1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: Here's Cook bouncing it and john want to start. Touchdown Vikings. 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: First out from the thirty Roethlisberger with protection down three cots, 3 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: touchdown Steelers, Washington, President's keeps hares it out, Osborne downtailed, 4 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: He's got it, touchdown Vikings and coming away looking for 5 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: a bush up. It's Cameron Sutton up flag, touchdown Minnesota. 6 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: Two more shots maybe to the end zone. Underneath it's 7 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: Johnson and he is able to break and walk calling, 8 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: get out of bounds and give Pittsburgh home hands on 9 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: frimout incomplete, Viking's winning. It was the greatest comedy released 10 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: in one and makes sense because it is awards season now. 11 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: December is when they start rolling out the prestige pictures 12 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: and comedies don't usually get that pop that the dramas do. 13 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: But this was high comedy because if you thought that 14 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings up twenty nine does zilch in the 15 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 1: third quarter, we're just gonna coast a victory. And if 16 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: you thought this version of the Steelers, the Steelers who 17 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: are basically a zombie that doesn't know it's dead, Like 18 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: no one's done the head shot yet, so it's still 19 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: wanders around it stumbles through the darkness. It eats some people, 20 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: but ultimately it's still dead. It just needs to be 21 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: told that, and it hasn't learned yet. They're going to 22 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: keep coming and keep coming late in games, and that's 23 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: what they did, but they could not finish off what 24 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: would have been one of the craziest comebacks in primetime 25 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: NFL history. I will go that for final score thirty 26 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: six to Vikings hold off the Steelers. Mike Zimmer maybe alive, 27 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: maybe not alive at the time of this taping. I 28 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: don't think he had blinked in about an hour and 29 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: a half. Um, so we'll check in on his status 30 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: later on this weekend. I am Dan Hansas. Joining me 31 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: now is Mark Sessler. We're gonna to hand this one buddy, 32 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: Mike and the mad Dog's style. And I know you 33 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: were really enjoying yourself for about two and a half quarters, Mark, 34 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: because no one dislikes the Steelers more than Mark Sessler. 35 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: And then things changed. Were you surprised even by the 36 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: standards that these teams have set the season? Well, no, 37 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: I shouldn't be. I mean, if you've been, you know, 38 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: observing what we've you know, witnessed throughout the season. No, 39 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: I think it's funny just that like star performances get 40 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: buried by a game like this, like Dalvin Cook basically 41 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: you know, totally injured carrying the team on his back 42 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: for two hundred and five yards at seven point six 43 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 1: yards per carry. It gets lost in the folly of 44 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 1: this and I found myself, as to your point, um, 45 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: enjoying this game. At one point I tweeted that Big 46 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: Ben's final move is Terry Bradshaw's money, that there's nothing 47 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: left for him him to achieve at this point in 48 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: his career. Um, it was absolutely what we'd expect. I 49 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: think that I, well know, the biggest you know, you 50 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: talk about like someone that has been been eaten by 51 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: a zombie. At this point, it was my own, my 52 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: own self because how did I fall for this again, 53 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: thinking that the Vikings would storm out as they are 54 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: wont to do to a very clear and uh you 55 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: know define herble huge start and then totally crumble. I mean, 56 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: we got the worst Kirk Cousins game of the season 57 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: at one point in late in the fourth quarter. In 58 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: three completions in the second half, two interceptions. None of 59 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: it should be a surprise to us. At all right. 60 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: I mean, it just seems exactly almost what we thought 61 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: would happen. Yet in the moment, I fell for it 62 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: like a giant rube. Well take me through it, because 63 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: I'm curious at sessler manner um. As the game gets tight, 64 00:03:53,520 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: if it go as it goes, and then the big 65 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: touchdown from Kirk Cousins to kJ Osborne sixty two yards, Okay, 66 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: it seems under control at that point, it's thirty six. 67 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: And then they get off the field the Vikings defense, 68 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: and then the Steelers force an interception. Kirk Cousins throws 69 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: an interception in that spot, and that's when I thought 70 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: Zimmer's head was going to explode. Because we know Zimmer 71 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: does not like his quarterback. It doesn't matter that Kirk 72 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: Cousins is on pace for four thousand yards and thirty 73 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: six touchdowns and seven interceptions this year. He guy drives 74 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: them crazy because that interception changes the game there again, 75 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: and the Steelers, of course, then go right back down 76 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: the field. This time they get the two point aversion. 