December 31, 2025 • 41 mins
NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Judy Battista set the table for Week 18 with injury updates on Lamar Jackson, TJ Watt and Jordan Love. Then they break down all the clinching scenarios with reports from Stacey Dales, Bridget Condon and Steve Wyche.
Later, Bucky Brooks and Brian Baldinger preview the Ravens-Steelers matchup and discuss the keys to the Jaguars playoff push. Plus, a look at the 2026 HOF Class Finalists.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
It all comes down to this.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
In the NFC.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
West Seahawks forty nine ers for the number one seed
on Saturday night. Brian Baldier and Bucky Brooks will be
here tonight to break down how the West will be won.
The number one seed in the AFC also up for grabs, but.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
It's pretty straightforward for the.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Broncos win and they're in with the AFCs only by
our bridge Oft Condon will be here to tell you
how Denver and the Chargers are preparing for a unique
Week eighteen rematch. Name all, a lot of decisions to
be made on the final Hall of Fame ballot before
he goes door knocking. Ar Guy Steve Whites will be
here to discuss who could be in and who could
(00:49):
be left out again. Welcome Inside with the Insiders, presented
by Progressive Insurance alongside Ian Rappaport and Judy Batista.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
I am Tom Pelisero.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
It is seven pm Eastern time right now on New
Year's Eve, which means for our good friends across the UK,
in London, in Edinburgh, Scotts, Scotland, among other places.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Right now it is New Year's and look at.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
This the live feed from CNN The London, I Big
Ben bringing in the new year right now overseas, so
many great memories for NFL fans building over there with
all the NFL games for our friends. We will be
doing one of these every hour for the next five hours.
Just kidding, We will not be doing that. We will, however,
(01:37):
be taking you through this next hour before all the
neighbors that you really haven't seen in the last year,
since the last New Year's party begin to fill your house.
We are coming up on a big week eighteen edit
may involve Lamar Jackson, the Ravens quarterback retary to practice today,
officially listed as a full participant, first time in a
(01:57):
month that Lamar has practiced on a Wednesday. He is
not at a full practice week in two months, but Judy
John Harbaugh says he's optimistic QB one will be out
there Sunday night for that AFC North title game against
the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
What do we know.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
It feels like there.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Is just so much more attached to this performance than
even the chance to win the AFC North.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
There's so much weight being put on Lamar, as.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
You pointed out, like he hasn't practiced fully basically.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Since he came back from his injury.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
The time that he missed with his injury, he really
hasn't been healthy throughout most of the season, with various ailments.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
We just have not seen the best of Lamar Jackson
at all.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
And certainly the undercurrent is what is his relationship with
the franchise, like, what is his relationship with John Harball like?
Speaker 4 (02:46):
And in the meantime, they could still go to the playoffs.
As a matter of fact, they're in the driver's seat.
If they beat the Steelers, they will go to the playoffs.
It is just a really.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
Important performance for Lamar Jackson coming up. It's been a
bad season and he's really got a chance to turn
everything around with this one.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
And the crazy thing is if the Ravens somehow go
out and win, and certainly if the ground game looks
like it did last week, they will have as good
a chance to go out and compete and win games
and reach the Super Bowl as maybe any other team,
and certainly as they would have before they had kind
of all these issues this year. Be right, Judy, It's
been a strange year. It's been really weird for Lamar Jackson.
(03:25):
He's been in some sort of an odd situation it
seems basically every week and there's a lot to play
for this week for the Baltimore Ravens, and there's a
lot to play for just as far as his entire
career in Baltimore. We started this season this summer, guy's
talking about whether or not the Ravens were going to
give Lamar Jackson a huge contract extension because his CAB
number is enormous. They didn't, Okay, So going into next year,
(03:49):
he has two years left making about forty two million,
then about fifty two million. The forty two is low
for a starting quarterback, for a two time MVP.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
If the Ravens are going to give Lamar.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Ja a huge contract extension, you got to imagine they're
going to want to see him play like the MVP
that he is. Sunday might be his only opportunity, and
if he wins, he's gonna have a lot more.
Speaker 7 (04:11):
A lot is riding on this and everyone is going
to be watching for many many reasons.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Really a huge return for the Ravens seems like it's
trending in that direction. Also seems like it's trending towards
the Steelers getting back a big piece of their defense
and you know a guy to chase around themar TJ
Watt on the practice field again, officially listed is limited today.
That could be a little misleading when it comes to TJ.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Watt. He usually doesn't practice in full at this time
of year.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Anyway, monitor the participation, as Mike Tullvilan would say, let
the participation be our guide. Want coming back from a
procedure to fix a small hole in his lung, but
does seem as I reported last weekend, he is expected
to be back for a game that is winning in
for both these teams. The Steelers, as much as it's
been bumping over the last couple of weeks, sports No
(04:56):
Dk Metcalfe remains suspended for this game. If they beat
the Ravens on Sunday night, the Steelers will be in
the playoffs AFC North champs and also having a home
playoff game. If they lose, well, that could be the
last game for Aaron Rodgers, though the four time NFLVP
certainly has not closed any doors right now.
Speaker 8 (05:17):
I'm thinking about this week, but obviously I'm forty two
years old and I'm on a one year deal, so
you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends,
I'll be a free agent, so that'll give me a
lot of options if I still want to play. I'm
in a lot of options, but there'll be options. I
would think maybe one or two if I decide I
still want to play. But I've enjoyed this experience, and
(05:39):
everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and
off the field, and it's really what I was hoping
for for this experience was it's been even better than
I was hoping.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I don't know how long this dance will go on
as perhaps an annual dance Judy, But once again talking
about Aaron Rodgers his future, whether he wants to play,
It does look from Aaron Rodgers over the last let's say,
six to eight weeks, like there is something left in
the tank. The real question is if he were to
come back in twenty twenty six, would he do so
(06:11):
for anybody other than the Steelers, And would the Steelers
welcome Rogers back given where they are right now in
terms of the state of the program.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
Well, I do think Aaron Rodgers is right. I think
he'll have options. I don't know if there'll be a
ton of options, but I think he will have a
handful of options if he decides to play first, he
has to make that decision if he wants to go forward,
and I would think that will be linked closely to
whether the Steelers would welcome him back. Remember, earlier in
the season, when they were winning a lot, we were
(06:40):
already hearing that the Steelers would want him to come
back next year if he wanted to continue playing. Now,
obviously things have gone up and down since then, but
the struggles of the offense have not been because.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Of Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 5 (06:52):
He's through twenty three touchdown passes only seven interceptions.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
It's much more.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
Been about the weapons that are available around him. So
you could imagine a scenario work. Perhaps they want to
bring him back and then bring in a young quarterback
and get that quarterback ready while Aaron Rodgers plays. It's
going to be an interesting decision making process. I suspect that,
knowing Aaron Rodgers, it may take a little while for
him to arrive at his decision. That's not great for
(07:19):
any of us, but not good news for any of us.
But I do think that there will be people out there.
We have seen the dirths of quarterbacks. There will be
people who want Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 6 (07:30):
Yeah, really looking forward to discussing this topic next May.
Just so we did this past May. You know, Aaron
Rodgers really does have the opportunity to do something that
he and really anyone would want, which is just to
go out the right way, to go out playing some
good football for a good team in a high stakes game.
You know, everyone wants to end it like Jerome bettis
not everybody gets that right.
Speaker 7 (07:51):
So if Aaron Rodgers goes out.
Speaker 6 (07:52):
Plays well, and you know, on a big stage, even
if he ends up losing, he'll have gone out the
right way, and I think he can make some peace
with this. The one thing I go back to in
Judy you kind of mentioned it is like, if you're
the Pittsburgh Steelers, you have to have a quarterback of
the future at some point. Okay, so let's say you
draft someone. Let's say you bring in a young, unproven
player potentially well, okay, who better than Aaron Rodgers to
(08:15):
come mentor that player? That actually makes a lot of sense.
We know it's been a good experience for the Steelers too.
We know they would welcome him back. I don't see
why that wouldn't work.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Would be Steelers wrapping up again Sunday night against the
Ravens AFC North title on the line. The Patriots have
already punched their ticket to the playoffs, the team that
is in their division champions and they also have some
significant issues that they are dealing with off the field.
Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore faces a charge of assault
and battery on a family or household member, according to
(08:47):
the Attleborough, Massachusetts District Court. Patriots said in a statement
they were aware of the allegations against Barmore and his
pending arrayment. The NFL, addressing both Barmore and Stefan Diggs,
who was separately accused in a legal filing a day
ago of a significant off the field issue, said in part,
(09:07):
there is no change to the status of Digs or Barmore.
Both are eligible to play at this time. They'll pursue
it to the Personal Conduct Policy consideration for placement on
the Commissioner Exemplests may be considered following formal charges. Here
is what coach Mike Brabel had to say.
Speaker 9 (09:23):
Sure, well, I would say not disappointing at all.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I think that.
Speaker 9 (09:28):
You know these are allegations, Like you mentioned in your question,
it's things that we have to handle and every day
that there's distractions. Some are smaller than others. And you know,
I'm confident that, you know, we'll focus on the Dolphins
and you know those two individuals that you mentioned. Will
(09:52):
you be able to you know, handle the ongoing legal process.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Outside of you handle it the beat team discipline, as.
Speaker 7 (10:03):
Far as your concert.
