Nate Tice is joined by the great Charles McDonald to break down a few of the most intriguing position groups or units to watch this NFL season, whether good, interesting or primed for implosion. The duo start off the show with the news that Minnesota Vikings first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will undergo knee surgery, as the two give their (surprisingly positive) thoughts on presumed Week 1 starter Sam Darnold.Next, Nate and Charles give their two units to watch that should impress this season: the Chicago Bears back seven and the Detroit Lions secondary, both improved over last season.The most interesting units to keep an eye on are the Green Bay Packers defensive front, the New York Jets offensive line, the San Francisco 49ers defensive backs and the new additions to the Kansas City Chiefs offense.Some unit groups already look like they're ready to implode before our eyes this season. Nate and Charles highlight (lowlight?) the Atlanta Falcons defense, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line and the Cincinnati Bengals defensive line.The duo finish off the show with a lightning round of their favorite individual performances from Week 1 of NFL preseason action.(3:30) J.J. McCarthy to undergo knee surgery(10:20) Chicago Bears & Detroit Lions both have very underrated secondaries(21:45) Most interesting units: Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs(47:05) Implosion candidates: Atlanta Falcons defense, Jacksonville Jaguars offense, Cincinnati Bengals defensive line(1:01:40) Preseason standout performancesSubscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/46gILkF🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3A4mYAD📢Yahoo Sports podcast network: https://apple.co/3zEuT💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars! 🏈 Draft your team on Yahoo Fantasy before September 5th for one entry. If any players you start score a touchdown in the Week 1 games on NBC, earn up to seven additional entries per TD scored.🎟️ Enter at http://www.yahoo.com/fantasymillion

Nate Tice is joined by the great Charles McDonald to determine the "friskiest" NFL teams this season. Nate and Charles start by defining "frisky" as any team with a win total below 9 games that will be a tough out for any opponent. The duo highlight the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans as the friskiest of the bunch, before highlighting why people might be sleeping on the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Nate and Charles finish off the show with two "reverse frisky" teams (teams with a sub-9 win total that deserve to be even lower): the Los Angeles Chargers, who are still at least a year away, and the Washington Commanders, who have built a comparatively small and slow roster that doesn't appear ready to beat many NFL teams this season.(3:20) The Arizona Cardinals will surprise people this year(12:30) The Tennessee Titans added a ton of good players(22:55) The Seattle Seahawks are being slept on(28:00) The New England Patriots are not the worst team in the league(37:55) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought back all their good players(46:10) The Los Angeles Chargers are at least a year away(53:40) What are the Washington Commanders doing?Subscribe to Football 301 on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/46gILkF🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3A4mYAD📢Yahoo Sports podcast network: https://apple.co/3zEuT💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars! 🏈 Draft your team on Yahoo Fantasy before September 5th for one entry. If any players you start score a touchdown in the Week 1 games on NBC, earn up to seven additional entries per TD scored.🎟️ Enter at http://www.yahoo.com/fantasymillion

Jason Fitz, Frank Schwab and Jori Epstein pull back the curtain and go behind the scenes on some of the biggest stories circulating around the NFL. Trade rumors surrounding star San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk have been heating up over the past few days, and Fitz and Frank give their thoughts on potential destinations and why the 49ers should still be trying to sign him to a long-term deal.Next, Jori Epstein joins the show from her nation-wide training camp tour to discuss a few players that are worth keeping an eye on in preseason as potential breakout candidates this year, including Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, Joe Alt, AD Mitchell, Andre Iosivas and more.Later, Fitz and Frank discuss an article detailing a divide between Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni that deepened during the team's late-season skid last year. The duo discuss how deep this divide really is, whether it can be solved this season and where the Eagles can go from here after an extremely awkward end to 2023.(3:00) Will Brandon Aiyuk be a San Francisco 49er in 2024?(27:50) Jori's top players to watch during preseason(48:45) Can Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni repair the divide between them?💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars! 🏈 Draft your team on Yahoo Fantasy before September 5th for one entry. If any players you start score a touchdown in the Week 1 games on NBC, earn up to seven additional entries per TD scored.🎟️ Enter at http://www.yahoo.com/fantasymillion

