Alex Curry & Nikki Kay talk Overreactions in the NFL, Ravens - Steelers, and New Year's Resolutions! - Fox Sports Radio

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports where.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
You go Welcome to Fox Football Saturday.

Speaker 3 (00:05):
I'm Alex Curry along with Nikki k.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us, and yeah,
happy New Year to everyone. But I got a bone
to pick right here, right off the top of the
show with love Nikki Ko, hold on, because I gotta
know we're gonna We're gonna ask America here, how long
is it appropriate to wish someone a happy New Year?

Speaker 3 (00:24):
I give it one week, Max, right.

Speaker 4 (00:27):
I am even more.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
I walked in goes mid February.

Speaker 4 (00:29):
Mid February. Listen.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
No, I use it as a CD.

Speaker 4 (00:33):
I use it as a crush.

Speaker 5 (00:35):
In interactions with people to last me throughout the first month.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
And a half.

Speaker 4 (00:39):
January better January.

Speaker 5 (00:41):
I'm looking for something I'll give you start off with,
especially only if it's.

Speaker 4 (00:46):
Someone I haven't seen yet in the ten days maybe.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Ten No, no, no, I keep retracting. I'm like after that.

Speaker 4 (00:52):
It's I'm also the type of person.

Speaker 5 (00:54):
That, like, let's say we're at the super Bowl, I
walk around and go happy super Bowl?

Speaker 3 (00:58):
Get no, same?

Speaker 5 (00:59):
Right?

Speaker 4 (00:59):
Yeah, yeah, but I feel that way about the New Year.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
So basically all of January is the new year? Yes, absolutely,
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
I don't have.

Speaker 4 (01:06):
Time to begin speaking of beginnings.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah right, gosh, you guys, we have such an epic
day today and show lined up for you a couple
NFL games with a lot on the line, Panthers and
Bucks kicking off in about thirty minutes. Are watching Sarah
Walsh live at the game. Looks like it's raining. She's
got a big.

Speaker 4 (01:23):
Umbrella in southern California.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
I know, NICKI walks in the door today like, no umbrella,
no hood, just huge smile walking into the office in
the rain in a motorcycle jacket. So it was like
very fitting.

Speaker 4 (01:34):
I And I hope my dad's not listening at this point.
I do not. I don't think I own an umbrella.

Speaker 3 (01:38):
What I have one in the car in the dog
basket in my back.

Speaker 4 (01:43):
She is ready.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
I am like I was always like Mamma Curry before
I was even a mom. I am like over prepared
for every situation.

Speaker 4 (01:48):
Oh, I'm like Dan in the rain.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
I know I'm the one like here, Nikki, come here,
let me put you under my coat, bring you in.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
But dude, these games today.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
A lot on the line, Bucks and Pans there's the
NFC South on the line. Panthers win and their NFC
South champs for the first time since twenty fifteen. Bucks
need a little more help because they need Atlanta to
lose against the Saints to claim.

Speaker 3 (02:11):
The division in a playoff spot. And then we got
Seahawks and forty nine Ers.

Speaker 4 (02:16):
I am so fired enough for that game.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Winner of that game wins the NFC West, the one
seed in the NFC, and then they get a bye week.

Speaker 4 (02:23):
And also the implications for the other teams it has.

Speaker 5 (02:25):
In the racy right exactly, and like who's going to
be facing the Eagles? Yeah, and then you know, the
forty nine ers are hoping that either the Eagles or
the Rams will eliminate one or the other, right, so
that the path becomes a lot clear.

Speaker 3 (02:40):
NFC West was the best division, Yes, in the NFL
this year.

Speaker 5 (02:44):
I do have to say big picture conversation here. First
of all, I woke up this morning light was like,
how did we get here? Week eighteen? But at the
same time, the season has seemed so long, you people,
Yeah here am I We've lived so many lives. Yeah,
because of all the injuries, of all the ups and
the downs and the times we've said this team doesn't
have a chance, and then here we are. I canceled

(03:05):
the Baltimore Ravens like weeks ago, Yeah, and here they are.

Speaker 3 (03:09):
Well, I mean, Lamar was dealing with a lot of injuries.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
It felt like all of it, like like every part
like slowly worked its injury down as leg Well.

Speaker 4 (03:17):
That's what I mean by this.

Speaker 5 (03:19):
I feel like this season, in particular in the NFL,
has had so many chapters.

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Well, it is the weirdest, I think, the weirdest season
we have seen in a long time. The beginning of
the season, if you said every team that was winning
the division in the playoffs right now and the teams
that weren't, you'd be like, you're lying.

Speaker 4 (03:35):
Chiefs aren't making the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (03:36):
That's no, no, no.

Speaker 4 (03:38):
Are you pro parity or pro dynasty?

Speaker 3 (03:41):
I like a little bit of both.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Like I don't hate a dynasty because I love watching ralists.

Speaker 3 (03:46):
And really being able to witness it, Like it is.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Rare that you get to live through such incredible dynasties,
and we did.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
We got the we got the Patriots dynasty.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
We got like a little, you know, a handful of
the Chiefs dynasty. We're going to talk about that little later,
but they're definitely that's on the way out. We're slowly
watching a Dodgers dynasty begin, like.

Speaker 4 (04:07):
We've witnessed the I think of the Warriors Warriors.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
Dynasty, right, Chef's kiss, Like that was beautiful. It's always
sad to see it like fade out. This is the
hard part where it's.

Speaker 5 (04:17):
Like, right, but then, and I don't like it when
it's so many consecutive years of inevitability, right, like.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Ten plus years. Yes, yes, but I do domination.

Speaker 5 (04:27):
I do.

Speaker 4 (04:28):
I have to say that I've enjoyed the parody this season.

Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yeah, it's funny though, because like obviously we work in
TV and the broadcast, and sometimes the parody is a
little tough for ratings and a little tough for sponsorships
and a little tough for the TV side of things.

Speaker 3 (04:44):
But again, like.

Speaker 5 (04:45):
Also for scheduling your personal life. You're like, do I
know I'm working in January?

Speaker 6 (04:50):
Am I gonna go?

Speaker 3 (04:51):
Nobody knows.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, I'm excited because we got a lot of like
there's like a few games this weekend that really like
is gonna determine the rest of the season, and Steelers
is one of them.

Speaker 3 (05:04):
We got Steelers team.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
Reporter Brook Pryor who will be at that game, Raven
Steelers with like, win and you're in, you win the division,
who you're in the playoffs?

Speaker 3 (05:13):
Losing, you're going home. She's joining us.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
At the bottom of the hour, we have Broncos team
reporter Lise Hernandez An Hour two producer both US Today
Technical producer Chris Phfett, Martin Wise at the news desk.

Speaker 5 (05:28):
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Speaker 4 (05:37):
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Speaker 2 (05:46):
Basically, tell us if you like us or not, you
please face right there in that moment, I was just
pointing at Nikki like She's like, what, let's still.

Speaker 4 (05:52):
Working out our synergy?

Speaker 3 (05:53):
What are we doing?

Speaker 2 (05:55):
We are back, Okay, We're We're gonna kick things off
today with a fun little game call overreaction or facts.
I'm basically gonna give a statement and each of us
will say if we think it's an overreaction or not.
All right, and we're gonna get started in this AFC
North Showdown, the biggest game of the weekend.

Speaker 3 (06:13):
The winner go home like.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
There is just it's crazy with both of these teams
right now, Ravens and Steelers. Let's start with this first,
this statement, Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh are playing for
their jobs.

Speaker 3 (06:32):
I'll go first. All right, facts, this is not an overreaction.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
I there's a lot to unpack here, but I think
the biggest thing is what Since Lamar became a starter
in twenty eighteen, he's won two MVPs, He's only three
and five in the playoffs. He's never made it to
a Super Bowl, He's only been to the AFC Championship
Game once in twenty twenty three. Any loss, and these
are Lamar's prime years and if you miss the playoffs,

(06:59):
I don't know how ownership doesn't question.

Speaker 4 (07:02):
Is this the right combination? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (07:04):
Fit for Lamar and Harbaugh.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
And I mean, obviously they're both still under contract, so
it's a little more complicated than just we're done. But
the reason I don't think it's an overreaction for Lamar
playing for his job, you have to remember, Lamar Jackson
doesn't have an agent, right, Okay, so he did his
own contract negotiations his last contract, and Lamar's cap hit
for next year jumps to seventy four point five million dollars,

(07:29):
meaning they will need to restructure his contract and extend
him to get his cap hit down. So again, I
think a lot of negotiating power is going to ride
on this performance and how he does.

Speaker 3 (07:43):
And it's been an off year for Lamar.

Speaker 2 (07:44):
He missed four games this season with hamstring injury back
what was it like, contusion, stiffness.

Speaker 5 (07:50):
But.

Speaker 2 (07:52):
This was the first week in two months that he
practiced every single day. I think there's a lot on
the line for both these guys.

Speaker 5 (08:00):
All Right, I'm going to counter you, and I'm going
to say it's an overreaction of a statement, because here's why.
When you think of a championship franchise, you think of
the Baltimore Ravens, and that's widely regarded throughout the NFL.

Speaker 3 (08:10):
But they don't have the playoff experience.

Speaker 5 (08:12):
But they are the class when it comes to an
operating organization, and that tells me that they do not
overreact when things get a little wobbly.

Speaker 4 (08:22):
You don't bail.

Speaker 5 (08:23):
I'm looking at you Minnesota Vikings with Sam Bradford, but
I mean Sam Jarnld.

Speaker 4 (08:27):
Sorry, but I'm.

Speaker 5 (08:28):
Saying that basically when it comes to this sign of
things not going groovy, right because Lamar this has been
the most difficult season of Lamar Jackson's eight year career.
Tom Monkin said, it's the closest team he's been to
playing healthy in a couple of months.

Speaker 4 (08:47):
And I think because.

Speaker 5 (08:48):
It's been a rye in a season where his health
has not been intact, they're going to give it. This
season is going to be kind of the Okay, the
seat is warming up, the seat is getting hotter, and
whether it's for Harbaugh or Jackson, I think this is
not the end all, be all ejection boost.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
But then you have to ask yourself, like since twenty eighteen, right, SOS,
He's become a starter in the league. He has been
one of the greatest regular season players, but we have
not seen that translate into the postseason. He is only
three to five in the playoffs. He has never made
it to a Super Bowl as a two time MVP,
and as you mentioned, one of the top regarded teams
in the league. How do you not question that, especially

(09:26):
because they're going to have to restructure his contract coming up.

Speaker 5 (09:29):
But then there's the hypothetical if they beat the Steelers,
they're capable of winning one game.

Speaker 4 (09:32):
In this post, He's.

Speaker 2 (09:33):
Why I'm saying, That's what I'm saying. That's why I
don't think this is an overreaction.

Speaker 5 (09:37):
But I think because the margin is playing for their jobs.
But I think because the margin is so small, but
the game is, you're in for it and you're playoffs
in partampionship franchise, I think I think the Ravens don't overreact.
Oh man, So I think the ultimatum is an overreaction.
I don't think the Ravens will overreact.

Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah, opposite sides here, Okay, let's move to the other
side of the field. Sunday's game will determine Aaron Rodgers'
future in the NFL. I'm gonna say facts that this
is not an overreaction. He signed a one year deal
with the Steelers, you guys, and if he wins and
helps him win the AFC North and they secure a
playoff spot, he's gonna have options next season. And whether

(10:21):
that's a Steelers giving him another chance or another team
using him as a bridge quarterback and he's forty two
years old.

Speaker 3 (10:28):
He talked about it this week.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
He's like, I'm thinking about it, so you know what
the situation is like, whenever the season ends, I'll be
a free agent. And if we win, like I still
want to play, and if I still want to play,
there's always an if with Rogers. But honestly, I've been
pleasantly surprised by Rogers this year. He helped the Steelers
to another winning season. I mean, he was middle of
the pack in terms of stats, but he got the
job done and they're playing meaningful football and they're playing

(10:52):
for a playoff spot tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (10:54):
It also felt like an no knock on.

Speaker 2 (10:57):
I guess years prior, but it felt like he fok
on just playing football this year posed to making headlines.

Speaker 3 (11:03):
Right.

Speaker 2 (11:03):
We didn't see him in the media ton He wasn't
on the Pat McAfee show every week talking about things
outside of football. I just I think if he wins
and they moved to the into the playoffs, he's like, Okay, yeah,
I still got a little more gas in the tank.

Speaker 4 (11:19):
Listen.

Speaker 5 (11:19):
I looked at this statement as a truer false statement,
and I got a little ticky tacky with your wording here.
You said Sunday's game will determine Aaron Rodgers' future in
the NFL, and I said overreaction, because only Aaron Rodgers
knows what is going on in his brain and will
determine his future in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (11:35):
So that's I want.

Speaker 5 (11:37):
I went through read between the lines there, but I
think I think that man who knows what's going through
his brain, and.

Speaker 4 (11:43):
He could, yes, he could allude to it.

Speaker 5 (11:46):
He could allude to retirement, or he might as well
find find a future starting position at a team we
never saw coming. Right.

Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah, So I don't know. I think he's not hanging.

Speaker 5 (11:58):
It up yet, but it it will be, like you said,
with what he's shown in a Steelers uniform. Obviously this
last game of the season, if whether it's postseason or not,
we'll have big implications on what he plans to do
in the future.

Speaker 3 (12:12):
Yeah, Okay, let's stay with the Steelers here.

Speaker 2 (12:14):
If the Steelers lose, Mike Tomlin is done in Pittsburgh.
I'm going to say this is an overreaction because the
Steelers don't I don't see them firing Mike Tomlin after
his nineteenth non losing seasons.

Speaker 3 (12:29):
The Steelers don't move off coaches.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
Since nineteen sixty nine, the Steelers have only had three coaches,
so they are loyal to the bone. But ultimately it's
going to come down to what does Mike Tomlin want
to do. He's under contract for another two more years,
but only really one guaranteed. Twenty twenty seven is a
team option, so they would have to quote pick it up.
So there's a lot riding on this game. I think
for him.

Speaker 4 (12:50):
I think fact because I think if the Steelers lose,
he's done.

Speaker 3 (12:54):
We've disagreed on what every I like it.

Speaker 4 (12:57):
I like it, And I think.

Speaker 5 (13:01):
In his fifteenth season since reaching a super Bowl, it's
his thirteenth since his only super Bowl appearance, and that's
longer than the eleven seasons Don Shula went between his
final super Bowl appearance and his final season with the Dolphins.
I think he's his leash has reached its fullest length
in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 2 (13:20):
Like or does he come back and kind of work
with another team?

Speaker 3 (13:24):
Oh?

Speaker 4 (13:24):
I think he has a future with another team.

Speaker 3 (13:26):
Maybe you take a year off, right, you take a
year off?

Speaker 4 (13:29):
No, you say it done in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 5 (13:31):
So I said, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
no I loser goes home.

Speaker 4 (13:36):
I'll get you.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
Really on both.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
Sides, Like there was so much riding on this game,
I think for the quarterback and head coach of both
these teams.

Speaker 5 (13:45):
And it's easy to say things I know, and I
get it from your perspective where you think, no matter
what happens, Tomlin's safe in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 3 (13:55):
Well, it's gonna come up to him, right.

Speaker 2 (13:57):
I again like this, like I said, Steelers have only
had re coaches since nineteen sixty nine. Yep, Like they
don't they don't fire and move off coaches often.

Speaker 5 (14:06):
Well, they're both teams. I mean Harbaugh's longevity, yeah, Baltimore.

Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, but again he has a two time MVP who
is in the prime of his career, hasn't had the
playoff success. They've been one of the better regular season teams.
This is the first time that they don't have his
biggest hurdle to get past in the postseason, which is
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and.

Speaker 3 (14:29):
You have an opportunity to get there.

Speaker 5 (14:31):
But Lamar Jackson's injuries are out of his control.

Speaker 2 (14:35):
But it's not just this year, It's not just this year,
they haven't had the success and if they don't even
make the playoffs this year, and they're gonna have to
restructure his contract next year, so you've got to think about, Okay,
is this our guy? I think that that is like
you can't. You don't walk away from a guy like
Lamar Jackson or trade trading would probably.

Speaker 3 (14:55):
Be on the most.

Speaker 4 (14:58):
There's been chattering, real live chatter.

Speaker 3 (15:00):
But I think he has a mind.

Speaker 2 (15:02):
Does he have a no trade clause so he would
have to he has a no trade clas so he
would have to agree to a trade now. Because he
signed a five year, two hundred and sixty million dollar
extension in twenty twenty three, so he's under contract through
twenty twenty seven and he'd be a free agent in
twenty twenty eight. So the biggest thing is the restructuring
his contract next season to bring down that cap hit.
So that's what he's playing for, and he doesn't have

(15:23):
an agent. He's the one doing all of his negotiations.
I don't agree with that. With athletes. I think you
gotta like it's a really bolder preparade.

Speaker 4 (15:33):
Bet on yourself. Yeah, you gotta.

Speaker 3 (15:34):
Separate betting on yourself.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
No, then it becomes awkward, right because it's personal, and
I get you take it personal. And the way negotiations happen,
like we have agents, like they attack.

Speaker 3 (15:44):
Your most negative sides and parts of.

Speaker 2 (15:47):
You to try to get money down to then you
have to like pump yourself up to get it back up.

Speaker 3 (15:51):
Like that's just how it works.

Speaker 4 (15:53):
Yeah, it's not pretty.

Speaker 5 (15:54):
No, I think that that adds another layer of a
really complicated dynamic. And also, you know, there seems to
be smoke in Baltimore when it comes to awkward tensions
in the facility. I don't know how much you know
meet there isn't that Baltimore Sun report that came out
but or call him, I should say, But I just

(16:16):
I would you know, in terms of looking at the
history and what's been established, I don't think this is
a team that would react to a season, you know,
missing the postseason if it's been based on a year
where Lamar Jackson was missing the majority of it.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
HI means four games we're gonna have to agree to
disagree on those.

Speaker 3 (16:38):
We're going to take a quick you're.

Speaker 4 (16:39):
Injured, sorry, injured for the most of it.

Speaker 3 (16:41):
Okay, we're gonna take a quick break here.

Speaker 2 (16:43):
When we come back, it's time for the college football
playoffs semi.

Speaker 3 (16:46):
So who's moving on? You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 1 (16:48):
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Speaker 3 (17:01):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.

Speaker 7 (17:03):
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing
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Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines,
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(17:23):
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Speaker 2 (17:33):
Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here
at the Little Nikky Kay. We are broadcasting live from
the Fox Sports Radio studios in Los Angeles. Thank you
for spending your Saturday afternoon with Little Nick and me.

Speaker 4 (17:43):
That's for dang sure for.

Speaker 5 (17:44):
The best pre game show every weekend, be sure to
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(18:04):
right here on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart Appo.

Speaker 2 (18:08):
Speaking of Countdown to Kickoff, we are moments away.

Speaker 4 (18:11):
I'm heard up from this boat. Oh we've got the
water radar.

Speaker 6 (18:15):
I know.

Speaker 2 (18:16):
Well, we saw Sarah Walsh on TV with a giant umbrella.
It's definitely gonna be raining. Oh yeah, the camera so fun.

Speaker 3 (18:25):
I love. I gotta say maybe because I'm a Soca
girl and we don't have a ton of weather here.
I love rain, moody weather. I love it.

Speaker 4 (18:33):
I can take it in doses.

Speaker 5 (18:35):
I think I romanticize it at first, and then I'm like,
all right, get me outside.

Speaker 3 (18:39):
I want to run, I want to do things. Yeah
that's fair.

Speaker 2 (18:41):
Okay, guys, we got to talk about the college football playoffs,
because wow, we're gonna start with that. Uh, Miami Ohio
State game. Wow, Miami. They were nine and a half
point underdogs. Like, I love this for Miami. This was
twenty four points with the most that Ohio State had
given up all season. But Miami has won a national

(19:03):
title since two thousand and one. They've won six games
in a row since that overtime loss to SMU. I
mean it just I'm pumped for them.

Speaker 5 (19:14):
I think, Oh, I mean when you that's one snippet
of this picture right that shows we're entering a new
era in college football, which I love.

Speaker 2 (19:24):
Also like the colle Fooball championship games at hard Rock
in Miami, so like, if they get there, that's a
home and home. That's a home game for them. But
let's move on to Ole Miss and Georgia. Probably the
best game of the weekend, but the weirdest ending I
have ever seen. They rolled out the stage too soon twice,
they dumped the gatorade and competti too soon, they had

(19:46):
to clear the field twice. But it was the best game,
and I just love the story around almost Miss winning.

Speaker 5 (19:54):
And Golden's crew and just rallying. What are your thoughts
on the whole Lane Kiffin saga?

Speaker 3 (19:59):
Right now, dude, it's wild.

Speaker 2 (20:00):
Also, LSU is paying Lane Kiffin so much money a
part of his bonus to get him to come to LSU.
They basically offered him two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
every game that Ole Miss wins in the playoffs, So he.

Speaker 4 (20:15):
Is they've won two playoffs, five hundred thousand.

Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yeah, he's already gotten five hundred thousand dollars. It's just,
it's just it's hard. I don't like it. It has
a lot to do with the transfer portal. I think
it's too soon. Everything needs to be after the college
football playoff time done to be recalibrating.

Speaker 8 (20:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:30):
Just, I mean so much of this whole system needs
to be kind of rethought and figured out.

Speaker 5 (20:36):
But well, and I thought it was interesting, I mean
not interesting. It's very Lane Kiffin of him. I think
there he wanted to return to ole Miss to cheer
on the team and support his players. And I don't
think anybody on campus really wanted him.

Speaker 3 (20:49):
You're gone, You're gone, right, And then he.

Speaker 5 (20:51):
Was seen at a woman's basketball game holding Kim Molki's hand.
It's just it was weird attention mongering.