Speaker 9 (10:04):
Oh again, there's ongoing you know, legal matter, and these
again are allegations, and you know, we've made a statement,
we've taken the allegations very seriously. And what comes of that,
I think then we'll have another discussion. But you know,
I don't think we have to. You don't jump to
(10:24):
any sort of conclusions right now and let the process
take a take it still.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So here's where we stand on the field for the
Patriots and the two other teams that potentially have a
shot at the number one seed. For the Broncos, they
clinch it with a win or losses by both the
Patriots and the Jaguars. The Patriots would need a win
plus a Denver loss. The Jaguars get the number one
seed with a win and losses by the Broncos and
(10:50):
the Patriots. We've also got all kinds of scenarios in
the nf seed, but one that is very straightforward. Seahawks
forty nine Ers, Saturday Night National TV NFC West title
and the number one seed on the line. As we
welcome in are Steve Witz and Bucky Brooks to the
conversation here.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Steve, it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
We're talking about the forty nine ers in this regard
because back in September October, the entire feeling around that
team was here we go again. Everybody's hurt, the quarterbacks out,
they're all kinds of banged up.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Once against to be one of those years, get time
and again. The forty nine ers have persevered.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
How Kyle Shanahan and company gotten to this point that
not only are they in the playoffs, but they're a
threat to even have a week off here.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Before it begins.
Speaker 10 (11:38):
Absolutely, Tom and people are talking about Kyle Shanahan of
being up for the Coach of the Year because of
everything that he's done.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Well.
Speaker 10 (11:45):
I spoke the fullback Kyle ugh Check this week and
he kind of told me where this all started. We've
heard some reports about Shanahan having a preseason meeting where
he invited all the veterans over to kind of you know,
repurpose a message, you know, give them some leaders, skilled messages.
But instead of saying, hey, we're going to win the division,
go to the playoffs, do this, he said, we're going
(12:06):
to be having more new players and inexperienced players than
we've ever had. I need you veterans to become teachers
from everything from the classroom to on the field to
off the field to get these guys ready. And Yushchek said,
this thing really reframed everybody's mindset and it was a
highly effective message because they did that.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And this was before all the injuries.
Speaker 10 (12:27):
So when Nick Bosa and Fred Warner and those players
got hurt, all of these guys were ready because the
veterans had prepared them to step in and play up
to a certain standard.
Speaker 11 (12:39):
You know, Steve, is interesting that you talked about that
standard because I would say the guy that has really
helped him carry on the standard has been Christian McCaffrey.
And Christian McCaffrey, and what he's doing isn't a short
or remarkable.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
He's on the verge of.
Speaker 11 (12:51):
Having his second one thousand, one hundred season, one thousand
rushing yards, one hundred receptions, and he may go one
thousand and one thousand when it comes to rush yards
and receiving yards and what he is. He's a chess
piece that says the table for everybody else. He's a
queen on the chess board, if you.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Want to call it.
Speaker 11 (13:09):
He can catch the ball out the backfield, he can
run in between the tackles outside, and Kyle Shanahan does
a great job of putting it in positions to exploit
matchups on the second level. This is a great offense,
but a big part of it is because Christian McCaffrey
does so much that allows all the other pieces to
play in complimentary roles and have a lot of success.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Biking a running back. Steve a big difference with this
Seahawks team this year. Of course, Clint Kubiak coming in,
they really wanted to focus on the balance and having
a run game that was going to be a force.
It seems like as they've gotten healthy in particular, they've
kind of made steps that direction. How big is that
in a matchup against this defense that Robert stall and
keeps patching together and finding ways to make life difficult
(13:53):
on offense.
Speaker 10 (13:53):
Yeah, really, good boys, Tom, Remember this run offense at
Sciata wanted to establish under Kubiak. It took some time
to get going and it's been kind of fits and starts,
but over the back half of the season it's gotten better.
They're about sixteenth overall, but the past two weeks they
have gone in on the ground against the Los Angeles
Rams and the Carolina Panthers. This is after only a
(14:15):
fifty yard rushing game against the Colts. So I spoke
to Tighten to aj Barner and he said, the whole
thing you're seeing is kind of the purpose of their offense.
It is a run game where they're going to continue
to run the ball a lot, even if it's not
effective in the first half of games, so they can
wear teams down in the second half of games. And
we saw that the past two weeks against the Rams
(14:35):
Kenneth Walker with the explosive run. They went off on
the ground in the second half. Same thing against Caroline
as Zach charboney two of their rushing touchdowns more than
twenty rushes in the second half. He said, that's a
playoff teams want to do. We know what we are,
We're going to continue to do it. And against the
forty nine ers, they're not going to see a change
and what they're going to try to do with the
ground game, even if it isn't that effective in the
(14:57):
first half.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Bucket Yeah, Steve.
Speaker 11 (15:00):
Great that they've talked about leaning into the run game,
because the one thing that they have to do is
they got to make sure they alleviate some of the
pressure on Sam Donald in these high pressure moments. No
matter what they'll say, Sam Donald has to live with
the memory of how it fell apart from him last year,
and the best way to get past that is to
lean on the running game to be able to throw
comfortably off play action the Jackson Smith and Jigba and
(15:21):
some of the other pieces, but it's the running game
that says the table. When you can run the ball,
you dictate the front, you can control the game, and
you alleviate the burden on the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Even though Sam Donald's played.
Speaker 11 (15:32):
At a Pro Bowl level, you don't want him to
have to carry this offense going into the postseason. Look
for that running game to be the straw of the
stirs to drink so Sam Donald can be the complimentary
piece that helps him win the game in.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
The fourth quarter.
Speaker 7 (15:48):
Big one for the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
Today they claimed former Cowboys cornerback Trayvon Diggs, two time
Pro bowler, was out in Dallas yesterday. I think a
lot of people thought he would go unclaimed. Instead, the
Packers swooped in, grabbed him, take on his salary, and
partner up with his good buddy, Micah Parsons, his good
friend formerly with the Cowboys, now both on the Packers.
(16:11):
We'll see if Diggs can give Green Bay a little
help heading into the playoffs. Meanwhile, they focus on not
quite the playoffs just yet. But on week eighteen, some
good news for Jordan Love, their starting quarterback. He was
a full participant in practice. He's in the concussion protocol.
Sounds like he's going to clear soon. Plus he's dealing
with the shoulder. Engine Then Malik willis still limited in
practice with the shoulder. That said, really nothing to play
(16:33):
for us, so we may see Clayton tune In as.
Speaker 7 (16:36):
The starter and Desmond Ritter as the backup.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Reason I say that Packers don't have much to gain
as far as the playoffs go, but plenty of teams do.
That is the NFC playoff picture right there. Surely Number
one set up for grabs number two set up for grabs.
There is a lot still to be decided. Are the
Bucks going to be in it? Are the Panthers going
to be going to be a very fun weekend? And
these two teams, right, you're going to go after it
(17:01):
Lions Bears, with the Bears potentially getting the number two
overall seed. Our good buddy Stacy Dale's is all over
this one, as she is all over everything with these teams. Stacy,
what's going on? Happy New Year early? A couple hours early.
One of the things we've been talking about all year
and something we're seemingly going to be talking about to
(17:21):
the end of time is Caleb Williams' growth.
Speaker 7 (17:24):
Now, before the season, this was kind of an open question.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
As we get late in the season and we see
how much he has killed it, especially in crunch time,
how much has the Bears franchise quarterback grown this season.
Speaker 12 (17:38):
Substantially? Happy New Year to you and all of our
viewers as well and everybody back in our control room
and everybody at a NFL network. Caleb Williams' growth is substantial.
What's really impressive about it. You can talk about his
completion percentage, but he feels the improvements weekly and from
game to game. But what's really interesting is to take
(18:00):
care of the football is so impressive. We're talking about
a quarterback that has the I mean this offense.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
They just simply take care.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
Of the football.
Speaker 12 (18:09):
They have the fewest giveaways in the league, ten of them.
They only have six picks. Interesting stat here Ian Williams
has been intercepted on just one percent of his career
passing attempts, which is the lowest by any quarterback in
his first two seasons all time.
Speaker 7 (18:24):
Think about that.
Speaker 12 (18:25):
I asked Caleb today about his ability to not put
the ball in harm's way and he said, well, it's
been preached to me consistently and instilled in me throughout
the entirety of my career. But he said, it comes
down to really good decision making, belief and trust in
what he's seeing, but then belief and trust in his receivers.
And that is how far this thing has come with
(18:45):
his playmakers. He also gave us a good quote today
as it pertains to my question in terms of what
Matthew Stafford he said once said quote, sometimes you throw
it hard enough, typically the dbs can't catch it, and
you love that He's a sponge like that looking at
some of these veteran quarterbacks. By the way, the Detroit
Lions I think have eighteen takeaways this season. Expect Caleb
(19:05):
to take really good care of the football again here
on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Even as a rookie when he maybe didn't have like
the greatest greatest season, still took care of the football.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
And obviously that is carried on this year.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
Has had an unbelievable year, especially when it matters most.
And you got to think that some of that is
about his relationship with Ben Johnson. I mean, I think
a lot of people wondered early in the season, like
how would they coexist?
Speaker 7 (19:29):
I think it's going pretty well, Stacy going really well.
Speaker 12 (19:34):
I was out at Hallis Hall today and we've been
asking all these fun questions to Ben Johnson and Caleb
Williams about their relationship and it has grown substantially. When
Caleb was asked about it today, he talked about the
constant meeting time, the constant communication between me and Ben Johnson,
and the consistency though that it really comes down to
the common denominator with his head coach. This guy is
(19:55):
really the same every day, whether it's coming off of
a win or it's coming off of a loss. And
Caleb said, when you understand who somebody is and you
learn about them and realize who they are, there's an
element of respect, trust and loyalty that develops. Then when
you take what he's teaching you onto the field and
it works, that trust and loyalty just continues to evolve.
(20:15):
And that's where these two are at. I don't think
he's even played his best football, and they maybe haven't
hit their ceiling. They just continue to peak despite coming
off that loss to the San Francisco forty nine ers.
And I thought it was really cool what Ben shared
about Caleb today. He said, the conversations have advanced in
terms of their football acumen together. Pre snap penalties have
(20:36):
gone down, his control at the line of scrimmage, Ian
has improved substantially. He's playing faster, he's playing more freely,
and we're seeing him starting to let it rip through
the air. With as good as this ground game has been,
that's really exciting for Bears fans as they get ready
for the Detroit Lions and a trip to the playoffs,
will see what.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Seed they land with.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Yeah, and think of what impression you can make as
a play. I said, they have not hit their stride
yet kill and the Bears team can certainly do that
with the entire nation watching in the playoffs. Stacy, thank
you very much for hanging out as always. You're the best,
and happy New Year to you and to all of
us and to bot X. We are going to be
talking about coming up.
