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NFC & AFC East Preview · TripleAlphas

• Josh DeMage: Welcome back, Tripleff Sports Talk. I'm Josh. That's Bryce. It gotta be above me. Bryce, are you below me? Brice: Up next to you. Josh DeMage: you're above me on my screen. I don't know. And then no Roy. might pop in, might pop out. I'm not sure, but not here to start. I believe we're on pod 147. I this is not updated, so we're 147. and this is the last podcast predicting NFL podcast. divisions. We're gonna do the NFC and the AFC East. Next week we will hopefully record before the first game. First game's on Wednesday next week. Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: A little bit odd. We've been doing Wednesdays. And I know Tuesday is a tough day for me the rest of this month. We'll see. We maybe we'll do it on a Monday. I don't know. We'll try to record before the regular season starts because we got to get our picks in. But we will we'll figure it out and we'll be on but let's jump right into the NFC. we're gonna do the NFC East, the Cowboys division, but they're not our first team. The first team is the New York Giants. They went four and thirteen last year. I'll I'll go first. I'm kind of just rolling into it. and then I'm gonna share my screen so the b audience can see what we're looking at. Yeah, we're very we're very big here. We're just gonna go to Google. This is what I've been doing. This is the screenshots we've been going off of, but let's see what AI's got. Key addition, CJ Okoye. I don't know how to say that. Traded from the Ravens for a seventh round pick couldn't be that productive. Ben Barton, claimed off waivers. That's also not very big. Losses, tight end Isaiah Likely. Or no, that's an addition, excuse me. Brice: No, that's on my yeah. Josh DeMage: Yeah, that's an addition from the Baltimore. Isaiah Likely, punter Jordan Stout, Patrick Ricard. Ooh, I did not know they got him. Patrick Ricard and Tremaine Edmonds. another thing that's not listed on here is they bring in John Harbaugh to be their new head coach. so it's gonna be a totally different look here as a whole. and then with that, some of the subtractions and yeah, this is so bad because I know some of their subtractions and they're not on here. Wandell Robinson goes to Tennessee. Their former coach goes to Tennessee to be the O. C. Isaiah Hodges, that's another one. Decent name. OBJ is also on this team. yes, it is twenty twenty six and I said that. I'll go first. I I do think the addition of I almost clicked the stop recording button. That would have been really bad. I do think the addition of Harbaugh will be beneficial. They have really not had a good head coach in there for a while. and I think it's shown, especially in some close games. But I also do not know how much I trust this team. Malik Neighbor's knee, I don't I don't know what it's gonna look like. I'm gonna be honest. Jackson Dart had a promising rookie year. We'll see what it looks like with a new offense, new offense coordinator. Really worked with Lamar Jackson, so I I mean there's hope there that they can, you know, produce an offense around him. At the receiver position, you like I said, the knee, OBJ. I I just don't know what to get. Defensively, it's a little bit better, but I I just don't love their secondary. I think this team has a lot of question marks. Last year they went, what, four and thirteen. I think they're better than four and thirteen, but I d I truly do not think this is the playoff team. especially in this division. So I think they got a lot of work to do, but h I for Giants fans, you know, maybe a step in the right direction. Hopefully finding a head coach can be the first step. Brice: I actually love this team. I would say right now the Giants are probably a top three favorite team of mine in the league to watch. I know that you hate that as a Cowboys fan, but Jackson Dart Cam Scadaboo, Malik neighbors, I mean they have some of the most exciting guys in the league. I think the Tremaine Edmonds adding him is huge to their defense. new coach coming in. This team won four games last year, but they were also extremely hurt last year. They have a lot of play. players who are very injury prone because of the way they play, I think. I mean Camp Scadaboo's trying he's not trying to go around anybody, he's just running them all over. Same with Jackson Dart. Malik Neighbors is a freak athlete, but that's what happens whenever you're a freak athlete. Sometimes you get those knee injuries. I do love watching this team. I'm not sure they're a playoff team. I definitely could see them winning eight games and just missing the playoffs though. Like I think this team can beat anybody whenever they're healthy. We'll see how the new coach works out for though. Josh DeMage: Yep. Next would be the Washington McCa com commanders. Brice: Skins. Josh DeMage: Racist, I'll pop it on the screen. I don't know if you're gonna be able to read this. Brice: The wa the Washington Commanders Josh DeMage: that's a better one. Brice: they had a major veteran like Stefan Diggs alongside Late August yeah, I don't know. Okay, key additions. Stephon Diggs, Marcus Mariota, Tim Settler Jr. Chig Akawau. Josh DeMage: A co ch Chig Akonko. I do know that. Brice: Oconko tied in. Fabian Moreo and Shy Tuttle. were re signed. Some let's see, notable off season training editions. K Kalavan Chayasa Josh DeMage: K Leban. Brice: Yeah, yeah, whatever. Amik Richardson, Drake Jackson, and kicker Jake Moody. some key Josh DeMage: Bear's legend. Brice: subtractions. Yeah, he is a Bears legend for about three games. Marshawn Lattimore, they lose him. L Laramie Tunsell and Johnny Newton placed on the IR. Josh DeMage: You of eye legend. Brice: Let's see. They're parting ways with such players like Josh DeMage: But yeah. Brice: lineback Chris Barnes, Boogie Basham, quarterback Sam Hartman, tight end Trey McKitty. Is that a real name? McKitty. Josh DeMage: I that's I don't know who that is, but that's an awesome name. That's two awesome names. That and Boogie Bashum. Brice: Yeah, Boogie is crazy. Josh DeMage: I no I do know who that is, but Brice: And wide receiver Van Jefferson. this I think adding Stephon Diggs is big for this team. especially after losing Devo Samuel. Even though this team, I think their biggest problem is always gonna be how Jaden Daniel plays. He's not a very big guy. He's very prone to injury because of it. I think he weighs like a hundred and forty pounds. I can't say a hundred and fifty because that's copyrighted. but whether he stays healthy or not is how they're good they're gonna play because Marcus Mariota's not gonna play good for I don't remember who their backup was last year, but he goes down with injuries and then it seems like they have no offense. so I think this team can go as far as Jaden Daniels can take but it's just how far that is. I don't think they have the best offense around him right now. Stefan Diggs kind of a locker room guy, bad locker room guy. And he had a he's still having good seasons, so maybe they get some more out of him this year. Josh DeMage: Yeah, this team is all over