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00:00News and notes around the National Football League as a new weight debuts
00:04tonight in his NFL week number eight starting in Los Angeles between the Rams
00:10and the Vikings but DRS before we get to Thursday night football yesterday a big
00:15day around the NFL practice reports guys back on the field getting ready for a
00:20full Sunday slate somebody who might not be practicing much at this stage of his
00:25career whether it was in Green Bay or of course last year not fully healthy
00:30that's a 40 year old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers when you look at the
00:35injury report for Aaron he's dealing with a ton of things right now you can
00:40call it whatever is listed here that he's dealing with a hamstring injury
00:44he's got an ankle he's got a knee he's 40 years old that is really the injury
00:49report in what it comes down to but Johnny outside of how banged up Aaron
00:54Rodgers is after seven weeks the fact that gangrene is two and five with
00:59another game they absolutely must have on Sunday and they should as we will
01:04show you in just a moment when you look at Aaron Rodgers this year second second
01:10in the National Football League with the most passing attempts only Geno Smith
01:15has more that should not be the case for the 40 year old quarterback through
01:20seven weeks but despite having the set that's that's cold man to put Robert
01:24Sala Aaron Rodgers b-roll right there despite having the second most passing
01:30attempts DRS he has the 28th completion percentage among quarterbacks that have
01:36started a majority of their team's games this season it's sub 62% at 61.7 so he's
01:44throwing in a ton he hasn't been overly accurate or efficient that's not a
01:49recipe for success at 40 years old for the New York Jets no it's not a recipe
01:55for success and you get the Vontae Adams so now we're supposed to think we're
01:58gonna run the football more no it's probably gonna go even harder in the
02:02opposite direction and the one thing you could say about the New York Jets they
02:05are consistent when you play a quality football team like the 49ers you lose
02:09the Broncos you lose the Vikings you lose the Bills you lose in the Steelers
02:12you lose when you play bottom of the barrel teams which quite frankly it
02:16feels like the Jets are you win Titans and Patriots who do they have this
02:19weekend Oh bottom of the barrel Patriots so they'll be able to gloss over like
02:23oh yeah higher energy in this game and now it's official we're gonna start that
02:27comeback only then to face the Texans in the following week we'll see how that
02:31one goes I'm not high on the Jets but if you're an old quarterback and you're
02:35already injured at this point typically it doesn't get better because their
02:39offensive line clearly can't protect Aaron Rodgers because he's taking
02:42monumental shots on a game-to-game basis but to get back to your point here
02:46look an aging quarterback that's banged up with two quality running backs you
02:50should be handing the football but I don't think the Jets can help themselves
02:53at this point then yeah I don't either DRS only sacked once on Sunday night by
02:58Pittsburgh it was a concern because in the first three games of the year Aaron
03:04Rodgers sacked just five times in the last three entering Sunday night again
03:09only one sack against the Steelers he was sacked 11 times again not a good
03:14recipe to have him drop back as often as he has been in throwing the football
03:19this year and on Sunday night DRS I thought after the Monday night game
03:23there was a couple of positives positives despite finding yet another
03:27way to lose against Buffalo mainly that was Brees Hall in returning to him as
03:32Todd Downing had taken over offensive play calling duties 18 carries 23 total
03:38touches 113 yards on the gap ground for Brees Hall against Buffalo against the
03:44Steelers 54 rushing yards as a team they had less than 64 in their previous two
03:50losses prior to that Bills game again it is not a good season for New York Donny
03:57we have talked about this all year long when it has come to the Jets week to
04:01week based on the results and the outcome how does it factor into their
04:05overall win total can they get to double digits can they snap a 13-year
04:10playoff drought now here we are entering week eight how do you feel I don't feel
04:16very good at all and you're waiting for the season to get started but again
04:19we're not in the month of September hey wanted to start one three start let's
04:23rebound they've lost you know Broncos Vikings Bills Steelers four straight
04:28ballgames after they quote-unquote woke up and after a two-in-one start right
04:31off just a bad game against the Niners but then we got right the next two weeks
04:35then they just embarrass themselves and I understand football is a game of
04:38inches and if you make a field goal or two your record is different you don't
04:41fumble here there but you did do that your record is what it is and again
04:44they'll win against the Patriots but those same questions are gonna come up
04:47the following week can they beat a solid football team at home like the Texans
04:51because if you're looking down the scorecard let's just say the Cardinals
04:55are there that's a winnable game the Colton home it's a winnable game but all
04:58these games should be winnable games with all that talent but they still
05:01already have five losses on the season so you can't take that same context of
05:05starting the season saying look at all this talent here's what they should do
05:08because obviously they're not doing that and as I said if you play a really bad
05:12team you have enough talent to beat them but the minute you play a team that can
05:15go toe-to-toe talent wise with you you lose every one of those games what's
05:18gonna happen when you get into a close game down the stretch we're expecting
05:21these guys to win those games when they absolutely haven't done that no way
