0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. Listen to NFL Cover Zero on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:08Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak November.
0:11Is it already over for the Ravens? We have the latest on Lamar Jackson's thumb injury.
0:16Meantime, is there a better answer in Minnesota than Kyler Murray?
0:20Bucky Brooks doesn't think so. I disagree. The latest on the Vikings quarterback conundrum and we have a Monday night preview.
0:26For as good a game as we have seen this week, maybe?
0:30It's next on the NFL Report. That game is the Bears and the Seahawks in Seattle.
0:35That is a doozy. Bucky Brooks is here for your Ben Johnson, Mike McDonald preview coming up in a second.
0:42Hi there. NFL: The Insiders presented by Nationwide. My name is Andrew Siciliano.
0:46Monday, a lot of injuries. Let's get what's news to me, our latest headlines.
0:51And the big one is out of Baltimore here.
0:53Lamar Jackson has not had thumb surgery yet. Do not yet know if he's going to be out for the season.
1:00But moments ago, Jesse Minter says it doesn't look like Snoop Huntley can play Thursday.
1:05Yes, they play Thursday against the Jaguars. And it means that in all likelihood, the rookie quarterback, the seven year college kid
1:12out of Maine and UConn who finished up yesterday.
1:15Joe Fagnano is going to be the quarterback. He has a chance to play because he too, dealing with some injuries.
1:22Bills beat him up a little bit. Bills beat the Ravens.
1:25Ravens now four and four. Here's the schedule. Jaguars on a short week.
1:30Bucky's going to be there. Then it's the winless chargers.
1:33The Panthers and Texans in no way out of it fighting for playoff spots.
1:37Then the by then the bucks. You get my point.
1:40A lot of AFC North game second half of the year.
1:44For now, Bucky, the Ravens are in fourth in last in the hyper competitive AFC North.
1:49If they don't have Lamar and they don't have Huntley for a couple of weeks, man, there are some who think it's over.
1:57It's curtains. So the topic bar here is going to ask, is it over for the Ravens?
2:02Bucky is not over, but it's really bleak. You said that with a smile on your face.
2:08I mean, it's not over, but it's really bleak.
2:10I mean, look, the coach in me says that there's always a way for them to win games.
2:16And I think the way that they will have to win.
2:20Jesse mentor is going to have to lean on his defense to be able to get it done.
2:26And so offensively, this means a lot of Derrick Henry, a lot of ground and pound, find ways to get Zay flowers
2:33the ball on quicks and screens and those things.
2:36Try to minimize the role that Joey Fanano has to play and then lean on Cal Hamilton and company to get this done.
2:43Remember coming into the season, Jesse mentor was partially hired because of his defensive prowess.
2:48Well, Jesse, we're going to need you to find a way to make this defense play at a high level.
2:54So it's bleak. It doesn't look good, but it's not over if they can play the right way.
3:00It's just going to be on Jesse mentor and this defense to really lead them on a run if they're going to make a run this season.
3:09All right. A lot of people go, well, make a move, Eric DaCosta.
3:13Jacoby Brissett just got benched. I'm sure even though Kirk Cousins had a great game, the Raiders would listen if you made a call.
3:21I have a crazy one. I'd call for Kyler Murray, but you think I'm insane.
3:25Like, shouldn't they try to do something here? Well, I mean, I think a lot of it depends on Snoop Hundley and
3:33how long he will be out if he's out at all.
3:36Here's the thing. All the quarterbacks that are available that could be on the street or whatever.
3:42Like, I don't know if they can be an upgrade over their current situation with Declan Doyle.
3:47The only ones that you could go to would be someone that is affiliated with the Bears.
3:52Tyler Bajan, maybe Case Keenum. That's the only way because you have to get up to speed and learn this offense.
3:59And you posted the schedule. The schedule is hard.
4:02How quickly can a new quarterback get up and running?
4:05I think they're probably best to stay the course unless it's absolutely critical that you only have Joe Parnano and then you've
4:12got to figure out a way to kind of go somewhere else.
4:16Yeah. Tyler Bajon's not playing for the Jaguars. I'm sorry, for the Ravens against the Jaguars on Thursday.
4:22He's in uniform right now in Seattle for the Bears.
4:25We'll get to that game come up in a second.
4:29Bucky stayed right there. Let's get to the highlights.
4:31What a week eight it was. All of these great divisional games, including the one in the late window between the Chiefs and the Broncos.
4:40Bo Nix did it again. That is a fourth quarter comeback here.
4:43It's Nate Atkins. They get the two point conversion.
4:46That was a fourth down touchdown. They get the two pointer to waddle and we've got a game and the Chiefs are up by only three.
4:55And then Jonah Coleman, the rookie, gets in the end zone.
4:58This one play after a 51 yard run where he gets him down to the five.
5:03And that's at the two minute warning. But Patrick Mahomes would drive him down the field.
5:08Fourth down. Final play of the game. It came down to the final play.
5:13Malcolm Roach gets the sack. You can't lateral it till a lineman.
5:17Denver is in first. The Broncos are six and two.
5:20The Chiefs are five and two. And Kansas City loses back to back games.
5:25Bo Nix found a way to do it again.
5:27Update. All right. This is the most important news to come out of the Lions and Vikings game.
5:33The fact that today the Lions gave a somewhat positive update here on Jack Campbell.
5:38Scary injury taken to the hospital on a stretcher.
5:41Preliminary indications are positive. The Lions say it is a neck injury, but they're not going to give any more information than that.
5:48It is a vague update, but the Lions are calling it a positive update.
5:53So we'll cross our fingers and take it from there.
5:56The actual game itself at Kyler Murray and the Vikings trying to stay undefeated.
6:01They're on the road. They're in Detroit. Vikings had only nine offensive touchdowns all year coming into the game.
6:07This is a close game of the third quarter when Jameer Gibbs goes off 30 yard touchdown run.
6:13They go for two. They don't get the two.
6:15Gibbs ran for a buck fifty three. Great offense against great defense and a little bit of offense here for Kyler.
6:22He hits TJ Hockinson for the touchdown. Minnesota leads 15 to 12.
6:26But Jared Goff made plays all day and here with four and a half to go.
6:31He hits Jamison Williams touched in the back of the end zone.
6:35Get the feet down and the Lions take a lead and the Lions have now won three consecutive games and they are
6:42two and oh in division and the Vikings finally lose.
6:45It's all team effort, man. But I'm telling you what, you play different games every week by the opponents, man.
6:52And we did exactly what we had to do.
6:55You guys just hung in there. That's a gritty win, man.
6:58That's a gritty win. Like that's one of those deep playoff wins, man.
7:02Right? You get late in the season, you hit the playoffs.
7:06You got to have some to you, man. Intestinal fortitude to win that.
7:10We're going to take a knee. I want to pray for Jack.
7:14Okay? And let's keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
7:17That's a hell of a win, man. You guys break it down.
7:21Hey, Ruffy boys, stick together. I know that's tough with Jack.
7:25Stick together, lean on each other, alright? Good job.
7:28Win on three, one, two, three. Win! So the Lions go to Miami now and the Vikings are home on Monday night against the Bills.
7:36So they have a little bit of time here for Kyler Murray to rest that hammy.
7:41He did not look like himself at the end of the game yesterday.
7:45Kevin O'Connell confirms he is dealing with a hamstring.
7:48There are some Bucky Brooks who would argue that in a very small sample size, Carson Wentz moves this offense better.
7:55Kyler, 413 down the field yesterday. 51 of his 200 yards came on one play.
7:59Would you ever consider doing that? Would you consider him down?
8:03I mean, look, that's been the word. There's been a lot of conversation about Kyler Murray and this offense.
8:09But I'll say, look, he's only started six games for the Minnesota Vikings.
8:13And this offense hasn't been perfect. But I would say Kyler Murray's been part of the problem.
8:19But I would say the run game or lack thereof has also been a problem.
8:24So if you're Kevin O'Connell, what you're looking to see is how far can we go with this offense playing like this?
8:31Our defense is terrific. Our defense gives us a chance each and every week.
