December 3, 2025 • 42 mins
NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Judy Battista, and Ian Rapoport set the table for Week 14 with injury updates ahead of Thursday Night’s Cowboys-Lions matchup, details on Mark Andrews new contract, and the latest on Deshaun Watson returning to practice for first time this season.
Then Stacey Dales reports on the Bears-Packers matchup, before Bucky Brooks decides who’s in and who’s out of the AFC Playoffs.
Plus, Broncos LB Alex Singleton & Chargers LB Tuli Tuipulotu join the show.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
The most played rivalry in NFL history, has not had
many matchups bigger than this. Bears, Packers, Haylou Jordan Our,
Brian Baldinger, and Stacy DALs And join us tonight to
break down Sunday's showdown for first place in the NFC North.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Things also are heating.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Up in the AFC West, where the Broncos on two
game lead over the Chargers, So let's double nip tonight.
Alex Singleton and Touley Twoey Pulo to stop by to
discuss exactly where things stand.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Wells talk to our guy, Marcus.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Grant, who is back with his weekly fantasy sleepers, plus
a couple names you should stash now for potential playoff.
You Slater welcome inside with the Insiders, presented by Progressive
Insurance alongside Ian Rappaport and Judy Battista.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I am Tom Pellacero.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
It is the eve of week fourteen on the NFL calendar,
and we've got some injury updates ahead of a doozy
to kick things off in Detroit. Cowboys wide receiver George
Pickens missed some practice time this week, still dealing with
calf and the issues, but he is officially off the
injury report and will play against the Lions. Cornerback Trayvon Diggs, meanwhile,
(01:23):
working his way back from an ir stint, was ruled
out for the game. Jerry Joneses said earlier in the
week that Diggs would be available, but apparently it will
be at least one more week.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Meanwhile, Lions wide.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Receiver i'm on Ross Saint Brown officially listed as questionable
for the game. Questionable being a borderline miracle based on
how this play looked on Thanksgiving. It is a low
ankle sprain for Saint Brown suffered in that Thanksgiving loss
to the Packers. But Dan Campbell not slamming the door
on Saint Brown playing just yet. This is a huge game.
(01:56):
You need all hands on deck because there are massive
playoff implications in the air tight NFC. Look at that
from the one seed to the seventh seed. You're talking
about a difference of a half game thanks to that tie.
You're going to see a little bit of an eye
trick here. Yes, the Packers, based on percentage points, would
be above the forty nine ers here right now, bottom
(02:17):
lines and all that aside. For a second here, Judy,
you cannot overstate the implications of this game. The Lions
and the Cowboys both trying to get in it, and
the team that does not win is going to have
to fight off being out of it with several weeks
still to go.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Yeah, just look at those teams listed as in the hunt.
They're in the hunt. Neither of these teams is in
the playoff picture. Right now, Let's bring up these percentages.
This is basically when or your season dies if you
lose this game.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Look at this. The Lions with.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
A lost year are down to nineteen.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Percent chance of getting in. This is according to next
Gen Step. The Cowboys were on a three game winning streak.
You feel like they've got so much momentum. With a
lost their chances would only go down to nine percent.
I actually feel like the Cowboys had the momentum here.
These teams feel like they're going in opposite directions. The
Cowboys have won three in a row, and of course,
with the problem that the Eagles are having, you feel
(03:13):
like the Cowboys might actually have a chance to sneak
in there and grab the NFC East. But this is
a monster game for both teams if they want to
be alive in the playoff.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Micks going forward.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
Yeah, and I'm really looking forward to learning about both
these teams. And we've seen plenty of them. Mean, you
mentioned the Cowboys three game winning streak. We've seen their
defense go from being got awful terrible too.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Hey, actually they're pretty good. They're stopping some.
Speaker 6 (03:36):
Guys, thanks of course to a couple of mid season
trades from Jerry Jones and a couple players getting back
due to positive health reasons. This is probably going to
be the biggest test this Cowboys defense has faced, maybe
all year, or at least since they've gotten back together.
So how do they hold up? How can they stop
the run? Can they stop jamiir gives some big questions too.
(03:57):
And then if these Detroit Lions are going to be
where they were last year in the same position, you
gotta win games like this.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I mean, this is why they play. I cannot wait.
This is as big as Thursday game as we have
seen in some time.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Tons of dramas still to go here. Over the final
month of the regular season, one been of drama over
in Baltimore. Remember all that talk in the off season
about whether or not Mark Andrews would remain a Raven
and there were contract talks, nothing becase of it. Well,
today we got resolution. Mark Andrews will not be a
free agent. In March, the team and Andrews agreed to
terms on a three year, thirty nine point three million
(04:33):
dollar contract extension that includes twenty six million dollars guaranteed.
According to our friend Mike Garrafullo, the franchisees all time
leading receiver was slated to be a free agent. Instead,
he is sticking in Baltimore on a deal done by
his agent, Justin Schulman of Athletes. First Chargers quarterback Justin
Herbert told reporters he's playing to play on Monday night
(04:53):
against the Eagles, exactly one week after having surgery to
stabilize a fracture in his left hand.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Herbert spoke to reporters just a little.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Bit ago, said that he had a plate and screws
put into the hand. He didn't practice today, has not
even yet tried to grip a ball. They're still waiting
for the swelling to go down in that hand. That's
going to be the key. Does this swelling come out enough.
If so, Herbert will be out there on Monday night. Meanwhile,
the Browns open quarterback to Sean Watson's twenty one day
(05:22):
practice window today the return from injured reserve as Watson
attempts to return from two achilles stairs. Kevin Stefanski down
playing the return to gameplay piece and the focus right
now ian is on getting back to individual drills. But
the question remains, there's five games left. Is there a
chance in we see Deshaun Watson in game action in
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
First of all, no one has ruled that out right,
I mean, that question has been asked plenty of times.
Kevin Stefanski kind of danced around it today focused his
attention on the field, and really that's what this is
about for Deshaun Watson.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
He's coming off in achilles tear.
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Everyone else has gone through preseason training camp, all these practices,
he has not. He's probably gonna get I don't know,
maybe nine or ten practices before his twenty one day
window laps. So the most important thing get him out
in the field and see what happens. It is, no
doubt a jumbled quarterback picture for the Cleveland Browns now
and into the future. This is a reminder that Deshaun
(06:17):
Watson does in some way figure into that whether.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
He's playing for the Browns or not.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
Next year, he is expected to play football, so the
fact that he is back from an Achilles' tear is
an excellent thing for him and a fascinating thing for
the Cleveland Browns now and in the future. Meanwhile, we
had some good news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today,
another practice window open.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well run the subject to practice windows.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Mike Evans coming back from a fractured collarbone, and Jalen McMillan,
one veteran receiver one rising starverar receiver. Both of these
guys had their practice window open. My understanding, Mike Evans
probably back in the field quicker than McMillan. McMillan dealing
with three fractured verbs in his next is not practice
at all this season, so we'll see Judy when he
(07:03):
is able to play.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
But this is big news for a Bucks offense finally
getting healthy.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Here's some interesting news for the Steelers defense. T J.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Watt popped up on the Steelers injury report today, set
out practice with a toe injury that was a bit
of a surprise.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
No ailments have been mentioned.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
He does sometimes take a veteran say off linebacker Patrick
Queen misspractice with a glut injury.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
That was expected.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Mike Tomlin has made it sound like Queen is likely
to play against the Ravens, and finally, Iron Rodgers again
did not practice with the fracture grizz, that too was expected.
He is expected to play against the Ravens and probably
practice later on in.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
The week going to the other side of this shape
and battle. The Eagles.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Offensive coordinator Kevin Patulo talked to reporters today about the
struggling offense. He talked about miscomm make communication issues between players,
the playbook as well as the play caller, and days
after his house was agged after the loss to the
Bears on Black Friday, he talked about Eagles fans too.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
You know, unfortunately it happened. I've been here for five
years now and it's been awesome. I mean, this is
such a unique place to coach and play. It's very special.
We've been to two NFC Championship games, We've won a
link in Financial Super Bowl. The parade is just it's
an amazing atmosphere to be a coach and a player.
And as coaches and players, we all know that part
(08:20):
of our job is to handle criticism and so It's
perfectly acceptable to sit up here and talk about what's
going on, how to fix it, what we're going to
do going forward, and we know that, but when it
involves your family obviously crosses the line.
Speaker 8 (08:34):
We got some.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Drama in the NFC North right now, take a look
at these standings, jam packed tight up at the top,
and what.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Do you know of those two teams?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
One of the great rivalries in the entire sport, the
Bears and Packers meet on Sunday. As we welcome in
our Stacey Dales and Brian Baldinger to the conversation.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
This is a good one, Stacey.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
With a Bears team that really has searched, i think
any reasonable expectations where they were going to take steps
forward with Ben Johnson. Caleb Williams who takes steps forward
with Ben Johnson. Right now, it seems like that entire
process has been accelerated.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
What are you seeing in hearing right now?
Speaker 9 (09:12):
Well, they've won nine of their last ten football games,
the Chicago Bears, and it's in large part because Caleb
Williams calm down, everybody is managing the game, and he's
executing the offense exactly like Ben Johnson wants even though
he is the lowest completion percentage in the National Football League.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
And yes, the Bears want it to be better.
Speaker 9 (09:32):
They would like the passing game to surge, they would
love it to pop, and they would love to see
more efficiency. Certainly Caleb Williams would as well. However, they've
got the second best rushing offense in the National Football
League and as Ben Johnson said this week, I couldn't
be more pleased with how Caleb played last week. He's
done a good job managing the game, which is the
(09:52):
number one priority for the quarterback. He also heats up
and lights up when the moments are big, as we've
seen in the fourth quarter of this season. Kyle Mnungui,
who who we can argue has been the best rookie
rusher in the National Football League this season, told me
this week and clutch moments, whatever the case may be,
we know eighteen is going to show up and Williams,
Guys Baldy and Tom He's got the attention of the opposition.
(10:15):
Matt Lafleur with these Packers couldn't have been more effusive
in his praise, talking about his escapability, calling him a
magician his speed. We know Caleb has next Gen stats
hit that twenty mile per hour mark on four different
carries Baldy this season. But I mentioned that run game
has certainly helped him. But so as the Bears defense Baldy.
(10:36):
They lead the league in takeaways twenty six and how
about Chicago eighty points second in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
Off of those takeaways, it's been impressive to watch.
