December 25, 2025 • 39 mins
The Good Morning Football Podcast begins with hosts Sherree Burruss, Kyle Brandt, Isaac Rochell and Mike Garafolo previewing the Christmas slate of NFL games - are the Broncos ready to take the next step? Then they preview the Packers-Ravens matchup which has massive implications for both teams. Throwdown Thursday - is the Broncos defense or Bo Nix the better present for Sean Payton? Is Ben Johnson or Kyle Shanahan more deserving to earn NFL head coach of the year.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good Morning Football is the production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to Good Morning Football, presented by Old Trapper.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Well, Merry Christmas to you, and how about we start
week seventeen with a present from Santa Claus. Yes, hopefully
you got some wonderful gifts under your tree and in
your stockings. But we also have three games on the slate, Sherry, Isaac,
Mike G.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Kyle Brant here with you. It's going to be an
incredible day.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I hope everyone gets to spend some time with family,
friends and loved ones, and of course getting to watch
some football. Kyle, It's just we We couldn't have picked
or had a better day to just start Christmas.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Hell know, it's wonderful time. Mike, garyl follow We had
a little cameo by one of your daughters today. How
we do on How's Light? How's Christmas? Talk to us?
Speaker 6 (01:02):
The egg nug hit a little hard last night, so
just don't expect.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Don't expect any witty banner.
Speaker 6 (01:08):
I do appreciate the world's easiest game of Where's Waldo?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Ever, though again there is I.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
Got them, Isaac, How's life, buddy?
Speaker 7 (01:16):
My Christmas It's unbelievable.
Speaker 8 (01:18):
I even broke out this Notre Dame jersey had to
take off the plastic wrap off. This has not been
opened since my senior year. Got to rep the Notre
Dame Boys. And it's Christmas time, so got to rep
the great Christmas background.
Speaker 7 (01:31):
Shout out to my in laws for that.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
It looks beautiful, It's perfect those points set as we
have gifts. Where's Waldo slash Candy Canes, Mike Chie. We're
going to make this easy for you. You can just sit
on the couch and watch football because we have three
games coming your way today. First too on Netflix, that's
Commanders at Cowboys. Then you have Lines at Vikings and
you might be.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Thinking, where's Jamie, where's Mantai? Where's Seth freaking Rollins.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
They are there in Minnesota hanging out.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Then you have the final game on Amazon Prime and.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
That's where the Chiefs host the Broncos. But there is
some injury news we need to get to. It's not
just all you know, tinsel and Christmas presence. There might
be some hole in the stockings of some of these players.
And the news that RNFL network insider Ian Rappaport is
bringing to us. Good morning and Merry Christmas to you.
Is it gifts you're delivering or lumps of coal?
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Uh?
Speaker 9 (02:23):
You know that time of the year, mostly lumps of coal.
Mery Christmas to you guys as well. I want to
get to some of the injuries for today's games, not
all bad news. We'll start with Amanroz Saint Brown, the
star receiver for the Detroit Lions, who, as we learned
earlier in the season, basically never misses a game if
he could possibly walk, that's the situation he is. And
now he's been on the injury report limited this week
(02:43):
with a knee injury described more as irritation than anything
else by coach Dan Campbell. And when Amen Roz talked
to reporters in the locker room, what he has said
is basically what's going to happen, was that he expects
to be out there on the field. I would expect
to see a full go Amanroz Saint Brown against the
Minnesota Vikings today as the Lions hang on to their
(03:04):
playoff hopes, needing a win to do it. Mention, the
Washington Commanders also played today. They're going to be starting
not Jayden Daniels to starting quarterback, not Marcus Murriota, their
backup quarterback has played really well at times this year.
Josh Johnson their third string quarterback the off travel Josh
Johnson been on basically sixteen teams or something like that
(03:24):
in the NFL. Long tenured veteran. He makes a rare
start with Marcus Mariota banged up with a hand and
a quad injury. Jeff Drisco signed off the Arizona Cardinals
practice squad. He is going to be the backup quarterback.
So a little bit of a mass unit for the
Washington Commanders today and then for the Kansas City Chiefs
playing in the late game the Amazon game, they are
(03:45):
also a little bit of a mass unit. But they
did yesterday has put several of their key players, several
of their stars in injury reserve, including Rashi Rice. Really
was a bounce back season for Rice. Started off with
the knee injury, came back strong, re established himself as
a star in the NFL after the suspension. Now placed
on reserve with a concussion. And that was not all
(04:06):
Trend McDuffie. They're really good corner also on ir Taekwon
Thord and the receiver also on ir So, don't feel
bad if you have to look at a roster to
figure out who's playing for the Kennessey Chiefs today.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Man Prickley looking forward to Rashi Rice being back, but
certainly we know this Chiefs team is banged up as
it is.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Ian. We appreciate you, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Now, the Chief's defense, they have entered last week's game
as the NFL's stingiest eighth thin yards allowed, the Titans
rolling up a season high three hundred and seventy seven
yards of offense against them. So the fact that you know,
Chris Jones, one of these stalwart anchors on their defense,
just is still not happy with we didn't do a.
Speaker 10 (04:45):
Really good job of stopping to run as we did
in the previous week. So we can hone in on it.
Coming up with dimmer Broco's division opponent, it's gonna be tough.
They like to run the ball, they like to play physical.
So this week going into film and we got up
out physicality.
Speaker 6 (04:58):
Is this one of those situations where you're happy to
have a Thursday night game so you can get back
out there and get the bad taste out of your mouth.
Speaker 11 (05:03):
I think that's a good, good way of putting it,
I definitely think, you know, it's it's better in this case.
You know, I always like to get to the game
as fast as possible after a game like that, and
so playing on Thursday, will you allow us to move
on and get to Thursday and allow us to you know,
get it back on track.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
And they have that short week too, and just not
the fact that they need to flush that loss. So
the Broncos still have all that they want right in
front of them. They control their own destiny as they
head into Arrowhead tonight against as we heard from Ian,
you might need to look at a roster because they
have a banged up team on.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Both sides of the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Isaac, I want to start with you, what is catching
your eye for this Broncos team and what else are
you looking to see that will reassure you as they
make their playoff bush.
Speaker 7 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (05:49):
Well, first off, I think the question that was asked
the bow next about the quick turnaround game Thursday, a
shorter week after a loss. That's such a good question
because that's exactly what they're thinking about immediately when they
went in that locker room. I guarantee you, just like
I did as a player. You cannot wait to get
back out if you lose and don't play like you
want to. But to answer your question, what am I
(06:10):
looking for, I'm looking for a team that's going to
eliminate self inflicted wounds. We know who bo Nicks is
going to be, we know who Sean Payton's going to be.
We know this is the best D line ever. I
mean it s the line's incredible. What we don't need
to have is misstackles. They had nine miss tackles last game.
Over one hundred yards worth of offense off of those
misplay or mistackles that the Jags had.
Speaker 7 (06:34):
So you just don't want to have that.
Speaker 8 (06:35):
You don't want turnovers, you don't want a bunch of penalties,
you don't want miss tackles. You want to be able
to play a clean brand of football going into the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (06:43):
And that's exactly what they're going to need to do.
It needs to be.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Complimentary football all around, clean, do what you need to do,
make your don't mistackles. That's all we need and this
team's going to be completely fine moving forward.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
I mean, best team in the NFL right now.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
The Broncos right now, Isaac are tenth in the NFL
in offense, they are starting to move up the rankings there.
They have had over the last couple of games four
forty five, three ninety one, three fifty six, four to two.
They were lower ranked before the last couple of weeks.
And I remember looking at this Broncos team and I'm saying,
why doesn't this feel like a Sean Payton team to me?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And I went back and looked at the rankings.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
When Sean Payton was the head coach of the Saints,
it was a top ten offense every single year from
the time he took over the Saints up until the
last two years when it was like all of a sudden, yeah,
maybe the things have run its course in New Orleans
and he wound up leaving there. So what is missing
from this offense? And I look at it and I
watched every single game, and the guy that I can't
(07:39):
figure out why he doesn't have a bigger role is
Evan Ingram, a guy who was released by the Jaguars
this offseason. And then there was a bitding war between
the Broncos and the Chargers of divisional rivalry in the
offseason to see who would land him, and the Broncos
sent him in to a two year, twenty three million
dollar deal, So he is making the twelfth highest number
at the tight end position, and a lot of times
(08:00):
I watch the game some of that stuff just some
short sitting down, some quick counts. Now, last week he
did have a thirty three yard catch when he was
asked to run.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Down the field. There was also a play that he
had against the Washington.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
Commanders earlier in the season where I was like, Yeah,
that's still the Evan Ingram. I remember being drafted by
the Giants in the way that he was explosive for
the Jaguars at times as well.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
I think that's the missing piece.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
If they can unlock him and get him going and
add a little bit more explosiveness to this offense, then
I'll say, Okay, now they're starting to pass the eye
test a little bit more and make them that much dangerous.
Evan Ingram, that's the guy I want to see go
off tonight.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Go. I hear that, and I believe me, Isaac. There
were some some people down in Duval County, Florida who
just screamed about you, saying the Broncos are the best
team in the NFL because the Jaguars just smacked the
Broncos in Denver. But that's what we do with Jacksonville.
I'm sorry, guys, like we should be better, but do
it again and probably have to do it another time
because Denver does look very good that last week aside,
(08:56):
and I'm just going to see Sean Payton today. It's
kind of a fun atmosphere to have a Sean Payton
day where last week he comes out small market, a
small market that. As I've said, it's about the two
thousandth time that Sean Payton has said something that people
don't like. He could not care less, but he does
go out and lose. I'll tell you what though, Sean Payton,
the mission which I've been showing up in Denver, it's done.
(09:19):
I mean, we're here, guys. This is what Sean Payton
was brought in to do. He's if he's wins the
chigast the Zombie Chiefs today, it'll be a sweep of
the Chiefs. It'll be a division title, it may be
a conference title. It's all working. And who does he
do it against? His old buddy Andy Reid, Andy Read
and Sean Payton go way back watch that today. Watch
the interaction between the two of them. It's kind of
(09:41):
sad to talk about Andy Reid. I thought it was
even sad playing that sound of Chris Jones, because again
they're the Zombie Chiefs and normally right now they're storming
towards the playoffs. But let's just inject a little bit
of Christmas cheer. It's still Andy. He's still jolly in
his own way, in his heart, if not outwardly. And
let's just remember some Andy, of Christmas is past.
