Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(00:23):
gonna be a tasty one live in Los Angeles. It's
the Herd wherever you may be and however you may
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Matt Hasselbeck, he does his about once every five weeks
or so, sits down with us for a good twenty
twenty five minutes. I can't wait for that. He's got
so many thoughts on this. Yesterday and there was only
a handful of NFL games that truly mattered.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
There were a lot of backups, which is.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Another reason I don't like the NFL expanding to eighteen games,
because we already got to the seventeenth game and it
was kind of like you had about two games you
had to watch one of them. Last night Jmac Albert
Breer last hour as well. We're gonna go Jamck and
I are going to go through some of the coaching
openings for all. Still going to go through the games.
We like. You like the Rams hosting the Vikings. I
(01:06):
feel very strongly about the Vikings matchup on their perimeter
against the Rams. Is there a game off the top
that you really like?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
I irrationally like many games this weekend, including a college
football by the way, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday,
all with playoff college football or NFL games.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
How good is that? Colin?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I guess my favorite bet of the week so far
is Rams money line. I think they went out right.
I can't believe the Vikings are favored in this spot.
Did you see Donald when he has to hold the ball?
And I know Hasslebeck will talk about it, but like
when Donald has to hold the ball and think and
come off his reads, he's not great. He was eighteen
of forty one last night. It was not good, and
(01:48):
that was against a shoddy Lions defense. I think the
Rams defense is gonna be better. They slowed Darnald in
the initial meeting. Remember that one out here at so far?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
I like Rams?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
All right, let's do it every Monday at this time,
Colin right, Colin wrong, plenty of both. Here we go
where Colin was right to double right Bo Knicks and
the Broncos. I said the Broncos would double the win
total Vegas thought, and I thought Bo Nicks would be
a home run. He finished the season six in the
NFL and touchdown passes and it's the most among rookies,
second most touchdown passes by a rookie ever, eighteen for
(02:20):
eighteen to start the game against Kansas City. His maturity,
his athletic ability, his experience. I didn't get him kind
of being ignored and considered a second class, second tier
quarterback in the draft. I didn't get it at all.
I watched him at Auburn, I watched him at Oregon.
He went through multitude of coordinators and was good with
all of them. Bo Nicks is a right where Colin
(02:40):
was raw. You know what, Nick Siriani drives me nuts.
But you know in his three years as a coach,
they've won fourteen, eleven and fourteen. You know, these skirmishes
on the sidelines with fans battling his own staff, you know,
it feels like he has to be a chaperone on
a weekly basis. But there is something about his message
and his personality that resonates in the NFL that I
(03:03):
clearly am missing on. I thought his opening press conference
was brutal. I'm still surprised they're this good. I think
it's more of a GM than a coach story. But
I'm wrong on it because the dude keeps winning.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I said last January when girod Mao got the Patriots job,
it feels like adding a new chapter to the same
old book, you know, young quarterback defensive coach. I just
never felt this was the right higher. I thought they
may retain him because they were so embarrassed by it.
But I read a lot of Boston writers and listen
to Boston radio, and you know, situationally, circumstantially, he was
(03:40):
over his head. You know, Bill Junior was his nickname.
You know, his only real influence was Belichick. And I
think once Bill left, you were probably better served to
go on the offensive route. But I also think Mike
Rabel would be a good fit. But I never loved
this higher. Where Colin was raw, well, it's the Atlanta Falcons.
I've never been right. I had him winning the division.
(04:02):
I thought Kirk Cousins was a good signing. He ended
up tied for the NFL leading picks and he only
played fourteen games. I like Raheem Morris over Belichick. They
started six and three, they beat the Buccaneers twice, and
then just regressed quickly and badly. This is an organization
that does a lot right, but it does feel like
and certain organizations are like this that they kind of
(04:23):
shrink in big spots. And that's always sort of been
the reason why I've lost my four to one K
several times betting the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
I'm not sure there's a bigger fan in the world
of Justin Herbert or Jim Harbaugh than myself, and they're
now together. I felt they'd win ten or eleven games.
