December 20, 2024 • 42 mins
On this episode of Twentyman in the Huddle podcast presented by Microsoft, Tim Twentyman is joined by Jennifer Hammond, Jared Goff and Mark Potash previewing the Lions’ annual matchup at Soldier Field when they take on the Chicago Bears Sunday.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Up.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Jared's still looking, still looking now throwing lights side.
Speaker 3 (00:03):
It is caught inside the five, driving for the end zone.
He getting it for the touchdown.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Jim Patrick, Welcome to Week sixteen of the NFL season.
I am Tim Twentyman. This is the twenty in the
Huddle podcast, and we usually like to start out with
kind of our three key segments, looking forward to to
Detroit's next game in Chicago and joining me via zoom
on her day off. Very generous of Jennifer Hammond to
(00:30):
join me Fox do. Look, she's been at Fox two
for twenty seven years. She's been covering the Lion since
nineteen ninety four. She does the postgame show on ninety
seven point one after every Lions game. Jen, thanks for
joining the twenty the Huddle Podcast. I appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I'm super happy to be here. Tim.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Thanks well Week sixteen and you know, obviously tough loss
for you know, Detroit last week against Buffalo. You listen
to outside of the building, it almost seems like the
sky's falling. Jen, that the seasons they should cancel it.
Good luck try again next year. Now, Look, I know
(01:05):
they're dealing with injuries, but they've dealt with these injuries
all year, Jen, some of them have been big, and
they've just kind of found a way. You listened to
Dan Campbell talk this week and he said, look, we're
gonna find a way again. Maybe it's you know, playing
a little bit different. Try to maybe talk Lions fans
off the ledge here. You know, with three games remaining,
they still are the number one seed.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
I started that job of talking them off the ledge
on Sunday as soon as the postgame show came on,
and I had a feeling. I knew that it would
start with the rage, right the seven stages of brief
for Lions fans. Rage was one of them that came
early about Dan going for that on sides with twelve
minutes to go, we'll push that aside, and now it's
gone to actually remorse and sorrow and deep fear. Everybody
(01:50):
just thinks that the season is over. To your point,
and I think that it was Jared Goff had actually
foreshadowed and said after the game, we're going to hear
everybody saying that the.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Sky is falling. It is not.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
And even a few weeks back, you'll go, I think
it was after the game when Angelone got hurt. Remember
that Dan Campbell stood up at the podium either on
that Sunday or that Monday, and he said, things are
gonna get worse. This isn't the worst thing that's gonna
happen to us. Things are gonna get worse and we're
gonna have to respond. So there was a little bit
of foreshadowing going on there with both of those guys.
(02:20):
And those are your two leaders. And when you hear
those guys say there's no doom in gloom, that is
the message that's being crafted curated in that building.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
And you see it, you know what you hear it.
And Dan on.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Ninety seven won the ticket this week on Tuesday. He
was brilliant and he's a great motivator. And not only
does he just say those words, I've heard a lot
of people say, oh, those are just words. That's not
gonna get a lean b McNeil back or Hutchback.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
But what those.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
Words do is they let you know that he's not worried,
and he can't be worried and he can't spend his time.
What they're gonna do is they're gonna plugu play and
push and they still have a golden opportunity in front
of them with three very winnable games. And I say
very winnable because that Minnesota game is on their home field,
(03:13):
but very winnable at Chicago against a team that has
nothing to play for.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Very winnable at.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
San Francisco against a team that is broken and has
not much to play for. So I'm not worried. I mean,
certainly they've got to play their best, but I think
they can do it.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
All.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Right, let's ark, Jenn, Let's get into some of these
three keys and look offensively. You know, the injuries have
really been to the defensive side of the football all
year long. They've avoided some big time injuries offensively up
to this point. But obviously Sunday had a pretty big
one with David Montgomery having the knee injury. He's still
holding out hope. He did a cod drive this week.
(03:50):
He's still holding out hope to maybe return. Dan didn't
seem as optimistic. Well, we'll have to kind of see
where that goes. But now this lands on Jamior Gibbs
and Craig Reynolds and Scioni Vaki now to kind of
handle that load at running back and Jen me personally,
obviously that's a big loss. He's the heart and soul
(04:11):
of that run game, right, he gives you those tough yards.
But Jamiir Gibbs is a very capable running back. I
mean we've talked all year about them being one A
and one B, how either one would probably start on
thirty other teams. So now he's going to get his
opportunity here for the last three games and the playoffs
to kind of carry that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Load a concern level for you at all?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Are you as as confident as I am that that
he'll be just fine in that role.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
My concern level for this injury, obviously when it first happened,
was maybe a four.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
It has gone down to a two. And I'll tell
you why. Tim Something we've seen from Jamiir Gibbs.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Originally it felt like one was sizzle one with steak, right,
we had Sonic and knuckles. One was the flash, Flash
and dash. One was the hard, hard yards. The actual
progression of Jamiir Gibbs as a run back this season
has been nothing short of incredible. The tough yards, the
yards after contact that he has been able to get
(05:08):
the way he has shown that he can slip tackles,
change direction, and make guys miss is really incredible. And
I know that people get all ruffled when you compare
anybody in this country to Barry Sanders, but there have
been times that he has looked an awful lot like
number twenty and he's a guy that can be the
(05:29):
bell cow. Right now, he's rushing at a five point
six yards per carry clip. Certainly, the Bills game was tough.
They had a bad day, but a lot of that, too,
was on the offensive line. And what we've seen from
the offensive line is when they have a rough game,
what do they do? They come back vengeance and I
(05:50):
think that we're going to see that this week against Chicago.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
And Jen This isn't the first time this has happened
to Lions. To you look at last year, Montgomery missed
three games and Gibbs had to step up and play
a big role in those three games. And you look
at the Raiders game in particular, I think it was
twenty six carries, one hundred and fifty four yards in
a touchdown. He had three hundred yards in those three
games filling in for Montgomery. Also chipped in fifteen receptions.
(06:14):
So it's not like this is something we haven't seen.
He hasn't done. He's shown he can carry the load.
It's not like he's going to be asked to do
it for an entire season. They've got three games left
here and then you know whatever. You know, they've gotten
the playoffs. And so to your point too, I think
he's evolved his game that he can handle some of
those inside the tackle stuff. And look, Craig Reynolds is
a very capable backup. I mean, you saw the touchdown
(06:37):
run on fourth found he's a veteran. Yeah, he had
the touchdown run in the playoffs last year. He's that
between the tackles guy. I think he handles some short
stuff and how excited do you see maybe a carrier
two for Scioni Vaki and kind of see where he's at.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
You know what, it.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Seems like everything that Brad Holmes has touched, for the
most part has turned to gold. So I think that
Vaki is going to be a guy with who's going
to show that his value and worth is is what
they expected it to be with some extended playing time.
I don't know that he'll get more reps than Reynolds
because to your point, I love what Reynolds is able
to do between the tackles, and he's such a good
blocker too, and that is something they're going to miss.
(07:13):
With David Montgomery obviously, the way that he's able to
pick up the backers on the blitz.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
He does a really good.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Job with that, and I think that's something that Reynolds
might be a little bit better at. But it'll be
interesting to see both guys get an opportunity. And the
way that Dan Campbell has been able to motivate guys
and Scottie Montgomery, I mean, he's a great coach and
there's talk about him being a potential OC or even
a head coach in this league. They've got great coaches
that are in place to motivate, train teach, coach, get
(07:45):
these guys ready to go in and play. And I
don't think they're going to miss a step.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I think we're on the same page there. I'm actually
looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I think they have a chance maybe to be a
little bit more explosive even too.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
I'm an eternal optimist, so you're never going to get
me an asay about the sky falling.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Okay, I love it, all right, Well, let's turn over
to the other side of the ball.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Jen and obviously the injuries are mounting up.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
You lose Ali McNeil, you lose Carlton Davis, you lose
Khalil Dorsey this week, three more guys that you know
have have played significant snaps for this team. And look, now,
guys are gonna get another opportunity. Dan talked about it
earlier in the week, and some guys are gonna have
to step up too, and some guys, Look, there's.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Still talent there.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Jen, you still got DJ Reader, you still got Enzriique,
you still got Pascal, you still have both Branch and Joseph,
You've got Terry and Arnold.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
At this point, really isn't a rookie. You've got some
guys that can play. But who to you with all
these injuries.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Is there someone currently on that defensive side of the
ball who needs to step up for you? Who who
do they really need to to kind of take that
next step to their game over the next three weeks.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
All right, I've got two names for you, and I
wonder if they're gonna be the same two I have.
We'll see DJ Reader. DJ Reader for sure is one.
He has got to step up in the middle, and
I think he will. He was a guy I think
that took exception after the game on Sunday to questions
about the defense being leaky and unable to contain Josh
(09:10):
Allen and that Bill's offense. Also, I think what they've
got to do is they've got to find ways to
manufacture pressure. I mean, certainly, you know, they've blitzed a lot,
they've played man a lot. They're going to have to
change things up a little bit, but they're gonna have
to get creative, and I think that's something that Aaron
Glenn can do. When you've got a week to practice
with new guys in there, it's a lot it's a
(09:33):
lot more comforting and settling, shall we say, than it
is when somebody goes down in the middle of the
game and you got to plug and play, right, that's
a little.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Bit more chaotic.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
And also it's going to give another week for guys
that have been there in the system. Jonah Williams, also
Jamal Adams is going to probably get some more playing time.
The other guy that I'm really leaning towards seeing in
a different role and doing more.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Who I think is ready to take it on is
a Meek Robertson.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
This is a guy who's got a whole lot of attitude,
a whole lot of swagger, and he's a veteran and
he has made some great plays at time at times.
And I think the one thing that we haven't seen
from this defense that has hurt them significantly is the
turnover ratio. They had thirteen picks right through the first
nine games. They have just won in the last five,
(10:20):
so they're not taking the ball away at the same rate,
and that gives their offense more chances. And we've heard
even Dan Campbell say it when they were going into
the game two weeks ago against Green Bay that maybe
when the defense is hurting, the best defense is a
good offense. If they can keep their offense on the field,
and that lends to the running game being better and
(10:42):
you know, sustaining some drives and getting some of those
chunk plays on first down. If they can do those things,
it's going to be infinitely more manageable for their defense.
I mean, they were just on the field way too
much on Sunday against the Bills, and I don't foresee
any other team doing that to Detroit.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
No, those are two good ones, Jen, and I think
it'll be interesting too with with a Meek if if
they keep him in the slot, or you know, if
they if they're able to get if Fatumla fan will back,
what would that might do to Branch? Would he you know,
how would they maybe switch some things up and change
that rotation in the secondary.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I think that'll be interesting.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Dan talked about maybe they're they're identifying some some changes,
some guys playing some different roles. They'll have to practice
this week and see how that goes. Great flexibility, and
a Meek has played outside. He probably played his best
ball outside when he was with the Raiders, So that'll
be an interesting one for me. The two are are
Kirby Joseph and Brian Branch. And it's for the reasons
(11:37):
that you talked about that I highlighted as well. One
takeaway Jen the last four games. I mean to me,
those are such game changing plays that look, when you're
missing some guys, when you're struggling a little bit, sometimes
just that that big turnover, that that that that that
you know, we saw a couple of weeks ago with
Carlton Davis, you know, punching that ball out. Sometimes you
just need that big turnover in their side that sets
(11:58):
your offense up that allows you to take that two
score lead that then settles things down, right, that spark
it's great and so but those are the guys all
year that have been your kind of takeaway kings, right,
They've led the team in interceptions. When you've needed a
big one, they've gotten it. They've gotten away from that.
So the two guys for me is those guys need
to get back to taking away the football, creating those
(12:20):
big plays. Help out those guys in front of you.
You see it all happening in front of you. Go
and make a big play spark this team. And to me,
it's Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph that have to make
those big plays. They have to step up these last
three weeks.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
And their physical guys, and they're also emotional leaders I
think for that defense. As young as they both are,
I think they really play with a lot of emotion
and I think that those guys on that side of
the ball really feed off that.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
All right, let's talk about our third key, Jen and
it's really the offense picking up the slack, and it's
Jared Golf And really, how good has Jared Golf been
and can this offense continue to kind of carry the load.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Yeah, I think they absolutely can.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
And I know a lot of people don't like to
look back to last season, but you almost have to
look back to last season to maybe foreshadow a little
bit of how they're going to get it done in
these last three games and into January. And what they
did last year was they outscored everybody.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Right, they didn't, they didn't.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
They had a little bit more of a leaky defense
last year. And I think what their plan was, go
and out score people to the best of your ability,
lean on our offensive line, run the ball with those
guys you know up front, and make sure that the
other team's offense stays off the field, because they are
going to continue to see guys who are as talented
once we get to the playoffs, they're going to see
(13:37):
quarterbacks as talented as Josh Allen. Fortunately they won't have
to see him again until February if that is the
case and they get there, but they're going to see
guys you.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Know that are going to make life difficult for them.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I'm sure Matthew Stafford is you know, really looking forward.
And then if they have Tampa come back in again.
I mean, this is a team they also lost to.
So it's going to be tough for them if they
can't get the offense clicking as it was, and you
hear Jared say, we've missed some things, and whereas they
played really really well last week after those first two drives,
(14:09):
they've got to play great from the jump, they've got
to go down the field score and they can't really
play from behind.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I just don't think it's feasible.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Jared's not going to throw the ball what fifty nine
times every game for them to try to come from behind.
I like their chances when they are behind because they've got,
you know, great mental fortitude and they've got that comeback mentality.
But I think if they can play ahead as much
as possible now, and that starts with the offense being
proficient from the from the first quarter on the opening drive.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
And really, Jen, what gives me a ton of confidence
in this team still being able to get it done
is just the way Jared's playing. I mean, you look
at seven games with a seventy five plus completion percentage.
I mean, you know, he's second league in completion percentage,
he's fourth in touchdowns, he's got a thirty touchdown to
ten interception ratio. He's got one hundred and ten passerating
(14:58):
that's second only to Lamar Jackson. He is playing at
an elite level. If not for Josh Allen, I think
he's right there in the MVP conversation, do.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
You feel like he still doesn't even get their respect?
And I actually kind of like that, go ahead, keep
disrespecting the Lions.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I think they love and thrive on that.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
And to David Montgomery's point, it's like the Land of
Misfit Toys.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Go ahead, It's like the city of Detroit. Doubt us,
count us out.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
I think it's just something that some people thrive on,
and I think Jared Goff.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Is one of those guys.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
And I think it's perfect Jen two that they're hitting
the road for two weeks too.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
You look at them.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Six and zero on the road this year. They're the
only team in the NFL that's undefeated on the road.
They get that US versus everybody else mentality at a
perfect time when they kind of need to come together
and do that stuff. I think it's perfect timing for them.
And I got a lot of faith in Jared Golf
being able to go there and score a bunch of
points in Chicago and San Francisco, and that sets up
(15:55):
a great one of Week eighteen. Hopefully it doesn't come
to that, but if it does, what a fun one
it will be.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
It's crazy that we're Week sixteen already, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Yeah, it's insane. This season has gone so fast.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
And actually, if you look at the Vikings schedule, tim
their next three opponents combined record of thirty and twelve,
the Lions next three twenty two and twenty so a
little bit of an easier road for the Lions, but
nothing is easy in this league, as we know, and
you know, it would be nice if maybe the Eagles
or the Vikings would lose one here. We'll all keep
(16:27):
our fingers crossed for that. But if they don't, the
Lions very much have control of their own destiny.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Handle your own business, right, Yep, it's as easy as that.
Jennifer Hamma, She's been doing it for a long long time.
Thank you so much for joining the Twenty Minute Huddle podcast.
I appreciate you. We're going to have you on again
and I will be back with I'll be back with
Jeer Gooff.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Welcome back to the twenty Huddle Podcast. Very happy welcome
Quacome to joy Lies year go. Thanks so much for
joining me. I appreciate I get you once a year.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
I always love I look forward to the week before
we get to football. Let's start with this, the Walter
Payton Man of the Year, your second nomination for that.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
I know it's a valued thing in that locker room
and it just speaks to what.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
You mean to this community off the football field too.
Just how important of an honor is that for you?
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, it's such a cool honor, and to me, it's
one of the you know, most humbling honors I've ever received,
and it's my second time getting it now. And to
be able to represent our team in that way and
to represent the league and to know that, you know,
all the kids were able to help and that they're
able to you know, have a light shine on them
for some of the stuff that the publicity they're getting.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
It's very cool.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
And I myself have a junior in high school, so
I know we're starting to look at.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
The college stuff and stuff. I know you've worked with
the Fate program.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
What was the look on their faces when that came
out that you're going to take care of, you know,
four years of college for those kids. What a great
thing on your part was the best part just their reaction,
their faces.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Yeah, it's very cool. The program that they're in is
is guiding them along in that direction. But for myself
and our program to be able to help them out
a little bit and their journey, it means a ton.
And I know they're so excited for it. I know
they're also driven and have such high character and are
so creative and talented and the whole thing. And it's
it's just an honor for me to be able to
help them into a small way that I can.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
And I know the foundation is JG sixteen. You got
a website, right, yep, people can.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Yes join in help out.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Yeah, every dollar spent on the website gets matched by me,
and every dollar of that match plus dollar you spent,
so you spend ten dollars, twenty dollars goes to the
kids for their scholarships.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
All right, we'll make sure we get that up on
the screen there front on the podcast so people can
help out.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Right, let's get to the football field. You guys lose
a football.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Game first time in ninety one days and unfortunately it
seems like this this.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Guy is falling. But look, this is the NFL. That's
an MVP.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Caliber guy over there that played out of his mind.
You did as well, and they just had a little
bit more that day. You know, three and out a turnover,
that's the difference in a football game. But what was
a message this week? Why isn't this sky falling? Why
are you guys going to continue to keep playing. We're
not canceling the season. You lost a football game, right?
Is that what people have to just put in perspective.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I don't quite understand the sentiment of that. I knew
it would happen at whatever point that winning streak would
come to an end. Of course, you don't want it
to come to an end. You wanted to go all
the way through the Super Bowl and you win every game.
But it's hard, it's really hard. And I thought the
Bills played great. I thought they brought it to us
early on and we weren't able to overcome it. But yeah,
we're in We're in good shape.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Man.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
We're twelve and two.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
We've got three games ahead of us. We've got a
big division game this week, one that will be fired
up for I'm sure, they'll be fired up on the
other side, and we'll be going one at a time,
you know, we want to win this one and then
so on and so forth. But yeah, we're we're in
fine shape. We'll be just fine, and I think Dan
does a good job leading that charge and keeping us
level headed. And to be honest, you know, people always
you know, what's changed was different? Nothing. It's the same
(19:47):
as it was last week. It's the same as it
was the week before. Nothing's changed internally besides our record,
and we're good.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
You would have loved to win fifteen straight, but this
is the NFL. It's hard to win in this league.
And you guys did it for so long. But I
think you mentioned it too, and Dan had the message
that it was almost like a recalibration, you know, if
he used the term stuff as you get punched the face.
You can losing at this point in the season be
a good thing sometimes if.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
You handle it the right way. Yeah, absolutely, if you
handle it the right way. And I think we're built
to do that. So, yes, you know, you never want
to lose. You would like to win every game, but
when you can lose in a way that you can
learn from it and you can get better and come
back the next week with maybe a little bit more
fire and a little bit more urgency and a little
bit more readiness and some aspects. Then yeah, absolutely, it's
good free What.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Was the learning points for you guys. What's the point
of emphasis from Ben this week?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Off last week?
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Obviously you had a terrific game in the passing gave did.
The rushing game has struggled a little bit, which is
uncharacteristic of you guys this year. Has that been maybe
one of the things Ben's talked about focused on. What's
the messages were going into.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Yeah, sure, it's a little bit of everything. I think,
you know, at the end of the day, again, nothing's
really changed because we lost a game. It's still the
same messaging we've always had. We want to put up
a ton of points, we want to put up a
ton of yards. We want to be able to, you know,
sustain these games and win these games, and really the
messages whatever it takes. You know, at this point of
the season, we don't care. Dan said, I think at
one point this year, if it's ten points or if
it's fifty points, of course we'd like it to be
(21:08):
fifty points. But you know what, however many points it
takes to win the game, we will we will be
ready to do that.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
You guys have pretty much been unscathed offensively in terms
of the injuries, obviously heavy on the defensive side. But
you get one this week with David Montgomery going down
what to see if that's a season there or nine?
And we's got in a the third opinion, just how
big of a loss is that? And then maybe on
the flip beend, just how much confidence do you have
in Jamiir, Craig, Jamar Baki, all those guys that you
(21:36):
could just keep this thing rolling. We talked to Ben
Johnson this week and he said, look, nothing changes. Jamiir
is ready for this moment.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
He's been groomed. We like where he's at. Just the
loss and then what you still have with Jamir.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
And it sucks to lose David, you know, not only
for what he does on the field, but what he
does in our locker room and in the huddle and
throughout a game, and his energy and his ability to
make big plays. And yeah, it sucks. It's it's certainly
something will overcome, but we'll have to. But yeah, Gibbie's
as good of a running back as there is in
this league. So if he's the guy that has to
carry the load a little bit more, then then we're
(22:07):
certainly okay with that. And Craig and Jamar and Vaki
will be right there ready to fill in when needed,
And yeah, we feel good.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Defense has dealt with a ton of injuries as we
know twenty guys on ir do you guys, I don't
know if you talked about, but is there ever just
a feeling of thought that, hey, they're going through so
much and you know, Aaron's gonna have a good game
plan and he's been ready and they've filled in guys,
and they've played really, really good last week.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
That's a good point.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Like we talked about, they've done well defensive, But as
an offense, do you guys ever like saved yourself or think, hey,
we know we've got to pick up the slack? Right?
Is that just what being a football team is about?
Is that just playing complimentary football?
Speaker 1 (22:44):
I think yeah, it's more that it's more complimentary, like
I pick up the slacks probably the wrong term. It's
it's more if it takes thirty four like it did
against the Green Bay, then it takes thirty four. Last
week it would have taken what forty six how many
point I don't know how many points they scored, but
so would have taken forty nine. Like if we were
scored one more touchdown, we would in the game. So
whatever it takes, you know, if it's thirty four, ifty nine,
(23:04):
and Dan mentioned earlier in the week, if it's ten,
if it's seventeen, whatever whatever it takes for us. Offensively,
we've got to be ready to do. And defensively they'll
be just fine. They'll be ready to go, they'll do
their thing, they'll come out, they'll play hard, they'll play well,
and we'll feed off each other.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
How much do you do you admire what Aaron has
done and all the different pieces he's had to place,
and it just seems every week they find a way
and they do what needs to to win a football game.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
How much an admiration from the other.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Side and just looking at it, because I'm sure you've
see it in practice sometimes do just some of the
different changes, new guys and anything else.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Just what he's gone through and what.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
He's done to have that defense as playing as well
as it has. Really consistently all year. How much do
you admire what he's done?
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Yeah, a ton, he's he's a stud of a coach
and never hear an excuse out of him. He's just
gonna find a way to make it work. And he's
he's a great coach. We've got a lot of great coaches.
That whole staff over there on defense is a great job,
and I think our whole staff is a whole offense
defense Secial teams is pretty special and he's certainly a
big part of it.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Last week, you get to skip in the flat there.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
How much do you love that when when you saw
you know, you do the playfake and and you see
he sells it real great, does the block and he's
open in the just what's your thought? Is it?
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Excitement?
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Oh my god? Don't drop the ball?
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Is throw because you know the ones that are hardware.
When he is so wide open, it is hard. It
seems harder sometimes to hit him with that. But yeah,
I just wanted to give him a nice catchuple ball
and if he scores, great, if he gets down to
the one you knew he was running that guy over day.
Oh yeah, I know he didn't have to. He had
he could have ran right in, but he wanted to,
you know, lower his shoulder on that guy. And I'm
(24:34):
glad he scores.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
How much do you love those moments for those kind
of players?
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Right? I always considered like him, Guys like him and
Khalif and stuff like that, like glue pieces to a roster, Right,
Like guys that will just step in, do anything, make
place when they have their opportunities. And and you know,
I fought to be cut and practice squad never made
it round and then they finally make it and then
they you get to do that for them.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
How much do you love those moments?
Speaker 1 (24:57):
It's very cool. It's very cool. And I think we
have a lot of as like that actually, And obviously
he's a big one that's been, you know, bounced around
the league a little bit, been to a bunch of teams,
and for us to be able to, you know, have
him have a role, it's very cool. And when he's
able to get the ball in his hands, it's even cooler.
But yeah, he's done a great job stepping in when needed,
whether it's guard or tackle. And I thought he played
great against Green Bay when he was playing left tackle.
(25:18):
And yeah, he's done a hell of a job.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
You got the Bears this week. They played youre Tina
on Thanksgiving.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
I think that game in the first half probably could
have been You guys could have maybe extended that lead
a little bit more than you should have.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
You probably look at that and like, sure, ifs and
butts and candy, that's every sure y's right.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Yeah, you're right. If we scored in the red zone
every time, yeah, we would have been up by more points.
But they're a good red zone defense.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah, And speaking of that, just what maybe needs to
change with the red zone a little bit facing them?
And what's that dynamic when you face a team a
second time?
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:44):
It just do you see a lot of difference when
when a team has success like that against a certain area,
do they tend to do the same thing? Will they
change it up a little bit knowing that you're probably
going to.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Change it up? Like, how does that dynamic work.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
With that's the chess game that you play? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Is that the fun part for you?
Speaker 1 (25:57):
It is fun. It's fun for Ben and I and
more for him. He's trying to decide, you know, what
play to call on, what designed to come up with
tonight and throughout the week. But yeah, it's it's it's
cool to see, you know, to play that game a
little bit. Now it's becomes even more complicated when they
change coaching and yeah, so then you don't even really know,
like what's the new guys philosophy. So there are a
lot of pieces there. But at the same time, we're
(26:18):
going to change things as well, so they'll have to
prepare for that. And yeah, we got to be better
than the red zone against them this week. And I
know that's a point of emphasis, but you know, there
are a good red zone defense, but we got to
find a way to continue being a good red zone offense.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Well, you guys have found a way to be a
good team on the road all season long. Six and no,
I think you're the only team in the NFL is
undefeated on the road. What is it about that that
that you guys like about just being on the road?
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Detroit versus everybody, man is what it is.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
It's simple, it is.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
And three home games in a row is cool, don't
get me wrong, in front of our fans, but you know,
sometimes you like, you know, going on the road and
feeling everyone against you. And I'm sure we'll have a
pretty good continguency out there of Lions fans. But you
like that feeling a little bit. You like hearing the
crowd get quiet when you throw a touchdown. You like
you know, having that you know everyone it's against your feeling,
and we'll get that for the next two weeks.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
It really hasn't been that in some places though. I
mean this, this fan base has.
Speaker 6 (27:03):
Traveled so much, You've had some of that.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Maybe maybe that's helped a little bit too. But cold weather game,
thirty degrees but no precipitation. Obviously, quarterbacks love that part
of it. Just what's your approach to games like this
when it's gonna be kind of cold and you know that.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
That turf is tends to be slick sometimes when it
when it's cold.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Do you have a certain approach to those games?
Speaker 2 (27:23):
The gloves no gloves did what what's your kind of
thought on that?
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah? I do. I mean I've got different tools I
can use, Like you mentioned the gloves. We'll see how
it goes on Sunday. If I feel like I need them.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
What's the determined factor?
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Usually just pregame, I can tell oh really yeah right away?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Feel them all?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Yeah, and I throw it. Sometimes I joke myself, I
throw it better with the gloves on, so I feel
good with those things on, and then yeah, just layers
if it's cold and go all right ahead. But yeah,
we've had some good success on the road and and
some of these cold weather games, and if that's what
it is again and we need to play accordingly.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
We will division opponent. Those are always tough final stretch here. Look,
you guys control your own destiny, and that's got to
be the fun part about this, right. I mean you
guys know, if you win, you're the number one seed,
you get that buy and everything rolls to Detroit.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
That's got to be the goal, right, Yeah, it's great.
It is a goal, It certainly is. And to be
able to come off a loss like we did this
late in the season and still be able to say
that is a testament to what we've done up to
this point. But yeah, you gotta go do it. And
that's the challenge is we got three good teams ahead
of us, starts with the Bears this week, but yeah,
we gotta go win this one first and move on
from there. We should be a fun one.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Go do it.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I appreciate you, yep. No pro.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Welcome back to the twenty in l Huddle podcast. I
am very happy to welcome it in. Mark Potosh. He
has been covering the Chicago Bears for the sun time
since nineteen eighty seven, so he's been in it for
all the good, all the bad. Mark, You're currently in
a little bit of bad hate straight Just what's the
mood in Chicago right now? You obviously got off to
(28:53):
a terrific start four and two, and things have kind
of just come off the rails a couple of really
tough losses late in games. What's kind of the mentality
there to to finish out the last three games and
finish this thing strong.
Speaker 6 (29:05):
I think more just resignation. I think after just such
a disappointment. This was supposed to be the year that
the Bears kind of went against the grain or their
normal their history, because they had the quarterback, they had
the receivers, they were seemingly set up, they had a
good defense. They were five and three at the end
of last year, and and it just all fell apart
in very typical fashion. And so I think there's there's hope,
(29:29):
there's always hope that the coaching change will be better,
But at this point, it's been so long now, I
think eleven non winning seasons out of last twelve, and
it's been so long. You know, Lions fans know exactly
what I'm talking about. They've been through the same thing
and and the Bears trying to get to that point
where the Lions are and they just haven't been able
to do it. So I think fans are just I
(29:49):
think they're at a point now where they used to
have hope and now they just have to see it
to believe it. And so there's it. So frankly, the
mood is down here, even with like the quarterback prospect
the Bears have ever had, and now the fear is
that they're ruining him and as has happened so often before.
So to answer your question, uh, in a in a
(30:09):
kind of a roundabout way, just very down and just discouraged,
probably more than anything else. And and uh and not
not very hopeful.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Well, Lions fans can certainly vouch for the fact that
it just takes the right head coach. It takes that
right kind of guy that that brings in that atmosphere. Certainly,
Detroit's found that with Dan Campbell and Chicago will be
looking for the same thing, is is there a fear
when you look at Caleb Williams got off to a
great start, and look, he's doing some things. I think
that that go maybe under the radar. The lack of interceptions,
(30:38):
I think that's rare for rookies. He takes care of
the football, but he's been missing some guys and it
looks like he's regressed a little bit that here down
the stretch. Is that the fear that that you know,
this kid maybe goes through so much adversity that he
can't can't bounce back. You've been close to him. Is
that a worry at all? Or do you think he's
got the right mindset?
Speaker 6 (30:58):
I think that's definitely the concern. Look, Kayleb Williams is
better than justin fields, He's better than Mitch Trubisky. It's
a different animal. There's no doubt that this guy has
a much better chance to be special than the previous
two quarterbacks did. But it's gotten to the point now
he's on his third coordinator, uh a second head coach already,
(31:20):
and the way he's played this this year, the last
couple of weeks, there is starting to be that fear
that here we go again, and that even though in
the right hands, there's no doubt that he could be
an elite quarterback, much like I said, much more so
than either Fields or Trubisky. I think the fear is
that he's wearing down and that they will you know,
(31:42):
ruin him as you know, as has happened before. So yeah,
there's a definite fear of that. There's no certainty that
that this guy will be able to rise above the
muck of Chicago Bears football and kind of and and
and rise above it and be you know, be great.
I think it's pretty clear now that he needs the
right coach and the right GM and just the right
(32:04):
everything to be good. He can't lift a team on
his shoulders. He's not that good. He's not you know,
he's not He's not Patrick Mahomes and and but he
needs a lot of how he needs help to at
least get in that realm. And the fear is that
it's not gonna it might not happen because the Bears
are just dysfunctional.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Look, we've seen him at his best that second half
versus Detroit. I mean, he was really really good at
three touchdown passes, nearly brought them back, so we know
it's there and he's done it in stretches. But that
first half was I think fifty three yards. I think
they only had maybe three first downs or whatever it was,
zero points. Were shut out. They've been shut out in
the first half the last three. What's really just been
(32:44):
the issue to start games and how do they start
faster Sunday against Detroit.
Speaker 6 (32:48):
Well, I don't know, and they don't know. That's the
more important thing they really, you know, they've been trying
to They've been trying to start fast all season. They've
had a problem with that, even when they were playing well.
I think they struggled with starting I don't know why
they really, That's one of the things when you ask them,
they really have no clue. They just said, we want
to be better, and you know, and then and they
always aren't. So I don't know. I don't know the
(33:09):
answer to that other than that there's not a very
good offense. And I'll tell you there's one interesting thing
I thought about that that Lions game that you know,
they had the slow start and then they picked it up,
but you know, in a moment of extreme decision, you know,
but even though it was the lack of a timeout
that got man Ebres was fired. Uh. Caleb Williams also
kind of didn't really rise to the moment and he
(33:33):
kind of frozen that moment himself. And and that was
to me, I've been watching the restaurant. That to me,
that was a little bit of a red flag that
he doesn't have quite the instinct that a Joe Burrow
has that a Patrick Mahomes has. He's done that before,
you know, I think the week before or a couple
weeks before, he'd played a similar situation, played a great
second half against the Vikings, but took a twelve yard
(33:53):
sack in overtime when he held out of the ball
for nine seconds, which most quarterbacks just know not to do.
So he's made a couple of errors, frankly, you know,
kind of a little bit red flaggish about just what
he can do. And so I think that was that
was kind of an underrated part with where eber Flu's
getting fired. That was kind of an underrated facet to
that Lions game. When he really should have had responded
(34:14):
to the urgency of the moment and even though the
coach maybe should have called time out, he should have
responded and gotten his team to the line faster and
played that better. So a little bit. So I know
your question was about the slow starts, but that, to
me was was the bigger impact of that game. And
that just shows you how he really needs help, you know,
more than he can't just do it on his own.
So I think that's a little bit of a cause
(34:35):
for concern. But anyway to your question, I'll be honest,
I'm at a loss. The Bears are lost. They don't
know why they're starting so slow. What happens is when
they turn it on in the second half, you know
they've got it. But that's typical the Bears. They they
have it in them, but there's always something there's always
something wrong, and you know, and they just they just
haven't figured it out.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
No, I think that was a good point by you
actually at the end of the Bears game, because I
thought that went a little bit under reported. Obviously, your
coach has got to have your back, and when it
gets down to fourteen thirteen twelve, he's got to say, Okay, look,
the kid doesn't got it. Let's let's call the time out.
Let's refocus, we can get out of bounce. Let's do that,
but Williams should have.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
At this point.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
He's not really a rookie, right and he should have.
So I think it actually is a good point. I
thought it wasn't talked about him as much at the
end of that game. Injury wise, we know where the
Lions are at. Obviously it's a huge storyline in the NFL.
Twenty plus guys on injured reserve. But how Chicago doing
injury wise heading into this one? They're going to have
most of their pieces, any guys maybe on the fence.
Speaker 6 (35:34):
Well, they've had I mean, they've had some injury issues,
but that hasn't been a big problem at all. That
they lost Andrew Billings early and he's a big part
of the run defense, but that was The run defense
has been leaky all year for a team that led
the NFL and run defense last year, and that was
a few weeks ago. Recently, their biggest issue I think
is at left tackle, where Braxton Jones is out. And
(35:56):
last week they started they started a rookie Coron I'm
a guy and he just had one of those bad
rookie games. The third round draft pick uh in his
first NFL start, Uh, you know, on the road in
a in a dome. It was just a bad situation.
And uh yeah, he had just had a bad game
with holding penalties and gave up a strip, sack and stuff.
(36:16):
So I think they'll go back to him. And the
issue there, of course, is that at least from a
Bear's perspective, is that they have a veteran who could
who should be able to fill in and Larry Boram.
But Larry Borum has been so ineffective this year that
they literally went with a rookie and put him in
a bad spot, you know, knowing that it was going
to be a bad spot. It just shows you how
how how bad uh the Bears are on their offensive
(36:38):
line and and their depth, which they which you know,
Ryan Polser GM thought was going to be a strength,
so that would that would be He said that was
this is the best stepth we I've ever had on
the offensive line. Was very sold on it. And I
mentioned that because that just typifies how disappointing the Bears
have been. What they thought were strengths have become weaknesses.
And that's as you guys know, I keep saying that,
(36:59):
you know, that's how that's how you have a disappointing season.
And so that's probably the biggest The biggest injury concern
right now.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Is on the.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
Offensive line, where you know they're they're just struggling.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Yeah, to your point, one hundred and ninety four rushing
yards for the Lions on Thanksgiving a few weeks ago
average five point nine.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
So they've struggled in that regard the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
They're hoping that they can get back on track the
way they did against Chicago.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
What's the key mark for Chicago on Sunday?
Speaker 2 (37:27):
You know, to snap this eight game losing streak to
force the upset.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
What do you think is the biggest key What.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Does Chicago have to do Sunday to kind of break
this and get back in the WKUM and really hand
Detroit a huge loss.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
Well, I hate to say it, but they have to
get off to a fast start. I mean they counting,
they can't keep counting on rallying in the second half. Now.
They have played the Lions tough, even as the Lions
have gotten better here in the last few years. You know,
they beat them at at Soldier Field last year, played
them tough at four Field the last two years. They
do play them well, and the Lions kind of play
down to the Bears level a little bit, as you know,
(38:01):
that's been They've done that, you know, So so I
think it's I anticipated still being a close, a close game,
a competitive game, But the Bears really just need to
get off to a fast start because they're home now
for the first time in three weeks, and Bears fans
are not happy. And if the Bears get off to
a bad start, the booe birds are going to be
(38:21):
coming out pretty quickly and it's gonna and this team
has not responded well to adversity. They lost on the
Hail Mary, and that has totally turned their season around.
They have not they have not won since uh and
and they have just not done well in adverse situations.
So so I think I think that it's almost cliche
to say it, but they have to get off to
(38:42):
a good start because even playing at home, that's almost
going to be a detriment because their own fans are
going to be all over them if they don't start fast.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
Hey, I wanted to ask you something, maybe just maybe
a little off the field, but but just the stadium
talk there in Chicago, where where's that sit right now?
I know Lions fans heard that could be in a
retractable roof.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
We could have a dome in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Obviously that could bring a lot of national events and
stuff like that to Chicago. Lions fans are certainly excited
about those prospects. Where does that stand stadium wise and
in Chicago? Is that still kind of yet to be determined.
Speaker 6 (39:16):
Yes, it's been almost you can almost call it a
boondoggle the way they way, it's so typical the way
Bears have have handled it. Uh, this is part of
the dysfunction that that that the Bears. The Bears have
just been wracked with. You know, they they their their
previous team, president Ted Phillips, arranged what looked like a
pretty good deal and subvert in the suburbs in Arlingcoln
(39:38):
Heights for a dome stadium, no retractable roof. They will
not do that. They will be a dome stadium. And
they look like they were all set for that. And
then they hired Ted's replacement, Kevin Warren, who's with the
Big Ten and the Vikings, and he typical of the Bears.
They hired a guy to go in the completely opposite direction.
He wants to go in Chicago and he's dead set
(39:58):
on on building stadium in Chicago, and even though he's
kind of been rebuffed in those efforts, he's still trying
to do it. And so the Bears are kind of,
you know, slip sliding their way to this, which should
have been a much easier They had a much better deal,
a much easier deal in Arlington Heights, a huge tract
of land where Arling where Arlington Park was, and and
they destroyed a world class horse racing facility. They just
(40:23):
they tore down Arlington Park to create even more land
for this great thing in Arlington Heights. And now they
want up playing in Chicago. So that's so typical of
the Bears. I don't know where they are. I still
think they'll end up in Arlington Heights. There was a
tax issue that the Bears were concerned about, which to
me financially was pretty minor, but to them was a
big deal. But that has since been solved. So if
(40:45):
they want to go to Arlington Heights, they can, but
they're dead set on. Kevin Warren is set on having
a stadium in Chicago on the lake front, if the
lake front if possible, And right now, who knows where
they're at you know, I I just hope I'm alive
to see it at this point because it just takes
They're just they're just taking so long to get it done.
(41:06):
But I answer your question, all I can tell you
is it's a typical Bears deal. It's just all it's
harder than it should be.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Well, Mark, I know it's been a tough season. You've
been through a bunch of them. I certainly have over
over my fifteen years here too. But look like you said,
these two teams play tough when they do play. That's
just kind of been them and so I expect a
pretty good one on Sunday. It should be tough. It
looks like we're gonna avoid some precipitation, but.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
It'll be cold.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
We will be outdoors at least it sounds like maybe
for the foreseeable future until they figure that out. But
should be a good one. Mark, I appreciate you taking
the time so much. Make sure any Chicago news you need.
Mark Potash is a guy there in Chicago's been doing
it for a long long time for the Sun Times.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Appreciate you taking the time, and we'll talk to you
on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (41:51):
Okay, thanks for having me. I appreciate it,
Up.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Jared's still looking, still looking now throwing lights side.
Speaker 3 (00:03):
It is caught inside the five, driving for the end zone.
He getting it for the touchdown.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Jim Patrick, Welcome to Week sixteen of the NFL season.
I am Tim Twentyman. This is the twenty in the
Huddle podcast, and we usually like to start out with
kind of our three key segments, looking forward to to
Detroit's next game in Chicago and joining me via zoom
on her day off. Very generous of Jennifer Hammond to
(00:30):
join me Fox do. Look, she's been at Fox two
for twenty seven years. She's been covering the Lion since
nineteen ninety four. She does the postgame show on ninety
seven point one after every Lions game. Jen, thanks for
joining the twenty the Huddle Podcast. I appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I'm super happy to be here. Tim.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Thanks well Week sixteen and you know, obviously tough loss
for you know, Detroit last week against Buffalo. You listen
to outside of the building, it almost seems like the
sky's falling. Jen, that the seasons they should cancel it.
Good luck try again next year. Now, Look, I know
(01:05):
they're dealing with injuries, but they've dealt with these injuries
all year, Jen, some of them have been big, and
they've just kind of found a way. You listened to
Dan Campbell talk this week and he said, look, we're
gonna find a way again. Maybe it's you know, playing
a little bit different. Try to maybe talk Lions fans
off the ledge here. You know, with three games remaining,
they still are the number one seed.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
I started that job of talking them off the ledge
on Sunday as soon as the postgame show came on,
and I had a feeling. I knew that it would
start with the rage, right the seven stages of brief
for Lions fans. Rage was one of them that came
early about Dan going for that on sides with twelve
minutes to go, we'll push that aside, and now it's
gone to actually remorse and sorrow and deep fear. Everybody
(01:50):
just thinks that the season is over. To your point,
and I think that it was Jared Goff had actually
foreshadowed and said after the game, we're going to hear
everybody saying that the.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Sky is falling. It is not.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
And even a few weeks back, you'll go, I think
it was after the game when Angelone got hurt. Remember
that Dan Campbell stood up at the podium either on
that Sunday or that Monday, and he said, things are
gonna get worse. This isn't the worst thing that's gonna
happen to us. Things are gonna get worse and we're
gonna have to respond. So there was a little bit
of foreshadowing going on there with both of those guys.
(02:20):
And those are your two leaders. And when you hear
those guys say there's no doom in gloom, that is
the message that's being crafted curated in that building.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
And you see it, you know what you hear it.
And Dan on.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Ninety seven won the ticket this week on Tuesday. He
was brilliant and he's a great motivator. And not only
does he just say those words, I've heard a lot
of people say, oh, those are just words. That's not
gonna get a lean b McNeil back or Hutchback.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
But what those.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
Words do is they let you know that he's not worried,
and he can't be worried and he can't spend his time.
What they're gonna do is they're gonna plugu play and
push and they still have a golden opportunity in front
of them with three very winnable games. And I say
very winnable because that Minnesota game is on their home field,
(03:13):
but very winnable at Chicago against a team that has
nothing to play for.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Very winnable at.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
San Francisco against a team that is broken and has
not much to play for. So I'm not worried. I mean,
certainly they've got to play their best, but I think
they can do it.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
All.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Right, let's ark, Jenn, Let's get into some of these
three keys and look offensively. You know, the injuries have
really been to the defensive side of the football all
year long. They've avoided some big time injuries offensively up
to this point. But obviously Sunday had a pretty big
one with David Montgomery having the knee injury. He's still
holding out hope. He did a cod drive this week.
(03:50):
He's still holding out hope to maybe return. Dan didn't
seem as optimistic. Well, we'll have to kind of see
where that goes. But now this lands on Jamior Gibbs
and Craig Reynolds and Scioni Vaki now to kind of
handle that load at running back and Jen me personally,
obviously that's a big loss. He's the heart and soul
(04:11):
of that run game, right, he gives you those tough yards.
But Jamiir Gibbs is a very capable running back. I
mean we've talked all year about them being one A
and one B, how either one would probably start on
thirty other teams. So now he's going to get his
opportunity here for the last three games and the playoffs
to kind of carry that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Load a concern level for you at all?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Are you as as confident as I am that that
he'll be just fine in that role.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
My concern level for this injury, obviously when it first happened,
was maybe a four.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
It has gone down to a two. And I'll tell
you why. Tim Something we've seen from Jamiir Gibbs.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Originally it felt like one was sizzle one with steak, right,
we had Sonic and knuckles. One was the flash, Flash
and dash. One was the hard, hard yards. The actual
progression of Jamiir Gibbs as a run back this season
has been nothing short of incredible. The tough yards, the
yards after contact that he has been able to get
(05:08):
the way he has shown that he can slip tackles,
change direction, and make guys miss is really incredible. And
I know that people get all ruffled when you compare
anybody in this country to Barry Sanders, but there have
been times that he has looked an awful lot like
number twenty and he's a guy that can be the
(05:29):
bell cow. Right now, he's rushing at a five point
six yards per carry clip. Certainly, the Bills game was tough.
They had a bad day, but a lot of that, too,
was on the offensive line. And what we've seen from
the offensive line is when they have a rough game,
what do they do? They come back vengeance and I
(05:50):
think that we're going to see that this week against Chicago.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
And Jen This isn't the first time this has happened
to Lions. To you look at last year, Montgomery missed
three games and Gibbs had to step up and play
a big role in those three games. And you look
at the Raiders game in particular, I think it was
twenty six carries, one hundred and fifty four yards in
a touchdown. He had three hundred yards in those three
games filling in for Montgomery. Also chipped in fifteen receptions.
(06:14):
So it's not like this is something we haven't seen.
He hasn't done. He's shown he can carry the load.
It's not like he's going to be asked to do
it for an entire season. They've got three games left
here and then you know whatever. You know, they've gotten
the playoffs. And so to your point too, I think
he's evolved his game that he can handle some of
those inside the tackle stuff. And look, Craig Reynolds is
a very capable backup. I mean, you saw the touchdown
(06:37):
run on fourth found he's a veteran. Yeah, he had
the touchdown run in the playoffs last year. He's that
between the tackles guy. I think he handles some short
stuff and how excited do you see maybe a carrier
two for Scioni Vaki and kind of see where he's at.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
You know what, it.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Seems like everything that Brad Holmes has touched, for the
most part has turned to gold. So I think that
Vaki is going to be a guy with who's going
to show that his value and worth is is what
they expected it to be with some extended playing time.
I don't know that he'll get more reps than Reynolds
because to your point, I love what Reynolds is able
to do between the tackles, and he's such a good
blocker too, and that is something they're going to miss.
(07:13):
With David Montgomery obviously, the way that he's able to
pick up the backers on the blitz.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
He does a really good.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Job with that, and I think that's something that Reynolds
might be a little bit better at. But it'll be
interesting to see both guys get an opportunity. And the
way that Dan Campbell has been able to motivate guys
and Scottie Montgomery, I mean, he's a great coach and
there's talk about him being a potential OC or even
a head coach in this league. They've got great coaches
that are in place to motivate, train teach, coach, get
(07:45):
these guys ready to go in and play. And I
don't think they're going to miss a step.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I think we're on the same page there. I'm actually
looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I think they have a chance maybe to be a
little bit more explosive even too.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
I'm an eternal optimist, so you're never going to get
me an asay about the sky falling.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Okay, I love it, all right, Well, let's turn over
to the other side of the ball.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Jen and obviously the injuries are mounting up.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
You lose Ali McNeil, you lose Carlton Davis, you lose
Khalil Dorsey this week, three more guys that you know
have have played significant snaps for this team. And look, now,
guys are gonna get another opportunity. Dan talked about it
earlier in the week, and some guys are gonna have
to step up too, and some guys, Look, there's.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Still talent there.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Jen, you still got DJ Reader, you still got Enzriique,
you still got Pascal, you still have both Branch and Joseph,
You've got Terry and Arnold.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
At this point, really isn't a rookie. You've got some
guys that can play. But who to you with all
these injuries.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Is there someone currently on that defensive side of the
ball who needs to step up for you? Who who
do they really need to to kind of take that
next step to their game over the next three weeks.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
All right, I've got two names for you, and I
wonder if they're gonna be the same two I have.
We'll see DJ Reader. DJ Reader for sure is one.
He has got to step up in the middle, and
I think he will. He was a guy I think
that took exception after the game on Sunday to questions
about the defense being leaky and unable to contain Josh
(09:10):
Allen and that Bill's offense. Also, I think what they've
got to do is they've got to find ways to
manufacture pressure. I mean, certainly, you know, they've blitzed a lot,
they've played man a lot. They're going to have to
change things up a little bit, but they're gonna have
to get creative, and I think that's something that Aaron
Glenn can do. When you've got a week to practice
with new guys in there, it's a lot it's a
(09:33):
lot more comforting and settling, shall we say, than it
is when somebody goes down in the middle of the
game and you got to plug and play, right, that's
a little.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Bit more chaotic.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
And also it's going to give another week for guys
that have been there in the system. Jonah Williams, also
Jamal Adams is going to probably get some more playing time.
The other guy that I'm really leaning towards seeing in
a different role and doing more.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Who I think is ready to take it on is
a Meek Robertson.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
This is a guy who's got a whole lot of attitude,
a whole lot of swagger, and he's a veteran and
he has made some great plays at time at times.
And I think the one thing that we haven't seen
from this defense that has hurt them significantly is the
turnover ratio. They had thirteen picks right through the first
nine games. They have just won in the last five,
(10:20):
so they're not taking the ball away at the same rate,
and that gives their offense more chances. And we've heard
even Dan Campbell say it when they were going into
the game two weeks ago against Green Bay that maybe
when the defense is hurting, the best defense is a
good offense. If they can keep their offense on the field,
and that lends to the running game being better and
(10:42):
you know, sustaining some drives and getting some of those
chunk plays on first down. If they can do those things,
it's going to be infinitely more manageable for their defense.
