- 5/18/2025
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00:00What we do have right now, though, a slew of NFL marquee matchups to bring you here on this Tuesday morning with more released in the last 10 to 15 minutes or so, including the entirety of the seven game international NFL schedule for the 2025 campaign.
00:18DRS, it was a good day on a Monday if you are a fan or a backer of the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, much like yourself, because of all the games that we saw yesterday, five, four of them, or three of them featuring the Eagles, and then one more this morning, week 10 Monday night football, also including the birds.
00:41As you said, DRS, you host pro football today. You hate to be driving in that 1 p.m. Eastern time slot, trying to return to regional Philadelphia, not being able to consume the Eagles game on television.
00:54Well, just look at the docket right there. So many primetime games for the reigning Super Bowl champs.
01:02It's what we want to see, man, right? You want to see the best offense in football out there with superstars at every single position, which includes a Super Bowl MVP, a quarterback, the best running back,
01:09maybe in NFL history for one season last year in Saquon Barkley, talented duo, wide receivers, bringing back your tight end, and the best offensive line in football.
01:17The nation wants to see it. Now, here's what I want, too. You see those games, and of course, we talked about it yesterday, Cowboys-Eagles opening night.
01:24Think about this, right? The Cowboys, who can never win a championship, they're going to watch the Eagles second time in under 10 years raise that banner.
01:31And you don't need to see at the bottom of the banner. You know, sometimes you put, like, the logos of the Super Bowl up there, maybe the score, and that's your second one with two Lombardis.
01:39Put underneath that, America's team. Because the Philadelphia Eagles now officially are America's team, and the NFL is telling you that right now by saying,
01:46boy, we're going to release the marquee games right up front, and most of them are with the Philadelphia Eagles, the true America's team, your Philadelphia Eagles.
01:54Like, who wins two Super Bowls and knocks off Tom Brady and also Patrick Mahomes?
01:57Maybe the two single best wins of any two Super Bowls in history against those iconic quarterbacks and franchises.
02:03They are America's team. I'm just laying out the facts here.
02:06I'll let you have it, my friend. Continue to relish in the Super Bowl success all offseason long, as you should.
02:14As we shared yesterday, first game of the year, first game of 272 in the NFL regular season in Philadelphia on that opening night.
02:24Now 114 days away, Thursday, September 4th.
02:29We did just learn in the international schedule confirmed it will be the Chargers in Sao Paulo on that first Friday night in the Brazilian opener.
02:38There has been a lot of rumored speculation, DRS, their AFC West divisional foe in the reigning AFC champs.
02:45Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will be their opponent.
02:49The Eagles playing on Black Friday.
02:52A great game on a Saturday doubleheader that we have in week number 16.
02:58Bears-Packers divisional rivalry.
03:00Eagles-Commanders divisional rivalry.
03:02And on Christmas night, it will be the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos.
03:07As we learned a couple of weeks ago, a tripleheader once more for the National Football League on Christmas Day.
03:14Sorry, LeBron.
03:15They did not listen to you, Roger Goodell, in the NFL saying we now own Christmas as well.
03:22Yeah, smart move by the NFL.
03:23Understand that nobody cares about the regular season in the NBA.
03:26So take over Christmas.
03:27Just pound the NBA even more in the red season.
03:29Listen, that's close enough.
03:32I think you're going to watch one game, one full regular season game this next year.
03:37It could happen.
03:38It could happen.
03:38But by the way, the international slate, let's get something underway.
03:41The NFL loves money.
03:43The job for Roger Goodell is to make the NFL more money.
03:45And the international games do do that.
03:47But it's a disgrace.
03:48It really is that these games are 9.30 a.m.
03:51And you won't hear me stick up too much, Ben, for the West Coast.
03:53Like, you're from the West Coast.
03:54I like you.
03:55But you're an East Coast guy now.
03:56So we can sort of throw those arrows.
03:58Why should the West Coast teams have to wake up and watch a game at 6.30 a.m.?
