Bernie Fratto recaps the Vikings epic comeback and much more!

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Don't listen to Fox Sports. I don't know how many
times you heard me say it before, Sports of the
greatest reality show ever invented. And you can script everything
but the outcome. Oh my goodness. Hold that thought. On
that note, I'm Bernie Fratto. We are coming to you
alive from the Las Vegas Tirac dot com studios Tirac

(00:22):
dot com. We'll help you get there and unmatched selection,
fast free shipping for your road hazard protection and over
ten thou recommended installers ti iraq dot com. The way
tire buying should be absolutely jam pack show. Tonight, we're
gonna get to that incredible depending on which side you're on,

(00:43):
debacle miracle between the Vikings and the cults. Earlier today
and about fifteen minutes, Dave Sharepan will join us for
a couple of segments. Twenty year sports book Operator will
break down the NFL stipacic under the weather tonight, and
we'll get to World Cup. We're gonna give a tribute
to Mike Leach later, complete rundown, NFL extravagance and a

(01:06):
playoff implications, you name it, it's all gonna be there.
You know it's sports or entertainment, but they're more than that.
They're a shared experience. As such, people do want to
talk about them. You've come to the right place tonight.
We've got a lot to talk about. Welcome to the
Bernie Frattle Show. Will take you all the way to
three am Pacific, six am Eastern. And as they say
and Kirk Cousins Minnesota, it's gonna be lit. So what's

(01:28):
the old NFL saying on any given Saturday, Jeff Saturday
coaching on a Saturday. You know, in the National Football League,
if you turn it over three times, you've got about
a six percent chance at winning. Well, the Vikings did
just that today. And what's interesting is I know Vikings
fans are sensitive. The bottom line is the Vikings are

(01:50):
eleven and three. Let's pretend you could look into a
crystal ball back and on, because it say, heading into December,
the Vikings are gonna be eleven and three with three
weeks ago, they're gonna clich the NFC North and they're
gonna probably the number three seed behind Dallas in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Dallas, Okay, you take that right. It doesn't really
tell the whole story, but you take that. But regardless

(02:14):
there are some things lurking I'm gonna get to and
I'm not making any predictions because the question is not
whether the Vikings are a fraud. I've never once called
him a fraud. I have merely And it's funny some
of the tweets have gotten from Knucklehead screaming mimi's their fans,
which is short for fanatic. So, dare you tell the
truth about my team? Don't confuse me with the facts

(02:34):
my mind had made up these things don't lie, okay,
and we will see what we will see when the
playoffs starts, and don't tell me, show me the only
The question is not whether the Vikings are frauds or
not frauds. You don't go eleven and three in the
National Football League and be a fraud. The question is
what you saw the Vikings do in the second half,

(02:56):
holding the Colts to three points, putting up what thirty
nine points in the second half. The question is can
the Vikings deliver consistently the type of performance when you
see their ceiling? Because Aaron and uh and Jason asked
a really good question during their show Catch Those Guys

(03:17):
Every Saturday Night, seven to eleven. They said, well, Was
it a comeback or was it a meltdown? The reason
why I'm going to call it a comeback is because
the Vikings had to come back from what was their
first half meltdown. See, the Colts built their halftime lead
by returning a block punt and interception for a touchdown. Meanwhile,
the Vikings committed two turnovers and they were out gaming

(03:39):
two nine yards to eighty two in the first half.
The booze were nuts. So in Minnesota you can hear
them all the way in uh sock Rapids. How's that
for your Minnesota reference. Then they went to the locker
room and now it's come out. Patrick Peterson said, look,
look we're gonna get stops. Just go score five touchdowns

(04:02):
and will win the game. And they did it. So
the Vikings are showing you what they're capable of. The
question is this is the question, can the Minnesota Vikings
deliver that kind of performance consistently against top tier competition
because we're going to find out in the playoffs. And
there's one thing I know about the National Football League

(04:22):
playoffs is whatever weakness you have will be exploited in
the playoffs. These things don't lie be that as it may.
The Vikings are going there and they're gonna get at
least one home game, but these are also some things
you have to take into consideration. Despite entering the game
today with the tenant three record, the Vikings started today

(04:46):
with the season plus minus in point differential of minus one. Now,
since the year two thousand, there have been a hundred
and forty eight NFL teams that have had ten or
more wins in their first fourteen games. Now, after that
crazy first half where the Vikings look like a drunk
trying to cross an icy street, they ranked a hundred

(05:08):
forty seven out of a hundred forty eight teams in
that group. After that first half, point differential took the
Vikings to their season total of minus. The only team
they were ahead of were the two thousand five Jaguars,
who also had ten wins after fourteen games, they were
minus thirty four. By the way, if you're scoring at home,
and I hope you are, that Jack's team got knocked

(05:30):
out in the wild card round of the playoffs. All right.
The previous record for the biggest deficit to overcome a game,
and I remember this game like yesterday, was January. The
Bills trailed the Houston Oilers in f C Wild Card
game and rallied to win forty eight in overtime. And
of course who came off the bench to suffer Jim Kelly,

(05:52):
the great Frank Reich. The irony is not lost on me.
Frank Rank was the firstwhile coach of the Indianapolis Colts
on ceremoniously replaced a few weeks ago, and I got
nothing against Jeff Saturday. By the way, Matt Ryan seems
to be on the wrong side of these comebacks. You know,
I don't do it. Really need to remind you three

(06:13):
lead they had in Super Bowl sixty or fifty. Excuse me,
all right, you know where I'm going with that. As
the Bill's quarterback, as he just mentioned, Frank Greig, he
helped engineer that thirty two point come from behind win
that was the biggest comeback in history until today. In course,
the Cults are another recipient. They're on the wrong end
of it. And that's the team that fired right as

(06:34):
head coach in November. The irony the circle of life.
By the way, while we're on the subject, Minnesota's previous
largest comeback in team history was twenty three points. That
happened all the way back in against the Philadelphia Eagles
when the Vikings scored twenty eight points in the fourth
quarter to win. And if if you're a trivia buff Well,

(06:55):
that was the final win of the Great Bud Grant
his career as the head coach of the of the
Minnesota Vikings. Now, the Colts thirty three nothing halftime lead,
that was their largest lead since nineteen seven, which they
also did against the Dolphins. And look, the Colts seem
to have a problem with second half and the second
half of their past two games combined, they've been outscored

(07:16):
sixte nine. Do with that what you will. Against Dallas
in week thirteen, Indie allowed thirty three points in the
fourth quarter, the second highest fourth quartered in you know,
league history, and they allow thirty six points in the
in the fourth quarter today. By the way, give it
up to Justin Jefferson top the sixteen hundred yard mark
for the season. He's about to catch Randy Moss. And

(07:38):
let's not not also forget uh you know, he's got
three hundred catches for his career. He entered the day
with two. So Justin Jefferson has only been in the
league fifteen minutes for crying out loud, and he joined
some You know, Michael Thomas and Christian McCaffrey are the
only players in NFL history to have three hundred plus
catches in their first three seasons. And uh again, Justin Jefferson,

(08:02):
give it up. This is the kind of talent of
Vikings have. He joins the likes of Calvin Johnson and
Antonio Brown. They are the only receivers in NFL history
have back to back sixty yard receiving seasons. So anyway,
and give it up to Kirk Cousins. I mean, I haven't.
I just I have no faith in Kirk Cousins. But boy,
he threw some dimes in the second half through for

(08:24):
four and twenty six yards. When you look at the
day in total, that's the game everybody's talking about. The
only takeaway I have from the Cleveland, uh Baltimore game,
is that Baltimore take a snapshot of what happened today. Now,
I am not advocating that you guarantee Lamar Jackson two
fifty million dollars or whatever he wants. Forget it. That

(08:46):
makes zero sense. However, swallow hard, because what you saw
today is the future of the Baltimore Ravens offense. Tyler
Huntley did not look good. They might have been better
off with Tyler period quarterback. At least it would have
been entertaining. Baltimore continuously shot themselves on the foot. They're
a much better team than Cleveland. Cleveland was the better
team today. And then of course Buffalo. Look, we're not

(09:09):
really supposed to have a rooting you know, bent is objective, folks,
But come on, tell me you wouldn't mind seeing Buffalo
in the super Bowl. It's a great city. They've lost
four Super Bowls. Uh, you know you'll did my still
to this day, my favorite esp and thirty for thirties,
The Four Falls of Buffalo. I don't care how many

(09:30):
times I watched that. I still root for. You still
hope that Scott Norwood he's gonna make that field goal
and it's it's it's trailing, it's trending in the right direction,
and then the dails. But at the end of The
Four Falls of Buffalo he makes it, and then the
Alpha song If I Can Dream is playing. It's it's phenomenal. Interestingly,
enough data I talked about this last night, and when

(09:52):
you have hard data like this, you just can't ignore it.
They've been playing these Saturday games since and what's interesting
is the home teams during these regular season Saturday games
are only one oh nine and one oh five straight
up and uh and seventy eight against the spread his

(10:14):
home chalk and guess what two of the three home
favorites didn't cover today. That's you know, heading into today,
the home favorites on these Saturday games seven percent against
the spread, and sure enough today only one of the
three covered. So look, the league continues to be a
very competitive league. Heading into this weekend, there were a

(10:36):
total of a one score games decided by eight or
fewer points, and Denver was involved with eleven of those. Atlanta,
the you know, the Raiders, the Chargers, the Giants, you
get the picture. The Vikings did it again Tenant oh
in one score games. Okay, that matters, But again when
you contextualize that with the fact that heading into today,

(10:59):
they've been out yarded by an average of seventy four
yards per game. And now even after today's game, this
is an eleven and three team which has a point
differential of only plus two on the entire season. So again,
the question is not whether or not the Vikings deserve
to be where they're at, or whether they're frauds. It's
not the question. You can't be eleven and three and

(11:22):
be a fraud the National Football League. The question is
if they bring their best and Dallas brings their best,
who wins? If the Vikings bring their best in Philadelphia
or the forty Niners or the Buffalo Bills or the
Kansas City Chiefs. If those teams bring their best and
the Vikings bring their best, who prevails? Can the Vikings
in the end deliver with consistency what they did in

(11:43):
the second half today? Coming up, We've got a heavy
Week fifteen slate. As it continues. Dave Sherripan joined us
twenty years behind the sports Bookie for Dave on My
show many times. Football fans be sure to tune into
Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by Bet mgm
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(12:04):
at tenny and Eastern US been taking line all the
way to Kickoff on Fox Sports Radio and the I
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Wire coming to your line from the tire Act dot
Com studios here in Las Vegas. Keep it locked and
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(12:25):
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Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real
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(13:09):
R to listen live right back on the Bernie Fanal Show,
Come on your live from the tire Act dot Com
studios here in Las Vegas. This time it's welcome in,
a gentleman, one of our favorites. Been in aficionado behind
the sports book Connor for two decades. You've learned them
on my show many times. Say hello to Dave Sheriff
and Dave, how are you, buddy? Already? Good evening, sir.

(13:32):
I love the mix, the blend of just fun knowledgeable
information along with the tunes. Man. I mean, you just
put me in a nice holiday mood. So I appreciate
the work you're doing over there. Thanks, Paula. We'll talk later.
Maybe you can be my agent. Working on it. We're
working on it. We're gonna do two segments that Dave.

(13:56):
We've got a lot to get to tonight and I'm
looking forward to this. Before we dive in to some
specific matchups for Sunday. Dad, you've been around a hell
of a long time. You've seen it all. Give me
your take on the vikings and the fact that they're
eleven and three, but they somewhat to find the odds
when you consider the being outyarded per game and their

(14:17):
points per game. Uh, you know is plus one plus
two plus three, so it's something. But I can't remember
something like this that they've gotten. Um, every result to
be positive despite the fact that they shouldn't have. And

(14:38):
I actually, you know, while we're talking, I have the
replay on of the game right now, and I mean
I'm looking at its thirty six twenty one with six
minutes to go, and I was down. I was out
running around, you know, all evening and stuff, and they
were as high as eighty to one in game. They

(15:02):
were anyone that was still dealing. It was had eighty
to one to come back and win today, and they
did so. No, to answer your question, there is no
explanation other than for the books to just keep putting
up a number. People keep betting it. It's a clear
divide that you know, the guys who I like to

(15:24):
call the bad guys who like to come in and
at a bag of money. Um, they keep against them
and they're happy with it. You know, they're gonna be
the biggest fade burn in the playoffs of any team
on either side a f C or NFC. Well, there's
no question. And when you consider the Vikes are our

(15:44):
tenan o on one score games, I just feel when
you can textualize it, there is a what goes up
must come down theory. But you know what, Let's just
see what happens and see what happens when they get
to the playoffs. We're gonn get at least one home
playoff game. All right, let's dive into this late Dave boys,
that the Jaguars, that Jackson become this trendy play as
a home dog. I am not going to be involved

(16:08):
in that game. Uh. I would maybe take a look
at the total of seven Cobays have gone over five
of their last six games, and I think I actually
think Trevor Lawrence is playing in a pretty high level,
non divisional game. Your thoughts on this game exactly what
you're thinking. I think sometimes the number just it comes

(16:28):
and you get maybe one bet and there's not much
movement because it's just a good number sidewise. But I'm
with you. Look, man, I'm an under guy, however for years,
and you know, when you work in the book long enough,
I mean you kind of get it beaten into you
that you need unders and you like unders, and I'm
good with games like you know, the Browns in Baltimore

(16:51):
today and under dead on this game feels like a
dead over burned. It feels like the winning teams gonna
score close to four, and the losing team is gonna
be right by somewhere in that neighborhood. It feels like
a shootout type game over David game I've talked about

(17:11):
at length on my show last night. We talked about
it earlier on the phone today. For me, everything is
lining up for the New York Jets for all the
reasons I gave earlier, and I gave it Aaron and
and Jason with respect to the Jets defense and the lines,
you know, offense on the road and those things. By
the way, I I the last I saw was that
the Jets defensive tackle Quinty Quentin Williams is still listening

(17:34):
as questionable. I've not heard that he's out, do you know,
I don't um, but I can tell you this. Our
friends downtown or at minus two, minus fifteen on the
game right now, the markets painted one. I guess he's playing.
I'll just say they're gonna get the pregame warm ups

(17:54):
and it's gonna be a game time decision. But but
but even without him, even without him, and you look
jar Jared Goff numbers and under forty degrees, and you
know we're talking about a team in the Lions. They
score eighteen points on the road and thirty two at home,
and right on down the line, they're a hot house team.
You put them outside the elements after November. By the way,
Dave talked about that Jets defense, it's badass. It's legitimately,

(18:17):
by the numbers, is badass. One of the most physical
defenses too. When you watch them play, um, and it's
it's been a repeated pattern. It's not one of those things.
I mean, you sold me today on the phone and
I was like, this just makes all the sense in
the world. The Jets gotta be the side in the game.

(18:41):
And um, I mean it's fun with Detroit's doing and
I had them last week against the Vikings like that,
this is this is great. Uh, this is I I
got caught up in that. Geez. This would be really
a lot of fun if they made the playoffs, like
this would be great. But this is gonna be a

(19:02):
tough game for them. This this feels like Jets. I
don't know about the total burn again when I see
this number, if it's tough, yeah, I'm gonna stay away
from the total. Justin Kate, Look, you saw what happened
in the Vikings game that it could be block punts,
it could be pick six, is anything could happened. One
final thing about the Jets game. In the Lions six victories, Dave,

(19:25):
they've come against defenses that rank anywhere between twenty one
and twenty nine. The Jets defense ranks third, and you're
putting outside in the elements after November one. That matters
to me. It matters to me too. And listen, there's
certain guys that like, you know, I've been able to
have a relationship with you know, from being in the book,
and you're my Detroit Lions guy. You have been for years.

