1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: There's the snap that Jaredy's back and looking looking Jared 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: throwing end zone. 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 2: It is Oh what a grab there. By Isaac Tesla. 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to Week eighteen at the nflc's nine ten twenty 5 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: and this is the twin of the Huddle podcast. She 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 1: is Danny Rodgers is a great job as Lion's team reports. 7 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining me. 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 3: Of course, I'm excited. Yeah, take eighteen weeks to ask me. 9 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 3: It's fine. 10 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: Oh, here we go. The guilt tip starts already. What 11 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: about this? I saved the best for last? Haven't you 12 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: ever heard that? 13 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 3: Yes? Yes, and this week eighteen, This week eighteen. 14 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: Last. Now, obviously the lines are not where they want 15 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: to be, Danny, you know. And but fans would say, well, 16 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: they've got a meaningless Week eighteen game. There's no such 17 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: thing in the NFL in my opinion, of a meaningless 18 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: football team football game, you get an opportunity to go 19 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: out there, put something on film, represent a city, represent yourself, 20 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: and like Dan Campbell said this week, play for the 21 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: guy next to you, and that's probably an important message. 22 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: Ye this week well, I. 23 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 3: Think also sweeping Chicago and a season would be great too. 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 3: Got him in week two. Why not get him in. 25 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: Week eighteen the NFC nor champions. 26 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,279 Speaker 3: There's nothing else you can do but spoil Chicago's little 27 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 3: end to their regular season. 28 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: It would be a spoiled for Chicago. They're obviously playing 29 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 1: for the number two seed, which is important, number two 30 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: versus numbers. 31 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: Thwo want to lose to Dan Campbell in Detroit. Ben 32 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 3: Johnson does not want to lose to Dan Campbell, and 33 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 3: I assume it's vice versa, So I don't I think 34 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: there is a little bit of motivation actually going into 35 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 3: this one for the players. I don't think it's going 36 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 3: to be that hard to bring it out of them. 37 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: No, there's some storylines still to talk about this week. 38 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: Even the ultimate goal for the Lions isn't going to 39 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: be fulfilled in twenty twenty five. But let's start with this. 40 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: Danny. 41 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: So then looking to Sunday, what's the number one thing 42 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 1: you want to see in Chicago on Sunday? 43 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,479 Speaker 3: A win? So Detroit finishes above five hundred. I will 44 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 3: say that that's the one. But also I kind of 45 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 3: what we're talking about for it not to look like 46 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 3: a meaningless game on the field, so you're seeing all 47 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 3: out effort you're seeing detail, You're seeing all the guys 48 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 3: who can physically play play. I think maybe it's college 49 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 3: football rubbing off on me right now that a lot 50 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 3: of guys just set out these bowl games, which I 51 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 3: don't entirely disagree, but in the NFL, it's if they're available, 52 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 3: they're the ultimate competitors. You want to see everyone going 53 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 3: out there and playing, and when it gets to the 54 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 3: fourth quarter, you don't want it to feel like it's 55 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 3: the end of the season and it's dragging out. You 56 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 3: kind of want to feel like maybe Green Bay what 57 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 3: back in twenty twenty two, Yeah, you kind of wanted. 58 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: To feel like that right thing to play for. 59 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 3: You were so close. There was nothing else you could 60 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 3: do except get that last dub and spoil it for 61 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 3: another team. So I'm okay with that. Yeah, all things considered. 62 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: No, I like that. 63 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: For me. 64 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 1: It's getting back to some of the things that made 65 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: you that team in twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four, 66 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: right winning at the line of scrimmage, protecting your quarterback. 67 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: How about this Danny running the football? 68 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 3: Run the football? 69 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: Where has run the dang football? We run the dang 70 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: football In Lions wins, they average one hundred and seventy 71 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: point five yards per game with a five point eight average. 72 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: In their losses, that number is all the way down 73 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: to sixty nine point four with a three point one average. 74 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: They run the football, they win the game. They don't 75 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: run the football if they lose the game. It's really 76 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: that simple. One time this year they've rushed for one 77 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: hundred yards and lost a football game. That was Thanksgiving 78 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: Green Bay. I just want to see him get back 79 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: to doing some of the things that got him good, 80 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: you know, and maybe can give you a little bit 81 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: of momentum going into an offseason where I think you 82 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 1: and I could both agree there's going to be quite 83 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: a few changes. 