Mike Harmon & Greg Cosell on the NFL Playoff Picture!

On a new episode of FOX Football Sunday with Mike Harmon & Greg Cosell, Mike and Greg breakdown all the games from Christmas and Saturday including the Ravens running through the Packers to stay alive in the playoff hunt. They go in depth previewing each game of Week 17 and breakdown all the playoff scenarios that could shake out.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports for you to go radio,
greet eggs and wel come in the final Sunday of
this calendar year.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
And boy it's a glorious one as the Bears are
the NFC North champions. All right, you knew I was
gonna start with that, but we get into it. It's
Fox Football Sunday Week seventeen edition. Five games already in
the books. We'll recap and go backwards a little bit
in our history. Here. We got a full slate of games.
Still some playoff seating jockeying to be done. We've reached

(00:34):
a milestone and quarterback chaos and so many other things.
I'm Mike Carmon alongside me forty six years NFL films,
the NFL Matchup Show. You hear them weekly alongside Colin
Cowhard one pm Eastern for what Colin calls his best
fifteen to twenty minutes of the week. We get him
for two hours. It's great Coat Sale at great Coat
Cell where you find him on Twitter. Greg Another beautiful morning,

(00:58):
Merry Christmas. Hopefully it was glorious and you got outside
of the film study at least for a couple of minutes.
As we get ready for a big week seventeen.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
You know the problem with Christmas for me, Mike. And
by the way, I think you've had a little too
much caffeine already, but that's okay.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
It's the lack of sleep. Yeah, I anticipation Bear. The
Bears are champs.

Speaker 3 (01:18):
I know you're probably pretty excited about it. But you know,
the problem for me is that Christmas falls during the
football season. You know, I think that happens every year,
doesn't it just a little bit during the football season.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
I think we should probably do something about that.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, So, I mean it's you know, like on Thursday,
I worked and I left for me a little early.
I left at four o'clock in the afternoon. But you
know it's it's it's a work day during the football season.
There's nothing I can do about it.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
No, that's it, right, you got you got to rally in,
just like I was telling folks, like, I'm if the
game's on, I'll show up. Like last week there was
a big holiday party that one of our colleagues throw
and I'm like, I'm not coming in unless the Bears
games out. Otherwise I'm standing on your porche on my
app So I'll be anti social out here, as opposed

(02:04):
to standing there and telling everybody to beat it while
I watch the end of this game. So one of
those kind of things.

Speaker 3 (02:10):
And so yeah, it is right now the Bears are
and I know they have to play this week and
then there's obviously next week. What are they then, number
two seed now or the three seed.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
As they currently sit. Let's pull up our handy dandy
this stuff.

Speaker 3 (02:26):
You know, one of my guys on the Matchup show
here at Films, he does all that stuff, and then
he's gonna come in early tomorrow and we're gonna you know,
figure all that out so we can figure what games
to do in the Matchup Show next week because there's
gonna be so many games. You know. The thing is
is you don't know how teams feel about their seating
because the playoffs are essentially going to be set after

(02:48):
this week. I think maybe there'll be one spot that's open,
but I know the AFC is set.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, and that's the thing. Bears currently sit in the
two seed. But it's a lot of the considerations, right
how bad it is Josh Allen's foot, If New England wins,
does does Buffalo look at it and make it a
Mitchell Trubisky and James Cook game right this afternoon, and
things of that nature start to come into play.

Speaker 3 (03:10):
Well yeah, I mean, you know, look, just talking about that,
if if New England and Buffalo both win, then next
week still matters because if Buffalo, if Buffalo wins next
week and New England loses, I'm almost certain that Buffalo
would win the division. But I don't. I don't follow
all those details the way a lot of people do. Well,
I'm wrong.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
That's the fun piece of it, right, is that for me,
a lot of it is And I do this certainly
in my daughter's soccer fun and excitement to take it
into the micro and then we'll reach back out to
the macro. Is uh, They'll ask, hey, what do we do?
What's this team all about? I'm like, I don't know.
We're gonna find out, aren't we. It's like, well, what's
the record? Like does it matter? It's what they bring

(03:52):
in today?

Speaker 3 (03:53):
Right?

Speaker 2 (03:53):
If they play well against us today, that's all that matters.

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Right, Like here's an example, like, what do the Chargers
do next week? Are they do they care about seating?
At this point? Do they do they sit? Justin Herbert
you know, next week because they're in the playoffs, right
and you know, now it comes down to seating. You know, Denver,
if New England wins today, and the assumption is they will.
Although it's funny, there's always an upset or two in
the final two weeks of the season that you never

(04:17):
see coming.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
This one truly would be that as a two touchdown
favorite on the road.

Speaker 3 (04:22):
But there's always one of those. You know, we know that.
But the point is, does you know so Denver, if
New England wins today, Denver has to win next week
because I think again I don't study this, you know,
and maybe you have this information in front of you,
but if New England would and and Denver have the
same record, I think it's New England that is that

(04:45):
gets the seat. I think I could be wrong. I
don't want to I don't want to put that out
there as if that's a fact. But but I think
that Denver, if New England wins today, still has to
play next week.

Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, as it stands now, we can get into all
of the hypotheticals and in the end they still have
to go and play the games. But for fantasy purposes,
it's fantasy finals. Week, and certainly folks in the betting
world are trying to figure out motivations. I know, over
the course of the week, Greg, there were a number
of articles out there as well about all the fun

(05:16):
and exciting incentives that guys are playing to as well.
This many catches for a couple hundred grand and all
of those things that get into our playoff.

Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, and there's that as well. I mean obviously with
guys who get bonuses based on you know, numbers and production.
But you know that's the stuff. This stuff is so
hard to figure because you know, some of them go
down talk the fourth tiebreaker. I don't even know what
that is.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
That's a good question. Eventually, it should be like Friday
Night Lights where they're standing in the gas station parking
lot and they just flip a coin.

Speaker 3 (05:49):
There you go.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
That's versus you and then you And by.

Speaker 3 (05:52):
The way, one of the great shows of all time.

Speaker 2 (05:54):
Absolutely, I think.

Speaker 3 (05:55):
I think I've seen all seven seasons, like four times.
You have to you just have to. It's one of
those shows.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
There's your other film study when there you go. Actually,
in review, we'll do more on the playoff seating and
hammer that down a little bit more as we go through,
But first we hit the rewind button in a game
that was highly anticipated of a couple of backup quarterbacks
getting after it. Snoop Huntley and Malik Willis gave us
a treat, and let's hear a little Snoop Hundley.

Speaker 4 (06:24):
Huntley throws up third down and is complete to the
one turn to the end zone.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
Touchdown, say Flowers.

Speaker 4 (06:33):
Tyler Huntley delivers a strike and a hush settles over lambeau.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
Field Hundley two Flowers, Flowers trying to atone for last
week's gaff. I don't know if it was better or
worse than the attempted lateral that Mark Andrews had with
him last week, or the fact that Derrick Henry, who
ran a muck like Hulco Mania in nineteen eighty five,
was sitting on the bench for that twelve fifty three.

(06:59):
We've traveled that road. But Hunley sixteen to twenty just
one hundred and seven yards, nice and efficient with that
touchdown pass the Flowers. But Dereck Henry the story. I
just figured we could do a fontage of him running wild,
but thirty six carries two hundred and sixteen yards. Realize
he started this year as the nineteenth leading rusher in

(07:19):
NFL history. He's now cracked the top ten.

Speaker 3 (07:22):
You know, that's crazy. I don't think people think about
him like that. But anyway, it's pretty impressive. But you know,
I actually came in early today to watch that tape.
You know, he had sixteen for eighty two just on
the first two possessions, which is pretty remarkable when you
think about it. But you know, this was a game
where they lined up in base personnel. Okay, base personnel

(07:45):
meaning by the way, Ricard played a ton of snaps,
but Henry thirty three of its thirty six rushes were
in some form of base personnel, meaning that there's not
three wide receivers on the field. They play a lot
out of you know what we call twenty one personnel
or twenty two personnel, meaning that the fullback or card

(08:08):
is on the field. And that's that's crazy. I mean,
that's that's their offense, and that's and obviously without Lamar Jackson,
you knew they were going to do this, but it
was a bad defensive performance by the Packers. I just
watching that tape, Mike, two things really stood out to me.
Number One, their d line really got handled, and particularly

(08:30):
on outside zone type stuff. They just played latterly. You
can't play latterly against outside zone. And the other thing,
there are two stack backers who have had good seasons,
Cooper and Walker. They really struggled. They could not get
off blocks at all. And when your d line gets
moved or doesn't play properly and your linebackers can't get

(08:52):
off blocks, you're not going to play their run very well.

Speaker 2 (08:55):
Just road grading over the course of the night, and
whenever he stepped out for a second, you can almost
see the Packer defenders relax for the moment, knowing that
the ferocity of what the line was bringing. And certainly Henry.
I mean we've watched this for years, Greg as the
game goes on, and we watched it even in last
week's game, which is why his lack of involvement in

(09:18):
that fourth quarter against New England is still just some
of the most head scratching stuff we've seen.

Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yeah, I mean, look, Henry now, it's crazy because Henry
right now is I think either has the most or
the second most rushes in the league. And you wouldn't
think that the way the season has progressed, you know,
I had to look that up this morning, obviously at
the thirty six rushes last night. But you didn't get
that feeling watching the Ravens this season, or at least

(09:46):
I did not do on how you feel. You didn't
get the feeling that this Ravens offense was foundationally built
on Derrick Henry, and especially in a season where Lamar
has kind of been in and out of the lineup,
but yet he still is right there. They're among the
league leaders in rushing. And I guess depending on what
happens and with the Steelers today playing in Cleveland, because
if the Steelers win this, I do know. If the

(10:08):
Steelers win, they win the division. That I do know.
So who knows what would happen next week with Baltimore.
But you know, Henry, like you said, he's now in
the top ten. That's remarkable. I mean, he's a first
ballot Hall of Famer.

