Sports
Hour 2: At A Loss
In this episode of 'At A Loss,' the hosts dissect the recent NFL losses of the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, debating which team should be more concerned moving forward. They also e...
Hour 2: At A Loss
Sports •
0:00 / 0:00
Interactive Transcript
Speaker A
Talk about stepping up. Bang, bang.
Speaker B
It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments. The electricity is palpable. Step up your game. With no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience.
Speaker A
Level up.
Speaker B
For more on the ESPN app or at stream.espn.com sign up now.
Speaker C
The NHL season begins tomorrow on ESPN in the all new ESPN app with an opening night triple header. The defending champion Panthers will raise their banner before they host Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks at 5 Eastern. Coverage begins with a point at 4 Eastern. The 1972 Dolphins can pop some champagne again because there will be no undefeated season this year. The Patriots handed the Bills their first loss of the season with the late game field gold. And then meanwhile, the Broncos came back from a 4:14 point fourth quarter deficit to hand the Eagles their first loss of the season. The Eagles offense struggled yet again with Devontae Smith saying their passing game needs to get on the same page. Peter Schrager here with us now from Jacksonville ahead of tonight's Monday Night Football matchup. And Peter, I'll start with you. Which loss was more concerning? Was it the Bills or the Eagles? All right, Stephen A. We'll start with you. Peter's having a little bit of trouble with his camera. Let's start with you, okay?
Speaker B
In terms of what I think that the more, the more concerned loss for me was the Philadelphia Eagles. Because look at them. Look at how they've been playing both sides of the ball. I mean, listen, when you look at Denver, you can't get them off the field for 12 minutes. For nearly 12 minutes. They come back from a double digit deficit, outscore you 18 to nothing in the fourth quarter. Where's the defense? Where's the offense? On offensive side of the ball. You're running a football just twice in the entire second half. You're throwing a football 38 times. You're going up against your supposed identity. Why? Because you're hearing noise from folks about AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Nick Sirianni has to make up his mind, are you the boss or not? You know? And conduct yourself accordingly in terms of doing what you can to prioritize winning football games instead of appeasing people. I'm not saying that A.J. brown shouldn't get the ball because I know that he should. Devontae Smith can ball as well. I want them to get the ball. I think the Eagles primary identity should be throwing them the football to be quite honest with you, because I think they got that kind of talent in their passing game, even though Saquon could be absolutely electrifying. But we also got to recognize the fact that Saquon Barkley was somebody that. Listen, on their best day, you ain't going to see Cats running for over 2,000 yards every season. There are certain things that are that. That are outliers. They stand out, and it's an anomaly and it's a deviation from the norm. And last season, as great as Saquon Barkley was, is rather it last season was a deviation from the norm. Usually you look at him, you'll say, you know, 13 to 1500 yard rush or whatever. But he's a spectacular kid and he did his thing last year. This year, people going to key on him more, which should free up A.J. brown, I got it. Devonte Smith and others. You got to take advantage of that if indeed Jalen hurts, can throw that football, which we believe he can. And so the fact that the Eagles lost this game is one thing, but. But the fact that they shed the identity, they don't seem to know who they are. They don't seem to be. They don't seem to be married to a certain culture, a certain way of winning football games. I think that's something that could be incredibly alarming, and we should pay attention to that.
Speaker A
Well, when you. When you take in the fact of how they've been winning their football games, they've had a lot of help from opposing teams. Well, this particular week, like I said earlier, the Broncos won the game that they typically win. There are three issues that come to mind. Number one, Kevin Patullo. What's your flow, bro? Like. Like, what are we doing? We've been having issues, you know, since the beginning of the season. Is like, yo, like, is he the right guy for the job? Okay. Number two, the offensive line. Hey, it's not just giving up six sacks is something that is heavily alarming, but also how. Why can we not run the football when we need to, when we want to, and when we have to? Right. Saquon Barkley is the most talented running back, if not one. Top two, top two, top two.
Speaker B
You dig what I'm saying?
Speaker A
He's. He's one of them type of guys that can.
Speaker B
That is a.
Speaker A
Every down back. We cannot get him going. And that's in a testament to the office line. And my last thing is talent utilization. Like, how do we use all the talent in the right way? Of course, you only got one football you have five studs at least on the one side of the football. So being able to keep everybody happy is going to be one thing. But on the other side it's like, hey, Coach Kev, like, how are you planning to make sure whose game is it going to be today? Because it's not like we have an identity of knowing how your plan of attack is. It's like you're all over the place.
Speaker C
Stephen A. Who are you more confident in in terms of getting to the postseason, getting deep in the postseason? Is it this Bills team or to the Eagles?
Speaker B
I think it's the Bills. From a de facto perspective, when you look at the afc, the charges doesn't appear to be what we thought they would be. Denver is good, but how good are they? Baltimore clearly doesn't deserve, doesn't appear to be what we thought they would be. Same could be said for the Steelers. New England's on a come up. Miami and the jets are trash. I mean, what is there to look at when you look at the AFC South? Obviously Indianapolis is a surprise. They're definitely a surprise. Jacksonville is still relevant. The Kansas City Chiefs are giving us every indication they're not going anywhere. So I get that part. But the bottom line is that if we had to bet our money at this particular moment in time, Cam, we'd say Kansas City, Buffalo. That's what we would say. That's what we'd bet our money on. And the nfc, you don't know. It could be Detroit, it could be Green Bay, it could be Tampa Bay, it could be the Rams, it could be Seattle. It could be. It could, it could be a few teams, it could be the Commanders. After what we saw them do to the charges yesterday. There's the NFC is wide open, more so than the AFC in my estimation.
Speaker C
All right, we got Peter Schrager for real this time. Peter, let's go back to the original question, more concerning loss. The Eagles or the Bills?
Speaker D
I thought Stephen A. Just laid it out really well. I do look at Buffalo though, and I wonder, I wonder if they're a little bit nervous about what they just witnessed last night in their building. That was a national coming out party for Drake May. And for the last five years the Buffalo Bills have had a cakewalk in that division. And I know you could say, well, the Dolphins went to the playoffs a couple times. The Bills dominated the Dolphins in the big games when it mattered. Whether it be a playoff game when Skyler Thompson came into their building or it was a late season game with the playoffs number One seed on the line. I look at what Drake May did, 6 for 6, 4th quarter, 13 of 14 in the second half, and now that's the micro. Okay, the Patriots are here like they're going to be a competitor this season. Then you think of the macro, and wait a second. There was a window with the last five years where we dominated the jets, we dominated the Dolphins, and we dominated the Patriots, and we have no super bowl appearances to show for it. The window's not closed for Buffalo by any means. But Amina, Cam, Stephen A. I have to wonder if they walk out of that building and say, you know what? Yeah, we lost last night, but what beast did we just see awaken in the AFC East? And wait a second. Did we not take advantage of a half decade of feudal, feudal division opponents?
Speaker C
Ooh. Cam, what does that window look like?
Speaker B
Well, I think. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, Cam. Hold on. Camp Peter. I appreciate you, man. And from that angle, it's not an insult, it's a compliment, because I love him. But from that angle, you look like the Joker, bro. You look like the joker for bat. I want you to know that. Like that. All right, but here. But here's. But here's the deal. You know, shout out to. Shout out to the late great. To the late great Heath Ledger. But, but. But. Let me say this to you. Let me say this to you, man. I think we got to pump the brakes. I mean, you know, what did you say about the Patriots? Some monster coming up? Did we watch the first beast awoken? I. I don't know. I don't know, but I think it's going a little bit too far. I think it's going a little bit too far. Patriots are good. They want to come up. Rabel can. Rabel can. Coach Stepan Diggs can play when healthy. Drake May is showing us a little something something. I got that part. L. R.A. stevenson on board. I. I got it. But, you know, they. They could be. You could be awakening a monsterism. Let. Let's pump the brakes on that one. Let's calm down, okay? I ain't gonna go that far on the Patriots. Not that far.
Speaker C
Cam, does Peter need to pump the brakes?
Speaker A
I'm gonna take it a different angle, okay? What a difference a year makes. Think about this. This time last year, we were calling the AFC the league of Supers and then calling the NFC the League of pedestrians, however you want to call it. Jared Goff was really unproven, or you didn't want to hang your hat On Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield was Baker Mayfield, right? And then you have, on the opposite, you have Lamar Jackson playing good football. Josh Allen obviously became the league mvp. You had Patrick Mahomes still doing Patrick Mahomes things and Joe Burrow at the same time. You had a dominance of talent on the AFC. Now fast forward to 2025, where it's like it is completely flipped. What about Jordan Love? What about Daquius Prescott? He has something to say. When you start to think about Sam Darnold, when you start to think about all these talented quarterbacks and players and teams on the NFC side, it's like, oh, my goodness, how things have changed. So whether it's the Patriots, they have an opportunity. But to say that they're going to. To dethrone the Buffalo Bills at this particular point, no, because I don't see Buffalo really playing a game like that where they have three ugly turnovers, a bot snap, right? A calculated interception where it's like, bro, you forcing it. Josh, you ain't got. We got points right there. It's field goal range. And then on top of that, you got Coleman fumbling. It's a lot of these things that you're typically used to seeing the Buffalo Bills get takeaways, but they were on the opposite side of that spectrum yesterday.
Speaker C
Yeah, it was uncharacteristic. I'll let you laugh.
Speaker D
I look at it this way. I still have the Bills winning Super bowl this year. I said that before the season. They came into this game the number one team. They're going to leave the number one team. I believe they finally have an adversary that they need to look at in that division, which for the last five years has been a cakewalk. And this was the season with Baltimore slow out of the gates, with Houston slow out of the gates, with Kansas City slow to the gates. This could have been the season where they just cakewalk to the number one seed last season in that building. Let's go host the playoffs and let's have this heroic. Still can be, but I think last night was a bit of a. Wait a second. Now we might. We might have some opponents in this division we have to actually lose some sleep over. I'm still in all in on Buffalo. I'm with you guys. I do believe last night, though, we saw the birth of a guy Drake May that might be in this conversation over the next several years.
Speaker B
You know what last night said to me, Peter? You know what it said? You know what it said to me, Peter Schrager, the Buffalo Bills, you know they can make the Super Bowl. They remind me of the Buffalo Bills that lost four straight Super Bowls. I could see them going to the super bowl and losing again. That's what that. That's what I said it. I said it. Damn right I said it.
Speaker A
No shade.
Speaker B
No, no shade. No shade to Josh Allen, who's an absolute stud. But Jim. Jim Kelly wasn't trash. You understand what I'm saying? Thurman Thomas wasn't trash. Bruce Smith wasn't trash. They had some. They had some elite brothers on those squads as well that looked really, really good. And then they'd run into an NFC foe in the super bowl that was a juggernaut. That's what I. I mean, if the Bills remind me of anything, it would be that. Not them winning the Super Bowl. I don't know what recollection you'd have to fall on to place them in that position. Schrager. I'm sorry, I'm not giving them that.
Speaker C
I don't know. Peter's pretty good at predicting those things.
Speaker B
So I'm not.
Speaker C
I'm not gonna lie. I might lean. I might lean on Peter for that one right there. All right, let's take a.
Speaker B
What evidence do you have, Amina? What evidence do you have of that? I don't recall that.
Speaker C
Matter has picked some super bowl wins, though. Peter has picked some super bowl wins, so I'm gonna lean on him for that. All right, let's take a break, guys. We're talking college football. On the other side of the break. Arch Manning in Texas with another bad loss this season. Was this the biggest upset on of the college football weekend? We have fireworks coming up. Dak Prescott was hearing MVP chants at MetLife Stadium yesterday. Is he playing the best quarterback play in the NFL right now? Southern Steve joining us Next.
Speaker A
Fan center is your personalized hub on the ESPN Bet app. Get parlays and picks built just for you. Plus seamlessly bet on your fantasy roster synced in the app. Your roster, your favorites, your sportsbook. New customers get $100 in bonus bets when you bet $10. Sign up today.
Speaker B
Eight years ago, I blew my football career.
Speaker E
He dropped it at the one yard line.
Speaker B
Chad Powers has arrived on Hulu. If I can't play as Russ, I'll play as someone else.
Speaker C
My name's Chad and last name legit.
Speaker E
From executive producers Eli and Peyton Manning.
Speaker C
Remember, you're wearing a prosthetic mask.
Speaker B
This is acting and starring Glen Powell.
Speaker C
He thinks you're a rubber chew toy.
Speaker B
Not rubber. I'm a man made of flowers. The Hulu Original series Chad Powers is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundled subscribers. Terms apply. New episodes Tuesdays. Tron Ares has arrived. Hostiles. Repeat, we have hostiles. Mayday.
Speaker A
Mayday.
Speaker B
Oh, my God. There's hundreds of them. On October 10th. We came here from the digital world. The war for our world begins. What in God's name is that?
Speaker C
Even I, Max, this is the end to this world.
Speaker D
No, it's not.
Speaker B
But I can help you. Tron Ares, rated PG13, may be inappropriate for children under 13 only in theaters October 10th. Get tickets now.
Speaker A
Welcome back to First Take, presented by Freestyle Libre. There's a tree. It's a good way for young quarterbacks and receivers to get on the same page.
Speaker B
There's 10.
Speaker A
There is no 10 route.
Speaker B
Eli.
Speaker A
Don't screw this up.
Speaker B
Wow. The Manning cast Monday night at 8 on ESPN2. And the ESPN app.
Speaker C
Can spell MetLife without an L. And the jets have plenty to spare. Ouch.
Speaker B
Jack.
Speaker C
And the Cowboys kept the jets winless behind. Another high flying performance from that offense. Four touchdowns on the day for the Cowboys quarterback as the team pulled to a 2, 2 and 1 on the season. Here's Dakota on hearing MVP chants.
Speaker B
I mean, my ears work, so I heard it, but I didn't hear it to your answer. It's week five. I don't care.
Speaker A
I don't care if it was week 17.
Speaker B
I've told y' all what I want to win. The team goals right now, the success and the continued success is going to happen. Area of all the guys in that.
Speaker C
Locker room, Stephen a a big performance by Dak Prescott. Is he the MVP of the league right now?
Speaker B
I'm gonna say yes. I know that a lot of people are gonna shock. They're falling off their seat because I'm giving Dak Prescott that kind of credit. But I am a fair minded individual. I believe in being fair minded. He deserves strong consideration for league MVP honors right now. Uh, he definitely is overachieving. It's not something we haven't seen before. He's like 29, 30 games over.500 as a starter in his career. So this is the regular season. This is when he does it after all, not necessarily the postseason. But that doesn't take away from what we're seeing him right now. You saw the 237 yards, the four touchdown passes. We see what he's been doing this year. Right now he's ranking second in passing yards behind Matthew Stafford. Todd for third with 10 touchdown passes, tied for fifth with 71% completions, tied for third with Daniel Jones and Sam Donald in terms of QBR. And he's got two fourth quarter comebacks, second behind only Baker Mayfield. And so, yeah, you could look at Daniel Jones, for example, and the way that he's been playing in Indy, but I'm looking at the success of Jonathan Taylor and the way that he's been balling. When you look at Sam Donald in Seattle, I'm looking at their defense and what they're usually doing, you know, yesterday notwithstanding. And I just say to myself, with CD Lamb out, with Micah Parsons having been traded, with the pressure clearly falling on the shoulders of Dak Prescott, he has answered the call. And right now I think he needs to be a leading candidate for league MVP honors. But I also want to applaud him for this. I want to applaud him for saying it's the regular season. It doesn't matter whether it was week four, week five, or week 17, because what he acknowledged is what we should all feel. We shouldn't give a damn about what he's doing in the regular season. It's about the postseason. You've been in the league for 10 years now. You got two playoff wins on your resume. Lord help you. And I'm. I'm putting it out on front street. I'll be the first one. I'll be the biggest culprit. Lord help him if he plays lights out during this regular season and the Dallas Cowboys find a way to get themselves to the playoffs and then he goes to the playoffs and wet the bed. He won't hear the end of it. Not from, not from first take, I can promise you that. But he deserves league MVP consideration right now. He's definitely a top two leading candidate for league mvp.
Speaker D
I love it. I love what Dak's doing. I'm gonna give you a guy who's got three career playoff wins. And you mentioned him as one of those comeback guys this season. Baker Mayfield's my mvp. Five weeks into the season, What Baker did last night was going to get overshadowed by what Drake May did, what Jayden Daniels did with national coverage on a different playing field in Seattle, yet again, Baker Mayfield found a way to lead his team. He had 375 passing yards yesterday, did it with just five incomplete passes. And he's doing it just like you're saying Dak's doing it without his top guys, Baker without Mike Evans, without Bucky Irving, with an offensive line that has just been an absolute rotation of a carousel. He continues to do it and a little bit different where Dak is kind of playing this humble. You know, I hear the crowd saying mvp, and I appreciate it, but I'm also trying to tune it. Baker's leaning into this. I don't think we appreciate just how hard it is for Baker in this situation in Tampa with the injuries, but also replacing Tom Brady. This is going to be the second year that he's replacing Tom Brady. And I don't think we ever talk about Tom Brady anymore in Tampa. Think about the shadow that he casted after winning a Super bowl there and the shoes that he had to fill. We still haven't found that guy in New England. And Drake May had a big game yesterday, and we're not sure he's the guy. Baker is Tampa right now, and you saw him pregame. Stephen A. And Cam, there's a fan from Seattle talking all this smack. He's talking smack back. It's a totally different way about going things as an NFL quarterback. But Baker might as well be an offensive lineman.
Speaker B
He might as well be one of.
Speaker D
The dirty defensive linemen. He might as well be any other position on the field. He just so happens to be their team leader, their best player. And they don't take any excuses. They fight, fight, fight. Their only loss, he almost pulled it out against the Eagles despite being down near three scores.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker A
I'm going to go with you, Mr. Schrager, and I'm going to tell you a thing or two about old Daquius.
Speaker B
Stop the cap, bro. Cause I could keep it 100 if.
Speaker A
You hearing the MVPs. You want an MVP on low, it does something to you. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker B
You cash it.
Speaker A
Trust me, I would know a thing. Subtle flex. Stephen A. But that thing right there, I'm gonna go with my favorite to win mvp. And I thought I would never say it. Baker, John De. John. Short for Jontavius Baker. Jontavious Mayfield, man. I mean, this boy been balling. I mean balling out of control. I mean, we in New York with it. We say no lie.
Speaker C
What is.
Speaker A
You know this bully. Baker's Octavius Mayfield, bro. Let me riddle off some stats. Fourth in passing yards, third in touchdowns, and he only threw one interception. That could not have come at an opportune time playing the Philadelphia Eagles. But other than that, man, Baker John, bro, you doing your doggone thing. And he's leaning in. I can appreciate that. Because don't be no robot out there. Don't be Pinocchio. Don't nobody like Pinocchio mean, when you see Baker Mayfield play, he kind of saw. He got the swag, he got the bravado, he got the aura. You know what I'm saying? He has all that with him, and I enjoy it from the fan, just how he's playing and leaning in and still doing it. To your point, Peter, without his top tier guys. And that's something that needs to be said about Baker.
Speaker C
John, Stephen A. I'll let you respond.
Speaker B
Go ahead. No, no, no, no. They both have valid points. I can't. I can't. I can't summarily dismiss that. I guess I was looking at the fact that it took a last, you know, field goals in the final minute, the final 20 seconds, and that the buzzer to win three of those games, if not four of those games, because they just won. I'm looking at that. But I still can't take away from what Peter is and Cam is saying. I mean, if Baker Mayfield was ahead of Dak Prescott for the MVP voting, it wouldn't bother me at all, because I. I think Baker Mayfield has been doing this for a couple of years now, and I think that he deserves all our adulation, all our respect, because he's really, really made a change. I used to. I used to tease him all the time about having more progressive commercials than Wins. All of those years he was in Cleveland, Remember when he was on every progressive commercial, y', all, and they weren't winning football games. And I'm just thinking, like, damn, you might want to tell them to stop running them damn commercials. You know, I get that. But then he just turned it around. He turned his life around, turned his career around, and he deserves a boatload of credit. I ain't got nothing but respect and love for the brother and what he's been able to do. So I'm not knocking it. I'm just looking at how they squeezed by. Whereas I'm looking at how prolific Dallas offense has been without Ceedee Lamb knowing the pressure that was on him because he's the $60 million man. And Jerry Jones is like, I traded Dak. I ain't worried about none of that. Cause I got you. And he still goes out there and he balls. So I'm giving credit where credit is due to Dak. But I definitely understand that. Baker Mayfield. Love, and I respect it.
Speaker C
2015 league MVP. I love how you just threw that out there just casually, no big deal. You might know a thing or two.
Speaker B
Hey, so sad it's there.
Speaker C
He said, I had to pull the receipts.
Speaker B
It's there.
Speaker C
He's adding for the receipts.
Speaker B
It's there.
Speaker A
No doubt.
Speaker B
He deserved it. He deserved it. Ain't nothing wrong with flexing, but at least he flexed the same time he took a team to a Super Bowl. We're still waiting for Dak to get him to an NFC Championship game.
Speaker D
And neither of these guys are having the season Cam had that year, I'll tell you that.
Speaker A
I'll give you a dark horse real quick. That's right, that nobody's talking about. Indiana Jones.
Speaker B
Ooh, Danielle, Daniel Jones is playing like an Indian. I mentioned him. I mentioned Daniel Jones.
Speaker A
Yeah, you ain't.
Speaker B
I mentioned Daniel Jones.
Speaker A
Wake up.
Speaker B
Wake up. Stephen.
Speaker A
Anthony, wake up.
Speaker B
He's on Mexico. Say it. I did say it. I'm wide awake, man. Listen, don't be jealous. Don't be jealous. I'm out here in Southern California. Stop assuming because I'm three hours behind. I'm not awake. I'm wide awake. Y' all just jealous cause y' all see the palm trees in the back. That's what that's about.
Speaker A
But you get over here. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker B
I'm jealous of the jacket, bro.
Speaker A
If we're being honest, I'm jealous of the jacket you been stepping, right? I mean, you've been stepping with the big dogs. I ain't used to seeing this Steven as I'm used to seeing the lavender little sports coat he gonna wear the red bottoms. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker B
That tape clip, the lavender. The lavender looks smooth. The lavender looks smooth.
Speaker A
I like the lavender looks smooth. But you came with the coloroid with the pearl buttons. And then you double down with the Dick Tracy with the polka dot shiny in the pocket square. I mean, Peter, take notes, bruh. What you got? Never mind writing it down. He said writing it down.
Speaker B
Writing it down.
Speaker C
Peter, I'll let you enjoy the rest of your day.
Speaker B
I feel good.
Speaker A
I'll be doing good.
Speaker C
Enjoy the rest of your day. All right, guys.
Speaker B
All right.
Speaker C
James Franklin and Ben stay with another crucial loss. Have all hopes of making the College Football Playoff gone out the window. Stephen A. Has something to get off of his chest. And the Colts make another statement blowing out the Raiders. Are they true contenders to win the afc? Don't go anywhere.
Speaker A
Monday. Mayhem is brought to you by Freestyle Libre.
Speaker B
Foreign. I'm John Quinones. Vanessa Guillen, a 20 year old soldier vanishes while on duty at an army base in Texas. Her family demands answers.
Speaker C
How can she go missing on a military base?
Speaker B
That's too ridiculous. The search goes on for months. Where is Melissa? And a dark story starts to unfold.
Speaker C
She told her family that she was being sexually harassed and wasn't reporting it out of fear of retribution and retaliation.
Speaker B
What investigators finally uncover is horrifying. Find out how one soldier, a beloved sister and daughter ignited a movement and sparked a reckoning in the US Military. Listen to Vanished what Happened to Vanessa, a new series from ABC Audio in 2020. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. It's one of those Saturdays, isn't it? Wow. Penn State on the ropes. Texas on the ropes. That's why you love football. You gotta line up and play. Let me just say this here.
Speaker A
How about, my God, I was born for this life. Get out of here.
Speaker B
No, he didn't. Yes, he did.
Speaker D
Stand firm against the odds.
Speaker B
Victory is on.
Speaker A
Oh, my goodness. Big time flex on the road.
Speaker B
How can you not love college football when you have days like this?
Speaker C
What a week. Six in college football, highlighted by some huge upsets, including this one where Arch Manning tried to get in another play. However, despite the ball with no seconds on the clock. And Texas lost to Florida, 29 to 21. Meanwhile, another loss for James Franklin, this time to an unranked UCLA team. Penn State's defense allowed Nico Amaliaba to have 294 total yards and five touchdowns in the big win. Dan Orlowski joins us right now from what looks like an Uber driving around somewhere. But, Dan, which loss was worse? Was it Texas or Penn State?
Speaker E
There's no question this is Penn State. This is one of the worst losses in the James Franklin era. Could be the worst loss, and I think the world of Coach Franklin. But Penn State was going to be just fine after that Oregon loss. You lose at home in a unbelievable football game, essentially in overtime on the last play to a very good Oregon team. Like you were going to survive.
Speaker B
Okay.
Speaker E
If you could just figure out a way to again play competitive against Ohio State. Get into the college football player. If you go to a place that is str now is a program, they don't have anybody at their games. They just fired their head coach. They had two days of practice under this new coach, Rick Newheisel's son, and you get that many points, 42 hung on you when one of the prize hires of this college football season was new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles at Penn State. And so this is a brutal, brutal loss for Penn State. And now it's a mandatory win out to get back into the College Football Playoff.
Speaker C
Oh, Stephen, I think you're muted I think you might be muted. There we go.
Speaker B
I'm not muted. It's not me. You got me now. Got me now. One of the things that we. One of the things that we want to make sure. One of the things that we want to make sure we alert the American public about is that that's not a black Uber. That. That can. That. That Dan Olofsky is. In knowing him, he choose. They chose the cheapest version Uber, the most low grade he could find because he, you know, because he is. They come. This brother would use coupons to get on a flight if he could. He's pathetic in that regard. Let's get that out the way first. He ain't trying to spend no money. Okay? That's number one. Number two, you brought up. You brought up Jim Knowles, the defensive coordinator. You left something out. Dan, the man is being paid $3.1 million. You got him to come from Ohio State. Okay, to come to you for $3.1 million. He is the highest paid coordinator in College football, and UCLA, who was.04 entering the game, dropped 446 yards on him. That's pathetic. Now let's get to James Franklin. Because I am unapologetic about rooting for African American coaches. I want them to win. You know, obviously, for years and years and years, it's been a struggle for these guys to get opportunities, particularly in college football. And it's nice to see a guy like James Franklin, you know, getting the opportunities that he has. But respectfully, sir, you got to make the most of it. You're one in ten against Ohio State. What is the number against your. Three and seven against Michigan. I'm looking at some of these stats in here. 4 and 21 at Penn State against AP top 10 opponents, including 1 and 18 against top 10 Big 10 teams. I mean, my God, what the hell is going on? This is Penn State we're talking about here. This is a program that opened the season as top two and now they're out of the top 25. And, oh, by the way, they got games coming up against Ohio State, who again, you're 1 in 10 against. And then on top of it all, you got to go up against number eight, Indiana at some point as well. It's almost like, okay, we didn't win the big game. We played against Oregon, went down to the wire, we battled them, but because we didn't get that done, we're demoralized and we forget everybody damn, every damn body else on our schedule. This is the kind of problems that James Franklin has had. You cannot, I repeat, Amina, Cam D o y' all know this. You cannot be a coach at a top notch program. And that program is known for repeatedly losing big games against the biggest opponents. You got to win sometimes and when. And that has not been the case against James Franklin. And I think it's very, very bad. There's a man that was in the national college football playoffs last year. I know it, I understand it. But you got to win these big games, man. You can't be losing like this. Unacceptable. Unacceptable.
Speaker A
So when you talk about the biggest, you know, disappointment, it's definitely James Franklin. Okay? And I'm going to tell you why. Well, when you go into a hostile environment like the Texas Longhorns went in this past weekend, it doesn't matter what the record was for Florida. It's still Florida. It's still the Swamp.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker A
And you have to consider that. And I would like to say we should change the sec, Southeastern Conference initials or abbreviation to the set strong every time in reference to the teams that you have to play on a week to week basis. Hey, and by the way, let's change the doggone name of the Big Ten and let's just change it to the Big Breeze because I'm getting tired of teams that saying okay Michigan, okay Ohio, Ohio State, okay ucla, okay Oregon. It's a big breeze over there and there's no comparison. If you want to talk about a team that's about to go through a dog on real gauntlet, it's the University of South Carolina. You got lsu, you got all type of teams. You got Ole Miss, you got Texas.
Speaker B
A home run the ball.
Speaker A
But the, the schedule, Dan, is what I'm saying. They are about to go through a gauntlet of a schedule. When you're looking at Penn State, you just play Owen for a deprived coach and the coach was having issues with calling to play on the side.
Speaker B
Like by the way, like come on.
Speaker A
What are we doing?
Speaker B
And by the way guys, they won three games this year versus Nevada, Florida International and Villanova.
Speaker A
What?
Speaker B
What?
Speaker A
Yeah, that, that, that, that can't happen. Breeze.
Speaker B
That cannot happen.
Speaker A
Not the Big Ten, the Big Breeze.
Speaker E
That's why, that's why. I mean like I think if anybody who has followed the SEC and followed college football, I don't know if there's that many people surprised, let alone shocked that Texas went to the Swamp and lost. Florida's talented. We've seen Florida playing a ton of big games. Self inflicted wounds have led to their losses so far this year for Penn State, who was a top two or top three team unequivocally going into this season to go on the road to a place that had just fired their coach. And again, I say this to not be disrespectful, but has a essential, a kid, a puppy coaching them. They had two days, two days to prepare for this game as an offense. UCLA did and they hung 42. Penn State, who's got two backs that are unbelie. They got a quarterback that some people thought potential top five, top ten pick at the position coming off of a game. Again, if people. If you had just gone out and if you were at Penn State and handled your business this past week, everybody would have been pointing to November 1st in that Ohio State game, the fact that you lost this game. I'd ask all the Penn State fans find me a worse loss in the James Franklin era. And again, I'm a huge fan. I think he's a very good coach. To answer the question on the screen, how much is James Franklin on the hot seat? I'll go back to last year in Ohio State and Ryan Day because I remember being in studio with Kevin De Gandhi and Burger McFarland and watching that Michigan loss by Ohio State and how poorly they played. Remember, that's the post game fight and whatnot and sitting there going, dude, like, does Ohio State have to fire Ryan Day because he's a ridiculously good coach? But just because of all the noise and the expectation and what that loss felt like. And all of a sudden, Ryan Day weathers the storm, steers the ship and they win the national title. I'm not telling everybody that's going to happen, but it just feels like a similar situation where people are looking back on. I get text messages from Prince. Is Penn State going to fire James Franklin? I'm like, are you guys out of your minds? They're not going to fire James Franklin. But it is a. Like, do you got to go get it done if you're Penn State?
Speaker B
Well, let me say this to you. Um, everyone is expendable. Let's get that out the way first. Secondly, I get sick and tired, Dan, and I'm not. I'm not directing this at you nor Cam or obviously not Amina, but I want to see y' all when I say what I'm about to say because it might be somewhat controversial. I don't think it is, but I don't give a damn either. I was a. I the one. Listen, I love me some Kirk Herb Street. I think Kirk Herbstreet It's a treasure to have him as a part of this network and to work with him and to watch him work on behalf of our network. But if there was one thing. That's right. But if there was one thing I profoundly disagreed with him about was how supportive he was of Ryan Day. Last year when Ryan Day was on the hot seat, Kirk Herb street knew better than most, you go to Ohio State, you, You can't be losing the Michigan. You can't just be. Continue losing Michigan. And you can't be losing to Michigan and not win a national championship. Now, he ended up winning the national championship, so he killed all of that noise. But it was as if there was an absence of justification for people that had Ryan Day on the hot seat. Ryan Day, if he's watching this show right now, let me be very, very clear. He was always a good coach. Make no mistake about it. He won significantly more than he lost. And we know that 99% of the programs, he was qualified to be the head coach of that program. But when you are at Ohio State, you got to do one or two things, preferably both, but definitely one or two. You gotta beat Michigan or you gotta make sure you in that college football playoffs, challenge it for a national title, if not winning it. And when they had lost the Michigan, there was a question mark as to whether or not they were going to make the postseason. And everybody was in, you know, folks were in an uproar like, how could you do this with Ryan Day? Who the hell do these people think they are? You're James Franklin. You're at Penn State. He is a black man coaching on a, On a, on a big time level in college football. Of course I'm rooting for him. I ain't apologizing for that to a damn soul. But you got to get it done. You can't go 1 in 10 against Ohio State. You can't keep losing to Oregon. You can't be three and seven against Michigan. You can't go one in 18 against the big Ten. Okay. And stuff like that. No, no, it's. You got to be able to do it. You got to be. And you damn sure can't lose the ucla, who, by the way, didn't even have a crowd Saturday. It was barely folks there because they didn't want to come there with bags. They couldn't find enough bags at the CVS to put over their head because they were so damn disgusted at what their program has regressed into. So you, you, you, you're basically lost to a nobody Right now, which is what you said. And I'm right down the block from Westwood as we speak. And if they want me to walk on campus and tell them they ain't worth a damn right now, I'll do it. They ain't what you're saying. You ain't supposed to lose that. He's supposed to lose that game.
Speaker A
But I'll give you one line real.
Speaker C
Quick, real quick, real quick.
Speaker A
If James Franklin is in the SEC, with what he has been doing.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker A
He's potentially getting control.
Speaker C
I see what you're doing. We gotta go, we gotta go. All right, guys, we got a QB battle tonight on Monday Night Football. Should the Chiefs be on upset alert versus Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars? The answer to that is coming up.
Speaker B
You're watching.
Speaker A
First take, presented by Freestyle Libre.
Speaker C
Our next WWE event, the seventh annual crown jewel for the first time down under in Perth, Australia, Saturday morning, 8am Eastern, 5 Pacific. John Cena continues his retirement tour. Plus the men's and women's crown jewel championships are once again on the line. Unlock your access and stream it exclusively on the ESPN app or go to stream.espn.com WWE Danny Dimes. He's getting it done with the Colts. An absolute blowout at home. 46 versus the Raiders. The league's leading rusher, Jonathan Taylor, had three touchdowns, while Indy's defense sacked Geno Smith four times and grabbed two. Two interceptions. Cam, higher on Indy, or are you maybe down on this Raiders team?
Speaker A
Extremely high. Indianapolis Colts. Indiana Jones is a dark horse for mvp, you know, with the performance that he's had. And I think that the Indianapolis Colts has the remedy to really do damage of the upcoming games. They play solid defense, good offense that scores points when need to. And then they have opportunistic special teams that got a big block, you know what I'm saying? And all phases of football has shown up.
Speaker C
Stephen A. What you got?
Speaker B
You're not. Cam's not wrong. But I'm sorry, I'm not gonna pass up on the opportunity to talk about the Raiders. My God. Indy, 6 for 6 in the red zone. Raiders 0 for 4 in the red zone and 2, including 2 goal to goal situations. Geno Smith, 9 interceptions, already a QBR 37. Y' all went out and got the oldest coach in the league in Pete Carroll. You got Tom Brady as a minority owner chilling in the booth, trying to help out the coaching staff, okay? And nothing seems to be working. I mean, when they said what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, it's supposed to allude to your behavior and the proclivities that you may have that you may not want people to know about. It's not supposed to be because of how you play and how they don't want you to bother leaving town because they don't want you stinking up somebody else's city instead of your own. That's how bad the Raiders have been. It's a damn shame that they look this bad, but it's just the truth.
Speaker C
Yeah, the Raiders have looked absolutely terrible. But just like you said, the Colts, Danny Dimes really flying under the radar. They look really, really, really good.
Speaker B
He's balling. Look, he's balling.
Speaker C
Giants fans are a little sad. They like, you know what? They see the X go over there and they're just like, you know what? We could have had that cam Dang. Mahomes and the Chiefs are looking for a three game win streak, visiting Trevor Lawrence and the Jags tonight. We've got a last take you need to hear coming up next.
Speaker A
First take is presented by Freestyle Libre.
Speaker C
All right, Ty's Monday Night Football matchup celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and has Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Jackson. Jacksonville taking on Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars 8 Eastern, 5 Pacific on ABC, ESPN, ESPN the 40s and the all new ESPN app with Peyton Eli once again on ESPN2 with special guest Glenn Powell. Coverage kicks off with Scott Van Pelt and the Monday Night Countdown crew in Jacksonville at 6 Eastern. Cam Chiefs looking to extend their win streak to three games. But are they on upset alert? Going into this I learned a lesson.
Speaker A
About Stephen A. Smith. Ain't to going cut on them. You know what I'm saying? I'm going with Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars alumni with Travis Hunter going to do your thing, big dog. And that's who I'm going with.
Speaker B
Well, I didn't hear your answer because the producers were in my ear. Evidently they didn't want me to hear what you had to say. But I'm going to say this to you, okay. I'm going to say they're on absurd alert because I mean ETN is no joke. He's averaging more than six, six yards a carry. Brian Thomas could do some things. Travis Hunter and them out there strange and others, they could do some things. But Patrick Mahomes on a big stage. Jacksonville has to show me something. Yeah, upset alert. They could lose this game. But if I had to bet my money, it would be on the Chiefs.
Speaker C
Patrick Mahomes prime time against the Jacksonville Jaguars team. I'm going Chiefs.
Speaker A
I can't bet. Steven Anthony.
Speaker C
Come on, you don't doubt?
Speaker B
Not looking good.
Speaker C
Look, he tainted on him Dick Tracy.