December 22, 2025 • 33 mins
Rob and Kelvin tell us how much blame Dan Campbell deserves for the Detroit Lions seemingly lost season, and debate whether this 2025 version of the Pittsburgh Steelers led by Aaron Rodgers is any different than the 2024 version led by Russell Wilson. Plus, former Pro Bowl wide receiver and Up on Game co-host TJ Houshmandzadeh swings by to discuss the Detroit Lions lost season, Trevor Lawrence’s emergence this season, what’s gone wrong for Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens this season, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Let's get there, Let's get to your Detroit Lions. And
I'm not gonna sit here and make a big stink
about it. But I told you, you tell me, I
told you, And we have a Jordan's bet. And I
know that they're not officially eliminated.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I know that. Are they gonna make the what I say, Yeah,
I got no choice.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Yeah, No, they're not gonna affect the player. Yeah, you
can on it and I gotta ride it out. And
we've seen crazy things happen. No, we have how I
really my brains.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Oh but okay, I mean anyway, they're not in it
because if you look at that.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Deep did you sort of run defense? Yesterday?
Speaker 1 (01:07):
They gave up two hundred and thirty yards on the
ground to the Steelers who can't run the ball.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
No, TJ. Watt.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I mean just you could go look up and down
and needed calls at the end. Oh, I can't believe
passing the offensive passing appearance or whatever it was it was.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
You know you're saying the last one was the last
one for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Also, and also the Steelers had an offensive passing appearance
as well, they had one earlier in the game, so
they had a touchdown taking off the board.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I'm talking about the last one.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
There's no doubt in my mind. But I'm not surprised
here that the Lions took a step back this season.
And the reason that I said that they would not
make the playoffs has nothing to do with my hate
for Detroit. Hey for the Lions, Hey for Dan Gambles
(01:56):
called NFL analysis. Why I bring up that I've covered
the league since nineteen eighty seven. I really take a
look at this stuff, and you can't lose two coordinators
and have it not affect anything. And that's the part
that was the reason why I said it. And I
even told you that they can win nine or ten
(02:18):
games and not make the playoffs, which they might if
they split the last two, they'll have ten wins and
not make the playoffs. And that is exactly what I
was talking about about that division, about that team, about
Dank Campbell, Dan Gamble again, early in the game, there
was a field goal to be had.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You take that field goal early on. Guess what you're
setting up for a.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Game winning field goal, keep your season alive and well
where you still would even have a chance at the division.
So this comes as no surprise to me at all.
It ain't based on hate. It's it's facts, not feelings.
And I've seen other teams lose both of their coordinators
and take a step back.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I told you the division was better, right, Packers, Bears
way better, and even.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
The Vikings who gave you the death blow, the Minnesota
Vikings right on your home field, that's the game that
killed them.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I'm not surprised.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
I told you the Lions window was closed, and I'm
more confident today that they let the Steelers come into
their building with the season on the line, and they
got roughed over. They got worked over like a burger
and fries on both lines, offensive and defensive line.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Well, I think you've give a little too much to
the Steelers, But I have a whole lot of issues,
specifically I'm gonna start with Dan Campbell and his gambles,
and I've been sitting here on the air, off the
air telling you the same thing. I don't like those
and in the same phrase I keep using it is
as if he didn't know this, and he should because
he played football, he was an assistant coach for years,
(03:59):
and he's obviously been a head coach for years. It's
called situational awareness and the idea that you would just
walk into something going well, this is just what we do,
this is just who we are.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
And that's also called the definition and sanity doing the
same thing over expecting different results.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
And to me, Dan Campbell put his team.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
In multiple situations multiple games this year where they were
in these games and had a chance to win it
to lose. If you go back to what he was
doing against the Packers, going forward on his own side
of the ball for no reason, not putting, not taking
field goals.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Same thing with the Eagles.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
You remember how close both of those games were right there,
You're right there in the game, you got a chance
to win it. And it's specifically this pass one you
just mentioned it steals go down and get a three,
all right? They get a field go no big deal,
You go, march down, you kick a field goal, fourth
and four whatever it was fourth and for the goal
of the fourth what are you doing? You tie it up?
This is called December football, Rob. You have to make
(04:53):
wise decisions to get into the postseason.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
The whole goal is to get in there. And then
you say, well, you know what, we're here.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
You never know and he he's putting himself in his
positions where you know your team is training, you have
a million guys hurt, you know, you're fighting for your life.
They need to lean on you sometimes and you say, guys,
we're taking the three I know, coach with m we're
taking the points because you're disrespecting the game, dispecting the
Steelers in this case, the Eagles another time, and the
(05:19):
Packers another time, and you're disrespecting your team. You work
hard for every yard, especially in December. This is when
teams are locking in, they're getting focused for the postseason
or trying to make a postseason run. So that was
the first thing that I had issues with. Secondly, what
the heck we talked about this before. I don't know
what's going on with their personal training staff, but them
(05:40):
in the forty nine ers, they got some they got
some real issues with guys. Regularly, it's football, everybody's gonna
get hurt. They are regularly having big time guys, small guys,
middling guys get hurt. To the tune of what what's
going on is that how they're practicing. Are they practicing
too hard? You know, pads all the time, not taking
some days off. There's something going on where they always
(06:00):
are out, They're always entered.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
The middle was seven and a half point favorites at
home game even with the injuries. But the Steelers were
missing some some players. But you can't keep leaning on that.
And they should have beaten this. They should have beaten
the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
That you should have went, whether it be the field,
go out there to win one or should be touched out.
Where we will disagree is I do think that was
a touchdown because we see that play all the time
in the NFL. I mean teams, some teams make literal
habits of that play. Both of them play the first one,
the first one. I have to me, that's the one
I have a big issue with. It happens all the time,
like and not to mention if you watch it and
(06:34):
if they show it again. He literally pushed the defender,
pushed the receiver Tesla into the defender.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
You're the only one on this bad wagon. You'll get you.
I be guarantee you. If as Rob g he would
say the same thing.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
I just I just think I'm not even that wasn't
even where I led the show, So I'm not acting
like I didn't say that was the sole.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Reason anybody who watch that you give up to you
give up three explosive plays for five yards of more.
He expects to win that game. In the NFL, it
happens all the time the game. No, it happens all
the time. You go get yours, but they got they.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
You can't let the Steelers who don't.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yards on you.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
You cannot get the ball ran on you like that.
And so that's it. That's a big game that you
cannot afford those and order.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
The Lions had three plays for negative two yards, and
of course the safety there that was they played.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
They played poorly and still had a chance to win it.
And I go back to you kick the field goal,
you were winning by one. You wipe the sweat off
your forehead and you go. We walked away.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
The Super Bowl era, only seven teams have gone from
the number one overall seed to not making the playoffs
the next year.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
The Lions have a chance. They have a big chance
to do that. And I'm highly disappointed.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
The number one seed last year obviously, and it's right
there too. Give me the Lions best win this year.
We have to pull up everything. Have it off the
top of my head because because this is another one
when you take a look at the Lions season and
be honest with yourself, because they haven't beaten anybody. The
one team they beat wasn't the team that they are now.
(08:06):
That's the only game that they've won against the good
like a good team. The Cowboys are a good team.
