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

My fellow football Americans, Week 5 is upon us. Am I crazy, or does it feel now like every week of real football feels like a fantasy guillotine league 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 Browns Broncos. Feels like OCs Mike McDaniel and Davis Webb are both coaching for their gigs. 2 headsets enter, 1 headset leaves. Jags and Eagles are flying over to London. What, you thought they were gonna swim? They're birds. And the Colts are headed back across the Atlantic. But before they're back home again in Indiana, they've got a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And that effing— they've got a QB. Not my words, his head coach's. But first, is it getting chilly in here? Oh, I know. Presented by Jägermeister. Serve it cold or don't serve it at all. Jägermeister. Damn, that's cold. For more, visit jagermeister.com. Drink responsibly. Okay, real quick, couple few thoughts about future Hall of Famer 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 over 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 Sirianni'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, Stephen A. Smith's dim remarks. 4 games in to the 2026 season, a dude that has been in the league forever sits back and says, I need to focus on my mental health. And as an offensive tackle, Lord, you know it's bad. If it makes everyone and anyone who's been upset by this feel any better, Stephen 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 Stephen 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 dipshits give him and the hot takers for their ability to make you think, they're all applying the same simple, soulless formula. One, listen to what most people are saying about any issue. 2, take the opposite side. And number 3, well, I mean, I guess that's about it. I mean, you've made dumb people think without ever saying anything authentic because all that matters now is who gets the most clicks. So mazel tov to Steve A. You've accomplished what you wanted. Now, I don't want to get up on Mount Pious, 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 Sirianni and Woody Johnson and Jimmy Haslam and Bill Belichick and Deshaun Watson. You know what? Let's just start the show. Yes! Hi and hello, my fellow football Americans. Welcome to NFL Week 5. 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 Badowski. 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-O? Yeah, we've got this comment from Schmendel, and it is, are the Bengals now the 3rd AFC Super Bowl pick for Damashek? I remember him originally going with the Chargers for an all-LA 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 you know, once upon a time in Hollywood, Stafford v. Herbert and all of that. But at, in the nick of time in August, at some point specifically, I changed it to Bengals 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 Cincy last week, if Jacksonville took down the Bengals, That's true. that maybe I would have to change to Jacksonville. But Ja'Marr Chase got hurt in the game. And so I think the, that the Bengals would've 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 C. Maranchik where he says, Dave, 2 questions. First, do injuries seem more rampant this season than recent history, or am I just prisoner of the moment?

We're only 4 weeks in. No, you're prisoner of the moment. Everybody keeps talking about that. It happens every year.

It really does.

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 ask this one every single day, I would say. What is the proper/expected response to what's the poop fella?

You know what, that's a good place to, uh, to introduce, um, 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 guest? Friend of the show.

Friend of the show would be a definition.

Friend of the show, 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.

I like that. A family member of the show. That's good.

He's a football American. How about that? Let's do that. Um, he's, uh, the host Monday through Friday, 9 AM to noon Eastern on BetMGM. You better, you bet. He is the king of waggertainment. Ooh, also now the co-host along with another pal of ours, Brian Baldinger, the best football show. It's Nick Kostos. 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 Damashek. Uh, 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 Westwood One Sports with Baldy, and now here with you, my guy. How's it going?

It's going all right for me.

Also, also, you, you, you look awful. Why?

Why would you— what kind of way is that to say hi and hello? How many hours?

How many hours? And you sleep, what, like 4 hours a night?

I don't, I don't sleep well.

Yeah, you don't look great. You don't look—

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, no, I praised your hair 6 months ago. No, I've won.

Now you realize Well, that's, that's how good my hair is, is I don't even need it. I buzz it all off, and then when I grow it back, I'm gonna grow it long and it's gonna look amazing. I'm gonna look like Fabio on the COVID of a romance novel. It's gonna be great. But I think this buzz cut's working for me here, and maybe you should consider the same thing, my friend, based on the way your hair looks right now.

What do we think? Buddy, weigh in very quickly for the viewer out there. We appreciate the listener, but—

We don't, we don't, we don't, we don't need Buddy here. I'm gonna 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. Your sides are too long.

