NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo provide up to the minute news from around the NFL heading, including highlights and analysis from the Eagles win over the Commanders on Thursday Night Football. Plus, Steelers’ defensive coordinator Teryl Austin joins the show ahead of their divisional matchup against the Ravens; Bridget Condon and Brian Baldinger preview the Bengals-Chargers matchup; and Adam Rank discusses how the Bears offense will change under new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and reveals the fantasy players that will help your team steal a win in week eleven.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
All the Eagles do is win, and all Saquon Barkley
does is run over, around and through everybody. Every week,
Brian Baldinger and Steve Whites will join us to break
down all the fallout from that Thursday night thumping of
the Commanders. First look at the new look Bears offense
on Sunday, But will a coordinator change be enough for
(00:30):
Caleb Williams and company to upset the Packers. We will
tell you the latest from a wild week at Hallis Hall.
First place in the ANFC North on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
When these Steelers host the Ravens.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
How can Pittsburgh slow down Lamar King, Henry and friends.
Defensive coordinator Tara Austin will join us to reveal his
whole plan, or maybe just gass him up and hope
they pop before Sunday. Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside
Ian Rappaport and Mike Gara. Follow I am Tom Pelisero.
(01:02):
We've been saying it all week, this is rivalry week
in the NFL. We do have the Ravens and the Steelers.
We do have the Packers and the Bears. We got
Seahawks forty nine ers on the slate. We got Chiefs Bills,
which isn't divisional, but definitely a rivalry at this point.
And it all got started in style last night in Philadelphia,
depending what kind of style you like. Sat Kwon Barkley
(01:26):
one hundred and ninety eight.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yards from scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
He scored two touchdowns in a game that was not
nearly as close as that final score. Commander's tacked on
a touchdown late. But it is now the Eagles up
two games in the lost column as we have passed
now the midpoint in the season. Garafalo, you were there,
you look at those standings. What did you make of
(01:51):
the Eagles solidifying themselves right now not just unbeaten in
the division, but again up two games in the.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Lost column on the Commanders in the East.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Just coming into the game.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I like the Eagles, right, We know how the Commanders
have been playing. They're a really good team this year.
They're playing with a lot of confidence. But then you
look at the roster and you go, the Eagles just
have a better roster, right and Howie Roseman, because the
Commanders are still building this thing out and it's only
getting more impressive. I mean to me, it was the
way the secondary played the way that Quinnyon Mitchell and guys,
(02:24):
we were at the Senior Ball and he was incredibly
impressive at the Senior Bowl, impressive in one on ones,
and we liked him better than the twenty second picking
the draft or whatever he wound up being. Then you
go offensively and with Sakuon Barkley and what he means,
the way that he was a closer the other night
or last night for this team, the way Jordan Mylatta
coming back really changed things up front, the way that
(02:46):
everybody's committed to the running game, the blocks downfield, the
wide receivers running off defenders to allow Saquon Barkley to
go to the house. And you say all this stuff,
and then you realize the quarterback really has not played
as well as he possibly can. Yeah, and some questionable decisions.
There are some guys that he missed that were wide open.
So if he can start to come along a little
(03:08):
better now, all of a sudden you realize just how
dangerous they are. And by the way, just to be clear,
he was checked for a concussion. He did clear, he
said after the game, and this was his quote, I
guess I beat the protocol.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And then he was asked.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
About a specific play and he goes, honestly, I don't
remember what you're talking about. Maybe I shouldn't use that
word right now. But did say that he felt no
ill effects of the concussion. So if that's the case,
it was just him not seeing guys in front of him,
if he steps up, this team will only be that
much more dangerous.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
Yeah, a bunch of takeaways, but I would say this,
you're right, like, it does seem like he left a
couple of plays on the field and at some point
he will hit his stride with this new coordinator and
this new offense and this new and if that happens,
you know, look out.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
It's so funny.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
The Eagles draft from two years ago with all the
Georgia players was the one that everybody lost their freaking
minds over right. That was where everybody celebrating Howie Roseman
on draft Day and all of that. This one is
probably gonna be better. And the fact that they ended
up with Quinnon Mitchell, who is a lockdown quarter corner
despite his age, Cooper Degene who in the slot looks great.
(04:15):
I mean this is these are two legit starters, potentially stars.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
I mean, this draft class.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
If it's only these two guys, is looking great for
one of the one of the league's best teams. Uh,
they have gotten younger and better and deeper. And then
I would say this for the Commanders and specifically.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
For Jayden Daniels.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
You know, there was it was a love fest really
for the last month or so. It was just truly
a love fest. And it was more than just the
hail Mary was you know, best young quarterback in football?
It was this year CJ. Stroud and I do believe
he is all of that. But now we're really gonna
find out, because what happens is people get film on you,
they start to figure it out. Maybe you play a
tougher opponents and you kind of hit a lull. Where
(04:57):
does Jayden Daniels, Where does Cliff Kingsbury go from here?
And how do they overcome this little lull? Will go
a long way and telling the story of the Commander season.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Cliff Kingsbury's that a phenomenal job. This year's done a
phenomenal job with Jayden Daniels. I thought maybe got away
from the running game because early on Brian Robinson was
going he was how many he had that first time
I thought they really should have committed more to the
running game. Could have got that defense out of sorts,
could have gotten the crowd out of it. I think
if they would go back and look at that, maybe
(05:25):
Cliff's sanding today, a couple more physical runs from Brian
Robinson may have helped us early.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
On flip side of that, think about the Eagles coaching
staff that's got their third different OC.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
In as many years.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Kellen Moore right now is the OC of a team
that is leading the league in rushing attempts. You would
not have expected that going in. They're playing a different
style of football, but this combination of minds they've got
in that room, including Nick Sirianni, right now, what.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
They're doing is working.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
That was just the kickoff again of week eleven last night.
We've got some injuries to monitor as we head into
the games this weekend.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
A big one for the Lions. Tight end Sam Laporta
out with a shoulder.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Injury as they get the set to take on the
Jaguars in Detroit. Jets wide receiver DeVante Adams. Jeff Ulbert
said he expects him to go. He's been ill this week,
also dealing with a risk, but sounds like he's gonna
be out there against the Colts, Vikings clean sheet, Sam Darnold,
Aaron Jones. They are good to go, no surprise. Isaiah
Pacheco not ready just yet. Always sounded like he'll be
(06:26):
right around Thanksgiving that he's got a chance to go.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
He is practicing back sooner than later.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
We will not see Harrison Butker, the Chief star kicker
for the next four weeks, underwent surgery, as we first
told you last night on The Insiders, for that meniscous
injury that he had suffered. He signed Spencer Schrader off
the Jets practice squad. He's gonna be kicking against the Bills.
Buffalo has its own injury issues to deal with. Dalton Kinkaid,
(06:51):
the tight end, surready knee injury on this play. He
is officially out for this game on Sunday against the Chiefs.
Keon Coleman we already knew out because of his wrist injury.
And that's not all Mike in terms of the injury
report on the Bills weapons.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Yeah, so Kincaid out, Keith Coleman out, But you've got
a Marii Cooper who missed last week with that wrist injury.
He has listed as questionable and has expressed optimism that
he will be available to play in this game.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
You know, you're going up against a tough defense.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
This is usually where I would say, well, you know,
you got to keep pace with this Chiefs offense.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
It's not how it's been.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I mean, I'm not saying that they can't all of
a sudden put up thirty points, but this is one
where you say it in a different way. You're going
up against a tough defense and you really need all
your guys available. So Amari Cooper, who has missed the
last couple of games with that risk injury, looking like
he is going to wind up being a go. But
you know, we'll let you know for sure Sunday morning,
NFL Game Day Morning, right here on NFL Network.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Sunday night, We've got another good one Bengals and Chargers
and Ian. It sounds like, at long last, Cincinnati is
going to have that wide receiver corps back to full strength.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Yeah, if you're someone who's gonna sit here and watch
from this segment all the way through to the end,
if you want to know more about.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
That Hill, keep watching. We got a lot of Hill
talk for you.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
But anyway, and I'm not joking, we will break down
the hill thoroughly, but yes, T Higgins is eventually off
the injury report.
Speaker 7 (08:20):
He is good to go.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
And this from a quad injury really like a pretty
significant quad pull. Remember it was like three weeks ago,
a little more late in the practice week. Everyone knew
T Higgins was fine, and he kind of pops up
on the injury reporters questionable and you're like, oh, maybe
he can't go. That turned out to be a lot
longer than I think anyone anticipated, and in that time,
the Bengals have lost some games.
Speaker 6 (08:40):
The offense has kind of hit its stride.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Jamar Chase has become maybe the best receiver in football,
and now you add T Higgins to the mix.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
The Bengals have to go on a run if they're
going to make the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
They certainly are talented enough, and having one of the
better young receivers in the NFL healthy again probably a
good thing for Joe Burrow.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
And this offense.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And if the Bengals make the playoffs, it probably is
going to be as a wildcard because right now, the
two teams to play this Sunday, the Steelers and Ravens
have already put some distance between themselves and the rest
of the division. Good news on the injury front for Baltimore.
Kyle Hamilton back on the field. Mike, what's the latest
on his status for this game?
Speaker 8 (09:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:21):
So I was on Good Morning Football last week if
Peter Schrager did a whole what's your beef segment, and
his beef was people who go, oh no when they
see an injury happen. It's like, can you let it
play out? Can you let the medical people get in
there and figure out what's going on? And the guy
winds up being relatively okay. Now, Kyle Hamilton missed the
rest of that game, but he is going to play
(09:44):
on Sunday against the Steelers. Here he is off the
injury report. I'm telling you, one of these days, Peter
Schreger should auction off the ability to text with him
for just one day, because when that happened on Sunday
and we got a whole bunch of like, oh no,
for Kyle Hamilton, he was fired watching Just keep all
these posts on X right here and here you go.
He's expecting to play. Also, Isaiah likely off the injury report.
(10:07):
The Ravens tight end.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Definitely, so likely, definitely going to play.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Just want to say that there's also certain players in
the NFL, and this is not a shot at Kyle Hamilton.
There's some players in the NFL who like five times
a year have an injury and you look at it
and you're like, oh man, this looks really bad. Kyle
Hamilton is definitely that guy. He has dodged like seven
different bullets over the past couple of seasons.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Every time.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Well, why would you say that they're all pro safety?