I didn't know if they'd make the playoffs because of
Mahomes and Reed. But you know, I just watching this
game yesterday. They just figure out ways to win. Harbaugh
and have a bad first half, and then they reset
the chairs and there have a good second half. They've
(04:54):
got a grit and a toughness. It's the first time
ever the Chargers have led the NFL in defense. They've
always been f ness and fun to watch, then aesthetically pleasing,
but you don't trust them. And now they're not nearly
as pleasing to watch, but they're tough and they win games.
So the magic formula was, don't do what you've always been,
go the opposite.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Route, and they have and they're winning, and I'm.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Happy where Colin was right the Pittsburgh Steelers in the
last decade, isn't it the same team with just a
little variation. Once again, we said before the season, it's
all gonna come down to the final seven games.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Go look at the schedule. It did, and they went
two and five.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
They still can't get offense, right, you know, they end
up ten and seven and with no chance to win
the Super Bowl. And that's what the Pittsburgh Steelers have been.
People in Pittsburgh wont a new head coach. I don't
think the Steelers are moving off Mike Tomlin. But I
feel like every Pittsburgh team in the last decade is
a slight variation of the previous year's team.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Where Colin was raw.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I thought Doug Peterson was a good fit in Jacksonville,
I really did, and in Trent Bulky the GM survived,
He's and Peterson got fired. I watched them in Philadelphia
out coach Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl. This was
my number one pick. I liked him, People like him,
players like him. It just never worked. Trevor Lawrence has regressed.
(06:14):
I don't know where they go. Do you need more
of a tough leader than Doug Peterson? Do you need
a Brian Flores, somebody that's a culture changer, not just
an offensive guy who people like. But the Jacksonville situation,
I don't think I've ever been right on it. Coach
GM players, nothing works that I predict where Colin was
right when Tyreek Hill got traded from Kansas City to
(06:36):
the Dolphins. I said, they'll be fine without him. The
league is not built around small, fast football players. He's
very good. But why would you leave Patrick Mahomes as
a wide receiver? Why would you leave Andy Reid as
a wide receiver? There are just moves I didn't get, Like, yeah,
Chase the bag, the guy wants out of Miami. Now,
(06:56):
there's got to be more than just money. I mean,
if you like the coach and you like the quarterback,
it's not like you can't afford a nice home in
Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Like, I never understood this move.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
It was fun, and I get people that want to
go live in Miami with no state tax and a
clever offensive coach. But I never thought this was going
to change the league. I never thought it was going
to change the Chiefs. They would figure out with Mahomes
and Reed and Spags and Kelsey and Chris Jones to win.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Regardless where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
My number one college football prediction before the season was
Oregon is going to beat Ohio State at Opson and
then Ohio State will come back to beat Oregon, and man,
they did the next time they play in the playoff,
so that was my top prediction. They led thirty one
to nothing in the first half against Oregon. I also
said after they lost to Michigan, don't be shocked if
(07:45):
they don't end up playing like a Texas for the
National Championship. And I still believe that college football, more
than ever, feels like the NFL, where you're gonna have
a stinker of a game in December and you're okay,
we don't eliminate you. And I think that is a
good thing. I think college football has grown up and
graduated to more professional football, meaning you get a mulligan,
(08:06):
you can stumble your toe. It shouldn't be about you
lose late in the season. You're done. The Chiefs lose
late in the season. Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl.
He lost twice in January, in December, and he won
a super Bowl. It shouldn't be about the calendar. It
should be about an entire book, several chapters and who's
good now and at Ohio State.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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The top ten NFL teams according to College number.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Ten Tampa Bay. I put him in over Washington. They
play him this weekend. I'll tell you there's one stat
that I love about this team. They have the best
third down offense in the NFL. That the only team
on third down that converts over fifty of the time.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
That is a big stat for me.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
You're moving the chains, you're often keeping it away from
Jaden Daniels. This is eighteen. That situationally is very very good.
