Drew Brees is 'SHOCKED' the Eagles are 5-2 😱 'They're middle of the pack' | First Take

Cowboys blew out the commanders on Sunday 44 to 22 and Dallas's offense was cooking. Dak Prescott threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. While Stevie Lamb made big plays in his return. 110 yards for him, including a 74-yard catch and run to the end zone. And the Dallas defense finally showed up. The Dallas D forced two turnovers, including a pick six from Daron Blant.

Stephen A finally back in the building, you know, Cam kind of called you out yesterday a little bit because you know, the Cowboys did well on Sunday, but do you really believe that Dallas can win the NFC East?

Hell no.

It's real fun. Because, first of all, I want to thank the Dallas Cowboys because they have looked very, very impressive offensively. I have Dak Prescott right now as a leading candidate for league MVP honors. The way that he's playing right now. He's playing great.

He's been absolutely, 71% completions and seventy yards a game. All right. Thirteen touchdowns no interception a pass a rating of one twenty eight over his last He's been sensational. He's earning his money. He's showing what he does.

Let's give props to Jerry Jones from the standpoint you pay in the man sixty million dollars. Jerry Jones ego wants that man That's right. because he wants that investment justified, you see. And so that offsets letting Micah Parsons walk out of the building. I know exactly how Jerry Jones is thinking, okay?

So we understand that. But Dak Prescott, and then you got cast like Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, Devontae Williams, give him some love. He's giving you production out of the running back spot. Their offense is prolific. Their defense is trash.

We all know this, okay? Their defense is not impressive at all, and you know when you, when you think about what we said about the conversation we just had about Detroit, think about the conversation we just had about Seattle, think about what we've said about the Rams, we know that we can't dismiss the Eagles. Please, you got to overcome all of that. It ain't gonna happen.

But I like the conversation. You understand? Because as I complete, as I, as CeCe, I keep telling people all the time, see, I don't want you to fall from here. See, I want you up here. I want you up here. I want you up here.

So you want him to have a little bit of hope.

You want a little bit of hope for the Dallas Cowboys fans.

I don't want you falling off the roof. Yes. You understand? I want the Cowboy fans. I see him now. I see him now. You know we're going to the Super Bowl next year, right? I see it now.

I see it.

And you hear him talking and you just see that the chest is sticking out. We got a good team. We're the NFC East.

Look at him. I see it.

You see what we just did? and Cameron him yesterday. Just be patient. Just wait. I ain't been wrong in 29 years. And it's going to be 30. It's going to be 30.

Just wait for it.

It's going to come. Just be patient. That's all I'm going to say. Well, Stephen, the question wasn't can the Dallas Cowboys win the Super Bowl.

It's can they win the NFC East.

And I said, well, listen, I'm not feeling that. I'm not feeling that because of the defense, seriously, because of their defense.

Well, okay, Stephen A.

But offensively, they can beat anybody.

They can beat anybody.

The defense isn't great, but the defense was better on Sunday

against the commanders.

Are we going to ignore that McLauren wasn't out there, or Brown wasn't out there, Devo Samuels out there? primary weapons for the Washington commanders were all gone. We just got to ignore that CC.

Stephen A, Terry McLaurin ain't played in a while now. So I mean, I understand we're using that excuse. I get where you're going. But the defensive line still had four sacks on Jaden Daniels. They still knocked out the opposing quarterback and they still had a pick six.

Well if you ain't got nobody to throw the ball at. Oh, the pick six for Marietta really? That's what we do. I mean, that's what you do.

It's still a challenge.

That's what we do.

I mean,

it's

still

a challenge.

It's still

a big fix.

Is it in the box score?

Is it on the scoreboard?

It's still a challenge.

It's still a challenge.

It's still huge ad. And here's the deal. The Dallas Cowboys just have to keep from discounting themselves before the trade deadline. Because if this team can hover right where they're at, be around 500 and have Dak and that offense playing the way that they're

playing, then Jerry Jones can be validated and continuing to invest in this team by trading for a piece for the defensive side of the ball. Remember after the Michael Parsons trade, Jerry said with that draft capital that he was willing to add to this team this year. It wasn't about it just being a move for 2026 and beyond. He said he would invest in this team this year. They

got a road game against the Denver Broncos and then at home against the Arizona Cardinals. If they can split those games going into their bye week in the trade deadline. I don't expect this Dallas Cowboys team and this defense to remain as constituted. Last thing, the NFC East, the last two decades hasn't had a repeat champ. Right? And the Dallas Cowboys offense is the most dominant unit

in all three phases of football of any team in that division. For sure. I will roll with the Dallas Cowboys having a chance to win the NFC East off of that alone.

Well, I'm shocked. I'm shocked by you as well. Because I thought you was going to slow play this. I thought you would be I thought you would just let it be. I'll absolutely try to encourage the Cowboy fans to buy in more.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. to buy in more. They are. They are. They are at that point now. I don't have to do that. I don't have to do that because they're at that point. They're already in there. They're already in there. They're already stirred up. Hook, line, and sink. Because I'm on the same thing with you.

Defense wins championships, and I think offenses, although as MVP level. I think they are lights. I think Javante Williams has done their offensive line is

good and they've been banged up and they're still good.

The Cowboys can run the ball better than the Eagles can.

Yeah, that's right, but that don't make any sense.

Here's the problem.

It doesn't.

I'm with you on that one. Yeah, I can't understand that.

I don't understand that. the ball doesn't bounce your way offensively. You're not gonna get, you know what I mean? And so it's gonna get cold, or you're gonna have bad days. It's not, you know, Dax not gonna be as, or the receiver's not gonna, it's gonna hit a hand, get tip ball, whatever it is. I just think at some point you have to rely on your defense.

Now I will say this, I love the fact that there's reporting that Schottenheimer, their head coach, went into the defensive meeting rooms this week and was just like, listen, be aggressive. Because at least if we give up a big play, we're putting the ball back in Dak's hand. But instead of the six or seven minute drive that they punch in late,

and it's just like defeating for your team, right? Because now you gotta speed up your offense. I just think it's really, and I've played on some of the best offenses in NFL history. It is really hard to stay that efficient throughout 17 games because you're going to run into some buzzsaw defenses and like I looked at their schedule like like you said

that they come off that by and they play the Raiders. So that's a bit, but then they buy week Eagles Chiefs Lions Vikings Chargers commanders Giants, right? Like that's not a their offense is going to have to carry them. And I'm just not sure, because their defense against those matchups

is going to be tough. I just think it's going to be a tough.

I want to say this, too. Let me just veer left and say this about the Washington Commanders. They've messed up their season. You move on from Brian Robinson Jr. Austin Eckler gets hurt and he's lost for the year week to torn Achilles, right? I'm just looking at this Jada Daines.

He's missed a couple of games this year. You got the whole three set. Let's not three receivers out.

But let's not forget how they handled the Terry McLaurin contract negotiation. He's missing time in the preseason. And the correlation to not being acclimated to football

being injured early on exactly because that's where the quad injury comes from so it's like you know He's missed four games ready. They really messed up up They they took the Washington commander should be a lesson for for a lot of NFL teams out there They took for granted what happened last year you had a rookie who established himself as a star And you thought you could play games, because you had that security blanket. They've messed up the season.

I'm blaming their front office for what has happened to the Washington commanders this season, more so than anything else. Because like you pointed out, with Terry McLaurin, negotiations, you've got to take into account, y'all know this better than me, you've

got to take into account being in football shape, being in a proper condition, in your eyes, course, your teeth doing everything you can that maximize to meet your potential and have yourself ready and they let business get in the way of business. And now it's it's messing with them on the football field.

It's disappointing that you for sure and Daniels being injured again. He and Drake made the two. They're the most fun quarterbacks to watch but man, you hold your breath every play, right? Because they'll put themselves in harm's way man. Take unnecessary shots to get the ball and ultimately your body pays. I mean, you know, they like it availability at the quarterback

position is a must and him being banged up. It's just hard to get rhythm when you're starting guy can't be there Jeff. I

might need you to check his his cup of coffee. It's got a

little something.

Listen, it's actually a take that I agree with. Is it the medicine at the big day?

It's actually the take that I agree with.

The Nats have finally kicked their offense into gear this weekend against the Vikings. AJ Brown and Devontae Smith combined for over 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns. And Jalen Hurts became just the third QB in Eagles history to finish a game with a perfect passer rating and help Philly earn the 28 to 22 win postgame. Saquon Barkley broke it down for all the Philly haters. The only thing that matters is winning

football game and however it looks like people, I don't get it. Like people get caught up in how winning looks like winning is supposed to be our team versus their team. We have more points than them when the clock is at zero. And if it's Jalen dropping back 75% of the time, you know, if that's what it takes, that's what it takes. If it's us running the ball 75%,

that's what it takes, that's what it takes. Like, obviously, you will love some type of balance. We all will love, you know, to he have 200, blah, blah, blah, it's not the reality. It's not me. This isn't Sims. This isn't Madden. This is real life. So whatever it looks like, that's the only thing that matters. Whatever it looks like to win the football game, that's what we're going to keep doing.