Speaker 12 (10:08):
How do you due you for the present? You can
home field of that. We'll get to the schedule taking
me up. I'm about dying.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
I mean, that's gotta be like the most depressing clip
I could have possibly played. As I was playing, I
was thinking I shouldn't have played that. That is utterly depressing.
But Andy will be out there and he'll be doing
every single thing he can get out of his own
bag of tricks to try to beat his old buddy
Sean Payton. They have a swap roles here. A couple
of years ago, Sean Payton was an open feud with
his quarterback Russell Wilson, and the Broncos were doing nothing. Now,
(10:44):
Sean payn has staying on top of the AFC, and
Andy Reid is like, what the hell's going on here?
PASSI cheezburger, but I'll be Washington, Kyle.
Speaker 7 (10:50):
You just gave every single Chiefs fan a bag of cold.
Speaker 8 (10:53):
You know, we got to keep it into Christmas references.
That was that was awful and great, But real quick,
just on this Denver team, like you mentioned this, Isaac's
calling Denver the best team in football. The reason the
best team in football because they just lost and we're
sitting around talking about how they can get better, and
we're like, pass the ball to Evan Ingram Moore, miss tackles.
Speaker 7 (11:12):
It's not like these huge Sure, everybody needs.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
To panic issues, right, and the Jaguars are going to
have to continue to prove themselves. But all year the
Broncos have just played so well. In the mark of
a great team is always a defense, and their defense
is so impressive. So it's like, when this is on
the script, we're having a fine things to talk about
because they're so complete this.
Speaker 7 (11:35):
Year and it was a good loss.
Speaker 8 (11:36):
Honestly, at this point in the year, is a good
loss for them to really make a playoff run.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
I think you make a really great point there.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I think it's almost like we're nitpicking things to find,
like find the perfection of the day for Broncos. But
Mike g is our Thursday night football cadence guy. The
fact that they can do this quick turnaround, have this
primetime game on a Christmas Day, how does this experience
help them that they do have so much of their
own destiny in their own control to make this playoff push.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
Yeah, I want to get back out there, just like
you heard Bownecks talk about it. Who's asked about it
and said, yeah, that's absolutely the case here And look
are we nitpicking, yes, but that's what we do. Especially
when you get to this time of the year. The
question is not what the Broncos need to do to
beat the six and nine Chiefs. The Broncos are likely
going to beat the six and nine Chiefs, which are
not the Chiefs that we remember, obviously for a variety
(12:24):
of reasons. The question is what do you want to
see from them? Because now we're getting to the point
where they're going to be playing other teams that are
double digit teams. They're gonna be playing teams like the
Jaguars that aren't afraid to come in into their stadium
and play well as they did. They're gonna be playing
other teams in the AFC, such as Josh Allen and
the Buffalo Bills, who have a great running game. So yeah,
are we nitpicking? But it's nick picking time of the year.
(12:45):
It is almost the playoff time of the year. It's
time to go, Broncos. It's time to take that next step.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
All right, we're going to go.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Let's see what other matchups that are keeping our attention.
We have the two other games today, Dallas at Washington,
Detroit at Minnesota. Quickly, Mike g which one is grabbing
your attention? What are you looking for in those other two?
Speaker 6 (13:02):
All right, I'm looking for this Lions team to rush
for more than fifteen yards. I mean, when we came
into this season, we said, okay, they lost both coordinators.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Oh boy, the Lions are in trouble. And then they
go down week one and then it bounce back.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
It scored fifty two against the Chicago Bears, and then
it was kind of up and down and up and
down and up and down there. But fifteen yards rushing.
This is not the Lions. I don't care who you're
playing against it was in your building in a game
you absolutely had to win. The previous low, by the way,
and the Dan Campbell era was thirty six for the
(13:37):
twenty twenty one team. The twenty twenty five team is
supposed to be a lot better. Look at that number
two thirty to fifteen, Like, this is a look in
the mirror. We are supposed to be the Lions. We're
supposed to be a Dan tumble. I understand that, I
get that right, But then remember Dan Campbell took over
play calling, and it's like, oh, the Lions offense is back.
(13:59):
I mean, give me fifty one, don't give me fifteen.
Speaker 7 (14:02):
Mike Gee.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
I think if you we're running the ball behind the
best O line in the NFL, whoever that is, you
could get fifteen yards, probably in the first quarter. Yeah,
so I fully agree with you. I want to tell
a very quick story here. When I signed with the
Raiders at the very end of the twenty twenty three
season two weeks left. I got there and they were
still a playoff potential. But when I felt the energy
(14:25):
from that locker room, nobody cared about making some playoffs.
Everybody was planning for the offseason. The culture was not there.
My question for this Lions team, because I agree with you,
Mike g I want to see who are they like.
Speaker 7 (14:36):
Is this culture real? Was this culture just.
Speaker 8 (14:39):
Based off of Ben Johnson's phenomenal offense and then winning games,
or is this culture of biting the knee caps and
Dan Campbell actually there? Because if it is, they should
go dominate the Vikings. They should win their final game,
and then maybe they make it.
Speaker 7 (14:53):
To the playoffs.
Speaker 8 (14:54):
But right now, my biggest question that I'm excited to
find out today are the Detroit Lions culturally where they
need to be to get better.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
It's a fair question. And if Theans lose or if
they lose out they don't make the playoffs, the post
mortem on their season will be the coordinators and fair unfair.
It's you can ask that if they finish eight to
nine or nine to eight or whatever it is, that's
we talked about the offseason, and then the line's offense
was not as good in spots this year. That is
just fair. That's how it works, and I know Dan
Campbell knows that's coming. I'm looking forward to watching George
(15:25):
Pickens play football on my television today for a million reasons. One,
it's George Pickens. I'm always looking forward to it. Two
last week he was outstanding. We didn't talk about it
that much because the Cowboys are out of it. But
if you were watching the Cowboys game today against the Commanders,
watch Pickens another little subplot. And sometimes Christmases are about
the ghost of Christmas past. Do you guys remember last
(15:47):
year the Cowboys played on Christmas and Pickens showed up
late to the game. Now, I don't mean he showed
up in the second quarterback, but he showed up like
way way later than you're supposed to show up, and
it was a big to do and people were doing
a nine. And why is Pickings are late? I don't
know if there's any apathy that's crept in for Pickings
at all with a six eight and one record, But
(16:09):
if they're on time, let's be locked in because he
has been one of the best players in the NFL
this year, always entertaining early later otherwise. So keep your
eye on him right now. And Mike g and the
Insider taxes, well, it's still not at the stadium. I
can't wait to see that.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Yeah, yeah, I'll tell you what though, if the Lions
running backs don't show up on time?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Do I get put?
Speaker 6 (16:29):
I mean, I gotta go back to Isaacs. This is
the kind of stuff that you sit there with your
idiot friends. I remember we went to a baseball game
one time and my buddies like, I could play third
base for three innings, and we're like, you can't play
third base in a major league baseball game. So for
Isaac to say that I could rush for fifteen.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yards, that's the kind of stuff that we would argue, like,
if I get good, which offensive line? And am I
running behind? Which defense? Am I going? Again?
Speaker 6 (16:54):
Could I get fifteen yards in an NFL game?
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Isaac?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
For you, a former NFL player, to say that I
think I can, I'm down.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
You got the what you need.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Listen, these things always come down to this, Mike. If
you were given enough carries in a vacuum, yes you
could get fifteen. What you're not accounting for is the
first carry getting injured.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
And only get one hands fifteen big right off the bed.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
You're not going outside, Mike, So I assume you're going
off the middle. That's where the bad boys are. You
don't off there?
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh my god?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah, he also said that Eggnog was hitting a little
hard this morning, so, uh, we'll give you a break
on that one. I'm in the protocol, questionable, Mike ge
running back. Now there are the Packers head coach Matt Lafour.
He has a tall task ahead of him taking on
this Ravens defense, and it you know, in the spirit
of the holiday season. Yesterday he was asked and said
(17:50):
what he expects under the Christmas tree for him listen
to this.
Speaker 13 (17:55):
I'm sure we'll be getting up early in my house
and uh over to the presence, and about the minute
we're done doing that, we'll be back at the office.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
So I don't think I don't.
Speaker 13 (18:08):
I don't think my wife thought I was a good
boy this year, so I don't think she got me anything.
I was on the naughty list.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Ooh, naughty list. I mean maybe because he usually wins
in December. Guys, what we see from Green Bay. But
you know, Brien Lafloor, Miss Lafloor, we see you there.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
We're going to really dig into this race. Mike Gee,
why does that make you laugh?
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Well? Can I?
Speaker 5 (18:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Right off the bat here, Because NFL coaching wives are
the unsung heroes. Of the league because of what they
have to deal with, the fact that these guys are
at times sleeping in the office as much time. I mean,
like a lot of kids, a lot of NFL coaching
kids today are having amazing Christmases and.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
It's because of Mom.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
It's because of what she was able to do and
what she was able to get done. So I don't
know what you can do on top of everything you
throw on top of her to get on the naughty list.
Matt Lafloor, So I heard that, I'm thinking, what are
we not hearing here?
Speaker 2 (19:01):
But whatever?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Yeah, between the a little bit, but looking at miss
Ravens Packer game, get us started here?
Speaker 4 (19:09):
What do we feel like you need to see?
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Mike g When it comes to just the football part
of this, we're going to leave that home part for
a different day.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
I want to see Jordan Love on the nicest I
want to see him get through concussion protocol. I want
to see him play and I have enjoyed watching him
play this year. I think he does a great job
of playing the quarterback position. And Pro Bowl snubs, You've
got them every single year.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Does Jordan Love have a case? I think he does.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
You know you look at his numbers this year, He's
thrown half the interceptions. I believe that Sam Darnold has
had his numbers this year thirty three eighty one, eight
fewer yards that he had in fifteen games last year,
and the interceptions cut from eleven to six, twenty three
touchdowns to the same twenty five that he had last year.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And I just think he's played phenomenal football.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
That fifteen games also includes him leaving early the other game,
so he potentially could have put up even better numbers.