I mean, they were just on the field way too
much on Sunday against the Bills, and I don't foresee
any other team doing that to Detroit.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
No, those are two good ones, Jen, and I think
it'll be interesting too with with a Meek if if
they keep him in the slot, or you know, if
they if they're able to get if Fatumla fan will back,
what would that might do to Branch? Would he you know,
how would they maybe switch some things up and change
that rotation in the secondary.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I think that'll be interesting.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Dan talked about maybe they're they're identifying some some changes,
some guys playing some different roles. They'll have to practice
this week and see how that goes. Great flexibility, and
a Meek has played outside. He probably played his best
ball outside when he was with the Raiders, So that'll
be an interesting one for me. The two are are
Kirby Joseph and Brian Branch. And it's for the reasons
(11:37):
that you talked about that I highlighted as well. One
takeaway Jen the last four games. I mean to me,
those are such game changing plays that look, when you're
missing some guys, when you're struggling a little bit, sometimes
just that that big turnover, that that that that that
you know, we saw a couple of weeks ago with
Carlton Davis, you know, punching that ball out. Sometimes you
just need that big turnover in their side that sets
(11:58):
your offense up that allows you to take that two
score lead that then settles things down, right, that spark
it's great and so but those are the guys all
year that have been your kind of takeaway kings, right,
They've led the team in interceptions. When you've needed a
big one, they've gotten it. They've gotten away from that.
So the two guys for me is those guys need
to get back to taking away the football, creating those
(12:20):
big plays. Help out those guys in front of you.
You see it all happening in front of you. Go
and make a big play spark this team. And to me,
it's Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph that have to make
those big plays. They have to step up these last
three weeks.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
And their physical guys, and they're also emotional leaders I
think for that defense. As young as they both are,
I think they really play with a lot of emotion
and I think that those guys on that side of
the ball really feed off that.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
All right, let's talk about our third key, Jen and
it's really the offense picking up the slack, and it's
Jared Golf And really, how good has Jared Golf been
and can this offense continue to kind of carry the load.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Yeah, I think they absolutely can.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
And I know a lot of people don't like to
look back to last season, but you almost have to
look back to last season to maybe foreshadow a little
bit of how they're going to get it done in
these last three games and into January. And what they
did last year was they outscored everybody.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Right, they didn't, they didn't.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
They had a little bit more of a leaky defense
last year. And I think what their plan was, go
and out score people to the best of your ability,
lean on our offensive line, run the ball with those
guys you know up front, and make sure that the
other team's offense stays off the field, because they are
going to continue to see guys who are as talented
once we get to the playoffs, they're going to see
(13:37):
quarterbacks as talented as Josh Allen. Fortunately they won't have
to see him again until February if that is the
case and they get there, but they're going to see
guys you.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Know that are going to make life difficult for them.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I'm sure Matthew Stafford is you know, really looking forward.
And then if they have Tampa come back in again.
I mean, this is a team they also lost to.
So it's going to be tough for them if they
can't get the offense clicking as it was, and you
hear Jared say, we've missed some things, and whereas they
played really really well last week after those first two drives,
(14:09):
they've got to play great from the jump, they've got
to go down the field score and they can't really
play from behind.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I just don't think it's feasible.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Jared's not going to throw the ball what fifty nine
times every game for them to try to come from behind.
I like their chances when they are behind because they've got,
you know, great mental fortitude and they've got that comeback mentality.
But I think if they can play ahead as much
as possible now, and that starts with the offense being
proficient from the from the first quarter on the opening drive.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
And really, Jen, what gives me a ton of confidence
in this team still being able to get it done
is just the way Jared's playing. I mean, you look
at seven games with a seventy five plus completion percentage.
I mean, you know, he's second league in completion percentage,
he's fourth in touchdowns, he's got a thirty touchdown to
ten interception ratio. He's got one hundred and ten passerating
(14:58):
that's second only to Lamar Jackson. He is playing at
an elite level. If not for Josh Allen, I think
he's right there in the MVP conversation, do.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
You feel like he still doesn't even get their respect?
And I actually kind of like that, go ahead, keep
disrespecting the Lions.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I think they love and thrive on that.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
And to David Montgomery's point, it's like the Land of
Misfit Toys.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Go ahead, It's like the city of Detroit. Doubt us,
count us out.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
I think it's just something that some people thrive on,
and I think Jared Goff.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Is one of those guys.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
And I think it's perfect Jen two that they're hitting
the road for two weeks too.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
You look at them.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Six and zero on the road this year. They're the
only team in the NFL that's undefeated on the road.
They get that US versus everybody else mentality at a
perfect time when they kind of need to come together
and do that stuff. I think it's perfect timing for them.
And I got a lot of faith in Jared Golf
being able to go there and score a bunch of
points in Chicago and San Francisco, and that sets up
(15:55):
a great one of Week eighteen. Hopefully it doesn't come
to that, but if it does, what a fun one
it will be.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
It's crazy that we're Week sixteen already, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Yeah, it's insane. This season has gone so fast.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
And actually, if you look at the Vikings schedule, tim
their next three opponents combined record of thirty and twelve,
the Lions next three twenty two and twenty so a
little bit of an easier road for the Lions, but
nothing is easy in this league, as we know, and
you know, it would be nice if maybe the Eagles
or the Vikings would lose one here. We'll all keep
(16:27):
our fingers crossed for that. But if they don't, the
Lions very much have control of their own destiny.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Handle your own business, right, Yep, it's as easy as that.
Jennifer Hamma, She's been doing it for a long long time.
Thank you so much for joining the Twenty Minute Huddle podcast.
I appreciate you. We're going to have you on again
and I will be back with I'll be back with
Jeer Gooff.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Welcome back to the twenty Huddle Podcast. Very happy welcome
Quacome to joy Lies year go. Thanks so much for
joining me. I appreciate I get you once a year.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
I always love I look forward to the week before
we get to football. Let's start with this, the Walter
Payton Man of the Year, your second nomination for that.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
I know it's a valued thing in that locker room
and it just speaks to what.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
You mean to this community off the football field too.
Just how important of an honor is that for you?
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, it's such a cool honor, and to me, it's
one of the you know, most humbling honors I've ever received,
and it's my second time getting it now. And to
be able to represent our team in that way and
to represent the league and to know that, you know,
all the kids were able to help and that they're
able to you know, have a light shine on them
for some of the stuff that the publicity they're getting.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
It's very cool.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
And I myself have a junior in high school, so
I know we're starting to look at.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
The college stuff and stuff. I know you've worked with
the Fate program.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
What was the look on their faces when that came
out that you're going to take care of, you know,
four years of college for those kids. What a great
thing on your part was the best part just their reaction,
their faces.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Yeah, it's very cool. The program that they're in is
is guiding them along in that direction. But for myself
and our program to be able to help them out
a little bit and their journey, it means a ton.
And I know they're so excited for it. I know
they're also driven and have such high character and are
so creative and talented and the whole thing. And it's
it's just an honor for me to be able to
help them into a small way that I can.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
And I know the foundation is JG sixteen. You got
a website, right, yep, people can.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Yes join in help out.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Yeah, every dollar spent on the website gets matched by me,
and every dollar of that match plus dollar you spent,
so you spend ten dollars, twenty dollars goes to the
kids for their scholarships.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
All right, we'll make sure we get that up on
the screen there front on the podcast so people can
help out.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Right, let's get to the football field. You guys lose
a football.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Game first time in ninety one days and unfortunately it
seems like this this.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Guy is falling. But look, this is the NFL. That's
an MVP.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Caliber guy over there that played out of his mind.
You did as well, and they just had a little
bit more that day. You know, three and out a turnover,
that's the difference in a football game. But what was
a message this week? Why isn't this sky falling? Why
are you guys going to continue to keep playing. We're
not canceling the season. You lost a football game, right?
Is that what people have to just put in perspective.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I don't quite understand the sentiment of that. I knew
it would happen at whatever point that winning streak would
come to an end. Of course, you don't want it
to come to an end. You wanted to go all
the way through the Super Bowl and you win every game.
But it's hard, it's really hard. And I thought the
Bills played great. I thought they brought it to us
early on and we weren't able to overcome it. But yeah,
we're in We're in good shape.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Man.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
We're twelve and two.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
We've got three games ahead of us. We've got a
big division game this week, one that will be fired
up for I'm sure, they'll be fired up on the
other side, and we'll be going one at a time,
you know, we want to win this one and then
so on and so forth. But yeah, we're we're in
fine shape. We'll be just fine, and I think Dan
does a good job leading that charge and keeping us
level headed. And to be honest, you know, people always
you know, what's changed was different? Nothing. It's the same
(19:47):
as it was last week. It's the same as it
was the week before. Nothing's changed internally besides our record,
and we're good.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
You would have loved to win fifteen straight, but this
is the NFL. It's hard to win in this league.
And you guys did it for so long. But I
think you mentioned it too, and Dan had the message
that it was almost like a recalibration, you know, if
he used the term stuff as you get punched the face.
You can losing at this point in the season be
a good thing sometimes if.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
You handle it the right way. Yeah, absolutely, if you
handle it the right way. And I think we're built
to do that. So, yes, you know, you never want
to lose. You would like to win every game, but
when you can lose in a way that you can
learn from it and you can get better and come
back the next week with maybe a little bit more
fire and a little bit more urgency and a little
bit more readiness and some aspects. Then yeah, absolutely, it's
good free What.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Was the learning points for you guys. What's the point
of emphasis from Ben this week?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Off last week?
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Obviously you had a terrific game in the passing gave did.
The rushing game has struggled a little bit, which is
uncharacteristic of you guys this year. Has that been maybe
one of the things Ben's talked about focused on. What's
the messages were going into.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Yeah, sure, it's a little bit of everything. I think,
you know, at the end of the day, again, nothing's
really changed because we lost a game. It's still the
same messaging we've always had. We want to put up
a ton of points, we want to put up a
ton of yards. We want to be able to, you know,
sustain these games and win these games, and really the
messages whatever it takes. You know, at this point of
the season, we don't care. Dan said, I think at
one point this year, if it's ten points or if
it's fifty points, of course we'd like it to be
(21:08):
fifty points. But you know what, however many points it
takes to win the game, we will we will be
ready to do that.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
You guys have pretty much been unscathed offensively in terms
of the injuries, obviously heavy on the defensive side. But
you get one this week with David Montgomery going down
what to see if that's a season there or nine?