The on these teams are under five hundred.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
What I'm saying, we can't with my point is you
can't do that like they're good or great at the time,
because you.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Get to see what a team is and it's at
the end of the year.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
What I'm saying, when they two seconds ago, we were
saying that that Jerry Jones got it right, we alle
him an apology.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Then they go off and lose and and but no, that's.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Not that I'm just saying when they do versus five
hundred teams.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Just your final record.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
It's not your record when the season starts and you
will one and oh or two and oh.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
They should have win. The Bucks are bad.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I'm saying that was a good win at the time,
and I'm saying they should have right there with the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
They should have won.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
The Ravens are under five hundred. The Bucks are under
five hundred. The only the only win that they got
over a good team now is the best and they
were bad.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
And they didn't close out against a handful of good
teams they had to chack, for instance, the Steelers, the Rams,
the Packers. I mean, they didn't close out. Absolutely, wouldn't
he right, That's what I'm saying. They didn't close out
against these teams that are good, either good or great
teams that they had a chance to.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
All right, eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Now, they got a hope, they own a hope and wishes.
They got to do their part win the last two
and then hope that you know they faught away.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
That niney you'll get you on the sub I meant, okay,
don't act like we ain't never seen it before.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live. Hi, this is Jay.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
I'm the producer of the paul An Toni Fusco Show.
Usually in these promos they asked you to listen to
the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen
to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who
have the dumbest takes on sports magical. Don't listen to
the show so it can get campls.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
What the he get him, Paulie, that fool.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Listen to the Tony Fosco Show on the iHeartRadio app
or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
He's still moving. It's been a rough year for you.
And when it comes to the NFL, and here's another one.
Speaker 6 (10:17):
Hold on.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
First of all, don't be acting like it's over. I'm
just ain't over yet.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
No, just hear me out, go ahead, because what's over
is your terrible prediction that the Steelers were going to
be just like a year ago. Instead, last year they
stumbled at the end. This year, they've won three in
a row. After that terrible game by Aaron Rodgers, I
always done. I wouldn't want him back. And if you
(10:41):
look at how he's played and listen to the NFL
analysts talking about his play has really picked up in
the last three weeks. Aaron Rodgers had some beautiful balls.
He had some yesterday. Did you see that one thing? Okay,
But here's the point is all year you questioned the Steelers,
You just you yeah, you poo pooed it.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
I wouldn't wait for air Roder. You need a quarter
bag for the future. Bah bah bah bah bah bah
bah bah bah. And here they are.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Not only did they go to Detroit and beat your
Lions that were favored by seven and a half. Okay,
not only did they do that, they now have put
themselves in position to win the division.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yes, they can win the division this year. And guess what.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
You were wrong about Aaron Rodgers, wrong about the Steelers,
and wrong that this is just the same old, same old.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
It is not the same old, same old.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
And I feel as convinced as I ever have been
because I told you that they would win a playoff
game and the way that they've played, there's no reason
why the Steelers can't beat the Chargers or whoever might
come in for that playoff game in January in Pittsburgh
and the Coole I looked at the team. How in
(12:01):
the world did they go to Detroit in a must
win for the Lions and pull that off with great
explosion plays. They rushed the football, they stopped the Lions
two headed monster fifteen yards was terrible.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
They didn't even have TJ. Watt did even play. He's
got to collapse long.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
So my point was you didn't understand why they waited
for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
And this is exhibit A.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Two weeks left in the season and they're poised to
win the division. That's why they waited. They finally have
a quarterback. Not the greatest quarterback playing, but a guy
who knows how.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
To play the position.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That's what they've been missing for the last eight or
nine years after Ben Roethlisberger. Maybe not that, but since
he left, they didn't have anybody who could play quarterback.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
That's why, Mike Tomlin, you want to know the love affair.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
If they get win the division and win a playoff game,
they might get married. I mean, are you kidding? Mike
thom has been dying to win a playoff game. This
is his guy. They have some sentergy, right, they got
a bromance. He looked at that guy and said, that's
a quarterback. I would love to play with that guy.
(13:17):
The Jets they discarded and where the Jets today? They
said it was Aaron Rodgers. Right, Oh, let's get rid
of him. Let's go get Justin Fields. We have a
quarterback for the Where's Justin Fields? He ain't even playing.
Aaron Rodgers forty one years old, and the bottom line
is he knows how to play the position. I'm not surprised.
(13:39):
That's why I bet you on that that they would
win more than nine games. That's why I said that
they would win a playoff game. These aren't all after
the fact. This is what I added and talked about
prior to the season. So I'm not just talking off
the top of my head. I know everybody says.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Oh you net me and stop it. I don't play
that game. Why you can't love Aaron Rodgers though? Why
can't you two things?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Why can't you say that's what I feel the Steelers
gonna do, but also love Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
It's not because that's not what That's not who I am.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Okay, I don't care about that. That's where I get matched,
That's where I get mad. I don't care because if
you if you don't know, stop it. Everybody listening watching,
who knows you, your text group, emails, friends from your
the the ten eleven, friends from back home. Everybody knows
you love Aaron Rodgers, and that's okay.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
You don't love.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Rogers, jes Nobody believes that, not a single person in
this show.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
I've never seen play out of doubts. Look at the spring,
look at the sparkling. He's one of the greatest quarterback.
And I didn't even see you.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
I don't even see you talking about nobody else. You
get a spark. Now, let me get back to what
I'm saying. What I've told you since the whole conversation
about him possibly coming, it's literally manifesting itself. I told
you they were going to be the the exact same
team they were a Russell Wilson. You know what Russell
Wilson was. He was six and five. He had twenty
(15:06):
four hundred yards. He had sixteen touchdown. Remember he only
played eleven He is sixteen touchdowns, five interceptions. Aaron Rodgers
he almost has Russell Wilson will almost have in more
yards with him in only eleven games. Right now, they're
sitting here, what are they nine and seven? No, nine
and six? They got a chance to go nine and eight,
maybe ten or eleven. Will see they have a chance
(15:27):
to look exactly the same last year they were ten
and seven.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
They might be ten and seven, the exact same team.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
And if you look at this to cold play of
the quarterback, it can look the exact same.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
And you talk about the division.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
It took an Andrew Lamar Jackson injured Joe Burrow for
then to have a shot. And I'm not saying that
Aaron Rods I never said he was. To quote me,
I said, Aaron Rodgers is not gonna suck. He can't suck.
He's Aaron Rodgers, one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. I
agree with you on that. My point was simply, they're
gonna look the same be nine and eight, which is
what I thought ten and seven, what you thought they
(16:01):
were ten and seven last year. Russell Wilson wasn't horrible,
just like Aaron Rodgers is playing all right.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
And they're not gonna win.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
And I was saying, what was the point is all
I'm saying, you talk about the Bears. They've got their
guy for the future, right they feel good? No, no, no, no,
no no no. You told you told me Caleb couldn't play. No,
that's not what I said.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
You did. No, no, no, you didn't listen. No, I go
on you to it. I know he has not playing
on you. I said, he has go on you too,
and you and you he has not you.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
He's gonna be We'll talk about this next season, and
we'll talk about gonna be Bears, and we'll talk about
us in that seasons.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Is that go ahead, and.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
We'll talk about that next hour. So my whole point
was they looked the exact same as last year. And
that's all I'm saying. Go find your Jaden Daniels went healthy,
Go find your boat Knicks, go find your Drake made.
