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The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

What happened to the NFL's elite?

Chiefs, Ravens, Eagles and Lions; Chiefs, Ravens, Eagles and Lions. Look back over the last half-decade of the NFL, and you'll see those four teams at the top of the league, year in and year out. They're all such constants, in fact, that it seems we just chisel their names in stone into the playoff picture in August. But this year, the Eagles are sputtering their way into December, and the Chiefs, Ravens and Lions all could easily miss the playoffs. So, what happened to these assumed powerhouses? On this episode of The Athletic Football Show, Diante Lee from The Ringer hops on with Robert Mays to cover the issues for the Ravens, Eagles and Lions, and then former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitch Schwartz joins Robert to break down the problems for his old team, and whether they can come back from them this season.


Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

8:26 Detroit Lions

24:33 Philadelphia Eagles

36:34 Baltimore Ravens

48:06 Any overarching lessons?

59:40 Kansas City Chiefs


Connect with The Athletic Football Show

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Host: Robert Mays

With: Diante Lee and Mitch Schwartz

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

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 Derrik on X: @QBKlass

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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