December 19, 2024 • 47 mins
NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport & Mike Garafolo set the table for Week 15. Bridget Condon live reports from SoFi Stadium ahead of the Broncos and Chargers TNF Matchup. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn says the sky is falling mentality is dumb. QB Aaron Rodgers says he’s willing to mentor a Jets rookie QB if he’s asked to return in 2025. Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee joins the show. Brian Baldinger and Marc Ross discuss the Falcons offense with rookie Michael Penix Jr. and how the team handles Kirk Cousins' contract. Omar Ruiz previews the Ravens vs. Steelers and Stacey Dales previews the Lions vs. Bears Week 16 matchup.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Seven playoff spots have been secured entering week sixteen, and
another could be locked up tonight. But how can bo
Nix and the Broncos beat the Chargers to punch their ticket?
Bridge A Condon is on the field ahead of this
tasty TNF tilt lines coach Dan Campbell had a strong
message this week about Detroit percervine in the face of
(00:29):
an onslaught of injuries and adversity. But what's the formula
to take care of business? On Sunday in Chicago, Stacey
Dale's will be there and here to tell you the
latest from Alan Park. There are so many rivalry games
this week, and none better than an AFC nor showdown
on Saturday Ravens Steelers. Some freezing temperatures in Baltimore. Playoff
(00:54):
football is practically underway, So clear your weekend calendar the
iPads compare it your kids for a couple of days.
Welcome inside with the insiders alongside Ian Rappaport and Mike Garafalo.
I am Tom Pelasero. We got so much action. I
just gave you a few of the games to look
forward to. We got the latest on Patrick Mahomes status
(01:16):
for their game on Saturday, we'll hit on some of
the other big matchups we've got Fantasy inside a whole
lot more. But let's start off by going right out
to Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles because we've got this
matchup tonight being promoted. I know those are the Oregon helmets,
but it kind of looks like the movie poster for
Face Off, right, Maybe it's a Trono homage. All right,
(01:40):
we're playing up the Oregon angle, we get it. Bo
Nix was there for a couple of years, justin Herbert
basically from there. But tonight he's here his new home
at Sofi Stadium. Great musical turn on that as well
as Right now, let's go out to the field because
Bridget Condon is there. Set the same for me, Bridget
(02:00):
inside Sofi Stadium ahead of a really big Thursday night game.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, I'm glad you said it. I've been here in
all week. There's a big game here at Sofi Stadium. Look,
both of these teams can clinch a spot in the
playoffs with just three games to go. They're both coming
into tonight, though on opposite ends of the spectrum. For
the Broncos, they've won four straight the Chargers, they've dropped
two in a row. Let's start with the Broncos. A
win tonight, they're into the playoffs for the first time
(02:27):
since winning Super Bowl fifty. Way back during the twenty
fifteen season, I talked with offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey and
he told me the level of urgency could not be higher.
He said, the belief in the locker room and in
the city of Denver is so strong. But he also said, look,
if we don't take care of business these next three games,
none of that even matters. Then for the Chargers, they're
(02:48):
trying to get into the playoffs. With a win tonight,
they would need some help a loss from the Colts
and the Dolphins this weekend, and a win tonight would
get them in. They're coming off a terrible loss to
the Buccaneers on Sunday. Justin Herbert says, we play for
these kind of opportunities. Derwin James echoing that same sentiment, saying,
nobody's pointing fingers, nobody's panicking after that loss on Sunday.
(03:09):
But you can see there's a sense of urgency on guys'
faces and they're hungry to come show that what they
did Sunday is not what they can do.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Tom Bridget, thank you very much, a lot more from
you on this game. In just a little bit, you
mentioned those clinching scenarios for both these teams. Very straightforward.
For Denver, beat the Chargers tonight and they are back
in the playoffs, or they'd also get in if basically
all the other teams in the AFC Wildcard race lose.
(03:37):
The Chargers are in with a win plus losses by
both the Colts and the Dolphins. Ian Broncos, It's been
a while since they were in the postseason here. Sean
Payton has obviously done a lot of work. They seem
to have the right quarterback in place, not just for
this year, for years to come.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
I was looking into promo that matchup, and obviously the
poster is just a knack, as they always are. But
I remember looking at this game as you kind of
scan this, don't laugh as a great poster as they
scan the schedule before the season starts to look at
this one being like, hm, like I wonder what this
is going to be because to me in my head
before the season, this was a Broncos team that was
probably gonna win maybe a game or two more than
(04:17):
the previous year, but probably a year or maybe two away.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
And then the Chargers maybe the same thing.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
No, this came much much quicker for both of these
teams I think anyone anticipated. And I want to focus
on the Broncos here because first of all, they do
have the quarterback, and that's that's a great place to start, right.
I mean, for all the people who wondered about bo
Nicks maybe being a second rounder, being a late first rounder,
and then Sean Payton picks him earlier than anyone else
probably would have picked him, and he has been so
(04:44):
perfect for everything Sean Payton wants to do. He's smart,
he's athletic, he gets the ball where he needs to
go and he unloads it.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
I mean, this is everything that Sean Payton looks for.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
The thing that strikes me is this is too early,
Like the Broncos have so much more in store for us,
Like they are just getting started, and you know, there's
a lot of optimism with this team. There should be
a lot of optimism with this team. But based on
what Sean Payton did in New Orleans, based on what
he's been able to do so early with this team, Mike,
(05:14):
I would expect a lot more Broncos talk over the
next couple of years, and a lot more time's late
season talking about very good Broncos teams.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
And now we got to look at this.
Speaker 6 (05:25):
How good can the Chargers be after a really disappointing
performance Bridget alluded to it the other day in a
game that really they should have won, They were expected
to win in that game. And now you've got Jim
Harball on a short week trying to get these guys
right and get their minds right.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
I've heard it so much this year.
Speaker 6 (05:40):
I've covered so many Thursday games from teams saying, hey,
we're glad to be getting back on the field so
quickly after a disappointing game the other day usually got
to wait the entire week. So Thursday games can be
good in that regard. I think you're going to see
that from the Chargers. A team that has been so
sound this year, so well coached this year, so well
prepared in their execution, forcing teams to beat them. It
(06:01):
was like the opposite of that team that we saw
the other day with such an anomaly performance from them.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
So I would expect Jim.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
Harbaugh and Greg Roman and all these guys, Jesse Minter
on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
These they're all really good coaches.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
I would expect them to have this team ready to
go tonight.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
If you haven't already set your fantasy lineups, now would
be a good time to do so, because not only
do we have a Thursday night game, we had two
games on Saturday, and it seems like you can safely
put Patrick Mahomes if you want to, if you trust
the production in your starting lineup. He's officially off the
injury report just days after aggravating that ankle once again
(06:40):
when he got folded up like an accordion in their
game Good to Go on Saturday against the chiefs Andy
Reid said that once again, this is sort of a
remarkable recovery for Patrick Mahomes, who has done this time
and again. No such injury luck at this point for
the Detroit Lions, who seemingly have lost every member of
their defense to various injuries. They had their eleven game
(07:02):
win streak snapped in a shootout loss last week to
the Buffalo Bills, but Dan Campbell certainly trying to fire
up the fans in a radio appearance a couple of
days ago, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn following suit.
Speaker 7 (07:17):
We're twelve and two and the sky's falling. We're going
to the playoffs. Win the damn win the tournament. Why
the hell is skyfall for us? What do we have
to sit back and be sad? I mean, we didn't
after you guys. We let you guys do that. Allogized
to go play football, and that's what we're going to
continue to do, all right. We lost one game, well,
(07:40):
two games, we lost two games. We have a chance
to win out, all right and accomplish everything that we
want to ac complish. So why should we sit back and
wallow and think the sky's falling?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
It's dumb.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
They've lost two games, but like two dozen guys to
injured reserve ian, it is decimated, particularly on Aaron Glenn's
side of the football. As the Lions try to pull
this thing together, knowing they've still got path win these
next three and they're NFC North champs, quite possibly the
number one seed.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
You know, back when I covered Nick Samon at Alabama,
one of the most important lessons I learned is when
a coach stands at that podium and he speaks to
the media in a way that maybe you wouldn't expect, like, yeah,
they've lost a lot of injuries, but we don't care,
or you know, whatever it was. He's not talking to
us the media. He's talking to his team in the
locker room. And for Aaron Glenn, who really is one
(08:33):
of the better leaders you've seen as a defensive coordinator
and someone who I believe and I think you guys
also believe, will be a head coach at some point,
either this year or in the near future, he is
speaking to his locker room and this really is the
refrain from inside the building. Yeah they've lost, guys, get it,
everyone loses guys. Have they lost more than others, Yes,
they probably have. But they are good. This guy is
(08:54):
not falling. They are resilient, they are tough, and they're
ready to go. And that is exactly what Dan Campbell
has said. Whether it's on the radio again, speaking through
the radio to his team in the locker room, whether
it's Aaron Glenn standing up there and talking to the
media knowing his team is going to listen, there's going
to be a lot of time for a lot of
people to discuss all the injuries we do it plenty,
(09:16):
We will do it for them, But for them, most
important thing for the Lions is they.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Are still good. They still have a shot to do.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Everything they wanted and even with the injuries Mike, they're
probably in a better situation than most of the teams
are facing.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Yeah, And there's two reasons that they're confident. One, they
feel like they do a really good job of finding
the personnel that matches what they do.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
So some of these.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Guys that they're going to be relying upon, or guys
that fit their scheme and are asked to what they
asked to do, what they do and what they deem
is necessary for successful football. So you know, every team
kind of feels that way. I get that, right, that
you got these guys that you compiled in the late rounds,
you're undrafted free agents, your guys off the street, that
(09:59):
we do a better job of that, But obviously Detroit
feels confident in that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
That's one. Number Two is the mental toughness.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
You keep hearing Dan Campbell say we're built for this,
We're built for this, We're built well along the way.
You've got to be built to deal with this kind
of adversity and I know it's a lot, it really is.
And this is not going to be the same Lions
team without all these key players, like he just can't.
You're not going to be able to get to that point.
But you were whooping teams with a full Lions team.
(10:28):
Now all you got to do is beat him by
one point, right, You'll take that the rest of the
way with this Lions team. And this is also the
other thing of Aiden Hutchinson and his possible return hanging
out there. You get him back, that almost be like
getting two guys back.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
He's that good potentially.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
So all that math that I just threw out there,
maybe it doesn't add up. Maybe I'm trying to say
one plus one equals three, But.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
That's what you have to do.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
If you're Aaron Glenn, if you're Dan Campbell, if you're
anybody in that coaching staff and inside that building getting
this team ready to play.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
You mentioned two reasons, Mike to still believe it the Lions.
I'll give you a few more three. Jared Goff four,
Ben Johnson five, Jamior Gibbs six. I'm on Ross Saint
Brown seven today, sool their offense. They just lost David
Montgomery will see if there's no possibility he could get
back at some point here, But there's still really talented.
That game they lost, they scored forty plus points. Again,
this might have to be a team that goes from
(11:19):
being the gritty one that can win a couple of
different ways. Every game is trying to plaster that thing
together the best that they can defensively and outscore everybody.
That was not supposed to be the formula for the
New York Jets, which is part of the reason that
the season has gone south. The defensive course has struggled,
and Aaron Rodgers, at least until up until last week,
had fallen well short of expectations. Now we did get
(11:42):
a glimpse, at least a one week found of youth
for Aaron Rodgers and Devonte Adams. Rodgers is mused on
both sides of the possibility of playing for twenty twenty five,
of playing for the Jets in twenty twenty five, and
apparently also perhaps mentoring a young QB behind him.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
You know, I think all of us, whether we got
a guy behind us, it's in the player or not.
There's you know, I when they drafted Jordan, I felt
like I was one bad stretch from being benched, you know,
and you know one MVP.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
A couple of years. So that's the way the league is.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
You got to prove it you can play every single
week and through stretches. So if they asked me back
and they drafted the guy, I'd mentored a hell out
of them if I was playing, and I try and
play as well as I could keep on a bench.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Take a look at the draft order as it stands
right now. The Jets, this might being four and ten,
would currently own the eighth overall pick because there are
seven teams with either two or three wins. Jets, by
virtual getting that win last week, knock themselves down a
handful of spots here. Aaron Rodgers, essentially Mike sees me
talking on both sides of everything that he was asked.
(12:51):
It's would you consider taking in a pay cut? Sure,
I'd talk about that, I'd talk about anything. He's keeping
all options on the table. Hard to imagine after everything
that's happened that Aaron Rodgers will be back in a
Jets uniform in twenty twenty five. But there are so
many other questions that are going to dictate that this
is gonna be a fascinating offseason in New York.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
I've got this game on Sunday, the Jets against the Rams,
and starting to talk to some folks about the situation.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
The vibes. They say it's good.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
Regarding Aaron Rodgers, they say he's got a little bit
of motivation going on. We saw it against the Jaguars,
the way that he and Devonte Adams connected.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Late in the game. He's in a weird spot.
Speaker 6 (13:27):
He is trying to play for his job, really for
the first time in his career, in a season down
the stretch here that is meaningless from a playoff standpoint.
And if you see more of that connection with Devontae
Adams and those little spurts that we've seen, go back
to Week one against the forty nine ers when we
saw it very briefly. If you can somehow see this
(13:50):
right here on display the next couple of weeks consistently,
regardless of who the head coach of the general manager
is coming in, they're going to have to take a
hard look at that and say, well, maybe he's healthier.
Look at him, Look at how spry he is. Back
to doing his celebration with the fist in the air.
I talked to one of his offensive lineman, John Simpson
about this just earlier today, and he said he's making
(14:12):
plays he couldn't make earlier in the year. He's a
lot healthier than he was earlier in the year. And
I know we've talked about that and it's been like, oh,
is this excuse making or whatnot. Rogers can make a
point that, yeah, I am healthier down the stretch here,
And as far as the mentoring goes, he did try
to do that and attempted to do it with Zach Wilson.
Didn't work out because he wasn't playing, So I think
that whole thing got screwed up, but not surprising to me,
(14:34):
and I do believe him that he'd be willing to
take on that role as a mentor.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
And it did sound like the Rogers relationship with Jordan
Love was a pretty good one, even though so Mike,
you mentioned that, you know, Rogers in unfamiliar territory playing
for his job. He listen to the words that he
said today, listen to words that he said the last
couple of years, like he feels like this all the time,
and I think the really good ones feel like this.
(14:58):
I remember when the page year's draft to Jimmy Garoppolo.
Tom Brady felt like he had to keep him on
the bench and keep playing for his job. And I
feel like that mentality is probably pretty familiar to these
super competitive guys who never want to give up any snaps,
never want to come off the field, never want to
give anyone a chance to show that they are better
than these guys are. And so, you know, for me,
(15:19):
this was a really easy decision for the Jets, probably
a couple of weeks ago, cut Aaron Rodgers. Obviously, you
move on, you have a new coach, GM, you start
with a new quarterback. If he's going to keep playing
like this, he's gonna make it a lot tougher. And
let's say the Jets draft to quarterback early. Let's say
they draft went.
Speaker 5 (15:35):
In the first round. Well, is he going to come
in and play?
Speaker 4 (15:38):
If he's not, then you're going to need a bridge
quarterback to come in and play while he waits and learns.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
And they have one.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
It's just his name might be Aaron Rodgers. I mean,
his name is Aaron Rodgers. I'm just saying he might
be the bridge quarterback. Rodgers keeps playing like this. Bottom
line is going to be a far more in depth
and complicated situation than they imagined a couple weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
All of a SUDD scientific data also would say the
second year after an Achilles injury, you're going to be
a lot closer to be at full health. Aaron Rodgers
seems to be looking better physically over the course of
time here though. We will turn forty two during next season.
Anytime you're an older quarterback, including one coming off an
Achilles injury, it's always the possibility the team's going to
(16:19):
be looking for your successor Sometimes, like Rogers, you see
it coming, other times not so much.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
The Atlanta Falcons are considering Michael Pennix at number eight,
and I know they signed Kirk Cousin gave one hundred
million dollars guaranteed.
Speaker 9 (16:36):
It is all about succession at the most and more position.
A lot of people think they're going to take a
defensive flavor, maybe edge. Michael Pennix is very firmly in
the mix for the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
How about them Apples.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
I was wondering when the chaos was going to start.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Apparently now Ian said this hours ago. I brought this.
He set it up as a possibility.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
This okay, this and whatever happened to the edge Rusher,
I thought that's where we were going with Atlanta.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
Here we go with the eighth pig in the twenty
twenty four NFL Draft, the LANTAFL can select Michael Powell Junior.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Well, there it is why that is the first surprise.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Hey, Now, the NFL Draft, to say the.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Least, still one of the most shocking picks in recent years,
and this is a development that was surprising even to
the people who picked it. Michael PENNOCKX Junior going into
Week sixteen, has now been named the starting quarterback with
Kirk Cousins headed to the bench. With Atlanta still alive
(17:42):
in the playoff chase, as we bring in r Brian
Baldinger and Mark Crossbaldy, you watch this play out. We
always knew that this was a possibility, but it wasn't
something it was front burner for them to do in
twenty twenty five. As you look at the landscape of
where the Falcons are right now making this move, what
do you think.
Speaker 10 (18:00):
I don't think they had a choice. This wasn't a
slump by Kirk Cousins. This was a rapid decline and
I thought that they might make this choice. We talked
about it before the Minnesota and Atlanta game a couple
weeks ago. Tom I thought this was a real possibility,
and I've had guys on the within the organization sending
me clips of him in practice. It's practice, but it
(18:22):
looks a lot different than what we've seen from Kirk
and the game. And we watched him on Monday night
against Raiders. He cannot get away from any kind of
a rush, anything that comes down on top of him.
He is in ability to escape. Michael Pennix is an
elite athlete with an elite arm. One thing though, was interesting,
you know, just watching this offense is they've been a
shotgun offense almost primarily all year, and in the twenty
(18:45):
past drop the other day, Kirk Cousins was in shotgun eighteen.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Out of twenty.
Speaker 10 (18:51):
That's not what he was in Minnesota. But it'd be
interesting to see if he's been in shotgun because maybe
he can't push off that Achilles the way he once did.
Maybe he doesn't allow him to get to the drop
that he wants to, And it'll be interesting to see
if Michael Penis is under center with some of these
play action passes they would like because they've got a
very good running attack. Vjon's having a great season. The
(19:12):
offensive line is not an issue, but getting the ball
down the field, getting explosive plays is, and I believe
Michael Pennix can provide that. With their outside chance of
making these playoffs to win out and get a little
help from Tampa here, I think this is the one
shot they have right now.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Part of the reason this was so shocking is the
contract and the way they had structured the commitment they
made to Kirk Cousins just about six weeks before drafting
Michael PENNICKX Junior. This is an abbreviated version of a
lengthy post that I made on X trying to explain basically,
there's no good options. The best ones would be you
release him before next March sixteenth, because that's from another
(19:50):
ten million dollar bonus would end up becoming fully guaranteed.
If the other option would be to trade him, but
Mark he has a no trade clause, Cousins can effective
veto any deal. You'll twenty seven point five million dollars
fully guaranteed in twenty twenty five, which is not bad
if he's going to be your starting quarterback. The question
(20:10):
becomes is he playing at a level that somebody's gonna
want him to be the starting quarterback in twenty twenty five?
And does Kirk even go along with a trader just
say hey, you can pay me that the backup Pennick
or else, go ahead and release me. I'll pick where
I go.
Speaker 11 (20:24):
Well, from the Falcons perspective, you're just trying to choose
the lesser of all evils and save money to this
point of saying, well, we made this huge mistake and
we've allocated so much money to Kirk.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
What do we do now?
Speaker 11 (20:36):
Well, and it's also, as you saw from the Penix clip,
they're taking Penis and giving Kirk that money in the
first place. There always might be a team out there,
even though we're looking at the landscape now and say
there's absolutely no way other teams are watching this film
of Kirk Cousins and saying we're going to trade for
him because of the desperation of the quarterback market, because
of this draft class quarterbacks not being that great. It
(20:57):
only takes one team and one GM and one head.
Coaches say we can still salvage Kirk and as long
as Kirk and his agent Mike McCartney, the best agent
in the league, who everyone should be flogging to to
get this man all this money. As long as they say,
you know what, this is another situation where we can
go get a lot more money. You know, it's twenty
seven point five that a team will owe him next year,
(21:19):
but they could rework something there with a new team.
That's an option. We saw the options there, Tom that
you laid out perfectly as far as cutting him and
how much money Atlanta will save. So they're really talking
about all of this these next few weeks, and there's
still the option on the table, even though it doesn't
seem likely that they could keep him because Saint Michael Penix.
(21:40):
I know, Baldy waxed poetically about how great Michael Pennix is,
and I completely agree.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
He could go out there and crush it. What if
he goes out there and plays bad and.
Speaker 11 (21:49):
The brain trusted the falcon and say, well, wait a minute, now,
we still have to ke Kirker around here another year,
just to give him another chance. You know what, he
might be healthy next year and keep him around. Fellas,
still a lot of options on the table before Atlanta
on the rest of the year with Kerk.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I would also remind everyone we were sitting here almost
exactly one year ago talking about a former Pro Bowl
quarterback in his mid thirties with a bunch of guaranteed
money left, who looked like he was finished that ended
up having to get released. It's worked out pretty well
for Russell Wilson the Steelers having him there on a
minimum deal. If you're Kirk Cousins, you're thinking that might
be the best path for me. Where would that be
(22:26):
and can he achieve that same level? We're about to
find out. Baldi Mark, thank you very much. Lookore to
chatting with you again very soon. Coming up after this,
we're going to talk with this guy Uchenna Nuosu, who's
been through a lot over the past couple of years,
also doing great work that earned him a Walter Payton
Man of the Year nomination once he got next in
(22:46):
store on the field a big game against the Vikings
this week. Who Chenna will be with us to bring
it down next on the Insiders. The NFL's highest honor
is the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. All
thirty two teams have a nominee and in Seattle. Is
(23:09):
this man right here, Chenna Nuwosu who got the NOD
this year. What do you know? China is with us
right now on the Insiders alongside me, Tom Pelasero as
well as Mike Garafolo Uchina. Congratulations. I know this is
a big deal for you. Tell me about the work
that you've been doing with your foundation and what this
(23:29):
award means and what this nomination means to you.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Yeah, we've been doing a lot of work.
Speaker 12 (23:35):
I focus on mainly the youth, you know, the next
generation of kids. You know, I try to empower them
anyway I can. A couple of things I've done. I
was able to build a training center, athletic training center
in my former high school, Mama Mater, and provide them
with full time athletic trainer on staff. I've done camps
you for youth kids. I volunteered at boys and Girls clubs.
