December 23, 2025 • 27 mins
On today’s episode, Jason discusses the suddenly wide open path to the Super Bowl for the San Francisco 49ers, why the arrival of a surprisingly unwashed Philip Rivers wasn't enough to save the Indianapolis Colts from a second half free fall, why this particular NFL season should serve as a friendly reminder that paying your quarterback top dollar is risky business, and his early leans for the upcoming NFL Week 17 slate.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up Straight Firefam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight
Fayre for Tuesday, December the twenty third. It is Christmas Week.
Happy holidays to all. This will be the last podcast
of the week. We will be back bright and early
on Monday morning. Yes, I'm gonna not do a podcast
(00:32):
leading into the NBA games on Christmas Day. The NFL
games are bad. There's a couple games on Saturday, I
believe NFL and obviously the big Sundays late. In a
bizarre note, I didn't even realize this, the college football
games don't resume until the thirty first and first. I
don't know if I mentioned that yesterday or not, but
I was like, look at the schedule to bed, I'm like, wait,
what what? But I guess that does line up with
(00:55):
historically all the important bowl games being on January first.
I get that, but like the nearly two week playoff
is kind of lame. You know what's not lame, fantasy thrillers.
Here's the proposal for the NFL. Look at who the
projected top players are in fantasy next year. It'll be
like Jamier gibbs By Jean Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, probably not
(01:17):
say Quon Barkley. You know the dynamic running backs whoever
puts up a lot of points, who are the top
overall guys, and try to get them on Monday night
football or Sunday Night football or both leading into the
one of these final weeks of the season. Because it
made last night's Colts Niners game, which otherwise sucked and
(01:38):
it was not very interesting, it just added such a layer.
I know you guys don't care about fantasy humor me
for ninety seconds, my son and I three leagues combined.
One we got bounced. I got bounced in we each
I loved Christian McCaffrey and a bounce back year. He
was hurt all of last year, but we knew this
right he two years ago he was the best back
in the league, but the usage was too high. I
(02:00):
avoided him last year. It worked. We knew he was
gonna bounce back. McCaffrey was unbelievable this year, and last
night we had McCaffrey on all three teams going. All
of our teams were down, two of them came back
and got the dub because Christian McCaffrey is him. He
is him. He was so freaking unbelievable and I'm going
(02:20):
bonkers in the fourth quarter when he scores the game winner. Otherwise,
like the game was irrelevant. You knew the Colts stunk.
Philip Rivers washed. I mean, guys, it was a fun story.
I just thought they overdid it a little bit. It
was like, way too much Philip Rivers. They had like
a camera on him in the sideline. I'm like, I
don't need to see his double chin. Sorry, guys, it's
a great story, but look, can we just stopped force
(02:41):
feeding me this Philip Rivers is like some savior to
the league. It was a fun story. Last week, We're done. Okay,
they overdid it. As such, the game was not that
interesting now the Niners offense was cooking. But back to fantasy.
So in the Fox League, I had McCaffrey and the
opponent had Jennings. Jennings did well, McCaffrey did better. I
(03:04):
win in advance to the finals in another league where
I was awesome this year. It might have been my
best team of all time. But like I said, I
screwed up. I put Stafford on the bench because of
the rain and wind and no Davante in Seattle, and
I started stroud, who shit the bed. I should have
known that was gonna happen, and that cost me nineteen points,
but Christian McCaffrey and Jennings brought me back and I
(03:25):
only lost by five. I was down like fifty seven
or something like that. So that was fun, but that
ended up kind of crappy. I won that last year.
It's actually low four figures, so that's the only reason
I care about it. If it was like, you know,
two hundred dollars, it's not that big of a deal.
And then in my son's league, he needed twenty nine
from McCaffrey, he gets twenty nine point six wins by
(03:46):
point two four unjust unbelievable stuff. It was just thrilling.
Christian McCaffrey is awesome. By the way. Listen, if you
didn't have Fantasy, you know, and you didn't like the
Niners bet, which was felt like a layup, guys. I mean,
if you watch this game, twenty eight first downs for
San Franz, seven of eleven on third down, four hundred
(04:07):
and forty yards, six point seven yards per play, zero punts,
six trips to the red zone. I mean, if rock
Perty doesn't sell that one high off the hands of
born Late, he basically has a perfect game. Party had
five touchdown passes. I guess he's the first quarterback in
forty nine Ers history to do that on Monday Night football,
(04:28):
first to throw five since Joe Montana. I mean, the
forty nine Ers offense looked incredible. And here's the kicker. No,
Ricky Piersall, he had a knee issue. I mean he's
always hurt. Obviously, you know, Brandon Aiyuki's done for the season.
But George Kittle utterly dominant until he hurt his ankle.
Now this he had seven for one point fifteen, Yes,
seven catches for one hundred and fifteen yards for George Kittle,
(04:50):
and that was in three quarters because he hurt his
ankle late and the third did not return for the fourth.
They're on a short week, huge game against the Bears
that they need to win to hold that hope for
the number one seed. Juwan Jen good. Obviously, McCaffrey's the threat.
Burn's good, DeMarcus Robinson is good. They've got weapons on weapons.
Jake Tongus, I thought, actually before the late McCaffrey touchdown.
I thought Tongas scored, they didn't replay assist. I don't know.
(05:13):
I sleep at the wheel. I don't know. Bottom line is,
forty nine ers offense was a machine. Now you could say,
well the Colts okay, I mean sure Colts defense was
plucky last week. They haven't They obviously no Sauce Gardner.
Who else were they? No Tarviia's Ward, who's concussed? But
(05:36):
they went to Seattle last week and bottled up. Sam
Darnold Company held them to sixteen points. So they played
the Texans a few weeks ago held them to twenty points.
So like, I don't want to hear this, like Colts
are total garbage now I don't think they're good, but
you've just got to be consistent. Like bottom line is,
they got absolutely shredded by brock Party up and down
(06:00):
the field. It was a clinic indoors. I'm just telling you, guys,
I've been saying for a couple of weeks. I like
this Niners team a lot. Now where they go in
the playoffs matters a ton. I'm just telling you. If
they get that, buy Super Bowl is one thousand percent
in play. And by the way, the Super Bowl is
in San Francisco this year, but the bye is huge
(06:21):
because they have so many guys injured. I don't think
any of the season long guys can come back. But
this team has so many bumps and bruises that this
San Francisco team, Man, if they get that number one seed,
look the bleepout. This is really a loaded offense. I
don't know what the defense is going to be able
to do in the playoffs. This game against Chicago next
(06:43):
Sunday Sunday Night football in San Francisco will be big.
Obviously they'll need Kittle. If there's no Kiddle, that's a
tough one. Bears are not bad. The problem is the
San fran defense is just it's not up to stuff.
Like I don't think we can trust them. They did
a decent job bottling up Jonathan Taylor sixteen carries forty
six yards, but that's mostly because Philip Rivers can't throw
(07:05):
the ball down the field. You know, you can just
load up at the line of scrimmage if they get
a dunday back. And obviously DJ Moore is a threat.
Like you know, Bears are a different animal. I just
don't know if the Bears will be able to stop
the Niners. I mean, this offense is so good, and
you know, Christian McCaffrey healthy. I mean, Brian Robinson's got
some juice keeped out in the Niners guys, this didn't
(07:28):
really do much for their standing in the in the
NFC currently. Oh no, actually yeah I did. I'm sorry.
They have moved to fifth in the NFC, ahead of
the Rams because they win the tiebreaker based on best
women percentage in division games. Now, the Rams have one
(07:50):
more division game left, so do the Niners. But the
Niners is against Seattle that will be for first place
in the conference. Now, if the Bears beat the Niners,
the Niners cannot win the division, and then do the
Niners sit guys in the season finale. I don't know
what happens in that Seattle game, but bottom line, I
(08:13):
guess if the Niners lose next week to the Bears,
then beat Seattle, Chicago could steal the one. It's too
many permutations to get excited about at this stage, but
essentially there's not a lot of drama in the NFC.
The Packers for now or seven, we'll see. They're not
talking about the Jordan Love concussion, whether or not he'll
be back. I don't know that he will. Here's the
scary thing. Malik Will has hurt his shoulder. I think
(08:35):
on that fumble. It's unclear. It may have been a
little earlier than that. If he can't go, we're looking
at Clayton Tune. Are you freaking kidding me? I don't
want to watch Clayton Tune play football, do you? It
just sucks. But then it's the Lions on the outside.
They are I guess they have faint playoff hopes alive,
(08:56):
but I believe. Yeah, they got swept by the Packers,
so they need the Packers to lose two and them
to win two. Let me see who the Packers closed with.
Bottom line, I think the Lions are done. I think
it's over. Oh wait, Packers have Ravens Vikings and the
Vikings have quarterback issues. Now, I will say for best bets,
I don't have many, guys. There's like so many quarterback
(09:19):
issues around the league with injuries that it's almost impossible.
I do have a couple bets. I'll say at the end,
Lions have at Vikings. Lions are one of my bets
this week. I bet them because JJ McCarthy hand. I
don't know if it's broken, but it doesn't look like
he's gonna go. And I'm sorry, but I'm not I'm
not a believer Max Brosmer, Brozemer or whatever his name is.
And then the Lions travel to Chicago in the regular
(09:42):
season finale, a game that will matter for the Bears
and is outdoors and presumably will be freezing. And we
know that you bet against your golf when the weather
is very cold and they're outdoors and the team is
the opponent's good. So let's just go ahead and say it.
The NFC is settled. We just don't know the order.
If I'll say this, if somehow the Niners steal the five,
(10:03):
oh Nelle Carolina's, They're getting run out of the building.
Although Carolina's offense should be able to do some things
against San fran with the run game, But obviously the
Niners will be favored in that one night traveling costs
cross country. I don't think will matter that much to Sanfrey.
We'll see because the division winner hosts. But I'm sure
(10:25):
if you said San Fraan, would you rather go to Chicago,
Philly or Carolina, the answer obviously is Carolina.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
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listen live.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
All right, now, let's turn to the Colts, because as
a Jets fan, I'm sorry, I'm taking some glee in
the Indianapolis Colts defeat. It's a tough one to swallow
for them, guys, some of these numbers. So they were
seven and one, and then a couple weeks later, Yeah,
they were seven and one, and they had an ninety
eight percent chance to make the playoffs ninety eight. Next
(11:06):
thing you know, they're eight and two. The last team
that was eight and two to miss the playoffs was
thirty years ago, thirty culture eight and two. They're now
eight and seven. A colossal free fall, just an unbelievable
series of events that have just like literally everything has
gone against them. And it sucks because I don't know
(11:27):
what you do with Ballard. I don't know what you
do with stich In. On one hand, hey, guys, they
did a great job. They got us to seven and
one to eight and two. They put us in position
and maybe win the freaking AFC. And then we got unlucky,
but then you could ding them for well, listen, they
thought they were close. Next thing, you know, they make
(11:47):
this trade for Sauce Gardner, which looks terrible because he
gets hurt. And then next thing, you know, after that,
it looks even worse because our quarterback goes down and
now he missed the playoffs and we don't have our
first round draft pick for the next two years. I mean,
if you look at it through the first prism, hey
run this back next year, we're gonna we're in good shape.
The opposite is, well, we're kind of screwed in the draft,
(12:10):
and what do we do with a quarterback? Do we
pay him? How much? How long is he going to
be out next year? This is his third season that
has been ended due to injury in his career, so
he's not quite Glass Joe Burrow. But if we're being
honest with ourselves, Daniel Jones has hurt a lot AKA
the former guy we used to call Vanilla Vick. It's
(12:34):
tough man. It is a tough time to be a
Colts fan. Sat Cardner obviously didn't play last night, showed
in the secondary. I mean, their zone is just laughable
without him. If you go to the draft order to
excuse me. Despite the loss, the Colts still remain eighteenth
(12:54):
in the first round, so the Jets currently would have
the fourth pick and the eighteenth pick. However, if the
Colts endure two more losses and this schedule has them
for versus the Jags at home on a short week,
that Jags offense, Boy, if you watch what the Niners did,
(13:15):
you gotta assume the Jags are gonna do something similar.
