What’s More Likely: Rich Talks Chargers, Bengals, Giants, Eagles, 49ers, Rams, Patriots & More

Friday means What's More Likely on The Rich Eisen Show, and Chris came armed with a full slate of Week 9 questions. Rich answered almost all of them, called his shot on at least one, and still found a way to work in his annual crusade against the SEC.

Chris opened with Thursday night's game in mind. What will be the bigger number the rest of the season, Jaguars wins or Ravens losses? Rich took Jacksonville wins, which pushed back on the idea that Baltimore is collapsing. "They're too talented, man," he said. Rich pointed out that if Derrick Henry hadn't fumbled in Cleveland, "they're above .500 right now," while stressing he wasn't laying it at the feet of "a first-ballot Hall of Famer." Strange things have happened in Baltimore, but Rich expects the Ravens to work it out of their system. "Brissett will be better. They should win some games."

Next: which two-win team is more likely to get a home win this week, the Saints or the Colts? Rich went with New Orleans against a Browns team with Shedeur Sanders making his first start. "That is not an easy place to play, man," he said. When word came that Deshaun Watson had been seen at practice, Rich drew a distinction. "There's a difference between being seen at practice and then practicing when you're in the concussion protocol a couple days before." He also noted the Saints are coming off a bye.

Then came Bengals and Falcons in Madrid, the game that opens the first football window on Sunday. Rich knows it well, because the first thing to open will be his eyes, "the middle of the freaking night," all in service of expanding ESPN's global strategy. The question: Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins or Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson for more combined yards and touchdowns? "I'll take three over two," Rich said. "Simple math." Even with Bijan held under 90 rushing yards four straight games, Rich stuck with the math.

For Denver at Carolina, Chris asked whether the Broncos would lead throughout and win with ease, or whether it would come down to the final drive. Rich took the close game. "That's the way the Broncos play football," he said, and an up-and-down Carolina team that got wiped out the last two games is due for "an up that you don't see coming."

TJ got the Giants-Eagles question: does J.J. McCarthy light it up, or is this the beginning of Joe Milton season in Philadelphia? TJ's answer was "both," which was not allowed. Rich then took Joe Milton season, noting that the two once briefly shared a quarterback room in Ann Arbor. With an Eagles defense that can be run on, Rich expects the Giants to win anyway, and he even called his shot. Chris added that Malik Nabers and McCarthy should be best friends.

Which team is more likely to play NFC North spoiler, the Dolphins hosting the Lions or the Bucs in Chicago? Rich took Tampa, even after a game in which their quarterback didn't complete a pass. The objection came that the Bucs didn't play well in a rainstorm, but Rich liked a team that had won two in a row on the road with its run game and blitz game over a Dolphins team facing a Lions squad that has won three straight. He did add that Caleb might dice up the blitz anyway.

Chris noted that Will Anderson sounded like Lou Holtz this week talking up Justin Herbert. Bigger number: Anderson sacks or Herbert touchdown passes? Rich took Anderson's sacks. He also brought up news that Mike McDaniel says he's moving to the booth. "I'm picking the Chargers" came from across the table, and Rich acknowledged that would be wild given that the Texans are coming off a bye and have had the Chargers' number.

For Monday's likely headline, it was "49ers really need Brandon Aiyuk" versus "Where has Ashton Jeanty gone?" Rich went with "Where has Jeanty gone?" The case for Aiyuk got made on set, and Rich wondered whether the "Costanza-lite" had even shown up yet, but his reasoning was the 49ers defense: it's DeForest Buckner's first game as a Niner, and Bosa appears to be trending toward practicing.

In the NFC West, Rich picked the Rams to be in second place after Sunday, with the Seahawks beating the Cardinals and the Rams beating the Commanders. He wished Jayden Daniels good luck with Myles Garrett expected back.

For Packers at Patriots, the question was which quarterback throws more touchdown passes of 40-plus yards, Jordan Love or Drake Maye. Rich took Love, who has Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, while Maye is expected to get Mack Hollins back with A.J. Brown looking unlikely to play. "So it's return of the Mac?" came the follow-up.

The last one: more top 25 college upsets on Saturday or significant NFL trades before the deadline? Rich took trades, since everyone says they'll be significant. Then he couldn't help himself. "Plus, they're not upsets when it's the SEC, Chris," he said. "It's just high competition." When a lower-ranked SEC team beats a higher-ranked one, "it's not an upset."

Someone at the table declared they were done with this for the year. Rich promised to keep beating the drum.