1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: The Around the League Podcast kills It at Trivia Night. 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: Welcome back to another edition of the Round the League Podcast. 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: My name is Dan Dansis, and I'm joined by a 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: room full of heroes, Chris Westling, Greg Roosevelt and Mark Sssler. 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: What a boys, Happy Friday. Happy Friday to wiping the 6 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: cobwebs out because Westling and I were here working overtime 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: last night for the big game. You know, I, it's 8 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: you did. It was an overtime game, great game. I 9 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: actually watched it on DVR because I was working on 10 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: one of our mid season right ups and one. It 11 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: wasn't Greg's fault, but he he provided a spoiler alert 12 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: via text, learning me that the Dolphins won when I 13 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: before I watched. And then I got up early this 14 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: morning to watch the game and my DVR ran up, 15 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: round ran out as Caleb Stir just planted his leg 16 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: to kick the game tying field goal. Uh. There was 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: an expletive shout at out very loud at that point, 18 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: but luckily I was able to go and watch it 19 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: on the computer. It's like a modern day Heidi. Yeah. 20 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: I should not be responsible though, for blowing the spoiler. 21 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: I didn't know you know it's a live I'm just 22 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: saying it's games. You know. You have to understand. I 23 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: shut down tweet deck when I was working. I had 24 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: to go back and forth on the website repeatedly to 25 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 1: pull videos up for the post I was working on, 26 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: and every time I went to the homepage, I blurred 27 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: my vision so I couldn't see the score. And I 28 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: actually pulled it off despite working on the NFL website 29 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: for like three hours. But you don't have issues. It 30 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 1: doesn't it defeat the purpose of a DVR to him? 31 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: It run out. Yes, the only purpose of a DVR 32 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: is for you to be able to watch the whole 33 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: thing of what you want to watch. It's the one 34 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: thing the DVR which is a magnificent innovation in television. 35 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: They haven't mastered live sports events. Well. They always ask 36 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: if you want to add, And I learned just an 37 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: account for an overtime that goes into five minutes, I've 38 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: learned just add like four hours. What's the worst that 39 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: could happen? That's what I should have done. What are 40 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: you gonna do? Anyway? But let's talk about that game. 41 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: That was a crazy game, a Dolphins win. I believe 42 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: Greg and I got it right right on of the 43 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: country picked that game right. That's still and that's still 44 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: millions of thousands of right. But that's that's a lot 45 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: of people. It's a pretty big upset according of America, 46 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: and three of us got right. And and the ending 47 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: I've never seen. I don't know if you guys remember 48 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: a game ending like that, but to end on a safety, 49 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: that was pretty fun game to watch. This is the 50 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: beginning of West's total tumble down the standings in the picks. 51 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: That was the third walkoff safety in NFL history, but 52 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: it was the first really defense. I think it was 53 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: the first sack walk off. How about that? Because the 54 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: other ones were flock punt safety and something a fumble 55 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: safety and this was a sack. How about that? Camberon 56 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: Wake You were excited West, I was. We talked about 57 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: how big of a factor he was when we did 58 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: the preview for this game. He had three sacks, the 59 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: game ending safety. He also had a strip SEC fumble 60 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: early in the game that calls a turnover. He was 61 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: all over the field and there was a really key play. 62 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: I think it was third and eight in overtime. The 63 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: Bengals were driving. If they got any closer. They were 64 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: going to kick a field goal, and Wake beat his 65 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: man on the right side to make Dalton get rid 66 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: of the ball quickly, and they decide instead of kicking 67 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: a fifty eight yard field goal, they decided to punt it, 68 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: and that doesn't work out. It's a little weird because 69 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: Mike Nugent hit a fifty four yard or just a 70 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: few minutes the second time in three weeks to end 71 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: the game with plenty of distance and no one. No 72 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: one's criticizing Marvin Lewis for that, for not going for 73 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: the field goal. You know, the Dolphins basically saved their 74 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: season here. But I look at this game as a 75 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: preview of the Bengals in January, because I'm sorry, I 76 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: can't get on board this train. I find them dull 77 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: to watch just as a fan, and I see them 78 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: going into January losing the first playoff game that they play, 79 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: just like, this is bad podcast job by all of us, 80 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: because the biggest story here was Geno. Story here is 81 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: Geno Atkins blew out his knee. And I I'm in 82 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: my end Around column that's going up later today, I 83 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: wrote that the thing that annoys me is that I 84 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: thought the Bengals were shaping up as the biggest curiosity 85 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: in January. What would happen with him? Would they finally 86 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: make the leap? But how they how do they overcome this? 87 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: This is their best player and he's gone. I don't 88 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: think they do overcome it. I think he's one of 89 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 1: the ten to twelve best players in the league and 90 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: one of the three or four best defensive players in 91 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: the league. He's irreplaceable. Does this west play into your 92 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: theory that Pittsburgh is going to climb back into this thing? 93 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: It does play into that, although I'm not sold on 94 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: that theory. They do have a deep defense. They don't 95 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: have a lot of defensive tackles, necessarily, but they do 96 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: have a lot of aligneman and a good front seven. 97 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: I don't think their defense has got a collapse. I 98 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: think it comes back to what we said. You know, 99 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: our T and F preview looked perfect going into that game, 100 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: because Chris was talking about, you know, Dalton has these 101 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: three games stretches, but then he takes a step back. 102 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: The defense played well enough to win last night. It 103 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: was really of the offense that wasn't consistent enough. And Dalton, 104 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: you know, he made some really nice throws. I think 105 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: we shouldn't forget that last night take, but he just 106 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: had those two that were off target, and when you're 107 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: not a big playmaker, you can't make mistakes. Deeply disappointed 108 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: Mike Mayock on those two, uh interception he threw three 109 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,119 Speaker 1: or third one wasn't his fault, but the other two. 110 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: You could tell Mac was very frustrated because I think 111 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: he wants to see Dalton rise, and you know, he 112 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: did take a step back, which maybe plays into the 113 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 1: a D scale well, And it probably should be said 114 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: that Kevin Coyle, the Dolphins defensive coordinator used to be 115 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: the Bengals defensive backs coach, probably knows a little bit 116 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: of something about sitting on those outroutes that Dalton throws 117 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: that he doesn't have the arm strength to pull it off. 118 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: And both of the interest the first two interceptions came 119 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: on out rounds where the ball placement wasn't good enough, 120 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: although he had six third and longs that he converted 121 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: and a lot of really nice throws too, So it 122 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: was a it was a lot going on in that game. 123 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: I mean, there was the Grimes play, they had the 124 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: Geo Bernard play, they had the Lamar Miller. Everyone trashes 125 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: the Thursday Night Football every week, and this game was great. 126 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 1: Don't forget the fourteen points swing on the very shaky 127 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: Jermaine Gresham holding holding penalty that negated Marvin Jones fifty 128 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: yard touchdown. That play happened away from the actual run 129 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: after the catch, It didn't have an effect on the play, 130 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: and they still call it a holding and then Brent 131 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: Grimes pick six games about three plays later. Does anyone 132 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: take Cincinnati seriously as a real a f C threat? 133 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: Not anymore? Yeah? Is this one game because of Geno Atkins? 134 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 1: I do? I think crazier things have happened, And I 135 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: think they're the favorites to get a home game in 136 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: the playoffs, and that they'll be better than they were 137 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: last year in the playoffs, that they'll be a better 138 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: Can you name the last time they won a playoff game? 139 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: Was Boomer involved? I want to say I would. I 140 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: would think I feel pretty confident that it was on 141 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: the way to the nine Super Bowl. So the a 142 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: f C Championship against Buffalo, is that right? I think 143 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 1: that's right. They may have won in eighty nine or ninety, 144 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: but they haven't won since then. When West Stoaster is 145 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: gonna have to include a question about the nine Bengals 146 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: next time. Before before we move on to all the 147 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: other games, we have to give some love to the 148 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: only in house guests in the history of the the 149 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: Around the League podcast, Brian Heartline with a huge catch 150 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: off a huge throw from Ryan Tannehill. One eight team 151 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: left in the game, the seasons on the line, I 152 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: felt like the Dolphins are done zo if they don't 153 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: win this game. Then Tannehill takes a sack at second 154 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: and seventeen. It looks like they're done. At that point. 155 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: Tannehill makes a couple great throws, including the one to 156 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: Heartline that put them in field goal range, and that 157 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: was one of the best plays of the maybe not 158 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: the best place. It was a great play deja vous 159 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: to the stafford to Chris Durham play right down the 160 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: sideline had to be an exact right spot for it 161 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: to happen. All right, good job, guys. Let's move on. 162 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: By the way, Greg, that is your second Donze guna 163 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: beach reference on the podcast, so one away from the 164 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: hat trick. I don't even know what I've never seen 165 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: the good of each Actually it's not that was a 166 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: term popular popularized by Jay Cutler's now wife. I can't 167 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: believe dunza was ever popularized, like for a long time, 168 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: since two thousand four. I've gotta go back and find somebody. 169 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: We're probably had its heyday right around four. Wow. We 170 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: gotta dig in on this all right. Let's go through 171 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: now all the games of the week. We go through 172 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: every Sunday game and the Monday game, and we will 173 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 1: start with our favorites. Greg will begin with you the 174 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the great 175 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: matchups of the previous decades. Should we get excited about 176 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: it in current form? I think we should because the 177 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: Steelers badly need this game. If you know, Ben Rothzburg 178 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: called it a must win. I don't know what that means. 179 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 1: Does that mean their seeds over? No if they lose, 180 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: But at this point, for any chance that the Steelers 181 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: have to get back in this thing, these two teams 182 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: usually play a close game. There are two teams that 183 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: were still not quite sure what they are. I I 184 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: watched the Steelers, and I swear every week I convinced 185 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: myself they actually could be pretty good. Like their defense 186 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: has stretches where they've looked great. Paulo Malo I think 187 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: is playing really well, but they just can't put it together. 188 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: They always find a way to blow it. Yeah, they 189 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: they played two different halfs last week. They got dominated 190 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: in the first half and then they shut the Raiders 191 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: down in the second half. You never know which Steelers 192 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: team is gonna show up. I think they can beat 193 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: just about anybody on the right day. I think the 194 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 1: Pagriots are gonna have a hard time scoring against him. 195 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: I think the Steelers defense is pretty good, and the 196 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: way the Patriots offense is playing right now that this 197 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: is gonna be a fairly low scoring game, which brings 198 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: me to one of my favorite parts of the Mid 199 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: Season Awards was seeing where people have Tom Brady ranked 200 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: in Several people, not not to name any names, have 201 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: Tom Brady as the first half m v P as 202 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: if they're just going out on this limb and they 203 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: don't want to pick Peyton Manning because it's too obvious. 204 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: And to me, that's how that's how you know who's 205 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: not watching the games. Tom Brady has missed fIF team 206 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: more throws than any other quarterback in the league, according 207 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: to ESPN Stats, inc. Which tracks off target throws. He 208 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: is not playing well. The one reason why I did 209 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: pick the Patriots in this game because I thought Brady 210 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,959 Speaker 1: threw better last week then he has all year. Despite 211 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: the small stats, he did have a really nice touchdown 212 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: to Gronkowski that got called back on a penalty. I 213 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: thought he made some progress last week. Isn't this just 214 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: a better football team than Pittsburgh? Why? I mean, we're 215 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: talking about how Pittsburgh can beat any team in the 216 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: league and all this. I think Pittsburgh's one loss away 217 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: from being cooked. I agree with that, which is why 218 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: it makes it interesting. It's not a great slate of games, 219 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: That's why this is up top. But the history of 220 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: the Steelers I still think, I guess I still think 221 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: they have a chance. We're talking about that. Seasons flip 222 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: around at mid season, sub teams are gonna emerge. They 223 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: still seem like the most likely to me. The Patriots 224 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: haven't played a game yet where they've impressed me. Not one. Well, 225 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 1: you're hard to impress. They haven't played well. I mean, 226 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: they had a soft schedule that I think their defense 227 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: schedule early their defense played pretty well. They've lost Will 228 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: Fork in Mayo teams have been running on into the 229 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 1: tune of a hundred and fifty five yards a game 230 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: since Will Fork went out. This isn't an imposing team, 231 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: and they haven't put a game together yet where you said, hey, 232 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: that's a playoff team. They've been a little better than 233 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: the some of their parts. Devin mccordy's playing better, defense 234 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: is playing well. All right, let's move on to our 235 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: next game. West. I'll throw this one to you. The 236 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: Atlanta Falcons talked about must wins. This is essentially must 237 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 1: win for them, and they're facing the surging Carolina Panthers, 238 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,199 Speaker 1: one of a tels favorite teams this season. We've devoted 239 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: a lot of time for to the Panthers. I just 240 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: want to kind of clarify some comments I've made on 241 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: Matt Ryan. He got slammed for last week's game. I 242 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: thought he played really well last week, even with the 243 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: four interceptions. He's when I said he would fall flat 244 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 1: on his face, that was hyperbole for podcast effect. You 245 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: don't lose a guy like Jlo Joe and then lose 246 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: Roddy White and keep playing the same way, especially when 247 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: your offensive line doesn't block and your running game is 248 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: not existent. But there are not five quarterbacks in the 249 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: league who without played Matt Ryan this year. If you're 250 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: having to pick a turnaround West he I don't expect 251 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: him to be successful in the second half of the season, 252 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,479 Speaker 1: but he has played well, and to me, it's striking 253 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: how strong, how much stronger his arm is now than 254 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: two or three years ago. He's a much different quarterback 255 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: if you compare him to someone like Stafford. His timing, execution, 256 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: ball placement is head and shoulders above Staffords. If you 257 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: had to choose an m v P between Matt Ryan 258 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 1: and Tom Brady, and those are your only two options, 259 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: which would be stupid, you would have to choose Matt Ryan. 260 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: Tom Brady is a ridiculous choice. Tom. Matt Ryan's played 261 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: great this year. That's why you can't look at when losses. 262 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: I'll go with Peyton Manning, that makes sense. I don't 263 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: like the matchup though, at all, of Carolina's front four 264 00:12:56,360 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: coming in and having to basically play an off intive 265 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: line in Atlanta that got Matt Ryan knocked down eleven 266 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: times last week and hasn't found a combination that works 267 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: this season, and that's why it's hard to predict big 268 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: things from Matt Ryan with some of his guys that 269 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: know Roddy White looks like he might play game time decision. 270 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: I'm not sure that changes things that much. The Panthers 271 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 1: are each even getting good played from their secondary, which 272 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: was thought before the season to be an absolute disaster 273 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: on that part of the defense. Well, I think you'll 274 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: see Drew Davis stay in the starting lineup even if 275 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: Roddy plays. He's a bigger receiver, and they'll move Harry 276 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 1: Douglas back to the slot. That's what I expect to happen. 277 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: Douglass numbers have been great, but when you watch the 278 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: games he's limited. They like to run bubble screens with him, slants, 279 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: crossing routes, but he's not running a full route tree 280 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: like a Roddy White or Jlio Jones. It changes what 281 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: they do in the past. And they're getting nothing from 282 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: Steven Jackson right now. Town. That's that that this is 283 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,439 Speaker 1: not played out at all. How the Falcons hope to 284 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: would right all right? Moving on the New Orleans Saints 285 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: uh rolling the season. They now head to the meadow 286 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: Lands to face the New York Jets, coming off their 287 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: worst game of the year. Um Rex Ryan said earlier 288 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 1: this week that Drew Brees with throw for seven yards 289 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:05,839 Speaker 1: in this game if they didn't get better. I actually 290 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: agree with that, but I do think the Jets will 291 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: be better in this game. I think they'll keep it 292 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: surprisingly competitive, but I think this is a Saints win, 293 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: but I think they will make a game of it. Mark, 294 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 1: what do you think? You know? This is the thing 295 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: with the Jets. We've seen awful performance and then we've 296 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: seen Gino and the Jets will a completely different team. 297 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: I don't like that flipflop this time around because the 298 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: Saints defense is these Obviously, the two Ryans know each other, 299 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: they talk every week on the phone, they know what 300 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: they're doing with it with the respective teams, and there's 301 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: just too much talent here from New Orleans on a 302 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: defensive front for the Jets to deal with. I think 303 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: I would have a hard time picking the Jets in 304 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: this game. Two stats which support your theory. Dan Ryan 305 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: has never won in four matchups with Rex Ryan when 306 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: there are two teams have played when they've both been courted. 307 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: But you are the first person to say that it 308 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: things like history doesn't matter. Different. There's schemes and we're 309 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: talking about them knowing each other a little bit. Maybe, 310 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: I think Mark, I remember the last meeting Jets Brown's 311 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: in Cleveland Browns Stadium two thousand ten walk off Santonio. 312 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: That shows that shows how much it doesn't matter, because 313 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: you couldn't have two different teams right here right, Mark's right, 314 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. Second stat maybe this matters. Don't get 315 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: Mark so angry with this that the Saints. The Saints 316 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: aren't the same team on the road. They're not even close. 317 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: Their offense quietly is not nearly as explosive this year 318 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: as it has been in the past. Drew brees Is 319 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 1: passer rating on the road this year is forty points lower. 320 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: They're they're not that hard of a team to defend, 321 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: especially on the road, because they don't have a real 322 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: good vertical threat. The running game is terrible, and the 323 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: offensive line is worse than it's been in years. That's 324 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: a lot of things that aren't going right for them. 325 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: And that was a truly awful performance by the Jets 326 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: secondary last week. And and you know one thing about 327 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: Rex Ryan teams is they do seemed to bounce back 328 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: well from that type of negative adversity. So I think 329 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: they're gonna play better on defense, and I think the 330 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: key to this game is the front line of the Jets. 331 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: If they could put pressure on Breeze, that changes everything. 332 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: If they have an off game like they did um 333 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: last week, Uh, They're they're finished, They're cooked. So we'll 334 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: see how that goes. All right, Final game, Mark Sessler, 335 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna throw this one to you. The Green Bay Packers. Uh, 336 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: they are heading to Soldier Field on a Monday night. Uh. 337 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: There will be no Jay Cutler on the field, which 338 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: obviously changes things a bit. Josh McCown starting, do they 339 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: have any chance to hold off a very good Packers team? Well, 340 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: you know, Josh McCown in years past, when you put 341 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: them on the field, is it's an automatic loss. The 342 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: guy cannot do anything. I think we talked about this 343 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago that he's obviously received some of 344 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: the good coaching that Cutler has from Trustman because he's 345 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: still Josh McCown. Let's not over overreact here. But the 346 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: offense didn't look that different to me with him, and 347 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: there they didn't have to suddenly yank sevent of the 348 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: playbook out of the out of the option here. I 349 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 1: think Matt Forte is a huge part of this. But 350 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: Green Bay's defense is playing better than I thought they 351 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: would personally, And I'll be real interested to see what 352 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: Tressman has cooking here with McCown at the helm. Yeah, 353 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 1: I was impressed by what he did against the Redskins, 354 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: But that was the Redskins, right, I mean they had 355 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: almost three hundred yards of offense forget almost you know, 356 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: no big drop off from Color. They were much better 357 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: with McCown just for that, just for that one half 358 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 1: they had. They ended up with four hundred and nine 359 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: yards in that game, and they had forty five at 360 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: the half. Right, I do wonder how long Color is 361 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: even gonna be out. It sounds like he could be 362 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: back next week. We all said, no, the season's over 363 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,679 Speaker 1: for the Bears. He's out four weeks, and just the 364 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: reading the tea leaves, it sounds like he might only 365 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: miss one start. Might not end up being that big 366 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 1: of a deal. They still have a defense problem. I 367 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: could see Eddie Lazy running all over this defense. They 368 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: haven't played well all year on defense. And Aaron Rodgers 369 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: was on p t I this week. He he admitted 370 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: that he was surprised that the running game has been 371 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: this good. They are Eddie Lacey leads the NFL and 372 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: rushing the past four weeks and they were third in 373 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: the NFL and rushing. And when you combine Uh Aaron 374 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: Rodgers and when that wide receiver group gets healthy and 375 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: you put that running game into it, they're a different team. 376 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: Especially in January when you gotta chew up some clock. 377 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: You know, you look at two teams we just talked 378 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: about the Jets. They go out and they draft d Milliner, 379 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: and you think, this is our continuity plan from losing 380 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: revers how poorly that's worked, and that affects the Jets. 381 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: But then you look at Green Bay. We're going to 382 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: use the draft to re engineer. Are entitled are running 383 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: game that has been dead for years. It has worked 384 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: and this is a completely different team because of it. 385 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: On offense, that's great. Things worked out for the Packers 386 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: and not for the Jets. Joke. You're right, they could 387 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: put up forty five points. Lance Briggs is playing great 388 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: and now he's gone, Um, Kris behind the glass, you 389 00:18:55,600 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 1: know what time it is? I do guys, defend your hero? Wow. 390 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: A lot of aggro tendencies and handsome eggs voice this week. 391 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: Thank you for that. Okay, so we have three hero 392 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: picks this week. Uh, Greg and I are not involved, 393 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: but we'll start with Chris Westling, who um took the 394 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: Houston Texans over the Indianapolis Colts, the only one of 395 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: us to make that pick. West defend your hero. I 396 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: have been defending the Texans all year for some unknown reason. 397 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 1: I don't know why I keep picking them this week 398 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: for two primary reasons. I really liked what I saw 399 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: from case Keenum. I thought he played better in his 400 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: one start than shop has in any start this year. 401 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: They ran some pistol, they opened up the offense. He 402 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: was very accurate, make good decisions, look like a savvy 403 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: veteran in the pocket. I loved what I saw from him. 404 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: I think their offense operates on a higher level when 405 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: he's in there, and the Colts are just losing too 406 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: many weapons on offense. I have utmost faith in Andrew Luck, 407 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: but Reggie Wayne is a huge loss. I think this 408 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: is the first game since the Colts will be out 409 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: without Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne, so that continuity has gone. 410 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 1: Duyne Allen was a huge loss for this offense. A 411 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: mob Bradshaw's gone. They're just kind of losing weapons once 412 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: a week, and at some point you wonder what they're 413 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: gonna do on offense. They're not running the ball, so 414 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: let's see what they do in the air. Heyward Bays 415 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: that fully healthy, he's expected to play. Greg Toler, who 416 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: has been very good for them, is not going to 417 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: play in this game, which I think is a big loss. 418 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: Isn't it a bad sign for mattch shobs employment that 419 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: the Texans much more interesting, compelling team with case Keenum 420 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: at quarterback. Well, I think that's under selling case Keenum 421 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: a little bit, but yes, it's It's obviously a bad 422 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 1: time for a shop fascinating game. I think go ahead 423 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: because I picked the Colts because I just defined them 424 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: to be such a tough team that teams they beat 425 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: in Seattle in the forty nine. It's like they can 426 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 1: kind of go toe to toe with everyone, and uh, 427 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: I'd be real surprised if Houston one. That's just based 428 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: on the fact that you know, the Colts kind of 429 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 1: got it going on that if I had to switch 430 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: my Super Bowl pick, I'd put India in the Super 431 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: Bowl right now. One point, I would like to make West. 432 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: You're pointing out that the culture losing a lot of weapons, 433 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 1: and they are this will be the first game without 434 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: Brian Cushing for the Texans. Correct, Yes, so that that's obviously. 435 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 1: They swooned a bit without him when he first went down, 436 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 1: so you would you would think that could be a 437 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: big issue for them as well against the Andrew Luck team. 438 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: I'm sticking with my fascinating game. I was shocked that 439 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: you dropped the fascinating. If I could watch one game 440 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: this week, this is it? You know, we think that 441 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,719 Speaker 1: this is this. I can watch a lot of games. Uh, 442 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: this is a team we think the story has already written. 443 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:48,719 Speaker 1: And I'm I'm kind of like West that I'm not 444 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: so sure that it is. I still think there's so 445 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 1: much talent on this defense, and there's a lot in 446 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: the DNA of this team and the Colts who lost 447 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 1: in San Diego, they lost to Miami. They'd be in 448 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: really great teams, but I don't think they're a dominant team. 449 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna be a really good team. It's 450 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: a great rivalry in the a f C South. The 451 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: division champion has been from one of these teams nine 452 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 1: of the last ten years. I just think this is 453 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 1: a time and keenam maybe with the Texans that they 454 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: stand up, Maybe I should have picked them. It sounds like, um, 455 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: all right, let's move on. Mark Sessler, you are a 456 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: Cleveland Browns fan. People that listen to the show know that, uh, 457 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,679 Speaker 1: you believe that the Baltimore Ravens will go into Cleveland 458 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,439 Speaker 1: and fall at the hands of Jason Campbell and company. 459 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 1: Mark Sessler, defend your hero. Cleveland has not beaten Baltimore 460 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 1: since Derrick Anderson was the quarterback and they knocked off. 461 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: Defense is starting out terribly two seven well, and and 462 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,640 Speaker 1: for a long long time, it's been really easier. It's 463 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: been easy to look at this matchup and say, you 464 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: know what, Cleveland will not win. This is one time 465 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: that I feel a little bit differently, just because I 466 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 1: look at Baltimore and they are as beatable as they've 467 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: been in a long long time. Joe Flacco is still 468 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: Joe Flacco, but in a good way and also in 469 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: a bad way. I think he's been inconsistent. I don't 470 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: see a lot of weapons on that offense that put 471 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: me in great fear that Cleveland's defense can't handle what 472 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 1: they have coming at them. I think this is more 473 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,679 Speaker 1: even situation than we've seen in a while. Jason Campbell 474 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,239 Speaker 1: still is a total wild card to me. But I 475 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: like Cleveland in a tight, tight game, and usually I 476 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: feel like you don't really pick with your heart when 477 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: it comes to the Browns. You don't against them a 478 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: bunch this year, to be honest, So it's I really 479 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 1: do think they win. Well, this is either a stat 480 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: that I saw this week or that I just made up. 481 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,400 Speaker 1: Right now, let's go ahead, number two. But I don't 482 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: think John Harbor has ever lost a game coming out 483 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:53,919 Speaker 1: of a bye week Stats and Information Department, Well, it 484 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be true. I just wanted just by 485 00:23:57,320 --> 00:23:59,919 Speaker 1: the way this goes back to with this pick segment, 486 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: one built in advantage that Greg has. Mark and I 487 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: are both you know, Marks the Browns fan. I'm a 488 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: Jets fan. West doesn't have a team. Uh. Sometimes Mark 489 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 1: and I get excited and we pick our team in 490 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: these in this this pis game we play just because 491 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 1: we want them to win so bad. Greg does the 492 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,120 Speaker 1: same thing. But he has the Patriots, which really, when 493 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: you think about it, probably gives him like three to 494 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 1: five games in the standings every season. That the second 495 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 1: favorite team, the Saints. I have two hero with the 496 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: Patriots this year. Well, my point just points out, you 497 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: guys are stupid. Well no, because no, I don't think so. 498 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: Because if you, you know, you can get behind the 499 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,880 Speaker 1: Patriots team when people doubt them and they're still gonna 500 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: win twelve or thirteen games. The Jets and Browns combined 501 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: for that much almost every year. I don't know, I'm 502 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 1: just pointing out something. It's a fair point. There's some 503 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:48,919 Speaker 1: real heat in this room, and I like it. I 504 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 1: feel like with this Ravens team, how bad their offensive. 505 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: This is the Super Bowl defending champions, uh, the Super 506 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: Bowl m v P and Joe Flacco one of the 507 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 1: highest paid quarterbacks of the league, and how bad their 508 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 1: offenses is almost getting over Look, we're just like, oh, yeah, 509 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: their offenses is bad. I mean they're one of the 510 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: three or four worst offenses in the league that defend 511 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: the champions. Yeah, they've gotten more out of that defense 512 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,159 Speaker 1: than they ever could have hoped for this year. Joe Flacco, 513 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: earn your money, get this team to the playoffs because 514 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 1: you have a good defense. I know you're not getting 515 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: a lot from Ray Rice, which is totally submarine this offense. Yeah, absolutely, 516 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: if you are. You got paid all that money, Joe, 517 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: you gotta you gotta put them on your back a 518 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: little bit. Well, you know, this offensive is not has 519 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: not played well, and they don't play well right up 520 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: in the middle with their center, and I think that 521 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: Cleveland's interior defensive line could have a field day here. Wesley, 522 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: you gotta play a game this weekend. You're coaching or 523 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: you're the GM. You need a running back. Are you 524 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 1: going with Sean Green or ray Rice? Honestly, I'm going 525 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: with Sean Green from what ray Rice has been year, 526 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: and maybe it's because of that early season hip injury. 527 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: He just we noticed last night that g Bernard is 528 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: making lateral jump cuts. As Mike Mayock used to say, 529 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,120 Speaker 1: ray Rice hasn't made a lateral jump cut all year. 530 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: He's just not the same back this year. That's fair. 531 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: Let's move on to our third hero pick. You know, 532 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: Kevin Patra made this choice. He took the Bills over 533 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: the undefeated Chiefs, which seems strange considering the Bills quarterback situation. 534 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: This is becoming a new segment where we need someone 535 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: to defend um. Patra's pick and I'm just gonna pick 536 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: someone at random in this room to defend the pick. 537 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: Mark Sesler defend Patra's hero. The reason I see this 538 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: potentially happening is that the Chiefs they continue to not 539 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: score points, and if something strange happens, it's not unlike 540 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: last week with Cleveland. Greg and I agree that if 541 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: something had happened where the Browns had had a special 542 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 1: team's touchdown or pick six bang, they would have won 543 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: that game. Buffalo needs something very very strange to happen. 544 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,480 Speaker 1: But my real defensive Patra, is when you get a 545 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: quarterback switch this late in the game, he's allowed to 546 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: switch his pick? Is that correct? I told him that 547 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: today because he he thought that Lewis was gonna start 548 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: this game when he made the pick. But he says 549 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: he's sticking with it. Then I then I tend not 550 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: defend it because sad Lewis gives you a different thing. 551 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 1: Kansas City's defense, we've talked about them being a team 552 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 1: that's not gonna win a playoff game. One thing that 553 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: is legit is this defense has been consistently good game 554 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,959 Speaker 1: to game well two points here. Dan has picked up 555 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: a few wins this year by picking the Bills at 556 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: home when we've going against them. They've been a very 557 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: squirrely home team this year. Let's go through the results 558 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: for a second. They lost almost at the buzzer against 559 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: the Patriots. They beat your Panthers, they beat the Ravens, 560 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 1: and they almost beat the Bengals in that Lewis's you 561 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: know start game where he came in overtime. That's pretty good. Well, 562 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: my second point is I'm very proud of our podcasts 563 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 1: that we don't have a head on a popsicle stick 564 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,439 Speaker 1: whenever we have to act like we're defending when when 565 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: you're when your favorite Patrick, Well, you don't have these 566 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: child as antics like a head on a popsicle stick, 567 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: which is incredibly lame. Wow, I don't what does that mean. 568 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: I've seen other shows. There's a lot of head on 569 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: popsicles sticks every other shows. To do it, we should 570 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: know from the first time you saw it how incredibly 571 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 1: lame it was, so you don't have to copy it anyway. 572 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: And copying things is unoriginal and shouldn't be done in 573 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 1: the first place. And one thing I love our convoluted, 574 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,719 Speaker 1: unwritten rule book with this stupid picks thing. We do 575 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: like Oh yeah, Well it says in the in the 576 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: guidelines that you can change your pick if the quarterbacks back. Yes, 577 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: of course it makes sense. We take we take our 578 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: job very seriously, is what I'm saying. To be cleared. 579 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: By the way, we don't know who started at quarterback 580 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: in this game. Jeff Tool is the most likely starter. 581 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 1: The Bills are gonna test that Lewis out on Saturday 582 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: to see if he can throw. Matt Flint is somehow 583 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: still in the mix, but no one really expects him 584 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: to be. Brow thought Lewis has a chance to play, 585 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: but he's listed as doubtful and he hasn't been able 586 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: to throw a football or move his torso sideways all week, 587 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: which would seem to eliminate your chance. I still like 588 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 1: that better than Jeff too, and time there are torso 589 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: issue issues. You know there's a problem throw even while 590 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 1: he's moving. Um okay, let's move on now to the 591 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: orphans of the week. These are the games that we 592 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: didn't draw as the spotlight games that they weren't hero picks, 593 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: but they deserve respects. So we're gonna go through them all, 594 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: and we'll start with the Minnesota Vikings, who had to 595 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 1: Dallas to play the Cowboys. It was announced Friday that 596 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: Christian Ponder will be starting for the Vikings. Mark Sessler, 597 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: you tell me will that make a difference. I think 598 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: it's hard to argue that any one of these three 599 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: quarterbacks makes a real big difference in terms of the season. Here, 600 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: you know what a disaster. People are gonna lose their 601 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: jobs over this debacle down in Minnesota. I just I 602 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: don't think you've got in Minnesota. Up in Minnesota, well, 603 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: who knows, people could be listening somewhere else. It's it's 604 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: probably right in some parts of the country. You know, Listen, 605 00:29:55,440 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: Dallas has toss to win this football game. This an 606 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: eight and eight football team that cannot do one thing 607 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: consistently week to week. It's like, this is your chance 608 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: to go in and hammer a bad football team if 609 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: they can't get it done. I really don't know what 610 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 1: to say with the Cowboys. I mean, Jared Allen said, 611 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 1: you know, down in Minnesota, this is one of the 612 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: worst defenses he's ever seen it. They usually like defense 613 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: in the South, uh, but I have not. I have 614 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,560 Speaker 1: nothing left to say. The Vikings defense is one of 615 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: the worst. Yes that it was the one of the 616 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: worst defensive performances that he's ever been a part of, 617 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: and right now he has to be one of the 618 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 1: worst defenses Dared Allens ever played on. It's one of 619 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 1: the worst defenses at football certainly, and cheers to does 620 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 1: Brian vindication by the way that the video NFL films played, 621 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: didn't really understand much what he was saying. A lot 622 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: of screaming and hollering, but it didn't seem like he was, 623 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, going after teammates or anything, which is what 624 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 1: you know. A lot of people assumed that Brian Billick 625 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: just completely buried U Dez during the Fox telecast. Turned 626 00:30:57,760 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 1: out not to be the case, so in one of 627 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: the storylines of the entire was not alone in this. 628 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: And I would I don't know. I would hope that 629 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: some people learned lessons about being presumptuous and jumping to 630 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: conclusions on something they can't know anything about ahead of time, 631 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,800 Speaker 1: but that's never gonna happen. All right, We'll move on now. 632 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: We all picked the Cowboys, by the way we did. 633 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 1: We all picked the Cowboys. Moving on, and if you 634 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 1: want to see all our picks, you go to the 635 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 1: Around the League blog where we have our picks in 636 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: a post that was put up Thursday, So if you 637 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: scroll down for about ten minutes you'll get to it. 638 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: So good luck with that. Yeah, search, but use Google too, 639 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: don't use the NFL dot com search function. All right? 640 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: Moving forward the Titans. Now they're going to St. Louis. 641 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 1: Um Wes, You tell me about this game. Why should 642 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: I be excited about this? Well, the Rams don't exist. 643 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: We buried them a week or two ago, so they 644 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: don't even matter. But sad. But there's a player in 645 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: the Titans game that I wrote about yesterday, Kendall Wright, 646 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 1: whom their coaching staff is really high on. His numbers 647 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: don't jump off the page, but it's interesting that he's 648 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: on pace for ninety catches in one of the run 649 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: heaviest offenses in the league, and their head coach, Mike 650 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: Montchek called him basically uncoverable and he could have ten 651 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 1: catches a game if they wanted him to, which I 652 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: believe he could. He could get nine or ten catches 653 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: a game. He's playing really well in our making the 654 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: Leap series in the off season. We kind of compared 655 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 1: him to t Y Hilton in a run after catchability, right, 656 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 1: was overweight last year. He's been every bit as good 657 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:29,959 Speaker 1: as Hilton after the catch. This year he looks he 658 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: looks streamlined this year. I love how we almost right 659 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: off the Saints, or were right off the St. Louis 660 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 1: Rams here and they come within a couple of plays 661 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: of beating the Seahawks. They really that they were trying 662 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 1: to make a statement, But then there's only so much 663 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: of a statement you can make when Kellen Clemens is 664 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 1: trying to take it home, which is exactly why we 665 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 1: wrote them off. Do you think that, uh, you know, 666 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: the combination of Quinn and Long have a chance against 667 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: Tennessee's line. I mean, it seems like that would be 668 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,239 Speaker 1: a good matchup for the Rams. Do they have they 669 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: have a chance against anybody's lying there, especially especially on turf. 670 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 1: But you know, you mentioned right making the leap. Not 671 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 1: a lot of quarterbacks necessarily making the leap this year. 672 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: Jake Locker is one of the single biggest personal surprises 673 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 1: to me of the season. I think his play has 674 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: gotten overlooked because he's played in Tennessee and because he 675 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 1: got hurt and missed a few games. But when he 676 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 1: came back in from the injury, it was just like before, 677 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: if if Colin Kaepernick or Robert Griffin the third had 678 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 1: put together the games that Jake Locker has been putting together, 679 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 1: everyone would be talking about them. Was like, Wow, he's 680 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: really playing great. He I did not have high hopes 681 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: for Jake Locker and he's played isn't on pace for 682 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: like eighteen touchdowns and two picks this season? He looks great, 683 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 1: and I yeah, I agree. I'm very surprised that he's 684 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: played so well early on. I mean, he was you know, 685 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 1: there was an especially terrible Jets Titans game at the 686 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 1: end of last season where he was going pass for 687 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 1: horrible pass with Sanchez and he just looked like a 688 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: guy that would never master things from an accuracy standpoint. 