And then in Week eighteen Philip rivers against the Houston
Texans defense. That's terrifying. So yeah, I mean, we can
assume they're gonna lose two, so they'll probably finish eight
to nine. I don't know where that'll put them, but
it doesn't seem like. I don't think the Chiefs are
(13:37):
winning too. Dallas could win too, that's another team I
bet this week. And Baltimore probably well, we'll see what's
up with their quarterback. Yeah, that's another problem. Baltimore's at
fourteen quarterback question Mark Lamar Jackson got a total roll shot,
could not go back in the game Sunday night. That
ain't great. Fifteen JJ McCarthy injury. Tampa is trying to
(13:58):
win Detroit's trying to win. Man, what a time to
be alive. So that's five straight losses for the Indianapolis
Colts and you kind of gotta feel sad for them.
Congratulations are in order, got to do this. Congrats are
in order to teams that were in last place last year,
so a calendar year ago. These teams were in last place,
(14:20):
but they made the playoffs this year. Chicago Bears, dub Bears,
San Francisco forty nine Ers, and the New England Patriots.
Can you believe that last place to first? Now, that
is impressive. So kudos to those teams also in the playoffs,
(14:42):
the Jags, new coach in the playoffs, Chargers back in
the playoffs. And it's interesting. I was looking at some
of the numbers. I didn't realize just how good Herbert
was statistically against the Cowboys. Holy hell, I mean, I'm
seeing some love for Herbert in the MVP discussion, and
all of a sudden, they're starting to look dangerous. It's
(15:03):
interesting he lost both of his tackles. He might win
the MVP. Patrick Mahomes lost both of his tackles. He's
missing the playoffs. What are we doing here, guys? Why
aren't we giving Herbert love? Mahomes loses his tackles in
the Super Bowl and falls apart, gets embarrassed. Mahomes loses
(15:25):
one of his tackles in the Super Bowl last year
and gets destroyed. Loses his tackles again this year. Nothing.
Herbert is down to Joe Alt and Ray Shawn Slater,
and their backups have been hurd at times, including against Dallas,
and Justin Herbert just still keeps clicking. So I'm not
saying Herbert's better than Mahomes. Although if you asked me
(15:47):
who would you rather have, I mean, I like take Herbert.
I mean he's younger and he's he I mean, I
know Mahomes can move well, but I would say Herbert
moves better. Herbert's taller. You could do the tush push
with him. I don't know, I'm bill bullish on Justin Herbert.
I'm not diminishing Mahomes at all. He's a superstar. He's
(16:10):
one of the all time greats. I never put him
above Brady. That discussion is gonna be shell for a while, guys, Okay,
and I'll wrap up with this before I get to
a couple of best bets. So I I what I
like to do is fire off takes here on the pod,
workshop them, and then bring them to the herd. So
you guys are getting it before the herd, and it's
(16:31):
now that's a little more refined by the time I
get to the herd the next couple hours after the
pod or the next day, whichever it is. So one
that got a little got some people worked up was
when I said that I feel like it's kind of
sort of over for a little while for the Burrow
mahomes lamar era. And people obviously don't like hearing that.
(16:53):
They're like, you're out of your mind. And I said, well,
let me give you some numbers.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup and
then catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot
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Speaker 2 (17:09):
So these are the top eight cap hits for quarterbacks
this year. We know the cap quarterback get paid the
most money, and when you get paid the most money,
it's difficult to build a roster, right. So the biggest
cap hit at quarterback is Dak Prescott no playoffs. The
second biggest cap hit, by the way, Dak was at
fifty mil Stafford forty seven million dollar caphit. He's going
(17:31):
to be in the playoffs. Third, Joe Burrow forty six
million dollars no playoffs. Lamar is fourth, no playoffs. Kyler
Murray's fifth, no playoffs. Gino Smith, Yes, this is a
real thing. Gino Smith's sixth. Biggest cap hit among quarterbacks
no playoffs. Kirk Cousins, that's a real thing. Seventh to
(17:51):
a Tunga baa eighth. So of the top eight quarterback
hits cap hits in twenty twenty five, seven of those
teams will miss the playoffs. It's not an obvious one,
but if you pay your quarterback a lot, it is
really difficult to make the playoffs. So I want I
went and fast forwarded to next season just to take
(18:13):
a look. Now, maybe roster cap. The contracts get adjusted
and the cap hit is tweaked. Number one by not
that much, so the salary cap obviously went up. Dak's
fifty mil this year is super light. Next year's number
one Deshaun Watson eighty million dollars. Yeah, he's still in
(18:33):
the lead, by the way. Number two Patrick Mahomes seventy
eight million dollar cap hit. I just want to let
that lay that out, like, you know, just leave it
out there. For seventy eight mil, Lamar Jackson, seventy four mil,
Dak seventy four mil, Goff sixty nine, Kirk Cousins fifty six,
(18:55):
two of fifty six. Off the top of my head
right now, I would venture to guess that none of
those quarterbacks make the playoffs next year. And I know
you think I'm crazy, but I'm again. Maybe there will
be restructuring and I'll be able to revisit this and
tweak it based on the most expensive quarterbacks. But it's
(19:20):
a real thing. Guys. When players get hurt, inevitably they do.
This is the NFL. Guys are getting hurt all the time.
The season is long. It's like you got to have backups.
And if you're resorted to going to practice squad guys
and signing guys off the street, it's gonna be tough
to make the playoffs. And if you don't have depth
at the important positions i e. Attacking the quarterback and
(19:43):
protecting the quarterback, I don't I don't think you're gonna
have a great chance. You look at Baltimore. I just
cannot get out of my head that Drake may was
operating from such a clean friggin pocket all night Sunday.
