January 4, 2020 • 20 mins
Colin doesn't do an official Blazing 5 for wild card weekend but he does go over all four games and which way he's leaning with RJ Bell of Fox Sports Radio and Pregame.com and RJ tells him which side the sharps in Vegas are on.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you love to be remembered as the person who
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order today, visit one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in.
That's one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in. Mama,
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(00:45):
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know the big stuff, like making sure your kids are
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felt left out, and for people who moved to this country,
(01:06):
that feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.
Learn how it Belonging begins with us dot Org, brought
to you by the AD Council. All Right, I told
you this week because the way the Blazing five works,
I get all the games to choose just five games.
(01:27):
But when it comes to the playoffs, my slate is
only four games, and there's only one that I would
bet This week. R J Bell pregame dot Com at
r J and Vegas of course doing the radio show
straight out of Vegas, Fox Sports Radio six to seven Eastern.
So r J, the game I like to bet would
be Bills plus three at Texans. Why coaching edge Bills?
(01:49):
I think coaching matters more in the playoffs. Defensive edge bills,
I think that matters more in the playoffs. And what
the Texans do the deep ball. The Bills defend well,
so I like Buffalo straight out getting points. I think
they upset the Texans in Houston. How do the wise
guys see it? This is the game I'm most conflicted on.
(02:09):
So first off, let's acknowledge if you get three, if
you can, because there's two and a halfs in there's threes,
I think your pick is much better. Three is such
a key number. Now that said, let me ask you
a question because I believe that maybe Bill O'Brien's getting
a bum wrap here if I told you and you
know this, Houston has won their division four out of
(02:32):
five years. How many teams do you think in the
entire NFL have done that this century? Meaning at any
point from two thousand on they had a five year
period that they won four out of five division titles
or more. In theory, there's only been nine of them,
so eight teams plus the Texans have done with the
Texans have done in the last five years, Like, why
(02:54):
don't we give him credit? And it's not all Watson
because the first couple of years are those five years
Houston had bad quarterbacks. Yeah, I don't think O'Brien's a
bad quarterback. I think they don't have a general manager.
I think they've made some uh disputable trades. But you
love that tons of trade, well I do, but they
(03:15):
made another trade beyond that, so they don't have a
lot of top picks. I don't think they're a well
run organization. I think Deshawn's remarkable and Bill smart, but
I think they have struggled in big games and playoff
games where I think coaching in details matter. I think
they're low on details, high on talent, and I think
(03:37):
those things have limitations and a ceiling in the postseason.
And I always find that interesting when a team guts
its way to get into the playoffs and then they
get b There's two ways to look at it. One is, oh,
when the big games happen, and I think that's a
valid way sometimes and other times it's like, Wow, it's
amazing they even got there. Now you mentioned Watson, I
(03:58):
think what is an un der considered factor in the
playoffs is how running quarterbacks have even a bigger edge.
So what was the big lament with Lamar this year? Oh,
he's very effective, but can he maintain it? Can he
keep doing it? Which means effectively can he avoid getting injured? Well?
In the playoff games, running quarterbacks typically are more willing
(04:20):
to run because the leverage of the situation, meaning the
stakes are high enough, they are willing to take more
of a risk. So think about historically, Russell Wilson has
done better in the playoffs. Even Aaron Rodgers, who in
his younger days could run very effectively, did better in
the playoffs. Oftentimes with that ability to run. I think
(04:42):
that's another advantage for Houston I just look at their
stats and I think, to myself, you know something, maybe
I got caught up in Watson in his flash, because really, Houston,
if you look at these stats, they are not that
good they've been. If you look at the point differential,
you look at their yard is yeah, I think Houston
(05:02):
was outgained exactly. So I mean, like, if you get
outgained on the years, saying you're an average team at best.
