Lucas computer: Welcome back to the Cleats to Courts podcast. We are in episode five already. Episode five. I am your co host, Lucas Forster, alongside with me, my other co-host, Taylor Wolf. What's up T? Taylor: How you doing, Lucas? Are you you sure we should call it episode five out of respect for Jane Daniels? Should we call it something else? Lucas computer: You know what? Out of respect for Jaden Daniels, this will be episode four point five. And then you know what? We can't even do that. Let's go four point four. Four point four. And then next episode we'll just jump right to six. Out of respect for Taylor: Perfect. Lucas computer: him. Sound good? Taylor: Yeah, yeah, perfect. Other than that, I'm doing pretty good. Brewers had a a good weekend beating the Dodgers three out of four games in Los Angeles. So that was that was a good pick me up weekend after a rough start to the week in San Diego. So it's a good bounce back to end the road trip and down to the last six weeks of baseball already. So getting ready for some October baseball. But what's up with you today, Lucas? Lucas computer: You know what? It's been it's been a week of breakdowns on my machines, but we're pushing through. All right. Figuring it out. It happens. Things happen. We're gonna keep pushing through. Excited to be here, talking some ball, talking sports, mostly football, but we have some other things to talk about as well. So the first thing I want to bring up is Russell Westbrook has retired from the NBA. I believe it was eighteen seasons that he played in the NBA. He bounced around quite a bit. Towards the end, but what most of us will remember him as is playing for LKC with the Thunder. any thoughts on Russell Westbrook Taylor? I know he's pretty much played the entire our entire childhood that we watched NBA up until now. So any thoughts for Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: Russ? Taylor: nothing too crazy. It'll be sad not having Russ out there, Mr. Triple Double, as we know Lucas computer: Mm-hmm. Taylor: know him to be. One of the best players of our generation. We watched him literally his whole career, like the last eighteen years from when he came in as like with the Thunder as with Harden and Durant, and then how he turned into Mr. Triple Double when those guys left. And it was a pretty legendary career, and obviously as you can see from those numbers. So it'll be sad to see. Russ not playing, but we're getting to that age where a lot of guys from our youth and childhood that we fell in love with watching growing up are about to retire. So we'll get a lot of these in in the coming years. So it's it's funny to be that age now, but yeah. Good for Russ. Hopefully he enjoys retirement. Lucas computer: Agreed. We're be we're gonna be the old heads now talking about guys that we watched play back in our day. But yeah, Taylor: Yeah. Sounds funny to say, but Lucas computer: I know. But you know, Russ, he has so many records out there that he set. obviously, like you said, Mr. Triple Double. Probably gonna get passed by Jokic at some point in the next season or so. But he had so many incredible seasons with OKC, especially when K D left. But here are just some of his career totals. He ended up with twenty seven thousand one hundred and sixty five career points, and this is the most by a point guard in the history of the NBA. He ended up with nine thousand and twenty two rebounds, which is also the most by an a point guard in the NBA history. And then he ended up with ten thousand three hundred and forty three assists. And that's fourth most for guard point guards in NBA history. So as you can see he He's definitely gonna be a legend of the game. People are gonna talk to him for a lot of years to come. He's definitely gonna be one of the guys that's gonna end up in the Hall of Fame. so it's gonna be it's a sad day to see him retire. Obviously he hasn't been overly productive the last couple of years, just bouncing around different teams, but he's just always fun to watch, just explosive, high energy player, just always creating second chances for his teammates, creating for his teammates. and his dunk highlight reel is Taylor: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Lucas computer: absurd to watch being he's like six foot four just dunking on everybody but there there was some electric times in OK C watching him so we just need to give a shout out to Russ. It was fun watching him play. Sad that he never got a ring, but he's got an V P he's got a lot of records. A lot of people are gonna remember him. but yeah so congrats on retirement. Taylor: Yeah, six sixteen on the sixteen on the all time scoring list and fifth on the all time assist list. So that's a pretty good career there for Russell. So good for him. Lucas computer: Mm-hmm. Yeah, for sure. Anytime your numbers are looking like the ones on this graphic for your career, you did a good job, you know? But Taylor: For Lucas computer: yeah, especially like, what'd you say, 16th for points? Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: Yeah. As a point guard. And he was in that era where it was transition period too, where like when he came into league, point guards weren't like getting many, like they were getting shots, but not getting the most shots. And then as his career progressed, then he became the guy like once K D was gone, then he was the guy taking those shots. So pretty impressive to get that many points. Just being in that transition phase of the NBA 'cause now it's just there's so many point guards that are the main main guy, main scorer, so or they're Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: just bigger guys bringing it up, but Cool. Good stuff, Russ. Real quick, we're going to touch on NFL preseason week one. I unfortunately did not get to watch too many of these games, but I did get to see a lot of highlights, get to see checked a lot of box scores and all that stuff. For the most part, it looks like our young QBs are still kind of balling out. Mendoza had a nice opening day. Kirk led a touchdown drive for them as well. Not that he's a young man. quarterback, but part of that little battle over there with the Raiders. we have Ty Simpson, he had a nice little day too, a little debut. I believe you said the Cardinals quarterbacks are still balling out, right? Yeah. well Taylor: Yep. All th all three of them. Like even Jacoby Brissett was like five for five. Michael Fleur's got those guys moving down there in Arizona, so Lucas computer: It's yeah, it's gotta be. Gotta be the floor. It's the only way to describe it. But Taylor: We'll we'll see if the defense can hold up for them. Lucas computer: Yeah, that's gonna be that's gonna be the tough one for them. Anything else preseason wise that kinda stuck out to you? I know the Packers got smacked around by the Steelers, but the Steelers quarterbacks also looked really good that first week. Taylor: Yeah, some more more good young quarterback play in Pittsburgh. Lucas computer: Mm-hmm. Taylor: So But other than that, not really anything too too crazy. The the Browns quarterback situation's pretty much the only one up in the air, I believe, for the most part. And Deshaun Watson looked looked pretty solid. He was like ten of fifteen for a hundred and twenty yards or so. So moving the ball down the field. But only so much you can tell from preseason action, but it was a good good first start for him. So it'll be hard for Shadur to take that job from him. But We'll see what Shadur can do in week two this week. But other than that, I don't really have much for you 'cause it's just preseason football. But I still watched a lot of it 'cause it's still football. Lucas computer: Yeah, the only one I really caught a lot was Packers Steelers. I caught like after Jordan Love was out, but just watched some of that. A little brutal if you're a Packers fan. But other it is preseason, so it's just it's hard to hard to judge it off of that. You can't get too worked up over that. You got second and third team defenses out there most of the time and most of your studs on offense are gonna play one drive, maybe two, but In the weeks weeks to come, we're probably not gonna see too many of those guys out there either. So we'll kinda see what happens with that. But any other final kind of thoughts from preseason week one from UT? Taylor: Nope. Just ready to rock and roll for the regular season. Looks like this can be a fun year. Lucas computer: For sure, for sure. Got a couple more weeks to go for that. College football's gonna be starting a little bit before that too. So we're gonna get into that as well in some of these episodes coming up. But one quick shout out. We have the Premier League starting up this weekend. I got my Liverpool shirt on. You will never walk alone, Taylor. Taylor: Looks like Christmas shirt, but I like it. Looks good. Lucas computer: Yeah, it's quite quite the options for color in here. The white's a little a little bright, but who never knows Taylor: Looks good, looks good. Lucas computer: if I wear this shirt during Christmas time, I'll fit right in. So it's all good. And I get to sport Liverpool, we're good. Shout out to all my other Premier League fans out there. My guy Tyler, also Liverpool fan, got me got me into Liverpool. My guy Zach, he's a Crystal Palace fan. Don't ask how he became a Crystal fan. Crystal Palace fan. Other than that, I don't have any more soccer friends, but while you guys are down here living near the Charlotte area, which is awesome. Other than that, Premier League starts this weekend. And it's gonna go till like May. So we got a lot of weeks of that coming up. Great, great thing to do with that. Watch those games right before college football starts on Saturdays. You can watch those games in the morning. You can watch those games in the morning on Sundays as well. And then you got NFL Slate right after. Other than that, Taylor: Is Liverpool gonna be best than fifth in the Premier League this year or? Lucas computer: You know, we'll see. We'll see what happens. Down year, down year last year happens. You can't win it every year, but got the Taylor: Nope. Lucas computer: win two years ago. So never know. Never know. Taylor: You never know. Lucas computer: Anyway, enough soccer talk. Let's get into what else is going on around the league before we get into what we're talking about on this podcast. We have some rankings, some QB rankings from good old Dan Orlovsky, ESPN expert, analyst, QB pundit. I'm sure he's got a lot of titles, but if you don't know who Dan Orlovsky is, he played for The Detroit Lions. He had a couple different teams, but Detroit Lions, he's most known for for running out of the back of the end zone and getting a safety. That's one of his Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: most rerun highlights. So so he was mostly he played he started for a little bit, I know in Detroit, but he was a backup for most of his career. He had a really good career over at UConn in college. But anyway, he's with ESPN now and he throws out his QB rankings. He likes to analyze film each week and give out rankings so he gave out his qb rankings before the season started and he has a bunch of different categories I'm not gonna break down each one of these categories but all his categories are first one arm strength so he lists the top ten for every every category for QBs so he has arm strength ball placement mechanics Decision making with the football, pocket presence, second reaction ability, and rushing ability. So just a couple things that stood out. For one, our guy Rodgers is not on any of these lists. Insane to think about when you have legends of the past who are like, hey, Aaron Rodgers is the best thrower of the football we have ever seen. One of the smartest, most high QBs we've ever seen in the league. And somehow he doesn't make the cut in the current league. So like ball placement, mechanics, decision making with the football. I don't know how you don't put Aaron Rodgers on any of those measures, but any thoughts from you, Taylor? Why do you think Aaron Rodgers would not be on this list? He's not the only one though, because there's other QBs in the league too that barely even made his list on here, but I'll get to a little bit, but Any thoughts of why you think Rogers, like is it 'cause he's too old you think that he doesn't have him on here, but any idea at all? Taylor: I think I think my best idea for it is the H thing probably so people always say Father Time catches up to everyone and it it does Lucas computer: Mm-hmm. Taylor: eventually, but Rogers showed showed really no signs of slowing down last year. He still had a cannon. You said he had the longest recorded throw of the season or something like some stat like that. So he's still clearly got some power in the arm. Still smart, can probably read a defensive better than most people. And I mean, other than that the age probably and then there's just a lot of good quarterbacks in the league nowadays too. Like like when you go through the list it's like, wow, how do you leave this guy off of this list and so on and so forth. So you you can play that game with every category probably. So that's why you just can't can't take these lists too much to heart 'cause I was gonna have some disappointed people, but Dan Olofsky seems like a pretty smart guy. So we'll give him the benefit of the doubt, I guess. And just 'cause it's a forty two year old quarterback. Lucas computer: I guess I guess more more pulling at your heartstrings that Jordan Love is not on many of these lists either. Somehow he cracks like Taylor: But but he's like Lucas computer: what's it? Taylor: I say he's up there in a couple of them though, so Lucas computer: Yeah, right now he's he's third in decision making, which gotta be happy about that. I think he was where else was he? I saw him somewhere he's in the middle of the pack on one of these, but Yeah. So who knows? Anytime there's a list like list come out like this and you shorten it, like you don't have a list for like all thirty-two quarterbacks that start in the league. And you do in the top ten, usually you're gonna lift s leave some people out. I was a little flabbergasted, just not seeing my guy Rogers. I'm just Homer and my guy, but other than that, Taylor: Respect. Lucas computer: I mean the main guys are all on there. Matthew Stafford, Drake May, Josh Allen's all over the least lists, Joe Burrow's all over the list. Not a whole lot of Jared Goff, which Jared Goff puts up incredible numbers every year as well. So kinda wild not to see him all over these lists too. 