Speaker 2 (10:20):
He's got to be five point one yards per carry,
up to sixteen touchdowns.

Speaker 3 (10:24):
On the overk Yeah, I know, he's now.

Speaker 2 (10:26):
Tied for second, just behind Jonathan Taylor with two hundred
and eighty seven carries. Of course, Taylor and Cook will
play later on today. Christian McCaffrey not far behind in
that race, but certainly watching this game unfolded a lot
of turmoil and question marks going on in Baltimore all

(10:47):
week long. I know that's not the purview of what
we're doing here, right, but certainly the fun of it.
And you mentioned the Steelers, so I've got to go
to the post game. You'll enjoy this. A couple of
the Ravens include I think Dereck Henry chiming in on
what they're watching for the rest of the weekend.

Speaker 3 (11:04):
Steelers Browns game.

Speaker 5 (11:06):
I'll be watching and praying for sure. I'm gonna pray
somethings I go before I get on the plane, when
I get home in the morning, when I wake up,
and hopefully, you know, we get blessed with opportunity to
have to play for something on the week eight team.
But at the end of the day, you know, we're
still gonna focus on fielding decisions strong, but you know
we we do need a little a favor from Cleveland.

Speaker 2 (11:27):
But it is so there's Derrick Henry and then Snoop
Hunley had this.

Speaker 3 (11:33):
Will you watch with teammates? Will you watching now?

Speaker 6 (11:36):
Really gonna I'm trying to make it out of here,
so I could cost your door real quick and make
sure he get it done. So I'll probably just be,
you know, just watching it and get some rest.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
That's it. You try to take care of your business
and then you just have to sit around and wish
and hope like the rest of us.

Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yep, nothing else you can do at this point. They
did what they needed to do and they played the
right way because look, obviously you want him to be
a compliment to your offense because that's what he is.
And Henry was a big factor and just I did
not expect the Packers defense to be as poor as
it has been a good defense for most of this season,

(12:15):
but boy, they were not very good, and the tape
really really showed why.

Speaker 2 (12:20):
Just absolutely bullied up and down the field. They had
their opportunities still in this game. Early on, Malik Willis
doing a lot with his legs making plays and came
out of firing first couple of pass attempts. Yeah, big throws.
Hit that throw to Watson was fanos.

Speaker 3 (12:36):
That was big time throw. Yeah. That came against late
rotation Cover two with the middle open and they ran
four verticals, which is a great concept against that and
he knew exactly where to go with the football, and
he made some plays with his legs. You know, he's
an interesting guy. I don't know if you know this.
I should have looked it up. Is he on a
one year deal? I mean, is he a free agent
after this season? That I do not know, because it's

(12:58):
not going to be a great quarter back draft class
in my opinion anyway. And I'll be curious to see,
if you know, if he's available. You know, how if
a team sees him as a starter, you know, if
you sign him and say, hey, he's kind of he's
my starting quarterback.

Speaker 2 (13:12):
He is the on the final year of his original
rookie contract.

Speaker 3 (13:17):
So he's a free agent.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
Free agent as it stands, interesting unrestricted free agent. And look,
you look great against the Bears, made a lot of
heady decisions, obviously making plays with his legs, and here
he was their rushing attack.

Speaker 3 (13:34):
And like I said, I'm not gonna sit here and say, gee,
he's a superstar. But the fact is that in this
particular draft class, and I think the consensus is and
I'll start doing my draft work probably in about two
three weeks, Mike, you know, and I usually start with
the quarterbacks, because when I go to the combine, of course,
when I do, you know, the radio row with the combine,
all I get asked about, of course, or the quarterbacks.

(13:55):
You know how that goes. But but so I'll start
with the quarterbacks. But from what I'm hearing from people
who are you know, in the business and do this,
you know pretty much for a living, there's really two
guys that I'm hearing. It's Mendoza and if more from
Oregon comes out, and after that, you know, hey, sure
we know teams reach for quarterbacks just because of the

(14:15):
nature of the position, but I don't think there's another
guy who's really thought of as that guy. Now, again,
people go through a whole process, things can change. But
if you have a guy like Willis, and again we're
not suggesting he's going to be a great player, but
he's played in the league. When he comes in, he
has some success. Now there are things that have to
be cleaned up with him, obviously, but still he's played

(14:38):
and he has that outside of structure improvisational ability that
a lot more people focus on now than they did
years ago.

Speaker 2 (14:46):
Eighteen to twenty one. Passing yesterday two hundred and eighty
eight yards only absorb one sack sixty yards on the ground,
including two touchdowns in the loss. Unfortunately, they just had
no answer for what Derek he was bringing, none bringing
to the shed. That was That was all it was,
was absolute bullyball. But to your point, right, it's a

(15:07):
lot of speculation again on the other side with Baltimore
and and where they're at with Lamar Jackson. A very
scathing article in the Baltimore's Sun. John Harbaugh tried to dismiss,
but you know, we're at the point of you know,
all attention shifted from Tomblin from a couple of weeks ago.
Now the harbinger of doom and the sort of Damocles

(15:29):
is swinging over John Harbaugh, or so some would have
you believe, you got Lamar Jackson, you got to a
tongue of I Low, you got Kyler Murray. Are the
three names most likely in the latter two? Of course, yeah,
I'm pressing. But then otherwise the rookie class, as you said,
there were a lot of guys that we had hopes

(15:49):
for or great expectations coming into the year. A lot
of them didn't even finish the season as their starters
I know.

Speaker 3 (15:55):
I mean, you know, you mentioned the thing with Kyler
and Tua is the fact that they're still under contract
and owed a lot of money. That's it, so you
know they're not guys. You can just let's say cut
or release and go okay, we're moving on. I mean
you can if you want to, if you're willing to
take a huge cap hit, you know. And I guess
the other situation is Minnesota. I would guess that Kevin

(16:16):
O'Connell will will go into next year with JJ McCarthy
because Kevin is such a good quarterback coach and I'm
sure he feels that that JJ McCarthy showed enough. And
again no suggestion that he's going to be great, we
don't know that at all, but I would think he'd
believe Kevin that is that that McCarthy can be, if
not a starve and efficient quarterback within his system.

Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, as we look at it, I mean a lot
of musical chairs to be done, including coaching changes as
we know are still going to be in the offing.
A lot of circumstance. We go back to Malik Willison
where he started, and certainly plenty of ink has been
slung and radio hours spent talking Tennessee Titans and the organization.
Cam Ward for all that he took and like he's

(17:03):
gotten to quietly work for most of the season. He's
been beaten up, but showing improvement without questioning being left alone.
But we'll get to him as we get to the
full slate. Here in week seventeen, we're just getting started.
The Patriots can win the AFC East today with a
win and a Buffalo loss, So we'll see Josh Allen
dry to tough it out on that foot injury later

(17:26):
on this afternoon. That's one of just two afternoon games.
Later on we get the Raiders and the Giants. Yay,
how many more guys are declared and active before that one? Greg?

Speaker 3 (17:36):
And then I don't know, you know, from what I'm reading,
that might be a friends and family game, you.

Speaker 2 (17:42):
Know what I mean. It's like, hey, we'll send Max
Crosby home. Oh yeah, well, Andrew Thomas isn't gonna play either,
so take that. And then they start going one by one,
stepping back and moving away. Philadelphia Buffalo the other big
marquee game leading into Sunday night football, and the Bears
in the forty nine.

Speaker 3 (17:58):
Which is a game too. I know the Bears have
won the division, but again, now you get into the
whole seating thing. How did the Bears feel about all
this stuff? If the Niners can still win the NFC West,
if they win their final two games, they win the
NFC West.

Speaker 2 (18:13):
It's crazy how that still works, right, that they've gone
through so many injuries and they're still right there in
the thick of it. We'll get into that game in
earnest as we continue. We'll continue also our look back
at a crazy Thursday and Saturday slate, but also feeding
off the success of our college basketball bracket challenge that
we do each and every Mark March. We did a

(18:35):
bracket challenges up and going right now for the college
football Playoff. That's right, there's eight teams left standing, so
it's Bracket Challenge time. You can compete against all our
Fox Sports Radio hosts and against fellow listeners see who
could put together the best college football Playoff bracket. Play
for your chance to win one thousand dollars. That's right,
thousand bucks on the line. Visit Foxsports Radio dot iHeart

(18:56):
dot com to register, get your rules, and to fill
out your bracket. Trees open until just before kickoff seven
thirty pm Eastern on New Year's Eve. Again, fill out
your bracket at Fox Sports Radio dot iHeart dot com
for your chance to win one thousand dollars. Coming up next,
a couple of things we never thought we'd see, and
a little note and nugget from the early Saturday game

(19:18):
something that hasn't happened in years. We'll play a little
trivia game with Greg Gosel. Coming up next here, I'm
my Garmin. This is Fox Football Sunday. Paully Foods go
ahead with Tony Foodsco. Yeah.

Speaker 7 (19:29):
As everybody knows, we're the hosts of the award winning
Polly and Tony Foodsco Show. Yeah, but instead of us
telling you how great we are, here's how Dan Patrick
described us when he came on our show.

Speaker 4 (19:38):
Quick, knowledgeable and funny, opinionated.

Speaker 3 (19:42):
What what are you doing dirupting our promo?

Speaker 8 (19:44):
Yeah, it wasn't talking about you. You took those clips
totally out of context.

Speaker 7 (19:49):
Oh yeah, Well, after this promo, I'm gonna take you
out and beat you.

Speaker 2 (19:53):
Let me put this into context.

Speaker 3 (19:55):
Shut up.

Speaker 7 (19:55):
Yeah, anyway, just listen to the Polly and Toni Fosco
Show on iHeartRadio apple p wherever you get your podcasts.

