The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: athleticfootballshow@gmail.com

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 3 preview: Rams-Eagles, Lions-Ravens light up the marquee Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

Any time the calendar says "September," it's still early in the NFL season. But as we get ready for Week 3, we're starting to know a thing or two about most teams across the league. One thing we would've known at any point, though? Rams-Eagles and Lions-Ravens is must-see TV. That's where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman start the Week 3 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also dive into Cardinals-49ers, Broncos-Chargers and Texans-Jaguars, take a trip down Sicko Street with Spencer Rattler, trot out the Take Tribunal for the first time this season, and more.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

3:25 Rams-Eagles preview

30:48 Lions-Ravens preview

51:05 One Thing From: Cardinals-49ers

55:29 One Thing From: Broncos-Chargers

1:00:57 One Thing From: Texans-Jaguars

1:05:17 Sicko Street: Spencer Rattler time

1:09:02 Sicko Street: Jake Browning vs. Carson Wentz

1:15:10 Take Tribunal: The Steelers defense is an unfixable problem

1:23:33 Wins Pool Update

1:25:05 What Do You Wanna Know: Are this year’s Cowboys last year’s Bengals?

1:27:31 What Do You Wanna Know: Haason Reddick vs. the Jets tackles

1:28:23 What Do You Wanna Know: Is the August optimism for the Panthers just over?

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: athleticfootballshow@gmail.com

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.

Is This Real?...with Bill Barnwell Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Through two weeks of the 2024 season, the Saints looked like a breakout offense while the Broncos ranked in the top five in defensive success rate. One of those held steady through the entire season. The other...did not. This year, we have some of those same types of early season surprises, including the Colts offense, the Falcons pass rush, and some real Chiefs panic. What of these are real and what are simply small sample size flukes? Robert Mays is joined by Bill Barnwell from ESPN to wade through all that on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:55 The Colts offense

20:02 The Packers as the best team in the NFL

32:18 The Bears as a lost cause

45:19 Chiefs panic

56:32 The Falcons pass rush

1:03:13 The Vikings picked the wrong QB

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Discord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Call us: 847-448-0701

Email us: athleticfootballshow@gmail.com

Host: Robert Mays

With: Bill Barnwell

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Bill on Bluesky: @billbarnwell.com

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Dan on X: @billbarnwell

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 potential diamonds in the rough are starting to emerge Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

We're coming off a loaded weekend in the college football world, and the fallout from those games registered in NFL Draft circles. In the latest edition of Building the Beast, Dane Brugler and Dave Helman hand out some game balls, spotlight some big games from under-the-radar players, check in on the 2025 NFL rookie class, and look ahead to what's on the radar this weekend, highlighted by Illinois-Indiana and Auburn-Oklahoma.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

6:47 Game Ball: Texas Tech QB Behren Morton

15:25 Game Ball: LSU LB Harold Perkins

23:42 I Was Not Familiar with Your Game: Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II

29:30 I Was Not Familiar with Your Game: Mississippi QB Trinidad Chambliss

37:52 One-Play Prospect Snapshot: Texas A&M CB Will Lee

44:57 One-Play Prospect Snapshot: Georgia Tech QB Haynes King

50:16 Top-50 Stock Watch

1:02:02 NFL Rookie Check-in: Tet McMillan, Bhayshul Tuten among Week 2 standouts

1:08:57 Week 4 Lookahead

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Discord: https://discord.gg/emgJsXHJ

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.

The Week 2 Hangover: Joe Burrow's injury, Falcons run over Vikings, and more sad voicemails Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

Hey, the Bengals finally didn't dig a massive hole in September. Things are going great, right? Right?!? Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 2 Hangover by discussing Joe Burrow's toe injury and the Bengals ability to stay afloat with Jake Browning starting for potentially the next three months. After that, the guys dig into Vikings-Falcons and Rams-Titans, and then listen to a couple of your sad voicemails to wrap up this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:20 Joe Burrow injury

12:06 JJ McCarthy injury

18:12 Falcons-Vikings recap

37:35 Rams-Titans recap

56:12 Sad Jaguars fan voicemail

1:02:17 Sad Bears fan voicemail

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

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 2 recap: Eagles beat Chiefs...again, Giants-Cowboys fireworks, and how 'bout them...Colts?!? Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

The Super Bowl LIX rematch was always going to be at the center of Week 2, and this one ended with the same winner as that one back in February did. The Eagles 20-17 win over the Chiefs is where Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 2 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss the craziness of Giants-Cowboys, the hot start for the Colts offense, Joe Burrow's toe injury, Joey Bosa turning back the clock, and much more.

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

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 2 preview: Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl rematch tops the slate Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

Week 2 marks our first real preview episode of the season, and what a helluva week it is. For starters, we've got a Super Bowl LIX rematch between the Eagles and Chiefs. We also get a number of teams or units that surprised us in Week 1—the Jaguars defense and Colts offense to name two—getting much different tests in Week 2. And hey, the internet's favorite quarterbacks, Justin Herbert and Geno Smith, are playing against one another on Monday night. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dig deep into Week 2 on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

5:05 Game of the Week: Eagles at Chiefs

30:59 Brock Purdy's injury

36:30 A much tougher test for the Colts offense

43:52 Jets might not be the pushover opponent for the Bills they appeared to be

50:32 Battle of the internet's favorite QBs, Justin Herbert and Geno Smith

57:48 Sicko Street: The Jaguars defense

1:05:34 Sicko Street: The Titans defense

1:13:11 Under the Hood: J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings offense

1:22:12 What Do You Wanna Know: Is the Bucs pass protection without Tristan Wirfs gonna be a problem

1:25:31 What Do You Wanna Know: Cardinals front/defense vs. Panthers run game

1:26:44 What Do You Wanna Know: How scared should I be about the Bears offense

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

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.

First impressions of new units and faces after Week 1 Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

One of the best parts of Week 1 is that we finally get to see a bunch of new stuff in action. Like the Geno Smith/Chip Kelly offense in Las Vegas. Or Nick Caley running Houston's offense. Or Cam Ward playing in the NFL and Robert Saleh back with the 49ers. What are our first impressions of all these new things? Robert Mays and Dan Pizzuta of Snaps and Stats dig in on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

Host: Robert Mays

With: Dan Pizzuta

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Dan on Bluesky: @danpizzuta.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Dan on X: @DanPizzuta

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: John Mateer's big day, top-50 stock watch, Armand Membou's NFL debut, and more Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

Week 2 of the college football season may not have had the marquee matchups that Week 1 did, but it still gave Dave Helman and Dane Brugler more than enough to talk about from an NFL Draft perspective. The guys dig into John Mateer's big day against Michigan, Sawyer Robertson's second straight strong showing against a power four team, Jordyn Tyson's hot start to the season, and a whole lot more on this episode of Building the Beast on The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

5:12 Game Ball: Oklahoma QB John Mateer

12:40 Game Ball: Oregon QB Dante Moore

18:40 Sawyer Robertson leads another big week for Baylor's draft prospects

28:45 I Was Not Familiar with Your Game: Cincinnati LB Jake Golday

34:23 Prospect Snapshot: Louisville WR Chris Bell

38:38 Prospect Snapshot: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell

42:21 Top-50 Stock Watch: Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson

46:13 Top-50 Stock Watch: USC WRs Makai Lemon and WR Ja’Kobi Lane

50:04 Top-50 Stock Watch: Iowa State DT Dominique Orange vs. Iowa C Logan Jones

56:40 NFL Rookie Watch: Browns LB Carson Schwesinger and Jets OT Armand Membou

1:05:33 Week 3 CFB preview

Host: Dave Helman

Co-Host: Dane Brugler

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Connect with The Athletic Football Show

Call us: 847-448-0701

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.

The Week 1 Hangover: Giants-Commanders, Cardinals-Saints, and your sad voicemails Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Our return to five episodes per week means that the Weekly Hangover is back! Because look, Sundays are busy. We can't possibly talk about every game in the way that we'd like to on our Sunday night recaps. But we do still want to talk about every game. That's what the Hangover is for. In the Week 1 Hangover, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen get to two games we didn't discuss on Sunday night—the Commanders' 21-6 win over the Giants and the Cardinals' 20-13 win over the Saints. Plus, we listen to some of the best voicemails we got on the TAFS voicemail line on Sunday.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

6:00 Commanders-Giants recap

31:50 Cardinals-Saints recap

56:02 Your sad voicemails

Connect with The Athletic Football Show