'Cause think he's probably like I wanna say top three in yards and touchdowns the last couple of years. So weird to see him not on these lists either. But yeah, other than that, Stafford, Stafford May, they top off a lot of these lists, but I just had to throw it out there. Had to try to get my guy Rogers some fame. Not that he needs any more fame, but just gotta just gotta Taylor: Yes. Lucas computer: let him know. Let him know we still appreciate him at forty two years old. But Taylor: Give the old guy some love and support. Lucas computer: Exactly, exactly. Other than that, Dano, he is often a guest on the Pat McPhee show. He likes to tune in. They give each other a lot of crap. It's fun to watch. He's a w he's actually one of my favorite guests to come on that show just because of the banter that those guys have on that show. But I just had to throw this out there. It's a big controversy right now, all his lists which usually are, a lot of his takes just get blown out of proportion for things. But It is what it is. If you're gonna be a public figure like that, sharing stats and your opinions, you're gonna get a lot of pushback from others. So just to throw those out there. Other than that, we're gonna move on to why this episode is going to be four point four, and then we're gonna skip to six, as because Jaden Daniels, QB for the commanders. His college football number is supposed to be in use this year. Which he was not too thrilled about or his camp wasn't thrilled about. We don't know exactly what's going on, but he's not happy that they're using his number five jersey at LSU. I'm gonna flip this over to Taylor's kind of catch his opinion on this, his thoughts on this as well. But my initial reaction to this is why is he so focused on his college jersey number right now when the NFL season is right around the corner? He's got much bigger things, much much more important things to be worrying about, get his priorities right here before the season. But what are your thoughts about this, Taylor? You see Jaden Daniels, his camp, whatever, whoever it is, they want to fit about this. Taylor: But this this seems like an overreaction Monday kind of thing. Like they woke up on a Monday or Monday and wanted to throw a fit about something 'cause it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. In college football, there's hundred and twenty people on a roster, so they really don't retire numbers in college football. You have to be truly, truly special, I feel like, to have that but if you play one seas one maybe was it two season or one s one really good season there. But like Lucas computer: Yeah, I think it might have been just that one. Taylor: Okay. That's what I thought. I think he sat behind like one year and then played the next or something like that. But like Yeah. Lucas computer: Yeah, 'cause it's Arizona State first, correct? Taylor: Yeah. So I don't know. Like guys have had great years before, like Mark Ingram and Joe Burrow and you can go on and on of legendary seasons and these guys aren't complaining about their number being used in a couple of seasons or the season after because that's just how college sports is. It's not like the NFL where you get more jerseys renew retired and stuff like that. Like no one's wearing twelve for the Packers or anything like that. But that's a lot different when you spend eighteen years or twenty years, whatever it was, with one team and compared to this one good season. So just an overreaction and hopefully it gets settled down eventually 'cause it's a silly thing. But I love all love all the jokes and the memes being thrown his way after that. So even baseball teams have gotten into it like saying out of respect To Jane Daniels, we won six to four and stuff like that. So it's been pretty funny to see all that side of it. So Lucas computer: Yeah, social media is undefeated. Always will be when things like this come out. But Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: yeah, it's just funny to see all the things. Like five below is switched to four point nine nine below. So if you want to go to that store, you're gonna see a little title change on there. But Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: looks like looks like Jane Daniels played two years at LSU, but his initial season wasn't quite as good as his Heisman winning year, but we do have one quick graphic to pop up. So a lot of people are talking that Joe Burrow also he doesn't technically have his jersey retired, I don't think, but like you said, colleges don't usually retire jerseys, especially not that quickly. but nobody has used Joe Burrow's number since his final year there. And here's just quick stat about those seasons that each one of these guys had. So according to this, this is with through three game or through eleven game, sorry, for their Heisman seasons. And Joe Burrow threw for forty two hundred and fifty-three yards. Jaden Daniels threw for 4591 yards, so almost a little more than 300 yards than Burrow threw for. Daniels also threw two more touch or sorry, he didn't throw two more. He was responsible for Two more touchdowns in the same span of games. He had 46. Burrow had 44. Jane Daniels also had two less turnovers. He had five turnovers on the year, and Burrow had seven. And then QBR Daniels was at 95 and Burrow at 93. So just taking a quick look at that graphic, he technically did outperform Joe OEB during their big year years at LSU. But also we have to remember that that LSU team that Joe Burrow was with. That defense was insane. Their entire team was insane. Probably one of the best just teams overall to ever play in a college football season. And they ended up winning the national championship. So there's a lot of big team success that happened that Jaden just did not get. But just looking at individual numbers, I could see why he's kind of upset that somebody's using a number. But if you look around college football, you're gonna see number five all over. Like every team has One of their skill guys is number five, or their a D B is number five. Now like linebackers use it now too. So it's like that number is very popular among among players. But typically nine is like just a kind of a quarterback number. Five is kind of used everywhere. So I can understand why they're just kind of letting somebody else use it now. But yeah, any other points on this, Taylor? I know we're talking about it quite a bit, but and it's it's tough to Like look at those stats. Okay, out of respect for him, as the joke goes, we don't wanna be having someone use his jersey, but you also gotta think realistically and be like, All right, what do you want us to do? Like Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: number five is a very popular number. Taylor: Yeah. And I mean, if you look at the full picture, this stat is just eleven games. But Burrow ended the year with fifty six hundred yards and sixty touchdowns and fifteen games. So that's that's pretty insane season. And then you dominate to easily winning the playoff games. And they set a record for seven hundred and twenty six points scored that year. So it just overall that team was probably the most dominant team we've maybe ever seen in college football. So that's A little bit different as you were pointing out too. So other than that I don't have much else to say about this. Just a silly complaint, it seems like. But Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, who knows? Like he hasn't really come out and talked about it either, so it could have just been someone Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: in his camp that's like reaching out to L S U, like, Hey, why are you letting somebody else use his number? Kinda thing, but Taylor: Could be like a thing from his his mom for sure. I could see that. So Agent Mom. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah. So who knows? You got you got family involved, you got all sorts of people involved in their circles. They're trying to trying to do what's best for them, but sometimes they just throw us just making a stink about stuff that we don't need to worry about. But other than that, that was my one worry Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: about this graphic was that it was only eleven games, so who knows what happened in the other couple games in the year. But yeah. Anything else you want to add to this team? Taylor: Yeah. Nope. I I don't vote for ya. Much else for you. Lucas computer: Other than that, we are gonna move on to what we are gonna discuss for the rest of this episode, and that'll be our NFC divisional rankings. We have at one, two, three, and four, and then we're gonna give our NFC playoff pictures as well. Same thing we did last week with the AFC, but today we're talking NFC strictly. So we're gonna get right into it. We just talked about some headlines going around around NFL and Kind of just what's going on, big news going on in the sports world. not too much else happening at the moment. So we're gonna get into our first division, and that is the NFC North. So we have the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers, and the Minnesota Vikings. This is obviously one of our favorite divisions, because we haven't been following it our entire lives. but it's also one of like the biggest, like most competitive divisions in the NFL right now. and has been for the last few years now. So just more people are kind of noticing these teams, seeing them, understanding just how difficult that division is. what do you say th third and fourth was last year? The nine and eight record? Right? Yeah. Taylor: Yeah. So all four were above five hundred. Lucas computer: Yeah. So all four teams above five hundred, obviously that's a really tough division. If you're doing that, that means even though you're losing divisional games. Or kind of splitting with teams, you're still going out and beating other teams around the league to get to that record. which is very just insane to see. But I'm gonna let Taylor go first and talk about his picks for his top four in this division, who he has coming out on top. He's also gonna give the odds. We'll probably give the odds at the end for myself and for him, who has the better odds with who we chose in this. If you went ahead and tried to pick each one of these. In our order, what your odds would be coming out in the betting world. But go ahead, Taylor. Who you got coming out on top of this NFC North? Taylor: All righty, so first off we got to start with the homer pick and say the Green Bay Packers, baby. So there's Lucas computer: Yes, sir. Taylor: a they just they just seem set up for a big year. young team the last three years. So they're eventually you gotta get past that young youngness and those rookie mistakes and so on and so forth. So I think this this group seems ready to take that big leap forward. They're all pretty experienced guys and Jordan Love having that set top three wide receiver this year and not Like five guys rotating through those three spots last year. That's hard to get