Scoop City: Inside The NFL

The Athletic
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Oct 23, 2025 • 48min

Why Aaron Rodgers vs Packers should be a revenge game

Join Mike DeFabo, The Athletic's Steelers beat writer, as he breaks down Aaron Rodgers' influence in Pittsburgh, including his evolving offense and increased mobility. Jesse Newell provides insight on the revitalized Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes' improved chemistry with his receivers. Fantasy expert Jake Seeley gives essential advice on picking up players like Tez Johnson and navigating the Panthers' running back situation. This conversation is packed with strategic insights and bold predictions!
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Oct 20, 2025 • 58min

Did the Giants step back in devastating loss vs. Broncos?

Dianna Russini, Senior NFL insider for The Athletic, joins to dissect the New York Giants' shocking collapse against the Broncos. She shares insights on Jayden Daniels' hamstring injury and the 49ers' QB Brock Purdy's status. The Eagles make a statement with their commanding win over the Vikings, and the Colts rise as contenders. Dak Prescott's MVP candidacy is discussed alongside explosive performances from the Cowboys. Plus, light-hearted banter about fall traditions adds a personal touch to the conversation.
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Oct 17, 2025 • 49min

This is WHY the Eagles will struggle to save their season

Zach Berman, a reporter for The Athletic covering the Eagles, highlights the team's offensive struggles and the impact of new coordinator Kevin Patullo. He discusses the decline in their running game and locker-room dynamics. Dan Popper, covering the Chargers, shares insights on Justin Herbert's strong performance and injury updates ahead of their clash with the Colts. Nick Kosmider sheds light on Denver's formidable defense, the challenges of their offensive consistency, and the repercussions of their London trip.
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Oct 15, 2025 • 55min

WHY Caleb Williams will be the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history

🎤 What’s the state of quarterbacks across the NFL right now? Can Caleb Williams keep elevating the Chicago Bears’ offense? What coach is the perfect fit for rookie Cam Ward in Tennessee? And what’s really wrong with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills offense? Scoop City is back to tackle all the biggest QB questions heading into Week 7.🏈 The trade deadline is approaching fast — November 4th — and teams are already positioning themselves as buyers or sellers. Which contenders are ready to make a splash, and which front offices might hit reset? The Athletic's Senior NFL Insider Dianna Russini breaks down what we're hearing around the league.🔥 Chase Daniel's weekly “Cut to the Chase” focuses on Caleb Williams and the Bears, who are rolling — winners of three straight — with Williams showing massive growth under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. His pressure-to-sack rate has been cut in half from his rookie year, and he’s on pace to top 4,000 yards, something no Bears QB has ever done.💪 Meanwhile, Drake Maye and the Patriots have quietly won three straight of their own. If Maye hits 200+ passing yards with a 100+ passer rating again this week, he’ll join Patrick Mahomes as the only under-24 QBs to do it in six straight games. Are the Patriots finally building an identity around their rookie QB?😬 Over in Buffalo, the Bills have lost two straight — and the concern level is rising. Can Josh Allen and Joe Brady fix the offense before things spiral? The crew debates what’s really plaguing one of the league’s most talented rosters.⚔️ In Tennessee, the Brian Callahan firing shakes up everything for Cam Ward. How does the move impact his development — and why have the last four No. 1 overall picks all lost their head coach during their rookie season? The team dives into what’s next for the Titans and their young QB.💬 Plus, The Athletic’s Chris Branch joins for another edition of The Pulse to debate a big question: Would you rather be the Eagles or Chiefs at this point of the season?🗳️ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all things NFL with Scoop City.📣 Drop your thoughts below — who’s the next great QB to rise out of the chaos this season?00:00 - Intro04:30 - Trade Deadline Buyers08:25 - Cut to the Chase: Caleb Williams film breakdown15:35 - Cut to the Chase: Drake Maye continues to impress20:55 - Cut to the Chase: How can the Bills fix their offense?29:00 - How does the firing of Brian Callahan impact Cam Ward?46:45 - The Pulse Newsletter Questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 14, 2025 • 57min

