Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks to Ryan Harris for joining us earlier in the show.
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Speaker 2 (00:16):
Can hear me most nights from eight pm to midnight.
Do it all. It's all right there one click of
a button on the free.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
And redesigned iHeartRadio app KOA Common Spirit Health text line
five six six nine zero. Going back to our conversation
in the last segment from the nine to eighty three,
I see two parades in Denver next year to two
dominating teams, the Nuggets and the Avalanche. Denver Broncos are mediocre.
They'll be done in the first round of the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
See see Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
See see I never said anything like that, Never once
did I Lee, you have indicators like that. That's an
entirely different take in anything I've said here tonight, Grant.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I wasn't blaming you for that take. No blame the
Texter for that take.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, but hey called me Ryan Clark, and you once
called me that too, just to get under your skin.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
But good news for this text or if the Broncos
beat the Chargers next week, they don't have to worry
about the first round of the playoffs. So get a
first round by And with that, let's go out to
the KOA Common Spirit Health hotline and bring on one
of our favorites on Broncos Country tonight pre Mastis you
can hear on the Let's Talk Broncos and Believe in
the Broncos podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Bree, How are you this evening?
Speaker 5 (01:28):
Oh my goodness, merry Christmas gentleman, So happy to be
on with you.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Nick.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
I don't know you got a little defenses there from
the texture. I feel like maybe you were having a
little subconscious reflection there for I'm kidding, I'm kid. I
would never relate you to Ryan Clark. That's ridiculous, Grant.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Hey, I didn't say the texter said it, just I
just I just relay the message, you know, the truth
in there that's getting under Nick Ferguson's skin.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
You know there's nothing I can do about something.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
You know the story I think so now you I
like bringing it up.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Brie, hope you had a great Christmas. What did you
think of the Broncos performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Well, let's say I can at least feel where the
text line Texter was coming from, Right. I think there
was a lot of conversation of where this game needed
to be dominant, And I think if you were looking
at the score, that doesn't necessarily separate itself. Right, It's
another one win sort of game. But Broncos Country, this
(02:32):
is Christmas Day, when it means a whole lot more
than what it does of games past. Right, I think
it's another season defining moment because it wasn't just a victory.
I think it's not just as simple as beating a
Kansas City Chiefs team that was beat up. I think
it was more so about the discipline and composure and
control that comes from doing so, because the Broncos needed
(02:53):
to control their destiny for that number one seed, and
this whole result is really enormous to that, because it
goes deeper than just a singular win. I think the
decades long drought against beating Kansas City at Arrowhead, I
think it exercised something that's been hanging over this franchise
for years. It wasn't just a road win. It was
(03:14):
very psychological and it was symbolic. Right, So they're in
a very tough building and they were able to close
a chapter that's been pressuring them for quite some time,
and it was a pressure filled spot. We've seen the
Broncos fail in Christmas games of the past, and that's
not what happened here. And on a short week after
the loss to the Jaguars. The plan wasn't to get cute,
(03:37):
and I think what people are conflating with a failure
here is that it was the Broncos attempt to get clean. Right.
You're not installing anything fancy. You were basically doubling down
on everything that you've been doing well up into this point.
You're communicating, you're trying to protect the football as best
as possible in your finishing drives. And the short week
has to reward that. And I think the teams that
(03:59):
trust their identity that the Denver Broncos are very much
so building through and you know, win streak aside losing
the Jaguars and all that, getting here is about the execution,
not the reinvention point. And so I think this win
here wasn't just about knocking off the Chiefs, which is
great and you know they're already out. It doesn't matter there,
But it's positioning. You want to be in the race.
(04:21):
You want to be dictating that, not reacting to it.
And so I think Denver has the ultimate point that
the pen ultimate game in Week eighteen is coming up
and they get a chance to really legitimize themselves further
so out in the first round, Grant, I love how
you put it there. They get to control that fact
if they have a buye so a bree.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
With all of that said, do you think now.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
That the Broncos I don't want to say they put
Kansas City in a rear view mirror, but it's been
a long time since they've been Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Twice and the single season.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
What does the pressure level now look like for the
Denver Broncos moving forward?
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Well, I mean, you got through kind of that last
bit of a risk and you still have an AFC
West opponent to face, and I think it's about setting
up your authority in that landscape. I think the Bonix
versus Justin Herbert is a fascinating contrast that they're going
to have to have a second year quarterback go up
against an established star and elite arm talent, and an
(05:22):
elite team and an elite coach, and Sean Payton is
still trying to really prove that he is coaching his
best season yet, not just in Denver, but you know
of his career.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
Right.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
It's quiet, but it matters, and I think it's really
impressive that they're trying.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
To do this through I guess what would be perceived
as adversity, but I feel like that's the keyword of
every conversation that we have, Like Peyton has to be
less about ego, it has to.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Be more about efficiency. You have to build a team
that can survive December adversity, whether it be injuries or
maybe the defense slowing down. You absorb the momentum swings
instead of reaction being to them, and both the defensive coordinator,
Advanced Joseph has to do that as well as Sean Payton.
So as the Broglas really try to center focus themselves
on what it means to finish the week eighteen strong.
(06:10):
I think you had to get through Kansas City to
do that, and I'm.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Really happy about how they were.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Able to contextualize that because even though, like I said,
you look at the score and you're like, ah, you know,
maybe they should have ran the points up a little
bit more. But the whole point of it was they
were dominant in ways that matter as far as kind
of possession and situational execution. So they controlled the clock.
(06:37):
They had nearly forty minutes of possession, doubling what the
Chiefs did. And I think when you do that, you're
basically keep playing keep away with a team that really
didn't need to have the ball. They didn't have to
rush plays, they didn't have to gift any possessions. You know, ultimately,
you would have wanted it to be a little bit
cleaner and perhaps maybe a little bit flashier when it
comes to spending your holidays watching football, But the game
(07:00):
was shortened on purpose and controls. What they're establishing now
controlling tempo, controlling your team, controlling the presence, and then
controlling what you can control in the face of your
starting center going and being able to plug in alex
foresight and make sure that that doesn't ripple along the line.
So I'm really excited about what they can still do
to improve, but you get to save that for later.
(07:22):
You're not flashing what your hand is to the other
team and the opponents that you'll see later on when
it comes to the playoff, because le Broncos no longer
has to speculate in Bronco's Country, no longer has to
speculate on whether or not not they'll be there. You know,
they've clenched it for some weeks. Now now they get
to say, you know, who's the opponent that we're facing
the barrel down and that's going to be imperative when
it comes to week eighteen and how that plays out.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You mentioned the ego and Sean Payton and someone with
no ego that's a superstar talking with pree masis here
on Broncos Country tonight. Nikola Jokicic, Man, what a performance
he had last night.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Did you stay up late and watch the.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Nuggets overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and see you
Joker's historic performance.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
I know, what a historic performance to have to watch
on recap on the highlights. Oh, I know re battling.
I know Christmas came early with a little bit of
a bug for me. So as I'm battling this sinus infection,
I had to make sure that when I woke up
to all of the means of this legendary game Yokich
on Christmas Day was a reminder that we are forgetting
(08:28):
something here as Colorado Sports stands. He's not just great,
he's absolutely inevitable. That line aside, which was historic, It's
really about dominance and being in control, and Nikola Jokich
can really bend the game to his will. And what
the timberworlds are known to do is throwing the size
and physicality and everything they can and it's always a
(08:49):
tough matchup and none of it mattered. And going into
overtime and then absolutely stealing the game away from the
other team. I don't know how you don't say it's
not MVP level back basketball on the biggest stage. And
so yeah, it's times like that where I'm like, I
should have powered through, because while we're witnessing here as
Colorado sports fans, as Mile High basketball fans, is that
(09:11):
the where Denver stands now is there absolutely and brutally honest,
they are headed towards something of historic proportions, and this
team is just rallied around. You see, it just makes
Murray better. The Nuggets are just so lethal in late
games and when the game tightens, the possession strings, the
defense locks in, and ultimately this team has shown that
(09:32):
they're really problem solvers. They know how this puzzle gets
put together. And you're seeing a team that's really I
want to say, they're rounding out the edges and they're
still like sharpening. What is really great about their composure
and the synergy that they bring and the trust that
they have in each other, and they know I get it.
I have the fandom glasses on when it comes to
this team, but that's because they are so historic and
(09:54):
so just pinch yourselves a Nuggets watchers that this is
something that you don't want to make. So even if
you go to better early, make sure you watch the
highlights the next day.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Well, we always have our fandom glasses on when we
get an opportunity to talk to you, Brie, feel better
and enjoy the weekend of football without a Broncos game. No,
don't have to feel bad about any of the results.
Hopefully you feel better and we'll check in with you
again soon.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
Okay, Oh stress free? Right? Thank you guys so much.
Happy holidays to you. We'll talk soon.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Happy holidays to you, Bree Masis. You can find her work.
Let's Talk Broncos and Believe in the Broncos podcast. Speaking
of that slate of games coming up this weekend, a
couple of Broncos game. Broncos fans will have eyes on
a couple of the games.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
You want to pick a couple of them, Nick, let go.
We'll start with the big.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
One tomorrow, the Texans at the Chargers. Chargers favored by
one and a half over under thirty nine and a half.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
They're expecting a low scoring game. How do you see
it play now?
Speaker 4 (10:53):
This could be definitely a low scoring game of Grant,
what's a game. We're at the time of the year
where things become very, very interesting and every point counts
as cliche as it is.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
It is cliche, but it's true. You're taking the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
No, I'm taking the Texans.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
No, come on, Grant, I'm taking the Chargers. I think
I think Week eighteen is gonna be there. I'm gonna
come down to that final game.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Here in Denver.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
How I just have been amazed with Justin Herbert Man
so went by.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
But think about that Texans defense and the fact that
the Chargers have given up fifty one sets.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, and Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. Only duo in
the NFL to both have ten plus sacks.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
You want to change that? Yeah, I'm going okay.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
All right?
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Skip ahead to Sunday, Seahawks at the Panthers. This game
has some playoff implications even though the Panthers are in it.
Seahawks favored by seven on the road over under forty
two and a half.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
We're gonna take the Seahawks in this game.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I mean, they had tru We saw the Rams go
to Carolina earlier this year and stumble.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Hey man, we're not talking about that.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
This this is present time we're dealing with.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Oh now, you're living in the moment.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
The person who picked the Swardgers game, I'm gonna roll
with the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I'm gonna roll with the Seahawks as well, but I
think this will be a tight game. And then next
week if the Bucks win this week, they got a
one game to decide the NFC South Bucks in Week eight.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Yes, Jaguars at the Colts.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Jaguars still buying for that number one seed, but that
would take a Broncos loss, which isn't gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I don't see the Jags actually losing his game, and
the Forrest Butner they shut.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Him down for the season. I think he's got some.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Head and neck issues that's gonna impact the Colts defense.
I'm gonna go with with with the Jags. Man, they
Liam Cohen and his du bal guys. He got a
he got him rolling man.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
I picktured the Colts earlier on KOA Sports with Ryan Edwards.
I'd love to see Grand Paul Rivers get a dub,
but I don't think it's.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Going to be this week. I'm going with the Jacks
as well. Patriots at the Jets.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Now, I think we both know who we're gonna pick
to win this game, but the line thirteen and a
half Patriots are favored by You think the Patriots cover.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
It's hard not to believe that when they're playing the Jets,
and just think about it, Drake May and the fellas man,
they need to keep winning because they know, I mean,
they're chasing the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, and they beat down on those bad teams like
we talked about earlier tonight, and the Cities have been
so bad lately.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
They lost by like twenty three points to the Saints
last week. I don't know what's going on in New York.
Let's go to the Eagles versus the Bills. This is
a big game as well. Eagles at the Bills favored
or sorry, Bill's favored by one and.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
A half over under forty four. I kind of like
the Eagles in this game.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
I don't have a reason for it, but I think
the Eagles offense is going to show up.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
See he was again in.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Games like this, it comes down to who's playing the
quarterback position.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
And it's not to say that I don't believe in
Jalen Hurts super Bowl champion, I get it.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
But when you're talking about throwing on a Kate and
he could do more with his legs than Jalen Hurts.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I gotta roll with Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah. I think this game is a toss up that
could come down to the wire. Hopefully it's a great
game because I'll be watching since we have no Broncos
game this week.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Sunday Night Football, Huge game. Eleven and four Bears at
the eleven and four forty nine Ers forty nine Ers
favored by three at home.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Who do you like in this run?
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Well, it is not dub Bears.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
I'm gonna have to roll with the forty nine ers,
even though they're batter than the Bruise and Brod.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Purty's comeback and after throwing a couple.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Of interceptions when he first returned, he seemed like he's
kind of rounding into.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
His ground as groove last week this.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yeah, and look I coached there. I know the g's
mind that Kyle has.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
But also when you think about Robert Sava, what he's
been able to do with his defense, no, no, no
uh Bosa.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
And no Fred Warner. So hey, man coach of the
Year Kyle Shanahan.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Yeah, maybe coordinator of the year Robert Sala after getting
canned by the Jets, and.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
He could in this cycle coming in twenty six?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Could they?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Would they dare all for him? Another head coaching opportunity
could be?
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Could be? I don't know. And we got the Rams
playing on Monday night against the Falcons. I think we'll
both take the Rams on that one.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yes, in the drubbing.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
But how about the NFC west Man, All three teams
at the top locked into a playoff position already and
all vying for the number one.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Seed, and all three teams have roots to one head
coach who's not in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
You might know Mike Shanahan.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
That would be Mike Shanahan. How about that?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
How about that one day we're gonna get him into
the Hall of Fame just for you, Nick Fergus, And
we got the NFL six back when we come back
on Broncos Country.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
At night on KOA.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
From the same nine to eighty three number that said
the Broncos are mediocre at best this year went on
to say, you beat a third string team with a
little better than a college team. If that really not
great grammar, but.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I get the point.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Can you explain the difference to some people out there
that don't understand the difference and talent level between college
football even the best Ohio State's, Georgia's, Alabama's. The difference
in the college level versus the pro level, Well.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
The biggest difference is the speed of the game. And
it's not just the speed on the field. How quickly
can you process information, but more importantly, how quickly can
you forget some bad things that have taken place? And
the thing that accelerates the game on the pro level
is that you have grown as men competing and trying
(16:54):
to earn a job, to pay their bills, to feed
their families. Some guys have a wife and some kids.
Some guys have a wife and a girlfriend on the side.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I mean I'm not kids with both.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Yeah, I'm not judging, so that that kind of tells
you how quickly you.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Can make you know, you have to make decisions.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
But I get it when fans are frustrated, they want
to kind of drop the competition down because of what
they're seeing and saying or knowing. As though the NFL
is the top of the heap. If you were to say, well,
that looks like college football, that looks like high school football.
That's dropping that team, that player, that coach down a
couple of pigs.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
But you would agree that even the worst NFL team
would beat the best college football team.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Not totally, I maybe eighty percent, because you still have
to talk about the Cleveland Browns and your Cincinnati Bengals
defense too as well.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And with that, let's get to the NFL six pack.
It's time for the NFL six path.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
I'm going to lot year insight, that inside information you
can't find anywhere else.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
No.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Six, the top six NFL Headlind what Well.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Speaking of college football, Michigan Football has finalized a deal
to higher Utah legend Kyle Whittingham as its next head coach,
replacing Sharon Moore. The person with knowledge of the situation
told the Free Press on condition of anonymity because it
has not been announced, it's expected to be announced at
some point this weekend. It will be a five year
deal for Witningham, who is sixty six years old. The
(18:30):
deal will average eight point two million per year, with
Winningham earning eight million in his first season with the Wolverines. Winningham,
of course, spent thirty two years at Utah, including the
past twenty one as head coach. He was the second
longest tenured head coach in the FBS, behind only Iowa's
Kirk Farrence. Do you think this is a slam dunk
(18:50):
hire for Michigan given the circumstances they're in.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
No, there's no such thing as slam dunk hires. But
I'm glad that the institution decided to go away from
their traditional model of finding guys with Michigan ties.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
So far, Michigan, man, Yeah, so far that.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
Hasn't really worked out for them, and they need to
kind of put a little distance between them and try
to get this bitter taste at his mouth. But I'm
willing to give California him an opportunity once again.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
You're playing big.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Town football and you're playing against teams like Ohio State.
So if you don't beat that team, I know you
say you had an eight year contract. Yeah, See that
eight year contract comes down in two years really quickly.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
You got two years to beat Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I think this is a perfect guy to steady the
ship for them. With all the crap that's come out
about hiro More and that story just keeps getting juicier
and juicier, I think this is the right hire, an
older guy who's been there, done that, build up the
Utah program from nothing, and he's he left them in
a great place.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
And I think that's what Michigan is looking from him.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Get them back to where they once were and leave
them in a great place for.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
The next next guy to come in.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Two Pete Carroll has confirmed that Max Crosby was Elvis
earlier today, he left the building after the edge rusher
was told he would not play in the final two
games of the season. He said, I'd like to get
out of here. So I said get out of here,
and he took off. Carol said, this is via a
video from Vegas Sports Today.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
He later added it was exactly like you would think
he would do and he should do.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
And I agree with him one thousand percent on how
he responded. Crosby has been on the injury report since
Week twelve, missing practice time each week since then with
his knee issue. He did not practice this week, but
Crosby has played every game.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
As much as we hate the Raiders.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
And Broncos Country, I really respect Max Crosby and the
way he goes out and plays like every game is
a super Bowl. Crosby or sorry, Carol said, Crosby's injury
is the reason the Raiders have pulled the plug on
the Pro Bowler season. We talked when he was getting
out of here. He's been fighting it so hard for
so long. He's been fighting this thing for nine weeks,
whenever Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Was each week, he has done everything he could possibly
imagine a guy could do to play.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Do you think this is really about Max Crosby's injury
or is this them trying to get the number one.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Pick of next year's NFL draft.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I think it's a combination of both things. Sometimes you
got to protect the player from himself. It's obvious that
Max Crosby is that it hasn't really been himself.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I mean, when you look at.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
The stats, He's got ten sacks on the season. Two
of those sacks came against the Tennessee Titans, And to me,
you got to want to you know, you have to
shut a guy down. And what are the Raiders actually
playing for? So and I don't understand exactly Crosby being
upset and deciding to leave the building, but I think
this is like all things and relationships, He'll get over it.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So you think he'll be back with the Raiders next year.
You think he'll force his way out with the trade.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Yeah, try to, But the Raiders are not gonna do
anything stupid like that.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
I mean that would only.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Compound things for them. I mean, Crosby's got a lot
of value and knowing as though you don't have a
lot of valuable guys like him, you want to keep
those type of guys in house. Quote once again, this
tune shall pass. Has been a frustrating season. Crosby is
upset because he's a gamer and he wantn't get out
there and compete.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Three.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Sticking with injury news, it looks like it's going to
be Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis at quarterback when the
Ravens face the Packers in Green Bay on Saturday night.
Still up in the air about Lamar Jackson whether he's
going to play or not, but Jordan Love has officially
been ruled out because of the concussion he suffered and
last Saturday's loss to the Bears. Love was a limited
participant in practice this week and he was listed as questionable. Willis,
(22:34):
though their backup quarterback, also listed as questionable.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Due to a right shoulder injury.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
And illness, but he's expected to start the game, said
earlier this week he will be.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Ready no matter what.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
What do you think of this, Jordan Love missing a
pivotal game for the Packers and could this be worrisome
heading into the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
No, I don't think it's, you know, worrisome, but it's precautionary.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
The idea is that when it comes to concusson.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Grant, once you get one, it makes you susceptible to
getting more of these concussions. And Jordan Love is a
huge part of what they want to do. And knowing
as though you have Malik Williams Willis, excuse me at
the number two spot, you have some options, so why
forces right? So playing smart plans, say you're gonna need
(23:22):
Jordan Love.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
The wins that game Ravens Packers with Snoop Puntley and
Malik Willis at quarterback.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
I got a little more faith in Malik Willis. He's
bought his time. He just coached up well with the
Green Bay Packers and he want to go out there
and he wants to show the league what.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
He could do.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Maybe earned himself starting jobs next year.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
I don't know about the starting job, but I find
backup job or.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
The Steelers have rolled out TJ.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Watt.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
He returned to the practice field this week, but the
ed dresher won't be helping the Steelers on Sunday. While
has missed the last two games while we're recovering from
that collapse lung due to dry needling, and the Steelers
rolled him out for their game against the Browns. On
Friday's injury report, Watt was listed as a limited participant in.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Practice all three days this week.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Steelers take the field on Sunday with the AFC North
title in hand.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
If the Ravens lose that game to the Packers. We
were just talking about.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
If Baltimore wins, they'll need to beat the Browns to
avoid a winner take all visit from when the Ravens
come to town in week eighteen. Also, safety Jalen Ramsey
and left guard Isaac Samala are listed as questionable. Wide
receiver Calvin Austin, cornerback Brandon Echles, and cornerback James Pierre
will join Watt on the inactive list. Injuries mount up
(24:42):
this time of year, but TJ. Watt big part of
what the Steelers do on defense. If he continues to
be out past this week and they make the playoffs,
I don't like the chances.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeah, I mean, he's a huge part of what they do.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Even though we look at.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
Aaron Rodgers, who seemed to have had a late insurgence.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
You got DK, yes NBS, and then you have Adam Thielen.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
I mean he's playing with three veteran wide receivers who
spent time with different teams.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I'll be without DK though, well about DK.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
But you know you still have some veteran wide receivers.
But the Steelers are known for two things, running the
ball and playing great defense. If they can't play great
defense because Watt's not in there, that's gonna.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Be a problem. Then.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Oh, by the way, Ry Neeley causing the collepse lung
Yeah wow.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Yeah, crazy story.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I will say, the unsung hero for the Steelers this year,
Jaylen Warren, the.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Right at all for the absolutely five.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
The Broncos.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Couple of Broncos stories to round out the six pack.
They signed center Sam Mustifer off the Chargers practice squad.
The Broncos, of course, play starting center Luke Wattenberg on
injured reserve. He will miss the final two regular season
games and the first two weeks of the postseason, becoming
eligible to return. Alex Forsyth did a great job felling
(26:04):
in for Wattenberg in Kansas City last night, and the
win over the Chiefs even earned himself a game ball.
The Broncos zone needed another center for depth purposes, They
announced they signed Sam Mustafer off the Chargers practice squad.
Earlier today, the Broncos waived offensive guard Calvin Throckmorton and
a corresponding move.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Do you think that it was more.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
About depth on the offensive line or getting a player
off the Chargers practice squad to get a little.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I don't know how you say it. Maybe it's just
a little foot up on game planning.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
I'm gonna say it's a combination of both. The Broncos
had a need and just so happens, a team that
they're going to play had a guy that.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
They use worked out. Well, Yes, it's what is sharing
between friends. That's all we're doing. It just so happens.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
If we happened to ask him a couple of questions
and he answered, is that hard faults?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
No, it's not.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Did you ever have that happen to you in your
career where you got traded or moved on from one
team to the next and they asked you, like, hey,
can you give us an inside scoop on what the
game plan is on offense?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
For whoever you were just with Grant Is.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
It's never happened to me, But I can't confirm or
deny that I did not witness it.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I'll just say that I feel like it's one of
those like unspoken things that just happens in the NFL. Right, Yes,
like anything you can do to get a leg up,
you're doing it, and just think about it.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Happens more frequently than you really think. Six.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
The Broncos win over the Chiefs on Christmas Night was
the twenty third game they've won in two seasons with
Bow Knicks as their starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
That puts Nicks in some rare company.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
He now has the second most wins in NFL history
for a quarterback in his first two seasons.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Do you know whose number one is?
Speaker 3 (28:00):
I know who?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson won twenty four games as
a Seahawks starting quarterback in his first two seasons. He
has the record for the most wins, and Knicks can
tie that record if the Broncos win their regular season
finale next week against the Chargers, although it's worth noting
that Wilson did it in sixteen game seasons and Knicks
is playing in seventeen game seasons. With the Broncos win
(28:25):
on Thursday night, Knicks broke a tie with Andrew Luck,
Dak Prescott, and Ben Roethlisberger, all of whom had twenty
two wins in their first two seasons in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Pretty elite company for bo Knicks.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
What do you make is that a quarterback stat or
is that more of a team stat the twenty three
wins in his first two seasons.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Oh, that's definitely a team stack.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Even though I know in the NFL everyone likes to
shove all the praise to the quarterback. Even though I know, yeah,
you do give the quarterbacks some of that praise, but.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Not all of the praise.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
And there hasn't been a Sea quarterback and you can
quote me on this that I know of over the
past thirty five years of the game that's ever won
games or had comebacks by themselves. They may have been
a part of the comeback in the victory, but they
were not the only part. But this is a good
company for Bo Knicks to be in so early in
(29:20):
the season.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
And as you were saying that, I was.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Wondering, you know wherever Zach seekers is right now?
Speaker 3 (29:27):
He must be somewhere.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
It curled up in the corner because for you to
mention Bo Nicks in the same breath, ass Russell Wilson,
I'm just saying.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
You know, not everybody can be right. And that's all
I'll say about that.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Still A big fan of Russell Wilson personally, just as
a human being. One that for bow Knicks that is
a much more of a quarterback stat This is from
Eric Delala, who I will be hosting with on Monday
Night on Broncos Country to Night and the win over
the Chiefs Broncos QB Bonnicks became the only quarterback in
NFL history with twenty plus wins, seventy five hundred pass yards,
(30:03):
and fifty past touchdowns in his first two seasons. I
think for all the hate that bow Knicks gets that nationally,
you know, for his up and down play, that dude's
putting up some pretty historic numbers.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Man. Like I told you before, man, either roller coaster
analogy or the stock market thing is going to be
up and down. It's like can you ride the wave?
Can you stick with the flow, and can you make
somewhat of a comeback? And there hasn't been a player
that's ever played sixteen seventeens games with a perfect outpump.
(30:38):
The output hasn't been perfect for a lot of players.
So Bo's gonna have his issues, whether it's this year,
whether he's in the seventh year, He's gonna have his issues.
It's like, can you bounce back from But I'll tell
you this in the game last night, if Bo doesn't
pull the ball and run in the score.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Were talking about some difficulty.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
A lot of different show today, right, a lot different show.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
But this is why I say, embrace the backyard football.
Allow him to do what he's naturally inclined to do.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
I don't think I'm going to get a chance to
host with you again before the Chargers game next weekend.
Give me sixty seconds on how the Broncos beat the
Chargers and wrap up that AFC West in the number
one seed in the entire AFC.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
Well for one, being able to slow down the Chargers
in the run game. Marion Hampton will be back. He
is a big, physical back and he's going to look
to top the rock against the Denver Broncos because remember
when they met the first time, the issue that Broncos
had was covering running backs out of the backfield. The
other issue that they had that is starting to show
(31:41):
up but has shown up over the past three games,
is a mobile quarterback able to manipulate the pocket, but
also that quarterback throwing the ball down the field with
pinpoint accuracy and precision and not allowing their defense.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
To really impact it.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Win that game.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
I don't know, man, I'm gonna hold out my predictions.
I need to see what happens against the Texans and
see if the charge is sustained any injuries.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
But check back with me. I'll have an answer for you.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I'll check back with you. One thing I know for sure,
in the words of Nikola Jokic.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
But from now, like the next couple of days, there's
gonna be a lot of computer probably Broncos Country Tonight
on KOA fifty am ninety four to one FM.
Thanks to Ryan Harris for joining us earlier in the show.
If you missed any of that, you can find it
on the free and redesigned iHeartRadio app where you can
now set KOA as a preset, just like you do
in your car, and go ahead and set Broncos Country
to Night as a preset KOA Sports KBCO so you.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Can hear me most nights from eight pm to midnight.
Do it all. It's all right there one click of
a button on the free.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
And redesigned iHeartRadio app KOA Common Spirit Health text line
five six six nine zero. Going back to our conversation
in the last segment from the nine to eighty three,
I see two parades in Denver next year to two
dominating teams, the Nuggets and the Avalanche. Denver Broncos are mediocre.
They'll be done in the first round of the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
See see Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
See see I never said anything like that, Never once
did I Lee, you have indicators like that. That's an
entirely different take in anything I've said here tonight, Grant.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I wasn't blaming you for that take. No blame the
Texter for that take.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, but hey called me Ryan Clark, and you once
called me that too, just to get under your skin.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
But good news for this text or if the Broncos
beat the Chargers next week, they don't have to worry
about the first round of the playoffs. So get a
first round by And with that, let's go out to
the KOA Common Spirit Health hotline and bring on one
of our favorites on Broncos Country tonight pre Mastis you
can hear on the Let's Talk Broncos and Believe in
the Broncos podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Bree, How are you this evening?
Speaker 5 (01:28):
Oh my goodness, merry Christmas gentleman, So happy to be
on with you.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Nick.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
I don't know you got a little defenses there from
the texture. I feel like maybe you were having a
little subconscious reflection there for I'm kidding, I'm kid. I
would never relate you to Ryan Clark. That's ridiculous, Grant.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Hey, I didn't say the texter said it, just I
just I just relay the message, you know, the truth
in there that's getting under Nick Ferguson's skin.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
You know there's nothing I can do about something.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
You know the story I think so now you I
like bringing it up.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Brie, hope you had a great Christmas. What did you
think of the Broncos performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Well, let's say I can at least feel where the
text line Texter was coming from, Right. I think there
was a lot of conversation of where this game needed
to be dominant, And I think if you were looking
at the score, that doesn't necessarily separate itself. Right, It's
another one win sort of game. But Broncos Country, this
(02:32):
is Christmas Day, when it means a whole lot more
than what it does of games past. Right, I think
it's another season defining moment because it wasn't just a victory.
I think it's not just as simple as beating a
Kansas City Chiefs team that was beat up. I think
it was more so about the discipline and composure and
control that comes from doing so, because the Broncos needed
(02:53):
to control their destiny for that number one seed, and
this whole result is really enormous to that, because it
goes deeper than just a singular win. I think the
decades long drought against beating Kansas City at Arrowhead, I
think it exercised something that's been hanging over this franchise
for years. It wasn't just a road win. It was
(03:14):
very psychological and it was symbolic. Right, So they're in
a very tough building and they were able to close
a chapter that's been pressuring them for quite some time,
and it was a pressure filled spot. We've seen the
Broncos fail in Christmas games of the past, and that's
not what happened here. And on a short week after
the loss to the Jaguars. The plan wasn't to get cute,
(03:37):
and I think what people are conflating with a failure
here is that it was the Broncos attempt to get clean. Right.
You're not installing anything fancy. You were basically doubling down
on everything that you've been doing well up into this point.
You're communicating, you're trying to protect the football as best
as possible in your finishing drives. And the short week
has to reward that. And I think the teams that
(03:59):
trust their identity that the Denver Broncos are very much
so building through and you know, win streak aside losing
the Jaguars and all that, getting here is about the execution,
not the reinvention point. And so I think this win
here wasn't just about knocking off the Chiefs, which is
great and you know they're already out. It doesn't matter there,
But it's positioning. You want to be in the race.
(04:21):
You want to be dictating that, not reacting to it.
And so I think Denver has the ultimate point that
the pen ultimate game in Week eighteen is coming up
and they get a chance to really legitimize themselves further
so out in the first round, Grant, I love how
you put it there. They get to control that fact
if they have a buye so a bree.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
With all of that said, do you think now.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
That the Broncos I don't want to say they put
Kansas City in a rear view mirror, but it's been
a long time since they've been Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Twice and the single season.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
What does the pressure level now look like for the
Denver Broncos moving forward?
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Well, I mean, you got through kind of that last
bit of a risk and you still have an AFC
West opponent to face, and I think it's about setting
up your authority in that landscape. I think the Bonix
versus Justin Herbert is a fascinating contrast that they're going
to have to have a second year quarterback go up
against an established star and elite arm talent, and an
(05:22):
elite team and an elite coach, and Sean Payton is
still trying to really prove that he is coaching his
best season yet, not just in Denver, but you know
of his career.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
Right.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
It's quiet, but it matters, and I think it's really
impressive that they're trying.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
To do this through I guess what would be perceived
as adversity, but I feel like that's the keyword of
every conversation that we have, Like Peyton has to be
less about ego, it has to.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Be more about efficiency. You have to build a team
that can survive December adversity, whether it be injuries or
maybe the defense slowing down. You absorb the momentum swings
instead of reaction being to them, and both the defensive coordinator,
Advanced Joseph has to do that as well as Sean Payton.
So as the Broglas really try to center focus themselves
on what it means to finish the week eighteen strong.
(06:10):
I think you had to get through Kansas City to
do that, and I'm.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Really happy about how they were.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Able to contextualize that because even though, like I said,
you look at the score and you're like, ah, you know,
maybe they should have ran the points up a little
bit more. But the whole point of it was they
were dominant in ways that matter as far as kind
of possession and situational execution. So they controlled the clock.
(06:37):
They had nearly forty minutes of possession, doubling what the
Chiefs did. And I think when you do that, you're
basically keep playing keep away with a team that really
didn't need to have the ball. They didn't have to
rush plays, they didn't have to gift any possessions. You know, ultimately,
you would have wanted it to be a little bit
cleaner and perhaps maybe a little bit flashier when it
comes to spending your holidays watching football, But the game
(07:00):
was shortened on purpose and controls. What they're establishing now
controlling tempo, controlling your team, controlling the presence, and then
controlling what you can control in the face of your
starting center going and being able to plug in alex
foresight and make sure that that doesn't ripple along the line.
So I'm really excited about what they can still do
to improve, but you get to save that for later.
(07:22):
You're not flashing what your hand is to the other
team and the opponents that you'll see later on when
it comes to the playoff, because le Broncos no longer
has to speculate in Bronco's Country, no longer has to
speculate on whether or not not they'll be there. You know,
they've clenched it for some weeks. Now now they get
to say, you know, who's the opponent that we're facing
the barrel down and that's going to be imperative when
it comes to week eighteen and how that plays out.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You mentioned the ego and Sean Payton and someone with
no ego that's a superstar talking with pree masis here
on Broncos Country tonight. Nikola Jokicic, Man, what a performance
he had last night.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Did you stay up late and watch the.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Nuggets overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and see you
Joker's historic performance.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
I know, what a historic performance to have to watch
on recap on the highlights. Oh, I know re battling.
