December 11, 2025 • 54 mins
Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Jourdan Rodrigue and Patrick Claybon to preview the early window of Week 15 action across the NFL starting with the Bills at the Patriots followed by Chargers at Chiefs (10:20), Ravens at Bengals (19:30), Browns at Bears (27:48), Raiders at Eagles (34:12), Commanders at Giants (38:40), Cardinals at Texans (43:00), and Jets at Jaguars (47:00).
Note: time codes approximate.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to NFL Daily, where we love a good Bill's
Patriots rivalry week. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris
Wesleyan podcast studio.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm backed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We were just here talking about all the late games.
Now it's a good early slate with Jordan rod Rieg
and Patrick Claybond. And yes, I was gonna say everything
old is new again in terms of Bills Patriots rivals.
But they really over the years weren't good. At the
same time, the Bills kind of helped knock out the
end of the Patriots rain in terms of winning the
(00:39):
AFCAS over and over again. The most embarrassing game I
believe in Bill Belichick's history not getting a single stop
in a playoff game against Josh Allen.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
And a game most embarrassing at a Fell game.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, I think, yeah, he's not taking her thoughts on
the North Carolina Tar Hillsburg. I mean, I would not
have a guess they would go that bad. I'm so
they're not just eating the money and saying goodbye to
Bill Belichick.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Right, it's not gonna get better.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
I don't think I'm gonna get better Bill Belichick. It's
not gonna get better. Greg Rosenhal better news for the
New England Patriots. They are not favored, so nobody believes
in you, and you can summon your belief and your
anger at the folks in Vegas. The Bill's a one
and a half point favored on the road at your
(01:25):
New England Patriots, Greg the over unders fifty and a
half Iron Eagle and JJ Watt on the call. The
deep passing game has been great for Drake May. How
does it take advantage of the Buffalo secondary?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
That's the matchup there because that strength has to be
so strong it overwhelms all the other weird parts of
this Patriots team that are hard to understand. Yeah, d Like,
I don't understand this team. I mean I don't believe
in them either. I'm gonna pick the Bills in this game.
You have to pick a game. Doesn't it seem more
likely that these two teams would split, and especially coming
(01:59):
off how the Bills have played lately, Like it just
makes sense in the story of this season that the
Bills make this division race a little closer down the
stretch and win this game.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And I think the Bills, though, they're
so easy to believe in when you see, especially the
middle to later parts of last week's game, and then
they're so easy to doubt when you see some of
the things that set up a week ago before that game,
and some of the issues getting off the field on
third down, and some of the defensive problems that keep
(02:33):
popping up from time to time, some of the discombobulation
at receiver, and you know, it's basically like a whack
a mole team where you're gonna have at least one
of these problems pop up in any one game. Can
Josh Allen, I guess, mask all of it enough? And
how early do you press the button to your point?
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And I know schedules part of it, But like sometimes
we talk about the Bills, like there the Chiefs or
the Bengals or the Ravens, all these teams with great
quarterbacks and losing records.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
The Bills are nine and four.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Good football team?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Right The Bills are nine and four. And I'm just
gonna throw out a hot hot take for you. Go, Okay,
if you had to pick an AFC team right now,
pick your Super Bowl team right now, who's your pick?
I think I would take the Bills. That that's the
hot take part of it if I had to pick one,
just because I don't know who else to pick.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Pick one right now, you have to pick one.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
You know what, I would take the Bills.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh my gosh, I don't want two of us.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
That's too much because because of Josh Allen.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Right now, I am.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I am taking the Houston Texans, okay, and that defense
and that pass rush because the it seems like a
common issue for these AFC contenders is like either like
Bosa's injury, the Chiefs kind of struggling to get pressure late,
and I'll take defense.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
Why not throw the up Josh Hans Allen and the
Jackson break.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I don't think there is a wrong pick.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
It's to me, it's their strengths, which is Josh Allen
in offensive line and a running game and a history
of a defense that can at least game plan and
figure some things out that they haven't done it very
well in the playoffs, like gives them as good a
fighting chance as anyone, And yet I would they wouldn't
give anyone a better chance than twenty percent.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
It just seems to know, and I think that's a
good caveat to include there too. It's like, you know
you've seen what they can do and what they are
capable of what That's a good point about being a
good matchup team. There we are in the stretch runs,
but we have not gotten to the point where you
can purely play matchup football on defense. You maybe can
(04:32):
do it, you know, you can't just Jonathan gannon it
the entire time, but when you do get to the postseason.
Sean McDermott, we've seen it. We've seen adjustments after the buye.
We see adjustments have to have. He can play matchup football.
It's just they're just not quite there yet where they
can do that the way that you would would want
to and need to in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
It'll be interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Drake May and the Patriots, what do they look like
coming off theirby You know, they have a couple to.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Have a buy you know, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
He injuries like maybe yeah, but they were also rolling
and they've had, you know, had a little time to
think about it.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Not that he doesn't dare get his hopes up.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Patrick, No, Actually, I think, of course, I think they
can win this game. I think it's basically a toss up.
They're playing for the AFCAST title. They literally win it
this week and ray Abel started to talk about that
AFC East championship. Even going into the buy, he started
to change his tone pretty clearly of like, now we're
playing to go win like a title. It's just they're
(05:24):
entering a different phase of the season and I'm curious
if some of their notable weaknesses can get improved, which
is they're a terrible red zone team, literally the worst
than the NFL on defense and pretty bad on offense.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And they're a bad running team.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And so this matchup particular, I want to see can
you run on this Bill's defense, because you should be
able to and you can't.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You got serious problems because a lot of teams have
this year, and some.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Of the teams that haven't kind of chose not to. Yeah,
like oddly enough, like the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
That was a weird situation and everything.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, a little bit different for the but the Bengals
did start out running the ball against the Buffalo Bills,
and you know, the past game kind of bit him
at the end, but they had the success there. I'm
just the button necessarily doesn't even get pressed. The button's
always on at this point, like it's attached to the
light switch in the booth for Joe Brady when he
walks in, because it's constantly on. Josh is making these
adjustments while the play is happening. Where As Christian Gonzales
(06:22):
has gotten healthier. You know, I always says tough to
get healthy playing football. Christian Gonzales managed them where the
separation like Josh is having to throw these seeing eye
touchdowns Tolosa gear. They did have a couple of plays
that actually just worked regular football plays last week, but
that was against the Cincinnati Bengals, a defense that hasn't
really been in a contending situation. Like the Patriots have
(06:45):
all your work. I feel confident and since we started
this conversation, since these numbers were printed, Greg, the people
have heard your voice. And now the Patriots are favored
by one and a half points in this game.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Wait what yes, do you know what the lines move?
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Greg?
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Because they want what are they gonna do with the
Stefan Diggs quotes from Wednesday morning talking about how they
liked being underdogs in this game.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
That will have to like get a correction and like.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well, yeah, they tried, they tried hard until they see
the line and now they now.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
They're changing everything is out the window, folks.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
No Milton Williams and probably no Harold Landry who got
hurt before the bye, and they're not like a deep
defensive line, and so I do think that could be
a mismatch. That first game when these two teams played,
Josh Allen like Marcus Jones got him on just a
great defensive play. He had a couple turnovers in that
game that that kind of was the difference in May
was nails at the end.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And it's a.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Big game for the conversation, huge for both because if
there is a.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Real this is the real Rodrig Rosenthal match up here?
The subtext of everything.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Why is that I'm talking about Josh Allen about in
terms of MVP?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I thought you're talking about May Stafford certainly May.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I mean to me, it's still pretty wide open that
anyone that has as a great month, we're like we're
winnowing out like the possible candidates. But Josh Allen his
last two weeks, but that was an incredible game anyone's
played all season, like from front to back in the snow,
like to do that against Like if he then goes
(08:18):
and does this against the Patriots and has like a
monster month.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
He's in the conversation.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Yeah, I've got the chart up, Josh.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I don't think he's so far behind Stafford in May,
especially not if he wins this game in December that
he can't make up that ground.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Well, recency bias will help with voters. But with regards
to the conversation, he did have that prime time game
where the Texans defense absolutely distominated the Bills in every capacity.
So here he's behind Jordan Love right now again Toyota
fan is on or Jordan Love keeps scoring points.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
One last thing on this game for the Bills. Kincaid
was back last week, and I think it really changes
their offense because now you're splitting up the tight end
reps equally between him Knox and and Spencer Hawes and
played Greg Jackson Hawes rather and it's like a few
less snaps than too for Cooks and Kean Coleman. I mean,
(09:14):
Tyrrel Shavers is now like leading. It just makes their offense,
which is clearly around the run, and Josh just doing
Josh things like make even more sense to have.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
Him out there.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Patrick. You know I have been tracking the is Greg
all the way back conversation the entire year as well,
and I did just want to share with you and
tens of thousands of listeners that and some viewers as well,
that audio medium Greg that yesterday we had a meeting
about some upcoming postseason tent pole events for NFL Daily
(09:48):
and one of them being the super Bowl, very excited about.
And we were talking about getting postgame interviews and post
Super Bowl game interviews and with the winning team, and
Greg brought up how it should be no problem to
get Drake.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
May I was just like, he'll it's like the first
time around, that's the time when it'll be easier postgame
to get him.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Was that a thinly veiled shot at a player who
had a win in a primetime game? And it was
difficult for Laura Rutledge to catch up.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
To one second? It was not look at the transition.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Because Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers are on
the road at Kansas City. Who is favored by four
and a half? Patrick mahomes good at postgame interviews too?
Does Greg hate the quarterback of the Los Angeles?
Speaker 5 (10:34):
I love all love for you.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
You are a Justin Herbert family and family.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
It wasn't his best moment I think he will admit
to that. I'm not defending that. I still love him.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Kevin Harlan and Trent Green.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Get to see these two teams battle for the second
time this season. Casey again four and a half point favorite.
The over under is forty one and a half. The
Chargers with their I need Herbo to stop protecting the
ball with his mangled hand. He was able to protect
it some. They're having to split it carries as Omarin
Hampton comes back. Can they finally, We've seen several teams
(11:09):
try to do it, come very close. Finally put the
nail in the Kansas City Chiefs Jordan coming up in
week fifteen.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I think they have a shot, honestly, and listen, the
Chiefs don't get good pressure, but you could really pressure
against this offensive line, so that actually might be a
hinge point. Chris Jones is coming off the best pressure
game of the season in terms of getting a season
high with seven pressures, and you know they're the charge
is probably gonna be without Trey Pipkins. Again, we all
(11:36):
watched Chargers Eagles. Greg watched it in person with his
son Walker, And if you didn't watch it, but you
wanted to know just exactly how bad the Eagles offense
was was and how many times they turn it over.
Without even like taking a peek at the box score,
all you have to do is know that Justin Herbert
(11:56):
was pressured nearly at a seventy nearly a seventy percent
rate and the Chargers still won the game. That's how
bad the Eagles offense was on the other side. And
so I feel like you're not gonna get a freak
game like that. Again. You're certainly not gonna get that
game from Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as
much of a slide this season as they're in, as
(12:17):
strange as they look this season. But you might get
a really solid game from the Kansas City Chiefs defense
against this.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
You're not going to get that pressure out of that
defense though either No. Carlof dis played pretty well and
you certainly were.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
But I'm i gotta tell you, Greg this, this offense,
this charge offensive line is like malpractice having it out
there with this there they went. They're entering their twentieth
offensive line combination minus Trey Pipkins of the season.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Maybe the biggest issue is that two guys in the
middle Bradley Boseman and Mackai Beckton are the starters fairly well.
Bozeman's not highly paid, but you know he was the
plan starter. Becton is highly paid, and those guys you
kind of are counting on them, and they maybe are
the biggest weaknesses.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Of the group. Yeah, they got to go against Chris Jones.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
And considering the way things have been, but I'm I'm
also looking at the Chiefs offensive line in their protection
of Patrick Mahon, considering the way that Khalil Mack, especially
the first game.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Khalil Mack was.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
So dominant in that game where he teleported past I
believe Taylor at that point and got to Patrick Mahomes
where it was just one of those Mahomes plays where
you just they get yards and they make it a
game where I don't feel like this version of the
Chiefs would even be in that game, considering the way
that it went and went down to the wire, and
(13:37):
you have to be able to run the ball. I
think against the Chargers where you look back to just
that nasty the worst Chargers game of the season on
the road at Jacksonville, when both Tuton and Etn went off.
Saquan and spart in spots in Sofi Stadium on Monday Night.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
But the Chiefs, the Chiefs aren't a threat there at all.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
And this is a better Chargers defense, I think. Yeah,
in general, they've been aggressive since the buye and they're healthy.
It's a good defense. And I do think of how
fitting it would be for all the times in the
last five years since Justin Herbert has entered the league
that the Chiefs just beat them down. Anytime Chargers fans
(14:21):
got their hopes up, the Chiefs were there to just
put them back in their place. Wouldn't it be fitting
like if they were the team that ends it for
them this season, especially thinking about like where they were
in Week one that really set the framework for how
this chief season was going to go. Like these games
that you expect to win and you end up losing
(14:42):
in the end like they did in Week one, and
I've come a long way, Like Justin Herbert's out there
with broken body, and like the wear and tear of
this season really shows up with these two teams when
you watch the play of them in Brazil versus now
they were so fresh and innocent. But didn't it be
nice if now old raggared Herbert is the one that
(15:04):
takes out the chief.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
And you know what, I've never doubted Justin Herbert as
a quarterback. I've never doubted him his toughness.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Ever.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I know that it was like quite the topic of
conversation as leadership whatever, like a couple of years ago.
You never watching him play, watching him around his teammates,
like you never doubt any of that. But there's something
about him with Jim Harbaugh where when Jim Harbaugh does
these interviews talking about Justin Herbert, he almost is like
daring him to be more of a badass, right, Like
(15:34):
he's almost like daring. Like the Booth was talking about
some of their production meetings and the conversations that they
were having with Jim Harbough, and Jim Harbo's like, yeah,
it's a broken hand. I once played through this that
the other gruesome, horrific injuries. So basically it's like the
expectation of what this team can be is raised, is
my point here, and that's I think something that's really
(15:56):
really important and something culturally maybe they hadn't had enter
intel entering this season and understanding this is where we're
at right now, and we're gonna like grit through it essentially,
because that's the Jim Harbaugh way.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I think kind of what puts the ceiling on, Like
my expectations for them is the passing game and and
the and the coordinator that's making the calls where you
get some familiar you start to remember, like as Charles
McDonnell pointed out, it's something I lamented back in Baltimore
receivers kind of in the same place which happened in Buffalo,
(16:31):
it's happening now, and it's like like your guy is
is back there, you know with again like the second
season in a row. He's got broken bones in his
left hand, and he's wearing a dinner plate like over there,
like like a Mickey Mouse glove that seems like it
came straight from Anaheim. And and like let's let's let's
have some space.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
I have something like more like like intimidating on that,
like could you draw like a skull and crossbones on it?
At least like you know, don't hit.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
That, don't hit I mean they got Keenan, Allen, Ladd, McConkie,
and Quinton Johnston on this team and they had to
combine forty yards in that game.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
This is sad space. That is malpractice.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
The reason they won, though, is because Herbert kind of
like Mahomes, when that quick pressure was getting there was
his ability to just make free rushers miss and pick
up five yards, ten yards, whatever it was going to be,
or just throw the ball away. And there's just something
about this Chargers team, and there's something about this Chiefs
team that I don't think it's going to last necessarily
(17:31):
for years. But if this game is close in the
fourth quarter, like I kind of trust that this Chargers
team will find a way.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
And I kind of.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Think this ever since on the very first throw of
the season. Do you remember what the first Chiefs throw.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Of the season was.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
It was Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball into a very
brutal hit for Xavier Worthy where that he couldn't come
down with and he left the game with an injury
on that very play and his inaccuracy this season, he
is twenty seven Patrick Mahomes in completion percentage over expected.
I don't think that's a perfect stat but I do
think they've just been a little off whoever's fault it was,
(18:08):
all season, even going back to that first play that
was a little off and Worthy ended up getting hurt
because of it, and now here they are just trying
to stay alive.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
And I think there's some matchable things that have frustrated
Patrick Mahomes about what he's seeing in the defensive backfield
that are reappliable by jesse Minter. Specifically, he's got that
defense playing great. Dante Jackson remember when he was in Carolina, Guys,
I'm sure you actually don't like he's having an absolutely
awesome season. They've got Tony Jefferson, the former Scout Raven
(18:38):
scout out there making game changing plays, and Derwin James
has I think been up and down, but when he
turns it on, he goes. They're getting the most out
of those linebackers. I just really think that the way
that it's not just that they're playing a shell against
Patrick Mahomes every single game. Now you saw it with
the Texans were able to do it really, really effectively.
They're playing a really cloudy, hard to die knows you
(19:00):
could be in this spot or that spot, a little
bit matchier type of shell zone. And I think that
that's really really special and jesse Minter can do that.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
It's telling to me that the game that could end
this Chief season is getting announced by the CBS third team.
Oh at one, DM, Wow, I mean I love Kevin Harlan,
he'd be He's my number one. He made that choice slight.
I'm just saying it's interesting. It's like dynasties die and
darkness there.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
But Kevin Harlan is eternal.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Yes, putting out the typeface on the front whether or
not democracy dies.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Apparently it's on that path.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
The Baltimore Ravens two and a half point favorites at
the Cincinnati Bengals, who were all over them a couple
of weeks ago on Thanksgiving, Greg the over under fifty
two and a half. Spirodidas as well as Adam Archinel
Ashletta on the call. The Bengals made a touch of
a donation late there in Buffalo that saw things go
the other way. Can their defense do it again against
(19:56):
Lamar and company?
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I would doubt it, But this Ravens' offense has enough
problems that you like. Which is the bigger issue, the
Ravens offense or the Bengals defense. On Thursday on that
Thanksgiving game, it was the Ravens offense ultimately making enough
mistakes in that game and I just think it's it's
(20:18):
clear to me that Lamar like is playing a little
I thought he played better in that game. I Everyone
is saying how injured. They think he looks well, and
maybe he does compared to the old Lamar, But I
thought he's moved pretty well the last two weeks, certainly
last week, but he's not getting much help from Derrick Henry.
I think it's safe to say Dereck Henry has slowed
(20:41):
down that the workload that he had last year at
his age, or it's just age in general, the explosive
ability from him isn't there as much the offensive line. Patrick,
I'm sure you're chagrined to see that your Daniel Fallele
slander that you've had this podcast all season has really
(21:01):
gone national.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
It's taken off.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
No, it's I mean, it's it's not just me.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
At some point, you would like for it to go
worldwide in Owings Mills to where it's a disservice to
be to be completely honest, because it's very difficult to
play this game at this level, and Daniel Fell is
a very large person who you know you don't necessarily
want him in open space with a defensive back. But
when that open space is is within the gaps of
the offensive line and the rushes is obviously coming. There's
(21:31):
just been so many reps of file blocking air this
season that I think it has limited people's expectations. Like
you're right now, forty seconds ago saying like Derrick Henry
might be washed.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
I think I'm not saying he's washed. I'm saying he's
not as good as he was.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Which thing is clear, which time is linear?
Speaker 4 (21:49):
Yeah, but I do think if if there's a little
if there's better play. And not not to say that
you have to do things differently, but as Lamar was limiting,
they they know what's coming, and that's true in different aspects,
Like they know that the run is not necessarily a
great option for the Baltimore Ravens in the red zone,
(22:09):
and they know exactly where to blitz because the Baltimore
Ravens have had issues in picking that up. And not
to put it all on one player, but it's an
entire organizational circumstance where you put seventy seven in this
position to play this way and you get the same
results every single time.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
At what point is something else done?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
And like you said, it is not just one person.
It is not just one player. So when I say this,
it is certainly not like Lamar is feeling a lot
of the effects of a lot of this structural issues,
I think, But he also is struggling himself, and he's
clearly not healthy, and he's missed Wednesday practice. He's kind
of on this new rest in recovery routine where he
(22:47):
has a DNP on Wednesdays and then he still plays
that following weekend, including this week. But the red zone stuff,
I mean, they are thirtieth in red zone touchdown percentage,
which is the worst of the Lamar Jackson era in Baltimore.
And part of it is because he is not a
threat in the run game either. He has still has
yet to force a single mistackle on design run on
(23:12):
on the design run plays, or any runs at all.
And and you know that's that's a problem because in
the red zone it adds a layer and a dimension
to the way you can attack a very small amount
of space and the way that defenders have to try
to cover you. And if the quarterback is such a
true like a truly a dual threat, we know he
can pass the ball when he's when he's passing the
(23:33):
ball well, and like he has in almost every season
to this point, he can pass the ball better than
pretty much any quarterback in the NFL, like gorgeous pure passer.
But he's also not really you don't really consider him
as having a number one receiver per se. Say, Flowers
has been productive, but I don't know if you would
call him a threat. That is being like truly bracketed
(23:55):
by defenses week after week after week. And what does
that do? That assigns everybody else to mathematical advantages against
every other player on the field. And then when you
take away the quarterback he's clearly not healthy, you take
away his legs, you're then giving even more away of
what is so layered historically of your offensive attack. It's many,
many problems at one time, but this is the worst
(24:18):
Ravens offense we've really seen over an extended period with
Lamar Jackson actually on the field and playing, and statistically
a lot of these stats back it up. But the
good news for the Ravens is that when we're talking
about historic, historic, historic worst, sure, the Bengals defense is
allowing six point three to two yards per play, which
(24:41):
is the fourth most in the Super Bowl era guys.
So good for the Ravens.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
It was getting better for a couple well, yes, except
if we hadn't just seen them handle him. I do
think the Ravens will bounce back, and I don't think
it should be slept on that. Like Lamar did rush
for a touchdown last week that he did, I think
look better, even if he's not the same guy running
and look to run more last week.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
So I think that's important.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Yeah, yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
If you want to extrapolate the agitation, the outward frustration
from Lamar where he was when he was more hurt.
You didn't see that, Like he's not wasting energy being
demonstrative on the sideline at people, specifically at day of
pilele because you know it wasn't feeling great. And you
see it now in the reactions where Mark Andrews breaks
(25:24):
up a touchdown pass for new Hopkins, in these other
situations where yeah, you do have reason to believe he's They.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Had four hundred and twenty yards last week.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
There were a lot of signs that it was coming around,
but they just it was a It was a frustrating game.
It was also frustrating to watch them put T Higgins
back in the game multiple times after concussion.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
It was the exact same situation, Greg like clear replay
of his head bouncing off.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
And then he goes into the concussion protocol and then
I was surprised to see he is practicing on a
limited basis again Wednesday, So there is a chance he'll
clear the protocol. But clearly he suffered symptoms or else
they wouldn't have put him back in it despite playing it.
But if he is not there that that would change.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Things for the Bengals.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Certainly, tight ends, by the way against the Bengals, it's
like a thing that every broadcast coup mentions every week
when you're playing the Bengals. But it is crazy that
they've given up something like three hundred plus more yards
against tight ends than any other team. And another Ravens
didn't quite hit that button a couple of weeks ago,
but they do have.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
A couple of tight end Yeah, they could do it
this time. They could do especially with Lamar feeling better.
To your point, I love that note about you could
see it all over on the sideline and I think
if it's just restructured this way, where getting that Wednesday.
Rest just helps his body feel better. I mean, by
all means, give him Thursday too. I mean this, dude,
it's not like you need to reteach or reinstall this
(26:41):
offense with him. He's been running it at the highest
level there is Oh, we've seen it.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
We've seen it with great quarterbacks over the years, depending
on the injury, depending on the season. I think Stafford's
had time like that. Brady certainly has. If that's what
needs to happen, it's what will happen, and if it
doesn't happen, and we're going to take a break with
this because this is a longer conversation. I just suddenly
got the feeling today. I just realized, like, this is
it for Harbor. If they don't make the playoffs, forget it.
(27:07):
And I kind of think if they don't win like
multiple games in the playoffs, I just and it's not
about that he's a bad coach. It's just like, sometimes
things come to an end, and this just feels like
a logical time that it would come to an end.
So it puts a lot of heat on what happens
down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
The Tennessee Titans head coach John Harbaugh.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
I got the Michigan job just came open.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Get that we're starting rumors with absolutely no grounding and reality.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Just vibes.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
That's what we're all about. We'll take a break, come back,
wrap up the week. Fifteen's back on NFL Daily. You
know one thing about having no byewee, more games of
(27:54):
the previous show, more time for us together, more time on.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
The good games. Maybe we'll maybe we'll all some quick
ones here in this.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Particular execon Why do you look at me saying that?