Speaker 7 (21:16):
Next on the Insiders.
Speaker 6 (21:18):
They got a big one against the Chargers, who are
going to be resting guys as the number one seed
hangs in the ballast. Our good friend Bridget Condon is
going to be on hand to talk all about it.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
Welcome back to the Insiders, presented by Progressive Insurance. There's
your AFC playoff picture, the Denver Broncos in the lead position.
They've already clinched the AFC West, but they've got bigger
aspirations than that.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Let's look at the clinching scenarios. Very straightforward for the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
If they win over the Chargers the number one seed,
or if the Patriots and Jaguars lose they are the
number one seed, they certainly have the easiest path there.
Let's bring in our buddy Bridget Conton, who is wearing
an absolutely fabulous jacket.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
For New Year's Eve.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Bridget you are going.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
To I'm going to bet though, you are going to
be at the Chargers Broncos game.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
The Broncos wrapped up the division and really did not
get all hyped about it.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
They are very much focused on that number one seed.
Speaker 13 (22:29):
Judy Alex Singleton, the linebacker for the Broncos, put it
perfectly when he said he was at Zoo Lights with
his family when they won the division on Saturday. Of
course winning it because the Chargers loss on Saturday to
the Texans, but that's really the mindset. So they went
into the facility on Monday. The hats and T shirts
were there in their locker, but nobody really did anything.
A lot of players said they'll probably just go into
(22:50):
a box. Sean Payton didn't even address it in the
team meeting on Monday. He said he didn't even say
congrats on winning the division, none of that. Joe Lombardi, though,
did mention it with his offensive players. All he said
about the shirts was they're just going to serve as
a bad reminder if we don't finish the job, the
job being winning the Super Bowl and it starts Saturday
or Sunday against the Chargers, a team they've lost to
(23:13):
three straight times, and the mindset win the game regardless
of who the Chargers are putting out there on the field,
so they get home field advantage. Sean Payton understands it's
very important to be able to play at home. Not
only just play at home, Judy, but kind of skip
that first week, right, You're not going to have to
play in the first weekend of the playoffs. You just
(23:34):
skip ahead and you have two games and then you
get to go on to Santa Clara, the place where
they won their last Super Bowl. Let's not forget in
twenty fifteen.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
That's right, I remember that quite well. All right.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
The Broncos are thirteen to three, so they've obviously had
a fabulous season. If there's one thing that concerns you
about them, though, it is their turnovers.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
How are they going to address that?
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 13 (23:57):
Absolutely, Sean Payton said, we have to hone in on
the turn of margin.
Speaker 4 (24:00):
Really interesting.
Speaker 13 (24:01):
They have a minus five turnover margin, which is tied
for the worst of any playoff teams right now with
the forty nine ers. And to put it in perspective,
what all that means, Well, only one team in the
past twenty five years has had a negative turnover margin
in the postseason and went on to win the Super Bowl,
and that is the Los Angeles Rams. And you know,
Sean Payton said, we really need to focus on that again.
(24:22):
Like they understand justin Herbert that defense. A lot of
those stars aren't going to be out there on Sunday,
but they're more focused on themselves. They want to get
on a good foot into the postseason and clean up
some of those mistakes that they've been making. Pat Surtan
told me it's been an emphasis all week. He says,
Sean Payton tells them when an offensive player has the
ball in his hands, he's holding everyone's aspirations and dreams,
(24:45):
and he's like, it is so important. The ball means
everything in this league. They've been focused on punching it
out in practice and attacking the ball. That is their
goal for Sunday so they can stay home.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
I also asked Pat.
Speaker 13 (24:55):
Sartan, just real quick, Judy, I said, do you think
Sean Payton will let you guys celebrate if you get
the number one? He's like, ah, probably not. Hopefully if
they win the Super Bowl, he'll let them celebrate. But
that's Sean Payton and it's worked for this Denver team.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
I did see that.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Sean Payton also was unaware of that. Today is New
Year's Eve. I will say it to you, Bridget, throw
Happy New Year.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
Happy.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
We will see you in the new year.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Tom.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
If the Broncos falter may be distracted by whatever jacket
Bridget is wearing on Sunday, there.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Is an opening for the Jaguars.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
They would clinch the number one seed with a win
over the Titans plus losses by both the Broncos and
the Patriots. As long as they win or the Texans lose,
Jaguars at minimum win the division and get a home
playoff game. As we welcome back to our Bucky Brooks
and speaking of great Jackets, welcome in our guy, Brian Baldinger,
straight out of the mansion and with you here on
(25:48):
New Year's Eve. Baldi, you've dug into the tape. Jaguars
seem like a team peeking at the right time. What's
jumped out to you?
Speaker 14 (25:55):
Well, me and Bucky you have talked about this a
couple of mondays, Tom. I mean, the edition of to
Kobe Myers cannot be understated enough.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
He came right when.
Speaker 14 (26:04):
They play Houston and he got a couple reps in
that game. But then they've gone into seven game win
streak and Jacoby Myers has been a huge part of it.
He's got his all three touchdowns this year have come
from Trevor Lawrence. He's got thirty four completions almost four
hundred yards right now. But he's their go to guy
when they got to get that first down, when he
have to have those tough catches right here in the
(26:24):
middle of the field against the Chargers right there, he
just gives you those tough catches.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
When you need him the most. And then you have.
Speaker 14 (26:32):
To count for Trevor Lawrence as a runner. I mean,
he's got eighty runs. Half of his runs have gone
for first downs. Nine of those runs have gone for touchdowns.
So I think the addition of Jacoby Myers and then
just turning Trevor Lawrence loose when he can just do
this and he can finish these drives like he did
here against the Colts.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
He's a very good runner.
Speaker 14 (26:52):
He's picking his times now when you go this a
design quarterback draw last week, Good job by the right
guard right there, Walker Little getting the key blocking the
middle linebacker and then the layoff with.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
The left hand.
Speaker 14 (27:03):
But I thought, really those two parts of this offense
kind of jump off during the seven game win streak.
Speaker 11 (27:11):
You know, Baldy, one of the things that you and
I both know is when you play with a franchise quarterback,
he gives the entire team hope. And because Trevor Lawrence
has played so well, that hope changes the energy on
both sides of the ball. When I look at this defense,
this defense believes that they can play at a high
level because they have a quarterback that can get it
done if they give them the ball back. The entire
(27:32):
emphasis on the Jaguars defense has been hey, stop the run,
eliminate the big plays, and take the ball away every
chance they get. This is a team that is second
in takeaways. They do a good job of making these
critical plays and key moments of the game, and the
extra possessions are now being converted into points. When you
look at what the Jaguars are doing, points offer takeaways
(27:55):
leading the league and a big part of that is
because the defense.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Knows if they take it away and give it.
Speaker 11 (28:01):
To sixteen, sixteen can put it into paint, and that
energy that you're feeling around the team is because they
feel like they got a squad they can go all
the way. They don't talk about it outwardly, but the
confidence that they're walking around with is because sixteen is
balling and that is hill everybody else raise their level
of play, which is why the Jaguars are well positioned
(28:22):
to get the number one seed if two teams in
front of them fall to.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
The winners of three different AFC divisions can get the
number one seed. AFC North winner not so much Baldy,
but somebody's going to win this division Sunday night, the
Ravens and the Steelers. Somebody's going to get that home
game and the right to face a really good team
in the first round. As you dig into what we're
seeing right now from Baltimore, which sounds like it'll have
Lamar back, what's jumping out from them, Well, whether.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Lamar can go or not go, whether it's Snoop or Lamar.
Speaker 14 (28:51):
I mean, they got to put the ball back in
Derek Henry's hands.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
They did last week instamation.
Speaker 14 (28:55):
When teams struggle, sometimes all you have to do is
just go back to the basics. This week against Green Bay,
they went to eye formation, Patrick Ricard the fullback, the
lead back for Derrick Henry, and Derek Henry's coming off
the game with his most carries thirty six most yards
two hundred and sixteen yards, most touchdowns four touchdowns, most
points scored this year was forty one points against the
(29:17):
Packers last week.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
And I think that's the reset button.
Speaker 14 (29:21):
Like sometimes you can get carried away with formations and
all these personnel groupings. I think the Bravens literally got
a line up in eye formation and just knock people
off the ball like they did last week, and then
get creases. You give Derrick Derrick Henry creases to the secondary, that's.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
A long hard day for anybody in the secondary to.
Speaker 14 (29:41):
Get Derrick Henry to the brow, Derek Henry to the ground.
And that's what I thought last week they did, and
I think that's.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
What the Steelers have to prepare for this weekend.
Speaker 11 (29:52):
Yeah, body, that's a tough task because when Darrek Henry
gets the ball, it allows him to control it. But
if I'm Mike Tomlin, this is the game that I
got Aaron Rodgers for. I wanted a four time MVP
to be on this team so it could get us
over the hump. And when you look at Aaron Rodgers, look,
the numbers haven't been spectacular in terms of Look, he
doesn't have a three hundred yard game, he does have
(30:13):
twenty three touchdowns, he only has seven interceptions and has
been six games since he's thrown an I int. In
this game, we need Aaron Rodgers to turn back the clock,
be efficient, be effective, but more importantly, find a way
to generate some explosives. As good as the Ravens looked
last week in Week seventeen, this is a team that
(30:33):
has been vulnerable on defense. Look for Aaron Rodgers to
find generate a couple of explosive plays. Because to me,
the magic number is twenty one. The team begets the
twenty one is the team that is going to win.
Look for Aaron Rodgers to be the guy to push
the envelope and see if he can get that team
over that.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Bark fucky, great stuff, baldy. I'd be remiss if I
didn't ask you before we let you go. Where are
you in that fine jacket going tonight?
Speaker 7 (30:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (30:58):
This is good New.
Speaker 14 (30:59):
Year's party up the road in Boca raton tonight. Tom,
It's probably already started but I'm going to join it. Actually,
it all starts when I get there, so that's where
I'm heading.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
Welcome back to the Insiders, presented by Progressive Insurance.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
And congratulations to these gentlemen.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
These are the finalists for the twenty twenty six Pro
Football Hall of Fame class. There are fifteen of them.
Right now, we're going to bring in our Steve wife.
We're going to talk about these candidates. But Steve, first
of all, you and I should go over a few things.
You and I were part of the panel that made
the initial cut down from one hundred and twenty eight
(31:42):
candidates down to fifty two. That wasn't an easy cut either,
by the way. It's been cut one more time since then,
and now we are down to the fifteen finalists. Fifty
voters will make the selection. It is not easy to
get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A class
between four and eight people, and that includes coaches like
Boll Belichick, contributors like Robert Kraft.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Senior candidates, and you have to get eighty percent.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Of the vote to get in. That is a really
high bar. We saw a small class last year. It's
just really difficult to get to eighty percent of the vote.
I got to say those, Steve, this class has quite
a few guys who I think are going to get
that vote, Those first ballot guys, Drew Brees, Jason Whitton,
Larry Fitzgerald, just such a Frank Gore, such a strong
(32:30):
group of first ballot guys.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Who do you think is getting in from that group?
Speaker 15 (32:34):
Well, well, Judy, I think both of us, you know,
covering the sport for a long time, do not think
that Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald don't get you that
knock on the door for first ball Hall of Fame
would be stunning.
Speaker 10 (32:45):
But you talked about this process because those two could
be almost near unanimous, unanimous that could take down that
eighty percent margin from anybody else going in, regardless of
what year of eligibility they are. So we could be
looking at another small class. Last year when they changed
the rules, it was only a four person class including
the seniors and contributors. Nobody would be stun if it's
(33:07):
that small of a class. Again because of Breeze and Fitzgerald.
But you talk about Whitten, you talk about Frank Gore.
These are guys who are not going to go away
if they don't get in, which is only Judy going
to clog things up for other classes down the line.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Well, that leads me nicely into conversation about the guys
who are on their second year of eligibility. Frankly, I
was shocked that Adam Vinteri did not get in on
the first ballot. He's one of the greatest kickers in history.
Has maybe the greatest kick in history and the snow
globe that was the tup rule game. He's won multiple
(33:41):
Super Bowls with field goals. I was surprised he didn't
get in. I would hope that he gets in on
this time around. And of course Eli Manning the Giants
quarterback two Super Bowls, both over the New England Patriots
and Bill Belichick, including an incredible.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
Upset of the undefeated New England Patriots.
Speaker 5 (33:59):
Coming the two thousand and seven season, he is in
his second year of eligibility. It is very difficult with
so many of the top level quarterbacks coming in, including
Drew Brees.
Speaker 10 (34:10):
Yeah, and you talk about that, you know, with Eli
Manning situation, he got significant debate in that room with
the selectors last year to see if he was going
to get in. We'll see if that helps or it
hurts him. Like you mentioned, Drew Brees is coming in.
But Judy, let's also not forget it doesn't get any
easier in the next coming years. And players like you know,
Adrian Peterson, our first time ELT was Gronk, Andrew Whitworth,
(34:31):
Camon those guys are next year, and then is Tom
Brady and JJ Watt. So it'll be interesting if Eli
doesn't get in this year, how long he's gonna have
to wait because of some of the other players. But
you talk about a player, you talk to Adam Miniterieri
who didn't get in last year on the first ballot.
I'm sorry, I was stunned that linebacker Luke Kinkley was
not a first ballot Hall of Famer. This is somebody
(34:54):
who was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in twenty twelve,
Defensive Player of the Year in twenty thirteen, A seven
time Pro Bowler, a five time first team All Pro,
two time second team All Pro.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
He was the.
Speaker 10 (35:07):
Dominant linebacker of an era. He picked up the reins
from Patrick Willis, who had exact similar credentials and was
enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in twenty
twenty four. And speaking of another player, second year eligible
player Terrell Suggs, who also the Ravens outside linebacker. Terrell
Suggs has where he sits in his.
Speaker 7 (35:29):
Sack record one hundred and thirty nine sacks. He's eighth
overall all time.
Speaker 10 (35:34):
The seven guys in front of him are already in
and there are eight players with fewer sacks in him
who are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So T Sizzle, Yes, he's got an uphill climb just
because of the numbers, but he absolutely, by production and
performance over his career, needs to be in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame. And I tell you what, since
we're speaking of Ravens, his teammate Marshall Yanda on the
(35:55):
offensive line, Judy, he was considered the best guard of
a generation. He is also a finalist and he's going
to get a lot of consideration to get.
Speaker 7 (36:03):
In this year. And Judy, think about this.
Speaker 10 (36:05):
There are people like Darren Woodson and Tory Holt and
Willie Anderson who are finals have been waiting an awful
long time. We're just talking about the first and second
year eligibles. This is really going to be a struggle
for some of those guys who've been waiting Reggie Wayne
to get their name called as well.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Now for good coverage presented by Progressive Insurance, the Bills
and ter week eight team with the number one pass
defense in the NFL, Buffalo's held opposing number one wide
receivers under seventy receiving yards in each of their last
five games. Because the Bills they play their final game
at high Mark Stadium on Sunday, hosting the Jets new
(36:45):
Hei March Stadium, wanted many things to look forward to
in the year that kicks off in about five hours
from right now. Playoff seating still at stake for Josh
Allen and company.
Speaker 16 (36:58):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's still treating it as
the most important week and making sure that we're not
just going through the motions and we're taking everything extremely
seriously and holding ourselves to the standards that we like
to hold ourselves to, which is the playoff caliber standards.
So yeah, just making sure that, you know, having a
(37:18):
good week of practice, game planning as well as we can,
you know, and still trying to become the best versions
of ourselves throughout this week.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Is that we can DJ Stroud and the Texan still
have a shot at the AFC South title with a
win over the Colts plus a Jaguars loss to the Titans.
Houston already playoff bound third time in the postseason in
three seasons under Tamiko Ryans the site this year coming
off of zero and three start.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
That's what I'm most proud of this year. Like nobody
wavering on our staff, our player is no one wavering,
and so it to be in a position we're in now,
it's and again that the destination is in the playoffs.
Speaker 17 (37:58):
We're there.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Of course that's the every year to get in, but
for how we had to do it this year, you know,
it is one to be proud of for our guys
and the work that they put.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
In and the turning back.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Rico Dowdell a full participant in practice today ahead of
a win and in game for Carolina against Bucks. Coach
Dave Fanalison down played that injury when Dowdell set out
practice on Tuesday, sounds like all systems go heading into
Saturday afternoon for Rico, I mean, while the Eagles wrap
up their regular season on Sunday against the Commanders in Philadelphia,
(38:33):
already celebrating some of their favorite looks from the twenty
twenty five season.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Another NFC East title still a shot at another Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Could end up as the number two or three seed,
depending how things play out, though Nick Sirianni's focus is
just unimproving.
Speaker 17 (38:48):
You're constantly in this quest to get better, regardless of
you know, even even last game. Like there's things and
there's lessons that came out of last game that like, man,
that's really you know, maybe obviously we're all we're all
pissed that we didn't execute as and coach as well
as we needed to in the second half of that
(39:09):
Buffalo game. But I really looked at it as like, man,
there's some opportunities here that we can really get better
from and as we as we went through it as coaches,
and that's got to be the constant mindset you have.
So my experience, my belief and I know this is
that you just keep your You're just trying to keep
getting better, and the best teams are playing their best
(39:31):
football by the end of the year, and that's the
teams that continue to excel through the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
All I was trying to get better here on the
Insiders as well. You can catch us throughout the rest
of this week. Hey, we're back first Thursday night showing
a long time seven pm Eastern. That's right, New Year's Day.
We will be live as well as on Friday of course.
Also you can catch us on YouTube, on NFL Plus
and across wherever you find your podcast or to stick
(39:58):
around more insiders right after the Yes, the twenty twenty
five NFL Playoffs are here and the stakes could not
be higher.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Be part of the action.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
Live.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
Verified tickets are available through the NFL ticket network, including
ticket Masters, Seek Geek, and Sports Illustrated Tickets.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
If Joe Burrow wants.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
To go to the playoffs this year, he also will
need to buy a ticket. Another non playoff season for
Burrow and the Bengals, another tough year in terms of injuries.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
You got a new Year's resolution, Joe?
Speaker 7 (40:35):
With the calendar year ending today, what's your new Year's resolution?
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Be happy? Straightforward right there from Joe.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
He's been talking a lot about his personal feelings here recently. Ian,
do you have anything slightly more for boset than that
for your resolution?
Speaker 7 (40:52):
Only slightly more for both?
Speaker 6 (40:55):
I do a lot of things. Well, so there's really
not a lot to resolve to do better. But here's
what I would Dad. I'd like to get jacked, maybe
use the tone a little more, and I'd like to
get a little better at golf so I can crush
you the next time we play.
Speaker 7 (41:07):
I think that's fair, right, Judy.
Speaker 5 (41:10):
Uh, this is something that Tom might appreciate at this
very moment too. I resolve to get my homecam fixed
before we kick off the next New Year.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
Yeah, you's been going for a while on this one.
Mine just went down today. I would just say, here's
my here's my resolution is next year on New Year's Eve,
I want my first shot of the night to not
be cold medicine because I've been down for the count
for a week, missed a couple of shows, for sure.
You guys picking up the slack for me.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
So Bottom, what does he drink?
Speaker 7 (41:41):
It is that absence?
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Best?
Speaker 7 (41:43):
Are you drinking absence? On TV?
Speaker 4 (41:45):
No?
Speaker 1 (41:46):
That's that's cold medicine right there? Any of my mom
the enjoy your evening, B safety them
It all comes down to this.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
In the NFC.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
West Seahawks forty nine ers for the number one seed
on Saturday night. Brian Baldier and Bucky Brooks will be
here tonight to break down how the West will be won.
The number one seed in the AFC also up for grabs, but.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
It's pretty straightforward for the.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Broncos win and they're in with the AFCs only by
our bridge Oft Condon will be here to tell you
how Denver and the Chargers are preparing for a unique
Week eighteen rematch. Name all, a lot of decisions to
be made on the final Hall of Fame ballot before
he goes door knocking. Ar Guy Steve Whites will be
here to discuss who could be in and who could
(00:49):
be left out again. Welcome Inside with the Insiders, presented
by Progressive Insurance alongside Ian Rappaport and Judy Batista.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
I am Tom Pelisero.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
It is seven pm Eastern time right now on New
Year's Eve, which means for our good friends across the UK,
in London, in Edinburgh, Scotts, Scotland, among other places.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Right now it is New Year's and look at.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
This the live feed from CNN The London, I Big
Ben bringing in the new year right now overseas, so
many great memories for NFL fans building over there with
all the NFL games for our friends. We will be
doing one of these every hour for the next five hours.
Just kidding, We will not be doing that. We will, however,
(01:37):
be taking you through this next hour before all the
neighbors that you really haven't seen in the last year,
since the last New Year's party begin to fill your house.
We are coming up on a big week eighteen edit
may involve Lamar Jackson, the Ravens quarterback retary to practice today,
officially listed as a full participant, first time in a
(01:57):
month that Lamar has practiced on a Wednesday. He is
not at a full practice week in two months, but Judy
John Harbaugh says he's optimistic QB one will be out
there Sunday night for that AFC North title game against
the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
What do we know.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
It feels like there.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Is just so much more attached to this performance than
even the chance to win the AFC North.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
There's so much weight being put on Lamar, as.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
You pointed out, like he hasn't practiced fully basically.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Since he came back from his injury.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
The time that he missed with his injury, he really
hasn't been healthy throughout most of the season, with various ailments.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
We just have not seen the best of Lamar Jackson
at all.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
And certainly the undercurrent is what is his relationship with
the franchise, like, what is his relationship with John Harball like?
Speaker 4 (02:46):
And in the meantime, they could still go to the playoffs.
As a matter of fact, they're in the driver's seat.
If they beat the Steelers, they will go to the playoffs.
It is just a really.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
Important performance for Lamar Jackson coming up. It's been a
bad season and he's really got a chance to turn
everything around with this one.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
And the crazy thing is if the Ravens somehow go
out and win, and certainly if the ground game looks
like it did last week, they will have as good
a chance to go out and compete and win games
and reach the Super Bowl as maybe any other team,
and certainly as they would have before they had kind
of all these issues this year. Be right, Judy, It's
been a strange year. It's been really weird for Lamar Jackson.
(03:25):
He's been in some sort of an odd situation it
seems basically every week and there's a lot to play
for this week for the Baltimore Ravens, and there's a
lot to play for just as far as his entire
career in Baltimore. We started this season this summer, guy's
talking about whether or not the Ravens were going to
give Lamar Jackson a huge contract extension because his CAB
number is enormous. They didn't, Okay, So going into next year,
(03:49):
he has two years left making about forty two million,
then about fifty two million. The forty two is low
for a starting quarterback, for a two time MVP.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
If the Ravens are going to give Lamar.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Ja a huge contract extension, you got to imagine they're
going to want to see him play like the MVP
that he is. Sunday might be his only opportunity, and
if he wins, he's gonna have a lot more.
Speaker 7 (04:11):
A lot is riding on this and everyone is going
to be watching for many many reasons.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Really a huge return for the Ravens seems like it's
trending in that direction. Also seems like it's trending towards
the Steelers getting back a big piece of their defense
and you know a guy to chase around themar TJ
Watt on the practice field again, officially listed is limited today.
That could be a little misleading when it comes to TJ.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Watt. He usually doesn't practice in full at this time
of year.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Anyway, monitor the participation, as Mike Tullvilan would say, let
the participation be our guide. Want coming back from a
procedure to fix a small hole in his lung, but
does seem as I reported last weekend, he is expected
to be back for a game that is winning in
for both these teams. The Steelers, as much as it's
been bumping over the last couple of weeks, sports No
(04:56):
Dk Metcalfe remains suspended for this game. If they beat
the Ravens on Sunday night, the Steelers will be in
the playoffs AFC North champs and also having a home
playoff game. If they lose, well, that could be the
last game for Aaron Rodgers, though the four time NFLVP
certainly has not closed any doors right now.
Speaker 8 (05:17):
I'm thinking about this week, but obviously I'm forty two
years old and I'm on a one year deal, so
you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends,
I'll be a free agent, so that'll give me a
lot of options if I still want to play. I'm
in a lot of options, but there'll be options. I
would think maybe one or two if I decide I
still want to play. But I've enjoyed this experience, and
(05:39):
everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and
off the field, and it's really what I was hoping
for for this experience was it's been even better than
I was hoping.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I don't know how long this dance will go on
as perhaps an annual dance Judy, But once again talking
about Aaron Rodgers his future, whether he wants to play,
It does look from Aaron Rodgers over the last let's say,
six to eight weeks, like there is something left in
the tank. The real question is if he were to
come back in twenty twenty six, would he do so
(06:11):
for anybody other than the Steelers, And would the Steelers
welcome Rogers back given where they are right now in
terms of the state of the program.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
Well, I do think Aaron Rodgers is right. I think
he'll have options. I don't know if there'll be a
ton of options, but I think he will have a
handful of options if he decides to play first, he
has to make that decision if he wants to go forward,
and I would think that will be linked closely to
whether the Steelers would welcome him back. Remember, earlier in
the season, when they were winning a lot, we were
(06:40):
already hearing that the Steelers would want him to come
back next year if he wanted to continue playing. Now,
obviously things have gone up and down since then, but
the struggles of the offense have not been because.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Of Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 5 (06:52):
He's through twenty three touchdown passes only seven interceptions.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
It's much more.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
Been about the weapons that are available around him. So
you could imagine a scenario work. Perhaps they want to
bring him back and then bring in a young quarterback
and get that quarterback ready while Aaron Rodgers plays. It's
going to be an interesting decision making process. I suspect that,
knowing Aaron Rodgers, it may take a little while for
him to arrive at his decision. That's not great for
(07:19):
any of us, but not good news for any of us.
But I do think that there will be people out there.
We have seen the dirths of quarterbacks. There will be
people who want Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 6 (07:30):
Yeah, really looking forward to discussing this topic next May.
Just so we did this past May. You know, Aaron
Rodgers really does have the opportunity to do something that
he and really anyone would want, which is just to
go out the right way, to go out playing some
good football for a good team in a high stakes game.
You know, everyone wants to end it like Jerome bettis
not everybody gets that right.
Speaker 7 (07:51):
So if Aaron Rodgers goes out.
Speaker 6 (07:52):
Plays well, and you know, on a big stage, even
if he ends up losing, he'll have gone out the
right way, and I think he can make some peace
with this. The one thing I go back to in
Judy you kind of mentioned it is like, if you're
the Pittsburgh Steelers, you have to have a quarterback of
the future at some point. Okay, so let's say you
draft someone. Let's say you bring in a young, unproven
player potentially well, okay, who better than Aaron Rodgers to
(08:15):
come mentor that player? That actually makes a lot of sense.
We know it's been a good experience for the Steelers too.
We know they would welcome him back. I don't see
why that wouldn't work.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Would be Steelers wrapping up again Sunday night against the
Ravens AFC North title on the line. The Patriots have
already punched their ticket to the playoffs, the team that
is in their division champions and they also have some
significant issues that they are dealing with off the field.
Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore faces a charge of assault
and battery on a family or household member, according to
(08:47):
the Attleborough, Massachusetts District Court. Patriots said in a statement
they were aware of the allegations against Barmore and his
pending arrayment. The NFL, addressing both Barmore and Stefan Diggs,
who was separately accused in a legal filing a day
ago of a significant off the field issue, said in part,
(09:07):
there is no change to the status of Digs or Barmore.
Both are eligible to play at this time. They'll pursue
it to the Personal Conduct Policy consideration for placement on
the Commissioner Exemplests may be considered following formal charges. Here
is what coach Mike Brabel had to say.
Speaker 9 (09:23):
Sure, well, I would say not disappointing at all.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I think that.
Speaker 9 (09:28):
You know these are allegations, Like you mentioned in your question,
it's things that we have to handle and every day
that there's distractions. Some are smaller than others. And you know,
I'm confident that, you know, we'll focus on the Dolphins
and you know those two individuals that you mentioned. Will
(09:52):
you be able to you know, handle the ongoing legal process.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Outside of you handle it the beat team discipline, as.
Speaker 7 (10:03):
Far as your concert.
Speaker 9 (10:04):
Oh again, there's ongoing you know, legal matter, and these
again are allegations, and you know, we've made a statement,
we've taken the allegations very seriously. And what comes of that,
I think then we'll have another discussion. But you know,
I don't think we have to. You don't jump to
(10:24):
any sort of conclusions right now and let the process
take a take it still.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So here's where we stand on the field for the
Patriots and the two other teams that potentially have a
shot at the number one seed. For the Broncos, they
clinch it with a win or losses by both the
Patriots and the Jaguars. The Patriots would need a win
plus a Denver loss. The Jaguars get the number one
seed with a win and losses by the Broncos and
(10:50):
the Patriots. We've also got all kinds of scenarios in
the nf seed, but one that is very straightforward. Seahawks
forty nine Ers, Saturday Night National TV NFC West title
and the number one seed on the line. As we
welcome in are Steve Witz and Bucky Brooks to the
conversation here.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Steve, it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
We're talking about the forty nine ers in this regard
because back in September October, the entire feeling around that
team was here we go again. Everybody's hurt, the quarterbacks out,
they're all kinds of banged up.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Once against to be one of those years, get time
and again. The forty nine ers have persevered.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
How Kyle Shanahan and company gotten to this point that
not only are they in the playoffs, but they're a
threat to even have a week off here.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Before it begins.
