The NFL Rhodes Show with Lindsay Rhodes

A few days removed from a wild Week 1 in the NFL, Lindsay talks to PFF's Eric Eager about his analytical takeaways. They discuss how the return of crowds affected penalties, scoring and home field advantage. What seem to be the most predictive key factors moving forward, like line play and elite pass catching. Also, a conversation about how all games come down to small margins, and which teams tend to maximize their margins with smart decision making.

The NFL season's first weekend showed us all exactly how hard it is to know what's going to happen. Potential doormats looked feisty and potential contenders fell flat on their faces. Lindsay first talks to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo about his role as NFL RedZone understudy before getting into his biggest takeaways from the games, including how he's still not sold on the Eagles, the Texans impressive performance, Urban Meyer's challenge in Jacksonville, Joe Burrow's emergence and worry in Green Bay. Then, The Athletic's Washington Football Team reporter Ben Standig discusses Ryan Fitzpatrick's injury and where the team goes from here.

Kevin Clark doesn't just love football. He also loves golf, Formula 1, soccer, and so much more. Lindsay talks with Kevin about how he manages to write about seemingly every sport under the sun, as well as how being straight with the people that you cover can lead to open and honest dialogue. Then, Kevin touches on the players and teams that he's most looking forward to seeing in the upcoming NFL season.

On the final preview episode of the off-season, Lindsay talks to Bob McManaman, from the Arizona Republic, and Ryan O'Halloran, from the Denver Post, about the Cardinals and the Broncos. The Cardinals have big names all over the field, from a star QB in Kyler Murray, to star WR DeAndre Hopkins and newly added three-time DPOY JJ Watt...but do they finally have a whole team capable of taking the next step? Is Kliff Kingsbury the guy who can lead them there?

On the Broncos side, they're still looking for a QB after passing over both Justin Fields and Mac Jones in the 2021 NFL Draft. Why did they make the decision that Teddy Bridgewater would be the guy this year over Drew Lock? Is the defense good enough to make it not matter?

All of that, and much more.

Lindsay continues previewing the teams about which she has the most questions. This week, The Athletic's Jeff Howe discusses the Patriots, and specifically focuses on the QB questions. We know the defense is going to be elite, but with the offensive weapons New England added this offseason, they should be poised for a step forward. But who will lead that unit? Veteran Cam Newton seemed the most obvious, but a COVID absence has opened the door for rookie Mac Jones. Then, Alaina Getzenberg, who covers the Panthers for the Charlotte Observer, breaks down another team with serious QB issues. No one knows what to expect from Sam Darnold and he hasn't exactly squashed any doubts this summer. They also talk about a potential laden defense, a deep WR room and iffy offensive line play. All of that, plus much more.

Lindsay begins looking towards the NFL season with the first of her "How Good" previews, where she'll be breaking down the six most confusing teams in the league with the writers who know them best.

First up, ESPN's Courtney Cronin discusses the Minnesota Vikings and their wildly different possible outcomes. Will the defense take a step forward? How far can Kirk Cousins take the offense? Will the team lose games due to poor vaccination rates? All of that, plus much more.

Next, longtime ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley talks about a team that has Super Bowl ceiling but are coming off a year where they never felt quite right. Lamar Jackson is a former MVP, but was 2019 his peak or was 2020 a temporary dip? Do they finally have enough weapons at wide receiver to unlock the full potential off the offense? A franchise known for their defense is reloading, but will the pass rush be enough to compete with the league's best? They discuss it all.

This past weekend, the NFL Hall of Fame inducted another stellar class, including John Lynch, Charles Woodson and Peyton Manning. What do those three have in common? They have deep connections with this week's guest: Ryan Leaf. Ryan played with Lynch in Tampa and was a 1998 Heisman Trophy Finalist with Woodson and Manning. They specifically dive into his relationship with Peyton and how the two are forever linked. They also discuss reclaiming the word "bust", how he was able to come to peace with his career and what issues still remain with mental health discourse, and much more.

There are so many conversations to be had about the NFL's stance on COVID-19 vaccination throughout the league, so Lindsay brought in an expert. Tom Pelissero has been covering the vaccination beat for NFL Network and answers all of the questions you could possibly ask. We cover how the NFL and the NFLPA are working in concert on encouraging vaccinations, why some teams have a higher percentage than others, what the consequences are for the un-vaccinated and complicated questions that could still face the league.

Aaron Rodgers returned to Green Bay this week, but how long will the reunion last? Lindsay is joined by a man uniquely suited to discuss the situation: Sports Illustrated's Andrew Brandt, who was part of the Packers front office when they transitioned from Brett Favre to Rodgers. They talk about how Green Bay has managed to come out of this with all the leverage, but why the relationship seems destined to be short lived. They also get into the Deshaun Watson situation in Houston and why the NFL is taking a hard line on vaccination.

Replacing a first-ballot Hall of Fame QB is never easy, but it's even harder when that player became the franchise's GOAT, and an iconic figure in the city. Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints face that challenge this season as they stare down a world without Drew Brees. Lindsay talks with Payton about how they move forward and why he's confident in the roster they've built. They also discuss how he's able to unwind in the off-season, which included getting married in June, and the upcoming movie in which he's played by...Kevin James? All of that, and much more.