November 25, 2025 • 8 mins
The NFL playoff picture has been shifted in the span of 1 week.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
It's that time of season.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I mean we are full, you know, football season. Yep,
we're still waiting on potential bowl game destination dates for that.
We've got men's and women's basketball tipping off now. We
actually have basketball all day on our TV screens today,
which I don't mind. I always like having actual live
(00:27):
sports to watch as we do the show, trying not
to be distracted by a riveting early season matchup between
Syracuse and Kansas. But yeah, Andy is staying busy, so
we are doing our best to fill in. Yeah, make
sure fill in, and make sure we don't burn the
ship down while he is out.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
We'll see, We'll see how it goes.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
He's turned us loose on a couple of potential interviews
with a guest today, of course we'll have. It's Tuesday,
so the voice of the Texans, Mark VanderMeer, will be
joining us next. And then if coach Traylor Can is
available out there getting ready for the Coaches Show, we'll
talk to him at the top of the six o'clock hour.
But before we waste any too much more time and
(01:14):
get off. We can't get off schedule for Mark, that is, again,
can't burn the house down. While Andy's out. So let's
get right to it, starting with those Texans. Looking back
at the NFL Week twelve. Last week, a nothing short
of impressive victory for Houston last Thursday night at home
(01:36):
against the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Also a Bills team that now.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Is the last team, last wild card team in the
AFC as the standings sit right now. Yes, and the
Texans the first team out of the playoffs as the
standing sit, but that of course was CJ. Stroud out injured.
You knew it was going to take a massive defensive effort,
(02:04):
especially on the hills of Josh Allen have having six
combined touchdowns two weeks ago. And then the Texans go
in there end up you know, sacking him what eight times,
the most of his.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Career, which is tough because he's built like a tide
and it is not easy to sack guys like him.
But to be honest, I don't think the Texans are
looking at Buffalo in that wildcard spot. I think they
have bigger fish to fry because there's only two games
behind the Colts and they.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
That's the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, where they can move to within one game back
in the division. No the Texans are. You know, they
have now climbed above five hundred for the first time
this year.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
South is more competitive this year than it has been
in recent memory because the Jags are still in it.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
The Colts, you know, they've been on a bit of
a skid recently.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
They're very much the three seed I believe right now
in the AFC the Texans are coming along. His AFC
South used to be a joke. This seems really if
you won nine games in that in that division, you
are probably gonna win it. Now three teams can make
the playoffs in.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
That Yeah, there's a very there's a very real pathway
for three teams from the AFC South to wind up
in the in the playoff bracket. I do think, you know,
the biggest question with the Texans. You know, a great
win last Thursday, But the biggest question is, you know, CJ.
Stroud's health moving forward. Will ask Mark about that in
(03:29):
the next segment. Because as good as that defense is, yeah,
and it is really really good. I mean, it's basically
probably either Thelm or Denver in terms of the most
you know, the defense that can cause the most havoc. Sure,
I think that can carry you a long way, but
getting CJ. Stroud back would make them an entirely different
(03:51):
team altogether. Elsewhere across Week twelve, the Bears. We talked
about them yesterday. The Bears basically have the same point
differential as the Arkansas Razorbacks, but Arkansas's two and nine
and the Bears are eight and three. They won another
close one, winning thirty one to twenty eight over the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And the Bears also have not an easy schedule, but
a favorable one. Just for the last six games, they
got the Packers twice, so you could probably assume a
split there. Obviously, on the road in Philly, they take
on San Francisco, they take on Detroit, but those right
now seem like vulnerable opponents. Base on we saw last
week and they got Cleveland. So the Bears right now
eight and three. In the past, you would say they
(04:33):
get smoked by maybe all these teams, But right now,
with this Bears team under Ben Johnson, one of the
I think they had the best differential and from last
year's offense to this year among the NFL that this
is a Bears team I think that could go in
and beat Philly, can take on Green Bay, can actually
take on the Lions and the Niners, because all those
teams this year, coming in, you thought they would be contenders.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Right now, they're all vulnerable absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I mean, and the Bears, who had the Bears after
twelve week sitting atop of the NFC North Jim Belushi
and Ben Johnson. I mean, those are probably your only
two guys. You mentioned the impact of Ben Johnson in
his first year there. Yes, Caleb Williams throws for three
touchdowns in that game against the Steelers. His fourth quarter
(05:19):
numbers are incredible compared to what that team had been
over the last few years, particularly particularly last year compared
to this year. But another first year coach, I ask
you who's been the more impressive first year coach? What
Ben Johnson's doing with the Bears or what Vrabel's doing
in New England.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Because the Patriots beat the.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Bengals now moved to ten and two in their first
