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We're used to big news dropping on Tuesdays, but this one was entirely different. The Robert Saleh firing—especially the timing of it—surprised the NFL world, and that's where Robert Mays and Diante Lee of The Ringer begin this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also recap the Chiefs' win over the Saints on Monday Night Football, dig into the Seahawks' run defense and the deteriorating situation in Cleveland, and bat around questions for three good offenses—the Texans, Bengals, 49ers and Bills. Then, John Shipley from Sports Illustrated joins to engage in some franchise counseling for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rundown Jets fire Robert Saleh Saints-Chiefs recap Upon Further Review: Seattle's run defense Upon Further Review: The nightmare in Cleveland The Ball Knower Houston's early down problems San Francisco's passing game Buffalo's recent struggles Franchise Counseling: Jacksonville Jaguars Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Diante on X: @DianteLeeFB Follow John on X: @_John_Shipley 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ravens 41, Bengals 38 in overtime. Texans 23, Bills 20. The Jaguars and Colts combining for 41 points in the fourth quarter. And that was all in the early window on Sunday. Yeah, Week 5 was the craziest week to date of this NFL season. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen break it all down on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Ravens beat Bengals in OT thriller You Have My Attention: Texans get huge win over Bills You Have My Attention: Caleb Williams stars in Bears' win over Panthers NFC West...WTF?!? Raiders...WTF?!? Did You See That?!?...Jayden Daniels shines, but in a different way Did You See That?!?...Jaguars-Colts fourth quarter fireworks Did You See That?!?...Andrew Van Ginkel making big plays Did You See That?!?...Xavier McKinney is balling What Did We Learn Today? Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four weeks into the season, the 49ers' offense has been predictably great...but in unpredictable fashion. Four weeks into the season, the Steelers' offense has been unpredictably effective. Ravens-Bengals and Bills-Texans as the Week 5 Games of the Week? Well, yeah, not everything can be unpredictable. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen preview Week 5 across the NFL on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Buccaneers-Falcons recap Ravens-Bengals preview Bills-Texans preview What's on my Fourth Screen? Under the Hood: Steelers offense Favorite realistic Davante Adams trade destinations Take Tribunal: The Jets won't improve on last year's win total The bizarro version of an elite 49ers offense Jayden Daniels gets a much tougher test What I Wanna Know Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dane Brugler makes his triumphant return to The Athletic Football Show to start laying groundwork for the 2025 NFL Draft. He and Robert Mays take a big-picture look at the class, and dig deeper into prospects who have caught Dane's eye, including Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty. The guys start the show by recapping Seahawks-Lions and Titans-Dolphins, and wrap it up by discussing Malik Nabers, the rookies in the Rams' defensive front and the top-two quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft. Rundown Titans-Dolphins recap Seahawks-Lions recap Movers on Dane Brugler's 2025 NFL Draft big board Upon Further Review: Jalen Milroe Upon Further Review: Chargers defense and Chiefs offense check-ins The Ball Knower: Malik Nabers is already a top-10 WR The Ball Knower: Jared Verse and Braden Fiske are doing work The Ball Knower: Is Ryan Poles sweating yet? Host: Robert Mays With: Dane Brugler Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ravens-Bills wasn't quite the close contest we were hoping for, but it still gave us plenty to discuss about two teams that are likely among the best in the league. That's where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin the Week 4 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss the surging Washington football team, the 4-0 Vikings, troubles for the Jets and Eagles, a silly little game between the Falcons and Saints, and a whole lot more. Rundown Ravens trounce Bills Washington Football Team...You Have My Attention 4-0 Vikings...You Still Have My Attention Eagles...WTF?!? Jets offense...WTF?!? Falcons, Saints and the NFC South...WTF?!? Chiefs and Texans...you guys are almost here Did You See That? Jaylon Johnson Did You See That? Darnell Washington hurdle + Steelers-Colts wrap Did You See That? Ja'Marr Chase's ridiculous catch-and-run What We Learned Today Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vikings-Packers, Bills-Ravens and Seahawks-Lions highlight the 16-game Week 4 slate and, helpfully, they're all in different game windows. Now that's how you schedule helpfully for the football fan, NFL. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into those three games, plus Jayden Daniels, the Broncos front, Todd Bowles as Jalen Hurts' kryptonite, and a whole lot more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Giants-Cowboys recap Vikings-Packers Bills-Ravens Seahawks-Lions QB Spotlight: Jayden Daniels This Might Only Interest Me, But... Broncos front vs. Jets offensive line Jalen Hurts vs. Todd Bowles The Athletic's front office survey What Do You Wanna Know by the end of Week 4? Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Look, NFL, you can give us as many two-game Monday nights as you want, so long as we get to watch quarterback performances like we saw from Jayden Daniels, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow in Week 3. Mitch Schwartz joins Robert Mays to break down Commanders-Bengals and Jaguars-Bills on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also add their answers to the question about leaguewide offensive struggles and play a round of The Ball Knower. Rundown Commanders-Bengals recap Jaguars-Bills recap Why are offenses struggling? The Ball Knower What Mitch Knows He Knows: Josh Allen is the league's second-best quarterback What Mitch Thinks He Knows: The Vikings are for real What Mitch Wants to Know: If the run game is back, where are the superstar running backs? Host: Robert Mays With: Mitch Schwartz Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Mitch on X: @MitchSchwartz71 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four teams are 3-0 as we head into the final week of September. One is the Chiefs. The other three are the Vikings, Steelers and Seahawks. It's safe to say chaos remains the only constant in the NFL. Well, chaos and the Chiefs. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen wrap up a wild Week 3 on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Chaos reigns supreme More likely to win their division...Steelers or Seahawks? Minnesota Vikings...You Have My Attention Matt LaFleur...You Have My Attention Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert...You Have My Attention Tampa Bay Buccaneers...WTF?!? Raiders defense...WTF?!? Shane Waldron...WTF?!? Justin Fields attacking the middle Malik Nabers giving off Ja'Marr Chase vibes Jauan Jennings has a big day The Cowboys defense just might be bad It's So Over for the Dolphins What We Learned Today Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As recently as two weeks ago, we might not have thought that Texans-Vikings and Lions-Cardinals would be the games we'd most be looking forward to in Week 3. Therein lies much of the beauty of the NFL. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig deep into those matchups on the Week 3 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss who's more desperate for a win in the Ravens-Cowboys game, which of the 2-0 Steelers and 2-0 Chargers is more for real, the relative struggles of the Colts offense through two weeks, and a whole lot more. Rundown Patriots-Jets recap Texans-Vikings Lions-Cardinals What's on My Fourth Screen? Desperation Bowl: Ravens-Cowboys Chargers-Steelers...Which 2-0 team is more for real? Under the Hood: Colts offense Airing of Grievances What Do You Wanna Know? Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a permanent statistical revolution going on in the NFL, and there is no end in sight. Amazon Thursday Night Football's analytics expert Sam Schwartzstein joins Robert Mays on this episode of The Athletic Football Show to detail what you're seeing on the Prime TNF broadcasts, and why you're seeing what you're seeing. After that, noted Panthers fan Steven Ruiz from The Ringer joins Robert to go through some QB Counseling for Bryce Young. Rundown Falcons-Eagles recap The state of stats in the NFL QB Counseling for Bryce Young and the Panthers Host: Robert Mays With: Sam Schwartzstein and Steven Ruiz Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Sam on X: @schwartzsteins Follow Steven on X: @theStevenRuiz 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chiefs and Bengals gave us another classic, this one with the Chiefs escaping with a 26-25 win. The Saints offense went off for the second week in a row. The Buccaneers went into Detroit and beat the Lions. The Vikings upset the 49ers, while the Raiders tripped up the Ravens. Yup, it was a crazy Week 2. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen wrap it all up on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Quick Bears-Texans thoughts Chiefs get past Bengals You Have My Attention: Saints offense You Have My Attention: Tampa Bay Buccaneers You Have My Attention: Minnesota Vikings WTF?!?...The Rams season feels over? The Cardinals might have something WTF?!?...The Colts run defense WTF?!?...The Ravens lost another game they should've won Geno Smith is balling Keion White shines again Aidan Hutchinson wrecked the Buccaneers offense Quentin Johnston caught two touchdowns! It's So Over for the Jaguars What Derrik Learned Today: It's gonna take some time for Mike Zimmer in Dallas What Robert Learned Today: We don't know anything about what will work and what won't Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Week 2 is one of the best weeks of the year because we get our first opportunity to learn how much of what we saw in Week 1 was real. For instance, the Buccaneers offense was electric last week. That, however, was against a Washington defense that could be the worst in the league. How will the Bucs fare against the Lions on Sunday. That's one of our Games of the Week, along with Bengals-Chiefs. Speaking of, how worried should we be about the Bengals? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into those games, reconsider some preseason takes, unveil a few new segments and make an argument for you to watch a particular game on Sunday on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Week 1 often leaves us asking this simple question...is this real? Bengals panic after the loss to the Patriots...is this real? The Saints and Buccaneers offenses under new playcallers? Really good! The Falcons offense under a new playcaller? Pretty bad! Is this real? Robert Mays and Mike Sando dig into those situations, and more, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Plus, the guys also recap Jets-49ers and scoop up news items coming out of the weekend. Rundown Jets-49ers recap Another suit against Deshaun Watson Justin Fields likely to start for the Steelers in Week 2 Malik Willis to start in place of injured Jordan Love Rams injuries Is This Real? Bengals panic Is This Real? The Saints offense is fun and good Is This Real? The Buccaneers offense can light it up Is This Real? The Falcons offense looks broekn Is This Real? The Eagles offense is back Is This Real? No more passing touchdowns Host: Robert Mays With: Mike Sando Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Week 1 represents 100% of the regular season football we've seen this season, so it's only natural to overreact. Not every reaction is an overreaction, though. For instance, it's not an overreaction to say that Dak Prescott had a great day...or that Josh Allen is a football superhero...or that the Bengals and Falcons were massive letdowns. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen discuss all that, and a whole lot more, on the Week 1 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Rams-Lions OT thriller Dallas Cowboys...You Have My Attention Josh Allen and the Bills/Cardinals game...You Have My Attention Houston Texans run game...You Have My Attention Cincinnati Bengals...WTF?!? Jordan Love's injury...WTF?!? Atlanta Falcons...WTF?!? Did You See That?...JK Dobbins runs wild Did You See That?...The Saints are committed to the bit Did You See That?...Baker Mayfield dropping dimes It's So Over for the Panthers It's So Over for the Giants What Did We Learn Today?...The Jaguars are still super frustrating What Did We Learn Today?...The vibes in New England are different What Did We Learn Today?...It's hard to be a rookie QB Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen With: Mike Sando Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices