The Counter: An NFL Podcast by For The Win: Recent Episodes
USA TODAY SPORTS
For The Win's Steven Ruiz, Charles MacDonald and Chris Korman take a deeper look at the week's NFL news. Relying on film study and advanced stats, they push to counter easy narratives and understand the intricacies that make football the country's favorite -- and most fascinating -- sport.
Five questions: How would you try to contain Ja’Marr Chase if you’re the Rams? How would you try to stop Aaron Donald if you’re the Bengals? What player that nobody is talking about will play a big role in this game? Which approach to team-building would you prefer to take: Rams or Bengals? Which one of these teams will ultimately make more Super Bowl appearances?
Final predictions
Rundown! The Super Bowl matchup is set ... but it's been overshadowed
The Brian Flores lawsuit
-- Of course the NFL had discriminated against Black coaches
-- Of course the league will move to settle and make this story go away
-- But will this ultimately change anything at all other than Brian Flores' future employment prospects?
Tom Brady has retired
-- He's bitter about something that went down in New England
-- How will his legacy change in the coming years?The Super Bowl
-- The Bengals are good AND lucky
-- The Rams were built for this but ... is Matthew Stafford OK?
-- Let us now praise Aaron Donald again and again and again
-- How worrisome is Mahomes' second-half meltdown?
Quick thoughts on new coaches
-- Josh McDaniels to the Raiders
-- Brian Daboll to the Giants
-- The Vikings appear to favor Jim Harbaugh
Rundown: We're here: Championship Sunday
Bengals-Chiefs
-- Wow, Cincy's offense got good fast
-- The magic of Joe Burrow
-- Why they aren't using more blockers
-- The Chiefs don't have answers in their secondary
-- Nothing the Bengals do will matter if Mahomes plays like he did last weekend
49ers-Rams
-- Two really smart coaches enter the game with very different QBs
-- Jimmy G has been here before ... with mixed results
-- Matthew Stafford has not ... but this is why he was brought here
-- Man, these defensive lines are ferocious
Coaching moves
-- This Broncos hire makes sense if it helps with a certain QB
-- This Bears hire makes sense if he knows a really, really good OC
Rundown:
That was one of the best weekends of football we've ever gotten.
Chiefs-Bills — Greatest game of all-time? — Yeah, let's change the OT rules — Is this who Josh Allen is now? Rams-Bucs — Guess that trade for Matthew Stafford paid off (so did the one for Von Miller) — Is Tom Brady actually done? 49ers-Packers — Bye for now, Throw Rogan. What's next for Aaron Rodgers? — How the 49ers did it: By realizing what they do best Bengals-Titans — The Titans were frauds, but it didn't help that Henry wasn't all the way back — The Bengals found a way despite not protecting Joe Burrow at all Coaching carousel — Sean Payton stepping down — Other rumors
Rundown: Wait, Mason Rudolph thinks he should be Steelers starter?
On to the real football: Divisional Round breakdown
-- Will the Titans be able to slow the Bengals' offense?
How efficient will Tennessee's offense be with Derrick Henry back?
-- How much success will the 49ers have running the ball and will Kyle Shanahan stick with it?
-- Can Matthew Stafford disable whatever magic Tom Brady uses to win everything all the time?
-- The Chiefs have no room for error against Josh Allen and the Bills
A few coaching carousel thoughts
Rundown:
The hypocrisy of NFL's MLK messaging
Was Wild Card Weekend truly bad?
Breaking down each game:
-- Wait, the Cowboys aren't going to fire Mike McCarthy after that?
-- So long, Big Ben. You won't be missed.
-- Are the Chiefs ALLLLL the way back?
-- Bill Belichick did not, in fact, have any answer for Josh Allen
-- Hey, good for you, Bengals.
-- The Bucs did what we expected them to do to the Eagles
-- Why does Kliff Kingsbury get so much worse as the season goes on?
-- The Rams are good enough to go far ... as long as Mathew Stafford can stay steady
Rundown:
It's playoff time!
Let's make some predictable predictions
-- How will Bill Belichick try to contain Josh Allen?
-- What's the key factor in Rams-Cardinals this time around?
-- Tom Brady is about to ruin everything, isn't he?
A look at the NFL coaching vacancies and who should fill them
-- The Dolphins' baffling decision
-- The Giants got it right, but the process is off
-- Where do Vikings, Broncos, Raiders go from here?
-- The Bears and Jags have what every coach should most want
-- Give Jim Caldwell another shot, somebody
MOCK DRAFT
-- Let's take some wild guesses
-- Four edge rushers lead a class without any standouts
-- Figuring out which QBs will get most overhyped
-- Players likely to deliver strong value later in the round
Run down:
What we got wrong back in September ...
-- The Bengals aren't awful (but still need to make some changes)
-- The Eagles didn't tank (and maybe didn't need to after all)
-- Urban Meyer flamed out as a human but ALSO couldn't coach at all
-- The Texans didn't lose every game by 30
Week 18 picks against the spread
-- The Chargers are in position to beat the Raiders for a playoff spot
-- No, the Jaguars won't pull off the unthinkable
-- How the 49ers' messy QB situation impacts the game against the Rams
-- Will the Saints jump into a spot if San Fran falters?
Rundown:
Four Verts!
-- Tua is in limbo
-- How De'Vondre Campbell got so much better (and will get paid)
-- What's next for Jimmy G? (And why Trey Lance has earned his shot)
-- The Falcons' plan may force them to trade away talent, again
Let's talk about CTE and TBI and the way football damages players
-- What we can learn from Casey FitzSimmons' story. Former Lions TE told us about his last concussion and the struggle of former players to find help.
-- Why it's OK to talk about Antonio Brown and how football may have impacted his decision-making and impulse control
That awful college football take from Kirk Herbstreit-- No, today's college athlete doesn't care less than previous generations
Rundown:
We did it: Urban Meyer is gone
-- What's next for the Jaguars?
FOUR VERTS
-- The Falcons are bad
-- The Cardinals are probably still good, but should be embarrassed
-- The Colts are very legit (but what if they need Wentz to win them a game?)
-- John Harbaugh made the right call and John Harbaugh is a good coach
Closing thoughts: There are a lot of strange Bowl sponsors. Chuck reads some of them.
Rundown: Week 14 gave us so many good games and storylines...but now Covid is looming -- again
FOUR VERTS
Let's look at the four teams already eliminated and what they need to do next
-- Jags: Find a better coach, support the franchise QB
-- Lions: Good culture in place, keep building roster talent
-- Jets: It's probably too early to give up on the Saleh or Wilson, have faith
-- Texans: ??????????????????
Games of the week and what we learned
Rams-Cardinals: Aaron Donald remains great and the Rams are back
Bucs-Bills: Sloppy play on both sides at times, but still two top teams
49ers-Bengals: Yes, San Francisco keeps figuring it out
Cowboys-WFT: Why is Dallas' offensive not working?
