WEBVTT - #20: What's next for ELIMINATED Teams? 0:00:04.743 --> 0:00:07.303 NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in 0:00:07.383 --> 0:00:08.903 partnership with iHeartRadio. 0:00:09.583 --> 0:00:11.263 We are so close to the Super Bowl. 0:00:11.383 --> 0:00:14.943 Yes, it is Championship weekend, looking forward to some great games. 0:00:15.063 --> 0:00:17.703 We got our final four squads. Mike am Eric at home. 0:00:17.543 --> 0:00:19.743 With you a deep dive and a preview of what 0:00:19.863 --> 0:00:22.703 transpired in the divisional round and what to expect this 0:00:22.903 --> 0:00:25.663 upcoming weekend. Eric, I want to take a look at 0:00:25.663 --> 0:00:27.983 your rankings top four. A little bit of a change 0:00:28.063 --> 0:00:30.623 here with the Kansas City Chiefs at one, the Bills 0:00:30.663 --> 0:00:34.143 at two, the Commanders rising to three, and the Eagles 0:00:34.183 --> 0:00:36.783 at four. But let's do the dive here on Kansas 0:00:36.783 --> 0:00:39.743 City played with a little bit of fire in some metrics, 0:00:39.783 --> 0:00:42.063 got out played by the Houston Texans. Is the only 0:00:42.063 --> 0:00:45.183 thing that matters is we're talking about them surviving and advancing. 0:00:45.743 --> 0:00:47.623 Yeah, right, I think you do have to factor in 0:00:47.663 --> 0:00:49.903 that layoff too. I mean, obviously a long time off 0:00:49.943 --> 0:00:51.703 great for the body, great for the mind and sold 0:00:51.703 --> 0:00:53.863 and all that, but also when you get back into action, 0:00:53.943 --> 0:00:56.423 it takes a little while to get those gears grinding. 0:00:56.463 --> 0:00:59.303 But still, yeah, I remember somebody saying of a great quarterback. 0:00:59.303 --> 0:01:01.423 I think it was Tom Brady, correct me if I'm wrong. 0:01:01.663 --> 0:01:04.343 They're not playing football anymore. They're just figuring out how 0:01:04.343 --> 0:01:06.543 to win in games, right, And that applies to Andy 0:01:06.583 --> 0:01:08.823 Reid or Bill Belichick or any of the great coaches too. 0:01:08.903 --> 0:01:12.023 But I really think Reid Mahomes did that on Saturday. 0:01:12.063 --> 0:01:13.583 I think you're going to see them try to do 0:01:13.623 --> 0:01:16.583 that on Sunday against the Bills too. They've gotten so 0:01:16.663 --> 0:01:20.103 good at their craft. Maybe it doesn't reflect on the scoreboard, 0:01:20.143 --> 0:01:22.823 but this is a team that oftentimes is in complete control. 0:01:22.943 --> 0:01:25.263 Even when they're out gained by one hundred and twenty 0:01:25.303 --> 0:01:27.783 four yards and almost one hundred yards on the ground, 0:01:27.983 --> 0:01:30.143 your opponent doesn't turn the ball over and you still 0:01:30.143 --> 0:01:32.583 find a way to win. Look, that to me is 0:01:32.663 --> 0:01:35.663 still a skill that doesn't always exist in the NFL. 0:01:35.703 --> 0:01:38.503 And you think about the defense, stepping up early, stepping 0:01:38.543 --> 0:01:41.263 up late, special teams, three made field goals, and a 0:01:41.263 --> 0:01:42.783 block to kick as well. 0:01:43.103 --> 0:01:44.223 Just enough offensively. 0:01:44.623 --> 0:01:47.343 Look, it's a pretty good formula, all things considered, even 0:01:47.383 --> 0:01:49.063 if it isn't the flashest thing in the world. 0:01:49.383 --> 0:01:49.583 Yeah. 0:01:49.583 --> 0:01:51.463 I've used this analogy on a couple shows, and I'll 0:01:51.463 --> 0:01:53.183 throw it your way. I don't know how much of 0:01:53.223 --> 0:01:54.383 a tennis guy you are. 0:01:54.503 --> 0:01:56.183 But there's some players that have. 0:01:56.223 --> 0:01:59.223 Like these huge serves, huge fourhands, huge backhands. And then 0:01:59.263 --> 0:02:01.623 you got another group of players who just don't make mistakes, 0:02:01.623 --> 0:02:03.263 and they're going to wait for you to go and 0:02:03.263 --> 0:02:06.303 make your mistake. I think Kansas City has got that 0:02:06.543 --> 0:02:09.703 vibe in them. But when you get to a championship weekend, 0:02:09.703 --> 0:02:11.943 when you get to a super Bowl, is that a 0:02:12.023 --> 0:02:13.543 recipe for success? 0:02:13.583 --> 0:02:16.783 Like what like just keep it close and let fifteen 0:02:16.823 --> 0:02:17.343 do his deal. 0:02:18.623 --> 0:02:18.863 Yeah? 0:02:18.903 --> 0:02:20.663 On the one hand, like you got to remember your 0:02:20.663 --> 0:02:22.623 top gun, right, I mean, Maverick ends up being the 0:02:22.663 --> 0:02:24.783 hero in the end, but Iceman was the guy who 0:02:24.823 --> 0:02:26.743 typically got it done. He was in that sort of 0:02:26.743 --> 0:02:29.143 pole position and he wore people down, right. So I 0:02:29.183 --> 0:02:31.863 guess we're sort of saying that the chiefs everyone sort 0:02:31.903 --> 0:02:32.983 of views him as the enemy. 0:02:33.023 --> 0:02:35.823 Now they've had all this success, they are Iceman. 0:02:35.943 --> 0:02:38.303 They're the guys who just kind of wait for you 0:02:38.383 --> 0:02:40.823 to make that fatal mistake and they pounce on it. 0:02:40.903 --> 0:02:41.903 So we'll see. 0:02:41.903 --> 0:02:44.103 I don't know if the bills are quite Maverick anymore, 0:02:44.143 --> 0:02:46.583 then we'll we'll have to address that subject and figure 0:02:46.583 --> 0:02:49.743 that one out too, They've played a lot of smart, safe, 0:02:49.743 --> 0:02:51.463 conservative ball to get where they're at. 0:02:51.863 --> 0:02:53.383 I love where you just went with that. No one 0:02:53.423 --> 0:02:54.783 a bigger top Gun fan than me. 0:02:54.863 --> 0:02:58.183 And I'm not talking about Maverick the remake in right, 0:02:58.303 --> 0:02:59.983 I feel like it's bad for me to say this. 0:03:00.103 --> 0:03:02.423 I think there's an argument Maverick was better than the original. 0:03:02.623 --> 0:03:04.663 I don't know if I would go on record to 0:03:04.463 --> 0:03:06.783 say that, but there is at least a compelling argument 0:03:06.863 --> 0:03:07.223 for it. 0:03:07.463 --> 0:03:08.503 You kind of just did, Mike. 0:03:09.263 --> 0:03:10.903 It's just wild. It was so good. 0:03:10.943 --> 0:03:12.943 I'd been waiting, like, you know, twenty some odd years 0:03:12.943 --> 0:03:15.183 for that movie to come out here, and we finally 0:03:15.223 --> 0:03:17.823 got it and it delivered. What's the story, though, what's 0:03:17.863 --> 0:03:20.463 the story for this Kansas City team? In your mind? 0:03:20.703 --> 0:03:21.343 Looking ahead? 0:03:21.423 --> 0:03:23.063 Is this a super Bowl winning team? 0:03:23.343 --> 0:03:25.303 Look? I think they have all the elements. 0:03:25.303 --> 0:03:27.623 Again, it's not going to be the fireworks show that 0:03:27.663 --> 0:03:28.943 we often saw in the past. 0:03:28.943 --> 0:03:29.823 But they've evolved. 0:03:29.823 --> 0:03:32.303 You know, they understand that they're going to get everybody's 0:03:32.503 --> 0:03:34.543 best shot, and they know that they can win those 0:03:34.623 --> 0:03:37.503 quite close, tight games because they've been in so many 0:03:37.503 --> 0:03:39.423 of them. They've been in these in these playoff settings. 0:03:39.423 --> 0:03:42.263 That's why they're have such a good record sixteen and three, 0:03:42.263 --> 0:03:44.743 I think uner mahomes in the divisional rounds. So you 0:03:44.783 --> 0:03:48.503 know that that obviously lends to their big game preparation. 0:03:48.943 --> 0:03:51.303 You know they're they're kind of focus and equanimity in 0:03:51.343 --> 0:03:54.463 those situations. And you know, right now I'd say, I 0:03:54.503 --> 0:03:56.383 think you'd say the Bills are the team they're trying 0:03:56.423 --> 0:03:58.463 to prove they have that and that they can match 0:03:58.503 --> 0:04:01.583 what the Kansas City Chiefs bring seemingly every playoff game 0:04:01.583 --> 0:04:02.183 they go out there. 0:04:02.423 --> 0:04:04.383 All right, I'm glad you bring up Buffalo. You're number 0:04:04.383 --> 0:04:06.223 two squad. I will be honest with you. I have 0:04:06.263 --> 0:04:08.303 won on a bunch of our shows that I've done, 0:04:08.343 --> 0:04:10.703 and I had Baltimore, and I said Baltimore would be 0:04:10.743 --> 0:04:12.743 my pick to win the Super Bowl. Heading into last week. 0:04:12.783 --> 0:04:15.303 I thought they were the most complete team. They didn't 0:04:15.303 --> 0:04:17.783 get it done. And speaking of waiting for your opponent 0:04:17.823 --> 0:04:20.663 to make mistakes, I mean Baltimore made plenty of mistakes 0:04:20.663 --> 0:04:22.023 in that game. And that's the reason why we're talking 0:04:22.063 --> 0:04:25.143 about this Bills team surviving and advancing. 0:04:25.303 --> 0:04:27.023 How impressed were you though. 0:04:27.303 --> 0:04:29.103 With the win that Buffalo had And I know it's 0:04:29.103 --> 0:04:31.303 a home game, but I don't know. I don't want 0:04:31.303 --> 0:04:32.743 to put words in your mouth, but I felt like 0:04:32.783 --> 0:04:34.183 you were viving with me a little bit, and you 0:04:34.263 --> 0:04:36.583 liked the Ravens in this matchup heading into the weekend. 0:04:37.503 --> 0:04:40.103 Yeah, I definitely thought the Ravens had a great chance 0:04:40.143 --> 0:04:42.223 to win, and they obviously did the way it played out, 0:04:42.263 --> 0:04:44.543 even even with the turnovers, even with the miss two 0:04:44.583 --> 0:04:47.303 point conversion. So you know, I don't know that this 0:04:47.343 --> 0:04:49.223 Buffalo win you put it up in the all time 0:04:49.263 --> 0:04:52.663 annals for its beauty and its level of dominance or 0:04:52.703 --> 0:04:54.983 anything like that. But again, you know, we kind of 0:04:55.023 --> 0:04:56.663 go back to what we said with the Chiefs, which 0:04:56.703 --> 0:04:59.663 is when your opponents make mistakes, you have to capitalize. 0:04:59.663 --> 0:05:02.823 They didn't on the interception. Interestingly, they didn't on the 0:05:02.863 --> 0:05:05.623 first possession of the second half, and they settle for 0:05:05.663 --> 0:05:08.263 the field goal kind of on the doorstep of the 0:05:08.383 --> 0:05:11.143 end zone. There was a really interesting call from Sean McDermott. 0:05:11.183 --> 0:05:12.103 I rode after the game. 0:05:12.143 --> 0:05:14.903 I thought, maybe this was a mistake, even though it 0:05:14.983 --> 0:05:18.343 worked out right, process over results and all that. 0:05:18.583 --> 0:05:21.383 So I don't know. I think they did what they 0:05:21.423 --> 0:05:22.023 had to do. 0:05:22.223 --> 0:05:24.663 I think there is some concern about that Buffalo defense, 0:05:24.703 --> 0:05:26.943 But they can play heavy and play tough in the 0:05:26.983 --> 0:05:27.503 run game. 0:05:27.703 --> 0:05:30.663 They can control the clock. You know, they'll go big personnel. 0:05:30.703 --> 0:05:32.983 They obviously saw what the Texans did running the football, 0:05:33.023 --> 0:05:34.383 and I think we'll try to mirror. 0:05:34.063 --> 0:05:35.503 Some of that in the game Sunday. 0:05:35.543 --> 0:05:38.183 But it really does boil down to what Josh Allen 0:05:38.223 --> 0:05:40.343 could do in those key moments. Will they loosen the 0:05:40.343 --> 0:05:42.943 belt a little bit and get more aggressive and let 0:05:43.023 --> 0:05:45.503 him kind of create and throw more vertically too. We 0:05:45.503 --> 0:05:47.463 didn't really see much of it after that first drive. 0:05:47.823 --> 0:05:49.023 Yeah, do you think a lot of that had to 0:05:49.063 --> 0:05:50.863 do with what their conditions, Because I'm with you, I 0:05:51.143 --> 0:05:52.903 thought we'd see some more explosive in this. 0:05:52.903 --> 0:05:57.423 Game weather conditions. You know, obviously the way Baltimore's cover him. 0:05:57.463 --> 0:05:58.783 You never want to sort of put the ball in 0:05:58.783 --> 0:06:02.583 near Kyle Hamilton anytime, you know he's sort of roaming 0:06:02.623 --> 0:06:05.463 a little bit. But yeah, also as the fact the 0:06:05.463 --> 0:06:08.223 Bills don't have quite the explosive weapons we're used to, 0:06:08.303 --> 0:06:09.783 some of the stuff is schemed up. 0:06:10.183 --> 0:06:11.863 Some of it is a response to what the Bills 0:06:11.863 --> 0:06:12.743 can do in the run game. 0:06:12.863 --> 0:06:14.783 So yeah, a lot of factors that I'll be just 0:06:14.983 --> 0:06:17.023 to see if the game playing changes at all, or 0:06:17.023 --> 0:06:20.103 if the game's script is any different against the Chiefs. 0:06:20.343 --> 0:06:22.143 Yeah, you've had a close eye on this Bills team 0:06:22.143 --> 0:06:23.823 the last couple of years. I look at this roster 0:06:23.863 --> 0:06:25.463 and I look at where they are right now. 0:06:26.063 --> 0:06:27.303 Do you see this team? 0:06:27.463 --> 0:06:30.503 Is maybe this the best chance to beat this Kansas 0:06:30.503 --> 0:06:33.783 City squad? And I will say maybe less about what 0:06:34.063 --> 0:06:36.263 Buffalo is because I think some of these rosters in 0:06:36.263 --> 0:06:38.303 previous years might have been better than this one. But 0:06:38.343 --> 0:06:40.383 from a team perspective, like they're winning games and this 0:06:40.423 --> 0:06:43.383 team might be better, but in conjunction with Kansas City 0:06:43.663 --> 0:06:47.063 maybe looking like there's like this much room for them 0:06:47.063 --> 0:06:47.703 to lose a game. 0:06:48.703 --> 0:06:50.623 Yeah, I mean, I think it's an interesting point. 0:06:50.663 --> 0:06:53.503 You might argue that the thirteen seconds team at a 0:06:53.503 --> 0:06:55.823 better shock given the odds of trying to win that 0:06:55.863 --> 0:06:58.023 one a couple of years ago. Didn't work out, as 0:06:58.023 --> 0:07:00.703 we know. But to your point, they're so balanced and 0:07:00.743 --> 0:07:03.023 they can win in different ways. Even the defense can 0:07:03.103 --> 0:07:05.503 kind of take on different forms. But you know, we 0:07:05.543 --> 0:07:07.983 saw Sunday that, look, it doesn't have to be about 0:07:08.063 --> 0:07:11.783 Josh Allen airing it out and making all those crazy plays. 0:07:11.903 --> 0:07:14.383 And we talked about a minute ago that goal line 0:07:14.423 --> 0:07:17.503 possession where you know, the play before the decision to 0:07:17.583 --> 0:07:19.423 kick the field goal, Josh kind of turned around and 0:07:19.423 --> 0:07:20.863 almost looked like, Hey, I'm. 0:07:20.703 --> 0:07:23.183 Going to toss it back to Cook and maybe make 0:07:23.183 --> 0:07:24.063 a crazy play. 0:07:24.383 --> 0:07:26.503 Everyone in their mind saying, don't do it right, and 0:07:26.543 --> 0:07:29.143 I think the old Josh might have. But they don't 0:07:29.223 --> 0:07:32.063 kill themselves with turnovers, they don't kill themselves with sacks, 0:07:32.303 --> 0:07:34.143 and they have a defense that can take the football 0:07:34.183 --> 0:07:38.183 away from you. So from that perspective, that formula, and 0:07:38.183 --> 0:07:41.423 we've seen how much time of possession and turnover battle 0:07:41.503 --> 0:07:44.503 means in the playoffs so far. Yeah, that could say 0:07:44.543 --> 0:07:45.303 a lot on Sunday. 0:07:45.503 --> 0:07:48.743 As you see the trajectory of the Commanders. Back in 0:07:48.783 --> 0:07:51.023 week number two, you had them as the twenty ninth 0:07:51.063 --> 0:07:53.543 ranked team. There was a steady rise though they were 0:07:53.583 --> 0:07:55.583 seven and two. In week number nine they had won 0:07:55.623 --> 0:07:57.823 three straight games. You had them up to five, then 0:07:57.863 --> 0:08:01.143 it was eleven in week thirteen. In week eighteen, they'd 0:08:01.143 --> 0:08:04.103 fallen back a little bit into that eighth position, and 0:08:04.143 --> 0:08:06.943 then here we are, they are the third ranked team 0:08:07.063 --> 0:08:09.423 in the land. It is time for power Moves and 0:08:09.463 --> 0:08:12.943 it is presented by Energizer. Let's do a deeper dive 0:08:13.143 --> 0:08:14.583 on this Commander squad. 0:08:15.143 --> 0:08:16.303 Where do we begin here? 0:08:16.423 --> 0:08:18.623 Is it as simple as just going dude, they got 0:08:18.703 --> 0:08:21.743 Jaden Daniels moment doesn't seem too big for him. I 0:08:21.823 --> 0:08:23.583 can't get over that they beat the Lions, and by 0:08:23.583 --> 0:08:26.143 the way, not just win, win the way that they did. 0:08:26.263 --> 0:08:28.823 I mean it was essentially in all phases of the game. 0:08:30.343 --> 0:08:33.623 Absolutely, from that first stop on defense right the three 0:08:33.663 --> 0:08:35.863 and out to start the game, and then obviously coming 0:08:35.943 --> 0:08:39.383 down and starting what became an offensive flourish. I think 0:08:39.383 --> 0:08:41.303 you saw a team with no panic, a team that 0:08:41.703 --> 0:08:44.063 by that point had expected to be there and thought, 0:08:44.503 --> 0:08:48.063 let's outline the Lions right, let's take their game to them, 0:08:48.503 --> 0:08:53.543 you know, play action pass, Daniels evading pressure and also defensively, boy, 0:08:53.583 --> 0:08:56.543 getting after Jared Goff the way they did and obviously 0:08:56.583 --> 0:08:59.063 forcing him into some bad decisions too, was great. But 0:08:59.463 --> 0:09:02.183 it really obviously does start with what they do offensively. 0:09:02.543 --> 0:09:05.583 You know, multiple receivers who can help you out valued 0:09:05.623 --> 0:09:08.383 tight end and zach Ertz. You know, the offensive line, 0:09:08.423 --> 0:09:10.903 even without Samuel Cosmy that he gets to suffer to 0:09:10.903 --> 0:09:13.343 torn acl in that game, that's gonna be a big loss. 0:09:13.423 --> 0:09:17.423 But they're very multiple on offense. Cliff Kingsbury's designed this 0:09:17.463 --> 0:09:20.503 thing beautifully to parlay to the strengths of Daniels and 0:09:21.223 --> 0:09:24.143 you know, the defense, while shorthanded at times and with 0:09:24.263 --> 0:09:26.823 holes that we can obviously point to, I say they're 0:09:26.863 --> 0:09:28.903 doing a darn good job for what they have right now. 0:09:29.223 --> 0:09:33.223 Yeah, I'm not going to insult a Washington commander's fan 0:09:33.343 --> 0:09:34.623 base by saying can they win? 0:09:34.823 --> 0:09:36.143 They absolutely can win. 0:09:36.183 --> 0:09:38.383 There's gonna be another meeting, a third meeting against the 0:09:38.383 --> 0:09:41.303 Philadelphia squad that can happen. I should have started with this, 0:09:41.383 --> 0:09:44.303 especially coming off that trajectory of this team. But at 0:09:44.343 --> 0:09:47.983 what point did you say this was actually possible? Maybe 0:09:48.023 --> 0:09:49.823 you didn't, but was there a point this season where 0:09:49.823 --> 0:09:53.023 you said, yeah, playing in an NFC championship game, Washington, 0:09:53.143 --> 0:09:53.663 I buy it. 0:09:54.903 --> 0:09:55.143 Yeah. 0:09:55.223 --> 0:09:56.863 I don't know that I thought it then, but I 0:09:56.903 --> 0:09:59.343 remember watching the you know, the comebacks early in the 0:09:59.423 --> 0:10:02.223 season and watching them seemingly in control in these games, 0:10:02.223 --> 0:10:04.183 whether it was the Bengals game or the Bears game, 0:10:04.263 --> 0:10:07.943 or several others along the way. I thought, dan Quinn 0:10:07.983 --> 0:10:11.143 has these guys believing. You know, Adam Peters went out 0:10:11.143 --> 0:10:14.263 and got a ton of hungry veterans and young players 0:10:14.263 --> 0:10:16.783 who had yet to kind of be able to prove themselves, 0:10:16.823 --> 0:10:19.383 and I think they've all fit in really nicely. And again, 0:10:19.423 --> 0:10:21.663 there are some positions and spots on the roster where 0:10:21.703 --> 0:10:24.743 you say, okay, it's kind of tape together a little bit, 0:10:24.943 --> 0:10:27.343 some stuff to work on in the offseason. But at 0:10:27.343 --> 0:10:29.103 the same time, when you have a quarterback playing with 0:10:29.143 --> 0:10:31.703 this kind of confidence, and you have an offensive coordinator 0:10:31.943 --> 0:10:34.143 you know, fully locked in with his guy as well, 0:10:34.543 --> 0:10:36.943 and a coach who is just s aggressive as the 0:10:36.983 --> 0:10:39.943 Lions and anybody else out there, and the success rate 0:10:40.023 --> 0:10:42.543 is incredibly high, you know, I mean, you just saw 0:10:42.543 --> 0:10:45.063 it grow as the season went on. Again, the NFC 0:10:45.143 --> 0:10:47.503 was shaky enough for me to think, you know, even 0:10:47.543 --> 0:10:51.543 with fifteen win teams like the Lions and the Vikings 0:10:51.583 --> 0:10:55.023 having great regular seasons, you know, they had enough shakiness too, 0:10:55.023 --> 0:10:57.463 and to make me think that a wildcard team like 0:10:57.543 --> 0:10:59.743 the Bucks or the Commanders could come along and kind 0:10:59.783 --> 0:11:00.783 of spoil the party. 0:11:00.543 --> 0:11:00.983 A little bit. 0:11:01.303 --> 0:11:03.343 Yeah, I'm a fool, because I actually thought the Bucks 0:11:03.343 --> 0:11:03.863 were going to win. 0:11:04.943 --> 0:11:07.623 Between those teams most did what do what exactly? 0:11:07.823 --> 0:11:10.703 What do I know they will match up the Commanders 0:11:10.703 --> 0:11:13.143 that is against the Philadelphia Eagles, who do move up 0:11:13.143 --> 0:11:15.343 a spot they set fourth in the rankings. Right now, 0:11:15.423 --> 0:11:18.463 I know concerns about Jalen Hurts injury. This is a 0:11:18.503 --> 0:11:21.223 tough game. Rams had an opportunity late. I thought the Rams. 0:11:21.223 --> 0:11:23.863 Actually I had them picked on Sunday in on game 0:11:23.903 --> 0:11:25.863 day preview, I have picked the Rams. So once again, 0:11:25.943 --> 0:11:28.143 clearly don't know what I'm talking about here, but make 0:11:28.463 --> 0:11:30.823 the case from a Philadelphia perspective that they will handle 0:11:30.863 --> 0:11:32.583 business and get back to a Super Bowl. 0:11:32.783 --> 0:11:33.063 Yeah. 0:11:33.103 --> 0:11:35.223 I think the Hurts concern is real, but at the 0:11:35.223 --> 0:11:37.503 same time, it sounds like they're preparing for him to 0:11:37.543 --> 0:11:39.423 start on Sunday, and you know, I think it would 0:11:39.423 --> 0:11:41.663 take a lot or another injury in the game to 0:11:41.743 --> 0:11:43.743 knock him out, So I do expect him out there. 0:11:43.823 --> 0:11:46.423 Quinyon Mitchell obviously, you know his shoulder, We got to 0:11:46.423 --> 0:11:49.143 see what shape he's in. But sounds like he might 0:11:49.183 --> 0:11:51.143 be on the track towards playing too. So that's a 0:11:51.463 --> 0:11:53.743 you know, two elements of good news. They beat the 0:11:53.743 --> 0:11:56.903 Commanders in Philadelphia. Granted, I think this Commander's team has 0:11:57.303 --> 0:11:59.303 come a long way since then and kind of learned 0:11:59.303 --> 0:12:02.183 a lot about themselves and You know, they obviously beat 0:12:02.223 --> 0:12:05.383 the Eagles in Washington, so they at the two games. 0:12:05.423 --> 0:12:07.703 This one's in Philly. You'd like to think that the 0:12:07.703 --> 0:12:09.943 home team has a little edge there. Maybe the snow 0:12:09.983 --> 0:12:12.703 comes back, the cold weather stays and they gained some 0:12:12.783 --> 0:12:15.263 kind of advantage from that. But I think it really 0:12:15.303 --> 0:12:17.543 has to do with It's got to start with Jalen 0:12:17.623 --> 0:12:20.263 Carter in that front up. You know, Nolan Smith too 0:12:20.263 --> 0:12:22.823 has kind of come on, Zach Bond's had a great season. 0:12:22.863 --> 0:12:26.263 All these guys creating pressure from different angles, and I 0:12:26.303 --> 0:12:28.943 think avoiding sacks. On the other side, Jalen Hurts has 0:12:28.983 --> 0:12:32.703 been guilty of taking sacks, not always the offensive lines fault. 0:12:32.983 --> 0:12:35.183 So we've got to see that number come down and 0:12:35.223 --> 0:12:38.303 the pressure for the Eagles come up. Yes, Saquon Barkley 0:12:38.343 --> 0:12:40.823 can can rescue you from some bad situations, as he 0:12:40.863 --> 0:12:43.663 did Sunday, but you'd like to not have to rely 0:12:43.783 --> 0:12:46.583 on him to, you know, sort of sit around and wait, win, 0:12:46.663 --> 0:12:49.983 is Saquon gonna save us here? So finding other sources 0:12:49.983 --> 0:12:51.823 of offense, including aj Brown. 0:12:52.103 --> 0:12:52.823 You know, he made a. 0:12:52.743 --> 0:12:55.543 Big catch Sunday on fourth down, but he's got to 0:12:55.583 --> 0:12:56.943 be more involved in the game plan. 0:12:57.023 --> 0:12:58.703 The chemistry with Hurts has got to be better. 0:12:58.943 --> 0:13:00.823 Yeah, there is a plethora of options there. It's been 0:13:00.863 --> 0:13:02.983 a steady dose of Saquon. Here's what concerns me from 0:13:02.983 --> 0:13:06.543 a Washington defensive perspective. The Rams looked like a better 0:13:06.663 --> 0:13:08.623 defense coming off of the loss that they had. 0:13:08.503 --> 0:13:10.143 In Week twelve against Philadelphia. 0:13:10.263 --> 0:13:12.143 They knew the game plan right, Like they let Saquan 0:13:12.183 --> 0:13:14.423 go for three hundred scrimmage yards in that first meeting. 0:13:14.583 --> 0:13:16.463 He ran for two to fifty five. You got to 0:13:16.463 --> 0:13:18.503 stop him. He ran for two five in this game. 0:13:18.703 --> 0:13:21.823 I mean, if that doesn't tell you how talented Saquan is, 0:13:21.943 --> 0:13:24.303 knowing that he was going to be the defensive game 0:13:24.343 --> 0:13:25.303 plan and he still. 0:13:25.103 --> 0:13:26.183 Balled out, I don't know. 0:13:26.263 --> 0:13:28.183 I mean that's the reason why I'm like, you know, 0:13:28.183 --> 0:13:30.703 if Jalen's still hurt, like all right, good luck, still 0:13:30.703 --> 0:13:31.743 try to stop this dude. 0:13:32.383 --> 0:13:34.143 He is going to be the X factor, no doubt 0:13:34.143 --> 0:13:36.103 about it. I mean, obviously there's no way to ignore it. 0:13:36.143 --> 0:13:38.703 He's been an amazing upgrade for them in the backfield, 0:13:38.903 --> 0:13:41.183 a perfect fit for what they want to do offensively, 0:13:41.423 --> 0:13:44.943 can run inside, outside with power, with finesse, make people miss. 0:13:45.183 --> 0:13:46.823 You know, when you get him in space. That's really 0:13:46.863 --> 0:13:49.703 where the magic happens. And you know, he can hit 0:13:49.743 --> 0:13:51.663 a ton of singles or foul the ball off, or 0:13:51.783 --> 0:13:53.303 you know, not have many greater at bats, and then 0:13:53.343 --> 0:13:55.503 all of a sudden, that home run is just sitting there. 0:13:55.703 --> 0:13:56.023 Again. 0:13:56.103 --> 0:13:58.263 Like you said, I never would have imagined he'd have 0:13:58.303 --> 0:14:00.983 two long bombs in this game against the Rams after 0:14:00.983 --> 0:14:03.583 what he did to him the first time. But sometimes 0:14:03.583 --> 0:14:05.543 the great players can just sort of will their way 0:14:05.543 --> 0:14:07.103 into the end zone in those situations. 0:14:07.423 --> 0:14:09.703 God, and he certainly one of the premier players in 0:14:09.743 --> 0:14:12.623 the NFL. Eric, too, your top four teams they went 0:14:12.743 --> 0:14:14.943 down over the weekend. Still to come here on NFL 0:14:14.983 --> 0:14:18.183 Power Rankings. The fallout of the weekend and where those 0:14:18.383 --> 0:14:28.703 organizations go. That's next, back here on power rankings, teams 0:14:28.743 --> 0:14:32.383 five through eight. Oh, the season that was supposed to 0:14:32.423 --> 0:14:35.143 be for the Detroit Lions, who dropped three spots into 0:14:35.183 --> 0:14:37.783 that fifth position. I once again thought the Ravens were 0:14:37.823 --> 0:14:39.503 the best team in the NFL. Best roster. 0:14:39.983 --> 0:14:41.743 They lose. They dropped two spots to six. 0:14:41.783 --> 0:14:44.703 You got the Rams at seven and the Houston Texans 0:14:44.823 --> 0:14:47.983 at eight. All right, Eric, when it comes to the Lions, 0:14:48.023 --> 0:14:49.623 this was a team that I think candidly a lot 0:14:49.623 --> 0:14:51.223 of people thought were going to be pretty good this year. 0:14:51.223 --> 0:14:53.783 They've been sort of like the darlings of the NFL. 0:14:54.263 --> 0:14:55.903 Now all of a sudden, they're going to have the 0:14:55.943 --> 0:14:58.623 same situation happened to them that the Eagles did a 0:14:58.623 --> 0:15:00.543 few years The only difference was that Philly team got 0:15:00.543 --> 0:15:02.423 to the Super Bowl. They're likely going to lose their 0:15:02.743 --> 0:15:05.303 coordinators here, right, I mean Ben Johnson already talking about 0:15:05.343 --> 0:15:08.023 him a lot of reports accepting that job with the 0:15:08.063 --> 0:15:08.983 Chicago Bears. 0:15:09.263 --> 0:15:11.583 How difficult will it be for them to. 0:15:11.503 --> 0:15:14.903 Get back to this point and then get over the hump, 0:15:15.063 --> 0:15:17.263 play for a championship, then play for a super Bowl. 0:15:18.423 --> 0:15:20.783 Yeah, you make an excellent point drawing the comparison to 0:15:20.783 --> 0:15:22.303 the Eagles a couple of years ago when they had 0:15:22.343 --> 0:15:24.383 a monster of a team and then they nearly took 0:15:24.423 --> 0:15:26.343 down the Chiefs and the Super Bowl and then had 0:15:26.343 --> 0:15:30.063 to replace both their their talented coordinators getting head coaching jobs. 0:15:30.103 --> 0:15:32.023 So that very well could be the case. 0:15:32.063 --> 0:15:35.023 Obviously, Ben Johnson going in the division, having all the 0:15:35.023 --> 0:15:37.703 house secrets and having Caleb Williams, We'll see what can 0:15:37.743 --> 0:15:40.503 happen there. But you know, the core of this Lions 0:15:40.543 --> 0:15:42.663 team is expected to be back, including a lot of 0:15:42.703 --> 0:15:46.223 those defensive players, Aiden Hutchinson, the guys in the secondary, 0:15:46.463 --> 0:15:49.143 other members of the defensive front. They're all coming back. 0:15:49.463 --> 0:15:51.783 You know, players like Jamison Williams still should be very 0:15:51.863 --> 0:15:54.383 much in the peak of their career, you know, Jamiir Gibbs, 0:15:54.383 --> 0:15:55.343 Sam Laporta, etc. 0:15:55.663 --> 0:15:57.223 So the parts are still there. 0:15:57.263 --> 0:16:00.423 But as we know, the wrong coordinator hire, you know, 0:16:01.063 --> 0:16:04.263 you know, hiring somebody or elevating that position prematurely or 0:16:04.303 --> 0:16:06.463 not have a big vision for what they want to do, 0:16:06.743 --> 0:16:09.063 not having their own identity, trying to be too much 0:16:09.143 --> 0:16:11.983 like the last guy. There are so many trapdoors for 0:16:12.023 --> 0:16:15.223 these coaches who get elevated to these positions that you know, 0:16:15.263 --> 0:16:17.943 it could obviously erase an entire season. So, like you said, 0:16:17.943 --> 0:16:21.703