Saquon Barkley making it clear right there that the only thing that matters is getting in that win column. Drew, I'll start with you. I know you called that Eagles offense vanilla a couple of weeks ago, but it's too much being made about the Eagles offensive struggles.

Look, it is about winning. Um, and, and I'll be honest, I'm shocked that they're five and two based on how they've played. They are a middle of the pack offense and they're a middle of the pack defense right now. And I think shockingly, statistically, they are the 30th ranked rushing offense in the league. Would you have ever thought that the Philadelphia Eagles with the best back in football and

one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in football, one of the best old lines in football would be the 30th ranked rush defense. And they've got two of the most explosive receivers in the league. Here's what I see when I turn on the Philly tape.

I see a team who has gone so far from what was their identity. Man in the past it was man we are run first and we are either handing it off to this guy with a light box because somebody has

to account for the quarterback or Jalen Hurts is going to pull it and he's going to run or he's going to throw an RPO because we have favorable numbers on the edge and we're going to get in these playmakers hands. And we're just going to sit there and dent the defense and we're going to control the clock. And then the point totals will, will, will reflect that. And then the defense isn't going to be out there as long, but it's hard not to turn them on and say, man, they just don't look like what they've done in the past.

And maybe they're just shifting their mindset. It looks like they're just trying to put Jalen in the gun, do a lot more drop back passing, and give him the opportunities just to read the defense and throw the football. And if that's what they wanna do, that's fine.

But I just don't think it's as good as they could be. And I think that's what we need to focus on here is. Yeah, you're winning games. But are you as good as you could be when you have the top 10 highest paid guys on

your team on offense?

Well,

let me and you are the 30th ranked rushing offense in the league. And you're just like squeaking out games. Like to me, that's not that's not the roster that you built.

Let me say this to you all. First of all I love having Drew I appreciate the expertise and I love my man Jeff Saturday as well because damn it I never I learned from listening to I'm brilliant because I know I'm

I listen to those who are and I steal knowledge from y'all.

That's what I do all the time.

OK. I'm a thief, all right? That's what I am. Having said all of that, from a reporter's perspective, from a pundit's perspective, you... I want Saquon Barkley to understand that when you hear something like that, that is not what people want to hear. And let me tell you why, Drew, that matters. And let me tell you why, Jeff, that matters so much.

You rushed for 2,005 yards last year. Right. What you're doing this year, the average running back can do. You ain't average. You're Saquon Barkley. And so I understand that winning is important, but you know what? One of my favorite saying is, Drew, you don't know this, but you're about to learn. One of my favorite saying is don't let it be you. Don't let it be you.

Make sure that when we're looking at struggles. Make sure that when we're looking at a lack of production, make sure that when we're looking at things that may derail our objective in terms of winning a championship, we ain't looking at you and saying that's the reason why. Now we know there's more that goes into it. You know, you gotta block for the man, we get that.

You gotta throw the football effectively. You gotta have a balanced attack. Last game against Minnesota, they ran the ball 23 times, they threw the ball 23 times. We get it. In games where Devontae Smith and A.J. Brown have scored a touchdown, the Eagles are undefeated 12-0. We get all of that, right? But when we look at the reigning defending Super Bowl champions, we know that doesn't happen last year if Saquon Barkley doesn't have the kind of season that he had, that if he doesn't instill the kind of fear in the opposition that he instilled in them. Nobody's expecting a back-to-back 2,000-yard season,

but we don't expect you to be rushing for 2,005 yards and then halfway through the season, damn near, you're en route, you're on pace to rush for 900. We don't expect that kind of precipitous drop off. And when you're not acknowledging that there's a drop off and that's alarming and that's something that we gotta fix, I don't like that.

Because in the end, you're trying to gloss over the fact that it might not be you, but what your position requires and what your level of production has proven to be, it's not measuring up. And somehow, some way, that's gonna have to be fixed, especially when you look at Detroit, Seattle, San Fran, LA, etc. You know, you're going to have to do something. Hell, they're gonna have have to do better. If they go hold up the Dallas Cowboys and the NFC East. That's just the fact.