So to me, let me say this, because once a
year it's worth doing this. At three, I'm gonna agree
with you. At two and a half, I don't, So
the listeners should be shopping, all right. So the next
game that I think, if I was going to about
(05:22):
it again, if this was on the regular season slate,
this number is not tasty enough because I think the
Patriots win at home. But the Titans are leading the
NFL and yards per play over the last four to
five weeks, they're getting five. I think they've got the
quarterback that can move Tannehill and do pocket stuff. They
have the receivers they can get cheap touchdowns over the top,
(05:42):
and I think frankly, New England has to play a
certain way get a block punt trick play works, so
I would take the points. Somebody told me years ago
it's never try to take points, but take the other team,
like you pick a team. And I don't know if
that's right or not, but this is the rare. I'm
gonna take the Titan plus five. But I do think
New England wins. What side of the sharp song? I
(06:04):
disagree they're sharp side to me. And again there's not
always a clear sharp side, right everyone thinks about Imagine
there's all the wise guys, you know, and they pull
up in this secret place in the basement meetings somewhere
down on Freemont Street. They're smoking cigars and they're deciding
to sharp. So now sometimes they disagree. And to me here,
(06:26):
I think you're gonna get some sharps that like Tennessee
and they're thinking is gonna be Yeah, the season long,
New England's better. But if you look at since Tannehill
came on, and it is amazing the contrast Tennessee scoring
about fourteen points more per game. Yeah, I mean, Mariota
(06:46):
was a non verbal kid at a verbal position, got
hurt a lot, and frankly, he may have never been
better than the middle of year two, and tanne Hill's
got you know, here's the other thing. Tanne Hill's got
a lot of starts. Are He's been in this league
a long time, and he's faced the Patriots a lot,
though I'll tell you well, he hasn't done so well
(07:08):
against the past, though the Dolphins have in general back then.
By the way, Tannehill's performance seems to not shine too
nicely for Adam Gaze, does it? No, it doesn't. I
don't know if you're expunging the archives yet of all
those Adam Gaze tags. But let's just say that Tannehill
is looking mighty good. That said, Belichick being familiar with
(07:29):
them is not a good thing necessarily. But what what
did the Patch struggle with? Usually teams that can run
and pass, and they can do both. Yeah, that's Derrick Henry.
So let's agree to this. If Tannehill is a seventy
percentile quarterback and you know, better than two thirds of
the league, they probably win this game. But here's what
I know. The Pats last twenty two games at home.
(07:52):
They've lost two now, So if what you're predicting is
that you know the Patch is gonna win by one
to three or four, It's very possible. Not a great prediction. Now,
someone might be screaming at the radio, screaming at their
podcast player, but r J, they've lost to the Pads
of three at home. Yeah, and they've lost two of
twenty two. So the question is is the truth two
(08:14):
of the last three or is the truth of the
Patriots two of the last twenty two. I'm always tiebreaker
going with ballotcheck, so I'm gonna disagree with you. This
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the AD Council. I would probably probably go Saints minus
seven and a half, although I think the number is right.
I think this. I think the Vikings defense is excellent.
(10:03):
I think this game will be lower scoring than people
think because I think both defenses are excellent. Um, I
think Delvin Cook plays they could take the ball for
periods of time away from Drew Brees. So I like
New Orleans at home. But I think it's a fairly
low you know, twenty is how I see it. So
(10:24):
I think the numbers correct, But what would the wise
guys say? This would be, in my opinion, the strongest
player of the week on Minnesota here. I just believe
that perception has drifted this game into a place that's unreasonable.
I mean, how often our team's favored by over a
touchdown in the playoffs? Not much? And my question is
(10:45):
this in the first round, or let's say, even the
first two rounds, because sometimes you'll get a team that's
a that's a real powerhouse, and they will be favored
by eight over a really good team. So maybe the
way to think about it is unless the team they're
playing is the best team in the NFL. And obviously
the Saints aren't there, not even a by team. When
(11:09):
are they favored by this many against the Minnesota team that,
quite frankly, at different points during this season, some very
sharp guys I know thought Minnesota might have been the
third best team in the NFL. Yeah, so maybe they're not,
but they're not that much worse than we thought. So
I guess what I'm saying is what justifies this line
(11:29):
in your mind? Because you're saying you think the line
is about It's about Kirk Cousins. That's what the line is. Uh,
Saints defense is better than advertised. They've got quite a
pass rush. We don't trust Kirk in big spots. The
line is a Cousin's line because it feels like a
four point spread. Cousins makes it seven and a half. Now,
that is fascinating because I think you're right that if
(11:51):
this were a blind resume and all we saw was
the stats, because remember, Cousins is the one who got
him the stats, it's the same thing about Jason at all.
The Cowboys would only be so much better without Jason Garrett.
Well we'll see. But if you look at their stats,
you'd say, well, aren't those the status Jason Garrett got you?
And oh, by the way, those are the stature saying
(12:11):
proves Dallas is a good team. Well, isn't that the
same thing with Minnesota If you look at the stats,
Kirk Cousins gave that or help them get those stats? Right? So,
I think the question is this, if you believe Cousins
is as bad as the Monday night football stats, as
bad as he seems to be in the big games,
you can't beat Minnesota. What I believe and what we
(12:32):
innovated really first to say it on straight out of Vegas,
was that this is more about start times for him.
When he starts at one o'clock, there's something about his
routine or he's comfortable with it, and when he starts otherwise,
he's not. At one o'clock Eastern. In his career, Cousins
covers sixty seven percent of his games two out of three.
That's amazing at other times any other time, but one
(12:55):
o'clock Cousins covers a third thirty three percent of his games.
Now you and say the big games are often other times, Yeah,
but there's a lot of other games that aren't so
big those other times, and he struggles also. So I
don't know if this, though, becomes a self fulfilling prophecy,
whereas he keeps hearing about how bad he is in
these big games and he starts to doubt himself. But
(13:16):
all that said, I think that with that start time
where it is, Cousins, if he gets off a little hot,
who knows. I actually like Minnesota in the money line
here a little bit too. And for lastly, for those
in game batters and a lot of people bet in
game now, I think that don't expect Minnesota to necessarily
(13:37):
come back if they're down big, So maybe watch for
a while. And if Minnesota keeps it tight, I think
it gives Cousins some confidence. But if Saints get up
fourteen nothing, oftentimes you might think, oh, Minnesota will come back.
I'm not sure if Cousins has that ability. Adoption of
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(14:21):
the ACT Council. Finally, Saw Eagles is a really two
banged up teams, very limited over the top. I love
both quarterbacks and coaches. I've gone back and forth. I've
come to the conclusion for the seventh time in the
last two days. I'm gonna take Philadelphia here. I think
their defensive line shuts down the Seattle running game. There
(14:44):
is something about momentum and belief and playing at home
and resilience. Seattle's coming off a brutally tough game. Um,
I think Philly's getting a little healthier. I would probably
go anybody that got points in this game, all take
m Philadelphia plus two feels like the right side. What
would the wise guys say? Agreement here for sure? Um,
(15:07):
Seattle is the team that's been the poster child of
overrated for us. This year, we took a lot of heat.
I mean even when they were the number one seed,
and you know, let's be candid, is Seattle is banged up.
So it's not like this version of the team is
as good as they ever were. In fact, there was
a couple of weeks in the mid late part of
(15:29):
the season that maybe I was thinking I was wrong
about Seattle, that they were better because when Clowney came over,
the d started playing better with him. They got the
safety from Minnesota or I'm sorry from Detroit. And then
there was a sense of that this team had a
you know, uh an identity as you like to say.
But boy, the running backs banged up, other people banged up.
(15:51):
But you know something about Philadelphia, as much heat as
they've taken, they've outscored their opponents this year by thirty
one points, which is better than Seattle. Seattle's actually less
than that. And then if you look at their yard
is per game, Philadelphia's out gaining their opponents by almost
thirty yards per game. So for all the sense said,
(16:13):
oh that NFC East team was going to be so bad,
the Eagles aren't that bad. How many teams that bad
go into Buffalo and do what they did? Remember that
game and Green Bay? Those are two of the better
road wins of the year that anyone team has. The
only downside has banged up as Philly has been. They're
(16:35):
probably more banged up now than they've been throughout the year.
So to me, this is an injury game and both
sides are banged up also. Though lastly, and let me
ask you last question for me, Colin, is what do
you think of wins in this spot? Because it's easy
to say the Eagles are about as clutch as any
team has been. I'm a fan first playoff start, I know,
(16:57):
but I felt I felt the last two weeks for
playoff games. I really felt the Dallas game felt like
a playoff game. That last week felt like a playoff game.
So I you know, I never you know, I a think.
I think there are thought San Francisco Baltimore this year
felt like a playoff game. Uh, you know, Kansas City
at New England this year, I thought it felt like
a playoff game. Um, you'll see that occasionally in the NBA,
(17:19):
where you know, Clippers, Lakers, You're like there there. This
has a psychological meaning beyond your average regular season games.
So I think Wentz played into playoff games that kind
of intensity, do or die, sudden death. And I don't
think he'll be phased. Yeah and all, I think that's
a valid point. And also his his teammates have done it,
so wow, there's a sense of come on, buddy, here
(17:42):
we go. Whereas if it's your first start in your
teammates inexperience too, it's it's much more difficult if you
believe in wins. You've gotta love the Eagles here. R J.
Bell pregame dot Com at r J in Vegas, Straight
out of Vegas on Fox Sports Radio six to seven.
I am told, should I give a little hint on
(18:04):
a app for pregame dot com? You know something. Let's
just say this is uh as a guy who, in
my opinion, your combination of understanding Vegas and people always say,
you know these days calling I think you know, a
lot of Vegas experts are popping up. I don't know
where they were before, but now they're experts. And you're
(18:24):
a guy that doesn't claim to be an expert, but
you were in Vegas for how long? Working seven years,
and you talked to a lot of sharp guys. I
wasn't even you know, I wasn't even around. So to me,
you know, I've been here twenty two years, so to me,
your insight is always valuable. And you've been so kind
to take a look at some of the stuff we've done.
(18:45):
Let's just say this, within a couple of months, we
got a big surprise out there there we go. I
like mystery. I like it. So congrats on your business.
We'll talk again next week because I want to really
break down the playoffs and the national Champion ship game
next week, so we will have a great weekend. We'll
see it then. Thank you When others treat your fries
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(19:48):
You're not gonna get it all right. Just make sure
you know the big stuff, like making sure your kids
are buckled correctly in the right seat for their agent's eyes.
Get it right. Visits n h s A dot gov
as the right Seat brought to you by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the ad Council. Look for
your children's eyes, and you will discover the true magic
(20:10):
of a forest. Find a forest near you and start
exploring it. Discover the forest dot org, brought to you
by the United States Forest Service and the ad Council
If you love to be remembered as the person who
gives the best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you
that one eight hundred flowers dot com is your ultimate
birthday gifting destination. One eight hundred flowers has thoughtful and
artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver the best
birthday surprise. Shop thousands of unique gifts at one hundred
flowers dot com for exclusive offers and great values. To
(00:24):
order today, visit one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in.
That's one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in. Mama,
what does the chicken sayt draffe? Really? Giraffe? Giraffe? You're
(00:45):
not gonna get it all right. Just make sure you
know the big stuff, like making sure your kids are
buckled correctly in the right seat for their agent's eyes.
Get it right. Visits n h s A dot gov
slash the right Seat brought to you by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administeration. In the AD Council, we've all
felt left out, and for people who moved to this country,
(01:06):
that feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.
Learn how it Belonging begins with us dot Org, brought
to you by the AD Council. All Right, I told
you this week because the way the Blazing five works,
I get all the games to choose just five games.
(01:27):
But when it comes to the playoffs, my slate is
only four games, and there's only one that I would
bet This week. R J Bell pregame dot Com at
r J and Vegas of course doing the radio show
straight out of Vegas, Fox Sports Radio six to seven Eastern.
So r J, the game I like to bet would
be Bills plus three at Texans. Why coaching edge Bills?
(01:49):
I think coaching matters more in the playoffs. Defensive edge bills,
I think that matters more in the playoffs. And what
the Texans do the deep ball. The Bills defend well,
so I like Buffalo straight out getting points. I think
they upset the Texans in Houston. How do the wise
guys see it? This is the game I'm most conflicted on.
(02:09):
So first off, let's acknowledge if you get three, if
you can, because there's two and a halfs in there's threes,
I think your pick is much better. Three is such
a key number. Now that said, let me ask you
a question because I believe that maybe Bill O'Brien's getting
a bum wrap here if I told you and you
know this, Houston has won their division four out of
(02:32):
five years. How many teams do you think in the
entire NFL have done that this century? Meaning at any
point from two thousand on they had a five year
period that they won four out of five division titles
or more. In theory, there's only been nine of them,
so eight teams plus the Texans have done with the
Texans have done in the last five years, Like, why
(02:54):
don't we give him credit? And it's not all Watson
because the first couple of years are those five years
Houston had bad quarterbacks. Yeah, I don't think O'Brien's a
bad quarterback. I think they don't have a general manager.
I think they've made some uh disputable trades. But you
love that tons of trade, well I do, but they
(03:15):
made another trade beyond that, so they don't have a
lot of top picks. I don't think they're a well
run organization. I think Deshawn's remarkable and Bill smart, but
I think they have struggled in big games and playoff
games where I think coaching in details matter. I think
they're low on details, high on talent, and I think
(03:37):
those things have limitations and a ceiling in the postseason.
And I always find that interesting when a team guts
its way to get into the playoffs and then they
get b There's two ways to look at it. One is, oh,
when the big games happen, and I think that's a
valid way sometimes and other times it's like, Wow, it's
amazing they even got there. Now you mentioned Watson, I
(03:58):
think what is an un der considered factor in the
playoffs is how running quarterbacks have even a bigger edge.
So what was the big lament with Lamar this year? Oh,
he's very effective, but can he maintain it? Can he
keep doing it? Which means effectively can he avoid getting injured? Well?
In the playoff games, running quarterbacks typically are more willing
(04:20):
to run because the leverage of the situation, meaning the
stakes are high enough, they are willing to take more
of a risk. So think about historically, Russell Wilson has
done better in the playoffs. Even Aaron Rodgers, who in
his younger days could run very effectively, did better in
the playoffs. Oftentimes with that ability to run. I think
(04:42):
that's another advantage for Houston I just look at their
stats and I think, to myself, you know something, maybe
I got caught up in Watson in his flash, because really, Houston,
if you look at these stats, they are not that
good they've been. If you look at the point differential,
you look at their yard is yeah, I think Houston
(05:02):
was outgained exactly. So I mean, like, if you get
outgained on the years, saying you're an average team at best.
So to me, let me say this, because once a
year it's worth doing this. At three, I'm gonna agree
with you. At two and a half, I don't, So
the listeners should be shopping, all right. So the next
game that I think, if I was going to about
(05:22):
it again, if this was on the regular season slate,
this number is not tasty enough because I think the
Patriots win at home. But the Titans are leading the
NFL and yards per play over the last four to
five weeks, they're getting five. I think they've got the
quarterback that can move Tannehill and do pocket stuff. They
have the receivers they can get cheap touchdowns over the top,
(05:42):
and I think frankly, New England has to play a
certain way get a block punt trick play works, so
I would take the points. Somebody told me years ago
it's never try to take points, but take the other team,
like you pick a team. And I don't know if
that's right or not, but this is the rare. I'm
gonna take the Titan plus five. But I do think
New England wins. What side of the sharp song? I
(06:04):
disagree they're sharp side to me. And again there's not
always a clear sharp side, right everyone thinks about Imagine
there's all the wise guys, you know, and they pull
up in this secret place in the basement meetings somewhere
down on Freemont Street. They're smoking cigars and they're deciding
to sharp. So now sometimes they disagree. And to me here,
(06:26):
I think you're gonna get some sharps that like Tennessee
and they're thinking is gonna be Yeah, the season long,
New England's better. But if you look at since Tannehill
came on, and it is amazing the contrast Tennessee scoring
about fourteen points more per game. Yeah, I mean, Mariota
(06:46):
was a non verbal kid at a verbal position, got
hurt a lot, and frankly, he may have never been
better than the middle of year two, and tanne Hill's
got you know, here's the other thing. Tanne Hill's got
a lot of starts. Are He's been in this league
a long time, and he's faced the Patriots a lot,
though I'll tell you well, he hasn't done so well
(07:08):
against the past, though the Dolphins have in general back then.
By the way, Tannehill's performance seems to not shine too
nicely for Adam Gaze, does it? No, it doesn't. I
don't know if you're expunging the archives yet of all
those Adam Gaze tags. But let's just say that Tannehill
is looking mighty good. That said, Belichick being familiar with
(07:29):
them is not a good thing necessarily. But what what
did the Patch struggle with? Usually teams that can run
and pass, and they can do both. Yeah, that's Derrick Henry.
So let's agree to this. If Tannehill is a seventy
percentile quarterback and you know, better than two thirds of
the league, they probably win this game. But here's what
I know. The Pats last twenty two games at home.
(07:52):
They've lost two now, So if what you're predicting is
that you know the Patch is gonna win by one
to three or four, It's very possible. Not a great prediction. Now,
someone might be screaming at the radio, screaming at their
podcast player, but r J, they've lost to the Pads
of three at home. Yeah, and they've lost two of
twenty two. So the question is is the truth two
(08:14):
of the last three or is the truth of the
Patriots two of the last twenty two. I'm always tiebreaker
going with ballotcheck, so I'm gonna disagree with you. This
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the AD Council. I would probably probably go Saints minus
seven and a half, although I think the number is right.
I think this. I think the Vikings defense is excellent.
(10:03):
I think this game will be lower scoring than people
think because I think both defenses are excellent. Um, I
think Delvin Cook plays they could take the ball for
periods of time away from Drew Brees. So I like
New Orleans at home. But I think it's a fairly
low you know, twenty is how I see it. So
(10:24):
I think the numbers correct, But what would the wise
guys say? This would be, in my opinion, the strongest
player of the week on Minnesota here. I just believe
that perception has drifted this game into a place that's unreasonable.
I mean, how often our team's favored by over a
touchdown in the playoffs? Not much? And my question is
(10:45):
this in the first round, or let's say, even the
first two rounds, because sometimes you'll get a team that's
a that's a real powerhouse, and they will be favored
by eight over a really good team. So maybe the
way to think about it is unless the team they're
playing is the best team in the NFL. And obviously
the Saints aren't there, not even a by team. When
(11:09):
are they favored by this many against the Minnesota team that,
quite frankly, at different points during this season, some very
sharp guys I know thought Minnesota might have been the
third best team in the NFL. Yeah, so maybe they're not,
but they're not that much worse than we thought. So
I guess what I'm saying is what justifies this line
(11:29):
in your mind? Because you're saying you think the line
is about It's about Kirk Cousins. That's what the line is. Uh,
Saints defense is better than advertised. They've got quite a
pass rush. We don't trust Kirk in big spots. The
line is a Cousin's line because it feels like a
four point spread. Cousins makes it seven and a half. Now,
that is fascinating because I think you're right that if
(11:51):
this were a blind resume and all we saw was
the stats, because remember, Cousins is the one who got
him the stats, it's the same thing about Jason at all.
The Cowboys would only be so much better without Jason Garrett.
Well we'll see. But if you look at their stats,
you'd say, well, aren't those the status Jason Garrett got you?
And oh, by the way, those are the stature saying
(12:11):
proves Dallas is a good team. Well, isn't that the
same thing with Minnesota If you look at the stats,
Kirk Cousins gave that or help them get those stats? Right? So,
I think the question is this, if you believe Cousins
is as bad as the Monday night football stats, as
bad as he seems to be in the big games,
you can't beat Minnesota. What I believe and what we
(12:32):
innovated really first to say it on straight out of Vegas,
was that this is more about start times for him.
When he starts at one o'clock, there's something about his
routine or he's comfortable with it, and when he starts otherwise,
he's not. At one o'clock Eastern. In his career, Cousins
covers sixty seven percent of his games two out of three.
That's amazing at other times any other time, but one
(12:55):
o'clock Cousins covers a third thirty three percent of his games.
Now you and say the big games are often other times, Yeah,
but there's a lot of other games that aren't so
big those other times, and he struggles also. So I
don't know if this, though, becomes a self fulfilling prophecy,
whereas he keeps hearing about how bad he is in
these big games and he starts to doubt himself. But
(13:16):
all that said, I think that with that start time
where it is, Cousins, if he gets off a little hot,
who knows. I actually like Minnesota in the money line
here a little bit too. And for lastly, for those
in game batters and a lot of people bet in
game now, I think that don't expect Minnesota to necessarily
(13:37):
come back if they're down big, So maybe watch for
a while. And if Minnesota keeps it tight, I think
it gives Cousins some confidence. But if Saints get up
fourteen nothing, oftentimes you might think, oh, Minnesota will come back.
I'm not sure if Cousins has that ability. Adoption of
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of Healthy Human Services, Administration for Children and Families and
(14:21):
the ACT Council. Finally, Saw Eagles is a really two
banged up teams, very limited over the top. I love
both quarterbacks and coaches. I've gone back and forth. I've
come to the conclusion for the seventh time in the
last two days. I'm gonna take Philadelphia here. I think
their defensive line shuts down the Seattle running game. There
(14:44):
is something about momentum and belief and playing at home
and resilience. Seattle's coming off a brutally tough game. Um,
I think Philly's getting a little healthier. I would probably
go anybody that got points in this game, all take
m Philadelphia plus two feels like the right side. What
would the wise guys say? Agreement here for sure? Um,
(15:07):
Seattle is the team that's been the poster child of
overrated for us. This year, we took a lot of heat.
I mean even when they were the number one seed,
and you know, let's be candid, is Seattle is banged up.
So it's not like this version of the team is
as good as they ever were. In fact, there was
a couple of weeks in the mid late part of
(15:29):
the season that maybe I was thinking I was wrong
about Seattle, that they were better because when Clowney came over,
the d started playing better with him. They got the
safety from Minnesota or I'm sorry from Detroit. And then
there was a sense of that this team had a
you know, uh an identity as you like to say.
But boy, the running backs banged up, other people banged up.
(15:51):
But you know something about Philadelphia, as much heat as
they've taken, they've outscored their opponents this year by thirty
one points, which is better than Seattle. Seattle's actually less
than that. And then if you look at their yard
is per game, Philadelphia's out gaining their opponents by almost
thirty yards per game. So for all the sense said,
(16:13):
oh that NFC East team was going to be so bad,
the Eagles aren't that bad. How many teams that bad
go into Buffalo and do what they did? Remember that
game and Green Bay? Those are two of the better
road wins of the year that anyone team has. The
only downside has banged up as Philly has been. They're
(16:35):
probably more banged up now than they've been throughout the year.
So to me, this is an injury game and both
sides are banged up also. Though lastly, and let me
ask you last question for me, Colin, is what do
you think of wins in this spot? Because it's easy
to say the Eagles are about as clutch as any
team has been. I'm a fan first playoff start, I know,
(16:57):
but I felt I felt the last two weeks for
playoff games. I really felt the Dallas game felt like
a playoff game. That last week felt like a playoff game.
So I you know, I never you know, I a think.
I think there are thought San Francisco Baltimore this year
felt like a playoff game. Uh, you know, Kansas City
at New England this year, I thought it felt like
a playoff game. Um, you'll see that occasionally in the NBA,
(17:19):
where you know, Clippers, Lakers, You're like there there. This
has a psychological meaning beyond your average regular season games.
So I think Wentz played into playoff games that kind
of intensity, do or die, sudden death. And I don't
think he'll be phased. Yeah and all, I think that's
a valid point. And also his his teammates have done it,
so wow, there's a sense of come on, buddy, here
(17:42):
we go. Whereas if it's your first start in your
teammates inexperience too, it's it's much more difficult if you
believe in wins. You've gotta love the Eagles here. R J.
Bell pregame dot Com at r J in Vegas, Straight
out of Vegas on Fox Sports Radio six to seven.
I am told, should I give a little hint on
(18:04):
a app for pregame dot com? You know something. Let's
just say this is uh as a guy who, in
my opinion, your combination of understanding Vegas and people always say,
you know these days calling I think you know, a
lot of Vegas experts are popping up. I don't know
where they were before, but now they're experts. And you're
(18:24):
a guy that doesn't claim to be an expert, but
you were in Vegas for how long? Working seven years,
and you talked to a lot of sharp guys. I
wasn't even you know, I wasn't even around. So to me,
you know, I've been here twenty two years, so to me,
your insight is always valuable. And you've been so kind
to take a look at some of the stuff we've done.
(18:45):
Let's just say this, within a couple of months, we
got a big surprise out there there we go. I
like mystery. I like it. So congrats on your business.
We'll talk again next week because I want to really
break down the playoffs and the national Champion ship game
next week, so we will have a great weekend. We'll
see it then. Thank you When others treat your fries
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