Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined the Felger and Mazz program on Tuesday following the New England Patriots 29-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. While on, Greg Bedard did his weekly “10 Questions” segment on the program following week 7 of the 2023 NFL season.
Some info from around the NFL according to NFL.com…
After starting the season 5-0, the San Francisco 49ers have dropped two consecutive games to fall to 5-2 on the season.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw his 7th interception on Sunday against the Patriots. Allen is now one interception off of the NFL lead for interceptions thrown. Jimmy Garoppolo of the Las Vegas Raiders and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles have each thrown 8 on the season.
After starting the season 2-1, the Green Bay Packers have lost three games in a row to fall to 2-4. Packers quarterback Jordan Love has thrown for 3 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions in the losses.
Bill Belichick won his 300th career game on Sunday in the Patriots win over the Bills. Belichick is the third NFL head coach to win 300 or more games joining Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318).
The Miami Dolphins are 5-2 to start the 2023 season. Second-year head coach Mike McDaniel has improved his head coaching record to 14-10 with the start this season.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are the only two teams with 1-loss this season. The two teams lead their respective conferences with their 6-1 records.
The 10 Questions
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 17: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up during a timeout in a 30-23 49ers win over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
10. Where do you stand on Brock Purdy and the Niners?
Greg Bedard: I think that Brock Purdy needs everything perfect around him to be effective and he hasn’t had that past couple of weeks. When he gets stressed and asked to do too much, he throws two picks down the stretch like he did last night. The Niners, I think, are really good, they’re just they’re hurt all the time. Nobody on that team can ever stay healthy. Maybe it’s a Kyle Shanahan thing.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills scrambles with the football during the second quarter of the NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
9.If you were the Bills, would you be worried about Josh Allen?
Greg Bedard: No, I’m worried about everything else. The offensive line was awful in this game. Ken Dorsey, the offensive coordinator, he doesn’t know how to attack the Patriots. There was like nothing over the middle and everybody attacks the Patriots over the middle because their linebackers are slow and their safeties aren’t really good at playing free safety. And so they have issues there. They don’t have enough good weapons. They really don’t. It’s Stefon Diggs and that’s it and they could really use some sort of slot receiver. And they they just asked too much of him. Their offense is basically “Josh Allen just go pull play out of your rear end please because that’s all we can do”.
Aug 19, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) breaks a tackle by New England Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (92) in the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
8. Matt Lafleur said yesterday the Packers’ confidence in Jordan Love hasn’t wavered one bit. Do you believe him? What do you see there?
Greg Bedard: I do believe him. I think he’s just a he’s a kid who hasn’t played a lot o f football needs to play. It’s trial and error. He has to learn from playing. And, you know, there will be a lot of tough days before there are better days, but you just got to stay the course.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 22: Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
7. Since we spend so much time mentioning them in the same breath, let’s play a game of rank ’em: Bill Belichick, Don Shula, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll?
Greg Bedard: Bill Belichick. Chuck Noll. Don Shula. Tom Landry.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Jason Kelce #62, Lane Johnson #65, Isaac Seumalo #56, and Landon Dickerson #69 of the Philadelphia Eagles walk to the locker room against the New York Giants during the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
6. I have changed my mind on the tush push. The more I see the Eagles continue to dominate and no one come close, I no longer want to see the league outlaw it. You?
Greg Bedard: I don’t like it. I think it’s way too much of an injury risk. I mean, those teams are going to get more and more desperate and you’re going to get guys screaming over the top. Like if you’re not going to, you know, really do punts and kickoffs anymore, don’t let that happen.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel walks along the sideline during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Oct. 16, 2022.Vikings V Dolphins 30
5. Is Mike McDaniel a toolbag?
Greg Bedard: Hell, no. He’s hilarious. I love him compared to snorts and giggles over here.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 27: Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson celebrates receiving his Hall of Fame ring at halftime during a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 27, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
4. Who is the second-best coach in Dolphins history?
Greg Bedard: Jimmy Johnson.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 15: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins receives the snap during the second quarter in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
3. Do you think it’s hard to win in Miami at a high level – in any sport – because of the external factors: Climate, nightlife, intensity of the fan base, etc?
Greg Bedard: I definitely think there’s something to the nightlife and all that. And, you know, it’s a banana republic down there. It’s just a weird place to live. I lived there for 20 years out of my life, so I definitely think there’s some sort of effect.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JANUARY 08: A detail of the official National Football League NFL logo is seen painted on the turf as the New York Giants host the Atlanta Falcons during their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at MetLife Stadium on January 8, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
2. Thoughts on the old Orange Bowl?
Greg Bedard: I love the old Orange Bowl. I mean, it was a dump, but man, I loved it. And the crowd was right on top of you, really close to the sideline. It was loud. I just I loved going to games there.
1.Do you like the league right now?
Greg Bedard: No, I don’t. I mean, I think the lack of practice time, the lack of padded practice, the fundamentals have never been worse in this league. It takes forever for these teams to get into game shape. It’s not until like week seven or eight. Like it’s not going anywhere. It’s going to stay popular, but it’s just it’s horrible football.
