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ITB Predicts 2025 NFL Season – Division Winners, Conference Champs, Super Bowl Outcome · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

0:09
Speaker 1: Inside the Birds is back. What's going on? Everybody? It's
0:15
Jeff Mosher, Adam Kaplan and we got Andrew to check
0:19
over us. So you know this must be a very
0:21
important ITV. Fellas, start your entrance. Week one is actually here.
0:26
The Eagles will play and open the season Thursday night
0:30
against the Cowboys at the Link in the season opener,
0:33
and that's just a couple of days away. So we
0:36
got some intel on the roster moves that we're gonna
0:38
go through, and then we're gonna take our best stab
0:41
at projecting the twenty twenty five NFL season. So I'm excited.
0:46
I'm ready to go. I know, Andrew, you're on your
0:49
thirtieth cup of coffee. I can tell you're ready to go.
0:51
You're excited the season.
0:53
Speaker 2: I got a long Yeah, I got a long day.
0:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, I know you do, my friend. The Eagles are
0:57
not making it easy for anybody who covers the team.
1:00
But hope every all of our listeners had a wonderful
1:03
Labor Day weekend, and away we go. Let's start with
1:07
the first set of transactions here. So the Eagles put
1:12
Willie Lampkin on ir. You had the ankle and the knee.
1:15
Now when they claimed him off waivers, he had already
1:18
been injured with the knee and the ankle, and so
1:21
he's gonna go on IR. And it sounds like Fellas,
1:25
he'll be on IR. It sounds like you need some
1:27
development anyway, So we'll see how long he's gonna be out,
1:30
but he will get the quote unquote mental reps that
1:34
an undrafted rookie needs. And you know, look, the bottom
1:38
line is the Eagles gonna go into Week one in
1:40
a situation that they've always tried to talk about not
1:42
really wanting to be in, which is having no true
1:46
backup center. It's gonna have to be Adam Landon Dickerson
1:49
until otherwise.
1:52
Speaker 3: Well, I mean, if do they think Drew Kennell's ready,
1:54
that Drew Kennell will be the guy, we'll we'll we'll
1:56
we'll know, you know, week one or we'll see if
2:01
kennell's active. You would think he would be, because when
2:04
you look at it, I know Tooth could play center.
2:06
Brick come on, I mean, he's Kendell is really a center,
2:10
and you got Dickerson. Yes, Dickerson's butt in the emergency
2:12
backup center. But man, he's coming off this knee injury
2:15
and the meniscus trim procedure, and we'll get into some
2:20
of the out the outstanding issues with his football team.
2:22
But you know that left guard thing, man, it's still
2:24
a little sticky.
2:26
Speaker 1: Yeah, And of course part of their maneuver they have
2:28
the open spot. They actually signed Kenyan Green to the
2:32
fifty three. They clearly want to try to continue to
2:36
develop a man Andrew he didn't have the greatest camp.
2:39
He is not someone who could snap the ball either.
2:40
So even if he's active on game day, you would
2:43
think which I think we'll see, I doubt it, But
2:46
if he's active on game day as the eighth offensive lineman,
2:49
I would think that would be instead of Kendall and
2:51
not because you're gonna have prior and you're going to
2:54
have the tackle Fred Johnson, Right, If Kenning Green's your eighth,
2:58
because you usually have eight active on game day, then
3:01
they won't have that true backup center. Yeah.
3:04
Speaker 2: I mean he's playing twenty seven games twenty three starts
3:07
in his career, so he gives you a little bit
3:09
more of a baseline level of production or understanding of
3:13
what he can do. So yeah, it would make some sense.
3:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll see Adam to the play we're making. Like
3:19
I think Kendall had a nice camp and he's a
3:21
natural center. But I just wonder if they're not looking
3:24
to go into the season opener with rookie active among
3:28
the backup offensive lineman, because.
3:30
Speaker 3: He's if they think he's ready, he's a backup center.
3:32
It's strictly is he ready or not? And right we'll
3:34
find out that Bengal game, he really looked good. It's
3:39
just you know, it's a big step to be the guy.
3:42
I mean, he to be the backup center. With Jurgen's
3:45
injury history, stouts, gotta think he's it's going to be
3:49
up to him. If he thinks he's ready, that's what happens.
3:51
Speaker 1: We'll see there you go, all right. Thegos also made
3:53
a flurry of moves over Labor Day weekend. They signed
3:56
Brittain Covey, bringing him back wide receiver slash returner he
4:01
was with the Rams and didn't make it. Cornerback Andrew
4:04
Ambrey Ambry Thomas from the forty nine ers because you know, Adam,
4:08
the Eagles need to have former forty nine I think
4:11
he was a third round pick too. I'm yeah, because
4:13
you know, that's the Eagles motif is they need forty
4:17
nine ers who are drafted in the third round, so
4:19
they bring in Ambry Thomas. Marcus EP's old friend at
4:22
safety comes back and they sign a different offensive lineman
4:26
than the one that was with them all spring and
4:29
summer for the international exemption. His name is Luke Felix Fulalo.
4:34
He is on the practice squad. Adam, what do we
4:36
know about Ambry Thomas. I mean, I remember when he
4:39
was a forty nine er, he would have some moments.
4:42
Speaker 3: He started games in his career. He is not a nickel.
4:44
He is a cornerback. A lot of injuries in his career.
4:49
The one knocking him for what I'm told is needs
4:51
to build his body up, just get stronger physically. But
4:55
there's absolutely talent there to be a quality backup. Again,
4:58
this guy was a third round pick once Holly thought
5:00
of with the forty nine ers, but then just very inconsistent.
5:04
I mentioned the injuries, and this is his fourth team.
5:07
He started with the Niners, then with the Colts after
5:11
he was claimed off the Niners, and then he spent
5:15
a little time there failed their physical went to the
5:17
Vikings earlier this year. Wasn't brought back and now he
5:21
signed the Eagles. Practical this is a this is a
5:24
decent signing because he needs to recharge his career. He
5:29
turns twenty six shortly. But this is a guy's got talent,
5:32
and you know what, there's nothing wrong with with the
5:34
Eagles lack of depth at corner. This is interesting signing.
5:38
Speaker 1: Here sort of feels like the defensive version of Danny Gray,
5:42
like somebody who has talent. And it was the third
5:44
round pick of the Niners. And you know, if you
5:46
can put him on your practice squad and develop him
5:48
and he stays healthy with Danny Gray, unfortunately couldn't, but
5:51
maybe you get something for next year. What is that
5:55
the fourth third round pick of the Niners. Eagles fed
5:58
there's Tracer him in tied Davis Price, Yeah, Danny Grant,
6:02
he was a third up pick, right, Andrew Yeah yeah yeah.
6:04
And now this guy, now Castro Fields, who's also for
6:07
for forty nine er was a you know, he doesn't
6:12
he's not in the true fraternity.
6:14
Speaker 3: No, he's actually he was released off the he was
6:17
waved with injury settlement. Yeah, but no, it is really weird.
6:19
I don't know what they're fashionation with the Niners.
6:21
Speaker 1: Is Yeah, no, it is really interesting, all right. So
6:25
they also made it some practice squad moves after originally
6:28
having Marshall on the practice squad terrorist Marshall then not.
6:31
Then they bring him back to the practice squad, and
6:33
of course our old friend Eli Ricks is off the
6:38
practice squad. I think this is actually good for you,
6:40
Like I think you know Andrew, you got to know
6:41
him pretty well. You've mentioned that he is a pure
6:44
cover corner. It might be a good opportunity for him
6:47
to get with a different kind of defense that maybe
6:49
plays a different style of d where his skill set
6:53
can be better seen and maybe evaluated.
6:57
Speaker 2: Yeah, in my opinion, he belongs on a fifty three,
7:00
just not this fifty three. There's there's not a fit
7:02
for him. He can absolutely play in this league, and
7:05
not on special teams either. That's not his forte. I
7:08
think there's a misconception that he was a special teamer.
7:11
He tried to contribute in that area, but that's not
7:14
really his his forte. He's best served as a depth
7:17
corner on the outside.
7:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, in these cases, you usually look for the familiarity, Right,
7:22
New Orleans Kellen Moore, who's their defensive coarter.
7:25
Speaker 3: Isn't they bring Brandon Staley.
7:27
Speaker 1: Brandon Staley right, but although that's not really a man
7:31
press heavy defense. But you never know, I mean, you
7:34
tend to see these kind of guys go from one
7:37
team to an area where they're familiar with.
7:39
Speaker 3: He's a fangio guy, by the way, Staley the scheme.
7:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, so at least Ricks would have experience within
7:47
the scheme if they needed that. There's one last thing.
7:52
Speaker 3: I wanted to this, Covey. Covey in Apps too.
7:54
Speaker 1: Covey. Yeah, so Covey is Covey the punt returner for
7:58
the first three year so weeks here.
8:00
Speaker 2: In your guys mind, they may want to see what
8:05
they have on the roster first before they do that.
8:08
Johan Dodson can do it, they would probably like prefer
8:12
Cooper Degen didn't do it, but I know I spoke
8:14
to Britain Covey Sunday, spoke to Epps on Sunday, and
8:20
both players are savvy additions. Britain Covey had other options.
8:25
He could have went to most practice squads, chose to
8:27
come back to Philadelphia and was said he was greeted
8:31
with a big hug he greeted Jalen Hurts of the
8:33
Big Hug, and as he's talking about how much he
8:35
loves Philadelphia, Dallas Godds walking past him, he says, we
8:38
love you, Covey. So he's welcome back with open arms.
8:43
Speaker 1: No question.
8:44
Speaker 3: What Andrew just said would tell me that if he's
8:47
turned on other jobs, he's obviously going to be working
8:51
I mean on the whether it's an activation, I don't
8:54
about getting on the fifty three. Naturally, he's big sign
8:56
off of it. He was fifty three, But that would
8:58
tell me early on he's got a real shot the
9:00
pump retard. That's that's interesting, he did say.
9:02
Speaker 2: All the way up until the final you know, four o'clock,
9:05
he thought that he was going he was convinced that
9:07
he was going to make rams.
9:10
Speaker 3: Oh oh, so they let him, really so they let
9:12
him at the last minute. Jeez. Oh that's tough.
9:15
Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, all right. So that's a look at
9:18
the fifty three and the I'm sorry, the transactions and things,
9:21
and we'll see we'll see at the season opener who
9:24
gets the elevations and how this thing starts to look.
9:26
Let's let's talk a little bit in a second about
9:29
the remaining issues left. As the Eagles are practicing this
9:32
week in preparation for that season opener against Dallas, is
9:35
going to unfurl the championship banner. It's going to be
9:37
a great time. But after that, it's zero zero and
9:40
everybody starts off with the same record and away we go.
9:44
And of course Dallas and their new look without Micah
9:47
Parsons just adds to the intrigue of the season opener,
9:50
So we'll talk about that in a second. First, Hey,
9:53
you guys, remember that one guy who's in the group
9:56
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9:59
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10:01
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10:03
I'm sure that's you, right, If one of you hit
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a five leg parlay, I know I'm gonna have to
10:07
hear about it from either of you all season long.