84 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 3: And we thought there are a lot of changes coming 85 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 3: into this season. There are what eleven new coaches on 86 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 3: the staff, which I think we might have downplayed a 87 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 3: little bit. I think we're seeing now, Hey, that actually 88 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 3: was a big pill to swallow. That was a lot 89 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 3: of changes. And then also I think we downplayed the 90 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 3: offensive changes that were incoming, and a little bit of 91 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 3: that had to do with the players being like, Oh, 92 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 3: it's not that big of a difference in the playbook, 93 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 3: It's not that big of a difference in the play calling. 94 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 3: I think we downplayed all of that. So I think 95 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 3: there's gonna be major. 96 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: Changes sequencing all those things. You know, Benja was really, really, 97 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: you know good. I think you missed some of those things. 98 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: You know, in certain situations, you certainly did. So when 99 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: you look at the totality of it, and look, I 100 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: know we still got one more to go. But what's 101 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: been maybe one of the more disappointing things for you 102 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: when you see a team that had Super Bowl expectations 103 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: that now since an eight and. 104 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 3: Eight super It's true there were Super Bowl expectations for 105 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: the third season in a row. I think for me, gosh, 106 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 3: this is tough, and I never I don't obviously want 107 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 3: to put blame on everything on anything in one player, 108 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 3: because it's not one player. The biggest disappointment for me, 109 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 3: what we just touched on was the run game. 110 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think. 111 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 3: Because we are talking about a player in a lot 112 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 3: of the same sentences as Barry Sanders this year in 113 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: Jamior Gibbs, and by no means is it his fault 114 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 3: that the run game just plummeted here in the latter 115 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 3: part of the season. But I think that was the 116 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 3: biggest That was the biggest disappointment because that is so 117 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 3: entangled with the offensive line. That's someone tangled with how 118 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 3: well Jared Golf plays. It's like Jamiir Gibbs, like he 119 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 3: is the next goat, should we say, in terms of 120 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 3: running backs? And I think for that to just plummet, yeah, 121 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 3: I think as quickly as it did, Like we kind 122 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 3: of saw it. He was scoring a touchdown every other game. 123 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 3: We're like, okay, he'll pick it up, he'll string them together, 124 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 3: and then it just never happened. 125 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: And there was a stretch where we had three touchdowns, 126 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: not three touchdowns. And that coincided with what I talked 127 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: about earlier with the wins and losses and being able 128 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: to run, and my coincides with that. It's the offensive line, 129 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: you know. You know, for me that's been really really disappointed. 130 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: I think they've gotten inconsistent play at the center position. 131 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: Just a couple of things. Twentieth in run block win rate, 132 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: thirty first stanny in past block win rate. That's not 133 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: what we have here. And I think that explains a 134 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: lot about the inconsistencies with the run game, some of 135 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: the inconsistencies with the offenses. Just the inconsistent play. They've 136 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: gotten upfront pretty much from every position except for right tackle. 137 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: At point, it's the season, and it's to me the 138 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: biggest priority of the upcoming offseason is fixing it. Yeah, 139 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: starting with who's going to be your center, and you 140 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: work out from there, whether that's a free agent, well 141 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: that's a guy you draft, whether you still are going 142 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,559 Speaker 1: to move Tate Ratlch's there, Dan Campbell said this week 143 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 1: that's still on the table for them. Whatever that is, 144 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: you figure out. You have to start there. What do 145 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: they always say about playing good football, starts from the 146 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: football and work your way out. So that guy touches 147 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: at every play on offense, yep, he's the guy that 148 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: works tandem with Jared Golf. That's the position you have 149 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: to figure out. And so it doesn't sound like it's 150 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: going to be Frank rag now and so to me, 151 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 1: that's what you have to fix, and then I think 152 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: everything else falls in line going outward. But that was 153 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: the most disappointing thing to me is you know, they're 154 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: fourteenth in the protection indexed by stats sink there. They're 155 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: an average offensive line and that hasn't been the case, 156 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: and why this team has been so good, especially offensively, 157 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: because they've been elite offensive line. Yep, I'd like to 158 00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: see him getting back to being. 