NFL Demigod Rich Eisen, host of NFL GameDay Morning, NFL GameDay Highlights and NFL Total Access on NFL Network, author of Total Access: A Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe and host of his own self-titled podcast, The Rich Eisen Podcast, takes some time out to join Steven and Jeff to talk football. Eisen shares his thoughts on the NFL season moving to an 18 game schedule, talks about the Super Bowl being in cold weather New York and shares his Super Bowl analogy of “The Convention.” Rich’s book, Total Access: A Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe, is available in paperback on Amazon.com and bookstores.
Steven and Jeff discuss other NFL news, including Chad Ochocinco’s cereal box having an uh-oh so bad phone number on it, the Jets signing DE Trevor Pryce away from Baltimore, and Kassim Osgood’s jumping out of a second story window to escape gun fire while hanging out with Mackenzie Rae Putnal. Steven says, if the girl is packing heat, it’s time to say, love ya, but I gots to go!
The guys finish up by taking a look at all the upcoming Week 4 games. Byes start this week, so there are only 14 games on the slate. And that means the return of El Juego Grande Estupendo de la Semana! The guys quickly decided that Donovan McNabb’s return to Philadelphia makes that game the biggest game of the week. Steven and Jeff disagree on four games and Jeff picks the Rams over the Seahawks and makes that the Challenge Game for Week 4.
Haven’t listened yet guys, but as your going to the game and disagree on it, why not make the challenge game the Redskins Eagles game?! lol.
Have a great time there though :)
Will the falcons finally get a little credit from you guys?
You just keep picking against the Bears.
All I am going to say is “9-0 Chicago Bears go into Maimi for a Thursday Night game where they avenge the ’85 Bears Monday Night loss”
The SuperBowl suffle will be prominately featured in the coverage leading up to this game.
It will soon be obvious that the Bears are, who we thought they were: a not very good football team!
1 – The Giants linebackers and defensive backs don’t match up well against the Bears’ offensive weapons, specifically Matt Forte and Greg Olsen. If the Giants commit to blitzing linebackers on third-and-long, Cutler will torch them for big yardage.
2 – The Giants defensive line is a standard 4-3, with Justin Tuck stationary on the left side. Brandon Manumaleuna has a terrific game, specifically early, holding Clay Matthews down. I think he’ll help Kevin Shaffer do the same to Tuck. If the Bears don’t get the Giants ends blocked, they’ll have a hard time moving the ball at all.
3 – Just like the Packers, the Giants will be able to move the ball through the air. Unlike the Packers, the Giants and Eli Manning struggle mightily getting seven inside the red zone. The Bears allowed two touchdowns to the Packers and both were tremendous plays by Aaron Rodgers. “Senator, you’re no Aaron Rodgers”.
4 – The Giants do have three good wide receivers – Nicks, Smith, Manningham – and the Bears defensive backs need to tackle. A slip on the turf, something we oddly do often, and the Giants have six.
5 – The special teams advantage for the Bears starts with the kickers but goes far beyond them. I’d be shocked if it doesn’t tip the scales ten points in our direction. Coughlin is ordering his struggling, rookie punter aim for the stands. (Amazing how the Hester threat is altering game plans again after one game.) But can the Giants cover Manning and Knox any better? I don’t think so. And the return of their special teams captain Chase Blackburn doesn’t exactly scare me.
6 – Giants fill-in center Adam Koets. Meet Lance Briggs. He’s good.
7 – David Diehl vs. Julius Peppers or Kareem McKenzie vs. Julius Peppers, it doesn’t matter. The mismatch is substantial and Peppers could be ready to take over another game in primetime. The more the Giants are forced to keep Kevin Boss on the line to block, the less they’ll be able to throw to him in the seam – a play that’s killed the Bears for years.
8 – Something is becoming apparent about this Bears team. Nobody’s running the ball against them. And if you can’t run the ball against a team, it makes putting them away very difficult. The Bears almost dare teams to keep throwing and then they’re second-to-none at forcing turnovers. I think they get a couple key ones Sunday night.
Jeff, I can’t believe you missed the OBVIOUS line during your oompa-loompa improve.
“What do you get when you got a great back?
Absolutely nothing with a coach named Jack!”
Hi Guys,
Thanks for nothing! My wife gets angry with me, but I can’t help it. It’s just too much fun to say.
“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt??!!??”
Any way I can get that as a ringtone?
Dang it Miranda! Stop picking the Seahawks to win! Every time you pick them to win, they lose, and every time you pick them to lose, they win. Just pick against them for the rest of the year…. ppppplllllleaaaaase!!?!? Great show guys!
Aaaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!!!!!!!!
I’ve changed my pick in the Skins- Eagles game 4 times.
Please help!!!!
Redskins pal by a whisker 31-28
Dear Marvin Lewis. Would you please explain that offensive playcalling?! Nothing short of ridiculous.
JAGUARS!!!!!!
Scobee-Scobee Doo!
Nathan? ;-)
I’m a UK resident and this is my first year of following the NFL. Absolutely loving it – probably more than any other sport I’ve ever followed. I’m so excited about attending my first NFL game at Wembley this year and loving this podcast!
One thing I wanted to comment on though, from this episode, is that as far as I’m aware the Football (Soccer) World Cup is the most widely televised/watched sporting event in the world, seen by around twice as many people who view the Super Bowl! Not sure where Rich Eisen was getting his information from? It’s always a shame to hear someone speaking with such global naivety as it conveys a false image of where the NFL currently sits worldwide and where it still needs to go. I’ve been to Africa a fair few times, never have I seen NFL merchandise, but a huge amount of people will own a soccer shirt and support a team.
@Ben
I may not have heard the Eisen interview properly, but what I took away from it is the Superbowl is the most watched event in the world aside from the World Cup. The World Cup obviously being a hands-down, #1 winner.
This is fun: listening to the Preview Show AFTER the games have been played.
Both Steven and Jeff where wrong about the Steelers, the Titans, the Colts, and the Bengals winning their games. In those games, both Mangini and Del Rio save their jobs for two more weeks.
The Eagles kept it close for Jeff, but the Dolphins and da Beard disappointed Jeff mightily.
But Jeff wins the Challenge Game as he remembers that the Seahawks never serve Steven well in the Challenge Game.
Jason – The Champions league final pulled more viewers than the Superbowl making it the most watched annual sporting event. I heard on the Beeb that US sports owners are chasing UK football (soccer) clubs as a way to access the asian market.
Back to the NFL and what is going on with the Colts? and where are Jeff and Steve? and what one earth are the 49ers about? They showed such promise at the end of last season and yet this season they are complete basket cases. Even the Rams can beat them.
Tim- Steven did say if the commish/NFL.com/espn offered him a job Jeff would have to do the show on his own.Maybe they both got an offer?????? Lol.
Tim – I did read something about Barcelona v Man U. getting something like 109 million viewers. So for the first time it drew more viewers than the Superbowl. That is pretty cool!
The way ratings are climbing during the regular season of the NFL this year, though, I don’t know if the same will hold true for the Champions league final again. I hope it does because that will kind of force the NFL to take the international market a little more seriously.
To all NFL Rants and Raves followers – apologies for the site not being updated as per usual. The Ellis and Miranda families have been dealing with Stephen being in the hospital for quite some time now and unfortunately things are not looking very good… Jeff will be posting more on this situation when he is available to do so. In the meantime please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers.
Thomas where in the world did you get that information from? I am fine, thank you very much and we just finished recording our latest episode a few minutes ago.
Thomas you’re a sick man get some help.Welcome back Steven (from Philly , not a near death experience).
@J-Ville – Apologies, you are quite right! I think at around 47:00 in the podcast Rich Eisen actually mixes up his sentance a bit, making it sound like he was arguing the opposite to the point that he was actually making.