Robert Mays' Homeric tour of the NFL world is underway, with stops across the previous week in Detroit, Los Angeles and San Diego. While there, he spoke with Colton Pouncy, Daniel Popper and Jon Machota, The Athletic's beat writers for the Lions, Chargers and Cowboys, respectively. How will the Lions handle the brain drain? Where can the Chargers find more juice on offense? How do the Cowboys feel different under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer? Learn the answers to those questions, and a whole lot more, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show

Host: Robert Mays

With: Colton Pouncy, Daniel Popper, Jon Machota

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...

⁠Apple⁠

⁠Spotify⁠

⁠YouTube⁠

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Colton on Bluesky: @coltonpouncy.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Colton on X: @colton_pouncy

Follow Daniel on X: @danielrpopper

Follow Jon on X: @jonmachota

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.

It's easy to overlook second-year players who A) didn't have huge rookie seasons, or B) aren't quarterbacks. But you don't have to be Jayden Daniels or Malik Nabers or Jared Verse to be an X-factor for your team—and, by extension, the league—in your second season. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen highlight six sneaky second-year X-factors on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

6:22 Any second-year Falcons defensive lineman

13:16 Christian Mahogany, Lions LG

20:37 Cole Bishop, Bills S

26:56 Kris Jenkins, Bengals DT

36:51 Renardo Green, 49ers CB

44:34 Blake Fisher, Texans RT

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...

⁠Apple⁠

⁠Spotify⁠

⁠YouTube⁠

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.

There's a temptation to believe that surprise teams from the previous season are on a clear upward trajectory. But we know that isn't always true. Just ask the 2022-23 Giants or 2021-22 Raiders. Four of last year's playoff teams significantly outperformed preseason expectations and made the playoffs: the Commanders, Chargers, Broncos and Vikings. Is the arrow really pointing up for those teams? Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen break it down on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

6:07 Washington Commanders

21:19 Los Angeles Chargers

35:41 Denver Broncos

53:40 Minnesota Vikings

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

With: Dave Helman

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...

⁠Apple⁠

⁠Spotify⁠

⁠YouTube⁠

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.