2021 Week 13 Preview + BTS is still here

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Be around with the NFL podcast is bigger than the
Big talk. We're here from the Chris Westling podcast studio.
It's around the NFL, and I think we have an issue. Okay,

(00:26):
you're reading me. Yeah, I think there's an issue here.
They're still here, bets here. Yeah, and I'm starting to
be concerned. There's an insurrection to Georgia here. Doesn't it
make sense that they would try to take the territories

(00:50):
around Sofi Stadium back in the past. Definitely? Oh god,
they're coming. All right, we're back. Good job because Gregg

(01:25):
as a peacemaker there built a bridge. Good job. Then
we locked the doors. Okay, still here, one more day,
one more concert. I couldn't believe it. No, I mean
I texted you because I didn't know if you were
trying to take the same There's a street that Dan
and I take called Prairie Avenue, which is poorly named

(01:46):
because it's clogged. I mean, a prairie generally is a
wide open space and it couldn't be more clogged generally
with construction. But then this BTS scenario got dropped on us,
and there's like hundreds of um girls in like cosplay outfits.
You know, crowding the entry way to the building. So
so okay, so I was stunned to see that there's
still people and you know, got here around ten thirty

(02:06):
in the morning. Concerts at what eight pm, I don't know.
So I did some reporting. I pounded the pavement and
talk to some people. And this is what the insider
came back with, inside side inside the day before, the
truth to the user in the morning, the dolphin, the merch.

(02:29):
They're here for the merch. The merch goes on sale
at five am on the day of the concert, so
people would come to the concert eight ten hours, twelve hours,
fourteen hours before it starts for the merch. Even on
the non concert days, the merch would go on sale.
And if you got here and I was checking this

(02:49):
on Twitter, I just seeing if I could go it, yuh,
if you showed up around six thirty, you'd have about
an eight hour wait, six hour away to get the merch.
What what is the merch? Just to a T shirt
with their like their faces played some of these glow
lights that they are only useful tonight, that it's like
SYNCD up with the actual concert. But yeah, some concert
stuff that you could only get the gross national product

(03:12):
of the BTS nation. Those my other I had other
sources that told me those are sixty dollars those flashlights,
and they're selling them from the break of dawn through
the concert. It's impressive. And when you got money, you
got power. And that's why this building is vulnerable. That's
and that's why would happened earlier. I was at the

(03:34):
World World Aids Day concert last night. Yeah, at the Forum,
and it was Jennifer Hudson and Christina Aguilera. It was
like the most amazing thing ever. But Jet and I
realized when we were leaving that BTS Army was getting out.
We sat in bumper to bumper traffic for one hour
before it took us two hours to get home. One

(03:56):
hour was in park with all these people with you know,
their their bunny ears walking past my car in those lights.
I thought that we were going to be under attack
at some point. PTS Army is legit. I mean, I
just say we are from an angle. From one angle. Um,
a boy band of our own maybe not. The boy
boy might be strong, but it's like new kids on

(04:18):
the block are still touring, right. There's no kids in
that group anymore. I mean, we could square off the
Sopi Stadium four nights in a row, like I don't
do you even think the Rolling Stones could be swift?
I think they could have done eight. I think based
on like the resale, Oh my god, pretty good, pretty good?
Watch out all right? Maybe Zach Wilson will be our leader,

(04:40):
you know, the boy who shall lead us. He might
be looking for a job soon. He might need to
fall back plans. It's not that's not funny, um, but
it does look like it looks the part. That's why
he certainly does. And Baker Mayfield could be the manager.
I mean, you know we hit it, probably know why did?

(05:00):
I didn't even make the initial jab at your quarterback
who's underperforming. It wasn't intentional, but it was a sitting there.
It's it's fine, my defenses are up with the boys.
I didn't need that on any level. Uh it does
You can pack imagine if Baker lost his hair so
he just has the middle aged bald ring and then
he put him in a pair of those like colored

(05:21):
aviators and a toothpick in his mouth. He could be
a manager. He could do that. But I mean, he's
got a great head of hair. So I don't know
you're that you're wish casting something there. All right, let's
get to it. Enough of them a larky week thirteens
here coming up later. Greg's gonna recap Cowboys Saints with
Henry Hatchson. Don't even get Alvin Kamara there. That's annoying

(05:44):
what's going on with that season in New Orleans. But
we're gonna spin forward to the games to be played
on Sunday and Monday, and uh, strange week, only one
game between playoff teams, that's the Ravens at Steelers. And
even that game doesn't have to juice. Only one game
between one playoff teams if the season, if the season,

(06:08):
and then uh, we have seven divisional games, so that
that obviously has uh big impact potentially in division races
and whatnot, and uh, you know, conference tiebreaker stuff. So
we're gonna get into it all. Let's start though, as
we always do before we get to our draft. Let's
start with the primetime games. Uh, and it's a solid one.

(06:29):
They got flexed. The Denver Broncos are six and five. Um,
surprisingly they're six and five. They had that three and
oh start. They weathered some storms. They've been up and down,
and it it just so happens that they are six
and five as the calendars turned over to December and
a year where the Kansas City Chiefs have been trying
to figure things out. Now did they figure things out? Greg?

(06:52):
We will find out. There's seven and four, one game up,
and I'm kind of rooting Greg for um chaos because
the Broncos beat the Chiefs, forget about it, the a
f C West becomes a complete grab bag. It is
up for grabs. Let's see if that happened. At least
give us an entertaining game on Sunday night. I know
these teams seem very unpredictable to me. I kind of

(07:14):
know what the Broncos offense is. They got some injuries
this week at tackle and in Melvin Gordon. That's not ideal.
We know who they are. I know the Chiefs defense
has been better lately and they're ultimately good. It's like
the Chiefs are gonna put up. I mean, the Broncos
are gonna put about twenty points in this game. That's
my preview for you. On the other side of the ball,
I have no idea what's gonna happen. These are and
I looked on football outsiders, these are two of the

(07:36):
highest variances in terms of the Broncos defense and the
Chief's offense of any signs on of the football in football,
like the Broncos defense two out of the last three
games put it to the Cowboys and did a fantastic
job of the charges. Could they be one of those
groups that closes and finishes much different than they looked

(07:57):
for a big chunk of the season, Because if they are,
I think they have a chance to slow down the
Chiefs at least Andy Right, Andy Reid is great coming
off of bye, but will he take what's given to him?
And Vic Fangio kind of started this whole trend of
all around the league, everyone's playing the Chiefs this way.
This is they're they're playing the way the Broncos play
every week, which is they beg you to run. They're

(08:19):
they're begging the Chiefs, who are good at running, They're
begging them to thinking dunk. Will Andy Reid take what's
given to him? Will Patrick Mahomes do that in this game?
If they don't, I don't know. I think it could
be fun. I think if you're Vick Fongio, and you
came in at some point and said, here's what I
envisioned for my team. I mean a little more on offense.
But this is what the vic Fongio, this is what

(08:39):
you're selling. I mean, they've allowed under two hundred and
thirty yards passing in four of the last five games.
Outside of that Eagles mess. They are shutting air attacks down.
And Patrick Mahomes has never lost to Denver, has not
faced this version of Denver's defense that we're seeing right now.
So I I think that you know, when this got
flexed it was like really like the Broncos it it's

(09:00):
turned into something that has become much spicier. What got
flexed out it was Seattle, San Francisco, smart, what a
state of affairs. Gotta get russ out, Teddy, come on in, Teddy. Well,
I don't think that was the selling point. Get Pat
into prime time more. And that's why it's like, you

(09:20):
look at this game and I say, I root for
chaos because I don't really have a dog in the fight.
But at the same time, do I really think, and
I know it's been a weird year for Kansas City,
that Patrick Mahomes is gonna lose in primetime in December
against the division rival that has flickering hopes of stealing
the a f C West away. I don't see it.
And one thing that does surprise me because there's been

(09:42):
so much handwringing and it's, you know, worthy handwringing because
the Chiefs that have have had major issues on offense.
But what have I told you? They haven't lost since October?
Like this is the Chiefs that everyone it's been a crisis.
And it's because you don't get the sense that they're
on a four game winning streak and haven't lost in

(10:02):
a month and a half almost because, uh, their defense
has been picking up for the offense. So even though
throw out that Raiders wine on Sunday Night, those other
three wins around the bye, they scored twenty thirteen and
nineteen points, Big Faggio can do cook up everything he
could cook up and and hold the Chiefs to one

(10:24):
points or so there's a chance, a good chance that
Casey is still gonna win because their defense has proven
now over the past month plus that they don't need
a shootout, they don't need Mahomes in the offense to
be elite to get it done. They're getting a pass rush.
I mean, Chris Jones, who we talked about on our
show last Friday, has been phenomenal for them, and they
are I mean, they're just It's okay if teams kind

(10:44):
of change their identity a little bit during the year.
I mean, who would have thought that their offense would
have scored only twenty points against the Giants. They won
that game, but it's like, this is not the Kansas
City team we're used to, but they're also coming off
of bye. Andy Reid has that great history. You do
kind feel like at some point Mahomes specifically is gonna
figure it out and get into the flow. It's just this,

(11:06):
this Denver defense is built to stop the pass. That's
what they're built to do. Certain's playing great. Kareem Jackson
might be back for this game. Like they're they're getting
finally the secondary play that they thought they had. I
I just don't think on offense they'll hold up like
they are still down to their third, fourth, fifth string
tackles against an improved pass rush. It could be a

(11:28):
tough spot for Teddy, but you know he's you know,
Teddy higher QB rating than Patrick Mahomes right now. Today's
analytics are almost too good. They're like embarrassingly good. But
I think it points to what he's been this year,
and it's like, I don't it's true. Well, there's this
one that's like e p A plus completion percentage overexpected

(11:50):
and he's like second or third in the league. It's
like that actually says more about the stat than it
does about Teddy. But I think it's to the point
that he's he's done exactly what you would hope. I
just I just you're gonna have to score thirty in
this game. I don't trust the Broncos defense. I do
kind of like them to cover nine and a half points.
Like Vegas is not buying into this Broncos resurgence, and
they really haven't bought into the Chiefs declining. They're expecting

(12:11):
it to bounce back. If you are in the Desert Realm.
The Chiefs has scored fewer than twenty five points in
five straight home games, which is stunning. And you read
twenty one and four after the by Greg, you had
mentioned that and Teddy Bridgewater. This is good, Greg, nice
little island game for Bridgewater. Who's trying to convince a team,
Hey keep me around, make me part of your future. Well,

(12:32):
here's a big game for them. If they could somehow
win this game. He plays well, that that matters, and
you take all those advanced analytics that paint him as
a better than average quarterback now stacks and wins, but
get a playoff. Vick Fongio also saying keep me around,
and there aren't a lot of signature wins, and the
Fongio era the Cowboys is one. This would be huge.
I think Teddy is the Broncos quarterback next year unless

(12:53):
they can get Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson,
and then no matter what he does the rest of
the season, he won't be the Broncos quarterback. So I
really think that is that's the equation. I think he's coming.
I think they're gonna if this season. If they strike out,
it's not It sounds great to go get that one
of those guys, but there's no guarantee that you will,
and if you don't, then I think Teddy is like
their ideal fall back. All right, the best game of

(13:14):
the week. It's kind of throwback. This is the way
it used to be in the old days. Monday Night football.
The New England Patriots, eight and four, riding a six
game win streak, head up to Orchard Park to face
the seven and four Buffalo Bills, the team that was
the heavy favorite to win the division. But guess what,
the Pats got good, faster than expected. And now Mark,

(13:38):
the question becomes, and I think we talked about this
last week as well on the television show, The Pats
are good, The Pat's a great team, go and beat
up on the Bills and Orchard Park in primetime. And
I am all in, yeah, because I think you know,
you and I sit on different sides of this where
and it's not just wishing. I I look at the
Patriots and I look at the fact Bill Belichick is

(14:00):
their coach, and everything that's happening in the way that
they're playing, the style that they're playing, the physical side
on offense, uh takeaway, heavy on defense, shutting down opposing quarterbacks,
making life hell for one quarterback a week after week
that I totally buy in, Um I do. I'm with you, though.
This is the acid test, because coming into this season

(14:21):
it was like the Bills have dethroned the Patriots and
this is a long run. It's gonna be a nice,
enjoyable long run and a change of scenery. It's like
December second or third right now, and everything's been flipped on.
It's but because the New England wins this game, I'm sorry,
but it feels to me like the Bills. There are
many more questions lingering over what the Bills are this

(14:43):
season with their inconsistencies than New England. If they do
what they've done to other teams, you know, and it
has been there each of these you look back at
the six teams they've beaten in a row, there's been
a rough fallout for every one of those clubs that
got thumbed by New England. You think of Baker Mayfield,
you think of Sam Donald's essentially season ending. I mean,
they've ripped people up left and right. So if you
go and do that to Josh Allen, you've got big

(15:05):
problems if you're Buffalo. Yeah, absolutely right and way the
way that we thought about the Bills coming up. But
part of that is because they've like stacked these seasons
and that they've been building and the fact that eight
and four is looked at some disappointment for the Buffalo Bill.
Seven and four excuse me come into this game. I mean,

(15:26):
what a job that McDermott has done. That that's somehow
a disappointment to get to this point. This is a
more experienced team in big spots than this Patriots team.
Like I think that does matter. Like Josh Allen kind
of went through a lot of those painful moments and
he'll have more, and he certainly has bad losses this year,
but this is a veteran team on both sides of

(15:48):
the ball with great continuity in Buffalo, and I think
people are dismissing that. I tend to think that the
most likely outcome over the next three weeks are that
these two teams split, because I I personally think they're
the best two teams along with the Chiefs in the
a f C. And so to me, like if the

(16:08):
Patriots win this one, okay, let's see what happens next time.
I if the Bills win this one, that wouldn't surprise me.
Like if it's a blowout either way, that that would
surprise me. Because I think the Bill's defense, even without
trade Avious White, is a challenge that Mac Jones in
this Patriots offense, which has been resourceful and it's been good,
hasn't really faced when you look at the opponents that

(16:28):
they've had during this winning So you could make the case,
and I'm with you, although I'm with you to a point. Yes,
would a split be shocking? No, But I think it
would very much matter. If New England went to Buffalo
and one on Monday night, they'd be nine and four
and the Bills would be kind of in I would
imagine in a crisis mode internally. It's seven and five
losing at home in that spot. Also are going to

(16:50):
Tampa next week, So you're right, it's sort of Let's
say the Pats one, they go into their by at
nine and four and in complete control the A f C. East. Um.
Now we have touched on this and I'll just bring
it up again. The last one to three, four four
weeks the Patriots all wins, but they've been facing a
team that's missing their best player for works in a
row McCaffrey, Chub Patterson, um Derrick Henry, and A. J. Brown.

(17:16):
The Bills profile is a healthy team that is ready
and geared up for this game. UM. I like the
Bills in this game. I think they're gonna win the game. Uh,
does anybody else think that are we at the place
where we're so hot on the paths that nobody's gonna
pick we see? I feel like the getting hot on
the Pats thing is almost like like I've fallen for
some fervor, some religious fervor. I mean, where what I'm

(17:38):
saying in those four those four wins that you mentioned
as the question, Well, no, but the four wins you
mentioned they also allowed a total of twenty six points. Depends,
but in some places they're favorites slightly, so you're not
You're hardly on on your own. I don't know. I
don't think I'm on my own. I think the thing
is that, like maybe it's frustrating that people are back

(17:59):
on the Patriots thing entirely. I think they are going
to win this game. I think the way we come
out think about Buffalo was how like you mentioned, if
it's a blowout, if they blew the Bills out, and
the Bills have had a couple of rough weeks in
this season, it changes our perception of them, and it
only strengthens what I think about New England. I'd be
shocked if if the Bills defense allowed to blow out.
I I see like a close, low scoring game, and

(18:20):
I see Josh Allen being the key in terms of
his running. I think it was really important last week
early in that game. I know is the Saints, but
that's a good run defense. They called a lot of
design runs. He scrambled a lot. To me, that's how
you're running game. What what was the question I asked
you was gonna win? I took the Bills and my

(18:40):
game picks by a field goal. I don't feel good
about it. You know you've been doing that. You've been
nagging Pats team and I've been wrong. That's not true.
Only once did I pick against them when they lost,
which you've been You've been the hold the horses guy
all season with the with the Fats. I don't know
if it's your random coming through noleheartedly believe that the
Bills are gonna win. Oh, you're doing it. That's why

(19:00):
I'm gonna lock them. Yeah, you've You've done a great job.
It could be stupid, but I really do believe that
they'll probably split, and that the Bills are a strong
team and they'll adjust to that. That that this Patriots offense,
like even Mac Jones last week, I don't know. I
I don't trust them as like a passing game to
light it up. Of course they could win this game,

(19:21):
but I think it's gonna be a low scoring defense.
And people keep saying Mac Jones has not faced like
a real defense. The Panthers were the number one past
defense when they whipped them. Okay, I'm just saying, but what.
But it's like, when are we going to be ready
to believe in the in the Patriots if it, if
they handle this, believe in them. I just think there's three.
Like I said, I think they're one of the favorites

(19:42):
and the Bills are one of the other two or
three favorites. And this is a road game. I think
it's totally a coin flip game. And I'll feel like
a dumbass if Romandre Stevens and Who's suddenly throw it
in your fantasy team? Dan, it looks like RB one
in New England. Stevens is ruining my fantasy team. I
have you have done? I thought you had Davien Harris guy. Okay,

(20:03):
I was like, I thought, Damian Harris is gonna have
a monster season. Suddenly were a mare? Is the guy?
They he's the flavor of the month. Uh No, and
listen like, I'm not frustrated about the Pats being good.
I don't. It's things have changed for me with Tom
Brady being gone. I don't it. For some reason, it
doesn't have that same like kick. I'm just from a
clearly like just where are we at right now? I

(20:24):
want to see how they come out of these three games.
And I'm really excited to see your prerogative. So here
we go. Let's move on. And before Pats fans come out,
it's like, I see them losing this one. Then you
beat the Colts and the Bills and you're in first place.
And the I mean, Greg, you've blocked Like you know
what I mean, you're in the first place. It's like
you got two out of three. Yeah, and it's like,

(20:46):
you're not gonna go undefeated the whole season. You're not
gonna the rest of the way. You you go at Buffalo,
by at Indie Home Buffalo, you win two out of three,
you have a good chance of getting the number one seed.
And they see because you was Jacksonville at Miami, they've struggled. Yeah,
need a little. That's a tough one. But I think
the Ravens will catch the Mills The Chiefs are still