04:03Like, as a fan base here at that point.
04:05Like, I love – now, Graham, I'll change this too.
04:08The international games in Brazil.
04:10Friday night, that is fantastic.
04:12Why doesn't every single one of these international games, Ben, just play on Friday night?
04:17That could be your solo night.
04:18You slap that bad boy at 8 o'clock, and it's unbelievable theater.
04:22Like, why can't we do that?
04:23And don't give me like, well, then it's going to be really late at night for, like, the British fans.
04:27Enough with it.
04:28The goal is to get the American public to watch where it's the majority of your fan base here.
04:33Put those games on a Friday night, and my God, we will enjoy it, and the ratings will be sky high.
04:39Nobody wants international football on a Sunday morning at 6.30 a.m. on the West Coast.
04:46Nobody.
04:46I find it difficult to disagree, DRS.
04:51I think the only people that do is the league office, the owners of these franchises that get a very fat TV check each and every offseason,
05:00and maybe the television partners as well.
05:02Because we just saw some history in the release of our seven-game international schedule, the full slate for 2025.
05:10The Minnesota Vikings will be the first team in NFL history to play two consecutive international games, but now in different cities.
05:18We have seen the Jags each of the past two years play in London on back-to-back Sundays.
05:24Okay, Minnesota will play in the first true, or not the true, but international game, but the first Sunday international game following the Sao Paulo opener on Sunday, September 28th,
05:36as the NFL returns to Dublin to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
05:41And then the following Sunday, they will be in London inside Tottenham Stadium to take on the Cleveland Browns.
05:48International history.
05:50NFL history for the Vikings.
05:52You know who does not care about that history and the notoriety of it?
05:58The Minnesota Vikings, nor their fan base.
06:01They're not happy at the novelty of making history in the NFL at all on this Tuesday morning.
06:09And also, a word for the wise for the NFL.
06:12For some reason, when you take a football game outside of America, you can never get the actual turf surface correct.
06:20We love grass.
06:21The players love grass.
06:22Last year in Sao Paulo, for that Eagles-Packers game, that was a travesty.
06:26The only worst travesty was the actual Super Bowl.
06:28The Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
06:30And you saw what happened when they had a good actual turf after the Eagles blasted them because the better team always wins.
06:35Put turf in every one of these stadiums.
06:39Enough with the forest where you say, like, boy, this is ridiculous.
06:42How would they have a billion-dollar entity play on these fields?
06:45Just put turf in those stadiums for those games.
06:48I'm tired of dealing with the ice skating rinks for a football game.
06:51This guy getting this heated over schedule release week.
06:56Yeah, yeah.
06:56Scheduled release week around the National Football League and our seven-game international slate is out in full on this Tuesday morning.
07:07We talked about the Minnesota Vikings making NFL history, but probably not going to mean much in terms of the novelty of it to the Vikes or their fan base.
07:16They will be the first team to play two consecutive international games in two different international locations.
07:23First in Dublin in the final weekend of September.
07:26Then in London the following weekend to open up October.
07:31Three consecutive London games in the first three weekends of October, including DRS, of course, the Jacksonville Jaguars in the final one.
07:41But thankfully for rookie head coach Liam Cohen, Travis Hunter, and Trevor Lawrence, they don't have to play back-to-back games in London for the first time in three years.
07:53Here are our seven international games.
07:55The Sao Paulo opener on the opening Friday night of the year, September 5th, in Brazil.
08:00It's the Chargers against an opponent to be released tomorrow.
08:05Probably, wink, wink, the Kansas City Chiefs, then the Vikings and the Steelers in Dublin.
08:09Next, the Vikings and the Browns in London, the Broncos and the Jets in London, the Rams will take on the Jags in London on Sunday, October 19th.
08:20Then a couple of weeks off from international action before Sunday, November 9th in Berlin and Sunday, November 16th in Madrid.
