WEBVTT - Playoff Implications 0:00:04.299 --> 0:00:06.699 NFL Game Deview is a production of the NFL in 0:00:06.739 --> 0:00:12.419 partnership with iHeartRadio. 0:00:13.499 --> 0:00:16.339 Everybody, Welcome to Game Debut present about Mercedes Benz, Patrick 0:00:16.419 --> 0:00:19.459 laybaumb back here with Greg Rosenthal and Cynthia Freeland. The 0:00:19.539 --> 0:00:22.099 presence have all been opened, the trash has not quite 0:00:22.099 --> 0:00:25.339 been thrown away. But we've almost got the playoff picture 0:00:25.419 --> 0:00:27.539 completely crystallized. We just need a few more things. 0:00:27.819 --> 0:00:30.539 Yeah, Christmas was, you know, somewhat of a big deal, 0:00:30.619 --> 0:00:33.459 but our picks race is really what America is talking 0:00:33.459 --> 0:00:33.939 about right now. 0:00:34.019 --> 0:00:35.739 Clearly, just start bragging. 0:00:35.459 --> 0:00:38.179 Just bragging we're tied. That doesn't mean anything. 0:00:38.299 --> 0:00:40.379 Yeah, there it is. Why don't we just go ahead 0:00:40.379 --> 0:00:44.099 and the plow crowns to Cynthia and Greg, who are 0:00:44.139 --> 0:00:47.459 exactly we've played all of these football games. They have 0:00:47.579 --> 0:00:49.979 the same exact record, one hundred and sixty nine and 0:00:50.139 --> 0:00:53.219 seventy one. Cynthia has caught up to Greg, and that 0:00:53.219 --> 0:00:55.979 puts me in second place in our big Standing's hoay 0:00:56.219 --> 0:00:59.139 as we take a look at the AFC playoff picture 0:00:59.179 --> 0:01:01.739 with the Kansas City Chiefs have gone ahead and gotten 0:01:01.859 --> 0:01:04.419 a bye. And this Saturday we've got a trip well 0:01:04.419 --> 0:01:09.219 header exclusively on NFL Network Chargers Patriots at one o'clock Eastern, 0:01:09.299 --> 0:01:13.659 Broncos Bengals at four Eastern, Cardinals Rams at eight Eastern Saturday, 0:01:13.659 --> 0:01:16.819 December twenty eighth, only on NFL Network. Streaming on NFL Plus. 0:01:16.819 --> 0:01:21.259 Subscription is required for NFL Plus. Let's dive into those 0:01:21.299 --> 0:01:24.219 Saturday games, starting with the Chargers. In the Patriots, the 0:01:24.259 --> 0:01:26.979 Bolts can clinch a playoff berth with a win. Did 0:01:27.019 --> 0:01:28.419 they get that win on Saturday? 0:01:28.459 --> 0:01:29.539 They absolutely do. 0:01:29.619 --> 0:01:31.419 I think it's gonna be a fun game between two 0:01:31.419 --> 0:01:34.219 of my favorite quarterbacks to watch Chargers win twenty six 0:01:34.299 --> 0:01:37.379 to twenty. And when you watch Drake May and Justin 0:01:37.419 --> 0:01:40.539 Herber on the field together, you're seeing one as a 0:01:40.539 --> 0:01:43.459 younger version of the other. Yes, Drake May as a 0:01:43.539 --> 0:01:46.859 rookie reminds me more of Justin Herber than I expected it. 0:01:47.299 --> 0:01:48.819 Physically, they're similar. 0:01:48.979 --> 0:01:51.539 Drake May a little more aggressive as a runner, but 0:01:51.939 --> 0:01:55.059 what surprises me is how much he reminds me of 0:01:55.219 --> 0:01:57.899 Justin Herber as a decision maker. The last five or 0:01:57.939 --> 0:02:00.979 six weeks, Drake May has been very careful with the ball, 0:02:01.259 --> 0:02:05.179 going through his reads, making safe throws. And that really 0:02:05.259 --> 0:02:07.899 wasn't the word on Drake May. Coming out of college 0:02:08.059 --> 0:02:11.339 at UNC, Justin Herbert. You basically if you come up 0:02:11.379 --> 0:02:13.059 with a quarterback in a lab, he's going to look 0:02:13.099 --> 0:02:15.459 a lot like Justin Herbert, with that body and the 0:02:15.739 --> 0:02:18.099 physicality and the arm strength. And yet he is a 0:02:18.179 --> 0:02:22.139 very careful quarterback. And Drake May has learned he doesn't 0:02:22.139 --> 0:02:24.059 have the best team around him. He's not putting up 0:02:24.179 --> 0:02:26.339 the same numbers that Herbert did as a rookie. 