05:25plus 265 for this franchise to snap that 13-year playoff drought that would
05:32mean the Jets have to turn the fortune of their organization on its head the
05:37New York Jets have found active ways to lose football games this season and for
05:42the last decade and a half that is why they are writing a 13-year playoff
05:47drought I'm not buying in Devontae Adams doesn't block he doesn't kick field
05:52goals he doesn't play defense he doesn't run the football the issue was
05:56never the offense but the issue I had DRS with gangrene on Sunday night was if
06:01you are going to acquire Devontae Adams and it is going to be the positive
06:05impact that moves the needle you better go out there even against the second
06:08best scoring defense in the NFL in score 30 they had 15 in the opening quarter
06:13plus and they were blanked in the second half by Pittsburgh and then we found out
06:19from Aaron Rodgers yesterday that postgame Devontae Adams I just love this
06:24team despite being with the franchise for five days gave the quote realist
06:30postgame heart-to-heart speech that Aaron Rodgers had ever heard in his 20
06:35years in the National Football League we heard from Tay himself after the loss on
06:39Sunday night in the Steel City saying yet again we found ways to top up this
06:44opportunity it has been the issue with this team Devontae you've been on the
06:48team for less than a week how do you even know what the issue with the team
06:51actually is outside of watching on TV I guess kind of good news for the Jets a
06:58defense that has really kind of shouldered the burden and has not lived
07:03up to being the elite defense it is needed to be in their last few weeks
07:07Hassan Redick now under contract on the practice field for the first time
07:11yesterday Donnie yeah and it's almost like you fired your defensive
07:15coordinator slash defensive mindset head coach because your offense was the
07:19issue and then your defense got a little bit worse make it make sense because
07:22Robert Salas say what you want about him he was a CEO head coach he was a damn
07:27good damn good defensive coordinator for the 49ers and the reason he got that job
07:31is he could command the locker room make sure your defense was straight which it
07:34has been and now it's not at this point but look we've all been in locker rooms
07:37before I don't care how good a player you are I'm sorry a new kid transfers
07:41into your high school you play a game on a Saturday afternoon and he stands up
07:44after four days like the energy is so low in this locker room I can't take it
07:48and then somebody should raise your hand like bro you came from the Raiders you
07:51guys were terrible what are you talking about why don't you raise the energy out
07:54for the Raiders now you're gonna tell us we don't have energy stop it come on now
07:58go rehab your hamstring injury and tell me you're okay Garrett Wilson zero fun
08:05at listen New York City rent very expensive you wonder if you can build
08:11that inside even a penthouse a ton of midweek changes to get ready for week
08:16number eight around the NFL new quarterback stepping up and in because
08:20of injuries and new offensive play callers in Cleveland new quarterback
08:25first Jamis Winston takes over for the injured to Sean Watson not the second
08:30year pro Dorian Thompson Robinson who was the second string quarterback last
08:34week in Jamis was the reserve emergency third string QB Jamis Winston has played
08:41in five games this year for the Browns his first in the land he has attempted
08:46only 12 passes what might be even more interesting DRS than Jamis Winston the
08:51veteran starting for the injured Deshaun Watson is the fact that Kevin
08:55Stefanski a two-time NFL coach of the year in his five seasons in Cleveland is
09:02handing over play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey who
09:07last year of course was the OC in Buffalo was fired midway through the
09:11year they turned over play-calling duties to Joe Brady what do you make of
09:15the situation for a Browns team that is a dreadful one and six to start this
09:20season it's not going to get any better you look at those games to seven games
09:24through Bend Avenue got to the 20-point marker 17 18 15 16 13 16 and 14 you're
09:30not winning very many football games if any in the National Football League
09:33doing that so now you say all right let's change the play caller and maybe
09:36Kevin Stefanski is doing this to sort of save himself like this team is so bad
09:41like if I hand it off and Dorsey doesn't have any success for the next five weeks
09:45well it's not my fault it's just the bad players that we have and granted he's
09:48right the offensive line that was so big and physical in the past banged up and
09:52not as physical now yes Chubb is coming back but who knows how healthy he's
09:56gonna be down the stretch wide receiving core is basically Judy now at this point
10:00and also you're about to deal within a week in a week and a half you're gonna
10:03lose even more players at the trade deadline because this season is up and
10:06smoke it's a cornerbacks you're trading defensive linemen like Myles Garrett who
10:09a contender would love to have and you can get a premium back maybe a first
10:13round traffic and more for him those are conversations you're gonna have to have
10:16in the room but you're gonna put listen listen this though it's not as if like
10:19let me give you a soft landing spot let's play the Giants and the New
10:21England Patriots next week it's the Ravens it's the Chargers it's the Saints
10:25who are probably healthier at that point the Steelers the Broncos the Steelers
10:29the Chiefs the Bengals the Dolphins the Ravens like where I know I know you
10:33kids any given Sunday you can win on any week here this is such a bad team
10:37that's getting even more injured and hurt on a week-to-week basis and the
10:41deadlines coming up honestly what is there over under now from here on out on
