WEBVTT - #17: Sleeping giants?? 0:00:04.743 --> 0:00:07.303 NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in 0:00:07.383 --> 0:00:08.903 partnership with iHeartRadio. 0:00:11.623 --> 0:00:14.783 Staring down week number eighteen in the NFL season, plenty 0:00:14.823 --> 0:00:17.263 of playoff positioning on the line. Welcome to a brand 0:00:17.263 --> 0:00:20.423 new edition of NFL Power Rankings. Mike Am and Eric 0:00:20.503 --> 0:00:22.183 at home with you, and look we can get to 0:00:22.183 --> 0:00:25.343 all the conversations Eric about the postseason, not to mention, 0:00:25.383 --> 0:00:27.783 of course, your rankings, which are available on NFL dot 0:00:27.823 --> 0:00:30.663 com complete analysis of all these teams. But I got 0:00:30.663 --> 0:00:32.183 to start with a happy belated. 0:00:31.863 --> 0:00:34.583 Birthday to you, Thank you very much. Yeah, I recovered 0:00:34.663 --> 0:00:36.303 just in time, right before and I got hit with 0:00:36.343 --> 0:00:38.463 a nasty stomach bug, which I guess is the kind 0:00:38.503 --> 0:00:40.103 of thing that happens to you when you're my age. 0:00:40.143 --> 0:00:42.183 So it was a good birthday. Got to spend it 0:00:42.223 --> 0:00:44.863 with the family. But now I'm here with my football family. 0:00:44.983 --> 0:00:46.463 Where do you even go with that? Like, you're not 0:00:46.503 --> 0:00:48.423 supposed to be sick, and by the way, if you were, 0:00:48.583 --> 0:00:50.423 you know, I know your early thirties now, but in 0:00:50.463 --> 0:00:53.383 your twenties, like you just muscle through the stomach viruses 0:00:53.463 --> 0:00:56.023 and you still go out there and party. The party 0:00:56.063 --> 0:00:58.623 is just starting for us here on power rankings as 0:00:58.623 --> 0:01:01.103 we get at some of the top teams, and no 0:01:01.223 --> 0:01:04.303 surprise with Kansas City, Buffalo and Detroit leading the way 0:01:04.343 --> 0:01:07.543 in those top three spots. Keep in mind, still a 0:01:07.583 --> 0:01:09.543 lot to be played for for the Lions, which we 0:01:09.583 --> 0:01:11.543 will talk about in just a couple of moments. The 0:01:11.583 --> 0:01:14.463 division on the line Week eighteen matchup, it is huge 0:01:14.543 --> 0:01:17.663 against the fourth ranked team, the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles 0:01:17.703 --> 0:01:20.023 at five, they've clinched the NFC East thanks to that 0:01:20.063 --> 0:01:23.743 win against the Cowboys. Ravens at six, Lamar, in my mind, 0:01:23.823 --> 0:01:26.983 still in the MVP mix, and his team might be 0:01:27.023 --> 0:01:30.103 the sleeping giant in the AFC. The Packers at seven, 0:01:30.183 --> 0:01:33.943 the Commanders at eight, they have clinched a playoff spot 0:01:33.943 --> 0:01:37.423 as well. All right, the Minnesota Viking sit at number four, 0:01:37.463 --> 0:01:39.783 they move up a spot. I think you can make 0:01:39.823 --> 0:01:42.463 an argument they are as complete a football team as 0:01:42.623 --> 0:01:45.223 any in the NFL, which maybe might not be a 0:01:45.583 --> 0:01:47.943 like a bold statement considering that they could be a 0:01:47.983 --> 0:01:50.423 one seed in the NFC, But Eric, the reality is 0:01:50.743 --> 0:01:53.303 they haven't been discussed that way most of the season. 0:01:54.743 --> 0:01:56.583 I admit I've been part of the problem. And I 0:01:56.623 --> 0:01:59.223 tell you what, Mike, you know for a decent stretch 0:01:59.223 --> 0:02:01.303 of the season. I had them in that second tier 0:02:01.383 --> 0:02:03.703 good but not great maybe, and I kept Kevin my 0:02:04.303 --> 0:02:06.983 doubts them. But as you've seen this team grow, and 0:02:07.023 --> 0:02:09.983 I think, really, especially in the last four or five games, 0:02:10.023 --> 0:02:13.583 the chemistry between Sam Donald and Kevin O'Connell As a 0:02:13.623 --> 0:02:17.023 play caller, Donald and his receivers getting the ball to 0:02:17.383 --> 0:02:20.863 guys like Jalen Naylor, Jordan Justin Jefferson