WEBVTT - #17: Ravens soaring, Chiefs free-falling!

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<v Speaker 1>NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in

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<v Speaker 1>partnership with iHeartRadio.

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<v Speaker 2>Hope you had a merry Christmas, everybody, Happy Holidays. Welcome

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<v Speaker 2>to a week seventeen edition of the official, the one,

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<v Speaker 2>the Only, except no cut rate imitation NFL Power Ranking Show,

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<v Speaker 2>presented to you by Energizer from his home office outside Chicago.

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<v Speaker 2>On one side of the screen, Eric at home from

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<v Speaker 2>my parents' home office somewhere outside our nation's capital, with

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<v Speaker 2>a picture of Brian Side lurking over my shoulder. My

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<v Speaker 2>name is Andrew Sicilian. I hope everyone had a fantastic

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas at home. What did Sanna bring you anything good?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah? A lot of socks, A lot I think I

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<v Speaker 3>got another boy, a lot of Yeah, a lot of

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<v Speaker 3>books too, So I've really kind of settled into middle

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<v Speaker 3>age here. How about you?

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<v Speaker 2>What did Sanna bring me a gift card to my

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<v Speaker 2>favorite outdoor store?

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<v Speaker 3>And how about that Bete?

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<v Speaker 2>No, but I could use the oven mitt to now

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<v Speaker 2>make something with the new cookbook? How about that? That work?

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<v Speaker 2>That's right? I like it all right. Here's what Santa

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<v Speaker 2>also brought you? No clarity really other than number one

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<v Speaker 2>scan the QR code on the screen. Here we're go

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<v Speaker 2>to NFL dot com slash Power Rankings to see the

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<v Speaker 2>brand new heading the week seventeen two more weeks to

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<v Speaker 2>go Power Rankings. You got the Ravens at number one.

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<v Speaker 2>That's where the clarity is because they just thumped the

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<v Speaker 2>forty nine ers. San Francisco is too, Miami is three,

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<v Speaker 2>Phillias four after an performance on Christmas Day barely hanging

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<v Speaker 2>on and beating the Giants. The Lions are five, followed

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<v Speaker 2>by the Cowboys, the Bills, and then God's team, the

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<v Speaker 2>Cleveland Browns. Let's start with the Ravens. They, clearly, eric

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<v Speaker 2>are the best team in football, and they're the team

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<v Speaker 2>of the week, and the Team of the Week is

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<v Speaker 2>presented to you by Truest. I thought they would beat

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<v Speaker 2>the forty nine ers. I didn't think they would demoralize

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<v Speaker 2>the forty nine ers. I didn't think that they would

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<v Speaker 2>plant a flag, not only for Lamar as MVP again,

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<v Speaker 2>but for the clear number one Eric. I think the

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<v Speaker 2>gap between number one and number two was huge on

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas Night.

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<v Speaker 3>Absolutely right, and early on they had to kind of

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<v Speaker 3>stem the tide a little bit. They had the early

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<v Speaker 3>safety Niners had driven down the field twice, so there

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<v Speaker 3>was a little bit of momentum and angry crowd, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>folks wanting to get back home. But man, it was

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<v Speaker 3>an impressive performance that I think was really spearheaded by

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<v Speaker 3>that defense. Mike McDonald's done such a great job. I

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<v Speaker 3>think k'llby mentioned in head coaching interviews in a couple

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<v Speaker 3>of weeks, but right now they're obviously focused on winning

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<v Speaker 3>a Super Bowl, and this is the biggest statement I

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<v Speaker 3>think they've made all season long. Correct me if I'm wrong.

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<v Speaker 3>As you said, it checked off so many boxes, even

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<v Speaker 3>without a run game. They didn't do a ton offensively

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<v Speaker 3>early on, but didn't need to because they won the

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<v Speaker 3>battle in the line at the line of scrimmage. And yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>this just says as much of off the Ravens I

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<v Speaker 3>think it does about the forty nine ers.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm also glad that safety on the grounding from the

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<v Speaker 2>first quarter didn't factor, so we wouldn't be talking about

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<v Speaker 2>that all week as well. And by the way, lamar,

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<v Speaker 2>why are you running twenty five yards backwards into the

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<v Speaker 2>end zone. Yes, the official guy in your way, Yes

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<v Speaker 2>it should not have been intentional grounding, but come on, dude,

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<v Speaker 2>stop running twenty five yards backwards. The road to the

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<v Speaker 2>super Bowl in the AFC, I think is pretty clear now.

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<v Speaker 2>It is going to run through Baltimore. That is, unless

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<v Speaker 2>the Dolphins can beat the Ravens coming up this week

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<v Speaker 2>in Baltimore, which I don't think they will do. Ravens

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<v Speaker 2>win that game, they wrap up everything, the home field

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<v Speaker 2>by and number one in the AFC. They are clearly

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<v Speaker 2>the number one team. We'll get to the Dolphins in

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<v Speaker 2>a second. The Niners are the best team in the NFC, Eric,

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<v Speaker 2>you have them at number two overall. The bonkers stat

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<v Speaker 2>for me is the Niners are one and three against

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<v Speaker 2>the AFC, nor one of three. They won Week one

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<v Speaker 2>in Pittsburgh, destroyed the Steelers. They're ten and one against

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<v Speaker 2>everyone else.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, and that's going to help them when they go

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<v Speaker 3>for the top seed. Obviously, they're still the big favorites

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<v Speaker 3>in the NFC to get that first round by you know,

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<v Speaker 3>they're nine to one against the NFC right now. So yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>it really doesn't sort of, you know, make you feel

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<v Speaker 3>better about it, just but it is a little bit

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<v Speaker 3>bizarre that they've had such trouble with this one division,

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<v Speaker 3>and maybe it's toughness, right we saw the Bengals last weekend.

