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Speaker 1: You know, I'm extremely blessed with my career. I'd like

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Speaker 1: to say, preparation is your armor. Hannah does so what

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Speaker 1: and I do the why. You know, I'm fascinated to

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Speaker 1: see the matchup with Justin Jefferson, but he's only as

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Speaker 1: good as if Kirk Cussins can get him the ball.

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Speaker 1: It's really holding up at the lines of scrimmage, and

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Speaker 1: that's that's always where I start to watch the game.

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Speaker 1: You're listening to the Minnesota Vikings podcast and this is

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Speaker 1: episode one twenty three. I'm Tatum Everett inside TCO Studios

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Speaker 1: or radio room, Gabe Henderson, Jay Nelson alongside me here,

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Speaker 1: and we're gonna have an event session about that Vikings

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Speaker 1: Lion's loss on Sunday, no doubt about that. We'll get

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Speaker 1: all of our frustrations out before we bring in our

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Speaker 1: special podcast guests of this week. It's an exciting one.

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Speaker 1: We have NFL Network chief correspondent and the color analyst

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Speaker 1: for the Thursday Night Football podcast on Amazon Prime Video,

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Speaker 1: Andrea Kramer, and then we'll get you even more primed

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Speaker 1: and ready for a Steelers game that is tomorrow. Guys,

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Speaker 1: it is so weird to say, oh, hey, we're Wednesday

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Speaker 1: morning podcasting and we've got a game in twenty four hours.

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Speaker 1: The first time I ever came up to Minnesota in

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Speaker 1: my life was twenty nineteen, in October twenty fifth, and

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Speaker 1: I was working for the Washington football team. When's a

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Speaker 1: Thursday night game against the Vikings. So I remember leaving

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Speaker 1: that game and I'm like, all right, well, I gotta

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Speaker 1: go to work Monday, and it's just like, oh, shoot,

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Speaker 1: is Friday. Like I actually get a weekend off. So yeah,

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Speaker 1: it is kind of weird. But I'm sure whoever's going

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Speaker 1: to be at the game tomorrow will be excited to

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Speaker 1: enjoy their Thursday Night. Oh yeah, it's a special Thursday

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Speaker 1: Night Jay. I think the Thursday night games are always

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Speaker 1: super intriguing because there's always the drama of, well, what's

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Speaker 1: going to happen on a short turnaround? Is the opponent

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Speaker 1: going to be able to come into the house of

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Speaker 1: the home team, who usually has a little more creature

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Speaker 1: comforts at least for another day. But for me, the

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Speaker 1: fact that the Steelers are showing up in our building

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Speaker 1: in our state for the first time sixteen years is

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Speaker 1: going to be super interesting because the last time we

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Speaker 1: played them that was a home game. We were in

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Speaker 1: London at Wimbley Stadium. So I think the Steeler nation

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Speaker 1: is probably going to come out even more for this

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Speaker 1: one since it's been so long. But I am very

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Speaker 1: excited for this game, just to see how quickly we

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Speaker 1: can turn this thing around and hopefully get after another

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Speaker 1: team that is in a similar situation to us. Wow.

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Speaker 1: I didn't realize it's been that long. Sixteen years. Yeah, wow.

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Speaker 1: And you gotta you're right though, because when I was

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Speaker 1: in Nashville in Nissan Stadium, it was like actually majority

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Speaker 1: Steelers fans. But it's hard because the Titans don't have

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Speaker 1: like a huge historic fan base because of how they

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Speaker 1: moved or whatnot. And it's still growing. But yeah, the

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Speaker 1: Steeler I'm a little worried. I guess not to get

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Speaker 1: ahead of ourselves and go into what I'm nervous about,

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Speaker 1: but I am. I think I think the crowd is

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Speaker 1: going to play an interesting role in this because the

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Speaker 1: Steelers fans travel so well. Yeah, when you have like

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Speaker 1: historic teams such as the Cowboys or the Stellers or

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Speaker 1: possibly even the Patriots, those fans are loyal. They've won

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Speaker 1: so many rings, they have so many traditions of history

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Speaker 1: that when it comes to a game like this where

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Speaker 1: it's in a city that they don't usually come to.

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Speaker 1: I'm sure there's a lot of Pittsburgh Stealers fans that

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Speaker 1: migrated up here years ago, so it's like, oh, shoot,

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Speaker 1: the Stillers are in town, Like I'm I'm going to

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Speaker 1: this game. You know, some of these guys are like, yeah,

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Speaker 1: I was here when Terry Bradshaw played. So when you

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Speaker 1: got guys that that understand the history, that understand what

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Speaker 1: goes into a Stillers game, being in their hometown or

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Speaker 1: being in a new town, they will travel well for that. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: I mean they've never been to US Bank Stadium, so

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Speaker 1: that's kind of like one of those bucket list items. Jay,

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Speaker 1: And I also know like for the old Dogs, at

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Speaker 1: least the old Vikings fans, there is that that source

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Speaker 1: spot still with the Vikings losing to the Steelers in

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Speaker 1: the Super Bowl back in the seventies, So like there's

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Speaker 1: a lot of history there. And just to echo what

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Speaker 1: Gaye was saying, the Steelers, in my opinion, their fans

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Speaker 1: are probably one of the top three fan bases that

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Speaker 1: travels period, and so I anticipate there being a bunch

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Speaker 1: of terrible towels in the in the stadium, but it

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Speaker 1: just comes down to gameplay to help drown them out.

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Speaker 1: Yellow Yeah, say, as Charles Barkley would say, would be

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Speaker 1: the terrible towels. I had to get that in there.

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Speaker 1: S all right, Well, I know it's we've been chuckling

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Speaker 1: and giggling or whatnot and having fun thinking about this

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Speaker 1: Steelers game and what's ahead, but we really do need

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Speaker 1: to probably get a little last minute frustrations off our chest.

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Speaker 1: And I think it's time for a proper event session

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Speaker 1: because it was just another close game, another absolute heartbreak.

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Speaker 1: So I think we should just get right into it.

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Speaker 1: And Jay, do you want to go first this time around? Sure?

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Speaker 1: I got a laundry list to you. Oh wow, Well

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Speaker 1: you know we're gonna put you on the clock. Still

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Speaker 1: we don't. There's no exceptions to the rule this time around.

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Speaker 1: So all right, three two one. Last week, when I

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Speaker 1: was asked what I was nervous about, my answer was everything.

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Speaker 1: This was the nightmare scenario that we were all kind

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Speaker 1: of thinking of. For me. You go through and you

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Speaker 1: just look statistically, you won time of possession, passing yards, turnovers,

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Speaker 1: third down efficiency, You tied for rushing yards, rushing plays,

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Speaker 1: total plays, and total drives, and you still came out

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Speaker 1: with the loss. It was brutal. I think the over

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Speaker 1: three and two point conversions and then only getting two

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Speaker 1: field goals inside the red zone, and especially in that

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Speaker 1: first quarter. You let them hang around long enough on

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Speaker 1: the at the beginning that you dug a hole in

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Speaker 1: the second half. And so for me, it was the

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Speaker 1: final sixteen minutes of the first half you had. You

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Speaker 1: let them get two touchdowns and two field goals after

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Speaker 1: stuffing them for the majority of the first quarter. So

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Speaker 1: for me, it was the frustration of statistically you should

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Speaker 1: have won this game, but in the end you didn't

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Speaker 1: because you traded field goals for touchdowns. So for me,

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Speaker 1: I just this is the end of your mulligans for

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Speaker 1: this biking squad with three seconds to spare very nice. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: you know, it's interesting because we've always talked about like

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Speaker 1: the identity of this team, and this was weeks ago.

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Speaker 1: Sometimes I feel like we're watching these games and I

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Speaker 1: could almost script them before they even happened. We're dominant

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Speaker 1: in the first quarter, we let a team back in

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Speaker 1: either they hang around or they're ahead at halftime, we

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Speaker 1: come out, we start to fight a little bit, but

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Speaker 1: then all goes to hell at a handbasket when you

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Speaker 1: get to that, you know, final few minutes of the

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Speaker 1: fourth quarter, if you're still kind of jockeying for whoever's

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Speaker 1: on the front of the leaderboard. To sum that all up,

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Speaker 1: Andrew Patterson had the greatest quote of the year still

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Speaker 1: to this date of we're playing not to lose instead

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Speaker 1: of playing to win. And that's kind of the story

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Speaker 1: of this Viking season. You got other teams that are

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Speaker 1: playing to win and we're playing not to lose. So

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Speaker 1: something that's got to give for me. I just kept

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Speaker 1: thinking about it almost felt like I was back in

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Speaker 1: neither middle school or high school and you're cramming for

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Speaker 1: a test where it's just like you know, you know

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Speaker 1: what you're supposed to do, and you're kind of do

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Speaker 1: it on the front end, and then you kind of

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Speaker 1: slack off for a while, and then all of a

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Speaker 1: sudden at the end, it's like you got to hurry

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Speaker 1: up in a race to try to try to try

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Speaker 1: to finish it off. And just looking even at the

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Speaker 1: second half, just the jackal and Hyde nature let alone

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Speaker 1: of this game. But but this team this year, like

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Speaker 1: we're just saying, like, what's happening at the end of

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Speaker 1: first half? There there really is no explanation what's happening

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Speaker 1: at the end of these games. You're trying to close

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Speaker 1: them out, and sometimes you do and a bunch of

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Speaker 1: times you haven't. They had two scoring drives for Detroit

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Speaker 1: in the second half, which was one hundred and nineteen yards,

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Speaker 1: including the seventy five yard final drive right for in

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Speaker 1: the final minute fifty seconds with no timeouts. There are

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Speaker 1: other four drives of the second half twenty nine yards total.

