1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm ready for Monday Night football. 2 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 2: I'll quickly say mine was a Razor Scooters all. 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Right for those listening, and it is Alfonso also known 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: as Carlton Banks. 5 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 2: Falcons fans. What's up and welcome back to the Friday 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 2: five Merry Christmas. It is the day afterwards. I am 7 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 2: joined by Tory mclaney and Tarren Walk. We are here 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 2: to break down a huge important matchup on Monday Night 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: against the Los Angeles Rams. A lot to dig into 10 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: to this one. It's going to be a really fun game. 11 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 2: I'm excited to do all of this with you. But 12 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: figure you know, as we usually do, We're going to 13 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: start with our question of the day. Make sure you 14 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: are following at Atlanta Falcons on TikTok for all of 15 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 2: the question of the days that we have had throughout 16 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 2: the season and we'll ever have for the rest of 17 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: that FET's life. But given that it is post Christmas, Yeah, Tory, 18 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: you want. 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 3: To, surely will what was your favorite Christmas gift you 20 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 3: ever got as a kid? 21 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: Mine deserves an explain, so someone else go first. 22 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,559 Speaker 2: Okay, I'll quickly say mine was a Razor scooter. Mine 23 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: was also a razoroo all right beat that terran. 24 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, mine, why was Scooby Doo Like it was a 25 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 4: Scooby Do Razor. 26 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: Scooby Doo themed Razor scooter. 27 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 3: Yes, but it was the Razor scooter and it had 28 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 3: Scooby Doo on the bottom of it and the wheels 29 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 3: were green like the machine. 30 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm trying to I think mine were red. Okay, 31 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: I just said razor. 32 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I wanted a scooter so badly? 33 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 2: Did you? Could you do the little like kickspin thing? 34 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 3: I tried, but I basically took out. I'm pretty sure 35 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 3: I still have like scars on my ankles. 36 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: It on a lego. You were done? 37 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 4: So that was mine. I can't believe we had the 38 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 4: same one that. 39 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: I love that. 40 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. Wow, now I'm gonna sound so sad empathetic. Oh god, Well, 41 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: you also just brought up trauma I had buried. I 42 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: never had a real Razor. 43 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: That's what this podcast is all about. 44 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: I had like a knock trauma. 45 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: I'm covering trauma. 46 00:01:58,640 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: I had a knockoff. 47 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 4: May have been it was. 48 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: Smooth. I remember. 49 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 4: Mine was a mom was a solid one, like I 50 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 4: had that bad boy for. 51 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: I would like to borrow friends because mine was pathetic 52 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: and bumpy. But I also add to the sadness. I 53 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: can't remember any presence as a kid. I definitely had 54 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: some I wasn't unloved. We traveled a lot, like I 55 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: lived away from families, so like Christmas mornings were never 56 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: really at home home, so that was different. Also led 57 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: to why I believed in you know what, We're gonna 58 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: continue on and. 59 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 2: Thanks as you're worrying, Abaha, book let's not actually be scog. 60 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna say my mom has developed this recent 61 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: trend recent like recent years, where she picked something random 62 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: she sees other like whether it's on Amazon, Facebook, she's 63 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: not on TikTok, but just the internet. And this year's 64 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: you got me this boomerang levitating ball and I turned 65 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: it on in that stuff flew across the room, I know, 66 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: but it came close and the dog chased after it. 67 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: We're like no, but it was like floating and moving 68 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: all on its own. It was actually really crazy. 69 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 2: He did explain more about how this thing works very 70 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: quickly because we got to move on it's. 71 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 4: And like it still goes, so it's like kind of. 72 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 2: Like one of those balls. But like, yeah, is what 73 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: I'm talking about like the tail cracker barrel. Yeah, basically 74 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 2: turn it on and it just the looks like John 75 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: in the backfield. Yeah all right, well that's that honestly 76 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: went pretty pretty well. Merry Christmas, everybody. Friday five keeps 77 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 2: on giving. Well, the Falcons are gonna be I think 78 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: giving it their best one last time here, uh well 79 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: second to last time, second last time. But it's kind 80 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: of like the best matchup that they have left is 81 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: what I was going for. 82 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 3: And this is will a matchup that you have been 83 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 3: talking about being one of your favorites since we got 84 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 3: the schedule, saying early podcast. 85 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: I really thought that this was it was going to 86 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: be like a lot maybe more implications for this season. 87 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 3: I think the been there should have been right, Yeah, 88 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 3: that's that understood your thought process with it. 89 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, but it is still going to be I think 90 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 2: a really really good indicator of where the Falcons are 91 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: is they head into yet again kind of another important offseason. 92 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: The Rams, of course, eleven and four vying for really 93 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: playoff seeding. Do they still have a chance at winning 94 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: the NFC West and getting the one seed? I believe? Yeah, Okay, 95 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: so yeah, they've got a ton at stake in this game, 96 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 2: and obviously like they are a Super Bowl contender, and 97 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: so when you look at some of the individual players 98 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: in this matchup, there are a lot of similarities that 99 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: you can draw with the Los Angeles Rams, but ultimately 100 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 2: the team's fortunes have not been identical. So for that 101 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: reason and many more that we're about to get into, 102 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: I think that this weekend is going to be a 103 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: fun game for Falcons fans to pay attention to. And 104 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 2: that really starts with number seven in the backfield, right 105 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: Like any week that you get to watch John Robinson, 106 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 2: it's gonna be a good week. And he got to 107 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: celebrate what has been an amazing season with a spot 108 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: in the Pro Bowl earlier this week on Tuesday. Yeah, 109 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: it definitely seemed like it was going to be a 110 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: huge snub if he didn't get in, and so I'm 111 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: glad that he was ultimately rewarded for his success. Tron 112 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: you wrote about like him shining and kind of an 113 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: otherwise down year for the team overall, and I think 114 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: that this is a great indicator of that he was 115 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 2: not alone. Chris Linstrom made it for the fourth straight year. Yep, 116 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,239 Speaker 2: So that's awesome to see you know an offensive lineman 117 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: and a running back going together. 118 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 3: If you haven't seen the video of Chris calling Bajon 119 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 3: to let him know that he was going with him 120 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 3: to the Pro Bowl, like you need to do that, 121 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: because it was a very sweet, very sweet, very cute video. 122 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 2: It really was. And two other Falcons Kyle Pitts a J. Terrell, 123 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 2: are alternates. Really excited for Arell honestly to be an 124 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 2: alternate because I think he's had an under the radar 125 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 2: good season. They're going to need them again on on 126 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: Monday Night big time. But they're gonna need Bijon, I 127 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: think first and foremost. He leads the NFL and scrimmag 128 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 2: yards twenty twenty six. Uh and very importantly, he has 129 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 2: two games left to break William Andrews's all time Falcons 130 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 2: scrimmage yards record, which is twenty one, one hundred and 131 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 2: seventy six. So he's one hundred and fifty scrimmage yard 132 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 2: shy of tying that one fifty one short of breaking it. 133 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 2: And that one hundred and fifty number I want everybody 134 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: to keep in their minds for Monday Night's game and 135 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: tear and tell us why. 136 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: Okay, So if one fifty is the magic number. Jean 137 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: Robinson has had six games in which he totaled at 138 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: least one hundred and fifty yards from scrimmage. That's two 139 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: fifths of the season to be exact, but for simplicity's sake, 140 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: we'll go with half. The Falcons are five and one 141 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: in those six games. Though in the nine games Bajon 142 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: Robinson did not reach one hundred fifty yards from scrimmage, 143 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: the Falcons are one in eight. Just let that sink in, 144 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: Like there are two big things there. But Robinson is 145 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: averaging one hundred and thirty five yards from scrimmage per game. 146 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: So even if one fifty is too high of a number, 147 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: the Falcons are zero to five in games. Or Robinson 148 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: didn't break one hundred yards from scrimmage, I. 149 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,559 Speaker 4: Think that's that's a key point right there. 150 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, so Robinson run, run, run and catch. 151 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 2: What's crazy, though, is like teams are obviously aware of 152 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: that stuff, right and each week you would think that 153 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 2: you go in and say, hey, Bajeon Robinson, if you're 154 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: a defense coordinator, like that's our number one guy that 155 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 2: we are looking at. That's the number one player we 156 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 2: need to stop. And yet he still keeps doing this anyway, right, 157 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 2: So Tarin, what about the Rams defense? How do they 158 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: stack up? And are they going to be able to 159 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 2: slow Beajon down? 160 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: It's going to be difficult for Bajon to do Bajon 161 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: things against the Rams. Only one player this entire season 162 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: has totaled at least one hundred and fifty yards from 163 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: scrimmage against the Rams. Wow one, who was it? It 164 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: was wide receiver Amran Ross Saint Brown, and his lines 165 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: still lost to the Rams in that game. His was 166 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: all receiving. He had one hundred and sixty four yards. 167 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: So Bajean gets a little bit wiggle room with being 168 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: able to run and receive. But in total, to go 169 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: back to kind of that one hundred yard mark, there 170 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: have been ten players to break one hundred yards from 171 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: scrimmage against the Rams. Four were running backs, I was 172 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: getting ahead to the Rams and running. 173 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 4: Only four is a very small number. 174 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. The other six were receivers. 