Latest / The 3Ts: Tables, Tailgates, and Toploaders / The Road to February Starts Now
Transcript
- TB: Question out of nowhere. This time we got two co hosts. Are you ready? Sydney: Yep. Mike: You TB: All right, you can steal one player from any NFL roster and add him to the Buffalo Bills for this season. Who are you taking? Mike, you're the guest. Go first. Go. Mike: Miles Garrett. Sydney: that was my answer. shoot. TB: All right. I like it. Nice and easy. Sydney, tock clocks Sydney: Who else would I pick? I would pick TB: ticking. Sydney: Justin Jefferson. TB: Okay, I like that answer. I am taking Dicker the kicker from your Los Angeles Chargers. Mike: Okay. TB: That's right. This guy's gonna score like a billion points this year. So no one's confident in T Bass. I like it. Miles Garrett, Justin Jefferson, and Cameron Dicker the kicker. Are you kidding me? That's a trifecta of awesomeness. Who says no? Sydney: Yeah, I'm in on that. Mike: I'm not confident in T Bass so I'm in. TB: All right. So sounds like a good place to start the show. Let's do it. All right. What is up, friends? We are back and better than we were last week because we got another member. We are bringing out all the stops for the season preview. We're here with another episode of the three T's tables, tailgates, and top loaders. Not only am I here with Sydney, but we brought Mike back. So both of you, Welcome to the show. How is everyone doing this week? Sydney: Just trying to get through. Mike: It's TB: Wow, the fire is is off the charts. Mike, can you bring a little more energy than that? Mike: I got I'm coming off a nice holiday weekend. Let's let's do this. TB: Nice holiday weekend, nice three day weekend. Everyone should be raring to go because we are here. We are ready to talk. what are we talking about? that's right. The season preview, Buffalo Bills style. So I apologize to all you hobby enthusiasts and all you wrestling marks. We're gonna put you on the back burner this week because this whole show is devoted to the 2026 Buffalo Bills season. We're gonna look at the AFC East, the NFL's championship contenders, the pretenders, everything. We're gonna lock in some season predictions, and then we're gonna break down week one, the opener in what? How many days away are we? Four? Four days away? Let's see, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Yeah, let's go with four, four days away from Houston, Texas. So I appreciate the cold open question. You guys both nailed it. but yeah, let's let's talk about the state of the bills. So Sid, I'm gonna start with you. You got one word to describe how you are feeling entering the season. Sydney: I said ready. I'm just kinda done with all the preseason stuff. I'm done with all the, you know, media stuff that's going on. You know, who people think is good, who people think is not good. I'm just ready to go. I'm just ready for tomorrow. I'm ready for the season as a whole. obviously I'm excited for our first game against Houston. I'm just ready to go. I just I don't want to talk about any of the other bullcrap that's not important. I just want to get into it and ready. Ready to go. TB: Well, hopefully you can stick around for the next hour to talk about some of that bull crap because w Sydney: Yeah. TB: you're the you're one of the co hosts here. Just just sit tight. We can't fast forward yet. We gotta get through this season preview. Mike, one word, you're on the clock. Go. Mike: content. I'm not overly optimistic where TB: Ha ha ha. Mike: I I think we're gonna be awesome this year, but I'm not I'm also not like in the drought years where we're gonna stink. I I I think we got a good team and I think we can make some ways and maybe make a run. TB: I like both of those answers. I am going with thrilled, thrilled that tomorrow, at the time of this recording anyway, thrilled that tomorrow is the kickoff to the season, thrilled that the Bills will play an actual meaningful game in a few short days. Thrilled that we get to actually talk about things that matter to the Buffalo Bills. So I'm gonna start with a very central big picture question. Is this the season the Buffalo Bills can finally get over the hump? We don't have to g dive into our predictions just yet, but do we think do we think we at least have what it takes to at least be in the discussion? Sid, go ahead. Sydney: Yeah, I think we do for sure. I think we're a better team overall than we had last year. I think there's gonna be some hiccups, of course. That's normal. Getting into the new season, we have new players, new additions, people that, you know, just need to get used to it. We have a new coach, you know, so we have a lot to get into this season. But I think looking at who we have and the talent that we have, we absolutely have the roster that can make us over the hump. I think that Obviously there's a lot of components that lead up to us actually doing that, but do we have the potential to do it? Absolutely. TB: Mike, do you have anything to add or do you disagree with what Sydney's bringing to the table? What do you think? Mike: No, I agree wholeheartedly. I think we got the roster, we got the coaches. I I I think this is the the year that we make a good run to the Super Bowl. TB: Yeah, totally agree. So I'm gonna roll right into the next question. Do you all think that this is the best Bills roster of the Josh Allen era? Mike, right back at you. What what do you think about it? Do you think this is his best roster he's bringing forth? Mike: there remains to be seen. I think we we have more youth this year. we've got a new coach and we got a new philosophy. So I I I I like what we got going on. whether it's the best roster w remains to be seen. TB: Okay, Sid, what do you think? Sydney: Yeah, I think last year we had a lot of older players and this year we're bringing a little bit more youth to the table. so I think that that can be really, really cool to see those players come to life. But yeah, like you said, we're we haven't seen the players yet. We haven't seen them really put together plays on the field. So I don't wanna say that, you know, it's the best quite yet, but I sure think it could be. TB: Yeah, I think I'm gonna go with maybe, maybe. twenty twenty two. Look, we were predicted to win the Super Bowl in twenty twenty two. Obviously, coming off the crazy Kansas City loss in the playoffs, the thirteen seconds game. we don't have to talk about it. But heading into the twenty two season, we had digs, we had Hyde and Poyer still flying around in the backfield, and we had just signed Von Miller. Now, obviously that didn't last very long because he got hurt and the rest is kind of history, but I think maybe is the answer. I think this could potentially be the best offense that Josh has had in his career. But yeah, I to your point, I think it's yet to be seen. There's a lot, a lot of question marks. But what what is the biggest reason for optimism heading into the twenty twenty six Bills season, Sydney? Sydney: Yeah, I think like what you said was very, very accurate that we have a new philosophy coming to the team. We have a new fire that nobody knows what it's going to be like yet. We all knew what we were getting with Sean McD. Not that he was bad or anything in that regard. I think that you know, it's just it's gonna be interesting to see what Joe Brady brings to the table. And I really hope that he fires up the players, which I think he will, but I think just a new philosophy, a new idea, a new way of running plays, a new way of running the defense, like just a new everything that we haven't seen yet is, you know, a reason in itself to be optimistic about the season. so I think we have a lot to look forward to. TB: Yeah, I I totally agree. And real quick, Mike, before I get to your answer, I just want to give Coach McDermott a shout out because I don't know if you all saw his interview that he had this last week. I think it was with Rich Eisen. Have you all have you all seen this clip? Sydney: I saw clips. TB: And they asked him who he thinks his Super Bowl favorites are. And he basically said Buffalo and the Rams. And he said, I get questioned a lot. you don't I I'm paraphrasing obviously, but something to the effect of, hey, you this team let you go. You still root for them? He's like, Of course I still root for them. He's like, the lasting impact that you hope to leave on a city, and then he spun it around and said, The lasting impact that the team, the players, and the city have had on me and my family. Will I I can never repay them. I I just thought that that was a very classy answer. I don't know. I don't know if you saw that. I thought that was a really, really good answer. And he's picking he's picking the bills to go rep the the AFC in the Super Bowl. So hey, I'll give him another mick clap just for him. So yeah. Mike, what's your biggest reason for optimism heading into the season? Mike: I I want to see what this defense is gonna do, this attacking defense. It seems like last couple years we've had a bend the don't but don't TB: Mm-hmm. Mike: break defense. We're not g we' trying not to give up the big plays, but we're giving up the little plays. I'm interested to see w what this defense is gonna look like. TB: Anybody in particular that you're excited to find out what they're bringing? Mike: I think Cole Bishop's gonna have a huge year. TB: Yeah, I totally agree. I agree so much that the Fanatics order has already been placed and the Cole Bishop jersey is in the mail, and it better be here for next week because I want to rock that in the opening game at high mark. So come on, fanatics, get your ass in gear and get my freaking Cole Bishop jersey. let's go. Get it up here to Sydney: Ha ha TB: Pennsylvania. I don't know what you're doing, but Mike: Okay. TB: totally agree. Cole Bishop, great, great call. Anyway, yeah, I totally, totally agree. Looking forward to that. So let's flip it around. What's one concern? What's one area that nobody is discussing enough? Said, what do you think? Sydney: I wrote down a couple things, but I'll go TB: All right. Sydney: through them pretty quickly. I think number one, we have to be patient with the coaching style. It's gonna take some time to settle. I think, you know, we can't be so quick to judge in the first game or two. It's gonna take some time to iron out the the mistakes and whatnot. Our defense is very dependent on young talent right now. I saw that. 12 defensive picks we took over the last two drafts. I feel like that's pretty significant. And eight of our defensive players that played a majority last season are not even on NFL rosters anymore. So that's quite concerning. So there's a lot of ground to make up in terms of defense. So I think that they have to be elite this year and they have to win games for us. Going into that again, our run defense. Our run defense has to be very good. And then Another thing is the health of our O line because we have to protect Josh. So those are my four things. TB: Yeah, and I I love the point about your draft picks on defense. I heard a stat this morning or yesterday that the Bills are coming into this season with one of the youngest defensive squads in the whole league. We're averaging like 25 years old on the defensive side of the ball. I think I want to say we're number one as the youngest defensive projected starters in the whole league, which is crazy if you think about players that we constantly want to bring back. You know, like your Hyde and your p and your Poyer and your Trey White and all those guys. obviously Matt Milano isn't on the team. Sorry, Sid, hate hate to hate to break that to you. But he's the like half these guys aren't even playing anymore. So and these are guys that we we relied on heavily in the last two to three years. So yeah, I I think it's exciting, but at the same time it it could take some some build up because we don't know exactly what they're gonna be able to, you know, do together. but yeah, those are great points. Mike, what you got? What what concern areas of concern do you think we're not discussing enough? Mike: special teams in general. T Bass every time TB: okay. Mike: he kicks, every time T Bass kicks, I'm holding my breath. I have no confidence in that guy. we've got a rookie punter. we don't know what's gonna come out of that. And we really don't have a real punt returner right now. I imagine they're gonna elevate Dorch every time. but I think special teams in general is a big question for me right now. TB: Who do you want to see? And we'll kind of jump around a little bit, but who do you want to see as the punt returner? Mike: Pro probably Dorch. I I don't I don't want Shakir out there. I don't think he I mean, we always know what what his health status is right now anyways. if he's even gonna play week one. and do we want him taking any unnecessary hits? 