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Speaker 1: And that's that's the thing that's killing us is You're

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Speaker 1: just looking at this going, how can you be so

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Speaker 1: dominant on one drive and the very next drive just

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Speaker 1: give up the house? And I think that's what's what's

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Speaker 1: killing the public is they're like, I want to be

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Speaker 1: on board with this team because you have a massive

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Speaker 1: game by Justin Jefferson, and you have all of these

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Speaker 1: things that are good, and at the same point in

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Speaker 1: the end, it still comes up with an L. And

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Speaker 1: I just that is the word we keep using this season.

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Speaker 1: It's so maddening. This again was one of those at

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Speaker 1: the end of the game. It was just pulling your hair.

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Speaker 1: Ow is maddening. Yeah, when when the opponent gets on

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Speaker 1: the field, it's like a boomer bust defense. And I

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Speaker 1: know that's more of an offensive term, but it's for me,

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Speaker 1: it's like, like you said, it's either three and now great,

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Speaker 1: stand all right, let's take that momentum and go somewhere.

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Speaker 1: Or it's well, here goes another score, because that's it's

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Speaker 1: that you have in the either or situation. Yeah. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: they had what thirty three yards in the first quarter

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Speaker 1: of the Detroit Lions and then nineteen yards in the

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Speaker 1: third quarter. So I think that's the point of just

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Speaker 1: not finishing games. And we haven't been able to finish

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Speaker 1: halfs or finish games. And to the point of man,

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Speaker 1: like you like the test that you just said, it's like, oh,

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Speaker 1: let's just slack off a little bit, kind of kind

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Speaker 1: of knocked a little bit about the way first. So

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Speaker 1: I gotta start finishing these things. Yeah, and that'll lead

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Speaker 1: me to my event session if you want me to

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Speaker 1: go second, which I've never done that before, but I'll

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Speaker 1: tell you, I gotta piggyback off of that great segue.

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Speaker 1: All right, three two one, And that's kind of what

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Speaker 1: I was thinking, the playing from behind, continuously putting yourself

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Speaker 1: in these impossible situations, that is so frustrating in close

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Speaker 1: games and one score games the fightings are four and seven.

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Speaker 1: It's it's crazy to think that, you know, two wins

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Speaker 1: of this season have been on the final play, but

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Speaker 1: we've lost four games on the final play and it's

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Speaker 1: just coming down to these big moments and it stinks

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Speaker 1: because you're putting so much pressure on the team in

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Speaker 1: these key moments that you know, I know that they're

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Speaker 1: professional athletes and they can handle the pressure, but but

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Speaker 1: it's a lot when it's week after week after week

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Speaker 1: and to have a lead and to feel comfortable about

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Speaker 1: it and not have to worry and know you need

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Speaker 1: to perform on this one certain play is something that

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Speaker 1: I find to be pretty frustrating. Um, just coming down

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Speaker 1: to the wire and not not shooting yourselves in the foot,

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Speaker 1: because I think this Vikings team is beating themselves week

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Speaker 1: after week. It's not necessarily having to do with any

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Speaker 1: of the opponents. It's it's becoming the best team you

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Speaker 1: could possibly be. Yeah. Yeah, wow, I got really on

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Speaker 1: my soapbox there at the end. Sorry about that, guys. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: Dalvin always talks about like why not us and we

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Speaker 1: always talk about other teams, so like why not? Why

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Speaker 1: can't we just control what we can control, put our

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Speaker 1: foot down and say like this is who the Vikings

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Speaker 1: team is instead of worrying about Okay, well, this is

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Speaker 1: what this guy can do. This is what that guy

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Speaker 1: can do. So that's that's great, vent session, Great, you

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Speaker 1: very much. I didn't honestly, that's kind of where I

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Speaker 1: think I was just really in my feelings. Those are

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Speaker 1: my feelings. You're right, you know that that is the

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Speaker 1: point of this, right. I think it's the condensing of

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Speaker 1: all of the feelings throughout the season of finally getting

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Speaker 1: friends the back end of the season. Yeah, just seeing

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Speaker 1: you know, these repeat patterns. That's the thing that I

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Speaker 1: think has been driving people nuts. Is just it's it's

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Speaker 1: the we know what we're supposed to do, we know

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Speaker 1: what we want to do, and then it's actually finally

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Speaker 1: doing that and finishing. I feel like this is a

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Speaker 1: frustrating math equation. Not to do another school analogy, but

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Speaker 1: it's like a frustrating math equation where it should add up,

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Speaker 1: but you're missing like an X or a HY or sorry,

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Speaker 1: I haven't taken math in Yeah, it's like something in

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Speaker 1: the Pythagorean theorem. I have no idea how to figure out,

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Speaker 1: and I like missed one carryover somewhere and like it

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Speaker 1: just doesn't compute. My brother is a math teacher. He's

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Speaker 1: still sending me going what's going on with this team?

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Speaker 1: So even he can't figure it out? Yeah, all right, Gabe,

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Speaker 1: you want to go for a little vent session. I don't,

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Speaker 1: but I will, Okay, all right, well it's mandatory, but

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Speaker 1: not do another school term. Just getting all right now.

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Speaker 1: The reason why I said I'm not just because what

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Speaker 1: I'm gonna say is what every Vikings fan is set.

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Speaker 1: All okay, let me know when the clock starts, it's

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Speaker 1: going now going, all right, Vikings fans since Jay Nelson

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Speaker 1: or Tatum ever didn't say it, it's got to be

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Speaker 1: that last drive for me. You give up seventy five

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Speaker 1: yards on a fourteen play drive with less than two

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Speaker 1: minutes on the clock, that's just I feel like that's

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Speaker 1: the Viking season in a nut show, when you get

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Speaker 1: the opportunity to win a game or just put your

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Speaker 1: foot down. We don't take advantage of it. And I

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Speaker 1: think that the one stat that stands out to me

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Speaker 1: was third down. Our third down defense hadn't given up,

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Speaker 1: hadn't given up a third down conversion the entire game

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Speaker 1: up into that last drive, the lines were oh of

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Speaker 1: eight on third down. They had two third down conversions

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Speaker 1: on that drive, the last one they didn't convert, which

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Speaker 1: made them two of eleven. But that last one turned

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Speaker 1: into the fourth and two in which turned into the

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Speaker 1: game winner. So it's just one of those things where

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Speaker 1: it's just like, yeah, we did lose to the Lions,

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Speaker 1: but at the same time, we didn't do enough to

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Speaker 1: be able to say that we beat the Lions. I

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Speaker 1: feel like if we would have won that game, it

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Speaker 1: kind of would have felt like the first Lions game

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Speaker 1: where you look at the end of the day and say, hey,

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Speaker 1: it's a it's a w in the win column, but

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Speaker 1: just not enough to say that this was a decisive

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Speaker 1: game that we should have won. You know, it's interesting

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Speaker 1: you bring up third down because that was really awful.

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Speaker 1: But if you one thing I noticed during the first

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Speaker 1: half the last like the longest strive that they made

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Speaker 1: in the first half towards the end, they didn't need

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Speaker 1: a third down, and that's one reason they didn't have

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Speaker 1: to convert on third down in that first half, which

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Speaker 1: is crazy. So it is just allowing you know, first

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Speaker 1: downs just continuously had well obviously that's they were good

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Speaker 1: on first and second down. They were I think they

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Speaker 1: were in second and five, I'm a good majority of

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Speaker 1: their drive. So when you're in second and five, second

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Speaker 1: and four, your chances are you going to get a

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Speaker 1: first down? And I think both of those touchdowns that

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Speaker 1: they give up to tight ends are on second down.

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Speaker 1: So two explosives. I think they have five explosives in

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Speaker 1: the first half. And that's just like we got to

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Speaker 1: do a better job. So that that explains it. Third

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Speaker 1: down there, going back a little bit to the formula piece.

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Speaker 1: Part of the thing that I think was making me

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Speaker 1: nervous last week when I was saying everything, was the

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Speaker 1: amount of bodies that were out of this game, you know,

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Speaker 1: the the amount with feeling going down early, Cook out,

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Speaker 1: Peterson out, both linebackers, like all of that crew being gone.

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Speaker 1: You're like, man, how much kind of depleted roster can

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Speaker 1: we have in order to have a chance to win

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Speaker 1: this thing? And I think we saw it on Sunday,

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Speaker 1: and I think this will kind of get into some

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Speaker 1: of my stuff later too, but just the idea that

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Speaker 1: all of those pieces were gone and you came up

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Speaker 1: that short at the very very end of the game.

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Speaker 1: There's so many times throughout the game you're like, well,

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Speaker 1: if this person was here, we might have and this

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Speaker 1: might have been different, and it's like you cannot do that.

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Speaker 1: That's the hardest part about the NFL. Yeah, there's there

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Speaker 1: is no cavalry coming, like, this is who you have.

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Speaker 1: And the fact that we couldn't get it done there,

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Speaker 1: especially on that last drive, is just was so frustrating.

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Speaker 1: And I don't want to continue to make excuses either,

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Speaker 1: but the fact that we didn't have any of those

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Speaker 1: players and there was literally no energy in the building.

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Speaker 1: They didn't play music at for a Field until about

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Speaker 1: forty five minutes before kickoff, so like there was no

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Speaker 1: energy there. The seating was dark. You just it was

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Speaker 1: just very ominous in there, and I was just like,

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Speaker 1: are we playing a football game? I just remember walking

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Speaker 1: the field and I'm like, just feels like a practice

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Speaker 1: right now. And I remember Ben Lieber. I was talking

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Speaker 1: to him. I was like, how many times have you

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Speaker 1: played here and he I forgot what number, he said,

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Speaker 1: and he said, every time he plays here, it feels

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Speaker 1: like a preseason game, and it felt like a preseason game.

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Speaker 1: Just walking the stadium, I'm like, like there were empty sections,

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Speaker 1: empty seats, like just no kind of energy, and that

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Speaker 1: kind of affected even the first quarter of the game.

