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S3 E12: '23 AFC Breakdown · Nickel City Crew Podcast

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Fifteen degrees. You can see you a breath out in the lake effect breaking
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tables. I get poetry. Where else would you have to be? And
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to Ron Elvis and the leap On Show, remember that you need to know.
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I put you out in now your family? Where else would you happy?
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Where else would you welcome? Into the Nickel City Crew. I am
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your host, Rob Crippin. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on
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Instagram and Twitter at Nickel City Crew. This episode, along with all of
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our episodes, are presented by Crippen Legacy Entertainment here on Spreaker and stream Yard.
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We're so glad that you're joining us for some of your Buffalo Bills and
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NFL content Again today, and as always, these are my Bill's thoughts are
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set out loud. It's a vibe so ridiculous. Two story plus eighty three
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was sickout? Collect me? Where else would you want to be? All
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right, let's get straight to it. I am really excited about tonight's episode.
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As always, we are approaching the season. It's coming up before you
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know it. It will be September eleventh of Bill's taking on the New York
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Jets, who just debuted their first episode last night on HBO's Hard Knocks.
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So listen, it's it's this is the fun time of the year, man.
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This is when expectations start to get ramped up. This is when everybody's
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O and O and you get an opportunity to really see where your team stands.
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And I cannot wait for it personally. Tonight, we are going to
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break down the good old American Football Conference. We had a blast these last
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couple of weeks breaking down the offense and defense against shout out to Justice General
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Radford over at the Buffalo fan Base podcast network that we simulcast on. I
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appreciate him being on for the offense, and then me and DT held down
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the defense last week and kind of went over position by position from the from
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the trenches on out, and we got some good reviews from that those last
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two episodes. So I'm really excited about tonight's episode. We're going to break
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down the conference. Who will represent the American Football Conference in Super Bowl fifty
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eight. We'll try to maybe unpack a few things tonight and give you a
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better idea. As always, joining me tonight my co host Adam dump Truck
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Repsick. You could check him at one Instagram at Adam reupsick r U p
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c z y K. I'll light the crew DC, what's good? What's
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good? D we go break? Today's let's up? Rob yep. At
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Beast Conference, they should change the name to the Beast Conference. We'll dig
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in and looking forward to It's gonna be a battle. It's gonna be tough
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to represent them. Whoever represents them in the super Bowl this year is definitely
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going to earn it. Rob, so excited to get into it, excited
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to get rolling. We're one week closer. We got preseason coming this week
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and we've been texting click clack baby. The heat's there. The boys were
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a little fired up in camp this week. It's getting a little getting a
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little hot physical. You know, the same faces. I love it.
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I love it. Joining us tonight again another content creator here on the Buffalo
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fan Base podcast network. I'm really pleased to have back Ryan Thomas because listen,
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he had some network issues the first time. We are not going to
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have any network issues tonight. He's logged in, he's plugged in with the
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cell phone. Check him out on Twitter, Instagram, Ryan Thomas. Take
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how at the crew, Ryan? I mean, we are so happy to
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have you back, man, I mean, we wanted to chop it up
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with you, man, and I appreciate you taking some time out of your
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busy nightmare. Oh, I really appreciate you guys having me on. As
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you said, a lot of network cases the last time. But the hardest
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working man in Western New York outside of any of these Buffalo Bills players is
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yours truly. Driving home from a long day at the office, and what
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better way to start my night than hop on with you guys and dive into
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the beast conference that is the AFC. Many. Yeah, it's crazy because
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you know, fellas, I've been really enjoying, you know, listening to
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some of the reader coming out and like I know, I spoked about hard
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knocks and you know a lot of just just every listen, everybody's oh and
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oh, everybody's feeling good about their team. There's no there's no better time
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for optimism than right now before you even kick off the season. And the
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Buffalo Bills are you know, they're no different, you know, the Bills
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bafire, we're no different. So we're enjoying it. And I know that
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everybody else has when those different fan bases across the conference. But listen,
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the AFC has changed changed a lot. DT. Things are not the same
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when it comes to this conference, and we will start writing at home in
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our own division in the AFC East. But I mean, things have just
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changed, DT. Things have ratcheted up. Expectations are high for the Bills,
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for the Jets, for the Dolphins. Even the Patriots can try to
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tell you that they are boasting a great defense as well. So listen,
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when you look at this this division, DT, I'm interested to know what
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you think about because nothing really looks the same. I know, you know,
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Miami was nipping on our heels excuse me, last year and they were
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kind of, you know, a little thorne on our side. We even
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lost the Jets one week and then Josh Allen got hurt. That kind of
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changed the trajectory of the season. How do you view this AFC East DT,
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because I'm interested to get your comments on it, because it's different.
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Man. I've watched the ESPN roundtable the other day, and like, there
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was you know, there was a whole bunch of guys up there, you
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know, Blue Riddick and and you know what I mean, all those guys
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were up there and they nobody picked the Bills. It was like, okay,
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no problem. And you know, I wouldn't expect you know, Teddy
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Bruski or those guys to pick the Bills, but boy, the entire panel
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was against the Bills, and it was just interesting to seamen, man,
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things can change, man like, like like Biggie said, man hit the
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change man, Yeah right right, and I and we like that. We
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liked that a little, you know, as last year all the expectations were
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on us and they didn't work out in our favor. But we're kind of
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you know, blessed brob because of all those years of stinking, all those
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years through the drought. We're never gonna take this division for granted, you
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know. And yeah, we've we've gotten the better of it the past couple
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of years. But kudos to the other three teams. They've done, you
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know, significant work to make themselves better, I guess other than the Patriots,
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if you will. But you still got Bill Belichick, who was you
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know, was almost dark year, undefeated for twenty years against the Bills.
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So uh, definitely, you know, don't take anybody lightly when we start
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to get into our roster. Our season predictions you're going to see probably a
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couple couple divisional losses. It's just the nature of the beasts when you when
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you get rolling, and you know, with these teams getting better and better,
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but like I said, and don't take them, you know, don't
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take them lightly. Don't take it for granted. As all those years we've
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never even sniffing winning the division. Now we've got it the past couple of
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years. But you go through each one of these teams, will start with
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the Patriots kind of being on the lower end of that and but you know,
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still making significant upgrades to their defense, and you know, bringing in
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Jujuy Smith Schuster, nobody I'm extremely afraid of. But again it's I'm never
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town Bill Belichick. As Patriots out up, as the Hard Knocks Hard Knocks
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Special comes out last night, they're definitely not important enough for me to stay
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up at till ten o'clock and watch these guys run around and play. We'll
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we'll we'll catch it on the record tonight and really see how how good it
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is. But you know, a team that has been building that young roster
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up year after year, and you know they've got some good offensive weapons.
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They've always had solid defense. Now they've got Sauce Gardener in who you know.
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We'll get into the preview with the Bill's Jets as we go, but
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Sauce Gardner has only had easy games against the Bills, so I think seventeens
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bound to change that up this year. But good roster all the way around,
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and you know, you get Aaron Rodgers coming in. That's really the
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biggest change to that team is is now was twelve, number eight coming in
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and being under center for him. So it's gonna be a heck of an
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opening night. I like that. That spreads nice and tight. It's one
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of my most confident picks of the year for the Bills. But again,
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all stuff will get into as as we roll. And then the Dolphins turning
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into kind of they were on the grow up Rob. I know you were
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kind of on the same boat, like Squitch the Fish hate the fins Man.
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That's the biggest division rival. It kind of it kind of changed to
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you know, the Patriots because they would just that was Tom Brady and the
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Patriots. You knew it was the loss every time. And then in college
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for me it changed, you know, all those downstake kids, no no
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offense, I love a lot of them from from Long Island and everywhere down
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there. But you know those Mark Sanchez jerseys in the dining hall and just
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the loud and I was like, Nah, all set on the Jets now,
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But we're circling back to the fish and hating the Dolphins. They're kind
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of running their mouths a little bit. Another good roster, but a quarterback
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that really can't stay healthy. But some strong weapons on the offensive end.
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So don't take this division, you know, lightly. But I think we're
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not because we've had so many years of not even being close to winning it.
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Yeah, we've got him a couple of years, but I mean we're
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still the favorite. Let's fall, but it's gonna be a tough one.
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Yeah, I mean, Ryan, I mean, talk to us because it'll
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be interesting to see, you know, what this team does in respects to
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the division, because I mean, things have changed so much. I mean,
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you know, DT spoke to a little bit of it, but you
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know, nobody is really standing pat I don't you know, even with the
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Patriots themselves, Ryan, they brought back Bill Bill O'Brian, they made sure
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that they you know, answered that tobacco last year with you know, Patricia
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and Judge running the offense and everybody's making fun of them and that type of
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stuff. So listen, no team in our division stood pat No team just
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you know, rested on their laurels, so to speak. Everybody, uh
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kind of look at themselves in the mirror. It kind of made some changes.
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I mean you see the Dolphins bringing in Jayla Ramsey. Obviously they feel
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bad that he went down with an injury, but even on their side of
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the ball, I mean they went and got Vic Fangio, you know,
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an experienced defensive coordinator. So Ryan, speak to me about this division and
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some of the things that you're seeing because when I you know, do the
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ten thirty view of the AFC East, it just looks a lot different.
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Brian, it looks a lot different, mister Thomas, it does. And
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Rob you made a really good point that it does look different when you talk
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about the Dolphins and the Jets, and and you know the Patriots are they've
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they've looked a lot different obviously these last few years, moving on from Tom
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Brady and they're still trying to find their footing coming out of that whole era,
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which you know, we don't want to say it, but it was
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one of the greatest runs that any team has ever had. But you know,
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the Dolphins trying to adjust and they have a ton of talent, the
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Jets bringing Aaron Rodgers, that's a that's a power move, right, and
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it's a former MVP. But the one thing Rob that you know is a
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constant is the Buffalo Bills. I mean, if in my opinion, if
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you look at the Bills, they're very, very similar to how they've been
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And I like the fact most of the teams that have had success in the
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NFL, New England included, were so successful because they had that continuity from
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the top down, whether it was you know, GM head coach quarterback johsh
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Allen's played in pretty much the same offense the majority of his career. Even
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going from Dable to Dorsey, there's a lot of aspects that are still Dable
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ask as we saw last year. So I feel really confident that, you
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know, the Buffalo Bills have an advantage over those three teams that are still
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kind of soul searching, still trying to find their identity, whereas the Buffalo
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Bills already know who they are, and that's such a huge advantage over the
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opposition within the division. That leads me to believe that it's it's really Buffalo's
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division to win. And you can look at it on the footsteps the coin
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really Buffalo's division to lose as well, with you know, the pressure really
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being on them, is the favorite in my opinion, to win that division.
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Yeah, it's interesting. You know, you're kind of leading me into
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and stealing some of my notes, you know, Ryan, because one of
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the things that I've been hearing persistently DT on WGR and I want you to
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speak to this. I've been you know, you guys all know Nicols City
12:24
car. I'm an avid WJR listener. It's it's in the background almost throughout
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my entire day. It's in the background even if I'm not listening to it
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intently, but it's always hanging around. I have heard a lot of people
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suggest DT that the Bills and fans are talking about, well, the targets
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kind off of our back and now we're back to being the hunter instead of
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the hunted, because you know, last year we were the Super Bowl favorites.
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And I reject all of those rhetorics. I reject all of those narratives
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and I can explain why DT. It's I don't buy the fact that we're
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not the hunted anymore. The bulls eye is still squarely on the Buffalo Bills.
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Everybody knows about Josh Allen. Now he's a superstar. He's gonna be
13:01
on the cover of matt and then everybody's getting ready to purchase next week if
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you haven't already pre purchased it. I mean everything about the Buffalo Bills at
13:09
themar Hamlet situation, we are, We're front and center, and then you've
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got you know, the Stefan Diggs little mini drama, fake drama. This
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offseason, the people are paying attention to the Bills. The other teams in
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this division, the other teams in this conference are paying attention to the Buffalo
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Bills. I think it's something that a lot of times Buffalo Bills fans we
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like to say because it makes us feel a little bit better at night.
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If that makes any sense, that Okay, we're not the hunted anymore,
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We're gonna go back to being the hunter. We're gonna go back to being
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the underdog. And I just don't believe that the Bills view themselves that way.
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Most importantly, I don't think that there are in a situation where they
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think that they are you know, less stand or that they think that they
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are going to get an easy road. I think that everybody is aiming for
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the Bills, and I think it's the same way that it's been, just
13:50
like it was last year. Yeah, I mean, you look at the
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division itself as we're breaking that down. The Dolphins got us in the early
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part of the season barely, and it took a you know, force the
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nature for it to happen, or else the Bills would have blanked him.
14:05
You know, they were granted close games, all three of them against the
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Dolphins, but Bills bank them three zero. They beat him two, you
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know, two games a year before and two games a year before. And
14:13
Josh Allen they talk of, you know, Dolphins and his kids. Yeah,
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he's they're dead. So you know, the Dolphins definitely coming out and
14:22
they got to beat the Bills. All these teams know they have to beat
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the Bills to get through the playoffs and get to the division. The Jets,
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you know, had the fluke with Josh Allen getting hurt, and then
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they come back to Buffalo and it wasn't a clean game. But Buffalo handled
14:33
them pretty well, and the Patriots have been light work. You know,
14:37
stop Brady, Let's let's be honest. And as Bill Belichick coming in for
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a team every week, he knew he was going to crush the Bills.
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Now he can't figure out a way to beat them. So that's got to
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be keeping a legendary coach like that up at night as well. So in
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the division itself, I think that goes right to your point, Rob of
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strong, like they're they're gunning for seventeen. They're gunning for the Bills because
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they can't beat them. Like, yeah, a couple of regular seasons,
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but where are these teams. You know, the Dolphins had you know,
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we're had the seven straight wins or whatever, and then barely made the playoffs.
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Bills Bills got them and with plenty of other ways, Jets didn't make
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the playoffs. Patriots haven't sniffed the playoffs, so they know they have to
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get to seventeen. Now, I agree, and I'll be a victim of
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that as well. I kind of like, oh, we're not the favorites
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anymore. That's good. I like that. I think the underdog, if
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you will, or we're far from the underdog. I mean, seventeens,
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seventeens, Hunting hung it on plenty of people to be an underdog until,
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you know, until they get their revenge. So I like that point.
15:35
I'm with that. I think that, you know, the targets on the
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back, especially in this division, because you've got to get through these boys
15:39
to make it through. And the Bills have proved dominance in that a couple
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plays away from being you know, over for the past couple of years for
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all three of these teams. Yeah, I mean, mister Thomas, if
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you don't mind breaking it down for me being and let me know that I'm
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not crazy. If I am crazy, call me out on it. We
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keep it real here at Nickeols City Crew. I hear it all the time
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on WGR. It's almost a daily rhetoric of you know, you know,
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callers will call it and well, I'm just so happy that the Bills are
16:03
back to being the underdogs, and I'm just so happy that we're not the
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Super Bowl favorites, and and you know, we got that you know,
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bulls eye off our back, and I just I just don't I just don't
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buy it. I think that this is professional sports I think that we are
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one of the best teams in the NFL. I think other teams recognize it.
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And I definitely think that when the Bills go to one Bills Drive every
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day and they go to the Adports sports Plex and they get ready to clock
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in to go to work and they do their practice, they don't view themselves
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as an underdog. They understand that people are gunning for them. In my
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opinion, I think you hit the nail on the head, Rob, And
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I think we can even go to recent comments that were made by Dion Dawkins.
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He said, we are our favorite. We are our own favorite.
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Yes, right, Everyone in that locker room believes that they can get it
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done. And everyone in that locker room, like I said, you know,
16:52
most of these guys have been there, you know, so they've been
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there through these last few years where they've knocked on the door. They just
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haven't kicked it down yet, and they're just waiting for that, you know,
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hopefully this is the year that they finally get sick and knocking on that
17:06
door. And I think they are sick and knocking on that door and they're
17:08
ready to kick it down finally. And you know, obviously getting through the
17:11
division is the most important step to not only you know, making the playoffs,
17:17
but getting a home playoff game back again in Buffalo, and as many
17:21
home playoff games as possible, getting that one seed. You know, that's
17:25
like the checklist of each team it should be, I mean in terms of
17:27
winning the division, trying to get that one seed, putting yourself at least
17:32
in the position to have a home playoff game at least one of them,
17:34
and then you know, obviously winning those games and getting to the super Bowl
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and the task at hand. It's it's an uphill climb each and every season.
17:42
But I feel like the players are more aware now of who they are
17:47
than they've ever been. And dare I say it, You know, with
17:49
all the offseason talk that there has been on the Bills, they might be
17:53
an even better team on paper than they were last year with the off season
17:57
that Brandon being put together either this test off season, so interest times are
18:03
ahead, uh this football season for the Buffalo Bills. Yeah, I'll go
18:07
I'll go off that quick. I mean, thirteen thirteen and three last year
18:11
with pretty much unanimous, Like you asked that same round table at ESPN,
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ROB that pretty much unanimous thirteen and three. This roster got better, and
18:18
you look around the division and is an old ass Aaron Rodgers. The one
18:23
addition to the Jets that takes him over the hump to beat the Bills is
18:27
Vic Fangio and Jalen Ramsey, who's not even in anymore, is Vic Fangio.
18:32
The reason to beat the Bills is Belichick because he's pissed. The reason
18:36
to beat the Bills, like, what have these other teams done? The
18:37
Bills have done more than any of them, and they were thirteen and three
18:41
and got better. So yeah, I backed that all up. Yeah,
18:45
I mean, it'll be it'll be interesting. I just wanted to kind of
18:48
debunk some of that those myths that I've been I've been hearing on WGR lately
18:52
from the fan base, and just make sure again, Nicols City crew,
18:55
we always keep things real here. We always want to make sure that everybody's
18:57
keeping proper expectations. Do not expect your Bills to be some lowly puppies coming
19:02
into the season thinking with their tail between their legs that they are somehow the
19:07
underdog. They are, they are the big dogs. They know that the
19:10
big dogs, and everybody's gunning for them on the block, and they'll need
19:12
to be prepared to each and every week because you are going to get the
19:15
best from your opponents each and every week, because they're gonna be ready.
19:18
Now as we shift to the AFC North, it looks like they're going to
19:22
be playing the NFC West this year on the crossover games. And it's interesting
19:26
looking at the North, fellas, because the North is like it It's been
19:30
funny because it's almost like Cincinnati is like their new money. I would describe,
19:34
you know, my father would call them new money like they were.
19:37
They were a bad season away from Zach Taylor getting fired. He comes off
19:41
the three wins or whatever it was, four wins and a tie the previous
19:45
season, and then they, you know, they strike gold. One of
19:48
the things about, you know, going to the super Bowl and representing your
19:52
conference in the Super Bowl is that not only do you have to have talent,
19:55
not only do you have to have injury luck, but you have to
19:56
have overall good luck. Joe Burrow was beaten up that year that he got
20:02
to the Super Bowl, and for whatever reason that you know, the cards
20:04
just fell the way that they did. Obviously, thirteen seconds plays a role
20:07
in that as well, and you know, the Bills can lament that,
20:11
and obviously the fans as we do, we always lament that missed opportunity.
20:14
But I mean, I look at the Bengals as new money. Fellas Ryan
20:18
talk to us about the Bengals, because like I look at them as new
20:21
money, like you are almost, you know, a bad season away from
20:26
getting your coach fired. And then in addition to the fact you represent the
20:29
conference in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, they put on a
20:30
value and effort, offensive line issues, different things like that with their team.
20:34
Looks like they've tried to address them. I know that they picked up
20:37
Orlando by Brown excuse me, from Kansas City, but I mean, I'm
20:41
not sold that they're just ready to go. I know that, you know,
20:44
Joe Burrow's got a calf injury, but talked to us, Ryan,
20:47
everybody's talking about the Bengals and they're kind of putting them in I'm ready to
20:49
state my case for a couple of other teams in that division that could,
20:52
you know, maybe start to stop their feet and cause some trouble. Hit
21:02
a DT. I don't know if he's still got Ryan hit a DT.
21:04
Yeah, yeah, no, I I think you know they're they're definitely the
21:08
favorite and the upper Uschelan. But I would much rather be in the AFC
21:11
East than this AC North. Rob There's way too many variables and questions where
21:17
that could turn, you know, a negative way. If you're a team,
21:21
If you're the Cincinnati Bengals and all these teams are under you, I
21:23
mean you're looking at You're looking at a team of Finally Lamar Jackson gets paid.
21:29
He's coming off, He's got his money. Now he's got to go
21:30
earn it. You bring Odell who has only every time he's been on the
21:33
field, he's been great, no matter drama or whatever. All four teams
21:38
he's played on, he's been great on. And I don't see that change
21:41
in Zay Flowers is having a great camp. They went last year and got
21:45
one of the best linebackers in football and Roquan Smith. And you know this,
21:48
This Ravens team has always been up there. Harbor knows how to win.
21:52
You drop into the Steelers, a young team kind of coming through Kenny
21:56
Pickett's second year. You saw Josh Allen take off in his second year.
21:59
I hope you know Kenny Pickett doesn't have a Josh Allen breakout, but it's
22:03
possible. George Pickens is looking like a beast. They got other receivers that
22:07
can make it happen. And then on defensively, t J. Watt one
22:10
of the best. Mincom Fitzpatrick. Like these rosters are stacked all the way
22:14
to the Browns. Deshaun Watson and you know, say what you want about
22:17
him, but he's a very talenty quarterback and to come in, very fluent,
22:19
very comfortable. Nick Chubb one of the best running backs, one of
22:22
the best offensive lines. The defense is stacked in all three levels, Pro
22:26
Bowlers, all pros, everywhere. I'm way more scared if if I'm in
22:30
the AFC North than i am as the Bills in the AFC East. I'll
22:33
tell you that Rob the I like it. Beat the Bengals up. You
22:37
know that philosophy of it's not going to be easy for him. But it's
22:41
anybody's division, like you, like you said, waiting in the waiting in
22:44
the brush, waiting in the grass, it's anybody's division. A ton of
22:47
assets, a ton of scary teams. To play those teams each twice,
22:52
that's I'd rather play the cheat or the Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots than
22:56
than the Ravens stealers. Yeah. Man, the even kind of scare me
23:00
because you know they've got, you know, the new offensive coordinator. They've
23:03
got a bunch of weapons in respects to you know, Beckham and say Flowers,
23:08
and you know they're trying to shape their their image, so to speak,
23:11
in the image of Lamar and let him kind of just sit back there
23:14
and disch the ball out a little bit more. So, I'm gonna be
23:17
interested to see how they kind of you know, develop and see what happens
23:21
with their offensive additions. And then Cleveland and Pittsburgh. One of the things
23:25
about the AFC northt is like it's that's the that's the bully division, you
23:30
know what I mean, Like that's one of those divisions where that's the backyard
23:32
you know, the backyard Ali brawl where like you got it, you better
23:34
lace it up, you better have your mouth guard in because they're gonna they're
23:38
gonna hit you, you know what I mean, They're gonna hit you in
23:40
the mouth. And like those teams are not you know, teams historically that
23:42
are gonna be backing down. I don't know about Deshaun Watson, what kind
23:45
of you know, what kind of things that he's gonna be able to offer
23:48
to the team. But I do know one thing about Deshaun Watson is that
23:52
he's got plenty of weapons, you know, and Joe Coopman and Cooper and
23:56
you know, I mean the running back like you said, Chubbs, Like
23:57
they've got different happens on that team to make them formiddable as you hop back
24:03
in, Brian, we were talking about the AFC North and just trying to
24:04
figure out like I'm not sure with Joe Burrow and his calf and different things
24:08
like that. Listen, I'm not just gonna just give this division to Cincinnati
24:14
because of the fact that again, like one of my father you know,
24:15
my father would say that they're kind of they're kind of new money. To
24:18
me, they are they are a half step away from being from being homeless.
24:22
So to me, like, I'm just not ready to give them the
24:26
keys to the kingdom, so to speak. You with us, Ryan,
24:40
We're gonna try to reconnect with Ryan and then see if he can't get back
24:42
on. But I mean, it's it's interesting DT because there you are there,
24:47
good, you're there. What you got for me with the AFC North,
24:49
Ryan, Yep, yep, I'm here, yep. I apologize there
24:52
for popping out for a sec here. Yeah. And in regards to uh,
24:56
you know, the AFC North, I mean, it's a a vision
25:00
that I look at. Cincinnati is the favorite I do, but that question
25:04
looms over them. In terms of Burrough's health, He's been banged up quite
25:10
a lot over the years. They've also lost two major pieces to their team.
