JAMES BROWN: Hello everyone. I'm James Brown. Welcome to "The NFL Today" presented by Ram Trucks. Some new style to bring in the new season. Boomer wanted to do it himself, didn't have us in there, Bill. You were in there.
BILL COWHER: I was in there.
JAMES BROWN: You were in there. All right, folks. After an eventful off-season, I'm thrilled to be back in the studio, that would be 43, with my accomplished colleagues. They will be two-time Super Bowl champion Phil Simms, former NFL MVP, Boomer Esiason, newly inducted Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher, and last but not least, the Uber talented, Emmy award winning, new co-host of CBS This Morning, that would be Nate Burleson. Take it away, Coach.
BILL COWHER: Should we try this?
NATE BURLESON: You want to try that from the intro? This is how they do that? Let's see here. Make sure I get this right.
BILL COWHER: Take your time.
NATE BURLESON: We're on live TV. Here we go.
JAMES BROWN: That counts.
NATE BURLESON: That was close.
JAMES BROWN: As we head into the NFL's first ever 17-game season, here are the headlines for week one.
Baker Mayfield and the Browns head to Kansas City looking to avenge last season's divisional round playoff loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The rookie quarterbacks ready to show off their Wares as Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Mac Jones look to meet sky high expectations in their regular season debuts right here on CBS.
And speaking of Lofty expectations, two squads with their eyes on the Lombardi trophy face off in Buffalo is Josh Allen and the Bills take on Big Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
PHIL SIMMS: There's Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. Is he accurate throwing the football? You bet he is. Over 69 percent last year completion rate, 37-10 touchdowns to interceptions.
BILL COWHER: There's T.J. Watt wanting to sign an extension this year, making him the highest paid defensive player. Now he's signing autographs to the fans. Great to see him back in the stadium.
NATE BURLESON: Justin Herbert fatesing Washington. 21TDs last year, a rookie record. There will be no sophomore slump.
BOOMER ESIASON: Trevor Lawrence down in Jacksonville. One of the highest rated to come into the NFL. 32-4 at Clemson. He's going to have his hands full today in Houston.
JAMES BROWN: Joining us live from orchard park, that would be Evan Washburn. Evan, great to see you start this NFL season in some familiar territory, back on the sidelines surrounded by a stadium full of Bills Mafia.
EVAN WASHBURN: Absolutely, J.B. Excited to be back with you and the guys on the biggest kickoff Sunday ever. Where else would you rather be right now? 623 days since the last time orchard park was in full force. That's week 17 of the 2019 season. They actually opened the gates here a half an hour early to allow fans to have that party in the parking lot that they're legendary for and make their way to their seat prior to kickoff.
There's a joy just to be back, J.B., but there's a joy because there's expectations in this region for Super Bowl. They haven't had that until you go back into the early '90s, and this crowd could have a legitimate impact on this game when you look at the opponent in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Four rookies starting, two on the offensive line at center and left tackle. They're going to have to deal with an unreal venue as noise starts to come in here.
We can't wait to kick it off for now, though. We'll send it back to you guys in New York.
JAMES BROWN: Evan, thank you so very much. And expectations are that high in Buffalo. Coach, a collective sigh of relief, you talked about it already, heard around Pittsburgh as T.J. Watt signs a new contract.
BILL COWHER: He really did, and he's really the backbone of that defense. He led the league in forced fumbles in the league, and he really is the cornerstone, trying to put pressure on Josh Allen.
The biggest story for the Pittsburgh Steelers, you look at last year, they started the season 11-0. They lost 5 of their last 6 games, and the biggest question that Evan made mention to is how will this year start for this football season? Four rookies starting, two on the offensive line. A lot of questions, a fast start last year. Can they pick up and start again this year, or are they going the downward slide like they finished the season?
PHIL SIMMS: You talk about the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've got to feel good about Ben Roethlisberger. During his one appearance in preseason, he looked trimmer, quicker, and that arm looked strong. Second year off the surgery, he showed that in preseason throwing the football.
