Latest / Altitude Problems / 2026 Episode #17: Week 2 Recap! Week 3 Thoughts and Picks!

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2026 Episode #17: Week 2 Recap! Week 3 Thoughts and Picks! · Altitude Problems

• Big Country: Welcome into the Altitude Problems Podcast. This is episode seventeen. Got my co-host partner P V take two, obviously, you know, but after what thirty one minute and thirty seconds, you've of course, you know, we've got some decent connections. But you know, we're here, we're ready to talk week three, wrap up week two. but how are you doing though? PV: Doing good, doing good. You know, struggling with the connection, hoping to get through this episode, but happy that we I mean Ian went to go see the Broncos game, first home game of the season and the first dub of the season as well. So feeling good. The native indeed. Big Country: The native. Exactly. The native in you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah, I got to see that game, you know, on red zone, so I didn't catch most of it. But looks like you guys you know got it done in the fourth. Pretty Bronco Broncos ML, let's be honest here. but one one thing I want to note before we get into NFL and mainly what we're gonna be talking about today, but saw Kyle Freeland make his last start as a probably a Rocky and especially of course field yesterday got the loss, but you know, pretty emotional day for him and for a guy that's froted his city to put his heart into the city, I respect for him then. So thank PV: Yeah, for sure. Big Country: you, Kyle. Appreciate it. but on to happier things. Let's overreact to week two pat. Yeah, so it is. Yeah, it's it's it's time to react. so let's get right into it. You know, overreaction Wednesday, right? We've tied our time, you know, to really dive in onto how dumb we are in picking spreads and everything. But let's just start it off with our Thursday night game last week. We saw the Bills take on the Lions. Lions, dude, like looks like they're gonna be ass this year. You know, they didn't really PV: I don't know about Ass. Their offense still looks good, but their defense is really not h helping them out this year. Big Country: Sounds like the same story the Lions have always had, to be honest with you. You look looks like you got the correct with the spread and the pick I just got with the pick. But I think the biggest crux with the Bills this year is going to be their defense. They're not they're allowing a lot of points and back to back games and they're gonna have the charges this week, so we're gonna see how they kind of fare, but I think they're gonna be going as far as their defense takes them. Unfortunately, that's usually not a recipes for success in winning Super Bowls. So I mean, what do you think? PV: Yeah, I mean, I think unfortunately their Super Bowl windows passed. Jameer Gibbs is doing all he can in that offense, Samon Raw as well, but that defense isn't really giving them much hope and even sorry, the Bills. sorry. Big Country: I was talking about the bills, but PV: The Bills honestly no, honestly I think that the Bills are in a pretty good spot right now. I think obviously the Lions had a lot of opportunities to score, which is why they ended up with such a high scoring team offense. Josh Allen looks unbelievable as he has for the past few years. if DJ Moore can stay healthy, he has the best wide receiver core he has in years. Dalton Kincaid's having an insane year, breakout year. I think this is probably the best chance that we've seen in a few years for the Bills to win the Super Bowl. Big Country: But to my point, their defense is allowing a lot of points. PV: The defense does allow a lot of points, but I do think that a big part of that is just because Josh Allen scores and gets gets off the field so quickly. that that defense just spends a lot of time out there. I mean, even in these high scoring games, it's not like they're necessarily close high scoring games. The Bills de pr definitely had the upper hand pretty much the majority of the game this game. didn't really feel like they at any point we're about to lose that game. So even if their defense is giving up points, it's also because their offense isn't really giving their defense a chance to rest because they're so good. Big Country: Yeah, to be fair, I mean this game, they were up the majority of the game by multiple scores. But I would want my team, you know, if we're Super Bowl hopeful, I want them to put away early, you know. The fact that they gave up what, thirty PV: Yeah, that's fair. Big Country: one? and a lot of it coming in the second half is a little worrisome for me. And the Texans it was a one score game the whole entire way. They didn't win that till the very end. So, I mean PV: Yeah, the Texans one was definitely a surprising one. I do think that the Texans came to play that day. David Montgomery had a hell of a day. and obviously with the Lions, it's hard to stop Jameer Gibbs. So I think we'll just have to wait and see if the Bills will consistently give up these points if the offense is consistently able to explode every single time. so yeah, I do I can see that as a concern. I would like my defense to be able to put them away earlier without our offense having to have explosive games as well. Big Country: I think for the Lions' sake too, it's been a lot of slow start too. I mean, last week we saw them two weeks ago against the Saints, they started out only scoring seven in that first half. They picked it up the second and barely won by four because Saints came back in forced OT, you know, and then this week they start out slow, don't score many points in the first half, and then they you know have like catch up the entire second half. So it's gonna interesting to see what they do in this in the first half of the season. I mean not nothing really to break down on the next one. we both got it right with minus two and a half on the Panthers. They beat up on the shitty quarterback with Cooper Rush. then strand their backup. but the Panthers I will say their for as out of opponents they've been playing, you know, their offense is looking good. This they put up thirty seven against the Bears. I know they gave up almost sixty, but the Bears just got held to only what, three points? I don't care if Caleb went out early. That was only three points to three quarters. So props to the Panthers, I think they honestly are a little underrated right now. PV: Yeah, I completely agree. everyone's talking a lot about Chug, but no one's really saying anything about Bryce and the fact that he's had back to back thirty point games. And sure the defense scored a touchdown last game, it technically put them over thirty, but I mean, did he really need to score more than thirty four points in that game? I don't know. And Bryce has been extremely consistent. He's got great receivers. Chubba Hubbard's been looking really good back there. Unfortunate that they lost Jonathan Taylor, but that's why you have two running backs in these leagues. So yeah, I think I think that the Panthers have definitely been a very surprising team. and I think it's I don't think a lot of people credited them credited them enough for having a lot of the same pieces that they had last year because more than anything, that just means you're more comfortable with your guys and you're more fluid in your system now. Big Country: Yep, for sure. it's gonna be interesting what they do forget who they're playing, but I'm excited to see what Bryce can do with Coker, McMillan, you know, Hubbard. I know Jonathan Brooks just went on IR, I believe, today, so unfortunate news PV: Yeah, he did. Big Country: for him, but he was in the lead worse in that backfield anyway, so moving into the Bears game. Something we both didn't anticip anticipate. I know it was like a cold, wet game, but man, like what are we doing? Nine to three? Like, you go from scoring the most points PV: Yeah, very, very low scoring. Big Country: in all of week one for any team to scoring three. Didn't make sense. And then I wanna get your take on this, but like I saw a lot of hate towards Caleb Lynns and how he, you know, was treating his injury. You know, a lot of people said, he got the Kobe treatment, you know, just for pulling his hammy. If that's your quarterback, how are you feeling? PV: I'm not for the hate personally. because especially in that moment you