(21:08):
the team if I'm any team in the AFC, not
that they're looking around to me, the Chiefs are still
the scariest. All right, Let's take a break and then
get to the draft. All right, welcome back, Greg. You
have the first overall pick, and I could jump you.
You could, and I might because there's so I'm gonna

(21:31):
I knew you weren't this. These are a bunch of
dogs this week you're gonna take You're gonna take my
pick when it really matters, Chargers Bengals as the number
one over I'll pick. But that's what I knew. Remember,
Temple of the Doom. I would have taken it market
if he didn't take it, U Temple of Doom when
he rips the guy's heart out of his chest. That's
what I'm gonna do to Greg when I do that

(21:51):
last jump, because oh yeah, I'm already thinking about that
Pat schedule. That was a rough situation for the person
who I don't the alright, go ahead. Romo is late,
so I thought about taking his game. But Chargers Bengals
is easily the best game of the morning, and it's
a nice a f C Wildcard test of two quarterbacks

(22:16):
taken in the same draft back to back, you know,
number one, number six, not back to back, close enough,
and one of them getting a lot of grief Justin Herbert,
even though like his numbers and he's fifth in the
least the Justin Herbert defender army is pretty strong, right,
you guys have a fortified front. There's not a lot
getting the slings and arrows are not really hitting. It's

(22:38):
a fair point, Lew Brandon Staley is part of it,
like he is, noting that it's like we're second in
e p A. He threw that out, like they're there's
their second in EPA per play, their top six or
seven in football tiders. Often it's it's true. And yet
when you watch it, you don't understand. Burrow I think
hasn't gotten enough attention for how well he's playing. And
I know that the Bengals make it easier on him

(22:59):
lately with how good the running game is and how
good the um defense has played. But third and thirteen
last week, particular play that he had, I think it
was two boyd third and seventeen last week to Higgins,
he's going back there, and he said it after the
game I'm glad he said it. He was like, when
I go back there, I know exactly what I'm seeing,
and that's what it looks like. He plays more like

(23:20):
a veteran, I think, than Herbert. He doesn't have the
skill sets, but man, it just feels like he has
such a good feel. And that's coaching too. You gotta
give Zach Taylor some credit of what the opposing defense
is trying to accomplish. And he knows where his receivers
are and he's got some great ones, and there's like
always answers and I do the QB Index every week
and so many of these guys are up and down.

(23:42):
You know who hasn't been up and down this year?
Joe Burrow not perfect, but even in his bad games,
not too bad, great games, not too great. But he's
right there around like the number ten eleven quarterback in
the league maybe, And I'm just so impressed with how
he's played. I thought that what happened against Pittsburgh, and
if you're a Bengals fan of a certainty, you know
you've spent half your life, well no, I mean, it's

(24:05):
just as it's one of those teams that has been
bloodied and beaten up by Pittsburgh for eons, and one
of those teams last week had an identity and completely
stripped the other team of one. The way that Cincinnati
is running the ball right now, to um, I think
that's what maybe D emphasizes, like some of Burrows exploits
to some degree, because the way they came out and

(24:25):
set the tone against the Steelers early was formidable. I mean,
I think that the Bengals that were watching in that
game can beat the Bills, beat the Patriots, beat the Chiefs,
I really do. When you get that version, because they're
super balanced on both sides. Guys like Trey Hendrickson was
a really good pickup and free agency, he's been dominant
for them. Mike Hilton made plays last week. I mean,

(24:46):
they just on both sides. I thought basically ended Pittsburgh season.
And yet wouldn't it. I don't know what it's surprisingly
if the Chargers win this game. I can't. This was
I thought the hardest game to pick. I have no like,
the Bengals are certainly trending better and it seems like
they're upsides better, and yet the way this season and
these two teams trust, I can't. I can't trust either.
You don't trust the Bengals, don't Is it because of

(25:08):
the Jets Brown's fiasco back to back fiasco's? I guess yeah,
it wasn't too long ago. You know, it's just the
nature of the season. Hey, there is one one person
or group of people who knows that is certain how
this game is gonna do. Like this, Nick here again,
amongst my brothers, there's a consensus this week they all
like the Bengals. I'm a little more skeptical. Last time

(25:30):
they were the talk of the town. They got beat
by a bad Jets team. Then we're completely dismantled by
the Browns. It's like Chris used to say, the Bengals
can't have nice things. So I'm really torn on what
to do this week. So I went back to a
conversation I had with Chris last year about how much
I hated Zack Taylor. He refused to run the ball,
fell in love with his finesse game, and got Joe

(25:52):
Burrow hurt. The find of a good coach is learning
from your mistakes. This year, they got in trouble and
made the correct adjustments in his pounding opponents, and all
three receivers are making big plays because of it. You
look around the FC and outside of the Patriots, the
Bengals are the only balanced team, not only on offense
but defense too. I can really see him making a

(26:13):
big deep playoff run this year. We're gonna go ahead
and lock up the Bangles over the Chargers. Good dad.
I love what he said. He's convincing me. I might
flip my pick. I went back and forth in this
one move. The fact that Nick's locking up the Bengals
that is that's It's a great point on the run

(26:35):
game too. When you watch the Bengals, they look the
most like the Sean McVeigh. Todd Gurley rams with Joe
Mixon being I know what people thought. Joe Todd Gurley
was all right, that's good. Let's move on. Good game.
Not too many to choose from, so let's move to
the late games. I'm up next in the draft. I

(26:57):
will take forty is at Seahawks. You guys are killing me.
Those are my two top games. I literally am lost
in the forest. This is a tough one. This is
a tough one to be the third and fourth pick.
This is a tough snake, felt personal. I think you
knew Mark wanted that game. I might sit this week out.
You know what's funny? I hope you don't, Mark. We
need you, buddy. Um, you know what's funny. I not

(27:20):
only you know. First of all, I'll start here. I'm
locking up the Niners like I I and I don't
know if you're with me, Mark or what, but uh,
this is this feels like a perfect spot for a
surging San San Francisco team. I know Debo's not there.
I know how important he's been, But when I watched
the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, that just team. It
looked like a dead team walking. And you can say,

(27:42):
oh yeah, but they're they're at home and they're tougher.
They have been tougher at home everywhere they play. There
the same boring, broken offense with a quarterback who's saying
my fingers fine, but doesn't play the same way. Even
before he hurt the finger, he was struggling the Shane
Waldron experiment. If you want to call that, it ain't working.
I don't know if it's his fault. DK Metcalf seems

(28:03):
like he's one more you know, three target, one catch
week away from just melting down and attempting to Beckham
like mutiny here. Um, so I don't like anything about
what's going on with ctl Seahawks and the forty Niners.
Their ability to shut that game down against the Vikings
really stood out to me because it wasn't just their offense,

(28:25):
it was the defense as well, and they did it
uh in a way that was impressive to me. Uh,
they had they they lost guys. You know Aziz Alsha
here is that correct pronunciation? Um? You know he moved over.
Fred Warner goes out with a hamstring injury, and that
guy's making plays all game and he moved to the
middle linebacker. He's calling plays. Elijah Mitchell I like what

(28:46):
he's doing. I'm in on this Niners team. Um, and
that's why I locked him up. I totally think that's
a legitimate, um logical lock I. The Seahawks are as
boring as a team i've watched in ages, UM, maybe
stripping out some of the true trash bag operations. It's
stunning to see how they've been dominated. They held the
ball for less than twenty minutes against the Cardinals, barely

(29:09):
over twenty minutes against the Packers. They gave up forty
one minutes a possession against Washington. They can't get anyone
off the field. They can't sustain drives. You know, you're right,
No Deebo Samuel changes something that I think the Niners
have done a really special job with under Coyle Shanahan
the last couple of weeks, using him in a way
that no player in the league is being used. But
I do look at Brandon Ayuk who you know, it's

(29:30):
these two teams are are are in such different places
because a month ago, month plus, it was Brandon Aiyuk
in the dog house. To some degree, people were writing
columns saying that there's no leadership on the Niners, that
they've made all these like headstrong front office choices that
are completely disasters, and right now it's the Seahawks that
are facing a lot more chaos induced type questions. I

(29:51):
think if you're the Niners, you you keep rolling with
what you're doing. I mean, Jimmy G has I don't
love Jimmy G to the eyes, but metrics wise, like
yards per atten MT's higher than any quarterback in the league.
Since Week eight, He's a forty three class. Week was
was the ultimate Jimmy G game, though, like he played
poorly and they won thirty. He's he's the guy right now.