into too much of a rhythm. So it'll be nice with him throwing to Jaden Reed and Christian Watson and Golden pretty much every play that are on the field are healthy. So it'll be good with Tucker Kraft and I think that offense is gonna do some fun things and excited to see what Jonathan Gannon can do with that defense. I think that was a good replacement for Halfly. Tough to lose halfly, but Gannon's had some good years with defenses from His Philadelphia days to Arizona had respectful defenses when he was the head coach there. So just seems like a good experienced guy to bring into the building. And from the videos throughout this past week, seems like he's having a fun time there with the players and hopping around and just messing around, having a g having a good time in camp. So that it's fun to see. So yes. Lucas computer: Getting getting the boys juiced up. Getting them juiced up in camp. Taylor: So so I'm excited to see how that goes for them. And then in second place, I have the Detroit Lions for Two two main reasons, the one being the offense, so high scoring, and then you just talk about Jared Goff a little earlier. That guy just puts up numbers, yards, touchdowns, points, and and his defense just usually lets up more points, unfortunately, for the guy. But he has one crazy offense. So the defense can either stay healthy or improve just a little bit, 'cause they are kind of right up there with the Niners for teams that just are always beat up every single year. They have seven, eight guys on IR just from the defensive side, it seems like. They can stay a little bit healthier this year. I like their chances. And they also have the easiest schedule from expected strength to schedule. One of those statistics like that. But it it's always reassuring to see your team up there at the top of those lists having an easy schedule. So that's why I went with them in second place ahead of the Chicago Bears. So a little bit of a re regression kind of for them. Not even really that much of a regression, 'cause they could win ten games and be third place in this division. So it's just a pretty Pretty wild division as you were start by saying. 'Cause they won eleven games last year and just barely beat the Packers, Vikings, and Lions all with nine wins. So I could easily see the Bears going back down to nine wins or even ten wins and being third place. And they had a interesting looking schedule last year with some miracle wins at the end of the the game against teams like Raiders and Commanders and stuff like that. So I don't know if they'll they'll get those same breaks this year. So I picked them to finish third place, right right in line with the odds, of course, as I'll say in one second. And then fourth place I have the Vikings. So it'll I mentioned to see the New Look Vikings with the new quarterback, Tyler Murray, getting named the starting quarterback there last week. That was pretty big, big news around the NFL world. And not totally surprising as a lot of people saw it happening. I just didn't expect it to happen before the preseason games even started. But now he can get a lot of first team reps. So That that makes sense to give him the nod right now. And overall for the odds for the division win, you have the Lions at plus one fifty, the Packers at two sixty, and the Bears at plus three fifty, which seems pretty crazy for a team that won the division last year, but you just never know in this division. And then the Vikings are plus four forty. So I unfortunately followed Vegas and the odds there and and went in that exact order. But Shocker. Lucas computer: What what? Taylor's just following the odds again? What is this? Taylor: of course from last week, as you all would know, it's a not too big of a surprise, but how how how do you see the division going, Lucas? Lucas computer: Well, I think mine is a little similar, but I think there's just two differences. So for me, of course I have the Green Bay Packers coming out on top of the NFC North. I think with the wide receiving core that they have coming back, I think Tucker Kraft coming back is gonna be huge for them as well. So I think that offense is gonna be clicking right away, right from the jump. And then defensively, probably the best safety duo. in the NFC North for sure, and then one of the best in the league. so it I think with all that stuff and then Micah should be back about week six, which would be good too. I just see the Packers finally just taking this division back. Been a couple of years since they've won it. So I'm just hoping to get those boys back on top. And I don't see why not. If Jordan Love can stay healthy for an entire year or two, that'd be awesome. but yeah, I could see them Winning against like the Bears, they just did not they had like they played like one good half against the Bears and then just didn't look like themselves in the other games against them, especially in the playoffs when they blew that. But I just don't see them making those same mistakes this year. So I think they're just gonna like try to put teams away more this year. So I got the Packers coming out on top, of course. And then at number two I got the Lions, so I'm right with you there. I think the Lions They were really banged up, especially their defense last year. So I think this year they're probably gonna have hopefully some better luck with that. But I think they're gonna get back to kinda who they were in the years prior, just kind of destroying teams. especially like Goff, he's just so steady the entire time throughout the year. And then I think with Gibbs too, him just kinda getting more of a the workload instead of kinda sharing that load. He's electrifying, so I think they could just be even more dangerous, which Taylor: No. Lucas computer: Sucks to say as a Packers fan, but I think the Lions are definitely gonna be competing for the top top spot in the division, but I just have them coming at number two. At number three, I have the Minnesota Vikings. And I think the big reason why I put them over the Bears at number three, I think B flow on that defense is gonna get those boys buzzing again. They've just always really been solid on defense. And then I think with Kyler. Kyler coming in at quarterback. Just brings a whole new element to their offense. they still have so many weapons on that offense as well, receiving core. Running backs are solid as well. So I think putting Kyler in there, great decision over McCarthy with what we saw last year. Even though McCarthy really didn't play that many games, I think putting Kyler in there is gonna be could be electrifying for them. I'm hoping in week one they don't have it figured out yet against the Packers, but We will see what happens. That's why I got the Vikings. The the Kyler decision really just kinda swung me that way. And number four, I got the Bears. Sorry, Bears fans, Taylor: bears. Lucas computer: but you guys go from first to worst this year. Sorry to tell you. Sorry, Ben Johnson. I know you you want to have the highest scoring offense ever in the league, but Taylor: That's a hot take right there. I like it though. Hopefully. Lucas computer: You know, people are still high in the Bears from last year. I am not. I don't have I don't have faith in the Bears at all. But with that being said, this is a very tough division. Any of these teams could move positions in here. I could easily see the Vikings or Bears competing for first in this division too. so d this is definitely the closest division in my opinion. Just like we said, it's a tough division. All these teams know each other so well. You only really have one new QB in this division too, which I think makes a huge difference. But you still have all the same head coaches. A lot of the schemes are gonna be very similar. So these teams know each other really well. They're gonna continue to know each other really well. No drastic changes schematically or skill position wise, other than just put bringing Kyler in there. Other than that, anything else to add to our NFC North Taylor on this? Taylor: No, just a pretty fun division that's been pretty close the last handful of years. Ever since Rogers ended his tenor tenure with the Packers and had those like three straight division championships with LaFleur. It's been a pretty wide open division between the Lions, Packers and Bears. And Vikings are always seem to be pretty close, like if like surprising people with being a five hundred team with some random quarterback or winning fourteen games with Sam Donald. So you really never know what you're gonna get from the Vikings, but It's gonna be a fun division and I'm excited to see how it plays out with all these teams being pretty solid squads and pretty young and people don't know how this division's gonna shake out, so it makes it fun to look forward to. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, I agree with all that. I think this I just love like the first couple weeks of NFL football season because you really just get like I was going through and checking Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: like the bets for week one and I'm like, I don't even know how I'm gonna pick teams for that week 'cause you have no idea week one who's gonna show up, who's not gonna show up. And then weeks two and three could Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: be completely different from week one. I don't know your thoughts on that. Taylor: No, it's it's true. Like this NFL is just cinema every week 'cause you don't know what's about to happen. Like I've Lucas computer: Mm-hmm. Taylor: s NFL red zone is the the must have on the computer streaming because it's just Lucas computer: yeah. Taylor: craziness that happens all the time and especially when you have divisional matchups it makes it extra extra enticing, I guess, would be a good word. 'Cause the Vikings start with the Packers and Bears. So welcome to NFC North, Kyler Murray. So that's if It's pretty much all you gotta beat to win the division. So good luck, guy are starting out there. So Lucas computer: Yeah, I think that'd that'd be a fun fun start for the Vikings fans. Like if they can go out I don't wanna throw this in the world, but if they go out and start too L in the division and for the season, Vikings fans would be feeling real good about that Q B decision. Taylor: Or or even one in one in one, like I'd be I'd be happy with that too. 'Cause going to Chicago that's Lucas computer: Yeah, that's that's still enough. Taylor: never easy, so Lucas computer: Yeah. And then Taylor: It'll be fun. Lucas computer: the first the first week's in Minnesota, right? Green Bay goes to Minnesota. Taylor: Yes. Yep. Lucas computer: Yeah. That's gonna be a good that's a good test. But we'll see. We'll see what happens. But that's our NFC North takes. Taylor, you just want to go over the betting lines? If they chose my Taylor: yeah. Lucas computer: My rankings versus yours. Taylor: So if y'all would pick go with Lucas's picks for the exact to finish one through four, it'd be plus fourteen hundred, which is three hundred points higher than mine at plus one eleven. So Lucas always being a little riskier going for those bigger odds until maybe later. That might change later on. So preview. Lucas computer: Yeah, we'll see see where we stack up later, but Taylor: Yeah, it's a tough division to bet, so I do not recommend that. So Lucas computer: Yeah, either yeah, if trying to trying to pick all four, I would not advise doing that. But if you want to, take these picks. Taylor: The odds are the the they're there for fun and information. So Lucas computer: Yeah, just we're just giving you information. Take it or leave it, how it is. Alrighty, moving away from the NFC North. I'm sure we'll talk a lot of NFC North this season as it progresses. But we're gonna talk NFC South. NFC South, we have Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, and the New Orleans Saints. And in this division, it's been a rough one the last I don't even know how many numbers to how many years to put on this, but it's been it's been pretty rough since I've been living here in Charlotte for the last handful of years. It's been a rough division to follow and watch, Taylor: Probably Lucas computer: but Taylor: probably since Tom Brady retired. Lucas computer: Yeah. Which is like right before I moved down here. So Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: Yeah, like they the QBs have all changed probably multiple times in the last four years. So anytime you gotta change QBs constantly, the your team's gonna d look drastically different. The division's gonna look a lot different. So just kinda going into this, I'll have Taylor run through his top four. We're gonna be a little bit different this time around as well. Both having different divisional winners. So who you got