just feel some sort of injury. You really have n you really have no idea how big of an injury could possibly be. So just thinking in that moment, damn, we were we were set to be a really good team this year and then possibly having some sort of season ending injury. and especially in what could potentially be the start of his prime of his career, could It it's it's devast it could be devastating. So I understand the reaction. So I don't really understand all the hate that he's getting for the reacting that way, you know. I think it's just passion for the game. I don't think it's being soft or whatever these you know keyboard warriors will say, you know, the guys that aren't even out on the field feeling the injury or feeling the passion of the game. I really don't understand the hate. I I personally back Caleb Williams on this one. Big Country: Yeah, fucked up. Kale Williams is an absolute pussy. I've never seen a guy that's had a week-to-week injury look like that. Like he was going out for the season. He was crying. This guy was crying, man. Off a hammy? That shit better that shit should have PV: It was a non contact injury. You never know. Big Country: been off the bone. That should have been off the bone. Now I know I've never pulled my hammy, but I've had some soft tissue injuries. They suck. So is everyone else. And no one's getting guarded off the field for that. Unless they break their leg, PV: At the same time Big Country: look like fucking Grossman or Alex Smith. No no. That was weak. PV: At the same time, Jackson Dart Jackson Dart's now out for the season and he walked off that field. And, you know, who knows? Maybe, maybe, yeah, Big Country: Yeah, like a like a fucking stud. PV: maybe had you actually taken care of himself, you could have avoided injury. I'm not saying that that did avoid an injury. I'm saying I'd rather be safe than sorry. And I understand him being worried about having a season edging injury. I'd rather, you know, him actually care about that and have a passion for the game like that for my team than just be like, damn, I'm injured. well, I have a contract and I'm getting paid anyways. Big Country: I want my guy to look like a warrior, man. I don't want him to look sorry. I'll g gone off on a stretcher. It's one thing to hobble off and go in the cart, PV: I I'd rather my guy care about the game. I'm I'd I'm more about the guys who have a passion for the game. Big Country: but to be literally carted off the field. That's that's another. It's just a bad look, man. PV: Better to be safe than sorry. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Big Country: It's better to look like a like a badass than a little puss. PV: It's better I think it's better for your quarterback Big Country: Yeah. PV: to care about the game. That's what I that's where I stand. Big Country: He dun you don't think none of these guys care? Tough it out, man. PV: I think because he cried, I can because he cried, I can tell he cared so much about the fact that he his team and he and him in general had taken such a big loss. Big Country: Okay, I'm not saying he doesn't care about the game. I'm saying look better. Be the captain. You're supposed to show strength, not weakness. That's a fact. I think that's true. You want to show strength as a captain. You don't want to look weak in front of your your boys, man. And he looked weak. I'm sorry, he just did. And I'm not the only one that thinks like this. Taylor Luan, Will Compton. PV: I don't think he looked weak. Yeah, I know. You and all the you and all the keyboard warriors. Big Country: No no no, I'm not no Those are talking heads that actually played ball. They are saying the same thing. Anyways, Bears. One of the biggest PV: I think that's ridiculous. Big Country: favorites of the week that a lot of people took money on, facing a backup quarterback that didn't have too much time to prepare. He only had a week as with the ones. And we lose nine to three. Unacceptable. PV: he had all he had all off season too. They they didn't he they didn't know whether or not he was gonna be starting or Kyler. He had all off season with ones as well. Big Country: I don't know man. I think the Bears should have won that game handedly and they look like shit. PV: They should have won the game, I'll tell you that much. but I do think I I wouldn't ever I wouldn't say Big Country: I don't know if it's a credit to Brian Flores. PV: that Carson Wentz only had a week to prepare. Carson Wentz was competing for that starting job all off season. He's worked with those ones. He played with them last year, but granted, the Bears still should have handedly won this game. Big Country: good pick by you on the let's move on, you know, obviously. good pick by you on the spread with the Titans. but good pick on the Eagles to win. That game was a little sweaty, for both squads. another big favorite man. you know, not covering and winning late. I like the Eagles are getting it done, but I also like the fact that the Titans are starting to really be a lot more competitive. They weren't competitive that week one against the Jets, which I like to see for my future for one, but Like to see it Camboard as PV: Yeah, I think it was a little interesting though. Cam Ward still hasn't gotten that. he didn't end up getting a touchdown pass in that game, ran two of them in, which is still a concern for his receiving core, who was still getting a lot of drops out there. it was a concern last year, continues to be a concern this year. So I I I'm really glad that he ran in those two. Keeping it close against the Eagles I think will give him a lot of confidence after such a terrible loss against the Jets. I'm hoping he can continue this momentum and I do think that this week is a good week for him to bounce back. I do think that they have a nice little matchup for him. and I think that he can keep it rolling. I don't know if that they'll win it, but I think they'll be competitive again, honestly. and I'm and I think that the big reason they were able to keep it competitive in this game is because the Eagles offense really isn't spectacular this year. especially with Saquon Barkley having getting having gotten that neck injury mid game. They didn't have him most of the not even mid game, early game. Big Country: Yeah. PV: They didn't have a majority of the game. and so obviously it was a little easier for them to stay in that game, but you know, seventeen points this week around, actually I think it was maybe twenty, twenty points this week around, mu much bid much bigger improvement from the first week with the Jets. Big Country: Yeah, like like I said Previously I'm excited for what I saw from the Titans. I saw their offense wake up a little bit more. Obviously, like you were saying, the drops are happening. That'll fix itself. You know, it's it's week two, it's now react and say all his receivers are just dog shit, you know. Still working kinks out. And honestly, you could say the same thing about the next game we're gonna talk about, and that's like Steelers Patriots. I mean Patriots covered, they won, great, they're with a better team. Steelers can we protect our quarterback? Can we run the ball? Can we catch a ball? DK Metcalf? My god, help the fucking 42-year-old out. This dude got crumpled like a little potato PV: Yeah, the Steelers offense looks awful. Big Country: chip on one play, dog. I was like. Like this is insane to me. Like it's the one job you have with the older quarterbacks because they are not as mobile. All you have to do is protect them and give them time in the pocket. They can't do that. And that's why they're losing. Le'Veon Bell says is saying it best too. They can't run the ball because they're all line shit, so they need to fix it. PV: Yeah, exactly. That's what I was gonna say. Is even more so. they need to be able to bring the pressure off of Aaron Rodgers by being able to run the ball. They brought in Rico Daldo in hopes that he would be the guy to do smash mouth running, but literally so far Jalen Warren has already has still been more efficient, better back with even runs down the middle, pass protecting receptions anyway. So adding Rico Daldo really hasn't added much value to their team so far. and so they really need to find some sort of way to get that pressure off of Aaron Rodgers so that he doesn't have to roll out of the pocket every play a forty two year old man