1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Play clock down to one. Golf wants the snap, hands 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: it to Gibbs outside right, He's got the first down. 3 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 2: In More twenty five, twenty fifteen, ten five, and so 4 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 2: touchdown Detroit, Lyons. 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to Week eighteen of the NFL season. 6 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 3: I am Tim Twentyman. This is the twenty in the. 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: Huddle podcast, and boy, what a week eighteen. The NFL 8 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: has the store for us. Game two seventy two means 9 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: a ton and uh. The guy joining me right now 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: is gonna be the voice of that game. Mike Turrico 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: does a great job play by play for NBC. He 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: is one of the best in the business. Mike, thanks 13 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: so much for taking the time. I appreciate it. 14 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 4: Happy New Year, Chim. Great to be with you and 15 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 4: looking forward to Sunday night and downtown Detroit for sure. 16 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: Boy, the scheduling gods look down on the NFL with 17 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:47,959 Speaker 1: a huge smile for two seventy two for this one, 18 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: did they? 19 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 5: Mike? 20 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: How much are you looking forward to to Sunday Night 21 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: in Detroit two fourteen and two teams going for the 22 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: division title, going for the number one seed. I mean, 23 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: the stakes can't be any bigger. 24 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 4: You try not to rooting interesting games, but we were 25 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 4: watching the Minnesota Green Bay game with a great keen 26 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 4: interest to see what was going to happen. And it's 27 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 4: great that it played out this way. To have this 28 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 4: as the standalone game with so much on the line, 29 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 4: We've never looked down at a field in a regular 30 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,279 Speaker 4: season game and seen two fourteen win teams playing against 31 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 4: each other. So in the one hundred plus years in 32 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 4: the NFL, we've never had a game with two teams 33 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 4: that have won this much in the same season, meeting 34 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 4: in the regular season and with so much on the line. 35 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 5: You know, Tim, I'll. 36 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 4: Put this out there upfront. Both of these teams can 37 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 4: get to the Super Bowl from the five seed. They 38 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 4: have proven they can go on the road and win. Obviously, 39 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 4: the Lions have not lost on the road this year 40 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 4: and Minnesota's only lost once on the road. That was 41 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 4: on a Thursday night in LA where they lost their 42 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 4: left tackle, so in the middle of the game and 43 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 4: right before halftime. So both of these teams, whoever emerges 44 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 4: as the one seed gets the buy gets the rest, 45 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 4: gets the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC 46 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 4: through their place, But the other team is not out 47 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 4: of it by any stretch of the imagination. So win, 48 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 4: big win, yeah, of course. But the other path, while harder, 49 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 4: is doable, I think on both sides of the field. 50 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: And also a scenario where maybe in that second round 51 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: we see a third matchup between these two teams, very 52 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: likely scenario two, which would be huge. Mike, you were 53 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: at that wildcard playoff game Rams Lions last year. You 54 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: saw what that atmosphere was like, people in the stands, 55 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: forty five minutes, the Jared Goff chance, just the electricity 56 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: in that building. I expect it to rival that with 57 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: what's on the line Sunday. Just how much are you 58 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: looking forward to being in Ford Field, being in that 59 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: kind of environment for calling a football game. 60 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 4: You're right, Tim, you know, I think the regular season game, 61 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 4: even let's go back to the Tampa game of the 62 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 4: divisional game. We're lucky enough to be there for that 63 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 4: as well. It was a tremendous atmosphere, but it wasn't 64 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 4: the same as that first game, that wildcard game against 65 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 4: the Rams. That'll be in my top five all time forever. 66 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 4: Given in an atmosphere for a game, and I think 67 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 4: so many things built into it. Won the run to 68 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 4: the Packers playing earlier and beating the Cowboys, and all 69 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 4: the fans remember all the feelings about Dallas after what 70 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 4: happened with Dan Skipper and reporting and not reporting, and 71 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 4: because it was cold, so many people in the building watching, 72 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 4: and it just built the atmosphere and the energy the 73 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 4: stafford returned. I don't think you could replicate all of 74 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 4: those things except maybe for an NFC championship game. So 75 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 4: even though the atmosphere for the Tampa Bay Divisional game 76 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 4: then the opener that we were there for against the 77 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 4: Rams this year on Sunday Night Football, it wasn't the 78 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 4: same as what we saw for the wildcard game. I 79 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 4: think you make a great observation it'll be that kind 80 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 4: of energy and passion. So I think the fans are wise. 81 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 4: These two teams have great fan bases, and these fans 82 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 4: understand that because of the injuries and because of the 83 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 4: way the Lions have played at home over the last 84 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 4: couple of years, it's a huge advantage to have off 85 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 4: Week two playoff games at home to try to get 86 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 4: to the Super Bowl. Like I said before, they've won 87 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 4: every game on the road this year, but you'd much 88 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 4: prefer the week off. I think with this team just 89 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 4: a chance to get healthy. 90 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Mike, you've covered games at US Bank Stadium. 91 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: To the atmosphere there is one of the best in 92 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: the NFL too, with the snow and the skull and 93 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: the horn. Lions fans have I think nightmares of that 94 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: horn going off so many times. But those are two 95 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: you know, like you said, they're two great fan bases, 96 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: and going into those buildings and having to win a 97 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: playoff game, it is going to be really, really tough. 98 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: So it's huge in that regard for Minnesota getting it too, 99 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: because that's a tough place to pay play US Bank Mike, 100 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: is it almost criminal in the sense that a fourteen 101 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: win team is going to have to go on the 102 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: road in the playoffs? Look, you talked about it. Both 103 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: of them can get to the super Bowl, they can 104 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,799 Speaker 1: win on the road, But is it a little bit criminal? 105 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: I like the fact that that you win your division, 106 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: you get a home game. The NFL's had that policy 107 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: for a long time, but should they you think it 108 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: with this situation? Does it get talked about it all or 109 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: is it not even part of the conversation? 110 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 4: One thousand percent. I'm with you, Tim, If you made 111 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 4: me commissioner or in charge of the rules committee for 112 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 4: five minutes. There were three things I would do. Number One, 113 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 4: it's when the play clock hits double zero. It's delay 114 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 4: a game stop with this. It's double zero, and the 115 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 4: back judge looks to see if the ball is gone 116 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,239 Speaker 4: because you get forty one seconds to run a play. 117 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 4: Why is that such a big deal. This is the 118 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 4: league where we stop games to microscopically see if somebody's 119 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 4: toe is in bounced, and we get almost everything in 120 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 4: front of us with information right, so there's no reason. 121 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 5: At double zero. 122 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 4: Much like the NBA backboard lights up so you can 123 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 4: see it while you're still watching the play, the crossbar 124 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 4: should should have an led set of lights and it 125 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 4: lights up when the play clock hits zero. And that's it, 126 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 4: and the ball's not gone, it's no play. It's your 127 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 4: penalty boom. Number one. Number two, both teams get the 128 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 4: ball in overtime. We've seen too many games this year. Again, 129 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 4: the game we just had on Sunday night, Washington wins, 130 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 4: the Toscoes down the field scores, game's over. You know, 131 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 4: Michael Pennick Junior never gets a chance to get on 132 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 4: the field with Atlanta and they are four top ten 133 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 4: draft picks. It doesn't make any sense. We do everything 134 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 4: to be equitable. I know the defense is part of 135 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 4: the store, but so two is the offense. I think 136 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 4: that's completely unfair. And the third one is what you 137 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 4: just referenced. If there's a difference of more than three 138 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,239 Speaker 4: games in the standings, I think the wildcard team should 139 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 4: get to host that playoff game. I'm not saying it 140 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 4: because of this year. I've said that for the last 141 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 4: couple of years. It's imbalance. To me. If you are 142 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 4: a squeaking nine and eight team, you should not have 143 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 4: home field advantage over a team that was five games 144 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 4: better than you in the regular season. I think it 145 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 4: adds more to the regular season. There's more to play 146 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 4: for as you go through. That could be an interesting 147 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 4: factor to add it is, Hey, here's Team X. They 148 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 4: have to win in Week eighteen to make sure that 149 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 4: they stay three games ahead of the wildcard team so 150 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 4: they can have home field advantage. With you. Divisions, I 151 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 4: love to honor them because divisions go up and down cyclically. 