159 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 3: A line now if you think about it, if Frank 160 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 3: did come back and play, and I'm so happy that 161 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 3: he is retired, and I hope he stays retired. I 162 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 3: think he deserves that. He owes that to himself unless 163 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 3: he wants to play, come on back, Frank. But happy 164 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 3: for him and his family that he's able to do 165 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 3: that at age thirty. But if Frank was still in, 166 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 3: you're only replacing one guy on the offensive line. You're 167 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 3: not bringing in two rookies and moving a guard over 168 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 3: to center whose preferences to play guard? 169 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: Right. 170 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think that shook things up more than 171 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 3: we thought it might. In the end, I think we 172 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 3: downplayed a lot of things. 173 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: Oh, he can just slot right over there. He's done 174 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: it before he can move over there, No big deal. 175 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:39,679 Speaker 2: Two rookies. 176 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 3: No, yes, that's not how that happened. 177 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: What's the biggest matchup Sunday in Chicago? Our Lion's gonna win? 178 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 3: This fantastic question. I was talking with coach Campbell earlier 179 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 3: this week and our little opponent preview, and he didn't 180 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 3: even let me finish the sentence. I said Chicago was 181 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 3: number one in turnover ratio by it He's. 182 00:07:57,920 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: Like so much. 183 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 3: He's like, oh, He's like it's insane. I'm like, buy 184 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 3: a mile. 185 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: I think it's it's plus two, and I think Houston's 186 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: plus fourteen. Yes, by a mile. 187 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 3: They're crazy, stingiest football team out there and causing a 188 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 3: lot of turnovers. So who knows if Ama Ross Brown 189 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 3: will be healthy enough to go, But I would like 190 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,679 Speaker 3: to see Jamo match up against Kevin Byrd, who leads 191 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 3: the NFL in interceptions right now, yeh, and just see 192 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 3: him go to work, see him end on a high note. 193 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 3: Jamo was a very high note for this team this year, 194 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 3: his growth, and so I would like to see him 195 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 3: finish that out. Because we don't know what we're gonna 196 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 3: get from the offensive line in terms of health, We 197 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 3: don't know, you know what will come out of the 198 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 3: run game. But I would love to see Jamo light 199 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 3: it up, right it that's going to have to play. 200 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 3: We know whether affects Detroit, yes, weather effects, cold weather effects. 201 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 3: So really that is the matchup Detroit versus weather. But 202 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 3: the second matchup is Jamo. 203 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 2: I would like to see. 204 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: Jame, you mentioned you mentioned mine off the top. It's 205 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 1: a turnover number one team in few skin weights with ten, 206 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 1: number one team in takeaways with thirty two. This is 207 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: Detroy team coming off a game against Minnesota where they 208 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: turned the ball over six times. That's how you lost 209 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: the game against an inferior opponent. And so to me, 210 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 1: it's just simple as that turnover bat. I think whoever 211 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: wins that turnover ratio on Sunday wins the game. And 212 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: Chicago's been really, really good at it. Detroit's been pretty 213 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: good all year taking care of the football, minus the 214 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: Minnesota game, which I think is kind of a one off, 215 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: which is how that game happens. So it's going to 216 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: be cold, we'll see what the wins. Like the weather outdoors, 217 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 1: ball slippery. Chicago's really good at now. Detroit's pretty good 218 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: at creating some of those takeaways too, So to me, 219 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: that's that's the number one matchup is who can generate 220 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: a few of those takeaways, maybe short in the field, 221 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: sneak a some points in, maybe get a defensive touchdown, 222 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 1: and we know how those are huge. 223 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 3: So wow, that would sound great. That sounds great to. 224 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: Let's go we'll see. All right, let's finish off with 225 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: this real quick. Let's go through and talk about maybe 226 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: some MVP's offensive defense, Rookie the year, listen, let's real 227 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: quick kind of go through where you're at with some 228 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: of these. All right, who's your twenty twenty five offensive MVP. 229 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 3: I'm gonna go Gibbs despite the drop off in his production, Like, 230 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 3: he's still breaking a ton of records, most touchdowns scored 231 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 3: before age of twenty four's he covered a lot of 232 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 3: ground and he didn't even touch his scrimmage yards from 233 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 3: last year. He's probably gonna miss it by like one 234 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:28,079 Speaker 3: hundred yards, but he I think this, like you mentioned, 235 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 3: when this team runs a football, it wins. When he doesn't, 236 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 3: it loses. So I feel like usually if we're talking 237 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 3: about a good season, we're talking about Jared Goff being 238 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 3: the MVP. But I think if they gets swapped this year, 239 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:41,319 Speaker 3: I'm going with Gibbs. 