The guys get you ready for Week 3 of the NFL. Not much to discuss in NFL news except to chat about the possible return of Chad Johnson who was on Inside the NFL talking honestly about what needs to happen for him to get a job again. Jeff doesn’t see it, but Steven thinks someone will give him a chance.

Steven and Jeff also talk about being added to the late night line up on talkSPORT in the UK. They are excited that NFL Rants and Raves will have some time on air overseas. Finally they get around to going over all 16 Week 3 games and making their predictions. Oddly enough, the guys only disagree on 1 game. That makes it the Challenge Game by default.

Steven like the Eagles while Jeff thinks the Cardinals will win in Arizona. Steven feels that the defenses are matched so he’s taking the better offense which he believes is Philadelphia. The Challenge is game is tied at 1-1.

For all our long-time listeners, you will be happy to know we went over the 90 minute mark today. Not something we will get into the habit of doing, but it just could not be helped today. Steven can once again lay claim to the title The Smartest Man Alive as the Falcons defeated the Broncos on Monday Night Football.

The guys start the show by paying their respects to Steve Sabol who passed away earlier in the day. Then they turn around and discuss a “Good Ole Boy” as Falcons running back Michael Turner was arrested for DUI after the Falcons big win. Steven says he is starting to sound like a broken record, but says these professional athletes need to hire a driver when they go out to have fun.

Then the guys make sure they cover all 16 games and provide a little info regarding each game. Steven and Jeff cannot believe the biggest story coming out of Week 2 continues to be the replacement refs. Near the end, funny man Costaki Economopoulos joins Steven to share some new football jokes.

Welcome to Thursday Night Football every week until Week 17! The guys are excited and with TNF just a few hours away, the guys get you ready for Week 2 in the NFL. Jeff and Steven briefly touch upon the Commish meeting with the four players involved with the bounty suspensions and Jonathan Vilma requesting a one-on-one meeting. Listen to Jeff’s reason for that request from Vilma.

The guys get you ready for the early game, warning you of Fantasy Football moves that should be made prior to the first game of the week. Then they take a look at the games and start out agreeing that Green Bay should win the game over the Bears as the home team. Too much to ask of the Bears to go on the road on a short week against a divisional rival.

In looking at the other 15 games on the schedule, the guys only disagree on three games. Steven likes the Vikings over the Colts, the Panthers to beat the Saints and the Falcons to drop Peyton Manning and the Broncos on Monday Night Football while Jeff thinks the Andrew Luck will find a way to give the Colts their first win and sees the Saints and Broncos winning on the road. Should be an interesting Week 2 in the NFL.

Week 1 is over and the NFL started with a bang. Steven and Jeff take a look at all 16 games from Week 1. From the Cowboys upset over the Giants on Opening Day, to the most points scored on an opening weekend in the NFL, ever!

Steven calls Jeff out for bullying him into not picking the Cowboys game as the Challenge Game and winds up losing with the Steelers, another pick change. The guys discuss the problems with the Eagles and Browns as both teams were turning the ball over like it was going out of style. As they go over the games, Jeff calls out Titans RB Chris Johnson and Steven gets a special dedication which prompts him to give a certain QB from DC some love.

Finally, the guys are joined by the biggest name in comdey, Costaki Economopoulos! Costaki has some timely football jokes regarding Tim Tebow, the Browns, the Jaguars and Bill Clinton. Check him out at costaki.com

Football is back baby! The guys get ready to kick off the NFL season with a Week 1 preview. In the news, the guys are happy to announce that Sky Sports and the NFL signed a new 3 year contact, giving the UK network NFL broadcast rights, which include NFL Redzone, Thursday Night Games, Playoff games and the Super Bowl for another three seasons. Steven finds it funny that Jets head coach Rex Ryan thinks he would never be fired but Jeff just wants to get to the games.

As the season begins, the guys seem to agree on how Week 1 will be. Steven and Jeff only disagree on 3 games. Steven likes the Cowboys to open the season with a win, while Jeff is picking the Giants. Steven also likes the Bengals to upset the Ravens and the Steelers to upset the Broncos, while Jeff is going with the home favorites.

Since it was not stated in the show, Steven decided to pick the Steelers vs Broncos game as the Challenge Game. Here we go!

With the regular season less than six days away, the guys bring you their predictions for the 2012 NFL season. First, in NFL News, the guys discuss the NFL trade deadline being pushed back to Week 8, the replacement refs getting the nod to start Week 1, Mathias Kiwanuka taking a shot at Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill not knowing which teams are in the NFL’s eight divisions.

Besides giving their wins and losses for each team in the league, the guys also predict the division winners, the wild card teams, the Championship Game matchups and winners and their Super Bowl prediction matchup and game winner. Steven likes a particular state to be represented in the big game, while Jeff goes off the board with a unique and intriguing Super Bowl 47 matchup.

Jeff also reveals the NFL team that will gain his support this season. You all might be surprised who it is and why Jeff has chosen this team. Plus Jeff teases Steven about what his punishment will consist of this season but will not say what it is.

The guys reach the final divisional assessment show of the season as they break down the NFC West. First, in NFL News, the guys discuss Dez Bryant and the alleged “Dez Rules” that owner Jerry Jones says were not imposed by the team. They also talk about the Dolphins trading away veteran and former first-round draft pick Vontae Davis and Karlos Dansby ignoring head coach Joe Philbin’s mandate that players were to keep criticism of personnel moves “in house” by saying, “He’s a great player, one of the best corners in the game. I’m not sure about the direction of the team. That’s not my place.”

The guys then end by discussing the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks. With the Cardinals, Jeff is shocked when Steven informs him that even though head coach Ken Whisenhunt has not named a starter, neither Kevin Kolb nor John Skelton would play in the Cardinals pre-season finale. Neither guy likes the Cardinals much this season. Jeff feels more confident in the Rams that Steven does as Steven thinks the Rams defense has taken a step back and the lack of any significant pass catcher will ultimately hurt young QB Sam Bradford.

Finally, with the 49ers, Steven feels they could be great or take a step back. Both guys agree they are still the best team in the division and Steven praises and raves on Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for making a move to Russell Wilson at QB. By playing the rookie QB and cutting T.O., Steven feel Carroll has setup the Seahawks for a very good season. Maybe.

Come out an play our Weekly Pick ‘Em game at www.NFLRandR.com/pickem

Steven and Jeff can feel the energy as the new season approaches. Today they cover the NFC South, and discuss the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The guys thank everyone that has joined the Fantasy Football leagues and encourage others to play fantasy football just for the fun of it.

First in NFL News the guys talk about Michael Vick getting hurt and saying, “I can’t keep taking hits like that!” The Saints acquire Barrett Ruud from Seahawks and Steven likes the move, Jon Gruden – says he would come back to coaching “If the right opportunity presents itself” and the Replacement Refs continue to be a story for all the wrong reasons. The guys even have to look into a crazy rumor that the league is considering having only one official on the field to spot balls and all calls would be made by a crew up in the booth reviewing monitors of the game.

Next the guys break down the Atlanta Falcons and Jeff thinks they will be better than last year but Steven feels that they might not be as good as a pass first offense and should rely more on Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers. Steven is not sure if the Falcons can duplicate their 10-6 record from last year. Steven likes the Panthers offense and feels Cam Newton will be better than last year and have the Panthers primed to win more than the six games. Both guys like the Saints although Steven says they will finish with less than thirteen wins and might fade near the end of the season.

Finally, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the guys say they really don’t know and that nobody really does. They think Josh Freeman will improve even though Jeff does not like how thin Freeman looks. Steven says that Doug Martin will help the running game but feel this team will struggle just as it did last season.

After a week long trip of visiting five camps and three preseason games, the guys return home to catch up on the NFC North. First, in NFL News, Steven and Jeff discuss Chad Johnson’s arrest and subsequent dismissal from the Dolphins. Steven has an interesting take on how quickly people react to accusations. Next, the guys talk about MJD being MIA in Jacksonville, Pete Carroll having some explaining to do regarding QB Tavaris Jackson, the league trying out a new type of football with synthetic laces in Week 2 of the preseason and all the questionable calls from the replacement refs in Week 1.

Steven talks about several plays where replacement officials either flat out got a call wrong or look bad in doing the simple things football players take for granted like spotting the football. Things are going to get bad for the NFL if replacement refs are used in the regular season. Listen as the guys talk about the two major sticking points holding the NFL and NFLRA in a stalemate over a new contract.

Finally, the guys get around to the NFC North and talk Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings. The guys like all the teams in this division, but feel the Packers will be hard pressed to duplicate last season’s 15-1 record. While they feel the Lions, Bears and even the Vikings can be better than last season. Steven says the Lions will be in trouble if the Madden Curse catches WR Calvin Johnson, but feels the same way about the Packers if there is a significant injury to QB Aaron Rodgers.

Steven and Jeff are half way through the divisional assessment shows, but before they get to the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles and Redskins they talk about their trips to Cowboys and Chargers camp.

In NFL News, they discuss Terrell Owens quickly shedding his HWMNBN status as he heads to Seattle to become a Seahawk, Hard Knocks starts tonight with the Miami Dolphins and the guys set the over/under of shots featuring Ryan Tannehill’s wife, Lauren, at six. The guys also take the time to send their thoughts and prayers to Andy Reid and his family at the loss of their son, Garrett.

Finally, in the NFC East, the guys agree that all four teams in this division are going to be tough this year. Steven reveals why he dreads discussing the NFC East, while Jeff showers praises on all four teams. True to his word though, Steven did not say the Redskins QBs name on air and at times, Jeff was no help.