The Week of September 14th, 2026: A relationship deep dive with Venus and Pluto

This is Let's Go on serious XM alongside Peter King. Here's Jim Gray. Welcome back to Let's go. I'm Jim Gray as we continue with Hall of Fame sports writer Peter King He's got a book about his 40 years covering the national football league The game it comes out October 13th pick it up. You can pre-order it now the game Let's go is brought to you by golden nugget hotels and casinos need a romantic getaway weekend retreat or just a day of fun Golden nugget hotel and casinos offer the perfect destination for the ultimate getaway with eight world class resorts from coast to coast There's no better place to stay play and win visit golden nugget.com to book your getaway today Peter how you doing you were in Pittsburgh yesterday to see the Steelers victory over the Atlanta Falcons with your grandson That must have been a good time. Yeah, it was fun. We had a lot of fun. Freddie got Jaquan briskers autographed before the game and then he had an interception Early in the game. So now Freddie's got a a new favorite stealer to go along with Friar Mooth who he loves But anyway, it was it was a good time and Jim. I love being at these games You can see so many things that I never really paid attention to in press boxes over the years and You know, you can see things like yesterday. How important TJ what is on and off the field to the Steelers He's the nerve center of that of that defense obviously But I also saw two first time first game head coaches who had coached other places Obviously Mike McCarthy returning to his roots in Pittsburgh having a successful debut But the offense struggled quite a bit And then Kevin the Stefanski in Atlanta with a third string quarterback and what do you expect? You know going into Pittsburgh in the first game of the year. So The Falcons really struggled a lot that B. John Robinson's amazing, but a lot of first year coaches Jim Had had really good debuts this weekend You know and and some of them really stand out the first let's talk about Baltimore and Jesse Minner and They win 41 to 23 and a performance by the Colts that will leave a lot of heads scratching today after week one But the Ravens look good, but they've got some issues now with some wide receiver injuries They do have injuries Jim, but what including if Zay flowers is out for a bit with a hamstring That's going to leave the Ravens hamstrung. That's their free and chis receiver right now But I'll tell you what breaks a breaks a wrist. Yeah, yeah, and he's been a really really impressive rookie But I'll tell you what really impressed me about the Ravens and that is that look Jesse Minter comes in he replaces You know a borderline legendary coach in John Harbaugh And you know who was so good for so long there and It's not only Minter. It's his offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is only 30 years old Calling the game yesterday and these two guys have formed a great bond right now with this team And particularly with the quarterback Lamar Jackson one of the reasons I think that Minter Doyle and Jackson Are really have really gotten off on the right foot as soon as Minter took the job he and Doyle flew down to Florida to spend some time with Lamar Jackson And I think they have been very much into sort of the care and the relationship With their franchise quarterback they want to make sure hey listen You are a part of everything that we're going to be doing here. So we all want to talk we want to find out You know what you like what you don't like and and it's not like he's not coach in the team But they want to make sure that they Got off on the same page and I think that's something Lamar Jackson really like I think the one other thing that has happened is that look you Are a team that you know basically is a sum of the players you have and Right now one of the things that Declan Doyle has done He is incorporated his offense into What he thinks is the most dominant running back in the game today still Derek Henry and What resulted on Sunday is 144 yards three touchdowns and the continuance of continuation rather of Henry just dominating games well into his thirties which Running backs used to not be able to do let's go presented by delta airlines touchdown on your let's go moment with delta Where our keep climbing mentality pushes us from better to best to visit delta dot com to book today And mentor picks up the win. They had moved on from John Harbaugh and Harbaugh with an impressive result of beating the cowboys In his first game With the Giants Peter Yeah, I love what Jackson Dart said and how he feels about him, you know about Harbaugh he leads we follow And I thought it was a great first game for Harbaugh obviously Because they're nine of ten on third downs that was always a bugaboo Uh, you know for the Giants in their past few coaching administrations and to beat the cowboys in the first