Is what all I was saying with the Steelers was
if the issue has been you guys make it to
the you go above five hundred, but that's not a
big deal. They make it to the postseason, they don't
(16:58):
win a game since twenty six, team seventeen, whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
That to me, they look the exact same.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
You're not all the Sames, you're not watching the game.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Teams the last couple of weeks got the same team.
What did they actually lofered?
Speaker 4 (17:13):
What what was their record at the end of the
year last seven I'm talking about, how did they get
to that record?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
They lost their last.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Five, they lost too straight, then they lost three straight,
they lost.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Lost and what if they lose too straight?
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Rob, So all I've said, I don't I feel the same,
tact same. They're possibly going to be nine to eight
or ten and seven, just like with Russell Wilson. So
if they win in the last two games, they're gonna
be nine and seven. So I said they could partent, Well,
have to wake up. They give me an option of
them winning the last two games. You said, you said
they absolutely have the will. Now it's gonna hurt even
(17:49):
harder thanks to lot to DK doing wild stuff. Now
you lose your number one target, your number one receiver.
So my point then months ago, two months ago, two
weeks ago, and two minutes ago is the same.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I look at the going to YouTube and look at
the old clips. Yes, I'm I can sit in argument
with you.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Why they're they're also scene where you were telling me
that he is the m v P of the league.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
What I'm saying is it's not this they're gonna move.
It's the exact same, not the same. They did not
win the division last year, and you'll get the vision.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
It was Lamar Jackson help and you can't tell Lamar
Jackson health and you can't tell me that they don't
have a chance to pick and they have a chance.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Well he did not my point.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I'm saying the reason that there you said that they
were the same, They're the same.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
They didn't win the division and last year they had
no chance to win a play on the hurt we are.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Don't say that if the mast they don't win that
So that's all I said.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
You could see it a minute ago.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
You're making excuses with the Lions because of injuries, and
yes you did.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Ros That's why you brought it up.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
That's why.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
The run down Jovin Washingtons, Dan Campbell for the Detroit
Lions loss you that's what I was training staff.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
I brought it up. Who's the training staff with the Lions?
Because I brought they got it.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
You can scream all you want and stars are they
exact same?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
That you're wrong? Admit that you.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Don't know what you're talking about. When you came to
Aaron Rods, they looked they're not the same, Kim the same.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Are you watching the game?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Yes, I am watching looking at the Russell Wilson and
we were like, oh my gosh, look at this. And
they turned around and lost five or six straight and
they looked the exact same. So I don't understand why
we even argued about it what we're argued about it
because I heard eight different analysts on television.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
You know what they said today?
Speaker 4 (19:48):
They said, yesterday's win by the Steelers might be the
biggest win that we've seen in the NFL all year.
And you're telling me this is the same team as
a year ago, because no, it is not. You just
want the game. That nodis Jenuel Wilson. You know what's
even better than airon Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You left here on Friday with the idea that you
were feeling good that the I'm gonna be because I
picked the Lions.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
What what done? I picked the Lions before the football
even started. I picked the Lions back in the spring.
I picked the Lions the day they lost to Washington
All Kevin. So I'm telling you I've said the same
things are supposed to.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Literally I said the same in the UL.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
You go ahead, like I said, the Pittsburgh Steelers are
supposed to be a blue blood of this NFL. I
ain't won a super Bowl down the hole, no longer
can't win the playoff game. But right, I got it. Okay,
they have been a much better team than the Steelers allowed.
How man the super bowls have they been to? We're
talking about the last few gas Duh, that's an easy one.
(20:51):
Like I was saying, so the Steelers. All I'm saying
is if I was part of that French I will
say I want to get back to is.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
This is the same I want to make the starting back.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
You don't know what you're looking at because it ain't
the same team you Okay, they look just like they
look just like it's they have no shot to win
a playoff game? Is that what you're saying.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
I'm asking. I'm not saying I don't have a shot.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Okay, they're not going to win the division. Patrick Mahomes
out there, Jackson, I don't care about Joe. They're talking
about where they are. So that's what I'm saying. Joe
Burrow not playing I thought.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
I'm saying a full season or even a game or two.
Joe Burrow. You know what I'm saying, he's playing. Joe Burrow.
You start last night? Did he play? You know what
I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
I'm saying when they played game all that other if
he plays, they went wrong. Just that you're wrong. They've
won nine games. Rob they were they might not even
win ten games. Okay, I said they would be the same.
They have nine games. You're acting like. First of all,
you're acting like it's over. They mess around to win
(21:51):
nine games. I can't wait to hear the hr you Elijah,
and I'll wait. They've one time.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
You got the Lions going to the playoffs. Still they
won nine games? What they all? I'm telling you they
been wrong up and down the board.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
You told me about the Chiefs and their wide receivers
and how they were going to the super Bowl again
and they were all backs and Patrick Mahomes is the
m v P. I heard all that you told me
about the Lions and that they were going to get
to the super Bowl and they're going to do this.
I heard all that you were wrong. You told me
about the Steelers. You were wrong about that Williams.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
You were wrong about that? Have we major wrong on
this one? And this is what and this minute you're wrong?
Speaker 4 (22:40):
I literally am not wrong. They're nine wins, Rob, I
predicted they would win nine wins.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Predicted they win the division and have a chance to
win a playoff game.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
First, they have not won the home playoffs and not
won the division. I said a lot of stuff. I said,
have a chance. That's what you keep giving out a
lot of stuff. They haven't won a division, they haven't
won more than nine games, and they look exactly like
last year. I actually am one thousand percent correct right
now and about the Steeler.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
We're joined now by our man, TJ.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Houschmanzata, former Pro Bowl receiver co hosts of Up on
Game of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
TJ. Who's what up?
Speaker 6 (23:25):
Man?
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Hey? What what's happening? TJ?
Speaker 1 (23:29):
I'm showing my ass all day on this radio show
because all week, all season, I tried to tell Kelvin
the Lions they't making the play right over.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I told him that Caleb is a real deal.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
He said he was gonna be getting benched at that
midway point of the season. I told him that the
Steelers or with Aaron Rodgers, that's why they waited on him.
We got all these things to talk about. Let's start
with the Lions. How shocked are you that they went
from the number one seed last year? Potentially, I mean,
mathematically they's still in it, but the chance of them
making the playoffs are very slim.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Where are you?
Speaker 6 (24:06):
It's not shocking to me. When you lose your offensive
coordinator and your defensive coordinator, you there's gonna be some
type of You're gonna take a step back. That's what
I felt. I felt like the Lions would take a
step back, especially when you're really defined by your offense
and being able to just go up and down the field,
(24:29):
super creative with your play calls and you're disguising and
just doing things. Losing Ben Johnson is huge, and I
felt they would take a step back, and they have.
And so for the lines, they're gonna have to figure
out what's next. Will Dan Campbell continue to call plays
or will he brings somebody else in because it's obvious offensively,
(24:51):
they are nowhere near to saying that they were the
last few years with Ben Johnson.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
I think they're gonna bring somebody in.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
I don't think that's Dan Campbell's he's doing, obviously, Bessie Camvin,
I don't think that's his f Let me ask you this,
speaking of Dan Campbell, if you're a player, how do
you handle where Sometimes via the viewing public or people
watching it seems like an obvious you know, take the
three or just oh, no punt. You know your team
is struggling defensively, you take the points. How do you
communicate that to your coach of like, hey, we might
(25:17):
need to take some points here there, and it's ended
up costing them a game or two throughout the season.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
You just feel like, if our defense is very good,
if we know we go for it, our defense gonna
shut them down. I don't mind going for it, But
when you know that team that you're playing is a
really good team and points are going to be at
a premium, then you kick the field goal. You can't
approach every situation the same old all how the flow
(25:43):
of the game. Who are we plan offensively? Are we
gonna have to keep up with them. Is our defense
playing well this game? And so those are games where
it's gonna buy them in a butt. Now we should
have won that game, and they'll be watching the playoffs
like we will be out.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
How about the Caleb Williams just the throws, TJ. You
could appreciate it as a wide receiver you played in
the league. How hard it is to make those throws,
that game winning throw, and the reaction in the stadium
and the team and around the city. I mean, that
is as big of a throw I've seen in that situation.
(26:22):
They can never beat the Packers, right, this is a
chance for them to finally beat the Packers. They come back,
they're down by sixteen to six with two point five
to go, and they win that game in overtime. What'd
you make of the play of Caleb Williams and his development?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
Well, Rob, let me just say this. I was one
of the few people in Caleb's corner. I believe in him.
I thought he would be a very very very good
player in the league. And then obviously, you know, as
Ricky Hear didn't go so well, So everybody starts, you know,
they start the yeah, yeah, he was. He was his
head coach was a coach that's probably gonna be out
(27:00):
the league here soon. So that just tells you how
far from uphill battle he was climbing. I mean, your
head coach is probably gonna get fired from the donas Cowboy.
You get a competent head coach, You get a competite
guy that can call plays. And now look what happens. Oh,
he looks like he can play now, and so when
I'm happy for him too. Yes, that was a great throw. Well, listen,
(27:24):
let's be honest, Rob, that's a hell of a catch.
That's really really good coverage by Keithie.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Yeah, he's right on top of him.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
But the ball has Moore, DJ Moore made a hell
of a play. Taylor threw a great ball, but DJ
Moore that that's a fifty to fifty ball that DJ
Moore made a play on and made it really look
seventy thirty. So great play by both parties. But that's
a that's not a play we see a receiver make
(27:53):
every Sunday.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Well, here we go with Caleb and people, you know
I hear every week Me and Kelvin argue, Oh his
percentage and the throws he left on the field and
all these other things, which are fine. He has six
come from behind victories the most well, you know, since
I think it's Peyton Manning who had who had sixty
(28:16):
second year or something like to be able to come
up with the throws when they matter and make plays
because the NFL is a play You gotta make plays, right,
You tackle them TJ at the first point of contact, right,
is the difference between that and the guy going for
a touchdown or or a first down or whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
And Caleb to me, I don't think you could teach.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Some guys are cool in those situations and other guys aren't.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
And he's done it six times this year. It's pretty incredible.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
A wit Listen, you know, you'll get people to say
it's completion percentage isn't what it needs to be, but
he's winning games. But conversy, right, if he was completing
sixty nine seventy percent of his passes and they were
losing games, what would they say? They he don't win, right,
and so they always gonna find a way for They're
(29:10):
arguing to me, right, Oh, they're winning games, but it's completion.
He's winning games. He's about to take the Chicago Bears
for the playoffs in the division that going into the
year many thought they wouldn't be in a situations and
so this is a tough division that the Vikings took
a step back, but that division is.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
A tough division.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
It's a tough division.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
I think it's gonna be tough for Handfully, Caleb looks
like he's gonna be obviously around. You got Jordan Love,
you got the Lions can have another year or two
if the Vikings get.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
It right, because today McCarthy is the quarterback that Kevin
O'Connell expects him to be. This about to be a
division of like somebody is gonna not make the playoffs
and you literally going to the season saying wow, like
who's not gonna make it? That's how good the division is.
Taleb is a He's been fantastic Ben Johnson. It just
(30:05):
shows you how good of a coach is and a
good eevalue at a talent because he's had opportunities, he
didn't take those opportunities. But when the opportunity to coach
the Chicago Bears came up, he took that opportunity because
he knew he had a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Hey, who's let me go to.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
The guy who kind of came in with the same
kind of praise and it took him a while to
get it going.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
And that is you already know what I'm going track.
Speaker 6 (30:28):
Tron Shine is all.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Of a sudden got this jag team where it's like, oh, shoot,
have we been ignoring them? Which is probably how they
would have preferred it. How real are they this particular
season as we get inch closer into the playoffs, And
when you.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
Look at that Jagg's roster, they got dudes. Man, They
two good pass rushers, They're good at the linebacker spot,
They're good in the secondary. Offensively, Travis Hunter isn't even
playing for What has happened is they made trade for
Jakobe Myers and it gave Trevor Lawrence another weapon, Liam Cohen.
(31:08):
So the Carolina Panthers love Dave Canalis. I mean he
the Tampa Bay Bucks loved Dave Canalis. Carolina Panthers. Liam
comes in, he takes over the play calling. Baker has
a great year just just play callers and having this
his cohesion, his cohesive miss which your quarterback, and just
(31:29):
having somewhat of a partnership. Now we're getting towards the
end of the year. He understands Trevor a little more.
Trevor understands him a little more. I'm guaranteeing they're communicating
so often. Liam Cohen, I don't even know who gets
Coach of the Year him are vable because both of
them went to terrible situations. Both of them are playing
with highly drafted quarterbacks and they both have done a
(31:49):
great job. But the way Trevor Lawrence, you know, the
generational quarterback that I was telling everybody this he was
gonna be this, he was gonna be that because he
trained with us, and you know, Plexico bear through to
remind me every every show I told you your boy,
Trevor Lawrence wasn't gonna be anything. Well, what about Now that.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Sounds funny because I've heard that too. I told Kelvin about.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
This is what boy, I tell you, DJ let me
let you go, So I argue Rob.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Christmas, I know how you feel to you, Jay, because
I have to put up with it every day too.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
Really, I'm really a GM man. I'm really a GM
like man.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I'm gon happen be a GIMS. Yeah that sounds like
they make you.
Speaker 6 (32:33):
They make you start in the basement. Man, they make
you start in the basement. And I just don't feel
like it's warranted. I really don't. I really don't. I
really don't feel like it's warranted. You you know players,
when you see players, you talk to them. You know
right away, you know you're gonna have some bus here
and there. But I just feel like I know every position.
I know a baller when I see one and talk
(32:55):
to one.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
All right, Well, you know, hey, listen, they listened to
this show, so maybe they listen out here. You know what, man,
let's give the who's your shot? Man, we appreciate Merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Hey, We're not gonna do like hey Alex, We're not
gonna do like I had to do to one of
the callers, who.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Yeah, we're gonna wish you a merry Christmas. Listen to this.
We have it, Yeah, we got it. I had to
tell one of I'm not gonna watch you merry Christmas.