For the Buffalo Bills, I'm not concerned about the offense, Josh Allen. It's not always about the quarterback. Their defensive front has to come through. They've got to stop the run better. They've got to pressure the passer better. They've drafted five guys up there early in the Draft the last three years. They've got to come through. This past year, first and second round picks were defensive linemen. They've got to find a way to get to the quarterback.
BOOMER ESIASON: They're certainly not the Browns at the defensive line, but at the quarterback position, all you have to do is look at the last three years. This is how you raise a quarterback in the NFL. You need stability at the top of the organization. GM, head coach, and offensive coordinator.
Look at these numbers for Josh Allen last year, and each year it gets better and better and better. It's one of the reasons why all of us, including all the Bills Mafia, are so excited about this young man. The last time they were this excited about a quarterback, we all know, it's the great Jim Kelly.
NATE BURLESON: Outside of the quarterback position, there are a couple of guys that are absolute game changers. Naji Harris, I love this young running back. I know that drove you crazy as a coach with the running. They addressed that in the Draft, picking up 24th overall. It's a miss to compare young rookies to Legends but he does have the physicality I saw with the Bus and Franco Harris, the vision of Le'Veon Bell, and the speed of fast Willie Parker.
On the Bills, this young man here, Stefon Diggs, in my opinion, hands down, the best wide receiver in the game. He can do it all, outside, inside. I'll bring up another legend. People at home are saying, Nate, it's too early in the season to start this stuff. But he has the route running ability of Jerry Rice. He doesn't have the career yet, but he can do it all, and they're going to feed him a lot today.
JAMES BROWN: Love his never say die attitude. Keep me this there. For news and notes around the league, let's welcome in our NFL today insider, Jason La Canfora. Delighted to see him in person, back from his million dollar in home studio. Jason, good to see you.
JASON LA CANFORA: Awesome to be back. J.B., 93.5 percent of all NFL players are vaccinated heading into week 1. Well above the national average. Falcons, Raiders, and Buccaneers are fully vaccinated, and all 17 teams are above 95 percent, while the bottom three teams, between 80 and 85 percent.
Meanwhile, one healthy scratch today, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, and he is unlikely to play football in 2021. Watson is under investigation by the league and local authorities for sexual misconduct and sexual assault after allegations were made against him by more than 22 women in lawsuits and criminal complaints. The Texans are willing to pay his salary while he sits out to eventually facilitate a trade. Houston wants at least three first round picks and two second round picks for Watson, but multiple general managers who have talked to the Texans are convinced that no team will trade for Watson until there's closure on his legal matters. There's no timetable for that, and the NFL could quickly place Watson on the exempt list if a team did attempt to put him on the field, J.B.
JAMES BROWN: Jason, thank you so much. As you indicated, a disturbing situation, and the legal process will certainly take the lead as this continues to play out through the season.
BOOMER ESIASON: J.B., here's one of the most electrifying players in the league, Kyler Murray in Tennessee today. No Larry Fitzgerald for the first time in years. He does have A.J. Green in a tough NFC West. He's going to have to improve that this year.
>> Coming up on "The NFL Today," for gang green, it's out with the old and in with the new as Zach Wilson and company take on former Jet Sam Darnold and his new teammates in Carolina.
In Cleveland, last year's playoff loss to the Chiefs left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. So this week, Myles Garrett sat down with Nate to share this season's recipe for success.
>> All of us together, we know how to get out there. We just got to show we know how to get out there together.
>> With a big time coach and quarterback, the Jags are raising expectations in Jacksonville.
>> Win, win, win.
>> Can Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence live up to their reputations? All that and more when "The NFL Today" returns on CBS.
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JAMES BROWN: We invite you to help support hurricane Ida recovery efforts in the Gulf and northeast. Simply visit NFL.com/auction to bid on authentic and game worn items and support the Gulf Coast renewal fund and American Red Cross. Text Ida to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross hurricane Ida relief.
The number two overall pick, Zach Wilson, set to make his NFL debut against the Carolina Panthers, the new home for Wilson's predecessor. That would be Sam Darnold, setting up a terrific battle between two young quarterbacks, hoping to make a statement.
>> With the third pick, the New York Jets select Sam Darnold.
>> Sam Darnold throws a pick six on his opening pass of his career.
>> Intercepted on the play.
>> In an ugly Jets loss.
>> Welcome to the city.
>> An ugly finish.
>> Another one of those mistakes.
>> It's inexplicable.
>> The Panthers picked up Sam Darnold from the Jets.
>> When I heard the news, it was tough.
>> The New York Jets select Zach Wilson.
>> If you're a Jets fan, you need to be fired up.
>> Tony Romo had this to say about Zach Wilson.
>> The ceiling is so high. Zach Wilson has the ability to get in the stratosphere of a Mahomes.
JAMES BROWN: And I think you'll agree there's no shortage of story lines for the contests in our early window and maybe the biggest among them, a possible revenge game for Sam Darnold as he sets out to spoil the debut of his replacement, that would be Zach Wilson.
BOOMER ESIASON: Nice throw there, J.B. Zach Wilson had a good, solid preseason, no question about that. I like what the Jets did around him to support him. He should be able to get off to a decent start. What I worry about is Rob Saleh's defense. It's a good thing he's all about all gas, no brakes, because he's going to need that today with his defense. A lot of young players playing, especially at cornerback and linebacker. I don't know about you, Phil -- I do know about you, Phil. You'd have a huge chip on your shoulder, just like I think Sam Darnold should have. He's got D.J. Moore, Christian McCaffrey, and also former jet Robby Anderson. I think this could be a huge game for the former Panther offense.
BILL COWHER: Talking about Jacksonville, they're heading down to Houston, two teams with new head coaches and new quarterbacks. Jacksonville Jaguars, Urban Meyer coming as the head coach, three time National Championship, but he's going with the No. 1 overall pick, Trevor Lawrence right there. Can they turn around a franchise that was 1-15?
The Houston Texans on the other side, they want the NFL experience. David Culley, 27 years in the league, six different teams, but his first time as a head coach, and now they got a new quarterback, talk about Deshaun Watson being a healthy scratch. That quarterback is Tyrod Taylor, another guy that's been on multiple teams. Right now what you're seeing, 11 years in the league, his chance of being a starter, NFL experience versus college experience. We'll see which one wins out.
PHIL SIMMS: I'm going to educate a little here. Little quiz show for everyone at home. First off, J.J. Watt, where is he now? He was at Houston, now with the Arizona Cardinals. You take J.J. Watt, if he can stay healthy and you put Chandler Jones out there with him, they are going to wreak havoc on quarterbacks, no doubt.
Kyler Murray, he didn't have enough weapons. What do they do? Oh, my gosh, I'm being sarcastic there, Boomer.
BILL COWHER: You?
PHIL SIMMS: They go out and get A.J. Green from the Cincinnati Bengals. Now he's got five wide receivers that all can go out, catch the football, and make that offense a go.
Now we'll look at Ryan Tannehill. What's he got going for him? He has a receiver that came from the Atlanta Falcons, Julio Jones. Julio Jones loves to go deep and catch the football. He's playing with the right quarterback there because Ryan Tannehill is an awesome downfield thrower, that's for sure.
Last but not least, maybe the best pass rusher, nobody talks about, Bud Dupree playing for the Tennessee Titans, him with Denico Autry, Jeffery Simmons, they are going to wreak havoc on quarterbacks this year. Nate?
NATE BURLESON: The King of the rhetorical question, Phil Simms. All right. How about the Chargers? The Chargers, you have Justin Herbert, who was fantastic last year, 31 TDs, that was a rookie record. His coach Brandon Staley is a defensive minded coach, but he was a quarterback in college. He is not going to have a sophomore slump. He is going to step up.
The Washington football team is like a soap opera. As the world turns, Ryan Fitzpatrick is on another team, his ninth team. He has not made the playoffs. I do believe in Fitz magic, and Chase Young is an absolute monster. Chase Young and the rest of us. He is ready to prove he's one of the best defenders in all of football. I feel like he's going to make a big leap. I'll say this right now, Washington football team, best defensive line in all of football.
How about Big Ben? He proves he still has got it. Fighting off father time just like Tom Brady. He's going to have his hands full against the Bills today.
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JAMES BROWN: The biggest kickoff Sunday ever continues right here on CBS, that at 4:25 p.m. eastern. The Cleveland Browns returning to Kansas City to try and avenge their playoff loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and the battle between two Crimson Tide Legends as Tua Tagovailoa leads the Dolphins into Foxboro to face off against the rookie Mac Jones and the Patriots.
For more on that matchup, let's throw it over to our guys Boomer and Phil.
BOOMER ESIASON: Thanks, J.B. Can you believe that these three Alabama quarterbacks were on the same team at one time?
PHIL SIMMS: Good recruiting.
BOOMER ESIASON: It is crazy. Tua going up against Mac in New England. There's a reason he won the job from Cam Newton. Why don't you show us why?
PHIL SIMMS: Everything you saw at Alabama, we saw in the preseason with the New England Patriots. He works the pocket well and gets good protection inside. How about this throw, Boomer? Throws it behind and low to the receiver because he knows the safety's coming inside to make the big hit and the protected receiver.
I love this play too. New England loves these seam patterns. Again, step up in the pocket. They're great at keeping it clean inside. He throws a back shoulder, throw the receiver open. That's the phrase. It's true. It's real.
Then I love this one. To show he had so much playing experience, looks right, throws left, hits the receiver right inside for the touchdown. New England, everything they wanted out of Mac Jones, they saw. We'll see if he can do it today against the Miami defense.
BOOMER ESIASON: Really impressive numbers this preseason. 36-52. 389 yards, a touchdown pass. No interceptions. Everybody hates turnovers. Nobody hates turnovers more than Bill Belichick. Is that right?
PHIL SIMMS: That's right.
BOOMER ESIASON: Over to J.B., Coach, and Nate.
JAMES BROWN: Mac Jones is part of a batch ballyhooed crop of young signal callers led by the No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. Coach, how do you manage the expectations fans and everyone else, for such a talked about quarterback?
BILL COWHER: One word, J.B. It's called patience. When you think about Trevor Lawrence and Urban Meyer, they didn't lose in college. They are inheriting a 1-15 football team. When you think about the National Football League preseason, it's very simple. Starters aren't playing, but the regular season is fast and complex. If you also think about the fact that other players like Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Tom Brady, they did not start in week 1 either. They were able to sit back and watch the game, develop them, get comfortable with it.
Nate, the one thing that Trevor Lawrence has to lean on is playmakers around him and veterans around him.
NATE BURLESON: You're right about that. I love seeing guys get thrown into the Heat, but like you said, you're going to have to help them deal with that fire. Look at Zach Wilson, maybe a guy like Cory Davis, Trevor Lawrence, Marvin Jones, and of course Mac Jones, you have those two tight ends they brought in, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. I've been in that situation before, talking to young quarterbacks. They come back from taking a big shot or throw an interception, and they get in the huddle and they're hyperventilating, you almost have to calm them down. Look, you've got this. Relax. This is the same game you've been playing for years. You're going to make mistakes. What I need you to do is bounce back and do something better in the second half. Take the ball, put it right in their gut, and say let's go play some football.
JAMES BROWN: Ben Roethlisberger has been in the league for how long?
BILL COWHER: 18 years, he's 39 years old. He came here as a rookie, but he didn't start until the third game. The biggest thing to do with an NFL quarterback, make sure he's comfortable. I leaned on the run game and the play action and let him be himself. I worry about Trevor Lawrence because he's not used to losing. Getting out too much, too fast, getting out of the pocket running. In the league, they're bigger and faster. Protect the quarterback. That's the one thing we talked about Ben, if you don't like it, it's one thing to punt every now and then because we've also got a defense.
You've got to let them be comfortable, develop at their own pace, and protect themselves.
JAMES BROWN: Conscious decision.
NATE BURLESON: And speaking of that, Big Ben doesn't want to get out of the pocket. At this point in his career, he wants to sit back and get the ball out of his hands. Wide receivers, you have to get out on the routes and be more aggressive on point of attack. More importantly, Ben has to go through the progressions, and if you've got to drop it down and put in the hands of guys like Naji Harris and let him do the work, that's as good as a run.
BILL COWHER: With Trevor Lawrence, the speed of the game is something you have to get acclimated to right away.
JAMES BROWN: A conscious decision not to start him, and the gold jacket certainly shows you know what you were doing.
BILL COWHER: This guy looks pretty good too.
JAMES BROWN: And now first on the field, presented by FedEx where now meets next.
>> J.B., thank you. Welcome to Houston, everyone. Ahead of a very interesting game for an opener, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans. Greg Gumbel along with Adam Archuleta. Arch, no limit to the expectations surrounding Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
>> This is the guy that everybody in Jacksonville is waiting for. Trevor Lawrence has done it all, in high school, in college. Now's his chance to show that he can, in fact, do it in the NFL. He doesn't all have to do it himself. Expect to see a lot of James Robinson. Last year, undrafted rookie, came out of nowhere and became Jacksonville's best offensive player. Rushed for over 1,000 yards and caught 49 passes. I would imagine we're going to see quite a bit of Robinson in this game as well.
>> The Jacksonville defense needs some fixing. Way too porous a season ago. Who leads the way?
>> They've got to get back to the saxonville days. That lands on the shoulders of Josh Allen. He's looking to get back in rookie form when he had 10 1/2 sacks. He is ready to go and excited and really pumped up to play in this new defensive scheme.
>> In Houston, you know the story. Deshaun Watson saga continues. He isn't here today. Tyrod Taylor is the Houston quarterback.
>> A much different feel than Deshaun Watson, not the magic we're used to seeing, but Taylor is a capable quarterback. He started 46 games in this league. Only four the last three seasons, but he's certainly capable of carrying the weight. They're going to do that behind a retooled, revamped ground game. I'm looking forward to watching mark Ingram. He's one of my favorite running backs in the NFL the last couple seasons, and he's looking to get back to the 2019 pro bowl form.
>> The Houston defense had its problems over the last year. We'll see all of that upcoming about an hour from now. More of "The NFL Today" comes your way after this.
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JAMES BROWN: Those in dome shots make the point that today would not be the biggest kickoff Sunday ever without dedicated fans returning to stadiums around the league. That provides a much needed and appreciated jolt of energy for the game. These guys know that all too well.
Time now for the pregame HQ delivered by domino's. Perhaps no one is more grateful for the fans than the GOAT Tom Brady, who won Thursday. Folks, he looked impressive, to say the least. Shook off two first half picks en route to win over the Cowboys. Thoughts on his performance?
PHIL SIMMS: Every week he continues to astound us, I think, with his play, and especially his throwing. Boomer, we're ex-quarterbacks. His throwing, he looked around the pocket, looked all over the field, and found Antonio Brown with great pass protection deep down the field for the touchdown. That throw right there, the back shoulder laser, which he did in New England many times, can still do it now. That throw, I thought, won the football game.
We talk about the person, the physical part, but in the year 2000, I was up there, and all the Patriots kept telling me, Charlie Weis and Bill Belichick, this Tom Brady has got it. He's got it.
BOOMER ESIASON: Year 2000.
NATE BURLESON: 20 years ago.
