1 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: You will hear a lot about the showdown of MVP 2 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: candidate quarterbacks on Sunday night, But what about Derrick Henry 3 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: and James Cook. Those ground games are rolling in Buffalo 4 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: and Baltimore, and Bully will be here to break down 5 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: and wins the battle the trenches in Buffalo. 6 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: I almost had all bees. 7 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: The Rams won in pretty much every phase last night 8 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: against the Vikings despite a very challenging week off the field. 9 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: But can that formula now travel from Glendale to Philadelphia. 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: We will tell you how LA hopes to keep its turnaround. 11 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 2: Going against the Eagles. 12 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, Russell Wilson will be a free agent 13 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: in March, so as justin Fields, and once again Pittsburgh 14 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: could be poised for a reset at the most important position. 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: Here what Mike Tomlin is saying now about the Steelers 16 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: future at quarterback, I say bring back Duck Hodges. Welcome 17 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: inside with the Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance, alongside Judy 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: Batista and Mike Garafalo. 19 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: I am Tom Pelisero. 20 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: We've only got seven games left in the twenty twenty 21 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: four NFL season. 22 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: Not trying to get anybody down. 23 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: Seven really great games here at the end, those are 24 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: just four days away, and there is one fourteen win 25 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: team that is not going to be a part of it. 26 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 2: As you see on this graphic, we. 27 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: Got Texans, Chiefs, we got Commanders, Lions, Rams, Eagles, and 28 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 1: Ravens Bills coming up on divisional playoff weekend. No sign 29 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: of a Vikings team that had a chance not that 30 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: long ago, a week and a half ago, to be 31 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: the number one overall. Seaton could have had a buy 32 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: through the wild card realm of the second consecutive game. 33 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: This is what they saw. It was not all Sam Donald, 34 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: but Sam Donald once again did not play best football. 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: Took nine sacks, held the ball a lot, had two turnovers. 36 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: Not that different than what he had done against the 37 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: Lions in Detroit in the previous week. That Rams front 38 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: with so much talent, with Jared Verse and Braden Fisk 39 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: and the rest of them, Judy here, they got after it. 40 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: Whether they were rushing for whether they're blitzing. They made 41 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: things really difficult on the Vikings. But now some really 42 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: interesting decisions that were always going to be looming for 43 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: Minnesota at quarterback certainly take on at least a little 44 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: bit of a different tone. Based on how this season ended. 45 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I was watching it last night and thinking, like 46 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 3: the NFL, things can change in the NFL so dramatically, 47 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 3: so quickly, and this is a really stark example of it. 48 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 3: I mean, it was two weeks ago that Sam Dronold 49 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 3: was being lifted up on everybody's shoulders in the locker room. 50 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 3: They were playing just a little bit more than a 51 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 3: week ago for the number one seed in the NFC, 52 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 3: and now they have crashed out of the playoffs after 53 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 3: two really really subpar performances by the offense. And Donald, 54 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 3: I'm sorry to say it, but certainly looked a lot 55 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 3: more like Sam Donald's circa New York Jets era than 56 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 3: he did this season. 57 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:13,519 Speaker 4: He was not seeing. 58 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 3: The field very well, as you mentioned, he was holding 59 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 3: the ball. 60 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 4: It took a. 61 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 3: Lot of sacks and it does reshape now the entire offseason, 62 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 3: not just for the Minnesota Vikings, but for teams that 63 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 3: need quarterbacks, because again, maybe two weeks ago you thought 64 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: there's no way that the Vikings can let Sam Donald 65 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 3: walk out the door. They're either going to have to 66 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 3: franchise tag them or sign them to a long term deal. 67 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 3: And then what do they do with JJ McCarthy. Well, 68 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 3: now the equation has completely changed. Do they even want 69 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 3: Sam Donald in. 70 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 4: The building anymore? 71 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 3: Do they let him go to free agency? Do they 72 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 3: try to franchise tag them and trade him. It has 73 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 3: created such a domino effect. I felt bad watching Sam 74 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 3: Donald because he had such a charmed season and you 75 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 3: really hoped, you thought that maybe he had put that 76 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 3: early year struggles behind him. 77 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 4: Didn't work out that way. 78 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, Sam Donald's a good dude. Covered him plenty with 79 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 5: the Jets wishing the best for him, and he'll get 80 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 5: some kind of role if it's not with the Vikings 81 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 5: moving forward, and I'm not so concerned. I mean, you 82 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 5: see the ten million he made there. He made a 83 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 5: good chunk of money in his rookie deal. It's not 84 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 5: so much the money for me, if I'm saying Donald, 85 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 5: it's the situation. And I would say if you're looking 86 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 5: at Sam Donald's success this year, he had great targets 87 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 5: around him, a really good offensive line for most of 88 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 5: the year. I know they were banged up as the 89 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 5: season went along there, and an incredible coaching staff from 90 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 5: Kevin O'Connell to Josh McCown. What he was able to 91 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 5: do at the position, the quarterback position. Grant Udinski now, 92 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 5: who's getting an offensive coordinator job or offensive coordinator interview 93 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 5: with the Seahawks, the youngster at twenty eight years old. 94 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 5: So if I'm looking at Sam Donald as a potential 95 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 5: free agent fit, I got to make sure that a 96 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 5: lot of pieces are in place, that he's got the 97 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 5: targets around him, that he's got a good coaching staff, 98 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 5: a good offensive line. Because if you think you're just 99 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 5: going to replicate this season that he just had with 100 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 5: the Vikings, I think you're going to see a little 101 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 5: bit more of what we saw the last couple of 102 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 5: games here rather than the bulk of the season. But 103 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 5: Kevin O'Connell wanted you to look at the body of 104 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 5: work and what he was able to do this year 105 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 5: as the quarterback of the Vikings. I think that's a 106 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 5: fair way to look at a good season overall for 107 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 5: San Darno. As for the Rams, just an amazing job 108 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 5: by Sean McVay. Once again, given everything that was going 109 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 5: on with this team early in the season all the 110 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 5: way through this last week, with all the emotion and 111 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 5: the fires and everything happening around it, to get them 112 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 5: focused and to get them playing as if it was 113 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 5: actually the Rams. 114 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: House in Arizona there. Can they now duplicate it? 115 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 6: Right? 