Saved Seasons & Sinking Teams | NFC B-EAST

What up, my friends, and welcome to another episode of NFC Beast. This, the only show that covers all four squads in the NFC East with four of the top journalists that you ever will see. In New York, we got my main man, the always excited Lou Albanese, celebrating the success of the New York Giants. Down in Dallas, we've got Ethan Herrera. Ready to put on a show. And as always, our returning champion of Breland Moore here to talk about the Eagles as well. And we've got quite a show for you here today. The New York Giants find a way to win again. The Dallas Cowboys potentially save their seasons. And the Washington Commanders. On the brink of destruction, but today's conversation begins in Philadelphia. So Breeland, this Philadelphia Eagles team, they lost again and without a quarterback. They were sellers at the trade deadline as well. All dysfunction in Philadelphia. Where does this team stay right now? Right now. Well, I mean, it's really obvious that they're calling this season a wash. I think by trading two of your starters, remember Cam Jurgens also was shipped off about a month ago to the Ravens here and then the Jordan Davis trade at the deadline. It's very obvious that the message they're sending is that this season is a wash. Stockpile draft picks, which they're in a really good position right now. Over the next three years, they have 12 picks occurring within the first two days of the draft here. But, I mean, just between the A.J. Brown trade to New England, the Cam Jurgens trade, and the Jordan Davis trade, we're looking at two first-round picks in both 27 and 28, as well as... Two second round selections in 28 and 29. So really, really, I guess, great look for the future here. And they very well are going to have to use all of these. We don't know what's going on with Jalen Hurts. We still have no update on whether or not he's doing all right. I mean, we have no idea whether that man can ever play football again. This is a very serious situation with these blood clots here. So I think the Eagles are in a really good shape. In terms of the future, but right now, I mean, it's going to be rough goes for the rest of this season here, but hopefully the future is bright and they won't be down for too, too long. Want to take a moment to speak on behalf of everyone is again, anytime that we bring up the name of Jalen Hurts, it's imperative that we reiterate that although we may root for different teams, we are all rooting for Jalen Hurts as well as his health, not only for this year, but moving forward in life. Breland, want to stay with you for just a moment because you just now made everybody upset. Because despite the Eagles completely falling apart this year, I heard someone else say today that this team is in position to bounce back in a major way. It sounds like that's what you're saying as well. Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, when you look at what's going on here in terms of how dismal this season is currently at the season and were to end today, they would be at picks number five and 25 for the first round. So really not bad. And it's only unfortunately, in my opinion, I think it's only going to get worse and worse slash better. However you want to look at it. I think their record is going to get worse. I think their draft positioning is going to get better. And so, yeah, I do think that they are down right now, but certainly not down long-term, which is what everybody wants to see here in Philadelphia. But it's going to be a really rough next couple of weeks here as they close out this season. Definitely borderline unwatchable, in my opinion, if the past couple weeks or anything. But... April is indeed right around the corner. I'm going to go get some water. Ethan, I think that everybody, every fan base amongst the NFC East has been waiting for this moment to see Breland have to eat these words and to see that team look the way that they look on the field. Now that it's happening, how do people feel in Dallas about the Eagles' demise? You go to any sports bar around here, you walk down the street, everybody's excited for the Eagles downfall. I mean, that's just the way it is in Dallas. They love the fact that the Eagles aren't doing well, obviously. And I tell you what, every single time it's brought up and they talk about Jalen Hurts, fans around here, they express how it's terrible, and a lot of them want to see him play. And them be that bad? That's like an every fan base kind of thing. They want the Eagles to get that number two pick. Not the number one pick, because that'll help them out too much. But no, they want to get that number two pick and lose every single game the rest of this season. I think now's the time. Get Cole Payton in there. Let him run some reps. Joe Milton will get the reps to see who can be that second string quarterback. Maybe next year if Jalen Hurts gets back. But let's see some Cole Payton. Why not? Why not see some Cole Payton? The Philadelphia Eagles having a season from hell, at least on behalf of their fans. A raving hell, if you ask us here in Washington, D.C. But a team that is doing very well. All right, Lou's a New York Giants. Lou, the Giants found a way to win again, albeit ugly. Here's the good news, right? The good news is, is that Arbel Reese looks as good as, if not even better than advertised. The good news is, is that Jameis Winston, when needed, stepped into this game and let this team on what essentially became a game-winning touchdown drive. The not-so-good news is that J.J. McCarthy did not look as good as he has in previous And that Russian attack. So I got to ask you, even though