I know Christmas came early with a little bit of
a bug for me. So as I'm battling this sinus infection,
I had to make sure that when I woke up
to all of the means of this legendary game Yokich
on Christmas Day was a reminder that we are forgetting
(08:28):
something here as Colorado Sports stands. He's not just great,
he's absolutely inevitable. That line aside, which was historic, It's
really about dominance and being in control, and Nikola Jokich
can really bend the game to his will. And what
the timberworlds are known to do is throwing the size
and physicality and everything they can and it's always a
(08:49):
tough matchup and none of it mattered. And going into
overtime and then absolutely stealing the game away from the
other team. I don't know how you don't say it's
not MVP level back basketball on the biggest stage. And
so yeah, it's times like that where I'm like, I
should have powered through, because while we're witnessing here as
Colorado sports fans, as Mile High basketball fans, is that
(09:11):
the where Denver stands now is there absolutely and brutally honest,
they are headed towards something of historic proportions, and this
team is just rallied around. You see, it just makes
Murray better. The Nuggets are just so lethal in late
games and when the game tightens, the possession strings, the
defense locks in, and ultimately this team has shown that
(09:32):
they're really problem solvers. They know how this puzzle gets
put together. And you're seeing a team that's really I
want to say, they're rounding out the edges and they're
still like sharpening. What is really great about their composure
and the synergy that they bring and the trust that
they have in each other, and they know I get it.
I have the fandom glasses on when it comes to
this team, but that's because they are so historic and
(09:54):
so just pinch yourselves a Nuggets watchers that this is
something that you don't want to make. So even if
you go to better early, make sure you watch the
highlights the next day.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Well, we always have our fandom glasses on when we
get an opportunity to talk to you, Brie, feel better
and enjoy the weekend of football without a Broncos game. No,
don't have to feel bad about any of the results.
Hopefully you feel better and we'll check in with you
again soon.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
Okay, Oh stress free? Right? Thank you guys so much.
Happy holidays to you. We'll talk soon.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Happy holidays to you, Bree Masis. You can find her work.
Let's Talk Broncos and Believe in the Broncos podcast. Speaking
of that slate of games coming up this weekend, a
couple of Broncos game. Broncos fans will have eyes on
a couple of the games.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
You want to pick a couple of them, Nick, let go.
We'll start with the big.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
One tomorrow, the Texans at the Chargers. Chargers favored by
one and a half over under thirty nine and a half.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
They're expecting a low scoring game. How do you see
it play now?
Speaker 4 (10:53):
This could be definitely a low scoring game of Grant,
what's a game. We're at the time of the year
where things become very, very interesting and every point counts
as cliche as it is.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
It is cliche, but it's true. You're taking the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
No, I'm taking the Texans.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
No, come on, Grant, I'm taking the Chargers. I think
I think Week eighteen is gonna be there. I'm gonna
come down to that final game.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Here in Denver.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
How I just have been amazed with Justin Herbert Man
so went by.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
But think about that Texans defense and the fact that
the Chargers have given up fifty one sets.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, and Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. Only duo in
the NFL to both have ten plus sacks.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
You want to change that? Yeah, I'm going okay.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
All right?
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Skip ahead to Sunday, Seahawks at the Panthers. This game
has some playoff implications even though the Panthers are in it.
Seahawks favored by seven on the road over under forty
two and a half.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
We're gonna take the Seahawks in this game.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I mean, they had tru We saw the Rams go
to Carolina earlier this year and stumble.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Hey man, we're not talking about that.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
This this is present time we're dealing with.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Oh now, you're living in the moment.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
The person who picked the Swardgers game, I'm gonna roll
with the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I'm gonna roll with the Seahawks as well, but I
think this will be a tight game. And then next
week if the Bucks win this week, they got a
one game to decide the NFC South Bucks in Week eight.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Yes, Jaguars at the Colts.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Jaguars still buying for that number one seed, but that
would take a Broncos loss, which isn't gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I don't see the Jags actually losing his game, and
the Forrest Butner they shut.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Him down for the season. I think he's got some.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Head and neck issues that's gonna impact the Colts defense.
I'm gonna go with with with the Jags. Man, they
Liam Cohen and his du bal guys. He got a
he got him rolling man.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
I picktured the Colts earlier on KOA Sports with Ryan Edwards.
I'd love to see Grand Paul Rivers get a dub,
but I don't think it's.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Going to be this week. I'm going with the Jacks
as well. Patriots at the Jets.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Now, I think we both know who we're gonna pick
to win this game, but the line thirteen and a
half Patriots are favored by You think the Patriots cover.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
It's hard not to believe that when they're playing the Jets,
and just think about it, Drake May and the fellas man,
they need to keep winning because they know, I mean,
they're chasing the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, and they beat down on those bad teams like
we talked about earlier tonight, and the Cities have been
so bad lately.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
They lost by like twenty three points to the Saints
last week. I don't know what's going on in New York.
Let's go to the Eagles versus the Bills. This is
a big game as well. Eagles at the Bills favored
or sorry, Bill's favored by one and.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
A half over under forty four. I kind of like
the Eagles in this game.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
I don't have a reason for it, but I think
the Eagles offense is going to show up.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
See he was again in.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Games like this, it comes down to who's playing the
quarterback position.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
And it's not to say that I don't believe in
Jalen Hurts super Bowl champion, I get it.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
But when you're talking about throwing on a Kate and
he could do more with his legs than Jalen Hurts.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I gotta roll with Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah. I think this game is a toss up that
could come down to the wire. Hopefully it's a great
game because I'll be watching since we have no Broncos
game this week.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Sunday Night Football, Huge game. Eleven and four Bears at
the eleven and four forty nine Ers forty nine Ers
favored by three at home.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Who do you like in this run?
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Well, it is not dub Bears.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
I'm gonna have to roll with the forty nine ers,
even though they're batter than the Bruise and Brod.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Purty's comeback and after throwing a couple.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Of interceptions when he first returned, he seemed like he's
kind of rounding into.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
His ground as groove last week this.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yeah, and look I coached there. I know the g's
mind that Kyle has.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
But also when you think about Robert Sava, what he's
been able to do with his defense, no, no, no
uh Bosa.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
And no Fred Warner. So hey, man coach of the
Year Kyle Shanahan.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Yeah, maybe coordinator of the year Robert Sala after getting
canned by the Jets, and.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
He could in this cycle coming in twenty six?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Could they?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Would they dare all for him? Another head coaching opportunity
could be?
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Could be? I don't know. And we got the Rams
playing on Monday night against the Falcons. I think we'll
both take the Rams on that one.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yes, in the drubbing.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
But how about the NFC west Man, All three teams
at the top locked into a playoff position already and
all vying for the number one.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Seed, and all three teams have roots to one head
coach who's not in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
You might know Mike Shanahan.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
That would be Mike Shanahan. How about that?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
How about that one day we're gonna get him into
the Hall of Fame just for you, Nick Fergus, And
we got the NFL six back when we come back
on Broncos Country.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
At night on KOA.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
From the same nine to eighty three number that said
the Broncos are mediocre at best this year went on
to say, you beat a third string team with a
little better than a college team. If that really not
great grammar, but.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I get the point.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Can you explain the difference to some people out there
that don't understand the difference and talent level between college
football even the best Ohio State's, Georgia's, Alabama's. The difference
in the college level versus the pro level, Well.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
The biggest difference is the speed of the game. And
it's not just the speed on the field. How quickly
can you process information, but more importantly, how quickly can
you forget some bad things that have taken place? And
the thing that accelerates the game on the pro level
is that you have grown as men competing and trying
(16:54):
to earn a job, to pay their bills, to feed
their families. Some guys have a wife and some kids.
Some guys have a wife and a girlfriend on the side.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I mean I'm not kids with both.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Yeah, I'm not judging, so that that kind of tells
you how quickly you.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Can make you know, you have to make decisions.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
But I get it when fans are frustrated, they want
to kind of drop the competition down because of what
they're seeing and saying or knowing. As though the NFL
is the top of the heap. If you were to say, well,
that looks like college football, that looks like high school football.
That's dropping that team, that player, that coach down a
couple of pigs.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
But you would agree that even the worst NFL team
would beat the best college football team.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Not totally, I maybe eighty percent, because you still have
to talk about the Cleveland Browns and your Cincinnati Bengals
defense too as well.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And with that, let's get to the NFL six pack.
It's time for the NFL six path.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
I'm going to lot year insight, that inside information you
can't find anywhere else.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
No.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Six, the top six NFL Headlind what Well.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Speaking of college football, Michigan Football has finalized a deal
to higher Utah legend Kyle Whittingham as its next head coach,
replacing Sharon Moore. The person with knowledge of the situation
told the Free Press on condition of anonymity because it
has not been announced, it's expected to be announced at
some point this weekend. It will be a five year
deal for Witningham, who is sixty six years old. The
(18:30):
deal will average eight point two million per year, with
Winningham earning eight million in his first season with the Wolverines. Winningham,
of course, spent thirty two years at Utah, including the
past twenty one as head coach. He was the second
longest tenured head coach in the FBS, behind only Iowa's
Kirk Farrence. Do you think this is a slam dunk
(18:50):
hire for Michigan given the circumstances they're in.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
No, there's no such thing as slam dunk hires. But
I'm glad that the institution decided to go away from
their traditional model of finding guys with Michigan ties.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
So far, Michigan, man, Yeah, so far that.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
Hasn't really worked out for them, and they need to
kind of put a little distance between them and try
to get this bitter taste at his mouth. But I'm
willing to give California him an opportunity once again.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
You're playing big.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Town football and you're playing against teams like Ohio State.
So if you don't beat that team, I know you
say you had an eight year contract. Yeah, See that
eight year contract comes down in two years really quickly.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
You got two years to beat Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I think this is a perfect guy to steady the
ship for them. With all the crap that's come out
about hiro More and that story just keeps getting juicier
and juicier, I think this is the right hire, an
older guy who's been there, done that, build up the
Utah program from nothing, and he's he left them in
a great place.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
And I think that's what Michigan is looking from him.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Get them back to where they once were and leave
them in a great place for.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
The next next guy to come in.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Two Pete Carroll has confirmed that Max Crosby was Elvis
earlier today, he left the building after the edge rusher
was told he would not play in the final two
games of the season. He said, I'd like to get
out of here. So I said get out of here,
and he took off. Carol said, this is via a
video from Vegas Sports Today.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
He later added it was exactly like you would think
he would do and he should do.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
And I agree with him one thousand percent on how
he responded. Crosby has been on the injury report since
Week twelve, missing practice time each week since then with
his knee issue. He did not practice this week, but
Crosby has played every game.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
As much as we hate the Raiders.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
And Broncos Country, I really respect Max Crosby and the
way he goes out and plays like every game is
a super Bowl. Crosby or sorry, Carol said, Crosby's injury
is the reason the Raiders have pulled the plug on
the Pro Bowler season. We talked when he was getting
out of here. He's been fighting it so hard for
so long. He's been fighting this thing for nine weeks,
whenever Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Was each week, he has done everything he could possibly
imagine a guy could do to play.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Do you think this is really about Max Crosby's injury
or is this them trying to get the number one.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Pick of next year's NFL draft.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I think it's a combination of both things. Sometimes you
got to protect the player from himself. It's obvious that
Max Crosby is that it hasn't really been himself.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I mean, when you look at.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
The stats, He's got ten sacks on the season. Two
of those sacks came against the Tennessee Titans, And to me,
you got to want to you know, you have to
shut a guy down. And what are the Raiders actually
playing for? So and I don't understand exactly Crosby being
upset and deciding to leave the building, but I think
this is like all things and relationships, He'll get over it.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So you think he'll be back with the Raiders next year.
You think he'll force his way out with the trade.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Yeah, try to, But the Raiders are not gonna do
anything stupid like that.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
I mean that would only.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Compound things for them. I mean, Crosby's got a lot
of value and knowing as though you don't have a
lot of valuable guys like him, you want to keep
those type of guys in house. Quote once again, this
tune shall pass. Has been a frustrating season. Crosby is
upset because he's a gamer and he wantn't get out
there and compete.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Three.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Sticking with injury news, it looks like it's going to
be Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis at quarterback when the
Ravens face the Packers in Green Bay on Saturday night.
Still up in the air about Lamar Jackson whether he's
going to play or not, but Jordan Love has officially
been ruled out because of the concussion he suffered and
last Saturday's loss to the Bears. Love was a limited
participant in practice this week and he was listed as questionable. Willis,
(22:34):
though their backup quarterback, also listed as questionable.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Due to a right shoulder injury.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
And illness, but he's expected to start the game, said
earlier this week he will be.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Ready no matter what.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
What do you think of this, Jordan Love missing a
pivotal game for the Packers and could this be worrisome
heading into the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
No, I don't think it's, you know, worrisome, but it's precautionary.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
The idea is that when it comes to concusson.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Grant, once you get one, it makes you susceptible to
getting more of these concussions. And Jordan Love is a
huge part of what they want to do. And knowing
as though you have Malik Williams Willis, excuse me at
the number two spot, you have some options, so why
forces right? So playing smart plans, say you're gonna need
(23:22):
Jordan Love.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
The wins that game Ravens Packers with Snoop Puntley and
Malik Willis at quarterback.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
I got a little more faith in Malik Willis. He's
bought his time. He just coached up well with the
Green Bay Packers and he want to go out there
and he wants to show the league what.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
He could do.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Maybe earned himself starting jobs next year.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
I don't know about the starting job, but I find
backup job or.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
The Steelers have rolled out TJ.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Watt.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
He returned to the practice field this week, but the
ed dresher won't be helping the Steelers on Sunday. While
has missed the last two games while we're recovering from
that collapse lung due to dry needling, and the Steelers
rolled him out for their game against the Browns. On
Friday's injury report, Watt was listed as a limited participant in.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Practice all three days this week.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Steelers take the field on Sunday with the AFC North
title in hand.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
If the Ravens lose that game to the Packers. We
were just talking about.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
If Baltimore wins, they'll need to beat the Browns to
avoid a winner take all visit from when the Ravens
come to town in week eighteen. Also, safety Jalen Ramsey
and left guard Isaac Samala are listed as questionable. Wide
receiver Calvin Austin, cornerback Brandon Echles, and cornerback James Pierre
will join Watt on the inactive list. Injuries mount up
(24:42):
this time of year, but TJ. Watt big part of
what the Steelers do on defense. If he continues to
be out past this week and they make the playoffs,
I don't like the chances.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeah, I mean, he's a huge part of what they do.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Even though we look at.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
Aaron Rodgers, who seemed to have had a late insurgence.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
You got DK, yes NBS, and then you have Adam Thielen.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
I mean he's playing with three veteran wide receivers who
spent time with different teams.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I'll be without DK though, well about DK.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
But you know you still have some veteran wide receivers.
