November 20, 2025 • 44 mins
NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Judy Battista get you set for Week 12, starting with the chance Joe Burrow returns to the lineup after fully participating in practice for the second straight day. Sara Walsh reports on Cincinnati’s matchup against the Patriots. Then Steve Wyche live reports ahead of the TNF Matchup between Bills & Texans. Brian Baldinger breaks down the Bears offense and joins Marc Ross to discuss the Week 12 matchups within the matchups. Bucky Brooks previews Buccaneers-Rams, before joining Marc Ross to break down the playoff probabilities heading into Week 12.
Plus, Michael F. Florio brings his Week 12 fantasy Starts & Sits.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
It is Week twelve in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
It begins tonight Thursday Night Football the Buffalo Bill's the
Houston Texans.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
This didn't go so well for Buffalo last year when
they visited Houston.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hoping for a better result this time, we're going to
talk about this game. Go down to Houston where our
Steve Wisch is standing by AFC playoff bubble teams. Can
you imagine or could you imagine at the beginning of
the season, I'd be saying Lamar Jackson and the Ravens,
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are on the AFC playoff bubble,
Well they are. What are the chances they'll get in?
(00:37):
We'll discuss that later in the program. And our Michael
f Florio with us has always on Thursday to tell
you who to start, who to sit, not just for tonight,
but for the entire weekend in the NFL. For Week twelve,
Welcome Inside with the Insiders, Week.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Twelve Thursday edition.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Getting ready for Thursday Night Football with Judy Batista, Ian Rappaport, myself,
follow and a host of folks including Weiss down there
in Houston and Sarah Walsh will be with us in
just a couple of minutes, got a lot of folks
on the program thing because we have a lot of
news to get to. Joe Burrow, Bengals quarterback, a full
participant once again for the Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, he eventually
(01:17):
did put the jersey on, did take steps from the
starting center, did work with the starting offense for the
time that the media was out there. Is this possibly
trending in the direction of Joe Burrow playing this Sunday?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Zach Taylor, Will this be a situation where Joe might
come into you, Joe Burrow, he might come to you
and say, hey, you know, Coach, I feel like I'm
ready to go.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Oh yeah, yeah, And then that's that's that's my job,
you know, to balance balance all the information and protect
the player and make the best decision possible.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Come on, coach, you can tell us right now Burrow's
playing it. He's playing it.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
No, I wish I could. I wish I had that
decision today, you know, honestly, it's I'm going to take
in all the information I can and make sure it's
the best one for Joe and our team, and we'll
go from there.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Tom Brandman trying to get us the answer is there
only seven hundred wl W Morning show in Cincinnati. Ian
is this like, I know we were talking about maybe Thanksgiving,
which is only a week away, but is this possibly
going to happen here?
Speaker 6 (02:23):
It is possibly going to happen. Joe Burrow being a
full participant today is significant. My understanding yesterday was a
full participant, took all the snaps, took all the QB
one snaps while Joe Flacco was limited, and they wanted
to see how we came back today. In other words,
if is surgically repaired toe and all the ligaments were
supposed to take about three months, but seems to have
taken about two months plus. If they were hurting him,
(02:46):
they would pull back. He would be limited, and you
would say, all right, all right, it's too early.
Speaker 7 (02:50):
That is not the case.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
He was taking snaps from the first team center Ted Carriss.
He was a full participant. Zach Taylor had many, many
opportunities Wednesday and Thursday to say, you know what, it's
crazy for Joe Burrow to be out there. Remember he
didn't name a starter Wednesday, when a lot of people
thought he would. All signs are pointing to Joe Burrow
being the starting quarterback on Sunday. I'm not saying it
(03:12):
is happening yet, but I'm saying, you put all the
pieces together, this is very possible. It takes a pretty
good game to being a really good game, and Joe
Burrow needs to come in and save the season for
the Cincinnati Bengals duty, which is dramatic, it really is.
Speaker 8 (03:28):
Yeah, Well, Zach Taylor said, it's his job to do
what's best. There's not much question what the best thing
will be for the entire Bengals team. It's to have
Joe Burrow on the field. They are three and seven,
They've only won one game since Burrow went down. They
certainly didn't get what they were hoping for from Jake
Browning and Joe Flacco. Their playoff hopes are hanging by
(03:50):
a thread. If they are in third place in the
AFC North and right now, they would be the twelfth
seed in the AFC playoff field. So they've got a
lot of ground to make up. Said that, if you
get Joe Burrow on the field, you can make up
some ground. Even though if he returns this week, he
will not have Jamar Chase, who of course is suspended
for the spitting incident. Still, Joe Burrow certainly gives them
(04:12):
energy and hope and a much better chance of making
up an awful lot of ground in the playoff mix
as we head down the last seven.
Speaker 9 (04:21):
Games of the season.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
This is that legendary meme of the girl trying to
kambooka tea for the first time, where she's like, no,
Jamar Chase, but Joe Burrow back. But they're buried in
the planet. But they could go on a run now, they.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Could like that.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
That's kind of how we feel about the Cincinnati Bengals
right now. But getting Joe Burrow back on the field,
this is not a case of this team saying like,
let's just rest on the rest of the season. If
he can play, he is going to play in that game.
So we shall see what winds up being the case.
Perhaps Zach Taylor will make it official on Friday after
another full practice.
Speaker 10 (04:55):
We'll see.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
But yes, this is the uniform kit that the Bengals
will be wearing on Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Our Sarah Walsh will be there to cover the game
for us, and she is here for us right now. Sarah,
your assignment this week has kind of you know, it's
been like a roller coaster, like, oh, Jimar Chase is
not playing, but Joe Burrow might be back, and they're like, oh,
maybe he want what's the latest on this? As far
(05:17):
as your conversation that you're having on this one, well,
first of.
Speaker 11 (05:21):
All, Mike, I'm glad you pointed that out about assignment
because it just got me moved into this a block
conversation here right as soon as you guys start talking
about that, Joe Burrow is going to be out there.
I spoke with Patriots safety today, Jalen Hawkins, and he
said that they have been dual studying for both Joe's
although it now seems like it is trending towards Joe Burrow.
He said it takes a little extra effort to do that,
(05:41):
but they are prepared now.
Speaker 12 (05:43):
As Ian mentioned, he practiced fully both days.
Speaker 11 (05:46):
His tight end Mike Sicky, is also working his way
back from a week six peck injury, and he said
that Burrow definitely didn't lose his ability to throw the
ball when he got back out on the field.
Speaker 12 (05:56):
This week, you guys mentioned Ted Carris, his center.
Speaker 11 (05:59):
I spoke to karras week and said He is such
a beast right now, the unquestioned leader of this team.
So it's very meaningful to see him out there now.
If you go back to when Joe Burrow first spoke
to the media when they opened that twenty one day
practice window, that was on November tenth, he said he
felt strong. He said, he felt like it doesn't affect
the running, but I'm sorry, not the throwing, but it
was the running, it was the cutting, those twitch emotions
(06:22):
that would be in question depending on how he felt.
I also spoke with their cornerback Dj Turner, and he said,
you can't not look at the work that Burrow is
putting in right now and not be motivated when you
see how badly he wants to get back to his boys.
And of course, when Burrow was asked about that potential
return when he spoke on November tenth, he was asked
(06:42):
how meaningful it would be to come back on Thanksgiving
Day they take on the Ravens. He had a one
word answer to that question, he said very And then
he was asked, is that the date you're targeting, And
that was just a two word answer. We'll see, So
we'll see if there is a return of Joe Burrow
on Sunday. But it feels like Mike g that this
could be happening.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, not bad to have Joe Flacco as you're understudy,
by the way, helping you prepare the entire week as well.
That now we're going to see a lot of those
resources at the quarterback position if and when.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Burrow can get back this week.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Meanwhile, on the Patriots side of things, so many impressive
things to talk about. I remember Ian Rappaport and I
were there in training camp and it was a notion
of like that. Stefan Diggs, he's going to be ready
for Week one. He's been probably better than a lot
of folks could have expected here, perhaps on his way
to another thousand yard season coming off of that ACL
what's been the key for him in New England?
Speaker 11 (07:33):
Yeah, you bring up that thousand yard season, by the way,
the Patriots have not had a receiver hit one thousand
yards since Julian Edelman back in twenty nineteen, and Diggs
definitely has a chance to do that, all the more
impressive coming off that acal injury. Now, he said this week,
part of the reason that he has been so good
is that he said he's studied in a way that
he never has before in terms of recognizing coverages, seeing
(07:56):
the play before it happens. And then of course Mike
g everybody knows that if you're doing really well as
a receiver, it's probably because your quarterback is throwing the
ball pretty well. And so in all this Joe Burrow
talk that is now going to escalate should he come back,
is the guy on the other side of the field who, oh,
by the way, is the front runner for MVP so
far this season.
Speaker 12 (08:14):
And not only does Drake.
Speaker 11 (08:15):
May have a Stefan Diggs who is getting better each
and every game.
Speaker 12 (08:19):
We might see the return of Ramandre Stevenson.
Speaker 11 (08:22):
He has been out and all that has happened in
his absence is that Traveon Henderson has absolutely gone off
five scrimmage touchdowns since Week ten when he took over
as for May, his center, Garrett Bradbury told me, forget
the MVP talk. This is the same guy that he
met back in April when he joined the Patriots, and
he said, May invited him to come live with him.
(08:44):
So that's how they began their relationshipship and their rapport
because when Bradbury was coming over he didn't have similar
to live quarterback says stay with me through OTAs and
he said he is the exact same guy he met
then that he is now despite all the MVP talk,
the Patriots looking to make at nine in a row
for the first time in a decade.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Mike, Okay, Drake, I see you in your second year
already inviting some veteran folks to come live with you.
That is pretty impressive by him, one of many impressive
things that we have seen from Drake. May Yes, Sarah walshere,
assignment has gotten.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That much more important.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
That's why you're on it, and that's why we love
having you here on the Insiders. We appreciate you always.
Elsewhere on the quarterback front, Lamar Jackson returning to practice
after missing Wednesday. Now, that was the pattern last week,
miss Wednesday, back Thursday.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
He had a knee last week. This week it's an ankle.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
If this is sort of the pattern in the rhythm
for his practice weeks the rest of the season, honestly,
I won't be surprised. So I don't sense any concern
about his availability for this week and going forward barring
another injury. But the Raven's trying to play it smart
Ian when it comes to Lamar Jackson, bun.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
Do you have questions Mike about the availability of Joe
Mixon going forward. My understanding is that Joe Mixon, who
has been the non football injury list since before training cap,
is not expected to play during the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
Reality is not like a huge surprise.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
He's been dealing with the foot injury, has not seen
the field, has not started to practice window. But still
significant that Joe Mixon, their starting running back last year,
not expected to be on the field. With that, let's
bring in our good friend Steve Weisch, who is on
the field in Houston. So Joe Mixon not in the field,
Steve actually on the field for a really good one tonight.
(10:31):
Bill's Texans. There you are, Steve, standing on the field
or on the sideline. We also got some news by
the way, Damian Pierce was waived. More Texans running back news.
Steve tell us what it's like set the scene for
us for a big time game tonight.
Speaker 13 (10:45):
That's RDY and I have ten toes down and the
Buffalo Bills they come in here to face the Texans
top ranked defense fresh off of Josh Allen's six touchdown
game against the Buccaneers, and he might have to put
that cape on again today because so much much of
his receiving talent is out. Tight End Dalton k Kid,
Nicole Hardman, Curtis Samuel also out, So you're gonna see
(11:09):
guys that gave Davis and Josh Palmer have to stop
up and let's step up.