(30:12):
He's not the guy in the future. But the way
that they're playing, the way that their offense functions, like,
as long as he doesn't blow them up with terrible mistakes,
which is a possibility at any moment, they'll be fine.
Like on paper, this is the perfect matchup the last
three weeks to your point, mark the Seahawks of average
nineteen minutes of time in the in the thirty eight. Now,

(30:33):
time of possession isn't necessarily much of an indicator of anything,
like old school football coaches overrated. But when it's that
outrageous that the Seahawks are like four three minutes on
the season behind any other team the next close, it's
a combination of things. It's the offense obviously stinks and
they're going three now, but it's also like get off

(30:53):
the field defense, Like the defense hasn't taken any of
the blame, and they just give up these long drives,
which on paper matches up so poorly. I think they're
twenty nine in yards per drive allowed defensively, and that's terrible.
Then again, they've beaten the forty fifteen out of seventeen times,
fifteen out of seventeen, Like Santa Han's there for been

(31:16):
there for a tonk of those. The the only the
only win in the last handful of years was that
play by Dre Greenlaw which decided the number one seed
a couple of years ago in weeks seventeen, where they
won by half a yard. That's when it took and
that was the best forty Niners team we've seen for
them to beat the Seahawks. So for them, it is
kind of a weird rivalry game that they haven't been

(31:38):
able to solve. But this feels like the moment you said,
you know and when you think you figured out season,
it will smack you in the face. So I'm not
saying like there's no chance Seattle puts up a competitive
effort and and it even wins this game. But I
just feel like where these two franchises are right now
just sets up very well. And you know, one thing
about the Niners. Um one more thing I should say

(31:59):
is I think on the TV show last week, um
in teeing up the Niners, I said, remember Trey Lance,
and then there was because he's been absent completely, Jimmy
g has been the quarterback and NBC Sports Jennifer lee
Chan reported that Kyle Shanahan has been resistant to rotating
quarterbacks because they quote stunts his in game play calling.
He's had one touch since Week six. This is the

(32:21):
number three overall pick, So this is that's outside the
box thinking compared to what you usually see in the
modern NFL. You pick a guy that high he's playing,
but Shanahan has made a concerted effort and decision to
stick with You have been killed the sub package. And
I'm thinking back to when I was in a hospital
watching the Niners using both quarterbacks back to back on

(32:41):
dry wonder. I would change this week just because no debo,
because they haven't needed him in the running game. Deebo
Samuel has kind of added that other element. And Elijah
Mitchell's awesome. Like Elijah Mitchell is not just I'm gonna
stick in a running back. I would take him over
he moster, He's second in the league and yards after
yards per carry after contact, Like Elijah Mitchell is a dude.

(33:01):
Like they found something with him. So it's like you
don't need Janahan said that it kind of hurts my
rhythm a little bit going back and forth. All right,
Uh so I took that and now Marks in a
tough spot at the snake position. Startup, buddy, Well, it's
a bad draft and you've got to just go for
something that at least I think we'll have some substance
on Sunday Night show. Um, I'm gonna go Baltimore at Pittsburgh.

(33:23):
I don't, uh, necessarily like either one of these teams.
I think we understand that, um, but I kind of
find it to keep your enemies closer exactly. Let's it's
a little bit of a scouting mission. Um. I I
find it interesting though, because it isn't kind of this
typical Raven Steelers game on any level. These teams are
in a fair amount of chaos, but especially Pittsburgh, I

(33:43):
think one more like they're basically one more loss in
my book from you know, send him off a bridge
into the seat. Here. Here's a concern I would have
Mark from you, because I know you were very excited
and happy and understandably so about how poorly they played
against Cincinnati, and you were, you know, dancing on the grave.
I do the same thing in your position. Good, but

(34:03):
this does maybe set up as an unfortunate viewing experience
for you, because the Steelers in win or die mode
against the Baltimore team that is just barely finding ways
to beat teams feels like a vulnerable spot. Maybe for
Baltimore it's fair, I will survive. Um, I understand what
you're saying. I want to see it. Plus there's no

(34:23):
good outcome the Ravens crushing them. Is that really? Mark
doesn't want to see a d D. Reporting on the
sidelines after the game, like everybody buried the Steelers and
now they're back and feeling I would say take Pittsburgh out.
Let's set that closer to the mortality of one of
these two teams. Thank you. I think you're gonna get it.
T J. I think they go as t J. Watt
goes over the last couple of years on defense. When

(34:46):
he played last week week, well, I think they did.
He was not t J Watton that that game. Now
then he shows up on the COVID list, either he
was hurt coming into the game or who knows, you
know he got he tested positive for COVID a day later,
probably not gonna play this game. He wasn't himself last week,
and their average with him and they're way below average

(35:10):
without him. It's crazy, like on paper, they match up
so poorly with the Ravens because they can't cover deep
and on the outside. That's what the Ravens do well.
They can't really stop the run. I guess they can't
do anything, so they match up poorly with everyone. Guys
like Devin Bush first round pick getting benched. There's all

(35:30):
sorts of drama. They just don't make any sense with
such a bad defense. They remind me of the Pats
from last year. Everyone's so focused on the lousy quarterback
situation and offense that like no one's paying attention to
what was supposed to be their bed rock defense falling
upon well there and d v o A. They've been
allowing and basically two hundred yards on the ground since
week ten. I mean it is they're getting beaten up.

(35:51):
This is like why you have all X Steelers coming
out of the woodwork. The Raven's offensive line is sneaky
good too. They've had a lot of stand nine people
out this week and Wednesday's practice, so that's a concern.
But they're wait, what was it for? Ye Yeah, I

(36:15):
like that all right? Good? Any other thoughts on this? Yeah?
Not particularly Okay, let's move on. Market snakes to you, buddy, well,
I don't love this at all, but I'm gonna go. No,
it's just it's a it's a strange week. I'm gonna
go with my I'm picking pet teams. I'm going Cardinals Bears.
I want to see I think it sounds like it

(36:36):
sounds like we're getting Kyler Murray because I don't know.
We've seen these clips from him at practice today minutes
before we started this, and he looked he was he
looked spry, looked fine to me, tweeted out fan House
on Monday, which felt it felt like he's a Nuke's
practicing as well. So they're all is trending towards these
guys being bad, and I think they you know, we
talked about this. They managed this so well. Um, they

(36:56):
probably could have shoved Kyler into the lineup had it
been like a huge game before the bye, but they
didn't have to. And they're playing a banged up Bears
team that you know, Justin Fields is practicing on a
limited basis, but Allen Robinson is not ro Kuwan Smith,
who had been awesome for them for a couple of weeks.
Um is not practicing right now. At this point, Um,
Robert Quinn has led a defense that has just not

(37:18):
been a typical Bears defense in a lot of ways.
I don't know if you get Kyler back in here,
because for all the heroics of Colt McCoy, um, the
offense changes entirely if if if Kyli is in there,
they become ten times more aggressive, especially if it's Hopkins
in there as well. And I think they're a team
that we probably them falling off our radar, but they're
not maybe getting the praise they deserve because you haven't

(37:41):
had your star players in there. They're the best team
in the NFL right now, UM hands down to me
because it's their defense too. And the Bears passing game
right now is not only the worst of this season
in terms of yards per game and the yard yards
is that's just one thing, but the worst team of
the last four years yardage per games, So they're a mess. Um.
They are also have given up more sacks than any

(38:03):
team in the league. So it just seems like against
this Arizona defense, which doesn't get talked about as much
because of the offense, the Bears are running into a
rough scenario in Chicago. Do we worry about Arizona and
cold wind and cold temperatures. I don't you know. I
would say the concern here if your Cardinals fan is rusted,
especially with the quarterback hasn't played in what four or

(38:24):
five weeks now, So maybe it'll take some time to
knock that off. Maybe it takes a whole week to
knock that off. And you said the Cardinals you are
the best team in football? Did you lose sleep? Were
you furious when the latest NFL Power rankings came out
and the Packers had hop scotch those Cardinals number. I

(38:44):
think though that that's a fair thing to do when
you have a buy to deal with. But I think
that you will be proven uh incorrecting the end. I
think they've been the best so far. I'm with you,
how do you knock them down? Like zach Ertz has
emerged since Kyler got hurt last you know game they played,
It's like a J Green making plays zach Ertz. They
have so many ways to be I kind of think

(39:05):
I kind of expect Andy Dalton to start because he
took most of the reps on Wednesday. That might give
the Bears a slightly better chance. If I'm Matt Naggy,
I might not want to. You're like sack, Well, yeah,
you're like sacrificing been against this great defense and great
pass rush for like one more week. Let's wait till
Fields is a hundred percent get him back next week,

(39:25):
next year. You want to be met Nagy. When he's
taken the year off and he's making three and a
half million dollars a year to do nothing, that's when
you wanted that. He never seems happy, though he will
be next year, once he's out of this world. He's
the most unhappy man in the world. You gotta wash
the bears out of the hair and you'll he'll be fine.
He'll be on the phone of Adam Gaze and I'm like,

(39:45):
where are we going? Which island we go into this week?
You know, let's get loose. You see that report that
Adam Gates would listen if the if Notre Dame would
offer him the head coaching deb Really, when I think
Adam Gates, I think prize recruit. Yeah, I don't think
that's gonna play. Um all right up next, is it
the old user? I think it's the old suser in

(40:09):
a big spot. Okay, so I do thank you, Paul Rudd.
I do like so you took that Chargers Bangles game.
But I'm gonna have eyes on that one, Greggy. So
I'm gonna take a fun game in the morning with
that Bucks at Falcons, fun because I like watching Tom
Brady and the Tampa Bay offense operate. So I will
grab that game and uh man, what to say about

(40:32):
this game? It's funny, like are you gonna have eyes?
The Jets are early two. I mean, that's that's a
good point, the toughest of all spots right there. But
I'll figure it out anyway. Don't worry about me. Tampa
Bay eight and three just taking care of business, rolling through. Um,
I would like someone else to kind of jump in
because I, like I've said on the show, I like

