Iron Mike, Hot Seats & the NFL Injury Myth (Feat. Nick Kostos)

My fellow football Americans week 5 is upon us and my crazier does it feel now like every week of real football feels like a fantasy guillotine lead in which at least one or maybe like a half dozen teams get eliminated from playoff contention. The Bears are in good shape Packers, let's see, they're both renewing the 20th century's greatest NFL rivalry and the Niners and Hawks aka this century's best NFC rivalry are getting it on in Seattle. AFC West Showdown with the Chargers and Broncos feels like OC's Mike McDaniel and Davis Web are both coaching for their gigs, two heads at center, one heads at leaves. Jags and Eagles are flying over to London, but you thought they were going to swim, they're birds. And the Colts are headed back across the Atlantic, but before they're back home and getting in Indiana they've got a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and that F&B, they've got a QB. Not my words, his head coaches. But first, is it getting chilly and all I know presented by Yager Meister Servet Cold or don't serve it in all Yager Meister damn that's cold? For more visit yagermeister.com to drink responsibly. Okay, real quick, couple few thoughts about future Hall of Fame or Lane Johnson retiring and the truthiness of the conversations around him this week. First we all know he's an all-time great, maybe even the greatest Philadelphia Eagle ever, and the numbers are inarguable, when he's been in the lineup of the last 14 seasons Philly's win percentage is 659, and when he's been out, it drops to 37%. That's what we call around here, a Jenga piece. As in, if you remove the wrong piece of a Jenga tower, the whole thing implodes, and just like I told you a week ago, and not just because of Lane Johnson, I think Nick Seriani's Eagles are going down. But let's be honest, where Johnson or any other allegedly dominant tackle is concerned, you don't really know who the good offensive linemen are. It's okay. Most human beings don't. You just hear what the few people who do have to say about fat guys who lean best on other fat guys. Now, with that air cleared here, Steven A. Smith dim remarks. If it makes everyone in anyone who's been upset by this feel any better, Steven A doesn't really mean it, or maybe he does, but that's definitely not why he said it. You see, the truth isn't important to Steven A. or any hot taker, us paying attention to him, like I am, unfortunately, right now, is his only goal. And for all the credit dip give him and the hot takers for their ability to make you think, they're all applying the same simple soul as formula one, listen to what most people are saying about any issue, two, take the opposite side, and number three, well, I guess that's about it. You've made dumb people think without ever saying anything authentic, because all that matters now is who gets the most clicks. So muzzle tough to Steve A. You've accomplished what you wanted. Now, I don't want to get up on my pies, but I just can't play that game. And in that spirit, let me shoot straight with you. The only reason I know you don't know about offensive linemen is because I don't know which fat guys lean good on other fat guys either. You see, it's not that hard to be a straight shooter. You might not like what I have to say, but if what I say does upset you, rest easy with the knowledge. I really do mean it. And that's my solemn promise to you. So I guess with that, sorry, Nick Seriani and Woody Johnson and Jimmy Haslam and Bill Bellachack and Deshaun, what, you know what, let's just start the show. My fellow football Americans, welcome to NFL week five, welcome to football America first things first, subscribe, leave us a comment. We have good news coming in about 45 seconds from right now. First though, let's say hello to buddy Badawski, I say, leave a comment. Some of you have listened. We appreciate that and to prove how much let's answer a couple of them real quick. Buddy, how are you? Let's get into it. What's going on, Dave? Oh, yeah, we've got this comment from Schmendel and it is, are the bangles now the third AFC Super Bowl pick for damage check? I remember him originally going with the chargers for an LLA Super Bowl in LA and then the Texans. Dave, are you wavering on your AFC Super Bowl pick? No, no, no, that's unfair from Schmendel. I said the chargers in summertime because I swooned the Hollywood storyline of, you know, once upon a time in Hollywood, Stafford, V Herbert and all of that. But in the nick of time in August, at some point, specifically, I changed it to bungles, V Dallas Cowboys. And now that's looking, I think at least halfway decent. Although the one asterisk is, I said before the game in since he last week, if Jacksonville took down the bungles, that maybe I would have to change to Jacksonville. But Jamar Chase got hurt in the game. And so I think the, the bangles would have won that game had Chase been out there with them. So no, maybe I don't know Schmendel. The other question you had there, buddy, ready to go. Yeah, this is from Seymour Onshik, where he says, Dave, two questions first. Do injuries seem more rampant this season than recent history? Or am I just prisoner of the moment or only for the prisoner of the moment? Everybody keeps talking about that. It happens every year. It really does. So put a pin in this and revisit this in late September, early October. You'll be like, wow, more injuries than usual this year. Right? No. It's a contact sport. And they're only going to get worse. The bigger and faster the guys get out there. And Dave, this is a really important question because I asked this one every single day. I would say, what is the proper slash expected response to what's the poop fella? You know what? That's a good place to introduce our, he's not our guest. In fact, that's the good news here. He is now, I guess, what do we call him a co-host a, a regular participant, a recurring show. Friend of the show would be a definition of, but now he participates on the show. So he's not just a friend of the show. He's now a family member of the show. A family member of the show. That's good. He's a football American. How about that? Let's do that. Um, he's the host Monday through Friday, nine a.m. to noon Eastern on bed MGM, you better you bet. He is the king of wager team. Oh, also now the co-host along with another pal of ours, Brian Baldinger, the best football show. It's Nick Castles. What's the poop fella? Oh, it's great to be here as a fellow football American on the show with you, my friend Dave Damishek. Awesome. Love it. Uh, you love the national football league the way I love the national football league. The way the audience loves the national football league. Uh, love talking about it on a Westwood one sports with Baldy and now here with you. My guy. How's it going? It's going. All right. Also, also you, you, you look awful. Why? Why would you, what would you say? What kind of way is that? To say hi and hello? How many hours? How many hours? How many hours? How many hours in, do you sleep? What? Like four hours a night? I don't, I don't sleep well. You don't look great. I mean, I don't know why you say that, but you're much younger than I am and you've already taken to the shears because you've lost the game. Oh, no. I raised your hair six months ago, but now you realize, well, that's, that's how good my hair is as I don't even need it. I buzzed it all off. And then when I grow it back, I'm going to