AFC Playoff Picture (Hour 3)

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Download the Odyssey app today. Yo, yo, it is the Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio. We're coming to you live from the Rock and Mortgage Studios.

Need to know what it takes for a home to fit your budget and your family? Well, Rocket King can always follow along on social media, Instagram, Twitter. Get at it at Zach Gelb, Z-A-C-A-H-G-E-L-B. It is a Friday. It's a football Friday. Brian Harris going to join us, the former Denver Broncos offensive lineman, Super Bowl champion, 20 minutes from now. Is this the final game of the Nathaniel Hackett disaster?

I mean, era with the Denver Broncos at 9.20 p.m. Eastern, 6.20 p.m. Pacific, Jersey Jerry for Barstool Sports with his weekly NFL picks. But first up, since it is a Friday, we do this every Monday and Friday. Five questions, five answers. We call it onsides, offside, hot take hickey. Let's not even waste five more seconds.

Hit it. Zach's taking on the most polarizing issues in sports. Which side of the line of scrimmage will he end up on? Offside, defense number 69. It's onsides, offsides with Zach Gelb on CBS Sports Radio.

H-T-H. What do you got? Z-Man, it was another game in which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense struggled to get anything going on Thursday night. After scoring a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time this season, Tampa was shut out of the end zone until just 49 seconds left in the game, where they did score a garbage time touchdown. Now, for this season, the Bucs are averaging just 18.3 points per game. Well, they're actually averaging 18.3 points per game. I would have thought it would have been lower than that. As crazy as that sounds, it feels lower than that. It has not been very good. 18.3 seems high.

That seems like effective for them. That is, I believe, 25th or 26th off the top of my head, but... Not good. Not good whatsoever, especially when you have Tom Brady as your signal caller.

Yeah, that guy's pretty good. One of the reasons for their only 18.3 points per game, they're one of the worst red zone offenses in all of the league in terms of getting touchdowns once you get into the red zone. Now, Tom Brady, speaking of which, he does lead the league in passing yards, but so far just nine passing touchdowns in eight games.

Onsides are offside, Zach. This Buccaneers offense is officially cooked. Now, you wouldn't think he'd be leading the league in passing yards with how ineffective that offense has been. Do you have the passing yard list leader for this year?

Can you pull that up? I just want to see how much the extra game does play into it. It's about, like, 100 yards, because, like, he's at 22, 67, and Patrick Holmes, I think, is, like, 21. So after this weekend, he won't be the leading passer. But he's still up, you know, amongst the league leaders. Well, they can't run the ball.

That's true. When it's just throw, throw, throw, throw, throw, yeah, if you're not in the top five of that conversation, that would definitely be concerning. If you ask me, is the Buccaneers offense officially cooked? It's not looking good. They haven't played a good game of football yet. They haven't played a complete 60-minute game of football on the offensive side of the ball. But what they're saving grace is that the NFC, other than the Philadelphia Eagles, I would not say there's a great team, and that's no disrespect to the Giants. It's no disrespect to the Cowboys. No one's really emerged in the NFC West. And the Vikings, they're very good. I wouldn't call them great, even though they are a five-and-one record. So with all that being said, if they played in any other division, like if you put them in the NFC West, even with how sloppy that's been, I would be worried about the Buccaneers.

Because you can at least talk yourself into another team rising to the top. If they were in the NFC East, they'd be Dunzo, which is a wild statement. They were in the North. I think the Packers are already pretty much moving to that direction after this weekend, being Dunzo as well, because they're gonna fall to three-and-five. And the Vikings are five-and-one and could be, tougher game than what people think against Cardinals this weekend, but they could be six-and-one.

Who do you like in the South? This is how pathetic the NFC South has been. The winner of this Carolina Atlanta game is gonna be in first place after this weekend. The Panthers had one lousy win last week, and now all of a sudden their season's turned around. You know I have actually Panthers fans tweeting me, and they're saying the other day, when I go on, Carolina stinks, they're like, oh, they're game out of first place in the division. Does anyone with a brain that is a Panthers fan actually think that team's gonna win the NFC South this year?

That there's no way. They should be buyers at the deadline. Steve Wilkes should get the job if they're within a game, a game of winning the NFC South. And they could be in first place after this weekend. But the Saints stink. The Panthers stink. The Falcons are tough.

They're not good, but they compete. They've only got blown out of one game this year, and that was the Bengals game. The way I'm gonna answer this is the offense isn't cooked for Tampa Bay, because if you get to eight wins, which they will, they'll win the division. They gotta fix that offense line, which I don't know if they could do. And if Brady has a invite to the dance, there's a chance he could go home with the prom queen and he is a single man now. So I'll still give Brady the benefit of the doubt, but this is probably the most pessimistic I've ever been about a Tom Brady-led team in his career offsides.

Offside. The World Series Act is underway and it pits two polar opposite teams against each other. The Astros, they were the best team in the American League this season, winning 106 games and have yet to lose a playoff game. So far as they struck both the Mariners and the Yankees. On the other side, the Phillies.

See, that's the craziest part. The Astros haven't lost the game yet. Like the Phillies right now, if I would just walk down the street in New York, be like, who's the hottest team in baseball?

I think a lot of people would say Philadelphia, just because of out of nowhere, this run did happen. And they took care in the last round in five games when you look back at that series against the Padres. But the Astros haven't lost the game yet. And we know the Astros are better than the Phillies, but you would feel that the Phillies are the hottest team. But when you look at the Astros, they legit have not lost a game. So how can you call the Phillies the hottest team? Literally impossible to do anything better than with the Astros.

Do you get what I'm saying though? It does feel like the Phillies are the hottest team in baseball right now. And maybe because their path is a little longer, you know, you have to play in the wild card rounds. You go against the Cardinals and you beat the Braves.

It has been tougher. Remember they were down, what was it, two nothing or four nothing in that first game against the Cardinals? And the ninth inning, they're getting like two hit. And then they came back and then they won the second game.

And then you have, you're quickly disposed of Atlanta. And then the, like that's a tougher road than what the Astros had to do. The Astros that was just wake up, you're in the ALCS. And then, oh yeah, you get the Yankees. And you know, the Astros are the Yankees' daddy. Very easy road for Houston so far. The Phillies, speaking of which, they kind of stumbled around so far for five months before using a hot September to get in the playoffs. Then as you mentioned, so you said hot, hot raves and podges. Well, that's what they've been, right?

Hot, hot. Unfortunately, Washington Metz just beat them down. And then all of a sudden in September. I also mentioned that we're on to November soon enough.

They collect and now they are in the fall classic. Houston, they have recorded 19 more wins than filling the regular season, which is the second largest win disparity in the World Series in LV history. So Zach, on sides or off sides, the Astros will win the World Series in six games or less. What do you think my answer is on this?

Before I give it to you. I think you're gonna say on sides. Off sides.

Off side. This is how the World Series is gonna play out. The Astros will win the World Series, but they're gonna win in seven. They're gonna split first two games.

Split going back to Philadelphia. Philly will take two out of three at Citizens Bank. And then the Astros will win both game six and seven.

And they will hoist that piece of metal that Rob Manford calls the commissioner's trophy. Astros in seven is my prediction. We're opposite then. I'm gonna have Astros in five.

Easy series. I wouldn't say we're opposite. We're both taking the Astros.

We're staying tight. So, you know, we're both taking the Astros, but you're saying a lot more of a grind, you know, brink of elimination compared to a walk in the park so far is what I think it will go. I think the Astros are a better team, but the Phillies, once again, I know the Astros haven't lost a game, but they're just ridiculously hot right now. They're built for postseason.

You don't worry me though. I think the break is a little bit of a disadvantage towards the Phillies more than the Astros. Well, if you remember when the Mets were in the World Series, they swept. Oh yeah. We had that long layoff.

I remember. Now both these teams have had a long layoff. So it goes both ways, but yeah, the momentum for the Phillies, you do wonder when it's back up against the wall late in September and yet every game is pretty much feels like an elimination game. And I know when you get into the postseason, it's series.

Yeah. I would think if the layoff factors in, it would be more negatively to the, to the Phillies. But with that being said, Verlander has never won a World Series game and he's pitch shocking. And he's pitched in three different decades in the World Series, which is not also shocking.

And he had, and now how great that guy is. And you get nowhere tonight right now for the Phillies. I would not be surprised if the Phillies split here.

All right. Let's go to a little couch football, Zach, cause each week so far in the college football season, we've gone through eight weeks so far in undefeated ranked team has lost each and every week so far. And you look ahead to this week's match ups. You have number one Georgia battling Florida and what is the world's largest cocktail party down in Jacksonville, Florida? That's a snobby affair, right? When you call it that?

Yeah, it's very uppity, very uppity for sure. Number two, Ohio state. They're going to happy Valley. Take on number 13 Penn state. Number seven, TCU takes on a three and four West Virginia team in Morgantown. Number four, Michigan does host rival Michigan state.

The Spartans have won the last two games in this rivalry and they are three or four and three should say in the gym. Look at you, always the negative Michigan stats. No, I'm trying to point them out. All the negative Michigan stats from you, hot take Kiki. I'm pointing it out. That's just trying to give some facts here.

Hater, hater. You're upset that they ran right through you. Well, I'm pissed, but they played a great game.

I can't, can't argue with that. Number three, Tennessee. They do host number 19, Kentucky before the, the prequel. I guess you want to call it out before the big match against Georgia next weekend. My sides are offside Zach, zero undefeated and ranked teams we'll lose this week and everyone we just mentioned will win. I do like Ohio state to beat up on Penn state.

I do agree with you. I think TCU West Virginia is close. You went West Virginia. I'm saying TCU, Michigan will dispose of Michigan state, Kenneth Walker and walk into the door anytime soon for Michigan state. And then I think Tennessee Kentucky's close to them people think, but I do take Kenzen Hooker and Josh Heifel on that one.

So I go on sides. Those undefeated teams in the top 25 ain't losing this weekend. Liberty and their head coach, you Liberty Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. A lot of fans are screaming that today.

Cause guess what? Hugh Freeze is going nowhere. The two sides have announced a contract extension that will keep the head coach with the flames through 2030. Now the former Ole Miss head coach said to receive $40 million in this guaranteed deal.

And soon once the extension does kick in will become the highest paid group of five coach in the country. Now Sports Illustrated is reporting cause these details are not exactly public because Liberty is a private institution. Sports Illustrated though is reporting that the buyout for Hugh Freeze is not high enough to prevent a school like Auburn from going after and hiring Freeze. So on sides are offside Zach. Hugh Freeze will not be in the mix this off season for what we assume to be an open Auburn job. Am I just stupid here?

Is this the easiest layup I've ever had? On sides. And here's why. Yeah, if you asked me, would you rather be the coach at Auburn or Liberty, Auburn. But if you're Hugh Freeze, was this offer not going to be available in a few months? So if you were really fully invested in the possibility of Auburn, wouldn't you just wait to see if Auburn was interested in you and then use that as leverage? And even if they weren't, you would still get this deal. I don't see how he's going to leave this off season after signing this extension.

Am I crazy here for just being this naive? I mean, I think it's a possibility. Really? He's got, they just gave him, they just waved in his face $40 million guaranteed. I don't see how you say no to that.

And then it's worst case scenario. Okay, if Auburn comes calling and they say, yeah, well, whatever the buy it is, we'll pay it, no problem. And no one knows what the buyout is because of the, okay, it's like, I'm assuming he's going to get a pay raise at Auburn.

So I get just a good business. $40 million here guaranteed. Why don't you look at some of the deals given out to Dan Spranklin and Mel Tucker. If he leaves, that $40 million isn't guaranteed, right? I would assume not.

But I mean, also, we don't know the language, how it works. That would be the biggest robbery. Maybe that's, it would probably be whatever matches the other country, the other country would get exceeded. Then they would be off the hook of paying him. I would imagine, but I get $40 million and then, guys, I'm not even coaching next year. I'm taking the Auburn job. I'm getting like another 50 million.

Yeah, I think it'll be back at Liberty. And finally, Zach, there's been a lot of speculation surrounding the job status of Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett. I wouldn't say it's speculation. I think it's just inevitably him getting fired. That is very fair with the buy week that is following this game against the Jaguars in London. There have been reports that the first year head coach could be canned after just eight games. GM George Payton did speak on Thursday and gave Hackett a vote of confidence, saying that he does like Hackett's leadership and thinks he has grown over the course of the season. Now, the owner of the Broncos also spoke earlier today on Friday. And when asked about Nathaniel Hackett's job script would be around for the rest of the season, he said, it's a week by week league. Bringing endorsement. Wow, I feel great.

Yeah, absolutely. This guy's gonna be back for the rest of the season. On sides or off sides, Zach. Nathaniel Hackett will be fired if the Broncos lose on Sunday. Oh, so you're telling me they're gonna lose. We will operate that they will lose on Sunday.

They lose the game. A thousand percent. Will Hackett be fired.

Okay. A thousand percent on sides. And I actually think there's a chance, even if they win, he gets fired. Cause you're going into a bye week. Like you win close.

It's ugly. They went in spite of you. I still think there's a chance he sent, he sent walking on Monday. Man, for a coach that's seven weeks into his career, the owner had to speak about how he likes the guy. And George Payne had to say the GM, that he had a hundred percent confidence in him still. Liar, liar, pants on fire. That's what both those guys are.

Liars. There's no way he makes it through the season. And I think we're on fire. Hackett watch right after that 9.30 AM game in London, Jaguars and Broncos, and you know that Jaguars team, that's the second home for them in London. Zach Gelbshaw, CBS sports radio. They love playing in London. Big home field advantage. Huge home field advantage that they're going to be just yelling.

Duval, Duval, Duval. And maybe they're going to mock Russell Wilson. Broncos country.

Let's ride. If I am, cause you always get fans in London that aren't Broncos fans that aren't Jaguars fans. It's crazy to me that someone could be in London and not be a Jaguars fan. Does anyone that's a Ravens fan goes to the game and says, Raven flock, let's fly with what Justin Tucker did mock and Russell Wilson. I hope so. I hope so.

I hope so too. Ryan Harris of the Broncos. Well, formerly the Broncos joins us next as we will ask him that question. Is this it?

Is our long national nightmare of Nathaniel Hackett finally over after this weekend? What makes your skin crawl? No matter how absurd, I want to know.

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After 24 months, regular rates apply to all services and devices. You're listening to the Zach Gelb Show. Great job, Hickey. If we're going to have to talk about the Broncos, you got to get me pumped up. Man, this puts me in a good mood on a football Friday. Zach Gelb Show, CBS Sports Radio. You can think around the auto parts for all your car care needs.

Get guaranteed low prices and excellent customer service from the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Hickey, did you do your high knees today? By the way, I was in the gym today. I was doing high knees, getting all stretched out, ready to go for another show on this Friday. I wish I had to travel via airplane to get to the studio so I could do my high knees on the airplane next time because that's very effective if you want to be a great quarterback in this league.

I actually did do some stretching, did some burpees today, did a nice little workout. So Russ would be proud of me, I think. Yeah, you and Russell Wilson, very similar. Fake eyes, I would agree.

Superstars, good looking. If you were trying to motivate me, I don't think I'd be all that motivated. Anyway. For sure.

I don't know about that. But for Russ, yes, you, I don't know. Anyway, someone that I love is Ryan Harris, the Super Bowl 50 champion, former Denver Broncos offensive lineman. He's kind enough to join us on the Zach Gelb Show. Ryan, how you been?

Doing great, Zach, great to chat with you. Quantify some burpees. You're talking three, you're talking five. I'm a little suspect.

You're a little suspect there. Hickey, how many burpees did you do? I was showing, maybe 12 in like three rounds? Maybe 12, that's definitely five. Way to go though, man.

Way to go. I was slow, I was taking, you know. Now Hickey's in good shape, but he is an emaciated man. Like he's got some muscle to him, but he's like a string bean though, Ryan. Like you would want to just pancake him and say enough, he's kind of a noxious.

Yeah, all right, fair enough, fair enough. Talking about a noxious, Russell Wilson has been really obnoxious this year. If you were in that locker room, what would just be your interpretation of your own quarterback right now? But you got to understand, Zach, so many of these guys don't understand what it's like to be around a superstar. I mean, that's what Russell Wilson is.

Everybody's making fun of him for doing some high knees in the aisles. I mean, the media was there to answer and ask that question. I mean, everybody's eating it up. So I mean, there's definitely a difference between what happens on the field and what happens off the field. And some guys like Russ, they want to take advantage of every opportunity off the field.

And now everybody may be laughing, but they know he was working. Whether or not that turns into a win, that's the difference. And that's when really people are going to stop talking about Russell Wilson. They need to win games. And unfortunately for the Broncos, Russ is dealing with a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder and a hamstring injury that forced him to sit out last week. So he's injured trying to make the best of a tough situation. I got over $70 million on the IR for the Broncos this year. It's a tough year for the Broncos.

Yeah, I'll tell you though, it's crazy. Like last night, Justin Tucker's flying back on the plane. And I get it, he's a great kicker, one of the greatest if not the greatest kickers of all time. And even he's making jokes. I've never seen this quickly a quarterback who was so well respected, well liked. Everyone was saying the Broncos easily won this trade. Seven weeks into a season, he's become a national laughing stock for everyone.

Well, I mean, also, was he respected? I mean, he's never had an MVP vote. I mean, that's insane.

Yeah, yeah, people know about it. But that's the power of having a dynamic franchise quarterback. I mean, we know Russell Wilson did high knees. We also know that Giselle Buncheon gave Tom Brady an ultimatum. And we don't know what the hell happened after the punch of chakra that Aaron Rodgers took.

But he might need another one or never do it again. I mean, this is one of the things we know about star quarterbacks, because there are only 32 quarterbacks in the NFL and probably about 5 to 10 stars. So when it comes to Russell Wilson, are you still optimistic that when we get towards a few years into this, that he'll start to once again look like that old quarterback? Because the last year and a half, he's not played well. Well, he was injured last year.

And there are some concerning things regarding his decision making, missing some open players. And he's in the first year of a new playbook. Listen, I don't want to be, I understand that when you win the Super Bowl, that's week 27. So when you start talking about week 8 storylines, it's tough to say that's who they are. Both the times the Giants won with Eli, they were wild card teams. And they wanted to bench Eli both seasons. The success is on this team. It's in this locker room for the Broncos. I just don't know if they'll be healthy enough to get there.

Ryan Harris, how about Nathaniel Hackett? If they lose this weekend, has he done so? No, he shouldn't be. I mean, people are saying that, possibly. But I mean, it's his first time being a head coach. And you're going to fire him after eight games. I mean, that'd be a tough break for Nathaniel and really for the players. So I think you're going to see them finish the season out. And it depends now.

If they lose by 30 points, I mean, that's definitely up for discussion. Because you have to compete. And I'll tell you, Zach, those London games are strange. I mean, you leave at like 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

And then on a Wednesday, you arrive Thursday morning at 7 AM. It's just the strangest thing. A lot can happen in those London games. The field's different. The stadiums are different. I mean, it's weird to talk about grass and mud.

But it's really different over there in London. So some things can come up this week. But I think Nathaniel Hackett makes it either way after this game. With the trade deadline approaching, how do you think the Broncos will tackle it? Is Chubb gone? Is Jerry Judy gone?

How do you think Peyton does navigate this? I think you need Chubb. He's proven that WinHealthy, he's one of the better defensive ends, top 15 in the NFL.

Jerry Judy, to me, I like what he does. But Jerry Judy, as a first round pick, fooled a lot of people. He's not a number one receiver.

He's more of a number two or number three guy. And if they can get any value for him, do it. And this is a third year player who still catches balls trapping them against his chest instead of using his hands.

He's gotten markedly better than the last two seasons. But I mean, Jerry Judy, that's not a guy you're saying, we're paying $30 million to per year. I mean, that's where that wide receiver market's going. So if they could get a second round pick for Jerry Judy, I'd imagine he's gone.

I doubt they'll get that. But it'll be interesting to see what the Broncos choose to do. But you look like a safety like Kareem Jackson, a veteran who wants to win. Is that a piece you can move for a fifth or a sixth in the next year's draft? So those are the kinds of questions that I know that George Peyton, the GM for the Broncos, is talking about and going over with his team. You said that, just circling back on the hacking conversation, you said you think he'll get the rest of the season. Do you think he'll be there next year as the head coach? No one knows in the NFL.

You know, it's a strange place. They have to compete for the wild card spot, at least. They have to be in it later on in the season.

And I know, guys, it doesn't sound like a lot to other people. But going from 16 to 17 games, that really does change the season and what records, what we're used to records feeling like and what they actually can be at the end of the season. So still a lot of season left, over half of a season left, after this week's game. And a lot's going to happen between now and then for every team in the NFL. What do you see, though, that maybe gives you some optimism? Because at 2 and 5, and I know things could change very quickly in the NFL, but I have zero optimism with this team, especially with how the offense has just been so bad.

It's been tough to watch. It's easy to be negative, but what you do see is one of the best defenses in the NFL. I mean, cornerback Patrick Sertanz, a one man great player, talked about Bradley Chubb. You know, you are getting development out of Greg Dolecic, who just played his first game last week and had a touchdown.

So Greg Dolecic, fantasy football fan, that's a steal if you do weekly. And you know, there is a run game there when they have a running back who wants to run the football. And they just got Latavius Murray in, and he did a little bit last week, but they need a run game. They haven't had it all season. They didn't have it in training camp when I was going to practices. And you have to have a run game in the West Coast offense.

And you have to call the run. Zach, I did an interview with Mike Shanahan. I said, what was the difference losing the Broncos Super Bowls and winning with San Francisco? And then you came back to Denver. He said, when I was at San Francisco, I realized in their Super Bowls, they're running 30, 40 times.

And Super Bowls we were in was 17, 18. You've got to run the football, especially in a West Coast offense. Wrap it up with Ryan Harris on the Zach Gelb show. If you were in that locker room, if you were a veteran leader, what would your message be to your teammates right now? We got to win. Forget anything else. If you want to talk about anything going outside of this room, you're distracted. I don't want to hear about somebody's interview.

People do interviews every week. We got to come together and win this game right now. And you have to do it in the unusual environment. Both teams are on the road in a country you don't know. And most guys just got their passport. Fans don't know that. But there's like 20 guys on every team who have to get passports because they've never been out of the country.

So there's a lot going on. But you got to lock in and focus. And more than anything, determine before you get on that field that you're going to do whatever it takes to win the game and hurt whoever is standing in the way. Do you think the quarterback is 100% locked in and focused? I couldn't tell by being there.

But there's definitely a lot of extra that I see now than when I played. I mean, I played with Peyton Manning. I don't think anybody ever cared what he was wearing or what his tagline was. But you got kids dressing up like Joe Burrow. You got fans who are tabloid fans becoming NFL fans because of Tom and Giselle. It's a strange place out there, Zach.

Strange place. But I believe Russell is. And I believe he'll show everybody that he's still a great quarterback and can get a team in contention. If you could give some advice to Russell Wilson, what would your advice be to Russell Wilson? Do less. Do less. And don't do anything that takes away from your production on the field. And it's tough.

If all you guys had $10 million we're having this conversation at a steakhouse, and somebody says, hey, let's go have a cigar. It's tough to say no. But do less. Do less outside of the building so you can do more on the field. Ryan Harris, when we get through this NFL season so far, now get into eight weeks in, we know the Bills and the Eagles and the Chiefs are really damn good. Who's that next team that you really like in the NFL right now? J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.

Wow. Let's go, man. I mean, they lose possible Rookie of the Year candidate in Breece Hall, but they're getting Elijah Moore back. That defense is nasty.

Quinnen Williams has a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year campaign happening right now that no one's seeing. I like the Jets, baby. They're playing well, and I like a good story, Zach. How good do you think the Jets could be this year when it's all said and done? They could win a divisional game depending on where it is. It's going to be tough to see where the matchup is, because at some point the Bills are going to be there. And do you face them in the divisional round, or do you face Kansas City in the divisional round?

I think that's where they get matched this year. But, I mean, for what Zach Wilson's been able to do after injury, coming back, making quick decisions, that's a team on the rise, and I love watching it. How about the Bucks? Do you think they could turn this around? I guess the saving grace is that the division is just so bad.

How about that? The Falcons playing for first place this week. I guess the Panthers. The Panthers could be in first place. Yeah, we all need to eat crow for anything bad said about Marcus Mariota. The only man to throw himself a touchdown pass is the playoff game, Mr. Marcus.

I remember that. The good news, though, for Tampa Bay is they can still win the division, host a playoff game. And I'll take Tom Brady in January over anybody, over the field.

So they still have a pathway. But I feel for Tom Brady right now. I mean, which one of us could walk to work with an ultimatum like the one his wife gave him? And look at the team that's struggling defensively, that now lost some other players due to injury.

And you're saying, this is what I'm risking my family for? I mean, that's tough. Who do you talk to? Call Michael Jordan? Who does he call? I mean, this is a tough guy going through a lot.

And I feel for him. But the Bucks still have a pathway to the playoffs. Is Brandon Staley holding the Chargers back, in your opinion?

Hell, yeah. Kick a field goal, man. For goodness sakes, just play the game the way it's meant to be played. But I know from talking to players, they love him. They love how he treats them. They love that he goes forward on fourth down because it gives them confidence.

The coaches I know and have won with who are there, they love him and how he treats his staff. So Brandon Staley is not holding them back, except for kicking some field goals here and there. Last thing. You can punt too. Yeah.

Well, it's amazing. Analytics, I love the information. But you got to just use your gut sometimes and realize, hey, I don't care if it gives me a 1% chance better. The risk is just not worth the reward. And he doesn't get that. Joan Namis, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, none of these guys played for percentages. You play to win. You don't keep score.

And that's what Brandon Staley is learning. Last thing before we let you run the Packers. When it is the playoffs, will they be in there? Because it looks like they're about to go to 3 and 5 as well with going to Buffalo this weekend. The only reason why I say no is because of the Vikings. I mean, you got the Vikings there in a tough NFC East division. You might get two playoff teams out of that NFC East division. Maybe three. Yeah, maybe three. I mean, I don't see it.

But Aaron Rodgers does this too. We're all at last year. Well, what's going to happen? Didn't they start 0-2 or something like that and ripped off eight wins?

They know how to win. It's going to take some time. But I say no for the first time in a long time. I don't think Aaron Rodgers sees the playoffs. And the last thing I'll ask you, Ryan Harris, Notre Dame hasn't gone the way that they expected this year with Marcus Freeman.

I know you do their games. What do you say to Notre Dame fans? It's one year. First year coach coming in, I know he was on the staff last year.

It's never easy. What's your message to Notre Dame fans who may be doubting Marcus Freeman? Save those doubts for two weeks. They've got a huge game on the road. Right now in Syracuse with a game. It's going to be a tough one to win on the road. And they can do it. And then they host Clemson. They beat those two teams.

It's a whole different conversation now for Notre Dame. Ryan Harris, appreciate the time as always. Thanks so much. Thanks, Zach. Talk to you. Peace.

You got it. There's Ryan Harris joining us on the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. Football season is here. The new Odyssey app lets you stay connected to your NFL team. Your station, your shows. Follow your favorite stations and come back again and again. Get real time updates on everything you care about.

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Football season is here. The new Odyssey app lets you stay connected to your NFL team. Your station, your shows. Follow your favorite stations and come back again and again. Get real time updates on everything you care about.

Miss your show? Jump back to their awesome re-wide feature. The Odyssey app is NFL football, live and on demand. Wherever you are, whenever you want. And do we mention it's all free?

Download the Odyssey app today. If you love to travel, you love cool experiences, I think you're going to love Viator. If you haven't heard, Viator is the world's leading travel experience marketplace. They've got everything from simple tours to extreme adventures.

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It will help troubleshoot the likely cause of your life for free restrictions apply, get in the zone, AutoZone. Kyle Tucker did hit a home run to right field, a solo shot, Astros up one nothing in the first game of the world series where we've had a five day layoff. And this is the bottom of the second. Astros are still threatening first and third with one out. We'll see if Nola with Maldonado at the plate can find a way to work out of this gym. One, two, a pitch up coming from Aaron Nola.

So we'll keep you up to date on that and update you as the chaos in the world series does go down as the Astros are up one nothing in the bottom of the second, early, early, early stages of the world series. Marty, AFC playoff picture. The NFC, if we just had to quickly do NFC predictions, I think the AFC, I guess the AFC, what's more complicated, the AFC, the NFC. I think the NFC, we have a clearer picture where in the AFC, there's so many, there's so many open spots right now for those wild card spots.

Like, would you disagree right now? The NFC East is gonna send three playoff teams. I think the Eagles are gonna get in and they're gonna win the division. The Giants and the Cowboys, I think all three are gonna get in. Yeah, I really can't argue against that right now.

And then right now as Maldonado just got a base hit, so that's gonna be two nothing and it's gonna keep it first and third again with one out. So if I had to go to the NFC, three playoff teams from the NFC East, Vikings are gonna win the North. You would agree with that, right?

Yes. South, you'd probably still go Tampa Bay. Still bucks. Not Tampa Bay, Atlanta. Atlanta. Okay, but you're still going Tampa Bay.

Still going the bucks. And then in the West, this is probably the most open in terms of, you could give me one out of any of the four teams. And I don't think I could legitimately argue it right now with the way that this division has just been so black where the Seahawks are four and three and at top of the division in the NFC West, the Rams have been underachieving, the Cardinals underachieving. So, and the 49ers have a lot of talent, but they could go two games below 500 this weekend if they lose to the Rams and they have no depot. I know that they've dominated the Rams. This game for the Rams, if the Rams don't win, Ryan, and I know that you're picking them to still win the NFC West and I went with San Francisco.

Yes. If the Rams lose this weekend, don't you gotta start to say you're out on the Rams just because then they would have lost both games to the 49ers and they're going up against the 49ers, here the 49ers have a lot of talent, but they don't have depot this weekend. Like if you're gonna win, if you're gonna find the way to finally give Jimmy Garoppolo a loss, which crazy that Jimmy Garoppolo's never lost to the Rams, it's gotta be this weekend.

It's gotta be. And they need it. Like I said, you can't lose the season series to the 49ers again.

Especially the closest races. And like you mentioned, especially without one of their best players on offense. So that means if I go 49ers, you go Rams, we have one open playoff spot. Who do you give that one open playoff spot to?

The other one. And I'm the same way, I would give it to the Rams right now. See, that was pretty simple.

That wasn't like pulling teeth. Yeah, I guess you're right. But there's a lot of chaos and like teams like the Packers are struggling and the Bucks, but you're right. It's pretty clear cut. Other than the Eagles, I don't feel great about anyone in the NFC. But I think there is some greater separation so far in the NFC than compared to the AFC. Like the AFC East, the Bills are still gonna win that division, you would concur.

Yes. In the North, it's a toss up between two teams, the Ravens and the Bengals. Ravens, Bengals.

And I think you could flip flop on both those teams every other day. Like yesterday, I was about to say, oh yeah, it looks like the Bengals are, with their schedule starting to be really strong and then Jamar Chase is out for four to six weeks. But then you look at the schedule, the Bengals don't really have a tough schedule, but then you look at the Ravens, other than the Bengals game, there's not a tough game on that schedule really. When you look at the schedule for the Baltimore Ravens. Could set up for a very fun week 18, kind of winning your in or winner take division.

I think a hundred percent, that's what it's setting up for. Sunday night, let's get ready. Oh yeah, it's gonna be flex. Flex that, Belfi. Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum. Maybe we'll get a slide in for that.

We need a monologue from Tariqo, so we get the slide in on week 18 from Collinsworth. Well, you gotta bring it out for big occasions. Yeah, like a turtleneck too. Oh, nice, now we're talking. Cause that game's in Cincinnati, I think the one from a few weeks ago was in, was in Baltimore? Yes, that Sunday night was in Baltimore, yes sir.

Well, it would be Chile either place, but. Right, winner, jacket, turtleneck. Turtleneck, I think more so in Cincinnati. Like, and Collinsworth played for the Bengals. I don't think he'd wear an orange turtleneck. Cause then everyone's like, oh, you're boys, you're boys.

He's a pro, right? I think you wear like a teal turtleneck that night. Wow, that's, yeah. Teals, that's pretty ballsy. Yeah, like a color that really makes you pop. How about red? Nice. No. Glowing red.

No, if it was like around Christmas, if it was two weeks earlier, Christmas time share January 8th, no. How about like a, a four screen? Oh yeah. We're going to talk about that. Only problem.

Kelly Green. If you have any green screen in the booth, that could be a little bit of an issue. Floating head of Chris Collinsworth. That would be, I think, add to the broadcast.

Where is he? If that was this weekend with Halloween, yeah. You get the floating head of Chris Collinsworth.

I think that'd be fine. Anyway though, AFC East Bills, AFC North, you're going. Bengals. And right now I would get the slight, slightest of edge, the Ravens. South, who are you taking the South by the way? I am taking the Tennessee Titans.

Sorry, my headphones got unplugged. Who are you taking the AFC South? Tennessee. Who?

The Josh Hyples, the Henton Hookers and the NFL already? And they could win the AFC South this year. Who's winning the AFC South? The Tennessee Titans, Mike Rayborough. The Tennessee Titans. Oh.

Derek Henry. The West, it's Kansas City. Correct? I would agree. Okay, I'm just making sure. Never know what the year takes.

So I think what we, we're pretty much in agreement. And then this is where it gets crazy. Where in the AFC, it's Bills with the division. North, either the Ravens or the Bengals. South, the Titans.

And then the West, it's Kansas City. Now the loser of the AFC North, you would reserve a wild card spot for it. Even if you're rolling in, let's say it's not Cincinnati. It's the Ravens. You would then have the Bengals as a wild card team.

Either way. Either way, both teams in. Now who are the last two playoff teams in? And that to me is one of the more fascinating questions in probably all the NFL so far.

Who would be your final two wild card teams? Dolphins, Chargers in that order. Dolphins, Chargers in that order. You know what?

I can't say that you're wrong. Because the Chargers have the most talent. The Dolphins, their losses have only come when two is not in the lineup. If you're looking at other teams you consider, the Jets are in consideration.

Five and two. But how realistic is their continuation of their great start? I do think the Raiders are gonna start to play better. I like the Raiders this weekend against the Saints, but I can't throw them into the playoffs. That would be a crazy, that'd be crazier than last year. One and four to the postseason if you were gonna be, yeah. Yeah, I don't know. If I told you either the Chargers or Dolphins, one isn't gonna get in, then who would you put in?

If one can't make it. You can't tell me the Broncos. The Denver Broncos. No, you can't say that.

I'm kidding. It may be the Jets. It might be the Jets.

If you're telling me I can't put one of the two in. Yeah, like I don't. And the Chargers too, their coach, he could coach them out of the postseason this year. If they don't make the playoffs this year, even if they make the playoffs, you may have to fire that guy, Brandon Staley. If Sean Payton wants to go there, how do you not hire the guy? I think, yeah, unless you want a Super Bowl, maybe an AFT title game, if Sean Payton says that's my job, say you're right, it is. You know what?

This is weird how I'm gonna say this. We look at this as one of the more open years in the NFL, because there's only like three great teams. We're pretty much in agreement in both conferences.

Is it really that open? I think within the 14 teams, yes. But in terms of the playoff teams, I would say it's, we have a pretty good line of delineation so far. And that's assuming that teams like Green Bay doesn't turn it around or the Rams like don't like, there's a lot of assumptions there that some teams could be dead.

And maybe those teams start to show some things and makes this a little bit more compelling down the stretch than the way that we predict it to be right now. What makes your skin crawl? No matter how absurd, I wanna know.

Tails without fur on them, such as rats or opossums. I'm Larry Mullins, the host of a new podcast called Your Weirdest Fears. You send me your fear.

I'm just so weirded out about the texture and how they can just move around and flop. And then I go to the experts to learn how to overcome them. Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast from.

Is there something really absurd that skews you out? Getting a paper cut on my eyeball? A fear you can't shake? I'm gonna leak ocular fluid on my cheeks.

It's gonna go into my mouth and I will perish. Whatever scares you, I wanna talk about it. Join me, Larry Mullins, on my new podcast, Your Weirdest Fears. Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast from.

The listening you love is on the free Odyssey app. Your trusted local radio stations. Coverage of your favorite teams. Live news from your hometown. And millions of podcasts on demand. Best of all, you can completely customize your listening experience. Follow topics you care about, like leagues and teams. Pause or rewind your local sports and news. And add shows to your queue to catch up later. There's a lot to listen to. So get started and download the free Odyssey app today.