NFL Rants & Raves is your weekly dose of unfiltered football talk. Steven breaks down the games, the calls, and the storylines that had everyone yelling at their TV, and this season he goes head to head with Axis Iron, the AI challenger, in a season-long battle of NFL picks. Rants, raves, hot takes, and a scoreboard that never lies.

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

Episode 6.33 – Week 10 Preview

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.33 – Week 10 Preview
Loading
/

The guys have come off the bench to bring you the Week 10 Preview show. Steven and Jeff answer listener questions posted on Facebook. The guys discussed a certain team firing their head coach, Troy Polamalu wanting to get the players and coaches involved in deciding fines for illegal hits and Rams fans getting a little excited over their 4-4 team. The guys give an explanation of how the waiver wire works and discuss how player substitutions are handled in the NFL. They also discuss the spit that never was, young teams starting to get hot and they discuss the Chad problem in the state of Florida. Not hanging chads, but the Dolphins benching of Chad Henne in favor of Chad Pennington.

The guys briefly go over the Week 9 games. The three overtime games, with the Raiders stunning the Chiefs, the Cowboys getting destroyed by the Packers and Brett Favre throwing for the most passing yards ever in his career, when at 41-years young Favre throws for 446 yards. The Browns put a beat down on the Patriots and some how Phillip Rivers manages to throw 4 TD passes and 297 yards with all his offensive starters on the bench.

Finally the guys preview all 14 games in Week 10. The guys differ on only four games and it was going to be more until Steven decided to pick against the Cowboys for only the second time ever on the show. Of course, he did reserve the option to switch back to the Cowboys before the game kicks off. Jeff picks the Challenge Game this week and he goes with the Rams/49ers game. Jeff takes the Rams on the road while Steven picks the 49ers at home.

 

Episode 6.32 – Week 9 Preview

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.32 – Week 9 Preview
Loading
/

Steven and Jeff are back from London and have plenty of football to talk about. Hear how they tried to do a show from London, but after recording for 1 hour 20 minutes, the show was nowhere to be found. Blame Leeds. The guys share some stories from their London experience, like meeting Woody Paige, and why Paige now owns John Elway, meeting Lindsay Soto and talking about their "victory" lap around Wembley Stadium prior to the start of the Broncos/49ers game. Thanks and shout out to all the folks that stopped by to say Hi at the Leeds and London parties.

The guys still can't believe that Randy Moss has been waived by Minnesota and is now a Titan and Steven feels "Chilly" will be gone next year if he does not deliver a Super Bowl Championship this season. The guys also talk about the Bills getting Shawne Merriman off waivers and Steven believes that Chargers QB Philip Rivers should be the AFC Pro Bowl starting QB. Steven goes off on Shanny's decision to bench Donovan McNabb in favor of Rex Grossman in Washington's loss to Detroit, and the guys talk about more injury news in the NFL.

The guys finally get to making their Week 9 picks, and although Steven is nine games behind Jeff, the guys only differ on 3 games going into this weekend's matchups. One thing Steven is certain of, is that he makes the Giants at Seahawks the Challenge Game because he feels there is no way the Seahawks will be the Giants, even in Seattle.

 

Episode 6.31 – Week 6 Recap / Week 7 Preview

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.31 – Week 6 Recap / Week 7 Preview
Loading
/

Steven has come out of the his 102 degree bye week and come to play and the guys take on both a quick recap of Week 6 and a preview of Week 7 together in one show. The guys discuss some of the fallout from some of the big hits from Week 6 and Jeff wants to know when he gets his steak! But first of LONDON, Baby! The guys share plans for London meet-up.

The guys talk NFL News as they discuss the $175,000 in fines dished out by the NFL to James Harrison, Brandon Meriweather and Dunta Robinson for their big hits, the Colts getting "ship all banged up" missing Dallas Clark, Austin Collie and Joseph Addai, the trade deadline, and Jeff does not buy James Harrison's narcissistic "woe is me, I'm going to retire" nonsense. The guys then briefly recap Week 6 before looking ahead to Week 7.

For the first time ever, the guys agree on all 14 games on the schedule. (of course, after the show, Steven changed two picks and informed Jeff to pick a challenge game) Steven moved off of Atlanta to Cincinnati and off of Pittsburgh to Miami and Jeff made Bengals at Falcons the Challange game. Steven has Cincinnati while Jeff has Atlanta.

 

Episode 6.30 – Week 6 Preview

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.30 - Week 6 Preview
Loading
/

All teams have now played a fourth of the season and the one thing the guys agree on is that this is a different kind of year. Steven and Jeff have some fun at talking about all the NFL news this week. First they take a look at the possibility of Brett Favre's streak of consecutive starts coming to end, and Steven says he would much rather have Favre and "Father Time" playing against the Cowboys this week.

The guys also discuss the following NFL news as Rex Ryan says he and not Darrelle Revis will make the decision on whether Revis play this weekend, Andy Reid not ruling out Michael Vick for Sunday's game, Tom Brady saying "No Mas, NO Moss!" to questions about the departed receiver, the Chargers finally pay LT Marcus McNeill a ton of cash and a report that the NFL stands to lose $1 billion if players are locked out in 2011. OUCH!

Finally the guys take a look at the 14 games coming up in Week 6. Steven and Jeff make a friendly wager on who will pick more games correctly this week as they differ on four games. Steven makes Jets at Broncos the challenge game, with Steven taking the Jets and Jeff taking the Broncos.

 

Episode 6.29 – Week 5 Recap

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.29 – Week 5 Recap
Loading
/

Week 5 is in the books, and the guys suffer their worst week of picks since the inception of the show. Jeff felt he needed to write an article to defend his picks this week, while Steven says, just move on and let's get to next week! The guys are joined by San Francisco 49ers insider Matt Maiocco of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and quickly becomes the shows NFL BMOC Bay Area or the Cable Guy. Matt talks about the 49ers recent struggles, the bay area fans finally turning on QB Alex Smith and chanting for David Carr and Steven asks if Mike Singletary is on the hot seat. Follow Matt on Twitter @MaioccoCSN or on his blog at CSN Maiocco Blog.

The guys then take a look at the NFL News, where Steven once again says he would never trade with Bill Belichick and the Patriots, as the Patriots acquire WR Deion Branch from Seattle for a 4th round pick. Why would the Seahawks make that move right now? The guys talk about the latest surrounding Brett Favre and a report that surfaced from a website that he send inappropriate texts and lewd photos to Jets sideline reporter Jenn Sterger a few years back. Jeff questions Sterger's new stance while Steven questions the timing of this report. The guys also talk about all the injuries that hit the Packers this week, as Aaron Rodgers gets concussed and TE Jermichael Finley is out three to six weeks with a torn meniscus.

The guys end the show by going recapping the 14 games of Week 5, and admit that nobody really knows anything about this crazy, NFL season. The excitment comes from the uncertainty of which teams will step it up as the season progresses. Jeff is the smartest man alive as the Lions whip up on the Rams and Steven is left to lament his change of heart on Da Bears!

 

Episode 6.28 – Week 5 Preview

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.28 – Week 5 Preview
Loading
/

The guys return from Philadelphia and share some stories from the road. The guys talk about the people out in the streets of Philly, Jeff admits he took Steven to the wrong place for a Philly Cheese steak when he took him to Geno's instead of Pat's. Steven has one, wiz wit out and Jeff has one, wiz wit. Jeff then plays his audio clips from the post game press conference where Eagles head coach Andy Reid takes responsibility for everything, including taking responsibility for why this episode came out late.

The guys then take a look at the NFL News, where Steven talks about the other Eagles player with a rib injury, RB LeSean McCoy. The guys also discuss the Panthers getting rid of WR Dwayne Jarrett who is this week's Good 'Ole Boy, which causes Steven to ask if USC players are starting to give the school a bad name. They talk about Mike Vick being out, Steve Smith being day-to-day in Carolina, special teams coach John Bonamego gets the ax in Miami a day after his special teams unit gets rocked, and of course, the big new of the week, Randy Moss being traded back to Minnesota and uniting with Brett Favre. Steven says the move will not be good for New England and great for Minnesota. Plus Jeff backs off as Steven rants on CB Darrelle Revis still talking smack about Moss.

The guys end the show by going over the 14 game schedule for Week 5. The guys originally differ on 3 games, as you will hear, but shortly after the show ended, the Bears announced that QB Jay Cutler would not play against the Panthers and Steven changed his pick to Carolina and made the Rams at Lions game the Challenge Game. Steven has the Rams while Jeff is taking the Lions.