8:35And even though I want to dial it back to be able to complement what we do defensively, we have to get more.
8:43Is it fixable? Yes. But Kyler Murray has to improve.
8:46Kevin O'Connell has to improve with the play calling.
8:49They have to figure out how to get on the same page.
8:53But right now, it certainly doesn't look great. But I'll say this about Carson Wentz.
8:57Carson Wentz had a flash early in the year when he jumped in.
9:02I think the Green Bay game when he came back.
9:05But the next game, he wasn't great either. So this offense is a big problem.
9:10And that problem extends beyond the quarterback. They got to figure out how to score more points.
9:15All right. So Carson Wentz, let me translate here.
9:18Sounds like to you, Bucky, the proverbial guy who can get you through a couple of weeks.
9:24But let's keep it at that. Oh, for sure.
9:26And many... I'm not the only one. There have been a million teams that have told us that.
9:32That he's a guy that is just a stopgat of filling.
9:36He's a middle reliever. We don't want him pitching too long.
9:39We don't want him closing games out late. We just kind of need him on the roster to come out of the bullpen every now and then.
9:48Okay. Well, you know, I mean, there are teams that try to win World Series with bullpen games sometimes.
9:54It's not necessarily sustainable. I hear you. Bucky, stay right there.
9:58We are far from done. Let's get back to more news, including in Arizona where no surprise today.
10:03Mike LaFleur named Gardner Minshew his starting quarterback. What a fourth quarter Minshew had yesterday.
10:08The Minshew magic. Some would argue also not sustainable, but he is the guy at least for now.
10:14And Jacoby Brissett has been bounced all the way down to QB three.
10:18He'll be the emergency quarterback. Obviously, I mean, I think he kind of showed all of us in terms of him going
10:25out there being the competitor that he is. Doesn't shock me, obviously.
10:29I mean, the production was pretty wild in terms of the amount of points and just moving up and down the field.
10:36But, you know, he's a competitor and he's always prepared.
10:40He's preparing like he's the starter. He's preparing like he's going to be in there for whatever snap he's a...
10:46He he supported Jacoby at a high level, too.
10:49He's been a great backup for him. Been great for the room and look forward to, you know, the challenge that we have this week with him.
10:58Rookie Carson Beck will be number two next Sunday in Seattle.
11:01Meantime in Indianapolis, Shane Steichen says Daniel Jones will remain his starting quarterback.
11:05Bucky was there when the Colts got destroyed by the Jaguars yesterday.
11:09Jones eventually benched Anthony Richardson, got the game his first action since the eye injury.
11:14A year ago. But Daniel Jones is still the guy for now in Indianapolis.
11:18Moving on back to the highlights here. Big AFC North game.
11:22Browns, Steelers. Browns had lost 22 consecutive regular season games in Pittsburgh.
11:26It's now 23. They could have made it a one score game going into the half.
11:31But the Steelers got the ball back with 45 seconds to go.
11:35Bad tackling. Steelers go down the field in the Pat Friermuth.
11:38The eighth tush push with 300 pounder Darnell Washington pushing behind.
11:42Why do I mention Darnell Washington? Because he was a menace.
11:46Three for 94. Again, he's listed at 265. If he's 265, I'm six foot five.
11:50He is 311 pounds at a minimum. That's what he admitted on a podcast last year.
11:56Jalen Warren, 143 yards rushing. The Steelers go to six and two.
11:59They take control of the AFC North at a bye.
12:03They have won four consecutive games. Browns fall to five and three.
12:06This game was wild. Titans, Bengals. What a day for Joe Burrow.
12:10What if I told you he had six total touchdowns?
12:14Five through the air. One on the ground. Here is one of the five through the air with a buck 17 to go.
12:21It tied the game. Touchdown to T Higgins, who had 155 yards receiving.
12:25We go to overtime when Cam Ward, you could argue, mismanaged the end of regulation, even though he had a great game.
12:32Burrow runs for a touchdown. He threw three picks all to Amani Hooker.
12:36But right there, the Bengals have the lead. And then Cam Ward, fourth down.
12:41Nope. Can't connect. And that is it. That is the game.
12:44Robert Sala and the Titans come oh so close.
12:47Play a great game on the road, but cannot finish.
12:51And this is what your AFC North looks like.
12:53Steelers, a top with a two and one division record.
12:57And they head to the bye. Bengals, five and two.
13:00Browns go to New Orleans this week. The Ravens play on Thursday.
13:04By the way, the Bengals go to Madrid to play the Falcons.
13:08We are back in Europe. We collectively as a league.
13:11Let's get to the Thursday night game. Zach Charbonnet activated.
13:14He is on the field now for the very first time since last year's ACL injury down the stretch.
13:20And Jadarian Price is on the field as well.
13:23The rookie running back. The first round pick activated off injured reserve.
13:27Look mom. One hand for Jackson Smith in Jigba.
13:30As the weather starting to feel like fall, isn't it?
13:33Caleb Williams, however. No, it's Jeffrey Simmons, isn't it?
13:36I have a very small monitor out here. Jeffrey Simmons in his first Bears action.
13:41Will he wear orange sleeves tonight? That's the question.
13:44Also, the question, Bucky Brooks is who wins. And if you're a tape head, if you're an X's and O's geek, this fascinating matchup tonight.
13:52Mike McDonald, Ben Johnson. First time they have gone head to head as head coaches.
13:57What gives? Yeah, this is a this is a great one to watch.
14:01And I think Ben Johnson is the creativity is the way he mixes pizazz and physicality.
14:06They're going to run the football. They're going to run it at you.
14:10They're going to throw the clock. But then he's going to have enough creative and trick plays to kind of keep you guessing from a defensive standpoint.
14:19What he has done with this offense, particularly with Caleb Williams, he has made it efficient, but explosive.
14:25Mike McDonald, on the other hand, he does a great job of playing too high safeties, nickel personnel, trying to find different ways to send people on blisses.
14:34While really maintaining an umbrella over top of the defense.
14:37So for Caleb Williams, he is going to have to be disciplined and patient and take the shots that are available.
14:44But there won't be many shots available to me.
14:46This is a push. I have no idea who has the edge because both teams are talented.
14:52But if I have to lean, I'm a lean towards the Seahawks just because that defense gives them a bit of an edge.
14:59Bears number one rush offense in the NFL, 154 yards a game.
15:03The number three total offense in the NFL. No Kyle Madunga, however, it's DeAndre Swift as RB1 again tonight as Madunga is
15:10going to miss yet another game with the toe injury.
15:14Bucky Brooks, everybody. Thank you kindly. You're watching the NFL: The Insiders.
15:17I ask every day, do you have NFL plus premium yet?
15:21And the answer should be yes. If it isn't, my question will be why not?
15:26You get NFL red zone every Sunday, you get the game replays.
15:30You could track advanced analytics powered by next gen stats with NFL pro sign up today at plus dot NFL dot com slash fast terms and conditions apply.
15:39They always apply. Scott Hanson. Hi, I'm Andrew. When you get it, when you get your NFL plus and you watch red
15:46zone, you can see firsts every week. Yeah. Week eight.
15:49We had a lot of fun firsts. Absolutely. How about the Bucket ears game is not one that made a lot of
15:56the highlight shows, not in the a block and the first segments of the highlight shows that game torrential downpour in Tampa, the lightning capital of North America.
16:05They didn't have any lightning, thankfully, but they had so much rain.
16:09The Bucks win the game without completing a pass that we're going to show you all of Baker Mayfield's pass attempts there.
16:16That one went to the end zone incomplete. This one goes to the end zone.
16:21Nobody home. And then they said, you know what?
16:24The wet stuff's coming down. Maybe we just stop even throwing it.
16:28Although he did complete that right there, which is a lateral back, not a pass.
16:32And then Jesse Bates with one of the defensive plays of the year there to punch it free.
16:38At the goal line, the old touchback. Everybody hates that rule and whatnot.
16:42But the Bucks win with zero completions. First team to do that since the 1974 Buffalo Bills.
16:48Put it in a time capsule. It only happens once every 50 years.
16:52So that game happened that you mentioned September 29 of 1974.
16:56I was exactly one month old to the day.
16:59Looked it up. I also love and this is not an anti Baker take.
17:03I promise you. I like Baker. But that Mayfield has beaten the Panthers and Kevin Stefanski in back to back weeks and done so with like 11 completions.
17:12Does he keep track of those things? I always forget.
17:15Yeah, no, he does it. Bygones be bygones. So back to back revenge or two and oh, you'll take two and oh, but with 11 completions.
17:24Yeah, there you go. There's but that Bucks run game, bro.
17:27Insane franchise record yesterday. 324 yards. Bucky Irving goes for a buck 70.
17:31Kenny G Kenny Gainwell. Gainwell that is with 100 and we Kenny G got 140 yards.
17:37Bucks Brown game is for real defense made enough plays there.
17:40Atlanta's got some things to fix one of the most fun games in our fun facts and fun firsts game the Raiders
17:47and the Jets and it also kick return. Finally first finally turn for a touch when they change the kick rules.
17:54I don't know how you feel out there, but I thought this is going to lead to some explosive plays.
18:00You've got the guys the guys that are coming down on the pursuit are so close to the blockers.
18:06There are going to be lanes to exploit and you know who's exploiting them better than almost anyone these days.
18:13That guy right there Dylan Lauby the kick returner for the Las Vegas Raiders with the first kick return of the touch
18:20of the year for a touchdown 95 yards. He goes on this one guys a sixth round pick out of New Hampshire from a couple years ago.
18:29He's the first Raider since 2011 to have a kick return for a touchdown Jacoby Ford remember the old speedster Clemson Tiger.
18:36Yes, he was like a 4 3 guy that you know Al Davis would have loved to have drafted there.
18:42And how about this one for Lobby as well.
18:45He's a Long Island native. So playing right across the river there at MetLife Stadium had a ton of fans and friends
18:52in the stands to watch him go 95 and house it for the first time anyone tip of the captain Jason Horowitz
18:59as well voice of the Raiders who had it in his bag.
19:03They didn't have one in 15 years as soon as he gets across.
19:07Yeah, it was sure team game recognizes game when it comes to those guys.
19:12Absolutely. I got you right there. Also Joe Burrow had one of those ridiculous like my my 12 year old nephew playing
19:19Madden because he played kind of games for the Bengals.
19:22Yeah, first time ever. He's accounted for six touchdowns in his tremendous career so far.
19:27But this was a Burrow boffo type of a day against the Tennessee Titans who people thought up they're folding up the lawn chairs right now.
19:35No Jeffrey Simmons that defense is just going to be absolutely collapsing all over the place.
19:40Well, he threw for five. He ran for one, but he also threw three interceptions.
19:45It was a all the Amani hooker although Amani hooker.
19:49It was a Jameis plus type of a game right here.
19:52And you know the good thing for Burrow and the Bengals.
19:56They had that stigma of oh, they trail in the fourth quarter.
19:59That's it. Bengals don't come back. Burrow does not come back late in the fourth quarter.
20:05He did game time touchdown with a minute and 17 seconds.
20:08This was the game winning touchdown eventually in overtime.
20:11The scramble right there Cincinnati's five and two. I don't know we think about an overtime win over Tennessee, but they are
20:18five and two in the best division in the AFC.
20:21A win is a win is a cam war taking a 20 yard sack when you could have had a Joey slice
20:2864 yard field goal attempt at the end of the game.
20:32But it's a win. True. It's absolutely Scott Hanson.
20:35Everybody good to see Andrew likewise. You're watching the NFL report great event here in LA this past week with the Chargers.
20:42They call it boo at the bolt do it every year.
20:46It's a Halloween celebration for kids impacting cancer. It's a tradition that gives those kids a safe and supportive place the kids and their families as well.
20:54Some holiday fun bunch of chargers as you could see players taking part and spending time with kids and their families.
21:01Good stuff here in Los Angeles. All right back to the highlights.
21:05Maybe not good stuff for the Cowboys Cardinals Cowboys.