But the Steelers are known for two things, running the
ball and playing great defense. If they can't play great
defense because Watt's not in there, that's gonna.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Be a problem. Then.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Oh, by the way, Ry Neeley causing the collepse lung
Yeah wow.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Yeah, crazy story.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I will say, the unsung hero for the Steelers this year,
Jaylen Warren, the.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Right at all for the absolutely five.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
The Broncos.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Couple of Broncos stories to round out the six pack.
They signed center Sam Mustifer off the Chargers practice squad.
The Broncos, of course, play starting center Luke Wattenberg on
injured reserve. He will miss the final two regular season
games and the first two weeks of the postseason, becoming
eligible to return. Alex Forsyth did a great job felling
(26:04):
in for Wattenberg in Kansas City last night, and the
win over the Chiefs even earned himself a game ball.
The Broncos zone needed another center for depth purposes, They
announced they signed Sam Mustafer off the Chargers practice squad.
Earlier today, the Broncos waived offensive guard Calvin Throckmorton and
a corresponding move.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Do you think that it was more.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
About depth on the offensive line or getting a player
off the Chargers practice squad to get a little.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I don't know how you say it. Maybe it's just
a little foot up on game planning.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
I'm gonna say it's a combination of both. The Broncos
had a need and just so happens, a team that
they're going to play had a guy that.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
They use worked out. Well, Yes, it's what is sharing
between friends. That's all we're doing. It just so happens.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
If we happened to ask him a couple of questions
and he answered, is that hard faults?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
No, it's not.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Did you ever have that happen to you in your
career where you got traded or moved on from one
team to the next and they asked you, like, hey,
can you give us an inside scoop on what the
game plan is on offense?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
For whoever you were just with Grant Is.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
It's never happened to me, But I can't confirm or
deny that I did not witness it.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I'll just say that I feel like it's one of
those like unspoken things that just happens in the NFL. Right, Yes,
like anything you can do to get a leg up,
you're doing it, and just think about it.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Happens more frequently than you really think. Six.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
The Broncos win over the Chiefs on Christmas Night was
the twenty third game they've won in two seasons with
Bow Knicks as their starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
That puts Nicks in some rare company.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
He now has the second most wins in NFL history
for a quarterback in his first two seasons.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Do you know whose number one is?
Speaker 3 (28:00):
I know who?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson won twenty four games as
a Seahawks starting quarterback in his first two seasons. He
has the record for the most wins, and Knicks can
tie that record if the Broncos win their regular season
finale next week against the Chargers, although it's worth noting
that Wilson did it in sixteen game seasons and Knicks
is playing in seventeen game seasons. With the Broncos win
(28:25):
on Thursday night, Knicks broke a tie with Andrew Luck,
Dak Prescott, and Ben Roethlisberger, all of whom had twenty
two wins in their first two seasons in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Pretty elite company for bo Knicks.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
What do you make is that a quarterback stat or
is that more of a team stat the twenty three
wins in his first two seasons.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Oh, that's definitely a team stack.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Even though I know in the NFL everyone likes to
shove all the praise to the quarterback. Even though I know, yeah,
you do give the quarterbacks some of that praise, but.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Not all of the praise.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
And there hasn't been a Sea quarterback and you can
quote me on this that I know of over the
past thirty five years of the game that's ever won
games or had comebacks by themselves. They may have been
a part of the comeback in the victory, but they
were not the only part. But this is a good
company for Bo Knicks to be in so early in
(29:20):
the season.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
And as you were saying that, I was.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Wondering, you know wherever Zach seekers is right now?
Speaker 3 (29:27):
He must be somewhere.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
It curled up in the corner because for you to
mention Bo Nicks in the same breath, ass Russell Wilson,
I'm just saying.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
You know, not everybody can be right. And that's all
I'll say about that.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Still A big fan of Russell Wilson personally, just as
a human being. One that for bow Knicks that is
a much more of a quarterback stat This is from
Eric Delala, who I will be hosting with on Monday
Night on Broncos Country to Night and the win over
the Chiefs Broncos QB Bonnicks became the only quarterback in
NFL history with twenty plus wins, seventy five hundred pass yards,
(30:03):
and fifty past touchdowns in his first two seasons. I
think for all the hate that bow Knicks gets that nationally,
you know, for his up and down play, that dude's
putting up some pretty historic numbers.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Man. Like I told you before, man, either roller coaster
analogy or the stock market thing is going to be
up and down. It's like can you ride the wave?
Can you stick with the flow, and can you make
somewhat of a comeback? And there hasn't been a player
that's ever played sixteen seventeens games with a perfect outpump.
(30:38):
The output hasn't been perfect for a lot of players.
So Bo's gonna have his issues, whether it's this year,
whether he's in the seventh year, He's gonna have his issues.
It's like, can you bounce back from But I'll tell
you this in the game last night, if Bo doesn't
pull the ball and run in the score.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Were talking about some difficulty.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
A lot of different show today, right, a lot different show.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
But this is why I say, embrace the backyard football.
Allow him to do what he's naturally inclined to do.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
I don't think I'm going to get a chance to
host with you again before the Chargers game next weekend.
Give me sixty seconds on how the Broncos beat the
Chargers and wrap up that AFC West in the number
one seed in the entire AFC.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
Well for one, being able to slow down the Chargers
in the run game. Marion Hampton will be back. He
is a big, physical back and he's going to look
to top the rock against the Denver Broncos because remember
when they met the first time, the issue that Broncos
had was covering running backs out of the backfield. The
other issue that they had that is starting to show
(31:41):
up but has shown up over the past three games,
is a mobile quarterback able to manipulate the pocket, but
also that quarterback throwing the ball down the field with
pinpoint accuracy and precision and not allowing their defense.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
To really impact it.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Win that game.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
I don't know, man, I'm gonna hold out my predictions.
I need to see what happens against the Texans and
see if the charge is sustained any injuries.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
But check back with me. I'll have an answer for you.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I'll check back with you. One thing I know for sure,
in the words of Nikola Jokic.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
But from now, like the next couple of days, there's
gonna be a lot of computer probably Broncos Country Tonight
on KOA fifty am ninety four to one FM.
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