The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Accompanied reading: Dane on Zereoue Williams https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7749432/2026/11/04/nfl-draft-2027-ol-prospects-utah-zereoue-williams/College football fans have had November 7 circled since the summer, and with good reason. On paper, this has long looked like the best weekend of the season. Some matchups didn't quite hold up—looking at you, Oregon and Ohio State—but others, such as Kentucky and Tennessee, stepped up to fill the void. Either way, this weekend is stacked with games featuring massive 2027 NFL Draft class talent on both sides. Dane Brugler and Dave Helman give you a primer on what you should be watching from a draft perspective this Saturday on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast.Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowCo-Hosts: Dave Helman and 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 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, LLC

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, LLC

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, LLC

Vikings-Lions, Ravens-Bills, Browns-Steelers and Falcons-Bucs early. Chiefs-Broncos late. Bears-Seahawks on Monday night. On paper, Week 8 looks like the best slate of the season to date. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman give it the preview treatment 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

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, LLC

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, LLC

Accompanied reading: Popper’s NFL trade big board https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7664102/2026/10/22/nfl-trade-deadline-board-players-available/The Indianapolis Colts officially kicked off trade season by sending Quenton Nelson to Seattle and DeForest Buckner to San Francisco. The train will keep on rolling all the way through the trade deadline on November 10, and it could be a busy trade cycle yet again. Daniel Popper joins Robert Mays to look back at the trades that have happened, and ahead to what might be coming, 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