Wait, something 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 haircut. And, uh, I'm a regular guy.

And, uh, and it shows.

Oh, look, listen to the laughs. Congratulations.

Can I tell you something?

Can I, can I admit something?

You can.

So kind of a convoluted— 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.

The guy that cuts his own hair like a Neanderthal is laughing at me for going to a salon. So I've been going once a week to the salon, but now that I'm getting my hair buzzed, like, I can go to a barbershop. Now there's a barbershop 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 times a week.

If I could get a shave— 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.

Buddy, I got good news. Do you have a paycheck, buddy? I got good news for you. You can go and pay someone to do that.

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 my—

All right, let's cut the bullshit. We have a lot of stuff to get to.

I was gonna say, like, like, who's, who's the co-host? Am I the co-host of the show or is 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. It's our 89th episode. And as we do every episode, Buddy, which player wore 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 Super Bowl-winning coach of the— for the 1985 Bears, of course.

We're familiar with Ditka.

5,800 yards and 43 touchdowns, and he had a career— the career rookie receiving— sorry, oh my God, the career— oh my God, why can't I find the words here?

Costos has made you nervous. He went at you and now you're off your game.

Sorry, buddy.

The record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a rookie season. Thank you. That stood until 2024 when Brock Bowers broke it. So he had 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.

I can't believe he's not in the Hall of Fame yet. I think he eventually will.

It is crazy, Dave. I was actually going to ask you that question, which is, will he eventually make it? Because he's a 2-time First-team All-Pro, 2-time second-team All-Pro, a 5-time Pro Bowler, 1,031 receptions.

We'll ask him on Football America soon. He'll be with us sooner rather than later.

That'll be very exciting. And then this one is a special shout out for 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.

I didn't know Nat Moore was— off the top of my head, I didn't know that piece, but 89 for me, Nick Kostos, is Alex McGilney, the somehow forgotten goal scorer. 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 Teemu Selänne. And Mario Lemieux only played 60 games that year. But if you add up the points—

And that was Selänne's rookie year that he scored 76 goals, right? One of the greatest rookie seasons in the history of the NHL.

National Hockey League. So absurd.

And I'll say this about Mogilny. So the way I remember Mogilny is NHL '93. So NHL '94 is the game that everyone always remembers, the hockey game that everyone loves. NHL '93, I think it was called NHLPA '93 actually. That game was sensational and Mogilny was absolutely unstoppable for the Buffalo Sabers in that game. So that, that, that's how I— then it's amazing that Sabers team never won a Cup given the offensive talent they had. Obviously made the final in '98 with Hasek and lost to the Dallas Stars, but Mogilny, like Real ones remember Alexander Mulgilney from the '90s.

Amen. And yeah, that's right. And not coincidentally, the real hockey in 1993 kind of mirrored 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 Whale side 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 7 win in the Western Conference Final back when the Leafs were in the West on the road in Toronto. Of course, the Kings coached by the late, great Barry Melrose advancing to the Stanley Cup Final that year.

That's right. Against Dougie Gilmour and company. But Lemieux and company should have really— that was one of the great individual seasons. And Lemieux and the team at the height of its powers got knocked off inexplicably. I don't want to get in the rearview about David Volick in overtime and all of that.

Well, it's more like Darius Kasparaitis holding Lemieux down in the net as the seconds ticked off on the Penguins season that year.

Pipe down. Now listen, '93, if the Penguins would have been going for their 3rd 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 Roy and the Canadiens winning the Cup. Like, that was pretty good.

No, no, no, it wasn't good. Now listen, if that would have happened, 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 narratives that would've really elevated the sport? What diminished the sport in a way because of the presence? I mean, 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 15-1 Randall Cunningham Minnesota Vikings didn't survive the Atlanta Falcons. By the way, the thing people forget about that Falcons team is they were 13-3. They were not a bum team. But either way, the Vikings were a tick better, and had Gary Anderson made the field goal towards the end of regulation, it would've been Vikings.

The only kick he missed the entire season, Gary Anderson.

