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00:00Welcome to our number two of what we will call a football Friday live right here on the early line on sports grid
00:07He is Donnie right side
00:08I am Ben Stevens a triple header of NFL week one
00:13preseason action on this Friday evening a triple header
00:16That is three games following a double header of preseason action to kick off week
00:22number one in full around the National Football League last night on a
00:27Thursday are you ready for some football some Friday night football DRS?
00:33Absolutely, who doesn't love football? I love it for one minute. I watch the kickoff
00:37I see the first handoff figure out how boring it is
00:39Then I go about my evening at this point and maybe take some notes week number two is the week for the NFL that we
00:45Want to watch if you want to get any starters technically into the equation and watch them play for at least a couple series at
00:51This point it's just nice though to have football back on the TV like my daughter came in
00:55It was like, you know, the preseason game is on football's on already. I'm like absolutely get ready for it long haul starts right now
01:01We got to make sure we're crossing our you know, T's and dotting our eyes at this point
01:05But I do like it back on how excited I am for the oh my goodness handoffs throughout the second third and fourth quarters
01:14But Donnie we need some scoring speaking of kickoffs because if we don't have a ton of scoring
01:20We won't get to see the NFL kickoff rules and the changes that have been made
01:24Entering 2024 and these clubs around the league will not get the necessary practice in-game reps that they need
01:31For a new season last night 17 to 3 of the victory for the Patriots over the Panthers in Foxboro
01:38Total of 35 and a half stayed
01:40Well under the Giants and the Lions did not score a single point in the second half New York victorious
01:47Though 14 to 3 over Detroit a total of 35 and a half stays well under might we see some more scoring
01:55Friday night lights we start in a battle of the birds
01:59It's the Ravens and the Eagles in the Charm City in Baltimore
02:04we're Philadelphia is a one and a half point favorite total at 34 and
02:09Uh-huh DRS earlier in the week when these preseason lines became available for week
02:14Number one the Ravens were the favorite side correctly
02:17so Baltimore has been a dynasty in preseason football in the last decade or so a
02:2424 game preseason win streak came to a close last year that dated back to
02:302016 under John Harbaugh who takes these preseason contests very seriously
02:36So why are the other birds that being the Eagles favored tonight on the road?
02:41It used to be in the past couple of years like how you rating it sure if you are a franchise when the scoreboard is
02:47On the camera the clocks are like running you really care about the final score
02:51And apparently that's the case with the Baltimore Ravens because it's usually just supposed to be a coin flip in the preseason
02:56You don't really care about the game. Let's get some guys some burn put them on tape
02:59Let's just see how they do and hopefully nobody gets injured
03:02But it's apparent that you don't win 20 plus preseason games in a row let alone like three games in a row without actually
03:07Caring what that final score is are we saying that the Baltimore Ravens are scripting plays to make sure that puts them in the best
03:12Possible position no, but sometimes it just goes as far to say is who are your quarterbacks here?
03:17They get you have athletic guys that have played in the NFL before when the play breaks down
03:22They're going to be able to get first downs, but now as you take a look obviously Lamar Jackson
03:26We're not gonna see him tonight Josh Johnson aging veteran quarterback Devin Leary rookie
03:32Emory Jones rookie you no longer have that like hey know what the four preseason quarterbacks are going to play
03:37They've all played in the NFL and have experience and maybe that's the issue and also if you are just reading lines if you read it
03:43Yesterday much to say on the New England Patriots game. That's ridiculous close to a touchdown. Just give me the points
03:49You saw the way that ended up
03:50There's a reason why these lines are moving particularly even in the preseason where maybe you're saying to yourself a team that never loses
03:57All of a sudden is an underdog against an NFL team with the Eagles
04:00They don't have a propensity to go out and dominate in the preseason and now they're the favorites
04:04That's a big swing here and there is something to that
04:07Snoop Huntley used to be the backup for Lamar Jack
04:11I was playing a similar style of quarterbacking and that's why you could rely on
04:15Baltimore even without Lamar who of course was drafted in
04:202018 but Snoop's now on another AFC North team a part of the Cleveland Browns
04:25Organization at this moment. So Josh Johnson is the guy that are in
04:30Experience Lamar Jackson will not play tonight. How do the young rooks look in Todd Munkin's?
