The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Call us: 847-448-0701

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.

Week 7 preview: Buccaneers-Lions, a Game of the Week faceoff, a deep dive on the Falcons defense, and more Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Every mini-era of the NFL gives us a handful of short-term rivalries that are the result of teams from different divisions running into one another for a couple years in a row. Buccaneers-Lions is turning into one such rivalry. And hey, given the way they're both playing, this might not be the last time we see them go up against one another this season. Robert Mays, Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 7 epsiode of The Athletic Football Show by digging into Buccaneers-Lions. Then, they debate whether Rams-Jaguars or Colts-Chargers is a more worthy game of the week. After that, they turn their attention to Texans-Seahawks, Eagles-Vikings and Commanders-Cowboys, before talking a walk down Sicko Street, and diving deep on the Falcons defense.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:01 Game of the Week: Buccaneers-Lions

23:00 Game of the Week Faceoff! Rams-Jaguars or Colts-Chargers?

42:11 One Thing From...Texans-Seahawks

46:56 One Thing From...Eagles-Vikings

56:07 One Thing From...Commanders-Cowboys

1:04:52 Dolphins and Browns on Sicko Street

1:07:49 Under the Hood: Falcons defense

1:25:38 Mike Vrabel goes back to Tennessee

1:31:07 What do you want to know in Week 7?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

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.

Team tiers from Super Bowl or Bust to Mock Draft Enthusiasts Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

We're one-third of the way through the NFL regular season, and we know a thing or two about each of the league's 32 teams. We know enough, in fact, to start separating the teams into distinct groups. That's right, it's team tiers time. Robert Mays and Dave Helman drop all 32 teams in one of five buckets—from Super Bowl or Bust to Mock Draft Enthusiasts—on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

7:12 Super Bowl or Bust

20:57 Playoff Teams

43:42 Wild Card Caliber

55:13 Tier 4, Good Vibes

1:04:03: Tier 4, Bad Vibes

1:13:52 Mock Draft Enthusiasts

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

Hosts: Robert Mays and Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building the Beast: The NFL Draft prospects to know from Indiana, Texas A&M, and this season's CFB surprise teams Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

Indiana is the #3 team in the country. Yes, in football. And they aren't the only big surprise this season. Texas A&M, Missouri and Cincinnati all have paths to the Playoff, as well. We've discussed a handful of players from those teams through an NFL Draft lens, but it's not just Fernando Mendoza and Marcel Reed doing work for their respective teams. On this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast, Dane Brugler and Dave Helman go into the draft prospects you need to know from college football's surprise teams. The guys also discuss the effects of James Franklin's firing on Penn State's NFL Draft prospects and take a look ahead to Week 8.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

7:55 Indiana

25:34 Texas A&M

38:06 Missouri

47:45 Cincinnati

52:20 How James Franklin's firing could affect Penn State's NFL Draft prospects

1:01:07 Week 8 Lookahead

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

Host: Dave Helman

Co-Host: Dane Brugler

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Video Producer: Katy Duffy

Audio Producer: Michael Beller

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 6 Hangover: Brian Callahan fired, Packers and Rams post unimpressive wins, and sad voicemails from Eagles and 49ers fans Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

The AFC North feels like one big, collective hangover this season, so it's no surprise that both games in the Week 6 Hangover feature teams from the division. All four AFC North teams were going to be in this show, but Browns-Steelers landed on the cutting room floor when the Titans made Brian Callahan the first coach fired this season. That's where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin this episode of The Athletic Football Show. After that, the guys recap Rams-Ravens and Bengals-Packers, and take sad voicemails from Eagles and 49ers fans.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:07 Titans fire Brian Callahan

13:18 Rams-Ravens recap

31:09 Bengals-Packers recap

50:08 Monday Mourning: Why are the Eagles like this?

54:45 Monday Mourning: Why can't the 49ers stay healthy?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

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.

Week 6 recap: Statement wins for the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Seahawks Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Remember that wild time three weeks ago when there were some simmering concerns about the Chiefs? Safe to say those have been put to bed after their convincing win over the Lions on Sunday night. That's where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman begin the Week 6 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Buccaneers and Seahawks grabbing our attention, the disgusting Broncos-Jets game in London, Rico Dowdle's revenge on the Cowboys, the Colts and Cardinals giving us one of the day's most entertaining games, Drake Maye's latest heroics, and more.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:40 The Chiefs feel like they're back after convincing win over Lions

13:45 Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers have our attention

30:08 Seahawks defense an absolute force in win over Jaguars

40:18 Cardinals-Colts was the fun game of the day

52:28 Broncos-Jets...WTF?!?

1:04:00 The Packers and Rams are on notice

1:07:43 Rico Dowdle's revenge game

1:13:11 Drake Maye takes another step

1:15:42 Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey save the Chargers

1:18:51 What Did We Learn in Week 6?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

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.

Week 6 preview: Lions-Chiefs and 49ers-Buccaneers at the top of a loaded slate Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

The last time the Lions played the Chiefs, they made clear that they had arrived as contenders. Two years later, they just might be the best team in the league. Lions-Chiefs is our first Game of the Week and where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman kick off the Week 6 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also dig into 49ers-Buccaneers, Jaguars-Seahawks, Bears-Commanders and Bills-Falcons; take a ride over to Sicko Street with Chargers-Dolphins and Cowboys-Panthers; and ask an important question…excluding quarterback, are the Colts the most complete team in the AFC?

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:36 Lions-Chiefs

24:13 49ers-Buccaneers

43:20 One Thing From…Jaguars-Seahawks

49:06 One Thing From…Bears-Commanders

56:06 One Thing From…Bills-Falcons

1:02:53 Sicko Street: No Fly Zone

1:04:35 Sicko Street: Chargers-Dolphins

1:09:36 Sicko Street: Cowboys-Panthers

1:11:54 Take Tribunal: Excluding QB, the Colts are the most complete team in the AFC

1:20:08 Dave: Is this the week it all ends in Miami?

1:22:37 Robert: Are the Steelers going to win the AFC North by Week 6?

1:24:27 Derrik: How much RJ Harvey do we get this week?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Host: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

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.

The rise of Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with Matt Harmon Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Take a look at any wide receiver stat leaderboard for 2025, and you're going to see Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the top. For various reasons, those three aren't the types of receivers we're used to seeing at the top of the leaderboards. Is the receiver landscape shifting? Is this small sample size theater? Is it a little of both? Is there something else at work here? Robert Mays and Matt Harmon from Yahoo Sports and Reception Perception dive deep on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

9:18 Puka Nacua

29:50 Amon-Ra St. Brown

38:42 Jaxon Smith-Njigba

48:12 What's next?

Host: Robert Mays

With: Matt Harmon

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Video Producer: Michael Ayaub

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Matt on Bluesky: @mattharmon.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Matt on X: @MattHarmon_BYB

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.

Building the Beast: Dane Brugler's midseason top-three at every position Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

We're just about halfway through the college football regular season, and boards for the 2026 NFL Draft look different than they did in August. How different? That's exactly what Dane Brugler and Dave Helman dive into on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast. With about two months of the season in the books, Dane offers up his top-three rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft at every position.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

6:50 Quarterbacks

18:28 Running Backs

26:48 Wide Receivers

36:54 Tight Ends

40:09 Offensive Tackles

45:47 Interior OL

49:04 EDGE rushers

52:06 Defensive Tackles

55:01 Linebackers

1:00:20 Cornerbacks

1:02:41 Safeties

1:05:35 Week 7 Lookahead

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

Host: Dave Helman

Co-Host: Dane Brugler

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 5 Hangover: The Patriots break through, the Lions cruise past the Bengals, and the Saints get their first win Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

For the first time since 2014, no NFL team made it to 5-0. The Bills nearly did it, but, instead, Sunday Night Football turned into a coming-out party for Drake Maye and the Patriots. How did the Patriots pull off the upset? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig in on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also dive deep on the Lions dismantling of the Bengals and the Saints first win of the season, a 26-14 triumph over the Giants. Plus, sad voicemails from Ravens, Cardinals and Jets fans.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

5:40 Patriots-Bills recap

21:42 Lions-Bengals recap

37:20 Giants-Saints recap

54:57 Monday Mourning: Ravens

1:01:32 Monday Mourning: Cardinals

1:09:09 Monday Mourning: Jets

Connect with The Athletic Football Show