We've talked a lot in recent weeks about how every NFL season is going to throw us its fair share of curveballs. There are constants, however, and one of the most constant of the constants is Bills-Chiefs Game of the Week. That's where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman begin the Week 9 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys give the "One Thing From..." treatment to Falcons-Patriots, Colts-Steelers and Broncos-Texans, take a stroll down Sicko Street with Saints-Rams and Bears-Bengals, and ponder this question: Has it turned out that the Vikings actually had the worst offseason in the league?

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

5:12 It's Bills-Chiefs Week

33:03 The diverging paths taken by the Patriots and Falcons

41:22 The Colts and Steelers show us the duality of believing you're "a QB away"

47:28: Texans offense vs. Broncos defense

53:38 Taking stock of the AFC Wild Card picture

1:05:37 Sicko Street: Saints-Rams...and not for the reason you'd think

1:12:44 Sicko Street: The Bears better be able to score against this Bengals defense

1:16:00 Take Tribunal: The Vikings made the wrong bet this offseason

1:31:08 What do you wanna know in Week 9?

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

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

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

Even a casual NFL fan can tell which quarterbacks, running backs and receivers are among the best in the league. It takes a more discerning eye to watch the tape and understand who's winning in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball. Brandon Thron brings just such an eye to this episode of The Athletic Football Show, where he and Robert Mays dive deep on the offensive line to identify which groups are lifting their teams this season.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

5:04 Indianapolis Colts OL at the heart of the team's success

17:16 Seattle Seahawks rebuilt OL exceeding expectations

22:38 New England Patriots helping to drive this surprisingly good offense

33:08 Minnesota Vikings OL crushed by injuries

35:32 Tennessee Titans OL the most disappointing in the league

40:40 OL coaches on the rise

44:03 Baltimore Ravens OL -- same pieces as last year, but much different results

49:30 The best OL this season at every spot

1:00:07 Pleasant surprises at every spot across the OL

Host: Robert Mays

With: Brandon Thorn

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Brandon on X: @BrandonThornNFL

Find Brandon's work: https://trenchwarfare.substack.com/

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're just about halfway through the NFL season, which means that we know a thing or two—maybe not more, but definitely a thing or two—about this year's rookie class. With that in mind, Dave Helman welcomes Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus to this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast to name this season's first half All-Rookie Team.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:47 Quarterback

10:10 Running Back

17:20 Wide Receiver

23:50 Tight End

27:00 Flex skill player

35:16 Offensive Tackles

40:06 Interior OL

46:34 Edge Rusher

53:33 Interior DL

59:24 Linebackers

1:00:49 Defensive Backs (nickel personnel)

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Host: Dave Helman

Co-Host: Dane Brugler

With: Trevor Sikkema

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social

Follow Trevor on Bluesky: @tampabaytre.bsky.social

Follow Dave on X: @davehelman_

Follow Dane on X: @dpbrugler

Follow Trevor on X: @TampaBayTre

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.