Speaker 2 (20:02):
YEA, welcome back in Fox Sports Radio. It's Fox Football Sunday.
Here Mike Harmon alongside Greg Cosel having a blast with you.
Hope you're enjoying your holiday revelry with your friend's family,
probably starting to clean some stuff up. Maybe you're in
the car on the way back from grandma's house. You

(20:23):
know the old cliches that we did all the time. Man,
We actually did go to Grandma's house quite often. But
wherever you're going, however, you're listening to us. We appreciate you.
Four hundred plus affiliates nationwide and as always, you can
take us wherever you go, globally, intergalactically on the iHeartRadio app.
There you go. There's my selling for take us wherever

(20:43):
you are. You might work underwater. I mean, I don't know.
I mean all of those things that come into play.
But quickly, let's go back to the AFC playoff picture
and give it a little more specificity as we can.
The Broncos can grab the AFC's top seed with a
and a buy with a Patriots loss, a Bill's loss
or tie, and a Jaguars loss or tie. So You've

(21:05):
got a number of scenarios there to win the AFC
East by the win and a Bill's loss or tie
tie and a bill's loss whatever we get ties in.

Speaker 3 (21:14):
Do I need to be taking note? Do I need
to take notes on this or what's going on now?

Speaker 2 (21:17):
I'm just trying to give a little bit of specificity
to the earlier conversation, just for for everybody's edification, including
my own, because we found a handy dandy little grid
to it, and the Steelers can win the AFC North
with a win or a tie versus the Browns Ravens
still wishing, hoping, as we heard from Snoop Pundley and
Derrick Henry before. But now it's time to hit the

(21:39):
rewind button to the other Saturday game and that gives
us the tire Rack play of the day, and boy
it came early.

Speaker 9 (21:46):
Buddy Hot Ted five rock and Roll, Jaden Haggins to
the end zone, seventy five yards, Welcome to LA.

Speaker 2 (21:59):
There you have it the Texans Radio Network. For over
forty years, Tyrack's been helping customers find the right tires
for how, what and where they drive. Ship fast and
free back by free road hazard protection with convenient installation
options like mobile tire installation tyrac dot com the way
tire buying should be. The way this game started House
of fire for Houston with a couple of big hits.

(22:21):
The big play early Stroud to Higgins and it was
like Connor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Mike Tyson, if you weren't
in your seat, you missed it. You're still getting your snack.

Speaker 3 (22:33):
You know, it made me happy. The second touchdown to
Jalen Knowle. I broke down that exact rout concept against
the same coverage in the matchup show this week, because
they did that earlier in the season against I believe
the forty nine ers, and I did that play in
the matchup show, so when I saw it, I knew
exactly what it was. And I was just sitting on
my couch and I just I had to smile because

(22:55):
you know that just I broke down the exact play.

Speaker 2 (22:57):
Did you start writing a letter to Jesse Mintor saying,
you know you can get important things from what I do.
I broke it down for you, man. But yeah, just
a couple of huge plays and you're thinking, Wow, they're
winning going away, and then they just couldn't close the door.
They get some help by an unusual game special teams

(23:19):
for the Chargers with just atrocious at every level. They're
punting game with terrible dicker misses, an extra point and
forty yards, which he hadn't done all year first career.
That's less than a handful for him. Justin Herbert ends
up becoming their leading rusher on the night as he's
scrambling sacked five times, beating up some big game gainers

(23:42):
from Quinton Johnston. But those first two blows that Stroud
Stroud hit on Greg were enough to distance them, even
though some questionable coaching play calling down distance game situations
that left me scratching my head. It's like, you go,
you could go into the locker room nice and easy.

(24:03):
Instead let's give him an opportunity to push the ball
downfield interception and they get off on scale because of
the thirty two yard field goal miss. But just a
couple of situations like that's like, I know you're not
running the ball terribly effectively, but you know the clock
does run another minute off here.

Speaker 3 (24:21):
Yeah. I don't usually get into that stuff, Mike, but
you know, as I was watching that game, and obviously
I've watched the Texans every week and even going back
for a couple of years with their defense, So I
start to think, are they one of those teams that's
really good enough on defense that it can truly carry them?
In other words, can that defense get them to the
Super Bowl even if they don't have a great offense

(24:43):
on a particular day, Because you know, Stroud is a
really good thrower of the football, but there's, for whatever reason,
there seems to be a little bit of an inconsistency
to his game. But he's a beautiful thrower and when
it's schemed up well, he can make great throws. But
you know, can they beat all these teams in the AFC?
And the AFC is kind of kind of strange. You know,

(25:06):
I'm not sure a lot of people feel that there's
that one team that, oh man, that team's really good.
So the Texans defense could really be a deciding factor
in the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (25:16):
Might actually be the best unit that we have in
terms of consistency, right, what we get in that front.
You've talked about the secondary a lot, oh yeah, program
over the course of the year, what they've been able
to get, and certainly here they were able to bring
it home, not without its anxious moments, no question about it.
With those quick strikes. I've got a couple of friends

(25:36):
that are Texans fans. Our colleague Dan Bayer had a
relative end that he took to the game. It's like
you got to your seats in time, right, because otherwise
you missed a couple of explosives early, and you missed
some of the best part of the show.

Speaker 3 (25:51):
Yeah, and I think, you know, because of the focus
deservedly so on Hunter and Anderson, a lot of people,
you know, overlook the defensive tackle rotation, which is very,
very good, and their linebackers are really solid. We know
about the secondary. We know the corners. I mean, I
really like Kamari Lassiter. You know, he was a rookie

(26:11):
year ago. He's played really well this year. You could
argue he's one of the six or seven best corners
in the league. So it's it's a and Bullock. You know,
I've been on record, you know, because as I said,
I watched their tape among many many other teams, I
think Bullock this season has been the best post safety
in the National Football League. So you know, it's a

(26:32):
really good defense. I guess they can technically still win
the division depending on what the Jaguars do.

Speaker 2 (26:36):
Yeah, I still love watching you highlight Lasster. Just the
physicality that he plays. It's like, it's all right, are
you gonna call it on me or not? Like it's
like the old Legion of Boom or what New England
used to do. It's like, all right, I'm going to
physically you and we're gonna have to figure out what
the rules of engagement are for.

Speaker 3 (26:54):
You know, he's he in some ways is he's a
swagger guys. He's a tempo setter, and you don't think
about that with all the people they have on their defense.
He kind of reminds me of what Devin Witherspoon is
for the Seahawks. They're really good players just in terms
of their trades, but they're tempo setters. They're swagger guys.
Their attitude guys, and I think Lassiter is one of

(27:17):
those guys.

Speaker 2 (27:18):
You ready to play a little trivia game?

Speaker 3 (27:20):
Oh boy, here we go. We got with the the.

Speaker 2 (27:24):
Win yesterday, Houston gets into the playoffs and Indianapolis is
officially eliminated. It's odd that the Charger.

Speaker 3 (27:32):
Yeah that I knew that part. I knew Okay.

Speaker 2 (27:34):
The other part is that this has not happened that
a team started a season eight and two and missed
the playoffs since the nineteen ninety five Raiders. Wow, you
want to go venture at some of the skill position
leaders for that ninety five Raiders team.

Speaker 3 (27:51):
The ninety five God that I should know the answer
to that, but I don't. The nineteen ninety five Raiders. Oh,
that's a long time ago.

Speaker 2 (28:03):
Ready to have a little bit of fun. One guy
actually played for the Bears. He was one of the
original He can run, but had a cannon for an
arm that was just a bit inaccurate. He was the
backup for that squad.

Speaker 3 (28:16):
Oh oh, okay, So if he played for the Bears,
then I'm thinking Vince Evans.

Speaker 2 (28:20):
That is right. Vince Evans was the backup, the leader,
one of the greatest mustaches we've ever seen on a quarterback.

Speaker 3 (28:27):
One of the greatest musta. Wow. So he was the
starting quarterback.

Speaker 2 (28:32):
He was the starter. He was also a former Giant.

Speaker 3 (28:36):
A former Giant. Oh, that's probably Jeff Hostetlwe.

Speaker 2 (28:39):
You got it. The receivers, Tim Brown, Yeah, Tim, Tim
Brown's the chalk one in this. How about the running backs?
You had an eleven hundred yard nine touchdown.

Speaker 3 (28:50):
Guy, you did?

Speaker 2 (28:52):
Yeah, which this one surprised me. I had the backup
right with it with the bad injuries.

Speaker 3 (29:02):
The backup Oh oh, oh god, I know it's not
Napoleon Coffin.

Speaker 2 (29:10):
Is Napoleon Golfin?

Speaker 3 (29:11):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, carries four hundred ninety yards. The leader Harvey Williams.

Speaker 3 (29:18):
I oh he played with for the Chiefs as well.
He did, yep, I remember Harvey. Yeah, he was very upright.
He was tall and upright.

Speaker 2 (29:25):
Yeah. Finished his career with nearly four thousand rushing yard Yah,
had eleven hundred of them and nine scores that year.

Speaker 3 (29:32):
So who else were the receivers besides Tim Brown pulling
up the in the Uh see, I'm not doing that.
I'm just I'm I'm I'm counting on you to tell
me and I'm just throwing out the when you give
me the info.

Speaker 2 (29:46):
Yeah, Unfortunately, I'm subject to the Wi FI considerations here
in the stud.

Speaker 3 (29:51):
Would that be I'm trying to think the Five Raiders?
Maybe James Jet was he around then? Oh? That's good
he could run? Yeah?

Speaker 2 (30:02):
No, wow, I mean that was one of those Al
Davis speed guys. Yeah, yes, yeah, about that. Yeah, all right,
As we go down our list of our receiving options,
we had, Williams had fifty four, Darryl Hobbs had thirty eight.

Speaker 3 (30:16):
I would never have gets there, Eric.

Speaker 2 (30:17):
Fenner, little rocket Ishmael was mixed in there. Jet did
have thirteen catches for one hundred and seventy nine yards.