Yeah, I would say this. This to me is a very similar conversation that I had the end for the entire season last year about the Kansas City Chiefs, right? Everybody talked about they're not winning. They're not they're struggling to win. They're finding these weird

ways when they're blocking field goals or somebody's doink in one to making the Super Bowl, right? They don't win the Super Bowl, but they end up making it back. I find this a very similar situation. They have a new offensive coordinator and Kevin Patula. They're trying to figure that thing out. Everybody said,

hey, it's it's too boring. They throw they throw for, you know, three whatever and AJ has a hundred and Devante has a buck 50 or whatever his numbers are. It's just an insane day right against the Vikings when they're throwing. 83 yards. Yeah, I don't love them not being able to run the ball. So to Drew's point, the NFL would tell you, you have to be able to run the ball more proficiently to take it deep in the playoffs, but the Chiefs did it right. So so I think they

have not found their identity on offense quite yet. But let me say this. The reason I think we're making too big a deal of this is because of this. They have beaten the Cowboys. They have beaten the Chiefs. They have beaten the Rams. They beat the Bucks. They beat the Vikings all good teams, right now. They beat the Bucks. They beat the Vikings. All good teams, right? Now they lose to the Giants, you know, on a Thursday night, bad loss, and they lose to the Broncos in a tight one

against Denver, who I think is a very good football team. But if you're looking at this, when you're trying to find your identity, at least the winning is what the main goal is, right? Your main goal, you're accomplishing your main goal. Now, let's fix and add in the areas. We need to fix and improve to continue winning and when we get to December and we get to January, we find ways to win, but I don't think it's, you know, you throw out the baby with the

bathwater type thing. You're the main point of our game is to win. And if Andy Reed and Kansas City can do it this way and still find their way back to the Super Bowl. I don't doubt that Nick Sirianni and the Eagles can do the same. I just think it's going to take them time to find their full identity on offense and get this thing humming the way it was last year.

Drew, real quick. Last word on that.

The other thing to add is that the run if if you want, I understand if you started the season saying, hey, we need to get more out of the pass game. We want to get more opportunities out of the pass game. It doesn't mean that you just get up there and call more pass plays. Because the run game is what,

and the threat of the run game, and the fear around what you can do in the run game, is what sets up the past game. That's right. And so to me, they will have more opportunities in the past game to get it to these playmakers get more favorable matchups and get more out of the play action game. If they can run the ball better.

And can I say this one thing? I love what tree what Drew said earlier on was about the shotgun thing and I get it like a like teams go. They had this idea about this gun run, all this, it helps the right, when the rhythm of your run game can be helped tremendously by just going under center.

And I know that's not like, it's not popular. Nobody does it anymore, right? Like high schools don't do it much. Colleges don't do it. I'm just in for offensive line, for running backs, for court, it just helps you a lot. And right now, the one thing I would say that Drew emphasized

that I really like is, at some point, let's go play big boy ball. And let's do, if you feel like we need to find our, because you can change the way people can align to you and do things, because the back is actually, your quarterback's back is getting turned to the defense.

That does matter. Now, maybe Kevin Ptula doesn't want to do that. I don't really know, but I know this, as a guy who played in this league a long time, I was all about when Peyton, when we're under center, like it just matters for our run game and the productivity of play action behind that.

It opened up the field in a tremendous way. So I did love that point as well. All right, That's right. Look at the success that they're having. That's exactly right.

All right, I wanna switch gears for a moment. Drew, I know you have some news that came out today with your Youth Football League. Football in America, so let us know what's happening there.

But our Flag Football League, Football in America, which we built to be the gold standard of youth flag football, was acquired with Unrivaled Sports to continue to grow Youth Flag Football League for leagues for boys and girls throughout the country. Also to develop a tournament series to help with the international expansion of the game

to put together a really unique fun events just like Cooperstown has done for youth baseball. But as we build up to the 2028 Olympics where flag football will be a sanctioned event. We're so excited to be a part of that growth and putting that

together.

Hey Drew, at some point in time, man, you know, because this ain't the only show I do. I want to talk to you about that because flag football is incredibly popular.

It's growing.

It's big time and it's growing more and more every day and the NFL has been talking about that for a very long time And I think that's a subject that needs to be embraced and talking about even more So I definitely want to get it with together with you drew to really really talk about that and to put that out there because people Need to realize flag football is not going Real and it's incredibly popular. Yeah, and that's a huge partnership

Well flag football is becoming the the initial sport that every kid plays now. Like it used to be where you just put your kids in soccer at age four or five. Now it's flag football. Like it's truly the gateway sport to just every other sport. The athletic movements and skills that you learn from flag football cross over to every sport that you would ever want to play. So really it is something that's being totally embraced. Boys, girls, as like the initial sport that everybody plays.

I gotta admit though, I would like to see like, Drew Brees coaching and then he gets flagged, he gets penalized, you know what I'm saying? I wanna see that happen.

I haven't gotten a few.

I haven't gotten a few.

Coaches get back on the sideline.

Yeah, you know?

I love it. I love it.

No sideline warnings.