Browns-Ravens: Welp, everyone is hurt for Baltimore
The big question-- If you could build your franchise around one QB, who would it be?
Rundown: A quick review of our latest NFL power rankings
-- The top of the NFC is loaded
-- The top of the AFC is ... confusing (which is fun!)
-- Which middle-tier team has the best chance of making a miracle run?
-- Which bottom-tier team has the best shot at making the playoffs next year?
Picks against the spread for Week 14
-- How will the Ravens deal with another injury
-- 49ers-Bengals basically a pick'em, go with the better coach
-- Can the Bills recover against the Bucs (the weather should be better)
-- A chance for the Cardinals to prove they deserve that No. 1 spot (Also, why we think the Rams will take another step forward soon)
Rundown:
Football in the wind is not actually fun
And that game was not Bill Belichick's masterpiece
And that question about whether players were "embarrassed" was ... embarrassing
FOUR VERTS COLUMN
-- Stop with the Taysom Hill experiment already
-- No, Gardner Minshew should not supplant Jalen Hurts
-- The. Lions. Finally. WON.
-- The Texans may never be good again
College football bonus chat
-- Maybe possibly Miami shouldn't be using pandemic profits for football
Looking ahead to the AFC Playoff chase
-- The Chiefs offense is unexpectedly a weak point
-- Hey, Ravens: It's time to get Lamar Jackson a better offensive coordinator
Rundown: Four Verts column
-- What's up with Baker Mayfield?
-- The Colts have figured it out
-- The Panthers have not, and seem unwilling to
BONUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL COVERAGE
-- We rant about slimy, hypocritical coaches
The kickoff return is back, sort of!
-- Kene Nwangwu is putting up insane numbers
The playoff picture is pure chaos and that's great
-- Most of the AFC is still alive
-- The top of the NFC is fascinating
Rundown:
Four Verts column
-- The unsung heroes of the NFL
NFL playoff picture
-- Chiefs making a push
-- Look out, Bills
-- Patriots back?
-- Tampa Bay in a good spot
-- Covid impact on Packers
Looking ahead to Week 12
-- Can we ditch the Detroit on Thanksgiving tradition?
-- Good luck, Ryan Tannehill
-- End your weekend with Rams-Packers and Browns-Ravens
Jason Garrett was never a good fit for the Giants
Ranking the Top 5 QBs in the NFL
Happy Thanksgiving
Rundown:
The NFL continues to be as unpredictable as ever
Let's give out some awards-- MVP to the guy who is actually Most Valuable
-- Defensive player of the year is too easy this year
-- So is comeback player of the year
-- Tough picks from a good rookie crop
-- A few of the most hilarious plays this season need attention too
FOUR VERTS
-- Did the Bucs get exposed?
-- Stop rushing back from injury, Russel Wilson.
-- This Patriots defense is for real
-- How bad can the Jets get?
Week 11 picks against the spread
Rundown:
Somebody please give Lamar Jackson a real offense to run
The Panthers go crawling back to Cam Newton
Odell Beckham lands with the Rams, because of course
-- How will he fit?
-- Does it really matter?
Are Cam and Odell actually "bad teammates" or "divas" as they're so often portrayed?
Week 10 picks against the spread
-- Patriots D is good and Mac Jones is fine, but what's his ceiling?
-- How the Steelers offense found its way (a little bit)
-- How real is the Titans 7-2 record?
-- The curse of being a Vikings fan
-- Seahawks-Packers: The (possible) return of the QBs!
-- It's time, Chiefs
Closing it out: Picking the 7 AFC playoff teams
Rundown! POWER RANKINGS
-- Why we won't let a bizarre week have too much impact on our view of the league
-- Rams lost, but still No. 1 overall
-- Bills lost (to the JAGS!) and are still the top-rated AFC team
-- The AFC North is ... really something
-- At the midway point, the middle of the league is very difficult to figure out
-- Three of the teams at the bottom of the league (probably) have a long-term answer at QB but the rest are in trouble
FOUR VERTS
-- Justin Fields is it.
-- Get rid of taunting penalties.
-- Lamar Jackson is Hercules.
-- Sam Darnold is (still) not it.
Rundown: It's the 100th show and, uh, sure, we definitely remembered to invite Steven Ruiz back ahead of time
Aaron Rodgers is weird and his pants are on fire
-- His teammates will suffer from his lies
-- Jordan Love is in an awful spot
-- But let's root for chaos anyway
The Browns thoroughly botched the Odell Beckham Jr. situation
-- Is Baker actually freezing out OBJ, or is the simplest answer (that Baker is simply not great) the right answer?
-- Where do they go from here?
The Dolphins actually wanted to trade for a guy only after he paid off 22 women. That's terrible.
Picks against the spread!
-- What's up with the Cardinals-49ers spread?
-- Carson Wentz is favored by 10.5? Bet, bet, bet, bet
-- The ghosts are back, Sam Darnold
Rundown A weird week in a weird season
-- The QB heroes were ... Mike White, Cooper Rush and Trevor Siemian?
FOUR VERTS column
-- A closer look at why Mike White was good for the Jets
-- Why has the Chargers offense stalled?
-- The Dolphins should sell, not trade for Deshaun Watson
-- The NFC West is led by two teams that were put together by Madden GMs
Week 8 review
-- One of those weeks where most of it didn't really tell us much
-- Big win for the Saints, but they lost Jameis Winston. Who's next?
-- Big win for the Titans, but they lost Derrick Henry. Can whoever's next come close to replacing him?
-- Justin Fields is going to be very, very good ... if Matt Nagy lets him be.
-- The Bills are a Super Bowl favorite and still haven't come anywhere near putting it together
-- The Cardinals should be fine
Rundown: We're back after a short break, and we missed a lot
FOUR VERTS column
-- Kyle Pitts is the whole and entire truth
-- Seriously, 49ers, start Trey Lance
-- What's actually wrong with the Chiefs
-- Why we love Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions
Let's talk about the Jon Gruden story, and all the ways the NFL is avoiding reckoning with its real problems
Let's also talk about the absurd Deshaun Watson trade rumors and all the ways the NFL refuses to even pretend to do the right thing
Week 9 picks against the spread!
-- Can the Lions get their first win?
-- Colts and Titans in a clash of ... AFC South rivals
-- Charles immediately regrets his spicy MNF pick
Rundown: Justin Fields is QB1. Finally.
What to make of the Stephon Gilmore trade
Thursday Night Football is worth watching!
-- Can Seattle's defense possibly slow the Rams?
Picks against the spread and analysis of every Week 5 game
-- How bothered is Baker Mayfield by a left shoulder injury?
-- How distracting was Urban Meyer's distraction?
-- When will Kyle Shanahan design a scheme around Trey Lance?
-- Is this the week the Chiefs figure it out?
Rundown: Week 4 was fun! Unless you were a Jaguars fan
-- Urban Meyer does what Urban Meyer does
-- Why would the Jaguars not move on now?
