The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Sixty-yard field goals! Landing zones! The K ball! The kicking game seemingly has never played a bigger role in the NFL than it is this season. The Athletic national NFL writers Jourdan Rodrigue and Mike Sando join Robert Mays to dive into The Year of the Kicker in the NFL, how we got to this point, and the effects the rule changes are having on the league on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:30 The evolution in kickoff rules

29:36 The K ball

38:53 How much does this all matter?

48:27 The effects on offenses and defenses

Host: Robert Mays

With: Jourdan Rodrigue and Mike Sando

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Jourdan on Bluesky: @jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social

Follow Mike on Bluesky: @sandonfl.bsky.social

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Follow Jourdan on X: @JourdanRodrigue

Follow Mike on X: @SandoNFL

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we get to the final Saturday in October, certain elements of what will be come the 2026 NFL Draft picture are at least approaching a degree of focus. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, for example, is certainly climbing up the quarterback ranks. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is cementing himself as RB1. Jordyn Tyson and Chris Bell are leading a deep group of top-50 wide receivers. Dane Brugler and Dave Helman set the draft table, with Week 8's games freshly in mind, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast.

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Host: Dave Helman

Co-Host: Dane Brugler

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Michael Ayaub

Audio Producer: Katy Duffy

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Follow Dane on X: @dpbrugler

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 49ers mash unit defense showed up in a big way against the Falcons. The Chiefs got Rashee Rice back in Week 7, and had one of their best offensive days of the season. Drake Maye and the Patriots took care of business against an inferior Titans team and are now 5-2 on the season. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dive into those three games on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Plus, the guys help sad Titans and Saints fans sort through some feelings.

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

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Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we previewed Week 7, we made Colts/Chargers and Rams/Jaguars audition for a Game of the Week spot. Neither of those lived up to the billing, thanks to the dominant performances by the Colts and Rams in their respective wins. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman wonder whose performance was more impressive in the Week 7 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also dig into the craziness of the Broncos comeback win over the Giants, the lingering problems with the Packers (who did win their game), a big day for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, a step back for the Commanders, rock bottom for the Raiders and Dolphins, and more.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

2:45 Giants-Broncos

17:40 Packers-Cardinals

28:47 More impressive win...Colts over Chargers or Rams over Jaguars?

47:02 The Eagles passing game has our attention

58:17 Is the Commanders season slipping away?

1:15:46 Have the Dolphins hit rock bottom?

1:18:46 What was that game from the Raiders offense?

1:24:11 Jaycee Horn did some cool stuff

1:27:14 The Bears ran all over the Saints

1:30:54 And that's why you trade for Micah Parsons

1:32:59 What we learned in Week 7

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshow

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TAFootballShow

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tafootballshow

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every mini-era of the NFL gives us a handful of short-term rivalries that are the result of teams from different divisions running into one another for a couple years in a row. Buccaneers-Lions is turning into one such rivalry. And hey, given the way they're both playing, this might not be the last time we see them go up against one another this season. Robert Mays, Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 7 epsiode of The Athletic Football Show by digging into Buccaneers-Lions. Then, they debate whether Rams-Jaguars or Colts-Chargers is a more worthy game of the week. After that, they turn their attention to Texans-Seahawks, Eagles-Vikings and Commanders-Cowboys, before talking a walk down Sicko Street, and diving deep on the Falcons defense.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:01 Game of the Week: Buccaneers-Lions

23:00 Game of the Week Faceoff! Rams-Jaguars or Colts-Chargers?

42:11 One Thing From...Texans-Seahawks

46:56 One Thing From...Eagles-Vikings

56:07 One Thing From...Commanders-Cowboys

1:04:52 Dolphins and Browns on Sicko Street

1:07:49 Under the Hood: Falcons defense

1:25:38 Mike Vrabel goes back to Tennessee

1:31:07 What do you want to know in Week 7?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshow

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Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're one-third of the way through the NFL regular season, and we know a thing or two about each of the league's 32 teams. We know enough, in fact, to start separating the teams into distinct groups. That's right, it's team tiers time. Robert Mays and Dave Helman drop all 32 teams in one of five buckets—from Super Bowl or Bust to Mock Draft Enthusiasts—on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

7:12 Super Bowl or Bust

20:57 Playoff Teams

43:42 Wild Card Caliber

55:13 Tier 4, Good Vibes

1:04:03: Tier 4, Bad Vibes

1:13:52 Mock Draft Enthusiasts

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshow

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TAFootballShow

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tafootballshow

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Hosts: Robert Mays and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indiana is the #3 team in the country. Yes, in football. And they aren't the only big surprise this season. Texas A&M, Missouri and Cincinnati all have paths to the Playoff, as well. We've discussed a handful of players from those teams through an NFL Draft lens, but it's not just Fernando Mendoza and Marcel Reed doing work for their respective teams. On this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast, Dane Brugler and Dave Helman go into the draft prospects you need to know from college football's surprise teams. The guys also discuss the effects of James Franklin's firing on Penn State's NFL Draft prospects and take a look ahead to Week 8.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

7:55 Indiana

25:34 Texas A&M

38:06 Missouri

47:45 Cincinnati

52:20 How James Franklin's firing could affect Penn State's NFL Draft prospects

1:01:07 Week 8 Lookahead

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshow

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TAFootballShow

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tafootballshow

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Host: Dave Helman

Co-Host: Dane Brugler

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Follow Dane on X: @dpbrugler

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The AFC North feels like one big, collective hangover this season, so it's no surprise that both games in the Week 6 Hangover feature teams from the division. All four AFC North teams were going to be in this show, but Browns-Steelers landed on the cutting room floor when the Titans made Brian Callahan the first coach fired this season. That's where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin this episode of The Athletic Football Show. After that, the guys recap Rams-Ravens and Bengals-Packers, and take sad voicemails from Eagles and 49ers fans.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:07 Titans fire Brian Callahan

13:18 Rams-Ravens recap

31:09 Bengals-Packers recap

50:08 Monday Mourning: Why are the Eagles like this?

54:45 Monday Mourning: Why can't the 49ers stay healthy?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshow

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TAFootballShow

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tafootballshow

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember that wild time three weeks ago when there were some simmering concerns about the Chiefs? Safe to say those have been put to bed after their convincing win over the Lions on Sunday night. That's where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman begin the Week 6 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Buccaneers and Seahawks grabbing our attention, the disgusting Broncos-Jets game in London, Rico Dowdle's revenge on the Cowboys, the Colts and Cardinals giving us one of the day's most entertaining games, Drake Maye's latest heroics, and more.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:40 The Chiefs feel like they're back after convincing win over Lions

13:45 Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers have our attention

30:08 Seahawks defense an absolute force in win over Jaguars

40:18 Cardinals-Colts was the fun game of the day

52:28 Broncos-Jets...WTF?!?

1:04:00 The Packers and Rams are on notice

1:07:43 Rico Dowdle's revenge game

1:13:11 Drake Maye takes another step

1:15:42 Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey save the Chargers

1:18:51 What Did We Learn in Week 6?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshow

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TAFootballShow

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tafootballshow

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last time the Lions played the Chiefs, they made clear that they had arrived as contenders. Two years later, they just might be the best team in the league. Lions-Chiefs is our first Game of the Week and where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman kick off the Week 6 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also dig into 49ers-Buccaneers, Jaguars-Seahawks, Bears-Commanders and Bills-Falcons; take a ride over to Sicko Street with Chargers-Dolphins and Cowboys-Panthers; and ask an important question…excluding quarterback, are the Colts the most complete team in the AFC?

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:36 Lions-Chiefs

24:13 49ers-Buccaneers

43:20 One Thing From…Jaguars-Seahawks

49:06 One Thing From…Bears-Commanders

56:06 One Thing From…Bills-Falcons

1:02:53 Sicko Street: No Fly Zone

1:04:35 Sicko Street: Chargers-Dolphins

1:09:36 Sicko Street: Cowboys-Panthers

1:11:54 Take Tribunal: Excluding QB, the Colts are the most complete team in the AFC

1:20:08 Dave: Is this the week it all ends in Miami?

1:22:37 Robert: Are the Steelers going to win the AFC North by Week 6?

1:24:27 Derrik: How much RJ Harvey do we get this week?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

X: https://x.com/TA_FootballShow

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshow

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TAFootballShow

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tafootballshow

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: [email protected]

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.