December 5, 2025 • 41 mins
The INSIDERS Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo let us know which star quarterback’s suiting up for the NFL’s Week 14 slate of games. The Lions take care of business against the Cowboys on Thursday night as Stacey Dales tells us how.
There are some huge games with playoff implications this week, and Cam Wolfe and Omar Ruiz take a deep dive.
Start ’em or sit ’em?? Our Fantasy INSIDER Adam Rank breaks down the fantasy numbers.
And, joining the INSIDERS is Houston’s Man of the Year candidate linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who talks about the Texans dominant defense and his off-field charities.
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 (00:01):
The Commander's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but
that isn't stopping QB one from getting out of that
luxury boxing back on the field, Jayden Daniels, We'll return
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We will tell you all we know on that.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Situation and other key injuries. Entering the fourteenth weekend of
the season, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen are ray to
go at it again with a lot on the line
with both teams in the AFC playoff chase. Our Cameron
Wolf will be here before he's there to break down
a big one in Buffalo love More Adam Texans linebacker
(00:36):
Aziz al Shire is an impact player on the field
and often Ziz joins us Tonight to talk about his
Man of the Year nomination and how far this red
hot Houston team can go. Welcome Inside with the Insiders
presented by Progressive Insurance alongside Mike Garifolo I am Tom Pellisero.
Week fourteen is often running. We got a great slate
(00:59):
of games coming up on Sunday, and one star quarterback
will be back on the field. That is the Commander's
Jaden Daniels, who officially is off the injury report cleared
for contact and will start on Sunday against the Vikings,
his first game action since he suffered a dislocated elbow
back in Week nine. It was a gruesome injury, but
(01:21):
Daniels maintained his goal all along was to get back
onto the field. He put the Commanders three and nine
at all but eliminated. Jaden certainly sounds happy to be back.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It feels good.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
It's been a long process of dealing with something that significant,
but I had time to sit back and reflect and
you know, focus my energy other way, and I was
being a great teammate. I mean, I think every season different,
so you can't really use it as you can use
it as momentum, but every season different, a lot of
(01:53):
things happen, so you really just trying to go out
there and finish this season strong. You know, I'm healthy
enough to go out there and play, and who am
I to go out there and not tell my teammates
I don't want to play because something out of my control.
So I'm gonna go out there and give him my
awe and obviously be smart. But at the end of
the day, I'm really focused on these last couple games,
(02:14):
and you know, see what the tables turn.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
The quarterback of the other side is one that Jadon
Daniels knows well. Twenty twenty four draft classmate JJ McCarthy
officially clearing concussion protocol. He will be in the lineup
on Sunday. Bit a challenging season all around for McCarthy
and the Vikings, who are still technically alive in the
playoff picture. The Arizona Cardinals are out and so is
(02:39):
Kyler Murray for the rest of twenty twenty five. Still
recovering from a foot injury that is not progressing as hoped.
Kyler is due forty million dollars nearly fully guaranteed in
twenty twenty six. Big decisions coming for the Cardinals prior
to March fifteenth, when another almost twenty million in twenty
twenty seven would become fully guaranteed.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson, it's always been a different cadence of
late what kind of week it's going to look for
look like for him in practice this week it was limited,
then did not practice, then back to a full practice
and no status as far as his injury is concerned
for Sunday. So Lamar Jackson good to go against the Steelers.
(03:20):
We told you yesterday he didn't sense any great concern,
just got stepped on, and yeah, there it is.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
There's the proof. Lamar Jackson good to go for Sunday.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
On the other side of this game, Aaron Rodgers a
full participant for the second straight day with that left
wrist injury that he played with last week and will
continue to play with this week.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So a huge game for the Steelers.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Rodgers went down for reasons other than the rest here,
had his nose bruised and bloodied.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
But Rodgers good to go. No injury status for him.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
Meanwhile, Justin Fields ruled out for Sunday against the Dolphins
with knee soreness, Aaron Glenn making that announcement before practice.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So another turn in the sea that.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Was supposed to be a good one for Fields and
the Jets not going to be the case here as
he is not going to play on Sunday, will not
be available behind Tyron Taylor. And if you knew that
Brady Cook, undrafted free agent, was next in line, you
need to spend more time with your families on the weekends.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Tom Hey, Aaron Glenn says, Brady Couch got a chance
to be a player someday. They probably hope it's not
on Sunday. Take a look at some of the other
key injuries around the NFL. No surprise, Sauce Gardner out
once again, Drake London out, still dealing with that PCL,
Marvin Harrison Juniors out, Roma doonesay, this one was a surprise.
I'm told been playing with a stress fracture in his foot.
Considered to be week to week. He just needed rest
(04:42):
at this point. Mike Evans getting closer. Returned to practice
this week, but he is out as well, and Chris
Alave want to keep in mind for fantasy purposes. Officially
listed as questionable week fourteen. Kicking off will fast forward
right too well. Ceedee Lamb, a big piece of that
Cowboys offense, going out of the game, diagnosed with a
concussion and sideline thirty to nineteen fourth quarter now Dak
(05:04):
Prescott going deep to a wide open Ryan Flinoy, who
walks into the end zone a seventy two yard touchdown.
Cowboys cut it to thirty to twenty seven. Late fourth quarter,
now Lion's still up by seven. Jamier Gibbs untouched. One
of the most remarkable players in the NFL, help me
leave the Lions into the center of the playoff picture,
(05:25):
which means when you get a Dan Campbell post game speech, stamn.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Good winning guys.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
How that's who we are, nobody man, We ride our
own store. We said it all along. That's the way
to show up.
Speaker 7 (05:40):
Man.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
What if show up? We do what we want to do.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
And how we're going to do it.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
You get shown up? Was it perfect? No lot?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Play up? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:49):
That's a good win man. That was a hot team,
all right, and that's one down. We got another one
to go after this.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Hey, good win, fellows, real quick, remember whatever feeling you
had on this week to get us here today, come back,
have a nice little time off, reach charge right for
this last little core of the Seasonfls.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
We can do anything we put our minds to. A
promise you promise you. You know.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
When Dan Campbell comes into the postgame scene already with
his voice, horse, it has been a day, it has
been a season, and yet here the Lions are in
the thicket things once again. Here's our Stacey Dales with
us right now on the insiders. Stacey, we know that
there's a toughness that is built into that Lions program.
By Dan Campbell and if you needed any further evidence
(06:32):
of it, looked no further than I'm on Ross Saint
Brown going down with an injury seven days before that
looked really bad. Not only is he out on the field,
but he played well in a huge victory.
Speaker 8 (06:42):
He played beyond well. I mean, he's just so tough.
He really embodies who these Detroit Lions are, Tom and Mike.
And you know, it's crazy. The NFC North is crazy.
They are eight and five. They are currently just staring
down the playoffs in that eight seed spot. And what
you realize when you watch a game like this, and
if you follow Jane Slater, you'd see im and Ross
(07:04):
Saint Brown sprinting around the field to start that game,
you knew something was foreshadowing good things in store for him.
Speaker 9 (07:10):
Five hundred and eleven career.
Speaker 8 (07:12):
Receptions, surpassing Michael Thomas for the most catches by a
player in their first five seasons in NFL history. He's
just so reliable for Jared Goff to play through that
ankle injury and play so well and consistently in this game.
And the other takeaway for me, guys was David Montgomery,
I think when the Lions are successful. He is a
(07:32):
part of this action and he's a part of the
operation and his sixty rush yards were vital for them
and his rushing touchdown as you see him here on
the screen, keeping the defense honest so that Jamior Gibbs
can be bop all over the field. He needs to
be involved for them to be successful. David Montgomery does
and he was in this game and it was a
huge game on Thursday Night football. And then I would
(07:54):
just lastly say, guys, as the Lions put up forty
four points in this contest, their third forty plus point
game this season. Defensively, they got rush. Jack Campbell was
heavily involved in that upfront. With this defensive front, they
ended up with five sacks. They created three takeaways and
that was huge. They didn't turn the ball over, they
took the ball away and when their defense gets rushed,
(08:16):
sadly to see Brian Branch go down with that season
ending injury, guys, they're a lot better because of that
rush and that's how they get those takeaways. So it
was a really good complete performance from the Detroit Lions,
and they.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Are certainly going to need that front to wreak havoc Mike,
because Stacy just said, it's not just the injury that
happened last night. They already were without Terry on Arnold
who's out for the season undergoing shoulder surgery. Kirby Joseph
hasn't played since October, and now another huge loss with
one of the most versatile and best players.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
On the back end.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Yeah, as you guys reported earlier today, Brian branch youw
and Ian Brian Branched a torn achilles ten didn't going
to be lost for the season, just.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
A huge losses.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
He is more than just a good young player and
a versatile guy. Tom He the energy that he brings,
the attitude he brings. You see the play right here,
just look like a freak little thing that led to
that achilles injury. So an enormous loss for the Lions
in that department. Meanwhile, for the Cowboys, Ceedee Lamb goes down,
there was some awkward movement with his hands there as
(09:16):
soon as he landed, and within just a couple of
minutes was ruled out.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
With a concussion. So that was a tough one because he.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
Was having what look like it was going to be
a monster night statistically, and we know what he means
to this offense, particularly now with George Pickens coming under
fire for how he's running some routes and Pickens firing
back at Richard Sherman on social media. Look, Cowboys need
Ceedee Lamb back. They're at the point now where they
probably have to run the table and Vikings Commanders giants.
I mean, there's winnable games left for them. The Chargers
(09:42):
one's gonna be a tough one. But to do that,
they're gonna need to be a full strength going to
need see Lamb back in.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Actually, Stacey, do not move more from you in just
a little bit. But since we're talking about Thursday at
football this week, hobably look ahead to next Thursday. It's
a Southern showdown on Prime Video. The Atlanta Falcons flying
to Tampa take on the Bucks. Thursday night football coverage
begins at seven Eastern only on Prime Video. Now today,
(10:07):
t Higgins is back. He missed last week's game because
of a concussion, but the Bengals standout receiver now has
cleared the concussion proto call. He will play on Sunday
in a huge game against the Bills at Buffalo. Defense
a little bit banged up, right, now. Pass rusher Joey
Bosa officially ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
(10:27):
He is dealing with a hamstring injury. Linebacker Treel Bernard
also ruled out for the game. So a couple of
key losses against the Bengals offense, do you generally lead
everybody on your roster to try to stop Welcome back
to the Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance, Tom Pellicero, now
joined by our buddy Cameron Wolf, who's going to be
at that game on Sunday, and Cam Joe Burrow, Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
I don't have a whole lot more to say. Go Yeah,
I can't wait.
Speaker 10 (10:53):
It's going to be cold and maybe snowy, and we
have two of the best quarterbacks in football, and I
thought it was so interesting. This week, Jamar Chase talked
about how emotional Joe Burrow.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Was after that Thanksgiving win.
Speaker 10 (11:04):
He said he doesn't like to show any emotions, but
he's appreciative of coming back after the journey they had had,
and a lot of the people in the Bengals locker
room are using his return as a rallying cry. They're
four and eight, but they know they've got a small
slim shot.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Last year they were four and eight.
Speaker 10 (11:19):
DJ Turner told me, and we won out and we
feel that same type of energy. And you look at
the AFC North and say why not. And this Bengals
team now is getting fully healthy at the right time,
T Higgins, out of concussion protocol, will play. And now
you'll have T Higgins, Jamar Chase, Joe Burrow for the
first time since September fourteenth. They've only played fifty four
(11:39):
snaps together all season, and they get to throw the
ball around against this Bills team, and so they're dangerous.
They've got a certain moxie about them, and Joe Burrow
changes everything for the offense, and so this is an
important game for them. But this is also an important
game for Buffalo, who is trying to find its way offensively.
And I think the conversation for Josh Allen and similar
(12:00):
Joe Burrow as can they save this offense. Josh Allen,
I've had a lot of conversations with their GM Brandon
being about the good angel and the bad Angel. On
Josh Allen's side, they want the good angel to tell
them to take care of the ball, to play smart.
The bad angel is make the wild plays, make the unpredictable.
Because of their lack of consistency with the playmakers, they
may have to lean in a little bit more into
(12:22):
him being that bad angel making the playmakers down the field.
Because they don't have that consistency, they do get a
little bit healthier this.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Week, Dion Dawkins.
Speaker 10 (12:32):
Their left tackle is back, and they're still waiting to
see if tight end Dalton mccaid and right tackle Spencer
Brown will play.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
They're both questionable, solid flex as always to show up
for this segment. You got pictures of you interviewing Josh
Allen and Jamar Chase behind you. I see it, Cam,
I caught the Easter eggs. Nothing gets by me. We
also got a big game between the Jaguars and the Colts.
I was at that game last week in Indianapolis. The
lost to Houston. The offense was just kind of a battle.
You see the Jaguars on both sides right now, seeming
(12:58):
to be headed the right direction and break down this matchup.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
What do you think is key in this one here?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Cam?
Speaker 10 (13:02):
Yeah, the Colts were running away with this AFC South
not too long ago. But that Fractrick Fibla. You guys
have reported on for Daniel Jones. Talking to people around
the league. They see a very limited offense these days
with him. He can't move around as much. They can
key in on Jonathan Taylor, and they're starting to lose
a grip not only on this AFC South, but potentially
the playoffs. You look at the Colt schedule, all five
(13:24):
of their games left against teams against winning records, starting
Sunday against the Jaguars. They have not beat the Jaguars
in Jacksonville, says twenty fourteen. Can they get this offense
going with just a pass only Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
They're going to try a few.
Speaker 10 (13:39):
More things to switch it up in the past game
this week, get Tyler Warren even more involved. But they're
playing a Jags defense that is heating up at the
right time, and it's their pass rush that I want
to focus on. Josh Heinz Allen has five and a
half sacks in November. He had just a half a
sack in September and October. They've been able to get
that pass rush, then they've been able to attack quarterbacks,
(13:59):
and they really want to lean on that down the stretch.
And we look at this AFC South with the Jags
tied at eight and four, the Texans there at seven
and five. This could be a very spicy division race
that will come down to the end. But the Jags
think is their pass rush, their defense that can be
a difference maker Sunday and to potentially win this division.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Folts are confident Daniel Jones is going to get better
over time here in terms of the fracture, fiblis should
be healing, so at some point it's gona be close
to one hundred percent. We'll see with those Jaguars pass
rushers chasing him around this week how close he actually is.
Cam Safe travels. Stay warm. We will talk to you
again soon.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Mike, He'll stay warm. He lives in South Florida. It's
freezing up here. I love you, Cam. Jim Harball still
optimistic a lot of different ways that the Chargers have
pretty much said that justin Herbert's going to play this week,
Harball the latest. Greg Roman as well, still optimistic still
that he is going to play after he had surgery.
NFL players, they're built different. Omar Ruiz is built different
(14:55):
than your average reporter.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
So we're going to bring him in right now.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
He'll be covering this game with the Chargers and the
Eagles on Monday. We'll get the final status on Harball
with regard to the injury report on Saturday, but.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Seems like it's looking up. Omark.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Yeah, talking to people around the building, everybody has high
hopes for Justin Herbert to play on Monday. They've seen
him over the years, how tough he's been, battling through
several other injuries throughout the course of his career, and then.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Just seeing him on Sunday come.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
Back in that Raiders game after hurting his hand and
playing as effectively as he did all signs why there
is that optimism that he plays on Monday. He's been
limited in practice the last couple of days, running seven
on seven, eleven on eleven today, but Jim Harbaugh saying
he did not take any snaps from under center, so
you have to surmise that he did nothing but shotgun
(15:44):
and pistol formations, just like he did on Sunday when
he came back against the Raiders. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman
saying how that might affect the offense is really minimal.
He said they could pretty much run what they want
to do from the run game, obviously from the pame
in those formations.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
He says.
Speaker 7 (16:02):
The only difference is obviously when you're in a pistol formation,
can't run in the I formation. And he said they
had a little hiccup down toward the goal line running
that type of offense on a mix up between shotgun
and pistol should have been one or the other. So
little things like that are things they can adjust to.
If Justin Herbert is able to play, and if they
have to do nothing but shotgun or pistol on Monday night.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
YEP, would not be surprised.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
I mean, maybe he'll be listed as questionable, but wouldn't
be surprised if we get an indication on that final
injury report on Saturday that Justin Herbert is full steam ahead.
You've got this Eagles team that really struggled run defense
wise against a Chicago Bears team that handled them and
ran up the middle. And now adding to that, Jalen
Carter is not going to play.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
He had that.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Procedure on both shoulders, looking like week to week for him.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So you got a Chargers.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Team that can run the ball well, you got a
coordinator that likes to run the ball. You got a
team that didn't defend the run well with you, I mean,
you see where I'm going with this.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
What's the game plan for the Chargers here?
Speaker 7 (16:58):
Yeah, well you talk about on Mitchell the Eagles DV.
He spoke to him just a little while ago. He said, Yeah,
they recognized they gave up two hundred and eighty one
yards against the Bears last Friday. Obviously they're on a
mini two game winning streak. He said, They're not dwelling
on those just using those performances as opportunity to challenge
themselves to continue to get better every week. He did
(17:21):
recognize the opportunity for Omari and Hampton to come back
for that Chargers running back. A lot of respect for
that Chargers run game, but obviously a lot of respect
for the Chargers and what they can do in the
past game as well. Mitchell saying the four horsemen that
the Chargers have this year, throwing out the likes of Keenan, Allen, Quintin, Johnston,
Lad mcconkin Oronde Gadson, four players with more than five
(17:43):
hundred yards receiving. They all have different body types, different
styles of receiver. Mitchell saying that in and of itself
is a challenge. You have to be prepared for each
one and how uniquely they attack you. So the Eagles
come out on Monday, Monday Night Football a big opportunity
for them to get back on track. They're looking forward
to that challenge and it's next man up in replacing
Jalen Carter.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Mike Yes, it.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Is the Eagles looking at it right now from the
perspective of an NFC East team that could repeat as
champions for the first time since two thousand and four.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
This won't clinch it.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
But if they get a win on Monday with the
Cowboys losing, that will pretty much put.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
This thing away.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
So this will be a big one for the Eagles,
but also from a confidence standpoint, Omar will be there
on Monday check in for all of his information leading
up the kickoff.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Big One Sunday for the outright lead in the NFC North.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Bears will not have wide receiver role of Doonday.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
He is out, but running back Kamanung Guy is in
officially off the injury report full participant in practice today
after dealing.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
With an ankle injury.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
He's readied to a role against the Packers who could
get Jayden Reid back in action. Matt Leffleuor said today
he is hopeful Reid could play on Sunday for the
first time since Week two. Had a collarbone injury as
well as a foot injury. They have until four pm
Eastern Time on Saturday to act invade him in order
for Reid to be eligible to play against the Bears.
(19:03):
Welcome back to the Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance. Welcome
again to our Stacy Dales with me Tom Pelicero.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Stacey.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
We know that Ben Johnson loves to run the football.
The Packers have one of the top defenses in the NFL.
Break down this matchup, which could play a huge factor
and who comes out with the NFC North lead come Sunday.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (19:24):
Tom.
Speaker 8 (19:24):
The Bears, as you know, have the number two ranked
rushing offense, averaging about one to fifty four on the
ground this season. The Pack number eight, giving up just
around ninety eight rush yards per game. It's really interesting though,
the Chicago Bears lead the NFL in big plays ninety
four of them. That's twenty or more yards in terms
of a pass, or ten or more yards on the
(19:46):
ground in terms of a run fifty four of those
are rushes. I mean, think about that, Tom, It's Deandrey Swift,
it's Kyalamanungai, and it's.
Speaker 9 (19:55):
This offensive line.
Speaker 8 (19:56):
I spoke with Kyle Manungai this week and he told
me of this, this offensive line, they're simply firing off
the ball.
Speaker 9 (20:03):
They displace the first level of.
