1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: The Steelers are putting it together at the right time, 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:08,079 Speaker 1: and so is Aaron Rodgers. We will break down the 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: followed from a Monday night blow up in Pittsburgh and 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: in Miami where Tua Taga bay Looa could be headed 5 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: to the bench. 6 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 2: So many winners and losers to discuss. 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: Coming out of Week fifteen that we had to bring 8 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: in our guy, Jeffrey Chedea to sort through it all. 9 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: Who's rising, who's falling, and who has already finished. Taedea 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: has got the latest chatter on the Chiefs, Chargers and 11 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: more on the show tonight. The Fantasy playoffs are already here, 12 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: and that means your waiver claims have never been more important. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 3: Good thing. 14 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: Michael left Florio will be join us to tell you 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: who to target and who to talk up on your 16 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: TV show to throw your opponent off the scent. Welcome 17 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: inside with the Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance, alongside Judy 18 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: Batista and Mike Garafolo. 19 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: I am Tom Pelisero. 20 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: We have an absolute wild week sixth seen on tap. 21 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: We will break down all the big matchups tonight, including 22 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: that Thursday night showdown between the Rams and Seahawks. But first, 23 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: let's revisit how Week fifteen ended Aaron Rodgers and the 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: Steelers taking on Tua Tongue Bailoa and the Dolphins, who 25 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: were entering facing playoff elimination. Easy for me to say, 26 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: first quarter, no score, It was a lot of this 27 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: on this night. Tua, looking for Jalen Waddle, instead finds 28 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: a Sante Samuel Junior, Tua's fifteenth interception of the season. 29 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: Steelers get the ball and I still don't know how 30 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: Rogers fit this one in the DK Metcalf who's throwing 31 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: people down, He's rolling into the end zone. This is 32 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 1: what they expected when they acquired him in that trade. 33 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: Steelers go on to win twenty eight to fifteen, first 34 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: place in the AFC North. 35 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: Dolphins now eliminated. There we go. 36 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: I know I can say that word, which means we 37 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: are down to nine, still alive in the AFC. Steelers 38 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: right now at eight and six a game up on 39 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: the Ravens. Actually, the next two weeks for the Steelers 40 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: don't even matter. As long as they beat the Ravens 41 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: in the rematch in week eighteen, they would take that. 42 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 2: Divisions. 43 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: Welcome in our Brian Baldinger and Mark Ross to the 44 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: conversation Baldy on the Pittsburgh side of things. All I 45 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: could think watching that game last night was way back 46 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: in March and then April and May and June until 47 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers finally came aboard. This surely had to be 48 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: the way Mike Tollin was thinking, we're gonna win a 49 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,119 Speaker 1: lot of football games in twenty twenty five. 50 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 4: Well, when you'll turn it over and you play a 51 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 4: lot of ball control and you dink and dunk your 52 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 4: way down the field the way Aaron has the last 53 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 4: two weeks against Baltimore and then Monday night against Miami, 54 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 4: and then you play good defense behind it, you win. 55 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 4: You're gonna win your share football games. They're not beating 56 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 4: themselves right now. Aaron knows how to get the ball 57 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 4: out of his hands. They played a kid, Dylan Cook 58 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 4: at left tackle, never played in the NFL as a 59 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 4: starter before. He was virtuoso in his performance, but they 60 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 4: protected him. He got the ball out quick. I got 61 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 4: the big play to DK metcalf in the middle of 62 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 4: the field. He finished it right there like you're saying, 63 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 4: like he had a thread debt needle. But Aaron's doing 64 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 4: his job right now. It's not this wild explosive offense, 65 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 4: but it's not going to be. What we saw last 66 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 4: night is what is how they need to play. They 67 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 4: scored touchdowns on four straight drives, being very very efficient 68 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 4: running john Us Smith right here out of the backfield 69 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 4: for a second touchdown run, finding different ways to find 70 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 4: plays to keep drives alive. 71 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 3: And that's what Aeron's job is right now. You're right, Baldy. 72 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 5: I mean, they have their way to play, and it's 73 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 5: almost the same way they've been playing the last I 74 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 5: don't know x amount of years. The names that have changed, 75 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 5: particularly Aaron Rodgers, but this is kind of Pittsburgh Steelers 76 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 5: football that gets you to over five hundred. But is 77 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 5: that good enough to beat those heavyweights that we saw 78 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 5: in that playoff picture when you're talking about the Denvers 79 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 5: and New England's and the Buffalo Bills and the Chargers 80 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 5: and Jacksonville and the way Houston is playing now, I 81 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 5: just don't see them being able to raise their game 82 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 5: and the level of play, particularly against those nasty defenses 83 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 5: that are over there that are just not gonna let 84 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 5: Aaron Rodgers dig and dunk them the way the Dolphins did. 85 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 5: I was like, did you guys game plan at all 86 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 5: to say let's just not play soft zone and let 87 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 5: everything in front. So that's really my concern with the 88 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 5: Steelers is, yes, they have to be perfect in order 89 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 5: to eke out games. But I mean they played the 90 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 5: Bills a couple of weeks ago, I had lost, you know, 91 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 5: twenty six to seven. They played the Charges a couple 92 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 5: weeks ago, had lost by double digits, could not really 93 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 5: move the ball. So yes, they'll probably win the division 94 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 5: because I have no faith either in Baltimore to kind 95 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 5: of win a couple of games here. This Detroit game 96 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 5: again with Pittsburgh will be a true measuring stick. But 97 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 5: they'll win a division. They'll be in the playoffs again, 98 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 5: but can they actually beat anybody else in those playoffs? 99 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: Town Steelers very much in it. The Dolphins out officially out, 100 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: and so might be too a tongue I looo when 101 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: the next morning you hear his head coach saying this. 102 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 6: The quarterback play last night was not good enough, and 103 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 6: so for me, everything's on the table. There's still a 104 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 6: lot left in the day. Like I said before, fourteen 105 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 6: hours removed from the game, So you know, I don't 106 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 6: trivialize any decision I make, particularly, you know, one where 107 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 6: someone touches the ball every play, So there's there's multiple 108 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 6: things that have to be thought through, but ultimately we 109 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 6: need to have better play at that position. 110 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: Normally, when a head coach says everything on the table, 111 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: the person who served the meal, Judy, is not the 112 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: one clean up the dishes. In other words, there's not 113 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: a lot of times you'll walk it back and say, actually, 114 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: just kidding, we're sticking with the guy, which raises all 115 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: kinds of questions, if indeed to it is bench about 116 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: what becomes not just the next three games, but the 117 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: future at that position in Miami. 118 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 7: Right the decision that's going to be made this week, 119 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 7: maybe by tomorrow about who the starting quarterback is is 120 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 7: being made in the context of much bigger, big picture 121 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 7: decisions that have to be made about the Miami Dolphins 122 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 7: this offseason, and one of the biggest there is going 123 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 7: to be what becomes of Tua. Now, he's got a 124 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 7: contract and it is guaranteed for fifty four million dollars, 125 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 7: so they can't walk away all that easily. 126 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 8: But if they. 127 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 7: Put him on the bench right now, it's really a 128 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 7: move to keep all their options open. For the offseason 129 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 7: because if they want to try to trade him, which 130 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 7: you have to think they will at least consider doing. 131 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 7: The number one thing is he's got to be healthy. 132 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 7: They can't put him on the fields for the last 133 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 7: three meaningless games and risk that he gets hurt again. 134 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 7: He's already got an injury history which would complicate any 135 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 7: attempt to trade him. So they got to keep him healthy. 136 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 7: That's number one. And then of course you've just got 137 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 7: to look at the big picture. They almost certainly cannot 138 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 7: go into next season with Tua as the designated starting quarterback. 139 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 7: They've got to get another quarterback in there. Maybe he 140 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 7: would be a bridge to a younger quarterback. Certainly, he 141 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 7: cannot come back as the designated franchise quarterback. They've tried that. 142 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 7: They've tried it over a number of years. It's not 143 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 7: getting better. As a matter of fact, this year it's 144 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 7: kind of worse. He leads the league in interceptions. Last 145 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 7: night was a particularly ugly performance. So certainly, whatever decision 146 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 7: we hear about in the next twenty four to forty 147 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 7: eight hours from the Miami Dolphins about the starting quarterback 148 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 7: has to be viewed in the much bigger context. For 149 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 7: the Miami Dolphins future. 150 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 8: Sometimes you do you know Tom sometimes like there's that warning. 151 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 8: A lot of time you do this with kickers, right, 152 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 8: you'll indicate that maybe we're thinking about a kicking change. 153 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 8: You bring in guys for a workout. It's a little 154 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 8: bit different when it's the quarterback position. But this could 155 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 8: be the point at which they go, look, dude, we 156 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 8: need better play, just like Mike McDaniel say we need 157 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 8: better play from the quarterback position. And maybe this is 158 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 8: a warning shot. And then the end they say, yeah, 159 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 8: we're going to stick with to it. Because for all 160 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 8: the reasons Judy laid out fifty four million a potential trade, 161 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 8: nobody's taken that number, So you got to figure out 162 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 8: what you want to do with that number. We've seen 163 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 8: teams in recent years be willing to eat I mean 164 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 8: the Broncos with Russell Wilson be willing to eat all 165 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 8: that money for one year to make sure that you 166 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 8: don't necessarily trigger even more because he's got injury guarantees 167 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 8: on top of that. There's a lot that goes into this, 168 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 8: not the least of which is the fact that Mike 169 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 8: McDaniel might have an entirely new regime or the Dolphins, 170 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 8: excuse me, might have an entirely new regime and not 171 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 8: Mike McDaniel. We shall see, but this is going to 172 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 8: be an interesting decision for McDaniel to make a statement 173 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 8: for his own gig, for the future of this team 174 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 8: and what he potentially plans to do at the quarterback position. 175 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: Speaking of warnings, sounds like someone's going to change out 176 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: the battery and the old smoke detector there. I assume 177 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: that's got the two of warning life going off in 178 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: the background. Two would not be the first veteran franchise 179 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: quarterback to get benched in December because of some of 180 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: the same reasons that Judy laid out in terms of 181 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,079 Speaker 1: you don't want a guy who's not going to be 182 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 1: a part of your team in the future to get 183 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: hurt down the stretch to the point that you can't 184 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: trade him into the future. 185 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: Take a look at some of the ones in recent years. 186 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: Last year was Kirk Cousins passing the torch to Michael 187 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: Pennis Junior, Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, Carson Wentz down the stretch, 188 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: Eli Manning as well. A lot of different examples of 189 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: it for those teams that are getting to a point 190 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: in the season where, well, no matter how many games 191 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: you win, you're not going to get into the playoffs. Man, 192 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: We've got a lot of beeps going off here right now. Also, 193 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: sound the alert. We got playoff clinching scenarios for a 194 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: total of nine teams that can clinch their playoffs spots 195 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: in Week sixteen. That includes winning in for the Patriots, 196 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: the Eagles, the forty nine Ers, and the Seahawks Philly 197 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: can wrap up the NFC East. The other three can 198 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: all at least clinch a spot in the seventeen field 199 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: in their conference. Meanwhile, the Bills, Jags, Chargers, Bears and 200 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 1: Packers can all clinch a playoff spot with a win 201 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: and some combination of other things as well. But again, 202 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: a chop full week, including that Bears Packers showdown on Saturday. 203 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: We'll talk about that one in just a little bit. 204 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: Week sixteen kicksoff on Thursday. All right, And while Rams 205 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: wide receiver about Day Adams has not been ruled out yet, 206 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: does sound unlikely that he is going to be able 207 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: to go against the Seahawks. Adams right there, he saw 208 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: it aggravated his hamstring injury on Sunday. He's been dealing 209 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: with that four weeks. Sean McVay has said he's optimistic, 210 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: but this is a really quick turnaround. Listed as a 211 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: non participant on the estimated injury report, seems like adams 212 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: best shot would be week seventeen to get back onto 213 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: the field. She's quarterback Patrick Mahomes underwent successful surgery on 214 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: his tourn acl on Monday, according to the team. Or 215 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 1: Ian Rapport reported that Mahomes also tore his LCL. That 216 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: injury should not complicate the timeline, which put Mahomes right 217 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: up against the start of the twenty twenty sixth season. 218 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: Packer's defense VT Michael Parsons also headed to surgery has 219 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: not occurred yet, but he's also looking ahead to next September, 220 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: as he posted on social media after he suffered a 221 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,599 Speaker 1: torn ACL on that play right there against the Broncos, 222 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: a huge loss for his Packers team. The once again 223 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: has a massive game on Saturday against the Bears. 224 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 7: There is your AFC playoff picture Denver Broncos sitting pretty 225 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:07,719 Speaker 7: at twelve and two. 226 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 9: Ooh. 227 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 7: The Patriots that lost this week really dged their chances 228 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 7: to be the number one seed. You can see the 229 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 7: Steelers are in there. And here is the NFC playoff picture. 230 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 7: The Rams eleven to three. They have clinched a spot, Bears, Eagles, 231 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 7: Bucks hanging on in there, Packers down there at number seven. 232 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 7: There were some winners and losers this week, big time 233 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 7: winners and losers this weekend, and our Jeffrey Chidia is 234 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 7: here to go over them for part of his first 235 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 7: read column. All right, Jeffrey, let's start out on the 236 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 7: optimistic side. Give us the winners first. 237 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 9: Well, you mentioned that Patriots game, Judy, So I'm gonna 238 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 9: go with Matthew Stafford, who was a big beneficiary of 239 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 9: Drake May losing that game, because that made it not 240 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 9: play well. Didn't throw a touchdown pass in this MVP race. Now, 241 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 9: was Matthew Staffords to lose? Hit the big win against 242 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 9: the Lions. He's got thirty seven touchdown passes now only 243 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 9: five interceptions, and at thirty seven years old, he's having 244 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 9: the best year of his career. So I think this 245 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 9: old man thing is going to play well for him, 246 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 9: and getting that big win against the Lines when Drake 247 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 9: May went down is huge for him. And as far 248 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 9: as the Patriots concerned, Don mcdermot's got like what he happened. 249 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 9: What happened for him on Sunday as well, because the 250 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 9: Bills prove that they are serious contenders again going there, 251 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 9: falling down to wenty one nothing coming back winning that 252 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 9: game in Foxborol. It shows this team really has the 253 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 9: heart and the character to win a championship. That defense 254 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 9: has been struggling for so long, got some key stops 255 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 9: and Sel McDermott two think about this. If it gets 256 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 9: in the postseason, which he should first time in his career, 257 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 9: He's not going to see Patrick Mahomes or Andy Reid 258 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 9: Kensady Cheeks, so he's got a good chance of getting 259 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 9: the Super Bowl now. And then finally we'll go to 260 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 9: Jesse Minter, the San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator who had 261 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 9: a huge game again against the Chiefs. This guy's defense 262 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 9: has been getting it done. He had five turnovers last 263 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 9: week against Philadelphia. He had two big turnovers in this game. 264 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,439 Speaker 9: This guy is obviously going to be considered for head 265 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 9: coaching jobs. He's a young, up and com in candidate. 266 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 9: I think that this defense, the way they're playing, even 267 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 9: with all their offensive line issues and the quarterback issues 268 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 9: with the injuries to Justin Herbert. He's getting it done 269 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 9: on defense, and this team is winning because of that defense. 270 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 7: No Mahomes and no Joe Burrow in the AFC field 271 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 7: certainly opens things up for pretty much anybody. All right, 272 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 7: let's look at the losers. Jeffrey, who are they? 273 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 9: No brainer? Here starts in Kansas City where I live, 274 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 9: because it's really depressing right now. Eliminated from the playoffs, 275 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 9: and that guy goes down, Patrick Mahome with a seedon 276 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 9: ending torn ACL. It was a nightmarish ending to a 277 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 9: nightmarish season. This team has a lot of issues to 278 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 9: get figured out in the offseason, and now they have 279 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 9: more uncertainty about whether Mahomes is going to be ready 280 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 9: to play. 281 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 8: At the start of next year. 282 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 9: I can see a lot of changes as far as 283 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 9: personnel and then where they're going to go. 284 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 3: This team has been. 285 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 9: In the Super Bowl five of the last six years. 286 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 9: To see them not in the postseason is a shocking, 287 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,599 Speaker 9: shocking revelation. Here and number two here, I'll go to 288 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 9: Jeff Haffley, who let his own issues with a torn ACL. 289 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 9: Micah Parson is going down because this defense has been 290 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 9: a key to Green Bay success and the reason people 291 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 9: have been talking about them as possible Super Bowl champions, 292 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 9: and when Parsers went down in Denver, that all changed dramatically. 293 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 9: He has been a huge factor in that passwork, which 294 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 9: was an issue coming in the season. Being dominant, he 295 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 9: has been by far their most disruptive player. Now they 296 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 9: have to find a way to go out and scheme 297 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 9: this of adjust ask lesser players to get more pressure. 298 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 9: The secondary is still good, but my god, this team 299 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 9: has been banged up all over with injuries and now 300 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 9: Michael Parsons is their best defensive player gone. I don't 301 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 9: know how Jeff Hafley is going to be able to 302 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 9: get it done in the same way he has. And 303 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 9: then finally I mentioned Matthew Stafford being an old man. 304 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 9: We'll go to old man Philip Rivers, who is still 305 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 9: alive today. By the way, Judy, he is still walking. 306 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 9: I don't know how sorry he is. But he got 307 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 9: through that game in Seattle. Everybody thought he was going 308 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 9: to die or at least be maimed. He found a 309 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 9: way to go out and play a good football game. 310 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 9: He managed it. He showed savvy for forty four years old. 311 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 9: He was in this game with Seattle puts them in 312 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 9: a position to win the game, leading them on the game, 313 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 9: winning a game a go ahead field goal see okay 314 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 9: back and win the game. But the Colts have to 315 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 9: like what they saw Philip Rivers and Ols haters have 316 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 9: to be sticking. Man, we were really wrong about this guy. 317 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 7: That is right, Philip Rivers was definitely a winner last weekend, 318 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 7: Jeffrey thank you. Read more of his column NFL dot 319 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 7: Com Slash first read Mike week sixteen. 320 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 8: So we got a lot of clinching scenarios. This one 321 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 8: pretty simple. Seattle win and they get in the playoffs, 322 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 8: or a tie or Detroit loss or tie gets the 323 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 8: Seahawks into the postseason. Still in a battle for the 324 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 8: NFC West, which is why they're women out those rivalry 325 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 8: uniforms against the Rams for Thursday Night Football, which Brian 326 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 8: Boldinger is now coming in to talk about, because this 327 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 8: is a huge game in the NFC West. It was 328 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 8: a close one the first time around. Sam Darnold didn't 329 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 8: play particularly well at too many turnovers in that game, 330 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 8: but still a chance at the end of the game. 331 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 8: So you kind of sort of if you're the Seahawks, 332 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 8: take some good away from that. I think as you 333 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 8: head into this matchup here, and what do you do 334 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 8: if you're Seattle? What do you do if they're Rams? 335 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 8: For this rematch? 336 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 4: Baldy Well, I think everybody would be looking at Sam 337 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 4: Darnold to see if he could play a relatively clean game. 338 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 4: He threw the four interceptions in Week eleven and that 339 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 4: lost twenty one to nineteen to the Rams, And to 340 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 4: those interceptions led directly to touchdowns by the Rams very 341 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 4: short fields. One of them they had a three yard 342 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 4: drive for touchdown. So and the fact that defensively they 343 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 4: still stayed in the game and were able to have 344 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 4: a chance to win it at the end is pretty 345 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 4: amazing by itself. But you know, and man on the 346 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 4: other side, Matt Stafford leaves this entire league with touchdown passes. 347 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 4: Thirty seven touchdown passes, fourteen of them to DeVante Adams, 348 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 4: who might not play. The hamstring issue is real, but 349 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 4: twelve of them have gone to a variety of tight ends. 350 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 3: They're a tight end driven team. 351 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 4: You're going to see cookin Dakua on one side, Jackson 352 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 4: Smith and Jigma on the other side. We got games 353 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 4: within the game, but ultimately, Mike, you know, these games 354 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 4: are really one in the trenches. And I really like 355 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 4: the way both teams are constructed and how good they 356 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 4: are in the trenches. 357 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 8: Yeah, two good defenses do really good defensive fronts here. 358 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 8: So when you look at these defenses, give me the 359 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 8: keys for both sides of this game here. 360 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 4: Well, I mean, if you just watched the Rams shut 361 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 4: down Detroit's rushing attack last week, I mean picking guy 362 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 4: Jashawn John Johnson, you know, Byron Young, Jared Verse, Braydon Fist, 363 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 4: I mean they all just stacked and really created a 364 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 4: gauntlet for Jamior Gibbs couldn't find any lanes. 365 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 3: And they do the same thing. 366 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 4: On the other side, Big Cat Williams playing the best 367 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 4: football of his career. But Byron Murphy, Jaron Reid, like, 368 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 4: both these teams are very good, and both teams have 369 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 4: real playmakers. 370 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 3: When you look at. 371 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 4: Devin Witherspoon in Seattle and Nick em and Warie, I mean, 372 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 4: they've got real chest peaches, whether they want to try 373 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 4: to match you up against the tight end or blitz 374 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 4: or a variety of different ways. Mike McDonald uses those 375 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 4: guys and the same thing. Nate Lambman has been a 376 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 4: real revelation and a fine middle linebacker for the Rams 377 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 4: both these teams and intercept and take the ball away. 378 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 4: I would say that Seattle will probably attack the corners 379 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 4: with the Rams. 380 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 3: That's what Detroit did last week. They had some success. 381 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 4: Something to look forward to see if the Rams front 382 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 4: in their rushing can really maybe negate or at least 383 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 4: mitigate some of those passes down the field that Detroit 384 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 4: had last week against the Rams. But every analyst this 385 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 4: is kind of a dream game, you know, So we're 386 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 4: gonna be playing coast attention tomorrow night, Mike. 387 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 3: There should be a lot of fun to break down. 388 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 8: We showed you the Seahawks clenching scenario. The Rams don't 389 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 8: have any clinching scenario because they can't clench the NFC 390 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 8: West even with a win here in this game against Seattle, 391 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,400 Speaker 8: but they would have a hammer lock on the division 392 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 8: at that point. So obviously, a big game for the 393 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 8: Los Angeles ran, the big game for both siys. Baldy, 394 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 8: don't go anywhere you're coming back, because we're talking some 395 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 8: playoff surprises, surprises that are shaping the playoff race. I 396 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 8: should say that is up next with Judy and Baldy 397 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 8: here on the Insiders. 398 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 7: Welcome back to the insiders, presented by Progressive Insurance, and 399 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 7: it's time for good coverage presented by Progressive Insurance. The 400 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 7: Jaguars have six games with three or more takeaways. That 401 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 7: matches a single season franchise record that they said all 402 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 7: the way back in two thousand and seven. Certainly the 403 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 7: Jaguars defense is a big part of their surge to 404 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 7: the top of the AFC South. And speaking of the 405 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 7: AFC playoff picture, here it is and you see the 406 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 7: Jaguars sitting there. They would be the three seed right now, 407 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 7: they're ten and four. Of course they have to hold 408 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 7: off the Houston Texans who are at nine and five. 409 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 7: They are right now in a wild card spot. And 410 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 7: of course the Denver Broncos sitting pretty in the first spot. 411 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 7: Here's the NFC playoff picture. Rams are the one seed 412 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 7: right now. You got the Bears, Eagles, you got the Bucks. 413 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 7: We're going to talk about the Bucks in a second. 414 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 7: They're Seattle, San Francisco. The NFC West is just dominant, 415 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 7: and of course the Packers there. The Lions are on 416 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 7: the outside looking in. Let's welcome back our Brian Baldinger. 417 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 7: Baldi I wrote this week about the surprises from week 418 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 7: fifteen that had sort of shaped the playoff picture as 419 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 7: we come down the home stretcher, and one of the 420 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 7: big ones was Philip Rivers, who looked fine, He did fine. 421 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 7: He had the Colts in position to win. They didn't win. 422 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 7: They desperately need a win. That's why they brought him here. 423 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 7: And actually his performance in Seattle against one of the 424 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 7: toughest defenses in the league showed you why they thought 425 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 7: it was worth bringing a guy in off the retirement 426 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 7: couch five years after he retired. He completed a third 427 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 7: down pass that put them in position to kick that 428 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 7: field goal that tied the game, and of course then 429 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 7: Seattle went down and won the game. But Philip Rivers, 430 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 7: I thought was one of the big surprise, one of 431 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 7: the most pleasant surprises of this week. 432 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 4: Baldy Well when he left the field with under a 433 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 4: minute to go in the game, they had to lead 434 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 4: sixteen to fifteen, and he made a huge play to 435 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 4: Alec Pearson the outside back shoulder fade and I'm sure 436 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 4: you know Alan Pearce wasn't on the team the last 437 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 4: time Philip Rivers was there, and he trusted him. He 438 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 4: made the throw and they got him into the field 439 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 4: goal range. This is the throw right here. He threw 440 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 4: a touchdown pass to Josh Downs on a shallow cross. 441 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 4: He's probably thrown that shallow cross a million times. He 442 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 4: threw a ball in the middle of the field to 443 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 4: ty Warn. He probably thought he reminded him of Antonio 444 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 4: Gates at one point, you know, like probably a flashback, 445 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 4: you know, the way that he can ramble and really 446 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 4: protect the ball, you know, in tight in tight quarters. 447 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 4: But he, you know, he did all the things what 448 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 4: you would expect, Judy. He checked it down, he threw 449 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,360 Speaker 4: the screens, you know, he did a lot of that stuff. 450 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 4: But you know, none of it looked too big for him. 451 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 4: Seattle blitzed him. Seattle hit him. He took his hits. 452 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 4: Maybe the extra weight that he was caring that he 453 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 4: talked about, maybe it helped him absorb some of the 454 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 4: some of the hits that he took. 455 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,360 Speaker 3: But he made good decisions with the football. 456 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 4: And he gave him a great chance to win the 457 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 4: game that was very played, very close to the vest. 458 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 4: And you leave the field sixteen fifteen, you're thinking, maybe, 459 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 4: you know, maybe we can get this Wednesday in a 460 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 4: playoff picture. 461 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 7: Right now, right their playoff hopes in Indianapolis are hanging 462 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 7: by a thread. But we will see Philip Rivers again 463 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 7: this week, all right. My second big surprise is that 464 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 7: the AFC East might still have to go through Buffalo 465 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 7: after all, after they had the huge comeback victory on 466 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 7: the New England Patriots. I was really surprised that the 467 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 7: New England Patriots could not hold off the Buffalo Bills. 468 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 7: When they came roaring out to that twenty one nothing start, 469 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 7: you thought, wow, this is a blowout. 470 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 2: They really are. 471 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 7: As good as their record looks, and then they went 472 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 7: completely silent. The Bills scored on scored touchdowns on five 473 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 7: straight drives. The Patriots offense went quiet, Drake May went quiet. 474 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 7: He had a very quiet game. I was surprised, and 475 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 7: maybe we shouldn't have been, because the question about the 476 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,199 Speaker 7: New England Patriots all year, even as they rolled up 477 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 7: this great record and Drake May made himself an MVP candidate, 478 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 7: was the caliber of the competition. They had the easiest 479 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 7: strength of schedule in the league, and so the question 480 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 7: was as it came down to crunch time when they 481 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 7: had to face an elite team, how would they fare. 482 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 7: That answer is still not known. This was certainly not 483 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 7: a good indication. We're going to see how they do 484 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 7: in the next few weeks and certainly when they get 485 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 7: into the playoffs. I still think the Patriots and the 486 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 7: Bills will both be in the playoffs. But that I 487 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 7: thought was a warning shot by the Buffalo Bills to 488 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 7: the Patriots and everybody else in the potential AFC field 489 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 7: that they are a potential championship caliber team. 490 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 3: Well, especially Judy. 491 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 4: When the Bills spot to Patriots twenty one points, you know, 492 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 4: fifteen twenty minutes into the game, and they make this comeback, 493 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 4: and so you know, Josh Allen was Josh Allen. But 494 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 4: I thought the offensive line got healthy up front for Buffalo. 495 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 4: One of the strengths of this new England defense has 496 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 4: been the run defense. In James Cook twelve yard straight 497 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 4: up to middle right there, Judy like, they just pierced 498 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 4: them and punctured them, and then you know, when Josh 499 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 4: got outside the pocket, he found his tight ends where 500 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 4: it was Dawson Knock, whether it was Dalton Kincaid, that's 501 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 4: tight coverage right there. But a good pass beat the 502 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 4: tough coverage, And I thought, and this hasn't happened to 503 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 4: the Patriots. But I and I think Mike Grabell, if 504 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 4: he was on with us right now, he would agree 505 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 4: with me. I thought they got pushed around pretty good 506 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 4: by the guys up front. I thought Cyborg and Darryl 507 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 4: Dawkien Deon Dawkins, I thought the guys up front pushed 508 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 4: him around pretty good, won the line of scrimmage, and 509 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 4: that was a big part of the comeback by the 510 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 4: Buffalo Bills. 511 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 7: All Right, My next surprise that has shaped the playoff 512 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 7: field is the Bucks collapse from how they started the season. 513 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 7: They were running away with the NFC South. They have 514 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 7: had a lot of injuries and that explained quite a 515 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 7: few losses in the middle of the season. But in 516 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 7: the last two weeks they have lost to the Saints 517 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 7: and the Falcons back to back, both teams that they 518 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 7: are much better, that they have much better talent than 519 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 7: those two teams, and especially losing to the Falcons, who 520 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,919 Speaker 7: had already been eliminated. The game was played in Tampa 521 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 7: and they had Mike Evans back on. Mike Evan had 522 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 7: a terrific game his first game back from injury, and 523 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 7: they blew a fourteen point lead. So that was a 524 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 7: particularly disheartening loss. What's going to bail the Bucks out 525 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 7: is the Carolina Panthers, who have been coming on strong. 526 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 7: They lost to the Saints last week, so the Panthers 527 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 7: blew a golden opportunity to seize control of the NFC South. 528 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:22,959 Speaker 7: These two teams have to play each other twice in 529 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 7: the final three weeks of the season, so the NFC 530 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 7: South is going to be decided on the field. But man, 531 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,199 Speaker 7: the Bucks had a chance all season to salt this 532 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 7: one away. 533 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 4: Well, we all heard TDD Bowles's rant after that game 534 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 4: public rant, and I don't know exactly who it was 535 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 4: directed to, but he might even look in the mirror, 536 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 4: because defensively, they've been a mess. I mean, did he 537 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 4: cover Kyle Pitts at all during the game? Did anybody 538 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,879 Speaker 4: cover Kyle Pitts? He had a career game last week, 539 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 4: and they have not been able to take away key weapons. 540 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 4: The week before, Tyler Shuck looked fantastic against him. They 541 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 4: have been giving up explosive plays in the blitz game 542 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 4: that the Bucks kind of lean on Judy. It really 543 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 4: has not. It really hasn't affected other teams very much. 544 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 4: And so while they got the offensive skilled guys back 545 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 4: right now, You've got to hope that that offense in 546 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 4: Baker Mayfield comes together because I don't believe in the 547 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:20,120 Speaker 4: defense right now on that side of the ball. 548 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 7: And finally, this was the biggest shock of the weekend 549 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 7: for me, a no show by the Bengals offense, in 550 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 7: particular when they still had their playoff hopes on the line. 551 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 7: They were shut out by the Baltimore Ravens. First time 552 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 7: a Joe Burrow team has been shut out in the NFL. 553 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 7: That was a stunner for me. This team has too 554 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 7: much offensive talent to be getting shut out under any circumstances, 555 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,880 Speaker 7: but especially when they were still alive in the playoff picture. Yes, 556 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 7: their chances were slim, but for them to really no 557 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 7: show at home in a game with playoff implications, that 558 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:55,919 Speaker 7: was a shocker. 559 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 3: Baldi, it was. 560 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 4: But then you go back and you watch it, Judy, 561 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 4: and you go, okay, we had eight false starts by 562 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 4: the offense. I mean, it's embarrassing how they played. You know, 563 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 4: this is a very veteran team across the board. Eight 564 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 4: false starts and I mean Joe wasn't good. He'll tell 565 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 4: you he wasn't good. That he wouldn't have won a 566 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 4: game on any team the way that he played. But 567 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 4: I thought upfront they were bad, And then I thought Baltimore, 568 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 4: who had struggled offensively throughout much of this malaise that 569 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 4: Lamar Jackson and the offensive been in, they got it together. 570 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 4: So no phase of this game was good. They still 571 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 4: had an outside chance looking in, but even with the 572 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 4: slim chance of a playoff Berth available possible, they played 573 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 4: the worst game that they played all season. 574 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 7: Awful out of off season work to do for the 575 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 7: Cincinnati Bengals. Baldi, thank you very much, Tom, Thank you Judy. 576 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: Nine teams can clinch playoff spots this week. That includes 577 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,719 Speaker 1: the Patriots, Eagles, forty nine, Ers, and Seahawks who are 578 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: all win and in another five teams can clinch their 579 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:59,400 Speaker 1: spots in the fourteen team field with a win plus 580 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: a little bit of help. Bills, Jaguars, Chargers, Bears, and 581 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: Packers all in that category. I mean, while the Broncos 582 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 1: with a win and a lot of help could clinch 583 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: the number one seed in the AFC this week, as 584 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: we welcome back our Mark Ross to the conversation. But 585 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: I was talking about those games on Saturday starting now 586 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 1: with the Eagles and the Commanders. Philly turned in one 587 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: of its best games against maybe the worst team in 588 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 1: the entire NFL. What's the key to them wrapping up 589 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 1: that NFC East title this week against Washington. 590 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 5: Nothing like the Raiders to cure all the Ills and 591 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:33,159 Speaker 5: Eagles that you have as a team. But now we 592 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 5: got part two here with Washington, who the Eagles to 593 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 5: just take care of business Tom and then you know, 594 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 5: gaining some confidence is about the win this game. But 595 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 5: this is really about two games against Washington. Of course 596 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 5: they played Buffalo as well. It's about them gaining confidence 597 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 5: as an offense. We've talked about it all year long 598 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 5: and it's still they're not out of it. And if 599 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 5: they're gaining confidence with beating these bad teams, that's okay 600 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 5: for getting into the playoffs. We've seen the defense be 601 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 5: able to hang in and dot and eight games, so 602 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 5: I'm not worried about them at all. So really for 603 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 5: the Eagles, they'll take care of business against Washington. It's 604 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 5: about taking care of business, about can we get that 605 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 5: confidence in our offense for the playoffs. 606 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: We also have a Packers Bears rematch thirteen days after 607 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: the first one which Chicago Mark was right in that game, 608 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: just couldn't close it out. What is it going to 609 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: take for the Bears this time to at least even 610 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: the score in the most played rivalry in the NFL. 611 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, heavyweight matchup, and we saw it. I thought at 612 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 5: that time they would split, you know, do the home 613 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 5: and home, and I'll probably go with that again. Now 614 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 5: stick with that just because of the Chicago play at home, 615 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 5: but also all the injuries that the Packers suffered last 616 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 5: week that we've talked about earlier on the show. And 617 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 5: with the Bears, I mean, they played their style, They 618 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 5: create the turnovers and they run the ball and Caleb 619 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 5: Williams keeps continuing to show that he can be spectacular 620 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 5: and make spectacular plays to go along with the consistency 621 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 5: that he's had. And for Chicago, you know, the turnover 622 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 5: we keep talking about, that's a skill, that's a gift 623 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 5: that they have that each week could say, well, maybe 624 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 5: it's not sustainable, but whatever they do, how they play, 625 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 5: that's really key. So to me, this is the this 626 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 5: game is the division winner there, but tough road because 627 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 5: they have at San Francisco and then they played Detroit 628 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 5: at home, which I think they'll win. So I think 629 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 5: they are set up very well to win this game, 630 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 5: just because they have their identity and they keep getting better. 631 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 2: Tone there you go, Snoops. 632 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 8: How they have time party? Spend Christmas with Snoop? That 633 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 8: is halftime of the Vikings Lions game on Netflix on 634 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 8: Christmas Day, Beyonce. Last year, our guy Snoop This year, 635 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 8: next year, at least in this league, he's in one 636 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 8: hundred of them. But that next year is where Michael 637 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 8: f Florio will be looking after Marcus Grant took him 638 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 8: down tough one there, one sixty six, one twelve, as 639 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 8: our control room said during the break, and Michael Lef 640 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 8: didn't like it too much, not particularly close. You know what, 641 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 8: Michael Lef, I'm with you, man. Nobody should be just 642 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 8: like knocking on other people's fantasy team. If you want 643 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 8: to tell us all year long that we don't care 644 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 8: about your fantasy team, you then can't comment on how 645 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 8: badly we lost in the postseason. I didn't lose, Thank you. 646 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 8: With your help, I continue to remain alive semifinals. So 647 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 8: I'm gonna be looking at what the advice you've got 648 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 8: for the waiver wire here, because I still may have 649 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 8: to go to the waiver wire to make some tweaks here. 650 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 8: Let's start with a quarterback that we're looking at on 651 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 8: the waiver wire, which is a position I may need. 652 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 10: I got Trevor Lawrence against Marcus and there was no 653 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 10: coming back from that. 654 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 8: Forty five point burger. 655 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 10: But look, Mike, you have Jacoby Brissett and he's out there. 656 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 10: I think he's the top AD. But if not, what 657 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 10: about Bryce Young who has been running more as of late, 658 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 10: which helps make him a more consistent fantasy option. 659 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 8: But this is all about the matchup, right. 660 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 10: The Bucks are top three in passing yards and touchdowns 661 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 10: allowed a quarterback since Week ten. 662 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 8: Every QB to face them. 663 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 10: In that span has topped eighteen fantasy points, including Tyler 664 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 10: Schuck and Kirk Cousins the last two weeks, and Young 665 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 10: went for multiple touchdowns in both games against the defense 666 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 10: last season. He is by Patrick mahomes replacement in a league. 667 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,240 Speaker 10: So yeah, let's go price Young this week. But I 668 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 10: do think because of the matchup, he's in play because 669 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 10: he's running and he's got a great matchup. 670 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 8: The beauty of being in the playoffs is you probably 671 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 8: were lower on the waiver wire in priority order, and 672 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 8: now all those teams are out of it unless they're 673 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 8: claiming people for the Constellation bracket, which should be immediate 674 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 8: ejection from the league running back position. Michae left Michael Carter. 675 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 10: Because he's kind of the last man standing in Arizona. 676 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 10: They shut down Trey Benson for the year. Bam Knight 677 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 10: is also done for the year, and last week Carter 678 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 10: played nearly eighty percent of the snaps. He had fourteen 679 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 10: cangories will no other running back had more than two, 680 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 10: and his four targets was third, a distant third, but 681 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 10: still third on the team. 682 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 2: And now the. 683 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 10: Falcons are in the middle of the pack matchup and 684 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 10: the Cardinals. I understand they changed their running back usage 685 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 10: unexpectedly at times this season, so he's not a must start, 686 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 10: but he is certainly a streamer or an injury replacement. 687 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 10: And there's a lot of running backs rooms dealing with 688 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 10: injuries this week. But for me, Michael Carter is the 689 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 10: top of the list, and I am prioritizing him on 690 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:11,479 Speaker 10: the waiver wire in a number of leagues myself. 691 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 8: Tonight to the wide receiver position we go, which, by 692 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 8: the way, I meant to ask you about Rushie Rice. 693 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 8: We're a little worried now, know Patrick Mahomes were gonna 694 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 8: have to talk about that. 695 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 3: You and I. 696 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 8: But the waiver wire for somebody who is in desperate 697 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 8: need of a wide receiver. 698 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 10: Look, I think Jaden Reid is your play. With Christian 699 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 10: Watson leaving early last week. I know they're saying he's 700 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 10: up in the air for this week, but we saw 701 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 10: Reid lead the way with six targets, five catches and 702 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 10: fifty five yards last week. 703 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 8: He was playing over Matthew Golden. 704 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 10: And I've always liked Jayden Reid because he is the 705 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:44,640 Speaker 10: kind of receiver you generate touches for and we have 706 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 10: really seen him flash high upside in the past. It's 707 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:51,720 Speaker 10: just the usage hasn't been consistent with these Packers wide receivers. 708 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 10: But this week he gets a favorable matchup that Jordan 709 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 10: Love has. 710 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 8: Had success in. 711 00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 10: So while I do think like if Matthew Golden Romeo 712 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 10: Dobbs are out there deeper leagues, they are also in play. 713 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 8: I just prefer Jayden Reid of the bunch all right 714 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 8: tight end position where I don't need help against Tredy McBride. 715 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:10,560 Speaker 8: My goodness, what a selection that was Remember last year 716 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 8: he wasn't scoring touchdowns. That's funny. Tight end position. 717 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 10: Trey McBride is ninety three more points than the tight 718 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 10: end two this season. 719 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 8: It's insane. 720 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 10: But if you need one, the big fella Darren Waller, 721 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 10: who look we saw Monday night him doing what he 722 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:29,560 Speaker 10: does best, scoring touchdowns. He is the clear cut, top 723 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 10: red and end zone option for the Dolphins and he 724 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 10: has become a favorite of Tua and I would expect 725 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 10: he remains highly involved regardless of who was playing quarterback 726 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:41,840 Speaker 10: for the Dolphins. But he gets the Bengals who have 727 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,840 Speaker 10: not only allowed by far the most in every category 728 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 10: to tight ends, catches, yards, touchdowns and fantasy points, they've 729 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 10: allowed fifteen touchdowns that is five more than any other team. 730 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 10: And you stream Darren Waller four touchdowns. So this is 731 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 10: the absolute best situation for him. But if you miss 732 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 10: out on him, there's Kolbe Parkinson, who I like. There's 733 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 10: a lot of good streaming quarterbacks. And then, like I 734 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:07,960 Speaker 10: was saying, there's some injury with running backs, so you 735 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,719 Speaker 10: can go grab replacements out there. Not the deepest receiver week, 736 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 10: but everywhere else could get streamers that you could grab 737 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 10: from the waiver wire and put directly into your starting 738 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 10: line up. 739 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 8: There you go, take a look at some of those 740 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:21,160 Speaker 8: possibilities out there. Although I hope what he Marx does 741 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 8: not open the door for Jordan. There we shall see, 742 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:26,200 Speaker 8: because I've got Whatddy Marx. It's all about me, Michael Floio. 743 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 8: Thank you very much, Pal. We're back on Thursday with 744 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 8: who to start and who to sit when you pick 745 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:31,279 Speaker 8: these guys up off the waiver wire. 746 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 1: Now, this is a prime matchup on Thursday Night. Matthew 747 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 1: Stafford and the Rams, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks so 748 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:44,279 Speaker 1: much at stake in the wild wild NFC West. Don't 749 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 1: overlook the forty nine ers who were hanging in there 750 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:48,880 Speaker 1: as well. At ten and four, they're already four to 751 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,680 Speaker 1: one in the division. But this is it right here, 752 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:55,120 Speaker 1: Rams and Seahawks. Winner of this game is going to 753 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 1: be in sole possession of the NFC West lead with 754 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 1: two weeks to go. Let's welcome in Sam Schwartstein, Prime 755 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:05,640 Speaker 1: Video and Thursday Night Football's analytics expert to his next 756 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: gen stats to help us break down what might be. 757 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:11,800 Speaker 1: I keep saying that Sam, the best Thursday Night football 758 00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:15,120 Speaker 1: game that we've ever had. The quarterbacks, course, are a 759 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 1: big part of this here, not just a chance for 760 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: the Rams to take the division lead, but also for 761 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:23,360 Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford maybe to stamp his MVP case. What do 762 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:25,719 Speaker 1: you see from him and what he's done so far 763 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: this season. 764 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,160 Speaker 11: Yeah, Matt Stafford thirty seven years old, he's kicking an 765 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 11: old school He's running a lot of under center, a 766 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 11: lot of in rhythm, throwing between two and a half 767 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 11: and four seconds on time to throw, and he's doing 768 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,520 Speaker 11: it without scrambling, only a point seven percent scramble run rate. 769 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:43,759 Speaker 11: That's led him to third and EPA per dropback Now 770 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:47,719 Speaker 11: why is this important? Epper drawback measures how much or 771 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:50,840 Speaker 11: how you're helping or hurting your team's chance of scoring 772 00:36:51,239 --> 00:36:53,960 Speaker 11: on per dropback basis. And so he's third in the 773 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 11: NFL right now. But when you watch the games, you 774 00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:00,120 Speaker 11: see that he has complete control of this offense, what 775 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,720 Speaker 11: he's able to do, and he is a total finder 776 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:05,760 Speaker 11: boy type quarterback. Hit the field and play over forty 777 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 11: one percent target rated Pukinakua Devanta Adams likely not going 778 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 11: to play, but in the red zone he was going 779 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 11: to DeVonta Adams thirty seven percent of the time. But 780 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 11: now you can see that guy Kolby Parkinson, he gets 781 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:17,839 Speaker 11: the ball over fifty percent of the time when they're 782 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 11: on the red zone. So Stafford is doing so good 783 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:24,120 Speaker 11: within the personnel groupings that they have, within the personnel 784 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 11: that he's leveraging, and he's doing it from an old 785 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 11: school under center point of view. 786 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:30,879 Speaker 1: Jemmy Vay used to be a find your boy type 787 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:33,880 Speaker 1: of offensive mind. Nobody ran more eleven personnel than he 788 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,359 Speaker 1: did in his first season. His key players never came 789 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:39,319 Speaker 1: off the field. We've seen a shift Sam through the 790 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,319 Speaker 1: course of the season. How did that start and how 791 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:43,600 Speaker 1: does that factor into this matchup against the Seahawks. 792 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:45,839 Speaker 11: Yeah, we've seen the transition from eleven as maybe their 793 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:49,320 Speaker 11: base personnel grouping to thirteen personnel, which is three tight. 794 00:37:49,239 --> 00:37:49,920 Speaker 3: Ends of the field. 795 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 11: And why that happened was Pookin Accoua got injured in 796 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:56,680 Speaker 11: Week five and that led Sean McVay to be more creative. 797 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 11: And then even since Week five, the week eight bye week, 798 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,600 Speaker 11: they totally revamped their offense. Now, this is a big 799 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 11: conversation coming into against their matchup against the Seattle Seahawks 800 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 11: in Week eleven. They actually did not use thirteen personnel 801 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:12,360 Speaker 11: all that much. Ten plays in the first quarter and 802 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 11: then about six plays the rest of the game. Now, 803 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:18,279 Speaker 11: why is this so important is with DeVonta Adams likely out, 804 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:22,120 Speaker 11: their answer might be to go into this thirteen personnel grouping. 805 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:24,160 Speaker 11: And one they allowed to do is Kolee Parkinson to 806 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 11: split out? Why Ferguson to split out? Why be the 807 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:27,080 Speaker 11: wide receiver? 808 00:38:27,200 --> 00:38:28,080 Speaker 9: But also a. 809 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:31,400 Speaker 11: Heavy run team. Now this is a big part of 810 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:33,560 Speaker 11: what they want. I think this is important. When they're 811 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:36,560 Speaker 11: in thirteen personnel, there's a sixty four percent chance the 812 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:39,120 Speaker 11: next play is in thirteen personnel. He might have been 813 00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:42,920 Speaker 11: a finder boy coach Sean McVay. Now he's a hotthand coach. 814 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:45,640 Speaker 1: Flip side of things, cleaning Kubiaks done an excellent job 815 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:48,920 Speaker 1: so far this season with that Seahawks offense, Jackson Smith 816 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 1: and Jig but certainly is a good guy to have 817 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:53,719 Speaker 1: on your side if you're making the argument for JSN 818 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: not just as a Pro bowlers here, but as the 819 00:38:56,280 --> 00:38:58,040 Speaker 1: best receiver in the NFL this season. 820 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:00,880 Speaker 2: What's the stat you use to that case. 821 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 11: Yeah, earlier in the year, in when I was doing 822 00:39:02,680 --> 00:39:05,080 Speaker 11: some hot takesmanship, I said JSA might be the best 823 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:06,879 Speaker 11: wide receive in the NFL. I don't know if that's 824 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:09,759 Speaker 11: lucky or good for me scouting, but it's mostly yards 825 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:12,400 Speaker 11: per route run, which is a consistent metric that we 826 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,319 Speaker 11: can track you over year, that doesn't account for some 827 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:18,160 Speaker 11: random acts like fumbles, and he leads the NFL to 828 00:39:18,239 --> 00:39:20,279 Speaker 11: four point zero yards per route run. This would be 829 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:23,919 Speaker 11: the highest in the NGS era. Remember when Tyreek Hill 830 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:27,440 Speaker 11: was getting the buzz to be the MVP. Well, this 831 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:30,320 Speaker 11: is better than that season. And it's what his ability 832 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,880 Speaker 11: to do from inside and outside. Last year he was 833 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:35,840 Speaker 11: mostly a slot player. This year he's mostly on outside 834 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:38,879 Speaker 11: wide receiver. He's forty six percent of the air yard 835 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:42,359 Speaker 11: chare for the Seahawks. I mean, he is the go 836 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:44,480 Speaker 11: to guy, whether it's deep or shallow. 837 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:48,160 Speaker 1: You can watch Sam every week on tnf's Prime Vasion 838 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:51,440 Speaker 1: with Next Gen Stats, Alternate stream. Thursday's coverage rams Seahawks 839 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:54,200 Speaker 1: on Prime Video and NFL Plus begins at seven pm 840 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:56,640 Speaker 1: Eastern time. Fun fact, Sam will also take off that 841 00:39:56,719 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 1: jacket and go deliver some Christmas presents right now. Sam, Thanks, 842 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,840 Speaker 1: thank you very much. You go right now and vote 843 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:06,719 Speaker 1: for the Pepsi zero sugar Rookie of the Week. Take 844 00:40:06,719 --> 00:40:09,799 Speaker 1: a look at some of the nominees. Tyler Schuck breaking through, 845 00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:12,640 Speaker 1: James Pears Junior has really come on NFL dot com 846 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:17,680 Speaker 1: Slash Rookies, go vote now. Big news from the rams 847 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:21,640 Speaker 1: they have delivered Christian Alexander McVeagh presumably wasn't them were 848 00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:25,120 Speaker 1: like the mascot. Congrats to Sean and Veronica on the 849 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:29,120 Speaker 1: birth of their second child. Welcome back to the Insiders. 850 00:40:29,120 --> 00:40:31,800 Speaker 1: It's Tom, it's Judy, it's Mike. You got the advice, 851 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:34,960 Speaker 1: Mike for a second child or maybe how to properly 852 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:36,880 Speaker 1: install a home furnishing. 853 00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:39,279 Speaker 8: Yeah, we took his mind. Worry smokepector's fixed. Thanks for 854 00:40:39,320 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 8: bearing with us. As for Sean, two kids, as I 855 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:45,359 Speaker 8: tell people all the time, that's funny. Not twice as 856 00:40:45,400 --> 00:40:49,040 Speaker 8: hard ten times is hard. It's fine. What's that mean? 857 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:50,160 Speaker 8: Everything's fine. 858 00:40:50,719 --> 00:40:52,839 Speaker 1: That's also how Mike fields. This is when the two 859 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:55,280 Speaker 1: old kids are in the room day to marrowon