Baltimore cannot attack the quarterback, just nothing. Lamar Jackson fourth
(20:07):
biggest cap hit in the league this year. I don't
know what becomes a Derrick Henry. I mean the receiving group,
you know, the tight ends, Mark Andrews looking old and slow.
I just I don't see a ton from the Ravens.
And it's just surprising to me that people are like, oh, well, Lamar,
add some injuries over, they'll be fine next year. Are
(20:28):
you sure about that? And you look at Mahomes five, folks,
this is way bigger than well, Pat didn't have a
great year. They didn't have any tackles. They also don't
have a running game, and the defense is not very good.
There are a lot of holes on that team, and
you can't fix them when your quarterback is soaking up
a ton of the cap. So we'll see what happens.
(20:48):
This is interesting offseason. I feel like we know way
more than we used to about the league, and you
can kind of project and see what teams may or
may not do. But alsoom you gotta hit your draft picks.
It's so imperative. We've known this all along, but this
idea that like, go look at the Chief's recent draft
(21:08):
hits picks, and it's like wow, I mean, you've got
these finite windows, these four or five year windows to
make it happen. And that's why we'll never ever see
another Patriots. That was just extraordinary that they were able
to do it for twenty years. But all right, so
quick bets that have been made for week seventeen. And listen,
you guys follow me on Instagram obviously, I'm sure I
(21:31):
post on there, and at some point this freaking website
will be live. It is live. My picks have been
up there, picks posted on their eight and five, including
four straight wins, actually five straight wins, yeah, five straight wins.
But they're all picks that I've set on here anyway.
(21:54):
So four, let's see what do we got. We got
Lions minus six against the Vikings, laid it in doors,
simply a bet against Max Brosmer and Detroit not mailing
it in because they still have a chance. Minnesota's pressure
will get to golf. But a divisional matchup this nothing
should surprise Detroit here, and it's a betas simply a
(22:15):
bet against brosmer I listen, Detroit's had some issues. They
were seven point favorites and couldn't do a damn thing
against Pittsburgh at home and then until the very end,
and then Dallas. I laid it minus six and a
half at Washington. Again, looks like Mariota will not go.
It'll be Josh Johnson. Yeah, I'm totally fine fading Josh Johnson.
(22:37):
Dallas clearly offensively is gonna be able to put up points,
and the hope is that they just put up enough
to run away and hide win by a couple scores.
That's all I got for now. I mean it's early
in the week. I could quickly go through the uh
the schedule and just see if anything jumps out. But
(22:58):
so Commanders, yeah, they play on Oh, both those games
are on Christmas Day. Obviously, I'm not laying it with
the Broncos, even if if it's against a ludacon I
saw it one up to thirteen. Are you kidding me?
I don't understand the people laying it with the Chargers
just because the Texans look bad. That game terrifies me.
I need to check the tackle situation, especially left tackle,
(23:22):
because he got injured for the Chargers against the Cowboys.
Houston is not as bad as they were last week.
I don't like this matchup at all. If anything, I
would consider Texans, but you guys don't have a Chargers fan,
so probably a stall away Ravens Packers battle of third
string quarterbacks. No, thank you, Patriots Jets. That's nothing for me.
(23:46):
Two touchdowns on the road. I mean, yeah, the Patriots
probably cruise, but it's a pass Arizona, Sincy. I think
I'm probably gonna be on the Bengals here at home.
That offense looked really freaking good. Cardinals, despite an early
run that was solid against the Falcons, crumbled because everybody's
(24:08):
hurt on their teams. So Bengals might hang another forty. Yeah,
so I think Bengals will probably be a play. Yes,
that's another big favorite. Steelers Browns. The DK metcalf two
games seems excessive. Maybe the lower it nothing there, but
it's only three and a half in Cleveland. Huh, Browns
(24:30):
getting three and a half, I would consider it. I
don't know nothing yet. Passing on Saints Titans. I just
don't like those teams. Jags, Colts six and a half.
That's a big number to be laying on the road.
Colts have to feel deflated after that loss. Jags riding
high are the I mean the Jags are good, but
(24:51):
six and that laying almost a touchdown on the road.
Is that where we are with the Jags? Guys? I
don't know. Buccaneers, Dolphins, Tampa five and a half on
the road, quinn Ewers. I saw nothing from quinn yours
after in the second half, so you get a half
(25:12):
a tape on them, right quinn Ewers had a bunch
of stuff they weren't ready for. You make adjustments to
the half and youwers two picks they had fumbled it.
It was a blowout city. I just I don't like
the Tampa vibes right now. Nothing there Seattle Carolina. Now,
remember a few weeks ago I said teams going west
(25:35):
late in the season. There was some data that points
to not taking them. So if anything here, it would
be Panthers. Got to obviously check the injuries. Seattle extra
time off the huge win over the Rams. But if anything,
catching seven and a half at home, I think I
would lean Panthers. Uh, I think this is this a
(25:56):
revenge game. Didn't Darnold play. Yeah. I think he played
with the Panthers for like seven minutes. Giants Raiders. I'm
close to betting the Raiders there, but I haven't yet
because it's the Raiders and Gino Smith Eagles Bills. I can't.
I'm surprised Buffalo's favorite here. I like the Eagles on
the road Buffalo one and a half. I would take
the Eagles, probably on the money line. Obviously, it's early
(26:16):
in the week. Is is Lane Johnson back for this one?
Or the Eagles having won the division? Do they consider
resting guys if they're down too touchdown? I don't know.
Very interesting set up. They've got the division locked up,
it's over. They're now playing for seating. I don't know
that they can. I guess they could catch if Chicago
(26:37):
loses too. But I think the Eagles are probably my
side there, and then Bears Niners. I have nothing. I think, yeah,
it's probably a pass, and then Rams. I can't bet
on the freaking Rams, although the Rams are heading east.
Monday Night football, Falcons playing inspired football. I guess I
(26:57):
would consider the Falcons, but it's early. Every a great Christmas.
