America served by Applebee's
and it's time for your week, five recap. Maria Taylor
alongside Tony Dungy and Mike Florio and I want to start out
with the Cowboys who are sitting at 41, despite the fact
that Dak Prescott has been out Cooper, Rush is a solid for
Renault
and their defense is playing Amazing. My Floria. What's
impressed you most about the Cowboys?
The fact that they just have found a way to win week in and
week out without that Prescott, it felt so - the energy was
just bad, the Cowboys are done without that Prescott, and then
they win one game. They went another one, another one
another,
and they're finally into some difficult games now, beating
the Rams on the road, although it probably was more like
a Cowboys home game and now this next challenge you're going to
Philadelphia their defense is so good. Their offense is
balanced and they can afford to let that Prescott
take all the time. He needs to get to
100% instead of rushing him back and having him
not ready to go, not be 100%, maybe get banged up. This is
a great situation for the Cowboys to be in and now they get
an opportunity to take on the best team in the league next week.
Well, here's what I think happened. Maria, Mike McCarthy
went to that team when Dad got hurt and said defense,
you got to step up. You've got to be leaders. You've got to
carry us. And those guys took him. Seriously, the last four
weeks, they have played lights out Cooper Rush is doing
a great job. He's doing what he should do. The running game is
picked
up. But it's the defense that's just saying, you know, we're
not going to let you school. Yeah. And you saw that, they
were just basically having a party around Matthew Stafford.
On the graphic five sacks for the Cowboys. Three total
takeaways. When you talk about the Rams offense, I mean, what
are we seeing from the reigning Super Bowl champs? This season
coach, we get
all enamored with passing game and Cooper cups, going to do
this and Allen Robinson is going to do this. When the Rams
were on fire last year, they were running the ball setting
things up play action, big plays.
They're not running the ball well this year and so
consequently they're not protecting as well
Stafford's getting hit a lot more, it just doesn't look and
think they're going to have to get their running game. Going
to get back to where they want to go. Your thoughts. Might
I think that's the key. And with left tackle, Andrew
Whitworth gone on the offensive line, not as good as it used to
be but you diminish the running game, they miss Robert Woods
and or Odell Beckham jr. Now Beckham.
Presumably is coming back at some point, but it's all Cooper
cup and some Tyler higbee in the In game
and with Stafford,
Stafford is so tough. And so quiet about getting banged
around, I can't help but wonder whether or not he's kind of
secretly banged up and he's even telling the team, he just
seemed a little bit off
although anyone would seem off in that offense if he's not
having time to set up and throw the ball Mike today they could
have had Odell Beckham Robert Woods.
I need any great receiver. The Rams have ever had, it wouldn't
have made any difference. Stafford was harassed every
single time he dropped. It back. Yeah, the Dallas defense
definitely made it difficult for Stafford and that offense,
still looks inconsistent. But one thing that we've
consistently seen so far this season is that the Eagles are
going to find a way to win, I think about Jaylen Harris when
he was in the locker room, rains, heater, slopes no
the Eagles. Go and go like
that rains true with what they've been able to do and you
saw against the Cardinals it came down to a field goal but
it seems like Mike. This is a team that's confident that no
matter how the game starts and finishes, they're going to be
the ones walking away with the win.
And this game had all the indications of a trap. You've
got the Cowboys coming up next week.
This is kind of the time where you see the correction of
the team that breaks out of the gates undefeated. This is
the week, they stepped in a pothole and it was funny because last
Wednesday when Jalen hurts met with the media, he didn't get
a single question
about the Cardinals. So he basically asked himself
a question about this
is how good they are, because we have to take this team
seriously, and we saw how close it was and I really would like
to see them have more of that.
That Killer Instinct to finish teams,
they let the Lions back into it. They kind of try to look
the Jaguars back into it. Last week, they let the
the Cardinals back into it today. They're good enough to build
that lead and extend it not just old and I want to see
them. Get to that level.
It's funny. You say that Mike because
I actually had a conversation with Nick suriani last week
about protecting leads and how you play in the second half
when you've got big leads. I think this is new kind of
Uncharted Territory for Philadelphia.
They step on the gas pedal.
They give you that offense, you don't know how to defend, they
get ahead and then it's how do we want a plate? We want to
throw the ball more to want to keep running
and, and they're learning, but they played Dynamic out of
the gate and they just got to learn how to how to keep the hammer
down. Well, it's going to be an interesting matchup than four
weeks six because we're all looking forward to it and fce
Showdown. We got
the 5 and 0 Eagles, the four and one Cowboys, I want to do
an early sneak peek, my kit, what you're already looking at
at some of the matchups that we should be watching for
Want to see what Jalen hurts does against the best defense.