having to roll out. and then those drops, like you mentioned. Big Country: He's rolling out way too often. PV: Yeah. And then those drops if he ever does actually find someone they they're not helping him out. get the ball get the ball to Dar Darnell Washington. I'm not sure why six foot seven, three hundred foot or three hundred pound behemoth is not who has been bouncing players off the ground is not getting the rock more often on short plays for you. So yeah, there's definitely a lot that needs to be s solved for that Steelers offense. Patriots handled them very handedly in that game. Big Country: And the Steelers defense still looks pretty decent. I know they lost that game, but they also had a fumble six and they had multiple turnovers. So this is not all just say like the Patriots offense. It's Hellman. I think it was more PV: Right. Big Country: the Steelers have the shittiest offense known to mankind. Right behind the Green Bay Packers, of course. PV: Yeah. Big Country: but hopefully they turn around. They play the tough team next week against the Bengals. and the Patriots are. Next one, we both got the team correct to win, but the team that won isn't playing well and they you know won by the skin of their teeth. PV: Yeah. Big Country: I I'm so fucking annoyed with my team. It's kinda s it's very PV: It was a rough game. Big Country: similar issue, honestly. Rejecting Jordan Love and not being able to run the ball. And also being the most PV: The running, yeah. Big Country: it's most undisciplined team I've ever seen. We set the record for the most penalties in it for any Packers team through the first two weeks. So that's cool. I'm glad they were able to get the win. They were down ten in the fourth. Jets, you know, played a better game. And I don't know why they weren't as aggressive to end the first half, even to end the second half either. They almost like were just like, all let's go to OT. We're fine with that. And Aaron Glenn got kind of got get killed in the presser for it. Looked dumbfounded when he was even asked the questions about it. PV: Yeah, I think that the Jets, you know, they've been kind of a surprising team this year. Their offense is slightly more consistent than people were expecting for sure. Their defense is allowing them to hang into those games. Aaron Glenn, I think, mismanaged that game or else they could have easily taken a two start to the season. Pac Packers managed to pull it out though. Didn't cover the spread unfortunately, but it's good to at least get a win under your belt, even if it's not a pretty one. Big Country: Yeah. Is it time to to back your words up on our boy Deshaun Watson? PV: Yeah, he really shut me up this game. I'll I'll talk a bit about Deshaun Watson here. He he he had a phenomenal game, I won't lie. he played really, really well against the Buccaneers, almost flawless. really surprised a lot of people in beating them. We thought that the Baker was gonna have some sort of a comeback game. He looked horrible Big Country: Mm-hmm. PV: out there. Deshaun was clearly the superior quarterback in this matchup somehow, but If Deshaun can keep this up great. I hope f well, I don't really hope for his sake 'cause I don't like the guy. But for his sake, you know, hoping that it's not a fluke and it's not just one game where he looked really good. Hopefully he doesn't get relaxed after this one game. One good game doesn't, you know, necessarily mean you should be all good with your results and everything you've done. You know, you need to keep it up and everything. But Denzel Boston's looking very, very good out there. Clearly the wide receiver one in that offense. and yeah, I mean, I think one thing I actually was talking to our buddy Hunter in our league, who was having some quarterback issues, and I I told him pick up Deshaun Watson and if in our in our super flex league because Big Country: Yeah. PV: I mean he had six rushes the first game, seven rushes the second game. You know he runs the ball a lot. He's probably gonna be down most of the time. He's gonna be slinging it, and he really doesn't turn the ball over that much, as terrible of a quarterback as he is. He only threw one pick in that first game and hasn't thrown a pick since. obviously it's only two weeks, but you know, given how terrible of a quarterback you would think he is, you would feel like he has more turnovers. He had a couple of fumbles in that first game, but you know, I think that that's something that could easily be fixed because they were really stupid fumbles. He could have easily felt the pressure coming, and just held on to the football. So I think for fantasy sake, honestly, if you're in a super flex league, he's someone to look out for. A lot of rushing ability. He's gonna be down a lot, so he's gonna be slinging that football. So You know, especially with all those injuries like Jackson Dart, Caleb Williams, all those quarterbacks going down, it's definitely a good time to pick up. Big Country: Jane Daniels. PV: Yeah, J eighty five, yeah. Big Country: Anybody can't say J D five. yeah, PV: Might be my bad, my bad. Big Country: yeah. Bucks offense doesn't to say the least. and like you said, Deshaun kinda surprised us today, you know, put up some great numbers and let that team do a win, you know. And it was kind of a shitty like atmosphere to be in that game. That game, you know, they had the two hour delay, w the weather wasn't the greatest, you know, it went and gutted it out. So I gotta get props when props is due. So they're playing the Panthers though next week, so that'll be a little little test. And they're gonna be at home, you PV: To be testy. Big Country: know, you're not gonna win over that fan base with just one game too. So we'll have to see. Bavens. Fuck are we doing? Then Tyler Shuck coming to your house, man. Tyler Shuck's surprises me in a lot of ways. they not only cover the spread, but they win the game in kind of dramatic fashion too. You know, like Mid Lamar play quarterback at the end of the game and he didn't. Simple as that. PV: Well, I think one thing I really didn't understand about that game is Derek Henry had five rushes in the second half. you go into the second half with the lead, why are you not running the ball with Derrick Henry? I mean, especially against a team that has such a weak defensive line, you would figure, let's just make play. Let's tire him out. But nope. He ended up having five total rushes in that second half. absolutely mismanaged game by the head coach there. I think that that was their biggest mistake and the biggest reason why they lost. obviously it doesn't help that they allowed Tyler Shugg to have such a phenomenal fourth quarter, didn't have any touchdowns until he threw one and then ran one in later in that fourth. when they allowed Olave to be wide open on a beautiful play call with the post across the middle on that zone. So, you know, tough, tough loss for the Ravens. Should have been one that they could have easily won with just better play calling. but good for the Saints who are now off to a Really good start to the year, especially offensively. Big Country: Right? One on one? Yeah. Could be two and note two. PV: Yeah, they're one and one. Yeah. Barely yeah, barely lost that first game just by missing out on that two point conversion. Big Country: Yeah, possibly seeing the effects of Nose Flowers as well, you know, a guy you paid big money to, reliable PV: Yeah, that's true. Big Country: target for Lamar, but that I don't think there's much of an excuse for letting Tyler Shot come into your house. PV: Which makes it even more questionable. Yeah, which makes it even more questionable as to why the U didn't run Derek Henry more in that second half. I mean, you don't have your star wide receiver out there. What are you doing wasting your time trying to throw the football so much? Big Country: Yeah, we made Brashad Bateman here number one. Didn't use Mark Andrews. yeah, it's just sloppy game. They paid for it. Simple as that. halfway through the slate here. But you got the Bengals Texans. I was on the right side of things here. You were on the wrong. Can't can't talk about it, but Bengals defense looks great. And Bengals haven't even shown their best side of their offense yet and they're winning games and I I feel like that's a scary sight. We haven't seen that in very long time 'cause they've been known to start very slow and it almost never works out for them because when you start slow, it's very hard to win in the NFL. so the fact that they're starting two and I think it's a scary sight to be honest with you. PV: Yeah, and I think the biggest headline of this game is like you mentioned that defense. because you know, after that week one, it was a lot of turnovers, a lot of fumbles. People were like, Yeah, you know, they played way better than they did in previous years, but it was a lot of fumbles. Did they actually play well? Well, now they came out, shut the Texans down to six points after the Texans had such a phenomenal week one. So, you know, yeah, that revamped Tech not Texans, that revamped Cincinnati defense is scary, especially given what their offense can be and all the players that they have on that side of the ball. So if they can keep this up, they are a hundred percent championship contenders. Big Country: I want to note that catch by Jamar Chase. His first touchdown catch was beautiful. my god. PV: that was ridiculous. Holy crap. Yeah, spinning around on the very front corner of the end zone. Holy cow. Big Country: Just smell it was beautiful. but yeah, they just dominated from start to finish. I felt like that. In that game they shot him down at the very end too. That strip sack on CJ. well you talk about your Broncos here 'cause you were at the game, you're probably gonna know this best. you know, I had a lot of questions on why you guys were even favored in this game. It truly didn't make sense with how badly you guys showed up in Kansas City for week one, how badly Bo played and True Denver fashion, like we said earlier, came from behind and won it in the fourth. PV: Yeah, I mean, it was like I said with this one, it was the home field advantage that really shut things up. You could tell that the Jags there were several times there where they couldn't communicate and Trevor Lawrence couldn't get the play across. They had to we had two fantasists where they had to call timeouts when they didn't want to 'cause they couldn't hear anything on the field. and then obviously that hype, I believe, is what ended up really being a big part of that interception that Riley Moss Moss got later on in the game. Big Country: That was a duck, dude. PV: the stadium was just rocking. Yeah. And he threw and he threw an absolute meatball sub to the left side. And I think, you know yeah, I think it was a great Big Country: The meatball sub PV: defensive play call. But at the same time, I think that the stadium just had Trevor Lawrence shaken in his head so much that he really he he just couldn't figure out what to do with himself. and even if even if it was a fourth quarter comeback, I feel like this one wasn't as much of a fourth quarter comeback as we saw in last year, where we were coming back from like Big Country: Yeah, it wasn't like a two score lead. PV: Yeah, exactly. The whole it was tight the entire time. It was basically one position the whole time, except for like maybe at some point when they may have been up ten. But it was practically one position the entire game. there was even a point where we should have taken the lead, but we had a terrible play call and threw an interception on in the corner of the end zone that Courtland Sutton was trying to moss the guy. I did I really didn't like that play call at Big Country: That was a terrible throw. PV: all. It was a well, it was a bad throw and a bad play call. The play call just didn't make any sense whatsoever. You had two guys bunched in front of him. Big Country: I don't think we can plan a play call there, man. PV: No, I think you can. If you if you watch the play, it really did not set Bo up for any type of a attempt at a good throw there. Because it just it was it was messy. You had all three players in the exact same zone. One guy managed to cover two. And obviously Court Sutton it wasn't gonna get past him there. and so there were a lot of points where we could have taken the lead early. it wasn't necessarily one where all of a sudden in the fourth quarter we finally took the lead. It was just one it was more so in the fourth quarter we stopped making mistakes. We finally scored those last two touchdowns to take the lead and ended up just winning the game because our defense played phenomenal that whole game. like I mentioned last week, the the pass coverage in the skies really wasn't an issue in week one and it showed this week we did a really good job. Parker Washington was really the only guy that was able to somewhat pick us apart. I'm high on Parker Washington, so that really didn't surprise me at all. and it was mostly zone. it was never really man coverage where we were getting picked apart. He just really finds those zones well. So The defense was astounding. great week, great win. I think this really gets us back on track. I think it was one that we really needed with the tough schedule coming up. Big Country: Definitely. you also you guys were attacking Travis Hunter a lot, it seemed like. And young player. Jane Waddle also broke out. Played right. PV: Jalen Waddle, holy crap, yeah, I didn't even mention Jalen Waddle, 138 yards. Went yeah, I just got my Jalen Waddle jersey and wore it to his wore it to the home opener. and obviously he ended up going off. It was a lot of fun to watch him. he was routing them up the whole time. That deep ball that Bo Nicks had and got us down to the one was a awesome play. it was really, really good to see Jalen Waddle break out. Big Country: Yeah, definitely. Especially when you give up a lot of assets for them. PV: Yeah. Big Country: Moving into the next one, we got Raiders visiting the Chargers. Chargers continue to disappoint me. Don't really understand what's going on here. The offense is not clicking, defense is straight butter, you know, sliced right through it. And the Raiders. They're surprising a lot of people. I remember saying this before the season, man. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not the last team in that division. You know, placing wise, obviously. PV: Apparently it's gonna be the Chargers. Big Country: Yeah, which honestly, like you could have told me I would that's like the last team I would have thought. Honestly, I thought the charges were gonna be much better this year. PV: Yeah, they were favored to win. Yeah, they were actually favored to win the AFC West in odds this year. Big Country: Yeah, it's just it's I don't know what's going on, man. And obviously props to the Raiders. They they're worth doing this all without Brock Bowers. They're setting up like a perfect scenario for Mendoza to step into it next year too. So the longer I feel like Kirk can play this year, the better. So I mean fuck you, Chargers. PV: Yeah, I agree. I mean, their offense doesn't look perfect yet. Kirk is still out there throwing interceptions. I think he's got three on the season now. so Fernando Mendoza will come in at some point later in the season. But their defense, we mentioned it in the offseason, we mentioned it last week, and it's still there, man. Those two middle linebackers, Quay Walker and Kobe Dean, are managing that team really well. They're able to get their defense set up. and they're obviously holding teams to enough points to take these wins. And so the Chargers, man. The charges continue to look disappointing. I thought Mike McDaniel would look very good with all those weapons out there. I thought Justin Herbert was finally gonna have that big breakout year. You know, it's still a week two. There's still time for them to fix things and develop, but it is a rough start to the season, especially with that schedule they have coming up. Big Country: Yeah. There were the two wins that they two games that they needed to win. Yeah, 'cause the the rest was like, y you just hope you're five hundred, you know, 'cause it was that hard. But I have no hope of this team right now. They're gonna have to show me something here soon. Fortunately we got to see a pretty graphic image of J D the end of the first half against the Cowboys. it was it was sad because they were they were really competing with the Cowboys in that first half and I thought they could have you know, competed with him in the second half. Had he stayed healthy and made that game interesting, but the Cowboys take care of it. Mario's gonna be the starter for the first year of the future until, you know, he's dislocated on becomes healthy again. And honestly, man, like this is the second time this has happened. So I'm all a little worried for him. yeah. PV: Yeah, it's not it's not looking good for Jaden. he he really needs to work out more. He's he's too thin. and yeah, Big Country: hey Wait, bro. PV: he he really needs to he really needs to add some muscle to be able to prevent some of these injuries. It's coming up too often. We're gonna see Mariota step in again. It's really a shame because Jaden Daniels was actually playing a pretty damn good game before getting injured there. Mariota actually stepped in and played a pretty good game as well. They just couldn't keep up with the Cowboys offense, unfortunately. you know, they just outmatch their efficiency in this one. So I'm not I don't I'm not done with the commanders just yet. I do think Mariota with his experience, especially already being with the commanders for a few years now, he should be able to at least get that offense rolling for a little bit. we'll see what they end up figuring out. Big Country: Definitely. I want to say this first, JSN can be my daddy. I love that. PV: JSN, man. A hundred and fifty yards, three touchdowns. Unbelievable. Big Country: This dude is saving my fantasy team. But most importantly, this dude is separating himself as the best receiver in the football right now, I feel like. I know Puka's hurt. Jamar had a bounce back week two. This dude is performed back to back weeks now. And it's like he hasn't slowed down from last year. That very first play that he scored the 80 yard touchdown on. I'm like watching him, because you know sometimes you'd rather watch the root the route. PV: That was also a dot by Drew Locke though. Big Country: throw? Look looking underthrow. God is you should watch PV: I thought it was a pretty damn good throw. Big Country: it. It's a little under thrown, not gonna lie. But you could just see his head fake, bro, and he just takes off. One of the nastiest looking rats I've ever PV: Yeah, the head fake was nasty. Big Country: seen, bro. He's he's studied that, he's perfected it too, you know, he's going to the school of Devontae Adams, but let's be honest here. but I'm happy for him. Happy for the Seahawks they're able to get wins without Sam Darnold, which is I felt like a little big of a little of a concern heading into this week, you know, after the week one, you know, they kind of skimmed by the Patriots, thirteen to ten, but they dominated the Cardinals this week. PV: Yeah, I mean I think that the the Cardinals looked really lackluster. They kept their game too too conservative this time around. It worked the week one, but they needed to be more explosive, especially with the Seahawks being as explosive as they were in, you know, knowing how they play, already being division rivals. But man, yeah. I mean, it doesn't really matter what quarterback you put back there, Drew Locke, Sam Darnold, JSN's gonna produce, It's kind of a concern though for the Seahawks what they're gonna do with that run game. Jadarian Price ended up going out with an injury in that game. but even Big Country: But Emmanuel Wilson, he stepped up big. PV: yeah, I was gonna say even before that, however, it's not like he was actually being used because it was Emmanuel Wilson who was leading that backfield. so it's kind of interesting. We'll see what ends up happening when Sharpney ends up coming back. how much Jadarian Price, Emmanuel Wilson and Sharpney are all involved in that tandem. And I guess they'll just have to ride the hot hand. Big Country: Yeah, for sure, for sure. But either way, I mean, big win for the CX. And I believe they have a pretty good matchup this week, so let's see what they do. moving into one I believe the biggest spread of the week. we had Niners taking on the Dolphins in Santa Clara. Niners take care of business as they should. Dolphins, I got nothing for ya. Re expected this. PV: Yeah, Dolphins really didn't do much. the Brock Burdy looks fucking amazing though. Holy shit. Brock Burdy looks like a top five quarterbacker in the NFL right now, making the right throws, making the right reads, rolling out at the right time, stepping up in the right pocket. it's he looks fucking amazing. You would never think that he was Mr. Irrelevant last pick of the NFL draft. so it I think that the Niners have a lot of really good things going for them, especially given that they lost so many receivers and they're still able to be this productive on the offensive side of things. So things are looking really good for them. They don't necessarily need Christian McCaffrey either. He's not having humongous games, and they're still able to have great offensive games. So yeah, I think the Niners are definitely a team to look out for as well. Big Country: Yeah. They're dangerous when they're essentially doing this well and they're not even healthy. So and plus on top of the fact that they were sat that said Brock Purdy hasn't been sacked once. God, that that'd be great. PV: Yeah, that's crazy. It's and and and it's like I said, it's his it's his pocket mobility and his presence. Holy crap, he just he can feel that pocket so well and he rolls out in the right direction, he steps up in the right spot. Yeah, exactly. Big Country: Mm-hmm. Doesn't leave early, steps up in the exactly, yeah. PV: Yeah, he's doing such a good job of that, and that's what's really, really helping them out. And Trent Trent Williams' old ass is still out there balling. Big Country: Dude, he's a stud, man. That's and you saw PV: Yeah. Big Country: George Kittle's kind of reforming back to his old form that, you know, getting healthier and healthier after that. D tears ACL or did he tears Achilles? I forget. PV: It was his Achilles, I think. Big Country: Yeah. Either way, I mean great game by him. the Niners. does they move to two and so the Chiefs also moved to two and they were kind of a big favorite against the Colts at home. They kinda provided a great game. I'll give the Colts credit there. They stuck with them the whole entire game. They forced O T and they gave Mahomes two chances with the ball. And in the year that he looks great, I wouldn't PV: Yeah, this was a really interesting game. Big Country: do that. I would take that PV: Yeah, with this Big Country: ball. PV: this one was kind of weird to me. I thought that the Chiefs were gonna handedly beat them, but I guess they let them hang around. Obviously they ended up winning in the end. Doesn't really ha matter how you win, just that you get the win. but yeah, I don't know. I think that I was I guess I was a bit surprised by how close this one was. I figured that either the defense or the offense would step up big in this one. I feel like the offense did step up big, but their defense kind of let them down. especially in those big moments where they would let them hang around. So, obviously they still have some injuries on that defensive side of the ball that they're hoping to recover from. Nothing major. I think Monser Delaney's still nursing his injury from week one. that will be that'll be big when he comes back. But Travis Kelsey obviously had a huge week. kind of crazy to see him at that age still balling the way he is. so yeah, we'll just Big Country: You look like Travis Kelsey. PV: yeah, if the Chiefs keep winning, you know, we said it we said it early in the season, even though they looked so bad last year, it's the Chiefs. They know how to win games, so they're always gonna be a threat. Big Country: Holmes looks great. He's not putting the ball in, you know, tight spots. He's play calling's been great from Andy Reid too. The playmakers are making plays. who's my boy? Kenneth Walker's a fucking dog. PV: Kenneth Walker has been helping them a lot. Yeah. Big Country: I love him. he makes me happy. as a fantasy owner of obviously. PV: Yeah. Big Country: but kind of what we said earlier. Moving into the next game. Saw Jackson Dark go out. You know, he hobbled off the field like a man. but the rands end up, you know, cake getting the cakewalk win after he goes down early in the first quarter, unfortunately. But we saw the greatest ump performance PV: Jesus Jameis. Big Country: out of Devontae Adams, I think we've ever seen. Thirty three years old and putting PV: My goodness. Big Country: up two hundred yards. Like, are you kidding me? PV: I guess in hindsight he was he was going at