here, Taylor, for your Top four in this division. Taylor: just a f little fun fact before I do say that. the last time the division winner had more than nine wins was twenty twenty two or twenty twenty one season when they had thirteen and four for the Buccaneers. And then other after that they had like the eight and nine, they had nine win, nine win, all winning the division. So it's been a pretty pretty weak division. But Lucas computer: Yeah. So these like the teams that lose first round of the playoffs pretty much every year after Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: winning the division. Taylor: Yeah. But anyways, maybe this year will be the year that it changes and I'm gonna go with the New Orleans Saints to do that and win the division. So that is I think I just have a big belief in Tyler Shuck and Kellen Moore. He seems like a really good offensive mind and has a lot of success wherever he goes and they drafted a Jordan Tyson and they go with Chris Olave, Jawan Johnson And then Elvin Comaro maybe has a bounce back healthy season. And then they sign Travis Achan, I guess he wants to be pronounced nowadays by some something like that. So Yeah, but the guy that Lucas computer: Yeah, not not E T N E Chan. Taylor: used to be a running back for the Jaguars, so however you want to say his name, mm that guy. So I think it's gonna be a pretty fun offense and offense to watch in New Orleans. And they always have one of those teams that seems to be a top half of the league in defense, like always respectable. Never a a true weakness or anything on the defensive side of the ball. So I really like their outlook. And they are at plus two fifty to win the division. And then in second place, I went with Lucas's Carolina Panthers for the second place team. They they showed signs of of growth, I would say. Where they the offense got better, Bryce Young looked like he could move the ball a little bit and their defense is seemed to be pretty. Pretty solid. Maybe you can say more about that 'cause you probably watch a little bit more Panthers football than I do. But they just seem like a up and coming team and like they like that Brian Canalis and maybe they're ready for a little bit more step forward. So we'll see what happens there. And then my third place, I'm gonna go with the Tampa Bay Bucks. They just it's such an interesting team. Like they they'll go on five week stretches and look like maybe the best offense in football. And then Baker Mayfield disappears for the next two months and is nagging some shoulder injury and And can't play like normal, so I just never know what to think about them. And they have these contract disputes that Baker Mayfield is not happy with his contract. Vita Vaya is still holding in. And it's just just doesn't seem like the vibes are going very well for Tampa Bay. So that's why I went with third place for them. And then sorry. Yeah. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, they're that's an interesting inter sorry, just an interesting dynamic with what's going on then 'cause they started so hot last year. Like they look so good. I was like wanting to take so many futures on these guys and trying to pick them for games during the week too and then they just fell off. Had some injuries to kind of hurt them a little bit. Baker didn't quite look himself and then just fell off. And then now this year, like you said, the contract disputes are kind of just the only news that we hear coming out of that camp. Like nothing really good coming out of there but Yeah, just a weird weird scenario, which makes me think that's why I don't really blame you for going with the Saints to win this division. But go ahead, who is your last ones? Taylor: Yeah. Last place we go with the Atlanta left handed quarterbacks. I mean the Falcons. So we got them in last place. I just don't know what to think. That maybe should have been a big takeaway from preseason action. If you haven't gotten to watch Tua's highlight reel, it's probably because there really isn't a highlight reel to watch. It was a pretty pr a pretty rough showing for him. It was like Maybe three of five for like sixteen yards and like they were all like dump offs to Kyle Pitts in the flats. So we'll see. I mean it's preseason. We'll see what happens there. But that was not a very encouraging sign. And it may be Michael Pennick's time in a in a hurry because he's not afraid to sling the ball down the field. So we'll see what happens there. But that's definitely my last place pick in the division. And overall just the division odds, just to wrap that up before Lucas says his was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the favorites at plus two hundred. The Saints were plus two fifty, the Falcons were plus three ten, and then the Panthers were plus three thirty. So all within a hundred and thirty of each other, which is pretty crazy. So makes it a pretty pretty tough division to pick that can be pretty wide open, kind of like the NFC North. Like I can see the divisions going pretty much literally any way with a lucky break or a unfortunate break for an injury for somebody and it could really change things in a hurry. So it'd be another fun division to keep track of. But who do you got winning that, Lucas? Lucas computer: Yeah, so we're gonna be a little different here. I'm going with Taylor: Nice. Lucas computer: I'm sorry, Panthers fans, but I'm going with the Buccaneers to win this division this year. So so close last year with how they fell off even. But I think this year, just because I'm a big Baker fan, I know they like lost Evans, but then I remembered Mecca Buka still on that team. So I was like, he's just an absolute absolute stud, even as a rookie last year, so I think that connection bodes well for them. And that just Baker, he's just been winning games since he'd been back as starting quarterback. Really just like putting up some big numbers. he's just absolute dog too, so it's just fun to watch watch Baker play every week. You just kinda hope as a Bucks fan that somebody starts chirping Baker right before the game, so it just puts him in that zone and he goes and balls out. But yeah, I'm gonna I'm riding with the Bucks in this division this year. I still think it's be close. Like one thing I wanted to point out the odds from even the NFC the NFC North and the NFC South are very tight from like first to fourth. Cause we really don't know. Like these any of these teams could win this division. Same with the last division we talked about. And if you're with us last week with the AFC, there was so many like big gaps after the first two teams typically for the odds. Like it was jumping up like plus plus a thousand to get to these last couple, like the third and fourth place teams. so these these two that we've started with so far, just really tight, tight divisions that we don't really know who's gonna win, but we're still gonna pick who we think's gonna win. So I'm going with the Bucks as number one. Number two, gotta give my Carolina Panthers some love. I think they can definitely compete for this division again this year. Try to get another playoff game again this year. but yeah, I'm excited for the Panthers. I think Bryce Young, he's really gotta make another step. It seems like every year he just kinda gets a little bit better, a little bit better. but if he can just kinda take another step forward. It's like we talked about a couple episodes ago. It's this is a big big year for Young. So like if he wants to get that next contract, this is this is the year to ball out. So and they got Tet out wide. I think he's just an absolute stud as well. I'm just trying to think of everybody. They haven't had too many major injuries to start camp. I know they would One or two to start this camp. Can't remember exactly how many, but Taylor: I think they were like backup players or something. Lucas computer: Yeah, like no none of the big guys at the moment, so getting rid of Rico, or not like not resigning Rico kinda sinks, but 'cause he was just electric for them last year, but still got a big Chubba Chubba Hubbard Chuba Chubba, however you want to say thing. Yes. Taylor: And and that Jonathan Brooks that maybe that Jonathan Brooks will stay healthy and not tear ACL for like the fourth time or whatever. So Lucas computer: Yeah, that's health. Health is the main part of the game, I tell you. but yeah, with the Panthers, I'm excited to watch them. I get to watch a decent amount of Panthers games throughout the year. Luckily they've been getting a little bit better every year, so it's getting a little more fun to watch. they can they competed really well last year against really good teams like the Rams. Gave the Rams everything they could handle last year. It's really fun to watch. But yeah, I'm excited for the Panthers. I think they can make a jump this year. really compete against the other teams in this division for sure. but it's gonna be interesting. Can they stay consistent enough to get the results that they need to get into the playoffs and win this division? that'd be interesting to see. But last year, I mean they came up to Lambo and beat our Green Bay Packers. So anything is possible with this team. They looked really good against some really good teams last year. so we'll see what kind of what happens. But at number three, I have the Saints. Going with the Saints That was Taylor's number one team. I'm putting him at three just because there's a lot of unknown with this team yet. Shuck looked really good at the second half of the year last year. A Chan, I believe is how we're gonna say Travis's last name now, but bringing him in was big. They got Olave yet. We'll see what happens with Tyson. I saw he just got injured this last week, I think. Is that right? Taylor: Yeah, I believe so. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, I think he just I know he has he's had a lot of injury problems in the past, so hopefully nothing too major if you're a Saints fan, 'cause he can definitely be a big asset for you guys in his first year. Other than that, I don't know much more about what's going on with the Saints, but I think with Kellen Moore, he can kind of lead this team to some more success. So we'll see. But I have him at third. I could see them going two or one as well. Don't see them taking last in this division though. I think that's gonna be our Atlanta Falcons. I think they are gonna end up last in this division. They gotta figure out the quarterback situation. Still haven't figured that out. They do have Bijan, so that's a huge plus. Like just gonna have to ride the way with him and hope that he can do enough to win you games. It's my thought. But other than that, that's like I don't see the Falcons getting past. any of those teams, jumping any of those teams. So it Taylor: Definitely not. Lucas computer: could be could be a rough year for them. Maybe they'll surprise us. We'll see, but I have no no faith in the Falcons. Growing up, I was a big Falcons fan. Shout out Mike Vick. Absolute legend on the football field. Not gonna talk about off the field stuff, but he was a legend on the football field. Fun fact, I was cheering for the Falcons over the Packers back in the day with Mike Vick. But then some stuff came out and then Taylor: That's Lucas computer: I was like, Yeah, I'm a Packers fan now for life. Taylor: Vic was pretty electric back then though. He had some pretty highlight plays. Lucas computer: Yeah, you can't you can't tell me anyone any quarterback is more electric than Mike Vick on the football field. I tell you what. Taylor: Yeah. It was crazy. But if we Lucas computer: Anyway. Taylor: can move on from that one. Lucas computer: Yeah, Falcons fans still you gotta live in the past with that guy. And Matt Ryan, legend. Twenty Taylor: Mm. Julio Jones. Lucas computer: twenty-eight to three in that Super Bowl though, that sucks. Anyway, so we got Bucks at number one. I got the Panthers at number two, Saints at three, Falcons at four. It's gonna be a fun division to kinda keep an eye on. Could be very fun or could be very boring to watch. We'll see. Hopefully it's electric this year, but It there's more excitement coming into this division than in past year, so I'm excited to watch it. I'm gonna be following them Panthers, of course. Be cheering them on. Actually gonna be going to the Panthers Lions Sunday night football game Taylor: Ooh. Lucas computer: in October, so I'm excited for that. See these boys Taylor: That'll be a fun one. Lucas computer: play prime time. But other than that, anything else on NFC North or NFC South here, Taylor? Taylor: real quick we'll have to touch on the odds for the division picks because I actually have Lucas computer: Yes, yes. Taylor: the longer odds this time, so we have to make sure we mention that. And that is at plus sixteen hundred for mine with picking the Saints to win the division. That made the odds a lot better than Lucas's at only plus eleven hundred taking the favorite bucks. But that's a tough another tough division to pick, so don't recommend it. That's just for information. Lucas computer: Yeah. Just for information. If you have a gambling problem, do not use R Picks. Also, I do want to point out the Panthers being Taylor: It just just I like I like doing that 'cause it kinda shows who went out on more volume and and some more bull takes is all based on the odds. But anyways, sorry what you watch though. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, if you want better odds, go with go with my pick. Better odds to win. If you want to possibly win more money, you can go with Taylors on that one, but we'll see. I did want to say though, the Panthers being having the worst odds to win this division was kind of a shock to me. Taylor: Yeah. I thought they'd be ahead of the Falcons at least for sure. Lucas computer: Yeah, like yeah, it's tight, but the team that won the division last year is now bringing back most of their guys and they're fourth for the best odds in this division. So kinda surprises me. I don't know why that's Taylor: That's a good feature for you. Lucas computer: Yeah, yeah, I don't know why that's like that, but I just wanna throw that out there 'cause neither one of us thinks that they're gonna end up in that position. We both had at two and I think they can compete and be first. So I have no idea why they're so low, but But Taylor: Better be on your future bets later on in a couple of weeks. Lucas computer: Yes, I do I do have a future. I actually I might have already put it out there, but I have a I have a bet going down for the Panthers. They have a really nice season this year, and we'll share those picks before the season starts, before week one. Anyway, enough talk about NFC South. Taylor: Let's let's move on to America's team. What do you say? Mm-hmm. Lucas computer: I don't know if it's America's team, but it's definitely not my team or your team. I know one Cowboys fan, and I'll shout him out in a little bit, but we're gonna talk about the NFC East. Now we have the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and the New York Giants. Do you want me to start this one off, Taylor? Taylor: Yeah. You start this one off. Lucas computer: Sweet, let me get these ads up here since I keep forgetting to toss up there. So this one not too hard for like not too hard of a decision for me to make on here. a little bit unknown, but the odds are not quite as tight as they were in the last two divisions. But anyway, I'm going with the Dallas Cowboys to win this division. I think they have just a lot of good weapons on offense this year. I think that defense is kind of starting to stack up. They're kind of filling out that D line is pretty solid. They got Quinn and Williams now. Should Kenny Clark should be back with them, right? Yeah, got him. Taylor: Yep. Rashawn Gary could be all right. Lucas computer: Yeah, Gary will be decent for them. I wouldn't say he's like a top pass rusher in the league, but he could still be a he's a pretty solid player as well. But that like that D line's gonna be pretty tough. And then I'm a big Caleb Downs fan. I think he's gonna have a really good year this year. we'll kind of see what happens there. But I think that like Quinn Williams signing him was a big deal. Well, like trading for him last year was a big deal. So I think he's gonna be a force in that, on that D line in the center there. But yeah, I'm going with the Cowboys. I don't think I've ever picked the Cowboys to win this division in my life. So I'm going with him, riding with him, bringing back a lot of good pieces from last year. Dak was balling out. And I think with C D and George Pickens, I think those two guys alone on offense are Gonna be fun to watch. There's electric receivers to watch. I I'm going with the Cowboys to come out on this division. And number two, I'm going with the Eagles because I don't know too much about that Eagles defense at the moment. Offensively, losing AJ Brown, I think is still gonna be a big deal for them when they actually like need to pass the ball. So we'll see kind of what happens there. But I put them at two. I think Cowboys come out on top of this division. And I think the Eagles, like, they're just gonna have to get back to ground and pound football again. Still got Saquon, so that's gonna be huge for them. We'll see what Hertz looks like this year. There's always a bunch of controversy with the Eagles every year with internal things and their fans are always going off on things and never like how things are looking. So it's always even when they're successful and they're having really good years, they're like ten and two, the fans are still upset that they lost those two games. So it's always funny to just kind of watch the Eagles every year. Taylor: Yeah, they get mad when Hertz throws one interception, but they're twelve and two and gonna be top two seed in the playoffs. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, so it's it's always just like I'm not a big Eels fan, mostly because of all those comments that everybody has to make about them, but Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: but yes. I have the Eagles at two. And then at three, I'm going with the New York Giants. I think with bringing Harbaugh in, I think that could be a huge asset for them to kind of get I won't say get them over the hump, but put them in the right direction this year. Kind of reinvent the culture this year. Yeah, some really good defensive pieces, some young defensive pieces on that team to follow. As long as I know this is pretty much say this with everybody, but as long as the like their offensive weapons can stay healthy, they can be a really really tough team team to beat. I think like with that defense, I think they're gonna be they could force some upsets in this division. And then I think on offense, Scattaboo and Jackson Dart, if neighbors is back fully s fully healthy. I think just those three guys focusing around those three guys can help them quite a bit, but I put at three 'cause I could see them winning multiple games in this division this year, but I can't quite see them overtaking the Eagles or Cowboys ahead of them. And then the last one I have the commanders at four, which they're picked to be last in this in this division technically, but There's a lot of unknown with the commanders this year. They had a really good first year with Daniels. Last year they did not look great. I know they had some injuries, but last year just complete drop off from what they were the year before. And then this year is just kinda unknown. Not really sure who's all there and who can help them get over that hump that they want to get to, but still got Daniels, still got Terry McLaurin too. That's a good they're gonna have to ride those guys as much as possible this year. other than that, I'm gonna switch it over to Taylor. I don't really have too much else to add to this to this division. Going Cowboys one, Eagles two, Giants three, Commanders four. Go ahead, T. Taylor: Nice. Well, I'm gonna start the same way with the Cowboys as my number one C number one team in the division. I agree with what you said and you didn't even mention their newest edition, Von Miller, who just signed yesterday. He is Lucas computer: Yes, yep, I forgot. Taylor: Yeah he's thirty seven years old, but he still had nine sacks last year, so it's more than Rashawn Gary had last year. So we'll we'll s we'll see what kind of edition that is. But with Roshan Gary too, he's still only twenty eight. I think he turns twenty nine sometime during the season. But like he could have a bounce back gear and maybe get some more explosion ex explosiveness back in his legs coming another year removed from the like the A C L injury. But yeah, it was just a little rough watching him last year, especially the second half of the year. So we'll see what he can do for Dallas. But Lucas computer: Yeah. Expe especially like when he needed to step up last year. It just wasn't there. So we'll see. See if he can do it for Dallas this year. But Taylor: Just just watching the difference of him and Micah Parsons chasing down a quarterback was just crazy to see. It's like wow, that's not even the same ballpark. Lucas computer: Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Taylor: But we'll we'll see what he can do for Big Dallas. And then I I like the other editions as well, a whole year of Quinn and Williams and Caleb Downs coming in on the back end of that defense. I think I think they set up for a definitely improved defense. It's hard to be worse than thirtieth or thirty-first, whatever they were last year. So I think even if they can crack the top twenty, that'd be a huge Huge improvement and would definitely help their division chances. So I like that a plus one eighty for them. And then second place they have the Eagles with agreeing with a lot of what Lucas said again. I think that Sean Mannion hire is going to be an interesting one because he was with Matt LaFleur and the Packers the last two years. So I think he could get a new little dimension to that offense and they don't have AJ Brown there complaining when he doesn't get the ball. And then the fans don't have to cry about AJ Brown not getting enough targets and and so on and so forth. So it may just be better overall and better vibes and and not having to hear that question every single week. Lucas computer: Big E big Eagles fans here. Taylor: Some of the worst fan base. One of the worst fan bases for sure. Lucas computer: Some great fan bases in this division right here. Taylor: So Yeah, a lot of annoying ones. And I'm around too many Cowboy fans. But go Cowboys. Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: But anyways, I don't even know where I was going with the s the Eagles 'cause I got all distracted about their fans being annoying. But yeah. I think it was only Sean Mannion. I'm excited to see what he can do with Jalen Hurts there. I think he'll bring some good good offensive staples from being with LaFleur for the last couple of years. So yeah, I think the offense could be better, but overall I think they're gonna take a step back and let the Cowboys pass them up this year. And then that means in In third place, I'm gonna go with the commanders. So I'm gonna switch it up from Lucas there. And I'm I went with the commanders just ca Jane Daniels, he looked so good his rookie year. And last year was just injury ridden and just was tough year all around. And then the holdout from Terry McLaurin and training camp and just a lot of things. So I think I think he's due for a bounce back year this year and the defense with Dan Quinn still being there, I think they're gonna be better this year and drafting Sonny Styles early. That's gonna be a big addition for them. And I see them being better than the Giants for sure, who I have in fourth place. And I just I'm not sure about Jackson Dart. I think he's obviously super talented. But I s he was in the blue tent again this weekend in the first week of preseason because he didn't even see a sack coming. He got lit up from the blind side of a sack and ended up in the blue tent again. And I saw some stat Lucas computer: Was it Taylor: of what what were you saying? Lucas computer: I was I was gonna say it wasn't even I even think it was on the blind side, it was on his strong side where Taylor: yeah. Lucas computer: he could see. Taylor: Yeah, I think he was just looking the other direction, so it almost seemed like a blind side. But y yeah, Lucas computer: Right off the right tackle and you just Taylor: you're you're right. I was like it seemed like it was blind side for some reason, but it shouldn't have been. But Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: yeah, I just I just don't know about his availability because that's sometimes we your best abilities when you're available. Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: So I I'm not sure. I saw something like of the seventeen or eighteen games he appeared in, including preseason, he's been in the medical tent, forty five percent of them or something in the mid forties, so it's like almost every other game he's in the blue tent getting checked out for a concussion or or something. So I hope that's not the case 'cause it seems like a fun guy to watch and with neighbors and OBJ's big return to New York and Scataboo and Isaiah Likely, that was a good tight end signing for them. I think they have some pieces that could it could be a pretty good team, especially with a solid defense. And I think they have good potential, but I just can't see it all all getting put together, at least this year. Maybe maybe Dart's a year year away from being really ready to ro rock and roll for the division. But that's why I went with them in fourth place. Lucas computer: they're like a lot of people are high in the Giants this year. I Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: think I I don't know if it's just because Harbaugh's there now, but like a lot of people are talking them up this year. Even though their odds are not the best in this division, but are not really too close to those top two teams. But yeah, it's just kind of interesting. It's gonna be an interesting year. Like you said, if Dart actually can stay on the field, it'll be interesting. But not where you want your starting QB to be isn't that blue medical tent. Taylor: Yeah. But if you look at the odds for the division picks, I surprisingly was only plus one thousand and Lucas was plus eleven hundred, so we're very similar. That kind of makes sense when the top two teams are close and the bottom two teams are right there with each other as well. Lucas computer: Yeah. Fo. Taylor: But it'll be an interesting Lucas computer: Do we Taylor: division. It's always the NFC East always seems like it can end up so weird and be close, or it's like one team pulling away, I feel like. So it's a fun division to see. Lucas computer: Yeah, for sure. It's it's always a battle too with these teams. Like Eagles Cowboys is always fun to watch, but I feel like the Giants always get one of those top two teams at least once every Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: year, so it's always fun to watch. But a lot of times it's a prime time Taylor: That's good. Lucas computer: game with these teams too, which is fun. Taylor: Yes. And Cowboys Eagles, that's always a prime time or Thanksgiving game or something like that. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah. Usually like the Giants. The Giants will have a prime time game against like the Eagles or the Cowboys a lot of times. And then those are the games you want to watch 'cause somehow the Giants just make it a good game. But already. Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: Anything else to add to this NFC East? Or you can move on. Taylor: Nope, fun pretty much ready to move on. Just got those two fun young quarterbacks and two solid veteran quarterbacks. So another another good NFC division. Lucas computer: Yeah, no no not really any changes quarterback wise for these teams, so got what you got. But we're gonna switch over to the NFC What's that? Taylor: I feel like they could all sorry, I was I was I could see them all being there for the next five, six, seven years too. So I think be some good rivalries for them there. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I could could be a fun division to follow, especially if you're a fan of of those teams. But we're gonna go to the NFC West now. NFC West in this division, we have Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco forty niners, and the Arizona Cardinals. So this is the very tight division with this top three teams. Not too tight with the Cardinals at the end here. Taylor: Good. Lucas computer: The longest odds to win their division, that is for sure. But Taylor: It's crazy. Lucas computer: if you're just listening right now and not following along on our graphic, the Rams have the best odds to win this division at minus 115. The Seahawks are second with plus 220. And then the 49ers are plus 340. And then they have the Arizona Cardinals at a whopping plus 10,000. That's insane. But Taylor: Yikes. Lucas computer: We will see we'll see what happens with this division. I'm gonna go through my picks really quick. This division could go anyway with these top three teams, especially those top two teams, but as it stands right now, I'm gonna go with the Rams to win this division. It's we've talked about them a few times already in this podcast, but with all the guys they brought in, still got Puka, they still got Defontae Adams, they still got the reigning VP on that team as well, so Just they're just so many weapons everywhere on offense, on defense. They're just so stout. So I'm going with the Rams for sure on this in this division. Gonna be tough in this division, obviously, with those other couple teams, but the Rams just I mean, on paper, they look amazing. We've also seen all these guys play. They're just so so good. So see what happens. And then Sean McVeigh pla being their head coach once again helps as well. So they got the culture installed. They just pretty much grab these good guys, toss them in, and they're good to go. but learn that our number two team is the Seahawks. Going with the Seahawks here, our Super Bowl defending champions. definitely could win this division again. Haven't lost too many guys this year. We'll see if they can continue that success on defense. Their defense is really solid last year. offensively, just kind of filling in filling that void. without Kenneth Walker, but I'm hoping Jerion Price from Notre Dame, who they drafted this year, I'm hoping he can kinda step in and kinda fill that role, which I think he can. Like didn't have a ton of carries 'cause he was behind Jeremiah Love, who many people know about and don't really know Price. But being st Taylor: Crazy backfield for college football. Lucas computer: yeah, yeah, being s being put behind him, not really getting any many touches every game, unless it's just like end of the game situation, but With that and then him still getting drafted. I can't remember what round it was, but a decent it was one of the s second or third round, I want to say. Maybe third round. Can't remember exactly what it was. But anyway, still getting drafted after being a backup running back for Notre Dame. It's crazy. So hoping he can step up for the Seahawks this year. So that'll be a name to watch out for for sure. If you're a fantasy football player or football owner, especially in a like a dynasty league, might be a guy you could try to pick up and snag. Taylor: Are you trying to shut out yourself there? Lucas computer: Tossing that out there. Yeah, I'm just really hoping he he pans out. I'm already s pretty sad on running backs, but need another young guy who would not really banged up because he didn't play in college very much. So awesome to see. Taylor: Or rock and roll. Lucas computer: But for Seahawks fans, you're definitely hoping that he's the guy to step in and kind of fill that void. Cash Arbonnet too, so should be okay coming off an injury, but should be okay at the running back position this year. Still have JSN as well. So they they're electric Cooper Cup as well. I know that's Taylor's guy. He reminded me last time. Hey, Cooper Cup still playing for the Seahawks. So you gotta remember that. but yeah, so I got Seahawks at two. Three, I have the forty niners, and we'll get into their injury issues at the end of these picks, but forty niners still a very dangerous team, bringing back a lot of guys off injury last year. So this is probably the team that everyone's thinking the most like. Hopefully they can stay healthy. Yeah, I think if this team's healthy, one of the best teams in the league, definitely competing for this division, just like they did last year. but yeah, I I don't have too much to say on the Fort Niners. Many people know they're they're big guys on the team and they're always contenders as long as they're healthy. So and then number four, Cardinals. Can't really pick them over anybody else. Not much to say on them. Taylor: Come on. Lucas computer: Maybe I'll just take those odds. Maybe Cardinals are gonna swing it around. Plus ten thousand. Might as well put a couple of bucks on that. Taylor: Michael Fleur, coach of the year. Lucas computer: Yeah, hoping hope Mike Fleur can swing the team around. It'd be kinda cool to see. Especially in that division. If he can swing him around in that division, that becomes probably, if it's not already, the strongest division in the NFL. But other than that, Cardinals, if they I'd love to see Carson Beck play a bit more in the preseason. I was disappointed to hear that he was not gonna play in the second preseason game. Maybe he'll be back soon. But so that could be interesting. Jeremiah Love looks electric to watch, so maybe I will tune in to some Arizona Cardinal games if I can. Doubt they're gonna be in any primetime games this year, but other than that, those are my picks for NFC West. What do you got for the NFC West T? Taylor: Well I'm just spoil any anticipation right away and I I'll just say I have the same exact picks as Lucas. So I think it's a pretty pretty fairly Lucas computer: Nice. Taylor: easy division to pick. Like who's who you gonna pick to beat the Rams? It's it's tough to come over with anyone and a and a a good reason why you wouldn't pick the Rams there. So I did the Rams, Seahawks, Niners, Cardinals as well. And it Definitely one of the best divisions of football right up there with the NFC North, I would say. And just three teams that could definitely make the playoffs and the Cardinals just being a fun up and coming and promising promising young team with a young coach and see if they can make some improvements and maybe in a couple of years be ready to compete in this division. But yeah, I pretty much agree exactly with what Lucas said. So I've I don't really have much else to add besides with what he said. So I think it's gonna be a a good one. Good one. And then A funny random question for you is last year the NFC North and NFC West had the two most wins as a division, with the West having forty one and the North having thirty eight. Who do you think gets it this year? Do you think that North has a chance to be get more wins than the West with how four of those good teams are and then the West only having three really good teams and the last ones struggle? Lucas computer: Yeah, I think I think the North could probably just because the Cardinals are there and might only win a couple games again this year, so I think that'll help. It'll also help like these those top three teams are gonna have some pretty tough schedules this year, I'd say. especially Rams, Seahawks maybe have some tough schedules. But yeah, I could see we're just like there's just a little more depth in N F C North for sure. Like me picking the Bears, you picking the Vikings to finish fourth in that division, says a lot about that division. Because those teams could Taylor: A good team. Lucas computer: definitely compete they could compete against anyone in the league and stack up with any team in the league. So yeah, I think I'd go with the NFC North. Do you say the West won Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: it last year, had the most? Taylor: yeah, they they'd forty one and it's funny to see the standings because the West is like fourteen, twelve, twelve and three. And the NFC North was eleven, nine, nine and nine. So you have very balanced that all could win ten games and three teams in the other one that could win twelve to fourteen games in the last place. But everyone's thinking the Rams are gonna go undefeated this year, so everyone's like, it would be the West Which Vegas actually has the The north's as as a favorite by like a plus two hundred and the west was plus three fifty. So surprising to see Vegas agree with that. So that that'll be just some fun little random thing. It's fun fun to keep track of who who what division gets the most wins and really shows your your division strength there. Lucas computer: Yeah, I didn't even know you could throw bets down for that, but the more you know. Taylor: But anything you want. Lucas computer: Is it's absurd how many things you can bet on now. Taylor: Yeah, it's crazy. Lucas computer: Absolutely absurd. Taylor: But fun to look at stuff like that. Lucas computer: Definitely. There's also one last thing I like to talk about. Well, one thing I want to touch on before this. The Rams, like I know team people probably think the Rams are gonna win a lot of games this year. It's still a really tough division to win all these games in. But also like there's so much parity in the NFL now. Like there's so many good teams in the NFL. We don't have just like a couple teams that are making a push forward every year. Like there's a handful at least, if not We had like seven or eight teams that could possibly win the Super Bowl every year. So it's not as easy. Like it's not like when the Patriots were winning Super Bowl after Super Bowl. Like there's only a couple teams in the league that could compete with them and beat them. it's not like like even when the Colts, when they won with Peyton, like they were just a dominant team as well back in the day. And then any like like I'm thinking of like the Broncos. It was twenty thirteen. Taylor: Yeah, I that sounds insane offense. Yeah. Lucas computer: That they were just they're I think it's 2013. Yeah, just untouchable offense. Like I think there's just so many like the talent is a lot more widespread. It's kind of similar to like the NBA, where there's so much talent now in the NBA. So like it's so much harder to win in the NBA, especially in the playoffs. Like teams are just so much better now. Like there's not just one or two teams that are just dominating everybody, but Some I could s like I could see the Rams still winning like twelve games this year. But I don't like I can't like people that think they're gonna win every single game, no problem. Just not not how it works usually in the NFL, but Taylor: Y Yeah. To to go with your point, the Broncos were thirteen and three that year and they scored thirty almost thirty eight points a game and they still lost three games that year. And you just quickly look Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah. Taylor: at the Rams schedule. Like you gotta play San Francisco twice, obviously home and away each time. You have to play Seattle home and away. Then they play Dallas at home, Green Bay, Kansas City. They have to go to Philadelphia, two Denver. They have to play Buffalo at home. Like that's That's a lot of tough games. So you're bound to lose at least two or three of those. Like it's not just gonna be cakewalk and even two Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: Tampa Bay at in week seventeen. Like that's that's a tough road game. So yeah, the Lucas computer: Mm-hmm. Taylor: the talk of going undefeated is crazy and I'd be shocked if we ever see that happen. So maybe we can clip this at the end of the year and I'll I'll be shocked, but it's it'll be Lucas computer: I'm gonna go on a limb. I'm just gonna say no one's going undefeated this year. Taylor: Yeah, I'll say for next ten years no one goes undefeated. Until Jordan Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah that Taylor: Love balls out and the Packers go undefeated next year or something like that. Lucas computer: Yeah. And just like the amount of luck you need to go undefeated is just insane. 'Cause with injuries, a lot of these games in the NFL you'll see week to week, they come down to like just one or two plays that just ended up winning the team a game. Like like Taylor: Yeah. Just a coin flip at the end of the day. Lucas computer: Yeah. Just like there is just so many talented teams and some weeks you're just not playing your best ball. Sometimes the ball's just not bouncing the right way, you know? Some of like basketball game you're You're just not shooting the ball really well for a game and you get beat, you know. Or the other team's just red hot. Same with same with football. Like they scheme it up, they get you a couple of times, then they end up being big plays. Or they end up getting a force fumble, an interception in a timely manner, special big sp special teams play, like anything can happen just so quickly. So so difficult. So difficult just to win a game in the NFL, let alone win every single game. So yeah. Taylor: I agree. Lucas computer: But I do want to throw up one last thing. Our Forty Niners fans, you guys gotta figure something out with this thing. This electrical substation. For one, your social media team, you guys have this in the back of every single picture. You guys can't go to the other side of the field and take a picture or a video from the other side of the field. Nope. The one thing with the biggest controversy about our team. Let's just throw that big old thing in the back of every single picture that we can possibly hand. Like, what are we doing? Like there's a laundry list of injuries already in the training camp. CMC just had something pop up now as well. Like we gotta figure this out. Let's just find a new location. They found management. Let's get out of here. We're going somewhere else. What are your thoughts on this, Taylor? Move this practice field. Taylor: I mean, couldn't just couldn't just say any better than what you just did right there. At least don't show it the background of every picture. Like that thing just looks crazy to see that in the background. Then you have that study that came out that didn't support like the Niners fraction next to it and that already started controversy and you have all his injuries already happening. It's like it's tough. It's tough to see. So that's why I don't think I can ever pick the Niners to win that division until they move practice fields. That that's the big secret. So they need to do that. But yeah, nothing else really to add to that. Lucas computer: Yeah. Niners fans, you're doomed. You guys practicing next to this thing. You're gonna keep practicing next Taylor: RF. Lucas computer: to this thing. Say say bye to Nick Bosa every year. Kittle Taylor: R I P. Lucas computer: All these guys just gonna be going down. Sad to see. You guys have a very talented team. But you got this Taylor: Yeah. For sure. Lucas computer: big old thing sitting next to your players every day all day. Didn't somebody go there? Wasn't there a team that went and practiced with them? Taylor: I feel like there was, but that's Lucas computer: Titans? Yeah. Titans, yeah, the Titans practice them. I don't know where they practice though. Taylor: Yeah. I'm not sure. I feel bad for the Titans if they had to do that in San Francisco. Lucas computer: Yeah, I'm guessing that they had joint practices just because of Salah being there. Taylor: Yeah. And they like to do that when you Lucas computer: Year before Taylor: play when when you play that team in a couple of days, you go there early and get some more work in against them and practice and reps and stuff like that. It's becoming more common Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah. Taylor: nowadays. Lucas computer: Looks like looks like they played in Santa Clara, so Taylor: Mm-hmm. Yep. But anyways, s speaking Lucas computer: Titans are over there if you get start getting some injuries. What's ahead? Taylor: of good teams, do you do you have the Niners good enough to be in your playoff picture or in a wild card? Lucas computer: Good question. We're gonna finish this up. We're gonna wrap this up with our NFC playoff pictures for this upcoming year. I'll start it off this time. I think you started last time. I'll get us going. Taylor: I don't think so. We'll we'll see if the electric substation scared you off or not. Lucas computer: It did not. You'll see the San Francisco 49ers on there. So here's a quick little look at my NFC playoff prediction. So I have my top four division winners. And then where I think they're end up record-wise. So at number one, I have the Rams. Gotta go with the Rams. I think they're gonna win the most games. Like I said though, not gonna win every game this year, but they're gonna win a lot of games this year. Tough schedule as well. but yeah, I got the Rams at one. I have the Packers. Coming in at two. I think they can have a really good season this year. I think they can win a lot of games this year. so yeah, I'm a little hopeful on that one because I keep getting like the seventh seed pretty much every year, but and just kind of sneaking into the playoffs. So hoping this is the year. Jordan Love stays healthy. They get get this team rocking and rolling. The floor's got these guys winning games. so yeah, I got them at two. I have the Cowboys at three. Not too much to say about that, but. Definitely think they're gonna have a better record than the Buccaneers. So I have the Buccaneers at number four. So those my top four seeds. Those are my divisional winners as well, obviously, because that's where they get placed. and for the wild card, I have the Seattle Seahawks at number five. I think they're gonna have the second best or the next best record after those divisional teams. Then I have the Eagles coming in at number six. After the Eagles, I have the forty niners being my last team to sneak in the playoffs. So if you look at that, I got Three teams from the same division. From the NFC West getting into the playoffs. So I do think they're going to win a lot of games outside of that. outside of their division. But as my teams that just missed, I have the Carolina Panthers just missing out. And then I have the Detroit Lions just missing out once again this year. So to recap, I have the Rams at one, Packers at two, Cowboys at three. Bucks at four, Seahawks at five, Eagles at six, Niners at seven, and then the Panthers, Lions just miss out on the playoffs. We'll see. We'll see if I'm right. We'll see if I'm wrong. Kind of going against w what's that? Taylor: it looks like some crazy fun playoff matchups for week one, if that's true with Niners, Packers, Bucks, Seahawks, and Cowboys, Eagles. Those are some fun playoff Lucas computer: yeah. Taylor: games. Lucas computer: Definitely fun. Tough, tough for those top those two through four seeds. That'd be very tough. But once you start put piecing it together, yeah, Taylor: Yeah, NFC's looking scary. Lucas computer: yeah. Once you start beating this piecing it together like this, it's like, dang, this is this is a tough conference. But just looking at that, I'm also thinking to myself, man, that's a lot of wins for the Niners again there. I'm like thinking about my power rankings that we threw out a couple weeks ago as well. Taylor: Mm-hmm. Lucas computer: kinda contradicting that a little bit already, just a couple of weeks later, because I got the Cowboys jumping everybody and jumping in three. Didn't even have in the top ten in my power rankings, but Taylor: I I thought that looked I thought that looked a little funny. I was like, Lucas, you d you you didn't like my cowboy pig being in the top ten when I had my power rankings up. Lucas computer: No, you know, all it takes is a couple's training camp videos to get you hyped about the season. The Cowboys got me. I see George Pickens one hand snags. I see C D just lighting people up, quick feet, gone. I'm just like Taylor: Well well we'll we'll we'll have to update our power rankings sometime soon so I can reflect that. Lucas computer: Yeah, maybe we'll I might do a power new power rank in week one. Taylor: Post training camp highlight real vibes power ranking. Lucas computer: Yeah. See these social media teams they got if they do a nice job, they can they can sway some opinions for sure. But Taylor: Sure. Lucas computer: anyway, I'm gonna share I'm gonna have Taylor talk about his NFC playoff picture. Taylor: Alright, this is the right looking playoff picture. So number one sea Lucas computer: This one looks a bit different. Taylor: Yeah, some different colors on the screen. But number one stays the same. The Rams, as what I said before. They seem inevitable to be the one seed. Like they're gonna have a good year. Good both sides of the ball could be top five. So not much else to say with them being the one seed and then the only team to get the first round by in the NFC. As well as a a big factor, especially when you see these wild card putt matchups, it's like it'd be nice to have that first round by but then number two and three, it was tough to pick between the Cowboys and Packers. But we won't let the Cowboys number two for some reason. I think maybe just getting to play the Giants and Commanders twice in the year that'll that'll help them and not have as tough of as a division schedule as the Packers. Like it's tough you got to play the Vikings, Bears and Lions twice compared to Commanders and Giants in a little bit different levels. I think they might sneak out an extra win in division games like that. So I have the Cowboys at two and the Packers at three, which I think skies the limit for the Packers. I think definitely the two seed two at the end of the day. And then number four, I have the young startup New Orleans Saints that looked really good at the end of the year last year. And promising additions to the offense this year. And it's always been a solid squad. And I see them coming out of the South as the division champions. And then the fifth, sixth, and sixth seed were the same as Lucas as well. Seahawks, Eagles just seems like always solid playoff teams, usually in the picture. So you gotta expect them to be right there at five and six. And that makes for some tough playoff games for sure when those two teams have to come in as a wild card. It doesn't feel like you're playing a wildcard team. And then the Lions at seven, that'd be that'd be another scary one with that lethal offense to see them coming to town. It was It'd be tough. So it's it's gonna be a a really fun NFC. I'm so excited to see how it plays out this year. And that makes like the just missed team. So that was almost hard to pick. So I went with the Bears just 'cause I don't think they're gonna fall off too much, but nine wins may not get you in the playoffs this year. Like last year, where the Vikings and Lions both missed it at nine and eight. So it's gonna It's gonna be tough. And then the the Niners, I think the substation may get one or two too many players and made me feel then they didn't make me feel too good about picking them as being in the playoffs. So I put them right there on the bubble because even with a lot of injuries, Kyle Shannon always has a solid team and they're always winning games no matter who's on the field. But that is who I went with for my playoff picture. And it's tough leaving teams like the Panthers off. Like that was that was a tough one not to put on the screen, or the Buccaneers. Like so it's it's tough conference. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, that looks it like it just looks strange seeing the Saints in the playoff picture. Like but that's a very realistic thing that could happen for sure. Taylor: Yeah. And being pretty close to New Orleans, I get a lot of Saints games on TV down here. So it's pretty easy to keep up with the Saints. So kind of becoming a Saints fan just a little bit. Just a little bit. You gotta have some Southern team. Lucas computer: Gotta support the teams that are local. Taylor: Exactly. And it's not the Cowboys, the Chiefs, so it's okay. Lucas computer: Yeah, not gonna be cheering for those teams. I did pick them in some things, but I'm not gonna cheer for them. Taylor: Yeah. I asked you this last week, what what division do you think has a chance to go from worst to first from the NFC side? Would you go with the Lions, Saints, Cardinals, or Giants? You had some interesting options over the Saints and Lions. Lucas computer: Yeah, out of those out of those four I'd those are definitely the two teams. Like I could see the Saints. Like you picked the Saints to make that jump this year. The Lions, I think I feel like the Lions probably have the best chance to do that, just because they that team has had success in the past, so I think they could find that again for sure. Like same s same coaching staff they've had success with, the same players pretty much that they had success with. So I could definitely see that. But yeah, I go with Taylor: Nice. Lucas computer: the Lions. It's hard to think that the lines were worse, but Taylor: It's pretty pretty funny to see that both of those are in there. But like the Lions have the easiest schedule and the Saints are the third easiest schedule. So both the both their schedules kind of set up nicely for them to have good years. Lucas computer: Yeah, that pans out for them for sure then. There are any teams that you think could drop off in this conference this year from last year? Taylor: The pairs. Lucas computer: Think so? That's the team. Taylor: Yeah. Yeah. I mean when your quarterback completes fifty eight percent of his passes, it's it's hard to be Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: a consistent winner. I mean maybe he jumps it up to like sixty two or sixty-three percent this year and and things look a lot better there, but which certainly could happen. I'm hoping not because I'd be kinda scared if the Bears get something like that 'cause he had some nice nice like touchdown stats and yards up for competing completing just fifty eight percent of his passes. So but They had a a Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: weird schedule last year, pretty easy one with a lot of bad games and they barely beat the Raiders, as they said, and the Commanders and they were a couple of miracles second half comebacks against the Packers at the end of the year, away Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: from not even like being a playoff team. So I'm not too worried about them, but that's the one I think set up most for a regression. I could also see the Niners too if they can't stay healthy. Like C Mac's not young anymore, Mike Evans Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: isn't young, like Bosa, Warner, all those guys on defense are just a little bit older. And most of their coming off of major injuries from the year before. So I'm a little worried about them. What about what about you? Lucas computer: Yeah. These kind of questions, but definitely the Bears. Like like I always forget that Caleb's will Caleb Williams completion percentage is not not very high. Like you said getting up to sixty two percent. That still doesn't even put him as like a mid range quarterback up in that range. Like most of those guys are like sixty five percent or better. So Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what the Bears. That's it'll be an intriguing year with the Bears because a lot of their wins last year were like those comeback wins or like just like last second things where they just Taylor: Mickey Mouse wins. Wait, call Mickey Mouse winds. Lucas computer: Yeah. The mic the Bears are just so Mickey Mouse their wins. They need to go out and dominate. But hey, Ben Johnson, he's gonna get them boys Taylor: Yeah. Yeah, he talks too much too. Sorry. Lucas computer: Yeah. Taylor: Yeah, did you see his quotes about wanting to set records and all that other stuff? Lucas computer: Yeah. Yep, they're gonna be the Taylor: I'm like Lucas computer: best offense ever. Taylor: Well, you are one annoying coach. That's all I know. Lucas computer: Maybe we'll have a maybe we'll maybe we'll make a list and be top ten most annoying coaches in the NFL. Taylor: Ben Johnson, number one. Yeah, Ca Caleb Williams was thirty-fourth in the NFL in percentage completion percentage last year. Thirty fourth, and there's only thirty two starting quarterbacks in the National Football League. Lucas computer: Interesting. Very interesting. Taylor: So yikes. Yikes. But hey, maybe he'll figure it out. So Lucas computer: Maybe I'll think. Anyway. Taylor: And be the highest score in offense ever, yeah. Whatever, Ben. Lucas computer: We're gonna keep we'll be slandering the bears quite a bit on here. So if you're a Bears fan, you probably don't wanna keep listening to us, but if you wanna get an argument in the comment section, feel free. Go ahead. See what happens. Let's get please tell me how the Bears are. This is their year. You got the coach, you Taylor: Every year Lucas computer: found the one. Taylor: and every year they'll leave the they're the off season champs or the best team after the NFL off season. They made the best moves. Lucas computer: I mean, now when you look at this graphic we got up here, it's kinda weird. The Bears have worse odds to win the NFC championship game compared to the Packers and the Lions. Taylor: Yeah. Vegas knows the drop off is coming. Lucas computer: They know. They know. Anyway, really quick, we're just gonna talk NFC Championship winner odds as well. We talked about this last week at the AFC. Just gonna run down the list really quick. The best odds to win the NFC Championship are the Rams, of course, at plus two seventy. Decent amount of a jump here. The Seahawks are two at plus six hundred. And then as we go down the list, it gets a little bit tighter, but it goes Eagles, Lions, Forty Niners. Packers, cowboys, bears, Vikings, Buccaneers, Giants, Commanders, Falcons, Saints at the bottom. Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: Dang, they got the Panthers lower than that? Taylor: Yeah, the the Panthers are plus forty five hundred and then the Cardinals are plus fifteen thousand, so Yeah. Lucas computer: I'm sorry, Panth or not Panthers fans, old Panther fans too, but I'm sorry Cardinals fans. I don't know how you get excited for the season being a big NFL football fan and the Cardinals are your favorite. This is this is tough. Taylor: Same odds as the Dolphins do the AFC West, so two worst teams. Lucas computer: Fift fifteen thousand plus fifteen thousand? Taylor: Yeah. It's pretty rough. Lucas computer: That's insane. Taylor: One dollar wins you one fifty, so go for it. Lucas computer: Think I'm just gonna throw a dollar on that. Taylor: I can't believe the Panthers are way down at plus forty five hundred. That's pretty surprising. Lucas computer: Yeah, I thff that might be the bet to take everybody right there. Panthers plus forty five hundred to win the NFC. I can't believe they're lower than the Saints and Falcons yet again. Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: And the Gi and the Giants. Taylor: That middle of the N A N F C gets pretty crazy with the Packers, Cowboys, Bears, all those teams really close to each other. Lucas computer: Yeah. Yeah, that's that's gonna interesting. As you can see all our all our playoff picks are all sit near the top. Taylor: Yes, sir. Lucas computer: I don't think we had any difference. Yeah, other than your saints. Your saints are down their way, but Taylor: Go Saints. Lucas computer: That's the division on there. We'll see. Taylor: Yeah. Lucas computer: Always interesting. Always interesting what happens throughout the year. Like you look at all this stuff, you look back on all this stuff towards the end of the year, and it's completely different than what everybody assumes that's gonna happen. So Taylor: Always some surprises along the way and that's what makes the season so much fun. Lucas computer: This is why we follow along. This is why we get all excited during training camp. Yeah, every team right now has a chance to win the Super Bowl. Every single one. Taylor: Every team's even, zero and zero. Lucas computer: Yeah. Everyone knows this is the best time of year to get excited about the season again. You're hoping your team is gonna have a better season than last year. Some of us hope our team's gonna get to the Super Bowl. Some teams are just trying to win a couple games. Some of us, like Packers fans, been waiting fifteen years for another Super Bowl. Doesn't sound quite as bad when you say it like that. Taylor: At least you Yeah, at least you can say say an another Super Bowl, that's always a good thing. At least not win a Super Bowl. Lucas computer: Yeah, yeah, it's better than saying win a Super Bowl. Sorry, Vikings fans. Who else has never won? Taylor: The bills? Lucas computer: Yeah, the Bills. Bills, Vikings. Taylor: I I don't I don't think the have the Lions one on? Lucas computer: Yeah, I don't know about the lines. Let's figure this out. Taylor: I can't remember. It just shut my computer. Lucas computer: Who has never won a Super Bowl? my goodness. There's a lot of Taylor: But there's more than what you think for sure. I think the Texans obviously never won one 'cause they're new. The Jag Wars I don't think Lucas computer: Yeah. So there's twelve Taylor: have. Lucas computer: twelve teams have never won the Super Bowl. Four teams have never appeared in the Super Bowl. Four teams have never even appeared. The Browns, the Lions, the Texans, and the Jaguars. Taylor: Mm. Lucas computer: I think the Lions Lions and Texans probably get the best shot the next couple years out of Taylor: I'd say Texans. Lucas computer: that out of those four. Taylor: Texans 'cause I play in the AFC and not with the Rams in the NFC. Lucas computer: Yeah. For sure. And then I think some teams that have never still never won, but they've made it to the Super Bowl before. The Bills, the Vikings, the Bengals, the Falcons, the Panthers, the Cardinals, the Chargers, and the Titans. Interesting, interesting list. Taylor: Good teams on that list. Lucas computer: Yeah, the Bengals got to it not too long ago. The Vikings Taylor: Mm-hmm. Lucas computer: have had some decent seasons the last handful of years. The Bills Taylor: Bill's kid. Chuck. Lucas computer: Chargers get a chance. Taylor: Char charges, yep. Yep. Be a good year in the NFC. Lucas computer: Yeah, rest of these teams. I can't see the rest of these teams getting there or winning the Super Bowl, but yeah, other than that, we can wrap this up. We've been talking long enough on this on this episode. It's still the preseason and we're talking for almost two hours on here. So anyway, if there's anybody out there Taylor: Thanks for listening. Lucas computer: if there's anybody still listening to us ramble and try to be interesting. about preseason football. There's only a couple weeks away. We're getting things kicked off soon. We're gonna talk college football probably pretty soon as well. Then once we actually get into the season, only a couple months in, we'll be talking some NBA stuff and then college basketball as well. So excited excited for all the seasons to get get going here. But thank you all for listening. Thank you for watching. Please like comment, follow us, subscribe, whatever platform you're on, give us a follow, give us a give us a share, tell your friends about us. We appreciate all the support. Other than that, take it easy. Take care of yourselves this next week. We'll be back next week. Be easy. See you on the Taylor: See ya. Lucas computer: next one.