Unintentional Grounding

Sam and James bring instant reactions to Joey Porter Jr.'s trade to Dallas, then break down Week 3's biggest games, including Drake Maye's early-season issues in a blowout loss to Jacksonville and a Rams-Broncos thriller headlined by the matchup between Davante Adams and Patrick Surtain II. They then rank their top 10 defensive coordinators and debate whether teams should promote star coordinators over their head coaches.

Also covered: the Commanders' shocking upset of Seattle, Kenneth Walker III's historic start in Kansas City, and five Week 4 matchups to watch, including a battle of surprising unbeatens with the Chiefs and Raiders.

Sam and James break down Week 2's biggest surprises, starting with a Chargers team in freefall and a Saints upset of the Ravens, before turning to college football to size up a loaded quarterback class led by Arch Manning and Dante Moore. They also run a panic meter on six teams, including some "positive-panic" risers and classic early-season negative panic.

Also covered: Buffalo's defensive growing pains, Texas's historic comeback against Ohio State a couple weeks ago, the Raiders' surprising pass rush, and five Week Three matchups to watch, including Davante Adams versus Patrick Surtain II on Sunday Night Football.

Sam and James kick off the regular season content by breaking down three of Week 1's biggest games: a 49ers offense that thoroughly outcoached the Rams behind creative Kyle Shanahan wrinkles, a Vikings defense that blitzed at a rate never seen in the Next Gen Stats era, and a Broncos performance so bad on defense it produced one of the worst tackling games the league has ever seen. They also debate whether some classic first-week overreactions across the league are real or not, weighing in on Lamar Jackson's possible MVP-level return, a Cowboys defense that might be bottom five again, and whether the Chiefs are actually back or just beat up a broken Broncos team.

Also covered: Derrick Henry's dominant debut measured by new Next Gen Stats run scheme data, a Giants offense that looked legitimately improved behind Jaxson Dart, and five matchups to watch in Week Two, including a potential Thursday night shootout between the Lions and Bills.

Sam and James close out the offseason by giving a Next Gen Stat and a bold prediction for all thirty-two teams, from Christian McCaffrey's surprisingly negative rushing analytics in San Francisco to a Rams defensive line chasing a Next Gen Stats era record. They also lock in full playoff brackets for both conferences and share a Super Bowl pick, even if they don't agree on how either team gets there.

Also covered: MVP, Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, and a handful of other award predictions, plus five matchups to watch in Week One, including Patrick Mahomes's tantalizing return vs the Broncos at Arrowhead. Next up: near-weekly coverage as the regular season kicks off.

Sam and James wrap the division preview series with the AFC East, weighing whether the Jets have finally built enough to be competitive in the long-term, and whether DJ Moore can give the Bills a true number one receiver for the first time in years. They also dig into a Patriots defense with some strength up front but very little proven depth behind it.

Also covered: a strong young offensive line taking shape in New York, some scheme questions for Buffalo's defense, and a Dolphins roster that both hosts think might be in a league of its own. Next up: Sam and James wrap the preseason with one next-gen stat to watch for every team in the league, along with their bold predictions for the year ahead.

As the regular season inches closer, Sam and James break down the NFC East, starting with Quinnen Williams' historic 8.1% run-stuff rate — the highest by any qualified player since 2019 — and what his arrival did for the Cowboys' defense. They dig into how Jalen Carter's declining sack numbers mask his actual impact on Philadelphia's defensive line and debate where Dak Prescott really ranks among the NFL's quarterbacks as his contract and Dallas' championship window both loom large.

Also covered: the Commanders' offensive line crisis after Laremy Tunsil's season-ending tricep injury and some surprising analytics around the team's running back room, and why the Giants' defense might get worse before it gets better despite their strong edge duo.

Sam and James break down all eight teams in the AFC and NFC South ahead of training camp. They dig into the Texans' looming C.J. Stroud contract decision and what it signals for how teams value quarterbacks, make the quantitative case for Tennessee's Jeffrey Simmons as the best defensive tackle in football, and lay out why Tyler Shough's Andy Dalton-like ceiling could still be enough to win a wide-open NFC South.

Also covered: the Colts' collapse from 7-1 to missing the playoffs and what it means for Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen, Jacksonville's roster continuity after a surprise 2025 breakout, Tampa Bay's talent-versus-results problem under Todd Bowles, and a Panthers team trying to prove last year's playoff berth wasn't a fluke.

Sam and James continue their four-part team preview series with all eight teams from the AFC and NFC North. This episode covers the Bears' offensive line questions that could define Caleb Williams' continued development, the Packers' alarming lack of pass rush depth amid injuries and departures, and whether the Ravens' new coaching staff and defensive additions can correct last season's underperformance.Also covered: the Lions' messy defensive secondary, the Vikings' quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, the Bengals' perpetual defensive struggles, and the Steelers' potential inertia under Mike McCarthy.

Sam and James kick off their four-part team preview series with the AFC and NFC West. This episode covers the defending champion Seahawks, whether the potential Rams superteam can overcome their perpetual special teams kryptonite, and whether the Chiefs have enough around Patrick Mahomes to resume being a contender.

Also covered: the 49ers' injury-riddled skill player room, the the Broncos' backfield split, the Raiders' quarterback timeline for Fernando Mendoza, and the Chargers' rebuilt offensive line and a fascinating defensive coordinator hire.

Sam and James break down the 2026 fantasy football landscape before training camp kicks off. This episode features their top running back and receiver tiers, the quarterbacks they love and the ones they'd avoid entirely, and a deep dive on tight end value in what could be the strongest top-six at the position in years.

Also covered: why Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson are in a tier of their own, the case against drafting Joe Burrow and Jaxson Dart at ADP, seriously undervalued receivers and running backs, and why auction drafts reign supreme.

Team previews start next episode as training camp approaches.