Look, not everyone can be a Super Bowl contender. Plenty of teams aren't even playoff contenders. More than half the league misses the playoffs, and many of those teams are bad. Some are very bad. But that doesn't mean they can't take something from the 2024 season. Robert Mays and Conor Orr from Sports Illustrated and the MMQB find silver linings for those bad teams on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown

• Texans-Cowboys MNF recap
• Jets fire Joe Douglas
• Silver lining for the 2024 Jets
• Silver lining for the 2024 Panthers
• Silver lining for the 2024 Giants
• Silver lining for the 2024 Patriots
• Silver lining for the 2024 Raiders
• Silver lining for the 2024 Browns
• Silver lining for the 2024 Titans
• Silver lining for the 2024 Jaguars
• The Ball Knower...all Lions, all the time

Host: Robert Mays

With: Conor Orr

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Conor on X: @ConorOrr

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

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The Bills-Chiefs rivalry delivered yet again, with the Bills handing the Chiefs their first loss of the season. The Ravens-Steelers rivalry delivered, too, and now the Steelers find themselves in command of the AFC North. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into those games, plus the Broncos statement win over the Falcons, the befuddling 49ers—as well as the broader picture of the NFC West—Anthony Richardson's triumphant return, and a whole lot more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown

• Bills make a statement with win over Chiefs
• Bengals and Chargers give us a great one on Sunday night
• Steelers defense...You Have My Attention!
• The Denver Broncos...You Have My Attention!
• WTF is this 49ers season?
• Settling for a 46-yard field goal, Matt Eberflus? WTF?!?
• Anthony Richardson's triumphant return
• Tua's making plays on the move
• The Jaguars scored first against the Lions...and then the Lions won 52-6
• Taysom Hill's monster day
• What Did We Learn Today?

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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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

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Justin Jefferson: Four years, $140 million. CeeDee Lamb: Four years, $136 million. Amon-Ra St. Brown: Four years, $120 million. A.J. Brown: Three years, $96 million. The market for wide receivers has exploded in recent years. But what about the players tasked with slowing them down...the cornerbacks? Their market has stagnated. Moreover, the position that defined cool in the era of Deion Sanders seems almost devoid of superstars in 2024. What happened to the star cornerback? Robert Mays explores that question with Domonique Foxworth, who covers the NFL for ESPN and spent seven years playing corner in the league, on this episode of The Money Down, a special four-part miniseries from The Athletic Football Show focused on the business of the NFL.

Host: Robert Mays

With: Domonique Foxworth

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Chris Flannery

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Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Domonique on X: @Foxworth24

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

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Chiefs-Bills week has become a hallmark of the Patrick Mahomes/Josh Allen era, and the 2024 edition is upon us. But hey, there's more! The first Ravens-Steelers game of the season is on Sunday, too. Seahawks-49ers, Falcons-Broncos and Bengals-Chargers, oh my! Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into all that, and a whole lot more, on a jam-packed Week 11 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown

• Commanders-Eagles recap
• Game of the Week: Chiefs at Bills
• Game of the Week: Ravens at Steelers
• One thing from...Seahawks at 49ers
• One thing from...Falcons at Broncos
• One thing from...Bengals at Chargers
• The sneaky fun part of Rams-Patriots
• Could the Dolphins make the playoffs?
• Take Tribunal: We need to rethink how we conceive of good and bad quarterback situations
• What Do You Wanna Know?

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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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

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The best time to hand out midseason awards is one week beyond the halfway point of the season. Everybody knows this. Bill Barnwell of ESPN joins Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen to do just that on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys discuss Lamar's possible third MVP, the potential of Mike Tomlin winning his first—yes, first—Coach of the Year Award, and a whole lot more.

Rundown

• Dolphins-Rams recap
• Bears fire Shane Waldron
• Offensive Player of the Year
• Defensive Player of the Year
• Offensive Rookie of the Year
• Defensive Rookie of the Year
• Executive of the Year
• Assistant Coach of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• MVP
• Pleasant-est Surprise
• Biggest Dissapointment
• Strongest Narrative Changer

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

With: Bill Barnwell

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass

Follow Bill on X: @billbarnwell

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

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The Game of the Week lived up to the billing in Week 10, with the Steelers pulling out a 28-27 win over the Commanders. That's where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin the Week 10 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also marvel at the Chiefs voodoo magic, highlight the Cardinals' rise, raise an eyebrow in the 49ers' direction, and discuss the rest of the developments that grabbed them on Sunday.

Rundown

• Steelers remain atop AFC North with win over Commanders
• The Chiefs black magic rolls on
• The Cardinals are for real
• The 49ers still feel off, even after a win
• Lamenting the 2024 Buccaneers
• Falcons...WTF?!?
• Lions-Texans...WTF?!?
• Bad Sam Darnold showed up on Sunday
• Justin Herbert is doing his thing
• Taron Johnson is cool
• Bryce Young > Daniel Jones...at least in Week 10
• It's So Over for the Bears
• 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...

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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

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If Bengals-Ravens is any indication of what we're going to get in the second half of the 2024 NFL season, we're in for quite the couple of months. Recapping that fireworks show is where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen kick off this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys then move on to our Week 10 Game of the Week, Steelers at Commanders. They also discuss the Falcons offense, the Eagles defense, sneaky worries over Sam Darnold, disappointment with the Texans, Christian McCaffrey's likely return, and a whole lot more.

Rundown

• Ravens beat Bengals in TNF thriller
• Steelers-Commanders preview
• Take Tribunal: The Texans offense is the most disappointing unit in the league
• The Eagles defense is coming together
• Sam Darnold is keeping Derrik up at night
• Under the Hood: Falcons offense
• How real is the Rams defense?
• Can Christian McCaffrey save the 49ers?

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 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

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The NFL trade deadline...no longer a snoozer! We had plenty of activity in the wide receiver market over the last few weeks, and the final day before the deadline brought us plenty of meaningful deals, highlighted by Za'Darius Smith to the Lions and Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders. Robert Mays and Mike Sando wrap up deadline day, plus recap recent news and look ahead to the second half of the season, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown

• The Chiefs seem awfully happy with DeAndre Hopkins
• Za'Darius Smith to the Lions
• Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders
• The Steelers make a couple moves
• Tre White to the Ravens
• Smaller deadline day moves
• What's next in New Orleans after the firing of Dennis Allen?
• The Raiders clean house
• The rudderless Cowboys
• Looking ahead to the second half

Host: Robert Mays

With: Mike Sando

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Make 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

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We're halfway through the NFL season, and the best of the best are starting to separate. Two cases in point in Week 9...the Lions and Ravens. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into those results on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss the Chargers latest win, concerns for the Bears, highlight reel plays from the Eagles, the Rams win over the Seahawks, and a whole lot more.

Rundown

• Ravens dominate Broncos
• Lions handle Packers
• Los Angeles Chargers...You Have My Attention!
• Joe Burrow...You Have My Attention!
• Chicago Bears...WTF?!?
• Seattle Seahawks...WTF?!?
• Saquon Barkley and Devonta Smith carry the Eagles
• Drake Maye did something cool again
• Terry McLaurin is out of QB hell
• Chris Olave's health
• It's So Over...the Miami Dolphins
• It's So Over...the Dallas Cowboys
• 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...

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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

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Some Games of the Week sneak up on us. Others we can predict before the season even starts. Lions-Packers is one of the latter. We'll spend plenty of time between now and kickoff hoping Jordan Love is healthy enough to play and play well, but either way this is clearly the Game of the Week for Week 9. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen break that one down, dig into the Chargers defense, highlight the matchup between the Ravens offense and Broncos defense, and get into so much more about Week 9 on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown

• Jets beat Texans on Thursday Night Football
• Game of the Week: Lions at Packers
• Fourth Screen email
• Anthony Richardson benched
• Under the Hood: Chargers defense
• Matchup of the Week: Ravens offense vs. Broncos defense
• Can the Cowboys pull a Falcons?...yes, this is a good thing
• Can the Cardinals offense keep it going against the Bears defense?
• 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...

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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

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Each of this season's four first-round starting quarterbacks—Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix—have shown off some highs and some lows, with the possible exception of lows from Daniels. How does all that shake out in the aggregate? Former NFL quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, the brain behind The QB School, joins Robert Mays to break down what we've seen from the rookie quarterbacks so far this season. Before that, The Athletic's Giants beat writer Dan Duggan joins to recap the team's loss MNF loss to the Steelers and weigh in on the state of the franchise.

Rundown

• The state of the Giants
• Caleb Williams
• Jayden Daniels
• Drake Maye
• Bo Nix
• Upon Further Review: Anthony Richardson benched
• The Ball Knower
• Rome Odunze needs to play more
• Matt LaFleur is an elite playcaller
• Rooting for Tua Tagovailoa

Host: Robert Mays

With: Dan Duggan and J.T. O'Sullivan

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Dan on X: @DDuggan21

Follow J.T. on X: @theqbschool

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