Sports Krunch w/DKROM

1. Week 7 Takeaways

-Me: House cleanings await the Bears and Broncos

-Hal: Bengals with statement win, Gruden might have been holding the Raiders back all along, Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase are stars in the making

2. Truth or Exaggeration

-NO team should trade for Deshaun Watson until his legal issues are resolved

-The Panthers would be a MUCH better destination for Deshaun Watson than the Dolphins

-Albeit with a 17-game caveat, Kyle Pitts will break the all-time rookie receiving yardage record for tight ends, which was set by Mike Ditka in 1961 with 1,076

-Ja’Marr Chase is already making an excellent argument to be considered a top-five WR in the NFL

-Should the Raiders make the playoffs, they should HIGHLY consider promoting interim head coach Rich Bisaccia to full-time head coach

-Even though they are still yet to win a game this season, the Lions are absolutely headed in the right direction under Dan Campbell

-D’Ernest Johnson is going to permanently force his way into the Browns RB rotation over these next several weeks, making it a three-headed monster once Kareem Hunt gets healthy

3. Packers at Cardinals Preview

-How do the Packers attack the Cardinals through the air minus Davante Adams, Allen Lazard AND Marquez Valdes-Scantling?

-After seeing Kyler Murray take quite a pounding against the Texans, how should the Cardinals protect him better (other than better OL play) on a short week?

-Key matchups and picks

4. Cowboys at Vikings Preview

-Is this Vikings secondary significantly less fearsome than it has been in recent years and thus extremely vulnerable if the front four can’t get to Dak Prescott?

-Even with Dalvin Cook fully healthy, should the Vikings still give around 25-33% of the touches to Alexander Mattison?

-Key matchups and picks

5. Picks for all other Week 8 Games

       -49ers at Bears

       -Eagles at Lions

       -Panthers at Falcons

       -Dolphins at Bills

       -Bengals at Jets  

       -Steelers at Browns

       -Titans at Colts

       -Rams at Texans

       -Patriots at Chargers

       -Jaguars at Seahawks

       -Washington at Broncos

       -Bucs at Saints

       -Giants at Chiefs

6. Bold Predictions

       -Hal: Lions win in OT on a blocked punt return for a TD

       -DKrom: Aaron Rodgers throws for at least 350 yards and 4 TD’s, 150 of those yards and 3 of those TD’s to Randall Cobb

7. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Patrick Mahomes….don’t go for the home run all the time

       -Hal: Bengals, Rams, Bills….do NOT overlook your opponents, no matter how inferior they are

1. Do you think Malik Willis is worth a roll of the dice in the first round, if not the top-10 picks and if so, why?

2. Based on what you have seen on tape, what is your opinion of Matt Corral and how does he project to the NFL?

3. What makes Kayvon Thibodeaux so special and what (aside from this talent poor QB class) makes him worthy of the #1 overall pick?

4. Currently, it looks as if there is going to be a tight race to be the second EDGE off the board between Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Purdue’s George Karlaftis. At this time, which one of those two stud Big Ten pass rushers do you like better and why?

5. What makes Evan Neal stand out from the rest of this talented OT class and do you think he has a legit case to be in the conversation for the #1 overall pick?

6. Arguably THE deepest position group in this year’s draft class is at CB. Although LSU’s Derek Stingley, Jr. is regarded as the best of the bunch, two other corners that are impressing tremendously are Andrew Booth, Jr. of Clemson and Kaiir Elam of Florida. Would it either shock or surprise you if both of the latter joined Stingley as top-10 picks and/or make an equally compelling case to be the first corner off the board?

7. It is pretty rare that we see a safety selected in the top five, but 2022 could very well be anomaly with Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton. What qualifies Kyle Hamilton to be the exception to the rule of not drafting a safety super high in the draft?

8. Do you think Jahan Dotson has already made a solid case to be considered the best WR in the 2022 NFL Draft?

9. Buy or Sell 

-Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama)

-Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh)

-Travon Walker (DE, Georgia)

-Zion Johnson (G, Boston College)

-Bernhard Reimann (OT, Central Michigan)

10. Top-10 Mock 

1. Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux

2. Texans: Malik Willis

3. Jaguars: Evan Neal

4. Jets: Derek Stingley, Jr.

5. Giants: Aidan Hutchinson

6. Eagles: Kyle Hamilton

7. Falcons: DeMarvin Leal

8. Washington: Matt Corral

9. Eagles: Kaiir Elam

10. Giants: Kenyon Green

1. Week 6 Takeaways

-Me: Cardinals remove all doubt that they’re serious Super Bowl contenders, Ravens look even more dangerous than they did in 2019, Broncos look like they have quit on Vic Fangio a la the Bears and Marc Trestman in 2014