04:37Offense we might see some of the starting a line for Baltimore in this game
04:42But again, no Lamar Jackson to start off the preseason for Baltimore on the other side the RS your guy
04:49Nick Sirianni has been pretty shady about what his plans are for
04:55Philadelphia in the last two press conferences where Sirianni has been at the podium
04:59He has been asked about Jalen Hurts will he play won't he play in the preseason opener against Baltimore?
05:05What about the rest of the starters on either side of the football? He is really declined to give a true
05:12Answer do you think we see Jalen Hurts and some of those Eagles starters tonight in Baltimore?
05:17No, I don't think we see Jalen Hurts
05:19But you still do have some capable backups of the Eagles and by the way
05:22If you are watching the way the Eagles are playing the preseason at like Nick Sirianni is one of the worst press conferences
05:27You can have because you ask him a question
05:29Offense and by like, you know a minute or two in he's talking about he remembers being you know
05:33Back in high school when his freshman coach was telling you something. It's just a winding meandering thing
05:37You never get anything out Vic Fangio on the opposite side comes out and tells you who stinks on that day of practice
05:42Who might not be getting play and also who doesn't deserve to play who should be playing?
05:46So it's sort of refreshing near the head coach not say anything defensive coordinator
05:50Basically throw you under the bus if you have a couple bad practice reps the day before but again having said that you're just reading
05:55Lines in this game if it is going to be Kenny Pickett dudes been in the NFL
05:59He's got started starts under his belt
06:00Yeah, even Tanner McKee who doesn't have a long reference
06:03But actually has some pretty decent tape in the preseason from last year
06:06And if you are just extending it down will Greer he's been around the block in the NFL
06:10Who's been at it quite a bit here as a veteran presence?
06:13The better lineup a quarterback is actually on the side of the Eagles
06:16So even if you're looking as a novice better like wait a second this one team never loses in the preseason where you know
06:21Like no matter what hardball is telling you pre or post game like look guys
06:25I know we've won a lot of games what we're not like caring really about this. Yes, you are
06:29You don't win that by happenstance in the preseason you can control basically who's playing and not playing and have those guys
06:36You know look I'm ready to play. I'm not ready to play. They've won too many games. They're not to care
06:40So I love the fact that they went and you surprised me yesterday
06:43Not really looking at the line going like like I think this line is wrong on our graphic here like no no
06:47Yeah, Eagles are actually favored in that game tomorrow, which is wild to say I'll run with that way
06:52Cuz I do think the Eagles have the better quarterback combinations in the preseason right now than the Baltimore Ravens
06:57In whether it was prolific performance out of the quarterback room or not
07:02The two better teams that had the better quarterbacks on paper with more NFL game rep experience did prevail
07:09Last night that was the New York Giants with Drew Locke and of course Tommy DeVito
07:15And the Patriots who played all four of their quarterbacks including Jacoby Brissett and Drake May in Bailey's happy who has a ton of
07:23Reps I would say Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee have a lot more game experience right now
07:29Yes, Josh Johnson has been around the block a time or two, but I would look to Philly side
07:34You look up and down the depth chart for Philadelphia. We're also probably gonna see some of the youngsters tonight
07:39Might we see Quinn Yon Mitchell first-round pick out of Toledo at the cornerback spot might we see Donnie's guy?
07:45Will Shipley wait until he takes
07:51Come on now, we're not gonna see Cooper to Jean unfortunately dealing with some injuries so far during
07:57Training camp and Donnie not only does preseason give us a first glimpse at a team entering a new NFL year
08:04And although it's not the same guys that we're going to see throughout the regular season
08:07It gives us a time to forecast what the future holds both, Philadelphia and Baltimore the favorites to win
08:14Their divisions both have the second best prices to win a conference
08:19Championship as you compare these two sides. Who do you think ends up having a better season?