Speaker 3 (20:56):
No, it's weird.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
But the other price, the weird fact though, is that
Lane Kiffin is taking a lot of the coaching staff
with him to LSU. So like there's rumors they might
not finish out this season right with the coaching staff
that they have now, they might have to take some
of the coaches before if they win this next game
and they make it to the College Football.

Speaker 5 (21:17):
Or is there any just that they decide to stay
or is it all written in stone now that they
are going to I don't know.

Speaker 3 (21:23):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (21:24):
So we got Miami and ole Miss on Thursday in
the Fiesta Bowl.

Speaker 3 (21:28):
Who you take in? Oh, I'm gonna take Miami.

Speaker 5 (21:32):
It's all about Okay, then I'm taking Old Miss. I
think nothing better would be than to see Lane Kiff
and leave.

Speaker 4 (21:38):
Ole Miss and to watch Ole Miss advanced to I mean,
like we did it without you, buddy? Yeah, exactly? Who
are you?

Speaker 6 (21:46):
Sir?

Speaker 4 (21:47):
Bye?

Speaker 2 (21:48):
Okay, So let's move on to Oregon Texas Tech. This
was an ugly beat down. Oregon defeated Texas Tech twenty
three nothing in the Orange Bowl, the first UH game
shut out for Oregon since nineteen seventeen, and I was
a Rose Bowl.

Speaker 4 (22:05):
And this far for a large part of the game,
was six nothing.

Speaker 2 (22:08):
Yeah, no, it just like you know, it was just like, eh,
Organ's ever won a national title, so like they're kind
of on the up and up, but they're going to
face now Indiana Indiana. Also, it was just like that
was a brutal Rose Bowl game, Indiana defeating Alabama thirty
eight three.

Speaker 5 (22:26):
He loved it for the sideline shots of Kurt Signetti
just staring down Bama.

Speaker 2 (22:31):
Well, it's just funny because like Indiana is basically the
new Alabama and their head coach came from the Nick
Saban coaching tree. But another fun fact, all four head
coaches in the semi finals all came from the Nick
Saban coaching tree.

Speaker 5 (22:45):
Well, I want to give some love to Kurt Signetti,
and I think what he you know, coming from James Madison, which,
by the way, UCLA is hoping to strike.

Speaker 4 (22:53):
Gold with hiring Bob Chesney.

Speaker 5 (22:56):
Yeah, you know, the same method, right, but talk about
a cold, sure builder. He comes in and in two
seasons turns this program around. It's interesting because you talk
about a program like Indiana.

Speaker 3 (23:09):
Who's never won a national title.

Speaker 5 (23:10):
And it's like, can you call them underdogs? Technically not,
They've got the money and the resources. But they are
a rags to riches story arc in terms of being
nobody ever talked about Indiana football and now here they
are talked about their basketball right exactly, and in two
short years, this man has.

Speaker 3 (23:27):
I really helped them out right exactly.

Speaker 5 (23:29):
See, that's that's the thing where I'm like, can you
call them like, you know, the impoverished and you know
where the.

Speaker 2 (23:35):
But they got money, right and we're seeing that. You
can tell what schools have money since the en nil
got put into effect.

Speaker 5 (23:41):
But what I really loved too about what we saw
them play. You know how this team played is is
the effort they gave through all four quarters, no matter
how much they were dominating.

Speaker 2 (23:52):
Every single sport in game should be that way. Yes,
it never let up. I was never like even in
soccer they're like, oh, you're up by like seven, you
should stop, but absolutely not.

Speaker 3 (24:03):
You score that goal. You were in front of the net,
you score that goal.

Speaker 4 (24:06):
Fernando Mendoza's postgame.

Speaker 3 (24:08):
Oh my god, he's so excited, he's joy.

Speaker 5 (24:11):
He is like a kid in a candy shop trying
to describe how he just had a sour belt for
the first time or something like.

Speaker 4 (24:19):
It's it was Oh my gosh.

Speaker 3 (24:21):
It was so cute.

Speaker 2 (24:21):
We're gonna get to him a little later too, but
right now, let's check in with Martin Wise and see
what's trending.

Speaker 9 (24:29):
We have an injury on the first play of the
Buccaneers Panthers game. No, yeah, somebody's getting helped off off
the kickoff return. Buccaneers are getting the ball to start
the game. They'll need to win today to have a
chance to make the postseason. They'll also need the Falcons
to lose or tie Sunday against the Saints now Carolina,
all they need to do is win or tie today

(24:51):
to make the postseason. The winner of the NFC North
will be, you know, potentially decided today. JJ Watt no limitations,
expected to play Sunday night against the Race evens Sean
McVay plans to play his starters against the Cardinals regardless
of seeding implications. Josh Allen was a limited participant in
Friday's practice. He's expected to play. Allen's still going to
start the game. He's got the second longest active streak

(25:13):
season an active starts streak alive. He won twenty one,
but he'll sit for the most of this game. To
get ready for the postseason. Also, he misspracticed two days
this week with a dealing with that foot injury that
was hindering him last week. So he'll start Philip Rivers
Actually as the most consecutive active starts. It's way far

(25:35):
away from what Josh's got. Won twenty one for Josh
A thrank Houston beat Cincinnati sixty seven to sixty in
men's college basketball BYU with the win over Kansas State,
Vanderbilt b South Carolina SMU with the ninety seven to
eighty three upset over twelfth right North Carolina UCF with
an eighty one to seventy five upset over seventeenth rank Kansas.

(25:56):
Peterson for Kansas for twenty six point six rebounds. People
really excited about him. Georgia and Auburn in overtime twenty
third ranked Georgia Day one o four to one hundred win.

Speaker 4 (26:05):
Over the Tigers.

Speaker 9 (26:06):
Texas Tech, Virginia and Alabama also all on Kentucky nine
and five, losing their first conference game in the SEC.

Speaker 4 (26:14):
Ladies.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Back to you, Thank you, Martin. You're listening to Fox
Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Nikki k Thank
you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us.

Speaker 3 (26:22):
It is time for our first guest.

Speaker 2 (26:23):
She is going to be at the Game of the
Week ESPN Steelers reporter Brook Pryor.

Speaker 3 (26:27):
Thank you for joining the show.

Speaker 8 (26:29):
Thanks for having me. I'm much warmer currently than I
will be tomorrow night, so I'm happy that I'll be
in the press box for most of that one. But bo,
I wish I want Nikki's from the stadium.

Speaker 3 (26:40):
I wish you could see Nikki's face right now.

Speaker 2 (26:41):
For the fact, you guys, these guys kind of came
up in sports together in.

Speaker 5 (26:44):
OKC, Oklahoma City. Brook an award winning writer for the
Oklahoma and I was shooting my own stand ups for
her channel horror.

Speaker 3 (26:54):
Look at you, Yeah, look at you.

Speaker 5 (26:56):
Now.

Speaker 8 (26:57):
We've both got to different coasts, but we met in
the middle.

Speaker 3 (27:00):
For I love this.

Speaker 4 (27:01):
That's your dang share girl.

Speaker 5 (27:03):
Oh great to hear your boys out. We just are
crushing it. Love seeing you on ESPN always.

Speaker 3 (27:07):
Brook.

Speaker 2 (27:08):
You guys have literally I think Game of the Week
it's when when in you're in, you win the division, lose,
you go home. There is so much on the line
for these two teams. What's the vibe around the team
heading into the game tomorrow.

Speaker 8 (27:22):
You know, it's so funny because this week I wasn't
quite sure how the team was going to respond after
losing in Cleveland, because that's a crushing lot. I mean,
you have the chance to clinch the AFC North and
take this week easy rust up before the playoffs, and
then you lose in a pretty demoralizing way. But they've
been really loose all week in I think a productive way.
I mean, I watched them kind of. They have a

(27:44):
mini basketball hoop in the locker room. Looks like it
was a Christmas gift of some kind, but guys were
taking free throw shots on it and playing around, and
they've just been I think, really energized by the charge
of trying to beat the Ravens in a winner, go
home type of game. Reminds me a lot of a
college format. And yes, I know in the NFL playoffs

(28:04):
are also win or go home, but it just feels like,
because they're playing the Ravens, which is their biggest rival,
in a game with the highest stakes, that this is
the kind of thing that this team relishes, that Mike
Tomlin relishes. They've been playing videos all week of them
making big plays against the Ravens in the past, trying
to help with this visualization. So I think mentally they

(28:27):
are headed in the right direction for a game of
this magnitude.

Speaker 5 (28:30):
Okay, Brooke and you talk about the immedia implications, right,
but let's look at you know, let's do a little
future casting here.

Speaker 4 (28:37):
Let's say the Dealers lose.

Speaker 5 (28:40):
Have you gotten any indication of what this could mean
for Tomlin's future in Pittsburgh Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 4 (28:47):
I mean, what can you glean from the mind of
Aaron Rodgers?

Speaker 5 (28:49):
I guess even when you look down that road, I
know that's probably a very impossible crystal ball to look into,
But what have you picked up?

Speaker 1 (28:57):
Right?

Speaker 8 (28:58):
Aaron Rodgers mind is a very interesting place that no
one can glean anything from unless I guess you go
into darkness retreat with him, or like an hyahuasca hut.
But I will say that it does feel like, honestly,
for both teams, there's huge future implications, right because there's
questions about John Harbaugh's future and Lamar Jackson's future in Baltimore,
and a lot the same can be said in Pittsburgh

(29:19):
for different reasons. I mean, it does feel like there
could be seismic changes in the organization. If the Steelers
lose this game, I don't think that means the Steelers
would fire Mike Tomlin. That does not seem to be
the mo of Art Rooney the second. It hasn't been
there a very patient organization. He has two years left
on the contract, including that club option year. The decision

(29:40):
for that to be picked up has to come on
March first. I believe of this year. But you know,
I could see a world where Mike Tomlin says, you
know what I've done all I can do here, I'm
going to walk away. It would be unprecedented and pretty
insane for the longest tenured head coach to just walk
away from an organization. Or he has had so much success,

(30:02):
but the problem is it's been largely regular season success.
You haven't won a playoff game in the last eight seasons,
are going on a nine season playoff win drought that
at some point you feel like you've stalled out. It
would be very unlike Mike Tomlin to admit defeat or
to admit like all I don't really can do here,
because he is not wired that way. But it does

(30:25):
kind of feel like we are very much in a
wait and see mode in the next you know, twenty
four to forty eight hours could be very transformational in
the future of this franchise.

Speaker 2 (30:34):
It's crazy because, I mean we started off the show
saying that I think this like, whoever wins this game,
it kind of saves the career of the quarterback and
head coach, and whoever loses, there's so much on the line.
But with someone like Aaron Rodgers, who's one of the
great veterans still in this game, he has so much experience.

Speaker 4 (30:53):
What kind of.

Speaker 3 (30:53):
Leader has he been this week? Has he been vocal?

Speaker 2 (30:56):
Has he been kind of getting the guys ready for
such a big game like this?