10:45that schedule two wins realistically maybe two wins it it's literally what it
10:51is odds maker right side three-and-a-half is the updated total for
10:56the Cleveland Browns they have the second shortest number to have the worst
11:01record in the NFL this year at plus 230 the Patriots have that best or shortest
11:07price of plus 220 the other one win team in Carolina is plus 320 as well and
11:14Donnie we've done this song and dance with Cleveland pretty much every single
11:18offseason since Baker Mayfield was drafted first overall of course Baker is
11:22in Tampa now there's always optimism because of how talented the roster is
11:27outside of the quarterback position and even last year Kevin Stefanski guided
11:34Joe Flacco in Cleveland to 11 wins and a playoff berth for the Browns this year
11:41it's very different listen there are nine and a half point home dog in front
11:44of the dog pound on Sunday against maybe the NFL's best team but certainly the
11:49hottest team in the National Football League at this moment that's the
11:52Baltimore Ravens on a five-game win streak maybe they can cover they've
11:56only covered once in their six losses this year it was two weeks ago against
12:01Philadelphia as an eight-and-a-half point road dog and to your point Donnie
12:04right there at the end of that little clip reel about Cleveland we saw Miles
12:09Garrett if there's any player that has some value to the rest of the NFL that
12:13could be dealt ahead of the deadline it is probably they're very talented
12:17defensive standout for Cleveland yeah hey look another rebuilding rebuilding
12:22Cleveland get ready for that one is that they haven't heard that all so many
12:25times before and you take a look even at that filled up the Eagles game which
12:28was 20 to 16 that was a blocked field that made that closer and quite frankly
12:32if that game was another minute and a half longer the Eagles after that AJ
12:35Brown pass would have been in the red zone probably punch in a touchdown to
12:37get no covers out of the Cleveland Browns there's nothing worse for morale
12:41inside a locker room when you know you might not be there in a week and a half
12:44to two weeks your season is already over in your month of October now some of
12:48these players are going self-preservation mode and the organization will do the
12:51same by saying let's play let's look at some younger players in some of these
12:55key roles down the stretch and as we just pointed out that schedule that's
12:58not an easy one at all this Brown see no went up and spoke very quickly a very
13:04difficult spot for Jameis Winston to make his starting debut in Cleveland not
13:10much of an easier spot for Bryce Young to return to the lineup for Carolina on
13:15Sunday out in mile-high taking on a really good Denver Broncos defense the
13:21Bryce Young is starting you can call it for whatever reason Andy Dalton and his
13:26family unfortunately involved in a car accident this week he injured his thumb
13:31in the accident he is now on the sideline Bryce Young returns as the
13:36starter it was probably the right determination
13:39Andy Dalton's giving you a whole bunch of nothing you're a one-win football
13:44team you have only covered in that one outright victory this year for the
13:48Panthers as an underdog in all 24 games since the start of last year you are 5
13:5317 and 2 ATS but you feel for Bryce Young DRS because he goes up against the
14:00Denver defense that is the third best scoring in total defense in the NFL
14:05fifth best passing defense in the National Football League and has
14:08recorded 28 total sacks this season only behind the New York Giants for the second
14:14most team sacks in the National Football League have fun Bryce yeah have
14:20a lot of fun here because you're looking at that we have a little fun right with
14:23that Raiders game 36 to 22 hey look how much fun that was was okay against the
14:28Bengals and the bottom fell out as it should with Andy Dalton with an
14:31untalented roster he scored 10 points 20 points in a blowout and then seven
14:35points with the commanders absolutely destroy you without their starting
14:38quarterback now you're going into Denver into elevation with a team that's gonna
14:41be fresh coming off that blast that they had against the New Orleans Saints
14:45this isn't a good look and also from a Bryce Young standpoint I guarantee you
14:49Ben they told him when he got sat down against the Raiders this is gonna be
14:52extended layoff we might bring you back at the end of the season try to get
14:55refocused here Bryce Young's telling you why prepare each and every week I'm the
14:58starter he wasn't ready to be the starter this week and I think it's gonna
15:01be a show it also that wide receiver room that at least was running routes
15:04thinking they might get the football they're back to being dead on arrive
15:07like we're never getting the football let's go Dinkin dug down the field get
15:10ready Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders this will be your day here let's run it into
15:14the ground a lot of cardio for Deontay Johnson and Adam Phelan and but at
15:20altitude whoo tough take on Sunday for those Panthers wide receivers you feel
15:26for Bryce Young because even if it's not in Charlotte maybe somewhere else in the
15:30NFL as an audition not a good look on Sunday other headlines that's ah the NFL
15:37drama entering a new week good for Robert Sulla making his way to the
15:43outskirts of Lambeau Field yesterday in Green Bay Wisconsin his old buddy Matt
15:48LaFleur of course the head coach of the Packers he was there at practice
15:52yesterday LaFleur telling reporters afterward he might work in some sort of
15:56advisory role on Green Bay's staff that's fantastic you go to the place
16:03where Aaron Rodgers spent 18 years for a guy that he did not like at the end of
16:08his tenure that is Matt LaFleur and you just needle him you just stick it in his
16:13side you want to kick me out of town well I'll go to the place that thinks
16:17that you are a legend and make sure that I leave a lasting impact as well good
16:22for Robert Sulla who was scapegoated in this entire thing in terms of his tenure
16:27with the New York Jets yeah he'll be a defensive coordinator in the NFL next
16:31year and it's also always good like once you can sort of step away from a
16:34situation that was extremely toxic as we know in New York the benefits went both
16:38ways though to be honest because Robert Sulla I don't think would have made it
16:40through another year unless Aaron Rodgers actually gave him his blessing
16:43in the offseason to the owner to bring back the entire staff but then when
16:46things start going bad the first guy to go is gonna be the coach not the
16:49high-expensive overpaid aging quarterback at this point but I like the
16:53fact that he's going to Green Bay getting a look at what a real winning
16:56organization looks like once again which he saw for the San Francisco 49ers
17:00staying involved in the game and only help him going into next year so I love
17:04when coaches you're not hey I got fired and let me get a one-way ticket to where
17:08was it Thailand or Singapore which are the offensive coordinator I did in the
17:12end yeah exactly I don't know when I'm coming back at least he's staying in the
17:18market and having some fun at this point right now so no one way maybe a one way
17:22to Green Bay you start to make a point about a guy whose name you don't even
17:28know and a destination that you could not remember but now I ride again most
17:34people aren't gonna say like hey then I don't remember that guy went there I do
17:36so when I'm trying to make the point I'm trying to remember who the actual quick
17:39head coach was at the same time so there you go
17:42but then all together we don't plan things on this show it's right off the
17:45top you know keep going you sell it or forget sure that you fight through it
17:50nothing is scripted here DRS as we shared at the start of the show John
17:54Mara at the debut of his father's documentary a giant life Wellington
17:59Mara whatever says no changes will be made this season in the firings of head
18:04coach Brian day ball or general manager Joe Shane and does not anticipate any
18:10moves this offseason I don't buy into the offseason stuff find the regular
18:15season who cares the job by the way the judge is doing everything backwards like
18:18you save pops documentary for when you're good save the all season for the
18:23Giants when it's not your worst all season the history of football and put
18:26it on TV and how about save your throwback jerseys that look awful that
18:30people will probably pawn off as oh they're okay if your organization is
18:33good everything the Giants do is terrible which includes their general
18:37manager Joe Shane and their head coach Brian D'Abel the minute they okayed the
18:41situation to bring Daniel Jones back that means they were in bed that a whole
18:45time with their right you throw it out throw the baby out with the bath where
18:49the owners got to go the general manager got to go the head coach has to go and
18:52this coming from a guy that absolutely loved the move for Brian D'Abel to go to
18:56New York but he proved his metal by saying you know what Daniel Jones is our
18:59franchise guy congratulations Brian you're a terrible head coach just let
19:03one thought you should be fired here's the really interesting dynamic with
19:08Daniel Jones all of the guaranteed money was paid up front there's really not
19:12anything on the books that is drastic after this season so I wonder if that
19:17gives Shane and D'Abel a little bit more life yeah so DRS injury news as we know
19:26and as we anticipated Jaden Daniels not really on track to play and what should
19:31have been a great matchup of one versus two Caleb Williams and the Bears
19:34Daniels and the commanders on Sunday in Washington did not practice yesterday
19:40due to a rib injury the Bears are a two and a half point road favorite all signs
19:45that Jaden Daniels unfortunately not likely to play on Sunday afternoon yeah
19:50shout out the NFL for sliding that game into the four o'clock pier which is now
19:53a dead football game that nobody cares about Caleb Williams taking on Marcus
19:57Mariota when you actually could have had Joe Burrow taking on Jalen Hurts at 425
20:00and your boy DRS actually could have watched that entire game now he'll be
20:03driving and not be able to watch that football game against Cincinnati so
20:06shout out the NFL for losing that argument there great job I knew there
20:11was I knew there was some personal eggs coming with that how about this story
20:14for one of the best kickers maybe the best kicker in the NFL maybe the only
20:18bright spot for Dallas this year Brandon Aubrey called for jury duty yesterday in
20:24Arlington mrs. practice was selected to be on the jury for a criminal case DRS I
20:30thought if you had like a job excuse you could get out of jury duty shouldn't he
20:35just be like hey I kicked field goals with the Dallas Cowboys and that would
20:38have worked no no you call up and be like you know what I played for the
20:42Cowboys go what position kicker yeah get your ass in here and get the jury
20:45duty you don't even have a job pal you don't you're not needed Monday Tuesday
20:48Wednesday Thursday Friday or Saturday get your head you know what next week
20:52you're going on federal jury duty as well pal welcome to our number two live
20:57right here on this Thursday on the early line on sports grid he is Donnie right
21:02side I am Ben Stevens this Thursday begins a new week in the National
21:07Football League week number eight kicks off tonight in Los Angeles can the Rams
21:11resurrect their season and avoid being sellers at the trade deadline with many
21:17of the impactful players in this organization over the last half decade
21:21being on the shopping block can the Minnesota Vikings after suffering their
21:25first loss of the season a week ago in an NFC North thriller against the Lions