I think his whole career. I think that's what I was— his entire— but anyway, yeah, he exactly— he— they would've played the defending champion John Elway, Terrell Davis Denver Broncos, and that would've been great. Instead, we got one of the most forgettable Super Bowls of all time. What is an example that's better than that one I just gave Nick Kostos?

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 in the NFL is the '85 Bears, is the Miami Dolphins losing at home to the New England Patriots as a big favorite in the '85 AFC Championship Game. Now, I think the denizens of Football America will know this, Dave, 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 went 15-1 that year, 18-1 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, win the only Super Bowl in franchise history. But we were robbed, Dave, 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 3 greatest quarterbacks ever. I think that's absolutely right. Instead of someone that was on the fringe.

That's absolutely right. And you can connect that with modern-day Marino times 2, 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, Burrow's more the comp— made the Super Bowl in year 2 and hasn't gotten back. Josh and Lamar haven't even made it yet. Dan made it in year 2 in 1984, and they got smoked by the Niners.

All right, Le Batard 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. The— you know who caught a touchdown pass on that Monday night game? Nat Moore. Tell your dad, Buddy Badowski.

I will, Dave. 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 3 greatest quarterbacks of all time. Like, yes, it's the most painful subject ever. We had Dan Marino for 2 decades and never won a Super Bowl with him.

I sat in Pitt Stadium in 1981 when undefeated Pitt hosted number 9 Penn State. Danny Marino, 2 touchdown passes in the first quarter, 14-nothing. He tries for a 3rd one at the goal line. It deflects off Dwight Collins' shoulder. Pick 6— not pick 6, intercepted. Final score, 48-14 Penn State. One of the great heartbreaks of my sporting life. Um, the first one, and it really cut the deepest. Still hurts the most, maybe. But, um, yeah, if Marino and company, after doing what they did in the Orange Bowl, get them on the fast track in, in, uh, the Superdome, what do you think's gonna happen? I know that Dan Hampton likes to talk about being hungover because they went on a twister the Sunday before that game, but that's on you. You would've been on the straight and narrow in New Orleans before that, before Super Bowl XX. 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 one, it's one of the great inflection points in the Super Bowl era, because if the Cowboys win that game, if the catch doesn't happen—

How about the other way? I'm more interested in the other side.

Danny 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 the successor to Staubach.

What happens if, if it's not, you know, -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 Fouts, comma, Super Bowl champion instead of Joe Montana winning his first.

One more because we're in the Wayback Machine, but in Super Bowl XIV, you wanna talk about people say Dave's a homer and he's biased and everything else. The San Diego Chargers would've beaten the Steelers in 1979 if they got 'em 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 Fouts just housed the Steelers defense. It was an embarrassment. And they would've 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've gotten to play the Rams in that Super Bowl, in Super Bowl XIV.

And I'll tell you what could've been fun. What if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had pulled the upset over the Rams in the 1979 NFC Championship Game? And Tampa, 3 years after being one of the worst expansion teams ever, would've— obviously the Steelers would've beaten them about 100 to nothing. But that's a fun footnote in NFL history as well. I'm just flexing my NFL knowledge by saying that.

Very nice. Very nice. Listen, 9-nothing, the worst title game ever. Fat Frank Corral makes 3 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 pastel Super Bowl XIV with the Oilers in the powder blues versus the Bucs in the creamsicles. All right, let's get to the here and now, shall we? And, uh, Nick, this is your first go-round with that. Uh, buddy knows what I'm talking about here. We start off The Week 4 analysis for 2026. I know we were just, uh, several decades in the rearview, 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 blowouts. 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, score 2 faves For just you, Detroit-style slices and sticks, $4.99 only at Little Caesars. Officially delicious. Wait, 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—

Yeah, it's a shame.

Need to fix that. But either way, I am 2-0-1 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 an undefeated record.

I'm talking about the easiest All right, let's see how you do, friend. But first, I'll make my pick for you. And, um, I'll tell you, there's something a little fishy. For the same reason that I said the Rams laying 3 at Philly was weird, and everybody was asking, wow, how good the Eagles are, they're, they're at home and they're, 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 4 should be relatively breezy. I think the Colts are better than most people do, but the Colts are returning from their London trip. Steelers laying 2.5 in this one. Um, 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, dig that, or from the UK specifically, teams that play the week immediately after, which has been counseled like, oh, you never do that, take your bye after that.