Speaker 8 (31:02):
Yeah, very much so. I mean this is the kind
of week why you bring in Aaron Rodgers because he
has this experience, and you know, for all of the
weird intangibles around him and the stories in his past
history of butting heads with guys in the locker room,
having disagreements with receivers, things like that, He's been a
really great presence in Pittsburgh all season. He holds his

(31:23):
receivers to a really high standard, but he also has
done a good job of walking that line and being
one of the guys as well as a leader in
the locker room. He has a very I think, calming presence.
And you know, we all know when he was with
the Packers he did the relax thing. He's had that
vibe a.

Speaker 4 (31:41):
Little bit literally relaxed right, right.

Speaker 8 (31:44):
But he knows when it's time to use that and
when this team needs to hear it and when they
don't need to hear it. And I think he's got
a good pulse on the group in that way. But
I think that you know, the line to me that
sticks out to him, that sticked out to me that
he said this week was that he doesn't have a
lot of stinkers back to back over the course of
his career, because he played back so terribly in Cleveland.

(32:06):
I love it, right, no back to back stinkers. He's like.
Somebody asks like, why do you think that's not going
to happen this week? He's like, well, if you look
over the course of my career, I don't have a
lot of back to back stinkers. So and he hasn't
done that this season either, And so I think that
he has confidence in himself, obviously, And this is a
week where you're really thankful to have that kind of
leader and guy with that level of confidence.

Speaker 5 (32:26):
Yeah, Brook, We're watching Bucks Panthers right now, keeping an
eye on it, and I'm watching Baker b Baker right
and I just want to I want to hear a
funny anecdote you recall from covering him on his Heisman campaign.
I mean, that man was just a walking story everywhere
he went.

Speaker 8 (32:44):
Oh my gosh, he really was. It's funny because I'm
also watching Baker b Baker right now and I got
to see him. Catch up with him earlier this year
when the Bucks had their joint practice in Pittsburgh during
training camp. But one of my favorite moments covering him
during his Heisman run up to it, he won the

(33:05):
walk On Award and I went to Fayetteville where they
were presenting him with the award and he had completely
lost his voice. Oh my, and he was just drinking
hot water with lemon and honey. And his mom told
me that he had had so much hot water with
women that he had actually gotten sick that morning. And
she was like, I got to figure something else out,

(33:27):
Like we are getting him sick by trying to get
his voice back in that is now counterproductive man.

Speaker 4 (33:32):
Can't help himself.

Speaker 2 (33:33):
No, Okay, real quick, before you go broke one more
back to the game. Unfortunately, the team's going to be
without DK. How has that affected them this week?

Speaker 8 (33:42):
Well, you know, I think that it was a huge
loss against the Browns because they needed that big body,
wide receiver, someone you know that has I think just
a bigger presence on the field than Marques Valdez Scantling
as an Adam Seelen. The good news for this team though,
going against the Ravens, even though the last time they played,
I mean, DK Metcalf had a career gam er at

(34:03):
least a Pittsburgh career game one hundred and forty eight
receiving yards. But against the Browns, Kenneth Gainwell was not
really an option in the passing game because he was
being used to chip Miles Garrett so often. The Ravens
don't have that kind.

Speaker 4 (34:15):
Of pass rush.

Speaker 8 (34:16):
I think that they'll be able to get the ball
to Kenneth Gainwell more in the passing game and be
able to use him as kind of that multi dimensional
weapon on the ground through the air, and I think
that that should help out a little bit more. Okay,
I also think another big loss. Not having Darnell Washington
huge target has been good for a couple catches a
game big in the tush push. We've got some wrinkles

(34:37):
to account for that absence. But I would also look
for Pat fire Mouth to have a bigger role in
the receiving game. With Darnell Washington out.

Speaker 2 (34:43):
Well, at least some good news you guys are getting TJ.
Watt back, So yeah, finds in the silver lining Brook.

Speaker 3 (34:50):
Thank you so much for coming on. Have so much
fun at the game tomorrow.

Speaker 4 (34:53):
No back to back, stinkers, Nope, no back.

Speaker 3 (34:57):
Guys, all right when we come back.

Speaker 2 (34:59):
You guys, the dues and the don'ts in sports. You're
listening to Fox Sports Radio. You're listening to Fox Football Saturday.
I'm Alex Curry here with Little Nikky Ky. We are
broadcasting live from Los Angeles. Thank you for spending your
Saturday afternoon with us. We just have We just have
the best dance breakingsh Sometimes you just gotta like unplug
and just go ham During commercial were quite literally unplugged

(35:20):
our headphones.

Speaker 4 (35:21):
Yes, a dance break.

Speaker 3 (35:23):
It was beautiful. And then I was like, oh my god,
how long has it been? Are we live yet. Are
we back? No, We're okay, We're articularly fine. You guys,
this was so much fun. And you know what time
it is.

Speaker 2 (35:32):
It is time for the dues and the don'ts in
sports high.

Speaker 1 (35:37):
I love that putting a spotlight on the don't.

Speaker 3 (35:40):
The subject brings me no joy. That's insane.

Speaker 1 (35:44):
Next time for the dues and the dot in sports.

Speaker 4 (35:47):
Who is that in the clip that says don't do that?

Speaker 3 (35:51):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (35:53):
Oh, okay, god, it don't do that.

Speaker 3 (35:57):
Ok that makes sense. Yeah, I was like trying to think.
I was like, I don't know the voice about's Karmen
and me.

Speaker 5 (36:03):
My friend's dad is Christian Koye, the Nigerian Nightmare. Yeah,
and when one night when you know, we had just
graduated college and he took us out and he had
had a.

Speaker 4 (36:13):
Couple of tequila sodas.

Speaker 3 (36:14):
Love that for him.

Speaker 5 (36:15):
In his thick Nigerian accent, he was trying to do
valley girl impressions and how we would talk and he
literally would go, don't do that. And so I'm always.

Speaker 2 (36:24):
Like kind of somehow fine, like make the.

Speaker 3 (36:27):
Show Christian anyway. Sorry, I love love that.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
Okay, I'm going to start with a do, and it's
for Shoho Tani Do keep making commercials.

Speaker 3 (36:38):
His most recent.

Speaker 2 (36:39):
One dropped a few days ago, and his Otani holding
a giant stuffed Teddy Bear at like, oh my God,
like you no like stop light in the snow, waving
at little kids and playing Peekapoo, fine teddy Bear.

Speaker 3 (36:53):
I have no idea what they're selling, but I'll take ten.

Speaker 4 (36:55):
He's got to be like the most likable superstar ever.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
Oh, they did an awesome PR campaign for him. Yeah,
everything so like the wife has a baby girl decoy
is his whole personality, which I'm here for, and like,
Japan is still on my bucket list. I haven't been,
but everyone who's been there his whole hat and is
everywhere no matter.

Speaker 3 (37:16):
Where you look, he's his face is Japan.

Speaker 5 (37:19):
I went, but it was before he burst out onto
the scene, so I couldn't attest to that.

Speaker 4 (37:24):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:24):
So, my my babysitter, dog Walker h is Japanese and
she went back for a family trip during the world
How she got like little Jackxi these little like show
Hey Dodger like socks. But she's like it's like a
religious experience over there watching show Hadda Dodgers like, they
don't even go to a commercial break. When they're in

(37:45):
commercial break, they just show O Tani sitting in the dugout.

Speaker 5 (37:50):
And people to stand to watch him take the Yeah,
it is a it is a religious experience.

Speaker 3 (37:55):
It's insane.

Speaker 5 (37:55):
Okay, I've got to do Okay, do invest in old
school coaching, culture builders. I'm talking about Ben Johnson, I'm
talking about Kurt Signetti. The ascendants these two guys have
had and they're winning ways and the joy the teams
I know they're coaching. There's something about it that makes

(38:16):
me like them. Even though I've never rooted for the
Chicago Bears for the Indiana Hoosiers.

Speaker 3 (38:21):
It doesn't matter.

Speaker 2 (38:22):
I'm a person fan, player fan, coach fan. Like again,
we didn't grow up with an NFL team in LA,
so it was like I became like player fans and
coach fans. So like, I love that I root for
other people on other teams.

Speaker 3 (38:36):
Come at me.

Speaker 4 (38:37):
I don't give me the story always.

Speaker 3 (38:39):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (38:39):
I love a feel good story. Okay, do keep balling out.
Lebron the Goat turned forty one this week and some
of his league stats don't even feel real.

Speaker 3 (38:51):
I'm just going to read a couple of these.

Speaker 2 (38:53):
Okay, he's played against thirty five percent of NBA players.

Speaker 4 (38:58):
That is insane.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
Ever, he's played in twelve point eight percent of all
NBA finals series in history. He has scored forty plus
against every NBA team. He's the only player to score
forty plus points as a teenager and a forty year old.
He has more playoff wins than twenty one NBA franchises.
And he's inducted into the Hall of Fame before retiring

(39:21):
as a member time. Who Yeah, as a member of
the two thousand and eight Olympic gold medal redeemed team. Like,
he's already a Hall of Fame, already still played.

Speaker 4 (39:28):
I has got stat you said first? One more time?
Lebron James has played.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
Played against thirty five percent of NBA players all NBA
players ever.

Speaker 5 (39:38):
One third, one third of NBA players in history he's
played again, has based them?

Speaker 4 (39:43):
Yeah, don't call him father time and don't that's INtime
I gotta do.

Speaker 5 (39:46):
It's another NBA related what do support your coaches family?

Speaker 3 (39:52):
Okay?

Speaker 5 (39:52):
The Oklahoma City thunder All rolled out to their coaches
daughter's middle school volleyball championship game. The visuals of like
oh hey, yies, Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chad Hoolgren rolling through
this gym.

Speaker 4 (40:06):
Vibe like teenage teeny bopper girls.

Speaker 3 (40:09):
Yeah, just like, oh my god, how cool is that?

Speaker 2 (40:13):
I love that so much. I'm gonna get one more
in real quick. Do pay respects to the refs.

Speaker 3 (40:17):
I don't know if you saw one of my all
time fased, Will.

Speaker 2 (40:19):
Ferrell at the Kings game I call his season seats
against the glass, dressed as a ref, talking to our
girl Carlin Babe, saying that he trained those refs out there.
He was commenting on what they were doing. Like, I
love that man so much.

Speaker 4 (40:31):
Was he dressed as a reff? Or was he a ref?

Speaker 3 (40:34):
I'm jo he is a ruff.

Speaker 4 (40:35):
He is a ref.

Speaker 3 (40:36):
He is Will Ferrell. Don't go anywhere.

Speaker 2 (40:38):
We got New Year's resolutions. We go back to listening
to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome back to our two of
Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Nikki k
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us.

Speaker 3 (40:49):
We're coming to you.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
Live from the Fox Sports Radio studios in LA. We've
got some fun NFL games going on today. You just
heard Martin Wise talk about the Bucks up on the
Panthers has been all Tampa Bay so far, and.

Speaker 4 (41:05):
Maker Baker the touch show Maker.

Speaker 5 (41:06):
And remember, if you missed any of today's show, you'll
want to catch the podcast. Just search Fox Sports Radio
wherever you get your podcast right after the show.

