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Mac & Read: Vikings @ Bears Home Opener Preview

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Mac & Read discuss the incredible opening win against the Panthers and how the Bears can keep the momentum going against Minnesota. Plus, winners and losers in Week 1 of NFL action and more!

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Mac & Read: Vikings @ Bears Home Opener Preview

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2nd City Gridiron — Mac & Read: Vikings @ Bears Home Opener Preview. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

You're listening to this podcast so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact that you may not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with progressive save over $900 on average. They make it super simple. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions, and you'll get a quick quote with coverage options tailored to your choices. Plus you'll see which discounts you may qualify for, like the online quote discount or savings for paying in full. In fact, 99% of progressive auto customers earn at least one discount. See if you could save when you switch to progressive. You'll feel good about making a savvy choice. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little extra cash back. Progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates, national average 12 month savings of $946 by new customer surveyed who saved with progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary. Flip is your home to win this football season. Think your QB is drawing for 300 yards?

Flip right he is. Running back, finding the end zone? Flip yeah. Pick two or more players and go over under on their stats. Passing yards, rushing yards, catches, touchdowns. However, you football, there's a way to flip it. New customers get a deposit match up to $250 plus bonus cash on every flip and deposit. Download Flip. Use promo code steel. Must be 18 plus. No purchase necessary void where prohibited. Restrictions applied. Play responsibly. See get flipped on con for eligibility terms and full promotion rules. What's happening everybody? Welcome into another edition of the Mac and Read Show right here on Second City Grid Iron. Follow at Second City Grid Iron for all your bears news, subscribe to the YouTube channel. If you get the audio only versions on Spotify iTunes, remember to like, subscribe. Tell a friend or two, of course, look up the great articles or courts are writing up as well at Windows City Grid Iron, at WC Grid Iron on social media.

We got a full slate of bears programming every week now. Bear in balance making monsters bears over beers bears banter. List goes on and on guest galore insight galore. I'm Evan Mac at the real Evan Mac on social media. Join us always by my co host. He dreams of one day bagging a pale goth the baddie like Drake. That looks like Drake. He says might be out on branded Johnson's reelection campaign for cringy social media content alone. And he slept six feet away from me this past weekend for a couple nights. He's at Ross read on social media. Check out his weekly series over there at the link on ax latest gentleman. It's Ross read. We did it. We were roommates for a weekend. We brought home a man never did before. Now we can't now. We can never do it yet, but we still have not sat in a stadium together. But we did it. Hello, Vizzo Joe. Welcome everybody. Nice to see your face Ross after our not talking to each other much Monday. Hang over Monday, but a nice travel day and bringing home the bears victory.

Baby, let's. We are one and oh a outstanding result will relive a little of the past to start the show. But a lot of this show will also be spent preparing for the Minnesota Vikings much like the bears are right now. We'll go over the injury report and expectations matchups to watch. It'll be good divisional matchup as Jim Cornelis and we'll be singing the anthem and got a peanut as an honorary captain, which is cool. NFL winners and losers, of course, and some surprises along the way, but let's get into it. I mean, waiting this whole week to just speak a little bit on this past Sunday's result and boy, I mean, absolutely the best bears debut in several years by far. I mean, the most and really the first win in several years, you look at 2022 when it was that wet field at soldier field and Justin fields and company one against the Niners and slid on the wet field was very cool.

And I'll I'll take this 10 times out of 10. Thank you very much, though, to think about the claims of, you know, Ben Johnson and his mentality going into the season. We want to be the highest scoring offense in the league. Everybody said, yes, sure Caleb's nice. The bears probably going to regress though blah, blah, blah. They coming up swinging on a gorgeous day and Charlotte on the road. Over a hundred degrees on the field. We were feeling it ourselves just thrash the Panthers. And yes, it was close. It was a great, you know, scoring a fair through the first half really bears pulled away in the second half was the defense bad. Yes, you got to make adjustments. There were there were besides a couple of nice plays. It was a poor effort. And that is Alan's got to tighten it up and the rest of this squad as a whole, but, you know, it's rendering 37 points on any day. It's not good. Incredible day rushing the ball in the opposite end. When we talked about how Ben Johnson will really have to carry this team and the offense and Caleb Williams will have to carry the bears going forward just a monster game on the ground with three touchdowns for Deontary Swift to for Caleb, where crowned himself.

Amos nice one scamper for Kyle Menunguy for 61 yards and then a couple beauties through the air for Caleb Williams as well getting come at involved getting Jede Walker involved. We got not getting involved. Frankly was a post in love and who we will talk about shortly in his expectations for sure, but holy hell. This is the best bears offense I've ever seen. I mean, perhaps it's the Charlotte heat just getting to me. What an opener. You know, anything I didn't mention Ross that stands out because they just really came out swing and put the legal notice and vaulting themself into that, you know, keeping themselves in that top five conversation, which I feel like people question. But we need to. Yeah, they did. I mean, listen, we talked about last week in the game, you know, Ben Johnson really wanted to come out this year and be explosive on the ground. That's what he talked about leading into the season. He's made an emphasis of that this offensive lines built that way. These wide receivers, these tight ends are built to block in this scheme and get guys open and lo and behold, listen, that pants is defense.

It's not a terrible defense on paper. They've got some guys in that defense that are pretty good. They were playing at home. There's even though there's a lot of Chicago bearers fans there as we both know, you know, it was about 50 50 in my opinion. But yeah, it was, but 291 yards on the ground to running backs with over 100 yards and a 7.5 yard per carry clip and six pounds on the ground. And that's the thing is is when your head coach who who's an offensive genius comes out and says, this year, I want to be explosive and punch people in the mouth and get big time plays on the ground. And he backs it up in week one. I think he just put the entire NFL on notice and people are going to, people have been saying this whole off season. This is the Ben Johnson, Kayla Williams show and Kayla Williams is going to ascend to an MVP candidate. He very well could, you know, we could see it because he was very impressive as well. In the ground on the ground and in the air, but I just think this running game and what it's going to look like this year, that was a precursor to something very special to me.

And you know, we can talk about the energy swift getting his extension right before the season started, which was really cool for him. He's going to be a bear for a couple more years. Kalmanangai, you know, was coming into the game with a little bit of a situation that kept him out. He looked great. He looked healthy, especially as he broke off that huge run for a touchdown there. That's 61 yarder that he had. And when you have two backs like that, and also you have a quarterback that can do that in the pocket and do those things with design runs. It's just a very scary football team. And to me, the passing game didn't even come close to reaching the levels that they could reach. Talk about close and level to only two targets, zero catches. They really keyed in on him. It was actually a lot of dink and dump in my opinion. It was Cleaf Raymond, eight catches for 84 yards that led the way and nine targets. The pants were doing what they could to take away the explosive pass. But because of that, Kale Williams was very smart. Check the ball down.

He protected the football. He got it to guys to make plays and then the running game took over. And it was really impressive to see. You know, one one one one fumble. You know, from Luther Burton on that one play. But outside of that, I thought it was just pre-floorless performance by the Bears offense on Sunday in that heat, man, which was really impressive, especially we have. I don't I want to save the offensive live because they get some major, major credit as well. You know, you go around like the best performers of week one and you know NFL will put that out of Fox or whoever. And it's like, all right, this offensive put like Josh Allen a quarterback as CD, it wrote wide receiver, the Bears offensive line, the Bears offensive line. Fudos to DeAndres who have kudos to Kyle Menongai, that scamper was probably my favorite part of the game. Just being a part of that scene of 60 plus yards scamper for him to break out like that was incredible. But the offensive line is just going to be mulling people like this all year long.

And we've harped on it repeatedly and, you know, obviously some changes and question at left tackle and you know, you change up at center, you lose your all pro guy or your, you know, pro bowl guy, if you will, at center in the off season. And now you don't skip a beat. And this was a big reason why the Bears were successful offensively last year. And DeAndres who have earned every bit of that three year contract and commonungai, what a good compliment that these two are to each other, the thunder and lightning, just power backs and and you know, catch out of the backfield and, and Agile is the next guys. Again, just a poor day for the defense, but you know, 550 plus yards for the Bears overall, they were really great on third down, which I like to see the efficiency there as far as 10 for 14 that one fourth down. Play was like the one where they were at their own 30 or whatever like you take that away, maybe move on from that. And that's just the nutcase that Ben Johnson is and he is unfazed by that.

It did not bite them, you know, like you said, almost 300 yards rushing Ross on the day and that seven and a half yard clip is just incredible. Four for four in the red zone also painters before for four for both teams, you know, you know, in the penalty zone. But you know, turnovers eventually came. I will say for the the Bears defense, like, you know, you got to find some silver linings and how that defense played a little bit. I will say Dylan, Dylan, they've been with a pretty good solid game. You know, it's going to be tough, you know, 10 tackles. It's going to be tough for him to adjust to the speed and that's, you know, Jalen cocker got off, you know, went off on the whole defense. They have a much tougher test, which will preview shortly. But I think, you know, given the expectations, it's very, you know, rookie heavy, especially in the back, back field. You know, the time will come and I do believe in Dennis Allen and his playmaking ability and his way to scheme against these top off fences. But, you know, again, goes back to the decision making from the ice man.

He looked really. Oist and that second half, it didn't take their foot off the gas and kept that pace up score in 28 and that that second half, I believe as well. It was an incredible effort. And now the question is how do you come off that and Ben Johnson was harping all week. He's like, we want soldier field to be in that same breath as like the Kansas City Chief Stadium with you as the 12th man with Seattle. On soldier field to be bump, which is hilarious given the talk of the moving to Gary and all that narrative right now, which we won't give any time further to on this show today. But all that to be said, it will be rock in. It will be rainy perhaps so that could put a wrench into these scoring potential, not to mention that the Vikings just coming off a 39 point win against the divisional phone. Green Bay Packers just dumping them in their home opener. Justin Jefferson looking good. DJ Hockinson looking healthy. You know, that offense was really humming along. So that all leads into the preview here with bears and Vikings kicking things off in week two.

I should say also, bills and lines will be great. Thursday night matchup tonight, but we'll talk about that in a bit. I guess first of all, Ross, you know, regarding like the narrative of, you know, say Brian Flores and what he has cooked up. To slow down Ben Johnson's offense, you know, how fun is this to watch those two mines go against each other? And what do you think, you know, Brian Flores can even do to slow down Ben Johnson in this bears offense? Yeah, it's a lot of fun. And these guys have been going back and forth with each other. Remember, Ben Johnson obviously was the offensive coordinator for Lions. So they've been facing each other for quite a bit now. Brian Flores, notoriously as a guy that likes to send a lot of pressure towards the quarterback's way and likes to blitz off the edge. And really disrupt the quarterback and disrupt the rhythm of the offense. And what Ben Johnson likes to do is he likes to call out a misdirection place to get that defense to stay off balance, to stay honest a little bit. I do think that, you know, listen, for as much as I don't want to give credit to that Vikings team for winning week one,

because they do deserve a lot of credit for being the Packers. And the Packers shopped themselves in the foot quite a bit there. A lot of bad counties. Sure. It's a matter of bad day from Jordan Love. Yeah, Jordan Love. It was. He had a good game. And I thought, you know, he was really impressive considering he was running for his life for a lot of that game. The Packers have some serious issues on their offensive line, that they need to fix. And the Vikings stick advantage of that. This is going to be a little bit different game for the Vikings. Now, all of a sudden they've got to come on the road into social field. They've got to go outside, like you said. Might be a little bit of increment weather. And from there, you know, they're going to have to stay a little bit more honest. The Bears have a better Russian game. And the Bears have a much better offensive line. That's going to be able to protect Caleb Williams. And we saw it on Sunday in person. We've seen it time after time. Caleb Williams is super elusive. Even when you think you have them down, like the parents have stopped multiple times on Sunday. There he goes. And he's taking off. He's running for a first down. He's running for a 20-something year touchdown.

So it's just a little bit different ballgame for them. It was going to be fun. That chest match was always going to be fun. I think at some point, obviously there's some other conflicts that have prevented, in my opinion, Brian Forrest from getting a head coaching job. But he should be out of this division. Please get this guy out of this division already. But on the flip side of it, too, it's like, listen, it's Carson Wands over there. I'm not taking away anything away from Carson Wands, I'm not going to let that. But it's going to have to, you think that you can fare a little bit better than the Packers did, playing against Carson Wands in your own building with that crowd. Jim Cornelius is going to be singing the anthem. Peanut Tillman is the honorary captain before the game. It's home-opened of vibes. I really expect as there's defense and ultimate faces to show out. It's unbelievable that Carson Wands is still in the league,

almost to this point, being the journeyman that he is. Kyler Murray is still just nursing, whatever injuries, hampering him right now. Had a little bit of time. Through three passes in an interception in that game. But again, the Vikings offense is no slouch. I mean, the issue with now that you look at if your Bears fan looking ahead to this game is really how are the bears going to slow down this offense? And can they just keep pace? But like you said, soldier field is going to be rocking. I think that defense will get it right and key in on Carson Wands and force him to pass that football, especially with Jordan Mason going out on IR. That's a blessing for the Bears to see. Although Aaron Jones usually has bears number, we will see. Yeah, and then to answer my own question with Brian Flores, he's going to have to throw the kitchen sink at Kyler Williams because you look at how he performed week one. You could get out of any pressure situation. He clearly is cool under pressure. He's really, you know, the complement of wide receivers

around him that, you know, we didn't even talk about that tight rope catch fight where that where Roman Dunes ain't moss that fella. And the, you know, reminiscent that Cole Comet back of the end zone, like over the shoulder throw is just a typical go-to. And the Panthers really wanted to stop Coleston Loveland. They succeeded. They're a catchers. I don't see that happening with the Vikings on Sunday, Rain or not. I think he gets much more involved with the offense. You know, in the injury note, there's not much. I think everybody's just playing it safe as far as, you know, like Malik Muhammad, who's sitting out Wednesday's practice and Swift and Manungai, limited in today's practice, same with Xavier Woods and Jarnel Wright and Deo. That's how it should be. There was nothing, you know, as far as any updates like Jordan Mason to the R, anything of that magnitude. When you look at the Bears injury report, so everybody's looking, you know, outside of Jordan Mason, relatively healthy heading into week two.

You know, do you have a guy that used to be, if it's Loveland, that's fine if we agree there, but you have a guy who you think can go off, Aala, what Swift did or Aala, you know, even what Manungai did this past weekend. I actually think it's going right back to the running game. I know people want to see Caleb Williams do special Caleb Williams things and he still could do it, but they're first round pick, Caleb Banks, the guy that draft the 18th overall. He had a rough training camp, he had a rough preseason. I thought he looked absolutely terrible against the Packers. He got pushed to the side quite often by the Green Bay Packers. Again, in a inferior offensive line, all of a sudden, you know, you've got guys like Brad and Tony and Jonah Jackson coming in and I think they're going to wipe that young rookie out the way. And then they're dealing with injuries themselves right now in their defensive core too. Vinkinco is banged up right now. Krishman is banged up. They already lost him all items before. They thought he was going to play a big spot in the sub Package situation down in the box. So I don't think the Vikings are going to be able to stop the running game against Chicago Bears.

Again, I think Ben Johnson is going to stick with the same theme he had in Carolina, which is I'm going to shove it down your throat until you stop it. And I don't think you can stop it. My five guys up front led by Darnal Wright and Joe Tune. Those guys are all pro players and I think those guys are going to be able to set the tone. And who's running harder right now than Deonja Swift and Kalman Unguy. And who has a better balance right now and those guys are being able to play off each other, well, and I think they're going to continue to get going. I expect the other 200 yards of rushing on the ground for the Bears. I expect that multiple touchdowns rushing again with them. And then anytime you can add in Caleb, who's like, he's just being smart with the football right now. I think I saw a stat. I don't remember it all the time on my head. He's like, he could be the first guy. He could be the third guy or something like that to throw for 50 touchdowns. I think it is. And under 15 in receptions to start his career. Join the likes of like my March acts and some other guys like that. Like he is taking care of the football.

If it's not there, he's going to take off. He's going to run and he's going to get some yards. And he has the most plus 20 yard runs for touchdowns in the NFL over the last like decade. I mean, it's unreal what he's been able to do. He got lighter in the off season. He slimmed down. He looks fantastic. He's in good shape. What he was doing out there, the entire team. But you know, him, especially, again, in that he, I can't preface enough. It was hot. It was hot in Carolina, man. It was brutal out there. It was the hottest NFL game I've been to. We've been to a Tampa Bay game in October. And their conditioning and his conditioning was absolutely outstanding. So again, I think it's another heavy dosage of the running game for the Bears. Lovelin's going to get his. A couple of misses from Caleb there on a couple of targets. Wouldn't want for a big play. I saw the office coordinator come out today. You know, high tower. I'm sorry, press Taylor said, listen, there were many plays where Lovelin was the first lead. The pants just did a good job and took it away.

And Caleb was like, I'm not going to force it into the sky if it's not there, which is exactly what you want to see. But at some point, you can't hold Lovelin down. He's going to eventually break out. I do think he'll obviously not have zero catches for two weeks. We're all coming into the coming out of this game. Sure. Yeah, you're, I mean, it all comes back to Caleb Williams, right? And it's fifth time going against Brian Flores and his defense. But to that end, you're going to have a very stationary Carson Wentz back there who's not as the same threat. And even the same conversation as Caleb Williams, when you talk about the mobility that he brings and the decision making and that, you know, like it's going to be a 60-some degree day. It's older field fields like a walk on the park compared to what the absurd heat that was in Charlotte last Sunday. And I, you know, couldn't agree with you more. It's like if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And I think Ben Johnson has assembled this roster, you know, with the tight ends, with the offensive line, with even the wide receivers, we didn't even talk about Jede Walker and talk about the blocking

that happened. They luted Erden and just, you know, cool commit if he's like, I'll catch the touchdown every now and then. Also, just run through a brick wall for this team. I will block, you know, my ass off. And really, all coming together to the tune of, you know, almost 300 yards on the ground would not be surprised if we see a 200 yard effort again between those two guys with Swift and Manungai. As much as you'd like to see it open up, Loveland had that slow start last year. But again, he's that weapon that folks are trying to take away a log, you know, George Kittle or a Tremac bride or Brock-Barr is these guys who are like freakish athletes at the tight end position. But he will get his, he'll get some looks in there. And Ben Johnson, interesting to see what he's got up his sleeves because he is that competitor and he's looking to get Brian, you know, Brian Flores' goat, you know, they split the series last year but still squandered that home opener against the Vikings last year. So they really want to, you know, start strong against the Vikings as it were. Yeah, it's a good coaching duel and this is one of those most fun, young coaching matchups

that you could expect out of the NFL right now. And we're doing a lot of Loveland talk, but, you know, listen, shout out to Old Faithville, shout out to Cole Komett who had that awesome piece over the weekend and players Tribune to get the Bears fans ready saying, listen, I've dropped my whole life to, to be a Chicago Bear to do this, to compete for Super Bowl, to bring a title back to the Chicago LAN area and he had a very awesome passion piece. And he goes out there and he catches an absolute dime from Caleb Williams, which is one of the most impressive throwers. You're going to see all season on that over the shoulder touchdown, you know, past. It's like, it always reminds you of like, like, toy story where it's like, I don't want to play with you anymore because, you know, Colson, you commenced it though, guy, and you got a new shiny 20, Colson Loveland, and it's like, no, no, no, what he still wants to get played with, man, he's still a good toy. He's been there the whole time. We don't want to throw Cole Komett away. And I think his leadership and his stability on the team is awesome. And for Caleb Williams, he would trust him in that spot to throw that football and he come down with it. You know,

that's now, if you think about it, that's back-to-back games where those are two of the most impressive touchdown passes that Caleb Williams has had in his career is to Cole Komett. So, you know, as we talk about Loveland and getting him going and things like that, because he's our shiny new toy or superstar, don't forget, Cole Komett is still there. He's still a professional and he's still a guy that grinds on the field and he's dangerous. If you give him a chance, he's going to beat you and he's going to make a big play. And he did certainly for on Sunday in a very impressive touchdown. No question. You're talking about that leadership aspect, which is so important. And we know that the captains in Tunein and Caleb Williams and T. Jed Words, it's a great mix of vet guys and the younger core who's also coming up, especially in the captains, that's just like a microcosm of the team you would say as well. But if there's any indication of how they'll perform, I doubt they're going to repeat 59 points, but when you're trying to get that clip of over 30 as Ben Johnson is, it's exciting.

As the Bears went and they scored a nine of 14 drives, it was eight touchdowns of field goal. They had two puns, one fumble, one turnover on downs. This past weekend in Carolina, a hell of a debut. So you got to follow that up. But now it's again, it is one of those tough places to one of the toughest places to play. Now I would say just based on of course the team that is out there and I think the city is fully embraced it now a year too late perhaps after that incredible run that they had last year. It doesn't be rocking with Jim Corneliuson, going to be rocking with a peanut out there and then the rest of Bears alumni and this team really wants to go into week three at Monday night or against Philly, Tunein, and get that divisional win, which is all important too, and show Brian Flores and company, what's up? Yes, sir. Your football is so back. And Ross, did you pound that any time touchdown for Deandre Swiff? Because I know I did bet that.

Yep, pounded that touchdown, parlated with a couple of things. I was able to pay for my game ticket that day on some bets. So that's that's always a special situation. But yeah, it's absolutely. And listen, it's only going to be like that all year around. You know, I'm super happy for Deandre Swiff. You know, he, he, you know, he had a, he was basically ostracized out of Philadelphia. He came to Chicago. He had a little bit of a rough first year, I think in Chicago. He just didn't seem to have that umph and that explosiveness. And I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff, to also to Eric Bianne, who's now the office of coordinator in Kansas City. Something changed with him. It's something changed and he's a different guy. And you know, I remember Ben Johnson had him in Detroit and they got rid of him there because they didn't think that he would be the guy. And he just looked like a completely different football player. It sits, you know, rejoining Ben Johnson. And he deserves everybody that contract, man. I think it's really cool to see guys like that grind hard and finally find the home and get, you know, get paid and get taken care for it.

We got our normal good, better best speech at the end of the game there. And he gives the game ball at the end to Deandre Swiff and and celebrates him for the contract. And the whole locker room just goes crazy. You could tell these guys really love each other in that locker room. They really give a crap about each other and they really want to see each other succeed. And I think that's special, man. Even listen, Ben Johnson saw what Jade Walker was doing out on the football field. This is a guy who's an undrafted free agent who made the football team, made a lot of big plays for them last year, especially down the stretch. And he's out in the field. And for the most of the game, he's throwing blocks. He's just springing guys open and now he's throwing blocks. And he stood over a dude who's like, yeah, I knocked your ass on the ground. Have to ride through a block and come get some like that's exactly what you want. Ben told you no block, no rock. And so what does he do? He rewards him with a touchdown. And at the end of the game there is like, listen, you guy, you know, man, if you do this for us and you sacrifice these things for the team, for the better of the team, I got you, man. I got you. And

that's special stuff from a coaching staff and from a head coach and from the quarterback and things like that. And that goes a long way in that locker. If you want to win a football, you've got to get through the guys like that all the way from the number one guy to number 53 guy on the roster. Yeah. Well said. I want to see more juby slides, please. Also bet the bears to cover quite easily. And football is back in a big way week two already. It was a ton of great action. You know, if you're just betting the spread before kickoff, like myself at Ross that anytime touchdown, you leave in most of the game on the table, though. That's why I use my bookie. And again, if you're free or excuse me, if you're new to the gang, use my promo code second city again, that second city is the promo code claim your risk free bet up to $500. A no brainer. Everybody likes free money. Don't you, Ross? It's a monster. You know, my bookie payouts, single game parles, again, paid out big with the, you know, just covering the spread this past weekend, probably looking at the, you know, the bills opener about five and a half them opening this new stadium looking

good tonight looking tasty against the lines. Again, no brainers, but my bookie mixed with player props on a ticket. If you like, you can see a player map shop you love. Go ahead, build around with the props builder. Another thing that's really nice about my bookie the rewards your action weekly cashback and bet and get offers. Check it out. Football seasons moving fast. Don't wait. Go check it out right now every weekend. You wait is another full slate left behind. Don't forget we've got a full slate of baseball. We got, and we got baseball playoffs coming up. We're in the final stretch here as well. I know you want some action there. Sign up today using my promo code second city at second city and make this weekend count my bookie bet on anything anytime anywhere. Must be 21 or over 18 or over in select jurisdictions terms and conditions apply gambling problem called 1-800 gambler or visit 1-800 gambler dot net or free confidential support available 24-7. That's my bookie. Go check them out. Check out the app or check them out online. And that leads us

into the winners and losers of the week one action and man, there were there were some winners and there were some losers winner winner number one. I mean, we talked about that Seahawks game already as we could skip that, but the 49ers what a hell of an effort when talking about the you know NFC West and what a dangerous division this is even the carnels will talk about in a minute. But 27 to 7 I'll be happy if the NFL never goes back to Australia but good that they did it I suppose for the Aussies. I don't even think they cared. 27 to 7 effort though and all the talk was about 49ers are they just too injury prone. Can Christian McAfry do this? Do that. Doesn't matter because rock party from Mr. relevant to superstar. I'm carrying that team. Three touchdowns. You know putting up 27 against the Rams was really pretty incredible to see. And then you know my other winners just big ones that stand out. I feel like the Ravens looked