10:10
But you know what, that's just called jealousy and envy
10:13
because that guy who hits the five leg parlay week one,
10:16
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10:18
any one of our great viewers or listeners, and we
10:21
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let's make some money with my bookie. All right, some
11:17
remaining issues as the Eagles go into the season opener.
11:21
I kind of go back and forth and whether or
11:23
not I feel like edge depth is a real concern,
11:25
only because as I've told you guys, you know, I
11:27
think o Jelari did not have anything great in camp
11:31
but outside of that second preseason game. But I always
11:34
see him as a back of the baseball card type guy.
11:36
He's going to have his pressure stats, his sacks, his disruption.
11:40
He's also going to miss a few games from injury,
11:42
so I think he'll be as he's Uce is the
11:45
one I'm wondering because he flashed in camp and then
11:47
he didn't, and then he flashed and he didn't. I
11:50
just I don't know if they have enough. And I'm
11:52
concerned about Nolan Smith already nursing a shoulder injury and
11:55
only playing one side of the edge. So as I
11:58
woke up this morning, I said, yeah, I'm I'm concerned
12:00
about edge dep for this team.
12:03
Speaker 2: I think that's that's a valid concern. I thought josh
12:06
uche was pretty consistent throughout the summer as a rotational
12:09
piece as he's o Julari wasn't consistent enough in my opinion,
12:13
and he a good days up there, uh to to
12:18
really convince that he was able to be that number
12:20
four and give you quality snaps, right. And then the
12:24
fifth player was obo Okoronkwell, who has played quite a
12:28
bit of football in his career. Played with the Rams,
12:31
played with the Texans, now with the and and the Browns,
12:33
and now with the Eagles. So that's that's an interesting player,
12:37
better pass rusher than Patrick Johnson, but Patrick Johnson gave
12:41
you far more in terms of special teams to play.
12:43
Speaker 1: H Yeah, ok, I think might might see the field
12:47
on Thursday night, Adam. They were pretty his development. So
12:50
I don't know how many snaps is gonna play. But
12:52
if you're not getting much out of the the top
12:54
two off the bench Lari, or if you're not getting
12:57
much from your starters, you might see Okaro in there.
13:00
Speaker 4: Yeah.
13:00
Speaker 2: I don't know.
13:00
Speaker 3: They didn't need that. They need to address five of them.
13:02
But the issue is, Look, they've plenty of guys. It's
13:05
BG's gone, Sweat's gone.
13:08
Speaker 1: Mm hmmm.
13:08
Speaker 3: Who's going to be that guy? We know what Nolan
13:10
Smith can do. Greg Cosell talked on our show they
13:14
dropped what Monday morning. Yep, he felt he felt pretty
13:17
good about him. Now as you brought up the shoulder
13:20
thing that Vic Fangier brought up, like, oh wow, it's interesting,
13:22
we didn't know about that. That was a problem jolts Hunt.
13:25
As much as we've been on him since day one,
13:27
he's not a develop pass rusher yet. We just don't know.
13:30
You could you could, you could love the upside until
13:32
he's done it, he hasn't done it. I'm just being
13:34
real here, man, this is our job. We're not cheerleaders here, right.
13:38
So Ouch is an interesting player. I know the past
13:41
the season has done nothing. His quicks, he gets off
13:45
the ball. He's just not big enough, right, you know
13:48
he he's got and as he's a Jelai.
13:51
Speaker 1: I know that.
13:51
Speaker 4: Uh.
13:52
Speaker 3: In our reporting the release, three teams in freedency on
13:55
him and the Eagles signed him. They from what are understanding,
13:57
was that the Eagles, uh put it the most guaranteed
14:00
money wasn't very much though, only three million. But I
14:03
don't know, man, and you talk about it, he's always
14:05
done it. We'll have to see a Obo. Listen. We
14:07
could say what we want about Obo. Why does he
14:10
keep moving on? He's on his fourteen he's an edge rusher, right,
14:12
and he's thirty years old. So they're questions. It's not
14:16
that they don't have people's they're pretty significant questions here.
14:20
What their edge is going to look like?
14:21
Speaker 2: Quite frankly, Yeah, And to Adam's point, it stems beyond
14:24
the depth pieces, right, there's still questions about the starters.
14:28
They're intriguing players. But Nolan Smith came on in November
14:32
and finished really strong. Jaoke's hunt flashed. But you see
14:36
what they're able to do Pemple size. Yeah, naturally there
14:39
are going to be questions.
14:41
Speaker 1: Yeah, this is a flipped version of what the Eagles
14:43
usually look like on the edges. They usually have a
14:46
couple of vets or proven players on the edge, and
14:49
then it's a young developmental guy to add into the mix.
14:53
And now they've got two young developmental guys starting, and
14:56
then they're trying to fortify that with some backups, one
15:00
of which who hasn't done much in a few years,
15:02
the other which, as he's is very good when he plays,
15:06
but he's constantly injured. And then we'll see what Okuronko
15:08
can add.
15:09
Speaker 3: One thing Thursday night to look for is Hunt. Is
15:12
Jlyx Hunt on the field in Nickel? Where does he
15:16
come off? Because that's where you know, you gotta have
15:18
guys who can get to the passer. Obo can do
15:20
it if he if he's active, has done it in
15:23
the past. For sure. He's had this guy when he's right.
15:27
He's very unique with his length and can do it.
15:31
So I'm that's one of the things I look at.
15:33
We'll talk more about this in a pregame show. But
15:34
that's one of the things I'm looking for is Hunt
15:36
in every down players you just run down like how
15:38
do they use him? I'm curious on there.
15:41
Speaker 2: And by way, Obo could be active because he has
15:45
played special teams before. So if they want to go
15:47
heavy edge concern there. Jeff you mentioned you know Nolan
15:51
with the with the one side who knows.
15:56
Speaker 1: Yeah, and then the fifth edge used to be Patrick
15:58
Johnson and he was a big spey teamer. So that's
16:01
good that Okuranko can play there, probably as you mentioned,
16:03
probably not going to make the same impact. And you
16:06
know what, a lot of the guys who were really
16:08
good on special teams may not be playing there as
16:11
much this year. Although Ben Vann Schumer will be back,
16:13
Quille Ringo will clearly be a special teamer, so that
16:17
will Chipley. But they had a couple of guys last
16:18
year who are probably playing bigger roles this year that
16:20
might not be able to occupy. You know, Jay ex
16:22
Hunt was a big part of their special teams last
16:25
year early on and then now now so probably not
16:27
as much. So we'll see. We will see. Corner. You know,
16:33
you can't have Pro Bowl corners every you know, it's
16:36
last year was a really nice year to be able
16:37
to have a first round pick in Quinna Mitchell play
16:40
as well as he did, and a veteran like Sleigh.
16:43
You're not going to have that every year, to have
16:45
a Dori Jackson. And we'll just see how Jacorey and
16:47
Bennett develops. I mean, I'm not I know some people
16:52
are really concerned about this spot. If the pass rush
16:55
is there, I'm not as concerned. If it's not there,
16:57
then I think that there's some reason to be concerned.
16:59
But it's not all You're gonna see the quarterback throw
17:02
twenty times in one direction at that spot. I do
17:05
have some faith Adam and Vic Fangio figuring out some
17:08
ways to scheme around a so called deficiency at one area.
17:12
Speaker 3: Sure, I'm in left corner right now. You just Dory
17:15
Jackson is the first guy up. At some point we're
17:21
we're probably gonna see Bennett in there. Now they quite
17:23
what weak it is, and nobody knows Bennett much younger.
17:27
I know Greg Cosell loved this tape, marylynd tape. He
17:29
liked his Raiders tape. It's just he's unfortunately he's had
17:34
both shoulders have had issues, but he said when he
17:36
got it, he feels great. He's you know, they're they're
17:39
they're fine. The shoulders are fine. Now does he run
17:42
to the four to three? I don't know about that.
17:44
The tape from someone told me he runs, you got
17:47
could run, but he's four to three is elite speed. Yeah,
17:50
bottom line, there's some talent here. Now here's the thing.
17:54
When they go, if we assume they'll play some dime,
17:57
we'll see how they do that. Who's out there, whether
18:00
it's mac McWilliams, Bennett, whoever else here, we'll see how
18:04
they do that. But the other and the other one before, uh,
18:07
we should talk about I think it's important because mcuba
18:10
was just getting back up his Hampshire injury. If if
18:13
Vick thinks he's ready, he's playing. And then the question
18:15
is when does he take the job from Brown? But
18:17
who's the fourth safety because McCollum's gone to me, it's
18:22
Marcus Apps. If they need Marcus Apps to dress Andrew,
18:24
I mean, that'll be interesting to see if he dresses Thursday.
18:28
He's on the press squead.
18:29
Speaker 2: He had before they signed Kenyon Green to the fifty
18:32
three For me, I thought it was gonna be Apps.
18:34
I thought that would make the most sense veteran player,
18:37
you're light on safeties. It would let me need to
18:41
deploy Cooper Degen there and a pinch, but yeah, that
18:44
would make some sense. And Epps and I would say
18:47
Covey perhaps for punt returner would be the two elevations
18:50
that would.
18:51
Speaker 1: Make I remember that they are kind of getting away
18:53
with Cooper de Gen being the fourth safety where you
18:55
have the gene blanketship mccuba and Brown, right and and
19:00
Brown can play special teams pretty well, so if they
19:03
it'll be interesting to see if Vic thinks mccuba, with
19:07
his limited practice time, is ready to go out there
19:09
and at least play in some sub packages which takes
19:12
some mileage off Brown and allows him to function on
19:15
special teams.
19:16
Speaker 2: Right right, Excuse it's a good point, all right. So
19:22
that is it.
19:23
Speaker 1: That's what we've looked at. Those are just some of
19:25
the remaining issues going into the season opener. We'll see,
19:28
we'll get the injury reports will start to come out
19:30
this week, and we'll get a clearer idea of how
19:33
the Eagles are from a health standpoint going in to
19:36
the season opener. Let's get to everybody's favorite our picks
19:40
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19:43
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20:51
The toughest thing about doing the NFL preview every year
20:54
is that, you know, you know, there's that sort of
20:57
rule of thumb, is that there's gonna be about twenty
20:59
to twenty five percent of playoff teams that weren't playoff
21:02
teams a year before. And this year was tough for
21:05
me because I feel like a lot of teams that
21:06
were good last year are still chalked to be good
21:08
this year. But away we go. Let's get with the NFC, Adam,
21:13
start with you your division winners in the NFC.
21:17
Speaker 3: All right, we're gonna go NFC West first. Talk about
21:19
it a wide open division. Oh boy, this one, believe
21:25
or not. It was the toughest because I know the
21:27
Niners have very slight favorite everyone's favorite team it seems
21:31
to be the Rams to win the division. Stafford's back
21:34
right now is okay, I'm gonna go. I'm gonna pick
21:38
the Rams. I mean, this one was tough. Man and
21:41
Seattle is sort of like the tea you know we're looking.
21:43
We're also looking for a team. You know, every year
21:45
someone said, who's the team that's gonna come out of nowhere.
21:47
I think the Seattle didn't make it last year. They
21:49
were ten and seven, they didn't get a wild card.
21:51
I went't surprised me at all. If they get in
21:53
the playoffs, I'll go with the Rams.
21:55
Speaker 1: All right, Rams are your NFC West team, and Andrew,
21:58
who's your NFC West team?
22:00
Speaker 2: The Rams. I thought for a second about the forty
22:03
nine ers. They have a pretty favorable schedule, but I
22:06
really like this Rams team, particularly on the defensive side.
22:09
A lot of young pieces there.
22:10
Speaker 1: Yeah, I went with the Rams as well. The Matthew
22:13
Stafford back injury thing. Really maybe think about it. And
22:16
I gotta be honest with you. I gave every single
22:18
NFC West team a consideration because the division was pretty
22:22
tight last year. And I think the Cardinals made some upgrades.
22:25
I don't trust them, but they made some upgrades to
22:27
sign Josh Sweat. They're coming together a little bit. I
22:30
just don't think they have enough offensive firepower. And like you, Adam,
22:34
I considered year two of Mike McDonald and Seattle and
22:37
him starting to reshape that roster the way he sees it,
22:40
and I think Clint kubiaks they're OC now and I listen,
22:44
I can see I can see any one of those
22:46
four teams. But I went with the Rams as well.
22:49
All right, next division, NFC North, that's the that's the
22:53
hot one who wins the NFC North.
22:57
Speaker 3: This is one I'm gonna stick with the team, and
22:58
as much as I can't stay and the Packers just
23:00
because they always let me down in the playoffs when
23:03
I'm picking them. Before the trade for Parsons, I was
23:06
going to pick them anyway. I'm very concerned about the
23:09
Lions pass rush and their cornerback group. The elite at safety,
23:14
good at backer. They got Hutchinson back, They'll get Allen
23:17
McNeil back. So there's some positives and their offense should
23:21
be good. But man, this is it. Remember they got
23:24
two new coordinators. I know the Eagles have done this.
23:26
They may have two new quarters and they went Super Bowl.
23:28
Well one of them fac Fangio and the other guy's
23:30
Callim Moore. I mean Kellen Moore's experience, but Vick is
23:32
super experienced. So that Kelvin Sheppard, I remember him as
23:35
a players the linebacker. Very smart guy. He's going to
23:39
call the defense for the first time. And John Morton
23:42
who called the plays years ago with the Jets that
23:43
didn't go too well. That worries mat. You add it
23:45
all up, I'm going to stick with the Packers, who
23:50
are going to win the NFC North Andrew.
23:53
Speaker 2: Before the before the Parsons trade, I was teetering between
23:56
the Lions and the Packers, but that that trade puts
23:59
the Packers over the top. I'm going green Bay.
24:02
Speaker 1: Yeah I was. I was actually in green Bay before
24:05
the Parsons trade, so the Parsons trade only made it.
24:08
I just think that the Lions are gonna take a
24:10
little bit of a step back losing both coordinators. However,
24:13
I still think that they're going to be really formidable
24:15
in the playoffs. I have them later in the Wildcard.
24:17
But Packers win Tennessee North. For me as well, n
24:20
It's South. Anybody any entry here, Andrew.
24:24
Speaker 2: No, I'm going with the Bucks. Okay, I'm going with
24:28
the Bucks. I actually I think that they're kind of
24:31
a sleeper team that could they could quietly make some
24:35
noise this year. That's that's one of those teams that
24:38
I think people should be paying more attention.
24:40
Speaker 1: To very interesting. I always have the Eagles number Adam South.
24:45
Speaker 3: This one's a little bit tighter because I like Terry
24:48
Fanning the job that he's done in terms of adding talent.
24:50
He knew that their edge rush was pathetic last season,
24:52
so he drafted two cuts in the first round. They
24:55
trade off for James Pierce. I think it's the one could.
25:01
I'm gonna pick the Bucks, but one thing is Tristian
25:03
Wurf's injury. Andy Hack's son. You might remember Andy Hack
25:06
who's the Chiefs offensive line coach. His son Charlie is
25:09
going to be their phill and left tackle Chris god
25:11
won't be ready for a bit. Mecha Booker will replace
25:14
him in the slot. It's tight, It's really tight. Its
25:18
first year for Michael Pennick's Baker Mayfield played out of
25:21
his mind last season. What a story. He's been very
25:24
slightly into the Bucks.
25:25
Speaker 1: Well, you had me halfway there. I went with the
25:28
Falcons because I had to go with a team that's
25:30
going to be new to the playoffs. I think that
25:32
there are one of those teams on the rise. You're right.
25:34
They addressed their pass rush issues, and I do think
25:37
losing the Bucks losing their offensive coordinator a second straight year,
25:42
or well, this will be their third offense coordinator in
25:44
three years, and their defense isn't great. You know, Todd
25:47
Bowles has to scheme it up every single week. So
25:50
I'm seeing a little regression from the Bucks. And I
25:53
had the Falcons win the division. So those are the
25:57
three NFC divisions that's to the east. I'll start with you, Adam.
26:01
Who wins the NFC East.
26:02
Speaker 3: Well, everybody knows because we've talked about it five hundred
26:05
times in our eight seasons. No one's won this division
26:09
back to back since forts. It's how does that possible? Anyway?
26:12
I have no idea, but I know, you know it's
26:17
funny because people are man in football. At four, they
26:19
roasted me. They're you waiting, how could you possibly pick Washington?
26:23
Because Eagle fans, the ones are sometimes not in touch
26:27
with reality that what they're gonna do is they're gonna
26:28
pick apart Washington any kind of way they can and
26:31
just ignore the Eagles issues on defense. They five news
26:34
at least five new starters we just told you about.
26:36
The issues are. The big thing for me is the
26:38
Eagles pass rush. I would be concerned about that other
26:41
corner spot. Because of that, I'm picking Washington, guys. I'll
26:45
give you the cliff Notes version of why twenty seconds here.
26:49
If Washington did not address their offensive line problem, I
26:52
don't know how the hell they did it last season. Well,
26:54
the smoking mirrors are gone. Tontolt left, Connolly right. He's
26:58
going to start very shortly. Ottis is an OK center.
27:01
They're going to play Brandon Coleman and Sagas he's shorter,
27:04
and now Alec Reddy's a backup George Fan who could
27:06
play back up right or you could play right or
27:08
left tackle. Not that Chris Ball, This Chris Paul. They
27:11
like who they've developed. I'll tell you what Diebo. I know,
27:14
he's had a big injury history. He looks good. Watch
27:16
out for fantasy in your last last round if you're
27:18
drafting this week. Jalen Lane, who's a power slot. He
27:22
looked really good when I was there. Mclaurin's back. Diebo
27:25
look great, he's ready. In this Bill Krosky Merritt Corey's explosive.
27:31
I like it. The one issue that they have, which
27:32
is why they're not winning a Super Bowl. Where's their
27:34
past rush that's the one issue I have with them.
27:37
Speaker 1: They're division well, all right, so you got the Commander's
27:40
here'd you got Andrew.
27:42
Speaker 2: I'm going with the Eagles there. Eagles have a top
27:45
heavy roster, but they have a lot of star power,
27:48
and I think that they're going to use their experience
27:51
from last season and continue to build and move this
27:54
thing forward.
27:55
Speaker 1: All right, I went the Adam route. I went with
27:58
the Commanders also just because of the history twenty years.
28:02
For whatever reason, I do think the Eagles stayed generally healthy.
28:05
They didn't losing to Kobe Dean last year until the playoffs,
28:08
so he played the entire regular season. They lost Dallas Goddard,
28:12
they were able to overcome that. He was able to
28:15
come back. Really, you know, their injuries were Goddart and
28:18
Brandon Graham, and then in the playoffs it was na Kobe.
28:21
I don't know if they're gonna be that healthy this
28:23
time around, and they have far more depth questions. So
28:26
I went with the Commanders to win it. But you know,
28:29
sometimes people don't wait until the end, because just because
28:32
you get into the wildcard round doesn't mean you can't
28:35
go further than teams that won the division and that'll
28:38
be a little prelude to what we got coming up.
28:42
So what's the rest of the playoffs for you, Adam NFC.
28:44
Speaker 3: I'll tell you what though, if some of these backup
28:47
edges for the Eagles, like if the Conkroll shows that
28:51
he's got something, they because the issue is you can't look,
28:56
you're gonna want to throw opposite Mitchell as much as
28:59
you can.
29:00
Speaker 1: Mm hmm.
29:00
Speaker 3: And as you said earlier that if they could get
29:02
the past, rush'll be okay. I just don't know if
29:04
they could do that. So, yeah, who do I have
29:06
doing it in terms of getting to the super Bowl
29:09
or what was your question?
29:10
Speaker 1: Yeah, give us your your NFC playoff picture now that
29:13
you've given you, give us through your three wildcards and
29:15
then how okay?
29:16
Speaker 3: So three wildcards, Eagles, Lions, oh boy, the Vikings.
29:25
Speaker 1: Oh I like that.
29:27
Speaker 3: Vikings. I know J. J. McCarthy as it started an
29:30
NFL game of regular season. They're loaded when they get
29:33
Addison back. Uh. And then the division winners. Yeah, we
29:37
we just gave them out. So that's a seven.
29:39
Speaker 4: Yeah.
29:40
Speaker 1: So if if you have the four division winners that
29:43
you said and then Eagles, Lions, Vikings, you have all
29:47
of the playoff teams from last year.
29:50
Speaker 3: I know I'm gonna be wrong.
29:51
Speaker 1: So yeah, MAJORA, let.
29:54
Speaker 3: Me ask you a question. Does anyone see anyone caught like, well, no, actually,
29:59
I want to put Seattle in there. I just I'm
30:01
having I just can't just the problem with Seattle. I
30:05
can't justify them over. Some people might say you could
30:09
definitely put them in over Minnesota. I wouldn't disagree with you.
30:12
I just Minnesota's got a better team. I was going
30:15
to push them. Oh man, I wish, I wish I
30:17
could put Seattle in over.
30:18
Speaker 1: How many people you think last year at this time
30:20
doing their things that The problem with Minnesota is I
30:22
can't just justify as Sam Darnold team exactly. They wind
30:25
up winning. Like you know, the division was.
30:28
Speaker 3: So pathetically bad before we got to Minnesota and Kevin
30:30
O'Connell's amazing coaches coaching matters, folks, that was incredible.
30:35
Speaker 1: All right. So unless you're gonna revise, I'm gonna hold
30:37
you to those Andrew who your three wild cards Commander's
30:42
Lion Seahawks commanders.