116 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: Can you have that emotional win? 117 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 6: Now? 118 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 5: How do you get them up and get them going 119 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 5: again for what's going to be a tough spot playing 120 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 5: against the Eagles on Sunday. I think they'll show up. 121 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 5: I think they'll be competitive. I give him a chance 122 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 5: to potentially win. I'll cover that game, but that's a 123 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 5: tough task for the coaching staff. 124 00:05:59,240 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 2: Now. 125 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: The Rams potentially also could be one of those teams 126 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: in the mix to sign or trade for or take 127 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: a quarterback because Matthew Stafford is pretty much on a 128 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: year to year plan. He gave up future guarantees when 129 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 1: he restructured his deal last summer. You saw the big 130 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: smile on Stafford's face last night. He didn't look like 131 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: a guy who wants to walk away. But there's questions 132 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: for a variety of different teams around the NFL. And 133 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: I also think it's important we talked about the Vikings 134 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: future at the position. There was some misguided reports and 135 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: rumblings about well the Vikings Darnold's playing so well, I 136 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: think trade JJ McCarthy. There was never any reason to 137 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: trade JJ McCarthy. Having two young quarterbacks that you like 138 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: and believe in is a really good problem to have. 139 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: And also, there's no precedent for a rookie first round 140 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: pick missing his entire rookie season, not because he's on 141 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 1: the bench because he's injured all those practice reps. The 142 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: Vikings are going to need a veteran on the roster 143 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: one way or another. If anything, maybe the stumbles down 144 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: the stretch give them a little bit better chance financially 145 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: to keep Sam Darnlald in the building. The franchise tag 146 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,479 Speaker 1: would be close to forty million dollars if they went 147 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: that route. Pittsburgh Steelers also quite possibly going to be 148 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: in that quarterback market. Russell Wilson came in on a 149 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: one year minimum deal because the Broncos were still paying 150 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: him a boatload of money from his old contract. He too, 151 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: started out hot once he got healthy and took over 152 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: for Justin Fields over the last five games, though the 153 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: entire Steelers team, particularly the offense, particularly Russell Wilson himself, 154 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: did not play up to that level, which once again, 155 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: as Mike Tomlin talking about the quarterback position. 156 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 7: Like this, we don't have a quarterback under contract and 157 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 7: so we got some major discussions there. It was a 158 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 7: really good experience with the three quarterbacks that were in 159 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 7: our roster this year individually and collectively. We certainly are 160 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 7: open to considering those guys. But there's a lot of 161 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 7: work ahead of us, and the major work obviously starts 162 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 7: first and foremost with just understanding what our options are, 163 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 7: feel looks like in terms of free agency, what the 164 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 7: draft pool looks like, and then beginning the process in 165 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 7: terms of decision making based on you know, known variables, 166 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 7: and so you know, Omar and I have got half 167 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 7: a day carved out here this week just to begin 168 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 7: that component of the discussion. 169 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: They did sign a quarterback about an hour after Mike 170 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: Tumlin made those comments, Skyler Thompson, the one time Dolphins backup. 171 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: Though no offense to Skyler, they're probably going to be 172 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: bringing in at least one more quarterback. You're to try 173 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: to snap this streak six consecutive playoff losses for the 174 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers. You got to go way back pre twenty 175 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,719 Speaker 1: seventeen to find the last time, Judy, that. 176 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: They advanced in the postseason. 177 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: And we know this, Art Rooney is not like other 178 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: owners in terms of the reactionary behavior and hey, you 179 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: lost at the end, you were bad. Should we fire everyone? 180 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: Should we listen to what the fans want to the 181 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: media wants. They've got a different approach. They also owe 182 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: them a ton of money for three more years on 183 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: his contract. But clearly there's something here that they need 184 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: to get over the top. 185 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 2: What is it. 186 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 4: A quarterback? 187 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 3: They need a quarterback, They need real top level quarterback play, 188 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 3: because that's book sense is good. But they that solves 189 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 3: the problem, you know. But you saw what happened this season, 190 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 3: right They when they made the initial switch to Russell 191 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 3: Wilson and they got a spark there, and then the 192 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 3: offense took off and then they were winning games. And 193 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 3: when the offense started to slow down and Russell Wilson 194 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 3: started to struggle, that is when they went on that 195 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 3: losing skid that ended the season. I thought Tomlin was 196 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 3: really very noncommittal in his comments today, right like open 197 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 3: to considering those guys and talked about, you know, we 198 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 3: have to see what it's going to look like in 199 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 3: free agency and what the draft pool is going to 200 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 3: look like. And you know, he was asked about, well, 201 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 3: isn't part of the problem the fact that you never 202 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 3: really draft at the top because you never really go 203 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 3: all the way down. 204 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 4: With the Pittsburgh Steelers, they. 205 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 3: Don't, you know, have to win seasons, and so you 206 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 3: never get one of those top picks, so you can't 207 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 3: pick a quarterback. 208 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 4: And he's sort of rejected that. 209 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 3: He said Lamar Jackson wasn't taken at the top of 210 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 3: the draft. Jalen Hurts wasn't even taken in the first round. 211 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 3: So his point was, We've got to find a quarterback 212 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 3: somewhere and stop with the excuse that we never pick 213 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 3: high enough in the draft to get one. He's clearly 214 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 3: frustrated by it. He's not going anywhere unless something very 215 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 3: very unexpected happens. 216 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 4: He's not going anywhere. 217 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,719 Speaker 3: Part of the reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers are in 218 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 3: all those playoff games, A big part of the reason 219 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 3: is because Mike Tomlin is such a good coach and 220 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 3: gets the most he can out of that team. The 221 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 3: problem is they have been missing really since the glory 222 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 3: days of Ben Roethlisberger. 223 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 4: Top top level quarterback play. 224 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 5: Russell Wilson's best path Judy back to the Steelers' roster 225 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 5: in twenty twenty five is through Mike Tomlin, who was 226 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 5: certainly his biggest supporter from the time that he realized 227 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 5: we can get this guy for a veteran minimum deal, 228 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 5: bring him on the roster and potentially compete and have 229 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 5: a starting quarterback for that number the Broncos pick up 230 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 5: the tab. He was the one that really pushed for 231 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 5: it early on. He was the one that also wanted 232 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 5: Russell Wilson to be in the pole position, and then 233 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 5: even after he had that calf injury and Justin Field 234 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 5: started out, Tomlin was the one that went against the 235 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 5: tide inside the building and said, Russell Wilson's going to 236 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 5: be our starting quarterback. So he still has a lot 237 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 5: of support from Tomlin. Wilson does from what I understand, 238 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 5: even recently, despite the fact that he didn't play as 239 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 5: well as he did earlier in the season. Now, is 240 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,079 Speaker 5: he going to be the unquestioned number one in Pittsburgh 241 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 5: in twenty twenty five? 242 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 6: No? 243 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 5: Is he going to be even in the pole position 244 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 5: like Tomlin said this spring? Maybe not, But is he 245 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 5: on the roster in the mix potentially some kind of 246 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 5: bridge or a guy to compete with, whether it's a 247 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 5: rookie or another free agent. I think there's a reasonable 248 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 5: shot of that, and that's for Justin Fields. If Arthur 249 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 5: Smith winds up getting a head coaching job elsewhere, wouldn't 250 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 5: be surprised if Justin Fields follows him, depending on which 251 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 5: job it is and what the situation is there. 252 00:11:57,679 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 2: So we'll see how. 253 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 5: It plays out for these guys, and it'll be a 254 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 5: conversation for us to have through the combine, through free agency, 255 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 5: potentially leading up to the draft. 256 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 2: With the Steelers. 257 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: The other big question with Russell Wilson will just be 258 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,439 Speaker 1: what is someone willing to pay him and is anybody 259 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: besides the Steelers really in the mix on him based 260 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: on what you've seen over the past several years at 261 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: the end in Seattle and in Denver, and then what 262 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: happened down the stretch in Pittsburgh. He captured it in 263 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: the middle of the season, but you saw some of 264 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: the same types of things here. So the idea that 265 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson's going to command a true starting quarterback contract 266 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: not saying it's impossible, but it's hard to imagine the 267 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: Steelers are willing to do that, and it's a tough 268 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: deal to try to find another place where he's going 269 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: to get that type of money. Dak Prescott, on the 270 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: other hand, definitely still getting paid, still the highest paid 271 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: quarterback in the NFL, but he was as surprised as 272 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: just about anybody else to learn that Mike McCarthy will 273 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: no longer be his head coach. McCarthy and the Cowboys 274 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,439 Speaker 1: partying ways on Monday after several days of discussion between 275 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:59,319 Speaker 1: Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy. 276 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 2: Standing was. 277 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 1: One of the factors was they were not able to 278 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 1: agree on the length of the contract, essentially the link 279 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 1: of the commitment that Jerry Jones was willing to make. 280 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: Despite the fact that Mike McCarthy playoff record aside, had 281 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: led this team to twelve win seasons three years in 282 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: a row. This year dealt with a mess of injuries, 283 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: everybody on a one year contract, contract drama with cdee 284 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: Lamb and Dak Prescott. Here, it seemed like positive conversations 285 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: happened last week. Everybody believed McCarthy would be back. It 286 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: did not end up working out that way. As we 287 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: bring in our Jane Slater to the conversation here, Jane, 288 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: we've heard players going back to the season speaking up 289 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: on behalf of Mike McCarthy. We've heard from Cowboys players 290 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: fed some pretty strong words about their feelings since Mike 291 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: was let go. What more have you learned about this 292 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: over the past twenty four hours or so and where 293 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: did the Cowboys. 294 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 2: Go from here? 295 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 8: Well, Tom, I've just been busy trying to run down 296 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,080 Speaker 8: whether this don stuff has any real legs to it. 297 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 8: We both know that Jerry and Dion are good at 298 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 8: making sure they can command the headlines. They certainly did 299 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 8: just that last night. I've reached out to Colorado's ad Rick. 300 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 8: George Rick, call me back because I'm trying to get 301 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 8: a handle on what Dion's current situation is there. You know, 302 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 8: he signed a five year deal, He's two years into it. 303 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 8: There's been some talk that there has potentially been an 304 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 8: extension on the table in front of the regents, and 305 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 8: so is Dion using this leverage to get paid a 306 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 8: little bit more in stay in Colorado? Is the interest 307 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 8: from Jerry real? I think the interest from Jerry is 308 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 8: absolutely real. I guess the question is does Dion want 309 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 8: to come here? And the reason why I asked that 310 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 8: is talking to a lot of people that are close 311 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 8: to that program. I used to work in the Denver 312 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 8: Market is the autonomy that Dion enjoys there, not to 313 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 8: mention the staff. He's got a very large staff there. 314 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 8: And as one person put to me today, is Jerry 315 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 8: going to allow him to bring in all of those 316 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 8: tom as. You know, Mike McCarthy was as to reduce 317 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 8: his staff and Jerry is not really high on paying 318 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 8: his coaches here. And so it's my understanding, talk to 319 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 8: a bunch of people on many different sides of this thing, 320 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 8: I'm trying to get a three sixty view on this. 321 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 8: It sounds like Jerry's been on a bit of a 322 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 8: solo mission. He is picking up the phone, he is 323 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 8: making calls. It's my understanding that he is not yet 324 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 8: called Kellen Moore. He has not yet called Cliff Kingsbury. 325 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 8: He's not yet called Starkesian down at the University of Texas. 326 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 8: Stark to get out of his deal that would cost 327 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 8: about six million. I was told with Dion it would 328 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 8: be about ten million, and then that goes down over 329 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 8: the length of his contract from five years and then 330 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 8: Pete Carroll's another name out there, and John Gruden. John 331 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 8: Gruden has not gotten a call yet. 332 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 4: That's my understanding. 333 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 8: Nothing official there and even with John Gruden, he is represented. 334 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 6: By Bob Lamont. 335 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 4: Bob Lamont likes. 336 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 8: To get his guys five years deals, and they're typically 337 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 8: making well over ten million dollars a year. This is 338 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 8: a situation that they find themselves in. 339 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 2: Now. 340 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 8: One name I didn't want to necessarily throw out yesterday 341 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 8: Mike and. 342 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 4: Tom was Jason Witten. 343 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 8: It's been my understanding that Jerry has talked to Jason 344 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 8: in recent weeks, and I do believe that he was 345 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 8: part of a plan that Jerry initially had when he 346 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 8: was going to bring back Mike McCarthy. I think the 347 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 8: plan there was to make him an heir apparent of sorts. 348 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 8: Mike McCarthy sort of surprised him by deciding that he 349 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 8: wanted to end these conversations pursue something else. We can 350 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 8: call them negotiations, contract conversations, whatever you want to call them. 351 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 8: Now we'll see if Jason Witten will still be in 352 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 8: play here. I just don't know if that would be 353 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 8: in a head coach role, but I do believe that 354 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 8: he thinks very strongly of Jason Witten in his future 355 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 8: as a coach. I just don't know in what capacity 356 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 8: that would look like. 357 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 6: You know. 358 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 3: Last night before the Wildcard game, Troy Aikman, of course, 359 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 3: was part of the broadcast, was asked about what had 360 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 3: happened in Dallas and one of the things he said, 361 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 3: he did not sound particularly happy that McCarthy was gone. 362 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 3: One of the things he said was, it makes it 363 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 3: look like there isn't a plan, And that would be 364 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 3: the question I have, like what is the plan here? 365 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 3: And as you mentioned, Jane, it sort of sounds like 366 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 3: Jerry is on a solo mission here. One thing that 367 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 3: seems to be devil owners when they fire a coach, 368 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 3: and this is why so many owners struggle when they 369 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 3: have to hire coaches, is they can't really articulate what 370 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 3: they want in the next guy. Like what is Jerry 371 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 3: Jones looking for in the next head coach? Because you 372 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 3: just let the person under whom Dak Prescott had his 373 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 3: best season walk out the door. So do you want 374 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 3: sort of the leadership qualities that Dion Sanders can bring 375 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 3: and the sizzle that Deon Sanders could bring? Okay, then 376 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 3: you get somebody like Dan Sanders or does he want 377 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 3: a young play caller? What is it that Jerry Jones 378 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 3: is looking for in the next coach? Of the Dallas Cowboys, 379 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 3: because we know that there are quirks to that job. 380 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 3: You have to accept the fact that Jerry Jones is 381 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 3: the face of the organization and is also the general manager, 382 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 3: and you have to be comfortable with that. Mike McCarthy 383 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 3: was able to live with that. Not every coaching candidate 384 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 3: is going to be able to live with that. It 385 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 3: will be a fascinating search after what I would say 386 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 3: was a surprising departure. 387 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 5: He has something you can draw up. He means, he 388 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 5: reminds me a lot of our other tight end. Who 389 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 5: is up head coach up there? Read much Mike head 390 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 5: coach up there in Detroit right now. That is Jerry 391 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 5: Jones recently on Jason Witten just a couple of months ago, 392 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 5: talking about the fact that he can quote without a question, 393 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 5: become above high school, he can become a coach. 394 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 2: So clearly Jerry Jones saying. 395 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 5: That had an idea in mind at some point, who 396 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 5: knows how far in the future for Jason Witten to 397 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 5: potentially be a head coaching candidate for the Dallas Cowboys. Jane, 398 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 5: if your timeline about Mike McCarthy coming back on a 399 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 5: shorter deal, which McCarthy and his agents were not interested 400 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 5: in doing with Witten a part of the plan some ways, 401 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 5: how being a transition, I guess that's better than I 402 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 5: don't know, Jeff Saturday and the Colts throwing him in 403 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 5: as an interim coach in the middle of a season 404 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 5: without any NFL coaching experience. But Jerry obviously has an 405 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 5: extremely high opinion of Jason Witten, so we'll see if 406 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 5: he is part of the plan moving forward. Here we 407 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 5: do know if they missed the first wave of potential 408 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 5: coaching interviews and are about to miss the second wave if 409 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 5: they don't get active right here with the Cowboys, Interesting, intriguing, 410 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 5: all the words that you want to say about this 411 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 5: cowboy search. 412 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 2: It's going to be fun. 413 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: I'm certain this is the last time we'll talk. No 414 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: excuse me, this is going to be every a block 415 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: from now until they hire a coach. We'll talk about 416 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: other teams too, but it will be a decent amount 417 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: of Cowboys. So Jane, stay right there. Thank you as 418 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: always for joining the show. Coming up on the Insiders 419 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: at Rams Defense was all over Sam Darnold and the 420 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: Vikings last night. 421 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 2: How do they take the show on the road? 422 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 6: To Philly. 423 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: We'll have our Brian Baldinger here to talk about that. 424 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: Baldy also will break down the matchup of the week, 425 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: maybe the game of the year. It's Lamar and the 426 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 1: Ravens against Josh Allen and the Bills. Who's got the 427 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: upper hand? Find out next on The Insiders. 428 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 3: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback of Patrick Mahomes is practically perfect 429 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 3: in Divisional round games thirteen touchdowns, zero interceptions. This is 430 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 3: him in the week sixteen game against the Houston Texans, 431 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 3: who they are going to play this weekend in the 432 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 3: Divisional round where Patrick Mahomes undefeated in the Divisional round, 433 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 3: perfect six and zh. Today, Mahomes had a few thoughts 434 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 3: about the Houston Texans defense he's about to face. 435 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 9: That defense is extremely real. They have a great quarterback 436 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 9: and a great coach and it's we knew and. 437 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 2: We played in this last time. 438 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 9: It was a hard fought game and they get out 439 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 9: of the quarterback really well. They have really good secondary 440 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,159 Speaker 9: players and the linebackers fly around. So it'll be a 441 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 9: great challenge for us. And what the player best football. 442 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 10: Played the Texans obviously in the first game on your 443 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 10: first Super Bowl run, what do you remember just about 444 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 10: that day. 445 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 5: Other than got down. 446 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 9: Yeah, no, it was I mean just a big, big 447 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 9: momentum swing I think for us. I mean, obviously it 448 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 9: was the second time I'd played in the playoffs, and 449 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 9: getting down like that, things could have went south really fast. 450 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 9: But I was proud of the resilience of the guys 451 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 9: and that kind of carried us throughout that entire playoff run. 452 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 9: Is that we just had no doubts that we. 453 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 6: Were going to find a way to win. 454 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 9: And that was a really good football team and we 455 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 9: were able to come back and beat that team, and 456 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 9: it kind of sprung us through that the rest of 457 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 9: the playoffs. 458 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 2: You get that Super Bowl win. 459 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 3: All right, let's welcome in our Brian Baldinger. Let's talk 460 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 3: about the AFC Divisional round games. Let's start with the 461 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 3: Chiefs and the Texans. The Texans had great success last 462 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 3: weekend bottling up the Chargers. Can they do it again 463 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 3: against the Chiefs. 