77 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: They make it a one score game, and the Vikings 78 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: have one last chance to ice the game. I thought 79 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: Cousins did it. I thought Cousins stepped up when they 80 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: had third and twenty one, I believe it was, and 81 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: he dug him out with two big completions. But then 82 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: they go three and out. Steelers get the ball back 83 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,559 Speaker 1: and they take it all the way down the field. 84 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: So where are you mark? As that all is the 85 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: last let's say two minutes of game time? What's going 86 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: on at Sessler? Man? Are you throwing things? Are you 87 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: is anyone around you? You in the garage? Is a 88 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: door lock? Take me through it? Largely dead inside? Um. 89 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: I started the game in the garage, and you know, 90 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: when things are going well, um, very systematic, had a 91 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: nice my laptop set up on a folding table, very organized. Um. 92 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: When things got really comfortable and I was tweeting out, um, 93 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: you know anti Steelers, uh Bizarro tweets that you know, 94 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: I thought I could never be failed on. I moved 95 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: into our bedroom alone and just curled up. It's a 96 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: it's a cold, dark, rainy, slash windy night in Los Angeles. 97 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: The other one just curled up under blankets, and I thought, 98 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: I've got this. I finally felt confident that maybe the 99 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: Vikings were gonna hand us what we thought. Um. But 100 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: but to your point, is the game just got uglier 101 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: and uglier. UM, I started to peel the blankets off me. 102 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: I'm sitting up. I'm starting to get flustered and annoyed. 103 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: Uh my wife was nice enough to bring me, uh, 104 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: I get avocado toast, which I just threw to the 105 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: side at one point. I mean, it's just that I 106 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: should have known this was what this is exactly what's 107 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: gonna happen. I honestly did think that the Steelers were 108 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: gonna pull this out when that interception happened. Though, the 109 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: Witherspoon interception, it seemed like the ideal set up for this. UM. 110 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: I think that, like we've watched enough football where like 111 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: when you get up the way that the Vikings did, 112 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: that k j Osborne connection, that touchdown seemed like it 113 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: just they just needed to make one big play. And 114 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins, yes, it might have been like his least 115 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 1: successful game of the year, that was the one play 116 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: that needed to be made and it put him over 117 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: the top. But these Steelers, man, I mean, you gotta 118 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: give him some credit. They they fought to the very end. 119 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: I mean, at this point they are six six and one. UM, 120 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: the eight eight and one dream is totally alive. In 121 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: my book, That's the one of the last few things 122 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: I have to cling onto in this season. And the Vikings. 123 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: You're on the fringes of the NFC wild card race 124 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: and you're the weirdest team I've ever watched, I know, 125 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: aren't they? And that I mean, that's why I've kind 126 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: of loved them all season, because, you know, Troy Aikman 127 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: said it. Now, naturally everyone is kind of on the 128 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: same page, like they are box office. You know, you 129 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: sit down for four hours to watch one NFL game 130 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: and if you want one, that's gonna be close, that's 131 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: gonna have highs and lows and a lot of action. 132 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: It is the Vikings. Every game has come down to 133 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: the final score from Minnesota, even the game when they 134 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: were winning twenty nine nothing in the third quarter against 135 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: a old quarterback who looks like he is ready to 136 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: join Terry Bradshaw, and I yes, Ben Roethlisberger said, old 137 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: quarterback deserves a lot of credit. There's something about Roethlisberger 138 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: and and a lot of this. It's hard to believe 139 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: this comeback happened after t J. Watt went out, But 140 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: when you looked at the first half when the Pittsburgh 141 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: off offensive line was so bad and non competitive that 142 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: the game had turned into a farce, and it all 143 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: changed it all, just like it flipped the switch. And 144 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: I don't know if you if that's Tomlin and the 145 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: coaching staff making big time adjustments or if it's the 146 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: Vikings uh, just failing to keep the momentum and keep 147 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: the pedal to the metal. But I think there's some 148 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: d NA and play and I think that's why we 149 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: got to where we got tonight with this game between 150 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: these two teams. The Vikings inability to close games and 151 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: they're seeming inability to avoid these calamitous collapses. That's part 152 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 1: of who they are, Like it's in their heads. You 153 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,839 Speaker 1: saw it. As soon as that second touchdown scored. Everybody 154 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: tightened up on that sideline, on that field, the coach, everybody, uh. 155 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: And on the flip side, the Steelers are this like flawed, 156 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: imperfect team, but like the zombie that doesn't know it's dead, 157 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: it still has this muscle memory to be able to 158 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: fight back in games. They don't quit. They never quit 159 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: on their coach, and they fought back and took advantage 160 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: of the Vikings tightening up and that's like championship DNA, 161 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: even if the Steelers haven't won a title in a while, 162 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: so it's almost inevitable it got where it ended up. 163 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: But still like twenty nine nothing, Mark, it's unbelievable. Came 164 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: down to the last play of the game and yeah, 165 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,719 Speaker 1: that's that's two NFL. Well, I think you nailed it 166 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: right there. I think that both teams are emblematic of 167 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,559 Speaker 1: this particular season, not that we haven't seen game games 168 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: like this before, but it doesn't even feel especially rare. Um. 169 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: You know, at one point I thought the Steelers had 170 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: been impregnated with the baby of Satan at one point, 171 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: that it was over for them, but but it wasn't, 172 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: because that's the Steelers and that's the Vikings, and it 173 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: it's um, it's disturbing what we watched tonight on some level, 174 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: because like, when you're up twenty nine nothing, you should 175 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: just lay into it. And especially when they were running 176 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 1: the ball the way they were, and the Steelers had 177 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: been terrible against the run the past couple of games, 178 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: the formula was there for the Vikings to go on 179 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: and win this to twelve and you and I are 180 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: doing this recording twenty five minutes ago. Instead it turns 181 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 1: into a an anti drama of the highest nature. Um. 182 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: But but you know what I I at this point 183 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 1: one thing I've learned because I have essentially failed at 184 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: my job this season. I am not counting out either 185 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: one of these teams on any level. I'm done tweeting 186 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 1: about anyone. I'm done tweeting like anything can happen. At 187 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: this point. The Steelers probably will become a wild card 188 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: team and take that wild card game down to the 189 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,599 Speaker 1: final minutes too. So here that's your preview of the 190 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,959 Speaker 1: wild card weekend. Obligatory had break here because shocker alert, 191 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 1: we talked too long. I mean the Steelers. See, I'm 192 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: more confident in the Vikings finding way to the playoffs 193 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: just looking at the Steelers. Maybe home Titans at Chiefs 194 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: home Mark? What oh Mark, it's prime time too. We 195 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: got Steelers hosting Browns in week seventeen. Well, that way, 196 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: you know that will turn into something very ugly. You 197 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: you have to go full of any TESTI Verdi's dad 198 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: on that one. You've got a VCR tape. That sucker. 199 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: Is that Monday night or Thursday. I'm not on assignment. 200 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: I hope on that evening January three. I believe it 201 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: is ESPN, so it must be Monday Night Football, the 202 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: last Monday Night game, and Margie, I don't know. I will, 203 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: I literally, I'll take a one way flight to Mexico 204 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: for that game. And for those that don't know the reference, 205 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: because we do bring it up from time to time. 206 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: When the Jets had a great run in when they 207 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 1: went twelve and four and went to the a f 208 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: C title game, lost to Elway and the Broncos, Vinny 209 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: Testa Already had a career season and it was like 210 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 1: this big like story in the Tri State area because 211 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: Vinny test Already's father was a huge fan obviously of 212 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: his son and and followed his whole career. But he 213 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: had a bump ticker. You see. Mr Testa Already had 214 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: a bump ticker, and it was such a bump ticker 215 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: that it wouldn't be able to hold up watching a game, 216 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: an NFL game with his son at the quarterback position. 