We're coming off a loaded weekend in the college football world, and the fallout from those games registered in NFL Draft circles. In the latest edition of Building the Beast, Dane Brugler and Dave Helman hand out some game balls, spotlight some big games from under-the-radar players, check in on the 2025 NFL rookie class, and look ahead to what's on the radar this weekend, highlighted by Illinois-Indiana and Auburn-Oklahoma.Rundown (timestamps are approximate)6:47 Game Ball: Texas Tech QB Behren

Hey, the Bengals finally didn't dig a massive hole in September. Things are going great, right? Right?!? Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 2 Hangover by discussing Joe Burrow's toe injury and the Bengals ability to stay afloat with Jake Browning starting for potentially the next three months. After that, the guys dig into Vikings-Falcons and Rams-Titans, and then listen to a couple of your sad voicemails to wrap up this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Rundown (timestamps are

After a frenzied Week 1 win, the Bills didn't leave much room for interpretation in their 30-10 blowout victory over the Jets, putting the Bills at 2-0 for the season. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia goes over how the game was won for the Bills, and how some of what they did could translate into future weeks.Host: Joe BuscagliaProducer: Jeff Domet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Super Bowl LIX rematch was always going to be at the center of Week 2, and this one ended with the same winner as that one back in February did. The Eagles 20-17 win over the Chiefs is where Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 2 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss the craziness of Giants-Cowboys, the hot start for the Colts offense, Joe Burrow's toe injury, Joey Bosa turning back the clock, and much more.Connect with The Athletic Football

The Bills are coming off a big Week 1 win, though a questionable defensive showing, several injuries and another good rushing opponent puts some uncertainty around Week 2. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia gets you ready for the Jets game with his weekly live room episode!Host: Joe BuscagliaProducer: Jeff Domet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 2 marks our first real preview episode of the season, and what a helluva week it is. For starters, we've got a Super Bowl LIX rematch between the Eagles and Chiefs. We also get a number of teams or units that surprised us in Week 1—the Jaguars defense and Colts offense to name two—getting much different tests in Week 2. And hey, the internet's favorite quarterbacks, Justin Herbert and Geno Smith, are playing against one another on Monday night. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dig

One of the best parts of Week 1 is that we finally get to see a bunch of new stuff in action. Like the Geno Smith/Chip Kelly offense in Las Vegas. Or Nick Caley running Houston's offense. Or Cam Ward playing in the NFL and Robert Saleh back with the 49ers. What are our first impressions of all these new things? Robert Mays and Dan Pizzuta of Snaps and Stats dig in on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Connect with The Athletic Football

Week 2 of the college football season may not have had the marquee matchups that Week 1 did, but it still gave Dave Helman and Dane Brugler more than enough to talk about from an NFL Draft perspective. The guys dig into John Mateer's big day against Michigan, Sawyer Robertson's second straight strong showing against a power four team, Jordyn Tyson's hot start to the season, and a whole lot more on this episode of Building the Beast on The Athletic Football Show.Rundown (timestamps are

Our return to five episodes per week means that the Weekly Hangover is back! Because look, Sundays are busy. We can't possibly talk about every game in the way that we'd like to on our Sunday night recaps. But we do still want to talk about every game. That's what the Hangover is for. In the Week 1 Hangover, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen get to two games we didn't discuss on Sunday night—the Commanders' 21-6 win over the Giants and the Cardinals' 20-13 win over the Saints. Plus, we listen to some

The Bills faced a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter not once, but twice, and somehow rallied for a 41-40 comeback win during an instant classic against the rival Ravens. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia takes a deep dive into the full game, highlighting the unique, the good and the bad as the Bills begin the 2025 season 1-0.Host: Joe BuscagliaProducer: Jeff Domet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Same Sunday night recap you know and love, brand spankin' new look. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman celebrate the return of the NFL with the Week 1 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show, the first from our new studio in Chicago. The guys discuss the Bills' dramatic win over the Ravens, the Packers' dominant victory against the Lions, the Jets and Steelers—really!—giving us the most exciting game of the day, troubles for the Dolphins and Titans, and a whole lot more.Rundown

At long last, the start of the regular season has arrived, and the Bills will kick things off on Sunday night against the extremely talented Ravens. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia takes all of your Bills questions in a live room episode to get you ready for Week 1.Host: Joe BuscagliaProducer: Jeff Domet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And with that, the 2025 NFL season is officially underway. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman recap the Eagles' 24-20 season-opening win over the Cowboys on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/sPp5md3BSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on

Football friends, we have made it back to the start of another NFL season. We hope you enjoy the crazy six-month ride with us. To kick off the season, Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman highlight what they're excited to watch in Week 1 on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/npVXkk3cSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Rundown (timestamps are approximate)5:43 We're in studio!9:57 Lamar vs. Josh13:52 Chiefs-Chargers21:50

We've previewed every division. We've pondered every lingering question. We've analyzed every roster from top to bottom and back to the top, again. There's only one thing left to do. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman offer up their awards, playoffs and Super Bowl predictions on this final preseason episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football

We saw Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier and LaNorris Sellers all play in Week 1, to varying results. What are our first 2025 impressions of all of those quarterbacks? And who else should NFL Draft heads already be taking notice of this season? Dave Helman and Dane Brugler recap Week 1 of the CFB season on this episode of Building the Beast.Hosts: Dave Helman and Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football

The annual Wins Pool Draft is here. Three drafters, seven teams apiece, glory and ignominy at stake. What more could you ask for? In both of the last two seasons, Robert Mays has had to pay off an embarrassing bet on Radio Row. Will he make it three years in a row, or will Derrik Klassen or Dave Helman save him and fall into the TAFS Wins Pool basement? Listen along as they guys select seven teams—five good and two bad, with bad being defined as a win total over/under of 6.5 or fewer—on this episode

We've done it. We've reached the end of the line. Our eighth and final division preview features what has long been one of the most competitive divisions in the league, the AFC North. The Ravens are back as one of the inner-circle Super Bowl favorites, while the Bengals are back as one of the very best offenses in the league. The Steelers, meanwhile, underwent a facelift this offseason that included bringing in Aaron Rodgers, and the Browns are finally trying to turn the page to a new chapter in

Every team in the NFC West has a win total over/under of 8.5 or better. The Rams are the favorite, but their quarterback has been hurt all summer. The 49ers have institutional power, but they went 6-11 last year and have undergone serious change. There's justifiable optimism for the Seahawks and Cardinals, with easy-to-see downsides, as well. In short, if there's one division that could finish in literally any order, one through four, it's this one. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive

The AFC West has long been the domain of Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs, winners of nine straight division titles. The Chargers and Broncos both made the playoffs last year, and the Raiders had an exciting offseason, but there's no question who reigns supreme over this division. Can the Chiefs make it a full decade of division championships? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep into all four AFC West teams on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Rundown (timestamps