240 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: See the MVP. I'm going golf top five and completion percentage, yards, touchdowns, ratings. 241 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: Despite what we talked about with the inconsistencies in the 242 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: run game, yeah, despite what we talked about with the 243 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: inconsistencies up front along the offensive line. He's still very 244 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: good despite not having Sam Laporta a security blanket for 245 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,599 Speaker 1: him for half the season, still to be able to 246 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: put those kinds of numbers different play callers. Good point. Yeah, 247 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: to me, it's golf. But I like Gibbs. I think 248 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: I think they're I think there. 249 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 3: He always just meets my expectations. So golf, I he's 250 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 3: always disrespected. 251 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: So somebody's got to wow you. Basically nobody they've got 252 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: a wow. Danny Rodgers get in her. 253 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,199 Speaker 3: But but golf always is at the top actual want 254 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: for me. So this isn't surprising that he was still 255 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:22,959 Speaker 3: able to do. 256 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: All that stuff. Okay, defensive MVP, A few candidates here 257 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: are there. Well, you're a Michigan Gale, so I figured 258 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: you would just automatically go to the one we're thinking. 259 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean yeah, I might go with someone I 260 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 3: think that would go with someone else, I want to 261 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 3: hear it. I'll go with the first time pro bowler 262 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 3: Jack Campbell rapped under and fifty tackles. That's insane. 263 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: Only player in the NFL with one hundred fifty five tackles, 264 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: five sacks, and at least three or stumbles. He does 265 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: it in a lot of different ways. I think he 266 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: has announced himself to the NFL. It's one of the 267 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: best Mike linebackers in the league. And I think he's 268 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: going to be a perennial Pro bowler as long as 269 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: he wants to play football. He's one hundred and fifty 270 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,199 Speaker 1: tackle guy every season, like he's gotten to that point. 271 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 3: He was tossed with Captain of the Defense coming into 272 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 3: this and he literally blew it out of the water. 273 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: Rookie of the Year. I know it's tougher, and I 274 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: thought when I sat down to do it too. And 275 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: you've got to give some of these guys times. I 276 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: think we've gotten so spoiled because of the twenty one class. 277 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, because of the twenty two class and all 278 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 1: the Pro Bowlers and everything that's come. Now, that's the expectation, 279 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: and it's not a fair expectation. Homes just have bowlers 280 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: every draft class. Look, it's not gonna happen. But you 281 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: look at this class. You look, you know, ty Leek's 282 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: played a lot of football. He has played the most 283 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: of any rookie, started every game at right guard. Who 284 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 1: you got you want to go first? 285 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 3: This one, I'm gonna go with Tate. 286 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm gonna go one sack, allowed nine total pressures. 287 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: That looked that up before me. That's pretty rookie who's 288 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: played over a thousand snaps. That's not bad. Is their 289 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: room for improvement? And Dan talked about this week. 290 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 3: Yes, Yes, that's why he was moved to guard so 291 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 3: he could improve. 292 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: There's lots of room for improved. It's Tesla like like 293 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: that six touchdowns as a rookie. If you were if 294 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: you were to say before, if you were the safe 295 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: before the season, the third round pick is going to 296 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: have six touchdowns, You're like, oh wow, Tesla had a 297 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: pretty good rookie. 298 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 3: Season, had a great rookie season. 299 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: Did start great with the one hand catches and everything 300 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: like that. Yes, but now I think from weeks six, seven, 301 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: eight on, I think behind the scenes he's improved, He's 302 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: earned more reps. Jared's a guy who went to him 303 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: in a critical situation in the end zone last week. 304 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: That just goes to show you the trust that Jared 305 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: has in this rookie. I think he's only going to 306 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: get better. For me, it's Tesla six touchdowns as a rookie. 307 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: I'll tell you that. I like that. 308 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 3: I think Tate had to be more impactful. But Tesla, 309 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 3: I think this is his floor, which speaks. 310 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: Volumes most improved. 311 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 3: I'm going j Mo is that crazy? 312 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: Like he had a thousand yards last. 313 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 3: Season, he is eclipsed not this season. 