08:30It's the Falcons in Colts in Germany, the Commanders and the Finns in Spain.
08:37Your seven-game international slate for the NFL season in 2025.
08:42Now, that one graphic that's showing right now, and I take a look at it, is the team on the right the home team?
08:50Or is it just, like, split?
08:51Because the Vikings are on the left twice, but you said they're a home team and a away team, so the graphics aren't correct, I would assume.
08:57The only reason I ask that, too, is because it is a major advantage that it's, okay, let's just say it is the Chiefs and the Chargers.
09:05You don't think the Chargers would want that game at home in Los Angeles as opposed to being on the road?
09:09For sure.
09:10Like, the same way I got upset last year.
09:11It's like, hey, it's fun your team's on, you know, Friday night football, but if you would ask me last year before the season started, like, wait a second.
09:17That Packers game could actually be the difference between a home playoff game and a massive, like, season for either one of those teams.
09:23Don't you want that game in your own ballpark at that point?
09:25Now, granted, it's about money, and the owners agree to this, and they understand that comes with a consequence of losing a home game.
09:30But it's just kind of interesting how it sets up.
09:32It's like, the Chiefs are like, where are we going?
09:34Sao Paulo?
09:35Oh, it's against a division rival.
09:36We don't have to go to their building?
09:38Sign us up at that point.
09:39Same thing if it was the Chargers saying, all right, the Chiefs, we don't have to play at Arrowhead, one of the best home field advantages.
09:44We can play them on a neutral site as a home game.
09:46Sign me up for that.
09:47It's just tough because those teams that host those games, host those games, as we like to say, there's no home field advantage, and that's terrible.
09:54It is interesting, DRS.
09:56I'm not entirely sure.
09:57I think what you are referring to and what I told you from NFL Network's Tom Pellicero, sharing that fact and stat that Minnesota will be the first team to play two straight international games in two different cities.
10:08In his first report, the Vikings would play the Steelers in Dublin.
10:12He had the Vikings on, I guess, what would be the right, which often to us signifies home team, and then the Vikings facing the Browns in London, which would kind of be the road split.
10:24But if I'm looking at this graphic that you are seeing as well, the NFL releasing it, the teams on the left to me would be that away team, and maybe that's the sweetener of the pot for Minnesota.
10:36Hey, sorry, guys.
10:37You got to play two straight games internationally in two different locations, two different stadiums.
10:43It's two road games, which means your international games being road games are technically neutral, and we're not going to take a home game from you in the Twin Cities.
10:53Maybe that is how they got the Vikings to buy into it, right?
10:57Yeah, because I'm looking at the Vikings.
10:59I went to the Vikings team page here and just hit their 2025 schedule home games.
11:02So their home games are the Bears, obviously not the Steelers and the Browns, the Lions, the Packers, the Eagles, the Commanders, the Ravens, the Bengals, and the Atlanta Falcons.
11:12So you know what's funny you say that?
11:14They're behind the eight ball, but that is an unbelievably fantastic tradeoff for the Minnesota Vikings.
11:21So when I look at it and say, ooh, take one home game away, give them a road game, that's interesting that the Vikings would have agreed to that and been okay.
11:27But I'll tell you right now, like for me being the Philadelphia Eagles, or if you're a fan, you want that schedule every year, Ben.
11:33Because number one, you're over there getting used to that time change and being away from the family here.
11:37Then you get that back-to-back where you're already over there in the same time zone.
11:41That's a major advantage in game number two.
11:43And the simple fact you don't lose a home game, so you're going to play the Steelers, which is a tough game in Pittsburgh.
11:49And then the Browns, again, it's not a tough environment per se, but still a road game that you're taking a look at,
11:54which usually has windy and rainy conditions or colder temperatures, even though it's going to be in October, it'll probably be fine at that point.
12:01But for me, massive win for the Vikings.
12:03So if I'm betting their season total spend or looking at that, that is a positive occurrence for the Minnesota Vikings if I'm looking that way.
12:10It is interesting, right?
12:12There is the give and take with it.
12:14Two consecutive international games in two different locales.
12:17At least you are adjusting to the time change.
12:20And at least in this case, DRS, you're not getting a home game taken from you.
12:25That's big.
12:26Because when you play an international game and you lose a home game designation on the schedule,
12:31it's like, man, that really kind of sucks with all the travel, the time change, the body difference that you have to deal with.
12:38We have odds out for three of our marquee matchups right now on the FanDuel Sportsbook.
12:44The Chiefs and Broncos on Christmas night in Arrowhead.
12:47KC, a four-and-a-half-point favorite.
12:49The Eagles and the Bears in that Black Friday game the day after Thanksgiving.
12:55Philly, a six-and-a-half-point favorite against Chicago.
12:58And Philadelphia DRS, also a six-and-a-half-point favorite nearing a touchdown in the season debut.
13:03Thursday, September 4th, 114 days from now against their divisional foe in the Dallas Cowboys.
13:11Six-and-a-half-point spread.
13:13Forty-six-and-a-half is the total.
13:15I'm not going to ask you, DRS, more than 100 days away for a best bet.
13:20But how do you read that line early in what it says about both teams?
13:24I thought it's high.
13:25It really did.
13:26Like, it came out, and we saw, like, some other outlets at seven.
13:28Like, I look at them like, well, who's not going to take the Cowboys getting seven on opening night?
13:31Yes, I love the Eagles.
13:32Yes, it'll be an energy and emotional night on opening night in Lincoln Financial Field.
13:36But the Cowboys, specifically early in the season, the vibes are going to be high.
13:40Dak's going to be healthy.
13:41Seedy's going to be healthy.
13:41George Pickett's going to be there.
13:43Michael Parsons won't have any banged-up knees or, hey, I'm trying to get this wear and tear.
13:46They're going to be shot out of a cannon to knock off the Super Bowl champions on day number one.
13:51But also understand this.
13:52Like, the NFL does do some things wrong.
13:53Like, I get mad at the international market.
13:55But, Mike, like, the Christmas Day games are phenomenal.
13:57I have to work.
13:58Like, I'm going to be up at 5 a.m.
13:59Not with my family, Marky, but that's what we do here at the Sports Grid Network.
14:02But the Friday game, 3 o'clock on Black Friday, the NFL, man, what an awesome week to do that, man.
14:08And the opening, a Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, the NFL gets a lot right, and they do.
14:14Schedule release week, NFL headlines.
14:16Next.
14:18Live right here on the early line on Sports Grid, a big week around the National Football League.
14:23It is schedule release week.
14:24We're going to get more key games on this Tuesday.
14:27Just brought you the seven-game full international slate for 2025.
14:31More to come later today.
14:33A ton tomorrow.
14:34And then, of course, tomorrow night in full.
14:37All 32 NFL teams will know the entirety of their 18-week regular season schedule for 2025.
14:45That includes the Cincinnati Bengals.
14:47But not the only big thing to happen in Cincy this week.
14:51Trey Hendrickson, the disgruntled pass rusher who led the NFL in sacks with 17 and a half
14:58of them a season ago, gave us an update on his contract negotiations and his status with
15:05Cincinnati because we have not seen much DRS from the Bengals.
15:10Here was the statement released from Hendrickson and his party to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
15:15Quote, no communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft.
15:22The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and would promise last offseason
15:28if I continued to play at a high level.
15:32Dot, dot, dot.
15:33They, in all caps, are no longer communicating.
15:36I have been eagerly, eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when
15:44there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.
15:50End quote.
15:52So, Trey Hendrickson has not agreed to a new deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
15:57And it appears conversations are at a standstill with the Bengals front office.
16:02Yeah, and the defense is really in shambles right now.
16:05The offense should be fun.
16:05They're going to be a great team to bet on and watch next year from an offensive side
16:09of the football, no question about it.
16:10But there's two, like, the choices are so simple.
16:14Like, you're going to talk about a lot with, like, Giannis in the NBA.
16:17If Giannis says he wants to leave, you are going to accommodate him because he's a superstar.
16:20And the last thing you want is a superstar, disgruntled player that could wreck your season.
16:25Now, football's a little bit different.
16:26There's 11 on defense, 11 on offense, as opposed to just five guys on the court.
16:30But there's two easy choices.
16:31You have a player that wants more money, but it plays at a premium position.
16:36You can, A, pay the guy because he leads the league in sacks.
16:38That's exactly what you love to see.
16:40It's hard to get guys that can sack the quarterback.
16:42Or, number two, you open it up to all 31 teams outside of yourself.
16:46We want to make the best deal possible for Trey.
16:48Come and give me a bidding war here.
16:50And let's just say at the draft, Ben, you could have gotten a mid-to-high second-round pick
16:55for Trey Hendrickson.
16:56You know what that does for the Bengals?
16:57Hey, look, we don't have to pay Trey 30-plus million dollars a year.
17:00We're going to get a pass rusher early in the second round that we think could be an
17:03impact player right off the bat.
17:05Those are good franchises.
17:06You know what bad franchises do?
17:08Hey, Trey, you signed a contract.
17:10I told you to go out and shop yourself around.
17:12We did.
17:13We said we can get a third-round pick and a second-round pick.
17:15Nope.
17:15I want two first-round picks or you can't get traded.
17:18Already, you're closing the door, which is probably what the Bengals told them.
17:21And then, number two, I want a pay raise.
17:23You just got a pay raise two years ago.
17:25That's not what happens here.
17:26Guys outperform their salary and contract all the time in the NFL.
17:31Once again, Bengals, you're making this so much harder than it is.
17:34He wants out.
17:35Teams will take a high-level pass rusher.
17:36Trade him.
17:37If not, keep him and pay him.
17:39It's easy.
17:40And also understand this, Ben, too.
17:42When Trey Hendrickson goes, what more do I have to do than lead the league in sacks here
17:46where, okay, you just paid two wide receivers a lot of money and a quarterback,
17:50and now I'm sitting here going like, I'm performing money to be at the highest level,
17:54even higher than those guys.
17:56And you're telling me to kick rocks?
17:57That's not a good look.
17:59He had 17 and a half sacks as well in 2023.
18:02Just did not lead the league.
18:04He finished runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting a season ago as well.
18:10So, Donnie, I think you and I had a pretty fair assessment of the Bengals signing
18:14and extending both Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins earlier this offseason.
18:19I guess credit for getting it done.
18:21But you waited far too long.
18:23You paid way too much that you did not necessarily need to in resetting the market
18:28if you would have done it with financial foresight last offseason for Jamar Chase,
18:32the offseason prior for Tee Higgins.
18:34And you would have allowed yourself the financial flexibility to build out the defense,
18:39to pay your superstar in Trey Hendrickson to be a true Super Bowl contender once again.
18:45So, because of that DRS, I can't buy into the Bengals just yet.
18:50What say you for Cincy's outlook for 2025?
18:53I'm going to buy in on a week-to-week basis because you're going to be loving those targets
18:57to the wide receivers.
18:58And Joe Burrow is going to put up monster numbers.
19:00Why?
19:00Because his defense is going to give up 28-plus points each and every week.
19:03So, in order to win a championship, you can't have – you can have a great offense that works.
19:08You just can't have a sieve defense that can't back up anything.
19:11They were terrible last year.
19:13And you're probably going to say they're going to be even worse if they lose Hendrickson
19:16or he doesn't show up for game number one.
19:17I can't buy into the Bengals as a whole.
19:20But I can buy into the profits that the Bengals are going to put up on offense.
19:23No question.
19:24Cincinnati over an 11 of 17 games last season.
19:27That might be 14 or 15 this year if this is what the defense is going to look like.
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