-Hal: Dak Prescott making a push for MVP, Carolina just not the same without Christian McCaffrey, Sam Darnold turning back into a pumpkin, Bengals are legit

2. Truth or Exaggeration

-Mike McCarthy will prevent this Cowboys team from reaching the Super Bowl

-After holding Washington to less than 5 yards per pass attempt, the Chiefs have turned the corner on defense

-Derrick Henry is already a lock to get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

-Carson Wentz is well on his way to regaining his 2017 MVP form

-Barring a miraculous turnaround these next two weeks, the Broncos should trade Von Miller by the November 2 deadline

-The Cardinals offense is only about to get more dangerous with the addition of Zach Ertz, who will end up being an upgrade over the injured Maxx Williams

-The AFC North is making a serious push to be considered the best division in football

3. Bengals at Ravens Preview

-How underrated is this Bengals defense?

-How much more dangerous does Rashod Bateman make this Ravens offense?

-Key matchups and picks

4. Chiefs at Titans Preview

-Which defense do you trust more at this time: the Chiefs or the Titans?

        -If either one of Julio Jones or A.J. Brown misses this game, how big of a hit do the Titans chances of winning this game take?

        -Key matchups and picks

5. Picks for all other Week 7 Games

       -Broncos at Browns

       -Washington at Packers

       -Falcons at Dolphins

       -Jets at Patriots

       -Panthers at Giants  

       -Eagles at Raiders

       -Lions at Rams

       -Texans at Cardinals

       -Bears at Buccaneers

       -Colts at 49ers

       -Saints at Seahawks

6. Bold Predictions

       -Hal: Joe Burrow 5 TD passes….all to Ja’Marr Chase including a 75-yarder to take the lead with under a minute to play

       -DKrom: Case Keenum throws for 340 yards and 3 TD’s…and the Browns defense totals 10 sacks…6 of them by Myles Garrett

7. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Miami Dolphins, make sure you have a backup plan in case Deshaun Watson is either put on the Commissioner’s Exempt List or worse, convicted 

       -Hal: Bottom-five teams…either start winning or accumulating more draft capital 

1. Week 5 Takeaways

-Me: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott and Tom Brady all making very strong cases to be 2021 NFL MVP

-Mark: Lamar Jackson’s performance on Monday night, Browns/Chargers game, Bills statement win over Chiefs

2. The big story in the NFL this week comes out of Las Vegas as Jon Gruden resigned as head coach of the Raiders after numerous emails of him making racist, misogynistic and homophobic slurs were uncovered by the New York Times. Although it is refreshing to see Gruden gone, the prevailing sentiment is that this is just the tip of the iceberg as many powerful decision makers around the NFL harbor such attitudes. How can we as fans, reporters, et al continue to hold the league accountable and force them to reveal and expel more of these bad apples? 

3. This Or That

-Who is a more legitimate Super Bowl contender: Cowboys or Cardinals?

-Which head coach is more likely to get fired at season’s end: Urban Meyer or Vic Fangio?

-Who is more likely to grow into a franchise QB: Daniel Jones or Jalen Hurts?

-Which defensive rookie has been more impressive: Micah Parsons or Odafe Oweh?

4. Chargers at Ravens Preview

-How has Lamar Jackson taken that big next step forward as a passer so far this season?

-Last week against the Browns, the Chargers defense was absolutely GASHED on the ground for 230 yards. And in Baltimore’s past two games, both the Broncos and Colts sold out to stop the run, and Lamar obviously made them pay through the air. What would you anticipate Brandon Staley doing differently on Sunday in order to at least contain this seemingly unstoppable Ravens offense?

-Key matchups and picks

5. Cardinals at Browns Preview

-How has Kyler Murray grown as a passer so far this season?

-Did the 49ers provide a basic blueprint on how to stop or significantly slow down Kyler and the high-powered Cardinals passing attack last week? If so, how do you expect the Browns to replicate it this week?

-Key matchups and picks

6. Picks for all other Week 6 Games

       -Bucs at Eagles

       -Dolphins at Jaguars

       -Texans at Colts

       -Packers at Bears

       -Bengals at Lions  

       -Vikings at Panthers

       -Chiefs at Washington

       -Rams at Giants

       -Raiders at Broncos

       -Cowboys at Patriots

       -Seahawks at Steelers

       -Bills at Titans 

7. Bold Predictions

       -Mark: Tom Brady throws three TD passes despite his injured thumb        

       -DKrom: Justin Herbert throws for 500 yards and scores six total TD (4 passing, 2 running)

8. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Sam Darnold, lead your team to a win!!!!