314 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: But the big. 315 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 3: Thing for me in terms of how you measure that is, 316 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 3: is golf going to Jmo like he is to Alma 317 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 3: Ros Saint Brown. Just take the port out of the equation. 318 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: He's not an equation in key situations. In key situations, 319 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 3: is he starting to rely on Jmo? And I think 320 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 3: you saw that later later on in the season. 321 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: With him too has advanced and he's doing a lot more, 322 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: not just you're nine. 323 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 3: He doesn't have to just take off down the field 324 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 3: and be ahead of it. He's doing the work, you know, 325 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 3: before he gets the ball. So Jamo's kine. Yeah, I'm 326 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 3: a Jamo fan. I'm always going to be a Jamo fan. 327 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 3: He's grown a lot. 328 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: For me. It's a veteran player who's been around a 329 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: long time. But Alki Muhammad made some money this. 330 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 3: Season, and I don't know if it's with Detroit, but it's. 331 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: It'll be with somebody. When you get eleven sacks. Your 332 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: top ten league in sacks is going to get what 333 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: for six sacks like that? So look, he took advantage 334 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: of opportunities. Didn't play a ton, you know, didn't play 335 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: a massive amount of reps. 336 00:14:59,000 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 2: Was in that. 337 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 3: Rotation single game, I don't think, No, but took. 338 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: Advantage of opportunities playing across from much. Fans have always 339 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: clamored for that, right, we need an edge opposite. Well 340 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: they got one. They got eleven sacks. You know. Now, 341 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: is he is impactful against the run? Maybe as he 342 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: can be. No, that's not his game. His game is 343 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: sea quarterback, kill quarterback, and he does a pretty good 344 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: job of it eleven times this year. I think he's 345 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: earned some money. I think he was most improved from 346 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: what we saw from him last year. He was one 347 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: of those guys that the Lions wanted to sign in 348 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: a one year vet deal, approve it deal. He proved 349 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: it and made some money. Good for him because he's 350 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: such a great guy to talk. 351 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 3: You know, it is so the best fun. Yeah, his 352 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 3: thirteen year old six foot son. Yeah, it is my favorite. 353 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: So he's mine. All right, let's finish with this one 354 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: comeback Player of the Year. That's where the Michigan. 355 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 3: I mean, yeah, I feel like everyone do you hate 356 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 3: your olm water? Well, they haven't been in good spirits 357 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 3: as of late, but yeah, hotch what well and well 358 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 3: we'll see how many saxhones with thirteen and a half. 359 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: Right now, which is a high high. So I would agree, 360 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: you know, was he I think he was we bulking degree. 361 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: He was probably on a defensive MVP pace or he 362 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: got hurt last year. Yeah, not that. 363 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 3: And it's crazy that thirteen and a half isn't on pace. 364 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: Well, when a guy sets the NFL record or ties 365 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: the NFL wreck yeah you know, I know, but yeah. 366 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 3: You would you It feels like it's it's hard to 367 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 3: say that. I would love to know a Hutch would 368 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 3: judge his season thirteen and a half sacks new career high. 369 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: Also fifty nine pressures, which leads the NFL tie for lead. 370 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: So it's not just it's crazy. 371 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, that is crazy. I would be curious to see, 372 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 3: you know, what he thinks of it if it lived 373 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 3: up you know to the insane bar that he sets 374 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 3: and everything in his life. Yeah, I'm really curious. Yeah, 375 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 3: because the defense couldn't impact teams down the stretch, and 376 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 3: they and they did it in some high pressure situations. 377 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 3: But you know, like even even in LA it was 378 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 3: just the first quarter. It isn't sustained. So it's tough. 379 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 3: It's tough how to judge that. 380 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: Hopefully, hopefully this question next year when we're sitting here 381 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: talking about it, we're talking about Brian Branch, We're talking 382 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: about Kirby Joseph leading the league. Interception doesn't just talk. 383 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 3: Thinking about all the players who will not finish this season. Yes, 384 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 3: somewhere to last year, but I don't know why this 385 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 3: year and key guys, this year is a lot worse 386 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 3: they just last year. 387 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: The offense was able to overcome it. Yeah, I think 388 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: there are some inconsistencies there where they just weren't able 389 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: to overcome the injuries unfortunately, and that's put themselves in 390 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: the situation that they're in. But sometimes, like Dan Campbell 391 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: talked about, that situation can sometimes going down in the 392 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 1: dumps is what you maybe need to rise