30:45
Speaker 3: Yeah, good for you, man, all right.
30:47
Speaker 1: So in your case, you have one team to make
30:50
the NFC playoffs that didn't make it last year because
30:52
everybody else made it correct in your division winner. See
30:55
that's where you, guys, You just fall short. Guys. You
30:58
gotta go and stick your neck out there and put
31:00
a team leon winning the division.
31:03
Speaker 3: That's good.
31:04
Speaker 1: That is that's true. So mine were the Eagles, forty
31:07
nine Ers, and Lions. So I have two teams, the
31:10
Falcons and the forty nine Ers making the playoffs this
31:12
year that didn't last year. So I have this very
31:16
odd scenario where all the wild card teams win. I
31:19
have the Lions upsetting the Commanders in the seven to
31:21
two game, the Niners beating the Falcons in the six
31:24
to three, and the Eagles beating the Rams in the
31:27
five to four h and that creates a final four.
31:31
I'll just give it to you. I have the Lions
31:32
then beating the Packers and the Eagles beating what I said,
31:38
the Eagles beat the Rams.
31:39
Speaker 3: Let's just get to the and who do you have
31:40
coming out of the NFC make it?
31:42
Speaker 1: I have the Lions beating the Eagles in the NFC
31:44
Championship game.
31:45
Speaker 3: O man, that would be awesome. Be an awesome game.
31:49
Speaker 1: By the way, who's your guys, NFCA. It would be
31:51
it should have been the game last year, but we
31:53
didn't get that.
31:53
Speaker 3: So yeah, shud they got housed by Washington.
31:56
Speaker 1: Who do you have this year?
31:58
Speaker 2: Green Bay Eagles and see title game?
32:01
Speaker 1: Hackers over Eagles? Friendrew okay, all right, and Adam.
32:07
Speaker 3: I'm gonna take in the NFC championship game. I'm gonna
32:13
put green Bay and Philly, green Bay, Philly and who
32:20
wins Eagles?
32:22
Speaker 1: Wow?
32:23
Speaker 3: Walker gets there? You know why because I this is
32:26
my thinking. It could look bad early with her past rush.
32:29
It could set they had. This is what the trade
32:31
deadline's about. Howie is gonna look at it. If it
32:35
goes like we think it's gonna go in the first half,
32:37
it's gonna be shaky with the pass rush in the
32:38
corner opposite Mitchell, he's gonna do something. He's gonna get
32:42
that guy. If it doesn't look right, he'll get someone
32:44
of the trade deadline. Remember all those picks. I just
32:46
feel like if he's not satisfied, he'll do something by
32:49
the trade deadline. At corner or edge were both because
32:53
he's got all these picks. Green Bay for some reason,
32:57
there's something about green Bay is not good at corner
32:59
that that's the one issue I have with Green Bay.
33:01
Speaker 1: But they've never been because Alexander's always hurt and they
33:04
still figure it out.
33:05
Speaker 3: Great a safety. Great at safety. Alexander's gone too.
33:10
Speaker 1: Well, even better now.
33:11
Speaker 3: Yeah, but the issue with them was coring. So I
33:15
just think, how is gonna be relentless and he's gonna
33:17
he's gonna get it right by the trade deadline.
33:19
Speaker 1: All right? So Adam's got the Eagles winning the NFC.
33:21
Andrew has the Packers beating the Eagles in the NFC Championship.
33:24
I have the Lions beating the Eagles in the NFC
33:27
Championship game. Let's fly through the AFC a little quicker, Adam,
33:30
give me your four division winners.
33:33
Speaker 3: All right, I'm gonna go. We'll go west to East, west,
33:38
however you want it. Man, All off season, I'm thick
33:41
of the Chargers. But now I'll stick with the Chiefs.
33:44
Stick with the Chiefs. The South. This is the biggest
33:47
shiel in is Houston the North?
33:50
Speaker 1: Ask my friend?
33:52
Speaker 3: Really? Okay? All right? The North, the Ravens and the
33:58
Bills in the East.
34:00
Speaker 1: So you have basically all the division winners from last year.
34:03
Speaker 3: Yep, I just can't see anything.
34:05
Speaker 1: You went chalk.
34:06
Speaker 3: I want to do Chargers, but with the Slater injury
34:09
and issues a corner, I just can't do it.
34:11
Speaker 1: Andrew your division winners.
34:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, I want to do Broncos because I'm really Polish
34:16
on that team. But but I'm going Chiefs, Texans, Ravens, Bills.
34:21
I went chalk as well.
34:23
Speaker 1: You guys never learned. I went Bill's Chiefs, Jaguars, Ravens.
34:30
I think Liam Cohen's gonna have a really nice impact,
34:32
and Travis Hunter on the Jags. I think the Texans
34:35
are good. I have him in the playoffs. But there's
34:37
always one team that benefits from the bad schedule, the
34:41
new coach, the improvement on offense, or from a draft pick.
34:44
And for me, that's gonna be the Jaguars winning the South.
34:48
Who your wild cards at them?
34:51
Speaker 3: Wild cards Stillers, Chargers, Broncos, Broncos. The Bengals defense is
35:02
a joke forgetting I wish out gold Well, but it's
35:04
not his fault. There's a lack of talent.
35:06
Speaker 1: See I had I didn't say I wanted to put
35:08
the Broncos. I mean the Bengals in, but I just
35:10
couldn't justify it. Which means, of course, I'll probably win
35:13
fifteen games. Andrew, who's the Who's your wildcards?
35:17
Speaker 3: Uh?