217 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 1: So what Mr test Already would do was he would 218 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: tape the game. This is back in the days of 219 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,559 Speaker 1: the VCR. Tape the game. Some wou would then alert 220 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: him after the game whether the Jets had won or lost, 221 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: whether Vinnie had been successful or the team had been unsuccessful, 222 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: and then knowing the the outcome was already decided in 223 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: his mind, he then could watch the game and his 224 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: ticker would be safe. That's what we need to do 225 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: for Mark in Week seventeen, Brown Steelers, because that feels 226 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 1: like a heart attack platter, just a minor footnote. I 227 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: think that is the the dichotomy of our fan interest 228 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: because all that it literally same exact series of anecdotes 229 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: were pounded into my head over and over during Vinnie 230 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: TESTAVERTI season with Bill Belichick's Browns. When they went to 231 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: the playoffs. It's like, I don't know if this was 232 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: maybe a highly um, a well run pr campaign because 233 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: it made it was like every pregame show ever. But 234 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: you're right, um when that by the way they're playing 235 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: on are you saying it's like a mandito his girlfriend's situation? 236 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: Like there never was. That's what I'm saying, Let's get 237 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,319 Speaker 1: back on track. The Steelers lost t J. Watt to 238 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,839 Speaker 1: a groin injury. Uh, he was in street clothes in 239 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: the second half. I don't know if that was for 240 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 1: precautionary reasons because the game seemed over and if that's 241 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: the case that was done by the Steelers or if 242 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: he's seriously injured and can mis extended time. But either way, 243 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 1: Defensive Player of the Year once again wide open the Steelers. 244 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: If they have any chance of making that run to 245 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: eight eight and one or you know, nine eight what what? 246 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: What's a winning record for them? Then they gotta go. 247 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: There's a Karen three. Would they be nine seven in 248 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: one nine set nine one? Yet my head? That hurts me. 249 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: I don't like that. They need they need what on 250 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: the field. As for the Vikings, it doesn't change how 251 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: I feel about them at all. It's the same stuff 252 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: with Minnesota. They could beat anybody, they could lose anybody, 253 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: doesn't matter how far they're ahead, because they'll always let 254 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: the team back in. And I think that d NA, 255 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: ultimately Mark is gonna get them killed and it's gonna 256 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: break the hearts of the entire Vikings fan base. But 257 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: I think the only salace to take out of that, 258 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: it's kind of like a Mr. Testa already um parallel. 259 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: They already know, like everyone knows, that this season is 260 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: going to end horrifically for Minnesota. So maybe that helps 261 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: when and they do host the Bears in week eighteen, 262 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: and it's winning in and they lose on a field 263 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: goal as time expires after a hideous Kirk Cousins fumble 264 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 1: like they know that's coming. They are, yeah that they 265 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: I think Vikings fans all along have sort of been 266 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: the John the Baptist. Um. You know, persona here telling 267 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: us you can get into this experience. You can, you 268 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: can flee it. But either way we know we're telling 269 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: you now what's going to occur. And I frankly the 270 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: Steelers feel very similar to me too, where it's like 271 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: they are as you said, they are zombiest, they're unkillable. Um. 272 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: I mean, I think you're right that the Vikings pattern 273 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: is not a super Bowl pattern. It's a January heartbreak, 274 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: um low ed where it's like you're gonna have a 275 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: lot of Vikings fans in Minnesota hitting the dive bar 276 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: after that game very hard. It's going to be very ugly. 277 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: Um uh, we will be far from it. Thank you 278 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: and all your tweets. I know it was bad because 279 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: when I tweeted about it, people were like tweeting, Uh, 280 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: your boy Mark's not feeling so cool anymore, and stuff 281 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: like that like people, you must have really gotten some 282 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: critical tweets from the insers. Do you want me to 283 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: read you? Let me see if I can find you. Yeah, 284 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: I would love to some some negative tweets. While you 285 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: look for that, I'll just let everyone know that the 286 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: Vikings now six and seven, right in the thick of 287 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: the NFC wildcard race, and they get the Bears in 288 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: Chicago next week. So oh, by the way, we get 289 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: the Bears on Sunday Night Football this week. We get 290 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: them about Monday Night Football next week against the Vikings, 291 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: but we know will be a close fund game because 292 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: the Vikings are playing, so I guess there's the positive 293 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: catch twenty two. And then they get the Rams at 294 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: home the day after Christmas. So this is gonna get 295 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: very interesting because the Rams potentially could lose to the 296 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: Cardinals this week and being a potential desperation situation. So 297 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: the NFC is gonna be a lot of fun. All right, 298 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: did you find any tweets? I'll read you to? Um? 299 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: The first was I'm not sure Steelers fans can read this, 300 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: but your team is incomplete, I mean suggesting that was 301 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: your tweet and I liked it. Well, that's um. There. 