21:30bounce back and get back in to the win column it's a short week Thursday night
21:35football game DRS and last week after the divisional duels to start off the
21:40year it felt like ah okay here we are we're getting to the middle portion of
21:44the year these short week TNF games are going to be a struggle we saw the
21:49Broncos and the Saints rookie quarterbacks rosters that were depleted
21:53playing on a short week oh boy this is not going to be fun but hey at least
21:58it's football this one I am excited by I am intrigued I am ready to go for
22:03Thursday night in a new week in the NFL yes me too and also we do have a pretty
22:08good matchup tonight and the reason I say that is this is one of those games
22:12that separates the men from the boys because if you're just looking at
22:15betting statistics Ben this is one of the best one you're going to get this
22:19year if you look at both of these teams just record yeah it's like man I don't
22:22understand Minnesota's a much better team understand it's very hard to play
22:26on the road on Thursday night particularly when you're midseason or
22:28later and this isn't one of those environments Bennett's like okay the
22:31Eagles are going to travel to Washington or Washington to travel to Philadelphia
22:34or the Giants going to travel down to Philadelphia and play or it's like just
22:37get on a train you're there in an hour to an hour and a half this is a very
22:41long flight now if you go to the fan blue sports book right now and you take
22:44a look where that opening line was Ben it was a three-point David for the
22:47Viking you look now live at the fan blue sports book it's a minus two and a half
22:51so that's normal we might be getting some action on the Rams but we're not
22:54getting any action on the Rams Ben you look at this number 90% so it's good 9
22:59out of 10 tickets that are coming in on Minnesota did you also know that 90% of
23:03the money at the fan blue sports book is on Minnesota and that line went from
23:08three to minus two and a half that's incredible that's a biggest split you
23:13are going to find in the betting markets between a sharp side and a public side
23:17here but you're saying all of the money and the bets is coming one way and that
23:21line dropped by a half of a point that's incredible and also not just any half
23:25point like oh five and a half to five that's the key number of three three to
23:29two and a half that is massive dropped from a three because the favored team is
23:36getting all of the bets and the odds makers moved it down to give you a more
23:41enticing number on the Vikings who are getting all of the bets PRS I think if
23:48you're going to take two and a half yes it's still points in a National
23:52Football League game just bet the money line on the Rams if like me you love the
23:57number at three or maybe the alternate spread of three and a half on the fan
24:01dual sports book use the 30% profit boost that our lovely sponsor fan duel
24:06is offering up for Thursday night football go to plus three and a half at
24:10minus 148 make the juice a little bit more palatable and get it above a field
24:15goal because I don't think two and a half is really giving you much but I do
24:19think the fishy odds movement and where the line is working kind of indicates
24:25how this game is expected to be I was intrigued to see all the reports that
24:30have been surfacing this week about Cooper Cup was on the doorstep of being
24:34a Kansas City chief that the Rams are getting calls from everybody and maybe
24:38making some calls themselves to see what they can get back in terms of draft
24:42assets for Cooper Cup who did not play last week was still out and inactive
24:49against the Raiders potentially to return with this short week Thursday
24:53night football game on the horizon and I was a little bit surprised to see some
24:58of the trade rumors on Matthew Stafford and where the veteran quarterback might
25:02end up why am I surprised well the Rams are a two and four football team who won
25:08their second game of the year last week by five in a tight one against the
25:12Raiders despite forcing four turnovers from Gardner Minshew and not covering as
25:17a full touchdown favorite at home Donnie I think LA's got a little bit of juice
25:22the defense is getting healthier the offensive line is so much more healthy
25:27than it was in the opening month of the year Cooper Cup should be back tonight
25:32Pukunukuwa eligible to return from the IR in a few weeks I think the Rams
25:38resurrect their season tonight so again if you're going to bet the spread do
25:43what I advocated for buy it up to three in your certain spot or on FanDuel use a
25:48profit boost and take the plus three and a half to make the juice not as
25:52substantial I'm looking at LA here is the home team on a short week even
25:57against a good Vikings team that had their first loss of the year just this
26:01past Sunday and also the Rams trying to look out to the horizon because I do
26:06feel that this is one of those games we like to call a referendum because this
26:09is going to decide what we're doing as a Rams organization you pick up a win
26:14against the Vikings and then you look at the standings in the NFC West which like
26:17oh no well the 49ers are six in over five to one no they're not oh my
26:21goodness how can we catch Seattle there's no they're not so far ahead you
26:24win this game you might be able to sell that franchise on let's not make these
26:28moves to blow it up because if Cooper Cup is healthy now and Pukunukuwa is on
26:32the horizon Kyron Williams is a top five running back in the NFL Matthew Stafford
26:36is a veteran quarterback that's won a Super Bowl and you're right that defense
26:39is young but is getting healthier at the time frame there's a chance that you can
26:43still make a run the advent of the seventh playoff team which is the extra
26:46wild-card always helps you out but I have a feeling if they lose this game