(40:54):
where Tampa is. They're staying mostly healthy. On offense, they're
taking care of business. And the Falcons, I kind of
I have them where I have them, which is five
and six, but really not in the mix, even if
they're in the on the on the hunt or in
the hunt category over in the NFC. Anybody want to
make a case, I'm giving up on them being in
the hunt for anything other than there are. They're literally

(41:15):
tied for the last spot. It is weird. I asked you,
literally asked you the question on our network show if
anyone bought them at all and in the hunt category,
and everyone said, I'm sticking a fork. I just didn't
pointing out that they're literally tight. I can't make that
case for you. This was the game where it all
turned around last year. You guys. Remember they came out
of the bye and the Falcons were up big at

(41:37):
halftime against the Bucks, and then the Bucks scored like
twenty eight unanswered in the second half, and then they
went off to their Super Bowl run. In Week one,
it was five I remember in the fourth quarter, and
then they scored about twenty straight points off of a
lot of turnovers. They should wipe the floor with this
version of the Falcons team. I'm kind of out of
things to say here to other than Antoine Winfield is

(42:00):
like the difference maker here for the Bucks, and they're
getting Carlton Davis back, their best cornerback, They're getting healthier,
and Winfield has quietly gotten a lot better. I think
since his rookie year might be an All Pro almost
certainly should be a pro bowler, and like they're one
of the best places you'll see from his safety him
mossing Michael Pittman, who's a giant and Winfield I think

(42:22):
is what five ten or something. He's just out physical
and went above him to take a ball away the
ball skills for safety there, that's pretty good. A. J. Terrell,
the Falcons corner number two in PFF's grades, has had
an incredible season and but you need more than one cornerback.
It would be good, It would be good. We would
have to go up to West Point or something, I
think to find him. But why don't you want to

(42:43):
see where Tom Coughlin is at on this Leonard four net.
He's not loving it. Not only got a different human
but he was probably dealing with a completely different human
being in Jacksonville. Well maybe just the human being on
a different team now with I'd like to imagine him
as like now he's grandfatherly and he's happy. I'm buy
Naggie won't even be happy next year. But I think
Coughlin is enjoying his his time away from the game,

(43:06):
and he's like, I know he's knew that young man
could uh could realize his potential. I'm glad to see it.
That feels like heart not. That is not true. Not
only not only did he score four touchdowns uh and
a great comeback win over the Colts. Uh. Lenny Fournette.
It was reported after the game that he gave a
spirited halftime speech that inspired members of the Buccaneers uh

(43:30):
and led to the comeback in the second half. Uh.
That is not playing well with a Tom Coughlin. I
can tell you that. No. But Tom Coughlin, you tried
to center the entire experience around uh Blake Bortles, So
you're going to get a different locker room in a
different offshoot of that than Tom Brady. And but well,
and Lenny Fournette, who was I believe the fourth overall
pick ofen draft. Uh. And just for a little timeline,

(43:53):
because I did a little digging uh for power rings
this week. They cut him the Jaguars three years and
to that rookie contract September and the Bucks scoop him
up and look at him now, he's one of the
more productive running backs on the league. That's the Tom
Brady effect. You could say, is this that he's matured

(44:15):
Tom Brady. It is a little bit Leonard for net effect.
You don't think so that he's decided to take command
of his own I think that's true, But the opportunity
and everything wouldn't happen without Brady. I'm buying that. Although man,
he looks good, he's playing well. Let's take a break
and then we continue on so many strategies here. All right, Greggy,

(44:40):
you got two picks here. I could jump here too,
but you know I won't because it's all dogs. Now.
That's that's two times Ricky's had to use the beep
in short order. I'm going to strategize and take a
knock it out games so I don't have to watch
it on game pass. Vikings Lions early. I swear to God, Vikings,
you better not blow this game. There's an outside right,

(45:04):
there's an outside chance that this is tense and that
the Vikings, you know, could lose the lines to be
the Lions first one, so like or the or the
Vikings blow it out and it's a knock it out game.
Do not do not put it in Gregg Joseph's hands
with twelve seconds to go. Uh, the team Zimmer, Let's
take care of business. Don't be so dumb. Dumb team.

(45:26):
I thought that the Lions were establishing somewhat of an
identity with an inside running game. DeAndre Swift was in
the top seven or eight in terms of yards from scrimmins,
playing really well this year, a guy to build around.
Uh he's out this week according to rap sheet, and
without him, I just don't think they have many answers

(45:46):
on offense. The Vikings are probably you know, they're without
Dalvin Cook, but Zimmer pointed out which I thought was interesting,
But like, our running game hasn't been good lately anyways,
and you've kind of seen them turn the dial here
to putting a little more on Kirk Cousins plate that
they're just gonna ride the ups and the downs. If
that happens, this is a nice week, I think to
get some confidence, not have the Lions Vikings game that

(46:08):
you had earlier in the season, which took a last
second field goal for the Vikings to win, and actually
have a normal Vikings game for once. Let's do it.
Let's do it. I Alexander Madison has been great when
he filled in for Cook in the past. He had
a hundred and fifty three yards against the Lions back
in Week five, he fried him last year as well,
So I mean, I don't think that's a you're that's

(46:28):
a massive ship because that they've been a passing Tones
defense has come out of the by and have allowed
six I know, the you know, the opposing teams hasn't
been great, but sixteen or less than three Straights, then
they are coaching their butts off for an O and
they also were a disorganized mess on I'm just saying
sixteen or less from a defense in three straight weeks
that looked like the worst in the NFL for so long.

(46:48):
We didn't talk about it as a group because it
was a Thanksgiving game, but that was the game I
did on the podcast, and yeah, not only did you know,
I don't know if it was Aaron Glen's fault, I
don't know who was Dan Campbell's fall. Glenn is the DC,
but the double time out which killed him obviously, but
then Naggy on top of it also calling the time
out to stop the clock. Uh, that was quite a clinic.

(47:09):
I think the only thing with Campbell is they gotta
I mean, you gotta win a game, you gotta win
a couple of games here. He's got He's a lot
of goodwill um within you know, Detroit's fan base and
outward because his passionate approach to the game and he
just seems like a real person. But you gotta steal
a couple of games here and this just I don't know, man,

(47:29):
I just to me, uh, the one thing I will
say about and Kirk Cousins statistically, and that's why I
just you know, like your boy Teddy and everybody, like
the numbers sometimes don't tell the whole story. Like Kirk.
His season has been so strange because they've had I
would say at least five games this year where he
lights up the building in the first half and then

(47:50):
they go to sleep for the last two quarters. Like
there is there's even with it. The numbers are there,
the productions there, but the streakiness is is an issue
with them and I and then he usually has a
good last drive after being quiet. There's a reason why
last week they're like the only team like it's in
a ridiculous stat They now every game this season they've

(48:10):
had at least a seven point lead, uh, and yet
they're under five hundred. It's because they jump out quick
and they've had so many games where they just stall
so let's see if that happens again against Detroit. If anything,
they've been consistent. I mean, how about go drop like
a thirty five to seven here? I mean, because won't
they won't like is essentially on very thin ice. If

(48:30):
they've stumbled here, they'd be five and seven. Hard to
take him? Seriously, what's the what's what's the desert on
this one? Greg? Seven? No way, seven and a half.
It's I'm going Vikings. I'm going Vikings. All right, all right,
I'm gonna wrap up my snake pick here. Uh. With
the football team against the Raiders in the late window,

(48:51):
I can't quite compute that the winning team of this
game will either be a six and six football team
what or a seven in five Raiders team, which is
almost as big as what I it's gonna happen to
you confuse me when you said six and six football
tip technically correct. I don't know what to do with them. Yeah,

(49:12):
the six and six w F tears what I I
don't know both both of these teams. I'm flum mixed.
I'm confused. It's okay, it's interesting. It's Antonio Gibson being
a really important part of this Washington team dominating time possession.

(49:33):
He was someone coming into the year. I was like,
that's your big breakout running back right there. What a
rookie season where he could do everything. And he was
hurt for much of this season, playing through injury, which
Baker Mayfields learned you don't get credit for, and Antonio
Gibson's fantasy owners were not giving him credit for about
eight weeks. But he looks a lot better lately, and

(49:54):
they do match up pretty well with the Raiders in
terms of the Raiders are a team that sometimes give
up a lot of these long d rives that their
strength is in the past rush, which maybe isn't going
to be that big of a factor against Washington. I
don't know what to think of this game, but it
should be close, flip. I feel like this one is
there's no way to have a I feel like a
real strong handle on this game because the Raiders when

(50:16):
we gave up on them, they showed up in Dallas
perform and they caught I think they caught Dallas at
the perfect time. They did it. They still they didn't
do it. They won that game they deserve to win.
Dallas got back into that game, but they still found
a way to close it out and Washington they have
a formula, as we talked about on Tuesday's show that
seems to be working. But will it work if you know,
they fall behind if the Raiders offense continues to do

(50:38):
things that the one thing I'll say about Vegas, you know,
in their offense coming back to life. And I don't
want to be the dead horse here, but when you
point to well, DeShawn Jackson's there now and making the plays,
that feels like a once in like you know how
the full moon shows up every month or whatever it is,
Like that's the shan Jackson to ask for him to
be the guy ripping the top off the defense on
a weekly basis. I'm not totally sold because you still

(51:00):
need that element to show up every week otherwise they
become very predictable. And Darren Waller being I think out
of this game and I don't know, but it looks
like banged up at the very least. That that's a
big deal too. I just I mean, you know, we
get on these streaky teams before that Cowboys game, and
I'm not put st you know, the ref's killed both
of those teams in that game. But a lot of

(51:21):
the DeShawn Jackson value wasn't drawing p I flags as well.
But prior to that explosion, they put up sixteen on
the Giants, fourteen on the Chiefs, and thirteen on the Bengals.
I just see them as an up and down team.
They can pass the ball really well. They can get
two quarterbacks. That's dangerous. That'll get you a quarterback. They
have a top I think five or six quarterback this year.