302 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: It is largely a known fact that many Steelers fans 303 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: have never read a book, So I'm I just put 304 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: that out there is a that's that was the baseline 305 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: comment there. Then I said, t n f aside Steelers 306 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: fans equal golden encrusted newbies to what comes next Colon 307 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: QB reboot. Then in all caps total mystical evil chaos. 308 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: I mean totally feeling myself as if you know this 309 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: was real. Then the final one, the Steelers are a 310 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: filmic projection this evening, not with us in real life. 311 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: Oh you know what I mean, stopped doing this. I 312 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: think they replies during the comeback that really stood out 313 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: or oh of course, well because well here's what I 314 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: do find annoying. It was the very sixth grade argument. Yeah, 315 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: but the Browns really suck. It's like, but that's I'm 316 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: not taught. I already with you that they are problematic. 317 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: So the a f C North is big and sloppy, 318 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: and I enjoy it. You know, yes, we're not getting 319 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: probably not getting a super Bowl team out of there, 320 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: but they're gonna they're just gonna just fight to death. 321 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: It's like games in that division, it's just like one 322 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: team is gonna come out of it alive. The others 323 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: will be dead, and the one that survives will never 324 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: be the same. It will probably be the Bengals, which 325 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 1: like nobody on Earth predicted. So that would be Okay, 326 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: there you go. That is Thursday Night Football, and I'll 327 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: give it to Greg Rosenthal. He predicted all that. I 328 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: guess it wasn't a tough thing to predict. Us Again, 329 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: the Vikings have done this thirteen straight times this season. 330 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: Close game, going down to the very end, he said, 331 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 1: I think you guys are gonna have a lot to 332 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 1: talk about. We did, and on the subject of Greg 333 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 1: Rosenthal mark Um, he also said he listens to the 334 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: t n F recaps, which both struck us as a 335 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: little bit maybe a stretch of the truth, a little suspicious. 336 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: I mean, just because I never would he's he said 337 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: on on Friday morning as he's driving into work, he 338 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: religiously listens to what others did with the TNF recap, 339 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: but also claims to have never listened to any of 340 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: our other podcasts. You you know, he's a former debate 341 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: club guy in high school. Don't He's going to take 342 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: that and use it against you by saying you're using 343 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: overly flowery language. I don't think he said he listens 344 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: religiously well you know, but he said. I think he 345 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 1: says he does. He's known when he can, he checks 346 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: it out. So how about a test. What if, hey, Greg, 347 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: if you're listening right now, if you would do indeed, 348 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: listen to these podcasts on Thursday night that you're not 349 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: on when I introduce you on Sunday Show the Flagship program, 350 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: what the first thing you say, Strawberry truck. It's the 351 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: perfect way to do it. I also, um, Greg, I 352 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: don't know if you know this, damn, but he'll often 353 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: I think he finds that I am a I'll listen 354 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: to him and his inner thoughts. I don't always respond. 355 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: But he told me that he went ice skating alone tonight, Um, 356 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 1: just to enjoy the sensation of that. So if you 357 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: wanted to tweet at him about that, if you're listening 358 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 1: about you know, I think it's fine for a man 359 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: to go by skating alone in Los Angeles on such 360 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 1: a could call positive reinforcement, uh to Greg, because he 361 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: was he let himself be vulnerable to his friend Mark 362 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: sharing that he goes solo ice skating just to kind 363 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 1: of clear his mind, and he said, you know, he 364 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: said to me, he shot me a text a couple 365 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: weeks ago. He said, Dan, it makes me feel graceful. 366 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: So that send him some positive tweets supporting his solo 367 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: ice skating ventures. Let's lift him up, Ricky, do you 368 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: have anything? Dad? Thank you guys. Really, now, I think 369 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: he's just pissed because she had like a hot yoga 370 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: class she was gonna try to go to early tomorrow. 371 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: She thought that that game was gonna end quickly. Uh, 372 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: and then the fact that it turned into like this 373 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: epic barn burner is going to cost you a workout 374 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: in the morning. Yeah, now I gotta Now, I gotta 375 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: go hard in the morning. I wanted to get it 376 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 1: over with. So so now, now imagine being a Vikings fan. Uh, 377 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: take that frustration and multiply it by roughly one trillion. Yeah, 378 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: but at least they got the wins they got. I mean, 379 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: it sucks that how they came back, And I get it, 380 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: and I'd be furious too, because the Vikings do this 381 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: every single game. And what did I think it was? 382 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: You know, Troy and Joe were saying that, like in 383 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: the two minute drill. The Vikings are like legitimately the 384 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: worst ever. And so it's like here we are in 385 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: the two minute drill and like the Steelers marched down 386 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: the field and I'm not doing you know, down in 387 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: the last two minutes of half. Yeah. And unless you're 388 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: a Vikers Vikings fan who is also a toddler, you 389 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:36,959 Speaker 1: know you know that a dark day is coming. I mean, 390 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: I think that they're they're wise to uh final chapter. 391 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: And just because I don't, I don't want this to 392 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: get lost to the sands of time. Chase Claypool, how 393 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: about we like chill out on the knucklehead act that 394 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: guys fantastically talented, but he does something stupid almost every week, uh, 395 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: and posing and for the first down on a running 396 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: clock with no time outs and the games on the line, 397 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: and that led to an offensive line and scrambling over 398 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 1: and like bro and then the ball falling on the 399 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: ground that might have cost them one extra play down 400 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: with the goal line like that. That is not an exaggeration, 401 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: like an extra ten nine ten seconds off the clock. 402 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: That is something that Ricky would Ricky would absolutely pull 403 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: the same exact stunt were she in the same position. 404 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: And I think we're projecting. I think that I think 405 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: I would team player. And when you got to know 406 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: where you are at situational football, Mark, you gotta know 407 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: I would be got water in the nerves. You gotta 408 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 1: clock it. You're not anything. Mark strikes me either if 409 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: if well, first of all, I wouldn't make the catch. 410 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: So let's I mean, that would be the first problem 411 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: we know if we're if we're being generous, Mark would 412 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: either be like a hard nosed white safety um or 413 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 1: a super quirky kicker. Yeah, blanket ship type. Excuse me, 414 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: you're talking to someone who played running back and um 415 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: when they didn't know what's like like they didn't even 416 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: have real helmets back then, right, like the real roots 417 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 1: of leather. Way, you know, at least a hundred years 418 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: after that. But and and you're absolutely right, Mark Erica 419 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: is a diva wide receiver and there's no other position 420 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: that you could be playing. Yeah, well, that's piling up 421 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: personal fouls and you know, off the field team penalties 422 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 1: of finds and so you know what, the team can't 423 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: get rid of me because the numbers prove it. Yeah, well, 424 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: or your dad probably owns the team. It's okay, that's 425 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: all right. The show is now longer than the preview show. Um, alright, 426 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: So again, Vikings fans, I hope you're okay. Deep breath, 427 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: deep breath, you're still alive. I don't know if you're coaching. 428 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:54,959 Speaker 1: I hope you're okay. You know, the the zombie. There 429 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: was always one memorable zom especially memorable zombie from the 430 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 1: Michael Jackson Thriller video where he's walking down the street 431 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 1: and his arm just straight falls off and he just 432 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: keeps walking. That's the Steelers. Now they only have one arm, 433 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: but they still got two legs and and probably they're 434 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: still searching for brains. So that's that. You're alive. You're 435 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 1: under about the last. All right, let's go until Sunday. 436 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: In the Flagship show, you needs the call Strawberry Truck