Speaker 8 (20:04):
Defenders, he told me, and they get to that second level,
and they're doing it consistently. And here's the key with
these Bears. They show you so many different looks in
terms of this offensive line in the run game, as
Manungai told me, it could be wide zone, mid zone,
tight zone, gap scheme. They're constantly giving the defensive front
different looks as we saw with Philly in that Monster
(20:24):
game on Black Friday. And Jeff Hafley, the defensive coordinator
with these Packers, he spoke about it this week. Ben
Johnson is constantly changing the way they motion you, the
way they shift you, creating angles, creating leverage. And so
when I spoke with free safety Evan Williams, who's having
a fantastic second year in the NFL for these Packers,
he told me that simply we have to be clean
(20:46):
with our keys, like perfect with our keys against this
rushing offense, and they do such a great job Tom,
with that eye candy, as Jeff Hafley spoke of that
we're all witnessing with this offense.
Speaker 9 (20:57):
Ben Johnson is doing a heck of a job. This
is going to be a great check match.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
We also have a game for first place in the
AFC North. It is the Steelers and the Ravens, both
six and six. They played twice. The first one is
on Sunday. Stacey, you've covered Aaron Rodgers throughout his career.
There's been bumps. Last week he made some comments about
things that were were not happening. How do they get
back on track this week against Baltimore.
Speaker 9 (21:20):
Yeah, I it a gut check week. Mike Tomlin spoke
about it.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This week.
Speaker 9 (21:24):
It's a look yourself in the mirror kind of week.
There was some.
Speaker 8 (21:27):
Frustration for these Steelers coming out of last week's loss,
which was a bad one. They simply didn't play well.
But what's remarkable, Tom is these are both six and
six football teams, the Steelers and Ravens. I've covered each
this season, and for these Steelers and Aaron Rodgers, it's
all about.
Speaker 9 (21:45):
How do they get through this defense.
Speaker 8 (21:47):
Because Baltimore's defense since their bye week in Week seven,
so over the last six games, they're giving up just
over sixteen points per game.
Speaker 9 (21:54):
They have been so stingy.
Speaker 8 (21:56):
Aaron Rodgers was forced to really work out of the
shotgun and in pistol formation last week because of that
wrist injury and all those fractures he's got in it.
We'll see if he can get back to normal against
this defense here on Sunday in what will be a
battle for supremacy in this division and the top of
(22:16):
the AFC North.
Speaker 9 (22:17):
And I mentioned the other side of the ball.
Speaker 8 (22:19):
But Lamar Jackson, as we know, he's been banged up
all season long. He got stepped on, as you know
Tom on Wednesday, which bothered him and disabled his ability
to practice. And the reality is over these last three
games he has failed his last three starts, failed to
throw a passing touchdown, and they're giving the football away.
That's been the issue. Over these last three games. They
(22:42):
have eight giveaways. He's responsible for five of them. He
spoke about it. His play caller, Todd Munkin spoke about
it this week. This game will come back to taking
care of football.
Speaker 9 (22:52):
It always does between these two teams. And just remember this.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
The Steelers, they lead the NFL with ninety one points
off turnovers, their second intake aways with twenty two. You
got to take care of the football against this defensive
Fielamar Jackson.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The weather turns becomes harder sometimes to hold on to
that football. Sometimes else becomes hard to hold onto a microphone.
So Stacy, good luck, bundle up. We will see you
bright and early. Thank you on Sunday morning. Lot more
to come on this show, and Glenn a visit from
our fantasy friend Adam Rank. Well, not a fantasy friend,
He's a real person who talks about fantasy football, and
(23:24):
I would guess he's gonna have t Higgins in his
lineup this week. Rank with Us next and the Insiders
presented by Progressive Insurance. Time now to go inside with
NFL Fantasy Live and our friend who's with us every
Friday night. It is Adam Rank with me, Tom Pelisero
as well as Mike Garofolo. Rank not just a fantasy expert,
(23:45):
also a big Bears fan, hence coming to us tonight
from Wieners Circle, where well, there's a lot of things
that have been going on this week. But let's start
out with this rank. T Higgins is back. How do
you feel about his fantasy prospects for Week fourteen?
Speaker 11 (23:59):
Finally get to see the Bengals offense, and we were
promised at the beginning of the season. These two players
have not been on the same field together since Week
two and it's been a long time coming to see
Joe Burrow reconnected with both Jamar Chase and T Higgins.
And when you look at the matchup against the Buffalo Bills,
who have struggled against opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks, this
(24:21):
is really an opportunity to get him back on the field.
For a lot of you and a lot of us,
I should say, we are trying to make the fantasy playoffs,
or if not make the playoffs, trying to get a
first round by you are going to do that if
you get TEA Higgins into your lineup this week, I
expect a huge game from him.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
On Sunday, the Wier.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
Circle gave out free hot dogs just to refresh everybody's
memory for Ben Johnson taking off his shirt. They said
they would do that if he took off his shirt,
and he did it postgame in Philadelphia in the locker room,
just going to.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Leave that out there.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
Rank Jordan Mason with my team, I dropped who I
had Jordan Mason, who I had on my team, I
dropped them.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Somebody else picked them up.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
Don't tell me there's value again here for Jordan Mason.
With Aaron Jones, who's been cleared to play limited with
his shoulder injury, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 11 (25:06):
Gonna be one of those things that's touch and go
right now as it stands here on Friday evening. If
Aaron Jones is going to be available on Sunday, Aaron
Jones is going to.
Speaker 6 (25:15):
Be the running back that we go with.
Speaker 11 (25:17):
However, go back, if you can still go out there
and pick up Jordan Mate, you should have him on
your roster because you do need the backup option. Because
when Jordan Mason gets an opportunity as a solo back
in this offense, he has averaged fourteen Fantasy points per game, obviously,
and even then he still is a guy who gets
(25:37):
a lot of work near the goal line, even when
Aaron Jones is in there. However, I would shy away
from him if possible this week. If Aeron Jones is
gonna be in there, so don't just release him.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
What are you doing?
Speaker 11 (25:49):
Like you got to handcuff these guys like you know
who your starters are, but still don't start them. If
Aaron Jones goes the limited spot. I got an outbid
on Jordan Mason. I thought I was gonna get him
for twelve bucks somebody mid four fourteen in the free
agent auctions. Who would think that?
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Well, apparently multiple people, and I got on the short
end of the stick. Amrio On Hampton with the Chargers
full participant in practice today Rak nothing official yet, but
seems like he's trending toward playing Monday night.
Speaker 11 (26:13):
Yeah, we're really excited to see what happens when he's
able to get back out on the field with the
LA Chargers.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
One of the things that we would expect that.
Speaker 11 (26:20):
The Chargers are going to try to attack the Eagles
on the ground. Now, will they be as effective as
the Bears were on Black Friday. That'll be something to
see for later on. But when you have a quarterback
who's been battling an injury, especially the one that Justin
Herbert's been going through, it's a really good assumption that
they're going to try to run the football a mari
and Hampton did show a lot of explosiveness when he
(26:42):
was out there in the early part of the season.
Looked like a real league winner for a lot of
us out there. So if he's out ready to go,
he's going to be in our starting.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Lineups this week.
Speaker 11 (26:50):
But it is a Monday game, so realize you're going
to have to make a decision a little bit earlier
unless you're debating between him and Kamani Medell.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
All right, And to the Chicago Bears, who we last
saw celebrating in the postgame locker room with the shirtless
Ben Johnson so that everybody would get free hot dogs
at the Wiener Circle. Uh, Colston Lovelin, the impact on
the rookie tight end with Romandnze out with a foot injury.
Speaker 11 (27:11):
Yeah, we're gonna probably get to see a lot of
a couple of the new faces of the Chicago Bears
going in this one. Two of the players that the
Bears drafted in the offense this year.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
They drafted Luther.
Speaker 11 (27:21):
Burden the third and also Colston Lovelin, a player that
they still there's still a lot of questions on whether
they drafted the right guy or not because you will
point out to the fact that they did. They could
have had the opportunity to go with Tyler Warren, but
they really love, they really love what they have in Colton.
Speaker 6 (27:39):
That's right, shut them off. I had to do it.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I had to do it.
Speaker 11 (27:42):
Listen, they said, they said there would be free hot
dogs for everybody here at the Wiener Circle if I
took my shirt off while I was talking about Colston.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
Lovelin, go get a free dog. Now I'm kidding.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
They never said that, But I just want to let
everybody know it happened, and you knew what was gonna happen.
I'm sorry it was a long walk for a short payoff,
but that's what I'm here for, right.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
I just want to get you just where is.
Speaker 11 (28:07):
This is not the first time I've had my shirt
off on the NFL network. There's been other times. You
would have to go back to some of the Good
Morning Football weekend editions with Mike Garriffollo and I back
in the day. But it's just one of the things
that we do and it's what it's the service that
we provide here on Fridays. So for everybody who's watching
at the Long Beach airport right now and has no
context of what although if you see the winner circle,
you said, I have a pretty good indication what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Are you talking as long as possible to see how
long we're going to keep this shot up? Right now?
You're absolutely in filibuster mode. Get out of here.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Rank time for good coverage presented by Progressive Insurance. The
Texans defense has allowed the lowest opposing passer rating in
twenty twenty five seventy four point two, led by Derek Sting,
lead junior Kaylin Bullock and Jalen Petree, along with a
ferocious defensive front. By the way, Houston is the only
team in the NFL to not allow more past tds
(28:59):
than and they have interceptions twelve to twelve. Those twelve
pastds are tied for the second fewest in the NFL
this year. One of thirty two nominees for the Walter
Payton Man of the Year Award winner it is Aziz
al Shaer for the Houston Texans. This year's nominee for
the franchise A guy that is valued incredibly in that
(29:23):
building and in that community down there in Houston, and
valued by the insiders because he's here right now joining
us as these congratulations on the nod from your franchise.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
It is the most prestigious.
Speaker 5 (29:33):
Award that the NFL hands out, the last one that
they hand out the night of NFL Honors.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
What does it mean for you to be the nominee
for your franchise?
Speaker 12 (29:41):
Man, it's just truly a blessing, you know, being here
for the last year and a half now going on
two years, you know, just from where I started my
career and where I am right now. You know, I
think it's just really was speechless for me because every
single day I just try to cheat people with respect,
do things the right way, and just go as hard
(30:04):
as I can on the football field and obviously in
the community as well, and I just always try to
give people, you know, the love and attention that I
wish I had when I was growing up.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
And so yeah, it Ma, it's just a blessing for sure.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
We're seeing your community work here via the Houston Texans
the footage that they provided us, But in talking to
folks down there just within the last couple of days,
they said, it's not just like when the cameras are on.