He will have seen all year long and maybe the best defense,
he'll see the entire season
we have I believe witnessed the transformation of jail and
hurts
from being a guy who had to prove. He was good enough to
just be a starter and then prove that he was good enough
to hold the job.
Now, he's becoming a franchise quarterback before our eyes and
he's setting himself up for a major contract with the Eagles.
He's really going to put them in a tough spot after this
season. And if he can get it done against a team.
Like the Cowboys, it's going to just reinforce that even more
strongly. So this is going to be the test of his NFL career.
It's a test for the Eagles, across the board with a very
good Cowboys. Team coming in especially if they somehow get
Dak Prescott
back. Although I have a feeling
right now, that's probably not going to happen.
I agree with you. Mike I'm really anxious to see this
Philadelphia is going to come out and they're going to do
some things with the running game and with Jalen hurd's
running, that's going to force Dallas to put a lot of people
in the, in the Box
to deal with hurts
and You going to have AJ Brown and Devante Smith on
the outside. One-on-one Dallas hasn't been in that situation
a lot because they use they count on their front. Four to brush
the pasta, they use a lot of different coverage people
when they have to lock in on that run.
Can those Corners hold up one-on-one against those two
receivers? Well, the great thing is we get to lead into
that show. So we'll be breaking down. Coach gonna have
a clicker, okay? By the time we get to pregame going into
that week, six matchup.
Let's keep it. Moving with what we've already seen in week,
five. And if you are a New York fan, Man, you are so happy
because the Jets and Giants have combined for seven wins.
So far this season, we saw the Giants go out to London beat
the Packers.
I mean coach. And what are we seeing from? Both of these
teams as we almost watch. Them grow up and mature before our
eyes. Well, I think we start to sit with the Jets last year,
with what Roberts, Allah brought just attitude and
the way they
went and we're scented with the Giants.
Everybody thinks, oh they brought Brian De Belen, to fix
the quarterback, to fix Daniel Jones. Well, he did some things
for Daniel Jones. He's getting the ball to say, Quan Berkeley
and open space heater. Using his weapon. But the big thing
he's brought it, those guys never feel, like they're out of
it, they don't care how the
game is going. They're playing hard. They're not beating
themselves. They're playing confident. I think he's brought
a culture and a just a,
we can win to this team and they believe in themselves.
Mike.
Yeah. And you look at that quality of coming back from
significant deficits, we've seen the Jets, do it in two out
of their three wins and we saw the Giants do it today down. 73
would have been very easy to throw in
the towel? Owl in London, taking on a Packers team where
the fans had taken over that stadium.
And the Giants just kept plugging away and they kept pushing it.
We all reminds me of what day ball told me after the game.
The idea that he wants to have no excuses. No, no Woe Is Us
know. This just isn't our day. Just keep pushing you once
everyone in the organization have that attitude and
it's just amazing
to see them at four and one and I really wasn't a Believer
until today. I thought some of the Winds they got were
a little fluky but to beat the Packers the way they did today.
Believe in the Giants now,
which team do you believe in more? Jets are giants. Mike,
I'll say the Giants just because I think their path to
the playoffs is easier than the Jets. If they played right now.
Maybe the Jets would find a way to win, I don't know, but
I think it's better to be
in the NFC, even in the NFC East as we pointed out in
football night in America. Maria, you made this point, you
got the eagles with no losses. The Cowboys with one in
the Giants with one, that's a tough division,
but the rest of the conference isn't good, the Giants have
an easier path to the postseason. And and the Jets are playing
hard and I love love what they're doing. But if
the Browns don't run out of bounds,
they probably lose that game. When they're down 13 they're
played against the third team quarterback today. Jet still
have a little more to prove to me, well, either way it's
an Empire State of Mind. I know that everyone went to New York
is still celebrating.
And so you guys enjoy that and we'll see what happens, week, six
time for your biggest. Take away some of our quick hitters
Mike. We'll start with you,
the bills, crushing the Steelers behind Josh Allen's
career day biggest takeaway.
What my biggest takeaway is something's wrong with
the Steelers. These are not the Steelers that I'm used to
seeing for the last 50 years that I've lived in and around
Pittsburgh. I thought they would answer the bell.
I thought they would at least keep this close.
They got embarrassed today and they're kind of out of answers
and this isn't the way to start the the Kenny picket are they
need to get TJ W back? He's not going to be back apparently
until after their bye week. They may be one
in seven coach pulling into the bye week and Mike Tomlin has
never had a losing season. They go into the by at 1 & 7. He's
going to have his first losing season.
