Welcome back to NFL Game Day View we start on Christmas Day with the game of the week preview; 49ers vs Ravens. Both teams are the #1 in power rankings in their own conferences. We have game picks and score predictions for this potential Super Bowl match up.
The Dallas Cowboys are hoping to bounce back disaster in buffalo. They go to Miami to take on the Dolphins. Mike McDaniel says he feels good about Tyreek Hill playing this weekend after he was out last week. Will the Dolphins get their first win against a good team or will The Cowboys bounce back. We got picks and predictions.
The Christmas Eve Sunday night special features the Patriots vs the Broncos. This game is sure to be a defensive battle with little to no offense. It’s a must win for the Broncos to keep their playoff hopes alive but will Bailey Zappe and the Patriots end the Broncos season.
The last time the Lions won the NFC North was in 1993 and they have a chance to win it this weekend against Minnesota. The Lions offense have
The Pittsburgh Steelers play off hopes are hanging on by a thread as they face the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend. Are the Bengals going to end the Steelers season? Although both teams have a string of injuries Cynthia Frelund what the Steelers need to do keep their playoff hopes alive.
Tune in for these games and game picks, score predictions for the rest of the NFL Week 16 schedule on NFL GameDay View.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
NFL Game Deview is a production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Happy holidays, everybody, Welcome to game debut, presented by Mercedes Benz,
Patrick Claybound. Glad to be here with Greg Rosenthal and
Cynthia Freeland, who made up ground last week by going
ten and six. Congratulations. Hey, it's it's now your job
to catch Greg because.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You've passed that.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
We both we both have to catch Greg. We just
need to bring him down. It does no matter which
one of us does it.
Speaker 5 (00:32):
That smug little smile in that crown.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
All right, let's see it then stopped it must all right,
let's look at it, smugg lily.
Speaker 5 (00:39):
There it is. Ready put that.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Oh oh, I got some of the Santa hats.
Speaker 6 (00:43):
Yeah, the leading Santa hat. That's right, I got a.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Leading Santa hat headshot.
Speaker 6 (00:48):
Take some new hot photos this week. Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
All right.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
So right now, Greg would be the favorite to win
in the picks these uh, you know, three games ahead
of Cynthia, four games ahead of me.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Speaking of picks to win things is of a.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Super Bowl odds. The game we're looking forward to in
Las Vegas right now. The Ravens and the forty nine
Ers far and away. I had just ahead the folks
know that there might be some.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
People that still believe in Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Chiefs at plus six and then on down Ravens Eagles.
Speaker 6 (01:22):
I've noticing a certain trend with these first four. Yeah,
something is.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
People think the forty nine ers are good.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
We might be getting a potential Super Bowl preview on
Christmas Night. The Ravens and Niners top seeds in the
AFC and the NFC, both at eleven and three. San
Francisco winning six straight coming.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Off the buy. Does Baltimore finally slow them down?
Speaker 6 (01:42):
I think they slow them down, and it's closer than
that five and a half points number we're looking at.
But I do think the forty nine Ers win because
the Ravens defense is gonna have to decide. Every defense
facing the forty nine Ers has to do this, pick
your poison, what do you want to try to stop?
And I think it's gonna have to be their passing game.
I think they're going to play in nickel defense for
most of this game. They're going to change up their
coverages and they're gonna say and it thinks if Kristin
(02:05):
McCaffrey beats us, especially running the ball. We might just
have to live with that, and they probably won't live
with that, because Christian McCaffrey is one of the best
running backs I've ever seen, having the best season he's
ever had. If you look at the numbers in terms
of yards after contact, second in the league. There's a
stat in terms of yards that you gain after a
(02:25):
defender is within a yard of you. According to the
next Gen sets, he's third in the league. And you're saying, oh,
of course he's second or third in the league, but
that's after having like one hundred more carries than everyone else.
You can give him the ball more than anyone, and
he's still better than anyone. And he's a great receiver.
I think he's the difference.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I agree with you on everything. You can just everything
he said, just you know, slide it right in there.
But I have a four point win for the Niners
in this one. Twenty six to twenty two is my
final score. I want to talk about something that I'm
going to be watching for this offense, and that's what
happens with brock Party on those downfield throws.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
This is an area where if you look at what
happens with.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Not just brock Party, but the guys who are supposed
to catch the ball, they have the highest open rate
nearly thirty five percent of the time on downfield passes.
Are they wide open? Well, what are the Ravens do
you talk about? They play more nickel, et cetera. They're
actually the best at forcing tight window throws on the
same types of passes. So if we're really thinking maybe
these Niners are going to go all the way and
(03:20):
maybe we'll see them in Vegas, they have to have
a solution for that. So I'm gonna be watching brock
Party here, and you know, he's leading the MVP race
right now. I'm kind of with you, though, I think
maybe you should actually be Christian McCaffrey. But if he
can nail those deep passes against this defense, now we're
really talking.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, And I think ultimately we're all in alignment on
Christian McCaffrey being the most notable players.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
He's good on this team.
Speaker 6 (03:42):
Hearing from forty nine ers fans because they like one
guy better.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Than the other. You have to pick one, and you
gotta pick the one that the island.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I have to pick this game as well, and I
am not picking the Baltimore Ravens. Hello first down with
Lamar Jackson started. I also think they're thirty nine ers
are very very good. But I do think Mike McDonald's defense,
as Greg said, as Cynthia said, that they have to pick,
you have to pick what goes wrong. And I really
the most difficult thing for this Ravens defense to defend
is going to be George Kittle, especially not just as
(04:10):
a receiver, but as a blocker as well, because they
rely on getting pressure with four and three guys so
much so consistently. It's just not something you can do
against this team. I also would like to say, because
there's there's like two happy fan bases out there, whenever
you lose a game to the forty nine ers, apparently
everything falls apart. They play this game in a neutral
(04:31):
site here in a month and change, I will pick Baltimore.
Speaker 6 (04:35):
No, I like it in ahead of it.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Hey, if the.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Score run that back, make sure to clip that off
right now and we'll run it back.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
If Baltimore is in the super Bowl, I'm sure everybody
here will be shocked if I picked them.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Let's talk more about this game.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Especially some player props for the Ravens of the forty
nine ers greg more or less than one and a
half passing touchdowns for the m V party.
Speaker 6 (04:56):
I'm still going with McAffrey, but I am going to
go more. Look, we all think this is going to
be a close game. In fact, all three of us
had the rape threading the needle keeping it closer than
five and a half. But even in a scenario where
the Ravens play well and they use their disguise coverages
to force a couple prety mistakes, I still think it's
turnovers for the forty nine ers. But on the possessions,
(05:18):
they don't score turnovers, they're scoring touchdowns and Purdy gets
more than two.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Okay, all right, Southan more or less? How about this?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Why don't we combine rushing and passing yards for Lamar
two hundred and eighty five and a half.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Well, you know why we all have this game so
close because of Lamar Jackson, who actually would be my
pick for MVP right now. If you're looking ahead of
time and I'm looking at Lamar Jackson's opportunity, I'm a
little worried with Ronnie Stanley going in and out of
the lineup last week. That was a big problem, but
I'm not worried that Jackson won't get both when you
take it together. I just don't necessarily think it's going
to be passing. I think it's gonna be more Lamar
(05:53):
using his legs.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Last one, I'll take it. It's five and a half
receptions for Deebo Samuel. I really think if you have
a hope of beating this football team, you've got to
plan to keep Debo from doing this, like catching a
six yard pass and taking at sixty yards to the house.
I think that is the focus, and perhaps that's why
it's more of a Brandon Ayuk, more of a CMC,
more of a George Kittle game.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I have less than five and a half catches.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
And Samuel Hayes yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Clearly Deebo Samuel is bad.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Let's move on Dallas, Hoping a bounce back from last
week's It's Fair College disaster in Buffalo, they go to
Miami now to take on the Dolphins. Mike McDaniel says
he feels good about Tyreek Hill playing.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
How do you feel about the games?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
I feel great about Mike McCarthy's squad McCarthy, but just kidding,
I like better twenty seven to twenty three. I have
Miami in this matchup why because of something I saw
without Tyreek Hill. Both O lines are dicey this week.
We see a lot of people on the injury report
for each one. Now, if you have all of these
different formations and you're lining up in a lot of
(06:54):
different looks with this guy here, that guy there, things
we haven't even seen before that could spell trouble. Now,
I understand that this Cowboys defense is used to seeing
like literally the same play. It's called ISO and high
school players they often know it because ISO was getting
smoking them last week. But remember, you don't really get
had twice with the same thing. So I think all
(07:15):
the different ways and scheming with Miami's gonna guys, Miami's
gonna finally beat a good team.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
We're gonna have to Icegate home.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Oh my goodness, unless you run the table and beat
everybody your somehow fond.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I'm disgusted by this.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I will take Miami twenty six to twenty four, because, yes,
sometimes things look different, and coach Mike he's good at
making the other coach Mike fine that I think it's
gonna win this game. But honestly, we go back to
the loss against the Arizona Cardinals, we go back to
last week against Buffalo. You can run on the Dallas
(07:51):
Cowboys and you can make it look pretty bad. James
Cook still feels like he's scoring touchdowns in that game
where he most are.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Doing it better than anybody in.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The league right now, especially considering the way this offense
is operating. I just have to take the Dolphins at home.
With the ground game playing the way it is good.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Yeah, I think it's the toughest game to pick all week,
But all week I was leaning Dolphins, picking Dolphins. We
show up to the pre show meeting, I'm picking Dolphins.
I don't like all this agreement. I'm switching it to
the Cowboys. Let's go, And it's because of Dak Prescott.
We're gonna just greg it. It's like, oh, who's been
the best quarterback in the league all seas until last week.