Speaker 4 (41:13):
Today's podcast will be boasted.

Speaker 5 (41:15):
Be sure to follow rate at five stars and you
can even provide a review. Please do again, Just search
Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts, and you'll
find today's full show posted right after we get off
the air. Hey, Alex, is is it too redundant to say?

Speaker 4 (41:29):
Happy New Year?

Speaker 3 (41:30):
Are you bringing it back?

Speaker 4 (41:31):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (41:32):
We're done. You were done.

Speaker 2 (41:34):
We are not doing this. I will ask America and
put this out there. I say you can't go over
ten days, two weeks, Matt, two weeks.

Speaker 5 (41:42):
Nice, see go as long as your heart desires wild
that February.

Speaker 3 (41:47):
Fuck you're wild for that statement.

Speaker 2 (41:49):
Okay, So, as we mentioned bucks up on the Panthers
right now, then we have Seahawks at forty nine ers.

Speaker 3 (41:55):
I so far later tonight.

Speaker 2 (41:57):
The winner of this game will clinch the NFC West,
take the number one see in the NFC, and a
bye next week, so it was they're like, this is
a big game.

Speaker 3 (42:05):
I don't know if it's as.

Speaker 2 (42:07):
Big as a Steelers Ravens. We talked to Brooke Pryor,
who is the Steelers reporter last hour, because that's a
win you're in, lose, you go home.

Speaker 3 (42:16):
At least both these teams.

Speaker 5 (42:17):
Are yeah, yea and implications beyond just this postseason.

Speaker 2 (42:22):
But I think those are the two big games of
the weekend. We got Broncos team reporter Lisa Hernandez in
about thirty minutes. We played a fun game in the
first hour called overreaction or facts, and we kind of
focused on that Ravens Steelers game. But now we're gonna
head to the NFC West. We're gonna continue playing this game.
I'm basically gonna give a statement. We're gonna say if

(42:44):
it's an overreaction or if it's not, if it's facts,
and we're gonna move to the NFC West because this
was hands down the best division this year.

Speaker 3 (42:53):
Three playoffs team, three playoff teams.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
Okay, like, yes, we got Seahawks and forty nine Ers
playing for the division and the one seed, but you
also got the Rams in there, and so basically, whatever
happens tonight and tomorrow will determine where everybody lands. So
here is my first statement. Brock Party and Sam Darnold
are top ten quarterbacks.

Speaker 3 (43:15):
I'm gonna say facts. This is not an overreaction.

Speaker 2 (43:19):
I have been preaching you guys from the mountaintops since
Brock Purty, mister Irrelevant made his debut in the NFL.
Put some respect on Brock Perty's name before the season started.

Speaker 3 (43:30):
I said he deserved to be a top ten.

Speaker 2 (43:32):
Quarterback because the first three seasons, I don't know if
you remember, brought his team as what he think he
was like the thirst string quarterback to the NFC Championship Game,
then brought his team to the Super Bowl.

Speaker 3 (43:41):
The next year. Last season was a wash because there were.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
So many injuries, and then now this season, for the
first time in his career, I think the entire sports
world saw his talent and his potential and jumped on
the Purty fan wagon. Last week when he had a
game with three hundred and three passing yards, three passing touchdowns,
two rushing touchdowns, and a one eighteen point six passer rating.

Speaker 3 (44:05):
He's got what it takes.

Speaker 2 (44:06):
He is seven and one this year with all the injuries,
including himself. The forty nine Ers have dealt with. He's
put this team on his back when he's in and
he's done a great job.

Speaker 5 (44:15):
Okay, I'm going to say starting with brock Purty facts,
but like underrated. Actually, I'm I've got him as a
top five quarterback.

Speaker 3 (44:22):
Yeah, that's all.

Speaker 4 (44:23):
I bought him up there with May Stafford Allen in Love, yeah, Purdy,
yeah right.

Speaker 5 (44:27):
And I think what you're what you were saying Alex too,
is that everyone doubting whether mister Irrelevant actually you know,
whether it was him or the Shanahan system was, whether
he was a system quarterback so to speak, and the
product of all the weapons around him. Right when you're
playing with Christian McCaffrey, how could the offense not be rolling?
But he has been electric. The forty nine ers are

(44:49):
on their six game winning streak and have that twelve
and four record because of him, and I think it's
very clear for the first time in his career that
it is being carried.

Speaker 2 (44:58):
No one, Yeah, no, I can, and I have it
more now. Mister Sam Darnold, there were a lot of
questions heading into the season. Could he be the same
quarterback without Kevin O'Connell and Justin Jefferson, And the answer
is yes, he's top ten and passing hours, passing, touchdown
passer rating. This is his fifth stop you guys, in
his career, and he is the winningest quarterback in the
league the last two seasons, the only quarterback to have

(45:19):
back to back thirteen plus win seasons on two different teams.
So yeah, I would say this season, Sam Donald's the
top ten quarterback exactly.

Speaker 5 (45:27):
And when you combine it with I mean, there are
the questions about his consistency and his turnovers, but look
what he did in Minnesota last year, and the Vikings
didn't have what it took to bet on him to
franchise in.

Speaker 4 (45:39):
He goes to Seattle and here he is again.

Speaker 5 (45:42):
And what I'm most impressed by him is how his
confidence has continue to grow despite all odds. Yeah, from
being drafted by the Jets. I know, it's the debacle
he went through there.

Speaker 3 (45:54):
I mean, that's a so yeah dumpster.

Speaker 4 (45:57):
I say, facts Arnold top ten quarterback this season.

Speaker 3 (46:01):
Yeah, love that.

Speaker 2 (46:02):
Okay, the Rams super Bowl hopes are in trouble. This
one pains me, but I don't think it's an overreaction.

Speaker 4 (46:13):
We are all aligned.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
Ifc takes it's tough their last Like their last two
games losses, they were tough and it's at the worst
part of the season to lose two games in a row.
They're now playing for the fifth or sixth seed. They
do not control their own destiny. They will be on
the road for wild card weekend. So if the forty

(46:34):
nine ers win tomorrow, Rams lock the sixth seed and
they would play either.

Speaker 3 (46:38):
Of the Bears of the Eagles.

Speaker 2 (46:39):
But if the Seahawks win tomorrow, the Rams would face
a five seed and would play the NFC South champ.

Speaker 3 (46:44):
The Panthers are bucks that are playing right now.

Speaker 2 (46:48):
But the biggest breakdown the last two games is just
like special teams in defense, like.

Speaker 3 (46:53):
They blew it against the Seahawks. They blew a thirty
to fourteen lead in the fourth.

Speaker 5 (46:56):
Quarter well, and then Stafford's interceptions last game two and
on both sides of the ball. What I think when
you have that statement in and of itself, the Rams
super Bowl hopes are in trouble. I think largely because
how flat they came out against Atlanta, and it.

Speaker 3 (47:11):
Was they score in the first half.

Speaker 5 (47:13):
They played with no sense of urgency, and I think
you know there. I think we will see the starters
play regardless of the outcome tonight. I think we will
see them take the field against the Cardinals.

Speaker 2 (47:23):
I don't think we'll see like DeVante Adams is still
listed as questions the answering injury. He'll probably sit this
one out so he's ready for the playoffs. So there's
been more pressure on Puka.

Speaker 5 (47:34):
So it's just but it And there was the thought of, Okay,
let's say I think I forget if the forty nine
Ers win, the Rams are automatically the sixth seed, right,
and then that would the.

Speaker 2 (47:45):
Rams are locked into the sixth still they play Bears
or Eagles.

Speaker 5 (47:47):
Yeah, So then there's some thought that or no, because
if Seattle wins, the Rams could jump to the.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
Ram to win to get the five seed. Yes, and
then they would play the NFC South chamce so.

Speaker 5 (47:59):
And I think there was some thought that maybe if
they were automatically going to be the succeed because of
a San Francisco win, that Sean McVay might not play
his starters because that's what he's done in pre season games.

Speaker 3 (48:09):
I'd be mad at it.

Speaker 5 (48:11):
But I think regardless with the the what they the
bad taste in their mouths from the last and with
a win or yeah, come out with like some positive
the sequences, you know.

Speaker 4 (48:20):
Yeah. So anyways, I do.

Speaker 5 (48:23):
I do think they're not as those super Bowl hopes
are not as strong as we all believe.

Speaker 3 (48:27):
What I'm saying not an overreaction. They might be in trouble.

Speaker 2 (48:30):
Okay, Now we're gonna celebrate the new year with some
New Year's resolutions that we have for players or teams.
Nikki and I came up with a few each for
different players and coaches. I'm going to start with the Lions.
The Lions need to be honest with themselves this year.

(48:51):
There was a lot of concern at the start of
the season because they lost their offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
And they claim they're going to be just fine, and
they started okay, they lost the season opener than one
or straight. But you gotta look in the mirror. When
you're eight and eight, you're out of the playoffs, you're
on a three game losing streak. And this is coming
off the last few seasons of them being Super Bowl
favorites or in the top two or top three super

(49:14):
Bowl favorites. And the thing you really need to be
honest about is you need a new offensive coordinator. Ben
Johnson was the reason this Lion's offense was so great
the last few seasons, and also the reason now that
the Bears have turned their franchise around in one year
and they are playing each other tomorrow and for the
first time in a while, the Bears under Ben Johnson

(49:36):
have something to play for and the Lions don't.

Speaker 5 (49:40):
All right, my New Year's resolution is for your Los
Angeles Chargers, invest in an offensive line for crying out loud.

Speaker 4 (49:50):
I am sick and tired, and you know who else
is sick and tired? Justin Herbert.

Speaker 5 (49:55):
Yeah, that man is weathering protect that storm.

Speaker 4 (49:59):
Yeah, yeah, he is. He is the lightning through the storm.

Speaker 5 (50:02):
Right. But because he's been absolutely electric this Wow, I'm
really extriting to No, he's been absolutely he's been sensational.
And you know, Harbaugh last week was telling us in
the media room, he was like, you know, that man
is like immortal, like just using all these insane hyperbole
to talk about Justin, But it almost felt like he

(50:24):
was talking about a man who had passed, like he
was giving these eulogy.

Speaker 4 (50:27):
You know, He's like.

Speaker 3 (50:28):
There's his speech.

Speaker 2 (50:29):
Yeah, he's so off the rails and wild and beautiful
in so many crazy ways.

Speaker 5 (50:33):
Like, but bottom line is is just give Herbert a pocket,
give him some time, giving me some space, anything, Please
give me a protection?

Speaker 3 (50:41):
Yeah, give him some protection. All right.

Speaker 2 (50:46):
I have a new Year's resolution for Sam Donald. Keep
your zen and continue to block out the noise. First,
let me apologize because I was one of the doubters.
Could he be that same quarterback without the Kevin O'Connell system,
And was that just a lucky year with the Vikings?
And it was also lucky because he was the backup

(51:07):
to JJ McCarthy before he got hurt. But the last
two seasons, Sam Darnald is the winningest quarterback and the
only quarterback to have back to back thirteen plus win
seasons on two different teams. And they are playing tonight
for the NFC West. They last won that in twenty twenty.
And he just keeps proving everyone wrong these last two years.

(51:28):
So keep it rolling, keep blocking out the noise, and
keep doing you, Sam Darnald. But I also have like
a fun fact here, okay, and this could also be
like the craziest coincidence ever. Two thousand and five, a
new pope was elected, the Seahawks win thirteen games in
advance to the Super Bowl. Twenty thirteen, a new pope
is elected, the Seahawks win thirteen games in advance to

(51:50):
the Super Bowl and win. Twenty twenty five, a new
pope is elected and the Seahawks win thirteen games.

Speaker 3 (51:58):
And so you got the Hope's luck on your side, Seahawks.
Let's see what goes down.

Speaker 4 (52:03):
You don't think Chicago might have the pope's luck?

Speaker 3 (52:06):
Facts are facts?

Speaker 4 (52:07):
I don't know that's are facts here.

Speaker 5 (52:10):
We might be we might be in for something real
interesting the Pope.

Speaker 3 (52:16):
We'll see.

Speaker 4 (52:17):
You know, the Pope hails from Chicago. Oh we know that.

Speaker 3 (52:20):
Oh I know.

Speaker 2 (52:21):
But it's the Seahawks who have these crazy but.

Speaker 4 (52:25):
What bears every single time.

Speaker 5 (52:27):
Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, just saying okay, just saying we go.

Speaker 4 (52:32):
We're at an interesting influx.

Speaker 3 (52:34):
Okay.

Speaker 5 (52:35):
Max Crosby, this one's for you, Okay, this new year,
I need you to know your worth.

Speaker 4 (52:42):
Get out while you still can't.

Speaker 5 (52:45):
You are too good for whatever is going on in
Las Vegas. You know, Pete Carroll came in, Tom Brady
whatever he's he's working on with the Raiders. That's that's
time to be told. But Max, you've done, You've done
your duty. It's time for you to go play for
a franchise and for a team that values you as
much as you value taking the field, because that's one

(53:06):
credit this man has always had, no matter how dire
of a situation the Raiders are in.

Speaker 4 (53:11):
Yeah, he's always playing.

Speaker 1 (53:12):
I know.

Speaker 2 (53:13):
It's just tough because coming into the season it felt
like they were.

Speaker 3 (53:17):
Doing everything they needed to do to be good. They
hired Pete Carroll.

Speaker 2 (53:20):
He's probably going to be a one and done situation,
which is also tough to see him end his career
that way. You signed a quarterback, you have Tom Brady
helping as the partial owner.

Speaker 4 (53:30):
Oh, this is a resolution. This isn't a debate. I know,
I know.

Speaker 1 (53:33):
I know.

Speaker 3 (53:33):
I'm just saying it's tough.

Speaker 2 (53:35):
It's tough because like he probably thought, like we can
finally do so That's.

Speaker 4 (53:39):
Why I'm saying this is there.

Speaker 5 (53:40):
You know you're worth and you know whatever is in
Las Vegas. Yeah, girl, leave that relationship.

Speaker 2 (53:49):
It is time to move. Yeah, girl, girl, all right, cowboys,
this is for you. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
They need to hire a real GM. Now this won't
happen because Jerry Jones is the owner of the team
and also the GM.

Speaker 3 (54:08):
But that's a dream big for Cowboy fans.

Speaker 2 (54:10):
I think a more realistic, I guess, kind of like
sidebar resolution would be they need to win the draft.
Have the draft of your life. Cowboys. They've missed the
playoffs two years in a row now. Their last playoff
game was getting blown out at home against Jordan Love
and the Packers in his first season as a starter.
And when you look at what they have this year

(54:32):
for the draft, because Jerry Jones isn't really one to trade.
When he did, he traded away, trading away Micaeh Parsons.
Now they have two first round picks, four Parsons, but
they also have two this year because they have one
from Green Bay for the trade. Then they have their
first round pick. They released Trayvon Diggs. He got picked
up by the Packers. Packers just taken all the Cowboys,

(54:53):
all the Cowboys big names. But you still have another
three years on Dack's contract. And the Cowboys need to
beef up their defense. They need a quarterback, they needed
ed rusher, they need a linebacker. They need a safety.
But Jerry loves the flashy offensive picks and he also,
like I mentioned, doesn't usually do big trades.

Speaker 3 (55:11):
So I you need to do something, you need to
mix it.

Speaker 4 (55:15):
Up, change it up. Well, I'm going to.

Speaker 5 (55:19):
Assign this next resolution to someone who needs to continue
doing whatever they were doing last year, and that's Matthew Stafford. Listen,
I always tell myself I need to stretch every day.

Speaker 4 (55:29):
Do I do it?

Speaker 8 (55:30):
No?

Speaker 5 (55:32):
But you know what, when I saw Matthew Stafford laying
on a glass table at the beginning of this season,
I was worried for that man's back.

Speaker 4 (55:39):
But did he prove us all wrong?

Speaker 5 (55:42):
Absolutely, at thirty seven years old, having the career of
his or having the season of his career with the
exception of last game. I know it was old, flubbed,
but an MVP worthy campaign nonetheless, And Matthew, I want
to see that continue when you're thirty eight. Yeah, just
keep it here in LA.

Speaker 2 (55:58):
It's just brutal that that last game probably cost him
the NBA.

Speaker 4 (56:01):
Right, and that it's going I mean Drake Mayson five
years ahead of him.

Speaker 2 (56:04):
Yeah, No, that's sense I'd probably cost him. Okay, I'm
gonna wrap things up with Philip Rivers.

Speaker 4 (56:09):
Speaking of another oldie. Please stay retired. This is a
fun actually, please but I was.

Speaker 2 (56:15):
Scared for you in your safety every time you were
on the field, and that was just uncomfortable to watch.
Go take care of your ten kids. Now that you
have the NFL health insurance for another five years worth it.
You did a good job. We'll see you make a
run for the Hall of Fame again in another five years.

Speaker 5 (56:30):
Wild absolutely gave us something to talk about. Yeah, it's
a little bit of nostalgia.

Speaker 4 (56:35):
Yeah, would on my card.

Speaker 3 (56:39):
No, I don't think it was on anyone's being go card.

Speaker 2 (56:41):
All right, guys, we're gonna take a quick break here,
but when we come back, will tomorrow be Travis Kelsey's last.

Speaker 3 (56:46):
Game in the NFL. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (56:49):
Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here
with little Nikki k. Thank you for spending your Saturday
afternoon with us, and we've got a fun football Saturday.
We got ourselves a game. Panthers finally on the board
against the Bucks. I think it's what Bucks ten to seven,
pouring pouring like this is a slip and slide game
and apps.

Speaker 4 (57:09):
This game is gonna be yeah in the walkiest of ways.

Speaker 2 (57:11):
Yeah ten seven And it is just like the camera
angles are kind of like there's like rain drops everywhere.

Speaker 3 (57:18):
Fun. Now, these are my favorite soccer games to play.

Speaker 5 (57:20):
Absolutely if you don't have mud all over your shorts
somewhar are you?

Speaker 3 (57:23):
What are you doing?

Speaker 5 (57:25):
And remember with the iHeartRadio app, you can stream us
wherever you happen to be. Catch us into all of
our Fox Sports Radio shows live twenty four to seven
in the new and improved iHeartRadio app. Just search Fox
Sports Radio in the app to stream us live all day,
every day, and be sure to select Fox Sports Radio
is one of your presets in the iHeart app, so
it'll always pop up right at the top of your screen.

Speaker 3 (57:46):
Let's go, all right, we're gonna talk the little Cheeps.

Speaker 2 (57:52):
We haven't talked a lot about them recently obviously because.

Speaker 3 (57:57):
Not very good.

Speaker 2 (57:59):
I might be safe to say the Chiefs are headed
for a little bit of a rebuild, which is tough
to think about, or a rebuild when you have one
of the greatest quarterbacks in the game and Patrick Mahomes.
But like there's a lot of questions here Travis Kelce,
is this going to be his last NFL game on

(58:20):
Sunday against the Raiders in Vegas. The dynasty, this current
dynasty is at its end, Like we can all, I
think finally agree on that. Like there's this current one
with the Travis and the Patrick Mahomes. And it's tough
because Mahomes and Kelsey's postseason numbers are legendary, like one

(58:41):
hundred and forty nine completions, one thousand and seven one
hundred and forty yards, eighteen touchdowns, all NFL records for
a quarterback target combination.

Speaker 3 (58:50):
But he's coming off like last.

Speaker 2 (58:52):
Season I think was his worst statistical season for Travis Kelce,
and this year he talked about how much time and
effort that he put in.

Speaker 3 (59:01):
To get back to the Travis Kelce of the past
that we know, and.

Speaker 2 (59:07):
It just father time with him, I think is catching
up and it's tough, and I don't know, we don't know.
This is all speculation. Is this going to be Travis
Kelsey's last game? I Mean, the thing is is like
he has a lot of positive things happening outside of
the game now, but we know just because of also
on his podcast and he talks about it a lot,
how much he loves playing the game. I just can

(59:31):
he give what the team needs and deserves from.

Speaker 3 (59:35):
That position anymore? I don't know.

Speaker 5 (59:37):
I don't think so, right, And I'm of the belief
that if he walks away this year, we could see
a gronk like return from him in.

Speaker 4 (59:47):
The future, right where it's taking.

Speaker 5 (59:50):
Time away a year and he'll yeah, yeah, give him
a year, he'll train whatever.

Speaker 4 (59:55):
I don't know it your two years.

Speaker 5 (59:57):
Obviously he's getting up there in age, but I think
we've seen athletes do crazier thing things.

Speaker 4 (01:00:02):
I' lla Philip Rivers. I know he's not.

Speaker 5 (01:00:04):
He's not out there in the you know, in the
muck like like Travis's.

Speaker 4 (01:00:09):
I know, I know. But I think the cool thing.

Speaker 5 (01:00:13):
Is is that in this day and age, like literally anything,
don't write anything out. So I don't think this is
the last game we'll see Travis Kelsey play.

Speaker 4 (01:00:22):
That's where I'm standing.

Speaker 5 (01:00:23):
And maybe it's retirement a quote unquote retirement this year
and he comes back. I don't know, but I'm saying
something's in my gut is telling me no, especially with
the way the note this season ended. And I might
disagree with you. I don't know if it's a rebuild
for the Chiefs. I think it's a retool. My dad
always taught me that that vernacular when it was like,

(01:00:43):
you know, the Los Angeles Lakers losing Shack and you
know it was Kobe and he was in some mucky
years and yeah, that was that was a different situation.

Speaker 2 (01:00:52):
Hard to say rebuild when you have one greatest in
the game on your team and there's weapons around him.

Speaker 4 (01:00:56):
But they need you know what they need.

Speaker 5 (01:00:58):
They need a thousand yard rusher. They also need a
receiver who can have a thousand yards. Because Isaiah Pacheco,
I think had just over four hundred rushing yards this season.
He was not the running back cut it, yeah he needed.
He was not the running back they needed him to be.
So the Chiefs run office needs to go out and
truly find those special, special skill players on off.