26:49we're going in the opposite direction everything's off the table the season is
26:53over so I do buy into where you're saying that three-point line go to two
26:56and a half well why Donnie Minnesota's a better football team understand that but
27:00sometimes the circumstances of the environment you're about to play in are
27:03gonna be some of the deciding factors which we just told you Minnesota short
27:07work week finally taking a loss oh we lost that game now we got a win go on
27:11the road quick turnaround on the Thursday on a long travel night against
27:14a team as we just said that maybe be playing their Super Bowl on Thursday to
27:18save their season or decide if your quarterback your wide receiver
27:21defenders whoever is gonna be on the move the next week a lot of that's
27:25playing into which I think is keeping that line three slash two and a half
27:28right now no doubt about it DRS if for whatever reason I am wrong the Rams do
27:34not resurrect their season they don't win outright this week even if they
27:37cover as a two and a half three three and a half point underdog depending on
27:41how you want to play the spread they are going to be a two and five football team
27:45probably looking to the future of their franchise a huge game for the Rams who
27:50are one and four against the spread as an underdog this year a dog and five of
27:55six their first game as a true favorite last week against Las Vegas they did not
28:00cover last year as an underdog six three and one against the number much better
28:06Minnesota who was perfect and unbeaten entering last week at five and Oh
28:11suffered their first loss against Detroit but in a great game also covered
28:16in their opening five victories of the year Donnie when the line was at three
28:19though in favor of Kevin O'Connell's Vikings it was the largest spread in
28:23their favor all year long ten nine and two against the spread since the start
28:29of 2022 that was the first year under Kevin O'Connell we have shared a lot
28:34about the outlook for the Rams how crucial this game is a win total in the
28:39preseason at eight and a half expected to flirt with the postseason for a
28:43second straight year that has dropped now to six and a half you see the
28:46playoff price from minus 112 to plus 610 quickly DRS for the Vikings first loss
28:52last week a lot of fishy line movement here that might result in their second
28:56consecutive loss after a perfect 5 at 0 start there were some that felt like the
29:01Vikings maybe weren't the best undefeated team in the NFL but it built
29:05up enough to be a good enough team to be there at the end of the road how do
29:10you feel about the Vikings now entering week 8 I still like the Vikings do I
29:15think they're on the top Pantheon no I don't even think that the top two team
29:17in their own division but there's still quality football team that's looks like
29:20they're probably gonna make the playoffs but if we keep it simple to look at the
29:24Rams schedule remove that anomaly game against the Cardinals which is 41 to 10
29:27the other games yeah I think's the best game in NFC 2620 on the road the 49ers
29:32who they beat 2724 back-to-back loss against the Bears and the Packers good
29:36teams by a touchdown or less this team will fight plenty more from Thursday
29:41night again a lot at stake tonight on Thursday night football to kick off week
29:46number eight it is a week a game between the Rams and the Vikings Minnesota is
29:51five and one their first loss of the season just a Sunday ago in a divisional
29:56duel against the Lions the Rams are a 2 and 4 football team a victory last week
30:03out of the by against the Las Vegas Raiders did not cover though as a
30:07touchdown favorite inside SoFi Stadium but Donnie the reason there is so much
30:13at stake for Minnesota you're trying to prove you're the ilk of the 5 and 0 team
30:17and not a team that suffers two consecutive losses especially here as a
30:22favorite albeit on the road short week Thursday night football game but more
30:26importantly for the Rams if you want to keep the band together if Matthew
30:31Stafford still wants to be having his morning coffee with Cooper Cup and
30:34having their podcast together and throwing footballs to one another you
30:39more than likely have to win tonight not just cover but win tonight there has
30:42been so much speculation reporting and rumors around the Rams ahead of the NFL
30:47trade deadline that's in just about a week and a half could Matthew Stafford
30:52be on the move could Cooper Cup be treated we got reports that Cup was
30:56going to end up in KC like the Andre Hopkins did yesterday if they had been
31:02able to negotiate a draft pick or two so Donnie when we talk about Cup and
31:07Stafford tonight knowing the importance of this Thursday night game what do you
31:12expect production wise I expect pretty good production but also we're dealing
31:17with a injured wide receiver coming back and saying all right I'm gonna be
31:20healthy is gonna still be in tune with Matthew Stafford expectations their
31:23professionals they've had great success in the past and they should be okay but
31:26I'm always leery of guys coming off for injuries and how much that usage rate is
31:30actually going to be but the bigger story is like when I was surfing around
31:34yesterday trying to get some information and see the trending topics whereas
31:37Matthew Stafford might be on the move and I was quite shocked that you see
31:41that I wouldn't be surprised if Cooper Cups on the move or some other players
31:44but the quarterback because you have to have partners to go along with it where
31:48it makes sense and like some of the news stories like I didn't like big
31:51following accounts like Matthew Stafford going to Minnesota like it didn't make
31:55any sense oh yeah if he was on the trade block Ben where is he actually going
32:00that makes sense who needs a quarterback now and can take on cuz it's like oh
32:04well they could just go to Miami but Miami is to attack about locked up and
