The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Every team in the NFC West has a win total over/under of 8.5 or better. The Rams are the favorite, but their quarterback has been hurt all summer. The 49ers have institutional power, but they went 6-11 last year and have undergone serious change. There's justifiable optimism for the Seahawks and Cardinals, with easy-to-see downsides, as well. In short, if there's one division that could finish in literally any order, one through four, it's this one. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep into all four NFC West teams on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

6:07 Los Angeles Rams season preview

41:08 Seattle Seahawks season preview

1:09:32 Arizona Cardinals season preview

1:38:58 San Francisco 49ers season preview

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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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 West has long been the domain of Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs, winners of nine straight division titles. The Chargers and Broncos both made the playoffs last year, and the Raiders had an exciting offseason, but there's no question who reigns supreme over this division. Can the Chiefs make it a full decade of division championships? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep into all four AFC West teams on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

5:23 Kansas City Chiefs 2025 season preview

35:27 Los Angeles Chargers 2025 season preview

1:04:52 Denver Broncos 2025 season preview

1:38:53 Las Vegas Raiders 2025 season preview

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show

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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

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Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

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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 NFC North put three teams in the playoffs last year, including the top seed in the conference and two teams with 14 wins. There's a chance the division is even better from top to bottom this year, even if it doesn't win quite as many games. Robert Mays, Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen dive deep into all four teams in the NFC North on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:49 Detroit Lions 2025 season preview

37:09 Minnesota Vikings 2025 season preview

1:12:26 Green Bay Packers 2025 season preview

1:43:03 Chicago Bears 2025 season preview

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show

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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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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 South is something of a punchline in the NFL, with its division champion seemingly locked into that Saturday afternoon Wild Card round game timeslot. You're there for a reason, you know? But is this the year the AFC South gets the last laugh? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dive deep into all four teams on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:00 Houston Texans preview

34:46 Indianapolis Colts preview

1:01:53 Jacksonville Jaguars preview

1:33:34 Tennessee Titans preview

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show

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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.

We've made it. Training camp is over. The season is just about here. And we've got one final Beat Writer Notebook for you to close it all down. On this episode, Robert Mays talks with Alec Lewis, Chad Graff and Nick Kosmider, The Athletic's Vikings, Patriots and Broncos beat writers, respectively, as well as national NFL reporter Jourdan Rodrigue, who remains very plugged in with the Rams.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:47 Robert Mays and Chad Graff from Vikings camp

37:56 Robert Mays and Jourdan Rodrigue from Rams camp

1:09:36 Robert Mays and Chad Graff from Patriots camp

1:32:31 Robert Mays and Nick Kosmider from Broncos camp

Host: Robert Mays

With: Alec Lewis, Jourdan Rodrigue, Chad Graff, Nick Kosmider

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Alec on Bluesky: @aleclewis.bsky.social

Follow Jourdan on Bluesky: @jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social

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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.

It's not hard to see why the NFC South is so often overlooked. The division hasn't put two teams into the playoffs since the 2020 season. It wouldn't be crazy for that streak to end this year, even in what feels like a loaded NFC. How do the Buccaneers continue their dominance over the division? How do the Falcons flip the script and get to the top? How optimistic should we be about the Panthers? How do we even measure success for the Saints? Robert, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep into all four teams in the NFC South on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers preview

35:33 Atlanta Falcons preview

1:04:43 Carolina Panters preview

1:37:33 New Orleans Saints preview

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show

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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 Bills have won the AFC East five years in a row, and it looks like nothing can stop them from making that six this season. Still, as Robert Mays says at the top of our AFC East preview, there's something for everyone in this division. Can the Bills finally break through this season? Is this the end of the line for this era of the Dolphins? Are the Jets and Patriots really righting their respective ships? Robert, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep into all four teams in the AFC East on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:17 Bills preview

32:52 Dolphins preview

1:01:38 Jets preview

1:30:23 Patriots preview

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show

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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.

Division preview season is back, our friends, and we have to start with the division that houses the reigning Super Bowl Champions. Can the Eagles reload and avoid a Super Bowl Hangover? How do the Commanders build on a breakout 2024 season? How might the Cowboys rebound this season? Is the Giants defensive front enough to make them fun all season? The guys answer all those questions, and a whole lot more, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:39 Eagles preview

43:47 Commanders preview

1:21:53 Cowboys preview

1:52:37 Giants preview

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show

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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.

After visiting 23 teams in person over the last month, Robert Mays is finally back home. While he was out on the road, he asked the 50 or so NFL coaches he spoke to about the trends they see starting to take root across the league. That's great information for Robert to have, and it's also fun information to share with our audience. From three-high-safety looks on defense to more under center straight dropbacks on offense, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into the trends coaches in the league are watching on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

7:41 Vikings-style pressure looks

15:17 Three high safeties

20:56 Even more motion on offense

31:12 The designed QB run game

36:34 The return of under center straight dropbacks

44:13 Packers-style backfield actions in the run game

52:49 The "escort screen"

56:15 How 4th down aggressiveness affects 3rd down play calling

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show

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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.

Dane Brugler is back on The Athletic Football Show year-round. Every week through the draft, Dane and Dave Helman will bring you Building the Beast, giving you a week-by-week look at how The Beast comes together. In this debut episode, Dane explains the process of building his initial top 50, and then he and Dave go through the top draft prospects and five key positions. They wrap things up with prospects to watch in Week 0 and Week 1 of the college football season.

Hosts: Dave Helman and Dane Brugler

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...

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Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

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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.