0:02:26.379 --> 0:02:28.859 Those are Herbert rookie games we're looking at. 0:02:29.099 --> 0:02:31.739 But to me, they're both going to be part of 0:02:31.739 --> 0:02:34.099 our lives for the next decade plus. So, yes, the 0:02:34.219 --> 0:02:36.579 charters win, but Patriots fans they have a lot to 0:02:36.619 --> 0:02:37.339 be thankful for. 0:02:37.739 --> 0:02:39.779 I like that comp a lot, and I'm just going 0:02:39.859 --> 0:02:41.779 to say my score is pretty similar to yours. I 0:02:41.819 --> 0:02:44.459 have twenty three to eighteen. I think it's going to 0:02:44.499 --> 0:02:47.579 be a very fascinating game through the air as well. 0:02:47.659 --> 0:02:49.619 And I want to point out another rookie, and that's 0:02:49.699 --> 0:02:52.219 Lad McConkey. We didn't know a head of the season 0:02:52.539 --> 0:02:55.139 who is Justin Herbert going to throw the ball to 0:02:55.299 --> 0:02:59.459 reliably And the answer has been number fifteen out of Georgia. 0:02:59.539 --> 0:03:01.979 When I'm watching these games, and yes, you're looking at 0:03:02.299 --> 0:03:04.619 Justin Herbert's numbers this year and you're saying taking the 0:03:04.619 --> 0:03:07.939 fewest passing attempts that we've seen he's had in terms 0:03:07.979 --> 0:03:10.539 of like numbers per game, it's down. But if you 0:03:10.539 --> 0:03:14.339 look at per throw averages and his passer rating when 0:03:14.579 --> 0:03:17.899 completing passes, this is a good thing in large part 0:03:17.939 --> 0:03:20.299 because of how they're setting him up for success in 0:03:20.339 --> 0:03:23.139 the passing game with lad McConkey. So he's not even 0:03:23.139 --> 0:03:26.219 getting any shine for a potential of offensive Rookie of 0:03:26.219 --> 0:03:28.539 the Year, but we love him and at least he 0:03:28.539 --> 0:03:29.459 should be in the conversation. 0:03:29.499 --> 0:03:31.579 He's on my ballot. You can vote for five guys. 0:03:31.619 --> 0:03:32.779 He's like third or four. 0:03:32.779 --> 0:03:34.179 Right, right, So there you go. 0:03:34.379 --> 0:03:36.059 Yeah, and I'm going to vote for Cynthia and ire 0:03:36.099 --> 0:03:37.579 to get some balance as just kidding. 0:03:37.659 --> 0:03:39.099 Yeah, I went to ballot Greg's ballot. 0:03:39.219 --> 0:03:40.539 Do I talk to about this ballot? 0:03:40.819 --> 0:03:42.779 Really have a ballot. 0:03:42.419 --> 0:03:45.739 We're gotta get ballots for the show. I'm looking at 0:03:45.739 --> 0:03:48.859 a Chargers win as well, but just by two points, 0:03:48.899 --> 0:03:51.179 because we look back at the start of the season 0:03:51.339 --> 0:03:54.179 and things were looking great for this Chargers defense, but 0:03:54.259 --> 0:03:57.059 in the past few games they've had issues stopping the 0:03:57.099 --> 0:04:00.179 opposition from running the football. In fact, two of the 0:04:00.259 --> 0:04:03.699 last five games the Chargers have seen the opponent run 0:04:03.819 --> 0:04:07.419 for over two hundred yards, including a game which I 0:04:07.459 --> 0:04:10.419 thought really doomed them and had some long term implications 0:04:10.419 --> 0:04:13.619 in that loss at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 0:04:13.699 --> 0:04:15.819 And now these Patriots come in, who had a lot 0:04:15.819 --> 0:04:20.139 of success running the ball early against Buffalo, perhaps Drake Mays. 0:04:21.179 --> 0:04:24.939 You know, he's Greg Rosenthal's one thing that matters, and 0:04:25.019 --> 0:04:28.219 I think his team can make a push here to 0:04:28.219 --> 0:04:31.299 beat the Chargers, but comes up late. So Patriots fans 0:04:31.619 --> 0:04:34.579 meme away as we go. Take a look at that 0:04:34.619 --> 0:04:38.979 playoff picture once again in the AFC, because you see 0:04:39.019 --> 0:04:41.819 the teams in the hunt. We got a couple of 0:04:41.819 --> 0:04:45.739 them coming up. A big matchup between the Broncos and 0:04:45.779 --> 0:04:50.179 the Bengals Saturday right here on NFL Network for you 0:04:50.299 --> 0:04:54.979 looking forward to that game. That where there's you see 0:04:55.139 --> 0:04:59.139 a Broncos team that, oh my gosh, because Payton has 0:04:59.179 --> 0:05:01.379 them as world beaters right now and the rookie quarterback 0:05:01.419 --> 0:05:04.459 is playing so well. But then they falter a against 0:05:04.499 --> 0:05:07.979 the Chargers. And now the Bengals come in where I 0:05:08.059 --> 0:05:10.619 thought a few weeks ago there was no hope, but Greg, 0:05:10.699 --> 0:05:14.619 you laid out a plan, and that plan, despite slim margins, 0:05:14.779 --> 0:05:18.339 they do have a shot at the playoffs. I think 0:05:18.619 --> 0:05:21.419 I've got the Bengals winning this game too. Twenty five 0:05:21.499 --> 0:05:24.619 to twenty three a bad year for the team, but 0:05:24.779 --> 0:05:27.419 Jamar Chase is great. He's been using so many different 0:05:27.419 --> 0:05:30.059 spots for so many different things. They're going to score. 0:05:30.379 --> 0:05:34.019 Currently on pace for a triple crown season. Patrickstan isn't 0:05:34.059 --> 0:05:36.379 just locked into one spot either. Those two were going 0:05:36.459 --> 0:05:38.899 head to head quite possibly all over the field, but 0:05:38.979 --> 0:05:42.019 Riley Moss hasn't played since Thanksgiving. I think t Higgins 0:05:42.019 --> 0:05:44.099 gets good looks as well here, and I think that 0:05:44.179 --> 0:05:46.459 gives the Bengals a great shot to give themselves that 0:05:46.539 --> 0:05:47.579 slim bit of hope. 0:05:47.579 --> 0:05:50.019 Cynthia, Well, I mean you have more hope for the 0:05:50.059 --> 0:05:52.059 Bengals than me, because I actually have the Bengals only 0:05:52.059 --> 0:05:55.019 winning by one point five to twenty. 0:05:54.859 --> 0:05:56.059 Four in this matchup. 0:05:56.179 --> 0:05:58.259 I do actually want to talk about bo Nicks here 0:05:58.419 --> 0:06:00.579 because something that will matter in this game is his 0:06:00.699 --> 0:06:04.179 ability to run smartly, not just run, but run small. 0:06:04.859 --> 0:06:07.179 Why do I say that, Well, something he's used on 0:06:07.219 --> 0:06:10.019 forty percent of attempts has been a short pass, and 0:06:10.059 --> 0:06:12.019 this is not an area that you want to target 0:06:12.059 --> 0:06:15.299 the Bengals defense. We've said, and very fairly that this 0:06:15.379 --> 0:06:17.419 is a defense you can target in many ways, but 0:06:17.499 --> 0:06:20.259 with a short pass. They have the most interceptions on 0:06:20.299 --> 0:06:24.019 the sub ten ten air yard pass and now Bonnicks 0:06:24.059 --> 0:06:25.979 is going to need to use his legs instead of 0:06:26.059 --> 0:06:29.419 use his arm in that situation to prevent any turnovers. 0:06:29.899 --> 0:06:32.979 Yeah, Bonnicks has not been playing that well lately. I 0:06:32.979 --> 0:06:35.259 thought he struggled against the Colts. You didn't finish off 0:06:35.259 --> 0:06:37.379 that game against the Chargers, and yet I think he's 0:06:37.379 --> 0:06:39.219 going to get the win. Talk about a lack of 0:06:39.299 --> 0:06:41.659 respect from these two on the Broncos. The Broncos win 0:06:41.739 --> 0:06:45.699 this one twenty three to twenty. Let's just scrag it 0:06:45.779 --> 0:06:49.619 up Broncos Twitter. You're so angry all the time at everyone, 0:06:49.739 --> 0:06:52.659 especially me. This is the respect that you've been looking for. 0:06:52.739 --> 0:06:55.179 And it's partly because I don't respect this Bengals defense. 0:06:55.299 --> 0:06:59.059 All season long. They've been telling us who they are, 0:06:59.259 --> 0:07:01.459 and they are a team that gives up a lot 0:07:01.499 --> 0:07:04.739 of big plays on the ground and through the Sean 0:07:04.779 --> 0:07:09.179 Payton a month ago decided I'll let you switch that 0:07:09.259 --> 0:07:12.939 TNF game so I can get extra rest in this 0:07:13.059 --> 0:07:14.539 game against the Bengals. 