So I want Jordan Love to get through the protocol.
I want to see him out there on the field.
I don't think we're going to see Lamar Jackson. You
heard what Ian said. So let's get Jordan Love out there.
Let's see the Packers at full strength.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
Mike g real quick, because you brought up moms.
Speaker 8 (20:10):
I have to get my mom a shout out because
I know she's watching the show Gina in Minnesota.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
My mom, who I love? I miss him?
Speaker 8 (20:18):
Yeah, you know it's all that matters, right, moms and
the wives of the NFL.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Yeah, let's talk about moms more and how important they
are to their families.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
I'm here for this.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
Literally, but people that I want to see in this game.
Speaker 8 (20:29):
Not to quickly change the subject, mom, but people that
I want to see. I'm obviously going to talk about
all the Notre Dame guys that are playing on this
Baltimore Ravens team. There are big difference makers. This isn't
like a hoorah. I've got Notre Dame stuff in the background,
so I'm going to talk about it. Ronnie Stanley, Alohi Gilman,
and the great number fourteen best safety in football right now.
(20:50):
In my opinion, these guys are big difference makers in
this game. Of course, the safeties. With a quarterback that's
not going to be Jordan Love potentially, it's gonna matter
what type of looks they have defensively what they can do.
Speaker 7 (21:03):
And then Ronnie.
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Stanley's huge for this too because we may not see
Lamar Jackson. They're running games got to be huge. With
Derrick Henry, we've had a lot of issues with that
and the pull wasn't all. We want Dereck Henry to
have wide open lanes to run the ball. So Notre
Dame guys are no doubt gonna be the biggest piece
of this game.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Okay, you can talk Notre Dame. I'll talk to Alabama
because they actually made the college football Playoff. Derek, we're
doing that. I mean, that's true, they did make it.
And Derrick Henry. I think today is an important day
of Derrick Henry. Why the end of the season, the
team's not very good, they're seven and eight. There is
(21:41):
the script that's already written for them where Lamar his
body or whatever is going on with Lamar let them
down and the Ravens just kind of lose out and
go quietly into this into the sunset. Or what if
Derek Henry just goes ballistic? What if he just goes
absolutely not cin Lambo Field today and as a special day, Guys,
I don't know if you've noticed, is Derek Henry's thirty
(22:02):
one is casually dropping one hundred yards this season, a
dozen touchdowns, five yards of carry. He is doing everything
he has always done, albeit on a team that has
just really continued to underwhelm. I just wonder if there's
any way he could carry this team. I think Derek
Henry is a Hall of Famer. I do. I think
when this is all done, I think he's going to
get in. This is the kind of days where if
(22:22):
you go absolutely nuts on Christmas Day and you win
in lambeau Field and you keep that Ravens heartbeat alive,
that's how you go and become a first ballot guy someday.
I mean it's this is a chance to be legendaries.
He's out there with his usual backup quarterback like he
has all year against the Packers who are really playing
for a lot. Derek Henry, have a day, give us
one of those specials. Give us another ninety nine yard run,
(22:43):
give us another two hundred yard day. Just give us
an absolute show, because it's going to have to come
from you. And this guy's never afraid of the work.
I'm looking for a huge day number twenty two today.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Yeah, maybe Mike Gen you can speak to this.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
That's why the Ravens got a guy like Dereck Henry
to put games away late.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Just run the ball. Kyle Well, we had him on
was It literarlier this week. He said he's after.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Another angry receptor, so something we need to be certainly
on the lookout for as he takes on this Green
Bay team Christmas edition of Throwdown Thursday. So as we
tell the baby gentle hands in this throwdown. We're going
to start question number one. Who has been the greatest
gift to Sean Payton this season? Is it bon Nicks
(23:22):
wrapped up in beautiful wrapping paper or is it the
Denver defense that is the gift to head coach Sean Payton?
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Isaac, what do you think?
Speaker 7 (23:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (23:31):
I think this is a definite defense thing. And I
played defensive end in the NFL, so it checks out
that I would say this. But I remember playing with
Melvin Ingram, and Melvin Ingram was a guy who would
come in the locker room when we were at the
Chargers at halftime and.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Be like, if they don't score, they don't win. It's
the simplest.
Speaker 8 (23:47):
Concept in football, and this defense is giving them opportunities
to win. It's complementary football. The better the defense plays,
the better Bonnicks can play. If you're seeing highlights right now,
this d line absolutely dominating and it dominated all year.
I mean they're coming out of games with six Evan,
I'll throw in the six seven reference six to seven sacks.
Speaker 7 (24:07):
That's not normal.
Speaker 8 (24:08):
Also, when you look at them categorically, they're top five
in pretty much every defensive category. So again, these are
difference makers. When it comes to playoff teams. Every great
coach says, when it comes to playoffs, pack your defense
and pack your special teams. And that's what they're gonna
It's what they're gonna continue to do. Their defense has
been top tier all year.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Yeah, it's the defense for me.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
And you could sit here and say, oh, Patrick's air ten,
Nick Benito, these guys up front, Zach Allen, I'm gonna
go Riley Moss and Riley Moss is abstract art. Basically,
you look at it and everybody sees something different. Mark
Riley Moss is the cornerback opposite Patrick Sir Tan, which
means he is going to see the football come towards
(24:51):
the guys that he is covering more often than a
lot of other cornerbacks.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
In the league. Is nobody wants to throw too often
the ten side.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
And uh, there's been a lot of this, well I
was looking for break up. Well there's an interception off
with deflection. There's also been a lot of penalties as well.
You got to take the good with the bad, and
you gotta love the fact that despite that and despite
what some people say when they go, hey, this guy's
the most penalized guy, and you know he's struggling because
look at how many times they're throwing his way or whatever.
(25:21):
Riley Moss is in there competing and he hasn't budged,
and he hasn't back down, and he continues to do it.
I love Riley Moss's competitiveness. I think in the future
he's gonna get his own big contract Kyle, and I
love the fact that he hasn't back down.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
He hasn't waivered at all.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
I like Moss a lot too, obviously, I like the defense.
But Nicks is everything they could have wanted him to be.
He's far from perfect. He still has a lot of
growing to do, but bon Nicks is working and it
maybe shouldn't have happened like this. Let's just remember the
origin story of bon Nicks. Sean Payton shows up and
there is a messy, awkward, really unsavory relationship with Russell
(25:56):
Wilson in which he is benched and sat down and
just it's one of the worst stories going on in
football that year. So they go and they're going to
draft a quarterback. Sean Payton's like, yeah, we'll take the
sixth quarterback in the first round. The sixth We'll take
our sixth choice, and that's how I'm going to launch
this next era of my career with QB six in
the draft. And he said, no, this is the guy
(26:18):
we wanted, and we're like, yeah, sure it was. You
just liked them all and you were six in line. No,
this is the one we wanted. And it's worked, and
it's really worked, and it's worked better than some of
those quarterbacks that were drafted in front of him. I
don't need to mention their names. You know who they are.
Sean Payton knew his guy, got his guy has his
defense and boon Nicks. That's fun about bon Nicks and
the Broncos is there's a feeling that the best could
be yet to come, just like there kind of is
(26:39):
with Caleb and some of these other younger guys. Some
of these guys in the playoffs this year, we already
know what they got, but Nicks maybe can uncorcent but
we haven't seen yet. It's exciting, it's intoxicating, and he
really has them exactly where he always thought they would
take him.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
And that's Peyton plus Knicks plus defense. Really the gift
for all the above for Broncos fans as they look
to clinch the AFC West for the first time since
twenty fifteen. We don't need to remind Broncos fans how
that ended up for them super Bowl Parade. May I
remind you now, Ben Johnson, Kyle you kind of mentioned
they're Chicago Bears, but they are taking on Kyle Shanahan
and the forty nine ers in this big NFC matchup.
(27:14):
We want to listen to Coach Johnson first talking about
his coaching peers listen to this.
Speaker 14 (27:19):
Each year, you know this, the Shanahan offense looks a
little bit different. It's got some different wrinkles. As defenses change,
He's been changing as well, and I think that's enabled
him to stay on the forefront of some of these concepts.
And so I think he does a great job, as
good of a job as anybody in the NFL of
putting his guys in a great spot to be successful.
(27:41):
And you know it certainly shows up there on third
down and in the red zone.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Coach, they're talking about success, I think we could use
that word for both of those. But for topic two,
who do you think whose season isn't a better resume?
Speaker 4 (27:54):
A better resume for coach of the year.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Is it Ben Johnson what he's doing in Chicago, or
is it Kyle Shanahan Isaac what he's doing there in
San Francisco.
Speaker 7 (28:03):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 8 (28:04):
Look, Kyle, I'm gonna make you happy here because I'm
fully converted into a Bears guy. Like, any time I
can talk positively about Ben Johnson, I'm going to so
no doubt.
Speaker 7 (28:14):
My answer here is Ben Johnson. And this was fun
for me.
Speaker 8 (28:17):
I went back and I wanted to watch the first
press conference he had for the Bears, just to really
evaluate where they are now and what his thought process
was going in. I watched his press conference for like
fifteen minutes, and the guy who was just sitting there
giving things right, I want to thank my family, I
want to thank the Lions organization. I want to thank
the Bears organization. What that showed me is that's who
he is, right. He is a genuinely good guy, and
(28:39):
that's the type of energy that he brings. It causes
an environment where his team buys into him. You can't
instill a culture, a winning culture as fast as he
has unless teams or unless your team is brought into you. Now,
the other stuff, the stats that's obvious, right. We know
that they were much better football team, a much better
offense than they've been in the past. But what I
like about him is how quickly he's been able to
(29:01):
change the culture. The Bears have not had a winning
culture years, in fact, very much a losing culture for years,
and then he came in and completely switched everything. Mike,
I want to know what you think about this, hopefully,
say Ben Johnson, No, because we should always talking about man.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Yeah, no, you don't. You don't want to know, and
I'll tell you why.