the place to me. Dan Quinn is a good coach. I just don't love him as a head coach. He's such a good defensive mind. He's just not an offensive guy. He brought in not Lane Kiffin, Cliff Kingsbury two years ago, and he was tremendous in that role. That's why Jane Daniels played so well. I'm not saying it's the only reason, I'm just saying it's one the reasons. And he got to focus on defense as a head coach. With that being said, it didn't work out the next year, last year. Jane Daniels got hurt. It was all bad. Well, now he's on the hot seat. And I'm gonna be honest, I agree with you. It all depends on how the quarterback plays. Man, Jane Daniel, I keep forgetting his name as I'm looking at Stephon Diggs's face on this screen, taking it off. on da how Daniels plays, but that offensive line is bad. Their best defense or best left tackle, Lamry Tunsell, is out for the year. I am very worried about the offensive line. I like the receivers. I like Stefan Diggs and I like Scary Terry. But I don't love a whole lot else outside of that. Especially I'm just really speaking about the offensive line. Defensively, they're not as strong as they have been. There's a lot of question marks. That D line doesn't look the same as it used to. Von Miller, I believe, was their leading sack getter last year. He's not on there. He's on the Cowboys now. Johnny Newton was their for early second round pick last year. Almost out for the he's out for a while. I don't know if he's out for the year, actually. there's a lot of question marks with this team. Again, Tough division. The Giants should be improved. the Commanders were 5-12 last year. Cowboys are improved. The Eagles are still the Eagles. I think this, I think five and twelve, I think they're better than that on paper, but that doesn't mean they're going to win five games this year. I think, you know, you you have a bad stretch, a bad start. Dan Quinn gets fired. Then it's a down downhill of a seat. Something like that. I just see this season going a lot of ways, but I don't love the start of it with the injuries. next will be the Dallas Cowboys and I will do them. I really don't need their thing 'cause I know most of their additions and subtractions, but we'll do it for the video. Key additions for Dallas, Javante Williams stays on a three-year deal. Rashawn Gary acquired for a fourth round pick from Green Bay. George Pickens will play on the franchise tag. Spencer Howell will be the backup quarterback after Joe Milton was released and then signed to the practice squad for the Cowboys. So he's not really gone. He's just on the practice squad. Emar Demikado, backup running back, he'll compete, even though I think he'll be the third string. Let go Logan Wilson, Solomon Thomas, Will Greer, Jaden Blue, and Phil Maffa. Joe Milton was waived, but again he signed with the practice squad today, so he's still there. Von Miller is not on this list. He's a good addition. and then I know Dallas was really bad, especially the first half of last year. So some of the additions are not truly on there that will truly be there. Like Quinnen Williams signed an extension. He really wasn't there more than like five or six games. So like in as a cowboy fan, I do envision that as an addition, because you're getting him for a full season and you know, five plus years. But I mean, I don't really need this list. I think Dallas had made the most difference this offseason. Another thing they don't have on here is Caleb Downs, who was the first round pick. Dallas's offense last year was so good, but they were always down. They were always losing. They always had to throw the ball. That's why Dak and even though CeeDee Lamb was hurt for most of the year, George Pickens' stats just looked unreal. They were throwing the ball sixty times a game just to try to stay in it. They're not gonna have to do that. Their offensive line is very solid. They have a good run game in Javante Williams, as long as he stays healthy. And Dax, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens is one of the best quarterback and two wide receiver duos in the league. I don't think there's much debate. All this defense has to do is be mediocre. And this is a playoff team. There's no doubt. And this defense is better than mediocre now. The only true question this defense has is secondary. As in corners, really. Their safeties are solid, their corners are weak. I will definitely give that. And their linebacking core. Isn't great, but it's also not bad. It's I would say mediocre. Defensive line, especially in the interior, looks excellent. I think this team has all the chance in the world to win the division or be right there with Philly, who I still believe is a good football team. but it health one will be an issue. Dak has had injury history, and I don't like the term injury history. Dak's injury histories are like snapped legs. Those are not injury prone. Those are just true injuries. but I think this team made a lot of good offseason moves this year. And I'm not saying that as a Cowboys fan. Brice: Yeah, I I I like this Cowboys team. I think their offense is just unbelievably explosive when they're all there. losing C D Lamb so early whenever they're already not playing that well really hurt last year. that happened at the game we were at actually, the Bears Cowboys game in Chicago. Josh DeMage: One boy. Brice: yeah, it's I like this team a lot. They're they're all like you said, their offense is so explosive that if their defense can just stop the run, which they've always had issues with, they'll be contenders really. They're that good. they put up crazy points every year and then their defense just lets it go. So I'm excited to see this team coming back healthy this year and adding a few pieces play. Josh DeMage: Yeah. one and I'm not gonna dive deep in it because it I think it needs to be shown, not said. they do get a new D coordinator as well. They hired the Eagles past game coordinator, something deep into the weeds, who everyone loved in Philly. everyone was very upset that he left. I should tell you how well sought. I don't expect him to be here very long from the sounds of it, unless he's just you know, it doesn't work. but Dallas, as bad as their defense was, is seven, nine and one last year. And yeah, I I agree with with just the Brice: I mean, that's what happens, we have Matt Everflew is calling the defense. Josh DeMage: That is true. and then Eagles, eleven and six last year. And before I show you their thing, they did make the playoffs. They were the only team in the division, and they lost in the first round as a three seed to the six seed forty-niners, in the wild card round. Now I'll pull up the what do you call it? Eagles. Here you go. Brice: Alright, Eagles key additions. They add Marquise Hollywood Brown, Devon Devon Devontae Bean Wicks, Josh DeMage: Day Jabian. Brice: Rick Wollen, and Jonathan Jones, Arnold Arnold and Chandler Martin and AJ S Epineza. Some of their key Josh DeMage: He went Edwardville, by the way. Brice: some of their key subtractions, Jahan Dotson f signs with the Atlanta Falcons, Jacoby Dean, Reed Blinkenship, Jalen Phillips, and Joshua Ook. Josh DeMage: I love this. Brice: Okay. yeah. The Eagles win the Super Bowl two years ago, just absolutely destroy the Chiefs in the playoffs or in the Super Bowl. Last year It's so weird with this team. You literally never know what you're gonna get. There's stars everywhere and they there's some games they look like they're the best team to ever play. I mean, two years ago they didn't win the Super Bowl. They were like fifteen and and then just could Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: not win a game. Josh DeMage: Yeah, I think they I think they were like ten and and then they went like three and seven the rest of the way and then lost first round or Brice: Yeah. I mean Josh DeMage: something like that. Brice: To me I I blame the coaching. I just don't see how you can come out and be that dominant and then the next game just be completely blank. I think a big deal of it is also Jalen Hurts. I don't think he's that good at reading in a a defense. So their playbook, even though they have stars everywhere, it's a very basic playbook. So whenever they're they're playing bad teams, their stardom shows and they just destroy p people. But whenever they're playing good teams and their defense can shut down the It shows they'll score ten points instead of the 40 they did the night before. So I think them losing AJ Brown, even though he was a bit of a cancer in the locker room, is pretty big for them. Because Devontae Smith, as good as he is, I don't think he's a number one. I think he's the best number two in the league because he's small. He's not the he's a deep route guy, but he's not a big body. He's gonna go up and make crazy plays whenever you need it on a third down out route or something. He's gotta beat him by speed. So I think Losing AJ Brown is huge. I see this team taking a little bit of a step back, honestly. I just I don't think they can continue with the same dominance that they've had the last couple of years. I think people really figured this team out. we saw the the QB sneak get stopped more this past season. Like people are figuring out the Eagles and how they win, and I think it's starting to slowly fade out as their players get older as well. Josh DeMage: Yeah, I mean I look at these additions and subtractions off this team and there's a lot of additions and there's a lot of subtractions. usually as happens when you have a lot of superstars that you pay a lot of money to one or two players. they have a lot of superstars. AJ Brown was a superstar. He really faded, was a cancer in their locker room. and I understand the move. But I look at these subtractions really, and I really don't care about who it is. I care about one thing: Jahan Dotson, defense, or excuse me, offense. Nikobi Dean, defense, Reed Bluggenship, defense, Jalen Phillips, defense, Josh Ushe defense. They lost a lot defensively. and they added a little bit, but they didn't probably add enough. They definitely got worse on the defensive side of the football. That being said, adding Marquise Hollywood Brown, Doddon Tavian Wicks, they definitely went, oops. with more of the rotational approach at receiver rather than the alpha you know AJ Brown and we'll see how that works. Obviously AJ Brown was not working in Philly anymore. It was not gonna be good to keep him. So I don't hate to trade. Hollywood Brown is a solid receiver. he's definitely not a number one. and I agree with you. AJ or my God the Devontae Brice: Von taste smart. Josh DeMage: Smith, my mind is blank on names if I can't see him right now. Devontae Smith is not a true number one. He can play like a number one and he can catch the deep bomb. He can route you up and beat you deep, but he is not going to go over you and beat you like AJ Brown would, like George Pickens would go over somebody. It's just not the type of player he is. and the thing that concerns me a little bit is the Eagles' offensive line is regressing. They still have some good good offensive linemen, but they are getting much older and regressing a little bit, and that offense runs on their run game with Saquon. Barkley and even Jalen Hurts running the ball. And then that opens up the play actions, the deep shots, getting those linebackers to come down, beat them in the middle, beat them over the top behind the safeties. And if that offensive line is not moving people, because they did not last year, that's one of the reasons why they struggled. and those linebackers can sit back. Jalen Hurts is just not that type of quarterback. I also don't think the offense is playbook is meant for that type of offense. So This is the team, this kind of not in the same personnel type, but the way that they play, it reminds me of Dallas, the year that they got eliminated in the first round against San Fran. This team plays better with a lead and a head. And when they can run the ball and establish the ground and let their defense, you know, pass rush. But when this team is losing and they have to start throwing the ball, they're down fourteen. It's a little bit tougher of a game for Yes, like the Lions, I agree. So we'll see. I still think this team is good. I still think this is the playoff team. but yeah, we'll get to our standing predictions right here. So Bryce, I'll let you go first because it's my division technically. Brice: Alright, in fourth I have the Commanders. then in third the Giants, second the Eagles, and I have Cowboys winning this division this year. Josh DeMage: And I am going to be in agreement with you. I do have Commanders, Giants, Eagles, Cowboys. I think the Cowboys and Eagles will be close in division. I just trust Dallas' offense to score, especially if they're, you know, one score a game late, get down the field. I trust it more than I do the Eagles. I think the Cowboys had a pretty pissed poor season last year, honestly. They had a lot to play for. And the Eagles, you know, every once in a while you play. This many playoff, you know, seasons deep into the playoffs. It starts to wear on some of those players a little bit. I know not all of them have been there forever, but I I just like Dallas this season in the NFC East. And I agree. I think the Giants coaching s changes might help them jump the commanders this year. All right. Let's go to the AFC and we're going to the AFC North. Or excuse me, the AFC East. And that's the Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Patriots. We will start with the Jets and I believe I'm up. Brice: I mean, is there anything to say about any of these teams? This is terrible. Josh DeMage: What's that? Now I mean I I'm gonna be pretty quick on these, I'll be honest. I'll I'll show it, but for the Jets, Jordan Meredith, Trevion Sweat, Andre Sisko Subtractions, Justin Fields, Bears legend. Jerm Brice: Yep. Josh DeMage: Jermaine Johnson went to Tennessee. Robert Sala, former head coach of the Jets, is now the head coach in Tennessee. So you saw several players of the Jets kind of work their way over there that Robert Sala could acquire and wanted to acquire. what'd the Jets go last year? Three and fourteen. Yeah. they got Geno Smith in town. That's not on there. their