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ESPN star Mina Kimes earned rave reviews for her latest stint on First Take.
The popular analyst sat in for absent co-host Stephen A. Smith yesterday.
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Among the topics she discussed was how the Buffalo Bills offense can thrive despite Steffon Diggs joining the Houston Texans.
And fans took to social media to praise Kimes for her sports knowledge.
“You’re the Best part of ESPN @FirstTake is lucky to have you,” posted one.
“You’re better than that show,” added another.
“Love Mina Kimes analysis on First Take,” a third posted.
Kimes is expecting Josh Allen’s Bills to be a huge threat in the upcoming season.
“The truth is, while Stefon Diggs has been the No. 1 option in this offense, he transformed this offense, he arguably transformed Josh Allen’s career,” Kimes said.
“We saw in the second half of the season last year when his role was diminished after Joe Brady took over as the offensive coordinator, the offense didn’t really lose a beat.
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“They leaned more heavily on a dominant run game that I expect to still be dominant this season.
“They’ve invested a great deal into that offensive line, and I think James Cook really emerged last season.
“You saw them lean more on Dalton Kincaid, who was their first [year] tight end, young tight ends tend to be better in years two or three, so I only expect him to develop further.
“You really saw Josh Allen lean more on him as an intermediate target, a man coverage beater, both things that they would look to Stefon Diggs [for].
“That’s of course without even getting to their addition in the [second-round] this year, Keon Coleman.
“I think that this offense might have some ups and downs in the first part of the season as everybody kind of feels each other out, and you’ve got that rookie receiver.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.
“But by the second half of the season, I think they’ll be as good as any offense in the NFL, which is what they’ve been for the past three years, a top-three offense by any metric.”
First Take is set to air another special episode on the road.
Smith and host Molly Qerim will front the ESPN show live from Fanatics Fest NYC next Friday.
The stellar duo will be joined by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and NFL analyst Ryan Clark on the set at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
First Take has revealed a couple of special guests who will come on the show.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero will make an appearance alongside comedian Drew Desbordes, better known as Druski.
The show heads on the road again after checking in from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference in Chicago, Illinois, last week.