32:07they're expecting to come back in a couple weeks like if you go to
32:10Minnesota that means you're admitting Sam Donner was undefeated but he's a
32:13terrible quarterback and you take Matthew Stafford on so then JJ McCarthy
32:17just wrapped in the first round is obsolete next year like I can't quite
32:20figure out like if he's on the block who's actually taking him yeah I don't
32:25really get it either he's also a veteran so are you trying to use him as a rental
32:30do you want him there for the next few years it doesn't really make sense we
32:35know that you Stafford no I don't know yeah exactly and you would still think
32:40the Titans then would invest in moving forward with a young quarterback if
32:44you're going to have one of the worst records in the NFL despite the investment
32:48that clearly has failed with Will Levis we know what Matthew Stafford is this
32:53year though the numbers not overly gaudy three touchdowns to four interceptions
32:57again DRS on Sunday there were reports that Cooper Cup was going to return for
33:02his first action to take on the Las Vegas Raiders since very early in the
33:08season he did not he was still inactive the Rams found a way to win that
33:12football game the thought was okay he didn't come back on Sunday knowing what
33:16the Rams have on the horizon huge Thursday night game on a short week
33:20hosting the Vikings there are prompts out for Cooper Cup tonight six and a
33:25half receptions sixty six and a half receiving yards to five painter at plus
33:29130 there were some that thought a Cooper Cup is back on Sunday Stafford
33:35is going to deliver him the football non-stop what do you expect out of
33:39Cooper Cup tonight it's interesting because that number was in the low 60s
33:43a fan doing that opened up and now pushed up to 66 and a half because I
33:46think everybody has that same mindset so if Cooper Cup is back in his healthy
33:50that's Matthew Stafford's best friend out there fantastic quarterback great
33:53arm can hit you at any angle slot you have and Cooper Cup is one more dominant
33:57slot receivers and if you factor on they might be losing that game with the total
34:01in the mid to high 40s he's going to be getting a lot of looks and I understand
34:04that but also at the same time as I said you're coming back from injury how
34:07effective are you going to be how many routes are you actually going to run but
34:11also you get from an injury standpoint Ben and sometimes I always look at this
34:15like hey I'm gonna hold that hope on Sunday to see if a guy plays is a game
34:18time decision what are you doing here so you're telling me that he might not be
34:21ready to play hope we give it a go take that guy out of the equation but Sunday
34:25he's not ready to go there but he's gonna be full go on Thursday at that
34:29point right it's not a full week or week and a half or let me give you the extra
34:32week there's not a lot of gap so if he wasn't ready to play Sunday which
34:36they're telling you now he's a hundred percent ready to play on Thursday night
34:40so it's one of those guys where I would like to bet maybe off did a little bit
34:44lower and used it in the same game parlay could make some sense but I've
34:48been down this block before the same time I was asked multiple questions on
34:50Monday night Donnie what do you think about Mike Evans well he's healthy in
34:53place he's gonna be fantastic but the guy's a hamstring injury it's a no bet
34:56for me if you have the anytime touchdown market fantastic you got it right off
35:00the bat we've had anything else you lost that wager betting on injured guys
35:03playing in football games are the expectations you got to lower those
35:07drastically he's probably not gonna be on my board tonight that yeah DRS I
35:11would have to agree right when you look at Cooper Cup and we know the
35:15relationship with Matthew Stafford and how prolific it has been he was banged
35:19up in week two against Arizona week number one in the high scoring game or
35:24relatively high scoring game in overtime against Detroit he had 21 targets 14
35:31grabs a hundred and ten yards and a touchdown again even if he's not a
35:37hundred percent but it's out there the entirety of the game you split those
35:41numbers in half he's more than likely over his props except for the receiving
35:45yards number but flirting with it if he's got seven or eight grabs tonight
35:49but I do agree DRS you know we look at things right as hey the Rams were a
35:54touchdown favorite against a porous Raiders team they didn't need Cooper Cup
35:59for it and they knew that they would be in a competitive game that could dictate
36:03the overall outlook of their season just a few days later on a short week
36:07Thursday night but nobody in the Rams organization would ever admit that was
36:12the thought process right and we don't need Cooper Cup for this game against
36:15Las Vegas as a one-win football team so I don't think that was necessarily the
36:20decision-making which does make you question just how healthy is Cooper Cup
36:24despite the reports that maybe he was ready to go on Sunday exactly you're
36:29trying to trust the medical doctors that are in the room right you're trying to
36:32trust that they have the best opportunity and Cooper Cup also has a
36:35part where he has to be truthful on what's begging him and maybe it just wasn't
36:39right son as you know give me a day or two I think I'll be fine that's what
36:42you anticipate but also keep in mind the last thing you want to do is run Cooper
36:45Cup after he's banged up unhealthy has two catches for 21 yards and limps
36:48around that's not going to help his draft status so there has to be a
36:51thought process in the room to like he's ready to go we're ready to showcase
36:55them come on and make us offers whether it's an impact when a game or that
37:00audition Johnny is correct the rest of the props for Thursday next the players
37:05and the props that will dictate the outcome on Thursday night football in Los