Speaker 6 (29:19):
Because when you're on this program, you got to speak
passionately about a lot of things, and sometimes you kind
of sort of manufacture it. There's no man, I have
got Coach of the Year takes. I feel extremely passionate
about this one. Oh some of the Okay, so a
lot of times we lean toward the guys that are
working with nothing or working with a team that hasn't
(29:40):
been successful, and the problem is guys that do a
great job for teams that have been get penalized. Do
you know how many times Andy Reid arguably one of
the greatest coaches of our generation, not arguably one of,
but arguably the best one time. Two thousand and two
is the last time that Andy Reid won the AP
Coach of the Year. Something's off here, right, So I'm
(30:01):
leaning towards Kyle Shanahan here, and I understand that Ben
Johnson is building something there and he's creating.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
A culture and all this stuff.
Speaker 6 (30:07):
Kyle Shanahan did not have a starting quarterback for an
extended period a couple of extended periods this year. His
two best defensive players, we're talking all Pro caliber players
unavailable to him for most of the season. Here we'll
say about Fred Waner if he can make his way back.
His alleged number one wide receiver hadn't been in the
building for a month.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Before they put him on the left squad list. I
just like, how do you not look at the.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Job that Kyle Shanahan has done in a division that
is incredibly competitive, and he's got a path.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
To the number one seed Right now? To me, I've
got to vote.
Speaker 6 (30:44):
And right now it's going to Kyle Shanahan, and really
like he should give a piece to Robert Sala as
well for what he has done with an incredibly young.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
Defense, solid against some sort of assistant of the year too.
I don't know if Philip Rivers just shredded that the
other night, who was a forty four year old guy
who's never played from phil guys. I'm like you, I
am uncharacteristically excited for Coach of the Year because it's
the best year I can remember. Here's why. Any other
year it's Mike Frables and we don't even have a
(31:13):
segment about it. It's set, it's done. Any other year
it's Ben Johnson's. We don't need to discuss it. Any
other year it's Liam Cohen's. Obviously, it's Liam Cohen who's
doing all of this and winning and beating the Chiefs
and beating the Broncos without their entire plan. For this year,
who was Travis Hunter who got hurt? Any other year
it's Dave Canalis. Any other year it's Mike McDonald. There's
(31:34):
so many candidates, and yet Mike Gerfolo. I agree with you.
I think it's so cool Kyle Shanahan has done. If
we can just break the archetype of taking over a
really terrible team and taking them from two wins to
eleven or something, which is awesome. I haven't don't have
any problem with that. Most Coach of the Years follow
that this Coach of the Year this year probably will.
Mike and I both have votes for this award. I
(31:56):
don't know who I'm voting for, but there's a huge
part of me that wants to vote for Kyle because
it's different, and this is a guy who has been
to two Super as head coach, and I think this
is his best coaching of his career. So I got
my vote. I'm not telling you who I'm going to
give it to because I don't know yet, but I
wouldice to give it to Kyle Shanahan.
Speaker 6 (32:13):
Kyle, it's a tough one. And I say this all
the time. Uh, the thirty second best, Uh, the worst
coach in the NFL is still the thirty second best
in the world at what he does. I mean college
and guys that are you get what I'm saying. It's
a really hard job and there are a lot of
guys every year that are deserving of it, and you
should never vote with the future in mind. But I
(32:34):
feel like we get some award winners here in this
category that wind up getting fired or maybe aren't as
successful because we wind up leaning towards the oh the
two to ten instead of, Hey, Kyle Shanahan's a guy
that's done it for a long time, and it's gonna
do it for a long time as well.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
Yes, a couple of weeks ago, right, Kyle, maybe two
wish months ago, you thought Kyle Shanahan was screaming into
his pillow because he had so many injuries. It's almost
like San Francisco is quietly eleven and four, if that
makes any sense. Can't wait to see how well, if
you guys can let us know maybe someday, how you
vote for that one. Now for our third topic for
Throwdown Festive, the most important question we're going to ask
(33:12):
to you all day.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
Are you ready? Who is a better Christmas performer?
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Is it Kelly Clarkson or is it Mariah Carey? Again,
the most important question we will ask here today.
Speaker 8 (33:26):
I don't know why Bruce Springsteen's out on here. I'm
not going to make it a huge deal. I had
one of the best intros to.
Speaker 7 (33:30):
His song of Literal all time.
Speaker 8 (33:33):
But because I'm given the options that I have, I'm
gonna go with Mariah Carey. I mean, it's just it's
simply what you were raised with, what you heard for
Mariah has one of the best Christmas albums of all time.
I have no regrets in that answer. Mike G I mean,
what are you going to say? Are you a Kelly guy?
Speaker 6 (33:49):
I respect Kelly, I appreciate what she's doing, and I
say what she's doing because it almost feels like Kelly
Clarkson is Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
He's starting to stack some rings.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
But Mariah Carey is Tom Brady And will Kelly ever
catch Mariah like the Hey is in the barn and
from Mariah, Kelly's got to continue to make it happen here.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
I'm going Mariah here, She's our Tom Brady.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
Well, listen, you try to answer this question with full
respect for both women who are both legends. I feel like, really,
Whitney Houston was kind of the MJ, and then I
feel like maybe Mariah Carey is Kobe. I'm not sure
who Kelly Clarkson would be, but I can tell you this,
and I'm gonna say with my chest, I'll tell you
(34:29):
Key Clarkson is. She's my girl. That is always my
best season, non Christmas season. I'll tell you why. Super
up tempo, a little bit of a rock and roll edge.
Listen to her Run Run, Rudolph. It's awesome from start
to finish. Listen to her Underneath the Tree. In my opinion,
Underneath the Tree has taken over. All I Want for
Christmas is you as the number one Christmas jam. All
(34:51):
I Want for Christmas legendary song, Hang the Banner and
the Rafters, first ballot, Hall of Famer. I think a
little of us got to a point where it was
almost kind of like a joke. It's like, it's farce
this song. We've heard it too much. Kelly can sing,
she can rock, she can host. She's amazing. I've says
a thousand times. I got to meet Kelly clarkson NFL Honors.
She was like, Hey, you're the one was talking about
me on the morning show. I was like, and Dann right,
(35:12):
I was Kelly. I again, of course we all love Mariah.
Mariah is going on to God's gifts to singing. I
go Kelly, always Kelly, It's always wow.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
I was almost waiting for the butt that you were
going to say, Mariah. I mean, All I Want for
Christmas came out in ninety four, which I know is
is your year.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Kyle.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
I was uncertain.
Speaker 5 (35:34):
I love All I Want for Christmas.
Speaker 7 (35:35):
Is you.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
It's I think we've got enough reps on that one. Guys. Yeah, yeah,
we're good for a while.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Oh man, all right, we need to get one more
opinion on this. NFL networker network insider Ian rapaport Ian.
I know we need to talk about quarterbacks, but these
are like quarterbacks of Christmas the Christmas songs.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Are you a Kelly guy or you Mariah?
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (35:59):
First, I'm all Mariah all the time. Kelly Carson is
a great job.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
I'm all Mariah.
Speaker 9 (36:03):
I'll tell you the crazy thing about Mariah, and it
really doesn't have anything to do with Christmas, although I
know that was the question. She is famous and amazing
for two things which are sort of ancillary and also
sort of related to what you're talking about. Like obviously
she had plenty of hits in her real life. The
Christmas stuff is great, Yeah, greatest cover of all time
with I'll Be There, Absolutely, the greatest cover of all
(36:26):
time Killed, and then greatest remix of all time of
Fantasy with ODB.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Yeah, that's my.
Speaker 9 (36:31):
Owner the video was shot. I mean it's it's like
her main stuff is great, and then all the stuff
she kind of does on the side to add to
it are just the greatest of all time. I am
tea Mariah maybe the greatest singing voice in the history
of the world. I'm sure Kelly Clarkson is great, probably
more like I could run into her on a red
carpet than Mariah. But I am full tea Mariah for
(36:54):
her entire.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Kind of don't tell yourself, sir, you never know you
might meet Mariah too.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
Yes, well he did. Ian. I am so relieved because
I thought that the share is gonna t you up.
Is it Mariah or is it Kelly?
Speaker 7 (37:06):
Right?
Speaker 5 (37:06):
And I think they're gonna come and be like all
I listened to is Christmas in Hollis, So I thought
you were gonna go for that, which I I do
like that song. What's in the news?
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Yeah, get us some actual quarterbacks?
Speaker 9 (37:20):
All right, all right, alright, we'll get to the news
a little bit. We'll start with Lamar Jackson. Time will
tell if he ends up having a good Christmas on
the football field on Saturday, that is, when the Baltimore
Ravens played the Green Bay Packers, and I think it's
fair to say Lamar status is in doubt for that game.
He has not yet practiced this week dealing with a
serious back contusion, the kind of thing where you sort
(37:42):
of thought, maybe, all right, well, he was knocked out
of the last game against the New England Patriots, but
probably able to get on the practice field this week.
It has not happened yet, and if it hasn't happened yet,
hard to imagine it happens later today. But we will
hold out and see whether or not the former MVP
is on the field. If he cannot go, Tyler Snoop
Unley will be the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile,
(38:03):
Pittsburgh Steelers got some good news yesterday. Their star EDG TJ.
Watt was back on the practice field for the first
time in two weeks. He is dealing with the after
effects of having surgery on a partially collapse young long
following a dry kneedling session in the Steelers facility. If
he can bounce back today, then I would say he
(38:24):
should be good to go for the game. And this
really isn't a football thing. It's really more of a
he hasn't done anything for two weeks, how does his
body bounce back kind of thing? But the fact that
he is practicing is at least a good sign not
practicing for the Las Vegas Raiders, as Brock Bowers, their
star tight end not going to practice for the rest
of the season because he was placed on injured reserve
(38:45):
with a knee injury. That you know, he's battled all season,
and I think it's safe to say for the Las
Vegas Raiders, there are several things that go into this
decision to make sure that their star player is fully
healthy for twenty twenty six. Totally unrelated, totally unrelated. They're
in a battle for the number one overall pick this
Sunday against the New York Giants. If they lose, they
(39:07):
almost certainly get it. Again, these things are unrelated, but
they're not going to have their best player on the
field Sunday.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
As we always look to the playoffs, there are further
things down in the calendar to look at, like draft
position and go back to Mariah.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
You know, Mariah, you're on fire and that's you. You're
on fire today. We appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you,
my friend.