BOOMER ESIASON: His throwing motion is like a golf swing. I'm a golf fan, and I love Collin more caw, and I know how many hours he spends on the perfect golf swing. That's Tom Brady in the off-season with his throwing motion. You see that because the nose of the ball is always down, it's accurate. I think Thursday night he got hit once and it hit the ground. The great thing about Thursday night, both quarterbacks played well. 139 pass attempts called, passes called, only 108 pass attempts with one sack. That's a credit to both those guys.
BILL COWHER: As impressive as Tom Brady was, Dak Prescott for a guy who got hit week 5, broken ankle, almost 11 months since he's played, he stood in that pocket fearlessly. Yes he has offensive linebackers, big part of the demise of the Cowboys a year ago, but he got better as the game went on. He got more comfortable and started scrambling. I thought what he did is so impressive. The fact that he stood in there courageously despite a big pass rushing team.
NATE BURLESON: You can see him shaking off the rust a bit. Four of the last five games he throw for 400-plus yards. Dak Prescott can grip it and rip it. That run game, which is hit and miss sometimes, they're going to have to lean on the passing game.
BOOMER ESIASON: Here's a quick question. Do you think we see a 60 touchdown passer and a 6,000 yard passer?
BILL COWHER: 17 games, yes.
NATE BURLESON: After seeing that, yes.
JAMES BROWN: Prescott was simply phenomenal. I agree totally with you, Bill. There's no question about it. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys look sensational. Talk about teams that missed the playoffs last year. Talk about those that did that you expect to be back in the fold this year.
NATE BURLESON: I'll jump right in, and I'll stay with the Cowboys. I'm excited about this team. They're good on paper. They have everything that they need. It feels like they're fixing some of the mishaps they had last year. I do have them taking the NFC east. Before you say, Nate, what about that defense? They faced Tom Brady. Tom Brady is Tom Brady. He's going to carve up most defensed in the NFL. They held the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 52 yards rushing and caused four turnovers. That defense is a lot better than last year.
PHIL SIMMS: I'm going to step out and take a team that really had a bad year last year, that's the Denver Broncos. They got the defensive line straightened out. Bradley Chubb chasing the quarterback along with Von Miller. That secondary. And the biggest thing of all, not only the guys, all the talent, but the schedule is easy.
BILL COWHER: I'm going to take a team that was dismissed for the first time. How about the New England Patriots? Last year they had league high opt outs with their veterans. Mac Jones, you guys have the eye vision on him. Talk about Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor. This defensive line is solid. They're the second best in the AFC east. They make the playoffs.
BOOMER ESIASON: As this really pains me to say this because of my history with this particular team, it would be the 49ers.
BILL COWHER: The Bengals?
BOOMER ESIASON: No the 49ers. I think the 49ers are going to make it. I think the NFC West is the toughest division in all of football. Great defenses, quarterbacks all over the place, and the biggest problem for San Francisco over the last year since they went to the Super Bowl was all the injuries in their defensive line and Jimmy Garoppolo. Now they have Trey Lance. Kyle Shanahan is going to mix in Trey Lance somewhere in here. I think they're Destined to be back and maybe to the NFC Championship game.
JAMES BROWN: I know you guys love the game, but I guys are fired up for sure.
NATE BURLESON: Week 1, baby!
JAMES BROWN: Earlier this week, the Washington Football Team commemorated the 20-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Head coach Ron Rivera and team president Jason Wright pay their respects to the 184 people who lost their lives in the attack on the pentagon by participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the national 9/11 pentagon Memorial. Following the ceremony, the duo met with lieutenant general Mark Sasville of the U.S. Air Force, who will be named honorary captain for today's game. Today, no doubt, we'll be seeing many tributes around the league honoring the victims of the September 11th attacks.
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JAMES BROWN: All right. So this feels like it ought to be a Nate Burleson read. If you want to see football covered like never before, you've got to check out NFL Slimetime on Nickelodeon. That's right. Our buddy, as I mentioned before, the Uber talented Nate Burleson will be tackling the best slime lights and upcoming matchups. Catch NFL slimetime every Wednesday night, 7:00 eastern on Nickelodeon.