He's had days where you got one free day and
he's got a community event in the morning, he's got
one in the afternoon, he's got one at night.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
And we're like, hey, why don't you just take a breath.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
And he tells us no, I want to take as
much time as I possibly can to give back.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Where does that come from for you?
Speaker 12 (30:46):
I mean it comes from me from two places, you know.
One just my upbringing, my mother growing up. I grew
up homeless for a good portion of my life. And
I've watched my mother, even when we had eight kids
that she was trying to take care of herself as
a single mother, would constantly be still giving to others.
And I remember as a kid, I'm sitting there, like
why are you giving this dude on the street money?
(31:08):
And you have eight children that you you know, need
to take care of, Like we need that money.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
And I never forget her.
Speaker 12 (31:14):
Just telling me like, you never know what somebody else
is going through, and so to always, you know, look
to help others because it could always be worse for
you and their situation might be worse than yours. So
that was one thing, and then the other thing for me,
it's just always been my faith, you know, being me,
I'm a Muslim American.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
My mother and my father converted before I was born.
Speaker 12 (31:33):
But for me, uh, just my faith that one of
the fundamental parts of being Muslim is just helping everybody.
You know, everybody is equal in the eyes of God,
you know, man, woman, black, white, Spanish, whatever. So I
really have like a wide net when it comes to
the causes and the people that I help. You know,
I know a lot of people are very like you know,
(31:54):
specific on certain things, and you know, whether it's single
mothers or you know, homelessness, those are things I personally
out with.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
There's a lot of issues that I.
Speaker 12 (32:01):
Hope that have nothing to do with things that I've
experienced with is trying to meet people where they are,
you know, and try to have compassion for other people's
circumstances even though I've never been in them myself.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Mom's name is Nadeira, right, Did I get that correct? Nadeira?
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Give her some love, man. That is great that she
instilled that in you.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
Your work with the United Way Covenant House with Special
Teams Coordinator Frank Ross, you've done some work with him,
free haircuts to homeless youth and adults. We recognized local
firefighters on National First Responders Day. We're going to rune
out of time here. I want to give you a
chance to talk. I'm going to keep going through all
all the causes that you've done. Look, I find this
fascinating for a number of reasons. Your nomination just in
(32:42):
finding out how much you're actually doing for the community
that I've learned since your nomination was announced.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
The other part of.
Speaker 5 (32:48):
This, and I mean this in the best possible way,
is that competitiveness that you talk that you have on
the field, that drive that you have on the field.
You've been disciplined for some of the stuff that you've
done in the field. And you know, the average fan
is sitting back there and saying, Walter Peyton man of
the Year. This is a guy that's committing these things
on the field. But in talking to people inside the
(33:09):
organization and the people that know you, they say, yeah,
that's just a competitive football player out there that's maybe
made some mistakes along the way. You have no idea
what an unbelievable person he is off the field, how
he has split that when it comes to your personality.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
And who you are off the field with who you
are on the field.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
You know, for me, growing up.
Speaker 12 (33:28):
You know, I didn't start playing football until I was
twelve years old. And you know, I think football the
one thing I loved. It was just always the ultimate equalizer.
And like I said, I grew up homeless. I have
to wear the same clothes, shoes the school every single day.
So it's like people are picking on you and making
fun of you for things that I couldn't control. And
for me, football was the one place where it didn't
(33:50):
matter what claque you got on.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Obviously, nobody cares how you smell. You know, everybody's out
there just.
Speaker 12 (33:54):
Sweating and do it. It's like it's about what you
did on the field. And that's what I think. Just
my passion for the game grew so much so when
I go out there, like you know, I'm watching players,
especially me growing up, and I was a huge Seattle
Seahawks fan when they had the legion the boom. I
was a huge Baltimore Ravens fan, my mom being from Baltimore,
so I just always loved like great defense, and so
(34:15):
for me, it was like physicality, the effort, the energy,
like those are things that it wasn't about some something
that you know, somebody blessed you whether somebody gave you
or something like, it's just all about.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
You and you.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
So when you see me play, that's what I feel like.
Speaker 12 (34:30):
You see you see passion, you see energy, you see effort,
you see physicality, because those are all things that are
in here in my heart that I can control. And
so I think when you talk about me on the
field and then me being off the field, it's like
there's a time and place for everything. That's something that
you know my father, when I was really young, I
never forget. That was one of the one things I
never forget. You told me it's a time and place
(34:51):
for everything. And when you're on the field, that's my job,
and I take at very personal. It's something that a
lot of people talked about growing up, going to be
a astronaut or whatever it might be, but I wanted
to be a football player. I'm actually doing that. So
every single day I try to take that for granted.
And you know, when you see me on the field
and you see me doing those things, people are like,
(35:11):
oh man, he's casting around.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
He did this.
Speaker 12 (35:13):
If he did that, It's like, I'm going as hard
as I possibly can to make the play. And when
the play is over, anybody, even just people who know me,
but people who I played against can tell you I
might hit somebody as hard as I possibly can and
then help them up and be like, good job, man,
then get back to the huddle.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Next play, they might make.
Speaker 12 (35:29):
A play on me and I'm like, hey, good catch
whatever case may be, and get back to the huddle.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
But like, it's just it's not personal.
Speaker 12 (35:36):
It's just the game, and it's a game that I
love that you know, I play as hard as I can,
but when it comes to off the field, like you know,
I promise you I got probably one of the.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Softest voices that you're gonna hear.
Speaker 12 (35:47):
And I constantly have to like yell to get people
to like hear me, just in regular settings because I'm
just very like even killed.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
So I mean, I know that it's hard for people.
Speaker 12 (35:57):
To grasp the concept that you can be really good
at your job, but also have you know, I guess,
like the mental capacity to like separate the two things.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
But you know, that's just that's just who I am.
Speaker 5 (36:10):
As I tell people all the time, some of the
nicest people that I know are NFL football players who
will knock people's heads off on the field. And then
a couple of seconds later, like you're talking about it.
They're complete gentlemen, not only towards one another, but also
to the media sometimes asking goofy questions. I'm like, you
imagine these guys going to full speed and then having
to listen to what we're asking them after the game.
And the way that you play also makes you a
(36:31):
terrific player. You're having a great season. The Texans defense
is having. Texans team is having a great season. Tell
me what this defense is doing right now, because it's
really been turned up and you can see how difficult
things are for offenses right now.
Speaker 12 (36:45):
Sure, I mean just pretty much everything I just told
you as far as just the physicality, you know, the effort,
the passion, the energy obviously, you know, just from top
to bottom.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
You know.
Speaker 12 (36:55):
I feel like we have the best union in NFL.
And it's not just like something that you just talk
talk about and it sounds good. Like we put the
work in every single day and even in the games
where it might not be going perfect or whatever, you
just see guys never flinch and just stay together and
keep working together to find a way to come out
with the win.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
Chiefs this weekend two teams, two really good teams that
I don't think people want to see in the postseason,
by the way, but two really good teams knowing that
you got to keep stacking the wins here as you
go down the stretch. What kind of game are you
expecting here between you guys, particularly going up against that
offense there.
Speaker 12 (37:28):
Yeah, I mean obviously you know Patrick Mahomes, super Bowl MVP,
three time winner, all these things, and.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
You just got to show up. And I think the
biggest thing that I've always.
Speaker 12 (37:40):
Took pride in is that in the NFL, doesn't matter
what you've.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Been, It doesn't matter who you were.
Speaker 12 (37:46):
You know, I was an undrafted free agent when I
came into this league, and not a single soul would
have thought I would.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Have been in the position I'm in now seven years later.
And that's the beautiful thing about the NFL.
Speaker 12 (37:55):
It's just like every day you have a choice to
show up as whoever you want to show up at,
but you got.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
To do it.
Speaker 12 (38:00):
So I think, you know, you see Sunday nice, you know,
two really really good teams that try to show up,
and it's going to be a baut A heavyweight fight,
and it's gonna be blows.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
They're going to make plays.
Speaker 12 (38:09):
We're going to make plays and just got to find
a way to finish.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
The Texans nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the
Year Awards.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Something that the NFL uh does a good job.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
With with regard to showing that there's more to these
guys than just what they're doing on the field. Uh
as these Congratulations to you on the nomination. Good luck
down the line when it comes to the league announcing
who the winner of the award is. We'll see you
in the Bay Area one way or another. I know you.
We'd like if we could see you with some pads
on with your team in the Super Bowl, but we'll
(38:41):
see you one way or another. Congratulations to you and
we appreciate the time.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Thank you appreciation.
Speaker 5 (38:48):
The Texans Man of the Year nominee Walter Payton Man
of the Year nominee Cambore Chenor Sanders, two guys that
we were talking about come draft time about to square
off against their opposing.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Defenses on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (38:59):
We're talking about that NEXTXT on The Insiders.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
With NFL Plus.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Keep the NFL in reach, stream live local and primetime
games on mobile. During the regular and postseason NFL Network,
including one more exclusive live game this season, live game audio,
and more with NFL Plus Premium. Get more football with
NFL Red Zone, game replays and NFL Pro. Sign up
today at plus dot NFL dot com Slash Network terms
(39:25):
and conditions apply. Cam Moore and Senor Sanders meet again
on Sunday, and let's just say they've been ready for
this moment.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Hope.
Speaker 13 (39:33):
You know, you know water we just had sports drill.
Oh that's how you feel to get water wet, even
sports drill. That's not there's the Colorado.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
Beside the numbers top.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
That's what it was like.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
For now we mere go down.
Speaker 6 (39:47):
It's right inside the numbers top.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
I don't have on I do geerat, I get paid
for it.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Not a perfect season, but and he stretched for either
of those young quarterbacks, but they got a chance here
bragging rights, Mike, who do you think it's the last
laugh on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
I'll go with Shador.
Speaker 5 (40:07):
He's got the better defense, he's got the better overall team.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
I mean lucky.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
You look at the records here, they're combined four and
twenty between these two teams. But Cleveland's been there, been
hanging in there with some team, So I think it's
gonna wind up being Chador on this one. Cam Brighter
days ahead for you in the Titans.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
I would tend to agree, just because if you want
to go against one of these defenses, I know it's
not the Browns defense you want to be going up against. Here,
we'll see exactly how this one plays out.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
I also know this.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
If we're talking about who gets the last laugh, I
think it's all of us who witnessed whatever that was
during the Ranks segment earlier there.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
It is Ben Johnson. He is not during the weekend.
Everybody h
The Commander's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but
that isn't stopping QB one from getting out of that
luxury boxing back on the field, Jayden Daniels, We'll return
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We will tell you all we know on that.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Situation and other key injuries. Entering the fourteenth weekend of
the season, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen are ray to
go at it again with a lot on the line
with both teams in the AFC playoff chase. Our Cameron
Wolf will be here before he's there to break down
a big one in Buffalo love More Adam Texans linebacker
(00:36):
Aziz al Shire is an impact player on the field
and often Ziz joins us Tonight to talk about his
Man of the Year nomination and how far this red
hot Houston team can go. Welcome Inside with the Insiders
presented by Progressive Insurance alongside Mike Garifolo I am Tom Pellisero.
Week fourteen is often running. We got a great slate
(00:59):
of games coming up on Sunday, and one star quarterback
will be back on the field. That is the Commander's
Jaden Daniels, who officially is off the injury report cleared
for contact and will start on Sunday against the Vikings,
his first game action since he suffered a dislocated elbow
back in Week nine. It was a gruesome injury, but
(01:21):
Daniels maintained his goal all along was to get back
onto the field. He put the Commanders three and nine
at all but eliminated. Jaden certainly sounds happy to be back.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It feels good.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
It's been a long process of dealing with something that significant,
but I had time to sit back and reflect and
you know, focus my energy other way, and I was
being a great teammate. I mean, I think every season different,
so you can't really use it as you can use
it as momentum, but every season different, a lot of
(01:53):
things happen, so you really just trying to go out
there and finish this season strong. You know, I'm healthy
enough to go out there and play, and who am
I to go out there and not tell my teammates
I don't want to play because something out of my control.
So I'm gonna go out there and give him my
awe and obviously be smart. But at the end of
the day, I'm really focused on these last couple games,
(02:14):
and you know, see what the tables turn.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
The quarterback of the other side is one that Jadon
Daniels knows well. Twenty twenty four draft classmate JJ McCarthy
officially clearing concussion protocol. He will be in the lineup
on Sunday. Bit a challenging season all around for McCarthy
and the Vikings, who are still technically alive in the
playoff picture. The Arizona Cardinals are out and so is
(02:39):
Kyler Murray for the rest of twenty twenty five. Still
recovering from a foot injury that is not progressing as hoped.
Kyler is due forty million dollars nearly fully guaranteed in
twenty twenty six. Big decisions coming for the Cardinals prior
to March fifteenth, when another almost twenty million in twenty
twenty seven would become fully guaranteed.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson, it's always been a different cadence of
late what kind of week it's going to look for
look like for him in practice this week it was limited,
then did not practice, then back to a full practice
and no status as far as his injury is concerned
for Sunday. So Lamar Jackson good to go against the Steelers.
(03:20):
We told you yesterday he didn't sense any great concern,
just got stepped on, and yeah, there it is.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
There's the proof. Lamar Jackson good to go for Sunday.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
On the other side of this game, Aaron Rodgers a
full participant for the second straight day with that left
wrist injury that he played with last week and will
continue to play with this week.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So a huge game for the Steelers.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Rodgers went down for reasons other than the rest here,
had his nose bruised and bloodied.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
But Rodgers good to go. No injury status for him.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
Meanwhile, Justin Fields ruled out for Sunday against the Dolphins
with knee soreness, Aaron Glenn making that announcement before practice.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So another turn in the sea that.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Was supposed to be a good one for Fields and
the Jets not going to be the case here as
he is not going to play on Sunday, will not
be available behind Tyron Taylor. And if you knew that
Brady Cook, undrafted free agent, was next in line, you
need to spend more time with your families on the weekends.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Tom Hey, Aaron Glenn says, Brady Couch got a chance
to be a player someday. They probably hope it's not
on Sunday. Take a look at some of the other
key injuries around the NFL. No surprise, Sauce Gardner out
once again, Drake London out, still dealing with that PCL,
Marvin Harrison Juniors out, Roma doonesay, this one was a surprise.
I'm told been playing with a stress fracture in his foot.
Considered to be week to week. He just needed rest
(04:42):
at this point. Mike Evans getting closer. Returned to practice
this week, but he is out as well, and Chris
Alave want to keep in mind for fantasy purposes. Officially
listed as questionable week fourteen. Kicking off will fast forward
right too well. Ceedee Lamb, a big piece of that
Cowboys offense, going out of the game, diagnosed with a
concussion and sideline thirty to nineteen fourth quarter now Dak
(05:04):
Prescott going deep to a wide open Ryan Flinoy, who
walks into the end zone a seventy two yard touchdown.
Cowboys cut it to thirty to twenty seven. Late fourth quarter,
now Lion's still up by seven. Jamier Gibbs untouched. One
of the most remarkable players in the NFL, help me
leave the Lions into the center of the playoff picture,
(05:25):
which means when you get a Dan Campbell post game speech, stamn.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Good winning guys.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
How that's who we are, nobody man, We ride our
own store. We said it all along. That's the way
to show up.
Speaker 7 (05:40):
Man.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
What if show up? We do what we want to do.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
And how we're going to do it.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
You get shown up? Was it perfect? No lot?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Play up? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:49):
That's a good win man. That was a hot team,
all right, and that's one down. We got another one
to go after this.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Hey, good win, fellows, real quick, remember whatever feeling you
had on this week to get us here today, come back,
have a nice little time off, reach charge right for
this last little core of the Seasonfls.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
We can do anything we put our minds to. A
promise you promise you. You know.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
When Dan Campbell comes into the postgame scene already with
his voice, horse, it has been a day, it has
been a season, and yet here the Lions are in
the thicket things once again. Here's our Stacey Dales with
us right now on the insiders. Stacey, we know that
there's a toughness that is built into that Lions program.
By Dan Campbell and if you needed any further evidence
(06:32):
of it, looked no further than I'm on Ross Saint
Brown going down with an injury seven days before that
looked really bad. Not only is he out on the field,
but he played well in a huge victory.
Speaker 8 (06:42):
He played beyond well. I mean, he's just so tough.
He really embodies who these Detroit Lions are, Tom and Mike.
And you know, it's crazy. The NFC North is crazy.
They are eight and five. They are currently just staring
down the playoffs in that eight seed spot. And what
you realize when you watch a game like this, and
if you follow Jane Slater, you'd see im and Ross
(07:04):
Saint Brown sprinting around the field to start that game,
you knew something was foreshadowing good things in store for him.
Speaker 9 (07:10):
Five hundred and eleven career.
Speaker 8 (07:12):
Receptions, surpassing Michael Thomas for the most catches by a
player in their first five seasons in NFL history. He's
just so reliable for Jared Goff to play through that
ankle injury and play so well and consistently in this game.
And the other takeaway for me, guys was David Montgomery,
I think when the Lions are successful. He is a
(07:32):
part of this action and he's a part of the
operation and his sixty rush yards were vital for them
and his rushing touchdown as you see him here on
the screen, keeping the defense honest so that Jamior Gibbs
can be bop all over the field. He needs to
be involved for them to be successful. David Montgomery does
and he was in this game and it was a
huge game on Thursday Night football. And then I would
(07:54):
just lastly say, guys, as the Lions put up forty
four points in this contest, their third forty plus point
game this season. Defensively, they got rush. Jack Campbell was
heavily involved in that upfront. With this defensive front, they
ended up with five sacks. They created three takeaways and
that was huge. They didn't turn the ball over, they
took the ball away and when their defense gets rushed,
(08:16):
sadly to see Brian Branch go down with that season
ending injury, guys, they're a lot better because of that
rush and that's how they get those takeaways. So it
was a really good complete performance from the Detroit Lions,
and they.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Are certainly going to need that front to wreak havoc Mike,
because Stacy just said, it's not just the injury that
happened last night. They already were without Terry on Arnold
who's out for the season undergoing shoulder surgery. Kirby Joseph
hasn't played since October, and now another huge loss with
one of the most versatile and best players.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
On the back end.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Yeah, as you guys reported earlier today, Brian branch youw
and Ian Brian Branched a torn achilles ten didn't going
to be lost for the season, just.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
A huge losses.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
He is more than just a good young player and
a versatile guy. Tom He the energy that he brings,
the attitude he brings. You see the play right here,
just look like a freak little thing that led to
that achilles injury. So an enormous loss for the Lions
in that department. Meanwhile, for the Cowboys, Ceedee Lamb goes down,
there was some awkward movement with his hands there as
(09:16):
soon as he landed, and within just a couple of
minutes was ruled out.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
With a concussion. So that was a tough one because he.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
Was having what look like it was going to be
a monster night statistically, and we know what he means
to this offense, particularly now with George Pickens coming under
fire for how he's running some routes and Pickens firing
back at Richard Sherman on social media. Look, Cowboys need
Ceedee Lamb back. They're at the point now where they
probably have to run the table and Vikings Commanders giants.
I mean, there's winnable games left for them. The Chargers
(09:42):
one's gonna be a tough one. But to do that,
they're gonna need to be a full strength going to
need see Lamb back in.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Actually, Stacey, do not move more from you in just
a little bit. But since we're talking about Thursday at
football this week, hobably look ahead to next Thursday. It's
a Southern showdown on Prime Video. The Atlanta Falcons flying
to Tampa take on the Bucks. Thursday night football coverage
begins at seven Eastern only on Prime Video. Now today,
(10:07):
t Higgins is back. He missed last week's game because
of a concussion, but the Bengals standout receiver now has
cleared the concussion proto call. He will play on Sunday
in a huge game against the Bills at Buffalo. Defense
a little bit banged up, right, now. Pass rusher Joey
Bosa officially ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
(10:27):
He is dealing with a hamstring injury. Linebacker Treel Bernard
also ruled out for the game. So a couple of
key losses against the Bengals offense, do you generally lead
everybody on your roster to try to stop Welcome back
to the Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance, Tom Pellicero, now
joined by our buddy Cameron Wolf, who's going to be
at that game on Sunday, and Cam Joe Burrow, Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
I don't have a whole lot more to say. Go Yeah,
I can't wait.
Speaker 10 (10:53):
It's going to be cold and maybe snowy, and we
have two of the best quarterbacks in football, and I
thought it was so interesting. This week, Jamar Chase talked
about how emotional Joe Burrow.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Was after that Thanksgiving win.
Speaker 10 (11:04):
He said he doesn't like to show any emotions, but
he's appreciative of coming back after the journey they had had,
and a lot of the people in the Bengals locker
room are using his return as a rallying cry. They're
four and eight, but they know they've got a small
slim shot.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Last year they were four and eight.
Speaker 10 (11:19):
DJ Turner told me, and we won out and we
feel that same type of energy. And you look at
the AFC North and say why not. And this Bengals
team now is getting fully healthy at the right time,
T Higgins, out of concussion protocol, will play. And now
you'll have T Higgins, Jamar Chase, Joe Burrow for the
first time since September fourteenth. They've only played fifty four
(11:39):
snaps together all season, and they get to throw the
ball around against this Bills team, and so they're dangerous.
They've got a certain moxie about them, and Joe Burrow
changes everything for the offense, and so this is an
important game for them. But this is also an important
game for Buffalo, who is trying to find its way offensively.
And I think the conversation for Josh Allen and similar
(12:00):
Joe Burrow as can they save this offense. Josh Allen,
I've had a lot of conversations with their GM Brandon
being about the good angel and the bad Angel. On
Josh Allen's side, they want the good angel to tell
them to take care of the ball, to play smart.
The bad angel is make the wild plays, make the unpredictable.
Because of their lack of consistency with the playmakers, they
may have to lean in a little bit more into
(12:22):
him being that bad angel making the playmakers down the field.
Because they don't have that consistency, they do get a
little bit healthier this.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Week, Dion Dawkins.
Speaker 10 (12:32):
Their left tackle is back, and they're still waiting to
see if tight end Dalton mccaid and right tackle Spencer
Brown will play.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
They're both questionable, solid flex as always to show up
for this segment. You got pictures of you interviewing Josh
Allen and Jamar Chase behind you. I see it, Cam,
I caught the Easter eggs. Nothing gets by me. We
also got a big game between the Jaguars and the Colts.
I was at that game last week in Indianapolis. The
lost to Houston. The offense was just kind of a battle.
You see the Jaguars on both sides right now, seeming
(12:58):
to be headed the right direction and break down this matchup.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
What do you think is key in this one here?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Cam?
Speaker 10 (13:02):
Yeah, the Colts were running away with this AFC South
not too long ago. But that Fractrick Fibla. You guys
have reported on for Daniel Jones. Talking to people around
the league. They see a very limited offense these days
with him. He can't move around as much. They can
key in on Jonathan Taylor, and they're starting to lose
a grip not only on this AFC South, but potentially
the playoffs. You look at the Colt schedule, all five
(13:24):
of their games left against teams against winning records, starting
Sunday against the Jaguars. They have not beat the Jaguars
in Jacksonville, says twenty fourteen. Can they get this offense
going with just a pass only Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
They're going to try a few.
Speaker 10 (13:39):
More things to switch it up in the past game
this week, get Tyler Warren even more involved. But they're
playing a Jags defense that is heating up at the
right time, and it's their pass rush that I want
to focus on. Josh Heinz Allen has five and a
half sacks in November. He had just a half a
sack in September and October. They've been able to get
that pass rush, then they've been able to attack quarterbacks,
(13:59):
and they really want to lean on that down the stretch.
And we look at this AFC South with the Jags
tied at eight and four, the Texans there at seven
and five. This could be a very spicy division race
that will come down to the end. But the Jags
think is their pass rush, their defense that can be
a difference maker Sunday and to potentially win this division.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Folts are confident Daniel Jones is going to get better
over time here in terms of the fracture, fiblis should
be healing, so at some point it's gona be close
to one hundred percent. We'll see with those Jaguars pass
rushers chasing him around this week how close he actually is.
Cam Safe travels. Stay warm. We will talk to you
again soon.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Mike, He'll stay warm. He lives in South Florida. It's
freezing up here. I love you, Cam. Jim Harball still
optimistic a lot of different ways that the Chargers have
pretty much said that justin Herbert's going to play this week,
Harball the latest. Greg Roman as well, still optimistic still
that he is going to play after he had surgery.
NFL players, they're built different. Omar Ruiz is built different
(14:55):
than your average reporter.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
So we're going to bring him in right now.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
He'll be covering this game with the Chargers and the
Eagles on Monday. We'll get the final status on Harball
with regard to the injury report on Saturday, but.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Seems like it's looking up. Omark.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Yeah, talking to people around the building, everybody has high
hopes for Justin Herbert to play on Monday. They've seen
him over the years, how tough he's been, battling through
several other injuries throughout the course of his career, and then.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Just seeing him on Sunday come.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
Back in that Raiders game after hurting his hand and
playing as effectively as he did all signs why there
is that optimism that he plays on Monday. He's been
limited in practice the last couple of days, running seven
on seven, eleven on eleven today, but Jim Harbaugh saying
he did not take any snaps from under center, so
you have to surmise that he did nothing but shotgun
(15:44):
and pistol formations, just like he did on Sunday when
he came back against the Raiders. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman
saying how that might affect the offense is really minimal.
He said they could pretty much run what they want
to do from the run game, obviously from the pame
in those formations.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
He says.
Speaker 7 (16:02):
The only difference is obviously when you're in a pistol formation,
can't run in the I formation. And he said they
had a little hiccup down toward the goal line running
that type of offense on a mix up between shotgun
and pistol should have been one or the other. So
little things like that are things they can adjust to.
If Justin Herbert is able to play, and if they
have to do nothing but shotgun or pistol on Monday night.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
YEP, would not be surprised.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
I mean, maybe he'll be listed as questionable, but wouldn't
be surprised if we get an indication on that final
injury report on Saturday that Justin Herbert is full steam ahead.
You've got this Eagles team that really struggled run defense
wise against a Chicago Bears team that handled them and
ran up the middle. And now adding to that, Jalen
Carter is not going to play.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
He had that.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Procedure on both shoulders, looking like week to week for him.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So you got a Chargers.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Team that can run the ball well, you got a
coordinator that likes to run the ball. You got a
team that didn't defend the run well with you, I mean,
you see where I'm going with this.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
What's the game plan for the Chargers here?
Speaker 7 (16:58):
Yeah, well you talk about on Mitchell the Eagles DV.
He spoke to him just a little while ago. He said, Yeah,
they recognized they gave up two hundred and eighty one
yards against the Bears last Friday. Obviously they're on a
mini two game winning streak. He said, They're not dwelling
on those just using those performances as opportunity to challenge
themselves to continue to get better every week. He did
(17:21):
recognize the opportunity for Omari and Hampton to come back
for that Chargers running back. A lot of respect for
that Chargers run game, but obviously a lot of respect
for the Chargers and what they can do in the
past game as well. Mitchell saying the four horsemen that
the Chargers have this year, throwing out the likes of Keenan, Allen, Quintin, Johnston,
Lad mcconkin Oronde Gadson, four players with more than five
(17:43):
hundred yards receiving. They all have different body types, different
styles of receiver. Mitchell saying that in and of itself
is a challenge. You have to be prepared for each
one and how uniquely they attack you. So the Eagles
come out on Monday, Monday Night Football a big opportunity
for them to get back on track. They're looking forward
to that challenge and it's next man up in replacing
Jalen Carter.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Mike Yes, it.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Is the Eagles looking at it right now from the
perspective of an NFC East team that could repeat as
champions for the first time since two thousand and four.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
This won't clinch it.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
But if they get a win on Monday with the
Cowboys losing, that will pretty much put.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
This thing away.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
So this will be a big one for the Eagles,
but also from a confidence standpoint, Omar will be there
on Monday check in for all of his information leading
up the kickoff.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Big One Sunday for the outright lead in the NFC North.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Bears will not have wide receiver role of Doonday.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
He is out, but running back Kamanung Guy is in
officially off the injury report full participant in practice today
after dealing.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
With an ankle injury.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
He's readied to a role against the Packers who could
get Jayden Reid back in action. Matt Leffleuor said today
he is hopeful Reid could play on Sunday for the
first time since Week two. Had a collarbone injury as
well as a foot injury. They have until four pm
Eastern Time on Saturday to act invade him in order
for Reid to be eligible to play against the Bears.
(19:03):
Welcome back to the Insiders presented by Progressive Insurance. Welcome
again to our Stacy Dales with me Tom Pelicero.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Stacey.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
We know that Ben Johnson loves to run the football.
The Packers have one of the top defenses in the NFL.
Break down this matchup, which could play a huge factor
and who comes out with the NFC North lead come Sunday.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (19:24):
Tom.
Speaker 8 (19:24):
The Bears, as you know, have the number two ranked
rushing offense, averaging about one to fifty four on the
ground this season. The Pack number eight, giving up just
around ninety eight rush yards per game. It's really interesting though,
the Chicago Bears lead the NFL in big plays ninety
four of them. That's twenty or more yards in terms
of a pass, or ten or more yards on the
(19:46):
ground in terms of a run fifty four of those
are rushes. I mean, think about that, Tom, It's Deandrey Swift,
it's Kyalamanungai, and it's.
Speaker 9 (19:55):
This offensive line.
Speaker 8 (19:56):
I spoke with Kyle Manungai this week and he told
me of this, this offensive line, they're simply firing off
the ball.
Speaker 9 (20:03):
They displace the first level of.
Speaker 8 (20:04):
Defenders, he told me, and they get to that second level,
and they're doing it consistently. And here's the key with
these Bears. They show you so many different looks in
terms of this offensive line in the run game, as
Manungai told me, it could be wide zone, mid zone,
tight zone, gap scheme. They're constantly giving the defensive front
different looks as we saw with Philly in that Monster
(20:24):
game on Black Friday. And Jeff Hafley, the defensive coordinator
with these Packers, he spoke about it this week. Ben
Johnson is constantly changing the way they motion you, the
way they shift you, creating angles, creating leverage. And so
when I spoke with free safety Evan Williams, who's having
a fantastic second year in the NFL for these Packers,
he told me that simply we have to be clean
(20:46):
with our keys, like perfect with our keys against this
rushing offense, and they do such a great job Tom,
with that eye candy, as Jeff Hafley spoke of that
we're all witnessing with this offense.
Speaker 9 (20:57):
Ben Johnson is doing a heck of a job. This
is going to be a great check match.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
We also have a game for first place in the
AFC North. It is the Steelers and the Ravens, both
six and six. They played twice. The first one is
on Sunday. Stacey, you've covered Aaron Rodgers throughout his career.
There's been bumps. Last week he made some comments about
things that were were not happening. How do they get
back on track this week against Baltimore.
Speaker 9 (21:20):
Yeah, I it a gut check week. Mike Tomlin spoke
about it.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This week.
Speaker 9 (21:24):
It's a look yourself in the mirror kind of week.
There was some.
Speaker 8 (21:27):
Frustration for these Steelers coming out of last week's loss,
which was a bad one. They simply didn't play well.
But what's remarkable, Tom is these are both six and
six football teams, the Steelers and Ravens. I've covered each
this season, and for these Steelers and Aaron Rodgers, it's
all about.
Speaker 9 (21:45):
How do they get through this defense.
Speaker 8 (21:47):
Because Baltimore's defense since their bye week in Week seven,
so over the last six games, they're giving up just
over sixteen points per game.
Speaker 9 (21:54):
They have been so stingy.
Speaker 8 (21:56):
Aaron Rodgers was forced to really work out of the
shotgun and in pistol formation last week because of that
wrist injury and all those fractures he's got in it.
We'll see if he can get back to normal against
this defense here on Sunday in what will be a
battle for supremacy in this division and the top of
(22:16):
the AFC North.
Speaker 9 (22:17):
And I mentioned the other side of the ball.
Speaker 8 (22:19):
But Lamar Jackson, as we know, he's been banged up
all season long. He got stepped on, as you know
Tom on Wednesday, which bothered him and disabled his ability
to practice. And the reality is over these last three
games he has failed his last three starts, failed to
throw a passing touchdown, and they're giving the football away.
That's been the issue. Over these last three games. They
(22:42):
have eight giveaways. He's responsible for five of them. He
spoke about it. His play caller, Todd Munkin spoke about
it this week. This game will come back to taking
care of football.
Speaker 9 (22:52):
It always does between these two teams. And just remember this.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
The Steelers, they lead the NFL with ninety one points
off turnovers, their second intake aways with twenty two. You
got to take care of the football against this defensive
Fielamar Jackson.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The weather turns becomes harder sometimes to hold on to
that football. Sometimes else becomes hard to hold onto a microphone.
So Stacy, good luck, bundle up. We will see you
bright and early. Thank you on Sunday morning. Lot more
to come on this show, and Glenn a visit from
our fantasy friend Adam Rank. Well, not a fantasy friend,
He's a real person who talks about fantasy football, and
(23:24):
I would guess he's gonna have t Higgins in his
lineup this week. Rank with Us next and the Insiders
presented by Progressive Insurance. Time now to go inside with
NFL Fantasy Live and our friend who's with us every
Friday night. It is Adam Rank with me, Tom Pelisero
as well as Mike Garofolo. Rank not just a fantasy expert,
(23:45):
also a big Bears fan, hence coming to us tonight
from Wieners Circle, where well, there's a lot of things
that have been going on this week. But let's start
out with this rank. T Higgins is back. How do
you feel about his fantasy prospects for Week fourteen?
Speaker 11 (23:59):
Finally get to see the Bengals offense, and we were
promised at the beginning of the season. These two players
have not been on the same field together since Week
two and it's been a long time coming to see
Joe Burrow reconnected with both Jamar Chase and T Higgins.
And when you look at the matchup against the Buffalo Bills,
who have struggled against opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks, this
(24:21):
is really an opportunity to get him back on the field.
For a lot of you and a lot of us,
I should say, we are trying to make the fantasy playoffs,
or if not make the playoffs, trying to get a
first round by you are going to do that if
you get TEA Higgins into your lineup this week, I
expect a huge game from him.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
On Sunday, the Wier.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
Circle gave out free hot dogs just to refresh everybody's
memory for Ben Johnson taking off his shirt. They said
they would do that if he took off his shirt,
and he did it postgame in Philadelphia in the locker room,
just going to.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Leave that out there.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
Rank Jordan Mason with my team, I dropped who I
had Jordan Mason, who I had on my team, I
dropped them.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Somebody else picked them up.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
Don't tell me there's value again here for Jordan Mason.
With Aaron Jones, who's been cleared to play limited with
his shoulder injury, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 11 (25:06):
Gonna be one of those things that's touch and go
right now as it stands here on Friday evening. If
Aaron Jones is going to be available on Sunday, Aaron
Jones is going to.
Speaker 6 (25:15):
Be the running back that we go with.
Speaker 11 (25:17):
However, go back, if you can still go out there
and pick up Jordan Mate, you should have him on
your roster because you do need the backup option. Because
when Jordan Mason gets an opportunity as a solo back
in this offense, he has averaged fourteen Fantasy points per game, obviously,
and even then he still is a guy who gets
(25:37):
a lot of work near the goal line, even when
Aaron Jones is in there. However, I would shy away
from him if possible this week. If Aeron Jones is
gonna be in there, so don't just release him.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
What are you doing?
Speaker 11 (25:49):
Like you got to handcuff these guys like you know
who your starters are, but still don't start them. If
Aaron Jones goes the limited spot. I got an outbid
on Jordan Mason. I thought I was gonna get him
for twelve bucks somebody mid four fourteen in the free
agent auctions. Who would think that?
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Well, apparently multiple people, and I got on the short
end of the stick. Amrio On Hampton with the Chargers
full participant in practice today Rak nothing official yet, but
seems like he's trending toward playing Monday night.
Speaker 11 (26:13):
Yeah, we're really excited to see what happens when he's
able to get back out on the field with the
LA Chargers.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
One of the things that we would expect that.
Speaker 11 (26:20):
The Chargers are going to try to attack the Eagles
on the ground. Now, will they be as effective as
the Bears were on Black Friday. That'll be something to
see for later on. But when you have a quarterback
who's been battling an injury, especially the one that Justin
Herbert's been going through, it's a really good assumption that
they're going to try to run the football a mari
and Hampton did show a lot of explosiveness when he
(26:42):
was out there in the early part of the season.
Looked like a real league winner for a lot of
us out there. So if he's out ready to go,
he's going to be in our starting.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Lineups this week.
Speaker 11 (26:50):
But it is a Monday game, so realize you're going
to have to make a decision a little bit earlier
unless you're debating between him and Kamani Medell.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
All right, And to the Chicago Bears, who we last
saw celebrating in the postgame locker room with the shirtless
Ben Johnson so that everybody would get free hot dogs
at the Wiener Circle. Uh, Colston Lovelin, the impact on
the rookie tight end with Romandnze out with a foot injury.
Speaker 11 (27:11):
Yeah, we're gonna probably get to see a lot of
a couple of the new faces of the Chicago Bears
going in this one. Two of the players that the
Bears drafted in the offense this year.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
They drafted Luther.
Speaker 11 (27:21):
Burden the third and also Colston Lovelin, a player that
they still there's still a lot of questions on whether
they drafted the right guy or not because you will
point out to the fact that they did. They could
have had the opportunity to go with Tyler Warren, but
they really love, they really love what they have in Colton.
Speaker 6 (27:39):
That's right, shut them off. I had to do it.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I had to do it.
Speaker 11 (27:42):
Listen, they said, they said there would be free hot
dogs for everybody here at the Wiener Circle if I
took my shirt off while I was talking about Colston.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
Lovelin, go get a free dog. Now I'm kidding.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
They never said that, But I just want to let
everybody know it happened, and you knew what was gonna happen.
I'm sorry it was a long walk for a short payoff,
but that's what I'm here for, right.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
I just want to get you just where is.
Speaker 11 (28:07):
This is not the first time I've had my shirt
off on the NFL network. There's been other times. You
would have to go back to some of the Good
Morning Football weekend editions with Mike Garriffollo and I back
in the day. But it's just one of the things
that we do and it's what it's the service that
we provide here on Fridays. So for everybody who's watching
at the Long Beach airport right now and has no
context of what although if you see the winner circle,
you said, I have a pretty good indication what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Are you talking as long as possible to see how
long we're going to keep this shot up? Right now?
You're absolutely in filibuster mode. Get out of here.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Rank time for good coverage presented by Progressive Insurance. The
Texans defense has allowed the lowest opposing passer rating in
twenty twenty five seventy four point two, led by Derek Sting,
lead junior Kaylin Bullock and Jalen Petree, along with a
ferocious defensive front. By the way, Houston is the only
team in the NFL to not allow more past tds
(28:59):
than and they have interceptions twelve to twelve. Those twelve
pastds are tied for the second fewest in the NFL
this year. One of thirty two nominees for the Walter
Payton Man of the Year Award winner it is Aziz
al Shaer for the Houston Texans. This year's nominee for
the franchise A guy that is valued incredibly in that
(29:23):
building and in that community down there in Houston, and
valued by the insiders because he's here right now joining
us as these congratulations on the nod from your franchise.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
It is the most prestigious.
Speaker 5 (29:33):
Award that the NFL hands out, the last one that
they hand out the night of NFL Honors.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
What does it mean for you to be the nominee
for your franchise?
Speaker 12 (29:41):
Man, it's just truly a blessing, you know, being here
for the last year and a half now going on
two years, you know, just from where I started my
career and where I am right now. You know, I
think it's just really was speechless for me because every
single day I just try to cheat people with respect,
do things the right way, and just go as hard
(30:04):
as I can on the football field and obviously in
the community as well, and I just always try to
give people, you know, the love and attention that I
wish I had when I was growing up.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
And so yeah, it Ma, it's just a blessing for sure.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
We're seeing your community work here via the Houston Texans
the footage that they provided us, But in talking to
folks down there just within the last couple of days,
they said, it's not just like when the cameras are on.
He's had days where you got one free day and
he's got a community event in the morning, he's got
one in the afternoon, he's got one at night.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
And we're like, hey, why don't you just take a breath.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
And he tells us no, I want to take as
much time as I possibly can to give back.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Where does that come from for you?
Speaker 12 (30:46):
I mean it comes from me from two places, you know.
One just my upbringing, my mother growing up. I grew
up homeless for a good portion of my life. And
I've watched my mother, even when we had eight kids
that she was trying to take care of herself as
a single mother, would constantly be still giving to others.
And I remember as a kid, I'm sitting there, like
why are you giving this dude on the street money?
(31:08):
And you have eight children that you you know, need
to take care of, Like we need that money.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
And I never forget her.
Speaker 12 (31:14):
Just telling me like, you never know what somebody else
is going through, and so to always, you know, look
to help others because it could always be worse for
you and their situation might be worse than yours. So
that was one thing, and then the other thing for me,
it's just always been my faith, you know, being me,
I'm a Muslim American.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
My mother and my father converted before I was born.
Speaker 12 (31:33):
But for me, uh, just my faith that one of
the fundamental parts of being Muslim is just helping everybody.
You know, everybody is equal in the eyes of God,
you know, man, woman, black, white, Spanish, whatever. So I
really have like a wide net when it comes to
the causes and the people that I help. You know,
I know a lot of people are very like you know,
(31:54):
specific on certain things, and you know, whether it's single
mothers or you know, homelessness, those are things I personally
out with.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
There's a lot of issues that I.
Speaker 12 (32:01):
Hope that have nothing to do with things that I've
experienced with is trying to meet people where they are,
you know, and try to have compassion for other people's
circumstances even though I've never been in them myself.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Mom's name is Nadeira, right, Did I get that correct? Nadeira?
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Give her some love, man. That is great that she
instilled that in you.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
Your work with the United Way Covenant House with Special
Teams Coordinator Frank Ross, you've done some work with him,
free haircuts to homeless youth and adults. We recognized local
firefighters on National First Responders Day. We're going to rune
out of time here. I want to give you a
chance to talk. I'm going to keep going through all
all the causes that you've done. Look, I find this
fascinating for a number of reasons. Your nomination just in
(32:42):
finding out how much you're actually doing for the community
that I've learned since your nomination was announced.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
The other part of.
Speaker 5 (32:48):
This, and I mean this in the best possible way,
is that competitiveness that you talk that you have on
the field, that drive that you have on the field.
You've been disciplined for some of the stuff that you've
done in the field. And you know, the average fan
is sitting back there and saying, Walter Peyton man of
the Year. This is a guy that's committing these things
on the field. But in talking to people inside the
(33:09):
organization and the people that know you, they say, yeah,
that's just a competitive football player out there that's maybe
made some mistakes along the way. You have no idea
what an unbelievable person he is off the field, how
he has split that when it comes to your personality.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
And who you are off the field with who you
are on the field.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
You know, for me, growing up.
Speaker 12 (33:28):
You know, I didn't start playing football until I was
twelve years old. And you know, I think football the
one thing I loved. It was just always the ultimate equalizer.
And like I said, I grew up homeless. I have
to wear the same clothes, shoes the school every single day.
So it's like people are picking on you and making
fun of you for things that I couldn't control. And
for me, football was the one place where it didn't
(33:50):
matter what claque you got on.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Obviously, nobody cares how you smell. You know, everybody's out
there just.
Speaker 12 (33:54):
Sweating and do it. It's like it's about what you
did on the field. And that's what I think. Just
my passion for the game grew so much so when
I go out there, like you know, I'm watching players,
especially me growing up, and I was a huge Seattle
Seahawks fan when they had the legion the boom. I
was a huge Baltimore Ravens fan, my mom being from Baltimore,
so I just always loved like great defense, and so
(34:15):
for me, it was like physicality, the effort, the energy,
like those are things that it wasn't about some something
that you know, somebody blessed you whether somebody gave you
or something like, it's just all about.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
You and you.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
So when you see me play, that's what I feel like.
Speaker 12 (34:30):
You see you see passion, you see energy, you see effort,
you see physicality, because those are all things that are
in here in my heart that I can control. And
so I think when you talk about me on the
field and then me being off the field, it's like
there's a time and place for everything. That's something that
you know my father, when I was really young, I
never forget. That was one of the one things I
never forget. You told me it's a time and place
(34:51):
for everything. And when you're on the field, that's my job,
and I take at very personal. It's something that a
lot of people talked about growing up, going to be
a astronaut or whatever it might be, but I wanted
to be a football player. I'm actually doing that. So
every single day I try to take that for granted.
And you know, when you see me on the field
and you see me doing those things, people are like,
(35:11):
oh man, he's casting around.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
He did this.
Speaker 12 (35:13):
If he did that, It's like, I'm going as hard
as I possibly can to make the play. And when
the play is over, anybody, even just people who know me,
but people who I played against can tell you I
might hit somebody as hard as I possibly can and
then help them up and be like, good job, man,
then get back to the huddle.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Next play, they might make.
Speaker 12 (35:29):
A play on me and I'm like, hey, good catch
whatever case may be, and get back to the huddle.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
But like, it's just it's not personal.
Speaker 12 (35:36):
It's just the game, and it's a game that I
love that you know, I play as hard as I can,
but when it comes to off the field, like you know,
I promise you I got probably one of the.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Softest voices that you're gonna hear.
Speaker 12 (35:47):
And I constantly have to like yell to get people
to like hear me, just in regular settings because I'm
just very like even killed.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
So I mean, I know that it's hard for people.
Speaker 12 (35:57):
To grasp the concept that you can be really good
at your job, but also have you know, I guess,
like the mental capacity to like separate the two things.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
But you know, that's just that's just who I am.
Speaker 5 (36:10):
As I tell people all the time, some of the
nicest people that I know are NFL football players who
will knock people's heads off on the field. And then
a couple of seconds later, like you're talking about it.
They're complete gentlemen, not only towards one another, but also
to the media sometimes asking goofy questions. I'm like, you
imagine these guys going to full speed and then having
to listen to what we're asking them after the game.
And the way that you play also makes you a
(36:31):
terrific player. You're having a great season. The Texans defense
is having. Texans team is having a great season. Tell
me what this defense is doing right now, because it's
really been turned up and you can see how difficult
things are for offenses right now.
Speaker 12 (36:45):
Sure, I mean just pretty much everything I just told
you as far as just the physicality, you know, the effort,
the passion, the energy obviously, you know, just from top
to bottom.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
You know.
Speaker 12 (36:55):
I feel like we have the best union in NFL.
And it's not just like something that you just talk
talk about and it sounds good. Like we put the
work in every single day and even in the games
where it might not be going perfect or whatever, you
just see guys never flinch and just stay together and
keep working together to find a way to come out
with the win.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
Chiefs this weekend two teams, two really good teams that
I don't think people want to see in the postseason,
by the way, but two really good teams knowing that
you got to keep stacking the wins here as you
go down the stretch. What kind of game are you
expecting here between you guys, particularly going up against that
offense there.
Speaker 12 (37:28):
Yeah, I mean obviously you know Patrick Mahomes, super Bowl MVP,
three time winner, all these things, and.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
You just got to show up. And I think the
biggest thing that I've always.
Speaker 12 (37:40):
Took pride in is that in the NFL, doesn't matter
what you've.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Been, It doesn't matter who you were.
Speaker 12 (37:46):
You know, I was an undrafted free agent when I
came into this league, and not a single soul would
have thought I would.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Have been in the position I'm in now seven years later.
And that's the beautiful thing about the NFL.
Speaker 12 (37:55):
It's just like every day you have a choice to
show up as whoever you want to show up at,
but you got.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
To do it.
Speaker 12 (38:00):
So I think, you know, you see Sunday nice, you know,
two really really good teams that try to show up,
and it's going to be a baut A heavyweight fight,
and it's gonna be blows.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
They're going to make plays.
Speaker 12 (38:09):
We're going to make plays and just got to find
a way to finish.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
The Texans nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the
Year Awards.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Something that the NFL uh does a good job.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
With with regard to showing that there's more to these
guys than just what they're doing on the field. Uh
as these Congratulations to you on the nomination. Good luck
down the line when it comes to the league announcing
who the winner of the award is. We'll see you
in the Bay Area one way or another. I know you.
We'd like if we could see you with some pads
on with your team in the Super Bowl, but we'll
(38:41):
see you one way or another. Congratulations to you and
we appreciate the time.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Thank you appreciation.
Speaker 5 (38:48):
The Texans Man of the Year nominee Walter Payton Man
of the Year nominee Cambore Chenor Sanders, two guys that
we were talking about come draft time about to square
off against their opposing.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Defenses on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (38:59):
We're talking about that NEXTXT on The Insiders.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
With NFL Plus.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Keep the NFL in reach, stream live local and primetime
games on mobile. During the regular and postseason NFL Network,
including one more exclusive live game this season, live game audio,
and more with NFL Plus Premium. Get more football with
NFL Red Zone, game replays and NFL Pro. Sign up
today at plus dot NFL dot com Slash Network terms
(39:25):
and conditions apply. Cam Moore and Senor Sanders meet again
on Sunday, and let's just say they've been ready for
this moment.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Hope.
Speaker 13 (39:33):
You know, you know water we just had sports drill.
Oh that's how you feel to get water wet, even
sports drill. That's not there's the Colorado.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
Beside the numbers top.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
That's what it was like.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
For now we mere go down.
Speaker 6 (39:47):
It's right inside the numbers top.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
I don't have on I do geerat, I get paid
for it.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Not a perfect season, but and he stretched for either
of those young quarterbacks, but they got a chance here
bragging rights, Mike, who do you think it's the last
laugh on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
I'll go with Shador.
Speaker 5 (40:07):
He's got the better defense, he's got the better overall team.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
I mean lucky.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
You look at the records here, they're combined four and
twenty between these two teams. But Cleveland's been there, been
hanging in there with some team, So I think it's
gonna wind up being Chador on this one. Cam Brighter
days ahead for you in the Titans.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
I would tend to agree, just because if you want
to go against one of these defenses, I know it's
not the Browns defense you want to be going up against. Here,
we'll see exactly how this one plays out.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
I also know this.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
If we're talking about who gets the last laugh, I
think it's all of us who witnessed whatever that was
during the Ranks segment earlier there.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
It is Ben Johnson. He is not during the weekend.
Everybody h
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