(19:47):
We've always said, we've had so many discussions over the
years that you really dial into what goes on at
that place and with that team. And I think, Um,
when you're tellably like that and I'm listening and I'm
watch and I look at the numbers, and I go, yeah,
you know what this this this is Bernie's on this one.
So I agree with you. Yeah, a full disclosure. I

(20:09):
fired on the Jets Monday, and now when I saw
it anyway, I think you probably know I'm guessing a
ton of lines money's coming in the last seventy two
hours when they announced Jack Wilson. Is that fair? Well,
you know what it actually it came before that on
the Jets, and now it's sitting. I don't know where

(20:30):
this thing closes when we wake up in the morning.
I don't know if it will actually flip back. I
don't think so. I think it's going to close with
the Jets is the favorite, which makes absolutely perfect sense
to me. Yeah, well, you know what, that wouldn't bother
me because I got the Jets plus one. But I
don't think the number is gonna come into play here.
I just think we'll see I wouldn't be surprised me
if it's like, uh, seventeen Jets something like that. But uh,

(20:54):
Ritters hosting the Patriots seven and six Pats. I believe
they're currently minus one. This isn't the Factol playoff game
and the Josh McDaniels Bowl. This is a weird game
to handicap because you never know what you're gonna get
with the Raiders. So I'm not on it. But Dave,
uh where you know who do you like in this game?
I've been going back and forth with Matt on Boston

(21:16):
Universus of the book about you know this game and
the Patriots in general, and I mean, yeah, they had
a very they had a good stay probably in Arizona
all week, and then you know they're here. But I
went through the contest entries and there are so many
people at the top of this thing that are on

(21:38):
the Raiders, and some really sharp guys that I respect
told me the Raiders are winning this game and it's
not even gonna be close. I don't know what I'm missing. Um,
I think it's I felt like it's more of a
coin flo like the line reflected. I mean everyone is
minus one. There's there's two minus one in the hash.

(22:01):
I don't know. I really don't know, because I don't
know what type of game we're gonna see. I think
we're gonna see a lot of running. I just don't
know how well the Raiders is gonna be able to
run the ball so then they pass. Can they protect
enough to to outscore them? I think so. And the

(22:22):
Patriots are still the Patriots, and it's Belichick, and it's
still as a factor in the handicap. I agree. That's
why I camp at the game, and the Raiders might win.
I would not not surprise me, but Bill Belichick's had
their number in the Derek Carr era and one plus
for the Raiders, they do get kind of Renfrow back,
and they do get the tight end back, yeah, during
Waller back, and we'll see if that matters. All right,

(22:44):
Coming up, Dave, I want to hit on Cincinnati, Tampa Bay.
I want to hit on Tennessee, Chargers, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Philadelphia, Chicago,
Kansas City, Houston, and we'll look to Monday night Rams
Green Bay. But first let's go to a guy, Nick
Cope with the latest going on, Bernie, And well, you
guys are talking about that Raiders Patriots games were starting
to get some player availability news for those games on Sunday,

(23:08):
and reports say Patriots receiver Jacobe Myers is expected to play.
Running back Romandre Stevenson we'll go through pregame warmups before
determining if he can play. And for the Raiders, running
back Josh Jacobs is on track to play. Elsewhere, Jets
defensive tackle Quinnin Williams will be a game time decision.
Chiefs receivers kund Areas Tuning and McCole Hardman on track

(23:29):
to play. Cardinals receiver Hollywood Brown also expected to play
despite an illness. On Saturday, I had a triple header
of NFL action. The Buffalo Bills have clinched the playoff
spot at thirty two twenty nine comeback win on a
snowy nine in Western New York. Miami has now dropped
three in a row earlier in the day. It was
the biggest comeback in NFL history. The Vikings are racing

(23:50):
a thirty three point deficit to stun the Colts thirty
thirty six at overtime. Minnesota clinches the NFC North and
they hold onto the number two seats in the NFC
and the third game this was the middle game. In fact,
in his home debut for the Browns, Deshaun Watson helped
lead Cleveland to a thirteen to three win over the Ravens,
who did not have Lamar Jackson again. College football in

(24:12):
the late game was the Frisco Bowl, Boys State outlasting
North Texas thirty two. B y U hung on against
s M three in the New Mexico Bowl. Mustangs went
for two in the win at the end of the game,
but did not convert. At the bowl game in Mobile, Alabama,
Southern miss running back Frank Gore Jr. Yes that Frank Gore.

(24:33):
He ran all over Rice an n C double A
Bowl record three hundred twenty nine yards, four win four
the Golden Eagles. Fresno State completed a ten win season
win over Washington State in the l A Bowl. Number
fourteen Oregon State crushed Florida thirty to three in the
Las Vegas Bowl. Louisville handed Cincinnatia seven loss in the

(24:56):
Fenway Bowl. College basketball, he had lots of tops twenty
five matchups. Number in Arizona now tended one following a
seventy seventy home win against number six Tennessee, number sixteen
u c l A stemy, number thirteen Kentucky sixty three
fifty three, Number five Houston handed number two Virginia it's
first loss of the season. One number fifteen Gonzaga on

(25:16):
top of number four Alabama one hundred to ninety, Number
eight Kansas controlled number fourteen Indiana eight four sixty two.
Quickly to baseball, shortstop Dansby Swanson is signing with the Cubs,
according to reports, seven years, one hundred seventy seven million,
and the Dodgers have found a designated hitter, J D.
Martinez coming to Los Angeles on a one year, ten

