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.
Episode 6.28 – Week 5 Preview
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 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
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
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
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!
Episode 6.23 – Week 2 Preview
Steven and Jeff are back it with a look at Week 2. The guys discuss some NFL news, including the league sending out an memo to the teams regarding proper conduct around media, Lions QB Matthew Stafford out with a shoulder injury, QB Kevin Kolb does not pass the concussion test given to him and another missed practice by the Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth. Steven has some interesting comments regarding Ines Sainz and her issue with the Jets.
The guys then focus on the 16 games on the Week 2 schedule and they include some great games. The Manning boys, Peyton and Eli, are at it again in Indy and the Colts can ill afford starting the season 0-2. QB Tom Brady hates the Jets and this week he gets to tell them that in person. The Bengals, with Batman (Terrell Owens) and Robin (Chad Ochocinco) look to upset the Ravens at home, while potential playoff teams, like the Vikings, Cowboys, Chargers and Falcons look to avoid 0-2 starts.
The guys discuss Michael Vick getting the start for the Eagles against the Lions. If he has a big game, will head coach Andy Reid pull him out of the starting lineup when Kolb is healthy again? The guys only disagree on one game this week, making the Chiefs at Browns the Challenge Game for Week 2. Plus Steven starts a new segment, "This I Guarantee!" in which he makes a couple predictions regarding the games. This week his predictions include RB Chris Johnson and WR Randy Moss vs CB Darrelle Revis.
Episode 6.22 – Week 1 Recap
The NFL season kicked off with a bang! Week 1 is completed and Steven and Jeff have returned from covering the games in New York. Week 1 had a little of everything, and the guys discuss the season ending injuries to RB Ryan Grant of Green Bay and DT Kris Jenkins of the Jets. Then the guys talk some NFL News, with the NFL investigating allegations from a female reporter, and Redskins RB Clinton Portis adding fuel to that fire by sticking his foot in his mouth, breaking news as Reggie Bush forfeits his Heisman Trophy and WR Randy Moss making comments regarding his contract after the teams huge win. Steven defends Moss, while Jeff is the voice of common sense.
Steven and Jeff return from the Big Apple where they experienced the Giants and Jets opening their new stadium in the Meadowlands. The Giants struggled early and but their defense stepped up late to seal a 31-18 win over the Carolina Panthers, while the Jets loss a tough game 10-9 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Week 1 had it all, last second wins as the Chiefs and Bears hold on to win late. Some controversy with Calvin Johnson's catch/no-catch in the end zone and even an overtime game as the Steelers Rashard Mendenhall breaks a 50-yard touchdown run to end the game. Both guys end the week at 9-7, but Steven wins the Challenge game for Week 1.
Episode 6.21 – Week 1 Preview
Finally, the preseason is over and Week 1 is here. The guys could not be more excited about the season kicking off. The guys talk some NFL News as Darrelle Revis and the New York Jets agree to terms, TJ Houshmandzadeh signs with Baltimore and Matt Leinart lands in Houston. The guys also report on a contract offer the Patriots have made to Tom Brady and reports that Reggie Bush will be stripped of his Heisman Trophy.
Steven and Jeff then discuss all 16 Week 1 games and make their picks. The guys only differ on two games so once again, the Challenge Game starts up again. Steven likes the Cardinals while Jeff once again takes the Rams.
Plus the guys reveal their news plans to join Sky Sports News Radio on Fridays to talk NFL action.
Episode 6.20 – 2010 NFL Prediction Show
The season starts in one week, and the guys are pumped. Steven and Jeff start with some NFL News as they discuss the current officiating issue that surrounds moving the umpire from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive side of the ball. Both guys have different suggestions to resolve the issue. They also discuss the fracas in San Francisco between TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree, the situation QB Matt Leinart finds himself in and QB Ben Roethlisberger seeking a reduced suspension down to three games.
The guys then get to it and give your their predictions for all eight divisions. Steven and Jeff agree on plenty of division winners, but where they disagree, they really disagree. Listen as the guys go week by week and try to give you the essence of the ebbs and flows of each teams NFL season. The guys have the same AFC representative in the Super Bowl, but differ on the NFC Super Bowl team. Jeff's selection is pretty incredible while Steven explains his reasoning behind his pick.
And of course, finally, Jeff reveals which team he will cheer for in the 2010 NFL Season. Listen to this shocker!
Episode 6.19 – NFC West Assessment Show
The final assessment show of the summer is here as the guys take on the NFC West. First the guys talked about some of the current NFL news. Antonio Bryant is out in Cincinnati, QB Matt Leinart is not starting in Arizona again and he's not happy about it, and the Giants placed backup QB Jim Sorgi and WR Sinorice Moss on season-ending injured reserve.
Steven and Jeff are then joined by L.A. Times NFL Writer, Sam Farmer. Sam tells the guys of the training camps he visited and shares his opinions of some of the biggest stories to watch as the 2010 NFL season unfolds. Sam also has some predictions for the season and Jeff gets a little ornery when Sam picks Steven's team!
Finally, the guys get to the NFC West and cover the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks. The guys both believe that the Cardinals have taken a huge step backwards by losing Kurt Warner and the 49ers can very well win this division as long as Alex Smith stays healthy. Steven has the Seahawks as a question mark in the division and Steven also teases his Rams prediction coming up next week.