689 00:33:58,040 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 1: But he he seems to have made some big lead 690 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 1: in that department. That's the thing with him. He throws 691 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,560 Speaker 1: a few passes each game that are really impressive, and 692 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,240 Speaker 1: he hasn't he hasn't. He's not the most accurate quarterback 693 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 1: in the league, but he seems like he's improved that. 694 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:12,719 Speaker 1: All right, We'll move on the San Diego Chargers coming 695 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 1: off there by they will face the Washington Redskins. Looking 696 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 1: forward to this one, Philip Rivers in the middle of 697 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:21,239 Speaker 1: a big comeback campaign. He's against r G three and 698 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:24,399 Speaker 1: the Redskins, who really need this game, and RG three 699 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: needs this game coming off a really uh tough performance 700 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:30,920 Speaker 1: against the Broncos. I read a really interesting piece by 701 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:34,560 Speaker 1: Sally Jenkins and The Washington Post where she questioned, um, 702 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: r G three's basically his inability to uh show any 703 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 1: sign of progress and he hasn't been changing plays in 704 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:46,080 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage, and just the general feeling that 705 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:49,080 Speaker 1: maybe he's plateauing when he shouldn't be at all. Um, 706 00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:52,120 Speaker 1: what do you guys think? West? I read the same piece. 707 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,759 Speaker 1: I've read a couple of overreaction pieces to r G three, 708 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 1: Just like the week before, I read many overreaction pieces 709 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:00,080 Speaker 1: saying he's the same player as two thousand to of. 710 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 1: Neither of these stories is accurate. He's he's playing poorly 711 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 1: because he's not the same physically as he was last year. 712 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: It doesn't really have anything to do with his adjustment 713 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,319 Speaker 1: to the line of scrimmage. R G three is the 714 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:15,359 Speaker 1: same quarterback. He just can't do what he did last year. 715 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:18,200 Speaker 1: It affects his passing, it affects his running. One of 716 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: the reasons I picked the Redskins this week is because 717 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 1: of that overreaction to how badly he played last week. 718 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean he's gonna play badly this week, but 719 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:28,239 Speaker 1: he's missed a lot of throws consistently for about a month. 720 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 1: Is that fair to say? And he was one of 721 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:33,279 Speaker 1: the most accurate quarterbacks in the league last year, Well, 722 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:35,080 Speaker 1: it depends on your offense. He was one of the 723 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 1: most accurate quarterbacks in the league because they're running pistol, 724 00:35:37,719 --> 00:35:40,360 Speaker 1: They're running these plays that highlight his strength as a 725 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:44,840 Speaker 1: passer and get more. It creates a system where the 726 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: receivers are more open when you when they're running that 727 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:50,279 Speaker 1: type of plays. And this year, those linebackers are gonna 728 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 1: close faster when when his legs aren't as much of 729 00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:55,280 Speaker 1: a threat and when they're not running the same plays 730 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:58,000 Speaker 1: which they haven't been running. Yeah, if they lose this game, 731 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,719 Speaker 1: they are two and six, which would tie them with 732 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 1: the Giants at the bottom NFC East, and the four 733 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 1: Committee would definitely have to get to get together. They 734 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 1: the Redskins burned us last year, but the committee at 735 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 1: least it needs to be discussed. They were two and 736 00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:12,600 Speaker 1: five last year at this point, they were also three 737 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 1: and six, so they've they've been in this spot. But 738 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:18,280 Speaker 1: I just can't see this defense bouncy back. If Mike Shanahan, 739 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 1: it's different RG three, like, you know, both in terms 740 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:24,120 Speaker 1: of where he's getting in the headspace and physically with 741 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: the hes just a different dude right now. As I've 742 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: kind of adopted the Chargers as as one of my 743 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:31,680 Speaker 1: teams this year, and I'm interested to see what their 744 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:33,319 Speaker 1: defense looks like because they look like one of the 745 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 1: worst in the entire league for about five weeks and 746 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:38,320 Speaker 1: then last two weeks they've only given up fifteen points 747 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:40,840 Speaker 1: combined to the Colts and granted the Jaguars, but I 748 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 1: had a great performance against the Colt So if they 749 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:46,360 Speaker 1: have a decent defense, they're gonna be a playoff contender 750 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:48,480 Speaker 1: and maybe that wild card. All right, we'll move on 751 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: the Eagles. You know, Michael Vick had another injury last week, 752 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:53,600 Speaker 1: so now he's out of the mix for a while. 753 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 1: Nick Falls is back in heading to Oakland the black Hole. 754 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:02,400 Speaker 1: The Raiders surging towards six wins. As as West knows, Um, Greg, 755 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:05,879 Speaker 1: how do you see this game playing out? I never 756 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: know what to expect. When I watched the Eagles from 757 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,320 Speaker 1: week to week, it feels like defenses are getting a 758 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:15,000 Speaker 1: beat on them. But I think Foals they don't throw 759 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:17,120 Speaker 1: the ball deep nearly as much with him. The yards 760 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:20,000 Speaker 1: per catch numbers are way down for all their receivers, 761 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,640 Speaker 1: even on the good games when Foals plays, So that 762 00:37:22,719 --> 00:37:25,160 Speaker 1: to me is a concern. But I'm not quite buying 763 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: into the whole Tarrell Prior hype train. I think he's 764 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:30,400 Speaker 1: a quarterback that can be stopped, and I think this 765 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 1: will be a defensive game and it wouldn't surprise me 766 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:35,760 Speaker 1: at all to see the Eagles win this game sixteen 767 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 1: to six something like that. That the Raiders do not 768 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:40,480 Speaker 1: have a sustaining offense, I agree with you, by the way, 769 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,479 Speaker 1: I'm Prior. I know he's made a lot of great 770 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:44,320 Speaker 1: plays this year, and he had a ninety three or 771 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:48,000 Speaker 1: touchdown run last week. The guy was obviously the quarterback 772 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 1: to go do in Oakland. But I saw a tweet 773 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,320 Speaker 1: or someone wrote something last week that, you know, Chip Kelly, 774 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:57,280 Speaker 1: if he had Terrell Prior, his entire everything would change. 775 00:37:57,640 --> 00:37:59,680 Speaker 1: I'm not ready to all of a sudden say Tarrell 776 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 1: Prior is the next Randall Cunningham. I think we need 777 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 1: to pump the brakes a little bit on this. He 778 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 1: didn't do anything after just because through all Prior can 779 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:11,680 Speaker 1: run does not make him a perfect Kelly quarterback. The 780 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 1: Eagles are gonna hold anyone to six points. Their defense 781 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 1: has played okay the last couple of weeks. They have 782 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:20,120 Speaker 1: shut down running games, which people don't understand. Fletcher Cox 783 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:23,960 Speaker 1: and Cedric Thornton are stopping the run as well as 784 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:26,879 Speaker 1: any defensive ends in the league. You know what's funny, though, 785 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:30,520 Speaker 1: is we expected this team to be, if nothing else, interesting, 786 00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:34,240 Speaker 1: and they really aren't that interesting right now. I've watched 787 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:37,000 Speaker 1: I watched every one of their last three or four games. Crystal, 788 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 1: give me the entertainment value that you're getting out of 789 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:43,680 Speaker 1: the Eagles entertainment. I think if you're not a fan, 790 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:47,719 Speaker 1: you would be entertained, but for us heartbreaking. I don't 791 00:38:47,719 --> 00:38:50,160 Speaker 1: even know if you're entertained. There's not a lot going 792 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:52,520 Speaker 1: on here to be excited about with the with this 793 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:54,560 Speaker 1: Eagles team. Okay, Rich, as an Eagles fan, you have 794 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:57,279 Speaker 1: to admit in August you were so excited for the 795 00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 1: offense to become this unstoppable world change juggernaut. It's not happening. Dan. 796 00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:05,680 Speaker 1: This is the thing. This is a reoccurring theme every preseason, 797 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 1: every every start of the season. We get built up, 798 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:12,240 Speaker 1: we get so much excitement and anticipation for the season 799 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:15,440 Speaker 1: and goes straight downhill. And I'll definitely Lori made a 800 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:18,239 Speaker 1: very interesting comment saying that we need to be concentrated 801 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:21,400 Speaker 1: on finding a franchise quarterback, and we all thought that 802 00:39:21,440 --> 00:39:24,200 Speaker 1: was Vic And I thought that was vicking its heart 803 00:39:24,239 --> 00:39:26,240 Speaker 1: as a fan of his, since he was with the Falcons, 804 00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:29,080 Speaker 1: to let him go. But I agree with them, although 805 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 1: I think it's been clear for a while that Vic 806 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:33,520 Speaker 1: is he's got a couple of games left and he's 807 00:39:33,520 --> 00:39:36,319 Speaker 1: out of Philly. And Laurie's comments also where this is 808 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 1: a chance for fouls to show us basically who he 809 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:41,239 Speaker 1: is what he is, But I don't think that's the answer. 810 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:43,800 Speaker 1: I'd like to cap this off by saying, this is 811 00:39:43,840 --> 00:39:46,880 Speaker 1: one of the benefits of being a fan agnostic. You 812 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,560 Speaker 1: don't have to worry about every August building up this 813 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:54,960 Speaker 1: all this unreasonable expectation that you don't have to feel anything. No, 814 00:39:55,200 --> 00:40:00,319 Speaker 1: you don't just root nothing until you die. Have No, 815 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: that's not an argument for human experience. Though you're you're 816 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,480 Speaker 1: throwing out all your pills, You're staring at yourself in 817 00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:13,279 Speaker 1: the mirror. You need a natal apportman type figure. I 818 00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:17,840 Speaker 1: need someone natal apportment to ease my pain. No, no 819 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:20,239 Speaker 1: movie has aged worse than that. I thought it was 820 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:23,160 Speaker 1: great at the time. It's yeah, I haven't watched it 821 00:40:23,160 --> 00:40:25,360 Speaker 1: since a year after it came out. I feel embarrassed 822 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:28,840 Speaker 1: for both myself and Braff when I watch it. Um, alright, 823 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:32,799 Speaker 1: so one more game, Mark, let's knock it out. I'm 824 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 1: gonna throw it to you. Tampa Bay, oh and seven, 825 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:40,040 Speaker 1: Mike Glenn and the NFL's worst dancer going into Seattle, 826 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 1: Percy Harve and let Seattle but still a dominant home team. 827 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:48,000 Speaker 1: This is going to be destruction. Correct, Yeah, this is 828 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:49,560 Speaker 1: not This does not look good for the Bucks. I 829 00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:51,120 Speaker 1: mean how could. I don't think any one of us 830 00:40:51,160 --> 00:40:53,680 Speaker 1: came close to even thinking about picking Tampa Bay here. Correct. 831 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:56,600 Speaker 1: I haven't picked Tampa Bay once all years. Seattle just 832 00:40:56,640 --> 00:40:58,640 Speaker 1: seems to be you know, the only issues that we 833 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 1: saw I think for Seattle is the their offensive line 834 00:41:01,360 --> 00:41:04,239 Speaker 1: is showing some some cracks here. Uh in Tampa Bay 835 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:06,640 Speaker 1: not a terrible defense, but although not good in the 836 00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:09,600 Speaker 1: last couple of weeks. It's not a good formula. Glenning. 837 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:11,600 Speaker 1: You know, they're trying to rebuild their offense in the 838 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:13,399 Speaker 1: middle of the year with Glenning has shown a little 839 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:17,280 Speaker 1: bit of promise, but not against this defense. I'm going Seattle. Yeah, 840 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:19,800 Speaker 1: the Seattle did not have a good offensive performance. A 841 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:23,960 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty five total yards on Monday, um and 842 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:27,279 Speaker 1: including what was at eighty on the Golden Tate touchdown. Yeah, 843 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:30,279 Speaker 1: so you take that out and that was thirty nine 844 00:41:30,360 --> 00:41:32,719 Speaker 1: yards on the other fifty plays or something like. Good job. 845 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,560 Speaker 1: So yes, they will They're gonna have to prove themselves 846 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 1: down the road, but here they won't. I'm you know, 847 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:40,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure it's going to be an easy win. No 848 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 1: Percy Rice, No, no Percy Harvard, no Sidney Rice. But 849 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:45,719 Speaker 1: then if you look at the Bucks, they lose Doug 850 00:41:45,719 --> 00:41:48,040 Speaker 1: Martin and Mike Williams, and they had a lot less 851 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:50,880 Speaker 1: that they could afford to lose. And half their offensive 852 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:53,000 Speaker 1: line is m M R. S A or some version 853 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:55,799 Speaker 1: of staff which is bad, which is not good. It's 854 00:41:55,840 --> 00:41:59,799 Speaker 1: not um Okay, So that is week nine. We will 855 00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:02,360 Speaker 1: be back on Sunday. We'll go over all the Sunday games. 856 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:06,200 Speaker 1: It will be exciting. Um, A couple of shoutouts before 857 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 1: we get out of here. This was mid season Award week. 858 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:13,799 Speaker 1: Handsome Hank, the notorious DP director of Programming, assigned all 859 00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:16,640 Speaker 1: of us massive amounts of work on top of the 860 00:42:16,719 --> 00:42:19,960 Speaker 1: weekly work that we do, and uh, you know, Greg, 861 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:22,080 Speaker 1: you I think everyone came through. There's a lot of 862 00:42:22,120 --> 00:42:25,359 Speaker 1: good stuff here. Let's see the mid season report top 863 00:42:25,400 --> 00:42:28,319 Speaker 1: five position rankings by Wes. Check that out. That was 864 00:42:28,400 --> 00:42:31,840 Speaker 1: great Mark his game rewind piece. I always enjoy it. 865 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:36,680 Speaker 1: Five mid season trends for Mark. Greg hit a home 866 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:39,840 Speaker 1: around the mid season rankings of his QB Index, and 867 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:43,719 Speaker 1: then I posted this morning the mid season awards, uh, 868 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:46,279 Speaker 1: which is a kind of murthy stew a little more 869 00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:48,279 Speaker 1: of a ground rule double. Well, I would say, yeah, 870 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:50,480 Speaker 1: like one of those fan interference on the grounder down 871 00:42:50,480 --> 00:42:53,759 Speaker 1: the third baseline, so you put you go track all 872 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:56,880 Speaker 1: those down and read them and then no more about football. 873 00:42:57,200 --> 00:43:00,879 Speaker 1: So that that's what I would say. Yeah, good, check 874 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 1: out our picks too, since we didn't actually tell you 875 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:05,239 Speaker 1: what our picks were for both of this podcast. Yeah, 876 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:07,040 Speaker 1: just get Yeah, you're just gonna have to dig through 877 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:10,040 Speaker 1: the archives. You'll find it somewhere. We were split out 878 00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:12,400 Speaker 1: the Raiders game. We were split out the Chargers. It 879 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:14,640 Speaker 1: doesn't matter all right, so we'll be back Sunday. This 880 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:17,760 Speaker 1: is Dan Hansons signing off for the Mailman, the Sizzler, 881 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:22,480 Speaker 1: the Boss, Cambridge behind the Glass, and while the Worthless 882 00:43:22,520 --> 00:43:32,160 Speaker 1: a t L enter until Sunday.