Chris "Mad Dog" Russo is not one to hold back, and this week he set his sights on the NFL's schedule makers. During Wednesday's episode of First Take, the outspoken sports personality unleashed a tirade over the league's decision to put the winless Atlanta Falcons in the national spotlight for three straight weeks.
"Atlanta is on TV the next three weeks. They play Green Bay Thursday night, nobody in America wants to see that," Russo fumed. "They play the Saints, I think that's a Monday night game, good luck Joe [Buck] and Troy [Aikman]. And then they have the Ravens on the Sunday night, good luck [Cris] Collinsworth and [Mike] Tirico. Who in the world thought it would be a good idea to schedule the Atlanta Falcons three straight times on national television?"
It's hard to argue with Russo's frustration. The Falcons have stumbled to an 0-2 start, largely due to instability at quarterback. However, there's a silver lining: Michael Penix Jr. is expected to return from a torn ACL this Thursday against the Packers. His comeback could inject some life into Atlanta's offense, though the bar is admittedly low.
Russo didn't stop there. He also took aim at the Washington Commanders, who are slated for two prime-time games in October against the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers. If Jayden Daniels isn't cleared to play by then, fans could be subjected to Marcus Mariota under center on back-to-back national broadcasts.
And the Mad Dog had one more bone to pick: the Los Angeles Chargers. He believes Jim Harbaugh's squad is on track for a disastrous season, yet they're still getting marquee matchups on CBS and FOX. "Why are we giving these teams the spotlight when they're going to stink?" Russo seemed to ask, though he didn't mince words.
This isn't the first time this season that NFL coaches have faced scrutiny, and scheduling decisions are always a hot topic. But Russo's rant highlights a growing sentiment among fans: the league's prime-time slate sometimes feels out of touch with reality.
As the NFL continues to roll out its weekly schedule, the hope is that the matchups deliver. But with teams like the Falcons struggling, the fan fatigue over certain broadcasts is real. Whether the league will adjust remains to be seen, but Mad Dog has made his opinion crystal clear.
