1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: And now Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks. 2 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: All right, what's up everybody. Welcome to another edition of 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: Move the Sticks. Diane red lewis here with Bucky Brooks 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: today post Christmas edition here as we've had a fantastic 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: holiday weekend full of football. One the DJ apparently decide 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: wasn't worth his presence this Monday morning, So that's fine, 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: Bucky and I ready to rock and roll here for 8 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: you and man rocking the NFL world today though, Bucky, 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: before we get into the Big three, and we will 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: with some massive games from this week sixteen in the league, 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: some massive news out of Denver. The Broncos, after sixteen 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: weeks of this season, have fired Nathaniel Hackett. It was 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: something that has been talked about for weeks now, gosh, 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: even going back to Week one, following all the game 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: management situations and then the quarterback played deteriorating and listening 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: to Tom Pellicero and Ian Rappaport on NFL Network today, 17 00:00:55,280 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: Bucky talking about Hackett, you know, and watching the team 18 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: unravel on the sidelines was a huge piece of this 19 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: as well, kind of losing control of things as you 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: get a look at it. What were your first thoughts. Yeah, 21 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: I feel like it's unfortunate. I feel like it was 22 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: unfortunate for Nathaniel Hackett because, um, he's putting position to 23 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: fail from day one, all of the scrutiny around his coaching, 24 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: the decisions that were made as related to game management. 25 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: A lot of those opinions were formed based on the 26 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 1: fact that everyone expected Russell Wilson to be a top 27 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: five player and what happened. Russell Wilson hasn't played the expectation, 28 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: and so rather than point to Russell initially, they pointed 29 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: to the coaching and then once that drumbeat started growing, 30 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: it was gonna be impossible for Nathaniel Hackett to overcome 31 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: it unless the team completely turned around, and unless the 32 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: quarterback played better. And then it comes down to simple economics. 33 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson has ain't the deal that it's supposed to 34 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: pay them two hundred forty five million dollars on an extension. 35 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: Rather than get rid of the quarterback, which is cost prohibitive, 36 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: it's easier to get rid of the coach. And so 37 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: even though I will sit here saying Nathania Hacket made 38 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: a bunch of mistakes, and all that as a first 39 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: time coach, but really the undermining of his position came 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 1: because of the poor performance of the quarterback. And so 41 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: until the Broncos get the quarterback right, until they're able 42 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: to fix Russell Wilson, if he's fixable, it would always 43 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: be a revolving door at the head coaching position. Is 44 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: just unfortunately that Nathaniel Hackett got caught in the tide 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: of waive this time. Well, I guess the question is 46 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: because you know, obviously something we talked about on this 47 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: podcast quite a bit here and moved the sticks, as 48 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: you know, the relationship between quarterback and play caller and 49 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: the relationship between quarterback and playmakers. Uh, there's no shortage 50 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: of playmakers on that team. I mean clearly, I got 51 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: some of the best wide receivers, at least most talented 52 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: wide receivers. Maybe all haven't played up to the caliber 53 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: um of player that we kind of expected them to be, 54 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: but you know, they've been hurt by injuries. I know 55 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: in the running back spot. Do you feel like Hackett 56 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: has put Wilson in the best possible position to succeed Bucky, Well, 57 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: I feel like he was. It was a failed marriage 58 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,519 Speaker 1: from the jump a doom marriage. And then this is why, 59 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: because Russell Wilson, at this stage of his career, he 60 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: needs to be a guy that throws with time and rhythm. 61 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: You know, a lot of has been made about Russell 62 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: Wilson be and Drew Brees, but when you really look 63 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: at Russell wilson play and the way that he's played 64 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: throughout his career, he's never been a guy that has 65 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: necessarily played on time. His best plays had been on 66 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: improvisation where he runs around, he scrambled, someone breaks loose, 67 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: he throws it over top of the defense. But as 68 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: he gets older and his athleticism waynes, you now need 69 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: him to be a more discipline and detailed performer from 70 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: the pocket. That's not him. And so what you have 71 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: is a head coach who's trying to put a system 72 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: around a diminishing player, but a player who still believes 73 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: he's that player that is in his prime. And it's 74 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: just hard to do. And I think Nathaniel Hackett did 75 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: his best, but without a dominant running game and without 76 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: a quarterback who's willing to really look in the mirror 77 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: and say, hey, I can't move around like I used to. 78 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: I need to make these tremendous jumps and being able 79 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: to play and perform from the pocket. It was destined 80 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: to fell. And so the key will be who's the 81 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: next coach and how does the next coach view Russell 82 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: Wilson And what is he going to sell ownership on 83 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: How I'm gonna get Russell Wilson on track? Because let's 84 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: be honest, this goes back beyond Nathaniel Hackett. Let's look 85 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: at what happened Shane Waldroman did he gets traded from 86 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: Seattle to Denver. Let's think about Blonde Schottenheimer, who gets 87 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: out of there. Let's think about Darryl Bebo. Like there's 88 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 1: a list, there's a graveyard of offensive coordinators who have 89 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: touched Russell Wilson. At some point we gotta look at 90 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,239 Speaker 1: the player and say, what flaws in him are preventing 91 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: these offenses from I guess reaching their potential. All of 92 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,239 Speaker 1: that goes into play, and I think the next coach, 93 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: the next offensive coordinator, they have to consider all those 94 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: things when they take this job and how they build 95 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: the offense around Russell Wilson where he is now. Yeah, 96 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: And I think we'll look at candidates to replace Nathaniel 97 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: Hackett uh in the long term, he or on tomorrow's 98 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: episode of Move the Sticks. Certainly, but you gotta wonder 99 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: how they might prioritize experience after watching a first time 100 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: head coach flame out before his first season came to 101 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: an end there in Denvor. And obviously with the new 102 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: ownership group, I think there was always going to be 103 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: that air of how much time are they willing to 104 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: take and give the current power structure to you know, 105 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: make some show some progress, to earn some patients. And 106 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: I think it was clear that they're ready to move 107 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: on in a new direction. And because obviously all this 108 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: became official, you know, after the fact, after the new 109 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: ownership group was officially approved and officially came into power 110 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: there in Denver, and so George Payton though the general 111 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: manager did get a vote of confidence from Greg Penner, 112 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: the owner and CEO the new ownership group there in Denver, 113 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: that they have confidence in George Payton to help turn 114 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: this thing around in the future here for Denver. But 115 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: Penner also mentioned that it will be key leading the 116 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: charge to find the next head coach with input from 117 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: George Peyton. So ownership taking charge on the next head 118 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: coaching higher there in Denver, something certainly to follow. And yeah, 119 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: so there's a there's a lot to chew on there 120 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: with Dathaniel Hackett out as the Denver Broncos had an 121 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 1: embarrassing fifty one to fourteen loss to the Denver to 122 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: the to the l A Rams, by the way, about 123 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: is injured as any team in football right now. Fifty 124 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: one to fourteen Rams beat the Broncos, and then you 125 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: get the firing today made official by the Denver Broncos. 