real strong putting up 41 points on the Colts three touchdowns from Derek Henry the Ageless Wonder four touchdowns from Trevor Lawrence and Jaguar as beaten the Browns to open up their season bills in a tough road game before this one. It's kicking off very soon within the hour. Stay intruder their competitive form. Beat in the Texans on the road. Nice day for Josh Allen already you know in the front running MVP odds him and Mar Jackson and Caleb Williams are like one two three right there. I believe right now Vikings open up with 39 points. We got to give them their do that's all safe out that was a big win and especially beating Green Bay. We like to see that giants man getting a huge win on the national stage in Jerry world. Oh, Nellie man. I mean Jackson Dart and that's in cam scataboo. I could do without the back flips from cam scataboo and the way he dresses. I just worry about another injury. He's just taking them out. But then the Monday night capper of Broncos and chiefs. I thought it'd be a little tighter but the chiefs man a heck of a win

with Patrick Mons coming back from at ACL surgery just slinging against the Broncos from Monday night when I mean there were some good close games. I think the you know the Saints are I should say the lion should count their lucky stars that they got out of that game on Sunday with a win. Bangles outlast in the Buccaneers those are the more fun games of the weekend as well. I would say Eagles you know eakin it out as well and I'll get to the losers in a minute. I want to hear about your winners first for us. First winner for me you mentioned that the Ravens I think the Ravens are going through the survival. They look good. They look good. They're just under Derek Henry. Yeah, Declan Doyle you know obviously Officer Cornere last year for the Bears. You know he steps over now. He's calling plays for them and Marjacks and look like Vinicula Marjacks and you hit on here. Derek Henry unfortunately they flowers got banged up in that game and I don't know if he's going to be able to play this Sunday but that offense was humming and all all sold and there's air and we got to have we have to have a dialogue at some point about where Derek Henry is going to land

on the top whatever but still finding best because he he he just does not stop man and that guy had 144 yards on the ground and three touchdowns man. He is just an absolute beast. You know another winner for me is just you know the Bengals. The Bengals coming out at home and winning a game down to Oberos also already banged up a little bit but you know them being able to outlast the bucket years I think it was a very important win for them going forward. I thought the Jaguars were super impressive. Brandon he can still lowly browns but Trevor Lawrence you know four touchdown passes. I think that was awesome and then I think the Cardinals you know the Cardinals a lot of people including myself said that maybe this would be a team that was picking top three this year and they still might be but it coincides with my first loser the charges what the heck that's terrible you know you used to come out at home like that against team like the the Cardinals and

you and you score 14 points and you have Justin Herbert on your team we we have to also just like the Derek Harry thing we got to have a Justin Herbert dialogue I've never been in on it he's a he's a statistical analytic merchant the nerds like him I'm out I don't see it I just don't see it you know it's like a finance bro I'm like he's medicine bear he does it's like I just don't see it he doesn't he never rises to the occasion my opinion I just don't see him as the caliber of quarterback that other people see him as the talent is there I just never see him come through and you have to start to worry if they can't put it together this year you know does Harball have that that Pete Carroll kind of buy was like you know we shouldn't have gone to this old retry you know situation and the thing the lights are gonna get really bright in that LA area if Justin Herbert in this charge of team struggles and already very very tough division with the chiefs

and Broncos in it that's it's a really good point and I feel like that was the narrative just talking about leading off the loser part of this segment you know opening up 14 points with Justin Herbert and talking about the the new look offense against you know what would be one of the worst teams in the NFL in the bottom tier 26 to 14 loss what's up with Justin Herbert you know has that potential as the size and and it allegedly has the arm and all this like at what point are we gonna say is he washed and people have said the same thing about Joe burrow with that criticism at least Joe burrow has been to a Super Bowl he has the injury bug unfortunately he's benefiting from Jamar Chase and T Higgins but Justin Herbert has some bona fide talent around him you just would not have known it the way the Cardinals took care of business on Sunday and you know a national Ashley televised three o'clock game like they did I mean the obvious losers it and we knew this going into the game even though it was closer than you would have expected to is the Falcons I mean and whatever's happening over there is just brutal you're you're

wasting prime years from B. John Robinson who led the team in rushing and receiving yards Kyle Pitts nowhere to be found what's real tough for Drake London too and I mean it's kind of out of your control it just like goes with the narrative of just being unlucky when you got to bring Cooper Rush and you're like what are we doing here man we can't just find find a trade for even Justin Fields or so you know do you stick outside the box just to try to fit something you know where you get a weapon for your offense to give them a better chance because they were clearly in this game even with whoever they put out out the under center if they put me out there I'd probably put up you know at least seven points and then the Jets and Titans like Titans are just gonna be bad this was the least watchable game of the weekend you would say Titans just bringing nothing to the table really as far as watchability and we figured this you know 10 points at home and cam ward like did they just whiff on this pick but they just picked because he's there is like the obvious pick but they couldn't get anything going on the ground with Tony Pollard I mean Colonel

Tate led the way with 38 yards just pretty garbage effort overall I mean the defense not good as well but those are the you know the biggest the biggest losers that stand out as the show would go the you know my biggest loser you know I'm going to who's that club I am president of the Bowen X Hader fan club oh that's a good one too we can skip over the grounds as we knew that was gonna get that yeah the Sean was in his uh he got a bench old to Sean that's karma baby he's on thin air he's on thin ice there uh Bowen X 17 for 28 131 yards one touchdown one interception he took four sacks in that football game and I was watching that game on the plane ride home from Charlotte he was abysmal he was absolutely terrible and you know it's listen that roster is built to contend for a super ball but if he can't get it together and he can't get the football to any of those playmakers Jaila Waddle I have one catch for

two yards one catch for two yards would you for a Jaila Waddle on three targets remember they traded for him from Miami you know he was he was relying on every in Grom and Pat Bryan and RJ Harvey you know he's supposed to be pushing the ball down the field against this Kansas City defense he looked absolutely atrocious he also lost uh he had three fumbles in the game too he lost one and recovered one as well I I've been out on Bowen X I think the Broncos can't turn on around but you know for me it's just like at what point you know and Sean Payne actually criticized him after the game as well and throughout the week those guys have been having the frosty relationships since Sean Payne said last year was like oh this is the injury that he has and he's still dealing with them. Bowen X was like who are you to tell everybody what my injury situation is I think Sean Payne my beginning tired of the Bowen X experience pretty soon here and we'll see what direction they go but I was definitely my number one loser for the week my second and more loser for the week that was Cowboys I'm sorry but you know you are a team that also should be

contending for a a Super Bowl and I think your defense is better than the 28 points that he gave up to Matt Naggy and and and Jackson Dart and you let Kim Scataboo just do that you let Isaiah likely go eight for 78 for two touchdowns it's like what are you doing now. You know I'm seeing an acquisition yeah it was and it was it was so I think those uh you know struggling for them and then you know one more which is in that same quarterback draft class but the the J. Dane's experience is not listen it's it's okay you know it's okay it's it's just a very pedestrian experience and he only had 164 yards through the air but I think the big thing for him is you know five rushes for 31 yards and remember he's had injuries in the past of course and if he's not able to be explosive in the running game for that commander's offense I just don't know how they're going to be able to score points consistently because they don't have much else over running game uh you know jacquery crossing merit he has 63 yards of touchdown he was fine you know 3.9

yards for rush but they got a bunch of just dudes after that but the receiving core is not enough to get explosive anytime Stefan Diggs is on the field that he's one of your uh better wire receivers that that's a red flag to me in this day and age so you know that's another one too was like the jade and daniel's experience man you know do you want to pay the sky 50 million dollars a year coming up all these quarterbacks may and Caleb and jade and daniel's and bonix they are extension eligible after this year these are big big years you feel good about may you feel good about Caleb you feel good about bonix do you feel good about paying jade daniel's 50 million dollars a year because I sure don't uh well said and the same you know that's on the same breath of drake man how terrible he looked just a really bad day for all of those guys not Caleb Williams Caleb Williams ice man really showing up the biggest loser also I think else you put in a voodoo curse on jaden daniel's after his his off season and how rough that was

they felt wronged but tonight in week two it's kicking off on prime video with the wines and the bills might be the best game of the week let's see if it lives up to the height here you stay on book follow as about to say I love obviously the new high mark stadium looks pretty cool I'm sure that that place will be bumping their jump at their tables as we speak uh don't concade at a hot start receiving for this team and you know the bills are just you know in the conversation every year can they make it to the super bulk and they get over the hump can josh Allen carry them I think they'll probably run away you know uh pun intended with a victory tonight I think they cover that five and a half that that is the spread currently um the lions yeah that that is a scary one against uh these saints but we shall see if they can write the ship and then look at into the games this weekend um I mean the Steelers in Patriots it's like which which drake mayor are you gonna get is he going to recover from his awful you know three

interception effort and are the Steelers good can they go on the road can Aaron Rodgers you know the narrative can he carry them on to uh some sort of playoff push at this point um but then it's a lot of just like it seems it seemed like the week one there were all the favorites you know like it was something like seven out of eight favorites in the noon slate all covered for good reason it looks like it could easily go the same way when you get the likes of the browns traveling to Tampa to face the Buccaneers and the Saints playing the Ravens Ravens seven and a half point favorites I mean Jesus what are we doing don't they know that the Saints are in the same game here Bengals and Texans could be good Texans you know on the uh in a tough loss against the bills this last week one of the best games of the weekend uh talk about writing the ship the Ken the Broncos have their home opener have a good day there with Bo Nex and and company but Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars look like they're on a mission this year then another NFC East battle commanders and Cowboys eh it's fine C. Ox cardinals another divisional battle it's really

just you know kind of all over the place slate just a lot of heavy favorites I feel like for good reason here you got any favorites to come to mind Ross there it is a heavy slate but I think there's some teams out there that could be on upset a watch uh for me this week uh you you talked about you know Houston um you know CJ Strauss if Joe Burrow's healthy in he plays and I think that's a big hit but that that offense is high powered and and you see it can CJ Strauss match up with a healthy Joe Burrow and and scored enough points uh even in Houston to win that game but to me the big upset watch it's an NFC North do not sleep on the jets at home against a Green Bay Packers I think that was a tomorrow-alizing loss last week for the Green Bay Packers something does not pass the smell test right now in Green Bay for a variety of different reasons that offensive line is a mess um can they slow down breeze hall in this game and I could see the jets just just

mucking it up getting a very dirty game continuing to put Jordan love under the rest uh right now the Packers are minus three and a half favorites on the road I don't know man I think the jets can at least cover if not I would take a flyer on them to actually win that football game um it just because yeah listen I was actually pretty impressed with the jets the last week against the Brandon's the lowly Titans but they they haven't identity which is we're gonna run the ball we're gonna play sound defense and they have some pretty solid football players in that team I think better than most people uh imagine and again that packer situation something just doesn't smell right there um something something's not right there it's the cheese it's cheese it's the cheese um it's just blue cheese rolls yeah yeah and then Denver too you know you know landlords listen Trevor Lawrence he's bringing that off his if bonus continues and double and uh you know right now Denver is two and a half point favorites at home as they should be because they should be on

paper the better team but Trevor Lawrence is about a quarterback and and you know Liam Con right now is got that offensive humming too they've got some good backs there they they they know how to score points there and both next if he continues to struggle like he did and turn the football over Jackson Jackson was gonna win that football game so those two to me are the two upset watches of the week um jets uh over the Packers and jaguars over the Broncos I mean I'll give you another two I just think based on what we saw from the Seahawks and obviously same darnal being out for extended time in a drill lock now has more than a full week under center and has a great offense around him but the Cardinals like coming out after a win like that oh it's in at home like these divisional games get real screwy real fast so NFC West could be a real slog and only 68 dollars to get into that game at Glendale be a beautiful beautiful afternoon there I mean I wouldn't be surprised just the way of like Jacobi Berset can play just well enough and they

can you know contain Jackson spith and jigsaw like it look out my old buddy uh carbon defalco at ESPN 1000 good guy you're old buddy hey yeah bang job there right uh he would always say when you see in the home underdog in a division game you take them and you bet on them because those games are always screwy and yeah more times out of that the home team will actually at least cover or win outright so right now the the Cardinals are getting three and a half points at home take take take them to cover it could just be like you said a field goal game it comes down to that that rear drill lock uh interception they gotta get Marvah Harris between you going though I again only one catch for him this is the guys top top five pick he's been absolute disaster in in in Carlos everyone that game last week so it hit the smell of that situation they'll smell good right now he's got to get going he looks absolutely terrible in that situation it looks like a bus so far hopefully he's gonna run what's with you and smells this week what's yeah

uh Jesus that's funny uh are you out on drink in this whole goth phase what's going on what how about that for a transition what's going on this guy oh Fomo fear missing now I have not watched the stream yet I haven't watched I don't know no no I'm just out on everything this is not everything yeah I mean come on man I know he's like ice man yeah he's like running around doing this that's like like rice yeah absolutely some guys some guys give the vorus some guys via sportscar you know Jake he does YouTube shorts with goth women on speedboats more power yeah also like when you have that much money like I think you just give born right like like what else is he gonna do like clearly yeah you know he's just doing stuff now I know he did announce a stadium tour for next year which will obviously break some records of course um but yeah I don't do no speaking of pop culture give it to me listen I got my ticket for resident evil tomorrow I'm all in that cragger my guy weapons barbarian he is to me the the biggest emerging horror director right now

one of the whitest guys you know is that cragger yeah absolutely you remember that truth that's true I do um I'm all I'm all in the day be there tomorrow I can't wait I hope it says bloody and disgusting as in gory as it probably is going to be and um I love the fact is it's tight hour and 30 minute one time bring back the 130 run time for horror movies none of this is yes two hours of trauma nonsense I'm all I can't wait this morning you be flip-flopping on the short movies in the three and a half hour only the horror movies only the horror movies need a horror movie should not yeah I mean only a horror movie jump out of my seat so many times horror is perfect horror is in comedies excuse me horror in comedy horror horror okay horror in comedy no I see the other thing I see the other thing some family show Ross on that note that's how we got for this week we appreciate everybody listening in and watching if you missed any of the show of course it's gonna be on the youtube channel at

second city gridiron check us out on spider spotify our iTunes on your commute home as well or to the office like subscribe tell a friend or two I'm at the real event back on social media Ross is at Ross read predictions for bears Vikings I'm gonna go first I think it's a lower scoring fair take a modest 2017 win the bears in the home opener whether might have a play play into it but I think the others don't have a play yeah I think the world is gonna play into it as well I'm pretty close with you I've got the bear is 24 and the Viking 7 17 excuse me 17 you know I think it's gonna be a little bit tighter just because it is a division game it's gonna be a little bit nastier in the trenches but the ultimately the bears running game especially in the fourth quarter is gonna do his job and I assist one game I assist one one I think I get away and on to Philly yeah on to Philly I would hope so I hope we're both wrong and Ben Johnson keeps up the break next score it'd be nice that'd be nice would be nice I mean hopefully a 2-0 would I have any way

you slice it would be great getting a divisional win for now we say deuces be good to each other out there so long everybody and Bear Knuckle Liverpool's own down in the Gorilla Tilt goes to war with Cuban powerhouse Yoel's soldier of God Romero. Plus, the Bear Knuckle middleweight championship of the world is on the line when the rating champ Dave the Redneck Mundell defends against undefeated British challenger Jack Demeek Cleaver-Colin, BKFC 94, Tilt vs Romero. Watch it live only on the zone.

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