1
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:11,120
Speaker 1: The Around the League Podcast. Son, Welcome to another edition

2
00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,480
Speaker 1: of the Around the League Podcast. I am not Dan

3
00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,680
Speaker 1: Hansis he is back with his family. I'm Greg Rosenthal

4
00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,000
Speaker 1: along here with a room full of heroes, Chris Westling,

5
00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,759
Speaker 1: Mark Sessler, and Zach the gold standard behind the glass.

6
00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,000
Speaker 1: I'm not seeing what up boys, I'm not gonna do it.

7
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,120
Speaker 1: Hey are you Gregg? I'm doing well. How Merry Christmas?

8
00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,640
Speaker 1: How how is your Christmas? Mark? It was great. Had

9
00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,400
Speaker 1: a day at home with the family, very relaxing. I

10
00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,720
Speaker 1: know that Wesley was pounding away at the post that day.

11
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,080
Speaker 1: I was a little work, a little reading. You went

12
00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,159
Speaker 1: to the pool and your pool Red Johnny Carson biography.

13
00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,800
Speaker 1: That was It was a nice Christmas. I like Christmas.

14
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,559
Speaker 1: You know, I missed the first time. I wasn't with

15
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,840
Speaker 1: my family back in Massachusetts. But no traveling. We went

16
00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,440
Speaker 1: to the beach, We grilled. I don't know, I don't

17
00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,280
Speaker 1: know if I can go back to the old Christmas.

18
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:06,240
Speaker 1: It was. It was outstanding, And you know, now we're relaxed,

19
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,759
Speaker 1: we're focused. We were back in the office on Thursday.

20
00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,560
Speaker 1: We've got a big week of games. Mark and I

21
00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,759
Speaker 1: and Chris we were just talking about how last year

22
00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:18,040
Speaker 1: Week seventeen didn't have nearly the drama that this one did.

23
00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,119
Speaker 1: And let's start where all the drama was happening. On

24
00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:26,960
Speaker 1: Friday morning, the Dallas Cowboys announced that Tony Romo underwent

25
00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,080
Speaker 1: back surgery on Friday morning. He is out. He is

26
00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,600
Speaker 1: going to injured reserve. No more drama there. Kyle Orton

27
00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,400
Speaker 1: will start. Chris Westling, you just have a little gut

28
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,199
Speaker 1: feeling that maybe, just maybe that's not the worst news

29
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,320
Speaker 1: in the world for Dez Bryant. Yeah. I'm not saying

30
00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,440
Speaker 1: Kyle Orton is better than Tony Romo, but Romo has

31
00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,120
Speaker 1: a tendency to ignore Doz Bryant when he's covered, not

32
00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,680
Speaker 1: believe in his catch radius, his ability to come down

33
00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,920
Speaker 1: in traffic with the ball. I could see Kyle Orton

34
00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,240
Speaker 1: just slinging it around the field, losing the inhibition that

35
00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,600
Speaker 1: Romo had, And maybe does Bryant just goes off. Carrie

36
00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:09,240
Speaker 1: Williams cannot handle him, doesn't this team number one? Is

37
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,800
Speaker 1: it surprising at all that Romo isn't playing? Do we

38
00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:13,680
Speaker 1: ever think he was going to play this game? No?

39
00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,160
Speaker 1: They were just keeping the one thing I was surprised

40
00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,440
Speaker 1: about the timing of the surgery. We thought maybe we

41
00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,080
Speaker 1: wouldn't know the answer whether Romo was playing for sure

42
00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,400
Speaker 1: until Sunday. Now it's Friday, we know it's Orton time. Baby.

43
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,000
Speaker 1: With that in mind, I assume the Cowboys coaches knew

44
00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,840
Speaker 1: the same. You've got a game plan to win a

45
00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,239
Speaker 1: shootout here. I think, because Philly's offense looks as good

46
00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,959
Speaker 1: as it has all season, they're gonna go put forty

47
00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,560
Speaker 1: points on the board. Of course they are. I think

48
00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,520
Speaker 1: the I think the over under for them their points

49
00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:47,040
Speaker 1: is about forty five. Jerry Jones had some comments this

50
00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,160
Speaker 1: week that, look, this is why they signed Kyle Orton.

51
00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,400
Speaker 1: They gave him a five million dollar signing bonus or

52
00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,320
Speaker 1: and is enjoyed being a backup and getting paid very

53
00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,040
Speaker 1: well for the last couple of years. So this is

54
00:02:58,080 --> 00:02:59,440
Speaker 1: what they pay him for. And I agree. I think

55
00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,800
Speaker 1: Gordon's probably one of the five or six best backups

56
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,600
Speaker 1: in the league. But Jerry Jones had some other comments

57
00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,080
Speaker 1: that slipped under the radar, and they were about the

58
00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,600
Speaker 1: defensive system, and he says, we believe in this defensive

59
00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,880
Speaker 1: system more than ever. This is the system we want

60
00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,200
Speaker 1: to continue to run in the future. Isn't that the

61
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,440
Speaker 1: definition of insanity? I don't know what it is. What

62
00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,040
Speaker 1: it is to me is that that you can't take

63
00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,080
Speaker 1: these comments seriously, any of them, I guess, because when

64
00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:33,760
Speaker 1: you say that, it's one of the biggest collapses, mistakes, problems,

65
00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,920
Speaker 1: whatever you want to call the Cowboys defense in that system.

66
00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,600
Speaker 1: It's one of the biggest stories in the NFL this year.

67
00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,160
Speaker 1: How bad it's been. Yeah, I agree, And I think

68
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,400
Speaker 1: anyone who's read Billy Lynn's long halftime walk who knows

69
00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,480
Speaker 1: that Jerry Jones number one to three and four priority

70
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,280
Speaker 1: is selling the Cowboys brand, that's all he cares about. Well,

71
00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:00,960
Speaker 1: that is a fictional buck. It's based on Jerry Junes.

72
00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,920
Speaker 1: It is a fictional buck. I mean, it's a great book.

73
00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:05,920
Speaker 1: By the way, if you're looking for a Christmas gift,

74
00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:10,600
Speaker 1: a little late wonderful, that's the only you know this.

75
00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,120
Speaker 1: They have kept the narrative and that this is on

76
00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,960
Speaker 1: the media too, and it's on everyone. It's it's Romo

77
00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,040
Speaker 1: to Orton, it's all quarterback talk. But I can't in this.

78
00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:20,720
Speaker 1: We've been saying this for weeks. I look at this

79
00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,719
Speaker 1: team holistically, I look at their defense. I cannot give

80
00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,359
Speaker 1: them a chance to do anything of importance. And Jones,

81
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,760
Speaker 1: who already admitted that firing Rob Bryan was a mistake,

82
00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,120
Speaker 1: so he's already admitted that he they could have done

83
00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,240
Speaker 1: better than they've done this season. It's all talk from him.

84
00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,600
Speaker 1: Come on, and what's getting overlooked because we're focusing on

85
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,800
Speaker 1: the Cowboys is how great this Eagles offense has been

86
00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,600
Speaker 1: on balance. Nick Foles right now has the fifth highest

87
00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,440
Speaker 1: yards per tempt average since any of any quarterback since.

88
00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,640
Speaker 1: Number one on that list is Kurt Warner. Two of

89
00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:57,640
Speaker 1: the other players above him on that list he could

90
00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,000
Speaker 1: pass with the Big Game this week, it's Aaron Rodgers

91
00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,200
Speaker 1: in Peyton Manning, both in seasons that they won the

92
00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,960
Speaker 1: m v P. I mean, just by the numbers folds outrageous.

93
00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,920
Speaker 1: Number two on this list was shocking to me. Chris Chandler.

94
00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,880
Speaker 1: So this is such a great, big play offense. And

95
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,479
Speaker 1: the one game where they didn't, they really didn't look

96
00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,160
Speaker 1: like themselves all year was against the Cowboys. Now, Sean

97
00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,280
Speaker 1: Lee was healthy back then, Justin Durant was around well.

98
00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,120
Speaker 1: Foles had a concussion in that game too, right he

99
00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,160
Speaker 1: also was limping around with a groin injury. But they

100
00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,200
Speaker 1: had some track record that maybe they could they we'll

101
00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,640
Speaker 1: see a completely different game than that, And honestly, I

102
00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,919
Speaker 1: like this game reminds me of what they had to

103
00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:42,880
Speaker 1: deal with with the Bears, which is an offense that

104
00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,560
Speaker 1: can be frisky, score points on you. But talk about

105
00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,800
Speaker 1: a good set up for Philly's offense again. So we

106
00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,320
Speaker 1: all think that Eagles are gonna win. We all picked

107
00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,360
Speaker 1: them to win. If they win on Sunday Night, they

108
00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,880
Speaker 1: will be the three seed in the NFC for sure,

109
00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,760
Speaker 1: move on to the playoffs. I think it's gonna happen.

110
00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,400
Speaker 1: Let's go talk about the other do or die game,

111
00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,040
Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers Chicago Bears. I wish this game was

112
00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,880
Speaker 1: Sunday night. Aaron Rodgers back in the mix. We haven't

113
00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,360
Speaker 1: had a podcast since that happened. Wesleyan, what is your

114
00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,719
Speaker 1: take on Aaron Rodgers return to line up in Chicago?

115
00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,360
Speaker 1: I couldn't be more fired up about this. I love

116
00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,560
Speaker 1: watching great quarterbacks. Who wants to watch Matt Flynn not

117
00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,480
Speaker 1: Mark Sessler. Aaron Rodgers makes his whole team better. You've

118
00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,359
Speaker 1: got Randall Cobb probably coming back. Jordy Nelson had seven

119
00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,360
Speaker 1: touchdowns with Aaron Rodgers and one with the triumvirate of

120
00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,960
Speaker 1: Seneca Wallace, Scott Toolsen and Matt Flynn. This whole offense

121
00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,920
Speaker 1: is gonna get better. Eddie Lacy faced seven or more

122
00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,359
Speaker 1: men in the box of his carries with Aaron Rodgers

123
00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,520
Speaker 1: and on fifty of his carries with the other quarters.

124
00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,280
Speaker 1: This is a big difference. The Packers defense was on

125
00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,400
Speaker 1: the field five minutes longer with the other quarterbacks than

126
00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,440
Speaker 1: they were with Rogers. He makes the whole team better,

127
00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,279
Speaker 1: and you could argue that Chicago wouldn't be in this

128
00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,120
Speaker 1: same situation they are if Rogers hadn't got hurt early

129
00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,640
Speaker 1: in that game against the Bears. The first time incomes

130
00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,000
Speaker 1: Shay McClellan decides they have the best game in his

131
00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:12,880
Speaker 1: career and take Rodgers out. Is the only game he's

132
00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,400
Speaker 1: shown up for two years. I don't really count that

133
00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,320
Speaker 1: as a Chicago win over Green Bay in the in

134
00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,880
Speaker 1: the traditional sense because of how that went down. I

135
00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,320
Speaker 1: agree with West this is look at you want your

136
00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,400
Speaker 1: best players on the field, especially if this is for

137
00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,239
Speaker 1: the playoffs. The idea of a Flynn led team getting

138
00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,280
Speaker 1: into the postseason was to me disgusting. It's not just

139
00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,200
Speaker 1: because of him, because I don't see this as a

140
00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:39,240
Speaker 1: great football team, but Rogers changes everything. The question though

141
00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,520
Speaker 1: you had again, this you have you can't just ignore

142
00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,720
Speaker 1: what's happening on the defensive side of the ball. They've

143
00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,600
Speaker 1: given up twenty plus points in a flood of games. Rogers,

144
00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,240
Speaker 1: he does change, you know, the landscape in Green Bay.

145
00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,320
Speaker 1: But this isn't a great football team. I think that

146
00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:57,080
Speaker 1: the NFC's answer to the Broncos. I think they have

147
00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,080
Speaker 1: that kind of offense. With Jared boy Can emerge and

148
00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,720
Speaker 1: Cobb coming back, they have that potential. Lacy is probably

149
00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,240
Speaker 1: better than Marino, and Starts is playing really well as

150
00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,600
Speaker 1: the backup. They have a lot going on offense, but

151
00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,000
Speaker 1: their defense is injured. They give up a lot of

152
00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,600
Speaker 1: They've given up twenty points at least in nine straight games.

153
00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,360
Speaker 1: Do you expect Rogers now He's He's done a lot

154
00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,120
Speaker 1: of individual practicing. He's just started to mesh with the

155
00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,200
Speaker 1: first team last week or two tops. Do you expect

156
00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,440
Speaker 1: him to come in and be lights out mid season form? No, rust,

157
00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,440
Speaker 1: He's been practicing for a couple of weeks, so I

158
00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,440
Speaker 1: do expect him to be effective, And the biggest reason

159
00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,679
Speaker 1: is his opponent, this Chicago team It's not just that

160
00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,360
Speaker 1: their defense is bad. Their their offense is very good.

161
00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:39,760
Speaker 1: Their defense is bad. They're not a good team. They

162
00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,560
Speaker 1: were three and oh now they're eight and seven, So

163
00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,240
Speaker 1: they're a losing team over the last three months. The

164
00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:50,720
Speaker 1: only reason they're in this race is because Rogers got injured.

165
00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,640
Speaker 1: It's the only reason the Packers are in this race. Partly,

166
00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:55,760
Speaker 1: at least for the last few weeks, is that wild

167
00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:59,160
Speaker 1: comeback in Dallas. If the Cowboys defense wasn't the worst

168
00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,679
Speaker 1: defense in a league, the Packers would be out of

169
00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,880
Speaker 1: this too. So everyone could feel a little bit lucky.

170
00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,439
Speaker 1: But I just want to call out some of the

171
00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,880
Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers defensive players and just say, hey, b

172
00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:15,760
Speaker 1: J Rogie, it's like you want a new contract, Let's

173
00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,240
Speaker 1: make some plays. B J Rogie. Even he used to

174
00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,280
Speaker 1: be a great player. Clay Matthews, you know, I know

175
00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:23,240
Speaker 1: he was coming back from an injury. He has not

176
00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:27,520
Speaker 1: been Clay Matthews lately. He's out this week, he's out

177
00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,560
Speaker 1: this week, but when if he comes back for the playoffs.

178
00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,160
Speaker 1: I just want some Some of their players, Tremont Williams

179
00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,280
Speaker 1: and Sam Shields have been up and down this year,

180
00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:39,199
Speaker 1: but they did make those plays. They're capable of making plays.

181
00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,760
Speaker 1: The safeties are bad. I don't think this defense is

182
00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,080
Speaker 1: quite as bad on paper. Dom Caper's should be a

183
00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,240
Speaker 1: good coach. They should be better. I could see them

184
00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:55,200
Speaker 1: romping in Chicago. We all picked Green Bay in this room,

185
00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,680
Speaker 1: but there were some Bears picks which surprised me. Kevin

186
00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,760
Speaker 1: Patrick actually and Arc Sessler both picked the Bears. Are

187
00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:06,080
Speaker 1: you sticking with that pick? Mark undecermined looking at them,

188
00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,360
Speaker 1: Gonna talk to my Packers sources and seeing how Rodgers

189
00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:13,120
Speaker 1: looked out to you. I did my defensive nucleus rankings yesterday.

190
00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:15,880
Speaker 1: The Bears are at the bottom with the Red Skins

191
00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,640
Speaker 1: and Raiders for worst defensive nucleus in the NFL. I

192
00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,959
Speaker 1: can't disagree with that. I can't either, And that's why

193
00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,760
Speaker 1: I'd be so stunned to see Jake Cutler and Josh

194
00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,160
Speaker 1: McCown and whoever whoever's playing, it's gonna be Cutler this week.

195
00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,360
Speaker 1: The all time Jake Cutler answer of a press conference

196
00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,040
Speaker 1: was when they asked him about Rogers playing, and he's

197
00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:39,160
Speaker 1: just like, I don't play offense, man, that's for Lance

198
00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,280
Speaker 1: to worry about. Well, and in the narrative of Cutler

199
00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,199
Speaker 1: is he's almost escaping the spotlight here because of Rogers,

200
00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,480
Speaker 1: because that offense has not been the same with Cutler

201
00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:52,040
Speaker 1: on the field, and he's you know, Tony Romo. Now

202
00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:56,000
Speaker 1: no one's talking about his legacy or blah blah blah

203
00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,120
Speaker 1: because he's not playing this week. Which, by the way,

204
00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,160
Speaker 1: I'm gonna remember where that come back he had against

205
00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:02,960
Speaker 1: the Redskins. I don't care. It was against the Redskins.

206
00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,400
Speaker 1: He suffered a major injury and let an awesome comeback

207
00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,760
Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter after the injury. People should remember

208
00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,600
Speaker 1: that Jake Cutler has not always played his best games

209
00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,440
Speaker 1: or stayed the healthiest in his biggest games. This is

210
00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,160
Speaker 1: a chance for him, going into free agency, to make

211
00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,040
Speaker 1: a little noise, to shock us all and put forty

212
00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,120
Speaker 1: five points on the board and get them to the playoffs,

213
00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:24,920
Speaker 1: make some money speed in Green Bay. Once as a

214
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,560
Speaker 1: Bears quarterback, he likes to throw it to the green

215
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,080
Speaker 1: So those are our two biggest games of the week,

216
00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,920
Speaker 1: but really, this entire schedule littered with big games. Let's

217
00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:39,240
Speaker 1: call up our old pal, our usual host, Dan Hansas

218
00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,400
Speaker 1: and talk about his New York Jets. They can't make

219
00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:45,240
Speaker 1: the playoffs, but they can knock their rival Miami Dolphins

220
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,160
Speaker 1: out of the playoffs. Dan, how are you doing in

221
00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:54,480
Speaker 1: New York this week? You've been playing through a little pain.

222
00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:58,559
Speaker 1: You had a Michael Jordan's with the flu like performance

223
00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,200
Speaker 1: on December why six, the day after Christmas. Yeah, people

224
00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,240
Speaker 1: will historians will look back at my performance on December

225
00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,720
Speaker 1: twenty six is one of the more heroic Tony Romo

226
00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:15,400
Speaker 1: like performances in a t L history. Well you sound

227
00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:20,280
Speaker 1: great now though? Do you sound great? Actually? You sound terrible?

228
00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,480
Speaker 1: You sound terrible? Dan? Are you okay? I mean to

229
00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,360
Speaker 1: tell every all the listeners. Dan was not feeling well,

230
00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:29,920
Speaker 1: stomach bug, but he got up. He's cranking out posts yesterday.

231
00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:31,480
Speaker 1: It was quite a performance. I mean, you're in your

232
00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,679
Speaker 1: childhood home, right, are you being baked meals that are

233
00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:39,400
Speaker 1: of worth? Yeah? I mean it's been It hasn't been horrible.

234
00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,400
Speaker 1: You know. I got my mom here, so that's good. Um.

235
00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,800
Speaker 1: I am in my childhood home with my wife, So

236
00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,520
Speaker 1: I'm okay, and and I hope everything's going well in

237
00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:54,040
Speaker 1: the In the studio sixty six, I listened to the

238
00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,599
Speaker 1: Christmas Eve podcast, which I really enjoyed. A solid be

239
00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,720
Speaker 1: I really yeahyeah, I know you've you mentioned to me

240
00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,720
Speaker 1: you've never learned so much about Burt Bell, which is yeah,

241
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,360
Speaker 1: I'm sure I'm not the only one that learned more

242
00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,920
Speaker 1: than they ever thought they'd ever learned about Burt Bell.

243
00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,319
Speaker 1: So well, you don't sound that this type of stuff.

244
00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,520
Speaker 1: You don't sound that excited. And maybe it's because you

245
00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:18,600
Speaker 1: know this could be the last game of the Rex

246
00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:22,240
Speaker 1: Ryan era and you're gonna miss old REXI let's talk

247
00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,920
Speaker 1: a little Jets Dolphins, what are you expecting out of

248
00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:29,680
Speaker 1: your team in this game down in Miami. I think

249
00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:31,640
Speaker 1: the Jets are gonna put up a really good effort.

250
00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:35,600
Speaker 1: They haven't played well on balance against the Dolphins in

251
00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,600
Speaker 1: the last couple of years. Um, and there was one

252
00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:43,440
Speaker 1: of the low points of Rex's tenure was in two

253
00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,280
Speaker 1: thousand eleven on New Year's Day when they had a

254
00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,439
Speaker 1: meltdown in Miami. But I don't I don't see anything

255
00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,600
Speaker 1: like that happening in this game. I think, if nothing else,

256
00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,200
Speaker 1: Rex is beloved by the guys in the locker room,

257
00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,920
Speaker 1: and I really think that will translate. I think that

258
00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,920
Speaker 1: they're gonna play well this game, and barring a complete

259
00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,560
Speaker 1: derailment of the Geno Coaster, which which obviously is always

260
00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,160
Speaker 1: in play. I could see them knocking the Dolphins out

261
00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,960
Speaker 1: of contention, which would really not only give a nice

262
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,240
Speaker 1: caper for Jets fans who got more out of the

263
00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,640
Speaker 1: season than you would ever have expected, but also it

264
00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:23,080
Speaker 1: would really put the pressure on Woody Johnson and John

265
00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:27,000
Speaker 1: is Zac because if you if the Jets go eight

266
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,400
Speaker 1: and eight with this talent, you know, which a lot

267
00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,760
Speaker 1: of people thought was a three to four win team,

268
00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:35,000
Speaker 1: there's almost no way you could fire him without getting

269
00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,040
Speaker 1: a lot of brush back and push back from both

270
00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,000
Speaker 1: the fan base in the locker room. So it's a

271
00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:43,160
Speaker 1: pretty sneaky, vital game to the Jets is near future.

272
00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,240
Speaker 1: You know what. The other thing that would do spare

273
00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:47,960
Speaker 1: the rest of the country from having to watch the

274
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,880
Speaker 1: Dolphins in the playoffs. That's what that would do. It's

275
00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,280
Speaker 1: a greater good. Gang Green is on a mission from God.

276
00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,520
Speaker 1: Doesn't this game remind you a little bit of what

277
00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,920
Speaker 1: Miami had to do against Buffalo last week, which was

278
00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,560
Speaker 1: go in play a really really good defensive front that

279
00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,040
Speaker 1: shuts down the run. Miami couldn't run the ball last week.

280
00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:09,160
Speaker 1: They won't be able to Sunday suddenly Ryan Tannehill is

281
00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,400
Speaker 1: getting pressured all over the place in Miami played one

282
00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:13,960
Speaker 1: of the worst offensive games of the year. They look

283
00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,520
Speaker 1: nothing like one of the worst offensive games I've seen

284
00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,800
Speaker 1: in the NFL. I could totally see them playing four

285
00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,280
Speaker 1: quarters with their hands around their neck and just gagging.

286
00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,560
Speaker 1: Game bad. I've never bought in on this team. I

287
00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,880
Speaker 1: don't get excited about Joe Joe Fielden led squads or

288
00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,880
Speaker 1: Jeff Ireland led teams. You know, I don't think there's

289
00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:39,080
Speaker 1: gonna be any heroic run here. And uh, you know, Greg, Greg,

290
00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,120
Speaker 1: you your boy Ryan Tannehill. This is this is a

291
00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,920
Speaker 1: big spot for him. You know if he if he

292
00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,520
Speaker 1: lays the night here, you might have to rethink your

293
00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,240
Speaker 1: man crush. Well, he's only in his second year, but

294
00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,600
Speaker 1: it couldn't be a bigger spot for the entire organization.

295
00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,680
Speaker 1: You know, you mentioned Jeff Ireland's name, And if they

296
00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:58,840
Speaker 1: go eight and eight and lose the last two games

297
00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,720
Speaker 1: in the division to the Bills and the Jets, I

298
00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,320
Speaker 1: have a hard time seeing him back. And Philbin seems

299
00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:07,000
Speaker 1: like he's safe, but he's one of those guys I

300
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,080
Speaker 1: think you just gotta watch out for just in case

301
00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,720
Speaker 1: because if you bring in a new GM, a lot

302
00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,640
Speaker 1: of times that means a new coach. So this is

303
00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,640
Speaker 1: a monster game for the Dolphins. And I like that

304
00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,040
Speaker 1: you brought up that two thousand eleven example. Santonio Holmes

305
00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,920
Speaker 1: probably the moment when we learned maybe shouldn't have made

306
00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:29,400
Speaker 1: him team captain. That was final game. I mean this

307
00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,160
Speaker 1: Santonio Holmes couldn't go out and a blaze of glory

308
00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:33,840
Speaker 1: with the big game. I mean, I know this Dolphins

309
00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,120
Speaker 1: team drives you crazy, Chris, and you watched them last week.

310
00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,760
Speaker 1: Just the floor is yours to vent a little bit.

311
00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,520
Speaker 1: They don't have an identity. Who are the Miami Dolphins.

312
00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:47,520
Speaker 1: What do they do well? Their mediocre in every single area.

313
00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:53,320
Speaker 1: And I just don't want to watch that. No, God, no, God,

314
00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,720
Speaker 1: please no. That is kind of their identity. That their

315
00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,360
Speaker 1: average of everything, and so that means they should be

316
00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,320
Speaker 1: an eight and eight team. They were average of offense,

317
00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,720
Speaker 1: or average defense, or average past defense or average rush defense.

318
00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,960
Speaker 1: Dan hand has picked the New York Jets. Chris Westling,

319
00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,400
Speaker 1: who has oddly picked the New York Jets practically every week.

320
00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,639
Speaker 1: Then I don't even like them. It's really I cannot

321
00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,879
Speaker 1: believe that this continually happens. I would have had um no,

322
00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:20,639
Speaker 1: I would have won them all, but I would have

323
00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:25,800
Speaker 1: had easily four extra hero Picks years instead of you know,

324
00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,280
Speaker 1: going He talks down on the Jets all the time,

325
00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,520
Speaker 1: but then he always picks them to win. They must

326
00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,040
Speaker 1: have played a really soft schedule what they did, and

327
00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,560
Speaker 1: West is in second place in the Picks. I have

328
00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,359
Speaker 1: clinched the Picks trophy for the season and got to

329
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,800
Speaker 1: get that into the podcast. If not for the Jets,

330
00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:43,600
Speaker 1: I'd probably be in first. So that's what I was

331
00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,880
Speaker 1: gonna say. If not for the Jets, they're They're really

332
00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,320
Speaker 1: the difference. I've got Hero Picks. It's outstanding, Dan. I

333
00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:52,639
Speaker 1: know you're flying back here, you're fighting, you know, a

334
00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,160
Speaker 1: tough situation. You're with your family. Thank you for playing her,

335
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,400
Speaker 1: and you'll be here back in the host chair on Sunday.

336
00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,800
Speaker 1: We look forward to it. I can't wait one more

337
00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,399
Speaker 1: thing before I go the We are a tea minus

338
00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,280
Speaker 1: two days before Mark Suffer does the hashtag tebow tuck,

339
00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,840
Speaker 1: jersey tucked in too highways, the jeans potentially a nineties

340
00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,679
Speaker 1: Dad belt. It's coming. Pictures will be up on the

341
00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,680
Speaker 1: around Jersey more well fit for a man about a

342
00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,119
Speaker 1: hundred pounds heavier, so it should be interesting. Was that

343
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,520
Speaker 1: a dig at Dan? Though? It was again when they

344
00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,840
Speaker 1: purchased the jersey for Dan, he didn't want a Tebow

345
00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,480
Speaker 1: name on the back, and then it was someone that

346
00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:38,240
Speaker 1: expected Dan to fill out. Yeah, he lost the game. Listen,

347
00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,720
Speaker 1: I'm saying, you're not this fat, and there's someone, someone

348
00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,760
Speaker 1: not a friend, obviously expected you to become this hefty

349
00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,600
Speaker 1: Joe Hayden like back pedal here from Mark Sessler. Uh

350
00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,480
Speaker 1: that we will send those pictures out Mark wearing the

351
00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:54,000
Speaker 1: tebow jersey. Thank you, Dan. We'll talk to you Sunday.

352
00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,480
Speaker 1: By another picture I want to send out at some

353
00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,960
Speaker 1: point here is I took a picture of uh Zack

354
00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:05,639
Speaker 1: the Gold standards, Um, I d at work and it

355
00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,200
Speaker 1: is something else. Uh it's a little blurry there. I

356
00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:14,440
Speaker 1: need to get a better but he look, I'm already

357
00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,240
Speaker 1: fighting like a major uphill battle age gone. I'm I'm

358
00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,760
Speaker 1: you know, massive step down in so many respects. I

359
00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,040
Speaker 1: think that adding the facial hair element to it is

360
00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,119
Speaker 1: just unfair at this Are you just like are you

361
00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,399
Speaker 1: like living in a one would like a bachelor pat

362
00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,000
Speaker 1: in Silver Lake when you came up with that. I'd

363
00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,640
Speaker 1: love to preserve that imagery for you. I was living

364
00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,399
Speaker 1: in my childhood home participating in in November. I'd love

365
00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,560
Speaker 1: to Yeah, it's it's a terrible, terrible mustache. So we'll

366
00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:43,880
Speaker 1: try to send that one out. I'm here to fix

367
00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:50,320
Speaker 1: your the biggest disaster really since the Cleveland Brown's offense

368
00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,080
Speaker 1: this season. How about that for a transition, Let's talk

369
00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:58,040
Speaker 1: a little Brown Steelers factory upset. Any chance the Browns

370
00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,120
Speaker 1: win this week mark against I don't I don't think

371
00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,640
Speaker 1: so because Cleveland they are about to if they lose

372
00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,439
Speaker 1: this game. I believe it's the longest losing streak to

373
00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,800
Speaker 1: close the season in ages and ages, and they've had

374
00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,240
Speaker 1: some bad football teams in Cleveland since they came back.

375
00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,119
Speaker 1: Big Ben sixteen and one against the Browns, which is

376
00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,320
Speaker 1: I think Tom Brady against the Bills is the only

377
00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,679
Speaker 1: other quarterback along with stop back against the Giants to

378
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,879
Speaker 1: go in his career to start sixteen and one against

379
00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:26,840
Speaker 1: the team. I remember that one loss. It was in

380
00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,400
Speaker 1: the season finale at Cleveland and the Steelers I think

381
00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:31,000
Speaker 1: had a chance to get to the playoffs. Well, it

382
00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,040
Speaker 1: was a Thursday night game. It was close to the

383
00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:34,920
Speaker 1: end of the year and it's like it's saved man

384
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:39,679
Speaker 1: Jennie's job. And it was in about zero sub degree temperatures.

385
00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,880
Speaker 1: But you know this one's uh, Pittsburgh's playing honestly when

386
00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,439
Speaker 1: they want to, as well as any of these a

387
00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:47,600
Speaker 1: f C wanna be. So I'm not saying Denver, but

388
00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,119
Speaker 1: some of these low hanging teams in the a f

389
00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,600
Speaker 1: C playoff picture, I wouldn't want to deal with Pittsburgh

390
00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,600
Speaker 1: in the playoffs. Cleveland defensively, uh for all. I think

391
00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,240
Speaker 1: it's easy now if you stopped watching their games to say, oh,

392
00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:03,200
Speaker 1: that Cleveland defense, it has been shredded of late since

393
00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,800
Speaker 1: Desmond Bryant went down. It is really that is what

394
00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:11,320
Speaker 1: you could trace it back to. I mean should be.

395
00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,080
Speaker 1: Joe Hayden probably won't play with a hip injury. Jordan

396
00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,560
Speaker 1: Cameron hasn't practiced all week, I believe, with a concussion.

397
00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,800
Speaker 1: Two key players for the Browns and the and the Steelers.

398
00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,880
Speaker 1: As much love as we're giving them, you know, it's

399
00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,240
Speaker 1: giving up thirty plus points to Miami and the Snow

400
00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,040
Speaker 1: giving up thirty plus points to Matt Flynn in the Snow.

401
00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,920
Speaker 1: It's not like their defense has really turned it around.

402
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,960
Speaker 1: They've they've just sort of avoided being a total disaster.

403
00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:38,360
Speaker 1: But it's the offense and Roethlisberger, who you guys had

404
00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:40,800
Speaker 1: on the Pro Bowl ballot, I believe, and I think

405
00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,040
Speaker 1: he would. I think you'd deserve it. I mean, he's

406
00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,280
Speaker 1: been outstanding there one chance, because you're right about Pittsburgh's defense,

407
00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,639
Speaker 1: and when when Josh Gordon started to go statistically completely

408
00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,600
Speaker 1: off the map and went crazy, it began in Pittsburgh

409
00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,080
Speaker 1: when he fried like Taylor. And he's not the only

410
00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,760
Speaker 1: guy to do that, in no lesser. Receivers have been

411
00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,399
Speaker 1: killing like Taylor all year. That's the one shot. Just

412
00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:02,679
Speaker 1: get your best player to do what he does and

413
00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,280
Speaker 1: win a low scoring game. But again, I go Pittsburgh here,

414
00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,439
Speaker 1: you guys, could be the last game in Pittsburgh Forike Taylor,

415
00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:12,320
Speaker 1: Troy Paula, Malo, Brett Keisel, Ryan Clark, half of their

416
00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:16,800
Speaker 1: defense basically could be their last game coordinator maybe possibly

417
00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,199
Speaker 1: that that would be really interesting if they made a

418
00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,960
Speaker 1: change from Dick Lebo. How how interesting would be How

419
00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,600
Speaker 1: about Rex Ryan in Pittsburgh next year? Every everyone's gonna

420
00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,600
Speaker 1: talked about that. I think that's interesting, But you know what.

421
00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,760
Speaker 1: I think one thing real quick on Rex Ryan. If

422
00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,320
Speaker 1: eight openings come up, he'll be a head coach. Again,

423
00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,720
Speaker 1: somebody's going to get a good head coach. Someone will

424
00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,719
Speaker 1: get a head coach that not only has no clue

425
00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,359
Speaker 1: how to fix an offense, which is what we which

426
00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,760
Speaker 1: what we killed Levy Smith for a year after year,

427
00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:48,000
Speaker 1: but it seems to have active dislike for the offense

428
00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,960
Speaker 1: and disinterest. I think that's a bit of a problem.

429
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,040
Speaker 1: He brings something to table. He's a good head coach,

430
00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:57,560
Speaker 1: but you need you need someone that has some solutions,

431
00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:59,080
Speaker 1: have something to do with the other side of the ball.

432
00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:00,800
Speaker 1: But the sign of an side of the ball. But

433
00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:02,479
Speaker 1: the sign of a good coach if he does get

434
00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,080
Speaker 1: another role, is you grow in those ways. Remember what

435
00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,320
Speaker 1: Belichick did early in Cleveland was a disaster. I mean,

436
00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,199
Speaker 1: Schottenheimer grew. All these guys changed as head coaches, so

437
00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,600
Speaker 1: there were If there were sixteen teams in the NFL,

438
00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:15,199
Speaker 1: X Royn would be a great defensive coordinator. But with

439
00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,880
Speaker 1: thirty two teams, there aren't thirty one better coaches than him.

440
00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,320
Speaker 1: That's right, I totally agree. Let's move on to the

441
00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:23,160
Speaker 1: other games in the A f C that matter now

442
00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:28,000
Speaker 1: Pittsburgh they need to win and they need Miami, Baltimore

443
00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,640
Speaker 1: and San Diego to lose. Let's talk about those Chargers,

444
00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,159
Speaker 1: San Diego and the Chiefs. They're gonna line up in

445
00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,359
Speaker 1: the late afternoon knowing whether they have a chance to

446
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:41,359
Speaker 1: make the playoffs or not. The Chiefs, it sounds like

447
00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,240
Speaker 1: they might not play their starters in this game. In fact,

448
00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,480
Speaker 1: I'd be surprised if they played their starters throughout the game.

449
00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:50,439
Speaker 1: Chris Wesley, I know you love it when people do that.

450
00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,720
Speaker 1: Bill Pollian is one of your I would say football

451
00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:57,840
Speaker 1: idols um. You love those Dungee era colts that just

452
00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,760
Speaker 1: would shut it down Week fifteen because you just think,

453
00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,360
Speaker 1: save those guys for the playoffs. It's a full proof strategy.

454
00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,359
Speaker 1: I think it's an awful strategy, and I think people

455
00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,359
Speaker 1: have heard my rant on this subject before. I'm not

456
00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,840
Speaker 1: breaking any new ground, but there are only sixteen games

457
00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:16,880
Speaker 1: on an NFL schedule. Play them, compete. That's your job.

458
00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:18,920
Speaker 1: You're getting paid to do it. I don't want to

459
00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,399
Speaker 1: see you packing it in, especially when you've lost four

460
00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:24,480
Speaker 1: of your last six. Your defense has given up more

461
00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,320
Speaker 1: yards in the last eight weeks than anybody except the

462
00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,200
Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys. You're not going into the playoffs on all

463
00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,840
Speaker 1: cylinders here. This is a bad team right now. You

464
00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,879
Speaker 1: need to circle the wagons, get your team competitive, and play,

465
00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,720
Speaker 1: not pack it in. Every once in a while, there's

466
00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,160
Speaker 1: a stat or a player or a team where if

467
00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,119
Speaker 1: if you hear a national analysts say something like Ryan

468
00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:49,240
Speaker 1: Matthews is injury prone in a in a soft runner,

469
00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,760
Speaker 1: it's obvious that they are not watching the game. Anyone

470
00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,320
Speaker 1: that talks up the Chiefs defense at all has not

471
00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,479
Speaker 1: been watching the games, because it's not just that they

472
00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:59,679
Speaker 1: played Peyton Manning a couple of times. They have not

473
00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,000
Speaker 1: been good. They have been one of the worst defense

474
00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,680
Speaker 1: in the league for the last for the half a season. Now,

475
00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,160
Speaker 1: you know, I had a Chiefs fan tweeted me going

476
00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,760
Speaker 1: off on a similar rant that that West had, who

477
00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,760
Speaker 1: said Reid has earned this, And that's where it starts

478
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,399
Speaker 1: to get me furious, because the Chiefs haven't earned anything yet.

479
00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,560
Speaker 1: And if I'm if I'm running a team and they

480
00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,400
Speaker 1: do what they did against an average Cults team last

481
00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:29,000
Speaker 1: week at home, they got killed, why would you want

482
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,280
Speaker 1: to have that be your last note before you go

483
00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,840
Speaker 1: into the game. That matters most. And you want to

484
00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:35,560
Speaker 1: talk about a coach of a year. Part of it

485
00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,240
Speaker 1: is preparing your team for what is the game no

486
00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:42,120
Speaker 1: one thought they'd get to. I would play them from

487
00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:44,840
Speaker 1: end to end. You said, if an injury comes, you

488
00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:47,200
Speaker 1: deal with it. Every team deals with injuries. But this

489
00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:51,639
Speaker 1: way of going out sitting these guys is discussed. Starting

490
00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,159
Speaker 1: your players in October, put them in bubble rep. They

491
00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:58,760
Speaker 1: might get hurt. Andy Reid could actually lose Coach of

492
00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,240
Speaker 1: the Year, partly acause of this, because people tend to

493
00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,200
Speaker 1: vote on what's happened lately. The Chiefs haven't closed wrong.

494
00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,040
Speaker 1: I think Bruce Arians has a good chance. We talked

495
00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,920
Speaker 1: about it. We should bring back this clip Riverboat. Ron's

496
00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,240
Speaker 1: got a chance. I remember before the season, I said,

497
00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,320
Speaker 1: wouldn't it be cool if Bruce Arians one Coach of

498
00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,200
Speaker 1: the Year back to back for two different organizations that's

499
00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:22,520
Speaker 1: ever happened for He has a legit shot, especially if

500
00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:25,000
Speaker 1: the Chiefs phoned in this weekend. I expect that to happen.

501
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,960
Speaker 1: The one defense Randy Reid. He did it four times

502
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,840
Speaker 1: in Philadelphia, and where did any of those teams end up?

503
00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,720
Speaker 1: They while they won their first playoff game, and three

504
00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:35,440
Speaker 1: of them and went to the Super Bowl one. So

505
00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,560
Speaker 1: I didn't kill them. I I know that stat I

506
00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,000
Speaker 1: just think this is a bad tone center for a

507
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,600
Speaker 1: team that a lot of people don't believe in. I

508
00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,040
Speaker 1: don't care what happened in the first playoff game. Play

509
00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:48,840
Speaker 1: the game on the schedule that you're supposed to play,

510
00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:54,280
Speaker 1: not to mention what about competitive integrity. This Chargers game

511
00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,600
Speaker 1: is going to matter no matter what the results are

512
00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,240
Speaker 1: early now it might not matter for the Chargers, but

513
00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:04,320
Speaker 1: either way, this game is deciding who goes to the playoffs,

514
00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:09,400
Speaker 1: because if the Dolphins and Ravens win early, the Chargers

515
00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,520
Speaker 1: need to win for Baltimore to get to the playoffs.

516
00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:17,800
Speaker 1: If the Dolphins and Ravens lose early, the Chargers will

517
00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:19,840
Speaker 1: have a chance to get into the playoffs. So this

518
00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:23,639
Speaker 1: game's gonna matter, and it's like the team's not even trying.

519
00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:27,360
Speaker 1: It kind of ruins the whole competitive and this. They

520
00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,600
Speaker 1: did this many times and we've this discussion is not new. However,

521
00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,320
Speaker 1: It's just I I have a tough time watching the

522
00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,399
Speaker 1: Chiefs do this. I automatically don't feel a whole lot

523
00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,840
Speaker 1: of sympathy for them. If they get waxed in the postseason.

524
00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,199
Speaker 1: The NFL realizes there's a competitive integrity issue, which is

525
00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,080
Speaker 1: why they've changed the schedules around and tried to eliminate this.

526
00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:47,959
Speaker 1: They can't force Andy Reid to be competitive as much

527
00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:49,560
Speaker 1: as they'd like him to. I know we worked for

528
00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:52,480
Speaker 1: the NFL. We're critical. Sometimes. One of the best things

529
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,520
Speaker 1: they've done is waiting the schedule with all these divisions.

530
00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,320
Speaker 1: It has worked perfectly and we're getting a great week

531
00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:03,040
Speaker 1: because of it. One of those division games Baltimore Cincinnati.

532
00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:07,080
Speaker 1: Do we think Mark Sessler, that the Ravens, who we

533
00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:08,800
Speaker 1: thought had a little bit of magic going in the

534
00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,040
Speaker 1: last weekend then they get stomped, can go on the

535
00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:13,560
Speaker 1: road and be a quality Bengals team. Are we admitting

536
00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,200
Speaker 1: that the Bengals are a good team at this point?

537
00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:17,120
Speaker 1: I am, well, I'm admitting that they're a good team

538
00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,639
Speaker 1: at home. And it's this is a tough This is

539
00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,520
Speaker 1: a tough self for the Ravens because they were handled

540
00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,080
Speaker 1: last week. They didn't they seem to have lost all

541
00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,560
Speaker 1: that magic in in Gusto that they had and Flacco

542
00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,400
Speaker 1: did not look particularly healthy to me. And we talked

543
00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,159
Speaker 1: about this on Sunday night. It's not that he's a

544
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,000
Speaker 1: mobile quarterback, but when he's just has to stand there

545
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,360
Speaker 1: and uh, you know, get the ball out before he's attacked.

546
00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,240
Speaker 1: That the middle of that line is not very good.

547
00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,200
Speaker 1: And Cincinnati has got an underrated defense that I think

548
00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:47,320
Speaker 1: is gonna take care of business. The Bengals have a

549
00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,160
Speaker 1: right to be irritated with the way they're perceived, and

550
00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:51,960
Speaker 1: this is the game that they could you know, you

551
00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,440
Speaker 1: want have about a statement game. They have to win

552
00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:57,760
Speaker 1: this game, don't they at home? Yes, and they're undefeated

553
00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,120
Speaker 1: at home. They have some majories. Vontez bur affect concussion.

554
00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,440
Speaker 1: If he can't play, I think they at least they

555
00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:08,760
Speaker 1: probably plug in Vinny Ray, who has been great. Vinny

556
00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:11,240
Speaker 1: You're on you're calling him Vinny? Is anyone else doing

557
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,480
Speaker 1: that Vinny Ray? I think there's a few people calling

558
00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,360
Speaker 1: hi Vinny Ray. And on offense, both tight ends are injured,

559
00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:19,560
Speaker 1: so this this could be a factor, But I still

560
00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,480
Speaker 1: think they're the stronger team here and playing at home

561
00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:24,920
Speaker 1: and makes it a really uphill climb for the Ravens

562
00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,440
Speaker 1: to get into the playoffs. The Bengals cannot complain about

563
00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:30,160
Speaker 1: how they're perceives because every time they're in prime time,

564
00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,640
Speaker 1: they lay an egg. They go down to Miami and

565
00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,680
Speaker 1: lose to the Dolphins. Everyone's talking up Andy Dalton and

566
00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,560
Speaker 1: he throws a couple of terrible picks. Then they're on

567
00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,240
Speaker 1: Sunday Night Football against the Steelers and they get whacked.

568
00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,600
Speaker 1: They don't even show up. So win a game on

569
00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,800
Speaker 1: national team they arguably, you know, if they beat Baltimore

570
00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:48,680
Speaker 1: and a fewer liftings shake out, they could end up

571
00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,040
Speaker 1: having to deal with Pittsburgh again. That's the team they

572
00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,160
Speaker 1: can't get past. I don't think they want to play Pittsburgh.

573
00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,200
Speaker 1: I would love to see that too. The Bengals also

574
00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,600
Speaker 1: have a chance at a buy. They'll be playing early,

575
00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,400
Speaker 1: so they'll put some pre sure on the Patriots to win.

576
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,239
Speaker 1: I don't want to see that either. I don't want

577
00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:05,440
Speaker 1: to see that. I want to see the Patriots get

578
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:09,160
Speaker 1: a bye because if they didn't, that means they lost

579
00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,000
Speaker 1: to the Bills, which would be a major problem. I

580
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,360
Speaker 1: think the Bengals win this game. We all picked the Bengals.

581
00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,440
Speaker 1: I'm surprised no one went with the Ravens. So we

582
00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,680
Speaker 1: think that they'll win and that they'll have the number

583
00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,440
Speaker 1: three seed. They could fall down to the two, uh

584
00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:22,720
Speaker 1: tow to the four. Rather, let's move over to the

585
00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:26,320
Speaker 1: NFC and talk about those games that still have playoff implications,

586
00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:30,040
Speaker 1: starting in New Orleans Saints Bucks. Kind of a similar

587
00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:33,760
Speaker 1: situation in two thousand ten Saints Bucks Week seventeen, the

588
00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,200
Speaker 1: Saints had something to play for. They lose to a

589
00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,720
Speaker 1: three and thirteen Bucks team. Is there any chance that

590
00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:44,440
Speaker 1: happens again? Mark Sessler, Well, there's always a chance, and

591
00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:48,520
Speaker 1: Tampa's defense has occasionally been really difficult to deal with.

592
00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:52,000
Speaker 1: But my problem here is that if you're a Cardinals fan,

593
00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,400
Speaker 1: you need this to happen. You need Tampa Bay to

594
00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:57,040
Speaker 1: win to get into the playoffs. And I think that's

595
00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:00,960
Speaker 1: that's a tough drawl New Orleans to me. Lately, I

596
00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:03,320
Speaker 1: they I struggle to see them as a team that's

597
00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,120
Speaker 1: gonna do a lot of damage in the postseason. They've

598
00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:07,720
Speaker 1: been real up and down of late, but this is

599
00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,040
Speaker 1: a game they'll take care of. They're a different team

600
00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:13,360
Speaker 1: at home. We've been saying that all year. I thought

601
00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:15,680
Speaker 1: they were. Drew Brees struggled a little bit to throw

602
00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:19,080
Speaker 1: in the elements last week, but at home, I can't

603
00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,600
Speaker 1: see even with Lavonte David and Gerald McCoy, both of

604
00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,520
Speaker 1: whom have had all pro type of seasons. I can't

605
00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,080
Speaker 1: see the Bucks stopping them. The Saints have not been

606
00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:32,760
Speaker 1: a particularly impressive team for six weeks. They had the

607
00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,240
Speaker 1: forty Niners game. Okay, they won that by three points.

608
00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:37,560
Speaker 1: They got a lucky car there. But it really started

609
00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,680
Speaker 1: in Atlanta. They scraped out of victory. Look at their

610
00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:43,560
Speaker 1: points scored over the past eight weeks, right, and they have.

611
00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:47,080
Speaker 1: They scored seventeen in Atlanta, seven in Seattle. Then they

612
00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:48,960
Speaker 1: had the one impressive game that they've had, and of

613
00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,320
Speaker 1: course it was at home against the Panthers. They played great,

614
00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:55,160
Speaker 1: beat him. But the other two games sixteen they lose

615
00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:59,560
Speaker 1: seventeen thirteen. That's wow. Four games out of five they're

616
00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:02,920
Speaker 1: held to sixteen points or less. The New Orleans Saints

617
00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:07,640
Speaker 1: they have no running game. Jimmy Graham has plantar fasciitis.

618
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:10,400
Speaker 1: He's not the same player he was early this season.

619
00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:15,320
Speaker 1: Marcus Colston can't separate. They're not an explosive offense in anyway,

620
00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,480
Speaker 1: and they're gonna have to go on the road in

621
00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:21,680
Speaker 1: less Carolina blows this game in Atlanta, and let's talk

622
00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:24,840
Speaker 1: about that. Chris Westling, I know you you watched and

623
00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,240
Speaker 1: you were so impressed last week with the play of

624
00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:31,760
Speaker 1: one of their linebackers. But not the play that everyone

625
00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:35,080
Speaker 1: not the player that everyone thinks. This is about storylines

626
00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,200
Speaker 1: in the NFL. He come into the Panthers game, Luke

627
00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:41,200
Speaker 1: Kickley is a Player of the Year candidate. The announcers

628
00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,560
Speaker 1: queue up the storyline. We have to talk about Luke

629
00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:48,320
Speaker 1: Keickley all game after afterwards. We've talked about tackle stats

630
00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,320
Speaker 1: all year. They're they're a mess. The Panthers actually give

631
00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:55,000
Speaker 1: him two more tackles. If you watch that game, Luke

632
00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:58,160
Speaker 1: Keickley did not have tackles. He had a great game.

633
00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:02,080
Speaker 1: Thomas Davis was even better. They both had the same

634
00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:05,320
Speaker 1: number of solo tackles. Thomas Davis had more at the

635
00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,680
Speaker 1: line of scrimmage or behind the line of scrimmage than

636
00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,280
Speaker 1: Keith Lee did. He was flying around the field. Thomas

637
00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:13,160
Speaker 1: Davis deserves to be in the Pro Bowl and he's

638
00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:15,320
Speaker 1: been great this year. And how about that interception by

639
00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:18,600
Speaker 1: Thomas Davis by both of them had exceptional interceptions, but

640
00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,920
Speaker 1: Davis dropping back into coverage, reading Drew Brees eyes jumping

641
00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:24,920
Speaker 1: up in the air. You don't see many linebackers that

642
00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,880
Speaker 1: can tackle making a play like that. I don't know

643
00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:30,800
Speaker 1: if Patrick Willis isn't making that play, No, no, no,

644
00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,960
Speaker 1: Navarro Bowman, maybe he could make that play. He's Thomas

645
00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:37,040
Speaker 1: Davis has range and he's one of the best coverage

646
00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:40,560
Speaker 1: linebackers in the NFL. And uh. The Panthers need to

647
00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,600
Speaker 1: win this game in Atlanta to get the buy to

648
00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:48,600
Speaker 1: get the NFC South title. If Carolina wins, New Orleans

649
00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,680
Speaker 1: will know that they're just gonna be a wild card

650
00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,840
Speaker 1: and they're gonna have to go on the road next

651
00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:58,320
Speaker 1: week if they win and face either Philadelphia or Green

652
00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,360
Speaker 1: Bay or you know, you never know, maybe Dallas or Chicago.

653
00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:03,760
Speaker 1: One of those teams, so a much tougher road. It's

654
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,680
Speaker 1: hard to imagine the Saints being a Super Bowl contender

655
00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:10,680
Speaker 1: unless the Panthers lose this game. This is a huge

656
00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:14,120
Speaker 1: game for the Panthers. The Falcons have been competitive. You

657
00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:16,360
Speaker 1: know they're gonna be playing hard for Tony Gonzalez his

658
00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,400
Speaker 1: last game to give him a good send off. If

659
00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:22,160
Speaker 1: the Panthers get that bye week, Steve Smith gets another week,

660
00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:25,600
Speaker 1: another two weeks to get healthy. Charles Johnson hasn't been

661
00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:27,560
Speaker 1: the same since his knee Injura gives him a couple

662
00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:30,000
Speaker 1: of weeks. They really need those two key players back

663
00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:32,400
Speaker 1: to full strength. Isn't that what we want the Panther

664
00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,160
Speaker 1: seeing that the Niners cannot get it? In theory like,

665
00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:38,719
Speaker 1: it's the Panthers that we want to see potentially up

666
00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:40,600
Speaker 1: to go into Seattle, not one of these other teams.

667
00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:43,400
Speaker 1: It's that it's the official team of around the league.

668
00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:46,720
Speaker 1: We said they're a top five team somewhere like week seven,

669
00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:50,680
Speaker 1: weeks six, and here they are on the doorstep and

670
00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:52,960
Speaker 1: last week felt like the biggest game of the year.

671
00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:55,320
Speaker 1: But this is it. I think it's a tricky spot.

672
00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:59,240
Speaker 1: I remember these Panthers Falcons games are always classic. Remember

673
00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:03,000
Speaker 1: last year Matt Ryan had the drive where he went

674
00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:06,000
Speaker 1: nine yards in a minute sixteen to pull out a

675
00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:10,319
Speaker 1: victory against Caroline and really send their seasons spiraling. It's

676
00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:13,120
Speaker 1: a good division game. I'm excited it lines up early,

677
00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:17,080
Speaker 1: so when the Saints play at four, they'll know whether

678
00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:19,080
Speaker 1: they still have a chance to get to buy or

679
00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:22,600
Speaker 1: whether they're just playing for the wild card, another team

680
00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:26,000
Speaker 1: that has a buy Seattle if they win this game

681
00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:29,480
Speaker 1: against St. Louis. We talked about it on Tuesday's podcast.

682
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:33,920
Speaker 1: The Rams have the defensive Player of the Year candidate

683
00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:38,400
Speaker 1: and Robert Quinn. How is Russell Wilson looked to you,

684
00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:42,080
Speaker 1: Chris Wesleyan, when you've watched the game rewind and and

685
00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:44,000
Speaker 1: I just want to know if you think the Rams

686
00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,080
Speaker 1: can slow the Seahawks passing game down. I've heard other

687
00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:49,759
Speaker 1: people say that Russell Wilson hasn't played well for a

688
00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,520
Speaker 1: month now. I think it's just the last week. I

689
00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:55,120
Speaker 1: think he's been fine. I think he's been Russell Wilson

690
00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:57,680
Speaker 1: the second most valuable player in the NFL this year.

691
00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,160
Speaker 1: I don't have any problem. I don't. I said this

692
00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:03,479
Speaker 1: on Tuesday. I think this is a blowout. I can't

693
00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:07,239
Speaker 1: pick the ram seriously going into Seattle. They're not what

694
00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,440
Speaker 1: are they doing on offense? Well, they got Zack Stacey

695
00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:13,879
Speaker 1: averaging three point two yards per carry. I mean, it's

696
00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:17,239
Speaker 1: almost surprising. Seattle has something to play for this week.

697
00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:20,120
Speaker 1: They're not going to lose two straight home games. It's

698
00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:22,839
Speaker 1: not gonna happen. I don't think Wilslon played that well

699
00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:26,560
Speaker 1: against the forty niners. I know the final numbers looked okay, uh,

700
00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:30,440
Speaker 1: he was not a strong point for that team. They

701
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,120
Speaker 1: looked very limited on offense for most of that game

702
00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:35,760
Speaker 1: in a big spot against forty and then you combine

703
00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,200
Speaker 1: that with the Cardinals. Maybe it's just division opponents have

704
00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:42,040
Speaker 1: a beat on him. I think many got another one

705
00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:44,200
Speaker 1: this week. I don't think many quarterbacks are playing well

706
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,120
Speaker 1: against the forty Niners and Cardinals. Also, I think it's

707
00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:51,640
Speaker 1: Seattle's line because Marshawn Lynch's numbers are way off this

708
00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:53,520
Speaker 1: season from where they were a game. But he hit

709
00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:56,000
Speaker 1: ten yard games last year, the guests three this year.

710
00:36:56,520 --> 00:36:59,600
Speaker 1: His yards per carrier down. I think Seattle's line is

711
00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:02,359
Speaker 1: an issue. You it's translating to Russell's play. You put

712
00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:06,080
Speaker 1: anyone behind a shaking the line's not going anywhere. It's

713
00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:11,960
Speaker 1: been a problem all year. But they expected Russell Kung's

714
00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:14,520
Speaker 1: return to just magically solve everything, and it has not

715
00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:17,680
Speaker 1: been a great offensive line. Well, wouldn't you agree that

716
00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:19,359
Speaker 1: it often takes a couple of games to get back

717
00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:23,840
Speaker 1: into football shape, And honestly, Unles, yeah, we took well.

718
00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:29,120
Speaker 1: It's different being a quarterback shape. Wilson has been pressured

719
00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:32,680
Speaker 1: more times per pass than any quarterback in the league,

720
00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:36,040
Speaker 1: I believe, other than Mike Lennon. So their line has

721
00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:39,520
Speaker 1: been a problem all year, Rams, because that's what them

722
00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:42,560
Speaker 1: did to them in that last game. They dominated them.

723
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:44,600
Speaker 1: And if Seattle wins that game, of course they'll get

724
00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:46,680
Speaker 1: the one seat. If they somehow lost, that opens the

725
00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:52,880
Speaker 1: door for the forty Niners to possibly win the NFC West.

726
00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:57,480
Speaker 1: And now let's get to our favorite final regular season

727
00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:08,279
Speaker 1: segment of the year. Defend your hero, Mark Sessler, you

728
00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:10,520
Speaker 1: have the forty Niners there, somehow our hero pick. We

729
00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:13,480
Speaker 1: all love Bruce Arians so much that we picked the

730
00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:16,560
Speaker 1: Cardinals to win that game at home, except for you.

731
00:38:16,560 --> 00:38:18,919
Speaker 1: You believed that the forty Niners would get it done.

732
00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,600
Speaker 1: Defend your here. Look, I love Arians too, but I'm

733
00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:25,320
Speaker 1: surprised that this is a hero pick because nothing about

734
00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:28,080
Speaker 1: the Niners says to me this is a team that's

735
00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:31,120
Speaker 1: gonna in a big spot here fold the tent. I

736
00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:34,160
Speaker 1: think they're playing some of their better better offense of

737
00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:38,480
Speaker 1: the year. Kaepernick's looking sharper. That was a gutsy win

738
00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:42,160
Speaker 1: on Monday Night. They flat out just found a way

739
00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:45,760
Speaker 1: to get it done. Arizona is against the Falcons. Against

740
00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:47,920
Speaker 1: the Falcons, a team that we just praised for playing

741
00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:50,680
Speaker 1: hard down the stretch. Now yeah, it was not. It

742
00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:54,120
Speaker 1: wasn't the equal of Arizona, and the Cardinals are gonna be.

743
00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:55,840
Speaker 1: It's a shame if they don't make the playoffs. I

744
00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:58,120
Speaker 1: don't want to see that not happen. But I don't

745
00:38:58,120 --> 00:38:59,759
Speaker 1: have a problem picking the Niners here. This is the

746
00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:03,279
Speaker 1: fending NFC champions. You get some high level Jedi mind

747
00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:05,360
Speaker 1: tricking going on here. I don't know how this happened.

748
00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:08,160
Speaker 1: Was earlier in the week you said on this podcast,

749
00:39:08,239 --> 00:39:11,840
Speaker 1: the Cardinals are winning this game, right, So that convinced

750
00:39:11,880 --> 00:39:13,399
Speaker 1: me to take the Cardinals thing. You did the old

751
00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:18,239
Speaker 1: switcher ru and took listen. I don't know how seventeen

752
00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:21,239
Speaker 1: weeks into the season you fell for that trick. We've

753
00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:23,040
Speaker 1: been doing this to each other all year. Well. We

754
00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:26,640
Speaker 1: keep track of hero picks on the Around the League

755
00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:29,840
Speaker 1: Picks page, which you can find by googling Lyle the

756
00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:34,040
Speaker 1: intern in week seventeen picking winners Mark Sessler. Hey, he

757
00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:37,120
Speaker 1: might be in last place in the overall picks, but

758
00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:40,759
Speaker 1: he is tied for second in the hero pick department,

759
00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:43,400
Speaker 1: So you could pass Dan who's tied with you if

760
00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:46,239
Speaker 1: you can get this right, and hey, maybe you'll be

761
00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:48,200
Speaker 1: last place overall, but you'll have something to tell. I

762
00:39:48,239 --> 00:39:51,280
Speaker 1: would be happy if this entire Picks process were scrubbed

763
00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:53,960
Speaker 1: from the internet because it has been a disastrous s

764
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:56,440
Speaker 1: I know it's been tough for you coming back to

765
00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:59,640
Speaker 1: your family and you know your little boys, you know,

766
00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:02,520
Speaker 1: run up to the door when you come in on

767
00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:05,360
Speaker 1: Sunday night, and they say, Daddy, how's your picks? You know,

768
00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:08,800
Speaker 1: and it's it's the first thing that And it's tough.

769
00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:11,279
Speaker 1: I mean, I I just know you have to you

770
00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:13,560
Speaker 1: have to pretend like it doesn't matter. You shut that

771
00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:15,840
Speaker 1: off when you're home, you're with your family. Well, children

772
00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:18,440
Speaker 1: need to learn hard lessons early, and this has been

773
00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:21,359
Speaker 1: a tough road for them and for myself. I had

774
00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:26,640
Speaker 1: another hero pick this week. I picked the Detroit Lions

775
00:40:26,719 --> 00:40:31,080
Speaker 1: to go into Minnesota and win. Now, it's strange, this

776
00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:32,759
Speaker 1: is a hero pick because you know they have a

777
00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:37,880
Speaker 1: much better record than the Vikings, but everyone basically thinks

778
00:40:37,960 --> 00:40:40,960
Speaker 1: the Lions have phoned it in and the Vikings are

779
00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:43,880
Speaker 1: playing better lately. So that's why I assume you guys

780
00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:47,760
Speaker 1: took the Vikings. I took the Lions because the most

781
00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:50,880
Speaker 1: Lions thing possible to do right now would be to

782
00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:55,240
Speaker 1: win forty four to seven, and then Schwartz gets fired Monday,

783
00:40:55,440 --> 00:40:58,240
Speaker 1: and and everyone in the meantime it's just like, oh,

784
00:40:58,239 --> 00:41:01,920
Speaker 1: what what happened here? Why? Why did this team not

785
00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:05,040
Speaker 1: make the playoffs? What is the most painful way possible

786
00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:07,920
Speaker 1: really for this to happen for Kevin Patrick and all

787
00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:09,759
Speaker 1: the Lions fans out there. I think it's for them

788
00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:12,719
Speaker 1: to go into Minnesota and remind everyone, Oh, this should

789
00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:15,399
Speaker 1: have been a ten or eleven win team. I don't

790
00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:17,560
Speaker 1: know this. To me, I'm buying it not at all,

791
00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:20,799
Speaker 1: because I think Patra already we know what Patra wants

792
00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:23,960
Speaker 1: to happen. This has a well as poisoned kind of

793
00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:27,680
Speaker 1: feel to me for Detroit, and nothing would cap off

794
00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:30,719
Speaker 1: this incredibly disappointing season. Then to go in and get

795
00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:34,359
Speaker 1: dropped about thirty seven to tend to another team that's

796
00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:37,320
Speaker 1: about to part ways with this entire staff, the Lions.

797
00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:40,840
Speaker 1: I don't know who Stafford is gonna throw too, pedigrews

798
00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:45,760
Speaker 1: on I are they Vikings, Yeah, probably purple uniforms. Calvin

799
00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:49,040
Speaker 1: Johnson hasn't practiced all week. I don't I don't see

800
00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:52,920
Speaker 1: the Lions of it trouble. Everyone's dropping the ball nobody's opened.

801
00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:55,640
Speaker 1: I don't I don't see that. But that's the moment

802
00:41:55,680 --> 00:42:01,480
Speaker 1: when the Lions, just the gritty gang of overachievers step up.

803
00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:04,400
Speaker 1: People's people say the first time. People saying that they

804
00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:06,600
Speaker 1: couldn't do it all year, but they play smart. They

805
00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:08,239
Speaker 1: might not have the most talent in the world, but

806
00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:12,200
Speaker 1: they played. Oh wait, that's the exact opposites, all right,

807
00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:16,200
Speaker 1: the other going to see more Matt, Oh wow, Peterson

808
00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:21,280
Speaker 1: is doubtful. Gerhardt's not gonna play Matt. Asiata and Joe Bangiard,

809
00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:25,320
Speaker 1: who sounds like some bizarre amalgam of Seinfeld characters. Well

810
00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:27,799
Speaker 1: it listen, Castle, and this it's not completely because of

811
00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:30,440
Speaker 1: Asiata or maybe even at all. Had is one of

812
00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:34,160
Speaker 1: the best games in years with with Ashiyata or whatever

813
00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:37,080
Speaker 1: his name is in the background. That's true, Castle trying to,

814
00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:39,359
Speaker 1: you know, bring some matic looks like he'll be back

815
00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:41,160
Speaker 1: with the vikings ext here. This is one of those

816
00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:43,520
Speaker 1: games that feels like a Week seventeen game. There's only

817
00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:46,279
Speaker 1: three all all week that don't matter. This is one

818
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:48,000
Speaker 1: of them. It's amazing the lines are involved with one

819
00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:51,400
Speaker 1: of them. Another one was Kevin Patrick's hero pick. He

820
00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:55,040
Speaker 1: chose the Redskins to beat the Giants. These are two

821
00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:57,480
Speaker 1: teams that were sick of talking about in terms of

822
00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:01,279
Speaker 1: two thousand and thirteen. Let's just move right past them

823
00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:03,920
Speaker 1: and talk about the a f C games that still matter,

824
00:43:03,960 --> 00:43:09,120
Speaker 1: Indianapolis and Jacksonville. The Colts have an outside chance at

825
00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:10,960
Speaker 1: getting to buy they would need the Bengals and the

826
00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:14,399
Speaker 1: Patriots to lose. There's been a lot of talk this

827
00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:18,560
Speaker 1: week about the Colts being frisky whistling. I know, you know,

828
00:43:18,600 --> 00:43:22,120
Speaker 1: you're not totally buying it. No, I'm not. I agree

829
00:43:22,239 --> 00:43:25,560
Speaker 1: that they deserve some kind of credit for going into

830
00:43:25,560 --> 00:43:28,719
Speaker 1: San Francisco, going into Kansas City and winning, beating the

831
00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:32,560
Speaker 1: Seahawks and Broncos at home, and then they've not played

832
00:43:32,560 --> 00:43:36,160
Speaker 1: well against bad teams. But last week I thought maybe

833
00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:38,760
Speaker 1: that passing game was turning around and carrying the offense.

834
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:41,000
Speaker 1: And then I went and watched the game and basically

835
00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:43,120
Speaker 1: they won because of two big plays from Donald Brown,

836
00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:45,680
Speaker 1: which you can't count on every week. I still don't

837
00:43:45,680 --> 00:43:49,080
Speaker 1: know if I'm confident in in that offense, and the

838
00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:51,160
Speaker 1: defense has kind of hit or missed too, so I

839
00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:54,120
Speaker 1: don't think we know who the Colts are. Well, listen,

840
00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:59,279
Speaker 1: is there a less uh glowing way to back into

841
00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:02,480
Speaker 1: the playoffs than to lose to Jacksonville and get into

842
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:06,000
Speaker 1: the playoffs. Well, that would be true if that happened.

843
00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:10,600
Speaker 1: They haven't had those really ugly losses to terrible teams.

844
00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:13,120
Speaker 1: I give the Colts credit for the most part of

845
00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:15,280
Speaker 1: avoiding those. It's like they took care of business against

846
00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:18,040
Speaker 1: the Texans a few weeks ago. They can go into

847
00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:20,440
Speaker 1: the playoffs with a three game winning streak here and

848
00:44:20,520 --> 00:44:22,880
Speaker 1: they're coming off their most impressive game and in a

849
00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:26,480
Speaker 1: half season. So the Colts I think, just because of

850
00:44:26,560 --> 00:44:29,399
Speaker 1: luck and because there's a good chance they're gonna play

851
00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:32,719
Speaker 1: the Chiefs in the first round, they're a little frisky.

852
00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:35,560
Speaker 1: They might be. I'm hoping for that luck going to

853
00:44:35,719 --> 00:44:39,480
Speaker 1: Denver game. Wouldn't that be fun? A little Payton versus

854
00:44:39,520 --> 00:44:43,640
Speaker 1: the Colts and we're getting Colts Saturday morning playoff action

855
00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:46,440
Speaker 1: Saturday morning morning? How about that? That would be a

856
00:44:46,440 --> 00:44:49,640
Speaker 1: new one. Let's talk Denver Oakland to our prior. Starting

857
00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:52,520
Speaker 1: in this game, the Broncos will need to win this

858
00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:55,320
Speaker 1: game and play all out to get the one seed.

859
00:44:56,360 --> 00:45:00,759
Speaker 1: Do we think the Raiders, on their perfect day defensively

860
00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:03,600
Speaker 1: could give the Broncos a little bit of trouble. Yes,

861
00:45:04,080 --> 00:45:08,360
Speaker 1: you do do? Yeah? Why is that Pat Simms? Pat Simms?

862
00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:12,799
Speaker 1: Pat Sims on the Chargers last week? Okay, I don't know.

863
00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:15,880
Speaker 1: I've seen Pat Sims like two games a year, take

864
00:45:15,960 --> 00:45:19,040
Speaker 1: over games, and the other fourteen games just disappears. This

865
00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:21,440
Speaker 1: guy's like the big Daddy Dan Wilkinson of his air.

866
00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:24,200
Speaker 1: This is why you listen to the Around the League podcast.

867
00:45:24,239 --> 00:45:27,279
Speaker 1: Everyone else is talking Romo and Rogers and we're going

868
00:45:27,320 --> 00:45:29,960
Speaker 1: Pat Simms. I'd be more comfortable if they had a

869
00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:34,759
Speaker 1: twenty four year old Phil Simms. Uh. Pat Simms is

870
00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:37,880
Speaker 1: not going to get it done here alone against Denver.

871
00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:41,080
Speaker 1: This game is a whitewash, and I think Peyton Manning

872
00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:44,480
Speaker 1: wants to roll up some more numbers and put that

873
00:45:44,520 --> 00:45:46,319
Speaker 1: record out of reason. Do you think he cares about that?

874
00:45:46,440 --> 00:45:48,799
Speaker 1: I totally do. Why do you think he's wearing a

875
00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:51,520
Speaker 1: wire last week? You know? Oh, it just happens to

876
00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:53,560
Speaker 1: be wearing a wire. And I'm not blaming him for

877
00:45:53,719 --> 00:45:56,560
Speaker 1: I love the fact that Peyton Manning cares about the

878
00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,040
Speaker 1: history of the game. He cares about all the people

879
00:45:59,080 --> 00:46:01,560
Speaker 1: that come before, and he's into it. That's what we

880
00:46:01,600 --> 00:46:03,600
Speaker 1: want out of our players. But I do think it matters,

881
00:46:03,600 --> 00:46:05,640
Speaker 1: and I think in the in the back of his head. Look,

882
00:46:05,640 --> 00:46:08,640
Speaker 1: he'll probably throw three or four touchdowns anyways, but hey,

883
00:46:08,680 --> 00:46:10,520
Speaker 1: it's not the worst thing in the world to drop

884
00:46:10,640 --> 00:46:13,160
Speaker 1: fifty five on the board. Try to beat that Tom

885
00:46:13,160 --> 00:46:15,360
Speaker 1: Brady next year. It does help us not to have

886
00:46:15,400 --> 00:46:18,839
Speaker 1: to see brock Osweller this week. Yes, and Peyton Manning

887
00:46:18,920 --> 00:46:21,040
Speaker 1: is still rankled about the cool weather thing. I think

888
00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:24,319
Speaker 1: he's this is in his head in a good way.

889
00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:27,480
Speaker 1: He wants to prove people wrong. And let's be honest,

890
00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:30,799
Speaker 1: sitting before the playoffs didn't work out for him. They're

891
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:33,600
Speaker 1: gonna get a buy so they have next week off.

892
00:46:33,640 --> 00:46:37,360
Speaker 1: They want to go in feeling good about their offense.

893
00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:39,200
Speaker 1: I think they're gonna be looking to put up a

894
00:46:39,200 --> 00:46:41,920
Speaker 1: big number to get that one seed. The Patriots have

895
00:46:41,920 --> 00:46:44,080
Speaker 1: an outside chance at the one seed. They would need

896
00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:46,839
Speaker 1: Denver to lose and to beat Buffalo. It's a tough

897
00:46:46,880 --> 00:46:50,680
Speaker 1: matchup for the Patriots offense, who got back, you know,

898
00:46:50,760 --> 00:46:53,800
Speaker 1: in gear last week in Baltimore. They're gonna be playing

899
00:46:54,040 --> 00:46:57,640
Speaker 1: that Lewis in the Buffalo Bills. EJ. Manuel is gonna

900
00:46:57,760 --> 00:46:59,919
Speaker 1: miss this game once again. Do you think the bill

901
00:47:00,239 --> 00:47:05,440
Speaker 1: defense can at least keep this game close. No, not

902
00:47:05,560 --> 00:47:07,759
Speaker 1: on the road. I think there are different defense at

903
00:47:07,880 --> 00:47:11,000
Speaker 1: home versus the road. I wouldn't trust them to keep

904
00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:13,080
Speaker 1: this game close. I think the issue I know. I

905
00:47:13,120 --> 00:47:15,680
Speaker 1: went back and watched that game again too, and Thad Lewis,

906
00:47:15,760 --> 00:47:18,120
Speaker 1: who honestly didn't look as good as he did when

907
00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:20,239
Speaker 1: he came in the middle of the year. He he

908
00:47:20,440 --> 00:47:25,600
Speaker 1: was missing h routine dump offs, he was overthrowing guys

909
00:47:25,640 --> 00:47:28,880
Speaker 1: by ten fifteen yards. He he kind of warmed up

910
00:47:28,880 --> 00:47:30,960
Speaker 1: and made some plays, but I don't I don't like

911
00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:34,399
Speaker 1: what that offense did at all last week. I don't know, though.

912
00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:37,520
Speaker 1: This game has a strange sort of tone to me.

913
00:47:37,560 --> 00:47:40,200
Speaker 1: I could see New England struggling a little bit, not losing,

914
00:47:40,239 --> 00:47:42,319
Speaker 1: but having to It's not going to be one of

915
00:47:42,360 --> 00:47:45,920
Speaker 1: these thirty seven to seven Brady cake walks. I think

916
00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:50,200
Speaker 1: it'll be thirteen to six at halftime, and then the

917
00:47:50,239 --> 00:47:52,600
Speaker 1: Patriots will roll a little bit in the second half.

918
00:47:52,680 --> 00:47:54,600
Speaker 1: That the way to beat the PA. I'm as a

919
00:47:54,600 --> 00:47:58,440
Speaker 1: Patriots fan, I'm scared of any great quarterback because I

920
00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:01,480
Speaker 1: think this defense is a huge problem right now. But

921
00:48:01,520 --> 00:48:03,840
Speaker 1: they can win games because of their coaching and because

922
00:48:03,840 --> 00:48:06,480
Speaker 1: of Tom Brady. If you don't have a great quarterback,

923
00:48:06,640 --> 00:48:08,879
Speaker 1: and that's why the a f C playoffs shakes up

924
00:48:09,000 --> 00:48:10,960
Speaker 1: pretty well for them to at least get to the

925
00:48:11,040 --> 00:48:14,000
Speaker 1: championship game. I think they will will win this game.

926
00:48:14,040 --> 00:48:18,279
Speaker 1: They have not traditionally blown these sort of games to

927
00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:20,520
Speaker 1: blow a bye, and they've been talking we need this

928
00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:22,719
Speaker 1: by all week long. You know, it's a huge thing

929
00:48:22,760 --> 00:48:26,320
Speaker 1: to get to the second round. They should win. Finally,

930
00:48:26,719 --> 00:48:28,720
Speaker 1: you know, we we talked, we planned the show ahead

931
00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:32,200
Speaker 1: ahead of time. Sometimes it's not all just improvised, and

932
00:48:32,280 --> 00:48:36,400
Speaker 1: we thought, what's how can we close the regular season

933
00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:39,919
Speaker 1: strong on these Friday podcasts, And we just thought, there's

934
00:48:39,960 --> 00:48:46,080
Speaker 1: only one option for the last game, Tennessee versus Houston Titans.

935
00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:50,880
Speaker 1: Texans get excited. It might be case Keenom's last career start.

936
00:48:51,880 --> 00:48:55,359
Speaker 1: He will start if his thumb alloles. The Texans are

937
00:48:55,400 --> 00:48:58,600
Speaker 1: down to their fifth string running back Jonathan Grimes signed

938
00:48:58,600 --> 00:49:01,439
Speaker 1: off the street two weeks ago, backed up by Ray

939
00:49:01,480 --> 00:49:05,239
Speaker 1: Graham's signed off the street this week. They're running out

940
00:49:05,280 --> 00:49:08,600
Speaker 1: of bodies in Texas. Graham and Grimes. I feel like

941
00:49:08,640 --> 00:49:11,839
Speaker 1: there's a T shirt opportunity in Houston. It's exciting. Well,

942
00:49:11,880 --> 00:49:15,520
Speaker 1: that sounds like it's it's potentially too late for Mike

943
00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:19,800
Speaker 1: munt Chak to change anyone's mind at this point, so

944
00:49:19,880 --> 00:49:22,040
Speaker 1: we don't know, but you know, it's it sounds like

945
00:49:22,080 --> 00:49:26,040
Speaker 1: both of these teams half that division is changing massively

946
00:49:26,040 --> 00:49:29,120
Speaker 1: and it's starting right here. Let's truncate this game and

947
00:49:29,120 --> 00:49:33,200
Speaker 1: talk about some referees. Okay, So this has been the

948
00:49:33,280 --> 00:49:35,799
Speaker 1: year of everyone's saying the refs are terrible. It's been

949
00:49:35,920 --> 00:49:38,480
Speaker 1: a theme on on Twitter all year. I've got some

950
00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:41,560
Speaker 1: referee rankings for you. Okay, that the door has opened,

951
00:49:41,920 --> 00:49:46,840
Speaker 1: A shadowy league figure has entered the room. He's holding

952
00:49:46,840 --> 00:49:50,680
Speaker 1: a whistle and a noose. That's very strange. All right,

953
00:49:51,600 --> 00:49:54,239
Speaker 1: if your teams in the playoffs, you're gonna want Jene

954
00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:57,520
Speaker 1: Sterrator ref in your game. Best ref in the NFL.

955
00:49:58,200 --> 00:50:00,840
Speaker 1: This guy is great. We won't talk about Jeff Triplet.

956
00:50:01,760 --> 00:50:04,319
Speaker 1: He makes a call and you feel confident that, yeah,

957
00:50:04,400 --> 00:50:08,160
Speaker 1: he knows what's going. Oh yeah, Sterritor is great. He's

958
00:50:08,200 --> 00:50:10,440
Speaker 1: never had a Super Bowl assignment. I think this is

959
00:50:10,480 --> 00:50:15,360
Speaker 1: the year. Let's get start already. Who will be I

960
00:50:15,400 --> 00:50:17,840
Speaker 1: don't know, but but I knew this morning when I

961
00:50:17,880 --> 00:50:20,200
Speaker 1: had a strong opinion on referees that I've watched way

962
00:50:20,239 --> 00:50:25,319
Speaker 1: too many football games. They announced the referee and playoff assignments,

963
00:50:25,880 --> 00:50:27,520
Speaker 1: you know, after the end of the regular season, because

964
00:50:27,560 --> 00:50:29,560
Speaker 1: they do it based on their grades, the grades all

965
00:50:29,560 --> 00:50:33,759
Speaker 1: the refs, and the top the top one gets. If

966
00:50:33,760 --> 00:50:37,320
Speaker 1: Sterritor is not number one, somebody's not watching the games, Plando,

967
00:50:37,400 --> 00:50:40,040
Speaker 1: get it, get it in order. Closing even stronger than Titans.

968
00:50:40,040 --> 00:50:44,239
Speaker 1: Texans closing with referee Tom Frankins. It was. It was

969
00:50:44,239 --> 00:50:46,920
Speaker 1: a pleasure this regular season. But we'll be back next week,

970
00:50:47,400 --> 00:50:50,440
Speaker 1: even a little earlier on Tuesday with the podcast. We'll

971
00:50:50,440 --> 00:50:53,160
Speaker 1: talk about all the coaching changes, will start to look

972
00:50:53,200 --> 00:50:56,240
Speaker 1: ahead to the playoffs, will have a big playoff preview

973
00:50:56,280 --> 00:50:59,560
Speaker 1: on Thursday. Are schedules changing just a little for the

974
00:50:59,560 --> 00:51:02,920
Speaker 1: playoff us and uh, it was a pleasure, you know,

975
00:51:03,239 --> 00:51:05,439
Speaker 1: taking over for Dan, But I'll be excited when he's

976
00:51:05,480 --> 00:51:09,960
Speaker 1: back in the host chair for Zach. The gold standard

977
00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:12,960
Speaker 1: behind the glass, Dan Hansas calling in Kevin Patra on

978
00:51:13,040 --> 00:51:18,480
Speaker 1: the road back home to Chicago, Mark Sessler and Chris Westley.

979
00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:21,160
Speaker 1: I'm Greg Rosendal. We will talk to you Son