Speaker 3 (30:25):
Oh okay, well, at least he was there. The other
guys I would never have guessed.

Speaker 2 (30:28):
Never Hoobs and Fenner, I'm pretty well versed. How about
an Andrew Glover's sighting.

Speaker 3 (30:33):
While we're at Oh, there you go.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
Going a little deep in the way back machine. Let's
get one more game in. Let's go back for Thursday,
a little bit of Denver. A little bow Nicks.

Speaker 9 (30:44):
Next is rolling next, well, throw.

Speaker 2 (30:47):
And it's put for the touchdown. But R J Harvey
Harvey on the score. That's al Michaels and Prime on
the call. There, as we saw the latest in when
the Oladocin becomes number fifty nine, Malik willis number sixty
in terms of our quarterbacks to start a game in

(31:08):
this twenty twenty five campaign. But for bow Knicks doing
it with his legs, doing with his arm once again,
Denver it's not always pretty, but they seem to find
themselves in the winners circle week after.

Speaker 3 (31:18):
Yeah, I watched that tape, and you know, I don't
know what to make of their pass game. I think
this was a specific pass game. I think this was
a Sean Payton thing because they really did not attack
at the intermediate or intermediate vertical levels in this game,
hardly at all. So that was clearly I think the
way Sean Payton wanted to play. Maybe he was concerned
about the blitz because with the way they ran their

(31:41):
pass offense, Steve Spagnolo did not blitz very much in
this game, and we know that he's very very good
at that and often does it at a relatively high percentage.
Because Nicks finished the game with twenty six completions Mike,
but only one hundred and eighty two yards. Only two
of his thirty eight pass attempts traveled more than twenty
eight yards from the line screaming, So I think that

(32:01):
was intentional. It was a very condensed passing game.

Speaker 2 (32:05):
Keep them keep it in front, to keep it efficient
and keep the line moving, and I'll.

Speaker 3 (32:09):
Give you a great example. So that's this is where
sometimes stats if you look at them, you go, that's
not very good. But they were very good on third down,
and Nicks was nine to thirteen on third down. Now,
we only gained one hundred and fifty yards on those
nine completions, but seven of those nine completions resulted in
first downs. That's the more important stat than the number

(32:30):
of yards. So you know, it was an odd game.
When I watched that tape, you know, I kept thinking, Okay,
are they going to throw the ball down the field?
And they just didn't. And obviously that winning touchdown to Harvey,
that was that was Do you know what the play
was on the winning touchdown?

Speaker 2 (32:44):
By the way, what the play was?

Speaker 3 (32:47):
What the play was? Hit me, I'm going to tell
you what the play was on the winning touchdown. The
winning touchdown was Spider two, Why Banana?

Speaker 2 (32:56):
The old John Gruden line.

Speaker 3 (32:58):
The old John Gruden. It was why Banana?

Speaker 2 (33:02):
How about that? See now, now we're all that much
the better for it, and we'll go on doing our
best Gruden impersonations.

Speaker 3 (33:09):
There you go on today. Because Harvey was the primary
read in the flat and but the safety Cook took
it away immediately, so they just had to keep going
and going, and Nick looked inside to Sutton on the
backside shallow, but that wasn't there, so we directed Harvey
to and cover. But it was. But the play call itself,
I don't know if they call it that, but it

(33:29):
was spider too. Why Banana?

Speaker 2 (33:31):
There you go. All things old are new again.

Speaker 3 (33:34):
That's right.

Speaker 2 (33:35):
It's Fox Sports Radio, Fox Football Sunday. Mike harm and
Greg co Sell with you a couple more of the
Thursday games and rewind to get to as we get
ready for the rest of Week seventeen here in your
National Football League season. So much to discuss. Don't worry.
We're only going to spend a minute on the last
two games because that's about what they're worth. We'll move

(33:56):
on to that as we continue at Greg go cellas
where you find and find me over at Swollen Down.
This is Fox Sports Radio. You're listening to Fox Sports
Radio Radio. I love the sounds of Bowie, but I'm
missing my holiday music. I'm not gonna lie. Mike Carmen
here in Fox Sports Sunday, Fox Football Sunday, here in

(34:16):
week seventeen, alongside great co Sell. Hey, remember with the
iHeartRadio apps stream us wherever you happen to be catch
us in all of our Fox Sports Radio shows live
twenty four to seven and the new one improved iHeartRadio app.
Search Fox Sports Radio and the app streams lab all
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Trading is one of your presets in the iHeart app,
so it'll always pop up at the top of your screen.

(34:36):
One of the concerts I failed to get to before
his passing. So still salty that that one left me.

Speaker 3 (34:43):
I saw checked.

Speaker 2 (34:45):
Yeah, I had a couple of opportunities in the Greater
Chicago land area, but once upon a time Mom didn't
want us traversing to the north side. It didn't break
that seal past State Street. You just didn't south side here,
north side there. Like the Jets and the Sharks never
between shell meets.

Speaker 3 (35:03):
So there you go.

Speaker 2 (35:04):
Yeah, and here we are, all these years later. I
live in California, so I've traveled to a number of countries.
What are you gonna do? Eventually you break the seal
and say, hey, there's some other stuff out there. All right, Quickly,
we'll get to the other two games from Thanksgiving, and
then we'll our Thanksgiving Christmas Day, and then we'll launch
ourselves into the rest of Week seventeen as we get
to hour two, but I'd be remiss we didn't circle

(35:27):
back to the Max Brozmer world. Okay, he did a
handoff to Jordan Addison for that sixty five yard touchdown,
but it was about Brian Flores's defense. Yeah, absolutely taming
the Lions and sending them home.

Speaker 3 (35:40):
You know what's crazy, Mike is last year, in the
two games that the Lions and Vikings played, obviously they're
in the same division. Last year, Gibbs in those two games,
Jamiir Gibbs had something like three hundred and seventy totally
yards and six touchdowns and the Lions won both those games.
This year, it just really seemed and again people are

(36:03):
going to say it's the Ben Johnson effect, and maybe
it is. You know, we're not there as they're going
through their game planning. It's always easy now to say, oh,
it's Ben Johnson and you know their game plan wasn't good.
You know, all that stuff's easy to say when a
team loses, and maybe it's true to some extent, but
it just seemed as if that Brian floor has just
had such a great feel with his and what he does.

(36:25):
It works against a lot of teams, it's really hard
because he lines up with a lot of pressure fronts.
He dictates protections, he drops people out, he forces backs
to have to stay in and protect. I mean, that's
what he did in the first game against the Lions
a tremendous amount. He forced Gibbs to have to stay
in the backfield to be part of the protection, and

(36:46):
that's what you want. You don't want Gibbs as a receiver.
So he just really made it so difficult for the
Lions with their protections and what GoF was looking at.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
It was just hard just to catches twenty three yards.
We'd seen him the prior weeks ten catches, seven catches,
eleven catches, but against the Vikings here absolute operations shut down.
And for fantasy owners, sorry, there was another one of
your binary code. It's been three zero threes there it
is big zero and he lost to fumble to boot. Meanwhile,

(37:18):
Jared Goff was under siege. He confused with the Steven
Sagall movie of the same name.

Speaker 3 (37:25):
He was it was difficult, and I guess Sewell got hurt,
so it was it was a difficult situation and they
just really couldn't get any you know, that's a very
rhythmic offense, because GoF that's who he is. He's very,
very good as a rhythmic quarterback when he's protected and
he can hit that back foot, deliver the ball, work

(37:46):
the intermediate middle of the field, which he's as good
as any quarterback in the league. But they just couldn't
get to that with any kind of consistency.

Speaker 2 (37:55):
I enjoyed all the what if of isms that started
flowing over the last seventy two hours. What if we'd
never made that trade in cat Matthew Stafford. No, it's gone,
he's gone. It moved on. It's like the girlfriend, the boyfriend,
the whatever, you know, the fact that we all once

(38:15):
had a nice, luscious head of hair. It's gone. You know.

Speaker 3 (38:20):
Gos's one of those guys. He's really kind of a
specific kind of quarterback, you know. But he's very good
at what he is. But obviously, because he's not a playmaker,
he doesn't give you that movement to mention. He needs
to be protected and when he's not protected, and of
course that's not a profound statement, Mike, you could say
that about theoretically any quarterback. But obviously, if he's not

(38:41):
well protected. He's not going to make plays outside of structure.

Speaker 2 (38:45):
That's it. Let's get rewind to the final game off
our slate. This was the first one that got us
all going.

Speaker 4 (38:51):
Pressed out under center, play action back to throw, right
side of the end zone, back of the end zone,
Ferguson in the right back the ends on.

Speaker 2 (39:01):
Never mind fourth down.

Speaker 3 (39:03):
They catched it in, pressed up to.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
Ferguson only catch of the day. The other touchdown pass
was to Turpin an eighty six yarder, and they feasted
like kings, as they kept saying every time they busted
out those tomahawk steaks. On Netflix. Three hundred and seven yards,
two scores for Prescott on the day. On the other side,
Bill don't call me Jacory Crosskey Merritt was big with

(39:27):
one hundred and five yards and two touchdowns, including a
seventy two yard sprint that everybody noticed happened as soon
as they said, hey, welcome in Clinton portis Hey, let's
go to the commercial break. Clinton Bortis stay with us.
But for Dallas, I give him credit, right we found
a couple of other options. That was a great catch
by Ferguson. Malik Davis had one hundred and three yards

(39:47):
as Williams had to leave the game with an injury.
But Dallas keeps battling for all their issues and defensively
there are many so eber flus back on the marketplace,
but Jack Prescott still showing what he's all about.

Speaker 3 (40:02):
You know. And the other thing too is I'm I'm
not sure a lot of people know that George Pickens
right now has fourteen and twenty receiving yards, and it'll
be interesting to see if they sign him. I mean,
you hear a lot of stories about him. I don't
get into that, but I know that it means something.
But he's had one heck of a season.

