It's time for Over Reaction Monday once again. Rich Eisen along with Chris Brockman. Hello, everybody, from the Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen Podcast Studios. Good to see you.
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This might suck. Reaction Mondays. Monday. All right. Hey, Rich.
What's up, man? You good? I am good. What do you have for me? Wow, I want to start with Sunday night because that was an awesome performance by Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks all the way I think they're fantastic.
I think they're the best team in the NFC and they're going to be the one seed. Ah, that is an overreaction, pal. I mean, shortly before we go on the air, the Philadelphia Eagles, who are six and two now, right? Just like the Seattle Seahawks, just like the Los Angeles Rams. um went ahead and acquired Jalen Phillips.
From the Miami Dolphins. Three deals that Howie Roseman's already made. And by the time anybody's consuming this segment right now on Overreaction Monday, he might have made already three more trades from LCC players or players from the Southeast in professional football, right?
So that seems like it. I mean, I'm very high on what the Seattle Seahawks have done so far, right? And also, We can't sit here and say, listen. This team has to play in front of the 12s. They have to have home field advantage because they've now won 10 in a row on the road.
They do not.
Okay, so they travel as do the 12s, by the way.
So I'm not sitting here and saying anything but. Way to go. Sam Darnold is maybe the greatest bargain. Right, the greatest bargain of any of the hot wait for it. Any of those who just recently signed.
Aaron Rodgers is in that mix. Interesting. Interesting. But for somebody who's not making Trevor Lawrence-type dollars, right? Right.
Justin Herbert type dollars. Dollars and division, Brock Purdy, and right, and is killing it right now. He is terrific defensively, they're getting it done. Offensively, Jackson, Smith, and Jigbo. I will mention this on the flagship show.
This guy Sir. is 100% threatening A 2,000-yard receiving season. He currently has, let me get this number. Uh on the spot for you. He currently has right now 948 receiving yards.
Through the team's first eight games of a season. Jeez. And he's the youngest to do that. Under the age of twenty-five. In NFL history.
He surpassed Isaac Bruce. who had nine hundred thirty eight through the first eight games of the ninety five season. For the Rams when he was twenty two. That's what Jackson Smith and Jigba is doing. Tori Horton, I know he cost you a guillotine leg.
Well, hold on. I still can have a Marvel Harrison miracle. Let's hope so for your sake. Thank you. Horton had.
Had a who last night, right? He had two touchdown passes. The running game is working. Defensively, they're crushing it. Sam Darnold, 21 of 24 for 330 pass yards and four passing touchdowns.
He is the, it's the fourth game with four passing touchdowns since 2024. Only Lamar has more with six.
So, yes, they're doing great. They're playing well. They can win the conference, not just their division, but being the one seed. I'm going to pump the brakes on that. The fact that you added the one seed.
I did add that this morning. I wanted to take it a little higher. No, I know. This is an overreaction Monday. That's why I like them better than Philadelphia.
No drama. You don't hear anything from anybody on that team. Nothing, absolutely nothing.
Well, you don't hear anything from anybody that ever plays in the Pacific Northwest. How many people in baseball were surprised? Oh, the Mariners are this good? when they showed up in the ALCS. You know, I mean, that's just the way it is.
Coach, not posting on Instagram, views me, and you all, any of this, mumbo jumbo. I know that, you know what I mean? I understand that vibes are at an all-time high. First of all, great use of mumbo jumbo. Thank you.
Uh, secondly, um, this 100% is why I it's a perfect spot for Sam Darnold. Who went through the crucible of New York City when he first started? Oh, did he? And then everything else.
Now it's just go to the Pacific Northwest. Keep throwing your passes, keep throwing your touchdowns, keep finding number 11 and winning football games. I'm just not ready to remove the one of the ones to make them the one seed from Jackson Smith in Jigba's uniform. I'll just call this an overreaction and move on.
Okay. Let's go to the previous one seat in the AFC. The Indianapolis code. They might actually still be based on record, but we saw We saw the true colors come out in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Daniel Jones and the Colts turned back into pumpkins.
They're not going to win the AFC South. Stop it. Stop it. The Jaguars came off their buy-in, had a nice overtime win in Las Vegas, okay, in which they couldn't cover Brock Bowers. You can.
They batted. I know that. They batted down a pass at the end. To save the game because they had a wide open Raider in the end zone that would have. Lost the game.
Um they also had a gajillion penalties again. The Houston Texans can't score points. The Texans Um had a very nice defensive performance against the uh the Denver Broncos. But the Texans right now, having allowed 15.1 points per game.
Now have a three and five record. That is the worst record by far. of any Texans team that has had a defense just like this. The 2012 team had a defense through the first eight games that gave up 17.1 points per game. They were 7-1.
This team is three and five. And the Indianapolis Colts are still seven and two. And the Steelers came up with a terrific football game from their defense. And Rodgers is not turning the ball over, which is what you'd expect from somebody. At age 41.
He's game managing to the highest degree, right? Correct. And they were. They they They were They were more physical than the Colts. And the Colts have been.
Road raiding people.
Okay. And so I would just say at this point in time, bury the tape. Move on to Berlin. which is obviously their only option because they're going to play the Falcons next. And Get back on the winning ways before a buy.
And they're 8-2. They're absolutely going to win this division unless the Houston Texans can certainly. Scored a bunch of points. And the Jacksonville Jaguars can stop shooting themselves in the foot and they don't even have Trevor Lawrence's Uh best target. 'Cause Brian Thomas is absolutely destroying your fantasy team.
And I know that that's a terrible thing to say because players Don't like hearing that sort of thing. I get it, but he is. But he is definitely not the top elite receiver. In the top five in the AFC, like he was last year.
Now, I think, look, the reason why I say this. You look at Jacksonville's schedule coming up, it's all breaking very nicely for them. And whereas the opposite is true for Indianapolis, you know, they were kind of the who have they beaten to start the year, and they buried teams. And now you look at the back half, it's going to get a little bit more difficult for Indianapolis. And I think the Steelers kind of provided a blueprint here.
And whereas Jacksonville is going to have it kind of break their way, and I think they're going to get to 11 wins, Jacksonville, and they could steal this division. I will just say this: okay, in the same way that I've been pointing out that the Ravens can still win their division. Even though they're three and five, and they're now officially two games behind the Steelers. What a massive win that was for the Steelers. Massive win for the Steelers because they're staying two in front of the Ravens as opposed to just being one behind them, having lost in the conference again, and then having not only lost in conference again, but losing to the team that is now stampeding their way to the one seat.
They now have a tiebreak over in Indianapolis. Should your prophecy about the division come true, that the Colts don't win it, they're now in a wild card position and thus, or the Steelers, if they win their division, would be able to have a home game against the Colts again, feeling really good about the last time the Colts came in there. That said, the same way that I'm saying the Ravens have a chance to win their division because they have yet to play both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The Indianapolis Colts Have a In your uh point of view can lose the division because they have yet to play Houston. and Jacksonville.
Right. And part of that gauntlet to end the division schedule. Also includes non-division opponents. in Kansas City. for Indianapolis again.
Seattle, San Francisco.
So it's into the teeth. of the NFC West. and the AFC South. They have work left to do. I think they win in Berlin.
They're 8-2 going into the bye, coming back, feeling healthy, and feeling good about themselves in Kansas City.
So I don't think they've turned back into a pumpkin. They ran into a buzzsaw, which happens in the National Football League. And it's also not a blowout loss. I know they got some window dressing at the end. There are only two losses of the season, same score, 27 to 20 to the Rams in Los Angeles and now to Pittsburgh.
In Pittsburgh, we'll see what happens in Berlin. I'll just call this an overreaction. I still think they're the best team. in the AFC South for sure. Let's go to Lambo.
One of the most shocking results of Sunday, Packers were. Big double-digit favorites lose at home to Carolina. Packers were my Super Bowl team. I'm done with them. Packers are frauds as serious NFC contenders.
That's not true. I can't say, I can't, you can't sit there and say that's not true. I'm not going to call him a fraud, and they're not the serious NFC contenders. What have they shown you recently where you're like, wow, this team can do it. This team can beat the Eagles, the Rams, the Seahawks.
Well, In our previous segment, Christopher, said I just talked about how impressive the Pittsburgh Steelers were at home. How impressive they were on defense, how impressive they were. on offense, how they Went An out-physical occults team that has been road grading the rest of the competition. And the Packers laid an egg In Lambo. Absolutely.
They laid an egg in Lambo coming off of their best win of the year. where Jordan Love had maybe the best game as a pro. against the same Steelers defense that Clearly. Heard from Mike Tomlin and the staff in film sessions throughout the week to say. This is not happening again.
And so What happened was shocking, not going to lie. Although I did say the Panthers were my sleeper team of the NFC, which I wasn't bringing up until they're five and four at this point of the season for the first time since 2019. 2019. Oh, sure. The Panthers are in the mix.
Yeah, they're in the mix. I mean, they're in the mix for an NFC wildcard spot. The problem for them is the NFC West is so damn deep that you're thinking two teams is going to make it from there outside of the division winner.
So three is going to come from the West. You know, But you know. They're just... one and a half behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming off their buy and The Bucs are probably going to get Bucky Irving back. And we're going to see how they're going to look.
But anyway, this is about the Packers being frauds. They are not frauds. That Steeler game is now looking like an outlier based on how they've played pretty much since week one. And also, this.
Well, I guess they. Right. And to your point, they're. Hackers, I have to say this like it's a hockey. um team because they have a tie.
All non-victories for Green Bay this year.
Okay. Have come against teams at 500 or worse coming in. They've lost to 0-2 Cleveland. They tied 1-2 Dallas, and now they lost to 4-4. Carolina.
They have the disease of playing down to their competition with all due respect to Carolina being. Five and four. They almost lost to Arizona. No, they almost lost that I don't care about. I don't care about the almost losses.
I mean, I care how you look in those games. You're 5-2-1 through the first eight games. You're signing for it. You're signing for it before week one. You're absolutely signing for four.
You watch the film, you watch how Jordan Love looks. I don't know, man. This reeks of overreaction in the fact that how many times. In the history of this show, and segment, which we've done for years. Have one thing sounded good to you one week, and then the next week.
Poof, because the Eagles and the Packers play each other in the week 10. Monday night finished the weekend. That's why this is where the rubber will meet road and proof will be in the pudding. And we'll see if the aforementioned mumbo jumbo of the Eagles is still in effect. And we'll see if the Packers can still get it done.
Because the bottom line is there's some outliers here. Jordan loved one of the worst performances of his career. Micah Parsons, first time in his career, he had zero quarterback pressures. That's never happened before. Tucker Kraft, though, this is the concern I have.
That's to you. It looks like he's got a serious knee injury.
So that's a problem. But he's our number one target. But Josh Jacobs is still putting the ball in the end zone, and he's still running 17 carries for 87 yards. There's still, you know, LaFleur is still not bell-cowing him. He still hasn't had one of those 30-carry games.
We're entering that part of the season. We'll see if he is healthy enough to do it. He's their best offensive player now that Kraft is out. Brother, I'm just going to say they are not frauds. They are serious NFC contenders.
And the fact that they're a half-game behind all the six-and-two teams. In first. uh in front of them in the in the in the um in the In the standings, just 100% is A reason why this is an overreaction. What else you got over there?
Next two topics are going to be about the same game that was played in Detroit. Let's talk about your guy, man. He's back, J.J. McCarthy. He's going to take the Vikings to the playoffs.
This was a big week for the Vikings and the Bears, by the way, because both the Packers. And the Lions lost due to the Minnesota Vikings snapping their Four-game losing streak in Detroit. It's the first time they won in Detroit since 2020. And You know I'm going to cape for J.J. McCarthy.
that He looked terrific, and I just love the fact that a fellow Michigan man was in the booth. In Tom Brady just talking about the big throws that he made, because once again, The the the knock on J.J. McCarthy. Ever since he lost only one game as a college football player, and now remaining undefeated in the state of Michigan, is that. He doesn't have to throw a lot.
Okay, and he didn't have to throw a lot again. on Sunday. But what he did throw when he threw it were Outstanding passes that were highly accurate and needed to be most of the time. where they needed to be, which is something that Caleb Williams is still working on in his craft. in Chicago.
So McCarthy also might be showing a knack. for what you want in your quarterback, which is not making mistakes, winning in tough spots. Most importantly, In division. He now joins Two other quarterbacks. In the Super Bowl era.
To have two division road wins in his first three career starts. The others. are named Patrick Mahomes. And Dan Marino. Hey, heard of that.
J.J. McCarthy as... Jack Walsh, who's no longer popular in the Chicago Police Department, once said, a pretty respectable neighborhood. And so the reason why this may be true. as well.
If Haron Jones can stay healthy and provide the scrimmage yards along with Jordan Mason, that's another balance that you want to have. Yeah, need the run game. But defensively, man. Oh, this is Brian Flores masterpiece. It was indeed, sir.
So if they can start. Doing what we saw from the defense on top of it, because that's a major reason why they won. because it made J.J. McCarthy's throws. and performance stand up.
Uh Vikings. A season high, five defensive sacks and eleven quarterback hits. In the week nine win in Detroit, and then on top of it. When Detroit swept Minnesota last year. Which, as you know, they did, right?
Yeah, and they only had four losses, right? Correct. Well, including the playoffs, just three in the regular season, two in the hands of Detroit.
So, in those two losses last year to Detroit, Jameer Gibbs had 160 scrimmage yards and multiple touchdowns in each of the Lions' wins over the Vikings. On Sunday, Gibbs had nine carries, twenty five rush yards. Three catches, three receiving yards. First game in over the last two seasons in which he had fewer than 50 scrimmage yards. That's the formula where this is not an overreaction.
Four and four, though, they have some work to do. They have some work to do. But. I just gave why it's an over, it's not an overreaction, but I'm still going to just sit here and say at present it is. Because that's just another one game.
As you know, the last time he won on division on the road, he went home. J.J. McCarthy had a very difficult day. in which you wound up injured.
So I'll just call this an overreaction. for the moment. Let's go to the other side of this game, the Lions. I'm concerned, man. The Lions are not going to win the NFC North.
Ha Oh boy. They're a half game behind a team that's already beaten them. That's a problem. The Bears are now five and three, just like that. The Vikings, who just beat them, are last place at four and four.
It's a very tough division. And Detroit's next games, man, they have a brutal schedule. Just like everybody in the NFC North have this year because they're taking on the AFC North. Their next stop at Washington. That should be a win against Marcus Mariota.
The big ones at Philadelphia on a Sunday night. The Giants coming in. Jackson Dart is really special. He's doing things that the Giants have not seen a quarterback ever. He's got some juice.
By the way, in terms of rushing touchdowns and throwing touchdowns in the same game, he's your start of the year. He's done it in every game but one since being named the starter. That said, they should win that. And then this is where the rubber meets the road, man. Thanksgiving.
Triple header, the John Madden, as you know, Thanksgiving. Um special. And it starts with Green Bay and Detroit. in Ford Field.
So they have to visit the Rams. They do have the Steelers at home, and they finish up on the road against two division opponents trying to return the fader of Minnesota. And then Chicago, which we know they beat. Destroyed the first time they saw them.
So I will just say right now, I still believe the Lions went healthy. Have the best team. in the division And I also chose them to go to the Super Bowl and win the NFC. I don't think they would do that as a wild card.
So, how dare you put me in this position? I'm just going to say the Lions. We'll still win the NFC North. I'll still say they win the NFC North, which is interesting that to square the circle, I said that the Packers are still Super Bowl and NFC contenders, and they are. And they are, but they're going to have to do it from the wild card if I'm right.
Right. Correct. which means Detroit wins on Thanksgiving against Green Bay. And I think Detroit wins against Washington. They're 6-3 while the Packers take on the Eagles, man.
Yeah. Do you think this division? Minnesota, by the way, takes on the Ravens next. And then the Chicago Bears, after doing what they did in Cincinnati, come home and take on the Giants before they visit Minnesota and have Pittsburgh at home. and then visit the Eagles the day after Thanksgiving.
If we play a quick what's more likely, a division to get three playoff teams, the NFC North or the West? I'll take the West. I'll take the West. Which leads me to believe Somebody's really good in the north and not making it. Either Chicago or Minnesota.
Minnesota, because they were in a hole. Right. They started in that hole. You know? Because J.J.
McCarthy got hurt and wasn't able to do what he did throughout the last six games that everybody said he couldn't do because he was on a soft. injury sabbatical. How about my guy? It's basically what I'm saying. How about my guy, J.J.
McCarthy? Oh, by the way, he won the championship for Michigan, in case you just heard that before. Very good. Uh I know we talked about the Colts earlier.
Now I want to talk about the Steelers a little bit later on. You know, I've been impressed. That defense really showed out, and Aaron Rodgers, you know, he's managing the game in a way that you'd expect a guy with his experience to do so. They're here to stay, but they need to make a move on offense to be real AFC contenders. Are you talking about the trait deadline?
I am. 100%. You're not wrong. You're not wrong, which is kind of crazy because I man I would love to know exactly, because you know we always say here over and over again. about There's an iceberg.
And we In the public, just see the tip of it, and there's always something massive underneath it that we just don't know about. You know, which is why we're still wondering how Micah Parsons wound up on the Green Bay Packers. Sure. You know what I mean? Like, I would just love to know.
Why the Steelers Thought We just cannot have another minute of George Pickens being on our team. I'm with you. I think about that. Every time I see George make a huge play for Dallas, you're like, God, this is just the guy that Pittsburgh needs. Maybe the part of that was born out of he and DK Metcalf do similar things.
And yeah, but DK's not the field stretcher that he used to be. And who did they think would be the complimentary receiver in the offense to DK Metcalf? With Pickens Gone, if they thought there was too much of the same God. doing physically freaky things and running past people when when they have the opportunity. Like, who's the other guy to be complimentary in the offense to create the issue?
Once DK Metcalf, you're just throwing all your resources. Defensively, it's stopping him. Why did George Pickens have to go? Because right now, You're looking for more production at the receiver spot. All you have to do is look at what George Pickens has done for Dallas.
Exactly.
Okay, so I kind of don't get it. Certainly When the topic of conversation right now is, they need more help. At the position. Of receiver. And you could sit here and say the same thing about running back, but it's odd that we would say that after Tyler Jalen Warren has his first.
Career game with two rushing touchdowns. He's been really good. And we just want to hire a register. Gain well too. And Rogers, you know, we were all talking about, hey, Big Ben's gone.
What are you going to do? What was the last time they... You know, Big Ben was around, and they're going to find a quarterback who can do things that Big Ben. did for us. Rogers is 17 passing touchdowns.
is most by Pittsburgh quarterback in a single season since Big Ben's last career season of 22. Touchdown passes. And He's just a machine. 95th uh 157th career game with a A passer rating of 95 or better that ties Drew Brees for most all time behind off, you know, of course, Tom Brady. But um So yes, I fully agree with this.
They need help. at the offensive spot. I don't know. I mean, they need Jalen Waddell.
Well, guess what? That's a guy they need. Do the Steelers have a history of trading with the Miami Diamonds? That's what I'm saying. And trading high-leverage draft picks?
To the Miami Dolphins. Yeah. I'm wondering if those conversations are happening. Obviously, we're taping this. You know the Dalmatians one on one if you're if you're the Steelers.
You you toss a one? Man, you gotta think about it. Yes. Absolutely you do that. Absolutely, you do it.
Yeah. But then they're doing then the Steelers are doing something they don't traditionally do. They gave up a big draft pick to get DK Metcalf.
Now they're doing another one for another wide receiver. I get it, but this is Rogers. Is Rogers going to be 30 tomorrow? Uh You made this is this, but this is hey, brother, this is what happens when you go ahead. And you put your eggs in a basket of someone like Aaron Rodgers.
When I say that, of just someone of that age, look what the Jets did. They put all the eggs in the basket. Obviously, his Achilles gives way, and then the whole thing blows to. The crap. 100% you bring in Jalen Waddell right now.
And see what he can do with Aaron Rodgers while Rodgers is turning back the clock physically. Come on now. Hell yeah. You're leading a division. The Ravens are going like crazy right now, getting closer in your rear view mirror than they really appear.
I mean, then they really are. That's where they're appearing. Come on now. Yeah. That's what you do?
What else? Not an overreaction. Not an overaction. No, sir.
Okay. Uh three more. Uh let's go to Buffalo. Yes, sir. Let's talk about let's talk about this game.
Surprised you didn't lead with it.
Well, this is why. Josh Allen, now the favorite for MVP, he had a nice game. But it won't be impressive until the Bills beat the Chiefs in the postseason. This game means nothing to me.
Well, I'll just say this. Ultimately, you're right. But in order for them to beat them in the postseason, Um They had to do this.
So I'm I I can't say that this this win has empty calories because I've just seen this movie over again. The Bills won five in a row against them in the regular season. And the Chiefs have lost four times, and the Chiefs have beaten them four straight playoff games. As a matter of fact, in three of the last five seasons, the Bills have beaten the Chiefs in the regular season, then had their season ended by the Chiefs in the playoffs.
So I understand where this is coming from, but the... Matchup between Mahomes and Allen. It was the tenth time. They faced off against one another.
So they've now hit. Double digits. With Alan now being an MVP, it's the first time they've met as both having MVPs in their trophy case. and they're now seven behind the matchup. The most All time between two MVP quarterbacks, 17 for Payton and Brady, 17 for Unitas and Bart Starr.
Oh, okay. That's so. You want to talk about it's the last generation? And then multiple generations ago, this is the version that we, our generation, or our children, are seeing. I love it.
I love this matchup. It's the first time, though, they faced each other where neither were in first place.
So this had a crossroads type feeling for the teams. That we haven't seen before. We haven't seen it before. That's a good nugget. I like that.
And the Chiefs, well, thank you. You're welcome. The Chiefs, I have that from NFL Game Day Morning. It's part of the package. Uh At any rate, um The Chiefs are now five and four.
It's the first time they've hit a buy in the Mahomes era where there aren't three Games above 500 or better hitting their buy. They are now looking up. At the Chargers. And the Broncos They play the Chargers once more. They play the Raiders once more.
They play the Broncos twice.
So the division is still in reach. for Kansas City. But They are not Despite having they played well enough, they're still dealing with digging out of that 0-2 hole. Right. The loss in Jacksonville, the loss in Buffalo.
Is something that when you're starting O and Two, Adds up. And now creates an issue when you're coming out of a buy, you're at Denver. That's now you're in must-win territory if you want to continue. winning your division for a tenth year in a row. And then, I mean, Tennessee's the only cupcake on this schedule after the buy.
You can't also say to, well, You know, all the Kansas City playoff wins of come and arrowhead. And you know what's going to happen when they go on the road when they went on the road a couple years ago and made the Super Bowl and won it.
So. If though They do want to stay at home in Arrowhead and have everyone come to Arrowhead. They got to start winning some football games. and the bills on top of it. They're not in first place because your Patriots keep on winning football games.
As a matter of fact, that win in Buffalo on a Sunday night kicked off a six. Game. Winstreak. for the New England Patriots.
So the Bills had to win this game. And it's not just Base. They also blitzed Mahomes. They also. Pressured Mahomes.
He was pressured on 52.6% of his drop backs, which is. The fourth game in his career when that's ever happened. The only three such games came in 2018 through 2020 when the The whole idea was Get Mahomes off the spot and and you're going to win a football game. And they've never been worth it in the history of our show. What I'm saying is for the Bills probably not.
No, correct. When we're that so this late in the season, they're not in first place, right? Uh so when we start putting the playoff picture up for a Defense that was becoming maligned. Quite a bit. For the Bills to do what they did against Mahomes.
Yeah, Mahomes 100%. a momentum and confidence builder that I think the bills needed that that bishop was all over the field in the back end All right, and there's no Ed Oliver. What are you gonna do? How are you gonna stop the run? How are you gonna get Mahomes?
Check the box. And what they're also doing is Thank goodness for you Bills fans, man, that they get the idea that James Cook needed to be paid, and they're going to run him. Man, he is awesome.
Okay, he had 27. Carrie's Twenty seven So it's not like, where the hell's James Cook? Why are they not going to him? Second half. That was kind of a thing.
114 rush yards, 27 carries, man. First running back with 100 or more rush yards in a game against Kansas City since Zamir White did it on Christmas Day for the Raiders in that upset in 2023 in Arrowhead. Remember that one? Yep. And, you know, Cook, the only person that that's keeping Cook from being atop the rush yards list for the Bills through eight games of a season is OJ.
Who had? 1,000, 1,100 yards through eight games of a season for the Bills. twice In 73 and 1975, he won the MVP in 1973.
So for a team that needed it. To stay in the mix for their division. Yep. The conference. This means a lot.
Okay, this is not your usual. Allen and Mahomes are 100% going to be in the AFC championship game, so this means nothing. This meant something. Because this game was unlike the previous Allen and Mahomes regular season games. I'll call this an overreaction.
Yep, do it in January.
Okay. No, I hear you. I hear you. Yeah, I get it. What else?
Speaking of a guy who has done it in January and February, Matthew Stafford Rich, I just can't talk enough about him. He is absolutely bawling, and he's going to be an MVP finalist. Oh, I agree with you. What did I say to you in a was it two what uh two Versions of the show will go, but This was the season where he was going to gain everybody's Assent? as a pro football hall of famer.
That everybody is going to look at him and go, That's a Hall of Fame. Man, if he adds an MVP.
Well, I mean, right now, he just threw four touchdown passes to follow up after by the five-touchdown game I called in London against the Jaguars. That's the most in a two-game stretch in the history of the Rams organization. Um and a pass rating of 140 or better. again for him. His fourth game with three touchdown passes in 2025, he only had two last year.
Fourth game with three touchdown passes and no interceptions this year. He had only three such games in the three years combined. He's finding Puka. When Puka's healthy, when he's not, he's throwing touchdowns to Devontae Adams. The run game is working.
It is all. Click and 21 touchdown passes in eight games this year. It's the second most through eight games of a season in his career, third most by a Rams player through the first eight games of a season in franchise history, bettered only by Kurt Warner at the top with 24 in his magic carpet season of 99. And then the second place. quarterback on that list.
is his own self in 2021 when He went to the Super Bowl and won it just like Kurt Warner. and Kurt won the MVP in 99. Not an overreaction. What else you got over there?
Last one. Let's finish up. Circle back to KC and let's talk about it. By the way, that was an easy one. That was a layup.
That was an easy one. I didn't know if you'd buy the MVP finalist. Absolutely, brother. If you look at the odds right now, it's Allen is now leading the way with Drake May second, Mahomes third, and Stafford fourth. And then there's a giant drop off.
Where's Jonathan Taylor, man? I know what happened yesterday, but running backs can't do it every game.
Well, McCaffrey now should be kind of near the top of the line. McCaffrey, and we're going to spend a segment later on this week that he's making a case for the Hall of Fame right now. You know, I almost had that as a topic today. I would have said it's not an overreaction. Almost.
I thought about it.
Well, that'll be for future shows. What else you got to finish this week? Last one: either the Chiefs or Ravens are going to miss the playoffs. I don't think that's an overreaction right now. That win by Pittsburgh was a pretty massive blow to Baltimore.
The Ravens are going to have to play almost perfect football. I mean, one in five holes, no joke. When I just said that the Chiefs are still dealing with. The 0-2 hole. Yeah.
You know, when you lose a Monday nighter in Jacksonville and then you lose a late window. Sunday game in week nine to Buffalo, that will. cost you because it's just stacking losses.
Well, the Ravens are one and five digging out of the hole. They've successfully gotten halfway back to 500. They're three and five. But I mean, the Minnesota team that just made Jared Goff's life a misery. In his house is going to be in their house welcoming the Ravens next week.
So, you know, let's see if JJ can McCarthy can do it at home. The Ravens are currently 10th. in the standings in the Chiefs are eighth in the AFC standings right now, so I can't sit here and say you're crazy. to say one of them's going to miss it. I said it last week that the NFC playoffs were locked.
Do you think the AFC is locked right now, if you want to put that back up there? The AFC where it's no, I can't. Because I'm not going to sit here and say the Chiefs are missing it. Colts, Pats, Broncos Steelers, Bills, Chargers. The Jaguars are just making way too many mistakes.
They are overcoming their own penalty mistakes, their own inefficiencies. that are gonna eventually cost them. You can't just keep doing that. I mean, Um Unfortunately, the Raiders are ill-equipped to overcome their own. You could say that the Jaguars won a game of overcoming their own mistakes against another team.
similarly built. I think Colts, Patriots, Broncos make it. I think The Chargers make it. And I think the Bills make it, and I think it's a question about whether the Steelers or the Jaguars do it 5-3. How does that sound for my answer to that question?
That's fine. That's the best. Where the Chiefs and Ravens can both make it. The Chiefs and Ravens can both make it, and those are the two teams that they knock out of the current spots in the AFC. The NFC, though, I think, is long.
All right, Christopher, thanks very much. Greatly appreciate good stuff as always. Yeah, a week number nine. Um, and we'll talk about it all on our flagship show on Monday. Catch all of that on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, obviously, ESPN Radio and Sirius XM Channel 80 is how you can follow us every day from 12 to 3 Eastern Time.
Check out Overreaction Monday every single week. We greatly appreciate that. And other Rich Eisen Show podcasts, No Contest Wrestling with OJ Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson, the Jim Jackson Show, for those who want a basketball fix. And later on this week on the Rich Eisen Show, we've got.
Woody Harrelson is on our guest list among many. We'll see you then for Chris on Rich. Peace out.