And we's got in a the third opinion, just how
big of a loss is that? And then maybe on
the flip beend, just how much confidence do you have
in Jamiir, Craig, Jamar Baki, all those guys that you
(21:36):
could just keep this thing rolling. We talked to Ben
Johnson this week and he said, look, nothing changes. Jamiir
is ready for this moment.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
He's been groomed. We like where he's at. Just the
loss and then what you still have with Jamir.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
And it sucks to lose David, you know, not only
for what he does on the field, but what he
does in our locker room and in the huddle and
throughout a game, and his energy and his ability to
make big plays. And yeah, it sucks. It's it's certainly
something will overcome, but we'll have to. But yeah, Gibbie's
as good of a running back as there is in
this league. So if he's the guy that has to
carry the load a little bit more, then then we're
(22:07):
certainly okay with that. And Craig and Jamar and Vaki
will be right there ready to fill in when needed,
And yeah, we feel good.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Defense has dealt with a ton of injuries as we
know twenty guys on ir do you guys, I don't
know if you talked about, but is there ever just
a feeling of thought that, hey, they're going through so
much and you know, Aaron's gonna have a good game
plan and he's been ready and they've filled in guys,
and they've played really, really good last week.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
That's a good point.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Like we talked about, they've done well defensive, But as
an offense, do you guys ever like saved yourself or think, hey,
we know we've got to pick up the slack? Right?
Is that just what being a football team is about?
Is that just playing complimentary football?
Speaker 1 (22:44):
I think yeah, it's more that it's more complimentary, like
I pick up the slacks probably the wrong term. It's
it's more if it takes thirty four like it did
against the Green Bay, then it takes thirty four. Last
week it would have taken what forty six how many
point I don't know how many points they scored, but
so would have taken forty nine. Like if we were
scored one more touchdown, we would in the game. So
whatever it takes, you know, if it's thirty four, ifty nine,
(23:04):
and Dan mentioned earlier in the week, if it's ten,
if it's seventeen, whatever whatever it takes for us. Offensively,
we've got to be ready to do. And defensively they'll
be just fine. They'll be ready to go, they'll do
their thing, they'll come out, they'll play hard, they'll play well,
and we'll feed off each other.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
How much do you do you admire what Aaron has
done and all the different pieces he's had to place,
and it just seems every week they find a way
and they do what needs to to win a football game.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
How much an admiration from the other.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Side and just looking at it, because I'm sure you've
see it in practice sometimes do just some of the
different changes, new guys and anything else.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Just what he's gone through and what.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
He's done to have that defense as playing as well
as it has. Really consistently all year. How much do
you admire what he's done?
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Yeah, a ton, he's he's a stud of a coach
and never hear an excuse out of him. He's just
gonna find a way to make it work. And he's
he's a great coach. We've got a lot of great coaches.
That whole staff over there on defense is a great job,
and I think our whole staff is a whole offense
defense Secial teams is pretty special and he's certainly a
big part of it.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Last week, you get to skip in the flat there.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
How much do you love that when when you saw
you know, you do the playfake and and you see
he sells it real great, does the block and he's
open in the just what's your thought? Is it?
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Excitement?
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Oh my god? Don't drop the ball?
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Is throw because you know the ones that are hardware.
When he is so wide open, it is hard. It
seems harder sometimes to hit him with that. But yeah,
I just wanted to give him a nice catchuple ball
and if he scores, great, if he gets down to
the one you knew he was running that guy over day.
Oh yeah, I know he didn't have to. He had
he could have ran right in, but he wanted to,
you know, lower his shoulder on that guy. And I'm
(24:34):
glad he scores.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
How much do you love those moments for those kind
of players?
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Right? I always considered like him, Guys like him and
Khalif and stuff like that, like glue pieces to a roster, Right,
Like guys that will just step in, do anything, make
place when they have their opportunities. And and you know,
I fought to be cut and practice squad never made
it round and then they finally make it and then
they you get to do that for them.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
How much do you love those moments?
Speaker 1 (24:57):
It's very cool. It's very cool. And I think we
have a lot of as like that actually, And obviously
he's a big one that's been, you know, bounced around
the league a little bit, been to a bunch of teams,
and for us to be able to, you know, have
him have a role, it's very cool. And when he's
able to get the ball in his hands, it's even cooler.
But yeah, he's done a great job stepping in when needed,
whether it's guard or tackle. And I thought he played
great against Green Bay when he was playing left tackle.
(25:18):
And yeah, he's done a hell of a job.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
You got the Bears this week. They played youre Tina
on Thanksgiving.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
I think that game in the first half probably could
have been You guys could have maybe extended that lead
a little bit more than you should have.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
You probably look at that and like, sure, ifs and
butts and candy, that's every sure y's right.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Yeah, you're right. If we scored in the red zone
every time, yeah, we would have been up by more points.
But they're a good red zone defense.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah, And speaking of that, just what maybe needs to
change with the red zone a little bit facing them?
And what's that dynamic when you face a team a
second time?
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:44):
It just do you see a lot of difference when
when a team has success like that against a certain area,
do they tend to do the same thing? Will they
change it up a little bit knowing that you're probably
going to.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Change it up? Like, how does that dynamic work.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
With that's the chess game that you play? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Is that the fun part for you?
Speaker 1 (25:57):
It is fun. It's fun for Ben and I and
more for him. He's trying to decide, you know, what
play to call on, what designed to come up with
tonight and throughout the week. But yeah, it's it's it's
cool to see, you know, to play that game a
little bit. Now it's becomes even more complicated when they
change coaching and yeah, so then you don't even really know,
like what's the new guys philosophy. So there are a
lot of pieces there. But at the same time, we're
(26:18):
going to change things as well, so they'll have to
prepare for that. And yeah, we got to be better
than the red zone against them this week. And I
know that's a point of emphasis, but you know, there
are a good red zone defense, but we got to
find a way to continue being a good red zone offense.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Well, you guys have found a way to be a
good team on the road all season long. Six and no,
I think you're the only team in the NFL is
undefeated on the road. What is it about that that
that you guys like about just being on the road?
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Detroit versus everybody, man is what it is.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
It's simple, it is.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
And three home games in a row is cool, don't
get me wrong, in front of our fans, but you know,
sometimes you like, you know, going on the road and
feeling everyone against you. And I'm sure we'll have a
pretty good continguency out there of Lions fans. But you
like that feeling a little bit. You like hearing the
crowd get quiet when you throw a touchdown. You like
you know, having that you know everyone it's against your feeling,
and we'll get that for the next two weeks.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
It really hasn't been that in some places though. I
mean this, this fan base has.
Speaker 6 (27:03):
Traveled so much, You've had some of that.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Maybe maybe that's helped a little bit too. But cold weather game,
thirty degrees but no precipitation. Obviously, quarterbacks love that part
of it. Just what's your approach to games like this
when it's gonna be kind of cold and you know that.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
That turf is tends to be slick sometimes when it
when it's cold.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Do you have a certain approach to those games?
Speaker 2 (27:23):
The gloves no gloves did what what's your kind of
thought on that?
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah? I do. I mean I've got different tools I
can use, Like you mentioned the gloves. We'll see how
it goes on Sunday. If I feel like I need them.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
What's the determined factor?
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Usually just pregame, I can tell oh really yeah right away?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Feel them all?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Yeah, and I throw it. Sometimes I joke myself, I
throw it better with the gloves on, so I feel
good with those things on, and then yeah, just layers
if it's cold and go all right ahead. But yeah,
we've had some good success on the road and and
some of these cold weather games, and if that's what
it is again and we need to play accordingly.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
We will division opponent. Those are always tough final stretch here. Look,
you guys control your own destiny, and that's got to
be the fun part about this, right. I mean you
guys know, if you win, you're the number one seed,
you get that buy and everything rolls to Detroit.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
That's got to be the goal, right, Yeah, it's great.
It is a goal, It certainly is. And to be
able to come off a loss like we did this
late in the season and still be able to say
that is a testament to what we've done up to
this point. But yeah, you gotta go do it. And
that's the challenge is we got three good teams ahead
of us, starts with the Bears this week, but yeah,
we gotta go win this one first and move on
from there. We should be a fun one.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Go do it.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I appreciate you, yep. No pro.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Welcome back to the twenty in l Huddle podcast. I
am very happy to welcome it in. Mark Potosh. He
has been covering the Chicago Bears for the sun time
since nineteen eighty seven, so he's been in it for
all the good, all the bad. Mark, You're currently in
a little bit of bad hate straight Just what's the
mood in Chicago right now? You obviously got off to
(28:53):
a terrific start four and two, and things have kind
of just come off the rails a couple of really
tough losses late in games. What's kind of the mentality
there to to finish out the last three games and
finish this thing strong.
Speaker 6 (29:05):
I think more just resignation. I think after just such
a disappointment. This was supposed to be the year that
the Bears kind of went against the grain or their
normal their history, because they had the quarterback, they had
the receivers, they were seemingly set up, they had a
good defense. They were five and three at the end
of last year, and and it just all fell apart
in very typical fashion. And so I think there's there's hope,
(29:29):
there's always hope that the coaching change will be better,
But at this point, it's been so long now, I
think eleven non winning seasons out of last twelve, and
it's been so long. You know, Lions fans know exactly
what I'm talking about. They've been through the same thing
and and the Bears trying to get to that point
where the Lions are and they just haven't been able
to do it. So I think fans are just I
(29:49):
think they're at a point now where they used to
have hope and now they just have to see it
to believe it. And so there's it. So frankly, the
mood is down here, even with like the quarterback prospect
the Bears have ever had, and now the fear is
that they're ruining him and as has happened so often before.
So to answer your question, uh, in a in a
(30:09):
kind of a roundabout way, just very down and just discouraged,
probably more than anything else. And and uh and not
not very hopeful.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Well, Lions fans can certainly vouch for the fact that
it just takes the right head coach. It takes that
right kind of guy that that brings in that atmosphere. Certainly,
Detroit's found that with Dan Campbell and Chicago will be
looking for the same thing, is is there a fear
when you look at Caleb Williams got off to a
great start, and look, he's doing some things. I think
that that go maybe under the radar. The lack of interceptions,
(30:38):
I think that's rare for rookies. He takes care of
the football, but he's been missing some guys and it
looks like he's regressed a little bit that here down
the stretch. Is that the fear that that you know,
this kid maybe goes through so much adversity that he
can't can't bounce back. You've been close to him. Is
that a worry at all? Or do you think he's
got the right mindset?
Speaker 6 (30:58):
I think that's definitely the concern. Look, Kayleb Williams is
better than justin fields, He's better than Mitch Trubisky. It's
a different animal. There's no doubt that this guy has
a much better chance to be special than the previous
two quarterbacks did. But it's gotten to the point now
he's on his third coordinator, uh a second head coach already,
(31:20):
and the way he's played this this year, the last
couple of weeks, there is starting to be that fear
that here we go again, and that even though in
the right hands, there's no doubt that he could be
an elite quarterback, much like I said, much more so
than either Fields or Trubisky. I think the fear is
that he's wearing down and that they will you know,
(31:42):
ruin him as you know, as has happened before. So yeah,
there's a definite fear of that. There's no certainty that
that this guy will be able to rise above the
muck of Chicago Bears football and kind of and and
and rise above it and be you know, be great.
I think it's pretty clear now that he needs the
right coach and the right GM and just the right
(32:04):
everything to be good. He can't lift a team on
his shoulders. He's not that good. He's not you know,
he's not He's not Patrick Mahomes and and but he
needs a lot of how he needs help to at
least get in that realm. And the fear is that
it's not gonna it might not happen because the Bears
are just dysfunctional.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Look, we've seen him at his best that second half
versus Detroit. I mean, he was really really good at
three touchdown passes, nearly brought them back, so we know
it's there and he's done it in stretches. But that
first half was I think fifty three yards. I think
they only had maybe three first downs or whatever it was,
zero points. Were shut out. They've been shut out in
the first half the last three. What's really just been
(32:44):
the issue to start games and how do they start
faster Sunday against Detroit.
Speaker 6 (32:48):
Well, I don't know, and they don't know. That's the
more important thing they really, you know, they've been trying
to They've been trying to start fast all season. They've
had a problem with that, even when they were playing well.
I think they struggled with starting I don't know why
they really, That's one of the things when you ask them,
they really have no clue. They just said, we want
to be better, and you know, and then and they
always aren't. So I don't know. I don't know the
(33:09):
answer to that other than that there's not a very
good offense. And I'll tell you there's one interesting thing
I thought about that that Lions game that you know,
they had the slow start and then they picked it up,
but you know, in a moment of extreme decision, you know,
but even though it was the lack of a timeout
that got man Ebres was fired. Uh. Caleb Williams also
kind of didn't really rise to the moment and he
(33:33):
kind of frozen that moment himself. And and that was
to me, I've been watching the restaurant. That to me,
that was a little bit of a red flag that
he doesn't have quite the instinct that a Joe Burrow
has that a Patrick Mahomes has. He's done that before,
you know, I think the week before or a couple
weeks before, he'd played a similar situation, played a great
second half against the Vikings, but took a twelve yard
(33:53):
sack in overtime when he held out of the ball
for nine seconds, which most quarterbacks just know not to do.
So he's made a couple of errors, frankly, you know,
kind of a little bit red flaggish about just what
he can do. And so I think that was that
was kind of an underrated part with where eber Flu's
getting fired. That was kind of an underrated facet to
that Lions game. When he really should have had responded
(34:14):
to the urgency of the moment and even though the
coach maybe should have called time out, he should have
responded and gotten his team to the line faster and
played that better. So a little bit. So I know
your question was about the slow starts, but that, to
me was was the bigger impact of that game. And
that just shows you how he really needs help, you know,
more than he can't just do it on his own.
So I think that's a little bit of a cause
(34:35):
for concern. But anyway to your question, I'll be honest,
I'm at a loss. The Bears are lost. They don't
know why they're starting so slow. What happens is when
they turn it on in the second half, you know
they've got it. But that's typical the Bears. They they
have it in them, but there's always something there's always
something wrong, and you know, and they just they just
haven't figured it out.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
No, I think that was a good point by you
actually at the end of the Bears game, because I
thought that went a little bit under reported. Obviously, your
coach has got to have your back, and when it
gets down to fourteen thirteen twelve, he's got to say, Okay, look,
the kid doesn't got it. Let's let's call the time out.
Let's refocus, we can get out of bounce. Let's do that,
but Williams should have.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
At this point.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
He's not really a rookie, right and he should have.
So I think it actually is a good point. I
thought it wasn't talked about him as much at the
end of that game. Injury wise, we know where the
Lions are at. Obviously it's a huge storyline in the NFL.
Twenty plus guys on injured reserve. But how Chicago doing
injury wise heading into this one? They're going to have
most of their pieces, any guys maybe on the fence.
Speaker 6 (35:34):
Well, they've had I mean, they've had some injury issues,
but that hasn't been a big problem at all. That
they lost Andrew Billings early and he's a big part
of the run defense, but that was The run defense
has been leaky all year for a team that led
the NFL and run defense last year, and that was
a few weeks ago. Recently, their biggest issue I think
is at left tackle, where Braxton Jones is out. And
(35:56):
last week they started they started a rookie Coron I'm
a guy and he just had one of those bad
rookie games. The third round draft pick uh in his
first NFL start, Uh, you know, on the road in
a in a dome. It was just a bad situation.
And uh yeah, he had just had a bad game
with holding penalties and gave up a strip, sack and stuff.
(36:16):
So I think they'll go back to him. And the
issue there, of course, is that at least from a
Bear's perspective, is that they have a veteran who could
who should be able to fill in and Larry Boram.
But Larry Borum has been so ineffective this year that
they literally went with a rookie and put him in
a bad spot, you know, knowing that it was going
to be a bad spot. It just shows you how
how how bad uh the Bears are on their offensive
(36:38):
line and and their depth, which they which you know,
Ryan Polser GM thought was going to be a strength,
so that would that would be He said that was
this is the best stepth we I've ever had on
the offensive line. Was very sold on it. And I
mentioned that because that just typifies how disappointing the Bears
have been. What they thought were strengths have become weaknesses.
And that's as you guys know, I keep saying that,
(36:59):
you know, that's how that's how you have a disappointing season.
And so that's probably the biggest The biggest injury concern
right now.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Is on the.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
Offensive line, where you know they're they're just struggling.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Yeah, to your point, one hundred and ninety four rushing
yards for the Lions on Thanksgiving a few weeks ago
average five point nine.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
So they've struggled in that regard the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
They're hoping that they can get back on track the
way they did against Chicago.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
What's the key mark for Chicago on Sunday?
Speaker 2 (37:27):
You know, to snap this eight game losing streak to
force the upset.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
What do you think is the biggest key What.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Does Chicago have to do Sunday to kind of break
this and get back in the WKUM and really hand
Detroit a huge loss.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
Well, I hate to say it, but they have to
get off to a fast start. I mean they counting,
they can't keep counting on rallying in the second half. Now.
They have played the Lions tough, even as the Lions
have gotten better here in the last few years. You know,
they beat them at at Soldier Field last year, played
them tough at four Field the last two years. They
do play them well, and the Lions kind of play
down to the Bears level a little bit, as you know,
(38:01):
that's been They've done that, you know, So so I
think it's I anticipated still being a close, a close game,
a competitive game, But the Bears really just need to
get off to a fast start because they're home now
for the first time in three weeks, and Bears fans
are not happy. And if the Bears get off to
a bad start, the booe birds are going to be
(38:21):
coming out pretty quickly and it's gonna and this team
has not responded well to adversity. They lost on the
Hail Mary, and that has totally turned their season around.
They have not they have not won since uh and
and they have just not done well in adverse situations.
So so I think I think that it's almost cliche
to say it, but they have to get off to
(38:42):
a good start because even playing at home, that's almost
going to be a detriment because their own fans are
going to be all over them if they don't start fast.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
Hey, I wanted to ask you something, maybe just maybe
a little off the field, but but just the stadium
talk there in Chicago, where where's that sit right now?
I know Lions fans heard that could be in a
retractable roof.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
We could have a dome in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Obviously that could bring a lot of national events and
stuff like that to Chicago. Lions fans are certainly excited
about those prospects. Where does that stand stadium wise and
in Chicago? Is that still kind of yet to be determined.
Speaker 6 (39:16):
Yes, it's been almost you can almost call it a
boondoggle the way they way, it's so typical the way
Bears have have handled it. Uh, this is part of
the dysfunction that that that the Bears. The Bears have
just been wracked with. You know, they they their their
previous team, president Ted Phillips, arranged what looked like a
pretty good deal and subvert in the suburbs in Arlingcoln
(39:38):
Heights for a dome stadium, no retractable roof. They will
not do that. They will be a dome stadium. And
they look like they were all set for that. And
then they hired Ted's replacement, Kevin Warren, who's with the
Big Ten and the Vikings, and he typical of the Bears.
They hired a guy to go in the completely opposite direction.
He wants to go in Chicago and he's dead set
(39:58):
on on building stadium in Chicago, and even though he's
kind of been rebuffed in those efforts, he's still trying
to do it. And so the Bears are kind of,
you know, slip sliding their way to this, which should
have been a much easier They had a much better deal,
a much easier deal in Arlington Heights, a huge tract
of land where Arling where Arlington Park was, and and
they destroyed a world class horse racing facility. They just
(40:23):
they tore down Arlington Park to create even more land
for this great thing in Arlington Heights. And now they
want up playing in Chicago. So that's so typical of
the Bears. I don't know where they are. I still
think they'll end up in Arlington Heights. There was a
tax issue that the Bears were concerned about, which to
me financially was pretty minor, but to them was a
big deal. But that has since been solved. So if
(40:45):
they want to go to Arlington Heights, they can, but
they're dead set on. Kevin Warren is set on having
a stadium in Chicago on the lake front, if the
lake front if possible, And right now, who knows where
they're at you know, I I just hope I'm alive
to see it at this point because it just takes
They're just they're just taking so long to get it done.
(41:06):
But I answer your question, all I can tell you
is it's a typical Bears deal. It's just all it's
harder than it should be.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Well, Mark, I know it's been a tough season. You've
been through a bunch of them. I certainly have over
over my fifteen years here too. But look like you said,
these two teams play tough when they do play. That's
just kind of been them and so I expect a
pretty good one on Sunday. It should be tough. It
looks like we're gonna avoid some precipitation, but.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
It'll be cold.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
We will be outdoors at least it sounds like maybe
for the foreseeable future until they figure that out. But
should be a good one. Mark, I appreciate you taking
the time so much. Make sure any Chicago news you need.
Mark Potash is a guy there in Chicago's been doing
it for a long long time for the Sun Times.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Appreciate you taking the time, and we'll talk to you
on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (41:51):
Okay, thanks for having me. I appreciate it,
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