Speaker 2 (40:17):
Four catches, seventy eight yards, and we've seen plenty of
those stories out of Pittsburgh. But you know, do you
franchise him for one year? Do you try to go
long term and see if you can stretch out that money.
That'll be what the Joneses will have to figure out
here this offseason. One more game remaining as we continue
we go into the remaining slate of our week seventeen

(40:40):
NFL schedule, there's so many big games on the horizon.

Speaker 1 (40:46):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio, Come on, in
set a spell hang out with us another hour here
Fox Sports Radios, Fox Football Sunday, Mike Carmen Great co
sell here live from the tire Ac while the fire
Fox Smorts Radio Studios Tyrak had the play of the day.

Speaker 2 (41:03):
We heard that a little bit earlier with the big
Higgins touchdown, part of a Isaac Lowincron is now at
the news desk here, Greg he's part of the Chargers broadcast,
and all he could do was shit his head. That's all.
That's all he did. He didn't say a word, He
just shook his head and then it was like a
hound dog kind of face.

Speaker 3 (41:23):
It was a very I mean, obviously with those two
early long touchdowns, the game settled into being a certain
kind of game where the Chargers had to keep coming
back and they couldn't run the ball at all against
that defense. We spoke about this earlier. That defense. Is
it is that a defense? I'm not going to sit
here and say it's the two thousand Ravens of the
eighty five Bears, who I'm sure you know that defense
very well. Yeah, But is it a good enough defense

(41:47):
where you know they can they can literally shut down
anybody in the AFC, and I think that's a legitimate question.

Speaker 2 (41:53):
Absolutely one of the fun stories swirling as we roll
through the end of the regular season and shaping up
to be a really chaotic playoff run because there's a
lot to like about each team, and then there's a
lot of giant Riddler like suits on other sides of
the equation, whether it be special teams or the offense

(42:14):
or in some cases we got a lot of offense
and not much defense defensive resistance as we've seen throughout
the year. So why don't we jump into that. Greg
at Greg co Sell where you find Greg on Twitter,
check him out, NFL Films, the NFL Matchup Show, and
he joins Colin Coward on the network here one o'clock
Eastern every Thursday, breaking down film fifteen to twenty minutes,

(42:38):
as Colin calls it and I shout it out every week.
In addition to his celebration cupcake and.

Speaker 3 (42:45):
I had one yesterday? Did you had one yesterday? Of course,
I'm done. Nice to know that it was Saturday. I
was at Barnes and Noble. You know, that's my Saturday
for a while. Gotta do it.

Speaker 2 (42:56):
What was the best booker magazine that you picked up and.

Speaker 3 (42:59):
Well, you know, I actually I bought two books yesterday
because you know, when I when I go to the gym, see,
I ride the stationary bike. You know why, because I
can read. I don't be sure, Yeah, because your hands
are you know, it's not like the treadmill where your
whole body is moving and it's a motion thing. So
I ride the stationary bike from my aerobic exercise because
I can read. So that's when I read during the

(43:22):
certainly during the football season.

Speaker 2 (43:23):
I dig that you got one that you're really excited
about there that you want to give it time.

Speaker 3 (43:28):
Well, I got one by actually James Patterson book, but
not the the stuff that people are probably familiar with.
It's a little bit of an older one.

Speaker 5 (43:35):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (43:35):
He's has so many different characters. So uh and then
what did I? Oh, then I bought James. Are you
familiar with James Lee Burke. He has a character named
Dave Robischow. They take place in New Iberia, Louisiana. It's
he's a terrific writer. James Lee Burke is one of
the absolute best sort of mystery fiction writers. It's all
it's it's literary, you know, He's one of those guys.

(43:58):
That's not just about the plot and and the storyline.
It's very literary.

Speaker 2 (44:02):
I dig that. So I was going to find a
book to take on my flight later on today.

Speaker 3 (44:07):
Well he has. His character is Dave Robichow. And yet
you almost have to go back to the beginning. The
first book in the series is called I Think the
Neon Rain, and it's worth starting there.

Speaker 2 (44:19):
There you go, it's the great Go Sell book Club
with us on the Go Cupcake to boot Sports Radio.

Speaker 3 (44:26):
And then I read about music. I read about music
when I'm sitting there. That's because I love reading about music.
I always have. I have no musical talent whatsoever, but
I love reading about it.

Speaker 2 (44:35):
No, I do the same. Hey if there's another documentary
to watch, or a magazine article, or hey, here's all
the stuff you didn't know about this band. Yeah it's
a rabbit hole. I go down here.

Speaker 3 (44:45):
I love don't you love reading about how songs come about?
I mean the genesis of songs and albums. I find
that stuff fascinating.

Speaker 2 (44:52):
Well, I mean, how many of them were in the
seventies where they're all sitting in a room and then
someone says some random funny line. I was like, yeah,
he was just he passed out in the corner. It's like, wait, what.

Speaker 3 (45:03):
Right, Well, you know we've probably talked about this, but
you know, so many of these artists are really intelligent.
I know a lot of people, if they're younger, and
just the way it's been presented over the years, probably
think it's sex, drugs and rock and roll. And I'm
sure that was a major part of it. I'm not
saying it wasn't, but these guys are really really intelligent.

Speaker 2 (45:21):
That's it. Lead you down that path the creative, get
that other side of the brain moving. Something we try
to do here each and every Sunday morning with you
here on Fox Football Sunday and coming up after our
show best pregame show every weekend. Stay tuned. It's Fox
Sports Radios. Countdown to Kickoff presented by bet MGM every
Saturday and Sunday morning. Count you down to all the
biggest games three hours right up until kickoff. That's right,

(45:44):
all the best play is up to the second injury
news Isaac's at the news desk. Tune into Countdown to
Kickoff presented by bet MGM every Saturday and Sunday morning.
Right here, it's Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart app
now one of the big games today as I look
the rest of the slates that stand among among the rest,
and we'll start with the Sunday night football game resplendent

(46:06):
as the champions of the NFC North replete with resplendent,
glorious foam cheese graters on their head. The Chicago Bears,
they'll take on the forty nine ers later on. And
last week brock Party really was in his bag early.

Speaker 3 (46:27):
Yeah, brock Purty played very very well that offense, and
it's that's a classic case of an offense that is
so choreographed, you know. And as I was watching that game,
you know, against and obviously what Philip Rivers has done
just blows me away. Mike, I'm sure you feel the
same way. It's just remarkable. But just to sort of

(46:48):
put it in a way that maybe a lot of
people don't think about it, because I really studied the
quarterback position. I try to talk to as many people
as I can about it. I thought last week that
game was just a clear delinear of the contrast between
quarterback play, and by that, I mean you have Philip Rivers,
who is a pre snap master of the position. He

(47:09):
controls the game before the ball is snap. He did
that was when he was with the Chargers. I mean
when he was with the Chargers, I thought he was
just like Peyton Manning. Obviously he's not viewed at that
level because he never made a Super Bowl. But I'm
talking about stylistically how he played. He controlled the game
from the line of scrimmage, so he's a pre snap master.

(47:30):
Rock Purty, on the other hand, in a Kyle Shanahan offense,
which is based on what we call pure progression reads,
he is a post snap operator. So you saw two
different styles of quarterbacking. Both played at a pretty darn
high level, you know, in that game. But it's just
and we're moving away from the river style because quarterbacks nowadays,

(47:52):
from the time they start at nine or ten years old,
they're not really taught the position that way to control
the game at the line of scrimmage. They're kind of
taught what we call pure progression, where you really don't
have to know as much about the defense. You probably
want to know whether middle's open, middle close, whereas a
blitz alert, but beyond that the specifics of defense are

(48:13):
not as important.

Speaker 2 (48:14):
Well, one of the things you know, also out of
the River's playbook was going and finding Winters after the
game to ask him, Yeah, about the play. I thought
that was one of the best pure little moments that
you've seen on a football field.

Speaker 3 (48:27):
You know what I thought when I saw that play.
Believe it or not, I when I saw that play,
I actually thought that Rivers almost read it too fast,
that he went through his read too fast because he
knew that Winters was the flat defender into the boundary
in cover three, and he was starting to expand to

(48:48):
his responsibility. But he had eyes on Rivers, and Rivers
just I don't want to say assumed, but Rivers knew
the coverage and he knew that Winters was the flat
defender and had to get to the flat, so he
figured he'd throw that quick timing throw to Warren in
what he thought, based on the coverage was the underneath
void in the coverage. But Winters just did such a

(49:08):
great job. It was just one of you know, people said, well,
he baited him. I don't think he baited him. I
think Rivers and I could be wrong, but I think
Rivers just went through his read so fast that he
expected Winters to be expanding into the flat.

Speaker 2 (49:21):
Yeah, and Rivers looked at him and said, you got
that from earlier. He goes, yes, sir, I did. Yeah,
the fact that he said yes, sir, But like just
you know that that honest moment of eye you got
me and Rivers being in that coach mode where he
is in his career. I thought it was a really cool,
pure athletic.

Speaker 3 (49:40):
It was great. But Rivers always played like that. Rivers
was always I mean, you know, being here in NFL films,
obviously we wire players, so you know, all through the years,
I get to see some wires, a lot of things
that of course will never make the light of day, sure,
just because you know we don't do that, you know,
but I've seen Rivers just controls the game at the
line of scrimmage. I can remember watching him with the

(50:01):
Chargers with wires where he was just telling guys, you
block him, you do this, you you run this route.
You know, he comes to the line, he sees the defense,
he makes adjustments. I guess the only I don't want
to say the only, but the other quarterback, who obviously
plays the same way, and of course he's an old
school guy, would be Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 2 (50:18):
Well, we saw that last week, right, Yeah, Jalen Warren,
you go over there and then run this route.