(23:59):
I've also done stuff back home and my parents hometown
in Nigeria, providing light there for the villagers. And you know,
the work is just getting started and we're continue to
grow and do more.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
What does it mean for you to be able to
get back into especially internationally, right We've We've got a
lot of Walter Peyton nominees who do stuff domestically. For
you to do it overseas as well, what does it
mean for you? What does it do for you as
an individual an NFL player?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
It means a lot, but honestly, it doesn't do much
for me. You know, it's not about me.
Speaker 12 (24:30):
It's about you know, the people, the kids, the families
out there that are in needs. So anyway I can
try to, you know, get back to them and you know,
make their day a better day, whether that's here, domestically
or internationally.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
You know, it means a lot, but again, it's not
about me. It's about them.
Speaker 12 (24:45):
And like I said, we're just continuing to grow and
do more as much as we can.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
You have tremendous perspective in that regard to Chenna, and
that probably has served you well over the past year
or so here because you've dealt with multiple pull significant injuries.
I can only imagine the physical, mental, emotional toll that
takes on anybody going through it. Take me through this
journey over these past couple of seasons, and also how
(25:12):
you're feeling that, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
The journey's been tough.
Speaker 12 (25:16):
I would say Throughout my career, I've been a pretty
healthy even going back to college, I've been a pretty
healthy player, you know, So dealing with these significant season
ending injuries like I did last year, it was kind
of new for me. It was uncharted waters I didn't
really know how to navigate it. You know, not you're
really not facing anything like this, but you know, trusting
the doctors, and you know my rehab plan and you
(25:38):
know my team being around me. You know, I've always
just tried to better myself and just try to continue
to stay positive in these moments and knowing that you know,
I'll be able to play my best ball ahead and
I'll be back on that field my teammates and brothers,
and that's what I tried to cling onto this process,
and I'm happy to be back out there.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
I saw something on the Seahawks website about you being
back and everything that you've been through. When you send
a message, it was directly to the twelves. What kind
of relationship do you have with them? And how important
was it to you for you to tell them directly
via the website, Hey I'm back.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
It was great.
Speaker 12 (26:13):
You know, the Twelves have embraced me ever since I
signed here back in twenty twenty two. You know, they've
supported me throughout my career, all the injuries, and they're
there for us every game.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
You know, we hearing them loud and proud cheering for us.
Speaker 12 (26:27):
You know, they're like our secret weapon out there, and
you know I have to embrace them any way I can.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So you know it was a letter to them for
supporting me and sticking.
Speaker 12 (26:35):
By me through my career, through my time here in Seattle,
especially dealing with those injuries.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
You know, they're very supportive.
Speaker 12 (26:40):
A lot of people DM me and check on me
and constantly see how I'm doing. So it's only right
for me to say my grace and thanks to them
for being by my side throughout these ordeals I've been
going through.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Well, you're gonna need the twelves extra allowed this week
because you got a Vikings team coming in that is
being red hot. That offense, Guys like Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison, T J. Hockinson, Sam Darnold's played at a
high level. What do you see from them right now
on tape and how do you attack them?
Speaker 12 (27:10):
Yeah, they're doing a lot of things. Well, you know,
they run the ball effectively. They throw the ball effectively,
you know, So it's going to be another challenge for us,
but you know that's what we love.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
We love good challenges.
Speaker 12 (27:18):
So you know, just got to go out there and
play our game, play our scheme, play fundamentally sound and
you know, make sure you know right on the details,
and we'll be able to handle this team like we
know we can and we're capable of.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Mike McDonald his first year as a head coach.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
I know that they have been impressed and feel really
good about the hire. They're inside that building. The way
the season has gone, there's been ups, there's been downs.
It's like extended ups. It's almost like phases of the
season that's gone along. What's impressed you as you've seen
him progress as a head coach. That leads you to believe, hey,
we're in the right hands down the stretch here with
this head coach Mike McDonald.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Yeah, his resiliency. You know, he's a coach that doesn't waiver.
Nothing gets to him.
Speaker 12 (27:57):
He's always staying positive, he's always encouraging guys, he's always
coming up with new ways to try to win. And
you know, you love, you love, you love a coach
that's constantly thinking and constantly, you know, trying to get
better as not just as for himself, but as a
football team. And that's what he's always been doing. He's
been doing that so far. He's done a great job.
I love playing for him. He's very smart. I consider
(28:17):
myself to be a smart player. So I feel like
we fit and yeah, I just can't just can't wait
to get back out there and see all of us
live out there on Sunday night or Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
So Mike McDonald obviously a guy from a defensive background,
he's very hands on with that group. You're looking for
that first sack of Chenn in a long time. You've
been through a lot since it is Mike trying to
get you one. Are you gonna scheme up something here
to make sure you got favorable matchups to get that quarterback? Finally?
Speaker 12 (28:46):
I mean, you can scheme up whatever you want, you know,
in this league, you know, but it's up to the
player to be able. It's up to me to be
able to go out there and get it, you know.
So I'm working on myself in practice, making sure my
body is right, making sure, you know, I'm ready to go,
making sure I'm studying extra film so when that moment comes,
you know, I don't miss it.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Ou Chenna, congratulations again on the Walter Payton Man of
the Year nomination for the Seahawks. Best of luck the
rest of the way, man, stay healthy, go get that sack.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
All right, thank you?
Speaker 1 (29:15):
All right? Coming up after this, we got other big
games around the league in Week sixteen, including one involving
the Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Bonnicks Justin Herbert break
down this matchup right after this on The Insiders. Week
(29:38):
sixteen kicks off right there across the water So five
Stadium in Inglewood, California. Broncos Chargers, all kinds of playoff
implications in this one, and if the Broncos don't win,
Bonnicks is gonna jump. What are we doing here? Those
tiny giraffes, what are they tiny? They're tiny horses, you know,
(30:02):
because he's a young calf himself a pony. Excuse me,
I just I can't.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
I can't with the.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Thursday Night posters, I just every single time they get me.
Welcome back to the Insiders Bridge at Connon is that
Sofi Stadium. We've also got Brian Baldinger with us Bridge.
The last time these teams met, Chargers got out to
that big lead. Broncos actually made things interesting in the
fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
What do we expect tonight, Well, we could expect I
don't know that pitcher to replicate itself. There is a
lake across the street. But let me just talk about
the numbers. If you believe in numbers, we're going to
see some defense here tonight. There are three teams that
currently sit atop the NFL when it comes to points
allowed per game, the Eagles, the Chargers, and the Broncos.
The Chargers' offense has to find a way to get
(30:47):
going tonight. They've scored just seventeen points in each of
their last three games, and they face a Broncos defense
that leads the leagues in terms of sacks forty nine
sacks so far this team has had and now I
talked to left half of Rashaan Slater about how you
get this going, and he told me, well, we have
to get our run game going. The team has rushed
(31:08):
for less than one hundred yards in each of their
last four games. You run the ball, you control the clock,
and you can open up things in the passing game.
Of course, their run game has been limited without JK. Dobbins,
who's missed the last four games with or This will
be his fourth game with a knee injury. But Slater
tells me, I watched the tape. I know we can
(31:30):
be a good run team. I know we can dominate
in the run game. It just takes one thing to
go wrong. And that has been the focus this week.
Speaker 11 (31:37):
Faldy.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Make sure they're paying attention to those small details. Try
to get this thing going on the ground.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
Well.
Speaker 10 (31:45):
Bridget hitting on a lot of things that are real.
I saw him last week against Tampa Bay. They didn't
run the ball. They looked like a seventeen point offense.
They can't get explosive plays in the passing game right now.
Got a couple early to Lad mcconki, but couldn't get
anything after that. But if you look at this diminishing
rushing attack that Jim Harball was so high on, it
goes right to that first half injury a JK. Dobbins
(32:08):
a month ago against the Ravens. They haven't run for
one hundred yards. Gus Edwards doesn't look like the explosive
back they need. If for Shaun Slater and all the
guys up front are all doing all the little things
right now. They're really struggling to get those kind of
yards and to be able to sustain offense by moving
it on the ground, and so it's a paramount for them,
(32:28):
whether it's Camania Badal or whoever. This year, maybe Justin
Herbert runs a little bit more with some read options.
That's certainly been a part of their offense this season.
But explosive plays, they have struggled to get those, and
you're going to see a very good Broncos defense out there.
I do think this from the standpoint of the Chargers
(32:49):
defense tonight. The Broncos don't run the ball well and
they're struggling to get that. And if you just put
the ball in Bone makes his hands and has to
have him to go win the game. I mean three
into three interceptions last week. It was uncanny. It was
not really what he had been doing, but he made
three terrible mistakes. They overcame it because of those sacks,
what Nick Benito did with the interception return for touchdown.
(33:11):
But you know, I would say that the Chargers match
up really well against his Broncos offense.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
All Bridget that Chargers defense had asbout as much success
last week stopping the box as the windscreen on your
microphone has of blocking out the screaming PA announcer and
the techno music behind you. How do they turn it
around tonight?
Speaker 13 (33:33):
Well?
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yeah, I mean Tom, that was the question in the
locker room. I was around this team all week. It
was the question of coaches, to Justin Herbert, to everybody
in the locker room, how do you fix this defense?
Especially on a short week. You talk about a Chargers
defense that has led the NFL in terms of scoring
defense for thirteen weeks this season. We're in week sixteen.
That's basically the entire season. They gave up a season
(33:53):
high forty points Sunday against the Buccaneers. Khalil Mack told
me it was a lack of energy, which was kind
of interesting to hear him say that. He said, we
were just going through the motions. It felt just routine.
Even when we made a big play, there wasn't energy.
So I asked him, I said, well, how do you
fix that? He said, I have to be the one
to go out there and create the energy, bring the effort,
(34:15):
bring the energy. So I asked him again, how do
you do that? Khalil Mack is not a guy that's
gonna be like making a TikTok dance in the locker
room before the game or focusing on a turnover celebration
this week. And I said, is that what you mean?
He goes, No, the only way to create energy is
to have fun and go out there and absolutely dominate.
And that's what they're hoping for here tonight against the Broncos.
(34:38):
And I'll leave you with this, Tom, some more fun
numbers for you. The last time the Chargers gave up
forty or more points, the next game they beat a
team back in twenty twenty one. That team the Broncos,
very same team they play here tonight. Who knows if
that means anything, but it's always fun when those things
tie together.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
Good stuff, Bridge, Thank you, Baldy, you as well. It's
a rivalry rivalry week. That's a really tough phrase to say.
It's a rivalry week across the NFL, and it doesn't
end there. We've also got a great one in the AFC.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Norm they don't like us, we down, but I don't
like them.
Speaker 11 (35:15):
Ay boy coming to house.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
Take it dealt with no time going into the mout.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Come on what.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
Ducks don reeler that puts the ball right out of.
Speaker 6 (35:26):
The money, chucks down, You got a free here.
Speaker 14 (35:29):
It is a first time star or Lamar Jackson against
the Steelers. Jackson is unbelievably gifted down proven, unbelievable plastic
raven Steelers all kind of hitting.
Speaker 11 (35:39):
It was tough to all bout.
Speaker 14 (35:41):
Indeed, there's a hitting, there's some joe, there's everything we've got.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
There would be definitely been a fasboo game.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
The Steelers are spelling blood.
Speaker 11 (35:49):
He got fanny fucking man.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
They got two teams.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
They're respecting one another, but do like one another. Everything's
done Stittsburgh and Baltimore. You don't have to say a
whole lot more.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
There was some offensive highlights there. I feel like we
didn't need any of that. We just needed just just
hit each other, right, I mean is that with this
rivalry is about Steelers Ravens. All it is is just
them colliding into each other at very high speeds. At
the end, somebody wins, somebody loses. There are some stakes
this weekend, though for the Steelers that is very simple
as really they have seen you with clinching scenarios win
(36:28):
and they win the North with the Ravens.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
They can win the North with a win and some
other things.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
Oh, I'm sorry, they could clinch a playoff berth with
a win and some other things including a Colts and
Dolphins loss. So now let's bring in our good friend
Omar Ruiz along with Mark Ross. Once again, Omar, we
will start with you. That video got you hyped, I'm
sure because it got me hyped as well. These rivalry
games really don't need a ton of introduction. But what
(36:57):
is at stake here for these two teams that gear
up to play this weekend.
Speaker 13 (37:02):
Oh and you're absolutely right about that video firing me up.
I can't wait to get on my flight tomorrow. I
can't wait to be at that game on Saturday. Having
covered a Ravens Steelers game and what feels like a
decade by now, but so much at staky And like
you mentioned, the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's a hat and T
shirt game. Potentially if they win, they wrap up the
AFC North. And Minka Fitzpatrick told me a little earlier
(37:24):
today how gratifying that would be.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
It would be huge to clinch in.
Speaker 13 (37:29):
Their rivals building demoralizing is how he would describe it
if they were to win at the Ravens.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
And this is one of the most.
Speaker 13 (37:37):
Fiercest, intense rivalries in all of football, but the Steelers
have made it one sided of late.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
They've won eight of nine in this series.
Speaker 13 (37:45):
And I asked tight end Pat Friermuth early in this week,
what's been the key to that, because obviously the Ravens
have been good this last four or five years, Lamar
Jackson's won a couple MVPs, and Fiermuth said he attributes
it to the coaching style of Mike Tomlin, the way
he has singularly focused on this matchup with the Ravens,
the game plan, the confidence with which they go in,
(38:06):
the preparation that they have, and they're able to execute
that in this particular game. I talked to Ravens defensive
lineman Nomdi Madubuke earlier this week and he said they're
not focused on the history. He said the key for
them this week was trying to execute at a high
level every single practice and then hoping that that translates
into playing at a high level on Saturday, and then
(38:28):
the rest will take care of himself. And speaking with
Rashad Bateman, the receiver, earlier on his take on why
this has been a little one sided. He feels that
the Ravens have beat themselves in these matchups. They're typically
tight when these two teams play together, So it comes
down to turnovers, not beating themselves, not giving the Steelers
extra yardage opportunity for free with those penalties. If they
can control all of that, they have a chance to
(38:50):
control the game and come out with the win and
mark potentially clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Here on Saturday.
Speaker 11 (38:57):
Yeah, Obar, you mentioned all the important elements of this
game and it should be a lot of fun. But
and you mentioned Mike Tomlin's coaching philosophy.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
What is one of his mantras?
Speaker 11 (39:06):
He says, the standard is the standard, And even though
this game is important, the standard for these two organizations
is to win the Super Bowl and nothing else really.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
And for Pittsburgh, despite.
Speaker 11 (39:17):
The lengthy Mike Tomlin win streak there, they had to
won a playoff game since twenty sixteen, and the standard
for the Steelers fans is, Hey, that's all well and good,
Mike t but you better go win a super Bowl soon.
Better go win a playoff game before it, but you
better go win a super Bowl. And then on the
flip side for the Ravens, they've had tons of success
as well, and under the Lamar Jackson rain here despite
(39:40):
the two MVPs, despite the success in the regular season,
once they've gotten to the playoffs, they ultimately have not
come through the way the Ravens fans have wanted them to.
So on both teams, both different elements of we need
to prove a lot more. This game is super important,
but the big your goal is for these organizations is
(40:02):
the super Bowl. If not for right or wrong, that's
just the standard that has been set, the standard of
the standard of winning the super Bowl. This is the
first step. But both of these teams had their eye
on a bigger picture there, guys.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
Yeah, and then of course to be able to get
to the super Bowl or continue that march of the
super Bowl, it helps to have good players.
Speaker 5 (40:20):
It helps to have healthy players.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Omar, what have we learned about the health of some
key guys leading into this game?
Speaker 5 (40:27):
TJ.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Watt for one, And you mentioned you talked to Rashad Bateman.
He's another one.
Speaker 13 (40:33):
Yeah, Rashad Bateman's missed practice a couple times this week.
We'll have to see if he's able to go on Saturday.
We know George Pickens is out for the second game
in the row, the star making Steelers receiver.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
And then you mentioned TJ.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Watt.
Speaker 13 (40:46):
He is off the game status report, so he will play.
Despite that ankle injury that he suffered last week, he
improved all week.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Long in practice.
Speaker 13 (40:54):
He did not participate on Tuesday, he was limited Wednesday,
he was in full today and he said he will
a go on Saturday. Obviously, he is huge for this matchup.
The Steelers are a completely different team when they don't
have TJ. Watt on the field. They are one to
ten in games that TJ. Watt doesn't play, and he
has been particularly huge in this matchup. Lamar Jackson has
(41:16):
only started five games against the Steelers in his career.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
TJ.
Speaker 13 (41:20):
Watt has eight and a half sacks in those five games.
So all over, Lamar and this has been a typical
TJ Watt season. He's leading the league in tackles for loss,
leaving the league in force fumbles.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Hopes to carry that again on Saturday.
Speaker 13 (41:34):
The Steelers did a great job Week eleven limiting Lamar
Jackson and Derek Henry's effectiveness. I talked to Minka Fitzpatrick
how they repeat that, and it's been do what they
do at a high level. And a couple things that
they do best in the NFL is getting off the
field defensively. They lead the league in turnovers, they taken
them all away thirty times this season, and they get
off the field.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
With three and outs.
Speaker 13 (41:55):
More than a quarter of the possessions that they play defensively,
they forced three and outs.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
They're hoping to do more of that on Saturday.
Speaker 5 (42:04):
So many good things to look forward to.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Cannot wait for this game and the fact that we
get in a day earlier than usual just perfect.
Speaker 5 (42:10):
Omar Mark, thank you very much for hanging out with us.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
You can catch the Chiefs and Steelers at one pm
Eastern is part of the doubleheader on Christmas Day, followed
by the Ravens and Texans at four point thirty pm
live on Netflix for that one. Jared Goffa. The Detroit
Lions have certainly been in the news a little bit
over the past week, mostly due to injuries, but also
(42:34):
because they are coming off the kind of game.
Speaker 5 (42:36):
That they rarely rarely have.
Speaker 4 (42:38):
We will get a live report from our good friend
Stacy DALs to tell us everything she knows about the Lions.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
Coming up next on The Insiders.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Oh we're back, boy.
Speaker 6 (42:54):
We are really sprinting to the finish line here on
The Insiders. Here on Thursday, the Detroit Lions are pack
in the elements. We lost Stacy Dale's She's okay. We're
led to believe something happened with our camera. They're not
her fault, not anybody's fault. Really, it's nobody's fault, and
it's nobody's fault that the Lions have suffered so many injuries.
But that being said, they have to plow for it.
(43:14):
They have to play football. Welcome in, Ian Rappaport.
Speaker 1 (43:17):
Can you hear me? Guys?
Speaker 6 (43:18):
And Tom Pellasari you got me? Okay, I got some knots.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
We're good.
Speaker 6 (43:21):
Let's talk about the Lions and what they need to
do and what Dan Campbell's message. You guys know, Dan
can talking his message beat to the team here.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Don't be talking.
Speaker 11 (43:30):
I can't.
Speaker 1 (43:30):
I can't hear them Stop talking. Come on, man, we're
very sensitive right now.
Speaker 6 (43:35):
Talk about the Lions.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Go Tom, listen. They've had a lot of injuries up front,
on that team. This is certainly seems like a get
right type of a matchup when you're going into Chicago.
Granted it's gonna be cold, you know, but that's a
Bears team that's really reeling on both sides of the football.
They've not played the same defense. It's Matty Eberflus got fired,
and I was at that game last week against the Vikings. Offensively,
(43:57):
they're just kind of disjot trying to find themselves right now.
Seems like a good week for the Lions to go
out and remind everybody that they can outscore just about
any opponent, particularly one that's gone through like the Bears
have this season.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
You know, you guys talked about this a couple of
segments ago, just about how good the Lions have been
at finding guys to do exactly what they do. This
is a really really good test Not that they wanted
a test, but this is a really good test from
they have used this year to get better in some areas.
Speaker 5 (44:27):
Out of Zadarias Smith would be one.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
They're going to have to find guys off the street
as they've done off other teams practice squads, off their
own practice squad, put them in here, put them in
positions to really play, and some of these guys are
going to have to like win the game for them.
That is what really good teams do, which is why
you get out in the playoffs and you look on
the field and you're like, who is that guy making
this play?
Speaker 5 (44:50):
That's what the good teams do.
Speaker 4 (44:51):
That is a test now for the Lions, and to me,
based on how strong their culture is, I would imagine
they're in a really good position to do that.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
We got a triple header on NFL Network in week seventeen,
a lot of games with playoff implications, some of them
involving these same teams that you're going to be watching tonight.
We got Chargers, Patriots, Broncos Bengals, and then a big
one potentially in the NFC West Cardinals Rams wrapping things
up next Saturday, not this Saturday, Next Saturday, December twenty eighth.
(45:22):
Before that, you got the holiday remix. That's what we're
calling about it. There's gonna be candy canes on the
jerseys and yes, I am completely serious about that. A
doubleheader this Saturday than the same teams remixed facing each
other on Christmas Day, so they have enough time to recover.
Kyler Murray, the Cardinals quarterback, getting ready for a relatively
(45:45):
rare game in less than ideal weather. Here's what he
had to say about it. There's no weather on Sunday.
Speaker 10 (45:57):
If it's a chillier temperature, but there's no weather, is
that a big deal? No?
Speaker 3 (46:02):
I mean I don't I've played in cold weather before.
It's no, I don't know how cold is it supposed
to be.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
Yeah, Ian, we all know what it's like to be cold.
I think we all live in the more northern climates. Here.
Keller had to have played in some colder weather games
somewhere along the road, right, I.
Speaker 5 (46:29):
Don't know about that.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
I mean, college football ends a lot earlier than the
NFL does. He's played in some plenty of indoor games.
I mean, look, it's I'll say this for Kyler. Here's
I have two thoughts. One, I don't like to be
cold either. It hurts my hands, Like, give me some
warm socks and gloves.
Speaker 5 (46:44):
I don't like any of that. Here's the other.
Speaker 4 (46:45):
Think there was a time early in his career, Mike,
when Kyler Murray was not comfortable in front of the
media and maybe not very affable. He's kind of owned
it a little bit. He's really coming into his own.
It's just like a personality, and that's pretty cool to see.
Speaker 1 (47:00):
Mike. What's Joe Burrow doing this week?
Speaker 6 (47:03):
Joe Burrow now Ian behind the scenes. Ian's like, you
know a lot of these gifts that the quarterbacks give
their offensive. Ian's always like, these are promotional things they
get for free. They're regifts basically, not this one. There's
no way Joe Burrow got authentic Japanese katana swords for free.
He surely paid for them. This is a great gift here.
I don't know if it's legal. I assume it's legal.
(47:23):
I guess you can just have a sword without I
don't have no idea, but I'm not at the end
of kill Bill. And what happens to Lucy Lou If
it's an authentic a Tory Junzo sort.
Speaker 5 (47:31):
What happens. I haven't seen that one.
Speaker 1 (47:35):
I'm sorry it was Mike talking. I lost. I think
I think we lost Mikes. Mike, you're in the matrix. Goodbyeybody,
but back tomorrow. See you
Seven playoff spots have been secured entering week sixteen, and
another could be locked up tonight. But how can bo
Nix and the Broncos beat the Chargers to punch their ticket?
Bridge A Condon is on the field ahead of this
tasty TNF tilt lines coach Dan Campbell had a strong
message this week about Detroit percervine in the face of
(00:29):
an onslaught of injuries and adversity. But what's the formula
to take care of business? On Sunday in Chicago, Stacey
Dale's will be there and here to tell you the
latest from Alan Park. There are so many rivalry games
this week, and none better than an AFC nor showdown
on Saturday Ravens Steelers. Some freezing temperatures in Baltimore. Playoff
(00:54):
football is practically underway, So clear your weekend calendar the
iPads compare it your kids for a couple of days.
Welcome inside with the insiders alongside Ian Rappaport and Mike Garafalo.
I am Tom Pelasero. We got so much action. I
just gave you a few of the games to look
forward to. We got the latest on Patrick Mahomes status
(01:16):
for their game on Saturday, we'll hit on some of
the other big matchups we've got Fantasy inside a whole
lot more. But let's start off by going right out
to Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles because we've got this
matchup tonight being promoted. I know those are the Oregon helmets,
but it kind of looks like the movie poster for
Face Off, right, Maybe it's a Trono homage. All right,
(01:40):
we're playing up the Oregon angle, we get it. Bo
Nix was there for a couple of years, justin Herbert
basically from there. But tonight he's here his new home
at Sofi Stadium. Great musical turn on that as well
as Right now, let's go out to the field because
Bridget Condon is there. Set the same for me, Bridget
(02:00):
inside Sofi Stadium ahead of a really big Thursday night game.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, I'm glad you said it. I've been here in
all week. There's a big game here at Sofi Stadium. Look,
both of these teams can clinch a spot in the
playoffs with just three games to go. They're both coming
into tonight, though on opposite ends of the spectrum. For
the Broncos, they've won four straight the Chargers, they've dropped
two in a row. Let's start with the Broncos. A
win tonight, they're into the playoffs for the first time
(02:27):
since winning Super Bowl fifty. Way back during the twenty
fifteen season, I talked with offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey and
he told me the level of urgency could not be higher.
He said, the belief in the locker room and in
the city of Denver is so strong. But he also said, look,
if we don't take care of business these next three games,
none of that even matters. Then for the Chargers, they're
(02:48):
trying to get into the playoffs. With a win tonight,
they would need some help a loss from the Colts
and the Dolphins this weekend, and a win tonight would
get them in. They're coming off a terrible loss to
the Buccaneers on Sunday. Justin Herbert says, we play for
these kind of opportunities. Derwin James echoing that same sentiment, saying,
nobody's pointing fingers, nobody's panicking after that loss on Sunday.
(03:09):
But you can see there's a sense of urgency on guys'
faces and they're hungry to come show that what they
did Sunday is not what they can do.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Tom Bridget, thank you very much, a lot more from
you on this game. In just a little bit, you
mentioned those clinching scenarios for both these teams. Very straightforward.
For Denver, beat the Chargers tonight and they are back
in the playoffs, or they'd also get in if basically
all the other teams in the AFC Wildcard race lose.
(03:37):
The Chargers are in with a win plus losses by
both the Colts and the Dolphins. Ian Broncos, It's been
a while since they were in the postseason here. Sean
Payton has obviously done a lot of work. They seem
to have the right quarterback in place, not just for
this year, for years to come.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
I was looking into promo that matchup, and obviously the
poster is just a knack, as they always are. But
I remember looking at this game as you kind of
scan this, don't laugh as a great poster as they
scan the schedule before the season starts to look at
this one being like, hm, like I wonder what this
is going to be because to me in my head
before the season, this was a Broncos team that was
probably gonna win maybe a game or two more than
(04:17):
the previous year, but probably a year or maybe two away.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
And then the Chargers maybe the same thing.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
No, this came much much quicker for both of these
teams I think anyone anticipated. And I want to focus
on the Broncos here because first of all, they do
have the quarterback, and that's that's a great place to start, right.
I mean, for all the people who wondered about bo
Nicks maybe being a second rounder, being a late first rounder,
and then Sean Payton picks him earlier than anyone else
probably would have picked him, and he has been so
(04:44):
perfect for everything Sean Payton wants to do. He's smart,
he's athletic, he gets the ball where he needs to
go and he unloads it.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
I mean, this is everything that Sean Payton looks for.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
The thing that strikes me is this is too early,
Like the Broncos have so much more in store for us,
Like they are just getting started, and you know, there's
a lot of optimism with this team. There should be
a lot of optimism with this team. But based on
what Sean Payton did in New Orleans, based on what
he's been able to do so early with this team, Mike,
(05:14):
I would expect a lot more Broncos talk over the
next couple of years, and a lot more time's late
season talking about very good Broncos teams.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
And now we got to look at this.
Speaker 6 (05:25):
How good can the Chargers be after a really disappointing
performance Bridget alluded to it the other day in a
game that really they should have won, They were expected
to win in that game. And now you've got Jim
Harball on a short week trying to get these guys
right and get their minds right.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
I've heard it so much this year.
Speaker 6 (05:40):
I've covered so many Thursday games from teams saying, hey,
we're glad to be getting back on the field so
quickly after a disappointing game the other day usually got
to wait the entire week. So Thursday games can be
good in that regard. I think you're going to see
that from the Chargers. A team that has been so
sound this year, so well coached this year, so well
prepared in their execution, forcing teams to beat them. It
(06:01):
was like the opposite of that team that we saw
the other day with such an anomaly performance from them.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
So I would expect Jim.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
Harbaugh and Greg Roman and all these guys, Jesse Minter
on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
These they're all really good coaches.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
I would expect them to have this team ready to
go tonight.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
If you haven't already set your fantasy lineups, now would
be a good time to do so, because not only
do we have a Thursday night game, we had two
games on Saturday, and it seems like you can safely
put Patrick Mahomes if you want to, if you trust
the production in your starting lineup. He's officially off the
injury report just days after aggravating that ankle once again
(06:40):
when he got folded up like an accordion in their
game Good to Go on Saturday against the chiefs Andy
Reid said that once again, this is sort of a
remarkable recovery for Patrick Mahomes, who has done this time
and again. No such injury luck at this point for
the Detroit Lions, who seemingly have lost every member of
their defense to various injuries. They had their eleven game
(07:02):
win streak snapped in a shootout loss last week to
the Buffalo Bills, but Dan Campbell certainly trying to fire
up the fans in a radio appearance a couple of
days ago, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn following suit.
Speaker 7 (07:17):
We're twelve and two and the sky's falling. We're going
to the playoffs. Win the damn win the tournament. Why
the hell is skyfall for us? What do we have
to sit back and be sad? I mean, we didn't
after you guys. We let you guys do that. Allogized
to go play football, and that's what we're going to
continue to do, all right. We lost one game, well,
(07:40):
two games, we lost two games. We have a chance
to win out, all right and accomplish everything that we
want to ac complish. So why should we sit back and
wallow and think the sky's falling?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
It's dumb.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
They've lost two games, but like two dozen guys to
injured reserve ian, it is decimated, particularly on Aaron Glenn's
side of the football. As the Lions try to pull
this thing together, knowing they've still got path win these
next three and they're NFC North champs, quite possibly the
number one seed.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
You know, back when I covered Nick Samon at Alabama,
one of the most important lessons I learned is when
a coach stands at that podium and he speaks to
the media in a way that maybe you wouldn't expect, like, yeah,
they've lost a lot of injuries, but we don't care,
or you know, whatever it was. He's not talking to
us the media. He's talking to his team in the
locker room. And for Aaron Glenn, who really is one
(08:33):
of the better leaders you've seen as a defensive coordinator
and someone who I believe and I think you guys
also believe, will be a head coach at some point,
either this year or in the near future, he is
speaking to his locker room and this really is the
refrain from inside the building. Yeah they've lost, guys, get it,
everyone loses guys. Have they lost more than others, Yes,
they probably have. But they are good. This guy is
(08:54):
not falling. They are resilient, they are tough, and they're
ready to go. And that is exactly what Dan Campbell
has said. Whether it's on the radio again, speaking through
the radio to his team in the locker room, whether
it's Aaron Glenn standing up there and talking to the
media knowing his team is going to listen, there's going
to be a lot of time for a lot of
people to discuss all the injuries we do it plenty,
(09:16):
We will do it for them, But for them, most
important thing for the Lions is they.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Are still good. They still have a shot to do.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Everything they wanted and even with the injuries Mike, they're
probably in a better situation than most of the teams
are facing.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Yeah, And there's two reasons that they're confident. One, they
feel like they do a really good job of finding
the personnel that matches what they do.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
So some of these.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Guys that they're going to be relying upon, or guys
that fit their scheme and are asked to what they
asked to do, what they do and what they deem
is necessary for successful football. So you know, every team
kind of feels that way. I get that, right, that
you got these guys that you compiled in the late rounds,
you're undrafted free agents, your guys off the street, that
(09:59):
we do a better job of that, But obviously Detroit
feels confident in that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
That's one. Number Two is the mental toughness.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
You keep hearing Dan Campbell say we're built for this,
We're built for this, We're built well along the way.
You've got to be built to deal with this kind
of adversity and I know it's a lot, it really is.
And this is not going to be the same Lions
team without all these key players, like he just can't.
You're not going to be able to get to that point.
But you were whooping teams with a full Lions team.
(10:28):
Now all you got to do is beat him by
one point, right, You'll take that the rest of the
way with this Lions team. And this is also the
other thing of Aiden Hutchinson and his possible return hanging
out there. You get him back, that almost be like
getting two guys back.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
He's that good potentially.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
So all that math that I just threw out there,
maybe it doesn't add up. Maybe I'm trying to say
one plus one equals three, But.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
That's what you have to do.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
If you're Aaron Glenn, if you're Dan Campbell, if you're
anybody in that coaching staff and inside that building getting
this team ready to play.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
You mentioned two reasons, Mike to still believe it the Lions.
I'll give you a few more three. Jared Goff four,
Ben Johnson five, Jamior Gibbs six. I'm on Ross Saint
Brown seven today, sool their offense. They just lost David
Montgomery will see if there's no possibility he could get
back at some point here, But there's still really talented.
That game they lost, they scored forty plus points. Again,
this might have to be a team that goes from
(11:19):
being the gritty one that can win a couple of
different ways. Every game is trying to plaster that thing
together the best that they can defensively and outscore everybody.
That was not supposed to be the formula for the
New York Jets, which is part of the reason that
the season has gone south. The defensive course has struggled,
and Aaron Rodgers, at least until up until last week,
had fallen well short of expectations. Now we did get
(11:42):
a glimpse, at least a one week found of youth
for Aaron Rodgers and Devonte Adams. Rodgers is mused on
both sides of the possibility of playing for twenty twenty five,
of playing for the Jets in twenty twenty five, and
apparently also perhaps mentoring a young QB behind him.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
You know, I think all of us, whether we got
a guy behind us, it's in the player or not.
There's you know, I when they drafted Jordan, I felt
like I was one bad stretch from being benched, you know,
and you know one MVP.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
A couple of years. So that's the way the league is.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
You got to prove it you can play every single
week and through stretches. So if they asked me back
and they drafted the guy, I'd mentored a hell out
of them if I was playing, and I try and
play as well as I could keep on a bench.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Take a look at the draft order as it stands
right now. The Jets, this might being four and ten,
would currently own the eighth overall pick because there are
seven teams with either two or three wins. Jets, by
virtual getting that win last week, knock themselves down a
handful of spots here. Aaron Rodgers, essentially Mike sees me
talking on both sides of everything that he was asked.
(12:51):
It's would you consider taking in a pay cut? Sure,
I'd talk about that, I'd talk about anything. He's keeping
all options on the table. Hard to imagine after everything
that's happened that Aaron Rodgers will be back in a
Jets uniform in twenty twenty five. But there are so
many other questions that are going to dictate that this
is gonna be a fascinating offseason in New York.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
I've got this game on Sunday, the Jets against the Rams,
and starting to talk to some folks about the situation.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
The vibes. They say it's good.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
Regarding Aaron Rodgers, they say he's got a little bit
of motivation going on. We saw it against the Jaguars,
the way that he and Devonte Adams connected.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Late in the game. He's in a weird spot.
Speaker 6 (13:27):
He is trying to play for his job, really for
the first time in his career, in a season down
the stretch here that is meaningless from a playoff standpoint.
And if you see more of that connection with Devontae
Adams and those little spurts that we've seen, go back
to Week one against the forty nine ers when we
saw it very briefly. If you can somehow see this
(13:50):
right here on display the next couple of weeks consistently,
regardless of who the head coach of the general manager
is coming in, they're going to have to take a
hard look at that and say, well, maybe he's healthier.
Look at him, Look at how spry he is. Back
to doing his celebration with the fist in the air.
I talked to one of his offensive lineman, John Simpson
about this just earlier today, and he said he's making
(14:12):
plays he couldn't make earlier in the year. He's a
lot healthier than he was earlier in the year. And
I know we've talked about that and it's been like, oh,
is this excuse making or whatnot. Rogers can make a
point that, yeah, I am healthier down the stretch here,
And as far as the mentoring goes, he did try
to do that and attempted to do it with Zach Wilson.
Didn't work out because he wasn't playing, So I think
that whole thing got screwed up, but not surprising to me,
(14:34):
and I do believe him that he'd be willing to
take on that role as a mentor.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
And it did sound like the Rogers relationship with Jordan
Love was a pretty good one, even though so Mike,
you mentioned that, you know, Rogers in unfamiliar territory playing
for his job. He listen to the words that he
said today, listen to words that he said the last
couple of years, like he feels like this all the time,
and I think the really good ones feel like this.
(14:58):
I remember when the page year's draft to Jimmy Garoppolo.
Tom Brady felt like he had to keep him on
the bench and keep playing for his job. And I
feel like that mentality is probably pretty familiar to these
super competitive guys who never want to give up any snaps,
never want to come off the field, never want to
give anyone a chance to show that they are better
than these guys are. And so, you know, for me,
(15:19):
this was a really easy decision for the Jets, probably
a couple of weeks ago, cut Aaron Rodgers. Obviously, you
move on, you have a new coach, GM, you start
with a new quarterback. If he's going to keep playing
like this, he's gonna make it a lot tougher. And
let's say the Jets draft to quarterback early. Let's say
they draft went.
Speaker 5 (15:35):
In the first round. Well, is he going to come
in and play?
Speaker 4 (15:38):
If he's not, then you're going to need a bridge
quarterback to come in and play while he waits and learns.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
And they have one.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
It's just his name might be Aaron Rodgers. I mean,
his name is Aaron Rodgers. I'm just saying he might
be the bridge quarterback. Rodgers keeps playing like this. Bottom
line is going to be a far more in depth
and complicated situation than they imagined a couple weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
All of a SUDD scientific data also would say the
second year after an Achilles injury, you're going to be
a lot closer to be at full health. Aaron Rodgers
seems to be looking better physically over the course of
time here though. We will turn forty two during next season.
Anytime you're an older quarterback, including one coming off an
Achilles injury, it's always the possibility the team's going to
(16:19):
be looking for your successor Sometimes, like Rogers, you see
it coming, other times not so much.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
The Atlanta Falcons are considering Michael Pennix at number eight,
and I know they signed Kirk Cousin gave one hundred
million dollars guaranteed.
Speaker 9 (16:36):
It is all about succession at the most and more position.
A lot of people think they're going to take a
defensive flavor, maybe edge. Michael Pennix is very firmly in
the mix for the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
How about them Apples.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
I was wondering when the chaos was going to start.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Apparently now Ian said this hours ago. I brought this.
He set it up as a possibility.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
This okay, this and whatever happened to the edge Rusher,
I thought that's where we were going with Atlanta.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
Here we go with the eighth pig in the twenty
twenty four NFL Draft, the LANTAFL can select Michael Powell Junior.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Well, there it is why that is the first surprise.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Hey, Now, the NFL Draft, to say the.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Least, still one of the most shocking picks in recent years,
and this is a development that was surprising even to
the people who picked it. Michael PENNOCKX Junior going into
Week sixteen, has now been named the starting quarterback with
Kirk Cousins headed to the bench. With Atlanta still alive
(17:42):
in the playoff chase, as we bring in r Brian
Baldinger and Mark Crossbaldy, you watch this play out. We
always knew that this was a possibility, but it wasn't
something it was front burner for them to do in
twenty twenty five. As you look at the landscape of
where the Falcons are right now making this move, what
do you think.
Speaker 10 (18:00):
I don't think they had a choice. This wasn't a
slump by Kirk Cousins. This was a rapid decline and
I thought that they might make this choice. We talked
about it before the Minnesota and Atlanta game a couple
weeks ago. Tom I thought this was a real possibility,
and I've had guys on the within the organization sending
me clips of him in practice. It's practice, but it
(18:22):
looks a lot different than what we've seen from Kirk
and the game. And we watched him on Monday night
against Raiders. He cannot get away from any kind of
a rush, anything that comes down on top of him.
He is in ability to escape. Michael Pennix is an
elite athlete with an elite arm. One thing though, was interesting,
you know, just watching this offense is they've been a
shotgun offense almost primarily all year, and in the twenty
(18:45):
past drop the other day, Kirk Cousins was in shotgun eighteen.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Out of twenty.
Speaker 10 (18:51):
That's not what he was in Minnesota. But it'd be
interesting to see if he's been in shotgun because maybe
he can't push off that Achilles the way he once did.
Maybe he doesn't allow him to get to the drop
that he wants to, And it'll be interesting to see
if Michael Penis is under center with some of these
play action passes they would like because they've got a
very good running attack. Vjon's having a great season. The
(19:12):
offensive line is not an issue, but getting the ball
down the field, getting explosive plays is, and I believe
Michael Pennix can provide that. With their outside chance of
making these playoffs to win out and get a little
help from Tampa here, I think this is the one
shot they have right now.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Part of the reason this was so shocking is the
contract and the way they had structured the commitment they
made to Kirk Cousins just about six weeks before drafting
Michael PENNICKX Junior. This is an abbreviated version of a
lengthy post that I made on X trying to explain basically,
there's no good options. The best ones would be you
release him before next March sixteenth, because that's from another
(19:50):
ten million dollar bonus would end up becoming fully guaranteed.
If the other option would be to trade him, but
Mark he has a no trade clause, Cousins can effective
veto any deal. You'll twenty seven point five million dollars
fully guaranteed in twenty twenty five, which is not bad
if he's going to be your starting quarterback. The question
(20:10):
becomes is he playing at a level that somebody's gonna
want him to be the starting quarterback in twenty twenty five?
And does Kirk even go along with a trader just
say hey, you can pay me that the backup Pennick
or else, go ahead and release me. I'll pick where
I go.
Speaker 11 (20:24):
Well, from the Falcons perspective, you're just trying to choose
the lesser of all evils and save money to this
point of saying, well, we made this huge mistake and
we've allocated so much money to Kirk.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
What do we do now?
Speaker 11 (20:36):
Well, and it's also, as you saw from the Penix clip,
they're taking Penis and giving Kirk that money in the
first place. There always might be a team out there,
even though we're looking at the landscape now and say
there's absolutely no way other teams are watching this film
of Kirk Cousins and saying we're going to trade for
him because of the desperation of the quarterback market, because
of this draft class quarterbacks not being that great. It
(20:57):
only takes one team and one GM and one head.
Coaches say we can still salvage Kirk and as long
as Kirk and his agent Mike McCartney, the best agent
in the league, who everyone should be flogging to to
get this man all this money. As long as they say,
you know what, this is another situation where we can
go get a lot more money. You know, it's twenty
seven point five that a team will owe him next year,
(21:19):
but they could rework something there with a new team.
That's an option. We saw the options there, Tom that
you laid out perfectly as far as cutting him and
how much money Atlanta will save. So they're really talking
about all of this these next few weeks, and there's
still the option on the table, even though it doesn't
seem likely that they could keep him because Saint Michael Penix.
(21:40):
I know, Baldy waxed poetically about how great Michael Pennix is,
and I completely agree.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
He could go out there and crush it. What if
he goes out there and plays bad and.
Speaker 11 (21:49):
The brain trusted the falcon and say, well, wait a minute, now,
we still have to ke Kirker around here another year,
just to give him another chance. You know what, he
might be healthy next year and keep him around. Fellas,
still a lot of options on the table before Atlanta
on the rest of the year with Kerk.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I would also remind everyone we were sitting here almost
exactly one year ago talking about a former Pro Bowl
quarterback in his mid thirties with a bunch of guaranteed
money left, who looked like he was finished that ended
up having to get released. It's worked out pretty well
for Russell Wilson the Steelers having him there on a
minimum deal. If you're Kirk Cousins, you're thinking that might
be the best path for me. Where would that be
(22:26):
and can he achieve that same level? We're about to
find out. Baldi Mark, thank you very much. Lookore to
chatting with you again very soon. Coming up after this,
we're going to talk with this guy Uchenna Nuosu, who's
been through a lot over the past couple of years,
also doing great work that earned him a Walter Payton
Man of the Year nomination once he got next in
(22:46):
store on the field a big game against the Vikings
this week. Who Chenna will be with us to bring
it down next on the Insiders. The NFL's highest honor
is the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. All
thirty two teams have a nominee and in Seattle. Is
(23:09):
this man right here, Chenna Nuwosu who got the NOD
this year. What do you know? China is with us
right now on the Insiders alongside me, Tom Pelasero as
well as Mike Garafolo Uchina. Congratulations. I know this is
a big deal for you. Tell me about the work
that you've been doing with your foundation and what this
(23:29):
award means and what this nomination means to you.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Yeah, we've been doing a lot of work.
Speaker 12 (23:35):
I focus on mainly the youth, you know, the next
generation of kids. You know, I try to empower them
anyway I can. A couple of things I've done. I
was able to build a training center, athletic training center
in my former high school, Mama Mater, and provide them
with full time athletic trainer on staff. I've done camps
you for youth kids. I volunteered at boys and Girls clubs.
(23:59):
I've also done stuff back home and my parents hometown
in Nigeria, providing light there for the villagers. And you know,
the work is just getting started and we're continue to
grow and do more.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
What does it mean for you to be able to
get back into especially internationally, right We've We've got a
lot of Walter Peyton nominees who do stuff domestically. For
you to do it overseas as well, what does it
mean for you? What does it do for you as
an individual an NFL player?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
It means a lot, but honestly, it doesn't do much
for me. You know, it's not about me.
Speaker 12 (24:30):
It's about you know, the people, the kids, the families
out there that are in needs. So anyway I can
try to, you know, get back to them and you know,
make their day a better day, whether that's here, domestically
or internationally.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
You know, it means a lot, but again, it's not
about me. It's about them.
Speaker 12 (24:45):
And like I said, we're just continuing to grow and
do more as much as we can.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
You have tremendous perspective in that regard to Chenna, and
that probably has served you well over the past year
or so here because you've dealt with multiple pull significant injuries.
I can only imagine the physical, mental, emotional toll that
takes on anybody going through it. Take me through this
journey over these past couple of seasons, and also how
(25:12):
you're feeling that, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
The journey's been tough.
Speaker 12 (25:16):
I would say Throughout my career, I've been a pretty
healthy even going back to college, I've been a pretty
healthy player, you know, So dealing with these significant season
ending injuries like I did last year, it was kind
of new for me. It was uncharted waters I didn't
really know how to navigate it. You know, not you're
really not facing anything like this, but you know, trusting
the doctors, and you know my rehab plan and you
(25:38):
know my team being around me. You know, I've always
just tried to better myself and just try to continue
to stay positive in these moments and knowing that you know,
I'll be able to play my best ball ahead and
I'll be back on that field my teammates and brothers,
and that's what I tried to cling onto this process,
and I'm happy to be back out there.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
I saw something on the Seahawks website about you being
back and everything that you've been through. When you send
a message, it was directly to the twelves. What kind
of relationship do you have with them? And how important
was it to you for you to tell them directly
via the website, Hey I'm back.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
It was great.
Speaker 12 (26:13):
You know, the Twelves have embraced me ever since I
signed here back in twenty twenty two. You know, they've
supported me throughout my career, all the injuries, and they're
there for us every game.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
You know, we hearing them loud and proud cheering for us.
Speaker 12 (26:27):
You know, they're like our secret weapon out there, and
you know I have to embrace them any way I can.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So you know it was a letter to them for
supporting me and sticking.
Speaker 12 (26:35):
By me through my career, through my time here in Seattle,
especially dealing with those injuries.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
You know, they're very supportive.
Speaker 12 (26:40):
A lot of people DM me and check on me
and constantly see how I'm doing. So it's only right
for me to say my grace and thanks to them
for being by my side throughout these ordeals I've been
going through.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Well, you're gonna need the twelves extra allowed this week
because you got a Vikings team coming in that is
being red hot. That offense, Guys like Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison, T J. Hockinson, Sam Darnold's played at a
high level. What do you see from them right now
on tape and how do you attack them?
Speaker 12 (27:10):
Yeah, they're doing a lot of things. Well, you know,
they run the ball effectively. They throw the ball effectively,
you know, So it's going to be another challenge for us,
but you know that's what we love.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
We love good challenges.
Speaker 12 (27:18):
So you know, just got to go out there and
play our game, play our scheme, play fundamentally sound and
you know, make sure you know right on the details,
and we'll be able to handle this team like we
know we can and we're capable of.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Mike McDonald his first year as a head coach.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
I know that they have been impressed and feel really
good about the hire. They're inside that building. The way
the season has gone, there's been ups, there's been downs.
It's like extended ups. It's almost like phases of the
season that's gone along. What's impressed you as you've seen
him progress as a head coach. That leads you to believe, hey,
we're in the right hands down the stretch here with
this head coach Mike McDonald.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Yeah, his resiliency. You know, he's a coach that doesn't waiver.
Nothing gets to him.
Speaker 12 (27:57):
He's always staying positive, he's always encouraging guys, he's always
coming up with new ways to try to win. And
you know, you love, you love, you love a coach
that's constantly thinking and constantly, you know, trying to get
better as not just as for himself, but as a
football team. And that's what he's always been doing. He's
been doing that so far. He's done a great job.
I love playing for him. He's very smart. I consider
(28:17):
myself to be a smart player. So I feel like
we fit and yeah, I just can't just can't wait
to get back out there and see all of us
live out there on Sunday night or Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
So Mike McDonald obviously a guy from a defensive background,
he's very hands on with that group. You're looking for
that first sack of Chenn in a long time. You've
been through a lot since it is Mike trying to
get you one. Are you gonna scheme up something here
to make sure you got favorable matchups to get that quarterback? Finally?
Speaker 12 (28:46):
I mean, you can scheme up whatever you want, you know,
in this league, you know, but it's up to the
player to be able. It's up to me to be
able to go out there and get it, you know.
So I'm working on myself in practice, making sure my
body is right, making sure, you know, I'm ready to go,
making sure I'm studying extra film so when that moment comes,
you know, I don't miss it.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Ou Chenna, congratulations again on the Walter Payton Man of
the Year nomination for the Seahawks. Best of luck the
rest of the way, man, stay healthy, go get that sack.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
All right, thank you?
Speaker 1 (29:15):
All right? Coming up after this, we got other big
games around the league in Week sixteen, including one involving
the Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Bonnicks Justin Herbert break
down this matchup right after this on The Insiders. Week
(29:38):
sixteen kicks off right there across the water So five
Stadium in Inglewood, California. Broncos Chargers, all kinds of playoff
implications in this one, and if the Broncos don't win,
Bonnicks is gonna jump. What are we doing here? Those
tiny giraffes, what are they tiny? They're tiny horses, you know,
(30:02):
because he's a young calf himself a pony. Excuse me,
I just I can't.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
I can't with the.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Thursday Night posters, I just every single time they get me.
Welcome back to the Insiders Bridge at Connon is that
Sofi Stadium. We've also got Brian Baldinger with us Bridge.
The last time these teams met, Chargers got out to
that big lead. Broncos actually made things interesting in the
fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
What do we expect tonight, Well, we could expect I
don't know that pitcher to replicate itself. There is a
lake across the street. But let me just talk about
the numbers. If you believe in numbers, we're going to
see some defense here tonight. There are three teams that
currently sit atop the NFL when it comes to points
allowed per game, the Eagles, the Chargers, and the Broncos.
The Chargers' offense has to find a way to get
(30:47):
going tonight. They've scored just seventeen points in each of
their last three games, and they face a Broncos defense
that leads the leagues in terms of sacks forty nine
sacks so far this team has had and now I
talked to left half of Rashaan Slater about how you
get this going, and he told me, well, we have
to get our run game going. The team has rushed
(31:08):
for less than one hundred yards in each of their
last four games. You run the ball, you control the clock,
and you can open up things in the passing game.
Of course, their run game has been limited without JK. Dobbins,
who's missed the last four games with or This will
be his fourth game with a knee injury. But Slater
tells me, I watched the tape. I know we can
(31:30):
be a good run team. I know we can dominate
in the run game. It just takes one thing to
go wrong. And that has been the focus this week.
Speaker 11 (31:37):
Faldy.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Make sure they're paying attention to those small details. Try
to get this thing going on the ground.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
Well.
Speaker 10 (31:45):
Bridget hitting on a lot of things that are real.
I saw him last week against Tampa Bay. They didn't
run the ball. They looked like a seventeen point offense.
They can't get explosive plays in the passing game right now.
Got a couple early to Lad mcconki, but couldn't get
anything after that. But if you look at this diminishing
rushing attack that Jim Harball was so high on, it
goes right to that first half injury a JK. Dobbins
(32:08):
a month ago against the Ravens. They haven't run for
one hundred yards. Gus Edwards doesn't look like the explosive
back they need. If for Shaun Slater and all the
guys up front are all doing all the little things
right now. They're really struggling to get those kind of
yards and to be able to sustain offense by moving
it on the ground, and so it's a paramount for them,
(32:28):
whether it's Camania Badal or whoever. This year, maybe Justin
Herbert runs a little bit more with some read options.
That's certainly been a part of their offense this season.
But explosive plays, they have struggled to get those, and
you're going to see a very good Broncos defense out there.
I do think this from the standpoint of the Chargers
(32:49):
defense tonight. The Broncos don't run the ball well and
they're struggling to get that. And if you just put
the ball in Bone makes his hands and has to
have him to go win the game. I mean three
into three interceptions last week. It was uncanny. It was
not really what he had been doing, but he made
three terrible mistakes. They overcame it because of those sacks,
what Nick Benito did with the interception return for touchdown.
(33:11):
But you know, I would say that the Chargers match
up really well against his Broncos offense.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
All Bridget that Chargers defense had asbout as much success
last week stopping the box as the windscreen on your
microphone has of blocking out the screaming PA announcer and
the techno music behind you. How do they turn it
around tonight?
Speaker 13 (33:33):
Well?
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yeah, I mean Tom, that was the question in the
locker room. I was around this team all week. It
was the question of coaches, to Justin Herbert, to everybody
in the locker room, how do you fix this defense?
Especially on a short week. You talk about a Chargers
defense that has led the NFL in terms of scoring
defense for thirteen weeks this season. We're in week sixteen.
That's basically the entire season. They gave up a season
(33:53):
high forty points Sunday against the Buccaneers. Khalil Mack told
me it was a lack of energy, which was kind
of interesting to hear him say that. He said, we
were just going through the motions. It felt just routine.
Even when we made a big play, there wasn't energy.
So I asked him, I said, well, how do you
fix that? He said, I have to be the one
to go out there and create the energy, bring the effort,
(34:15):
bring the energy. So I asked him again, how do
you do that? Khalil Mack is not a guy that's
gonna be like making a TikTok dance in the locker
room before the game or focusing on a turnover celebration
this week. And I said, is that what you mean?
He goes, No, the only way to create energy is
to have fun and go out there and absolutely dominate.
And that's what they're hoping for here tonight against the Broncos.
(34:38):
And I'll leave you with this, Tom, some more fun
numbers for you. The last time the Chargers gave up
forty or more points, the next game they beat a
team back in twenty twenty one. That team the Broncos,
very same team they play here tonight. Who knows if
that means anything, but it's always fun when those things
tie together.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
Good stuff, Bridge, Thank you, Baldy, you as well. It's
a rivalry rivalry week. That's a really tough phrase to say.
It's a rivalry week across the NFL, and it doesn't
end there. We've also got a great one in the AFC.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Norm they don't like us, we down, but I don't
like them.
Speaker 11 (35:15):
Ay boy coming to house.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
Take it dealt with no time going into the mout.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Come on what.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
Ducks don reeler that puts the ball right out of.
Speaker 6 (35:26):
The money, chucks down, You got a free here.
Speaker 14 (35:29):
It is a first time star or Lamar Jackson against
the Steelers. Jackson is unbelievably gifted down proven, unbelievable plastic
raven Steelers all kind of hitting.
Speaker 11 (35:39):
It was tough to all bout.
Speaker 14 (35:41):
Indeed, there's a hitting, there's some joe, there's everything we've got.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
There would be definitely been a fasboo game.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
The Steelers are spelling blood.
Speaker 11 (35:49):
He got fanny fucking man.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
They got two teams.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
They're respecting one another, but do like one another. Everything's
done Stittsburgh and Baltimore. You don't have to say a
whole lot more.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
There was some offensive highlights there. I feel like we
didn't need any of that. We just needed just just
hit each other, right, I mean is that with this
rivalry is about Steelers Ravens. All it is is just
them colliding into each other at very high speeds. At
the end, somebody wins, somebody loses. There are some stakes
this weekend, though for the Steelers that is very simple
as really they have seen you with clinching scenarios win
(36:28):
and they win the North with the Ravens.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
They can win the North with a win and some
other things.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
Oh, I'm sorry, they could clinch a playoff berth with
a win and some other things including a Colts and
Dolphins loss. So now let's bring in our good friend
Omar Ruiz along with Mark Ross. Once again, Omar, we
will start with you. That video got you hyped, I'm
sure because it got me hyped as well. These rivalry
games really don't need a ton of introduction. But what
(36:57):
is at stake here for these two teams that gear
up to play this weekend.
Speaker 13 (37:02):
Oh and you're absolutely right about that video firing me up.
I can't wait to get on my flight tomorrow. I
can't wait to be at that game on Saturday. Having
covered a Ravens Steelers game and what feels like a
decade by now, but so much at staky And like
you mentioned, the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's a hat and T
shirt game. Potentially if they win, they wrap up the
AFC North. And Minka Fitzpatrick told me a little earlier
(37:24):
today how gratifying that would be.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
It would be huge to clinch in.
Speaker 13 (37:29):
Their rivals building demoralizing is how he would describe it
if they were to win at the Ravens.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
And this is one of the most.
Speaker 13 (37:37):
Fiercest, intense rivalries in all of football, but the Steelers
have made it one sided of late.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
They've won eight of nine in this series.
Speaker 13 (37:45):
And I asked tight end Pat Friermuth early in this week,
what's been the key to that, because obviously the Ravens
have been good this last four or five years, Lamar
Jackson's won a couple MVPs, and Fiermuth said he attributes
it to the coaching style of Mike Tomlin, the way
he has singularly focused on this matchup with the Ravens,
the game plan, the confidence with which they go in,
(38:06):
the preparation that they have, and they're able to execute
that in this particular game. I talked to Ravens defensive
lineman Nomdi Madubuke earlier this week and he said they're
not focused on the history. He said the key for
them this week was trying to execute at a high
level every single practice and then hoping that that translates
into playing at a high level on Saturday, and then
(38:28):
the rest will take care of himself. And speaking with
Rashad Bateman, the receiver, earlier on his take on why
this has been a little one sided. He feels that
the Ravens have beat themselves in these matchups. They're typically
tight when these two teams play together, So it comes
down to turnovers, not beating themselves, not giving the Steelers
extra yardage opportunity for free with those penalties. If they
can control all of that, they have a chance to
(38:50):
control the game and come out with the win and
mark potentially clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Here on Saturday.
Speaker 11 (38:57):
Yeah, Obar, you mentioned all the important elements of this
game and it should be a lot of fun. But
and you mentioned Mike Tomlin's coaching philosophy.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
What is one of his mantras?
Speaker 11 (39:06):
He says, the standard is the standard, And even though
this game is important, the standard for these two organizations
is to win the Super Bowl and nothing else really.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
And for Pittsburgh, despite.
Speaker 11 (39:17):
The lengthy Mike Tomlin win streak there, they had to
won a playoff game since twenty sixteen, and the standard
for the Steelers fans is, Hey, that's all well and good,
Mike t but you better go win a super Bowl soon.
Better go win a playoff game before it, but you
better go win a super Bowl. And then on the
flip side for the Ravens, they've had tons of success
as well, and under the Lamar Jackson rain here despite
(39:40):
the two MVPs, despite the success in the regular season,
once they've gotten to the playoffs, they ultimately have not
come through the way the Ravens fans have wanted them to.
So on both teams, both different elements of we need
to prove a lot more. This game is super important,
but the big your goal is for these organizations is
(40:02):
the super Bowl. If not for right or wrong, that's
just the standard that has been set, the standard of
the standard of winning the super Bowl. This is the
first step. But both of these teams had their eye
on a bigger picture there, guys.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
Yeah, and then of course to be able to get
to the super Bowl or continue that march of the
super Bowl, it helps to have good players.
Speaker 5 (40:20):
It helps to have healthy players.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Omar, what have we learned about the health of some
key guys leading into this game?
Speaker 5 (40:27):
TJ.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Watt for one, And you mentioned you talked to Rashad Bateman.
He's another one.
Speaker 13 (40:33):
Yeah, Rashad Bateman's missed practice a couple times this week.
We'll have to see if he's able to go on Saturday.
We know George Pickens is out for the second game
in the row, the star making Steelers receiver.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
And then you mentioned TJ.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Watt.
Speaker 13 (40:46):
He is off the game status report, so he will play.
Despite that ankle injury that he suffered last week, he
improved all week.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Long in practice.
Speaker 13 (40:54):
He did not participate on Tuesday, he was limited Wednesday,
he was in full today and he said he will
a go on Saturday. Obviously, he is huge for this matchup.
The Steelers are a completely different team when they don't
have TJ. Watt on the field. They are one to
ten in games that TJ. Watt doesn't play, and he
has been particularly huge in this matchup. Lamar Jackson has
(41:16):
only started five games against the Steelers in his career.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
TJ.
Speaker 13 (41:20):
Watt has eight and a half sacks in those five games.
So all over, Lamar and this has been a typical
TJ Watt season. He's leading the league in tackles for loss,
leaving the league in force fumbles.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Hopes to carry that again on Saturday.
Speaker 13 (41:34):
The Steelers did a great job Week eleven limiting Lamar
Jackson and Derek Henry's effectiveness. I talked to Minka Fitzpatrick
how they repeat that, and it's been do what they
do at a high level. And a couple things that
they do best in the NFL is getting off the
field defensively. They lead the league in turnovers, they taken
them all away thirty times this season, and they get
off the field.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
With three and outs.
Speaker 13 (41:55):
More than a quarter of the possessions that they play defensively,
they forced three and outs.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
They're hoping to do more of that on Saturday.
Speaker 5 (42:04):
So many good things to look forward to.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Cannot wait for this game and the fact that we
get in a day earlier than usual just perfect.
Speaker 5 (42:10):
Omar Mark, thank you very much for hanging out with us.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
You can catch the Chiefs and Steelers at one pm
Eastern is part of the doubleheader on Christmas Day, followed
by the Ravens and Texans at four point thirty pm
live on Netflix for that one. Jared Goffa. The Detroit
Lions have certainly been in the news a little bit
over the past week, mostly due to injuries, but also
(42:34):
because they are coming off the kind of game.
Speaker 5 (42:36):
That they rarely rarely have.
Speaker 4 (42:38):
We will get a live report from our good friend
Stacy DALs to tell us everything she knows about the Lions.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
Coming up next on The Insiders.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Oh we're back, boy.
Speaker 6 (42:54):
We are really sprinting to the finish line here on
The Insiders. Here on Thursday, the Detroit Lions are pack
in the elements. We lost Stacy Dale's She's okay. We're
led to believe something happened with our camera. They're not
her fault, not anybody's fault. Really, it's nobody's fault, and
it's nobody's fault that the Lions have suffered so many injuries.
But that being said, they have to plow for it.
(43:14):
They have to play football. Welcome in, Ian Rappaport.
Speaker 1 (43:17):
Can you hear me? Guys?
Speaker 6 (43:18):
And Tom Pellasari you got me? Okay, I got some knots.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
We're good.
Speaker 6 (43:21):
Let's talk about the Lions and what they need to
do and what Dan Campbell's message. You guys know, Dan
can talking his message beat to the team here.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Don't be talking.
Speaker 11 (43:30):
I can't.
Speaker 1 (43:30):
I can't hear them Stop talking. Come on, man, we're
very sensitive right now.
Speaker 6 (43:35):
Talk about the Lions.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Go Tom, listen. They've had a lot of injuries up front,
on that team. This is certainly seems like a get
right type of a matchup when you're going into Chicago.
Granted it's gonna be cold, you know, but that's a
Bears team that's really reeling on both sides of the football.
They've not played the same defense. It's Matty Eberflus got fired,
and I was at that game last week against the Vikings. Offensively,
(43:57):
they're just kind of disjot trying to find themselves right now.
Seems like a good week for the Lions to go
out and remind everybody that they can outscore just about
any opponent, particularly one that's gone through like the Bears
have this season.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
You know, you guys talked about this a couple of
segments ago, just about how good the Lions have been
at finding guys to do exactly what they do. This
is a really really good test Not that they wanted
a test, but this is a really good test from
they have used this year to get better in some areas.
Speaker 5 (44:27):
Out of Zadarias Smith would be one.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
They're going to have to find guys off the street
as they've done off other teams practice squads, off their
own practice squad, put them in here, put them in
positions to really play, and some of these guys are
going to have to like win the game for them.
That is what really good teams do, which is why
you get out in the playoffs and you look on
the field and you're like, who is that guy making
this play?
Speaker 5 (44:50):
That's what the good teams do.
Speaker 4 (44:51):
That is a test now for the Lions, and to me,
based on how strong their culture is, I would imagine
they're in a really good position to do that.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
We got a triple header on NFL Network in week seventeen,
a lot of games with playoff implications, some of them
involving these same teams that you're going to be watching tonight.
We got Chargers, Patriots, Broncos Bengals, and then a big
one potentially in the NFC West Cardinals Rams wrapping things
up next Saturday, not this Saturday, Next Saturday, December twenty eighth.
(45:22):
Before that, you got the holiday remix. That's what we're
calling about it. There's gonna be candy canes on the
jerseys and yes, I am completely serious about that. A
doubleheader this Saturday than the same teams remixed facing each
other on Christmas Day, so they have enough time to recover.
Kyler Murray, the Cardinals quarterback, getting ready for a relatively
(45:45):
rare game in less than ideal weather. Here's what he
had to say about it. There's no weather on Sunday.
Speaker 10 (45:57):
If it's a chillier temperature, but there's no weather, is
that a big deal? No?
Speaker 3 (46:02):
I mean I don't I've played in cold weather before.
It's no, I don't know how cold is it supposed
to be.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
Yeah, Ian, we all know what it's like to be cold.
I think we all live in the more northern climates. Here.
Keller had to have played in some colder weather games
somewhere along the road, right, I.
Speaker 5 (46:29):
Don't know about that.
Speaker 4 (46:30):
I mean, college football ends a lot earlier than the
NFL does. He's played in some plenty of indoor games.
I mean, look, it's I'll say this for Kyler. Here's
I have two thoughts. One, I don't like to be
cold either. It hurts my hands, Like, give me some
warm socks and gloves.
Speaker 5 (46:44):
I don't like any of that. Here's the other.
Speaker 4 (46:45):
Think there was a time early in his career, Mike,
when Kyler Murray was not comfortable in front of the
media and maybe not very affable. He's kind of owned
it a little bit. He's really coming into his own.
It's just like a personality, and that's pretty cool to see.
Speaker 1 (47:00):
Mike. What's Joe Burrow doing this week?
Speaker 6 (47:03):
Joe Burrow now Ian behind the scenes. Ian's like, you
know a lot of these gifts that the quarterbacks give
their offensive. Ian's always like, these are promotional things they
get for free. They're regifts basically, not this one. There's
no way Joe Burrow got authentic Japanese katana swords for free.
He surely paid for them. This is a great gift here.
I don't know if it's legal. I assume it's legal.
(47:23):
I guess you can just have a sword without I
don't have no idea, but I'm not at the end
of kill Bill. And what happens to Lucy Lou If
it's an authentic a Tory Junzo sort.
Speaker 5 (47:31):
What happens. I haven't seen that one.
Speaker 1 (47:35):
I'm sorry it was Mike talking. I lost. I think
I think we lost Mikes. Mike, you're in the matrix. Goodbyeybody,
but back tomorrow. See you
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
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