Speaker 2 (01:01:21):
I just think also the weird thing that they decided
to announce towards the end of the season that kind
of rubbed me the wrong way, and I've been saying
it rubbed Chiefs fans the wrong way. Did they announced
that they're moving out of Kansas City to build a
new stadium and training facility in the state of Kansas,
which you know, it might not be a big deal
to the average fan, but it's a different state. Even

(01:01:41):
though it's like within the Kansas City lines, it's it's
a different state, and so hardcore Kansas City fans like
your team is moving to the other side of the border.

Speaker 3 (01:01:49):
Like like it's just that.

Speaker 2 (01:01:53):
Was a weird time and place and everything, which is
the way that season was going. Like I was watching
fans throw Chiefs gear away. I just it just this
year was weird for them, and.

Speaker 5 (01:02:06):
Normally, normally they're a feel good yeah team story.

Speaker 2 (01:02:09):
Yeah, there wasn't a lot of positives and things to
look forward to, which is why I'm leaning more towards
this might be it for Travis Kelsey and the Chiefs.

Speaker 5 (01:02:20):
I'm not I'm a I'm a literally I did not
believe the Chiefs were out of the playoffs until they
were mathematically well until Patrick Mahomes, you know, and then
mathematically eliminated. I forget what one happened first this season,
but brutal game. Yeah, same there we go.

Speaker 3 (01:02:35):
Same game. All right. Now, let's check out with Martin
Wise and see what's trending.

Speaker 9 (01:02:41):
It's a torrental rainstorm in Tampa. Right now, it's sloppy.
Bakers dropped the ball a few times. You're throwing an interception.
Nobody can really get anything going. The interception that Baker
through really got Carolina back in this game. It was
ten nothing for the Buccaneers in the first quarter. Baker
through that interception that gave Carolina the in the red zone.
Bryce Young throwing a touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble. Just

(01:03:04):
to give you an idea of what's going on here,
Carolina's got forty six yards of total offense with just
under five minutes left in the first half. Tampa's got
a one hundred yards passing and sixty nine on the ground.
Bucky River has been slow sledding for him though ted
Carrey's twenty nine yards. Baker's got three for twenty eight.
He's also a rushed for a first down again, touchdown
pass for him, and an interception that touchdown to Cade

(01:03:26):
Otten Later today, I'm sorry. This game is for playoff
seeding North Carolina. Carolina is to clinch the playoff the
NFC South with a win or a tie in this game.
The Bucks can clinch a playoff the NFC South with
a win or tie, but we need the Falcons to
lose your tie Sunday against the Saints. Elsewhere in the league,

(01:03:46):
JJ Watt no limitations. He's expected to play Sunday night
against the Ravens. Sean McVay plans to play a starters
against the Cardinals regardless of whatever the seeding implications could be,
because the one seed will be decided in the NFC
between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco forty nine Ers.
The loser of that game will be a wild card,
so Sean McVay could know where they'll be, but he

(01:04:07):
plans to play his guys anyway. Another guy planning to
play anyways, Josh Allen, limited participant in Friday's practice, missed
Wednesdays and Thursdays. He's going to start Week eighteen to
keep the second longest active starts streak alive one hundred
and twenty one, but it'll likely sit, have you know
as the game progresses wrestling that foot injury.

Speaker 4 (01:04:28):
Philip Rivers has the longest active.

Speaker 9 (01:04:30):
Start streak at two hundred and forty three, which I
suppose was what two hundred and thirty nine before a
couple of weeks ago.

Speaker 3 (01:04:38):
Ladies pector, thank you Martin.

Speaker 2 (01:04:40):
You're listening to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alice Carey along
with NICKI K. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon
with us. It is time for our next guest, Brogos
team reporter Lisa Hernandez.

Speaker 3 (01:04:51):
Thanks for joining the show.

Speaker 6 (01:04:52):
I appreiance. We say you guys, having me excited to
be on and Happy New.

Speaker 3 (01:04:56):
Year, Happy New Year, It's still okay to say it.

Speaker 2 (01:04:59):
All right, Broncos control their own destiny and can clinch
the one scene the first round by home field advantage
in the AFC with a win over the Chargers Sunday,
and this is a no justin Herbert Chargers. How important
is it for this team and what has been the
talks in order to secure that top spot.

Speaker 6 (01:05:18):
I mean you just said it right there, right it's
home soil, that advantage up until Super Bowl sixty that
first round by week is huge. I mean head coach Chanteyne,
I've talked about playing at home with Broncos are seven
and one this season and how difficult it is to
win those road games during the playoffs and so by
wins the number ones in AFC, you eliminate one game
where you could lose, where one team just has a

(01:05:38):
better day. We've seen how the wild card games have
played out, and that's why it's called the Wildcard round
because we've seen crazy finishes and so you take that
out of the equation, you're able to rest some guys,
get some key guys back, and so I think it's
more more than that. And I talked to Defensive Stack
with DJ Jones about it and he was like a
huge I mean, it's the easiest pass to the Super Bowl.

(01:06:00):
You have to win two home games to get to
the Big Dance, and that's exactly what this Broncos team
wants to do. I mean, they've been the number one
seed eight times in franchise history. They last did it
in twenty fifteen, and the Broncos have made the Super
Bowl in six of the previous eight seasons where they
are the number one seed. So this is a big
deal and I think the best way to do it
is continue to have the focus that they've had all

(01:06:21):
season long. It's all about the next game. Yes, we
can talk about the number one seed and all these
staffs and things like that, for this team, they are
laser focused the next team is the most important game
because it's the next game, and it's as simple as that.
And so I think having Clinton Division in Week seventeen
with the win on the road and the Chargers losing
on the road is raw. I mean at home with

(01:06:42):
the Texans, I think they're now focused, like now we
have to defeat the Chargers, get that win at our belt,
and then everything else will play out the way it
needs to.

Speaker 4 (01:06:51):
Absolutely, and a Lisa.

Speaker 5 (01:06:53):
I mean, when you look at the position the Broncos
are in and what they accomplished as a unit this year,
I'm so interested when talking to Beat reporters, you know,
like embedded in these successful teams, Why do you think,
what's your case for Sean Payton as a coach of
the Year, Because you know, everyone's talking.

Speaker 4 (01:07:14):
About Kyle Shanahan, Ben Johnson, you know, even Vrabel. But
I mean the same argument could be made for Peyton No.

Speaker 6 (01:07:21):
One hundred. I mean, if I had the vote to
do that, I would definitely go to head coach Champagne
because the way that these players talk about him is
it's so inspiring. Because I mean Nick Bonito mentioned it,
I guess, and we spoke to the media he was
asked like, what does it mean to have opportunity to
win the number one seat on Sunday and he just said, like,
you know, it shows the hard work that we've put

(01:07:43):
in to just continue to grow. And he credited Champaign
with the fact that since you've gotten here, every year
has been better. His first year is barely missing the playoffs,
the last year making it, and now having even higher
goals this year. Titan Adam Tautman also mentioned it's a
comin to say he brings to this team. I mean
during training camp, he was talking to Kay Adams and

(01:08:04):
mentioned about going to the Super Bowl and he has
the content to go into the super Bowl, and Adam
Taumon said, this is head coach Sean Payton. He's not
going to say that just for fun. You know, He's
gonna say that because he needs it. And that change
in culture, the players they have brought in. I think
it's huge. The draft classes that him and George Payn
have put together and have continued to build together. R. J.

(01:08:26):
Harvey was a huge one from this last draft class.

Speaker 1 (01:08:28):
They loved his.

Speaker 6 (01:08:29):
Vision and next thing you know, he leaves Denver with
cold Scrimmagh TVs and the most among rookies. I mean,
the way that they've been able to just close tovate
talent here sign those guys in the late rounds, make them,
you know, as far as that they are right now.
It's a testament to the longevity that Champagne can have
with his team and what he's been able to do
here so far.

Speaker 2 (01:08:49):
And let's talk about what he's done with bon next,
because he's really come into his own in a second
season as a bro. What kind of leader has he
grown into on this team?

Speaker 6 (01:08:59):
Yeah, I mean, Bonix is one of those guys that
he's just he's just the guy you want in any
kind of crisis, right and then the seventh game winning
drives in the fourth quarter overtime this season is one thing.
But the way that the guys just trust him and
they have since his rookie season. I mean, he's calm
under pressure, he embraced his challenges. He blocks out the
outside noise. I mean when he was going into the

(01:09:20):
matchup versus the Packers and everyone was talking about love
numbers and his pastor and things like that, he just
with a smile was like, well, my mom thinks will
win and that's all that matters. I mean the way
that he's able to just, you know, talk to the media,
be transparent, be honest, and then go out there and
win football games. That's what you expect from your franchise guy.
And I think what this ownership group saw in Bonis

(01:09:43):
is exactly what he is producing on the field. I mean,
with a win this week, he'll ky Russell Wilson of
the most wins by starting quarterback in their first two seasons.
He got fifty four career passing TV's third most by
a player in their first two seasons in NFL history,
only Justin Herbert and Hall of Famer Den Marino have more.
So it's very interesting when I hear, you know, outside
of media talk about Bonnicks, and it is different, right.

(01:10:06):
I Mean, we're in Denver, the Bosses have not had
as many primetime games as other teams, so the national
media is our national audience. We've seeing this team as
much as as you just mentioned as I am seeing
him every day. But I mean he just commands respect.
And I think with all the team captains you have,
they all bring something different to the table, and Bonis
has come into this locker room, they know he's the guy,

(01:10:28):
and they know that in any situation, you know they're
going to be able to come up with a win.

Speaker 2 (01:10:32):
Now, the Broncos also have had one of the best
defenses all season, ranking in the top five and points
allowed in yards allowed for game. What makes this unit
so dangerous?

Speaker 6 (01:10:41):
Oh? Man, if I just if they could be one
log name. It's like Nick many those back Allen Johnathan Cooper.
This log name is the reason why this defense is
so good. I mean, Van Stu also has just done
an incredible job with again building guys, letting them play free.
I think that's the biggest thing I've caught from you know,
just listening to the guys talk and then talking amongst

(01:11:02):
each other is vance Joseph's is less than play as
themselves and when they're able to play for you have
a little more fun. And that's why they lead the
NFL in fact, and back to back years they read
it sixty three. They broke franchise record there and now
they have sixty four this year. And the way that
Nick Benido has really risen second time as a pro
bowler this year, he's just been a wrecking ball when
it comes to quarterbacks, Zach Allen two with forty five

(01:11:24):
to beat his. I mean they're just able to really
suffocate quarterbacks where they can't get anything going. I mean
they're allowing a lot. It's less than twenty points per
game this year, which is fourth best mark in the NFL.
But I think the beauty of this defense is that
you can't just point to one guy. I mean, when
I was looking at the stats per sex, you have

(01:11:45):
multiple guys with more than two sacks, like every gay
this even basically has one. And so whether it's you know,
Riley Moss who came in for a sack, you have Tontolahsonga,
you have Jonah Ellis, you have Justice or not. These
are like the guys that are behind that defensive front
dust the team to come in and make plays. It's
like you don't even know who to prepare for because
everyone is going to come at you. And I think

(01:12:07):
when you have the reign becomes the put of the
year as well on your team. It's really hard to
go against the defense.

