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It's rich I said. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show through five weeks mostly of the National Football League is on the air through two games, the American League Divisional Series and one game of the National League Division Series. We're on the air, everybody, here on the Disney Plus app, the ESPN app, gets you everything, ESPN everywhere, and ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. 844-204 Rich is the number to die. We've had a great first hour, if I may say so myself, over Reaction Monday sitting out there for you to take in.
Whether you're watching it on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/slash RichEison Show, closing in on 1 million subscribers, which is something pretty wild for us to say. By the way, happy anniversary to everybody here. 11 years ago is when we first came on the air as a television show. I believe November, there's a date when we were assimulcast on the radio for the first time. November 4th, I think.
All right. We'll keep that in the locker, if you will, for a while. Mike Mayock will be joining us in the middle of this hour to give us his two cents on everything that's going on in the NFL. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial here on The Rich Eisen Show. Let's go to phone lines to start off our number two.
Dan in Lancaster, California. What's up, Daniel? Hey Rich, congratulations on 11 years. Thank you, sir. Take it.
As a California native, being a Buccaneers fan, Um I love what you have to say about Baker, but the next two games are gonna really show what he's made of.
Well, I mean, I think we've seen what he's made of, but what are you saying about the next two games about what the team is made of? When you say home for San Francisco at the Lions on a Monday night. That's pretty big. Right. Both games are going to be huge for us.
Uh I mean, uh I I I don't know. Um I I I think it's a little mo Premature to call him MVP, but so far for the first five weeks, I would put him as MVP. 100%. Thank you for the call. Dan and Lancaster, California, for setting us up on hour number two.
That's what we do here.
So, um Let's do this. We just had a caller who said Baker Mayfield is set up to be the MVP of this league. And by the way. Plus one. I mean, certainly with Josh Allen at 4-1 and Jalen Hurts at 4-1 and Jared Goff at 4-1, and Justin Herbert, who the first three weeks were saying that guy could be the MVP this year.
He's now 3-2. Um The Niners are 4-1 with various different quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield of 4-1, 100%. is in line to be MVP of this. League, and you could make the case through five weeks.
He is that. In Seattle yesterday, not. Fully equipped? With everybody on offense. No, Mike Evans, and guess what yesterday was for the Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield?
Baker's first win. As the Bucs quarterback without Mike Evans, he was 0-4 in such previous games, including last week's loss. To the Eagles. He doesn't have Bucky Irving either. And Bucky's one of the best running backs we've seen in a league two-way threat.
Sure. Running it and catching it.
So you didn't have those two guys. But he does have... Oh. is An offense that is clicking. Because of him?
And what he does have is a rookie of the year. That is 100%. in line to win that award. In Amake Buka. And he goes.
into the Pacific Northwest. And he's going toe to toe with Sam Darnold, who is also lighting it up. This guy is absolutely An NFL quarterback who has arrived. We're no longer wondering if he could do it anymore. He's now done it.
In this way, for two different teams, last year's 14-win Vikings team. And we'll see how far he can take the Seahawks this year. Another team that could be easily 5-0 that isn't. You could say that about half the league that's 4-1 or 3-2, right? Mm-hmm.
Little bit of this, little bit of that, and they're not even losing. And uh yesterday Every single time Sam did something, Baker answered. Every single time Baker did something, Sam answered. Love this game. This game was incredible from the offense that we saw.
to the plays that were being made. Let's be honest. Let's wear these uniforms all the time, can we? Dude, this might have been the greatest uniform matchup ever. Let's go.
Uh let's let's just stop screwing around here. Yeah. Yeah. White and creamsicle with the swashbuckler on the side and the helmet. The Eagles I mean the the the Seahawks wearing their stuff like Kurt Warner with a C is plan.
You know? Back in the day with Largent I thought Jim Zorn's out there sw- Slinging it around, I know I'll make him. I'm on the show. I think I was on the call, but someone did like, and then Steve Largent for first down. Oh, wait, no, that's coupon.
Oh, dude, it was Harlan. It was Harlan. Harlan and Trent Green were killing. They cortez. Taz.
Let's get. Let's get. Oh, man. It's just fancy. I loved watching this game.
It was great. Plus, you know how I feel about Baker Mayfield. I mean, honestly. You like him more than Del Tufo, I think. No.
I just said that. I love what he has become, man. And unfortunately, one of Donald's last passes. went off of a helmet. And right in the hands of Levante David, when he was set up to lead the game-winning field goal drive, and instead, Baker Mayfield comes back on the field, sets off.
Chase McLaughlin, or if I'm not mistaken, didn't The substitute teacher, Mr. Garvey coming in here once said actually, his real name is Chasse McLaughlin. Chasse McLaffin. Chasse McLaffin. That's a different name.
Well, they're McLaughlin. They're McLaughlin. Chasse. And Baker's even yucking it up after that monster big-time go to the Pacific Northwest into the 12 when Seattle sports is off the hook. You know how many Seahawk fans went across the street and watched the Mariners win their first home playoff game in a quarter century?
What a day that w must have been in the Puget Sound if they only pulled off this win. Baker's the one win the creamskull hat with the victory. Podium. The games we've had so far this year, as long as we have time on the clock, we got a chance. And our guys truly, truly believe that from the bottom of their hearts.
So it's that's a good feeling to have. Chase, perfect day. It's great to have him. And yeah, just And I know it was high scoring, but in the end it was complimentary football that won us the game. And Jason Glauff.
Um the one in the weather out here. Uh, but that perfect game says it's flu game. Yeah, it's just flu game. It's a Chase McLaughlin flu game. You know why the team believes they have a chance to win?
Obviously the I'm happy for Todd Bowles and the staff. Totally. That that that That's some credit that has to be thrown out. Here's why this is why well I mean this is why they they feel they have a chance to win. And I'll say him by his full name.
Baker freaking Mayfield. You say his middle name is Regan? Yeah, Regan.
Well, he's got to put an F in front of the Regan. Yeah. He's he's Baker Freegan. Mayfield. Yeah.
Baker Mayfield, we just ended the first hour with a did you know. As the Buccaneers are the first team in NFL history with Four wins in their first five games of a season when tied or trailing in the final minute. of regulation. But Tampa Bay is also the first team ever To win four of its first five games by three or fewer points. On the razor's edge.
They win these games. And why? It's complimentary football. Levante David did take advantage of that mistake with the ball being. Misdirected off of a hill.
A helmet. When you got a quarterback that just gets it done. Heart.
sole, arms, and legs. Baker Mayfield, three hundred and seventy nine passing yards on a twenty nine of thirty-three day. He missed on four passes, two passing touchdowns, no picks, a pass rating of 134.7. Only two other players in the history of the league had a stat line of a 375-yard day and fewer than five incompletions in a game. And their other two names are Kurt Warner and Peyton Manning.
And the self-made aspect of this too. Can't Overstated. God, I love this guy. 14th game is a buck with two or more passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. That's the fourth most in the NFL since he took over the reins.
For a guy named Tom Brady, who's the only Buccaneer quarterback in franchise history with more such games, 16.
Now, 14 games is a buck with that stat line of two pass touchdowns and no interceptions. Those 14 that Bakers had as just a Bucs quarterback in the five previous years in the league, he had only 15 such games. Here's an opportunity, Baker. You get to follow Tom Brady. Nobody believes in you.
We do. You do. Your family does. That's it. That's the circle of trust.
Your own personal circle of trust in us. We're the only ones that believe in you. Here's the opportunity. And by the way, when you take advantage of it, You know, we're not going to give you the 55 million that these young kids who are drafted a little bit lower than you or drafted in the same spot as you that haven't done a damn thing in the playoffs in this league. We're going to give them 50-something million dollars, but not you.
And he takes that, saying, that's it. That's all I need. If that's all you're going to give me. I'll take it. And look what he's doing with it.
Yeah, thumbs up is right. God, I love this gosh. Cannot get enough of Baker freaking Mayfield, or pardon me, Baker freaking Mayfield. Freaking freaking Mayfield. Freaking.