some really shit corners with Deontay Banks being out, but he had a crazy game out there. Big Country: Sh Colton Hood, bro, see you legend. PV: Yeah. Colton Hood. Colton Hood versus Devontae Adams. Big Country: That was just why are we putting a rookie on an island on an island in the red zone? Like what are we doing, bro? PV: Yeah, it was an easy win for Devontae Adams. He had a phenomenal week. cool really cool to see him cook, especially after having such a terrible week one. Everyone was like, man, his season's done, you know, Big Country: Yeah. You shut him up. PV: he's too old. He definitely shut all the haters up. really good for him, really good for Matthew Stafford after having a furt rough first week. Good to see that offense cook even without Puka. obviously, however I mentioned those corners definitely made it a lot easier for them. We'll see if they can keep this level of play up. Blake Coram really does seem to be emerging as the primary running back. Kyron is gonna be the receiving back out of that backfield, getting a lot of that pass blocking, but Blake Corum has clearly been more dominant with actual run plays, just running it down the middle. He gets five, six yards every damn carry. he looks really tough to stop, really tough to bring down. So they have a really good system there going with two RBs. and I think that, yeah, I think the Rams definitely needed this one after a rough week one. I do think I I I'm still behind the belief that the terrible mismanaging of the schedule was a big reason why they looked so bad. So I think that this could this is an example of what they can be. Obviously it helped them as well that Jameis Winston fucking sucks. Man, I it was really it was really hard to watch that game. Holy shit. No. It was hard to watch that. Yeah, Big Country: Yeah, Pat. See that's a guy that that hasn't prepared shit. Motherfucker was going into the World Cup. PV: literally. It like every there were so many throws that looked like they there were throws that you and I would have made out on that field out there because they were so Big Country: Some dark straw. PV: b unbelievably underthrown. he couldn't find his open receivers whenever he eventually some at some point had them. They weren't giving Scadabo the ball in third and short or goal line scenarios. That Big Country: Yeah, that was what I'm saying. PV: was really weird. they think that Najee Harris is fucking whoever I don't fucking know, someone who can actually run the ball, not Najee Harris. Yeah. Big Country: Third down back or what power back? PV: But yeah, I think Jameis Winston really needs to improve, especially with Jackson Dart being out for the season, because that was horrible. Yeah, hopefully hopefully he gets back into Big Country: Hey, he will. You know Jameis, bro, he's gonna throw that rock. I think he'll he'll be able to get the offense in a space where they're actually like scoring points, I feel like. They're just not gonna win games. PV: Yeah, I hope that they can actually score next time, yeah, 'cause that was extremely disappointing. My God. Big Country: Tough game for them as they drop to one and one and Jackson Jordan. You have to find something. Because I felt like that Giants fan base actually finally had hope, you know, just to get crumpled, man. It's unfortunate. PV: yeah. Big Country: Let's talk about week three. Now let's do you know obviously do it quick, you know, because we've already been on here for a little bit now. but Your text man. PV: Know what the spreads are. Hold on. Alright, so why is Packers Big Country: Doesn't say on it. PV: Falcons not first? yeah, it is. It's on the left side. No, it doesn't say the spreads. So, Big Country: Sorry, it doesn't say this well. I can tell you it though. PV: so for Packers Falcons, man, this we were talking about this earlier. This one's gonna be a weird one because Michael Penix, Michael Penis finally comes back. will they be more efficient Big Country: Yeah. PV: on offense? Maybe, maybe not. Big Country: I'd hope so. PV: Yeah, I mean they've been so unefficient, especially last game. Bijan didn't even get a touchdown last game. That's how you know they had a bad game. They still have Bijan Robinson. They still have Drake London. Kyle Pitts can be good. He's an athlete. so if Phoenix can figure Penix can figure out I keep saying Phoenix. If Penix can figure out how to get them the rock, and if Bijan can cook how he does, the Falcons can make it competitive. especially with Green Bay looking as rough as they have in those first two weeks. I think I'll risk it. here and I'm gonna take Green Bay anyways. At home, I think I'm gonna take Green Bay with the spread. I think Penix might make a difference out there, but I'm not I'm not I don't have enough hope for it. Mu Big Country: Do you know the spread path? PV: on on on what I'm looking at says minus five. So I'm gonna imagine minus four point five. Yeah. Big Country: I have it at minus five and a half on Fandle, so we'll go FanDuel just to keep it somewhat easy, I guess. PV: Yeah, I'll still take the spread. I think they win this one by a touchdown, something like twenty four seventeen. Big Country: So y you know me. I don't think I have to say much here. I'm gonna take my team to do to cover but concerned with it to be honest with you just considering how inconsistent Screen Bay's offense has been. The return game has been great, their defense has been great, but their offense has been absolute dog shit. So fuck moving on to the morning slate on Sunday. we got Rams versus no should be Chargers Rams. Sorry, Chargers Bills. PV: Ramps charges, yeah. Big Country: You know, that's AI's fault, not Noah's. PV: Ha ha You know, I'm taking the bills on this one. But I do think that this one's gonna Big Country: Dells yeah. Dells are PV: be some sort of a wacky game where the Chargers figure something out and somehow make it close, even though they've looked so shit. I'm gonna take a surprise here and I'm gonna say that so the bills are minus seven point five, right? Big Country: Yeah, the seven and half point spread. PV: I'll take Chargers plus seven point five. I think that they maybe lose this one by a position. They might be down two positions and then score a touchdown, try to get an onside kick and it ends, but I do think that they somehow manage to cover that spread. Big Country: I I'm I'm with you on that one. I think the Chargers and Yo might finally wake up on Sunday. Yeah, actually, fuck that. They're going to the East Coast. They're going to the East Coast. They haven't shown me anything. West Coast team going to the East Coast is not a good sign. seen it before seen the story fuck that all right panthers browns i like panthers panthers i believe they're only two and a half point favorites on the road but i like that line a lot i feel like that this could be a game where the defenses ball out and panthers win out PV: I think that the Panthers win. I think that they win this one probably not by like not super handedly, but I think somewhere between a touchdown and ten points. I think that this I don't think that the Browns showed me enough to think that they're able to compete with a team that's performing as well as the Jags or not the Jags. The Panthers are right now. I think that Baker had a really bad game and that really helped them take that dub. Obviously we like we said earlier, Deshaun Watson did play really, really well. I just it it's gonna be hard to do a repeat performance of that, I think. we'll just see how it ends up going. I'm s I'm still taking the Panthers minus two point five to win it. Big Country: next up we got Detroit hosting the Jets. Six snap wins spread on this one. PV: Mm. Big Country: I know we were talking about how the Lions have the greatest defense, but Jets don't have greatest offense either. So PV: Yeah, I'd probably take the Lions here at a minus six point five, especially 'cause that at least grants that they'd win by a touchdown. I think the Lions offense is you know, they've already had back to back thirty point games. Do you really expect the Jets to produce thirty points? No, I don't think so. Big Country: Well they play better at home. I feel like they'll play better after having a tough week and have a lot like a essentially you know a mini bye week. So yeah. then we got Texans at the Colts. Colts are two and a half point home underdogs. PV: Yeah, this one's a strange one. I think division battles Big Country: Okay. PV: are always really hard to gauge. I think Big Country: Certainly. PV: the Texans have looked better this year, and I think they have a significantly better defense. It's gonna make Jonathan Taylor it's gonna be hard for him to produce in that offense. I think especially I think if Nico Collins does end up playing this game with Indianapolis being without Alec Pearson now having just Josh Downs, Tyler Warren to rely on the receiving end of things, I'm probably gonna take the Texans here. Minus two point five. Big Country: Yeah, I'm on the other side this. I think Indy plays better a little better at home this week. and they're kinda like in that must win situation. I think both teams are they're both 0 2. So but I don't know why. I guess I got a feel Indy's gonna come out and play a little better this week. and I thought they played honestly pretty well against the Chiefs, so all things, you know, considered. and we go into Kansas City at Miami, big spread. Chiefs are favored by ten and half on the road. we kinda saw this last week. I d I don't think we should go away from it, but PV: Yeah, I think I'd just repeat Chiefs cover spread. I haven't seen I didn't see anything in Miami especially in week two, out of that offense to make me think they're gonna be productive enough to keep up with the Chiefs. So back to Big Country: No. Especially with a good team with the Jews. PV: Yeah, and again the Chiefs are also another team that have produced I think it was back to back thirty point games. Yeah, back to back thirty point games. So yeah, I'm not backing the Dolphins to be anywhere near that. Big Country: Yeah. Titans visiting the Giants. Jameis, like we were just saying, is gonna be starting this one. They're somehow two and a half wait. Favorites. PV: Fuck that. No, fuck that. I'm taking Titans to win in cover. I think I Big Country: Jesus. And remember when you said last time about a bad quarterback? PV: Yeah, yeah. But I think I think more so in this case, I'm actually pretty confident in what Cam Ward's gonna do. Not necessarily that Jameis Winston will play super bad in this game. I think it I think that's more so where I stand. Jameis Winston won't have a great game. he might have a decent game, I think, especially now that he had such a rough first game, he might wake up and finally make those throws, find the right targets, throw to Malik neighbors more, 'cause holy shit, he did not throw to Malik at all in that last game. But I think Tennessee, I think they have a really nice defense, honestly. I really like the players they have out there, Jeffrey Simmons, Jonas Sanker. They have a couple studs on that defense to keep things close. And then I think if Carnell Tate and Cam Ward can just connect here, if they can especially if Deontay Banks for whatever reason ends up missing another week, I think that they can pick apart that defense and finally get things rolling. Big Country: rolling to bangles at Steer Steelers. I don't think the Steelers give me any reason to think that they can cover PV: Yeah, yeah, I agree. Steelers offense just hasn't looked promising. Big Country: Bad offense versus good defense. PV: Yeah, exactly. Their their offense just hasn't looked promising. Cincinnati's defense has looked extremely promising. Wouldn't be surprised to see them force a few turnovers here. I think that the Steelers defense will actually do a pretty good job in this game holding this holding Cincinnati's offense. Yeah. But yeah. Big Country: Yeah, I think it could be close, but I don't think I just don't think that offence is gonna be well PV: Yeah, they won't cover three and a half, I don't think. Big Country: got Seattle visiting Washington, seven seven point favorites, couple backup quarterbacks, one look good, one look all right. PV: Well they both looked pretty good actually. Mariota looked good, he just didn't win the game because he went up against a much better team. I think that this one will be closer than expected. Big Country: A seven point game and a half, but PV: No, I know, but they but then they but then Dallas ended up still dropping thirty seven at the end of the game is my point by the end of the game. Big Country: well. PV: It's which it's not easy to drop thirty-seven in the NFL for one and two, especially when you come in having been a backup. So I think I think in this instance, I think that they'll be able to cover seven. I think that Mariota will be able to keep that offense moving. I think he'll have more connection with his receivers this week. he Big Country: Do you think they will? PV: I don't think they win though. I think Seattle still ends up winning this one. Big Country: I like Saddle to Wind, cover. They show me better things. They show me that they can cover against a worser team. And that defense is nasty. I don't think Mary is going to be able to do much against them. Moved into the second half, slate, right? Nope. One more game. We got Patriots at Jacksonville. This is kind of an interesting game. Kind of a get-right game. You know, honestly for both teams. They hope both haven't like looked extremely well. One play the Browns and the other, you know when they played the Broncos lost. Patriots, you know, you get a win against a Shitty offense, but they didn't really see much out of that out of your their own office. So I mean, what do you think here? PV: I'm not high on New England. and I think that the Jags, I think a big part of their struggles were being away first home game of the season for Denver. And Denver has a very good defense. you know, they didn't show it week one then those missed tackles, but they certainly showed it in week two, really s really picked things up. and so I think Jacksonville will be all right. They still have a very good wide receiver course. Trevor Lawrence is still a phenomenal quarterback. I think the one thing that they're missing is consistency at running back. Bachel Tutin has been emerging as their primary running back. He actually had a pretty good game against the Broncos. it wasn't bad at all. And so I think if they can get Bascial Tutin to keep running and then even eventually use Chris Rodriguez for those short yarded situations, I think that they'll be one of the better offenses in the league. And I think that they have a good enough defense and to shut down New England, which New England's offense I'm just not very high on personally. So I'm taking Jags to win and cover in this one, especially at home. don't have to deal with New England, so it's a big, big deal and those New England fans. Big Country: keyboard yell. Sorry. I'm leading more j Jacksonville just because I think I've seen a little bit more out of their team than you know the other team. So what was that? they've managed to, you know they they let up twenty points to Denver, you know I think that's a relatively good number for their defense. You know, they also turned the ball over and give Denver decently good field position in the second half, so I think Jaxville squeaks one out. PV: Honestly, I c I can see them winning this one handedly. to be honest with you. But I do think that if if it does end up being close, it's not gonna be because of the Patriots offense, it's gonna be because of that defense. Big Country: Then we got Niners playing at home against the Cardinals. I think Niners take this one with the with the spread. Niners look good. Cardinals didn't look that great last week. And I think just knowing your opponent as they do, you know, at home and in their division, I think it's gonna show up in in the aftermath late. PV: Yeah, I agree. And I mean the Cardinals right now they run a very, very basic offense. it's a lot of short routes, a lot of out routes. it's something that someone like Kyle Shanahan as a head coach is going to pick apart and is going to punish you for doing. So I can see I can see the Cardinals not having a very productive day on offense. Meanwhile the forty Niners will continue their streak of their hot streak on offense and I think they'll easily cover this one. Big Country: No. Hey man, Kyle Shanahan doesn't do defense, just so you know. PV: No, I know, but he he he recognizes those simple plays on you know, being an offensive guru and that's something that you can know you can let your team know and you can ha tell them, Hey, this is all they're doing, just cover it. Big Country: and then we got Tampa Bay hosting the Vikings. Buccaneers are home dogs by one and a half. I I don't trust Carson Wentz at all. Especially if a team's prepping for him. I don't trust him. I think the Buccaneers get right. They're and two and they gotta get one. And the Vikings are upgrade two and So give me plus one and a half with the Bucks. PV: I wouldn't call the Vikings a fake 2 0. I think their defense is why they're 2 0. Their defense is crazy this year. but I do think that Baker is probably gonna play with the fire under him. But like I said that last week. I'm hoping Baker looks significantly better than he did last week. And if he does, then yeah, they should easily win this one because I don't I'm not too confident in that off that Vikings offense either. They don't even have a healthy running back right now. They're probably gonna have to start DeMon Clairborne, with Aaron Jones having knee injury knee injury with also Jordan Mason's sideline on IR. So yeah, I think I'm gonna take the Buccaneers in this one. Big Country: plus one and a half. PV: Yeah. And the wind, yeah. Well obviously. Big Country: Yeah. Yeah, Aaron Jones is officially non participant today at practice. So see how they roll. then we got kinda nice game. You got Ravens visiting the Cowboys in Jerry's world. the Ravens are three and a half point underdogs on the road. PV: They're actually favorites, not underdogs. Big Country: Sorry, they are favorites on the road. It's kind of weird, but okay. PV: Yeah, that's pretty weird. Big Country: it's another one of those like w it doesn't make sense, you know, kind of like Denver and Jacksonville last week. I didn't really understand it. Maybe the books know something that I don't. but I'm gonna take I'm gonna go against the books because I'm a fucking idiot. So I'm gonna take Cowboys plus 3 now. PV: I'm taking Cowboys as well. I think I'm really surprised that the Cowboys aren't favored in this one. They still have a very, very efficient, very scary offense that's hard to stop. You know, the so do the Ravens, obviously, if they end up using Derrick Henry and if Zay Flowers actually ends up playing. But and I think this can be a shootout, but I still think that the Cowboys can cover and win at home, especially. Big Country: Certainly. Yeah. Did Zayflowers practice today? Nope. PV: No. Yeah, he's y especially if he's gonna be out, I really can't I don't see the Ravens being able to keep up. Big Country: Yeah. That moves us into last game of the afternoon slate. Got Raiders taking on the Saints on the road. They are three point underdogs. The Saints. This one's gonna be a great game probably. PV: This one's really interesting actually. Yeah, this one's gonna be a fun one. Big Country: I think that at this point we got two great teams, you know, they're probably they're gonna play a tight game. I think you gotta take the home team here. That advantage is gonna be crazy in the South. PV: Yeah, I'm I'm taking the Saints in this one. Raiders are off to a hot start, obviously. I think that Kirk Cousins throwing those picks isn't gonna help them though if he continues that turnover. if he continues that pattern, he will throw at least one pick in this game. And I think that's gonna be a costly interception in this one, with the Saints being a very efficient offense, and especially being what seems to be a fourth quarter team this year. I can see the Saints pulling this one out and finally giving the Raiders their first loss on the year. Big Country: Leads us into the Sunday night game here in Denver. PV: this one scares me. Big Country: Rams are two and a half point PV: It's terrifying. Big Country: favorites on the road. I don't like when a favourite's favorite on the road ever. that just means there'd be PV: Yeah, this one terrifies me. Big Country: even bigger favorites on at home. So I think you c I think Denver can definitely win this game. but if Puka plays, you lose. If Puka still doesn't play, you still PV: Yeah, I agree. I think Puka is the biggest concern. Big Country: might lose. PV: No, I'm not too worried about if well, maybe. Yeah, we probably we might we might still lose if Puka doesn't Big Country: Don't say you're that worried. PV: play. But I think if we lose we will lose if Puka plays. Puka will pick apart our zone defense. he'll find the open gap. He'll end up getting a whole lot of yards. But if he's not at a hundred percent, he won't even he won't do that. So it really just depends on how much he practices throughout this week. Cause I do think that if it's just Devontae Adams out there, we are gonna be fine. I think Pat Sertan can handle Devontae Adams. he has before when he was actually in his prime. When Devontae was in his prime, he was facing Pat Sertan. Yeah, he did. Pat Sertan and B Devante, nah, they used to have great matchups. Nah, look go back and look at the footage. They used to have phenomenal Big Country: Did not. Got cooked. He got cooked. Do you not remember the first matchup? PV: matchups. Yeah, and did you watch the second one? Cause he was on the Raiders. He was on the Raiders and he locked him up that second game. Big Country: Think he did just fine. Okay, are we really gonna blame a guy when he's on the fucking Raiders and has no quarterback? You can't bl I I say I don't like when you I think if you honestly it it will PV: It doesn't matter. You see now you're just throwing at a now you're just throwing excuses. Now you're just throwing excuses. Big Country: be a great matchup regardless. PV: Nah, I Devontae's on the on Big Country: So PV: the back end of his career right now. I think like I mentioned Big Country: Certainly, but still still hooping, bro. PV: like I mentioned, a big reason why he had such a big game is because he went against a rookie cornerback that is nowhere near his skill level. He's not gonna be able to do what he did. Big Country: Yeah, 'cause two hundred yards is all on one guy. PV: He's not gonna be able to do that against Pat Sutan, especially not the Broncos defense that's been very good for the past year and a half now. So if it's just Devante he's I I don't see him having that near that kind of success and I think we have a much better chance. But if we see Puka out there, Puka's gonna pick apart our zones. that's what I'm worried about. and then obviously the offense needs to be efficient in Big Country: Still getting doubled. Yeah. Nah kinda wraps us up. We Eagles, Bears, Eagles on the Road is four and a half point favorites. But we're gonna take Eagles the money line and the spread. Four and a half is too much for a back and quarter back to over especially in this case Keaton. Yeah, for sure. so that kinda wraps us up for our week three picks. we'll quickly just get into our donation of the week, obviously. Our weekly bets. We went one for three each of us last week. Rough week two, hardest week in the NFL to bet in, just so everyone knows. I didn't. yes, this is our weeks. NFL bets. I'll go through mine really quick and then you can go through yours. I got the under with the Patriots and the Jags. Two good defenses, and a lackluster one lackluster offense doesn't usually equate to a lot of points. So I'll take the under forty eight and a half, a little adjusted line for you know, a little bit of leeway. And then I got the Panthers on the money line, going up against these things anymore guys but going up against the browns on the road I kinda like the value that they're gonna give at minus one forty six so Panthers on the money line and then Bengals have a slight altar line to beat the Steelers on the road. And then you'd like packages, explain yours. If you wanna You're muted, buddy. Don't worry, I can explain yours though. PV's got a Donnay Mitchell for four plus catches, Jags minus two and a half, kinda like we were talking about earlier on our picks, and then the commanders to cover eleven and a half. You parlays these, you're gonna get a little bit over plus three hundred, almost plus four hundred on PVs. But we hope you guys are good on the sticks. And that's not even the right saying. But Yeah, and that is all. This is episode seventeen of the Aptitude Problems Podcast. I'm glad you guys listened, glad you guys are coming back. week four next week we'll be on everything. We'll be recapping week three just in time for you guys to lose money with our donations. Have a good week.