0:07:14.579 --> 0:07:15.539 He's a mad genius. 0:07:15.539 --> 0:07:17.619 The TNF thing didn't really work out, but he does 0:07:17.699 --> 0:07:20.379 have extra rest in this one. That Bengals defense, which 0:07:20.379 --> 0:07:25.019 has been better lately forcing some turnovers, ultimately isn't up 0:07:25.059 --> 0:07:27.819 to snuff. I think Sean Payton dials up some big plays, 0:07:27.819 --> 0:07:30.699 bo Nicks has some easy passes, the running game gets 0:07:30.699 --> 0:07:32.579 it going, and Cincinnati's two banged up. 0:07:32.619 --> 0:07:34.819 They've told us who they are all season, and what 0:07:34.859 --> 0:07:36.179 they are is not a playoff team. 0:07:36.219 --> 0:07:38.779 They lose, so Greg takes the disrespect and slides it 0:07:38.819 --> 0:07:40.379 over to the Cincinnati Bengals. 0:07:41.139 --> 0:07:43.979 Well, my question is is we're all on the same 0:07:44.099 --> 0:07:46.179 side if you're looking at it through the lens of 0:07:46.219 --> 0:07:50.419 some perspective, well, and yet we're disrespectful. 0:07:49.619 --> 0:07:50.299 Got it? You are? 0:07:50.619 --> 0:07:53.539 When they do the standings next week, my win picking 0:07:53.579 --> 0:07:56.539 the Broncos, right, that's what's gonna count or not. 0:07:57.739 --> 0:08:00.699 The math on respect is within five points, whether or 0:08:00.699 --> 0:08:03.299 not your respect. But in the Saturday night game features 0:08:03.299 --> 0:08:05.459 one of the hottest teams in the league. Right now, 0:08:05.739 --> 0:08:08.219 for the Saturday Night Cap on NFL Network, we have 0:08:08.259 --> 0:08:11.219 the Cardinals in rams LA winning four straight, but they 0:08:11.259 --> 0:08:14.139 can clinch the NFC West in part with a win. 0:08:14.659 --> 0:08:15.619 Do they clinch. 0:08:15.299 --> 0:08:18.419 Cynthia, Well, they win, so they do their part in 0:08:18.459 --> 0:08:23.139 the clinching scenario twenty seven to twenty. In this matchup, 0:08:23.379 --> 0:08:25.659 what I'm looking at on the other side is really 0:08:25.899 --> 0:08:28.059 Kyler Murray doing a little bit too much. And that 0:08:28.219 --> 0:08:32.219 was even before James Connor got injured, and Kyler Murray 0:08:32.259 --> 0:08:34.859 just trying to like make something, force things to happen 0:08:35.059 --> 0:08:37.899 as opposed to taking things when they're there. You've seen 0:08:37.939 --> 0:08:41.419 it manifest after their buy In terms of interceptions, we 0:08:41.579 --> 0:08:43.979 just saw a couple of them on the screen right now. 0:08:44.219 --> 0:08:46.979 But then you're seeing it in like forcing like quick 0:08:47.459 --> 0:08:50.339 cadence issues. That's when you see those snaps and handoffs 0:08:50.339 --> 0:08:52.859 don't go right. When they don't go right, it's usually 0:08:53.139 --> 0:08:56.579 something to do with communications. So in my opinion in 0:08:56.619 --> 0:08:59.019 this matchup, I mean, especially with Jared Verse coming for 0:08:59.099 --> 0:09:02.259 your Life and all these other guys up front for 0:09:02.339 --> 0:09:04.779 the rams it's going to be very different. If he 0:09:04.899 --> 0:09:08.059 tries to do it all on himself and without James Connor, 0:09:08.499 --> 0:09:10.619 it just would to me indicate maybe a little bit 0:09:10.619 --> 0:09:11.579 of doing too much. 0:09:11.979 --> 0:09:15.059 Yeah, he also is without some offensive linemen. Yeah, that's 0:09:15.059 --> 0:09:17.779 why I like just barely the Rams covering the number 0:09:18.019 --> 0:09:20.739 twenty four to seventeen. They lost big time to the 0:09:20.739 --> 0:09:23.379 Cardinals before, but that was a different Rams team. Now 0:09:23.419 --> 0:09:26.499 it's Kien Williams's team. You think about the Rams and 0:09:26.539 --> 0:09:29.219 you think Pooka and Cooper Cup and Matthew Stafford. No, 0:09:29.499 --> 0:09:32.899 it's really a run first team and Kyron Williams has 0:09:32.939 --> 0:09:37.299 turned into the centerpiece of their offense. He sees a 0:09:37.499 --> 0:09:40.339 hole and he gets a little extra. If they block 0:09:40.419 --> 0:09:42.899 him for four yards, he gets six or seven. They 0:09:42.939 --> 0:09:45.299 block him for two or three yards, he gets five. 0:09:45.739 --> 0:09:48.179 I know he's not there with all the explosive runs, 0:09:48.499 --> 0:09:51.339 but if you look at success rate, he is right there. 0:09:51.419 --> 0:09:53.779 Over the last two months with the very best runners 0:09:53.819 --> 0:09:56.299 in the league. They are a great running attack. Sean 0:09:56.379 --> 0:09:58.939 mcvagh dials it up and they get some revenge for 0:09:58.979 --> 0:10:01.259 that blowout that the Cardinals gave him early in the season. 0:10:01.339 --> 0:10:03.699 Yeah, it feels like that blowout was an entirely different 0:10:03.819 --> 0:10:05.659 in a f the Rams were playing in that game 0:10:05.699 --> 0:10:08.019 without Pooka and Akua. I've got them winning this game, 0:10:08.099 --> 0:10:11.219 but just about one point nineteen to eighteen. I do 0:10:11.379 --> 0:10:14.539 want to look at this Cardinals passing game over the 0:10:14.579 --> 0:10:17.579 past few weeks. It's fallen off of the planet late 0:10:17.619 --> 0:10:21.099 the season. The last seven losses, they've averaged just over 0:10:21.139 --> 0:10:24.659 sixteen points, and since Week nine, Marvin Harrison Junior has 0:10:25.019 --> 0:10:27.899 only gone over fifty nine yards in a game once 0:10:28.019 --> 0:10:30.299 and in that game he had sixty yards. He's still 0:10:30.299 --> 0:10:33.499 getting the targets, but the passing game is having real problems. 0:10:34.099 --> 0:10:36.579 For a team with glaring problems to beat the Rams 0:10:36.659 --> 0:10:39.979 right now, it's very difficult. The Rams could beat anybody, 0:10:40.539 --> 0:10:43.379 but I think in this divisional game it's close. But 0:10:43.499 --> 0:10:46.099 as you heard, the Beautiful Children, it is a name. 0:10:46.699 --> 0:10:49.899 We are all aboard the Los Angeles Rams winning. To 0:10:49.939 --> 0:10:53.339 wrap up at Saturday tripleheader on NFL Network, It's time 0:10:53.419 --> 0:10:56.539 for the Drive to Excellence presented by Mercedes Benz, a 0:10:56.659 --> 0:11:00.019 monster matchup between the Packers and the Vikings, both teams 0:11:00.059 --> 0:11:03.139 already heading into the playoffs. Minnesota's still in the running 0:11:03.219 --> 0:11:05.659 for the one season. Winning this game could set up 0:11:05.659 --> 0:11:08.379 a huge matchup next week. Who wins this time? 0:11:08.419 --> 0:11:11.939 Greg I like the Packers to finally get a signature 0:11:11.979 --> 0:11:15.219 win in this season. They've lost to only great teams 0:11:15.299 --> 0:11:17.539 like the Vikings, but this time it's Jordan Love who 0:11:17.539 --> 0:11:20.299 gets to win thirty to twenty seven on the road. 0:11:20.299 --> 0:11:22.299 When you dive deep into the numbers, this is one 0:11:22.339 --> 0:11:25.619 of the best offenses in the league by any metric 0:11:25.859 --> 0:11:28.259 you can come up with. And Jordan Love has turned 0:11:28.259 --> 0:11:30.939 into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league, 0:11:30.979 --> 0:11:32.899 in part because the running game sets him up to 0:11:32.979 --> 0:11:33.979 not have to do too much. 0:11:34.019 --> 0:11:36.059 But when he does, he is going deep. 0:11:36.459 --> 0:11:39.219 The throws are pretty and I think to beat the 0:11:39.219 --> 0:11:41.939 Minnesota Vikings, you need to have a quarterback who can 0:11:41.979 --> 0:11:45.659 stand back there and make tough throws. That's what Jordan 0:11:45.739 --> 0:11:48.419 Love has now been doing over the last two months. 0:11:48.419 --> 0:11:51.419 He's really become one of the best quarterbacks in the league. 0:11:51.499 --> 0:11:54.099 He's aided by a great play caller. There's very little 0:11:54.139 --> 0:11:57.139 separating these two teams, but sometimes you look at it 0:11:57.219 --> 0:11:59.539 and you just think, oh, they're gonna win one of these. 0:11:59.579 --> 0:12:02.019 They can't just keep losing these close games to good teams. 0:12:02.059 --> 0:12:03.179 I think they pull this one off. 0:12:03.339 --> 0:12:05.419 Well, I have a closer game than you, but I 0:12:05.419 --> 0:12:08.819 have Green Bay winning this one twenty three to twenty two. 0:12:08.899 --> 0:12:11.299 I'm going to show you some very unsexy footage. If 0:12:11.299 --> 0:12:15.099 you are a fantasy football player, this is Josh Jacobs blocking. 0:12:15.179 --> 0:12:15.899 Are you ready for it? 0:12:15.939 --> 0:12:19.139 Because this running back is very dynamic in terms of 0:12:19.259 --> 0:12:22.659 stopping guys from getting pressure on his quarterback. Why is 0:12:22.659 --> 0:12:25.539 it such a big deal to have him block, Well, 0:12:25.579 --> 0:12:27.619 we know that this team likes to blitz and the 0:12:27.699 --> 0:12:29.819 last time out, which was a billion years ago, back 0:12:29.819 --> 0:12:32.699 in Week four, he did throw three picks against this 0:12:32.779 --> 0:12:35.419 team and two of them were when they were blitzing. Now, 0:12:35.459 --> 0:12:38.419 what's the difference over the past five games? Jordan Love 0:12:38.739 --> 0:12:41.659 zero interceptions. What is one of the differences, Well, it's 0:12:41.699 --> 0:12:45.979 the production, it's the versatility, and it's how Josh Jacobs 0:12:45.979 --> 0:12:50.139 has been utilized all of those things, especially unsexy blocking, 0:12:50.219 --> 0:12:53.739 which I think is very sexy. No, Now, that to 0:12:53.819 --> 0:12:55.579 me is the big difference in this matchup. 0:12:56.179 --> 0:12:59.099 I have a very close score as well. The differences 0:12:59.499 --> 0:13:02.059 I've got the Minnesota Vikings. I believe in the Packers. 0:13:02.579 --> 0:13:04.179 They were my pick to go in the Super Bowl. 0:13:04.379 --> 0:13:06.979 Josh Jacobs powering his way to a Packers win is 0:13:07.019 --> 0:13:10.299 something I can easily see, but I keep doubting Sam 0:13:10.379 --> 0:13:15.819 Donald and he continues to be successful, especially on third downs. 0:13:15.899 --> 0:13:19.939 Let's just watch Sam make plays well third down against 0:13:19.979 --> 0:13:22.659 really good teams. This year, He's in like a burrow 0:13:22.699 --> 0:13:27.059 in lamarka category on third and long since Week seven, 0:13:27.219 --> 0:13:30.099 and if they even get there. Here's the thing with 0:13:30.099 --> 0:13:32.739 Sam Donald this season. He's throwing past the sticks on 0:13:32.899 --> 0:13:36.219 forty five percent of his attempts. He's not getting hidden. 0:13:36.659 --> 0:13:39.499 Kevin O'Connell's not doing some quarterback magic. This is just 0:13:39.619 --> 0:13:42.899 saying the Sam Donald. And So I've picked the Vikings, 0:13:42.899 --> 0:13:45.579 and I've picked against the Vikings and loss. I'm gonna 0:13:45.579 --> 0:13:48.139 stop doing that. It's a really good football team with 0:13:48.219 --> 0:13:51.019 a good quarterback, and so I'm all alone, which is 0:13:51.059 --> 0:13:53.659 a place I'm very comfortable being. So the Lions get 0:13:53.659 --> 0:13:56.099 a shot at redemption Monday Night against the forty nine 0:13:56.179 --> 0:13:58.779 Ers Detroit, currently the one seed in the NFC. Does 0:13:58.859 --> 0:14:01.499 Dan Campbell get his revenge against the Niner Cynthia? 