 

Episode 6.27 – Week 4 Preview

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.27 – Week 4 Preview
Loading
/

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.

 

Episode 6.26 – Week 3 Recap

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.26 – Week 3 Recap
Loading
/

Get ready for the longest show ever! Jeff and Steven approach the three hour mark with this Episode, as they are joined by NFL's East Coast BMOC and NFL Network Insider Jason La Canfora. Jason pulls back the curtain and reveals how he really is never off the clock to bring you some of the games biggest stories. Jason and the guys discuss the latest NFL News, like the firing of 49ers OC Jimmy Raye, the Bills releasing QB Trent Edwards and what is happening with the kicking situation and Garrett Hartley in New Orleans and Jason gives a shout out to the U.K. listeners and pledges his allegiance to Leeds.

The guys then get to the sixteen games during Week 3 and have plenty to say about all of them. Steven rants on the horrible decision by Saints head coach Sean Peyton to try a field goal on 1st and 10 from the Falcons 11-yard line while Jeff shows some love to Da Bears! Steven shows he is the Smartest Man Alive and explains he did not pick the Cowboys because he was being a homer, but because the timing was right and shows how there are some teams in the NFL that cannot be beaten when they do not commit curial turnovers and costly penalties. Just ask the Packers and their club record 17 penalties against the Bears on Monday Night.

The guys start to get a little loopy as the show approached midnight, but they were able to finish it off as Jeff was able to give you his reason for changing his pick to the Jets over the Dolphins. Yes it had to do with Braylon Edwards' beard and Jeff explained the significance of Braylon shaving it off.

 

Episode 6.25 – Week 3 Preview

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.25 - Week 3 Preview
Loading
/

The guys are way excited for Week 3 and can't wait for the "Way to Proud of Texas Guys!" game of the week between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys. But first, Steven and Jeff cover the NFL News, as Andy Reid goes with Mike Vick over Kevin Kolb at QB, Vincent Jackson's full house lost to A.J. Smith and the Chargers 4 of a kind and does not get traded and Tampa Bay safety Tanard Jackson gets suspended for the year for violating the leagues substance abuse policy.

The guys discuss all 16 games on the slate for Week 3 and differ on a season high 4 games. Jeff feels the 49ers will struggle on the road again, while Steven feels that Arrowhead is not what it used to be and likes the 49ers to beat the Chiefs. Steven likes San Diego to continue its winning ways even without RB Ryan Matthews while Jeff thinks the 12th man will help Seattle stop the Bolts. The guys love the Sunday Night Football game and Jeff likes the Dolphins defense to stop QB Mark Sanchez and the Jets while Steven thinks the Jets will hand the Dolphins their first loss of the season.

Finally, in the "Way to Proud of Texas Guys!" Bowl, Jeff can't help but take his Texans while Steven lays out some compelling reason to not discount the Cowboys. Steven is so confident in the outcome, that he makes this the Challenge Game as he takes Dallas and Jeff takes Houston. Steven's two guarantees for Week 3 involve the Bengals and Cowboys.

 

Episode 6.24 – Week 2 Recap

NFL Rants & Raves
NFL Rants & Raves
Episode 6.24 – Week 2 Recap
Loading
/

Wild, wacky, Week 3 is in the books and the guys cover it all. Steven and Jeff start with some NFL News, as Jets WR Braylon Edwards gets arrested at 5:15am for a DWI, Steelers QB Dennis Dixon get surgery and is out indefinitely, and Saints RB Reggie Bush breaks his leg in the Monday Night Football game versus the 49ers and will miss at least six weeks. Plus Steven and Jeff debate their friendly wager on Randy Moss and Darrelle Revis.

The guys then cover the 16 games of Week 2, with the Bears, Bucs and Chiefs starting 2-0 while preseason favorites like the Vikings and Cowboys find themselves at 0-2. What a game on Monday Night Football as the Saints beat the 49ers 25-22 as time expires in the 4th quarter. Steven tells the 49ers, you cannot leave that much time on the clock when you face the Saints. Steven asks Jeff which team out the eight teams starting 2-0 do not belong. Steven also reminds Jeff that the past 5 Super Bowl Champs have not started the season 2-0.

Finally, Jeff is the smartest man alive as he did not buy into the Seahawks and took the Broncos and Denver won BIG!