Prime Cuts - Seahawks Dominant, Bears In Trouble, Ohio State #1? Chargers Look BAD

Summary of Prime Cuts - Seahawks Dominant, Bears In Trouble, Ohio State #1? Chargers Look BAD

by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

49m•September 26, 2026
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Overview of Prime Cuts — Seahawks Dominant, Bears in Trouble, Ohio State at No. 1?

This episode is a fast-moving Sunday football recap from The Volume and iHeartPodcasts, covering the biggest NFL storylines from Week 2 and then shifting into a college football discussion about rankings, physicality, and marquee matchups. The conversation centers on the Bears’ alarming Caleb Williams injury scare, the Steelers and Chargers looking broken early, Seattle’s road dominance, San Francisco’s offensive efficiency, and a broader debate about which college teams actually look like title contenders right now.

NFL Takeaways

Bears vs. Vikings: a brutal day for Chicago

  • The Vikings beat the Bears 9–3 in a sloppy, low-scoring NFC North game.
  • Chicago’s biggest concern was Caleb Williams leaving hurt, initially causing major concern before reports suggested a hamstring injury rather than something season-ending.
  • Even before the injury, the Bears offense looked disjointed:
    • too many penalties,
    • a red-zone fumble,
    • poor operation overall,
    • and a costly interception from Williams throwing back across his body.
  • Minnesota’s defense, coordinated by Brian Flores, was praised for constant pressure and heavy blitzing, making life difficult for a young quarterback.

Steelers collapse offensively against New England

  • The Patriots beat Pittsburgh 20–3.
  • The Steelers offense continues to look stuck:
    • only 3.8 yards per play through two games,
    • multiple punts,
    • and Aaron Rodgers looked immobile and under constant pressure.
  • Concerns were raised about:
    • Rodgers’ declining mobility,
    • the weak offensive line,
    • a nonexistent run game,
    • and DK Metcalf looking far from a true No. 1 receiver.
  • The defense is still keeping Pittsburgh afloat, but the offense was described as hard to watch.

Chargers in deep trouble

  • The Chargers fell to the Raiders 26–14 and now face a brutal upcoming schedule.
  • The discussion was especially critical of:
    • Justin Herbert not playing well,
    • the offensive line struggling,
    • and the offense appearing slow and predictable.
  • The defense also took heat for failing to handle backup-level opponents cleanly.
  • The takeaway: the Chargers “feel off” and may be headed for a rough season unless things change quickly.

Broncos rally past Jaguars

  • Denver beat Jacksonville 20–13 after looking shaky early.
  • The second-half turnaround was credited to:
    • Bo Nix settling down after an uneven start,
    • Denver’s defensive playmaking,
    • and a more intentional offensive approach.
  • Jacksonville still drew praise for its coaching and fight, especially from Liam Coen, but the Jaguars’ offense had costly mistakes, including poor play from Brian Thomas Jr.
  • The Broncos were seen as a team that may still be legit, especially with strong coaching and enough offensive weaponry.

Seahawks look elite on the road

  • Seattle blew out Arizona 31–7.
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) was treated like one of the best receivers in football, alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
  • Drew Lock played steady and efficient in relief, with the hosts praising his growth and maturity.
  • Seattle’s road form stood out again, with the team described as unusually better away from home than at Lumen Field.

Cowboys, 49ers, Bengals, and other notes

  • Dallas beat Washington 37–20, with Dak Prescott throwing for four touchdowns and no interceptions.
  • Jayden Daniels was hurt again, adding to concern about his durability.
  • San Francisco beat Miami 35–13, with Brock Purdy earning strong praise for his processing, accuracy, and fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
  • The 49ers’ physical identity was emphasized:
    • George Kittle,
    • Christian McCaffrey,
    • Deebo Samuel,
    • and the defense’s ability to overwhelm opponents.
  • The Bengals defense was highlighted as a surprising early-season strength:
    • eight sacks,
    • four forced fumbles,
    • and a defensive touchdown through two games.

College Football Takeaways

Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame: the top tier debate

  • The show shifted into a broader college football ranking discussion.
  • Ohio State at No. 1 was defended, but not universally sold as a true “week-to-week” favorite yet.
  • Other top teams mentioned:
    • Georgia,
    • Texas,
    • Notre Dame,
    • Miami,
    • LSU,
    • Alabama,
    • Oregon,
    • Indiana.
  • The key argument: in college football, it often takes 3–4 games to really know what a team is.

USC vs. Oregon: physicality matters

  • A major discussion point was whether Lincoln Riley’s USC can become physical enough in the Big Ten.
  • The argument:
    • college teams do not have preseason games or joint practices,
    • so toughness is built in practice,
    • and finesse offenses may struggle to develop the physical edge needed for Big Ten play.
  • Oregon was also discussed in that context:
    • talented,
    • but still needing to prove itself in big road games.
  • There was agreement that USC has a real chance, but also concern about turnovers and whether its defense can be good enough.

Arch Manning still under the microscope

  • Arch Manning remains an unfinished evaluation for the hosts.
  • The view was that:
    • the tools are obvious,
    • but the production has not yet matched the hype.
  • The Tennessee game was framed as a major test:
    • hostile road environment,
    • real pressure,
    • and an opportunity to prove he can carry a team in a big spot.
  • The criticism was not about talent, but about whether he is actually ready to consistently deliver under pressure.

Oklahoma and the Lincoln Riley/Brett Venables split

  • The discussion revisited the irony of the Lincoln Riley–Brett Venables split:
    • Riley still has offense questions at USC,
    • Venables has defense and recruiting strengths at Oklahoma, but offensive issues persist.
  • Oklahoma was described as looking lost in the SEC unless the defense can carry them.
  • The bigger point: when elite coordinators become head coaches, the side of the ball they don’t specialize in often remains a weakness.

Biggest Themes From the Episode

  • Quarterback injuries and durability are already shaping the season.
  • Several teams with supposed offensive upside — Chicago, Pittsburgh, the Chargers — look far behind expectations.
  • Coaching matters, but personnel limitations still win over scheme in the NFL.
  • In college football, the gap between hype and actual proof is still wide for teams like Ohio State, USC, Oregon, and Arch Manning’s Texas.
  • Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver were the biggest positive stories, while Chicago, Pittsburgh, the Chargers, and Washington came out of the weekend with major concerns.

Bottom Line

This episode is basically a snapshot of where the football season stands after Week 2: some contenders are clarifying themselves, several high-profile teams are already in trouble, and both the NFL and college football are full of early-season overreactions — except, maybe, for the Chargers and Bears, whose problems look real.