Speaker 10 (10:44):
I'm glad you brought that up, Stacy, because I wanted
to do some homework for this segment. So I went
back and watched all seventeen Bear interceptions this year and
it's interesting. Two of them were deflections and they call
it the deflection, but the other ones are all his
own coverage, all zone, and so Jordan Love is going
to see primarily a zone look. And these guys, whether
(11:05):
it's name Sean Wright or Kevin Byen who leads the
league in interceptions with six, or whether it's you know,
a Terrell Edmunds in the middle of the field, these
guys are seeing the flight of the ball.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Now.
Speaker 10 (11:17):
Look, Jordan Love has done a great job of taking
care of the football. He has a zone of an
interception of weeks now, but he's going to see his
zone look. This week up at lambeau Field, and these guys,
especially Yer to free safety, he just has a unique
feel he did last week against the first of knowing
where the ball is going and taking an angle and
(11:38):
having the range to get there. And so they cover
a vast territory in the secondary without a great deal
of pressure, and they have good zone eyes and something
that Jordan Love and the offense that Matt Lafoura is
running that they have to be cognizant of because the takeaways,
Like you mentioned, Stacy has been a big part of
(11:58):
them scoring points this year.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
That offense has had some bumps in the road, a
lot of them injury driven. Losing Tucker Craft was obviously
huge Stacy. But when you look at the stats right now,
this is arguably the best football that Jordan Love has played.
Speaker 9 (12:12):
Yeah, I think they would tell you Tom out of
Green Bay. This is the best he is playing in
this surge here for these Packers, and we saw it
manifest last week on Thanksgiving he had a tying career
high day with those four passing touchdowns. Christian Watson has
been spectacular, by the way, replacing some of that production
of Tucker Craft.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
But when you talk about the Packers.
Speaker 9 (12:33):
What's interesting is they got seven giveaways that is number
one in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
So this turnover battle.
Speaker 9 (12:38):
Is going to be fascinating to watch, including the chess
match with these coaches back and forth.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Matt Lafleur, though.
Speaker 9 (12:45):
Has been very pleased with Jordan Love, not only his
throwing rhythm, but his timing in his progressions with his receivers,
that decision making, taking care of the ball. You mentioned
Kevin Byerbaldi. I spoke with him this week. He's got
those six picks. But of Jordan Love, he said, he's
so talented throwing the football, whether he's in the pocket
(13:05):
or out of it. He said, quote, he's probably one
of the best throwers of the football.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Outside the numbers in this league.
Speaker 9 (13:11):
He's been incredibly accurate at every depth of the field,
whether it's out of the backfield, the next face, the
middle of the field, or all the way down the
field in the deepest areas on the football field. Jordan
Love has been really good and he's going to need
to play really well. And this thing is going to
be rocking at Lambeau really cold.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
But who cares. Oldest rivalry in football.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
That is Bronco's linebacker Alex Singleton leading the Broncos out
of the tunnel onto the Sunday night before they face
the Commander is a game that they want in rather
dramatic fashion.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
I bet that run out.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Of the tunnel felt a little bit more special for
Alex than maybe any other runout has. And you know what,
lucky us here at the Insiders, we get to ask
Alex about that because he is joining the Insiders.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
That's the en rapport. I am gd Batista.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Alex.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
First of all, thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
It is so great to see you get ran out
of the tunnel three weeks after having surgery for a
testicular cancer discovered in a routine drug test.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
How are you feeling and how did that run out
of the tunnel field?
Speaker 11 (14:18):
Yeah, first, thanks for having me in. Yeah, I feel great.
Body is felt really good. You know, getting back into
it last week was a lot. And yeah, the running
out was special and meant a lot just to be
with the guys again, you know, with what had gone
on for the three weeks, to just kind of let
that all go and finally get to play football again,
it's just a really special.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
So I was looking at the timeline of this, and
it's a really amazing, amazing story. So you failed the
drug test, not really, but sort of failed the drug test,
learn you have testicular cancer, play in a game, and
then go have surgery. Like why was it so important
for you to play in a game rather than say,
you know what, I'm just going to deal with this
right now and be done.
Speaker 11 (15:00):
Yeah, Well surgery was scheduled for that Friday, no matter what.
So our schedule just kind of worked out really good that,
Like we were playing Sunday, I would have missed that
that week, but because Thursday night were playing the Raiders,
and it was it was really my decision to want
to play if we didn't really know what else was
going on in my body.
Speaker 12 (15:17):
So if if this was going to be the last.
Speaker 11 (15:20):
Time I ever played football, you know, I wanted it
to be on my own terms, not just finding out
on Monday that you know, I might you.
Speaker 12 (15:25):
Know, have cancer and you know a lot of treatments
coming up.
Speaker 11 (15:28):
So I really wanted to, you know, leave if I
had to leave the game on my own terms.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Have you even had a chance to process everything that's
happened in three weeks, I cancer diagnosis, surgery, you come back,
like you said, not knowing what's going to happen, and
then by the way, you have a great performance against
the Commanders.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Have you can you wrap your head around all.
Speaker 13 (15:47):
Of this yet?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
No?
Speaker 11 (15:49):
And I think that's the blessing of football is that
I've gotten to just focus on football. I got to,
you know, obviously the Thursday nine game focus on Thursday,
and then the next week was surgery, but then it
was helping.
Speaker 12 (16:02):
Coaching the guys that were going to play that week.
Then it was the bye week.
Speaker 11 (16:05):
Just getting back into shape, running again, and then the
Commander's week was getting back into it. I still, you know,
everything is still emotional through it. Even after the game
against the Commanders. The first thing all those guys to know,
guys I didn't know if the team was just plumped
me and tell me I had been thinking.
Speaker 12 (16:20):
About me and praying for me.
Speaker 11 (16:21):
And that's what just you know, made it so special,
and just I learned so much more, how much bigger it.
You know, everyone's health is in this link than just
you know, playing football.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Well, that's kind of what I was going to ask,
because you know, there are different ways to handle this, right,
Like you could have said, I have a personal issue
and I have to miss a game, and that's that.
I mean, I'm I'm the son of an oncologist. I've
been hearing these stories for a long time, and everyone
deals with it very differently. You chose to there was
a celebration on field, which I'm thankful you did not
(16:53):
get fined for it, to sort of celebrate your prognosis.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
You have on here talking about it. Why did you
choose to be so openly?
Speaker 11 (17:01):
Yeah, I think initially it was, you know, football, our
injuries are known to people, and so when I first
found out about it, you know, it was something I
wasn't afraid to talk about. And then I just learned
so much about how early detection finding things.
Speaker 12 (17:17):
Out, and how afraid I was the doctor, and how
it made me feel. Man, I know that everybody.
Speaker 11 (17:21):
Else feels that exact same way, but you know, in
this country and this world, and so to not be
afraid to be able to just say, hey, you know,
I had cancer.
Speaker 12 (17:29):
You know I got the I got the check up,
found out I had cancer.
Speaker 11 (17:32):
And so to just tell men that it's okay to
do that and feel okay, and if I have to
start that conversation onces do that because it is so important.
Speaker 12 (17:42):
You know, I can attest that, you know, with everything
going in the right direction, it really has been.
Speaker 11 (17:47):
A three week process for me, and you know, hopefully
nothing more than that besides just kind of maintenance and
checkups and with early detection, it was able to save
my life and be able to you know, get me
back to a regular life. And so anyone, you know,
whether you just have kids at home you're raising and
you know, a ninety five job, you should be able
to do that the rest of your life, to take
care of your family, because that's the most important thing
in the world. And so if a checkout can do that,
(18:10):
you know, and me going through this and just talking
about it gives awareness to that, I'm more than that.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
A right.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
One football question before we let you go is we
said you had a great game against the Commanders. You're
leading the team and tackles it to top five defense.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
What is working for you?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
What's working for the Denver Broncos defense right now?
Speaker 12 (18:31):
Yeah, I think it's just guys that are flying together.
Speaker 11 (18:34):
I truly love each other, you know, I think you know,
we've really I would say, Denver, it's been that way
for a long time, and you know, now it's just
a full team, team game every single week, and so
you know, I would say the rusher is all rushing together.
Speaker 12 (18:47):
I think we have, you know, five.
Speaker 11 (18:48):
Individuals who individually on any team could be the best
pass rusher in the league, and they all rush together.
I think the back ends the same way. You know,
we all have Tan's the best defensive back in the NFL.
Speaker 12 (18:58):
We have two of the best safeties in the NFL.
Speaker 11 (19:00):
I think Riley Moss has stud and overlooked J Mack
is the best, one of the best nickles in the league,
if not the best. I think Drake green Law is
the best backer in the league. So we have so
much around us. I just feel lucky to be one
of the eleven guys to get to be surrounded by
these guys.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Alex, thank you so much for taking the time to
join us. It is great to see you. Good luck
the rest of the way, good health the rest of
the way.
Speaker 12 (19:23):
Yeah, thank you, guys, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
The Broncos have some room to breathe in the AFC West.
The Colts breathing room has vanished now eight and four.
The Jaguars based on tiebreakers a top that division. The
Texans after a big win in Indianapolis, now just one
game back as we welcome back our Brian Baltnere, welcome
in our Bucky Brooks Baldy. I was at that Colts
(19:49):
game against the Texans on Sunday, and it's impressive watching
Houston's defense from AFAR catching up with Matt Burke. They've
got obviously some freakish dudes up front, but they're also
making things really tough offenses.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
You broke them down, what do you see?
Speaker 10 (20:02):
Well, you can look at the stats and say, yeah,
they're the best defensive football and then you can do
what you just did. Just watch them play. Watch everybody tackle,
watch their style, Watch how aggressive they are they are.
They literally choke you out. They stopped Jonathan Taylor last week.
You know, when I break them down, they're interesting because
they're a four man front, a single high safety. They
(20:25):
really concentrate on building a box, building an eight man
front to be able to really limit the running lanes
right here, and you see this right here, like on
this play right here, they don't give Jonathan Taylor anywhere
to go. And if you look at who makes the
first contact. It's the corner Kamari laughter or number four
over you, Like he's the force. Right here, Will Anderson
(20:47):
is going to take on the block. They're gonna squeeze it,
choke it, shrink the running lanes right here and give
Jonathan Taylor very.
Speaker 12 (20:53):
Little places to go.
Speaker 10 (20:55):
But you can see them constantly how they build the
box like covered with Bullock and Miles Brian. Now Brian
and the sting are going to cheat up right here.
They see the trap coming, they squeeze it. Will Anderson
is right there. So once they get you into passing situation,
this is where Will Anderson and Daniel Hunter can take over,
(21:16):
Like their ability to collapse the pocket consistently and really
give the quarterback no room to operate like they do
right here, and Sheldon Rankins gets the sack, but really
it's a group effort.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And then the way is playing they're isolating him. Now
this is excellent.
Speaker 10 (21:32):
They cover up both guards right here, and they give
Will Anderson a one on one with the center. Nobody
wants to see it, Like this guy's power is unique
and the way that he plays the game, the energy
level that he plays the game with, I reel. I
feel like everybody feeds off of Will Anderson right now,
and that combination of Will Anderson Daniel Hunter over twenty
(21:54):
one stacks between the two of them. But it's far
more than that, Tom, It's it's group tackling. They tack
the line of scrimmage and they really kind of choke
you out and they limit the opportunities. And that's why
they've given up the fewest points in the NFL right now.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
And Texas have an opportunity this week to go after
the Chiefs team that knocked them out of the playoffs
last year. Meanwhile, the Colts head to Jacksonville bucket and
take on a Jacksonville team that seems like on both
sides of the football. After a little bit of a
rocky stretch there in mid season, they're head of the
right direction again.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
They absolutely headed in the right direction.
Speaker 14 (22:28):
And it coincides with Liam Coin encouraging the quarterback, Trevor
Lawrence to let it rip. And you've seen since those
three weeks when Liam made that suggestion, Trevor has led
it rip. Now people are talking about the four turnovers
against Arizona, but what I can tell you from my
vantage point on the sideline Trevor is playing with more decisiveness,
more fearlessness, and that is leading to more anticipate terry
(22:50):
throws in the middle of the field. And the reason
why that matter is because most of the teams in
this division play zone covers. They want to play vision
and break, and so to be a quarter back to
throw against that type of defense, you got to let
it go early and throw your guys open. But it
takes a level of trust and some courage to do
it before you receive comes open. Trevor Lawrence is doing that,
(23:12):
and with the defense beginning to play like they play early,
the Jaguars are beginning to play their best football heading
down the Strets.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Thank you, Bucky and Baldy. Now let's talk Bill's and
Bengals with our guy.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
It's gonna beat Camera Wolf, though, is going to be here.
He's gonna have that game. It is a big one.
The Bengals floating right there.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
A couple games back now in the AFC North, the
Bill's seem to be going in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Who's got the edge?
Speaker 1 (23:37):
And how Cam Wolf with us to break it down?
Next on The Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
A couple weeks ago this was just a regular old game.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
And then that guy on the right, depending on where
you're looking at it, Joe Burrow decided to come back,
and now it is officially a showdown Bills Bengals.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
It is going to be a fun one.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
And the guy right there, Ic campbellf was going to
be live and in person watching the game, talking about
it beforehand in NFL Network. It is going to be
lots of fun and no doubt, look forward to the
insight that you're going to bring us from there.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Cam. We'll start with this.
Speaker 6 (24:24):
It has been I think it's fair to say a
little up and down season for the Bills pass catchers,
whether it be receivers or tight ends. What kind of
role were they gonna play in Sunday's game?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Yeah, huge role.
Speaker 13 (24:36):
The Bills need their playmakers to step up and the
calvary is not coming. They're gonna need their recently drafted
young players, Keon Coleman and Dalton Ga Kate. And let's
start with Coleman because it's been a rocky last month
for Coleman. He was benched after being late from a
Friday morning meeting and a Saturday night meeting, and he
was honestly humbled by the moment. From what I understand,
(24:58):
he had some deep conversations with Tony Gonzalez and Richard
Sherman and Tracy McGrady and trying to correct this thing.
You know, he has some trouble sleeping, but he's got
to get up.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
He's got to get it right.
Speaker 13 (25:09):
And he got a little bit of a bounce back
in the touchdown last week. But it was so interesting
because the Bills could have released him, they could have
moved forward from him and said, hey, that he's young,
he's maybe immature, but they've committed to him because they
know they need him. And I know talking to people
around the building, he has come back with a different
level of energy. They're going to need him to play
well in this game and going forward. Dalton k Kay's
(25:31):
the other guy. His thing has been injuries. He has
been in a situation where hamstring and knee injuried the
last month have limited him in action. It sounds like
he is trending towards potentially playing on Sunday, and he
would get a huge boost playing a team and the
Bengals that's really struggled to cover the tight ends. Josh
Allen has struggled in recent weeks because he needs that
playmaker to take.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Pressure off of him.
Speaker 13 (25:52):
The Bills are hopeful that Kean, Coban and Dalton and
Kate can still be that guy.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
And Ian you mentioned the intensity around this.
Speaker 13 (26:00):
Joe Burrow's return has incited something in this Bengals team.
I talked to Chase Brown this week. He said, Joe
Burrow changes everything for us. The protections, the checks up
front and inside the locker room. We're talking playoffs, we're
talking winning down. We're not afraid to look at this
in the situation and say, hey, last year we're in
the same hole.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Let's dig ourselves out of it.
Speaker 13 (26:21):
I talked to DJ Turner, their star Corn on the
other end, and he said, Joe Burrow doesn't have to
say anything to us him coming back early the way
he is from that toe injury when there wasn't much
quote unquote to play for. We need to play our
livelihoods out for him, and we expect to play with
that level intensity. And look, I can't wait. Joe Burrow,
Josh Allen, forget about the records. They're going to play
(26:42):
their hearts out and I think both teams are playing
as this. If this is a must win game, it's
going to be cold, and we're gonna have some elite
quarterbacks throwing the ball around.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
Tell you what must watch game. I'll be watching, He'll
be watching. I can't out wait for this one. Cam
great inside his owes. Don't go anywhere more from you
coming up, but thank you very much and great stuff, Judy,
take it away.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Look at some of those records in the AFC, shall
we This is the playoff picture right now. You might
see some teams near the bottom. You might see some
teams that are not on that list at all. Let's
bring back our Bucky Brooks to break it all down
for US. Okay, hockey, you saw that list. That's the
playoff picture as it stands right now. Certainly some traditional
(27:27):
powers right on the edge, some all the way off
the edge.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
How do you think this shakes out of the end?
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Yeah, Judy.
Speaker 14 (27:35):
I think it's important to note that it's probably going
to take ten wins to be able to get into
the postseason. So that's going to make it very challenging
for some of these teams that are on the fringes
to get in. And when I think about the three
teams that could be out. I'm gonna go with the
kan City Chiefs, the Indianapolis Goals, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
First, let's talk about the Coast.
Speaker 14 (27:52):
The Coast in a difficult position because they're playing with
the Houston Texts and the Jaguars that are bawling out
of control. I just don't know if they can outplayed
them down the stretch. The Baltimore Ravens have a tough schedule. Yes,
they played at Pittsburgh still twice, but he also have
another tough slate of games. I don't see them going.
And then finally, when I think about the Kansas City Chiefs,
they've already lost the tie breakers to all of the
(28:13):
teams at the bottom. They have a tough slate, so
unless they run the table, they're not getting in. I
just don't see him doing it. So those teams are out,
the other ones are in.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Time Now to Marcus, my words are even better, Marcus,
his words, Our guy Marcus scraped back with his weekly
Fantasy sleepers.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Let's start out with the deep sleeper. Marcus, who you
got a quarterback? Let's go Tyler Shuck at quarterback?
Speaker 15 (28:38):
Right. It definitely is a deep sleeper sort of situation.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
But he has come in.
Speaker 15 (28:41):
He's been definitely more aggressive going downfield than what we
saw from Spencer Rattler earlier in the season, averaging over
seventeen Or has a quored over seventeen fantasy points in
two of his last three games, averaging about nine and
a half air yards per attempt in one of the
league's most past heavy offenses. Now, some of that is
buying necessity because the Saints have struggled running the football,
but it's good matchup. The Bucks have been a top
(29:01):
five matchup for quarterbacks this season most fantasy points per
game allowed to qbs over the last four weeks.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Running back wise, Marcus, who do you like in that backfield?
Speaker 15 (29:12):
Got a couple here. One Aaron Jones, And it's been
sort of a forgettable season for Jones. He had the injury.
He's been sort of inefficient running the football, but part
of it is that he has seen a lot of
traffic inside the box. Third lowest percentage of light boxes
faced so far this season for Aaron Jones. And it's
a good matchup against the Washington Commanders because they are
not loading the box very often. In fact, fifty seven
(29:34):
percent time of the time, they've had the light box,
third highest ratio in the league. Plus, with the Vikings
trying to hide their quarterback situation a little bit, maybe
they lean more on the running game and then a
little bit of a deeper sleeper. But it's Blake Korum
with the Los Angeles Rams who's really maintained a pretty
steady role in that offense alongside Kyron Williams. Since Week
seven thirty three percent snapshare, which doesn't wow you, but
(29:57):
forty percent of the rushing attempts, fifty percent of the
rushing atis inside the five yard line, So he's getting
those high leverage opportunities. With the Rams offense being as
potent as it has been, that means he's gonna get
a shot at a touchdown at some point during the ballgame.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Tight End wise, Marcus, I was looking at it today.
You got a whole bunch of guys. We're all basically
projected to score about five points this week.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Who is somebody might be able to exceed that? If
I need a tight end, let's try Isaiah Likely.
Speaker 15 (30:23):
And like a lot of things in the Ravens offense,
it's been a little bit inconsistent with Likely but what
we do like is the matchup against this Pittsburgh Steelers defense.
There they struggled against the tight end position, a top
six matchup for tight ends and giving up the second
most yards after the catch to the position. So Lamar
Jackson can just get his big athletic tight end out
(30:43):
in space. I think there's really room for Isaiah Likely
to rumble and if he gets in the end zone,
then that already gets you pass that five point projection.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Remember those who like to stream their defenses, even with
the playoffs coming up.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Who the defense you like this week?
Speaker 8 (30:56):
Marcus?
Speaker 15 (30:57):
I know this sounds a little bit sideways, but the
Washington command they have been a defense that we have sort.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Of picked on in fantasy. This is a week that.
Speaker 15 (31:04):
They might get to pick back a little bit. This
is less about the Commanders and more about the Minnesota
Vikings at this point. The Vikings thirteen giveaways in their
last four games, twenty sacks allowed since Week eight. It
hasn't mattered who the quarterback is. If it's been McCarthy
or Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer, they're just giving the
ball away.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
They're giving up a lot of sacks.