NATE BURLESON: We're going to have some fun with the younger generation. It's going to be a good show.
BOOMER ESIASON: What about us guys?
NATE BURLESON: Okay, Boomer.
JAMES BROWN: Some guys hope to emulate the late great Kobe Bryant by swapping jersey numbers late career. Who will make that Mamba like leap into double digits?
BOOMER ESIASON: Four year starter for the Carolina Panthers, D.J. Moore going from 12 to 2. The reason for that? When he was 5 years old in Little League, he wore No. 2.
NATE BURLESON: Emmanuel Sanders going from 17 to No. 1. With the Bills. He isn't the No. 1 wide receiver, but he's a great complement to Stefon Diggs. He'll have an impact this season.
BILL COWHER: Isaiah Simmons, he was a former linebacker. Now he's No. 9. The numbers no longer represent the position.
PHIL SIMMS: Boomer, you should have worn 1, make you look trimmer. Let's go to Julio Jones. Atlanta, he was No. 11. Now he's No. 2. When you're built like that and you're that fast, you look good no matter what number you have on. Sorry, Boomer.
>> Fourth down and less than a yard. If the Chiefs get a first down, the game's over. Chiefs are going to go for it, fourth down. Rolling out, throws it. Hill!
And the Chiefs are heading to the AFC championship game.
>> We erased last year. We know exactly what we're stepping into. We just need to do our job.
>> We're playing a really good football team. It will be a great test for us. If you're not ready to go for the season opener, I don't know what's going to make you ready.
NATE BURLESON: Following last season's nail biting loss to the Chiefs, Myles Garrett had a whole off-season to stew. After the lingering effects of COVID held him back in that game, he spent the summer conditioning his body and his mind. He caught up with him this week as he and the teammates prepare for Round 2 against Kansas City.
>> Myles Garrett does it again.
>> There aren't many like him.
>> Did Myles Garrett come to play!
NATE BURLESON: Myles, what's up, man? How are you doing?
MYLES GARRETT: I'm doing great, dog. Good to see you.
NATE BURLESON: It's good to see you too. Before we get to anything, I just have to acknowledge that is a glorious mustache.
MYLES GARRETT: Thank you. I've been working on it a little bit.
NATE BURLESON: You've been working on it. I can see you can twist the sides almost like an evil villain, like you have some big things planned or some evil things for these quarterbacks coming up.
MYLES GARRETT: I might. We'll see. Got one big one coming up in a couple days. We'll see what I have planned.
NATE BURLESON: Let me ask you. Should Patrick Mahomes be worried about this Browns defense?
MYLES GARRETT: This ensemble we got, it's new. They might be underestimating us a little bit. All of us together, we know how to get out there. We just have to show we can get out there together.
>> It's a wonderful season for the Cleveland Browns is going to come up short on a day where they will look back and say we were right there.
NATE BURLESON: I would think to myself, we should have won that game. Am I right in that assessment?
MYLES GARRETT: Yeah, I think so. We were one play away. They were able to make that one play that we weren't able to make. We feel like, if we're doing what we're supposed to do and in a position that we're supposed to be, we're going through next round, and they're not.
>> One drive for your life. Go get this.
NATE BURLESON: You're a leader of this defense now. This team looks good on paper. Some would say even championship quality. But as a leader, how do you take great on paper to great on the field?
MYLES GARRETT: Execution and leadership. Being that voice and being that example all the time, not just some of the time. That's what great teams do. They keep on executing. They're not worried about the team on the other side. They're worried about themselves. As long as we focus on ourselves, we can ball with the best of them.
NATE BURLESON: I know that you love books, and you're into literature and poetry. What was the most recent book or your favorite book that you have read recently?
MYLES GARRETT: Well, not something you personally would read.
NATE BURLESON: Hey, hey, you don't know. Come on now.
MYLES GARRETT: It's a paleontological book.
NATE BURLESON: You got me on that one. You're a basketball guy, right? If I were to ask Steph Curry about what he has in his bag, he'll tell you I've got the crossover and also can go up and over, floater, three-pointer, I can pull up from half-court. When you're rushing the quarterback, do you have a pocket of rushes?
MYLES GARRETT: You know, that was just a nice way of you saying Steph Curry has it all.
NATE BURLESON: It was also a way of me saying that you have it all.
MYLES GARRETT: So nothing further, Your Honor.
NATE BURLESON: Have a good one, man. Do your thing this year.
MYLES GARRETT: Yes, sir.
NATE BURLESON: All right. Let's check out these sacks numbers since he's entered the league back in 2017. Only Aaron Donald and Cam Jordan out of defensive linemen have more sacks than Myles Garrett, and he's only 25 years young.
BOOMER ESIASON: I had an NFL coach tell me that seeing him up close and personal and playing against him is the closest thing they've seen to Bruce Smith since Bruce Smith retired.
The other thing I want to say about this team, this is, right along with the Bills and the Chiefs, the three top teams in the AFC. I wouldn't be surprised if they make it to the AFC championship game or the Super Bowl for that matter.
PHIL SIMMS: When Boomer heard Bruce Smith, he started sweating.
BOOMER ESIASON: Yes.
PHIL SIMMS: Andy Reid ran a tough camp trying to get over the Super Bowl loss, the hangover you can have when you do that, to give your team some confidence. So he played Patrick Mahomes and the starters all three preseason games. He wanted them to get sharp and ready for the season. Everyone thinks they're vulnerable. But look what Mahomes has done in September, 10-0 record. That says a lot about Eric Bieniemy and Andy Reid having it ready for the players.
BILL COWHER: The new standard of making the playoffs. First time in 18 years he went there last year. He talked to him and showed last year's game where they were losing 19-3. He showed them only the first half. His identity is going to be one of which we're going to be a tough team, we're going to be a smart team, and we're going to finish and show you wrinkles you've not seen before.
JAMES BROWN: No question about it. The Browns and Chiefs among the favorites to be representatives in Super Bowl LVI. Time for Super Bowl predictions. Bill hates this week 1. Nate, you were Nostradamus last year. Who do you like?
NATE BURLESON: Chiefs-Packers. Aaron Rodgers' last run. It's going to be a good one.
PHIL SIMMS: Bills-49ers. The 49ers have the best offensive and defensive lines in the NFL combined.
BILL COWHER: Bills, because I think their trajectory is that way, and Tampa Bay returned everybody. So it's Buffalo, Tampa Bay.
BOOMER ESIASON: I go the Packers and the Bills Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen, doesn't get any better.
PHIL SIMMS: Are you feeling the pressure of being Nostradamus?
NATE BURLESON: That's right. I am going to get it right again this year, and I'm going to win the picks.
PHIL SIMMS: How did you do in the picks last year?
NATE BURLESON: We're moving to commercial break.
JAMES BROWN: We have a special 9/11 tribute and the singing of our National Anthem. First, kickoff just a few minutes away. You'll get to hear Nate say this next week, but we'll get you out to your game next.
[ BREAK ].
JAMES BROWN: Welcome back to "The NFL Today." Now Amazon takes you out to the sights and sounds of the game between the Jaguars and the Texans. Let's take you out to Houston with our announcers Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta, and A.J. Ross.
>> This is NRG stadium in Houston, the home of the Houston Texans, who today host the Jacksonville Jaguars for the start of the 2021 NFL season. The Jaguars bring with them the No. 1 pick in the Draft. The Trevor Lawrence era is about to begin for Jacksonville. The Houston Texans have the veteran Tyrod Taylor at quarterback in place of Deshaun Watson. We'll talk about that as this day rolls along. With that, we say hello everyone and welcome to Houston. I'm Greg Gumbel, along with Adam Archuleta. A.J. Ross will be joining us in just a moment.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports