WEBVTT - #19: Heavy Weight matchups! 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. 0:00:09.663 --> 0:00:12.303 Wildcard weekend gave us a lid little bit of drama, 0:00:12.343 --> 0:00:15.343 and yes we are staring down the divisional round of 0:00:15.383 --> 0:00:17.823 the postseason. Welcome to a brand new edition of NFL 0:00:17.903 --> 0:00:20.343 Power Rankings. Mike Ham and Eric at home with you, 0:00:20.423 --> 0:00:22.463 and as always, if you want the complete list and 0:00:22.503 --> 0:00:24.983 analysis of all thirty two teams, you can head to 0:00:25.063 --> 0:00:29.103 NFL dot com. But Eric, I watched the wildcard games. 0:00:29.143 --> 0:00:31.703 I start thinking a certain way about some of these teams. 0:00:31.743 --> 0:00:34.223 But one and two we got chiefs and lines they 0:00:34.263 --> 0:00:36.983 have him played. Are you thinking about those teams differently 0:00:37.143 --> 0:00:38.943 based off of what we saw this past weekend. 0:00:40.183 --> 0:00:43.143 Yeah, and obviously both teams getting some players back from 0:00:43.223 --> 0:00:45.423 injury too. You start with the Lions, We've been talking 0:00:45.423 --> 0:00:49.303 about that defense needing reinforcements as badly as anybody, even 0:00:49.303 --> 0:00:52.223 coming off the great effort against the Viking. So you know, 0:00:52.303 --> 0:00:54.823 getting David Montgomery to help the run game probably helps 0:00:54.863 --> 0:00:57.503 the defense. Terry and Arnold some good vibes on him, 0:00:57.663 --> 0:00:59.823 you know, same thing with Kevin Zeidler, their guard, so 0:01:00.183 --> 0:01:02.383 getting healthier. You got to like that Their chances, but 0:01:02.583 --> 0:01:05.583 tough opponent. With the Commanders right there dealing with a 0:01:05.583 --> 0:01:08.263 ton of confidence right now, coming off their road wind, 0:01:08.503 --> 0:01:10.343 They've had a ton of last second victories, I think 0:01:10.383 --> 0:01:12.983 they're gonna march into Detroit pretty fearless. So I would 0:01:13.023 --> 0:01:15.303 say the Lions have a little bit more of a 0:01:15.383 --> 0:01:18.303 challenge this coming weekend because the Chiefs are also getting 0:01:18.303 --> 0:01:22.143 guys back, you know, Isaiah Pacheco's healthy, Chris Jones. You know, 0:01:22.183 --> 0:01:25.143 maybe the secondary is a little sharper too. So I 0:01:25.143 --> 0:01:27.903 would say with them facing the Texans Detroit having to 0:01:27.943 --> 0:01:31.023 face a really tough Washington team, maybe the edge goes 0:01:31.023 --> 0:01:33.783 to Kansas City in terms of the rest and matchup department. 0:01:34.063 --> 0:01:35.863 Yeah, I mean, last time we saw Patrick Mahomes row 0:01:35.903 --> 0:01:38.943 a touchdown. Got to go back to Christmas last year, 0:01:39.023 --> 0:01:41.583 by the way, really crazy dad joke. And I'll go 0:01:41.663 --> 0:01:44.023 down that path with you and you'll jump on the 0:01:44.023 --> 0:01:46.663 train with me. Let's get to this here, because I 0:01:46.703 --> 0:01:48.783 do want to talk to you about what I think 0:01:49.223 --> 0:01:51.583 is the best matchup of the weekend. We got a 0:01:51.663 --> 0:01:54.183 Ravens team that I would make an argument is the 0:01:54.223 --> 0:01:56.543 favorite of the field, and I get at Kansas City 0:01:56.583 --> 0:01:58.623 fans Detroit fans can throw some hate my way, but 0:01:58.623 --> 0:02:00.823 the Baltimore Ravens are playing as well as anyone in 0:02:00.863 --> 0:02:03.303 the NFL, and they are surging. But the Bills are 0:02:03.303 --> 0:02:06.663 also in that conversation as well, based off of what 0:02:06.743 --> 0:02:08.943 you just saw this past weekend in their games, do 0:02:09.023 --> 0:02:10.863 you agree with me, like, are the Ravens I don't 0:02:10.863 --> 0:02:12.823 want to say clearly, but I would make an argument 0:02:12.823 --> 0:02:14.703 they're the favorite in this game and they should. 