Overview of "Broncos Will Win AFC West, Chiefs Dynasty Over? Josh Allen Best Player In NFL, Rams Rattle Darnold"
This episode (iHeartPodcasts / The Volume) is a wide-ranging NFL recap and reaction to Sunday’s slate: Denver upsetting Kansas City, Rams beating Seattle, Buffalo surviving Tampa Bay, Bears’ walk-off vs. Vikings, 49ers dominating Arizona, and other notable games. Hosts and former scout John Middlekauff break down quarterback play, coaching impact, roster construction, dynasty narratives (chiefly Kansas City), and where teams stand down the stretch. The show mixes game film takeaways, hot takes (e.g., “Josh Allen is the best player in the NFL”), and broader trends (college parity, NIL/transfer portal effects, and the upcoming QB draft crop).
Key takeaways
- Broncos beat Chiefs 22–19: Denver (9–2) now in control of the AFC West; Bo Nix played a composed, late-game masterpiece and avoided turnovers. The hosts pick Denver to win the division.
- Chiefs are still good but show signs of roster fatigue — aging stars (Travis Kelce, Chris Jones) and draft constraints from repeated late picks make sustained dominance difficult.
- Josh Allen had a signature performance vs. Tampa Bay: 3 passing TDs and 3 rushing TDs — hosts call him the best football player in the world.
- Rams’ defense continues to have Seattle’s number; Sam Darnold was rattled (4 INTs) and the Rams’ defensive scheming (Chris Shula’s adjustments) consistently throws Darnold off.
- Coaching matters: Sean Payton (Broncos), Ben Johnson (Bears), Kyle Shanahan (49ers), Vance Joseph (Rams DC recognition), and others get high marks for game management and scheme adjustments.
- Quarterback window: Several QBs (Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Mac Jones) are evaluated; the hosts express skepticism about this year’s NFL QB draft class—fewer clear top prospects.
- College landscape: NIL & transfer portal have increased parity; multiple programs outside traditional elites are now competitive.
Game-by-game highlights & analysis
Broncos 22, Chiefs 19
- Bo Nix: 24/37, 295 yards; composed, effective on the move, critical late throws on the game-winning drive.
- Chiefs: still elite at QB/coach level (Mahomes/Reid) but thinner roster depth, aging stars and fewer high-value draft picks because of consistently late selections.
- Coaching credit: Sean Payton kept Nix calm; Vance Joseph’s defensive blitzes pressured Mahomes at critical times.
Rams 21, Seahawks 19
- Sam Darnold: 4 INTs — Rams clearly have his number; tipped balls/concealed looks disrupted Seattle’s rhythm.
- Rams defense: strong red-zone defense and pass rush; Matt Stafford’s limitations when play calls fail noted (less improvisational than Darnold).
Bears 19, Vikings 17
- Caleb Williams leads another late-game win; Ben Johnson praised for conservative, clock-control playcalling (long sustained drives and reliance on run game).
- J.J. McCarthy: inconsistent, nervous at times; hosts worry about turnovers and lack of sustained performance.
Bills 44, Buccaneers 32
- Josh Allen: 3 pass TDs / 3 rush TDs; debated whether Buffalo’s roster is as deep as top teams — hosts argue the Bills are very much Josh Allen’s team.
- Concerns about Bills’ supporting cast despite overall success.
49ers 41, Cardinals 22
- Brock Purdy healthy and effective; Shanahan & Sala praised for coaching and for keeping San Francisco elite despite injuries.
- 49ers roster depth (McCaffrey + Kittle) and defensive coaching give them big-edge consistency.
Packers 27, Giants 20
- Jordan Love: efficient (13/24, 2 TDs) but Green Bay’s offense still uneven; LaFleur’s conservatism vs. aggressiveness debate continues.
Ravens 22, Browns 16
- Browns defense (Myles Garrett standout) looks strong; rookie Shadour (?) had flashes but was put in a tough spot vs. Baltimore.
Main themes & analysis
Are the Chiefs’ dynasty days waning?
- Hosts argue yes — not immediately collapsing but the margin for error has shrunk. Aging core players, Chris Jones not as dominant recently, salary cap realities around Mahomes’ contract, and consistently picking late in drafts reduce the team’s ability to replenish talent.
Coaching continues to be a decisive factor
- Coaches praised for calming/structuring young QBs (Sean Payton/Ben Johnson), scheme excellence (Kyle Shanahan), and defensive game-planning (Vance Joseph, Robert Sala). The league now has an unusually deep pool of high-quality young coaches.
Quarterback evaluations & draft outlook
- Bo Nix: improved maturity, mobility; effective when not pressured.
- Sam Darnold: struggles vs. Rams; late-read issues and turnovers are a concern.
- J.J. McCarthy & Ty Simpson: hosts skeptical about both; McCarthy’s inconsistency highlighted.
- Caleb Williams: praised as a top trait QB—power, accuracy, mobility.
- Draft class: hosts believe the upcoming QB crop is weak overall; fewer surefire top-end prospects than recent years.
Roster depth and the “single-player” teams
- Bills labeled as “Josh Allen’s team” — elite talent at QB may mask roster limitations.
- Parity in college football (NIL/portal) is producing more viable programs outside historical powerhouses.
Notable quotes & insights
- “Josh Allen is the best football player in the world.” — used to describe Allen’s 3 pass + 3 rush TD game.
- On Chiefs’ sustained run: paying a $400M QB squeezes roster-building flexibility; frequent late-round picks magnify risk.
- On Bo Nix: “That final drive was a little Jalen Daniels-ish — Pro Bowl level.”
What to watch next / actionable takeaways
- AFC West race: Broncos control their destiny with favorable remaining schedule — monitor Bo Nix’s consistency and Denver’s defense in winter conditions (altitude/snow).
- Chiefs: watch short-term injury/production of Kelce/Jones and mid-term draft replenishment success (Rasheed Rice, Worthy, McDuffie noted).
- Sam Darnold vs. Rams: expect more schematic approaches from Rams (Chris Shula) — can other teams replicate these looks to rattle mobile quarterbacks?
- QB draft class: teams in need of a QB should temper expectations for a franchise-altering prospect this year; consider roster-first solutions.
- College season: look for how parity affects playoff/reseeding—Mendoza (Indiana), Ty Simpson, Tyree (?) and others have more spotlight; coaches’ fit matters.
Bottom line
The episode blends immediate game reactions with bigger-picture NFL trends: Denver’s rise and Kansas City’s gradual erosion of margin, coaching as a decisive lever, Josh Allen’s transcendent value, the Rams’ schematics neutralizing certain QBs, and caution about the incoming QB class. Listeners get film-based game nuggets plus betting/standings implications for the stretch run.