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Speaker 1: They didn't score any points. The Lions and score any

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Speaker 1: points in the first quarter, but we ended two drives

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Speaker 1: on field goalds, so instead of punching the ball in,

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Speaker 1: you just settled for a field goad And I'm like,

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Speaker 1: literally no chairs the entire first quarter. So that kind

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Speaker 1: of just affected the rest of the game. So no excuses,

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Speaker 1: but that that kind of played him affect too. Sure, well,

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Speaker 1: the slate is wiped clean as we look ahead to

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Speaker 1: Thursday night football on NFL Network, but you could also

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Speaker 1: catch it on Amazon Prime Video. Broadcast says, well, I'm

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Speaker 1: not sure if you guys have done that before, but

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Speaker 1: highly recommend. It's an all female team with play by

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Speaker 1: play announcer Hannah Storm and analyst Andrea Kramer. Not only

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Speaker 1: Trailblazers making history being the first all female booth, but

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Speaker 1: great broadcasters and as you will see from our interview

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Speaker 1: with Andrea Kramer. Great people. So even during her busy

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Speaker 1: week of prepping for our game, she joins the MVP

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Speaker 1: right now and now we are so excited for our

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Speaker 1: MVP guest this week. They're not in house, but you

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Speaker 1: may know the name. It's Andrea Kramer, the NFL Network reporter.

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Speaker 1: She is also the color analyst for the Thursday night

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Speaker 1: football broadcast on Amazon Prime Video, the first all female

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Speaker 1: broadcast team alongside Hannah Storm. Andreas, thank you so much

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Speaker 1: for taking the time to do this today. No, it's

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Speaker 1: to chat with you guys. Thanks for having me on. Well,

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Speaker 1: I know you guys have been doing this for a

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Speaker 1: little while, but um, it's funny. I think the transition

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Speaker 1: that you've made from being the Sunday Night football reporter

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Speaker 1: to now being the color analyst is one that you know, myself,

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Speaker 1: as a female in sports, had admire so much. Was

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Speaker 1: this something that you had always wanted to do or

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Speaker 1: a bucket list item? I guess you could say I'd

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Speaker 1: like to tell you that was the case, Tatum, but

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Speaker 1: I cannot tell a lie. Absolutely not. It's nothing that

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Speaker 1: I ever really thought of. I mean, you know, I'm

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Speaker 1: extremely blessed with my career, you know, the years at ESPN,

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Speaker 1: and as you talk about Sunday Night Football and HBO

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Speaker 1: Real Sports with Brand Gumble and the all female talk

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Speaker 1: show on CBS, we need to talk and you know,

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Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, this opportunity to be the

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Speaker 1: first full time female NFL game analyst comes up four

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Speaker 1: years ago, and I was pretty nervous, needless to say,

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Speaker 1: because when when you haven't done it at all, you

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Speaker 1: just don't know that you can. And very proud that

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Speaker 1: Hanna and I comprised the first of all female booths.

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Speaker 1: But at this point four years in, I think that

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Speaker 1: I mean, I kind of hope we're past the chick

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Speaker 1: factors I like to call it, and that we're just

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Speaker 1: a great viable option for folks who have prime video.

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Speaker 1: You know, we're in two hundred twenty countries around the world,

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Speaker 1: so we have quite the quite the following and um,

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Speaker 1: you know, I think that we give a real viable, entertaining,

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Speaker 1: informative alternative to what to the great broadcast that you're

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Speaker 1: going to get on on Fox. Agreed. I agree. I mean,

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Speaker 1: at the end of the day, as long as you guys,

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Speaker 1: anybody is putting out good content and reporting to its

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Speaker 1: highest form. I think it is great and that's why

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Speaker 1: I personally think you do with such a great job.

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Speaker 1: But going from a cyline reporting to hosts to now

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Speaker 1: being a color color analyst, what do you pride yourself

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Speaker 1: on most as a color analyst, especially coming up for

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Speaker 1: this game? Yeah, you know what game. It's always the

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Speaker 1: same thing. It's been the same of my entire career. Preparation.

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Speaker 1: I'd like to say, preparation is your armor. And uh,

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Speaker 1: you know, I feel like an attic sometimes, like Okay,

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Speaker 1: I need to be cut off here, you know, because

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Speaker 1: it's uh, you know, whether it's the amount of stuff

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Speaker 1: that you read, the amount of film that you watch,

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Speaker 1: the number of people that you talk to, you know,

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Speaker 1: every week, I talked to the coordinators, and I talked

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Speaker 1: to the general manager, and then we have our traditional

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Speaker 1: production meetings, you know, will we talk with the head coach,

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Speaker 1: we talk with the quarterback, we talk with a star

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Speaker 1: defensive players. So there's there's a ton of reporting that

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Speaker 1: goes on. And I think that one of the things

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Speaker 1: that makes our broadcast so good and so unique is

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Speaker 1: that you've got to play to your strengths. Right. You know,

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Speaker 1: Amazon Prime Video wanted Hannah Storm and my unique voices. Well,

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Speaker 1: you know she, Hannah is an icon in this business.

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Speaker 1: She's an amazing host and she brings that to her

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Speaker 1: play by playrole. And for me, being a journalist, you know,

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Speaker 1: I bring those sensibilities. So you know, as we like

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Speaker 1: to say, Hannah does the what and I do the why.

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Speaker 1: And I want to be able to do the why.

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Speaker 1: But it's not just that you know what, you guys,

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Speaker 1: it's I'll share this with you. Al Michael's my former colleague,

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Speaker 1: my dear friend, gave me some great advice before I

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Speaker 1: started this four years ago. He said, ninety percent of

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Speaker 1: the analysts don't really know what they're talking about, and

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Speaker 1: ninety nine percent of the audience doesn't understand it either,

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Speaker 1: but they think it sounds really cool. So what I

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Speaker 1: want to do is if I'm going to talk about

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Speaker 1: jet sweeps and ghosts motion in Cover two or single

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Speaker 1: high safety or a GAT penetration, I'm gonna be able

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Speaker 1: to explain it. Because you can't explain it, you shouldn't

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Speaker 1: be talking about it. And that's something that I pride

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Speaker 1: myself on, you know, was talking with t J. Watt today,

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Speaker 1: and I was I was basically just saying, Okay, put

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Speaker 1: me in your head as you're coming around left end,

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Speaker 1: why are you so prolific and so proficient at the

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Speaker 1: strip sack? So I get to get inside his head.

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Speaker 1: So if sorry to say, if you get to her

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Speaker 1: cousins tomorrow night, you know, then you know I'm able

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Speaker 1: to just I'm I'm saying. But if he does, my

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Speaker 1: point is I'm able to bring a perspective from his

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Speaker 1: vantage point, which to me, I think it's pretty cool

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Speaker 1: for the audience. Yeah, you know, it's funny you say

428
00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,080
Speaker 1: that because I remember being in journalism school and that

429
00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,760
Speaker 1: was the key. You know, you are you are communicating

430
00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,600
Speaker 1: to people they say a seventh grade levels. As funny

431
00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,920
Speaker 1: as that sounds, but it's just that everyone can really

432
00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,320
Speaker 1: understand what you're saying and you take away something from

433
00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,439
Speaker 1: the broadcast, which I think is pretty cool. But it

434
00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,439
Speaker 1: sounds like you've taken in a little bit of the

435
00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,080
Speaker 1: Steeler's knowledge this week, been able to speak to some

436
00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,439
Speaker 1: of them. You haven't been able to speak to the

437
00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,760
Speaker 1: Vikings right now, but just seeing the season that's unfolded

438
00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:36,520
Speaker 1: for you know, our Minnesota Vikings and just the close games,

439
00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,560
Speaker 1: close calls, heartbreak and high wins. I mean, what have

440
00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:41,760
Speaker 1: you seen from this team? Yeah? I mean you you

441
00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:43,639
Speaker 1: just kind of mentioned it in Obviously we're gonna be

442
00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,479
Speaker 1: talking with coach Zimmer and Kirk Cousins and all, you know,

443
00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,560
Speaker 1: in a in a little bit here. But you know, look,

444
00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,320
Speaker 1: it's it's so difficult because you know, there's always sort

445
00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,280
Speaker 1: of this this this cloud that hangs over the team like,

446
00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:58,440
Speaker 1: oh my god, here we go again. You know, we've

447
00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,760
Speaker 1: had so many close losses. Goodness, is it going to

448
00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,359
Speaker 1: be another literally last second loss on the final play.

449
00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,080
Speaker 1: And and you know, listen, I always give the benefit

450
00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,800
Speaker 1: of the doubt, and especially having been on the sidelines

451
00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,879
Speaker 1: and understanding how freneticut gets and crazy it gets and

452
00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:18,080
Speaker 1: game management, time management or such crucial things. And you know, listen,

453
00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,520
Speaker 1: fans want to win, not that the teams don't want

454
00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,280
Speaker 1: to win, but you know, it gets to be a

455
00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,480
Speaker 1: very very difficult situation. And and everybody isn't an amazing

456
00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:32,479
Speaker 1: how every Monday morning quarterback back a thousand Oh my gosh,

457
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,200
Speaker 1: you know, prevent defense, Oh my god, how do they

458
00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,359
Speaker 1: you know, allowed Jared Goff to do this this and

459
00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,880
Speaker 1: this so it's it's difficult. But you know, look, every

460
00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,119
Speaker 1: team has injuries and you can't fault you know, you

461
00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,760
Speaker 1: can't attribute it to that. Um. The other thing is,

462
00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,600
Speaker 1: you guys, you know, look, um, there's only one Cubs, Okay,

463
00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:55,560
Speaker 1: Gary Kubiak. You know, multiple Super Bowl champion, Clint is

464
00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,360
Speaker 1: still feeling his way as a play caller, still learning,

465
00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,720
Speaker 1: you know, his way, still learning. You know, there's there's

466
00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:06,040
Speaker 1: there's there is a curve there that you have to

467
00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,679
Speaker 1: that you have to get and and uh, you know,

468
00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,800
Speaker 1: it's it's very, very difficult when you have your arguably

469
00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,560
Speaker 1: your best offensive weapon in at least well, let's put

470
00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,280
Speaker 1: it this way. I won't say your best offensive weapon

471
00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:22,640
Speaker 1: because Justin Jefferson is absolutely sublime and I cannot wait

472
00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,240
Speaker 1: to watch him again this year's We got to see

473
00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,840
Speaker 1: him last year, the rookie year. But you know, without

474
00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,560
Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook in the lineup, it just changes things. I mean,

475
00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,840
Speaker 1: Alexander Madison obviously brings a terrific presence and production on

476
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,640
Speaker 1: the ground, but you know, there's one Dalvin Cook. So

477
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,960
Speaker 1: you know, it's just really it's very very difficult weekend

478
00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:45,479
Speaker 1: and week out to get the consistency that you need

479
00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:49,639
Speaker 1: to to to really compete in uh in an NFC,

480
00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,399
Speaker 1: which is pretty crowded at the top. If you if

481
00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,879
Speaker 1: you look on Twitter right now, everything is pointing to

482
00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,520
Speaker 1: the Vikings probably won't win another game this year because

483
00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,119
Speaker 1: they lost to a team that hasn't won a GAINA

484
00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,239
Speaker 1: last week. So we know we have the talent here,

485
00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:06,600
Speaker 1: so why so why should Vikings fans still fill some

486
00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,400
Speaker 1: optimism heading into the end of the season, including this game.

