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I believe it’s illegal in at least 27 states to publicly doubt Patrick Mahomes.

He has earned that right.

He was a central the-one-that-got-away figure in our first story ever at Go Long.

There’s a strong case to make that Mahomes is the best quarterback ever this side of Tom Brady. The Kansas City Chiefs star has captivated us all with a magic to his game.

Yet, last season, Mahomes posted career lows across the board and the Chiefs missed the playoffs. In my piece on C.J. Stroud and the gnarly Texans defense, sources detailed the team’s blueprint vs. Mahomes — one that Philadelphia used in the Super Bowl, one that bludgeoned the QB into submission. Houston made him look downright bad in 2025.

Of course, the three-time champion and five-time Super Bowl participant is also coming off a torn ACL. This could dull mobility, too.

Under the Monday Night Football glow, Mahomes started sluggish, ran for one touchdown and threw short for two more in a 31-10 win over Denver.

What do we make of his performance? Where do Mahomes and the Chiefs go from here?

This is our main topic on “Real Football” with co-host Jim Monos, our longtime NFL scout.

Andy Reid and Brett Veach restructured this team in major ways in an attempt to create a new championship window. (Holy, Kenneth Walker Jr.)

We get into plenty on the first episode of the regular season.

* Everything Mahomes. (Also: I loved the QB’s trainer, Bobby Stroupe, sharing our story as motivation.)

* Drake Maye’s scary debut. Aberration? Or cause for concern?

* Juggernaut Chicago Bears offense.

* Matt LaFleur’s Week 1 dud.

* Baker Mayfield’s $55M/year contract. If Monos was the Buccaneers’ GM, what would he have done?

* Why I still love the Ravens. New playcaller Declan Doyle, 30, supplied quite a first impression.

* UPSET ALERT. Monos believes the Indianapolis Colts will beat KC this week. We rapid-fire predict all Week 2 games.

Full video and audio is above.

As a reminder, you won’t be peppered with one advertisement at Go Long and that’s only possible because of you. So thank you for watching, listening and sharing with a friend.

Subscribers can also catch the two-hour, 12-minute NFC North podcast with Bob McGinn. He dissects all the action as only he can.

Here’s our mission into Year 7, icymi.

Thanks, all.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

EAGAN, Minn — Packers. Vikings. Week 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

We’ll be on-hand for all festivities. Cannot wait to reboot our Gameday Chat. Tune in for all sights, all sounds and all tomfoolery with fellow readers around the country. Always a good time. We’ll discuss anything and everything you’d like all Sunday.

After two midweek clunkers, I’m feeling good about the Sunday slate. Or maybe it’s just the random Blake Bortles jersey I spotted at my layover in Detroit. Either way, let’s get the party started with Jarrett Bailey & Todd Haley of the insightful Pump Fake Podcast. Subscribe to their channel here. You know Haley from his long career coaching in the NFL — from WR coach to Arizona Cardinals’ Super Bowl OC to Kansas City Chiefs head coach to Steelers OC with a year in Cleveland we absolutely touch on. Bailey is an NFL writer at SB Nation and the producer of Behind the Steel Curtain.

We rip through a medley of topics on the cusp of this season.

* Aaron Rodgers’ podcast appearance on Not Just Football broke the Internet. He’s saying whatever he wants. Agree with him? Disagree? Bring it on. All of it.

* But as a quarterback — 43 years old in December — what does Rodgers have to offer? And what is Pittsburgh’s ceiling?

* Bailey has the Tennessee Titans making the playoffs, and explains why.

* Haley steers the focus to Robert Saleh. He wants the Titans HC to bring all of his sideline energy as a coordinator to the head job.

* Kyler Murray? No, Haley is not quite as bullish.

* None of us believe Chicago will make the playoffs. There’s got to be a odd man out in the NFCN.

* Which wide receiver did Haley need to convince to embrace blocking? His answer definitely shocked me.

* Does he still think about that ‘17 playoff loss to Jacksonville?

* C.J. Stroud and the Texans. We’ve got a deep dive live for subscribers. I hit on a few themes covered.

* You’ll want to stick around for Haley’s story from the 2018 draft. He was in Cleveland then and, dammit, he tried his best to convince owner Jimmy Haslam to draft Josh Allen. He relives that spring in full.

* Super Bowl picks.

Video and audio is above, and be sure to subscribe to our Apple, Spotify and YouTube channels.

You can follow Bailey and Haley on X, and listen to the latter on Sirius XM Radio.

Miss any season preview stories? All links below.

Do or Die for C.J. Stroud

Tony Pollard is the NFL’s hidden warrior

The “Big John” Simpson Creed

Tate Ratledge feels no pain

The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

‘We will be the best offensive line in football:’ Q&A with Alec Anderson, Buffalo Bills enforcer

‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Greetings from Orchard Park! I’ll be getting on a plane to Minneapolis Friday AM for Packers-Vikings. But first? Let’s talk some Bills-Texans with Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News.

It’ll be an AFC heavyweight fight at Reliant Stadium… a place that’s been a house of horrors for Josh Allen.

What changes in 2026? We discuss the matchup and the identity of the Bills here on a quick Substack Live video.

This Texans defense is a different animal, as we learned.

Now, Joe Brady takes charge. His boss, Brandon Beane, certainly understands the stakes of this season.

Also: Keep an eye out for an extensive C.J. Stroud piece soon. Nobody in the NFL faces more pressure to produce.

Want to join future Substack Lives? Download the app right here.

Thanks, all.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

It’s Game Week.

The 2026 NFL Season is HERE.

No more lists. No more forecasting. We officially have substantive games to gnaw on starting Wednesday night.

You bet “Real Football” will march on with co-host Jim Monos, our resident NFL scout/exec, this fall. Subscribers can expect a full episode each Tuesday. Our goal — always — is to bring you something different. Monos will tap into his experiences with the Eagles, Saints and Bills, while I share reporting stories from the road.

In addition to these weekly shows, we’ve got fun news to share: Expect half-hour Buffalo Bills postgame shows on Substack Live. Monos served as the team’s director of personnel from May ‘13 to May ‘17 and I’ll be around One Bills Drive plenty this season. On these live videos, paid subscribers will be able to hang out with us and ask questions in real time after all games.

This week, my pal made the trip down to Ellicottville, NY.

We post up at Ellicottville Brewing Company.

Gotta say, as much as I love their signature EBC Blueberry, “The Charge Lager” and “Fan Zone” beers on tap deliver. Highly recommend. If we have readers that’d like to hang out in-person down here in the Southern Tier, let me know.

On this episode, we primarily we dig into everything NFC after last week’s AFC show.

The Los Angeles Rams have constructed a mega team.

Who’s the best challenger?

* There was one grave omission in our 2026 NFL Predictions: the Jaguars. How did we all overlook a 13-4 team?

* How is Sean McDermott taking in Bills games this season?

* Readers asked why in the hell Monos has Matt LaFleur on the hot seat while also picking Green Bay to make the Super Bowl. He explains. (And he still can’t shake that playoff loss).

* Jared Goff doesn’t move. That’s fine. His brain’s sharper than ever.

* Caleb Williams does move and improvise and create as well as anyone. Can he master the other stuff?

* Christian Parker, profiled here, could be the ultimate X-Factor in this conference. If the Cowboys’ defense improves to average, look out.

* You guys know I’ve been bullish on Minnesota.

* Hey, let’s not forget the Seattle Seahawks did win a Super Bowl.

Video and audio is above and accessible over on our Apple, Spotify and YouTube channels.

Once we get the season rolling, full episodes will be exclusive to members. A fine time to upgrade for those on the free list.

Go Long is completely independent because of you. No gambling BS, no ads, no sponsors. Thanks, all.

2026 NFL Season Preview Features to date…

* Tony Pollard is the NFL’s hidden warrior

* The “Big John” Simpson Creed

* Tate Ratledge feels no pain

* The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

* The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

* ‘We will be the best offensive line in football:’ Q&A with Alec Anderson, Buffalo Bills enforcer

* ‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

* Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

* Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

He played for two teams with Super Bowl aspirations this 2026 NFL Season — Houston and Detroit.

Glover Quin’s rise from the boondocks of Mississippi to NFL All-Pro is instructive for players, too.

This week on the Go Long Pod, I catch up with one of the best safeties in recent memory. Quin spent four seasons with the Texans and six with the Lions in starting 148 straight games. His best season, hands down, came in 2014. That playoff year in Detroit, Quin picked off an NFL-high seven passes. He guides us through them all.

Many war stories are shared. (Once, Quin caught three picks with a cast over his hand. How? He relives it all.)

He played for Jim Schwartz, Jim Caldwell and Matt Patricia in Detroit. Go Long readers may remember Quin’s name coming up back when we reported on life under Patricia. Players were not fans! Quin explains why the ex-Patriot coordinator failed so miserably as a head coach.

In Detroit, Quin also played with Matthew Stafford. We get his thoughts on the reigning NFL MVP.

As for today’s Texans defense — a crew full of savages — Quin offers a take you won’t hear anywhere else.

Nowadays, he’s a father of three and running his own business in Houston: “GQ Frames.” Life is good and he certainly earned every inch.

Video and audio are both above. Be sure to also add the Go Long channel to your Apple, Spotify and YouTube feeds.

Thanks for subscribing and sharing, all.

ICYMI:

* 2026 NFL Predictions

* ‘I’m a believer — more than most — in Jordan Love:’ 18-year NFL vet Matt Hasselbeck

* New head coach, new vibes, a title for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens?

* The “Big John” Simpson Creed

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

After 18 years of John Harbaugh, it was time.

The Jesse Minter Era is here for the Baltimore Ravens. We drove down to Maryland to sit down with “Big John” Simpson — that feature is here, icymi. Is this the season Lamar Jackson finally gets to a Super Bowl? To get more answers, let’s welcome on a new guest: Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun.

Wacker recently penned this excellent story on new Ravens OC Declan Doyle.

We dig into everything here on the Go Long Pod.

* Minter’s voice, and why it was needed.

* What’s new on defense? (A lot!)

* How is Doyle coaching Jackson? His attention to detail is extreme — in all of the best ways. Jackson, by all accounts, has been receptive, too.

* Where did things go wrong between Jackson and Harbaugh the last couple seasons? Something was clearly off.

* Explosive plays could be in high, high supply for the Ravens.

* Ja’Kobi Lane FEVER.

* Wacker’s concerns with this Ravens roster on offense, defense and special teams. He likes Cincinnati in the AFC North. (Paul Dehner Jr. dissected everything Bengals here.)

Video and audio of this podcast is above.

You can also subscribe to our Apple, Spotify and YouTube channels.

Thanks, all.

2026 NFL Season Preview Features to date…

The “Big John” Simpson Creed

Tate Ratledge feels no pain

The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

‘We will be the best offensive line in football:’ Q&A with Alec Anderson, Buffalo Bills enforcer

‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

We’ve got a packed episode of Real Football for you this week.

Jim Monos will be with me all season long. The longtime NFL personnel man always brings A+ stories from his years in the league with the Eagles, Saints and Bills.

This week, we try to figure out who’ll represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Topics include:

* We must start with Jed York and the prostitution sting that made all of us throw up in our mouths.

* Deshaun Watson is QB1 in Cleveland. Shedeur Sanders stinks. What do we make of the Browns?

* The Buffalo Bills. Monos — the team’s former director of personnel — has some real concerns with the personnel on defense.

* Jim Leonhard. Why his plan of attack should complement Josh Allen on offense.

* Jim’s AFC pick. (Hint: He might’ve worked with the head coach of this team before.)

* My AFC pick. (Hint: Unicorns.)

* Preseason FEVER. Monos has had enough. Some Rueben Bain chatter slips us into some bonus Bucs talk. We’ll get to the NFC at greater length next week.

The full 88-minute episode is available to Go Long paid subscribers.

Video and audio is above. If you prefer to listen on Apple or Overcast as a subscriber, bang it here to sync your subscription. Instructions on syncing on Spotify are also here.

Thanks, all!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Always love welcoming authors onto the Go Long Podcast to discuss their passion projects.

I think you’ll be eager to read this book after listening, too.

Longtime NFL reporter Paul Domowitch is the author of “Just Give Me a Chance: The Life of NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker Sam Mills.”

Mills is one the true all-time greats and his rise to football stardom is littered with people who didn’t believe someone who stood 5-foot-9 could ever play linebacker. Domowitch spoke to 80+ people for this book, which you can purchase right here on Amazon.

There are numbers to study. At linebacker, Mills racked up 1,265 career tackles, 20.5 sacks, 24 forced fumbles, 23 fumble recoveries and 11 interceptions. He made five Pro Bowls. He was even a first-team All Pro at age 37 on a Carolina Panthers team that reached the NFC Championship Game in their second year of existence.

His legacy, however, runs much deeper than any accolades or statistics.

One “Keep Pounding” speech Mills gave as a Panthers assistant coach — while battling cancer — still resonates today. Mills died in 2005 at the age of 45.

Domowitch has covered the Philadelphia Eagles for years and now runs his own Substack: Tush Push.

Video and audio of my conversation with Domowitch is above, and also accessible on our Apple, Spotify and YouTube channels.

You’ll never read or hear one ad. The only way Go Long grows is with your good word.

Thank you for supporting independent journalism.

ICYMI:

The Cleveland Browns’ bridge to nowhere

Tate Ratledge feels no pain

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

They’re the cute underdogs no more. The time to reach the Super Bowl is now for the Detroit Lions.

This week, we’ve got a piece on Tate Ratledge — a man who represents the cutthroat nature of the sport itself. Thanks to all who’ve subscribed, read and shared. Ratledge opened up on the night that changed his life and much more.

With Lions on the brain, I thought we were due to hit record on a Substack Live with our friend Justin Rogers of The Detroit Football Network.

Ratledge put the championship expectations perfectly in our chat:

“What’s known doesn’t have to be talked about. Why are you playing if that’s not your goal? It’s definitely serious around here. Not that it gets brought up 24/7, but it’s a very known thing around the building.”

Here on the pod, we dig deep into why title aspirations are real — it’s a loaded roster, everyone’s (very) hungry — and what could be the team’s Achilles heel. A ton of insight.

Be sure to download the Substack app to join all future live recordings:

Go Long is your home for longform.

On our free list? It’s a perfect time to join our community of readers from around the world.

2026 NFL Season Preview Features to date:

Tate Ratledge feels no pain

The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

‘We will be the best offensive line in football:’ Q&A with Alec Anderson, Buffalo Bills enforcer

‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Good morning! We’ve got a fresh Happy Hour Replay for you.

This week, subscribers had the chance to ask a former NFL general manager questions.

Doug Whaley oversaw the Buffalo Bills as GM from May 2013 through May 2017. Before Buffalo, he spent a decade on the Pittsburgh Steelers scouting staff and earned a pair of Super Bowl rings. Since Buffalo, he’s helped build the UFL into a viable league as the senior vice president of personnel.

Loved welcoming Whaley back on the show. Much was gleaned.

He explains why the UFL is working and answers a string of excellent questions on how best to handle injury reports, the Sammy Watkins draft pick, the sale of these Bills to Terry Pegula, Russ Brandon’s role and we also get his thoughts on the Bills and Steelers of today. Whaley helped hire Sean McDermott in 2017 before the coach replaced him with Brandon Beane. What does he think of Pegula moving on from McDermott a decade later? And in 2022, Whaley interviewed for the Steelers’ GM vacancy, losing out to Omar Khan. What does he make of the Steelers’ perpetual vision to compete year-in and year-out vs. planning long term? Can this Mike McCarthy-Aaron Rodgers union work?

As always, paid subscribers can join players, coaches and execs from around the NFL on our Happy Hours.

Our goal at Go Long is to bring you as close as possible to real, raw football.

Thank you for hanging out, everyone. Love meeting you all.

Full video and audio is above.

Be sure to add the Go Long Podcast to all of your feeds — including YouTube, Apple and Spotify.

During our chat, a few stories/podcasts were also referenced. Here are those links, if you’d like to read back:

* What Sammy Watkins Believes (2020)

* The Pressure is on Josh Allen (2020)

* The day the Buffalo Bills could’ve drafted Patrick Mahomes (2025)

* Doug Whaley, the ‘17 draft and life behind the curtain (2021)

* Doug Whaley on Fitz, the XFL, Steelers GM job and... the time the Bills nearly took Russell Wilson (2022)

* The first episode of the Go Long Podcast with Whaley and Jim Monos (2020)

Happy Hour Replays:

* Eric Wood

* Isaiah McKenzie

* Allen Robinson

* Rob Johnson

* Preston Brown

* Alex Green

* Steve Calhoun

* John Hansen

* Andrew Brandt

* Peter King

* Warren Moon

* Isaiah McKenzie

* Bob McGinn

* Rob Johnson

* Jamal Lewis

* T.J. Lang

* Jamaal Williams

* Stevie Johnson

* Richie Incognito

* Wyatt Teller

* Doug Whaley

* Isaiah Likely

* Stevie Johnson

* Eric Wood

* LeRoy Butler

* Bob McGinn & Jim Monos

* Quincy Avery

* Erik Kramer

* Frank Winters

* Olin Kreutz

* Peter King

* Johnathan Franklin

* Steve Calhoun

* Jim Monos

* Jace Sternberger

* Doug Whaley

* Isaiah McKenzie

* Andy Janovich

* Vince Williams

* Ryan Leaf & Steve Tasker

* Joshua Harris

* D’Wayne Eskridge

* Allen Robinson

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe