The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

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/theathleticfootballshow

Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Senior Producer: Katy Duffy

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Mays

Co-Hosts: Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Senior Producer: Katy Duffy

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/theathleticfootballshow

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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've paid a ton of attention to this year's QB class, and with good reason, but the group of wide receivers who will hear their names called during the 2027 NFL Draft is strong at the top and deep, as well. Everyone knows about Jeremiah Smith and Charlie Becker, but their classmates are going to help them make this an intriguing draft at one of the most important positions in the NFL. Dane Brugler and Dave Helman dive deep into the receiver group on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast. The guys also discuss Dante Moore's future and take a look ahead to Week 9 on the college football landscape.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Co-Hosts: Dave Helman and Dane Brugler

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Senior Producer: Katy Duffy

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Follow Dane on X: @DPBrugler

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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

That the Pittsburgh Steelers have managed to find a way to 5-2 through seven weeks shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with the franchise. That they've done it with an interesting offense, though, is a bit of a twist off of what we've grown to expect from this team. That's were Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin this episode of The Athletic Football Show. After handling the Steelers' win over the New Orleans Saints, the guys dig into the Los Angeles Rams' 35-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Denver Broncos' 30-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen

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 Robert on X: @RobertMays

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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Things go from bad to worse for the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC East matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Injuries, hot seat questions, a lost season for Jalen Hurts, and now a defensive collapse. Is it time for a fire sale? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, and Dave Helman break it all down. Plus, oh yeah, the Cowboys defense showed up! And their run game came alive! Will it be enough for their season ahead? And we couldn't NOT talk about Jay-Z selecting himself for the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 7 brought us its fair share of impressive performances. The Cincinnati Bengals used a 35-point run in the second half to throttle the Baltimore Ravens. The Minnesota Vikings kept doing things their way and got to 6-0 with a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Going back to Thursday, the Chicago Bears won a thriller over the New England Patriots. Will any of those teams get seats at the TAFS Contenders Table? And what more did we learn in Week 7? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman break it all down on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 7 brings us the following...a matchup of the franchises that have won three of the last four Super Bowls; the hopeful return of Lamar Jackson in a huge AFC North matchup; a big showdown in the NFC North, which just might be the best division in football; the reeling Los Angeles Rams going on the road in a tougher-than-expected matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders; and a whole lot more. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman preview a loaded Week 7 slate on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb Williams and Drake Maye might have just given us a glimpse into the next decade of the NFL, and if they did, then we've got a great 10 years of football ahead of us. In this moment, though, the result was a 30-24 win for the Chicago Bears over the New England Patriots. Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen—along with a special guest joining from the streets of Chicago—recap the game on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Way back in division preview time, we considered what we'd be watching for the first month of the season with each of the 32 teams. Welp, we're now six weeks into the season. What better time to take stock of how we answered that question than right now? Robert Mays is joined by Fran Duffy from the ALLCITY Network to do just that on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/theathleticfootballshow

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Dave Helman and Dane Brugler

Guest: Max Browne

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Senior Producer: Katy Duffy

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/theathleticfootballshow

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen

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 Robert on X: @RobertMays

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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/theathleticfootballshow

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Senior Producer: Katy Duffy

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.