(25:38):
million dollar deal. Bernie, back to you, all right, thanks
so much, Nick. Alright, we'll continue on with Dave Sherriff Pan. Alright,
guy here in Las Vegas, twenty years behind the counter
in the sports book, he's seen it all day. I
want to skip to Eagles Bears, the classic sandwich game
for the Eagles. They got Dallas next week. There's some
dainty you really can't ignore here. The Eagles and their
last five tries is road shock against the non divisional

(26:01):
opponent when the lean more than five points onn six.
So I think they're giving a lot of points to
the Bears, who are averaging a hundred and ninety yards
on the ground. Could you take the nine or is
that a little too much to swallow? No, I I
think you're I think if you're really looking at this game,
I think you have to take the nine. But I

(26:22):
picked against the Eagles UM a lot this season early,
especially not believing what my eyes were telling me, what
the numbers are telling me. But this road thing with
the Dallas game looming next week, UM, the game that
game is, you know, Dallas minus one, minus one and
a half to look ahead number. Um, this you gotta

(26:46):
take the Bears plus the points. It's a teaser number.
The book puts it out there, you know, because the
Eagles are in everybody's teaser tomorrow. It makes perfect sense.
The way they're winning, the way they're going for the
number one seed. Hurt's gonna win everything. Everything's happening for

(27:07):
the Eagles, and you catch them in a game like
this one where they'll probably win, but it's not gonna
be easy. They'll probably win by like something like that.
You know, that's the way this game goes. That's one
of those classic games. Get in, get out, nobody, get hurt,
keep it ready for the for the uh, you know

(27:28):
the Cowboys next week. There's only four nine against the
number this year, and so they're not they're not great. Um,
I'm gonna sit this one out. But a gun to
my head. It feels like a one type game Eagles.
But well, we'll see what happens, all right, let's look ahead,
believe it or not. I actually really like Tampa Bay

(27:51):
a lot. Tom Brady is eleven and one in his
career as a home dog. That matters to me. Your
thoughts number is perfect. It's enough to keep you off
if you're really not sure, but it might not be
enough for you to take if you like. But yet

(28:11):
it's painted three and a half hasn't moved much. Um,
I'm with you. If force this is one acent will
sit out and watch. Um. But you've got Tampa at
home with the three and a half against a non conference,

(28:34):
you know, across conference opponent. It has the makings of
taking Tampa all over it. And then you watch Tampa
play and you you know, you're left holding a ticket
the third quarter down seventeen to three, going why did
I do it? Why did I do this again? Right?
You just you know the way it's gonna go. So

(28:56):
but you know, you know, when the ball is in
the air, who are the books gonna need? They're gonna
need Tampa? Right, Am I wrong? Yes, that's always been
my thing, everything in their power to not move it
to three, like you know, sitting on that three and
a half, it's perfect for the books. But yes, and

(29:16):
the books are they're they're still okay needing Tom Brady
in December. Well remember they the Bucks lost by last
week in San Francisco. And one of my favorite things
to do is when the teams embarrassed in the National
Football League, hold your nose, climb on their back the
next week. And when you get Tom Brady at home
and he's an underdog, it all adds up. I think

(29:37):
if they play this game ten times, Tampa Bay cover seven.
I don't Sunday might be one of the three. But
I think, you know, that's the side. I'm looking at
a game that I think is actually going to be
a blowout. Let's flip to Monday night, the green Bay
Packers host, Well, they're gonna be wearing l A Ram uniforms.
I don't know if they're the Rams anymore. I think

(29:58):
I think this is a double digit win for green Bay.
Am I wrong? I don't think so. I you can't.
I don't know whose money you could offer me at
this point to bet on the Rams, but it's not enough.
I don't want anything to do with that team. Now.
Granted green Bay has been no bargain and uh, Aaron

(30:21):
Rodgers and the Packers have burned some people's money, uh
this season. I don't want nothing to do with the Rams.
Burn that's that's that's that's a that's a complete pass
or laid down. It's probably gonna be key to a
lot of money line far ways and the end of
all the teasers that roll into it, that Monday exposure

(30:41):
for the books could end up being pretty big on
the Green Bay. Well in the line is seven now,
but when you consider the fact that Aaron Rodgers does
show up on Monday Night, Dave, He's won eight consecutive
starts on Monday Night and in those eight games eight
no two touchdown, passes, two interceptions. The Rams are a

(31:02):
hot mess. The UFEL behind big time to the Raiders.
That never should have happened, right but it but it
did day before. I let you're on a couple of things.
Tell me who the books need the most, who who
are the most exposed against on Sunday, And tell me
your your favorite play. Well, I mean, the Sunday night

(31:23):
game is really interesting with the Giants in Washington. Um.
That one, I think you're getting good two way, but
by the time that game kicks, they're probably gonna need
the Giants pretty good. Um. The other intriguing one is
Tennessee and the Chargers. I've gone back and forth with
this thing because again I've had those guys that tell me,
like Tennessee is gonna run the ball that that game

(31:45):
is gonna fly over and how can you trust the
Chargers land three? And it's a lot of people's selection
that still have them available on Survivors and stuff. That
one scares me. If you have the charge, I think
Tennessee is super live there. Um my favorite play Boy,

(32:07):
Oh boy, that's a tough one. I don't like this
week at all. I don't really have diffect favorite player.
It's a tough card. Um. But Pittsburgh, I Mayson Rudolph
may start tomorrow. Um, it might be trap risky. They
got to Carolina is gonna win that football game, aren't they.
I've just been looking at this physical as hell right,

(32:32):
like they have a game for them. They're mathematically arrive
and that crazy NFC South and Pittsburgh is still on
the like mathematically a lot of charts. But they're not.
They're done. I don't I don't think. I think Carolina
wins that game going away. It feels like it's too light.
They have one last thing. I'm glad you mentioned that

(32:52):
the Giants Commanders are Sunday night. I like these standalone games.
This is a divisional game. They're both seven and five.
They tied twenty twenty two. This is a de facto
playoff game as well. The Commanders have a way of
winning time of possession. They're very deliberate. Where am I
going with It's the total is forty forty and a half.
This screams under to me, under burn Under that's the

(33:17):
I think that's my favorite play a total. Wise, um,
it's gonna be a big play. Prime time unders have
gone under. It's a divisional game. Those games have been
battles and gone o there so many times. I mean,
I don't know. This has been such a weird season,
very unpredictable, but that's the one trend thing that you
can kind of keep counting on. It's about fifty six

(33:38):
or fifty eight percent to the under these prime time games.
That's I really like that total under Dave, Good luck Sunday.
We'll be talking soon there, buddy. We'll get you on again.
Uh as we head into the playoffs. Can't wait to
see it for lunch burn, I'll have my head shined
up like yours will will would be some enjoy some
ball brunch or breakfast or something. But that'll be good.

(34:00):
Look forward to it. Maybe we'll get a stake Pittsburgh
style or something like that or sounds good, buddy. All right, Dave,
thanks so much as Dave Sharepan, longtime sports book operator here,
cannter gaming and beyond, very knowledgeable, been in the business
a long time, very measured approach. Doesn't overreact to a lot.
Speaking of overreacting, listen, I covered the Lions for ten years.

(34:24):
Did the Lions Preen postgame show with my team, Mark Wilson,
Ron Parker. Look, I would say this that it would
be a wonderful story to see the Lions get to
the playoffs. I'm concerned about Sunday's game against the Jets,
very concerned. I'm gonna break it down by the numbers
and tell you why I think the Lions are gonna

(34:45):
have some issues Sunday. Not a knock on the Lions,
just one of those spot plays where they're going into
a little bit of a gauntlet, and I'm gonna leave
give you all the reasons why. I'm Bernie Fritawork Comedy
Alive from the Las Vegas Tire Act dot Com Studios.
Keep it locked right here. You're listening to the Bernie
Frawder Show on Fox Sports Radio. Back on the Bernie
Fradder Show, Fox Sports Sunday. Check that back on the

(35:08):
Bernie Fradder Show, Fox Sports Radio, come to you live
from the entire act dot Com studios. Coming up top
of the hour, our guy, Mark Medina Medina Magic and Uh.
A lot of stuff to talk about in the NBA,
A couple of new wrinkles that I'll run by Mark.
But first, I uh, I want to talk about the
Jets Wyan's game on Sunday. It's the one game I'll

(35:31):
be locked in more than any other one. Look at
what the Jets did last week at Buffalo. They gave
Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense fits. They generated all
kinds of pressure. They smothered the Bills receivers the entire
game that it turned into a punt fest ten consecutive drives,
inning and punts. Buffalo won the game, though, and the
Jets held them to their season low yardage. Buffalo one

(35:53):
again tonight. UH. I believe Buffalo is probably going to
the Super Bowl. UH. If the season in it today, uh,
they would have the tiebreaker against Kansas City, they would
have a buy and the world of the Super Bowl
would go through Buffalo. But I digress. The reason I
bring up the Bills. The Bills are a better team
than the lines at the Lions game everything they can

(36:14):
handle them Thanksgiving Days. A matter of fact, the Lions
haven't lost since that great Thanksgiving Day game against the Bills.
Now the Lions go on the road to face what
I consider to be an extremely dangerous New York Jets
team for all kinds of reasons. The Jets defense is sensational,

(36:36):
it's physical, it's purposeful. They the ranked third in the
Lions six victories. They've done it against defenses that ranked
between twenty one and twenty nine. The Gents defense ranks third,
and again they held the Great Buffalo Bills. The Jets
did to twenty points last week and season low yardage
both of the times. Jared Goff and I like Jared

(36:59):
Goff only four and five when going outside under forty
degrees in his career six touchdown, seven interceptions, And that's
kind of to play the hot house teams. I call
him hothouse teams. If you play in the dome, you're
not quite the same. The offenses don't look as dynamic
when you go outside in the elements on regular turf.
Now the numbers bigger that out as well, when you

(37:21):
consider the fact that the Lions are averaging thirty two
points per game at home, but only eighteen point four
points per game on the road. The Lions convert This
isn't real. At home, they're converting their third downs at
a clip of forty eight percent, but on the road
only thirty four percent. Now is I realized Zach Wilson

(37:43):
will be the starter for the Jets. I'm all the
belief that for for Sunday. I don't know how long
this continues. And look, Zach Wilson has a lot of talent,
He's incredibly immature. He's got to clean that up or
he's gonna have a not for long career in the NFL.
But I think he might have had a little He
faced his maker these past few weeks and realized that

(38:05):
he's about to play in Sunday what I call a
born a game game. I saw Jeff Garcia do this
for the Detroit Lions with Steve Mariucci back in two
thousand four when they resurrected his career and he beat
the Cleveland Browns and it was a clutch game. I
think you're gonna see a pretty good effort out of
Zack Wilson tomorrow. But the key is is that the
Jets defense is so good. They're better than the Lions

(38:26):
defensively to the tune of a hundred two yards per game.
The defense is for real. I'm not joking when you
add that. When you add this to the equation, the
Lions started one and six, and they've done sensational since
the beginning of the year, they had the twenty nine
ranked defense. In the last ten weeks, the Lions have
played to what would be equivalent of the number twelve defense.