'Cause he those punt returners really get blown up sometimes. TB: I don't know if you all saw the the first unofficial official depth chart came out today. Did you all see this? And listed at punt returner Sydney: I didn't read the whole thing. TB: was D Alfred. So cornerback, secondary D Alford. How how do we feel about this? I I don't know. It could have worked, sure. Why what do I know? I mean, now this doesn't actually mean he's gonna be the first person back there returning punts, but I think there's options on the on the team. I don't really want to lose sleep over this, but yeah, definitely I was happy that Micole Hartman. was Mike: Okay. TB: a one of the roster cuts because you you talked about T Bass not having any faith in him. I have no faith that Hardman's gonna catch the ball. So yeah, I don't know. But the thing I have is one of the one one concern I have, no nobody is really discussing discussing is Joe Brady's situational decision making. we kind of figured out where Sean McDermott was at the end of his tenure there. And this is going to be whole new territory. So how does he handle the clock? How does he handle the timeouts? How does he take care of challenges? Things like that. How aggressive is he going to be when it comes to going for those fourth and shorts? the in-game adjustments, is he going to be capable of doing that? how many times do we joke last year or in the last couple of years that the Bills are a great second half team after they just got smoked? in the first 30 minutes of the game and we're all like, what the hell just happened? so what does Brady bring to the table when it comes to the actual coaching and the actual handling of all these big time decision making? Is he going to be able to withstand under the pressure? I think he will because from what I'm hearing so far coming out of camp and in in the offseason, the players are gravitating to him. They're really buying in the attitude, the The demeanor has totally changed in the building during camp. And I'm excited to see how that carries over into the season. So what do you what do you all think about that? Sydney: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that goes back to what I said earlier, is like you're gonna have to iron out a couple things. You know, he might try out some things that aren't gonna work, and that's fine, but he has to learn that quickly. So I don't know. TB: And I think he brought in some good guys to help him out as far as his assistant coaches and whatnot. So I think his staff is really well put together. So I I have high hopes. I don't know. I I don't think he's gonna be making a lot of really irrational, dumb decisions. And maybe we'll we'll argue and nitpick over some of the fine finer points, but obviously that's that's yet to be determined. So what off season addition or change do you all think will matter most for this year? Mike, what do you got? Mike: I got the defense. the the whole change in defensive philosophy. I think that's gonna make a huge difference. Hopefully it causes more turnovers. and really I hope we put some pressure on the quarterbacks because that seems to be lacking the last couple of years. TB: Yeah, that Miles Garrett edition would sure be nice, but that didn't that didn't work out. Sydney, do you Mike: Yeah. TB: agree or not? Or where you want to take us in a n another direction? Sydney: Yeah. I had Jim Leonard. TB: Yeah. Sydney: I think that our biggest issue last year was our defense. We had a bunch of issues, but I think that was the biggest one. specifically the run defense. So that just has to be better this year. So hopefully he can change that around. TB: Yeah, and you mentioned earlier not being too quick to judge some of these coaching decisions. I want to specifically apply that to the defensive side of the ball because I do think that the Jim Leonard hire and the total defensive philosophy change will matter most to this team. Not necessarily up front, and we've talked about this before. I think the first half of the season defensively could be Rocky. I really do. But I think, and we'll get to this as we go on, but I think come playoff time. I think this defense is going to be locked in. They're going to have a whole season under their belts with these young, inexperienced players getting a lot of reps, a lot of time on task, and a lot of really high pressure, intense game situations with the schedule coming up. And I think it's only going to do wonders for them when it comes to the playoffs. So I am excited that this defense is no longer going to be a version of death by a thousand paper cuts. because how many times have we seen the defense? Just what, six, seven, eight, ten minute drives, just get slowly pushed off the field. I would rather the deep defense be overly aggressive and give up the big play now and again, but yet be able to go cause turnovers, be able to get in the backfield, be able to kind of throw the rhythm and the whatnot of the offense out of out of sync. It it's so frustrating in the past. I would be yelling at the TV because I couldn't even see the safeties and the cornerbacks on the screen because they're s playing so freaking far off the off the line of scrimmage and off their I don't know. But I'm hoping we don't see that anymore. So that's that's what I'm looking forward to the most. But let's talk Joe Brady again. How much pressure do you all think Joe Brady is under in this very first season with with him at the helm? Sydney, what do you think? Sydney: Yeah, I mean, naturally, I think he is probably putting a lot of pressure on himself, but I think as an organization, there's a lot of pressure on him. I do think that we need to be giving him a little bit of grace. However, I do think that, you know, reasonably so there is gonna be pressure put on him naturally. I mean, we have a good roster, like we mentioned earlier. There's no way that, you know, we should not be able to make the playoffs. Like anything. Anything less than that is completely unacceptable in my opinion, just because of the talent that we have. So I think there is pressure on him in that regard to get us to the playoffs first and foremost and then get us past that. So that's what I think. TB: No, totally agree. Mike, do you think there's more pressure on him this year or on McDermott last year? Mike: I think definitely this year, because if he doesn't make the playoffs barring any kind of catastrophic injuries, I think he's fired. I I think TB: Wow. Mike: you I think the v at the very minimum you have to make the playoffs with this team. And clock's ticking, so we don't have time to wait. TB: You think he he has that short of a leash? Mike: I I think if you don't make the playoffs with this team, I don't I don't think you should be coaching this team. TB: Okay. Okay. I really hadn't thought of that. but yeah, I mean I guess barring a catastrophic injury if we completely flop and don't make the playoffs. I don't even know what that looks like. I can't even fathom that. But I guess we Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: can talk about that as we dive into the season. But that that's crazy. I don't that was not on my bingo card. Joe Brady fired after one year. wow. w way to bring the mood of the show down. Mike. So thanks for joining us here today. But let's flip to the back to the defense. Then how much pressure is on Jim Leonard? Like what can we expect from him? He's coming in. We talked about it a few minutes ago. This is going to be one of the youngest defensive teams in the league. Brand new scheme, brand new players. I mean, so many names on this side of the ball have never taken a snap for the Buffalo Bills. So how much pressure is he going to be under? Sydney: think he's under less pressure than Joe Brady, but I do think that he's still under a lot of pressure. I think, you know, again, he's dealing with a lot of young players, like you said, that haven't even played yet. So he does deserve grace in that regard. So I that's why I think he's under less pressure than Joe Brady, but I still think that he has a lot of ground to make up from last season. TB: Yeah, and he made he made a point to say, I can't remember if this was in his press conference right after he was hired, that he has a long-term vision for this team and it might take a little time to get all the pieces in place. Again, that's not a direct quote, but it was something to that effect. And so I think he knows the roster at the end of last year was just completely not what he wanted. So it's gonna take A lot of turnover and a lot of, hey, let's find out what some of the younger players from last year who never saw the field. Let's we got to find out what they can even bring to the table, if anything. And then, you know, it's it's very difficult to turn over an entire side of the ball in one offseason. So I think he had a longer game plan in in mind when he took this job, but we hope that they can get up to speed quickly. So do we think Buffalo is better equipped to win? Regular season games or playoff games? The roster as you see it right now and kind of where you see this team going, do we think we're ready to be more successful in the regular season or to hit our stride and take over in in the playoff run? Mike, what do you think? Mike: I think this team is built for the playoffs. if everyone can stay healthy and that's kind of been our our Achilles lately, if we can stay healthy, this team will make will make some waves in the playoffs. I I think the regular season is gonna be the time where everybody's gonna take their time to gel together, especially on the defense. TB: Do we have that luxury this year with as daunting as the schedule is, though? Sydney, do you agree with that? Can you elaborate on Sydney: Yeah, unfortunately we don't have a lot of time to work out the kinks and that's nothing we can control. they're just gonna have to work fast to work those things out. We have a really, really tough schedule and we play a lot of really, really good teams. So there isn't a lot of time for error. but I agree. I think that the team is built for the playoffs as well. Ultimately it's gonna come down to who we can take into the playoffs, you know, who is still healthy. Hopefully it's everybody. but that's been a defining factor for us for previous seasons. So we just have to do everything that we can to stay healthy. TB: Yeah, totally agree with you both. Is it cheating if I say both? Because I think long term for the playoff run, the defense is going to be ready to go. Short term, look, I talked about the age of the defense and how we're probably one of the youngest in the whole league. You flip that over, and I think we're like 28th in the league as far as age on our offense. So we're bringing wisdom and knowledge on the offensive side of the ball. 'Cause I think they're gonna have to carry us through the first half of the season. I w we gotta be scoring 30 points a game easy in the first six to eight games of this thing and let the defense gel, get up to speed, and then come playoff time when everything's on the line to have those two completely come together and the defense ready to rock and roll. I think it's a perfectly designed in theory, like way, way to handle this this season, but but we shall see. So Are we officially to the point as members of the mafia that anything short of a Super Bowl is disappointing? I mean, are we gonna be okay if it's the AFC championship game? We haven't made it there in quite some time. Or are we Super Bowl or bust? Mike, I'm gonna I'm gonna throw you this one first. So is it Super Bowl or bust? Mike: That's my attitude. I we're really on the clock now. especially with Josh Allen. Well, he doesn't have a whole lot he's probably halfway through his career. there's not a lot of time left. So we're we're on the clock now. I think it's it's Super Bowl or bus time. TB: So if we made it to the AFC championship, that would be considered a disappointment. Mike: I think so. TB: Said you agree or no? Sydney: Yeah, I mean the past few seasons have ended in really heartbreaking ways. So I mean, I wouldn't say I feel good at the end of the season. I feel pretty hurt. So yeah, anything other than a Super Bowl I think is is a little bit disappointing. But that doesn't mean that I take for granted the rest of the season. TB: I love to hear that. Don't be jaded like us old fogies here on on the rest of the panel here. You gotta enjoy each and every week. So way to go. What's the one thing, the one thing that has to be different about this Bills team come January for the playoffs? Sid, what do you what do you think is the one thing that absolutely needs to be different? Sydney: I there are many things that need to be different. but I'll just TB: You got one. Sydney: I'll just say that hmm I think the defense just has to win games for us. I mean, like you said, that's not gonna happen right away. And the offense is probably gonna have to win most of the games to to start the season, but they have to help. You know, we can't win every game without a defense. So they have to make the good plays and they have to, you know, stop the other team from scoring 30 to 40 points a game. It it just has to happen. So and I I think it will. I think they'll be fine. I think they'll mesh, you know, around halfway through the season. So, but I think ultimately that is the the biggest problem and that does have to change. TB: Mike, what's the one thing that needs to change? Mike: For me, it's the health of the roster. we can't be depending on these old veterans to come back like Frey White and Jordan Poyer to come back and save us at the age of forty five years old. our our players just gotta stay healthy. TB: Okay. I I agree. I kind of looked at it a little differently. I think in the playoffs, we need to be an attacking football team. So many times I kind of just talked about this before, the death by a thousand paper cuts. I don't want to see that in the playoffs. I like I said, I would rather watch the one 70 yard bomb that we give up because they busted the coverage or something like that. But we're attacking. We're attacking on all levels of the field. And I want to see I want to see us attack on both sides of the ball. I want this offense to be pedaled to the middle from Sunday all the way through the Super Bowl. Like, don't let your opponent dictate the terms that you come to bring to the game. You know, Joe, Joe, one of his phrases, I think we're going to learn more and more is put the ball down and go play. Well, you gotta you gotta put the ball down and play Josh Allen led Buffalo Bills football. Josh Allen led. You have the best gunslinger. dual threat quarterback on the planet, go use him to the the best of his ability. Like don't let the the other team tell you how you're gonna play the game. I don't know, that's just kinda and maybe I'm naive to that, but that that's just that's just the way I see it. What do you what do y'all think about that? Agree, disagree, stupid opinion? Okay. Sydney: Yeah, I agree. I agree a hundred percent. No. TB: All right. Well, let's let's look at the let's look at the AFC East. Let's break let's break this puppy down. So obviously last year, Bills came in second. The Patriots took the crown after what? Was it was it five or six straight? I can't remember. Did we win six straight? Sydney: I don't remember Mike: Five. Sydney: last year appears like so long ago. TB: Five straight? Okay, yeah. Fi we won five straight. We couldn't make it six. New England came in on the, you know, after giving probably the best dealt schedule in the history of the league, which we'll get to in a minute, because I got notes for all you Patriots fans out there. But what do we think? Let's do a little overview. Can can Buffalo reclaim this division? Sydney, what what do you think the Bills like odds are on winning this division? And I'll pull them up here Sydney: Yeah. TB: as you as you talk, but Sydney: Yeah, I know every site kind of gives different odds, but from what I saw TB: Yeah. Sydney: today, it gave them about a fifty-seven to sixty percent chance of winning the division. TB: Okay. Sydney: with New England around forty two to forty-four percent. I have us finishing either four and two or five and one. Though that's my prediction. So TB: Yeah. Sydney: I I think we can win the division. Is it gonna be hard? Of course, but I think we have There are some really, really hard divisions out there. And we have two teams in our division that are kind of a joke. So I don't think we need to focus on them whatsoever. Regardless, divisional games are always hard, regardless of who you're playing. But I I really honestly do not think that we need to worry about either of those teams. So I think we put our full focus into New England and we finish five and one or four and two, either one. I couldn't decide which. TB: Yeah, no, agree. And I just pulled up the odds on ESPN for the division winners. It has Buffalo at minus 136. So not percentage wise, but basically they are by far the betting favorites who win the AFC East. Coming in second, they have the Patriots at plus one twenty five. So that's that's not a like ginormous swing, but look, if you look at the odds for the Ravens, the Ravens are plus one two. And the Bengals come in at one plus one sixty-four. So they're pretty close. That's almost neck and neck. So we have a pretty good difference between us and the Patriots. So we're we're favored pretty well to win the division. Mike, do you think we can retake it this year? Mike: I think division wise, I think we can. it's the rest of our schedule that kind of scares me. but I I I think we can go five and one, maybe we split with New England. And I I think the Jets are gonna pull one out against the Patriots sometime during the year too. So I think we have a better TB: Yeah, that would be Mike: divisional record. TB: Yeah, that would be fantastic 'cause to both your points, I think the Dolphins and Jets are pretty much dead weight. So yeah, are you picking five and one then, Mike? Yeah, Sydney, you're you're on the fence five and one, four and two. Sydney: Yeah, either or, like I said, I think TB: Yeah. Sydney: sometimes like o our Miami games are always tough. So I think, you know, they might get one out on us, who knows? So that's why it was between. TB: You think Malik Willis is gonna come into Buffalo and wreck shop or what? I can't even tell you one player he's gonna throw the ball to. Sydney: It's gonna be Hane running all over us. TB: Yeah. I have going five and one. I have them splitting with New England. I And and we'll talk about that in minute, but if they finish five and one, I think the division should be ours. but so let's talk about the elephant in the room. Let let's do the deep dive into New England. My favorite team on the planet. was last season the beginning of a sustainable run, or do we think it was just a s a season that everything kind of broke correctly for them? Said, I'm gonna start with you. I know you had them as one of the top threats to the Bills in last week's episode. So here's your chance. You could double down. Sydney: Yeah, I think that they had a easy schedule. I I don't TB: Okay. Sydney: wanna but I don't wanna talk about that too much. I think regardless of what we think of them, they're a good team. I don't think I know what you're gonna say. I mean, TB: Ha ha ha. Sydney: let's not be naive. I think that they're a a decently good team that has a potential of making a run for the Super Bowl. I think that a lot more truth will show this year, whether or not they're good. Is was Drake May given a pretty easy hand last year? I do think so. But do I think that he's not talented? No. I think he's good. I don't think we should be naive to that. but they did add AJ Brown. We also have to think about that. That is a pretty legit threat. The fact that we have to see him multiple times a year, I don't love. and I think that AJ Brown also has a massive chip on his shoulder. so I think that it could be scary. So I'll just leave it at that. TB: Why does AJ Brown have a chip on his shoulder? Sydney: Just everything that he left behind with the Eagles, the fan base didn't like him anymore. I think there is a big rift between him and Jalen Hurts. I think that he just feels like he has a lot to prove. Which I think he TB: Okay. Okay. Sydney: does. TB: Do you think the fans like Hertz more than Brown? Sydney: I think they do, yeah. TB: Okay. I'm I I feel like both of Sydney: I don't like either of them, so I don't care. TB: them wore out their welcome, but that's neither here nor there. So before I retort, I'm going to let Mike give his answer on the the sustainability of the New England Patriots. Mike: I think they got real lucky last year. if you go back to the AFC championship game, they barely beat Denver without Bonex. I think the the score of that game was like ten to seven. I really think that they just caught lightning in a bottle and got lucky last year. I think this year's gonna be a wake up call. TB: I'm gonna throw out a question and Sid, I'm gonna start with you. What was the combined winning percentage of all of the New England's opponents from last year's season? Sydney: Probably like thirty percent. TB: Point three nine percent. So the teams they played, their final record was a hundred and thirteen wins against one hundred and seventy six losses. This tied for the third easiest schedule faced by an NFL team in the last 50 years. Fifty years. They played three games in the regular season against teams that finished over 500. Two against Buffalo and one against Pittsburgh. They lost to Pittsburgh somehow. I don't know how the heck they lost to Pittsburgh of all teams. And then obviously they split with the Bills. And then they were 13 and 1 against the rest of the teams who were below 500. So everyone rant ranted on and on about how awesome they were in the midst of this 10-game win streak. Can you all name the teams or throw out some names of the teams that they beat in this 10-game win streak? This is going to be fun. Are you ready? Go ahead, Sydney. Name one of the teams they beat on this ten game win streak. Sydney: Miami New York TB: Miami is not on the list. Mike, your turn. Mike: That's TB: The Jets. Here, I'm gonna give them to you. You ready? You tell me when when we hit an amazing team. They beat Carolina, New Orleans, Tennessee, Cleveland, Atlanta, the Jets, Tampa Bay, who had gone into a tailspin at that point, Cincinnati without Joe Burrow, and the Giants, who were without half their team. So that's their 10 game win streak. Who's impressed at this point? Anyone yet? Anyone? Okay. I'm I'm bringing it. I I I did my research because I'm ready to talk the Patriots. So I I hear your AJ Brown point. I think he is a very good player. do we think Drake May is going to be in the MVP discussion again this year? Because he was the runner up last year to Matt Stafford. Sydney: No, I don't think he'll be in it. I don't think he should have been in it last year. but no, I don't think he'll be in it this year. TB: Mike, what do you think? Does he Mike: Chance. TB: does he go back to the regular season, Drake May, or the Cinderella at midnight in the playoffs, Drake May? Because totally different quarterbacks. Sydney: I guess we'll see. TB: Well, I'm hoping that it's the the playoff Drake May, because he was absolutely terrible. And Mike, to your point, the the Patriots Broncos game in the AFC championship, no boneks. anyone wanna throw out a guess of how many yards Drake May had passing in that game? Mike: Better you know. TB: Okay, this is fun. Come on, throw throw a number out there. Throw throw a number at me. Sydney: Like a hundred. TB: Lower. He threw for 86 yards, no passing touchdowns, and he was sacked five times. That's your MVP runner-up. So I don't want to hear nothing about Drake May. I'm tired of this clown. And then they go somehow manage to get to the Super Bowl and they get destroyed, and he was sacked six more times. So They were shut out for three quarters of that Super Bowl game. Both of his passing passing touchdowns came in the fourth quarter after Seattle had basically tried to run the clock out of the of the game. He committed three turnovers, including a pick six, and it was the biggest game of the season. So get out of here with your Drake May MVP nonsense. I can't stand them. anyway, anyway. Any other thought, thoughts? Any other ideas? Where where do we think? Where do we think the the Patriots record is going to finish at? Mike, what do you think? Mike: I think they'll be eleven and six. TB: Eleven and six, Sydney. Sydney: Yeah, I agree with that too. TB: Okay. All right. Well, I'm going to put you down for 11 and 6. I have them at 10 and 7. So I think their defense carried them in the playoffs and their offense just didn't show up, which is exactly why they went out and got AJ Brown. But yeah, I think that they're going to be the AFC East obstacle. I'm not thinking that they're going to be a big AFC conference obstacle. Does that make sense? Sydney: Mm. Yeah, I agree. TB: All right, let's talk about the Jets. Unless anyone has anything else about the the Patriots. If we do we want to talk cheating scandals again? What do we want to talk about? Sydney: No. TB: Because I don't know if you saw that story with the the kicking field goal thing. Did you all see this? Mike: Yeah I did. That was th that I can't believe it took that long for that to come out. It was pretty obvious when you see the camera angles. TB: Holy cow. You you didn't see this story, Sydney? Sydney: No. TB: Some reporter went back and looked at years and years of footage. And basically every time the away kicker was kicking a field goal in Foxboro in the New England stadium, they took the jumbotron and basically reversed the picture. So the field goal goalposts on the jumbotron looked like they were shifted like ten feet to the left. Is that an accurate way to describe it, Mike? So the kicker is looking at like two different sets of field goal posts as he's trying to kick. And they ran the numbers, and the numbers were terrible for opposing kickers in the stadium. And then when it was the Patriots kickers, Patriot kickers time to kick, those field goals lined right up with the jumbo trial. So it took them what, twenty years to figure this out? Fifteen years to figure that that they had been cheating yet again? It's just Every time we turn around, there's another scandal. I'm so tired of this clown shoes organization. I I hope they fall off the face of the planet. It just drives me crazy. my gosh. Anyway, let's talk New York Jets or New Jersey Jets, excuse me. what do we think? Can they can they ruffle some feathers this year? Are they improved? Are they terrible? Are they average? Are they a total joke? Sydney, what what you got? The Sydney: I don't know. I I always feel like they have good people. Like they have Brees Hall. He's a he's a top running back. They have Garrett TB: Yeah. Sydney: Wilson. He's not bad at all. And then they just suck every year. It really just baffles me. Like four years ago, I think they had like a great roster on paper and they just like suck so bad. I just don't understand. I think Aaron Glen could be a good coach. I think he was absolutely terrible last year. I don't know if that had anything to do with him, but His like sideline dance that he did when they finally scored a touchdown or got some inner I don't even know what they did, but that was bizarre. It was so funny. I don't know. They have Geno Smith. I don't know if that changes anything. He absolutely sucked last year, so I don't think that really changes much. I I don't foresee them doing much of anything to be honest. TB: I was shocked when they signed Geno Smith. Haven't we done this dance before? I I just I don't I don't know what what what is going on? Why of all the quarterbacks? Yes, and you're right. He was not good last year, not good at all. we thought after his success in Seattle that he would go to Oakland and maybe at least make them kind of respectable, and he was trash. So now welcome to New Jersey. here you go. You have Garrett Wilson, who he's probably gonna check out week eight and I don't know. Is he gonna come up with some ghost injury and just not play the rest of the season because he just is tired of losing? I don't know. But yeah, Brees Hall is great. Garrett Wilson's great. They have some good young players, but wow, I d I don't know. Mike, what what are your thoughts on the Jets? Mike: don't think they're gonna be the complete dumpster fire that they've been the last couple of years. I think maybe they they win five, six games and maybe pull off a couple upsets here and there, but th they're still not gonna be any good. TB: What would need to happen for them to threaten New England? There's no chance. They just don't have the the players. Sydney: I I don't have any faith in Geno Smith. I don't. I TB: Yeah. Sydney: I I think he has a really bad attitude. I think he had a really bad attitude last year in in Vegas. I I just don't like him. And I don't know where he gets off thinking that he's just like some big bad guy. I don't he sucks. So I don't know where TB: Yeah. Sydney: he's getting this big ego from. But TB: Yeah. Sydney: seriously, I would rather I I don't know. I would rather them play with Justin Fields because I think Justin Fields has more potential. of them getting somewhere than Geno Smith. I I th I feel like all these teams gave up really quickly on Justin Fields. I know a lot of people don't share that opinion, but I don't know. I just have no faith in Geno Smith at all. TB: Yeah. How would we feel if they had drafted Mendoza? Sydney: I think that that could have really turned it around. Maybe not this year. I think it would have taken a couple a couple years for them to get going. But like I said, they have the talent. It's not like they're Miami and they're they just don't have anything. I mean, they have good pieces. I I don't know if it's a coaching issue. I I don't know what it is. Maybe just a TB: I Sydney: ownership issue. TB: I feel like they have no ability to draft and develop a quarterback. We've seen this time and time again, I feel like for the last two decades. Who was the who was the last really good quarterback to play in for the Jets? I and don't say Aaron Rodgers because he was on his, you know, fifteenth year at already at that point. Sydney: Well he he tore his Achilles like game two. TB: I mean, Flacco. I mean, we Mark Sanchez. I mean, I don't know. Vinny Testaverdi, how far back we want to go? I just feel like they have no ability to draft and develop a quarterback. I I don't know what they're doing, but it's great for us because we can always kinda at least chalk up one win, but hopefully two each and every season. Anything else to even say on the Jets? I don't know. The the stadium's not that great. The they have to share it with the Giants. I mean, what else do we want to talk about? Fireman Ed, anyone does Fireman Ed get any any bonus points here or or no? Sydney: Who the heck is that? TB: You don't know FireM Mike, tell her who Firemanette is. Mike: He's a fireman. Sydney: Yeah. Mike: Yeah. TB: Fantastic. He's always Sydney: Thank you. TB: all he's always Mike: Mm hmm. TB: there in the front row with his stupid fire firefighter helmet on and it looks like a tool bag. Anyway, let let yeah yeah Sydney: I mean I know the ge the Jets guy that does all the like TB: J-E-T-S jets jets jets yeah, right right Sydney: Yeah yeah. TB: off the right off the runway. Anyway, Miami, is this a complete transition year from Miami? What what are they doing here? I I know is are they gonna run HN into the absolute ground? Is he in danger of just getting decimated by week twelve? I mean, is he gonna carry the rock thirty times a game? What are we doing? Mike, what do you think? The Dolphins, what are we looking at? Mike: I I I think he's their only he's their only chance. And that that's the only thing that concerns me about playing Miami is can we stop the run? But I their their quarterback's a joke. I I think the team in general's a joke. I th I think they're just they're playing for their num number one pick next year. TB: I want to push back just a little on the quarterback being a joke because are we sure? Are we sure Malik Willis has no talent because from the few times he's actually gotten to play, I think he's shown some flashes. The problem is, I don't think that there's a single player outside of HN that he can actually throw the ball to. So, and I think he's gonna be running for his life, which is I think exactly why they brought him in because he's that dual threat quarterback. Is there any world where Miami can pass the Jets in this division? Sydney: I think there is. I think that they have H and he he's great, but like you said, I do think they're gonna run him into the ground, and I I really feel bad for him, honestly. He lost all of his friends. And then they I also think Malik Willis could be could have potential. I saw him play in a couple preseason games, and he had a lot of great runs. I think he's very, very different from Tua. Tua would just hand the ball off every single play to HN. but Malik Willis is very shifty. And I think I don't know. I think they might have one good wide receiver that they drafted this year. I can't remember his name, but I think that he is pretty good. and then they also have a pretty strong offensive line. So that being said, if the all things go according to their plan, I think that they could beat out the Jets. But I mean, there's only three players that I can name. So TB: Yeah. Sydney: I don't know the rest. I don't know. It's it's such a coin toss. TB: Yeah, I think they have a good offensive line when it comes to run blocking, but I think as far as pass blocking goes, as we've seen time and time again from Tua taking massive hits after massive hits, I think he could be running for it for his life. I went through Miami schedule and I could not figure out where the wins would possibly come from, other than the Jets. It it's crazy. So I would love to see them battle. for four for third. something tells me they could be tanking and they're not gonna tell anybody, but Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: I don't know. We shall see. So let's go through the final division order that each of us have, and I want you to give me the record for each of your four teams. So we'll start we'll start at the bottom. So I have Miami. I'll I'll go first. I have Miami, I have Miami winning two games, so I have them going two and fifteen. Sydney, what do you have for the Dolphins? Sydney: So I didn't write out exactly what their record would be. TB: That's fine. Sydney: the more so when I wrote this, I originally had them placing last in the division. Like I said, I think this could be a complete toss-up between them and New York. I think you could get like two or three wins. I agree with you on that. TB: It's just so tough looking at their schedule. their their best chance for a win could be week one because they play at Vegas. That that could be their best chance for a win. Because listen to this at the 49ers, against the Chiefs, at Minnesota, against Cincinnati. Here's the other option for a win at the Jets. Then they play Patriots, Lions, Colts, Bills, Jets again, Broncos, Bears, Packers, Chargers, Bills, Patriots. Tell me where the wins are. You have two against the Jets, and then you have the Raiders. So they better sweep the Jets and beat the Raiders, or they they're not winning three games. I couldn't believe it when I went through that schedule. I'm like, I don't see this happening at all. Am I crazy? Sydney: I could see them possibly beating Minnesota. But other than that, I I f I don't know. They'd have to pull out a miracle. TB: Yeah. Yeah, maybe. Mike, what what record do you have the Dolphins at? Mike: I had the same, I had two and fifteen. TB: Okay, so you have last in the division. Mike: Yeah. TB: I'm assuming we all have the Jets finishing third. Sydney: Yeah. TB: Okay. Sydney: I think it could, you know, yeah, toss up. TB: I got the Jets winning five games if they're lucky. So I got at five and twelve. Are you all in the same ballpark? Sydney: Yeah, I agree with that. TB: Mike. Mike: I put down six I put down six and eleven. I think th they'll they'll pull out a few a few surprises. TB: Six and eleven. Mike: Yeah. TB: Okay. And then here's the one we're all gonna kinda well, I I don't know. I got the Patriots in second. I got going ten and seven. And I actually have them missing the playoffs. So and we'll talk about the other the rest of the conference here in a second, but I have finishing ten and seven. What do you all think? You I think you both said eleven and six, is that right? Sydney: Yeah. TB: Okay. I just don't I don't see them running away with this thing. I know they had they kind of got out to a lead in the division last year and kind of never look back. but I just don't see that happening this year. So maybe I'm crazy. But do you all have them making the playoffs? Because I I only have the Bills coming out of the East. Sydney: I have them making the playoffs. I hope they don't, but I think they will. TB: Mike. Mike: Yeah, I haven't made in the playoffs. I don't th I don't think they do anything in the playoffs, but TB: Okay. All right. So I listed a bunch of other teams, and I want to go through each one of these and kind of say put them in one of three categories, right? So they're a true Super Bowl contender, a dangerous playoff team, or you're not buying it. So obviously let's start with the Bills. Let's get them out of the way. I have the Bills as being a true Super Bowl contender. Are we all in agreement on that? I I'm pretty sure Sydney: Yes. TB: we are. Okay, we're we'll we don't even have to talk about that anymore. Let's talk about the Baltimore Ravens. Without doing a deep dive into them, what where do you all how do you all wanna label them? I have them labeled as a dangerous playoff team. Am I right, wrong? What do you all think? Sydney: I had that as well. TB: So we're not putting them in the true Super Bowl contender position just yet. How about the Los Angeles Chargers? Sydney, go first. Sydney: I had them as a super bowl contender. TB: Okay. So they're stepping up to the elite. Mike, what do you got for the Chargers? Mike: I think they can make the playoffs but I or but I think they they tank as soon as they get in the playoffs. TB: Okay. Do you think the Capri Pants are the reason they make it Mike: Mm. TB: to the the playoffs or they can't go on a run because the they're pulled up too high. What do you think? Mike: I I think they're just gonna be they're gonna face some real competition in the playoffs and they just can't do it like normal. TB: I have him as a dangerous playoff team. Look, I've I've said this for the minute they signed McDaniel, I think he could totally revitalize Herbert and take him to the next level. I think they got a lot of dangerous pieces there. and that's probably why I drafted half of the team and my fantasy team this year. So Lad McConkey, the Hampton in at running back. I think these guys are gonna be good. And of course, Cameron Dicker, the kicker, I would love to have on on this team as well. But what do we think about the Kansas City Chiefs? I'll put this out there. I'm not buying it. I don't see the bounce back. I don't see what playmakers they really have. I think Travis Kelsey's getting old. And with I I know we shouldn't count him out, but with what's his face coming off the the torn up knee, the the ACL. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. What do you all think? Am I crazy or is this wishful thinking? Sydney: have him as a playoff team. They have Kenneth Walker this year. He was great last year. I think you can never count out Patty Mahomes. He that's that's you don't want to do that. So I said playoffs. TB: Yeah, Mike. Mike: I I think they're getting old. I don't think they make the playoffs. I think I think they're they got a tough division and I I just don't see them making the playoffs this year. TB: What about the Texans? Anyone buying the Texans as a true Super Bowl contender? I have as not buying it. And we'll get to that here as we we really dive into week one. But do we have them being a team that can go on a long playoff run? Sydney, you're shaking your head. Sydney: I think if CJ Stroud is on, they could be a scary, scary team. I think they're a scary playoff team. TB: How big is that if though? Because at outside of his Sydney: Massive. TB: outside of his rookie season, he's been terrible. Sydney: yeah, he is he has been terrible and he probably will continue to be terrible, but I don't know. We'll Mike: Ha ha Sydney: see. TB: Yeah, defense. I mean, they got probably the best defense in the league. And we'll we're gonna talk about that here in a few minutes. But I don't know, man. If Stranger things have happened, but I'm just not buying the CJ Stroud bounce back. Mike, what do you think about the Texans? Mike: I I don't think they have any offense. Their their defense is really strong, but I I don't think that wins you Super Bowls when you don't have any offense. TB: Who's buying the Broncos? We'll skip the Patriots because we already talked about that. Who's buying Bo Nicks and the Broncos? Sydney: I had as a playoff team. I don't think Bonex is that great. TB: Yeah. Sydney: but I think that they have a really good offense. So I don't know. Add playoffs. TB: Okay. Yeah, I I also have as a a playoff team. Mike, are you believing in the hype? Mike: Yeah, I think they're a dangerous playoff team. I mean they they gave us a run last year. we won that game, but refs took it away from us. But I I they're a strong team, I think. TB: Yeah, especially in their place. That's a that's a tough place to play. so I'm just gonna list the next four. You all tell me if any of these are true Super Bowl contenders. Cincinnati, the Jaguars, the Colts, and the Steelers. Does anyone want any of those four as a true Super Bowl contender? Sydney: I think the Bengals could be a true Super Bowl contender if they fix their defense. But TB: Yeah. Sydney: from what I've heard, they have made additions to their defense that could be promising. If that's the case, they could be a Super Bowl contender for sure. The others, besides the Steelers, I'm not buying that, but I think the Jags win their division, and I think the Colts could also be a playoff team. TB: Okay, Mike, you agree with any of that? You wanna go out on a limb with any of those teams? Mike: I I agree with all of it. Cincinnati's one that the one team or one of the teams that I don't want to play in the playoffs. They just have a lot of weapons on offense. I think you when you're playing with them, it's gonna be a shootout. and yeah, I I think the Jags can pull out their division. That's not a very strong division. I think they can win and make the playoffs, but I don't think they make any noise after that. TB: I I I think Cincinnati is is extremely dangerous. I think they're a true Super Bowl contender. To your point, Sydney, talking about the defense, they spent a lot of money, a lot of resources investing on that side of the ball. And when Joe Burrow can stay on the field, this is very similar to the Dalton Kincaid scenario, right? If he could stay on the field, this dude, you don't want to play him. He is elite and he has two of the best wide receivers in the game, and he has A pretty darn good running back. So that is a offense I don't want to play ever. And we'll we'll we'll talk about our AFC predictions here. But yeah, they're they're in the elite tier. If, and that's a big if, kind of like the CJ Stroud thing, if he could stay healthy, I I don't want to see him. Jags, I'm gonna say they're a dangerous team. I think they're heading in the right direction. Despite, I think T Law can turn back into that pumpkin we've talked about time and time again. It's gotta be you get you gotta prove it to me because you know, you get you just gotta you gotta prove it to me. Goldilocks, you know, you you you get awful comfortable down there in Jacksonville until someone comes and punches you in the mouth. So I I don't know. As far as the Colts and the Steelers, yeah, I I'm not buying it. the Colts were doing great. they came out eight and two and then they lit themselves on fire. I don't I don't know what happened to them in the the second half of the season. Yeah. Yeah. Sydney: They're quarterback doors Achilles. That's probably what happened. TB: Yeah, probably you're probably right. But who says that didn't they lose Michael Pittman? So he's not on the team anymore. I don't know. I I see them kind of being in the middle of the pack. They might be able to to sneak it to one of the wildcard spots, but I don't see them being a big threat. And the Steelers, get out of here. I'm not buying the Steelers whatsoever. I think it's a joke that Aaron Rodgers is even is even still playing. Is there any other team that we're not talking about? Any other contenders, any other team that could s could sneak up and and jump in here and into the mix? Cause I think I I think we covered all of them. Am I missing anybody? You guys got anybody else? Sydney: No, not on the AFC. TB: Mike, you got anybody else? So which team presents the absolute worst matchup for the Bills? Mike, what what team presents the worst matchup for this Bills team? Mike: I I think either Baltimore or Cincinnati. Well b both those teams kind of scare. TB: Said you're nodding, do you agree? Do you have anybody else? Sydney: Yeah, I had Bengals, Houston, Broncos, Baltimore. Those are my top four. TB: That's a lot. Mike: Mm. Sydney: They're all scary. TB: Okay, but if you had to pick one or two, who who do you Sydney: The scariest the bangles. TB: Yeah, I I don't I didn't think we were gonna agree so much today. I also have the Bengals. I got the Bengals and Houston. I'm I'm not a CJ Stroud fan. I don't think he is good at all. But that defense, as we will see here shortly, is just elite and can give Josh Fitz and God forbid, we don't protect Josh the way we should. that that that matchup gives me gives me nightmares. So I have 11 teams that could actually be a playoff team in the AFC and I want to flip the script a little. Do you see any of these playoff potential playoff teams getting too much hype? Look, you you know where I stand on the Patriots. I kind of think Denver's getting a little too much love. I think the Bo Nicks thing is gonna have to slow down a little bit because you know, I think he got by with a little bit of luck on his side, but anyone else out there getting too much hype? I know we all it seems every year we talk up the Ravens, but they get hit by the injury bug and I don't know. If they're healthy, I think they could be great. They got a new coach. Anyone else getting too much hype though, Sydney? Sydney: I had New England. I think all of the teams, the ones that we mentioned, could be a threat. I mean, there's always factors that play into this. Injuries is probably the biggest one. So I feel like right now it's hard to tell. but if you're asking me right now, it would be New England. I don't know. I think they all have TB: Mike, who Sydney: the potential to be good. TB: Yeah, Mike, who you got for too much hype. Mike: I think Kansas City, I think they're done. At least right now with the way this roster is right now. I I don't I don't even see making the playoffs. I I think they get way too much love. TB: Over and under two as in amount of chiefs that get arrested or suspended during the season. Mike: Okay. Sydney: hopefully under. TB: Hopefully, I I hope it's more. Sydney: Well we don't want them hurting anyone. TB: All right. So who y'all got for your division withers? I'll I'll list mine. I got the Bills, the Bengals, Jacksonville, and Denver. Do you all have anything different? Sydney, who do you got for your winning your divisions? Sydney: Ed Buffalo Bengals Jaguars Chargers. TB: Good, Mike, what you got? Mike: I I had the same as you. I had Buffalo, Denver, Jacksonville and Cincinnati. TB: Yeah, I think that West is gonna be sneaky competitive. I could see that going a bunch of different ways. So it'll be interesting. And then for wild card teams, I have Baltimore, Houston, and and the Chargers. So my seven in the playoffs, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Denver, Baltimore, Houston, Chargers. Do you guys agree with that? Any other teams differ? What do you all have? Sydney: I had Baltimore Denver Colts. TB: So no chargers for you, Sydney? Sydney: I put chargers in my divisional winner. TB: okay. I'm sorry. So who didn't who doesn't make it? Sydney: I don't know. Mike: Yeah. TB: Do you have Denver making it? Sydney: They're my wild guard, Jaguars, Denver, Indianapolis. TB: Okay. Okay. So okay, Houston. You're not picking Houston. Gotcha. Sydney: Houston, yeah. TB: Mike, what do you have? Mike: I have Baltimore, Denver, and the Chargers. TB: Okay. All right. So do the Bills win the one seed this year? Who wants to go out on a limb and say yes? Sydney: I hope we do, but I don't think we do. TB: All right. So what seed are we pulling in at the before the playoffs, Sydney? Sydney: Add two. TB: Mike. Mike: Probably a two or three. Our our schedule is just especially in the beginning of the season, it's it's a tough schedule. TB: Yeah, it is. I have them also as the two seed. I actually have Cincinnati with the one seed. If you all pull up their schedule, their schedule is kinda easy. I don't know. I'm not liking it. I'm not liking it at all. So we'll get to that in a minute. But do we want to talk NFC? Can we what I'll I'll throw some teams out there? You tell me how we feel. The Rams, obviously, they're the Super Bowl favorites. I think they were what minus 500 to win the Super Bowl. So they're coming in at number one. That roster had head to toe is absolutely stacked, both sides of the ball. Miles Garrett and now Sam Darnold coming out of retirement. a two-headed monster just wrecking shop over there on the D line. And, you know, the MVP Matt Stafford leading the charge again. They have so many offensive weapons. I don't know how you could not. have the the Rams as a Super Bowl contender. then Seattle, Philly, San Fran, Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago. How are we feeling about any of those teams? Can any of challenge the Rams this year or is it just an inevitable train that's gonna get them all the way to the Super Bowl? Sydney: I had the Seahawks and the Lions as well as the Rams. TB: Okay. Sydney: I think they're both really good. I do have a sleeper pick. I think that the Cowboys will win their division. I don't know if they'll go far in the playoffs, but that's my sleeper pick. TB: I like it. Mike, what do you have in the NFC? Mike: I think Detroit can make a run at at the Rams. I th they're actually my my Super Bowl pick. TB: You have Detroit. Okay. I like it. I like it. but hopefully they're not going to win the opener at the new high mark. So maybe they can go on their run in week three. Does that sound fair? Said I love the I love the Dallas pick. I actually have Dallas going to the NFC championship game against the Rams. So I'll tell you mine. Buffalo versus Cincinnati, Rams versus Cowboys. That's what I got. That's my final four. I think. Dallas, I know they get hyped up every year, but I think I think they could put it together this year and go on a run. I think the NFC East may be a little overhyped in general. I think there's too much Eagles love. I'm not sure the Giants are ready to take that next step. They can't seem to get their brain cells on the same page. So I I I'm not gonna put too much stock in the Giants. And look, I like Jaden, but he's gotta stay healthy. He's gotta stay on the field and they gotta do it. And he's His mama got to get out of the way. So there could be a lot of distractions coming out of Commanderville. so I I could I could see I could see Dallas sneaking to the top of that division. Am I crazy? Sydney, you you clearly think think they're pretty good. What what do you what do you forecast for the NFC East? Sydney: Yeah. I've said I said this a couple of weeks ago. I think Dallas makes a run. I don't love it, but I think the the Eagles take a massive step back this year. I think they're they lost AJ Brown. I think that's a huge part of their current offense. I think they they do take a major step back. I want the commanders to win with everything in me, but their O line right now is pretty terrible. TB: Yeah. Sydney: and with Jaden being as small and scrawny as he is. He is in trouble. He got folded like a chair last year multiple times. So it is very, very scary to see. He's kind of built just like Lamar. So he just like can't bulk up. I really like the commanders, obviously. I would love to see them win and just kind of pull out American, but I don't think they'll be better than Dallas. TB: It it's it's crazy that he's as small as he is. I mean, he is spokesperson for Campbell's chunky soup. Like, is he not eating the product? What's the problem here? Sydney: I don't know. He is a small guy. TB: Mike, take a take a tour around the rest of the NFC. you you picked Detroit. Anyone else up there to challenge the Rams? Who who else do you like potentially coming out of the NFC? Mike: I think Dallas wins their division, but I don't think they do anything in the playoffs. I I I think it's a two horse race with with Detroit and the Rams. TB: Okay. All right. and and who do you all have for the the NFC championship game? I I gave you Rams Cowboys. Sydney, who do you have? Sydney: I have rammed lions. TB: Rams Lions. And Mike, you have a Lions and who? Mike: The Rams. TB: Ryan's Lamped. Okay. Okay. And you have Detroit going to Super Bowl against who? Detroit Buffalo, Sid, who you got? Detroit Buffalo? Okay. Sydney: That's what I had to. Mm-hmm. TB: I got Buffalo Rams. That's the easy pick. I followed Coach McDermott. So I guess that's that's that. So real quick segment. It's a parlay out of nowhere. Are you ready? We gotta talk picks. Sydney, we talked about this segment the other day. I'm gonna give each of you a game and the spread, and we're gonna put this three-leg parlay together. And hopefully we hit this thing. So, Sydney, you have the opener tomorrow. Pats versus Seattle. Seattle is favored by three. Who do you have? Sydney: Am I just taking a money line or am I taking a couple of different what am I doing? TB: You're picking the I don't know. Sydney: I'm the just picking the winner. I'm taking Seattle all the way. TB: You're taking Seattle. Do you want the would you take them just to win outright? Or do you think that's the three they can they can cover the three? Sydney: I think they went out, right? TB: Okay. Can they beat what do you think that they beat the Patriots by? Sydney: Seven. TB: Seven. Okay, so they win and cover. I like it. Mike, Sydney: Mm. TB: your game. 49ers versus Rams from the Landownanda. The Rams are favored by three Mike: What's the spread in it? TB: and a half points. Three and a half points. The Rams Mike: I'll I'll take the Rams. TB: are favored. You like the Rams? Okay. And then Mike: We'll take the Rams. Yeah. TB: that that leaves me with Bills versus Texans. The Bills are favored on the road by one and a half points. I'm going Bills and I'll take the points. So we got Seattle. the Rams and the Bills. How do we feel about that three leg parlay out of nowhere? Sydney: Or lay it up. TB: How much units should I lay down on your favorite fan duel or DraftKing app? Sydney: Put fifteen. Mike: Mm. TB: Fifteen units. Wow, you guys are you must have some some some good salaries coming over there from Jacksonville Sydney: Help. TB: household. Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: All right. So Sydney: Talk about a joke. TB: what do we think is the Bills final record? I'm actually gonna write this down. I have the Bills finishing the season at twelve and five. Sydney, what do got? Sydney: That's what I had to. TB: Twelve and five. All right. You are in stone. Mike, what do you got? Mike: I had twelve and five too. TB: my goodness, what kind of show is this? We're all on the same page. I have them finishing first in the AFC. Does everyone else agree with that? Sydney: Yes. TB: So far, this is not very exciting. And I know we all picked them. Well, Mike, you got to go on the record. Where what what seed will they have? Second or third? Mike: Go three. TB: You want three. and maybe this will give away my ending, but how will the Bills season end? Sydney, what are you taking? Sydney: We're winning it all. TB: Super Bowl winner. Mike, how will the Bills season end? Mike: W with a Lombardi throw. TB: my goodness, that's three in a row. This is way too chalk for my liking. Somebody's gotta step out and make some different picks. All right, the offensive MVP other than Josh Allen. Who could it possibly be? Sydney: I'll go first. TB: Yeah. Sydney: Dak Prescott. TB: Okay, I like that. I like that. I'll put you down for Dak. Mike, who you got? Mike: So n not a Bills player? TB: You y you can be if it's not Josh Allen, who do you have winning this thing? Mike: Okay. we'll go Joe Burrow. TB: I like that answer. That's a good answer. Obviously, I'm picking Josh to win his second MVP, but if he doesn't win, Justin Herbert, baby. Mike: Ha TB: Yep. Yep. All right. Defensive Bills MVP. I'm going out with my fanatics order. Number twenty four, Cole Bishop. That's who I'm picking as the defensive Bills MVP. Sydney, who do you think? Sydney: It had to be Bill's TB: well, I guess it it wasn't s specific, but yeah, let let's let's Sydney: Yeah. TB: let's make it Buffalo. Let's make it Buffalo. Sydney: Okay, well I'll say Maxwell Harrison. TB: Wow, okay. writing that one in. Do you have an NFL defensive MVP? Sydney: Will Anderson from the Texans. TB: boy, this is not looking good for this week. Mike, who you got? Gimme Bills and NFL. Mike: I was gonna go Cole Bishop as well. And overall TB: Solid. Do you have one for the for the NFL? Yeah. Mike: Overall I I I'd say Miles Garrett, 'cause there there's so many people on that team that you're not gonna be able to double team him every time. I think he's gonna have a field day. TB: Agree, agree. Bill's breakout player. I'll start this one off. I have Dion Walker as the breakout player for the Buffalo Bills. I think by the end of the year, the league is gonna be hyping this guy up and he's gonna be talked about as a point of focus for teams every week playing the Bills. Who y'all got? Bills breakout player, Sydney. Sydney: I also had Maxwell Hearson. TB: so he's winning the MVP and the breakout player. I guess that would make sense. Harrison. All right. Mike. Mike: I'm gonna go with DJ Moore. It's gonna be the first time we've got a wide receiver one in a couple of years. TB: I like it. I like it. Biggest disappointment, Mike, right back at you. Who you going with? Mike: I'm sorry, Sydney, but I'm going with Maxwell Harrison. TB: Ha ha ha. Mike: He scares me and he can't stay healthy. TB: Okay. Sydney: Dang TB: All right. Sydney: Okay. I didn't have anyone on the Bills for this because I don't want to put a Bills player for this. TB: All right, all right, but that wasn't Sydney: Yeah. TB: the exercise. Okay, I see what you're doing there. Can I at least put you down for T Bass? I I put down Sydney: Okay, that's a great answer actually, yeah. Well maybe not a great answer, but yeah. Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: Bernard because I got my doubts. I really got my doubts, but let's move on because you're right, Sydney. We shouldn't dwell on that. does Josh come back and win his second MVP this year? Yes or no? I put yes. I think he is coming out on fire and I can't wait to see it. You th Sydney: Agreed. TB: you think so? Mike? Is that three in a row? Give me your top bold Bills prediction outside of we're winning the Super Bowl. Josh is the MVP. Maxwell Harrison wins the defensive MVP. Give me give me your biggest bold prediction. Mike: gonna go with Cole Bishop. Cole Bishop is TB: Mike, don't all talk at once. Mike: off rope. TB: All pro. I love it. Sydney, Mike: Cool. All pro. TB: what you got? Sydney: Josh throws for forty touchdowns. TB: 40 tutties for JA. Love it. I put down Dalton Kincaid as a top five tight end in the league. Do we think that's crazy? Sydney: I like that. Mm, maybe. TB: And then obviously we all have the Bills as the AFC and Super Bowl. well, you didn't tell me. yeah, we did. We already we already went over that. All right. I think that wraps up our predictions. Let me just make sure we got it. Anything else I'm missing? Sydney: I don't think so. TB: Mike, you had the Lions in the Super Bowl, right? You both have the Lions? okay. So it's just me on the Rams hype train. Gotcha. All right. All right. Well, let's turn our attention to week one because Bills at Texans coming to you at Houston September 13th, Sunday, 1 PM. So let's talk last year. We gotta do it. Houston defeated the Bills 23-19. I don't know if y'all remembered this, but we had the ball on the Houston 17 with 28 seconds left. We were down four points. We had a third and one. Anyone want to tell me what happened next? Don't guess it once. It was a false start by Dion. Then it was a fourth and six. And then Josh threw a pickle and the game was over. that was a frustrating game. Josh is one and four against the Texans in his career. The only win came at home in October of twenty twenty one. Mike, do you remember this very game? Mike: vaguely remember them scoring a lot of touchdowns, the Buffalo anyways. I think we shut out forty to nothing. TB: You should remember this game because this was the monsoon game that the four of us were at. And I believe this is the first game you met Jamie at, and it was the four of us, and I felt like we were underwater for this entire game. It was insane. We all had rain suits, and it didn't matter because we were absolutely drenched. I've never seen rain like that in my life. But yes, to your point. It was 40 to nothing. That was the only win Josh Allen has ever had against the Texans. And I believe they were playing Davis Mills in that game. So CJ Stroud nowhere to be found. So how important is this opener? how do we think we need to look at this game? Is this a measuring stick game for the Bills, for the Texans, or is it simply the first game on the schedule? Sydney, I'm gonna start with you. Sydney: I think this is a super important game. I think that this game sets the tone for the season. And we're starting off with a really, really hard team to beat. So I think number one, this is gonna tell what we're working with, how good our defense is. Obviously, I know there's gonna be growing pains, but this is the chance for us to really just kind of show off our offense and against a really, really tough defense. So I think this is a very important game. Thanks. TB: Yeah. I I like all those points. Mike, agree, disagree. What what are you thinking? Mike: It's important that this this is the way you're starting the season. This is the way you're setting the tone. But in the long run, it's one of seventeen games in the regular season. I just hope we can make it through this the first five games with a winning record, maybe three and two, and just without any injuries. So yeah, I I hope we have a a nice showing there, but I don't think it's super important. TB: So from your answer, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that even if we were to lose in Houston, it wouldn't change your outlook of the season, Mike. Mike: And i it if you look at TB: Sydney, what are your thoughts on that? I'm sorry. Mike: That's right. If you look at the national media, everyone's TB: Go ahead, Mike. Finish finish. Mike: p er everyone's picked in Houston anyway. So I don't I don't think it would be a huge deal if we lost. TB: Are they? Most people are on the on the taxins this week. Mike: It seems like it, yeah. From everything I've seen. E even though we're we're favored TB: okay. Mike: Vegas wise, it seems like all the pundits are picking Houston. TB: I like it. Back against the wall week one in Houston. No one believes in us. I think we go in and shock the world. Sydney, does a loss in Houston change your season outlook? Sydney: I wouldn't say it changes my season outlook. I think, you know, we've said it a hundred times, this is not gonna be an easy game to win. And it's the first game with a new coach with just a bunch of new pieces to the offense and the defense. So I think that, you know, it's not gonna change my entire outlook of the season. Is it gonna be impactful? Yes, I think so. but I I don't think if we we lose this game that we don't have a chance. That that's not the case. TB: Yeah, I I totally agree. Barring some catastrophic injury. I think a loss isn't gonna t totally destroy us or set us back. But I I I think we gotta come out and set the tone and and play aggressive and play fast and and play loose and just go attack. So Sydney, y you're up. It's time to scout them Texans. Are are you prepared for for this segment to talk about the Sydney: Yep. TB: the CJ Stroud led Houston squad? Sydney: Yep, I'm ready. TB: Go for it. Sydney: So I think that we talked about this earlier that Stroud is the biggest question mark in this entire season for how Houston ends up. I think that last year he was terrible. so if he's terrible that this year there they can only get so far, he is a huge, huge, huge defining factor in whether or not Houston is successful. They also added David Montgomery. One half of Sonic and Knuckles from last season. Very disappointing that they got broken up. However, David Montgomery was very, very effective for Detroit. he's a really, really great runner and they have Woody Marks as well. and Montgomery is one of those players. He's really hard to bring down. He's not a running back that's gonna get you Necessarily like 150 yards plus. He is one of those players that is gonna get you a tough three to five yards per carry. And like I said, he's really, really hard to bring down. He's kind of like a like a Ray Davis kind of build. Like he's he's very small, TB: Right. Sydney: but he's very, very physical. And so, you know, when he's going three to five yards per carry, then CJ Stroud sends a bomb to Nico Collins. Nico Collins could be a very, very huge threat against us, and we absolutely cannot let him take over this game. That's what happened to us previously, and that was a huge reason as to why we lost. So we have to contain Nico Collins or we're in huge trouble. I think if we he gets six to eight pass or catches, we're we're in very, very dangerous territory there. And then they also have a very talented defense. we all know that. Will Anderson, that was my defensive MVP candidate. And he is very, very scary. they have a lot of really effective pieces on their defense that I mean they're it's scary looking at this lineup. They are very effective and if we can't run against them, it it's gonna be tough for us. And like I said, this could be a really good playoff team if Stroud is on. If TB: Yeah. Sydney: he sucks, we're fine. But I think if he can get the ball to Nico Collins and they can, you know, run the ball all over us with Worty Marks and David Montgomery, then we're in really, really bad shape. TB: You are not painting a very rosy picture about this first week one matchup here. So no, Sydney: It just realistic. We have to be realistic. We have a bad run defense. TB: I I agree that the defense is outstanding. Anderson is absolute top of the top. He's elite. Daniil Hunter is amazing. Stingley Jr. in the secondary is awesome. And this year, Jadavian Clowney is back. He's coming in off the bench. He's only gonna have to Go after the quarterback, maybe 20, 25 plays a game. So he's gonna come in refreshed. I know he's at the backside of his career, but he has consistently been a very, very good pass rusher and and coming in and only being expected to to get after that quarterback, you know, 20 plays a game is that's exactly what he wanted to sign up for. And so rotating all these pieces into that line is just absolutely scary. Dion And and Spencer Brown and the the rest of the guards, they gotta be ready to go. This offensive line gotta be gotta be ready to go. So Mike, do you have anything to add on on any of these players? Anyone else that stands out to you? A anything you wanna add on anyone Sydney mentioned? Mike: No, I I I think what's gonna be very interesting in this game is Houston has a revamp offensive line that hasn't played it played a lot together. And with our defense that doesn't really have any scouting behind it either, it's gonna be interesting the way the way they adjust to what we're doing. So I I I think that's gonna be very interesting on the defensive side of the ball for us to see if we can get to the quarterback. TB: Yeah, that that's a great point. Sometimes the unknown is is your best asset. You know, nobody knows what to expect with this defense. Even even us as fans, nobody knows what this is gonna look like, whether they're gonna constantly be rotating, you know, changing the look of the front seven, how how that secondary is gonna line up. who's even gonna be on the the field to start the game? I mean, they haven't even really said outside of Terrell Bernard. Bradley Chubb, who's the other linebackers? Is it going to be Dorian Williams? is it gonna be Caleb Elarms? Or no one even knows. So there's a lot of unknown, and maybe we can use that to our advantage. We knew the Texans were gonna be on the schedule. Are we? And I know this wasn't on the rundown. Are we happy this game is coming in at week one, or do we wish it was later in the season? Mike, I'm gonna I'm gonna throw that question to you first. What what do you think? Mike: I'm happy it's week one. we can get this one out the way. And I I think the unknown is gonna be a great advantage to us. TB: Sydney, are you happy that this is week one opponent? Sydney: Yeah, I think so too, because this is a really tough way to start off the season, but I think trying to look at the positive side of it, if we notice things that are wrong and need to be corrected, we can correct them now. I think if we played a really e easy opponent and we maybe didn't need to use our defense as effectively as we would in this game, there isn't enough time to adjust. So I think coming out strong and playing a tough team could be beneficial in the long run. TB: Yeah, I just I'm on the fence of whether I I think the biggest problem with this opponent right now is the fact that we have Detroit four days after we play such a physical imposing defense. Now Detroit's banged up and they're gonna give us our their own problems and and maybe the offense is gonna have to carry that game because I don't see this Houston game being a very high scoring game. it it's gonna be one that I think is gonna be one in the in the trenches. But You you talked about CJ Stroud before. We talked about the big if factor when it comes to him. He hasn't really been successful since his rookie season. Is there any chance he can return to being an elite quarterback in this league, Sydney? What what do you think? Sydney: Yeah, I think the number one issue for him is his confidence. Honestly. I think it's not that he doesn't have anyone to throw the ball. It's not that he doesn't have a good O line or, you know, I just think the bottom line is he's just not confident. And I don't know where that comes from, but He he just looks scared every time he steps on the field and that and that's never good. So I'm not sure what needs to happen there, but he just never looks like he's ready to go win a game. TB: Yeah, and maybe it's because, you know, we always talk about the wide receiver core of the Bills. I feel like he hasn't had a consistent wide receiver core. I know Collins has been there a while, but he can't stay on the field. Tank Dell is hurt. He's gonna start the year on the IR. He's another deep threat weapon for him. They've they've kind of gone through the turnstile of other wide receivers. Steph Diggs was on this team for a minute. I love Nico Collins. I think he is a fantastic player. And he could be an absolute weapon for him. But to your point, Sidney, there's games I watch CJ Stroud and I feel like he's never played a game before in his life. He looks completely lost. And then there's games where he looks really dialed in, but it's only for a very small section of that game. So you never really know what you're gonna get. I I hope we get the scatterbrained, throw it all over the field, specifically to the defense, CJ Stroud, this this Sunday, but Mike, any thoughts on on Stroud before we move on? Mike: I just don't think he's really good. TB: Yeah, I think is is that your summation on this? Mike: Yeah. TB: All right. Well how do you I'll I'll throw this next question to you. How do you think our offensive tackles and our line handle the two headed monster of Hunter and Anderson? Mike: I think they're gonna need some help. They can't just leave our tackles out there alone. I think the last time we did that, it didn't work out so well for us. we don't have a fullback, so I don't know if Jackson Hawes is gonna come in there and help protect. we probably gonna have to have some bigger lineups out there with more tight ends. But we're gonna have to really bring in some big guys to protect because they can't do it alone. Sydney: Yeah. I think Josh needs to just get the ball out fast and and make them run around a little bit. TB: Yeah, I think and he's got to be willing to take the underneath stuff. I'm not saying the the Shakir and Pre plays. but to that point, Shakir was the number one receiver in this Texan game last year. He caught, I think, eight eight catches for like a hundred and ten-ish yards. And then the rest of the team was non-existent. So if DJ Moore Can open up the middle of the field. And if Kincaid can get out there, Kincaid did not play against the Texans the last time we played. There's a lot of players on this Bills team that did not suit up for that last Texans game. so yeah, I I think Josh has to be willing to take the underneath stuff. We need to be ready to get James Cook involved in the passing game and Ty Johnson, he is questionable. I I know the the complete injury report isn't out yet. We'll see more tomorrow. Obviously after this is recorded, but I think he could be he could be key to being a very good pass catcher out of the backfield who could also come in and and and help with the pass protection. So anything anything else that we want to talk about when Buffalo has the ball? Sydney, you got any anything else? Sydney: Yeah, I just had that we need to run the ball with Cook. And Cook has done historically well against Houston. So I think that he needs to to run the ball well. And also we need to use DJ more, like I said, to keep the defenders away from Josh, target him a lot early, and then we can involve Shakir and Kincaid just to kind of spread the ball around a little bit. And We cannot let Nico Collins take over this game. I mean, I already said that earlier, but I think that's very, very important. And our D line needs to give Stroud some pressure. Because if he is just sitting back in the pocket, he's gonna throw to Nico all day. So they have to have to pressure him and make him run around and scramble. And I think that's when he he throws picks. So TB: Yeah. Yeah. It it's gonna be really interesting because I don't even know what to expect. I have no idea what to expect with this defense. I don't even know what I'm gonna be watching come one o'clock. So here's Mike: Mm. TB: a random question. We win the we we win the the toy the the toy toss. The the coin toss. Do we take the ball? Do we take the ball? It seems like in the preseason we we win every time and Joe wants the ball. So do we do we keep this up? Sydney: If it's working, I guess so, yeah. TB: Mike, what do you what do you think? Mike: I mean that used to be the old adage every time you won you you you took the ball, but why not? TB: Just switch totally switch it up because what do we got to lose in Houston? Mike: Yeah. Yeah. TB: We we have very very bad luck there anyway. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't wanna I don't wanna beat this game into the ground, but do you all have any other points that you really want to make with anything? Any any other X factors or players stand out? Anyone else you think needs to really show up on Sunday or or anything else that you really want to talk about when it comes to this game? Sydney: Everyone needs to show up. TB: Every everyone, even T Bass. Sydney: We we can't have anyone not show up. TB: Yeah, absolutely. They need to get off the bus. Sydney: Yes, please get off the bus and please be on time, Kiyon Quomen. TB: Mike, what do you think? Any other act X factors? Anything we need to Mike: I it's very cliche, but we just can't turn over the ball. We we gotta win that turnover back. TB: Okay. All right. Very cliche indeed. So the spread's one and a half. the bills are on the road. I don't even know what the uniform situation is. Usually I talk about that. I do know that the Texans play inside in the dome. It's going to be hot, hot AF, as the kids say, outside. So that sucker is going to be closed. It's going to be in the mid-90s, I think, down in Houston. So who wins this game and what are our predictions? Let's let's just jump right to it. Sydney, I'll start with you. Who wins and what's your final score? Sydney: I think we win. I think like you said it'll be super low scoring. I don't know. I think it'll be like fourteen to three. TB: Fourteen of three. Wow. Okay. Sydney: I don't know, I didn't think about it. TB: A real barn burner. All right. All right. Mike, what do you got? Mike: I I think we win twenty four to twenty. TB: Twenty four twenty. Do we think it's a last second thing or do we have the lead? Are we comfortable heading into the fourth quarter? Any w any other any other thoughts? Mike: I I think that at the end of the game we we intercept CJ Stroud to seal the deal. TB: All right. So you both have them winning. I got the Bills winning 24-17. I think this is gonna be close for the first two and a half quarters. And I think the Bills pull away from it and we we kind of get this one. the Stroud led Texans have a chance to tie at the end, and then he he throws a pickle to my my brand new twenty-four jersey, Cole Bishop, and we seal the deal. in week one. So Bill's player of the game. I'm going Cole Bishop. I think he's a game changer here. what do y'all who's who's your favorite player of the game? Sydney: I'm a take DJ Moore. I think he has a a show out game for his first TB: Good. Nice. Sydney: one in Buffalo and he scores a tutty. TB: How confident are you in your win and your DJ Moore prediction? One to ten. Sydney: Eight. TB: Eight, Mike, what do you got? Your your player of the game and your confidence level. Mike: I'm gonna say Kinkey. I I think he has eight to ten catches and opens up the center of that field and really really gives us the win. And I'm very confident. TB: You're very confident. Higher than an eight. Mike: Very kind. Well, we'll go with the name. TB: Putting a nine on it. All right. I love it. So we are all in agreement. Bills go into Houston week one and beat the Texans, sending them packing back to their homes. I don't know, something fun. But anyway, you guys got anything else on that on that game? Because I think I think we did a pretty good job and we we did a pretty good season preview coming in at an hour and forty minutes. That's a heck of a podcast. I'm kind of tired. Sydney: Yeah, me too. TB: Any other thoughts before we we sign the off on this puppy? Sydney: Mm, that's it. TB: All right, Mike, Mike: Thanks. TB: you got anything else? All right. Well, Mike: I don't think so. TB: I appreciate you all for hopping in here and joining. It was it was awesome getting your perspectives on anything. But I think that's gonna do it for this episode, this season preview episode of the three T. So for Mike, for Sydney, I'm your boy TB. Thanks as always for joining us. Hit that follow, hit that like, leave us a review, help us out, pass this on to someone who is a fellow mafia member. for everyone here, I'm gonna sign off by saying as always, keep doing what you love and go bills. Mike: Ooh Bills. TB: Later.