464 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 11: Well, you know, they played, like we just mentioned here 465 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 11: week sixteen, So just a month ago they played and 466 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 11: that was the second game where the Chiefs lew Joe Tooney, 467 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,159 Speaker 11: the All Pro left guard out to left tackle, so 468 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 11: he went up against Daniel Hunter, the will Anders and 469 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 11: some of the guys that had big games last week 470 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 11: against the Chargers, and I thought they protected pretty well. 471 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 11: Made a couple of big plays early in the game, 472 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 11: converting a fourth and one. 473 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 12: Mahomes was coming back from that bad ankle. 474 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 11: He ran fifteen yards from the opening touchdown the game 475 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 11: like there was nothing bothering his ankle. 476 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 12: But they can affect your judy. I mean, you have 477 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 12: to look at. 478 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 11: What they did, including Deniko Autrey, including Derek Barnett and 479 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 11: Daniel and Will they had a great game last week. 480 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 11: And then Derek Stingley out there on the edge like 481 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 11: he's the thief and he's a great player. 482 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,959 Speaker 12: So they had great players in position. 483 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,959 Speaker 11: I don't think you can get Mahomes to throw four 484 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 11: interceptions the way they got Justin Herbert last week to 485 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 11: throw ford receptions. 486 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 12: I don't think you're going to. 487 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 11: See that, but they do have the ability if you 488 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 11: drop back and throw, they get guys that can get home, 489 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 11: that can get to the quarterback. So it's going to 490 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 11: be a priority for Andy Reid and that offense to 491 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 11: really make sure that they're protecting their edges, help them 492 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 11: tune the out, helping Juan Taylor out on the other side, 493 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 11: and you know, making sure the edges are protected where 494 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 11: you can't get you know, quick pressure onto mahomes. 495 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 3: All right, let's turn our attention to the late Sunday 496 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 3: game Bills Ravens. 497 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 4: Look at this, We're all going. 498 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 3: To talk about the quarterbacks, but the reality is both 499 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 3: of these teams have tremendous ground games. Certainly Lamar and 500 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 3: Josh Allen are part of those ground attacks too. Who's 501 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 3: going to win the battle of the trenches here, Well, I. 502 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 11: Think you know, both both teams can lay claim because 503 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 11: the Bills will line up the exact same offense line 504 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 11: they've lined up for eighteen weeks this year. 505 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 12: Across the board. They got great. 506 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 11: Familiarity, great back It's interesting to me, Judy that the 507 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 11: Steelers played the Ravens three times in eight weeks and 508 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 11: they had no answer for Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson 509 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 11: that game on Saturday night. So I feel like, you know, 510 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 11: because they had great success Week four. I know it 511 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 11: was you know, almost four months ago, but you know 512 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 11: that Sunday night game between the Ravens and the Bills. 513 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 12: I mean that was Derreck Henry going eighty seven, yards 514 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 12: on the first. 515 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 11: Play of the game on a little way and play 516 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 11: and they didn't lay a glove on him and went, 517 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,439 Speaker 11: you know, open up the game seven nothing basically. So 518 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 11: I feel like the Bills are going to be very 519 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 11: competitive in this game. But the challenge really is to 520 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 11: stop not just stopping Henry, but the combination of Lamar 521 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 11: and Derrick Henry in unison. That seems to be the 522 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 11: challenge for every team that has to play against them. 523 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 11: And now the Ravens offensive line is really settled with 524 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 11: the rookie rosen Gartner right tackle file l Ale Lindebaum, 525 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 11: like they've really got their guys in place, and so 526 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 11: I think the bigger challenge right now is Buffalo's defense 527 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 11: trying to slow down the juggernaut that is the Ravens 528 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 11: rushing attack. 529 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 13: Hey, I tell you this, how about the defense end 530 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 13: up tied a playoff record with. 531 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 12: First on the touch? They won't tell you what. There's 532 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 12: so many. 533 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 13: Guys that we could recognize, but I think this. 534 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,159 Speaker 12: Truly epitomizes a team win. 535 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 13: You talk about a connected group, you talk about a 536 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,120 Speaker 13: team that said, oh we. 537 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:40,479 Speaker 6: Go for this. 538 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 13: That's exactly what you guys came out and did, Man, 539 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 13: unbelievable and all you guys did. You represented exactly what 540 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 13: we wanted to be about. Man, a city that going 541 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 13: through a lot of different stuff that can look to 542 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 13: you guys and say I'm proud of that group just 543 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:57,880 Speaker 13: being your guys self right there. 544 00:25:57,920 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 12: Man, give it up for yourself. 545 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, give it up for the game Flow of 546 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 5: the Week presented by Progressive, And give it up for 547 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 5: Brian Baldinger, who's back with us here on the Insiders 548 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 5: to talk about the game flow and the turning point 549 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 5: in the Vikings Rams game. 550 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 11: According to you, you know, Mike, I thought early in 551 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 11: the second quarter, the Rams had first intended their own 552 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 11: thirty yard line. 553 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 12: They were up ten to three when Jonathan. 554 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 11: Grenard turned the corner on the left tackle Lark Jackson 555 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 11: and got the ball seemingly out of Matt Stafford's Hams 556 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 11: black case black Cashman picked it up at the twenty 557 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 11: six and. 558 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 12: Took it into the end zone. It was ruled a touchdown. 559 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 11: It was ruled a fumble and a touchdown where maybe 560 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 11: the Vikings could have tied the game. 561 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 12: Up ten to ten right there. 562 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 11: And then after a further review, it was you gleaned 563 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 11: that Matt Stafford was trying to get the ball there 564 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 11: to Pooka Nakua and they went with that. I'm not 565 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,919 Speaker 11: so sure, but regardless, I thought that was a turning 566 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 11: point because the Vikings defensively, that's what they had been 567 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 11: doing this year. They've been taking them all away. In fact, 568 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 11: they were tied with Pittsburgh for the most takeaways, you know, 569 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 11: in the season, including two last week against Detroit. So 570 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 11: I thought they were up to the same things that 571 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 11: they had been doing all year, getting to the quarterback, 572 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 11: affecting it, intercepting fastest scoring defensive touchdowns like they had done. 573 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 11: I thought when that was ruled against it against the 574 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,159 Speaker 11: fumble touchdown, I thought that was a turning point because 575 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 11: of the way that the Rams defense played all night. 