Speaker 15 (31:22):
So there's a chance for the Commanders to actually put
up a pretty decent number if you want in fantasy
this week. By the way, as you mentioned, the playoffs
are coming, and so here's the guys that maybe you
want to stash for your fantasy playoff roster. Jacoby Brissett,
who is still available in way too many leagues and
is playing really well for fantasy managers. Trevor Lawrence is
out there.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
If you're looking at running backs.
Speaker 15 (31:42):
Maybe a couple of guys were sort of handcuff options
with standalone value, Brian Robinson and Ali Gordon. Jayden Higgins
getting more looks in Houston Wondale. Robinson's been a nice
consistent piece for the Giants. Been a couple of tight ends.
Briton Strange getting some love down there in Jacksonville. They'ren
Waller Tom not a lot of targets, but it seems
like when they get into the end zone, they're looking
for their big in the painted area.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
A big time milestone hit by Tully two y Poulo
two last week ten sacks with two coming in Sunday's game.
Always important. Getting into double digits, one of just nine
players league wide to have it and the first of
those guys to come on with us right now on
the Insiders with me, Tom Pellicero as well as Bridge
(32:25):
of Condon Touley. Congratsman on a fantastic portion of the
season so far, to be getting the sacks, to be
winning games, you're in a playoff chase. Just tell me
about life for you right now in that Chargers team.
Speaker 16 (32:41):
It's been fun. You know, a lot of guys joke
around a lot about contacts or whatever. Man, but I
kind of feel like I just there's a lot more
out there to get, not not only just stacks, but
wins and all that stuff.
Speaker 8 (32:54):
So I'm just looking for the rest of the season.
Speaker 17 (32:57):
It's your third season with the team. You we just
said at ten sacks leading the Chargers in terms of sacks.
But everyone I've talked to about you says that you've
really come out of your shell off the field.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
What do you credit that to?
Speaker 8 (33:12):
Uh, just just the locker room. I credited at the
locker room for sure.
Speaker 16 (33:15):
Everybody's easy, easy going, It's easy to talk to everybody,
and that's that's something that that resonates with me, Like
that's something I need because like if it weren't for them,
I probably just stayed by my locker room.
Speaker 8 (33:25):
We'll talk to nobody. But yeah, I appreciate my guys.
Man love Auto.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Being in year three now.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
I mean, you've you've got a lot of games under
your belt, but you you've got guys in the room
like Khalil Mack who has done it for so long
at such a high level. What if anything do you
still just on a daily basis try to pick up
from being around him, talking to him and watching him
on the field.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
Man, it's everything, Like like early on there was a lot.
Speaker 16 (33:54):
Of technique stuff, there's a lot of there's a lot
of on the field stuff, but like now like it's
getting it's getting more so like film, Like how he
watches film like.
Speaker 8 (34:02):
It's it's it's it's very it's very detailed.
Speaker 16 (34:05):
And I does sometimes try to like get from him
and try to learn from him, and uh, just so
we have conversations learning meetings. You know, it's not only
him talking throughout the meeting and stuff, and I can
actually bring something up that I see as well. And
uh yeah, I think the biggest thing right now is
like just watching film and just learning about the other team.
Speaker 17 (34:23):
This defense has looked more physical, more connected, over the
last few games.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
What do you think has changed?
Speaker 17 (34:28):
What are you doing differently now than maybe in the
beginning of the season.
Speaker 16 (34:34):
Man, I think I think, uh, specifically this last game,
I think I think it was more so the bye week.
Speaker 8 (34:39):
I think the Bibwie did us did us great.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Man.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
The bye week hit us at the perfect time of
the season where we get we we got to reflect
on the first ten games and and just see what
we got to get better at.
Speaker 16 (34:50):
And I feel like the run game something that we
we want to be even more dominant at.
Speaker 8 (34:54):
And that's something we're trying to trying to get to.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
You've watched over your few seasons in the league. Here
your quarterback Justin Herbert playthrough. I don't know how many
different injuries he had the high ankle where he had
like five rolls of tape on it a year or
two back. Here now he's dealing with a broken left hand.
He gets surgery on a Monday. You play the Eagles
next Monday, knowing his history, Like, is there any question
in your mind QB one will be on the field
(35:21):
Monday night?
Speaker 8 (35:24):
Oh? Man, I don't know.
Speaker 16 (35:25):
That's something for coach Harbaugh and justin answer, But I
want to be stocked.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
Man.
Speaker 16 (35:30):
He's a dog, he's a different human being, and I
want to be surprised if he's not out there next week.
Speaker 17 (35:35):
You grew up just down the street from where we
are now in Los Angeles. You went to college at USC.
Now you're back playing with the Chargers. You get to
do so primetime Monday night under the lights against the
Eagles who just won a Super Bowl. What is it
like for you when you put it all in perspective
and have the opportunity to live out those moments.
Speaker 16 (35:57):
I think, I think being hometown and then just playing here,
I feel like I've got like a big big I
got a big support system. I feel like a lot
of people support me and I want the best for me.
And it's been great. You know, everywhere I go around here,
somebody saying something to me about like something in high
(36:19):
school or something in college. And even my teammates too,
like my teammates going on to the restaurants and run
into my maths teacher for middle school, or or or.
Speaker 8 (36:28):
Just some of my old friends.
Speaker 12 (36:29):
Man.
Speaker 8 (36:30):
And it's crazy, man, just being here. But I just
want to represent, you know.
Speaker 16 (36:33):
Represent my culture, the Tonguy culture, represent Hawthorne, l A
all that stuff, so especially on the big stage like
like this week.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Well, growing up in that market, I know you're a
big Dodgers fan they win the World Series, like every
year you're a Lakers fan, you've gotten to watch them
when it What would it mean to you to help
the Chargers finally hoist that Lombardi.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Trophy and bring it to La.
Speaker 8 (36:58):
Man, it'll be everything I feel like.
Speaker 16 (37:02):
I feel like the excitement I get from watching a
Dodge winning World Series. I thought my sign it would
be the dem sorry you mean, I'll be like, it'll
be very similar, very the same of how hype it Man?
After that Dodge game, I was hype so I felt
I went in the super Bowl, it would be something
close to that or even.
Speaker 8 (37:19):
More hopefully even more. Man but uh yeah, that'd be
that'd be great.
Speaker 16 (37:22):
That'd be exciting, but whole for the whole LA community
and San Diego community as well.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Trulee, thank you very much man for coming on. Keep
it rolling, and yeah, come March April. I know the
teammates are joking now, but we'll be breaking it down.
The Insider's your contract EXTENSI We'll leave that to Canada.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
And that's your agents. All right. We appreciate the time, dude.
We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 8 (37:44):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Thank you guys, great stuff, guys.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
Time now for a good coverage presented by Progressive Insurance.
Patriots are riding a ten game win stugar on the way.
But NFL best eleven and two record. New England has
done it about offensive defense. Patriots have scored twenty three
or more points allowed twenty three or fewer points in
each of those ten games, the longest streak in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
One of the big reasons on offense.
Speaker 6 (38:08):
This guy right here, Drake May, the AFC Offensive Player
of the Week, put on an absolute show on Monday.
God rewarded for it. Very cool for Drake May. Now
is what you've been sticking around for. Time for the
Wolf of Ball Street with our buddy Cam, Wolf Cam.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
I'll just start you off. Go tell us what you got.
Speaker 13 (38:31):
Who would have thought the New England Patriots would be
the number one seed with the MVP candidate and Drake
and May not even the Patriots talking to people in
that building, they still think we're not even that good yet.
They still have areas to improve talent wise, but they're
playing really good situationally great special teams. They don't turn
the ball over, and they've got their most important pieces
in Mike Vrabel and Drake May.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
And let's talk.
Speaker 13 (38:52):
About May, that real MVP candidate, although he'll have to
fight Matthew Stafford to hold it off. Pop Douglas, the receiver,
told me May sounds like Josh McDaniels and how he
communicates with us in the game plan. That's been a
huge booze for us offensively and off the field. If
he could catch, he would be a wide receiver. He's
one of the guys. He's funny. We relate to him.
(39:14):
This team is playing with house money and they hope
to continue to play this way down the stretch. Now
let's go to the race that no one is talking about,
playoff wise, the AFC South, where the Coats look like
they were going to run away with it, and now
it is wide open. I talk with two executives from
different teams who said they were concerned about Daniel Jones injury,
(39:36):
and they say, when you watch that offense, they look
limited with him as a runner. They don't look like
they have the same explosiveness, and it opens up the
door for Jacksonville and Houston. Jacksonville has not lost at
home against Indianapolis since twenty fourteen. Quarterback play is going
to decide this conference. Trevor Lawrence, who's been inconsistent this year,
has had some positive sperks in recent weeks, and the
(39:57):
jacksonk they can turn that out of him. One team
everybody is afraid of the Houston Texans with defense.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
If they can get in, they can create some noise.
Speaker 13 (40:05):
And finally, let's go to Cleveland where I was this
past week. Not a team that's gonna be in a
playoff mix, but their quarterback race is something to watch closely.
Shador Sanders is expected to get the rest of the
season if he continues to progress. And I talk to
their GM Andrew Berry. They're coming off a great draft
this year. They're looking ahead to next year what they
can do with those two first round picks, all this
(40:26):
draft capital, and they're going to give Shador a true
chance to maybe convince them that they don't have to
draft a quarterback. It may be an uphill challenge, but
Barry told me they see the playmaker nature in Shador.
He's accurate, he gets the ball out quickly, and he's
improved his drifting.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
These next five games are going.
Speaker 13 (40:43):
To be key for Shador to show any reason why
they shouldn't use those picks on a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
And I cannot wait for all that to play out.
Speaker 10 (40:51):
Cam.
Speaker 6 (40:52):
Thank you very much for hanging out with us. I
appreciate you as always from patriots of the current and future,
hatreots of the past. Bill Belichick and Robert Krapp up
for the NFL Hall of Fame at the same time,
we'll talk about it coming up next.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Contributor finalists for the Pro Fooball Hall of Fame Class
of twenty twenty six unveiled today, and the top two
guys on that list, Judy might have a little bit
of history together.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
They might just remember, it's not a slam dunk that
any of these guys make it. Only a maximum of
three out of those five can make it, and you
could get only one and you got to get eighty
percent of the vote, So that's not a slam.
Speaker 4 (41:48):
Dunk for any of them.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
I think it's probably a slam dunk for Bill Belichick
if anybody.