first round pick was Kenyon Sadiq. Tight end, lot of promise. they're just a long way away. There's not much to say about They don't have a quarterback in place. This is a tank year, basically. go get a quarterback next year, hopefully, in their eyes. And you have to do that sometimes. It's just is nature of the beast. But this is gonna be an abysmal season for the Jets, just like it usually is. Brice: Yeah, I agree. I I don't have much else to say about Josh DeMage: next is the Dolphins. I I can just oops. I can just talk 'cause it's gonna be quick. kicker Zayn Gonzalez, Liam Anderson, Clean and Farrell, Jordan Miller, Will Shepard, Jalen Simpson, Trey Watson. they make a big offseason move, signing Malik Willis as their quarterback. They released Tua, which they're basically paying Tua not to play there. their head coach, Mike McD Mike McDaniel goes to LA to be the Chargers offensive coordinator. This Tyree Kill is no longer on the team because he was released. and Jalen Waddle was traded to Denver. yeah, I mean this team cleaned house, and when you're paying a quarterback not to play there, especially a top dollar one like Tua was, this is going to be a long rebuild. And again, there's just it's gonna be a long time till this team is up and competitive again. Brice: Yeah, I agree. This they completely cleaned house. they they just weren't getting it done. They had like three years ago they s had a really good promise. This team also has never been able to compete in the playoffs because it's cold and all their players could never play in the cold. then they they're just regular season merchants, had a great offense, never had the defense to back it up and They've just completely cleaned house because two was regressing so much, they had just had no offense anymore, so Josh DeMage: Next one and then I'll do the second place team. I'll let you do the first place team. the Buffalo Bills, first time not winning the division in quite some time. I feel like the Bills had ran the division for a while. they do lose it. Twelve and five, good record. but not in first. additions, they add Bradley Chubb, Geno Stone, D. Alford. Well, didn't even know he was still in the league. unless that's not the same person. Mitch Witchnowski, Kyle Allen, how is he still in the league? CJ Gardner Johnson, Bears Legend, and Lloyd Cushenberry. Love that name, by the way. Always loved that name. Curtis Samuel. he was cut. I was like, hold on. I thought these guys were gone. Yeah. Brice: Yeah, these are subtractions. Josh DeMage: Yeah. Taylor Rapp's gone. Darren Johnson's gone. Dane Jackson's gone. Sure there's others, but By no means this team also did make the playoffs. I gotta get back to that. this team does make the playoffs. That's true. Yep. Brice: They also added DJ Moore. That's like their biggest addition. Josh DeMage: You're right. They do acquire DJ Moore. this team lost in the divisional round. They beat Jacksonville, which was the three seed in Jacksonville in the wild card, moved on, lost to Denver in Denver, in the divisional, like I said. I'm not gonna spend a whole lot of time on the Bills. This is still a great team because they have Josh Allen playing quarterback. There's no and, ifs, or buts about it. James Cook has low-key become one of the best running backs in the sport. he's electric. I like the addition of DJ Moore. I don't think he's a superstar by any means, but they didn't have anything out there really. They had like what? Khalil Secure whatever his name is. Khalil Sha Yeah. I know it's their number one. Yeah, Brice: Koyel Shakir or yeah. Keon Coleman. Josh DeMage: and he's horrific. so I like the addition of DJ Moore. It just gives them a true solid weapon. it's still gonna be a run first offense, it's still gonna be Josh Allen putting the Superman cape on and trying to get there. Their defense is a little bit improved. I do like that. Their offensive line is a little bit improved. health is always an issue with the the Bills. Can that defense stay healthy? but this team will go as far as Josh Allen can take them and Let's see if they run into a buzzsaw somewhere, you know, that Josh Allen doesn't have enough firepower to get through himself. Brice: Yeah, I mean it's pretty much been like that every year for the Bills since Josh Allen came around. They're such a good team and then they find somebody in the playoffs with a stack defense who's just able to hold Josh Allen to one score lower than what they had. So I do think that adding DJ Moore is huge for them. I I personally don't think DJ Moore was happy in Chicago after Justin Fields left. I think they were like best friends and he just didn't play I he had great games last year, but you could see he it he wasn't full invested. From the interviews and stuff I've seen, he looks like he's fully invested in this team. Like he feels like he's got a new start somewhere he's not hating coming to work pretty much. Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: so I think he he's gonna be a huge receiver for them this year. Like last year, their third down guys, it w if it wasn't running the ball, it was throwing it to a tight end and Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: This year they actually have the receivers gonna go out there and make that third down catch and I think that's huge for Josh Allen. It just completely takes a ton of pressure off of him to make a play 'cause he's got a receiver who can do it. Josh DeMage: Yeah. And then next the New England Patriots. I'll just Cameron Latoo, Darius Masu, Walter Rose, Ben Brown. they don't have a whole lot of subtractions. They lose Keyshawn Booty. That was a trade. they really didn't make a whole lot of additions or subtractions. This was a young team. They're not paying a quarterback yet. so they don't have to make, you know, it's not one of those. rosters like the Eagles that, you know, they have to make a lot of moves each offseason because they just can't retain everyone with the budget. They can pretty much keep everyone they want. Mike Rabrol, first year there, did go to the Super Bowl. they went fourteen and three, playing a last place schedule, granted. But still fourteen and three in general in the National Football League is impressive. they ride all the way to the Super Bowl. They beat Pittsburgh in the first round, in Pittsburgh. Then they were home I'm I'm sorry. Looking at the wrong team. they Brice: Yeah, so Josh DeMage: beat the Chargers in the first round at home. They were a two seed, so they were at home every round. They beat the Chargers and that was an ugly game. then they played Houston at home and they won. And then they went Brice: Even uglier game. Josh DeMage: Yeah. And then they went to Denver, but Denver again backup quarterback. Bo Nicks was hurt the at the very end of the last week. Brice: No game. Josh DeMage: They win, and then they go to play Seattle in was it Santa Clara where the 49ers play? Was that where the Super Bowl was? I'm almost certain. Brice: Yeah, I think so. Josh DeMage: And then they lose to Seattle, which at the end of the day, Seattle is just the better football team. There's no no doubt about it. no, I good for the Patriots with an easy roster and an easy way to get there to make it to the Super Bowl, especially for a lot of those young players and their head coach who had never been to the Super Bowl as a head coach. That's a lot of a good experience. Drake May is a great quarterback in my opinion. He's good. Now, is he a generational quarterback? I don't know about that. But he can run, he can hit the receivers. They add, which is not on here. I cannot believe this isn't pop up until I was ranting. They add AJ Brown. Absolutely love it. They're not paying the quarterback. They're not paying. I don't care if the guy's locker room cancer. He's a good wide receiver. And this is an offense who, if they run the ball as well as they do historically, because this is from his time in Tennessee. Mike Matt LaFleur, Michael F whatever. Mike Vrayroll. This is a team that could use a big bodied receiver like that, who was another team that really didn't have much of the receiver position. I I like the addition of AJ Brown for them. And I think, you know, playing a first place schedule this year will change what their record looks like. But I still think this team is good enough to be a playoff team next year. Brice: Yeah, this team is good but I think that they did play probably one of the easier roads to the Super Bowl I've ever seen. Good for them for winning those games though and making it there. And then it was evident in the Super Bowl that they probably weren't really a team that belonged there, but it was good experience, like you said. I also think adding AJ Brown is huge. They had Stephon Diggs last year, not the Stephon Diggs from five, six years ago. And they had AJ Brown in his spot who I think is a much better receiver right now. Bigger, can go get the ball better, just a relief outlet for Drake May back there. so I do think this team will have a good season. Do I think they'll win fourteen games? Probably not. But playing the harder schedule, that's obviously gonna happen. So we'll see how it goes this year. Josh DeMage: Yeah, I agree. Alright, let's go to our standings predictions. I'll go first on this one 'cause you went first last. I I have the I have the Dolphins in last. I just think they're truly trying to tank for the most part. Outside of Aitchen and Malik Willis. I I just don't know if they have that many NFL level talent football players on that offensive side. I at least think the Jets have a few more. Geno Smith has at least an NFL quarterback, or at least was. Their head coach is technically fighting for his job a little bit, versus the Dolphins coach who just got there. They know they're gonna be terrible for a few years. I'll take the Dolphins in last. I'll take the Jets in third. I'll take the Patriots in second, and I'll take the Bills in first. Brice: I'm actually gonna have the same as you but I'm gonna flip the last place. I actually think the Jets will do worse. I watched Malik Willis a lot last year and I think I don't think that he's a backup quarterback. I think he can start somewhere. He's got a lot of versatility whenever he starts running the ball. He's really hard Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: to contain in the pocket and he's very small and slippery, so I think Josh DeMage: Mm-hmm. Brice: that the offense can win four or five games. I don't know if the Jets offense will win four or five games. Josh DeMage: All right, well I think that's all we got for NFL. Those are all our predictions. And then yeah, next week we'll go over our games and all that stuff or the episode. So next week we'll be in the full full swing, basically predicting football games for the rest of the year. let's roll into college football. Roy's not here, so I'll just run it real quick. We did have week zero. It is over. Let me move this so I can see it. we had five games in last place. Brice: The football man himself. Josh DeMage: The college football man himself, Roy, he had TCU versus UNC. We all had TCU. We all missed it. It was UNC. We guess built we gave built we didn't give Bill Belichick enough credit. Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: USC steamrolled San Jose State. NC State and Virginia, we all had Virginia. Stanford and Hawaii. Roy took his Rainbow Warriors. They did not win. Me and Bryce get that. Stanford beat. Hawaii and then Memphis and UNLV in Las Vegas. I chose Memphis to go in there and win. And you guys both took the home team in UNLV and you both lost and I win. So I win the week at four and one. Bryce one back of me at three and two. And Bry Roy two back of me, two and three. And then Roy has already given us picks for week one, which is this week. and this is truly the first opening week, really, other you know, for deep for bigger schools. and I'm going to split screen that ro Bryce, you wanna type and I'll read? Okay. Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: the first game just tell me the first game, I won't have it on my screen. Brice: First game is Tarlington State versus Bowling Green. Josh DeMage: State and bowling green at it's broken up into days. I see. Tart Okay. Wow. Interesting. So I I've heard of Bowling Green. I know that school. Never really heard of Tartleton State. It's at Bowling Green, and Bowling Green is a two and a half point favorite. I would have expected a lot. I'll go first. I don't know what Roy's pick is. I I did I just know they were in there. I didn't look. but I'm gonna take the home team, I'm gonna take Bowling Green at home. Brice: I am also gonna take bowling green because I've never heard of Tarleton State and Roy took Bowling Green as well. Josh DeMage: I'm in I'm shocked that it's only a two and a half point spread then. Either they're decent Brice: the next game is Baylor and Auburn. Josh DeMage: Baylor and Albert. Let me see if they're Baylor is at Auburn. Auburn is a seven and a half point favorite. It's in Atlanta, Georgia, in Mercedes-Benz City, so where the Falcons play. So it's not really at Auburn. It is like it's basically a neutral site, but closer to Auburn. I am gonna take Auburn to win that game, even though I know Auburn has a new head coach. Brice: I am an aggrandson and so is Roy. Josh DeMage: Okay. Brice: the next game is Clemson versus L S U. Roy's sleeper Clemson. Or was that yours? I don't know. Josh DeMage: Clemson at LSU. I think I'm I think you have it reversed. I think I'm the one with the sleeper of Clemson. Clemson at LSU. This is okay, because last year they played the last two times they've played, it's been a neutral site in Vegas. This is at LSU. Ooh, I did not know that. LSU is a ten point favorite. Lane Kiffin's debut. I have to take LSU. Is that Wrigley? Brice: Yeah, I am taking I am taking an LSU as well. And Roy did as well. The next game is Air Force vs Duquanes. I don't know how to say that. Duquesne, there's not a single C in there. Josh DeMage: It's Duquesne. I know it looks it looks nothing like that. I'll take Air Force. I w I do want to see the spread though before I move on. Brice: We are all taking air force. Josh DeMage: what's the spread? It's gotta be at Air Force. Where are you? Air Force. Ooh, Air Force, twenty-eight and a half point favorites. Brice: Air Force is a twenty eight and a half point favorite. Wow. Josh DeMage: Yep. That's the biggest spread of their lives. Brice: Yeah, I know. The next game is James Madison versus Liberty. Josh DeMage: James Madter. Damn. James Madison is six-point favorites at home. I will take James Madison. Brice: I'm also gonna take James Madison, that is just a pure football school, it's the only thing I know about. Josh DeMage: Yep. They're a decent sports school. They were decent in college basketball for a little bit. Brice: Yeah. next game is Nevada versus West Kentucky. Josh DeMage: Ooh, Nevada versus West Kentucky. Gotta find this one. I might have to search this one. Okay I am not getting it. Make sure I'm not Brice: I have that western Kentucky is favored one and a half over Nevada. Josh DeMage: Mm-mm-mm-mm. it's at the I see. It's at the ver very bottom right here. Don't know why it wasn't popping up when I was control F it. yep, Western Kentucky, one and a half point favorites on the road. Bryce, I'll let you go first on this one. Brice: I am going to take Nevada. Josh DeMage: Man, what's Roy got? Brice: Nevada. Josh DeMage: All right, I'll go western Kentucky on this one on the road. Brice: Next game, UCLA versus California. Josh DeMage: to it. Use ooh, UCLA on the road at Cal. UCLA is one and a half point favorites. I'll go first on this one. Ooh, this is a close one. These are the ones I like when Roy puts in. I am going to take Cal at home to win. Brice: I am going to take UCLA along with Roy. Next game, Tennessee versus Furman. Josh DeMage: I'll take Tennessee. I don't need to look at it, but I'll find it. Tennessee Brice: Me as well. And so did Roy. Josh DeMage: is forty six and a half point favorites. Brice: That's crazy. Next game, Illinois versus UAB. Josh DeMage: This one is on Thursday. This is a tomorrow night game at eight o'clock Eastern or Central I think it's Central. Illinois' twenty seven and a half point favorites. I'll take Illinois. And I'll take Michigan without looking. I know that's the next game. Brice: Yeah, Michigan versus West West Michigan. Iowa. Awesome. Josh DeMage: Didn't even have to look I to be fair, Michigan's gonna win. Western Michigan is historically a decent football school though as well. For a small time school. Brice: Two more games. LSU versus or not LSU. Louisville versus Old Miss. Josh DeMage: Okay, let me find this. Louisville and Old Miss. That sounds like a good game. where are we at? That might not be on this game. Old Miss has to be ranked. Brice: have Ole Miss as a six and a half favorite. Josh DeMage: Where are you at? Brice: With that I'm gonna take oldness. And Roy did as well. Josh DeMage: He took Old Miss. Man, I cannot find it. Brice: Already told you what it is. Josh DeMage: I know. I don't want to bookmark. what was the line? it's Brice: Six and a half. Josh DeMage: 'cause they're playing on Sunday. I like do yeah, I never got down that far. Louisville at Old Miss. Yeah, I'll take Old Miss as well. Brice: And the last game is SMU versus Florida State. Josh DeMage: Yeah, that's on a month that's Monday night. SMU ooh, SMU is ranked nineteenth at Florida State. SMU is three point favorites. I love everything about Florida State other than the team. I'll take SMU on the road to go in there and get a win. Brice: I am gonna take Florida State because Roy also has SMEM. Josh DeMage: All right. Brice: That is the last game. Josh DeMage: Alright, and that's our ten, right? One, two, three, Brice: Yep. Josh DeMage: four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten he put a little bit more than ten, didn't he? Brice: These are one of them. Yeah. Josh DeMage: 12. Maybe we did twelve. I don't know. I thought we were doing 10 lines. It doesn't matter. Doesn't matter how many puts in. Yeah. Brice: All the close games of the week, pretty much. Josh DeMage: all right. I don't think we have anything else for football at all, do we? Brice: No, we did not. Josh DeMage: Okay. I'll close that. And then that will take us to baseball. I'm gonna go over our game. technically I was really hoping Roy would be on here. We're gonna have to this off stream. We're gonna have to take this do our draft. Yeah, Brice: yeah, we have some. Josh DeMage: sub would be it. Bryce, I can ask you first. You would be up if you wanted to make a change. You have Cubs Blue Jays, Astros, Giants, Braves, Nationals. If you would like to do a sub, you would have first choice. Brice: Man, it's it's tough to I would love to have had the Red Sox last month, but I just can't Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: get rid of the Cubs or the Blue Jays. Looking at the teams, I think I'm all right. Josh DeMage: Yeah, I personally do not think Roy will make any changes at all. And I will not be making any changes. So I personally don't think there's gonna be any changes. Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: but the standings Rice in the last four nineteen. He is twenty back of Roy in the first place. Excuse me. Four thirty nine and I am eight back of Roy, twelve ahead of Bryce at four thirty one. Standings, Bryce, you wanna rip through the standings real quick? Brice: Yeah, in the American League East, we have the Raz in first with 83 and 55. Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, and the Central. We have the White Sox at 73 and 65. The Guardians, Twins, Tigers, Royals, and the West. We have the Astros winning now. 70 and 69. Rangers, Mariners, Athletics, Angels. Over in the National League, we have the Braves at 83 and 57 in the East, followed by the Phillies, Marlins, Nationals, and Mets. In the central, we have the Brewers at 86 and 53 with the best record in baseball, followed by the Cubs, Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds. Then in the West, we have the Dodgers at 82 and 56, followed by the Diamondbacks, Padres, Giants, and Rockies. Josh DeMage: Yeah, I mean we don't have to go over every team obviously. We're on the back end, we're in the last month. one thing I would like to point out, which I I know it bothers me because it involves my team, but still, I just do not like how the playoff bracket is structured. And I'll give you an example. You look at the AL East right now, And the Rays are in first at eighty three and fifty five. The Yankees are in second at seventy nine and sixty. And the Red Sox are in third at seventy five and sixty four. Those are the three best records in the American league. Brice: And two of them are wild cards. Josh DeMage: And I'm fine with a wild, you know, I'm fine with that. Like that is it is what it is. If you don't win the division and you have to be a wild card team, you I can live with that. But the number one wild card should not play the number two wild card, and then the winner of that game play the number one seed. So in this world, the Yankees are gonna play the Red Sox. The winner is gonna go play the Rays, and then one team of the American League East, if that's how it plays out, will go to the American League Championship Series. While