25:15
Both starting safeties are now gone, and I think that's gonna definitely hurt.
25:21
It always does when you lose two major pieces to your defense, especially
25:25
two guys that played alongside each other that were kind of like the mini Poyer
25:27
and Hyde duo that was in Cincinnati there with Jesse Bates in company. And
25:33
I really the team that I that I think could be very good and that
25:37
vision this year is actually the Baltimore Ravens, a team that I think they've
25:42
added a lot. This is probably the most talented supporting cast that Lamar Jackson's
25:48
ever had. With ob J. You know, he's pretty healthy from what
25:52
I've read, and Zay Flowers was a great audition, and I really like
25:56
the pieces that they've added there, and Pittsburgh's pretty hyped up for Kenny Pickett.
26:02
He did some fun things last year. So really, the team that
26:06
I think I'm looking at, you know, a team that I might be
26:10
willing to count out more than any is Cleveland. I just one of those
26:12
teams that just seems like they're an accident waiting to happen. So I got
26:18
one was the favorite, but Baltimore could have something to say about that.
26:22
Yeah, I'd be a big Yeah Cleveland. No, Cleveland's Cleveland's got you
26:26
know, their talent as well. You know, I understand what Ryan means
26:30
though, because it is like a car crash. It's just seems like history
26:33
takes over with that franchise whenever they get a chance to and everything just kind
26:37
of comes crashing down. So it'll be interesting to see. I know,
26:41
for me, when I would talk about the North, I will say that
26:42
the threat obviously is Cincinnati. Another threat that I see is Baltimore. For
26:47
sure. I was scared shitless last year when it was raining and its fourth
26:51
quarter and we're losing, and obviously we had a really crappy half against Baltimore.
26:56
That's another loss that we could have had that you know last season,
26:57
and obviously Josh Ellen the guys were able to adjust second half and and pull
27:02
it out. But if it wasn't for you know, a silly Lamar throw
27:06
in the end zone, red zone, you know Layton game, then you
27:07
know, obviously that could have been a fourth loss for the Bills last year.
27:11
So I won't put anything against and pass Baltimore because again, I do
27:15
think that their new OC will at least unlock a little bit of a different
27:18
dynamic from Lamar and let him sit from the pocket and dissect one of the
27:22
most common misnomenclatures about Lamar Jacksons that he can't throw from the pocket. That
27:27
is just completely just not true. It's completely false. So I'll be watching
27:30
them very closely to see if he if he levels up, so to speak.
27:33
Now, the AFC West, we know all about the AFC West in
27:38
respects to the leader of that division. And it's funny, fellas, because
27:42
I was running a little parallel in my head today with them. I mean,
27:45
the AFC West is Chief's Kingdom, and they're starting to look a lot
27:49
like the Pats were with Brady, Like they win the division. I think
27:53
it's seven straight years now or it might be eighth straight with Andy Reid that
27:57
they've won a division. It's a crazy little streak that they've got going on
28:02
right now. And I'm really just wondering when is anybody else ready to participate
28:07
in challenge these guys. We all know that famous stat Patrick Mahomes has never
28:11
played on the road for a playoff game. It again, it sounds crazy
28:17
to say that out loud, but it is true. He has never been
28:19
on the road. He's never had to lead the confines of Missouri, you
28:23
know, outside of going to the Super Bowl, which is just so wild
28:26
to me. Is there anybody, Ryan, in the AFC West that can
28:30
stand up and challenge the Kansas City Chiefs. It looks like they're getting ready
28:34
to battle. It looks like the AFC South. I think, No,
28:40
I'm sorry, is it the South. I'll have to check that, Ryan.
28:42
What do you have for the Kansas City Chiefs? Is there anybody that's
28:45
ready to challenge these guys? Because it's weird to me that nobody. I
28:49
mean, the Chargers every year on paper look like they're ready and then they're
28:53
just not ready and they actually cross over the AFC West crossover with the NFC
28:59
North this year, so that should be really interesting. I mean, what
29:02
is going on in the West with the Chiefs, Brian, because I can't
29:07
seem to find anybody that's ready to take on these guys. I can't.
29:11
Now, it's a very good comparison. It's a fair comparison that Andy Reid
29:15
and Pat Mahomes have kind of taken the mantle from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
29:19
And I mean, if we're talking who is the biggest threat to the
29:22
Chiefs in the AFC. I think we know the answer to that question.
29:26
It's the Buffalo Bills. But looking at the division, I do think it
29:30
is the Chargers. And you know what, there is a move that the
29:33
Chargers made that I don't think they get credit for this offseason. I thought
29:37
it was one of the best coaching hires that a team has made in quite
29:42
some time, and it was hiring Kellen Moore as their offensive coordinator. Now
29:47
Dallas fired Kellen Moore and Kellen Moore was available for about eight minutes. It
29:53
seemed like as soon as Kellen Moore was fired, he was hired by the
29:57
Chargers. It was so quick that most people don't even get the chance.
30:00
Myself included to digest that he was even fired. It's like it was fired.
30:06
Why what reason would Dallas have to fire this guy when Dallas's offense was
30:11
so productive and Tony Pollard at a breakout year and so forth. But I
30:15
think Kellen Moore is going to do and work wonders for Justin Herbert and I
30:22
really love this offense. I mean, Austin Eckler outside of Christian McCaffrey,
30:26
and you know, you could debate, say Quon and Josh Jacobs, but
30:30
Austin Eckler is one of the best, if not the best running back in
30:33
the National Football League right now. And the Chargers have also had a great
30:38
group of receivers these last few years. They added to that with the rookie
30:42
had a TCU, Quinton Johnston. And of course I really feel confident that
30:47
Kellen Moore is going to make that offense one that scores points and scores points
30:52
quickly. And if that style of offense that he ran in Dallas translates to
30:57
the Chargers, I think the Charger could really be a sleeper team to win
31:02
that division and be a threat to the Chiefs. I don't look at really
31:07
I think they could. I think they could. Yeah, I really do,
31:11
and I it's a bold take. It's a bold take, but I
31:15
look at the weapons that the Chargers have, and I look at the fact
31:19
that the Chiefs lost Tyreek Hill. It didn't really matter, but then the
31:23
Chiefs before mentioned lost Juju Smith Schuster, and now they're in this developmental phase
31:30
with the wide receiver position. And Travis Kelsey's thirty three years old. I
31:33
know he looked invisible right now, but eventually ages is not just a number.
31:38
It will at father times undefeated. It will add up, right,
31:42
So you know, I just I love the way that the Chargers are built.
31:47
And you know, I don't think Denver is going to be that team
31:49
year one with Sean Payton that will just burst onto the scene. I think
31:52
it's gonna take a little bit of time for them, and I think they're
31:56
further along than what they think, and the Raiders are just I think the
32:00
Raiders right now are a mass. They franchise tag their best player, and
32:04
I just don't see them making much progress moving forward. So I'd say the
32:07
Chargers could be the biggest threat to take in that division from the Chiefs DT.
32:13
I mean, you you hear Ryan talking about the Chargers every year.
32:16
It seems like we're ready to crown the Chargers, and maybe not crown them,
32:20
but at least wait for them to grow up and mature. And I
32:22
don't care if it was from Schottenheimer on down. Bad luck with lt and
32:27
Philip Rivers. They just never seem to get it all together. They never
32:30
do, And it's just I'm just I just have a tough time, you
32:34
know, hitching my wagon to them, so to speak. Yeah, I
32:37
mean, I'll obviously say they're the biggest threat to the Chiefs, but I'm
32:42
not going far to say that they you know, they got the division yet.
32:45
Those are great points, you know for sure. Man. But you
32:47
know, our hope is Bills fans. Right, it's where these teams that
32:50
are getting better to you know, just to kind of notem yeah, exactly
32:55
each other, be each other up as we go. And you make some
32:59
great points about the Chargers. Their roster is stacked top to bottom. Herbert
33:01
Stu, you know, and has all the weapons and has everything he needs
33:06
to be a successful quarterback. He's butting into a defensively you know, was
33:13
one of the NFL top one hundred, probably number one, you know,
33:15
in his prime a couple of years ago. So it's gonna be interesting.
33:21
I'd like to see them, you know, at least get one of from
33:22
the Chiefs this year as they you know, and they split. But I'll
33:27
dig in a little more on the Broncos. I mean, it can't get
33:30
worse, you know, the Broncos, right like with and all this stuff
33:35
coming out about Actul being horrible, it was obvious on paper like and watching
33:39
it that you know, it was a bad coach team. Russell Wilson was
33:43
hurt. Whatever the case was. The Broncos team is solid. They got
33:45
some budding stars on defense as well, and you know, when they run
33:50
a decent enough offense to get it done. So I hope, you know,
33:53
like you said, a little cannibalization within it, but we kind of
33:55
thought that last year and it was really opposite. It was just all cheap.
34:00
So hopefully probability swings back through and you know, they do eat each
34:04
other up a little bit. You can't get worse for the Broncos. So
34:07
they're gonna come out and you know, just naturally at least get back to
34:09
five hundred. One of those wins hopefully coming, you know, against the
34:13
Chiefs or the Chargers, and Sam goes with the Raiders. They're they're right
34:16
around. They're not going to be you know, four and twelve. They're
34:20
they're gonna work up and be a closer to that five hundred team. They
34:22
always are mediocres their middle names, So definitely talent there too. We can
34:29
hope for cannibalization when you really talk about the Chargers out loud, though,
34:34
damn they are good, but we just haven't seen them materialize yet. We
34:37
haven't seen the materialize yet, and I just say probability, the Broncos can't
34:40
get worse than last year, so you're going to see natural improvement there.
34:44
And Raiders you'll still see them right around that five hundred marks. So not
34:47
dethroning the Chiefs yet, but I think they'll be a little more cannibalization if
34:52
you're with a division. I'm looking for them to eat each other up because
34:55
just the fact that that I mean, when you say that's that out loud,
35:00
say that he's never gotten on a bus, he's never gone to the
35:04
airport, he's never had to sleep in an uncomfortable bed the night before a
35:07
playoff game, Like, are you effing kidding? Me, Like, that's
35:09
how I feel when I think about Patrick Mahon and that stat with never being
35:14
on the road, and it's just like enough is enough, Like let me
35:16
I said it last year. You know you I said it last year.
35:20
DT, Like, let this guy be uncomfortable for a weekend. Let him
35:22
have to, you know, prepare in an uncomfortable place, you know,
35:25
drive up to the Ralph for another stadium and hear the crowd and you know,
35:30
people throwing eggs at the at the bus and you see the tailgates setting
35:35
up. He's never had to go through any of that. Man, He's
35:37
right in the comforts of it, in the compines of his own home and
35:40
and everything is just nice and cushy, and I'm just I'm just I want
35:44
to see him face some adversity. I know that he's great. I understand
35:47
he's a two time now Super Bowl MVP. I understand that he's got the
35:52
world at his feet. And watching the Quarterback kind of encapulates that because he
35:55
does care. And one of the things that I took away from The Quarterback
35:59
that Flix series was that he cares about football a lot. I just want
36:02
to see him go through a little adversity he's had such a nice, easy,
36:07
smooth road, and it's just like, yeah, I'm so sick of
36:09
that shit. I really am. I I want to see him face it
36:13
like adversity. I really do like he's had such a smooth ride and I
36:17
don't like it. I just don't like And all those all those boys at
36:21
the ESPN roundtable that weren't picking the Bills to win the East, Well,
36:23
this big bad East they got coming up is playing in the West this year,
36:28
as we know, fulling well, so cannibalization within that division, and
36:30
then all these great teams coming out of the Act they're also going to have
36:35
to face these guys too, So let's ride on that as well. Yeah,
36:38
man, it'll be interesting. It'll be fun because you know, again,
36:43
the AFC West is just an interesting division they have. You know,
36:45
they've they've set the standard. I mean, nobody has really been able to
36:50
really deal with him. Now, you guys have talked about Peyton, both
36:52
of you did. I wanted to get your takes on Peyton because what it
36:55
seemed like to me Ryan was that Sean was either either one. He's trying
37:01
to give his guys ultimate confidence and he wants them to know that. Listen,
37:06
you guys didn't fuck up as much as as everybody else is saying that
37:08
you did. It was really these coaches, these bad coaches that you had
37:12
leading you guys. Or number two, he's trying to soften the landing for
37:15
his own ass, just in case things don't work out. Now the Waltons
37:20
are paying him a bunch of money, so he's not gonna get fired after
37:22
one year anyway, So I don't know why he would find that necessary to
37:24
do. But it was interesting that, you know, they kind of they
37:29
kind of he kind of laid into the fact that the thing New Hacket he
37:31
said, the worst coaching performance in NFL history, and like that way he
37:36
said twenty dirty hands in the whole pot like it was. It was pretty
37:39
scathing. So it's either he was trying to dump and heap confidence into his
37:44
guys or he was trying to make sure that you do on either take,
38:00
Ryan, Yeah, I agree with with both of those takes. I could
38:04
see it from both perspectives. Okay, Yeah, in regard to what you
38:08
were saying, I agree with the ladder. I think what Sean Payton is
38:12
doing. And this is an interesting thought I've had this thought ever since he
38:16
made these statements about Nate Hackett. I think Sean Payton knows that this is
38:21
year one. He's kind of inheriting, you know, he's inheriting a roster,
38:24
he's inheriting a little bit of a mess. Compared to last season.
38:28
Russell Wilson had one of the worst years, the worst year he's ever had
38:31
as a quarterback bar none, and not even close, and kind of setting
38:37
himself up, as you mentioned, for a fall, but I think setting
38:38
himself up to the fan base as well that hey, if we're not that
38:44
good this year, you guys got to know, I'm gonna I'm gonna blow
38:47
this I'm gonna blow this thing up. And that's what I think he's going
38:51
to do. If if they don't make the playoffs, which is very likely,
38:55
he's gonna take that team and he's gonna blow it to Smithereens. I
38:59
mean, team is going to be completely gutted. And the team has a
39:01
lot of talent on it. Jerry Judy is a rising star. Courtland Sutton's
39:07
a good receiver. I love the rookie running back Javonte Williams. I'm hoping
39:10
he can come back from that acl injury that he's suffered as well. You
39:14
know, they got some defensive stalwarts there that have been there for quite some
39:17
time. And Sean Payton's one of those guys that it's his way or no
39:22
way, and that's why they brought him in there. Parcels disciple, you
39:27
know, that's the way that he rolls. Right. If it doesn't work,
39:30
you know what, as well as I do, he's gonna blow it
39:31
up. And he's kind of setting this up for Hey, Denver fan base,
39:36
Broncos fans, Broncos Nation, we're riding a rebuild pretty soon if if
39:42
don't work out. So that's why I see it. Yeah, I mean,
39:45
DT, I'm not sure, if you know, you know, I'm
39:50
not sure, and it'll be interesting to see what they do, you know
39:52
what I mean. I'm just I was interested when I heard the comments because
39:57
I knew that you know, most coaches, you know, Nathani was right,
40:00
you know, DT, like the coaches don't talk about each other that
40:01
way. He was absolutely right when he had his little rebuttal and he addressed
40:06
the media like they all live in the glasshouse, so they don't want to
40:07
make their jobs harder for each other because of the fact that one day they
40:10
could be in that position on the other side. So I think that,
40:15
you know, Hackett was right with that way that he you know, he
40:16
kind of did break a little bit of a code and I was trying to
40:19
figure out the reasons why, and to me, Dt, it was that
40:22
either he was trying to infuse energy into his guys and let them know that
40:25
they weren't the problem, or he was trying to let them know that you
40:29
know, yeah, don't blame me if this ship doesn't work this year,
40:31
because I had a lot of dirty dishes to clean up, so the kitchen
40:35
will get clean eventually. I mean, Nathaniel Hackett was just a pawn this
40:43
here's the fall guy. I had to had to be the name that that
40:46
was used. And like you said, there was there was definitely deeper meaning
40:50
and in bigger moves to this than just him calling out Nathaniel Hackett. Nathaniel
40:54
Hackett is is basically meaningless in this. He was just a fall So,
40:59
you know, uh, in the Nico City Crew. But at three thirty
41:01
Linden, we got we got some Broco game blood in here, as you
41:05
know, Rob, Yeah, I know in the kitchen that you know that
41:08
I make sure I still water on every time I fill up my big squatter
41:12
bottle. But it's it'll it'll be interesting, And like you said, I
41:15
wish him the best. I hope they're better for the strict factor. Cannibalize
41:20
the West. Yeah, I really do too, because I really am sick
41:22
of seeing Kansas City has such an easy ride. As we shift and we
41:27
start to wrap up on the AFC South before we give our predictions for on
41:31
the AFC, I mean, listen, fellas, this is this is one
41:36
of those situations where do not throw up on yourself. Jacksonville, like literally,
41:40
like you have you found your success. I know that they went to
41:44
the AFC Championship game, you know a few years back with Morone, and
41:46
then that was last you heard of the Jaguars, and then we had the
41:49
whole Urban Meyer, you know, debacle down there in South Florida. Listen,
41:53
don't throw up on yourselves. You've got a prime opportunity right now to
41:58
win this division and and all honesty, they're facing the NFC West. Fellow,
42:02
excuse me, the NFC South. There's no reason that Jacksonville can't win
42:07
this division if they put their minds to and they make sure that they're prepared
42:08
the right way. One thing I do know, and I want to caution
42:13
and I want to get your thoughts on it. Ryan. I mean,
42:15
nobody sent the memo to Tennessee number one because Vrabel is a Belichick disciple.
42:21
He is not going to roll over for anybody. He's not going to show
42:22
his belly for anybody. Let him scratch his belly. He is going to
42:25
fight. He's got King Henry back there. I know they picked up Dhop.
42:30
You know, obviously they look like they're trying to maneuver and transition the
42:34
quarterback position, but they're not ready yet. Tannehill is going to try out
42:37
their week one. Tennessee is not going to roll over. They will hit
42:39
you in the mouth every single Sunday. They will make an ugly game out
42:44
of every single week. Jacksonville better be on the p's and q's man or
42:47
they would literally throw up on themselves. Because this is a division. To
42:51
me, it's their division, their division combined with the NFC South. There's
42:55
no reason that they can't win it. They just they just have to apply
42:58
themselves the right way and stay focused. I agree completely. I actually look
43:01
at Jacksonville as one of the rising teams in the National Football League. I
43:07
really do. I came away watching the playoff game between the Jags and Chiefs
43:13
thinking to myself, Jacksonville is going to be a player in twenty twenty three,
43:16
twenty twenty four. They're going to be in the upper echelant of the
43:20
AFC. It is their division to lose. It's only there is to hoist
43:24
and win. But to your point, you know, you touched down it
43:28
with Tennessee. Tennessee's a stingy team. They're an old school team in terms
43:31
of no turnovers. Ryan Tannehill is one of the most bland quarterbacks that you've
43:37
ever put out on a football field. And it works for him, right,
43:42
I mean, it works for Tennessee. They got they got Derrick Henry,
43:45
who is still doing his thing. The tread is a little bit worn
43:50
on those tires, but he's still got some miles left on the car.
43:52
You know, it's not the miles on the car, it's the amount of
43:55
miles that the car has left. And it looks like he's still got some
43:59
miles off. And they add DeAndre Hopkins, who has been one of the
44:02
better receivers and as a game breaking talent. So I look at that division
44:07
and I see a rivalry for sure between Jacksonville and Tennessee. But I think
44:13
Jacksonville definitely has a has a leg up on the competition. Indianapolis is a
44:17
total mess. Jimmer Say is one of the let's just say, colorful owners
44:23
that there is out there. Sports, A strange guy, you can call
44:28
them weird, you can call them weird. And the crew. What's he
44:32
doing with the whale? What's the whale situation he's got going right now?
44:37
I just needs to pay Jonathan Taylor and and just do his job, staying
44:44
out of the day to day operations. Do that, you know. But
44:49
he's not, and that's because he's Jim er Say. You know, he's
44:52
got the Jerry Jones you know, light syndrome. I guess, so,
44:55
you know, it is what it is. With the Colts. I think
44:59
Anthony Richardson is somebody that is a very intriguing prospect what he brings to the
45:04
table, but the whole team is just a raw product that they're nowhere near
45:07
establishing themselves. And I think Houston's the same way, and they're very raw
45:12
as well. They're very young. It'll be four or five years before those
45:15
teams are very competitive, and by then I think Jacksonville will have already have
45:20
a really stout identity. I love Trevor Lawrence. I think he does not
45:25
get the credit that he deserves for the year that he had last year.
45:28
And I really feel Jacksonville's on the rise. Doug Peterson, you know,
45:31
was fired from Philly and a lot of people thought he wouldn't be able to
45:36
find his footing in the league again as a head coach, and and he
45:38
has, and he deserves a lot of credit for that. DT. I
45:42
mean, what do you think about this division, because I mean there's no
45:45
way that Jacksonville shouldn't be able to take a hold of it. Like there's
45:50
everything is right in front of him. That basically is what I'm trying to
45:52
say. Everything is here for them to take. They're lucky in this regard
45:57
of the previous three divisions where you just spoke about out, there's not really
46:00
a clear cut, you know, toilet team in any of those divisions.
46:05
The Raiders were probably the closest to it. And like I said, they're
46:07
probably gonna be right around five hundred. So in this division, you're probably
46:10
looking at two toilet teams, if you will, this year, as the
46:15
Colts were kind of up in the upper echelon a few years and that they
46:17
fell from very pretty quickly. Houston still very far away is and you know
46:22
they're doing everything they can to build, but they're getting the first pick in
46:24
the draft every year, so you would hope they get some talents through there.
46:28
Right, So, yeah, they're Jacksonville and Tennessee are blessed with that.
46:31
They they're halfway. They are already with two cupcakes. You know,
46:36
at the bottom of that division. I can't I would like, you know,
46:40
Jacksonville is loaded up the Kelvin Ridley's coming back about you know, Trevor
46:45
Lawrence didn't have a good year, but man sixteen couldn't motivate me to make
46:51
a sandwich. Guys, like, come on, that team's gonna be like
46:53
your franchise guy coming out of the tunnel, like leading you down the stretch
46:58
and the you know, going on the road in a divisional game to Kansas
47:00
City You're Buffalo or whatever and pulling out a win. Like it's just tough
47:05
for me to see right now, even though the Jacksonville are kind of the
47:08
Bill's kryptonite lately with them. Every single time they play they score freaking three
47:13
points. So you know that's something to debate. Two with the in the
47:16
nine thirty London game, will see him again, But I just can't get
47:20
my head around you know, Trevor Lawrence. He's a good he's a talented
47:23
player, but just that leadership and moxie and grit you need to be,
47:28
you know, a champion this league. I don't see from them. Yeah
47:30
they're loaded, but you know Tennessee might be the kryptonite to that of that
47:35
hard, gritty team that doesn't have You know that the Babel's not gonna let
47:38
up, and you know they go in as a favorite and get their ass
47:40
kick because Tennessee's they're just just hard nosing them. So it's nobody really scares
47:46
me out of here. You now, I'm kind of cheering for Tennessee to
47:51
knock these the Jaguars down a notch and not let them be a powerhouse going
47:54
into the playoffs. But it's just they don't got the moxie down there in
47:59
the South Robe they Ryan Ryan, he said he said that Trevor Lewis couldn't
48:02
motivate him to make a sandwich. I get him sandwich out of DT.
48:07
I can't get some cheese. It's a mustard, a little bit of Mayo
48:10
sandwich. No. I mean, stick up for your boy Ryan before we
48:14
wrap up, because he did a great season. I mean he had he
48:16
did have a good season. It was it was kind of a tale of
48:19
two halves, you know, it was half and half. And then it
48:22
seems like when they got back from London he started to play different football and
48:24
he started to play better football. But that that's a great line, DT.
48:28
That's gonna go down to the archives. He can't even motivate me to
48:31
make a sandwich like that. Well, you know what, I'll say that,
48:36
you know, maybe maybe there is a point to that, and maybe
48:38
it's to a point where you know, he's in this he's going into his
48:42
third year into the league, and I think maybe there might be a lack
48:45
of a motivation, you know, aspect to his leadership ability because he hasn't
48:52
necessarily earned his stripes yet, you know, he hasn't he hasn't led them
48:55
to that that heightened precipice yet to where they haven't beaten as in the playoffs,
49:00
they haven't beaten a Buffalo or a Cincinnati or anything like that to get
49:05
that big win. And I think Trevor Lawrence to that point is a signature
49:09
win away in the playoffs from being in that upper echelon mentioned with you know
49:15
Mahomes Alan Burrough. I think there's nothing really that talent wise that tells me
49:22
that Trevor Lawrence can't get there. It's just that seeing is believing, and
49:25
if they're able to put themselves in that in that in that category with a
49:30
signature win in the playoffs this year, I think that could really do a
49:32
lot to boost the superstar status of Trevor Lawrence. And it just goes to
49:37
show you. I think the biggest takeaway with Jacksonville is just how piss poor
49:44
of a head coaching job actually Urban Meyer did. That goes down in history.
49:49
Sean Payton needs to correct himself. That goes down in history as one
49:52
of the worst head coaching jobs that anyone's ever had. Maybe the word so
49:57
you know, John Payton might have to take his statement back on Nate hack
50:00
And I'm no Nate Hackett. You don't defender at all. But Van Muyer
50:02
might have one uped him, and yeah, kicking kickers and stuff, kicking
50:06
punters or whatever you do with Josh Lamba, he was he was definitely full
50:09
of himself and getting on those clubs and getting themselves in trouble. So I
50:14
will agree on that. I mean, it'll be interesting to see for sure.
50:15
I just I definitely will give Tennessee the benefit of the doubt because just
50:21
there is something about, you know, the grid, there is something about
50:23
attitude, There is something about the way that you approach your job. And
50:28
you know, Tennessee, again, they did not get the memo that this
50:30
is supposed to be Jacksonville's year. They will they will hit you very hard
50:35
every single weekend. They will make it tough one you. So that's just
50:37
the way that their coaches made And oftentimes, you know, we've talked about
50:40
before, oftentimes, you know, you're a reflection of your coach. You
50:44
know, a lot of times that's the way that it's been. I've talked
50:46
about that with the Bills. You know, you're a reflection of your leadership.
50:50
And you know, Rabel is a tough guy. He's tough, hard
50:52
nose, and Jeffrey Simmons is tough, hard nose, and you know,
50:54
I mean Derek Henry's tough, hard nose and that team plays that well as
50:58
well. So we'll see how it all right, fellows, I will ask
51:01
for division winners. I will hold your feet to the fire. Yes,
51:06
if you are wrong at the end of the year, I will make fun
51:07
of you. I will tease you on Twitter all of that or x whatever
51:10
they call it. Now, Ryan, give me your AFC South Division winner
51:15
and we will go around Robin all the way to the AFC East as we
51:19
close up tonight, who was winning the South for Ryan Thomas again? Check
51:22
him out. We appreciate him joining us tonight. We did not have too
51:25
many issues or anything like that. It was definitely much better with the connection,
51:29
So we appreciate you again, Ryan joining us. Check him out at
51:32
Ryan Thomas Take again. It's the Ryan Thomas Take Sports podcast. Check him
51:38
out for sure because he's doing great things. He's always posting fun topics and
51:43
fun questions and cool highlights all that other good stuff. So check him out
51:46
at Ryan Thomas Take. Give me your ac your AFC South winner, man,
51:52
Thank you for the plug, thank you for having me on. Of
51:54
course, AFC South winner I think is the Jags. I think, I
51:58
think it is the Axonville Jaguarriors, and I do think Tennessee will be right
52:02
there, you know, I think it'll be and it'll be close between those
52:06
two, but I see Jacksonville taking it. I think Trevor Lawrence is going
52:09
to have a full season of consistency to your point, Rob, where you
52:15
know, first half was not so great, second half, you know,
52:17
much much better. After the London game. Oddly enough, it was like
52:20
a home away from home for that. Yeah, it was just second open
52:23
right right where he was able to kind of come into his own. And
52:27
I think Jacksonville is gonna take that division for sure. AFC, South DT,
52:30
Holloed and dumb truck what you got. I'm gonna go with the Titans
52:35
just to shake it up. Still material probability betting, says Jaguars. I
52:43
I after that take ahead on Trevor Lawrence. I got, Yeah, you
52:46
can't. You can't. You can't tell me that he can't motivate you making
52:50
ham sandwich and the kitchen a turkey sandwich and then pick him to win the
52:52
division. So I will. I'm gonna leave with you on that one.
52:55
You stole my my thundering that one. I'm gonna go with Tennessee. I
52:59
just think that two reflects leadership. I think that that the Titans are just
53:02
a tougher team and Jacksonville's got I mean, Calvin Ridley. I know that
53:07
we've got a draft coming up DT I will give I will still some cookies
53:10
right now. I am going to draft that man. I don't know when
53:14
I'm supposed I haven't been in a fantasy football league in at least a decade,
53:16
so I'm going to definitely be a fish out of water. But whenever
53:20
it's appropriate to draft that man, I'm going to draft him. I watched
53:23
a video of him doing a drill and Zay Jones did the same. J
53:29
Jones and I could have swore that the camera was on fast forward, and
53:34
you know what I mean, Don Bryan, Like, you know how you
53:35
can I know exactly what you're talking about the podcast and you can put it
53:38
to like two point or two point five, and then the guy's voice is
53:42
going crazy fast. I'm like, is this the same exact video? Like?
53:45
And I'm looking at the people in the background and make sure that it
53:46
wasn't altered. So Calvin ridden looks ridiculous. I will give it to Tennessee
53:51
just off the fact of their head coach and the way that they coach their
53:54
team. But boy, I can't wait to see that guy play football again
53:57
after his h his little gantling snap food. AFC North Ryan Thomas our guest
54:02
who is taking the division in the North? I think it will be the
54:07
Cincinnati Bengals. I think this division will be close as well between Cinc and
54:10
Baltimore. I can see Baltimore taking it as well. To my point earlier,
54:15
but I do believe Joe Burrow will be wrapped like a mummy comes seasons
54:21
and the Cincinnati Bengals will be the AFC North's division champs. And you know,
54:27
I think that division's fun. It's an interesting division, but I expect
54:31
Cincinnati at the top and once again Cleveland at the bottom. What do you
54:36
have, DT, What do you have for us? We've been doing this
54:39
a long time, Rob, and I feel like I know you're pretty well
54:42
and I feel like we're doing the same thing again here. I'm going with
54:45
the Ravens and I think you are too. No, no, no,
54:49
no, I'm gonna give it a listen. I'm gonna you go with the
54:52
Ravens. I am. We'll give it to Joe Cool. The reason I'm
54:52
gonna give it to Joe Cool is because, you know, I just think
54:58
that there's a chance that as long as he's held and this is all obviously,
55:00
any time that you're talking about this stuff. By the way, Nickel
55:02
City Crew bills mafia injuries, you know, they throw everything out of the
55:07
window. So as long as he's healthy, I think that they can come
55:10
out with it. They just got too much talent in respects to the offensive
55:14
side of the football. I'm just I'm it's everything is new in Baltimore,
55:17
and everything is new, so sometimes new works great, and sometimes it takes
55:21
a little bit of acclimation time to kind of get you know, acclimated everything,
55:24
and the process is a little bit longer than you expect it. So
55:27
I know Monkan is in there. I'm excited. I love you know,
55:30
when Lamar Jackson throws from the pocket and he gets a chance to debunk some
55:34
of those myths that he can't throw from the pocket from the pocket, Excuse
55:37
me, I just think it'll take a little bit longer, won't be right
55:39
away. JK. Dobbins is acting like a weirdo and it won't come to
55:43
camp, won't come to practice, like you're not gonna get paid more like
55:45
running backs, they're just you know, it's just seems so weird right now.
55:49
So just come to work, get your money. I'm not sure what's
55:51
gonna happen with the Ravens, but I will put my faith in Joe Cool
55:54
right now. The AFC West, Ryan Thomas Thomas take sports, Poe Cast,
56:00
what do you have for the West? I know you're gonna say it,
56:01
and everybody's waiting for you to say it. No, I'm not gonna
56:07
say it. I'm gonna keep it. I'm gonna keep it even killed.
56:09
I think the Chargers are a threat to the Chiefs more than they more than
56:15
any other team has been in recent years. As far as the division title,
56:17
I'll say that that's kind of I don't think the Chargers will take the
56:22
division, but I think the Chargers are the biggest threat to the Chiefs in
56:27
recent memory within that division title. I love the additions they made, but
56:30
I do see the Chiefs take in the division. I do think though,
56:35
come seasons end, the Chiefs will be more vulnerable than they've ever been in
56:42
regards to that. So I think the Chiefs will take it, and I
56:45
think it'll be by a slim margin wins and losses. Wise, the Chargers
56:50
will be right on their coat tails. Dump ruck Well. Patrick Mahomes have
56:54
to get on a plane and go playoff, freaking away playoff game. Please,
57:02
as much as I want to, I'm chalking. I'm chalking here,
57:07
Kingdom. We get hyped up about this cannibalization, and I'm so sick.
57:15
I just want him to have shitty I want him to have shitty room service
57:19
one night. Can you have sty room service right before the playoffs? Can
57:22
we get a short a Jordan flu game where somebody brings him a bad pizza
57:24
or somebody brings them some bad wings. If he's in Buffalo, like come
57:28
on? Or what is it in Cincinnati? They do that little spaghetti things
57:30
we gotta get in Chili? Can somebody get him some bad food before a
57:35
playoff game? I mean, if you're at home, you don't have to
57:37
worry about any of that ship niggers. You're at home and you're in the
57:38
confine. Can we put him on the road. I get somebody put its
57:43
men on a plane and make him go and sleep in a bed other than
57:45
his own before a playoff game. I've I've got to go with you,
57:47
guys, the Chiefs will win the division again. It sucks, but they're
57:52
gonna win it again. Just too much firepower. Now. One of the
57:55
thoughts that I did pick up on earlier fellas you both had mentioned it.
58:00
There are some different weapons sky more and you know Tony has heard and you
58:04
know he's gonna be agent. But he's never been a number one receiver before
58:07
ever, so that's gonna be interesting to watch. I know that we all
58:10
eight crow last year with Tyreek Hill they won a Super Bowl after giving them
58:15
up, but with Juju gone and some guys stepping up into a role they've
58:17
never been in before, it will be very interesting. So I'll keep and
58:22
put a pennon on that, Ryan, because I know you said that the
58:24
Chargers will close the gap a little bit, So I'll be watching on that
58:28
as we wrap up the AFC East Gentleman, drum roll the division that we
58:32
all care about here at Nickel City Crew Bill's mafia. Who is going to
58:37
hoist the AFC East Division crown? Ryan Thomas, Well, there's a song
58:44
back in the day. Here comes the boom. Buffalo is bringing the boom.
58:49
I like it. I like it people that this is the Bill's division
58:52
and the beast of the East. I think the Bills with their consistency of
58:59
continuity, head coach Alan Brandon Bean and company. You know, of course,
59:04
I feel like the mojo around the Bills is just such a such a
59:08
force that none of the other teams in the division have, and I think
59:13
that that's an advantage, I really do. I love the additions that they
59:15
made with Kincaid. I feel like he's going to provide a different rank to
59:20
the offense. I think James Cook is going to have his coming out party
59:23
as well. He's a fantasy sleeper running back for me in twenty twenty three
59:27
as well. And for all the fantasy football folks out there, I mean,
59:31
what Bill would you not really want a draft on this team? You
59:35
know, they're all going to be productive. I think there's only one football,
59:38
but I think this team is going to be very, very fun to
59:40
watch another season. A lot of new additions that I really like, and
59:45
I will say, you know, I kind of provided my division winners as
59:47
well as the teams that I think will finish in second kind of close.
59:52
I do think the Jets are the second place team in the division. Most
59:54
people would say Miami, but I just have so many questions over the playing
1:00:00
future of one two a tongue of viola, and I really think that the
1:00:06
Jets have a better defense as well. So I'm gonna go with the Jets
1:00:08
as the second runner up to the Buffalo Bills in the East. DT close
1:00:15
us out, man. We tried three straight weeks. I tried to keep
1:00:17
us under an hour, and we cannot stay under an hour. That means
1:00:21
that there's a right That means that's all right, a little longer drive.
1:00:27
They got a tune back in on the way back home from work. Now
1:00:30
you know, I'm we're we're we're messing with the algorithm. I love it.
1:00:34
So no, I you know, you know who we're going with Nicols
1:00:37
City. We're staying true. I mean, we would say they weren't gonna
1:00:43
win it if we really thought that, But who the hell's thinking that.
1:00:45
Let's go, let's locked in thirteen and three last year with a better roster
1:00:50
coming into this year, and you know, seventeen's not finished. Seventeenths pissed
1:00:55
like seventeens ready to rock, and this is gonna be you know, It's
1:01:00
starts off Monday night against this Jets team, and it's it's going to be
1:01:02
a steam role. I think out of it. You gotta think maybe one
1:01:06
or two division losses, just because that's the way of the nature. But
1:01:08
you know, I love the Bills dominating this division again. The hype is
1:01:15
away from the Bills, which we talked about, but reality is going to
1:01:19
set in real quick. You see, the spread on this game is pretty
1:01:23
close. One person that doesn't give into the hype is Vegas, baby,
1:01:27
and you're gonna start seeing seven, eight, nine, ten point spreads from
1:01:30
the Billy Boys the rest of the season after what they do Week one.
1:01:35
So buckling for that easy division champs. Easy easy. Okay, guys are
1:01:45
way more provider than me. Listen, you already know what I am here
1:01:49
at Nicols City Crew. I try to be the voice of reason. I
1:01:52
try to be your conscious. I try to make sure that everybody stays level
1:01:54
headed. The Bills are gonna win a division number one. I am so
1:01:59
sick of hearing from Miami Dolphins fans on Twitter. I'm so sick of hearing
1:02:02
from the Jets fans who are getting ready to, you know, to pump
1:02:06
out their chests and all this other stuff. Listen, the Bills are gonna
1:02:07
win the division. The reason they're going to win the divisions because we have
1:02:09
more talent than every other team. I'm nervous sometimes about Sean McDermot. I
1:02:15
know I talk a lot of shit about him, but you know, I
1:02:16
think that he has something to prove. There's never a better situation to be
1:02:21
in than when you have something to prove, a little chip on your shoulder,
1:02:23
so to speak. He has removed all doubt, he has removed all
1:02:28
cloaks, he has removed all excuses. Everything is on him for that defense.
1:02:31
He needs to at least maintain when him and Leslie Frasier achieved these last
1:02:36
few years throughout their ten year at the least, if not take it to
1:02:39
another level. So I expect Sean McDermott to be everything that he was built
1:02:44
to be when he was hired as the Bill's head coach years ago. I
1:02:46
think he's going to be just. I think that he's going to be locked
1:02:51
in to be completely honest. Ken Dorsey, again, you only get one
1:02:53
chance to say that was your first time doing something. I'm hoping that he
1:02:57
learned from some of his mistakes last year clip in the playoff game, and
1:03:00
he fields a better offense. To be honest, don't force Josh to throw
1:03:04
the ball down the field all of the time. Make sure that you're taking
1:03:07
some of those underneath throws as well. I know that the injury played apart
1:03:09
from that as well, so we'll just all knock on wood for the health
1:03:13
and safety of Number seventeen. As long as he stays healthy. I don't
1:03:15
see a way that the Bills don't win this division, to be honest,
1:03:19
so it'll be interesting, fellas. I appreciate you guys taking time out tonight
1:03:23
to join me as always, please spread love not hate. Join us again
1:03:30
next week. Can't wait. Hit him with a gold Bills, right,
1:03:34
hit him with a Gold Bills Dug truck, I mean, hit him with
1:03:36
a gold Bills man. I can't wait the Beast conference. I kind of
1:03:44
like that, man, Trevor Lawrence, Man, I can't you won't even
1:03:45
might wait me to make a sandwich. I like that the last thing line,
1:03:50
I can't I can't wait to hear that back. Man. Enjoy the
1:03:52
night tonight. I appreciate you guys, fellas, you taking time or your
1:03:55
night. I really do appreciate you guys.