Speaker 3 (50:24):
No, I think it was Gainwell's touchdown games touchdown, Yeah, yeah, yeah,
you're right. Yeah. But I mean, you know, like I said,
quarterbacks are not brought up to play that way anymore.
You know, Kurt Warner talks about that all the time.
You know, he's he doesn't love the whole pure progression
thing because he wants to feel like, hey, you see
the defense, the defense is going to tell me what
to do. You know, I don't want to come to

(50:46):
the line and not have any feeling about the defense.
But it's just different, you know, it's it's it's a
different way to play.

Speaker 2 (50:52):
Yeah, it's funny because on the other side of this
equation you got Purty the other zero point five percent.
We watched the comeback, We talked about it and broke
it down last week as the Bears came back on that.

Speaker 3 (51:03):
Yes, we did.

Speaker 2 (51:03):
Caleb Williams throw to DJ Moore. They've now celebrated him
with his own special sandwich and meal special at Portillo's.
So if you can get to that. But Kurt Warner
talks about Caleb Williams in that regard of hey, taking
those shots down, feel fine in that space, et cetera.

Speaker 3 (51:21):
And the key to that to me was the use
of personnel. I mean, that's one of those things that's
off and overlook because that came at a thirteen personnel
which they had used up to that point, and then
all of a sudden, you get the safeties just cheating
up just a little bit because it's a run personnel package,
three tight ends and they're playing kind of a quarter's look,
but the safeties just kept creeping up and creeping up,

(51:44):
and you know, then you end up with more you know,
running that route and there's no help over the top.
But still unbelievable throw, I mean, just ridiculous.

Speaker 2 (51:55):
Yeah, we look at Caleb Williams on the year where
we're at touchdown interceptions, the act total is down.

Speaker 3 (52:02):
That's the key.

Speaker 2 (52:02):
And in Chicago now, well, I mean we watch it
week after week. I mean, how many yards are just
given away?

Speaker 3 (52:09):
A great point and that's the key because teams have
done studies Mike, where quarterbacks that get sacked a lot
in college tend to get sacked a lot in the
NFL that has not happened with Caleb Obviously a year
ago he did, but this year those sack numbers are
way way down. That may be the most important advancement
in his development because we know we can throw it.

(52:31):
I mean, we know he's super gifted. You know, I'm
not saying anything profound there. We know he's got great
movement ability and he can make plays outside of structure.
But you know, there was a concern that he was
just going to be one of those guys that would
get sacked a lot, and that has not happened this year.

Speaker 2 (52:44):
To this point. Just twenty three sacks on the year
against sixty eight a year ago. If he averages three
hundred yards a game, he'll become the first Bears quarterback
ever to eclipse four thousand yards in a season.

Speaker 3 (52:57):
We're sid luckman, when you need him, I.

Speaker 2 (52:59):
Tell yeah, it is the time that we finally get
to just put him in the place of reverence as
opposed to I guess he's kind of the these standards
still all these years later, because little run ups with
Eric Kramer for a minute.

Speaker 3 (53:15):
I'm just getting thoughts of Bob Avellini.

Speaker 2 (53:17):
You know, oh now you're talking. I mean, we already
referenced Vince Evans in.

Speaker 3 (53:20):
Our one There you Go, There you go.

Speaker 2 (53:22):
Wow, let's get a little Mike Phipps in the old
Purdue Mike.

Speaker 3 (53:26):
He was a great college quarterback.

Speaker 2 (53:28):
He wasash about it. Used to go and watch a
little of that up and down the highways because you know,
college games on a Saturday. If folks had the day off,
we could cajole.

Speaker 3 (53:40):
Jack out of the conversation.

Speaker 2 (53:41):
Either Tom Zach a legend. Let's go on to the
super Bowl appearing Rex Grossman.

Speaker 3 (53:47):
There you go, two thousand and six.

Speaker 2 (53:49):
I believe it was, Well, that's it, and then they
that was the rain.

Speaker 3 (53:51):
Super Bowl in Miami. I think that was that. Prince
was the heck.

Speaker 2 (53:54):
Time show, Prince doing purple Rain in the rain.

Speaker 3 (53:57):
Yeah, I was working out. I was actually erecting our
ISO camera at that game. So I had to be
sitting out in the pouring rain for the whole game.

Speaker 2 (54:06):
But you got that halftime show that will live with you.

Speaker 3 (54:09):
I had. I had to go inside. I was so wet.
I just had to go inside just for a little
I mean I was, I felt like I was. I
was so wet. They gave us ponchos. But you know,
with the pouring rain. After a little while, the ponchos.
You know it doesn't it didn't matter.

Speaker 2 (54:23):
To steal from another classic rock artist. You were seeking
shelter from the storm.

Speaker 3 (54:28):
Storm there you go there, yeah.

Speaker 2 (54:33):
As we go. But that that Bears team a lot
like this year where they live and die by turnovers
and big plays, a little bit of special teams mixed there.
In last week, I was watching Cairo Santo's like he
was golfing.

Speaker 3 (54:47):
They got the run games. You know, It's so funny.
Run game and defense. As we start talking playoffs, and
that's where we are right now, is everybody wants to
talk about the quarterback. And that's fine. We know, we
know you're not gonna win with a crappy quarterback, get that.
But you know, run game and defense. That's why we've
been talking about Houston the Bears. Obviously, Caleb Williams is

(55:07):
looks like he's on his way to being a pretty
special player. But their run game is real. You know this.
You're a Bears guy.

Speaker 2 (55:13):
Then, been fantastic in that offensive line. Joe Tooney's now
won a division title nine straight years every.

Speaker 3 (55:21):
Year he's been in the league. How he probably thinks
that's just the way it is, you know.

Speaker 2 (55:24):
I mean, it's the harsh reality when it doesn't happen,
you know, taking a long cold walk on a on
a distant shore somewhere, going.

Speaker 3 (55:33):
To what was wrong exactly, But you know, it's it's
the run game stuff has become so so important, you know.
I feel like the league's I don't want to say
it's changed, but I almost feel like we're in a
little bit of a cyclical development here where, you know,
And I haven't looked at the quarterback yardage numbers. I'm

(55:53):
sure there's still guys, you know, throwing for four thousand
the whole, but I feel like it's not one of
those like, hey, just tossed it around the yard kind
of seasons. I feel like the run games really kind
of made a return, and it sort of started a
couple of years ago. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the way.
That's just anecdotal based on tape study.

Speaker 2 (56:10):
Yeah, we'll go back and next week we'll revisit it
a little more completely in that regard. Right now, Prescott,
Goff and Stafford, you're only guys to eclipse four thousand.
Drake may is right there, he's fifty three yards away,
Bo Nix at thirty seven, ninety Herbert already and those
you know, the already in the barn Nick, right, Herbert

(56:30):
Sam Darnold needs to ninety seven to get to four thousand.

Speaker 3 (56:34):
Yeah, and then so I mean, you're gonna have those
guys doing that. But I just I don't. I don't know.
Maybe it's just you know, watching tape. I because it's funny.
I don't look at stats until after I watch tae sure,
because I don't like to be prejudiced by a stat
when I when I put the tape on.

Speaker 2 (56:48):
Yeah. The other part of it is, obviously for those guys,
thank you for being able to answer the bell each
and every Sunday.

Speaker 3 (56:56):
Well that's at sixteen, we're at.

Speaker 2 (56:58):
Sixty starting quarterbacks. Greg. I'll hammer on that because we'll
see how many show up before it's done next week.
But you know the fact that you're still able to
play through a full slate, Herbert with the broken hand
and so many myriad injuries, that that's the impressive part
as much as the yardage.

Speaker 3 (57:15):
Well, it gets down to sacks too. I mean, you
know Tom Brady always talks about sacks being a quarterback
stat more than an old line stat. I mean, think
about Stafford. You know he's and he's Stafford's not immobile,
but obviously not a playmaker. But he's only been sacked
nineteen times. You know that's that's really impressive.

Speaker 2 (57:31):
Be smart, get rid of the ball. One thing that
Philip Rivers, happily for all of us, has been good
about doing as well to close the loop on that
one fifty two and a half the total there. Chicago
San Francisco Sunday Night football looks like it's going to
be a nice clear night with justod five five degree win,

(57:52):
five miles an hour, and.

Speaker 3 (57:53):
One final point before we move on. I think Christian McCaffrey.
And I know people might look at the three point
nine yards per carry and go, oh, it's not great,
and it's not obviously just as a stat on a page,
but I'm not sure there's been a back in the
league this year that gets the dirty, hard yards better
than McCaffrey. He is such a tough, physical runner.

Speaker 2 (58:12):
What's going to be curious to watch the Bears defense,
because they do give up yardage, they do let you
move the football, they do give up points, but they'll
have to take away can they bait. Can they find
the turnover? Al Harrison his back unit against Brock Purdy today. Conversely,
Caleb Williams, we talk about not taking sacks. Well, that's
one thing we know the forty nine ers can't and

(58:34):
don't do.

Speaker 3 (58:34):
No, they are at all, that's what they don't do. Yeah,
that's an issue. They don't really rush the quarterback very well.

Speaker 2 (58:39):
Yet still playing for a number one seed when it's
all said and done. A lot of rain across the
board on the Eastern seaboard as well, So be safe
out there if you're on the roads, or be prepared
to sit at the airport and watch the games if
you're traveling today, wherever you're going. However you're listening, we
appreciate you being part of our extended family here at

(59:00):
Fox Sports Radio. As we continue, we'll take our turn
towards a couple of the other big games on the slate.
Philadelphia Buffalo, one of those two afternoon games. The other one,
uh well, it's the battle for the basement. They might
as well just flip a coin, but we'll talk about
that as we continue. He's great co sell on Mike Garbin.
It's Fox Football Sunday on Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 8 (59:22):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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Speaker 2 (59:34):
Hey, welcome back in Fox Sports Radios, Fox Football Sunday,
Mike Carmen, Great Coat sell with you. Be sure to
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(59:55):
and subscribe today, and as always, I ask you evangelized,
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media universe. At Greg Cosell where you find them on Twitter.
Find me over at Swollendome. The Sunday Afternoon Affair. We
got the Giants and the Raiders. I'll give you thirty

(01:00:17):
seconds to describe that one, Greg, and then we've got
Philadelphia and Buffalo, which is prime time playing Philadelphia, getting
back to more of Saquon Barkley. So part of me
is and we wondered this allowed early on in the season,
was all right, are they are they feeling things out?
And then eventually let's get them up and carries. Let's

(01:00:37):
start pushing the ball, because you also saw Tak Bigsby
got out of the moth balls last week.