FOUR VERTS
-- The Texans' futile offensive effort
-- In praise of Cordarrelle Patterson
-- The rookie QBs are growing up
Week 4 in review
-- The Chargers won because their QB could throw it everywhere
-- Was Mac Jones actually good against the Bucs?
-- Was it wrong for the Ravens to run on the last play?
-- Give us all the NFC West games
-- Daniel Jones is ... uhh ... maybe ... good ... now?
-- Dak is most definitely very very good
Super Bowl contenders
-- Three teams from each conference with the best chance of making it to the big game
Rundown:
Week 4 should be great
Is Shady McCoy a Hall of Famer?
Apparently Tom Brady is going back to New England. Who knew?
Jonathan Jones of CBS joins the show
-- How motivated is Tom Brady?
-- Has the Brady v. Belichick debate been settled?
--Are the Panthers contenders?
--Which NFL team has the worst ~vibe~?
--Should Chiefs fans be worried?
Picks against the spread
-- We'll learn a lot about the NFC West this weekend
-- Denver's defense can find a way to stop Lamar (maybe)
-- Justin Herbert's arm talent gives Chargers edge v. Raiders
Rundown:
It's starting to feel like we know which teams are for real
FOUR VERTS-- Ben Roehtlisberger should retire right this second
-- Matt Nagy should design a real gameplan for Justin Fields
-- The Panthers defense is so much fun
-- The Raiders might actually be for real this time around
Reviewing what we learned from each Week 3 game (except Falcons-Giants, come on now)
-- How worried should Chiefs fans be?
-- Urban Meyer truly appears to have no clue
-- Matthew Stafford!
-- The Lions are doing their rebuild correctly
-- The Jets are not
Rundown:
Some guy named Steven Ruiz drops by. He apparently writes for The Ringer.
Lamar finally beat Mahomes. How'd he do it?
-- Is Greg Roman actually doing a good job?
-- How much better can the Ravens offense get?
-- Is the Ravens defense good enough?
Justin Fields will finally start!
-- Why has Matt Nagy been so reticent?
-- Is Fields being put in a position to succeed with this scheme?
Picks against the spread with analysis of every Week 3 game
Rundown Week 2 quick reactions
-- How the Browns offense found another level
-- Kyler Murray is controlling the chaos he creates
-- Keep chucking, Trevor Lawrence
-- Which 0-2 team has the best chance at making the playoffs?
Reviewing every Week 2 game and what we learned
Power Rankings: Who comes in after the Bucs, Rams and Chiefs?
Rundown!Looking ahead to Week 2What storylines are you most interested in?Derrik Klassen of Football Outsiders and Bleacher Report joins the show-- Evaluating the play of each Rookie QB so far Trevor Lawrence's mistakes were a result of him being aggressive ... and that's good Justin Fields needs to play. That is all. Trey Lance needs more time and has a coach who can make it work Zach Wilson's explosiveness is a promising sign Mac Jones is Mac Jones and, hey, why don't we just root for him?
Picks against the spread, with Tipico odds
Rundown!
Week 1: What did we really learn?
FOUR VERTS
-- The Falcons are very bad
-- It's time, Bears: Play Justin Fields
-- The Giants are headed for ruin
-- Chandler Jones was unstoppableAround the NFL
-- Are we worried about the Ravens?
-- Both the Chiefs and the Browns looked very legit
-- So, wait: Jameis Winston is careful and efficient now?
-- Mac Jones looked good. Zach Wilson looked valiant but overwhelmed. Trevor Lawrence didn't get enough help. Trey Lance has the one coach who can get away with a 2-QB system.
-- The Steelers beat the Bills using a perfect Mike Tomlin gameplan
-- Russ is still Russ. Wentz is still Wentz. That's good for Seattle. And very bad for Indy.
-- Justin Herbert is ridiculous
-- Dak really is back
Closing thoughts
-- Which team's Week 1 performance was a fluke?
-- Which team showed in Week 1 that it won't live up to the hype?
Justis Mosqueda joins the show to kick off Season 2 and preview the NFL season
Biggest storyline in -- and who we think will win -- each division
Predictions!
First coach fired
Best rookie QB
Breakout player
MVP
Super Bowl matchup and winner
Twitter mailbag
Rundown:
It's Steven's last show. Bye, Steven.
But first: We discuss the must-read SI story from Jenny Vrentas on how the NFL is handling the Deshaun Watson situation
-- Is the NFL really trying to get to the truth?
-- Why is the league going so far to protect Watson?
-- The league's 'journalists' are doing PR
Steven ranks his worst all-time takes
-- Giving the Chiefs a C- for drafting Mahomes isn't even the worst one
Seth Galina of PFF drops by
-- On bad draft takes
-- On Taysom v. Jameis
-- On getting stood up thanks to a dog in Kentucky
Rundown:
Mike Golic Jr. joins the show! Sorry, but Charles can’t let go of Julio Jones As an outside viewer, what’s your assessment of the trade and how the Falcons have handled this offseason? Should fans still believe they can make the playoffs? Is it too soon to have pitchforks and torches over this new regime?
Reviewing a few linemen from the draft --Aaron Banks, Notre Dame/San Francisco 49ers
Golic Jr. gives the scoop on a fellow Fighting Irish
--Penei Sewell, Oregon/Detroit Lions
He recently said that moving from the left side to the right side has been a tough challenge for him, why is that?
-- Rashawn Slater, Northwestern/Los Angeles Chargers
Any concerns that he doesn’t have prototypical size for left tackle?
Also, general thoughts on what the Chargers have done along the offensive line this year?
Burning Questions facing six NFL teams this season Buffalo Bills: Can Josh Allen avoid statistical regression? Cleveland Browns: How good is Baker Mayfield? Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Urban Meyer work at the NFL level? Chicago Bears: Can Justin Fields be good enough to save jobs?Arizona Cardinals: Is this the year Kliff Kingsbury finally shows that he is in fact an offensive genius? Detroit Lions: Can this look like a respectable football team in year one?
Mailbag!From liz a bayley, logan paul, taylor and dana fan (@freedompimp2012): Why do they call it oven when you of in the cold food of out hot eat the food?From Mike Zordan (@mdzordan): What’s it like to be one of the few people on Earth to successfully block Aaron Donald?From Damaged Goods (@CagedMusings): When’s the last time Gojo had to tap out from eating because it was just too much food?From charles (crying online) mcdonald (@FourVerts): Thoughts on the first episode of Loki? What’s some other stuff you’ve enjoyed watching while sitting inside over the past year?
We’ve got a BIG episode this week on The Counter as Chris Vasseur, or Coach Vass as he’s more commonly referred to, joins us to talk about the emergence of Brandon Staley but not before Charles McDonald returns from vacation to skewer the Falcons over the Julio Jones situation. The chat with Vass hit on a bunch of topics, including…
-
What makes Staley’s scheme special and how much of a role talent played in the Rams success
-
How NFL offenses could combat what Staley did if it does spread throughout the league
-
Why college defenses can be more complicated than pro defenses
-
What makes Bill Belichick so good at crafting game plans
-
The state of football media and how the discourse has evolved over the last few years
-
And much more!