175 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 176 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: And here's an even crazier stat. The Rams are allowing 177 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: only with a bit let me try again. I can't 178 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: even read my own stuff. The Rams are only allowing 179 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: skill players to average forty two point three yards from 180 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: scrimmage per game. I didn't include quarterbacks in that, just 181 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. But even without 182 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: the tight ends and just going receivers and running backs, 183 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: that average goes up to just forty six point four 184 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: yards from scrimmage, not a lot. That's a third of 185 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: Bajon's average, right, So it'll be curious to see and 186 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: I think a big key of the game if Bajon 187 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 1: can do what he has been doing against this defense. 188 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 3: Something that you know, to bounce off of what you're 189 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 3: saying about like their numbers and stuff, I found something 190 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 3: else that I think backs this up, and it's that 191 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 3: kind of over a very key mid season stretch for 192 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 3: the Rams where they they did win a good number 193 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 3: of games against some pretty elite talent, they held backs 194 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 3: like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, and Travis e 195 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 3: Ten to about three point five to three point nine 196 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 3: yards per carry, which for those guys, we have seen 197 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 3: them tear up defenses for years for some of them, 198 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 3: for Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor had started this 199 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 3: season off at the highest level I think any running 200 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 3: back had So this is a defense that I think 201 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 3: has vastly proved its run defense, specifically from last year 202 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 3: to this year. And I know Will you dropped a 203 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 3: stat into kind of my section on this, and I 204 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 3: do want to read it because I think it does 205 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 3: coincide with what we're talking about here. The Rams defense 206 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 3: has significantly improved against the run in twenty twenty five, 207 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 3: allowing just thirty eight point three percent rushing success, which 208 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 3: is the sixth lowest compared to forty four point seven 209 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 3: last season. So that's a pretty big chunk. But it's 210 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 3: not just the run defense. I think in totality this 211 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 3: defense as a whole. While we're talking about it in 212 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 3: the context of Bejon Robinson, this is actually a well 213 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 3: rounded defense from their front to their back end. I 214 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 3: know everybody talks about the Rams offense, and we'll get 215 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 3: into it. They should be talking about the Rams office, 216 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 3: but offense, but a major part of this team's overall 217 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 3: success is this defense, particularly in the lack of points 218 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 3: scored against this Rams defense. They're only allowing nineteen point 219 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 3: nine points per game, which is the sixth best in 220 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 3: the NFL, and their defense ranked second in the NFL 221 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 3: in red zone defensive success. It's really difficult for teams 222 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 3: when they get inside the twenty to score on this defense, 223 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 3: which I think is something that we talked about early 224 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 3: on in the season with the Falcons that Okay, they're 225 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 3: getting they're getting to the red zone, but not scoring. Well, 226 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 3: that has not been the case over the last month 227 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 3: and a half of the season. They've gotten into the 228 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 3: red zone and they've scored. They put the ball on 229 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 3: the end zone. 230 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: So I'm to get curious having consecutive. 231 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, so that they're doing. 232 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 3: They've seen valuable improvement in that in that way, but 233 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 3: they're now about to go up against a defense that 234 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 3: is going to challenge that improvement. 235 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,599 Speaker 2: Yeah. So, I mean the situational football is going to 236 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 2: be huge, starting with Bijan and getting the run game 237 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,080 Speaker 2: going is going to be huge. But again, the defense 238 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 2: for Los Angeles is so well rounded. Even their pass rush, like, 239 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 2: there's really no good answer. I feel like for Atlanta's offense, 240 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: every single avenue that they're going to want to pursue, 241 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 2: they're going to be met with a tough challenge. You 242 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 2: look at like we've talkedalked all year about Atlanta's pass 243 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 2: rush and deservedly so because it is better than LA's statistically, 244 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: which is great, Let's keep plugging that stat as much 245 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:08,719 Speaker 2: as we can. 246 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 4: I've been able to talk about that for a Foucon. 247 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 2: I love it Christmas to us. Yeah, but the Rams 248 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 2: are still sixth in the league with forty one sax 249 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 2: on the season, led by Byron Young who has eleven. 