Got the Fight Knocked Right Out of You

Bengals @ Broncos MNF Recap, MLB Playoff Predictions | Episode 250

Hey everyone—Episode 250 (!) landed during a sports traffic jam in the best possible way: Monday Night Football in Denver with both of us there in person, MLB postseason in full swing, and a college football slate that kept throwing haymakers. Sprinkle in Ryder Cup drama, a fantastic WNBA postseason, and even a spicy UFC card, and you’ve got a week that tested the limits of our TVs and attention spans.

MNF: Bengals @ Broncos — from the stands

From my seat at Empower Field, this one felt…flat. Not just on the scoreboard—flat in vibe. Walking out, there wasn’t even the usual chirping. Broncos fans were already talking about the next opponent. Bengals fans were quiet. That tells you the story of the game: Denver handled business, Cincinnati didn’t.

A few takeaways, straight from being there and rewatching the TV copy later:

• Denver set the tone physically. The run game and play sequencing kept the defense fresh and the offense on schedule.

• Cincinnati lacked answers and urgency. Protection, penalties, and sideline body language all told the same story.

• Altitude matters. Early fall games in Colorado hit visiting teams differently. You could see players tapping for oxygen and subs sooner than usual. That’s not an excuse—it’s real, and it changes the “want-to” late in drives.

Bottom line: Denver did exactly what a home team should do against a struggling opponent. For Cincinnati, it was a reminder that execution and identity can’t depend on one star.

Fantasy football: salt in the wound

If Monday night wasn’t brutal enough for me, fantasy made sure to twist the knife. Red-zone trips that went nowhere, big swings that didn’t hit. Meanwhile Niko stayed hot—again. Credit where it’s due: sometimes the other side just goes nuclear.

MLB playoff predictions: October, let’s dance

We laid out our brackets on the show and kept it real: these picks went in “cold,” which is half the fun in October. We’re leaning into:

• Momentum (who’s hot, who’s not),

• Bullpens (who shortens the game best), and

• Matchups (contact vs. strikeout lineups; lefty/righty edges).

October always makes someone look like a genius and someone else look reckless. We’re comfortable being either if it means we call a sleeper right.

College football: heavyweight weekend

This was one of our better college football segments—big brands, bigger stakes, and a playoff race that’s already volatile. The theme right now:

• Defenses travel, O-lines decide, and the teams that win situational football (4th down, red zone, 2-minute) are carving paths that last through November.

• We highlighted rivalry landmines and tough road spots—exactly where seasons change.

Ryder Cup & WNBA: must-watch beyond the usual

Ryder Cup: Rough opening sessions for the U.S., stronger singles push late, not enough to flip it. Format experience and pairing chemistry matter a ton in this event.

WNBA: Outstanding postseason drama with overtime thrillers and star power that’s pulling in casuals. The on-court product is delivering. The conversation around investment and player compensation isn’t going away—and it shouldn’t.

Player of the Week (Fantasy Focus)

Puka NacuaWhen we say “league-winner traits,” we mean consistent target gravity and drive-extenders on third down. On our fantasy radar this week, Puka did exactly what elite WR1s do: tilt coverages and keep chains moving. In a week where I needed breaks, he gave Niko momentum he never gave back.

Honorable mentions (fantasy impact): James Cook (steady dual-threat usage) and a handful of RBs who turned patience and vision into chunk plays behind improving run schemes.

Note: This Player of the Week is fantasy-performance based from our league discussion on the episode—not an official NFL award.

Benchwarmers of the Week

1) Me (self-nominated)
Paid my debts—yes, including wearing the Kubiak jersey and doing classroom push-ups. If you talk ball, you take your medicine when it goes sideways. That’s the show.

2) A certain U.S. team room
We love the Ryder Cup, but poor starts on Friday and Saturday make Sunday comebacks a prayer. The lesson: pairings and vibe matter—a lot.

The Pick’em (Episode 250)

We logged picks on air. Here’s where we landed this week:

Niko’s Picks

• Lions over Bengals

• Giants over Saints

• Bills over Patriots

• Cardinals over Titans

Jimmy’s Picks

• Lions over Bengals

• Browns over Vikings (London game)

• Colts over Raiders

• Chargers over Commanders

Records mentioned on the show:

• Niko: 15–1 to date in our season Pick’em.

• Jimmy (last week): 12–3–1.

As always, these are the picks we discussed on the episode—not betting advice. Lines and availability change; play it smart.

Final word on 250

Thanks for riding with us to 250 episodes. This week had everything: a chilly MNF reality check, the best kind of October uncertainty, and college football doing what it always does—making every Saturday feel like a playoff. Add in Ryder Cup theater, a great WNBA postseason, and some UFC spice, and it’s a reminder why we do this every single week.

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