Overview of Rams Are BAD, Caleb Crushes In Return, Start Mendoza? College Football Recap
This episode is a wide-ranging reaction to a huge football weekend, with the hosts zeroing in on the Rams’ collapse, Caleb Williams’ breakout return, the Chiefs/Bills tier of AFC contenders, and a loaded college football slate that included major tests for Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Texas. The big-picture takeaway: some teams are clearly ascending, while others — especially the Rams and Texas — look like they’re running out of answers.
NFL Takeaways
Rams Look Broken
- The Rams’ loss to Arizona reinforced the idea that they are finding new ways to lose.
- Sean McVay’s team looked flat, average, and inconsistent in the areas that usually define good teams:
- Special teams
- First-down efficiency
- Red-zone execution
- The hosts argued that the Rams’ aggressive roster-building and “win now” approach has not paid off the way they hoped.
- At 2-4, their playoff path now looks shaky, and a 10-win finish would require a near-perfect run.
Caleb Williams and the Bears Are Trending Up
- Caleb Williams had a major bounce-back performance in the Bears’ win over Atlanta.
- The most encouraging signs:
- He was far more accurate
- He was efficient from the pocket
- He took far fewer sacks than in his rookie season
- Ben Johnson’s influence is already visible:
- Cleaner structure
- Better decision-making
- Better use of Caleb’s strengths
- The hosts were especially impressed by how coachable Caleb appears and how quickly he’s translating coaching into production.
Chiefs Still Feel Like a Top Contender
- Kansas City’s win over the Chargers was presented as a fairly routine statement.
- The Chiefs are viewed as one of the two most complete teams in football right now, along with San Francisco.
- A healthier run game has helped take pressure off Patrick Mahomes, and the offense looks more balanced.
- Travis Kelce was also highlighted as looking more dynamic with better spacing around him.
Bills, Josh Allen, and Aggression Under Joe Brady
- Buffalo’s win over Las Vegas showed a team that is more aggressive and more comfortable taking risks.
- Josh Allen looks energized in the new system.
- The Bills’ offensive identity is clearer:
- More downfield aggression
- Better use of the run game
- More confidence in big moments
- The hosts still see Buffalo as a legitimate top-three-ish team, though the defense remains a concern in elite matchups.
Eagles, Injuries, and Bigger Questions
- Philadelphia’s loss to Carolina triggered discussion about whether Nick Sirianni’s job security is now in question.
- The Eagles’ problems were framed as a mix of:
- Injuries
- Offensive instability
- Jalen Hurts’ health situation
- Dependence on coordinators
- Howie Roseman was defended as the most important figure in the organization.
- The overall message: the Eagles are still talented, but the season feels like a reset is coming.
Texans, Stroud, and Trevor Lawrence Shine
- Texans-Jaguars was described as the best game of the day.
- Both C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence were praised for looking like top-10 quarterbacks.
- Houston’s offense appears to be stabilizing, but the defense has regressed from last season.
- Jacksonville was noted as being more competitive than the record might suggest, especially with playmakers like Travis Hunter and Parker Washington.
Patriots Quietly Becoming a Problem
- New England is being treated as one of the league’s most underrated teams.
- Drake Maye continues to impress, and the coaching is getting major credit.
- The Patriots were described as the kind of team that doesn’t look flashy but keeps winning with structure, toughness, and efficiency.
College Football Recap
Ohio State Survives Indiana, but Questions Remain
- Ohio State’s 19-15 win over Indiana was framed as more of a warning sign than a dominance game.
- Key concerns:
- Julian Sayin’s injury
- A limited ceiling at quarterback
- Dependence on defense and Jeremiah Smith
- Indiana earned major respect for playing a disciplined, well-coached game and forcing Ohio State into a grind.
- The hosts came away believing Indiana’s program is legitimate, even in a loss.
Notre Dame Falls to BYU
- BYU’s 28-24 win over Notre Dame was one of the biggest college results of the weekend.
- Notre Dame was criticized for:
- Red-zone mistakes
- Poor discipline
- Not capitalizing on opportunities
- BYU was praised as physical, tough, and well-coached.
- The hosts felt Notre Dame’s playoff case becomes much shakier if it also loses a later key game against Miami.
Texas Upset by Florida
- Florida’s 27-24 win over Texas was a major red flag for Steve Sarkisian.
- The hosts argued Texas has:
- Too many issues on third down
- Red-zone problems
- Offensive-line concerns
- Inconsistent coaching detail
- Arch Manning was part of the conversation, but the bigger point was that Texas’ problems go beyond one quarterback.
- The loss intensified pressure on Sark, especially given how much money and talent Texas has invested.
Expanded Playoff Debate
- The hosts strongly argued that the 12-team playoff will not diminish meaningful regular-season games.
- Their view:
- In football, every game has always mattered
- Big matchups will still carry the same intensity
- More playoff spots just give more teams a chance to matter in November and December
- They pointed to Saturday’s dramatic slate as proof that the sport’s value isn’t going anywhere.
Main Takeaways
- Rams: trending downward, not upward.
- Bears: Caleb Williams may be turning the corner in a major way.
- Chiefs/Bills/49ers: still the clearest tier of contenders.
- Texans and Patriots: two teams that feel more dangerous than their broader reputation.
- College football: BYU, Indiana, and Florida all earned major respect, while Notre Dame and Texas took damaging hits.
Notable Theme
- A repeated idea throughout the episode: good teams find ways to win; bad teams find ways to lose.
- That line was used to sum up the Rams, and it also framed the difference between ascending teams like the Bears and Patriots and struggling ones like Texas and the Eagles.