Move Over Giants and Jets – Here Come the NHL’s Devils and Rangers

The Mets and Yankees had VERY forgettable seasons. The Jets and Giants are both REALLY struggling. So this morning on the Two-Minute Drill, Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman turn their attention to hockey and the Devils and Rangers who both started their respective regular seasons with wins on Thursday night.

JIM MONAGHAN - Two Minute Drill time on the WDHA Morning Jolt. I'm Jim Monaghan along with Chris Swendeman. Swendy, yeah, the Yankees could have had Bryce Harper, but we won't talk about that. Football, I think football is a wash this weekend. Eagles over the Jets, Bills over the Giants. We agree on that, right?
CHRIS SWENDEMAN - Absolutely, 100%. I mean, the Jets played a little bit better last week against a week Denver team, but the only thing hotter than the Eagles in Philly right now are Bryce Harper and the Phillies.

JM - And let me throw a couple of numbers out at you. Brock Purdy, $930,000. Joe Burrow, $55 million. Oops.
CS - Isn't that funny how that works? Oops is right. San Francisco definitely getting the bargain basement best deal for their buck compared to Joe Burrow right now, who I think is playing hurt. And I think at some point they just need to sit him and let him rest.

JM - And let's talk about two teams. The NHL just opened up locally, I think the Rangers and Devils, there's a lot of pressure on them because the Mets had a bad season, the Yankees had a bad season, the Giants and the Jets, and here we come with NHL hockey. Devils are coming off a really good season. They just extended their coach. There's a lot of high expectations on them. I expect them to make a deep run in the playoffs.
CS - Oh, I couldn't agree with you more. And I mean, based off last year where really no one saw them coming, this year everybody's seeing them coming. And I think it's a weak Eastern Division. Their division is weaker, Philly is weaker, Islanders are so-so, Rangers, we're not really sure where they're going to be at yet. So I think the Devils should capitalize. Sidney Crosby is getting older and so is Ovechkin. So this is prime for the Devils to take over the East and the Atlantic, so we'll see. But they're a young group and they have a bright, bright future ahead of them.

JM - Rangers, on the other hand, have one of the top goaltenders in the league. If their defense improves, they could also surprise a lot of people.
CS - Yeah, I do think they could. And they have the new coach installing the new system with Peter Laviolette, who was hired in the offseason and he's he's much more of controlling center ice and the neutral zone. So it's going to be interesting to see how well they adapt or if it takes them a little while, know, get used to the new system that Laviolette wants them to play. So we'll see. They have high expectations also. So it's going to know, do they bounce back after last year's loss to the Devils or do they crumble under the pressure? We'll see.

JM - He's Chris Swendeman, I'm Jim Monaghan, and that's the WDHA Two-Minute Drill Friday morning here on the DHA Morning Jolt. Thanks, Chris.
CS - You got it, Jim. Have a good one.

Football season is in full swing. I'm so happy that football is back, but the season is going way too fast, if you ask me. I can't believe we're already into week five. Make it slow down! Many things have changed early this season. The big change was Aaron Rodgers being out for the entire season with the New York Jets. That was a big bummer. As a Detroit Lions fan, I have usually rooted against Rodgers, but I was excited to see what he could bring to the Jets. So, who are the best NFL teams right now?

Many of the teams that were expected to do well this season, indeed, are doing well, but there have been plenty of surprises. For example, going into the season, many thought the Kansas City Chiefs would make it to the Super Bowl again this year. Don't get me wrong, they are that good. But, they fell to the Detroit Lions during that first NFL game of the season. That was a huge surprise to many NFL fans, even though I wasn't totally shocked, because I believed in the Lions. But, the rest of the season has been shakier than expected for the Kansas City Chiefs. They squeaked past the New York Jets with a small win last weekend. Oh, and Taylor Swift is at a lot of their games. There's that.

That said, the Chiefs are still among my picks for the best NFL teams right now. Even with their shaky start, they're better than most of the NFL teams right now. Similarly, I think the Eagles are flying this year, even though they've had a few difficult games. So, who are the best NFL teams as of week five? Read on for my thoughts. Also, I'm a sports podcaster and host a podcast about the Detroit Lions called "The Squad with Anne Erickson." Find my podcast here and reach out to me on socials here with your NFL thoughts.

I really think these guys are underrated. When it comes down to it, they have a not-so-secret weapon in star running back, and former Spartan, Kenneth Walker III. One of my best friends lived in Seattle working for Starbucks for years, so I've been following this team a long time. They've really bounced back the past two years, and I think their record is proving that they could go far this season.

I know what you're thinking. The Detroit Lions? Yes, I'm a lifelong Lions fan, so maybe I'm a tad biased, but wow, am I impressed. I feel like this team is starting where they left off last season. Other than a surprise loss to the Seahawks (darn you guys!), the Lions have won all their other games this season. I see them making it to the playoffs and, hopefully, keeping quarterback Jared Goff for the long-haul. They play the Carolina Panthers this weekend, and it's expected to be a blowout.

I have a weird hunch that these guys could make it to the Super Bowl. Okay, maybe it's not so weird, since the 49s and Eagles are the only undefeated teams in the NFL right now. But, I think they're strong and proving that they're one of the big teams to beat this season.

I know that it's been a rocky start for the Kansas City Chiefs, but they're still performing better than most NFL teams right now. They had a slow beginning but are starting to pick up momentum. It doesn't hurt that they have one of the best quarterbacks of this era, Patrick Mahomes.

I'm keeping my No. 1 pick the same this season. I'm still going with the Eagles as the strongest team in the NFL right now. The Eagles and 49ers are the only undefeated teams right now. That could change soon, but for now, Jalen Hurts and company are showing that they're hungry for another chance at that Super Bowl prize.