152 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 4: I think it keeps the regional excitement in. It makes 153 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 4: the playoffs more exciting. It's tradition of the league. I 154 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 4: like all of that, but I'm with you, I would 155 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 4: love to see that last part of a change. 156 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: Two teams that have fourteen wins. You don't do that 157 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: without having a great culture, Mike, and obviously with what 158 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: Dan Campbell has built here in Detroit, but Kevin O'Connell 159 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: too in Minnesota. You see some of the storylines, You 160 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: see how that team has embraced Sam Darnold and some 161 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: of the comeback stories that they have on that team. 162 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: Why do you think Dan Campbell and Kevin O'Connell are 163 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: perfect fits? I know you've talked to both guys pretty extensively. 164 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: Why are both those guys perfect fits for the situation 165 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: that they're in. 166 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 4: I'm a massive Kevin O'Connell fan. You know, the people 167 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 4: who are consuming this are largely from the Detroit side 168 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 4: of rooting for teams, So I don't tell you a 169 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 4: word about Dan Campbell. But Kevin's got that in a 170 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 4: different way in his own way. Kevin's a former player. 171 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 4: I think that's the common Both are former players who 172 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 4: were not superstar players and who understand and have seen 173 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 4: things from a player and an assistant coach perspective. That 174 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 4: they would have done differently. They understand how to tap 175 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 4: into their guys. With Kevin, it's been a lot OF's 176 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 4: quarterbacks Alava offense, but they really know how to tap 177 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 4: it and how to lead their group strong enough to 178 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 4: have guys like Brian Flores Aaron Glenn lead their defenses, 179 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 4: kind of do their thing, strong special teams, great support 180 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 4: on the same page with the general managers. I think 181 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 4: on both sides you could be looking at a game 182 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 4: that could tilt the vote for Executive of the Year 183 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 4: Coach of the year, because if you look at both sides, 184 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 4: at Brad Holmes and Questi in minnesota's done an amazing job, 185 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 4: and with Dan and Koc in Minnesota, both have done 186 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 4: an amazing job this year fifteen and two number one 187 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 4: seed these teams, it's hard to say the other guy 188 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 4: deserves Coach of the Year or Executive the Year over 189 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 4: the other. And there are other great candidates around the 190 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 4: league too, But I think it might come down to 191 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 4: that on Sunday Night's results. But I think the common 192 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 4: thread is what you mentioned in the question. The culture 193 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 4: that they have built go to both teams, the players, 194 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 4: the locker room. There's a great energy and I'll tell 195 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 4: you Tim, that's happening a lot around the NFL Atlanta 196 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 4: and Washington. Having seen them last Sunday, very similar things. 197 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,559 Speaker 4: They're building a good thing based on the culture that 198 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 4: their coaches, Dan Quinn or Raheem Mars are setting. And 199 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 4: that's why I think maybe the most significant hire coming 200 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 4: up in this hiring season is the Bears hire here 201 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 4: in the NFC North because look at the culture in 202 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 4: Detroit with Dan Campbell, Minnesota with Kevin O'Connell, and obviously 203 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 4: Green Bay with Matt Lafour. You got three teams that 204 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 4: are rolling, that are playoff teams that really built a 205 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 4: good franchise foundation, and Chicago's got a quarterback to build 206 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 4: around that is going to be such a difficult Ye's 207 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 4: such an important hire just because you look everywhere surrounding 208 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 4: you in your division and they've got it. They've got 209 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 4: the people, the place, and the culture built largely because 210 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 4: of that head coaching. 211 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 6: Higher. 212 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: Boy, the NFC is going to be just a gauntlet 213 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: for years to come. You look at the rosters too, right, 214 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: young guys, lots of young talent. You see those lists 215 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: every year that the top guys twenty five and under 216 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,959 Speaker 1: I mean Minnesota, Green Bay and Detroit. Litter that in 217 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: Chicago's gonna do with with now Caleb and some of 218 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: the young guys that they're bringing in it, it should 219 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: be fun. I want to ask you, Mike, what's the 220 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: matchup you're most looking forward to? I want you to 221 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: put your analyst hat on a little bit here for 222 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: Sunday Night. You know, Minnesota's done some really good things 223 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: defensively number two against the run, the takeaways. Obviously, Detroit's 224 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: offense is fun and dynamic and Ben Jonson's pulling all 225 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: those strings. What's the matchup you're most looking forward to 226 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: Sunday night? 227 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 4: One hundred of them. I can't steal their thunder my 228 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 4: partner Collinsworth, but if you ask me for one, it 229 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 4: is just that Detroit's offense against the Minnesota defense. 230 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 5: How does. 231 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 4: The Lions offense handle the pressure that Brian Flores brings? Right, 232 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 4: that's the calling guard from Minnesota, right there at the 233 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 4: top of the list in terms of percentage of Blitz's 234 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 4: per defensive snap in the NFL. And the Lions can 235 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 4: be so lethal if they have the right answer and 236 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 4: it's out on time. Obviously, Jared Goff has many, many 237 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 4: talents in what has been another terrific season. One is 238 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 4: not running around to make a play like Jaden Daniels, 239 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 4: who we saw last Sunday night in Washington, or certainly 240 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 4: Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. That's not what golf does. But 241 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 4: he does a lot of things great. One of the 242 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 4: things he does great is read it, see it, diagnose 243 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 4: and get it to the right guy to beat your blitz, 244 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 4: to kind of keep that temperature down on the blitz pressure. 245 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 4: You know, Brian Flores is gonna bring it. He has 246 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 4: all year and the ability of scheme wise with the 247 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 4: answers in Ben Johnson's plan and Jared Goff with his 248 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 4: incredible acumen mentally and physically to see it, know it, 249 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 4: I diagnose it and get it out. We saw the 250 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 4: pressure on golf was hard. He struggled again in Minnesota. 251 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 4: He struggled against some of that pressure when they got there. 252 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 4: But when he found the answers in the second half, 253 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 4: they went up and down the field. So to me, 254 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 4: if you had to boiled that to one thing that's 255 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 4: gonna flip the game, it would be that because if 256 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 4: you look at it from twenty thousand feet because of 257 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 4: all the injuries on defense, the Lions have to score 258 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 4: a bunch of points to win the game, you know, likely, right, 259 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 4: So if that's the case, then you've got to find 260 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 4: a way and you can't give them easy points. Remember 261 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 4: early in that first game, the go for it inside 262 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 4: the on forty That turned around to quick points and 263 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 4: just like that, Minnesota was up ten nothing. Look if 264 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 4: they were gonna run away with that game, but it 265 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 4: flipped as Detroit got the answers to the pressure. 266 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 5: So to me, that's the whole game. 267 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that fumble late by David Montgomery kind of 268 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: changed things to Minnesota's really good, tied for first in league. 269 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: Thirty one takeaways, Jared Golf's gotta play clean football again. 270 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: Speak with Mike Arico play by play for Embassy does 271 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: a great job. He's gonna be on the broadcast on it. 272 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: And I might just just one more quick Furia. You 273 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: talked about Jared Goff, you talked about Sam Darnold a 274 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: little bit. You know, two guys that obviously are are 275 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: terrific stories for their respective teams. How much do you 276 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: love their story? 277 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 4: Right? 278 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: Everybody loves a great comeback story, right, and those two 279 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: guys I think are a great example of it. How 280 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: much fun is it going to be to watch that matchup? 281 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: What do you expect from those two guys Sunday night. 282 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's great joy. I think anytime in sports and 283 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 4: watching somebody who was told you know what, we're gonna 284 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 4: move on to somebody else, and then they turn out 285 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 4: to thrive. And that's happened in both cases Sam multiple 286 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 4: places and Jared of course with the Rams, he took 287 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 4: them to a super Bowl, so it's not like he 288 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 4: didn't have success there. But I think it is a 289 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 4: reminder that too often, you know, the morning sports conversation 290 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 4: on TV is usually hyperbole and this guy is terrible, 291 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 4: this guy stanks, this guy can't play, and that whole culture. 292 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 4: We have to remember that people grow and people get better, Right, 293 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 4: Caleb Williams in Chicago is going to get better in 294 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 4: all likelihood in the next year or two. And very 295 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 4: often we turn the page too quickly, especially at the 296 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 4: quarterback position. Look at Bryce Shunn, right, that was like, okay, great, 297 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 4: they made a terrible mistake in the draft. He's not 298 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 4: going to be No, he's turned out to be a 299 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 4: much better quarterback. Here. The back end of this season, 300 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 4: the Panthers go into next year I think feeling like 301 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 4: we have a quarterback we can continue to invest and 302 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 4: build around. That's the difference in these guys. These two 303 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 4: players were moved on from from the initial organization that 304 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 4: took them with very high draft capital picks one to 305 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 4: three overall. That's because they had really good talent. They 306 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 4: were studied hard going into that draft, and they've just 307 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 4: found the right place. Jared Goff found that offensive line, 308 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 4: the skill position players, and man when he is going 309 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 4: as we saw the Seattle game, so many games this year, 310 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 4: very few incompletions. That's a guy who you can build 311 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 4: a franchise around. If you build it to those specs, 312 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 4: you're not going to build it the same blueprint as Baltimore, 313 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 4: the same blueprint elsewhere. 314 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 5: And for Sam, I. 315 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 4: Really point to Kevin O'Connell and his ability to get 316 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 4: quarterbacks and get the most out of them. And it's 317 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 4: an interesting dilemmatin what does Minnesota do if they go 318 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 4: fifteen and two get to the NFC Championship Game. We 319 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 4: all in the Michigan area know about JJ McCarthy. I 320 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 4: can tell you from being there in the middle of 321 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 4: the season We saw them right before the Lions Houston 322 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 4: game when Minnesota played Indianapolis. They love JJ McCarthy. They're 323 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 4: all excited about that, and the thought was Sam Donald's 324 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 4: gonna move on somewhere else. Maybe a very different story 325 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 4: if Donald takes this another two or three lengths of 326 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 4: the race. So both guys have positioned themselves to have 327 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 4: great chapter twos in their career. It's almost hard to 328 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 4: remember Jared Goff with the Rams, after all we've seen 329 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 4: with him with the Lions and Donald. Maybe the next 330 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: chapter is Minnesota, maybe it's another team. It proves in 331 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 4: both cases surround the right talent with the right pace people, 332 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 4: offensive line, skill players, offensive system, not a crazy side 333 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 4: show of everything that happens becomes this headline that he's 334 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 4: the worst guy. 335 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 5: In the league. 336 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 4: And you find that the talent usually comes back around 337 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 4: years three, four five as they grow and mature. So 338 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 4: for both of those guys, it's fun to watch them 339 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 4: have a moment. It's interesting. Do they belong in the 340 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 4: MVP conversation? Yes, the MVP conversation so dominated by Lamar Jackson, 341 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 4: Josh Allen Barkley. If he gets the record, or even 342 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 4: if not, with two thousand rushing yard season. But these 343 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 4: guys certainly belong someplace on ballots when people fill them 344 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 4: out this weekend. 345 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 6: Yeah. 346 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: I think you make a great point there, Mike. The 347 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: biggest relationship in any organization right is the GM and 348 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: the head coach. Right have a GM that can identify 349 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: talent in both Brad Holmes and the GM over in Minnesota, 350 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: they've done a great job of doing that, and then 351 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: have a head coach and a coaching staff that can 352 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: develop it. And you see what happens. When you've got 353 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: that great kind of symbiotic relationship, you can win a 354 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: lot of football games. I can't wait till Sunday night. 355 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was just to say. I think of it 356 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 4: as a box. If you have the owner, the general manager, 357 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 4: the head coach, and the quarterback. If you have those 358 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 4: four parts of the box, now you can build inside 359 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 4: and build something great. When one of those pieces doesn't align, 360 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 4: you've got scattered organization. But when the owner tells the GM, 361 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 4: I got you financially to support you, and the GM 362 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 4: and the head coach are picking players the same way, 363 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 4: and now you pick the quarterback who can make it 364 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 4: all move. When you have that box, you got a 365 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 4: chance to build it. And you look at this Detroit 366 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 4: team from the top down, Sheila rod Woods president obviously 367 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 4: of course, and everything that the front office and Mike 368 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 4: and the guys do. Mike is the COO, but Brad Holmes, 369 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 4: Dan Campbell, Jared Goff think about how everything on this 370 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 4: team feeds off of that box. And that to me, 371 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 4: if you look at a spine for success in the NFL, 372 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 4: that's where it is. Go through all these playoff teams. 373 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 4: Your point's perfect. They've got that alignment, They've got a chance, 374 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 4: and these two are gonna give us a hell of 375 00:17:58,840 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 4: a night Sunday Night, we. 376 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: Hope, and you can be good for a long time. Mike, 377 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: and I think that's the thing that's exciting for Lions 378 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: fans is they look at this and they're like, this 379 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: isn't just a flash in the pan. Like they've got 380 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: good young players. It's built from the top, They got 381 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: support from the ownership. They can be good for a 382 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 1: long long time. That's the fun part. You live in 383 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: an arbor, you know how crazy these Lions fans are, 384 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: how fun this last two years have been. But boys, 385 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: Sunday Night is going to be something, something special. 386 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 4: Too. 387 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: We all are going to be listening to you for sure. 388 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: I think the atmosphere is going to be great there. 389 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: I have a great broadcast and enjoy the game, and 390 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: we'll see what happens into the playoffs. But Sunday is 391 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 1: certainly going to be fun for everybody. 392 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 4: The Alliance has giving us some good Sunday nights, and 393 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 4: really this whole run of the Lions at this level 394 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 4: starting Game two seventy two, two years ago in Green Bay, 395 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 4: when they went on that stage and ended the Aaron 396 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 4: Rodgers you were in Lambeau and kept the Packers out 397 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 4: of the playoffs. And it's been thirty three wonderful games 398 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 4: for Lions fans since that point. And so we'll look 399 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 4: forward to Game two seventy two for the second time 400 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 4: in three years, and great being with you and looking 401 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 4: forward to seeing everybody downtown Sunday night. 402 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 1: All Right, Mike, A good one, Thanks. 403 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 4: Tivy too, Take care, Happy new year. 404 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 1: Welcome back to be twenty in the Huddle Podcast, everybody, 405 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 1: the Mike linebacker for the Detroit Lions, Jack Campbell, Jack, 406 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: thanks for joining me. 407 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 3: Appreciate it, No, I appreciate you having me ay game 408 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 3: Sunday hunh. 409 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 6: I know it's gonna be It's gonna be absolutely insane. 410 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: I mean you've had some experienced this with with the 411 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: playoffs last year obviously that build that excitement. Does this 412 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: have kind of that same feel to it, just with 413 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: the magnitude of the game but at home, to the 414 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: atmosphere everything else. 415 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 6: Yeah, no doubt. 416 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 7: I mean, you know how Detroit loves their football, so 417 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 7: the fans are gonna be absolutely nuts. Third down, I'm 418 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 7: gonna barely be hearing the calls, So it's gonna be awesome. 419 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 6: But uh, I'm excited. 420 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 7: But going back to your question, yeah, like it's pretty 421 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 7: much a playoff game, so it's gonna be fun. 422 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: That's something I wanted to touch on with the calls 423 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: and could you control the greed dot? 424 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 3: And I've always been curious about this. 425 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: I know Jarr's talked about it before, but having a 426 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 1: guy kind of in your in your head, you know, 427 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: talking to you and stuff, how just the dynamic of 428 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 1: that it sometimes like is Aaron like talking to you 429 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: about the play previous sometimes and then giving you the 430 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 1: call or. 431 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 3: Like what's his style there? We just stay right to. 432 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, we always just stay right on the call. Okay, 433 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 6: like just let this guy know this, like alert this guy. 434 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 6: Just quick stuff. But we never talk about past plays, 435 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 6: so it's it was just moving on to the next one. 436 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: So does that take a little getting used to having 437 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: somebody in your head and then you trying to relate 438 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: to them. 439 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 3: I know it shuts off like fifteen seconds. 440 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,880 Speaker 7: Right, Yeah, no, especially coming from college. At the time, 441 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 7: I didn't have that, so it was all like signals. 442 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 7: So now that we're like I'm here and I have 443 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 7: a headset in my head, Yeah, it's a little different, 444 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 7: but once you get used to it, it's not bad. 445 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 3: So go ahead. 446 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 7: I was just gonna say, the only thing that gets 447 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,400 Speaker 7: taking us to is like yelling and screaming and trying 448 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 7: to move at the same time. 449 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 5: And that makes it harder at home in that atmosphere. 450 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 6: Has gotta be nuts, it's all. 451 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 5: I'm sure you guys are gonna be able to take that. 452 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: I want to say, congratulations be an alternate for the Yeah. 453 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: That means that you're you know, you're among those kind 454 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: of top interier guys. 455 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 5: You value that. 456 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 3: Do you like the recognition? Does it matter to you 457 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 3: or not? 458 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 7: That kind of No, I mean I appreciate it. Yeah, uh, 459 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 7: everyone has their own personal goals, like especially when they 460 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 7: come in the NFL, and like me, growing up, like 461 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 7: I honestly never would have thought I would be in 462 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 7: the NFL, and and then like once I got to college, 463 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 7: I started realizing maybe that I could do it, just 464 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 7: like working towards that now that I'm here working towards 465 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 7: my own like personal goals while I'm in the NFL. 466 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 7: So yeah, no, I definitely appreciate it. But at the 467 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 7: same time, it's just so much better being fourteen and 468 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 7: two and having the opportunity to go to the playoffs 469 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 7: and have opportunity to chase the Super Bowl. So honestly, 470 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 7: my main focus is just doing anything I can to 471 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,159 Speaker 7: make the defense play better. And if I got that 472 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 7: recognition or not, like I'm just gonna put I'm just 473 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:55,439 Speaker 7: gonna be me playing this play the same way that 474 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 7: I do and just keep trying to program guys. 475 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 3: You guys aren't playing on playing in it anyways. Right 476 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 3: For something a little exactly, I want to ask you. 477 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: About the job that that Calvin Sheppard and really Aaron 478 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: have done too, I mean obviously, and the injuries have 479 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: been a big storyline, and your room has been hit 480 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: hard too, and you know, let's see hopefully it out 481 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,439 Speaker 1: comes back this week and you get that that that 482 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: would be a big boost. But just the job that 483 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: that Calvin's done. I mean, you've had, you know, different 484 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: guys e Is, Egil Turner and and David and all 485 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: these guys just jumping kwan come here and play, have 486 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:32,400 Speaker 1: to play this week. 487 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 3: Just the job that that they've done, kind of keeping 488 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 3: this track, keep this thing. 489 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: I know, you moving, I know defensively, you guys probably 490 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,679 Speaker 1: haven't played as well as you hoped at times, but 491 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: you've still managed to come up with big plays and big. 492 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 3: Stops and kept this thing rolling. 493 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: Just the job that Kelvin's on and Aaron to a 494 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: bigger extent, keeping this thing together. 495 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 6: Yeah. 496 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 7: No, it's a coach. Chef's just been been a fantastic coach, 497 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 7: not only me, but just in the whole room, just 498 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,439 Speaker 7: keeping everyone together, finding the right guys. I don't know 499 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 7: how that works, like bring guys in, Like who makes 500 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 7: all those decisions. I would assume he has a little 501 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 7: bit to say, like what type of player he wants, 502 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 7: But just fantastic job bringing in the right guys. But 503 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 7: then for coach chef just like constantly just like letting 504 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 7: everyone know, like the standards of the standards and just 505 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,639 Speaker 7: holding us to them every single day, and it starts 506 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 7: to bleed into just players like holding new to players 507 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 7: and standards, and I feel like, yeah, he's just been 508 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 7: a He's just set the standards high, which as a 509 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 7: player you appreciate because it's always pushing you to be better. 510 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 7: And he has that good balance of just like no 511 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 7: one want to push you and then no one wanted 512 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 7: to just like pull back and just like appreciate you 513 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 7: as a human being. So h hats off to like him. 514 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 7: And I'm just super appreciative of him. And I'd say 515 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 7: a G just as a whole, like just again getting 516 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 7: the right guys in your system and then play call, 517 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 7: like making the playbook easy enough for guys that are 518 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 7: coming in and easy enough to learn that they can 519 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 7: pick it up quick and just play kind of fast. 520 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 7: And so hats off to AAG as well. I'm like, 521 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 7: you know, like AG's just he's one of the kinds. Yeah, 522 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 7: I'm just excited to just continue to get a play 523 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 7: for him. 524 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: If Calvin ever gets it up to you think he'll 525 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 1: make a good defensive coordinator. 526 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 7: I mean, I I have no doubt in my mind, 527 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 7: I because just the way he works and goes about things. 528 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 7: So I'm excited to see where like his path takes him. 529 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 6: Wherever that might be. 530 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,439 Speaker 7: Again, like I'm just a player, so I have no 531 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 7: poll but like just appreciative of him. And definitely he's 532 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 7: worked for everything he's got, He's hurt everything, so and 533 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 7: I feel like it's just there's a lot of coaches, 534 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 7: but especially him just holding the linebacker room together the 535 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 7: way he has has been fantastic. 536 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: Let's talk about this matchup a little bit team he 537 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,239 Speaker 1: faced Week seven, close game. You know, rates came right 538 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: to the end there. You guys played pretty well as 539 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 1: a defense. Twenty three points against that crew against that 540 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:01,120 Speaker 1: passing offense was pretty good. The difference this week TJ 541 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: Hockinson's back. That affects you a little bit. Just how 542 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: different of an offense are they with TJ and having 543 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: that playmaker at tight end. 544 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 7: Oh yeah, I feel like, uh, you know, this offense 545 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 7: is highly powerful. They got explosive players all over the place. 546 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 7: So that's gonna we're gonna have a work cutout for 547 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 7: us that and then bringing TJ back, I just feel 548 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 7: like he's just a crafty route runner. He just knows 549 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 7: the game inside, now knows his job responsibilities, and he 550 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:29,360 Speaker 7: just comes up with. 551 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 6: Tough catches play after play. 552 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 7: So we're gonna have a work cutout for us with 553 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 7: that aspect. And I feel like he's just like the 554 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 7: quarterback safety blanket at times too, So we're gonna have 555 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 7: our work cutout for us. But again, it's just gonna 556 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 7: be such a great environment, such a great opportunity, So 557 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 7: you couldn't ask for anything. 558 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 2: Tunnel, when those people are jacked up the way they're 559 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 2: gonna be jacked up Sunday night, and you do you 560 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 2: just feed off that energy, You just feel it and 561 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 2: it does is it fuel almost? 562 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 7: I mean yeah, I mean if you run out of 563 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 7: the tunnel and you don't feel. 564 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,640 Speaker 5: So you should be. Yeah. 565 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 7: So, I mean you can't really even describe it honestly, 566 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 7: Like it's unbelievable, like what everything can do like to 567 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,399 Speaker 7: you and just get you jacked up ready to play. 568 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 7: So yeah, no, I'm just super excited. This atmosphere is 569 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 7: gonna be awesome and the fans are just unbelievable. 570 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 3: You got married season did How is that treating you? 571 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 5: How was married life different at all? 572 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 3: Is it the same? 573 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 7: No, Yeah, it's been good. Uh me and my wife, 574 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 7: we've been doing. 575 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 3: Good, like she's quite a while. 576 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 6: Yeah. 577 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 7: Yeah, we started we got we started to like get 578 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,959 Speaker 7: uh dating my sophomore year in college. I really sophomore year. 579 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 7: So yeah, we were together like four years before he 580 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 7: got married, so I knew I had a good one, 581 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:54,199 Speaker 7: so I better. 582 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:56,479 Speaker 1: I met my wife my freshman year and we've been 583 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: together twenty years now. 584 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, so it's good. So you know, so nothing changed. 585 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 1: The same. 586 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 6: Yeah, So I. 587 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 7: Mean it's just been nice to come home to her 588 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 7: every single day and like get to hang out with her, 589 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 7: just like just like getting to hang out my best 590 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 7: friend every single day like that. I'd say that's changed 591 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 7: just because in college we didn't like get to see 592 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 7: each other yea, like every single day because she uh 593 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:20,880 Speaker 7: that she went to Iowan. 594 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 6: And she transferred to Drake so which was like two hours. 595 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 3: She was an athlete too, right, she played basketball, so. 596 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 7: She was like two hours away. So and then her 597 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 7: season over last my season and like stuff like that. 598 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 7: So honestly, we we we we look back and like 599 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:37,440 Speaker 7: at times it would have been nice to like hang 600 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 7: out and see each other a lot. But it was 601 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 7: a blessing. So but now that we are married and 602 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 7: that she's up here, it's been amazing. 603 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 3: And having an athlete like that. She understands what you're 604 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,880 Speaker 3: going through, stands the whole deal too, right, So yeah, 605 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 3: she understands it. 606 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,439 Speaker 7: But at the time she's my dang's biggest critic. I 607 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 7: get home and she'll be like, why did. 608 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 3: You really Yeah, oh yeah, that's a good thing to 609 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 3: have though. 610 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, she keeps yeah, she tells her how it is. 611 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 6: I appreciate that. 612 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 3: Well, congratulations, thank you for that. Congratulations on the alternate 613 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 3: to the Pro Bowl. Hopefully that is something you guys 614 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 3: never sniffed. 615 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 1: You're getting ready to go to New Orleans and play 616 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: that Sunday is going to be fun. Need a couple 617 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,199 Speaker 1: of big plays from that from that defense, I know 618 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 1: you guys will get it done. 619 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:17,439 Speaker 3: Thanks so so much for joining me. 620 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 6: Thank you. Yeah, I have a good time. 621 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 4: Thank you. 622 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Twin in the Huddle podcast. I 623 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: am very happy to welcome in Ben Gesling. He does 624 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: a great job covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minnesota 625 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 1: Star Tribune. He also does the Access Vikings podcast and 626 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 1: newsletter on Kfan in Minneapolis all the time too, so 627 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: he is you need Minnesota Vikings coveras he's the guy 628 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: to go to. 629 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 8: Ben, thanks for taking the time. I appreciate it. Appreciate it, Tim, 630 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 8: Thanks so much for having me. Looking forward to chatting 631 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 8: with you. 632 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 5: Well boy. 633 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 1: Week eighteen and the NF, the the scheduling. Gods, we're 634 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 1: looking down on the NFL, weren't they. I mean we've 635 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:00,959 Speaker 1: never had a matchup like this and all history. Just 636 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: how fun is this week gonna be leading into Sunday? 637 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: And how much are you looking forward to Sunday night? 638 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean it's funny. 639 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 8: I was just working on a story about this for 640 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 8: our newsletter this week, and it's historic in a lot 641 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 8: of ways. I can remember being a kid in nineteen 642 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 8: ninety the Giants and the forty nine ers played like 643 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 8: a Monday night game. They were both ten I think 644 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 8: there were ten and one, and everybody called it Super 645 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 8: Bowl twenty four and a half, and they were like 646 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 8: there was an seven Patriots Colts matchup whether I think 647 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 8: they were both undefeated. And then we had the big 648 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 8: Chiefs Rams game in twenty eighteen with all the points 649 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 8: on Monday Night Football, but none of them have been 650 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 8: like this. I mean, this is effectively a playoff game. 651 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 8: It's not winner go home like a playoff game is, 652 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 8: but the winner of the game automatically advances around further 653 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 8: in the playoffs than the loser does, so in that sense, 654 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 8: it is very much like a playoff game. And this 655 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 8: has become historically this is probably not the biggest rivalry 656 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 8: in the division. I mean, you can talk about Bears Packers, 657 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 8: you can talk about probably the Lions Packers with all 658 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 8: the Thanksgiving matchups. Certainly Packers Vikings has had a lot 659 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 8: of history to it, Lions Bears probably as well. But 660 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 8: you could make the argument that this is the pre 661 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 8: eminent rivalry in the division right now. This is going 662 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 8: to have the division winner each of the last three years. 663 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 8: The Lions win the division at US Bank Stadium last year, 664 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 8: but after they prevented the Vikings from clinching at Ford 665 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 8: Field in twenty twenty two. So there's getting to be 666 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 8: enough back and forth between these teams that there's some history, 667 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 8: there's some intensity to it, and then the stakes on 668 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 8: the line. It's hard to imagine a better setup for 669 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 8: the NFL for their Sunday Night finale, and they couldn't 670 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 8: have drawn it up any better than this. I don't 671 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 8: think they could have predicted this if they tried, And. 672 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: It was an easy decision to move this game to 673 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 1: Sunday night obviously last game of the year with everything 674 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: on the line, and these teams played at US Bank 675 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: Stadium Week seven seems like a long time ago now 676 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: with everything that's happened. Obviously, you know the Vikings lost 677 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: the next week, but then they have just gone on 678 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: a tear, haven't lost since Week eight. 679 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 5: I'm just curious. 680 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: Lions won that game thirty one to twenty nine, went 681 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,240 Speaker 1: right down to the end. How are the Vikings a 682 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 1: different football team Week eighteen than the one the Lion 683 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 1: saw back at us Bank Week seven. 684 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 5: Yeah. 685 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 8: I think the biggest thing there, tim is probably Sam 686 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 8: Donald is playing at a level that I don't think 687 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 8: we saw at that point. I mean, he had a 688 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 8: couple of games there they lose that when they go 689 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 8: out and lose to the Rams, and then he really 690 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 8: had a couple where they were winning in spite of 691 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 8: a few turnovers, and they had kind of a meeting 692 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,800 Speaker 8: with him after they beat Jacksonville twelve to seven and 693 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 8: they had a ton of yards, but his turnovers really 694 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,080 Speaker 8: prevented them from pulling away in that game. And Kevin 695 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 8: O'Connell has talked about this. Sam Darnold really took charge 696 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 8: of that meeting. It was just a Monday review the 697 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 8: day after the game, kind of watching the film, and 698 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 8: Donald was the one saying, Hey, I needed to go here, 699 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 8: I needed to come off with this reed sooner. I 700 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 8: needed to throw this ball in this spot. So there's 701 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 8: just been a level of development with him in this 702 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 8: offense that I think has them functioning at a higher 703 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 8: level than they were in that game in October, and 704 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 8: especially now the TJ. 705 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 5: Hockinson is back. 706 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 8: I mean, I think that's made an awfully big difference 707 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 8: to the level of weapons they have. I mean, you've 708 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 8: seen everybody kind of try to camp out on Justin 709 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:19,880 Speaker 8: Jefferson and dare them to beat the defense with somebody else, 710 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 8: and whether it's been Hockinson Jordan Addison I think has 711 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:24,959 Speaker 8: five touchdowns in the last three games and really has 712 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 8: has been pretty impressive with some of the things he 713 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 8: does to beat coverage. So they are different in that regard. 714 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 8: They are they're not with Christian Darosol anymore. Obviously the 715 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 8: left tackle toys ACL in that Rams game, They've been 716 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 8: able to get by with Cam Robinson. They've done a 717 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 8: nice job protecting Sam Darnold that probably isn't quite as 718 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 8: good as what they would have with Christian Darosov, but 719 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 8: they've been able to survive. And I think they've been 720 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 8: a lot of the same things on defense, but the 721 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 8: difference is probably that even as teams catch onto what 722 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 8: they're doing, they've done a really nice job of kind 723 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:00,400 Speaker 8: of coming up with other wrinkles and figuring out ways 724 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 8: to stay ahead. It's a lot of veteran players that 725 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 8: know a lot of different wrinkles and a lot of 726 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 8: versatility in that scheme that allow them to adjust when 727 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,479 Speaker 8: the Lions figure things out. Because you did hear players 728 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 8: talk about that after that game, that the Lions had 729 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 8: gotten a beat on what the Vikings were doing, where 730 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 8: the blitzes were coming from. I think Ben Johnson did 731 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 8: a number of things in that game to protection wise 732 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 8: that the Vikings had not seen. So a lot of 733 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 8: their approach has been how do we come up with 734 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 8: ways to be versatile enough, be multiple enough that people 735 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 8: aren't catching on to what we're doing, and we'll see 736 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 8: what that looks like Sunday night. It's certainly one of 737 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 8: those chess match elements to this game, but they have 738 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 8: been aware of that, and I think I've tried to 739 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 8: make some adjustments to that on defense. 740 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 1: You know, I'm glad you mentioned Addison and then obviously 741 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: Hockinson too, because I think these teams are similar in 742 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 1: a lot of ways with obviously superstar wide receivers with 743 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson and i'm on Ross Saint Brown. But it's 744 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: those complementary pieces that are so important. And you look 745 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: at Jordan Adison ten touchdowns on the year. I believe 746 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 1: Hockinson obviously Detroit fans know what he can do and 747 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 1: what he can produce. And you've got the same thing 748 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 1: with Jamison Williams now stepping into his own here being 749 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,280 Speaker 1: that compliment to I'm on Ross Saint Brown and obviously 750 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 1: Sam Laporta too, So these teams are very similar. Just 751 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: how important are those secondary pieces, and especially with Addison, 752 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 1: how important has his development now in his second year, 753 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:22,680 Speaker 1: taken some of the pressure off of Justin Jefferson and 754 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 1: really been a piece that Sam Darnold seems to really 755 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:26,160 Speaker 1: trust now yeah. 756 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 8: I mean that that development for him has been a 757 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:31,239 Speaker 8: major component to this in the second half of the 758 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 8: season for the Vikings. I mean he has gotten He's 759 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 8: not a big receiver, he's only he measured I think 760 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:37,840 Speaker 8: one hundred and seventy three pounds at the combine, but 761 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 8: he's gotten stronger. I think that year in an NFL 762 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 8: weight room has helped him. He's better against press coverage 763 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:46,200 Speaker 8: because of that. And I think his footwork. I mean 764 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 8: you saw it on that stop and Go Sunday afternoon 765 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 8: against the Packers where he's able to lul Javon Buller 766 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:54,840 Speaker 8: to sleep and then just turned turn his hips and 767 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:57,839 Speaker 8: then beat him in coverage. He does that a lot. 768 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 8: I mean, he's gotten a lot better in terms of 769 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,359 Speaker 8: being able to use his route running ability to beat 770 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 8: corners and get himself open. I think that has made 771 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 8: an awfully big difference to what they do because you 772 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 8: see everybody kind of do the They'll either keep a 773 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:14,720 Speaker 8: safety over the top of Jefferson or it's a straight 774 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 8: double team, or you know, there's different ways that teams 775 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 8: go about it. But the upshot has been beat us 776 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 8: with anybody else, we dare you, and Addison has allowed 777 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,280 Speaker 8: the Vikings to do that. I think that the level 778 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:29,880 Speaker 8: of confidence, the level of trust that Darnold has developed 779 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 8: in him has been a big part of that. So yes, 780 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 8: the complimentary pieces, I mean, you go down the line 781 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:38,360 Speaker 8: with the Vikings too. Jalen Naylor will he scored a 782 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,520 Speaker 8: touchdown on Sunday, I think had five catches. He'll get 783 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 8: the ball some and then yeah, the Vikings certainly know 784 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 8: with the Lions, all of the people you have to defend, 785 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:47,600 Speaker 8: all of the different things you have to worry about 786 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 8: with that offense. Even though David Montgomery's not there, obviously, 787 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 8: Jamir Gibbs has still kept that running game going at almost. 788 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:55,160 Speaker 5: The same level. 789 00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 8: You have Laporta, you have Jamison Williams, you have obviously 790 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 8: Almon Ross Saint Brown, that's kind of the chief focus 791 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:04,760 Speaker 8: of everybody's attention on defense. And then you have Jared 792 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:07,439 Speaker 8: Goff playing as well as anybody in the league. So yeah, 793 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:09,400 Speaker 8: both of these teams have a lot of ways to 794 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 8: attack you, and I'm sure both of these defensive coordinators 795 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 8: are spending plenty of time trying to figure out how 796 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 8: to stop all of it. 797 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,360 Speaker 1: This week, you mentioned that veteran Vikings defense have been 798 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: playing some really good ball. I think the two things 799 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 1: that stand out to me just when looking at them 800 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:24,840 Speaker 1: is the run defense number two in the league. I 801 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: think eighty eight yards per game. Now, the Lions had 802 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:29,239 Speaker 1: some success in that first matchup. Gibbs went over one 803 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: hundred yards. I think the Lions had just about one 804 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:32,239 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty. I think it was maybe one hundred 805 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:34,239 Speaker 1: and forty four yards, so a little bit of an 806 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:37,360 Speaker 1: oddity for what they were doing up to that point. 807 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 1: And then the takeaways is the big one to me, Ben, 808 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 1: I mean, thirty one takeaways, tied for number one in 809 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:45,799 Speaker 1: the NFL. What's really been the secret, sauce to that 810 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: Vikings defense? Is it just the pressure looks and the 811 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:50,319 Speaker 1: pressure and you're so worried about it that you make 812 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,399 Speaker 1: mistakes or what have they been so good at really 813 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 1: consistently all year long? 814 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 5: Yeah? 815 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:57,000 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean a lot of it is the pressure looks, 816 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,920 Speaker 8: but they are really good at showing the threat of 817 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 8: pressure and then not bringing it. I mean you will 818 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:04,799 Speaker 8: see them do that on third downs almost as much 819 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 8: as anything. The blitz downs for them sometimes are first 820 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 8: and second down, where they that's where they'll bring more pressure. 821 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:12,880 Speaker 8: They'll run blitz a lot. I mean, I think you 822 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:15,440 Speaker 8: saw some of that on Sunday against the Packers. They 823 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:17,320 Speaker 8: were able to blitz off the edge and stop a 824 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:19,800 Speaker 8: couple of runs that way. And then third downs sometimes 825 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 8: they'll bring it and sometimes they'll show it and then 826 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 8: drop guys and you have to figure out who's coming 827 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:27,719 Speaker 8: who's dropping. That's been I think as much of their 828 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:31,080 Speaker 8: DNA as the all out pressures on third downs. So 829 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 8: it's been some of that. It's been I think a 830 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:35,960 Speaker 8: lot of places where you have linebackers that can drop 831 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 8: in a coverage. I think Andrew Van Ginkel you've seen 832 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 8: that this year. Blake Cashman certainly has been exceptional in coverage. 833 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:43,640 Speaker 8: I mean that's the other piece for the Vikings is 834 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:46,799 Speaker 8: he missed that first game against the Lions, and you 835 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:50,759 Speaker 8: really have seen how different of a defense this is 836 00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 8: when he's there. 837 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 5: I mean the stuff. 838 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 8: I think the Lions picked on the Vikings a lot 839 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 8: over the middle of the field in that game, and 840 00:37:56,920 --> 00:38:00,319 Speaker 8: the Vikings defend differently when they have Cashman in the 841 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,600 Speaker 8: middle of it. So it's been a lot of those 842 00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:04,319 Speaker 8: things that they've been able to put to work. It's 843 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:06,800 Speaker 8: a lot of players who have played a lot of football. 844 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:08,960 Speaker 8: It's a lot of players that understand kind of all 845 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,680 Speaker 8: of the checks and different things that they do in 846 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:15,400 Speaker 8: their defense. The corners have held up. I mean, I 847 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 8: don't know that they would want. I mean, they played 848 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:19,600 Speaker 8: a lot more man coverage. I think that'll be the 849 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 8: other thing to be watching this week if they continue 850 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:25,120 Speaker 8: to do that and the Lions attack it, don't. I 851 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:27,880 Speaker 8: think the Lions probably will try to test them, as 852 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:30,279 Speaker 8: a lot of teams have with those corners. But yeah, 853 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:32,400 Speaker 8: a lot of guys that have made plays on the 854 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,759 Speaker 8: ball and that's been a huge momentum swim for the 855 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 8: Vikings all season. 856 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,759 Speaker 1: You talked about Donold's fine play in that meeting after 857 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:42,640 Speaker 1: that Jacksonville game and kind of how he embraced the 858 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 1: limiting the turnovers. You know, Jared Golf had a similar thing, 859 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 1: you know a couple of years ago when they were 860 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:49,279 Speaker 1: turning it over, kind of turned that corner. And now 861 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:51,520 Speaker 1: we've seen how he's played the last two years. But 862 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:55,400 Speaker 1: why does Sam fit so well in Kevin O'Connell's system, 863 00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:59,560 Speaker 1: And just from the locker room obviously last week with 864 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:01,960 Speaker 1: the players and how they embraced him, it looks like 865 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,399 Speaker 1: that whole organization has embraced him. So two part question, One, 866 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:08,160 Speaker 1: why does he fit so well? And ben, what's his future? 867 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:10,120 Speaker 1: He's going to be a free agent this offseason, and 868 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:12,439 Speaker 1: that's a tough decision that they've got to make because 869 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:14,760 Speaker 1: they obviously spent a first round pick on JJ McCarthy. 870 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,320 Speaker 1: They're kind of guy in the wings. But this guy's 871 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:19,320 Speaker 1: playing so well. I mean, he's playing at an MVP 872 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:22,839 Speaker 1: caliber level. If some other guys around the league weren't 873 00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:26,120 Speaker 1: playing as well as they are too, Just what's the 874 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,160 Speaker 1: decision going forward? And why does he fit? 875 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:29,080 Speaker 5: Yeah? 876 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:32,360 Speaker 8: I mean that question, the question of his future is 877 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:35,080 Speaker 8: the one I get as much as anything these days. 878 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:37,600 Speaker 8: So certainly a big decision for them there, But to 879 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:39,239 Speaker 8: take the first part of it first and we'll come 880 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:42,000 Speaker 8: back to the question about the future. I think he 881 00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:45,279 Speaker 8: has fit in part because you have a lot of 882 00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:46,040 Speaker 8: guys on this team. 883 00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:47,640 Speaker 5: They signed a lot of free agents. 884 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 8: There are a lot of players, whether it's Grenard Cashman, 885 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:55,480 Speaker 8: Andrew van Ginkel, Aaron Jones, a number of them that 886 00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:59,359 Speaker 8: were either signed to two year deals or just in case, 887 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,319 Speaker 8: a lot of I'm a one year deal. So I 888 00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:05,880 Speaker 8: think there's a level of people have given up on me, 889 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:08,959 Speaker 8: people have decided I'm not worth a long term deal. 890 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:12,240 Speaker 8: Among a number of players on this team that everybody 891 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:15,160 Speaker 8: kind of can relate to, there's a little bit of 892 00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:17,520 Speaker 8: Sam Darnold's story and a lot of different players on 893 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 8: this team. So I think it's been some of that. 894 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 8: Some of it's also been they spend a lot of 895 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:26,279 Speaker 8: time talking about culture, to the point where people kind 896 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:29,279 Speaker 8: of shrug and roll their eyes about you know, how 897 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:32,919 Speaker 8: important is this really? They believe that this is kind 898 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:35,279 Speaker 8: of the connective tissue of this team. There's a lot 899 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,759 Speaker 8: of time spent getting to know people as people and 900 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:42,360 Speaker 8: trying to find ways for everybody to connect off the field. 901 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:44,560 Speaker 8: I mean, the defense gets together every Thursday night at 902 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:47,799 Speaker 8: Brian flores His house. They call it Fellowship Thursdays. So 903 00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:51,120 Speaker 8: there's a lot of these things that they're doing pretty 904 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:56,200 Speaker 8: consistently and pretty intentionally to build relationships between players. I 905 00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:58,719 Speaker 8: think some of that has allowed people to get to 906 00:40:58,719 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 8: know Donald. He's not a very outspoken guy. I think 907 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:04,799 Speaker 8: the struggles he's had in the NFL have led him 908 00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:07,200 Speaker 8: to kind of keep some keep him keep to himself, 909 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:10,000 Speaker 8: probably a little more than you would see him do otherwise. 910 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,440 Speaker 8: But I think some of those places that they have 911 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:15,680 Speaker 8: created play, you know, ways for players to connect, have 912 00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 8: probably helped teammates get to know him a little bit better. 913 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:20,560 Speaker 8: But yes, the question about his future is a big 914 00:41:20,560 --> 00:41:23,839 Speaker 8: one because I've kind of thought all season, as high 915 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:27,440 Speaker 8: as they've been on JJ McCarthy, that Donald moves on 916 00:41:28,239 --> 00:41:30,919 Speaker 8: and McCarthy takes over as a starter. I mean, they 917 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:33,120 Speaker 8: were going to give him a lot of first team 918 00:41:33,160 --> 00:41:35,280 Speaker 8: work and a couple of joint practices with the Browns 919 00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:38,160 Speaker 8: had he not gotten hurt in that first preseason game. 920 00:41:38,239 --> 00:41:39,920 Speaker 8: So you're kind of thinking, Okay, they're going to turn 921 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 8: it over to him. But when he's when Donald has 922 00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 8: played at this level, I don't think you can just 923 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:50,080 Speaker 8: let that walk out the door because the leverage you have, 924 00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:53,719 Speaker 8: you're not going to get what he's worth if you 925 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:56,239 Speaker 8: let him leave and hope for a comp pick in 926 00:41:56,320 --> 00:41:59,279 Speaker 8: a year from now. So there's that piece of it, 927 00:41:59,320 --> 00:42:01,879 Speaker 8: and I don't think they are naive to that at all. 928 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:03,879 Speaker 5: And then I don't know that you. 929 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:06,480 Speaker 8: Let quarterback play walk out the door like this because 930 00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:09,560 Speaker 8: you know, much like the Lions with Jared Goff, you 931 00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:12,040 Speaker 8: find that if this guy is playing at this level, 932 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:15,200 Speaker 8: it transforms everything. It's not about leverage anymore. It's about 933 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:17,759 Speaker 8: this guy can be the answer for us at quarterback 934 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:21,400 Speaker 8: for a long time. So do they franchise him? Do 935 00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:23,680 Speaker 8: they sign him to a long term deal? I mean, 936 00:42:23,719 --> 00:42:26,680 Speaker 8: I think the franchise tag is certainly a good possibility. 937 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:28,839 Speaker 8: And then that allows them to have a little more 938 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:32,239 Speaker 8: time with McCarthy and have him go through the offseason, 939 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:35,959 Speaker 8: go through a full training camp again, which he didn't 940 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:38,359 Speaker 8: get because that preseason time was kind of taken away 941 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:41,839 Speaker 8: because of that injury. So it gives them some flexibility. 942 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:45,360 Speaker 8: They also then have two quarterbacks that one has played 943 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:48,600 Speaker 8: at this level, and one would probably compare pretty favorably 944 00:42:48,640 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 8: to the quarterbacks in this draft if he was in 945 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:53,799 Speaker 8: this year's draft. So, you know, I don't know where 946 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:55,919 Speaker 8: that goes. I don't know if they would say let's 947 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:58,640 Speaker 8: try to shop J. J. McCarthy because we think Sam 948 00:42:58,719 --> 00:43:01,719 Speaker 8: Darnold is the answer. But Sam Donald is not Kirk 949 00:43:01,719 --> 00:43:03,960 Speaker 8: Cousin's age, he's not thirty five, he's only twenty seven 950 00:43:04,080 --> 00:43:07,000 Speaker 8: years old. And if they felt like he could be 951 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:09,960 Speaker 8: the answer long term, I don't know. 952 00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:12,120 Speaker 5: I think it's very interesting. 953 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:15,040 Speaker 8: That they could kind of settle on him and say 954 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:16,640 Speaker 8: we could ride with this guy for a long time. 955 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:18,520 Speaker 8: I mean, he was the third pick in the draft 956 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:21,600 Speaker 8: in twenty eighteen, and a lot of their thesis has 957 00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:26,040 Speaker 8: been quarterbacks, if they're in the right setting, can succeed 958 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:31,040 Speaker 8: even if their first team didn't maximize their talent. So 959 00:43:31,360 --> 00:43:34,040 Speaker 8: you've seen the Vikings do that. I think there's a 960 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:35,640 Speaker 8: lot of decisions they're going to have to make, but 961 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:38,719 Speaker 8: they're certainly aware of the fact that the way Sam 962 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:42,399 Speaker 8: Darnald has played probably changes the entire calculation here. 963 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:45,279 Speaker 1: And I'm having a great conversation with Ben Gestling does 964 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:47,759 Speaker 1: a great child with the Minnesota Star tribute and just 965 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:51,240 Speaker 1: a couple more quick wins for you, Ben. Injury wise, 966 00:43:51,719 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 1: heading into Sunday night, how are the Vikings looking anything 967 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:58,399 Speaker 1: stand out? Any possibilities that they could miss some guys? 968 00:43:58,719 --> 00:44:01,319 Speaker 8: Well, they're fairly healthy the overall. I mean, you know, 969 00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:03,560 Speaker 8: they have players I think playing through a few things. 970 00:44:03,640 --> 00:44:06,960 Speaker 8: Aaron Jones has been playing through a couple of different injuries. 971 00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:10,160 Speaker 8: They took him out a little bit early on Sunday afternoon, 972 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:13,399 Speaker 8: just more precautionary stuff, but I would expect we'll see 973 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:16,560 Speaker 8: him limited a little bit in practice this week, but 974 00:44:16,920 --> 00:44:19,319 Speaker 8: I think he'll be out there playing. It'll just be 975 00:44:19,360 --> 00:44:21,560 Speaker 8: a question of how much they have to manage those things. 976 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:24,759 Speaker 8: Patrick Jones took a low block from Tucker Craft on 977 00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:28,759 Speaker 8: Sunday that they were worried about his knee early in 978 00:44:28,800 --> 00:44:30,759 Speaker 8: that game. He's, you know, a pass rusher that you'll 979 00:44:30,760 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 8: see in a number of different spots, but they seemed 980 00:44:32,719 --> 00:44:36,560 Speaker 8: optimistic about the possibility of him coming back for this 981 00:44:36,640 --> 00:44:41,880 Speaker 8: one as well. So overall they are in fairly decent health. 982 00:44:41,960 --> 00:44:44,239 Speaker 8: I mean, you know, you've had guys coming back from 983 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:44,600 Speaker 8: some things. 984 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:45,200 Speaker 5: I've in pace. 985 00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:48,160 Speaker 8: The middle linebacker came back from an injury a couple 986 00:44:48,200 --> 00:44:50,279 Speaker 8: of weeks ago off of injured reserve. Actually, I think 987 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:53,479 Speaker 8: last week was his first game back. So you've had 988 00:44:53,600 --> 00:44:56,479 Speaker 8: guys in and out of the lineup. But overall they 989 00:44:56,520 --> 00:45:00,960 Speaker 8: have been in decent health and decent injury state. I mean, 990 00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:03,799 Speaker 8: certainly they have not dealt with the Lions have dealt with, 991 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:06,440 Speaker 8: let's put it that way, So they should be I 992 00:45:06,480 --> 00:45:08,680 Speaker 8: think in a pretty good state of. 993 00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:10,279 Speaker 5: Health coming into this one. With all of the guys 994 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:10,640 Speaker 5: that they have. 995 00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:13,560 Speaker 8: There's a few things to manage, but overall, for Week eighteen, 996 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:15,880 Speaker 8: I think they'd take that position over the way most 997 00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:17,200 Speaker 8: teams would find themselves. 998 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:19,960 Speaker 1: Hey, you talked about culture and the building of culture. 999 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:22,040 Speaker 1: As somebody who's been covering the lines for fifteen years, 1000 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:24,279 Speaker 1: I can tell you how important that is. And it's 1001 00:45:24,280 --> 00:45:27,880 Speaker 1: the same situation here with Dan Campbell what he's built 1002 00:45:27,960 --> 00:45:30,560 Speaker 1: the culture here. So when you talked about that, that 1003 00:45:30,560 --> 00:45:33,760 Speaker 1: will certainly resonate with Lions fans about building the culture 1004 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:36,120 Speaker 1: and how important that is and maybe how some people 1005 00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:39,520 Speaker 1: don't view it. I can tell you from where we've 1006 00:45:39,560 --> 00:45:41,480 Speaker 1: been to where we are now, and you've had your 1007 00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:44,319 Speaker 1: moments too, that is a really big part of it. 1008 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:46,759 Speaker 1: And I'm glad you touched on it. Ok, let's finish 1009 00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:49,040 Speaker 1: with this, Ben, what's the key? What's the key for 1010 00:45:49,080 --> 00:45:53,160 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings to come to Detroit, upset the Lions 1011 00:45:53,280 --> 00:45:55,600 Speaker 1: and you know, win the division for the second time 1012 00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:59,279 Speaker 1: in three years, get that by and you know, make 1013 00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:01,960 Speaker 1: Detroit a fourteen win football team that has to go 1014 00:46:02,080 --> 00:46:04,880 Speaker 1: on the road in the first round. That's crazy that 1015 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:07,200 Speaker 1: either of these teams are going to be facing that situation. 1016 00:46:07,360 --> 00:46:10,160 Speaker 1: Fourteen wins and you're going to start as the five 1017 00:46:10,239 --> 00:46:13,160 Speaker 1: seed on the road. But what's the key for Minnesota 1018 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:15,360 Speaker 1: come Sunday to get a win at four Field. 1019 00:46:15,760 --> 00:46:18,759 Speaker 8: Yeah, whoever loses this game, Tim, I think is the 1020 00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:22,759 Speaker 8: winningest wildcard in NFL history. I don't think there's ever 1021 00:46:22,760 --> 00:46:25,839 Speaker 8: been a fourteen win wildcard after looking that up this week. 1022 00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:28,120 Speaker 8: So and in fact, I think these two teams are 1023 00:46:28,120 --> 00:46:30,040 Speaker 8: the only second and third in the history of the 1024 00:46:30,160 --> 00:46:33,440 Speaker 8: NFC North to even get to fourteen wins, behind the 1025 00:46:33,440 --> 00:46:35,560 Speaker 8: Packers in twenty eleven when they went fifteen and one. 1026 00:46:35,680 --> 00:46:40,040 Speaker 8: So yeah, whoever loses this is probably not deserving of 1027 00:46:40,080 --> 00:46:41,800 Speaker 8: going on the road, but that's obviously how the playoff 1028 00:46:41,800 --> 00:46:44,240 Speaker 8: situation works. The key for the Vikings I think Sunday 1029 00:46:44,320 --> 00:46:49,000 Speaker 8: night is having more answers to that Lions offense than 1030 00:46:49,040 --> 00:46:50,960 Speaker 8: they had in the first one. I think a lot 1031 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:54,560 Speaker 8: of what the Lions did to solve the Vikings blitz 1032 00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:56,799 Speaker 8: is to run the ball as effectively as they were 1033 00:46:56,800 --> 00:46:59,280 Speaker 8: able to do it. The Vikings have to find ways 1034 00:46:59,280 --> 00:47:01,080 Speaker 8: to stop that. They have to be able to get 1035 00:47:01,080 --> 00:47:05,400 Speaker 8: to Jared Goff. They know that Jared Goff, he's been 1036 00:47:05,480 --> 00:47:07,520 Speaker 8: better against pressure, I think than he was earlier in 1037 00:47:07,520 --> 00:47:10,920 Speaker 8: his career. But I think they certainly know if you 1038 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:13,240 Speaker 8: can pressure him, it looks different. I mean, Brian Flores 1039 00:47:13,280 --> 00:47:15,960 Speaker 8: has seen Jared Goff a lot, including in a Super Bowl. 1040 00:47:16,280 --> 00:47:19,319 Speaker 8: They've crossed pass in some pretty big stages over the 1041 00:47:19,320 --> 00:47:21,640 Speaker 8: course of their careers. So getting pressure on him and 1042 00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:23,719 Speaker 8: then being able to slow down Jamier Gibbs, he was 1043 00:47:24,120 --> 00:47:26,120 Speaker 8: awfully dynamic. I mean, you guys see him every week, 1044 00:47:26,160 --> 00:47:28,480 Speaker 8: but he was awfully dynamic in that first game. He's 1045 00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:30,840 Speaker 8: a guy the Vikings liked a lot coming out of 1046 00:47:30,840 --> 00:47:32,960 Speaker 8: the draft as well. They weren't going to draft or 1047 00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:34,960 Speaker 8: running back at that spot, but they were very high 1048 00:47:35,040 --> 00:47:37,279 Speaker 8: on him, so they know what he can do. I 1049 00:47:37,320 --> 00:47:40,480 Speaker 8: think it's being able to stop him. It's being able 1050 00:47:40,480 --> 00:47:42,279 Speaker 8: to get pressure and then to sew up the middle 1051 00:47:42,320 --> 00:47:44,239 Speaker 8: of the field better than they did in that first game. 1052 00:47:44,440 --> 00:47:47,480 Speaker 8: I think Blake Cashman being there probably helps, but the 1053 00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:49,879 Speaker 8: way they got attacked on some of those crossing routes, 1054 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:52,160 Speaker 8: they have to be better there. Because the Lions can 1055 00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:55,680 Speaker 8: extend drives, they can wear down a defense and obviously, 1056 00:47:55,960 --> 00:47:58,640 Speaker 8: as you know, they will make you play four downs 1057 00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:01,640 Speaker 8: quite a bit. It's not we get three and we're 1058 00:48:01,640 --> 00:48:03,480 Speaker 8: off the field. That's we got a defense for fourth down, 1059 00:48:03,520 --> 00:48:06,040 Speaker 8: including when they'll probably bow up and run it quite 1060 00:48:06,040 --> 00:48:08,640 Speaker 8: a bit. So I think a lot of it comes 1061 00:48:08,680 --> 00:48:11,920 Speaker 8: down to the defense being more structurally sound than it 1062 00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:14,480 Speaker 8: was in that first one. And then you know, you're 1063 00:48:14,480 --> 00:48:18,400 Speaker 8: certainly gonna see the Lions corners be physical with Justin Jefferson. 1064 00:48:18,440 --> 00:48:20,560 Speaker 8: He's had some big days against Detroit in the past. 1065 00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:22,160 Speaker 8: So I think a lot of this comes down to 1066 00:48:22,440 --> 00:48:24,640 Speaker 8: it's gonna be a lot of points. But whoever comes 1067 00:48:24,719 --> 00:48:27,000 Speaker 8: up with the stop when they need it, I think 1068 00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:29,440 Speaker 8: probably comes out with this one. And for the Vikings, 1069 00:48:29,440 --> 00:48:31,279 Speaker 8: it's a lot of coming up with the answers to 1070 00:48:31,320 --> 00:48:32,719 Speaker 8: the things the Lions did to hurt them in that 1071 00:48:32,719 --> 00:48:33,200 Speaker 8: first game. 1072 00:48:33,719 --> 00:48:35,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, and picking up the blitz is gonna be huge 1073 00:48:35,960 --> 00:48:39,120 Speaker 1: for Detroit and it looks blitz Jared golf at at 1074 00:48:39,440 --> 00:48:42,279 Speaker 1: you know, at your own risk because he's got one 1075 00:48:42,320 --> 00:48:45,200 Speaker 1: of the higher passes passer ratings in the league. You know, 1076 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:47,600 Speaker 1: when when they pick up that blitz and you're gonna 1077 00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:49,560 Speaker 1: put jameson Williams one on one, You're gonna put Satan 1078 00:48:49,560 --> 00:48:51,040 Speaker 1: one on one, You're gonna some of those guys one 1079 00:48:51,080 --> 00:48:53,399 Speaker 1: on one, you better get there. And so that will 1080 00:48:53,440 --> 00:48:56,200 Speaker 1: certainly be a fun dynamic to this and look, can 1081 00:48:56,239 --> 00:48:58,759 Speaker 1: Detroit slow down that that Minnesota passing game now with 1082 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:00,799 Speaker 1: all the weapons and TJ Howk consent back that didn't 1083 00:49:00,800 --> 00:49:03,040 Speaker 1: face him the first time. So I agree with that 1084 00:49:03,160 --> 00:49:05,399 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a lot of points scored in this one. 1085 00:49:05,400 --> 00:49:07,759 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna be fun. Can who gets that 1086 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:10,600 Speaker 1: crucial stop, that crucial turnover? I think late it's gonna 1087 00:49:10,600 --> 00:49:13,640 Speaker 1: be close. It's gonna be fun, safe travels here. It 1088 00:49:13,680 --> 00:49:16,520 Speaker 1: will be a crazy environment in ford Field. You know 1089 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:18,480 Speaker 1: about crazy environments there at US Bank. It's one of 1090 00:49:18,480 --> 00:49:21,080 Speaker 1: my favorite places to go. The environment is crazy there. 1091 00:49:21,080 --> 00:49:24,200 Speaker 1: But it's gonna be something different here on Sunday. Ben, 1092 00:49:24,239 --> 00:49:26,200 Speaker 1: it's gonna be fun, safe travels, and we'll see you 1093 00:49:26,200 --> 00:49:26,919 Speaker 1: on Sunday night. 1094 00:49:27,320 --> 00:49:29,919 Speaker 8: Yeah, it could be the second of three between these teams. Tim, 1095 00:49:29,920 --> 00:49:32,000 Speaker 8: who knows. I mean, it's very possible that they'll see 1096 00:49:32,040 --> 00:49:35,000 Speaker 8: each other again. But yeah, Sunday night should be pretty historic, 1097 00:49:35,080 --> 00:49:36,960 Speaker 8: a lot of fun and looking forward to seeing you there. 1098 00:49:37,480 --> 00:49:38,200 Speaker 1: I appreciate you. 1099 00:49:38,280 --> 00:49:39,840 Speaker 5: Thanks Ben, all right, Thanks