up. 393 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 3: And he said this is rock bottom and I agree 394 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 3: with him. 395 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I would agree with him too. And so look, 396 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 1: there's one more to go. You end the season. I'm 397 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: going to get back to playing the brand of football 398 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: that got you to the NFC Championship, gave him twenty 399 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: three and then number one overall seed in twenty four. 400 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: Make the correct changes. Sometimes it takes a season like this, yeah, 401 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: to realize you got to make some changes and do 402 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: some of those things, and hopefully Detroit does it. But 403 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: Danie Rogers, thanks for taking the time on a weekly team. 404 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. We'll be right back after this. Welcome 405 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: back to the Twin of the Huddle podcast, present of 406 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: by Microsoft. Very happy to welcome Brad Biggs does a 407 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: great job covering everything Chicago Bears for the Chicago Tribune 408 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: and he is my go to man for any news 409 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: in Chicago. Brad, thanks for taking the time. I appreciate you. 410 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Happy holidays. Tim happy to join the podcast here. 411 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, you guys haven't won a division title 412 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 1: in seven years. Just how does it feel to be 413 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: playing meaningful football again? In January? We're talking about a 414 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: number two, a number three seed. Probably when this season started. 415 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: I don't know, Brad, maybe maybe you did think you'd 416 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: be in this spot. I'd be a little hard pressed 417 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 1: to believe you if you did tell me that. But 418 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: just how fun is it to be covering kind of 419 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: this football team and the transition that we've seen under 420 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: Ben Johnson this season. 421 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 2: Well, I've I've had to go deep into bag of 422 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 2: tricks that I haven't used in quite some time tim 423 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 2: to cover a winning team, because the Bears have had 424 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 2: such fleeting success here for a long time, a banner 425 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 2: season for him back in twenty eighteen, but it's been 426 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 2: an awful long time since this organization's won a postseason game. 427 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: That would be in January of twenty eleven. So it's 428 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 2: been lean times for the Bears. And no, I would 429 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 2: not have predicted that they would have made the playoffs 430 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,679 Speaker 2: this season. I would not have predicted that they would 431 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 2: win the division this season, and yet here we are. 432 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 2: There'll be the two of the three seed, They'll have 433 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 2: a home playoff game at Soldier Field in the wild 434 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:55,640 Speaker 2: card weekend, AND's wide open. I think the whole league is. 435 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 2: I really think the whole league is kind of wide open. 436 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 2: Like it's to me really easy to identify each one 437 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 2: of these playoff teams and say, well, there's a legitimate 438 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 2: weakness here. And I don't know that you can say 439 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 2: that every year. And I'm not saying the team that 440 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 2: appeers did not have a weakness, always goes on and 441 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 2: wins it. That's certainly not the case. But I mean, 442 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 2: the Bears just went out to San Francisco and lost 443 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 2: a very high scoring game on Sunday night, and the 444 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 2: forty nine ers or went away from being the top 445 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 2: seed in the NFC and they can't stop anybody on defense, anybody, 446 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 2: you know, they're missing Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, and 447 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 2: so the formula for the forty nine ers is to 448 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 2: try to outscore everyone. The Rams looked like the best 449 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 2: team in the conference, I think for a long time, 450 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 2: maybe the best team in the league, and they had 451 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 2: a horrible collapse at Seattle when they were up big 452 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 2: in the fourth quarter, and then a bounce back spotted 453 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 2: Atlanta on My Day night, they went out and got 454 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 2: shut out in the first half, wind up losing the 455 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 2: ball game. So they're not so perfect. So wide open 456 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 2: for Ben Johnson and the Bears, and a lot of 457 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 2: excitement in the city, as you might imagine. 458 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think that's probably the disappointing thing for 459 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: Lions fans is because when you do look at the 460 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: landscape of the NFC and really the NFL, like you 461 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 1: talked about Bratt, it's pretty wide open. I mean it 462 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: was just about getting in, and you get into the 463 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: dance this year and you can do some damage. How 464 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: important is the two seed for Chicago when you talk 465 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: about getting prepared for Detroit on Sunday? Is it all 466 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: hands on deck? They want that two seed and obviously 467 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: that helps your chances of playing home playoff games throughout 468 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: the playoffs if you get it. 469 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think the two seed is important for a 470 