0:14:02.299 --> 0:14:02.579 Yeah? 0:14:02.699 --> 0:14:04.219 I mean I don't know if it's revenge because it 0:14:04.259 --> 0:14:07.419 feels like it's like such a different situation. I mean, 0:14:07.539 --> 0:14:09.899 both teams are really struggling with injuries, the Niners all 0:14:09.899 --> 0:14:12.939 season long, the Lions more recently. But I have Lions 0:14:12.979 --> 0:14:16.379 winning by three points twenty six to twenty three when 0:14:16.379 --> 0:14:18.779 I'm looking at this collapse last year, and this was 0:14:18.779 --> 0:14:21.099 actually the tape that I chose. When you talk about 0:14:21.299 --> 0:14:25.379 what Dan Campbell does really well, his entire personality becomes 0:14:25.419 --> 0:14:27.579 this team. And if you don't think he's using this 0:14:27.619 --> 0:14:30.659 as motivation, if they've not rewatched this three hundred times 0:14:30.819 --> 0:14:33.059 over the past week to try to make sure that 0:14:33.099 --> 0:14:37.499 they have every t crossed and I dotted, you don't 0:14:37.539 --> 0:14:39.819 know Dan Campbell. And I think the amount of caffeine 0:14:39.819 --> 0:14:42.219 the man is going to consume between last year and 0:14:42.259 --> 0:14:44.939 this year, the total is going to be something that 0:14:45.099 --> 0:14:47.979 pays off in dividends here. Now, do I love what's 0:14:47.979 --> 0:14:50.219 going out of the defense, No, But I think this 0:14:50.259 --> 0:14:53.059 is a situation where, given the injury report for the Niners, 0:14:53.339 --> 0:14:56.019 this is an opportunity for some of the guys who 0:14:56.139 --> 0:14:58.259 we may not know, not the household names as a 0:14:58.299 --> 0:15:00.899 Detroit Lions defense, to really step up. And we know 0:15:00.939 --> 0:15:03.219 they're going to blitz on every single freaking down and 0:15:03.259 --> 0:15:05.379 that's going to be really hard with this old Lion. 0:15:05.259 --> 0:15:08.619 So banged up it is in I think the Lions 0:15:08.659 --> 0:15:10.579 offense is in such good shape to put a big 0:15:10.659 --> 0:15:13.179 point totals and just you know, on defense, don't let 0:15:13.219 --> 0:15:15.299 the ball bounce off your face. The Lions win this 0:15:15.419 --> 0:15:18.419 game thirty one to seventies go. If we're going all revenge, 0:15:18.419 --> 0:15:19.619 it's not even gonna be close. 0:15:19.819 --> 0:15:20.379 I had this. 0:15:20.299 --> 0:15:23.019 Whole package, you know, with smart football points. And then 0:15:23.059 --> 0:15:25.619 I heard Teddy Bridgewater was signing with the Lions, and 0:15:25.659 --> 0:15:29.059 I said, let's get Teddy into the show because I've 0:15:29.139 --> 0:15:32.579 run some next Greg's stats here and the Lions were 0:15:32.699 --> 0:15:35.179 close to having the best vibes in the league before 0:15:35.259 --> 0:15:38.899 adding Teddy Bridgewater. They have rocketed to the top of 0:15:38.979 --> 0:15:43.419 the charts. You add Teddy Bridgewater's leadership, his vibes, his 0:15:43.499 --> 0:15:47.219 high school state championship that he just won in Florida. 0:15:47.499 --> 0:15:50.059 He's gonna just give that little extra juice. This is 0:15:50.099 --> 0:15:53.299 a super Bowl caliber team. This forty nine Ers team 0:15:53.339 --> 0:15:55.299 is all banged up. They are not ready to compete 0:15:55.339 --> 0:15:55.739 in this one. 0:15:55.779 --> 0:15:58.699 Yeah's too, Danamous, I've got the Lions winning it. My 0:15:58.819 --> 0:16:02.539 score twenty seven to twenty a touchdown difference for this 0:16:02.579 --> 0:16:06.099 one where it's a shit Late in this season, because 0:16:06.459 --> 0:16:08.619 especially in the fantasy world, we were wondering where Sam 0:16:08.659 --> 0:16:11.099 Laporta at the start of the season. Well, he's on 0:16:11.139 --> 0:16:13.779 the receiving end of a lot of Jared Goff passes. 0:16:13.819 --> 0:16:16.619 His target share decline from his rookie season, but the 0:16:16.699 --> 0:16:19.819 last three weeks he's gotten twenty four targets. That's more 0:16:19.819 --> 0:16:22.659 targets than he did in the first eight weeks combined. 