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The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
Half-baked takes for the 2026 season
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Here’s a simple recipe for baking a take: 1. Have a thought or feeling. 2. Look up facts, stats, etc to support or disprove that thought or feeling. 3. Ponder the scope of the thought or feeling (a day, a season, a decade). 4. Mix in some outside opinions. 5. Enjoy your take. For this episode, we’re stopping about halfway through step two. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, and Dave Helman share their half-baked takes for the 2026 season.
0:00 Welcome to the show
2:52 Coby Bryant injury
7:10 Baltimore Ravens & Maxx Crosby/Trey Hendrickson
13:56 DaVonta Smith
19:31 San Francisco 49ers & Ricky Pearsall
27:55 Washington Commanders & Jayden Daniels
31:29 Mike McDaniel
34:12 Houston Texans
42:17 Field goals
47:47 Los Angeles Rams
54:10 Natural grass fields
57:46 Picking playoff teams
1:03:17 New Orleans Saints
1:06:21 Dak Prescott
Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch
Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_
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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Week 8 hangover: Rams get right, Jets impress in a loss & Patriots escape
01:02:11|Week 8 was the strangest to date this NFL season, so perhaps it's fitting that we kick off this episode of The Athletic Football Show with one of the more unlikely Hangover games of the season: the battle of Los Angeles between the Rams and Chargers. From there, Derrik Klassen and special guest Dan Pizzuta dive into the Las Vegas Raiders' win over the New York Jets, and the New England Patriots' slog of a victory over the Miami Dolphins.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowHost: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLCJeffery Simmons' Bears dominate Seahawks 34-17
43:39|There are immediate dividends, and there's what Jeffery Simmons did for the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Simmons and the defense shut down the Seattle Seahawks offense, D'Andre Swift scored three touchdowns, and the Bears cruised to a 34-17 win. Robert Mays, Dave Helman and Charles McDonald recap the game on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLCWeek 8 recap: Broncos stunner, WTF Bengals & another lost Ravens season
01:48:13|The Kansas City Chiefs were one quarter away from taking a commanding lead in the AFC West. Then the Denver Broncos scored 15 straight points, came up with a goal-line stand as the clock struck zeroes, and notched a dramatic comeback win to move to the top of the division. That's where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, and Dave Helman begin the Week 8 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. From there, the guys discuss Lamar Jackson's thumb injury, the Detroit Lions' huge win over the Minnesota Vikings, the bizarre back-and-forth between the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning a game without a single pass completion, the latest massive Dallas Cowboys disappointment, and a whole lot more.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowHost: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLCWeek 8 Preview: The most loaded slate of the season
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32:10|Behind a dominant defense and a big first half from Jordan Love and the passing game, the Green Bay Packers took care of the Carolina Panthers, 27-19, to kick off Week 8. Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen recap the game on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLCThe Bears are going for it, make blockbuster trade for Jeffery Simmons
24:35|In case there was any doubt, the Chicago Bears have officially announced that they believe their Super Bowl window is open. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman break down the team's blockbuster acquisition of DT Jeffery Simmons on this emergency episode of The Athletic Football Show. Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowHost: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLCTrade season is upon us
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Which college receivers are flying up NFL Draft boards?
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