I love it. Just change your name, Baker. It's easy. Go into a court. You got people to do this for you.
Put an F in front of your middle name. 'Cause that's the way you're playing football. For the 4-1 Bucks, who are taking on the 4-in-1 Niners next? What a game that is in week. Six.
Before they then Listen, can be great. They go to two Detroit for Monday night football. Oh, my goodness gracious. Oh my gosh. What a game that's going to be.
on a family of networks here at Disney. Week seven. before they visit New Orleans and then have a bye. And we'll see the rest, all of these games. It's just going to be so much fun watching him play football.
And in last four, they could sweep the Falcons. And then they got Carolina twice wrapped around a visit to Miami. And who knows what Miami, they could have the U-Haul backed up by then.
So we'll see. We'll see.
Now then, the difference between As I just mentioned, The Bucks are 4-1. And the first team in the history of the NFL to win four of their first five games to start a season. by winning by three or fewer points. For their first five games, one Tired are trailing in the final minute of regulation. First NFL team to start the season that way.
And they're four and one. The difference between 4-1 and 1-4 of a razor's edge in this league, or the difference between 4-1 or 2-3. In this case. Razor's Edge. And the wrong side of that razor's edge belongs to the Arizona Cardinals.
who have now lost not one. not to But three straight games. On a field goal with no time left. Yeah. Yeah.
And away they lost yesterday's game. You can't even fathom it. When A guy Runs it in for a touchdown. to give you a 28 to 6 lead. And instead Imani Demercado decides to flip the ball.
And release it before crossing the goal line in celebration. Despite Seeing What A.D. Mitchell did in Los Angeles. Just last week. I mean, there's teaching tape on not to do this sort of thing.
And some reason, for some reason. This kid Demercado decides to flip it. And by the way, Mr. Jefferson could be the difference between me beating you in fantasy this week and not. Way.
Hello. Oh, that's for another day. That's a shit. I'm telling you. That's for another day.
I wasn't on bringing that up, but I mean. It could have been again. A 28-6 lead, and the Titans are going to go home 0-5 and licking their wounds. And instead, after that, It just begins to unravel, including a 21, they have a 21-12 lead. Cam Ward is driving down the field.
Arizona intercepts the ball. And The interceptor Rolls over. And decides to maybe run with it, gets up, fumbles it, the ball's loose, the Cardinals kick it around. And the Titans jump on into the end zone for a touchdown. That was so an Arizona interception.
Turns into a Titans touchdown because the takeaway becomes instant giveaway. After a guy runs it in 72 yards and flips the ball. In celebration too soon. Yeah, mm. And then the Titans get the ball back.
And march down the field, and Joey Sly kicks it through after missing an extra point where he damn near hits somebody. Yeah. In the stands. To the right of the uh... End zone.
On an extra point so poorly. And that's the way the Cardinals lose. Kyler Murray. Literally at a loss for words, well, figuratively, saying he's. Come on.
He's talking while he's saying he's figured it out of a loss for words. Mm-hmm. I don't really know what to think about that. Yeah. Bish I don't even know.
I really don't even know. That's uh How to lose a game one-on-one, I don't know. It was crazy. Obviously he's emotional right now, so it's raw. It's fresh on the brain.
I mean, I I just think, you know. If you look at the the mistakes, you know, just uh I think we played well enough to win the game. Um But crucial, crucial bonehead mistakes just gave them a chance to stay in the game. You know, I think they were They were literally a play away from Quentin, but we left him and we kept him in the game. Oh, did I forgot to mention the fumble that the uh The Titans came up with after the snap.
The shotgun snap hit Carla Murray in the face mask. And then he left. In between all of that, in between the Amari Demercado. Premature flip. And the interception turned into a touchdown for the other team.
After the game, I mean, there was video, Jonathan Gannon went up to Demercado, who was being consoled by teammates, and it looked like he aired him out. And after the game, he was asked about it, saying it's that it's just one play. Nothing ever comes down to one play. And he said that there is teaching tape that he he basically said there is some teaching uh Um I I guess Lessons that they tell the players about that he didn't want to get into there. There's no question.
He basically, listen, if you're a coach in this league, you are showing everybody that A.D. Mitchell fumble and saying, Don't be like him And then Denmark does it the next week. That's what Gannon had to say afterwards. Give them credit. They they coached and played better than we did.
That's what the NFL is, you know.
So I think our guys realize that. But I did tell them. Bob, you know, everybody in there. From the staff to the coaches, the players to everybody in there, the clock is ticking. Like it doesn't matter if you're a number one overall pick, a Pro Bowl safety, a third-year head coach, a third.
Uh First year assist, it doesn't matter. Like, we have to do a better job to close out games. First team in the Super Bowl ever to lose in a walk-off field goal as time expires three straight. games. It's never happened.
Along with the other stuff that I've. It's it's crazy. You can't say but What Denmark did never happen.
So it happened last week. But the other stuff Like the interception that turned into a fumble for a touchdown for the other team within seconds. Have you ever seen anything like that? I can't remember seeing that. I don't even, I said it out loud watching it with Suze and Coop yesterday.
I wasn't even convinced it was legal. I was like, can you advance that? Exactly. If it's in the last seconds of a half, you can't. The person who fumbles it has to recover it.
Right. You can't advance. Unless it's from the other team, though. There's a lot of ifs and spliffs, and I don't know. I was like, is this real?
I think it's the holy S roller. Yeah. And did you guys notice the catch Marvin made in the first? You and I texted each other, and we thought it was a touchdown. And then I realized five minutes later, like, they didn't give him a catch.
I thought DiMercaro's. I thought he kind of had it in his hand when he crossed the line. That's what I thought. And you know, so. All of what I just mentioned, Seattle losing the final seconds.
and Arizona losing again in the manner in which they lost. You could make the case, the team that had the best week five, the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are they go here on a short week. Two of the Rams, beat the Rams. shorthanded.
To go further. 4-1, 3-0 with Mac Jones. They make the defensive plays with all these kids that you need to have name tags to know who they are. And they beat the Rams and the rest of the NFC West lost. They're four in one.
The Rams are 3-2, a game and a half behind them. The Cardinals drop a third straight game like they did. And the team to do it to him first was the Niners.
So they're now. Two and a half up on them. And the Seahawks, who they beaten, are 3-2. They're a game and a half up on them.
So Say what you will about the Niners. Smoke mirrors this, that. It's going to finally... Gonna come home and roost on them. When is kittle coming back?
When is this guy coming back? When is it coming back? They're in front. They're four and one. And watch them with their smoke and mirrors going to Tampa and maybe do to them what Tampa's done to everyone else.
Yeah, man. How about the Niners? What a week it was for them. And I know a buddy of mine, Michael Wright, who's a die-hard UCLA fan. I texted him.
I'm like. Buy a powerball, Michael. And count me in for 20. Yep. He's a Niner fan and a UCLA fan.
Wow. Oof. Good week, Brett. Yeah, Thursday to Saturday to Sunday. Damn, yeah.
What's up, Michael? 844-204-Rich is the number to dial. Michael Mayock is going to join us next. I believe he's already zoomed in. I look at him and I have that look of saying, Rich, shut up.
I'm on time. Why are you not? That's next on the Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Introducing your new Dell PC, powered by the Intel Core Ultra Processor.
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And it comes standard. Visit HyundaiUSA.com and search Hyundai Hope on Wheels to learn more. Back here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance, Mike Mayock, joining me here. And Mike, you just mentioned how, you know, the Eagles' offense. needs to find an identity.
How does it happen? that you only get six carries in a game from Saquon Barkley. I mean, how does it happen calling plays where you kind of lose track? of that sort of thing. And in tandem with that question, I ask, Could it be possible that the conversation from A.J.
Brown saying, hey, throw me the ball, and Devontae Smith may be saying the same thing behind the scenes? leads to a more pass-heavy situation. Mike, what what what happens here? Yeah, I think there's a little bit of the latter, Rich. You know, A.J.