       -Mark: Chiefs defense step up!!!!

1. Week 4 Takeaways

-Me: Rookie QB’s shine, Cardinals prove they’re for real

-Hal: Cordarrelle Patterson, Buffalo Bills early AFC Super Bowl favorite

2. Quarter Pole Awards

3. This Or That

-Who is more likely to win their division: Chargers or Cardinals?

-Which previously unbeaten team got exposed more last week: Panthers or Raiders?

-Which division is worse: The 2020 NFC East or the 2021 AFC South?

-Which 1-3 team is more likely to make the playoffs: Vikings or Steelers?

4. Browns at Chargers Preview

-Do the Browns have the best defense in the NFL right now?

-Does Baker Mayfield need to play his best game of the year to date in order for the Browns to eke out a win over the Chargers?

-Key matchups and picks

5. Bills at Chiefs Preview

-Do you think the Bills need to use their RB’s and TE’s in the passing game a LOT more than usual in order to win Sunday night? 

-How big of a factor do you think Josh Gordon will be in this game?

-Key matchups and picks

6. Picks for all other Week 4 Games

       -Rams at Seahawks

       -Jets at Falcons

       -Dolphins at Buccaneers

       -Patriots at Texans

       -Titans at Jaguars  

       -Lions at Vikings

       -Packers at Bengals

       -Broncos at Steelers

       -Saints at Washington

       -Eagles at Panthers

       -Bears at Raiders

       -Giants at Cowboys

       -49ers at Cardinals

       -Colts at Ravens

7. Bold Predictions

       -Hal: Joe Burrow 4 TD passes, fourth one with less than 30 seconds…and converts two-point conversion to Ja’Marr Chase. Aaron Rodgers sacked by Trey Hendrickson to end game

       -DKrom: Tyrann Mathieu pick-sixes Josh Allen TWICE

8. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Shad Khan …do right by Trevor Lawrence by FIRING URBAN MEYER ASAP!!! 

       -Hal: Kliff Kingsbury…forget the curse…and forge ahead to that fifth win!!!

1. Week 3 Takeaways

-Me: Watching Justin Tucker’s historic 66-yard field goal at the gun reminded me that it’s time for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors to put more specialists in these next several years

-Hal: 2020 Josh Allen is back, Derek Carr continues to dominate, Aaron Rodgers back to normal, surprising upsets, et al

2. Truth or Exaggeration

-Ben Roethlisberger is literally finished and the Steelers should consider benching him if their offense continues to sputter

-Nobody is playing better football than the Los Angeles Rams right now

-If the Chiefs do not beat the Eagles in dominating fashion this week, it will be THE reddest of red flags

-Matt Nagy is the biggest impediment to the development of Justin Fields

-The Buffalo Bills are in prime position to nab the AFC’s #1 playoff seed

-If the Seahawks lose to the 49ers on Sunday, they will NOT make the playoffs

-If it wasn’t for two plays, Kirk Cousins would be squarely in the MVP conversation right now

-The Dallas Cowboys are clear favorites to win the NFC East in 2021

3. This Or That

-What is Micah Parsons best long-term position: Off-ball linebacker or edge pass rusher?

-Which 3-0 team is the more legitimate contender: Panthers or Broncos?

-What has been the bigger disappointment so far this season: The rookie QB’s or the Washington defense?

-Who will make the bigger impact for his new team: Richard Sherman (Bucs) or Josh Gordon (Chiefs)?

4. Cardinals at Rams Preview

5. Raiders at Chargers Preview

6. Picks for all other Week 4 Games

       -Jaguars at Bengals

       -Browns at Vikings

       -Lions at Bears

       -Washington at Falcons

       -Panthers at Cowboys  

       -Giants at Saints

       -Chiefs at Eagles

       -Texans at Bills

       -Colts at Dolphins

       -Titans at Jets

       -Seahawks at 49ers

       -Ravens at Broncos

       -Steelers at Packers

       -Bucs at Patriots

7. Bold Predictions

       -Hal: Sony Michel runs for 120 yards and 3 TD for the Rams

       -DKrom: Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase connect for 4 TD’s on Thursday night

8. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Chargers and Raiders…give us a game for the ages on Monday night and show America you mean business!!!! 

       -Hal: Vikings…don’t let your season slip away this week!!!!

1. Week 2 Takeaways

-Me: The Ravens victory over the Chiefs has serious potential to be paradigm-shifting in the way we think about them and Lamar Jackson

-Hal: The Jekyll-and-Hyde teams (Saints, Titans, Steelers, Dolphins, Bills, Chargers)

2. Truth or Exaggeration

-Taylor Heinicke will NOT give back Washington’s starting QB job to Ryan Fitzpatrick

-Not only will Justin Fields not give back the Bears starting QB job to Andy Dalton, he will have a similar rookie season as Justin Herbert did last year

-The Cowboys should NOT reduce the workload they gave Tony Pollard last week one bit

-If their season continues to go south, the Colts should NOT play Carson Wentz so they can keep their 2022 first-round pick

-It’s time to put Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers squarely in the conversation as one of the five best edge pass rushers in the NFL

-The Chiefs should no longer be considered clear-cut favorites to win the AFC West this season

-Win or lose, should Jimmy G struggle badly against an atrocious Packers defense, the 49ers should insert Trey Lance into the starting lineup in Week 4

-Tom Brady will have the best statistical season of his entire career in 2021

3. This Or That

-Who is the leading candidate for 2021 NFL MVP honors right now: Derek Carr or Kyler Murray?

-Who will be the hotter head coaching candidate come January 10, 2022: Bills OC Brian Daboll or Panthers OC Joe Brady?

-Who are you more worried about after two weeks: Josh Allen or the Chiefs defense?

-Which QB would you rather have for the next decade: Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert?

4. Chargers at Chiefs Preview

5. Bucs at Rams Preview

6. Picks for all other Week 2 Games

       -Panthers at Texans

       -Saints at Patriots

       -Washington at Bills

       -Falcons at Giants

       -Colts at Titans  

       -Cardinals at Jaguars

       -Bengals at Steelers

       -Bears at Browns

       -Ravens at Lions

       -Jets at Broncos

       -Dolphins at Raiders

       -Seahawks at Vikings

       -Packers at 49ers

       -Eagles at Cowboys

7. Bold Predictions

       -Hal: Justin Herbert 5 TD passes 450+ yards passing, scoring go-ahead TD with less than 2:00 away…Derwin James seals it with an INT!!!

       -DKrom: Justin Fields throws for 300+ passing yards, runs for at least 75 more, and scores five total TD’s in a Bears upset victory over the Browns

8. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Matt Nagy, PLAY TO JUSTIN FIELDS STRENGTHS and put him in the BEST possible position to succeed so you don’t even have to go back to playing Andy Dalton 

       -Hal: All of the 0-2 teams (Giants, Colts, Vikings)….GET THAT FIRST WIN!!!

1. Week 1 Takeaways

-Me: The Chargers proved they aren’t the same old Chargers

-Hal: LOTS of surprises

2. Truth or Exaggeration

-All four NFC West teams will make the playoffs

-Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford will be among the top three finalists for 2021 NFL MVP honors

-Kyler Murray has already proven himself to be a legit NFL franchise QB

-Urban Meyer will only last one season as Jaguars head coach

-It’s time to talk about the Atlanta Falcons as a serious candidate to have the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft

-The Philadelphia Eagles will be serious contenders for a Wild Card playoff spot this season

-Even though they didn’t come away with a win, the way the Browns played the Chiefs last week bodes EXTREMELY well for their chances in a potential playoff rematch at Arrowhead, especially when the weather will likely benefit their physical brand of football more

-The Tennessee Titans offense will be one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments in 2021

3. This Or That

-Who had the more impressive defensive performance in Week 1: Steelers or Cardinals?

-Who is the best bet to be the main RB for the 49ers going forward: Trey Sermon or Elijah Mitchell?

-Which head coach has the hotter seat: Mike Zimmer or Matt Nagy?

-Who was the more impressive QB in Week 1: Dak Prescott or Derek Carr?

4. Cowboys at Chargers Preview

5. Chiefs at Ravens Preview

6. Picks for all other Week 2 Games

       -Giants at Washington

       -49ers at Eagles

       -Rams at Colts

       -Broncos at Jaguars

       -Texans at Browns

       -Raiders at Steelers

       -Bengals at Bears

       -Saints at Panthers

       -Patriots at Jets

       -Bills at Dolphins

       -Vikings at Cardinals

       -Falcons at Buccaneers

       -Titans at Seahawks

       -Lions at Packers

7. Bold Predictions

       -Hal: A.J. Brown goes off for 10 receptions, 200 yards, and 4 TD

       -DKrom: Aaron Rodgers roars back with a vengeance against the Lions on Monday night and throws an NFL record 8 TD passes in one game

8. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace, if you want to increase the odds of keeping your jobs, START JUSTIN FIELDS NOW!!!!

       -Hal: Mike Vrabel and Titans D…SHOW US WHAT YOU’VE GOT!!

