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Ask your doctor, visit BotoxCronicmigraine.com or call 1-800-44-BOTOX to learn more. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody! Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck.
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Now, on with the show. Football. Clear to That guy touchdown. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Touchdown!
See homes! Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles, today's guests, Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Delaware State Head Coach Deshaun Jackson. And now, it's Rich Isen.
All right, everybody. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show Live on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio Sirius XM. Channel 80. It's gonna be a Warner Wednesday as Always is in our neighborhood during a football season, and Kurt Warner is first up in hour number two, as he will be in every single Wednesday show from here on out. Hung out with him on NFL Network last night.
Good times on our season preview show. Derek Henry entering year 11 in the National Football League, 10th on the all-time list of National Football League rushers. He's going to be joining us in hour number two. Deshaun Jackson stops by in studio. He's the head coach of Delaware State Football.
There's a new documentary on his life on Prime Video. And then there's you at 844-204-Rich is the number to dial. Hopefully, you're awake if you watched all of Ben Shelton versus Carlos Alcarez last night. At the United States Open. It's unbelievable that that match ended nine hours ago from this point in time.
I'm struggling.
So, all good in our neighborhood today. I've got my first power rankings of the season. Christopher Brockman, how are you over there? Welcome to the National Football Campaign. Excited to be here.
Excited for tonight. I did stay up and watch all four and a half hours last night, so I'm a little struggling. But. Football tonight. Ah, can't wait.
DJ Mikey D is nuts. Good morning, Rich. TJ Jefferson, the candle is lit. What trophy do you have there? On the road to riches and diamond rings, real players do real things, Rich.
And this is my Fantasy Football League trophy. Hey, the fourth one that I've got. And yeah, I feel good. I'm bringing it to football. I'm ready to dominate again.
Look at you. Let's go. For those of you who may not be familiar around these parts, This is our 13th season covering the National Football League. It'll be my 24th season covering the NFL for NFL Network. Kind of kicked off last night.
So we're a football show through and through. Obviously, we talk about everything. But What I do every single year on the day the NFL starts. For real. Is I run down every single storyline and narrative possible for all 32 football teams right off the top of my head.
Yeah, you do. And it's time for me to do that again. We love that. I need the music, Mike Del Tufo. We start with the American Football Conference, which is represented tonight in terms of a championship.
By the New England Patriots, who have year two of Mike Vrabel. It is year three. Of Drake May, but year two of him being a full-time starter for the New England Patriots, and year one. Of being a starter of a team that has high expectations as well as high expectations for a guy who was almost the MVP of last year. And what do the Patriots do?
They go ahead and get him AJ Brown in the offseason as a new toy and weapon. How good is this team on defense still? They signed Christian Gonzalez. They pizzade him. It was a top five defense last year.
Will they be able to do that? Will they be able to protect Drake May? Will Will Campbell be a turnstile or somebody who can turn the page on last year's campaign and year two for him? And then, of course, there's everything off the field. With Mike Brabel during the offseason.
Will that somehow come home to roost if things don't go well for New England? It is a season of high expectations there for the Patriots. We'll see what happens with them as the Buffalo Bills once again have high expectations again because it's Josh Allen's world and we're all paying rent within it. They have James Cook coming back off of winning the rushing title last year. It is Sean McDermott out.
And Joe Brady in. The guy who was in Josh Allen's headset for the last couple of years, coordinating the offense as well. It's now his turn. They're front and center for a Bills team that on defense does appear to be. Pretty good.
How good can they be in their new stadium, the new Highmark stadium? Will the rest of the American Football Conference have an obstructed view? Of Josh Allen running away from them and scoring touchdowns against them.
So, is this the year that the Mafia can finally? Die happy. It's been time and time again for Buffalo. Could this be the year the Jets have year two for Aaron Glenn? It is Geno Smith back at the controls at quarterback.
This was not the plan. That Jets fans had when they drafted Zach Wilson and then turned to Aaron Rodgers and then thought Justin Fields could be the guy. They didn't think it would be Geno Smith. with Frank Reich coming out. Of the mist to coordinate an offense for Aaron Glenn, who's basically been told: hey, You're the defensive coordinator we hired to be the HC.
You're back being the defensive coordinator and the HC. They got some OGs back. DiMario Davis as well on defense. Minka Fitzpatrick on the back end. Can they come up with just one interception this year?
and surprise people. With Garrett Wilson and Brees Hall, and the rest of those offensive youngers, young guys. Can they go ahead and make a big run of it? The Dolphins have Jeff Hafley in year one. Malik Willis with the opportunity of his lifetime.
Will the dolphins build? For the future now, or look to the future for another quarterback, depending on what Malik Willis does there. Jalen Waddell's gone. Who's there? Who are the Dolphins?
Big Shrug emoji team, Devin A. Chan is one of the best in the business. We'll see how he does. in year one for Halfly. Cleveland Browns world.
It's Deshaun Watson again. Who thought about that? In Cleveland, not many. Thought maybe it's going to be Shador Sanders again, but Todd Munkin in year one for him. What's going to happen in Cleveland with Todd Munkin?
They trade away Miles Garrett. It's Jared Vurse on defense. They've got a whole bunch of young kids that can win now if Monkin's the right coach and Watson's the right quarterback, or Shador's the right quarterback, or if not, Cleveland owns half of next year's first-round draft, just like the Jets to look for a new quarterback.
Meanwhile, Baltimore's got a new head coach as well after 16 years of John Harbaugh. It's Jesse Minter on the show. On the spot now. Can he plus this team up? On defense, they sure hope he can.
And what he did with Derwin James here in Los Angeles, he can do with Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith and get that defense stout again. Lamar Jackson, a new offensive coordinator from the Ben Johnson world, Declan Doyle. How will he look in a new offense? Zay Flowers with a new contract. Derrick Henry, an hour number two of this show, and year number 11.
Can he still keep it going? He turns 33 in week 18 a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also have a new head coach and Mike McCarthy after Mike Tomlin leaves after 16 years. And once again, it's McCarthy and Rodgers again. And these two guys being hooked up again is mind-blowing. Mind-blowing because not only are they hooked up together again, they're hooked up together again in Pittsburgh.
And McCarthy's the one who's replacing Mike Tomlin. And Mike Tomlin's the coach. For a franchise that both McCarthy and Rogers beat when they won the Super Bowl against him in Dallas, which is the spot where Mike McCarthy coached in between the gigs in Green Bay and Pittsburgh. What the hell's going on? Michael Pittman's now new there.
Will the offense be different with McCarthy calling it, a head coach calling the action? He's a first-year head coach. Same thing with Todd Muncin. Same thing with Jesse Minter, which leaves. Zach Taylor is the Dean of Coaches in the American Football Conference Northern Division.
He's there in year seven now. Think about it. You're eight, actually. I'm shorting him a year. And this is, is this the time?
Where Zach Taylor finds his footing from the last year That the Super Bowl was here in SoFi Stadium when Joe Burrows surprised everybody with Zach Taylor, former McVay assistant, to take him to the Super Bowl. While Burrows still's got Jamar Chase, still has T. Higgins, now has Chase Brown behind him. And on defense, they go ahead and say 10th overall selection. Take it, Giants.
We'll take Sexy Dexie, Dexter Lawrence, Boyer Mafe on that defensive line. Did they make sure that this defense is stout enough to make sure that Joe Burrow, if he stays upright and healthy, big if, They can actually win football games by a normal score. What will happen with the Cincinnati Bengals this year? Is it Super Bowl or bust? For everybody there.
The AFC South. You've got Sitting there, the Jacksonville Jaguars, after a massive. successful first year. with Liam Cohen. But they lost.
Travis Etienne. What's going to happen at the running back position? Is Travis Hunter going to be a two-way player anymore? What happens with Brian Thomas Jr.? for this team.
Great first year, second year, a little bit of a milk carton. Parker, Washington can't lose. We'll see what happens there. Jacoby Myers, as well, in a full season for this offense for Liam Cohen in a defense that was highly opportunistic last year. They shocked a lot of people in the second half of the season.
They punked a ton of teams nobody thought they could beat. Can they take a step forward? Can they get Duval County to the Super Bowl for the first time in the team's existence? Jacksonville is a lot to be excited about, but then there's the Houston Texans. Who won and done Darren Rodgers and sent Mike Tomlin to NBC?
And has a defense that is as scary as any defense that we've seen put together. Willie Anderson got a contract of 50 million per. But the quarterback hasn't, and is that the problem? CJ Stroud, can he get this team to an AFC championship game? They keep getting as far as the divisional round and hitting their head.
Hold on to the football, hand it off to new running back David Montgomery, along with Woody Marks behind an offensive line that hopefully can protect people, and then they'll. Receiving corps with Nico Collins leading the way, maybe Tank Dell coming back. The young guys that are healthy can get things together for Houston and push them past the divisional round. Into the AFC Championship. and to the Super Bowl.
Is that possible? It sure is. Will it happen? Don't know. The Tennessee Titans have the baldest staff in the league.
That's the one thing we do know. Robert Salis taken things over, and he's brought in another guy who used to coach. In MetLive Stadium, in the Giants, former head coach and Brian Dable, the Jets and Giants, former head coaches, uniting like the Wonder Twins. And they're activating Cam Ward or not. They got Carnell Tate for him in the top five of a draft.
You are. That's a nice new weapon. Calvin Ridley's there. Tony Pollard's there. Defensively, Jeffrey Simmons is there to scare people.
How much can the Titans put it together this year and move forward? Great question. The Indianapolis Colts have got a coach in Shane Steichen that's starting Daniel Jones again if he comes back looking as healthy as everyone expects him to from an Achilles injury. Jonathan Taylor's as good as it gets. And Alec Pierce just got Pizzaid, and it's time to see if he's going to really be a wide receiver, number one.
And who else is going to be catching it? Could the kid Warren have a great second year at the tight end position? Josh Downs defensively, can they put it together and get this team into the playoffs? And is that what needs to happen for Shane Steicher to keep his job? Then you've got the AFC West going down.
We start with this.
Okay. Fernando Mendoza, what's not to like? And that is a rhetorical question. I hope nobody's answering something on their radios or televisions right now. Mendoza Mania is here.
The question is: when does it hit? Does it hit at all this year? Does Kirk Cousins keep him nailed to the bench? Is he ready? Is Clint Kupiak, the new head coach there from your defending champion Seattle Seahawks?
Is he going to show up and go, all right, Cousins, take us as far as you can? Or at some point, you can do what Tom Coughlin did to her. Second hour guest Kurt Warner and say, thanks for being five and four, vet. We're going to start the kid right now anyway. Is that going to happen at some point during this season?
Max Crosby didn't want to be there, and then he wasn't there, then he was back there, and now he wants to stay there unless things don't go well or the condor is there. Brock Bowers, Ashton Genti, you're. To years three and two, respectively, in Clint Kubiak's system. Let's see how good the Raiders can be. Then you've got our friends across the way.
Jim Harbaugh. and the Los Angeles Chargers. He's decided to make a move in offense, and he gets Mike McDaniel, the odd couple of the National Football League, the Felix and Oscar of coaching. What is going to happen here? How much will McDaniel change this running game?
I think significantly. Justin Herbert will certainly benefit from a healthy Rashawn Slater and Mr. Alt. On either side, the offensive line that was ravaged, let's see what can happen. They've already lost their center, but they got Amari and Hampton back.
Fully. Let's see what he can do this year in this running game. Ladidi McConkey, you've got also Khalil Mack on defense. Tule, you've got all sorts of folks. Derwin James, can the Los Angeles Chargers get to the Super Bowl?
Everybody's looking at the Rams being in so far. Don't forget the Chargers play there, too. They have got Justin Herbert. In the playoffs last year, last couple years, can he win a game this time around and get back? Then you've got the Denver Broncos.
Sean Payton in year four. In New Orleans. Want a Super Bowl? Chump Payton in year four in Denver. What are we gonna see?
Yeah. Bo Nick's back healthy. Jalen Waddell now on this offense. That remarkably. Sean Payton not calling plays for.
What will that look like defensively 68 sacks last year? There is good Okay. Any position in the NFL as anybody. Denver enters this season. as a Super Bowl favorite for sure.
Amongst as many there can be in the AFC, And that includes Kansas City 'cause Patrick Mahomes is coming back. He's coming back. And I have no idea what he's going to look like, but that's still Patrick friggin' Mahomes. and Travis Kelsey is still around and Chris Jones is still around. And now they got Kenneth Walker on offense.
So maybe, just maybe, instead of Mahomes having to put everything on his shoulders, he puts it in the gut of this kid. and he runs like he did in the Super Bowl. Super Bowl 60s MVP is there for this team to use. They haven't had a thousand-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt's rookie season. Let's see what they can do there.
The rest of it is a big mystery. Can they be a sum of their parts? and take the Kansas City Chiefs back? To the Super Bowl, back to the AFC Championship game where Mahomes basically used to be his floor. That used to be his floor.
Making that and losing used to be his floor. Last year the floor fell out.
So did his knee. What happens with the Kansas City Chiefs as Andy Reid? enters year 14 there. As many years as he was in Philadelphia. It's happened.
Andy Reid is now in Kansas City as long as he was in Philadelphia. And we'll see what happens to the Kansas City Chiefs here. And that's my preview for the American Football Conference.
Now then. We moved to the NFC. We'll start with your cowboys. Oh, baby. Why not?
Should I grab the flag? For years and years and years. We've been getting flim flam. From Jerry. Flynn Flam.
Flam Flim. Flint Flam. Squirrels, talking about squirrels and talking about feeding ducks and quacking. All being all in. And, you know, he has no patience for jacking around with people.
And you'd be hearing, hey, we're going all in, but we're not really all in.
Well, your definition of all in is not my definition of all in. And A C D, we're going to make you, you know, sit out and cool your heels, and then we'll sign you. And Michael Parsons, we'll make you sit out and cool your heels and make it seem like we're going to sign you, and then we'll trade you. Get rid of you. Then we're gonna get Brian Schottenheimer in here.
And then we're gonna take a flyer on George Pickens. And lo and behold, And here we are. After a lot of that worked out. Not to the tune of winds. But they seem to have a better defense now.
Then last year when they traded away Micah Parsons, they got Rashawn Gary now. They got Quinn Williams now, they got Kenny Clark now, they got Odigizu, right? They got Malachi. They got themselves my guy Jay Sean, and they got Caleb Downs on the back end. That's just to name a few.
We got the Doogie Hauser of coaching, it seems, selling 100 deep row. Feels good. All Dak's got to do is stay healthy and roll the footballs out and let's see how it goes. Dallas has a good reason to feel great. and try and break that 30-year drought.
of getting to the NFC Championship game. But the Eagles are still pretty freaking good too. Once again, they changed offensive coordinators. Once again, Jalen Hurts got to learn a new system or a same system, different terminology, or a different way of doing things. I mean, this guy cannot have the same offensive coordinator in back-to-back years if his.
Career dependent on it. And every single time people talk about Jalen Hurts, it seems like his career does depend upon it. Like, let's forget about the two biggest games he's played in his life, and he was great in both. But Sean Mannon's coming in. What does it look like?
Have no idea. Can the offensive line be better protecting Hurts or Hurts be healthy or the run game better for Saquon Barkley? I don't know. What does it mean with AJ Brown out and now Dantavian Wicks and Makai Lemon in? I don't know.
One thing we do know is it's not going to be smooth. We know it. Defensively, they are big. They are stout. They are angry.
They are. absolutely physical. and the Eagles could be as good as we've ever seen. Or they could be just like the years every other year where you're wondering what the hell's going on with them. And Nick Siriani is the man in charge.
Meanwhile, you got yourselves just up the turnpike. The New York Football Giants make it a change. John Harbaugh and the Ravens part ways, and the Giants are like, we'll take them. And we'll take them. And we're going to cross T's and dot I's to make sure that this guy runs the system the way he wants, even though we have a way of doing things to the point where, you know, basically our.
Longtime owner, his nickname's on a football. Like, that's the way we do things around here. But now it's John Harbaugh's way of doing things. How does that change? Can Jackson dart slide?
Can Cam Scataboo not flip? Can Malik neighbors not just have some sort of Weird injury that knocks him out. Can this offense be as great as possible with yes, Odell Beckham Jr. back in the mix? Earning a spot.
Defensively, they are Absolutely front seven terrific. Back end, let's see. Can the giant shock come out and not be a sleeper team, but actually wake some people up? Possible. The Commanders.
It's Dan Quinn. In the saddle. In a hot seat? Don't know. Jaden Daniels, year one, unicorn, year two, Sheep.
But was it injury? Was it not? Is it him? Is it not? Is it his number?
Is it someone else's? Oh, I'm sorry, that's the difference. level of the sport. Um It's his world. We're paying rent in it.
David Blau's a new OC there. What will that look like? You hear they can't block a soul in practice or joint practices or what you see, or they're just going to come out of the box against the Eagles and just say, We're the commanders of two years ago because we got Sonny Styles now, and he's going to be the glue of this defense, and we're going to hit people in the mouth. And Dan Quinn's going to dial these plays up, and we're going to be the Washington commanders of two years ago again. Stefan Diggs is now there.
with Terry McLaurin. They're long in a tooth. Got it? But um They could be pretty toothy themselves. We'll see what happens there.
The NFC North, oh my goodness gracious. The Minnesota Vikings have Kyler Murray in the mix. What will that look like? Everybody's thinking, hey, Kyler, the guy from Arizona, that Kevin O'Connell's never had anybody like him, and he's going to be running it and throwing it. And he's going to look like the kid who won, you know, Heisman, and he's going to do this, and he's going to do that.
And he's got Justin Jefferson, he's got Jordan Addison, and they made the right move. And he's going to be the guy there forever. And J.J. McCarthy, see ya. Let's see what happens.
Defensively, they're top five. Brian Flores is still dialing up. Harrison Smith resigns. He's there. They're going to turn you over.
They're going to make sure that you are hectored on your side of the ball. It's just what happens when Kyler Murray gets this opportunity of a career for him. Of a career. It's time. Does this mean the Vikings?
can win this division, shock some people, go to the Super Bowl. Kyler Murray take them to Heights. Yeah. We'll see what JJ McCarthy looks like midseason. Who the hell knows?
The Packers. I mean, I've never come on in this segment and said, you know, all eyes on a court date. But that's what's up with Josh Jacobs. He's on the commissioner's exempt list, and this is the guy that Matt LaFleur gives the ball to. Uh eight to ten times on his first 15 scripted.
How's that going to affect this team if he's not there? Tucker Kraft's coming back from a knee injury. Who's going to catch the ball if Christian Watson can't stay healthy, which he has trouble doing? Reed has trouble doing that. Matthew Golden had a great playoff game, but it's time for him to potentially step up.
Defensively, what does this team look like? The Packers are a bit of a mystery, or Jordan Love's just going to wing it around. Everybody, they stay healthy and they got the run game back because Josh Jacobs stays on the right side of the law. He's back in. And the Packers win this division, even though they.
Had a dreadful Final. Six weeks of last season. Then you got yourselves the Detroit Lions. Jameer Gibbs, you're the bell count now, sir. Montgomery's now in Houston.
Okay, Sonic? Knuckles is somewhere else, and Isaiah Pacheco is hurt.
So you are the bell cow. You have been Pizade. It is your show. It's the Jameer Gibbs Show with also Amon Ra and Jamison Williams, and you got yourself. Jared Goff at the controls, and Sam Laporte's back healthy in that offensive line that Was stout once upon a time and has been somewhat porous.
In terms of what we used to see, can they come back and Dan Campbell gets the roar restored after last year's? A bit of a mess, to be honest with you. I mean, Ben Johnson's gone. They hire an offensive coordinator who drops 50 on Ben's Bears in week two. And it all falls apart to the point where Dan Campbell's like, I'm calling the plays.
That could not have been the plan. When the Lions lost Ben Johnson within the division. But we'll see. And can the football gods stop kicking this defense in the Nards and putting everyone on IR? Because if not, if they're healthy, this team can win the division and can make some hay.
Or. The supposition that their windows started closing when they lost to the Niners in the NFC Championship game a couple years ago, despite being a one-seed two years ago and then last year's team. Is the window closing in Detroit? Then you got the bears. What a season last year, Ben Johnson.
What a lunatic. In a good way. In a good way. Right? I mean, he is intense.
He is exactly what Chicago fans want. Young, intense, smart. Brash. Swim mo swim moving, the uh head coach of the Green Bay Packers after he beats them. After he beats him in a playoff game.
Two boots.
Okay. Caleb Williams drinking from a fire hose all Two summers ago, comes out, nearly throws for 4,000 yards, and comes out of the box in the fourth quarter like he's Tim Thibault on steroids. The throws that he makes, the excitement he brings. It is unlike anything we've seen at this position for the Chicago Bears. And I understand Jim McMahon used to have a Roselle.
headman and what he used to do. But this kid is something else. And what will this year look like? Can they continue to take the ball away though? Can they win games where they don't have to pull it out of their orifice?
Is Monongai healthy? Is Swift healthy? How will this team look? Is burden healthy? Is Colston Loveland all that in the biscuit?
Can the Bears win the division and take everything, the whole shooting match, and wind up here in Los Angeles? Entirely possible. Then you got the NSC South. New Orleans Saints, everybody's on them. That's, I mean, that is the biggest bandwagon sleeper team.
Pick of the year. No doubt. And that's, and I don't mean to denigrate, you were one of the first to talk about him, DJ.
Okay, Tyler Shuck comes on in the middle of the year last year, almost wins offensive rookie of the year. Chris Olave, despite having some concussion issues, he had a thousand-yard season. He's been paid. Travis Yetien. Itien.
Etienne, pardon me. He's back in the state of Louisiana.
Okay, he's got the fleur-de-lis on the side of his helmet. Galvin Kamara, I mean I Can he be the Khmer of old when he comes back? Or is he just long in the tooth now? Defensively, what can this team look like? Can they actually win this division and surprise some people?
Possible. I need to see it first to believe it. We'll see. You also have the Atlanta Falcons with the new head coach. After Kellen Mortz, year two for him in New Orleans, it's Kevin Stefanski's new turn.
They've changed everything. New GM, new team president, Matt Ryan, who Almost had to throw some passes during the summer because of the injuries at quarterback, which is what it's all about for Kevin Stefansky. He's got to be like, okay, how many? Can I just get a quarterback that I believe in and can stick with? You know what I mean?
That's so much to ask.
Okay, so Tua is going to get the start because Pennex isn't ready. Are either of them the guy anyway? Don't know. And guess what though? You'll be able to evaluate them.
You'll be able to evaluate him with Drake London. You'll be able to evaluate him with Kyle Pitts and certainly with Bijan Robinson. Because if the quarterback's right, this offense will be dangerous. Difficult to stop. The problem is they lost both of their young pass rushes they drafted in last year's draft: one to injury, one in the commissioner's exempt list.
We'll see how much the Atlanta Falcons can be a problem. Then you got the Carolina Panthers, who shocked everybody by actually winning the division last year. Dave Canalis, year three. Bryce Young. He looked um he looked apart.
Of a real deal NFL quarterback. He gave a scare to the Rams in the playoffs, that is for sure, after beating the Rams in the regular season. And this team added Jalen Phillips. and Devin Lloyd. from the Eagles.
From the Jaguars. In their front seven, Devin Lloyd, five interceptions last year. At a linebacker position, this guy can be a difference maker, a front-seven difference maker. Jonathan Brooks, can we knock on wood for him to stay healthy? Because that kid with Chuba Hubbard can give a running game, certainly with the loss of Rico Dattle and Jalen Coker and Tet McMillan, who's put on some weight after winning offensive rookie of the year last year.
Panthers can win this division again. Can they though? But in terms of answering a question, That I said moments ago, Kevin Stefanski, saying, Can I get a quarterback that I believe in and stick with him? There's a guy in Tampa who's just been pizzet going. I used to be there, pal.
And guess what? I'm gonna see you twice a year now. And I was planning a flag on my own franchise when they weren't gonna pay me what I wanted. And I said I wasn't gonna even talk contract. But then, guess what?
My agent was talking to him anyway. And now I got 55 million a year, and I'm Baker Friggin Mayfield, and I feel great. About myself, about my team. I know Mike Evans isn't here anymore, but we still have Godwin. We've got all these young guys that are probably sitting on your waiver wire post-fantasy draft right now that you're probably going to pick up real soon.
Can Bucky Irving stay healthy? Kenny Gainwell, who was the offensive engine for the Steelers last year after showing up every now and then in Philadelphia. He could be a serious. Difference maker Vita Veya has been paid. I know Levante David's gone and and and Mike Evans is gone, but Bulls can still dial up this defense.
And Baker Mayfield wants to win this division and certainly hurt the Falcons and the Cleveland Browns in week two. And then we finish up with the NFC West. The Arizona Cardinals draft Jeremiah Love. Can't wait to see what he looks like. Can't wait to see what he looks like.
And you've got with Michael Wilson and Marv Jr. and Trey McBride and this kid, if he is as dynamic as he can be. With Mike LaFleur dialing up the place. Jacoby Brissette in year 90 of his career is in the best position to have the best. year of his career.
He has an opportunity to revitalize things. Because I don't know if Carson Beck is going to be knocking on the door, and if he doesn't want to answer it, because opportunity's knocking for Brissette. The Cardinals may not win a lot of games, but they are going to be a fun watch every single week, I believe. The Niners. Almost one to one seed last year.
We're running it back, right? We got now Mike Evans, no Ricky Pearsall, but Kittle's coming back. Debo's back, too. Talk about running it back. Kyle Shanahan's back.
Raheem Morris is back in the mix with the Shanahan team. He's the new defensive coordinator. Nick Bose is back. Fred Warner's healthy. This team can go ahead and win the division and be the Niners team that is tough out in the playoffs and do this year what they couldn't do last year.
It's in the ether. in San Francisco. for the Niner gang. Because Brock Purdy, if he stays upright, he's got some weapons and he has some. Legs, and he's got a coach that can dial up the evil.
And he's got Mike Evans, 50-50 balls inside the 10-yard line now. Let's go. Put them in the slot. Create a problem. One-on-one.
Easy pitch and catch. Six points. Or Evans can't stay healthy. We'll see. Then you've got yourselves the Los Angeles Rams.
Who's holes? Listen. Uh everybody's putting him in the Super Bowl. And for good reason. They almost made it last year.
and they added Miles Garrett, and they added Trent McDuffie. And Aaron Donald's out of retirement. How stupid is that? Uh I mean, if any team adds one of those guys in the offseason, that's a significant upgrade. They added three.
Yeah. And Sean McVay has been there and done that. Been there and done that. In this stadium In this stadium in a Super Bowl year. And who can't envision Aaron Donald pointing to his ring finger on Valentine's Day next year again?
And we'll all make a big deal. Oh, he got a ring for Valentine's Day. They all get rings. That's the way it's looking like. Who's going to beat the Rams every game this year for the Rams?
We'll be must see. And we finish up my season preview. with the Seattle Seahawks, who are really pissed off about every syllable I just said about all the thirty-one other teams. Having a shot. Because they didn't lose all that much.
They lost some guys on the back end, and they lost some, you know, Mafe up front. I mean, they could replace these guys because John Schneider does that. They lost Kenneth Walker the third, but they got Jadarian Price, the last pick in the first round. Would it surprise anybody that this kid runs for a thousand yards and puts himself in the mix for Offensive Rookie of the Year? Damn near wins it.
Sam Darnold comes back. Wings it around with a new offensive coordinator, anyway. The defending offensive player of the year is on this team, too. They've won the Super Bowl. Boy, out of all the 31 other teams that are just absolutely shoulder-chipped.
Over the conversation about, oh, Donald's back with because Garrett's there, and everything I just said about the Rams, they're like. Oh. What am I chopped liver? Should I go get my Lombardy Shine box? Mike McDonald and this team is rare and a go, and it all starts on Wednesday night.
Opening night of the National Football League season, and that is my season preview. of the 2026 NFL season. I need a nap. Let's go. And a break.
Come on. And a drink. And your phone calls at 8442-04-RICH are Super Bowl predictions. And Kurt Warner also is still to come with Derrick Henry. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
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Well, I mean, I'm like, should I okay, we're back on ESPN radio. I mean, at least the recently. Oh, you can put it okay. The radio audience, the the uh some I don't know who did uh at ESPN, they were very kind to um Add up my seven years of service with ESPN and Disney from 96 to 03, and then the 23 years at NFL Network, which ESPN now owns. Put it together, it's 30 years.
So I've got a it's what it says here. Uh Rich Eisen. um recognizing thirty magical years with the Walt Disney Company. which I appreciate it. Very touching.
So Jiminy Cricket 30 more. There we go. Um okay, Kurt Warren is going to be joining us shortly.
So, I didn't expect to go on for half an hour to start the show. I knew it would be long, but. Um So The NFC clocked in at 17 minutes.
Okay. And the AFC 13 minutes.
So, you know.
So I think the NFC is going to win the season. Right. You think, you know, they've got the front end.
Okay. They're a leg up.
Well, you know what? We should do is we should, you know, I'll take a quick phone call and then we'll take a break and then we'll give our Super Bowl predictions before Kurt Warner joins us. And then Derrick Henry in hour two, Deshaun Jackson in hour three. Also have my first power rankings of the season. Ooh.
Let's go to Matthew and Seattle, right? I mean, we've got ourselves a game. Tonight in Seattle, and this is where banner raise is going to be revealed in front of Brockman's Patriots. What's up, Matthew? Hello, how's everything going, Grease from Seattle?
Actually, Tom Philly, and I'm a return caller.
Okay. I got the win-loss game exactly correct last year for the Eagles.
Okay. And so I'm calling to defend my championship. You want to do that again right now for the Philadelphia Eagles? Your win-loss? Yes, sir.
Okay. Let's give him what he's looking for. I thought you just wanted to talk, but I'll give you what you're looking for.
Okay, here we go. What happens when the Eagles take on the Washington Commanders to start the season, sir? Win.
Okay. What happens when you're at the Titans? Win.
Alright, then you got the Bears on a Monday night in Chicago. You're gonna lose. Two and one home for the Rams. I'm going to say we'll win. 3-1 in England against the Jaguars, Tottenham.
I think we might lose that just because the Jaguars are so used to traveling over there like four or five times a year, right?
So. We might actually get caught up in the uh In the time shift there.
Alright, three and two, home for the Panthers. Mm-hmm. 4-2 Monday night are against the Cowboys at home. I feel a bit Ugatu-ish. I feel like I'm in the minority.
I don't know why everyone's so crazy on Dallas.
So I'm sorry, TJ, but we're going to win this. 5-2 at the Commanders. Sunday night. We'll win. Six and two.
Home for the Giants. I think John Harbaugh knows the team really well, and they pull one out, and then when we lose, the Giants win one. Oh, gosh.
Okay. Home for the Steelers. And Keystone Cup will win it. Seven and three at the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. I think the Cowboys take that one.
Seven and four at the Cardinals. Mm-hmm. 8-4 home for the Colts. She was fighting. I think we made it.
Nine and four, home for the Seahawks.
Okay. Wow. I might be at that game, and I was at the Chicago game last year, and we lost.
So I'm going to say we lose that game. All right. You're the mush.
Now it's Christmas Eve against the Texans at home. Another team that I think people are kind of overhyping. I think we win that. All right. That's now 10 wins at San Francisco.
Win 11 and five at the Giants. Win.
All right, 12 and 5. Thanks for the call. Matthew in Seattle.
Okay. All right. Let's take a break when we come back. Our Super Bowl 61 predictions right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Everybody Our friends at LinkedIn want to let you know hi right the first time with LinkedIn Hiring Pro.
Get started by posting a free job at linkton.com/slash eyes and back with our predictions and then Kurt Warner in a moment. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Rich Eisen here for Gusto. On my shows, we talk a lot about what happens in the spotlight, the games, the highlights, and the moments that get replayed and debated. But in any successful operation, what happens behind the scenes matters just as much.
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Super Bowl 61, just down the road. Let's do it. ESPN is going to have it. ESPN and ABC, Disney family of networks, got the Super Bowl. Who's going to be in it?
You ready to make your prediction, Chris? I made mine last night on NFL Day Morning Season Preview. What do you got? What'd you do? I'll tell you after you.
Go first. Music, please. Who's making the Super Bowl, Chris? What's your point? The last time the Patriots lost a Super Bowl, what happened, TJ?
They made it the next year and they won it. He didn't wait for you to answer. It was rhetorical. I've said it multiple times. My son is a dired fan of both these teams: the Cage, Brockman Bowl.
Patriots Rams Patriots win once again. Oh, boy. You better save up for those tickets now, pal. Yes, I'm currently saving. TJ, Patriots over Rams is a Super Bowl 61 prediction.
What do you have over there?
Well, I just want to let you guys know that I could cheat. But I'm not going to cheat because early morning it came. It came here. There it is. Courier and TJ with production value rise.
So I'm not going to the end. I'm not going to cheat.
Okay. But I will say this. What a bit. I love it. It's great.
You're so committed. Keep going. A bit. This is real. Oh, I'm sorry.
My bad. I don't mean to denigrate. I don't do this for fun. This is a game. My heart.
Okay. My heart says one thing and my head says another thing. My heart says. The Dallas Cowboys over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Another flashback.
I don't know. It could say that at the end of this. I haven't looked yet, but my head says. The Buffalo Bills finally get over the hump. They defeat the LA Rams and win their first Super Bowl.
Well, I am going to flip that script. If you will, TJ, that's the one in your hand. The one you just laid out, the one that you just laid out. I just think the Rams, at the end of the day, are gonna have the football gods smile on them with their health. And uh and win it all.
They're going to do it just like the last time. They have set up everything to do it, and I think they do it over the bills. I almost put the Broncos in here. You know? I almost put the Broncos in here.
When blown away from. And I don't know. I also thought, do I do Bengals Rams again too? Just for you know what's in giggles. But I've got the Rams over the Bills, is my Super Bowl prediction for Super Bowl 61.
and um rams over the bills. Yeah. I also toyed with just saying, screw it. The the Ravens are just suddenly going to start doing it too. Because I thought I got Derrick Henry on the show, and I want to.
I'm not saying that I wasn't saying I'm disrespecting him. Get on his bad side. No, no, listen. Mm. Um, I'm I'm um I see well how they can pull it off.
I can see how they can do it. I don't know. I just see the Bills putting it together. I see, and by the way, I predicted Josh Allen to win the. To win the MVP.
I think that's what's going to happen. He wins the MVP. The Bills win the AFC. They make it to the Super Bowl. But the Rams are just too damn good.
See ya. And last night, Kurt, who's about to join us, along with Mooch, had Joe Burrow winning the MVP award. Oh. Who did they take in there? But they didn't even take.
The Bengals to win the division. I'm like, so somebody's going to be a wildcard winner in the MVP award? Oh, last year proved you don't have to win the division to win MVP. Yeah. Thanks to Rich.
Got it. I'm just pointing out the facts of the case.
Okay. That's true. I just walked into that one, didn't I? You did. Kurt and I had the same Super Bowl prediction.
And Kurt's our next guest right here on The Rich Eisen Show when we come back on the radio. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. No two football players are exactly alike, and the same is true off the field.
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