08:24I mean, it's it's hard to say because here's what the penalty is going to be
08:28You're not playing these games in a vacuum and I mean by like, okay same schedule for each one of these teams
08:32How they going to prevail the reason I'm bringing this up is you look at the NFC East the Dallas Cowboys
08:36We expect to be around 10 wins. We don't expect that for Washington
08:39We don't certainly expect that for the New York Giants. Conversely, you flip it over to the AFC North
08:44Each and every one of these teams legitimately can win that division and or and wins which means on a day-to-day basis or week-to-week
08:52Basis, I should say when you're playing those teams, you don't get away up here on your schedule
08:56Oh, look, we got this easy team at home this weekend
08:58So I do give it up to the Eagles a little bit more not because the team is better so much
09:02But they might have an easier path than the Baltimore Ravens from their own division
09:07Yeah, the AFC North is going to be a gauntlet
09:10we will continue that conversation when we start our three for plenty more to come around this Friday triple header the NFL a
09:18Triple header of NFL action on this Friday week. Number one of the preseason
09:23We started in Baltimore between the Ravens and the Eagles now
09:27We take the trip to the Steel City that will be the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Houston Texans
09:33This line stands out to me DRS two and a half point spread in favor of the Texans over under
09:3937 and a half, of course for Houston
09:43This will be their second preseason game of sorts
09:46They played last week in Canton on a Thursday eight days ago in the Hall of Fame game. They lost the Bears
09:542117 in a rain and lightning shortened game that was postponed and then called but what we do know
10:01Justin Fields will get the start for Pittsburgh on the other side
10:05Do we have any?
10:07Clarification as of yet if CJ Stroud will make his preseason debut to start off his sophomore season in the National Football League. I
10:15Don't know if we do or not to be honest
10:17But at the same time if we are looking like what is he going to get like maybe one serious hand it off get in
10:21And out so we're not expecting him to play probably a full quarter. Maybe they're still saying okay
10:25This is our second game, but we have four games
10:27So really our second game technically should be the following week
10:30but the one thing that we do know about that quarterback situation is sometimes like those betting tendencies been where the backup quarterback situation might be
10:38Unsettled Davis Mills versus case Keenum. You want to give them an honest game plan?
10:41You saw the week before Bobby Sloak and that offense moving the football already that dress rehearsal out of the way
10:47So things probably looking on the up and up
10:49But it'll be interesting to see how Pittsburgh
10:50Handles their quarterback situation with Justin Fields where if we're led to believe he has no chance to be the starter
10:56Then why not let him spend at least a full quarter in this game, right?
11:00Yeah, I would agree with that
11:02I think he's going to get a lot of the run for the Steelers in this game to meet Orion saying earlier this week
11:08He expects to see the starters play a little bit in this preseason game. The guys need to get rest
11:15So that's why Houston is booked as the favorite of two and a half points
11:19So maybe you look at the Steelers later in the game a second quarter number if it is available or a second
11:26Half number. Let's see if the fan dual sports book is posting those types of things right now
11:30Just a first half number at this point where that first half spread sees Houston as less of a favorite
11:38Only laying a point and a half. That's a little bit interesting
11:42I would expect to see Justin Fields out there in a large way Russ
11:45That's Russell Wilson not going to play tonight for Pittsburgh
11:49But Mike Tomlin telling everybody earlier this week that despite fields being named the starter for preseason week
11:55Number one Russell Wilson is still the starter for the true week. Number one of the regular season
12:01So now we get our first true glimpse at CJ Stroud in his second year in the NFL the offensive rookie of the year after a
12:09Sensational rookie campaign under a rookie head coach in D'Amico Ryans
12:13They came out of nowhere last year were gift-wrapped in a way the AFC South because of Jacksonville
12:20Struggling down the stretch and gift-wrap was probably not the right word
12:23But Houston had to come and take it and they did but now they are the team that has to match the expectation
12:31They are the team DRS booked as the short favorites to win the AFC South at plus
12:37105 where do you expect Houston to be by the end of 2024?
12:42I
12:43look for him hopefully to be a better team than they were last year which would be pretty impressive because last year they did win
12:48Their division and did win a playoff game with a rookie quarterback. So we're expecting the skies to be the limit
12:53We're not expecting them a sophomore slump, which is unfair to say that for CJ Stroud and certainly we've talked about this many times already
13:00What is what is the outlook that you're supposed to have for the Texans?