Still on the fit.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
I don't have Jink's power. Okay, it's a Friday night
or just trying to do a show. If you don't
say it, it's not a jinx. This is just me
trying to transition to the fact that on the other
side of this break, we're gonna be talking to the
architect of the defense on the other side in this game,
That of course is Steelers defensive coordinator Tera Austin, who
(10:57):
does have TJ. Watt on his side. But they have
been tough on that side of the ball. So what
is the plan to slow down Lamar and Derrick Henry
and all the Ravens other weapons We'll ask him. Maybe
I'll answer probably not. That's next on the insiders.
Speaker 8 (11:14):
They don't like us. We down, but so I don't
like them.
Speaker 7 (11:17):
They by coming to house, take it down with no
going into the.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Come on, what.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
Tuts down? A Steeler that puts the ball.
Speaker 10 (11:28):
Right on the money cuts down here It is a
first time star who lamar Jackson against the Steeler. Jackson
is unbelievably gifted, Raven, unbelievable plastic Raven.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
Steelers all kind of hitting the rows, tough to all down.
Speaker 10 (11:43):
Indeed, there's a hitting, there's some jow there's everything we thought.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
There would be. Definitely got a fasbook game. The Steelers
are spelling blood.
Speaker 10 (11:51):
They got he got two teams, they're respect one another,
putting door like one another.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
Pitpsburg and Baltimore.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
You don't have to say a whole lot more.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Oh, here it comes.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
We are just a couple of days away from the
latest insolvent of the Steelers Ravens rivalry, with first place
in the AFC North on the line, and happy to
be joined as he prepares for this game. Terrell Austin,
the defensive coordinator of the Steelers, the second ranked defense
when it comes to points, allowed going up against the
first scoring offense, so you know that that's going to
(12:30):
be a great matchup. Tarrell, give us a peek into
what the week has been like, because I know your
guys understand what this rivalry is about.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
How has the preparation been for this game.
Speaker 11 (12:41):
The preparation has been good. Our guys will dialed in.
Speaker 12 (12:44):
I think the one thing is we know what kind
of game it's going to be because they're all the same.
Speaker 11 (12:50):
It's going to be a hard hitting, physical game.
Speaker 12 (12:52):
The team that makes the least amount of mistakes gives
himselves the best chance to win.
Speaker 13 (12:57):
So Teroll, look, first off, you've been on both sides
of this rival We'll get that to in just a second.
But you as the DC for the Steelers, Priority Lamar
or Derek.
Speaker 12 (13:09):
Well, you have to pick your poison there. So I
think it's it's got to be you know, they're one
in one a uh. And I think for us, we
always go into a game that we say, hey, we
don't want the running game to really batter us, because
if the running game is battering you, it demoralizes you.
Speaker 11 (13:28):
And and so we're really.
Speaker 12 (13:29):
Going to be a focus on the run game and
how if we can slow this guy down.
Speaker 11 (13:34):
I think that's going to be a big thing.
Speaker 12 (13:35):
And then obviously the things that Lamar is doing in
the past game, you know, they're they're very challenging. I mean,
the guys had three or four perfect passer ratings this year.
I mean they're number one and points scored, all the
all the things that the good offense does.
Speaker 11 (13:48):
So you know, you can try to stop them both.
Speaker 12 (13:50):
But I think we'll really be trying to focus on
this run game first and then you know, doing what
we can in the past game to try to hold
them down.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
You know, we'll talk about picking your poison, and with
their offense, they have to pick their poison. With your defense,
I mean, you're strong upfront, You've got pass rushers that
can get it down. To understand Alex Heismith being down
for a bit, it's going to be a bit of
a loss. But you've got other guys that can get
after the quarterback. You've got good linebacker play. You've got
some good play in the secondary as well. Beamie Bishop,
the rookie stepping up a little bit there. What has
(14:20):
impressed you most about your defense? What are you happiest
with at this point for your defense.
Speaker 12 (14:25):
I think the thing that I'm happiest with is are guys.
You know, I don't think any moments too big for him.
It doesn't matter the situation. They go out there and
they just are determined to make plays and determined to
try to get, you know, the other team off the field.
Speaker 11 (14:40):
So I think that's really the thing that I'm really.
Speaker 12 (14:42):
Most impressed and most proud about this group of men,
because they play hard and they don't flinch when things
maybe aren't going as well as you want them to.
And I think that's the sign of a really good
defensive group.
Speaker 13 (14:54):
Hey, Teal to follow it up, because you have a
real good mix of veterans and young people who understand
what AFC North football it's about, especially this time of year.
Six of your next opponents, six of your next eight opponents,
I should say, are all divisional games. I mean, what
about the stretch is kind of an odd scheduling quirk.
Speaker 7 (15:11):
Oh and by the way, the two.
Speaker 13 (15:12):
Non accomplished non divisional games are Philadelphia and Kansas City.
But what about the scheduling quirk where you have this
huge run of AFC North games right now?
Speaker 12 (15:23):
Yeah, I mean, we have no control over that and
so we just look at it like, hey, we're just
working and getting ready for the next game, and so
that's our mindset. We know how the AFC North battles
are going to be, and it's just again, we just
get ready for the next game that next week, and
we don't put anything in looking ahead or how the
schedule comes out, because we have no you know, there's
(15:43):
nothing we can do about. So we got to line
up and play these guys, and we're going to have
to play them at any point during the year.
Speaker 11 (15:47):
So what's the difference if you.
Speaker 12 (15:49):
Play them all in the month or you play them
spread out over three months?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Terroll, I've covered a couple of your games, and I've
made the point that to me, this team is always
extremely well prepared.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
He's playing hard. You can see it's tangibly.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
This coaching staff both sides of the ball, your side
of the defense, Arthur Smith offensively, and certainly the head
man in charge, Mike Tomlin. What I want you to do, though,
is take us inside if you can as much as
you can. When Mike Tomlin makes the decision to go
to Russell Wilson, because it's no secret and he made
no secret about it.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
It was a gutsy call.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
By his estimation. What kind of leadership do you see that?
What kind of guts did you see there for him
to make that call in the middle of the season
understanding that Justin Fields had played well?
Speaker 12 (16:32):
Yeah, I think you know, that's the one thing that
Mike has an abundance, and that's great leadership. And so
I don't think our guys questioned when he decided to
make the move. He explained to our men, because he
always likes to tell our guys, Hey, if I give
a capable man information, he should be able to handle
that and go forward and do you know something positive
with it? And so I don't think there was ever
(16:53):
any question about when he decided to make the move
in our locker room. We trust what he's doing, ass fall.
You know, well, we're gonna we're gonna fight our tails
off to do, you know what we need to do
to win and let him make the decisions. And that's
why I don't think there was any blowback from anybody. Uh,
And we just move forward because the bottom line is
as a leader, that's his job to make choices and uh,
(17:15):
it's our job to help him follow up on it.
And I think our guys feel the same way.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
Hey, hey, Tarah, talk about great coaching.
Speaker 13 (17:21):
I mean, you know what Mike Tomlin has done coming
up on the defensive side of the ball. But you
kicked off your coaching career working under Jim Caldwell, and
you've been with him multiple times, some really good offensive coaches,
But what about being with somebody like a Jim Caldwell
who's got the leadership and the offensive brilliance to help
you kind of master what you do defensively.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 12 (17:42):
It's been I've been very fortunate, you know, with the
with the guys I've been around and the guys I've
worked for. And obviously you talk about Jim, who absolutely
wonderful person, a wonderful man, great coach, But you learned
a lot from both sides. So again, with Jim, I
would always learn, you know, what things would be good,
why they would be good, why they wouldn't.
Speaker 11 (18:02):
Be so good.
Speaker 12 (18:03):
And with Mike I get a different philosophy coming from
the defensive side on the things he likes and how
he structures them. So, you know, I think it's our
job as coaches to always you know, you're always trying
to get better.
Speaker 11 (18:14):
The same things you talk to your players.
Speaker 12 (18:15):
About you have to do, and that means you're always improving,
you're always working for it is because if you're not,
then you're losing ground. And if you lose ground in
our game in the NFL, you're going to lose a
lot of games. You're not going to be very good.
And so I just take the things that the guys,
the leadership guys in front of me have given me,
and I try to run with them as best I can.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Teral, I thank you for your time earlier, because I
know it's a busy week you're preparing for the Steelers
or sere preparing for the Ravings. Excuse me in this
rivalry between you and them, but it's Friday and night.
I want to give folks a piece because I know
you guys pull long hours all week line, and I
know you're giving us some time because tonight is some
time for you and your wife. You were going to
go out to dinner, but it took some time to
(18:56):
do this interview with us. How important is it for you,
because I've heard it from many a coach, is to
get this little bit of time. Friday night is like
the night where you can actually be a real human
being during the season.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
How important is that for you?
Speaker 11 (19:07):
Yeah, I think it's important.
Speaker 12 (19:10):
I probably do it better now than I did earlier
in my career, but I always try to take time
on Fridays, and we, you know, as our kids have
gotten older, we're able to have some date nights and
do some things to try to make sure we reconnect.
Because the bottom line is, you know your family is
going to always be there for you, and you want
to make sure that you know you don't get so
(19:30):
wrapped up in this coaching profession that you forget that
you've got a family, a wife, kids, and other things
outside of it. And so this time on Friday is
really good for me for my family. And like I said,
the longer I've been in it, the better I've gotten
at it. I probably wasn't so good at it when
I was young, but I think I've kind of found
a balance in it now.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
That's awesome.
Speaker 8 (19:51):
Man.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
We all get better with age. We all learn how
to manage everything as we go along. You've certainly done that.
So I appreciate that you can now clock out for
at least ten night. I know you're gonna be back
at it tomorrow, but you can clock out.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
It's time to enjoy your Friday night. Tarol Austin, thank
you very much. Listen.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I know he's locked in right now the Steelers defense.
That's his focus. But you know, we as reporters, Steve,
we're looking ahead. There's some head coaching interviews coming up.
Would not be surprised to hear this man's name mentioned
amongst those, and he absolutely should be.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I know Steve agrees with me. Tarol, thank you very
much for your time.
Speaker 11 (20:22):
All Right, you got it, guys, Thanks appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Awesome. Enjoy your Friday. Jalen hurts the Eagles.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
They're enjoying their Friday after a victory against the Commanders
on Thursday night. We're gonna break this one down a
little bit more. Coming up next here on the Insiders
Eagles Commanders for a first place in the NFC East
on Thursday night. Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurst, Jayden, Jalen We
(20:48):
talked about that all week long.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
I screwed up the names from time to time.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Here's Jalen Hurst trying to step up in the pocket
taking down as the pass.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Falls in complete. He had two guys that he tried
to get it.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
To a little bit of a face mask and then
the head hitting the ground. He said he never felt
any ill effects and he passed the concussion protocol, or
as he called it, I guess I beat the concussion protocol.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Fourth quarter now hurts after he was officially.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Cleared vulturing Saquon Barkley once again. Saquan's been tackled at
the one yard line or the two yard line eleven
times this year. So Saquon bolted once again and in
this one could have been a field goal to take
the lead. Dan Quinn says, no, we're gonna be aggressive.