250 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 2: And you know, when you look at Atlanta's passing game, 251 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: they have been pretty well equipped to get the ball 252 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 2: out quickly. Obviously, Viijon has a huge hand in that. 253 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: Kyle Pitts his emergence has been big, and so that's 254 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: going to be important against a pass rush. But the 255 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 2: Falcons have also given up thirty two quick pressures since 256 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 2: week twelve when Kirk Cousins took over, which is most 257 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 2: in the NFL. Now, they've also been blitz at the 258 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 2: highest rate in the league, so teams are clearly kind 259 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 2: of like seeing something. Maybe it's without Drake kind of 260 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 2: having that like catch ball contested. Let's get pressure in 261 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 2: and see if anybody else can win. The Rams don't 262 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 2: blitz as much because they've got a really good front four, 263 00:12:57,840 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 2: but this is going to be, I think a game 264 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 2: where you want to get the ball out of Kirk's 265 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 2: hands and get into the hands of those playmakers. Drake London, 266 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 2: We're going to talk a lot about, you know, kind 267 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 2: of Puka Nakua, I think in the lead up and 268 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 2: just the excellence that the Rams have had with their 269 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: star receiver. But Drake London before he went out with injury, 270 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: was right up there with Puka and Toria. I think 271 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 2: he's going to need to be right back up there 272 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 2: with Puoka in this game. 273 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think so. 274 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 3: And I you know, I think that the Drake London 275 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 3: we saw in Arizona was a one. It was a 276 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 3: It was a Drake London that looked like he had 277 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 3: been off the field for a month. And I think 278 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 3: he would say that. I think even Raheem Morris said 279 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 3: that it was like a knock the rust off game 280 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:38,319 Speaker 3: for him. 281 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 4: Which I think that makes total sense. 282 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: He hasn't ye. 283 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 3: Not only has he not played, he hasn't practiced in 284 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 3: four weeks recovering from that strained PCL. He didn't actually 285 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 3: return to the practice field until the week of the 286 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 3: Arizona game. So that's a lot of time off the grass. 287 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 3: It's a lot of time trying to get yourself back 288 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 3: up to game speed. So I think it makes sense. 289 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 3: I have empathy that he wasn't the Drake Lennon we 290 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 3: saw pre injury. Like, I think that's incredibly fair. Only 291 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 3: had three receptions on eight targets for twenty seven yards, 292 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 3: not at all kind of what he had been pre injury. However, 293 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 3: I'd say that not to point out that like I'm 294 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 3: concerned about that lack of production in Arizona. I say 295 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 3: it more of like in an understanding type of way, 296 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 3: And my thought process is is that, Okay, I'm not 297 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 3: concerned about Drake, because if you were gonna have a 298 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 3: get back game, if you were gonna have a knock 299 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 3: the rust off type of game getting back to game speed, 300 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 3: you would rather that come against Arizona than this Rams team, 301 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 3: because to your point, you're gonna need all of your guys. 302 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 3: You're gonna need the best out of all of your guys, 303 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 3: and that absolutely includes Drink London. So while we didn't 304 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 3: see the Drake London, we had seen the honestly should 305 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 3: have been a pro bowler if he doesn't get hurt 306 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 3: at that point in time and wasn't on the field 307 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 3: during pro bull voting at all, Like I think if 308 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 3: he's on the field and he's doing what he we'd 309 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 3: known him to do, Like potentially we're talking about the 310 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 3: Falcons having three Pro bowlers in there, but that's neither 311 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 3: here nor there, if there's always next year. But I 312 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: do think that, like you're gonna need that level of 313 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 3: draglin in performance against this Rams team. 314 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, and even today Raheem Morris today as in Wednesday, Wednesday, Yeah, 315 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: Christmas Eve, who knows, but today, as in Wednesday, Raheem 316 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: Morris was saying that Drake London just needs to find 317 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: his rhythm again. It's really difficult to get back into 318 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: that rhythm, as you said, like being off the field 319 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: for a month. But somebody who has kind of gained 320 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: his rhythm during that time period is Kyle Pitts. Yeah, 321 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: he had fifty seven receiving yards and the Falcons win 322 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: against the Cardinals, which put him at three hundred ninety 323 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: five yards receiving in the last four games, which is 324 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: the most in a four game stretch by a Falcons 325 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: tight end ever. Hello, rhythm smooth Jazzy Pits has been 326 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: like really good in London's absence, and like even Raheem 327 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: Morris when London was out called Pits like the number 328 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: one wide out like which we've been seen in London's absence, 329 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: and so only what was it two weeks ago he 330 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: had a career high one hundred and sixty six yards 331 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: against the Buccaneers to help the Falcons win, the. 332 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 3: First time that ooh, that a tight end had ever 333 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 3: had over ten catches, one hundred and fifty yards and 334 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 3: three touchdowns since Shannon Sharp did it in nineteen ninety six. 335 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 3: I was looking at that satin early today. 336 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: Just giving a moment for that to hit. But basically 337 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: Kyle Pits is on a roll and I don't see 338 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: this role necessarily stopping, regardless if London comes back to 339 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: full form, because you go to the hot hands, and 340 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: I think Kyle wants to continue that. He won't talk 341 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: about his contract, which is understandable. He wants to be 342 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: in the moment finish out this season, but it is 343 00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: a contract year. So putting these performances together right now now, 344 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: with immediacy bias and things like that, is only good 345 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: for him. 346 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. I do think that this offense, especially with Kirk 347 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 2: at the helm, we've seen them at their best when 348 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 2: they're spreading the ball around when you're getting like think 349 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 2: last year when it was Drake and Darnell and Kyle 350 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 2: and Bijon and Tyler, like everybody touching the ball really 351 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 2: makes it run. And so if anybody was kind of 352 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 2: David Sills. I know it's a one game sample size, 353 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: but his targets really I think took the biggest hit understandably. 354 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 2: So so if Kirk is able to kind of strike 355 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 2: that right balance of Drake, Kyle, Bajon, everybody that I 356 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 2: just named, I think that is what really best suits 357 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: Atlanta's offense. On the other side, though, there's no real 358 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 2: secret where Matthew Stafford wants to go with the ball. 359 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 2: It is kind of like the way that Seattle was 360 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 2: when we played him a couple of weeks ago, where 361 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 2: it was like so Jackson Smith and Jigba heavy yep 362 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 2: for Sam Darnold. Really, matt Stafford has been pokin Akua dominant. 363 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 2: And the best quarterbacks usually have their go to guys, 364 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 2: right Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, matt Ryan, Julio Jones. Matthew 365 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 2: Stafford has had a couple of them, but Pooka might 366 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 2: be one of the best. And how has he almost 367 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: like when you get an old dog and new puppy, right, 368 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 2: it kind of brings the old dog back to life 369 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 2: a little bit. I feel like Pooka has perked up. 370 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 2: Matthew Stafford. 371 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 4: Oh that's a good one. 372 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, good analogy. 373 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, No, I'll kind of talk about Matthew Stafford for 374 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 3: a little bit. I mean it was really interesting because 375 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 3: going I was thinking back to going into this season, 376 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 3: this twenty twenty five year, and I remember during training camp, 377 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 3: like watching you know, the morning shows and everything like that. 378 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 3: A hot debate at the time was is this Matthew 379 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 3: Stafford's last year? Is retirement on the horizon because he's 380 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,479 Speaker 3: you know, he's thirty eight years old. I think there 381 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 3: were a couple articles that I read from CBS Sports 382 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 3: as I kind of saying, you know, this is his 383 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 3: last year. There's no reason this shouldn't be his last year, 384 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 3: considering everything that he's gone through, the injuries, the back 385 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 3: issue that had him, you know, sleeping in a hyperbolic 386 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,159 Speaker 3: chamber and sleeping on a weird. 387 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 4: Table like it. 388 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 3: There were a lot of things that I think he's 389 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 3: even had to do to get to twenty twenty five. 390 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 3: So I understood the questions, but the counter to that, 391 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 3: and I think the Matthew Stafford counter to that is 392 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 3: that he may be thirty eight years old, but he's 393 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 3: playing as good, if not better, than we have ever 394 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,439 Speaker 3: seen him play. He's been the talk of kind of 395 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 3: this MVP conversation for much of the last month and 396 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 3: a half. He became the first quarterback in NFL history 397 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 3: to throw four touchdown passes in three straight games without 398 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 3: an interception. He's on pace to finish the twenty twenty 399 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: five season with over forty touchdown passes. 400 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 4: Which is leading the league. 401 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 3: Like, I think the season that Matthew Stafford has had, 402 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 3: I'm not saying that Puka Nuku wouldn't have had the 403 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 3: emergence that he has had in the last couple of 404 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 3: years without Matthew Stafford, for sure, as Heck Helps and 405 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 3: I just have. And this is kind of like a 406 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 3: homecoming for Matthew Stafford. His wife, Kelly, is from the 407 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,719 Speaker 3: Atlanta area. They went to the University of Georgia together, Like, 408 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 3: so this is he's coming off of also a like 409 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 3: four hundred and fifty devan yard passing game against the 410 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 3: Seattle Seahawks in which the team lost. So like Matthew 411 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 3: Stafford is playing with his hair on fire, and the 412 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 3: person that he looks to more than anybody else's Puka, 413 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 3: which I'll save all the Puka stuff for you. 414 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: To allow me to handle the Puka Nikua stuff. 415 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 4: There you go. 416 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: He has the second most receiving yards in the NFL 417 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 1: entering week seventeen with ninety two. The only other player 418 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: with more is who we already talked about, Jackson Smith. 419 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: Nick Digva yep, yes, and for what it's worth, JSN 420 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: which I much prefer to call him, had ninety two 421 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: yards against the Falcons three weeks ago, so. 422 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 4: Which all almost all of them came in that second half. 423 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 424 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: Nikoua is also catching the majority of his targets seventy 425 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: nine percent to be exact, only stuff on. Diggs has 426 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: a better percentage, which is eighty two percent, but he 427 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: has been targeted fifty two times fewer than Nikua. 428 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 3: It's interesting because before we started recording this, Will and 429 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 3: I were actually watching some film of Puka and kind 430 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 3: of all. 431 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 2: Of their So all we do is we stay grinding 432 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 2: here on the product five, but it. 433 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 3: Was something that we were talking about was kind of 434 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 3: how he is catching a lot of these like deep balls, 435 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 3: the explosives, the air yards. 436 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 4: All of those kind of things. 437 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, and he's being targeted a lot too. He's one 438 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: hundred and forty five targets are tied with Saints wide 439 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: receiver Chris Lave for second most in the league. Only 440 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: Jamar Chase with the Bengals has more, with one hundred 441 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: and sixty six, but Chase has only caught sixty six 442 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: percent of them. So this not only proves that Matthew 443 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: Stafford is looking for Nikua, they're connecting. Stafford has thrown 444 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: every pass for the Rams offense. I have to clarify 445 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 1: offense because there was a special team's pass. He has 446 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: thrown five hundred and nineteen, which means twenty eight percent 447 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: went to Nikua. Of his three hundred and forty one completions, 448 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 1: Nikua caught thirty three percent. Those might not seem like 449 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: large large percentages, but they are considering Stafford has thrown 450 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: to twelve different receivers. Yeah, Tory talked about how good 451 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: Stafford is, including his touchdown. Here are his other numbers. 452 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: He's completed sixty six percent of his passes for a 453 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: league high two hundred and seventy nine yards per game. 454 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: He's tied for the fewest interceptions among quarterbacks who have 455 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: played in every game this season with only five. 456 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:18,439 Speaker 2: Wow, yeah, that's a lot. That's uh. Pooka has done 457 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 2: like so much for this offense this year. The accolades 458 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 2: speak for themselves, and really it's it's gonna be like 459 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: as much as we can talk about Mike Cues, who 460 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 2: won't be out there in that game, like in the 461 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 2: cornerback depth for Atlanta, I think it's going to be 462 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 2: kind of an all hands on deck, Yeah yeah thing 463 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 2: for this defense because of the way that he attacks 464 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 2: those inbreaking routes like Divine Diablo and Jesse Bates what 465 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 2: they did against Trey McBride in Arizona. I think they're 466 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 2: gonna have to do kind of the exact same thing 467 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 2: here against Puka. 468 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 3: You also talked about Xavier Watts earlier too, like him 469 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 3: needing to have a big game. 470 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 2: As well, cause that's like they're gonna hunt those matchups 471 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 2: right right, And that is what the Rams have done, 472 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 2: like they get so creative. He's inserted kind of off 473 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,880 Speaker 2: of an inline type end to run routes against linebackers, 474 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 2: So everybody is going to have to be really watching 475 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 2: number one is he twelve twelve? Yep, keep all eyes 476 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,360 Speaker 2: on twelve. He is the assignment because he's as dangerous 477 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 2: with the ball in his hands as he is before 478 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 2: he gets the ball in his hands. So everybody's got 479 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 2: to be ready. But really, when you look at just 480 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 2: how can Atlanta win this game? Because you want to 481 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,160 Speaker 2: end the season on a high note, and you've stack 482 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 2: two wins, keep on going, but this is as tough 483 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 2: a task as any in the league. So really, given 484 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 2: the kind of weapons that Atlanta has there or the 485 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 2: LA has there on their offense, and just how well 486 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 2: everybody's playing, I really think you want to keep them 487 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 2: off of the field. And you mentioned all of the 488 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 2: kind of accolades that the defense has had for LA 489 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 2: this season, but that's still the unit that maybe I 490 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 2: would want to go up against if you're trying to 491 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: win this game. So I think it. Yeah, So I 492 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 2: think Atlanta's offense is where my mind goes to win 493 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 2: this game for the Falcons, and that starts with keeping 494 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 2: the Rams off of the field offensively, And when you 495 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,479 Speaker 2: look at their time of possession in wins this season, 496 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 2: it's over thirty two minutes, and yeah, part of that 497 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 2: is when you're winning these games, you're running it later on. 498 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 2: So like that naturally is going to take up. But 499 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 2: it also means that you're dictating the game and the 500 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 2: tempo and the style. And Atlanta is better equipped. I 501 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 2: think it slowing and bogging this thing down and really 502 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 2: kind of making those possessions few and far between for 503 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,199 Speaker 2: Matthew Stafford. So what is going to be key for 504 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:30,119 Speaker 2: Atlanta and achieving that objective toy? 505 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, like you know, streaming drives together. Obviously 506 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 3: you're staying on the field. Like I know, this isn't 507 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 3: rocket science, y'all. Like, if you're on the field, that 508 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 3: means time's clicking. But like that starts with converting your 509 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 3: third downs, which is something that we have talked about 510 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 3: so much over the course of this twenty twenty five season, 511 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 3: and majority not so good conversations because the Falcons that's 512 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 3: been a problem area for them for. 513 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 4: Much of the twenty twenty five season. 