13:03And if you are saying well
13:04I think they take a step back based on what at this point as the quarterbacks not gonna be as good as last year
13:09They lost so many players on fridge, you know, they actually added to this team
13:12They look even more powerful this year in a division
13:15Which means first game will be at home should be able to win that playoff game again
13:19And then maybe you go on the road if not have home field advantage for that second game
13:23so the expectations for me for the Texans are high because I
13:26Can only go off Ben what I saw last year and a front office making the commitment to the team to add even more weapons
13:32An extra pass rusher an extra wide receiver and digs
13:35So, I don't know why we're expecting maybe them to take a step back unless you feel the Jacksonville Jaguars are the far superior team
13:42And they're ready to rebound I'm not ready to do that
13:45I do think the Texans from player to player love the head coach or the most talented team overall in that division and I expect
13:52Them to win 10 games. I expect them to win that division
13:55I expect them to win another playoff game this season anything less certainly would be a step back in that fashion eight wins
14:02No division title no playoffs. I don't see that coming and unless you're just a contrarian you probably won't see that coming either
14:09Nine and a half the win total for the Texans as you saw but the over has the heavy juice at minus
14:15150 double-digit wins is the expectation in
14:19H-count and Donny
14:20I'm not even sure matching expectation of being a 10-win team or making the playoffs is
14:25Enough this year for this Texans franchise with how great last year was out of nowhere and how successful the offseason has been
14:33Deemed to be
14:34Bolstering the roster adding Stefan Diggs to Neil Hunter on the other side of the football and adding to that D line
14:41Under defensive minded head coach D'Amico Ryan
14:44I think many around this Texan side expects Houston to contend for an AFC championship
14:50Is it a year too early?
14:52We shall see we know what the standard is in Pittsburgh
14:56Of course
14:56The standard is the standard but it is not winning less than eight games in the 17 years under Mike Tomlin
15:05Pittsburgh has never won less than eight games in a regular season has never had a losing record
15:10Does that continue in the 2024 NFL season?
15:14I
15:15Think it does because the one thing that you know from a Mike Tomlin team is they're gonna be
15:18Competent on a week-to-week basis now you might yell and scream at what the offense is doing
15:22But this team is built that way play really good defense make plays on offense when you need and quite frankly
15:27We're thinking we got a quarterback upgrade in Russell Wilson
15:31If you just take Ross's numbers last year from Denver where they sort of you know
15:35Cut his legs out at the end of the season and transfer him over to the Steelers
15:38That means they're gonna have a competent offense here. Pickens is a very good wide receiver
15:42You're waiting right now to see if Brandon Iuke is added to that roster to go with Pickens. That would be incredible
15:47You also have Harris at running back a decent offensive line a bone crushing defense
15:51That's led by you two outside linebackers and Highsmith and why there's a lot of positives on this team
15:57But we just talked about the Baltimore Ravens if you told me right now
16:00Hey, by the way, Donny the Steelers just got relocated to the NFC South. We're talking playoffs
16:05We're talking a deep run here
16:06But the fact that they play in the north here that is absolutely incredible on a week-to-week basis
16:11You're gonna have to be perfect to win double-digit games in that division here
16:16Yeah completely agree listen the Steelers have made it to the postseason two of the last three years with nothing on offense Matt
16:23Canada bye-bye Arthur Smith now the new OC for Pittsburgh
16:28And I think Russell Wilson or Justin Fields a large upgrade at the quarterback spot
16:33Probably the last three to four years for this Steelers team more around the NFL preseason
16:38Our third and final game to preview around the National Football League with a triple header of Friday night games in
16:45preseason week number one
16:47We go to Miami South Beach the site for the Dolphins and the Falcons in their preseason debut here in
16:552024 a lot of buzzworthy topics from this game DRS where the Dolphins or a two and a half point home favorite a
17:02total of 38 and a hook now
17:05We're not going to see either starting quarterback more than likely tonight not Kirk Cousins for Atlanta
17:10No to a tongue-of-eye Lola for Miami
17:14But the backup quarterbacks will be a focus and it's a high total of 38 and a half between two offenses
17:21We expect to probably lead the way in scoring in
17:242024
17:25Yeah, it does look like a pretty good matchup on paper, right?
17:28If you take down the starters not playing you started some capable backups
17:31We'll see if Michael panics how long he gets to spin tonight
17:33But also Taylor Heineken on that roster and Nathan Rourke you see that name pop up
17:37The reason why you like players like that been around the league here but athletic enough to make plays with their legs late
17:43You also take a look at the Miami Dolphins, you know frontline look obviously to attack
17:47I'm a Lola probably not signing up tonight Mike white been around the league in the NFL same thing with Skylar Thompson
17:51That's what we like. But also sometimes I talk about this band even more when you head into the preseason. What's the number one goal?
17:58Let's get some guys some film work
18:00But the main goal is we don't want to get anybody to have any injuries here
18:03The reason I bring this up the Falcons lost Rondell Moore for the season already one of those key contributors
18:08They expected to be one of those speedy weapons at wide receiver when that happens
18:13That's sort of shakes up that coaching staff to say, okay, we can't afford to lose anybody else
18:18Let's be extra careful and maybe that plays into it
18:21But still you're going to have those quarterbacks out here and I would say to myself if I'm looking at a game
18:25That's supposed to go over the total
18:27It's probably going to be this one
18:28But really just with a little bit of a downgrade because that injury to Rondell Moore
18:33you can't just be running extra wide receivers after getting looks because this scares teams off and that's the reason why we hate to see
18:39the preseason injuries because it already is so tough to stay healthy during the regular season then to lose starters before you even get to
18:47the starting block
18:48An injury on Wednesday afternoon to Rondell Moore in the joint practice between the Dolphins and the Falcons practice was called
18:55More left the field in an air cast after his first three seasons in the NFL in Arizona
19:01Was going to be a key piece to this offense expected to be explosive in the ATL
19:06Under Kirk Cousins a huge blow already for the Atlanta Falcons, but let's talk back up quarterbacks
19:13You yes two guys with experience battling it out for that reserve job in Miami
19:18Mike McDaniel calling the backup quarterback competition between Skylar Thompson and Mike white neck-and-neck right now
19:25So a proving ground of sorts tonight in preseason week number one
19:29but the main conversation on the other side the stunning and shocking move in the opening round of the
19:352024 NFL draft eighth overall the Atlanta Falcons after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year
19:42180 million dollar deal
19:44Drafting Michael Pennix jr. Out of Washington again eighth
19:49over all
19:50So what's his plan to start off his NFL career word out of Atlanta?
19:55They expect to use him a lot in the preseason
19:59but why
20:01Necessarily, it's almost like a catch-22 and a lose-lose for the Falcons if he goes out there and looks brilliant
20:08Then it's like oh could this guy actually test Kirk Cousins for the top spot?
20:13And why do we pay captain Kirk a ton of money or if he looks bad?
20:18And this is his only game action would Falcons fans be saying what in the heck?
20:23Did we use a top-ten pick on this guy for I don't love the situation for Michael Pennix jr. There in Atlanta
20:31No, it was the wrong draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons to make don't care how they spin it
20:35But he's here on that team. We can't take that back. But you he needs to get reps
20:38So normally you say to yourself and you're right Ben. What happens if he gets hurt?
20:42What happens if he doesn't play? Well, well, here's the issue that you have
20:44This is a kid that I mean he's has had some devastating injuries in the career. Don't get me wrong
20:48But let's just say going back to grade school football
20:51He's playing every single year as possibly the best player on his team
20:55Which means he's getting hundreds of reps in practice hundreds of reps in games
20:59So we're saying to ourselves he played high-level college football last year. Hey, by the way, buddy, just sit this one out
21:04We get no reps throughout the season and we're worried about you in the preseason even getting injured
21:09He's got to let it spin out here
21:10And I think it's a great problem to have because if panics looks great in the preseason
21:15I think that's a good problem to have you're not benching Kirk Cousins
21:18But boy, oh boy
21:19Ben
21:19Doesn't it make you feel a little bit better about the future when you're ready to hand that torch off if this kid is playing
21:24well in practice and in preseason games and you expect him to step into a game situation if Kirk Cousins
21:30Maybe gets injured gets a concussion hurts the Achilles hurts the knee. You never know what's gonna pop up
21:35I think he needs to spin tonight and play well, but also I think he just needs to play
21:39Sure for a quarterback that might not even start a game before the Falcons need to decide it
21:45They're going to pick up his fifth year option. It's a terrible situation in the ATL
21:50But both the Falcons and the Dolphins expected to be double-digit win and playoff teams in
21:572024