37:09Angeles we showed you the season-long yardage for Matthew Stafford because of
37:14the importance and significance of this short week Thursday night football game
37:18now his prop against Minnesota 237 and a half on the other side it is Sammy D
37:25Sam Darnold 243 and a half up by about six yards from where Stafford is the RS
37:32first four games of the year for Minnesota multiple touchdown passes in
37:36all four including a game of four and three for Darnold last two weeks only
37:42one touchdown to two interceptions for Sammy D how do you compare the
37:48quarterbacks entering tonight in LA it's hard to try to gauge because again it's
37:53a Thursday football game typically have a little bit more of a sloppy performance
37:56guys coming and banged up I get that and I'm not saying we're gonna attack the
37:59ground game but I do like the ground game a little bit more than the passing
38:02game tonight from a quarterback's perspective like you are looking at
38:05Stafford 237 and a half veteran guys should be able to get over that that's a
38:08quality defense for Minnesota flip it over to Sam Darnold 243 and a half how
38:12much are they gonna rely on him as you said not as hot to start the season and
38:15also the way that the Minnesota Vikings are using him in that offense maybe you
38:19don't have a book on him for the first two to three games defensive
38:22coordinators are smart they adapt quickly and make those adjustments and
38:25changes and that's what the expectations will be tonight you look at those
38:28touchdown props over one and a half for both guys used a little bit differently
38:31and rightfully so Matthew Stafford over one and a half and a plus 116 Sam
38:35Darnold over at a one and a half at a minus 122 price they both should be able
38:39to throw at least a touchdown a piece but I'm not running to the window bet on
38:42either one of these quarterbacks on either one of those props because we're
38:46also taking a look at two guys that don't run all that much necessarily
38:50particularly not Matthew Stafford so not a lot of angles for me that I love from
38:53the quarterback position tonight Sam Darnold actually interestingly enough in
38:59three of six games this year half of them has had 15 or more yards on the
39:03ground ran the ball four times for 39 yards last week against Detroit but the
39:08Vikings DRS are the third worst passing defense in the NFL and there's been some
39:14that have been slightly skewed because they were up so big against the Packers
39:17and Jordan Love went nuclear and we've seen them throw for a lot of yards same
39:22against the New York Jets Aaron Rodgers ended up throwing for a ton because they
39:26were down by so many in that game but last week the Lions really played from
39:31in front Jared golf was 22 of 25 for 280 yards and two touchdown tosses so the
39:38Vikings not great defending the pass but a pretty good football team outside
39:42of that in terms of their defense this year this stood out to me DRS for the
39:46Vikings six games this year under in four over in two the only two overs for
39:51the Vikes against NFC North competition in the high scoring games against Green
39:56Bay and of course last week against the Lions they allowed 60 points in the two
40:00divisional games they allowed 47 points combined in the four non NFC North games
40:06this year the Rams not great defending the run Aaron Jones can he make an
40:13impact tonight for the Minnesota Vikings you see the props it looks good 67 and a
40:19half 24 and a hook is no are are those two numbers for Aaron Aaron Jones Kyron
40:25Williams on the other side has scored a rushing touchdown in nine consecutive
40:31regular season games his anytime touchdown place the DRS reflects that at
40:35minus 180 yeah he's a lethal running back I love him 73 and a half it is up a
40:40little bit earlier from what it was this week but also you take a look at that
40:42touchdown prop at minus 180 you're not getting any discounts on the guys that
40:46absolutely get fed the football inside the red zone and Kyron Williams is one
40:49of those players I still would look at him as an anytime touchdown number maybe
40:52some of those rushing yards but here's with Aaron Jones I get back to Nico
40:55Collins of the Texans he had that hamstring injury played a week later and
40:59was phenomenal the next week he catches that long touchdown pass and it snaps
41:03the only reason I bring that up is you see the hip slash hamstring injury which
41:07last week Aaron Jones was fine if he's healthy this week he should hit that 67
41:11and have to be honest but I still do have that oh no midway through you play
41:15the game on Sunday now you're playing Thursday that's a double test on that
41:18leg that really rebound have enough time to effectively rehab over this week to
41:22get right next game so it's a little bit tough and also if you're looking for
41:25secondary options Minnesota doesn't really play that all that much if you're
41:28running back is healthy and playing with you saw this week of Aaron Jones
41:31Chandler doesn't get a lot of work so it's a tough game they're gonna have to
41:34analyze a little bit further into the afternoon but if you are looking at both
41:37of those running backs if they are healthy that's probably the angle I go
41:41in the touchdown market and the yardage market tonight yeah Kyron Williams one
41:45of six running back since the year 2000 in this millennium to have nine
41:49consecutive regular season games with a rushing touchdown Aaron Jones has only
41:55scored twice this year but does have four of six games where he has had at
41:58least a hundred and nine scrimmage yards he has been a great addition this
42:02offseason we'll talk more profit Tom Vecchio later just know for Justin
42:06Jefferson he's enjoyed having Sam Donald as his quarterback at least 81 receiving
42:11yards in the last five games 84 and a half is that number five receiving
42:16scores for JJ at this year we talked about the Rams wideouts and if Cooper
42:21Cup returns what that looks like