1. GOOD IDEA/BAD IDEA

-Was it a good idea or bad idea for the Patriots to release Cam Newton and hand over the reins to Mac Jones right from the get go?

-Was it a good idea or bad idea for the Broncos to name Teddy Bridgewater as their starting QB over Drew Lock?

-Is it a good idea or bad idea for the Bears to begin the season with Andy Dalton under center as opposed to Justin Fields?

-Is it a good idea or bad idea for the 49ers to hold Trey Lance out of practice until Week 3 so the “small chip” fracture in his hand can fully heal?

2. Truth or Exaggeration

-Zach Wilson, who I originally panned the Jets for drafting rather than Justin Fields or Trey Lance, has a FAR better chance of becoming the best QB from the 2021 class than most of us initially thought

-Robert Saleh is THE best possible man to help make the Jets a consistently relevant franchise

-Jameis Winston will have his best year as a pro in 2021

-The Carolina Panthers will finish with a better record than the Saints this season

-The Packers are the team that’s best equipped to dethrone the Bucs in the NFC

-Josh Allen, not Patrick Mahomes, will be the highest-scoring QB in fantasy football this year

-Tom Brady is right in his comments about it being more difficult for the NFL to deal with COVID-19 this year given the return to full capacity stadiums

3. Cowboys/Bucs Preview and Prediction

      -Impact of Zach Martin's absence, is Cowboys D improved?, is Bucs D even better?, Key Matchups

4. Browns/Chiefs Preview and Prediction

     -Are Browns AFC's strongest roster outside of KC?, Key Matchups

5. Picks for all other Week 1 Games

-Jets at Panthers

-Eagles at Falcons

-Chargers at Washington

-49ers at Lions

-Vikings at Bengals

-Steelers at Bills

-Cardinals at Titans

-Seahawks at Colts

-Jaguars at Texans

-Packers at Saints

-Dolphins at Patriots

-Broncos at Giants

-Bears at Rams

-Ravens at Raiders

6. Bold Predictions 

-Hal: Matthew Stafford throws for 300+ yards and 4 TD’s in the first half alone

-DKrom: Andy Dalton gets sacked 10 times by the Rams, forcing the Bears to turn to Justin Fields in the second half

7. Challenge Flags

-DKrom: Packers, if this is indeed “The Last Dance” with Aaron Rodgers…play like it on Sunday!! DOMINATE the Saints, regardless of what the final score says

-Hal: Bengals organization…KEEP JOE BURROW UPRIGHT!!!

1. Based on everything we’ve seen and/or heard out of training camp and preseason action thus far, which player’s fantasy stock has gone up the most, and which player’s stock has fallen the most in your view?

2. In terms of the running back position, who are your favorite running backs this season outside the top four (McCaffrey, Cook, Henry, Kamara)?

3. One of the keys to not just prevailing in fantasy football, but in literally anything, it to be willing to go against the grain when it comes to groupthink. Are there any players you’re considerably higher on than most Mike? Considerably lower than?

4. THIS OR THAT

-David Montgomery or J.K. Dobbins?

-Nick Chubb or Antonio Gibson? (PPR)

-Aaron Jones or Austin Ekeler? 

-Allen Robinson or CeeDee Lamb?

-Adam Thielen or Tyler Lockett?

-Brandon Aiyuk or Ja’Marr Chase?

-Kyle Pitts or Mark Andrews?

-Logan Thomas or Irv Smith, Jr.?

-Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray?

-Trevor Lawrence or Jalen Hurts?

5. Buy Or Sell

-Justin Herbert will be a top-five fantasy QB in 2021

-Marvin Jones will be the most productive Jaguars WR in fantasy this season

-Given his history with Sam Darnold, Robby Anderson is the Panthers WR for fantasy owners to target in drafts, even more so than D.J. Moore

-Unless both Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson make major strides in their recoveries, you should let someone else draft Jonathan Taylor

-Given the inevitable, net negative regression to the mean in TD % that is coming, you should let someone else draft Aaron Rodgers 

6. Name some players to avoid at each skill position

        -QB: Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Justin Herbert

        -RB: Saquon Barkley

        -WR: CeeDee Lamb, Chris Godwin, Terry McLaurin

        -TE: Kyle Pitts

7. Fantasy drafts are usually won in the latter half (rounds 8-16). Name some players at each skill position with the potential to become HUGE steals who will likely be available in that range

       -QB: Jalen Hurts, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, Taysom Hill

       -RB: Salvon Ahmed

       -WR: Marvin Jones, DeVonta Smith, Corey Davis, Cole Beasley

       -TE: Logan Thomas, Jonnu Smith, Cole Kmet