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A wave of backup quarterbacks is thrust onto the field with starting jobs on the line. Brian Baldinger reveals which unproven passer has the guts to steal the spotlight.

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00:00We're just about 13 hours away from Thursday Night Football here in Maryland.
00:07The Ravens hosting the Jags on Thursday Night Football.
00:11There's a lot of intrigue heading into this game.
00:12Obviously, Ravens down to their third-string quarterback.
00:15There's some health issues with the backfield in Jacksonville.
00:20I saw you tweeted a couple days ago at Ball of the NFL that the Jags love their backfield with
00:26Basial Tootin and Chris Rodriguez.
00:28Rodriguez might have a big role tonight if Tootin can't go.
00:31Talk about tonight's game.
00:33Well, I mean, Jacksonville's on a pretty good role, and the backs did play well.
00:37I mean, they completely blew out the Indianapolis Colts, whether it was in the screen game where they both scored
00:42touchdowns or, you know, busting some big runs.
00:45I mean, they were the difference in the game, and they played well up front.
00:48They played, you know, the young rookie left guard, Emmanuel Pregnant, has played really well.
00:53Milam has come in at right guard the last two weeks and played well.
00:55So, they're playing good up front, and Trevor's played the best football he's ever played.
01:00But I thought the running game was really good last week.
01:03So, you know, they've got other players.
01:05Rodriguez, they loved him, you know, coming from Washington, and they loved him coming out of Kentucky.
01:11And so, they were excited to sign him during free agency this year.
01:16So, he's produced pretty well for them.
01:17And you know what, this is a spot generally where, if you're Baltimore with a third-string quarterback, you would
01:23lean on the run game and Derrick Henry.
01:25But they're basically facing a brick-wall defense in the Jags, top-rated in the league at stopping the run.
01:31How do you approach this if you're Baltimore with a green quarterback?
01:35Stud running back has had a hard time getting it going over the last two or three weeks.
01:39What's the game plan?
01:40Well, you know, you've got to look at Jacksonville's loss to Vaughn Hamilton.
01:46He's their best defensive tackle.
01:48They lost him for the season last week.
01:49So, that's going to be a big loss inside.
01:53You know, Baltimore's adjusting to a new offensive line.
01:56They've had a juggle now.
01:57You know, Cam Juergen's back at center, but you want him out at right guard.
02:01He's going to be out for a little while.
02:02So, they're not as good up front as they have been.
02:06But they've got to get Derrick Henry going.
02:08I mean, he's kind of like the bread and butter right now, especially with, you know,
02:12a young rookie quarterback with no experience and, you know, limited opportunities last week
02:17to really throw the ball.
02:18But, you know, they also went an entire game without targeting, say, Flowers.
02:23I mean, he's basically their best player.
02:25So, you've got to figure out a way to get the ball into his hands.
02:28And there's a lot of different ways to do it, even with that quarterback making his first start.
02:31You've got to get – he's the guy that produces over and over again.
02:35You put the ball in his hands.
02:36And so, I don't think it could just be Derrick Henry getting going.
02:39He's got to play better.
02:40They've got to get him going.
02:41They've got to get him some creases where he can use that speed and size of his
02:45to start trucking some people.
02:47But, you know, they've got to get Zay Flowers involved in the offense.
02:50They do.
02:50Baldy, let's get your thoughts on a pretty big one here.
02:54One o'clock.
02:55Rams coming to town.
02:57Rams are 4-4.
02:58I think Rams right now currently are 8th or 9th in the conference.
03:02So, you know, these games are big for them if they want to jump back into the playoff picture.
03:05Kind of like must-win games for both.
03:07Kind of must-win, yeah.
03:09Commanders out both defensive tackles for the year.
03:12Ken Law out.
03:13Payne out.
03:15They've got six or seven guys out for the starters out for the year.
03:19So, the injuries are just mounting.
03:21So, your thoughts on this matchup?
03:24Well, it's, you know, they played without them last week.
03:28And they played well against Philadelphia.
03:29And that's Philadelphia with some pedestrian backs that were in there.
03:33They're pretty wounded.
03:34I don't know how healthy Saquon was.
03:37But, you know, outside of the first quarter, they shut them completely down.
03:40But you're going to see really two good backs.
03:43And Blake Corum, who started last week.
03:44And Kyron Williams, they both scored.
03:47They both averaged, you know, close to five yards a carry, if not five yards a carry per year.
03:51They're good up front.
03:52I mean, it's the same offensive line that, you know, went to the NFC Championship game a year ago.
03:58It's the same five guys.
04:00And their tight ends are good blockers.
04:02And they've been leaning on the run game heavily, especially since Devontae Adams went down.
04:07But, you know, you've got to figure out a way to stop Puka.
04:10And then you've got two good backs coming at you.
04:13So, you know, Sonny Stiles and Frank Lugu, you know, and Shai Tuttle and the guys up front,
04:19they've got to play big in this game, Sonny, if they want to try and stack a win and get
04:23back into the race.