Good Morning Football is the production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to Good Morning Football, presented by Old Trapper.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Well, Merry Christmas to you, and how about we start
week seventeen with a present from Santa Claus. Yes, hopefully
you got some wonderful gifts under your tree and in
your stockings. But we also have three games on the slate, Sherry, Isaac,
Mike G.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Kyle Brant here with you. It's going to be an
incredible day.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I hope everyone gets to spend some time with family,
friends and loved ones, and of course getting to watch
some football. Kyle, It's just we We couldn't have picked
or had a better day to just start Christmas.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Hell know, it's wonderful time. Mike, garyl follow We had
a little cameo by one of your daughters today. How
we do on How's Light? How's Christmas? Talk to us?
Speaker 6 (01:02):
The egg nug hit a little hard last night, so
just don't expect.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Don't expect any witty banner.
Speaker 6 (01:08):
I do appreciate the world's easiest game of Where's Waldo?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Ever, though again there is I.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
Got them, Isaac, How's life, buddy?
Speaker 7 (01:16):
My Christmas It's unbelievable.
Speaker 8 (01:18):
I even broke out this Notre Dame jersey had to
take off the plastic wrap off. This has not been
opened since my senior year. Got to rep the Notre
Dame Boys. And it's Christmas time, so got to rep
the great Christmas background.
Speaker 7 (01:31):
Shout out to my in laws for that.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
It looks beautiful, It's perfect those points set as we
have gifts. Where's Waldo slash Candy Canes, Mike Chie. We're
going to make this easy for you. You can just sit
on the couch and watch football because we have three
games coming your way today. First too on Netflix, that's
Commanders at Cowboys. Then you have Lines at Vikings and
you might be.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Thinking, where's Jamie, where's Mantai? Where's Seth freaking Rollins.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
They are there in Minnesota hanging out.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Then you have the final game on Amazon Prime and.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
That's where the Chiefs host the Broncos. But there is
some injury news we need to get to. It's not
just all you know, tinsel and Christmas presence. There might
be some hole in the stockings of some of these players.
And the news that RNFL network insider Ian Rappaport is
bringing to us. Good morning and Merry Christmas to you.
Is it gifts you're delivering or lumps of coal?
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Uh?
Speaker 9 (02:23):
You know that time of the year, mostly lumps of coal.
Mery Christmas to you guys as well. I want to
get to some of the injuries for today's games, not
all bad news. We'll start with Amanroz Saint Brown, the
star receiver for the Detroit Lions, who, as we learned
earlier in the season, basically never misses a game if
he could possibly walk, that's the situation he is. And
now he's been on the injury report limited this week
(02:43):
with a knee injury described more as irritation than anything
else by coach Dan Campbell. And when Amen Roz talked
to reporters in the locker room, what he has said
is basically what's going to happen, was that he expects
to be out there on the field. I would expect
to see a full go Amanroz Saint Brown against the
Minnesota Vikings today as the Lions hang on to their
(03:04):
playoff hopes, needing a win to do it. Mention, the
Washington Commanders also played today. They're going to be starting
not Jayden Daniels to starting quarterback, not Marcus Murriota, their
backup quarterback has played really well at times this year.
Josh Johnson their third string quarterback the off travel Josh
Johnson been on basically sixteen teams or something like that
(03:24):
in the NFL. Long tenured veteran. He makes a rare
start with Marcus Mariota banged up with a hand and
a quad injury. Jeff Drisco signed off the Arizona Cardinals
practice squad. He is going to be the backup quarterback.
So a little bit of a mass unit for the
Washington Commanders today and then for the Kansas City Chiefs
playing in the late game the Amazon game, they are
(03:45):
also a little bit of a mass unit. But they
did yesterday has put several of their key players, several
of their stars in injury reserve, including Rashi Rice. Really
was a bounce back season for Rice. Started off with
the knee injury, came back strong, re established himself as
a star in the NFL after the suspension. Now placed
on reserve with a concussion. And that was not all
(04:06):
Trend McDuffie. They're really good corner also on ir Taekwon
Thord and the receiver also on ir So, don't feel
bad if you have to look at a roster to
figure out who's playing for the Kennessey Chiefs today.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Man Prickley looking forward to Rashi Rice being back, but
certainly we know this Chiefs team is banged up as
it is.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Ian. We appreciate you, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Now, the Chief's defense, they have entered last week's game
as the NFL's stingiest eighth thin yards allowed, the Titans
rolling up a season high three hundred and seventy seven
yards of offense against them. So the fact that you know,
Chris Jones, one of these stalwart anchors on their defense,
just is still not happy with we didn't do a.
Speaker 10 (04:45):
Really good job of stopping to run as we did
in the previous week. So we can hone in on it.
Coming up with dimmer Broco's division opponent, it's gonna be tough.
They like to run the ball, they like to play physical.
So this week going into film and we got up
out physicality.
Speaker 6 (04:58):
Is this one of those situations where you're happy to
have a Thursday night game so you can get back
out there and get the bad taste out of your mouth.
Speaker 11 (05:03):
I think that's a good, good way of putting it,
I definitely think, you know, it's it's better in this case.
You know, I always like to get to the game
as fast as possible after a game like that, and
so playing on Thursday, will you allow us to move
on and get to Thursday and allow us to you know,
get it back on track.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
And they have that short week too, and just not
the fact that they need to flush that loss. So
the Broncos still have all that they want right in
front of them. They control their own destiny as they
head into Arrowhead tonight against as we heard from Ian,
you might need to look at a roster because they
have a banged up team on.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Both sides of the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Isaac, I want to start with you, what is catching
your eye for this Broncos team and what else are
you looking to see that will reassure you as they
make their playoff bush.
Speaker 7 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (05:49):
Well, first off, I think the question that was asked
the bow next about the quick turnaround game Thursday, a
shorter week after a loss. That's such a good question
because that's exactly what they're thinking about immediately when they
went in that locker room. I guarantee you, just like
I did as a player. You cannot wait to get
back out if you lose and don't play like you
want to. But to answer your question, what am I
(06:10):
looking for, I'm looking for a team that's going to
eliminate self inflicted wounds. We know who bo Nicks is
going to be, we know who Sean Payton's going to be.
We know this is the best D line ever. I
mean it s the line's incredible. What we don't need
to have is misstackles. They had nine miss tackles last game.
Over one hundred yards worth of offense off of those
misplay or mistackles that the Jags had.
Speaker 7 (06:34):
So you just don't want to have that.
Speaker 8 (06:35):
You don't want turnovers, you don't want a bunch of penalties,
you don't want miss tackles. You want to be able
to play a clean brand of football going into the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (06:43):
And that's exactly what they're going to need to do.
It needs to be.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Complimentary football all around, clean, do what you need to do,
make your don't mistackles. That's all we need and this
team's going to be completely fine moving forward.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
I mean, best team in the NFL right now.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
The Broncos right now, Isaac are tenth in the NFL
in offense, they are starting to move up the rankings there.
They have had over the last couple of games four
forty five, three ninety one, three fifty six, four to two.
They were lower ranked before the last couple of weeks.
And I remember looking at this Broncos team and I'm saying,
why doesn't this feel like a Sean Payton team to me?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And I went back and looked at the rankings.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
When Sean Payton was the head coach of the Saints,
it was a top ten offense every single year from
the time he took over the Saints up until the
last two years when it was like all of a sudden, yeah,
maybe the things have run its course in New Orleans
and he wound up leaving there. So what is missing
from this offense? And I look at it and I
watched every single game, and the guy that I can't
(07:39):
figure out why he doesn't have a bigger role is
Evan Ingram, a guy who was released by the Jaguars
this offseason. And then there was a bitding war between
the Broncos and the Chargers of divisional rivalry in the
offseason to see who would land him, and the Broncos
sent him in to a two year, twenty three million
dollar deal, So he is making the twelfth highest number
at the tight end position, and a lot of times
(08:00):
I watch the game some of that stuff just some
short sitting down, some quick counts. Now, last week he
did have a thirty three yard catch when he was
asked to run.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Down the field. There was also a play that he
had against the Washington.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
Commanders earlier in the season where I was like, Yeah,
that's still the Evan Ingram. I remember being drafted by
the Giants in the way that he was explosive for
the Jaguars at times as well.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
I think that's the missing piece.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
If they can unlock him and get him going and
add a little bit more explosiveness to this offense, then
I'll say, Okay, now they're starting to pass the eye
test a little bit more and make them that much dangerous.
Evan Ingram, that's the guy I want to see go
off tonight.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Go. I hear that, and I believe me, Isaac. There
were some some people down in Duval County, Florida who
just screamed about you, saying the Broncos are the best
team in the NFL because the Jaguars just smacked the
Broncos in Denver. But that's what we do with Jacksonville.
I'm sorry, guys, like we should be better, but do
it again and probably have to do it another time
because Denver does look very good that last week aside,
(08:56):
and I'm just going to see Sean Payton today. It's
kind of a fun atmosphere to have a Sean Payton
day where last week he comes out small market, a
small market that. As I've said, it's about the two
thousandth time that Sean Payton has said something that people
don't like. He could not care less, but he does
go out and lose. I'll tell you what though, Sean Payton,
the mission which I've been showing up in Denver, it's done.
(09:19):
I mean, we're here, guys. This is what Sean Payton
was brought in to do. He's if he's wins the
chigast the Zombie Chiefs today, it'll be a sweep of
the Chiefs. It'll be a division title, it may be
a conference title. It's all working. And who does he
do it against? His old buddy Andy Reid, Andy Read
and Sean Payton go way back watch that today. Watch
the interaction between the two of them. It's kind of
(09:41):
sad to talk about Andy Reid. I thought it was
even sad playing that sound of Chris Jones, because again
they're the Zombie Chiefs and normally right now they're storming
towards the playoffs. But let's just inject a little bit
of Christmas cheer. It's still Andy. He's still jolly in
his own way, in his heart, if not outwardly. And
let's just remember some Andy, of Christmas is past.
