The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Look, we don't want to get bogged down in weekly referenda on Arch Manning. But when he has a game like that against a defense like Florida's, and when we have a special guest who was a P4 quarterback, we have no choice but to talk about him. So that's exactly where Dane Brugler, Dave Helman and Max Browne from The Athletic Live start this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast. The guys also discuss plenty of other quarterbacks in addition to Arch, extend a couple more Green Room invites, and place some draft prospects On the Radar.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowHost: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Dave Helman and Dane BruglerGuest: Max BrowneExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow 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, LLC

Just under a year ago, Chris Ballard made a "go big" trade for Sauce Gardner. Two wins and eleven losses later, he's going home. Jalen Hurts, meanwhile, is likely done for the season due to blood clots in his lungs. Those two huge pieces of news disrupted our typical rhythm, and are where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin the Week 6 Hangover. After that, the guys discuss the Panthers stance in the NFC and the bizarre game between the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowHost: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysTheme 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, LLC

We got a true Tale of Two Halves in the Week 6 MNF match between the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers. The Commanders could barely move the ball in the first half - a syndrome that seemed to rub off on the 49ers after halftime. Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen break down the drama, the key moments, and the eventual San Fran win.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 Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow 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, LLC

Six weeks ago, the Los Angeles Rams were not only the prohibitive favorite to win this season's Super Bowl. They were one of the biggest preseason favorites we've ever seen. Six weeks into the season, they're 2-4 and at the bottom of the NFC West after a shocking 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman consider just what has gone so wrong for the Rams on the Week 6 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Cowboys/Packers on Sunday Night Football, Caleb Williams' big return, the Texans' season-saving win over the Jaguars in London, and much 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, LLC

The Week 6 slate looks like a great regular season baseball team that doesn't quite have what it takes to get over the hump in October: a bunch of twos and threes, but no true ace. And so with that in mind, Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman eschewed Game of the Week and instead dove into six games that have our attention in the Week 6 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. After hitting on that group of games, the guys took a stroll down Sicko Street and considered a few things they want to know once we call it a week.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, LLC

Of all the Thursday night games, that was definitely one of them. Somehow, someway, the Denver Broncos knocked off the Seattle Seahawks in a game where their offense totaled 168 yards, 2.9 yards per play, 13 first downs, -0.09 EPA/play and a 26.2% success rate. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep into the insanity on this 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, LLC

Peter King is a man who needs no introduction in the world of sports media. He changed what it meant to be an NFL reporter, rising the ranks from beat writer covering the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1980s to one of the most well-known, widely read and influential national writers. In advance of the release of his latest book, "The Game," he sat down with Robert Mays to dive deep into his treasure trove of stories from 40 years of covering the NFL.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowHost: Robert MaysWith: Peter KingExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchTheme 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, LLC

Drew Mestemaker's latest outing has us ready to make some bold proclamations: he is QB1 in the 2027 NFL Draft. The week in college football was also highlighted by some of Georgia's best prospects - Chris Cole, KJ Bolden, and Gunner Stockton - impressing against Alabama. Plus, another trip to the QB corner and a look ahead to the prospects worth watching this weekend. Dave Helman and Dane Brugler dive into all of it on this episode of Building the Beast.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowCo-Hosts: Dave Helman & Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Follow Dane on X: @DPBruglerTheme 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, LLC

Week 5 in the NFL had everything you could want: overtime, on-the-fly scheme changes, defensive beatdowns, and a mid-game trade. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen pick up the leftovers from Sunday and deep dive into young quarterbacks, Marvin Harrison Jr, and an impressive new play caller.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDwHost: 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, LLC