576 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:30,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought it was a forward pass. 577 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 5: I thought, you know, it was an intentional grounding. I 578 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 5: thought seemed to be what Kevin O'Connell was upset about, 579 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:37,919 Speaker 5: but I think he clearly was shoveling that one. A 580 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 5: tough ending for the Vikings, who were this close to 581 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 5: not even playing. 582 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 2: This past weekend if they had just beaten the Lions. 583 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 5: I don't mean that close in the game, but you know, 584 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 5: obviously we're in week eight team with a chance to 585 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 5: do that, and then all of a sudden, it's a 586 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 5: quick wild card exit in the game that they were 587 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,880 Speaker 5: never really in Baldy. So your take on the Vikings downfall, 588 00:27:57,920 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 5: where they go from here, all that good stuff. 589 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 11: Well, I mean they got you know, Sam Donald got 590 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 11: sacked in the first play of the game. 591 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 12: You know that kind of like set the tone. 592 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 11: And those pass rushers that the Rams have drafted, you know, 593 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 11: Bobby Brown and Kobe Turner and Jared Versus and you 594 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 11: know Braydon Fisk. I mean, they all showed up. And 595 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 11: then the blitzes that Sholes said after him, whether it 596 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,880 Speaker 11: was you know, Quinton Lake or Akello Witherspoon, they all 597 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 11: got home. 598 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 12: So it was a combination. 599 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 11: They sacked him nine times, forced the fumble, forced the interception, 600 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 11: got the fumble return for a touchdown. 601 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 12: I mean, it was defense all night long. That really affecting. 602 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 11: You go back and you watch Sam Donald in that 603 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 11: game and you're wondering, Okay, he definitely missed some throw 604 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,719 Speaker 11: it was no question, but there's a lot of times 605 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 11: he didn't have any time to make him throw. They 606 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 11: were on him so fast. You come on a play 607 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 11: action pass. Next thing you know, here comes Quint Lake 608 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 11: right at you. You don't have a chance to even 609 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 11: get out of your way. And so I thought the 610 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 11: Rams beat the Vikings up in the trenches really good, 611 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 11: cleanly throughout the evening in a variety of different ways, 612 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 11: whether it was stunch one on ones that they got 613 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 11: to Sam. 614 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 12: Donald and he was affected. 615 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 11: Look, Sam Donald thok thirty five touchdown passes and helped 616 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 11: them win fourteen games this year. He had five conquers, 617 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 11: not just the last two weeks, but he had five 618 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 11: conquers during the season. It's gonna happen now. Could he 619 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:21,239 Speaker 11: Can he step out of this? Can he get back 620 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 11: to playing great football? I think he can. The offense 621 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 11: clicked for much of the season to be in the 622 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 11: position they were in last week, to play for a 623 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 11: number one seed. It's just disappointing to see how it 624 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 11: played out and how badly their offensive line was beaten 625 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 11: up front were it never gave Stam much of a 626 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 11: chance to find Justin Jefferson or Jordan Aison. 627 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 5: And so now the Rams are going to face a 628 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 5: different offensive front, one that they've already faced before, one 629 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 5: that did a heck of. 630 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 2: A job against them. 631 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 5: In fact, you see Saquan right up there, right behind 632 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 5: Cooper cupping, in front of Jami the Hurts, and next 633 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 5: to Matthew Stafford. As we preview this game on Sunday, 634 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 5: Rams Eagles in Philadelphia the Divisional round. This was the 635 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 5: height of Saint Quon Barkley for MVP chatter the last 636 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 5: time these teams played each other. Did the Eagles replicate 637 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 5: that again on Sunday? 638 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 12: Well, it's hard to think. 639 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 11: That they're going to run for three hundred and fourteen 640 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 11: yards like they did, you know, back in week twelve. 641 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 12: Out there in Los Angeles. 642 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 11: I mean the opening play is the opening played right 643 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 11: here of the third quarter, Mike, you know it's a 644 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 11: thirteen to seven game. When he went seventy yards and 645 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 11: broke the game open. He did it again into the 646 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 11: fourth quarter for seventy two yards. So it's hard to 647 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 11: believe that you're going to get three hundred yards of 648 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 11: offense out of Saintuan. But if they can limit the runs, 649 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 11: the big runs that Saquon got in week twelve and 650 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 11: made the Eagles drop. 651 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 12: Back to pass a little bit more frequently. 652 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 11: In that first game, Jalen only dropped back twenty two times. 653 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 11: That defensive line did not get much of a chance 654 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 11: to go to work and get after jam Hurst like 655 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 11: he did Sam Darnold last night. Maybe they can have 656 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 11: a different outcome, or at least a closer outcome than 657 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 11: thirty seven. And what we witnessed, you know, out there 658 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 11: on that day at so Far Stadium. 659 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 5: Paldy, that Rams defense gave up thirty seven that night. 660 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 5: A couple of weeks later, the Bills put up forty two. 661 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 5: Since then six nine, nine thirty against the Seahawks in 662 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 5: a game that they didn't really play. 663 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 2: And then nine last night. 664 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 5: So this is a single digit defense that may be 665 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 5: playing a lot better, and they haven't been tested like 666 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 5: they were tested against the Eagles and the Bills there. 667 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 5: But let's see if this defense has turned a corner, 668 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 5: it could be a little bit more sound. 669 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 2: I'm intrigued. 670 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,479 Speaker 5: I will be there for that game Rams Eagles on Sunday, 671 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 5: excited to see it and excited to have you talk 672 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 5: about it for the next couple of days leading up 673 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 5: to the game, Baldy. 674 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: The Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs is set, and 675 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: that font continues to make me think I'm having a 676 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 1: Migraine headache on live TV. 677 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 2: Here's how it all breaks down. 678 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 1: We got Ravens, Bills, Texans, Chiefs, Rams, Eagles, Commander's Lions, 679 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 1: your official final eight. And who better to join us 680 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 1: to break it all down than our buddy Jeffrey Jedia 681 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 1: here with me, Tom Pilicerro and Judy Batista on The Insiders. 682 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: Let's start out here with some of the biggest questions, Jeffrey, 683 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 1: beginning with that Chiefs and Texans matchup. 684 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 14: Yeah, the Chiefs have twenty four days off since they 685 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 14: played a meaningful game, and everybody keeps asking if that 686 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 14: rest is going to be a problem. 687 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 6: I don't see that being the case. Tom. 688 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 14: I look at this team and they've won three Super 689 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 14: Bowls in the last five years for a reason. Andy 690 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 14: Arita is twenty nine to three coming off of buy. 691 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 6: And they needed that rest. 692 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:40,960 Speaker 14: Guys like Travis Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins, Joetuny they're well 693 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 14: over thirty and Patrick Mahomes and that had that high 694 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 14: ankle spring. So I think they'll be well wrested and 695 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 14: very prepared for a Texas team that they know is 696 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 14: going to be tough. And for the Texans, they got 697 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 14: to bring that same defensive energy they had against the 698 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 14: Chargers four sacks, four interceptions, a pick six. 699 00:32:57,360 --> 00:32:58,440 Speaker 6: Everybody was writing this. 700 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 14: Team off when they were going into the Wildcard round, 701 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 14: but now you're seeing what they can be when they 702 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 14: get that defense going. 703 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 6: They've made life. 704 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 14: Tough for a lot of quarterbacks this year, from Herbert 705 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 14: to Josh. 706 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 6: Allen to Jared Goff. It's gonna be tough with Mahomes. 707 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 14: But again, that defense play in the way it's been playing, 708 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 14: that's a pretty good start for them. 709 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:19,360 Speaker 4: All Right. 710 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 3: The second game of wild Divisional round weekend we're on 711 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:27,240 Speaker 3: the Divisional Round is Lions Commanders that is on Saturday night. 712 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 4: What is a question for the Lions. 713 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 6: Well, everybody keeps talking about all their injuries. Judy and 714 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 6: I keep thinking. 715 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 14: Like, is it that big a deal because this team 716 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 14: is fifteen to two with all these guys being banged up. 717 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 6: Some of these guys have come back. 718 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 14: Obviously, Alex Angeloni, their linebacker, played really well in the 719 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 14: season finale against Minnesota. They're gonna get running back David 720 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 14: Montgomery back, and they dodged a bullet by having cornerback 721 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 14: Terry on Arnold and guard Kevin Zeitler probably being available 722 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:56,280 Speaker 14: for this game this weekend. But again, this team is 723 00:33:56,280 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 14: so resiying and so tough. I think the injuries maybe 724 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 14: over blow given the way they've been playing, and when 725 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 14: you go to the commander's side of it, their defense 726 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,000 Speaker 14: has got to keep playing the way they've been playing. Look, 727 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 14: I know Jay and Dan's was the big story of 728 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 14: the game, but that defense taking on a Buccaneers offense 729 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 14: that was top five and rushing, top five in passing, 730 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 14: top five in points, only gave up to two hundred and 731 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:20,000 Speaker 14: eighty four yards, got a big fumble recovery by Bobby 732 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:23,280 Speaker 14: Wagner that turned the game around for them. They weren't dominant, 733 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 14: but they did just enough to give Daniel's a chance 734 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:28,920 Speaker 14: to make the place he made to win that game. 735 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: The other NFC matchup is the Rams and the Eagles. 736 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:35,880 Speaker 1: Biggest questions there, Jeff. 737 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:39,040 Speaker 14: Well, we'll start with the Rams. You know, I look 738 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 14: at what they've been going through with. 739 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 6: The fires, all the trauma out in LA. They really 740 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:46,200 Speaker 6: brought it. Were very resilient in that contest. 741 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 14: They played a tribute to the city by the way 742 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:51,200 Speaker 14: they played, But can they keep that same energy going 743 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 14: to Philadelphia? 744 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 6: And playing an. 745 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 14: Eagles team that gave them a lot of problems the 746 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:55,880 Speaker 14: first time around. 747 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:57,799 Speaker 6: I love what this front can do. 748 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 14: The guy a lot of young talented players and Jared Bayern, 749 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 14: young Kobe Turner. But they got to be on their 750 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 14: game again and have that same level of energy because 751 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:07,719 Speaker 14: the Eagle side of this, we know what they bring 752 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 14: to the table. Saquon Barkley had over three hundred yards 753 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,399 Speaker 14: a total offense last time these teams played. They won 754 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:14,840 Speaker 14: this game by seventeen points. 755 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:16,959 Speaker 6: But can they throw the football? Tom? 756 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 14: Can they get it done in that part of it? 757 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 14: We knew Jalen Hurt's coming off that concussion might. 758 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 6: Not be one hundred percent himself. 759 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 14: He only threw four hundred and thirty one yards in 760 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:28,400 Speaker 14: that game, only attempted twenty one passes. They have to 761 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,400 Speaker 14: throw the football better because the Rams are going to 762 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 14: take awayte Barkley at some point. 763 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:36,400 Speaker 3: All Right, the final game of the weekend is a 764 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 3: blockbuster Ravens Bills. 765 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 4: What questions face those guys. 766 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 14: Well, you start with the Ravens and you look at 767 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 14: what they've done far as Regus rushing the football two 768 00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 14: hundred ninety nine yards last week against the Steelers Todd 769 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 14: Munkin has figured it out. We knew that we're gonna 770 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:54,399 Speaker 14: be some questions about what's he going to not use 771 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 14: that run game and the way he did last year 772 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,560 Speaker 14: and as championship game, he's got to keep that same 773 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 14: energy the way he called plays fifty runs, bashing, you know, 774 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 14: gashing them with Derek Henry using Lamar Jackson on the move. 775 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:07,360 Speaker 14: That's going to be a tough thing for the Bills 776 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:09,160 Speaker 14: of handle because they don't have a great run defense. 777 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 14: But take what the Bills have, James Cook and they 778 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 14: run the football pretty well with him, and people forget 779 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 14: that Denver's defense was pretty good coming to this game, 780 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:19,480 Speaker 14: and they just use James Cook as a battery ram 781 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 14: for a lot. For large portions of this contest, he 782 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:23,440 Speaker 14: ran for one hundred and twenty yards. 783 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 6: They use a. 784 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:26,680 Speaker 14: Lot of an extra linman in this offense. I think 785 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 14: people underrate how physical Buffalo can be. Then get ahead 786 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 14: and get that run game going. I think that they 787 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:34,360 Speaker 14: end up winning this game pretty easily. 788 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:38,640 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways on Monday, and 789 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 1: McCarthy potentially could have a landing spot sooner than later. 790 00:36:43,600 --> 00:36:46,840 Speaker 2: He is slated to interview on Wednesday with the Bears. 791 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,879 Speaker 1: I am told that that interview is going to take 792 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 1: place at Hallis Hall, potentially a chance for the Bears 793 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:55,719 Speaker 1: to sell Mike McCarthy as much as for McCarthy to 794 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:58,920 Speaker 1: sell the Bears these Saints. The Cory Dorian rapport also 795 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 1: expected the interview McCarthy next week. As for his old place, well, 796 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 1: Drey Aikman had some thoughts on that new vacancy. 797 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:10,040 Speaker 10: As far as a coveted job. 798 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 6: I don't know that that's accurate. I mean, I do 799 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 6: think that I do think. 