I'll be back on Monday jeez, Monday after Christmas. I
don't even know what freaking day that is. Man, Oh,
it'll be the twenty ninth. And then, of course we
get the big playoff game on the thirty first, and
(27:17):
then three on the first. All right, guys, take it easy,
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up Straight Firefam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight
Fayre for Tuesday, December the twenty third. It is Christmas Week.
Happy holidays to all. This will be the last podcast
of the week. We will be back bright and early
on Monday morning. Yes, I'm gonna not do a podcast
(00:32):
leading into the NBA games on Christmas Day. The NFL
games are bad. There's a couple games on Saturday, I
believe NFL and obviously the big Sundays late. In a
bizarre note, I didn't even realize this, the college football
games don't resume until the thirty first and first. I
don't know if I mentioned that yesterday or not, but
I was like, look at the schedule to bed, I'm like, wait,
what what? But I guess that does line up with
(00:55):
historically all the important bowl games being on January first.
I get that, but like the nearly two week playoff
is kind of lame. You know what's not lame, fantasy thrillers.
Here's the proposal for the NFL. Look at who the
projected top players are in fantasy next year. It'll be
like Jamier gibbs By Jean Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, probably not
(01:17):
say Quon Barkley. You know the dynamic running backs whoever
puts up a lot of points, who are the top
overall guys, and try to get them on Monday night
football or Sunday Night football or both leading into the
one of these final weeks of the season. Because it
made last night's Colts Niners game, which otherwise sucked and
(01:38):
it was not very interesting, it just added such a layer.
I know you guys don't care about fantasy humor me
for ninety seconds, my son and I three leagues combined.
One we got bounced. I got bounced in we each
I loved Christian McCaffrey and a bounce back year. He
was hurt all of last year, but we knew this
right he two years ago he was the best back
in the league, but the usage was too high. I
(02:00):
avoided him last year. It worked. We knew he was
gonna bounce back. McCaffrey was unbelievable this year, and last
night we had McCaffrey on all three teams going. All
of our teams were down, two of them came back
and got the dub because Christian McCaffrey is him. He
is him. He was so freaking unbelievable and I'm going
(02:20):
bonkers in the fourth quarter when he scores the game winner. Otherwise,
like the game was irrelevant. You knew the Colts stunk.
Philip Rivers washed. I mean, guys, it was a fun story.
I just thought they overdid it a little bit. It
was like, way too much Philip Rivers. They had like
a camera on him in the sideline. I'm like, I
don't need to see his double chin. Sorry, guys, it's
a great story, but look, can we just stopped force
(02:41):
feeding me this Philip Rivers is like some savior to
the league. It was a fun story. Last week, We're done. Okay,
they overdid it. As such, the game was not that
interesting now the Niners offense was cooking. But back to fantasy.
So in the Fox League, I had McCaffrey and the
opponent had Jennings. Jennings did well, McCaffrey did better. I
(03:04):
win in advance to the finals in another league where
I was awesome this year. It might have been my
best team of all time. But like I said, I
screwed up. I put Stafford on the bench because of
the rain and wind and no Davante in Seattle, and
I started stroud, who shit the bed. I should have
known that was gonna happen, and that cost me nineteen points,
but Christian McCaffrey and Jennings brought me back and I
(03:25):
only lost by five. I was down like fifty seven
or something like that. So that was fun, but that
ended up kind of crappy. I won that last year.
It's actually low four figures, so that's the only reason
I care about it. If it was like, you know,
two hundred dollars, it's not that big of a deal.
And then in my son's league, he needed twenty nine
from McCaffrey, he gets twenty nine point six wins by
(03:46):
point two four unjust unbelievable stuff. It was just thrilling.
Christian McCaffrey is awesome. By the way. Listen, if you
didn't have Fantasy, you know, and you didn't like the
Niners bet, which was felt like a layup, guys. I mean,
if you watch this game, twenty eight first downs for
San Franz, seven of eleven on third down, four hundred
(04:07):
and forty yards, six point seven yards per play, zero punts,
six trips to the red zone. I mean, if rock
Perty doesn't sell that one high off the hands of
born Late, he basically has a perfect game. Party had
five touchdown passes. I guess he's the first quarterback in
forty nine Ers history to do that on Monday Night football,
(04:28):
first to throw five since Joe Montana. I mean, the
forty nine Ers offense looked incredible. And here's the kicker. No,
Ricky Piersall, he had a knee issue. I mean he's
always hurt. Obviously, you know, Brandon Aiyuki's done for the season.
But George Kittle utterly dominant until he hurt his ankle.
Now this he had seven for one point fifteen, Yes,
seven catches for one hundred and fifteen yards for George Kittle,
(04:50):
and that was in three quarters because he hurt his
ankle late and the third did not return for the fourth.
They're on a short week, huge game against the Bears
that they need to win to hold that hope for
the number one seed. Juwan Jen good. Obviously, McCaffrey's the threat.
Burn's good, DeMarcus Robinson is good. They've got weapons on weapons.
Jake Tongus, I thought, actually before the late McCaffrey touchdown.
I thought Tongas scored, they didn't replay assist. I don't know.
(05:13):
I sleep at the wheel. I don't know. Bottom line is,
forty nine ers offense was a machine. Now you could say,
well the Colts okay, I mean sure Colts defense was
plucky last week. They haven't They obviously no Sauce Gardner.
Who else were they? No Tarviia's Ward, who's concussed? But
(05:36):
they went to Seattle last week and bottled up. Sam
Darnold Company held them to sixteen points. So they played
the Texans a few weeks ago held them to twenty points.
So like, I don't want to hear this, like Colts
are total garbage now I don't think they're good, but
you've just got to be consistent. Like bottom line is,
they got absolutely shredded by brock Party up and down
(06:00):
the field. It was a clinic indoors. I'm just telling you, guys,
I've been saying for a couple of weeks. I like
this Niners team a lot. Now where they go in
the playoffs matters a ton. I'm just telling you. If
they get that, buy Super Bowl is one thousand percent
in play. And by the way, the Super Bowl is
in San Francisco this year, but the bye is huge
(06:21):
because they have so many guys injured. I don't think
any of the season long guys can come back. But
this team has so many bumps and bruises that this
San Francisco team, Man, if they get that number one seed,
look the bleepout. This is really a loaded offense. I
don't know what the defense is going to be able
to do in the playoffs. This game against Chicago next
(06:43):
Sunday Sunday Night football in San Francisco will be big.
Obviously they'll need Kittle. If there's no Kiddle, that's a
tough one. Bears are not bad. The problem is the
San fran defense is just it's not up to stuff.
Like I don't think we can trust them. They did
a decent job bottling up Jonathan Taylor sixteen carries forty
six yards, but that's mostly because Philip Rivers can't throw
(07:05):
the ball down the field. You know, you can just
load up at the line of scrimmage if they get
a dunday back. And obviously DJ Moore is a threat.
Like you know, Bears are a different animal. I just
don't know if the Bears will be able to stop
the Niners. I mean, this offense is so good, and
you know, Christian McCaffrey healthy. I mean, Brian Robinson's got
some juice keeped out in the Niners guys, this didn't
(07:28):
really do much for their standing in the in the
NFC currently. Oh no, actually yeah I did. I'm sorry.
They have moved to fifth in the NFC, ahead of
the Rams because they win the tiebreaker based on best
women percentage in division games. Now, the Rams have one
(07:50):
more division game left, so do the Niners. But the
Niners is against Seattle that will be for first place
in the conference. Now, if the Bears beat the Niners,
the Niners cannot win the division, and then do the
Niners sit guys in the season finale. I don't know
what happens in that Seattle game, but bottom line, I
(08:13):
guess if the Niners lose next week to the Bears,
then beat Seattle, Chicago could steal the one. It's too
many permutations to get excited about at this stage, but
essentially there's not a lot of drama in the NFC.
The Packers for now or seven, we'll see. They're not
talking about the Jordan Love concussion, whether or not he'll
be back. I don't know that he will. Here's the
scary thing. Malik Will has hurt his shoulder. I think
(08:35):
on that fumble. It's unclear. It may have been a
little earlier than that. If he can't go, we're looking
at Clayton Tune. Are you freaking kidding me? I don't
want to watch Clayton Tune play football, do you? It
just sucks. But then it's the Lions on the outside.
They are I guess they have faint playoff hopes alive,
(08:56):
but I believe. Yeah, they got swept by the Packers,
so they need the Packers to lose two and them
to win two. Let me see who the Packers closed with.
Bottom line, I think the Lions are done. I think
it's over. Oh wait, Packers have Ravens Vikings and the
Vikings have quarterback issues. Now, I will say for best bets,
I don't have many, guys. There's like so many quarterback
(09:19):
issues around the league with injuries that it's almost impossible.
I do have a couple bets. I'll say at the end,
Lions have at Vikings. Lions are one of my bets
this week. I bet them because JJ McCarthy hand. I
don't know if it's broken, but it doesn't look like
he's gonna go. And I'm sorry, but I'm not I'm
not a believer Max Brosmer, Brozemer or whatever his name is.
And then the Lions travel to Chicago in the regular
(09:42):
season finale, a game that will matter for the Bears
and is outdoors and presumably will be freezing. And we
know that you bet against your golf when the weather
is very cold and they're outdoors and the team is
the opponent's good. So let's just go ahead and say it.
The NFC is settled. We just don't know the order.
If I'll say this, if somehow the Niners steal the five,
(10:03):
oh Nelle Carolina's, They're getting run out of the building.
Although Carolina's offense should be able to do some things
against San fran with the run game, But obviously the
Niners will be favored in that one night traveling costs
cross country. I don't think will matter that much to Sanfrey.
We'll see because the division winner hosts. But I'm sure
(10:25):
if you said San Fraan, would you rather go to Chicago,
Philly or Carolina, the answer obviously is Carolina.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
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listen live.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
All right, now, let's turn to the Colts, because as
a Jets fan, I'm sorry, I'm taking some glee in
the Indianapolis Colts defeat. It's a tough one to swallow
for them, guys, some of these numbers. So they were
seven and one, and then a couple weeks later, Yeah,
they were seven and one, and they had an ninety
eight percent chance to make the playoffs ninety eight. Next
(11:06):
thing you know, they're eight and two. The last team
that was eight and two to miss the playoffs was
thirty years ago, thirty culture eight and two. They're now
eight and seven. A colossal free fall, just an unbelievable
series of events that have just like literally everything has
gone against them. And it sucks because I don't know
(11:27):
what you do with Ballard. I don't know what you
do with stich In. On one hand, hey, guys, they
did a great job. They got us to seven and
one to eight and two. They put us in position
and maybe win the freaking AFC. And then we got unlucky,
but then you could ding them for well, listen, they
thought they were close. Next thing, you know, they make
(11:47):
this trade for Sauce Gardner, which looks terrible because he
gets hurt. And then next thing, you know, after that,
it looks even worse because our quarterback goes down and
now he missed the playoffs and we don't have our
first round draft pick for the next two years. I mean,
if you look at it through the first prism, hey
run this back next year, we're gonna we're in good shape.
The opposite is, well, we're kind of screwed in the draft,
(12:10):
and what do we do with a quarterback? Do we
pay him? How much? How long is he going to
be out next year? This is his third season that
has been ended due to injury in his career, so
he's not quite Glass Joe Burrow. But if we're being
honest with ourselves, Daniel Jones has hurt a lot AKA
the former guy we used to call Vanilla Vick. It's
(12:34):
tough man. It is a tough time to be a
Colts fan. Sat Cardner obviously didn't play last night, showed
in the secondary. I mean, their zone is just laughable
without him. If you go to the draft order to
excuse me. Despite the loss, the Colts still remain eighteenth
(12:54):
in the first round, so the Jets currently would have
the fourth pick and the eighteenth pick. However, if the
Colts endure two more losses and this schedule has them
for versus the Jags at home on a short week,
that Jags offense, Boy, if you watch what the Niners did,
(13:15):
you gotta assume the Jags are gonna do something similar.
And then in Week eighteen Philip rivers against the Houston
Texans defense. That's terrifying. So yeah, I mean, we can
assume they're gonna lose two, so they'll probably finish eight
to nine. I don't know where that'll put them, but
it doesn't seem like. I don't think the Chiefs are
(13:37):
winning too. Dallas could win too, that's another team I
bet this week. And Baltimore probably well, we'll see what's
up with their quarterback. Yeah, that's another problem. Baltimore's at
fourteen quarterback question Mark Lamar Jackson got a total roll shot,
could not go back in the game Sunday night. That
ain't great. Fifteen JJ McCarthy injury. Tampa is trying to
(13:58):
win Detroit's trying to win. Man, what a time to
be alive. So that's five straight losses for the Indianapolis
Colts and you kind of gotta feel sad for them.
Congratulations are in order, got to do this. Congrats are
in order to teams that were in last place last year,
so a calendar year ago. These teams were in last place,
(14:20):
but they made the playoffs this year. Chicago Bears, dub Bears,
San Francisco forty nine Ers, and the New England Patriots.
Can you believe that last place to first? Now, that
is impressive. So kudos to those teams also in the playoffs,
(14:42):
the Jags, new coach in the playoffs, Chargers back in
the playoffs. And it's interesting. I was looking at some
of the numbers. I didn't realize just how good Herbert
was statistically against the Cowboys. Holy hell, I mean, I'm
seeing some love for Herbert in the MVP discussion, and
all of a sudden, they're starting to look dangerous. It's
(15:03):
interesting he lost both of his tackles. He might win
the MVP. Patrick Mahomes lost both of his tackles. He's
missing the playoffs. What are we doing here, guys? Why
aren't we giving Herbert love? Mahomes loses his tackles in
the Super Bowl and falls apart, gets embarrassed. Mahomes loses
(15:25):
one of his tackles in the Super Bowl last year
and gets destroyed. Loses his tackles again this year. Nothing.
Herbert is down to Joe Alt and Ray Shawn Slater,
and their backups have been hurd at times, including against Dallas,
and Justin Herbert just still keeps clicking. So I'm not
saying Herbert's better than Mahomes. Although if you asked me
(15:47):
who would you rather have, I mean, I like take Herbert.
I mean he's younger and he's he I mean, I
know Mahomes can move well, but I would say Herbert
moves better. Herbert's taller. You could do the tush push
with him. I don't know, I'm bill bullish on Justin Herbert.
I'm not diminishing Mahomes at all. He's a superstar. He's
(16:10):
one of the all time greats. I never put him
above Brady. That discussion is gonna be shell for a while, guys, Okay,
and I'll wrap up with this before I get to
a couple of best bets. So I I what I
like to do is fire off takes here on the pod,
workshop them, and then bring them to the herd. So
you guys are getting it before the herd, and it's
(16:31):
now that's a little more refined by the time I
get to the herd the next couple hours after the
pod or the next day, whichever it is. So one
that got a little got some people worked up was
when I said that I feel like it's kind of
sort of over for a little while for the Burrow
mahomes lamar era. And people obviously don't like hearing that.
(16:53):
They're like, you're out of your mind. And I said, well,
let me give you some numbers.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup and
then catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot
com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to listen live.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
So these are the top eight cap hits for quarterbacks
this year. We know the cap quarterback get paid the
most money, and when you get paid the most money,
it's difficult to build a roster, right. So the biggest
cap hit at quarterback is Dak Prescott no playoffs. The
second biggest cap hit, by the way, Dak was at
fifty mil Stafford forty seven million dollar caphit. He's going
(17:31):
to be in the playoffs. Third, Joe Burrow forty six
million dollars no playoffs. Lamar is fourth, no playoffs. Kyler
Murray's fifth, no playoffs. Gino Smith, Yes, this is a
real thing. Gino Smith's sixth. Biggest cap hit among quarterbacks
no playoffs. Kirk Cousins, that's a real thing. Seventh to
(17:51):
a Tunga baa eighth. So of the top eight quarterback
hits cap hits in twenty twenty five, seven of those
teams will miss the playoffs. It's not an obvious one,
but if you pay your quarterback a lot, it is
really difficult to make the playoffs. So I want I
went and fast forwarded to next season just to take
(18:13):
a look. Now, maybe roster cap. The contracts get adjusted
and the cap hit is tweaked. Number one by not
that much, so the salary cap obviously went up. Dak's
fifty mil this year is super light. Next year's number
one Deshaun Watson eighty million dollars. Yeah, he's still in
(18:33):
the lead, by the way. Number two Patrick Mahomes seventy
eight million dollar cap hit. I just want to let
that lay that out, like, you know, just leave it
out there. For seventy eight mil, Lamar Jackson, seventy four mil,
Dak seventy four mil, Goff sixty nine, Kirk Cousins fifty six,
(18:55):
two of fifty six. Off the top of my head
right now, I would venture to guess that none of
those quarterbacks make the playoffs next year. And I know
you think I'm crazy, but I'm again. Maybe there will
be restructuring and I'll be able to revisit this and
tweak it based on the most expensive quarterbacks. But it's
(19:20):
a real thing. Guys. When players get hurt, inevitably they do.
This is the NFL. Guys are getting hurt all the time.
The season is long. It's like you got to have backups.
And if you're resorted to going to practice squad guys
and signing guys off the street, it's gonna be tough
to make the playoffs. And if you don't have depth
at the important positions i e. Attacking the quarterback and
(19:43):
protecting the quarterback, I don't I don't think you're gonna
have a great chance. You look at Baltimore. I just
cannot get out of my head that Drake may was
operating from such a clean friggin pocket all night Sunday.
Baltimore cannot attack the quarterback, just nothing. Lamar Jackson fourth
(20:07):
biggest cap hit in the league this year. I don't
know what becomes a Derrick Henry. I mean the receiving group,
you know, the tight ends, Mark Andrews looking old and slow.
I just I don't see a ton from the Ravens.
And it's just surprising to me that people are like, oh, well, Lamar,
add some injuries over, they'll be fine next year. Are
(20:28):
you sure about that? And you look at Mahomes five, folks,
this is way bigger than well, Pat didn't have a
great year. They didn't have any tackles. They also don't
have a running game, and the defense is not very good.
There are a lot of holes on that team, and
you can't fix them when your quarterback is soaking up
a ton of the cap. So we'll see what happens.
(20:48):
This is interesting offseason. I feel like we know way
more than we used to about the league, and you
can kind of project and see what teams may or
may not do. But alsoom you gotta hit your draft picks.
It's so imperative. We've known this all along, but this
idea that like, go look at the Chief's recent draft
(21:08):
hits picks, and it's like wow, I mean, you've got
these finite windows, these four or five year windows to
make it happen. And that's why we'll never ever see
another Patriots. That was just extraordinary that they were able
to do it for twenty years. But all right, so
quick bets that have been made for week seventeen. And listen,
you guys follow me on Instagram obviously, I'm sure I
(21:31):
post on there, and at some point this freaking website
will be live. It is live. My picks have been
up there, picks posted on their eight and five, including
four straight wins, actually five straight wins, yeah, five straight wins.
But they're all picks that I've set on here anyway.
(21:54):
So four, let's see what do we got. We got
Lions minus six against the Vikings, laid it in doors,
simply a bet against Max Brosmer and Detroit not mailing
it in because they still have a chance. Minnesota's pressure
will get to golf. But a divisional matchup this nothing
should surprise Detroit here, and it's a betas simply a
(22:15):
bet against brosmer I listen, Detroit's had some issues. They
were seven point favorites and couldn't do a damn thing
against Pittsburgh at home and then until the very end,
and then Dallas. I laid it minus six and a
half at Washington. Again, looks like Mariota will not go.
It'll be Josh Johnson. Yeah, I'm totally fine fading Josh Johnson.
(22:37):
Dallas clearly offensively is gonna be able to put up points,
and the hope is that they just put up enough
to run away and hide win by a couple scores.
That's all I got for now. I mean it's early
in the week. I could quickly go through the uh
the schedule and just see if anything jumps out. But
(22:58):
so Commanders, yeah, they play on Oh, both those games
are on Christmas Day. Obviously, I'm not laying it with
the Broncos, even if if it's against a ludacon I
saw it one up to thirteen. Are you kidding me?
I don't understand the people laying it with the Chargers
just because the Texans look bad. That game terrifies me.
I need to check the tackle situation, especially left tackle,
(23:22):
because he got injured for the Chargers against the Cowboys.
Houston is not as bad as they were last week.
I don't like this matchup at all. If anything, I
would consider Texans, but you guys don't have a Chargers fan,
so probably a stall away Ravens Packers battle of third
string quarterbacks. No, thank you, Patriots Jets. That's nothing for me.
(23:46):
Two touchdowns on the road. I mean, yeah, the Patriots
probably cruise, but it's a pass Arizona, Sincy. I think
I'm probably gonna be on the Bengals here at home.
That offense looked really freaking good. Cardinals, despite an early
run that was solid against the Falcons, crumbled because everybody's
(24:08):
hurt on their teams. So Bengals might hang another forty. Yeah,
so I think Bengals will probably be a play. Yes,
that's another big favorite. Steelers Browns. The DK metcalf two
games seems excessive. Maybe the lower it nothing there, but
it's only three and a half in Cleveland. Huh, Browns
(24:30):
getting three and a half, I would consider it. I
don't know nothing yet. Passing on Saints Titans. I just
don't like those teams. Jags, Colts six and a half.
That's a big number to be laying on the road.
Colts have to feel deflated after that loss. Jags riding
high are the I mean the Jags are good, but
(24:51):
six and that laying almost a touchdown on the road.
Is that where we are with the Jags? Guys? I
don't know. Buccaneers, Dolphins, Tampa five and a half on
the road, quinn Ewers. I saw nothing from quinn yours
after in the second half, so you get a half
(25:12):
a tape on them, right quinn Ewers had a bunch
of stuff they weren't ready for. You make adjustments to
the half and youwers two picks they had fumbled it.
It was a blowout city. I just I don't like
the Tampa vibes right now. Nothing there Seattle Carolina. Now,
remember a few weeks ago I said teams going west
(25:35):
late in the season. There was some data that points
to not taking them. So if anything here, it would
be Panthers. Got to obviously check the injuries. Seattle extra
time off the huge win over the Rams. But if anything,
catching seven and a half at home, I think I
would lean Panthers. Uh, I think this is this a
(25:56):
revenge game. Didn't Darnold play. Yeah. I think he played
with the Panthers for like seven minutes. Giants Raiders. I'm
close to betting the Raiders there, but I haven't yet
because it's the Raiders and Gino Smith Eagles Bills. I can't.
I'm surprised Buffalo's favorite here. I like the Eagles on
the road Buffalo one and a half. I would take
the Eagles, probably on the money line. Obviously, it's early
(26:16):
in the week. Is is Lane Johnson back for this one?
Or the Eagles having won the division? Do they consider
resting guys if they're down too touchdown? I don't know.
Very interesting set up. They've got the division locked up,
it's over. They're now playing for seating. I don't know
that they can. I guess they could catch if Chicago
(26:37):
loses too. But I think the Eagles are probably my
side there, and then Bears Niners. I have nothing. I think, yeah,
it's probably a pass, and then Rams. I can't bet
on the freaking Rams, although the Rams are heading east.
Monday Night football, Falcons playing inspired football. I guess I
(26:57):
would consider the Falcons, but it's early. Every a great Christmas.
I'll be back on Monday jeez, Monday after Christmas. I
don't even know what freaking day that is. Man, Oh,
it'll be the twenty ninth. And then, of course we
get the big playoff game on the thirty first, and
(27:17):
then three on the first. All right, guys, take it easy,
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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