obviously is a 0:02:20.903 --> 0:02:23.463 weekly target. But Addison's come up big and how do 0:02:23.623 --> 0:02:25.703 cam Akers do you know you lose Aaron Jones for 0:02:25.783 --> 0:02:27.863 part of that game? He makes a couple of crucial 0:02:27.903 --> 0:02:30.503 plays down the stretch. It has been so fun to 0:02:30.503 --> 0:02:34.103 watch this team develop and grow and just the excitement 0:02:34.183 --> 0:02:36.183 I think that is built around this team too. I mean, 0:02:36.183 --> 0:02:37.703 how do you not love them? I think they and 0:02:37.743 --> 0:02:40.343 the Lions going head to head next week. A lot 0:02:40.423 --> 0:02:44.023 of people watching from the outside with fascination, wishing that 0:02:44.143 --> 0:02:46.823 their team could have the same kind of aura and 0:02:47.023 --> 0:02:49.343 energy and vibe that these guys do. And you saw 0:02:49.383 --> 0:02:51.183 it play out in the locker room after the game. 0:02:51.223 --> 0:02:53.703 What a scene this is. I think what every NFL 0:02:53.703 --> 0:02:55.743 player dreams to be a part of. This kind of 0:02:55.743 --> 0:02:58.783 a celebration, not just the guys in the middle of 0:02:58.823 --> 0:03:00.903 the celebration, but the ones being part of it too. 0:03:00.983 --> 0:03:03.503 And all Kevin O'Connell can do is sit back and 0:03:03.583 --> 0:03:06.663 watch his handiwork. He's done a massful job this year. Look, 0:03:06.703 --> 0:03:08.463 I think dan quinn might be Coach of the Year, 0:03:08.503 --> 0:03:10.623 but Kevin's as good to Canada as there is. And 0:03:10.943 --> 0:03:13.383 as you pointed out, this team is dangerous that could 0:03:13.383 --> 0:03:16.423 beat anybody right now, they are very very very good. 0:03:16.983 --> 0:03:19.623 If you would have told Sam Donald, I don't know 0:03:19.863 --> 0:03:23.103 six months ago, ten months ago, three years ago, you 0:03:23.183 --> 0:03:25.543 are going to be in this position and you were 0:03:25.583 --> 0:03:27.663 going to be lifted up by your teammates at the 0:03:27.743 --> 0:03:29.903 end of the season in a week seventeen game, he 0:03:30.023 --> 0:03:32.663 is beloved. I don't know if he would have believed it. 0:03:32.743 --> 0:03:34.903 I mean, this is a journeyman. God it's been bouncing 0:03:34.903 --> 0:03:37.103 around who is well thought of. But I think there's 0:03:37.103 --> 0:03:39.143 some parallels here because we talk about this week eight 0:03:39.143 --> 0:03:41.623 team matchup against the Lions and keep him on the 0:03:41.623 --> 0:03:43.663 winner of this game, we'll get the one scene home 0:03:43.663 --> 0:03:46.783 field advantage throughout the course of the postseason leading up 0:03:46.783 --> 0:03:50.183 into the Super Bowl. Sam Donald, we just characterize in 0:03:50.223 --> 0:03:52.503 the way that we did. Jared Goff was kind of 0:03:52.503 --> 0:03:55.743 the same thing. And by the way, the Lions, his teammates, 0:03:55.823 --> 0:03:59.823 the fan base, they treat Jared Goff like what we 0:03:59.903 --> 0:04:02.223 just saw from Sam Donald. 0:04:02.783 --> 0:04:06.143 Absolutely, from Poppers to Princes, I guess right. You just 0:04:06.223 --> 0:04:08.303 find the right spot, the right mix, with the right 0:04:08.343 --> 0:04:11.823 play caller, the skill position players. It all works together 0:04:11.863 --> 0:04:14.263 in Detroit the same way it kind of does in Minnesota. 0:04:14.263 --> 0:04:16.943 It's a group effort. Yes, there are stars on both 0:04:16.983 --> 0:04:19.303 sides of the ball and both teams, but you know, 0:04:19.583 --> 0:04:23.343 this Lion's team. I love what they do offensively, I 0:04:23.383 --> 0:04:25.863 love their creativity, I love their aggression. There's so much 0:04:25.863 --> 0:04:28.223 to love about this team. But we also have to 0:04:28.223 --> 0:04:31.903 face facts here, Mike. They gave up four touchdowns playing 0:04:31.943 --> 0:04:34.623 against a lot of backups. I mean, yes, Perdy was 0:04:34.663 --> 0:04:36.823 out there and all