(51:42):
Every time we've given up on them, they've stood up
and like stayed in the mix with with some surprising
big win and a top five pass rusher and may
in um In Crosby. Yeah, yeah, and go has been great.
That said, it's not like I feel that strong, but
I just I lean a little Raiders. But I think
it's because I can't get over that Washington's defense is

(52:03):
suddenly back without sweat, you know, young and sweaty. I
don't know, it doesn't make any sense. And you look
at the opponents. They haven't played great. Sometimes it's good
to get young and sweaty people out of your dry Yeah.
I know, they played the Bucks. The defense really had
a great first quarter in that game, and then the
Bucks moved the ball and then they've played Caroline at Seattle,

(52:24):
so it's uh, there is also another there's a chance
and as we take this, it's before TNF that if
the Cowboys ever lost and the Washington beat the Raiders,
there one game out of that division with uh vibe
to play. That's that's a um all right now it
uh it goes, it goes back over to the old user.

(52:47):
Oh one more note I want to say, because I
sometimes Greg, I had to do some checks and balances
on you with the going after the crew, the announcers
and everything. You know, sometimes me and I give a
lot of works in the industry. Knows this a tough job,
right as he always riding these guys so hard, because
like those same guys are, you know, providing analysis against

(53:09):
the players that they have valued. They they you know,
come come criticize me. I'm fine. I guess what. I
went back this morning and I watched that last Washington
drive because you said that the team did not bring
up the Joey slice situation until about fifteen seconds were
left on the play clock as they were about to
go for the fourth down. Did it happen earlier in

(53:31):
that drive? I want to tell you that you were
right that greasy set it up. Set it up at
the top of the possession, that hey, what are we
looking for from Washington? Here opened the door up. I'm sure,
I'm sorry. Who's the um the pay Levi sets it up? Greasy?
They all they do want to check. Yeah, all they
wanted to do was talk about how power football is

(53:54):
great and this is what we like to do. And
they talked about it for the entire drive. It was
the biggest drive in the game. They're talking about Heinek,
He's future in Washington when it's like for this crew,
I'm like okay there. Once they get to midfield, they
have to start talking about it because again Joey sly
injured kicker. It's a eight point lead. They just need three,

(54:16):
but because of the nature of the kicker being out,
they couldn't kick a field goal. You need to talk
about it. They don't mention it midfield and they get
another first step they don't mention it. Finally, at third
and seven inside the thirty. It almost sounded like the
wave came off. Is that somebody got Levi's year and say, hey,
they're probably gonna go for it on fourth down here,
and Levy then brought it up, and then almost at

(54:36):
the same time, they catch the cameras cut to Rivera
on the sideline after a delay of game penalty makes
a third and twelve and Rivera's going to weet we're
running two plays here, and then they get into the
conversation that has to happen earlier. So I'm just gonna
say your criticism was valid in this case, but I'm
checking in. I'm checking in. That's what a host does.

(54:57):
It's unfair to come unfair that the Monday Night Football
crew gets the one game all week where I'm sitting
by myself at home, just like wanting a good experience.
You know, there's no TNF recap there, and uh, you know,
I'm just saying I would take this with demanding brothers
on ESPN two, like I don't care. You know it is.

(55:20):
It's like there's no wins and losses, but here's my
wining loss, Like I would take the CBS or Fox
fourth or fifth crew over that. Hey, that's a good
job by you, Greggy Night. It's not sold as a
dream crew, right, I mean, but I'm like saying star
crossed from the beginning, So keep dropping verbal hammers on
them and see where that gets them. When you sit
down on Monday night, you want to just enjoy yourself.

(55:42):
I get it, Greggy, but you already have one guy
that was in that booth trying to kill you at
a league event. That's right, is that I'm trying to protect.
There's no protecting. I don't think that was a public
Every time Greg concoct some lie we did to that before,
I don't know if we had fully got um look

(56:03):
with that. Let's keep it, keep it that way, Okay,
I think we have I think the cats out of
the back. Where are we? Holy smokes? I'm up and
I will grab dramatic pause Eagles and Jets, So I'm
gonna have. What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna push.
I was looking forward to that Chargers Bangles tilt on Sunday.

(56:24):
You can only watch two games at a time. M
try to watch three. You want to you want to
be a playboy like Mark. You want to be in
your little world, I can watch six games at once.
I'm not doing that. By the way, Well you know
I've seen your screen. You got eight games that I know.
But I'm not like I I'm if anything, I'm the
one that has long said when I'm even trying to
listen to two games at the same time, my head explodes.

(56:47):
So I'm not tracking diligently six at the same time.
It's like the old Parcels ism when you got two quarterbacks,
you don't got any When you're trying to watch three games,
you're not watching one. Well, I mean, but so what
is the accusation. The accusation is I need to move
away from Chargers Bengals. Make it the first game I
watch a Monday and game passing. That's something to look
forward to. I think you've come up with a with

(57:09):
an absolutely um golden plan for you, And I would
just say, maybe it's time to ex out a couple
of those screens, that's all, But why, but why do
you care? Like what I do? Plus they're all the
same size, Like this game, I get there, I get
there and Greg runs it rolls in. He's like, oh,
you got all its strains up. And then Dan comes
in and he like critiques my shirt and that doesn't

(57:30):
like the way my screen. That's not criticizing. When I
see that, I'm just more it's like I always got
it set up it should I do the two of you? Possibly?
I don't say anything. It minds not negative. Dan is
making saying no, that's just constructive criticism. Did you say
I criticized your shirt? I mean it happens, like why
are you wearing that shirt? What? Never? I don't know.

(57:54):
It's something. It's like it's some variation of like Nick
me for his shirts. You're like, oh, that's old red
or something. Well, yes, but sometimes you're complimenting the shirt too.
I'm not I see both sides, but I'm just saying
it's like, why, like I have the technology to put
all the games on and I'm not sitting there tracking
it like some hyper nerd. It's just like, oh, something

(58:16):
happened over there, and it's on a bit of a delay.
I can I can grab it. I'm trying to come
to the recap show with as much information as possible,
but you see that there's an over usually a useless task.
Different methods, you know, we've all got our different ways
to different strokes for different folks. Am I right? I mean, yes,
now you've come around to that opinion. But that was
that's not how that's you know. I'm just saying that's

(58:37):
what they say. Okay, well they do and sometimes that
it's that applies Eagles at Jets. I'd like to uh
uh share something, Ricky. Can I get some funeral? Yeah,
I'm going to read you some stuff here zero nine

(59:08):
sixteen nine nineteen. The New York Jets have played the
Philadelphia Eagles eleven times and have never won. Haven't been
closed too often, And I can tell you one of
my earliest memories as a Jets bean was then I'll

(59:29):
go scroll right up here on Pro Football Reference. October third,
ninety Eagles win over the Jets at the Old Giant Stadium.
Eric Allen picks off a ball Boomers size in pass
deep in Eagles territory, runs back, zigzagging ninety yard uh
interception returned to steal that game away. Uh. This has

(59:51):
been a weird little anomaly. But the Jets can't beat
the Eagles. Now they're home, Okay. Jalen Hurts has beat up. Okay, Uh,
it looks like he'll play as of right now, but
I think he has a knee and it's an issue ankle.
And the Eagles obviously coming off a very disappointing week. Uh,

(01:00:12):
so you have a you have a chance here for
the Jets. Here's the problem, and we're talking about the
boy earlier in the show. The boy is not in
a good place right now. The boy, essentially, the boy
looks like oh boy and um. And that's why I
think the Eagles are going to continue that streak, because
I think the Jets are in a very tough spot

(01:00:33):
now because they know the right play is to play
the boy as long as that knee is okay. And
the knee is not okay, so that makes it. That's
another layer to it. He was limping around by the
end of the game, but that that game is uh.
Last week against the Texans was it was moving way
too fast for him. And I think that the book

(01:00:54):
is out on this version, this rookie version of Zach Wilson,
that just heat him up, get him confused, and he
will not be able to play the game well. And
that's why I think the Jets are gonna struggle to
score and the Eagles will do just enough and they
will go twelve and oh against the New York You know,
I just trust like Philly's offensive line, I trust their
defense against the Jets, I trust essentially anything that they
throw out there. I mean their offense, you know last

(01:01:16):
week was a mess. Don't let's not have you know,
four turnovers and score only thirteen points against the seven
points against the Giants. That's a mess. Uh. But what
the idea that couldn't handle the Jets this week would
be destabilizing because if anything, the Eagles have looked legit
to me, four of the last five the Jets here
right right right? I mean I do you are you

(01:01:38):
saying like even a competitive game? I mean the Jets
have lost it. It's in the lock zone. It's like
six and a half. So it's not a crazy favorite situation.
But that's because you know what happened with Philly last
of my problem with the Jets a little bit, and
it's just like, look at this year is what it is.
You gotta go. You got more work to do. Eight
losses by seven or more points, and some buy a

(01:01:59):
lot more than seven, and they've just been destroyed by teams,
which is not what Robert Sala was selling. Well, here's
the case. Their defense has been better than the last
two weeks. It was the worst against the Texans and
the Dolphins. That was the worst. It was the worst
defense in the league for about six weeks. It was
historically bad. They've kind of come out of that a
little bit, it seems like. And that's why I don't

(01:02:20):
I don't see the Eagles like rolling up thirty five
points here. I could be obviously wrong on that, but
I think this is gonna be like a twenty four
to nine type game. But I will say this. Remember
we're talking about on the Sunday Night Show. I hadn't
seen the game yet, and Eagles fans were furious. They
were really hurt because I think they got sucked in

(01:02:40):
by the back to back wins and Jalen Hurts playing well,
and it's just like, I want everybody to calm down
if you're starting to like waiver On Hurts again because
Jalen Reagor blew that game. I mean, you don't want
to put it on one player, but he's got to
make one of those plays on that last drive he
drops two balls by the goal line. Either of them
wins the game for the Eagles, and we're talking about

(01:03:01):
a totally different situation around this team. Ragor's got to
be better, but otherwise I think they're in good shape.
This week. Personally, must have an ankle injury, which he's
gonna he says he's gonna play through. But you could
get a little Gardner Minshew in this if they yeah,
he's taken, he's taken some reps. They did still have
two d yards rushing in that game. Hurts at seventy
seven last week. So I think they're the perfect matchup

(01:03:21):
to the light up the Jets because they're they have
a similar type of run game as the Pats and
the Colts, who really took advantage. The Jets are pretty
good rushing in the pastor right now, but they've just
got like that penetrate at all costs type of defense
and a power running game like the Eagles, who can
do the wham blocks and do the pulling guards and

(01:03:42):
everything like that's a perfect that's a perfect bold. They
could do what Indianapolis and the Colts can do, and
then on on defense, like Darius Slay is having a
Pro Bowl season. He's one of those rare guys like
you could put him on Elijah More and like everyone
else just throws at Stephen Wilson all day, but Corey
Davis is hurt. I think still it's like, so, who

(01:04:03):
who are they throwing too as their number two. You know,
I think it's a tough matchup rough December, all right,
long December, and there's reason to believe. Come on, t
I am not a good singer, so maybe this year
will be better than the last. In my favorite moment,

(01:04:26):
definite history of that show, the lap trap and facial
the facial. Oh, I mean you know this is not
a singing is not my thing. You know, Sometimes you
just have a moment that you're just like, yeah, Ricky's
putting that on social. The only the only chance Mark

(01:04:48):
that you avoid social is that that somehow dings like
Adam Efter it's copyright. Uh, you can't sing Ian. We
just I already lost my job because of BTS. So
we're good, all right. Uh, let's take a break and
then hit the rest of the games. Mark, I think
the draft finishes with you. It does, and I have

(01:05:10):
drafted Mr Irrelevant the Cults at Texans one pm Eastern.
If you live in the East Coast, that's when you
start watching this. There's probably better things you could do. Uh,
I will not suggest you. I will not make that
decision for you. Six and six cults, how differently they're
looked at um than say like the six and six Browns,
for instance. But I don't understand anyway how they don't

(01:05:31):
go into this game with guys like Darius Leonard uh
punishing Houston's offense, which has certainly been spicier to some
degree with Tyrod Taylor in there. But I mean a
little bit, Davis Mills was like a flatliner, excepting outside
that page. This way, they had yards in the second
half against the Jets last week and zero points, So

(01:05:51):
even though they're more competitive, it's still but to your point,
the Jets played better on defense. Maybe maybe it was
that penetrating Jets defense that caused the Maybe it was
right there. I kind of dug frank Reich because I
know everyone was coming out of Sunday, like why did
they not use Jonathan Taylor the way that we thought
they would the way they did the week before against
a good run defense and Buffalo. And he kind of

(01:06:13):
stood up and like said two reporters, like let me
walk you through what we did and how many touches
he got. Go watch it just while it's out there
all over the place, and like he stood up for
why the cults um attacked the Bucks the way they
did my one thing with them. I find them so
much more interesting than they were a couple of months ago.
But their season seems defined by an inability to close

(01:06:34):
out some of these games. The Ravens game where they
get up big, the Titans game where they got up big,
the Bucks game where they had a chance to get
this thing done. And it's just like, this is a separator.
This is why you're six and six. So what they
are good at though, and why they are you know,
totally trustable in a game like this is like fiery
arrows going through bad opponents, destroying bad teams, And this

(01:06:55):
should be no, we should not, we should not go
far from the course of this one. Has any team
looked more um destined to make the playoffs, get out
to a lead against the favorite opponent and then drop
a heartbreaker like maybe the Vikings, but we'll see if
they even get to the playoffs. Because they're so hot

(01:07:16):
and cold, I feel like India is gonna do what
it needs to do to get to the nine wins.
Be playing in January, maybe be maybe they're at Kansas
City and maybe they're up to ten and the third
quarter and then disaster strikes. That just it feels like
it could be their fate. Now you tell me if
they play kind of has their fate last year too,
they had a leading a little bit. I mean, and

(01:07:37):
Chiefs and Colts fans will say, oh yeah, we remember, uh,
you know, playing the Chiefs in the playoffs that but
Andrew Luck ate in the building anymore. It's Carson Wentz. Uh.
I think the cults are good. The cults are vulnerable,
but I think they take care of business here. Yeah.
So this just came across our desk and email. Okay, no,

(01:08:02):
this is big. Well, it's trending on Twitter as well.
NFL suspends three players for violating NFL nfl p A
COVID nineteen protocols. Antonio Brown and Mike Edwards from the
Bucks are suspended for three games, and then free agent
John Franklin not John Franklin, Myers, Um, we're all over

(01:08:23):
this Antonio Brown, right, Yes, suspension is bigger? Does he?
I wonder if that's why they expected. You know, they
kept saying he was going to come back this week
or last week, and then the ankle injury just keeps
lasting forever. And my suspicion as he was uh knowing

(01:08:45):
this was coming the whole time, and he was that
guy is trying to fight it. Mike Edwards starts for them,
So that is, you know, an actual loss in a
secondary three games that you know they've they've been trying
to get players back, not that he's a superstar John Franklin.
The third makes me sad because he um was a
last chance you guy who had carved out a a

(01:09:06):
surprising career on the very fringes. If you had watched
that show, he was a quarterback and turned into a
defensive make fake ideas well, we don't know, I don't
know if that's uh probably he already was not on
a team. So the Bucks have been real different with
Antonio Brown in there at times. So I don't think

(01:09:27):
you know about him like that. He's not a good guy.
He's a clown. Uh, He's he's a champion too. But
again because Tom Brady, like right, Tom Brady doesn't seem
to care that he's a goon in the same way
that it gets because because he's good at football and
he's like smart at football too, that's all Tom Tommy
cares about. Uh, there's three game suspension though it's like

(01:09:50):
he returns with three games left in the season. It
feels like there's so much time left. I mean that,
like we've gotten to the end where past thanks to me,
we're only two thirds the way through the season is
just set, you know, six weeks to go here, It's
like all they really cares. My point is. The point
is this is a team that's going to the playoffs.
It's gonna have a home games in the playoffs. Antonio
Brown will be back for the playoffs. Okay, that's what

(01:10:13):
matters for them. Good, All right, Let's hit the rest
of the game, starting with the Giants at the Dolphins. Okay,
we'll see if Daniel Jones is playing in this game.
Tom pel Sero reported that he is not playing, not
expect exclusively. Tom Peli Sero with that report, is he playing?
The coaches keep implying that he he might be that

(01:10:36):
and he has practiced pretty extensively. They showed some video
that he was the last guy on the field still
throwing passes. That's not normally what a guy that's gonna
miss the game? Does. Freddie Kitchens sounded confidence, So either
Mike len So, either either fred Kitchen and the Giants
are really trying to pull a fast one or Daniel

(01:10:57):
Jones recovered a little more quickly the next. I mean,
I don't know, like how much of a fast one
is Freddie Kitchens polling if he, you know, gets us
to suspect that Daniel Jones isn't starting on a broken down.
I personally doubt that Freddie Kitchens is right. I don't

(01:11:17):
see the motivation for him. He's, you know, at the
podium to be going that far out of his way.
So it's probably Daniel a plus four turnover ratio. I'm
not the report. I think it's probably Daniel Joe an
exclusive report. That's four wins in a row for the Dolphins.
They get the Giants maybe with a compromised quarterback, then
to buy, then the Jets and the broken down Saints.