(38:49):
Still give up a lot of yards, but their defense
is stepped up. But the Lions started the season oh
and six. No NFL team has ever made the playoffs
after starting the season one and six. By the way,
they're facing a team in the Jets on Sunday that
is five and oh against the spread after losing a game,

(39:12):
Jets coming off a loss. So let's set the table here.
The Lions scored points five games in a row. Can
they do that against the team who's incredibly stingy, who
has playmakers. Now, we don't know if Quintin Williams is
going to play. I just checked. Somebody tweeted out me
said he was concerned. Well, you you have a right
to be concerned. But I would say this that I

(39:34):
believe Quintin Williams will be part of pregame warmups, and
you know, when the pregame warmups have concluded, they'll determine
whether his calf is good enough to drive him there.
So the other thing, too, is Detroit's been cozy at
home for about a month. They had a three game
homestand and now you go on the road after three
straight home games. Teams in the NFL are typically only

(39:55):
about percent against the spread, so everything is really lining
up for the Jets on Sunday. It'll be a game
I'll be watching very closely. He's got great storylines on
both sides. Speaking of storylines, were joined by our guy
on top of the hour of Mark Mdina Medina Magic.
We'll talk a little NBA. Keep it locked. This is
Bernie Fratto, Fox Sports Radio. Fox Sports Radio has the

(40:15):
best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of
our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and within
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listen live. It's not right you hear the man That
Bernie Fratto show keeps a rolling right along We're broadcasting
live from the Tirac dot Com studios. Tirac dot com.
We'll help you get there and unmatched selection, fast free

(40:36):
shipping for your road hazard protection and over ten thousand
recommended installers. Tirac dot com the way tire buying should
be left. Switch gears. Let's go to the NBA. It's
that time. Yes, we call it Medina Magic midnights. The
man comes packed with knowledge in the latest and we

(40:57):
play all the hits, play all the NBA. Say hoo
to Mark Dina. Mark, once again, thanks for staying up late, buddy.
I always say I'll play for you, my friend, because
there's always so much to talk about in the NBA.
You know what there really is. And uh, look, let
me start quickly with a couple of injury a little
injury reportage as it were, seemingly being cryptic about steps

(41:20):
Steph Curry's shoulder. How long is he gonna be out
because they were with him. Yeah, it's gonna be interesting.
I mean they said that they're going to reevaluate him
in two weeks, but I think the keyword is re evaluate.
That doesn't mean return in two weeks. And so there's
always that window that once they re evaluate him, then
they start clearing them to do some on court work

(41:41):
before he eventually comes back. But you know in a
way that the Warriors dodged a bullet. I mean, he
doesn't Steph Curry doesn't have to need soldier shoulder surgery,
and he had said recently if if you opt to
do that route, I mean, he'd be out for four
to six months. I think the problem here is the
Warriors have been barely uh fighting to be above five
D even with Steph Curry in the lineup, and with

(42:03):
him out of the lineup, it's very hard for me
to to see scenarios of them treading water. Um so yeah,
really challenging to say the least. You know, Andrew Wiggins
is expected to come back, as well as Draymond Green.
They have a healthy quite Thompson. But clearly there's been
a lot of struggles both because of you know, they're
they're young players as well as their star players inconsistency.

(42:25):
So they got better themselves like quite a handful, right,
I mean, they're terrible on the road and Curry has
put them on their back more than once at home
this year. But moving along, staying on the injury front,
and I don't know what it is about the Lakers.
I guess this might be a two part question. They're
famous this year for falling behind by twenty and battling back.

(42:46):
They do it routinely. So Friday night, Anthony Davis leaves
the game versus Denver due to a right foot injury.
The Lakers storm back when I think by what double digits?
Whatever the case, But I find out now Mark did
The Lakers have already ruled out Anthony Davis for Sunday
night's game against Washington, So what's up with him? Yeah? Well, look,

(43:07):
when he had a layup against Nicole Ki in the
first quarter, he landed awkwardly on his right leg and
he was showing discomfort. Now, to his credit, he was
playing through the rest of the first half, but did
not play the second half. They didn't have a lot
of specifics other than he got X rays today that
confirmed that, you know, his right foot still bothering him.

(43:28):
But it's not clear beyond Tomorrow's game against Washington Wizards
how many games he might be out. But you know,
the schedule is rapid fire here because they're going to
be in Phoenix on Monday. Then they go to uh,
they go to Sacramento, and then they come back to
l A for a home game against Charlotte, and then
go back on the road again starting with their Christmas

(43:50):
Day against Dallas. So uh that those are some challenging
games to say the least. And without Anthony Davis, he's been,
you know, putting himself in the MVP commerce station. While
I give the Lakers a lot of credit for, you know,
rallying around the fact that he was absent against a
Denver Nuggets team that really let their guard down, doing
that on a consistent basis is very challenging, to say

(44:13):
the least. Mark, I think you bring up an excellent point.
Anthony Davis is having a very good year, averaging seven
and twelve, shooting almost sixty percent from the floor. In
the three games he's missed. The Lakers are one and two.
How do they begin to replace that production? Yeah, great question, Bernie.
It's something I asked Thomas Bryan after the game against
the Nuggets, and basically he said that the way that