year under Vrabel.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So I would have to say the Bears.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I would have to say Ben Johnson, just because in
the past, the association of a good Bears team was
an elite defense and a manageable offense. This Bears team
has a manageable defense and I don't know if I'm
ready to say elite offense, but a dangerous one.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
At the very least, it's a fun one. It is
a fun one.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
And I'm not even trying to take.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Away the credit for what Rabel's done with Drake May
because I've seen what Brabel did with guys like Ryan
Tannehill reinvigorated his career over in Tennessee. So if nothing else,
Rabel knows how to win. He knows how to bring
a winning culture. But I would also say that you
would have a harder time making the playoffs, hypothetically in
the NFC North behind the Packers, the Lions, and what
(06:33):
we thought we're gonna be the Bikings come off a
fourteen three season last year than in the AFC East
with teams like the Jets and the Dolphins, who are
both on the downswing. Even with Buffalo, who you assume
was gonna win it, you had a higher opportunity, You
had more of an opportunity you felt like to win
that division than he did the NFC North. So I
get more credit to Ben Johnson.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I mean, way more competition top to bottom in the
NFC North than the Patriots Division. But let me remind
Cowboys fans again, neither one of Ben Johnson nor Vrabel
were interviewed for the head coaching job for the doubt
Now shot, he's doing great.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
I love what he's doing.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Is I really wanted Rabel. That was the guy I
really wanted, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
See too much, way too much attitude, way too much control,
way too much, which is also what makes I think
a good head coach in the NFL, which is infuriating
thinking about how those guys weren't even interviewed by the Cowboys.
Before we get into that crazy Jets Lions overtime game,
(07:33):
where I again I wish Jamis had been traded to
a team where he was playing meaningful football, because we
saw on Sunday he can keep you in games. He
can also throw you out of games. But it's the
Jamis Winston experience is always fun. We'll pick back up
there with our NFL Week twelve looxie, But coming up next,
(07:55):
let's check in with the voice of the Texans, Mark
Vandermere and talk to him about that crucial matchup coming
up for them against the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Coming up next here on the Ticket
It's that time of season.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I mean we are full, you know, football season. Yep,
we're still waiting on potential bowl game destination dates for that.
We've got men's and women's basketball tipping off now. We
actually have basketball all day on our TV screens today,
which I don't mind. I always like having actual live
(00:27):
sports to watch as we do the show, trying not
to be distracted by a riveting early season matchup between
Syracuse and Kansas. But yeah, Andy is staying busy, so
we are doing our best to fill in. Yeah, make
sure fill in, and make sure we don't burn the
ship down while he is out.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
We'll see, We'll see how it goes.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
He's turned us loose on a couple of potential interviews
with a guest today, of course we'll have. It's Tuesday,
so the voice of the Texans, Mark VanderMeer, will be
joining us next. And then if coach Traylor Can is
available out there getting ready for the Coaches Show, we'll
talk to him at the top of the six o'clock hour.
But before we waste any too much more time and
(01:14):
get off. We can't get off schedule for Mark, that is, again,
can't burn the house down. While Andy's out. So let's
get right to it, starting with those Texans. Looking back
at the NFL Week twelve. Last week, a nothing short
of impressive victory for Houston last Thursday night at home
(01:36):
against the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Also a Bills team that now.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Is the last team, last wild card team in the
AFC as the standings sit right now. Yes, and the
Texans the first team out of the playoffs as the
standing sit, but that of course was CJ. Stroud out injured.
You knew it was going to take a massive defensive effort,
(02:04):
especially on the hills of Josh Allen have having six
combined touchdowns two weeks ago. And then the Texans go
in there end up you know, sacking him what eight times,
the most of his.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Career, which is tough because he's built like a tide
and it is not easy to sack guys like him.
But to be honest, I don't think the Texans are
looking at Buffalo in that wildcard spot. I think they
have bigger fish to fry because there's only two games
behind the Colts and they.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
That's the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, where they can move to within one game back
in the division. No the Texans are. You know, they
have now climbed above five hundred for the first time
this year.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
South is more competitive this year than it has been
in recent memory because the Jags are still in it.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
The Colts, you know, they've been on a bit of
a skid recently.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
They're very much the three seed I believe right now
in the AFC the Texans are coming along. His AFC
South used to be a joke. This seems really if
you won nine games in that in that division, you
are probably gonna win it. Now three teams can make
the playoffs in.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
That Yeah, there's a very there's a very real pathway
for three teams from the AFC South to wind up
in the in the playoff bracket. I do think, you know,
the biggest question with the Texans. You know, a great
win last Thursday, But the biggest question is, you know, CJ.
Stroud's health moving forward. Will ask Mark about that in
(03:29):
the next segment. Because as good as that defense is, yeah,
and it is really really good. I mean, it's basically
probably either Thelm or Denver in terms of the most
you know, the defense that can cause the most havoc. Sure,
I think that can carry you a long way, but
getting CJ. Stroud back would make them an entirely different
(03:51):
team altogether. Elsewhere across Week twelve, the Bears. We talked
about them yesterday. The Bears basically have the same point
differential as the Arkansas Razorbacks, but Arkansas's two and nine
and the Bears are eight and three. They won another
close one, winning thirty one to twenty eight over the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And the Bears also have not an easy schedule, but
a favorable one. Just for the last six games, they
got the Packers twice, so you could probably assume a
split there. Obviously, on the road in Philly, they take
on San Francisco, they take on Detroit, but those right
now seem like vulnerable opponents. Base on we saw last
week and they got Cleveland. So the Bears right now
eight and three. In the past, you would say they
(04:33):
get smoked by maybe all these teams, But right now,
with this Bears team under Ben Johnson, one of the
I think they had the best differential and from last
year's offense to this year among the NFL that this
is a Bears team I think that could go in
and beat Philly, can take on Green Bay, can actually
take on the Lions and the Niners, because all those
teams this year, coming in, you thought they would be contenders.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Right now, they're all vulnerable absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I mean, and the Bears, who had the Bears after
twelve week sitting atop of the NFC North Jim Belushi
and Ben Johnson. I mean, those are probably your only
two guys. You mentioned the impact of Ben Johnson in
his first year there. Yes, Caleb Williams throws for three
touchdowns in that game against the Steelers. His fourth quarter
(05:19):
numbers are incredible compared to what that team had been
over the last few years, particularly particularly last year compared
to this year. But another first year coach, I ask
you who's been the more impressive first year coach? What
Ben Johnson's doing with the Bears or what Vrabel's doing
in New England.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Because the Patriots beat the.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Bengals now moved to ten and two in their first
year under Vrabel.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So I would have to say the Bears.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I would have to say Ben Johnson, just because in
the past, the association of a good Bears team was
an elite defense and a manageable offense. This Bears team
has a manageable defense and I don't know if I'm
ready to say elite offense, but a dangerous one.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
At the very least, it's a fun one. It is
a fun one.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
And I'm not even trying to take.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Away the credit for what Rabel's done with Drake May
because I've seen what Brabel did with guys like Ryan
Tannehill reinvigorated his career over in Tennessee. So if nothing else,
Rabel knows how to win. He knows how to bring
a winning culture. But I would also say that you
would have a harder time making the playoffs, hypothetically in
the NFC North behind the Packers, the Lions, and what
(06:33):
we thought we're gonna be the Bikings come off a
fourteen three season last year than in the AFC East
with teams like the Jets and the Dolphins, who are
both on the downswing. Even with Buffalo, who you assume
was gonna win it, you had a higher opportunity, You
had more of an opportunity you felt like to win
that division than he did the NFC North. So I
get more credit to Ben Johnson.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I mean, way more competition top to bottom in the
NFC North than the Patriots Division. But let me remind
Cowboys fans again, neither one of Ben Johnson nor Vrabel
were interviewed for the head coaching job for the doubt
Now shot, he's doing great.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
I love what he's doing.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Is I really wanted Rabel. That was the guy I
really wanted, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
See too much, way too much attitude, way too much control,
way too much, which is also what makes I think
a good head coach in the NFL, which is infuriating
thinking about how those guys weren't even interviewed by the Cowboys.
Before we get into that crazy Jets Lions overtime game,
(07:33):
where I again I wish Jamis had been traded to
a team where he was playing meaningful football, because we
saw on Sunday he can keep you in games. He
can also throw you out of games. But it's the
Jamis Winston experience is always fun. We'll pick back up
there with our NFL Week twelve looxie, But coming up next,
(07:55):
let's check in with the voice of the Texans, Mark
Vandermere and talk to him about that crucial matchup coming
up for them against the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Coming up next here on the Ticket
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