Speaker 3 (01:00:43):
Yeah, I mean they rushed for two hundred and seven yards.
But obviously what I'm about to say goes to last week,
not the games have been played already from Week seventeen.
So the last three games, Barkley has had the most
rushes and the second most rushing yards in the NFL
and the most ten plus yard runs. So last week,
and I know people will say the competition the last

(01:01:03):
two weeks Raiders and Commanders wasn't high level, and certainly
relative to the league it wasn't. But I thought last
week watching that tape that the Eagles O line really
had their best performance in the run game of the season.
I mean it just it looked they move people. I
thought Barkley was decisive. I thought it was maybe one

(01:01:24):
of the best combinations coordinations of Barkley and the old line.
Barkley was patient, he had vision, he showed short airy explosiveness,
he was confident, he was hitting the hole. And two
things the Eagles did last week and have done at
times throughout the season Mike, which I think is really
important and I think they'll do it today is no

(01:01:47):
huddle and empty formations. And the reason I say I
think it's effect it would be effective today is because
Sean McDermott's one of the best there is in terms
of what we call late rotation, changing the picture grease
snap to post snap. And when you go no huddle
and certainly when you go empty formations and spread out,
it's much more difficult for a defense to communicate and

(01:02:10):
to do a lot of late rotation at the snap
of the ball.

Speaker 2 (01:02:13):
For the Bills riding a four game winning streak five
of their last six, but the year of living dangerously
late fORCH is Cincinnati, New England. Even last week we
were just talking about, you know, for fantasy playoff purposes,
guys that you'd been riding and they'd been hot for
you all year, Josh Allen, you probably got eliminated last

(01:02:33):
week with the effort that he put up just one
hundred and thirty passing yards, still had one hundred and
seventeen rushing from Cook in a narrow win against Cleveland,
but with the foot injury, curious what happens against Philadelphia today?

Speaker 3 (01:02:47):
Well, he was. All we have is the fact that
he was a full participant in practice on Friday, and
they say he's good to go. But they're a running team,
and there's a couple of reasons. So that number one Cook,
by a wide margin, has the most first down rushes
and the most first down yards of any back. So
they're a running football team. When I say a wide margin,
it's over thirty with the next back. The thing that

(01:03:11):
is really hard, I can I can see myself, you know,
with the combine at the JW Marriet talking to you know,
wide receiver coaches talking to me about having that boundary
X receiver that can win one on one and the
Bills just don't have that guy. So as good as
Alan is, and we all know he's great, that's not
the point at all, but it's just so hard to
have a consistent pass game when you don't have receivers

(01:03:33):
that can win one on one on the outside. So
it just becomes a difficult deal. It becomes a week
to week proposition as to what your pass game can be.
So it's it's hard. So you know, can they run
the ball against and we're getting back to defense again.
We spoke, you know about defense and run game. In
some ways, that's what this game is. The Eagles, I believe,

(01:03:54):
over the last six or seven weeks, have allowed lead
the NFL and points allowed, so they're They're defense has
really come on. Jalen Carter's back this week. I understand
he feels better than he has all season long. Jordan
Davis's has an unbelievable season as a run defender, so
this will be intriguing. Can the Bills make some throws

(01:04:15):
in the past game, you know when they need to.
You know, when you don't have receivers who can one
on one, it's a little harder.

Speaker 2 (01:04:21):
Just twelve completions. Last week, a little Shakir four catches
thirty four yards was the leader in that narrow victory
against Cleveland. Checking our weather report, I could do the
whole thing.

Speaker 3 (01:04:32):
I think I'm supposed to rain for this game.

Speaker 2 (01:04:35):
It says definite rain forty one degrees. Yes, so my
NFL weather.

Speaker 3 (01:04:40):
And from what I gather, it's supposed to rain pretty
hard too, so this game could be played in a downpour.

Speaker 2 (01:04:45):
There you go, let's get and you go hide again,
seeking shelter from the storm. All right, plenty more to go,
including Seattle Carolina. That's the next of the Marquee games.
But first let's kick it over to the news desk
with some of the early news and notes, and to
give him a pat on the back saying it's not
your fault. It's Isaac Lowercron.

Speaker 4 (01:05:08):
The silver lining and all this, Mike and Greg. At
least it didn't happen during the playoffs. Yes, because that
sort of game by the Chargers happened last year in
the playoffs against Houston.

Speaker 2 (01:05:23):
So that's what I'm clinging to right now.

Speaker 4 (01:05:24):
And yes, we'll start with that, the Houston Texans beating
the Chargers twenty to sixteen on Saturday, clinching a playoff spot,
clinching the AFC West for the Denver Broncos. And a
couple of notes on this result and the ramification. So
Houston wins, it clinches the division title for Denver. After
that happened, Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathan Cooper posted on social

(01:05:47):
media and I quote, bleep the Chiefs bleep made bleep
pansies unquote again that from Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathan Cooper
after the chief streak of nine consecutive division titles was
officially broken. The Texans meanwhile on an eight game winning

(01:06:07):
streak that's the longest active winning streak in the league.
In this game, the Chargers missed a field goal, an
extra point, and had three punts under forty yards. As
a result of that loss. With those factors, the Indianapolis
Colts were eliminated from the playoffs, leading at Ricky Penny
to post and I quote its twenty twenty five and

(01:06:30):
Chargers kickers are still screwing Philip Rivers unquote.

Speaker 2 (01:06:34):
I saw a lot of pictures of Nate Caty in
my timeline, greg he was trending.

Speaker 4 (01:06:40):
Nate Cating was trending on social media during the game.
But the story on Saturday night at lambeau Field was
Derrick Henry. He ran for two hundred and sixteen yards
with four touchdowns as the Ravens state alive with a
forty one to twenty four victory over the Packers.

Speaker 5 (01:06:55):
I would just worry about being effective with any opportunity
that I got on being a fish and in the
run game, to give our sense a chance to get
into drives. The little drives, ending points and run the
ball physically, and you know, just focus on us dominating
the line of scrimmage and establish establishing the identity in

(01:07:15):
the run game throughout the game. That was just my
main focus. Whatever carries it was was going to be.
I just wanted to go out there and make some happen.

Speaker 4 (01:07:23):
The victory Clint the NFC North for the Chicago Bears.
Congratulations harmon Bears, And it also brought up this fact
and kudos to NFL researcher Henry Gold for finding this gem.
Last night, the Packers became the first team in the
Super Bowl era to lose three games in a single
season when they do not punt. They're zero and three

(01:07:46):
this year in games where they don't punt. Believe it
or don't. Finally, ESPN reports at San Francisco's forty nine
ers tight end George Kittle highly unlikely to play on
Sunday Night football against the Bears, but receiver Rookie Pierce
is likely to play.

Speaker 2 (01:08:02):
Guys, that's all I got there. You go add Isaac
Lohencod where you find him. Hey, later on, we'll see
if the Bears can actually make the forty nine Ers punt,
something they haven't done in a month either, So you've
got that going for you as well. Check out everything
ILO's got Poppa. He's the voice of Angels CITYFC. All
the Chargers work and nobody finds obscure. Random Twitter references

(01:08:22):
back into football games to make you think or to
laugh or to shake your head about where we're at
in society. All those things can be true, all right.
Seattle seven point favorites on the road at Carolina. Carolina
is still looking to clinch the NFC South. They can
do so with a win and a Buccaneer's loss and tie.
For the Seahawks. They can clinch the top seed a

(01:08:44):
buy and the NFC West with a win, a Rams
loss and last loss or tie and a forty nine
Ers tie. Well, the forty nine ers tie probably the
long shot there, but a lot riding on this game.
We talk about Bryce Young, Dave Canalis, what they've been
able to do with Ted Roa McMillan, that dual headed
monster in the backfield. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold and the Seattle

(01:09:09):
offense rolling along. Kenadeth Walker, we talked about him last
week with what he was able to do, getting going
with the big plays Greg but JSN the key in
their passing game. But that defense really for McDonald's what
makes it all go.

Speaker 3 (01:09:23):
You know, I'm glad you said that, and that seems
to be our theme today, Mike, you know, talking about defense.
But this is a very very good defense. They're sort
of at the forefront. They didn't start it, but they're
kind of at the forefront right now with the way
they're playing of the big nickel where you play three
safeties essentially as your base defense and your nickel defense,
and they do play a lot of dime as well.

(01:09:43):
But Nicki Minwari, the rookie who they drafted in the
second round, and obviously Mike McDonald had Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore,
they're stylistically similar. Their deployment within the context of the
defense is similar, and Nicki Minori has been a key
key factor for them. DeMarcus Lawrence the has found the
fountain of youth. He's been a terrific player for them.
Their d line is really really good. One of the

(01:10:06):
things that's really interesting and I kind of really looked
hard this week at the Panthers offense, you know, because
I doubt it was on anybody's bingo card before the
season that they could win that division. But you know,
we spoke about empty formations a moment ago with the Eagles. Well,
Bryce Young has the second most empty dropbacks of any
quarterback in the NFL, only a little behind Aaron Rodgers.

(01:10:28):
And you know, so that that really struck me as
interesting because Young, you know, he's obviously a smaller quarterback,
doesn't have a big arm, but empty forces you to
play more within timing and rhythm and get the ball
out because you only have five blockers, you can't be
back there holding the ball. So you know, I think
that's one reason they do it. And Dave Canalis, I think,
does a really really good job with that offense. And

(01:10:49):
they run the ball. They run the ball well, they've
got two backs and both backs are physical inside runners.

Speaker 2 (01:10:55):
As we look at the rest of the slate, we'll
give the thirty seconds to the Giant and Raiders another time. Jacksonville,
Indianapolis Trevor Lawrence. You look at him over the last
five weeks, he's been on fire with fifteen touchdown passes,
also getting it done on the ground. He etn We
talked about it last week. How about you see in

(01:11:16):
ETN as a receiver, stepping up and sliding out Jacoby
Myers as a blocker. He got rewarded just a couple
of weeks after being traded there yeap with a big deal,
but a big spot here, the obvious nod to Philip Rivers.
But Jacksonville suddenly a team that folks has people's interest piqued.

Speaker 3 (01:11:36):
Yeah, Lawrence has been playing extremely well. You can just
see the decisiveness with which he's playing, and that's a
function of the marriage between him and Liam Cohen, because
when you see a quarterback, you know, we spoke about
this a little with the Niners, how everything is beautifully choreographed,
that perty can hit his back foot deliver the football.
You're seeing that more and more with Lawrence. And the
other thing, which is probably overlooked to some degree, is

(01:11:59):
how important his legs are. The more you watch the
Jaguars offense, the more you see that. I mean, in
this six game winning streak, Lawrence has twenty eight runs
both by design and scrambles, and eleven third down runs. Okay,
and nine of those eleven have resulted in first down.
So even though he's playing better than he ever has
as a pocket player. His legs are an important factor.

(01:12:22):
He's a very good athlete.

Speaker 2 (01:12:23):
Let's get one more game in before we finish up
Arizona Cincinnati. Fifty three is the total. Expect some fireworks
Jacoby Brissett and that offense moving. But Jamar Chase says,
I need a touchdown. I haven't had one since mid October,
so that's minus one fifty, basically putting it out into
the universe, and I think to make sure his quarterback
hurt it. I need one, please.

Speaker 3 (01:12:45):
He'll get one. He'll get one today.

Speaker 2 (01:12:47):
Yeah, that Arizona defense not putting up a lot of
resistance there for Gannon these days.

Speaker 3 (01:12:52):
No, they don't have a ton of great personnel. I
think Gannon's a terrific defensive coach. I think he's super smart,
but at some point can scheme only so much, and
you know, at some point there are matchups and you
have to have players, and they just don't have enough
of them right now. It'll be interesting to see how
ownership feels about him, because obviously this season didn't turn
out the way they hoped. Of course, we spoke about

(01:13:14):
Kyler Murray. That's really the big question. You know. The
consensus is he's done playing there, but they owe them
a lot of money, and you know how that goes.
I mean sometimes owners get involved in all that, and
you know they don't want to just throw away money.
So we'll see how the Murray situation plays out.

Speaker 2 (01:13:30):
Yeah, I've heard the Russell Wilson Denver thing referenced in
a number of times, like, yeah, not everything's created equal.
As much as we're a copycat league. When it comes
to saying how many millions, most say no, including Cincinnati.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention because we
chronicled all of the quarterback gifts giving and exchanges that

(01:13:53):
were there, little mini ATVs here and there whatever. Joe
Burrow was giving fossils and Jacobyson that gave enough to
his linemen that they interrupted.

Speaker 3 (01:14:02):
I saw that. I know that that was nice.

Speaker 2 (01:14:06):
Talk about a guy who knows how to play the
political game in a locker room. Good for you, Jacoby Brissett.

Speaker 3 (01:14:11):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (01:14:12):
Mean altruism to me. You know, his intentions are good,
but you know, you get a little bit back to
knowing you guys are going to go up for you.

Speaker 3 (01:14:21):
Yep, yep. Well, Jacoby Brissett from everybody I've heard it's
supposed to be just a terrific human.

Speaker 2 (01:14:26):
Being, just fantastic stuff. That game fifty three is your
over under, so expecting some fireworks there in your fantasy finales.
All right, we got a couple more games that will
do a quick whip around as we go through. The
dude abides that was on the sweater worn by one
quarterback as he gave out his holiday gifts to his lineman.

(01:14:46):
Who is it? What's that all about? What does it
mean for today's action? We'll take you next on Fox.
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio radio readings. Welcome back
in Fox Sports Radios. Fox Football Sunday, Mike Carmon Greg
with your final couple of minutes for us coming up
in about ten minutes. It's countdown to kick Off, presented
by bet MGM. And if you missed any of today's show,

(01:15:08):
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(01:15:30):
first show posted right after we get off the air.

Speaker 3 (01:15:33):
Very well, I don't know about that great co cell
wow A big deal. Well, you know, hey, I'm married
and I have two daughters not in my household.

Speaker 2 (01:15:44):
I know the same kind of thing. And the dog
rates ahead of me too. But all of that to say,
we get to the final couple of games here on
the slate, I reference Pittsburgh and Aaron Rodgers and his
holiday holiday holiday sweater and gifts. Ye have little ATVs.
Thirty three and a half is the total for this game.

Speaker 3 (01:16:05):
I think it's supposed to be pouring rain there too.
I think it's another.

Speaker 2 (01:16:08):
Yep, it's another one of those on the board.

Speaker 3 (01:16:10):
Another one of those so run game which the Steelers
last week finally ran, but now they had two long runs.
You can't count on long runs every week. But still
they're a team that plays, you know, one of those teams.
They play out of twelve and thirteen personnel, two tight ends,
three tight ends. Kenneth Gainwell has become a major factor.
His versatility in terms of where we can line up

(01:16:31):
his receiving traits even John hus Smith. He lines up
in the backfield at times as a runner. So it'll
be interesting can the Steelers run the ball in this game?
Because it could be that kind of weather game. And
of course I'm sure everybody will still be focused on
Shador Sanders, who gets way too much conversation. He's a
rookie quarterback who's had some really good moments, some uneven moments,

(01:16:55):
things you would expect from a rookie quarterback, you know,
But he's Sudor Sanders.

Speaker 2 (01:17:00):
In Djoko out for this one. Fannin's gonna give it
the go later on. Uh yeah, for Pittsburgh trying to
clinch the AFC North and send the Ravens packing other
games on the slate. I'd referenced it before, Giants Raiders.
Anything you want to say about this game? No, okay, good?
I mean I had to give you an opportunity.

Speaker 3 (01:17:20):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:17:21):
The Patriots and the Jets. Drake may still flating towards
the top of the heap. There are two touchdown favorites
in this one against Brady Cook and company. But trying
to again figure out what that identity is going forward,
Henderson looks like he'll be back to make.

Speaker 3 (01:17:37):
Down a lot of receivers. Yeah, they are down a
lot of receivers. I's out and they put on I R.

Speaker 2 (01:17:46):
Which is interesting because he was the guy celebrating the
victory side. Like did he get hurt there? I didn't,
But either way he goes to the I R.

Speaker 3 (01:17:54):
May has had a really good season. I mean, you know,
we talk about Caleb Williams and no knock on Caleb
Williams soever, but I think May, probably from week one on,
has been the more consistent player overall. Williams is probably
a little more spectacular and obviously just the way he
throws the ball and what he does outside of structure,
although make him do some of that as well. But

(01:18:15):
May has really strong pocket presence in a good way. Mike,
He's oblivious to the bodies around him and stay's firm
with his technique, his firm base, he delivers the ball.
I mean, he's he's really really good in the pocket.
And Josh McDaniel's just like Ben Johnson. I love the
spacing of the route concepts and that really helps a quarterback.

Speaker 2 (01:18:37):
As we look at the rest, we got three last
games one that may interest only me and shuck against Ward,
So we got that going for us. Momfield steps up
because it looks like Adam is going to be a
no go as the Rounds try to roll against Atlanta
on Monday Night football.

Speaker 3 (01:18:54):
Well, it's that thirteenth personnel. Last week fifty four snaps
of it. They play with three tight ends and now
with Adam out, Nikoua has played a lot more as
the single receiver and been very productive in that thirteen
personnel package. His numbers the last three weeks, I don't
have them right in front of me, but they are absurd.
So Nkos He's now in the conversation, is one of

(01:19:15):
the best receivers in the league because of the way
he's being deployed. He's now winning some one on one
matchups on the outside, which is what you have to
do to be in the conversation to be one of
the best receivers in the league. So he's continuing to
grow as a receiver, and his production has been off
the charts.

Speaker 2 (01:19:31):
Twenty eight targets, are twenty eight catches, thirty eight targets
and nearly what is that, nearly six hundred receiving yards.

Speaker 3 (01:19:40):
That's just in the last three games.

Speaker 2 (01:19:42):
Yeah, Tampa Bay Miami, the last game on the board,
Tampa trying to keep things a lot Bucky Irving. I
really thought he'd be in the passing game a bit more.

Speaker 3 (01:19:51):
I don't know what to say about Tampa's offense. Baker's
not been very good over the last couple of months.
He's missed some clean throws, critical clean throws just with
port ball placement. And he played so well early in
the season. They're a tough offense for me to figure
out right now, going.

Speaker 2 (01:20:08):
Up against quinn Ewers. Finishing off this one today again,
sixty quarterbacks have now started a game in your National
Football League season. We'll see what the standings hold after today.
A lot of action activity. Good luck in your fantasy
title games. Greg, another fast great two hours.

Speaker 3 (01:20:28):
Coming man a week. Yeah, it's always fine. We're getting
there too soon, we'll be in the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (01:20:33):
Celebration cupcakes for everyone. Happy New Year. Countdown to kick
Off presented by bet MGM coming up next. Thanks for
being with us, thanks for being with the family, and
thanks for our guys