Brown's got a big personality like a lot of elite wide outs. And While I disagree with his messaging and the way he went about his messaging, I certainly understand his frustration. And to be honest, If the Eagles are going to repeat as Super Bowl winners or get anywhere close to that, Their pass offense has to be a lot more consistent. It's been a tale of two halves. Most of their games this year.
They've either been really, really good in the past game, or like yesterday. They score a touchdown coming out of the locker room for the second half and pump four consecutive times. and lose a 14-point lead.
So Um To answer part of that question regarding Barkley, I think there's a lot of answers. And their head coach, Nick Siriani, I read the transcript from his press conference last night after the game. And he was asked the same question: How do you forget Saquon Barkley? Why does he get six carries? And his answer was: it's a lot of things, it's part of.
Not everything that we call in there gets run.
Sometimes you're tagging it, and the quarterback makes a decision. The defense has a decision with the fronts they play. And to be honest with you, Rich, I think a lot of teams are choosing because I've watched every one of their tapes. Because I have a daughter that's a pain in my butt and makes me go on her podcast every week with the Eagles. And I watch that tape every week.
And I'm seeing teams playing their run game a little bit differently. And the Eagles have got to be really good with how they choose how, why, and when to throw the football and to run the football, to be honest with you. Sure. And it's an interesting point that you make. Not about Lee on her, you know, her Belie Leave podcast on the Eagles.
She's very persuasive. But, you know, the point that you make is the defense has something to do with it. Denver was basically saying try and run Saquon. We got defensive player of the year. Named Pat Sertan that's traveling with A.J.
Brown. Good luck with that. Maybe that's why Devontae Smith had his best day. In terms of yards as a receiver this fall. But The question that that just to really get deep into it here, just to answer what some Eagles fans are saying, the the the play calling coming in late and and the the late snaps and the the The pre-snap routine for a defending Super Bowl champ that really hasn't changed many parts except for the offensive coordinator and Kevin Petullo.
You know, how does that happen? It is fixable too, right, Mike? I mean, that's something that can be fixable, yay or nay. Here. I get frustrated with um There are so many ways to lose football games, and it's such a competitive league when you start losing games.
over things you can control. Pre-snap penalties, getting stuff in late. Two guys in motion. Um Those are the kind of things you can control.
Okay, and I know the Eagles coaches are painfully aware of that. You never know what a play caller is or he isn't until he becomes a play caller. Petullo, Kevin Petullo, was there the last several years.
Okay, he's been a big part of their past game. But we don't know. I still don't know what kind of play caller he is. Yet, I mean, there's some elite guys out there: the guy in San Francisco, the guy with the Rams. You know, there's a bunch of several elite play callers on both sides of the ball, but not everybody is.
And right now, they're disjointed on offense. And I think the first thing you got to question is when the players are saying, hey, we're not getting it in quickly enough, we're not ready to snap the football. That's a problem. Yeah, another elite play caller was on the sideline that beat them in Sean Payton. And now the Broncos are 3-2, flat out in the mix.
For the division and the AFC, Mike Mayock, joining me here. on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's go deeper in what you saw out of the Patriots and Drake May. And just repeat for those here who might not have heard, because they were just listening on the radio what you said about May and who he reminds you of. Mike.
He reminds me of Justin Herbert. In that, not everybody's a natural thrower of the football. He's a big, strong guy. He's naturally can throw the ball with air under it. He can drive it, he can throw it deep.
He's athletic for a big guy and he's tough. I see a lot of similarities between the two of them. And how sustainable is this? I mean, that's the question. It was pretty damn impressive what we saw from the Patriots last night.
They got to be feeling good about themselves at 3-2. Um you know, uh obviously Milton Williams making a difference up front. And you could see how that's just affecting the whole defense. Carlton Davis, another nice. Edition on the back end.
Vrabel knows what he's doing. McDaniels is as good as they come. You, you obviously. know about him and then Long story short, May. How sustainable do you think this is for the Patriots in just this year, in 2025?
It doesn't have to be. Sustainable this year where they go 12 and 5, in my opinion. It has to be sustainable over time.
Okay. And whenever you get a, you walk into a franchise that has struggled winning recently, I mean, there's got to be a bunch of changes, and it starts with culture. Everybody thinks culture happens overnight. It doesn't. It happens over doing the same thing the right way over a period of time and getting players to believe.
So I love what's happening with Elliott Wolfe and I love what's happened with Rabel and organizationally, it looks like they're in lockstep. which I love. I think the most important thing is they keep developing that quarterback. I thought it was cool that Diggs had all those catches last night. What'd he have?
10 for over 100 last night, Rich? Yes, sir. You know, I mean He made a couple throws to him. Expanding the pocket and getting out with arm strength and athleticism that were beautiful. And Diggs still has explosion and he's got game.
They're continuing to develop that offensive line. I think Vrabel has a blueprint that he believes in. Not a lot of BS to him. And I think Elliott Wolf compliments him well.
So I think they're a team on the rise, Rich. I don't know what it's going to translate into wins and losses, but I like where they are. Mike Mayock here on the Rich Eisen Show. What do you think the Raiders should do? I mean, Gino leads the league in interceptions right now.
He's on pace for a 30-interception season. You know, Pete loves him. obviously brought him in and and believes in him, but They're kind of, these turnovers are killing this team right now. Uh as they're trying to get a win, they haven't won except Week one in New England. What do you think they should do?
Mike. You know, Rich, I'm probably not close enough to that situation to be overly critical. I haven't seen much of them. What I would tell you is. You know, if you juxtapose their situation with the Jaguars, who are now three and one.
Yep. And why are they three and one?
Well, they're taking care of the football. Uh they've generated 13 takeaways on defense. They're only allowable in about 18 points a game. They got a defensive coordinator named Anthony Campanilli, who's doing a hell of a job there.
So they're cleaning up all that kind of stuff with a new group.
Okay, your quarterback can't throw nine interceptions in five games, especially a guy that's a veteran that's played for that head coach.
So I Obviously, that's at the top of you can't have the interceptions, you can't have the penalties. You know, guys like Brock Bowers being hurt certainly doesn't help. But that really, Rich, I can't get much beyond the surface because I really haven't seen much, if any, of their tape this year.
Okay, and yeah, I mean, they do have Kenny Pickett sitting there, but Pete doesn't seem to be. ready to go and make that move. Um, as the Raiders now fall to one and four, which is just an unfortunate development. Uh, I've got Mike Mayock here on the Rich Eisen show. Then I'll open it up to you.
Um what what what jumps out at you from week five of of something that you uh You want to talk about that you think we should know, Mike? I'll just give you that floor on that front. What do you think? Yeah, I think. The Ravens thing is really surprising.
Um One and four. And They're quarterbacks out. We all know that. Uh difference makers are hurt. on defense at every level.
I mean, they had two defensive backs, Ale Humphrey, and they had Roquan Smith and Matt Abike, a defensive tackle. But beyond that, Especially defensively, what's going on? It's 35 points a game to one of the best franchises who I respect as much as any franchise in the league. You know, what is it? Why is it?
You know, you see them, and there's some missed tackles out there. That's not a John Harbaugh team. Mistag, you know, what really is it driving this? And I think it's an aberration. I hope it's an aberration because I believe in them, but you know.
Defensively, the two things you got to do to start with fundamentally are you got to tackle and you got to have block destruction, meaning get off blocks and get to the football.
Well, what's beyond that? Then you get into scheme. I think, if I remember correctly, Rich, last year. They brought Dean Pease back in, I forgot, you know, October, November, to kind of help. with Orr's transition to a defensive coordinator.
And there's a lot of noise out of there right now about their defense and the safety or not of that young coordinator. It'd be interesting to see. Chuck Pagano is on that staff. It'd be interesting to see if they bring in another senior guy like they did last year to try to help stabilize it. But if I know Harbs, I think he's going to just kind of.
Get everybody in and kind of close the doors and say it's us against the world. And it starts with us: no more penalties, no more turnovers. We gotta get healthy, we gotta do the fundamentals. But Rich, I find that really intriguing. I thought that Tampa Bay Seattle game was fun to watch.
Awesome. Awesome. Loved it. Loved it. Yeah, one of the things I love about that whole thing is kind of the sub story.
Of the quarterbacks, that were formerly high picks that are now making headway in the NFL. Baker Mayfield, I think he's a top seven or eight quarterback right now. Darnold. How about Sam Darnold? Yeah.
I mean, Do does he look like the guy that was with the Jets? I mean, no, and both of them with Carolina, right? And Baker is playing defensive and scout team. When I was with Carolina. Look at the magic.
Look at Daniel Jones in Indy. Daniel Jones. I mean. You can bitch and moan about him as a giant all you want, but at the end of the day, You know, a couple years ago, I did their game in the playoffs at Minnesota where they beat Minnesota in a wild card. And I thought they won the game because Daniel Jones.
used his arm and his legs. He's pretty talented. He's not a natural thrower of the ball, but used. correctly. with a good run game and defense.
And you know, you're asking me what I see around the league. I see Indy playing some pretty good defense under Lou Anarumo. I see them running a ball 48% of the time, Rich, which is, I think, fifth in the league. Who are the other teams in that group? Ahead of them, Buffalo, Seattle, Detroit, and Green Bay.
They're the only guys that have run the ball more than... Indy.
So This Retro quarterback craze. I love it because what you're saying is when the fit is correct. The talent was always there. And in terms of quarterback retrograde, before I let you go, Mike, is Jake Browning is 0-3 now as a starter in place of Joe Burrow? Can you walk me through the difficulty of calling another team if they want to do this?
And the outset of October with a month to go before the trade deadline and ask for somebody like Russ or Jameis or even Kirk Cousins, which Would cost the Bengals money next year as well, which is something, as you know, Mike Brown, for somebody who has no intention of playing Kirk Cousins next year, obviously. Um I don't know if Mike Brown would do it. Can you walk me through the general managing that's going to be required to maybe fix this if they start to? realize that they need to do something with Browning or come to that. Realization?
Mike?
So the preface to this is the kid played last year. We know that. He started several games. I did one of them at Pittsburgh. And I remember watching all his tape and then doing the game and think, wow.
This is so hard. for Cincinnati with him at quarterback because There's a huge drop-off. He's trying not to turn the ball over. They're having problems getting the ball to their playmakers, and they're just kind of. You know, the the margin of error.
Going from Burrow to Browning is minute.
Now, the kids are throwing interceptions, and then to be honest with you. When Burrow went down, I said to my son, I think the first phone call's got to be. to Atlanta and cousins. I mean, yeah, he's got a $27 million guaranteed salary, but so what? You got a team talented, you put all this money into your offense, and you got a chance.
To make headway in the AFC, now's the time. You got to call them. Other people talk about Winston or Russell Wilson. I'm not sure they're the answer other than just kind of average football.
So, you think they should come for Kazakhstan with those wideouts? You think so? They should do that, Mike, right now? I thought they should have done it three weeks ago, to be honest with you. I mean, Um I don't know their salary cap situation.
But you can always work that stuff out. And the problem is, if you go for cousins, they're going to ask you, obviously, for some draft capital. And I get all of that. But but you've got some talent on that roster, especially offensively. Yeah.
In my opinion, And what do I know? I'm a fired GM and I get it. But In my opinion, The first phone call should have been and may have been to Atlanta. I have no idea. But beyond that, you got to do your homework everywhere and you got to be talking to those people.
Well, what you are is definitely consistent. You were saying all offseason that you think that the Bengals definitely need to. Get T. Higgins wrapped and bring him back because you got borrow more than maybe if they have to make a decision. You know, Henderson, and they got them both, you know what I mean?
And they're ready to go now. And if Browning He's now 0-3. If he's not equipped to do it, maybe they make that call and. And see if font no one holds him over a barrel, you know, like that's Maybe that'll why you do it sooner rather than later. You know what I mean?
And I thought sooner was... you know, a couple weeks ago, and Pittsburgh's three and one, they had a buy.