Dak Prescott, Like remember all the way back in Week
(08:30):
fourteen when he was basically tied for the MVP lead,
And now I see these shows, It's like, well, we've
got four men who have a chance to win MVP
and Dak's not even listed. I like both these quarterbacks.
I like Dak at this point in his career a
little better. I think I was in my feelings because
I made my least favorite pick of the year last year,
picking against the Bills for the first time, and the
(08:52):
Cowboys didn't show up. But I do think this Cowboys
team is different. Game script is really important. They've been
so good early in games getting ahead and then that
doesn't expose their run defense to facing a lot of runs.
I think they can get back to that because Dak's
been good all season long and he gets it done
for me with a Jess Greg and.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I'll get back on my soapbox. Both teams can be good. Yeah,
like one of these teams is gonna lose, but it's okay.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
They're gonna be.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
They good tie the good tik they good tie time.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
And we celebrate everything.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Let's celebrate the Holiday Classic back on NFL Network Christmas Eve,
a special Sunday night of primetime football is the Patriots
and Broncos Light up the Night The NFL Holiday Classic
Christmas Eve Live at eight pm Eastern only on NFL Network,
also streaming on NFL Plus let's dive into this Patriots
Broncos Christmas Eve matchup. It literally a must win game.
(09:41):
It's that time of year, off of the Broncos and
the remaining in the wild card race.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Which way are you leaning, Greg.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
I'm leaning Broncos, but I think it's gonna be closer
than the number indicates six and a half I have
at thirteen to ten. I don't think this Bronco you're
gonna score much. It's partly because of Christian Barmore. It's
say something nice about the Patriots time. Since Week nine,
Christen Barmore is in the top ten in the league
in interior pressures. I've always been a big Christian Barmore guy.
(10:09):
I think he has a chance to be one of
the best defensive tackles in the league. Look, they're a
team that doesn't, you know, play opposing quarterbacks to throw
the ball a lot because they're always trailing, and yet
Barmore keeps getting it done a lot of pressure. Russell
Wilson often struggles with interior pressure like most quarterbacks, and
I think this is going to be an ugly Denver
(10:29):
Christmas Time defensive battle. Broncos barely win.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
Okay, well, I.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Kind of have the same thing as you, except to
have a six point win twenty two to sixteen.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
And by the way, I'm a little more of an
oocha girl than a barbore girl. Just he know, Michigan,
no big deal.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
But here's what I'm gonna talk about it is talk
nice about the Patriots moment because Hunter Henry, this guy's
been a bright spot. He's gotten in the end zone
three times. That's pretty good if you're looking for a
nice fantasy tight end.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
He does fall.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Obviously, always check the injury reports because we just want
to make sure, but he does fall within my top
ten tight ends this week for fantasy. If you are
still in it, you could be in it to win it.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
With Hunter Henry.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I thought you could say that there are some areas
of this Denver defense that are ripe for the exposing.
And perhaps it will be the Zapp too. That's my
nickname for Bailey's really trying to make it work, the
Zapp Hunter Henry.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
I love it. But all this like nice talk about
the Patriots feels very like end of the t ball
season trophy. Johnny was trying and he kept everyone laughing
in the clubhouse.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I'll keep it going.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
You know, you cannot tell the story of the NFL
the last thirty years without the New England Patriots.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
But my video is not very nice.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Oh because as much as we could celebrate bailey's Appi's performance.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Theapp, the zapp excuse me, man, as much as we
celebrate the.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Zapp, the Nintendo zapp or everything, the last three weeks,
Bailey Zappi has taken eleven sacks and he's going up
against a Broncos defense that is of course much improved
since Week six, but also struggles to kind of get
pressure on the quarterback at times. And here's a very
measurable quarterback. I just don't see a way that it
happens again. A narrow three point win. Cynthia's got a
(12:11):
buckets of points in this game.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Six so six point win and you know, thirty eight points.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
We Atrians fans are Mimi, you know who's gonna love that?
Speaker 2 (12:19):
For Orner coming up Cynthia's Lions looking for their first
division title in years.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
They get it Sunday against the Vikings. Maybe our picks
right after the break, it's.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Sound for the Drive to Excellence presented by Mercedes Benz.
The Lions and the Vikings. The Detroit's been driving the
excellence all season. They could clinch the NFC North. The
last time the Lions won their division was nineteen ninety three,
they were in the NFC Central Back then, will they
do it on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Cynthia, My gut says no.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
My math says yes, by one point twenty five to
twenty four. So we're gonna go with the math. I
feel very nervous about this one. I will be biting
my nails, crossing my fingers and doing a little dance.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
But the math.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Says that Detroit gets the narrow win here. Why because
we saw just an ever so slight uptick in pressure defense. Guys,
it's getting a little better. It's not terrible. And are
guys coming back next week probably hopefully fingers crossed cross
JJ And you're starting to see some pass rush. You're
(13:30):
seeing it maybe from guys who are coming from the
second AAR doesn't matter.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
It can be, it can be. I don't even care.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
I'll take a coverage sack. I don't even care. Like fine,
just a little bit extra time. Remember Nick mullens here
doesn't have the same type of experience as Kirk Cousins.
So a little bit of extra pressure goes a long
way in this one.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Just what, Oh, I'm so nervous.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
One win so that Cynthia does not have to sweat
out a week seventeen road game against Dallas or even
you make eighteen. You know that that's happening.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
You know that, you know that Week seventeen like where
they're going to Dallas and this.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
This team is different, though, Cynthia. This team is different,
and they're gonna get it done on Sunday thirty three
to twenty six. They're different because of these rookies. First
you got Sam Laporta breaking records that Mike Dicka had.
Now you got Jamiir Gibbs who just week after week
is piling up one hundred yards from scrimmage and a touchdown,
one of the only running backs in the league to
(14:25):
do that every week since Week nine. And I just
used the eye test the explosive ability he has when
he gets the ball right there, and then the ability
to break tackles and the ability to catch the ball
as a receiver. I'm gonna go ahead and use next
greg stats. I don't need next gen stats. I don't
want any running back in the league over Jamiir Gibbs
(14:45):
other than Christian McCaffery. He's number two. What guy would
you rather have right now than Jamiir Gibbs.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Kyn Williams looked pretty good last night.
Speaker 6 (14:53):
Jamier Gibbs is special. I love Kyen, but Jamiir.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Gibbsons, yeah, And they've got a few special guys on
this offense. And coming into this matchup, my initial thought was,
this is Brian Flores against Jared Golfman, and how do
we make things simple for Jared Goff so he's not
trying to figure out what the Minnesota Vikings are going
to do. You don't you dictate what the Minnesota Vikings do.
And you can do that when you have a'man ross
Saint Brown who lines up in the slot forty one
(15:16):
percent of the time, he.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Lines up out wide forty eight percent of the time.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
You can go ahead and just run your offense and
not necessarily say, well, who's dropping who's doing this? No,
a'm on, ra is gonna do this, and then I
will do this. It's if then statements for Jared Goff
and he's not throwing picks, he's five touchdown. Jared Goff like, whoah, well,
I'm not saying this game, but we've seen Jared play well.
Ben Johnson's called Donald him up very I'll take.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Two passing touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Oka meme it. Well, yeah, what could go wrong?
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Cynthia? Give him like the division title, give him the
blue sands.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You say, what could go wrong?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
To Cynthia like a laundry list of things just spawn
in her head.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
We go from the King of the Jungle to the Bengals.
T Higgins Banana's.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Game time touchdown last week had folks doing some triple
takeswing scrambling right in trumble, throws it off his back
foot toward the end zone.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
T Higgins when.
Speaker 7 (16:10):
To just ball for the football at a touchdowne an
incredible catch by t Higgins and the Tygles have scored
with thirty nine seconds to go.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I can't believe what t Higgins just dead.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Blackman had a great deal with that Teah Cans touch
down the AFC North showdown between the Bengals and the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Jamar Chase is gonna miss this.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
When Pittsburgh's playoff hopes hanging by a thread, is that
thread cut?
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Cynthia snips Cincinnati twenty one Steelers eighteen in this matchup.
Why well, First of all, the Steelers are missing some safeties,
including Mika Fitzpatrick, who is a big deal, which means
it's even more important to look at what happens with
Joe Mixon with Jake Browning, meaning they're able to actually
run him in the A gap, which is next to
the centers, that's inside those inside the tackle runs.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
He also is good outside as well. But you're giving a.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Ton of versatility, and you're giving Jake Browning, who's also
a running threat. This is just makes for a really
big problem. When you're missing the spine of your defense,
it's gonna be a bigger problem than I think the
Steelers can overcome.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
It makes a lot of sense. You have it still
pretty close. I know, I think it's a wash out.
I got the Bengals winning this game by ten points.
The Steelers are one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Just ignore the uniform. Just watch how they're playing. It's
partly because they're so slow. So what do you do
against the slow defense? You give it to Chase brown
one of the fastest players in the league. I just
(17:38):
see this Steelers defense, especially on the second level, and
I think this might be the worst collection of linebackers secondary,
especially without Minka Fitzpatrick there. They they're just seem like
they're snaking in mud, and Chase Brown is zooming. You know,
you guys are on Fantasy Live every day. You guys
are the experts now, But back in the day, when
(17:59):
you were just little kids, I was working in the industry.
I think Chaser be like a sneaky flex play this
week out of nowhere. In the playoffs against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
I was I was telling people to start amand Green
when you guys were in divers.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
It's actually, when did jess very Troy one the NFC
central I was telling people to start Chase Brown.
Speaker 6 (18:21):
I'm not that old. I'm not that old.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I will also take the Cincinnati Bengals. I do have
it a little bit closer, mainly because it's a whole
lot harder to adjust to not having Jamar Chase the
entire game. They were able to have him at the
start of that last game before he left the game.
T Higgins of course making those incredible plays, But I'm
looking over on the other side, I just don't see
the Steelers scoring points with Mason Rudolph, who.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Hasn't really had He did have a game.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Where he threw fifty passes back in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Since then, we haven't seen a lot of Mason Rudolph.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
We haven't seen a lot of Mason Rudolph because when
we did see a lot of Mason Rudolph, things didn't
necessarily go great for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think there's
a reason for that. I don't know if Devlin Hodges
is available either way. Nineteen thirteen Bengals winning coming up,
the Raiders dropped a sixty burger last week, they got
Mahomes and the chase.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
On Christmas Day?
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Which team is Santa Gonna bring a w R picks
right after this quick break? Raiders Chiefs on Christmas, Las Vegas,
coming off that historic sixty three to twenty one win
(19:34):
against the listless Chargers. But Patrick Mahomes ten and one
in his career against the Silver and Black eleven and
one after this week, grec Maybe I.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Mean, he goes to eleven and one, but the Raiders
make him sweat, just like Jarrett Stidham made out the
Patrick Mahomes chief sweat at this point last year twenty
three to twenty one. It's because of that Antonio Pierce
Raiders defense. It's totally transformed since he took over twenty
sixth in the NFL and EPA per play allowed before
Pierce was the head or the interim head coach, second
(20:04):
in the league since then. Now, I know some of
it is because you got to play East and Stick
and the Jets and the Giants, but even the other games,
including early in that first Chiefs matchup, they have been
much better. The Chiefs, on the other hand, I expected
after their bye week Andrey is gonna get in the
shop and tinker and fix some things. All of their
numbers have actually gotten worse offensively since thereby, including in
(20:25):
the passing game. I think the Raiders make the Chiefs sweat,
and they continue they're great play make all the Raiders
fans happy.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I too, threading the needle, but I'm threading it with
a bigger number like nine. I have twenty six to
seventeen in this matchup. I haven't said a lot of
nice things about the Raiders defense, so I too, am
going to echo those sentiments. But I'm gonna give Marcus
Epps a little bit of love. He seems like this
unsung hero that we don't talk enough about, and then
Jack Jones ends up with that like insane highlight reel.
(20:53):
But Marcus Epps down in and down out, he is
playing in run defense, he's dropping back into covers. This
guy's a problem and he's been a problem all season long.
He hasn't been the problem. He is a problem.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Is say that, right?
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Yeah, you get what I'm saying here, But we haven't
talked enough nice about him. And Marcus EPs number one,
that guy has really performed well this season, came over
from Philadelphia, earned his keep, the great acquisition by them.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I feel like the Eagles if they're watching Marcus EPs
play and they're like.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Hey, listen, we could really use that. You know.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
I'm also taking the Chiefs in this one.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
And a guy that we have talked a lot about
this season is Travis Kelcey, and there's been a.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Lot of discussion, Hey, what's wrong with Travis Kelcey? How
about this?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Travis Kelcey has over one hundred more yards than any
other tight end in the league against zone coverage. Right
now the Raiders top ten zone team. I think Trav
gets loaded up. Everybody stops asking questions maybe about him,
maybe the Kansas City treat have. I also have the
Raiders threatening that proverbial needle, but I think this does
have the potential to get closer to that ten points
(21:59):
tom for us to get to Quick picks presented by
Zillow Red Hot Bills coming right across the street from
us to take on the Chargers. Give Smith named interim
head coach after Brandon Staley's firing.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Keenan Allen is out. All that feels like a pretty
big Buffalo win.
Speaker 6 (22:14):
Yes, I have the Bills winning this one forty four
to eleven. Cynthia's going to this game and she's gonna
see points, especially from Josh art Freeland's going.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
My mom always gets all the shout outs.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
Art Freelan's going to this one.
Speaker 6 (22:27):
Look. A good old fashioned blowout can be very entertaining,
especially when Josh Allen is playing. I mean Josh Allen
this season eleven eleven rushing touchdowns, that's how many Oh,
that's how many points the Chargers are gonna score.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
But also how many rushing touchdowns he.
Speaker 6 (22:43):
Has eleven, He's got twenty six passing touchdowns are important.
I feel like Josh Allen's incredibly good season is getting overlooked.
His sack percentage in terms of the amount of sacks
he's taken, the fewest in the league, the best in
the league. Drop backs he has, So wow, you take
the fewest amount of sacks, You've scored eleven rushing touchdowns.
(23:04):
You're throwing for the most amount of touchdown. Josh Allen
put up a forty burger.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
Guy.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There's player of franchises love Josh Allen, the Colts and
the Falcons. Taylor Heineke's starting for Atlanta, both teams in
the playoff hunt. Michael Pittman Jr. Has cleared the concussion protocol.
What do you see taking place in it?
Speaker 4 (23:19):
I see a very close game. I have Indianapolis winning
this one twenty one to twenty. Michael Pittman is the
lynchpin here. That's what swayed it for me. A close game.
I've seen some weird stuff from this Falcons offense, like
last week when you're watching the game. I don't usually
talk about stuff like this because it's like fun to say,
but I had several people take to be like, does
(23:40):
Arthur Smith want to lose this game? Is he trying
to what's happening here? But ultimately what was happening was
Bijon Robinson was being asked to block while Tyler Algier
was running behind him like a half back. It didn't
It didn't make a lot of sense. It's like he
wasn't trying to use the assets that he has. You
saw Kyle Pitts on that one. He just made that
cash here have to do so much work when on
(24:01):
other plays he was wide open. It did not make
a lot of sense. And I think that this defense
picks up on that and pressures a ton of Taylor
Heineke dropbacks, and it's just it's tough sledting.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
It's going to be a bad seat in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
It's Heinekey for the rest of the year. As of
right now. We'll see right if that sticks.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
The Packers and Panthers. Jordan Love's squad has dropped their
last two games. Carolina got their second win of the
year last week versus Atlanta, and I think Green Bay
takes this one a little bit closer nineteen to seventeen
because the Panthers defense able to exploit the fact there's
injuries at wide receiver Christian Watson out.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Jaden Reid questionable.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
If you could find a number out there on Romeo
Dobbs go to investigate that he only had three targets
last week.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
He did catch all of them.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I still think there's more talent though in Green Bay,
especially considering the way the season has gone for Carolina.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
So that's why I am taking the Packers here. It'sion
for Pizza Pizza.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Pre game predictions delivered by Little Caesars Joe Flacco and
the Browns against the Texans.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Both teams and the playoff hunt. C. J.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Stroud unfortunately ruled out again, So it's Case Keenum. Do
you think k this Keenum does like us the number
one defense.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
GC, I do not. I think the Browns get it
done twenty to fourteen. Look, this is a rematch of
a twenty fourteen game Case Keenum versus Joe Flacco in Houston,
where Case Keenum starting Case Keenum won that. So it's
like a long gestating revenge game. The Browns defense gets
it done because they have their cornerbacks healthy. Finally, I
(25:26):
know there's been a lot of injuries in Cleveland. The
pass rush obviously it's outstanding, but when you have Denzel Ward,
Greg Newsen, Martin Emerson just locking down receivers, and if
they're playing the best receivers in the league, like the
receivers are going to win some of those matchups. The
Texans aren't that team right now. Nico Collins is not
one hundred percent. Even if he plays in this game,
(25:47):
Tank Dell is not coming back. So I think they
can lock those receivers down. We know the Texans have
struggled to run, and if we've learned anything from fifteen weeks,
it's that the Browns devour backup quarterbacks. I think they
do it again.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
Okay, well I have a closer game.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
I still have Cleveland winning, but I have twenty one
to twenty in this matchup. I want to get give
a little love to the defensive front of the Texans,
though specifically Jonathan Grenard, who has twelve and a half
sacks leading that team. They actually have four different guys
with at least five different sacks this season, which is
tied for the second most in the NFL. The front
(26:23):
is getting home, They're doing their job. It kind of
makes a lot of sense given that early or the
end of last season they were doing a good job,
and then early on this season, especially when everyone was
like what's going to happen new coach is be Yeah, No,
they're actually they are as good as we were hoping
that they would be, given who their coaches and where
he came from Tamika Ryans, of.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
Course from San Francisco.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
So looking at this game, you gotta love and I
kind of want to say, like Jonathan Grenelle, like it
sounds like he's like a Frenchman.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
I don't think he is.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
But I'm not sure Jonathan Greneald is coming for your quarterback.
But if these Browns were likely going to the playoffs,
in fact, they have a clinching scenario this weekend, But
you got to see what happens with real pressure coming
at you more consistently. I want to see how Joe
Flacco does in that situation.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I want to talk about the other team and the
guy who applies pressure. Let's just take a couple of
seconds to talk about Miles Garrett. Yes, literally two seconds.
That's the average time for a Miles Garrett pressure this season.
Two point three to three seconds for Miles Garrett. Most
of his pressures, in fact, six of his seven pressures
that came last week against the Bears were under two
(27:26):
and a half seconds. He's playing phenomenal football right now.
I don't want to be case Kingum. I don't want
to be anybody dealing with ninety five. And he's doing
all of this after dealing with that shoulder injury that
probably would have put a lot of guys out. Miles
Garrett playing through it right now, just again, one of
the better defensive players in the league who should be celebrating.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
We got the Battle of Florida going down Sunday. It's
the Jags against the Bucks.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Baker squad has won three straight while the Jags have
dropped three in a row, and a lot of that
is of course hinging on the fact that their quarterback
playing through a couple of things.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
If Trevor Lawrence plays, I.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Will take the Jacksonville Jaguars twenty four to twenty one.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Because even when we had no idea.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
That Trevel is gonna run out there against the Cleveland Browns,
I think clearly the ankle was a factor there. He
since also dealt with a concussion. But if sixteen makes
his way back on the field, I just have a
hard time picking against the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially late when
they need this win. I know Tampa Bay is in
the same situation, but I just still like the quarterback
(28:28):
situation a little bit more on the Atlantic side versus
the Gulf side.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
Floor as we're sitting here, we don't know about Trevor Lawrence.
So with Trevor Lawrence playing, I have Jacksonville twenty three
twenty one.
Speaker 5 (28:39):
Should Trevor Lawrence not.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Be playing, it would be a two and a half,
so three point win for Tampa Bay.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
So I already did that math for you. Maybe we'll
update on Sunday if we can.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
But I do want to talk about Rashad White because
it's taken two years, but Todd Bowles finally has a
guy who's gonna run the football. I've watched a billion
pressers with Todd Bowles and he last year we need
to run the football. He's so patient, he's like so
kind to this man and he stands there and he's like,
I need to run. We need to have the run
game work. And you know what, the run game is working.
If you were lucky enough to in your fantasy league
(29:11):
have or Shad White, you're probably still playing right now
because he's really performed, stepped up. He's been the difference maker.
In what year when we didn't know what to expect
from Baker Mayfield. When you have a run game, you
can pass the ball significantly better. Congratulations, Dave Canalis, you
really did. And now we don't have to hear poor
Todd Bowles doesn't have to sit the we need a
run game.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
He's going.
Speaker 6 (29:30):
It's great. We love that and we can hear more
Todd Bowles for years to come. If they just win
a couple games, that's all they happen. But I hope
Trevor Lawrence plays in this game because I like Trevor.
I like good football like that, and I like getting
a just Greg because I'm going Bucks. Either way, I
don't care if Trevor plays. This Jaguars team is a mess,
and this Bucks team likes to go down the field.
(29:52):
With Baker Mayfield, he in the past hasn't always been
a vertical through. It's what he does well at times,
but the offenses he's been in haven't really catered to him.
Right now, he is second in the league at average
depth of target. The only quarterback who throws it deeper
is that wild rookie c J. Stroud, And look, it
hasn't really been that efficient for Baker Mayfield, but they
(30:14):
keep trying. And I'm not saying he's been terrible. I'm
just saying like it's a big part of their offense.
They throw intermediate, they throw deep. It's not a short
passing attack. It's nice. It's old schools.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
I don't necessarily respect. That's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
I'm just saying like it hasn't been all but because
the guys get open.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Mike Evan Yah, respect that he's throwing the ball. Christmas
Day in Philly.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
The Eagles trying to get a bounce back at home
against the Giants.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
So watch out that.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
The Eagles dropping three straight, but they're still in the
hunt for the NFC East Crown.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Does Philly right the strip?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
The right the ship against mister cut.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
I think he said strip because you think they're going
to the Super Bowl twenty seven to sixteen. Yes, they
right the ship here. Why they get AJ Brown back
on track? This is a great opportunity to do so
because we've seen the secondary four the Giants have some
suspect moments. This is an area where for the past
few weeks we went from AJ Brown averaging more than
one hundred and twenty five gate yards per game to
(31:17):
like kind of being like not really effective and not
really even that necessarily, Like he's a good decoy, but
not necessarily be targeted a ton. So that changes in
this matchup and they kind of get back on track on.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
Their way to the strip. Maybe make it work.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
You know, that's great teamwork there, next work. You know,
who's been a great teammate and a great story, but
maybe not like a great starting quarterback this year? Who's
Tommy DeVito? Like, I hate to be the Green at
this time of year, but are we ready to move
forward into a world where we recognize Tommy DeVito's that
looked painful. We've been among the worst quarterbacks in the
(31:57):
league since he took over, taking a lot of sacks.
But also if you look at his completion percentage over expected,
it's way under it.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
It's not good.
Speaker 6 (32:07):
And then if you look at the types of throws
he's making, he's actually trying some of the easiest throws,
so like the completion is expected to be very high
and his is very low. So he's not hitting easy throws.
He's taking a lot of sex. It's a nice story,
but he's playing the Eagles in a big spot not
gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Yeah, if it does happen, it's gonna because Philadelphia has
had some real problems. I know a lot of focus
goes on the offense, Jalen playing through the injury, playing
through the sickness, and then aj Brown clearly dealing with
something as well. But did you guys see the Eagles
defense against the Seattle Seahawks. Kenneth Walker had guys just
doing the stanky leg, running the wrong direction.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
It was bad.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
And then towards the end of the game, during what
Troy Aikmann deemed a Drew Locke legacy drive, let's just
look at the at how the game ended, and ultimately
Sidney Brown, there's thirty three seconds in the game, He's
running at Zach Charbonney and JSN has watch Sidney Brown,
where's it going. It's just like there was a lot
(33:06):
of confusing stuff happening, and I think that's the type
of thing that has to happen consistently for the Eagles
to lose this game to a Giants team that I
agree is outmatched here.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I think they fix some of those things, and they
just don't.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
I'm dressed like I'm addressing even realize I was wearing
all Eagles colors.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
No, Pert, you know it's good. That game part of
the Christmas Day triple header.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Don't forget Sunday Night, NFL Network, The Holiday Classic is
back Christmas Eve. A special Sunday night of prime time
football is the Patriots and Broncos Light up the Night
The NFL Holiday Classic Sunday Night at eight pm Eastern only.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
On NFL Network.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Could this be Bill Belichick's last primetime game as a
Patriots head coach? Also streaming on NFL Plus. Let's get
to some quick picks. The Seahawks Titans in Nashville, Seattle
still in the playoff unt after beating the Eagles Monday Night.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Who wins it?
Speaker 6 (33:56):
Greek Geno Smith in the fighting Seahawks win at thirty
to twenty seven. I think it's a big time offensive game. Look,
Gino said his feelings were hurt, you know, when he
found out he wasn't gonna start. It hurt my feelings too,
because I had picked the Seahawks. Then I flipped it
to Locke when I should have known. Ken Walker can
get you the w by himself. He is getting better
and better. He is the running back I want most
(34:16):
to create something out of nothing, and he's been more consistent.
It hasn't been as boom er bus this year. He's
been a little steadier and you're still getting the big plays.
I think he gets it done against the Titans.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
All right, Let's go to the Commanders and Jets.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Zach Wilson out, so the pride and joy of Northwestern University,
Trevor Simeon starts at quarterback for the Jets. Are you
only picking the Jets, Cynthia because of the whole college Sea?
Speaker 5 (34:38):
I thought I was a pride and joy of Northwestern?
But whatever, No.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
Twenty two to eighteen in this one, I think because
of Garrett Wilson and Breese Hallis some other people as well.
But I think that the opportunity against this secondary is massive.
I also think that the opportunity to run the ball
also massive. This is their last home game of the season.
Speaker 5 (34:57):
I think that the Jets fans with Aaron Rodgers on
the sideline.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
You need to watch out and see you these little tricks.
Perhaps it's even a Garrett Wilson rushing touchdown. I don't
even care you're playing him in fantasy.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
All right, we got the Cardinals and Bears at Soldier Field, Chicago.
Coming off that epic of Pail Mary in Cleveland, Justin
Fields out the show why he should be the team's
quarterback in twenty twenty four. In fact, this is a
mystery box game because you've got two quarterbacks going up
against each other and the franchise is maybe thinking about
getting somebody else. I think Justin Fields comes out there
and gets the Bears to win in this matchup twenty
(35:28):
three to twenty one, because.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Justin is playing well.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
In fact, against that top Browns defense, there were several completions,
especially the one to Bob Tanyan in the first half
that could have been but they were not because they
were dropped. So I got the Bears here. Looking forward
to game day morning. If you've been familiar with our show,
you're looking forward to write this down as we have
some predictions that we think are certain to happen for
(35:53):
Week sixteen.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Greg, what are people writing down?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (35:56):
Sometimes I just look at a game and a number
just doesn't feel right, so I circle back to it
to help all the people in the land. The Bengals
to beat the Steelers by at least three points this week.
This sweater right here saying rain maker. The Bengals are
gonna make it rain points from the sky with Jake Browning.
I don't care if Jamar Chase is and their t
(36:17):
Higgins can get it done. How about a little Andre
Yoshavas They have enough weapons. Tanner uh Hudson is his
name is like producing like a top tier Yes, tight end,
And sometimes it's just about an organization. And the Steelers
right now are a ship that is leaking. And the
Bengals get better every December, even without Joe Burrow. They
are coming together at the right time. I think they're
(36:38):
going to be a playoff team. I don't think it's close.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Well, sometimes I see a number and I see it
one week and then I circle it and it works out,
and then I see it again a second week. So
I'm gonna circle it again a second week.
Speaker 5 (36:49):
That's that.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
Jamir Gibbs will have a longest rush of at least
thirteen and a half easy at least fourteen yards. That
happened in like fourteen seconds last game, So why not
We're going back to the well the explosive. Jamir Gibbs
does it again. He has a long rush of at
least thirteen yards.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
Come on, I love it because Florence is sending those
blitzes at him and you just got to catch him
in one bad look and he pops on.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
If you're gonna give me candy, I'm gonna eat it.
Speaker 6 (37:16):
He's gonna pop it.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
And the thing is, it feels like Gibbs is breaking
a tackle on every single run.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
And I think the only thing that might stop him.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Is gonna be the end zone ultimately, and the Lions
are gonna win. He's not gonna be worried or sad
anymore at all.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
I one more.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
They got drugs.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Speaking of guys running for yards, Josh Allen will run
for more than twenty nine yards.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
I love that in.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Sofi Stadium, which is again less than twenty nine yards
away from us right now. The last three games, look
at that point from Josh Allen, he has averaged forty
five rushing yards per game.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
He had eighty one.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
Three weeks ago. If he wants to, I think he
can easily do it. Maybe he doesn't have to, but
I think Josh Allen easily gets thirty rushing.
Speaker 6 (38:04):
I'll give it a free write this down too, Like
eleven points. It is not enough in this game for
this Bills team, one of the best teams in the
NFL right now, is it like, is it a dead
coach bounce?
Speaker 5 (38:13):
Ye?
Speaker 6 (38:14):
Now, I don't believe in that. When it's the Bills.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
People apparently believe in the coach firing bounce.
Speaker 6 (38:20):
Don't.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
Don't count on this, but I think gave Davis sa
see the answer. They gotta get him going. They gotta
get him going.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
We're gonna count on seeing you next week. For Cynthia
and Greg and Patrick, thanks for watching the game.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
Davit.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
NFL Game Deviut is a production of the NFL in
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NFL Game Deview is a production of the NFL in
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Speaker 2 (00:12):
Happy holidays, everybody, Welcome to game debut, presented by Mercedes Benz,
Patrick Claybound. Glad to be here with Greg Rosenthal and
Cynthia Freeland, who made up ground last week by going
ten and six. Congratulations. Hey, it's it's now your job
to catch Greg because.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You've passed that.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
We both we both have to catch Greg. We just
need to bring him down. It does no matter which
one of us does it.
Speaker 5 (00:32):
That smug little smile in that crown.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
All right, let's see it then stopped it must all right,
let's look at it, smugg lily.
Speaker 5 (00:39):
There it is. Ready put that.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Oh oh, I got some of the Santa hats.
Speaker 6 (00:43):
Yeah, the leading Santa hat. That's right, I got a.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Leading Santa hat headshot.
Speaker 6 (00:48):
Take some new hot photos this week. Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
All right.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
So right now, Greg would be the favorite to win
in the picks these uh, you know, three games ahead
of Cynthia, four games ahead of me.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Speaking of picks to win things is of a.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Super Bowl odds. The game we're looking forward to in
Las Vegas right now. The Ravens and the forty nine
Ers far and away. I had just ahead the folks
know that there might be some.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
People that still believe in Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Chiefs at plus six and then on down Ravens Eagles.
Speaker 6 (01:22):
I've noticing a certain trend with these first four. Yeah,
something is.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
People think the forty nine ers are good.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
We might be getting a potential Super Bowl preview on
Christmas Night. The Ravens and Niners top seeds in the
AFC and the NFC, both at eleven and three. San
Francisco winning six straight coming.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Off the buy. Does Baltimore finally slow them down?
Speaker 6 (01:42):
I think they slow them down, and it's closer than
that five and a half points number we're looking at.
But I do think the forty nine Ers win because
the Ravens defense is gonna have to decide. Every defense
facing the forty nine Ers has to do this, pick
your poison, what do you want to try to stop?
And I think it's gonna have to be their passing game.
I think they're going to play in nickel defense for
most of this game. They're going to change up their
coverages and they're gonna say and it thinks if Kristin
(02:05):
McCaffrey beats us, especially running the ball. We might just
have to live with that, and they probably won't live
with that, because Christian McCaffrey is one of the best
running backs I've ever seen, having the best season he's
ever had. If you look at the numbers in terms
of yards after contact, second in the league. There's a
stat in terms of yards that you gain after a
(02:25):
defender is within a yard of you. According to the
next Gen sets, he's third in the league. And you're saying, oh,
of course he's second or third in the league, but
that's after having like one hundred more carries than everyone else.
You can give him the ball more than anyone, and
he's still better than anyone. And he's a great receiver.
I think he's the difference.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I agree with you on everything. You can just everything
he said, just you know, slide it right in there.
But I have a four point win for the Niners
in this one. Twenty six to twenty two is my
final score. I want to talk about something that I'm
going to be watching for this offense, and that's what
happens with brock Party on those downfield throws.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
This is an area where if you look at what
happens with.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Not just brock Party, but the guys who are supposed
to catch the ball, they have the highest open rate
nearly thirty five percent of the time on downfield passes.
Are they wide open? Well, what are the Ravens do
you talk about? They play more nickel, et cetera. They're
actually the best at forcing tight window throws on the
same types of passes. So if we're really thinking maybe
these Niners are going to go all the way and
(03:20):
maybe we'll see them in Vegas, they have to have
a solution for that. So I'm gonna be watching brock
Party here, and you know, he's leading the MVP race
right now. I'm kind of with you, though, I think
maybe you should actually be Christian McCaffrey. But if he
can nail those deep passes against this defense, now we're
really talking.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, And I think ultimately we're all in alignment on
Christian McCaffrey being the most notable players.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
He's good on this team.
Speaker 6 (03:42):
Hearing from forty nine ers fans because they like one
guy better.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Than the other. You have to pick one, and you
gotta pick the one that the island.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I have to pick this game as well, and I
am not picking the Baltimore Ravens. Hello first down with
Lamar Jackson started. I also think they're thirty nine ers
are very very good. But I do think Mike McDonald's defense,
as Greg said, as Cynthia said, that they have to pick,
you have to pick what goes wrong. And I really
the most difficult thing for this Ravens defense to defend
is going to be George Kittle, especially not just as
(04:10):
a receiver, but as a blocker as well, because they
rely on getting pressure with four and three guys so
much so consistently. It's just not something you can do
against this team. I also would like to say, because
there's there's like two happy fan bases out there, whenever
you lose a game to the forty nine ers, apparently
everything falls apart. They play this game in a neutral
(04:31):
site here in a month and change, I will pick Baltimore.
Speaker 6 (04:35):
No, I like it in ahead of it.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Hey, if the.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Score run that back, make sure to clip that off
right now and we'll run it back.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
If Baltimore is in the super Bowl, I'm sure everybody
here will be shocked if I picked them.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Let's talk more about this game.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Especially some player props for the Ravens of the forty
nine ers greg more or less than one and a
half passing touchdowns for the m V party.
Speaker 6 (04:56):
I'm still going with McAffrey, but I am going to
go more. Look, we all think this is going to
be a close game. In fact, all three of us
had the rape threading the needle keeping it closer than
five and a half. But even in a scenario where
the Ravens play well and they use their disguise coverages
to force a couple prety mistakes, I still think it's
turnovers for the forty nine ers. But on the possessions,
(05:18):
they don't score turnovers, they're scoring touchdowns and Purdy gets
more than two.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Okay, all right, Southan more or less? How about this?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Why don't we combine rushing and passing yards for Lamar
two hundred and eighty five and a half.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Well, you know why we all have this game so
close because of Lamar Jackson, who actually would be my
pick for MVP right now. If you're looking ahead of
time and I'm looking at Lamar Jackson's opportunity, I'm a
little worried with Ronnie Stanley going in and out of
the lineup last week. That was a big problem, but
I'm not worried that Jackson won't get both when you
take it together. I just don't necessarily think it's going
to be passing. I think it's gonna be more Lamar
(05:53):
using his legs.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Last one, I'll take it. It's five and a half
receptions for Deebo Samuel. I really think if you have
a hope of beating this football team, you've got to
plan to keep Debo from doing this, like catching a
six yard pass and taking at sixty yards to the house.
I think that is the focus, and perhaps that's why
it's more of a Brandon Ayuk, more of a CMC,
more of a George Kittle game.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I have less than five and a half catches.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
And Samuel Hayes yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Clearly Deebo Samuel is bad.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Let's move on Dallas, Hoping a bounce back from last
week's It's Fair College disaster in Buffalo, they go to
Miami now to take on the Dolphins. Mike McDaniel says
he feels good about Tyreek Hill playing.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
How do you feel about the games?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
I feel great about Mike McCarthy's squad McCarthy, but just kidding,
I like better twenty seven to twenty three. I have
Miami in this matchup why because of something I saw
without Tyreek Hill. Both O lines are dicey this week.
We see a lot of people on the injury report
for each one. Now, if you have all of these
different formations and you're lining up in a lot of
(06:54):
different looks with this guy here, that guy there, things
we haven't even seen before that could spell trouble. Now,
I understand that this Cowboys defense is used to seeing
like literally the same play. It's called ISO and high
school players they often know it because ISO was getting
smoking them last week. But remember, you don't really get
had twice with the same thing. So I think all
(07:15):
the different ways and scheming with Miami's gonna guys, Miami's
gonna finally beat a good team.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
We're gonna have to Icegate home.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Oh my goodness, unless you run the table and beat
everybody your somehow fond.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I'm disgusted by this.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I will take Miami twenty six to twenty four, because, yes,
sometimes things look different, and coach Mike he's good at
making the other coach Mike fine that I think it's
gonna win this game. But honestly, we go back to
the loss against the Arizona Cardinals, we go back to
last week against Buffalo. You can run on the Dallas
(07:51):
Cowboys and you can make it look pretty bad. James
Cook still feels like he's scoring touchdowns in that game
where he most are.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Doing it better than anybody in.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The league right now, especially considering the way this offense
is operating. I just have to take the Dolphins at home.
With the ground game playing the way it is good.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Yeah, I think it's the toughest game to pick all week,
But all week I was leaning Dolphins, picking Dolphins. We
show up to the pre show meeting, I'm picking Dolphins.
I don't like all this agreement. I'm switching it to
the Cowboys. Let's go, And it's because of Dak Prescott.
We're gonna just greg it. It's like, oh, who's been
the best quarterback in the league all seas until last week.
Dak Prescott, Like remember all the way back in Week
(08:30):
fourteen when he was basically tied for the MVP lead,
And now I see these shows, It's like, well, we've
got four men who have a chance to win MVP
and Dak's not even listed. I like both these quarterbacks.
I like Dak at this point in his career a
little better. I think I was in my feelings because
I made my least favorite pick of the year last year,
picking against the Bills for the first time, and the
(08:52):
Cowboys didn't show up. But I do think this Cowboys
team is different. Game script is really important. They've been
so good early in games getting ahead and then that
doesn't expose their run defense to facing a lot of runs.
I think they can get back to that because Dak's
been good all season long and he gets it done
for me with a Jess Greg and.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I'll get back on my soapbox. Both teams can be good. Yeah,
like one of these teams is gonna lose, but it's okay.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
They're gonna be.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
They good tie the good tik they good tie time.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
And we celebrate everything.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Let's celebrate the Holiday Classic back on NFL Network Christmas Eve,
a special Sunday night of primetime football is the Patriots
and Broncos Light up the Night The NFL Holiday Classic
Christmas Eve Live at eight pm Eastern only on NFL Network,
also streaming on NFL Plus let's dive into this Patriots
Broncos Christmas Eve matchup. It literally a must win game.
(09:41):
It's that time of year, off of the Broncos and
the remaining in the wild card race.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Which way are you leaning, Greg.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
I'm leaning Broncos, but I think it's gonna be closer
than the number indicates six and a half I have
at thirteen to ten. I don't think this Bronco you're
gonna score much. It's partly because of Christian Barmore. It's
say something nice about the Patriots time. Since Week nine,
Christen Barmore is in the top ten in the league
in interior pressures. I've always been a big Christian Barmore guy.
(10:09):
I think he has a chance to be one of
the best defensive tackles in the league. Look, they're a
team that doesn't, you know, play opposing quarterbacks to throw
the ball a lot because they're always trailing, and yet
Barmore keeps getting it done a lot of pressure. Russell
Wilson often struggles with interior pressure like most quarterbacks, and
I think this is going to be an ugly Denver
(10:29):
Christmas Time defensive battle. Broncos barely win.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
Okay, well, I.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Kind of have the same thing as you, except to
have a six point win twenty two to sixteen.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
And by the way, I'm a little more of an
oocha girl than a barbore girl. Just he know, Michigan,
no big deal.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
But here's what I'm gonna talk about it is talk
nice about the Patriots moment because Hunter Henry, this guy's
been a bright spot. He's gotten in the end zone
three times. That's pretty good if you're looking for a
nice fantasy tight end.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
He does fall.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Obviously, always check the injury reports because we just want
to make sure, but he does fall within my top
ten tight ends this week for fantasy. If you are
still in it, you could be in it to win it.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
With Hunter Henry.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I thought you could say that there are some areas
of this Denver defense that are ripe for the exposing.
And perhaps it will be the Zapp too. That's my
nickname for Bailey's really trying to make it work, the
Zapp Hunter Henry.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
I love it. But all this like nice talk about
the Patriots feels very like end of the t ball
season trophy. Johnny was trying and he kept everyone laughing
in the clubhouse.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I'll keep it going.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
You know, you cannot tell the story of the NFL
the last thirty years without the New England Patriots.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
But my video is not very nice.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Oh because as much as we could celebrate bailey's Appi's performance.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Theapp, the zapp excuse me, man, as much as we
celebrate the.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Zapp, the Nintendo zapp or everything, the last three weeks,
Bailey Zappi has taken eleven sacks and he's going up
against a Broncos defense that is of course much improved
since Week six, but also struggles to kind of get
pressure on the quarterback at times. And here's a very
measurable quarterback. I just don't see a way that it
happens again. A narrow three point win. Cynthia's got a
(12:11):
buckets of points in this game.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Six so six point win and you know, thirty eight points.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
We Atrians fans are Mimi, you know who's gonna love that?
Speaker 2 (12:19):
For Orner coming up Cynthia's Lions looking for their first
division title in years.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
They get it Sunday against the Vikings. Maybe our picks
right after the break, it's.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Sound for the Drive to Excellence presented by Mercedes Benz.
The Lions and the Vikings. The Detroit's been driving the
excellence all season. They could clinch the NFC North. The
last time the Lions won their division was nineteen ninety three,
they were in the NFC Central Back then, will they
do it on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Cynthia, My gut says no.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
My math says yes, by one point twenty five to
twenty four. So we're gonna go with the math. I
feel very nervous about this one. I will be biting
my nails, crossing my fingers and doing a little dance.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
But the math.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Says that Detroit gets the narrow win here. Why because
we saw just an ever so slight uptick in pressure defense. Guys,
it's getting a little better. It's not terrible. And are
guys coming back next week probably hopefully fingers crossed cross
JJ And you're starting to see some pass rush. You're
(13:30):
seeing it maybe from guys who are coming from the
second AAR doesn't matter.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
It can be, it can be. I don't even care.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
I'll take a coverage sack. I don't even care. Like fine,
just a little bit extra time. Remember Nick mullens here
doesn't have the same type of experience as Kirk Cousins.
So a little bit of extra pressure goes a long
way in this one.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Just what, Oh, I'm so nervous.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
One win so that Cynthia does not have to sweat
out a week seventeen road game against Dallas or even
you make eighteen. You know that that's happening.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
You know that, you know that Week seventeen like where
they're going to Dallas and this.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
This team is different, though, Cynthia. This team is different,
and they're gonna get it done on Sunday thirty three
to twenty six. They're different because of these rookies. First
you got Sam Laporta breaking records that Mike Dicka had.
Now you got Jamiir Gibbs who just week after week
is piling up one hundred yards from scrimmage and a touchdown,
one of the only running backs in the league to
(14:25):
do that every week since Week nine. And I just
used the eye test the explosive ability he has when
he gets the ball right there, and then the ability
to break tackles and the ability to catch the ball
as a receiver. I'm gonna go ahead and use next
greg stats. I don't need next gen stats. I don't
want any running back in the league over Jamiir Gibbs
(14:45):
other than Christian McCaffery. He's number two. What guy would
you rather have right now than Jamiir Gibbs.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Kyn Williams looked pretty good last night.
Speaker 6 (14:53):
Jamier Gibbs is special. I love Kyen, but Jamiir.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Gibbsons, yeah, And they've got a few special guys on
this offense. And coming into this matchup, my initial thought was,
this is Brian Flores against Jared Golfman, and how do
we make things simple for Jared Goff so he's not
trying to figure out what the Minnesota Vikings are going
to do. You don't you dictate what the Minnesota Vikings do.
And you can do that when you have a'man ross
Saint Brown who lines up in the slot forty one
(15:16):
percent of the time, he.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Lines up out wide forty eight percent of the time.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
You can go ahead and just run your offense and
not necessarily say, well, who's dropping who's doing this? No,
a'm on, ra is gonna do this, and then I
will do this. It's if then statements for Jared Goff
and he's not throwing picks, he's five touchdown. Jared Goff like, whoah, well,
I'm not saying this game, but we've seen Jared play well.
Ben Johnson's called Donald him up very I'll take.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Two passing touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Oka meme it. Well, yeah, what could go wrong?
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Cynthia? Give him like the division title, give him the
blue sands.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You say, what could go wrong?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
To Cynthia like a laundry list of things just spawn
in her head.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
We go from the King of the Jungle to the Bengals.
T Higgins Banana's.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Game time touchdown last week had folks doing some triple
takeswing scrambling right in trumble, throws it off his back
foot toward the end zone.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
T Higgins when.
Speaker 7 (16:10):
To just ball for the football at a touchdowne an
incredible catch by t Higgins and the Tygles have scored
with thirty nine seconds to go.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I can't believe what t Higgins just dead.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Blackman had a great deal with that Teah Cans touch
down the AFC North showdown between the Bengals and the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Jamar Chase is gonna miss this.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
When Pittsburgh's playoff hopes hanging by a thread, is that
thread cut?
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Cynthia snips Cincinnati twenty one Steelers eighteen in this matchup.
Why well, First of all, the Steelers are missing some safeties,
including Mika Fitzpatrick, who is a big deal, which means
it's even more important to look at what happens with
Joe Mixon with Jake Browning, meaning they're able to actually
run him in the A gap, which is next to
the centers, that's inside those inside the tackle runs.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
He also is good outside as well. But you're giving a.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Ton of versatility, and you're giving Jake Browning, who's also
a running threat. This is just makes for a really
big problem. When you're missing the spine of your defense,
it's gonna be a bigger problem than I think the
Steelers can overcome.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
It makes a lot of sense. You have it still
pretty close. I know, I think it's a wash out.
I got the Bengals winning this game by ten points.
The Steelers are one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Just ignore the uniform. Just watch how they're playing. It's
partly because they're so slow. So what do you do
against the slow defense? You give it to Chase brown
one of the fastest players in the league. I just
(17:38):
see this Steelers defense, especially on the second level, and
I think this might be the worst collection of linebackers secondary,
especially without Minka Fitzpatrick there. They they're just seem like
they're snaking in mud, and Chase Brown is zooming. You know,
you guys are on Fantasy Live every day. You guys
are the experts now, But back in the day, when
(17:59):
you were just little kids, I was working in the industry.
I think Chaser be like a sneaky flex play this
week out of nowhere. In the playoffs against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
I was I was telling people to start amand Green
when you guys were in divers.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
It's actually, when did jess very Troy one the NFC
central I was telling people to start Chase Brown.
Speaker 6 (18:21):
I'm not that old. I'm not that old.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I will also take the Cincinnati Bengals. I do have
it a little bit closer, mainly because it's a whole
lot harder to adjust to not having Jamar Chase the
entire game. They were able to have him at the
start of that last game before he left the game.
T Higgins of course making those incredible plays, But I'm
looking over on the other side, I just don't see
the Steelers scoring points with Mason Rudolph, who.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Hasn't really had He did have a game.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Where he threw fifty passes back in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Since then, we haven't seen a lot of Mason Rudolph.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
We haven't seen a lot of Mason Rudolph because when
we did see a lot of Mason Rudolph, things didn't
necessarily go great for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think there's
a reason for that. I don't know if Devlin Hodges
is available either way. Nineteen thirteen Bengals winning coming up,
the Raiders dropped a sixty burger last week, they got
Mahomes and the chase.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
On Christmas Day?
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Which team is Santa Gonna bring a w R picks
right after this quick break? Raiders Chiefs on Christmas, Las Vegas,
coming off that historic sixty three to twenty one win
(19:34):
against the listless Chargers. But Patrick Mahomes ten and one
in his career against the Silver and Black eleven and
one after this week, grec Maybe I.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Mean, he goes to eleven and one, but the Raiders
make him sweat, just like Jarrett Stidham made out the
Patrick Mahomes chief sweat at this point last year twenty
three to twenty one. It's because of that Antonio Pierce
Raiders defense. It's totally transformed since he took over twenty
sixth in the NFL and EPA per play allowed before
Pierce was the head or the interim head coach, second
(20:04):
in the league since then. Now, I know some of
it is because you got to play East and Stick
and the Jets and the Giants, but even the other games,
including early in that first Chiefs matchup, they have been
much better. The Chiefs, on the other hand, I expected
after their bye week Andrey is gonna get in the
shop and tinker and fix some things. All of their
numbers have actually gotten worse offensively since thereby, including in
(20:25):
the passing game. I think the Raiders make the Chiefs sweat,
and they continue they're great play make all the Raiders
fans happy.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I too, threading the needle, but I'm threading it with
a bigger number like nine. I have twenty six to
seventeen in this matchup. I haven't said a lot of
nice things about the Raiders defense, so I too, am
going to echo those sentiments. But I'm gonna give Marcus
Epps a little bit of love. He seems like this
unsung hero that we don't talk enough about, and then
Jack Jones ends up with that like insane highlight reel.
(20:53):
But Marcus Epps down in and down out, he is
playing in run defense, he's dropping back into covers. This
guy's a problem and he's been a problem all season long.
He hasn't been the problem. He is a problem.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Is say that, right?
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Yeah, you get what I'm saying here, But we haven't
talked enough nice about him. And Marcus EPs number one,
that guy has really performed well this season, came over
from Philadelphia, earned his keep, the great acquisition by them.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I feel like the Eagles if they're watching Marcus EPs
play and they're like.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Hey, listen, we could really use that. You know.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
I'm also taking the Chiefs in this one.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
And a guy that we have talked a lot about
this season is Travis Kelcey, and there's been a.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Lot of discussion, Hey, what's wrong with Travis Kelcey? How
about this?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Travis Kelcey has over one hundred more yards than any
other tight end in the league against zone coverage. Right
now the Raiders top ten zone team. I think Trav
gets loaded up. Everybody stops asking questions maybe about him,
maybe the Kansas City treat have. I also have the
Raiders threatening that proverbial needle, but I think this does
have the potential to get closer to that ten points
(21:59):
tom for us to get to Quick picks presented by
Zillow Red Hot Bills coming right across the street from
us to take on the Chargers. Give Smith named interim
head coach after Brandon Staley's firing.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Keenan Allen is out. All that feels like a pretty
big Buffalo win.
Speaker 6 (22:14):
Yes, I have the Bills winning this one forty four
to eleven. Cynthia's going to this game and she's gonna
see points, especially from Josh art Freeland's going.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
My mom always gets all the shout outs.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
Art Freelan's going to this one.
Speaker 6 (22:27):
Look. A good old fashioned blowout can be very entertaining,
especially when Josh Allen is playing. I mean Josh Allen
this season eleven eleven rushing touchdowns, that's how many Oh,
that's how many points the Chargers are gonna score.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
But also how many rushing touchdowns he.
Speaker 6 (22:43):
Has eleven, He's got twenty six passing touchdowns are important.
I feel like Josh Allen's incredibly good season is getting overlooked.
His sack percentage in terms of the amount of sacks
he's taken, the fewest in the league, the best in
the league. Drop backs he has, So wow, you take
the fewest amount of sacks, You've scored eleven rushing touchdowns.
(23:04):
You're throwing for the most amount of touchdown. Josh Allen
put up a forty burger.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
Guy.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There's player of franchises love Josh Allen, the Colts and
the Falcons. Taylor Heineke's starting for Atlanta, both teams in
the playoff hunt. Michael Pittman Jr. Has cleared the concussion protocol.
What do you see taking place in it?
Speaker 4 (23:19):
I see a very close game. I have Indianapolis winning
this one twenty one to twenty. Michael Pittman is the
lynchpin here. That's what swayed it for me. A close game.
I've seen some weird stuff from this Falcons offense, like
last week when you're watching the game. I don't usually
talk about stuff like this because it's like fun to say,
but I had several people take to be like, does
(23:40):
Arthur Smith want to lose this game? Is he trying
to what's happening here? But ultimately what was happening was
Bijon Robinson was being asked to block while Tyler Algier
was running behind him like a half back. It didn't
It didn't make a lot of sense. It's like he
wasn't trying to use the assets that he has. You
saw Kyle Pitts on that one. He just made that
cash here have to do so much work when on
(24:01):
other plays he was wide open. It did not make
a lot of sense. And I think that this defense
picks up on that and pressures a ton of Taylor
Heineke dropbacks, and it's just it's tough sledting.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
It's going to be a bad seat in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
It's Heinekey for the rest of the year. As of
right now. We'll see right if that sticks.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
The Packers and Panthers. Jordan Love's squad has dropped their
last two games. Carolina got their second win of the
year last week versus Atlanta, and I think Green Bay
takes this one a little bit closer nineteen to seventeen
because the Panthers defense able to exploit the fact there's
injuries at wide receiver Christian Watson out.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Jaden Reid questionable.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
If you could find a number out there on Romeo
Dobbs go to investigate that he only had three targets
last week.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
He did catch all of them.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I still think there's more talent though in Green Bay,
especially considering the way the season has gone for Carolina.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
So that's why I am taking the Packers here. It'sion
for Pizza Pizza.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Pre game predictions delivered by Little Caesars Joe Flacco and
the Browns against the Texans.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Both teams and the playoff hunt. C. J.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Stroud unfortunately ruled out again, So it's Case Keenum. Do
you think k this Keenum does like us the number
one defense.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
GC, I do not. I think the Browns get it
done twenty to fourteen. Look, this is a rematch of
a twenty fourteen game Case Keenum versus Joe Flacco in Houston,
where Case Keenum starting Case Keenum won that. So it's
like a long gestating revenge game. The Browns defense gets
it done because they have their cornerbacks healthy. Finally, I
(25:26):
know there's been a lot of injuries in Cleveland. The
pass rush obviously it's outstanding, but when you have Denzel Ward,
Greg Newsen, Martin Emerson just locking down receivers, and if
they're playing the best receivers in the league, like the
receivers are going to win some of those matchups. The
Texans aren't that team right now. Nico Collins is not
one hundred percent. Even if he plays in this game,
(25:47):
Tank Dell is not coming back. So I think they
can lock those receivers down. We know the Texans have
struggled to run, and if we've learned anything from fifteen weeks,
it's that the Browns devour backup quarterbacks. I think they
do it again.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
Okay, well I have a closer game.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
I still have Cleveland winning, but I have twenty one
to twenty in this matchup. I want to get give
a little love to the defensive front of the Texans,
though specifically Jonathan Grenard, who has twelve and a half
sacks leading that team. They actually have four different guys
with at least five different sacks this season, which is
tied for the second most in the NFL. The front
(26:23):
is getting home, They're doing their job. It kind of
makes a lot of sense given that early or the
end of last season they were doing a good job,
and then early on this season, especially when everyone was
like what's going to happen new coach is be Yeah, No,
they're actually they are as good as we were hoping
that they would be, given who their coaches and where
he came from Tamika Ryans, of.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
Course from San Francisco.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
So looking at this game, you gotta love and I
kind of want to say, like Jonathan Grenelle, like it
sounds like he's like a Frenchman.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
I don't think he is.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
But I'm not sure Jonathan Greneald is coming for your quarterback.
But if these Browns were likely going to the playoffs,
in fact, they have a clinching scenario this weekend, But
you got to see what happens with real pressure coming
at you more consistently. I want to see how Joe
Flacco does in that situation.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I want to talk about the other team and the
guy who applies pressure. Let's just take a couple of
seconds to talk about Miles Garrett. Yes, literally two seconds.
That's the average time for a Miles Garrett pressure this season.
Two point three to three seconds for Miles Garrett. Most
of his pressures, in fact, six of his seven pressures
that came last week against the Bears were under two
(27:26):
and a half seconds. He's playing phenomenal football right now.
I don't want to be case Kingum. I don't want
to be anybody dealing with ninety five. And he's doing
all of this after dealing with that shoulder injury that
probably would have put a lot of guys out. Miles
Garrett playing through it right now, just again, one of
the better defensive players in the league who should be celebrating.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
We got the Battle of Florida going down Sunday. It's
the Jags against the Bucks.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Baker squad has won three straight while the Jags have
dropped three in a row, and a lot of that
is of course hinging on the fact that their quarterback
playing through a couple of things.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
If Trevor Lawrence plays, I.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Will take the Jacksonville Jaguars twenty four to twenty one.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Because even when we had no idea.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
That Trevel is gonna run out there against the Cleveland Browns,
I think clearly the ankle was a factor there. He
since also dealt with a concussion. But if sixteen makes
his way back on the field, I just have a
hard time picking against the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially late when
they need this win. I know Tampa Bay is in
the same situation, but I just still like the quarterback
(28:28):
situation a little bit more on the Atlantic side versus
the Gulf side.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
Floor as we're sitting here, we don't know about Trevor Lawrence.
So with Trevor Lawrence playing, I have Jacksonville twenty three
twenty one.
Speaker 5 (28:39):
Should Trevor Lawrence not.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Be playing, it would be a two and a half,
so three point win for Tampa Bay.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
So I already did that math for you. Maybe we'll
update on Sunday if we can.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
But I do want to talk about Rashad White because
it's taken two years, but Todd Bowles finally has a
guy who's gonna run the football. I've watched a billion
pressers with Todd Bowles and he last year we need
to run the football. He's so patient, he's like so
kind to this man and he stands there and he's like,
I need to run. We need to have the run
game work. And you know what, the run game is working.
If you were lucky enough to in your fantasy league
(29:11):
have or Shad White, you're probably still playing right now
because he's really performed, stepped up. He's been the difference maker.
In what year when we didn't know what to expect
from Baker Mayfield. When you have a run game, you
can pass the ball significantly better. Congratulations, Dave Canalis, you
really did. And now we don't have to hear poor
Todd Bowles doesn't have to sit the we need a
run game.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
He's going.
Speaker 6 (29:30):
It's great. We love that and we can hear more
Todd Bowles for years to come. If they just win
a couple games, that's all they happen. But I hope
Trevor Lawrence plays in this game because I like Trevor.
I like good football like that, and I like getting
a just Greg because I'm going Bucks. Either way, I
don't care if Trevor plays. This Jaguars team is a mess,
and this Bucks team likes to go down the field.
(29:52):
With Baker Mayfield, he in the past hasn't always been
a vertical through. It's what he does well at times,
but the offenses he's been in haven't really catered to him.
Right now, he is second in the league at average
depth of target. The only quarterback who throws it deeper
is that wild rookie c J. Stroud, And look, it
hasn't really been that efficient for Baker Mayfield, but they
(30:14):
keep trying. And I'm not saying he's been terrible. I'm
just saying like it's a big part of their offense.
They throw intermediate, they throw deep. It's not a short
passing attack. It's nice. It's old schools.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
I don't necessarily respect. That's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
I'm just saying like it hasn't been all but because
the guys get open.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Mike Evan Yah, respect that he's throwing the ball. Christmas
Day in Philly.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
The Eagles trying to get a bounce back at home
against the Giants.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
So watch out that.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
The Eagles dropping three straight, but they're still in the
hunt for the NFC East Crown.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Does Philly right the strip?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
The right the ship against mister cut.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
I think he said strip because you think they're going
to the Super Bowl twenty seven to sixteen. Yes, they
right the ship here. Why they get AJ Brown back
on track? This is a great opportunity to do so
because we've seen the secondary four the Giants have some
suspect moments. This is an area where for the past
few weeks we went from AJ Brown averaging more than
one hundred and twenty five gate yards per game to
(31:17):
like kind of being like not really effective and not
really even that necessarily, Like he's a good decoy, but
not necessarily be targeted a ton. So that changes in
this matchup and they kind of get back on track on.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
Their way to the strip. Maybe make it work.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
You know, that's great teamwork there, next work. You know,
who's been a great teammate and a great story, but
maybe not like a great starting quarterback this year? Who's
Tommy DeVito? Like, I hate to be the Green at
this time of year, but are we ready to move
forward into a world where we recognize Tommy DeVito's that
looked painful. We've been among the worst quarterbacks in the
(31:57):
league since he took over, taking a lot of sacks.
But also if you look at his completion percentage over expected,
it's way under it.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
It's not good.
Speaker 6 (32:07):
And then if you look at the types of throws
he's making, he's actually trying some of the easiest throws,
so like the completion is expected to be very high
and his is very low. So he's not hitting easy throws.
He's taking a lot of sex. It's a nice story,
but he's playing the Eagles in a big spot not
gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Yeah, if it does happen, it's gonna because Philadelphia has
had some real problems. I know a lot of focus
goes on the offense, Jalen playing through the injury, playing
through the sickness, and then aj Brown clearly dealing with
something as well. But did you guys see the Eagles
defense against the Seattle Seahawks. Kenneth Walker had guys just
doing the stanky leg, running the wrong direction.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
It was bad.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
And then towards the end of the game, during what
Troy Aikmann deemed a Drew Locke legacy drive, let's just
look at the at how the game ended, and ultimately
Sidney Brown, there's thirty three seconds in the game, He's
running at Zach Charbonney and JSN has watch Sidney Brown,
where's it going. It's just like there was a lot
(33:06):
of confusing stuff happening, and I think that's the type
of thing that has to happen consistently for the Eagles
to lose this game to a Giants team that I
agree is outmatched here.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I think they fix some of those things, and they
just don't.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
I'm dressed like I'm addressing even realize I was wearing
all Eagles colors.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
No, Pert, you know it's good. That game part of
the Christmas Day triple header.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Don't forget Sunday Night, NFL Network, The Holiday Classic is
back Christmas Eve. A special Sunday night of prime time
football is the Patriots and Broncos Light up the Night
The NFL Holiday Classic Sunday Night at eight pm Eastern only.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
On NFL Network.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Could this be Bill Belichick's last primetime game as a
Patriots head coach? Also streaming on NFL Plus. Let's get
to some quick picks. The Seahawks Titans in Nashville, Seattle
still in the playoff unt after beating the Eagles Monday Night.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Who wins it?
Speaker 6 (33:56):
Greek Geno Smith in the fighting Seahawks win at thirty
to twenty seven. I think it's a big time offensive game. Look,
Gino said his feelings were hurt, you know, when he
found out he wasn't gonna start. It hurt my feelings too,
because I had picked the Seahawks. Then I flipped it
to Locke when I should have known. Ken Walker can
get you the w by himself. He is getting better
and better. He is the running back I want most
(34:16):
to create something out of nothing, and he's been more consistent.
It hasn't been as boom er bus this year. He's
been a little steadier and you're still getting the big plays.
I think he gets it done against the Titans.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
All right, Let's go to the Commanders and Jets.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Zach Wilson out, so the pride and joy of Northwestern University,
Trevor Simeon starts at quarterback for the Jets. Are you
only picking the Jets, Cynthia because of the whole college Sea?
Speaker 5 (34:38):
I thought I was a pride and joy of Northwestern?
But whatever, No.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
Twenty two to eighteen in this one, I think because
of Garrett Wilson and Breese Hallis some other people as well.
But I think that the opportunity against this secondary is massive.
I also think that the opportunity to run the ball
also massive. This is their last home game of the season.
Speaker 5 (34:57):
I think that the Jets fans with Aaron Rodgers on
the sideline.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
You need to watch out and see you these little tricks.
Perhaps it's even a Garrett Wilson rushing touchdown. I don't
even care you're playing him in fantasy.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
All right, we got the Cardinals and Bears at Soldier Field, Chicago.
Coming off that epic of Pail Mary in Cleveland, Justin
Fields out the show why he should be the team's
quarterback in twenty twenty four. In fact, this is a
mystery box game because you've got two quarterbacks going up
against each other and the franchise is maybe thinking about
getting somebody else. I think Justin Fields comes out there
and gets the Bears to win in this matchup twenty
(35:28):
three to twenty one, because.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Justin is playing well.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
In fact, against that top Browns defense, there were several completions,
especially the one to Bob Tanyan in the first half
that could have been but they were not because they
were dropped. So I got the Bears here. Looking forward
to game day morning. If you've been familiar with our show,
you're looking forward to write this down as we have
some predictions that we think are certain to happen for
(35:53):
Week sixteen.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Greg, what are people writing down?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (35:56):
Sometimes I just look at a game and a number
just doesn't feel right, so I circle back to it
to help all the people in the land. The Bengals
to beat the Steelers by at least three points this week.
This sweater right here saying rain maker. The Bengals are
gonna make it rain points from the sky with Jake Browning.
I don't care if Jamar Chase is and their t
(36:17):
Higgins can get it done. How about a little Andre
Yoshavas They have enough weapons. Tanner uh Hudson is his
name is like producing like a top tier Yes, tight end,
And sometimes it's just about an organization. And the Steelers
right now are a ship that is leaking. And the
Bengals get better every December, even without Joe Burrow. They
are coming together at the right time. I think they're
(36:38):
going to be a playoff team. I don't think it's close.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Well, sometimes I see a number and I see it
one week and then I circle it and it works out,
and then I see it again a second week. So
I'm gonna circle it again a second week.
Speaker 5 (36:49):
That's that.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
Jamir Gibbs will have a longest rush of at least
thirteen and a half easy at least fourteen yards. That
happened in like fourteen seconds last game, So why not
We're going back to the well the explosive. Jamir Gibbs
does it again. He has a long rush of at
least thirteen yards.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
Come on, I love it because Florence is sending those
blitzes at him and you just got to catch him
in one bad look and he pops on.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
If you're gonna give me candy, I'm gonna eat it.
Speaker 6 (37:16):
He's gonna pop it.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
And the thing is, it feels like Gibbs is breaking
a tackle on every single run.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
And I think the only thing that might stop him.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Is gonna be the end zone ultimately, and the Lions
are gonna win. He's not gonna be worried or sad
anymore at all.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
I one more.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
They got drugs.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Speaking of guys running for yards, Josh Allen will run
for more than twenty nine yards.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
I love that in.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Sofi Stadium, which is again less than twenty nine yards
away from us right now. The last three games, look
at that point from Josh Allen, he has averaged forty
five rushing yards per game.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
He had eighty one.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
Three weeks ago. If he wants to, I think he
can easily do it. Maybe he doesn't have to, but
I think Josh Allen easily gets thirty rushing.
Speaker 6 (38:04):
I'll give it a free write this down too, Like
eleven points. It is not enough in this game for
this Bills team, one of the best teams in the
NFL right now, is it like, is it a dead
coach bounce?
Speaker 5 (38:13):
Ye?
Speaker 6 (38:14):
Now, I don't believe in that. When it's the Bills.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
People apparently believe in the coach firing bounce.
Speaker 6 (38:20):
Don't.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
Don't count on this, but I think gave Davis sa
see the answer. They gotta get him going. They gotta
get him going.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
We're gonna count on seeing you next week. For Cynthia
and Greg and Patrick, thanks for watching the game.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
Davit.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
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