this team found a way to win, was this a good sign or was it a potential negative sign of things to come? Well, winning is always positive. And one thing about this team, they know how to win. You could talk about every week there's no running game. We don't know what the quarterback play is going to be. When Winston was starting, McCarthy now is 1-1 in terms of one great game, one really stinkola. But they walk away with the wins, and that's all that matters. And for every year, you guys are talking about, oh, I feel down. Oh, we're going to have a bad year. That's been like in New York for the last 10 years. So every win matters. There are no bad wins in New York. You take them, you run with them, and you're happy as can be. That's all I care about. Don't care how bad they smell, as long as they're a W. Breeland, you might care how bad that win smelled because it came in Philadelphia the first time that the Giants have won in Philly, I believe, in 13 years. What did you see from this New York Giants team? I mean, do they have the potential not only to win a bad NFC East, but how good is that New York Giants squad? I don't necessarily know if they're Super Bowl contenders is that you're asking me. I'm going to say no on that one, Chad. But I do think that they are in the I mean, they're very much statistically in the driver's seat of the NFC East. But I think they also are in the driver's seat no matter what. I mean, five, two and one there. Finding ways, as Lou said, to win, and that's really what all that matters. You don't have to be a Super Bowl-caliber team to win the division. You just have to be better than the rest of these clunkers, and that's what they're proving. It does concern me a little bit that J.J. McCarthy has not yet thrown for a touchdown in his two starts there, but hopefully it will come for them. But yeah, I think... If you have tempered expectations and you understand that this is a team that's capable of winning the NFC East, but I don't think they're going to make a ton of noise elsewhere, then yeah, you should be pleased. Why not? Like Lou said, it's been a really long time since this team has shown even a remote level of promise. And so you kind of got to take what you can get here. It's New York Giants squad attempting to build a base that they can build off of not only this year, but for years to come in John Harbaugh's first year. Ethan, I want to come to you here now, right? Okay, the Dallas Cowboys, as much as everybody in the NFC East loves that the Philadelphia Eagles are down, I think that everybody in the entire National Football League loves to see Dallas fall flat on their face, and they almost did it. Against the lowly Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, they did, though, escape with a victory here. Did that win by Dallas, was that something that was able to save the Cowboys' season? I think it prolonged the season. It prolonged the hopes that these guys are having and the fan base has. But saving it, I'm not quite sure. That wasn't a very big season-saving win by any means. They looked very, very confused in a lot of different areas on that team. But what did Lou just say? You've got to take the wins. It's very hard to win. In the NFL, and then they did it. That's all we care about. They win the game, they keep it rolling. They keep it rolling. Now, would we have wanted them to do something at the trade deadline? Yes, probably to make a little bit more of a move. But, you know, rumor has it that nobody wanted to trade with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. Nobody wanted anybody, any part of George Pickens. Nobody wanted any part of, I mean, anybody who's playing anything. I doubt they called on Quentin Williams. I doubt they shopped Quentin Williams. But that would be the only piece that people really would need or want. Now, George Pickens, you can take your pick on how you feel about him. But the guy can be an elite playmaker on the offensive side. Now, he hasn't shown that a whole lot this season. There's been some spurts, but this win, it was a win in Indianapolis. It helps a lot. It gets some confidence back, but, boy, there's still a long way away. And I don't know why. Can the Giants stop winning games? Let the Cowboys get up there a little bit and try to fight for that division lead. I'm tired of it, man. You know, I'm not. I'm not even, everybody knows here in Dallas that I'm not the biggest Cowboys fan like that. But, man, I want to see these guys fight for that division lead. Come on. Hey, E, I'm certain that your fan base there in Dallas loves to hear you say that right here on this stream. But, Lou, Ethan brings up that point. Again, the Giants just keep winning. Listen. I believe that the Cowboys are going to go on a run of sorts. Now, whether that run gets them all the way near the Giants or not kind of depends on the way that the Giants finish here. But you see the Cowboys in the rear view. Is this something that objects may be closer than they appear? Or are you comfortable with where the Giants are as compared to the Cowboys? Oh, I'm comfortable where the Giants are. I mean, that game last week, three-point winning against the Colts, come on. That's a long way away in that rearview mirror. That rearview mirror is looking way down the turnpike right now. No, I think the Giants are in good shape. They have a relatively moderate schedule. They have a couple of tough ones like Jacksonville. But overall, I think the Giants, as long as they keep playing the way they're playing and they eke out these wins, I don't see how they don't win the division. And mostly because the rest of the division is so bad. Tomorrow's another