04:24The Rams won two in a row to get back there.
04:26They got a little healthier.
04:27They got Trent McDelfie back last week.
04:29I thought he made a big difference against the Chargers.
04:31He got himself an interception.
04:32Made a bunch of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
04:35He was super aggressive against the run.
04:38So, they're getting healthier in the back end right now.
04:41And we'll see about Myles Garrett.
04:44I don't know if he's going or not going.
04:46I know he's starting to practice.
04:48So, they're going to get better.
04:49But they've got to stay in the race.
04:50So, they need this win every bit as bad as the commanders do.
04:54And I think for the commanders to do it, I just think Jalen Daniels, I think Jaden's just got to
04:59play a little bit better.
05:00I mean, he's got to turn the ball over, which is good.
05:03But, you know, he's going to have to probably, as much as they probably don't want him to, he's probably
05:07going to have to take off and run quite a bit in this game against the Rams.
05:10Do you give the Eagles any chance at home to beat the Giants?
05:15Eagles are making another quarterback move.
05:18They're going to go to Joe Milton.
05:20Well, Joe Milton, to my knowledge, has never started a game.
05:25He came off the bench last year against the Giants and played Week 18.
05:31I mean, other than that, he's never started.
05:33He's got a big arm.
05:34He's been there for 19 days right now.
05:36It'll be almost three weeks when they play the game Sunday.
05:39I think it's the first time the Giants have been favored in Philly in, I don't know, like 15, like
05:44a long time, over a decade.
05:47So, but, you know, they're coming off a bye.
05:49They played their best game.
05:50They played in a long time in Houston when the last time they played.
05:52I mean, I think the Giants are a better overall team.
05:55But maybe Joe Milton just needs a chance to play.
05:58I talked to guys when he was up in New England, and they said he ran the scout team up
06:03there, and they were really impressed by not just his arm, his arm as a cannon, but just his overall
06:09composure and how he competed and how he gave the defense good looks.
06:14I know it's, you know, it's practice, but there is a lot.
06:17There is skills there.
06:19He doesn't always hit the moving target, but there is skills.
06:22He's got a big arm.
06:23The Eagles don't have much speed on offense, but if he, maybe he just shocks people, because I think he's
06:29probably better than Cole Payton and better than anybody else they have right now.
06:33Tanner McKee, I think they've seen the best of him.
06:34So they're looking to the future right now.
06:37They've got their fingers crossed that maybe Joe Milton can deliver.
06:40Brian Baldinger is brought to you by Nationwide.
06:43Nationwide is so much more than a great insurance company.
06:45They're one of America's largest financial services companies, too.
06:49Nationwide is on your side.
06:51So the NFL is going international again.
06:53Could be a fun one from Madrid.
06:55Bengals take on the Falcons.
06:58We saw the Bengals just humming last week.
07:00Burrow responsible for six total touchdowns against the Titans.
07:04The Falcons just suffered an embarrassing loss.
07:08Baker Mayfield attempted three passes, didn't complete any of them, yet they still won the game against the Falcons 16
07:14-0.
07:15Do the Falcons have a chance in this one against the Bengals?
07:18Well, I mean, as long as there's not a monsoon that was, you know, hitting them in Tampa, where, you
07:24know, basically the Bucs said, we're not going to throw it.
07:26We'll just run it.
07:27They did for throwing 24 yards.
07:30The Bucs are playing really good in the trenches right now.
07:34As good as anybody in the trenches.
07:35Their offense line is healthy.
07:37They've been the same group for the last three years.
07:39Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell have had two really good back-to-back games, and so Baker hasn't had to do
07:46much.
07:47And Tampa's defense is quietly.
07:49They lead the league in interceptions.
07:51It helps that they got four against Penix last week.
07:54But their defensive front has played really well.
07:57They've been tough to run against for much of the season.
08:00So they've got a lot going for them.
08:02They need a monster game from Bijon.
08:04That's how they won two games this year, with Bijon just going off and Drake London having big games.
08:09If those two guys don't produce together, I don't think the Falcons have any chance in Spain this weekend.
08:17Baldy, can I go back to something you said about Jaden Daniels?
08:20Because I know that you break down the film, and you, on your Twitter, broke down the touchdown pass to
08:26Diggs.
08:27When you say he's got to play better, what are you seeing on film, week in and week out, that
08:32Jaden needs to work on?
08:33I think he's not throwing the ball like we saw him when he was Offensive Rookie of the Year two
08:39years ago.
08:40I think he's missing some receivers and missing some reads right now.
08:43I think there's improvement there.
08:45I know he's taking care of the football, which is good.
08:48I don't believe he's thrown an interception to this date.
08:50But regardless, I just think maybe he's not making some throws because he doesn't want to do that
08:57and knows he can't put his team in a negative situation like that.
09:00But I think he's got to be aggressive, and he's got to be a little bit more accurate with the
09:04ball
09:04when there's opportunities there.