Zach Bahn makes the stop after Jalen Carter gets the
penetration to force Jade and Daniels after a botch snap
(21:38):
to get to the outside there.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Big stop there. Nick Sirianni is fired up.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Zach Bond, good job from bald guys everywhere way to
play that one. And then the closer, Saquan says, not
getting tackled at the ones, Look at this, Devonte Smith
ran off the defensive back there didn't have to block him.
Nick Sirianni gave him credit for that. That guy right there,
he's wearing a poppy. He's got a British accent. I
gotta talk to that guy. I gotta find out what
his name is. He's a very nice guy. And then
there's Reed blanket Ship, one of the exciting whites. They
(22:06):
said it, I didn't say it. It was on their
T shirt making the interception right there. And then sa
Quon with another one to close it.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Out, thirty nine yard touchdown ron I think is the
one where he fires the ball into the stands. No,
he did that before that.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
There he is Saquon very excited the fans, then chatting afterward.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Thank you Giants, Thank you Giants.
Speaker 14 (22:27):
Eagles twenty six to eighteen, twenty six points, twenty six
carries for Saquon Barkley on DeVante Smith's twenty sixth birthday,
So twenty six was the wild number last night for
the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
In fact, Smith got a birthday cake inside that.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Eagles locker room, the victorious locker room. You know what,
we'll take you there, Sands the birthday celebration.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Hey, proud of you guys.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
How you fought right.
Speaker 15 (22:51):
It wasn't pretty right, it wasn't pretty, but we just
kept fighting. And that's the type of game we like
in that dirt row that Joe Pi talks about. It's nasty,
it's crime, it's gritty, it's right where we want to be.
That's right where we want to be. All right, guys,
enjoy that. You can enjoy this one a little longer.
You can enjoy this one a little longer. But as
soon as Monday hits, it's right em back to work.
Speaker 16 (23:15):
But my baddn't I didn't realize we actually weren't going
(23:44):
to show there.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
There's the cake right there. I was able to take
a picture of it. I saw Big Dom right there.
Big Dom was offering Canoli's shmi adell. If you don't
know what that is, look it up. That's not the
actual Italian pronunciation. That's the South Philly Italian pronunciation right there.
But there it is the birthday boy, DeVante Smith is
twenty sixth birthday. There were no slices take it out
of that cake by the time I got there. Hopefully
somebody eventually did dig in. Baldy, I know you would
(24:07):
love to dig in on that cake right there, Steve Weisch,
you as well come in join us, bald Sakuon Barkley
for a team that never spent a lot of draft
resources at the running back position, at least not in
the first round. Didn't spend a lot of money at
the running all of a sudden, did it this offseason.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
It's certainly paying off. I know it sounds like an
obvious question, But what does he bring to this offense?
Speaker 17 (24:29):
Saque Well, I mean number one, number one here, Mike.
He leads the NFL in rushing after ten games. He's
got seventeen more yards right now with Derek Nmy So
here's a leading rusher right now.
Speaker 8 (24:39):
And late Johnson described this offense.
Speaker 17 (24:42):
To me, Mike a couple of weeks ago, when they
started getting rolling and feeding Zaquon, he said, Baldi, all
we do, honestly is we just run and hit people.
And that's kind of what they do up front. They
just keep slamming you. They just keep running to you.
They got traps, they've got whams, they've got triple trap,
double scoops, they got it all.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
And you know, they ran for eighty.
Speaker 17 (25:01):
Eight yards in the first half, a little pedestrian, but
they stayed with it. Nineteen runs in the second half,
one hundred and forty more yards.
Speaker 8 (25:09):
This is their identity.
Speaker 17 (25:10):
They hadn't run the ball Mike this year almost one
hundred more times than they'd thrown him. Like they're a
run first team, and when they are able to play
that style, they wear everybody down. That's what they did
to the Commanders last night, Steve and Baldy.
Speaker 13 (25:25):
Guess who else they're gonna have to compete against other
run first teams like the Detroit Lions, and liked the
San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 7 (25:31):
So you have to love that style.
Speaker 13 (25:33):
But one thing I love right here is the way
this defense continued to play.
Speaker 7 (25:38):
I said earlier this week. We have seen this.
Speaker 13 (25:41):
Defense dominate, but they had not based a dual threat
quarterback during their winning streak like Jayden Daniels.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
Well, they faced him and they defaced him. They showed
how dominant they could be.
Speaker 13 (25:54):
They didn't allow him to run now, and we know
he's a little nicked up, but they slowed him down.
In the past game, one hundred and ninety one passing yards,
you only got one completion to Terry McLaurin because Quinnon Mitchell,
the rookie cornerback, locked him up. Then on the front lines,
you had Jordan Davis blow up that fourth down attempt
after blowing up a third and one on the play before.
(26:15):
And Zach Bond, Mike Garrifolo, you've been talking about this
guy for weeks fourteen tackles.
Speaker 7 (26:21):
He absolutely like dehumanize. Look at this hit right here,
Oh and your mama.
Speaker 13 (26:28):
He took him all the way back generations with that
hyph and the way this defense keeps playing, because it
just got better and better throughout the game, and it
really stifled everything Washington liked to do, stuffing everything that
the five previous opponents like to do. This could be
as much their bread and butter as Saquan is and
that complimentary physical style. Baldy in Mike, that's something that
should give Philly deep in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
Beg Fangio took the early part of the season to
challenge some of these guys to find out exactly what
they did well, and it's like you could see it
all clicking, all coming together, certainly at the right time
for the Eagles. Brian Baldinger, Steve Weish, thank you guys
very much, and now it's time bull Adham rank Ian.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Dude, if we're gonna be singing, I'm gonna be the
one singing Anyway, there is Caleb Williams, and if we're
showing Cale Williams footage, are some good. Don't get me wrong,
there's definitely some good, but there's some not as good.
There's him getting sacked, there's maybe an incompletion or two.
There's place where you're oh, where that happens. And that's
been that kind of week that we have had in
Chicago with the repair the offensive needs repairing. I've screwed
(27:35):
this whole thing up, and the coordinator who needs replacing.
Speaking of that anyway, let's get right to it. Repair
and replace. Brought to you by Safe Light. This is
my good friend Adam Rank. Sorry for stepping all over
the tagline right.
Speaker 6 (27:49):
There, Rank.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Anyway, we know it has been that kind of week
in Chicago. They have clearly replaced Shane Walder and the
rofins coordinator with Thomas Brown, the past game coordinator. What
do the Bears need to do to repair this offense?
Speaker 6 (28:05):
Down that they've replaced the coordinator you.
Speaker 9 (28:08):
Know you keep here and mentioning that it's been a
bad week, it's actually been a bad month. Ever, since
this team returned from London, it's looked like a completely
different like what happened in London, Like, please please tell
me what happened in London, because this team has not
looked the safe and now that you have Thomas Brown
taking go over as the offensive coordinator, I think there
are three things this Bears team needs to do to
(28:29):
get back to being successful. Number One, they have to
establish the run once again with DeAndre Swift. Too many
times over the last couple of weeks we saw the
Bears seemingly get bored with running the football getting away
from DeAndre Swift. He was one of the guys who
made that team so successful over that little win streak,
the three game win streak that included that London game
(28:50):
against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Speaker 7 (28:51):
And Number two, you.
Speaker 9 (28:52):
Gotta go back to getting the ball to Cole Kmett.
Speaker 11 (28:55):
Now.
Speaker 9 (28:55):
I know a lot of fantasy managers will look at
Cole Comett and say, listen, he's only been good in
two games. I'm like, yeah, their best two games of
the season. I don't think that's a coincidence. This play
right here that they ran in London, I've never seen
a Bears team run a play like that. Here he
is wide open against the Indianapolis Colts, they need to
get the ball to him. They've invested a lot of
(29:16):
money into him and that's one of the things that
was a struggle. And finally the last thing they got
to do. Let Caleb Williams just throw the football. Sometimes
it feels like you're instructing him not to make a turnover,
trying to whatever you tell somebody like we play, we
play a lot of golf.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
Whatever.
Speaker 9 (29:33):
Somebody says like, hey, try not to hit it off
the hostle. The next shot that you take is one
going off the hostle. Let let Caleb go out there
and play. See what happens, and see what can happen
with Thomas Brown.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
And that is a great way to repair and replace
the Bears offense. Presented by Safelight and our good friend
Adam Rank.
Speaker 6 (29:57):
Rank thank you very much, but don't go anywhere. Stay
literally right there.
Speaker 5 (30:02):
We are now going to be talking about two offenses
that they don't need fixing. Joe Burrow justin Herbert Bengals Chargers.
Let's get into it because this is going to be
some fireworks this weekend or better because otherwise I'll have
lie to you guys, and I hate that anyway.
Speaker 6 (30:19):
Coming up next on the Insiders, We.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Got a good one between the Bengals and the Chargers
on Sunday Night Football. Always love these graphics, though, I
gotta say Justin Herbert maybe maybe, given like you know,
the upgrade of the facial hair by about twenty percent,
there just a thought I like it though.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
It's good.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Look the hair looks fantastic. Welcome back to the Insiders,
Tom Pelaicero, joined by Brian Baldinger and Our Bridge of
Condon Bridget. Not gonna ask you for a facial hair
breakdown on Justin Herbert. I am gonna ask you about
a guy who was dealing with a really significant ankle injury,
obviously early on in the season. He's finally off the
report and Jim Harbaugh seems like he can't stop talking
about the guy as a superhero.
Speaker 18 (31:00):
This week and he was still talking about Justin Herbert
being able to play tight end or pass rusher week eleven.
I was like, Okay, this guy really loves his quarterback.
But look, it's because he's excelled so far this season.
He hasn't thrown an interception in seven straight games. That's
the longest active streak in the NFL, and he's really
doing well since.
Speaker 9 (31:19):
That bye week.
Speaker 18 (31:20):
You talk about that ankle, he's averaging nearly twice as
many passing yards per game since the bye then he
did in weeks one through four. I asked him about that.
He said, is it just because of the ankle, and
he said, well, yes, of course. The ankle's much better
now and he's not missing practice like he did in
the beginning of the season because of the injury. But
he also said, with this new offense, it takes some time.
