🏈 Not All W’s Are Created Equally: Broncos Upset Eagles, Bengals Sign Joe Flacco | Episode 251
🏈 Not All W’s Are Created Equally: Broncos Upset Eagles, Bengals Sign Joe Flacco | Episode 251
Description:
Another week of football, another round of surprises. Some teams are starting to separate themselves while others are proving they still have plenty of work to do. Week 6 delivered everything — upsets, quarterback drama, and playoff-shaping performances in both the NFL and college football.
The Denver Broncos pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the season by upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Cincinnati Bengals turned to veteran Joe Flacco to keep their season alive. Add in a wild weekend of college football, the Avalanche opening their NHL campaign, and another twist in the NFL Pick’em race, and you’ve got a packed episode of The Far End of the Bench Podcast.
👇 Watch or listen to the full episode below, then scroll for timestamps, recaps, and this week’s Pick’em standings!
📰 Episode Overview
In Episode 251, Niko and Jimmy break down:
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The Broncos’ shocking win over the Eagles and how Sean Payton’s team finally looks like they’re buying in.
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The Bengals’ decision to sign Joe Flacco, what it means for their playoff hopes, and how it affects the AFC North race.
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A chaotic Week 6 in college football, where contenders proved their worth and pretenders got exposed.
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Updates on Avalanche hockey, MLB playoff drama, and the WNBA Finals wrapping up.
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Plus, the tightest NFL Pick’em race yet, with just half a game separating the co-hosts.
🎧 Stream the full show below or listen on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
🎙️ Part 1 — NFL & College Football Breakdown
Timestamp: 0:00 – 1:00:13
Topics: Broncos vs. Eagles reaction, Joe Flacco signs with the Bengals, Week 6 college football takeaways, and mid-season storylines taking shape.
Highlights
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Broncos’ Defense Wakes Up: Denver’s defense finally looked like the unit Sean Payton envisioned, forcing key turnovers and holding Jalen Hurts in check.
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Joe Flacco Returns to the AFC North: Cincinnati’s quarterback carousel continues, but Flacco’s veteran presence could stabilize things short-term.
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College Football Chaos: Oregon, Penn State, and Oklahoma make statements while USC and others stumble. The playoff picture keeps shifting weekly.
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Midseason Reality Check: Jimmy and Niko debate which teams are legitimate contenders and which ones are living on borrowed time.
🏟️ Part 2 — Penn State, Coach Prime, and Avalanche Opening Week
Timestamp: 1:00:14 – 1:59:47
Topics: Penn State’s ceiling under James Franklin, Coach Prime’s health and its impact on Colorado football, and the start of the Avalanche’s 2025 season.
Recap
Jimmy and Niko dive into whether James Franklin can truly take Penn State over the hump or if the program is stuck in second gear. The guys also discuss Coach Prime’s health update and how it might affect CU’s energy and recruiting heading into late season.
From there, it’s all about hockey and October madness — the Avalanche opened strong, Eric Johnson returned to Ball Arena, and the MLB postseason continued to deliver fireworks. The WNBA Finals wrapped up, too, bringing a fitting close to one of the most balanced seasons in recent memory.
🏆 NFL Pick’em Standings — Week 6 Update
The new NFL Pick’em format has created a weekly rivalry between Niko and Jimmy that’s gone down to the wire. After Week 6, things couldn’t be tighter:
| Host | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy | 14 | 5 | 1 | .775 |
| Niko | 16 | 4 | 0 | .800 |
That one tie from earlier in the year is still haunting the standings — just half a game separating the two heading into Week 7!
Make your own picks in the comments below or on social media using #FeOTBPickem and see if you can out-pick the hosts!
💬 Join the Conversation
Who’s the most surprising team in football right now?
Do you think Joe Flacco can still make a difference in Cincinnati?
Drop your thoughts in the comments or tag us online — we’ll feature our favorite takes in next week’s show!
📱 Follow us: @FeOTBpod on Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok & YouTube
🌐 Visit: feotbpod.org for all our audio, video, and written content.
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Jimmy Pallotto
Co-Host
Jimmy Pallotto - Co-Host, The Far End of the Bench
Born and raised in the heart of Colorado, Jimmy Pallotto is the passionate voice behind The Far End of the Bench. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Jimmy brings unparalleled energy, humor, and insight to the podcast, combining his deep-rooted love for the game with a sharp analytical edge. As a proud alumnus of Western Colorado University, where he majored in Communication Arts and Sociology, Jimmy’s background equips him to deliver thoughtful commentary and engage in meaningful discussions with fans and guests alike.
Jimmy’s love for sports extends beyond the mic. By day, he’s shaping young minds as a 7th-grade social studies teacher and multi-sport coach, mentoring athletes in wrestling and football. A dedicated coach and educator, Jimmy instills the same values of teamwork, leadership, and dedication in his students that he shares on the podcast.
When he's not in the classroom or recording episodes, Jimmy enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Carlye, their energetic Border Collie Boomer, and his close-knit family. Whether he's breaking down game-winning plays, sharing hilarious locker room stories, or diving deep into the latest sports controversies, Jimmy’s vibrant personality and authentic voice make him a fan favorite.
Catch Jimmy every week on The Far End of the Bench, where he and his co-host Niko Bryant tackle everything from Colorado sports to national headlines, bringing the sidelines to center stage.
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