game of the year when You know a lot of people were forecasting great things for them and that's so great for the Giants I I also think that you know mat naggy is really helped. There's so many Coordinators league wide and new play callers who've really really helped their team and Sunday illustrated that So Harbaugh has a good debut and so much expected out of the Los Angeles Chargers and Jim Harbaugh And he keeps puffing up Justin Herbert as the greatest quarterback on the planet Yet yesterday with you know the new guru Mike McDaniel Uh, they only put up 268 yards Uh against an Arizona defense which nobody really fears and Arizona comes in gets a huge win for Mike Leflur And it's the first time since 1973 think about this That a cardinal coach has won in a debut And do you know who that was in 1973 Peter? Well, I cheated. I looked up the answer to the test before Jim It was Don Coriel, which is isn't that amazing doesn't that say everything about the cardinals as a franchise I never think about you that you looked it up before I asked you that's pretty good. Yeah, yeah But you know, Jim I think I think Jim Harbaugh has got to take some lessons from The last few weeks. I don't know that he will because he always strikes me is He's the one who always thinks he has all the answers Um And that is you you said the words the constant puffing up of Justin Herbert a guy who is who I think we all feel Uh is a very good NFL quarterback You know Sorry shut up about the guy, you know, let him play let him put a few numbers on his resume Let him win a playoff game, which he hasn't done yet You know when coming out and saying I predict he'll be known as the best ever to play the position In the offseason, which he said to Michael Irvin. I mean, why? Why do you have to keep saying these things? It's just it's terrible in my opinion And if I am just in Herbert Mentally, I'm saying coach. Would you please shut up? Really, I mean it just it's it's ridiculous and now I love Jim Harbaugh I do and I think he's a terrific coach and I really you know Enjoy listening to him and and I've learned a lot from him over the years And I really like him and I think they'll be very successful. We're not going to judge a season by one game here But I'm also wondering what why do you think he is doing that? What is is there a deficiency you think he sees in Justin in his confidence? That's my thought. I don't understand what the motivation is to be doing this That's my foot Jim you said it I he has to be thinking somewhere somehow some way That maybe Justin Herbert is not the most confident guy in the world And I need to tell him often How much I love him and how much I think of him I think you absolutely hit it on the head Whether you're buying a refinancing a home it all starts with the right home loan expert Connect with one in your area with mortgage matchup.com. It's powered by United wholesale mortgage LLC equal housing lender and MLS number 38 it is licensed in all 50 states and the district of Columbia That's mortgage matchup.com And what would it say to you if that was the case of a guy who has so much talent and and and has had you know some success But not quite to the point that they had hoped I think it would make me a little Give me some trepidation when I was thinking about Justin Herbert long term. Now, you know, before I left, sort of the daily coverage of the game, I spent time with Herbert, really liked him, did not strike me as a guy who had any crisis of crises of confidence. So, but I can't figure it out, Jim. I just can't. The only answer I can figure is that Harbaugh thinks that he needs it. And the one one other thing I would say about the Chargers is that, look, at some point, at some point, you have to demonstrate that you're not just a good team on paper. You got to demonstrate that you're really good team by what you do on the field. The Chargers were the biggest favorite in the NFL in week one, nine and a half points, and they were outplayed from minute one to minute 60 by a team that everybody felt was a bottom five team in the NFL. And right now, it's not the time to talk if you're the Chargers. It's the time to buckle the old chin strap and say, we have a crucial game. They're playing the Raiders, I think, next week. They have a crucial game against the Raiders. And all I can say is, I'd be studying Kirk Cousins and how he played on Sunday a lot if I were this team because the Raiders absolutely can win this game. You know, judging by the way, and I only saw the highlights of the Raiders game, Jim, that was a much more efficient team and a team that avoided the big mistakes of the past in Clint Cubiac, a great debut for Clint Cubiac. I thought very minimal penalties and discipline that they have not shown in recent years. And the turnovers by Kirk Cousins through two interceptions, bad interceptions, they didn't compound themselves. Defense got on the field. We're able to shut them down, minimize the turnovers, and then Cousins comes back into the game and doesn't make them worse. So Cousins gets his 300th touchdown pass and 301 to pass John LWAY on the list and want to shout out to Max Crosby, our former colleague here on Let's Go. Coming back from the knee injury, terrific game, ran out onto the field to a huge ovation when introduced the stadium in Las Vegas yesterday and he had one and a half sacks, Peter. So it was great to see Max back in the game and dominating. You know, not only one and a half sacks, but another tackle for loss. And Jim, you heard Max in the off season and he said, I'll be ready to go at the start of the season. And there were some people who wondered, is his knee going to be whole and look, it's one game. We don't know if it'll last for 17. You know, nobody can predict that. But his first game back showed that he can still dominate the way he always has. So good luck to Max. Work so hard to get back and we're just half before him and proud of him. You speak about them playing the chargers. They will go to Los Angeles and it's not a home field advantage for the chargers. It's it's a Raiders home game. I couldn't agree more, Jim, because what has happened at Sofie Stadium, obviously, is that when the 49ers come into play the Rams, it is very loud for the Niners. When the Raiders go into play, anybody, it's very loud for the Raiders. So this is a game that, you know, I don't know. I don't want to be, I don't want to say that any game in week two is must win. But the chargers, if they lose this game, I think they're in trouble. Well, the chargers unfortunately, too, have had just this injury bug that kind of follows them every year. They lose, you know, top lineman last year, insulator. And then this year, lose their center in preseason and camp. And then Makaki yesterday gets hurt. Don't know what his status will be, but they've they've been bit by that to Peter. It's really been tough. It's sad. It's a shame. I mean, you can either say that. And again, look, it's, there's a good chance. It's a coincidence. I don't know. I don't, I don't go to their practices. I don't see. But a lot of times when things like that happen, coaches say, OK, we're going to go less in pads. We're going to be a little less physical in practice and maybe in training camp. If you're having an injury epidemic, but I don't know. All I know is that, especially if lad Makaki's out, that is big trouble for the he's the number behind Justin Herbert. He's the one guy that offense cannot afford to lose. So on this overreaction Monday, the chargers still have a very, very bright future. Let's not make one game into a season, even though it is quite problematic. I believe they'll still have a great season and a lot to look forward to. Let's go is brought to you by monster energy. Monster energy is about living loud, going bigger and never backing down. That's the lifestyle. That's the beast. That's monster energy. Unleash the beast. And how about Carson Wentz? We talked a little bit about this with Matthew Stafford earlier. Could he be a Sam Darnell? Might he have found some place right here? We don't know the extent of what will happen with Kyler Murray, as he took just a brutal hit on his way down and the helmet went flying off. Could there be something here where he now has this opportunity once again? And can flourish? Jim, I think the two quarterbacks we could ask about in week one, that same way, or Carson Wentz and Drew Locke. I mean, Carson Wentz had a lot more success in his first iteration than Drew Locke did. But I thought Locke played very well in Seattle, in coming in for the Super Bowl MVP, Sam Darnell. He may have to play another week or two because of Darnell's hip injury. But I think you're right about Carson Wentz. I think one of the things with Wentz that happens sometimes to quarterbacks who aren't grizzled, who aren't Brady, who are not, you know, my homes, is that they can suffer a crisis of confidence. And I think Carson Wentz, late in his career in Philadelphia, suffered a crisis of confidence when the gig was taken away from him. You know, he gets hurt late in the 2017 season. Nick Foles comes in, wins a Super Bowl. They build a statue for Foles in Philly. And Carson Wentz is thinking that should be me. That should be me. And I'm telling you, that is what he was thinking. You know, and I think it became very difficult for him to get over that. And then when he went to lesser teams than Philadelphia, he was incapable. I think physically and as a leader of retaking that place that he had atop the Philadelphia Eagles. And what showed me on Sunday that Carson Wentz has a chance to be this reborn really good NFL quarterback is the two throws, especially the first one he made for a touchdown to Justin Jefferson. Those were big time, the first one especially, big time, premier NFL quarterback throws. And if you have a great receiver like Justin Jefferson, and you can't connect with him consistently, it's a waste of Justin Jefferson's talent. And it says that the quarterback can't do it. What I saw in that game is that Carson Wentz can do it. And I have a legitimate question now. If he plays one or two more games like this while Kyler Murray is out, I have a question whether Kevin O'Connor will go back to Kyler Murray. It's interesting. We know he's not afraid to make changes based on what he did with the JJ McCarthy and Sam Darnold. That one went south. Perhaps this one will go north. But when we talk about going south and you talk about the performance that Wentz has, how concerned are you about the Packers now a six game losing streak that they have now inexplicably put together? The thing that is so worrisome about the Packers is that you're right, Jim, dating back to last season, they lost their last four regular season games at one point. They were nine, three, and one. They lost their last four regular season games. They blew the playoff game to Chicago and they blow a big lead in Minnesota and allow them to score whatever I think the last 29 points of that game, 27, 29 points. Here's the worrisome thing to me. They can't stop the bleeding. You know, in those six games and that six game losing streak, they've allowed 30.5 points per game on defense. And now who knows, you know, Micah Partisans [BLANK_AUDIO] still going to be out another, let's say, a month. Nobody knows exactly how long. But Jim, when you have Matt LaFlour, who the Packers are paying like a big time coach, you got to stop the bleeding. And Matt LaFlour is under the gun right now. He's got to figure away right now to stop the bleeding with this franchise. All right, Peter, that leads us to the Excellence Award for the Week, presented by Delta Airlines, Delta's celebrating. It's 100 years of excellence, and we've got a very special opportunity for all Delta Sky Miles members. Every level, every member of Sky Miles will now get free complimentary admission into the Hall of Excellence, the Magnificent Sports and Entertainment Museum inside the Fountain Blue Las Vegas. You can join Sky Miles right now at Delta.com or on the fly Delta app. Who's your pick this week, Peter? My pick is Ben Johnson. Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears coach, comes out before the season and says, we are going to be our goal is to be the best offense in NFL history. Well, Jim, that would mean they'd have to average scoring 38 points a game. Well, they're already up by 21 on that average after scoring 59 in Carolina. So I think he is demonstrated that he can back up his words, my Hall of Excellence Award this week, goes to Ben Johnson, the coach of the Bears. And we know what? We're going to say that Peter King and Drew Breeze, both picks will go in because Drew picked Caleb Williams, who was able to perform what good of Johnson served him up on that plate. So they both go in to the excellence award of the week presented by the Hall of Excellence at the Fountain Blue Las Vegas. Delta Sky Miles members are all welcome. Come on in. So let me ask you, do you think they'll catch the Broncos scoring record that was set back in 2013, 37.9 points per game? I don't think so. Jim, what was strange about that game? It was such a back and forth game, 96 points scored. I think if you're Ben Johnson, you got to not only be cognizant of trying to score the most points. You better start stopping somebody. Bryce Young throws for 361 yards. They rushed the Panthers rush for 125. So I think he might have to spend a little bit of time in the defensive meeting rooms this week. Good thing Luke Keekley was down there in Australia, and not calling that game because he would have just-- He would have fainted. Might have had to put it on his uniform and leave the booth because I'm sure he wasn't-- wouldn't have been happy to see what happened to his Panthers that vaunted defense that he led to give up all those 59 points. Peter, as always, we appreciate your time. Good luck. Once again, remind everybody the game is coming out. October 13th by Peter King. And we will talk to you next Monday night, Peter. Thank you, Jim. That's the great Peter King. Terrific show here today. I want to thank our producer Dave, the Snake Hagen, for his terrific work. Good job by the Snake. He had a game last night, and was back in action here in the studio for us today. Let's go, presented by Delta Airlines. We want to thank our sponsors, Delta Airlines, Golden Nugget Hotels, and Casinos. Mortgage matchup.com, powered by United wholesale mortgage, Monster Energy, Maestro's Restaurants, and the Hall of Excellence inside Fountain Blue, Las Vegas. Let's go, with Peter King was produced by Scratchy Productions in collaboration with Shadow Lion. Now for Peter King, I'm Jim Gray. Thanks so much for joining us, and we will talk to you again next week Monday night, right here on Let's Go on Sirius XM.