Right they're learning from a new offensive coordinator, and it's
(31:42):
not just about being in OTAs or training camp. He says,
until you're like in the game, playing live, you can't
really grasp that offense. And he said you got to
get comfortable, but real quick, guys. He's also improving in
another area. You guys saw that postgame interview or postgame
speech he gave. I don't know if're calling it as
weary Beach. It was a couple words in the locker
room after they beat the Titans on Sunday. He was
(32:04):
asked about that and said, you know, in college or
high school, I might have been a little awkward in
those situations, like everyone's looking at me. But he appreciates
that Jim Harbaugh's calling on him more and he knows
that he's got to be that person. He said, you know,
the more I do it, the more I feel normal.
Maybe just next time, I should probably prepare something so
I have something ready to say to the guys after
the win.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Flip side of this, Baldy.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
The Bengals obviously four and six at this point, but
Joe Burrow has played at a really high level this season.
He goes up against that defense coordinated by Jesse Minter
that not only is the top scoring defense in the league,
they haven't given up more than twenty points to any
opponent in a game this season. What are they doing
so well and what do you make of this matchup?
Speaker 8 (32:46):
Well, it's a great matchup.
Speaker 17 (32:48):
And the first thing you're doing, and this is way
different than years past, they're tackling.
Speaker 8 (32:53):
They're tackling really well.
Speaker 17 (32:55):
And then their safety play has been excellent because if
you make mistakes tom at the safety position, you.
Speaker 8 (33:01):
Either give up explosive plays or touchdowns.
Speaker 17 (33:04):
So that's obviously if you're giving up thirteen points a game,
you know through the season so far you're not doing that.
Speaker 8 (33:09):
And then I think getting.
Speaker 17 (33:10):
Perriman and Dayon Henley and at linebacker, they finally have
found two linebackers that compliment each other, that play. Henley
leads in to the attack with by over thirty right now,
and they're getting good pass rush and they're starting two
rookie corners the last couple of weeks out there. I
don't know if they're both going to go this week
two fifth round picks, and so they played lockdown football,
(33:31):
but they're going to see Joe Burrow. It just going
back to talking to Joe a couple of weeks ago,
and Bridgett myself spent a lot of time with him
in training camp this year. He's come out and said
almost every week that he has to be perfect and
in some ways, when you play a Jim Harball team
you may only get eight possession, you.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
Have to maximize the possession.
Speaker 17 (33:52):
And so Joe, I mean, obviously you got Jamar, you
get your receivers back right now. I mean, Joe's got
to play a nearly perfect game because if he does,
don't play out of the playoff praise. If he goes
out and place post the perfect the way he has
much of the year, and they can win.
Speaker 8 (34:06):
They can get right back in the playoff praise.
Speaker 17 (34:08):
That's what they'll feel like coming back from Los Angeles
after that game.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
A lot on the line in the AFC Wildcard Chase
on Sunday night, Bridget, you're gonna be there, give me
a matchup. You're gonna have your eye on all right.
Speaker 18 (34:18):
This one's for Baldy. This is your Christmas present, early
Christmas present. How about a little O line D line
action left tackle over Shawn Slater going up against defensive
end Trey Hendrickson for the Bengals. Let me put in
perspective how good these guys are. Rareshawn Slater left tackle.
He has the third highest grade according to PFF in
terms of pass blocking, and he's going up against Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
Who leads the league with eleven.
Speaker 18 (34:45):
Sacks so far this season. I asked for Sean, like, Hey,
when you know you're going up against a guy this good,
do you get a little more excited for that? He
said yeah. I mean, of course, he called Hendrickson physically gifted,
saying he's has a good blend of strength, speed, technique,
but he also look, I'm more excited for the opportunity
for the Chargers If they win Sunday Night, that's four
(35:05):
in a row for this team who expectations were high
coming into this season, but they haven't really done much
in the postseason in years past. Yes, they made it
with the wildcard in twenty twenty two. They're currently sitting
in a wildcard position. But the reason that they brought
in Jim Harbaugh in this mindset was to have success,
especially November, December and January. And it starts Sunday night.
(35:27):
They have a chance to impress a lot of people
on a big stage in primetime on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Baldi Bridget, thank you very much. Enjoy your games on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
I'm going to be at the Jaguars versus Lions game scene.
If Jared Goff can throw six interceptions, probably not not
in this game, but legit question here for everybody who's
got Jared goffin fantasy. After that, let's call it an
up and down performance. Should he be in your lineup?
Can he help you steal a win in fantasy? Our
guy Adam Rank has the answer.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
And a lot more. Next on The Insiders.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Time now to go inside with NFL Fantasy Live. On
The Insiders, Tom Pilisero Ian Rapp or Mike you're a fullo.
And Adam Rank, who has answered our challenge even as
we get later in the schedule to somehow match the
number week of the NFL season to his weekly fantasy
segment on Fridays.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
So here we are week eleven.
Speaker 9 (36:25):
Rank.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
I'm told you've got an ocean eleven's.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Style of a way to steal a fantasy win.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Get give me a quarterback to start off here. Maybe
you can steal a win.
Speaker 9 (36:37):
With all Right, you want one more, I got one
more for you. Let's start with Jared Goff, who is
now and throw for over two thousand yards this season,
sixteen touchdowns and nine interceptions. All nine came on Sunday night. No,
I'm kidding, but still I understand the abrasion to trying
to play him this week after kind of a poor
performance against the hous At Texans. But listen, he's going
(36:58):
up against the Jacksonville jack allowed the third most points
the fantasy quarterbacks this season. To me, I understand the
people fear a blowout. This might be a big David
Montgomery game, which I think it will be, But I
still have enough confidence in Jared Goff to deliver in
this one.
Speaker 5 (37:13):
All right, So that's the quarterbacks. Let's talk about running backs.
I'm actually fine. I started Austin Ekler had a really
nice night on Thursday. But the people who didn't take
me to the running backs, well.
Speaker 9 (37:23):
There's a couple of guys that I've getten a lot
of questions about. We'll start with Aaron Jones against the
Tennessee Titans this week, the top defense in the NFL statistically.
But here's the thing to know about Aaron Jones. He
has been eighty percent of the team's goal line rush
attempts this season. That's six highest total in the NFL.
He's also valuable in the passing game. He's had the
(37:44):
second most receptions on the team this season. He's averaging
close to twenty touches per game. And despite the fact
that the Titans have been so stout in yards allowed,
they've allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game to
running backs this season. And another run back who is
ready to break out, Nick Chubb, a player that we
have been waiting for for quite some time, coming back
(38:06):
from that devastating knee injury. I truly believe that this
is going to be a monster game for him. The
Saints have allowed seven top fifteen running backs in the
last six weeks that they've allowed the most rushing yards
to running backs this season, they've allowed the most rushing
yards per game. This is a perfect opportunity in a
Jamis Winston revenge game. It is going to be Nick
(38:27):
Chubb who ends up stealing today for the Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 4 (38:31):
Love it all, right, Let's go to the wide receiver position.
Tell me some guys who can you know? Wide receivers
grab you, you steal stuff, You grab.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Them going for it.
Speaker 9 (38:42):
No, and sometimes they work in tandem. They like the
Mormon Twins promotions eleven.
Speaker 7 (38:47):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 9 (38:48):
The Steelers have a couple of great wide receivers with
Mike Williams and George Pickens. I like both of them
this week. But I really like George Pickens. I think
that he's really starting to come into his own, really
developing that kemtree with Russell Wilson. And traditionally you would
look at the Ravens defense like he looked at Terry
bennettick'svaults and say, there's no way we can steal this.
(39:09):
But the Ravens have allowed the most fantasy points per
game to wide receivers this season. They've allowed the most
receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. And I sit there and
I ask, does it say plagio in the end zone?
It does not. It's a fake. So you can start
George Pickens. And then I love Calvin Ridley going up
against the Minnesota Vikings defense this season. Twelve plus fantasy
(39:32):
points in three consecutive games, eight plus targets in five games.
He goes out there, he goes on a little profanity
lace tirade in the locker room, and good things happen.
And now this Vikings defense, which is pretty good, it's
a good Vikings defense. They've still allowed the third most
fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season. So
(39:52):
I think Calvin Ridley is an absolute must start this
week against the Vikings.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Watching those George Pickens highlights, I mainly won to steal
that roll at toilet paper that he's got dangling eight
feet off his pants on every single snap that we
just watched. There, Okay, one more break tight ends. Give
me somebody there who can steal you one in Week eleven.
Speaker 9 (40:12):
Well, you know what, I know, people have kind of
a volatile relationship with Kyle Pitts.
Speaker 7 (40:16):
Excuse me.
Speaker 9 (40:17):
Sometimes he's great, sometimes not so much. What do we
do with them? This is a great start against the
Denver Broncos. I understand the Broncos are one of the
best defenses in the NFL. They're a tough matchup for everybody. However,
this is where the matchup gets pretty good. When you
think about the top corners for the Denver Broncos. I
really fear about starting Drake London this week. Darnell Mooney,
who's had fourteen points in three consecutive games. He's gonna
(40:40):
have a tough matchup as well. But the Broncos love
to run a lot of single high safety, which is
where Kyle Pitts feast. I think this is the Kyle
Pitts game. I know it's tough to decipher, but I
truly believe that against this Broncos defense, the way to
attack him is with Kyle Pitts.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Ocean's Twelve was not a good movie, but I feel
like we could go for that that music and that
that bit.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
I think over and over, you disagree. We don't have time.
We don't know if text me, text me, text me
your your input on that, right now you talk to
you again.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Next Friday, T Higgins is back, officially off the injury report,
will play Sunday night for the Bengals against the Chargers,
a few weeks after suffering that quad strain. A clue
to his availability was provided by Andrew Cooper a ka
coupe a fiasco. Great name there on social media by
(41:37):
Virtue Ian of something you point out earlier today, a
series of videos in which that hill the jug up
that hill seems to give us some clues about T Higgins.
Speaker 5 (41:48):
This is amazing, and I would say every once in
a while, the internet comes at you and really brings it.
So what we learned is that when T Higgins does
not conquer the hill, when he sort of either you know,
maybe walks up slowly or does it really like he's
probably not gonna play, when he goes after the hell hard,
you know he's gonna play.
Speaker 6 (42:09):
So he posted this, I retweeted it like a boss.
