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Welcome 26 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: back to another edition of the Around the NFL Podcast. 27 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: My name is Dan Hanzas and I'm joined my room 28 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: filled with heroes, Mark Sessler, Chris Westling, and Greg Rosa. 29 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: What's up buys, hey, Dan? Wild Card preview show. Oh 30 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: a lot of heat in this room today, a lot 31 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: of fire. I've finished with my meltdown. Boys. West had 32 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: a Chris Burnman moment before the show today during our 33 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: video segments. I assume TD behind the Glass will somehow 34 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: when West is wealthy and famous, that will show up 35 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: somewhere on YouTube. Right definitely already put it out right now. Actually, 36 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: don't put. Don't put I don't even care, but don't 37 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: put baby in a corner. Don't put a wire on West. 38 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: It doesn't like the wires. And by the way, I 39 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: am feeling chipper. We have the four games to get 40 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: to on Saturday and Sunday, two games each day of 41 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,839 Speaker 1: the weekend, which is awesome. But I'm excited to I 42 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 1: I got myself a sandwich this morning. By the way, 43 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: with Mr Rosenthal, the boss, I laid out. I trapped 44 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: him in my web, my m v P web. We 45 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 1: did a organic email chain which you could read on 46 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: NFL dot com slash around the NFL, in which we 47 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: all of us, including Connor or talked about or debated 48 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: who the m v P would be. Uh we you know? 49 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: J J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers fifty votes for the m 50 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: v P. I think we all agree Aaron Rodgers is 51 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: gonna win. Actually Greg thinks, uh, what could steal it? 52 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: Wait a second, didn't you say you think what could 53 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: steal it? No, I don't think you have any chance 54 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: to win. I like the idea, but I don't think 55 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: he has any chance. So I said, I think J. J. 56 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: Wat gets eight out of the fifty votes. Greg was confident, 57 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: said no way. So there's a sandwich involved here that 58 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: will super Bowl weekends even more exciting that wracking that sandwich. 59 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: But has been monitoring this vote getting for years. It's 60 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: hard to get, hard to get double digits and votes. 61 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: I don't think people really take what too seriously. I 62 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 1: actually I won't put a sandwich on it. But I 63 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: think Romo will get more votes than what In the end, 64 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: it would be like four and three. I thought. The 65 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: most interesting take on this whole thing was Ryan Riddle 66 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: calling you out for basically pulling up whoever voted for 67 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: Ralph Nader in the election. You've been stumping for Wattle 68 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: along and now you're kind of I don't have a vote. 69 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,399 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter what I think. I'm just saying he isn't. 70 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: You know. I'm not saying I think that's right or wrong, 71 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: but I think he has very little chance to win anyway. 72 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: So that's some of the excitement on New Year's Eve 73 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: in the newsroom, Mark, you're wearing big Blue, one of 74 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: my favorite shirts of yours, and I'm happy to see, 75 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: despite you getting new wardrobe, that some of the classics 76 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: remain in the mix. I thought, because I leave my 77 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: house today, specifically at around five in the morning, and 78 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: you know you're I'm in my room and it's pitch 79 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: dark because you got the wife asleep, and so I 80 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: thought I had taken a white shirt out and this shirt, 81 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: so I don't know, It's fine, let's at Mark. He 82 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: always dresses in the dark. People can Big Blue two 83 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: if they check out our videos on NFL now that 84 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: we just take how about that and you will you 85 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: will not see West's meltdown. But t D promises wait 86 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: for the right time, wait till West is a monica 87 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: like a higher level of fame, and then drop it 88 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 1: on the public and will end up on all the 89 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: different sites. That's going to happen. Okay with that? Alright? Good? Alright? 90 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: So we got four games to get to. I guess 91 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: what we could do, uh, you know, just to keep 92 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: it neat. We'll go through Saturday's games, then we'll go 93 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: through Sunday's games, and uh, I guess, let's get started. 94 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: There's nothing else to do. What's what's let's the vote? 95 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: A lot of time to these games, and we'll start 96 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: in Charlotte where the Carolina Panthers, the first but back 97 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: to back winner of the NFC South seven eight and 98 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: one got it done this year. I thought you were 99 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: gonna say, the first official team of around the NF 100 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: they work. Back then, they were they were the first 101 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: team of a t L and they've done us proud 102 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: with the nice late season surge to get back to 103 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: the playoffs. And they're gonna host the playoff game. And 104 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: who do they have? They have the Arizona Cardinals, who 105 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, we're in position to be 106 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: the number one seed in the NFC. Of course, car 107 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,840 Speaker 1: Carson bomb Palmer blows out his knee, Drew Stanton comes in, 108 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: Drew Stanton hurts his knee, so now he's out. Now 109 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: we got Ryan Linley, Logan Thomas uh poop poop latter, 110 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: and I think what we're gonna see here is Ryan 111 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 1: Linley going into Charlotte trying to win a road playoff game. 112 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: We'll start with us. Is there any chance that the 113 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: Cardinals go in there and shock the world? I don't 114 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: think so that I feel more confident about this game 115 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: than any other. These are two teams that are materially 116 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: different than they were six weeks ago. The Panthers are 117 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: literally a different team as and they have ten or 118 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: eleven different starters now than they did entering November. Three. 119 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: New offensive lineman, the cohesive cohesive unit now Jonathan Stewart 120 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: starting instead of D'Angelo Williams over the last five weeks. 121 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: Jonathan Stewart's second in the NFL and rushing over the 122 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: last five weeks, he and Cam Newton have more rushing 123 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: yards than at quarterback and running back duo. Philly Brown 124 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: new number three receiver. They used him for a couple 125 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: of trick plays a game because Jason Navant got cut. 126 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: That's five new guys on offense. Their secondary. Three new 127 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: starters Trey Boston at safety, Josh Norman at cornerback, and 128 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: Ben a how do we pronounce his? Ben? Ben Wickery? 129 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: And these guys are all making plays their defenses as 130 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: fast as it was last year. They had a guy 131 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: named a Darius Ganton playing linebacker in the last two 132 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: weeks who looks like Thomas Davis when you watch him, 133 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: he's flying to the ball. Charles Johnson's fifty seven hurries 134 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,799 Speaker 1: this year second only to J. J. Watt, and eally 135 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: second round draft pick a sack in each of the 136 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: last three weeks. This is an entirely different team than 137 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: they were. I think last week's performance was easily the 138 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: most impressive of their last four because it was against 139 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: a team that we think of Atlanta as a terrible 140 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: offensive line. They had given up among few sacks in 141 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: the league, especially recently, so so for them to completely 142 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: dominate the game up front to the point where Matt 143 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: Ryan had no chance to show this group rushing the 144 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: pastor was on fire. Yeah, and it's uh, you can say, oh, well, 145 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: they also shut down Julio Jones for the most part 146 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: last week. And they've done it four weeks in a row. 147 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: They're allowing ten points a game and you're running into 148 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: an offense in Arizona that you know what, four touchdowns 149 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: over twenty seven quarters. They've completely bottomed out and and honestly, 150 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: this should have been I think if we had done 151 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: it right from the start of the year. Just my opinion, 152 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: a matchup of this year's team of a t L 153 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: and last year's I mean, this is Arizona. I don't 154 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: want to hate on Arizona here because Bruce arians has 155 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: done the best coaching job around. A lot of other 156 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: teams would have gone in the tank the minute the 157 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: Palmer was lost. I mean, he's believed in these other quarterbacks. 158 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: But Linley is just he is not able to get 159 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: it done. The offense has stopped. Yeah, and the truth 160 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: of the matter is as nice as a story Arizona 161 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: was this year. Uh that when they beat St. Louis 162 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: on that Thursday night, that was the worst thing that 163 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: could have happened for this weekend of playoff football. We 164 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: don't want the Cardinals in the mix here. Maybe it'll 165 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: surprise us because you know what, here's the other way 166 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: to look at it. If you want to try to 167 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: get excited about the Cardinals doing this, they have. They've been. 168 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: They were the masters of stealing games all season. Uh 169 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: they were counted out. Yeah, when they're counted out, they 170 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: have the whole nobody believes in a angle working for 171 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: them right now. And this is the Panthers, who are, yes, 172 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: playing better, and they're much different team than they were 173 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: six weeks ago. Still, this is a seven eight and 174 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: one team. This is not a great football team. It's 175 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: not like they're they're playing a juggernaut. That Cardinals are 176 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: beatable team. They've beaten one winning team all year, the Panthers, 177 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: and that was in Week two, so as good as 178 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: well as they are playing lately, and I give them credit, 179 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: although they didn't need to come back at home against Cleveland, 180 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: it's not like they're an unbeatable team. Now, they've beaten 181 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: losing teams. This would be the first winning team they 182 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: played since. But the Cardinals are not I mean they're not, 183 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: are I agree? Let me let me give an example 184 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 1: to uh the Rams who just brought up a team 185 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: that we got sucked in on a few weeks, act 186 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: that we're doing a lot of damage against bad teams. 187 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: They played some good teams and all of a sudden, 188 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: they didn't look so good anymore. So maybe maybe the 189 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 1: Panthers once they face a team that has a little 190 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: hard and knows how to win some games, something changes. 191 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: What I think the Panthers are entering the playoffs is 192 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: a better team than they were entering the playoffs last year. Wow, 193 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: that that seems a little crazy to me, only because 194 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: their defense showed last year through sixteen seasons that they 195 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,599 Speaker 1: were one of the best defense in the league. I 196 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: would say a strong number two to Seattle, whereas this 197 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: time we're seeing a smaller sample size over a month. 198 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 1: On paper, I don't think they have the talent. If 199 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: you watch their secondary, they're way more athletic this year. 200 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: They're faster. There are no windows to throw the ball 201 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: right now. What doesn't matter when Linley is the quarterback. 202 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: That's that's the main thing is Linley. The difference between 203 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: Linley and Stanton to me is much bigger than the 204 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: difference between Stanton and Palmer, because Stanton is an NFL 205 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: quarterback and you have a chance to win a game. 206 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: Linley is gonna be on the short list of the 207 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: worst quarterbacks of all time to ever start an NFL 208 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: playoff game, worse than t J. That was the only 209 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: one I could think of. I tried to think of 210 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: something off the top of my head. T J. Yates 211 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: was the only one that. I mean, he's just a 212 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: third string quarterback. He's we feel like we're picking on 213 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: him here. All he is that every third string quarterback 214 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: is almost fourth. One thing, if Ron Rivera really wants 215 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: to botch this, it would be suddenly turning that backfield 216 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: because they go to Angelo Williams back in the mix 217 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,839 Speaker 1: and getting back to this committee thing. Jonathan Steward we 218 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: all know we've talked about a week after week he's 219 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: been hot. One thing that with Arizona's defense, which has 220 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: been their strength at other points in the year two hundred, 221 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: they've given a two hundred plus yards two weeks in 222 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: a row. That was against Seattle in San Francisco, so 223 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: that they're but they're they're falling apart at the wrong time. 224 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: Caroline is running the ball. Well, that's a matchup that 225 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: I'm looking at right there, and I'm looking at the 226 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: practice report for today. Dan Williams, who has been really 227 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: good for them all year as their key run stuffer, 228 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: hasn't practiced all week with a foot injury. So that's 229 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: one more injury on top of everything for Arizona that 230 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,959 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to deal with. Do you think it 231 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 1: would be fair for me to argue away that the 232 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: Cardinals can with sure? Why not? We got we got time. 233 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: If you watch Bruce Arians last week, he has promised 234 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 1: not to get shy, not to take aways aggressiveness, and 235 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: that's exactly what he did. He came out and scripted 236 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: a great first drive, mixed the run in the past, 237 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: and they scored on a flea flicker. They had a 238 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,839 Speaker 1: couple of more plays that they used to play action. 239 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: And as long as they can keep the game close 240 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: and mix in the run, Arians will keep taking shots 241 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: down the field. And Linley has plenty of arm to 242 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: do that. He's not accurate, but he can throw the 243 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: ball deep and maybe they'll take the cheese. In terms 244 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: of I think Arizona will do whatever they can to 245 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: shorten this game that they wouldn't mind Carolina running like crazy. 246 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: And Ron Rivera you mentioned him, could he get in 247 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 1: his own way? He wants to keep a running game 248 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: and low scoring. It's not like he's gonna try to 249 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: blow them out of the water and be super aggressive. 250 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: I wouldn't even play the Angela Williams in this game. 251 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: Neither would I. He's you know, because it's mesill. I'm 252 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: figured out how to operate the backfield. It will tempt 253 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: Ron Rivera into playing him man, which is a bad idea. 254 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: All right, so we all picked the Panthers in this game, 255 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 1: so we go four across there. Let's move on to 256 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: the second Saturday game on the schedule. It is the 257 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: Baltimore Ravens a tenant six, heading to Pittsburgh to face 258 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: the Steelers, the a f C North champions Steelers, who, 259 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: of course uh uh one in their week seventeen game, 260 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: but lost levy On Bell to a hyper extended knee. 261 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: Bell came out on Wednesday and said that he's not 262 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: he's not limping, and he feels great. So there is 263 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 1: as of taping right now, it seems like there's at 264 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: least a chance that Bell plays but we're probably not 265 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: gonna have the Levy on Bell that's dominated the NFL 266 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: for stretches this year. Here we go the Ravens start 267 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: with you mark not playing that well down the stretch, 268 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: but they are the Ravens last time there in the playoffs. 269 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: They want on a run for Super Bowl. Uh. Is 270 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: there a chance that this Ravens team has the ability 271 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: to beat the Steelers in an upset? Well? I mean, 272 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,199 Speaker 1: for me, we talked about it in our NFL Now 273 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: hit as a group that if if Bell is not 274 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: if you can't play for some reason, this isn't the 275 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: worst matchup. Maybe for Bell not to be in there, 276 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: if the Pittsburgh and Big and Big Ben want to 277 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: throw the ball on what is uh injury ravage secondary 278 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: to some degree. At the same time, the Ravens haven't 279 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: given up more than two d yards passing in four 280 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: straight weeks, so it's you know, they haven't They're not 281 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: collapsing on that in that aspect. But if you take 282 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: the best because I haven't played a real quarterback, if 283 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: you take one of the best players a bunch of 284 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: slappy's basically all right. But still, I mean, this is 285 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: the NFL, you know, They're not at the four straight 286 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: games where they've allowed about eight hundred passing yards total. 287 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,719 Speaker 1: It's not what some of the teams are doing in 288 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: the playoffs at this point. I think if Bell is 289 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: not able able to go, they've got nothing. They've got 290 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: no run game behind them. Gonna put Dree Archer out there, 291 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: Ben Tate, who's been with the team for four days. 292 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: I just think that that would be a devastating setback 293 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: for Pittsburgh. Even with Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and the rest, 294 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: would be tough team to run on. Anyways, I Helotiadas 295 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: returning Brandon Williams. This has been a really good run defense. 296 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: Their defensive line is great. But that's that's one of 297 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: the reasons why I like Pittsburgh's chances. It's just I 298 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: think they can protect Roethlisberger and be a rare team. 299 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 1: Baltimore is won down the stretch with pass rush and 300 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 1: just getting by with just enough offense, and I don't 301 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: think they'll have the pass rush this week. Well, I 302 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: think the Steelers should be favored that what are they 303 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: six and one against winning winning teams and the Ravens 304 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: are one and six against winning teams. The Greg's make 305 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: this point before both Ravens offensive tackles will be out. 306 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: The Steelers pass up pass rush has really picked up 307 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: with James Harris and Cameron Heyward, Jason Worlds and Lawrence 308 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: Timmins over the past month. I just think it's a 309 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: better matchup for the Steelers. M Oh, just defend your 310 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: hero alright, I will, handsome, Hank. I'm taking the Ravens. Wow. 311 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: Just a few minutes ago, I thought you were taking this. 312 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: Switched in a few minutes ago thinking about it, there's 313 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: somebody's gonn somebody's gonna lose at home in in the 314 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: first round here, and I was not comfortable picking for 315 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: home teams. And the more I thought about it, I 316 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: like the Ravens in the playoffs. When's the last time 317 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: Joe Flacco went one and done in the playoffs? By 318 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: the way, and he's been it there are five times now, 319 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: four times never. He's never lost the first round of playoffs. 320 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: He won at least one playoff game every year and 321 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: then went on a Super Bowl run. So this is 322 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: a team that always comes to play in January. I 323 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: know they have been playing great. And here's the other 324 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: side of it. The bell issue is real. And the 325 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: second part of it is I still don't trust the Steelers. 326 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: I think they got one more stinker in them. They've 327 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: shocked us with stinkers all season, every three or four 328 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: weeks and it's like, WHOA, what where did this come from? 329 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: I think they got one more and this one ends 330 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: their seasons and the Ravens. The Ravens move on. They 331 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: did add one against New Orleans, but then they won 332 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: four straight there, eight and two down this stretch. So 333 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: I think if you're looking at the last ten games 334 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: to the Bucks, to the Jets, to the Saints, three 335 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: terrible teams, so it's in their d N A and 336 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: and win against win again. Good to And you mentioned it. 337 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: With their defense right now, with Timmins and Cameron, Hayward 338 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: and Harrison, it's a different defense. I don't know why 339 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: it took so long for this defense to come together, 340 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: but it's definitely an NFL quality, at least average defense 341 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: right now. And it wasn't like Taylor's off the field. 342 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: That's one that's one that nobody can pick on him 343 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: right now. Antoine Blake has played pretty well as a 344 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: cornerback in his place, and they didn't have Harrison earlier 345 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,479 Speaker 1: in the year. He's been their best defensive player at 346 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: age thirty seven or whatever. That's the one thing that 347 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: would worry me as a Steelers fans. I think the 348 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: Ravens at their best can beat anyone, and we haven't 349 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: really seen that in a little while. But Joe Flacco 350 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: had five or six games this year. I find Joe 351 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: Flacco really fun to watch, Like even in that Browns game, 352 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: did very little for two or three quarters, didn't do 353 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: anything bad, but he had three or four throws in 354 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: that fourth quarter that other other quarterbacks aren't making those things. 355 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 1: Ten to three with ten minutes to go in that game, 356 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: and they won twenty to ten. They got hyper, they 357 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: got super hot, and and he's always aggressive, so sometimes 358 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: he just gets it, gets it going. He's had five 359 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: or six games this year. I think it's been a 360 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 1: really good Joe Flacco year. And I know they got 361 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: not a back. And I also one thing, this is 362 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: a much different team now than the two thousand and 363 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: twelve team. There's been a lot of turnover. But you 364 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: gotta imagine John Harbow is a very good coach that 365 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 1: is a great kind of motivational to a great way 366 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: to to get your team confident, letting letting them know 367 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: last time we were here, what we did. This is 368 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: our season. Now, this team is gonna be ready to play. 369 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: They are not going to be flat. And every time 370 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: these two teams played the last few years in Pittsburgh, 371 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: it's a close game. I think this is gonna be 372 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,239 Speaker 1: a field goal game, and I think the Ravens can win. 373 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: They got they got trashed. What if you're going to 374 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 1: talk about the Ravens as a team that can go 375 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: out and beat anyone when they're playing, Well, doesn't that 376 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: apply even more to Pittsburgh? Sure? But I my I've 377 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: already made my point that I got a bit of 378 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: a sessler that they have one more stinker in him. 379 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 1: All right, well, you're not the only one picking games here. Yeah, 380 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 1: who do you got? I have Pittsburgh. They're gonna win 381 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,400 Speaker 1: this thing without a problem. Though you already major pick 382 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,479 Speaker 1: hold on all this. And he's not even the best 383 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: quarterback on the field for Brothlisberger this year joins Tom 384 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: Brady two thousand twelve, the only quarterbacks in history was 385 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: six d plus passion pass attempts and single digit interceptions. 386 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: He's an All Pro this year. This is the year. 387 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: This is the season that big Bend supporters at which 388 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: I would consider myself. I'm always saying he's underrated. Heck, 389 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: he was my m V peep picked last year, and 390 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: I got made fun of a lot for that. This 391 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: is kind of the season that we all that thought 392 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: he was a great QB, thought he could have if 393 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: he had the right offensive line, he had the weapons, 394 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 1: and he went out and he did it. And he's 395 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: playing his best in December. Everyone on this team seems 396 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: like they're playing their best in December. And if you 397 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: had to draw up an opponent to have Levan Bell 398 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: set out a game, it would be the Ravens. They haven't. 399 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,640 Speaker 1: They're the only team not to allow one hundred yard 400 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: rusher this year, and their secondary can be beaten. This 401 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: game brings up kind of an existential as will that 402 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: comes up every year that I thought about this week 403 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: when I was picking these games. When you're picking these games, 404 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: do you look at the body of work for the 405 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: whole season. We've watched these teams for sixteen weeks. We've 406 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: learned a lot about these players. Do we look at 407 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: that whole body of work and think of what their 408 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: potential is and think of what they've done, or do 409 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 1: we just kind of look at December because the tendency, 410 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 1: and I do it every year, is to just kind 411 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: of base it on December. What the but usually December 412 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: is not a good indicator at all, going the whole 413 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: idea of going in September, right, But I'm just saying, 414 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 1: do we overrate December. I'm assuming the Steelers are gonna 415 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: walk through this one, whereas early in the season, I 416 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 1: thought the Ravens were a better team all year. I 417 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,399 Speaker 1: think West just talked about a Panthers team that is 418 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: completely revamped from what they were three months ago. Pittsburgh 419 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 1: seems to have gotten over its skittishness to some degree. 420 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 1: I don't know about you just talk about December, but 421 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna look at where the team has been over 422 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: the last four six weeks, because that the teams that 423 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: get hot, the two thousand and ten Packers, you know, 424 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: the Flacco led Super Bowl team, those are perfect examples. 425 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: Those teams stunk in the right gular season towards the 426 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: end that well point Flacco and that they had a 427 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: tough December. You're right about who's staying hot right now? 428 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about what happened, and you can't know 429 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: you're saying you' you're gonna look at what happened in 430 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 1: September in early October. I just mean, I just mean 431 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: everything that you've seen, because I think a point I've 432 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: made a lot is I think this raven team is 433 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 1: really balanced. They can run the ball, they can throw 434 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: the ball. Kubi X done a great job. There are 435 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: the pieces in place that we just haven't seen it. 436 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: I mean that that performance in Houston really scared me 437 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: because they just got like past. I don't put too 438 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: much stock in how they're playing in December in this matchup, 439 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,959 Speaker 1: I do in the Cardinals and Panthers because those are 440 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: two different teams. Now, these teams are the same teams. 441 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 1: The Ravens are missing a couple offensive linemen, so that's 442 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: an issue. The Steelers are missing the running back. But 443 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: I think these are pretty much the same teams they've 444 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,959 Speaker 1: been all year, and Ravens Steelers really history. I mean, 445 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: they're just every game is going to be this way. 446 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: I think this is this is close to a toss up. 447 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: I think it's close to any game this weekend. But 448 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: you're taking the Steelers. I am taking the Steelers because 449 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: they're the better team, all right. So that is Saturday's action. 450 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: Let's now move to Sunday and we start in Indianapolis, 451 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: where the eleven and five Colts, the a f C 452 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: South champions face the Cincinnati Bengals ten, five and one 453 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 1: of that tie, it's so grows enough to get them 454 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: a wild card, the five seed. We know the history. 455 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 1: This is West's favorite day of the year. They kind 456 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 1: of robbed us a little bit. They didn't give him 457 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: the Saturday game, which West loves. Bengals Elimination Saturday, it's 458 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: gonna have to be potentially elimination Sunday. Uh. We'll start 459 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 1: with Greg because this is this is also when West 460 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: really digs in the talents on the Cincinnati football club. 461 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: So we'll let the simmer a little bit. Like he's 462 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: already rocking in his chair. He's getting excited. So we'll 463 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: start with the Boss, Greg Rosthal. Uh, tell me your 464 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: thoughts the first takeaways at this game when you look 465 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,159 Speaker 1: at the matchup, I have a hard time picking against 466 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,880 Speaker 1: the Bengals, even though it's Andy Dalton going against Andrew Luck, 467 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: which is is crazy to me because I just don't 468 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: think this Colts team has much going on. I think 469 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 1: all it has is Andrew Luck and T Hilton. And 470 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,160 Speaker 1: I think Andrew Luck is playing like a guy who's 471 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: been hit all season. He's not playing his best in 472 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 1: December at all. He's playing like a guy who's has 473 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 1: no offensive line, that has no running game, that has 474 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: to carry his team. This team has no pass rush. 475 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 1: I have to kind of erase the memory of this 476 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: game early in the season when they played, because it 477 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: was one of the best performances by any team all 478 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: season when Indianapolis took them out. But I think Cincinnati's 479 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: a legitimately good team. They just have a lousy quarterback. 480 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: I think it's another example though, of that early at 481 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: twenty seven and nothing lost for Cincinnati. That's not the 482 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: Bengals are a different team today in many ways too. 483 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: They couldn't figure out who the running back was back then. 484 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: Jeremy Hill has emerged into a true featured back. I 485 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: think at this point that watching what he did in 486 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 1: the Denver game, that that had to set up for 487 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: the Bengals to go out and get squashed that night 488 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: and Hill wield them back into that game. I thought 489 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: with his running ability and I like I like hilling 490 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: this game has Greg has learned nothing from the last 491 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: few years, especially last year when you guys picked three 492 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: a class three across on the Bengals over the Chargers. 493 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 1: Did we yes, I want to go? Last year you 494 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: all three of you picked the Bengals at home where 495 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: they were defeated against the IoT in this game, right, so, okay, 496 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: right now? All right? West looks like it looks like 497 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: Greg might have a hero cooking here. Mark said he 498 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: was taking the Bengals downstairs. Maybe you were, Oh, we 499 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: gotta make a decision. At some point Mark, the podcast 500 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:32,159 Speaker 1: are still in this segment. Changed it if A J. 501 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: Green I want to hear I could tell you what's 502 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:37,959 Speaker 1: his point of the Cincinnati will never win a playoff 503 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,479 Speaker 1: game until the end of the world. What if they 504 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: were a good team and the worst team in the playoffs? 505 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: Here we go. The floor is Chris Westley, do you 506 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: have to drop from damnaek is the most wonderful time 507 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: of the year because it's the west wonderful time of 508 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: the year. One of my Twitter followers, powder Monkey, and 509 00:23:58,160 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: thank you for this. It's West of Us this week 510 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 1: game the Bengals are gonna do what they do every 511 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,879 Speaker 1: year and losing the first round the playoffs. They're not 512 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 1: a good team. They do one thing right now. Hand 513 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:11,920 Speaker 1: the ball off to Jeremy Hill and let him do 514 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: his work. That's all they do well. Carlos Donne last 515 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: playing great, they are the best in the NFL, and 516 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 1: sacks the Cults. The Cults offensive line couldn't protect Luck 517 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: against Tennessee last week. They protected him against the Bengals 518 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 1: last time when it was twenty seven to nothing, and 519 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: the Bengals are worse since then. Sure the Colts are too, 520 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 1: the Bengals. Look Andy Dalton, we know what he's done 521 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: in the postseason. We know what Marvin Lewis has done. 522 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 1: Marvin Lewis oh and five in his career to start 523 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: in the postseason, the only coach worse in history. T 524 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: D give me some Jim Mora playoffs. Don't talk about playoffs. 525 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: You're kidding me. Playoffs. I just thought we can win 526 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: a game. That's his, that's his company, he's keeping Marvin Lewis. 527 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: This team has never won a playoff game on the 528 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: road in almost fifty years of their existence. They haven't 529 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: won a playoff game since nine. Andy Dalton's a blow 530 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: average quarterback. He's third team for thirty two throw into 531 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 1: A J. Green with euro touchdowns and four interceptions in 532 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: the postseason. We don't even know if A J. Green' 533 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: is gonna play. If he does, if he doesn't play, Honestly, 534 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: I probably changed. If he does play, Davis erases him 535 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: because Vonte Davis is an All Pro cornerback and he's 536 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: erased everybody all years. But it does Bryant. He destroyed him, 537 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: did he? In The Colts got absolutely destroyed in that game. 538 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: That was the last halfway decent team that they played, 539 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 1: and it was a very good team they played, and 540 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,959 Speaker 1: they weren't competitive and they were trailing in Cleveland. And 541 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: I think Colts were also shorthanded, sure, very shorthanded. Devil's 542 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: advocate I Wes, I'm on your side of this. I 543 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: think the Colts take care of business. But you know, 544 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 1: the Bengals. I know Dalton didn't play great last Sunday 545 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: Night against the Steelers, but A J. Green doesn't fumble 546 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 1: that ball near the twenty's they are in that game. 547 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,880 Speaker 1: They came very close to stealing that game. In the division, 548 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 1: there's a lot of if though, if Levian Bell doesn't 549 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 1: say that the air doesn't go out of the building. 550 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: I'm just saying that is yes, and the injuries that's 551 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 1: part of the But that was a playoff type setting 552 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: in prime time on Sunday night, and they didn't They 553 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: didn't have their tail between their legs against a team 554 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 1: that you and many other people think is a really 555 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: a wild card contender to win this whole thing. That's 556 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: what we're reaching for. They didn't have their tail between 557 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,719 Speaker 1: their legs. Well, no, it's a start, you know, they 558 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: I am, And again I'm falling victim too. I'm looking 559 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: at December, the fact that they have a nice quality 560 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: win against Denver that they showed me they're capable of 561 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 1: that that in a common opponent, a December common opponent. 562 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 1: The Bengals wax the Browns thirty to nothing, and the 563 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: Colts struggled all game. And I can't figure out what's 564 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: wrong with with the offense exactly. Maybe it's just the 565 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: offensive line and that's it. That they have no running 566 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 1: game and the team, that's what's wrong with their offense. 567 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 1: They have no running game. T Y Hilton has been 568 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: sidelined for two weeks. Reggie Wayne's a shell of himself. Well, 569 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: Nix is making a couple of plays. Dwayne Allen's been out, 570 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 1: So that's why I think it's I do think it's 571 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: a toss up because it's in Indianapolis and because Andrew 572 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: lucks better. It's not like I feel really strong about that. 573 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: But the Houston game is another one. It's like Indianapolis 574 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: has done that for a while now. They've looked like 575 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: this pretty lame team, and after a while I kind 576 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,159 Speaker 1: of believe it. The way they took care of the 577 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: Bengals when they wiped them out back in Week seven 578 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: was there was no a j green in that game. 579 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: And it's concerning because all they did was stacked the 580 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: box the whole time, take away the running game and 581 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: was Mohammed Sanu against Vonte Davis and a bunch of 582 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: trash and nothing happened for Cincinnati, And so that you 583 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: have to not put this in Dalton's hands. But West, 584 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: would you agree that this Bengals team in the last 585 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 1: couple of weeks down the stretch here is a little 586 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,160 Speaker 1: bit different than I am with you that the Bengals 587 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: teams we've seen under Marvin Lewis that go onto the 588 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: playoffs have been milk toast dead on arrival. It's all 589 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,120 Speaker 1: about when they're gonna make the mistake they play. They 590 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: play safe the whole way. This team feels a little 591 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: edgier to me. They can run the ball. I think 592 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: they're a little bit different. I don't see them that way. 593 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: I think this team isn't half as good as the 594 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,199 Speaker 1: team that entered the postseason last year as they I 595 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 1: don't agree with the heavy favorite to beat the Chargers. 596 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: No one thought they were gonna beat the Chargers last year. 597 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 1: They had not lost a home game all year. Last 598 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 1: year they were eight. No, they had a lot of blowouts. 599 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: They were a much stronger team last year. I believe 600 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: the Colts another if you're a Bengals and he wants 601 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: some confidence. The Cults have not looked good against winning 602 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:15,479 Speaker 1: teams this year. Cowboys game would scare me if I 603 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: was a Colts fan. Every time they they faced a 604 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:19,120 Speaker 1: good team, they seemed to get whipped. The other thing, 605 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: Jeremy Hill leads the league in rushing since Week nine. 606 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 1: So if you can guy have a guy that can 607 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 1: control the line of scrimmage and run the clock, I 608 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 1: think this has potentially been a closer game than than 609 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:29,880 Speaker 1: West thinks, but I think the cults of the team. 610 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:31,880 Speaker 1: I'm not saying it's a blowout, and I'm not saying 611 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: the Colts are a substantially better team, but one of 612 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: these teams is haunted. They also lost their starting tackle. 613 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: We just learned as we're taping this for the season, 614 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: guys are chairless, although I don't really know. He's been 615 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: out for weeks. Mark, have you decided I'm gonna go Bengals? 616 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: Thanks buddy, Look at that a little split. Our first split, 617 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 1: which takes us to the final game of the wild 618 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: card round, the Detroit Lions. They head to Big D 619 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: to jeral World to face the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys. 620 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: So at twelve and four against an eleven five team, 621 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: The Lions put up a nice fight in Lambeau for 622 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: a good portion of that game, but lost, so they 623 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 1: get the wild card. That Cowboys are ride and high 624 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 1: first time back in the playoffs. It's two thousand eight, Mark, 625 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: We'll start with you on this one. Uh, the Cowboys, 626 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: I would think are that a lot of people are 627 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: gonna pick the Cowboys is the heavy favorite, but maybe 628 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: we're also getting a little excited that. You know, the 629 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: Cowboys know how to blow things, and I know there's 630 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: been a nice season for them, But I don't think 631 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: people should get too excited about the Cowboys in the playoffs, 632 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 1: should they. I don't think this is a Cowboys heavy 633 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: favorite situation because you know, they're finally coming up against 634 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 1: the team the number one rushing defense in the league, 635 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: and it's not a fluke on any level. That offensive 636 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 1: line is gonna struggle to do what they've done all 637 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: season long. And if you can take out Dallas and 638 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: DeMarco Murray on the ground, that changes. With that all 639 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: this strength strength though, I could see Dallas winning that car. 640 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: I mean Dallas in reg you know, wants to ignore 641 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:05,239 Speaker 1: the month of December, but Dallas in the month of December, well, now, 642 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 1: if they've been averaging forty plus points and then explosive 643 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: on off, it's been awesome. I mean, really, you come 644 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: down and we said this on the NFL Now thing too, 645 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: that only the two thousands pays to seven Patriots last 646 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: year's Broncos. In the two thousand, Rams have averaged more 647 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: in one month Dallas. Dallas is not just a run 648 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: the ball and nothing else. Happens. Here's another way to 649 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: look at it. They have forty points in three of 650 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 1: their last four games, matching as many forty point games 651 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 1: as they've had in their previous one three games. Wow. 652 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: I I posed this question to us, and I think 653 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: it's legitimate. Are the Dallas Cowboys the best offense in 654 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: the NFL? No? I think you can. I think he 655 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: can make make the case. I think it's them or 656 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: the Packers that we don't think of them that way 657 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,880 Speaker 1: because they don't score as much because there's fewer possessions 658 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: and they run, but they're brutally efficient and no one's 659 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: really been able to stop them. Well, in this case, 660 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 1: I am looking at December because just watching the game 661 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 1: field Debarco Murray isn't a tackle breaker right now. He 662 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: was an explosive tackle breaker earlier in the year. He's 663 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: not that guy right now. He's not running at the 664 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: same level. But this is when we can talk about 665 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 1: Tony Romo, who's not gonna win m v P. But 666 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: he's certainly in other years could have been in the running. 667 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 1: He's had an amazing statistical season. Uh, he's really a 668 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: lot of doubters. He kinda he kind of stuck it 669 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: to them with a great December. So even though you 670 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:22,719 Speaker 1: don't have murdered a percent, maybe or not playing at 671 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 1: the same level. Romo has never been better in his career. 672 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:27,240 Speaker 1: And Dez Bryant, I don't know if people have noticed, 673 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 1: is playing out of his mind right now. I feel 674 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: like he has two touchdowns a game. Uh. Jason Witten 675 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 1: has been better the last couple of weeks. This offense 676 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: is really Terrence Williams made some place. This offense is 677 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: pretty good, man. This is this is this. They have 678 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: the ability to end the Lions's making some big catches. 679 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 1: I'm there. The Lions are a bad playoff team historically. 680 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,239 Speaker 1: Want to talk about demons. I could easily see this 681 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 1: thing turning into too. I would not be stunned of Stafford, Laiden, 682 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: Egg and Romo in nuts and Away we go. Well Detroit, 683 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: I mean I think West You're you're a little higher 684 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 1: on Detroit than than some of us. But there is 685 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 1: a scenario where they're gonna have to really completely shut 686 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 1: down Dallas offensively to stay in this game because of 687 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 1: their own offense over the past decade. When a top 688 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: two rushing offense faces the top two rushing defense. Six 689 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 1: out of the eight times the rushing defense has come 690 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: out on top, and I think, especially with the way 691 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: Murray's running, the Lions have a big edge there. They 692 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: have probably the five best defensive players on the field 693 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: in this game. Let's talk about that. Yeah, let's first 694 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:27,080 Speaker 1: of all, you wrote west Rude a nice piece on Tuesday, 695 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: you know, basically illustrating that the talent cap is not 696 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: as as as vast as some people might assume with 697 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: the lines of the Cowboys and uh so, first get 698 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: into that. I also want to hear a little bit 699 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: when you talk about DeMarco Murray not being the same guy. 700 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: What are you seeing on tape? Well, first of all, 701 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: the talent cap, I think the Lions are actually a 702 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 1: more talented team. It could be because maybe we don't 703 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: consider the interior linemen like the Cowboys offensive line quite 704 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,239 Speaker 1: as talented as the skilled position players who maybe I'm 705 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: not really crediting them as much, but I think the 706 00:32:56,040 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: Lions have You've got and Dominicans Sue Ziggy ansa Andre Levy, 707 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:03,360 Speaker 1: who are all Pro Bowled level this year, and then 708 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: two of the best one of the best safety tantems 709 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:07,720 Speaker 1: in the league and James ahead of Bill and Glover, 710 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 1: Quinn a couple of good cornerbacks. I think they have 711 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: at least the five best defensive players on the field 712 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:15,440 Speaker 1: in this game. And then the other side of the ball, 713 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: Calvin and Johnson and Dez Bryan are awash. Probably Golden 714 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: Tate and and Jason Witten are probably a wash. Maybe, 715 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,120 Speaker 1: but you know the Rob Stafford is not a wash, 716 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: and that was more talented. Romo is better. But if 717 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 1: you're talking pure talented, Stafford's talented. Talked about you like 718 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:35,960 Speaker 1: to cite the Lombardi line about how the quarterback tilts 719 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 1: of Scales, and I mean, Romo is playing as better 720 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 1: as Betst as he ever was, and Stafford's a middling 721 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: guy at this point. I absolutely agree. I would take 722 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:47,040 Speaker 1: the lines if the quarterbacks were even anyway, but I 723 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 1: would I would be very confident about the lines if 724 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks were even in this game. That I assume 725 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: that's a hero, isn't it. I am taking down unless 726 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 1: Kevin Patrick goes crazy and picks his team. We haven't 727 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 1: seen his picks. A lot of think it's gonna happen. 728 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 1: He's and West already defended this heero, but we still 729 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: need to hear a handsome Hank defend your hero Kevin 730 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 1: Patch was one of those lines fans where he just 731 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:13,360 Speaker 1: he rages out in the gym, listens to Mega Death, 732 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: maybe some Mustane solo work, and just assumes his team 733 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,839 Speaker 1: is gonna fail. I would be pretty confident he's going 734 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 1: to choose the Cowboys. I agree, I can sounds like 735 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 1: a very bleak existence for our our writer around in Chicago. 736 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:28,359 Speaker 1: By the way, I can see the path to doing 737 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:31,319 Speaker 1: it too for Detroit, because I think they'll try to 738 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:34,120 Speaker 1: shorten the game against Dallas, which is something that Jason 739 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,319 Speaker 1: get a lot of people shorten in the game this week, right, 740 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 1: that loves to do. I mean, I think joyke But 741 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:40,160 Speaker 1: who else is shortened in the game, I don't know. 742 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:42,439 Speaker 1: I feel like we've we've discussed that a number of times. 743 00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 1: You're thinking of the NFL now, Bruce arians remember about 744 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 1: Rob both shorten in the game, and I think Dallas 745 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:52,399 Speaker 1: will welcome that and Dallas's defense, I still don't buy 746 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:56,280 Speaker 1: into at all. You you mentioned on our video Anthony 747 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: Hitchens is out in this game, Dallas loses Henry Melton. 748 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: I think Joke Bell is running really well. I mean 749 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 1: he's not. Reggie Bush is running better than he has 750 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:07,240 Speaker 1: all season. Reggie Bush looks healthy. I think the Lions 751 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:09,240 Speaker 1: they were able to run the ball against the Packers 752 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: last week. If if Stafford could just hit open throw, 753 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:16,239 Speaker 1: the Lions are right in this. And I can't say 754 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,920 Speaker 1: what surprised me if Stafford caught fire. You know he 755 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 1: has the talent. He certainly has the wide receivers to 756 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,840 Speaker 1: do it. He's someone though I've watched. I feel like 757 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:26,760 Speaker 1: I've watched more Stafford this year than any quarterback in league, 758 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: just because it's you remember it, because it's so frustrating 759 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,440 Speaker 1: to watch him, because every every game is the same thing. 760 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,319 Speaker 1: It's this just missing open receivers all the time, with 761 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 1: one nice throw. Time for me to cut through all 762 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:41,880 Speaker 1: the garbage and hoist in the air. The two thousand 763 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: fourteen season wild Card research notes, Look at that West 764 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 1: gleaming in the in the lights. Here it comes, here, 765 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,920 Speaker 1: it comes again. Ready did you find the Matthew Matthew 766 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:54,640 Speaker 1: Stafford note in there? Nope, we get ready, get ready. 767 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: West Glover Quinn led the NFL seven I N T s, 768 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: becoming the first line to leave the felt interception since 769 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer Lombardi nine seven. We figured it out 770 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: the lines win. Let me tell you a better stat 771 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:10,239 Speaker 1: from there. That was a joke. By the way, I 772 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 1: didn't actually think that was a relevant stat. Matthew Stafford 773 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 1: put me over with that one, guys, Matthew the Matthew 774 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:19,719 Speaker 1: Stafford led Lions. Since Stafford has been there, owens seventeen 775 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:23,680 Speaker 1: on the road against opponents that finished with a winning record. Wow. 776 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 1: Part of me is I'm thinking beyond this week, and 777 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: do I want to see an interesting Dallas Cowboys team 778 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 1: go where they're gonna go? Or do I want to 779 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 1: see the Detroit Lions If they sneak out this game, 780 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 1: go and get air bombed by someone, I don't want 781 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 1: to see it. They can't. They would only go to Seattle. 782 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:47,960 Speaker 1: I don't want to see Detroit. Instead, both games were 783 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 1: I mean one game the lines wax the Packers and 784 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:52,400 Speaker 1: the other game was closed. I'd love to see Dallas 785 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 1: Green Bay. That would be a fun game. And I 786 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,040 Speaker 1: know we're winding down here, but I've got a little 787 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: bit of breaking news. Do we have any breaking news 788 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 1: sound there? Anything like that? Yeah, that works, that'll do it. 789 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,719 Speaker 1: Reports out there and I'm sure they'll be confirmed by 790 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:09,880 Speaker 1: the time you guys listen to it that Doug Maron 791 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:13,919 Speaker 1: has opted out of his contract Buffalo's Bills coach. And 792 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:15,799 Speaker 1: that means I think I gotta go leave and and 793 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,319 Speaker 1: go work on this article. Yeah, well we're getting out 794 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:20,520 Speaker 1: of here anyway. But Jets are pretty nice Atlantic s 795 00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:21,920 Speaker 1: about for Doug Bron, I don't I don't have a 796 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:26,080 Speaker 1: problem with It's official from the Buffalo Bills. They said 797 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:28,360 Speaker 1: they disappointed that he's gonna be no longer part of 798 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:30,480 Speaker 1: the organization. They thank him for his hard work. And 799 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:33,959 Speaker 1: it just reminds me of Mike Malarkey, another Bill's coach 800 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 1: who walked away from the team. He quit and now 801 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:39,840 Speaker 1: here comes Buffalo Bills. I mean, we knew that he 802 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:43,240 Speaker 1: did not get along in theory with general manager Doug Waley. 803 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:46,479 Speaker 1: There was a lot of reports about that. Wow. Yeah 804 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:49,000 Speaker 1: that It says two things. One, his agent has been 805 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 1: talking to people in his confident that he gets another 806 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:53,719 Speaker 1: head coaching job. And it says also that there's been 807 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:56,399 Speaker 1: discord between Maron and, like you said, Waley, and there's 808 00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:59,120 Speaker 1: another guy in the front office. The discord between him 809 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:01,720 Speaker 1: and Maroon goes back if if bon Jovi was involved 810 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:04,240 Speaker 1: with this would never happen. Number one be the Jets 811 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,759 Speaker 1: make some sense. He's an offensive minded coach. He's coming 812 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:09,000 Speaker 1: off a year or some successful. His stock is high. 813 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:11,759 Speaker 1: He's a New York guy. I think the Jets are 814 00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 1: gonna be interested in Doug Moron. You go from E. J. 815 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,800 Speaker 1: Manual to Geno Smith. I think you're gonna pull it. 816 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 1: If you pull Kyle Orton out of retirement again. Well 817 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: that is maybe that's that's an upgrade. I will say 818 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,719 Speaker 1: that about you. Well he was. So the assumption, though, 819 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 1: we have to assume that, you know, even by the 820 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:28,960 Speaker 1: time people are listening to this, there's gotta be a 821 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 1: strong report that someone is heat seeking Maron without any question. 822 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,600 Speaker 1: Somebody wouldn't do this. Otherwise, why would you walk away? 823 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 1: I mean unless unless the environment that you're in is 824 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:41,920 Speaker 1: so toxic we're gonna find out about that. There's only 825 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:44,719 Speaker 1: thirty two jobs. You do not leave one, especially a 826 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 1: guy with this little track record, unless he has something 827 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:48,919 Speaker 1: else lined up. So I would think this is gonna 828 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:52,320 Speaker 1: move pretty quickly. NFL media is Mike Silver said yesterday. 829 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: He tweeted that to tweets, Doug Maron is very very 830 00:38:56,120 --> 00:38:57,799 Speaker 1: and he said very at least three or four times, 831 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 1: highly regarded in NFL Circle, which I took to me 832 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:03,879 Speaker 1: in read between the lines. He's got a job lined 833 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 1: up if he wants. Okay, So that's it. That is 834 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:10,759 Speaker 1: our wild Card preview with a little breaking news. Let's 835 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:14,680 Speaker 1: hear that again, a little breaking news mixed in the 836 00:39:14,719 --> 00:39:18,839 Speaker 1: back and like that. Alright, alright, exactly, Matthew. We will 837 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:22,359 Speaker 1: be back on Sunday evening where we will go over 838 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 1: all four of these big wild Card games and and 839 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,480 Speaker 1: realize for the first time that we we were all right, 840 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:31,800 Speaker 1: every one of us on every prediction. We had everything connected. 841 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:33,719 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's physically possible to happen, but 842 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:36,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna make it so. Uh So make sure you 843 00:39:36,200 --> 00:39:38,960 Speaker 1: tune in for that or download that, you know, however 844 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:42,200 Speaker 1: you get your content. Uh and and West, is everything 845 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:47,040 Speaker 1: okay with you now? I'm fine? Are you when you 846 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:49,080 Speaker 1: go when you go through this class? Are you? And 847 00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:50,840 Speaker 1: t D are gonna be cool? T D? I like 848 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:52,920 Speaker 1: t D. It was a little bust up like how 849 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:55,360 Speaker 1: Romo and uh t O used to have back in 850 00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:58,719 Speaker 1: the day. By the end of the day, he might 851 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:01,799 Speaker 1: have scared the people run the television segment right out 852 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:05,520 Speaker 1: of the Crown. But yeah, hell, that is the end 853 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:07,600 Speaker 1: of the year obviously, so happy New Year to you all. 854 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:10,799 Speaker 1: Same to you, sir. Yes it's happy in New Year's 855 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:13,440 Speaker 1: to all the all the listeners from around the world. 856 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:16,080 Speaker 1: We can actually say that, who are so great and 857 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 1: so supportive of the show. We will be uh, continue 858 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,680 Speaker 1: to do the hammer drops every every week with this 859 00:40:21,760 --> 00:40:25,719 Speaker 1: show in two thousand fifteen, and everyone happy, West of 860 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:29,520 Speaker 1: His go have fun party wow. And if this BEng 861 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:33,040 Speaker 1: will somehow win, everyone's gotta be downloading the show immediately 862 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:35,920 Speaker 1: because West's gonna be some humble pie. In addition to 863 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:38,560 Speaker 1: softball pants coming here, I will admit that they won 864 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:41,239 Speaker 1: one playoff game in twentysomething years. If they win, all right, 865 00:40:41,280 --> 00:40:45,440 Speaker 1: this is Dan Hans's signing off for Quiet Storm, The Mailman, 866 00:40:46,719 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 1: The Boss in Absentia, and of course t D Behind 867 00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:55,080 Speaker 1: the Glass until Sunday, Oh Johnson, Chunky. I like that 868 00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:57,560 Speaker 1: kind of party. I like that kind of party. Bourbon