Inside the Jets' meltdown: why this season is beyond repair

🎤 Did the Kansas City Chiefs put the rest of the league on notice? Are the Pittsburgh Steelers actually contenders? Can the New York Jets salvage their season? Is the Sam Darnold experiment working for the Seattle Seahawks? And, the Tennessee Titans have fired Brian Callahan. Scoop City is back to react to Week 6 in the NFL.🏈 The Kansas City Chiefs made a statement in their decisive win over the Detroit Lions. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense rebounded against a stout Lions defense, putting up 30 points for the second time this season. Should the rest of the league be concerned that the Chiefs have righted the ship? The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue joins the show to discuss the Kansas City's win.🤔 Are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers legitimate contenders? The Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North after starting 4-1. Pittsburgh takes a commanding divisional lead following its latest win over the Cleveland Browns. Do the Steelers have a real shot at contending this year?😤 Is the New York Jets season a total loss? The Jets' loss to the Denver Broncos drops New York to 0-6. Are the Jets stuck with Justin Fields at quarterback? Will Aaron Glenn survive the season? The Athletic’s Mike Sando shares what the Jets organization is facing.🐎 Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts experienced one of the most bizarre pregame warm-ups in NFL history, losing two players to injury. The Athletic’s James Boyd shares insights from the Colts’ pregame. Plus, Daniel Jones and company held off the Arizona Cardinals and are in first place in the AFC. Is Indy as good as its record indicates?☑️ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all things NFL with Scoop City.💬 Drop your thoughts for Week 6 in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 10, 2025 • 1h 1min

Baker Mayfield: The NFL MVP nobody saw coming + Sterling Shepard Interview

🎙️Will Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold off a surging San Francisco 49ers team? Is Jared Goff quietly leading the most dangerous team in the league? Will Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears get revenge against Jaylen Daniels and the Washington Commanders? Plus, Sterling Shepard joins to discuss the Red River Rivalry and playing with his college QB. 🏴‍☠️Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as good as their record indicates? Bucs WR Sterling Shepard stops by Scoop City and shares insights from inside the locker room. Shepard shared intel from inside the Bucs wide receiver room and what it’s like playing with his former college quarterback. Plus, is Baker Mayfield playing like the MVP? Shepard shares what makes Baker special.🏈 Plus, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur shares the latest from the Bay Area. What’s been the secret to Mac Jones’ success filling in for the injured Brock Purdy? And, how much better can the 49ers get once Purdy, George Kittle, and others return from the injured list? Tafur shares updates on the Niners and previews their matchup with the Buccaneers.🦴 What’s the latest with the Cleveland Browns QB situation now that Joe Flacco has been traded? Jason Lloyd stops by Scoop City to share why the Browns must move on from Shedeur Sanders. And, Lloyd offers an opinion on why Sanders is still on the Browns.🦁 Should Jared Goff be getting MVP considerations? The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy shares why Goff is at the top of his game even with the coordinator change. Pouncy also previews the Lions’ matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. How do the Lions plan to stop Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and company?🐻 Can the Chicago Bears upset the Washington Commanders? The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain shares how Ben Johnson has approached this matchup against Jayden Daniels. And, Fishbain discusses the progression of the Bears’ offense after the first quarter of the season.☑️ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all things NFL with Scoop City.💬 Drop your predictions for Week 5 in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 8, 2025 • 43min

Why the Chiefs & Patrick Mahomes no longer intimidate teams

🏈 What’s the latest with the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive struggles? Can Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and company get in sync on a short week against the New York Giants? Are the Kansas City Chiefs in a must-win game versus the Detroit Lions? Why are they struggling this early in the season? Can Joe Flacco save the Cincinnati Bengals' season? And will the Indianapolis Colts' magical run continue?🎤 Scoop City returns with the latest insight ahead of all the Week 6 action from around the NFL. The first stop is in Philadelphia ahead of their Thursday night matchup with the Giants. The Eagles are 4-1, but they’ve struggled offensively under new OC Kevin Patullo. The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini and Scoop City co-host James Palmer bring you inside Philly's offensive struggles.🤔 Have the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes lost their fear factor? The three-time defending AFC champions are off to a slow start in 2025. And the sledding remains tough with the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions coming to KC. Is this a must-win game for Mahomes and company?🐅 The Cincinnati Bengals are also looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Bengals made a rare in-division trade for QB Joe Flacco as Joe Burrow continues to be sidelined with a turf toe injury. Russini and Palmer share how the trade went down. And, why did the Bengals not call the Giants when searching for a veteran QB?🐎Finally, are the Indianapolis Colts the real deal? Daniel Jones and Indy's offense are currently the most efficient in football. If the playoffs started today, the AFC would run through Indianapolis. Russini and Palmer share how the Colts have gone from a question mark to unquestionably one of the league's best.☑️ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all things NFL with Scoop City.💬 Drop your predictions for Week 6 in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 7, 2025 • 49min

Are Drake Maye & Stefon Diggs the new beast in the AFC East?

The New England Patriots, led by rookie quarterback Drake Maye and star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, pulled off a stunning upset over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Is this the beginning of a changing of the guard in the AFC East? The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini and former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel break down what made the Patriots’ victory so significant — and how Maye is quickly evolving into a franchise QB.In Philadelphia, Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos engineered a thrilling comeback win over the Eagles. Russini shares what she learned from her postgame conversation with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, while Daniel analyzes Nix’s performance and dissects a key two-point conversion using All-22 film. After suffering their first loss of the season, questions are starting to swirl around the Eagles’ offense and coaching staff.Meanwhile, in Baltimore, the Ravens are a team in turmoil. Can head coach John Harbaugh turn things around before it’s too late? Russini offers behind-the-scenes reporting from inside the organization, and Daniel draws on his NFL experience to explain what’s going wrong — and how players and coaches typically respond in times like these.Finally, is Dak Prescott the frontrunner for NFL MVP through five weeks? Daniel makes a strong case for the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, pointing to his efficiency, leadership, and big-play ability in critical moments. If Prescott keeps playing at this level, the MVP conversation may be over sooner than expected.Don’t miss this in-depth Week 5 recap from Scoop City — your trusted source for insider NFL reporting, quarterback analysis, and smart, film-driven breakdowns. Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 3, 2025 • 1h 5min

Can Stefon Diggs spoil Josh Allen’s perfect season?

🎤Scoop City returns to take you inside the NFL with host James Palmer. The Athletic's senior writer for the Ravens, Jeff Zrebiec joins us live from the Ravens practice facility in Owings Mills to share the latest on the panic meter in Baltimore after the teams 1-3 start to the season.🎯The Athletic's staff writer for the Giants, Charlotte Carroll joins us outside the practice facility in East Rutherford to talk with James about how New York plans for Jaxson Dart's second game as the starter and how the team plans to adjust the offense with the loss of WR Malik Nabers.🤕 The Athletic's senior writer for the Commanders, Nicki Jhabvala joins us from Commanders practice, where they are dealing with a host of injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is expected to return this week after missing two weeks with a knee sprain, but will be without some key weapons in the passing game.🦬Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic's staff writer for the Bills joins us ahead of Buffalo's AFC East showdown with the Patriots on Sunday Night. Joe and James discuss the issues with the Bills defense, the importance of James Cook and how Josh Allen continues to play at an MVP Level.☑️The Athletic's senior writer for the Patriots, Chad Graff joins us from Gillette Stadium as the Patriots prepare for the Bills. Drake Maye is looking to build on his week 4 performance and Chad discusses WR Stefon Diggs emotional return to Buffalo.🐆 Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead joins Dianna Russini and James Palmer to talk about the Jags 3-1 start to the season. Armstead discusses new head coach Liam Coen's personality, Travis Hunter's preparation and the how the Jags defense is getting so many turnovers.📈 Finally, senior Fantasy writer Jake Ciely joins James Palmer to get your lineup set for week 5. Jake shares what players have great matchups this week, the best waiver wire targets and if you should buy into Darren Waller's breakout performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 2, 2025 • 55min

Does Lamar Jackson’s injury cripple Ravens season?

What does Lamar Jackson’s injury mean for the Baltimore Ravens and the AFC North? Why are the Cleveland Browns handing the keys to Dillon Gabriel? Is Jaxson Dart’s playing style a concern for the New York Giants? Will Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones try to extend George Pickens? And is there hope for struggling teams?Scoop City returns to take you inside the NFL with The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini and co-host James Palmer. What’s the timetable for Jackson’s hamstring injury, and what does it mean for the AFC North? Russini has the latest intel on the Ravens quarterback.Plus, find out what went into the Browns’ decision to bench Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel and why Shedeur Sanders is still third on Cleveland's QB depth chart.The Athletic’s senior NFL writer Mike Sando joins to break down the AFC North and discuss Dart’s playing style. Should the Giants be concerned about the rookie quarterback putting himself in harm’s way? Sando shares the latest from New York and around the league. Plus, friend of the show Mike Silver visits Scoop City fresh off a trip to Dallas. The Athletic’s senior NFL writer shares stories from his conversation with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Silver takes you behind the scenes of the reaction to Micah Parsons' return to Dallas.Finally, Chris Branch of The Pulse is back with two burning questions: Is there any hope for teams currently struggling early in the season? Russini and Palmer tackle that one. Plus, how do you get picky toddlers to actually eat? Russini and Palmer share their best parenting tips with Branch.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all things NFL with Scoop City.Drop your predictions for Week 5 in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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