No, no, they're 10-6 returning from London stateside. Those teams are 10-6. That spooks me. Still though, the Steelers have to know where they're going. 31, uh, at 31-21 is the final score of that one. How say you on that one, Nick?

I like the Steelers also. Um, I think, I think it's worth noting that I think the Colts caught a major break on Sunday in London when Marcus Mariota got injured early in the game because the Commanders were dominating that game. Now, I, I will say, just in general, I was pretty impressed with my fellow Greek freak, Athan Calliakmanis, who came into that game. Now, normally you see third-string quarterbacks like pissing down their leg. They look terrified, deer in headlights. My dude was slinging it all over the field.

Slinging it.

Now, I'm not saying he's great, but I thought he was way better than I expected. And if Calliakmanis doesn't come into the game and Marcus Mariota finishes that game, I think the Commanders might have won. You know, the Colts averaged less than 4 yards per play in that game, and I think the Commanders defense is actually pretty good with, uh, first-year defensive coordinator Durante Jones. One of the reasons why I'm worried about my Giants this week. But I mean, now 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 bitch. And it's pretty clear watching him that he's been sapped of that elite athleticism by all the injuries that he 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 Rodgers and company have a nice game. I think DK Metcalf gets into the end zone, Darnell Washington perhaps as well. I like the Steelers also.

Okay, I like that. Do you want to throw out one, buddy? Give us, uh, your breezy pick of the week.

Look, Dave, I, I finally have a chance. Chino'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 Bengals here. Obviously, the status of Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase is very important to the Bengals in general, especially this game. But I got to tell you, even without Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, that secondary for the Dolphins is so bad. And I know they're playing hard. Jeff Hafley's got them going right, but they can't score on offense. They can't stop anybody on defense. Give me the Bengals here stress-free. It's nice to finally be able— Geno not here to take the— pick against the Dolphins.

A week though, I don't know if this is the one you want to jump on.

I know, that's why I'm not taking— I'm not taking the spread here. I'm just saying that the Bengals will, will take care of business and get the win here.

Oh, okay, so you're just saying straight up the Bengals— Bengals straight up enough dignity to survive a game, um, 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, um, after taking them, um, 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 Browns, who I don't consider world beaters, but they're 3-1 and looking a little bit better than the Jets are?

Um, do I think it's weird? No. Um, I think it will be weird if they close a favorite if A.D. Mitchell and Breece Hall don't play in the game. I think we might end up getting line movement that will mirror, Dave, the Cardinals-Giants game last week where the Giants opened a favorite And the Cardinals closed a 2.5-point road favorite. Now, the Giants won the game, but I think if Breece— so Breece Hall and A.D. Mitchell did not practice 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 3 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 are all that really matter, whether or not you're a good father in real life is beside the point.

Correct, and that's why I have a kid is to show pictures of her to everybody.

I figured as much.

Yes.

It's all a part of your—

It's all performative.

Your gambit here.

Yes.

First of all, what's she gonna be this year? What's in the zeitgeist that appeals to young girls?

Oh, she's gonna be a cat. She's been wanting to be a cat for quite some time. When we ask her, honey, what do you wanna be for Halloween? She says a cat and then meows very loud and then laughs very hard, which is great. 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 dry-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.

That's terrific. Good for you. Good dad. I think we talked about this before, but I'm gonna ask it to you one more time. Are you proud? Do you brag about being a girl dad?

No.

Good, good.

I, I like— but I think that's so—

it's so hard thing to pat yourself on the back for.

Well, there— well, there's— well, there's two.

You had nothing to do with it. Yeah.

Am I 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 am—

Never hashtagged anything girl dad or anything like that.

Well, it's a cool hashtag, is it not?

Is it?

I agree, I agree. It's a cool hashtag.

Why is it?

Because it was— it was Kobe's thing.

That—

that's what 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 at all.

Why do you— but like, I said this too.

It's a coin flip. Should I celebrate?

Why do you care? Like, why does it bother you?

Because I think it's a weird thing to celebrate.

I know. But like, what are you? Yeah, but what are you, like the living tribunal? Like rendering judgment on everybody?

Yes, yes.

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 don't know what that— what the fuck did the hair do? My hair looks fine.

Dave, where's this guy been all my life? Calling out you for raining on people's parades. I love it. I love it.

Nick, you're a special guest. I don't rain on people's parades at all.

Dave Damashek doesn't rain on people's parades.

Just asking Nick if he's proud of his girl.

We're going to keep Dave Damashek in check. He 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, you can be a good father to a girl, but I'm proud that what emerged from, from my lover's womb was, uh, was a, a female gender.

But like, why can't— like, why couldn't you— why couldn't you say you're a boy dad? Like, I wouldn't care if you did.

You could!

But why don't you?

Because I don't give a good goddamn, because I am in fact a great parent who cares about them all. Equally.

So 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 being a low expectation having MFer. That's— I mean, like, this is something that you're gonna puff your chest out about, that you laid your seed where you did and 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.

All right, let's get to the most important games ever of the week. And at number 3, I mentioned it, I think that is accurate.

Can I say something about the haunted houses for a second here?

You may.

It's gonna 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. Uh, I think my wife is pissed at me right now.

Yeah.

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, like my daughter's 2, like, okay, it'd probably be like a kid sort of thing. No, this was like not like severed— like, it— 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, rare. And there was everywhere, like Freddy Krueger with the knife, like, like severed heads. And I, I said to my wife, like, what the fuck are we doing here? Like, why the fuck are we here with our 2-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 2 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 my two, really my two cents off on this subject just yet.

You're right about what the young ones are experiencing. Also, as I hear that story, it's like, don't kitchen sink it. Choose a theme, scare people. You can't do aliens and Freddy Krueger. Come on, what do you wanna be? You wanna be a scary pirate ship, ghost ship? Do that. You know, if you wanna do something out in space.

I gotta tell you something. You know, don't do it all. I don't like Halloween. I'm not a Halloween fan.

I'm with you.

Halloween sucks.

I'm out on Halloween.

It sucks. 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 shit. I'm not— you know what's scary? Real life. Real life's scary enough.

Amen.

Horror movies and all this bullshit. 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 I can go to CVS and buy some candy. I don't need to knock on somebody's door.

Now I'm back on board with Kostas. I, I, he, 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 wanna sell greeting cards and chocolates and flowers. But only for one gender. Only for one gender.

Yeah.

Hey, hey fellas, it's the day to be romantic. No. Dave is romantic 365, nay, 364, because I cross off Valentine's Day because I'm not gonna dance for the man. But you're right about Halloween too. The good thing about it is, 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 Christmas music for the first time this year. It might be soon.

Oh, I love it.

I already saw at Macy's. I was at the mall recently and I was at Macy's and there was already a Christmas section developing. Yeah, this was already like a month and a half ago.

Yeah, that's great.

And the Christmas section is developing. I think you got to wait until Halloween. Halloween is the official start of Christmas season.

So once Halloween comes around, I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks about this topic. Everyone has an opinion. When should Christmas start? Christmas is on right now as far as I'm concerned.

I agree, because these people, these curmudgeons, 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? Like 60?

How old are you?

62?

I'm 71 years young.

But you need to be self-aware enough to just to be like that you are a commercent. It's okay. Doesn't mean you're a bad guy.

Listen, I know I am not a sweetheart either. I'm somewhere in between. But listen, yeah, you're absolutely right. The people who bellyache about like, I saw at the store Christmas stuff, it's what I like Like, it's a joyous season. You clearly have nothing better to worry about if you're bellyaching about seeing something in early October.

Yeah, kind of like a guy who wants to get on people for being proud of having a girl. Kind of like the same thing.

Now I'm back off. Now I'm back off of the Kostos experience. All right, let's just get to it, shall we? I was going to 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. Um, and, uh, total on this one is 45.5. Wait, is that right that that's the, uh—

Yeah, well, um, I'm looking right now and I see, yeah, Chicago -1.5, 45.5's the total in the game. Yep.