Speaker 14 (11:12):
And let's not forget about running back James Cook.
Speaker 13 (11:15):
But I talked to the offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, and
he said, because of their quarterback, Josh Allen, they know
they have a chance. Regardless of how tough this Texans
defense is, they know it's gonna be a slugfest. Because
Allan's running ability and throwing ability and some things they've
got schemed up. They think they're gonna be able to
move the ball. Now, let's flip it over to the
Houston Texas and their quarterback situation because Davis Mills, the backup,
(11:38):
will be making his third consecutive start because CJ.
Speaker 14 (11:41):
Shroud is still out with that concussion.
Speaker 13 (11:43):
Of course, Mills has rallied the Texans to two fourth
quarter victories, and.
Speaker 14 (11:48):
I was speaking to his offensive guard Titus Howard.
Speaker 13 (11:51):
He said, Mills's composure throughout the game really pays off
in the fourth quarter, and we've seen it.
Speaker 14 (11:57):
How about this. It's week ten.
Speaker 13 (11:58):
Only two quarterbacks have thrown two fourth quarter touchdowns and
run for one.
Speaker 14 (12:03):
One is Mills, the other guys is Josh All.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
That's pretty good company. Hey, guess what, Steve, We're going
to see both these guys tonight. Looking forward to it. Thanks,
says always.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
We'll be talking to you soon, Judy, take it away.
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Aaron Rodgers returned to practice today after the fracture in
his left wrist. He was listed by the Steelers as
limited in practice. The risk does not require surgery. Rogers
is pushing to play this week against the Bears. He says,
it's not going to be about pain management, It's about safety.
Will he be able to protect himself?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Of course?
Speaker 8 (12:36):
Will he be able to function It is his non
throwing hand, he said. They are working up a race
for The goal, he said, is to be able to
take snaps from under center.
Speaker 9 (12:46):
Of course.
Speaker 8 (12:46):
It is a big matchup with the Chicago Bears, who
are dominating the league in the interception stat Look at this,
it's crazy, Hi Baldy. Brian Baldinger is here you've got
a baldy breakdown. We're just looking at the Bears defense.
But let's talk about the Bears offense and Caleb Williams
we've been talking about all season. You got a ball
(13:07):
these breakdown on them, you.
Speaker 15 (13:09):
Know, Judy, they've risen now to the eighth ranked offense
in football just by points scored, and so they have
a foundation to what they do, and it starts with
Ben Johnson's commitment to the run.
Speaker 16 (13:21):
With Caleb Williams under center.
Speaker 15 (13:24):
You're going to see in this first play right here,
it's just your basic split zone.
Speaker 16 (13:27):
They love to play with two tight ends.
Speaker 15 (13:29):
So here's Colston Lovelin and Cole Comet right here, and
here's the split coming backside here. Nice gaping hole there
for DeAndre Swift. But because of that, play action is
a huge part of the passing game, like with Caleb
unders center, turning his back to the defense and letting
these routes develop down the field for good chunk gains
on a consistent basis. Now, they also like to tweak
(13:51):
the offense.
Speaker 16 (13:52):
Judy, Week the week.
Speaker 15 (13:53):
Here's Dj Moore in the backfield right here, and Caleb
Williams is gonna look off the safety and throw the
wheel on the outside to DJ for nice game. You'll
find different plays, different formations week to week now.
Speaker 16 (14:05):
They love the two tight end sets.
Speaker 15 (14:06):
But this is a team that on third downs, third
and three, third and four, they'll run like they did
last week with Kyle man Ungai all right and the
nice little split their first down. They believe in the run.
They're committed to it, even on third downs. And then
Caleb is just a unique and elite athlete. He's very
difficult to get to the ground and his ability to scramble,
(14:27):
to keep plays alive, to keep his eyes down the field,
to find lovelin right here for a sizeable game. And
then look, he's run the ball fifty two times, whether
it's scrambles or design runs. And he's excellent. I mean
he always has been, but nineteen of his fifty two
runs this year have either gone for first downs or touchdowns.
(14:47):
He's talented, he's getting better. The run game has helped.
The commitment to the run game is a big part
of the success right now, and it's something that the
Steelers defense has to concentrate on.
Speaker 8 (14:58):
Here this weekend, welcome back to the Insiders. Look at
these five big games this weekend. Of course, the big
one Sunday Night Football Bucks Rams, you got tonight's game
that is Bills at the Texans. You've also got Chiefs
and Colts, huge game with AFC playoff implications. And we
(15:19):
just found out Daniel Jones, quarterback for the Colts, is
listed as limited in practice today with a calf issue.
So that's certainly something to keep in mind as we
go forward and get ready for that game. It is
time for mar Key Matchups, our weekly installment of mar
Key Matchups with our Mark Ross and Brian Baldinger returns.
Speaker 9 (15:44):
Mark.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
Let's get right to Chiefs Colts again. Daniel Jones listed
as limited in practice today with a calf issue.
Speaker 9 (15:51):
What do you make of that matchup?
Speaker 17 (15:53):
Well, I thought it would be, you know, Daniel Jones
versus Toner, but now is Daniel Jones versus.
Speaker 14 (15:58):
That calf and how effective he could be?
Speaker 17 (16:00):
But yeah, really, Daniel Jones versus turnover history eighty career games,
has had eighty three turnovers. Seem to have righted it
all out this year for the most part with the Colts,
but the concerning part in their two losses to the
Rams and the Steelers. He has eight turnovers in those games.
So really the deal for Daniel Jones is don't turn
it over. Let Jonathan Taylor cook and the Colts will win.
(16:22):
So we'll see if he can keep fighting that off, Baldy,
And you'll be right there in the mix, smelling his breath,
counting the teeth, checking out that calf right there at
the stadium.
Speaker 15 (16:32):
I'll give you the report from the field, Mark, as
I'm kind of doing a Baldi's walk before the game.
But I'm going to take the quarterback on the other
side in this matchup here, Mark, because what's missing from
this Chiefs offense right now or just explosive plays. They
hit one last week to Taekwon Thornton right here for
sixty one yards. They scored three plays later, but it's
the only one they hit. They missed a bunch of
(16:54):
them too. And so when they get the explosive places,
and they've got the players that can do it, between
Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy and Thornton, they have the
ability to get the ball down the field. And I'm
looking that if they can hit these explosive players, they're
going to give a much.
Speaker 16 (17:08):
Better chance to win some of these games coming forward.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
Mark, Let's hit a rivalry game that you know so well.
Eagles Cowboys for sure.
Speaker 17 (17:16):
And this is going to be this Eagles defense versus
their streak of their defense holding teams under ten points.
And it's unbelievable what they've done the past two weeks,
not just some fottal barrel teams. I mean they've held
Detroit to nine points and then Green Bay is seven
points the week before that. I mean, one of the
most impressive feats. So can they keep this going against
(17:36):
that Dallas explosive Dallas offense second in the league in scoring,
So that'll be huge to see whether they can keep
that rolling.
Speaker 15 (17:44):
Baldy, I'll keep righting this game here. Mark, played on
both sides of this rivalry. It's very intense for any
Eagle fan. I'll take the rebuilt Dallas defense in this game,
along with Quinn Williams and Kenny Clark, Jadevian Clowney, Logan Wilson,
all on and on and on, Demarvi and Overshan back
from that horrific injury against an Eagles offense that all
(18:07):
they do is try to figure out how they're going
to fix this thing because they're stuck in the mud,
and if it wasn't for their defense, maybe they wouldn't
have that shiny eight and two records. So let's just
see if this Dallas defense who kept the Eagles in
Week one on that opening night of the season, kept
them to only twenty four points, didn't score in the
last twenty minutes of the game. So let's see what
(18:28):
this new built Dallas defense looks like against an offense
that looks like they're struggling.
Speaker 8 (18:33):
Mark what about tonight's game, Bill's Texans. What's the good
matchup there?
Speaker 17 (18:37):
Well, it's fascinating here, of course that Bill's offense led
by Josh Allen, coming off those six touchdowns last week
against that Texans defense. Bill's offense second in yards per game,
fourth in points per game, and that Texans defense number
one in both the yards per game and points per game.
And that's really been the Texans formula is like, Hey,
their defense has to do all they can. Is really
(19:00):
been phenomenal, not getting much from their offense to play
as well as they've had because it's so.
Speaker 10 (19:04):
Hard to just shut teams down.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
So we'll see if.
Speaker 17 (19:07):
They can do that once again and keep Davis Mills
from having to make up a ton of plays against
that Bill's defense, who's having a ton of issues of
their own, can't stop the run, giving up tons of
points as well. But really the key will be Ken
Josh Allen capitalized on that Texans number one ranked defense,
Dudy Mark and Baldi.
Speaker 9 (19:25):
Thank you both very much.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
And when we return, we are going to return to
Houston and hear more about tonight's game from our Steve Whiche.
Stay with us on The Insiders.
Speaker 6 (19:44):
The site of tonight's showdown that is Houston, that is
right outside the Texans Stadium. I feel like Houston scenic
should be like Pinkerton's in the pit room and all
the very barbecue places, right, Is that too much to
ask for, Steve Weis Welcome back.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
To the Insiders.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
I'm serious, right, Like, all I really need is like
a huge pit, some ribs, maybe some brisket because it's Texas.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
Anyway, we'll get to that in a second.
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Steve, you are on site for the showdown tonight on
Amazon Prime Video. One of the things I want to
take a look into it and let you delve deeper
into is the Buffalo Bills run game. So a lot
from Josh Allen last week not a lot from James Cook.
How important is getting Cook going tonight.
Speaker 13 (20:30):
It's super important, Ian because it's interesting to doing the
research for this game. There's a certain number which is nineteen.
When James Cook touches the ball nineteen times, whether it's
carries or combination of carries and receptions, the Buffalo Bills win.
Of the four times he's had fewer the nineteen carries,
they are one and three, and it's going to be
(20:52):
really important for him to get going. We already talked
about earlier all the receiving targets that are going to
be off the field for Buffalo, So you're getting a
playmate like him going. Also, let's not forget last year
in a very tight game that Houston beat Buffalo in
Josh Allen was nine of thirty for one hundred and
thirty one yards. So running the ball is something that
(21:13):
Bills absolutely have to try to establish.
Speaker 6 (21:17):
Killens is another great barbecue used their rub actually for
when I make brisket.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
Anyway, stay on this game. I'm focused, I promise I'm focused.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
Texans have a nasty defense, one of the most active fronts,
one of the most physical fronts they face, one of
the most physical quarterbacks in Josh Allen. What are the
Texans looking at defense wise as they try to stop
one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Speaker 13 (21:42):
Yeah, I had a great conversation linebacker Henry to Otoh,
who gave him just great stuff. You know, some schematic
stuff like sometimes they're gonna present six at the line
of scrimmage and drop four. Sometimes they'll present four, blit six.
But he said, the main thing they have to do
is impact him early. They figure if they can get
him off on the spot, get him off the spot,
I should say, and get some.
Speaker 14 (22:03):
Hits on him early. They can disrupt him and try
to make him tuck it.
Speaker 13 (22:07):
Now, he said. The one thing that they can't do
is spy on him too long. If they use the
spy to kind of watch him, if he's gonna try
to take off, that's great. But if they linger too
long on a spy, that means somebody's gonna get open.
So they're gonna have to close on him quickly once
he kind of determines if he's gonna step up in
the pocket or try to bounce it. So it is
all about getting hits on Josh Allen early, especially coming
(22:29):
off of a game on Sunday when he probably took
a few licks, not many, seeing as how he got
into the end zone one way or another six times.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
Gatlan's is also great barbecue plays. There's so many good ones, Steve.
I hope after this game you were enjoying some barbie
and you're.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Not bad attention to anything.
Speaker 14 (22:42):
I'm saying, Man, your mind is.
Speaker 6 (22:46):
The barbecue is so good that I haven't had Texas barbecue,
and so I need to get back to Dallas and
to get back to Houston.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
There was a league meeting there. We're not going this
year anyway.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
Uh see, great stuff is always go eat some barbecue, Mike,
take it away.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, I I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Go now, Please go to Texas, all clear, don't worry
about it. One too long ago, the Baker Mayfield joined
the Los Angeles Rams and then like five minutes later
led them to a comeback victory. I believe that was
on a Thursday night. As here we are on a
Thursday talking about a game coming up here in a
couple of days.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Pacific times.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Some of you live on that five twenty, those of
us on the East Coast time, Bucky Brooks, that's eight
twenty pm.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Bring in Bucky right here. Let's talk about these Rams.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
We had a conversation on Good Morning Football the other day.
It was a fun one about who's the most complete team?
Or I forget how Jamie Rdol phrased it, but the
Rams are one of the few contenders right now.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
When you look at this team what impresses you the most?
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Look man, their versatility on both sides of the ball,
and every want to talk about n being the most
complete team, which.
Speaker 10 (23:51):
I agree with. They are pretty complete. They don't have
any gland weaknesses.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
But what they've done on offense in recent weeks has
really confounded the National Football League. Unning thirteen personnel meaning
one back, three tight ends on about eighteen percent of
their offensive snaps, and they're having tremendous success with his
person personnel grouping because it is one that pushed you
in a buyd on defense. With three tight ends on
the field. As a defensive coordinator, you got to figure out,
(24:16):
do I go with my heavy sets, do I go
with man man? Do I go with my regular personnel stuff?
How do I defend this grouping? Matthew Stafford is absolutely
dealing out of this because they can run it, they
can throw, play action, they can create all these mismatches
on their side. So it is a very very difficult
package to deal with. And it's allowed the Rams to
control the game and also light of scoreboards with these
(24:38):
bigs on the field.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
And then you got Baker on the other side of this.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I mean, the Buccaneers looked like they were comfortably going
to cruise to the NFC South title. Now it's getting
a little bit tight here. Baker's got to lead him
out of it.
Speaker 10 (24:50):
Yeah, he has to leave him out of it.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
And early in the year, Baker Mayfield was in the
MVP conversation because he was so good in terms of
finishing games. And I would say this, he's one of
the best clothes that We've seen four game winning drives
this season, so you know, if a game gets into
the fourth quarter, the Baker knows how to close it out.
But what I want to see from the Buccaneers is
I want to see their running game get on track.
Speaker 10 (25:11):
I want to see them control the game with a.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Ball control mixture of runs and play action passes that
allows Baker to comfortable and then if the defense can
set them up with some favorable feels, put them in
scoring range.
Speaker 10 (25:24):
I want to see.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Baker finished the deal by delivering a pinpoint pass and
to the corner Enzo, probably to a Mikabuka who's also
balling out of control.
Speaker 9 (25:36):
Welcome back to the insiders.
Speaker 8 (25:37):
Here's the AFC playoff picture as it stands right now.
Look at that race for the one seed. The Broncos
are in the lead right now. But you got the Patriots,
you got the Colts. It's going to be a tight
race all the way down to the wire. And then
look at the teams that are in the hunt. Those
are not teams we thought would be outside looking in
(25:57):
at this point. Let's bring back our Bucky Brooks and
our Mark Ross. We're going to talk about playoff probabilities.
They told me there would be no math. There apparently
is math. So let's start with the teams that are
in the hunt. Texans, Chiefs, Ravens. These are the AFC
bubble teams. Their playoff possibilities the Texans thirty one percent.
(26:22):
With a win, it goes up to forty eight percent
with a loss to Night twenty two percent.
Speaker 9 (26:26):
Chiefs only a forty five.
Speaker 8 (26:29):
Percent chance of making it to the playoffs right now,
goes up with a win this weekend fifty seven percent.
If they lose this weekend to the Colts, they drop
down to twenty nine percent. Ravens seventy two percent. They
can bump it up to seventy six percent. Their odds
are looking pretty good if they lose all the way
down to fifty seven percent mark, let us start with
you on a playoff probability. What do you make of this?
Speaker 17 (26:52):
Well, first of all, my probability, Judy, make any look
through the schedule, count up the wins and losses, then
add them all up, and then you'll get the records
at the end, and that makes it a lot easier
than saying the probabilities. That being said, with the Ravens,
we're gonna talk about them the next segment here.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
They're gonna win the North, so we'll move on.
Speaker 17 (27:08):
So we're really talking about the Chiefs, the Texans, and
the BUCkies Jacksonville Jaguars hanging around the bottom there. When
I look at the Chiefs schedule, there's looking like five
more wins that they have there. But when I look
at the Texans schedule, it is tough. They got the
Bills the night they got the Colts twice they got
the Chargers as well, so I don't know how many
more wins are going to be able to squeeze in,
(27:29):
even if CJ. Stroud comes back. You know, Davis Mills
has been kind of holding up admirably. That defense is
doing all they can. So I'm looking at them being out,
Kansas City getting five more and then Bucky, Sorry, man,
I just don't trust your Jaguars still. I think they
only got a few more wins in them as well.
They might be the odd team out.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
Oh, Mark Hocky, we talked about the Jags being out
when the magic number is ten. If you look at
the schedule, you talk about seven games left, that means
that Jags have to win four of them. You talk
about the Cardinals on the slate, the Tennessee Titans coming up,
and then you have the Titans actually twice, and then
you just got to figure out a way can you
beat the Jets. So if you win the game that
technically you should win, the Jaguars are in, but I
(28:07):
think they may go beyond just making the playoffs. I'm
looking for them to sneak up and catch the Coats
doing a division.
Speaker 8 (28:13):
All right, let's drill down on the AFC North and
we can get back to you guys off camera like
sparring over there. All right, let's drill down on the
AFC North playoff probabilities. According to next Gen Stats, this
one is amusing. The Steelers currently lead the division, but
the Ravens have a much better chance of winning it, apparently, Mark.
Speaker 17 (28:35):
Yeah, this is the Ravens. I mean, you talk about
a role reversal here, just flipping the script on this
season with the Ravens start and slow, the Steelers starting hot.
When I look at the rest of the Ravens schedule,
they got five layups. Almost they might get the six
or more wins, to be honest, if they could just
play good against New England and Green Bay. Those are
the two toughest games. When you look at Pittsburgh, man,
(28:56):
I'm only seeing really about two solid, definite wins. But
now you've got Aaron Rodgers hurt, even though Mason Rudolph
got in there and played better than Aaron Rodgers. So
this to me is just a team that's just declining.
The Ravens are on the rise, much like last year,
but even more dramatic. Buck, So I'm saying the Ravens
are gonna take this division running away.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
I mean, if you really believe that you can trust
the Ravens defense like they fixed everything because they've been.
Speaker 10 (29:20):
Beating powder puffs and rooty foods along the way.
Speaker 16 (29:22):
Then so be it.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
I'm gonna go with the defense and has more personnel
with the veterans, and that's the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 10 (29:27):
I'm just thinking that at some point this historic.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Defense that Mike Tomlin has talked about, they gonna play
to that level.
Speaker 10 (29:33):
Dalen Ramsey, TJ.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
Watt, Cam Hayward, all the other veterans, the Gray Bears
are ready to lead.
Speaker 10 (29:39):
Them on a runner.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Now, don't we talk about the schedule being tough, but
we don't know what the schedule is actually gonna play like,
I am willing to lean into the better defense in
this scenario. So give me the Pittsburgh Steelers to hold on.
They may hold on by a little bit, but look
for the Steelers to hold on.
Speaker 10 (29:53):
A winning division.
Speaker 8 (29:54):
I do wonder how the Steelers' probability numbers fluctuates with
the Aaron Rodgers risk situation. All right, let's close it
out by looking at the NFC North really tight division. Interestingly,
the Vikings are down to one percent. You got the Bears, Packers,
Lions all tightly bunched. Mark, What say you, who's coming
(30:15):
out of the NFC North.
Speaker 17 (30:18):
Yeah, this is probably the most fascinating and closely contested
vikings out of it. Of course, Bears really surprising, but
really they've been doing with defense and this opportunistic ability
of that defense and create turnovers. So I'm looking at
the Lions and the Packers, and when I look at
the schedule, the Lion's just setting up a little bit
easier with that schedule, most importantly because they only have
(30:38):
one outdoor game left. We know that Jarrett groff kryptonite
has been that outdoor game. We saw that last week.
So the last game of the season at Chicago is
the only outdoor game that they have. So I think
they might just get on a nice little run here
of home games and then they play at the Rams,
which is inside as well. So I'm looking at Detroit
(30:59):
just to edge out Green Bay there, Buckley, but both
teams will make the playoffs and be competitive there.
Speaker 10 (31:07):
Yeah, the schedule is favorable for the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 5 (31:10):
I just worry about their emotional nature in terms of
like Dan Campbell being a play call and getting emotional
going for it at random time. So I worry about
the unnecessary risk. That's why I'm going with the Packers
in this scenario. When I think of what the Packers
have done defensively, bringing Michael Parson's over, how they're able
to get after people, not only in terms of blissing
but rushing for playing zone behind it, the turnovers.
Speaker 10 (31:30):
Are going to come.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
A lot of it is on Matt Lafleur, Jordan Love
and this offense to get on track, and with Josh.
Speaker 10 (31:36):
Jacob's ailing a little bit, you worry about it, But.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
To me, man, I'm just such a believer in what
they have gone in terms of the completeness of their team.
I'm willing to go, Go, Pack Go. In the scenario,
look for the Packers to hang up another banner in Lambeau.
Speaker 8 (31:51):
You know, next time we do this, we got to
have the playoff probabilities from next gen stats for the
NFC West, which is the other really really tightly contested division.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Mark, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Time to go inside with NFL Fantasy Live and our
guy Michael f. Florio In regard to who we're starting
and sitting for week twelve in the NFL, starting tonight
Thursday Night Football. We always start with the starts in
Thursday Night Football. Who are we looking to put in
our lineup?
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Michael f The.
Speaker 18 (32:22):
Viewers know it's no secret. I am a Bills fan.
I don't deny it, which means I watched them get
ran all over every single week.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Which is why you should be starting Woody Marx this week.
Speaker 18 (32:32):
Because the Bills get ran all over every single week,
and Woody Marx has been.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Getting more opportunity. In the last two weeks.
Speaker 18 (32:39):
He has handled seventy three percent of the snaps, with
eighty percent of the running back carries and half of
the running back targets. Plus did I say the Bills
get ran all over every single week? There in the
top five in rushing yards, touchdowns, explosive runs, fantasy points
per game two running backs.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
So Marx has a higher ceiling than usual. I think
a higher floor than usual.
Speaker 18 (33:01):
He is someone that I'm getting into a number of
starting lineups myself this week, and I think you could
play Dalton Schultz. I will tell you the Bills are
the toughest matchup.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Four tight ends.
Speaker 18 (33:13):
Literally, they've allowed the fewest points per game to the position.
But Dalton Schultz has eight or more Fantasy points in
seven of his last eight games.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
That is a say floor.
Speaker 18 (33:23):
He has scored eleven or more in five of his
last six, so he brings some upside. But what I
love Davis Mills in the last two games has targeted
Schultz twenty times and he is averaging almost fifteen Fantasy
points per game. Look, he might not be CJ. Strout,
but Davis Mills has helped elevate Nico Collins and Dalton
Schultz for fantasy purposes.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
So fantasy managers are cool with Davis Mills being out there.
Speaker 18 (33:47):
But despite the tough matchup, I do think you could
take a shot on the Texans tight ends in a
game where they could be in ketchup mode.
Speaker 6 (33:55):
You know, I thought about that last week. I might
have to do it this week. My team is so
bad though, I'm not sure it matters all. But we're
not giving up. We're gonna bind together. We're gonna fight
because that is what we do, you know, sort of
not really all right?
Speaker 7 (34:07):
Good, that was the good. That was the positive. Give
me the negative. Who is sitting for the TNF showdown tonight?
Speaker 18 (34:13):
It look first shout out to Khalil Shakiir for being
a new dad, and that is the reason I'm a
little bit hesitant here. But I do think you could
look sit Khalil Shakir this week because last week the
Bills just went full rotation at wide receiver. No Bills
receiver played over fifty three percent of the snaps, none
of them had over five targets. In fact, Shakir just
(34:36):
three targets and negative three air.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Yards last week. And it's not a one week thing.
They have turned them into a screen merchant in this offense.
Speaker 18 (34:44):
Four point two air yards per target this season is
the lowest of all qualified wide receivers in the NFL.
And on top of that, the Texans have allowed the
second fewest fantasy points per game two wide receivers. So
you can't rely on like you're hoping for a big
and run if you start Shakir tonight or a touchdown.
And then Dawson Knox, I know, I came on the
(35:06):
show last week and was like, I think he's.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
A good streaming option with Dalton kink being out.
Speaker 18 (35:11):
Nope, he had just three targets last week, one catch
twenty three yards and on top of it. The Texans
have allowed the fifth fewest yards and fantasy points per
game two tight ends, so the usage isn't great, the
matchup isn't great, and well, I think the trend kind
of bucks this week.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
Josh Allen has played terribly.
Speaker 18 (35:29):
Against the Texans in his career, so makes it look
at me though, a Bills fan telling you to start
to Texans and sit two Bills.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Don't call me a homer.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Never would never ever ever call Michael le f Florio
a homer because I don't want to make them angry,
because I want him to give me the best possible
fantasy advice. Because my team on the playoff bubble. Like
we talked about the Ravens and the Chiefs, I'm on
the playoff bubble, so Traveon Henderson is on my roster.
Ramandre Stevenson is working his way back. It was so
much easier when Stevenson was sidelined. Not that wishing harm
(36:00):
on him at all, but now he's on his way back.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
What do we do with Travion Henderson?
Speaker 18 (36:04):
Look, Mike, a lot like you, A lot of my
Travion teams are in that playoff bubble, but we are
trending up right now in a big way. And that's
why I think you continue to start Traveon Henderson. Like
the touchdowns are getting all the attention, But in the
three games without Stevenson twenty four fantasy points per game,
and he is top five amongst all running backs in
that span in touchdowns, rushing yards, yards after contact, yards
(36:27):
over expectation. That translates to he has been playing at
an extremely high level. Meanwhile, Stevenson has the second lowest
yards per.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Carry of all running backs in the NFL.
Speaker 18 (36:38):
So I think Steve Henderson has done enough to be
the Patriots RB one, and Vrabel has said there will
they'll find a happy medium to get both involved. I
don't think it matters though this week because the Bengals
have allowed the most rushing yards and fantasy points per
game two running backs.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
They allow a lot of big plays.
Speaker 18 (36:56):
I think you keep riding the hot hand here with
Travon Henderson and at nothing else, just it is the
best possible matchup he could have.
Speaker 7 (37:04):
What a surprise you guys love tre Van Henderson.
Speaker 6 (37:06):
We did have a little bit of news today on
Daniel Jones, the coach starting quarterback, popped up on the
injury report. With a calf, he was limited. My understanding
is the team is just being cautious. We should be okay,
but obviously we're going to be paying attention and monitoring tomorrow,
taking all that information into accounting and push what you
already thought anyway, Furio, are we sitting or starting Daniel Jones?
Speaker 18 (37:28):
I had Daniel Jones as they sit already, but that
calf issue. I know it's precautionary, but it scares me
a little bit because what if he's not as mobile
this week? That is a bad matchup for that to
come into against the Chiefs. Look, in his last two games,
Daniel Jones has thrown for just two touchdowns compared to
four interceptions, and a trend that I think.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
We have seen this year.
Speaker 18 (37:51):
He plays really well in favorable matchups, but he has
struggled in some of the tougher ones.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
And I think this is a tough matchup.
Speaker 18 (37:58):
The Chiefs have allowed the fifth uist yards and fewest
passing touchdowns allowed, and since Week seven, the only quarterback
to top fifteen, not even setting the bar that high
fifteen fantasy.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Points against them was Josh Allen.
Speaker 18 (38:12):
No disrespect to Daniel Jones, I don't think he is
Josh Allen, So I think if you have the capability
of getting away from him this week, I would look
to do so.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
All Right, here's the guy we haven't talked about much
this year. Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson a career high
seven touchdown receptions already, including one the other night. What
do we do with Jake Ferguson heading into the rematch
with the Eagles.
Speaker 18 (38:34):
I think you look to get rid of him in
this matchup from week one. Look, even in Week one,
Dak played pretty well. He threw for fewer than two
hundred yards and no touchdowns. But since Ceedee Lamb has returned,
Jake Ferguson has rightfully so been the third target for
Dak and the Cowboys, averaging just five targets per game
(38:55):
in that four game stretch.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
He is top thirty yards just one time.
Speaker 18 (38:59):
And on top of it, the Eagles have allowed the
second fewest yards and fantasy points, two tight ends and
just one touchdown, and their defense is way better in
the last month than it was to start the year.
Plus Jalen Carter will actually be out there, we think
for the Eagles. So I'm looking to get away from
Jake Ferguson in this one.
Speaker 7 (39:18):
The Hawks have a little bit of a Carrie Sherif situation.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
Zach Charbonnet Kenneth Walker on again, off again Kenneth Walker
for this week?
Speaker 7 (39:26):
What say you, Flouri A starting your sitting?
Speaker 18 (39:28):
I think we could finally get Kenneth Walker back into
starting lineups. He has been to sit in the article
for like two months in a row now, but last
week he was back to being the lead back for
the Seahawks. He led them in snaps, carries, routes, targets,
and he even got a goal on Carrie, which is huge.
And then Mike McDonald came out this week and said
that Kenneth Walker has earned more opportunities moving forward. It
(39:51):
comes at a great time because the Titans have allowed
the second most rushing touchdowns, They're in the top ten
and yards fantasy points allowed.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
So I believe is the Seahawks' best and.
Speaker 18 (40:02):
Most explosive running back should get an opportunity.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
To shine in this great matchup.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
All right, now to the selfish part of the program
where we can ask you about our own fantasy teams
with some of the names that we just talked about.
So I've got two running back position, two running back spots,
and a flex position as well. Christian McCaffrey gets one
of the running back slots.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
That makes it easy.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
So now we're talking Traveon Henderson, wood He Marx or
Emmanuel Wilson, whom we claim the other day when you suggested,
we claim the problem is Josh Jacobs is starting to
do some work here. So do I put Marx in
one of these spots tonight or do I hold out
hope that maybe Jacobs doesn't play and then Wilson gets
run Well.
Speaker 18 (40:41):
Travion, you're playing automatically right like he's one of them?
Or is he in the mix here as well?
Speaker 2 (40:46):
I mean I'm asking you I would play had him
as a start.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
I would play Travion over these guys.
Speaker 18 (40:51):
But if you're deciding between Wilson and Marx, I would
just play it safe because we don't know one hundred
percent what that backfield.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
Is going to look like for Green Bay. We know
what ma is going to get a lot of volume.
Speaker 18 (41:01):
In the best or one of the best matchups for
a running back, So not the ideal situation to be in,
but I would go Marx. But obviously Trevion is number
one in my heart and should be the RB two
in your lineup.
Speaker 6 (41:15):
Okay, I had a great QB two sort of a
super flex option for my team. It was Joe Flacco
may not need it, may not need it, he may
not play.
Speaker 7 (41:24):
So here are my options, OWT for QB two. Don't
hate me. These are rough ones. Tyler Shuck or Kirk Cousins.
Who should I start in that QB two spot for you?
Speaker 18 (41:34):
You know, I was thinking about this when I was
told what your question was going to be, and I
was like, well, there's no Drake London. But then you
could there's no Shaheta anymore for this Saints. I was like,
who's the better matchup? They literally ranked fourteenth and fifteenth
and fantasy points per game allowed a quarterback, so like
right middle.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Of the pack. I I feel like Kirk.
Speaker 18 (41:51):
Cousins is the safer floor play here, but I'm gonna
roll the dice with Taylor Shuck because I think he
has the higher ceiling and you just never know what
Falcons defense is going to show up. But yeah, this one,
you're you're diving real quarterback.
Speaker 14 (42:06):
Yeah not great?
Speaker 7 (42:08):
Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I mean this is why Michael f Florio is the
nicest guy in all of fantasy football analysis, because I
would have told you get.
Speaker 10 (42:16):
Out of the league.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Why are you having two quarters?
Speaker 9 (42:19):
Like the NFL.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
One quarterback is on the field at a time, and
don't give me wildcatter anyhow. It's good, it's a good league,
but then you're stuff starting guys like this great get it,
get out.
Speaker 16 (42:29):
Get out, get out.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
NFL dot com slash starts it for all of Michael
Michael Florio's opinions, except for whether you should have a
two quarterback league that you're a part of, I'll give
you that opinion. But start Sit is where you find
out all the decisions for week twelve in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
Who to start? Who to sit?
Speaker 2 (42:44):
Michael Florio, Love you, pale, appreciate you as always.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
If you're looking for Michael f or any.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
Of those smiling faces up top and our analysts and
reporters that join us on the Insiders, here's where you
can find this every single day of the week.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
This is Thursday. You're watching us, so you already.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Know tomorrow back on the NFL Network and NFL Plus
wherever you find your podcast. Don't the sneeze at that
last part either. There are no excuses for not finding
the Insiders. In fact, sometimes we're photo bombing. We'll talk
about that coming up next. Welcome back to the Insiders.
(43:26):
The Falcons reminding us it was eight years ago today
they were imploding the Georgia Dome and the Weather Channel
for some reason, was trying to get video of it,
and the Marta bus just jumped in.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
But you can hear the producer and.
Speaker 18 (43:37):
The kick get out of the way, Get out of
the way.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
You know what, This is much more memorable than any
other implosion video. In fact, we're talking about it eight
years later, which got us thinking, Ian, what about our
all time photo bombs?
Speaker 6 (43:49):
There's mine right there. So that's me on the field
before the Super Bowl. That's Pellisero in the background. We
both look amazing. How great my TI color is. Nobody
cares because Jay and Blue are walking right in front
of us.
Speaker 7 (44:03):
All eyes on Hove, zero eyes on me. Great photobomb
on Mike, Judy.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
The best I got for you is me a couple
of weeks ago. Well, Woodie Johnson was absolutely flaming justice.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
You were there as well. Did you have that expression
on your face?
Speaker 9 (44:19):
Oh?