800 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:17,960 Speaker 10: The Cowboys are obviously a high profile team. Whoever is 801 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:20,360 Speaker 10: covered or whoever is head coaching of that team is 802 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:23,880 Speaker 10: certainly going to draw a lot of attention. But I 803 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 10: think most football people that take over as a head coach, 804 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:29,600 Speaker 10: they want to do it on their terms. 805 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:30,719 Speaker 6: That's hard to do it. 806 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 1: Judy, you hit it earlier in the show when you 807 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:38,799 Speaker 1: talked about the unique challenges that come with being the 808 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:39,919 Speaker 1: head coach of. 809 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:40,920 Speaker 2: The Dallas Cowboys. 810 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 1: Here, when Treegman is saying that coaches want to do 811 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 1: it on their terms, we're not just talking contract terms. 812 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:46,359 Speaker 2: Though. 813 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: That was a factor with Mike McCarthy in terms of 814 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:53,560 Speaker 1: like the deal, it's everything. Jerry controls everything in your mind, 815 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:55,720 Speaker 1: how good of an opening is this. 816 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:00,400 Speaker 3: Well, I certainly don't want to ever be in the 817 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 3: business of disagreeing with Troy. However, because of a few 818 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:08,480 Speaker 3: other factors, I think that this is a really good job. 819 00:38:08,560 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 3: I put it at the top of my list ranking 820 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:13,719 Speaker 3: the openings for a big reason. It's the only available 821 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 3: job that has a quarterback the caliber of Dak Prescott. 822 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:20,560 Speaker 3: And there are some other really talented players on this roster, 823 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:24,960 Speaker 3: obviously Cde Lamb, Michael Parsons, So there are pieces in place, 824 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:28,160 Speaker 3: and let's fay said. Mike McCarthy won a whole lot 825 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:32,480 Speaker 3: of games before this season, when injuries really hit them hard, 826 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:34,960 Speaker 3: they were winning twelve games a season, they were going 827 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 3: to the playoffs. So that means you're sort of in 828 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:41,280 Speaker 3: a position where with some changes, certainly on the roster, 829 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:45,360 Speaker 3: and some coaching staff changes and maybe an infusion new thoughts, 830 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 3: you're primed for a quick turnaround, a big bounce. And 831 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,120 Speaker 3: that is why I think this would be an attractive job. 832 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 3: The other jobs all have things going for them, but 833 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:57,720 Speaker 3: none of them have a quarterback like Dak Prescott. So yes, 834 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:00,760 Speaker 3: there are issues about autonomy, and a football coach always 835 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:03,160 Speaker 3: wants autonomy and to be able to call the shots 836 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:06,520 Speaker 3: and have people around him. That's not going to happen 837 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:09,319 Speaker 3: at the Dallas Cowboys, for sure. Jerry is going to 838 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:11,720 Speaker 3: continue to run the show. It's his team, He's. 839 00:39:11,560 --> 00:39:13,520 Speaker 4: Going to run it. But I do think there's an 840 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 4: awful lot going for that job anyway. 841 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 5: Judy, You've got the Jets ranked third in your rankings 842 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:22,080 Speaker 5: right now, which is I guess good news for anybody 843 00:39:22,120 --> 00:39:24,839 Speaker 5: who's eligible to become a general manager or. 844 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:25,439 Speaker 2: A head coach. 845 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,400 Speaker 5: Hit the full screen control room and let's see all 846 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:33,719 Speaker 5: of the completed interviews right now. These are the completed interviews. 847 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:35,960 Speaker 5: We also have some coaches that are on deck, as 848 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:38,600 Speaker 5: some gms that are on deck as we at some 849 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:41,759 Speaker 5: point this week. Arthur Smith is a guy you're not 850 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:43,040 Speaker 5: going to see right there. He's going to interview with 851 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 5: the Jets. Here are the general managers right here. We 852 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:46,600 Speaker 5: don't even a room for the logos, ladies and gentlemen. 853 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:50,560 Speaker 5: We're going to at some point this week the Jets 854 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:52,719 Speaker 5: are going to narrow this down and move toward a 855 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 5: second round of interviews with the general manager with the 856 00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:58,959 Speaker 5: head coach and maybe even expand that at some point 857 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:00,520 Speaker 5: did we see Joe Witt up there? I think we 858 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:02,440 Speaker 5: see we saw Joe Whit's name. He was added to 859 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:06,000 Speaker 5: the mix this morning, Tom as you reported. So yeah, 860 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,040 Speaker 5: there is the bottom of Joe Witt and Arthur Smith 861 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:09,680 Speaker 5: and the guys that are on deck here, in addition 862 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:13,880 Speaker 5: to Jeff Ulbrich. I believe this would have looked differently 863 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:18,000 Speaker 5: if the Patriots didn't hire Mike Rabel, didn't fire Gerrodmeo 864 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:20,520 Speaker 5: and Mike Rabel, because I think the Jets thought they 865 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:22,400 Speaker 5: had a strong and I think that they had a 866 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:25,320 Speaker 5: good interview there, And if those other openings Vegas and 867 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:28,160 Speaker 5: New Orleans and New England hadn't opened, then maybe this 868 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:29,680 Speaker 5: would have been a different story in Brabel would have 869 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 5: been ticketed as the head coach of the Jets. But 870 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:34,040 Speaker 5: now they're going through the process. I do expect it's 871 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:36,399 Speaker 5: going to be start to narrow down as we get 872 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:39,040 Speaker 5: through the next couple of days, I believe, I hope, 873 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:39,520 Speaker 5: I think. 874 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:44,240 Speaker 1: And by the way, Joe Brady, Arthur Smith, Vance, Joseph 875 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:46,960 Speaker 1: Bobby Sloy, Brian Greasy, Brian Flores, Josh McConn, and Joe 876 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,320 Speaker 1: wit Jr. Those of the guys they haven't gotten to 877 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:52,279 Speaker 1: just yet, a thorough search, a thorough process, and. 878 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:55,160 Speaker 2: Real forgot about an a lot of reason to rush 879 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:56,560 Speaker 2: at this point. 880 00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:59,359 Speaker 1: Well that's all, yeah, they're all They're all coming in. 881 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:01,600 Speaker 2: This is just how the rules were last year. 882 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:04,279 Speaker 1: By the way, the last head coach hired was Dan 883 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:08,200 Speaker 1: Quinn by the commander, So don't panic. Sometimes the last 884 00:41:08,239 --> 00:41:10,920 Speaker 1: one's the best one. He's got Jaden Daniels and that 885 00:41:11,239 --> 00:41:15,239 Speaker 1: Washington team rolling. Can they keep it going this week 886 00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:17,640 Speaker 1: with a really tough matchup against the Lions. We'll talk 887 00:41:17,680 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: about that guy right there next on The Insiders. He 888 00:41:27,719 --> 00:41:30,720 Speaker 1: saw Sean McVay and other members of the RAMS staff 889 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:35,400 Speaker 1: last night worrying LAFD shirts, part of the support that 890 00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:38,440 Speaker 1: they were trying to demonstrate for the Los Angeles community 891 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:40,880 Speaker 1: that had been hit hard by the wildfires that have 892 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:46,480 Speaker 1: displaced thousands of people. Stan Kronkey, the RAMS owner, stepping 893 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:49,200 Speaker 1: up with a one million dollar donation from his foundation. 894 00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:53,080 Speaker 1: You could actually purchase these shirts and hats at nflshop 895 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:59,480 Speaker 1: dot com, all proceeds going to LA Fire Relief. RAMS 896 00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:03,880 Speaker 1: on into divisional playoff weekend. We also are going to 897 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:08,120 Speaker 1: be rolling onto the road. How about this NFL network, 898 00:42:08,239 --> 00:42:10,840 Speaker 1: the Insiders. We are going to be live at the 899 00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:13,800 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, in just a couple of weeks. 900 00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:16,960 Speaker 1: We are going to be live at the super Bowl 901 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:18,880 Speaker 1: in New Orleans. We're going to be live at the 902 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:21,000 Speaker 1: Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. 903 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:22,040 Speaker 2: Did I miss anything, Mike? 904 00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:24,680 Speaker 6: Uh? 905 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 2: The Oscars? Yeah, he didn't hear me, brook Smith. See then,