514 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 3: But I will say they did it did look better 515 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 3: against the Cardinals this past Sunday out in Arizona when 516 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,640 Speaker 3: converting on those critical downs is a big reason why 517 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,400 Speaker 3: is a number of those critical down passes went to 518 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 3: Kyle Pitts and he caught them converted them. 519 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 2: Like it's so well he did. 520 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, And it was a very obvious like trust there 521 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 3: between Kirk and Kyle in those moments that I think 522 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 3: Kyle Pitts, going back to the conversation we were having earlier, 523 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 3: earned the right to kind of get those looks because 524 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 3: he's come up clutch and continued to in Arizona. So 525 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 3: there's that piece of it. But then there's also the 526 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 3: other piece of it where there were a lot of 527 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 3: instances in Arizona where those were like third and medium 528 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 3: to third and long situations. So I fear that, like, Okay, 529 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 3: that puts a lot that stresses your operation. If you 530 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 3: can be better on first and second down with again 531 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 3: going all the way back to the top about John Robinson, 532 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 3: if you can pick up five or six or seven 533 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 3: on first and second down and get you into more 534 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 3: of third and three, third and two's, it's easier CONVERTI 535 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 3: it's running out the clock. 536 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, and here like so here is how those two 537 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 2: are are really connected. Right in their wins, Falcons have 538 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 2: converted forty two percent on third down. In their losses, 539 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 2: it's twenty seven percent. So right there, when you're looking 540 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 2: at kind of like key identifiers between wins and losses. 541 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 2: Third down is maybe number one amongst them. In fact, 542 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 2: I found this so fascinating. They actually have higher red 543 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 2: zone efficiency in their losses this season at sixty eight 544 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 2: percent than in their wins, which is sixty one percent. Wow, 545 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 2: they're just not getting to the red zone enough in 546 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 2: their losses because that third down number is so much lower, right, 547 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,439 Speaker 2: makes sense. So that is fascinating. And when we talk 548 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 2: about third down again, it kind of comes back to 549 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: first down. In their losses, their passing EPA which is 550 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 2: expected points allowed, right, But that is higher in their 551 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 2: losses on first down their pass EPA than it wins, right, Which, 552 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 2: again part of that is because you're late, you're passing 553 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 2: the ball a little bit more, so the defense could 554 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 2: play prevent you get some easier stuff. There's a lot 555 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 2: in there, but by and large, that is going to 556 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,199 Speaker 2: be a stat that takes all of that into consideration, 557 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 2: and you're still throwing the ball well early in your losses. Yeah, 558 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 2: So the run is where it really kind of comes 559 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,360 Speaker 2: and the rubber hits throat is in your losses, you're 560 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 2: at minus one point twenty nine expected points added in 561 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 2: the run game on first down in your wins, that's 562 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 2: at a positive one point five to eight. So really 563 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,679 Speaker 2: it comes down to running the ball very well on 564 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 2: first down. Yeah, gets your offense in a rhythm, establishes 565 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 2: and keeps it going. But it's not just about starting fast. 566 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 2: I think also you need to lean on your run 567 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 2: game late in games. And we saw an opportunity for 568 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 2: the Falcons to do that against Arizona. They couldn't necessarily 569 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 2: do that, but against La you're gonna have to. 570 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 3: You're gonna have to, and that's the point is like, Okay, 571 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 3: so we saw it at the end of the Arizona 572 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 3: game where they struggled to run the ball kind of 573 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 3: in those latter minutes of the fourth quarter in it 574 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 3: allowed Arizona to kind of stick around. 575 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 2: They got two more possessions, right. 576 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, because you couldn't get that next first down. And 577 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 3: I think that that is something that you're not gonna 578 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 3: have the chance to do against the Rams. To your point, like, 579 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 3: if you give them the ball, I think they're gonna do. 580 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 3: We've seen what they can do with the ball, We've 581 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 3: seen what their backs can do. They're a good running 582 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 3: team too. I know, everybody's talking about Puka and Matthew Stafford, 583 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 3: as they should, but these backs we just watched for 584 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 3: fifteen minutes. These backs kind of explode through the line 585 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 3: of scrimmage like they're good backs, and so there's that. 586 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 3: But also another reason why I think you can't be 587 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 3: giving these multiple chances to the Rams offense is because 588 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,719 Speaker 3: the Rams have the best second half point margin of 589 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 3: any team in the league. So they're playing well in 590 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 3: the third quarter, and let's just look at the third 591 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 3: quarter in general, the third quarter scoring margin. The Rams 592 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 3: are second, the Falcons are twenty seventh in the league. 593 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 3: Like we have been talking a lot about third Like 594 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 3: that third quarter and the Falcons. What we saw the 595 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 3: Falcons do in the third quarter against Arizona Cardinals is 596 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 3: a recipe for success. They had a long drive that 597 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 3: sustained them through the first seven eight minutes of the 598 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 3: third quarter. They got a quick stop thereafter, and then 599 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 3: had the ball for the remainder of the third quarter. 600 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 2: So like, that's exactly how you want it, that's. 601 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 4: Exactly what you want. 602 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 3: But the problem was when they got to the fourth quarter, 603 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 3: it was like that those long drives were not sustained 604 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 3: and it allowed Arizona to stay in it. The Rams 605 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 3: they're gonna get theirs, so you need to be able 606 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 3: to outpace them in almost every single area. 607 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 2: And then honestly, like even if you do all of that, 608 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 2: I still kind of feel like this thing is gonna 609 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 2: come Like if you do all of that, yeah, it's 610 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 2: still probably gonna come down to like the last possession, 611 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 2: because that's how good the Rams are and what this 612 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 2: league is built to do. I think the Falcons when 613 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 2: you look at the win against Tampa, when you look 614 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 2: at the win against Arizona, you had some late big plays. CJ. Henderson, 615 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 2: David Sills, Kyle Pitts has had some late big plays. 616 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 2: Like you're going to need somebody to step up in 617 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 2: any phase and kind of get this win. So Taran 618 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 2: Tory and I have been kind of dominating the mics here, 619 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 2: like what what is your path to victory for Atlanta? 620 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 2: What say you? And all of this. 621 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: So y'all went shopping, you bought the present, you put 622 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: it in a box, and you put the wrapping paper 623 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: on it. I'm here to put the bow on top. 624 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 2: Okay, do you tie your own bow or do you 625 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 2: get one of those tape them on tape. 626 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 4: Who has time to do your own boat? 627 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: Do you tie your own bows? 628 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 2: You guys? Tell me where clip on ties to? What 629 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 2: is this? I have some authenticity in. 630 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: The actually worn to tie to. 631 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 2: Get somebody you got to put their finger in and 632 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 2: you're gonna hold it down and tie. 633 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 1: Oh okay, I thought you were talking about the one 634 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: with like a bunch of. 635 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 2: Whatever your flavor around. 636 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: Bundle bow, the bundle the bundle bow. I'm putting a 637 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:48,959 Speaker 1: bundle bow that was bought and has sticker on it. 638 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: Because you do need the best out of everyone to 639 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 1: do everything that y'all are saying. In order to beat 640 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: the Rams and to get the best the bare minimum, 641 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: you have to believe you can beat the almost have 642 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: the wrong team. You need to believe you can beat 643 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 1: the Rams. 644 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 2: You got so caught up on alliteration zone. We got 645 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 2: bows and bears and Battlestar Glacta. 646 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 1: But the Falcons need to believe wholeheartedly that they can 647 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 1: win this matchup. Like, yes, the numbers say what they are. Yes, 648 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 1: the matchup is a little skewed on paper. Who cares? 649 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: Like you say every week any team can win on 650 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,479 Speaker 1: any given Sunday. You need to truly believe that at 651 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: this point, because then you're gonna get the best out 652 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: of your players. And who knows, the Falcons do perform 653 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 1: better in primetime. It's just an extra layer. And so 654 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 1: thank you Jared for allowing me to emphasize my point. 655 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna make sure it's not so I don't a 656 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: little bit more believe they are believing for our listeners. 657 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 1: I am holding up a sign that says believe from 658 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: Ted Lasso. 659 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 2: So go check out our show on YouTube. And I 660 00:31:58,480 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 2: think that's a good way to wrap this all up. 661 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 1: Whoah, the people need to know what's on my sweatshirt? 662 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,000 Speaker 1: Oh yeah they do, Okay, so let me stand up. 663 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 2: For Yeah, well, let's unwrap this thing up. 664 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, hopefully you can. 665 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,239 Speaker 1: See for those listening, and it is Alfonso also known 666 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: as Carlton Banks. 667 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 4: Taren has all of the things today. 668 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 3: She's the one that brought in the Santa hats for us, 669 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 3: She has her Carlton Banks sweatshirt. 670 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 1: Can you do the day? 671 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 4: No? 672 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: I can't foss Oh the dance I can, but I'm 673 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 1: not doing that on camera. 674 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:30,360 Speaker 4: And then the believe sign from Ted Lasso. She's ready. 675 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: I'm ready for Monday Night football. 676 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 2: All right, Well, let's hope the Falcons are because yeah, 677 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 2: Lord knows we all are. So I hope everybody had 678 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 2: a great Christmas, have a great rest of the holiday weekend, 679 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 2: get ready for an amazing game, hopefully on Monday night, 680 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 2: big time matchup with the Los Angeles Rams coming to 681 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 2: town for Tory mc laney and Taren Walk. I am 682 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 2: Will McFadden. Thank you to our producer Jared, thank you 683 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 2: for listening, and we will see you all next time.