487
00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:15,240
Speaker 1: The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills. Okay, you know,

488
00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:20,800
Speaker 1: the Miami Dolphins beat the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night football. Literally,

489
00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,280
Speaker 1: if there's ever been a season where you could say

490
00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:30,600
Speaker 1: any given Thursday, Sunday or Monday, anybody can win, it's

491
00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,399
Speaker 1: this season. And you know there's a I think that

492
00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,000
Speaker 1: there's a number of different theories as to why that's

493
00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,719
Speaker 1: the case. But you know, no, they're not out of it.

494
00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:40,399
Speaker 1: I mean they're one game out of the you know,

495
00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,120
Speaker 1: you know, to get back into the wild card playoff race.

496
00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,880
Speaker 1: It's you know, the season is not over yet, so

497
00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,159
Speaker 1: you know there's there's plenty of incentive and plenty of

498
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:54,800
Speaker 1: reason to watch. Certainly, you know, listen the Steelers are

499
00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,240
Speaker 1: coming off a very very very close win. But you know,

500
00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:03,159
Speaker 1: but for a key Jay Watt induced Aaron pass. You know,

501
00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:05,439
Speaker 1: I'm not I'm not sure that you know, we're not

502
00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,000
Speaker 1: talking about two reeling teams coming into this game with

503
00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,160
Speaker 1: both the Steelers and the Vikings. So you know, every game,

504
00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,320
Speaker 1: particularly for the Vikings, seems to be so close. But um,

505
00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,120
Speaker 1: you know there's you know, do not despair. I mean,

506
00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,480
Speaker 1: come on now, there's uh, you know, any seriously, any

507
00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:23,720
Speaker 1: team can win. And we see a lot of funky

508
00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:26,240
Speaker 1: things happen on Thursday nights. You know, it's a short week.

509
00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:31,640
Speaker 1: It changes some things. Um, but really, come on, a man,

510
00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,960
Speaker 1: keep the face. Why am I giving you guys? Because

511
00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,359
Speaker 1: I'm I don't want to be the company guy, and

512
00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,920
Speaker 1: I know, like trying to tweet out some positivity during

513
00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:41,760
Speaker 1: the week, they're just like, hey, bro, we don't want

514
00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:43,880
Speaker 1: to hear that. So, like we just needed an outside

515
00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,560
Speaker 1: perspective of why should they still believe? And two weeks

516
00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:48,879
Speaker 1: ago they you know, it was like, oh, we can

517
00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,240
Speaker 1: win our next seven games. So I just think that

518
00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:53,280
Speaker 1: the emotions are going up and down, and you do

519
00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,919
Speaker 1: provide this with some positivity. Andrea and We really appreciate that.

520
00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,400
Speaker 1: I know that you're also deep in your own prep

521
00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,480
Speaker 1: cel how to get the How do the Vikings get

522
00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,679
Speaker 1: the win on Thursday night? Well, I think you know,

523
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:09,040
Speaker 1: it sounds so cliche and and you know, but when

524
00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:11,160
Speaker 1: you it's it's one thing to hear it from people

525
00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,239
Speaker 1: to another thing to watch the tape. You guys, it

526
00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,919
Speaker 1: all starts up front on both lines. I mean, you know,

527
00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:22,840
Speaker 1: the the Steelers you know, defensive line is very formidable.

528
00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,080
Speaker 1: We've talked about t J. Watt. I mean, they've got

529
00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,679
Speaker 1: to be able and a Vikings offensive line, which particularly

530
00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,240
Speaker 1: last week, is really influx. They have to be able

531
00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:33,840
Speaker 1: to hold up at the point of attack against the

532
00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:37,679
Speaker 1: Steelers defense because you know, they's, even with Joe Hayden

533
00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,080
Speaker 1: seemingly prime to miss another game, you know, they still

534
00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:45,439
Speaker 1: can provide a lot of tight coverage in their secondary. Um.

535
00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:49,520
Speaker 1: You know, I'm fascinated to see the matchup with Justin Jefferson.

536
00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,280
Speaker 1: I mean, he's one of these players that even when

537
00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,880
Speaker 1: he's covered, he manages to find the holes, he manages

538
00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,480
Speaker 1: to make the contested catches. It's just you know, he's

539
00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,239
Speaker 1: so wonderful to watch, but he's only as good is

540
00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,960
Speaker 1: if Kirk Cousins can get him the ball. So I

541
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,800
Speaker 1: think that that ball security is going to be huge.

542
00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,200
Speaker 1: You know, we talked about t J. Watt his proclivity

543
00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:12,119
Speaker 1: to create turnovers for his fumbles. So it's you know,

544
00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,760
Speaker 1: it's protecting the ball, it's holding up at the point

545
00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,560
Speaker 1: of attack, you know, giving Kirk enough time to be

546
00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:21,520
Speaker 1: able to you know, to scan downfield and having some

547
00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,560
Speaker 1: semblance of a running game because obviously you need the

548
00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:26,360
Speaker 1: threat of a run to hold up in play action.

549
00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,240
Speaker 1: So I think there's that, and then you know, look defensively, Um,

550
00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,760
Speaker 1: we're not looking at the Ben Roethlisberger of old, but

551
00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:38,720
Speaker 1: you know, he certainly did enough last week to be

552
00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,840
Speaker 1: able to, uh, you know, to get the ball down field.

553
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,440
Speaker 1: And uh, you know, Deonte Johnson is really the guy

554
00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,679
Speaker 1: who's emerging as their as their deep play threat. You know,

555
00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,399
Speaker 1: don't sleep on Friarmouth, the tight end who you know,

556
00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,200
Speaker 1: the rookie who they just love, and and Najie Harris.

557
00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,320
Speaker 1: You know, he has had a bit of an uneven season,

558
00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:02,119
Speaker 1: but if they can get him going again, that points

559
00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:06,560
Speaker 1: to the Vikings defensive line. So I think that the

560
00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:10,199
Speaker 1: importance of getting some healthy bodies back. Obviously, we know

561
00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,919
Speaker 1: that Patrick Peterson is back, which is phenomenal. You know,

562
00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:14,960
Speaker 1: you hope that Kendricks is going to play. You hope

563
00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:17,600
Speaker 1: that Anthony bar is going to play to shore up

564
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,960
Speaker 1: the linebacking corps, totally different defense when they're in. You know,

565
00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,840
Speaker 1: Michael Pierce just would be his second game back, so again,

566
00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,720
Speaker 1: it's it's really holding up at the lines of scrimmage,

567
00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:32,080
Speaker 1: and that's that's always where I start to watch the game. Well,

568
00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:34,400
Speaker 1: I know you are super busy getting ready for your

569
00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:38,800
Speaker 1: Thursday night football broadcast, Andrew, so we greatly appreciate your time.

570
00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,880
Speaker 1: Be sure Viking fans to click on Amazon Prime Video

571
00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,359
Speaker 1: for a change, put on Hannah Storm and Andrew Kramer

572
00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:48,480
Speaker 1: calling a game the historic first all woman booth. And

573
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:50,919
Speaker 1: thank you again, Andrew for being here. We are so

574
00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,360
Speaker 1: happy to have you here on MVP. Well look, it's

575
00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,400
Speaker 1: my it's my pleasure to join you guys, and to you,

576
00:27:56,560 --> 00:28:00,480
Speaker 1: to your families, to all your listeners, happy holdays, and

577
00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,119
Speaker 1: above all, stay healthy out there. A big thank you

578
00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,679
Speaker 1: to Andrea Kramer for joining MVP this week. One of

579
00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,200
Speaker 1: the things I really loved what she said is providing

580
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,280
Speaker 1: like a different perspective, a different voice when you're watching

581
00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:16,720
Speaker 1: the game because the amount of tweets that come out

582
00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:20,280
Speaker 1: about specific announcers or certain people calling the game. Well,

583
00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,320
Speaker 1: on Thursday Night, you have an option, which I think

584
00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,200
Speaker 1: is just so neat every week they have an option, right,

585
00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,440
Speaker 1: But I guess this is the first ever female broadcast team.

586
00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,399
Speaker 1: I think you should pay more attention to that because

587
00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,639
Speaker 1: I feel like that's going to be a new energy,

588
00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,440
Speaker 1: a new juice that fans haven't expected or seen before,

589
00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,880
Speaker 1: which is much needed in our profession. So I'm excited.

590
00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:41,360
Speaker 1: I'm excited for her and Hannah Storm and the entire team.