Charles McDonald and Chris Korman are out, so Pro Football Focus' Seth Galina joins Steven Ruiz to discuss a wide range of topics, including...
The future of RPOs in the NFL
Why Kliff Kingsbury has been a disappointment
Can the Giants get the best out of Daniel Jones?
The Ravens gave Lamar some weapons, will it help?
Plus some talk on QB evaluation
Next week: Coach Vass joins us to talk about Brandon Staley's rise as a coaching star.
Rundown!
The schedule's out, and we know when Brady v. Belichick is
Let's talk about Kyle Pitts
-- What changes should Arthur Smith make?
-- No defense should be able to stop Jones, Ridley AND Pitts -- But are the Falcons a playoff team now?
-- How will the Pitts selection look in the long run?
Interview with Gotham Chopra from Religion of Sports
-- His reflections on Tom Brady's latest Super Bowl and why it meant so much to him
-- An update on the 10-part Brady documentary "Man in the Arena"
-- Gotham reflects on the Crushed podcast, covering the 1998 home run chase
-- Upcoming projects: The "Lost in Sports" podcast and "Simone vs. Herself," a docuseries covering Simone Biles in the lead up to the Olympics
Next week: What makes Brandon Staley's defense so special?
Rundown:
The NFL Draft is over, and we graded every team's class
-- The Texans botched it
-- The Ravens and Panthers got it (mostly) right
Which teams had the best offseason overall?
Which had the worst?
Checking in with Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq)
-- When did the Aaron Rodgers/Packers relationship break?
-- Who is actually at fault here?
-- Can Jordan Love really replace Rodgers?
-- How will this eventually play out and does it involve Jeopardy?
-- Why Mike Tomlin doesn't get enough appreciation
-- Justis reads from his Book of Takes
Looking ahead to the offseason
Rundown! Aaron Rodgers wants out (of course)
The Packers are going to mess this up (of course)
Why did this draft go ... pretty much as we expected it to go?
Grades:
High marks for the Jaguars and 49ers
Patriots, Bengals and Jets struggle a bit
-- Can Bill Belichick actually make Mac Jones an NFL QB?
The Bears(!) did a thing!
-- Do they have the supporting cast to help Justin Fields succeed
Best players still available
Teams we're most excited to see next year
Rundown! The draft is finally here, so let's do a mock draft
The real intrigue begins at No. 3
-- Why the 49ers should not pick Mac Jones
Atlanta has a decision to make at No. 4
-- The Falcons will need a rebuild. But when does it start?
The Broncos get (another) QB (but this one might be good!
Bill Belichick finds a punishing linebacker
The Football team selects a QB of the future, too
Programming update: Friday's edition of The Counter will be live streamed. Join us!
Rundown:
One week until the draft, and the smoke is thick
Is the NFL's new number rule a trick?
Derrik Klassen of Football Outsiders and NBC Sports joins the show
-- The process of creating Quantifying Quarterbacks, an invaluable guide
-- Wait ... these numbers say Justin Fields might be the best QB? Can it be true?
-- The biggest surprise from watching ALL the film this year
-- Is the Zach Wilson hype justified?
-- Almost none of the things people are saying make Mac Jones special actually show up on film
-- Why Trey Lance's upside justifies an early selection
-- Ranking this year's QBs
Rundown:
The Philadelphia Eagles are a complete mess
-- The Athletic exposes an over-zealous owner and power-hungry GM
-- What we learned about Carson Wentz
-- But wait: The Eagles won a Super Bowl. What does that tell us?
NFL players are skipping voluntary workouts. Good.
How will Jadeveon Clowny fit with the Browns?
DRAFT PREVIEW
Ranking the WRs
-- Why DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle stand out
-- Ja'Marr Chase isn't a sure thing because his style might not translate
-- Rashod Batemen plays big and should thrive
-- Three "small" receivers and how they'll fit in the NFL
A look at the uninspiring defensive line prospects
Run down:
Let's stop talking as if Deshaun Watson is going to play football any time soon
Former Patriots, Lions and Jets lineman Damien Woody joins the show
-- Was he surprised by the Sam Darnold trade?
-- Why he thinks Sam Darnold has a chance to be good for the Panthers.
-- What should be realistic expectations for Zach Wilson in year one?
-- His thoughts on how good Mekhi Becton be in Mike LaFleur’s scheme
-- Plus fan questions about his welcome to the league moment, his favorite player to try to block and which Super Bowl host city was most fun
Steven takes a look at the numbers to explain why he's NOT optimistic about Darnold's future in Carolina
Charles breaks down why the Bengals should opt for a lineman instead of a wide receiver if the goal is to help Joe Burrow
The Counter returns after a week off. Chris Korman was out and we had Richard Johnson, of the Split Zone Duo Podcast and SEC Network’s ‘Thinking Out Loud,’ on to talk about his Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence's imminent arrival.
On the episode, we cover… How Jaguars fans are feeling knowing they have a legit generational QB prospect coming to town? How long will it take for Urban Meyer and Lawrence to turn the Jaguars around? Should the Jaguars be considering any of the other top QB prospects with the No. 1 pick? Plus mailbag questions, including which NFL head coach is most likely to get a boat stuck in the Suez Canal and how many Houston Texans can we name?
Rundown! It's a New League Year, get excited
Free agency analysis
-- It's been sort of a dud, but we expected that
-- Still, there've been some winners (Cam) and losers (Da Bears)
-- Good work Jets!
-- The Raiders, Bengals and all NFC North teams except the Packers seem lost
-- The best remaining players, and which teams should sign them
Reviewing the QB situations around the league
-- Why The Washington Football Team chose FitzMagic
-- What Matt Ryan's contract re-structure means for the Falcons (and the draft)
-- How far will the Saints fall?
Good work, Dak
It's time for NFL free agency, try to contain your excitement
Get rid of the franchise tag!
Ranking the best remaining free agents
Pairing up one free agent with each NFL team
Special Guest: Bryce Rossler, Sports Info Solutions-- Why the latest SIS Football Rookie Handbook is an indispensable guide for studying college prospects
-- How a pandemic season led to the Total Points Rate stat, and what it can teach us
-- Scouting Clemson RB Travis Etienne and Miami DE Gregory Rousseau
-- The numbers vs. film debate!
-- Discussing a few players whose film and stats told different stories
Here's the rundown: J.J. Watt has joined the Cardinals, but why?
How Watt will fit, and are the Cardinals now legit
The Bills have proposed not letting assistants interview for head coaching jobs until after the conference championships
-- Why it won't work
-- Why it won't pass
-- Why it wouldn't help minority coaches get fair treatment
POWER RANKINGS
-- Taking a look at the league based on which teams are in the best position to get better over the next few weeks
-- We looked at cap space + draft assets + current roster and found ..