35:17
Speaker 2: Jaggs, Chargers and Broncos? All right, Jacks too, Jags?
35:22
Speaker 3: Yeah? Holy smokes. Okay, wow, that'ld be a great call.
35:26
Speaker 2: Yeah all right.
35:27
Speaker 1: So and by the way, you said Jags, Chargers, and Broncos.
35:31
Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, good stuff.
35:33
Speaker 1: I'm gonna surprise you guys. My wildcards are the Texans,
35:36
the Titans, and the Steelers.
35:39
Speaker 3: Wait, didn't Andrew have Denver winning the division or no?
35:41
Speaker 1: Did you know? Heah?
35:45
Speaker 2: I think Sean. I think Sean Payton's going to make
35:48
a potential run for Coach of the Year if the
35:50
season goes away. That I'm ambisoning?
35:52
Speaker 1: Nice? I agree?
35:53
Speaker 3: What are the division winners? I'm sorry? Well, who was it?
35:55
Speaker 1: He had the Chiefs? No yours, Jeff, Mine were the Bills, Chiefs,
35:59
Jazz and Ravens. Okay, and my wild card is the Texans,
36:04
the Titans, and the Steelers. Okay, that's right, I said Titans.
36:07
Nobody seemed to blink there, but I put.
36:08
Speaker 3: The tight well, whoa whoa whoa tight?
36:11
Speaker 1: Wondering if if anybody was gonna have.
36:15
Speaker 3: They were three? They were so bad last season.
36:17
Speaker 1: Okay, they got what they've done on the offensive line obviously. Wow,
36:22
I think they've made some sneaky good moves.
36:23
Speaker 3: By the way, this offseason, I wonder what the odds
36:26
are you got to be a wild card? They they
36:28
got to be like plus three thousand.
36:31
Speaker 1: Well, there's always that one team that goes from last
36:33
to first. Also, okay, that's my team or last two wildcard.
36:38
All right, what's the rest of your AFC playoffs? Give
36:41
me your your championship game and winner.
36:43
Speaker 3: All right, championship game. Ravens, Bills, Ravens. Finally, come on, Lamar,
36:55
this is it.
36:57
Speaker 2: Andrew Bills, Chiefs, Bills get there.
37:01
Speaker 1: Nice, mine's Ravens, Chiefs, Ravens get there. So all right,
37:07
I have the Ravens going to the AFC champion I'm sorry, yeah,
37:09
the Ravens. You have the Bills, Andrew, Adam, you have
37:12
the who is it?
37:14
Speaker 3: Ravens Ravens.
37:15
Speaker 1: So now let's get to our Super Bowl picks. Adam,
37:18
based on your projections, you have Eagles versus Ravens and
37:21
the Super Bowl, which is an amazing super Bowl. Those
37:23
would be my number one and number two preseason power
37:27
ranking teams who wins.
37:28
Speaker 3: I'm sure Bornemar hasn't forgotten how they got They got
37:30
handled by the Eagles, beat the heck out of them,
37:32
and they great against them. That's a tough one. I'm
37:37
gonna go with the Ravens. I love the roster or
37:42
a great job. I'm gonna go with the Ravens.
37:43
Speaker 1: Ravens beat the Eagles and your super Bowl, Andrew, your
37:46
super Bowl would then be I think you said the
37:49
Eagles and yet Bills Packers. That's a that's a really
37:52
fun one too.
37:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the Bills. I think the Bills pushed
37:57
past I think Josh Allen's good enough to upset to
38:00
kind of upbend them one.
38:03
Speaker 1: You get the Bills finally getting one. All Right. I
38:06
love our predicts because we each sort of took that
38:09
team to get over the hump. My super Bowl based
38:11
on my championship games is Lions versus Ravens, and I
38:15
have the Detroit Lions the super Bowl. They will make
38:21
a move to address that pass rush by the trade deadline,
38:24
I'm sure.
38:24
Speaker 3: Again they need more. Yeah, and they need help at
38:27
corner too.
38:29
Speaker 4: Well.
38:29
Speaker 1: Then the draft of the kid right, what's his face? Yeah, yep,
38:34
yeplay better. All right, let's just close it off for
38:38
a work m VP. Who's m v P.
38:42
Speaker 3: Enough of Lamar on that he's got enough of them.
38:45
Speaker 2: I'm gonna say, Josh Allen, if the Bills go as
38:47
far as I'm respecting them to go.
38:48
Speaker 1: Josh Allen repeat, Okay, nice nice. I had Lamar so
38:52
you know he got he got grazed by Allen last year.
38:55
I'm putting Lamar back. None of us really went outside
38:58
the box with this one.
38:59
Speaker 3: Uh, what you do take boy, this is tough man.
39:04
I'm gonna go, Josh Allen.
39:06
Speaker 1: All right, Josh Allen, there you go. I had Liam
39:09
Cohene as coach of the Year, Sean Payton for you,
39:13
Andrew Yeah, Adam.
39:18
Speaker 3: Oh boy, coach of.
39:20
Speaker 2: The year.
39:26
Speaker 1: If your Super Bowl is Ravens.
39:28
Speaker 2: Yeah.
39:29
Speaker 3: John Harball.
39:30
Speaker 1: I figured John Harball might be her guy. Awesome, good stuff.
39:33
I love doing this. That is our twenty twenty five
39:36
NFL predictions on Inside the Birds. That's gonna do it
39:40
for this edition of Inside the Birds. For Andrew de
39:42
Checo and Adam Kaplan. I'm Jeff Mosher and it's always
39:45
we thank you for flying with us. Inside the Bird