Speaker 10 (11:38):
Absolutely, Tom and people are talking about Kyle Shanahan of
being up for the Coach of the Year because of
everything that he's done.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Well.
Speaker 10 (11:45):
I spoke the fullback Kyle ugh Check this week and
he kind of told me where this all started. We've
heard some reports about Shanahan having a preseason meeting where
he invited all the veterans over to kind of you know,
repurpose a message, you know, give them some leaders, skilled messages.
But instead of saying, hey, we're going to win the division,
go to the playoffs, do this, he said, we're going
(12:06):
to be having more new players and inexperienced players than
we've ever had. I need you veterans to become teachers
from everything from the classroom to on the field to
off the field to get these guys ready. And Yushchek said,
this thing really reframed everybody's mindset and it was a
highly effective message because they did that.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And this was before all the injuries.
Speaker 10 (12:27):
So when Nick Bosa and Fred Warner and those players
got hurt, all of these guys were ready because the
veterans had prepared them to step in and play up
to a certain standard.
Speaker 11 (12:39):
You know, Steve, is interesting that you talked about that
standard because I would say the guy that has really
helped him carry on the standard has been Christian McCaffrey.
And Christian McCaffrey, and what he's doing isn't a short
or remarkable.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
He's on the verge of.
Speaker 11 (12:51):
Having his second one thousand, one hundred season, one thousand
rushing yards, one hundred receptions, and he may go one
thousand and one thousand when it comes to rush yards
and receiving yards and what he is. He's a chess
piece that says the table for everybody else. He's a
queen on the chess board, if you.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Want to call it.
Speaker 11 (13:09):
He can catch the ball out the backfield, he can
run in between the tackles outside, and Kyle Shanahan does
a great job of putting it in positions to exploit
matchups on the second level. This is a great offense,
but a big part of it is because Christian McCaffrey
does so much that allows all the other pieces to
play in complimentary roles and have a lot of success.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Biking a running back. Steve a big difference with this
Seahawks team this year. Of course, Clint Kubiak coming in,
they really wanted to focus on the balance and having
a run game that was going to be a force.
It seems like as they've gotten healthy in particular, they've
kind of made steps that direction. How big is that
in a matchup against this defense that Robert stall and
keeps patching together and finding ways to make life difficult
(13:53):
on offense.
Speaker 10 (13:53):
Yeah, really, good boys, Tom, Remember this run offense at
Sciata wanted to establish under Kubiak. It took some time
to get going and it's been kind of fits and starts,
but over the back half of the season it's gotten better.
They're about sixteenth overall, but the past two weeks they
have gone in on the ground against the Los Angeles
Rams and the Carolina Panthers. This is after only a
(14:15):
fifty yard rushing game against the Colts. So I spoke
to Tighten to aj Barner and he said, the whole
thing you're seeing is kind of the purpose of their offense.
It is a run game where they're going to continue
to run the ball a lot, even if it's not
effective in the first half of games, so they can
wear teams down in the second half of games. And
we saw that the past two weeks against the Rams
(14:35):
Kenneth Walker with the explosive run. They went off on
the ground in the second half. Same thing against Caroline
as Zach charboney two of their rushing touchdowns more than
twenty rushes in the second half. He said, that's a
playoff teams want to do. We know what we are,
We're going to continue to do it. And against the
forty nine ers, they're not going to see a change
and what they're going to try to do with the
ground game, even if it isn't that effective in the
(14:57):
first half.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Bucket Yeah, Steve.
Speaker 11 (15:00):
Great that they've talked about leaning into the run game,
because the one thing that they have to do is
they got to make sure they alleviate some of the
pressure on Sam Donald in these high pressure moments. No
matter what they'll say, Sam Donald has to live with
the memory of how it fell apart from him last year,
and the best way to get past that is to
lean on the running game to be able to throw
comfortably off play action the Jackson Smith and Jigba and
(15:21):
some of the other pieces, but it's the running game
that says the table. When you can run the ball,
you dictate the front, you can control the game, and
you alleviate the burden on the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Even though Sam Donald's played.
Speaker 11 (15:32):
At a Pro Bowl level, you don't want him to
have to carry this offense going into the postseason. Look
for that running game to be the straw of the
stirs to drink so Sam Donald can be the complimentary
piece that helps him win the game in.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
The fourth quarter.
Speaker 7 (15:48):
Big one for the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
Today they claimed former Cowboys cornerback Trayvon Diggs, two time
Pro bowler, was out in Dallas yesterday. I think a
lot of people thought he would go unclaimed. Instead, the
Packers swooped in, grabbed him, take on his salary, and
partner up with his good buddy, Micah Parsons, his good
friend formerly with the Cowboys, now both on the Packers.
(16:11):
We'll see if Diggs can give Green Bay a little
help heading into the playoffs. Meanwhile, they focus on not
quite the playoffs just yet. But on week eighteen, some
good news for Jordan Love, their starting quarterback. He was
a full participant in practice. He's in the concussion protocol.
Sounds like he's going to clear soon. Plus he's dealing
with the shoulder. Engine Then Malik willis still limited in
practice with the shoulder. That said, really nothing to play
(16:33):
for us, so we may see Clayton tune In as.
Speaker 7 (16:36):
The starter and Desmond Ritter as the backup.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Reason I say that Packers don't have much to gain
as far as the playoffs go, but plenty of teams do.
That is the NFC playoff picture right there. Surely Number
one set up for grabs number two set up for grabs.
There is a lot still to be decided. Are the
Bucks going to be in it? Are the Panthers going
to be going to be a very fun weekend? And
these two teams, right, you're going to go after it
(17:01):
Lions Bears, with the Bears potentially getting the number two
overall seed. Our good buddy Stacy Dale's is all over
this one, as she is all over everything with these teams. Stacy,
what's going on? Happy New Year early? A couple hours early.
One of the things we've been talking about all year
and something we're seemingly going to be talking about to
(17:21):
the end of time is Caleb Williams' growth.
Speaker 7 (17:24):
Now, before the season, this was kind of an open question.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
As we get late in the season and we see
how much he has killed it, especially in crunch time,
how much has the Bears franchise quarterback grown this season.
Speaker 12 (17:38):
Substantially? Happy New Year to you and all of our
viewers as well and everybody back in our control room
and everybody at a NFL network. Caleb Williams' growth is substantial.
What's really impressive about it. You can talk about his
completion percentage, but he feels the improvements weekly and from
game to game. But what's really interesting is to take
(18:00):
care of the football is so impressive. We're talking about
a quarterback that has the I mean this offense.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
They just simply take care.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
Of the football.
Speaker 12 (18:09):
They have the fewest giveaways in the league, ten of them.
They only have six picks. Interesting stat here Ian Williams
has been intercepted on just one percent of his career
passing attempts, which is the lowest by any quarterback in
his first two seasons all time.
Speaker 7 (18:24):
Think about that.
Speaker 12 (18:25):
I asked Caleb today about his ability to not put
the ball in harm's way and he said, well, it's
been preached to me consistently and instilled in me throughout
the entirety of my career. But he said, it comes
down to really good decision making, belief and trust in
what he's seeing, but then belief and trust in his receivers.
And that is how far this thing has come with
(18:45):
his playmakers. He also gave us a good quote today
as it pertains to my question in terms of what
Matthew Stafford he said once said quote, sometimes you throw
it hard enough, typically the dbs can't catch it, and
you love that He's a sponge like that looking at
some of these veteran quarterbacks. By the way, the Detroit
Lions I think have eighteen takeaways this season. Expect Caleb
(19:05):
to take really good care of the football again here
on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Even as a rookie when he maybe didn't have like
the greatest greatest season, still took care of the football.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
And obviously that is carried on this year.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
Has had an unbelievable year, especially when it matters most.
And you got to think that some of that is
about his relationship with Ben Johnson. I mean, I think
a lot of people wondered early in the season, like
how would they coexist?
Speaker 7 (19:29):
I think it's going pretty well, Stacy going really well.
Speaker 12 (19:34):
I was out at Hallis Hall today and we've been
asking all these fun questions to Ben Johnson and Caleb
Williams about their relationship and it has grown substantially. When
Caleb was asked about it today, he talked about the
constant meeting time, the constant communication between me and Ben Johnson,
and the consistency though that it really comes down to
the common denominator with his head coach. This guy is
(19:55):
really the same every day, whether it's coming off of
a win or it's coming off of a loss. And
Caleb said, when you understand who somebody is and you
learn about them and realize who they are, there's an
element of respect, trust and loyalty that develops. Then when
you take what he's teaching you onto the field and
it works, that trust and loyalty just continues to evolve.
(20:15):
And that's where these two are at. I don't think
he's even played his best football, and they maybe haven't
hit their ceiling. They just continue to peak despite coming
off that loss to the San Francisco forty nine ers.
And I thought it was really cool what Ben shared
about Caleb today. He said, the conversations have advanced in
terms of their football acumen together. Pre snap penalties have
(20:36):
gone down, his control at the line of scrimmage, Ian
has improved substantially. He's playing faster, he's playing more freely,
and we're seeing him starting to let it rip through
the air. With as good as this ground game has been,
that's really exciting for Bears fans as they get ready
for the Detroit Lions and a trip to the playoffs,
will see what.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Seed they land with.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Yeah, and think of what impression you can make as
a play. I said, they have not hit their stride
yet kill and the Bears team can certainly do that
with the entire nation watching in the playoffs. Stacy, thank
you very much for hanging out as always. You're the best,
and happy New Year to you and to all of
us and to bot X. We are going to be
talking about coming up.
Speaker 7 (21:16):
Next on the Insiders.
Speaker 6 (21:18):
They got a big one against the Chargers, who are
going to be resting guys as the number one seed
hangs in the ballast. Our good friend Bridget Condon is
going to be on hand to talk all about it.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
Welcome back to the Insiders, presented by Progressive Insurance. There's
your AFC playoff picture, the Denver Broncos in the lead position.
They've already clinched the AFC West, but they've got bigger
aspirations than that.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Let's look at the clinching scenarios. Very straightforward for the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
If they win over the Chargers the number one seed,
or if the Patriots and Jaguars lose they are the
number one seed, they certainly have the easiest path there.
Let's bring in our buddy Bridget Conton, who is wearing
an absolutely fabulous jacket.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
For New Year's Eve.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Bridget you are going.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
To I'm going to bet though, you are going to
be at the Chargers Broncos game.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
The Broncos wrapped up the division and really did not
get all hyped about it.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
They are very much focused on that number one seed.
Speaker 13 (22:29):
Judy Alex Singleton, the linebacker for the Broncos, put it
perfectly when he said he was at Zoo Lights with
his family when they won the division on Saturday. Of
course winning it because the Chargers loss on Saturday to
the Texans, but that's really the mindset. So they went
into the facility on Monday. The hats and T shirts
were there in their locker, but nobody really did anything.
A lot of players said they'll probably just go into
(22:50):
a box. Sean Payton didn't even address it in the
team meeting on Monday. He said he didn't even say
congrats on winning the division, none of that. Joe Lombardi, though,
did mention it with his offensive players. All he said
about the shirts was they're just going to serve as
a bad reminder if we don't finish the job, the
job being winning the Super Bowl and it starts Saturday
or Sunday against the Chargers, a team they've lost to
(23:13):
three straight times, and the mindset win the game regardless
of who the Chargers are putting out there on the field,
so they get home field advantage. Sean Payton understands it's
very important to be able to play at home. Not
only just play at home, Judy, but kind of skip
that first week, right, You're not going to have to
play in the first weekend of the playoffs. You just
(23:34):
skip ahead and you have two games and then you
get to go on to Santa Clara, the place where
they won their last Super Bowl. Let's not forget in
twenty fifteen.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
That's right, I remember that quite well. All right.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
The Broncos are thirteen to three, so they've obviously had
a fabulous season. If there's one thing that concerns you
about them, though, it is their turnovers.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
How are they going to address that?
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 13 (23:57):
Absolutely, Sean Payton said, we have to hone in on
the turn of margin.
Speaker 4 (24:00):
Really interesting.
Speaker 13 (24:01):
They have a minus five turnover margin, which is tied
for the worst of any playoff teams right now with
the forty nine ers. And to put it in perspective,
what all that means, Well, only one team in the
past twenty five years has had a negative turnover margin
in the postseason and went on to win the Super Bowl,
and that is the Los Angeles Rams. And you know,
Sean Payton said, we really need to focus on that again.
(24:22):
Like they understand justin Herbert that defense. A lot of
those stars aren't going to be out there on Sunday,
but they're more focused on themselves. They want to get
on a good foot into the postseason and clean up
some of those mistakes that they've been making. Pat Surtan
told me it's been an emphasis all week. He says,
Sean Payton tells them when an offensive player has the
ball in his hands, he's holding everyone's aspirations and dreams,
(24:45):
and he's like, it is so important. The ball means
everything in this league. They've been focused on punching it
out in practice and attacking the ball. That is their
goal for Sunday so they can stay home.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
I also asked Pat.
Speaker 13 (24:55):
Sartan, just real quick, Judy, I said, do you think
Sean Payton will let you guys celebrate if you get
the number one? He's like, ah, probably not. Hopefully if
they win the Super Bowl, he'll let them celebrate. But
that's Sean Payton and it's worked for this Denver team.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
I did see that.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Sean Payton also was unaware of that. Today is New
Year's Eve. I will say it to you, Bridget, throw
Happy New Year.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
Happy.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
We will see you in the new year.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Tom.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
If the Broncos falter may be distracted by whatever jacket
Bridget is wearing on Sunday, there.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Is an opening for the Jaguars.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
They would clinch the number one seed with a win
over the Titans plus losses by both the Broncos and
the Patriots. As long as they win or the Texans lose,
Jaguars at minimum win the division and get a home
playoff game. As we welcome back to our Bucky Brooks
and speaking of great Jackets, welcome in our guy, Brian Baldinger,
straight out of the mansion and with you here on
(25:48):
New Year's Eve. Baldi, you've dug into the tape. Jaguars
seem like a team peeking at the right time. What's
jumped out to you?
Speaker 14 (25:55):
Well, me and Bucky you have talked about this a
couple of mondays, Tom. I mean, the edition of to
Kobe Myers cannot be understated enough.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
He came right when.
Speaker 14 (26:04):
They play Houston and he got a couple reps in
that game. But then they've gone into seven game win
streak and Jacoby Myers has been a huge part of it.
He's got his all three touchdowns this year have come
from Trevor Lawrence. He's got thirty four completions almost four
hundred yards right now. But he's their go to guy
when they got to get that first down, when he
have to have those tough catches right here in the
(26:24):
middle of the field against the Chargers right there, he
just gives you those tough catches.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
When you need him the most. And then you have.
Speaker 14 (26:32):
To count for Trevor Lawrence as a runner. I mean,
he's got eighty runs. Half of his runs have gone
for first downs. Nine of those runs have gone for touchdowns.
So I think the addition of Jacoby Myers and then
just turning Trevor Lawrence loose when he can just do
this and he can finish these drives like he did
here against the Colts.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
He's a very good runner.
Speaker 14 (26:52):
He's picking his times now when you go this a
design quarterback draw last week, Good job by the right
guard right there, Walker Little getting the key blocking the
middle linebacker and then the layoff with.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
The left hand.
Speaker 14 (27:03):
But I thought, really those two parts of this offense
kind of jump off during the seven game win streak.
Speaker 11 (27:11):
You know, Baldy, one of the things that you and
I both know is when you play with a franchise quarterback,
he gives the entire team hope. And because Trevor Lawrence
has played so well, that hope changes the energy on
both sides of the ball. When I look at this defense,
this defense believes that they can play at a high
level because they have a quarterback that can get it
done if they give them the ball back. The entire
(27:32):
emphasis on the Jaguars defense has been hey, stop the run,
eliminate the big plays, and take the ball away every
chance they get. This is a team that is second
in takeaways. They do a good job of making these
critical plays and key moments of the game, and the
extra possessions are now being converted into points. When you
look at what the Jaguars are doing, points offer takeaways
(27:55):
leading the league and a big part of that is
because the defense.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Knows if they take it away and give it.
Speaker 11 (28:01):
To sixteen, sixteen can put it into paint, and that
energy that you're feeling around the team is because they
feel like they got a squad they can go all
the way. They don't talk about it outwardly, but the
confidence that they're walking around with is because sixteen is
balling and that is hill everybody else raise their level
of play, which is why the Jaguars are well positioned
(28:22):
to get the number one seed if two teams in
front of them fall to.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
The winners of three different AFC divisions can get the
number one seed. AFC North winner not so much Baldy,
but somebody's going to win this division Sunday night, the
Ravens and the Steelers. Somebody's going to get that home
game and the right to face a really good team
in the first round. As you dig into what we're
seeing right now from Baltimore, which sounds like it'll have
Lamar back, what's jumping out from them, Well, whether.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Lamar can go or not go, whether it's Snoop or Lamar.
Speaker 14 (28:51):
I mean, they got to put the ball back in
Derek Henry's hands.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
They did last week instamation.
Speaker 14 (28:55):
When teams struggle, sometimes all you have to do is
just go back to the basics. This week against Green Bay,
they went to eye formation, Patrick Ricard the fullback, the
lead back for Derrick Henry, and Derek Henry's coming off
the game with his most carries thirty six most yards
two hundred and sixteen yards, most touchdowns four touchdowns, most
points scored this year was forty one points against the
(29:17):
Packers last week.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
And I think that's the reset button.
Speaker 14 (29:21):
Like sometimes you can get carried away with formations and
all these personnel groupings. I think the Bravens literally got
a line up in eye formation and just knock people
off the ball like they did last week, and then
get creases. You give Derrick Derrick Henry creases to the secondary, that's.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
A long hard day for anybody in the secondary to.
Speaker 14 (29:41):
Get Derrick Henry to the brow, Derek Henry to the ground.
And that's what I thought last week they did, and
I think that's.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
What the Steelers have to prepare for this weekend.
Speaker 11 (29:52):
Yeah, body, that's a tough task because when Darrek Henry
gets the ball, it allows him to control it. But
if I'm Mike Tomlin, this is the game that I
got Aaron Rodgers for. I wanted a four time MVP
to be on this team so it could get us
over the hump. And when you look at Aaron Rodgers, look,
the numbers haven't been spectacular in terms of Look, he
doesn't have a three hundred yard game, he does have
(30:13):
twenty three touchdowns, he only has seven interceptions and has
been six games since he's thrown an I int. In
this game, we need Aaron Rodgers to turn back the clock,
be efficient, be effective, but more importantly, find a way
to generate some explosives. As good as the Ravens looked
last week in Week seventeen, this is a team that
(30:33):
has been vulnerable on defense. Look for Aaron Rodgers to
find generate a couple of explosive plays. Because to me,
the magic number is twenty one. The team begets the
twenty one is the team that is going to win.
Look for Aaron Rodgers to be the guy to push
the envelope and see if he can get that team
over that.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Bark fucky, great stuff, baldy. I'd be remiss if I
didn't ask you before we let you go. Where are
you in that fine jacket going tonight?
Speaker 7 (30:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (30:58):
This is good New.
Speaker 14 (30:59):
Year's party up the road in Boca raton tonight. Tom,
It's probably already started but I'm going to join it. Actually,
it all starts when I get there, so that's where
I'm heading.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
Welcome back to the Insiders, presented by Progressive Insurance.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
And congratulations to these gentlemen.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
These are the finalists for the twenty twenty six Pro
Football Hall of Fame class. There are fifteen of them.
Right now, we're going to bring in our Steve wife.
We're going to talk about these candidates. But Steve, first
of all, you and I should go over a few things.
You and I were part of the panel that made
the initial cut down from one hundred and twenty eight
(31:42):
candidates down to fifty two. That wasn't an easy cut either,
by the way. It's been cut one more time since then,
and now we are down to the fifteen finalists. Fifty
voters will make the selection. It is not easy to
get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A class
between four and eight people, and that includes coaches like
Boll Belichick, contributors like Robert Kraft.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Senior candidates, and you have to get eighty percent.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Of the vote to get in. That is a really
high bar. We saw a small class last year. It's
just really difficult to get to eighty percent of the vote.
I got to say those, Steve, this class has quite
a few guys who I think are going to get
that vote, Those first ballot guys, Drew Brees, Jason Whitton,
Larry Fitzgerald, just such a Frank Gore, such a strong
(32:30):
group of first ballot guys.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Who do you think is getting in from that group?
Speaker 15 (32:34):
Well, well, Judy, I think both of us, you know,
covering the sport for a long time, do not think
that Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald don't get you that
knock on the door for first ball Hall of Fame
would be stunning.
Speaker 10 (32:45):
But you talked about this process because those two could
be almost near unanimous, unanimous that could take down that
eighty percent margin from anybody else going in, regardless of
what year of eligibility they are. So we could be
looking at another small class. Last year when they changed
the rules, it was only a four person class including
the seniors and contributors. Nobody would be stun if it's
(33:07):
that small of a class. Again because of Breeze and Fitzgerald.
But you talk about Whitten, you talk about Frank Gore.
These are guys who are not going to go away
if they don't get in, which is only Judy going
to clog things up for other classes down the line.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Well, that leads me nicely into conversation about the guys
who are on their second year of eligibility. Frankly, I
was shocked that Adam Vinteri did not get in on
the first ballot. He's one of the greatest kickers in history.
Has maybe the greatest kick in history and the snow
globe that was the tup rule game. He's won multiple
(33:41):
Super Bowls with field goals. I was surprised he didn't
get in. I would hope that he gets in on
this time around. And of course Eli Manning the Giants
quarterback two Super Bowls, both over the New England Patriots
and Bill Belichick, including an incredible.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
Upset of the undefeated New England Patriots.
Speaker 5 (33:59):
Coming the two thousand and seven season, he is in
his second year of eligibility. It is very difficult with
so many of the top level quarterbacks coming in, including
Drew Brees.
Speaker 10 (34:10):
Yeah, and you talk about that, you know, with Eli
Manning situation, he got significant debate in that room with
the selectors last year to see if he was going
to get in. We'll see if that helps or it
hurts him. Like you mentioned, Drew Brees is coming in.
But Judy, let's also not forget it doesn't get any
easier in the next coming years. And players like you know,
Adrian Peterson, our first time ELT was Gronk, Andrew Whitworth,
(34:31):
Camon those guys are next year, and then is Tom
Brady and JJ Watt. So it'll be interesting if Eli
doesn't get in this year, how long he's gonna have
to wait because of some of the other players. But
you talk about a player, you talk to Adam Miniterieri
who didn't get in last year on the first ballot.
I'm sorry, I was stunned that linebacker Luke Kinkley was
not a first ballot Hall of Famer. This is somebody
(34:54):
who was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in twenty twelve,
Defensive Player of the Year in twenty thirteen, A seven
time Pro Bowler, a five time first team All Pro,
two time second team All Pro.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
He was the.
Speaker 10 (35:07):
Dominant linebacker of an era. He picked up the reins
from Patrick Willis, who had exact similar credentials and was
enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in twenty
twenty four. And speaking of another player, second year eligible
player Terrell Suggs, who also the Ravens outside linebacker. Terrell
Suggs has where he sits in his.
Speaker 7 (35:29):
Sack record one hundred and thirty nine sacks. He's eighth
overall all time.
Speaker 10 (35:34):
The seven guys in front of him are already in
and there are eight players with fewer sacks in him
who are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So T Sizzle, Yes, he's got an uphill climb just
because of the numbers, but he absolutely, by production and
performance over his career, needs to be in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame. And I tell you what, since
we're speaking of Ravens, his teammate Marshall Yanda on the
(35:55):
offensive line, Judy, he was considered the best guard of
a generation. He is also a finalist and he's going
to get a lot of consideration to get.
Speaker 7 (36:03):
In this year. And Judy, think about this.
Speaker 10 (36:05):
There are people like Darren Woodson and Tory Holt and
Willie Anderson who are finals have been waiting an awful
long time. We're just talking about the first and second
year eligibles. This is really going to be a struggle
for some of those guys who've been waiting Reggie Wayne
to get their name called as well.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Now for good coverage presented by Progressive Insurance, the Bills
and ter week eight team with the number one pass
defense in the NFL, Buffalo's held opposing number one wide
receivers under seventy receiving yards in each of their last
five games. Because the Bills they play their final game
at high Mark Stadium on Sunday, hosting the Jets new
(36:45):
Hei March Stadium, wanted many things to look forward to
in the year that kicks off in about five hours
from right now. Playoff seating still at stake for Josh
Allen and company.
Speaker 16 (36:58):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's still treating it as
the most important week and making sure that we're not
just going through the motions and we're taking everything extremely
seriously and holding ourselves to the standards that we like
to hold ourselves to, which is the playoff caliber standards.
So yeah, just making sure that, you know, having a
(37:18):
good week of practice, game planning as well as we can,
you know, and still trying to become the best versions
of ourselves throughout this week.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Is that we can DJ Stroud and the Texan still
have a shot at the AFC South title with a
win over the Colts plus a Jaguars loss to the Titans.
Houston already playoff bound third time in the postseason in
three seasons under Tamiko Ryans the site this year coming
off of zero and three start.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
That's what I'm most proud of this year. Like nobody
wavering on our staff, our player is no one wavering,
and so it to be in a position we're in now,
it's and again that the destination is in the playoffs.
Speaker 17 (37:58):
We're there.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Of course that's the every year to get in, but
for how we had to do it this year, you know,
it is one to be proud of for our guys
and the work that they put.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
In and the turning back.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Rico Dowdell a full participant in practice today ahead of
a win and in game for Carolina against Bucks. Coach
Dave Fanalison down played that injury when Dowdell set out
practice on Tuesday, sounds like all systems go heading into
Saturday afternoon for Rico, I mean, while the Eagles wrap
up their regular season on Sunday against the Commanders in Philadelphia,
(38:33):
already celebrating some of their favorite looks from the twenty
twenty five season.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Another NFC East title still a shot at another Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Could end up as the number two or three seed,
depending how things play out, though Nick Sirianni's focus is
just unimproving.
Speaker 17 (38:48):
You're constantly in this quest to get better, regardless of
you know, even even last game. Like there's things and
there's lessons that came out of last game that like, man,
that's really you know, maybe obviously we're all we're all
pissed that we didn't execute as and coach as well
as we needed to in the second half of that
(39:09):
Buffalo game. But I really looked at it as like, man,
there's some opportunities here that we can really get better
from and as we as we went through it as coaches,
and that's got to be the constant mindset you have.
So my experience, my belief and I know this is
that you just keep your You're just trying to keep
getting better, and the best teams are playing their best
(39:31):
football by the end of the year, and that's the
teams that continue to excel through the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
All I was trying to get better here on the
Insiders as well. You can catch us throughout the rest
of this week. Hey, we're back first Thursday night showing
a long time seven pm Eastern. That's right, New Year's Day.
We will be live as well as on Friday of course.
Also you can catch us on YouTube, on NFL Plus
and across wherever you find your podcast or to stick
(39:58):
around more insiders right after the Yes, the twenty twenty
five NFL Playoffs are here and the stakes could not
be higher.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Be part of the action.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
Live.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
Verified tickets are available through the NFL ticket network, including
ticket Masters, Seek Geek, and Sports Illustrated Tickets.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
If Joe Burrow wants.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
To go to the playoffs this year, he also will
need to buy a ticket. Another non playoff season for
Burrow and the Bengals, another tough year in terms of injuries.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
You got a new Year's resolution, Joe?
Speaker 7 (40:35):
With the calendar year ending today, what's your new Year's resolution?
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Be happy? Straightforward right there from Joe.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
He's been talking a lot about his personal feelings here recently. Ian,
do you have anything slightly more for boset than that
for your resolution?
Speaker 7 (40:52):
Only slightly more for both?
Speaker 6 (40:55):
I do a lot of things. Well, so there's really
not a lot to resolve to do better. But here's
what I would Dad. I'd like to get jacked, maybe
use the tone a little more, and I'd like to
get a little better at golf so I can crush
you the next time we play.
Speaker 7 (41:07):
I think that's fair, right, Judy.
Speaker 5 (41:10):
Uh, this is something that Tom might appreciate at this
very moment too. I resolve to get my homecam fixed
before we kick off the next New Year.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
Yeah, you's been going for a while on this one.
Mine just went down today. I would just say, here's
my here's my resolution is next year on New Year's Eve,
I want my first shot of the night to not
be cold medicine because I've been down for the count
for a week, missed a couple of shows, for sure.
You guys picking up the slack for me.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
So Bottom, what does he drink?
Speaker 7 (41:41):
It is that absence?
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Best?
Speaker 7 (41:43):
Are you drinking absence? On TV?
Speaker 4 (41:45):
No?
Speaker 1 (41:46):
That's that's cold medicine right there? Any of my mom
the enjoy your evening, B safety them
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
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