Season 4
Episode 91
"2026 NFL Season is here"
September 13, 2026
- The episode opens with Jordan, Geof, and Davey discussing the start of Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season on September 13, 2026.
- The Patriots are discussed after their Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks. The hosts believe New England benefited from an easy schedule the previous season and did not face many elite defenses before the Super Bowl.
- The Patriots now face one of the league’s toughest schedules, reportedly ranked sixth, which should provide a clearer measure of how strong the team and quarterback Drake Maye really are.
- The 49ers defeated the Rams 27–7 in Melbourne, Australia, in a game where preparation and travel strategy were major talking points.
- The 49ers arrived in Australia about a week before the game to acclimate to the Southern Hemisphere’s winter conditions, while the Rams arrived only about a day and a half before kickoff.
- The hosts believe the 49ers’ early arrival helped them adjust to the weather, time difference, and travel demands.
- The Rams had reportedly requested the matchup because they wanted to avoid effectively playing a home game for the 49ers at SoFi Stadium, but the Melbourne crowd still appeared heavily supportive of San Francisco.
- The 49ers suffered an early injury when Stribling went down with a non-contact ankle injury.
- Medical reports indicated that Stribling’s Achilles tendon remained intact, but the injury could keep him out for approximately a month.
- Surgery was not immediately planned, although further medical opinions were being sought.
- The hosts were relieved that the injury was not an Achilles tear but emphasized that Stribling should not be rushed back before he is fully healthy.
- The team still has depth at wide receiver, including Christian Kirk and Jordan Watkins, alongside Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans.
- Christian McCaffrey carried the ball only 10 times for 68 yards, while Kaylon Black received 14 carries.
- The hosts viewed McCaffrey’s limited workload positively because preserving him for December and January could be more important than maximizing his touches early in the season.
- Although McCaffrey averaged 6.8 yards per carry, the hosts felt he did not yet look quite as explosive as he had several years earlier.
- Kaylon Black received strong praise for running downhill, attacking gaps directly, and avoiding excessive side-to-side movement.
- The hosts suggested Black may already be a better option than Jordan Mason because of his speed and physical running style.
- The 49ers’ next opponents were identified as the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals, two teams the hosts expect San Francisco to beat.
- Miami was described as a projected bottom-tier team with Malik Willis at quarterback, rookie wide receivers, and De’Von Achane as its primary offensive weapon.
- The hosts noted that Tyreek Hill was still recovering from serious knee damage suffered the previous season and was not yet ready to return.
- Hill’s age and extensive knee injury led the hosts to question whether he could return to his former elite level.
- The hosts joked that Hill was no longer the “Cheetah” and compared his potential speed to Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt.
- Despite expecting the 49ers to beat Miami and Arizona, the hosts emphasized the need to focus on one game at a time.
- Mobile quarterbacks remain a concern for San Francisco because the defense has historically allowed them to break off long runs on third-and-long situations.
- The return of Nick Bosa was viewed as a major factor in helping the defense contain mobile quarterbacks.
- The hosts also discussed using the edge rushers and interior defenders to close running lanes and force Achane toward the outside.
- The panel debated whether the 49ers already look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders after only one game.
- Trent Williams was praised as a potential game MVP for neutralizing defenders and protecting Brock Purdy.
- The entire offensive line received recognition for keeping Purdy upright, limiting sacks, and creating running lanes.
- Brock Purdy was credited with a strong game despite throwing one interception because he responded with three touchdown passes.
- The defense was also selected as an MVP because it held a talented Rams offense largely in check.
- The Rams had experienced players such as Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams, but San Francisco prevented them from producing consistently.
- The defense’s performance was especially encouraging because it came without former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
- New defensive leadership under Raheem was praised for bringing energy and immediately producing results.
- The hosts noted that Raheem had previously coached with Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta, where the team reached the Super Bowl despite having less talent than the current 49ers roster.
- Robert Saleh received appreciation for keeping the 49ers competitive the previous season despite losing key players such as Bosa and Fred Warner.
- The hosts believe Saleh deserves another head-coaching opportunity, although they felt his time with the Titans could be his final chance to prove himself as a head coach.
- The 49ers’ young players, including Bethune and other backups, were praised for stepping up during last season’s injury problems.
- The team’s depth could be valuable this season because reserve players may be able to fill in effectively when starters are unavailable.
- Offensive-line depth remains a concern, particularly at left tackle behind Trent Williams.
- The hosts suggested that the 49ers need to develop a reliable successor at left tackle because the offense relies heavily on running behind Williams.
- The team’s strong start led the hosts to believe the 49ers could be better than the previous season’s 12-win team.
- They credited last season’s success to coaching, a favorable schedule, reliable backup quarterback play from Mac Jones, and a defense that used a bend-but-don’t-break approach.
- The defense frequently allowed yardage but prevented opponents from converting those drives into touchdowns.
- The hosts also emphasized that San Francisco consistently defeated teams it was expected to beat, avoiding the type of losses that could have turned a 12–5 season into a losing record.
- The upcoming games against Denver and Seattle were identified as more meaningful tests.
- The Seattle game in Week 5 was viewed as the first major test of whether the 49ers can compete with the defending champions.
- The Rams were also discussed because Myles Garrett was reportedly placed on injured reserve after knee surgery and expected to miss at least four weeks.
- The hosts hoped Garrett’s absence would weaken the Rams enough to affect their position in the playoff race.
- The Rams had reportedly pursued Maxx Crosby before turning to Garrett.
- Maxx Crosby remained with the Raiders, despite widespread speculation that several teams wanted to trade for him.
- The hosts suggested that the Raiders’ rebuilding situation made Crosby a logical trade target, although concerns about his physical condition and knee reportedly complicated potential deals.
- Eddie Piñeiro was praised for handling kicking duties effectively, particularly in contrast with former 49ers kicker Jake Moody.
- The conversation then shifted to basketball and the upcoming Warriors season.
- The hosts were looking forward to training camp and preseason action, although they noted that several players would miss time with injuries.
- Jimmy Butler was expected to return around December or January, while Moses Moody might not return until after the All-Star break or later.
- The main Warriors storyline was the arrival of rookie Yaxel, whom the hosts identified as the player to watch.
- They debated whether Yaxel should start immediately or begin as a sixth man while adapting to the NBA.
- The hosts wanted to see how Steve Kerr would use Yaxel within the rotation and whether he would eventually become a starter.
- Potential lineups included combinations featuring Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porziņģis, De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, and Yaxel.
- The hosts discussed whether the Warriors should use a larger lineup with Draymond at small forward and Porziņģis alongside another tall frontcourt player.
- They also considered using Yaxel in the starting lineup while bringing him off the floor periodically and later using him with the second unit.
- The Warriors’ training schedule was described as a mix of individual work, rehabilitation, team workouts, and eventual mandatory appearances at the training facility.
- The hosts discussed Jonathan Kuminga’s move to Minnesota on a two-year contract reportedly worth $12.5 million.
- They noted that Kuminga had turned down a much larger offer from Golden State, which reportedly could have paid him approximately $23–24 million per year.
- The hosts questioned why Kuminga accepted less money, suggesting that Minnesota may have offered him a better opportunity for playing time.
- The Lakers were also said to have pursued Kuminga because they believed he could play alongside Luka Dončić without needing the ball constantly.
- The hosts argued that Kuminga does want the ball and may struggle if asked to play a limited role.
- They predicted that more playing time could expose Kuminga’s weaknesses rather than automatically lead to a larger contract.
- The group speculated that Minnesota could eventually experience buyer’s remorse and include Kuminga in a trade package near the deadline.
- The episode concluded with a “truth or not truth” discussion about whether the 49ers would finish with a better record than the previous season.
- All three hosts chose “truth,” although Jordan added that the prediction depended on the team staying healthy.
- The projected records discussed were approximately 13–4 or 14–3.
- Davey predicted that San Francisco could lose one game to Seattle and another unexpected game during the season.
- The hosts ended by saying they wanted to watch the day’s football and might record another episode focused on fantasy football or postgame analysis.