It's why I like Tampa to beat Washington I put
Tampa Bay at ten, number nine.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The Packers.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
You know what, I liked them all year, but now
Jordan Loves banged up, Christian Watson is out. Listen, seven
straight games for Jordan Love without a giveaway. That is
the longest streak of his career. So would it shock
me if they went to Philadelphia and Jalen Hurts didn't
play and they upset them. No, I said early in
the year, and I believe this. They're a year away,
(09:41):
but I'm gonna have them right now. There's so many
things I like about the organization, but boy, Philadelphia is
an opener, is a it's a big lift.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I'll take Green Bay at nine, number eight the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I don't think they have enough weaponry to get to
a super Bowl. But listen, they lose to the right teams.
Five of those six losses came to the Chief Leaves twice.
You Ravens, Tampa Bay blew them out. So I think
they're the best version.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Of what they can be right now. And they've got
a lot of things.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
I like a star quarterback, two excellent offensive tackles, Khalil Mack,
Derwin James in.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
The back end.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
But I feel They're a running back, a tight end,
a wide receiver, shy to beata Kansas City or a
Baltimore or a Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
I have the Chargers at eight, number seven.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
I'm gonna put the Rams one slot ahead of them
because right now they are so healthy, and when they
have Cooper Cup and Stafford and Kyron Williams and Puka Nakua,
they are fourteen and five and most of their losses
are close. Matt Stafford's playing well. I don't love their
first half offense this year. It feels like Stafford is
(10:46):
an old pitcher that needs to get to the fifth
inning to warm up. They just feel like they're not
quite capable of getting off to good starts. Now, their
defense keeps them in games and they usually win them.
I don't think you can be a bad first half
offense and win multiple playoff games. So whatever that is,
they got to solve it. I have the Rams at seven,
(11:06):
number six, the Vikings at six. The Rams Vikings is
a great game.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
They were zero to four in red zone trips and
Sam Donald had too much juice and too much adrenaline
and missed open throws. But the only two teams they've
lost to this year. The Lions a couple of times
in the Rams, So like we're talking about a very
good football team. Sam Donald did not have a good
game in a big spot. I didn't think it was
a winnable game. I thought it was the biggest football
(11:33):
game in Detroit. With a better roster in fifteen years
all took the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
At six number five.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
We have to be on Speaking of history, you know,
the Ravens are the first team in league history with
four thousand passing yards and three thousand rushing yards in
the season. That cannot be overlooked. This is just not
another team in the NFL. They are a passing powerhouse
and a running powerhouse, and they lead the NFL in
yards per carry. So if you're gonna be Kansas City,
(11:59):
that is the to do it. I'm not saying they're
going to but the way to do it is you
get four and a half yards of carry and Patrick
Mahomes is thrown on third and two and second and four.
That's the way to beat Kansas City. So I think
they're uniquely built. They're a better version of what they've
been in previous years. They're even better on the ground
than previous years. Number four the Eagles Jalen Hurts concussion protocol.
(12:24):
Maybe I think their roster would be number one. I
am a little worried about the Jalen Hurts situation. Listen,
if Hurts and aj Brown play, they're eleven to zero
and they have the.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Best roster in the league.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
So I've always said the final four teams in my
Blazing five, I believe of the Super Bowl teams, those
are teams that can win a Super Bowl. My final
four teams. You know, if I did this tomorrow and
Jalen Hurts was out of protocol, I'd probably have them
at three, but I'll.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Put them at four.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Number three Detroit Now they're getting healthier on defense, and
this should be noted, this is how good of a
coach coordinator Aaron glenn is. I don't think they have
great defensive firstonnel, I think they have great offensive personnel.
They've allowed the lowest passer rating of any team in
the NFL this year, and that's with Hutchison, their top
pass rusher, out for most of the year and massive
(13:10):
injuries in the back seven. This is a really, really
well coached team and also another team that matches up
with like a Kansas City, two running backs, great on
line like Baltimore can play some keep away Detroit at three.
Number two Buffalo feels like the best version of Buffalo.
They're no longer reckless, fewest turnovers in a single season
(13:33):
in NFL history, tied for the second fewest turnovers eight
So they don't beat themselves like previous seasons. They don't
give the ball away, they don't lie sacks. So I
think this is the best version of Baltimore and Buffalo
this year. Is it good enough to beat Kansas City?
If I was a betting person, I would say no.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
So let's go to number one, and we all know
who it is Number one. Listen.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
They're seven to two against current playoff teams this season,
seven straight games without a turnover. I think they're receiving
corps is more dynamic today than it's been the previous
two years.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Their defense maybe not quite as good.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
The AFC playoffs are gonna be one for the ages
because you know, I look at this team and I
see a little snazzier version of offense. Navey, You're worthy
now is a better tool than previous years. I think
they now have a second tight end. I don't think
their offensive tackle situation is ideal, but it's good enough.
But I think Baltimore and Buffalo are the best versions
(14:28):
of Baltimore in Buffalo in years, and I do think
a little bit. They'd rather face a bow Nicks potentially
than a Joe Burrow. That's the advantage for the Chiefs,
although I would have taken them to beat Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
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Speaker 5 (14:48):
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Speaker 2 (15:01):
Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.
Speaker 5 (15:03):
We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on
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Speaker 2 (15:19):
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Speaker 1 (15:45):
Well, he is eligible for the Hall of Fame in
twenty twenty six, and it just turned twenty twenty five,
so he won't have much much of a wait. Thirteen
time pro Boulder, one of the top ten quarterbacks I've
ever seen, Drew Brees joining us live. So I think
we both like Bonicks and Sean Payton. I think we
both thought this's gonna work. If you've got to land somewhere,
(16:06):
if you're b nix, this is it. So here they
are going into a playoff, King, So I want you
to go back to your first year with Sean. So
Sean's intense I can't even imagine what playoff Sean is like,
is it different his playoff week with Sean Drew and
you had a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Is he a little different? You know?
Speaker 6 (16:28):
I wouldn't say that he's different, but he's definitely gonna
have something up his sleeve, you know. And I would say, look,
he's still relatively new in his tenure there obviously, you know,
only a second year in Denver. But really I would
say this year based on new quarterback and kind of
like the first year in the system where everybody's really
(16:50):
kind of you know, starting to embrace it now and
moving forward.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Like he he's gonna look.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
At this as like there's gonna be something special this
week or something unique this week that he kind of
throws into the preparation that that makes the guys feel
like this is a little something different.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Yeah. And the fact that, look, you're going on the
road and playing you know, arguably one of the favorites,
you know, and and and a guy in Josh Allen
in an environment like.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
The you know, Bill's Mafia, where like he's gonna build
that up a little bit, like playing in that atmosphere
in that stadium with the weather conditions, you know, like
all that stuff he's gonna have. He's gonna be talking
about you know, yeah it's on turf, but it's slick,
you know, make sure you got the right cleats, and
you know, uh, he's gonna he's gonna have something about like, man,
(17:41):
we're gonna like be throwing snowballs, you know, into the
stands at the fan like he's gonna build it up
to where it's, yes, it's it's it's different, but man,
it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Right, there's gonna be the keys to victory. There's gonna be.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
The lot, you know, locked in and focused, but at
the same time, like there's to be something different in
fun about this week.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
So Jaden Daniels on the road, first playoff game. And
I think I've talked to you through the years. Playoffs
are different. Peyton told me this. I think you've told
me this.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
They're different.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
There's like preseason speed, regular season speed, division rival speed,
playoff speed. So Jade and Daniels first playoff game on
the road, Vina Via, you tell me, take me to
your first playoff game. Just the nerves you dealt with,
the anxiety, the prep.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Yeah, you know it's I would equate it to like
similar to when you watch the Super Bowl, Like it
always feels in the beginning of the Super Bowl like
everybody's on eggshelves. Yeah, like the game is just slower.
Everyone's trying to feel it out, you know, and then
all of a sudden, second quarter, third quarter, it feels like,
all of a sudden, now there's this explosion. Everyone starts
(18:52):
playing a little bit more loose, a bit more confident.
Obviously the more experienced teams, you know, maybe it doesn't
affect them as much. Like it's easy to sit here
and say, hey, these young quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Man, it's the playoffs and everybody's gonna build it up,
and you know, more pressure in this and that.
Speaker 6 (19:09):
In some cases, young guys step in these things and
it's like they don't know any better, right, Like this
is the game that they've played their whole life.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
And like a guy like Jayden Daniels.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
To me, comes across as somebody, especially just watching the
way that he's progressed and especially played down the stretch,
like this dude plays loose. This guy looks like he's
having fun, like he's just playing ball in the backyard.
I don't think he really knows any better. And and
he's he's just having fun and it looks like the
(19:39):
team is feeding.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Off of that as well.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
And look, I've always loved dan Quinn and and dan
Quinn has a tremendous track record, and these guys, man,
he has them prepared and playing hard, playing loose, like
playing confident.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
So like I see a commander's team of any team
that is gonna just coming to this thing like, hey man,
we got nothing to lose, Like, let's turn it loose, right,
Like we're a wild card, man, Nobody expects us to
do anything. We've flown under the radar the whole season.
You know. Yeah, we got this young quarterback that now
all of a sudden starting to get some notoriety. But
it's like, man, this does unfhaze us. This is not
(20:17):
too big for us.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Yeah. So Buffalo, Baltimore and Philadelphia are considered pretty heavy
favorites and at uh they're at home. Go back to
your career. You're a home favorite in the playoffs and
a couple of times a big favorite. Is there sort
of a weird pressure knowing we got the probably got
the better coach, you're a real great player, we're at home.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
We should win this game.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
But in the back of your head, are you thinking, Okay,
it's the playoffs, crazy stuff happens. What is it like
to be a big playoff favorite, because there's usually about
one a weekend in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Yeah, I'll be honest.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
I never paid attention or was aware of the line
in a playoff game except for one time, and that
was when we played in the Super Bowl against the Colts.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
To start that week, we were a seven and a
half point dog, and I remember Sean Payton made the
point early in the week of preparation, like you're a
seven and a half point dog. But very few times
do I go into a game or a scenario where
I truly feel like, like with that line, we are
the better team.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
Watch how this line changes from Monday to Sunday. Watch
how this line changed from Monday to game day. And
sure enough, like every day he would put it up there,
and we dropped the six and a half, we dropped
the five and a half, we dropped the four and
a half. I don't even know what it was by
the time game rolled around, but bottom line, it was.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
The world feels like you are.
Speaker 6 (21:50):
The better bet right, like they are betting on you.
And so this line is beginning to change, right, So
it was supposed it was meant to be a for us, yeah,
as a team, But like that was the only time
I ever paid attention to it. Otherwise, man, Like I
was locked in focused on my job, Like I don't
care who we're playing. It's a faceless opponent. Like I'm
(22:11):
studying the opponent. We're gonna go kick their butt. I'm
trying to score forty points. I'm trying to complete every pass.
I'm trying to score on every drive.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
I'm trying. Like it didn't matter, you know, the intent
was still the same, regardless of what the libs.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Sometimes I will watch sporting events and all get nervous
for a player.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
I know the player.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
I liked the player. Sam Darnold's one of those. If
he'd have played great against Detroit, I wouldn't feel this way.
And I didn't think it was a very winnable game,
biggest game in Detroit in fifty years. I'm like, this
is a tough game for Minnesota. So he goes there,
he didn't play well. Now I'm thinking, okay, Sam, you're
going to a playoff game. It's your first playoff game.
I'm really hoping he plays well. You didn't have many
(22:57):
bad games, but was there ever a moment for you
Drew that you didn't love your performance one week and
the next week was a playoff game or a big game,
how do you forget it? And again, you didn't have
many of those, But how do you forget a performance
you're not happy with six seven days earlier?
Speaker 6 (23:17):
I'll be honest, those were typically the games where I
played my best was coming off of maybe a one
or two game stretch where I just felt like I
hadn't played my best or you know, there was a
lot more to be had, you know, out of the
out of the game, you know. So just the way
(23:39):
that I then approached that next week of preparation, I
would really lock in on the process, you know, because
if you focus on the process, the result will take
care of itself.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
So it became just this laser focus on like each day,
my routine, my habits, getting my work done, and knowing
that that will equate to a great performance on Sunday,
regardless of what happened the weeks before. Like just focusing
on the process and knowing the result will take care
of itself. And so like call it a little bit,
(24:15):
just like a heightened level of urgency and a focus,
not pressure, just urgency and maybe getting back to just some.
Speaker 6 (24:24):
Of the basics, you know. So like, look, I think
this is a pivotal game for Sam Donald. He's played
a phenomenal regular season, phenomenal especially all that he's you know,
gone through to get to this point and then the
opportunity that he had this season to making the most
of it. But you know, you're remembered for what you
(24:44):
do in the playoffs, and it's all all that regular
season did was get you to this moment so that
you would have this opportunity. Look, I was actually went
to the game. I took my sons to the to
the Detroit game. We were sitting literally front row. I watched,
I watched every step. They had tons of opportunities. Yes,
you were down inside the ten yard life four times.
They could have been up fourteen, seventeen points at halftime. Yep,
(25:07):
they were terrible.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
In the red zone. There are a lot of things
I saw I would have done differently.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
But uh, but you take that performance and you you
turn that into one of two things. Either you let
that you know, drag you down moving forward, or that
has created a height level of urgency and focus and
intensity to attention to the process this week so that
you go out and play lights out.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Finally, I want to circle back to Sean Payton, because
you have you. When I think of Sean, I think
of you. When I think of you, I think of Sean,
And like reading Mahomes or Brady and Belichick, it's just
legendary legacy stuff.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Not all coaches age well. Sean is aged well. He
is blunt. He put it out there.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
There's just something when I sat when he was here
at Fox. I'd go to dinner with him and he's
so intense And if I had to guess why he's aged, well,
he just loves it so much that that light has
never dimmed. But why do you think that he remains
so good all these years after he started?
Speaker 4 (26:14):
Yeah, So a couple of things.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
Number One, And there's so much of a product of
your mentors and who you've had a chance to be around.
And uh, you know Sean would test to this, but
just from being around him and looking at his influences
like Bill Parcells, John Gruden, like there there was so
much of an influence from those guys in the way
(26:36):
that Sean would teach, coach, communicate, and it was like
the best of like the best of those guys, you know,
Sean took and kind of made his own, you know.
So I feel like there's there's always that that he's
taken the best of what people have poured into him
and now he's carrying that on to become his coaching style.
Speaker 4 (26:58):
Look, he's an offensive guy, right.
Speaker 6 (27:00):
He loves he loves being ahead of the curve. He
loves like he's a grinder. The dude's a grinder man.
He puts in a ton of time late nights, like
just trying to find those little like edges or advantages
that he can put in the game plan. They're going
to make the difference. And so many times I can't
(27:21):
tell you, Like we'd be getting a Saturday and it
was like, ah, you know, he'd say, I went back
and watched this and I just came up with this
idea and we would massage it a little bit and
it would go in the game plan and sure enough
it would be one of the game changing plays in
the game.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
Right, it happened so many times. He's an outstanding communicator,
Like just his ability to order the chaos, order the chaos,
like block out the noise, like get the team zeroed
in on the keys to victory each every.
Speaker 6 (27:53):
Week despite all of the distractions and all the other
stuff that people want to talk about. Like, man, fellas,
if we do this, like we put ourselves in the
best best position to.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Win this game. Right.
Speaker 6 (28:03):
He had a great way of bringing levity and humor
to tense situations or as a way to motivate guys, right,
Like I'll never forget we had a we had a
safety one time who was was a ball hawk machine
and he would always make he would.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Always make the comment to him.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
Hey, you know, defense, when so and so gets this interception,
we're gonna have to block everybody to get him in
the ind zone to get him a pick six. Right,
So make sure that when you like we get this interception,
you got to go find a block because otherwise there's
no way this guy's going to make his way. Of course,
Like so it was it was like a subtle jab,
but then sure enough, like it just you know, created
(28:45):
a little extra motivation for the defense of this so
like little stuff like that where he would find ways
to just kind of like you know, dig in here
a little bit and everybody's laughing and everybody's having a
good time, and you kind of walk away and you're like,
was he just making fun of me? Yeah, but at
the end of the day, like that would create a
little bit of an edge and a chip on your shoulder, Like, man,
he got something to prove, Like I was always feeling
like I had something to prove to Sean.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Payton, and maybe it was just proving him right because
he believed in me and when a lot of people didn't.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
Yeah, but he's that's why he's aged weel because he
can identify with players.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
Man, he makes it fun.
Speaker 6 (29:18):
When it's time to work, it's time to work, when
it's time to play, then we're gonna have a good time.
And he's taking the best of those who have poured
into him and now he's just carrying on that legacy.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
You've been so good today. I'd be remiss if I
didn't ask you this. I want you to listen to Lamo.
I love Lamar Jackson. He cares so damn much. He
gets so mad when he struggles. I love guys like that.
I want to play at Lamar Jackson bite And I
have a question out of it. Let's play this real
quick about why he struggled in the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (29:48):
Yeah, I just be too excited, that's all you know too,
as he like, I'm seeing things before I having like, oh,
I got to calm myself down. But just man, more experience.
I've found a way about binush it out.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Okay, And he says that I get all juiced up.
I never think of you because you were such an
accuracy machine. I don't ever remember I remember anxious Brady.
I definitely remember anxious Manning. I never remember it. Yeah, yeah,
Drew looks a little frenetic.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Don't remember it. Did you ever get nervous?
Speaker 4 (30:23):
Did? I'll give you. I'll give you one example. So
super Bowl, right, you know you're going in, says I, Man,
just any other game. It's just like any other game.
Speaker 6 (30:29):
And I think, first play we hand the ball off
for like five yard game. Next play we throw a
short pass. It's like third and four and we're gonna
we're gonna run. We call it just like you know,
all go. We're just gonna run by the corner on
third and four, thinking he might be sitting at the
sticks and we're gonna get a big play. Robert Meacham
runs by the corner and he's got like three or
four yard of space on him, and I launched the
(30:54):
ball over his head. I mean launch it over his
head ten yards and go to the sideline.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
And I'm just sitting there going due, calm down, like
my heart was raising.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
You know. It's the Super Bowl. It's the first drive
we had all go called, and I just washed it
over this guy's head and he's wide open, you know.
And then that's when I was like, game, man, it's
just like any other game. Okay, right, just just play
the game. Just focus on your job. But like that,
that would be you know.
Speaker 4 (31:20):
Look, I get it, you know, I get it like
you get in some of these moments and it's easy
to get amped up, you know, and anxious and feel like, man,
I got to go make a play, right, I got
to go. No, just execute, man, just execute the offense right,
and all those opportunities will come. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Now I want to go look up that piece of video.
Now that you've told it to me, I'm like, oh,
I don't remember Drew missing by ten yards over a receiver.
What a pleasure, What a pleasure to have you. But
I appreciate you coming on again. Great stories today.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
You two calling one more heard. The Herd streams twenty
four hours a day, seven days a week within the
iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand
whenever you like. Let's blaze it up, Fired Up. It's
Collins Blazing five sponsored by Draft Kacks, Steelers and Ravens. Listen.
(32:07):
I'm gonna take the nine and a half.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
These are thirty eight times Tomlin and Harbad met the
Underdog's done very well in this series, three and one
all time against Baltimore in the playoffs and the Ravens
they're two and six over the last eight playoff games.
And I love Lamar Jackson. He's not the same. He's
been under two hundred yards passing. They don't have Day Flowers,
they don't have another receiver. They have a good tight end,
Lamar and a back. I mean as a starter against
(32:34):
the Steelers in the playoffs, he has struggled. And let's
be honest, the Ravens pass defense isn't great. You can
move the ball, chop it up offensively. I think the
Ravens win at nine and a half. As Mike Tomlin's
the best underdog coach in a decade twenty seven twenty
three Baltimore wins. I'm gonna take the nine and a half.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Points Broncos and Bill.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Listen a lot of the wise guys. Yeah, they're gonna
like Denver. I'm gonna take Buffalo eight to no at
home during the regular season and winning by an NFL
best seventeen point Josh Allen playoff career twenty six touchdowns,
four interceptions. What's not to like? He's not Lamar Jackson.
He may not be hosting trophies. He's not Lamar Jackson.
(33:22):
James Cook led the NFL eighteen scrimmage touchdowns great at home.
Broncos number seven Seeds are one and seven all time
in the wild card round since playoff expansion. They didn't
play particularly well down the stretch. They lost two or
three games, the only win over the Chiefs, and the
Chiefs were resting starters. Josh Allen at home, big spot
(33:45):
rookie quarterbacks in the first round go eight and thirteen.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
I like the Bills. I like him to cover thirty
to twenty Packers at Eagles. This is my favorite bet
of the weekend.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
I like Philadelphia to win at home in Philadelphia to
cover minus four and a half. They've won twelve of
their last thirteen games, and they're only giving up about
fifteen points a game. Number two rushing offense the highest
rush percentage in the league. So Jalen Hurts concussion protocol,
they should be able to keep it on the ground.
Jalen Hurts, by the way, he gets a fresh Taquon Barkley. Okay,
(34:24):
so I well rested Sakuon Barkley and the Packers. They
were not good against good teams zero to five this
year against the Vikings, Lions, and Eagles, two and five
against playoff teams this year. Green Bay's a bit of
a front runner, a bit of a bully. I don't
like him in this spot. They also were second in
the NFL and drops, so they're a young team that
can make mistakes. I like Philadelphia. Jalen Hurts since Week
(34:48):
four has been great thirty three to twenty.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Four Commanders and Buccaneers.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
I think Tampa is the better team here. I'm gonna
take a favorite minus three at home, veteran quarterback with
a real run game and a better defensive front. Do
you know Tampa's the first NFL offense in league history
with a seventy plus percent completion percentage through the air
and five plus yards per carry. This is a daunting
run attack. So Baker is going to be throwing on
(35:17):
second and five and third and two. And Baker right
now leaves the NFL with fifteen touchdown passes over the
last four games. So Baker's hot. The run game is substantial.
And listen, we like the Commanders. They are down in
the fourth quarter. It feels like even in the games
they win. I mean, the most famous win this year
was a Hail Mary. They've trailed in the fourth in
(35:39):
three straight games. They don't have a run game. They're
gonna be totally Jaden Daniels dependent, and he may pull
it out. But they had the second easiest NFL schedule
this year. This is a tough draw. I like Tampa
to win and Tampa to cover thirty three to twenty four.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Vikings said, Rams, it's hard.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
The more I thought I listened to Greg Cosel yesterday,
I'm gonna take the Rams plus two and a half. Listen,
they won five straight games before resting their starters in
Week eighteen, and they're six and one. When they score
over twenty one points, and I think they will. Matt
Stafford has been a very good playoff quarterback in LA
sixty nine point nine percent completion percentage with a lot
(36:23):
of touchdowns and only three picks. Their defense is on fire,
it's young, it's totally healthy. Sam Darnold's making his playoff debut.
It's a road game. I'm just worried. I'm gonna take,
by the way, the highest passing yard per game playoff
in NFL history for quarterbacks, Matt Stafford is number one
(36:45):
over Kurt Warner and Dan Fouts. I'm gonna take the
Rams to win a close one, twenty seven to twenty four.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
So there you have it.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
By the way, DraftKings this week's new customers Bet five, getbucks,
get two hundred and bonus bets. The promo code has heard.
I'm taking some favorites here. I'm taking Buffalo, I'm taking Philadelphia,
I'm taking Tampa as favorites, and I'll take the Steelers
and the Rams getting points. I think Jmax likes most
(37:20):
of them except the Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Yeah, I know, I think I'm in lockstep with you
through all along the board. I just I don't, I mean,
I guess the zay Flowers injury he's.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Been ruled out. To me, it steels substece. He'll be
limited without it.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
No, I mean it's Mark Andrews in a backfield like
they don't have. Their next number two receiver has fifteen catches.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Yeah, in the NFL. This isn't Penn State. It's the NFL.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
I don't Without Jay Flowers, they're not going to be
explosive down the field at all. And I think that
makes the game a thirty to thirty game. In between
the thirties probably a good bet.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Fight you