Oh, I skipped— I'm sorry, I didn't mention the number on the game. How say you on this one, Nick Kostos?

So, like, who do I— so I think the most fascinating thing about this game, Bears-Packers, like, I'm excited to watch the players on the field for 3 hours. But to me, the more entertaining game is of the mind variety being played with Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur. I think this is so incredibly fascinating from a psychological level that you have in Ben Johnson a guy who— 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 he can see through the window, Sean McVay, and Kyle Shanahan's there, and Andy Reid might be there, and Zach Taylor's fulfilling Sean McVay's, you know, like a glass of fruit punch, and Ben Johnson wasn't invited to the party. And Matt LaFleur's there also, and Mike LaFleur's there with their— where they go, they go, they get their 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 clique. I'm better than all of you. So when he takes the job in Chicago, he didn't have to call out Matt LaFleur by name. He chose to do it at his introductory press conference when he said, I like beating Matt LaFleur twice a year, like when he— like when they— when he was with the Lions.

Love it.

So this is personal between these guys, and Ben Johnson has earned the right to keep talking shit because at the end of the year last year, his Bears beat the Packers twice, including in the wildcard round in come-from-behind fashion. So Matt LaFleur can publicly downplay the matchup between the two and say it's about the players on the field. A very basic understanding of human psychology dictates that Matt LaFleur wants to beat the shit out of Ben Johnson. Now, I think the problem for Matt LaFleur is that he has a knife and Ben Johnson has a gun in terms of these 2 teams right now. And I think the Packers are really up against it.

All right, well, what's the final score, Kostas?

I'll take the Bears 24-21. I just think Green Bay, with the Edgerrin 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 LaFleur. Give me the Bears to beat the Packers in Lambeau.

All right. Caleb Williams down. Everybody knows that. Bagent again looked good. If you watched last week, you know who else looked good? Jordan Love. He's taken a lot of slings and arrows, but he happened to look good against the Bucs. Grinding up the Pacs defense is the best, 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 Kostos? Chicago ranks 5th in defensive EPA per play. Green Bay ranks 26th offensively. Those 2 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 LaFleur. There's a really good chance here for Ben Johnson to turn the heat up on Matt LaFleur. Like, I think a loss here will 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 Lambeau for the first time in 20 years. Give me the Bears, 21-17.

Okay, let's go on to number 2 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, Jacksonville now just goes for like a fortnight over to London. I, I think I heard that and somehow it escaped my brain.

Yeah, they did a, they did a last year also. So they got 2 consecutive 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 laying 7 here. 42.5 is the total on this one. Like I say, first to 2 for them Jaguars. They have a massive efficiency advantage on both sides of the ball through 4 weeks. weeks. Jacksonville is 4th in offensive EPA and 7th defensively. Philadelphia, an atrocity on both fronts there, back in the, uh, in the 29th and 27th respectively, offensively and defensively. Um, the Jags are for real. I don't think people are, are necessarily embracing them for a number of reasons we've covered. I think primarily because they're an 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, uh, no secret to anybody, but now no Lane Johnson, no Juergens. I mean, they're— 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, um, Jags Whipped them for a— at a real bad time for Nick Sirianni's Eagles. 30-20, I've got it. Nick Kostos, how's it going?

Yeah, I don't know if the Eagles are going to get to 20 here. We're not expecting DeVonta Smith to play. Saquon 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 Breece Hall-Tuten and the receivers. I think the defense has been just as good, if not better. And this cornerback duo that Jacksonville has with Jarrion Jones and Travis Hunter, who's like starting to really emerge as a shutdown cornerback, I think might be the most underhyped unit in the entire league, is the Jaguars 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. This feels like a Philly white flag game where they are really up against it. internationally against a good opponent. They're not flying to London until Friday. Uh, 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 in London.

Best football show, uh, Baldy. 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. Um, so I mean, that's That's strong stuff, 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 that direction in the locker room. People knew that probably something was afoot there, but then Juergens 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 years ago. Do I think that now they're going to lay the sword down in Week 5? But do I think this could potentially spiral out of control and maybe that does end up happening? Look, I do. And I'll give you a brief, uh, you ready to put your tinfoil hat on for a second? Conspiracy theory here.

I'm ready.

Uh, if I could do my best Brian Windhorst impersonation, like, why would they do that? So Dave Damashek, 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? Did they get— they didn't give up— they gave up a 2nd, right?

They got a 2028 1st-round pick. What is the main asset that they got?

Howie likes getting those 2 years away picks, eh?

And what was the main asset they got from Baltimore in the Cam Jurgens trade?

Right.

A 2028 2. So like, why would they do that? Now there's an answer to the question, which is maybe they wouldn't get a '27 1 or a '27 2, so he opted for the better asset. in 2028. But then you have to consider a couple things. Number one, Jalen Hurts' contract is up in '28. No guaranteed money after this year, right? Howie Roseman, we want to give him all this credit, deservedly so, as someone who plans for the future. Okay, like, could something be afoot here where they're planning on making some kind of seismic move for 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, uh, after post-Redskins, pre-Commanders. All the Eagles had to do was win that game against Washington and my Giants win the NFC East at 6-10. They're down at 6-10. They're down 17-14 at the start of the 4th quarter. Doug Pederson, in a pathetic attempt to save his job, does what Howie Roseman wants, pulls Jalen Hurts from the game and puts Nate Sudfeld in in the 4th quarter, down by 3.

Pederson 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. It 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 gonna tank this year? Absolutely not. 0% 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 2 years down the line.

Well, right, there's clearly smoke there. It just is hard to reconcile that Howie 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 Sirianni as its head coach? And I like Jalen Hurts more than a lot of people do, but in a quarterback league, his spottiness, that they have been so consistently a playoff factor is remarkable. And I think it really goes back to Howie Roseman and Andy Weidel, who now resides on the other side of Pennsylvania.

Yeah.

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 Hurts. Buddy, your pick on this one?

Yeah, it feels like the Eagles are in for a retool. 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 retool is coming and the injuries are just too much to overcome right now. And I love what the Jags have going on. 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 1 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 Purdy, now old news, is your MVP favorite. Seahawks laying 2.5, 46.5. Hawks, the bottom line here is know how to eliminate explosive plays and also pressure Brock Purdy. And in general, they're 3rd in the NFL in 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 Purdy. The Seahawks have 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 LaFleur, Shanny against McVay. Some coaches in the head-to-heads have the other's number.

Um, the Seahawks have the Niners' number right now. I guess we all have their number though, because it's 49, right?

Yes.

The 49ers, that would be their number. But anyway, Hawks 26-21. Nick Kostos.

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 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 Purdy is better than Sam Darnold, 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 2 seasons and whose career might be over because of a foot injury, right?

He may not even have a foot from what I hear.

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 was a good player, but I mean, he's, he's hurt. Like, his career is probably done. Zach Charbonnet is not ready to come back yet. Jadarrius Price is on injured reserve. He couldn't stop fumbling when he was healthy. Now, Emmanuel 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 Raheem Morris, an excellent defensive coordinator. I think they're going to make Seattle one-dimensional here, and I think that's bad news for Slingin' Sammy Darnold. I'll take the Niners and Brock Purdy to win in an upset. Darnold turns it over a couple times. Purdy 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 Kostos, um, I'd be remiss. It's, uh, it's a weird sort of rivalry, circumstantial. Pat Patriot versus the One-Eyed Pirate, um, in Foxborough. Raiders at the Patriots. Patriots laying 3.5, 45.5 is the total. New England top 10 run offense, Raiders bottom 5 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 Pats O-line isn't great. They allow a ton of pressure. The Raiders, uh, 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 a game than the Patriots have so far. Give me the Raiders to win this one outright.

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 Bowers is going to go nuclear in this game. And I understand that Bowers is a tight end, but if you're Mike Vrabel and you're Zach Kerr and Gonzalez can play, I don't know why you wouldn't have Gonzalez cover Brock Bowers on every play of this game. And Gonzalez is one of the only defenders in the league that can man up Brock Bowers 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 7 points. If he doesn't, Dave, then your 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 is a wrap for them. So maybe you, you give a little bit too much credit to the Patriots going into this week. Either way, Nick Kostos, 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, 9 to noon, You Better You Bet. Nick Kostos, I think this went well. It's our first go-round of, of many as we press forward this season.