that, but a lot of San 0:04:36.823 --> 0:04:39.423 Francisco backups out there. Four out of the first five 0:04:39.543 --> 0:04:42.263 drives steam roll down the field on them for touchdowns 0:04:42.303 --> 0:04:45.783 and missfield goal in between. There so really five drives 0:04:45.783 --> 0:04:48.463 where they gave up a lot of ground. Before Kirby 0:04:48.543 --> 0:04:51.183 Joseph made some plays, the offense kept pushing the pedal 0:04:51.223 --> 0:04:53.223 to the medal, and they have that ability, right they 0:04:53.263 --> 0:04:56.503 have that fastball that can absolutely take down anybody. But 0:04:57.303 --> 0:05:00.343 against the Vikings, a team that's really curred their turnovers recently, 0:05:00.743 --> 0:05:02.703 got to make sure they have at least one or 0:05:02.743 --> 0:05:05.143 be plus one somehow in this game because they are 0:05:05.143 --> 0:05:07.423 not really stopping people on defense right now. 0:05:07.823 --> 0:05:09.463 I think you could have made the argument that the 0:05:09.503 --> 0:05:12.863 Lions were the most complete team for the entire season 0:05:12.943 --> 0:05:17.063 and we were waiting for attrition to on the defensive side. 0:05:16.743 --> 0:05:17.343 To be a problem. 0:05:17.343 --> 0:05:20.263 They keep winning games, but it does look a little different, 0:05:20.343 --> 0:05:21.943 and I think case in point to what we saw 0:05:22.103 --> 0:05:24.583 on Monday night football against a San Francisco forty nine 0:05:24.663 --> 0:05:26.783 ers team that's really struggled. Keep in mind this way 0:05:26.903 --> 0:05:29.103 week a team matchup between these two teams. Eric check 0:05:29.143 --> 0:05:32.223 this out. The loser of this game be the first 0:05:32.223 --> 0:05:35.783 time in NFL history a fourteen win team has not 0:05:35.823 --> 0:05:37.863 won the division. I don't know if what that says 0:05:37.863 --> 0:05:40.903 is about the NFC or this division specifically, if it's 0:05:40.903 --> 0:05:43.943 a good or a bad thing, but just stating some facts. Meanwhile, 0:05:44.223 --> 0:05:46.063 we go to number five, and yes it is the 0:05:46.063 --> 0:05:48.943 Philadelphia Eagles. You could check the boxer Saquon two k 0:05:49.383 --> 0:05:51.103 on the ground. He gets to go up against his 0:05:51.183 --> 0:05:52.743 former squad, the Giants. 0:05:53.143 --> 0:05:56.903 Do you play this, dude, I say no. Now, we 0:05:56.943 --> 0:05:59.303 haven't heard officially as of the time. We take this 0:05:59.543 --> 0:06:02.623 just a hunch, but I think they sit them and look, 0:06:02.743 --> 0:06:04.903 first of all, Saquon's a pretty selfless guy in my 0:06:04.983 --> 0:06:07.663 experience from what I've observed people I've talked to. And 0:06:07.703 --> 0:06:10.023 then also Nick Sirianni, the coach, I think just has 0:06:10.023 --> 0:06:12.903 a better finger on the pulse of his team this year, 0:06:12.943 --> 0:06:15.023 and I think he understands the big picture here. I 0:06:15.063 --> 0:06:17.543 don't know that saquanall push for it, and I don't 0:06:17.583 --> 0:06:20.183 think Nick is gonna throw him out there if he 0:06:20.223 --> 0:06:23.063 doesn't want to go, So you defer to the younger guys. 0:06:23.103 --> 0:06:25.503 Barkley's done it on a few occasions and second halves 0:06:25.543 --> 0:06:28.943 this year, and also with the QB uncertainty. Jalen hurts 0:06:28.983 --> 0:06:31.943 out last week, canny pick it getting banged up. To me, 0:06:32.023 --> 0:06:34.823 it's an unnecessary risk. Yeah, you'd love to see him 0:06:34.823 --> 0:06:36.703 break an all time market to do it against his 0:06:36.743 --> 0:06:40.543 old team would would certainly have a poetic justice to it. 0:06:40.583 --> 0:06:43.103 But I really think the smart play here is to 0:06:43.503 --> 0:06:46.583 keep him on the sideline, rest your horse, have everybody 0:06:46.863 --> 0:06:49.303 you know gassed up and ready to go for the postseason. 