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 2: number of reasons. As you said, would put them in 471 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 2: a spot where they'd at least if they won the 472 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 2: first one, would be guaranteed of being at home again 473 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: in the divisional round. But two seeds gonna draw the 474 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 2: pack So so the Green Bays either heading a soldier 475 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,880 Speaker 2: field for a third meeting with the Bears this season, 476 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 2: or the Packers will go to Philadelphia, the Eagles or 477 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 2: the other the other team with a shot at the 478 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 2: two seed green Bays beat up, right, I mean, yeah, 479 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 2: some real injuries there, Jordan Love, I would guess he's 480 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 2: going to clear concussion protocol before the playoffs, but you 481 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,479 Speaker 2: know as well as I do that, trying to figure 482 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 2: out how guys will come back from injuries is a 483 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 2: great way to make a fool of yourself. And trying 484 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 2: to predict concussions is that's simply impossible. Doctors can't do it. 485 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 2: How could you? 486 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: Or I? 487 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 2: So I would think, you know, you look okay, play 488 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 2: the opponent, you know, because you look, if you fall 489 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: to the three seed, if you're the Bears and you 490 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 2: fall to the three seed, you want to play that? 491 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 2: You really want to play the Rams with Sean McVay 492 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 2: and Matthew Stafford. Do you want to It's going to 493 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 2: be an NFC West club and you know, I I 494 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 2: don't know that right out of the gate. You wanna 495 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,360 Speaker 2: you want to be tangling with the team like that. 496 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you're familiar foe and one that's dealing 497 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 1: with some injuries, specifically on defense to their best players 498 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: is probably the best avenue. And then again you get 499 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: that two seed and you never know that one seed 500 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: you know, gets upset in this in the second round, 501 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: and boom, all of a sudden, everything travels through Chicago. 502 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: So obviously a lot online for Chicago on Sunday. Look, Bratt, 503 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 1: we knew this offense was gonna be good when Ben Johnson, 504 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 1: you know, went over there. You just knew that he 505 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: was gonna, you know, push some of the right buttons 506 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: that you're gonna see kalb but developed. But are people 507 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: in Chicago just surprised that how much he's meant to 508 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 1: this turnaround? And just what's your overall impression of the 509 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: job Ben's done? You know, this season? 510 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 2: I think he's done a phenomenal job, starting with building 511 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 2: a I think a pretty good coaching staff. You know, 512 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 2: like like they are completely different on the offensive line, 513 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 2: and part of that was going out and getting some 514 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 2: new personnel. But Ben hired an offensive line coach that 515 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 2: Dan Campbell knew that Dennis Allen, his defensive coordinator here 516 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 2: new but Ben did know and Dan Roschar he's done 517 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 2: a good job. So he hired Al Harris as the 518 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 2: passing game coordinator. On defense, they're tops in the league 519 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 2: and interceptions number one in takeaways. So I think it 520 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 2: started with hiring a really good staff. But he's just 521 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 2: kind of got a next level offensive mind. He's answered 522 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 2: all the questions that are natural for any first time 523 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 2: head coach. Can the guy command the room? Can he 524 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 2: stand in front of the entire team and deliver his message? 525 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 2: Hold it together? Deal? With players. You knew he could 526 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 2: handle it with half a team, right, do it with 527 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 2: half a roster in Detroit? Well, he can get it 528 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 2: done here with the whole team too. But again, I 529 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 2: think for them to be in a spot right now 530 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 2: where they could wind up twelve and five, if they win, 531 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 2: even eleven and six, like I I thought going into 532 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 2: the year, like nine and eight would be a really 533 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 2: good season for the Bears. I thought that would show 534 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 2: real progress, especially considering how tough this division was last 535 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,639 Speaker 2: year and how difficult it has been this year. And 536 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 2: the Vikings have had their issues, and you know what 537 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,399 Speaker 2: Detroit's kind of gone through, and then the Packers with 538 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 2: some of the injuries. But yeah, no, it's it's been 539 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 2: certainly a surprise. I think Bears fans, though expected success 540 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 2: to come, maybe not this fast because Ben Johnson was 541 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 2: viewed as the number one guy in that coaching cycle, like, hey, 542 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 2: there's the rock star coaching candidate. This is the next 543 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 2: guy that people could talk about when they talk about 544 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 2: McVeigh types or things of that. Even Dan Campbell, though 545 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 2: you know