-- Oof, the Eagles
-- The Giants, Bears and Lions need to embrace the rebuild
-- What are the Steelers and Saints going to do about their aging QBs?
-- Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow need to be protected
-- Do it, Dolphins. Get Deshaun Watson.
-- The Bucs remain No. 1. Why, football gods, why?
Bryce Rossler of Sports Info Solution will join us next week to look ahead free agency and the draft
The Rundown: When/how the drama started How Pete Carroll empowered Wilson, which led to the dispute What’s Wilson’s end game? Predictions on how this all ends
Here's the rundown!
Seth Galina of Pro Football Focus is a guest host with Korman out. He comes on to talk about some of the more divisive QB prospects in the 2021 Draft. First we preview some of the defensive free agents
--Breaking down the safety class, including Anthony Harris, Justin Simmons, Marcus Maye and Marcus Williams --A look at the available edge rushers, including Carl Lawson, Shaw Barrett, J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney.
Draft QB prospects
--Why Mac Jones isn’t going to excite anyone as a first-round pick --Some talk on how QBs are developed and why they need mobility now --Are the Justin Fields criticisms valid?
Rundown:
Remembering Terez Paylor
Catching up on the news
-- Carson Wentz trade coming soon?
-- Vincent Jackson's tragic death and that important Ryan Leaf video
-- JJ Watt released, where to next?
Timeline for the offseason
--Franchise tags: Dak Prescott? Allen Robinson?
--Tampering period March 15-17
--New league year starts March 17
-- Draft set to begin April 29
A quick review of the offensive free agents
Three teams that have the money to rebuild on offense, and who they should sign
-- Jaguars
-- Jets
-- Patriots
Rundown!
Tom Brady has won another Super Bowl
-- How much does this add to his legacy?
What happened to Patrick Mahomes?
-- Chiefs offensive line injuries mattered a lot
-- Was he, in fact, "good"?
How did the Chiefs take away Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill?
-- Physicality gave Kelce difficulty
Let’s give Byron Leftwich some long-overdue credit
-- Todd Bowles had a great plan, as well
What does this all mean for the Chiefs moving forward?
-- Is Kansas City actually a well-constructed football team?
Early favorites for next year’s Super Bowl?
-- Bucs have a few key free agents but plenty of cap space-- Chiefs face more difficult situation
Rundown!
Understanding the Chiefs and Bucs with the help of two of the smartest analysts out there
Nate Tice, The Athletic
-- Overview of each team's approach on offense
-- If the Chiefs are the Warriors, who is Steph Curry?
-- How much has Tom Brady changed Tampa's offense?
-- Should the Chiefs even bother to try to run the ball?
-- How concerning are the Chiefs injuries on the offensive line
-- Prediction!
Diante Lee, Pro Football Focus
-- Tampa Bay plays defense the way your dad might remember
-- The Chiefs have a much more modern approach
-- What, if anything, can the Bucs do differently than when Mahomes roasted them in Week 12?
-- Seriously, is there anything, at all, that anybody can do to slow Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce at the same time?
-- Why Andy Reid found the perfect defensive coordinator for his style
-- The Bucs do have one opening for an upset: Pressure without blitzing
-- Prediction!
Our closing thoughts
-- It's been a weird, stressful season. But we get to watch Patrick Mahomes again. So that's great.
Rundown!It's Super Bowl 55 week, but it feels very differentThe Rams are going for it. The Lions are going with Goff. Our thoughts.-- How much better will the Rams be?-- What's next for the Lions?Breaking down the big game with The Nerds
Namita Nandakumar, Seattle Kraken Analyst (formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles)
-- What she learned while researching her 538 story on how defensive tendencies impact offensive play-calls
-- What that means for the Chiefs and Buccaneers
-- Does Patrick Mahomes break some statistical models?
-- How big is the gap between the NFL's data and what's publicly available?
-- Have we maxed out on broad observations based on the info we have?
Keegan Abdoo, Next Gen Stats Analyst
-- Have the Bucs made it easier on Tom Brady in the latter part of the season?
-- Is Brady playing significantly better now than he was earlier in the season?
-- Are the Chiefs more aggressive with blitzes early in the game than later, and what does that mean?
-- It seems like Kansas City uses a fair percentage of disguised coverages. Does the data show that to be true, and how has Brady dealt with them this year?
-- What observations stuck with you as you prepared the report on this game?
Preview of Thursday's show
-- Looking at film with Nate Tice and Diante Lee
Rundown:How did the Texans let everything get so messy?David Culley might be a great hire (there's no way to really know) but he's in an awful positionQuestions from Twitter:--Why won't the Falcons move on from Matt Ryan?--Would Matthew Stafford make the Colts fun?--Will NFL teams stop paying bad QBs too much money?--Is there such a thing as giving up too much for Deshaun Watson?--Re-drafting the 2018 QBs: Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen at No. 1?--Do coaches over-simplify offenses for Black QBs and therefore stunt their development?--Is Pete Carroll the problem in Seattle?--What impact will limited scouting opportunities have on the draft?--If the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, will they be in consideration for best team ever?--If the Super Bowl was decided via Fox cartoon, who would win and why?Looking ahead to next week's episodes--It's The Nerds vs. The Film Grinders
Rundown:
Super Bowl 55 is set: Kansas City at Tampa Bay
Scouting the Bucs
-- How they beat Green Bay
-- The best set of offensive weapons ever?
-- How important, really, was Tom Brady?
-- Early thoughts on how they match up
Scouting the Chiefs
-- That game against the Bills was more impressive than you realize
-- Give the defense some love, too
-- How big is the loss of Eric Fischer?
What’s next for the Bills?
-- Can they keep it together for another run?
-- Can they pay Josh Allen, keep important players AND get better?
What’s next for the Packers?
-- Aaron Rodgers seems very, very miserable
-- Projected to be about $32 million over the cap, so help is likely not on the way
Why it sure feels like we're headed for an unprecedented offseason of QB movement
Rundown
AFC Championship Game Preview
-- The strategic matchups that will determine whether the Bills can upset the Chiefs
-- Will the Bills try to blitz Patrick Mahomes this time?
-- Will the Chiefs have success pressuring Josh Allen again?
-- Do the Chiefs have a plan for limiting Stefon Diggs?
NFC Championship GamePreview
-- How Tampa Bay overwhelmed Green Bay's offense in Week 6
-- Why the Packers may be better-suited to handle that pressure now
-- Tom Brady can't keep up with Aaron Rodgers, right?
Philip Rivers is definitely a Hall of Famer
The Eagles have hired a yes-man for Howie Roseman
Dwayne Haskins gets another shot
Rundown:
Divisional round review
--Patrick Mahomes gets injured, but Chad Henne(!?) to the rescue
--Kevin Stefanski made mistakes, still has a bright future
--Drew Brees was his worst self, and it was tough to watch
--Tom Brady and the Bucs are decent, but will need to be much better
--The Bills beat the Ravens in an ugly football game because they simply had more playmakers on offense
--The Rams defense had no chance with a diminished Aaron Donald trying to play through injury
--Is Jared Goff's spot secure?