126 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: So will continue to follow that storyline as we go 127 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: forward here and Move the Sticks. Much more on who 128 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: might replace Nathaniel Hackett and what ultimately led to his 129 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: firing coming up on tomorrow's edition of Move the Sticks. 130 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: For now that we get into the games from this 131 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: week sixteen in the NFL. Obviously still one length to 132 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: go tonight, but let's start with the big three and 133 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: obviously a few games bigger than the Eagles Cowboys match 134 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: up on Saturday afternoon, Christmas Eve down in Arlington, Texas. 135 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: The Eagles Bucky without Jalen Hurts, but still find a 136 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: way to put up some thirty four points. However, not enough, 137 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: as the Cowboys get the forty to thirty four win, 138 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: big one for Dallas. Eagles cannot clinch the number one 139 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: overall seed just yet. So let's get your first thoughts 140 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: on that match up there with Dallas and Phil Well. 141 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: A couple of things. Obviously, we have to talk about 142 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: Dad because Dac was critical to the Cowboys being successful. 143 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: And you know, Dak Prescott has been really plagued and 144 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: victimized by a ton of turnovers. And so when you 145 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: look at this Cowboys team, you think about how they 146 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: need to perform down the stretch. Number four and Gon 147 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: have to play a big role. Yeah, I would agree, 148 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: and and that's that's some of the things that I 149 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: looked at when I went back and watched this game 150 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: were just some of the big throws that the Cowboys 151 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: asked that to make, that they needed him to make, 152 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: and ultimately that he did make. Go back to like 153 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: three specific third downs in this game, a couple of 154 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: them in the second quarter, because this is a team 155 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: that came back from what two separate ten point deficits 156 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: to beat the Eagles here. So they're down in the 157 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: second quarter, third and six down in Philly territory and 158 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: Dac lays a perfectly placed ball to see Lamb on 159 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: a corner route which looked like they were facing a 160 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: kind of a split coverage, and on the cover two 161 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: side easily recognizes that CD is gonna be open on 162 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: that corner route and man puts it in a perfect 163 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: spot for him, and that is a touchdown, gets him 164 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: back closer uh to evening things up against the Eagles 165 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: in the first half. Then you go later in the 166 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: second quarter, next possession. In fact, I mean he perfectly 167 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: layers a seam ball from the slot with c D. 168 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: I mean it just it was almost like, you know, 169 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: they call it, you call that route a lot of 170 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: times a bender, and it was almost like Dak bent 171 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: that ball right into Ceedee Lamb exactly where he needed 172 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: it to go, over the linebacker, keeps him away from 173 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: a closing safety. It was a thing of beauty. Led 174 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 1: to the game tying field goal there in the first half. 175 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: Then in the fourth quarter, right when things are kind 176 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: of looking bleak here a little bit there, down they 177 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: got a third and thirty. They put t Y Hilton 178 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: end of the game, it's his only target of the game, 179 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: and Dak Prescott finds him and unleashes a fifty eight 180 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 1: yard pass in the air. I think it goes down 181 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: as a fifty two yard catch, but it went from 182 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,959 Speaker 1: the minus twenty one to the plus twenty one and 183 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: traveled fifty eight in the air, goes for a first 184 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: down right in the bread basket. The t Y Hilton 185 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: is only catch of the game. It was a huge one, uh, 186 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 1: And then they end up helping kind of get this 187 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: get this game back in Dallas favor there. So look, 188 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: I think that watching Dac makes some of those big 189 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: time throws again if they can minimize those turnovers. And 190 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: I think that first one, like, that's a tough play, right, 191 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: He's just trying to get it out on a quick 192 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 1: little throw, and Josh Wet makes a phenomenal play. But 193 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: I think Doc is a reason why this team can 194 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: make a run in the playoffs. Do you think, though, 195 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: as you look at the side of things from Philly, 196 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: how like how much of a difference would Jalen Hurts 197 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: have made in this game for the Eagles? But well, 198 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I think it makes a huge different because 199 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 1: it changes the way they're running game attacks him. We're 200 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: going to minsh going to mins. You can run around 201 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: and make plays on the perimeter. Throwing it, but he's 202 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: not the run of the Jalen Hurts is. And so 203 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: when you have to account for the quarterback as a runner, 204 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 1: it changes in the gates to plus one advantages that 205 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 1: you can have when it comes to defend in the 206 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: run game. It makes you defend an m v P 207 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: caliber playmaker as well. And so for the Dallas Cowboys, 208 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,559 Speaker 1: the biggest weakness has been their run defense and the 209 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,839 Speaker 1: ability to protect uh Dak Prescott into pocket. And so 210 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: without Jalen Hurst, you really couldn't probe and prode that 211 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: had run game to the fullest extent. I think if 212 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: there's another game in the postseason, yeah, it might be 213 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 1: a different story because Jalen Hurts has to be accounted 214 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: for it all times, and I don't know if the 215 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: Cowboys have to wherewithal to slow him down and to 216 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: slow down a very dynamic and diverse running game. Yeah, 217 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: it felt like without Hurts that that Dallas Is run 218 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 1: game on the run defense on that side of the 219 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: ball actually felt a little bit better than it had 220 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: been in the last couple of weeks. But obviously Hurts 221 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: would have made a difference in that regardless you were 222 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: just outlining there that said, do you see the Cowboys 223 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:47,679 Speaker 1: as a real viable Super Bowl contender once they get 224 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 1: into into postseason play. Here, so here's where we have. 225 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: We have maybe a couple of weeks for the Cowboys 226 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: to fix some areas we talked to We talked about 227 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,359 Speaker 1: the run defense. They gotta fix that because in the postseason, 228 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: particularly when the weather changes, people are going to run 229 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: the football. And you look at the teams that are 230 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: making the tournament, all of them have the ability to 231 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: hit you in the mouth with the physical running game. 232 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: So the Cowboys have to fix that. The other thing 233 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: that showed up in this game, I don't know about 234 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: the Smith and Smith combination on the edges. Can Tyler 235 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 1: Smith and Tyrrunn Smith hold up against premier pass rushes 236 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: because even though Dak Prescott had a three hundre yard game, 237 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,199 Speaker 1: he got knocked around by the Philadelphia pass rush. And 238 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: as we think about what works in the postseason, great 239 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: quarterback play and a dominant pass rush. The Eagles have that, 240 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: and some of these other teams, including the San Francisco 241 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: forty niners, they had that. The Cowboys have to fix 242 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: that to have a chance of going far in the tournament. Yeah, 243 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: dak was sack six times in this game by the 244 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 1: talented Eagles defensive front. As you mentioned, on one of 245 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: those sacks, you had both Tyrant and Tyler Smith get 246 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: beat on that play, so you both your tackles get 247 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: beatn dak uh is crunched and there by the Eagles 248 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: defensive line a couple of different times thought there was 249 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: a couple of he might have got been able to 250 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: get rid of the ball before ultimately going down for 251 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: the sack as well. So, um, just something to think about. 252 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: We'll move forward here in the Big Three and let's 253 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: move to Minneapolis, where the Minnesota Vikings got a career 254 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: long sixty one yard fuel goal as time expired from 255 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: Greg Joseph for another dramatic close win for the Minnesota 256 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: Vikings as they take care of business against the New 257 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: York Giants. Twenty four is the final. Vikings moved to 258 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 1: twelve and three, Giants fall to eight six and one. 259 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 1: If they would have won, they would have punched their 260 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: ticket to the postseason based on how everything else shook 261 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: out around them. So let's start with that matchup. We'll 262 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: caught your eye there, but well, because my man, I'm 263 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: still trying to figure out that the Minnesota Vikings. I 264 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: have to minium amount of respect for them winning twelve games, 265 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: but eleven of those games have been one score wins, 266 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: and a lot of them have been these improbable comebacks 267 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: against teams, let's be honest, are lesser teams based on 268 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: what they look like on paper, and so I'll worry 269 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: about their ability to play up or down to the 270 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: level of competition. And I just don't know how good 271 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: this team is because I want to rubber stamp him 272 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: and say, hey, this is one of the heavyweights in 273 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 1: the league, but I don't know if I have a 274 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 1: signature win or signature performance that validates that. So I'm 275 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: worried about this team getting a top seed, but maybe 276 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 1: being one and done these next two weeks. They have 277 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: to figure it out. Because I would like to see 278 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings. I want to see them stop somebody. 279 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: I want to see them blow a team out and 280 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: play a level football on both sides of the ball, 281 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: because until I see that, I go into the postseason 282 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: with a lot of questions and concerns about Kevin O'Connell squad. 283 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: I think I'll echo those questions and concerns, but The 284 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: one thing that calms my nerves a bit is they 285 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: got the best receiver in football right now, and he 286 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: is the best receiver in football when they need him 287 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: to be at his best, which is oftentimes in the 288 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,719 Speaker 1: fourth quarter or in the second half as they're making 289 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: a comeback or trying to get a win late game, 290 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: as they have so often this season. So I went 291 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: back and watched all of Jefferson's targets in the fourth quarter. 292 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: Start with the third and ten. He got this dig 293 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: in the red zone. I mean, like it's a ventually 294 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: versus double coverage, right, but he's got a man over 295 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 1: top of a man underneath. He sticks it at the 296 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: top beautifully. But as you know Buck as a as 297 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:08,839 Speaker 1: a coach, like the one thing you talk about with 298 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: young receivers is it's not just about how fast you 299 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: get to the break point, it's how fast you get 300 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 1: out of the break point, right exploding to create separation. Well, 301 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: he is a nice stick at the top of this 302 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: dig and then absolutely creates like two yards of separation 303 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: because of his acceleration out of the break point. I 304 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: thought it was phenomenal. As like teaching tape on route 305 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: running in the middle and then he h gains ground 306 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: over the middle, ends up getting into the end zone 307 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: for a touchdown to give the Vikes a little bit 308 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: of breathing room. Uh. And then let's go third and 309 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: nine later in the fourth quarter, He's got an out 310 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: route from the slot and creates space for himself by 311 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: challenging the inside technique of the defensive back. Then gets 312 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: back vertical right, which with so many you know, like 313 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: young receivers don't quite realize they end up getting squeezed 314 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: out right and it messes up the timing with the quarterback. 315 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: He gets back vertical, breaks out and I'm telling it's like, 316 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: it's just it's just butter. And there's a reason why 317 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: he and Kirk Cousins have such a great chemistry because 318 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: Kirk can always rely on him to be in the 319 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: right spot at the right time on some of those 320 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: timing throws, especially late there in like third down place 321 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: where you know you've gotta have it beyond the sticks 322 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 1: to keep everything rolling. Then, like like he's a route 323 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: technician as we're talking about here, but it also helps 324 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: when you can just throw them the ball immediately and 325 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: let him just go break tackles, make guys miss and 326 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: be an absolute uh force of nature with the ball 327 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: in his hands, which he does later in the fourth 328 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: on that last drive as they're trying to get him 329 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: fuel cold position to try and take the get the win. 330 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: He has what I think it's close to twenty yards 331 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: on a third down play on a quick screen, sets 332 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: up his blockers, follows him, and then allows Greg Joseph 333 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: to go in there and kick that sixty one yard 334 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: uh sixty one yard game winner. So I just feel 335 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: like Justin Jefferson is always going to give the Vikings 336 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: a chance. But I do understand your point about they 337 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: got they gotta cool it a little bit with the 338 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: nerve wracking wins here some of that. But look, man, 339 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: let's let's be honest about Justin Jefferson read out. I 340 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: don't know how you felt about him coming out, but 341 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: I'm a say I missed the mark, and I missed 342 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: the mark, and I got a phone call from missing 343 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: the mark on TV. Jerry Sullivan, who helped out at 344 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: l s U when he and Jamar chased Jefferin Jefferson. 345 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: Jamar Chase was there, told me that Justin Jefferson was 346 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: a dog and that I would be wrong for keeping 347 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: them at number five on our rankings. And I can't 348 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: remember what the receivers were that came out that year, 349 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: but he said, this, dude, we needed to play at 350 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: l s U. He is the one that the ball 351 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: is going to go to. He could play inside and 352 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: outside and everything that he talked about, everything that Coach 353 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: Sullivan talked about with Jefferson, all the things that you described, 354 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: the timing, the impeccable ability to set defenders up, how 355 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: he creates separation in a variety of ways, how he's 356 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: sure handed, independable, and tough to run after cat skills, 357 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: all of those things. And so now we're so used 358 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: to having these certain names at the top of the 359 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: list where were talking about the best wide receivers in 360 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: the game. But I'm gonna say now the undisputed number 361 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: one receiver in the game today is justin person and 362 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: he proves it each and every week. Red. He has 363 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: twenty four one hundred yard games and forty eight outings. 364 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: That is remarkable, consistent production from a young player. Give 365 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 1: him the crown right now. He is wide receiver one. 366 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: I couldn't agree more certainly the case this year, and 367 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: as you watch in a game, in which he passes 368 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: Randy Moss to set the single season Vikings receiving yardage record. 369 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 1: Pretty dang impressive for Justin Jefferson. And look, I think 370 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: I understand why we kind of, you know, we didn't. 371 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 1: We didn't give Jefferson as many flowers as we should 372 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: have coming out because Jambar Chase is sitting over here, 373 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: you know, with sixty five of his eighty catches going 374 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 1: for touchdowns or first downs on that National Championship run. 375 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think I think we all to a 376 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 1: certain degree missed on Justin Jefferson. All right, let's move 377 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: it on, doctor. Let's get to the Bengals and Patriots 378 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 1: rather here from Foxboro, this is a game. It looked 379 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: like the Bengals were going to absolutely run away with 380 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: scoring on each of their first three possessions. Joe Burrow 381 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: was like, bang bang, bang all over the place. The 382 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: cold weather was no problem for him. But then the 383 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: Patriots defense here Bucky really stepped up. So they have 384 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: twenty two points in the first half, completely shut the 385 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: Bengals down in the second half. They've got a couple 386 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: of turnovers as well, and I'm just you know, like 387 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: they gave the Patriots defense is the reason why they 388 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: were even in this thing to begin with. In the 389 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: second half, their offense was putrid. Six punts to open 390 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: this game. Uh, if you take out a possession that 391 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: ended the first half, I mean it was incredible. How 392 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: inepted this Patriots offense was. They ten first quarter yards 393 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 1: on six place, sixty yards in the second quarter, eight 394 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: in the third quarter, seventy eight total yards of offense 395 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: through forty five minutes. They punted on their first six 396 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: I just is unbelievable how the Patriots defense was able 397 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: to keep this team in the game late. And look, 398 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: I think there's a lot of questions to be asked 399 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: about where this offense is going, with Mac Jones, with 400 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: Matt Patricia, with Bill Belichick overseeing at all um, But 401 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: the one thing that this Patriots defense can count on 402 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: right now is the way their defense is playing. Yeah, 403 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: the defense gives them a chance, and you know what, 404 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: the way things broke, they still have an opportunity to 405 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 1: get into the postseason. And I don't care what anyone says. 406 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: If the Patriots are on your if they're on the 407 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: mark and you have to play him in the postseason, 408 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: you still get a little nervous because you think about 409 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick down up one of those defensive masterpieces, and 410 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: they have the ability to do it. And one of 411 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: the reasons they have the ability to do it on 412 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: defense is because my new favorite player, my favorite young 413 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: player in the league, might be Marcus Jones for the 414 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: New England Patriots. Marcus Jones is everything that is right 415 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: about the Patriots, meaning the versatility, the production, the performance 416 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: of the pressure. He does all of these things. So 417 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, we saw him with I 418 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: think it was the walk off pump return touchdown against 419 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: the Jets where he takes it to the crib and 420 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 1: house calls it just like he did at the University 421 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: of Houston. Now we're seeing him have a pick six 422 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: against Joe Burrow, We're seeing him get a formal recovery 423 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: on a plated Matthew Judon mix. But they put him 424 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: on the offense ratt and if you know the Pagets, 425 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 1: the Patriots love finding the Swiss army knives. And I'm like, Okay, 426 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,719 Speaker 1: I seen you, Bill Belichick. I saw what you did 427 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 1: with Troy Brown. I've seen how you utilize Julian Ellman. 428 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: Marcus Jones is the next utility man that the Patriots 429 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: will make a star. He's a terrific young player who's 430 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 1: really stepped onto the stage and been remarkable from the jump. 431 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: He is the guy to keep an eye on because 432 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: if they do sneak out into the sneak their way 433 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: into the tournament, Marcus Jones is gonna make a play 434 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: that could be a game decider. I mean, it's all 435 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: about keeping up with the Joneses over there in the 436 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: Patriots secretary. They got three of them, three Joneses, including 437 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 1: Marcus and then his fellow rookie Jack Jones. But Marcus, 438 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: the third round pick a Houston, more than proving his 439 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: value and his worth to this Patriots offense, defense, and 440 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: special teams early on in his career. Absolutely right there. So, 441 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,479 Speaker 1: but the Bengals still get to win, and Bucky, are 442 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: you still riding them as the team that's ultimately going 443 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: to be the one that's left standing here in the 444 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 1: a f C. Oh Yeah, I think so, because you 445 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: know what read that first that first half, That first 446 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: half was a terrific first half from in terms of 447 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: watching what the Bengals could do. Joe Burrow was in 448 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: his bag, the weapons that they have. They stress your 449 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: defense in so many ways. On the passing game Tee Higgins, 450 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,959 Speaker 1: Tyler Boy, Jamaar Chase, they can, they can, they can 451 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: really create these mismatches, and Joe Burrow throws to anyone 452 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 1: who is open. And then in the running game, Joe 453 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: mixing Sam j p Ryn being able to run the 454 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: football when it's cold, it gives them an opportunity. So 455 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: from an offensive standpoint, they're good to go. And then 456 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: Lou and our room and the adjustments that he typically 457 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: makes in the second half, he finds a way to 458 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: make like difficult on the quarterback and the play caller. 459 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 1: They give me the Bengals because I've seen the up 460 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 1: and down performance of the Buffalo Bills. Joe Burrow owns 461 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes with a three and old record, So yeah, 462 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna record saying the Bengals are the best team 463 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: in the a f C. I can't wait to see 464 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: a playout eleven and four since ninety Bengals currently the 465 00:21:56,080 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: number three seed and postseason bound once again. Um, there 466 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: was Zach Taylor leading the way the three seed there, 467 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: but looking up at the Kansas City Chiefs and the 468 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:07,639 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills waiting for one of those teams to stumble 469 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 1: down the stretch here so they can advance their seating. 470 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 1: All right, much more to come, including more postseason, more 471 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 1: games with postseason implications, like the Packers visiting the Dolphins, 472 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: the Niners and the Commanders getting together. What went into 473 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: those results, We get into it right after this here 474 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: on mostead, NFL Plus is here, which means, no matter 475 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: where you are, this is how you football. You can 476 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: stream live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet, 477 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: forty five minute game replays with NFL Plus Premium, and more. 478 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: This is the NFL for every fan. This is football freedom. 479 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: This is your game on the go. Go to Plus 480 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 1: dot NFL dot com and sign up now. Well, the 481 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: Packers are keeping their postseason hopes alive after Aaron Rodgers 482 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: said we're not dead yet, and they go down to 483 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: South Florida and they get a win over the Miami 484 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: Dolphins six to twenty on Christmas Day. I'll look Bucky. 485 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get into the fact that you can't win 486 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: when your when your quarterback turns it over on each 487 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: and every one of your possessions in the fourth quarter. 488 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: But let's start with the Green Bay Packers, who are 489 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: winners in this game and we're winners in the draft. 490 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: When it comes to the wide receiver spot, absolutely read 491 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 1: the Packers wide receivers, they're young, White House are developing 492 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: right on time. You notice we haven't heard as much 493 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 1: uh noise about the Packers lacking weapons and those things. 494 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 1: Is because Christian Watson and my real Dobbs are beginning 495 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: to play well. And Kristin Watson particularly is a big playmaker. 496 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: We saw before he went out in injury he was 497 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: beginning to have his way on the perimeter. And the 498 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: other thing that we're seeing a Rodgers beginning to develop 499 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: the trust with his young guys. They're getting the ball 500 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: early and often, they're getting the ball in key situations. 501 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: They're coming through in those situations. And so, yeah, the 502 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: home grown strategy that has worked for the Packers for 503 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 1: two decades, it appears that it's still working. Wasson and 504 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: Doves are beginning to kind of make these plays. And 505 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: as they grow and as they begin to to kind 506 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: of make their market as catching run specialists, they're beginning 507 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: to kind of minimize some of the deficiencies and flaws 508 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 1: that we see from the quarterback so as the Packers 509 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: are rolling maybe into the postseason, the young quarterbacks and 510 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: the young whitehouse are right when they're supposed to be 511 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: when they're supposed to be there. Look at that. Huh, 512 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: just like we all thought it would be after not 513 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 1: drafting another first round of wide receiver this year. But 514 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: they get a couple of a couple of high profile 515 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,880 Speaker 1: ones there with Christian Watson. It was basically a first 516 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 1: rounder like two picks later. But uh yeah, Watson Dobbs 517 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: certainly giving Aaron Rodgers some viable targets here down the stretches. 518 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:35,919 Speaker 1: They continue to try to make a playoff push here. 519 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: It is not out of the question, and they could 520 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: find their way into one of those wild card spots. 521 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: But here's the here's the thing for the Dolphins, who 522 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: are also still in the playoff mix, trying to push 523 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: their way into one of those wild card spots. But 524 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 1: it's not gonna happen if your quarterback throws an interception 525 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: on each and every one of your possessions in the 526 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, which is what to a tunkle Voloa did 527 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: in this game. Went back and looked at those three, 528 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: start with the first one. Look just looking for Tyrek 529 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: on a dig route. Look there's five guys in coverage there, 530 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: but look, sometimes you know, in this league, you gotta 531 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: fit that ball in there. And he just sales it 532 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:07,880 Speaker 1: like that's got to be a ball on a rope 533 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: with some RPMs behind it, and it just didn't have 534 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: it so floated on him picked off. Next one was 535 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 1: a one step throw out of the gun. He's looking 536 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 1: for most Are in the down the seam in the slot, 537 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: and it's like, you just never manipulated the linebacker de 538 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: Andre Campbell's eyes at all. He in fact led him 539 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: right to the past. Now, it did look like there 540 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: was a bit of a miscommunication there, like he was 541 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: expecting most Are to kind of turn his head and 542 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: look for that ball really quickly. Moster Are never did, 543 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: and that ball went right into the hands of the 544 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: Packers linebacker. And then at the end, it's really hard 545 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: to tell what's happening on the pick other than just 546 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:43,639 Speaker 1: being a really off throw. It's either overthrown to Tyreek 547 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: Hill or well underthrown to Mike get sicky Um, And 548 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: like when you can't figure it out, you know, it 549 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: makes you wonder what was he thinking here at this point? 550 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 1: But that's you know, that's under two minutes to play 551 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: at that time, you know you're you're in desperation mode 552 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:57,680 Speaker 1: as you're trying to go down there and try to 553 00:25:57,680 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 1: find your way back into the ball game with the 554 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: Packers leading at that point, and it just they got 555 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: to be able to count on two in those types 556 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 1: of situations, right. I think we've all seen some progress 557 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: here from to a tungle valo under the direction of 558 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: Mike McDaniel. But when you need your quarterback at your best, 559 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: like he's got to be an assassin in that final 560 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes, can't be throwing those kind of those kind 561 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: of balls and those kind of turnovers. Otherwise this is 562 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 1: a Dolphins team, while while they have some promise, that's 563 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: gonna be left home when the postseason comes around. Your button, Yeah, No, 564 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 1: I mean, I think the big thing is when two 565 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: angle below was able to dial dial it up on 566 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 1: r P O s and those things, things that were 567 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: on time. Man, he was able to get the ball 568 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 1: out of his hands. But then when the game got 569 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: tight and the pressure picked up, not necessarily the pass 570 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 1: fresh pressure, but the pressure of the moment, he crumbled 571 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 1: a bid down the stretch and they have three straight 572 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: interceptions to close out the game. Yeah, that's a huge 573 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: problem because now you gotta worry about what is his 574 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: confidence going to be like the next time they get 575 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: into those critical moments. Is he going to a fire 576 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: without fear or is he going to pause and become 577 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: a checkdown specialist. The minute the mind Dolphins are at 578 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:02,880 Speaker 1: their best, we're able to push the ball down the field. 579 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: And it was funny because for so long doing the game, 580 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, the Green Bay Packers are just sitting 581 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: back and let him throw the ball on time and 582 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 1: do all these other things. When we've seen the teams 583 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 1: that have been at their best slowing down this office 584 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: knocking Tyreek Kill and Jaden walder Row so they couldn't 585 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: be factors on the deep ball. But now with I 586 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: think what three four straight losses, the Miami Dolphins are 587 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: in a free for all free fall and a lot 588 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: of it falls on the feet of the quarterback. Can 589 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,880 Speaker 1: to a tongue about loa fix it because the next 590 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: couple of games and maybe in the postseason, everyone is 591 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 1: going to make Number one beat them, and I don't 592 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: know if he's good enough to beat them right now. Yeah, 593 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 1: I mean, look, the Dolphins, based on the state of 594 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 1: the a f C as it stands right now, are 595 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: currently the seventh seed and that final wild card spot. 596 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: But with games against the New England Patriots and against 597 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 1: the New York Jets, all teams vying for those final 598 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:55,239 Speaker 1: that final playoff spot, this is an absolutely crucial uh 599 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 1: stretch for their quarterback, not only for this season but 600 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,640 Speaker 1: ultimately in his developed as the face of that franchise. 601 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 1: Let's move to another game here, and let's go to UM. 602 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 1: The San Francisco forty Niners hosting the Washington Commanders here, 603 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: two teams that have been decimated by injury and in 604 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: efficient inefficiency at the quarterback position going at it obviously 605 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: the Miami the San Francisco forty Niners, with the loss 606 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: of Trey Lance early and then Jimmy Garoppolo late, have 607 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: turned the reins over to Brock Party. And Brock Party 608 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: keeps delivering UM. While it may not be the most 609 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,959 Speaker 1: prolific passing performances that we've ever seen in the NFL, 610 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 1: he knows how to win for this team, and the 611 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 1: forty Niners know their formula to win. As I've said 612 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: before on this podcast, far better than I feel like 613 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,959 Speaker 1: almost any team in football right now. Get the quarterback 614 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: out on the move, don't let him be a sitting 615 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: duck back there in the pocket. Put him in in 616 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: the best possible position to succeed, accentuate his skill set, 617 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: and let him get the hand, get the ball in 618 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: the hands of your playmakers like George Kittle, who goes 619 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: off once again in this game. I just I am 620 00:28:55,440 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: consistently um more impressed with if the way that Brock 621 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: Purty commands this offense, the way that he understands what 622 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: Kyle Shanahan wants him to do, the way that he 623 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 1: can hand it off in that in the framework of 624 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: that offense, and the way that they just kind of 625 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: keep continuing to just plug on without you know, both 626 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: of their first two quarterbacks of the season. So I 627 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: am I'm impressed with Brock Purty. I'm impressed with the 628 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 1: way that Kyle Shanahan and the in that coaching staff 629 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: continues to run that offense. And obviously defensively they are 630 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: forced to be reckoned with clearly they've they've forced a 631 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: quarterback change in this game, Bucky. But to me, I 632 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: mean Brock Purdy was the best quarterback on that field. Yeah, 633 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: it's so funny how they find the right piece to 634 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: kind of do it. And I've said this, Kyle Shanahan 635 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: is playing a video game. He just needs a quarterback 636 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: to beat the joystick. He doesn't need the most talented guy. 637 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: He just needs the guy that understands exactly where the 638 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: ball is supposed to go and to get the ball 639 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: out of his hands. And that is where Brock Purdy 640 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: has done it. Like what he's doing isn't anything remarkable, 641 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: but is steady and consistent. And I think for Shanahan 642 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: he just wants consistency because he can build around it. 643 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: That offense is terrific because they also have so many 644 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: weapons that you can't be right. You take away Christian 645 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: McCaffrey like the Commanders did, it doesn't matter. Brandon aw Yuk, 646 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: George Kittle, Ray Ray McLeod, somebody else stands up and 647 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: makes plays. But really, the cier sauce to their winning 648 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 1: is the defense. The defense is rock solid. Each and 649 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: every week. Nick Bolsa is the defensive player of the year. 650 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: He dominates the game off the edges. They get a 651 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 1: bunch of other dogs that make a bunch of plays 652 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: whether it's Fred Warner or some of the other guys 653 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: on the front seven, they just find a way to 654 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,959 Speaker 1: get it done. And so when you have this combination 655 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: that they have strong running game, dominant defense, complimentary big 656 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: play passing game, there are a lot of wins that 657 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: are gonna come. And so right now, maybe the most 658 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 1: dangerous team in the NFC, the San Francisco forty Niners, 659 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: eh straight wins rounding in the forum as a dominant team. 660 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 1: A lot of it is due to the defense, but 661 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 1: also what you talked about Brock Purdy and what they're 662 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: doing on offense as well. I ain't yang Niner gang 663 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 1: is rolling out in the Bay, no question about it. Meanwhile, 664 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: the Washington Commanders, perhaps the clock striking midnight on the 665 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: Taylor Heineke story just kind of clear that that formula 666 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: not being able to push the ball down the field 667 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: and generate big plays not working right now. He was 668 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 1: replaced by Carson Wentz, so now leaving some question as 669 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 1: to what Ron Rivera will do in the short term 670 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 1: and what that franchise will do in the long term. 671 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,120 Speaker 1: At QB. All right, we're gonna take a quick break 672 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: here on move the Sticks and when we come back 673 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: to touch on a pair of upsets. Texans get by 674 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 1: the Titans, which your Jaguars certainly loved. Bucky and the 675 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: Panthers getting by the red hot Detroit Lions saw that more. 676 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 1: Next year, I moved the Sticks, red lous Bucky Brooks 677 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 1: back here with you on this one day edition of 678 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:48,280 Speaker 1: Move the Sticks. Texans, who have been playing very well 679 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: the last couple of weeks, took the Cowboys and the 680 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: Chiefs down to the wire, but couldn't come up with 681 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: the dub this time do against the Tennessee Titans getting 682 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: to win nineteen of fourteen, five straight losses or the 683 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 1: Tennessee Titans. And here's the interesting part of this, because 684 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: the battle at the line, I felt like, for the 685 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 1: most part the run game was won by the Tennessee 686 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: Titans because they got another hundred twenty three yards out 687 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: of Derrick Henry in this game, who has dominated the 688 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: Houston Texans in in recent games against them. But I 689 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: think it's just another example of why this formula for 690 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: Tennessee just isn't working anymore. They don't have what it 691 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: takes to complement Henry on the perimeter. They had the 692 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: rookie quarterback, you know doing you know his level best 693 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 1: in this game, subbing in for the injured Ryan Tannehill. 694 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: But it's just not enough. They don't have enough and 695 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: this formula is not enough for the Tennessee Titans to 696 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 1: kind of stop the bleeding here and get themselves back 697 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 1: into the postseason. This division, which is now led by 698 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 1: the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bucky Is, there's to win after this game. 699 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:44,680 Speaker 1: That's just the way it is right now. Yeah, that's 700 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: from Tennessee Titans. Just because Malik Willis isn't ready. Everyone 701 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: who Evay waited Malik Willis knew that he's a year 702 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: or two away for me to start a quarterback. And 703 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 1: now he's thrust into a situation where he has to 704 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: make plays and plays in the passing game. So unless 705 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator tied down can do something over the next 706 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 1: week or two where they can make the leak, Willis 707 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: a bigger threat either using some of those r P 708 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 1: O s or using some of the option concepts that 709 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 1: we're seeing other mobile quarterbacks utilize to really take advantage 710 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: of their running skills. Is going to be hard for 711 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 1: the Tennessee Titans to generate enough points to win but 712 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 1: let's talk about the Texans and the Texans and how 713 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 1: they've improved over the last few weeks under Lovey Smith 714 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:27,240 Speaker 1: and this this crew. The one thing that I will 715 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: say and watching the Texans throughout the season, they play hard. 716 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: It's not always playing well, but they certainly play hard 717 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: when they're they're beginning to play well together, forcing turnovers. 718 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 1: Lovees diversified these defensive scheme a little bit. They're getting 719 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: into kind of production on defense that you want to see. 720 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 1: And then this casting misfits, misfits on offense or making plays. 721 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 1: I saw Mary Rogers makes some plays. I've seen they're 722 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: tied end makes some plays. I've seen these teams kind 723 00:33:56,080 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: of come together using a platoon system at quarterback Jeff 724 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,440 Speaker 1: Drift school Davis Mills coming in and out. The game 725 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 1: looks like a little high school game sometimes on Friday nights. 726 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 1: But it's been effective for them and it's one of 727 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 1: the reason they were able to chocoup and win against 728 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 1: a Tennessee Titans team that appears to be sliding out 729 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 1: of the postseason. Yeah. Look, and I agree with you 730 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 1: with your thoughts on Malik Willis for Tennessee, but it's 731 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:21,160 Speaker 1: not just on him like Ryan Tannehill wasn't succeeding in 732 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 1: the current framework in formula this offense. When you know 733 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 1: by just by just having Derrick Henry available to create 734 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: yards and explosive plays for your offense, it's not enough. 735 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 1: It's just simply isn't anymore. And they gotta figure out 736 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:34,080 Speaker 1: another path forward here, but it probably will be one 737 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 1: that is going to be forged in the off season 738 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,520 Speaker 1: for Tennessee as they are sliding right out of the postse. 739 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:42,359 Speaker 1: How about your Jacksonville Jaguars Buckey going from the nine 740 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,000 Speaker 1: seed to the four seed and the framework of like 741 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:47,439 Speaker 1: four or five days here, a week sixteen and a baby, 742 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,000 Speaker 1: you'll be talking about a playoff team here, and just 743 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:51,839 Speaker 1: a little bit with the way Jacksonville has been playing, 744 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:54,400 Speaker 1: let's move though to another team with designs. Two teams 745 00:34:54,440 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: really with designs on making the playoffs, the Lions and 746 00:34:56,719 --> 00:35:00,040 Speaker 1: the Panthers. Lions visiting Charlotte, which is the cold this 747 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:03,439 Speaker 1: game in Carolina Panthers franchise history, and it felt extra 748 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,560 Speaker 1: cold for Detroit who lost this game thirty seven to 749 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 1: twenty three. I think they gave up two hundred yards 750 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 1: rushing in like the first five minutes of the game. 751 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: It was incredible how Carolina out tough, out, physical, outran 752 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:18,080 Speaker 1: the Detroit Lions, and ultimately Bucky ran away with this game. Yeah, 753 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:20,440 Speaker 1: it was amazing to watch, and I'm gonna give it. 754 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:23,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you credit to Steve Wilkes in terms 755 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 1: of making sure that he put an identity in place 756 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:28,399 Speaker 1: for this team. This team is a physical football team. 757 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 1: Since he's taken over, everyone knows exactly who the Panthers 758 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 1: are when they walk in the building. They're gonna run 759 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,319 Speaker 1: the football, they're gonna throw it deep, and they will 760 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,279 Speaker 1: play great defense. And that's what they were able to 761 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 1: do against the Detroit Lions. And from my offensive identity standpoint, 762 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:44,440 Speaker 1: running the football has not only given this team a 763 00:35:44,520 --> 00:35:47,239 Speaker 1: level of toughness and physicality that you want to show off. 764 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: Their offensive line dominated at the point of attack, but 765 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 1: now I'm seeing Sam Donald played pretty well behind it 766 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 1: because they're asking them to do things in a very 767 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:59,759 Speaker 1: limited role, meaning that I asking him thirty times a game. 768 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 1: At twenty twenty two throws, he had two hundred and 769 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: fifty passing yards and he's making plays. And so if 770 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 1: the Panthers keep this up, man, I think David Teffer 771 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 1: is going to be forced to keep Steve Wilkes because 772 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 1: this team looks completely different than the team we watched 773 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:17,920 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the year. And I will say this, 774 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: they're doing it with lesser par us. Christoph McCaffrey's not there, 775 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,120 Speaker 1: They've gotten rid of other players, but this team is 776 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: playing better. I think it speaks volumes to what Steve 777 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 1: Wilkes has done, and I think a lot of that 778 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,600 Speaker 1: is due to the offensive identity this team is adopted. 779 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 1: It's incredible, incredible turnaround for Carolina who amassed five hundred 780 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:38,560 Speaker 1: and seventy yards of total offense over three hundred yards 781 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:42,120 Speaker 1: of rushing offense, which I feel like are direct affronts 782 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:46,120 Speaker 1: to the philosophy and to the messaging from Dan Campbell 783 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:48,120 Speaker 1: over on the other side as the head coach of 784 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:51,479 Speaker 1: the Detroit Lions, and that has got to hit hard 785 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:53,480 Speaker 1: and strike right at the heart of what the Lions 786 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:57,000 Speaker 1: are trying to pride themselves on. No pun intended um there, 787 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 1: and now their their playoff chances take a hit, while 788 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: the Panthers, who when they fired Matt Rule seemed destined 789 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 1: for a top three draft pick, now control their own 790 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:08,799 Speaker 1: destiny in order to win the NFC South win their 791 00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 1: final two, including next week in the Tampa Bay Bucks. 792 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,720 Speaker 1: And you're talking about the Carolina Panthers as a playoff 793 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: football team. My goodness, is that in the cards for 794 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 1: the Steelers and Raiders after a Christmas Eve night matchup 795 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:25,560 Speaker 1: or we honored the late Frank o'harris will dig into 796 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 1: it right after this here, I'll move the stick loose. 797 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:33,680 Speaker 1: Bucky Brooks back here with you on Move the Stikes 798 00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:35,440 Speaker 1: precapping us some of the biggest news of the day, 799 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:40,640 Speaker 1: the Denver Broncos firing head coach Nathaniel Hacketts after fifteen 800 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 1: games here following their Week sixteen fourteen embarrassment of a 801 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:47,800 Speaker 1: loss to the l A Rams on Christmas Day. So 802 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:50,319 Speaker 1: Hackett is out in the Broncos search for a new 803 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:53,480 Speaker 1: head coach begins immediately. Much more on what that new 804 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:56,279 Speaker 1: head coach might look like for Denver coming up on 805 00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:58,719 Speaker 1: tomorrow's episode of Move the Sticks. For now that we 806 00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:02,320 Speaker 1: get back to the action from week's sixteen, the Raiders 807 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,400 Speaker 1: and the Steelers renewing an a f C rivalry on 808 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:07,720 Speaker 1: Christmas Eve night. You saw it live. You're on NFL 809 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:10,759 Speaker 1: Network as we honored the life of Frank o'harris and 810 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 1: celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the play that he authored, 811 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:17,080 Speaker 1: the greatest play in NFL history, the Immaculate Reception. And 812 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:19,279 Speaker 1: while I don't know if any of the catches on 813 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,560 Speaker 1: that final drive, led by Kenny Pickett, are worthy of 814 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:26,960 Speaker 1: the adjective immaculate, but they were crucial and crucial to 815 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 1: the Steelers getting another win, their second in a row 816 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:33,799 Speaker 1: here as they keep kind of flirting with that first 817 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:36,279 Speaker 1: losing season and Mike Tomlin's tenure, but they won't let 818 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:39,080 Speaker 1: it happen. And I thought Kenny Pickett was excellent on 819 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,799 Speaker 1: that last drive, a ten play, seventy six yard drive, 820 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:43,840 Speaker 1: two two minutes and nine seconds off the clock, and 821 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:45,719 Speaker 1: they take the thirteen to ten lead. Is pick it 822 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: two pickens for fourteen gives them six and the final 823 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: margin in that game, Bucky, I think there's still a 824 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,960 Speaker 1: lot to like about that potential connection and about some 825 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,799 Speaker 1: of these young players for Pittsburgh. Yeah, I'm gonna say this, man, 826 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:01,279 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin can coach, because this is a team that 827 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:03,160 Speaker 1: was terrible at the beginning of the year. Man, they were, 828 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 1: they were awful. You know, it was hard to watch. 829 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:08,200 Speaker 1: You couldn't figure out there were two and six. They 830 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,400 Speaker 1: appear to be a runnerless ship. And now they've reeled 831 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 1: off five wins in their last seven games. Defensively, they 832 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:17,840 Speaker 1: have been given up over twenty points in six of 833 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:20,600 Speaker 1: those games. And so they're beginning to come on board 834 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:22,440 Speaker 1: because Mike Tomland has put a lot of it on 835 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,200 Speaker 1: the experienced defense to kind of carry the word while 836 00:39:25,239 --> 00:39:27,600 Speaker 1: the young offense kind of makes it strides. And so 837 00:39:27,719 --> 00:39:30,440 Speaker 1: it's working. On the other side with the Raiders, I 838 00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:32,840 Speaker 1: am just surprised. We talked about this team. When they 839 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:35,120 Speaker 1: made the trade for Davante Adams, there was a lot 840 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:37,759 Speaker 1: of celebration. There was a lot of h Hey, the 841 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:40,240 Speaker 1: Raiders are ready to go to the Super Bowl because offensively, 842 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:43,240 Speaker 1: how are you gonna stop this offense? You got Josh Jacobs, 843 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 1: Darren Waller, Davante Adams, Hunter, renfro look at all these 844 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:51,600 Speaker 1: all pros around Derek Carr. This offense will be unstoppable. 845 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,319 Speaker 1: And then you watch them on Saturday Night and they 846 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:57,160 Speaker 1: only can get ten points. I mean, they can't move 847 00:39:57,200 --> 00:40:00,440 Speaker 1: the football. Josh Jacobs is Aaron got his first rations. 848 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:03,360 Speaker 1: Davante Adams can't get the ball enough, and you just 849 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:06,880 Speaker 1: wonder where did it go wrong? How can you have 850 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 1: so much talent and underperformed to the level that the 851 00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:13,520 Speaker 1: Raiders have. Yeah, everyone can blame the quarterback, and Derek 852 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 1: Kark has certainly played better, But at some point, Man 853 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:19,840 Speaker 1: Josh McDaniels was hired to be an offensive wizard and 854 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,799 Speaker 1: what we're saying is not a lot of wizardry from 855 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:25,640 Speaker 1: this office. They have to get better, They gotta they 856 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:27,399 Speaker 1: have to get better in a hurry because the only 857 00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:30,239 Speaker 1: outside looking in they just can't get right. And it's 858 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:32,600 Speaker 1: really disappointing to see with so much talent that they 859 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 1: have available. Yeah, I think that's fair. I mean, you're 860 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,240 Speaker 1: talking about a team in the Las Vegas Raiders, currently 861 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:39,920 Speaker 1: the twelve seed in the a f C, five spots 862 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,120 Speaker 1: out of a playoff berth in the Pittsburgh Steelers one 863 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:44,000 Speaker 1: spot ahead of them right now. Is gonna be tough 864 00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:45,480 Speaker 1: for either one of those teams, I feel like, but 865 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:48,640 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh putting themselves, at least in the conversation, to have 866 00:40:48,680 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 1: a better shot at the postseason. As we continue that 867 00:40:51,560 --> 00:40:54,040 Speaker 1: playoff push here over the course of these final two 868 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:56,600 Speaker 1: weeks of the regular season, but of course one game 869 00:40:56,880 --> 00:40:59,560 Speaker 1: left to go tonight, and that will feature the Chargers 870 00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:02,279 Speaker 1: and the Holts on Monday Night Football. We'll talk a 871 00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:04,840 Speaker 1: bit about that game and much more on the firing 872 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:07,160 Speaker 1: of Nathaniel Hackett as the head coach there for the 873 00:41:07,239 --> 00:41:09,600 Speaker 1: Denver Broncos, what it means moving forward. Thanks so much 874 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:11,680 Speaker 1: for being with us here on this edition of Moved 875 00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:13,640 Speaker 1: the Sticks. Check out all of our digital content all 876 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:16,840 Speaker 1: over the NFL's YouTube, the NFL app uh and everywhere 877 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 1: you consume you're Moved the Sticks content. Thanks again for 878 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:21,040 Speaker 1: being with us. Red those Brooks back with you at 879 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:21,239 Speaker 1: mom