Tonight’s Monday Night Football matchup between the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is set to cap off NFL Week 9. Marshall Newhouse of the Pregame PowerUp joined Monday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to share his standout performances from the weekend and preview the primetime showdown.
Mike Golic Jr. asked Newhouse which performance from the weekend had impressed him. Marshall shared that Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels stood out most in Washington’s close 27-22 win over the New York Giants. Newhouse expressed that critics will say it was against the Giants and a divisional matchup. However, he strongly believes that after Daniels’ latest performance, he has played his way into the MVP conversation and that the Commanders are shaping up to be legitimate contenders.
Meanwhile in another divisional matchup, the Miami Dolphins came up short against the Buffalo Bills, 30-27. Mike Golic Sr. asked Newhouse if it is fair to say that Miami is still in the Wild Card hunt despite a 2-6 record and their losses to the Bills. While the Dolphins are still technically in the Wild Card race, Newhouse acknowledged that Miami’s upcoming schedule doesn’t do the Dolphins any favors when it comes to a playoff push. However, with Tua Tagovailoa back, the Miami offense is starting to live up to its potential, although there are lingering concerns about head coach Mike McDaniel’s capabilities despite his early popularity and praise. Nevertheless, Newhouse pointed out that Miami still has a shot at a Wild Card spot, especially with the extra game in the season. They could be in the mix for a playoff run if they can build momentum.
The NFC West is a division that has the league buzzing. GoJo asked given the strong quarterback performances out of the NFC West, especially in the Seahawks and Rams game, who would Marshall bet on to win this division based on what we’ve seen so far? Newhouse believes the 49ers still have the best shot to win the NFC West division, assuming they can get healthy. He views them as the strongest team when at full strength, despite recent injuries to key players like Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel.
He also acknowledged Brock Purdy’s inconsistent performance in a contract year but feels that, if healthy, the 49ers are top contenders. He also admired the Rams’ resilience in what was expected to be a rebuilding season while noting that the Seahawks, led by Geno Smith, have room for improvement, particularly on defense. He also credited Arizona and Kyler Murray for unexpectedly strong performances, even after the release of the latest Call of Duty game, though he still sees the division as San Francisco’s to lose.
Getting to tonight’s Monday Night Football matchup, GoJo asked Newhouse what he sees as a key for the Kansas City Chiefs to keep their Super Bowl defense strong and stay unbeaten? He shared that a key factor for the Chiefs is continuing to develop the connection between Patrick Mahomes and DeAndre Hopkins. Over the past two weeks, Mahomes had thrown for 192 first-half passing yards to Hopkins alone, targeting him similarly to how he previously used Rashee Rice — finding favorable matchups, moving him in motion and exploiting one-on-one situations. Newhouse pointed out that this growing relationship could strengthen the Chiefs’ offense, especially since Mahomes had previously struggled without a reliable outside receiver.
Newhouse also mentioned that Kansas City’s defense had been carrying much of the load, making them a more balanced team overall. He noted that, while Mahomes might not be the MVP frontrunner this season, it wasn’t a priority for Mahomes, Andy Reid or Travis Kelce. Instead, the Chiefs are focused on “winning however they need to win” and pacing themselves strategically. Newhouse likened their approach to the systematic, playoff-focused strategies of the LeBron-era Heat and Steph Curry’s Warriors, emphasizing that the Chiefs are aiming to peak at playoff time, with Mahomes ready to lead when it matters most.
On the other side, Tampa Bay came into this season hoping to defend their NFC South division crown, but the Bucs seem to be getting eaten alive by the injury bug. Senior asked Marshall if the injuries just becoming too much for Tampa Bay to handle. Newhouse agreed, noting that some teams have a smaller margin of error, and losing Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in one game is a significant blow. Marshall did praise Baker Mayfield for his redemption arc in Tampa Bay, highlighting how he found a team that values him and has earned the locker room’s support. However, Newhouse pointed out that the Buccaneers lack depth across the board, especially on defense, where they give up many passing yards and he remarked that, while Mayfield is a gunslinger, he’s left without crucial weapons. Ultimately, he expects a spirited effort from the Bucs, but frankly, they’re missing a few bullets in the chamber.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: NFL WEEK 9 RECAP — Flacco vs. Richardson: The Colts’ QB Quandry, Shocking Saquon, Marvelous Lamar & Things Get Worse For The Cowboys
Hour 2: Marshall Newhouse Previews Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs on Monday Night and NFC West QBs + Jason Kelce and Joel Embiid Physically Sticking Up for Family
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
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