Speaker 6 (41:54):
I mean, we've deserved Belichick and Crapp being inducted at
the same time tom Right bilt it together.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
They should get inducted to you'll get an inductive and
crafty agent. And then seeing the fallout of that, damn
what
The most played rivalry in NFL history, has not had
many matchups bigger than this. Bears, Packers, Haylou Jordan Our,
Brian Baldinger, and Stacy DALs And join us tonight to
break down Sunday's showdown for first place in the NFC North.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Things also are heating.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Up in the AFC West, where the Broncos on two
game lead over the Chargers, So let's double nip tonight.
Alex Singleton and Touley Twoey Pulo to stop by to
discuss exactly where things stand.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Wells talk to our guy, Marcus.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Grant, who is back with his weekly fantasy sleepers, plus
a couple names you should stash now for potential playoff.
You Slater welcome inside with the Insiders, presented by Progressive
Insurance alongside Ian Rappaport and Judy Battista.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I am Tom Pellacero.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
It is the eve of week fourteen on the NFL calendar,
and we've got some injury updates ahead of a doozy
to kick things off in Detroit. Cowboys wide receiver George
Pickens missed some practice time this week, still dealing with
calf and the issues, but he is officially off the
injury report and will play against the Lions. Cornerback Trayvon Diggs, meanwhile,
(01:23):
working his way back from an ir stint, was ruled
out for the game. Jerry Joneses said earlier in the
week that Diggs would be available, but apparently it will
be at least one more week.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Meanwhile, Lions wide.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Receiver i'm on Ross Saint Brown officially listed as questionable
for the game. Questionable being a borderline miracle based on
how this play looked on Thanksgiving. It is a low
ankle sprain for Saint Brown suffered in that Thanksgiving loss
to the Packers. But Dan Campbell not slamming the door
on Saint Brown playing just yet. This is a huge game.
(01:56):
You need all hands on deck because there are massive
playoff implications in the air tight NFC. Look at that
from the one seed to the seventh seed. You're talking
about a difference of a half game thanks to that tie.
You're going to see a little bit of an eye
trick here. Yes, the Packers, based on percentage points, would
be above the forty nine ers here right now, bottom
(02:17):
lines and all that aside. For a second here, Judy,
you cannot overstate the implications of this game. The Lions
and the Cowboys both trying to get in it, and
the team that does not win is going to have
to fight off being out of it with several weeks
still to go.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Yeah, just look at those teams listed as in the hunt.
They're in the hunt. Neither of these teams is in
the playoff picture. Right now, Let's bring up these percentages.
This is basically when or your season dies if you
lose this game.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Look at this. The Lions with.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
A lost year are down to nineteen.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Percent chance of getting in. This is according to next
Gen Step. The Cowboys were on a three game winning streak.
You feel like they've got so much momentum. With a
lost their chances would only go down to nine percent.
I actually feel like the Cowboys had the momentum here.
These teams feel like they're going in opposite directions. The
Cowboys have won three in a row, and of course,
with the problem that the Eagles are having, you feel
(03:13):
like the Cowboys might actually have a chance to sneak
in there and grab the NFC East. But this is
a monster game for both teams if they want to
be alive in the playoff.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Micks going forward.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
Yeah, and I'm really looking forward to learning about both
these teams. And we've seen plenty of them. Mean, you
mentioned the Cowboys three game winning streak. We've seen their
defense go from being got awful terrible too.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Hey, actually they're pretty good. They're stopping some.
Speaker 6 (03:36):
Guys, thanks of course to a couple of mid season
trades from Jerry Jones and a couple players getting back
due to positive health reasons. This is probably going to
be the biggest test this Cowboys defense has faced, maybe
all year, or at least since they've gotten back together.
So how do they hold up? How can they stop
the run? Can they stop jamiir gives some big questions too.
(03:57):
And then if these Detroit Lions are going to be
where they were last year in the same position, you
gotta win games like this.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I mean, this is why they play. I cannot wait.
This is as big as Thursday game as we have
seen in some time.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Tons of dramas still to go here. Over the final
month of the regular season, one been of drama over
in Baltimore. Remember all that talk in the off season
about whether or not Mark Andrews would remain a Raven
and there were contract talks, nothing becase of it. Well,
today we got resolution. Mark Andrews will not be a
free agent. In March, the team and Andrews agreed to
terms on a three year, thirty nine point three million
(04:33):
dollar contract extension that includes twenty six million dollars guaranteed.
According to our friend Mike Garrafullo, the franchisees all time
leading receiver was slated to be a free agent. Instead,
he is sticking in Baltimore on a deal done by
his agent, Justin Schulman of Athletes. First Chargers quarterback Justin
Herbert told reporters he's playing to play on Monday night
(04:53):
against the Eagles, exactly one week after having surgery to
stabilize a fracture in his left hand.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Herbert spoke to reporters just a little.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Bit ago, said that he had a plate and screws
put into the hand. He didn't practice today, has not
even yet tried to grip a ball. They're still waiting
for the swelling to go down in that hand. That's
going to be the key. Does this swelling come out enough.
If so, Herbert will be out there on Monday night. Meanwhile,
the Browns open quarterback to Sean Watson's twenty one day
(05:22):
practice window today the return from injured reserve as Watson
attempts to return from two achilles stairs. Kevin Stefanski down
playing the return to gameplay piece and the focus right
now ian is on getting back to individual drills. But
the question remains, there's five games left. Is there a
chance in we see Deshaun Watson in game action in
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
First of all, no one has ruled that out right,
I mean, that question has been asked plenty of times.
Kevin Stefanski kind of danced around it today focused his
attention on the field, and really that's what this is
about for Deshaun Watson.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
He's coming off in achilles tear.
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Everyone else has gone through preseason training camp, all these practices,
he has not. He's probably gonna get I don't know,
maybe nine or ten practices before his twenty one day
window laps. So the most important thing get him out
in the field and see what happens. It is, no
doubt a jumbled quarterback picture for the Cleveland Browns now
and into the future. This is a reminder that Deshaun
(06:17):
Watson does in some way figure into that whether.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
He's playing for the Browns or not.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
Next year, he is expected to play football, so the
fact that he is back from an Achilles' tear is
an excellent thing for him and a fascinating thing for
the Cleveland Browns now and in the future. Meanwhile, we
had some good news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today,
another practice window open.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well run the subject to practice windows.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Mike Evans coming back from a fractured collarbone, and Jalen McMillan,
one veteran receiver one rising starverar receiver. Both of these
guys had their practice window open. My understanding, Mike Evans
probably back in the field quicker than McMillan. McMillan dealing
with three fractured verbs in his next is not practice
at all this season, so we'll see Judy when he
(07:03):
is able to play.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
But this is big news for a Bucks offense finally
getting healthy.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Here's some interesting news for the Steelers defense. T J.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Watt popped up on the Steelers injury report today, set
out practice with a toe injury that was a bit
of a surprise.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
No ailments have been mentioned.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
He does sometimes take a veteran say off linebacker Patrick
Queen misspractice with a glut injury.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
That was expected.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Mike Tomlin has made it sound like Queen is likely
to play against the Ravens, and finally, Iron Rodgers again
did not practice with the fracture grizz, that too was expected.
He is expected to play against the Ravens and probably
practice later on in.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
The week going to the other side of this shape
and battle. The Eagles.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Offensive coordinator Kevin Patulo talked to reporters today about the
struggling offense. He talked about miscomm make communication issues between players,
the playbook as well as the play caller, and days
after his house was agged after the loss to the
Bears on Black Friday, he talked about Eagles fans too.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
You know, unfortunately it happened. I've been here for five
years now and it's been awesome. I mean, this is
such a unique place to coach and play. It's very special.
We've been to two NFC Championship games, We've won a
link in Financial Super Bowl. The parade is just it's
an amazing atmosphere to be a coach and a player.
And as coaches and players, we all know that part
(08:20):
of our job is to handle criticism and so It's
perfectly acceptable to sit up here and talk about what's
going on, how to fix it, what we're going to
do going forward, and we know that, but when it
involves your family obviously crosses the line.
Speaker 8 (08:34):
We got some.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Drama in the NFC North right now, take a look
at these standings, jam packed tight up at the top,
and what.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Do you know of those two teams?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
One of the great rivalries in the entire sport, the
Bears and Packers meet on Sunday. As we welcome in
our Stacey Dales and Brian Baldinger to the conversation.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
This is a good one, Stacey.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
With a Bears team that really has searched, i think
any reasonable expectations where they were going to take steps
forward with Ben Johnson. Caleb Williams who takes steps forward
with Ben Johnson. Right now, it seems like that entire
process has been accelerated.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
What are you seeing in hearing right now?
Speaker 9 (09:12):
Well, they've won nine of their last ten football games,
the Chicago Bears, and it's in large part because Caleb
Williams calm down, everybody is managing the game, and he's
executing the offense exactly like Ben Johnson wants even though
he is the lowest completion percentage in the National Football League.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
And yes, the Bears want it to be better.
Speaker 9 (09:32):
They would like the passing game to surge, they would
love it to pop, and they would love to see
more efficiency. Certainly Caleb Williams would as well. However, they've
got the second best rushing offense in the National Football
League and as Ben Johnson said this week, I couldn't
be more pleased with how Caleb played last week. He's
done a good job managing the game, which is the
(09:52):
number one priority for the quarterback. He also heats up
and lights up when the moments are big, as we've
seen in the fourth quarter of this season. Kyle Mnungui,
who who we can argue has been the best rookie
rusher in the National Football League this season, told me
this week and clutch moments, whatever the case may be,
we know eighteen is going to show up and Williams,
Guys Baldy and Tom He's got the attention of the opposition.
(10:15):
Matt Lafleur with these Packers couldn't have been more effusive
in his praise, talking about his escapability, calling him a
magician his speed. We know Caleb has next Gen stats
hit that twenty mile per hour mark on four different
carries Baldy this season. But I mentioned that run game
has certainly helped him. But so as the Bears defense Baldy.
(10:36):
They lead the league in takeaways twenty six and how
about Chicago eighty points second in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
Off of those takeaways, it's been impressive to watch.
Speaker 10 (10:44):
I'm glad you brought that up, Stacy, because I wanted
to do some homework for this segment. So I went
back and watched all seventeen Bear interceptions this year and
it's interesting. Two of them were deflections and they call
it the deflection, but the other ones are all his
own coverage, all zone, and so Jordan Love is going
to see primarily a zone look. And these guys, whether
(11:05):
it's name Sean Wright or Kevin Byen who leads the
league in interceptions with six, or whether it's you know,
a Terrell Edmunds in the middle of the field, these
guys are seeing the flight of the ball.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Now.
Speaker 10 (11:17):
Look, Jordan Love has done a great job of taking
care of the football. He has a zone of an
interception of weeks now, but he's going to see his
zone look. This week up at lambeau Field, and these guys,
especially Yer to free safety, he just has a unique
feel he did last week against the first of knowing
where the ball is going and taking an angle and
(11:38):
having the range to get there. And so they cover
a vast territory in the secondary without a great deal
of pressure, and they have good zone eyes and something
that Jordan Love and the offense that Matt Lafoura is
running that they have to be cognizant of because the takeaways,
Like you mentioned, Stacy has been a big part of
(11:58):
them scoring points this year.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
That offense has had some bumps in the road, a
lot of them injury driven. Losing Tucker Craft was obviously
huge Stacy. But when you look at the stats right now,
this is arguably the best football that Jordan Love has played.
Speaker 9 (12:12):
Yeah, I think they would tell you Tom out of
Green Bay. This is the best he is playing in
this surge here for these Packers, and we saw it
manifest last week on Thanksgiving he had a tying career
high day with those four passing touchdowns. Christian Watson has
been spectacular, by the way, replacing some of that production
of Tucker Craft.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
But when you talk about the Packers.
Speaker 9 (12:33):
What's interesting is they got seven giveaways that is number
one in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
So this turnover battle.
Speaker 9 (12:38):
Is going to be fascinating to watch, including the chess
match with these coaches back and forth.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Matt Lafleur, though.
Speaker 9 (12:45):
Has been very pleased with Jordan Love, not only his
throwing rhythm, but his timing in his progressions with his receivers,
that decision making, taking care of the ball. You mentioned
Kevin Byerbaldi. I spoke with him this week. He's got
those six picks. But of Jordan Love, he said, he's
so talented throwing the football, whether he's in the pocket
(13:05):
or out of it. He said, quote, he's probably one
of the best throwers of the football.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Outside the numbers in this league.
Speaker 9 (13:11):
He's been incredibly accurate at every depth of the field,
whether it's out of the backfield, the next face, the
middle of the field, or all the way down the
field in the deepest areas on the football field. Jordan
Love has been really good and he's going to need
to play really well. And this thing is going to
be rocking at Lambeau really cold.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
But who cares. Oldest rivalry in football.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
That is Bronco's linebacker Alex Singleton leading the Broncos out
of the tunnel onto the Sunday night before they face
the Commander is a game that they want in rather
dramatic fashion.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
I bet that run out.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Of the tunnel felt a little bit more special for
Alex than maybe any other runout has. And you know what,
lucky us here at the Insiders, we get to ask
Alex about that because he is joining the Insiders.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
That's the en rapport. I am gd Batista.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Alex.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
First of all, thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
It is so great to see you get ran out
of the tunnel three weeks after having surgery for a
testicular cancer discovered in a routine drug test.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
How are you feeling and how did that run out
of the tunnel field?
Speaker 11 (14:18):
Yeah, first, thanks for having me in. Yeah, I feel great.
Body is felt really good. You know, getting back into
it last week was a lot. And yeah, the running
out was special and meant a lot just to be
with the guys again, you know, with what had gone
on for the three weeks, to just kind of let
that all go and finally get to play football again,
it's just a really special.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
So I was looking at the timeline of this, and
it's a really amazing, amazing story. So you failed the
drug test, not really, but sort of failed the drug test,
learn you have testicular cancer, play in a game, and
then go have surgery. Like why was it so important
for you to play in a game rather than say,
you know what, I'm just going to deal with this
right now and be done.
Speaker 11 (15:00):
Yeah, Well surgery was scheduled for that Friday, no matter what.
So our schedule just kind of worked out really good that,
Like we were playing Sunday, I would have missed that
that week, but because Thursday night were playing the Raiders,
and it was it was really my decision to want
to play if we didn't really know what else was
going on in my body.
Speaker 12 (15:17):
So if if this was going to be the last.
Speaker 11 (15:20):
Time I ever played football, you know, I wanted it
to be on my own terms, not just finding out
on Monday that you know, I might you.
Speaker 12 (15:25):
Know, have cancer and you know a lot of treatments
coming up.
Speaker 11 (15:28):
So I really wanted to, you know, leave if I
had to leave the game on my own terms.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Have you even had a chance to process everything that's
happened in three weeks, I cancer diagnosis, surgery, you come back,
like you said, not knowing what's going to happen, and
then by the way, you have a great performance against
the Commanders.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Have you can you wrap your head around all.
Speaker 13 (15:47):
Of this yet?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
No?
Speaker 11 (15:49):
And I think that's the blessing of football is that
I've gotten to just focus on football. I got to,
you know, obviously the Thursday nine game focus on Thursday,
and then the next week was surgery, but then it
was helping.
Speaker 12 (16:02):
Coaching the guys that were going to play that week.
Then it was the bye week.
Speaker 11 (16:05):
Just getting back into shape, running again, and then the
Commander's week was getting back into it. I still, you know,
everything is still emotional through it. Even after the game
against the Commanders. The first thing all those guys to know,
guys I didn't know if the team was just plumped
me and tell me I had been thinking.
Speaker 12 (16:20):
About me and praying for me.
Speaker 11 (16:21):
And that's what just you know, made it so special,
and just I learned so much more, how much bigger it.
You know, everyone's health is in this link than just
you know, playing football.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Well, that's kind of what I was going to ask,
because you know, there are different ways to handle this, right,
Like you could have said, I have a personal issue
and I have to miss a game, and that's that.
I mean, I'm I'm the son of an oncologist. I've
been hearing these stories for a long time, and everyone
deals with it very differently. You chose to there was
a celebration on field, which I'm thankful you did not
(16:53):
get fined for it, to sort of celebrate your prognosis.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
You have on here talking about it. Why did you
choose to be so openly?
Speaker 11 (17:01):
Yeah, I think initially it was, you know, football, our
injuries are known to people, and so when I first
found out about it, you know, it was something I
wasn't afraid to talk about. And then I just learned
so much about how early detection finding things.
Speaker 12 (17:17):
Out, and how afraid I was the doctor, and how
it made me feel. Man, I know that everybody.
Speaker 11 (17:21):
Else feels that exact same way, but you know, in
this country and this world, and so to not be
afraid to be able to just say, hey, you know,
I had cancer.
Speaker 12 (17:29):
You know I got the I got the check up,
found out I had cancer.
Speaker 11 (17:32):
And so to just tell men that it's okay to
do that and feel okay, and if I have to
start that conversation onces do that because it is so important.
Speaker 12 (17:42):
You know, I can attest that, you know, with everything
going in the right direction, it really has been.
Speaker 11 (17:47):
A three week process for me, and you know, hopefully
nothing more than that besides just kind of maintenance and
checkups and with early detection, it was able to save
my life and be able to you know, get me
back to a regular life. And so anyone, you know,
whether you just have kids at home you're raising and
you know, a ninety five job, you should be able
to do that the rest of your life, to take
care of your family, because that's the most important thing
in the world. And so if a checkout can do that,
(18:10):
you know, and me going through this and just talking
about it gives awareness to that, I'm more than that.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
A right.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
One football question before we let you go is we
said you had a great game against the Commanders. You're
leading the team and tackles it to top five defense.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
What is working for you?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
What's working for the Denver Broncos defense right now?
Speaker 12 (18:31):
Yeah, I think it's just guys that are flying together.
Speaker 11 (18:34):
I truly love each other, you know, I think you know,
we've really I would say, Denver, it's been that way
for a long time, and you know, now it's just
a full team, team game every single week, and so
you know, I would say the rusher is all rushing together.
Speaker 12 (18:47):
I think we have, you know, five.
Speaker 11 (18:48):
Individuals who individually on any team could be the best
pass rusher in the league, and they all rush together.
I think the back ends the same way. You know,
we all have Tan's the best defensive back in the NFL.
Speaker 12 (18:58):
We have two of the best safeties in the NFL.
Speaker 11 (19:00):
I think Riley Moss has stud and overlooked J Mack
is the best, one of the best nickles in the league,
if not the best. I think Drake green Law is
the best backer in the league. So we have so
much around us. I just feel lucky to be one
of the eleven guys to get to be surrounded by
these guys.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Alex, thank you so much for taking the time to
join us. It is great to see you. Good luck
the rest of the way, good health the rest of
the way.
Speaker 12 (19:23):
Yeah, thank you, guys, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
The Broncos have some room to breathe in the AFC West.
The Colts breathing room has vanished now eight and four.
The Jaguars based on tiebreakers a top that division. The
Texans after a big win in Indianapolis, now just one
game back as we welcome back our Brian Baltnere, welcome
in our Bucky Brooks Baldy. I was at that Colts
(19:49):
game against the Texans on Sunday, and it's impressive watching
Houston's defense from AFAR catching up with Matt Burke. They've
got obviously some freakish dudes up front, but they're also
making things really tough offenses.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
You broke them down, what do you see?
Speaker 10 (20:02):
Well, you can look at the stats and say, yeah,
they're the best defensive football and then you can do
what you just did. Just watch them play. Watch everybody tackle,
watch their style, Watch how aggressive they are they are.
They literally choke you out. They stopped Jonathan Taylor last week.
You know, when I break them down, they're interesting because
they're a four man front, a single high safety. They
(20:25):
really concentrate on building a box, building an eight man
front to be able to really limit the running lanes
right here, and you see this right here, like on
this play right here, they don't give Jonathan Taylor anywhere
to go. And if you look at who makes the
first contact. It's the corner Kamari laughter or number four
over you, Like he's the force. Right here, Will Anderson
(20:47):
is going to take on the block. They're gonna squeeze it,
choke it, shrink the running lanes right here and give
Jonathan Taylor very.
Speaker 12 (20:53):
Little places to go.
Speaker 10 (20:55):
But you can see them constantly how they build the
box like covered with Bullock and Miles Brian. Now Brian
and the sting are going to cheat up right here.
They see the trap coming, they squeeze it. Will Anderson
is right there. So once they get you into passing situation,
this is where Will Anderson and Daniel Hunter can take over,
(21:16):
Like their ability to collapse the pocket consistently and really
give the quarterback no room to operate like they do
right here, and Sheldon Rankins gets the sack, but really
it's a group effort.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And then the way is playing they're isolating him. Now
this is excellent.
Speaker 10 (21:32):
They cover up both guards right here, and they give
Will Anderson a one on one with the center. Nobody
wants to see it, Like this guy's power is unique
and the way that he plays the game, the energy
level that he plays the game with, I reel. I
feel like everybody feeds off of Will Anderson right now,
and that combination of Will Anderson Daniel Hunter over twenty
(21:54):
one stacks between the two of them. But it's far
more than that, Tom, It's it's group tackling. They tack
the line of scrimmage and they really kind of choke
you out and they limit the opportunities. And that's why
they've given up the fewest points in the NFL right now.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
And Texas have an opportunity this week to go after
the Chiefs team that knocked them out of the playoffs
last year. Meanwhile, the Colts head to Jacksonville bucket and
take on a Jacksonville team that seems like on both
sides of the football. After a little bit of a
rocky stretch there in mid season, they're head of the
right direction again.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
They absolutely headed in the right direction.
Speaker 14 (22:28):
And it coincides with Liam Coin encouraging the quarterback, Trevor
Lawrence to let it rip. And you've seen since those
three weeks when Liam made that suggestion, Trevor has led
it rip. Now people are talking about the four turnovers
against Arizona, but what I can tell you from my
vantage point on the sideline Trevor is playing with more decisiveness,
more fearlessness, and that is leading to more anticipate terry
(22:50):
throws in the middle of the field. And the reason
why that matter is because most of the teams in
this division play zone covers. They want to play vision
and break, and so to be a quarter back to
throw against that type of defense, you got to let
it go early and throw your guys open. But it
takes a level of trust and some courage to do
it before you receive comes open. Trevor Lawrence is doing that,
(23:12):
and with the defense beginning to play like they play early,
the Jaguars are beginning to play their best football heading
down the Strets.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Thank you, Bucky and Baldy. Now let's talk Bill's and
Bengals with our guy.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
It's gonna beat Camera Wolf, though, is going to be here.
He's gonna have that game. It is a big one.
The Bengals floating right there.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
A couple games back now in the AFC North, the
Bill's seem to be going in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Who's got the edge?
Speaker 1 (23:37):
And how Cam Wolf with us to break it down?
Next on The Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
A couple weeks ago this was just a regular old game.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
And then that guy on the right, depending on where
you're looking at it, Joe Burrow decided to come back,
and now it is officially a showdown Bills Bengals.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
It is going to be a fun one.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
And the guy right there, Ic campbellf was going to
be live and in person watching the game, talking about
it beforehand in NFL Network. It is going to be
lots of fun and no doubt, look forward to the
insight that you're going to bring us from there.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Cam. We'll start with this.
Speaker 6 (24:24):
It has been I think it's fair to say a
little up and down season for the Bills pass catchers,
whether it be receivers or tight ends. What kind of
role were they gonna play in Sunday's game?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Yeah, huge role.
Speaker 13 (24:36):
The Bills need their playmakers to step up and the
calvary is not coming. They're gonna need their recently drafted
young players, Keon Coleman and Dalton Ga Kate. And let's
start with Coleman because it's been a rocky last month
for Coleman. He was benched after being late from a
Friday morning meeting and a Saturday night meeting, and he
was honestly humbled by the moment. From what I understand,
(24:58):
he had some deep conversations with Tony Gonzalez and Richard
Sherman and Tracy McGrady and trying to correct this thing.
You know, he has some trouble sleeping, but he's got
to get up.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
He's got to get it right.
Speaker 13 (25:09):
And he got a little bit of a bounce back
in the touchdown last week. But it was so interesting
because the Bills could have released him, they could have
moved forward from him and said, hey, that he's young,
he's maybe immature, but they've committed to him because they
know they need him. And I know talking to people
around the building, he has come back with a different
level of energy. They're going to need him to play
well in this game and going forward. Dalton k Kay's
(25:31):
the other guy. His thing has been injuries. He has
been in a situation where hamstring and knee injuried the
last month have limited him in action. It sounds like
he is trending towards potentially playing on Sunday, and he
would get a huge boost playing a team and the
Bengals that's really struggled to cover the tight ends. Josh
Allen has struggled in recent weeks because he needs that
playmaker to take.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Pressure off of him.
Speaker 13 (25:52):
The Bills are hopeful that Kean, Coban and Dalton and
Kate can still be that guy.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
And Ian you mentioned the intensity around this.
Speaker 13 (26:00):
Joe Burrow's return has incited something in this Bengals team.
I talked to Chase Brown this week. He said, Joe
Burrow changes everything for us. The protections, the checks up
front and inside the locker room. We're talking playoffs, we're
talking winning down. We're not afraid to look at this
in the situation and say, hey, last year we're in
the same hole.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Let's dig ourselves out of it.
Speaker 13 (26:21):
I talked to DJ Turner, their star Corn on the
other end, and he said, Joe Burrow doesn't have to
say anything to us him coming back early the way
he is from that toe injury when there wasn't much
quote unquote to play for. We need to play our
livelihoods out for him, and we expect to play with
that level intensity. And look, I can't wait. Joe Burrow,
Josh Allen, forget about the records. They're going to play
(26:42):
their hearts out and I think both teams are playing
as this. If this is a must win game, it's
going to be cold, and we're gonna have some elite
quarterbacks throwing the ball around.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
Tell you what must watch game. I'll be watching, He'll
be watching. I can't out wait for this one. Cam
great inside his owes. Don't go anywhere more from you
coming up, but thank you very much and great stuff, Judy,
take it away.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Look at some of those records in the AFC, shall
we This is the playoff picture right now. You might
see some teams near the bottom. You might see some
teams that are not on that list at all. Let's
bring back our Bucky Brooks to break it all down
for US. Okay, hockey, you saw that list. That's the
playoff picture as it stands right now. Certainly some traditional
(27:27):
powers right on the edge, some all the way off
the edge.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
How do you think this shakes out of the end?
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Yeah, Judy.
Speaker 14 (27:35):
I think it's important to note that it's probably going
to take ten wins to be able to get into
the postseason. So that's going to make it very challenging
for some of these teams that are on the fringes
to get in. And when I think about the three
teams that could be out. I'm gonna go with the
kan City Chiefs, the Indianapolis Goals, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
First, let's talk about the Coast.
Speaker 14 (27:52):
The Coast in a difficult position because they're playing with
the Houston Texts and the Jaguars that are bawling out
of control. I just don't know if they can outplayed
them down the stretch. The Baltimore Ravens have a tough schedule. Yes,
they played at Pittsburgh still twice, but he also have
another tough slate of games. I don't see them going.
And then finally, when I think about the Kansas City Chiefs,
they've already lost the tie breakers to all of the
(28:13):
teams at the bottom. They have a tough slate, so
unless they run the table, they're not getting in. I
just don't see him doing it. So those teams are out,
the other ones are in.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Time Now to Marcus, my words are even better, Marcus,
his words, Our guy Marcus scraped back with his weekly
Fantasy sleepers.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Let's start out with the deep sleeper. Marcus, who you
got a quarterback? Let's go Tyler Shuck at quarterback?
Speaker 15 (28:38):
Right. It definitely is a deep sleeper sort of situation.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
But he has come in.
Speaker 15 (28:41):
He's been definitely more aggressive going downfield than what we
saw from Spencer Rattler earlier in the season, averaging over
seventeen Or has a quored over seventeen fantasy points in
two of his last three games, averaging about nine and
a half air yards per attempt in one of the
league's most past heavy offenses. Now, some of that is
buying necessity because the Saints have struggled running the football,
but it's good matchup. The Bucks have been a top
(29:01):
five matchup for quarterbacks this season most fantasy points per
game allowed to qbs over the last four weeks.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Running back wise, Marcus, who do you like in that backfield?
Speaker 15 (29:12):
Got a couple here. One Aaron Jones, And it's been
sort of a forgettable season for Jones. He had the injury.
He's been sort of inefficient running the football, but part
of it is that he has seen a lot of
traffic inside the box. Third lowest percentage of light boxes
faced so far this season for Aaron Jones. And it's
a good matchup against the Washington Commanders because they are
not loading the box very often. In fact, fifty seven
(29:34):
percent time of the time, they've had the light box,
third highest ratio in the league. Plus, with the Vikings
trying to hide their quarterback situation a little bit, maybe
they lean more on the running game and then a
little bit of a deeper sleeper. But it's Blake Korum
with the Los Angeles Rams who's really maintained a pretty
steady role in that offense alongside Kyron Williams. Since Week
seven thirty three percent snapshare, which doesn't wow you, but
(29:57):
forty percent of the rushing attempts, fifty percent of the
rushing atis inside the five yard line, So he's getting
those high leverage opportunities. With the Rams offense being as
potent as it has been, that means he's gonna get
a shot at a touchdown at some point during the ballgame.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Tight End wise, Marcus, I was looking at it today.
You got a whole bunch of guys. We're all basically
projected to score about five points this week.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Who is somebody might be able to exceed that? If
I need a tight end, let's try Isaiah Likely.
Speaker 15 (30:23):
And like a lot of things in the Ravens offense,
it's been a little bit inconsistent with Likely but what
we do like is the matchup against this Pittsburgh Steelers defense.
There they struggled against the tight end position, a top
six matchup for tight ends and giving up the second
most yards after the catch to the position. So Lamar
Jackson can just get his big athletic tight end out
(30:43):
in space. I think there's really room for Isaiah Likely
to rumble and if he gets in the end zone,
then that already gets you pass that five point projection.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Remember those who like to stream their defenses, even with
the playoffs coming up.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Who the defense you like this week?
Speaker 8 (30:56):
Marcus?
Speaker 15 (30:57):
I know this sounds a little bit sideways, but the
Washington command they have been a defense that we have sort.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Of picked on in fantasy. This is a week that.
Speaker 15 (31:04):
They might get to pick back a little bit. This
is less about the Commanders and more about the Minnesota
Vikings at this point. The Vikings thirteen giveaways in their
last four games, twenty sacks allowed since Week eight. It
hasn't mattered who the quarterback is. If it's been McCarthy
or Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer, they're just giving the
ball away.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
They're giving up a lot of sacks.
Speaker 15 (31:22):
So there's a chance for the Commanders to actually put
up a pretty decent number if you want in fantasy
this week. By the way, as you mentioned, the playoffs
are coming, and so here's the guys that maybe you
want to stash for your fantasy playoff roster. Jacoby Brissett,
who is still available in way too many leagues and
is playing really well for fantasy managers. Trevor Lawrence is
out there.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
If you're looking at running backs.
Speaker 15 (31:42):
Maybe a couple of guys were sort of handcuff options
with standalone value, Brian Robinson and Ali Gordon. Jayden Higgins
getting more looks in Houston Wondale. Robinson's been a nice
consistent piece for the Giants. Been a couple of tight ends.
Briton Strange getting some love down there in Jacksonville. They'ren
Waller Tom not a lot of targets, but it seems
like when they get into the end zone, they're looking
for their big in the painted area.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
A big time milestone hit by Tully two y Poulo
two last week ten sacks with two coming in Sunday's game.
Always important. Getting into double digits, one of just nine
players league wide to have it and the first of
those guys to come on with us right now on
the Insiders with me, Tom Pellicero as well as Bridge
(32:25):
of Condon Touley. Congratsman on a fantastic portion of the
season so far, to be getting the sacks, to be
winning games, you're in a playoff chase. Just tell me
about life for you right now in that Chargers team.
Speaker 16 (32:41):
It's been fun. You know, a lot of guys joke
around a lot about contacts or whatever. Man, but I
kind of feel like I just there's a lot more
out there to get, not not only just stacks, but
wins and all that stuff.
Speaker 8 (32:54):
So I'm just looking for the rest of the season.
Speaker 17 (32:57):
It's your third season with the team. You we just
said at ten sacks leading the Chargers in terms of sacks.
But everyone I've talked to about you says that you've
really come out of your shell off the field.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
What do you credit that to?
Speaker 8 (33:12):
Uh, just just the locker room. I credited at the
locker room for sure.
Speaker 16 (33:15):
Everybody's easy, easy going, It's easy to talk to everybody,
and that's that's something that that resonates with me, Like
that's something I need because like if it weren't for them,
I probably just stayed by my locker room.
Speaker 8 (33:25):
We'll talk to nobody. But yeah, I appreciate my guys.
Man love Auto.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Being in year three now.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
I mean, you've you've got a lot of games under
your belt, but you you've got guys in the room
like Khalil Mack who has done it for so long
at such a high level. What if anything do you
still just on a daily basis try to pick up
from being around him, talking to him and watching him
on the field.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
Man, it's everything, Like like early on there was a lot.
Speaker 16 (33:54):
Of technique stuff, there's a lot of there's a lot
of on the field stuff, but like now like it's
getting it's getting more so like film, Like how he
watches film like.
Speaker 8 (34:02):
It's it's it's it's very it's very detailed.
Speaker 16 (34:05):
And I does sometimes try to like get from him
and try to learn from him, and uh, just so
we have conversations learning meetings. You know, it's not only
him talking throughout the meeting and stuff, and I can
actually bring something up that I see as well. And
uh yeah, I think the biggest thing right now is
like just watching film and just learning about the other team.
Speaker 17 (34:23):
This defense has looked more physical, more connected, over the
last few games.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
What do you think has changed?
Speaker 17 (34:28):
What are you doing differently now than maybe in the
beginning of the season.
Speaker 16 (34:34):
Man, I think I think, uh, specifically this last game,
I think I think it was more so the bye week.
Speaker 8 (34:39):
I think the Bibwie did us did us great.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Man.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
The bye week hit us at the perfect time of
the season where we get we we got to reflect
on the first ten games and and just see what
we got to get better at.
Speaker 16 (34:50):
And I feel like the run game something that we
we want to be even more dominant at.
Speaker 8 (34:54):
And that's something we're trying to trying to get to.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
You've watched over your few seasons in the league. Here
your quarterback Justin Herbert playthrough. I don't know how many
different injuries he had the high ankle where he had
like five rolls of tape on it a year or
two back. Here now he's dealing with a broken left hand.
He gets surgery on a Monday. You play the Eagles
next Monday, knowing his history, Like, is there any question
in your mind QB one will be on the field
(35:21):
Monday night?
Speaker 8 (35:24):
Oh? Man, I don't know.
Speaker 16 (35:25):
That's something for coach Harbaugh and justin answer, But I
want to be stocked.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
Man.
Speaker 16 (35:30):
He's a dog, he's a different human being, and I
want to be surprised if he's not out there next week.
Speaker 17 (35:35):
You grew up just down the street from where we
are now in Los Angeles. You went to college at USC.
Now you're back playing with the Chargers. You get to
do so primetime Monday night under the lights against the
Eagles who just won a Super Bowl. What is it
like for you when you put it all in perspective
and have the opportunity to live out those moments.
Speaker 16 (35:57):
I think, I think being hometown and then just playing here,
I feel like I've got like a big big I
got a big support system. I feel like a lot
of people support me and I want the best for me.
And it's been great. You know, everywhere I go around here,
somebody saying something to me about like something in high
(36:19):
school or something in college. And even my teammates too,
like my teammates going on to the restaurants and run
into my maths teacher for middle school, or or or.
Speaker 8 (36:28):
Just some of my old friends.
Speaker 12 (36:29):
Man.
Speaker 8 (36:30):
And it's crazy, man, just being here. But I just
want to represent, you know.
Speaker 16 (36:33):
Represent my culture, the Tonguy culture, represent Hawthorne, l A
all that stuff, so especially on the big stage like
like this week.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Well, growing up in that market, I know you're a
big Dodgers fan they win the World Series, like every
year you're a Lakers fan, you've gotten to watch them
when it What would it mean to you to help
the Chargers finally hoist that Lombardi.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Trophy and bring it to La.
Speaker 8 (36:58):
Man, it'll be everything I feel like.
Speaker 16 (37:02):
I feel like the excitement I get from watching a
Dodge winning World Series. I thought my sign it would
be the dem sorry you mean, I'll be like, it'll
be very similar, very the same of how hype it Man?
After that Dodge game, I was hype so I felt
I went in the super Bowl, it would be something
close to that or even.
Speaker 8 (37:19):
More hopefully even more. Man but uh yeah, that'd be
that'd be great.
Speaker 16 (37:22):
That'd be exciting, but whole for the whole LA community
and San Diego community as well.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Trulee, thank you very much man for coming on. Keep
it rolling, and yeah, come March April. I know the
teammates are joking now, but we'll be breaking it down.
The Insider's your contract EXTENSI We'll leave that to Canada.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
And that's your agents. All right. We appreciate the time, dude.
We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 8 (37:44):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Thank you guys, great stuff, guys.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
Time now for a good coverage presented by Progressive Insurance.
Patriots are riding a ten game win stugar on the way.
But NFL best eleven and two record. New England has
done it about offensive defense. Patriots have scored twenty three
or more points allowed twenty three or fewer points in
each of those ten games, the longest streak in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
One of the big reasons on offense.
Speaker 6 (38:08):
This guy right here, Drake May, the AFC Offensive Player
of the Week, put on an absolute show on Monday.
God rewarded for it. Very cool for Drake May. Now
is what you've been sticking around for. Time for the
Wolf of Ball Street with our buddy Cam, Wolf Cam.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
I'll just start you off. Go tell us what you got.
Speaker 13 (38:31):
Who would have thought the New England Patriots would be
the number one seed with the MVP candidate and Drake
and May not even the Patriots talking to people in
that building, they still think we're not even that good yet.
They still have areas to improve talent wise, but they're
playing really good situationally great special teams. They don't turn
the ball over, and they've got their most important pieces
in Mike Vrabel and Drake May.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
And let's talk.
Speaker 13 (38:52):
About May, that real MVP candidate, although he'll have to
fight Matthew Stafford to hold it off. Pop Douglas, the receiver,
told me May sounds like Josh McDaniels and how he
communicates with us in the game plan. That's been a
huge booze for us offensively and off the field. If
he could catch, he would be a wide receiver. He's
one of the guys. He's funny. We relate to him.
(39:14):
This team is playing with house money and they hope
to continue to play this way down the stretch. Now
let's go to the race that no one is talking about,
playoff wise, the AFC South, where the Coats look like
they were going to run away with it, and now
it is wide open. I talk with two executives from
different teams who said they were concerned about Daniel Jones injury,
(39:36):
and they say, when you watch that offense, they look
limited with him as a runner. They don't look like
they have the same explosiveness, and it opens up the
door for Jacksonville and Houston. Jacksonville has not lost at
home against Indianapolis since twenty fourteen. Quarterback play is going
to decide this conference. Trevor Lawrence, who's been inconsistent this year,
has had some positive sperks in recent weeks, and the
(39:57):
jacksonk they can turn that out of him. One team
everybody is afraid of the Houston Texans with defense.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
If they can get in, they can create some noise.
Speaker 13 (40:05):
And finally, let's go to Cleveland where I was this
past week. Not a team that's gonna be in a
playoff mix, but their quarterback race is something to watch closely.
Shador Sanders is expected to get the rest of the
season if he continues to progress. And I talk to
their GM Andrew Berry. They're coming off a great draft
this year. They're looking ahead to next year what they
can do with those two first round picks, all this
(40:26):
draft capital, and they're going to give Shador a true
chance to maybe convince them that they don't have to
draft a quarterback. It may be an uphill challenge, but
Barry told me they see the playmaker nature in Shador.
He's accurate, he gets the ball out quickly, and he's
improved his drifting.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
These next five games are going.
Speaker 13 (40:43):
To be key for Shador to show any reason why
they shouldn't use those picks on a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
And I cannot wait for all that to play out.
Speaker 10 (40:51):
Cam.
Speaker 6 (40:52):
Thank you very much for hanging out with us. I
appreciate you as always from patriots of the current and future,
hatreots of the past. Bill Belichick and Robert Krapp up
for the NFL Hall of Fame at the same time,
we'll talk about it coming up next.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Contributor finalists for the Pro Fooball Hall of Fame Class
of twenty twenty six unveiled today, and the top two
guys on that list, Judy might have a little bit
of history together.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
They might just remember, it's not a slam dunk that
any of these guys make it. Only a maximum of
three out of those five can make it, and you
could get only one and you got to get eighty
percent of the vote, So that's not a slam.
Speaker 4 (41:48):
Dunk for any of them.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
I think it's probably a slam dunk for Bill Belichick
if anybody.
Speaker 6 (41:54):
I mean, we've deserved Belichick and Crapp being inducted at
the same time tom Right bilt it together.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
They should get inducted to you'll get an inductive and
crafty agent. And then seeing the fallout of that, damn
what
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com