Speaker 5 (42:12):
And then later we found out that after taking that
hill like a champion, Te Higgins is off the injured
report and playing. This is literally genius. I will never
come up with anything this clever.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
Yeah, well now, but T Higgins a regular viewer of
the Insider is not gonna probably dog it a couple
of times to throw you off.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
No, he can't. Bar moves the the weekend. Everybody
All the Eagles do is win, and all Saquon Barkley
does is run over, around and through everybody. Every week,
Brian Baldinger and Steve Whites will join us to break
down all the fallout from that Thursday night thumping of
the Commanders. First look at the new look Bears offense
on Sunday, But will a coordinator change be enough for
(00:30):
Caleb Williams and company to upset the Packers. We will
tell you the latest from a wild week at Hallis Hall.
First place in the ANFC North on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
When these Steelers host the Ravens.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
How can Pittsburgh slow down Lamar King, Henry and friends.
Defensive coordinator Tara Austin will join us to reveal his
whole plan, or maybe just gass him up and hope
they pop before Sunday. Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside
Ian Rappaport and Mike Gara. Follow I am Tom Pelisero.
(01:02):
We've been saying it all week, this is rivalry week
in the NFL. We do have the Ravens and the Steelers.
We do have the Packers and the Bears. We got
Seahawks forty nine ers on the slate. We got Chiefs Bills,
which isn't divisional, but definitely a rivalry at this point.
And it all got started in style last night in Philadelphia,
depending what kind of style you like. Sat Kwon Barkley
(01:26):
one hundred and ninety eight.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yards from scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
He scored two touchdowns in a game that was not
nearly as close as that final score. Commander's tacked on
a touchdown late. But it is now the Eagles up
two games in the lost column as we have passed
now the midpoint in the season. Garafalo, you were there,
you look at those standings. What did you make of
(01:51):
the Eagles solidifying themselves right now not just unbeaten in
the division, but again up two games in the.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Lost column on the Commanders in the East.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Just coming into the game.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I like the Eagles, right, We know how the Commanders
have been playing. They're a really good team this year.
They're playing with a lot of confidence. But then you
look at the roster and you go, the Eagles just
have a better roster, right and Howie Roseman, because the
Commanders are still building this thing out and it's only
getting more impressive. I mean to me, it was the
way the secondary played the way that Quinnyon Mitchell and guys,
(02:24):
we were at the Senior Ball and he was incredibly
impressive at the Senior Bowl, impressive in one on ones,
and we liked him better than the twenty second picking
the draft or whatever he wound up being. Then you
go offensively and with Sakuon Barkley and what he means,
the way that he was a closer the other night
or last night for this team, the way Jordan Mylatta
coming back really changed things up front, the way that
(02:46):
everybody's committed to the running game, the blocks downfield, the
wide receivers running off defenders to allow Saquon Barkley to
go to the house. And you say all this stuff,
and then you realize the quarterback really has not played
as well as he possibly can. Yeah, and some questionable decisions.
There are some guys that he missed that were wide open.
So if he can start to come along a little
(03:08):
better now, all of a sudden you realize just how
dangerous they are. And by the way, just to be clear,
he was checked for a concussion. He did clear, he
said after the game, and this was his quote, I
guess I beat the protocol.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And then he was asked.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
About a specific play and he goes, honestly, I don't
remember what you're talking about. Maybe I shouldn't use that
word right now. But did say that he felt no
ill effects of the concussion. So if that's the case,
it was just him not seeing guys in front of him,
if he steps up, this team will only be that
much more dangerous.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
Yeah, a bunch of takeaways, but I would say this,
you're right, like, it does seem like he left a
couple of plays on the field and at some point
he will hit his stride with this new coordinator and
this new offense and this new and if that happens,
you know, look out.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
It's so funny.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
The Eagles draft from two years ago with all the
Georgia players was the one that everybody lost their freaking
minds over right. That was where everybody celebrating Howie Roseman
on draft Day and all of that. This one is
probably gonna be better. And the fact that they ended
up with Quinnon Mitchell, who is a lockdown quarter corner
despite his age, Cooper Degene who in the slot looks great.
(04:15):
I mean this is these are two legit starters, potentially stars.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
I mean, this draft class.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
If it's only these two guys, is looking great for
one of the one of the league's best teams. Uh,
they have gotten younger and better and deeper. And then
I would say this for the Commanders and specifically.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
For Jayden Daniels.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
You know, there was it was a love fest really
for the last month or so. It was just truly
a love fest. And it was more than just the
hail Mary was you know, best young quarterback in football?
It was this year CJ. Stroud and I do believe
he is all of that. But now we're really gonna
find out, because what happens is people get film on you,
they start to figure it out. Maybe you play a
tougher opponents and you kind of hit a lull. Where
(04:57):
does Jayden Daniels, Where does Cliff Kingsbury go from here?
And how do they overcome this little lull? Will go
a long way and telling the story of the Commander season.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Cliff Kingsbury's that a phenomenal job. This year's done a
phenomenal job with Jayden Daniels. I thought maybe got away
from the running game because early on Brian Robinson was
going he was how many he had that first time
I thought they really should have committed more to the
running game. Could have got that defense out of sorts,
could have gotten the crowd out of it. I think
if they would go back and look at that, maybe
(05:25):
Cliff's sanding today, a couple more physical runs from Brian
Robinson may have helped us early.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
On flip side of that, think about the Eagles coaching
staff that's got their third different OC.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
In as many years.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Kellen Moore right now is the OC of a team
that is leading the league in rushing attempts. You would
not have expected that going in. They're playing a different
style of football, but this combination of minds they've got
in that room, including Nick Sirianni, right now, what.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
They're doing is working.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
That was just the kickoff again of week eleven last night.
We've got some injuries to monitor as we head into
the games this weekend.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
A big one for the Lions. Tight end Sam Laporta
out with a shoulder.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Injury as they get the set to take on the
Jaguars in Detroit. Jets wide receiver DeVante Adams. Jeff Ulbert
said he expects him to go. He's been ill this week,
also dealing with a risk, but sounds like he's gonna
be out there against the Colts, Vikings clean sheet, Sam Darnold,
Aaron Jones. They are good to go, no surprise. Isaiah
Pacheco not ready just yet. Always sounded like he'll be
(06:26):
right around Thanksgiving that he's got a chance to go.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
He is practicing back sooner than later.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
We will not see Harrison Butker, the Chief star kicker
for the next four weeks, underwent surgery, as we first
told you last night on The Insiders, for that meniscous
injury that he had suffered. He signed Spencer Schrader off
the Jets practice squad. He's gonna be kicking against the Bills.
Buffalo has its own injury issues to deal with. Dalton Kinkaid,
(06:51):
the tight end, surready knee injury on this play. He
is officially out for this game on Sunday against the Chiefs.
Keon Coleman we already knew out because of his wrist injury.
And that's not all Mike in terms of the injury
report on the Bills weapons.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Yeah, so Kincaid out, Keith Coleman out, But you've got
a Marii Cooper who missed last week with that wrist injury.
He has listed as questionable and has expressed optimism that
he will be available to play in this game.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
You know, you're going up against a tough defense.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
This is usually where I would say, well, you know,
you got to keep pace with this Chiefs offense.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
It's not how it's been.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I mean, I'm not saying that they can't all of
a sudden put up thirty points, but this is one
where you say it in a different way. You're going
up against a tough defense and you really need all
your guys available. So Amari Cooper, who has missed the
last couple of games with that risk injury, looking like
he is going to wind up being a go. But
you know, we'll let you know for sure Sunday morning,
NFL Game Day Morning, right here on NFL Network.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Sunday night, We've got another good one Bengals and Chargers
and Ian. It sounds like, at long last, Cincinnati is
going to have that wide receiver corps back to full strength.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Yeah, if you're someone who's gonna sit here and watch
from this segment all the way through to the end,
if you want to know more about.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
That Hill, keep watching. We got a lot of Hill
talk for you.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
But anyway, and I'm not joking, we will break down
the hill thoroughly, but yes, T Higgins is eventually off
the injury report.
Speaker 7 (08:20):
He is good to go.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
And this from a quad injury really like a pretty
significant quad pull. Remember it was like three weeks ago,
a little more late in the practice week. Everyone knew
T Higgins was fine, and he kind of pops up
on the injury reporters questionable and you're like, oh, maybe
he can't go. That turned out to be a lot
longer than I think anyone anticipated, and in that time,
the Bengals have lost some games.
Speaker 6 (08:40):
The offense has kind of hit its stride.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Jamar Chase has become maybe the best receiver in football,
and now you add T Higgins to the mix.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
The Bengals have to go on a run if they're
going to make the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
They certainly are talented enough, and having one of the
better young receivers in the NFL healthy again probably a
good thing for Joe Burrow.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
And this offense.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And if the Bengals make the playoffs, it probably is
going to be as a wildcard because right now, the
two teams to play this Sunday, the Steelers and Ravens
have already put some distance between themselves and the rest
of the division. Good news on the injury front for Baltimore.
Kyle Hamilton back on the field. Mike, what's the latest
on his status for this game?
Speaker 8 (09:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:21):
So I was on Good Morning Football last week if
Peter Schrager did a whole what's your beef segment, and
his beef was people who go, oh no when they
see an injury happen. It's like, can you let it
play out? Can you let the medical people get in
there and figure out what's going on? And the guy
winds up being relatively okay. Now, Kyle Hamilton missed the
rest of that game, but he is going to play
(09:44):
on Sunday against the Steelers. Here he is off the
injury report. I'm telling you, one of these days, Peter
Schreger should auction off the ability to text with him
for just one day, because when that happened on Sunday
and we got a whole bunch of like, oh no,
for Kyle Hamilton, he was fired watching Just keep all
these posts on X right here and here you go.
He's expecting to play. Also, Isaiah likely off the injury report.
(10:07):
The Ravens tight end.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Definitely, so likely, definitely going to play.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Just want to say that there's also certain players in
the NFL, and this is not a shot at Kyle Hamilton.
There's some players in the NFL who like five times
a year have an injury and you look at it
and you're like, oh man, this looks really bad. Kyle
Hamilton is definitely that guy. He has dodged like seven
different bullets over the past couple of seasons.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Every time.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Well, why would you say that they're all pro safety?
Still on the fit.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
I don't have Jink's power. Okay, it's a Friday night
or just trying to do a show. If you don't
say it, it's not a jinx. This is just me
trying to transition to the fact that on the other
side of this break, we're gonna be talking to the
architect of the defense on the other side in this game,
That of course is Steelers defensive coordinator Tera Austin, who
(10:57):
does have TJ. Watt on his side. But they have
been tough on that side of the ball. So what
is the plan to slow down Lamar and Derrick Henry
and all the Ravens other weapons We'll ask him. Maybe
I'll answer probably not. That's next on the insiders.