the White Sox will play, will get a bye. I'm going just off the standings today, by the way. The Astros, who would win the American League West, would play the third wild card team, which currently would be the Guardians. So it would be the Brice: The Cleveland Guardians. Josh DeMage: Guardians, who are two games over 500. Playing the Astros, who are one game over 500, to then go play the White Sox, who are eight games over 500. While the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays battle it out. I just think in the new CBA, while we're gonna go into a lockdown, that's something that should be addressed. Now, I understand there's only two buys right now: the Yankees, the Rays, and the Red Sox can't all have a buy. But that doesn't mean they all three have to play each other. You know, I it's just my opinion. I think they should do a little I think they should r think about that a little bit, especially now that they've gotten away with playing ga gotten away from playing so many games against your t teams in your division. It's a much more broader schedule. I know the in I know they don't want to just completely get rid of divisions like the NBA got rid of their divisions. But at the end of the day, something has got to be changed a little bit. Cause you're not having You know, if the White Sox were playing the Twins, the Tigers, the Royals nineteen times a season, they would have more wins in seventy-three. But they're playing other teams, and that's why they're only at seventy-three. So I just think that should be changed. And then I look at the National League and you can kind of, you know, the Brewers, the Cubs, and the Dodgers and the Braves. I mean the National League is loaded, so Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: the the argument doesn't work over there as easy, but still I just I don't know why the number one wild card team ends up playing the number one seed. To me that that doesn't mesh. But that's Brice: Yeah, I agree. Josh DeMage: really all I have. I mean we're getting probably once next week once we get done with not doing what do you call it? NFL predictions and all these teams breakdowns, we'll be able to deep dive some of the playoff hunts that are happening in the last two weeks of the season. Brice: Yeah, yeah, I don't have a lot more to say. I think that the only thing that's really standing out anymore is there's a little bit of a wild card race here. Diamondbacks, Padres, Marlins and Cardinals, yes, they're three and four games back, but I don't see either one of them getting in. And then Guardians, Rangers, Orioles, Blue Jays, Minnesota. I think that is a big wild card race for that last spot. So those are the big things to be watching right now. Josh DeMage: Yep. Brice: The only other thing I have for baseball is I wanted to show a quick video. Yeah. let me know if you Josh DeMage: Yep. Make sure you hit it with sound. I don't know if you see that option. Yeah. Brice: can hear it. because of Josh actually, I got to be the honoree at a Cubs game on Monday night. It was pretty awesome. let me open this up. There we go. Let me know if you can hear it. and gentlemen please stand if you're able as the Chicago cops recognize from the United States Air Force National Guard staff sergeant price lap during his eight year military career he served Service Bundle and the Nuclear Deterrence Operation Service Bundle, among many other awards throughout his years of service. Bummeiser, Falls of Honor, and the Com State Staff Sergeant, Bryce Lopel! service men and women for their great service to our country. Josh DeMage: Very nice. You couldn't get boot shambi out there to do that. Brice: Yeah, I know, right? that was probably it's there we go. that was probably the coolest experience I've ever had. I was thinking I was talking about it with my wife on the way home. I did the Bears game like two years ago, but that was like a hundred of us in a bunch of different branches and we were just saluting the flag. This was very intimate. I showed up expecting it to be like one person from each Illinois base. It ended up just being me. So I walked in and they're like, Hey, you're going out on the field in the second inning by yourself and I was like, You might want to check the connection settings in the Google Home. Sorry, my Google Home for some reason's already. But I walked in and they're told me that and I'm freaking out. She comes down because I went out in the middle of the second inning and she's like, You look nervous. And I was like, Yeah, I'm going out in front of thirty-five thousand people by Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: myself in my uniform that probably had something wrong with it. So I Josh DeMage: Yeah, probably. Brice: Yeah, it was an unbelievable experience. our coach Barry, I I keep forgetting his first name. He played for the Cubs in twenty fifteen. He came up to me, gave me a ball, and like thanked me for my service and everything afterwards. Walked literally a foot away from Pete Crow Armstrong because as soon as the inning was over they're like, You have to get on the field now so we can get your camera shot. So the outfielders are still coming off. Pete Crow Armstrong walks right by me. It was unbelievable. Josh DeMage: Mm. Brice: I wish I had that part on video. I waved at him, but super awesome experience. The Cubs then, while I'm at the game in my uniform, hit nine home runs setting a franchise record and hit sixty-two for the month, and they're second all time to the 2019 Yankees who hit 73 or something like that. The Cubs hit 62, so Josh DeMage: Game. Brice: yeah, it was an unbelievable experience. They gave me a folds of honor hat. I should have worn that. Paid for four tickets, so me and my wife and my aunt and uncle all got to go. Paid for parking. It was awesome. The USO and the Cubs did a lot of cool stuff. So Josh DeMage: Very nice. Well, glad you got to do it. Glad I got to help out. full Brice: Yeah, I Josh DeMage: triple alpha effect with that one. Got the ticket Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: for me, went to it for you, and Roy attended it. Brice: Yep. Josh DeMage: Alrighty. I think that's all we have other than our games. Brice: So I'll go first because I have Josh DeMage: Yep. Brice: a new game that I saw on You know Bob does sports. I don't know if you know they have Bob HQ now where he built like a warehouse and they've been doing videos out of there. They did a video, it was like headbands where they guessed the sports moment. So it's like iconic moments in sports. Good and bad, infamous infamous moments. So I have the first one pulled up, and you can ask as many questions as you want to try and figure out what it is. And then I have three of We'll see how long the first one takes, but I don't think this first one will take you that long, in my opinion. Josh DeMage: Sorry, there's an ice cream truck, I couldn't help it. I had to look. Okay. So you have to put it on your forehead. Brice: I I have the game pulled up, I'll show the picture once you get it. Because it's we couldn't do it on our foreheads, we're on camera, so I just have it I have the moment pul I have three moments pulled up. I'll have you guess the Josh DeMage: And what do I have to do? Brice: first one. It's like guess the player, but it's guess the moment. Josh DeMage: Gotcha. I I gotcha. Okay. There's not a limit on how many guesses I get though, right? You just gotta get to it. Yeah. Brice: No. Yeah. Josh DeMage: All right, I'll go baseball moment. NFL moment. Okay. Brice: Yes. Josh DeMage: Playoff moment. Brice: It was a playoff moment. Josh DeMage: Okay. Within the last 15 years. No? Ooh, Brice: No. No. Josh DeMage: that makes a lot harder for me. Brice: I have every stat of this moment pulled up that 'cause I knew I wouldn't know everything, so Josh DeMage: Yeah. was this a Patriots playoff game? Brice: It was a Patriots playoff game. Josh DeMage: I'm gonna go for a guess. Brice: Okay. Josh DeMage: The Tuck rule game. Brice: Let me share my screen. It was the Tuck Rule game. Josh DeMage: Boom That was good. Brice: Yeah. I thought you would get that one kinda quick. So I do have some other ones repaired. the next I I would say I went really easy this week. I am gonna go harder in the following Josh DeMage: That's fair. Brice: weeks 'cause I like this game. So go ahead with your next one. No. Josh DeMage: MLB moment. NFL moment. Brice: Yes. Josh DeMage: Playoff moment. Brice: This was also a playoff moment. Josh DeMage: Within the last fifteen years. Okay, Brice: Yes. Josh DeMage: that'll like mak makes it easier. Brice: And I do want the name of this infamous moment. 'Cause everything has a name. Josh DeMage: Okay. Yeah, I g I know. Okay. Was this in a NFC playoff game? Brice: It wasn't an NFC playoff game. Josh DeMage: Okay, I got a few options. One team one moment I'm go without any knowledge, I'm going to throw a dart at a huge NFC playoff moment. Brice: Okay. Josh DeMage: The Minneapolis Miracle. A boom sideline Brice: Ha ha ha. Josh DeMage: touchdown. Yes. Well Brice: I can't believe you got that one that quick. there was another one that I thought about putting on here whenever you were saying NFC that I thought you might say, but Josh DeMage: That that in my lifetime is the biggest playoff moment I've ever seen. Like, maybe not biggest, because like I'll I'll think of another one that might be bigger in a Super Bowl, but like if you were to say, name me an NFL playoff moment, that is the one that comes to my mind. So that's the biggest one to me. Brice: Yeah. Alright, I've got one more. Josh DeMage: Cap. NFL playoff or NFL moment. Brice: No. Josh DeMage: Yeah, you sucker. MLB moment. Brice: Yes. Josh DeMage: That's just rude. okay. Playoff moment. Brice: It was in the playoffs. Josh DeMage: Okay. baseball there's a lot. Within the last fifteen years, damn, not the one I was thinking. Ooh, there's a lot of baseball moments in the world. Mm. Playoff moment. Was this a not in the last 15 years? That would have been 15 years ago or so. Hmm. Was this an American League teams moment? Brice: It was not. Josh DeMage: Nationally. Was this a Cubs moment? Brice: It was a Cubs moment. Josh DeMage: Yeah. I don't know the name, but is this where the guy caught the foul ball over the stands? Brice: It is Josh DeMage: I don't know the guy's name. What yes. I know he's wearing like Brice: Yes. Josh DeMage: headphones. Brice: His name is Steve Bartman. Yes. Josh DeMage: Bartman, that that's right. I you know you say it and yes, that's right. Brice: Steve Bartman. Josh DeMage: I'll tell you what, if it wasn't that, it would have taken me a while to get to. Brice: Yeah, I went with three pretty easy ones that I thought you would get. Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: next week I am gonna do harder ones because hopefully Roy's here. I can go a little farther back in history as well. Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: Cause there was some that I watched in the video that I watched. I would have never gotten. But it was Josh DeMage: Yeah. Brice: it's a great series, I think. Josh DeMage: I like that game. That's a fun game because that's like iconic moments that you can like Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: Yeah. Alright, we're at 58 minutes. Mine that's good because mine's really quick. I have a I have a player that I want you to guess, and I'm gonna put up on the screen. I'm not here to guess. I'm going to just see if you can look at it and know it. It's just like a NFL reference page, okay? It has the teams, positions, years, stats, has no name though. I'm going to see if you can guess this. You should be able to guess this pretty quick, but it's almost NFL season, so I wanted to get an NFL player. I thought it would not let me share it there for a second. All right. Can you see it? Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: There you go. Brice: Played for Saint Louis. Was with him when they went to LA and Chicago from St. Louis. yeah. it's defense. I think I know who this is. Josh DeMage: Go ahead. Brice: Is this Robert Quinn? Josh DeMage: This is Robert Quinn. First guess. Robert Quinn. That's that's I I tried to find someone somewhat easy, but someone maybe you had to think about. And it I wanted to do this last week, af like after the podcast last week, because I don't remember who it was, but you were saying a cowboy or we were doing something like a cowboy player and a Bears player, and in my head I thought Robert Quinn. You were like, no, it was this guy. And I was like, I wonder if he forgot Robert Quinn. So I put it. Next week. Brice: No, Robert Quinn is someone I literally was thinking about last week. Josh DeMage: Next week, I wrote this down in my notes. I have a game, and I'm gonna have I'm gonna do two separate games next week. I'm gonna give you a game and I'm gonna give Roy a game. I'm gonna tell you what Roy's game is. And I had someone ask me, and I low-key, it was kinda tough. NFL teams without cities in their names. So I'll give you example: Dallas Cowboys. City doesn't count. Okay, Brice: Yeah, I can think of some. Josh DeMage: I think I don't know. I'd have to look it up again because he did it to me on the spot. I think there was like four or five or something like that. But Brice: I can think of two right now. Josh DeMage: the breaking one, which I got all of them. You know, he sat I probably took like 10 minutes. I got all of them but one. And I can't think of now my mind's blagging, I can't think of what one it was. Mm, I think I know it, but let me look it up to make sure. I believe I f I remember it. Yes. The the one that gets you, which Roy won't get. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is not a city. Tampa Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: is a city. Tampa Bay is considered a bay. It's not a Brice: Yeah. Josh DeMage: city. So that's the trick. But I was like, I it actually was a good, you know, it took me like five or six minutes to get all of them. But I thought it was a good game, so I'm gonna give Roy that game next week. Brice: Okay. Josh DeMage: Alright, that's all I got. Hit the like button, subscribe, comment, and we'll see you next week for predictions. Peace. Brice: Yes.