Speaker 6 (33:21):
Hey.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
I called him screws Mick Parker over here, over here
telling people he ain't wishing to merry Christmas.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
Hey, Well, merry Christmas, Happy holidays, and y'all man, No doubt,
keep up the great.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Work, show hush Man. Make sure you give a followers always.
Who's eighty four on x
Thanks for listening to the best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Let's get there, Let's get to your Detroit Lions. And
I'm not gonna sit here and make a big stink
about it. But I told you, you tell me, I
told you, And we have a Jordan's bet. And I
know that they're not officially eliminated.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I know that. Are they gonna make the what I say, Yeah,
I got no choice.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Yeah, No, they're not gonna affect the player. Yeah, you
can on it and I gotta ride it out. And
we've seen crazy things happen. No, we have how I
really my brains.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Oh but okay, I mean anyway, they're not in it
because if you look at that.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Deep did you sort of run defense? Yesterday?
Speaker 1 (01:07):
They gave up two hundred and thirty yards on the
ground to the Steelers who can't run the ball.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
No, TJ. Watt.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I mean just you could go look up and down
and needed calls at the end. Oh, I can't believe
passing the offensive passing appearance or whatever it was it was.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
You know you're saying the last one was the last
one for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Also, and also the Steelers had an offensive passing appearance
as well, they had one earlier in the game, so
they had a touchdown taking off the board.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I'm talking about the last one.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
There's no doubt in my mind. But I'm not surprised
here that the Lions took a step back this season.
And the reason that I said that they would not
make the playoffs has nothing to do with my hate
for Detroit. Hey for the Lions, Hey for Dan Gambles
(01:56):
called NFL analysis. Why I bring up that I've covered
the league since nineteen eighty seven. I really take a
look at this stuff, and you can't lose two coordinators
and have it not affect anything. And that's the part
that was the reason why I said it. And I
even told you that they can win nine or ten
(02:18):
games and not make the playoffs, which they might if
they split the last two, they'll have ten wins and
not make the playoffs. And that is exactly what I
was talking about about that division, about that team, about
Dank Campbell, Dan Gamble again, early in the game, there
was a field goal to be had.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You take that field goal early on. Guess what you're
setting up for a.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Game winning field goal, keep your season alive and well
where you still would even have a chance at the division.
So this comes as no surprise to me at all.
It ain't based on hate. It's it's facts, not feelings.
And I've seen other teams lose both of their coordinators
and take a step back.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I told you the division was better, right, Packers, Bears
way better, and even.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
The Vikings who gave you the death blow, the Minnesota
Vikings right on your home field, that's the game that
killed them.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I'm not surprised.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
I told you the Lions window was closed, and I'm
more confident today that they let the Steelers come into
their building with the season on the line, and they
got roughed over. They got worked over like a burger
and fries on both lines, offensive and defensive line.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Well, I think you've give a little too much to
the Steelers, But I have a whole lot of issues,
specifically I'm gonna start with Dan Campbell and his gambles,
and I've been sitting here on the air, off the
air telling you the same thing. I don't like those
and in the same phrase I keep using it is
as if he didn't know this, and he should because
he played football, he was an assistant coach for years,
(03:59):
and he's obviously been a head coach for years. It's
called situational awareness and the idea that you would just
walk into something going well, this is just what we do,
this is just who we are.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
And that's also called the definition and sanity doing the
same thing over expecting different results.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
And to me, Dan Campbell put his team.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
In multiple situations multiple games this year where they were
in these games and had a chance to win it
to lose. If you go back to what he was
doing against the Packers, going forward on his own side
of the ball for no reason, not putting, not taking
field goals.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Same thing with the Eagles.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
You remember how close both of those games were right there,
You're right there in the game, you got a chance
to win it. And it's specifically this pass one you
just mentioned it steals go down and get a three,
all right? They get a field go no big deal,
You go, march down, you kick a field goal, fourth
and four whatever it was fourth and for the goal
of the fourth what are you doing? You tie it up?
This is called December football, Rob. You have to make
(04:53):
wise decisions to get into the postseason.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
The whole goal is to get in there. And then
you say, well, you know what, we're here.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
You never know and he he's putting himself in his
positions where you know your team is training, you have
a million guys hurt, you know, you're fighting for your life.
They need to lean on you sometimes and you say, guys,
we're taking the three I know, coach with m we're
taking the points because you're disrespecting the game, dispecting the
Steelers in this case, the Eagles another time, and the
(05:19):
Packers another time, and you're disrespecting your team. You work
hard for every yard, especially in December. This is when
teams are locking in, they're getting focused for the postseason
or trying to make a postseason run. So that was
the first thing that I had issues with. Secondly, what
the heck we talked about this before. I don't know
what's going on with their personal training staff, but them
(05:40):
in the forty nine ers, they got some they got
some real issues with guys. Regularly, it's football, everybody's gonna
get hurt. They are regularly having big time guys, small guys,
middling guys get hurt. To the tune of what what's
going on is that how they're practicing. Are they practicing
too hard? You know, pads all the time, not taking
some days off. There's something going on where they always
(06:00):
are out, They're always entered.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
The middle was seven and a half point favorites at
home game even with the injuries. But the Steelers were
missing some some players. But you can't keep leaning on that.
And they should have beaten this. They should have beaten
the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
That you should have went, whether it be the field,
go out there to win one or should be touched out.
Where we will disagree is I do think that was
a touchdown because we see that play all the time
in the NFL. I mean teams, some teams make literal
habits of that play. Both of them play the first one,
the first one. I have to me, that's the one
I have a big issue with. It happens all the time,
like and not to mention if you watch it and
(06:34):
if they show it again. He literally pushed the defender,
pushed the receiver Tesla into the defender.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
You're the only one on this bad wagon. You'll get you.
I be guarantee you. If as Rob g he would
say the same thing.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
I just I just think I'm not even that wasn't
even where I led the show, So I'm not acting
like I didn't say that was the sole.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Reason anybody who watch that you give up to you
give up three explosive plays for five yards of more.
He expects to win that game. In the NFL, it
happens all the time the game. No, it happens all
the time. You go get yours, but they got they.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
You can't let the Steelers who don't.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yards on you.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
You cannot get the ball ran on you like that.
And so that's it. That's a big game that you
cannot afford those and order.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
The Lions had three plays for negative two yards, and
of course the safety there that was they played.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
They played poorly and still had a chance to win it.
And I go back to you kick the field goal,
you were winning by one. You wipe the sweat off
your forehead and you go. We walked away.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
The Super Bowl era, only seven teams have gone from
the number one overall seed to not making the playoffs
the next year.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
The Lions have a chance. They have a big chance
to do that. And I'm highly disappointed.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
The number one seed last year obviously, and it's right
there too. Give me the Lions best win this year.
We have to pull up everything. Have it off the
top of my head because because this is another one
when you take a look at the Lions season and
be honest with yourself, because they haven't beaten anybody. The
one team they beat wasn't the team that they are now.
(08:06):
That's the only game that they've won against the good
like a good team. The Cowboys are a good team.
