of a sudden, the national champion quarterback that I know and love showed up. What's your opinion of the Monday nighter moving forward?
Well, there's two sides through it. I mean, there's. There's the Chicago side of it, and you mentioned it. The script, I mean, a Ben Johnson script, he's had, you know, months to come up with this script. In the city of Chicago, the top almost blows off.
They're like, oh, we've got our guy. You know, we were finally The guy that's going to pull the sword from the stone here when it comes to quarterbacks. And I do think they have that guy physically. You know, you look at the dart that he threw to a Dunesay, and it might even be the picture there. In the red zone on that first possession, it was like, oh my God.
Right. You know, like, and the way he gets out of trouble. Yeah, he's fast. He's good. I mean, seems to see the field differently than other people.
But everything, and I know there's this. this article out Um By Tyler Dunn, and I am trapped behind the paywall.
So I read like the intro to the article, and I was like, oh my god, that is rough. Like the things they're recounting from last year, and I haven't even gotten the article yet. I'm behind the paywall.
So, if the stuff behind the paywall is even worse, then they are really digging themselves out of a hole. But I think what he shows you is he's got it in his body. Ben Johnson's a hell of a coordinator. And on the other side of it, I think with J.J. McCarthy.
It's kind of like He's the guy that seems to be really trying to do everything right. Um he's not supremely talented, but that was what we saw coming out of his college tape. Um And he's in a place where playing quarterback is probably It's probably easier than anywhere in the league when they're at full strength because of their coach. I think O'Connell's awesome. I mean, you talk about getting Josh Dobbs ready to play, coming straight from the airport, teaching him the.
The freaking snap count on the sideline. You know, like going through the playbook in real time, he has coached up quarterbacks and a lot of different ones. Into playing competent football, and I think he's confident. I mean, think about them making the move to let Sam Darnold go. And saying, hey, this is our guy.
They have to believe in this guy. And I love the way he settled in. Like, what a story, being a Chicago hometown kid. and finding himself down 17, 6, and nothing's going right. He throws a pick six.
In his hometown, like all the negative thoughts that probably entered his head, he was able to push those aside. The Vikings were able to run the football. And he hits some big throws, a little red zone scissors. That's my favorite play in Madden. to uh to to Aaron Jones to to kind of like To shock Chicago.
I mean, it was like, and then they got the ball and they didn't give it back. And yeah, I think all the stuff that. You're worried about with Caleb Williams shows up. Evidently in the article they're talking about You know, the snap count, pre-snap motion, like issues, you know, learning that stuff. Or an unwillingness to do things other people's way.
I take all that with a grain of salt, but I did see a lot of pre-snap issues. You know, a lot of false starts, a lot of motion issues, and things like: hey, you know, the intentional grounding, got to be smarter there. Ended up in some third and very longs in the second half. Missed some easy throws. He'll make the throws that you're like, oh my God.
And then he'll miss some of the more easy ones. DJ Moore one, yeah. DJ Moore was wide open, you know, heading towards the pylon, and that would have been a big connection right there.
So Bro, you're the best, dude. Thanks for the time. As always, I'm going to take you any minute that you say, let's do it again. You know that. I'll be back.
I'll be back soon.
So, I appreciate you all. Who's on your pod, real quick? What do you got for me this week? Let's promo green light pod. What do you got?
Perfect. It's perfect. I got. Big cat. Nice.
And I booked him like two days ago. Uh-huh. And then the Bears game happened. Oh, okay.
Let's see. I look forward to that conversation. That should be perfect. That'll be out tomorrow. Awesome.
Chris, you are the best. Thanks for the time, brother. Appreciate y'all. Chris Long, everybody. Green light with Chris Long Pod.
You can get it wherever you get your pods.
Alright, let's beat it on down a break. 84420 for Rich, number to Donald. Burt Kreischer making his way to our set. momentarily. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast.
Back here on the Rich Eyes and Show, 844-204-Rich, number of the dial. ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance. Get renters' insurance to protect the things that make your place a home, including coverage for theft or damage. Visit progressive.com. We're on an ESPN 1050 in New York City.
I wonder if that's how Dave in Brooklyn, New York is taking us in. What's up, Dave? Oh Well, Rich. Welcome to the wonderful world of Disney.
So excited that I could sit on my couch and watch you and listen to you on ESPN Radio. We're happy to be happy. And the one thing I will say, and I don't want to scare TJ about this, I know I shared a Instagram, comments with Brockman and TJ about it, but is he more scared about the future of the Cowboys or Owes the Ventilist again? And the Super Bowl. What are you more concerned about, the Cowboys' future, or always the Mentalists coming back?
Well, I know the Cowboys won't be in the Super Bowl, so that's healthy. What else is on the checklist?
Well, the other thing that I wanted to talk about was I think that the loss by the Jets on Sunday was actually more beneficial than a win. It keeps the Jets fans kind of on an even keel to see what we have. Justin Fields looks Really smart and making good decisions, like running the ball, throwing it when he needed to. You saw the fire and Aaron Glenn actually pulling Sauce Gardner away from the refs. But why not win too?
Why not win too, Dave?
Well, I want to win. I want to win. But like. The goals there were, you saw where you needed to fix. Like, I mean, the losses that we had with, like.
And the injuries we've had so many, so many times. I know you as a suffering Jet fan feel this way too. But Dave, just like the Eagles, the Eagles got the win. They know what they can fix. The Vikings have a heck of a lot to fix.
Clearly, for the first three quarters, they got the win. Listen, I'll just put it this way, Dave. That that kid, Justin Fields, played his head off. Against the Steelers defense, that is definitely, you know, Mike Tomlin, speaking to the media today, says we got to fix the run defense. How many times have you heard in the last year and a half a team play the Jets and then the head coach comes away saying, we got to fix the run defense?
Not many times. Right when Brees Hall isn't blowing out his ACL while running for 300 yards in a game. You know what I mean? So at least there's that. And you just hope, again, that the Aaron that's being listened to is the HC putting his own stamp on it, which is exactly how you want to build a franchise for 10, 15 years of success, not with a guy saying, please do it for us at age 40.
So we can at least win something before you shuffle off your football mortal coil. And bottom line is, you know. They they should have won this football game. Unfortunately, somebody kicked a 60-yard field goal on him, and they made enough mistakes for that to stick. Thanks for the call, Dave.
Appreciate being on, obviously, ESPN Radio coast to coast. being able to see it on Disney Plus, but uh Honestly, you're you're 0-1 and the bills are coming in. Feeling great. By the way. They've got lots of the things to fix, don't they?
The bills? Yeah.
But They won. Yeah.
You'd rather be fixing things you want and oh than fixing things 0-1. Bills are coming in and then after that You know, you Do you want to be 0-2, starting with your first two at home? Absolutely not. Then you're at Tampa? You think Todd Bowles wants to?
He'll never say it out loud, but deep down, you think he wants to leave a mark on the Jets? Before they visit Miami on a Monday night. Which now is officially a winnable game. based on what you're talking about with the with the Miami Dolphins. Home for Dallas, baby.
And then I'll call this game in in Denver. But hey, man, Justin Fields looked the part that they were hoping he would look like against. A tough defense that is now licking their run defense wounds. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