0:02:14.383 --> 0:02:17.663 Be frightening team. Absolutely. You'll hear a lot of people say, hey, 0:02:17.703 --> 0:02:20.583 this is the real AFC Championship game, right, And you know, 0:02:20.663 --> 0:02:22.903 you understand why I might push back a little because 0:02:22.903 --> 0:02:24.623 I do think Kansas City is sort of sitting in 0:02:24.623 --> 0:02:27.743 the weeds a little bit and saying, don't forget about us. 0:02:27.783 --> 0:02:30.543 But I think if you just take the play of 0:02:30.583 --> 0:02:33.823 the defense alone, right, Baltimore the first ten games averaging 0:02:34.103 --> 0:02:36.463 three hundred and seventy yards allowed. They were giving up 0:02:36.463 --> 0:02:38.943 big chunks of yard and having to win shootouts or 0:02:38.943 --> 0:02:42.103 occasionally lose them to Mike. But now you've seen them 0:02:42.143 --> 0:02:45.103 shave off about one hundred yards a game the last eight, 0:02:45.423 --> 0:02:48.983 including the playoff win against the Steelers, and so you know, 0:02:49.103 --> 0:02:52.143 just their improvement against Pittsburgh alone, but also everything else, 0:02:52.183 --> 0:02:54.343 the body of work they've shown down the stretch, and 0:02:54.823 --> 0:02:56.303 you know, this is the time of year where Derek 0:02:56.383 --> 0:02:58.663 Henry comes alive. You know, we would love to see 0:02:58.743 --> 0:03:02.743 Lamar Jackson have his best postseason ever. Josh Allen obviously 0:03:02.783 --> 0:03:05.103 has done so much for the Bills, and they're defense 0:03:05.183 --> 0:03:08.223 really responded last week. But yeah, you almost have to 0:03:08.223 --> 0:03:10.503 feel like there's sort of an edge with the Ravens 0:03:10.583 --> 0:03:12.303 right now. They're not in the spot like they're not 0:03:12.343 --> 0:03:14.583 the team everybody's chasing like they were a year ago, 0:03:14.863 --> 0:03:17.503 and they can come into Buffalo a very confident and 0:03:17.623 --> 0:03:18.543 very efficient group. 0:03:18.863 --> 0:03:20.303 You know, I've heard this before, when you got to 0:03:20.303 --> 0:03:22.343 play a team multiple times in the season, we see that. 0:03:22.343 --> 0:03:25.103 Obviously within a division this is not the case. But 0:03:25.143 --> 0:03:27.063 this is the second time these two teams will meet. 0:03:27.343 --> 0:03:31.063 First time, it wasn't all that close, and Derrick Henry 0:03:31.223 --> 0:03:34.543 was a machine in that matchup, and I always reference, 0:03:34.863 --> 0:03:37.583 especially when it comes to this MVP conversation, Well let's 0:03:37.583 --> 0:03:39.223 not forget the head to head does go to Lamar 0:03:39.303 --> 0:03:42.503 Jackson and not Josh Allen. Do we throw the regular 0:03:42.543 --> 0:03:45.383 season matchup because it was so long ago, and because 0:03:45.383 --> 0:03:47.743 it's the postseason where the brand of football is different, 0:03:47.783 --> 0:03:50.263 do we is it even worth referencing what happened last time? 0:03:51.063 --> 0:03:53.023 Yeah? I mean, I think both teams are obviously going 0:03:53.103 --> 0:03:54.943 to start there. When their prep work right, they're going 0:03:54.983 --> 0:03:57.143 to look back at that game what worked, what didn't. 0:03:57.303 --> 0:03:59.823 Certainly for the Bills, the what didn't list is going 0:03:59.903 --> 0:04:01.903 to be a lot longer, and they've got to find 0:04:01.903 --> 0:04:03.783 out a way to stop Henry early in the game. 0:04:03.823 --> 0:04:06.583 That first touchdown run really kind of set the tone 0:04:06.663 --> 0:04:08.863 for the evening. The Bills were up against it all night. 