The on these teams are under five hundred.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
What I'm saying, we can't with my point is you
can't do that like they're good or great at the time,
because you.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Get to see what a team is and it's at
the end of the year.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
What I'm saying, when they two seconds ago, we were
saying that that Jerry Jones got it right, we alle
him an apology.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Then they go off and lose and and but no, that's.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Not that I'm just saying when they do versus five
hundred teams.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Just your final record.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
It's not your record when the season starts and you
will one and oh or two and oh.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
They should have win. The Bucks are bad.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I'm saying that was a good win at the time,
and I'm saying they should have right there with the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
They should have won.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
The Ravens are under five hundred. The Bucks are under
five hundred. The only the only win that they got
over a good team now is the best and they
were bad.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
And they didn't close out against a handful of good
teams they had to chack, for instance, the Steelers, the Rams,
the Packers. I mean, they didn't close out. Absolutely, wouldn't
he right, That's what I'm saying. They didn't close out
against these teams that are good, either good or great
teams that they had a chance to.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
All right, eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Now, they got a hope, they own a hope and wishes.
They got to do their part win the last two
and then hope that you know they faught away.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
That niney you'll get you on the sub I meant, okay,
don't act like we ain't never seen it before.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live. Hi, this is Jay.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
I'm the producer of the paul An Toni Fusco Show.
Usually in these promos they asked you to listen to
the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen
to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who
have the dumbest takes on sports magical. Don't listen to
the show so it can get campls.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
What the he get him, Paulie, that fool.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Listen to the Tony Fosco Show on the iHeartRadio app
or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
He's still moving. It's been a rough year for you.
And when it comes to the NFL, and here's another one.
Speaker 6 (10:17):
Hold on.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
First of all, don't be acting like it's over. I'm
just ain't over yet.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
No, just hear me out, go ahead, because what's over
is your terrible prediction that the Steelers were going to
be just like a year ago. Instead, last year they
stumbled at the end. This year, they've won three in
a row. After that terrible game by Aaron Rodgers, I
always done. I wouldn't want him back. And if you
(10:41):
look at how he's played and listen to the NFL
analysts talking about his play has really picked up in
the last three weeks. Aaron Rodgers had some beautiful balls.
He had some yesterday. Did you see that one thing? Okay,
But here's the point is all year you questioned the Steelers,
You just you yeah, you poo pooed it.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
I wouldn't wait for air Roder. You need a quarter
bag for the future. Bah bah bah bah bah bah
bah bah bah. And here they are.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Not only did they go to Detroit and beat your
Lions that were favored by seven and a half. Okay,
not only did they do that, they now have put
themselves in position to win the division.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yes, they can win the division this year. And guess what.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
You were wrong about Aaron Rodgers, wrong about the Steelers,
and wrong that this is just the same old, same old.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
It is not the same old, same old.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
And I feel as convinced as I ever have been
because I told you that they would win a playoff
game and the way that they've played, there's no reason
why the Steelers can't beat the Chargers or whoever might
come in for that playoff game in January in Pittsburgh
and the Coole I looked at the team. How in
(12:01):
the world did they go to Detroit in a must
win for the Lions and pull that off with great
explosion plays. They rushed the football, they stopped the Lions
two headed monster fifteen yards was terrible.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
They didn't even have TJ. Watt did even play. He's
got to collapse long.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
So my point was you didn't understand why they waited
for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
And this is exhibit A.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Two weeks left in the season and they're poised to
win the division. That's why they waited. They finally have
a quarterback. Not the greatest quarterback playing, but a guy
who knows how.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
To play the position.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That's what they've been missing for the last eight or
nine years after Ben Roethlisberger. Maybe not that, but since
he left, they didn't have anybody who could play quarterback.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
That's why, Mike Tomlin, you want to know the love affair.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
If they get win the division and win a playoff game,
they might get married. I mean, are you kidding? Mike
thom has been dying to win a playoff game. This
is his guy. They have some sentergy, right, they got
a bromance. He looked at that guy and said, that's
a quarterback. I would love to play with that guy.
(13:17):
The Jets they discarded and where the Jets today? They
said it was Aaron Rodgers. Right, Oh, let's get rid
of him. Let's go get Justin Fields. We have a
quarterback for the Where's Justin Fields? He ain't even playing.
Aaron Rodgers forty one years old, and the bottom line
is he knows how to play the position. I'm not surprised.
(13:39):
That's why I bet you on that that they would
win more than nine games. That's why I said that
they would win a playoff game. These aren't all after
the fact. This is what I added and talked about
prior to the season. So I'm not just talking off
the top of my head. I know everybody says.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Oh you net me and stop it. I don't play
that game. Why you can't love Aaron Rodgers though? Why
can't you two things?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Why can't you say that's what I feel the Steelers
gonna do, but also love Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
It's not because that's not what That's not who I am.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Okay, I don't care about that. That's where I get matched,
That's where I get mad. I don't care because if
you if you don't know, stop it. Everybody listening watching,
who knows you, your text group, emails, friends from your
the the ten eleven, friends from back home. Everybody knows
you love Aaron Rodgers, and that's okay.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
You don't love.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Rogers, jes Nobody believes that, not a single person in
this show.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
I've never seen play out of doubts. Look at the spring,
look at the sparkling. He's one of the greatest quarterback.
And I didn't even see you.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
I don't even see you talking about nobody else. You
get a spark. Now, let me get back to what
I'm saying. What I've told you since the whole conversation
about him possibly coming, it's literally manifesting itself. I told
you they were going to be the the exact same
team they were a Russell Wilson. You know what Russell
Wilson was. He was six and five. He had twenty
(15:06):
four hundred yards. He had sixteen touchdown. Remember he only
played eleven He is sixteen touchdowns, five interceptions. Aaron Rodgers
he almost has Russell Wilson will almost have in more
yards with him in only eleven games. Right now, they're
sitting here, what are they nine and seven? No, nine
and six? They got a chance to go nine and eight,
maybe ten or eleven. Will see they have a chance
(15:27):
to look exactly the same last year they were ten
and seven.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
They might be ten and seven, the exact same team.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
And if you look at this to cold play of
the quarterback, it can look the exact same.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
And you talk about the division.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
It took an Andrew Lamar Jackson injured Joe Burrow for
then to have a shot. And I'm not saying that
Aaron Rods I never said he was. To quote me,
I said, Aaron Rodgers is not gonna suck. He can't suck.
He's Aaron Rodgers, one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. I
agree with you on that. My point was simply, they're
gonna look the same be nine and eight, which is
what I thought ten and seven, what you thought they
(16:01):
were ten and seven last year. Russell Wilson wasn't horrible,
just like Aaron Rodgers is playing all right.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
And they're not gonna win.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
And I was saying, what was the point is all
I'm saying, you talk about the Bears. They've got their
guy for the future, right they feel good? No, no, no, no,
no no no. You told you told me Caleb couldn't play. No,
that's not what I said.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
You did. No, no, no, you didn't listen. No, I go
on you to it. I know he has not playing
on you. I said, he has go on you too,
and you and you he has not you.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
He's gonna be We'll talk about this next season, and
we'll talk about gonna be Bears, and we'll talk about
us in that seasons.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Is that go ahead, and.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
We'll talk about that next hour. So my whole point
was they looked the exact same as last year. And
that's all I'm saying. Go find your Jaden Daniels went healthy,
Go find your boat Knicks, go find your Drake made.