Speaker 8 (44:19):
I definitely had that same expression. I know there is
a photobomb of knee over Jerry Jones shoulder looking like ha,
I believe our Jane Slater has that picture somewhere.
Speaker 1 (44:30):
Yeah, we gotta go look for that.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
We'll have that in the next We'll never know, which
is Friday on NFL Network.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
Photo Mombas
It is Week twelve in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
It begins tonight Thursday Night Football the Buffalo Bill's the
Houston Texans.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
This didn't go so well for Buffalo last year when
they visited Houston.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hoping for a better result this time, we're going to
talk about this game. Go down to Houston where our
Steve Wisch is standing by AFC playoff bubble teams. Can
you imagine or could you imagine at the beginning of
the season, I'd be saying Lamar Jackson and the Ravens,
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are on the AFC playoff bubble,
Well they are. What are the chances they'll get in?
(00:37):
We'll discuss that later in the program. And our Michael
f Florio with us has always on Thursday to tell
you who to start, who to sit, not just for tonight,
but for the entire weekend in the NFL. For Week twelve,
Welcome Inside with the Insiders, Week.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Twelve Thursday edition.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Getting ready for Thursday Night Football with Judy Batista, Ian Rappaport, myself,
follow and a host of folks including Weiss down there
in Houston and Sarah Walsh will be with us in
just a couple of minutes, got a lot of folks
on the program thing because we have a lot of
news to get to. Joe Burrow, Bengals quarterback, a full
participant once again for the Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, he eventually
(01:17):
did put the jersey on, did take steps from the
starting center, did work with the starting offense for the
time that the media was out there. Is this possibly
trending in the direction of Joe Burrow playing this Sunday?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Zach Taylor, Will this be a situation where Joe might
come into you, Joe Burrow, he might come to you
and say, hey, you know, Coach, I feel like I'm
ready to go.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Oh yeah, yeah, And then that's that's that's my job,
you know, to balance balance all the information and protect
the player and make the best decision possible.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Come on, coach, you can tell us right now Burrow's
playing it. He's playing it.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
No, I wish I could. I wish I had that
decision today, you know, honestly, it's I'm going to take
in all the information I can and make sure it's
the best one for Joe and our team, and we'll
go from there.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Tom Brandman trying to get us the answer is there
only seven hundred wl W Morning show in Cincinnati. Ian
is this like, I know we were talking about maybe Thanksgiving,
which is only a week away, but is this possibly
going to happen here?
Speaker 6 (02:23):
It is possibly going to happen. Joe Burrow being a
full participant today is significant. My understanding yesterday was a
full participant, took all the snaps, took all the QB
one snaps while Joe Flacco was limited, and they wanted
to see how we came back today. In other words,
if is surgically repaired toe and all the ligaments were
supposed to take about three months, but seems to have
taken about two months plus. If they were hurting him,
(02:46):
they would pull back. He would be limited, and you
would say, all right, all right, it's too early.
Speaker 7 (02:50):
That is not the case.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
He was taking snaps from the first team center Ted Carriss.
He was a full participant. Zach Taylor had many, many
opportunities Wednesday and Thursday to say, you know what, it's
crazy for Joe Burrow to be out there. Remember he
didn't name a starter Wednesday, when a lot of people
thought he would. All signs are pointing to Joe Burrow
being the starting quarterback on Sunday. I'm not saying it
(03:12):
is happening yet, but I'm saying, you put all the
pieces together, this is very possible. It takes a pretty
good game to being a really good game, and Joe
Burrow needs to come in and save the season for
the Cincinnati Bengals duty, which is dramatic, it really is.
Speaker 8 (03:28):
Yeah, Well, Zach Taylor said, it's his job to do
what's best. There's not much question what the best thing
will be for the entire Bengals team. It's to have
Joe Burrow on the field. They are three and seven,
They've only won one game since Burrow went down. They
certainly didn't get what they were hoping for from Jake
Browning and Joe Flacco. Their playoff hopes are hanging by
(03:50):
a thread. If they are in third place in the
AFC North and right now, they would be the twelfth
seed in the AFC playoff field. So they've got a
lot of ground to make up. Said that, if you
get Joe Burrow on the field, you can make up
some ground. Even though if he returns this week, he
will not have Jamar Chase, who of course is suspended
for the spitting incident. Still, Joe Burrow certainly gives them
(04:12):
energy and hope and a much better chance of making
up an awful lot of ground in the playoff mix
as we head down the last seven.
Speaker 9 (04:21):
Games of the season.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
This is that legendary meme of the girl trying to
kambooka tea for the first time, where she's like, no,
Jamar Chase, but Joe Burrow back. But they're buried in
the planet. But they could go on a run now, they.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Could like that.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
That's kind of how we feel about the Cincinnati Bengals
right now. But getting Joe Burrow back on the field,
this is not a case of this team saying like,
let's just rest on the rest of the season. If
he can play, he is going to play in that game.
So we shall see what winds up being the case.
Perhaps Zach Taylor will make it official on Friday after
another full practice.
Speaker 10 (04:55):
We'll see.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
But yes, this is the uniform kit that the Bengals
will be wearing on Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Our Sarah Walsh will be there to cover the game
for us, and she is here for us right now. Sarah,
your assignment this week has kind of you know, it's
been like a roller coaster, like, oh, Jimar Chase is
not playing, but Joe Burrow might be back, and they're like, oh,
maybe he want what's the latest on this? As far
(05:17):
as your conversation that you're having on this one, well,
first of.
Speaker 11 (05:21):
All, Mike, I'm glad you pointed that out about assignment
because it just got me moved into this a block
conversation here right as soon as you guys start talking
about that, Joe Burrow is going to be out there.
I spoke with Patriots safety today, Jalen Hawkins, and he
said that they have been dual studying for both Joe's
although it now seems like it is trending towards Joe Burrow.
He said it takes a little extra effort to do that,
(05:41):
but they are prepared now.
Speaker 12 (05:43):
As Ian mentioned, he practiced fully both days.
Speaker 11 (05:46):
His tight end Mike Sicky, is also working his way
back from a week six peck injury, and he said
that Burrow definitely didn't lose his ability to throw the
ball when he got back out on the field.
Speaker 12 (05:56):
This week, you guys mentioned Ted Carris, his center.
Speaker 11 (05:59):
I spoke to karras week and said He is such
a beast right now, the unquestioned leader of this team.
So it's very meaningful to see him out there now.
If you go back to when Joe Burrow first spoke
to the media when they opened that twenty one day
practice window, that was on November tenth, he said he
felt strong. He said, he felt like it doesn't affect
the running, but I'm sorry, not the throwing, but it
was the running, it was the cutting, those twitch emotions
(06:22):
that would be in question depending on how he felt.
I also spoke with their cornerback Dj Turner, and he said,
you can't not look at the work that Burrow is
putting in right now and not be motivated when you
see how badly he wants to get back to his boys.
And of course, when Burrow was asked about that potential
return when he spoke on November tenth, he was asked
(06:42):
how meaningful it would be to come back on Thanksgiving
Day they take on the Ravens. He had a one
word answer to that question, he said very And then
he was asked, is that the date you're targeting, And
that was just a two word answer. We'll see, So
we'll see if there is a return of Joe Burrow
on Sunday. But it feels like Mike g that this
could be happening.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, not bad to have Joe Flacco as you're understudy,
by the way, helping you prepare the entire week as well.
That now we're going to see a lot of those
resources at the quarterback position if and when.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Burrow can get back this week.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Meanwhile, on the Patriots side of things, so many impressive
things to talk about. I remember Ian Rappaport and I
were there in training camp and it was a notion
of like that. Stefan Diggs, he's going to be ready
for Week one. He's been probably better than a lot
of folks could have expected here, perhaps on his way
to another thousand yard season coming off of that ACL
what's been the key for him in New England?
Speaker 11 (07:33):
Yeah, you bring up that thousand yard season, by the way,
the Patriots have not had a receiver hit one thousand
yards since Julian Edelman back in twenty nineteen, and Diggs
definitely has a chance to do that, all the more
impressive coming off that acal injury. Now, he said this week,
part of the reason that he has been so good
is that he said he's studied in a way that
he never has before in terms of recognizing coverages, seeing
(07:56):
the play before it happens. And then of course Mike
g everybody knows that if you're doing really well as
a receiver, it's probably because your quarterback is throwing the
ball pretty well. And so in all this Joe Burrow
talk that is now going to escalate should he come back,
is the guy on the other side of the field who, oh,
by the way, is the front runner for MVP so
far this season.
Speaker 12 (08:14):
And not only does Drake.
Speaker 11 (08:15):
May have a Stefan Diggs who is getting better each
and every game.
Speaker 12 (08:19):
We might see the return of Ramandre Stevenson.
Speaker 11 (08:22):
He has been out and all that has happened in
his absence is that Traveon Henderson has absolutely gone off
five scrimmage touchdowns since Week ten when he took over
as for May, his center, Garrett Bradbury told me, forget
the MVP talk. This is the same guy that he
met back in April when he joined the Patriots, and
he said, May invited him to come live with him.
(08:44):
So that's how they began their relationshipship and their rapport
because when Bradbury was coming over he didn't have similar
to live quarterback says stay with me through OTAs and
he said he is the exact same guy he met
then that he is now despite all the MVP talk,
the Patriots looking to make at nine in a row
for the first time in a decade.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Mike, Okay, Drake, I see you in your second year
already inviting some veteran folks to come live with you.
That is pretty impressive by him, one of many impressive
things that we have seen from Drake. May Yes, Sarah walshere,
assignment has gotten.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That much more important.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
That's why you're on it, and that's why we love
having you here on the Insiders. We appreciate you always.
Elsewhere on the quarterback front, Lamar Jackson returning to practice
after missing Wednesday. Now, that was the pattern last week,
miss Wednesday, back Thursday.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
He had a knee last week. This week it's an ankle.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
If this is sort of the pattern in the rhythm
for his practice weeks the rest of the season, honestly,
I won't be surprised. So I don't sense any concern
about his availability for this week and going forward barring
another injury. But the Raven's trying to play it smart
Ian when it comes to Lamar Jackson, bun.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
Do you have questions Mike about the availability of Joe
Mixon going forward. My understanding is that Joe Mixon, who
has been the non football injury list since before training cap,
is not expected to play during the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
Reality is not like a huge surprise.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
He's been dealing with the foot injury, has not seen
the field, has not started to practice window. But still
significant that Joe Mixon, their starting running back last year,
not expected to be on the field. With that, let's
bring in our good friend Steve Weisch, who is on
the field in Houston. So Joe Mixon not in the field,
Steve actually on the field for a really good one tonight.
(10:31):
Bill's Texans. There you are, Steve, standing on the field
or on the sideline. We also got some news by
the way, Damian Pierce was waived. More Texans running back news.
Steve tell us what it's like set the scene for
us for a big time game tonight.
Speaker 13 (10:45):
That's RDY and I have ten toes down and the
Buffalo Bills they come in here to face the Texans
top ranked defense fresh off of Josh Allen's six touchdown
game against the Buccaneers, and he might have to put
that cape on again today because so much much of
his receiving talent is out. Tight End Dalton k Kid,
Nicole Hardman, Curtis Samuel also out, So you're gonna see
(11:09):
guys that gave Davis and Josh Palmer have to stop
up and let's step up.
Speaker 14 (11:12):
And let's not forget about running back James Cook.
Speaker 13 (11:15):
But I talked to the offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, and
he said, because of their quarterback, Josh Allen, they know
they have a chance. Regardless of how tough this Texans
defense is, they know it's gonna be a slugfest. Because
Allan's running ability and throwing ability and some things they've
got schemed up. They think they're gonna be able to
move the ball. Now, let's flip it over to the
Houston Texas and their quarterback situation because Davis Mills, the backup,
(11:38):
will be making his third consecutive start because CJ.
Speaker 14 (11:41):
Shroud is still out with that concussion.
Speaker 13 (11:43):
Of course, Mills has rallied the Texans to two fourth
quarter victories, and.
Speaker 14 (11:48):
I was speaking to his offensive guard Titus Howard.
Speaker 13 (11:51):
He said, Mills's composure throughout the game really pays off
in the fourth quarter, and we've seen it.
Speaker 14 (11:57):
How about this. It's week ten.
Speaker 13 (11:58):
Only two quarterbacks have thrown two fourth quarter touchdowns and
run for one.
Speaker 14 (12:03):
One is Mills, the other guys is Josh All.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
That's pretty good company. Hey, guess what, Steve, We're going
to see both these guys tonight. Looking forward to it. Thanks,
says always.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
We'll be talking to you soon, Judy, take it away.
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Aaron Rodgers returned to practice today after the fracture in
his left wrist. He was listed by the Steelers as
limited in practice. The risk does not require surgery. Rogers
is pushing to play this week against the Bears. He says,
it's not going to be about pain management, It's about safety.
Will he be able to protect himself?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Of course?
Speaker 8 (12:36):
Will he be able to function It is his non
throwing hand, he said. They are working up a race
for The goal, he said, is to be able to
take snaps from under center.
Speaker 9 (12:46):
Of course.
Speaker 8 (12:46):
It is a big matchup with the Chicago Bears, who
are dominating the league in the interception stat Look at this,
it's crazy, Hi Baldy. Brian Baldinger is here you've got
a baldy breakdown. We're just looking at the Bears defense.
But let's talk about the Bears offense and Caleb Williams
we've been talking about all season. You got a ball
(13:07):
these breakdown on them, you.
Speaker 15 (13:09):
Know, Judy, they've risen now to the eighth ranked offense
in football just by points scored, and so they have
a foundation to what they do, and it starts with
Ben Johnson's commitment to the run.
Speaker 16 (13:21):
With Caleb Williams under center.
Speaker 15 (13:24):
You're going to see in this first play right here,
it's just your basic split zone.
Speaker 16 (13:27):
They love to play with two tight ends.
Speaker 15 (13:29):
So here's Colston Lovelin and Cole Comet right here, and
here's the split coming backside here. Nice gaping hole there
for DeAndre Swift. But because of that, play action is
a huge part of the passing game, like with Caleb
unders center, turning his back to the defense and letting
these routes develop down the field for good chunk gains
on a consistent basis. Now, they also like to tweak
(13:51):
the offense.
Speaker 16 (13:52):
Judy, Week the week.
Speaker 15 (13:53):
Here's Dj Moore in the backfield right here, and Caleb
Williams is gonna look off the safety and throw the
wheel on the outside to DJ for nice game. You'll
find different plays, different formations week to week now.
Speaker 16 (14:05):
They love the two tight end sets.
Speaker 15 (14:06):
But this is a team that on third downs, third
and three, third and four, they'll run like they did
last week with Kyle man Ungai all right and the
nice little split their first down. They believe in the run.
They're committed to it, even on third downs. And then
Caleb is just a unique and elite athlete. He's very
difficult to get to the ground and his ability to scramble,
(14:27):
to keep plays alive, to keep his eyes down the field,
to find lovelin right here for a sizeable game. And
then look, he's run the ball fifty two times, whether
it's scrambles or design runs. And he's excellent. I mean
he always has been, but nineteen of his fifty two
runs this year have either gone for first downs or touchdowns.
(14:47):
He's talented, he's getting better. The run game has helped.
The commitment to the run game is a big part
of the success right now, and it's something that the
Steelers defense has to concentrate on.
Speaker 8 (14:58):
Here this weekend, welcome back to the Insiders. Look at
these five big games this weekend. Of course, the big
one Sunday Night Football Bucks Rams, you got tonight's game
that is Bills at the Texans. You've also got Chiefs
and Colts, huge game with AFC playoff implications. And we
(15:19):
just found out Daniel Jones, quarterback for the Colts, is
listed as limited in practice today with a calf issue.
So that's certainly something to keep in mind as we
go forward and get ready for that game. It is
time for mar Key Matchups, our weekly installment of mar
Key Matchups with our Mark Ross and Brian Baldinger returns.
Speaker 9 (15:44):
Mark.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
Let's get right to Chiefs Colts again. Daniel Jones listed
as limited in practice today with a calf issue.
Speaker 9 (15:51):
What do you make of that matchup?
Speaker 17 (15:53):
Well, I thought it would be, you know, Daniel Jones
versus Toner, but now is Daniel Jones versus.
Speaker 14 (15:58):
That calf and how effective he could be?
Speaker 17 (16:00):
But yeah, really, Daniel Jones versus turnover history eighty career games,
has had eighty three turnovers. Seem to have righted it
all out this year for the most part with the Colts,
but the concerning part in their two losses to the
Rams and the Steelers. He has eight turnovers in those games.
So really the deal for Daniel Jones is don't turn
it over. Let Jonathan Taylor cook and the Colts will win.
(16:22):
So we'll see if he can keep fighting that off, Baldy,
And you'll be right there in the mix, smelling his breath,
counting the teeth, checking out that calf right there at
the stadium.
Speaker 15 (16:32):
I'll give you the report from the field, Mark, as
I'm kind of doing a Baldi's walk before the game.
But I'm going to take the quarterback on the other
side in this matchup here, Mark, because what's missing from
this Chiefs offense right now or just explosive plays. They
hit one last week to Taekwon Thornton right here for
sixty one yards. They scored three plays later, but it's
the only one they hit. They missed a bunch of
(16:54):
them too. And so when they get the explosive places,
and they've got the players that can do it, between
Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy and Thornton, they have the
ability to get the ball down the field. And I'm
looking that if they can hit these explosive players, they're
going to give a much.
Speaker 16 (17:08):
Better chance to win some of these games coming forward.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
Mark, Let's hit a rivalry game that you know so well.
Eagles Cowboys for sure.
Speaker 17 (17:16):
And this is going to be this Eagles defense versus
their streak of their defense holding teams under ten points.
And it's unbelievable what they've done the past two weeks,
not just some fottal barrel teams. I mean they've held
Detroit to nine points and then Green Bay is seven
points the week before that. I mean, one of the
most impressive feats. So can they keep this going against
(17:36):
that Dallas explosive Dallas offense second in the league in scoring,
So that'll be huge to see whether they can keep
that rolling.
Speaker 15 (17:44):
Baldy, I'll keep righting this game here. Mark, played on
both sides of this rivalry. It's very intense for any
Eagle fan. I'll take the rebuilt Dallas defense in this game,
along with Quinn Williams and Kenny Clark, Jadevian Clowney, Logan Wilson,
all on and on and on, Demarvi and Overshan back
from that horrific injury against an Eagles offense that all
(18:07):
they do is try to figure out how they're going
to fix this thing because they're stuck in the mud,
and if it wasn't for their defense, maybe they wouldn't
have that shiny eight and two records. So let's just
see if this Dallas defense who kept the Eagles in
Week one on that opening night of the season, kept
them to only twenty four points, didn't score in the
last twenty minutes of the game. So let's see what
(18:28):
this new built Dallas defense looks like against an offense
that looks like they're struggling.
Speaker 8 (18:33):
Mark what about tonight's game, Bill's Texans. What's the good
matchup there?
Speaker 17 (18:37):
Well, it's fascinating here, of course that Bill's offense led
by Josh Allen, coming off those six touchdowns last week
against that Texans defense. Bill's offense second in yards per game,
fourth in points per game, and that Texans defense number
one in both the yards per game and points per game.
And that's really been the Texans formula is like, Hey,
their defense has to do all they can. Is really
(19:00):
been phenomenal, not getting much from their offense to play
as well as they've had because it's so.
Speaker 10 (19:04):
Hard to just shut teams down.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
So we'll see if.
Speaker 17 (19:07):
They can do that once again and keep Davis Mills
from having to make up a ton of plays against
that Bill's defense, who's having a ton of issues of
their own, can't stop the run, giving up tons of
points as well. But really the key will be Ken
Josh Allen capitalized on that Texans number one ranked defense,
Dudy Mark and Baldi.
Speaker 9 (19:25):
Thank you both very much.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
And when we return, we are going to return to
Houston and hear more about tonight's game from our Steve Whiche.
Stay with us on The Insiders.
Speaker 6 (19:44):
The site of tonight's showdown that is Houston, that is
right outside the Texans Stadium. I feel like Houston scenic
should be like Pinkerton's in the pit room and all
the very barbecue places, right, Is that too much to
ask for, Steve Weis Welcome back.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
To the Insiders.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
I'm serious, right, Like, all I really need is like
a huge pit, some ribs, maybe some brisket because it's Texas.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
Anyway, we'll get to that in a second.
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Steve, you are on site for the showdown tonight on
Amazon Prime Video. One of the things I want to
take a look into it and let you delve deeper
into is the Buffalo Bills run game. So a lot
from Josh Allen last week not a lot from James Cook.
How important is getting Cook going tonight.
Speaker 13 (20:30):
It's super important, Ian because it's interesting to doing the
research for this game. There's a certain number which is nineteen.
When James Cook touches the ball nineteen times, whether it's
carries or combination of carries and receptions, the Buffalo Bills win.
Of the four times he's had fewer the nineteen carries,
they are one and three, and it's going to be
(20:52):
really important for him to get going. We already talked
about earlier all the receiving targets that are going to
be off the field for Buffalo, So you're getting a
playmate like him going. Also, let's not forget last year
in a very tight game that Houston beat Buffalo in
Josh Allen was nine of thirty for one hundred and
thirty one yards. So running the ball is something that
(21:13):
Bills absolutely have to try to establish.
Speaker 6 (21:17):
Killens is another great barbecue used their rub actually for
when I make brisket.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
Anyway, stay on this game. I'm focused, I promise I'm focused.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
Texans have a nasty defense, one of the most active fronts,
one of the most physical fronts they face, one of
the most physical quarterbacks in Josh Allen. What are the
Texans looking at defense wise as they try to stop
one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Speaker 13 (21:42):
Yeah, I had a great conversation linebacker Henry to Otoh,
who gave him just great stuff. You know, some schematic
stuff like sometimes they're gonna present six at the line
of scrimmage and drop four. Sometimes they'll present four, blit six.
But he said, the main thing they have to do
is impact him early. They figure if they can get
him off on the spot, get him off the spot,
I should say, and get some.
Speaker 14 (22:03):
Hits on him early. They can disrupt him and try
to make him tuck it.
Speaker 13 (22:07):
Now, he said. The one thing that they can't do
is spy on him too long. If they use the
spy to kind of watch him, if he's gonna try
to take off, that's great. But if they linger too
long on a spy, that means somebody's gonna get open.
So they're gonna have to close on him quickly once
he kind of determines if he's gonna step up in
the pocket or try to bounce it. So it is
all about getting hits on Josh Allen early, especially coming
(22:29):
off of a game on Sunday when he probably took
a few licks, not many, seeing as how he got
into the end zone one way or another six times.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
Gatlan's is also great barbecue plays. There's so many good ones, Steve.
I hope after this game you were enjoying some barbie
and you're.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Not bad attention to anything.
Speaker 14 (22:42):
I'm saying, Man, your mind is.
Speaker 6 (22:46):
The barbecue is so good that I haven't had Texas barbecue,
and so I need to get back to Dallas and
to get back to Houston.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
There was a league meeting there. We're not going this
year anyway.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
Uh see, great stuff is always go eat some barbecue, Mike,
take it away.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, I I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Go now, Please go to Texas, all clear, don't worry
about it. One too long ago, the Baker Mayfield joined
the Los Angeles Rams and then like five minutes later
led them to a comeback victory. I believe that was
on a Thursday night. As here we are on a
Thursday talking about a game coming up here in a
couple of days.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Pacific times.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Some of you live on that five twenty, those of
us on the East Coast time, Bucky Brooks, that's eight
twenty pm.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Bring in Bucky right here. Let's talk about these Rams.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
We had a conversation on Good Morning Football the other day.
It was a fun one about who's the most complete team?
Or I forget how Jamie Rdol phrased it, but the
Rams are one of the few contenders right now.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
When you look at this team what impresses you the most?
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Look man, their versatility on both sides of the ball,
and every want to talk about n being the most
complete team, which.
Speaker 10 (23:51):
I agree with. They are pretty complete. They don't have
any gland weaknesses.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
But what they've done on offense in recent weeks has
really confounded the National Football League. Unning thirteen personnel meaning
one back, three tight ends on about eighteen percent of
their offensive snaps, and they're having tremendous success with his
person personnel grouping because it is one that pushed you
in a buyd on defense. With three tight ends on
the field. As a defensive coordinator, you got to figure out,
(24:16):
do I go with my heavy sets, do I go
with man man? Do I go with my regular personnel stuff?
How do I defend this grouping? Matthew Stafford is absolutely
dealing out of this because they can run it, they
can throw, play action, they can create all these mismatches
on their side. So it is a very very difficult
package to deal with. And it's allowed the Rams to
control the game and also light of scoreboards with these
(24:38):
bigs on the field.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
And then you got Baker on the other side of this.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I mean, the Buccaneers looked like they were comfortably going
to cruise to the NFC South title. Now it's getting
a little bit tight here. Baker's got to lead him
out of it.
Speaker 10 (24:50):
Yeah, he has to leave him out of it.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
And early in the year, Baker Mayfield was in the
MVP conversation because he was so good in terms of
finishing games. And I would say this, he's one of
the best clothes that We've seen four game winning drives
this season, so you know, if a game gets into
the fourth quarter, the Baker knows how to close it out.
But what I want to see from the Buccaneers is
I want to see their running game get on track.
Speaker 10 (25:11):
I want to see them control the game with a.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Ball control mixture of runs and play action passes that
allows Baker to comfortable and then if the defense can
set them up with some favorable feels, put them in
scoring range.
Speaker 10 (25:24):
I want to see.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Baker finished the deal by delivering a pinpoint pass and
to the corner Enzo, probably to a Mikabuka who's also
balling out of control.
Speaker 9 (25:36):
Welcome back to the insiders.
Speaker 8 (25:37):
Here's the AFC playoff picture as it stands right now.
Look at that race for the one seed. The Broncos
are in the lead right now. But you got the Patriots,
you got the Colts. It's going to be a tight
race all the way down to the wire. And then
look at the teams that are in the hunt. Those
are not teams we thought would be outside looking in
(25:57):
at this point. Let's bring back our Bucky Brooks and
our Mark Ross. We're going to talk about playoff probabilities.
They told me there would be no math. There apparently
is math. So let's start with the teams that are
in the hunt. Texans, Chiefs, Ravens. These are the AFC
bubble teams. Their playoff possibilities the Texans thirty one percent.
(26:22):
With a win, it goes up to forty eight percent
with a loss to Night twenty two percent.
Speaker 9 (26:26):
Chiefs only a forty five.
Speaker 8 (26:29):
Percent chance of making it to the playoffs right now,
goes up with a win this weekend fifty seven percent.
If they lose this weekend to the Colts, they drop
down to twenty nine percent. Ravens seventy two percent. They
can bump it up to seventy six percent. Their odds
are looking pretty good if they lose all the way
down to fifty seven percent mark, let us start with
you on a playoff probability. What do you make of this?
Speaker 17 (26:52):
Well, first of all, my probability, Judy, make any look
through the schedule, count up the wins and losses, then
add them all up, and then you'll get the records
at the end, and that makes it a lot easier
than saying the probabilities. That being said, with the Ravens,
we're gonna talk about them the next segment here.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
They're gonna win the North, so we'll move on.
Speaker 17 (27:08):
So we're really talking about the Chiefs, the Texans, and
the BUCkies Jacksonville Jaguars hanging around the bottom there. When
I look at the Chiefs schedule, there's looking like five
more wins that they have there. But when I look
at the Texans schedule, it is tough. They got the
Bills the night they got the Colts twice they got
the Chargers as well, so I don't know how many
more wins are going to be able to squeeze in,
(27:29):
even if CJ. Stroud comes back. You know, Davis Mills
has been kind of holding up admirably. That defense is
doing all they can. So I'm looking at them being out,
Kansas City getting five more and then Bucky, Sorry, man,
I just don't trust your Jaguars still. I think they
only got a few more wins in them as well.
They might be the odd team out.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
Oh, Mark Hocky, we talked about the Jags being out
when the magic number is ten. If you look at
the schedule, you talk about seven games left, that means
that Jags have to win four of them. You talk
about the Cardinals on the slate, the Tennessee Titans coming up,
and then you have the Titans actually twice, and then
you just got to figure out a way can you
beat the Jets. So if you win the game that
technically you should win, the Jaguars are in, but I
(28:07):
think they may go beyond just making the playoffs. I'm
looking for them to sneak up and catch the Coats
doing a division.
Speaker 8 (28:13):
All right, let's drill down on the AFC North and
we can get back to you guys off camera like
sparring over there. All right, let's drill down on the
AFC North playoff probabilities. According to next Gen Stats, this
one is amusing. The Steelers currently lead the division, but
the Ravens have a much better chance of winning it, apparently, Mark.
Speaker 17 (28:35):
Yeah, this is the Ravens. I mean, you talk about
a role reversal here, just flipping the script on this
season with the Ravens start and slow, the Steelers starting hot.
When I look at the rest of the Ravens schedule,
they got five layups. Almost they might get the six
or more wins, to be honest, if they could just
play good against New England and Green Bay. Those are
the two toughest games. When you look at Pittsburgh, man,
(28:56):
I'm only seeing really about two solid, definite wins. But
now you've got Aaron Rodgers hurt, even though Mason Rudolph
got in there and played better than Aaron Rodgers. So
this to me is just a team that's just declining.
The Ravens are on the rise, much like last year,
but even more dramatic. Buck, So I'm saying the Ravens
are gonna take this division running away.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
I mean, if you really believe that you can trust
the Ravens defense like they fixed everything because they've been.
Speaker 10 (29:20):
Beating powder puffs and rooty foods along the way.
Speaker 16 (29:22):
Then so be it.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
I'm gonna go with the defense and has more personnel
with the veterans, and that's the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 10 (29:27):
I'm just thinking that at some point this historic.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Defense that Mike Tomlin has talked about, they gonna play
to that level.
Speaker 10 (29:33):
Dalen Ramsey, TJ.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
Watt, Cam Hayward, all the other veterans, the Gray Bears
are ready to lead.
Speaker 10 (29:39):
Them on a runner.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Now, don't we talk about the schedule being tough, but
we don't know what the schedule is actually gonna play like,
I am willing to lean into the better defense in
this scenario. So give me the Pittsburgh Steelers to hold on.
They may hold on by a little bit, but look
for the Steelers to hold on.
Speaker 10 (29:53):
A winning division.
Speaker 8 (29:54):
I do wonder how the Steelers' probability numbers fluctuates with
the Aaron Rodgers risk situation. All right, let's close it
out by looking at the NFC North really tight division. Interestingly,
the Vikings are down to one percent. You got the Bears, Packers,
Lions all tightly bunched. Mark, What say you, who's coming
(30:15):
out of the NFC North.
Speaker 17 (30:18):
Yeah, this is probably the most fascinating and closely contested
vikings out of it. Of course, Bears really surprising, but
really they've been doing with defense and this opportunistic ability
of that defense and create turnovers. So I'm looking at
the Lions and the Packers, and when I look at
the schedule, the Lion's just setting up a little bit
easier with that schedule, most importantly because they only have
(30:38):
one outdoor game left. We know that Jarrett groff kryptonite
has been that outdoor game. We saw that last week.
So the last game of the season at Chicago is
the only outdoor game that they have. So I think
they might just get on a nice little run here
of home games and then they play at the Rams,
which is inside as well. So I'm looking at Detroit
(30:59):
just to edge out Green Bay there, Buckley, but both
teams will make the playoffs and be competitive there.
Speaker 10 (31:07):
Yeah, the schedule is favorable for the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 5 (31:10):
I just worry about their emotional nature in terms of
like Dan Campbell being a play call and getting emotional
going for it at random time. So I worry about
the unnecessary risk. That's why I'm going with the Packers
in this scenario. When I think of what the Packers
have done defensively, bringing Michael Parson's over, how they're able
to get after people, not only in terms of blissing
but rushing for playing zone behind it, the turnovers.
Speaker 10 (31:30):
Are going to come.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
A lot of it is on Matt Lafleur, Jordan Love
and this offense to get on track, and with Josh.
Speaker 10 (31:36):
Jacob's ailing a little bit, you worry about it, But.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
To me, man, I'm just such a believer in what
they have gone in terms of the completeness of their team.
I'm willing to go, Go, Pack Go. In the scenario,
look for the Packers to hang up another banner in Lambeau.
Speaker 8 (31:51):
You know, next time we do this, we got to
have the playoff probabilities from next gen stats for the
NFC West, which is the other really really tightly contested division.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Mark, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Time to go inside with NFL Fantasy Live and our
guy Michael f. Florio In regard to who we're starting
and sitting for week twelve in the NFL, starting tonight
Thursday Night Football. We always start with the starts in
Thursday Night Football. Who are we looking to put in
our lineup?
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Michael f The.
Speaker 18 (32:22):
Viewers know it's no secret. I am a Bills fan.
I don't deny it, which means I watched them get
ran all over every single week.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Which is why you should be starting Woody Marx this week.
Speaker 18 (32:32):
Because the Bills get ran all over every single week,
and Woody Marx has been.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Getting more opportunity. In the last two weeks.
Speaker 18 (32:39):
He has handled seventy three percent of the snaps, with
eighty percent of the running back carries and half of
the running back targets. Plus did I say the Bills
get ran all over every single week? There in the
top five in rushing yards, touchdowns, explosive runs, fantasy points
per game two running backs.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
So Marx has a higher ceiling than usual. I think
a higher floor than usual.
Speaker 18 (33:01):
He is someone that I'm getting into a number of
starting lineups myself this week, and I think you could
play Dalton Schultz. I will tell you the Bills are
the toughest matchup.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Four tight ends.
Speaker 18 (33:13):
Literally, they've allowed the fewest points per game to the position.
But Dalton Schultz has eight or more Fantasy points in
seven of his last eight games.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
That is a say floor.
Speaker 18 (33:23):
He has scored eleven or more in five of his
last six, so he brings some upside. But what I
love Davis Mills in the last two games has targeted
Schultz twenty times and he is averaging almost fifteen Fantasy
points per game. Look, he might not be CJ. Strout,
but Davis Mills has helped elevate Nico Collins and Dalton
Schultz for fantasy purposes.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
So fantasy managers are cool with Davis Mills being out there.
Speaker 18 (33:47):
But despite the tough matchup, I do think you could
take a shot on the Texans tight ends in a
game where they could be in ketchup mode.
Speaker 6 (33:55):
You know, I thought about that last week. I might
have to do it this week. My team is so
bad though, I'm not sure it matters all. But we're
not giving up. We're gonna bind together. We're gonna fight
because that is what we do, you know, sort of
not really all right?
Speaker 7 (34:07):
Good, that was the good. That was the positive. Give
me the negative. Who is sitting for the TNF showdown tonight?
Speaker 18 (34:13):
It look first shout out to Khalil Shakiir for being
a new dad, and that is the reason I'm a
little bit hesitant here. But I do think you could
look sit Khalil Shakir this week because last week the
Bills just went full rotation at wide receiver. No Bills
receiver played over fifty three percent of the snaps, none
of them had over five targets. In fact, Shakir just
(34:36):
three targets and negative three air.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Yards last week. And it's not a one week thing.
They have turned them into a screen merchant in this offense.
Speaker 18 (34:44):
Four point two air yards per target this season is
the lowest of all qualified wide receivers in the NFL.
And on top of that, the Texans have allowed the
second fewest fantasy points per game two wide receivers. So
you can't rely on like you're hoping for a big
and run if you start Shakir tonight or a touchdown.
And then Dawson Knox, I know, I came on the
(35:06):
show last week and was like, I think he's.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
A good streaming option with Dalton kink being out.
Speaker 18 (35:11):
Nope, he had just three targets last week, one catch
twenty three yards and on top of it. The Texans
have allowed the fifth fewest yards and fantasy points per
game two tight ends, so the usage isn't great, the
matchup isn't great, and well, I think the trend kind
of bucks this week.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
Josh Allen has played terribly.
Speaker 18 (35:29):
Against the Texans in his career, so makes it look
at me though, a Bills fan telling you to start
to Texans and sit two Bills.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Don't call me a homer.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Never would never ever ever call Michael le f Florio
a homer because I don't want to make them angry,
because I want him to give me the best possible
fantasy advice. Because my team on the playoff bubble. Like
we talked about the Ravens and the Chiefs, I'm on
the playoff bubble, so Traveon Henderson is on my roster.
Ramandre Stevenson is working his way back. It was so
much easier when Stevenson was sidelined. Not that wishing harm
(36:00):
on him at all, but now he's on his way back.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
What do we do with Travion Henderson?
Speaker 18 (36:04):
Look, Mike, a lot like you, A lot of my
Travion teams are in that playoff bubble, but we are
trending up right now in a big way. And that's
why I think you continue to start Traveon Henderson. Like
the touchdowns are getting all the attention, But in the
three games without Stevenson twenty four fantasy points per game,
and he is top five amongst all running backs in
that span in touchdowns, rushing yards, yards after contact, yards
(36:27):
over expectation. That translates to he has been playing at
an extremely high level. Meanwhile, Stevenson has the second lowest
yards per.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Carry of all running backs in the NFL.
Speaker 18 (36:38):
So I think Steve Henderson has done enough to be
the Patriots RB one, and Vrabel has said there will
they'll find a happy medium to get both involved. I
don't think it matters though this week because the Bengals
have allowed the most rushing yards and fantasy points per
game two running backs.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
They allow a lot of big plays.
Speaker 18 (36:56):
I think you keep riding the hot hand here with
Travon Henderson and at nothing else, just it is the
best possible matchup he could have.
Speaker 7 (37:04):
What a surprise you guys love tre Van Henderson.
Speaker 6 (37:06):
We did have a little bit of news today on
Daniel Jones, the coach starting quarterback, popped up on the
injury report. With a calf, he was limited. My understanding
is the team is just being cautious. We should be okay,
but obviously we're going to be paying attention and monitoring tomorrow,
taking all that information into accounting and push what you
already thought anyway, Furio, are we sitting or starting Daniel Jones?
Speaker 18 (37:28):
I had Daniel Jones as they sit already, but that
calf issue. I know it's precautionary, but it scares me
a little bit because what if he's not as mobile
this week? That is a bad matchup for that to
come into against the Chiefs. Look, in his last two games,
Daniel Jones has thrown for just two touchdowns compared to
four interceptions, and a trend that I think.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
We have seen this year.
Speaker 18 (37:51):
He plays really well in favorable matchups, but he has
struggled in some of the tougher ones.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
And I think this is a tough matchup.
Speaker 18 (37:58):
The Chiefs have allowed the fifth uist yards and fewest
passing touchdowns allowed, and since Week seven, the only quarterback
to top fifteen, not even setting the bar that high
fifteen fantasy.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Points against them was Josh Allen.
Speaker 18 (38:12):
No disrespect to Daniel Jones, I don't think he is
Josh Allen, So I think if you have the capability
of getting away from him this week, I would look
to do so.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
All Right, here's the guy we haven't talked about much
this year. Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson a career high
seven touchdown receptions already, including one the other night. What
do we do with Jake Ferguson heading into the rematch
with the Eagles.
Speaker 18 (38:34):
I think you look to get rid of him in
this matchup from week one. Look, even in Week one,
Dak played pretty well. He threw for fewer than two
hundred yards and no touchdowns. But since Ceedee Lamb has returned,
Jake Ferguson has rightfully so been the third target for
Dak and the Cowboys, averaging just five targets per game
(38:55):
in that four game stretch.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
He is top thirty yards just one time.
Speaker 18 (38:59):
And on top of it, the Eagles have allowed the
second fewest yards and fantasy points, two tight ends and
just one touchdown, and their defense is way better in
the last month than it was to start the year.
Plus Jalen Carter will actually be out there, we think
for the Eagles. So I'm looking to get away from
Jake Ferguson in this one.
Speaker 7 (39:18):
The Hawks have a little bit of a Carrie Sherif situation.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
Zach Charbonnet Kenneth Walker on again, off again Kenneth Walker
for this week?
Speaker 7 (39:26):
What say you, Flouri A starting your sitting?
Speaker 18 (39:28):
I think we could finally get Kenneth Walker back into
starting lineups. He has been to sit in the article
for like two months in a row now, but last
week he was back to being the lead back for
the Seahawks. He led them in snaps, carries, routes, targets,
and he even got a goal on Carrie, which is huge.
And then Mike McDonald came out this week and said
that Kenneth Walker has earned more opportunities moving forward. It
(39:51):
comes at a great time because the Titans have allowed
the second most rushing touchdowns, They're in the top ten
and yards fantasy points allowed.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
So I believe is the Seahawks' best and.
Speaker 18 (40:02):
Most explosive running back should get an opportunity.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
To shine in this great matchup.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
All right, now to the selfish part of the program
where we can ask you about our own fantasy teams
with some of the names that we just talked about.
So I've got two running back position, two running back spots,
and a flex position as well. Christian McCaffrey gets one
of the running back slots.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
That makes it easy.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
So now we're talking Traveon Henderson, wood He Marx or
Emmanuel Wilson, whom we claim the other day when you suggested,
we claim the problem is Josh Jacobs is starting to
do some work here. So do I put Marx in
one of these spots tonight or do I hold out
hope that maybe Jacobs doesn't play and then Wilson gets
run Well.
Speaker 18 (40:41):
Travion, you're playing automatically right like he's one of them?
Or is he in the mix here as well?
Speaker 2 (40:46):
I mean I'm asking you I would play had him
as a start.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
I would play Travion over these guys.
Speaker 18 (40:51):
But if you're deciding between Wilson and Marx, I would
just play it safe because we don't know one hundred
percent what that backfield.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
Is going to look like for Green Bay. We know
what ma is going to get a lot of volume.
Speaker 18 (41:01):
In the best or one of the best matchups for
a running back, So not the ideal situation to be in,
but I would go Marx. But obviously Trevion is number
one in my heart and should be the RB two
in your lineup.
Speaker 6 (41:15):
Okay, I had a great QB two sort of a
super flex option for my team. It was Joe Flacco
may not need it, may not need it, he may
not play.
Speaker 7 (41:24):
So here are my options, OWT for QB two. Don't
hate me. These are rough ones. Tyler Shuck or Kirk Cousins.
Who should I start in that QB two spot for you?
Speaker 18 (41:34):
You know, I was thinking about this when I was
told what your question was going to be, and I
was like, well, there's no Drake London. But then you
could there's no Shaheta anymore for this Saints. I was like,
who's the better matchup? They literally ranked fourteenth and fifteenth
and fantasy points per game allowed a quarterback, so like
right middle.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Of the pack. I I feel like Kirk.
Speaker 18 (41:51):
Cousins is the safer floor play here, but I'm gonna
roll the dice with Taylor Shuck because I think he
has the higher ceiling and you just never know what
Falcons defense is going to show up. But yeah, this one,
you're you're diving real quarterback.
Speaker 14 (42:06):
Yeah not great?
Speaker 7 (42:08):
Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I mean this is why Michael f Florio is the
nicest guy in all of fantasy football analysis, because I
would have told you get.
Speaker 10 (42:16):
Out of the league.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Why are you having two quarters?
Speaker 9 (42:19):
Like the NFL.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
One quarterback is on the field at a time, and
don't give me wildcatter anyhow. It's good, it's a good league,
but then you're stuff starting guys like this great get it,
get out.
Speaker 16 (42:29):
Get out, get out.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
NFL dot com slash starts it for all of Michael
Michael Florio's opinions, except for whether you should have a
two quarterback league that you're a part of, I'll give
you that opinion. But start Sit is where you find
out all the decisions for week twelve in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
Who to start? Who to sit?
Speaker 2 (42:44):
Michael Florio, Love you, pale, appreciate you as always.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
If you're looking for Michael f or any.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
Of those smiling faces up top and our analysts and
reporters that join us on the Insiders, here's where you
can find this every single day of the week.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
This is Thursday. You're watching us, so you already.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Know tomorrow back on the NFL Network and NFL Plus
wherever you find your podcast. Don't the sneeze at that
last part either. There are no excuses for not finding
the Insiders. In fact, sometimes we're photo bombing. We'll talk
about that coming up next. Welcome back to the Insiders.
(43:26):
The Falcons reminding us it was eight years ago today
they were imploding the Georgia Dome and the Weather Channel
for some reason, was trying to get video of it,
and the Marta bus just jumped in.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
But you can hear the producer and.
Speaker 18 (43:37):
The kick get out of the way, Get out of
the way.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
You know what, This is much more memorable than any
other implosion video. In fact, we're talking about it eight
years later, which got us thinking, Ian, what about our
all time photo bombs?
Speaker 6 (43:49):
There's mine right there. So that's me on the field
before the Super Bowl. That's Pellisero in the background. We
both look amazing. How great my TI color is. Nobody
cares because Jay and Blue are walking right in front
of us.
Speaker 7 (44:03):
All eyes on Hove, zero eyes on me. Great photobomb
on Mike, Judy.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
The best I got for you is me a couple
of weeks ago. Well, Woodie Johnson was absolutely flaming justice.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
You were there as well. Did you have that expression
on your face?
Speaker 9 (44:19):
Oh?
Speaker 8 (44:19):
I definitely had that same expression. I know there is
a photobomb of knee over Jerry Jones shoulder looking like ha,
I believe our Jane Slater has that picture somewhere.
Speaker 1 (44:30):
Yeah, we gotta go look for that.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
We'll have that in the next We'll never know, which
is Friday on NFL Network.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
Photo Mombas
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