Speaker 8 (11:14):
They don't like us. We down, but so I don't
like them.
Speaker 7 (11:17):
They by coming to house, take it down with no
going into the.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Come on, what.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
Tuts down? A Steeler that puts the ball.
Speaker 10 (11:28):
Right on the money cuts down here It is a
first time star who lamar Jackson against the Steeler. Jackson
is unbelievably gifted, Raven, unbelievable plastic Raven.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
Steelers all kind of hitting the rows, tough to all down.
Speaker 10 (11:43):
Indeed, there's a hitting, there's some jow there's everything we thought.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
There would be. Definitely got a fasbook game. The Steelers
are spelling blood.
Speaker 10 (11:51):
They got he got two teams, they're respect one another,
putting door like one another.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
Pitpsburg and Baltimore.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
You don't have to say a whole lot more.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Oh, here it comes.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
We are just a couple of days away from the
latest insolvent of the Steelers Ravens rivalry, with first place
in the AFC North on the line, and happy to
be joined as he prepares for this game. Terrell Austin,
the defensive coordinator of the Steelers, the second ranked defense
when it comes to points, allowed going up against the
first scoring offense, so you know that that's going to
(12:30):
be a great matchup. Tarrell, give us a peek into
what the week has been like, because I know your
guys understand what this rivalry is about.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
How has the preparation been for this game.
Speaker 11 (12:41):
The preparation has been good. Our guys will dialed in.
Speaker 12 (12:44):
I think the one thing is we know what kind
of game it's going to be because they're all the same.
Speaker 11 (12:50):
It's going to be a hard hitting, physical game.
Speaker 12 (12:52):
The team that makes the least amount of mistakes gives
himselves the best chance to win.
Speaker 13 (12:57):
So Teroll, look, first off, you've been on both sides
of this rival We'll get that to in just a second.
But you as the DC for the Steelers, Priority Lamar
or Derek.
Speaker 12 (13:09):
Well, you have to pick your poison there. So I
think it's it's got to be you know, they're one
in one a uh. And I think for us, we
always go into a game that we say, hey, we
don't want the running game to really batter us, because
if the running game is battering you, it demoralizes you.
Speaker 11 (13:28):
And and so we're really.
Speaker 12 (13:29):
Going to be a focus on the run game and
how if we can slow this guy down.
Speaker 11 (13:34):
I think that's going to be a big thing.
Speaker 12 (13:35):
And then obviously the things that Lamar is doing in
the past game, you know, they're they're very challenging. I mean,
the guys had three or four perfect passer ratings this year.
I mean they're number one and points scored, all the
all the things that the good offense does.
Speaker 11 (13:48):
So you know, you can try to stop them both.
Speaker 12 (13:50):
But I think we'll really be trying to focus on
this run game first and then you know, doing what
we can in the past game to try to hold
them down.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
You know, we'll talk about picking your poison, and with
their offense, they have to pick their poison. With your defense,
I mean, you're strong upfront, You've got pass rushers that
can get it down. To understand Alex Heismith being down
for a bit, it's going to be a bit of
a loss. But you've got other guys that can get
after the quarterback. You've got good linebacker play. You've got
some good play in the secondary as well. Beamie Bishop,
the rookie stepping up a little bit there. What has
(14:20):
impressed you most about your defense? What are you happiest
with at this point for your defense.
Speaker 12 (14:25):
I think the thing that I'm happiest with is are guys.
You know, I don't think any moments too big for him.
It doesn't matter the situation. They go out there and
they just are determined to make plays and determined to
try to get, you know, the other team off the field.
Speaker 11 (14:40):
So I think that's really the thing that I'm really.
Speaker 12 (14:42):
Most impressed and most proud about this group of men,
because they play hard and they don't flinch when things
maybe aren't going as well as you want them to.
And I think that's the sign of a really good
defensive group.
Speaker 13 (14:54):
Hey, Teal to follow it up, because you have a
real good mix of veterans and young people who understand
what AFC North football it's about, especially this time of year.
Six of your next opponents, six of your next eight opponents,
I should say, are all divisional games. I mean, what
about the stretch is kind of an odd scheduling quirk.
Speaker 7 (15:11):
Oh and by the way, the two.
Speaker 13 (15:12):
Non accomplished non divisional games are Philadelphia and Kansas City.
But what about the scheduling quirk where you have this
huge run of AFC North games right now?
Speaker 12 (15:23):
Yeah, I mean, we have no control over that and
so we just look at it like, hey, we're just
working and getting ready for the next game, and so
that's our mindset. We know how the AFC North battles
are going to be, and it's just again, we just
get ready for the next game that next week, and
we don't put anything in looking ahead or how the
schedule comes out, because we have no you know, there's
(15:43):
nothing we can do about. So we got to line
up and play these guys, and we're going to have
to play them at any point during the year.
Speaker 11 (15:47):
So what's the difference if you.
Speaker 12 (15:49):
Play them all in the month or you play them
spread out over three months?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Terroll, I've covered a couple of your games, and I've
made the point that to me, this team is always
extremely well prepared.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
He's playing hard. You can see it's tangibly.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
This coaching staff both sides of the ball, your side
of the defense, Arthur Smith offensively, and certainly the head
man in charge, Mike Tomlin. What I want you to do, though,
is take us inside if you can as much as
you can. When Mike Tomlin makes the decision to go
to Russell Wilson, because it's no secret and he made
no secret about it.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
It was a gutsy call.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
By his estimation. What kind of leadership do you see that?
What kind of guts did you see there for him
to make that call in the middle of the season
understanding that Justin Fields had played well?
Speaker 12 (16:32):
Yeah, I think you know, that's the one thing that
Mike has an abundance, and that's great leadership. And so
I don't think our guys questioned when he decided to
make the move. He explained to our men, because he
always likes to tell our guys, Hey, if I give
a capable man information, he should be able to handle
that and go forward and do you know something positive
with it? And so I don't think there was ever
(16:53):
any question about when he decided to make the move
in our locker room. We trust what he's doing, ass fall.
You know, well, we're gonna we're gonna fight our tails
off to do, you know what we need to do
to win and let him make the decisions. And that's
why I don't think there was any blowback from anybody. Uh,
And we just move forward because the bottom line is
as a leader, that's his job to make choices and uh,
(17:15):
it's our job to help him follow up on it.
And I think our guys feel the same way.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
Hey, hey, Tarah, talk about great coaching.
Speaker 13 (17:21):
I mean, you know what Mike Tomlin has done coming
up on the defensive side of the ball. But you
kicked off your coaching career working under Jim Caldwell, and
you've been with him multiple times, some really good offensive coaches,
But what about being with somebody like a Jim Caldwell
who's got the leadership and the offensive brilliance to help
you kind of master what you do defensively.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 12 (17:42):
It's been I've been very fortunate, you know, with the
with the guys I've been around and the guys I've
worked for. And obviously you talk about Jim, who absolutely
wonderful person, a wonderful man, great coach, But you learned
a lot from both sides. So again, with Jim, I
would always learn, you know, what things would be good,
why they would be good, why they wouldn't.
Speaker 11 (18:02):
Be so good.
Speaker 12 (18:03):
And with Mike I get a different philosophy coming from
the defensive side on the things he likes and how
he structures them. So, you know, I think it's our
job as coaches to always you know, you're always trying
to get better.
Speaker 11 (18:14):
The same things you talk to your players.
Speaker 12 (18:15):
About you have to do, and that means you're always improving,
you're always working for it is because if you're not,
then you're losing ground. And if you lose ground in
our game in the NFL, you're going to lose a
lot of games. You're not going to be very good.
And so I just take the things that the guys,
the leadership guys in front of me have given me,
and I try to run with them as best I can.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Teral, I thank you for your time earlier, because I
know it's a busy week you're preparing for the Steelers
or sere preparing for the Ravings. Excuse me in this
rivalry between you and them, but it's Friday and night.
I want to give folks a piece because I know
you guys pull long hours all week line, and I
know you're giving us some time because tonight is some
time for you and your wife. You were going to
go out to dinner, but it took some time to
(18:56):
do this interview with us. How important is it for you,
because I've heard it from many a coach, is to
get this little bit of time. Friday night is like
the night where you can actually be a real human
being during the season.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
How important is that for you?
Speaker 11 (19:07):
Yeah, I think it's important.
Speaker 12 (19:10):
I probably do it better now than I did earlier
in my career, but I always try to take time
on Fridays, and we, you know, as our kids have
gotten older, we're able to have some date nights and
do some things to try to make sure we reconnect.
Because the bottom line is, you know your family is
going to always be there for you, and you want
to make sure that you know you don't get so
(19:30):
wrapped up in this coaching profession that you forget that
you've got a family, a wife, kids, and other things
outside of it. And so this time on Friday is
really good for me for my family. And like I said,
the longer I've been in it, the better I've gotten
at it. I probably wasn't so good at it when
I was young, but I think I've kind of found
a balance in it now.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
That's awesome.
Speaker 8 (19:51):
Man.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
We all get better with age. We all learn how
to manage everything as we go along. You've certainly done that.
So I appreciate that you can now clock out for
at least ten night. I know you're gonna be back
at it tomorrow, but you can clock out.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
It's time to enjoy your Friday night. Tarol Austin, thank
you very much. Listen.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I know he's locked in right now the Steelers defense.
That's his focus. But you know, we as reporters, Steve,
we're looking ahead. There's some head coaching interviews coming up.
Would not be surprised to hear this man's name mentioned
amongst those, and he absolutely should be.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I know Steve agrees with me. Tarol, thank you very
much for your time.
Speaker 11 (20:22):
All Right, you got it, guys, Thanks appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Awesome. Enjoy your Friday. Jalen hurts the Eagles.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
They're enjoying their Friday after a victory against the Commanders
on Thursday night. We're gonna break this one down a
little bit more. Coming up next here on the Insiders
Eagles Commanders for a first place in the NFC East
on Thursday night. Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurst, Jayden, Jalen We
(20:48):
talked about that all week long.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
I screwed up the names from time to time.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Here's Jalen Hurst trying to step up in the pocket
taking down as the pass.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Falls in complete. He had two guys that he tried
to get it.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
To a little bit of a face mask and then
the head hitting the ground. He said he never felt
any ill effects and he passed the concussion protocol, or
as he called it, I guess I beat the concussion protocol.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Fourth quarter now hurts after he was officially.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Cleared vulturing Saquon Barkley once again. Saquan's been tackled at
the one yard line or the two yard line eleven
times this year. So Saquon bolted once again and in
this one could have been a field goal to take
the lead. Dan Quinn says, no, we're gonna be aggressive.