591
00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:43,960
Speaker 1: For sure. It's cool to hear her talk about and

592
00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,200
Speaker 1: this is something that like I thoroughly enjoy, having obviously

593
00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,560
Speaker 1: not played the game before, having her explain things as

594
00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,480
Speaker 1: you're watching it, because that's something that I think is

595
00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:55,080
Speaker 1: really valuable when you watch a broadcast. If you think

596
00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,080
Speaker 1: about the NFL, what they're doing right now, not only

597
00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,640
Speaker 1: this broadcast, but like the Nickelodeon one for the kids,

598
00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,240
Speaker 1: you got Monday Night Football doing the Manning Brothers. Like,

599
00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:06,320
Speaker 1: as a fan, you can literally cherry pick the kind

600
00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:08,960
Speaker 1: of coverage that you want. I think the idea with

601
00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,720
Speaker 1: this one too, is that these are two people who

602
00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:15,000
Speaker 1: have been around this game for decades, like they they

603
00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:19,320
Speaker 1: are two of the very best people in broadcasting. And

604
00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:21,120
Speaker 1: I think it's going to be really interesting to see

605
00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,640
Speaker 1: what the reception is with this thing, because, let the loan,

606
00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,280
Speaker 1: it's a Thursday night game, which it's that's got its

607
00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,960
Speaker 1: own issues at times just with people paying attention, and

608
00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:31,840
Speaker 1: it's the work week, still got to go to work

609
00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,640
Speaker 1: on Friday. But I think the fact that you've got

610
00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:37,600
Speaker 1: these two Titans on this call doing this, I think

611
00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:39,960
Speaker 1: this is a great step just to see what the

612
00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,520
Speaker 1: reaction is to it. And I think you couldn't find

613
00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:45,240
Speaker 1: two better people with more knowledge to actually make this happen.

614
00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:47,200
Speaker 1: So I'm really excited to see what the reaction is

615
00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:50,120
Speaker 1: by the public. I remember when Betham and she was

616
00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:51,920
Speaker 1: on a call last last year. I can't think of

617
00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,120
Speaker 1: which game, and I remember listening to it like because

618
00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:57,280
Speaker 1: we had no fans, and I remember listening to him

619
00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,200
Speaker 1: of the box beside him, I'm like, dude, like this

620
00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:01,720
Speaker 1: is like really good, like she is how she was

621
00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:04,920
Speaker 1: explaining the game. Andrea Kramer said it earlier. She said

622
00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:06,880
Speaker 1: a lot of people don't know what they're talking about.

623
00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:08,800
Speaker 1: But if you can explain it to a seventh grader,

624
00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:10,800
Speaker 1: you can explain it to anybody. Beth Mohen said, if

625
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,200
Speaker 1: you can explain anything to a kid, anybody would be

626
00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,240
Speaker 1: able to understand it. So the fact that she's able

627
00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,360
Speaker 1: to pill those layers back and get it to a

628
00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:21,600
Speaker 1: level where everybody is able to enjoy a game of

629
00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:24,920
Speaker 1: football with a corpse lighting their hand, you can't ask

630
00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,360
Speaker 1: for anything better than that. It's it's I mean, learning

631
00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,160
Speaker 1: about the game is why we watch too. Like the

632
00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:34,560
Speaker 1: game is constantly evolving, it's always different. Fans want to

633
00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:36,920
Speaker 1: be able to go to the water cooler the next

634
00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,520
Speaker 1: day and explain what just happened and sounds smart, not

635
00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:44,600
Speaker 1: only but to their friends and their family. It's there

636
00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,280
Speaker 1: is a subsection of fans that that is their key thing.

637
00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:51,520
Speaker 1: And I think given Hannah and Andrea's past history and

638
00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,240
Speaker 1: all of the games they've been to, everything they've covered,

639
00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:55,880
Speaker 1: they can even you know, they can talk about all

640
00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,920
Speaker 1: of the stuff, even with the signline coverage and personal

641
00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,520
Speaker 1: stories of meeting with everybody. I just think there's a

642
00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,000
Speaker 1: wealth of knowledge there that I think the fans are

643
00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,160
Speaker 1: gonna eat upcome this game for sure. So yeah, big

644
00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:06,920
Speaker 1: thanks to Andrea for joining us. Always a pleasure to

645
00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,479
Speaker 1: speak with her, and she got us a little bit

646
00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:11,400
Speaker 1: ready for that Steelers game. But now it's our time

647
00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:13,400
Speaker 1: to shine. We've got to talk about one thing we're

648
00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,880
Speaker 1: excited about in this matchup and one thing that makes

649
00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:18,960
Speaker 1: us nervous. So, Jay, you went first last time game,

650
00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:20,760
Speaker 1: would you like to go first this time? I would

651
00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:23,400
Speaker 1: do the honors, alright. One thing I'm excited about is

652
00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,680
Speaker 1: just being back at home. We've been on the road

653
00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:27,920
Speaker 1: four out of the past five weeks and it's just

654
00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:33,160
Speaker 1: been a grinder, going from coast to coast and playing

655
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,240
Speaker 1: different games against different type of teams. I mean, you

656
00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:38,040
Speaker 1: got a quarterback in Lamar Jackson, that's different. Then you

657
00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:41,760
Speaker 1: go to LA when you play a pass heavy team,

658
00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,400
Speaker 1: you're traveling all the way across the border. And then

659
00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,080
Speaker 1: you come home and play the Green Bay Packers and

660
00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,840
Speaker 1: it's like, Okay, now we finally get a home game,

661
00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,200
Speaker 1: to go back on the road to San Francisco to

662
00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,000
Speaker 1: lose a nailbiter there, and then the Detroit Lions. The

663
00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:55,840
Speaker 1: fact that we actually can wake up in our own

664
00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,680
Speaker 1: beds the day of the game and actually cheer for

665
00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:01,920
Speaker 1: our home team, and we have some of our guys back.

666
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:03,600
Speaker 1: In the fact that we have our fans back, I

667
00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:05,400
Speaker 1: don't think you can ask for anything better than that.

668
00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,520
Speaker 1: So honestly, I'm just ready just to be back home.

669
00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:10,520
Speaker 1: I like that. I like that a lot. Gabe's looking

670
00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:13,400
Speaker 1: for some home cooking. Yeah, that's that's it, that's all. Yeah.

671
00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,560
Speaker 1: I like Well, it does feel like we've it's been

672
00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,040
Speaker 1: a while since we've been back at the US Bank Stadium,

673
00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,800
Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers. That felt like two months. It does because, well,

674
00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,320
Speaker 1: because we've had some agony since then, so you know,

675
00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:26,120
Speaker 1: the losses make it a little bit tougher. Yeah, the

676
00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:29,320
Speaker 1: Cowboys game felt like forever ago too. Yeah, I just

677
00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:31,840
Speaker 1: I feel like all that happened our last home game

678
00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,120
Speaker 1: was before the bye week. That's what we've been saying

679
00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,680
Speaker 1: this all year. It feels like the slowest, fastest season

680
00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,720
Speaker 1: we've ever been a part of. Yes, very true, very true. Well, Jay,

681
00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:42,040
Speaker 1: what are you excited about in this matchup? I'm excited.

682
00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:44,720
Speaker 1: Given the point I just made before, I am excited

683
00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,720
Speaker 1: to get a bunch of our guys back in this game,

684
00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:51,760
Speaker 1: especially the linebacker side. We've talked about it on multiple

685
00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:55,600
Speaker 1: shows throughout the entire season. My own personal feeling is,

686
00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:57,720
Speaker 1: you just you notice the difference when Eric Kendricks is

687
00:32:57,760 --> 00:33:00,920
Speaker 1: not on that field, but having Kendricks bar and then

688
00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:03,440
Speaker 1: even you know, Patrick Peterson coming off the COVID list,

689
00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,120
Speaker 1: getting at least those three guys back on defense, given

690
00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,960
Speaker 1: you know how frustrating it was last week, let alone,

691
00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:11,680
Speaker 1: it's a short week. Just I think it's going to

692
00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,520
Speaker 1: be a giant shot in the arm for the defense

693
00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:18,160
Speaker 1: to finally have this veteran presence back on the field

694
00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,280
Speaker 1: at least in those positions, And I just I can't

695
00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:23,800
Speaker 1: wait to have them back and be able to somewhat

696
00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,560
Speaker 1: feel like there's a level of comfort there knowing that

697
00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:30,200
Speaker 1: the best players on your roster are in those positions. Yeah,

698
00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:34,000
Speaker 1: this is the most quote unquote most healthy art defense

699
00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:36,959
Speaker 1: has been since Week eight. So the fact that we

700
00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:41,200
Speaker 1: have Michael Pearis Dowin, Tomlinson, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Harrison Smith,

701
00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:45,040
Speaker 1: p two that that is what you want going into

702
00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,440
Speaker 1: this last five games of the season. And that's the

703
00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:49,280
Speaker 1: thing is that it can't come at a better time

704
00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:53,680
Speaker 1: because you're literally out of excuses and out of the

705
00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:55,880
Speaker 1: wall right now. If you are if you are going

706
00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:59,400
Speaker 1: to try and make a legit posh and go at minimum,

707
00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:01,240
Speaker 1: you know you got the way it's looking right now,

708
00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:02,600
Speaker 1: it looks like you gotta go like four and one

709
00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:05,040
Speaker 1: or five and O type thing to make a playoff run. Like, oh,

710
00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:07,800
Speaker 1: no pressure exactly. But that's my point is, this is

711
00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:10,000
Speaker 1: why you sign these guys in the offseason, this is

712
00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,879
Speaker 1: why you brought them in. And given that there are

713
00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:15,960
Speaker 1: some other deficiencies in other areas with some of your

714
00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:19,440
Speaker 1: superstars going down, this is a critical, critical week to

715
00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:21,560
Speaker 1: get these guys back and keep them healthy. And granted

716
00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:25,480
Speaker 1: they are somewhat healthy right Eric Kingdricks, Anthony Barr haven't

717
00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:27,680
Speaker 1: played in over a week. P Two hasn't played in

718
00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:30,560
Speaker 1: over a week. Michael Pearce is his first game back.

719
00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:33,080
Speaker 1: Dalvin Thompson they're his first game back also last week.

720
00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:36,040
Speaker 1: So these guys are fairly healthy. You wanted to this

721
00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:39,080
Speaker 1: last stretch, so, like you said, hopefully they can stay healthy,

722
00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:40,880
Speaker 1: but at least they got some fresh licks. And the

723
00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:42,759
Speaker 1: thing is, if you get out of this Thursday night

724
00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:45,399
Speaker 1: game healthy that way, then you've got a ten day

725
00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:47,840
Speaker 1: window until the next game that Monday night in Chicago.

726
00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,400
Speaker 1: So like this is a critical game to win and

727
00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:53,000
Speaker 1: a critical game to get healthy after this, I'm actually

728
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:55,320
Speaker 1: going to switch things up a little bit. I'm excited

729
00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:59,160
Speaker 1: to face the Steelers secondary. Justin Jefferson is the hottest

730
00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:02,200
Speaker 1: receiver in the NFL right now, peaking at the right time,

731
00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:04,400
Speaker 1: and so I think that he'll be able to expose

732
00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:07,560
Speaker 1: the Steelers secondary. They're going to be down with down

733
00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:11,120
Speaker 1: their number one cornerback, Joe Hayden more than likely. And

734
00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,160
Speaker 1: so you know, Hayden's missed the last three games, and

735
00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,880
Speaker 1: people have been able to kind of expose people. Teams

736
00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:21,799
Speaker 1: have been able to expose the Steelers secondary. For me,

737
00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:26,399
Speaker 1: it's the weakest part of that Steeler's defense. So if

738
00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:31,040
Speaker 1: the offensive line's able to you know, hold off the

739
00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:33,839
Speaker 1: pass rush and give Kirk Cousins some time, give jj

740
00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,520
Speaker 1: an opportunity to do what he does best and become open,

741
00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:41,080
Speaker 1: I think that this is something they can definitely expose.

742
00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:44,440
Speaker 1: On Thursday, Andrew Kramer, that was our point too, of

743
00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:46,120
Speaker 1: just talking about it's all going to be in the

744
00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:49,040
Speaker 1: trenches of giving each of these quarterbacks time if you can,

745
00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:51,360
Speaker 1: if you can try and hold off you know the

746
00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,520
Speaker 1: pass rush for both sides of that, and keep both

747
00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,200
Speaker 1: these quarterbacks clean. You're potentially going to see a shootout.

748
00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:59,600
Speaker 1: As excited as I am to see Justin Jefferson too,

749
00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,560
Speaker 1: I'm excited about kJ and DD, Like, who's gonna step

750
00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:07,160
Speaker 1: up if Adam Feeling can't play this Stiller's team. They've

751
00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:09,640
Speaker 1: given up a ninety seven in and one hundred yard

752
00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:11,279
Speaker 1: game and they're two out of their past two weeks

753
00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:13,920
Speaker 1: to wide receiver number two, Like Mike Williams had ninety

754
00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:16,520
Speaker 1: seven a couple of weeks ago. Tee Higgins had a

755
00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,320
Speaker 1: one hundred yard game the Bengals well for the Bengals

756
00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:21,480
Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago. So it's like, who's going

757
00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:24,640
Speaker 1: to be that second guy? Because if I'm a betting man,

758
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,200
Speaker 1: I would think they would try to add more pressure

759
00:36:27,239 --> 00:36:29,160
Speaker 1: to to JJ like that he's there. He's our only

760
00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:33,000
Speaker 1: receiver right now that has proofn himself. So I said

761
00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:35,959
Speaker 1: it on Winning Formula this week, I think DD would

762
00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:38,840
Speaker 1: have his first NFL touchdown, But who else is going

763
00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:42,399
Speaker 1: to step up for me? It's Conklin. Conklin's my guy

764
00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,239
Speaker 1: on this one. He's he's been in big spots. He's

765
00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,240
Speaker 1: proven that if you can get him running up the seam,

766
00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:50,760
Speaker 1: he's he's kind of the forgotten guy that other teams

767
00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:53,319
Speaker 1: just kind of go like, yes, he's been serviceable, but

768
00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:56,640
Speaker 1: we're worried about Jefferson and if Jefferson's going to clear

769
00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,560
Speaker 1: out some of those zones, Conklin's very good at sliding

770
00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:01,920
Speaker 1: into there and being able to make an acrobatic Catchfee

771
00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,239
Speaker 1: needs to. But I just feel like this is a

772
00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:06,840
Speaker 1: perfect game for Conklind to really step up. And I

773
00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:09,040
Speaker 1: think it's good that the team has had a few

774
00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:12,560
Speaker 1: days to do to practice without Feeland because with Feeland

775
00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:14,799
Speaker 1: being out in the middle of the game, um, you know,

776
00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:18,319
Speaker 1: this week kJ DD Conklin have been able to really

777
00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:20,719
Speaker 1: get in there and and practice with the ones. Not that,

778
00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:24,040
Speaker 1: but technically they had an entire game too. Against the Lions.

779
00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:26,920
Speaker 1: Feeling got hurt on the first drive, so they but

780
00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:30,000
Speaker 1: the amount of practice heading in, like, you know, because

781
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,120
Speaker 1: I think a lot of times for me, missing feeling

782
00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,200
Speaker 1: was most obvious when you're settling for two field goals

783
00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:39,560
Speaker 1: in the first quarter for sure, or the first half rather. Yeah,

784
00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,799
Speaker 1: so that that to me, like being able to work

785
00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:47,160
Speaker 1: your red zone at practice without feeling I think is

786
00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,879
Speaker 1: really to me, will be beneficial in this game. He's

787
00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:54,440
Speaker 1: a red zone threat, and you gotta come up with somebody.

788
00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:58,799
Speaker 1: You gotta have somebody else to be able to score. Yeah,

789
00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:02,440
Speaker 1: all right, Gabe, let's switch it up in what are

790
00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,279
Speaker 1: you nervous about? In the Steelers game? Their pass rush?

791
00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:09,360
Speaker 1: T J. Watt sixteen sacks in ten games, Cam Hayward

792
00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:11,920
Speaker 1: six and a half sacks. They lead the NFL and sacks.

793
00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,279
Speaker 1: But between those two guys they have twenty three out

794
00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:17,560
Speaker 1: of their thirty six sax So clearly those two guys

795
00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:21,319
Speaker 1: are a one two punch. How do we stop them?

796
00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:23,799
Speaker 1: If darre Saw doesn't play. Do we have something in

797
00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:27,040
Speaker 1: place now that that keeps those guys limited? You look

798
00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:30,000
Speaker 1: at the film and you see the Cincinnati Bengals did

799
00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:32,160
Speaker 1: a good job of doing so. But do we have

800
00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,840
Speaker 1: the willpower to be able to keep those guys neutralize?

801
00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:37,520
Speaker 1: Because when T J. Watts is one on one against

802
00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:41,600
Speaker 1: any lineman in the NFL, I think he's gonna win

803
00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:44,680
Speaker 1: fifty percent of those those chances. And I think that's

804
00:38:44,719 --> 00:38:46,560
Speaker 1: why they put him in those spots to be able

805
00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:50,440
Speaker 1: to get those one on one matchup. So Brian O'Neill,

806
00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:54,719
Speaker 1: oli Udo, Rashada Hill. If they're saw plays, it's going

807
00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:57,120
Speaker 1: to be a long game for for all those guys.

808
00:38:57,120 --> 00:39:00,720
Speaker 1: But they've been in matchups, they've they've faced Miles Garret

809
00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:03,400
Speaker 1: or Randy greg Reso. This is just another one of

810
00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:07,239
Speaker 1: those premrri defensive ends in the NFL that they got

811
00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:09,000
Speaker 1: to suit it and boot it up for. So it's

812
00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:12,319
Speaker 1: going to be interesting. I think back to the first

813
00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:14,600
Speaker 1: couple of weeks of the season when there were Darisa

814
00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,080
Speaker 1: was still not there and they were still experimenting with

815
00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:21,799
Speaker 1: the lineup and neutralizing guys like j. J. Watt and

816
00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:25,360
Speaker 1: Chandler Jones in week two, And like you said, Miles Garrett,

817
00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:28,359
Speaker 1: like doing the like that to me is maybe giving

818
00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:32,080
Speaker 1: me a little hope that a good scheme, a good good,

819
00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:35,120
Speaker 1: a good um you know, week of of moving people

820
00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:37,680
Speaker 1: around and knowing like the confidence was there back then,

821
00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:41,200
Speaker 1: um to neutralize at least one or two of the

822
00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:43,600
Speaker 1: of the big names that we faced this season. Yeah,

823
00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:46,319
Speaker 1: there's there's a recipe out there for how to beat

824
00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:49,600
Speaker 1: the stillers and neutralize TJ. Watt. Like they've they've lost

825
00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:52,000
Speaker 1: enough games and they've put enough film out there to

826
00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:53,839
Speaker 1: say like, Okay, this is what we can do. This

827
00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:56,160
Speaker 1: is how we can scheme these guys up. But there's

828
00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:58,600
Speaker 1: going to be opportunities where we're going to have to

829
00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:01,160
Speaker 1: win someone on one block, like where you're going to

830
00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,160
Speaker 1: have to ask your left tackle or your right tackle

831
00:40:04,239 --> 00:40:06,920
Speaker 1: to say, hey, this play, you're one on one with

832
00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:08,920
Speaker 1: one of the best defensive vands in the NFL, Like,

833
00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:12,759
Speaker 1: we pay you two. So our guys got to earn

834
00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:15,719
Speaker 1: their paychecks on Thursday and avoid getting the penalties, the

835
00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:19,279
Speaker 1: holding calls, the false starts, anything like that is going

836
00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:22,200
Speaker 1: to be really really key. Yeah, because as we learned,

837
00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:25,760
Speaker 1: we can't really put ourselves in those positions of being

838
00:40:26,239 --> 00:40:28,960
Speaker 1: third and long second and long necessary. I mean, you can,

839
00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:31,240
Speaker 1: but it's just so much more difficult. And I actually

840
00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:34,360
Speaker 1: will segue myself into what I'm nervous about. I'm just

841
00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:38,120
Speaker 1: nervous about playing from behind something that we feel I

842
00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:41,040
Speaker 1: feel like the Vikings have done all season and that

843
00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:43,479
Speaker 1: and that makes me very nervous against this big bend

844
00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,520
Speaker 1: team that you know. I mean, just watching that Ravens game,

845
00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:48,680
Speaker 1: I was at the edge of my seat during the

846
00:40:48,719 --> 00:40:52,600
Speaker 1: fourth quarter there because it's just he is magic. Then

847
00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:56,719
Speaker 1: sometimes he's been here plenty of times before, can get

848
00:40:56,760 --> 00:40:59,320
Speaker 1: it done, knows what needs to get done. There's six

849
00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:02,920
Speaker 1: one in one in one score games, which to me

850
00:41:03,080 --> 00:41:06,520
Speaker 1: speaks volumes as to being able to do what the

851
00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:08,760
Speaker 1: Vikings have not been able to do very well this season,

852
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:11,239
Speaker 1: and that's finished out a game. The Vikings, like I

853
00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:13,640
Speaker 1: said in earlier the podcast, are four and seven in

854
00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:15,799
Speaker 1: one score games, and you think if you just got

855
00:41:15,840 --> 00:41:19,640
Speaker 1: a couple of those, uh, you know, seven losses in

856
00:41:19,719 --> 00:41:22,240
Speaker 1: one score games over to the other column, and you're

857
00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:24,960
Speaker 1: we're talking about a completely different season at this point there.

858
00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,560
Speaker 1: I think they're the fourth best fourth quarter scoring team

859
00:41:27,600 --> 00:41:30,080
Speaker 1: in the NFL. They scored fifty one points in the

860
00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:33,000
Speaker 1: last four games in the fourth quarter. So this is

861
00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:35,560
Speaker 1: a team where they don't start fast, but they finished strong.

862
00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:38,839
Speaker 1: So to your point of putting our earth throws, we're

863
00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:40,839
Speaker 1: saying it again, you got to do that because this

864
00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:43,399
Speaker 1: is I mean, this is, in my opinion after watching film,

865
00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:46,160
Speaker 1: this is the best fourth quarter team I've seen. Yeah,

866
00:41:46,239 --> 00:41:48,879
Speaker 1: Like they just figure it out against the Ravens last week.

867
00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,120
Speaker 1: I think all of their possessions through the first three quarters,

868
00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:53,040
Speaker 1: they only had seven first downs and only one hundred

869
00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:56,200
Speaker 1: and forty yards and then they just flipped the switch

870
00:41:56,239 --> 00:41:57,640
Speaker 1: and in the fourth quarter they just went on a

871
00:41:57,680 --> 00:42:00,279
Speaker 1: tear and won the game. Big Ben, And now this

872
00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:02,919
Speaker 1: is his eighteenth and final season for the most part,

873
00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:07,400
Speaker 1: barring him changing his mind again. But the thing that

874
00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:10,160
Speaker 1: you get with him is the savvy veteran. It's eighteen

875
00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:15,120
Speaker 1: seasons of learning and championships and big spots, and if

876
00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,200
Speaker 1: they get into another situation like that, he knows exactly

877
00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:20,719
Speaker 1: where to go, which is why for me, you know,

878
00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:23,080
Speaker 1: but Ben, you just have to put some pressure on him.

879
00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:25,000
Speaker 1: That he's been sacked at least one time in every

880
00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:27,960
Speaker 1: single game. He's you know, twenty seven sacks and six

881
00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:29,960
Speaker 1: picks so far this season. Like, you have to put

882
00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:32,920
Speaker 1: pressure on this guy otherwise if if if you let

883
00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:35,879
Speaker 1: him be him and stand back there, he will pick

884
00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,960
Speaker 1: you apart and throwing wise, he's not as strong as

885
00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:41,600
Speaker 1: he used to be, but he knows where everything needs

886
00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:43,839
Speaker 1: to be and if he recognizes any weakness on your

887
00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:46,279
Speaker 1: defense and you give him time, he's gonna slice you up.

888
00:42:46,360 --> 00:42:49,000
Speaker 1: So yeah, he's he is. He's still Big Ben. He's

889
00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,480
Speaker 1: still is still a winner, and that is something that

890
00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:53,279
Speaker 1: that is something to watch and they got this guy

891
00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:58,000
Speaker 1: named Deontay Johnson Owe him who is really good. He's

892
00:42:58,120 --> 00:43:01,120
Speaker 1: he's their new Antonio or Brown, and he plays at

893
00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:04,560
Speaker 1: a high level. But I'm sure Pete two Brashar brelan

894
00:43:04,719 --> 00:43:07,239
Speaker 1: cam danceler that they want to get their revenge from

895
00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:10,840
Speaker 1: last week against this upcoming receiving corps for the Pittsburgh

896
00:43:10,840 --> 00:43:13,080
Speaker 1: still is for sure. Well, Jay, I know you kind

897
00:43:13,080 --> 00:43:14,840
Speaker 1: of talk about Big Ben, but what are you nervous

898
00:43:14,880 --> 00:43:17,480
Speaker 1: about in this contest? Yeah, Ben was Ben has always

899
00:43:17,480 --> 00:43:20,480
Speaker 1: been the stalwart that has made me nervous on this team.

900
00:43:20,520 --> 00:43:23,880
Speaker 1: But one thing for Pittsburgh that they've been known for,

901
00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:28,080
Speaker 1: kind of their their lunch pale style offense, they haven't

902
00:43:28,160 --> 00:43:30,800
Speaker 1: been known for two things, Big Bennett quarterback and a

903
00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:34,759
Speaker 1: stud running back in the backfield. And Naji Harris is

904
00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:37,880
Speaker 1: on that level again this year. He's got seven hundred

905
00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:40,560
Speaker 1: seventy nine rushing yards and five rushing tds and on

906
00:43:40,640 --> 00:43:42,680
Speaker 1: top of that, three hundred and eighty seven receiving yards

907
00:43:42,680 --> 00:43:46,399
Speaker 1: and two receiving tds. Like he is similar to us,

908
00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:49,000
Speaker 1: It's very similar. We've got a veteran quarterback who's back

909
00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:52,040
Speaker 1: there and can make the throws. But they've got a

910
00:43:52,320 --> 00:43:55,520
Speaker 1: super stud running back as well, and for me, it's

911
00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:58,120
Speaker 1: going to be trying to neutralize Naji Harris as much

912
00:43:58,120 --> 00:44:00,759
Speaker 1: as possible. You look at what the lines try to

913
00:44:00,800 --> 00:44:03,440
Speaker 1: do as well against us, and for the most part,

914
00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:05,760
Speaker 1: we did a good job of stopping them until especially

915
00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:08,560
Speaker 1: towards the end of the game. But that is what

916
00:44:08,719 --> 00:44:10,879
Speaker 1: the recipe I think for a lot of teams looking

917
00:44:10,920 --> 00:44:13,480
Speaker 1: at at our defensive line, especially with the amount of

918
00:44:13,480 --> 00:44:15,680
Speaker 1: people we have that are filling in from the beginning

919
00:44:15,680 --> 00:44:17,920
Speaker 1: of the season, I just feel like Naji Harris is

920
00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:19,720
Speaker 1: a guy that's going to be the make or break

921
00:44:19,719 --> 00:44:22,200
Speaker 1: for this offense for the Steelers. So if you can

922
00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:25,280
Speaker 1: find a way to neutralize Naji not only at the line,

923
00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:28,080
Speaker 1: but also in the screen game, I just feel like

924
00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:30,000
Speaker 1: that's going to be the key to success to stopping

925
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:32,920
Speaker 1: this offense. They're four no. I think four no or

926
00:44:32,960 --> 00:44:35,680
Speaker 1: four and one when Naji Harris rushes for seventy or

927
00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:38,479
Speaker 1: more yards, which if you think about it, that's that's

928
00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:41,120
Speaker 1: not that much and as much as much yards as

929
00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:43,000
Speaker 1: our defense is given up on the ground, you know,

930
00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:45,560
Speaker 1: that is a number that is completely obtainable, I would think,

931
00:44:45,560 --> 00:44:47,680
Speaker 1: And if you're the Steelers like they're going to try

932
00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:50,200
Speaker 1: to exploit that as much as possible. But given that,

933
00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:52,560
Speaker 1: you know the kind of the beef is back in

934
00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:55,160
Speaker 1: the middle of that defensive line, I'm curious to see

935
00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:57,719
Speaker 1: if they try to exploit those edges. And if that's

936
00:44:57,719 --> 00:44:59,719
Speaker 1: the case, then that's where Kendricks and bar are going

937
00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:02,120
Speaker 1: to be so important to be able to scrape off

938
00:45:02,160 --> 00:45:03,880
Speaker 1: the line and just try to neutralize him at the

939
00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:05,640
Speaker 1: line of scrimmage. I love a Jay. Are you calling

940
00:45:05,719 --> 00:45:09,279
Speaker 1: the game on Thursday? Jay's got the game plan ready

941
00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:11,920
Speaker 1: to go, honestly though, Like that's that's that's honest, like

942
00:45:12,080 --> 00:45:16,920
Speaker 1: because having Anthony and and Eric back is so big

943
00:45:16,960 --> 00:45:19,480
Speaker 1: this week. Like they don't the Sailors don't run the

944
00:45:19,480 --> 00:45:22,200
Speaker 1: ball downhill. Remember Levion Bell. They call him the most

945
00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:25,040
Speaker 1: patient running back in the NFL. That's how Nag Harris does.

946
00:45:25,080 --> 00:45:27,120
Speaker 1: He waits for a hole to open up and waits

947
00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:29,000
Speaker 1: for a linebacker to like commit to a side and

948
00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:31,600
Speaker 1: then runs the opposite way like he's He reminds me

949
00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:34,080
Speaker 1: of Derrick Henry. Derrick Henbry's first few years didn't want

950
00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:37,080
Speaker 1: to get hit, very patient, didn't want to get downhill.

951
00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:39,440
Speaker 1: And then once he started to get confidence. It's just like, oh,

952
00:45:39,520 --> 00:45:41,759
Speaker 1: these guys are more scared of me than I am

953
00:45:41,760 --> 00:45:46,160
Speaker 1: of them because I'm actually linebacker size. So I'm counting

954
00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:50,040
Speaker 1: two things on Thursday. I'm counting one, how many times

955
00:45:50,040 --> 00:45:52,600
Speaker 1: the Stellers run Cover three? Because, like you said, they're

956
00:45:52,640 --> 00:45:55,839
Speaker 1: a lunch pill team. They don't do many disguises. They

957
00:45:55,920 --> 00:45:57,799
Speaker 1: line up in who and what they're going to do

958
00:45:57,840 --> 00:45:59,880
Speaker 1: and tell you to beat us and their team that

959
00:46:00,040 --> 00:46:02,600
Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin, you know, it's like, if you're better than me,

960
00:46:02,800 --> 00:46:05,200
Speaker 1: then beat me. If you're not, you already know what

961
00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:06,640
Speaker 1: we're going to do, and I think our guys are

962
00:46:06,680 --> 00:46:09,360
Speaker 1: better than yours. So one, I want to see how

963
00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:11,319
Speaker 1: many times they run cover three because they do that

964
00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:13,799
Speaker 1: about eighty percent of the time. And then two, how

965
00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:16,160
Speaker 1: many times do we do sweeps and do outside zones?

966
00:46:16,200 --> 00:46:18,320
Speaker 1: How many times do we run into the outside because

967
00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:22,120
Speaker 1: teams have been gashing them when they run outside against

968
00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:24,600
Speaker 1: this team. Granted T J. Watt is a hell of

969
00:46:24,600 --> 00:46:26,880
Speaker 1: a pass rusher, but when it comes to run defense

970
00:46:27,719 --> 00:46:31,320
Speaker 1: that there's an opportunity to exploit him. So I'm looking

971
00:46:31,320 --> 00:46:33,920
Speaker 1: at two things, how many times they run cover three?

972
00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:35,759
Speaker 1: And then two how many times do we run to

973
00:46:35,840 --> 00:46:39,040
Speaker 1: the perimeter. All right, Well, that's a lot of great

974
00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:43,879
Speaker 1: game analysis getting ready prep for all of us around here.

975
00:46:44,239 --> 00:46:46,000
Speaker 1: But that is not the only thing that we've been

976
00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:48,200
Speaker 1: working on this week. Despite it being a short week,

977
00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:51,319
Speaker 1: Banking's Entertainment network has been very busy making sure you

978
00:46:51,360 --> 00:46:53,759
Speaker 1: get everything you need as we lead up to the

979
00:46:53,840 --> 00:46:56,760
Speaker 1: big game Thursday night game. What we got on tap

980
00:46:56,840 --> 00:47:00,720
Speaker 1: this week. So this week we have Friday Football Feast,

981
00:47:00,760 --> 00:47:03,000
Speaker 1: which is actually on Friday. I know initially on the

982
00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:06,200
Speaker 1: website is said Thursday, but it would be a Friday

983
00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:09,719
Speaker 1: in Lakeville. So Vikings fans, we win this game, start

984
00:47:09,760 --> 00:47:12,560
Speaker 1: your Friday morning off with PA Paul Charcion and I'll

985
00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:15,440
Speaker 1: be there probably around ten thirty eleven to recap this

986
00:47:15,600 --> 00:47:19,600
Speaker 1: Vikings victory. No Vantage this Friday. The Friday's Viking vantage

987
00:47:19,640 --> 00:47:23,520
Speaker 1: will be next Monday, so we'll recap all things Vikings

988
00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:26,040
Speaker 1: on Monday. I think that'll be a kfan six thirty

989
00:47:26,040 --> 00:47:29,360
Speaker 1: pm on Monday, Joe. So yeah, So basically Vikings rewind

990
00:47:29,480 --> 00:47:32,520
Speaker 1: is going to be on Friday night instead of Vantage,

991
00:47:32,560 --> 00:47:34,400
Speaker 1: and then we're gonna put it but you're gonna basically

992
00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:37,080
Speaker 1: get a double up advantage next week. So check it

993
00:47:37,080 --> 00:47:39,799
Speaker 1: out Monday and Friday next week. And so it's going

994
00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:41,960
Speaker 1: to be fun to give you the double deep here

995
00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:44,520
Speaker 1: on next week's Vikings vantage and Ben Guestling will be

996
00:47:44,560 --> 00:47:48,520
Speaker 1: that guest on Monday. Guestling as the guest on Monday,

997
00:47:48,560 --> 00:47:50,560
Speaker 1: and then I think Courtney Cronin will be the guest

998
00:47:50,640 --> 00:47:53,560
Speaker 1: next Friday. The game's on ESPN Monday Night Football against

999
00:47:53,560 --> 00:47:56,000
Speaker 1: the Bears. So why not half Well the lead ESPN

1000
00:47:56,160 --> 00:48:00,400
Speaker 1: writer in my opinion on Vikings fantas next Friday, Tatum

1001
00:48:00,400 --> 00:48:03,520
Speaker 1: And yeah, I was gonna say, Gabe, you mentioned people

1002
00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:05,680
Speaker 1: come in and check you out at Friday football feasts

1003
00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:08,240
Speaker 1: after a win. But you know, if it doesn't happen,

1004
00:48:08,800 --> 00:48:14,120
Speaker 1: you can always find Gabe invent to him on Friday

1005
00:48:14,160 --> 00:48:16,799
Speaker 1: football has a shoulder, you can cry. We'll have a

1006
00:48:16,800 --> 00:48:20,040
Speaker 1: corner called the Gabe's Corner and just come over. You'll

1007
00:48:20,080 --> 00:48:23,480
Speaker 1: be like Lucy from Charlie Brown. It'll be like going

1008
00:48:23,520 --> 00:48:26,120
Speaker 1: to confession for church or be Gabe sitting into both.

1009
00:48:26,120 --> 00:48:29,759
Speaker 1: If people can come up and low here for the

1010
00:48:30,239 --> 00:48:32,920
Speaker 1: power hour of positivity, there we go. Oh, I love it,

1011
00:48:33,000 --> 00:48:34,920
Speaker 1: I love it, I love it. Well, we had a

1012
00:48:34,960 --> 00:48:37,640
Speaker 1: really cool guest this week on opposing viewpoints to give

1013
00:48:37,719 --> 00:48:41,360
Speaker 1: us the Steelers perspective. She covers the NFC North for

1014
00:48:41,640 --> 00:48:45,480
Speaker 1: NFL Network. A dd King Kabwala was our guest. She

1015
00:48:45,719 --> 00:48:49,040
Speaker 1: is fantastic. She has covered the Steelers for so long,

1016
00:48:49,160 --> 00:48:53,040
Speaker 1: knows that team inside and out and obviously Vikings team

1017
00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:55,319
Speaker 1: reporter Eric Smith on that show as well, doing a

1018
00:48:55,320 --> 00:48:59,040
Speaker 1: great job giving the Vikings perspective of things, and of course,

1019
00:48:59,120 --> 00:49:01,960
Speaker 1: after every game, be sure to tune into Postgame Live

1020
00:49:02,360 --> 00:49:05,759
Speaker 1: Vikings Postgame Live presented by Miller Lighte. This week, Ron

1021
00:49:05,840 --> 00:49:08,400
Speaker 1: Johnson will join me as the analyst as we break

1022
00:49:08,440 --> 00:49:13,640
Speaker 1: down the Steelers Vikings game. Gabe, you'll have between the Lines,

1023
00:49:13,640 --> 00:49:15,520
Speaker 1: which is always fun and games. I don't I don't

1024
00:49:15,520 --> 00:49:18,279
Speaker 1: know why I always laugh when you say Ron Johnson, right,

1025
00:49:18,360 --> 00:49:20,960
Speaker 1: He's just hilarious. He just I don't know. I feel

1026
00:49:21,000 --> 00:49:23,440
Speaker 1: like every time he comes, every time he does Postgame Live,

1027
00:49:23,440 --> 00:49:25,120
Speaker 1: would you there's going to be a couple of punch,

1028
00:49:27,440 --> 00:49:31,080
Speaker 1: but it's very informative, which is wild, Like guy, No, Ron,

1029
00:49:31,239 --> 00:49:34,640
Speaker 1: Ron brings the energy which I truly appreciate well. The

1030
00:49:34,719 --> 00:49:37,520
Speaker 1: Vikings return to US Banks Stadium tomorrow night, the big

1031
00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:42,000
Speaker 1: primetime matchup between the Vikings and Steelers. Thursday Night football

1032
00:49:42,080 --> 00:49:45,080
Speaker 1: kicks off at seven twenty on NFL Network or Amazon

1033
00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:48,480
Speaker 1: Prime Video. Make sure you check out Vikings dot com,

1034
00:49:48,719 --> 00:49:51,759
Speaker 1: the Vikings App, or the YouTube page again for all

1035
00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:53,719
Speaker 1: of the content we've been working on all week to

1036
00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:57,000
Speaker 1: get you ready for the big Thursday night game. Today's

1037
00:49:57,000 --> 00:50:00,520
Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings Podcast is brought to you by Lifetime. When

1038
00:50:00,560 --> 00:50:03,080
Speaker 1: you step into Lifetime, you won't just see the difference,

1039
00:50:03,160 --> 00:50:07,160
Speaker 1: you'll feel it, experience it for yourself. Visit Lifetime dot

1040
00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:11,520
Speaker 1: life for a complimentary guest pass, or stop by a club. Lifetime,

1041
00:50:11,840 --> 00:50:14,640
Speaker 1: the Healthy Way of Life, partner of the Minnesota Vikings

1042
00:50:15,360 --> 00:50:15,520
Speaker 1: whe