Is what all I was saying with the Steelers was
if the issue has been you guys make it to
the you go above five hundred, but that's not a
big deal. They make it to the postseason, they don't
(16:58):
win a game since twenty six, team seventeen, whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
That to me, they look the exact same.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
You're not all the Sames, you're not watching the game.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Teams the last couple of weeks got the same team.
What did they actually lofered?
Speaker 4 (17:13):
What what was their record at the end of the
year last seven I'm talking about, how did they get
to that record?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
They lost their last.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Five, they lost too straight, then they lost three straight,
they lost.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Lost and what if they lose too straight?
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Rob, So all I've said, I don't I feel the same,
tact same. They're possibly going to be nine to eight
or ten and seven, just like with Russell Wilson. So
if they win in the last two games, they're gonna
be nine and seven. So I said they could partent, Well,
have to wake up. They give me an option of
them winning the last two games. You said, you said
they absolutely have the will. Now it's gonna hurt even
(17:49):
harder thanks to lot to DK doing wild stuff. Now
you lose your number one target, your number one receiver.
So my point then months ago, two months ago, two
weeks ago, and two minutes ago is the same.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I look at the going to YouTube and look at
the old clips. Yes, I'm I can sit in argument
with you.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Why they're they're also scene where you were telling me
that he is the m v P of the league.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
What I'm saying is it's not this they're gonna move.
It's the exact same, not the same. They did not
win the division last year, and you'll get the vision.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
It was Lamar Jackson help and you can't tell Lamar
Jackson health and you can't tell me that they don't
have a chance to pick and they have a chance.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Well he did not my point.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I'm saying the reason that there you said that they
were the same, They're the same.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
They didn't win the division and last year they had
no chance to win a play on the hurt we are.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Don't say that if the mast they don't win that
So that's all I said.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
You could see it a minute ago.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
You're making excuses with the Lions because of injuries, and
yes you did.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Ros That's why you brought it up.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
That's why.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
The run down Jovin Washingtons, Dan Campbell for the Detroit
Lions loss you that's what I was training staff.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
I brought it up. Who's the training staff with the Lions?
Because I brought they got it.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
You can scream all you want and stars are they
exact same?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
That you're wrong? Admit that you.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Don't know what you're talking about. When you came to
Aaron Rods, they looked they're not the same, Kim the same.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Are you watching the game?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Yes, I am watching looking at the Russell Wilson and
we were like, oh my gosh, look at this. And
they turned around and lost five or six straight and
they looked the exact same. So I don't understand why
we even argued about it what we're argued about it
because I heard eight different analysts on television.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
You know what they said today?
Speaker 4 (19:48):
They said, yesterday's win by the Steelers might be the
biggest win that we've seen in the NFL all year.
And you're telling me this is the same team as
a year ago, because no, it is not. You just
want the game. That nodis Jenuel Wilson. You know what's
even better than airon Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You left here on Friday with the idea that you
were feeling good that the I'm gonna be because I
picked the Lions.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
What what done? I picked the Lions before the football
even started. I picked the Lions back in the spring.
I picked the Lions the day they lost to Washington
All Kevin. So I'm telling you I've said the same
things are supposed to.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Literally I said the same in the UL.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
You go ahead, like I said, the Pittsburgh Steelers are
supposed to be a blue blood of this NFL. I
ain't won a super Bowl down the hole, no longer
can't win the playoff game. But right, I got it. Okay,
they have been a much better team than the Steelers allowed.
How man the super bowls have they been to? We're
talking about the last few gas Duh, that's an easy one.
(20:51):
Like I was saying, so the Steelers. All I'm saying
is if I was part of that French I will
say I want to get back to is.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
This is the same I want to make the starting back.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
You don't know what you're looking at because it ain't
the same team you Okay, they look just like they
look just like it's they have no shot to win
a playoff game? Is that what you're saying.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
I'm asking. I'm not saying I don't have a shot.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Okay, they're not going to win the division. Patrick Mahomes
out there, Jackson, I don't care about Joe. They're talking
about where they are. So that's what I'm saying. Joe
Burrow not playing I thought.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
I'm saying a full season or even a game or two.
Joe Burrow. You know what I'm saying, he's playing. Joe Burrow.
You start last night? Did he play? You know what
I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
I'm saying when they played game all that other if
he plays, they went wrong. Just that you're wrong. They've
won nine games. Rob they were they might not even
win ten games. Okay, I said they would be the same.
They have nine games. You're acting like. First of all,
you're acting like it's over. They mess around to win
(21:51):
nine games. I can't wait to hear the hr you Elijah,
and I'll wait. They've one time.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
You got the Lions going to the playoffs. Still they
won nine games? What they all? I'm telling you they
been wrong up and down the board.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
You told me about the Chiefs and their wide receivers
and how they were going to the super Bowl again
and they were all backs and Patrick Mahomes is the
m v P. I heard all that you told me
about the Lions and that they were going to get
to the super Bowl and they're going to do this.
I heard all that you were wrong. You told me
about the Steelers. You were wrong about that Williams.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
You were wrong about that? Have we major wrong on
this one? And this is what and this minute you're wrong?
Speaker 4 (22:40):
I literally am not wrong. They're nine wins, Rob, I
predicted they would win nine wins.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Predicted they win the division and have a chance to
win a playoff game.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
First, they have not won the home playoffs and not
won the division. I said a lot of stuff. I said,
have a chance. That's what you keep giving out a
lot of stuff. They haven't won a division, they haven't
won more than nine games, and they look exactly like
last year. I actually am one thousand percent correct right
now and about the Steeler.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
We're joined now by our man, TJ.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Houschmanzata, former Pro Bowl receiver co hosts of Up on
Game of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
TJ. Who's what up?
Speaker 6 (23:25):
Man?
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Hey? What what's happening? TJ?
Speaker 1 (23:29):
I'm showing my ass all day on this radio show
because all week, all season, I tried to tell Kelvin
the Lions they't making the play right over.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I told him that Caleb is a real deal.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
He said he was gonna be getting benched at that
midway point of the season. I told him that the
Steelers or with Aaron Rodgers, that's why they waited on him.
We got all these things to talk about. Let's start
with the Lions. How shocked are you that they went
from the number one seed last year? Potentially, I mean,
mathematically they's still in it, but the chance of them
making the playoffs are very slim.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Where are you?
Speaker 6 (24:06):
It's not shocking to me. When you lose your offensive
coordinator and your defensive coordinator, you there's gonna be some
type of You're gonna take a step back. That's what
I felt. I felt like the Lions would take a
step back, especially when you're really defined by your offense
and being able to just go up and down the field,
(24:29):
super creative with your play calls and you're disguising and
just doing things. Losing Ben Johnson is huge, and I
felt they would take a step back, and they have.
And so for the lines, they're gonna have to figure
out what's next. Will Dan Campbell continue to call plays
or will he brings somebody else in because it's obvious offensively,
(24:51):
they are nowhere near to saying that they were the
last few years with Ben Johnson.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
I think they're gonna bring somebody in.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
I don't think that's Dan Campbell's he's doing, obviously, Bessie Camvin,
I don't think that's his f Let me ask you this,
speaking of Dan Campbell, if you're a player, how do
you handle where Sometimes via the viewing public or people
watching it seems like an obvious you know, take the
three or just oh, no punt. You know your team
is struggling defensively, you take the points. How do you
communicate that to your coach of like, hey, we might
(25:17):
need to take some points here there, and it's ended
up costing them a game or two throughout the season.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
You just feel like, if our defense is very good,
if we know we go for it, our defense gonna
shut them down. I don't mind going for it, But
when you know that team that you're playing is a
really good team and points are going to be at
a premium, then you kick the field goal. You can't
approach every situation the same old all how the flow
(25:43):
of the game. Who are we plan offensively? Are we
gonna have to keep up with them. Is our defense
playing well this game? And so those are games where
it's gonna buy them in a butt. Now we should
have won that game, and they'll be watching the playoffs
like we will be out.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
How about the Caleb Williams just the throws, TJ. You
could appreciate it as a wide receiver you played in
the league. How hard it is to make those throws,
that game winning throw, and the reaction in the stadium
and the team and around the city. I mean, that
is as big of a throw I've seen in that situation.
(26:22):
They can never beat the Packers, right, this is a
chance for them to finally beat the Packers. They come back,
they're down by sixteen to six with two point five
to go, and they win that game in overtime. What'd
you make of the play of Caleb Williams and his development?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
Well, Rob, let me just say this. I was one
of the few people in Caleb's corner. I believe in him.
I thought he would be a very very very good
player in the league. And then obviously, you know, as
Ricky Hear didn't go so well, So everybody starts, you know,
they start the yeah, yeah, he was. He was his
head coach was a coach that's probably gonna be out
(27:00):
the league here soon. So that just tells you how
far from uphill battle he was climbing. I mean, your
head coach is probably gonna get fired from the donas Cowboy.
You get a competent head coach, You get a competite
guy that can call plays. And now look what happens. Oh,
he looks like he can play now, and so when
I'm happy for him too. Yes, that was a great throw. Well, listen,
(27:24):
let's be honest, Rob, that's a hell of a catch.
That's really really good coverage by Keithie.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Yeah, he's right on top of him.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
But the ball has Moore, DJ Moore made a hell
of a play. Taylor threw a great ball, but DJ
Moore that that's a fifty to fifty ball that DJ
Moore made a play on and made it really look
seventy thirty. So great play by both parties. But that's
a that's not a play we see a receiver make
(27:53):
every Sunday.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Well, here we go with Caleb and people, you know
I hear every week Me and Kelvin argue, Oh his
percentage and the throws he left on the field and
all these other things, which are fine. He has six
come from behind victories the most well, you know, since
I think it's Peyton Manning who had who had sixty
(28:16):
second year or something like to be able to come
up with the throws when they matter and make plays
because the NFL is a play You gotta make plays, right,
You tackle them TJ at the first point of contact, right,
is the difference between that and the guy going for
a touchdown or or a first down or whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
And Caleb to me, I don't think you could teach.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Some guys are cool in those situations and other guys aren't.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
And he's done it six times this year. It's pretty incredible.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
A wit Listen, you know, you'll get people to say
it's completion percentage isn't what it needs to be, but
he's winning games. But conversy, right, if he was completing
sixty nine seventy percent of his passes and they were
losing games, what would they say? They he don't win, right,
and so they always gonna find a way for They're
(29:10):
arguing to me, right, Oh, they're winning games, but it's completion.
He's winning games. He's about to take the Chicago Bears
for the playoffs in the division that going into the
year many thought they wouldn't be in a situations and
so this is a tough division that the Vikings took
a step back, but that division is.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
A tough division.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
It's a tough division.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
I think it's gonna be tough for Handfully, Caleb looks
like he's gonna be obviously around. You got Jordan Love,
you got the Lions can have another year or two
if the Vikings get.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
It right, because today McCarthy is the quarterback that Kevin
O'Connell expects him to be. This about to be a
division of like somebody is gonna not make the playoffs
and you literally going to the season saying wow, like
who's not gonna make it? That's how good the division is.
Taleb is a He's been fantastic Ben Johnson. It just
(30:05):
shows you how good of a coach is and a
good eevalue at a talent because he's had opportunities, he
didn't take those opportunities. But when the opportunity to coach
the Chicago Bears came up, he took that opportunity because
he knew he had a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Hey, who's let me go to.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
The guy who kind of came in with the same
kind of praise and it took him a while to
get it going.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
And that is you already know what I'm going track.
Speaker 6 (30:28):
Tron Shine is all.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Of a sudden got this jag team where it's like, oh, shoot,
have we been ignoring them? Which is probably how they
would have preferred it. How real are they this particular
season as we get inch closer into the playoffs, And
when you.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
Look at that Jagg's roster, they got dudes. Man, They
two good pass rushers, They're good at the linebacker spot,
They're good in the secondary. Offensively, Travis Hunter isn't even
playing for What has happened is they made trade for
Jakobe Myers and it gave Trevor Lawrence another weapon, Liam Cohen.
(31:08):
So the Carolina Panthers love Dave Canalis. I mean he
the Tampa Bay Bucks loved Dave Canalis. Carolina Panthers. Liam
comes in, he takes over the play calling. Baker has
a great year just just play callers and having this
his cohesion, his cohesive miss which your quarterback, and just
(31:29):
having somewhat of a partnership. Now we're getting towards the
end of the year. He understands Trevor a little more.
Trevor understands him a little more. I'm guaranteeing they're communicating
so often. Liam Cohen, I don't even know who gets
Coach of the Year him are vable because both of
them went to terrible situations. Both of them are playing
with highly drafted quarterbacks and they both have done a
(31:49):
great job. But the way Trevor Lawrence, you know, the
generational quarterback that I was telling everybody this he was
gonna be this, he was gonna be that because he
trained with us, and you know, Plexico bear through to
remind me every every show I told you your boy,
Trevor Lawrence wasn't gonna be anything. Well, what about Now that.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Sounds funny because I've heard that too. I told Kelvin about.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
This is what boy, I tell you, DJ let me
let you go, So I argue Rob.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Christmas, I know how you feel to you, Jay, because
I have to put up with it every day too.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
Really, I'm really a GM man. I'm really a GM
like man.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I'm gon happen be a GIMS. Yeah that sounds like
they make you.
Speaker 6 (32:33):
They make you start in the basement. Man, they make
you start in the basement. And I just don't feel
like it's warranted. I really don't. I really don't. I
really don't feel like it's warranted. You you know players,
when you see players, you talk to them. You know
right away, you know you're gonna have some bus here
and there. But I just feel like I know every position.
I know a baller when I see one and talk
(32:55):
to one.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
All right, Well, you know, hey, listen, they listened to
this show, so maybe they listen out here. You know what, man,
let's give the who's your shot? Man, we appreciate Merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Hey, We're not gonna do like hey Alex, We're not
gonna do like I had to do to one of
the callers, who.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Yeah, we're gonna wish you a merry Christmas. Listen to this.
We have it, Yeah, we got it. I had to
tell one of I'm not gonna watch you merry Christmas.
Speaker 6 (33:21):
Hey.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
I called him screws Mick Parker over here, over here
telling people he ain't wishing to merry Christmas.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
Hey, Well, merry Christmas, Happy holidays, and y'all man, No doubt,
keep up the great.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Work, show hush Man. Make sure you give a followers always.
Who's eighty four on x
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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