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Because there's only two people other than me, and there
are some good teams here, but not as you know,
the matchups there and is great all right?
Speaker 4 (28:13):
The Cleveland Browns at the Chicago Bears, who were seven
and a half point favorites after a loss, and what
was a great game that came down to the wire
against the Green Bay Packers, the over unders thirty nine
and a half. Kevin Coogler and Darryl Johnston on the
CALLDR Sanders went.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
Off last week. What does he do against the Bears
this week?
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Yeah, I'm excited to see because this will be a
great a great test. This will be a great test
and his continued development. I love this. This defense. Him
playing against this defense, I'm excited to see what they do.
The Browns themselves seem sort of resigned yet again, once
another year in a row, to their fate. I'd be
really surprised if many in that building are still in
(28:53):
their roles by the end of at the end of
this season as it concludes. But in the meantime, I
think we're watching a young core uarterback grow up in
the league. On the other side, we're watching what can
happen when you pair that young quarterback with the right
team around him, with the right head coach in Caleb
Williams and I, as you guys know, I love watching
the Bears offense. I love watching this run game in
(29:15):
particular with my dude, Kyle Menung dude and once again
put on a show last week and expected to do
the same this week.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Well, it's one of the best matchups in the week,
I think, yeah, when the Bears at the ball. Now,
the Browns are coming off one of their worst games
of the year. They got pushed around a little bit
by the Titans up front, so it is fair to
point out they are not faultless like that was maybe
only like the second time this year where the defense
let like let them down. It doesn't happen often, but
(29:44):
I think it's a it's a fascinating test or that
Bears offense against this pass rush.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
They've had Ozzi.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Trapilo playing well, got some stuff too at left tackle
after getting you know, is a high draft pick that
didn't get much playing I'm the first couple months of
the season, but through injury he's come in and he's
played really well.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
So I think it's a great test.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
And I do think the Bears, I mean, the Browns
are a dangerous opponent for their for their opponents in
the final month this season, just because if you have
one side of the ball that that good, like an
upset is always possible.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
That That's why we thought things would go significantly different
last week. We'd have liked for the like it was
the the Tony Pollard game that was a career high
in rush yards where you know, you're wondering how this
this Ben Johnson Bears rushing attack, which has looks so
good in the past few weeks, is going to look
against Cleveland and what they can take away from that performance.
(30:41):
And but again it's late in the season. It's the
Browns The only thing that most people are gonna be
interested in is Miles's magic number is now with.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Him and Shuder actually for a three win team, they
have a lot of heat, and I think if Shuder
plays well over this final month and their matchups aren't
that tough In terms of the defenses overall, it's Bears, Bills, Steelers, Bengals.
I would say that's an average the decent setup for
the Browns offense specifically, not for their defense.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
It's a lot of good, three great offenses they're playing.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
But if he can just play how he's playing, I
do think that'll establish enough of a level where they're
not necessarily looking at quarterbacks in the draft because they'll think, hey,
did we get like a Teddy It's a different type
of player, but did we get a Teddy or Derek
Carr level of player that like we can roll with
(31:35):
for a season and then see that sort of level
where it's like, yeah, he's probably not going to be
top five or top ten, but can he just like
stabilize the quarterback position for a year or two and
we'll see and maybe he'll develop into a capitol G guy.
I think he has a shot at doing that. In
the next month is going to really inform their decisions.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Oh I love the slate for him because, yeah, it
will be a challenge, but it will be a really good,
like teaching tool type of challenge. Like you need to
play these types of teams if you are a developing court,
of these types of defenses specifically, and you also need
to be faced with a lot of different situations that
these teams are going to put the Browns offense in
(32:15):
and put shudor Sanders in. You're facing a wide variety
of pressure design, You're facing a wide variety of run
pass balance based on the weaknesses of the upcoming opponents. Basically,
you're going to learn so much about this guy through
the next month. And I love that about what he's
got ahead of him because as you guys, we talked
(32:35):
about this all of us did before the draft, Like
he's got to me and to us, he's got a
really high ceiling. And so if you can watch these
types of things get put together, and you can watch
how they game plan with him, and how they strategize
and how they attack a wide variety of what he'll see, Like,
I love this for him. This is gonna be this
is like grad school. Honestly, this next month.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
You know who doesn't have a high ceiling. Who's a
Deshaun Watson.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
True, haven't hit that on the show, but the reports,
including from our network, that he's gonna be on the
roster next year and he'll have a chance that could be.
I understand why they're out there, and I and I
maybe the part of the Browns believe.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
I think they're just trying to get trade value.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
I think they're trying to find a way to get
someone to maybe essentially have the reverse brock Osweiler trade
where you pay a little bit, they like take on
some of Deshaun Watson's salary to get a draft pick
from the brown just to get him off the roster.
I do not believe for a second he will ever
play a snap for the Cleveland Browns again, and I
kind of doubt he'll ever play a snap in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Part of why I don't think that will be successful.
I think you're spot on about why this is coming
out and from from Wentz or from hoopst But I
think part of what is going to make this dead
in the water is every other owner in the league
was so pissed off about that contract that there's no
way they're gonna help now help with that count.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Oh, it's a losing game, Like, I don't even know
why they're trying. But Browns fans also shouldn't freak out
that he's going to be competing to start next year.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I just don't believe.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
Worthrawlimandra that the ownership of the NFL it was appalled
at the Deshaun Watson situation as it pertains to the
contract the Las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Raiders at well, said Patrick.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
At the Philadelphia Eagles, who are favored by eleven and
a half points, Greg rosdalt Over unders thirty eight and
a half, Joe Davis and g Regg on the call,
Jalen had the worst game that he's ever played in football.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
I would say, how does he bounce back?
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Yeah, well, because he's a talented quarterback.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
They asked him if they would consider benching Jalen Hurts,
and again they did once ask Bill Belichick if there
was any thought of benching Tom Brady at one point,
like these questions do happen?
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Do you remember that one?
Speaker 3 (34:49):
All the way back?
Speaker 1 (34:51):
I'm telling you actually it was actually my friend Tom
Kerran who asked it, Tommy, speaking of tom starting to
take some heat for bad decision making, that's not helping
another business, Tom Brady, or this Las Vegas race.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
Questionable investment from Tom Brady.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
So that's interesting to me.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
They gotta just just have a good bring out that
positivity rabbit and get the running game going. I am
as worried about the running game as I am. Jalen
Hurts forty percent stuffed Right, here's the stat i ad
for you last week that's at or near the line
of scrimmage for takewuad Market forty percent of their runs
against the run defense you said isn't very good, which
maybe is true, but like, yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
Well you think ultimately, like Scotland University can only do
so much if there's no like laptops or pencils, and
when like Landon Dickerson is out there like with what
what's left of a leg trying to play where you
wonder like if Stoutland and the coaching staff are looking
up at Howie like you're.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
Doing it again, Howie.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
But as far as what's available for us here on
the offensive line, like maybe could have done something at
the deadline because this was a problem that kind of
persisted as the season went on.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Lane Johnson is supposed to return at some point. Hell
maybe you will be this week, maybe won't be, but
it's a week to week thing.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
Speaking of legs, my most exciting thing we've got about
this game six of Us is that we're going to
get to hear Greg Olsen, who competed with Tom Brady
or his in competition as a broadcaster with Tom Brady,
call a game uh pertaining to a true disaster of
an operation right now in the last potential spice m
(36:33):
But that's why I wouldn't call it a revenge game.
But I am excited about it.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
But that's why you know, Tom like had Greg Olsen
on his podcast or vice versa in the offseason and tried,
you know that he was said that you know, he
was very nice to him and stuff and that they
they you know, tried to calm the waters that maybe.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
Well, I mean, g Rex is not going to take
open shots like he wasn't within that you know Patriots
situation wherever, you.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
Know, competitors are always competitors, even and if they're not
playing anymore.
Speaker 5 (37:01):
Maybe he's grounding tape a little.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
I know, he's not cloning his dog, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Yeah, I don't. I don't think there's a ton here.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Obviously, if they don't, like even cover this number against
the Raiders, that'd be a disappointment. I did notice the
Siriani effect, I think on their offense, which you know
he was supposedly having a heavier hand and taking it
was a lot of empty last week didn't work very well,
but a lot of empty. And then I think the
more sticky part of it was they were taking more
(37:30):
shots and there were more like longer developing like throw
the ball down the field type plays in that game
against the defense designed to prevent that then almost all season.
So I do think maybe you'll see that more out
of the Eagles. It will work this week.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
Well, yeah, it'll work better this week because what are
they going to be playing against? Single high all game.
That won't change.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
They're going to need at least a two touchdown lead
in the final seconds, So Pete Carroll's going to kick.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
That field goal. Great broke things a little better.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Also, by last point on that Bunny Nike was man.
Cooper dejen is a hell of a player to waw live.
Just watch him on every play I'm like, that is
that is what an All pro looks like that he
was impressive.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
He's so smooth the way that he attacks and constricts space.
Like if you if to really appreciate a player like that,
and I always used to do this with Jalen Ramsey,
was you have to watch the All twenty two like
skip you, we love you, Greg. We'll listen to the broadcast,
but skip the broadcast of this one and just watch
(38:28):
the All twenty two copy and just watch it because
it is. It's gorgeous, it's a thing. It's a work
of art, the way that they have that role in.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Another chance for a guy who's the sliding doors of
the NFL, Vic Fangio, where it's all connected to Vic.
Speaker 3 (38:43):
Fangio and Brett Rippin.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
The Washington Commanders on the road after getting toasted thirty
one to nothing against the Minnesota Vikings taking on the
New York Giants who are favored by two and a
half points. The over under is forty seven and a half.
Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma, they're on the call where
we get a chance to see Jackson Dart back up
(39:08):
against the defense that kind of struggled against j. J. McCarthy, Jordan,
how do you think Jackson Dart looks?
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Well?
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Oh uh, this should be fun, right, you know, I
think you'll see him.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
It's the closest thing you've ever had to a non answer,
just like I don't have.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
I don't have anything I.
Speaker 5 (39:31):
Answer to me.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
It's what's not being said. No, I mean, there I have.
It's it's it's amusing me actually, because going over our
notes every week and getting all these these notes ready
to go for this game. I sat and stared at
this bracket in my notes page for quite some time
because I have very little to say about this game.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
Well, the Giants haven't played, you know, they just had
to buy That first game back from Dart was uneven.
In general, I think he's been a pleasant surprise as
a rookie, and if he can close out strong this month,
that's important for him and the Giants, just because it's
been a really good rookie season. He does seem like
like I was talking about with Shadur, he's been at
(40:11):
another level of like I do feel like he's a
guy you can build around and see what you can
make happen. So you want to see him continue to
play well, and on the other side, like Jade Daniels
isn't playing and that's disappointing. He's had a really disappointing
season because he's been hurt, but even when he's been
on the field, it hasn't been the same, which makes
it more disappointing that he's not healthy. What can you do?
(40:32):
But it's another Marcus Mariota game. They're not ruling out
Jaden Daniels for the rest of the season. But reading
between the lines, yeah, I think that's that's on the table.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
There's just no way to know where. Well.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
They've got to rebuild, a partial rebuild at least ahead
of them, especially multiple positions along that defense. Really the
most intriguing thing. I think Jackson Dart's great. I think
he's going to be their quarterback. If he can stay
healthy and out of the blue tent, he will, He'll
be their quarterback for a while. I think he's got
an I've seen enough at this point, and he clearly
(41:06):
galvanizes his teammates. They like him, they like playing with him.
I would love to see him operate with a little
bit more of an arsenal around him what this actually
looks like. But for what three games. We just don't
really know. What I think is a more intriguing plot
point of the Giants season right now is like it's
like an episode of Traders or like Survivor or something.
(41:26):
Every week someone's getting voted off Giants Island. In this case,
Brian Cox, the defensive line coach, was fired by the team,
and reports, including by my colleague Dan Duggan at The Athletic,
said that it was because there was some agitation about
the seats on the team plane flying home, which Mike
(41:46):
Kafka didn't quite address in his postgame or in his
press conference starting the week. So every week you're just
starting to see someone's getting voted off week by week
by week, in a slow drip until it's all gone.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Shout out Brian Cox, still getting it done in the
NFL or not?
Speaker 5 (42:04):
What now?
Speaker 4 (42:05):
I'm just I'm trying to imagine what the seat conversation, yeah,
could have possibly, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
I too, am curious about such a thing.
Speaker 5 (42:13):
It's never just the seats, assuming there's some other stuff.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Well, there was also some some some commentaries. This is why,
I mean, you know, they've had to deal with some crap.
That's a great beat up there because they know the
context of certain things. And and Dan was saying, Brian
Cox and Brian Dable very close, and so there's perhaps.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Well, so if you remember Brian Cox as a player,
maybe I'm aging myself here. Whether as a player or
as a coach, he does not seem like a man
who would suffer fools gladly or toe the company line.
He would be a line stepper in a fun way.
Possible for me, but maybe not for his bosses.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
And like to his credit, right, yeah, you you know,
you're told to tow the company line.
Speaker 5 (42:57):
But if you don't necessarily need it.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
Yeah, maybe he got some lined up on the outside.
Maybe you get some else line.
Speaker 5 (43:03):
We just not and tell people what they can do
with a particular job.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
You dn't see Defensive line coach Ryan Cock.
Speaker 4 (43:10):
Jacobe Brissette and the Arizona Cardinals on the road taking
on the Houston Texans, who were favored by nine and
a half. They just keep winning, Greg Rosenthal. The over
under is forty two and a half. Chris Myers and
Mark Schliff there to watch a spectacular defense go up
up against the team that almost exclusively throws the ball.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
At this point, it is outrageous. Trey Benson on the
Cardinals is now out for the rest of the season.
There was some hope he would come back. In fact,
he returned to practice and then I guess it didn't
go well, And so that only outlines, yes, Patrick, that
they are a pass first attack and they like played
quite well like for a half against the Rams. The
(43:49):
problem on offense, You're giving me a rolling eyes. They
literally scored on their first like was it two or
three possessions, and then they had one drive where Jacoby
misses one and then suddenly they're down by two touchdowns
because the Rams are scoring a touchdown and it's just
every single drive.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
It's it's tough to play football that way.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
But it has been fun to see Trey McBride on
his path and this would be the biggest test possible
against this team. Although weirdly, the Texans have been bad
against like slot spot players this year and he's out
there sometimes.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
But Aziz al sha has been great against tight end.
They're using him more in coverage. He totally locked down
Travis Kelcey. Now I think Trey McBride's playing better than
Travis kelcey of course right now. But but Aziz Al
Shaher is a monster in past defense.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Right now, Mike McBride leads the NFL and receptions. He's
over nine hundred yards too, so I think he's on
his way to his first first team All Pro.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
Who else would it be? I think it's Trey McBride.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
I love that, the one player I didn't curse this year.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
There you go, he's too good to get cursed.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
It is a little weird team the Texans favored by
nine and a half in the year twenty twenty five.
It really shows how many people are are going over
to your side, Patrick of them as a Super Bowl contender,
which I agree there, Well.
Speaker 4 (45:02):
It's because of they got what you were calling four
weeks ago, just like normal. It's just ai offensive line,
normal regular and they have been and you know a
mid pressure where the Chiefs were crowding line, Spags was
blitzing Shroud what felt like the entire second half, even
you know, in situations where Andy Reid put them in
a position where they had to try to get negative
(45:22):
plays and you know, with bullets flying, Stroud looked pretty
solid to the extent where you know, we don't ever
since like the you make it the mac Wilson injury,
or maybe the the schedule for this Cardinals defense, where
it's just been a precipitous.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Fall every week. They have some really crappy luck injury.
Paris Johnson the tackle being won this week, last week's
brained mcl so he's going to be out, and that
just really stinks. They had. We like the Cardinals every
off season lately, very recently in terms of there. We
see their ideas, and we like some of their players,
and we like the way that some of the scheme
(45:59):
works and and all of that. But man, they can't close.
They can't close a game, and they can't close a season,
and it's just tough. It's a bad combo, and that's
why they're here right now. The thing about the Texans
that I love right now is that they're getting more
precision out of their young receiver c J. Stroud is
getting some great production from Jayden Higgins out of Iowa State,
(46:20):
who they absolutely love. They love that receiver's room and
that coach Matt Campbell so much in fact, that they
drafted his teammate as well. But Jaden Higgins is playing
great and they're getting just they look like you said
they look normal. They look at least middle of the
pack on offense. And when you have a defense as
elite as that group is, you can work with that.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
And you can run on this Cardinals team what he
marksmiths practice Wednesday. But he did that last week too,
So I think he's gonna be fine. They need him
to be fine. Nick Chubb is a little bang up,
but you're right, Higgins is kind of playing the role
that I thought Christian Kirk would play. Kirk is out there,
he's playing. They actually have a lot of weapons. Texans
are alive.
Speaker 4 (47:00):
One of the throws that Shroud missed me every week
great protection on was to Christian Kirk. So maybe they
get everything going as we get to I do own
apology to Brady Cook. I was unfamiliar with his game
last week. I've done a little more digging. I'm looking
back to, you know, his first big playing time in
college football against Georgia when they lost forty three to six.
(47:22):
But he got better, he went on and he made
his way to the National Football League. And now we
may have Brady Cook planned for the Jets with Tarad
Taylor in his growing injury on the road at the
Red Hot Jacksonville, Jack Warters Jordan, who were favored about
twelve and a half points. Tom McCarthy and Ross Tucker
on the call the over under his forty one and
a half. Can the Jets do anything to slow down
(47:44):
this red hot Jackson?
Speaker 3 (47:45):
I love what the Jags are doing right now. I
do want to apologize to the Jets and to Brady
Cook because when I watched that I had that game
last week. One thing that I had dominantly in my
notes that I should have mentioned or should have pushed
in somehow inta probably rambling about some nonsense like I
tend to do, would was how many drops the receivers had.
Brady kept put a couple of nice throws together. He
(48:07):
put together a d a really nice drive at the
end of the game before he was ultimately intercepted. But
on a would be touchdown, it'll advise throw also, so
those are also happening. But he had probably in the
double digits of passes dropped by his receivers in that
game last week. Now does that make a difference against
the Jags this week? No, I don't think so. Trevor
(48:27):
Lawrence is coming off the best game of his career.
There to me, there is that this is not.
Speaker 2 (48:32):
An argument for like, he had some pretty good three games.
Speaker 3 (48:36):
The level of Trevor, but this wasn't a this wasn't
a downpour, Greg. This was in a downpour where you
expect the Carson Wentz level of modern Carson Wentz Trevor
Lawrence to emerge, right, and instead he was a better
version of Trevor Lawrence, and he was a more he
had more personality and talking to people over in Jacksonville,
(48:59):
they love that his personality is emerging, that he's not
so within himself or maybe like even a little shell
shocked from some of the stuff that he's gone through
and observed. Just organizationally over the last couple of years.
He's like butting heads with Liam Cohen on the sideline
and he's similar to what we talked about justin Herbert
early a little bit earlier this year when he did
(49:19):
the point, the first down points and all this stuff. Yeah,
his personality as who they want him to be as
this quarterback is coming out. That's a good thing. That's
a very good thing. And it matches the level of
aggressiveness and enthusiasm that the rest of this team is
playing with and really has played with all season.
Speaker 1 (49:36):
Yeah, I wrote down in my notes like athletic arrogance
from Lawrence. I love we he was playing cocky, like
the throws he was trying. He's always a guy who
tries stuff. But some of the running he has looked
to run more the last couple of weeks. We talked
all off season that the one fly in the ointment
with the Jags was Liam Cohen was brought in to
help bring Trevor to the next level and we wanted
(49:58):
to see it click. And I think the last two
weeks are the best two weeks even all extended back
a week that he's had since that twenty two season
in which he somehow got an MVP like boat lower down.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
How did that happen? Really on that nine of.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
Eight Jackson, But he he had a little stretch in
that season where he was absolutely on fire, and in
the last couple of weeks really remind me that. And
I thought the biggest development in the game other than
that was it was a great Brian Thomas junior game.
It looked like the old Brian Thomas junior. He had
one like really routine catch which actually was over the
middle of the field.
Speaker 2 (50:32):
Oh cut. It was more just like sit in the
zone type of play.
Speaker 1 (50:36):
But his speed makes a zone look so much slower
because like he just gets to that spot so fast,
and Trevor threw it with anticipation and he's opened by
like ten yards because they you just can't account for
that kind of speed on like an intermediate route. And
then he had two great other catches, you know, one
on the sideline on one of the best throws of
(50:57):
the year by by Lawrence and another WITCHI babble a
little bit like on a slot fade, but he caught
it in the end and h like three big time plays.
And like Jacoby Myers is great, but Jacoby Myers doing
his Jacoby Myers thing with a truly explosive weapon next
to him that now you're cooking with gas.
Speaker 5 (51:15):
You get a chance to see the vision.
Speaker 3 (51:18):
Agenda, the Jordan agenda.
Speaker 4 (51:21):
But also on that on that BTJ catch on the sideline,
also on the t Higgins touchdown. We gotta we gotta
clear up in the rule book what hand fighting is,
because when the receivers are making these catches with one
hand because the other one is being grabbed and held,
it's that's fast serferent like the I know BTJ bobbled
it because he only had one harm YEP with which
(51:42):
to work with. We gotta we gotta start throwing that.
Speaker 3 (51:44):
I love it. I think Parker Washington's going to be
back this week. He sit the game last week with
like a weird couple of weeks ago, right with the yeah,
super weird moment where he like doubled over. He's grabbing
his side out of nowhere. He is an absolutely electric
kickoff in punt return, so their special teams has really
come along. But also he's really finding a niche inside
(52:05):
the offense as well. Him and Jacoby Myers are rotating
with each other like sort of orbiting around inside and
outside of the slot. And that's interesting to me because,
as we you know, I'm personally invested in this passing
game and I am so interested in how many combinations
they can deploy. Out of the fact that they're not
just using Jacoby Myers on the perimeter, nor Brian Thomas Junior,
(52:29):
nor Parker Washington. These guys are starting to interchange in
a way that we know that this offense goes to
the next level and takes another step forward when it
can it can run all of those different types of
combinations against the defense and do so effectively and really
really well.
Speaker 4 (52:45):
I mean, where does once we get back in terms
of health? If if Parker Washington comes back, Britain strange,
Kobe Myers, that's a pretty damn good BTJ Parker Washington.
Speaker 3 (52:55):
This silt.
Speaker 5 (52:58):
It looks pretty good. Ellen.
Speaker 4 (52:59):
An update from early Greg, the line has gone back
to the Buffalo bill.
Speaker 2 (53:03):
Wait, were we just wrong earlier? What happened?
Speaker 5 (53:07):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (53:07):
This is crazy.
Speaker 5 (53:08):
The line moves because they want to spur.
Speaker 3 (53:10):
Actually they're listening to Greg.
Speaker 2 (53:11):
That is crazy.
Speaker 1 (53:12):
And yes, we have just wrapped up The Texans and
Jaguars are in a new place in their season where
they are favored heavily. Can they both just take care
of business take another step to the playoffs. The Jaguars
could be ten and four after this week. All they
gotta do is beat Brady Cook and they are getting healthier.
Patrick McCary, Robert Hainsey. The interior line was back last week.
(53:33):
Trevon Walker is now healthy. Will you healthy again? Like
the Jaguars are a Super Bowl contender? I truly believe
every team as currently you know how the AFC looks
is a Super Bowl contender.
Speaker 2 (53:45):
Maybe I take all the Steelers.
Speaker 5 (53:47):
Sorry, we miss you, Patrick McCarry. That's it.
Speaker 2 (53:51):
We did it Week fifteen.
Speaker 1 (53:54):
Excellent slate early and late, and yes we're back to
having a full fifteen games, so we'll be back on
Sunday to recap all that. Before that, you will hear
a number of exciting shows in the feed. Of course,
our usual Picks against the Spread, the greatest streak in
sports continued because of that Monday night victory by the Chargers.
Ten straight winning weeks on the Picks against the Spread
(54:16):
Pod with Cynthia, and then we of course have our
Saturday siccos with all Econnolly. But most importantly, we've got
Jordan Rodrieg in her new series coming up, Power Players,
So check that all out. It's coming later this week
on NFL Daily. Let's get out of here.
Speaker 2 (54:33):
A lot of honk. You did it. We were just
ready with that.
Speaker 5 (54:39):
Also full of delay.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Wow, he's a showman.
Speaker 1 (54:44):
See you next time on NFL Daily
Welcome to NFL Daily, where we love a good Bill's
Patriots rivalry week. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris
Wesleyan podcast studio.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm backed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We were just here talking about all the late games.
Now it's a good early slate with Jordan rod Rieg
and Patrick Claybond. And yes, I was gonna say everything
old is new again in terms of Bills Patriots rivals.
But they really over the years weren't good. At the
same time, the Bills kind of helped knock out the
end of the Patriots rain in terms of winning the
(00:39):
AFCAS over and over again. The most embarrassing game I
believe in Bill Belichick's history not getting a single stop
in a playoff game against Josh Allen.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
And a game most embarrassing at a Fell game.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, I think, yeah, he's not taking her thoughts on
the North Carolina Tar Hillsburg. I mean, I would not
have a guess they would go that bad. I'm so
they're not just eating the money and saying goodbye to
Bill Belichick.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Right, it's not gonna get better.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
I don't think I'm gonna get better Bill Belichick. It's
not gonna get better. Greg Rosenhal better news for the
New England Patriots. They are not favored, so nobody believes
in you, and you can summon your belief and your
anger at the folks in Vegas. The Bill's a one
and a half point favored on the road at your
(01:25):
New England Patriots, Greg the over unders fifty and a
half Iron Eagle and JJ Watt on the call. The
deep passing game has been great for Drake May. How
does it take advantage of the Buffalo secondary?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
That's the matchup there because that strength has to be
so strong it overwhelms all the other weird parts of
this Patriots team that are hard to understand. Yeah, d Like,
I don't understand this team. I mean I don't believe
in them either. I'm gonna pick the Bills in this game.
You have to pick a game. Doesn't it seem more
likely that these two teams would split, and especially coming
(01:59):
off how the Bills have played lately, Like it just
makes sense in the story of this season that the
Bills make this division race a little closer down the
stretch and win this game.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And I think the Bills, though, they're
so easy to believe in when you see, especially the
middle to later parts of last week's game, and then
they're so easy to doubt when you see some of
the things that set up a week ago before that game,
and some of the issues getting off the field on
third down, and some of the defensive problems that keep
(02:33):
popping up from time to time, some of the discombobulation
at receiver, and you know, it's basically like a whack
a mole team where you're gonna have at least one
of these problems pop up in any one game. Can
Josh Allen, I guess, mask all of it enough? And
how early do you press the button to your point?
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And I know schedules part of it, But like sometimes
we talk about the Bills, like there the Chiefs or
the Bengals or the Ravens, all these teams with great
quarterbacks and losing records.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
The Bills are nine and four.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Good football team?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Right The Bills are nine and four. And I'm just
gonna throw out a hot hot take for you. Go, Okay,
if you had to pick an AFC team right now,
pick your Super Bowl team right now, who's your pick?
I think I would take the Bills. That that's the
hot take part of it if I had to pick one,
just because I don't know who else to pick.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Pick one right now, you have to pick one.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
You know what, I would take the Bills.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh my gosh, I don't want two of us.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
That's too much because because of Josh Allen.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Right now, I am.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I am taking the Houston Texans, okay, and that defense
and that pass rush because the it seems like a
common issue for these AFC contenders is like either like
Bosa's injury, the Chiefs kind of struggling to get pressure late,
and I'll take defense.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
Why not throw the up Josh Hans Allen and the
Jackson break.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I don't think there is a wrong pick.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
It's to me, it's their strengths, which is Josh Allen
in offensive line and a running game and a history
of a defense that can at least game plan and
figure some things out that they haven't done it very
well in the playoffs, like gives them as good a
fighting chance as anyone, And yet I would they wouldn't
give anyone a better chance than twenty percent.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
It just seems to know, and I think that's a
good caveat to include there too. It's like, you know
you've seen what they can do and what they are
capable of what That's a good point about being a
good matchup team. There we are in the stretch runs,
but we have not gotten to the point where you
can purely play matchup football on defense. You maybe can
(04:32):
do it, you know, you can't just Jonathan gannon it
the entire time, but when you do get to the postseason.
Sean McDermott, we've seen it. We've seen adjustments after the buye.
We see adjustments have to have. He can play matchup football.
It's just they're just not quite there yet where they
can do that the way that you would would want
to and need to in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
It'll be interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Drake May and the Patriots, what do they look like
coming off theirby You know, they have a couple to.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Have a buy you know, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
He injuries like maybe yeah, but they were also rolling
and they've had, you know, had a little time to
think about it.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Not that he doesn't dare get his hopes up.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Patrick, No, Actually, I think, of course, I think they
can win this game. I think it's basically a toss up.
They're playing for the AFCAST title. They literally win it
this week and ray Abel started to talk about that
AFC East championship. Even going into the buy, he started
to change his tone pretty clearly of like, now we're
playing to go win like a title. It's just they're
(05:24):
entering a different phase of the season and I'm curious
if some of their notable weaknesses can get improved, which
is they're a terrible red zone team, literally the worst
than the NFL on defense and pretty bad on offense.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And they're a bad running team.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And so this matchup particular, I want to see can
you run on this Bill's defense, because you should be
able to and you can't.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You got serious problems because a lot of teams have
this year, and some.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Of the teams that haven't kind of chose not to. Yeah,
like oddly enough, like the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
That was a weird situation and everything.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, a little bit different for the but the Bengals
did start out running the ball against the Buffalo Bills,
and you know, the past game kind of bit him
at the end, but they had the success there. I'm
just the button necessarily doesn't even get pressed. The button's
always on at this point, like it's attached to the
light switch in the booth for Joe Brady when he
walks in, because it's constantly on. Josh is making these
adjustments while the play is happening. Where As Christian Gonzales
(06:22):
has gotten healthier. You know, I always says tough to
get healthy playing football. Christian Gonzales managed them where the
separation like Josh is having to throw these seeing eye
touchdowns Tolosa gear. They did have a couple of plays
that actually just worked regular football plays last week, but
that was against the Cincinnati Bengals, a defense that hasn't
really been in a contending situation. Like the Patriots have
(06:45):
all your work. I feel confident and since we started
this conversation, since these numbers were printed, Greg, the people
have heard your voice. And now the Patriots are favored
by one and a half points in this game.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Wait what yes, do you know what the lines move?
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Greg?
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Because they want what are they gonna do with the
Stefan Diggs quotes from Wednesday morning talking about how they
liked being underdogs in this game.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
That will have to like get a correction and like.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well, yeah, they tried, they tried hard until they see
the line and now they now.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
They're changing everything is out the window, folks.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
No Milton Williams and probably no Harold Landry who got
hurt before the bye, and they're not like a deep
defensive line, and so I do think that could be
a mismatch. That first game when these two teams played,
Josh Allen like Marcus Jones got him on just a
great defensive play. He had a couple turnovers in that
game that that kind of was the difference in May
was nails at the end.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And it's a.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Big game for the conversation, huge for both because if
there is a.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Real this is the real Rodrig Rosenthal match up here?
The subtext of everything.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Why is that I'm talking about Josh Allen about in
terms of MVP?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I thought you're talking about May Stafford certainly May.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I mean to me, it's still pretty wide open that
anyone that has as a great month, we're like we're
winnowing out like the possible candidates. But Josh Allen his
last two weeks, but that was an incredible game anyone's
played all season, like from front to back in the snow,
like to do that against Like if he then goes
(08:18):
and does this against the Patriots and has like a
monster month.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
He's in the conversation.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Yeah, I've got the chart up, Josh.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I don't think he's so far behind Stafford in May,
especially not if he wins this game in December that
he can't make up that ground.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Well, recency bias will help with voters. But with regards
to the conversation, he did have that prime time game
where the Texans defense absolutely distominated the Bills in every capacity.
So here he's behind Jordan Love right now again Toyota
fan is on or Jordan Love keeps scoring points.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
One last thing on this game for the Bills. Kincaid
was back last week, and I think it really changes
their offense because now you're splitting up the tight end
reps equally between him Knox and and Spencer Hawes and
played Greg Jackson Hawes rather and it's like a few
less snaps than too for Cooks and Kean Coleman. I mean,
(09:14):
Tyrrel Shavers is now like leading. It just makes their offense,
which is clearly around the run, and Josh just doing
Josh things like make even more sense to have.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
Him out there.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Patrick. You know I have been tracking the is Greg
all the way back conversation the entire year as well,
and I did just want to share with you and
tens of thousands of listeners that and some viewers as well,
that audio medium Greg that yesterday we had a meeting
about some upcoming postseason tent pole events for NFL Daily
(09:48):
and one of them being the super Bowl, very excited about.
And we were talking about getting postgame interviews and post
Super Bowl game interviews and with the winning team, and
Greg brought up how it should be no problem to
get Drake.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
May I was just like, he'll it's like the first
time around, that's the time when it'll be easier postgame
to get him.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Was that a thinly veiled shot at a player who
had a win in a primetime game? And it was
difficult for Laura Rutledge to catch up.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
To one second? It was not look at the transition.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Because Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers are on
the road at Kansas City. Who is favored by four
and a half? Patrick mahomes good at postgame interviews too?
Does Greg hate the quarterback of the Los Angeles?
Speaker 5 (10:34):
I love all love for you.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
You are a Justin Herbert family and family.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
It wasn't his best moment I think he will admit
to that. I'm not defending that. I still love him.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Kevin Harlan and Trent Green.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Get to see these two teams battle for the second
time this season. Casey again four and a half point favorite.
The over under is forty one and a half. The
Chargers with their I need Herbo to stop protecting the
ball with his mangled hand. He was able to protect
it some. They're having to split it carries as Omarin
Hampton comes back. Can they finally, We've seen several teams
(11:09):
try to do it, come very close. Finally put the
nail in the Kansas City Chiefs Jordan coming up in
week fifteen.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I think they have a shot, honestly, and listen, the
Chiefs don't get good pressure, but you could really pressure
against this offensive line, so that actually might be a
hinge point. Chris Jones is coming off the best pressure
game of the season in terms of getting a season
high with seven pressures, and you know they're the charge
is probably gonna be without Trey Pipkins. Again, we all
(11:36):
watched Chargers Eagles. Greg watched it in person with his
son Walker, And if you didn't watch it, but you
wanted to know just exactly how bad the Eagles offense
was was and how many times they turn it over.
Without even like taking a peek at the box score,
all you have to do is know that Justin Herbert
(11:56):
was pressured nearly at a seventy nearly a seventy percent
rate and the Chargers still won the game. That's how
bad the Eagles offense was on the other side. And
so I feel like you're not gonna get a freak
game like that. Again. You're certainly not gonna get that
game from Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as
much of a slide this season as they're in, as
(12:17):
strange as they look this season. But you might get
a really solid game from the Kansas City Chiefs defense
against this.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
You're not going to get that pressure out of that
defense though either No. Carlof dis played pretty well and
you certainly were.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
But I'm i gotta tell you, Greg this, this offense,
this charge offensive line is like malpractice having it out
there with this there they went. They're entering their twentieth
offensive line combination minus Trey Pipkins of the season.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Maybe the biggest issue is that two guys in the
middle Bradley Boseman and Mackai Beckton are the starters fairly well.
Bozeman's not highly paid, but you know he was the
plan starter. Becton is highly paid, and those guys you
kind of are counting on them, and they maybe are
the biggest weaknesses.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Of the group. Yeah, they got to go against Chris Jones.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
And considering the way things have been, but I'm I'm
also looking at the Chiefs offensive line in their protection
of Patrick Mahon, considering the way that Khalil Mack, especially
the first game.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Khalil Mack was.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
So dominant in that game where he teleported past I
believe Taylor at that point and got to Patrick Mahomes
where it was just one of those Mahomes plays where
you just they get yards and they make it a
game where I don't feel like this version of the
Chiefs would even be in that game, considering the way
that it went and went down to the wire, and
(13:37):
you have to be able to run the ball. I
think against the Chargers where you look back to just
that nasty the worst Chargers game of the season on
the road at Jacksonville, when both Tuton and Etn went off.
Saquan and spart in spots in Sofi Stadium on Monday Night.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
But the Chiefs, the Chiefs aren't a threat there at all.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
And this is a better Chargers defense, I think. Yeah,
in general, they've been aggressive since the buye and they're healthy.
It's a good defense. And I do think of how
fitting it would be for all the times in the
last five years since Justin Herbert has entered the league
that the Chiefs just beat them down. Anytime Chargers fans
(14:21):
got their hopes up, the Chiefs were there to just
put them back in their place. Wouldn't it be fitting
like if they were the team that ends it for
them this season, especially thinking about like where they were
in Week one that really set the framework for how
this chief season was going to go. Like these games
that you expect to win and you end up losing
(14:42):
in the end like they did in Week one, and
I've come a long way, Like Justin Herbert's out there
with broken body, and like the wear and tear of
this season really shows up with these two teams when
you watch the play of them in Brazil versus now
they were so fresh and innocent. But didn't it be
nice if now old raggared Herbert is the one that
(15:04):
takes out the chief.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
And you know what, I've never doubted Justin Herbert as
a quarterback. I've never doubted him his toughness.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Ever.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I know that it was like quite the topic of
conversation as leadership whatever, like a couple of years ago.
You never watching him play, watching him around his teammates,
like you never doubt any of that. But there's something
about him with Jim Harbaugh where when Jim Harbaugh does
these interviews talking about Justin Herbert, he almost is like
daring him to be more of a badass, right, Like
(15:34):
he's almost like daring. Like the Booth was talking about
some of their production meetings and the conversations that they
were having with Jim Harbough, and Jim Harbo's like, yeah,
it's a broken hand. I once played through this that
the other gruesome, horrific injuries. So basically it's like the
expectation of what this team can be is raised, is
my point here, and that's I think something that's really
(15:56):
really important and something culturally maybe they hadn't had enter
intel entering this season and understanding this is where we're
at right now, and we're gonna like grit through it essentially,
because that's the Jim Harbaugh way.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I think kind of what puts the ceiling on, Like
my expectations for them is the passing game and and
the and the coordinator that's making the calls where you
get some familiar you start to remember, like as Charles
McDonnell pointed out, it's something I lamented back in Baltimore
receivers kind of in the same place which happened in Buffalo,
(16:31):
it's happening now, and it's like like your guy is
is back there, you know with again like the second
season in a row. He's got broken bones in his
left hand, and he's wearing a dinner plate like over there,
like like a Mickey Mouse glove that seems like it
came straight from Anaheim. And and like let's let's let's
have some space.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
I have something like more like like intimidating on that,
like could you draw like a skull and crossbones on it?
At least like you know, don't hit.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
That, don't hit I mean they got Keenan, Allen, Ladd, McConkie,
and Quinton Johnston on this team and they had to
combine forty yards in that game.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
This is sad space. That is malpractice.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
The reason they won, though, is because Herbert kind of
like Mahomes, when that quick pressure was getting there was
his ability to just make free rushers miss and pick
up five yards, ten yards, whatever it was going to be,
or just throw the ball away. And there's just something
about this Chargers team, and there's something about this Chiefs
team that I don't think it's going to last necessarily
(17:31):
for years. But if this game is close in the
fourth quarter, like I kind of trust that this Chargers
team will find a way.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
And I kind of.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Think this ever since on the very first throw of
the season. Do you remember what the first Chiefs throw.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Of the season was.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
It was Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball into a very
brutal hit for Xavier Worthy where that he couldn't come
down with and he left the game with an injury
on that very play and his inaccuracy this season, he
is twenty seven Patrick Mahomes in completion percentage over expected.
I don't think that's a perfect stat but I do
think they've just been a little off whoever's fault it was,
(18:08):
all season, even going back to that first play that
was a little off and Worthy ended up getting hurt
because of it, and now here they are just trying
to stay alive.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
And I think there's some matchable things that have frustrated
Patrick Mahomes about what he's seeing in the defensive backfield
that are reappliable by jesse Minter. Specifically, he's got that
defense playing great. Dante Jackson remember when he was in Carolina, Guys,
I'm sure you actually don't like he's having an absolutely
awesome season. They've got Tony Jefferson, the former Scout Raven
(18:38):
scout out there making game changing plays, and Derwin James
has I think been up and down, but when he
turns it on, he goes. They're getting the most out
of those linebackers. I just really think that the way
that it's not just that they're playing a shell against
Patrick Mahomes every single game. Now you saw it with
the Texans were able to do it really, really effectively.
They're playing a really cloudy, hard to die knows you
(19:00):
could be in this spot or that spot, a little
bit matchier type of shell zone. And I think that
that's really really special and jesse Minter can do that.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
It's telling to me that the game that could end
this Chief season is getting announced by the CBS third team.
Oh at one, DM, Wow, I mean I love Kevin Harlan,
he'd be He's my number one. He made that choice slight.
I'm just saying it's interesting. It's like dynasties die and
darkness there.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
But Kevin Harlan is eternal.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Yes, putting out the typeface on the front whether or
not democracy dies.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Apparently it's on that path.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
The Baltimore Ravens two and a half point favorites at
the Cincinnati Bengals, who were all over them a couple
of weeks ago on Thanksgiving, Greg the over under fifty
two and a half. Spirodidas as well as Adam Archinel
Ashletta on the call. The Bengals made a touch of
a donation late there in Buffalo that saw things go
the other way. Can their defense do it again against
(19:56):
Lamar and company?
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I would doubt it, But this Ravens' offense has enough
problems that you like. Which is the bigger issue, the
Ravens offense or the Bengals defense. On Thursday on that
Thanksgiving game, it was the Ravens offense ultimately making enough
mistakes in that game and I just think it's it's
(20:18):
clear to me that Lamar like is playing a little
I thought he played better in that game. I Everyone
is saying how injured. They think he looks well, and
maybe he does compared to the old Lamar, But I
thought he's moved pretty well the last two weeks, certainly
last week, but he's not getting much help from Derrick Henry.
I think it's safe to say Dereck Henry has slowed
(20:41):
down that the workload that he had last year at
his age, or it's just age in general, the explosive
ability from him isn't there as much the offensive line. Patrick,
I'm sure you're chagrined to see that your Daniel Fallele
slander that you've had this podcast all season has really
(21:01):
gone national.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
It's taken off.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
No, it's I mean, it's it's not just me.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
At some point, you would like for it to go
worldwide in Owings Mills to where it's a disservice to
be to be completely honest, because it's very difficult to
play this game at this level, and Daniel Fell is
a very large person who you know you don't necessarily
want him in open space with a defensive back. But
when that open space is is within the gaps of
the offensive line and the rushes is obviously coming. There's
(21:31):
just been so many reps of file blocking air this
season that I think it has limited people's expectations. Like
you're right now, forty seconds ago saying like Derrick Henry
might be washed.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
I think I'm not saying he's washed. I'm saying he's
not as good as he was.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Which thing is clear, which time is linear?
Speaker 4 (21:49):
Yeah, but I do think if if there's a little
if there's better play. And not not to say that
you have to do things differently, but as Lamar was limiting,
they they know what's coming, and that's true in different aspects,
Like they know that the run is not necessarily a
great option for the Baltimore Ravens in the red zone,
(22:09):
and they know exactly where to blitz because the Baltimore
Ravens have had issues in picking that up. And not
to put it all on one player, but it's an
entire organizational circumstance where you put seventy seven in this
position to play this way and you get the same
results every single time.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
At what point is something else done?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
And like you said, it is not just one person.
It is not just one player. So when I say this,
it is certainly not like Lamar is feeling a lot
of the effects of a lot of this structural issues,
I think, But he also is struggling himself, and he's
clearly not healthy, and he's missed Wednesday practice. He's kind
of on this new rest in recovery routine where he
(22:47):
has a DNP on Wednesdays and then he still plays
that following weekend, including this week. But the red zone stuff,
I mean, they are thirtieth in red zone touchdown percentage,
which is the worst of the Lamar Jackson era in Baltimore.
And part of it is because he is not a
threat in the run game either. He has still has
yet to force a single mistackle on design run on
(23:12):
on the design run plays, or any runs at all.
And and you know that's that's a problem because in
the red zone it adds a layer and a dimension
to the way you can attack a very small amount
of space and the way that defenders have to try
to cover you. And if the quarterback is such a
true like a truly a dual threat, we know he
can pass the ball when he's when he's passing the
(23:33):
ball well, and like he has in almost every season
to this point, he can pass the ball better than
pretty much any quarterback in the NFL, like gorgeous pure passer.
But he's also not really you don't really consider him
as having a number one receiver per se. Say, Flowers
has been productive, but I don't know if you would
call him a threat. That is being like truly bracketed
(23:55):
by defenses week after week after week. And what does
that do? That assigns everybody else to mathematical advantages against
every other player on the field. And then when you
take away the quarterback he's clearly not healthy, you take
away his legs, you're then giving even more away of
what is so layered historically of your offensive attack. It's many,
many problems at one time, but this is the worst
(24:18):
Ravens offense we've really seen over an extended period with
Lamar Jackson actually on the field and playing, and statistically
a lot of these stats back it up. But the
good news for the Ravens is that when we're talking
about historic, historic, historic worst, sure, the Bengals defense is
allowing six point three to two yards per play, which
(24:41):
is the fourth most in the Super Bowl era guys.
So good for the Ravens.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
It was getting better for a couple well, yes, except
if we hadn't just seen them handle him. I do
think the Ravens will bounce back, and I don't think
it should be slept on that. Like Lamar did rush
for a touchdown last week that he did, I think
look better, even if he's not the same guy running
and look to run more last week.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
So I think that's important.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Yeah, yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
If you want to extrapolate the agitation, the outward frustration
from Lamar where he was when he was more hurt.
You didn't see that, Like he's not wasting energy being
demonstrative on the sideline at people, specifically at day of
pilele because you know it wasn't feeling great. And you
see it now in the reactions where Mark Andrews breaks
(25:24):
up a touchdown pass for new Hopkins, in these other
situations where yeah, you do have reason to believe he's They.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Had four hundred and twenty yards last week.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
There were a lot of signs that it was coming around,
but they just it was a It was a frustrating game.
It was also frustrating to watch them put T Higgins
back in the game multiple times after concussion.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
It was the exact same situation, Greg like clear replay
of his head bouncing off.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
And then he goes into the concussion protocol and then
I was surprised to see he is practicing on a
limited basis again Wednesday, So there is a chance he'll
clear the protocol. But clearly he suffered symptoms or else
they wouldn't have put him back in it despite playing it.
But if he is not there that that would change.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Things for the Bengals.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Certainly, tight ends, by the way against the Bengals, it's
like a thing that every broadcast coup mentions every week
when you're playing the Bengals. But it is crazy that
they've given up something like three hundred plus more yards
against tight ends than any other team. And another Ravens
didn't quite hit that button a couple of weeks ago,
but they do have.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
A couple of tight end Yeah, they could do it
this time. They could do especially with Lamar feeling better.
To your point, I love that note about you could
see it all over on the sideline and I think
if it's just restructured this way, where getting that Wednesday.
Rest just helps his body feel better. I mean, by
all means, give him Thursday too. I mean this, dude,
it's not like you need to reteach or reinstall this
(26:41):
offense with him. He's been running it at the highest
level there is Oh, we've seen it.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
We've seen it with great quarterbacks over the years, depending
on the injury, depending on the season. I think Stafford's
had time like that. Brady certainly has. If that's what
needs to happen, it's what will happen, and if it
doesn't happen, and we're going to take a break with
this because this is a longer conversation. I just suddenly
got the feeling today. I just realized, like, this is
it for Harbor. If they don't make the playoffs, forget it.
(27:07):
And I kind of think if they don't win like
multiple games in the playoffs, I just and it's not
about that he's a bad coach. It's just like, sometimes
things come to an end, and this just feels like
a logical time that it would come to an end.
So it puts a lot of heat on what happens
down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
The Tennessee Titans head coach John Harbaugh.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
I got the Michigan job just came open.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Get that we're starting rumors with absolutely no grounding and reality.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Just vibes.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
That's what we're all about. We'll take a break, come back,
wrap up the week. Fifteen's back on NFL Daily. You
know one thing about having no byewee, more games of
(27:54):
the previous show, more time for us together, more time on.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
The good games. Maybe we'll maybe we'll all some quick
ones here in this.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Particular execon Why do you look at me saying that?
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Because there's only two people other than me, and there
are some good teams here, but not as you know,
the matchups there and is great all right?
Speaker 4 (28:13):
The Cleveland Browns at the Chicago Bears, who were seven
and a half point favorites after a loss, and what
was a great game that came down to the wire
against the Green Bay Packers, the over unders thirty nine
and a half. Kevin Coogler and Darryl Johnston on the
CALLDR Sanders went.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
Off last week. What does he do against the Bears
this week?
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Yeah, I'm excited to see because this will be a
great a great test. This will be a great test
and his continued development. I love this. This defense. Him
playing against this defense, I'm excited to see what they do.
The Browns themselves seem sort of resigned yet again, once
another year in a row, to their fate. I'd be
really surprised if many in that building are still in
(28:53):
their roles by the end of at the end of
this season as it concludes. But in the meantime, I
think we're watching a young core uarterback grow up in
the league. On the other side, we're watching what can
happen when you pair that young quarterback with the right
team around him, with the right head coach in Caleb
Williams and I, as you guys know, I love watching
the Bears offense. I love watching this run game in
(29:15):
particular with my dude, Kyle Menung dude and once again
put on a show last week and expected to do
the same this week.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Well, it's one of the best matchups in the week,
I think, yeah, when the Bears at the ball. Now,
the Browns are coming off one of their worst games
of the year. They got pushed around a little bit
by the Titans up front, so it is fair to
point out they are not faultless like that was maybe
only like the second time this year where the defense
let like let them down. It doesn't happen often, but
(29:44):
I think it's a it's a fascinating test or that
Bears offense against this pass rush.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
They've had Ozzi.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Trapilo playing well, got some stuff too at left tackle
after getting you know, is a high draft pick that
didn't get much playing I'm the first couple months of
the season, but through injury he's come in and he's
played really well.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
So I think it's a great test.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
And I do think the Bears, I mean, the Browns
are a dangerous opponent for their for their opponents in
the final month this season, just because if you have
one side of the ball that that good, like an
upset is always possible.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
That That's why we thought things would go significantly different
last week. We'd have liked for the like it was
the the Tony Pollard game that was a career high
in rush yards where you know, you're wondering how this
this Ben Johnson Bears rushing attack, which has looks so
good in the past few weeks, is going to look
against Cleveland and what they can take away from that performance.
(30:41):
And but again it's late in the season. It's the
Browns The only thing that most people are gonna be
interested in is Miles's magic number is now with.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Him and Shuder actually for a three win team, they
have a lot of heat, and I think if Shuder
plays well over this final month and their matchups aren't
that tough In terms of the defenses overall, it's Bears, Bills, Steelers, Bengals.
I would say that's an average the decent setup for
the Browns offense specifically, not for their defense.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
It's a lot of good, three great offenses they're playing.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
But if he can just play how he's playing, I
do think that'll establish enough of a level where they're
not necessarily looking at quarterbacks in the draft because they'll think, hey,
did we get like a Teddy It's a different type
of player, but did we get a Teddy or Derek
Carr level of player that like we can roll with
(31:35):
for a season and then see that sort of level
where it's like, yeah, he's probably not going to be
top five or top ten, but can he just like
stabilize the quarterback position for a year or two and
we'll see and maybe he'll develop into a capitol G guy.
I think he has a shot at doing that. In
the next month is going to really inform their decisions.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Oh I love the slate for him because, yeah, it
will be a challenge, but it will be a really good,
like teaching tool type of challenge. Like you need to
play these types of teams if you are a developing court,
of these types of defenses specifically, and you also need
to be faced with a lot of different situations that
these teams are going to put the Browns offense in
(32:15):
and put shudor Sanders in. You're facing a wide variety
of pressure design, You're facing a wide variety of run
pass balance based on the weaknesses of the upcoming opponents. Basically,
you're going to learn so much about this guy through
the next month. And I love that about what he's
got ahead of him because as you guys, we talked
(32:35):
about this all of us did before the draft, Like
he's got to me and to us, he's got a
really high ceiling. And so if you can watch these
types of things get put together, and you can watch
how they game plan with him, and how they strategize
and how they attack a wide variety of what he'll see, Like,
I love this for him. This is gonna be this
is like grad school. Honestly, this next month.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
You know who doesn't have a high ceiling. Who's a
Deshaun Watson.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
True, haven't hit that on the show, but the reports,
including from our network, that he's gonna be on the
roster next year and he'll have a chance that could be.
I understand why they're out there, and I and I
maybe the part of the Browns believe.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
I think they're just trying to get trade value.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
I think they're trying to find a way to get
someone to maybe essentially have the reverse brock Osweiler trade
where you pay a little bit, they like take on
some of Deshaun Watson's salary to get a draft pick
from the brown just to get him off the roster.
I do not believe for a second he will ever
play a snap for the Cleveland Browns again, and I
kind of doubt he'll ever play a snap in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Part of why I don't think that will be successful.
I think you're spot on about why this is coming
out and from from Wentz or from hoopst But I
think part of what is going to make this dead
in the water is every other owner in the league
was so pissed off about that contract that there's no
way they're gonna help now help with that count.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Oh, it's a losing game, Like, I don't even know
why they're trying. But Browns fans also shouldn't freak out
that he's going to be competing to start next year.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I just don't believe.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
Worthrawlimandra that the ownership of the NFL it was appalled
at the Deshaun Watson situation as it pertains to the
contract the Las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Raiders at well, said Patrick.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
At the Philadelphia Eagles, who are favored by eleven and
a half points, Greg rosdalt Over unders thirty eight and
a half, Joe Davis and g Regg on the call,
Jalen had the worst game that he's ever played in football.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
I would say, how does he bounce back?
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Yeah, well, because he's a talented quarterback.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
They asked him if they would consider benching Jalen Hurts,
and again they did once ask Bill Belichick if there
was any thought of benching Tom Brady at one point,
like these questions do happen?
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Do you remember that one?
Speaker 3 (34:49):
All the way back?
Speaker 1 (34:51):
I'm telling you actually it was actually my friend Tom
Kerran who asked it, Tommy, speaking of tom starting to
take some heat for bad decision making, that's not helping
another business, Tom Brady, or this Las Vegas race.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
Questionable investment from Tom Brady.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
So that's interesting to me.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
They gotta just just have a good bring out that
positivity rabbit and get the running game going. I am
as worried about the running game as I am. Jalen
Hurts forty percent stuffed Right, here's the stat i ad
for you last week that's at or near the line
of scrimmage for takewuad Market forty percent of their runs
against the run defense you said isn't very good, which
maybe is true, but like, yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
Well you think ultimately, like Scotland University can only do
so much if there's no like laptops or pencils, and
when like Landon Dickerson is out there like with what
what's left of a leg trying to play where you
wonder like if Stoutland and the coaching staff are looking
up at Howie like you're.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
Doing it again, Howie.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
But as far as what's available for us here on
the offensive line, like maybe could have done something at
the deadline because this was a problem that kind of
persisted as the season went on.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Lane Johnson is supposed to return at some point. Hell
maybe you will be this week, maybe won't be, but
it's a week to week thing.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
Speaking of legs, my most exciting thing we've got about
this game six of Us is that we're going to
get to hear Greg Olsen, who competed with Tom Brady
or his in competition as a broadcaster with Tom Brady,
call a game uh pertaining to a true disaster of
an operation right now in the last potential spice m
(36:33):
But that's why I wouldn't call it a revenge game.
But I am excited about it.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
But that's why you know, Tom like had Greg Olsen
on his podcast or vice versa in the offseason and tried,
you know that he was said that you know, he
was very nice to him and stuff and that they
they you know, tried to calm the waters that maybe.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
Well, I mean, g Rex is not going to take
open shots like he wasn't within that you know Patriots
situation wherever, you.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
Know, competitors are always competitors, even and if they're not
playing anymore.
Speaker 5 (37:01):
Maybe he's grounding tape a little.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
I know, he's not cloning his dog, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Yeah, I don't. I don't think there's a ton here.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Obviously, if they don't, like even cover this number against
the Raiders, that'd be a disappointment. I did notice the
Siriani effect, I think on their offense, which you know
he was supposedly having a heavier hand and taking it
was a lot of empty last week didn't work very well,
but a lot of empty. And then I think the
more sticky part of it was they were taking more
(37:30):
shots and there were more like longer developing like throw
the ball down the field type plays in that game
against the defense designed to prevent that then almost all season.
So I do think maybe you'll see that more out
of the Eagles. It will work this week.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
Well, yeah, it'll work better this week because what are
they going to be playing against? Single high all game.
That won't change.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
They're going to need at least a two touchdown lead
in the final seconds, So Pete Carroll's going to kick.
Speaker 5 (37:54):
That field goal. Great broke things a little better.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Also, by last point on that Bunny Nike was man.
Cooper dejen is a hell of a player to waw live.
Just watch him on every play I'm like, that is
that is what an All pro looks like that he
was impressive.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
He's so smooth the way that he attacks and constricts space.
Like if you if to really appreciate a player like that,
and I always used to do this with Jalen Ramsey,
was you have to watch the All twenty two like
skip you, we love you, Greg. We'll listen to the broadcast,
but skip the broadcast of this one and just watch
(38:28):
the All twenty two copy and just watch it because
it is. It's gorgeous, it's a thing. It's a work
of art, the way that they have that role in.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Another chance for a guy who's the sliding doors of
the NFL, Vic Fangio, where it's all connected to Vic.
Speaker 3 (38:43):
Fangio and Brett Rippin.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
The Washington Commanders on the road after getting toasted thirty
one to nothing against the Minnesota Vikings taking on the
New York Giants who are favored by two and a
half points. The over under is forty seven and a half.
Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma, they're on the call where
we get a chance to see Jackson Dart back up
(39:08):
against the defense that kind of struggled against j. J. McCarthy, Jordan,
how do you think Jackson Dart looks?
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Well?
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Oh uh, this should be fun, right, you know, I
think you'll see him.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
It's the closest thing you've ever had to a non answer,
just like I don't have.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
I don't have anything I.
Speaker 5 (39:31):
Answer to me.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
It's what's not being said. No, I mean, there I have.
It's it's it's amusing me actually, because going over our
notes every week and getting all these these notes ready
to go for this game. I sat and stared at
this bracket in my notes page for quite some time
because I have very little to say about this game.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
Well, the Giants haven't played, you know, they just had
to buy That first game back from Dart was uneven.
In general, I think he's been a pleasant surprise as
a rookie, and if he can close out strong this month,
that's important for him and the Giants, just because it's
been a really good rookie season. He does seem like
like I was talking about with Shadur, he's been at
(40:11):
another level of like I do feel like he's a
guy you can build around and see what you can
make happen. So you want to see him continue to
play well, and on the other side, like Jade Daniels
isn't playing and that's disappointing. He's had a really disappointing
season because he's been hurt, but even when he's been
on the field, it hasn't been the same, which makes
it more disappointing that he's not healthy. What can you do?
(40:32):
But it's another Marcus Mariota game. They're not ruling out
Jaden Daniels for the rest of the season. But reading
between the lines, yeah, I think that's that's on the table.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
There's just no way to know where. Well.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
They've got to rebuild, a partial rebuild at least ahead
of them, especially multiple positions along that defense. Really the
most intriguing thing. I think Jackson Dart's great. I think
he's going to be their quarterback. If he can stay
healthy and out of the blue tent, he will, He'll
be their quarterback for a while. I think he's got
an I've seen enough at this point, and he clearly
(41:06):
galvanizes his teammates. They like him, they like playing with him.
I would love to see him operate with a little
bit more of an arsenal around him what this actually
looks like. But for what three games. We just don't
really know. What I think is a more intriguing plot
point of the Giants season right now is like it's
like an episode of Traders or like Survivor or something.
(41:26):
Every week someone's getting voted off Giants Island. In this case,
Brian Cox, the defensive line coach, was fired by the team,
and reports, including by my colleague Dan Duggan at The Athletic,
said that it was because there was some agitation about
the seats on the team plane flying home, which Mike
(41:46):
Kafka didn't quite address in his postgame or in his
press conference starting the week. So every week you're just
starting to see someone's getting voted off week by week
by week, in a slow drip until it's all gone.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Shout out Brian Cox, still getting it done in the
NFL or not?
Speaker 5 (42:04):
What now?
Speaker 4 (42:05):
I'm just I'm trying to imagine what the seat conversation, yeah,
could have possibly, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
I too, am curious about such a thing.
Speaker 5 (42:13):
It's never just the seats, assuming there's some other stuff.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Well, there was also some some some commentaries. This is why,
I mean, you know, they've had to deal with some crap.
That's a great beat up there because they know the
context of certain things. And and Dan was saying, Brian
Cox and Brian Dable very close, and so there's perhaps.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Well, so if you remember Brian Cox as a player,
maybe I'm aging myself here. Whether as a player or
as a coach, he does not seem like a man
who would suffer fools gladly or toe the company line.
He would be a line stepper in a fun way.
Possible for me, but maybe not for his bosses.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
And like to his credit, right, yeah, you you know,
you're told to tow the company line.
Speaker 5 (42:57):
But if you don't necessarily need it.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
Yeah, maybe he got some lined up on the outside.
Maybe you get some else line.
Speaker 5 (43:03):
We just not and tell people what they can do
with a particular job.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
You dn't see Defensive line coach Ryan Cock.
Speaker 4 (43:10):
Jacobe Brissette and the Arizona Cardinals on the road taking
on the Houston Texans, who were favored by nine and
a half. They just keep winning, Greg Rosenthal. The over
under is forty two and a half. Chris Myers and
Mark Schliff there to watch a spectacular defense go up
up against the team that almost exclusively throws the ball.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
At this point, it is outrageous. Trey Benson on the
Cardinals is now out for the rest of the season.
There was some hope he would come back. In fact,
he returned to practice and then I guess it didn't
go well, And so that only outlines, yes, Patrick, that
they are a pass first attack and they like played
quite well like for a half against the Rams. The
(43:49):
problem on offense, You're giving me a rolling eyes. They
literally scored on their first like was it two or
three possessions, and then they had one drive where Jacoby
misses one and then suddenly they're down by two touchdowns
because the Rams are scoring a touchdown and it's just
every single drive.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
It's it's tough to play football that way.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
But it has been fun to see Trey McBride on
his path and this would be the biggest test possible
against this team. Although weirdly, the Texans have been bad
against like slot spot players this year and he's out
there sometimes.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
But Aziz al sha has been great against tight end.
They're using him more in coverage. He totally locked down
Travis Kelcey. Now I think Trey McBride's playing better than
Travis kelcey of course right now. But but Aziz Al
Shaher is a monster in past defense.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Right now, Mike McBride leads the NFL and receptions. He's
over nine hundred yards too, so I think he's on
his way to his first first team All Pro.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
Who else would it be? I think it's Trey McBride.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
I love that, the one player I didn't curse this year.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
There you go, he's too good to get cursed.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
It is a little weird team the Texans favored by
nine and a half in the year twenty twenty five.
It really shows how many people are are going over
to your side, Patrick of them as a Super Bowl contender,
which I agree there, Well.
Speaker 4 (45:02):
It's because of they got what you were calling four
weeks ago, just like normal. It's just ai offensive line,
normal regular and they have been and you know a
mid pressure where the Chiefs were crowding line, Spags was
blitzing Shroud what felt like the entire second half, even
you know, in situations where Andy Reid put them in
a position where they had to try to get negative
(45:22):
plays and you know, with bullets flying, Stroud looked pretty
solid to the extent where you know, we don't ever
since like the you make it the mac Wilson injury,
or maybe the the schedule for this Cardinals defense, where
it's just been a precipitous.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Fall every week. They have some really crappy luck injury.
Paris Johnson the tackle being won this week, last week's
brained mcl so he's going to be out, and that
just really stinks. They had. We like the Cardinals every
off season lately, very recently in terms of there. We
see their ideas, and we like some of their players,
and we like the way that some of the scheme
(45:59):
works and and all of that. But man, they can't close.
They can't close a game, and they can't close a season,
and it's just tough. It's a bad combo, and that's
why they're here right now. The thing about the Texans
that I love right now is that they're getting more
precision out of their young receiver c J. Stroud is
getting some great production from Jayden Higgins out of Iowa State,
(46:20):
who they absolutely love. They love that receiver's room and
that coach Matt Campbell so much in fact, that they
drafted his teammate as well. But Jaden Higgins is playing
great and they're getting just they look like you said
they look normal. They look at least middle of the
pack on offense. And when you have a defense as
elite as that group is, you can work with that.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
And you can run on this Cardinals team what he
marksmiths practice Wednesday. But he did that last week too,
So I think he's gonna be fine. They need him
to be fine. Nick Chubb is a little bang up,
but you're right, Higgins is kind of playing the role
that I thought Christian Kirk would play. Kirk is out there,
he's playing. They actually have a lot of weapons. Texans
are alive.
Speaker 4 (47:00):
One of the throws that Shroud missed me every week
great protection on was to Christian Kirk. So maybe they
get everything going as we get to I do own
apology to Brady Cook. I was unfamiliar with his game
last week. I've done a little more digging. I'm looking
back to, you know, his first big playing time in
college football against Georgia when they lost forty three to six.
(47:22):
But he got better, he went on and he made
his way to the National Football League. And now we
may have Brady Cook planned for the Jets with Tarad
Taylor in his growing injury on the road at the
Red Hot Jacksonville, Jack Warters Jordan, who were favored about
twelve and a half points. Tom McCarthy and Ross Tucker
on the call the over under his forty one and
a half. Can the Jets do anything to slow down
(47:44):
this red hot Jackson?
Speaker 3 (47:45):
I love what the Jags are doing right now. I
do want to apologize to the Jets and to Brady
Cook because when I watched that I had that game
last week. One thing that I had dominantly in my
notes that I should have mentioned or should have pushed
in somehow inta probably rambling about some nonsense like I
tend to do, would was how many drops the receivers had.
Brady kept put a couple of nice throws together. He
(48:07):
put together a d a really nice drive at the
end of the game before he was ultimately intercepted. But
on a would be touchdown, it'll advise throw also, so
those are also happening. But he had probably in the
double digits of passes dropped by his receivers in that
game last week. Now does that make a difference against
the Jags this week? No, I don't think so. Trevor
(48:27):
Lawrence is coming off the best game of his career.
There to me, there is that this is not.
Speaker 2 (48:32):
An argument for like, he had some pretty good three games.
Speaker 3 (48:36):
The level of Trevor, but this wasn't a this wasn't
a downpour, Greg. This was in a downpour where you
expect the Carson Wentz level of modern Carson Wentz Trevor
Lawrence to emerge, right, and instead he was a better
version of Trevor Lawrence, and he was a more he
had more personality and talking to people over in Jacksonville,
(48:59):
they love that his personality is emerging, that he's not
so within himself or maybe like even a little shell
shocked from some of the stuff that he's gone through
and observed. Just organizationally over the last couple of years.
He's like butting heads with Liam Cohen on the sideline
and he's similar to what we talked about justin Herbert
early a little bit earlier this year when he did
(49:19):
the point, the first down points and all this stuff. Yeah,
his personality as who they want him to be as
this quarterback is coming out. That's a good thing. That's
a very good thing. And it matches the level of
aggressiveness and enthusiasm that the rest of this team is
playing with and really has played with all season.
Speaker 1 (49:36):
Yeah, I wrote down in my notes like athletic arrogance
from Lawrence. I love we he was playing cocky, like
the throws he was trying. He's always a guy who
tries stuff. But some of the running he has looked
to run more the last couple of weeks. We talked
all off season that the one fly in the ointment
with the Jags was Liam Cohen was brought in to
help bring Trevor to the next level and we wanted
(49:58):
to see it click. And I think the last two
weeks are the best two weeks even all extended back
a week that he's had since that twenty two season
in which he somehow got an MVP like boat lower down.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
How did that happen? Really on that nine of.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
Eight Jackson, But he he had a little stretch in
that season where he was absolutely on fire, and in
the last couple of weeks really remind me that. And
I thought the biggest development in the game other than
that was it was a great Brian Thomas junior game.
It looked like the old Brian Thomas junior. He had
one like really routine catch which actually was over the
middle of the field.
Speaker 2 (50:32):
Oh cut. It was more just like sit in the
zone type of play.
Speaker 1 (50:36):
But his speed makes a zone look so much slower
because like he just gets to that spot so fast,
and Trevor threw it with anticipation and he's opened by
like ten yards because they you just can't account for
that kind of speed on like an intermediate route. And
then he had two great other catches, you know, one
on the sideline on one of the best throws of
(50:57):
the year by by Lawrence and another WITCHI babble a
little bit like on a slot fade, but he caught
it in the end and h like three big time plays.
And like Jacoby Myers is great, but Jacoby Myers doing
his Jacoby Myers thing with a truly explosive weapon next
to him that now you're cooking with gas.
Speaker 5 (51:15):
You get a chance to see the vision.
Speaker 3 (51:18):
Agenda, the Jordan agenda.
Speaker 4 (51:21):
But also on that on that BTJ catch on the sideline,
also on the t Higgins touchdown. We gotta we gotta
clear up in the rule book what hand fighting is,
because when the receivers are making these catches with one
hand because the other one is being grabbed and held,
it's that's fast serferent like the I know BTJ bobbled
it because he only had one harm YEP with which
(51:42):
to work with. We gotta we gotta start throwing that.
Speaker 3 (51:44):
I love it. I think Parker Washington's going to be
back this week. He sit the game last week with
like a weird couple of weeks ago, right with the yeah,
super weird moment where he like doubled over. He's grabbing
his side out of nowhere. He is an absolutely electric
kickoff in punt return, so their special teams has really
come along. But also he's really finding a niche inside
(52:05):
the offense as well. Him and Jacoby Myers are rotating
with each other like sort of orbiting around inside and
outside of the slot. And that's interesting to me because,
as we you know, I'm personally invested in this passing
game and I am so interested in how many combinations
they can deploy. Out of the fact that they're not
just using Jacoby Myers on the perimeter, nor Brian Thomas Junior,
(52:29):
nor Parker Washington. These guys are starting to interchange in
a way that we know that this offense goes to
the next level and takes another step forward when it
can it can run all of those different types of
combinations against the defense and do so effectively and really
really well.
Speaker 4 (52:45):
I mean, where does once we get back in terms
of health? If if Parker Washington comes back, Britain strange,
Kobe Myers, that's a pretty damn good BTJ Parker Washington.
Speaker 3 (52:55):
This silt.
Speaker 5 (52:58):
It looks pretty good. Ellen.
Speaker 4 (52:59):
An update from early Greg, the line has gone back
to the Buffalo bill.
Speaker 2 (53:03):
Wait, were we just wrong earlier? What happened?
Speaker 5 (53:07):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (53:07):
This is crazy.
Speaker 5 (53:08):
The line moves because they want to spur.
Speaker 3 (53:10):
Actually they're listening to Greg.
Speaker 2 (53:11):
That is crazy.
Speaker 1 (53:12):
And yes, we have just wrapped up The Texans and
Jaguars are in a new place in their season where
they are favored heavily. Can they both just take care
of business take another step to the playoffs. The Jaguars
could be ten and four after this week. All they
gotta do is beat Brady Cook and they are getting healthier.
Patrick McCary, Robert Hainsey. The interior line was back last week.
(53:33):
Trevon Walker is now healthy. Will you healthy again? Like
the Jaguars are a Super Bowl contender? I truly believe
every team as currently you know how the AFC looks
is a Super Bowl contender.
Speaker 2 (53:45):
Maybe I take all the Steelers.
Speaker 5 (53:47):
Sorry, we miss you, Patrick McCarry. That's it.
Speaker 2 (53:51):
We did it Week fifteen.
Speaker 1 (53:54):
Excellent slate early and late, and yes we're back to
having a full fifteen games, so we'll be back on
Sunday to recap all that. Before that, you will hear
a number of exciting shows in the feed. Of course,
our usual Picks against the Spread, the greatest streak in
sports continued because of that Monday night victory by the Chargers.
Ten straight winning weeks on the Picks against the Spread
(54:16):
Pod with Cynthia, and then we of course have our
Saturday siccos with all Econnolly. But most importantly, we've got
Jordan Rodrieg in her new series coming up, Power Players,
So check that all out. It's coming later this week
on NFL Daily. Let's get out of here.
Speaker 2 (54:33):
A lot of honk. You did it. We were just
ready with that.
Speaker 5 (54:39):
Also full of delay.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Wow, he's a showman.
Speaker 1 (54:44):
See you next time on NFL Daily
Host
Gregg Rosenthal
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