Zach Bahn makes the stop after Jalen Carter gets the
penetration to force Jade and Daniels after a botch snap
(21:38):
to get to the outside there.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Big stop there. Nick Sirianni is fired up.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Zach Bond, good job from bald guys everywhere way to
play that one. And then the closer, Saquan says, not
getting tackled at the ones, Look at this, Devonte Smith
ran off the defensive back there didn't have to block him.
Nick Sirianni gave him credit for that. That guy right there,
he's wearing a poppy. He's got a British accent. I
gotta talk to that guy. I gotta find out what
his name is. He's a very nice guy. And then
there's Reed blanket Ship, one of the exciting whites. They
(22:06):
said it, I didn't say it. It was on their
T shirt making the interception right there. And then sa
Quon with another one to close it.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Out, thirty nine yard touchdown ron I think is the
one where he fires the ball into the stands. No,
he did that before that.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
There he is Saquon very excited the fans, then chatting afterward.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Thank you Giants, Thank you Giants.
Speaker 14 (22:27):
Eagles twenty six to eighteen, twenty six points, twenty six
carries for Saquon Barkley on DeVante Smith's twenty sixth birthday,
So twenty six was the wild number last night for
the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
In fact, Smith got a birthday cake inside that.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Eagles locker room, the victorious locker room. You know what,
we'll take you there, Sands the birthday celebration.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Hey, proud of you guys.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
How you fought right.
Speaker 15 (22:51):
It wasn't pretty right, it wasn't pretty, but we just
kept fighting. And that's the type of game we like
in that dirt row that Joe Pi talks about. It's nasty,
it's crime, it's gritty, it's right where we want to be.
That's right where we want to be. All right, guys,
enjoy that. You can enjoy this one a little longer.
You can enjoy this one a little longer. But as
soon as Monday hits, it's right em back to work.
Speaker 16 (23:15):
But my baddn't I didn't realize we actually weren't going
(23:44):
to show there.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
There's the cake right there. I was able to take
a picture of it. I saw Big Dom right there.
Big Dom was offering Canoli's shmi adell. If you don't
know what that is, look it up. That's not the
actual Italian pronunciation. That's the South Philly Italian pronunciation right there.
But there it is the birthday boy, DeVante Smith is
twenty sixth birthday. There were no slices take it out
of that cake by the time I got there. Hopefully
somebody eventually did dig in. Baldy, I know you would
(24:07):
love to dig in on that cake right there, Steve Weisch,
you as well come in join us, bald Sakuon Barkley
for a team that never spent a lot of draft
resources at the running back position, at least not in
the first round. Didn't spend a lot of money at
the running all of a sudden, did it this offseason.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
It's certainly paying off. I know it sounds like an
obvious question, But what does he bring to this offense?
Speaker 17 (24:29):
Saque Well, I mean number one, number one here, Mike.
He leads the NFL in rushing after ten games. He's
got seventeen more yards right now with Derek Nmy So
here's a leading rusher right now.
Speaker 8 (24:39):
And late Johnson described this offense.
Speaker 17 (24:42):
To me, Mike a couple of weeks ago, when they
started getting rolling and feeding Zaquon, he said, Baldi, all
we do, honestly is we just run and hit people.
And that's kind of what they do up front. They
just keep slamming you. They just keep running to you.
They got traps, they've got whams, they've got triple trap,
double scoops, they got it all.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
And you know, they ran for eighty.
Speaker 17 (25:01):
Eight yards in the first half, a little pedestrian, but
they stayed with it. Nineteen runs in the second half,
one hundred and forty more yards.
Speaker 8 (25:09):
This is their identity.
Speaker 17 (25:10):
They hadn't run the ball Mike this year almost one
hundred more times than they'd thrown him. Like they're a
run first team, and when they are able to play
that style, they wear everybody down. That's what they did
to the Commanders last night, Steve and Baldy.
Speaker 13 (25:25):
Guess who else they're gonna have to compete against other
run first teams like the Detroit Lions, and liked the
San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 7 (25:31):
So you have to love that style.
Speaker 13 (25:33):
But one thing I love right here is the way
this defense continued to play.
Speaker 7 (25:38):
I said earlier this week. We have seen this.
Speaker 13 (25:41):
Defense dominate, but they had not based a dual threat
quarterback during their winning streak like Jayden Daniels.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
Well, they faced him and they defaced him. They showed
how dominant they could be.
Speaker 13 (25:54):
They didn't allow him to run now, and we know
he's a little nicked up, but they slowed him down.
In the past game, one hundred and ninety one passing yards,
you only got one completion to Terry McLaurin because Quinnon Mitchell,
the rookie cornerback, locked him up. Then on the front lines,
you had Jordan Davis blow up that fourth down attempt
after blowing up a third and one on the play before.
(26:15):
And Zach Bond, Mike Garrifolo, you've been talking about this
guy for weeks fourteen tackles.
Speaker 7 (26:21):
He absolutely like dehumanize. Look at this hit right here,
Oh and your mama.
Speaker 13 (26:28):
He took him all the way back generations with that
hyph and the way this defense keeps playing, because it
just got better and better throughout the game, and it
really stifled everything Washington liked to do, stuffing everything that
the five previous opponents like to do. This could be
as much their bread and butter as Saquan is and
that complimentary physical style. Baldy in Mike, that's something that
should give Philly deep in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
Beg Fangio took the early part of the season to
challenge some of these guys to find out exactly what
they did well, and it's like you could see it
all clicking, all coming together, certainly at the right time
for the Eagles. Brian Baldinger, Steve Weish, thank you guys
very much, and now it's time bull Adham rank Ian.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Dude, if we're gonna be singing, I'm gonna be the
one singing Anyway, there is Caleb Williams, and if we're
showing Cale Williams footage, are some good. Don't get me wrong,
there's definitely some good, but there's some not as good.
There's him getting sacked, there's maybe an incompletion or two.
There's place where you're oh, where that happens. And that's
been that kind of week that we have had in
Chicago with the repair the offensive needs repairing. I've screwed
(27:35):
this whole thing up, and the coordinator who needs replacing.
Speaking of that anyway, let's get right to it. Repair
and replace. Brought to you by Safe Light. This is
my good friend Adam Rank. Sorry for stepping all over
the tagline right.
Speaker 6 (27:49):
There, Rank.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Anyway, we know it has been that kind of week
in Chicago. They have clearly replaced Shane Walder and the
rofins coordinator with Thomas Brown, the past game coordinator. What
do the Bears need to do to repair this offense?
Speaker 6 (28:05):
Down that they've replaced the coordinator you.
Speaker 9 (28:08):
Know you keep here and mentioning that it's been a
bad week, it's actually been a bad month. Ever, since
this team returned from London, it's looked like a completely
different like what happened in London, Like, please please tell
me what happened in London, because this team has not
looked the safe and now that you have Thomas Brown
taking go over as the offensive coordinator, I think there
are three things this Bears team needs to do to
(28:29):
get back to being successful. Number One, they have to
establish the run once again with DeAndre Swift. Too many
times over the last couple of weeks we saw the
Bears seemingly get bored with running the football getting away
from DeAndre Swift. He was one of the guys who
made that team so successful over that little win streak,
the three game win streak that included that London game
(28:50):
against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Speaker 7 (28:51):
And Number two, you.
Speaker 9 (28:52):
Gotta go back to getting the ball to Cole Kmett.
Speaker 11 (28:55):
Now.
Speaker 9 (28:55):
I know a lot of fantasy managers will look at
Cole Comett and say, listen, he's only been good in
two games. I'm like, yeah, their best two games of
the season. I don't think that's a coincidence. This play
right here that they ran in London, I've never seen
a Bears team run a play like that. Here he
is wide open against the Indianapolis Colts, they need to
get the ball to him. They've invested a lot of
(29:16):
money into him and that's one of the things that
was a struggle. And finally the last thing they got
to do. Let Caleb Williams just throw the football. Sometimes
it feels like you're instructing him not to make a turnover,
trying to whatever you tell somebody like we play, we
play a lot of golf.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
Whatever.
Speaker 9 (29:33):
Somebody says like, hey, try not to hit it off
the hostle. The next shot that you take is one
going off the hostle. Let let Caleb go out there
and play. See what happens, and see what can happen
with Thomas Brown.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
And that is a great way to repair and replace
the Bears offense. Presented by Safelight and our good friend
Adam Rank.
Speaker 6 (29:57):
Rank thank you very much, but don't go anywhere. Stay
literally right there.
Speaker 5 (30:02):
We are now going to be talking about two offenses
that they don't need fixing. Joe Burrow justin Herbert Bengals Chargers.
Let's get into it because this is going to be
some fireworks this weekend or better because otherwise I'll have
lie to you guys, and I hate that anyway.
Speaker 6 (30:19):
Coming up next on the Insiders, We.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Got a good one between the Bengals and the Chargers
on Sunday Night Football. Always love these graphics, though, I
gotta say Justin Herbert maybe maybe, given like you know,
the upgrade of the facial hair by about twenty percent,
there just a thought I like it though.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
It's good.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Look the hair looks fantastic. Welcome back to the Insiders,
Tom Pelaicero, joined by Brian Baldinger and Our Bridge of
Condon Bridget. Not gonna ask you for a facial hair
breakdown on Justin Herbert. I am gonna ask you about
a guy who was dealing with a really significant ankle injury,
obviously early on in the season. He's finally off the
report and Jim Harbaugh seems like he can't stop talking
about the guy as a superhero.
Speaker 18 (31:00):
This week and he was still talking about Justin Herbert
being able to play tight end or pass rusher week eleven.
I was like, Okay, this guy really loves his quarterback.
But look, it's because he's excelled so far this season.
He hasn't thrown an interception in seven straight games. That's
the longest active streak in the NFL, and he's really
doing well since.
Speaker 9 (31:19):
That bye week.
Speaker 18 (31:20):
You talk about that ankle, he's averaging nearly twice as
many passing yards per game since the bye then he
did in weeks one through four. I asked him about that.
He said, is it just because of the ankle, and
he said, well, yes, of course. The ankle's much better
now and he's not missing practice like he did in
the beginning of the season because of the injury. But
he also said, with this new offense, it takes some time.
Right they're learning from a new offensive coordinator, and it's
(31:42):
not just about being in OTAs or training camp. He says,
until you're like in the game, playing live, you can't
really grasp that offense. And he said you got to
get comfortable, but real quick, guys. He's also improving in
another area. You guys saw that postgame interview or postgame
speech he gave. I don't know if're calling it as
weary Beach. It was a couple words in the locker
room after they beat the Titans on Sunday. He was
(32:04):
asked about that and said, you know, in college or
high school, I might have been a little awkward in
those situations, like everyone's looking at me. But he appreciates
that Jim Harbaugh's calling on him more and he knows
that he's got to be that person. He said, you know,
the more I do it, the more I feel normal.
Maybe just next time, I should probably prepare something so
I have something ready to say to the guys after
the win.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Flip side of this, Baldy.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
The Bengals obviously four and six at this point, but
Joe Burrow has played at a really high level this season.
He goes up against that defense coordinated by Jesse Minter
that not only is the top scoring defense in the league,
they haven't given up more than twenty points to any
opponent in a game this season. What are they doing
so well and what do you make of this matchup?
Speaker 8 (32:46):
Well, it's a great matchup.
Speaker 17 (32:48):
And the first thing you're doing, and this is way
different than years past, they're tackling.
Speaker 8 (32:53):
They're tackling really well.
Speaker 17 (32:55):
And then their safety play has been excellent because if
you make mistakes tom at the safety position, you.
Speaker 8 (33:01):
Either give up explosive plays or touchdowns.
Speaker 17 (33:04):
So that's obviously if you're giving up thirteen points a game,
you know through the season so far you're not doing that.
Speaker 8 (33:09):
And then I think getting.
Speaker 17 (33:10):
Perriman and Dayon Henley and at linebacker, they finally have
found two linebackers that compliment each other, that play. Henley
leads in to the attack with by over thirty right now,
and they're getting good pass rush and they're starting two
rookie corners the last couple of weeks out there. I
don't know if they're both going to go this week
two fifth round picks, and so they played lockdown football,
(33:31):
but they're going to see Joe Burrow. It just going
back to talking to Joe a couple of weeks ago,
and Bridgett myself spent a lot of time with him
in training camp this year. He's come out and said
almost every week that he has to be perfect and
in some ways, when you play a Jim Harball team
you may only get eight possession, you.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
Have to maximize the possession.
Speaker 17 (33:52):
And so Joe, I mean, obviously you got Jamar, you
get your receivers back right now. I mean, Joe's got
to play a nearly perfect game because if he does,
don't play out of the playoff praise. If he goes
out and place post the perfect the way he has
much of the year, and they can win.
Speaker 8 (34:06):
They can get right back in the playoff praise.
Speaker 17 (34:08):
That's what they'll feel like coming back from Los Angeles
after that game.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
A lot on the line in the AFC Wildcard Chase
on Sunday night, Bridget, you're gonna be there, give me
a matchup. You're gonna have your eye on all right.
Speaker 18 (34:18):
This one's for Baldy. This is your Christmas present, early
Christmas present. How about a little O line D line
action left tackle over Shawn Slater going up against defensive
end Trey Hendrickson for the Bengals. Let me put in
perspective how good these guys are. Rareshawn Slater left tackle.
He has the third highest grade according to PFF in
terms of pass blocking, and he's going up against Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
Who leads the league with eleven.
Speaker 18 (34:45):
Sacks so far this season. I asked for Sean, like, Hey,
when you know you're going up against a guy this good,
do you get a little more excited for that? He
said yeah. I mean, of course, he called Hendrickson physically gifted,
saying he's has a good blend of strength, speed, technique,
but he also look, I'm more excited for the opportunity
for the Chargers If they win Sunday Night, that's four
(35:05):
in a row for this team who expectations were high
coming into this season, but they haven't really done much
in the postseason in years past. Yes, they made it
with the wildcard in twenty twenty two. They're currently sitting
in a wildcard position. But the reason that they brought
in Jim Harbaugh in this mindset was to have success,
especially November, December and January. And it starts Sunday night.
(35:27):
They have a chance to impress a lot of people
on a big stage in primetime on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Baldi Bridget, thank you very much. Enjoy your games on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
I'm going to be at the Jaguars versus Lions game scene.
If Jared Goff can throw six interceptions, probably not not
in this game, but legit question here for everybody who's
got Jared goffin fantasy. After that, let's call it an
up and down performance. Should he be in your lineup?
Can he help you steal a win in fantasy? Our
guy Adam Rank has the answer.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
And a lot more. Next on The Insiders.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Time now to go inside with NFL Fantasy Live. On
The Insiders, Tom Pilisero Ian Rapp or Mike you're a fullo.
And Adam Rank, who has answered our challenge even as
we get later in the schedule to somehow match the
number week of the NFL season to his weekly fantasy
segment on Fridays.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
So here we are week eleven.
Speaker 9 (36:25):
Rank.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
I'm told you've got an ocean eleven's.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Style of a way to steal a fantasy win.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Get give me a quarterback to start off here. Maybe
you can steal a win.
Speaker 9 (36:37):
With all Right, you want one more, I got one
more for you. Let's start with Jared Goff, who is
now and throw for over two thousand yards this season,
sixteen touchdowns and nine interceptions. All nine came on Sunday night. No,
I'm kidding, but still I understand the abrasion to trying
to play him this week after kind of a poor
performance against the hous At Texans. But listen, he's going
(36:58):
up against the Jacksonville jack allowed the third most points
the fantasy quarterbacks this season. To me, I understand the
people fear a blowout. This might be a big David
Montgomery game, which I think it will be, But I
still have enough confidence in Jared Goff to deliver in
this one.
Speaker 5 (37:13):
All right, So that's the quarterbacks. Let's talk about running backs.
I'm actually fine. I started Austin Ekler had a really
nice night on Thursday. But the people who didn't take
me to the running backs, well.
Speaker 9 (37:23):
There's a couple of guys that I've getten a lot
of questions about. We'll start with Aaron Jones against the
Tennessee Titans this week, the top defense in the NFL statistically.
But here's the thing to know about Aaron Jones. He
has been eighty percent of the team's goal line rush
attempts this season. That's six highest total in the NFL.
He's also valuable in the passing game. He's had the
(37:44):
second most receptions on the team this season. He's averaging
close to twenty touches per game. And despite the fact
that the Titans have been so stout in yards allowed,
they've allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game to
running backs this season. And another run back who is
ready to break out, Nick Chubb, a player that we
have been waiting for for quite some time, coming back
(38:06):
from that devastating knee injury. I truly believe that this
is going to be a monster game for him. The
Saints have allowed seven top fifteen running backs in the
last six weeks that they've allowed the most rushing yards
to running backs this season, they've allowed the most rushing
yards per game. This is a perfect opportunity in a
Jamis Winston revenge game. It is going to be Nick
(38:27):
Chubb who ends up stealing today for the Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 4 (38:31):
Love it all, right, Let's go to the wide receiver position.
Tell me some guys who can you know? Wide receivers
grab you, you steal stuff, You grab.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Them going for it.
Speaker 9 (38:42):
No, and sometimes they work in tandem. They like the
Mormon Twins promotions eleven.
Speaker 7 (38:47):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 9 (38:48):
The Steelers have a couple of great wide receivers with
Mike Williams and George Pickens. I like both of them
this week. But I really like George Pickens. I think
that he's really starting to come into his own, really
developing that kemtree with Russell Wilson. And traditionally you would
look at the Ravens defense like he looked at Terry
bennettick'svaults and say, there's no way we can steal this.
(39:09):
But the Ravens have allowed the most fantasy points per
game to wide receivers this season. They've allowed the most
receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. And I sit there and
I ask, does it say plagio in the end zone?
It does not. It's a fake. So you can start
George Pickens. And then I love Calvin Ridley going up
against the Minnesota Vikings defense this season. Twelve plus fantasy
(39:32):
points in three consecutive games, eight plus targets in five games.
He goes out there, he goes on a little profanity
lace tirade in the locker room, and good things happen.
And now this Vikings defense, which is pretty good, it's
a good Vikings defense. They've still allowed the third most
fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season. So
(39:52):
I think Calvin Ridley is an absolute must start this
week against the Vikings.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Watching those George Pickens highlights, I mainly won to steal
that roll at toilet paper that he's got dangling eight
feet off his pants on every single snap that we
just watched. There, Okay, one more break tight ends. Give
me somebody there who can steal you one in Week eleven.
Speaker 9 (40:12):
Well, you know what, I know, people have kind of
a volatile relationship with Kyle Pitts.
Speaker 7 (40:16):
Excuse me.
Speaker 9 (40:17):
Sometimes he's great, sometimes not so much. What do we
do with them? This is a great start against the
Denver Broncos. I understand the Broncos are one of the
best defenses in the NFL. They're a tough matchup for everybody. However,
this is where the matchup gets pretty good. When you
think about the top corners for the Denver Broncos. I
really fear about starting Drake London this week. Darnell Mooney,
who's had fourteen points in three consecutive games. He's gonna
(40:40):
have a tough matchup as well. But the Broncos love
to run a lot of single high safety, which is
where Kyle Pitts feast. I think this is the Kyle
Pitts game. I know it's tough to decipher, but I
truly believe that against this Broncos defense, the way to
attack him is with Kyle Pitts.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Ocean's Twelve was not a good movie, but I feel
like we could go for that that music and that
that bit.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
I think over and over, you disagree. We don't have time.
We don't know if text me, text me, text me
your your input on that, right now you talk to
you again.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Next Friday, T Higgins is back, officially off the injury report,
will play Sunday night for the Bengals against the Chargers,
a few weeks after suffering that quad strain. A clue
to his availability was provided by Andrew Cooper a ka
coupe a fiasco. Great name there on social media by
(41:37):
Virtue Ian of something you point out earlier today, a
series of videos in which that hill the jug up
that hill seems to give us some clues about T Higgins.
Speaker 5 (41:48):
This is amazing, and I would say every once in
a while, the internet comes at you and really brings it.
So what we learned is that when T Higgins does
not conquer the hill, when he sort of either you know,
maybe walks up slowly or does it really like he's
probably not gonna play, when he goes after the hell hard,
you know he's gonna play.
Speaker 6 (42:09):
So he posted this, I retweeted it like a boss.
Speaker 5 (42:12):
And then later we found out that after taking that
hill like a champion, Te Higgins is off the injured
report and playing. This is literally genius. I will never
come up with anything this clever.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
Yeah, well now, but T Higgins a regular viewer of
the Insider is not gonna probably dog it a couple
of times to throw you off.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
No, he can't. Bar moves the the weekend. Everybody
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