Really enjoyed it, my friend. Looking forward to next week. Wishing all the listeners and viewers, Minimal Sweats Winning Bets, the absolute very best of luck. And please go pay for a haircut and get those sides cut shorter. You look— I don't like it now.

He's doing his bit. He's doing his slogan. You look like—

you, you look someone killed a raccoon and put it on.

No one cares. Go be a girl dad on your own and do your slogans on your own. What are we doing, buddy? That's a— that was too much. Now he crossed the line. And for at least until we talk to him next, I'm back out on Kostos.

I'm all the way in on this guy. He's calling you out on your bullshit, Dave. I love him. I think he's—

Careful, I'm gonna 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 DraftKings 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 Badowski. I'm humiliated by that, but I intend—

Everybody trails me right now, Dave.

I know, but that's in the rearview 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 defense has looked so far, but they gotta get a win. They're laying 7.5 at the Titans. I happen to think that Cam Ward is not the atrocity that I keep hearing collectively from people, that what a bust and everything else. I think he has a chance to still turn out okay. That being said, the Texans season, if it isn't over already at 0-4, obviously it would be if they stumble here. There's a difference between winning the game and covering the 7.5. I think they do it pretty comfortably. Give me the Texans here, buddy. How say you?

Yeah, I do actually have Geno's picks here. We'll get Tony's on Mondays, but Geno sent them in from—

Why am I getting them Monday? You're gonna get them on Monday?

Well, why would he not just say, oh, I went 3-0? 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 -3.5 as his against-the-spread pick. I'm going to take the Seahawks -2.5. The Seahawks might be the quietest 3-1 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 monsoon in the nation's capital. Give me the Seahawks to beat the Niners here. I'm going to take them 24-20, -2.5. I just think I think they have been so good this year and it feels like McDonald kind of has Kyle Shanahan's number. So I'm going to take the defending champs to keep on rolling, -2.5 against the Niners.

I agree with the point about McDonald, but the most disrespected reigning champ is the Indiana Hoosiers. How are they behind one loss to Ohio State?

It's crazy.

They haven't lost a game yet. It's crazy.

It doesn't make any sense.

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 4, 54.5. It's the Lions and 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 54.5 in that one. How say you, buddy?

Yeah, Geno's right there with you, Dave. He's got the Lions and Cardinals over 54.5 as well. I'm going to take the Eagles and Jaguars over 42.5, 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 have to give— 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 final's 28-17, as I told you earlier. So give me the Eagles and Jags in London over 42.5.

All right, buddy, let's bring it on home with our underdog picks.

Yeah, I'm going to take the Saints +1.5 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 1-3, Dave. They lost. They got killed by the Falcons at home last week.

I don't think anybody's talking that way anymore. They were talking that way 2 weeks ago.

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 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, +1.5. I think they get it done in the dome behind their offense. I think they'll just be able to outscore the Vikings in this game. And Geno, by the way— sorry, Geno has +3.5. The Giants +3.5.

I just— he has +3.5?

Yeah, he's got just +3.5. No, he's got the Giants +3.5 against the Commanders.

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, um, strategies out there. My dog of the week, I'm riding with Snoop Huntley down in Atlanta. I know the Falcons have looked good, offensive line looking good, Bijan Robinson And a real pleasure to watch. One of, one of the great stylistic 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. +3.5, no matter for them, no matter for Lamar Jackson in the short term. If it extends as it has in other seasons, then I would become concerned. As it is, I think the Ravens will be able to survive them, even though the Falcons, like we said, 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 Kostos. Now is he— he's sort of married into the family kind of thing.

That's a good way to look at it. Yeah, he married— you know those shirts they say like, I 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.

Um, all right, so I think good times here, and, uh, we appreciate you listening. As always, we ask that you subscribe and drop us a line. Do it on YouTube, Reddit, in the comments section, wherever you find your audio podcasts. 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.