09:07Do you give the commanders a chance to win the division?
09:17Nice hesitation there.
09:19It's such a bad division, though.
09:21The division's terrible.
09:22That's the only reason why I answer the question.
09:24There's no question.
09:26And so Dallas is a mess, but Dallas beat them.
09:31Philadelphia beat them.
09:31So they're a little bit behind in the division right now with at least two losses and a tie.
09:38So they've got to win the division.
09:41And so they're way behind the Giants right now.
09:44And they've got to start sacking some wins.
09:46You can't keep winning a game, losing two, or losing three.
09:51So I feel like it's there, but you can't wait any longer.
09:55It's going to be November 8th.
09:56You can't wait anymore and lose a game like this this weekend at home.
10:01I know the Rams are a good team.
10:04Not a great record, but they're still a good team.
10:07But this would be the type of win.
10:09It's a little bit like when Seattle came to town,
10:12and you beat Seattle in the third week of the season.
10:14And that was the biggest win in a long time.
10:17And they did it by taking the ball away three times that day,
10:20and they beat a good team.
10:22It's very similar.
10:23The Rams can turn it over.
10:25They've got the interceptions.
10:28They've laid the ball on the ground a bunch.
10:30They're going to have to have that type of game where Sonny Stiles, Lugo,
10:35those guys are punching the ball out, taking the ball away.
10:39Maybe even a pick six like Medrano got against Seattle.
10:42That could probably help.
10:43But I give them a chance if they can win this game this weekend.
10:47Talking to Brian Baldinger, analyst for NFL Network.
10:51You can follow his breakdowns at BaldyNFL.
10:53So I know what BDE is.
10:55What's BBA?
10:59A BBA is the Brock Bowers effect, I believe.
11:03Yes, that's who you coined it.
11:05Yeah.
11:06Yeah, that guy, he's always open.
11:08Well, the Jets didn't cover him on one touchdown,
11:10so that was on them.
11:12But, you know, they did cover him some other times.
11:14And, you know, the guy just is an unbelievable route runner.
11:18He can catch the ball with one hand with either hand,
11:20like he did for one touchdown with his right hand,
11:22holding off the defender with his left hand.
11:25You know, I'm going to see the game in San Francisco this weekend.
11:27Again, I don't know how the 49ers are going to match up against him.
11:30I know this.
11:31You can never go wrong by targeting him.
11:33That guy is worth 15 or 20 targets a game just because of just how elusive he is,
11:39the type of route runner he is, and just how good he is after the catch.
11:45Do you have any thoughts on it?
11:48It looks like Shador is going to get an opportunity to start with the Sean
11:51in the concussion protocol.
11:53And I have to preface this by saying I root for Shador.
11:55I just think he's a nice kid.
11:57And I see some ability there.
11:59He doesn't have a big arm or anything, but he makes progressions,
12:02and he makes some plays.
12:03And a lot of people are very anti-Shador.
12:05They just really do not like this kid.
12:07So I root for him.
12:09Do you give him any shot to impress anybody if he gets an opportunity this week?
12:14He's going to have a great opportunity this weekend.
12:16You know, if he goes out there and plays well, takes care of the football,
12:19and they produce offensively.
12:21No, look, I'm not bashing Deshaun.
12:23He's played really well.
12:24He's a second-leading rusher.
12:25He's gotten out of harm's way a bunch.
12:27They've got two rookie offensive linemen out there, a brand-new offensive lineman.
12:30He's had to rescue a lot of plays, and he's made a lot of plays,
12:34especially down the stretch late in fourth quarters to win games.
12:38But I feel like the job – the good thing is Shador got a lot of work in preseason.
12:44They rotated days.
12:45Shador took a day.
12:46Watson took a day.
12:47And then they made a decision.
12:49But he got a lot of work in the preseason.
12:51But it's not like they're not good on third downs.
12:54They turn the ball over too much.
12:56There are some things that if he can come in there and play error-free football
13:01and get the ball to Casey Kitschepshel and Denzel Boston and Harold Fannin and they win,
13:07maybe he plays himself into a job or at least makes it a difficult discussion for Todd Munkin
13:12after a good play by Shador and a good win.
13:18Baldy, do you think the Bears right now are the best team in the NFC?
13:24Well, I'd like to see the Packers with Micah Parsons healthy and see what they look like
13:29because I think they could give them a run for the money.
13:33And I'd like to see Detroit right now as they get healthier and what they did in Minnesota last week.
13:38I don't think it's just because they went to Seattle and they thumped them pretty good
13:42and they got Jeffrey Simmons and he looks like the newest monster of the Midway.
13:47I think that's a very tough division.
13:49And surviving that division is probably going to feel like a playoff game every time they play each other.
13:55So while they were very impressive and they're very well coached,
14:01I think other teams in that division are very, very good too.
14:05So I'm not ready to anoint them just yet.

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