21:08The Cardinals own the Cowboys in Dallas. You laugh all you want, but they really do.
21:13Seven seconds left six on the clock when Gardner Minshew off the bench.
21:17It's Michael Wilson who had nearly 130 yards from scrimmage and the Cardinals are going to beat the Cowboys except Chad Rylan missed the extra point.
21:25Cardinals rally from down double digits. Minchu with three late touchdowns.
21:29What an amazing back and forth game. Hey boy, go to overtime.
21:33So Jack's going to win in overtime except he's not Josh Sweat not yet traded with the third down sack.
21:39Cowboys have to punt Minshew gets him into field goal range.
21:43And then as Joe Davis said Ryland redemption. Chad Rylan wins it.
21:47The Cardinals have never lost an AT&T stadium. That's not a typo.
21:51They are five and oh and do it again.
21:53I'm concerned that shot is not getting it done the way you want it to be.
21:59Well, I don't know. None of us are getting it done.
22:02And that should be my concerns. Will this cause you to make a change?
22:07Yeah, we're not going to get into anything. That's not in my mind at this time.
22:12Very disappointing sucks. One of the toughest I guess I've been a part of.
22:16Yeah, no words for it really. Other than that, really, really disappointing, frustrating.
22:21It's part of this league. Cowboys go to Indianapolis this coming Sunday.
22:24Moments ago Brian Schottenheimer said both Caleb Downs and PJ Locke, two members of the secondary are in concussion protocol.
22:31Malachi Lawrence has an ankle and that it is more serious than the ankles suffered by Jake Ferguson and Joey Porter Jr.
22:38OK, so the Cowboys certainly banged up and reeling after that loss getting healthier.
22:42That man, Micah Parsons, Matt LaFleur. Any LaFleur will do says the plan is for Micah Parsons to practice this week.
22:49So coming back from last year's knee injury. No one thinks he's playing this week circle the night before Thanksgiving here in
22:56Los Angeles against the Rams for a potential Parsons return.
22:59Speaking of the Rams, Miles Garrett is getting back on the practice field this week.
23:04Sean McVay means it this time. He said it about an hour ago.
23:09McVay has not played so odd, by the way, to see him listed as a linebacker.
23:14Garrett rather has not played since week one in Australia.
23:17News not good in Tampa. Yahya Diaby, who some think might be traded, but the Bucks won yesterday, has an MCL sprain that is normally a multi-week injury.
23:26Bucks found a way to win yesterday in a downpour.
23:29Yes, they can stand the rain. The Saints have moved on from their run game coordinator, TJ Paganetti.
23:35New Orleans 28th rushing attack in the NFL, although they have had a banged up backfield.
23:40They're coming off a bye. They get the Browns this coming Sunday.
23:44How about a new flag football league? You knew it was coming, but the NFL and tomorrow sports unveiled today the premier league.
23:51That's going to be the brand identity for the new professional football flag league men and women flag league coming in the summer of 2027.
23:59And finally, we have time for one more thing before we go.
24:03Ladies and gentlemen, he is back. That is Kirko chains.
24:06Remember the Kirk cousins alter ego years ago in Minnesota.
24:10Now he's a Raider and the Raiders pulled out a win in a highly entertaining game in New York and the flight back.
24:17The Kirko chain in all his glory. My name is Andrew Siciliano.
24:21We thank you for watching the NFL report. We're back tomorrow, 7 o'clock Eastern time.
24:26In the meantime, get you ready for Monday night football solo.
24:29Hey, it's Drew Franklin from NFL cover zero. The 2026 season is underway and we are loving football on TV.
24:36Here's what you can expect from the podcast in our second season.
24:40I would suggest for these preseason games. I think they should do what they do on the NFL draft.
24:46You know, when coverage of the NFL draft is basically for moms and they're just like, hey, he has a dog named spark.
24:53Listen to NFL cover zero on the heart radio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.
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25:17We'll see you next time. Have a great week.
25:20More as an amazing event. It's just a week.
25:22Fuck? And the next time, we'll see you now.
25:25Thank you.