So it's not like they're going to run away and be 13 and 4.
Okay, I think the division is still there, but but you got to go. I believe you got to just, you got to show your team that. Hey, we believe in you, and we're going to bring in a big-time guy. Mike, you're the man. Thanks for the time.
Really appreciate it. We'll get you back on real soon. Thanks for the two cents. That's Mike Mayock, everybody, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's beat it on down the line, head to break.
So we take your phone calls and we come back right here on the Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Rich Arzen here for Sonos, the speakers that bring every game to life in my own house. With studio quality sound, Sonos makes you feel like you're right there in the stadium. Whether you're cheering on your team, binging your favorite show, or listening to the hottest songs, Sonos fills every room with incredible sound.
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Sonos, they look as good. as they sound. Christian in Toronto, where the Yankees went and got as many hits over two days as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did. What's going on, Christian?
How are you, sir? How about that, Rich? By the way, I'm not lying. Six hits for the Yankees in two games, six hits for Vlad Jr. in two games, including a Grand Slam home run.
Wow. Yep. Can't lie. I didn't come on to gloat though. No, it's okay.
It's over. It's interesting. You call it electric. I called it a turning the electricity off moment. I actually flipped that.
Oh, turned it right off. But what's going on, Christian? What's happening? Canadians don't taunt. They're too nice.
I know. That's true. That's right. The wins are worth more, though. I've been in my time and too many blown leads, so I'm not going to get there yet.
But anyway. Um I came to talk about the commanders. As great as Jaden did play and Bill, I thought the defense holding them I'm going 27 on answers. Pretty spectacular. It's weird because this defense has games where they get gashed by the Falcons and then they come back next week and they close down.
So I just thought maybe we can get your thoughts on that, like what you've been seeing and What do you think this team can do?
Well, what I saw was a team that looked like last year for the first time. That's what I thought. And I'm going to talk a little bit more about it in hour number three. I saw a team that for the first time last year had shades, this year had shades of last year. where where Daniels was difficult to stop.
And so was some of the passing game. And the run game showed up. And the defense balled out. in a way that I have not seen from the commanders over the first four games this year.
So that was a terrific. game. And and it's very odd that for two straight weeks we've seen Thanks for the call, Christian. Um we you bet and we that we've seen um The Charges is a get-right game for the opponent in the NFC East. You know?
Mm. The Giants got right, and the Commanders leave Los Angeles feeling they got right. Um And, you know, for Jim, he was saying they got to stop the bleeding. That's two in a row for him. You know, the Chargers' next game is in Miami, where crazy things happen.
It's an early window. Those things are tough for West Coast teams. But the commanders have got to feel really good about themselves right now. That's the way I looked on that front. Chad in Reno, Nevada.
We've got about 30 seconds for you. What's up, Chad? Um, Rich, uh, being a Cardinals fan, I just need to I I have to dent a little bit, but You know the document that you want to give TJ to get rid of the Cowboys or the fan? I might need that document. No, no, Check.
Well First of all, Jay Felly's not here to get the paperwork all ready. But if you want, Chad, we can arrange for that for you. Rich, you know, when I had to get on a plane yesterday, we were up 21 to 6. I'm watching the game. And then I leave, I get on this plane, I'm sitting next to a two-year-old who thought I was a clown.
And then, as I'm watching the game unfold, I'm thinking, you know what? You're right. I am a clown because my team is a clown. Why would a two-year-old think? Chad, let's just do it.
Chad, why would a two-year-old think you're a clown? Are you dressed as one? Were you there to amuse? I'm trying to make them laugh. You know, five-hour flights.
I'm like, I gotta keep this kid tired because. He you know, he's gotta go to bed. Oh god. Making faces and stuff. I I really was a clown, Rich.
And little did I know, little did I know was a prophecy. Chad Arena, everybody. It's kind of strange that the baby had a rattle and celebrating and then just released it. It was like, oh, wait a minute.
Sorry, Chad. Right into the middle. Here's a hug. We're giving. Nice to this.
That's the way we wrap up hour two on our SamoCast right here.
Well done, Chad and Reno. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
