Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the NFL head coaching vacancies. Multiple outlets have suggested that the Las Vegas Raiders gig is the best that will (eventually) become available, but it's hard to make that kind of assessment given that their interim coach could still conceivable keep the job. Right now, the most desirable job has to be the Denver Broncos. If they can get their quarterback situation in order, the rest of that roster is ready-made for a deep playoff run. Later, Jason shares his thoughts on Dwyane Wade's assertion that the younger generations will forget about Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate the same way we forget about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar now. Wade is right; Future generations are more likely to call someone like LeBron James the GOAT simply because he was the greatest they ever actually saw... and then the next generation will pick someone else. That's the way these things work. Finally, Jason tells us why the Philadelphia 76ers decision not to trade Ben Simmons could come back to bite them in a big way. Can Daryl Morey really afford to waste another year of Joel Embiid's prime just to prove a point? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Pro Football Focus All-Pro team which inexplicably left presumptive MVP Aaron Rodgers off altogether. According to PFF, both Tom Brady and Joe Burrow are more deserving of an All-Pro nod than Rodgers. This seems egregious on its face, that is unless you understand ‘how the sausage is made’ in sports media. PFF is clearly trying to cut through and get folks talking about them – and it worked. Later, Jason discusses the biggest difference between the vaunted Sean McVay Coaching Tree and the disappointing Bill Belichick Coaching Tree. The NFL has clearly moved away from the militaristic style that worked so well in New England; Players these days seem to respond much better to younger, offensive-minded coaches. Finally, our fearless leader does a deep dive into the pitiful College Football Playoff championship game ratings. Monday night’s title game between Alabama and Georgia were the 2nd lowest of the CFP era. Is it possible that sports fans are just tired of Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide? Does the CFP format need to be changed altogether to get fans from the West and Midwest more engaged? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G share their thoughts on the University of Georgia's thrilling victory over the University of Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game. Stetson Bennett made a few clutch plays late for the Dawgs offense, and the Georgia defense harassed Heisman winner Bryce Young all night. However, given that Alabama lost their top two wide receivers in their last 3 games, is it really fair to blame Young for the Crimson Tide's inability to put up points? These were two evenly matched teams so naturally Young losing his top two weapons on the outside was going to play a bigger role that most would expect. Later, the guys dive deep into the Miami Dolphins peculiar decision to fire head coach Brian Flores on Black Monday. There had been very little public speculation from any reputable reporter regarding any disconnect between Flores and the Dolphins front office - so what gives? How much did Flores' mismanagement of Tua Tagovailoa have to do with it? Did Dolphins owners Stephen Ross already have a replacement in mind? We'll find out soon enough. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the Las Vegas Raiders' thrilling overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams to clinch a spot in the postseason. Tip of the cap to Derek Carr and the Raiders who navigated an extremely tumultuous regular season to get to the playoffs, but let’s be real here, the Chargers choked that game away. Head coach Brandon Staley made two boneheaded decisions (Going for it on 4th down in third quarter and then inexplicably calling a timeout in overtime when the Raiders were content going for the tie) that ultimately cost his team a playoff berth. Staley deserves all of the criticism he's going to be getting on Monday. Later, the guys to a quick lookahead at all of the NFL Playoff matchups and tell us which underdogs are most likely to pull an upset during Wild Card weekend. Finally, former University of Alabama quarterback and WJOX Birmingham radio host Greg McElroy swings by to preview the College Football Playoff national championship between Alabama and Georgia, discuss what it was like quarterbacking the Crimson Tide to a national title under Nick Saban, share his thoughts on the pros and cons of Name Image and Likeness in college football - including how former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams is working the system, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the latest in the ongoing soap opera between Antonio Brown and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not only did AB take to social media to try and ‘expose’ everyone from Bruce Arians to Tom Brady, but now we’ve got a woman coming out of the woodwork suggesting that Brown may have spread COVID to the rest of the team after a late-night tryst. Unfortunately, Brown is getting all the attention he so desperately craves. Later, Jason does a deep dive into the entire NFL Week 18 slate, including the de facto play-in game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders, if the Los Angeles Rams can expect ‘good’ Matthew Stafford to show up against the Arizona Cardinals, how the Antonio Brown saga could impact the Bucs this Sunday, the supposed last stand for guys like Mike Zimmer and Russell Wilson, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by reminding all you NBA fans to pump the brakes a bit on the hype surrounding Kyrie Irving’s return to the court. The Indiana Pacers’ backcourt has been decimated by injuries and protocols. What's more, Kyrie still hasn't shown that he can win without LeBron James, so what are we all so excited about anyway? Later, Jason tells us why it's hard to believe Antonio Brown's story about why Bruce Arians decided to cut AB in the middle of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' game on Sunday. Not only is AB's version of events questionable at best, but his track record of misbehavior makes it almost impossible to give him the benefit of the doubt. We should note, however, that there is one specific reason why the Bucs still haven't formally cut ties with Brown - and it has everything to do with the NFL playoffs. Finally, Football Outsiders' NFL analyst Aaron Schatz swings by to explain why the Green Bay Packers should be viewed as the favorites to win the Super Bowl even if they aren't the best team in football according to his metrics, why the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys' ability to blow out the bad teams during the regular season should bode well for them in the postseason, why the Buffalo Bills - and not the Kansas City Chiefs - should be viewed as the best team in the AFC, why this season has proven that the gap between Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff isn't as big as we originally thought, why the Tennessee Titans could be the worst 1-seed team in NFL playoff history, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few words on Kyrie Irving's impending return to the court for the Brooklyn Nets. Kyrie's return couldn't come at a better time for the NBA as the League has gotten pretty stale as of late. Later, our fearless leader take a verbal blowtorch to NFL MVP voter Hub Arkush who said during a radio interview that he would not vote Aaron Rodgers for MVP because the Green Bay Packers quarterback is a 'jerk' and a 'bay guy'. Seriously. Arkush added that Rodgers might not even be as valuable to his team as Jonathan Taylor is to the Indianapolis Colts or Cooper Kupp is to the Los Angeles Rams. First off, there isn't a single player who is more valuable to his team that a great quarterback is to theirs. That goes without saying. More importantly, it's guys like Arkush who give the media a bad name because they let their own personal biases sway their reporting and commentary. Any objective person can see that Aaron Rodgers should win MVP; He has the counting stats and the eye test on his side. For Arkush not to vote for Rodgers is just willful ignorance. Finally, Jason closes the show with a thorough explanation as to why nobody in the AFC playoff picture should fear the top-seeded Tennessee Titans. Sure, they're capable of beating the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, but they've also shown they're capable of losing to the Houston Texans and the New York Jets. The TItans are too inconsistent to be trusted. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on what was likely Ben Roethlisberger's final home game as the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. Big Ben was mostly ineffective as a passer, but he did just enough to win the game. It was eerily similar to how Peyton Manning looked during his final season with the Denver Broncos. Now, Ben's Steelers won't win a Super Bowl like Peyton's Broncos did, but you get the point. On the flip side, Baker Mayfield was bad and his team lost. Mayfield has clearly regressed as a quarterback this season and it's hard to believe the Browns won't be looking for a potential replacement this offseason. One quarterback who could make sense for Cleveland is Las Vegas Raiders' starter Derek Carr. Carr has navigated a tumultuous season in Vegas and actually has his team in position to make the playoffs if they can get a win this Sunday. However, noted Raiders fan Producer Rob G still isn't so sure that the the Silver and Black should absolutely bring Carr back to the team in 2022. It's definitely a situation that should be monitored. Finally, the guys close the show with a deep dive into Caleb Williams' decision to leave the Oklahoma Sooners and enter the transfer portal. The transfer portal is something that should be embraced by college football fans, not chastised. If the Average Joe can enjoy the freedom to do whatever makes him happy then why can't a college athlete do the same? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason is back from parts unknown (but still dealing slight audio issues) to share his thoughts on all the craziness that took place in the NFL during Week 17. First off, can you believe that Antonio Brown actually quit on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the middle of a game? Of course you can. Brown is one of the best wide receivers we've ever seen, but to say that he's a malcontent would be an understatement - both in the locker room and in his personal life. It's highly unlikely we'll ever see him in the NFL again. The Bucs weren't the only Super Bowl contending team to have a rough go of it on Sunday. Outside of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, every single contender struggled mightily. The Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams squeaked by inferior competition while the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs lost games outright. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys haven't beaten a good team in months so their home loss to the Arizona Cardinals probably wasn't much of a surprise, but Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs had been playing like the best team in football... until you realize that they've been getting fat on a lot of injured rosters and bad quarterbacks. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase absolutely carved up the Chiefs defense. It was so bad that you'd be crazy not to second-guess the Chiefs as being the clear favorites to win the AFC. Sticking in the AFC, Jason used the Tennessee Titans' blowout win over the Miami Dolphins as an excuse to take an absolute blowtorch to Tua Tagovailoa. Things got so bad, in fact, that Jason actually argued he would rather have Zach Wilson over Tua moving forward. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick lookahead to the College Football Playoff championship game between Georgia and Alabama. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason joins us from parts unknown (as you can tell by the audio quality) to explain how he's been able to make a little money betting on the college football bowl season. In a world where most of the best players are opting out and half the games are getting canceled due to COVID, our fearless leader managed to find an edge. Plus, Jason explains why he's expecting Ben Roethlisberger to take a loss in what should be his final home game as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. On the bright side, with Big Ben on the way out, the Steelers suddenly become one of the top destinations for disgruntled quarterbacks looking for a change of scenery - like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Later, professional sports bettor Brad Powers swings by to handicap the College Football Playoff games between Georgia, Michigan, Alabama and Cincinnati, and share some quick thoughts on a few of his favorite bets for the NFL weekend. Finally, Jason closes the show with the NFL Week 17 edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kicks things off with a deep dive into the Miami Dolphins' suffocating win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. It was Miami's 7th consecutive win. Now, before you start calling the Dolphins a legitimate threat in the AFC, let's not forget that they've faced arguably the worst group of quarterbacks in the NFL over the past month. Speaking of poor quarterback play, did you see that Ian Book performance last night for New Orleans? Saints fans are longing for the days of Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill after that performance. New Orleans should be in the market for a new quarterback next season, but will their salary cap situation allow them to be serious players for the top guys? Doubt it. Finally, the guys close the show by trying to predict how the NFL quarterback carousel will turn in 2022. Would a Super Bowl be enough to keep Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay? Is Russell Wilson a lock for the New York Giants? Can Jimmy G hold on to the San Francisco 49ers starting gig for one more season? The guys have the answers to all those - and more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things with a few thoughts on his recently deceased Survivor Pool entry. Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers laid an egg against the Houston Texans, costing our fearless leader a chance at over $80,000 in winnings. It's a tough pill to swallow, for sure, but these Chargers have been the model of inconsistency for most of the season so we probably shouldn't be too surprised. On the flip side, shout out to Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys for blowing the doors off the Washington Football Team right out of the gates. Not only did it allow the gamblers to watch the second half stress-free knowing that the cover was in the bag, but it allowed all the East Coast football fans to hit the hay at a reasonable hour. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so banged up and Matthew Stafford reverting back to 'Lions Stafford' on Sunday, the Cowboys have a strong case for being the 2nd best team in the NFC behind the Green Bay Packers. On the coaching front, we've known for a while that that the Russell Wilson-Pete Carroll pairing was destined for a divorce at the end of this season (and Sunday's inexplicable loss to Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears only cemented that fact), but is it time for Steelers ownership to reconsider Mike Tomlin's future in Pittsburgh? The Steelers have been historically bad in the first halves of games the entire season - and that speaks directly to Tomlin's lack of preparation. On Sunday, Pittsburgh fell into a 23-0 first half hole against the Kansas City Chiefs on their way to a 36-10 blowout loss. Yikes. Finally, Jason closes the show with a Monday Night Football New Orleans Saints vs Miami Dolphins edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a few thoughts on the Tennessee Titans’ win over the San Francisco 49ers. AJ Brown put on a hell of a show, but the big story to come out of this one was the performance of Jimmy Garoppolo. Jimmy G killed the Niners offense several times throughout the night, and proved once again that he’s Just a Guy. The only question then becomes: If Jimmy G is JAG, then why hasn’t Trey Lance taken the starting job from yet? Later, Straight Outta Vegas on FOX Sports Radio host Bernie Fratto swings by to promote his new book 'The View From the Cheap Seats', and discuss why he expects we'll see a Alabama vs Georgia rematch in the College Football Playoff Championship game, why he wasn't shocked at all to see the Detroit Lions upset the Arizona Cardinals last week, why he expects the Los Angeles Chargers to roll over the Houston Texans - even if he is very skeptical of their coach's infatuation with analytics, why he's staying away from Baltimore Ravens-Cincinnati Bengals from a gambling perspective, why he expects both the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers to cover as heavy underdogs this weekend, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with the NFL Week 16 edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason hits you a very brief - yet highly entertaining - conversation about how COVID has absolutely wrecked the college football bowl season. We haven't even reached Christmas yet and we've already seen one Power-5 team pull out of a bowl game altogether, a 5-7 team being forced to bring their kids back early from holiday break so they can fill in, and the College Football Playoff committee publicly declare that a team could win the national championship via forfeit. This whole thing is crazy - and that's not even counting the college basketball season which has already gone off the rails before it's even really begun. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Thursday Night Football Tennessee Titans vs San Francisco 49ers edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the Philadelphia Eagles' win over the Washington Football Team. The Eagles win kept Jason alive in the vaunted Survivor Pool, but the story of the game was Jalen Hurts. The second year quarterback threw for almost 300 yards in the win, and after the contest folks in the Twitterspere started calling him a 'franchise quarterback'. Wait, what?! Did they forget that Washington's defense was missing most of their starters? Or that Hurts had failed to eclipse 180 yards passing in the five previous games? Pump the brakes on the Hurts Hype; He hasn't proven anything yet. Later, the guys share their thoughts on the Los Angeles Rams' victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and the boys seem to be peaking at the right time. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receiving core in shambles at the moment and the Dallas Cowboys offense in an overall funk, you could easily make a case for the Rams as the 2nd best team in the NFC. Finally, the guys close the show with a few thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers' ugly loss to the Phoenix Suns. LeBron James is too old to carry this depleted roster anymore. Jason says it's time to seriously consider the idea that the Lakers won't make the playoffs, while Rob G insists that they'll still end up winning the NBA championship (assuming they get their full roster together at some point). Guess we'll just have to wait and see on this one. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kick things off with a few thoughts on the Monday Night Football double-header that saw the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears. Neither game was particularly entertaining, but the mere fact that we had an extra game on Monday Night is still something to be celebrated. What’s more, as sports wagering and fantasy football becomes more mainstream, it gives fans an added reason to watch a game that they otherwise probably would not. Later, Producer Rob G explains why he believes the Kyrie Irving situation with the Brooklyn Nets and the Antonio Brown situation with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is actually pretty similar. In both instances, the powers that be had an about face towards their controversial superstars as soon as it became clear that they couldn't win without them. Would the Nets have allowed to become a part-time player if they felt they would win a title with just Kevin Durant and James Harden? Would the Bucs have welcomed AB back in the fold if Chris Godwin and Mike Evan were healthy? It's a fascinating discussion. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Thursday Night Football double-header Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Football Team and Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the New Orleans Saints' shutout victory over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's clear over the last two seasons that Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen owns Brady, and may have single-handedly cost the GOAT his 4th MVP award. The Bucs better hope they don't end up facing New Orleans in the playoffs. Sticking in the NFC, the Green Bay Packers look like they'll be running away with the top overall seed in the playoffs thanks to yet another coach (Baltimore's John Harbaugh) getting drunk on analytics. The Ravens had a chance to steal a win over the Packers - with their backup quarterback, no less - but fumbled the bag with an ill-advised call to 'go for 2' late. It's clear that Harbaugh learned nothing from that Brandon Staley debacle on Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Later, Jason throws a little love at Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts after their big win on Saturday night over the New England Patriots. The Pats knew exactly what was coming... and they still couldn't stop Indy. The Colts know exactly who they are, and that makes them a very dangerous team should they make the postseason. On the flip side, the Dak Prescott-led Dallas Cowboys and the Ben Roethlisberger-led Pittsburgh Steelers both seem to be dealing with a crisis of identity. The Cowboys have worlds of talent on offense but they've been getting bailed out by their defense over the past month, and the Steelers believe they're a well-prepared team but their first halves say otherwise. After running though a series of Sunday headlines, Jason takes a minute to pour one out for all the Los Angeles Lakers fans out there. Superstar big man Anthony Davis will miss at least a month with a knee injury, and now it's time to seriously consider the idea that they might not make the playoffs. The roster was already clunky to begin with (We're looking at you, Russell Westbrook), but all these injuries coupled with the COVID outbreak are starting to take their toll. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special COVID-induced Monday Night Football double-header (Cleveland Browns vs Las Vegas Raiders / Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears) edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kicks things off with a full breakdown of the Kansas City Chiefs' overtime victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football. The Chargers had this game in hand and their head coach Brandon Staley blew it. Staley's decision to 'go for it' throughout the game rather than kick the field goal and take 3 points (on at least three separate occasions) doomed Los Angeles; There's a difference between being aggressive and being stupid - and Staley's choices were stupid. Had the Chargers kicked the field goal in any of those spots, they win the game. Heck, had they kicked the field goal in all of those spots they probably win in a blowout. With the AFC playoff race tightening up, the Chargers have to be kicking themselves this morning for letting this game slip away (pun intended). Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special NFL Week 15 edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks thing off with a few thoughts on the Jacksonville Jaguars decision to fire Urban Meyer (in the middle of the night). Few people were as high on the Meyer hire to begin with than J-Mac, so it's only fair that our fearless leader to make his medicine on this one. Urban wasn't just bad in Jacksonville, if you factor in all the off-the-field drama, he was arguably the worst coach in NFL history. Later, Bleacher Report NBA writer and author Jake Fischer swings by to discuss his report that the Los Angeles Lakers have internally discussed the idea of trading Russell Westbrook, why he doesn't actually expect the Lakers will be able to deal Westbrook, what kind of trade package the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for in any Ben Simmons trade, if should expect Damian Lillard to try and force his way out of Portland in the near future, how the play-in tournament could impact the futures of Zion Williamson and Bradley Beal, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a Thursday Night Football Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason celebrates Steph Curry becoming the NBA's all-time 3-point leader by sharing a few of his favorite Curry stories. Did you know that Steph was Jason's first ever guest on his previous podcast? Have we ever told you about the time Jason ran into Steph at a local gym and suggested that the Warriors should sign Giannis Antetokounmpo in free agency? In any event, Curry is one of the most respected and well-liked athletes in all of sports. Moreover, if he keeps up his current pace, there's an outside chance of him cracking the list of the top-10 players in NBA history. Later, New York Post New York Jets beat writer Brian Costello swings by to discuss why he's been so underwhelmed by rookie quarterback Zach Wilson this season, if we should expect to see left tackle Mekhi Becton back on the field any time soon, why it may take another 2-3 years before the Jets are a competitive team again, what's gone wrong for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills this season, why we shouldn't be surprised that Bill Belichick has been able to turn the New England Patriots around so quickly even without Tom Brady, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Los Angeles Rams' road win over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. It