0:04:08.943 --> 0:04:12.183 They started pressing offensively, So I think there are definitely 0:04:12.263 --> 0:04:15.183 lessons to be learned from that game. From the Buffalo perspective, 0:04:15.583 --> 0:04:17.983 Baltimore can't just look at the tape and say, okay, good, 0:04:18.063 --> 0:04:20.383 we've been rolling. We beat him back in week four. 0:04:20.583 --> 0:04:23.143 Everything's good. We're gonna do just fine going into too 0:04:23.183 --> 0:04:26.063 High Mark this weekend. Obviously, I don't expect them to 0:04:26.103 --> 0:04:28.063 do that, and they'll be pretty serious because look, their 0:04:28.383 --> 0:04:32.263 recent postseason record has been overall a little bit disappointing 0:04:32.303 --> 0:04:35.023 considering what we expected at them. So I think there 0:04:35.063 --> 0:04:38.423 are sort of takeaways from that game Buffalo's defense is 0:04:38.463 --> 0:04:40.623 going to be put to the test, no question about it, 0:04:40.823 --> 0:04:44.143 and Baltimore's will too. But again, as you said so 0:04:44.223 --> 0:04:46.463 long ago, how much can we really draw from that 0:04:46.503 --> 0:04:48.543 game and say it's going to extrapolate into this one 0:04:48.583 --> 0:04:49.103 on Sunday? 0:04:49.503 --> 0:04:51.823 I do want to get a little inside baseball with everyone. 0:04:51.863 --> 0:04:55.023 When Eric does his rankings, there is a living, breathing 0:04:55.103 --> 0:04:58.183 document that is in a very fluid situation every single 0:04:58.223 --> 0:05:01.063 week Monday Night. You know, like most of it is 0:05:01.103 --> 0:05:02.823 an intact but then we're waiting for the Monday Night 0:05:02.863 --> 0:05:05.223 results to really fine tune this thing. That was the 0:05:05.263 --> 0:05:08.023 case this week after watching you know, what the Rams 0:05:08.063 --> 0:05:10.823 were able to do against Minnesota. This my first year 0:05:10.863 --> 0:05:12.703 on the show. You've been doing these rankings for a while. 0:05:13.303 --> 0:05:16.903 Is there a path Let's say Baltimore wins, or well, 0:05:16.903 --> 0:05:19.223 one of these teams win or Buffalo wins. Could we 0:05:19.263 --> 0:05:21.743 see one of these teams as potentially next week's number 0:05:21.783 --> 0:05:22.663 one team? 0:05:23.503 --> 0:05:26.743 Absolutely? I even wrote, you know, had the Bills not 0:05:27.383 --> 0:05:30.223 overtaken the Broncos after that kind of slow start there, 0:05:30.623 --> 0:05:32.823 I was prepared to flip flop. I was going to 0:05:32.863 --> 0:05:35.383 put Baltimore ahead of Buffalo, so and I also said, 0:05:35.503 --> 0:05:38.383 you know, even though I left it three four Buffalo 0:05:38.503 --> 0:05:42.023 and Baltimore, I'm prepared to be very disappointed. I'm prepared 0:05:42.063 --> 0:05:44.943 to be wrong next week. So yeah, there's no question about. 0:05:44.663 --> 0:05:47.463 It, all right. The Philadelphia Eagles, I think there was 0:05:47.503 --> 0:05:50.743 a lot of anticipation because a Jalen Hurts, specifically coming 0:05:50.823 --> 0:05:53.943 off of the concussion, missing some time, sae Quon getting 0:05:54.023 --> 0:05:56.583 arrest obviously in week number eighteen. We'll get the Rams 0:05:56.583 --> 0:05:58.743 side of this in just a moment, But from a 0:05:58.783 --> 0:06:02.263 Philly perspective, are there some concerns that you have about 0:06:02.263 --> 0:06:05.023 this team, you know, just even just in terms of 0:06:05.063 --> 0:06:06.303 general health heading into it. 0:06:07.343 --> 0:06:09.663 Well, yeah, and you asked earlier about what the layoff 0:06:09.663 --> 0:06:12.503 effect might be for teams like Detroit and Kansas City. 0:06:12.543 --> 0:06:14.863 It certainly felt like there was somewhat of an effect 0:06:14.863 --> 0:06:17.303 with Jalen Hurts and the time he had taken off 0:06:17.343 --> 0:06:19.863 before kind of getting in a little bit of a groove, 0:06:19.903 --> 0:06:22.143 I guess. But still, as you pointed out, overall, I 0:06:22.143 --> 0:06:24.623 think you'd be disappointed. He took a couple of bad sacks. 0:06:24.623 --> 0:06:27.863 He misfired, especially on that fake tush push play action 0:06:27.983 --> 0:06:30.743 ball that could have gone for a touchdown. To aj Brown. 0:06:31.103 --> 0:06:34.223 You know, the passing game was disjointed. Saquan was having 0:06:34.223 --> 0:06:37.143 a sort of grind out four and five yard chunk. 0:06:37.223 --> 0:06:39.543 So you know, it's good that they got that out 0:06:39.583 --> 0:06:41.903 of their system last week. Obviously, I think it's a 0:06:41.983 --> 0:06:43.943 you know, it was a Packers defense that played tremendous 0:06:43.983 --> 0:06:46.023 defense in that game, but some of it was self 0:06:46.023 --> 0:06:49.263 inflicted mistakes. Yeah, I'm a little bit worried about Philly 0:06:49.303 --> 0:06:51.143 and this is a team that not too long ago 0:06:51.183 --> 0:06:53.983 I sort of thought, boy, you could see a path 0:06:54.023 --> 0:06:55.983 to the back to the super Bowl for them. I 0:06:56.023 --> 0:06:58.343 really thought that everything was kind of lining up. Not 0:06:58.423 --> 0:07:01.063 getting rid of that opinion. Now, it just feels like 0:07:01.103 --> 0:07:03.423 a little bit lower a percentage based on at least 0:07:03.463 --> 0:07:06.303 what we saw last Sunday. They whipped this Rams team. 0:07:06.383 --> 0:07:09.623 Last time. Saquon was a man. He was unbelievable. Maybe 0:07:09.703 --> 0:07:12.223 that happens again, but it's going to be in stark 0:07:12.263 --> 0:07:14.503 contrast to most of the game we saw Sunday. 0:07:14.743 --> 0:07:17.543 Yeah, that was a road win for Philadelphia. Right behind 0:07:17.663 --> 0:07:19.703 me at Sofi Stadium, right across the street from where 0:07:19.743 --> 0:07:21.663 our studios are. We spent a lot of time talking 0:07:21.663 --> 0:07:23.543 about offensive players, and I get it in a lot 0:07:23.543 --> 0:07:26.383 of ways are the biggest stars in the game under 0:07:26.423 --> 0:07:29.703 the radar, and I hate to even classify it that 0:07:29.703 --> 0:07:31.703 way because he's a real stud on this team. To 0:07:31.783 --> 0:07:34.663 Kobe Dean, the linebacker for Philadelphia out for the season, 0:07:34.703 --> 0:07:36.263 probably going to miss a good stretch he maybe of 0:07:36.303 --> 0:07:38.543 even next season. How big of a blow is that 0:07:38.623 --> 0:07:39.823 against this Rams offense. 0:07:40.903 --> 0:07:43.463 Yeah, I think people outside of Philly may not recognize 0:07:43.503 --> 0:07:46.023 just what an impact he's made. And his college teammate 0:07:46.103 --> 0:07:48.543 Nolan Smith both have really taken a big jump up 0:07:48.583 --> 0:07:51.023 this year. But losing Dean, I think who had been 0:07:51.423 --> 0:07:53.463 really an under the radar star. I think most people 0:07:53.503 --> 0:07:55.703 saw what Zach Bond's done this year, and they know 0:07:55.743 --> 0:07:58.623 what that defensive front and how improved that secondary is. 0:07:58.663 --> 0:08:00.983 But you know, Dean really was kind of the glue 0:08:01.103 --> 0:08:03.143 up front and an emotional leader for them. So it 0:08:03.143 --> 0:08:06.463 puts more of an onus on their remaining linebackers. Do 0:08:07.263 --> 0:08:09.983 they sit and nickel, do they send extra rushers? How 0:08:09.983 --> 0:08:12.743 do they sort of combat that missing piece there in 0:08:12.743 --> 0:08:13.663 the middle of their defense. 0:08:14.023 --> 0:08:16.303 We will talk about the Rams, the Eagles opponent, who 0:08:16.303 --> 0:08:18.823 are seventh in your rankings. The Eagles obviously sending at 0:08:18.863 --> 0:08:20.583 number five, but I want to get to the sixth 0:08:20.663 --> 0:08:23.783 ranked team, and that is the Washington Commanders. There's a 0:08:23.943 --> 0:08:26.983 part of me that says, the moment isn't too big 0:08:27.023 --> 0:08:30.103 for Jaydon Daniels, right like that is abundantly clear. It's 0:08:30.143 --> 0:08:33.663 almost like he doesn't know this is not supposed to 0:08:33.743 --> 0:08:36.143 look like this when you're a rookie quarterback. Am I right? 0:08:37.183 --> 0:08:39.703 If that's what it is, just sort of a youthful 0:08:39.703 --> 0:08:42.103 ignorance or whatever, I'll take it. It's been a blast 0:08:42.183 --> 0:08:44.543 watching him, and it kind of sort of reminds me 0:08:44.583 --> 0:08:46.223 a little bit of what we saw down the stretch 0:08:46.223 --> 0:08:48.863 from CJ. Stroud last year. They're different players. I'm not 0:08:48.863 --> 0:08:52.103 trying to compare their games, but mentality wise, you know 0:08:52.143 --> 0:08:55.503 that equanimity when things aren't going right, you have a 0:08:55.543 --> 0:08:58.143 quarterback you can kind of flush all that out, whatever 0:08:58.183 --> 0:09:01.143 bad stuff happened to play before or before that, and 0:09:01.343 --> 0:09:04.103 just say that the task here is to get this 0:09:04.183 --> 0:09:06.583 first down, to get this touchdown, whatever you need in 0:09:06.583 --> 0:09:09.623 this situation. He's just proven it time and time again. Mike. 0:09:09.703 --> 0:09:13.863 So yeah, I love to watch this precocious passer play 0:09:13.943 --> 0:09:16.223 and it's been so fun to see him and I 0:09:16.223 --> 0:09:18.423 think that's kind of what they need going into Detroit. Right, 0:09:18.423 --> 0:09:20.583 you have to have that attitude of we got this, 0:09:20.743 --> 0:09:23.303 it's all good. Right, the world stacked against this will 0:09:23.303 --> 0:09:26.143 be fine, and that should scare the daylights out of 0:09:26.143 --> 0:09:28.023 the lines. I'm being honest right now. 0:09:28.223 --> 0:09:31.383 Jayden Daniels, his name is popped up in this last 0:09:31.423 --> 0:09:33.623 couple of days, actually a ton, But there's two conversations 0:09:33.623 --> 0:09:36.343 that I've had that really resonate with me. Sunday on 0:09:36.623 --> 0:09:39.543 the NFL channel, we do game day preview and Bucky 0:09:40.743 --> 0:09:42.503 Bucky was in the seat and he says, hey, I 0:09:42.543 --> 0:09:45.343 think Jayden Daniels is elite, which made me pause for 0:09:45.383 --> 0:09:47.383 a minute because I think Patrick Mahomes is milde. I 0:09:47.423 --> 0:09:50.943 think Lamar Jackson is elite. I think Josh Allen is elite. 0:09:51.183 --> 0:09:53.543 It's almost like he's already got him in that category. 0:09:53.583 --> 0:09:55.543 And then on Monday, and I'm working with David Carr 0:09:55.863 --> 0:09:57.423 and I asked, hey, like, is there, what do you 0:09:57.463 --> 0:09:59.503 think of what Jayden's doing? And he felt and that's 0:09:59.503 --> 0:10:01.263 the first time I heard the comp He goes, I 0:10:01.303 --> 0:10:04.343 think he looks like a younger Lamar Jackson out there. 0:10:04.623 --> 0:10:08.223 So it's not recency biased, right, Like, are those assessments fair. 0:10:10.263 --> 0:10:12.863 I don't know that I'll ever comp one for one 0:10:13.023 --> 0:10:17.183 exactly Lamar Jackson to anybody, but there are shades of 0:10:17.263 --> 0:10:19.703 him in his game, obviously, the thin frame, the ability 0:10:19.743 --> 0:10:21.863 to throw the ball vertically and throw it a long 0:10:21.903 --> 0:10:24.583 way and oftentimes accurate too. I mean, you know, you 0:10:24.623 --> 0:10:27.663 saw that his first couple throws, the big throws down 0:10:27.703 --> 0:10:29.623 the field where you said, Wow, this kid has got touch, 0:10:29.663 --> 0:10:32.943 He's got placement, it's all there. You know. I wasn't 0:10:32.983 --> 0:10:35.023 sure he's got that thin body, and I wasn't sure 0:10:35.023 --> 0:10:36.423 how he's going to hold up in the NFL. And 0:10:36.503 --> 0:10:38.503 he has taken some hits this year, but so did 0:10:38.583 --> 0:10:40.383 Lamar early in his career, and he's still played at 0:10:40.383 --> 0:10:42.943 an MVP level, So who's to say he can't have 0:10:43.023 --> 0:10:45.423 a similar type of career. I don't know that he'll 0:10:45.463 --> 0:10:48.343 ever be quite as electric a runner or quite as 0:10:48.743 --> 0:10:51.903 dazzling a playmaker, but I at least think he's in 0:10:51.983 --> 0:10:52.903 the same zip code. 0:10:53.223 --> 0:10:54.903 Yeah, you know the one thing, And I turned to 0:10:54.983 --> 0:10:58.103 David when he said it, and I said, is Jaden 0:10:59.303 --> 0:11:02.143 ahead of where Lamar was his rookie season as a passer, 0:11:02.183 --> 0:11:05.463 And without hesitation, he said, yes, which, by the way, 0:11:05.503 --> 0:11:07.743 should scare the Jesus out of the NFL, and certainly 0:11:07.743 --> 0:11:11.183 the rest of those teams inside of that division cannot 0:11:11.183 --> 0:11:13.703 wait for this matchup, Commanders and Lines. That game will 0:11:13.703 --> 0:11:17.463 be played on Saturday to the seventh ranked team, the Rams. 0:11:18.103 --> 0:11:21.783 My biggest concern with this team is the emotional aspect 0:11:22.023 --> 0:11:24.463 of this Now. I live in southern California, I'm water 0:11:24.463 --> 0:11:27.263 across the street obviously from SOFI Stadium. Monday Nights game 0:11:27.303 --> 0:11:29.583 was played in Glendale because of the raging fires that 0:11:29.623 --> 0:11:33.263 are happening across this region. They win a game, they 0:11:33.303 --> 0:11:37.663 win big, The defense was monstrous. There's that that emotional toll. 0:11:37.703 --> 0:11:41.263 How do you stay up for a game against Philadelphia? 0:11:41.263 --> 0:11:42.503 We got to go across the country. 0:11:43.703 --> 0:11:46.303 Yeah, that's a great question, Mike, And it's probably impossible 0:11:46.303 --> 0:11:49.743 to quantify exactly what the emotions of all fifty three 0:11:49.783 --> 0:11:52.263 players in the entire coaching staff. How many of them 0:11:52.263 --> 0:11:55.063 have been personally affected by the fires? Right I mean 0:11:55.143 --> 0:11:57.263 right now they're trying to figure out can we practice 0:11:57.303 --> 0:11:59.583 at home this week? So there's a lot hanging over them, 0:11:59.903 --> 0:12:02.503 family issues, all kinds of stuff that is, you know, 0:12:02.623 --> 0:12:06.343 just friends and people there that near them. So all 0:12:06.383 --> 0:12:09.543 of that notwithstanding up they can kind of turn this 0:12:09.623 --> 0:12:12.703 into a positive and ride that emotional wave into Philadelphia. 0:12:12.823 --> 0:12:14.863 I think they'll march in there a very confident group, 0:12:14.863 --> 0:12:17.103 and I think having seen how they've played, you know, 0:12:17.183 --> 0:12:19.863 able to win games in different ways down the stretch too. 0:12:19.943 --> 0:12:21.943 You factor that in. If it's going to be a 0:12:21.983 --> 0:12:23.703 low scoring game, they've had a few of those. If 0:12:23.743 --> 0:12:25.823 it's a shootout like the Bills game, they've been able 0:12:25.823 --> 0:12:29.063 to win those kinds of games too. So, look, there's 0:12:29.143 --> 0:12:31.543 the emotional factor. There's also the results, which have been 0:12:31.623 --> 0:12:34.983 drastically better versus a Philly team that you know, we're 0:12:35.023 --> 0:12:37.223 not sure about. Maybe they're great, maybe they can blow 0:12:37.263 --> 0:12:39.583 this team out like they did last time. But yeah, 0:12:39.663 --> 0:12:42.903 been able to kind of harness those emotions and fuel 0:12:42.943 --> 0:12:46.383 it in a positive way towards winning. Maybe that's just 0:12:46.423 --> 0:12:48.383 the extra little bit they need to get. 0:12:48.263 --> 0:12:51.223 Over the hump, a jump of five spots in your 0:12:51.263 --> 0:12:55.023 power rankings, deservedly so they now sit in that seventh position. 0:12:55.103 --> 0:12:57.423 The only other thing that I will add to this conversation, 0:12:57.743 --> 0:12:59.623 they started the year they lost four out of their 0:12:59.623 --> 0:13:01.143 five games. You and I have been doing this show 0:13:01.143 --> 0:13:03.783 the entire season, you know, I've liked this Rams team. 0:13:04.663 --> 0:13:08.343 Look at what happened earlier this season, decimated by injuries. 0:13:08.743 --> 0:13:11.543 Maybe this is the team that could have been fighting 0:13:11.583 --> 0:13:14.223 for a number one seed. How they been healthy really 0:13:14.303 --> 0:13:16.183 from start to finish? The what if game? We can 0:13:16.183 --> 0:13:18.223 play at all we want, but the reality is going 0:13:19.463 --> 0:13:21.623 handle business in Philadelphia, and this is a very different 0:13:21.623 --> 0:13:23.743 conversation we're going to be having about this Ram squad, 0:13:23.743 --> 0:13:26.743 who once again seventh in the power rankings. Meanwhile, eight 0:13:26.743 --> 0:13:29.383 teams still left in the postseason. Our eighth ranked team 0:13:29.863 --> 0:13:32.063 might have put the rest of the NFL field on 0:13:32.223 --> 0:13:35.383 notice who it is and the analysis around that squads 0:13:35.423 --> 0:13:43.863 copped up. Next, i'll back here on power rankings. We 0:13:43.943 --> 0:13:46.143 talked about some of the premier teams. Let's just kind 0:13:46.143 --> 0:13:48.743 of recap where we are currently sitting number one. It's 0:13:48.783 --> 0:13:51.943 the Chiefs, the Lions at two, the bill sitting at three, 0:13:51.983 --> 0:13:54.783 and the Ravens at four. Cannot wait for that matchup 0:13:54.823 --> 0:13:57.303 on Sunday. Meanwhile, the fifth ranked team or the Eagles, 0:13:57.343 --> 0:14:00.183 the Commanders at six, the Rams at seven, and the 0:14:00.223 --> 0:14:04.583 Houston Texans at eight. It's time for power moves present 0:14:04.703 --> 0:14:09.263 to buy energizer that eighth ranked team, the Houston Texans 0:14:09.583 --> 0:14:12.983 a quantum leap here, moving up six spots in the 0:14:13.023 --> 0:14:17.303 power rankings. Where has this team been the entire season. 0:14:17.623 --> 0:14:20.583 That's a pretty impressive showing, especially on the defensive side. 0:14:21.463 --> 0:14:23.503 Yeah, I guess it is best to play your best 0:14:23.503 --> 0:14:26.583 ball in January, right, store up whatever you've been missing 0:14:26.623 --> 0:14:28.823 all season long, and credit to them, right, that's two 0:14:28.903 --> 0:14:30.663 years in a row. I think the defense has really 0:14:30.743 --> 0:14:33.743 kind of set the stage. Everyone doubting the Texans coming 0:14:33.743 --> 0:14:36.703 into that early Saturday Wildcard game and they just came 0:14:36.743 --> 0:14:39.943 after Justin Herbert made life miserable for him. And really, 0:14:39.943 --> 0:14:42.343 that pass rush is I think the one thing. I 0:14:42.343 --> 0:14:44.663 shouldn't say the one thing because CJ. Stroud played a 0:14:44.663 --> 0:14:48.503 really good game too, but that commodation the Texans pass rush. 0:14:48.863 --> 0:14:51.063 We know how good those guys are. Will Anderson seems 0:14:51.103 --> 0:14:53.623 like a man on a mission right now. But good 0:14:53.663 --> 0:14:56.223 play from Stroud and those guys getting after Mahomes that 0:14:56.303 --> 0:14:58.983 maybe the formula to pull the upset. It was a 0:14:59.023 --> 0:15:01.383 one score game the last time they played, so we like, 0:15:01.383 --> 0:15:04.263 we can't just dismiss them completely and say they have 0:15:04.303 --> 0:15:06.183 no chane. It's going into Arrowhead. But they took the 0:15:06.183 --> 0:15:08.343 big leap obviously because of the playoff win. They're in 0:15:08.383 --> 0:15:11.063 the final eight. Now, maybe there's some teams below that 0:15:11.063 --> 0:15:13.903 that have better regular seasons, but we're in playoff, mo, baby, 0:15:13.903 --> 0:15:15.983 you gotta win to get in that top quarter. 0:15:15.823 --> 0:15:18.663 Asle Absolutely, you think joll Mixon needs to have more 0:15:18.663 --> 0:15:20.743 of a focus in this offense early in the game. 0:15:21.943 --> 0:15:23.383 He could. It would be a great way to kind 0:15:23.423 --> 0:15:25.383 of take the ball out of Patrick Mahomes' hands, get 0:15:25.383 --> 0:15:27.863 that run game going, you know, they so badly had 0:15:27.903 --> 0:15:30.423 offensive line issues and everything else, and just try to 0:15:30.463 --> 0:15:32.903 get Stroud settled in there. So Yeah, if they can 0:15:32.943 --> 0:15:35.023 find a way to get him loose early and not 0:15:35.103 --> 0:15:37.063 have to sort of build him up to a big game, 0:15:37.303 --> 0:15:38.863 I think that would do wonders for them. 0:15:39.143 --> 0:15:41.183 All right, let's grip through some of the rankings of 0:15:41.263 --> 0:15:44.503 the teams that are on the outside looking in. Almost 0:15:44.583 --> 0:15:47.023 kind of surprise here the Vikings sitting at number nine. 0:15:47.063 --> 0:15:49.903 They dropped three spots the way they've looked the last 0:15:49.903 --> 0:15:52.303 two weeks, certainly tough for that fan base. At ten, 0:15:52.703 --> 0:15:56.583 it's the Bucks who lose a heartbreaker against those Commanders. Eleven, 0:15:56.623 --> 0:15:59.943 it's the Packers, the Broncos at twelve, Steelers and Chargers 0:16:00.023 --> 0:16:03.703 sitting at thirteen and fourteen. Boy, the Chargers dropping five 0:16:03.743 --> 0:16:07.623 spots in your rankings, all right? With Minnesota losing the 0:16:07.623 --> 0:16:10.103 way that they did, What am I supposed to make 0:16:10.223 --> 0:16:13.543 of this season? Fourteen regular season wins, that's awesome, but 0:16:13.623 --> 0:16:15.663 the way it closes out, tough loss. They could have 0:16:15.703 --> 0:16:18.263 been a one seed they lose against Detroit, and then 0:16:18.303 --> 0:16:21.103 the way it looked against the Rams. Like, I gotta 0:16:21.103 --> 0:16:22.703 be honest with you, Eric, there moments in this game. 0:16:22.783 --> 0:16:24.583 I was cringing for Sam Darnold. 0:16:25.943 --> 0:16:28.863 It just never looked right. He never had it. Kevin O'Connell, 0:16:28.863 --> 0:16:31.183 who's been terrific this season. I think he's a top 0:16:31.263 --> 0:16:33.863 five head coach in this league, called maybe one of 0:16:33.863 --> 0:16:35.663 his worst games too, So I don't want to just 0:16:35.703 --> 0:16:38.423 put it all on Sam. The offensive line was overwhelmed. 0:16:38.743 --> 0:16:42.063 They really didn't have a chance. But at the same time, 0:16:42.183 --> 0:16:44.543 it's hard not to look at this giant disappointment, this 0:16:44.623 --> 0:16:48.263 fourteen win disappointment. They only lost the two teams this year, Mike, 0:16:48.303 --> 0:16:50.223 I mean it was the Rams and Eagles. That's it. 0:16:50.543 --> 0:16:53.023 They've beat everybody else. They took care of business. They 0:16:53.023 --> 0:16:55.663 won nine straight. This was a tremendous football team that 0:16:56.063 --> 0:16:58.543 made strides on offense with Donald to the point where 0:16:58.583 --> 0:17:00.903 we were wondering, is he gonna be back next year? 0:17:00.943 --> 0:17:02.983 Is he gonna earn a long term deal from the Vikings? 0:17:03.223 --> 0:17:07.103 The defense? Brian Flora, I mean, both units playing so well, 0:17:07.143 --> 0:17:10.343 even special teams too, and then everything seemed to collapse. 0:17:10.343 --> 0:17:13.023 As you said, the past two weeks, real narrative changer two. 0:17:13.063 --> 0:17:15.903 I mean, we can't have a Donald discussion without including 0:17:15.943 --> 0:17:18.303 what's going on the last couple of weeks. And who 0:17:18.383 --> 0:17:21.303 knows what goes on next year? Is is O'Connell definitely 0:17:21.343 --> 0:17:23.503 back to remember those weird trade rumors that came up 0:17:23.543 --> 0:17:26.383 a few weeks ago, You know, the question about Donald 0:17:26.383 --> 0:17:30.183 and JJ McCarthy and the quarterback position, offensive line two. 0:17:30.223 --> 0:17:32.303 Got to figure that part out a lot to figure 0:17:32.343 --> 0:17:33.783 out all of a sudden for a team that looked 0:17:33.783 --> 0:17:35.023 like it was going to be the one seed at 0:17:35.023 --> 0:17:35.503 one point. 0:17:35.823 --> 0:17:39.983 Yeah, a fascinating offseason ahead for the fans in Minnesota. 0:17:40.103 --> 0:17:43.703 You know, we keep notes on your rankings the Broncos. 0:17:43.743 --> 0:17:45.623 Do you remember where you had them early on in. 0:17:45.583 --> 0:17:48.223 The season twenty four? 0:17:48.343 --> 0:17:50.583 Maybe all right, they were in that range. They were 0:17:50.583 --> 0:17:53.983 a bottom five team at really at the beginning of 0:17:54.063 --> 0:17:56.903 the season, how surprised are you? And by the way, 0:17:56.943 --> 0:18:00.023 speaking of perception, the perception of a Vikings team and 0:18:00.063 --> 0:18:03.303 where they sit and the Denver Broncos who are three 0:18:03.383 --> 0:18:07.023 spots behind, so different heading into next season. But I 0:18:07.103 --> 0:18:09.423 think there's some respect that we got to give Sean 0:18:09.423 --> 0:18:10.103 Payton squad. 0:18:11.183 --> 0:18:13.183