Speaker 12 (10:08):
How do you due you for the present? You can
home field of that. We'll get to the schedule taking
me up. I'm about dying.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
I mean, that's gotta be like the most depressing clip
I could have possibly played. As I was playing, I
was thinking I shouldn't have played that. That is utterly depressing.
But Andy will be out there and he'll be doing
every single thing he can get out of his own
bag of tricks to try to beat his old buddy
Sean Payton. They have a swap roles here. A couple
of years ago, Sean Payton was an open feud with
his quarterback Russell Wilson, and the Broncos were doing nothing. Now,
(10:44):
Sean payn has staying on top of the AFC, and
Andy Reid is like, what the hell's going on here?
PASSI cheezburger, but I'll be Washington, Kyle.
Speaker 7 (10:50):
You just gave every single Chiefs fan a bag of cold.
Speaker 8 (10:53):
You know, we got to keep it into Christmas references.
That was that was awful and great, But real quick,
just on this Denver team, like you mentioned this, Isaac's
calling Denver the best team in football. The reason the
best team in football because they just lost and we're
sitting around talking about how they can get better, and
we're like, pass the ball to Evan Ingram Moore, miss tackles.
Speaker 7 (11:12):
It's not like these huge Sure, everybody needs.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
To panic issues, right, and the Jaguars are going to
have to continue to prove themselves. But all year the
Broncos have just played so well. In the mark of
a great team is always a defense, and their defense
is so impressive. So it's like, when this is on
the script, we're having a fine things to talk about
because they're so complete this.
Speaker 7 (11:35):
Year and it was a good loss.
Speaker 8 (11:36):
Honestly, at this point in the year, is a good
loss for them to really make a playoff run.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
I think you make a really great point there.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I think it's almost like we're nitpicking things to find,
like find the perfection of the day for Broncos. But
Mike g is our Thursday night football cadence guy. The
fact that they can do this quick turnaround, have this
primetime game on a Christmas Day, how does this experience
help them that they do have so much of their
own destiny in their own control to make this playoff push.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
Yeah, I want to get back out there, just like
you heard Bownecks talk about it. Who's asked about it
and said, yeah, that's absolutely the case here And look
are we nitpicking, yes, but that's what we do. Especially
when you get to this time of the year. The
question is not what the Broncos need to do to
beat the six and nine Chiefs. The Broncos are likely
going to beat the six and nine Chiefs, which are
not the Chiefs that we remember, obviously for a variety
(12:24):
of reasons. The question is what do you want to
see from them? Because now we're getting to the point
where they're going to be playing other teams that are
double digit teams. They're gonna be playing teams like the
Jaguars that aren't afraid to come in into their stadium
and play well as they did. They're gonna be playing
other teams in the AFC, such as Josh Allen and
the Buffalo Bills, who have a great running game. So yeah,
are we nitpicking? But it's nick picking time of the year.
(12:45):
It is almost the playoff time of the year. It's
time to go, Broncos. It's time to take that next step.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
All right, we're going to go.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Let's see what other matchups that are keeping our attention.
We have the two other games today, Dallas at Washington,
Detroit at Minnesota. Quickly, Mike g which one is grabbing
your attention? What are you looking for in those other two?
Speaker 6 (13:02):
All right, I'm looking for this Lions team to rush
for more than fifteen yards. I mean, when we came
into this season, we said, okay, they lost both coordinators.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Oh boy, the Lions are in trouble. And then they
go down week one and then it bounce back.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
It scored fifty two against the Chicago Bears, and then
it was kind of up and down and up and
down and up and down there. But fifteen yards rushing.
This is not the Lions. I don't care who you're
playing against it was in your building in a game
you absolutely had to win. The previous low, by the way,
and the Dan Campbell era was thirty six for the
(13:37):
twenty twenty one team. The twenty twenty five team is
supposed to be a lot better. Look at that number
two thirty to fifteen, Like, this is a look in
the mirror. We are supposed to be the Lions. We're
supposed to be a Dan tumble. I understand that, I
get that right, But then remember Dan Campbell took over
play calling, and it's like, oh, the Lions offense is back.
(13:59):
I mean, give me fifty one, don't give me fifteen.
Speaker 7 (14:02):
Mike Gee.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
I think if you we're running the ball behind the
best O line in the NFL, whoever that is, you
could get fifteen yards, probably in the first quarter. Yeah,
so I fully agree with you. I want to tell
a very quick story here. When I signed with the
Raiders at the very end of the twenty twenty three
season two weeks left. I got there and they were
still a playoff potential. But when I felt the energy
(14:25):
from that locker room, nobody cared about making some playoffs.
Everybody was planning for the offseason. The culture was not there.
My question for this Lions team, because I agree with you,
Mike g I want to see who are they like.
Speaker 7 (14:36):
Is this culture real? Was this culture just.
Speaker 8 (14:39):
Based off of Ben Johnson's phenomenal offense and then winning games,
or is this culture of biting the knee caps and
Dan Campbell actually there? Because if it is, they should
go dominate the Vikings. They should win their final game,
and then maybe they make it.
Speaker 7 (14:53):
To the playoffs.
Speaker 8 (14:54):
But right now, my biggest question that I'm excited to
find out today are the Detroit Lions culturally where they
need to be to get better.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
It's a fair question. And if Theans lose or if
they lose out they don't make the playoffs, the post
mortem on their season will be the coordinators and fair unfair.
It's you can ask that if they finish eight to
nine or nine to eight or whatever it is, that's
we talked about the offseason, and then the line's offense
was not as good in spots this year. That is
just fair. That's how it works, and I know Dan
Campbell knows that's coming. I'm looking forward to watching George
(15:25):
Pickens play football on my television today for a million reasons. One,
it's George Pickens. I'm always looking forward to it. Two
last week he was outstanding. We didn't talk about it
that much because the Cowboys are out of it. But
if you were watching the Cowboys game today against the Commanders,
watch Pickens another little subplot. And sometimes Christmases are about
the ghost of Christmas past. Do you guys remember last
(15:47):
year the Cowboys played on Christmas and Pickens showed up
late to the game. Now, I don't mean he showed
up in the second quarterback, but he showed up like
way way later than you're supposed to show up, and
it was a big to do and people were doing
a nine. And why is Pickings are late? I don't
know if there's any apathy that's crept in for Pickings
at all with a six eight and one record, But
(16:09):
if they're on time, let's be locked in because he
has been one of the best players in the NFL
this year, always entertaining early later otherwise. So keep your
eye on him right now. And Mike g and the
Insider taxes, well, it's still not at the stadium. I
can't wait to see that.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Yeah, yeah, I'll tell you what though, if the Lions
running backs don't show up on time?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Do I get put?
Speaker 6 (16:29):
I mean, I gotta go back to Isaacs. This is
the kind of stuff that you sit there with your
idiot friends. I remember we went to a baseball game
one time and my buddies like, I could play third
base for three innings, and we're like, you can't play
third base in a major league baseball game. So for
Isaac to say that I could rush for fifteen.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yards, that's the kind of stuff that we would argue, like,
if I get good, which offensive line? And am I
running behind? Which defense? Am I going? Again?
Speaker 6 (16:54):
Could I get fifteen yards in an NFL game?
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Isaac?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
For you, a former NFL player, to say that I
think I can, I'm down.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
You got the what you need.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Listen, these things always come down to this, Mike. If
you were given enough carries in a vacuum, yes you
could get fifteen. What you're not accounting for is the
first carry getting injured.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
And only get one hands fifteen big right off the bed.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
You're not going outside, Mike, So I assume you're going
off the middle. That's where the bad boys are. You
don't off there?
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh my god?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah, he also said that Eggnog was hitting a little
hard this morning, so, uh, we'll give you a break
on that one. I'm in the protocol, questionable, Mike ge
running back. Now there are the Packers head coach Matt Lafour.
He has a tall task ahead of him taking on
this Ravens defense, and it you know, in the spirit
of the holiday season. Yesterday he was asked and said
(17:50):
what he expects under the Christmas tree for him listen
to this.
Speaker 13 (17:55):
I'm sure we'll be getting up early in my house
and uh over to the presence, and about the minute
we're done doing that, we'll be back at the office.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
So I don't think I don't.
Speaker 13 (18:08):
I don't think my wife thought I was a good
boy this year, so I don't think she got me anything.
I was on the naughty list.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Ooh, naughty list. I mean maybe because he usually wins
in December. Guys, what we see from Green Bay. But
you know, Brien Lafloor, Miss Lafloor, we see you there.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
We're going to really dig into this race. Mike Gee,
why does that make you laugh?
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Well? Can I?
Speaker 5 (18:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Right off the bat here, Because NFL coaching wives are
the unsung heroes. Of the league because of what they
have to deal with, the fact that these guys are
at times sleeping in the office as much time. I mean,
like a lot of kids, a lot of NFL coaching
kids today are having amazing Christmases and.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
It's because of Mom.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
It's because of what she was able to do and
what she was able to get done. So I don't
know what you can do on top of everything you
throw on top of her to get on the naughty list.
Matt Lafloor, So I heard that, I'm thinking, what are
we not hearing here?
Speaker 2 (19:01):
But whatever?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Yeah, between the a little bit, but looking at miss
Ravens Packer game, get us started here?
Speaker 4 (19:09):
What do we feel like you need to see?
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Mike g When it comes to just the football part
of this, we're going to leave that home part for
a different day.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
I want to see Jordan Love on the nicest I
want to see him get through concussion protocol. I want
to see him play and I have enjoyed watching him
play this year. I think he does a great job
of playing the quarterback position. And Pro Bowl snubs, You've
got them every single year.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Does Jordan Love have a case? I think he does.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
You know you look at his numbers this year, He's
thrown half the interceptions. I believe that Sam Darnold has
had his numbers this year thirty three eighty one, eight
fewer yards that he had in fifteen games last year,
and the interceptions cut from eleven to six, twenty three
touchdowns to the same twenty five that he had last year.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And I just think he's played phenomenal football.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
That fifteen games also includes him leaving early the other game,
so he potentially could have put up even better numbers.
So I want Jordan Love to get through the protocol.
I want to see him out there on the field.
I don't think we're going to see Lamar Jackson. You
heard what Ian said. So let's get Jordan Love out there.
Let's see the Packers at full strength.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
Mike g real quick, because you brought up moms.
Speaker 8 (20:10):
I have to get my mom a shout out because
I know she's watching the show Gina in Minnesota.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
My mom, who I love? I miss him?
Speaker 8 (20:18):
Yeah, you know it's all that matters, right, moms and
the wives of the NFL.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Yeah, let's talk about moms more and how important they
are to their families.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
I'm here for this.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
Literally, but people that I want to see in this game.
Speaker 8 (20:29):
Not to quickly change the subject, mom, but people that
I want to see. I'm obviously going to talk about
all the Notre Dame guys that are playing on this
Baltimore Ravens team. There are big difference makers. This isn't
like a hoorah. I've got Notre Dame stuff in the background,
so I'm going to talk about it. Ronnie Stanley, Alohi Gilman,
and the great number fourteen best safety in football right now.
(20:50):
In my opinion, these guys are big difference makers in
this game. Of course, the safeties. With a quarterback that's
not going to be Jordan Love potentially, it's gonna matter
what type of looks they have defensively what they can do.
Speaker 7 (21:03):
And then Ronnie.
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Stanley's huge for this too because we may not see
Lamar Jackson. They're running games got to be huge. With
Derrick Henry, we've had a lot of issues with that
and the pull wasn't all. We want Dereck Henry to
have wide open lanes to run the ball. So Notre
Dame guys are no doubt gonna be the biggest piece
of this game.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Okay, you can talk Notre Dame. I'll talk to Alabama
because they actually made the college football Playoff. Derek, we're
doing that. I mean, that's true, they did make it.
And Derrick Henry. I think today is an important day
of Derrick Henry. Why the end of the season, the
team's not very good, they're seven and eight. There is
(21:41):
the script that's already written for them where Lamar his
body or whatever is going on with Lamar let them
down and the Ravens just kind of lose out and
go quietly into this into the sunset. Or what if
Derek Henry just goes ballistic? What if he just goes
absolutely not cin Lambo Field today and as a special day, Guys,
I don't know if you've noticed, is Derek Henry's thirty
(22:02):
one is casually dropping one hundred yards this season, a
dozen touchdowns, five yards of carry. He is doing everything
he has always done, albeit on a team that has
just really continued to underwhelm. I just wonder if there's
any way he could carry this team. I think Derek
Henry is a Hall of Famer. I do. I think
when this is all done, I think he's going to
get in. This is the kind of days where if
(22:22):
you go absolutely nuts on Christmas Day and you win
in lambeau Field and you keep that Ravens heartbeat alive,
that's how you go and become a first ballot guy someday.
I mean it's this is a chance to be legendaries.
He's out there with his usual backup quarterback like he
has all year against the Packers who are really playing
for a lot. Derek Henry, have a day, give us
one of those specials. Give us another ninety nine yard run,
(22:43):
give us another two hundred yard day. Just give us
an absolute show, because it's going to have to come
from you. And this guy's never afraid of the work.
I'm looking for a huge day number twenty two today.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Yeah, maybe Mike Gen you can speak to this.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
That's why the Ravens got a guy like Dereck Henry
to put games away late.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Just run the ball. Kyle Well, we had him on
was It literarlier this week. He said he's after.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Another angry receptor, so something we need to be certainly
on the lookout for as he takes on this Green
Bay team Christmas edition of Throwdown Thursday. So as we
tell the baby gentle hands in this throwdown. We're going
to start question number one. Who has been the greatest
gift to Sean Payton this season? Is it bon Nicks
(23:22):
wrapped up in beautiful wrapping paper or is it the
Denver defense that is the gift to head coach Sean Payton?
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Isaac, what do you think?
Speaker 7 (23:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (23:31):
I think this is a definite defense thing. And I
played defensive end in the NFL, so it checks out
that I would say this. But I remember playing with
Melvin Ingram, and Melvin Ingram was a guy who would
come in the locker room when we were at the
Chargers at halftime and.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Be like, if they don't score, they don't win. It's
the simplest.
Speaker 8 (23:47):
Concept in football, and this defense is giving them opportunities
to win. It's complementary football. The better the defense plays,
the better Bonnicks can play. If you're seeing highlights right now,
this d line absolutely dominating and it dominated all year.
I mean they're coming out of games with six Evan,
I'll throw in the six seven reference six to seven sacks.
Speaker 7 (24:07):
That's not normal.
Speaker 8 (24:08):
Also, when you look at them categorically, they're top five
in pretty much every defensive category. So again, these are
difference makers. When it comes to playoff teams. Every great
coach says, when it comes to playoffs, pack your defense
and pack your special teams. And that's what they're gonna
It's what they're gonna continue to do. Their defense has
been top tier all year.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Yeah, it's the defense for me.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
And you could sit here and say, oh, Patrick's air ten,
Nick Benito, these guys up front, Zach Allen, I'm gonna
go Riley Moss and Riley Moss is abstract art. Basically,
you look at it and everybody sees something different. Mark
Riley Moss is the cornerback opposite Patrick Sir Tan, which
means he is going to see the football come towards
(24:51):
the guys that he is covering more often than a
lot of other cornerbacks.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
In the league. Is nobody wants to throw too often
the ten side.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
And uh, there's been a lot of this, well I
was looking for break up. Well there's an interception off
with deflection. There's also been a lot of penalties as well.
You got to take the good with the bad, and
you gotta love the fact that despite that and despite
what some people say when they go, hey, this guy's
the most penalized guy, and you know he's struggling because
look at how many times they're throwing his way or whatever.
(25:21):
Riley Moss is in there competing and he hasn't budged,
and he hasn't back down, and he continues to do it.
I love Riley Moss's competitiveness. I think in the future
he's gonna get his own big contract Kyle, and I
love the fact that he hasn't back down.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
He hasn't waivered at all.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
I like Moss a lot too, obviously, I like the defense.
But Nicks is everything they could have wanted him to be.
He's far from perfect. He still has a lot of
growing to do, but bon Nicks is working and it
maybe shouldn't have happened like this. Let's just remember the
origin story of bon Nicks. Sean Payton shows up and
there is a messy, awkward, really unsavory relationship with Russell
(25:56):
Wilson in which he is benched and sat down and
just it's one of the worst stories going on in
football that year. So they go and they're going to
draft a quarterback. Sean Payton's like, yeah, we'll take the
sixth quarterback in the first round. The sixth We'll take
our sixth choice, and that's how I'm going to launch
this next era of my career with QB six in
the draft. And he said, no, this is the guy
(26:18):
we wanted, and we're like, yeah, sure it was. You
just liked them all and you were six in line. No,
this is the one we wanted. And it's worked, and
it's really worked, and it's worked better than some of
those quarterbacks that were drafted in front of him. I
don't need to mention their names. You know who they are.
Sean Payton knew his guy, got his guy has his
defense and boon Nicks. That's fun about bon Nicks and
the Broncos is there's a feeling that the best could
be yet to come, just like there kind of is
(26:39):
with Caleb and some of these other younger guys. Some
of these guys in the playoffs this year, we already
know what they got, but Nicks maybe can uncorcent but
we haven't seen yet. It's exciting, it's intoxicating, and he
really has them exactly where he always thought they would
take him.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
And that's Peyton plus Knicks plus defense. Really the gift
for all the above for Broncos fans as they look
to clinch the AFC West for the first time since
twenty fifteen. We don't need to remind Broncos fans how
that ended up for them super Bowl Parade. May I
remind you now, Ben Johnson, Kyle you kind of mentioned
they're Chicago Bears, but they are taking on Kyle Shanahan
and the forty nine ers in this big NFC matchup.
(27:14):
We want to listen to Coach Johnson first talking about
his coaching peers listen to this.
Speaker 14 (27:19):
Each year, you know this, the Shanahan offense looks a
little bit different. It's got some different wrinkles. As defenses change,
He's been changing as well, and I think that's enabled
him to stay on the forefront of some of these concepts.
And so I think he does a great job, as
good of a job as anybody in the NFL of
putting his guys in a great spot to be successful.
(27:41):
And you know it certainly shows up there on third
down and in the red zone.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Coach, they're talking about success, I think we could use
that word for both of those. But for topic two,
who do you think whose season isn't a better resume?
Speaker 4 (27:54):
A better resume for coach of the year.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Is it Ben Johnson what he's doing in Chicago, or
is it Kyle Shanahan Isaac what he's doing there in
San Francisco.
Speaker 7 (28:03):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 8 (28:04):
Look, Kyle, I'm gonna make you happy here because I'm
fully converted into a Bears guy. Like, any time I
can talk positively about Ben Johnson, I'm going to so
no doubt.
Speaker 7 (28:14):
My answer here is Ben Johnson. And this was fun
for me.
Speaker 8 (28:17):
I went back and I wanted to watch the first
press conference he had for the Bears, just to really
evaluate where they are now and what his thought process
was going in. I watched his press conference for like
fifteen minutes, and the guy who was just sitting there
giving things right, I want to thank my family, I
want to thank the Lions organization. I want to thank
the Bears organization. What that showed me is that's who
he is, right. He is a genuinely good guy, and
(28:39):
that's the type of energy that he brings. It causes
an environment where his team buys into him. You can't
instill a culture, a winning culture as fast as he
has unless teams or unless your team is brought into you. Now,
the other stuff, the stats that's obvious, right. We know
that they were much better football team, a much better
offense than they've been in the past. But what I
like about him is how quickly he's been able to
(29:01):
change the culture. The Bears have not had a winning
culture years, in fact, very much a losing culture for years,
and then he came in and completely switched everything. Mike,
I want to know what you think about this, hopefully,
say Ben Johnson, No, because we should always talking about man.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Yeah, no, you don't. You don't want to know, and
I'll tell you why.