(01:11:40):
The Dolphins have a really good shot to make the playoffs.
Maybe maybe bring that up in your conversation with Henry
later to give content ideas. But sure, great. My thing
is I wanna you know, I think Henry is more
than just a Dolphins fan. He's a fine football mind,
a great friend. Uh and he's also maybe the future

(01:12:01):
commissioner of the NFL. So you see where gould be
weird about it. It's just accurate, not weird to do
it with your you know, your friends. He's also been
a to a defender, and I think that position is
feeling good right now because two, it does things well,

(01:12:21):
like everyone focuses on what to it doesn't do well.
And maybe his ceiling isn't the highest. We don't really know.
I think it's still early. But like he's an NFL quarterback,
you can tell that he's gonna be around for twelve
to fifteen years. I really think. Okay, but what he
does do really well is that quick game stuff. And
it's like, Okay, that's great. You can throw at six

(01:12:41):
yards and you make quick decision, you're good on the
r P O stuff. It's like, not everyone can do that.
Russell Wilson can't do that. I'm just not saying that
he's gonna be anywhere near Russell Wilson. But that's a
certain sort of skill set that you can run a
certain type of offense that isn't gonna kill you, and
he can run it. Right now. In his second years,
Chill and Waddle I think has become a absolute factor.
I mean, he was awesome last week against Carolina. Second

(01:13:03):
highest completion percentage in the league, their draft classes doing
well to Javon holland their safety wad you mentioned Phillips
last week had three sacks. So I feel like the
Chris Greer saving his job, Brian Clare staying around. It's
all happy. Everything has changed so much since a month
ago on Halloween, they lost their seventh straight game and
now here they are at five and seven with a
real shot here to go on and run and make

(01:13:25):
the class. And by the way, because they've gotten hot,
not only so two just keeps up his production. And
if they go and they get to nine wins, uh
and make the playoffs potentially, I think that maybe enough
to keep them out of the Watson sweepstakes. I'm just
saying it seems like he might have destiny in his
hands a little bit more now. Uh, but we'll see,

(01:13:46):
we'll see. It's notable that they did not go trade
for Watson when they did, because he literally requested to
inner to talk with the guy. And I think if
Watson had been willing to play ball a little quicker,
it's like their owner was all about I don't think
they're coaching. That's where he wants to go. And if
the owner is all about it. If anything too, is
just you know, built up his trade value here where

(01:14:09):
they could move him maybe in a three team deal
whatever it's going to be. Oh, I see, I wouldn't
want that. So they would trade for Deshaun Watson and
then get a huge like a nice bundle back for two.
You're getting rewarded for bringing Watson on you. That's just
what these deals. And I just want to say, the

(01:14:30):
the All Pro Turf team, well, I don't know what
they're doing down there at hard Rock Stadium, but that
is a gorgeous natural turf. Why can't everybody else do that?
I guess maybe it's the climate that the climate helps
to sea. Just take a look at if you want
to go back and take a look at a thirty
three ten win over the Panthers, just to see what
perfect turf looks like. I don't. All right, let's move on.

(01:14:54):
Nice job there for the old maintenance grew groundskeeping. I
thought you were going to congratulate yourself for that comment
from it, but then you went, there's actually a good
job I made to notice the small things. So now
we've done that, Thank you, Paul. Finally, the Jaguars at
the Rams slaughter. Uh, this is the perfect opponent for
the ram Put it this way, Greg, if the Rams

(01:15:14):
do not beat the ever living crap out of the Jaguars,
that whole thing's going up in flames. You might as
well have bats take over the stadium because the Rams
won't need it anymore because they will be moribund. I'm
not too worried about that. I do worry when they
like trailing games. They're weirdly not built for that because

(01:15:35):
their defense gives up these long drives, like their twenty
nine and yards per you know, plays per drive. So
it's like when they trail, suddenly the other teams holding
onto the ball forever, and then Matthew Stafford gets a
little panicky. There shouldn't be trailing in this game. I
think it's perfect to work some of the things out.
I still think they have so much talent offensively that
they have plenty of time to get it ready. It's

(01:15:57):
like we make these sweeping judgments all all these teams
that have totally reversed course, like the Miami Dolphins, or
you know, teams that have flipped like the Rams, Like,
just as many teams are gonna do that the other way,
around over the next five or six weeks, and I
think the Rams have shown that they can do that.
I just there's just a little you know, the game
management from McVeigh bothers me. The fact that Sony Michelle's

(01:16:18):
returning kicks. I mean, what is going on here? It's
a specialty. You gotta get one thing. I'm looking. I'm
looking at Odell and I know he had the touchdown. No,
he's banged up, he's got the pointer. I want to
see in a game like this with a positive set
up in terms of the opponent. He really needs to
be a part of that offense. He was targeted, I
believe ten times. Yeah, so they're doing every and he

(01:16:44):
made the big playdown field, but otherwise was you know,
most of the cutaways to him. He was in a
lot of pain on the sideline. He really needs to
be the guy that number two. And this would be
a good spot to either establish that, oh, I'm a
part of this offense. Now I'm productive, or maybe he's
limping around and holding his back the whole game. We'll
see this is uh, you know, it's time to really
work him and involve him, make him a real part

(01:17:06):
of the offense. I know you're looking forward to that mark.
I am looking forward to it, cannot wait to see it.
But I mean it's just an exist like it's just
a case in pointed. Oh b J and Robert Woods
are not serving the same function inside that attack. I
think they really miss Woods. We've talked about that. You've
got to You've got to take care of business here
in a decisive fashion after three terrible weeks. I mean
the Jaguars, I think there are like maybe three more

(01:17:28):
losses away from like a Heaven's Gate scenario. I mean
they are a mess. Um all right, that's a week thirteen.
I believe I didn't leave anybody out right. I think
we've got everybody, uh, four teams in right. Um? Now, Ricky,
do you know you are a are pop culture consigliari? Um?
Do you know if there's a bad boy in BTS?

(01:17:50):
You know? How Ye, there's one like rapper in in
the group. I do not know his name. Why do
you just assume because he's the one that's like in
all the music videos like how all Like I'm just
checking bids around him and it's like yeah, yeah, favorite
bad boy um boyband member. And I had Lukisha help
me out with this too. So yeah, Donnie Wallberg and

(01:18:12):
kotb A. J McClain, Backstreet Boys, Bobby Brown new addition,
this is this is this may not surprise you. Lakeisha,
help me with this one. Romeo from Immature nailed it.
I think she's accurate. Definitely not something you could have
pulled right there. Okay, did you know that we never

(01:18:34):
even heard of the Immature, never heard of Immature. And
then Joey fat One from insinc. What was he the
bad boy? No? Are you kidding me? The one? I mean,
you weren't around for when they were really popular. Maybe
then you were like six years old. You know, I'm
like the biggest die hard INSNCT Justin Timberlake person on

(01:18:57):
the pace of this art and it maybe was j C.
Justin wanted to be the bad boy. And that's when
Justified came out two thousand ONEES when he sort of
made his bad boy sort of. You know, Justin was
the bad boy. He just was the he was just sweet.
But Joe, I mean, he was like about the whole
Janet things, I know, bad, bad, look, especially with that
new Janet talk that just came out. It's a tough

(01:19:19):
time sometimes j T. I do have a bad boys story, Like, um,
my brother Kevin Danger hands is who I would say
is the bad boy of the hands Is family. We
were driving, yes, yes he is. That wasn't a drop
like we were driving on I believe it was the
four oh five, and um, this is five years ago.
So and and Danger looks over to his right and

(01:19:41):
there he is a J. McClain driving a beamer like
zooming up on our right. And uh, Kevin rolled down
the window and he's like hey J and uh he
just like he threw up deuces and then just accelerated
like out of you. And it was like, that's a
bad boy yelling, not bad boy behavior, but you know,

(01:20:02):
you got it would be a bit of a problem
for your brother who's nicknamed himself Danger or someone has
and he and he were the lesser bad boy in
your family that there could only be one bad boy, right,
who's the bad boy of you three? It depends what
you're what. We're not the most dangerous group of guys.
I don't know. But if it's like if I wouldn't
want to mess with one of you, it's probably it's

(01:20:25):
probably Gregg. It's like it's like a manipulative like he'll
take you down like mentally, you know what I mean.
Like he'll like destroy you and with what you got,
and he'll make you like really like, well you don't
have to do that kind of contemplate your life and
like if it's worth like waking up in the morning.
This has turned into a psychiatris. No, I mean, I

(01:20:45):
just I really think that you guys, like I don't
think we have a bit. Sometimes you just really likes
to put you down. And he makes one of Mark
shirts and Mark screens and I didn't make fun of
your Yeah, I only comment I make fun of Mark's
lock choice this week while I joined it too, which
we gotta settle that business. Because he mentioned how the

(01:21:09):
the Saints Cowboys game was lockable this morning. H well
it was after Toron arms. Then ram Check and Camara
are out. So I'll just join Mark because I have
no shade. I gotta where that happened. I gotta catch
a bird and all good luck to you. Well, like
you guys are really I'm gonna do locking them the Cowboys,

(01:21:29):
I'm locking them up. You locked last week again, Eric
has beating me and she's trying to lose six and
a half that I haven't wanted three six and a
half with even it's a game technically, this it's a
game with rules. If you follow the rules, that's that's

(01:21:50):
all you gotta Look, I'm totally good with it. You're
playing the game rules, all right, that's it. We'll be
back on Sunday night with the flagship program. Him uh so,
make sure you're there for that, and thank you to everybody,
and have a great weekend and blah blah blah blah
blah blah blah blah blah bats. Let's trying to get
the hell out of here before the insurrection takes Holt

(01:22:14):
hopefully see you Sunday. What a mess he the call

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Gregg Rosenthal

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