big game. If they beat the Commanders, they would have beaten every team at least once. And they've had a tie against your team, as you know. So there's only two more games in the division, and they're sitting pretty well. You go from a team that is doing really well to the squad that you just mentioned, that is being the Washington Commanders. After dropping last week's game, the record is now 2-5-1 here in the DMV. And I got to be honest with you all, the Natives are getting restless, not just with the fact that this team is losing games, but the way that they are looking at the back end of games. We saw trailing by seven points on the last play of the game from the 31. We saw the Commanders run what appeared to be a hook and ladder In which the design looked like it was supposed to be pitched back to Jaden Daniels. Just something that you would see in an arcade game, maybe drawn up in the dirt. So Breeland, I'm coming to you because you know that I love this. What used to be a rivalry between us, Dan Quinn, David Blau. Is it possible that this Washington Commanders head coaching and defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, is it possible that they're back again here in the DMV next season? I don't really see it, and I'm not entirely sure anybody, you know, in terms of your fan base would see that either, right? I mean, this is enough is enough. There's so many. How many times week in and week out do we have to have this conversation about coaching decisions when it comes to this team? Now, right, like enough is enough at this point. You've come, you've fallen a long way from that team that was here in Philadelphia for that NFC championship. And it's a shame because you've got a really, really talented quarterback, your franchise guy. And now this is yet another waste here of a season. Sure. We're all dealing with injuries in every market that's on this show, but I mean, and there's, it's the same down in DC as well, but that's still not an excuse for some of these. Bone-headed decisions that we continue to talk about week in and week out. It would surprise me if this coaching staff started to experience some changes right this very second. Of course, you want to wait to the end of the season, see who's out there. But yeah, I think we have seen this. These are the final few weeks of the Dan Quinn era, in my opinion. Yeah, and it is unfortunate to hear that. On a personal side, and even on a business professional side, I am a huge fan of Dan Quinn. I appreciate the way that he treats the media. I appreciate the leadership that he displays to those players out there on the field. However, Breeland, to the point that you made, the squad is just not getting it done, especially in those winning time moments. You see that play, of course, the play earlier in the year against Philadelphia, against Lou's New York Giants as well. Well, you have to be able to. to at least execute when the moment calls for you to be able to execute. The squad is not doing that right now. I think that short of them going on a huge run starting tomorrow night against the New York Giants and ending up somehow at 500 or above, I think that Dan Quinn will be fired at the end of the year. Lou, got the Giants coming up? Can they? We'll get to predictions later. Can this Washington Commanders squad turn it around and save Dan Quinn's job? I doubt it. I mean, they're kind of banged up, and you don't seem like they're really into it. I mean, even last week, they played it tough. They played the Rams tough. It wasn't, you know, I mean, Miles Garrett tore them to shreds. But other than that, they played them tough, so they haven't given up. You know, that's very important. The first thing you look at for a head coach, has the team given up? I saw that a lot with the Giants last year. I've seen it over the years. Look, the Jets are in our neighborhood. They give up every time. Oh, it's August 25th that we give up. But the point is, though, is that's the key. As long as they don't give up, there's a shot that they can survive. But the decisions and the way they play, God, I don't see how you can keep them. And you have a tough ownership. They're not going to accept this. They're just not going to accept it. That's the lay of the land on the Washington Commanders. Coming up, we are going to go to our analysts and ask the questions. How is your team performing compared to your preseason thoughts? That's all coming up next on NFC Beast. Welcome back to NFC Beats. Listen, we are right around the midway point of the season. And if we got to be honest here, some of our teams, like Lou Albanese's New York Giants, are doing far better than what expectations were at the beginning of the season. And some of our teams, like... Braylon Morris, Philadelphia Eagles have sunk in completely to the ground. So what we want to talk about right now is where does your team that you cover represent in regard to what it was that their preseason thoughts and feelings, emotions were, and how do you anticipate them finishing out? Ethan, we will come to you first on this because preseason, there were a lot of fans that thought that this was Dallas's year, that you all would be Super Bowl contenders. Not so much thus far. Well, I think I said it. I think we've got to temper our expectations. I think I said in the first episode that this team didn't really make a move defensively. That's where they needed it the most. I mean, they were awful, god-awful, and they've gotten worse. And they added, I said, they added a first-year D.C., a 34-year-old defensive coordinator who's never called plays. They added a couple of rookies, Malachi Lawrence and Caleb Downs, who have been great, but they're still rookies. And then you've got a 37-year-old Von Miller. I didn't think that was going to move the needle. I don't know why people thought it was going to move the needle, but it didn't. And they've shown that. That being said, I think I remember saying they're going to go 9-8 and fight for the division lead. And you know what? I did write down that they're going to finish 7-10, but Lou's sitting over there saying he's not worried. We're way far in the back. You know, give me 9-8, and we are going to catch the Giants, and we're going to be top of the division, and we're going to get into playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys will play playoff football this season. I'm telling you. Listen, I think Ethan got a call from someone in Dallas that said stop ragging on your home-based team like this. Ethan with the big prediction, Cowboys to the playoffs. Lou, where did you think? How are they doing and how do the Giants finish? Hold on. I've got to say something real quick. The entire NFC North is better than everybody in Dallas. The Giants are probably going to win in the division. The Cowboys only hope of going to the playoffs if they're giving out free tickets with the turkeys on Thanksgiving. All right, that's it. I think the Giants are right where I thought they'd be. 5-2-1 has not surprised me. I really believe going in with Harbaugh. It's funny. As horrible as the Giants were last year, you saw the talent. Now, the big surprise to me was when that guy got hurt. That could have been a time when they could have collapsed, and every other year they would have, but Harbaugh wouldn't allow it. I think they're right where they're supposed to be. I do think they're going to win a division. I don't think they're going to go past that because, like I said, the NFC North is unbelievable, never seen a division like it. But I think the Giants are right where they are. They should be right there winning division. I can't see why not. A quick follow-up to that, Lou, were you surprised and or disappointed that the squad did not ultimately land Jonathan Taylor or another impact player to help the Giants go above and beyond? Uh, disappointed, yes. I thought they should have done it. You know, I've gone on record and everyone says I'm crazy. Even my son told me all day, what are you, nuts? You're going to give up number one for Jonathan Taylor? What are you, crazy? But I would have went all in on this. I think it's important for the Giants to make a run in the playoffs. They had so many down years. They should have done something. I understand what Harbaugh said. Sometimes you don't match. You don't want to give away the farm. But I think it was a mistake. They should have made at least one move. Somewhere along the way, bringing somebody. I think it was a mistake. All right, Breeland, I'm going to bring my voice down as I now talk about the two teams that are likely going to finish at the cellar of the NFC East here this year. That is the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles. Bre, just me and you talking right now, honestly, I had hopes. I had dreams. I had beliefs. I thought that the Commanders were going to win 10 games this year following the Laramie Tunsil injury. I said, it's okay. They'll still win nine games. This team, their inability, as we talked about, to be able to execute at in-game situations, the fact that Jaden Daniels missed time, the fact that Marcus Mariota didn't miss time as well, this squad has been snakebitten in many ways. Unfortunately, it will lead to Dan Quinn's demise, and I'll say this, if they don't find a way to knock off the New York Giants on Thursday night, this team will finish. With six wins, and it will be the end of the Dan Quinn era here in Washington, D.C. Take it away about the Philadelphia Eagles. So, guys, remember when I sat here during preseason and I said that the Eagles are going to have... 12 or 13 wins? I must have had dyslexia or something because apparently it's the opposite. Okay. Yeah, I really don't see this team winning many more games here. Looking at the schedule, it's still hard, right? You might get a win over the Cardinals. You might get a win over the Colts. You might get a win over the Giants in that Week 18 game because they'll be resting everyone because they'll be in the postseason, and we certainly will not be. So, you know, maybe 5 and 12? Maybe 4-13, because you know this team's going to drop a clunker of a game as well, in my opinion, because that's just the way that things are. The wind has gone completely out of this team's sails. So more likely, more realistically, I would say 4-13 is the final record, and it stinks. But looking forward to that draft, fellas. You're saying the Commanders will finish in third place this year and not fourth place. That's what Washington, D.C. fans have to look forward to. All right, let's take a look at this week's games. A big one for you all, Ethan. Again, as this Dallas Cowboys squad attempts to stay afloat, you got San Francisco coming to town, one of the best teams in the NFL, albeit injured in some positions. Who wins this game and why? I mean, it's got to be the Niners. Niners have run through everybody. That Falcons one was a weird scenario and game for everybody that was involved. But I think they're going to stomp them. The only way, let me give some hope to the Cowboys fans over there. What they need to do, and this is so frustrating, is that you've got three players on your offense who are supposed to be elite players at their position. They're getting paid $120 million, the three of them, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens. At this point in the season... I don't care how bad the defense is. I don't care what the offensive line's like. You have to be the big dogs. If you're going to get paid like big dogs and be considered elite and say that you're one of the best at your position, all three of them have done this, then they need to act accordingly. I want to see Dak Prescott throw bombs. They're not going to win in a conservative, you know, try to keep the ball away from the offense because that defense for the Niners. I want to see them go 40, 50 yard throws downfield every single drive to the, you know, the two highest paid receivers in the league up there. I mean, this is it's ridiculous that this is they're getting Ryan Flanoy, who I like Flanoy. They're giving him more targets than George Pickens. I mean, no, go. Throw 12, 14, 15 passes to each and let your big dogs eat. That's the only way they're going to win, and that's the only way they can win out through the season. Dak Prescott has to be better. I don't care if he's not getting any help like they say. The run game's not there. No. Go big or go home, and they're probably going to go home, so why not go big? Ladies and gentlemen, Ethan Herrera has woken up. He even said it with his chest right there. That's what we love to hear. Breland, can Dallas win this game? No, I'm going with San Francisco. That defense is atrocious. And I believe I also said at the beginning of this season of the NFC Beast that Dak Prescott always starts out really well and then by the end of things turns into a pumpkin. I believe we are starting to see the pumpkinification of Dak Prescott at this point. So, yeah, give me San Francisco. I think they might go to the Super Bowl. Listen, unfortunately, and I hate to do this, and I wish that I was just talking to you all on the telephone and not live here, but... I unfortunately believe the Cowboys are going to win this game. I may be the only one, but I think the Cowboys are going to go on a run. Producer Joy, be sure to either clip this or erase it after the season. But I think the Cowboys are going on a run. All right, Thursday night game. We've got New York Giants playing at home. Washington Commanders coming up. Lou, do my Commanders fan base, do they have a chance here? Yeah, everybody has a chance against the Giants. The Giants play really weird games. So they're getting Cam back. Maybe that'll help their running game. We don't know McCarthy's situation. He collapsed with his hip pointer. We don't even know what Winston's going to be, what Winston's going to get. The defense is playing much, much better for the Giants. But, yeah, the Commanders have a chance, no doubt about it. That's the way the Giants play. But I think the Giants will find a way to win because that's just what they do. And until I see differently, I'm going to say Giants. It's a big game for both NFC East teams. I believe that if the Giants are able to win this, they move to 6-2-1. Again, that schedule is going to get tough, but you're able to essentially position yourself to back your way into the playoffs. Again, if the Commanders lose, it could all fall down. So Breeland, with all of that said, who wins? Yeah, I think like Lou said, the Giants will find a way to win, but I do anticipate this game, just like the last one between you guys, this one's going to be another weird one. I just... Hopefully it's not another tie, right? But I do think these divisional games this year, they're all kind of weird matchups. But yeah, I do think that New York takes this one. This game damn near promises to be a close one. Like you said there, Breeland, not only the tie in the first game this season, but I believe the last five games have all been one-score games between the Giants and the Commanders. This one will likely follow suit with that. Ethan, who wins? Commanders. Give me Commanders, man. All day. They're going to do it. They're going to come back and boom. I just, I believe in Jayden Daniels. I really do. I think the Giants, they're playing with house money and the house always wins. So I don't know. Wait, wait, the Giants are playing with house money in there. Okay, I got it, I got it, I had to run that through my... I knew you were about to jump in there, I need to understand exactly what he was saying. Oh, I was, I definitely was. House, house money, what are we talking about here? Playoffs, what's happening? Have you been drinking on the side here? What's going on here? Look, I think the Commanders have a chance. I really do, I really believe they pull it out. It's going to be another tight, tough game. And that's just the way it's going to be. And until I see differently, I'm going to go that way. Yes, if the Commanders won tomorrow, would I be shocked? No. But I think the Giants will win. Listen, Ethan, the good thing is that we're on stream right now, bro. And it's a different set of rules when you're on stream. So if you're drinking, it's okay. At least as far as you're concerned. I wish I was. I wish I was. Yes. Washington Commanders, New York Giants tomorrow at MetLife or up there in the Meadowlands. The Washington Commanders need a victory. Again, Dan Quinn's future here with Washington depends upon it. I believe that this team, for at least one night, comes out there and plays four strong quarters. I think that Jaden Daniels gets it done not only with his arm but also with his legs, the way that he did, the way that these two teams played in their first engagement. But this time, Washington. Walks away with the victory. That's going to do it for this week's episode of NFC Beast on behalf of these four outstanding pundits. I'm Chad Ricardo. We'll see you next week.