0:16:22.979 --> 0:16:24.939 A big part of things. I think he probably gets 0:16:25.019 --> 0:16:27.619 in the end zone as well as the Lions. They 0:16:27.819 --> 0:16:31.139 don't get revenge, but they're gonna get revenge on the planet, 0:16:31.579 --> 0:16:35.979 perhaps with a trophy in a game. Let's go Cynthia 0:16:36.019 --> 0:16:39.379 doesn't talk about coming up, folks. Michael Pennix Junior has 0:16:39.419 --> 0:16:42.299 the Dirty Birds back in first place in the NFC South, 0:16:42.339 --> 0:16:44.499 but now he's going to DC to take on Jayden 0:16:44.539 --> 0:16:47.939 and the Carniac Commanders. The playoffs are on the line. 0:16:47.979 --> 0:16:51.059 Which rookie phenom gets it done Sunday night, we'll tell you. 0:16:51.179 --> 0:17:00.419 Coming up next are Jayden Daniels and the Commanders coming 0:17:00.419 --> 0:17:03.579 off that crazy ending against the Eagles. They're playing host 0:17:03.619 --> 0:17:06.379 to Michael penn Junior and the Falcons Sunday night. Which 0:17:06.459 --> 0:17:07.819 rookie quarterback gets a win. 0:17:08.459 --> 0:17:10.699 I'm gonna go with Jaden Daniels. 0:17:10.739 --> 0:17:13.739 Michael Pennis had a really nice outing last week, but 0:17:13.819 --> 0:17:16.699 the guy who's been doing it all season long, he gets. 0:17:16.579 --> 0:17:18.419 The win here twenty eight to twenty two. 0:17:18.779 --> 0:17:21.059 I'm probably this offseason going to have to go back 0:17:21.099 --> 0:17:23.619 and make a new metric because we now have reached 0:17:23.659 --> 0:17:26.379 a tipping point in the NFL of quarterbacks who not 0:17:26.579 --> 0:17:29.419 just run or pass but also throw on the run, 0:17:29.739 --> 0:17:31.939 and now throw on the run and then go backwards 0:17:31.979 --> 0:17:34.739 about all these crazy things, and that just changes the 0:17:34.739 --> 0:17:36.099 way defenses have to play. 0:17:36.139 --> 0:17:36.259 You. 0:17:36.619 --> 0:17:38.139 Yes, we've seen in an uptick. 0:17:37.819 --> 0:17:40.979 In efficiency from the Falcons defense in terms of generating 0:17:40.979 --> 0:17:41.579 more pressure. 0:17:41.659 --> 0:17:44.899 They had two turnovers last week. Pick six is nonetheless. 0:17:45.099 --> 0:17:47.899 However, when you have to be mindful of both the 0:17:47.979 --> 0:17:50.339 run and the pass, and the pass on the run, 0:17:50.619 --> 0:17:53.299 then it's not going to bode well for a defense 0:17:53.299 --> 0:17:55.259 that hasn't really been bringing a ton of heat all 0:17:55.299 --> 0:17:55.899 season long. 0:17:56.139 --> 0:17:57.779 I just think Jaden Daniels his. 0:17:57.659 --> 0:18:00.819 Ability to be so multiple, like triple, not just double, 0:18:00.859 --> 0:18:03.299 but multiple in so many ways is a little bit 0:18:03.339 --> 0:18:04.659 more overwhelming for that defense. 0:18:04.779 --> 0:18:07.659 Yeah, it's a difficult spot for Michael Pennock Junior to 0:18:07.659 --> 0:18:10.819 come in and play this game, having just started one game, 0:18:10.859 --> 0:18:13.899 going up against Jade Daniels after a whole season for 0:18:13.979 --> 0:18:17.259 that rookie, and also this Commander's defense makes it very tough. 0:18:17.299 --> 0:18:21.579 I've got the Commanders winning by two twenty four to 0:18:21.699 --> 0:18:25.619 twenty two, because we can discuss the Falcons improvement on defense, 0:18:25.859 --> 0:18:29.059 but since Week seven, the Washington Commanders have the lowest 0:18:29.059 --> 0:18:33.619 completion percentage allowed in the entire NFL. They've forced all 0:18:33.659 --> 0:18:36.699 these turnovers. You can see the way that dan Quinn 0:18:36.699 --> 0:18:39.979 has got this unit playing cohesively, getting pressure on thirty 0:18:40.019 --> 0:18:42.899 seven percent of their dropbacks. A real tough one for 0:18:42.939 --> 0:18:44.619 Michael pennockx junor to come in here and get a 0:18:44.659 --> 0:18:46.179 win and get a team into the playoffs. 0:18:46.179 --> 0:18:49.179 Greg, all season long, I was fading this Falcons team. 0:18:49.179 --> 0:18:51.219 I didn't believe in him. I didn't trust the defense, 0:18:51.259 --> 0:18:53.779 I didn't trust the quarterback. And yet when it comes 0:18:53.859 --> 0:18:56.339 down to it, let's just Greg it up as a 0:18:56.379 --> 0:19:00.019