Dan, it took a while to get that 546 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:19,239 Speaker 2: thing pointed in the right direction for him. So a 547 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 2: lot of buzz and excitement in the city. I'm sure 548 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 2: you'll feel it when you're in town. And I know 549 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 2: most of the fans, I think, are kind of pointed 550 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 2: ahead to the playoffs at this point because the game 551 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,159 Speaker 2: doesn't have a ton of meaning to them. But the 552 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:39,959 Speaker 2: players are locked in. I think they're they're really tuned 553 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 2: in to bounce it back after the loss in San Francisco, 554 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 2: trying to get a win to because they if they 555 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 2: just win, they lock up the two seed. 556 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: And is there anything to look Week two Chicago King 557 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: of Detroit, and Detroit handed it to him. You know, 558 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: they scored fifty two points, and I'm curious that that's 559 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: a long time ago Brad in Chicago, so different football 560 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: team when they were zeroing to you know, sitting at 561 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,439 Speaker 1: that game. But is there any residual Look, we know 562 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 1: we're going to the playoffs, but this is a team 563 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 1: that put fifty two. This is a team that was 564 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: the reigning division champions, you know, two times, you know, 565 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 1: the last two years, And is there anything to that 566 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: heading into this matchup about Hey, let's let's let's let's 567 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 1: play you know, Detroit team that's reeling a little bit, 568 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 1: but we know where they've been. We saw what they 569 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 1: did was Week two and let's go into the playoffs 570 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,119 Speaker 1: on a good note. 571 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 2: Well, I don't know if it's so much Detroit and hey, 572 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 2: remember what they did and back in Week two, and 573 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 2: that was just an absolute butt kicking. Like the Lions 574 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 2: didn't even go to second town very often. It's like 575 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 2: first down, first down, first down, and then during the 576 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 2: end zone. Listen, the Bears are two and three in 577 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 2: the division. They are the division champions right now. They've 578 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 2: got a two and three record in the NFC North. 579 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:58,120 Speaker 2: They beat Minnesota once, they've beaten Green Bay once, it's 580 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 2: an opportunity to beat the Lions. Ont get to three 581 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 2: and three. You wanna, Yeah, you want to do that. 582 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 2: You want to get the two seed. But week two 583 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 2: was I mean, this is a You're right, this is 584 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 2: a totally different Bears team and for a lot of 585 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 2: reasons that I think are attributable to health. Uh, the 586 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 2: Detroit is a is a much different football team than 587 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 2: it was back in Week two as well. 588 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: All right, before I let you go any any injury wise, 589 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: any concerns there for guys, you know, being available as 590 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: Chicago wise for this matchup Sunday, yeah. 591 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 2: I mean they haven't even gotten on the field yet 592 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 2: and it's going to be a walk through today, So 593 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 2: whatever injury report comes out with later Wednesday will be 594 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 2: an estimation. Luther Burden got banged up on the final 595 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:54,959 Speaker 2: play of the game at San Francisco Roma Dunes. Has 596 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: missed the last four games with a foot injury. My guess, 597 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 2: total guess he gets back on the practice field this week. 598 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 2: Does that mean he potentially plays, I don't know. But 599 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 2: other than that, I don't think they've got a ton 600 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 2: of Yeah, they're not a bunch of huge injuries you're 601 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 2: looking at. They've dealt with things in the secondary all year. 602 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 2: Pretty much healed up there with the exception of Kyler Gordon, 603 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 2: so they'll be you know, guys that are healthy will 604 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 2: be out there. I don't know what they'll do with 605 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 2: the Dnesday because he's missed about a month, but guys 606 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 2: that are available i'd expect to see in uniform and 607 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 2: playing Sunday afternoon. 608 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: Well, it'll be interesting to see what Detroit does. They've 609 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: got some injuries that they're dealing with. They obviously want 610 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: to win this game, but they want to be smart 611 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: long term about some of their core pieces too, So 612 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: we'll see what team Detroit brings to Chicago on Sunday. 613 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: But but Brad, I will just say this and in closing, 614 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad you get to deal with some meaning, meaningful 615 00:29:56,320 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: football in the month of January, and hopefully somebody from 616 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: the NFC North Weather Screenbolly or Chicago makes a run 617 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: at it. I kind of hope in Chicago a little bit, 618 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: just because I know the history there and and the 619 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: losing of late have been there myself, so good luck 620 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. So we'll see you guys on Sunday. 621 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 2: Thank you, Tim