grow it long and it's going to look amazing. I'm going to look like Foppio on the cut for every romance novel. It's going to be great. But I think this bus cuts working for me here. And maybe you should consider the same thing, my friend, based on the way your hair looks right now. What are we to buddy way in very quickly for the view or out there? We appreciate the listener, but we don't, we don't, we don't need buddy here. I'm going to tell you exactly what you need to do. You need to go, you need to go to the barber and you need to get your sides done shorter. Like your sides are too long. You're too long. I answer too long. Wait, I don't think you know, you need to know about Dave Nick is that Dave cuts his, you cut your own hair. Don't you Dave? I haven't gotten a real hair. I've gotten one real haircut since COVID. I give myself my haircuts and a regular guy and, uh, and it shows. Oh, look, listen to the last congratulations. Can I tell you something? Can I admit, can I admit something you can? So kind of a kind of, I'll make a long story short. So I, I had been going to the salon for a while, right? I do the same. Of course. Yes. The guy that cuts his own hair, like a Neanderthal is laughing at me for going to a salon. So I had been going once a week to the salon, but now that I'm getting my hair bows, like I can go to a barber shop. So there's a barber shop, like right next door to where I do the show from. And I've worked out a deal with the guy there that buzzes my hair. I go twice a week to get my hair cut Tuesdays and Fridays. That I like, especially if you, well, see you have a beard, but I'd like to go in there. I'd like to get lathered up and get a nice shave a couple of times a week. If I could get a shave, if shaving is one of the biggest inconveniences in my life, if I could get somebody to give me a shave once a week, like, that would make my life so much easier. But buddy, I got to do, do you have a paycheck, buddy? I got good news for you. I don't know if I have a paycheck worthy of going to get a shave twice a week, but I guess I could. I don't know, but that would make my life so much easier. The reason I cut that, let's cut the bullshit. We have a lot of stuff to get. Let's just say, like, who's, who's the co, is am I the co-host? The showers, buddy, the co-host of the show, a lot of buddy here on the air so far. Well, buddy does have to start us off here. That's our 89th episode, and as we do every episode, buddy, which player were the number 89 best? Yeah. So first one that jumps off the page. is Iron Mike Ditka. I mean, he might even be more famous for his career as a head coach, the Superbowl winning coach of the, for the 1985 Bears, of course, 5800 yards and 43 touchdowns. And he had a career, rookie receiving, sorry, oh my God, the career, the, the, oh my God, why can't I find the words here? Hostel says, he went at you and now you're off your game, the record for most receiving yards by a tie then in a rookie season. Thank you. That stood until 2024 when Brock Bowers broke it. So he had a seven, a 1,076 yard rookie season with 12 touchdowns. So Mike Ditka, number 89, Steve Smith is the guy that I go to growing up. He was one of my favorite receivers in the league. And believe he's not in the Hall of Fame yet. I think he is crazy, Dave. I was actually going to ask you that question, which is will he eventually make it because he's a two-time first team all pro, two-time second team all pro, a five time pro bowler, 1,031. We'll ask him, we'll ask him on football America soon. He'll be with us soon around the league. That'll be very exciting. And then this one is a special shout out from my dad. My dad's favorite player for the Dolphins growing up and a Florida Gator himself, Nat Moore, which Dave, you did not know Nat Moore was a Florida Gator and you take pride in knowing the colleges of all the football players in the board was off the top of my head. I didn't know that piece, but 89 for me, Nick Costos is Alex McGilney that somehow forgotten goal score his role in that as the Eastern European guy started to get out of the political situation in that part of the world and come over to play in the NHL. He had 76 goals in 1993, same as Tameu Salani and Mario Lemieux only played 60 games that year. But if you add up the points and that was Salani's rookie year that he scored 76 goals, right? One of the greatest rookie seasons of the history of the national league. And I'll say this about Mogilney. So the way I remember Mogilney is NHL 93. So NHL 94 is the game that everyone always remembers. Not the game that everyone loves NHL 93. I think it was called NHL PA 93 actually. That game was sensational and Mogilney was absolutely unstoppable for the Buffalo Sabers in that game. So that's that's how I then it's amazing. That Sabers team never want a cup given the offensive talent they had obviously made the final in 98 with Hoshik and lost to the Dallas stars. But Mogilney like real ones. Remember Alexander Mogilney from the 90s. Amen. And yeah, that's right. And not coincidentally that the real hockey in 1993 kind of meered the video game because that could have been the year that launched the NHL into another stratosphere, had it gone chalk, which well on the on the way outside of things because the Kings with Wayne Gretzky somehow made their way through the Campbell conference side of things to get to the final including a gritty, a gritty game seven win in the Western conference final back when the Leafs were in the West on the road in Toronto. Of course, the King's coach by the late great Barry Melrose advancing to the Stanley Cup final that year, that's right against the doggie Gilmore company. But Lemieux and company should have really that was one of the great individual seasons in Lemieux and the team at the height of it's powers got knocked off inexplicably. I don't want to get in the rear view about David Pollock and over time and all of that. Well, it's not like Darius Casparitas holding Lemieux down in the net as the seconds ticked off on the penguin season that year pipe down. Now listen, 93 if the penguins would have been going for their third straight Stanley Cup against Wayne Gretzky standing in the path of that that would have been pinnacle stuff for hockey, but the hockey gods had a different plan. But I mean, you did have Patrick Wann the Canadian's winning the cup, but that was pretty good. No, no, it wasn't good. Now listen, if that would have had, but it disrupted what would have been a banner moment? What in NFL terms is the greatest decision by the football gods that went against our our narratives that would have really elevated the sport. What diminished the sport in a way because of the presence? I mean, I like as a for instance, the one that comes to mind when I ask that question is, man, it's too bad in 98 when the 15 and one Randall Cunningham Minnesota Vikings didn't survive the Atlanta Falcons. By the way, the thing people forget about that Falcons team is they were 13 and three. They were not a bum team. But either way, the Vikings were a tick batter and had Gary Anderson made the field go towards the end of regulation. It would have been Viking. He only can't he miss the entire season, Gary Anderson. I think it's all career. I think that's what I was as entire, but anyway, yeah, he exactly. He they would have played the defending champion, John L. Way, Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos, and that would have been great. Instead, we got one of the most forgettable super balls of all time. What is an example that's better than that one? I just gave Nick Costos. 1985 AFC championship game. One of the biggest yak jobs in the history of the NFL that no one ever talks about because all anyone thinks about when you think about the 1985 season and the NFL is the 85 bears is the Miami Dolphins losing at home to the New England Patriots is a big favorite in the 85 AFC championship game. Now, I think the denizens of football America will know this day, but just in case they don't, we could take a trip down memory lane, get in the old time machine and go back to a Monday night football game played at the Orange Bowl in the 1985 season where the therefore impenetrable Chicago Bears defense got absolutely mauled by Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins offense dolphins beat them 38 24. So the bears won 15 and won that year 18 and one if you include the playoffs. Their one loss was of the blowout variety to Dan Marino and the dolphins. And if the dolphins had just held serve at home in that AFC championship game, we would have had dolphins bears in the Super Bowl. Instead of Patriots bears in the Super Bowl, the bears obviously destroy them in that game. Super Bowl shuffle all that when the only Super Bowl in franchise history, but we were robbed a because the dolphins couldn't get it together of a potential all-timer. And if the dolphins win that game, perhaps we don't have the 85 bears. They don't win. And we are talking about Dan Marino as a Super Bowl champion. And if that is the case, maybe we talk about Marino as one of the three greatest quarterbacks ever. And someone who is on the fringe. That's absolutely right. And you can connect that with modern day Marino times two, which is Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson both hovering around 30 both heading their way to Marino Island. If they don't change well, at least at least Dan made a Super Bowl like that burrows more of the cop made the Super Bowl in year two and hasn't gotten back. Josh and Lamar haven't even made it yet. Dan made it in year two in 1984. And they got smoked by the Niners. All right. Levitard and everybody else says, what are you talking about mid 80s football for? But you're absolutely right. I can't believe they don't love this Marino subject more. Absolutely. They, you know, who kind of touched down pass on that Monday night game. Not more. Tell your dad, buddy, Badowski. I will. The reason we don't like to talk about it is because it brings pain to me to know that the dolphins were this close to having Dan Marino as one of the three greatest quarterbacks of all time. Like, yes, it's the most painful subject ever. We had Dan Marino for two decades and never won a Super Bowl with him. I sat in pit stadium in 1981 when undefeated pit host hosted number nine Penn State, Danny Marino, two touchdown passes in the first quarter, 14 nothing. He tries for a third one at the goal line. It deflects off Dwight Collins shoulder. Pick six. Now pick six intercepted. Final score 48, 14 Penn State, one of the great heartbreaks of my sporting life. The first one and it really cut the deepest still hurts the most maybe. But yeah, if Marino and company after doing what they did in the Orange Bowl, get them on the fast track in the Super Dome. What do you think's going to happen? I know that Dan Hampton likes to talk about being hung over because they went on a twister this Sunday before that game, but that's on you. You would have been on the street in narrow and New Orleans before before that before Super Bowl 20. I'm skeptical of that. Also, the big one I mentioned it a week ago. So I won't deep dive it. But in 81, the Bengals get to the Super Bowl. I texted this to you yesterday. I know. I mentioned it. That's what it's the it's one of the great inflection points in the Super Bowl era because of the cowboys win that game. If the catch doesn't happen, how about the other way? I'm more interested in the other side. But if any white goes to play the Bengals in the Super Bowl, he wins a Super Bowl and he becomes a Hall of Famer instead. He's a footnote who nobody knows. He's a successor to a stopback. What happens if it's not, you know, negative 50 in the AFC championship game in Cincinnati? I think the Chargers beat the Bengals and it's Chargers Niners in the Super Bowl. And that could have been Dan Fowth's common Super Bowl champion. And so I got my talent winning his first one more because we're in the way back machine. But in Super Bowl 14, you want to talk about people say Dave's a homer and he's biased and everything else. The San Diego Chargers would have beaten the Steelers in 1979. If they got him again, they destroyed Pittsburgh in late November, early December. That season in a way that nobody ever did through the 70s until that day when Dan Fowth's just house the Steelers defense. It was an embarrassment. And they would have done so again. But the Oilers pulled the all time. Maybe all time playoff upset in the divisional round and spared the Steelers that game. Otherwise, they would have gotten to play the Rams in that Super Bowl in Super Bowl 14. I'll tell you what could have been. What if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had pulled the upset over the Rams in the 1979 NFC championship game and Tampa three years after being one of the worst expansion teams ever would have obviously the Steelers would have beaten them about 100s and nothing. But that's a fun footnote in NFL history as well. I'm just flexing my NFL knowledge by saying very nice, very not less than nine nothing. The worst title game ever. Fat Frank Carral makes three field goals in Tampa to send the Rams to the Super Bowl. And Mike Renfrow, the bobble that really summons the need for replay. If the Oilers, you really could have had a very bad Castell Super Bowl 14 with the oilers and the powder blues versus the bucks in the cream sickles. Alright, let's get to the here and now, shall we? And Nick, this is your first go round with that. Buddy knows what I'm talking about here. We start off the week four analysis for 2026. I know we were just several decades in the rear view. But right now we're looking for the team or teams who we reckon will have the breeziest Sunday to help out anyone in a survivor pool or anyone who just enjoys blow out. If you want to put something on them or otherwise, it's time for stress free Sunday delivered by little Caesars, the official pizza sponsor of the NFL right now scored two faves for just you Detroit style slices and sticks for 99 only a little Caesars officially delicious weight. I have a box to hold up and everything. See nice. I really do mean it. There's no pizza in it. That's I feel like that's a shame to fix that. But either way, I am two oh and one with these picks so far after the push with the Rams. But I think I mean with the Seahawks last week, but spiritually I was right. They did. Well, I would hope so. You have to pick one team to win. I would hope that you would have. I'm talking about the easiest. Let's see how you do, friend. But first I'll make my pick for you. And I'll tell you, there's something a little fishy for the same reason that I said the Rams laying three at Philly was weird and everybody was asked, wow, how good the Eagles are there at home and they're they're a dog. I think it's a little fishy that the Steelers who I have told you are hanging by a thread right now. They can really not afford more losses at this point in the schedule. The next four should be relatively breezy. I think the culture better than most people do, but the culture returning from their London trip. Steelers laying two and a half in this one. Here's the thing though. I thought, well, the London trip Steelers understand where they are in the schedule. They had an extra long rest week after the embarrassment in Cleveland and all of that. So after you return from the European vacation, did they or from the UK specifically teams that play the week immediately after which has been counsel like, oh, you never do that. Take your buy after that. No, no. They're 10 and six returning from London stateside. Those teams are 10 and six. That spooks me. Still though, the Steelers have to know where they're going. 31, 31, 21 is the final score that one. How say you on that one, Nick? I like the Steelers also. I think I think it's worth noting that I think the Colts caught a major break on Sunday in London. When Marcus Mario and I got injured early in the game because the commanders were dominating that game. Now I will say just in general, I was pretty impressed with my fellow Greek freak, Ethan Calleek, Manus who came into that game. Now normally you see third string quarterbacks like pissing down their leg. They look terrified deer and headlights. My dude was slinging it all over the field. Now I'm not saying he's great, but I thought he was way better than I expected. And if Calleek Manus doesn't come into the game and Marcus Mario to finishes that game, I think the commanders might have won. You know, the Colts average less than four yards per play in that game. And I think the commander's defense is actually pretty good with our first year defensive coordinator, Dorante Jones. One of the reasons why I'm worried about my giants this week. But I mean, here's the Steelers defense smarting after you know, 10 days off after losing to the Browns last Thursday night. And I'll say this about Daniel Jones and it makes me sad as a Giants fan. I don't think he's the greatest quarterback ever, but he's a tough son of a. And it's pretty clear watching him that he's been sapped of that elite athleticism by all the injuries that he's suffered, including the Achilles and the broken leg last year. He just doesn't have it anymore running the ball. And I think the Steelers are going to tee off on him here. I don't like this Colts defense made to look better by a third string quarterback last week. I think Roger Sin Company have a nice game. I think TK Metgev gets into the end zone, Darnell Washington perhaps as well. Okay. I like that. Do you want to throw out one buddy? Give us your breezy pick of the week. Look, Dave, but I finally have a chance. Gino's not here. Tony's not here. I finally have the chance to take the easiest pick of the week and pick against the dolphins. I'm going to take the bangles here. Obviously the status of T Higgins and Jamar chase is very important to the bangles in general, especially this game, but I got to tell you, even without Jamar chase and T Higgins, that secondary for the dolphins is so bad. And I know they're playing hard Jeff Hathley's gone going right, but they can't score on offense. They can't stop anybody on defense. Give me the bangles here. Stress free. It's nice to finally be able Gino not here to take the pick against the week. No, I don't know if this is the one you want to jump. I know. That's why I'm not taking I'm not taking the spread here. I'm just saying that the bangles will will take care of business and get the win here. Oh, okay. So you're just saying straight up the bangles will have another dignity to survive a game against the dolphins who are trying to lose on purpose. Hey, Nick, weird line of the week to me. I'm not going to take the jets again after taking them. Both of the last couple of weeks here. But just like I said about the Rams being favored, isn't it weird that the jets are giving points to the brown to I don't consider world beaters, but they're three and one and looking a little bit better than the jets are. Do I think it's weird? No. I think it will be weird if they close a favorite, if Ad Mitchell and Breeze Hall don't play in the game. I think we might end up getting a line movement that will mirror day of the Cardinals Giants game last week where the Giants opened to favorite and the Cardinals closed to two and a half point road favorite. Now the Giants won the game. But I think if Breeze Hall and Ad Mitchell did not practice this yesterday on Wednesday, if that continues, my guess is the browns will actually close a favorite in this game and we won't be able to say that it's a weird line. Nick, I want to get to the most important games ever of the week. If you're only able to watch three games, these are those. I also want to ask you though, because when we were texting earlier in the week, you said, Oh, I'm walking into a haunted house with our little girl and you're a great dad based on the pictures you post on Instagram. And the pictures you post on Instagram being a dad or all that really matter, whether or not you're a good father in real life is. Correct. And that's why that's why I have a kid is to show pictures of her to everybody. I figured as much. It's all it's all a part of it. It's all performative. You're gambit here. Yes. Um, what first all, what's she going to be this year? What's in the zeitgeist that appeals to young girls? Oh, she's going to be a cat. She's been wanting to be a cat for quite some time. When we ask her, honey, what do you want to be for Halloween? She's just a cat. And then Meow's very loud and then laughs very hard, which is great. She has. I forget. My wife is going to be a pumpkin. She wants my wife to be a pumpkin. And she wants daddy to be an owl. So I ordered an owl costume off Amazon. That was freeze wrapped or like dryer wrapped or whatever to a degree that I have not even attempted to open it yet. It's sitting in my closet. So I have not tried it on. It was like $39.99. It was the cheapest owl outfit I could find. So I will be an owl for Halloween this year per my daughter. It's terrific. Good for you. Good. I think we talked about this before. I'm going to ask you it to you one more time. Are you proud do you brag about being a girl, dad? No. Good. Good. I like. I think so. So there's thing to pat yourself on the back for. Well, there's, well, there's two. You had nothing to do with it. I'm like proud. Am I proud to be the dad of a girl? Yes. Do I like actively tell people that I'm the, that like I am a girl, dad? No. No, but I never had tagged anything girl, dad or anything like that. Well, it's a cool hashtag. Is it not? I agree. I agree. It's a cool hashtag because it was it was Kobe's thing. That's what it really became a thing is because Kobe was a girl, dad. And that was like after the tragedy. Obviously, like that was when it became really popular. So I think it's really it's empowering yourself with something that is that is not an achievement. Why do you, but like, why do you, why do you care? Like why does it bother you? Because I think it's a weird thing to celebrate. But what are you? Yeah. But what are you? Like the living tribunal, like the rendering judgment on everybody. Yes. Yes. Like like like the NFL equivalent of Larry David. Like give it a rest here and let people enjoy what they want to enjoy. Also, your hair looks like shit. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I don't bring on people's parades it all. We're going to keep we're going to keep Dave damage. I can check was like it doesn't think people can be proud of having a girl for some weird reason. It's very strange. What proud of it? That's you you can be a good father to a girl. But I'm proud that what emerged from from my lover's womb was was a female gender. But like why can't why couldn't you say you're a boy dad? Like I wouldn't care if you could. But why don't you? Because I don't give a good god damn because I am in fact a great parent who cares about them all equally. So am I am I to lead by this train of thought then that anyone that posts anything on social media about their children or uses that hashtag based on the inference cannot be a good father or mother. Yes or no. It's as Chris Rock said you're you're being a low expectation. Have an effort that I mean like this is something that you're going to puff your chest out about that that you that you laid your seed where you did in 10 months later it emerged in a 50 50 proposition one way or the other. I'm proud of that. Honestly if we're on the Chris Rock train here. My guess is off this train of thought that Will Smith may be paying you a visit at some point. Let's get to the most important games ever of the week. And at number three, I mentioned it. I think that is accurate. Can I say something about the haunted houses for a second here? You may. It's going to take us off track. Please. Okay. I don't like that sort of thing but I'll allow it this time. So we can make it quick. I think my wife is pissed at me right now. So my wife wanted to go to this haunted house with my daughter. And I agreed to. Like we went together and I was like, okay, like haunted house, my daughter's too. Like, okay, it'd probably be like a kid's sort of thing. No, this was like not like severed, they're all like, it's make-believe, right? But there was like an alien from the movie alien. Like it was really ornate. Like there, and there was everywhere. Like Freddy Krueger with the knife, like severed heads. And I said to my wife, like, what the fuck are we doing here? (laughing) Like why the fuck are we here with our two-year-old daughter? And she got defensive, like, oh it's fine. Like she's not scared. In my head I'm thinking like, this, my girl is two years old. Like she's looking, like she may be smiling and having a good time. There's no way she fucking likes this. So I think that, yeah, I think that there's probably a fight in store for me at some point here. 'Cause I haven't gotten like really my two cents off on this subject just yet. - I, you're right about what the young ones are experiencing. Also, as I hear that story, it's like, don't kitchen sink. Choose a theme, scare people. You can't, you can't do aliens and Freddy Krueger, come on. Well, what do you want to be? You want to be a scary pirate ship, go ship, do that. You know, if you want to do something out in space. - I got to tell you now, we don't do it at all. - I don't like, I don't like Halloween. I'm out of Halloween. - I'm with you. - I'm out of Halloween. - It's us. - You know what Halloween is? It's a celebration of evil is what it is. And I'm not into it. I'm not into scary, you know what's scary real life? Real life's scary enough. - Amen. - We've got horror movies and all this bulls. I'm out on Halloween. I like candy, but guess what? You can eat candy 365 days a year. You don't have to knock on some stranger's door for candy. I can go to CVS and buy some candy. I don't need to knock on somebody's door. - Now I'm back. I'm bored with costos. He knocked me off, but now I'm back. Because that's absolutely right. The worst holiday is Valentine's Day. Prescribed by the man, by a corporation, because they want to sell greeting cards and chocolates and flowers. - But only for one jam. Only for one gender. Hey, hey fellas, it's the day to be romantic. - No. - Dave is romantic 365. Nay, 364, because I cross off Valentine's Day 'cause I'm not gonna dance for the man. But you're right about Halloween too. The good thing about it is that it is a part of the season and the chilling of the air. And right on the other side of Halloween is it's the start of the holiday season proper. - Yeah. - I'm gonna start, I'm trying to think of when I'll listen to Chris's music for the first time this year. It might be soon. - Oh, I love it. - I love it. - I already saw at May, I was at the mall recently and I was at Macy's and there was already a Christmas section developing. - Yeah, love it. - This was already like a month and a half ago. - Yeah, that's great. - And the Christmas section is developing. I think you gotta wait until Halloween. Halloween is the official start of Christmas season. - I have to tell you something. - I don't, I don't know. - I don't know. - I don't know what anyone thinks about the topic. - Everyone has an opinion when Christmas start. Christmas is on right now as far as I'm concerned. - I agree because these people, these curmudgians, and you are insinuating or at least you did 10 minutes ago that I am one. Listen, I don't care what you, I'm society's greatest empath. - How old are you? - Sixty two, I'm 71 years young. - But if you need to be self-aware enough to just be like that, you are a co-mergent. It's okay, doesn't mean you're a bad guy. - Listen, no, I am not a sweetheart either. I'm somewhere in between. But listen, yeah, you're absolutely right. The people who belly ache about like I saw at the store, Christmas stuff, it's what I like, it's a joyous season. What would you, you clearly have nothing better to worry about if you're belly aching about seeing something in early. - Yeah, kind of, kind of like a guy who wants to get on people for being proud of having a girl. Kind of like to say that. - Now I'm back off, now I'm back off with the costus experience. Let's just get to it, shall we? I was gonna ask you, am I right in saying, is there any, what would even be the alternative, the greatest NFL rivalry of the 20th century, bears, packers, and this one, Green Bay at home. And total on this one is 45 and a half way. Is that right that that's the- - Yeah, well, I'm looking right now and I see, yeah, Chicago minus one and a half, 45 and a half is the total in the game. Yep. - Oh, I skipped, I'm sorry. I didn't mention the number on the game. How'll say you on this one, the costus? - So, Akutwa, so I think the most fascinating thing about this game, bears, packers. Like, I'm excited to watch the players on the field for three hours. But to me, the more entertaining game is of the mind variety being played with Ben Johnson and Matt LaFour. I think this is so incredibly fascinating from like a psychological level that you have in Ben Johnson, a guy who, like the analogy that I make with Ben Johnson is, it feels like he is the guy that's outside of a house and it's raining and the doors are locked. And inside the house, everyone's having a party and he wasn't invited and he wants to come in. And in the house and you can see through the window, Sean McVeigh and Kyle Shanahan's there and Andy Reed might be there and Zach Taylor's fulfilling Sean McVeigh's, you know, like a glass of fruit punch and Ben Johnson wasn't invited to the party. And Matt LaFour is there also and Michael LaFour is there with they're good, they're haircut twice a week also. And Ben Johnson wants to burn that thing to the ground and wants to show, oh, I'm not part of your special group, I'm not part of your click, I'm better than all of you. So when he takes the job in Chicago, he didn't have to call out Matt LaFour by name. He chose to do it at his introductory press conference when he said, I like beating Matt LaFour twice a year. Like when he, like when they were the one he was with the Lions. So this is personal between these guys. And Ben Johnson has earned the right to keep talking because at the end of the year, last year his bears beat the Packers twice, including in the wild card rounds and come from behind fashion. So Matt LaFour can publicly downplay the match up between the two and say it's about the players on the field. A very basic understanding of human psychology dictates that Matt LaFour wants to beat the **** out of Ben Johnson. Now I think the problem from Matt LaFour is that he has a knife and Ben Johnson has a gun in terms of these two teams right now. And I think the Packers are really up against it. (audience cheering) All right, well what's the final score, Costos? I'll take the bears 24-21. I just think Green Bay, but the Adrian Cooper injury, I think is going to make a big deal. Big game for Colston Loveland. I think Ben Johnson continues his dominance over Matt LaFour. Give me the bears to beat the Packers in Lambo. All right, Caleb Williams down. Everybody knows that. Beijing again, look good. If you watched last week, you know who else look good? Jordan Love, he's taken a lot of slings and arrows, but he happened to look good against the Bucks. Grinding up the Pack's defense is the best chance and it's a really good chance because that run game is mighty thanks to Ben Johnson and the pieces that they've cobbled together there. But at some point, reality has to get here. Doesn't it, Nick Costos? Chicago ranks fifth in defensive EPA per play. Green Bay ranks 26th offensively. Those two things cannot both go on for the remainder of the season. I'm going to take the Packers here, 27-26. Buddy, you want to give a quick thought here? Yeah, I'm just amazed by what the bears are doing, being 2-0 without Caleb Williams. And I think that there's a really good chance here. You talked about the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Matt LaFlor. There's a really good chance here for Ben Johnson to turn the heat up on Matt LaFlor. Like I think a loss here. We'll get a lot of people talking about his job security. And I think they're going to go in there and do it. The bears are a favorite in Lambo for the first time in 20 years. Give me the bears, 21-17. OK, let's go on to number two on our list of most important games ever of the week. And this one's in London town. Buddy Badowski told me earlier in the week. I didn't realize this, Nick. Jacksonville now just goes for like a fortnight over to London. I think I heard that and somehow it escaped my brain. Yeah, they did it. They did it last year, also. So they got exactly the games completely forgot about that. They and the Philly Eagles are catching up over there. At the time of this recording, I see the Jags length seven here, 42 and a half, is the total on this one. Like I say, first to two for them, Jaguars. They have a massive efficiency advantage on both sides of the ball through four weeks. Jacksonville is fourth in offensive EPA and seventh defensively Philadelphia, an atrocity on both fronts there back in the in the 29th and 27th respectively offensively and defensively. The Jags are for real. I don't think people are necessarily embracing them for a number of reasons we've covered, I think primarily because they're in SEC country and people focus more on Saturdays than they do Sunday. But at some point, people are going to come around to the Jags as being real Super Bowl contenders here. Also, the Eagles offense. This is no, no secret to anybody, but now no lane, Johnson, no jerk and something there. It seems like they're bailing on the season to some degree as it was until this week's bloodletting, 45% of Philadelphia's possessions, ending without even a first down. The Jags are rolling. The Eagles are not, I think the, I think the Jags whip them for a real bad time for Nick Syriani's Eagles 30 to 20, I've got it in the costos. I'll see. I don't know if the Eagles are going to get to 20 here. We're not expecting to want to Smith to play. Safe one. Barkley may not play. Lane Johnson's retired. Obviously, Cam Jurgens is obviously now a Baltimore Raven. I think they're really up against it in this game and you know, Dave, the Jaguars offense gets a lot of credit, obviously with Trevor Lawrence and Liam Cohen and Bay Shaltoutan and the receivers. I think the defense has been just as good if not better. And this quarterback duo that Jacksonville has with Jerry and Jones and Travis Hunter, who's like starting to really emerge as a shut down cornerback, I think might be the most underhyped unit in the entire league is the Jaguar's cornerback position. I don't know how the Eagles are going to score in this game. Now maybe they get some good injury news over the course of the next couple days. feels like a Philly white flag game where they are really a up against it internationally against a good opponent. They're not flying to London until Friday. I think the Jaguars lay it on them. I don't know if the Eagles are getting to 20. Let's go Jacksonville 27 Philly 13 on Sunday and London. Best football show Baldi. I heard him talking. Obviously nobody better on the X's and O's than he is. And he identified the Jags as the best defense in the NFL as well. So I mean, that's strong stuff, but but probably accurate. Do you think Nick on a human level Lane Johnson hangs them up? I imagine that there was some vibe that things are tracking in a in that direction in the locker room. People knew that probably something was a foot there. But then Jurgen's as well. Do you think that the guys in the locker room are like, I think we're cooked possible. But I do think that this team has a lot of pride. There's a lot of players on this team that won the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. Do I think that now they're gonna lay the sword down in week five? No. But do I think this potentially spiral out of control? And maybe that does end up happening? Look, I do. And I'll give you a brief. You ready to put your tinfoil hat on for a second? Conspiracy theory here. I'm ready. I could do my best Brian Winhorse impersonation. Like, why would they do that? So Dave Damishek, I ask you. And if you don't know the answer, I will, I will say it. What is the main asset that the Eagles received in the AJ Brown trade from the New England Patriots? What is the? What did they get us? Did they get they didn't give they gave up a second, right? They got a 2028 first round pick. What is the main asset that they got? How he likes getting those two years away picks? And what and what was the main asset they got from Baltimore and the Camdjurgen's trade? Right. A 2028 too. So like, why would they do that? Now, there's an answer to the question, which is maybe they wouldn't get a 27 one or 27 two. So he opted for the better asset in 2028. But then you have to consider a couple things. Number one, Jalen Hertz contract is up in 28. No guaranteed money after this year, right? How we roseman? We want to give him all this credit deservedly so as someone who plans for the future. Okay, like could something be a foot here where they're planning on making some kind of seismic move or a quarterback in the 2028 draft? And before anyone wants to insinuate that like the Eagles are above this sort of thing, just remember that in the final game of the 2020 regular season, the Eagles against the Washington football team, but post redskins pre commanders. All the Eagles had to do is win that game against Washington and my giants win the NFC East at 6 and 10. They're down at 6 and 10. They're down 17 14 at the start of the fourth quarter. Doug Peterson in a pathetic attempt to save his job. Does what how he roseman wants? Pulse Jalen Hertz from the game and puts Nate Sudfeld in in the fourth quarter down by three. Peterson says after the game, we wanted to reward Nate Sudfeld and felt like he could win the game. They were tanking. They tanked to lose that game on purpose. They did nothing for them and was it a smart move? It was. But to anyone that wants to suggest the Eagles are above this sort of thing. Like there's evidence that says that's not the truth. Am I insinuating they're going to tank this year? Absolutely not. Zero percent chance. But what I am saying is don't cross. Don't rule that out. That sort of thing out with the Philadelphia Eagles. So I have the tinfoil hat on as to why they're acquiring picks two years down the line. Well, right. There's clearly smoke there. It just is hard to reconcile that how he is such a genius at personnel. And yet like I've been waxing on and on about for the last couple of weeks. Well, really last couple of years is how has this Eagles team sustained with Nick Sireon is his head coach. And I like Jalen Hertz more than a lot of people do. But in a quarterback league, his spotiness that they have been so consistently a playoff factor is remarkable. And I think it really goes back to how he rose and Andy wider, who now resides on the other side of Pennsylvania, building up both sides of the line of scrimmage endlessly for the last decade. And now all of a sudden that position of strength, namely the offensive line is falling apart. And if they can't lean on that, it exposes Jalen Hertz. But a year pick on this one. Yeah, it feels like the Eagles are in for a re-tool. I think like Nick said, they have too much pride to kind of rebuild and tear it all the way down. But it feels like a re-tool is coming. And the injuries are just too much to overcome right now. And I love what the Jags have going on. It felt like Travis Hunter really had his like coming out party as a true elite corner that we expected him to be last week. Give me the Jags to keep rolling 28 17. All right. That gets us to our number one game that you absolutely positively must watch. It is certainly the NFC's best rivalry of this millennium. It's in contention for one of the great you know, of the period at least the Seahawks and Niners. That was a great rivalry in the in the early teens of the 21st century. And now it's all the way back because of how good both of these teams are Seahawks less surprising, I guess, than the Niners so far. If only because of because of all the injuries the Niners have overcome. Brock Perty now old news is your MVP favorite Seahawks laying to and a half 46 and a half Hawks. The bottom line here is know how to eliminate explosive plays and also pressure Brock Perty. And in general, they're third in the NFL and limiting explosive plays. But they did it to Justin Herbert, but it's another thing to do it to the Niners against Kyle Shanahan and Brock Perty. The Seahawks have a history of doing exactly that. I say the Hawks get this one. The Hawks. It's just one of those things. It's sort of like Ben Johnson versus Matt LaFour. Shanny against McVey. Some coaches in the head to heads have the others number. The Seahawks have the Niners number right now. I guess we all have their number, though, because it's 49, right? This is 49ers, that would be the number. But hey, Hawks 26, 21, Nick Costas. I'll take the Niners. I don't feel good about it, but I'll take San Francisco to win the game. And even if the Niners lose and they were my preseason Super Bowl pick, I think the Niners will get them later in the year in Santa Clara. The reason why I like the Niners though is not just because Brock Perty is better than Sam Darrell, which like objectively he is. The Seahawks have a problem right now and it's that they can't run the ball. And I think that is underscored by the fact that earlier this week they tried to sign Joe Mixon, who hasn't played in two seasons and his career might be over because of a foot injury, right? They may not even have a foot. They they failed him on the physical. Like does anyone think this is a problem that right now the Seahawks run game is so bad that they tried to sign Joe Mixon. And I don't mean this as an insult to Joe Mixon, who is a good player, but he's he's hurt. Like his career is probably done. Zach Sharpene is not ready to come back yet. Jadarian prices on injured reserve. He couldn't stop fumbling when he was healthy. Now a manual Wilson had a nice game last week, but that's against the Chargers, right? Who might be like willing to wave the white flag on the season at some point soon. Niners with her he more as an excellent defensive coordinator. I think they're going to make Seattle one dimensional here. And I think that's bad news for sling and Sammy Darnold. I'll take the Niners and Brock Perty to win and it upset. Darnel turns it over a couple times. Perty plays clean football. Niners get a win in the Pacific Northwest. All right. We still have a lot to get to and only a couple of minutes to do it. But before I let you go, Nick Costos, I'd be remiss. It's it's a weird sort of rivalry. Circumstantial Pat Patriot versus the one I'd pirate in Foxboro Raiders at the Patriots Patriots laying three and a half 45 and a half as the total New England top 10 runoff fence Raiders bottom five or so run defense. But if you buy the Raiders as a playoff team, they win this game. If you think that they are a legit team, then you should think they win this. The Patzo line isn't great. They allow a ton of pressure. The Raiders defense specifically with their ability to bang up the quarterback has been pretty consistent. And by the way, the Raiders have scored 12 more points of game than the Patriots have so far. Give me the Raiders to win this one outright. Costos. I'll take the Patriots, but it's contingent entirely upon whether or not Christian Gonzalez plays in the game, who's one of the best corners in the league. If Gonzalez does not play, Brock Bauer's is going to go nuclear in this game. And I understand that Bauer's is a tight end. But if you're Mike Verabel and you're Zach Kerr and Gonzalez can play, I don't know why you wouldn't have Gonzalez cover Brock Bauer's on every play of this game. And Gonzalez is one of the only defenders in the league that can man off Brock Bauer's and potentially try and stop a guy who's ticketed for Canton as long as he stays healthy. If Gonzalez plays, I think the Patriots win this game by seven points. If he doesn't Dave, then you're pick of the Raiders to win. I think becomes a lot more possible. So I really do think it hinges on whether or not Christian Gonzalez plays or not. I mean, the Patriots had to have that one or the division as a wrap for them. So maybe you, uh, you, you give a little bit too much credit to the Patriots going into this week. Either way, Nick Costos. I think you have a hair appointment at the salon or wherever you get that thing that's on top of your head done. Meantime. Make sure you're looking out for him. Best football show and Monday through Friday, nine to noon, you better, you bet Nick Costos. I think this went well. It's a round of, of, of many as we press forward this season. Verly enjoyed it. My friend looking forward to next week, wishing all the listeners and viewers, minimal sweats, when he bets the absolute very best of luck. And please go pay for a haircut and get those sides cut shorter. You look like he's doing his bitty. He's doing his slow. You look like you look like someone killed a raccoon and put it on no one cares. That'll be a girl dead on your eye and do your slogans on your own. What are we doing, buddy? That's a, that was too much. Now we crossed the line. And for at least until we talk to him, next, I'm back out on Costos. I'm all the way on this guy. All the way in on this guy. He's calling you out on your bull. Dave, I love him. I think he's. Therefore I'm going to be out on you too. So he's out. It's just you and me, buddy. We don't have 10-day Tony. We don't have Gino. So let's make in their honor picks, picks, picks presented by draft King sports. As we do every week, we're going to give you one favorite, one over under and one underdog that we like. And I'll start things off here this week as I trail, buddy, Badawski. I'm humiliated by that. But I. Everybody trails me right now, Dave. I know, but that's in the rear view mirror essentially we're pressing forward here and I am going to go with I Know this feels pretty easy Or maybe it doesn't based on the way the Texans defenses look so far, but they got to get a win They're laying seven and a half at the Titans. I happen to think that cam ward is not the atrocity that I keep here and Collectively from people that what a bust and everything else. I think it has a chance to still turn out okay That being said the Texans season if it isn't over already at 0 and for obviously it would be if they stumble here There's a difference between winning the game and covering the seven and a half I think they do it pretty comfortably. Give me the Texans here, buddy. I'll say you yeah I do actually have Geno's picks here. We'll get Tony's on Mondays, but Geno sent them in from I'm going to get him on Monday. Well, why would he not say oh I went three and oh I'll text him and I'll say Tony Send me your picks now and we'll check them on Monday. He did that to start the year So we'll make sure he gets in here somewhere But anyway, Geno from somewhere on the big blue marble is sending us Falcons minus three and a half is his against the spread pick I'm gonna take the Seahawks minus two and a half the Seahawks might be the quietest three and one defending champion of all time Dave They have dominated their schedule so far except that weird blippy loss It seems like against the commanders in a month soon in the nation's capital Give me the Seahawks to beat the Niners here. I'm gonna take them 24/20 minus two and a half I just think they have been so good this year and it feels like McDonald kind of has Kyle Shanahan's number So I'm gonna take the defending champs to keep on rolling minus two and a half against the Niners I agree with the point about McDonald, but the most disrespected raining champ is the end of Hoosiers How are they behind one loss? It's crazy. It's amazing. They haven't lost the game yet. It's crazy It doesn't make anything sick. I'm sick in my balls about it And I don't want to get bogged down about that, but over under let's get to that one My total that I like here is it's I think the highest of week four 54 and a half It's the Lions in the Cardinals. I know people get spooked by a number that big, but Neither team is playing much defense. Definitely the Lions ain't I think a lot of points in this one I'll take over 54 and a half in that one. I'll say you buddy. Yeah, Gino's right there with you Dave He's got the Lions and Cardinals over 54 and a half as well I'm going to take the Eagles and Jaguars over 42 and a half a low number That's a little bit spooky considering the pedigree of these offenses But I just think that 24/20 gets you over just like I said last week right 24/20 is all you need here And I think the Jags might even honestly get them close enough where all the Eagles is have to give all have all the Eagles have to do is give a little bit of points And they can get over this total here 24/20 gets you over I think the finals 28/17 as I told you earlier So give me the Eagles and Jags in London over 42 and a half All right, buddy. Let's bring it on home with our underdog picks. Yeah, I'm gonna take the Saints plus one and a half here at Home against the Vikings now I'm not super crazy about the Saints anymore because as much as we've been talking about how much everybody loves the Saints They're one in three Dave they a lot they got killed by the Falcons at home last week. I don't think anybody's talking that way anymore Yeah, I just think yeah, I think finally people have come around on okay Maybe we got a little too excited about the Saints, but I just think I know their defense is atrocious But I still believe in their offense their offense is still pretty high powered They still scored a bunch of points last week against the Falcons and I think at some point the Vikings have to pay for their ineptitude on offense with Kyler Murray and and the fact that they just can't score an offensive touchdown seemingly They didn't do it against the dolphins last week. So give me the Saints here plus one and a half I think they get it done in the dome behind their awesome. They're their offense I think they'll just be able to outscore the Vikings in this game. And Gino by the way Sorry, Gino has plus three and a half The Giants plus three and a half I just just he has plus three and a half. Yeah, he's got just plus three and a half. No, he's got the Giants plus three and a half against the commander Sorry, I mean I think Kellen Moore would do well to recognize that his unit of strength is the offense And he needs to hit the gas a little bit more instead of playing conservative Strategies out there my dog of the week. I'm riding with Snoop huntly down in Atlanta. I know the Falcons have look good Offensive line looking good be John Robinson a real pleasure to watch one one one of the great style Dialistic on performers we've seen not just in football, but in sports I feel like in the last decade or so I think the Ravens are the real deal though plus three and a half no matter for them no matter for Lamar Jackson in the short term If it extends it as it has in other seasons then I would become concerned Concerned as it is. I think the Ravens will be able to survive them even though the Falcons like we say are playing well And that offense has been mighty. I think I like the over in this one too, but give me the Ravens as my dog of the week and that's that I thought it was a great show a great debut for Nick Costos now as he he sort of married into the family Yeah, that's a good way to look at it. Yeah, he married you know those shirts They say like I'm married into this about your college team or whatever He should get a football America shirt that says I married into this. No, I'm gonna send him a girl dad T shirt I think that's even better All right, so I think good times here and we appreciate you listening as always We ask that you subscribe and drop us a line do it on YouTube read it in the comments section Wherever you find your audio podcast. We appreciate it no matter what and we'll be back on the other side of NFL Week 4 to try and make some sense of it for you until then thanks so much my fellow football Americans It's been a thin slice of heaven