was a 'coming out party' of sorts for Matthew Stafford who finally showed that he's capable of beating elite teams. The knock on Stafford for most of his career was that his gaudy stats never actually translated to wins for the Detroit Lions. That narrative can officially be put to bed. Stafford went on the road against the top-seeded Cardinals and put on an incredible show. If he can duplicate this type of performance in the playoffs then the Rams can absolutely win the Super Bowl. On the flip side, it's hard not to have doubts about the Arizona Cardinals after this game. The Cardinals are a finesse team who by virtue of this loss may have to play a road playoff game in the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Good luck with that. Moving over to college football, let's have a round of applause for Spencer Rattler who decided to take his talents from the cushy Big 12 (Oklahoma) to the rugged SEC (South Carolina). It's entirely possible that he gets exposed by the tough defenses he'll face week-to-week in the SEC, but you have to appreciate the willingness to challenge himself. Finally, Jason closes the show with a few thoughts on Steph Curry and his quest to break the all-time 3-point record. It's serendipitous that Curry is going to break the record at Madison Square Garden given that much of the buzz on Draft Night in 2009 was that the New York Knicks wanted to draft him. The only question at this point isn't whether or not he'll break the record, but rather, how long will it stand? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Buffalo Bills' gut-punch loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady has the look of the presumptive MVP, but this was a game that the Bills desperately needed to keep pace in the AFC. Last season, Josh Allen and the Bills looked they had 'next' in the AFC. Now? They might miss the playoffs altogether. In the NFC, it's hard not be impressed by the Dallas Cowboys defense these days. With Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory finally back healthy, the Cowboys suddenly boast one of the most well-rounded defenses in all of football. If Dak Prescott and the offense can get back on track, Dallas should make some serious noise in the postseason. By the way, have you been paying attention to what the San Francisco 49ers have doing as of late? Jimmy Garoppolo has been rock-solid under center the last few weeks, and now the thought of a quarterback controversy in 2022 doesn't seem so farfetched anymore. Speaking of quarterback controversies, the Baltimore Ravens are in a tough spot when it comes to Lamar Jackson's contract extension. On one hand, a former MVP should be able to set the market on his next deal. On the other, Jackson still has room to grow as a pocket passer and it's hard to assume that teams would be falling over themselves to break the bank for him if he were to hit free agency. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Monday Night Football Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings wild victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. Minnesota raced out to a 29-0 lead in the third quarter… and nearly gave it all back. Had Pat Freiermuth been able to hold on to the ball in the end zone on the last play of the game, Pittsburgh might have been able to steal this one in overtime. It was the most ‘Vikings’ game of all-time. The one positive that Minnesota can take from this game, though, is that Dalvin Cook looked great in his first game back from injury. The Vikings should be able to lean on Cook here down the home stretch. Later, former NFL Scout Chris Landry swings by to discuss what it was like working with Bill Belichick and Nick Saban on the Cleveland Browns staff back in the day, how Belichick and Saban's style of evaluating players differs, why so many NFL scouts - including himself - missed on Tom Brady coming out of college, why both the Bengals with Joe Burrow and the Chargers with Justin Herbert feel as though they got the best quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft, how University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett has elevated his draft stock this past season, why he doesn't expect any of the draft-eligible quarterbacks to have a first round grade this Spring, why Mac Jones has enjoyed more success as a rookie than guys like Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, why he would be hesitant to give Baker Mayfield a big contract extension, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a full NFL Week 14 edition of the Best Bet Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the report that the Los Angeles Chargers could be without their two top wide receivers - Keenan Allen and Mike Williams - due to COVID. The Chargers were already one of the toughest teams to get a crack on this season, but this news makes it almost impossible. Even without Allen and Williams, Los Angeles should be able to beat a New York Giants squad down to their third-string quarterback... but we still can't recommend picking them in any Survivor pools this Sunday. Later, former Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Shazier swings by to discuss the inspiration and writing process behind his new book 'Walking Miracle', why had no issue at all with the Baltimore Ravens decision to Go for 2 late in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, why he views the Cincinnati Bengals as the best team in the AFC North right now and has Joe Burrow - not Lamar Jackson - as the best quarterback in the division, what's next for Ben Roethlisberger after this season in Pittsburgh, why he believes that Michigan has a great chance to upset Georgia in the College Football Playoff, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a Thursday Night Football Steelers vs Vikings edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with lengthy discussion on the heels of the Los Angeles Lakers' primetime win over the Boston Celtics. Coming in to the game, the running narrative in basketball circles was that the Lakers' Big 3 of LeBron-AD-Westbrook was a bust and it would lead to Frank Vogel getting fired. Wait, what?! Did they forget that almost the entire Lakers roster is new? Or that we still haven't even seen a fully healthy roster? Or that LeBron has already missed half the games? Let them build a little continuity before you have an opinion. This rush to judgment about the Purple and Gold is laughable, and there may not be a bigger culprit in the national media than Charles Barkley. Chuck openly admits that he doesn't really watch the games or follow today's players, but even still he has no problem firing off wildly inaccurate hot takes on a weekly basis. Barkley is a hater, and he's only embarrassing himself here. Later, Jason does a deep dive into the ongoing soap opera between Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. Earlier this summer the prevailing thought was that Lillard would force a trade out of town at some point this season. Now? According to reports, not only does Dame want to stay in Portland, he wants a massive contract extension and for the team to trade for Ben Simmons. Look, Lillard is a fantastic player, but the reality is that he's on the wrong side of 30 and he's shown nothing in his NBA career that would make you think he's capable of leading a team to a championship. It's why the Trail Blazers need to bite the bullet and explore trading Dame right now. Portland probably won't get a James Harden-level deal for Lillard, but they can absolutely get a collection of young talent and draft picks to start their rebuild. Finally, Jason closes the show with a few thoughts on the impending sale of the Denver Broncos. Rumor has it they'll fetch around $4 billion a sale; Not bad for a team who still doesn't have a quarterback! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason dives deep into the New England Patriots’ methodical demolition of the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. The game itself probably set the sport of football back 50 years as the Pats won the game despite only attempting three passes. However, there's something you have to appreciate about what Bill Belichick has been able to do with this roster. He's rebuilt on the fly around a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones, a fantastic running game and a stout defense; In many ways, this team is almost a mirror image of the Patriots Super Bowl teams during the early Tom Brady days. You can actually make an argument right now that Belichick's Patriots and Brady's Bucs are the two best teams in the NFL. On the flip side, nobody comes out of this game looking worse than the Bills. Even a blind man could see that New England was going to run the ball every play - and Buffalo still couldn't stop it. What's more, quarterback Josh Allen has seemed to regress following his MVP-caliber season in 2020. The Bills were the chic pick to win the Super Bowl this season. Now? They might miss the playoffs altogether. Later, Jason closes the show with a few thoughts on Miami's decision to hire Mario Cristobal as their next head football coach. It's a big loss for Oregon, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a slam dunk for the Hurricanes. Moreover, with Oregon headed for something of a rebuild, what are the chances that USC tries to defect from the conference and go independent? Stranger things have happened in the world of college football, just sayin'. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens' controversial decision to 'go for 2' late in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. John Harbaugh can try to justify the decision all he wants but the fact remains that he made a bad call. The inexplicable loss dropped Lamar Jackson and the Ravens from the #1 to the #3 seed in the AFC... and you can still make case for them being the class of the conference. The AFC is a jumbled mess. The Kansas City Chiefs proved on Sunday Night Football that they aren't 'back' no matter how much we all want them to be, the Tennessee Titans have been frauds for weeks, and as much as we like Mac Jones the New England Patriots are still handicapped by their rookie quarterback. Shifting over to the NFC, Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals may have had the least impressive double-digit road win of the season... and in doing so proved once again just how good they are. Few teams have been as consistently great as the Cardinals. If we had any faith at all in Kliff Kingsbury as a big-game coach, they would be the favorites to make the Super Bowl. Later, Jason and Producer Rob G share a few thoughts on the College Football Playoff field. We didn't know exactly how things would shake out, but we all kind of figured that Nick Saban and Alabama would find their way into the final four. However, are we sure that the committee got it right putting the Crimson Tide at #1? Finally, Jason closes the show with the Monday Night Football Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys ugly win over the New Orleans Saints. Had Taysom Hill (and his jacked up finger) not thrown 4 interceptions, Dallas may have loss this one. The high-flying Cowboys we saw early in the season are nowhere to be found; Ezekiel Elliott looks like he's running with a piano on his back and the offense goes through stretches where they can't buy a first down. But, as they say, a win is a win. Later, Jason pours one out for New Orleans Pelicans following the latest reports that Zion Williamson's return to action was being delayed yet again due to injury. Zion is a massive draw for the NBA but he's missed more games than he's actually played during his professional career. What's more, Zion's refusal to stay in basketball shape makes it feel like he's deliberately throwing in the towel on the Pelicans already. This is a situation that definitely bears monitoring. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special College Football Championship Weekend and NFL Week 13 edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Notre Dame’s decision to promote defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to head football coach. The up-and-coming Freeman had been expected to follow Brian Kelly to LSU so the fact that the Fighting Irish were able to keep him - and decided to elevate him to the top spot - shows that they think very highly of him. Later, Ft Worth Star-Telegram Dallas Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr swings by to discuss Amari Cooper's expected return to action off the COVID list, how much blame Mike McCarthy is getting around town for the team's recent swoon, how Ezekiel Elliott's injuries are taking a toll on his effectiveness as a runner, why he believes the Cowboys still have more than enough to win the NFC East, why on-field chemistry is just as important as health for this team, how offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has become Jerry Jones' new version of Jason Garrett, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a Thursday Night Football Dallas Cowboys-New Orleans Saints edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the big Phoenix Suns-Golden State Warriors showdown on Tuesday night. Phoenix put the game away late for their 17th consecutive win - and did so without Devin Booker for most of the game. Steph Curry had a rough shooting night for Golden State, but the bigger story was the way Deandre Ayton absolutely manhandled the Warriors front line. Even with the loss, Golden State still has a case for being the best team in the NBA, but their lack of size in the front court got exposed in a big way. If Ayton can have his way inside, what do you think guys like Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic and LeBron James are going to do in the playoffs? It's definitely something to monitor. Later, USA Today Sports national columnist Dan Wolken swings by to discuss how the College Football Playoff has changed the perception that anybody can win the national title, why Lincoln Riley left to USC rather than stick with Oklahoma in the SEC, why he believes Brian Kelly ultimately decided to leave Notre Dame for LSU, why he expects that the UCLA Bruins will be stuck with Chip Kelly for at least one more season, why it's hard to envision Urban Meyer moving back to college given all the added drama that seems to follow him, why he expects Georgia to put a hurting on Alabama in the SEC championship game, why Cincinnati still isn't a lock to make the College Football Playoff - even if they win their conference championship game and finish the regular season undefeated, who might be the next head coach at Notre Dame, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into Russell Wilson's future on the heels of the Seattle Seahawks' Monday Night Football loss to the Washington Football Team. This has been a lost season in Seattle, and all signs point to Wilson continuing his football career elsewhere in 2022. If we assume that none of the teams on his original 'list' are no longer ideal landing spots (New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears), then all eyes should turn to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos. Both teams have Super Bowl-ready rosters who just need a strong quarterback to push the club over the top. It's going to be fascinating to see how this one plays out. Later, Jason explains how Mel Tucker getting a ginormous contract extension from Michigan State actually played a role in Brian Kelly's decision to leave Notre Dame for LSU. If the wildly mediocre Tucker can get $95 million off the strength of one good season at MSU, it should come as no surprise then that Kelly was able to parlay a decade's worth of high-end football with the Fighting Irish into $15 million a year from LSU. College football is big business, and everyone is winning right now. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick thought on Lincoln Riley's move to USC. Look, I know all of you Sooners fans are upset about his decision, but please stop calling Riley a 'traitor'. He did the exact same thing to Oklahoma that they did to the Big 12 - he just did it better. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Green Bay Packers' victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The Packers have the look of the best team in football - and they have the resumé to prove it. Ever since Aaron Rodgers' offseason of discontent, Green Bay has been absolutely dominant. Every single team except Green Bay has gone through some sort of midseason malaise, and it’s all because of Rodgers. He has to be the MVP right now. In the losing locker room, it's hard to get a read on this team. The honeymoon is obviously over for Matthew Stafford; If he can't get his act together, the Rams' season will end in disappointment. Sticking in the NFC, how about those San Francisco 49ers? They were left for dead a few weeks ago, and now they're right back in the playoff hunt. Jimmy Garoppolo might not be a dead man walking in the Bay Area after all. Later, Jason does a deep dive into Lincoln's Riley's decision to leave the Oklahoma Sooners to take over as the new head coach at USC. The Sooners are headed to the SEC in a few years, and you have to imagine that played a big role in Riley's decision. Riley could be good in the SEC but he could be downright dominant in the Pac-12. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Seattle Seahawks-Washington Football Team Monday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick recap of all the Thanksgiving NFL action. The Detroit Lions embarrassed themselves in the early game against the Chicago Bears. Dan Campbell continues to underwhelm as a head coach and right now all signs point to Detroit finishing the season without a win (again). In the afternoon game, the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Dallas Cowboys in one of the sloppiest games we've seen in years. Forget Derek Carr and Dak Prescott; the officials were the stars in this one as the teams combined for 28 penalties. Aside from that, the Cowboys' over reliance on Ezekiel Elliott was puzzling. Backup running back Tony Pollard looked very explosive on Thursday but Dallas insisted on feeding Zeke down the stretch. That's definitely something to monitor as the season progresses. In the nightcap, the Buffalo Bills put a hurting on the New Orleans Saints - just as we told you they would earlier in the week. Cha-ching! Later, WynnBET Senior Trading Manager Alan Berg swings by for a lookahead to all of the rest of the NFL Week 12 slate for the sports wagering perspective. Finally, Jason uses all that dynamite information he got from Berg to close the show with the Weekend edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' beatdown of the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is, in a word, terrible. It doesn't matter how many weapons the front office adds around him, he's never going to be a franchise quarterback... which makes it all the more baffling that J-Mac actually bet on New York to cover the spread against Tom Brady and the Bucs. In case you haven't figured it out by now, paralysis by analysis is a killer in the sports gambling world. Later, Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy swings by to promote his new book 'Wish it Lasted Forever' and discuss what it was like in the locker room and on the road with Larry Bird, Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale back in the day, how the role of the NBA media has changed so dramatically over the years, why he believes it's so important to the fans that reporters have access to players, why he's never really minded Bill Belichick's gruff personality with the media, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with way-too-early look edition of the Thanksgiving NFL Best Bets. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the wild Sunday Night Football showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Justin Herbert looked like a man amongst boys leading the Chargers offense up and down the field, and the better team came away with the win (even if they almost gave it away there towards the end). Sticking in the AFC West, how about the suddenly surging Kansas City Chiefs? Patrick Mahomes and the offense still has some work to do, but that defense has been lights-out for the past month and carried them to another victory on Sunday against Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. Who would’ve guessed at the start of the season that the Chiefs would turn into a defensive juggernaut? On the flip side, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills continue to confound anyone who had them as a Super Bowl team before the season; They are the epitome of a ‘2 steps forward, 1 step back football team’. If the Bills don’t get their act together, they may miss the postseason altogether. In the NFC, the Seahawks suddenly find themselves staring the down the barrel of a complete teardown in Seattle. Russell Wilson was already unhappy coming into the season, and you have to imagine things have only gotten worse given how poorly the team has played. Would the Seahawks really trade Wilson in an effort to re-build or the roster, or would they be better off dumping Pete Carroll and hoping that a new coach can convince Wilson to stick around? There are no easy answers here. By the way, shout out to Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor for vaulting himself into the MVP race. He has absolutely no chance to actually win the award given that there's no way any running back is more valuable than a quarterback (like say, Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers), but it is a hell of a run he's been on. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Monday Night Football Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New York Giants edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the New England Patriots suffocation of the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. The Patriots defense completely manhandled the Falcons offensive line, and now suddenly look like a legitimate threat in the AFC. But before you start booking those Super Bowl hotel reservations, Pats fans, let's see how they do against the Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills the next few weeks. In the losing locker room, all eyes have to shift towards Matt Ryan and his uncertain future in Atlanta. The Falcons are in a precarious position in that they're not good enough to make the playoffs but they're also not bad enough to leapfrog the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans in the draft order. So, where do they go from here? All signs point to Matty Ice asking for a change of scenery this offseason a la Matthew Stafford, but will Atlanta let him walk without having an heir apparent waiting in the wings? More importantly, how many teams actually make sense for his services? He's played his entire career in a dome so it's hard to imagine him moving on to a cold-weather team like the Pittsburgh Steelers or Cleveland Browns, and it's highly unlikely Atlanta will let him leave to a division rival like the New Orleans Saints. Ryan's future should be one of the biggest stories of the offseason. Finally, Jason closes the show with a his weekly NFL and College Football weekend Best Bets. Trust us when we tell you that there are some gems in this one! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, ESPN NBA reporter and podcast host Brian Windhorst joins Jason for a lengthy NBA discussion. During the interview, Windhorst discusses how the NFL has taken over the early part of the NBA season, how the Golden State Warriors have come roaring back this season after a couple of down years, if the Minnesota Timberwolves' repeated front office missteps will be enough to push Karl-Anthony Towns out the door, why Giannis Antetokounmpo signing that max extension last offseason doesn't necessarily mean he'll stay with the Bucks for the duration of the deal, why it's so refreshing to see the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards playing so well early in the season, Zion Williamson's long and strange offseason, if the Los Angeles Lakers wish they had a do-over on the Russell Westbrook trade, and much more! Later, Jason closes the show with a very special Atlanta Falcons vs New England Patriots Thursday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on Steph Curry's virtuoso performance against the Kevin Durant and James Harden in Brooklyn. Curry was actually getting MVP chants in an opposing arena. Whether you like him or not, that man in special. Sticking in the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo made some headlines this week when he said in an interview that leaving Milwaukee for a major market would have been the 'easy' thing to do and that staying in Milwaukee was the 'hard' thing to do. Wait, what? Does Giannis not remember the way that LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and James Harden were crucified by the media and fans for the way the left to greener pastures? More importantly, did he forget the amount of pressure each man faced to deliver a title? Nobody would have thought less of Giannis if he had stayed with the Bucks and never won, but they damn sure would have if he left and didn't deliver. Later, Pro Football Focus lead NFL analyst and podcast host Sam Monson swings by to discuss what makes teams like the 2021 Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens different than the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers that won the Super Bowl, why the Green Bay Packers probably have the best case for being the best team in football, why it feels like the Tennessee Titans are destined to come back down to earth pretty soon, why the Cleveland Browns are in a really weird spot with quarterback Baker Mayfield right now, why he thinks we could see another QB Carousel-like offseason, why he's not surprised to see Matthew Stafford struggling as of late, why he believes that Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are really 'back', and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason gets the party started with a deep dive into the San Francisco 49ers shocking beatdown of the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. The Rams have been drubbed in back-to-back primetime games so naturally most of the talking heads will spend the rest of Tuesday morning telling you how fraudulent they are, how Matthew Stafford has never been a great quarterback, how the 'fantasy football' additions of Von Miller an Odell Beckham Jr were a giant waste of time... and they'd all be wrong. The Rams are STILL one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Do you remember the November swoon that Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had last season? Yeah, things seemed to work out for them in the end. Even Producer Rob G, who maintains that the Rams' finesse style of play on both offense and defense could be a problem as we head into the postseason, still admits that Los Angeles is neck-and-neck with the best teams in the conference. Speaking of which, with the Rams losing two straight, the Bucs losing two straight, the Arizona Cardinals dropping two of three and the Dallas Cowboys getting blown out by the Denver Broncos a week ago, is it safe to say that the Green Bay Packers are the best team in the NFC right now? The Packers have won 8 straight games with Aaron Rodgers under center, and they just might be the only team in all of football who plays truly complimentary football. Either way, with so many elite teams at the top, the NFC playoffs are shaping up to be a doozy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Kansas City Chiefs demolition of the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football. Patrick Mahomes threw for over 400 yards and 5 touchdowns in the blowout victory, so of course everybody wants to know: Are the Chiefs officially back? Producer Rob G argues that this game said a whole lot more about the ineptitude and poor game planning by the Raiders than anything, but it's hard not to come away impressed by Kansas City in this one. What's more, the schedule eases up in a big way so we could see the Chiefs end up with 11 or 12 wins when it's all said and done. Sticking in the AFC, it might be time for the Cleveland Browns to start canvassing the League for potential Baker Mayfield replacements in 2022. The Browns had their doors blown off them by Mac Jones and the New England Patriots on Sunday, and Mayfield's inability to convert on third down was a big reason why. So if you're Cleveland, and we assume that guys like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are out of the question, would it make sense to go after someone like Jimmy G? Derek Carr? Tua? One thing is clear at this point - Baker's stranglehold on the starting gig beyond this season is loosening by the minute. Later, the guys take a look at two other AFC teams who really let us down on Sunday - the Los Angeles Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A few weeks ago, Jason called Justin Herbert the best young quarterback in the NFL. Since then they've lost 4 of 5. Ouch. And don't get us started on the Steelers. How the heck do you tie a game against the hapless Detroit Lions? Big Ben being down with COVID isn't a good excuse for a putrid performance like that from Mike Tomlin and the boys. Finally, Jason and Rob G go head-to-head in a very special Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers Monday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on Cam Newton's return to the Carolina Panthers. Nobody is really expecting much of out Cam on the field this season, but it does make for a cool story. That's about it. The big news of the day, however, took place out West as free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr decided to sign with the Los Angeles Rams. OBJ arrives in Tinseltown with a lot of buzz, but the reality is that he hasn't been an impactful player on the field in years. Can we really expect him to suddenly turn back the clock and start producing like he did back with the New York Giants? More importantly, are we sure that Matthew Stafford is willing to put up with all the headache and histrionics that come along with OBJ? Willing to be the answer is 'no' on both counts. Later, Jason touches briefly on the Miami Dolphins' upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football. If we've learned anything about the NFL the past few weeks it's that is it almost impossible to predict what's going to happen game to game. Entering Thursday, Lamar Jackson was in the running for league MVP and the Dolphins were one of the worst teams in all of football… so it’s only fitting that Miami turned in a dominant performance and made Jackson look wildly mediocre in primetime. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special NFL and college football weekend edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the latest scuttlebutt surrounding Odell Beckham Jr. According to multiple reports, OBJ would like his next team to be a Super Bowl contender with top-flight quarterback that will get him the ball. Of course he does. Beckham clearly still views himself as one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL, but does his production actually warrant these kind of demands? Moving over to the NBA, Jason has a few sources who seem to believe that Karl-Anthony Towns isn't too happy with the way things are going in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are bottom feeders in the Western Conference yet again, and as if that wasn't enough, Towns has been replaced by Anthony Edwards as the face of the franchise. If the T'wolves continue to flounder, don't be surprised to see KAT try to force his way out of town sooner rather than later. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins Thursday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off by running through the list of potential landing sports for Odell Beckham Jr. The New England Patriots make zero sense. Anybody who thinks that OBJ could become Randy Moss 2.0 is fooling themselves. Moss’ Patriots were led by Tom Brady and a Super Bowl-caliber defense; these Patriots are led by rookie Matt Jones. Sticking in the NFL, it’s fitting that Aaron Rodgers returned to the Pat McAfee Show (again) for damage control stemming from his comments last week regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Rodgers didn’t want to be challenged so he went to his one friend in the media he knew wouldn’t push back. It’s a tale as old as time. Later, professional poker player and sports bettor David Baker swings by to discuss what it's like playing in the World Series of Poker and how it compares favorably to sports wagering survivor pools, why it's so important to ignore market manipulation and trust what you see when betting on games, why he's been higher than most on Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans all season long, why he thinks that Justin Herbert was anointed too and thus made the Los Angeles Chargers a tough team to fire on at times, why he likes the New England Patriots against Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns this Sunday, why he believes this is a 'get right' week for the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few words on the Pittsburgh Steelers' Monday Night Football victory over the Chicago Bears. Justin Fields looked pretty good against the tough Pittsburgh defense, but the biggest story to come out of the game had to be the shoddy officiating. Not only were they mostly bad throughout the night, but the refs called what may have been the worst 'taunting' foul in NFL history. If the League doesn't get this under control - and fast - they're going to start losing fans. Later, Producer Rob G joins the show to help make sense of the Damon Arnette saga and discuss the whirlwind week that was for the Las Vegas Raiders. With Arnette and Henry Ruggs released less than a week apart, the Raiders now have 4 players taken in the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft that are no longer with the team; it's not a stretch at all to call that 2020 Raiders group the worst draft class in NFL history. Shifting over to the NBA, the biggest story of the night had to be the squabble that took place between Nikola Jokic and Markieff Morris. Notice that we didn't use the word 'fight', though. Everybody knows that NBA players don't get into fights. Outside of Jimmy Butler and a handful of others, most professional basketball players are nothing but studio gangsters. It's part of what makes Butler so endearing; he is toughness personified. Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show with a mild debate on the Philadelphia 76ers' treatment of Ben Simmons. Have the Sixers done Simmons a disservice by continuously leaking information about his well-being to the media? Or, is Simmons actually the one in the wrong for almost weaponizing mental health? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the wildest NFL Sunday that we've seen in years. Four of the week's biggest favorites - Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints - all got beat outright. None of it made any sense. The Tennessee Titans rolled over Matthew Stafford and the Rams despite generating less than 200 yards of total offense, the Cowboys went scoreless for 3.5 quarters in Dak Prescott's return to action, and Josh Allen and the Bills couldn't score an touchdown against the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars. Give the way the season has shook out with, it's almost impossible to tell who the best team in the AFC is on a week-to-week basis. The Bills have hit a rough patch, the Chiefs are wildly mediocre, and neither the Ravens nor the Titans seem to pass the eye test. Interestingly enough, the biggest 'winners' on this crazy Sunday were two guys who didn't even play - Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. While the rest of the up-and-coming quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott) continue their roller coaster seasons, the two elder statesmen in the NFC just keep rolling along churning out good week after good week. What's more, both the Broncos and the Browns were able to put together arguably their best performances of the year after ridding themselves of two of their most prominent players: Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. Speaking of OBJ, rumor has it he's narrowed his preferred destination down to 3 teams... and none of them makes a ton of sense. Finally, the guys close the show with a very special Pittsburgh Steelers vs Chicago Bears Monday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the blowout loss suffered by his beloved New York Jets on Thursday Night Football to the Indianapolis Colts. It's one thing to get embarrassed on national television, it's something else to have the backup quarterback (Mike White) and the third stringer (Josh Johnson) move the ball down the field better than #2 overall pick Zach Wilson ever has. There's no good reason why the offense should look this much better with a couple of journeymen than The Mormon Mahomes. Staying in the AFC, All signs point to the Cleveland Browns releasing disgruntled wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr on Friday. Why on Earth would Cleveland agree to pay OBJ just to go away? That makes zero sense. Moreover, are we sure that there’s this robust market for Beckham once he hits free agency? Perhaps a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or the Green Bay Packers can take a flyer in hopes of reviving his career, but it’s impossible to know if he’s: 1) willing to take a backseat to a better wide receiver, and 2) still even capable of being a difference maker. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special NFL and college football weekend edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into Aaron Rodgers' positive COVID-19 test that shook up the NFL world on Wednesday. In less than an hour, members of the NFL media went from being disappointed that we would be deprived of a Rodgers-Patrick Mahomes showdown to angry when they found out that Rodgers was actually unvaccinated. Recall back in August that Rodgers famously said he was 'immunized' when asked if he was vaccinated and had operated at media press conferences as if he were as well. Now, did Rodgers let him teammates down and potentially cost the Packers home field advantage in the playoffs? Yes. But, did he actually lie to the media about his vaccine status? No. Rodgers didn't do anything different than most star athletes do when pressed by the media: Give them just enough to answer the question but almost never tell them the complete truth. Plus, former NFL Executive of the Year and NFL analyst Randy Mueller swings by to explain how the Miami Dolphins put themselves in a no-win situation with the way they handled Deshaun Watson and Tua Tagovailoa, how Mike White's brilliant debut impacts the New York Jets quarterback room, why the Las Vegas Raiders decided to immediately cut Henry Ruggs after his DUI manslaughter charge and what’s next for the club moving forward, how the NFL may handle Rodgers being publicly disingenuous about his vaccination status and how his absence will impact the team moving forward, why he believes there's a lot more to the Odell Beckham Jr story than we know right now, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Thursday Night Football New York Jets vs Indianapolis Colts edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by giving the Atlanta Braves a verbal round of applause for winning their first World Series since 1995. I'm sure guys like Ron Gant, Greg Maddux and Fred McGriff are feeling mighty proud this morning. Later, Jason shares his thoughts on Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs being charged with felony DUI manslaughter. It's a sad story for everyone involved - especially the victim - but the Raiders had no choice but to release him following the incident. Finally, FOX Sports college football broadcaster Tim Brando swings by to explain why he thoroughly believes that the Cincinnati Bearcats will end up getting screwed by the College Football Playoff committee - whether they finish the regular season undefeated or not, why he thinks Oklahoma is only the third best team in the Big 12 and how Spencer Rattler went from Heisman Trophy frontrunner to backup quarterback in half a season, how he's handicapping the Heisman race and why he thinks this could be the most contentious vote we've seen in a while, why he believes that Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher should be the primary focus of LSU's coaching search, why he thinks Penn State's James Franklin makes a ton of sense for USC, what's gone wrong for Chip Kelly at UCLA, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few choice words for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs following their ugly Monday Night Football victory over the New York Giants. If it wasn't clear before it is now - the Chiefs stink. Their refusal to evolve and accept that NFL defense have caught up to what they like to do offensively will ultimately be their undoing. The confidence they used to play with has turned into arrogance, so it's no surprise that they get smacked by the good teams and struggle themselves to beat the bad ones. Later, Jason shares a quick thought on the Chicago Bulls' win over the Boston Celtics. Boston got outscored by 28 points in the fourth quarter before they got booed off the floor by their home fans - and that wasn't even the worst part. After the game, Marcus Smart called out stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for not passing the ball more. Maybe Kyrie Irving was right about Tatum and Brown all those years ago? More importantly, is this the beginning of the end for Tatum's time in Boston? Feels like something to monitor. Finally Jason goes deep on the blockbuster deal that saw All-Pro pass rusher Von Miller traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Miller is no longer the Super Bowl MVP-caliber player we saw a few years back, but he doesn't have to be in Los Angeles. With Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd on the defensive line and Jalen Ramsey anchoring the secondary, Miller gets to function as arguably the greatest '4th option' in the NFL. This is a great deal for the Rams; We all know that the NFL Draft is a crapshoot, so giving up a 2nd and 3rd round pick for a player of Miller's caliber feels like money well spent. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on a wild Week 8 in the NFL where backup quarterbacks like Cooper Rush in Dallas and Mike White in New York ruled the day. Nothing went according to plan on Sunday; The upstart Cincinnati Bengals got knocked off by White and the Jets, the San Francisco 49ers offense came alive on the road against the Chicago Bears, and Justin Herbert looked more like a middle-of the road quarterback than the 'Next Big Thing' in the NFL - just to name a few. But the biggest surprise of all was Rush leading the Cowboys to a primetime victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. Dallas showed the past few years that they can win games on the ground with Ezekiel Elliott, they showed earlier this year that they can win through the air with Dak Prescott, and last night they showed they can win with a backup quarterback and a stout defense. No matter how you slice it, the Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFL right now. Later, Jason tells us why he has a sneaking suspicion that the #2 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats are going to get left out of the College Football Playoff. Everyone expects Oklahoma and Ohio State to win out, and if Alabama upsets Georgia in the SEC Championship game, where does that leave Cincinnati? Exactly. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Kansas City Chiefs vs New York Giants Monday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.