0:06:49.663 --> 0:06:51.903 We forget how good these guys are. Sometimes they kind 0:06:51.903 --> 0:06:55.383 of fall between the cracks among the big teams. But man, 0:06:55.423 --> 0:06:57.863 there is a bigger mission here and I think Sirianni 0:06:57.903 --> 0:07:00.463 and Barkley know that, but who knows, Maybe they surprise us. 0:07:00.743 --> 0:07:03.463 Yeah, there's different philosophies and I don't know what Sirianni 0:07:03.543 --> 0:07:05.383 is is going to be. But heading into the week 0:07:05.503 --> 0:07:08.783 seventeen match of Dan Campbell before Monday Night FOTBA against 0:07:08.783 --> 0:07:10.623 the Niners said, hy man, like, we're rolling our guys 0:07:10.623 --> 0:07:13.143 out there. I was doing the postgame show. Jared Goff said, Hey, 0:07:13.263 --> 0:07:16.143 this was squashed earlier in the week. We knew we're 0:07:16.143 --> 0:07:17.943 going to be playing. This is how we're wired. I 0:07:18.023 --> 0:07:21.103 don't know how Nick Sirianni's team is wired. And if 0:07:21.103 --> 0:07:23.263 we will see Saquan against the Giants, who by the way, 0:07:23.303 --> 0:07:25.983 we'll talk about them as a Giants fan coming up 0:07:26.023 --> 0:07:28.623 in just a minute. The Commanders, meanwhile, check in at 0:07:28.703 --> 0:07:31.903 number eight. They've clinched their spot. Is there a real 0:07:32.023 --> 0:07:35.023 path for this team in the postseason to make a run. 0:07:35.783 --> 0:07:37.543 I think there is. And you know, how do you 0:07:37.583 --> 0:07:40.263 define a run, right, I mean, it's the postseason feels 0:07:40.263 --> 0:07:42.663 so short in the big picture, but you know, really 0:07:42.703 --> 0:07:44.983 they have nothing to lose, and they have all kinds 0:07:44.983 --> 0:07:47.863 of confidence building up, you know, playing with house money 0:07:47.903 --> 0:07:51.103 if you will. Jayden Daniels leads the way. Dan Quinn 0:07:51.103 --> 0:07:52.863 has been a rock for this team all year. But 0:07:53.383 --> 0:07:56.103 you know you also have those motivated veteran zach Ertz 0:07:56.143 --> 0:07:59.223 coming up big in this game against the Falcons. Maybe 0:07:59.223 --> 0:08:01.983 the Falcons helped them out with little clock management stuff too, 0:08:02.023 --> 0:08:04.423 but you can't take away from what the Commanders did. 0:08:04.863 --> 0:08:07.743 Bobby Wagner, another key guy you know's a key is 0:08:07.903 --> 0:08:11.103 Tyler biad Jeremy Chin. I mean, Adam Peters did a 0:08:11.103 --> 0:08:13.383 wonderful job putting this roster together. And I think the 0:08:13.743 --> 0:08:16.863 makeup of this roster this isn't a fluke thing. It's 0:08:16.903 --> 0:08:19.463 a lot better roster than I think some people realize. 0:08:19.463 --> 0:08:21.223 So that gives them a chance. And you have a 0:08:21.263 --> 0:08:26.023 rookie quarterback with a fearlessness that Daniels possesses. I'm willing 0:08:26.023 --> 0:08:27.703 to roll the dice and see they can go into 0:08:27.703 --> 0:08:30.623 a road game and feel pretty darn confident about their chances. 0:08:30.663 --> 0:08:33.623 So you'd like to see the non Jaden Daniels run 0:08:33.663 --> 0:08:35.743 game pick up a little. That's just one little nitpick 0:08:35.783 --> 0:08:37.343 I'd like to see. They were so good at it 0:08:37.383 --> 0:08:40.023 earlier in the year. But man, there are a ton 0:08:40.023 --> 0:08:42.623 of things that they can do in these playoffs to 0:08:42.623 --> 0:08:44.263 give whoever they face a lot of trouble. 0:08:44.623 --> 0:08:47.383 Yeah, they will match up against the Dallas Cowboys, another 0:08:47.463 --> 0:08:51.143 divisional matchup and a Dallas team that's been like I think, 0:08:51.143 --> 0:08:53.223 there's a lot of questions we'll find out actually next 0:08:53.223 --> 0:08:56.383 week about what the future for Mike McCarthy is going 0:08:56.423 --> 0:08:59.263 to be with the Cowboys. Meanwhile, it is time for 0:08:59.303 --> 0:09:03.303 power Moves and it is presented by Energizer at number six. 0:09:03.463 --> 0:09:07.543 It's the Ravens, who I think legitimately are these sleeping giant. 0:09:07.823 --> 0:09:12.183 A season ago the one seed, dominant defensively, dominant offensively, 0:09:12.543 --> 0:09:14.463 they were the hunted. Now all of a sudden, they 0:09:14.463 --> 0:09:17.303 are the hunters, And I think mentally that's a good 0:09:17.343 --> 0:09:19.503 thing for this ball club is I think they teem 0:09:19.543 --> 0:09:20.783 to figure out how to get over the hump and 0:09:20.823 --> 0:09:22.463 get to a super Bowl and then win that game. 0:09:22.743 --> 0:09:25.463 This might be the year, am I crazy in thinking 0:09:25.503 --> 0:09:28.303 that there's a legit argument for this team, maybe just 0:09:28.343 --> 0:09:29.983 as much as any other team, whether it's the Bills, 0:09:30.023 --> 0:09:30.583 are the Chiefs. 0:09:31.903 --> 0:09:33.983 I mean, look, I said, if they're really the sixth 0:09:33.983 --> 0:09:35.383 best team, this is going to be a whale of 0:09:35.383 --> 0:09:38.623 a playoffs, right. This is not your typical number six 0:09:38.703 --> 0:09:41.343 overall team at this stage. Now, they've paid for some 0:09:41.383 --> 0:09:43.703 of their past sins. They had trouble on defense at 0:09:43.703 --> 0:09:46.583 one point this season, they had the kicking issue, special 0:09:46.583 --> 0:09:48.783 teams in general. Those are the two things that they 0:09:48.783 --> 0:09:52.103 have seemingly cleaned up a little bit, So you tip 0:09:52.103 --> 0:09:55.183 your hat to them. John Harball always fixes mistakes within 0:09:55.223 --> 0:09:57.383 the course of the season. The penalties, though, that's the 0:09:57.423 --> 0:10:00.463 one thing that kind of leaves me hanging a little 0:10:00.463 --> 0:10:02.703 bit and guessing, is that going to be their achilles seals? 0:10:02.743 --> 0:10:04.143 That going to be the thing that cost them A 0:10:04.183 --> 0:10:08.023 thirteen penalty game wouldn't be a crazy thing considering what 0:10:08.063 --> 0:10:09.903 we've seen this year. They've been averaging eight to nine 0:10:09.943 --> 0:10:13.623 a game, So that's the only thing that holds me back. 0:10:13.663 --> 0:10:15.463 But I like the way you framed it. Last year, 0:10:15.503 --> 0:10:18.583 all the spotlight was on them, Lamar. The number one seed, 0:10:18.623 --> 0:10:21.503 the home games etc. The first round blowout of the Texans. 0:10:21.983 --> 0:10:24.183 I think this year they're flying a lot lower, a 0:10:24.263 --> 0:10:27.503 lot under the radar, even with Jackson having a better 0:10:27.583 --> 0:10:30.183 year and Dereck Henry joining the team. So they're different. 0:10:30.423 --> 0:10:33.103 But I think they're just as dangerous as we thought 0:10:33.103 --> 0:10:34.023 they were last year. 0:10:34.383 --> 0:10:36.703 Yeah, I love your take on the penalties, because you're right, 0:10:36.743 --> 0:10:38.863 we don't talk nearly enough about it. It's hard to 0:10:38.903 --> 0:10:41.823 find some issues because the defensive issues earlier this season 0:10:42.143 --> 0:10:44.023 don't seem to be much of a factor in the 0:10:44.063 --> 0:10:46.183 second half of the season. And that's a win for 0:10:46.263 --> 0:10:49.343 this squad. And keep in mind an opportunity on Saturday 0:10:49.423 --> 0:10:52.943 against the Browns to clinch the AFC North with a victory. 0:10:52.983 --> 0:10:54.823 We will find out if it gets done. And I 0:10:54.823 --> 0:10:57.063 think they're going this way. The Steelers might be going 0:10:57.143 --> 0:10:59.463 the other way. We will talk about Pittsburgh coming up 0:10:59.663 --> 0:11:01.623 in just a minute. But there's some other teams that 0:11:01.623 --> 0:11:03.343 could make a Super Bowl run. You think we've only 0:11:03.383 --> 0:11:06.783 talked about the top teams again who legitimately can make 0:11:06.823 --> 0:11:08.543 a case that they can get to the super Bowl. 0:11:08.543 --> 0:11:13.143 And that next tier of Eric's power rankings, that's next 0:11:18.823 --> 0:11:22.503 back here on power rankings, it's Erics teams nine through sixteen, 0:11:22.583 --> 0:11:25.183 the Chargers sitting in the ninth spot, they move up 0:11:25.623 --> 0:11:28.023 one position. They clinched the playoff spot with that dominant 0:11:28.063 --> 0:11:30.703 win against the Patriots, attendant to the Steelers, who have 0:11:30.743 --> 0:11:33.943 some offensive issues. Eleven. The Bucks lead the NFC South. 0:11:33.983 --> 0:11:36.423 We'll talk about that in just a moment. The Rams 0:11:36.463 --> 0:11:39.383 are at twelve, escaping with a win against Arizona. They 0:11:39.383 --> 0:11:42.343 are playoff bound though. At thirteen, win and you're in. 0:11:42.863 --> 0:11:45.183 That's the case for the Broncos. At fourteen the Texans. 0:11:45.183 --> 0:11:48.303 What happened to the squad? Meanwhile at fifteen it's Cincinnati 0:11:48.303 --> 0:11:50.943 and yes there's still a chance for them. At sixteen 0:11:51.063 --> 0:11:54.023 it is the Seahawks. But let's focus our attention at 0:11:54.103 --> 0:11:56.743 number nine. This is a Chargers team that's got an 0:11:56.783 --> 0:11:59.583 opportunity here to get some good playoff position, considering how 0:11:59.623 --> 0:12:01.543 the season has gone, could finish as high as the 0:12:01.583 --> 0:12:04.623 fifth seed in the AFC with the win against Vegas 0:12:04.743 --> 0:12:09.703 a Pittsburgh loss on Saturdays. So story this squad for me? 0:12:09.783 --> 0:12:11.663 When you look at them, what are we learning about 0:12:11.703 --> 0:12:15.663 this team? Coming off a dominant performance offensively against the Patriots. 0:12:16.663 --> 0:12:18.663 It was good to see, right, Mike is because the 0:12:18.703 --> 0:12:21.463 last three four games, even with the Broncos win, you'd 0:12:21.503 --> 0:12:23.983 seen kind of a backslide just a little bit, and 0:12:24.023 --> 0:12:25.863 you'd seen them have to work a little bit harder 0:12:25.903 --> 0:12:28.503 to get wins. So you know, to knock Drake May 0:12:28.543 --> 0:12:30.423 out of the game earlier. I know he came back, 0:12:30.463 --> 0:12:34.183 but you know, be aggressive defensively and then offensively, you know, 0:12:34.263 --> 0:12:36.903 getting you know lab McConkie drops a pass early, they 0:12:36.943 --> 0:12:39.183 go right back to him. He scores two touchdowns. The 0:12:39.263 --> 0:12:43.143 return of JK. Dobbins was absolutely huge too. Offensive line 0:12:43.183 --> 0:12:45.263 probably played one of its best games in the second 0:12:45.303 --> 0:12:48.543 half of the season, so this was a complete performance. 0:12:48.783 --> 0:12:52.303 Short week. You heard Jim Harbaugh kind of build up 0:12:52.303 --> 0:12:54.343 to this game and say like, this is the one 0:12:54.383 --> 0:12:56.383 guys we can we can clinch it here, get in 0:12:57.303 --> 0:13:00.183 sort of seal our fate, and they played like it, 0:13:00.263 --> 0:13:02.783 So I think he's kind of got his team ready 0:13:02.863 --> 0:13:05.543 to go, even with a little bit of shaky moments 0:13:05.543 --> 0:13:08.423 down the stretch. So bad team, Yeah, they beat up 0:13:08.463 --> 0:13:10.343 on one, but still you go on the road and 0:13:10.343 --> 0:13:12.463 perform like that, It makes me feel a lot better 0:13:12.463 --> 0:13:14.623 about your playoff credentials and your chances to pull in 0:13:14.663 --> 0:13:16.943 a full first round upset against a team like the Texans. 0:13:17.023 --> 0:13:19.903 Let's say, yeah, I'm with you on that they're not 0:13:19.983 --> 0:13:22.103 a good team, right the Patriots, and they should have won. 0:13:22.143 --> 0:13:23.543 But I think the one thing that we're learning in 0:13:23.583 --> 0:13:25.703 the NFL is when you are a better football team, 0:13:25.903 --> 0:13:28.263 you need to smash the teams that you should. That's 0:13:28.343 --> 0:13:30.503 not always the case, and yet, yep, that's what we 0:13:30.543 --> 0:13:33.783 saw from this Chargers squad. Odds to win the NFC 0:13:34.023 --> 0:13:37.263 South boy, talk about a race, who actually wants it? Well, 0:13:37.383 --> 0:13:39.423 it feels like it's the Bucks who are the favorite. 0:13:39.463 --> 0:13:42.743 The Atlanta Falcons issues. I can't imagine what the situation 0:13:42.783 --> 0:13:44.703 would have been if Michael Panicks, if they had gone 0:13:44.703 --> 0:13:47.383 to him earlier than they did. But yes, right now 0:13:47.583 --> 0:13:50.223 it is the Bucks that are the favorite. Let's focus 0:13:50.263 --> 0:13:52.103 in on the number eleven team, and it is Tampa 0:13:52.143 --> 0:13:54.903 Bay who move up those three spots. They got an 0:13:54.903 --> 0:13:58.063 opportunity to clinch this division with a win against the Saints. 0:13:58.103 --> 0:13:59.543 I don't know if I would have said that, considering 0:13:59.583 --> 0:14:02.623 Atlanta had the tiebreaker and the way the season was unfolding. 0:14:02.663 --> 0:14:05.183 Health issues for Tampa Bay five and one since Mike 0:14:05.223 --> 0:14:08.383 Evans return, I feel good to say, like, I think 0:14:08.383 --> 0:14:09.303 this team's gonna win it. 0:14:11.023 --> 0:14:13.863 Yeah, I mean, they really have turned it up a notch. 0:14:13.983 --> 0:14:16.383 Right in Baker Mayfield, I think I don't know if 0:14:16.423 --> 0:14:19.663 people saw, but a five touchdown performance, one of the 0:14:19.663 --> 0:14:22.943 best showings of his career. He absolutely went off and 0:14:23.063 --> 0:14:25.423 got it early. And you know, we've seen some first 0:14:25.423 --> 0:14:28.383 halfs where he's taken chances, thrown picks, you know, sort 0:14:28.383 --> 0:14:30.703 of played a little faster and looser to see what 0:14:30.783 --> 0:14:33.743 he can get away with almost and he got away 0:14:33.743 --> 0:14:35.743 with a lot in this game because the Panthers didn't 0:14:35.743 --> 0:14:38.583 offer much resistance. It was almost a perfect game. You 0:14:38.583 --> 0:14:41.143 get Mike Evans in the end zone twice. He's almost 0:14:41.183 --> 0:14:44.503 at one k again another season over a thousand yards. 0:14:44.743 --> 0:14:47.263 Bucky Irving, the rookie running back fourth round pick, has 0:14:47.303 --> 0:14:50.543 been absolutely spectacular. He and Rashad White are a great 0:14:50.623 --> 0:14:54.863 duo again, another sort of offensive base team that I 0:14:54.903 --> 0:14:57.703 think can really give some teams problems. I mean, they 0:14:57.743 --> 0:15:00.223 beat the Lions in Detroit earlier this season, so we 0:15:00.303 --> 0:15:03.543 knew all year long they had that capability. But they've 0:15:03.543 --> 0:15:06.343 sort of weathered this story, fought off the Falcons, and 0:15:06.383 --> 0:15:08.463 now are in the driver's seat for the NFC South. 0:15:08.703 --> 0:15:11.383 I just love their chances, even with a banged up secondary. 0:15:11.663 --> 0:15:13.463 You know, they have an opportunity to win a game 0:15:13.463 --> 0:15:14.703 in the postseason, maybe more. 0:15:15.423 --> 0:15:17.463 You know, it's funny off air, Eric I said this 0:15:17.463 --> 0:15:19.143 to you, Hey, at some point on this show, I'd 0:15:19.143 --> 0:15:22.103 love to do like an underrated, underappreciated squad. I got 0:15:22.103 --> 0:15:24.303 to tell you there's three dudes on Tampa Bay who 0:15:24.423 --> 0:15:26.663 I would put on that list. Mike Evans and I know, 0:15:26.863 --> 0:15:29.343 just a model of consistency. We don't talk about him 0:15:29.463 --> 0:15:31.583 nearly enough. Bucky Irving is another guy that we got 0:15:31.623 --> 0:15:34.423 to say, and Baker Mayfield. All this dude does is 0:15:34.463 --> 0:15:37.263 figure out ways to help his team win. The moxie 0:15:37.303 --> 0:15:38.703 is there, and that's part of the reason why I 0:15:38.783 --> 0:15:40.423 think I'm with you. I think the Bucks go and 0:15:40.463 --> 0:15:44.103 take this division. At number twelve, it's the Rams. Should 0:15:44.143 --> 0:15:47.503 I be concerned that they needed a late interception to 0:15:47.543 --> 0:15:50.063 beat an Arizona team when I've been making the case 0:15:50.063 --> 0:15:51.783 that the Rams are as dangerous as any team in 0:15:51.823 --> 0:15:52.343 the NFC. 0:15:53.823 --> 0:15:56.543 Yeah, they can be, right, but those slow starts plague 0:15:56.583 --> 0:15:58.503 them a little bit. And you know, Cooper Cupp will 0:15:58.503 --> 0:16:01.023 get it. Hasn't been involved as much as you'd expect, 0:16:01.063 --> 0:16:03.543 and Coop is great and everything. Kiren Williams is great, 0:16:03.543 --> 0:16:05.823 and Matthew Stafford is great. We love Sean McVeigh and 0:16:05.903 --> 0:16:08.623 that offense, but for some reason they haven't been able 0:16:08.663 --> 0:16:11.463 to string together a ton of successful drives. Now, credit 0:16:11.503 --> 0:16:14.143 the defense for kind of doing its job, and they've 0:16:14.183 --> 0:16:16.783 found ways. You know, whatever the game script is we 0:16:16.983 --> 0:16:19.303 have to beat the Bills forty four or forty two, 0:16:19.343 --> 0:16:21.063 we can do it that way. We have to win 0:16:21.063 --> 0:16:23.063 a low scoring game, they can win that way too. 0:16:23.183 --> 0:16:27.103 So you love their flexibility, their adaptability, if you will, 0:16:27.463 --> 0:16:29.783 But there's also a little bit of a freight factor 0:16:29.863 --> 0:16:31.903 with them, and that you know, they can go through 0:16:31.943 --> 0:16:35.983 stretches where it looks a little a little labored on offense. 0:16:36.063 --> 0:16:39.023 So we'll see what version comes out in the postseason. 0:16:39.623 --> 0:16:41.263 I didn't know what to do with them in the rankings, 0:16:41.303 --> 0:16:43.023 but I just felt the Bucks were a little bit 0:16:43.063 --> 0:16:45.543 better and that's why they bumped up over them. Still 0:16:45.543 --> 0:16:47.063 give the Rams a lot of credit. 0:16:46.743 --> 0:16:50.903 Though, six points three weeks ago, nine points two weeks ago, 0:16:50.983 --> 0:16:53.543 and then this weekend nine points three consecutive games now 0:16:53.583 --> 0:16:56.223 for this Rams defense holding opponents to under ten points 0:16:56.543 --> 0:17:01.543 per game. The Broncos at thirteen win and you're in. 0:17:01.783 --> 0:17:03.663 Do they get it done against the Kansas City team 0:17:03.823 --> 0:17:05.903 who might be resting some players. 0:17:07.183 --> 0:17:09.983 They almost be Kansas City starters in Kansas City, So 0:17:10.143 --> 0:17:12.143 I think they do get it done and spoil the 0:17:12.223 --> 0:17:14.943 dreams of the Dolphins and Bengals and whatnot. But there's 0:17:14.943 --> 0:17:17.223 some worries with this team, even with Bonix coming up 0:17:17.223 --> 0:17:20.343 with that late touchdown drive and Sincy still kind of 0:17:20.343 --> 0:17:22.503 holding back. I have them obviously on the lower end 0:17:22.543 --> 0:17:23.783 of the playoff teams right now. 0:17:24.263 --> 0:17:27.063 All right, the Bengals right now, first team. It's the 0:17:27.063 --> 0:17:28.583 first time I should say that they get a win 0:17:28.623 --> 0:17:31.623 against a five hundred team or better, which was huge. 0:17:31.623 --> 0:17:35.183 They were zero to seven before that win against the Broncos. 0:17:35.503 --> 0:17:37.703 There's still a chance here story it for me. 0:17:39.223 --> 0:17:42.103 Yeah, I mean they found a way, like zombies to 0:17:42.223 --> 0:17:44.743 just sort of fight through the Morassier and get their 0:17:44.783 --> 0:17:47.623 way to a position where they can make the playoffs, 0:17:47.623 --> 0:17:49.703 which I didn't think was possible a few weeks ago, 0:17:49.783 --> 0:17:52.223 but it says here. I think they're gonna come up 0:17:52.223 --> 0:17:55.983 a little short, mostly because of the Denver Kansas City situation. 0:17:56.143 --> 0:17:58.583 But you have to love the fight that Joe Burrows 0:17:58.583 --> 0:18:01.183 showing T Higgins going off. You know, you'd love to 0:18:01.183 --> 0:18:03.543 see him back in Cincinnati, unless you're any of the 0:18:03.623 --> 0:18:06.943 other thirty one teams I suppose. But this team still 0:18:06.943 --> 0:18:09.463