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<v Speaker 3>Man handled things like that, and you say to yourself,

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<v Speaker 3>this is still the AFC Nord. This is still a

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<v Speaker 3>physical division. So it does kind of paint a picture

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<v Speaker 3>of really what the forty nine ers have to figure

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<v Speaker 3>out in the trenches, not just defensively losing those two

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<v Speaker 3>d tackles, but on the offensive line. A ton of

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<v Speaker 3>injuries last Monday night. So yeah, they have some things

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<v Speaker 3>to figure out on the line of scrimmage. For all

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<v Speaker 3>their skill talent they have, that's a big concern for

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<v Speaker 3>me right now.

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<v Speaker 2>You are not ready to throw brock perty forget about

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<v Speaker 2>it out of the MVP conversation, but out of the

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<v Speaker 2>quarterback conversation. You're not one of these go play Sam

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<v Speaker 2>Darnold people, are you? No?

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<v Speaker 3>I think they handled it the right way, right He

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<v Speaker 3>gets a little banged up on the sack and they say, hey,

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<v Speaker 3>we're down to linemen here. We're not going to get

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<v Speaker 3>you hurt behind a shoddy offensive line. So I understand

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<v Speaker 3>the reactionary nature of that, but yeah, I'm not going there.

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<v Speaker 3>You don't go from MVP too out of the lineup

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<v Speaker 3>when in one week span.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm a huge Rock Party fan, I think Christian McCaffrey

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<v Speaker 2>clearly showed his value to the national audience, not as

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<v Speaker 2>if he had not done that before when he did

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<v Speaker 2>what he did last night. My MVP vote, however, does

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<v Speaker 2>go for Lamar Jackson. If I did have an MVP vote,

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<v Speaker 2>he was the best player on the field. And I think,

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<v Speaker 2>as Patrick Queen liked to say or said afterwards, nobody

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<v Speaker 2>wants to play our style of football. And surprisingly on

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas Night that included the forty nine ers. We have

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<v Speaker 2>the Dolphins at number three again they go to Baltimore

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<v Speaker 2>this week, and then at number four we have the Eagles.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's do future champions now and focus on the Eagles

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<v Speaker 2>Future Champions presented by Fan Duel. This is odds to

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<v Speaker 2>win the NFC East. The Eagles are minus four ninety.

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<v Speaker 2>After the Cowboys lost in Miami and the Eagles win,

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<v Speaker 2>this is going to be the Eagles division here. They

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<v Speaker 2>are up one spot. They get the Cardinals at home

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<v Speaker 2>and then the Giants on the road. Who knows what

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<v Speaker 2>the Giants are going to look like by that point

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<v Speaker 2>week eighteen, they've already been eliminated. They have a quarterback question,

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<v Speaker 2>as Tyrod had to come off the bench when Tommy

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<v Speaker 2>DeVito couldn't get anything going. But as we said last week, Eric,

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<v Speaker 2>the Eagles are fine, but they don't look like a champion.

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<v Speaker 2>They don't look like a Super Bowl team here.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, are they truly future champions? Obviously last season came

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<v Speaker 3>so close to winning it all. I think entered this

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<v Speaker 3>year with the you know, even higher expectations in some cases,

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<v Speaker 3>but it hasn't always quite added up. The defense has

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<v Speaker 3>been a problem. They've let teams back in games, like

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<v Speaker 3>you see with the Giants game up twenty to three.

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<v Speaker 3>Backup quarterback comes in kind of rallies them, hurts making

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<v Speaker 3>a couple of bad decisions, So you know, there's still

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<v Speaker 3>all these loose ends. I feel like they have a

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<v Speaker 3>tie up, but they took care of business. They're now

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<v Speaker 3>the big favorites to win that division, and obviously the

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<v Speaker 3>spoils that come with at the home field advantage and

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<v Speaker 3>all of that. But yeah, I still have to tighten

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<v Speaker 3>up the whole operation, even with some witable games Arizona

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<v Speaker 3>and Giants again coming up.

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<v Speaker 2>So the Eagles win the NFC East if they win

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<v Speaker 2>this week and the Cowboys lose, as you have them here,

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<v Speaker 2>they're the number four team and the look they can

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<v Speaker 2>still take and still make a run here. But the

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<v Speaker 2>early noise in September, from what I thought were just

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<v Speaker 2>bitter angry Eagle fans and writers who are looking something,

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<v Speaker 2>looking for something to be bitter and angry about, seemingly

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<v Speaker 2>was right all along, because the Eagles do have some issues,

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<v Speaker 2>but who knows what's going to happen once they do

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<v Speaker 2>get in and they are in in January, the Lions

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<v Speaker 2>are in as well, Eric, and the Lions are in

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<v Speaker 2>as champions of the NFC North. They are up to

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<v Speaker 2>they are now number five. What an amazing moment there,

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<v Speaker 2>Dan Campbell after they beat the Vikings and they won

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<v Speaker 2>the division for the first time in thirty years. That

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<v Speaker 2>party in the locker room, there was a lot of cursing.

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<v Speaker 2>But you know what, Dan Campbell, the cartoon, I think

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<v Speaker 2>that many people thought he was forget about it. This

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<v Speaker 2>guy's real and his team believes in him.

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<v Speaker 3>It was easy to jump on him as sort of

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<v Speaker 3>a caricature, as you said, and the biting decaps and

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<v Speaker 3>all that. But you know, there was a point a

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<v Speaker 3>couple of weeks ago where this team looked really, really

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<v Speaker 3>shaky in heading into big divisional games. Heading into a

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<v Speaker 3>game against the Vikings that turned out to be a classic,

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<v Speaker 3>you may not thought they had the mental toughness to

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<v Speaker 3>do it. They really sort of firmed up there. Defense,

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<v Speaker 3>made the four interceptions, just enough of plays offensively, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>Saint Brown and Jamier Gibbs has been terrific. Of course,

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<v Speaker 3>Jamison Williams chipping in every week now, which is a

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<v Speaker 3>great development. But yeah, this is a terrific moment for

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<v Speaker 3>the Lions. Fans have waited so long. I still think

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<v Speaker 3>there's work to be done though, Andrew, and obviously a

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<v Speaker 3>big test this week with Dallas, so you know, they

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<v Speaker 3>continue to prep for the playoffs. Now that you're in,

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<v Speaker 3>you put all that behind you. You take the pressure

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<v Speaker 3>off of you. But you also have to realize that

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<v Speaker 3>defense gave up a lot of yards to Nick Mullins

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<v Speaker 3>and company. So there's still work to be done to

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<v Speaker 3>make this thing humming at full operational speed.

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<v Speaker 2>Here and Nick Mullins did not play well, but they

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<v Speaker 2>were still in that game to the very end. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>Lions get the big pick late and they celebrate and

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<v Speaker 2>they are NFC nors champions and they will get a

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<v Speaker 2>home playoff game. I am happy for them. I'm also

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<v Speaker 2>fascinated Eric to see what happens this week when the

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<v Speaker 2>Lions go on the road. They're five, and then this

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<v Speaker 2>week they visit the six. In your new Power rankings,

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<v Speaker 2>the six are the Dallas Cowboys, who are down three

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<v Speaker 2>after losing in Miami to the Dolphins. That game, for me,

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<v Speaker 2>was kind of a battle of paper champions, a battle

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<v Speaker 2>of two teams that really hadn't beaten anybody. The Cowboys

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<v Speaker 2>can't beat anybody on the road. The Dolphins just couldn't

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<v Speaker 2>beat anybody. The Dolphins finally did beat somebody that was

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<v Speaker 2>a Dallas team that couldn't win on the road. So

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<v Speaker 2>I have no idea what to make of this team,

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<v Speaker 2>or either of these teams or this game. All I

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<v Speaker 2>know is you have the Cowboys last week at three

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<v Speaker 2>and now they're at six.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I'm with you. I had a hard time sort

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<v Speaker 3>of placing the right spot for them. You're right, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>the road woves continue. They are terrific at home. Obviously

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<v Speaker 3>the lines are great on the road. So I think

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<v Speaker 3>this game is going to be really interesting. As we mentioned,

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<v Speaker 3>I think both teams have something to play for. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 3>Dallas is kind of up against the division wise, but

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<v Speaker 3>got to get better on third downs on offense, can't

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<v Speaker 3>miss those possessions. I think teams are going to try

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<v Speaker 3>to turn into you know, eight possession games, and you

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<v Speaker 3>fumble on the one yard line on the first one,

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<v Speaker 3>you're already up against it. That's the position Dallas found

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<v Speaker 3>themselves in. Left too much time on the clock there

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<v Speaker 3>after the late touchdown and gave up the winning drive

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<v Speaker 3>on defense. So yeah, it just four or five plays

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<v Speaker 3>went the wrong way. I don't think this is by

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<v Speaker 3>any means a bad team, but I do think they have,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, just enough problems right now to where you say,

0:10:51.903 --> 0:10:54.943
<v Speaker 3>in an elite matchup, possibly away from home. You know,

0:10:55.023 --> 0:10:58.023
<v Speaker 3>that's what they're staring at right now. They may not

0:10:58.103 --> 0:10:59.223
<v Speaker 3>be the best team on the field.

0:11:00.063 --> 0:11:03.143
<v Speaker 2>No, I'm torn because part of you there are no

0:11:03.183 --> 0:11:05.663
<v Speaker 2>moral victories here. Part of you wants to say, hey,

0:11:05.663 --> 0:11:07.663
<v Speaker 2>they went on the road, right, this is a much

0:11:07.743 --> 0:11:10.463
<v Speaker 2>different performance than what we have seen on the road

0:11:10.583 --> 0:11:14.143
<v Speaker 2>from the Cowboys against good teams. But you still lost

0:11:14.183 --> 0:11:17.343
<v Speaker 2>on the road right in good weather for the most part,

0:11:17.663 --> 0:11:20.823
<v Speaker 2>against a team that can't beat good teams. So I

0:11:20.863 --> 0:11:23.103
<v Speaker 2>mean it's almost as like, does that did the game

0:11:23.143 --> 0:11:26.263
<v Speaker 2>actually happen? Did I learn anything? I'm not sure, And

0:11:26.303 --> 0:11:28.063
<v Speaker 2>I've said all along, I don't know that I'm going

0:11:28.103 --> 0:11:32.103
<v Speaker 2>to learn anything about the Cowboys until we get to January.

0:11:32.183 --> 0:11:36.223
<v Speaker 2>Whatever they do in the regular season, it's nice, that's fine.

0:11:36.343 --> 0:11:38.783
<v Speaker 2>You know what, Call me in twenty twenty four, call

0:11:38.823 --> 0:11:41.783
<v Speaker 2>me in January, and then we'll figure out whether or

0:11:41.783 --> 0:11:45.903
<v Speaker 2>not your season was a success. Which sounds unfair, but

0:11:47.103 --> 0:11:48.823
<v Speaker 2>I don't know that it is, because that's how we're

0:11:48.823 --> 0:11:50.623
<v Speaker 2>all judge, and that's how anyone is judged in the

0:11:50.703 --> 0:11:52.503
<v Speaker 2>NFL's what you do in the postseason, all right? Sam

0:11:52.543 --> 0:11:54.783
<v Speaker 2>goes for the Bills. Nobody wants to face the Bills.

0:11:55.063 --> 0:11:58.663
<v Speaker 2>You have them this week at number seven in the

0:11:58.703 --> 0:12:01.983
<v Speaker 2>New Power rankings. They are up one. Dude. They barely

0:12:02.103 --> 0:12:05.143
<v Speaker 2>survived against Gifts Smith and East and Stick.

0:12:05.703 --> 0:12:07.623
<v Speaker 3>I'm just glad I know how to pronounce Gifts Smith.

0:12:07.703 --> 0:12:12.143
<v Speaker 3>Now I've been wondering for weeks. Yeah, har g Suckgy,

0:12:12.223 --> 0:12:14.263
<v Speaker 3>what is it? You know? Look this this Bill's team

0:12:14.303 --> 0:12:17.983
<v Speaker 3>can be soft against lesser competition. I mean that's the thing.

0:12:18.023 --> 0:12:19.863
<v Speaker 3>I feel like they do sort of play up or

0:12:19.943 --> 0:12:22.823
<v Speaker 3>down to the team they're facing sometimes and I'm gonna

0:12:22.823 --> 0:12:25.623
<v Speaker 3>say all the positive momentum that they've racked up over

0:12:25.663 --> 0:12:27.783
<v Speaker 3>the past couple of weeks has been undone. But it

0:12:27.823 --> 0:12:30.943
<v Speaker 3>does remind you that you know, at their worst, they

0:12:30.983 --> 0:12:33.743
<v Speaker 3>can blow a game like this. Almost did enough place

0:12:33.783 --> 0:12:37.463
<v Speaker 3>from Josh Allen, you know Ed Oliver, you know Rasul Douglas.

0:12:37.503 --> 0:12:40.143
<v Speaker 3>They got it done. But you know, this is the

0:12:40.183 --> 0:12:42.743
<v Speaker 3>sort of the reality they're facing right now, especially with

0:12:42.823 --> 0:12:45.943
<v Speaker 3>the same prospect as the Cowboys. Probably have to go

0:12:45.983 --> 0:12:47.263
<v Speaker 3>on the road if you want to get to a

0:12:47.263 --> 0:12:50.303
<v Speaker 3>super Bowl or come darn close. So you know, again,

0:12:50.663 --> 0:12:54.223
<v Speaker 3>they might have a wider variety of outcomes and Josh

0:12:54.303 --> 0:12:57.503
<v Speaker 3>Allen can give you an MVP like performance, But it

0:12:57.623 --> 0:12:59.743
<v Speaker 3>still worries me that this team is having these kinds

0:12:59.783 --> 0:13:00.263
<v Speaker 3>of issues.

0:13:01.183 --> 0:13:04.183
<v Speaker 2>But flip it around. If you're the team that wins

0:13:04.223 --> 0:13:07.183
<v Speaker 2>your and then finds out that Josh Allen and the

0:13:07.223 --> 0:13:10.423
<v Speaker 2>Buffalo Bills are coming to town and you're hosting that

0:13:10.503 --> 0:13:14.743
<v Speaker 2>wild card game, that would make me worried because that

0:13:14.903 --> 0:13:18.343
<v Speaker 2>is the last wild card team I want coming to town.

0:13:18.583 --> 0:13:20.983
<v Speaker 2>It looks as if the Browns are a wild card team.

0:13:21.063 --> 0:13:23.103
<v Speaker 2>You have them at number eight, ers in the building

0:13:23.143 --> 0:13:25.623
<v Speaker 2>calling it for Browns Radio when Amari Cooper put up

0:13:25.623 --> 0:13:28.223
<v Speaker 2>one of the best performances you'll ever see in any

0:13:28.303 --> 0:13:31.943
<v Speaker 2>game at any time from a wide receiver head home.

0:13:32.383 --> 0:13:37.103
<v Speaker 2>They with Joe Flacco can clinch on Thursday night against

0:13:37.143 --> 0:13:38.783
<v Speaker 2>the Jets.

0:13:38.783 --> 0:13:41.223
<v Speaker 3>Pretty incredible. Yeah, I mean, he's lit a fire under

0:13:41.223 --> 0:13:43.943
<v Speaker 3>this team. He's changed the complete trajectory of what we

0:13:43.983 --> 0:13:47.183
<v Speaker 3>thought was possible. So, you know, an amazing development in

0:13:47.343 --> 0:13:49.503
<v Speaker 3>season that I don't think anyone could have seen coming.

0:13:49.583 --> 0:13:52.223
<v Speaker 3>And you know, the defense continues to do great things.

0:13:52.223 --> 0:13:54.463
<v Speaker 3>A lot of those points came as we were talking

0:13:54.463 --> 0:13:57.183
<v Speaker 3>about after the starters had left the game had to

0:13:57.223 --> 0:13:59.823
<v Speaker 3>come back. But you know this, this seems like a

0:13:59.863 --> 0:14:03.263
<v Speaker 3>team that, for different reasons, might be just as dangerous

0:14:03.703 --> 0:14:05.823
<v Speaker 3>as the Bills are. They get in so I wouldn't

0:14:05.823 --> 0:14:08.783
<v Speaker 3>want to face the Browns and that defense either. Flaco's

0:14:08.783 --> 0:14:10.783
<v Speaker 3>thrown with nothing to loose, right, He's a guy who

0:14:10.783 --> 0:14:13.183
<v Speaker 3>came off as couch and said let's have some fun,

0:14:13.223 --> 0:14:15.383
<v Speaker 3>and they are, and Cooper and those other guys are

0:14:15.383 --> 0:14:18.383
<v Speaker 3>making enough plays and joke, who's come alive. I really

0:14:18.463 --> 0:14:20.263
<v Speaker 3>like what I'm seeing here. I'm not saying they're just

0:14:20.263 --> 0:14:23.103
<v Speaker 3>some sort of Cinderella that you know, we give a

0:14:23.183 --> 0:14:25.543
<v Speaker 3>nice bow to and say, Okay, good job. You know

0:14:26.143 --> 0:14:28.183
<v Speaker 3>they're gonna be a tough out in the playoffs, no

0:14:28.223 --> 0:14:28.823
<v Speaker 3>doubt about it.

0:14:28.943 --> 0:14:32.503
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you're not giving them a laurel and hearty handshake.

0:14:32.703 --> 0:14:35.863
<v Speaker 2>We talked last week about the possibility of Matthew Stafford

0:14:35.983 --> 0:14:39.743
<v Speaker 2>going to Detroit right to face Jared Goff and his

0:14:39.903 --> 0:14:43.623
<v Speaker 2>old team. We could have a scenario, likely not in

0:14:43.623 --> 0:14:45.943
<v Speaker 2>a wild card round, maybe in the divisional round where

0:14:46.023 --> 0:14:50.623
<v Speaker 2>Joe Flacco goes back to Baltimore Wow to face the Ravens.

0:14:50.863 --> 0:14:54.023
<v Speaker 2>Book love. All right, We're the Chiefs. Have you noticed

0:14:54.023 --> 0:14:57.583
<v Speaker 2>they're not on your screen? How far did they fall

0:14:57.983 --> 0:15:01.263
<v Speaker 2>when losing at home on Christmas Day of the Raiders.

0:15:01.263 --> 0:15:03.263
<v Speaker 2>That's coming up next on the NFL Power Ranking Show

0:15:03.423 --> 0:15:12.303
<v Speaker 2>presented by Energizer. NFL Power Ranking Show presented to you

0:15:12.383 --> 0:15:15.263
<v Speaker 2>by Energizer. This looks weird, doesn't it? Kansas City is

0:15:15.303 --> 0:15:17.783
<v Speaker 2>barely in the top ten. The Chiefs after losing at

0:15:17.823 --> 0:15:21.623
<v Speaker 2>home to the Raiders to open up the Christmas Football

0:15:22.023 --> 0:15:25.463
<v Speaker 2>Ball three to number nine. How are the Tampa Bay

0:15:25.463 --> 0:15:29.103
<v Speaker 2>Buccaneers the tenth best team in football? Thank you, Baker Mayfield.

0:15:29.103 --> 0:15:31.303
<v Speaker 2>They're number ten, followed by the Rams at eleven, the

0:15:31.343 --> 0:15:35.983
<v Speaker 2>Texans at twelve, Jacksonville is thirteen, Cincinnati is fourteen after

0:15:36.103 --> 0:15:39.743
<v Speaker 2>laying an egg in Pittsburgh on Saturday evening, the Colts

0:15:39.743 --> 0:15:43.223
<v Speaker 2>are fifteen and the Seahawks are sixteen. But Eric at Holme,

0:15:43.263 --> 0:15:45.823
<v Speaker 2>who obviously puts these together, it's the NFL Power Ranking

0:15:45.823 --> 0:15:50.023
<v Speaker 2>show at home. We all watched the Chiefs to open

0:15:50.143 --> 0:15:53.423
<v Speaker 2>up the Christmas Day football just look awful. I don't

0:15:53.423 --> 0:15:55.183
<v Speaker 2>know how else to say. Don't blame Taylor Swift. She

0:15:55.223 --> 0:15:57.823
<v Speaker 2>had nothing to do with this, Okay, nothing at all.

0:15:58.223 --> 0:16:01.983
<v Speaker 2>They look lost and Patrick Mahomes is as frustrated on

0:16:02.023 --> 0:16:03.903
<v Speaker 2>the field as I think I've ever seen him.

0:16:04.783 --> 0:16:08.263
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, we've seen that frustration boil over on the sideline,

0:16:08.343 --> 0:16:10.663
<v Speaker 3>not just obviously in that game, but in other games

0:16:11.183 --> 0:16:13.703
<v Speaker 3>this season. You know, team that was seven and two

0:16:13.783 --> 0:16:16.063
<v Speaker 3>at the buy now looking great, but you felt like, okay,

0:16:16.263 --> 0:16:18.823
<v Speaker 3>they're going to be the Chiefs of Old in December.

0:16:18.863 --> 0:16:21.383
<v Speaker 3>This is as reliable as stock you can buy the

0:16:21.423 --> 0:16:24.463
<v Speaker 3>last five years. But it's been tanking, Andrew and just

0:16:24.503 --> 0:16:27.423
<v Speaker 3>a big picture, I didn't expect this much movement, especially

0:16:27.423 --> 0:16:29.503
<v Speaker 3>in this part of the board, this late in the season.

0:16:29.583 --> 0:16:32.943
<v Speaker 3>But yeah, I mean, teams like the Chiefs are lacking

0:16:32.943 --> 0:16:35.983
<v Speaker 3>an offensive identity, and you know, we can't assume that

0:16:35.983 --> 0:16:37.983
<v Speaker 3>they're just gonna find it. I mean, it's been fifteen

0:16:37.983 --> 0:16:40.103
<v Speaker 3>weeks now and they haven't been able to kind of

0:16:40.103 --> 0:16:42.823
<v Speaker 3>crack this code of how to be more explosive offensively,

0:16:42.823 --> 0:16:46.343
<v Speaker 3>how to be more reliable offensively. Look, the defense was terrific.

0:16:46.383 --> 0:16:49.023
<v Speaker 3>They did its job. I mean it was a good performance.

0:16:49.183 --> 0:16:52.303
<v Speaker 3>The offense let them down once again. I don't know

0:16:52.343 --> 0:16:54.463
<v Speaker 3>what to do. Are they broken? That's the question I'm

0:16:54.503 --> 0:16:54.863
<v Speaker 3>left with.

0:16:55.343 --> 0:16:58.423
<v Speaker 2>I think they are, because like, look right now they

0:16:58.423 --> 0:17:00.903
<v Speaker 2>have Cincinnati and then week eighteen in LA to face

0:17:00.983 --> 0:17:02.983
<v Speaker 2>the Chargers, and you go, oh, they're gonna win those two.

0:17:03.503 --> 0:17:06.063
<v Speaker 2>Are you sure? They should have beaten the Raiders? Antonio

0:17:06.183 --> 0:17:10.143
<v Speaker 2>Pears probably and deservedly won the full time job with

0:17:10.183 --> 0:17:14.343
<v Speaker 2>that performance at Arrowhead. They're throwing helmets. And by the way,

0:17:14.343 --> 0:17:16.023
<v Speaker 2>again I was kind of joking, but if you're blaming

0:17:16.023 --> 0:17:19.023
<v Speaker 2>Taylor Swift, grow up. It has nothing to do with her.

0:17:19.143 --> 0:17:21.223
<v Speaker 2>But I can't look at these two games and so oh,

0:17:21.223 --> 0:17:24.183
<v Speaker 2>I know they're gonna win them. The division hasn't even

0:17:24.263 --> 0:17:28.223
<v Speaker 2>been wrapped up and we're in the week between Christmas

0:17:28.743 --> 0:17:32.783
<v Speaker 2>and New Year's Yeah, I honestly don't think they want

0:17:32.823 --> 0:17:35.103
<v Speaker 2>a playoff game. I don't. I think that's the kind

0:17:35.103 --> 0:17:36.983
<v Speaker 2>of team we're looking at right now. They're number nine,

0:17:37.263 --> 0:17:39.063
<v Speaker 2>and then we have the team making the Power Move,

0:17:39.143 --> 0:17:42.183
<v Speaker 2>the team that is somehow number ten overall Power Moves

0:17:42.223 --> 0:17:46.343
<v Speaker 2>presented by Energizer Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

0:17:46.383 --> 0:17:51.143
<v Speaker 2>are up five. Okay, they are up fourteen. Eric since

0:17:51.223 --> 0:17:54.783
<v Speaker 2>week thirteen, you are shaking your head. Do you believe

0:17:55.503 --> 0:17:59.223
<v Speaker 2>this ranking that you wrote or were you pressured into

0:17:59.263 --> 0:18:04.463
<v Speaker 2>it by Baker? Like? How did you do this? Yeah?

0:18:04.663 --> 0:18:05.383
<v Speaker 2>It was tough.

0:18:05.423 --> 0:18:07.023
<v Speaker 3>I mean I felt like I may have kind of

0:18:07.103 --> 0:18:09.063
<v Speaker 3>undersold them a little bit last week. Same with the

0:18:09.143 --> 0:18:11.703
<v Speaker 3>Rams who were right behind them, obviously. But you know,

0:18:11.783 --> 0:18:15.303
<v Speaker 3>this is another impressive performance. And again it's sort of

0:18:15.583 --> 0:18:18.303
<v Speaker 3>not a standings reading, right, this isn't the power standings.

0:18:18.303 --> 0:18:20.743
<v Speaker 3>We look at who is playing right now and how

0:18:20.743 --> 0:18:23.823
<v Speaker 3>they're playing in the past couple of games, momentum, right,

0:18:23.903 --> 0:18:25.623
<v Speaker 3>and they have a ton of it right now. Four

0:18:25.663 --> 0:18:27.303
<v Speaker 3>straight wins, and like you said, I think this has

0:18:27.343 --> 0:18:29.703
<v Speaker 3>been Baker's best season, you know, I mean, I really

0:18:29.743 --> 0:18:33.423
<v Speaker 3>think that if we look back his most complete season,

0:18:33.463 --> 0:18:35.903
<v Speaker 3>that has been trending in the right direction, even with

0:18:36.063 --> 0:18:39.303
<v Speaker 3>some scattershot accuracy. You know, even a couple of games ago.

0:18:39.823 --> 0:18:41.743
<v Speaker 3>You look at that defense, the number of plays they

0:18:41.903 --> 0:18:44.903
<v Speaker 3>made in that game against the Jaguars, it's pretty incredible.

0:18:44.943 --> 0:18:46.903
<v Speaker 3>So for a team that in week thirteen, as you

0:18:46.943 --> 0:18:49.063
<v Speaker 3>pointed out, when I had him number twenty four, that's

0:18:49.103 --> 0:18:51.383
<v Speaker 3>about the percent chance they had to make in the playoffs,

0:18:51.383 --> 0:18:53.903
<v Speaker 3>twenty three to twenty four percent. Now they're in a

0:18:53.983 --> 0:18:55.463
<v Speaker 3>really good footing. You got to win one of these

0:18:55.543 --> 0:18:57.903
<v Speaker 3>last two. You win the division, you host a playoff game,

0:18:57.943 --> 0:19:01.183
<v Speaker 3>maybe against the Cowboys. But still, you know, this looks

0:19:01.223 --> 0:19:03.703
<v Speaker 3>completely different to me than it did a month and

0:19:03.703 --> 0:19:04.223
<v Speaker 3>a half ago.

0:19:05.103 --> 0:19:07.663
<v Speaker 2>Look, they hosted the playoff game last year, hosted the Cowboys.

0:19:07.703 --> 0:19:11.863
<v Speaker 2>Cowboys obviously waxed them at Raymond James. But this team

0:19:11.863 --> 0:19:13.583
<v Speaker 2>feels a little bit different. And I can't believe I'm

0:19:13.583 --> 0:19:17.943
<v Speaker 2>saying they are the tenth best team right now in

0:19:17.983 --> 0:19:21.103
<v Speaker 2>the NFL, and they are one spot ahead of the

0:19:21.223 --> 0:19:25.623
<v Speaker 2>team with which Baker Mayfield ended last season. The Los

0:19:25.623 --> 0:19:30.663
<v Speaker 2>Angeles Rams, who hung on big leads, survived and they

0:19:30.783 --> 0:19:34.863
<v Speaker 2>beat the Saints to open up here week sixteen. This

0:19:35.183 --> 0:19:39.463
<v Speaker 2>is another team Eric that nobody wants to face in January.

0:19:40.663 --> 0:19:42.863
<v Speaker 3>I agree, right, And you heard Sean mcvay's kind of

0:19:42.903 --> 0:19:45.623
<v Speaker 3>response to the question even bringing the question up. He

0:19:45.743 --> 0:19:47.983
<v Speaker 3>prompted it himself when he said, boy was sure to

0:19:47.983 --> 0:19:50.303
<v Speaker 3>make it tough on ourselves. And you know, I think

0:19:50.303 --> 0:19:51.703
<v Speaker 3>he's got to have a little bit of a sense

0:19:51.743 --> 0:19:53.543
<v Speaker 3>of humor about it because he knows he has an

0:19:53.543 --> 0:19:56.263
<v Speaker 3>explosive team. And I think Kyron Williams has really kind

0:19:56.263 --> 0:19:58.863
<v Speaker 3>of brought this whole group together. You've seen him up

0:19:58.863 --> 0:20:01.703
<v Speaker 3>close a lot this season. Stafford's kind of having a

0:20:01.783 --> 0:20:05.743
<v Speaker 3>throwback year. Nikoua obviously rewriting the the rookie record books

0:20:05.743 --> 0:20:08.583
<v Speaker 3>at receiver, and the offensive line has not been an issue.

0:20:08.623 --> 0:20:11.303
<v Speaker 3>It's been a stable group. I would like to see them,

0:20:11.423 --> 0:20:14.183
<v Speaker 3>you know, stem that two week trend of letting a

0:20:14.223 --> 0:20:16.783
<v Speaker 3>bad team or a lesser team back into the game.

0:20:17.423 --> 0:20:19.303
<v Speaker 3>But boy, I tell you what, that No Name defense

0:20:19.303 --> 0:20:22.063
<v Speaker 3>has stepped up at times, and yeah, that offense is

0:20:22.103 --> 0:20:24.623
<v Speaker 3>humming and they're a legit threat. How about that?

0:20:24.823 --> 0:20:27.743
<v Speaker 2>You know they are, They're totally legit. Even with that

0:20:28.223 --> 0:20:32.743
<v Speaker 2>sweep over the Seahawks, Seattle is legit here as well. Eric,

0:20:32.783 --> 0:20:36.063
<v Speaker 2>you have them up one to sixteen, and the schedule

0:20:36.103 --> 0:20:39.743
<v Speaker 2>favors them home for the Steelers and then at Arizona

0:20:39.783 --> 0:20:40.583
<v Speaker 2>to close it out.

0:20:41.743 --> 0:20:44.823
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, they're a strange one to me. You know, they've obviously,

0:20:45.183 --> 0:20:46.783
<v Speaker 3>you know, had some weeks where yet you're kind of

0:20:46.783 --> 0:20:49.383
<v Speaker 3>scratching your head some of the red zone stuff. Gino's

0:20:49.383 --> 0:20:52.343
<v Speaker 3>been up and down, but he was there, he was money.

0:20:52.583 --> 0:20:54.183
<v Speaker 3>He got it done when he had to get it

0:20:54.223 --> 0:20:57.623
<v Speaker 3>done against the Titans, and two late drives got it done.

0:20:57.703 --> 0:20:59.983
<v Speaker 3>And you know, coming off the Drew Locke game and

0:21:00.223 --> 0:21:03.023
<v Speaker 3>was some questions swirling about Gino's future and whether he's

0:21:03.063 --> 0:21:05.743
<v Speaker 3>going to be the Seahawks starter next year, he delivered

0:21:05.743 --> 0:21:08.543
<v Speaker 3>a performance that tabled that talk and got them in

0:21:08.623 --> 0:21:11.463
<v Speaker 3>a good position for the playoffs. So, you know, their

0:21:11.543 --> 0:21:13.823
<v Speaker 3>lack of discipline does worry me a little bit. So

0:21:14.103 --> 0:21:16.383
<v Speaker 3>they are prone to some bad games and bad moments.

0:21:16.423 --> 0:21:19.143
<v Speaker 3>But those playmakers, they've got a chance as well.

0:21:20.583 --> 0:21:23.983
<v Speaker 2>Uh yeah, and now it's Gino and Mason Rudolph week

0:21:24.103 --> 0:21:29.103
<v Speaker 2>seventeen at a game that means something. Well, all right,

0:21:29.143 --> 0:21:31.783
<v Speaker 2>coming up, speaking of those Steelers, do we take them seriously?

0:21:32.103 --> 0:21:35.183
<v Speaker 2>Do we take the Raiders seriously, and where are they

0:21:35.183 --> 0:21:37.423
<v Speaker 2>in the brand new power Rankings coming up next year?

0:21:37.463 --> 0:21:39.703
<v Speaker 2>As we are presented to you as always by Energizer.

0:21:46.703 --> 0:21:49.423
<v Speaker 2>But wait, there are more more numbers here. On the

0:21:49.503 --> 0:21:53.143
<v Speaker 2>NFL Power Rankings show forsd by Energizer, the Steelers are seventeen,

0:21:53.223 --> 0:21:55.863
<v Speaker 2>up three, followed by the Vikings and the Packers. The

0:21:55.863 --> 0:21:59.743
<v Speaker 2>Falcons are twenty, the Raiders twenty one, Denver, New Orleans,

0:21:59.903 --> 0:22:03.423
<v Speaker 2>and Chicago at number twenty four at home, the Steelers

0:22:03.463 --> 0:22:08.783
<v Speaker 2>are up three and Rudolph looked really good on Saturday evening.

0:22:08.783 --> 0:22:10.623
<v Speaker 2>They're not eliminated somehow.

0:22:12.103 --> 0:22:14.983
<v Speaker 3>Pretty amazing, right, and Rudolph in the picture for this

0:22:15.103 --> 0:22:17.663
<v Speaker 3>week obviously. And you know, just when we write them off,

0:22:17.703 --> 0:22:20.063
<v Speaker 3>they pull us back in, right. I mean, Mike Tomlin

0:22:20.463 --> 0:22:23.423
<v Speaker 3>hasn't lost this team yet apparently. And yeah, I mean

0:22:23.463 --> 0:22:25.423
<v Speaker 3>they probably need two to get in, right. That's that's

0:22:25.463 --> 0:22:29.303
<v Speaker 3>the probably the and some help. But you know, it's

0:22:29.383 --> 0:22:32.263
<v Speaker 3>just such an interesting club. They've battled so much adversity

0:22:32.303 --> 0:22:35.463
<v Speaker 3>all season long. You know, it's hard to really know

0:22:35.903 --> 0:22:38.503
<v Speaker 3>whether this is a team that's you know, close to

0:22:38.543 --> 0:22:41.463
<v Speaker 3>contending or or you know, kind of doing it with

0:22:41.503 --> 0:22:43.263
<v Speaker 3>smoke and mirrors so every week I come out of

0:22:43.303 --> 0:22:45.903
<v Speaker 3>it kind of shrugging a little bit. But again, I mean,

0:22:45.903 --> 0:22:47.423
<v Speaker 3>they did what they had to do, and Rudolph has

0:22:47.463 --> 0:22:49.103
<v Speaker 3>kind of lit a fire under this team, and we

0:22:49.143 --> 0:22:50.863
<v Speaker 3>saw what it did for Pickens, we saw what it

0:22:50.863 --> 0:22:53.383
<v Speaker 3>did for other guys, and yeah, I mean that's that's

0:22:54.023 --> 0:22:56.903
<v Speaker 3>making us question whether Mitch Strubisky should have been had.

0:22:56.823 --> 0:22:59.983
<v Speaker 2>The ball in his hands. Oh yeah, exactly. Speaking of

0:23:00.023 --> 0:23:02.463
<v Speaker 2>lighting a fire, that is what Antonio Pierce has done.

0:23:02.463 --> 0:23:04.183
<v Speaker 2>The Raiders are up two to twenty one. Are you

0:23:04.263 --> 0:23:08.103
<v Speaker 2>with me? He's earned He's done enough during this job, right.

0:23:08.983 --> 0:23:12.063
<v Speaker 3>I would think. So, here's my only reservation. A couple

0:23:12.063 --> 0:23:14.623
<v Speaker 3>of years ago, you know, Rich Pasacia was in sort

0:23:14.623 --> 0:23:16.903
<v Speaker 3>of a similar position, had more games to work with.

0:23:17.183 --> 0:23:20.263
<v Speaker 3>I believe he went seven and five, got to the playoffs.

0:23:20.343 --> 0:23:21.983
<v Speaker 3>Now they were I think a three and two team

0:23:22.103 --> 0:23:25.103
<v Speaker 3>or something when John Gruden was let go, but still

0:23:25.143 --> 0:23:26.983
<v Speaker 3>he didn't get the job. Now, I don't know if

0:23:27.023 --> 0:23:30.743
<v Speaker 3>he has the magnetism, the connection with the locker room

0:23:30.783 --> 0:23:33.103
<v Speaker 3>that Pierce seems to have with this group. You saw

0:23:33.183 --> 0:23:36.143
<v Speaker 3>him get emotional after the game postgame interview. You know,

0:23:36.223 --> 0:23:38.943
<v Speaker 3>I believe he's building something special here. A lot of

0:23:38.983 --> 0:23:41.623
<v Speaker 3>loud wins since he's taken over, but a couple of

0:23:41.663 --> 0:23:44.783
<v Speaker 3>curious losses too. Might need one more, but I think

0:23:44.783 --> 0:23:47.343
<v Speaker 3>you might be onto something. Maybe, you know, maybe Mark

0:23:47.423 --> 0:23:49.903
<v Speaker 3>Davis saw what happened last time, realized I can't let

0:23:49.903 --> 0:23:52.343
<v Speaker 3>Antonio Pierce go because he's got his playing great football

0:23:52.423 --> 0:23:52.743
<v Speaker 3>right now.

0:23:53.223 --> 0:23:55.263
<v Speaker 2>Did he learn from I don't want to call it

0:23:55.303 --> 0:23:58.263
<v Speaker 2>a mistake. Maybe it wasn't a mistake to get rid

0:23:58.263 --> 0:24:01.143
<v Speaker 2>of Asacia, but it clearly was a mistake because they've

0:24:01.143 --> 0:24:05.103
<v Speaker 2>already fired McDaniels to bring him in as the placement.

0:24:05.303 --> 0:24:07.903
<v Speaker 2>Let's get the rest of the rankings here. Your seasons

0:24:07.943 --> 0:24:09.903
<v Speaker 2>may be over, but you still do make an appearance

0:24:09.903 --> 0:24:12.423
<v Speaker 2>on the Power Ranking show. The Jets are a twenty five,

0:24:12.463 --> 0:24:15.703
<v Speaker 2>That Titans, the Chargers, the Giants, and the Patriots, and

0:24:15.743 --> 0:24:19.263
<v Speaker 2>then the Cardinals, the Commanders and the Carolina Panthers are

0:24:19.263 --> 0:24:24.143
<v Speaker 2>at number thirty two. Eric, I have good news for you. Yeah,

0:24:24.303 --> 0:24:27.903
<v Speaker 2>only two more regular season shows to go. Also good news.

0:24:27.983 --> 0:24:30.343
<v Speaker 2>We're doing this in the playoffs, buddy.

0:24:31.223 --> 0:24:33.223
<v Speaker 3>Are we are? It's going to look a little different right,

0:24:33.343 --> 0:24:35.263
<v Speaker 3>Fewer teams to talk about, but I still want to

0:24:35.303 --> 0:24:37.423
<v Speaker 3>talk Power rank Man. I got a little energy left

0:24:37.423 --> 0:24:38.783
<v Speaker 3>in the tank. How about you.

0:24:39.463 --> 0:24:41.863
<v Speaker 2>Of course, because we're presented by energizers. See what we

0:24:41.903 --> 0:24:45.263
<v Speaker 2>did there, Look what you did. Talented broadcast professional doing

0:24:45.303 --> 0:24:47.943
<v Speaker 2>all the transitions like that. Hey, everyone out there, thank

0:24:48.023 --> 0:24:50.983
<v Speaker 2>you for listening, Thank you for watching. Happy New Year, Eric,

0:24:51.023 --> 0:24:53.023
<v Speaker 2>Happy New Year to your family as well. Everyone they're

0:24:53.063 --> 0:24:54.983
<v Speaker 2>in Chicago. Was safe and happy one. See you next week,

0:24:55.063 --> 0:24:55.463
<v Speaker 2>so long.

0:25:01.103 --> 0:25:03.583
<v Speaker 1>NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in

0:25:03.663 --> 0:25:07.063
<v Speaker 1>partnership with I heart Radio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio,

0:25:07.263 --> 0:25:10.583
<v Speaker 1>visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get

0:25:10.583 --> 0:25:11.303
<v Speaker 1>your podcasts.