With Week 1 of NFL preseason action right around the corner, Nate Tice and Matt Harmon share which NFL teams need to have a prove-it season in 2024.They open up with Level 1 of which teams or players should be the least worried, featuring the Steelers offense, Sean McDermott following a lot of staff turnover, and Sean Payton after completely blowing up the Broncos offense. They move onto Level 2, discussing the teams that are in the most danger of needing to hit the reset button next year. Harmon and Tice dissect the entire underperforming NFC South, Aaron Rodgers coming off of an Achilles injury, and the Jaguars coaching staff needing to maximize Trevor Lawrence. They wrap with Level 3: Threat Level Midnight. This category focuses on Rashod Bateman needing to finally break out, Calvin Ridley after getting a huge contract and two hot seat head coaches.Harmon and Tice close out the show with a brief thought on the over coverage of Brandon Ayiuk's trade situation.(2:20) What is the Steelers offensive identity?(11:45) Can Sean McDermott win with his new defense?(16:50) What is Sean Payton's vision for the Broncos?(26:15) The entire NFC South has a lot to prove(49:30) Is Aaron Rodgers the same QB he once was?(53:25) What are the Jaguars doing offensively?(57:30) Will Rashod Bateman ever break out?(1:01:30) Was Calvin Ridley worth the huge contract?(1:04:55) Are Nick Sirianni & Mike McCarthy on the hot seat?(1:11:50) The Brandon Aiyuk trade saga💸 Sign up for a Yahoo fantasy football league for a chance to win one million dollars! 🏈 Draft your team on Yahoo Fantasy before September 5th for one entry. If any players you start score a touchdown in the Week 1 games on NBC, earn up to seven additional entries per TD scored.🎟️ Enter at http://www.yahoo.com/fantasymillion

Justin Herbert, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback, grapples with a foot injury, casting a shadow over the team's future. Meanwhile, Tristan Wirfs, a standout offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, celebrates his lucrative new contract. The hosts dive into the emotional lows of NFL fandom, spotlighting the struggles of teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos. Discussions also revolve around the uncertainty of the Las Vegas Raiders' quarterback situation, leaving fans with a mix of sadness and cautious hope for the upcoming season.

Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab get together and throw a few QBs in the confidence meter before giving their way too early Super Bowl LIX picks.(07:15) - Bears & D.J. Moore agree on 4-year extension(10:00) - Jets QB Aaron Rodgers unlikely to play in preseason(23:30) - QB Confidence Meter: 49ers(30:55) - QB Confidence Meter: Steelers / Colts(39:15) - QB Confidence Meter: Bengals / Vikings(46:00) - QB Confidence Meter: Broncos(48:40) - Schwab Island: Super Bowl LIX picksOn this episode of Inside Coverage, Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab go through some of the more confusing QB situations in the NFL and grade them on a made-up confidence meter, but first…The Bears signed WR D.J. Moore to the largest contract in team history, and everyone agrees that it’s a good deal and a smart move for both sides.It appears as though Aaron Rodgers will skip playing in the NFL preseason for the New York Jets after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles. How will he be able to knock the rust off? Is this a sign that the team, or the player, is in control of the situation?Finally, it’s time to get into the QB Confidence Meter. The guys start in San Francisco, where Frank says that the 49ers shouldn’t pay Brock Purdy and shouldn’t pay any QB that isn’t on a rookie contract. It’s a bold idea!Fitz says that Russell Wilson is washed up in Pittsburgh, but even if Russ plays well this year…then what? The Steelers don’t want to pay him what the market says he’s worth. Another unknown is in Indianapolis, where Anthony Richardson has a sky-high ceiling but hasn’t played very much the past two seasons.Fitz says that Joe Burrow is the 2nd best QB in the NFL, but there’s going to continue to be concerns about whether he can stay healthy. Meanwhile, the Vikings are betting on a rookie QB that barely threw the ball in college.On Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix, both guys agree that he needs to start for Sean Payton’s team immediately. Fitz has some homework to back up a strong claim he has about Bo Nix being the next Nathan Peterman.Finally, we put Frank on “Schwab Island” and make him defend his Super Bowl LIX pick before Fitz gives his own pick for who will be taking home the Lombardi Trophy.Inside Coverage would be nothing without the impact of our beloved Terez Paylor, who was a pillar of Yahoo Sports' NFL editorial and podcast coverage. We will continue to produce this NFL podcast in his honor, and hope that you can support Terez Paylor's legacy in one of three ways:• Buy an "All-Juice Team" hoodie or tee from BreakingT.com/Terez. All profits directly fund the Terez A. Paylor scholarship at Howard University.• Donate directly to the PowerMizzou Journalism Alumni Scholarship in memory of Terez Paylor• Donate directly at giving.howard.edu/givenow. Under “Tribute,” please note that your gift is made in memory of Terez A. Paylor. Under “Designation,” click on “Other” and write in “Terez A. Paylor Scholarship.”Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