Speaker 5 (01:12:13):
No, and Alissa, you just mentioned that named Nick Benito,
and and I just saw he won you know, a
couple of team awards, the Good Guy Award and the
Team MVP Award. I guess what's special about his character?

Speaker 4 (01:12:25):
What stands out?

Speaker 6 (01:12:27):
He's so humble as many guys, but really all the
guys on this team are.

Speaker 5 (01:12:31):
And it was the thing.

Speaker 6 (01:12:32):
He joked about it when he got the award he won.
The Darren Williams Good Guy Awards, was the Damarius Thomas
Team MVP Award. He won both of them, and he
mentioned that he saw guys win these awards last year.
His good friend and teammate Jonathan Cooper won the Big
Guy Award last year, and he said that he learned.
He learned how to deal with the media. Talk to
the media, really kind of get your point across on

(01:12:52):
your tour. You're talking about your team. And that humbleness
really kind of came through this year and with him
having the year that he's had, he's the go to guy,
right all the media swarmed him. He's never back in
the way. He's always there with a small in his face.
Give me a second, I'll be right back. Sureleott's do this.
You know, he always makes time. And that's what makes
you the all around kind of player when you have
guys that pastor ten to learn from. Bohnig you know,

(01:13:14):
Johndon Cooper, Zach gall and Michael Glinchy. These veterans have
come in and shown you that, yes, you have to
be a good you know on the field, but that
off the field stuff matters as well. And so he's
really embraced that this year, and so I'm really happy
that he was able to win those two awards. We
closely on our social He has a big small his faithfold,
and the awards it was really.

Speaker 3 (01:13:32):
Fun to see all right at before we let you go.

Speaker 2 (01:13:35):
I think the biggest hurdle for every team in the
AFC has always been the chief So with them out
of the postseason this year, has that been talked about
within the clubhouse or has it just been all focus
on what we do winning this game against the Chargers
and securing that number one seed.

Speaker 6 (01:13:53):
It's all focused. I mean, there's been a lot of
celebrations this season in general, honoring through Bowl fifty teams
and all of my weekend and dunding the Murray promise
is the ring of fame. This season itself has been special,
but along the way, the message has been the same,
one game at a time. And I said it earlier, No,
guys always say it's the next game because the more
the most important game. You know, they obviously won the

(01:14:16):
AFC West, but it wasn't really a conversation after that
week seventeen, you know, had coach Champagne had a pressor
and he's like, no, we really didn't talk about it.
We put the shirts in the hats and the guys
walkers and that was it.

Speaker 1 (01:14:27):
You know.

Speaker 6 (01:14:28):
Now we have bigger goals to focus on, and that's
getting that number one seed. I mean, you know, Champagne
laid out the blueprint in three simple goals. First ball
is in the division. Goals was getting the best seed,
and goal three is winning the super Bowl. That's it.
One of those goals has been accomplished, and the Broncos
can accomplish the second one with a win on Sunday
to secare that number one seed in AFC.

Speaker 2 (01:14:49):
It's going to be fun day tomorrow, Lisa, thank you
so much for coming on. Have so much fun of
the game.

Speaker 6 (01:14:53):
I appreciate you guys. And yeah, hopefully I don't have
have the weekend off next week.

Speaker 2 (01:14:58):
Yeah, we'll see. All right, we're one more break here
when we come back. We are making our NFL game
picks you're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome back to
Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Nikki k
and it has been a fun football Saturday. I mean
it is a full like I think the rain kind
of let up a little bit in Tampa Bay for

(01:15:19):
Panthers at the Bucks right now. But it is it's
been a sloppy, sloppy game. We've seen some drop balls.
It's just wild. It's like a slip and slide style
of game. Oh no, it's still raining. They just came
back onto the game and you can't even see through
the flying Everyone of those are called the cameras that
go like all the way across the fields.

Speaker 4 (01:15:39):
Oh.

Speaker 5 (01:15:39):
I just call them the ziplines because they remind me
of zip Line.

Speaker 3 (01:15:44):
Here we go. I love it.

Speaker 2 (01:15:47):
Okay, So we have a couple NFL games today. So
now we are going to get to our NFL picks. Producer, Bo,
you want to lead us through.

Speaker 10 (01:15:56):
Yeah, we're gonna start here. Okay, maybe when this music gets.

Speaker 3 (01:15:59):
Gone there it is.

Speaker 10 (01:16:01):
Yeah, we're gonna start tonight. The Seattle Seahawks had to
Santa Player to take on the forty nine Ers. The
Seahawks the two and a half point road favorite in
this one.

Speaker 2 (01:16:10):
Woo hoo.

Speaker 3 (01:16:11):
And remember there's a lot on the line here.

Speaker 2 (01:16:13):
Whoever wins wins the NFC West, they take the one
seed in the NFC they get the bye next week. Now,
I was raven about Sam Darnold All Show, All Show.

Speaker 3 (01:16:25):
I mean, he has been are you sting on business
right now? I am.

Speaker 2 (01:16:29):
He has been the winningest quarterback the last two seasons.
I shared that crazy coincidence pope.

Speaker 3 (01:16:38):
Situation that every time.

Speaker 2 (01:16:39):
A new pope has been elected, the Seahawks have won
thirteen games, have made it to the Super Bowl.

Speaker 4 (01:16:43):
The papal alignments.

Speaker 3 (01:16:45):
Forty nine Ers are dealing with some injuries.

Speaker 2 (01:16:47):
George Kittle Trent Williams are questionable. I'm gonna go with
the Seahawks taking this one on the road.

Speaker 5 (01:16:55):
Okay, I'm going with my gut, and my gut is
timy that Trent Williams is gonna play. I don't have
any intel. I'm just thinking he's going to play. Because
guess what's on the line for the forty nine ers.
It's not just the one seed in the NFC West,
it's home advantage to the super Bowl. Yeah, the road
through the Super Bowl runs through Santa Clara.

Speaker 4 (01:17:14):
Yeah, and I think with the way the.

Speaker 5 (01:17:17):
Brock Party came out against Chicago's Super Bowl is in yes,
their city, literally it quite literally went through.

Speaker 4 (01:17:24):
And never in Santa Clara. And you talked about Darnold. Well,
I'm going to praise Party. I know you praised perty Er.

Speaker 5 (01:17:30):
Pretty too, but listen, what do you showed against Chicago
and that offensive shootout?

Speaker 4 (01:17:34):
Yeah, not so pretty on the defensive end.

Speaker 5 (01:17:36):
But I think that with everything that's on the line,
with how Party has been playing, I think San Francisco's
going to take this and they based off and we
have won.

Speaker 4 (01:17:46):
So long ago.

Speaker 3 (01:17:47):
Yeah, tonight, I'm so excited.

Speaker 10 (01:17:49):
I mean, if the forty nine ers win today, they
don't have to.

Speaker 3 (01:17:51):
Leave, they don't have lead to that year.

Speaker 4 (01:17:53):
Yeah, they lead, yes, wild unless they're going to Cabo right.

Speaker 5 (01:17:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:17:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 10 (01:18:00):
The Green Bay Packers had to Minnesota to take on
the Vikings and JJ McCarthy's please don't move on for
me game. The Vikings a eight and a half point
favorite in this one.

Speaker 2 (01:18:10):
Yeah, I mean the Packers are locked into their seventh seed.
They're resting Jordan Love, who announced they're having a baby.
So congrats to baby them him and his wife JJ
and JJ are healthy and starting. I think the Vikings
take this one for pride at home exactly.

Speaker 5 (01:18:26):
Let's get a little bit of positivity for nine and
hit the trajectory of his career.

Speaker 4 (01:18:31):
I think.

Speaker 5 (01:18:32):
I think when the oddsmakers know something, they know something.
And Vikings being eight and a half point.

Speaker 2 (01:18:37):
Favorites, oh yeah, I mean there is Packers on have
Jordan Love right, Yeah, they're sitting them.

Speaker 4 (01:18:42):
So no, no, no, I know, I know, but even
you never know, you never know.

Speaker 3 (01:18:46):
But I say division games are never like it should be. Yeah,
it's like something could go wrong.

Speaker 10 (01:18:52):
The Detroit Lions had to Chicago to take on the Bears,
who I think can still be the two seed or
as low as they three.

Speaker 3 (01:18:58):
They're playing for the two seeds.

Speaker 10 (01:18:59):
Yeah, so they a three point favorite here.

Speaker 3 (01:19:01):
Yeah, so kind of low.

Speaker 2 (01:19:02):
Now, this is a Ben Johnson game, right, Bears are playing.

Speaker 3 (01:19:05):
For the two seed. If they win the two seed, if.

Speaker 2 (01:19:07):
They lose, the Eagles win and then they're the three seed.
They already won the NFC North. But this is going
to be an emotional and chippy Division game. It's the
first time in a while that the Bears are playing
for something and the Lions are out.

Speaker 3 (01:19:21):
I'm gonna take the Bears.

Speaker 5 (01:19:23):
I don't mean to just be and I am following you.
So that's that's kind of part for the course here.
But yes, I've got Bears too, because I think I
think the way Ben Johnson has this offense rolling in
the way we've seen this Lions offense sputtering with the
Bears fighting, you know, continuing to fight there, I'm going
Ben Johnson booth.

Speaker 10 (01:19:43):
All right. The Chargers head to Denver to take on
the Broncos, who are a twelve and a half point
for you.

Speaker 2 (01:19:47):
Yeah, now that just because Chargers are resting justin Herbert,
which is why they're such big babes. But Broncos are
playing for seeding. If they win, they are the one
seed in the AFC. They've already won the AFC WES,
so they're playing for the bye next week in homefield advantage.

Speaker 3 (01:20:03):
The Broncos have to win this.

Speaker 5 (01:20:04):
Broncos have to win this one, kind of like they're
fighting for everything. Chargers are kind of, you know, calling
a little reset after their debacle last week.

Speaker 10 (01:20:12):
Yeah, all right, Ravens minus three and a half the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (01:20:16):
The biggest game of the weekend. It's when you're in lose,
go home. I'm picking whoever you don't okay, okay that
I'm gonna take the Ravens.

Speaker 4 (01:20:23):
I can go to Steelers.

Speaker 2 (01:20:24):
Aaron Rodgers all the Way is playing for a lot here,
Tomlin say Tom Rogers back uniform.

Speaker 3 (01:20:31):
I can't wait for that game tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (01:20:33):
Thank you guys so much for spending your Saturday afternoon
with us.

Speaker 3 (01:20:35):
We'll see you next week, same time, same place,

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Alex Curry & Nikki Kay talk Overreactions in the NFL, Ravens - Steelers, and New Year's Resolutions!

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Alex Curry & Nikki Kay talk Overreactions in the NFL, Ravens - Steelers, and New Year's Resolutions!