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Rick and Steve start with the Lightning's wild 8-3 win at Buffalo. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 4-0 lead, Buffalo cut it to 4-3, and then Brandon Hagel found Nikita Kucherov to make it 5-3, which started Kucherov's natural hat trick (goals five, six, and seven). Steve cites the first career five-point night for defenseman John Carlson, who Rick says has been everything advertised, and notes rookie Sam O'Reilly making his NHL debut and getting his first career point with Brayden Point out on injured reserve. They talk about last year's 8-7 game with all the fights (Steve calls it a one-off), how Kucherov compares to Connor McDavid's pace (Steve says about 48 points in 20 games for McDavid and 26 in 18 for Kucherov), and whether Kucherov's contract situation affects his play (Steve says on the ice he's all hockey). The Lightning are 8-0 at home and 4-4-2 on the road, with a back-to-back in Columbus and a six-game homestand coming, including Saturday against Detroit with a Thanksgiving food drive for Feeding Tampa Bay. On the baseball side, the Rays' Erik Neander was named Major League Baseball's Executive of the Year, and they praise his deadline acquisitions of Liam Hicks, Tyler Wells, and Freddy Peralta. They look ahead to whether Peralta (Steve doesn't think so) and Nick Martinez (Steve thinks he might) return, and Rick relays what Tyler Glasnow said about how the Rays simplify things for pitchers and build their confidence. They debate Kevin Cash not winning Manager of the Year (Steve says Will Venable, who won, and Boston's manager both had strong cases, and voters like to reward someone whose turn it is), look at Bryan Baker's reliever award and Junior Caminero's All-MLB honor, and talk about the Rays wanting to extend Drew Rasmussen, who Rick calls the ace of the staff. After an Old Northeast Jewelers sponsor read, Rick looks at the Bucs' bye week and the trip to Detroit. He says the defense is built to slow Jahmyr Gibbs and get after Jared Goff, that the third-easiest schedule gives them a path, and that the team must fix the passing game, with Rick saying Ted Hurst should be on the field. Rick also predicts big offseason changes: he thinks Dave Canales will be fired in Carolina and that there could be a coaching change in Tampa Bay if things don't improve, with a possible offensive-minded head coach and questions about Baker Mayfield's long-term deal. The mailbag has a listener in Albuquerque on how streaming has changed fan allegiances, with Rick calling it one of the best letters he's gotten, plus Rick's story about a reader who called him a "bad reporter" over a 2-4 record mistake that turned out to be someone else's misreading. SegmentsLightning's 8-3 win at Buffalo: Kucherov's natural hat trick and Carlson's big nightSam O'Reilly's NHL debut and Brayden Point's injuryKucherov vs. McDavid and the contract questionLightning's home record, road trip, and Saturday's food driveErik Neander named Executive of the YearPeralta and Martinez, and how the Rays develop pitchersKevin Cash and the Manager of the Year votingBryan Baker, Junior Caminero, and the Rays' All-MLB honorsDrew Rasmussen extension talksSponsor: Old Northeast JewelersBucs bye week: Detroit preview and the schedule aheadCoaching changes: Canales, Bowles, and the GlazersMailbag: fan allegiances in the streaming eraRick's "bad reporter" story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Veterans Day, Rick opens the show by thanking everyone who has served and those who paid the ultimate price. He then turns to the NFL trade deadline, which he calls Groundhog Day in Tampa Bay: the Bucs did nothing. Rick says that's who Jason Licht has been since he arrived in 2014, a GM who values his mid- and late-round picks and rarely buys at the deadline. The Bucs' passing game has been inept and Rick says they could have used a big-bodied veteran receiver. He points to Kansas City getting Josh Downs (Rick and Steve disagree on the exact pick compensation) and Keenan Allen going to the 49ers for a sixth-round pick, and wonders why Licht wouldn't pay that for a veteran instead of leaning on Ted Hurst, who played one snap against the Bears. They go through other deadline moves, including Kirk Cousins returning to Minnesota (Steve praises the GM who sold high), the Falcons and Saints selling players to Jacksonville, and the Colts' fire sale. The hosts then dig into why the Bucs are stuck. Rick says Baker Mayfield's pick-six came on a stare-down of Cade Otton while Emeka Egbuka was open, and that a run game this good should be setting up the pass. They point to the defense as the bright spot: the best in the NFL at takeaways, number one against the run, with Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum having Pro Bowl years, and every Bucs loss decided by one score. They go over the strange numbers from the Bears game, including Steve's stat that Chicago is the only team in NFL history with five-plus turnovers, nine-plus penalties, and no 10-yard rushes that still blew a 14-point lead and won. They also work through the math that seven wins might win the division and nine surely would, with the schedule easing up after Detroit. After an Old Northeast Jewelers sponsor read (two locations, in St. Petersburg and Hyde Park Village in Tampa), Rick answers a mailbag question about why ownership is "settling for .500" with a long argument: the Brady-era cap hangover, keeping the Super Bowl core (Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke), losing coordinators to head-coaching jobs, and what he calls the miscalculation at wide receiver. He covers Mike Evans' age and injuries, Egbuka's year without a 100-yard game, Chris Godwin's $22 million, and Mayfield looking like "just a guy" when the people around him aren't great, with a $55 million contract. He says the Glazers go all in when they think they have a shot, but they knew this team wasn't that talented, and that he still thinks Tampa Bay is the NFC South favorite. Rick also questions Zac Robinson's passing concepts, with Steve joking he'd almost want Josh Grizzard back. They finish with the Lightning at Buffalo, Brayden Point on injured reserve with Sam O'Reilly called up, and a back-to-back in Columbus. SegmentsVeterans Day tributeThe NFL trade deadline: the Bucs do nothingJason Licht's draft-pick philosophy and the passing gameDeadline deals: Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, Kirk Cousins, and the Falcons and Saints sellingThe Colts' fire sale and Jacksonville going all inNo cavalry: Ted Hurst, the pick-six, and the run gameMinnesota's quarterback carousel and Murphy's interceptionThe Bucs defense, takeaways, and the Bears game's odd statsPenalties, the snap-count complaint, and the NFC South mathSponsor: Old Northeast JewelersMailbag: Why settle for .500? The Brady hangover, roster building, and the receiver miscalculationGlazers, Baker Mayfield's contract, and Zac RobinsonLightning at Buffalo and Brayden Point on Injured Reserve Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick and Steve look at the Bucs' fallout from Sunday's loss in Chicago, starting with Todd Bowles' Monday press conference. Bowles didn't sugarcoat the offense: he said the bye week is for the staff and Baker Mayfield to decide whether the calls, scheme, and mechanics are right, and he said there are no changes planned for Zac Robinson's play calling. Rick wonders whether the ship has already sailed on tailoring the offense to Baker, while Steve compares it to the bye-week reset with Tom Brady and Bruce Arians six years ago (Rick adds that Arians wanted Brady to throw deeper, and the Bucs won eight straight, including the Super Bowl). They go through Baker's 32.4 QBR (30th of 31 qualifying quarterbacks, per Rick), his turnovers, and what it means to pay a quarterback $55 million, with Steve arguing the turnovers have always been part of the Baker story. Much of the show is about the receivers. Rick cites a report that it's been a full year since Emeka Egbuka's last 100-yard game, and says he's on pace for roughly 500 yards. Bowles blamed injuries and said the Bucs need to design more plays for him, but also said that talent-wise the room is probably lacking. Steve says Jason Licht fell in love with Egbuka, who looks overdrafted so far, and both talk about how much Mike Evans is missed. With the trade deadline at 4 p.m., they debate whether Chris Godwin (about four targets a game, $22 million salary) could be moved. Rick says he'd be out of here if anyone wanted him, Steve says no one would pay that, and both agree Licht rarely buys or sells. They also note Jacksonville going all in and Atlanta and New Orleans selling. Along the way they argue the NFC South math (Steve says seven wins might win the division if Tampa Bay sweeps its six division games), whether playoff teams should be reseeded, the Super Bowl landing on Valentine's Day, and how the trade market energizes teams. Rick calls the Chicago loss even more ridiculous given his stats: the Bears had lost 10 straight times they turned it over five times, and the Bucs had won 22 straight when forcing five. After a Breitling Boutique sponsor read, they take a mailbag question on whether Tez Johnson is the best Bucs receiver left, then get into Ted Hurst's drops, Brady's views on receivers who drop passes, tight end Cade Otton leading the team in targets, and whether Robinson can fix the offense. SegmentsTodd Bowles' Monday press conference and the bye-week planThe Tom Brady bye-week resetBaker Mayfield's numbers and $55 million salaryJacksonville's deadline movesEmeka Egbuka and the receiver roomMike Evans' absence and Jason Licht's draft choicesChris Godwin and the trade deadlineThe defense, the coverage bust, and the NFC South mathReseeding the playoffs and the Super Bowl on Valentine's DayBucky Irving's workload and Sean TuckerTrades in the NFL and Baker's pressureSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaMailbag: Tez Johnson, Ted Hurst, and Cade Otton's targetsZac Robinson's play calling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick, reporting from Chicago, and Steve react to the Bucs' 27-24 loss to the Bears on Sunday night, a game Tampa Bay lost even though its defense forced five turnovers. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson's opening script put the Bears up 14-0, but the Bucs weathered it, tied the game, and had a shot to win until a Baker Mayfield pick-six and a late coverage bust on tight end Colston Loveland. Rick says the Bucs would have been alone in first place at 4-5 going into the bye. Instead they're 3-6, still 2-0 in the division. Steve credits a switch from man to zone coverage for confusing Williams, and they argue over Mike Tomlin's halftime comment on the Bucs kicking a field goal on fourth-and-goal (Rick would have gone for it, Steve says he understands the thinking). They also talk about the five false start penalties and Todd Bowles sounding defeated afterward. The hosts keep coming back to the offense. Rick says Baker Mayfield hasn't been sharp since returning from his thumb injury, with too much staring down receivers (Cade Otton included) and not enough throws to open players. They talk about the drops and Ted Hurst's "yips," the lack of a true No. 1 receiver, Emeka Egbuka still coming back from an ankle, and Jalen McMillan being out. They wonder about a trade-deadline receiver, though neither expects Jason Licht to make one. On the positive side are the defense's takeaways (Rick calls Zyon McCollum an All-Pro candidate and cites Jacob Parrish's pass breakups), Bucky Irving's strong running, and a division so weak that Steve says eight wins will likely take it and the Bucs would need to go 5-3 the rest of the way. Rick says a 5-1 division finish would be elite, and both agree Antoine Winfield Jr.'s ankle is a concern. Rick also notes the Bears' fans were on edge after the fast start. After a Breitling Boutique sponsor read, Steve recaps the Lightning's weekend: a comeback win in overtime at Minnesota after trailing by two goals late, then a 4-3 loss at Winnipeg after rallying from three goals down, when Winnipeg scored with 1.6 seconds left on a five-on-three. They talk about Nikita Kucherov's fired-up celebration, Yanni Gourde's return, Brayden Point leaving hurt, and the back-to-back at Buffalo and Columbus. After a look at Penix and the Falcons in Madrid, they run through the college weekend, including Florida State's road win without Mike Norvell, a disputed Miami-Notre Dame touchdown, USF's loss at ECU, Florida losing to Oklahoma, and Alabama over LSU. SegmentsBucs lose 27-24 at Chicago despite five turnoversBaker Mayfield's pick-six, drops, and the passing gameDefense: man vs. zone, the late coverage bust, and Todd Bowles' reactionFourth-and-goal field goal decisionMissed chance at first place and the NFC South raceTakeaways, Bucky Irving, and five false startsReceivers, the trade deadline, and Ted HurstWinfield's ankle and the bye weekSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaLightning's comeback win at Minnesota and loss at WinnipegKucherov's celebration, Brayden Point's injury, and the next road tripPenix and the Falcons, and the NFC South's winning numberCollege football roundup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick and Steve preview Sunday night's Bucs-Bears game at Soldier Field. Rick says Chicago (6-2) has beaten both of last season's Super Bowl teams in the last two weeks, including a win in Seattle, and calls the Bears a real NFC contender with Caleb Williams getting better each year and Ben Johnson among the league's best play callers. Rick calls it a different weight class for the Bucs but says he still believes in Todd Bowles' defense. Alex Anzalone was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and Tampa Bay leads the league in takeaways. They talk about what Chicago's trade for Jeffery Simmons does to that defense, the Bears being on a short week after Seattle, and a schedule Rick says is the third easiest in the NFL the rest of the way. They also look ahead to the bye and then Detroit. The big question is the passing game. After 11 attempts in Carolina and none in the rain against Atlanta, Rick and Steve wonder how quickly Baker Mayfield (no glove on his healing thumb anymore) and a thin receiver room can get back in rhythm, with Emeka Egbuka possibly missing another game. Steve asks whether the offensive line, which has dominated as a run blocker, can handle pass protection against a defense coming at it. Rick credits Zac Robinson's heavy two- and three-tight-end looks and the blocking of rookie Bauer Sharp, and both hosts say the Bucs can't be one-dimensional against Chicago. Along the way Rick tells the story of how he once covered the White Sox in Chicago when it looked like they might move to the Tampa Bay area, until the Illinois governor stopped the legislature's clock and a new Comiskey Park was funded. After a Breitling Boutique sponsor read, Steve runs through a stacked college football Saturday, including Alabama at LSU, Miami at Notre Dame, Georgia at Ole Miss, Kentucky at Tennessee, and Texas at Missouri, with USF at ECU on Friday night and the Gators hosting Oklahoma. They mention the loss of Miami's Malachi Toney to surgery and say it is too early to worry about the first rankings. The mailbag covers why Coe Keefe is playing mostly on special teams, Rick's B-minus grade for the Bucs' 2026 draft class (Rueben Bain, Josiah Trotter, Keionte Scott, and Bauer Sharp), and whether Stamkos or Mike Evans was harder to lose (Rick says Evans, and Steve adds the Bucs never really replaced him). They wrap with a Lightning doubleheader, at Minnesota Saturday night and at Winnipeg Sunday before the Bucs kick off. SegmentsBucs at Bears preview: Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, and the Bears' hot streakAnzalone and the Bucs defense vs. Chicago's offenseCan the Bucs pass again? Baker Mayfield's thumb, receivers, and pass protectionJeffery Simmons and the Bears defenseThe short week, the bye, and the schedule aheadSoldier Field, the White Sox story, and the Bears' futureZac Robinson's tight end sets and Bauer Sharp's blockingSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaCollege football slate: Utah, LSU, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, USF at ECU, and Florida vs. OklahomaMailbag: Ko Kieft and the tight endsMailbag: grading the Bucs' 2026 draft classMailbag: Stamkos or Mike Evans?Lightning doubleheader and sign-off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the third straight day, Rick's former radio partner and longtime Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones, now at the Poynter Institute, joins the show. Tom was up until 3 a.m. writing his newsletter after election night, so they start with the media coverage: how results come in so fast, the "magic boards" on CNN and NBC, the Associated Press and decision desks, and the New York Times needle. That leads to Tom's gripe of the day. Standing in front of the First Amendment engraved outside the Poynter building, he says he defends anyone's right to say what they want, but out-of-town critics who tell Tampa Bay it doesn't deserve a team can, in his words, "shut up." Rick takes the other side too. He says he can see why Yankees and Guardians fans would admire the Rays and wonder why more locals don't show up, and he talks about how players feel when the opposing team's fans take over the stadium. Tom and Rick get into the transient makeup of the market (Rick guesses the share of native Floridians is very small), whether it will ever change, Tom's sons (one in New York, one still in Tampa Bay) and their loyalties, exorbitant ticket prices and airline-style pricing, and Rick's decision to skip a pricey World Series game that turned into a 10-1 loss. They also wonder what a new stadium will do for attendance, and Rick says Bucs coach Todd Bowles gave the right answer when he asked about opposing fans: win more and you'll see fewer of them. Along the way Tom talks about being a Steelers fan and having to deal with Aaron Rodgers, why some national fans disliked the Rays (Rick and Tom point to the Junior Caminero bat flips), and why Yandy Diaz is one of his favorite Tampa Bay athletes. The second half is a college football conversation. Tom talks about Penn State firing James Franklin and hiring Matt Campbell, and recalls Jim Leavitt building USF from a trailer. Rick says paying players "through the front door" and the transfer era have made college football more like the NFL, with parity instead of Alabama-style super teams and few undefeated teams. Tom says players should be able to move the way coaches do, that ESPN has a stake in the debate, and that scholarships were never guaranteed. They bring up the injuries that change a player's life while the game moves on with the "next man up." They also cover Florida State's firing of Mike Norvell and his reported $50 million buyout, Tom's Jimbo Fisher radio memories, whether Fisher could return, and Tom's Lane Kiffin story. They close with a plug for Tom's biweekly Poynter podcast (past guests Rachel Maddow and Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, and a teased election-coverage guest he won't confirm), and a note that the pair just recorded two shows. SegmentsThird day with Tom Jones: election night media coverageHow results come in: magic boards, the AP, decision desks, and the New York Times needlePoynter, the First Amendment, and Tom's gripe about critics of Tampa BayIs Tampa Bay a good sports market? Natives, transplants, and opposing fansTom's sons, Rangers vs. Lightning, and who you root forTicket prices, Taylor Swift, and airline-style pricingThe new stadium, Charlie Crist, and "We are St. Pete"Players, visiting fans, and Todd Bowles' "when we start winning"Penn State, James Franklin, Jim Leavitt, and USF's trailer daysThe Rays as a fun team, bat flips, and Yandy DiazCollege football in the NIL and transfer era: parity, ESPN, and player freedomFootball injuries and "next man up"Mike Norvell's buyout, Jimbo Fisher, and Lane KiffinTom's podcast and a teased guest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Jones, Rick's former radio partner and a longtime Tampa Bay Times columnist now at the Poynter Institute, is back for a second straight day. They open with old road stories (Rick's Milwaukee brats tale, Tom's Pittsburgh parallel, Appleton, Wisconsin, and a trip to Green Bay), then turn to the Bucs, who have three wins in the division, Chicago next, then a bye and a trip to Detroit. Rick lays out the four division games left (two against the Saints, Atlanta, and Carolina), figures nine wins will likely take the NFC South, and says Carolina is bad enough that Dave Canales' job could be in danger. He also says Michael Penix Jr. looked like he had never seen rain. With the Vikings suffering their first loss, Rick and Tom revisit the 1972 Dolphins and their champagne ritual, and Tom recalls the 1972 AFC title game in Pittsburgh, a week after the Immaculate Reception and on the night Roberto Clemente died. From there the group talks about the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh's future, and a hypothetical Justin Herbert trade (Steve floats the Ravens), then the huge drop-off from starting to backup quarterbacks, Dan Orlovsky's "three throws a game" line, Jalen Daniels' 1-for-2 day, Baker Mayfield's operational skill, and the toll injuries are taking on the NFL product. They credit Todd Bowles' defense for its takeaways and run defense, and say Chicago will test the Bucs' passing game, with Emeka Egbuka's availability a question. The back half is a media tour. Mike Tomlin is on NBC and may follow Bill Cowher into broadcasting, which leads to a chat about how coaches have no lives, Tom Brady as a Raiders part-owner and broadcaster, and Troy Aikman consulting with the Dolphins. They get into the reported Aikman–Joe Buck feud, using Brady's $370 million Fox deal as the benchmark, ESPN's possible options (Sean McVay, Greg Olsen, the Kelces), Aikman's ties to Jerry Jones, and Peyton Manning's media company. They end with Pat McAfee's pay and ESPN saturation, Michael Wilbon stepping aside for health reasons, the grind of a media career, a look at the show's own history (about 2,360 episodes, a September 2017 start as the Rick and Tom podcast, and ten years since the 2016 radio layoffs), and a plug for Tom's biweekly podcast and poynter.org. SegmentsWelcome back Tom Jones: Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Appleton, and Green Bay storiesBucs division math: Chicago, the bye, Detroit, and four division games leftCarolina, Dave Canales, and Penix in the rainUndefeated teams, the 1972 Dolphins, and the 1972 AFC title game in PittsburghThe Chargers, Jim Harbaugh, and a hypothetical Justin Herbert tradeThe quarterback gap: starters vs. backups, Jalen Daniels, and Baker MayfieldNFL injuries and the quality of the productBowles, the Bucs defense, and Chicago as a passing-game testMike Tomlin on NBC and coaches who step awayTroy Aikman, Joe Buck, Tom Brady, and the ESPN/Fox broadcast marketPat McAfee, ESPN saturation, and Michael WilbonThe grind of a media careerSDTB milestones, Tom's podcast, and poynter.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick's former radio partner and longtime Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones, now at the Poynter Institute with his own podcast, drops by to talk about a wild few days in Tampa Bay sports. They start with the Bucs' 16-0 win over the Falcons, where Baker Mayfield completed zero passes, and Rick says nothing like it has been played since 1974 (Joe Ferguson's two attempts for the Bills while O.J. Simpson ran). That leads to old Monday Night Football highlights, Terry Bradshaw calling his own plays, and quarterbacks handing off 30-plus times a game. They then marvel at how hard it rained at Raymond James Stadium (not a drop during warmups, then a downpour right after the anthem), how poorly the field held up, and what Rick calls the NFLPA survey's failing grade for the playing surface. Along the way Tom explains why his St. Pete house stayed dry, and they trade Halloween stories, including childhood costumes in Pennsylvania, Heidi Klum's severed-hand getup, and horror movie marathons. The heart of the show is Nikita Kucherov. Tom says he understands both sides: Kucherov deserves to be paid like one of the NHL's best players, and the Lightning can't be blamed for balking at a massive contract for a 33-year-old who'd be 39 at the end of it. Rick and Tom wonder how his teammates really feel after Kucherov reportedly told them on the plane to Nashville that he had asked for a trade, why it became public in-season, whether it will hang over the locker room the way it did with Steven Stamkos, and if he really felt disrespected after only two conversations with Julien BriseBois. Steve points out that Kucherov wears an A and the team poured onto the ice when he broke the franchise scoring record, and the group debates his reluctance to speak to the media, the "Cooch being Cooch" culture around him, and what a real captain looks like (Tom's pick is Stamkos, with Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and Gerald McCoy as other examples). Tom tells a story about the Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk keeping the whole team in the locker room after a bad loss at the old Nassau Coliseum so reporters could ask questions. They also take a look at the bigger picture: the Lightning's history of letting stars go (Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier), why a team that's trying to keep its window open doesn't want draft picks, Kucherov's playoff scoring, whether Steve is right that he'll end up in Vegas (Tom and Rick also think he won't be in Tampa Bay a year from now), how fans might react, and the chance BriseBois has to meet him in the middle or trade him in February if the Lightning fall out of the race. They finish with a plug for Tom's podcast, his guests (including Rachel Maddow and Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, and an upcoming one he can't reveal yet), the Elizabeth Holmes documentary he can't stop talking about, and a quick promise to be back tomorrow. SegmentsWelcome Tom Jones back to the showThe Bucs' no-completion win and old-school footballTerry Bradshaw and quarterbacks who called their own playsThe rainstorm and the state of the field at Raymond James StadiumHalloween stories and horror moviesKucherov's trade request: timing, reaction, and who's rightHow Kucherov's teammates really feelKucherov and the media: "Kuch being Kuch"What makes a captain: Stamkos, Brooks, Sapp, McCoy, and Dave AndreychukOne year from now: where will Kucherov play?Lightning history with stars, and the playoff scoring questionFan reaction and whether Kucherov will play hardWhy it went public, and the trade-deadline outlookTom Jones' podcast, guests, and the Elizabeth Holmes documentary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bucs beat the Falcons 16-0 in a downpour at Raymond James Stadium, and they did it without completing a single pass. Baker Mayfield attempted only three throws (none caught) while Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell combined for 310 of a club-record 324 rushing yards on 56 team carries, the most by any NFL team since the 2010 Jets. Rick and Steve credit an offensive line that included Luke Goedeke's return and a sick Graham Barton, go through Irving's patient new style, and note that Irving and Gainwell are the first pair of teammates to each have 25 carries and 125 yards in a game. On the other side, Michael Penix Jr. had a miserable homecoming (8 of 24 for 125 yards and four interceptions, two to Alex Anzalone), and the Bucs defense keeps taking the ball away. The hosts say the weather helped Tampa Bay, but the Bucs handled it better than Atlanta did. The Bucs are now a half game behind Carolina with wins over both division rivals, and they look ahead to a tough trip to Chicago, followed by a bye and a trip to Detroit. The big question is the passing game: Emeka Egbuka may return in Chicago, Chris Godwin has all but disappeared, and Rick questions whether the receivers can make plays when the Bucs have to throw. They also touch on Baker Mayfield telling ESPN he "sucked" the first four weeks, Carolina firing its defensive coordinator, Dave Canales' job security, the Ravens' quarterback troubles after Lamar Jackson's injury, and a scary neck injury to Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, sending prayers. After a sponsor break, they turn to the biggest news of the weekend: Elliotte Friedman reported that Nikita Kucherov wants to be traded, and Steve walks through the contract math (an eight-year, $9.5 million-per-year deal that expires, reports of a roughly four-year, $15 million offer vs. a request for $17 to $20 million over six or seven years, and a market reset by Leo Carlsson's $18 million deal and Cale Makar's $20.4 million). The hosts discuss why Julien BriseBois says he won't trade him, why a contender isn't looking to rebuild with draft picks, what it means for the locker room, and whether it echoes the Steven Stamkos saga three years ago. They finish with Florida State's firing of Mike Norvell (with a buyout of about $50 million), how good the job is in today's college football, Florida's loss to Georgia, USF's 46 passing yards, and some Rays news: Taylor Walls wins his first Gold Glove, Drew Rasmussen's $20 million option is picked up, and Yandy Diaz's $13 million contract is finalized. SegmentsBucs beat the Falcons 16-0 in the rain without a completion324 rushing yards, Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, and the offensive lineMichael Penix Jr.'s four interceptionsNFC South standing: a half game behind CarolinaNext up: Chicago, the bye, and DetroitCan the Bucs pass? Receivers and Emeka EgbukaDefense: takeaways and an injury to Yaya DiabyBaker Mayfield's four-game turnaround and Daniels comparisonLamar Jackson, Jack Campbell, and Carolina's coaching hot seatSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaKucherov wants a trade: contract numbers and the marketJulien BriseBois, the Stamkos comparison, and why the Lightning won't rebuildLocker room impact, playoff criticism, and three possible outcomesFlorida State fires Mike NorvellFlorida loses to Georgia; USF's 46 passing yards at Raymond JamesRays notes: Taylor Walls' Gold Glove, Rasmussen's option, and Yandy Diaz's contractBaseball labor watch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Football Friday, Halloween is Saturday, and the clocks fall back, but first Rick and Steve put a bow on the Rays' season. Rick still thinks the team overachieved in every way, Steve says they probably reached the World Series a year or two early, and both worry about a likely lockout and what it does to the roster. They talk about the chemistry that carried the team (team dinners on the road, Nick Martinez's arrival, and a contrast with a talented Mets team where Lindor and Soto reportedly don't get along), whether the Rays can afford to re-sign Freddy Peralta and Martinez, how the CBA could change things with a salary floor, a cap, and shorter maximum contracts, and which prospects (Xavier Isaac, Brody Hopkins, and catcher Caden Bodine, who played at four levels this year) might help. Rick says Chandler Simpson showed "ice in his veins" in the playoffs and relays John Smoltz's view that Simpson will become a leadoff man, while Steve explains the analytics behind Yandy Diaz leading off and says the Rays' approach is to not give young players more than they can handle. They debate Junior Caminero's postseason (he hit the ball but not for home runs, and needs protection in the lineup), and Rick tells the Tom Brady story about being "brothers as champions" to show why losing a final is so tough when you don't know if the group will ever get back. Both then remember how far this franchise has come in a year, from playing at Steinbrenner Field with the roof off the Trop to being the best team in the American League. After a sponsor break, they turn to a big weekend in football, starting with Florida vs. Georgia in Atlanta (next year's game will be at Raymond James Stadium). They look at how first-year coach Jon Sumrall has handled a season that wobbled, the Gators' road win at Texas without their starting quarterback, a tough finish that includes Oklahoma, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Florida State, USF's game with UAB, Florida State hosting Clemson amid talk of a coaching change, and a Belichick-coached North Carolina team that could trap No. 1 Miami. Rick, who's lost his voice, then previews the Bucs' home game against the Falcons: Atlanta's strong run defense, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Michael Penix Jr. (the NFC Player of the Week, playing in his hometown for the first time), a defense that Rick says is playing as well as any Bucs team since the Super Bowl era, takeaways (12, second in the league, and eight in the last three games), the 79 percent win rate of teams that win the turnover battle, the third-and-28 grudge, and Baker Mayfield's Kevin Stefanski chip. They end with the stat the Bucs would like to retire: the last Tampa Bay team to win at Raymond James Stadium was the Lightning. SegmentsFootball Friday: Halloween and daylight saving timeThe Rays' season in hindsight: overachieving and arriving earlyThe lockout, team chemistry, and the Mets' clubhouseRe-signing Peralta and Martinez, and the CBAProspects: Isaac, Hopkins, and Caden BodineChandler Simpson, the leadoff debate, and Caminero's postseasonTom Brady's "brothers as champions" speechFrom Steinbrenner Field to the AL's best teamSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaCollege football: Florida vs. Georgia in AtlantaJon Sumrall's first season and the Gators' remaining scheduleUSF-UAB, Florida State-Clemson, and Miami at Belichick's North CarolinaBucs vs. Falcons: Penix, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Atlanta's run defenseThe Bucs' defense and the turnover battleThe remaining schedule, the NFC South race, and the last team to win at Raymond James Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rays' World Series run is over. They lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in five games, and Rick and Steve look at it from both sides. Nobody expected this team to be here: Rick notes they weren't even picked to win the AL East, let alone win it by a lot and sweep the Yankees. But it's the third World Series the Rays have lost, and a loss like that doesn't go away. They credit Milwaukee (the best team in baseball, with a lineup Drew Rasmussen called relentless) and also point to what the Rays didn't do: score 12 runs in five games, hit .182, go 8 for 39 with runners in scoring position, and get what they needed from Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Yandy Diaz. Chandler Simpson, who tied Randy Arozarena's franchise record with eight hits in a World Series, drew praise as the one player who did everything he could. Steve offers a stat about the Brewers' bottom of the order, where Cooper Pratt had six straight at-bats with a hit, while the Rays' seventh, eighth, and ninth hitters had six hits all series. They defend Kevin Cash ("When you don't hit, what do you want the manager to do?"), talk about whether Rasmussen's Game 5 start on short rest was a good call, and look at how Milwaukee learned from last year's NLCS sweep and finished the job. Rick and Steve look at a franchise that was displaced to a minor league park a year ago and is now going to the World Series, what needs to happen with the offseason pitching staff (Peralta and Martinez are likely gone, with Shane McClanahan and Ryan Pepiot possibly returning), and why a lockout could keep baseball away longer than anyone wants. Rick reflects on why they feel like they're coming back down a mountain, and Steve says it may have been the most fun Rays season he's seen (Rick says the 2008 team still edges it). The back half returns to the Tampa Bay sports market. Brewers fans took over the Trop for Games 4 and 5, and Rick makes the case that Tampa Bay is a young market built on newcomers: Steve estimates fewer than a third of residents are natives, the franchises date to 1976 at the earliest, and it's a tourism and healthcare economy. Steve compares it to Atlanta and points out how many former players still live here. They also note the six championship rounds in six years. Along the way they celebrate Joe Davis borrowing Bob Uecker's home run call for the Brewers' Cooper Pratt homer and the Williamson walk-off, with a Jack Buck/Joe Buck/Vin Scully history lesson, and applaud Taylor Walls for pushing back on a question after Game 4. After a sponsor break, the Bucs get their turn: Baker Mayfield's glove, strength against strength with Atlanta's run defense, the Bucs' second-in-the-league 12 takeaways, 13 sacks in three games, Michael Penix Jr.'s first game at Raymond James, Baker's chip against Kevin Stefanski, and the Bucs' search for their first home win. SegmentsThe Rays lose the World Series in five: a season nobody expectedDisappointment and credit for MilwaukeeCaminero, Aranda, Yandy, and the offensive strugglesChandler Simpson's World SeriesCooper Pratt, the Brewers' bottom of the order, and the MVP12 runs in five games: why the Rays lostDefending Kevin CashLooking ahead: Neander, the pitching staff, and the lockoutThe mountain after the season: why it's so hard to get backBrewers fans take over the Trop and Tampa Bay's market identityTampa Bay's run of championship roundsJoe Davis, Bob Uecker, and baseball broadcasting historyTaylor Walls pushes back on a postgame questionSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaBucs preview: Baker Mayfield, takeaways, and the Falcons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tampa Bay Rays finally have a World Series moment. Ben Williamson's Baltimore chop over the first baseman ended a 12-inning Game 4 and cut Milwaukee's lead to 3-1, and Rick and Steve (who was at the Trop) take it from the top. Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt led off the 12th with a home run, the first rookie ever to hit an extra-inning homer in a World Series, and Ian Seymour was the one who gave it up. But Milwaukee, sending out pitchers who hadn't thrown in 12 days, let the Rays back in: Joey Ortiz committed an error to start the inning, Junior Caminero reached and limped from first to third, Cedric Mullins pinch ran, Johnny DeLuca delivered a bases-loaded tying single up the middle, and Williamson (who had been waiting with a helmet for five innings) ended it. The hosts break down the pinch-running choices, the Brewers fans who looked ready to party and ended up stunned, and why a game like this might loosen up a Rays team that looked tight. They look ahead to tonight's Game 5, with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound for Milwaukee and the Rays deciding between an opener and a bullpen game (Steve guesses Steven Matz). They talk about Caminero's leg, Kevin Cash saying he's fine, the importance of putting the "three aircraft carriers" back at the top of the order, and a run-scoring drought in which the Rays have scored in just seven of 39 innings and had a crooked number in only two of them. They credit Tyler Wells and Griffin Jacks (who might have been left in one batter too long), the diving catches from DeLuca and Chandler Simpson, and Rick and Steve discuss Richie Palacios' throws from second base. Rick says nothing like this has been done before, which Steve points out was true until Boston did it in 2004, and both agree the pressure would shift squarely onto the Brewers if the Rays win one more at home. The second half takes a turn into Tampa Bay itself: Milwaukee fans filled the Trop (a thousand cases of Miller and Coors Light went through Ferg's in a single day), and the hosts respond to national critics who rip the market. Steve notes that roughly 60,000 Wisconsin transplants live in the Tampa metro, that the Rays, Lightning, and Bucs are young franchises in a young market, and that the real problem is transit and traffic (he spent an hour getting to the Trop and an hour and a half getting home). After a sponsor break, they praise the former Rays who turned up for Game 4 (Evan Longoria threw out the first pitch, with Chris Archer, Zach Eflin, Taj Bradley, and Tyler Glasnow in the stands), predict a big contract for Freddy Peralta, and then switch to the Bucs: Baker Mayfield's glove, the Colts' fire sale (Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner are gone, and Jonathan Taylor may be next), the Panthers' trip to Green Bay on Thursday night, a must-win game against Atlanta, and a Sunday night date in Chicago. SegmentsRays win Game 4 in 12 innings: the walk-off and how it happenedCooper Pratt's home run, Ian Seymour, and Milwaukee's miscuesCaminero's injury, pinch-running decisions, and Cash's benchMilwaukee fans in the Trop and the rally-towel mix-upResilience: why this Rays team can still believeGame 5 outlook: Misiorowski, who starts for the Rays, and Rasmussen's restThe run drought and defense behind the pitchersPalacios' throwing and a mental-block storyBrewers fans take over: Ferg's, Wisconsin transplants, and Tampa Bay's fan reputationTraffic, I-275, and getting out of the TropBoston 2004 and a first for everythingWorld Series ratings and the game within the gameSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaFormer Rays in attendance and Freddy Peralta's coming paydayBucs back at practice: Baker's glove, the Colts' fire sale, and the road ahead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rays are down 3-0 in the World Series, and Rick opens with the hard truth that no team has ever come back from that. Steve was at the Trop and walks Rick through a Game 3 loss in which the Brewers faced the minimum through eight innings, the Rays managed three hits (Yandy Diaz's leadoff single in the first and Cedric Mullins' and Diaz's hits in the ninth to avoid the shutout), and the lone highlight for the crowd was Chandler Simpson's wall-crashing catch. Rick points out that the offense hasn't hit since the first inning of Game 2, and the hosts spend plenty of time on the mistakes: Simpson sliding well past second base on a steal, Jonathan Aranda's absence from the lineup against a lefty, Ben Williamson batting fifth, Richie Palacios barely playing, a lazy throw to second by Junior Caminero that kept an inning alive, and Victor Mesa Jr. and Taylor Walls misplaying balls. Milwaukee scored all 10 of its runs with two outs, including eight in one inning (which Steve says is a World Series record). They debate whether Kevin Cash and the analytics overthought it, from the lineup to the rotation. Rick says he'd rather manage from the gut and play his best hitters, Steve says "If I'm going down, I want to go down with my best," and both note that Freddy Peralta didn't lose the game and that Cam Boozer, who had been good, couldn't get out of the jam. They also cover the bigger picture: a Milwaukee bullpen that has been fully rested, Rays starters Rasmussen, Peralta, and Martinez combining for a 6.77 ERA, Jackson Chourio as the likely series MVP, how much of the crowd Brewers fans took over, and the cost of a night out ($1,000 tickets, $100 parking, and $21 beers). Rick calls this one of the greatest seasons in Rays history even as he laments a third World Series loss, and they look at the coming lockout and when baseball might return and note that the Rays' new owners "won big." They turn to the Bucs, who are coming off a 43-13 rout of the Panthers and 258 rushing yards. Rick praises Bucky Irving, whose 5 a.m. workouts began with Tom Moore and who has bounced back from an injury-plagued year, and says the run game, the offensive line, and Baker Mayfield's 11 passes (including a back-shoulder throw on third-and-10 and a touchdown off a scramble) are the new identity. Steve shows that the seven teams the Bucs have faced are a combined 14 games above .500, so their 2-5 record is better than it looks. They walk through the schedule ahead (the Falcons at home, then Sunday night at Chicago), the injured players who could return (Emeka Egbuka, Winfield, Luke Goedeke), two straight five-sack games, and what the Bucs need to do to get back in the NFC South race. The show closes with a congratulations to Coach John Cooper on the ninth annual Coop's Catch for Kids fishing tournament, which raised another half million dollars for pediatric cancer research, a look at Lightning-Jets on Thursday, and a preview of tonight's Game 4 with Griffin Jacks on the mound. SegmentsRays down 3-0: no team has ever come backGame 3 recap: three hits, the minimum faced through eight, and Simpson's catchSimpson's baserunning and the Rays' mistakes in the fieldThe lineup controversy: Aranda on the bench, Williamson fifth, and PalaciosEight two-out runs, Caminero's throw, and Mesa Jr.'s misplayCash overthinking it: lineups and the rotationMilwaukee's bullpen, Chourio, and a Brewers-heavy crowdRays pitching, ticket prices, and what a great season meansThe CBA, the lockout, and when baseball returnsBucs crush the Panthers with 258 rushing yardsBaker Mayfield's two big plays and the run-first identityBucky Irving's work ethic and Tom MooreSchedule strength, the NFC South math, and the road aheadInjury return outlook and back-to-back five-sack gamesCoop's Catch for Kids, the Lightning on Thursday, and Game 4 tonight Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All three Tampa Bay teams had early leads over the weekend, and two of them blew it. Rick, who watched from Carolina, says none was bigger than the Rays' in World Series Game 2 in Milwaukee, where they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning (including a Liam Hicks blast) with Drew Rasmussen on the mound, and still lost by one run. Rick and Steve go through what went wrong: Rasmussen was behind in counts and not himself, Chandler Simpson couldn't hold onto a diving catch, Jonathan Aranda let a ball through his legs and missed a foul pop-up, and Ian Seymour gave up a game-tying solo homer to the bottom of the order. Steve also takes issue with the decision to send Hicks home on a play that wasn't close, while the Rays were looking for any extra run. With the Rays down 0-2 and both losses by one run, they weigh whether Kevin Cash's decision to push Rasmussen back to Game 2 backfired, why Milwaukee's bullpen is the difference, and why they're counting on Freddy Peralta and the atmosphere at Tropicana Field in Game 3 tonight. After a sponsor break, the show turns to a Bucs win that Rick says was every bit as dominant as it was unlikely. Tampa Bay beat the division-leading Panthers 43-13 in Carolina, and when Rick asked Todd Bowles afterward "Where has this been?", they got to the highlights: a second quarter with a pass touchdown, a rushing touchdown, a field goal, a defensive touchdown, and a special teams touchdown (only the second time in NFL history, after Bowles' 2018 Jets); Yaya Diaby's three-sack hat trick; Al-Quadin Muhammad's strip-sack that Calijah Kancey ran back for a touchdown; a blocked extra point returned for two points by Zyon McCollum; and 258 rushing yards, including 102 from Bucky Irving, 88 from Kenneth Gainwell, and a 46-yard touchdown run from Sean Tucker. Bryce Young, who started the day with MVP chants, finished 14 of 27 for 163 yards with two interceptions, and he was sacked five times. They also discuss how the Bucs ran the ball 30 times in 40 first-half plays, the division math with Atlanta coming to town and the Panthers at Green Bay on Thursday night, and the one thing that stings: if the Bucs hadn't blown the Steelers game, they could be playing for first place. Baker Mayfield returned with the glove designed with help from the Rays, went 7 for 11 for 64 yards, and didn't have to do much, though Steve and Rick weren't thrilled that he called his own number at the goal line and tried to block on a run play. The Lightning get a rundown, too: Nikita Kucherov passed Steven Stamkos to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer on Saturday night, the team went 1-1-1 on a road trip through Vegas, Colorado, and Utah, and they now have some rest, with Victor Hedman and Zemgus Girgensons both day-to-day. The show closes with a look at tonight's Game 3, the first World Series game in Tampa Bay in 18 years. SegmentsThree Tampa Bay teams, three early leads, two blownRays blow a 4-0 lead in World Series Game 2The defensive misplays, the Hicks send, and Ian Seymour's homerDown 0-2: Cash's Rasmussen decision, Milwaukee's bullpen, and the Trop advantageFreddy Peralta and the must-win Game 3Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaBucs crush the Panthers 43-13: Where has this been?Yaya Diaby's hat trick, Muhammad's strip-sack, and Calijah Kancey's touchdown258 rushing yards and the blocked extra pointBryce Young's rough day and the NFC South mathNext up: the Falcons and the Steelers what-ifsBaker Mayfield's return, the glove, and staying healthyLightning: Kucherov passes Stamkos and the road tripHedman, Girgensons, and Lightning special teamsWorld Series Game 3 tonight at the Trop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Cash has decided that Nick Martinez, not Drew Rasmussen, will start Game 1 of the World Series, and Rick and Steve walk through why. Rasmussen has already thrown 43 more innings than ever before, according to pitching coach Kyle Snyder, and an extra day of rest will help him. Freddy Peralta's command slipped late in his last start, and he gets Game 3 at the Trop. As Cash put it, "Nick Martinez just wins." The hosts also look at the downside: in a five-game series, Rasmussen and Peralta would each pitch only once. Rasmussen is disappointed, and Steve assumes he'll go in Games 2 and 6. From there, they size up a matchup in which the Rays aren't favored (The Athletic's writers polled roughly 85 percent for Milwaukee). Rick predicts six or seven games between two teams that mirror each other, while Steve thinks the Brewers were the best team all year and that the National League was tougher. It's the first meeting of the two best records in baseball since 2020. They debate the bullpen: Rick thinks middle relief is the weak spot, Steve says the group has been good with only Ian Seymour struggling, and both agree Martinez can't be allowed to go through the lineup a third time. With one of these teams about to win a first title, they talk about the Rays' third World Series in roughly 28 seasons, the Brewers' 44-year wait, the Game 3 atmosphere at the Trop, and secondary-market tickets near $1,000. "Four wins from immortality." After a sponsor break, the show turns to the Bucs. Baker Mayfield returns to practice with a glove on his throwing hand that was invented by the Rays' home clubhouse attendant Nick Bond, a receiver's glove with the thumb ripped off and a support inserted (there are two versions, hard plastic and soft cast), and Marc Topkin got the story from a clubhouse attendant in Milwaukee. That's "Team Tampa Bay" in action. Rick and Steve then preview Sunday's game at Carolina, where the Bucs give themselves a small chance but can't afford to fall 3.5 games back. The Panthers have a strong offense (Bryce Young with MVP chants, John Izzo calling plays, Tetairoa McMillan) and a bottom-third defense, so Rick expects a shootout. They also discuss Graham Barton on how hard the quarterback's operation is, Emeka Egbuka's concussion protocol and foot injury, the Lightning's trip to Denver and Utah (and the need for two TVs Friday and Saturday), an off weekend for Florida, Florida State, and USF, and why Steve says to "savor it" as the Rays reach the World Series on the heels of last year's Steinbrenner Field season. SegmentsNick Martinez to start World Series Game 1Cash's reasoning, Rasmussen's workload, and Peralta in Game 3The risk of starting Martinez: Rasmussen and Peralta only pitch onceRays vs. Brewers: who is favored and the bullpen debateA first title for one team: the Rays' third World Series and the Brewers' 44-year waitGame 3 at the Trop and ticket pricesSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaBaker Mayfield's return and the glove invented by Nick BondBucs at Carolina: Bryce Young, the Panthers' offense, and the division mathGraham Barton on the quarterback's operation and the Shanahan/Purdy headset storyEmeka Egbuka's concussion and foot injuryLightning in Denver, college football's off weekend, and savoring the Rays' run Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.