The NFL preseason is just days away and the 2024 season right around the corner, but Nate Tice and Matt Harmon have been stewing with some half-baked NFL takes they've been tinkering with off-season. After kicking off the podcast discussing a pair of quarterback extensions in the deals for Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love, the guys open up their notebooks from the offseason and share some theories that are not quite ready for the primetime, but may prove right by the time this season is over: the Los Angeles Chargers offense may not be as bad as it seems, the Tennessee Titans might be better than this divisional foe this season and a wild NFC West playoff prediction.(4:15) - Tua Tagovailoa's extension & the Miami Dolphins' ceiling(10:01) - Jordan Love extended in Green Bay with young group of pass-catchers(23:45) - Half-Take 1: LA Chargers offense won't be as bad as you think(32:11) - Half-Take 2: Titans offense will be better than the Jaguars offense(41:11) - Half-Take 3: Diontae Johnson was the best acquisition of the offseason(47:58) - Half-Take 4: Bijan Robinson will be offensive player of the year(52:28) - Half-Take 5: Ken Dorsey as the Cleveland Browns OC signals...something(1:01:43) - Half-Take 6: Seattle Seahawks will make the playoffs🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

On today's episode of Football 301, Nate Tice and Charles McDonald look ahead to the 2024 season and predict which teams will finish with the top 10 defenses in the NFL.Can the New York Giants' defense be carried by its defensive line? Will the Baltimore Ravens' new faces in their secondary and linebacking core keep them at the top? Are the New England Patriots built perfectly for Jerod Mayo to hit the ground running in year 1? Is Mike Zimmer the right man to lead the Dallas Cowboys' aggressive secondary and athletic front 7? All of that and more is answered on today's show.(1:51) Jacksonville Jaguars(7:38) New York Giants(11:33) Las Vegas Raiders(15:25) Chicago Bears(21:02) Dallas Cowboys(26:18) San Francisco 49ers(30:33) Baltimore Ravens(36:48) Kansas City Chiefs(40:12) New England Patriots(44:01) New York Jets(51:40) Cleveland Browns🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

On this inaugural episode of Football 301, Yahoo Sports NFL analysts Nate Tice, Matt Harmon & Charles McDonald look ahead to the 2024 season and try to predict which teams will finish in the top ten of DVOA rankings by the end of the year.Can Kirk Cousins and a new coaching staff elevate the Atlanta Falcons into being a top offense? Will a below average Baltimore Ravens offensive line hamper the offensive firepower of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry? Can a revitalized Los Angeles Rams offense crack the top 3 with the one-two punch of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua catching passes from Matt Stafford? But really, is next season shaping up to be a battle of last year's conference champs, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers?(3:20) - Buffalo Bills(13:20) - Atlanta Falcons(17:45) - Philadelphia Eagles(21:05) - Indianapolis Colts(23:45) - Baltimore Ravens(29:55) - Green Bay Packers(35:30) - Cincinnati Bengals(40:20) - Los Angeles Rams(45:15) - Houston Texans(50:25) - Miami Dolphins(54:15) - Detroit Lions(59:50) - Kansas City Chiefs(64:45) - San Francisco 49ers🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab pick 6 NFL teams and play a game of “Angels & Devils” to predict the best case and worst case scenarios for each team.(08:10) - Green Bay Packers(15:00) - Los Angeles Rams(20:20) - Dallas Cowboys(27:00) - Los Angeles Chargers(31:46) - New York Jets(39:45) - Buffalo Bills(45:15) - Hammer It: MVPOn this episode of Inside Coverage, Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab pick 6 NFL teams and play a game of “Angels & Devils” to predict the best case and worst case scenarios for each team.They start with the Packers, who still have something to prove in the regular season, and then move onto the Rams. Frank says Matt Stafford is coming off the best season of his career and that Sean McVay is energized, so why is Fitz down on the Rams?The guys try their best to disagree on the Dallas Cowboys but end up just agreeing with each other, and maybe disagreeing with everyone else, about America’s Team and what we can expect from them in the regular season.The Chargers have Jim Harbaugh, but does that mean they’ll immediately be better? Or maybe worse? Once again, the guys struggle to disagree on this one.Frank picks the Jets as the #1 seed in the AFC but explains why it makes sense, and Fitz is waiting for the inevitable meltdown if the Jets aren’t great. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills might excel without the weight of big expectations on them for once.Finally, we close the show with “Hammer It”, where the guys each tell you who they would put money on to win the NFL MVP Award this year. Tune in to find out why Frank is excited to bet on Jared Goff!Inside Coverage would be nothing without the impact of our beloved Terez Paylor, who was a pillar of Yahoo Sports' NFL editorial and podcast coverage. We will continue to produce this NFL podcast in his honor, and hope that you can support Terez Paylor's legacy in one of three ways:• Buy an "All-Juice Team" hoodie or tee from BreakingT.com/Terez. All profits directly fund the Terez A. Paylor scholarship at Howard University.• Donate directly to the PowerMizzou Journalism Alumni Scholarship in memory of Terez Paylor• Donate directly at giving.howard.edu/givenow. Under “Tribute,” please note that your gift is made in memory of Terez A. Paylor. Under “Designation,” click on “Other” and write in “Terez A. Paylor Scholarship.”Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts