Digest

This episode of the Ringer NFL show dives into the key takeaways from Week 5 of the NFL season. The hosts discuss the Cowboys' win over the Steelers, highlighting their higher ceiling but also their tendency to make mistakes. They also analyze Lamar Jackson's impressive performance against the Bengals, suggesting he is a serious contender for the MVP award. The hosts then discuss the Bills' offensive struggles, attributing them to their offensive line issues and lack of a consistent deep threat receiver. The episode then shifts to the Patriots' reluctance to play rookie quarterback Drake Maye, arguing that the team should prioritize his health and consider punting the season to keep him safe. They also discuss the Jets' offensive struggles, highlighting Aaron Rodgers's underwhelming performance and the team's inability to establish a consistent running game. The hosts then praise Trevor Lawrence's improved performance for the Jaguars, crediting Doug Peterson and Press Taylor for calling a smarter game. They debate whether the Jaguars' struggles are more attributable to their offense or defense, ultimately concluding that the defense's poor performance is a bigger problem. The episode also features discussions about Russell Wilson's new catchphrase, "Win the seventh," and the hosts' amusement at his attempt to create a motivational slogan. They also discuss Caleb Williams' impressive performance against the Panthers, lamenting the Panthers' decision to draft Bryce Young instead of Williams. The hosts then analyze the Giants' surprising win over the Seahawks, highlighting Tyrone Tracy's 129-yard rushing performance. They attribute the Seahawks' struggles to their offensive line issues and defensive weaknesses. Finally, the hosts discuss the apparent resurgence of running backs in the NFL, citing examples like Aaron Jones' impact on the Packers' offense and Christian McCaffrey's importance to the 49ers. They argue that running backs are once again becoming a crucial part of successful offenses.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Overview

Johnny Banana introduces the podcast and previews the upcoming season of The Challenge, Battle of the Eras. He also mentions the podcast's availability on various platforms.

00:00:33

Week 5 Recap and Analysis

The hosts discuss the key takeaways from Week 5 of the NFL season, focusing on three games: Cowboys vs. Steelers, Ravens vs. Bengals, and Texans vs. Bills. They analyze player performances, team strategies, and highlight key concerns for each team.

00:39:48

Plant Your Flag: Week 5 Highlights

The hosts share their individual highlights from Week 5, including Jayden Daniels's MVP-caliber performance for the Commanders, Kyle Shanahan's questionable play-calling for the 49ers, and Aaron Rodgers's struggles with the Jets.

01:00:26

Week 5 Awards

The hosts present their humorous awards for Week 5, highlighting the Patriots' reluctance to play Drake Maye and the potential risks of doing so.

01:02:42

Jacobi Myers' Injury and the Patriots' Quarterback Situation

The hosts discuss Jacobi Myers' injury and its impact on the Patriots' offense. They argue that the team should prioritize protecting their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, and consider punting the season to keep him healthy.

01:04:06

Trevor Lawrence's Improved Performance and the Jaguars' Offense

The hosts praise Trevor Lawrence's performance in the Jaguars' win against the Dolphins, highlighting his improved decision-making and ability to get the ball out quickly. They credit Doug Peterson and Press Taylor for calling a smarter game, allowing Lawrence to find success.

01:05:24

The Jaguars' Struggles: Offense vs. Defense

The hosts debate whether the Jaguars' 1-4 record is more attributable to their offense or defense. While the offense has been mediocre, the defense has been a disaster, ranking 30th in EPA per drive.

01:08:05

Russell Wilson's New Catchphrase and the Seahawks' Culture

The hosts discuss Russell Wilson's new catchphrase, "Win the seventh," and express their amusement at his attempt to create a motivational slogan. They blame Pete Carroll and the Seahawks' culture for enabling Wilson's eccentricities.

01:10:34

Caleb Williams' Dominant Performance and the Panthers' Missed Opportunity

The hosts discuss Caleb Williams' impressive performance against the Panthers, highlighting his pre-snap command, playmaking ability, and overall development. They lament the Panthers' decision to draft Bryce Young instead of Williams, arguing that they missed out on a generational talent.

01:14:56

Giants' Surprising Win and Defensive Highlights

The hosts discuss Isaiah Simmons' impressive blocked field goal in the Giants' win over the Seahawks. They also highlight Patrick Surtain II's 100-yard pick-six in the Broncos-Raiders game, questioning his status as the top corner in the league.

01:16:47

Giants' Offensive Success and Seahawks' Struggles

The hosts discuss the Giants' surprising offensive performance against the Seahawks, particularly Tyrone Tracy's 18 carries for 129 yards. They attribute the Seahawks' struggles to their offensive line issues and defensive weaknesses.

01:19:03

NFL Throwback Uniforms and Design Choices

The hosts praise the NFL's throwback uniforms, highlighting the Atlanta Falcons' red helmets and black jerseys, Denver Broncos' orange crush uniforms, and Jacksonville Jaguars' late 90s throwbacks. They criticize Tom Coughlin's design choices for the Jaguars' current uniforms, which they consider some of the worst in the league.

01:21:46

The Resurgence of Running Backs in the NFL

The hosts discuss the apparent resurgence of running backs in the NFL, citing examples like Aaron Jones' impact on the Packers' offense and Christian McCaffrey's importance to the 49ers. They argue that running backs are having a moment and are once again becoming a crucial part of successful offenses.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the key takeaways from the Cowboys vs. Steelers game?

  The Cowboys' win highlighted their higher ceiling compared to the Steelers, but their tendency to make mistakes remains a concern. Dak Prescott's performance was solid, but turnovers continue to be an issue.

• Is Lamar Jackson a contender for the MVP award?

  Lamar Jackson's performance against the Bengals showcased his exceptional talent and ability to make plays both inside and outside the pocket. His performance against a strong Bengals defense suggests he is a serious contender for the MVP award.

• What are the concerns surrounding the Bills' offense?

  The Bills' offensive line struggles have been a recurring issue, forcing Josh Allen to rely heavily on his scrambling ability and limiting the effectiveness of the passing game. The lack of a consistent deep threat receiver also poses a challenge.

• Why is the Patriots' reluctance to play Drake Maye a good decision?

  The Patriots' offensive line and overall offensive scheme are not conducive to a rookie quarterback's success. Playing Maye in this situation could lead to negative development and potentially hinder his future prospects.

• What are the biggest concerns surrounding the Jets' offense?

  Aaron Rodgers's performance has been underwhelming, with a lack of accuracy, poor decision-making, and a reliance on risky throws. The Jets' inability to establish a consistent running game further exacerbates the offensive struggles.

• What is the biggest concern for the Patriots' offense going forward?

  The biggest concern is protecting their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, who is known for his willingness to take punishment. The hosts believe the team should prioritize his health and consider punting the season to keep him safe.

• What changes did the Jaguars make to their offense that led to Trevor Lawrence's improved performance?

  The Jaguars called a smarter game, getting the ball out of Lawrence's hands quickly and allowing him to find shortcuts in his progression. This helped him avoid taking unnecessary risks and made him more efficient.

• Why do the hosts believe that the Jaguars' struggles are more attributable to their defense than their offense?

  While the offense has been mediocre, the defense has been a disaster, ranking 30th in EPA per drive. The hosts argue that the defense's poor performance is a bigger problem for the team than the offense's inconsistency.

• What is the hosts' opinion on Russell Wilson's new catchphrase, "Win the seventh"?

  The hosts find it amusing and somewhat embarrassing, blaming Pete Carroll and the Seahawks' culture for enabling Wilson's eccentricities. They believe it's a sign of a team that is struggling to find its identity.

Show Notes