NFC For Real or Fugazi? What to Make of Lions, Rams, Eagles & Other 2-2 Teams

A dozen NFL teams entered Week 5 at 2-2, and The Rich Eisen Show did what any sports show does when something works: it ran it back. A couple of weeks ago, a pre-show conversation about all the 1-1 teams turned into a segment called For Real or Fugazi. The rules have not changed. Rich gives his verdict, and nobody ever circles back to check his work. "It's over, baby," as the crew put it.

There were too many 2-2 teams to handle in one bite, seven in the NFC and five in the AFC, so the show split it in two and led with the NFC. This time it came with an upgrade: a real graphic, a Goodfellas parody that Rich, a Staten Island kid who counts it among his favorite movies, called "awesome." TJ kept his job doing the voiceover. Chris Brockman read the teams.

First up, the varsity. The Dallas Cowboys opened Week 5 at home that night against a winless Tampa Bay team, and Rich did not hesitate. "They're for real. I think they're going to win the division. I said that before the season, and I believe it now." He loved that the segment could lead off with a Gotti reference after the way Dak looked at Clarence Hill when asked, "Are you Gotti?" and expects the defense to get better and start stopping people. Giving the ball to Gotti, he said, "is only going to get more Gotti as things go along."

The Philadelphia Eagles were playing across the pond, and Rich's verdict came with an asterisk. "They're for real injured," he said. "Hurt more than Hurts right now." When the crew protested that the show could not have 12 for reals, Rich agreed they will not all be for real and was reminded he is allowed to be mean in this segment. Rich still believes the roster is too talented to give up on. DeVonta Smith comes back, Dallas Goedert comes back, Zack Baun comes back, and Saquon is not hurt for long, if at all. The Eagles might go to London and get smoked to fall to 2-3, but Rich will not call them fugazi. Plus, "who's the only one who would look Big Dom in the grill and call him fugazi?" One caveat: if the question is the division, he will call them fugazi on that. To make the playoffs, they are for real.

Then the North, where Rich's mood turned. Of the Detroit Lions, the verdict was split, "Offense is for real," but the defense is fugazi, "which makes the team fugazi. I'm sorry to say." Rich does not see the fix. He heard the coach say the team just has to be better with who it has, "and I just don't know if they've got enough." He was frustrated watching Hutch get so close to the quarterback with a motor that does not stop, only for him to be "living in almost sacks."

Green Bay got the same treatment. "They're fugazi right now," Rich said. Until Josh Jacobs returns, there is no run game, Jayden Reed is out and the offensive line is a problem. When someone noted that Golden looks good, Rich allowed that not everyone on the team looks bad, but "for the moment I'll call the Packers fugazi." That made two in a row, and Chris said he was proud of him.

Down in the South, the division leaders are also 2-2, starting with the Carolina Panthers, who were on their bye. Rich went for real. "I mean they just beat the Lions," he said, and that was the team that made him feel this way about Detroit. Get the corners back, get Coker back, and the quarterback throwing to T-Mac, Tetairoa McMillan. Rich thinks the Panthers will keep performing to the point where McMillan "might take his offensive rookie of the year trophy out of the case."

Atlanta, which has scored the most points over the last two weeks, also landed on for real. "They're fugazi first two weeks. It's amazing what a quarterback will do," Rich said, adding credit for the defense. He called the win at the Superdome "a stones W," like walking into somebody's home on banner-raising night, except the home team was celebrating a Superdome win from 20 years ago that had the place charged up.

The last NFC team was the Los Angeles Rams, which the show is passionate about. Chris was not sure. "They're for real, Chris. How dare you?" Rich said. Chris noted they are banged up, and Rich's answer mirrored his Eagles logic: there are enough talented guys coming back. He also marveled that Davante Adams is technically the Rams' second receiver while playing out of his skull and never complaining about targets. Rich called him a surefire Hall of Famer, after a spirited detour about whether he is first ballot when Reggie Wayne is still not in. Either way, the Rams are for real.

And the verdict on the segment itself? Also for real. The AFC was still to come.