Speaker 6 (29:19):
Because when you're on this program, you got to speak
passionately about a lot of things, and sometimes you kind
of sort of manufacture it. There's no man, I have
got Coach of the Year takes. I feel extremely passionate
about this one. Oh some of the Okay, so a
lot of times we lean toward the guys that are
working with nothing or working with a team that hasn't
(29:40):
been successful, and the problem is guys that do a
great job for teams that have been get penalized. Do
you know how many times Andy Reid arguably one of
the greatest coaches of our generation, not arguably one of,
but arguably the best one time. Two thousand and two
is the last time that Andy Reid won the AP
Coach of the Year. Something's off here, right, So I'm
(30:01):
leaning towards Kyle Shanahan here, and I understand that Ben
Johnson is building something there and he's creating.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
A culture and all this stuff.
Speaker 6 (30:07):
Kyle Shanahan did not have a starting quarterback for an
extended period a couple of extended periods this year. His
two best defensive players, we're talking all Pro caliber players
unavailable to him for most of the season. Here we'll
say about Fred Waner if he can make his way back.
His alleged number one wide receiver hadn't been in the
building for a month.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Before they put him on the left squad list. I
just like, how do you not look at the.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Job that Kyle Shanahan has done in a division that
is incredibly competitive, and he's got a path.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
To the number one seed Right now? To me, I've
got to vote.
Speaker 6 (30:44):
And right now it's going to Kyle Shanahan, and really
like he should give a piece to Robert Sala as
well for what he has done with an incredibly young.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
Defense, solid against some sort of assistant of the year too.
I don't know if Philip Rivers just shredded that the
other night, who was a forty four year old guy
who's never played from phil guys. I'm like you, I
am uncharacteristically excited for Coach of the Year because it's
the best year I can remember. Here's why. Any other
year it's Mike Frables and we don't even have a
(31:13):
segment about it. It's set, it's done. Any other year
it's Ben Johnson's. We don't need to discuss it. Any
other year it's Liam Cohen's. Obviously, it's Liam Cohen who's
doing all of this and winning and beating the Chiefs
and beating the Broncos without their entire plan. For this year,
who was Travis Hunter who got hurt? Any other year
it's Dave Canalis. Any other year it's Mike McDonald. There's
(31:34):
so many candidates, and yet Mike Gerfolo. I agree with you.
I think it's so cool Kyle Shanahan has done. If
we can just break the archetype of taking over a
really terrible team and taking them from two wins to
eleven or something, which is awesome. I haven't don't have
any problem with that. Most Coach of the Years follow
that this Coach of the Year this year probably will.
Mike and I both have votes for this award. I
(31:56):
don't know who I'm voting for, but there's a huge
part of me that wants to vote for Kyle because
it's different, and this is a guy who has been
to two Super as head coach, and I think this
is his best coaching of his career. So I got
my vote. I'm not telling you who I'm going to
give it to because I don't know yet, but I
wouldice to give it to Kyle Shanahan.
Speaker 6 (32:13):
Kyle, it's a tough one. And I say this all
the time. Uh, the thirty second best, Uh, the worst
coach in the NFL is still the thirty second best
in the world at what he does. I mean college
and guys that are you get what I'm saying. It's
a really hard job and there are a lot of
guys every year that are deserving of it, and you
should never vote with the future in mind. But I
(32:34):
feel like we get some award winners here in this
category that wind up getting fired or maybe aren't as
successful because we wind up leaning towards the oh the
two to ten instead of, Hey, Kyle Shanahan's a guy
that's done it for a long time, and it's gonna
do it for a long time as well.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
Yes, a couple of weeks ago, right, Kyle, maybe two
wish months ago, you thought Kyle Shanahan was screaming into
his pillow because he had so many injuries. It's almost
like San Francisco is quietly eleven and four, if that
makes any sense. Can't wait to see how well, if
you guys can let us know maybe someday, how you
vote for that one. Now for our third topic for
Throwdown Festive, the most important question we're going to ask
(33:12):
to you all day.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
Are you ready? Who is a better Christmas performer?
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Is it Kelly Clarkson or is it Mariah Carey? Again,
the most important question we will ask here today.
Speaker 8 (33:26):
I don't know why Bruce Springsteen's out on here. I'm
not going to make it a huge deal. I had
one of the best intros to.
Speaker 7 (33:30):
His song of Literal all time.
Speaker 8 (33:33):
But because I'm given the options that I have, I'm
gonna go with Mariah Carey. I mean, it's just it's
simply what you were raised with, what you heard for
Mariah has one of the best Christmas albums of all time.
I have no regrets in that answer. Mike G I mean,
what are you going to say? Are you a Kelly guy?
Speaker 6 (33:49):
I respect Kelly, I appreciate what she's doing, and I
say what she's doing because it almost feels like Kelly
Clarkson is Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
He's starting to stack some rings.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
But Mariah Carey is Tom Brady And will Kelly ever
catch Mariah like the Hey is in the barn and
from Mariah, Kelly's got to continue to make it happen here.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
I'm going Mariah here, She's our Tom Brady.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
Well, listen, you try to answer this question with full
respect for both women who are both legends. I feel like, really,
Whitney Houston was kind of the MJ, and then I
feel like maybe Mariah Carey is Kobe. I'm not sure
who Kelly Clarkson would be, but I can tell you this,
and I'm gonna say with my chest, I'll tell you
(34:29):
Key Clarkson is. She's my girl. That is always my
best season, non Christmas season. I'll tell you why. Super
up tempo, a little bit of a rock and roll edge.
Listen to her Run Run, Rudolph. It's awesome from start
to finish. Listen to her Underneath the Tree. In my opinion,
Underneath the Tree has taken over. All I Want for
Christmas is you as the number one Christmas jam. All
(34:51):
I Want for Christmas legendary song, Hang the Banner and
the Rafters, first ballot, Hall of Famer. I think a
little of us got to a point where it was
almost kind of like a joke. It's like, it's farce
this song. We've heard it too much. Kelly can sing,
she can rock, she can host. She's amazing. I've says
a thousand times. I got to meet Kelly clarkson NFL Honors.
She was like, Hey, you're the one was talking about
me on the morning show. I was like, and Dann right,
(35:12):
I was Kelly. I again, of course we all love Mariah.
Mariah is going on to God's gifts to singing. I
go Kelly, always Kelly, It's always wow.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
I was almost waiting for the butt that you were
going to say, Mariah. I mean, All I Want for
Christmas came out in ninety four, which I know is
is your year.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Kyle.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
I was uncertain.
Speaker 5 (35:34):
I love All I Want for Christmas.
Speaker 7 (35:35):
Is you.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
It's I think we've got enough reps on that one. Guys. Yeah, yeah,
we're good for a while.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Oh man, all right, we need to get one more
opinion on this. NFL networker network insider Ian rapaport Ian.
I know we need to talk about quarterbacks, but these
are like quarterbacks of Christmas the Christmas songs.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Are you a Kelly guy or you Mariah?
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (35:59):
First, I'm all Mariah all the time. Kelly Carson is
a great job.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
I'm all Mariah.
Speaker 9 (36:03):
I'll tell you the crazy thing about Mariah, and it
really doesn't have anything to do with Christmas, although I
know that was the question. She is famous and amazing
for two things which are sort of ancillary and also
sort of related to what you're talking about. Like obviously
she had plenty of hits in her real life. The
Christmas stuff is great, Yeah, greatest cover of all time
with I'll Be There, Absolutely, the greatest cover of all
(36:26):
time Killed, and then greatest remix of all time of
Fantasy with ODB.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Yeah, that's my.
Speaker 9 (36:31):
Owner the video was shot. I mean it's it's like
her main stuff is great, and then all the stuff
she kind of does on the side to add to
it are just the greatest of all time. I am
tea Mariah maybe the greatest singing voice in the history
of the world. I'm sure Kelly Clarkson is great, probably
more like I could run into her on a red
carpet than Mariah. But I am full tea Mariah for
(36:54):
her entire.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Kind of don't tell yourself, sir, you never know you
might meet Mariah too.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
Yes, well he did. Ian. I am so relieved because
I thought that the share is gonna t you up.
Is it Mariah or is it Kelly?
Speaker 7 (37:06):
Right?
Speaker 5 (37:06):
And I think they're gonna come and be like all
I listened to is Christmas in Hollis, So I thought
you were gonna go for that, which I I do
like that song. What's in the news?
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Yeah, get us some actual quarterbacks?
Speaker 9 (37:20):
All right, all right, alright, we'll get to the news
a little bit. We'll start with Lamar Jackson. Time will
tell if he ends up having a good Christmas on
the football field on Saturday, that is, when the Baltimore
Ravens played the Green Bay Packers, and I think it's
fair to say Lamar status is in doubt for that game.
He has not yet practiced this week dealing with a
serious back contusion, the kind of thing where you sort
(37:42):
of thought, maybe, all right, well, he was knocked out
of the last game against the New England Patriots, but
probably able to get on the practice field this week.
It has not happened yet, and if it hasn't happened yet,
hard to imagine it happens later today. But we will
hold out and see whether or not the former MVP
is on the field. If he cannot go, Tyler Snoop
Unley will be the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile,
(38:03):
Pittsburgh Steelers got some good news yesterday. Their star EDG TJ.
Watt was back on the practice field for the first
time in two weeks. He is dealing with the after
effects of having surgery on a partially collapse young long
following a dry kneedling session in the Steelers facility. If
he can bounce back today, then I would say he
(38:24):
should be good to go for the game. And this
really isn't a football thing. It's really more of a
he hasn't done anything for two weeks, how does his
body bounce back kind of thing? But the fact that
he is practicing is at least a good sign not
practicing for the Las Vegas Raiders, as Brock Bowers, their
star tight end not going to practice for the rest
of the season because he was placed on injured reserve
(38:45):
with a knee injury. That you know, he's battled all season,
and I think it's safe to say for the Las
Vegas Raiders, there are several things that go into this
decision to make sure that their star player is fully
healthy for twenty twenty six. Totally unrelated, totally unrelated. They're
in a battle for the number one overall pick this
Sunday against the New York Giants. If they lose, they
(39:07):
almost certainly get it. Again, these things are unrelated, but
they're not going to have their best player on the
field Sunday.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
As we always look to the playoffs, there are further
things down in the calendar to look at, like draft
position and go back to Mariah.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
You know, Mariah, you're on fire and that's you. You're
on fire today. We appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you,
my friend.
Hosts And Creators
Jamie Erdahl
Jason McCourty
Kyle Brandt
Peter Schrager
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