What a week it was in the NFC North. Micah Parsons’ grand return to Dallas had no fairy tale ending. Only questions for that Packers defense… and special teams. (Yikes.) The good news? Romeo Doubs, profiled here, took charge.

It wasn’t pretty in Las Vegas. Ben Johnson lost his cool, too. But Caleb Williams’ late drive was enough. Are the skies clearing up for injury-riddled Chicago?

J.J. McCarthy returns to practice soon. However, Minnesota’s issues run deeper than the quarterback position at the moment. Harrison Smith is still going strong, but for how long?

Meanwhile, Detroit rolls along vs. offensively challenged Cleveland.

We get into everything with Hall of Fame scribe Bob McGinn. Time stamps are below.

And thank you for sharing Go Long with a friend.

* Packers-Cowboys: 12:28

* Bears-Raiders: 46:31

* Vikings-Steelers: 1:09:13

* Lions-Browns: 1:29:41

Monday Column, icymi.

Leverage. Leverage. Leverage.

In sum, that is what matters most for the NFL’s players ahead of the next round of CBA negotiations with owners.

And right here at Go Long, former NFL quarterback Matt Schaub announced his candidacy to run as Executive Direction of the NFLPA. In exceptional detail, he lays out his plan for the players. I cannot recommend reading his arguments enough.

Here on the Go Long Pod, we continue the conversation.

Schaub could bring clear, concise, bold direction to a group that sorely needs leadership. Above all, his master plan for leverage is something NFL players have never attempted before: creating their own league.

One thing’s for certain. The NFL itself is piecing together plans as we speak.

You can watch/listen to our chat above or anywhere you pod, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Be sure to follow Schaub on X. At the end of our conversation, we also hit on a few current NFL topics. Did Michael Penix Jr. turn the corner? Also, what makes Kyle Shanahan unique? Schaub worked with the 49ers head man back with the Houston Texans.

Thanks, all.

We appreciate you rating, reviewing, sharing the podcast with a friend.

Recent pieces at Go Long, icymi:

* Hope in Gotham? Brian Daboll finds his man at quarterback

* “Where do we get some Guinness?!” The Full NFL Ireland Experience

* License to Kill: Jackson Hawes infusing Buffalo Bills (and the NFL) with a ‘Full Send Mindset’

* TreVeyon Henderson sees the light

* Double Doink, Bears memories, QB confidence, Revis Island, Stafford/Goff: Allen Robinson relives it all

Happy Valley… to Jacksonville… to Chicago… to several other stops at the tail-end, Allen Robinson experienced a little bit of everything as an NFL wide receiver.

Poor QB play.

Super Bowl expectations.

A torn ACL.

1,000-yard seasons.

Contract disputes.

Revis Island.

Stafford ‘n Goff.

There’s a lot to get into and the longtime NFL wide receiver is much obliged. We welcomed Robinson onto our latest Zoom Happy Hour at Go Long this week, and he didn’t disappoint. Thanks to all who joined, and be sure to keep an eye out for future hangouts. Is there an NFL player you’d like to share a virtual beer with? Let me know at golongtd@substack.com.

Video and audio is available above. I’ll also post the transcript separately, too.

Paid subscribers can always join our Happy Hours.

So much for the post-Ben Johnson haze. The Detroit Lions are just fine on offense.

Dan Campbell’s fourth-down swag was back in a 38-30 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Jared Goff knifed clutch completions. Aidan Hutchinson changed the game late. And most encouraging? This offensive line was back to bullying bodies up front.

I discuss in full with Bob McGinn…

He’s hardly sleeping and drinking coffee nonstop.

He’s working on Eastern Standard Time from the United Kingdom.

He lives 24/7 at the edge of offensive innovation in pro football.

What a fun time learning more about this 2025 NFL season with a man married to the game: Oliver Connolly at The Read Optional. Here on the Go Long Podcast, we dive into a wealth of topics:

* Tebowmania. What a time to be alive.

* Detroit’s offense went wild again on MNF. What’s working for new OC John Morton?

* The hunt for explosives in today’s NFL.

* How rookie tight end Jackson Hawes is opening Joe Brady’s playbook in Buffalo.

* Bryce Young is a QB Ollie knows well. Who is the Real Bryce? He has concerns with Dave Canales’ scheme.

* What’s wrong with the Atlanta Falcons? (A team we’re high on!)

* Six teams are 0-3. Which club still has playoff hope?

Video and audio is available above, as well as on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere you pod.

You can always join our live recordings by downloading the Substack app and turning notifications on.

ICYMI:

Go Long subscribers can hang out with longtime NFL wide receiver Allen Robinson on Thursday night. Our Zoom Happy Hours are back.

Live from 2 Patriot Place, we touch on a variety of NFL topics and take your questions on Substack Live. Excellent submissions. This Sunday is a major litmus test for Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.

The Buffalo Bills are 3-0, too. We discuss their win over Miami on Thursday night — and Go Long-approved bad ass Jackson Hawes.

Want to join future broadcasts? Download the Substack app and flip notifications on.

Thanks, all.

Paid subscribers can gain access to every feature, column and podcast.

Our three-parter “House of Dysfunction” is linked here:

* Part I: The Curious Case of Caleb Williams

* Part II: Inside the Chicago Bears' "rigged trial" at No. 1 overall

* Part III: Who's the boss?

ICYMI:

* No Joe Burrow? Expect the Cincinnati Bengals to keep fighting...

* Ty & Bob Pod S4 E2: Are the Green Bay Packers the best team in the NFL?

* GL Pod: On the scouting trail with John Middlekauff

* Ryan Poles, Brad Holmes and the makings of an NFC North massacre

Matt LaFleur couldn’t have scripted a faster start for his Green Bay Packers. Ben Johnson couldn’t have scripted a worse start in Chicago. Dan Campbell’s crew got back on track. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Kevin O’Connell may be asking himself some hard quarterback questions over the next few weeks.

Of course, things always change fast in this league.

We di…

Perhaps it’s not time for teams to call 9-1-1, but there’s a stench in the air. A few houses are starting to burn.

Two weeks into this 2025 NFL Season, I thought we should catch up with the sharp John Middlekauff of the “3 and Out” podcast on The Volume network.

Middlekauff is a former scout with the Philadelphia Eagles and always brings a fresh perspective on his show.

Here on the Go Long Pod, we naturally dig into the art of scouting — is there a right way to do it? — and riff on a myriad of NFL topics: Cincinnati’s QB conundrum, why Anthony Richardson failed, the traits to look for in a young quarterback, The Honey Badger and what qualifies as a red flag, Ryan Poles’ Chicago Bears gone wrong and Patrick Mahomes. For the first time in his career, Mahomes has lost two games in a row. Many are saying it’s time to PANIC. We both had a much different take on his performance in the Chiefs’ 20-17 loss to Philadelphia.

You can watch or listen to this week’s episode above and everywhere you pod, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

We’re completely powered by you.

Thank you for your support.

Our entire three-part series on the Chicago Bears — “House of Dysfunction” — is linked here:

* Part I: The Curious Case of Caleb Williams

* Part II: Inside the Chicago Bears' "rigged trial" at No. 1 overall

* Part III: Who's the boss?