Coaching news
--What is going on with Eric Bieniemy (and other black coaches)?
--We said last week that there'd be a pause in hires. Then all the hires happened.
--A quick ranking of the pairings so far
Falcons: Arthur Smith
Jets: Robert Saleh
Jags: Urban Meyer
Chargers: Brandon Staley
Lions: Dan Campbell
--Remaining openings
Eagles: Was the messiest
Texans: Has somehow turned into the least attractive job thanks to the horrible handling of the Deshaun Watson situation
--What we're expecting to see on Championship weekend
Rundown:
The NFL appears ready to double the number of Black GMs
Coaching updates
--The Jaguars still seem set on Urban Meyer
--Oh, look, they're making up fake reasons to not hire Eric Bieniemy again
--Nobody should want to take the job in Philly
Divisional Round preview: Matchups to watch
-- Can the Rams defense slow the Packers' play-action game?
-- It all comes down to whether Baltimore's DBs can handle Buffalo's WRs one-on-one
-- We're telling you that if the Browns' offensive line can really dominate the line of scrimmage then maybe there's a chance
-- The Saints' offense has flummoxed Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles in four consecutive games. Maybe this is the one where he figures it out?
Rundown:
Football has given us the Bills-Ravens matchup we wanted! Wait, do the Browns have a chance against the Chiefs?
Wild Card review (ranked by level of intrigue)
--Bills-Colts
--Ravens-Titans
--Browns-Steelers
--Rams-Seahawks
--Bucs-The Football Team
--Bears-Saints
What we're looking into as we preview Divisional round games
Coaching carousel update
--Really, Jaguars? Urban Meyer?
--Waiting for that first domino
Deshaun Watson situation deteriorates in Houston
Don't do it Bill Belichick! Decline that Medal of Freedom
Rundown:
The straight line from anger over Colin Kaepernick's protest to an insurrection at the Capitol
Deshaun Watson trade rumors: It won't happen, but what would it take?
ESPN's Mina Kimes joins the show
--QB Draft!
--Trying to predict the unpredictable Wild Card upset
Breaking down each game
--Position battle that matters most
--Other things to watch
--Which teams will move on?
Rundown:
Of course the 2020 season ended with an absurd game
But don't be mad at the Eagles
Playoffs are set!
-- Wild Card games we're most looking forward to
-- Early predictions
NFL AWARDS
-- MVP, top coach, best rookies, etc
-- We pick the best coordinators
-- Best coaching adjustments
-- Worst plays
-- Least Valuable Players
-- Play designs we loved
Black Monday
-- The open jobs and who should fill them
-- Rooney Rule already being flaunted?
Rundown:
Four Verts review
-- Draft-eligible QB scouting report
-- Wild Card games we want to see
-- Packers can match Chiefs
-- Under-the-radar players
What you need to know about Rams new QB
Booger's bad take
Quick hits:
--Johnny Manziel and a new football league
--Robert Mays' excellent piece on Brandon Staley
--PFF on defensive evolution and how Steven saw some of it coming
Playoff picture and game predictions:
--Can the Browns get through Covid scare to beat Pittsburgh?
--Will the Rams be able to hold off the Cardinals without Goff?
Rundown:
The Ravens are back
The Chiefs are still way ahead, though
The Monday Take Dump:
-- The Dolphins should draft a QB
-- Are the Seahawks a legit threat in the NFC?
The NFC East could still give us a 10-loss champion
Are the Browns on the verge of collapse?
Why the Bears must see through Mitch Trubisky's recent play
Who is the league MVP?
A look at the current playoff picture
Rundown:
Jets do most Jets thing ever, win at football and may lose Trevor Lawrence
Without Lawrence the Jets should keep Sam Darnold around
Monday Take Dump!
-- What went wrong for the Patriots (it was COVID, not losing Brady)
--How Kyle Shanahan can save Carson Wentz
--It's still very early but Jalen Hurts might be good
--Tony Pollard is so much better than Zeke
NFL Playoff Picture
Week 15 review
Did any of these games do anything change your mind?
--Falcons blow another lead to Bucs
--Chiefs win despite strong defense from Saints
--Chargers-Raiders was so much fun
--Are you convinced by Baker Mayfield or Mitch Trubisky?
News: Panthers make GM change
Charles' discusses his story on MNF cartoons
Here's the rundown:
What Justin Herbert teaches us about QB evaluation
Is there really a simple fix for the Steelers?
Four Verts column review: Zac Taylor is bad
Missing Pieces: Teams most likely to actually turn it around
Ravens-Browns Cramp/Poop Game of the Year
Week 15 preview
-- Chiefs-Saints
-- Seahawks-WFT
-- Browns-Giants: Freddie Kitchens revenge!
Picks for every game
Rundown:
What are the Steelers going to do about Big Ben?
Take Dump!
-- Why the Rams would be the toughest matchup for the Chiefs
-- The Bucs are not even a Top 5 team in the NFC
-- Sean Payton ruined New Orlean's season by starting Taysom Hill
-- Tua is good!
Playoff picture update
Week 14 in review
--AFC second tier thoughts: Colts, Titans, Bills
--What Jalen Hurts brought to the Eagles
--Cardinals-Giants: The most Daniel Jones game possible
MNF preview: Ravens-Browns
Rundown:
The NFL botches Covid response in Ravens-Cowboys game
How good can Jalen Hurts be and what's next for Carson Wentz?
Ben Roethlisberger deserves some blame for Steelers drops
A closer look at the Cardinals' broken offense
Why players enjoy playing for Gregg Williams -- at least at first
Playoff picture update
Week 14 analysis
--Rams-Patriots
--Chiefs-Dolphins
--Steelers-Bills
--Cardinals-Giants
Picks for every other game
Run down:
Take Dump!
-- Russ cooking too much
-- Browns still frauds
--Gregg Williams deserved to get fired, but he didn't tank on purpose
--The Lions should not trade Matthew Stafford
NEW SEGMENT: The Internet Says
We explain why these prevailing notions online are wrong:
-- The Chiefs uneven play means they aren’t that far ahead of the Steelers
-- The Browns' decade-long misery is truly over
-- The Giants are a triumph
Games! (And a look at the playoff picture!)
--Rams beat Cardinals
--Hurts finally plays, Eagles lose to Packers anyway
--Saints defense shines again in win over Falcons
--Colts get by Texans with Buckner back
Previews
--The Football Team-Steelers
--Bills-Niners
--Ravens-Cowboys
Rundown:
Stop believing in the Steelers
A tale of 2 very different QBs: Watson and Wentz
-- Deshaun Watson's personal coach explains his evolution
-- Why Watson has been slow to gain the praise he deserves
-- How Watson found another level and became elite
-- Carson Wentz isn't broken, he just is who he is
-- Underlying stats show 2017 was a fluke
Fantasy Stud, Dud and Sleeper with Charles Curtis
Games of the Week!