And I agree with you Mike, everything you said. This is
very, very disappointing for the Steelers. They knew
the situation. Hey, your plan against Buffalo. They've got
an explosive offense.
We've got to get the job done on offense. We've got to keep
the ball a little bit Buffalo. I talked to Leslie, Frazier.
They're banged up, they're missing their whole secondary,
they're missing key players up front, and
you couldn't tell, you couldn't tell. You could re points mud
by the Steelers. They didn't run the ball. Well at all,
you've got a number one, draft choice, Nagi Harris, who was
a great back. In college, he can't get out into the second
level,
they've got to change that. They've got to get some
attitude going on offense and as Mike said they've got to do
it quick. Alright biggest, take away the Browns. Blow another
fourth quarter lead Mike.
Well
this is not what we thought we'd see from the Browns
because it's defense, it's running game. It's
conservative, it's smart football. They need to win in
All Phases while they wait for Deshaun Watson to come back
and these are just missed opportunities for a Browns team that
Could be better, should be better and could be putting
wins in the bank for the playoff run. The potentially is
to come when Watson returns week 13, if he checks all boxes
and passes all NFL
scrutiny. So that the these are the kinds of games where when
we get down to the last couple of weeks and we're looking at
all the permutations and Steve kornacki has crunching
the numbers.
You're going to wish you had these Ells become W is because
it makes your path to hell of a lot easier or harder. The case
may be to get to the postseason.
Realistically, the Browns could be 5 and oh, right now. Yeah,
you know, you're up 13 points to the Jets. You make some bad
decisions there today.
All you need a field goal in Jacoby preset. Throws
an interception at the goal line.
Those are the mistakes that can happen.
It does, matter of DeShaun Watson is there or not,
you've got to play fundamentally sound in that
area, they're doing a lot of things right. But they're not
making the key plays at the right time. Well how about this
guy's? What do we make of the four and one Vikings? No one.
Would know better than you Mike. So
it's
something they have an opportunity to put the bears
away, their up, 2:39 that the Bears take the lead and then
they find a way to win it. Like we've seen that three straight
weeks. Now from the Vikings against alliance against
the Saints and against the Bears,
finding a way to make something happen and get the win. And
it's not sustainable, but Harrison Smith Their veterans
safety made a good point after the game today.
They're they're getting wins while they're still learning
the new system. On offense and defense. So they're laying
the foundation for when they're presumably going to be better.
Especially on defense. The defense has too many lapses
but they're shifting from a four, three, two or three, four
hundred donnatal. So if they are better, when late November
December January rolls around,
they will be in much better position because of these
winds. They're getting when they should have lost one, two,
or all three of these games coach. The,
it could have lost them but here's what they're doing,
they're winning the games. They should win when you play. The
Chicago Bears and you're up there winning, you're playing
the Lions and they're winning those games. So
that is the glass half full now, can they do that against
the better teams?
They did it against Green Bay.
So we'll see. I think they're as Mike said, they're learning
they're growing, but get these winds while you can. Well,
someone who's not getting any wins while they can would be
the Panthers there. One in four. Now,
what how do we assess the pressure? That's on Matt rule,
Mike Florio.
I think that that it's just a matter of time. Somebody who's
plugged into that situation. They were told me, it's
when not, if format rule to be relieved of his duties and
one of the things that benefits the Panthers to move sooner
than later. If you get Matt rule out into the pool of
potentially available coaches for College jobs, he gets a job
that reduces what they would. Oh, Matt rule, that's a very
basic business consideration. That David Tepper, the owner of
the team has to take into account if you hold them all
the way until the end. Season
those jobs may be filled, you have a bigger by out format
rules, so I won't be surprised if it happens sooner than
later. David Tepper. One of those
hard-charging guys that thinks he can put a lot of work and
effort into it. It's going to result in wins. He gets
frustrated, it gets upset, it really is a matter of time and
if he knows what he's going to do,
you know, some would say why wait coach.
Well, we were sitting in the screening room today with Chris
Simms and he was just getting frustrated for Baker, Mayfield.
He wanted him to To have some success. There's No One open.
There's pressure. They're not moving the ball
and it just look like that week in and week out
and that rule came in supposedly as an offensive
coach. Now, you get to the
quarterback who was the first pick in the draft and it
doesn't look any better.
The team, I don't think it's playing with any real fiery
emotion or hope. Right. Now, we're confident in any way
shape, or form. Well, that wraps up our recap. I hear Mike
florio's coming to the studio next week's. Yes. Come on. I'm
going to leave and
go to Philly because I don't want to see him
but either way, we'll get you set for week 6. Starting at
7:00 eastern on NBC. We hope to see you there, thanks for
joining us.