-- Rams v. Cardinals
-- Browns v. Titans
Picks and analysis for every other game
Rundown
Covid ruins Week 12
Playoff update
Things we learned this week
-- The Chargers need a new coach
-- Bills are stagnant
-- Raheem Morris deserves another year as Falcons head coach
-- Jared Goff did not deserve that deal he got
-- Baker Mayfield won't deserve that deal he'll likely get
-- What if Mike Glennon (or RG3) had played for Sean McVay?
-- Tyreek Hill is the most impactful WR in the game
-- Denver's coaches did Kendall Hinton no favors
Lineup:
Steelers-Ravens in doubt as Lamar Jackson tests positive
Covid-19 going to force a Week 18?
Thanksgiving games--Watson great, Patricia still Patricia--Why The Football Team is the NFC East's best team
Looking ahead--Chiefs-Bucs
How teams have limited Tom Brady ... and why the Chiefs will, too-
-Colts-Titans
Key injury may cost Colts important AFC South clash
--Saints-Broncos It's not going to be so easy for Taysom Hill this week
Picks for every game
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz of For The Win return with another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
Quick show update: Charles McDonald (@FourVerts) will be joining The Counter
Playoff review: It's still a Chiefs (and Saints, sorta) league
Week 11 in review
--Chiefs prove they remain a tier above
--Saints get by with Taysom, but D deserves credit
--Colts figuring it out
--Everybody is freaking out about the Ravens but they'll ultimately be fine
--Dolphins magic fades a bit
--Roethlisberger has another worrisome game
Lingering thoughts
--No, really, Deshaun Watson is so good
--Carson Wentz is not
--Joe Burrow's injury and what it means for the future
Looking ahead
--Bucs-Rams MNF
--Thanksgiving Games
Texans-Lions
The Football Team-Cowboys
Ravens-Steelers
Rundown:
@CoachVass, host of Make Defense Great Again podcast, joins the show
-- How the Rams stopped Russell Wilson
-- What defensive coordinators do vs. what fans think they do
-- What the analytics miss or get wrong
Fantasy Stud, Dud and Sleeper with Charles Curtis
Previewing Week 11
Ravens-Titans revenge game
Packers-Colts in a battle of good-but-flawed teams
Chiefs-Raiders: No way the Raiders win again, right?
Picks for every game
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz from For The Win review week 10 in the NFL on The Counter!
Rundown:
Takeaways from that thrilling Cardinals win over the Bills
Wait, are the Bucs under-achieving on offense?
The Packers defense remains atrocious
Still not time for Ravens to panic
Carson Wentz is very thoroughly broken
How will the Saints do if Drew Brees misses time?
The Dolphins(!?) are the best-coached team in the NFL
Big Ben is slowly getting better
MNF preview
For The Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are back with another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
Revised predictions for the playoffs ... and Super Bowl
Why that Dolphins-Cardinals game was so much fun
-- A true chess match between coaches, explained--
How Kyler Murray makes Kliff's job so much easier
-- Tua shows more than expected
Fantasy Stud, Dud and Sleeper
Week 10 Picks and Analysis
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz from For The Win review week 9 in the NFL on this episode of The Counter!
The Rundown:
How election nerds are like football nerds
What the troubling Covid-19 spikes mean for the NFLGames of the Week
-- The Saints cruised past the Bucs, are NFC favorite now
-- Seahawks don't have the defense to keep up
-- Josh Allen great again, only highlighting his past inconsistency
-- Dolphins-Cardinals was a glimpse into the future
-- Ravens figuring it out. Really.
-- Steelers continue to have a low ceiling
-- The Chiefs are the league's lone elite team
-- Deshaun Watson is the real MVP
-- Justin Herbert is the best of the young QBs not named Lamar Jackson
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz return for another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
Covid-19 keeps spiking in the NFL
No, the Patriots don't miss Tom Brady
It turns out Bill Belichick did play a big role in developing Brady
Games of the week:
-- Saints-Bucs Will we see Jameis? And can Brady better exploit Saints D second time around?
-- Seahawks-Bills If Bills are going to really contend, Sean McDermott has to fix the defense The DK Metcalf comparisons are absurd -- and totally mischaracterize who he is as a player
--Ravens-Colts Is this the week the Ravens finally play well? Because it's coming. It really is.
--Cardinals-Dolphins Brian Flores flummoxed Sean McVay a week ago. Is Kliff Kingsbury next?
Picks and analysis for other games
Chris Korman of For The Win is joined by Charles Curtis to discuss week 8 in the NFL on The Counter!
Rundown:
Five big questions after Week 8
--Are we expecting any big trades?
--How far ahead of the Ravens are the Steelers?
--Are the Patriots done?
--Is Tom Brady going to win another Super Bowl?
--How mad would you have to be to punch someone in the helmet?
--Is the chase for No. 2 pick now more exciting than No. 1?
Rundown:
Covid Updates
Trade deadline approaching
What is "tanking," really?
Power Rankings and What We've Learned so far
Top 10, including a few surprises
Fantasy Stud, Dud and Sleeper
Game previews, with a focus on
Steelers-Ravens
49ers-Seahawks
Bills-Patriots
Bears-Saints
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz from For The Win are back with another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
The Ryquell Armstead Covid story you might have missed
The Steelers beat the Titans in a great game, but neither team can touch the Chiefs
Why are the Bucs taking a chance with Antonio Brown?
The Patriots are so broken that even Bill Belichick might not be able to fix them
The NFC West is insanely tough
Is Mike McCarthy already on the hot seat, and who should replace him?
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz return for another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
Ravens making moves, but can the offense be fixed?
Tua time in Miami
No, the Seahawks do not need and should not want Antonio Brown
Fantasy Stud, Dud and Sleeper
Breaking news as Covid hits the Raiders, shifts schedule
Look ahead to Week 7, including a game between undefeated teams
Rundown:
Stepping back: The State of the League
One of these 5 teams will win the Super Bowl
Games!
How the Bucs trounced the Packers
Big Ben takes a step forward while Baker tumbles backwards
Titans win again, but it's not sustainable
The Ravens offense has become too predictable
The Patriots are cooked unless they get Cam help
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are back with another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
Covid's continued impact
Special guest: Betz-- Why the Cowboys defense is so awful, and unfixable
-- Defensive trends through the league
-- Vita Vea appreciation segment ... and why the Bucs will be ok without him
-- Joe Burrow's arm is not good enough
Fantasy segment with Charles Curtis
Game previews and picks
Chris Korman and Seven Ruiz from For The Win are back with another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
Dak Prescott's tragic injury
Alex Smith's uncomfortable return
Falcons finally move on from coach and GM
Covid continues to roil the NFL schedule
Game analysis:
Time to be worried about the Chiefs?
Steelers keep winning but … Big Big remains limited
Wilson and Metcalf come through
Wait, is Rivers really the problem?
49ers have a Jimmy G issue (still)
Texans finally win, have fun
Thursday game: Did we lie about Tom Brady?
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are back with another episode of The Counter!
Rundown:
NFL still struggling to deal with Covid outbreaks
A closer look at why Tom Brady is thriving in Tampa
Bill O'Brien's gone, what's next for Houston?
How the Patriots stopped the Chiefs (and still lost)
Fantasy stud, dud and sleeper with Charles Curtis
Picks and analysis for every Week 5 game
Cam Newton tests positive for Covid-19, what's next? The Eagles sneak past injury riddled 49ers. Why is Dallas' defense so bad? Josh Allen continues defying (Steven's) expectations. Tom Brady figuring it out in Tampa...Breaking down every Sunday game.
Quick hits: Current MVP, Hot Seat Rankings
For The Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are back for another episode of The Counter!
Rundown: Covid hits the NFL, what's next? Jadeveon Clowney film review: Why is he so good at getting pressure but not recording sacks? Week 4 Previews
Why we think Bill Belichick and the Patriots have as good a shot as anybody at stopping Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense Is Texans-Vikings the best game ever between two 0-3 teams? Picks for every game
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz from For The Win are back with another episode of The Counter!
A review of Sunday's actions and biggest storylines including ... Packers win again, but will the defense hold? Drew Brees is not the Saints' only problem Josh Allen's luck may be running out Why the Rams are still the NFC's best team Ben Roethlisberger is limiting the Steelers too much Wow, the NFC East is Putrid The Falcons are just a tragic meme at this point
For The Wins Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz with another action packed episode of The Counter! Here's the Rundown:
Seth Galina, PFF
What's wrong with Drew Brees ... and can it be fixed?
Thomas Neumann, USA Today NFL Wire sites
How 32 sites came together to produce the fascinating Homegrown Legends project
Charles Curtis, For The Win
Fantasy Stud, Dud and Sleeper for Week 3
Previewing Week 3
-- Chiefs at Ravens
Can the Ravens pressure Mahomes?
-- Rams at Bills
The Rams are built to defend Josh Allen's favorite throw
-- Packers at Saints
Can the Saints run two-high coverage and still defend the run?
Breaking down every other game of the week
Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz of For The Win breakdown week 2 in the NFL.
Week 2 marred by injuries to star players
Game reviews:
Seahawks-Patriots play another classic
Cowboys’ insane comeback
Justin Herbert debuts for Chargers as Chiefs struggle but get by
The NFC West is very interesting and good
Rams beat Eagles
49ers handle Jets, but what now?
Cardinals beat The Football Team
The NFC East is the opposite
Giants lose Saquon, lose to Bears
The Packers are better than we thought
The Ravens are as good as we thought
Let’s evaluate some QBs!
Bucs beat Panthers
Colts beat Vikings
Steelers beat Broncos
Bills beat Dolphins
Titans beat Jaguars
Worst 2-0 team
Best 0-2 team
Ranking the 1-1 teams
Biggest surprises
Previewing MNF: Saints-Raiders
Looking ahead to the Monday Take Dump
Is Baker Mayfield back, or did the Browns just figure out a way to make him look OK?
Steven's no good, terrible week waiting for All22 film
Why you need to know Brennan Marion and the GoGo Offense
A closer look at Mike McCarthy's unimaginative offense in his Dallas debut
Games of the Week
Patriots at Seahawks
Rams at Eagles
Analysis for every other game Sunday
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz breakdown all of the NFL action from Sunday, Week 1.
Bill Belichick finally has a dynamic running QB, how did it go?
Tom Brady fled for a more talented (and vertical) offense. Did it work?
Drew Brees' shaky outing
Mike McCarthy has already Mike McCarthied the Cowboys
Is The Football Team from Washington for real?
Did any QB’s appear ready to make the jump?
Jimmy Garoppolo
Sam Darnold
Josh Allen
Baker Mayfield
Jared Goff
Have Adam Gase and Matt Patricia figured anything out?
Will Kyler Murray + DeAndre Hopkins = Good Football?
Did defenses use game film to figure out Lamar Jackson?
Aaron Rodgers back?
Joe Burrow’s solid, if unspectacular debut
Chiefs open season by dominating Texans; can anybody stop them?
It's official: Bill O'Brien does not really have a plan
Fantasy advice with Charles Curtis: Studs, Duds and Sleepers in Week 1
Games of the week: How will Tom Brady -- and his replacement in New England -- handle their new teams?
Picks and analysis for every Sunday game
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz preview the NFL season, including:
Rundown:
Quick hits on NFL news
-- QB competitions
-- Jadaveon Clowney signs
-- Big-name cutsSeason Preview
-- Which teams will end up with Top 5 picks in next year's draft?
-- The 7 teams from each conference that will make the playoffs
-- Predicting NFL awards: A long-time star becomes a first-time MVP
-- Selecting the winner of every playoff game
-- Super Bowl 55: Saints v. Ravens ... but who wins?
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are back for another Division Preview! This week it's the AFC and NFC WEST.
Rundown: -- Can Kyle Shannahan continue to make the most out of Jimmy G? -- Will the Seahawks finally just let Russell Wilson win them some games? -- Is Patrick Mahomes set up to have the best year a QB has ever had?
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are back for another Division Preview! This week it's the AFC and NFC South.
Rundown:
-- Why the Saints are in position to make a deep run
-- Tom Brady's biggest impact might be on Tampa's defense
-- Is this finally the year the Colts make a push?
-- The Jaguars and Panthers are having trouble figuring out how to properly rebuild
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are back for another Division Preview! This week it's the AFC and NFC North.
Rundown:
-- NFL players have avoided positive Covid tests, but can it last once the season starts?
-- Why the Baltimore Ravens will again be the class of the AFC North
-- The NFC North has so much parity that nobody knows what to make of it
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz begin their Division previews and they start off with the AFC and NFC East. This is The Counter!
Charles Curtis, For The Win writer/editor/fantasy sports expert, joins Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz to discuss George Kittle's new contract, the new season of Hard Knocks, and how to approach fantasy football this year. This is The Counter!
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz rank all 32 general mangers in the NFL and give you the latest news happening around the league. This is The Counter!
Our “Getting Home” series takes a deeper look at the strategies behind blitzing in the NFL. Part 1 explains why pressure is so important. Part 2 covers pass protection basics and how defenses manipulate them. Part 3 is a look at Bill Belichick’s vaunted “Cover 0 blitzes.” Part 4 explains why simulated creeper pressures are gaining popularity. Part 5 examines how NFL blitz packages might evolve.
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz are joined by Lorenzo Reyes to discuss reporting on Coronavirus and what he thinks will happen with the NFL season. Plus they talk about rumors surrounding Washington and the Cowboys reluctance to commit to Dak Prescott. This is The Counter!
For the Win's Chris Korman and Steven Ruiz discuss Patrick Mahomes' new contract, Washington's name change, if he NFL will start on time, plus, ranking the NFL coaches from 32 to 1. This is The Counter!