(44:35):
they mitigate eighties absences, they gotta, you know, bring the
effort defensively. They have to communicate, they have to move
the ball. So it's kind of all those cliches of
you know, when you're a team that has a bunch
of role players, you grind it out, you overachieve, you
you kind of master all those little things that maybe

(44:55):
when you're on a team filled with stars, you have
enough talent to kind of seemingly ignore. I think the
problem here that the Lakers are facing as to their credit,
their effort has rarely ever been in question. You add
the fact that Lebron James is still Lebron James. Russell
Westbrook has embraced and thrived in this central and a

(45:17):
lot of times that still hasn't been enough. Now, there
have been moments where they lay an egg, they make
bone headed decisions, some of their guys, including a d
can't prevail in crunch time. Allow that Boston Celtics collapse
earlier this week, But a lot of times, Bernie, their
losses have just been to the fact that it's a
very limited roster and there they can only do so

(45:39):
much with maximum effort um. So you know, they have
the blueprint in place, they know what it takes. I
asked Darvin Ham, you know the keys of executing laid
down the stretch and he did a litany of different
things that coaches care about as far as boxing out,
moving the ball, valuing the ball, uh and all that,
and and good ball movement. But I think, frankly, it

(46:01):
also comes down to town at the end of the day,
very much so. The Lakers only twelve and sixteen down
the year. The bar is so low for this team.
People feel like they're doing well even though they're twelve
and sixteen. I'm gonna make a bold prediction, uh, the
Lakers that you might have just mentioned, as they have
a back to back. They got they got Washington Sunday,
then they're at Phoenix Monday. I'm gonna bet Anthony Davis

(46:22):
misses both games. Yeah, I want to be surprised. I mean,
it's a back to back. They don't want to rush
a d out knowing his injury history Lebron James, you know,
while he didn't have a lot of detail about how
eighties injury was, I think that it was telling that
he talked about, Hey, his health is the number one priority.
So I think the Lakers message rings with what your

(46:44):
prediction will be. But I think you know what, short term, Uh,
they have a game that's winnable against the Wizards. I
mean they're missing Bradley Beal. He missed, uh, you know,
today's lost against the Clippers, and you know he's been
making progress. He got cleared for some three on three
work while the Wizards were in l A. But you know,
west Umsel Jr. Was mentioned that the coach was saying that,

(47:06):
you know, they're still looking for Bradley Beal to complete
some five on five and the fact that they plague
in tomorrow doesn't seem like there's really any opportunity for
him to get that. So point I'm making is that
there is an opportunity that the word that the Lakers
canna least get that win against the Wizards, but against Phoenix,
I know that they had lost five in a row

(47:27):
and are struggling, but now they seem to be really
exacting exactly some of those frustrations, including a really epic
performance against New Orleans tonight with that amazing fifty eight
point performance that by Devin Booker talking with Mark Madini
NBA dot Com or Fox Sports Radio Guru here when
it comes to all things in NBA, I'm gonna circle

(47:48):
back to Devin Booker in a second points to eight
um and I want to talk about the Suns, but
I want to stay in l A and the other
team in Los Angeles. I watched the game Monday night
against the Celtics, and Kawhi Leonard showed flashes of what
he looked like in Toronto three years ago. He brought
the ball up the floor, posted up against Jalen Brown,
popped to three a minute later. He's making a steel,

(48:11):
he's driving, he's making hook shots. Clippers win that game
by twenty Can we talk about the Clippers is finally
being a team if Kauai and Paul George stay healthy
as a team, you know, you add in Terrence Man
and Moses Brown and a bunch of guys people haven't
heard of the bottom lines. Can you start to talk
about the Clippers as a team that has designs on

(48:33):
going deep into the playoffs. I don't think you can, Bernie.
It's very unfortunate for them because they go on a
winning strue because three game one instruct and then all
of a sudden they lose guys. I mean to what
you're saying about Kawhi Leonard against the Celtics. He looks
his dominant self. In their latest win today against the
Wizards at thirty one point. He was just owning them
defensively in the final few minutes. But the problem is

(48:55):
just when you think that they're making progress, all of
a sudden, there's new injuries they have to worry. I mean,
Paul George miss his second consecutive game with the store
left knee. Same with Reggie Jackson with some issues with
his left achilles. Norman Powell hasn't been back in the
last Droun Vizza Zoobots, so they're it just seems like whackable.
There's always all these injuries. And while it is promising

(49:17):
that Kawhi Leonard has been having a few more games,
he also hasn't has been in now the lineup. I
mean as part of their load management program with Kauai.
He has been saying out back to back, so understandable
why he missed, uh, you know, the the earlier game
this week against Phoenix, but I think earlier in the season. Uh,

(49:37):
he also experienced some other injuries that the Clippers weren't anticipants.
They're just has this feeling like the Clippers are always
kind of looking over their shoulder and looking around the
corner to see what is the next injury bug that's
gonna bite them, so on Taper, no doubt they are
the deepest and most talented team in the NBA. If

(49:57):
the problem is they've had a combined six the one
games miss due to injuries in counting um, and that's
created a lot of you know, lineup challenges that Tyler
has had to manage as well as just obviously a
diminished roster than what you know, they feel that they
should be able to have because of all the talent. Well,
you nailed it. They have a ton of talent and

(50:19):
someone there and there's Luke Nard as well. They're gonna
need him. The question, so the question will be can
they mention time for the postseason? And even Kawhi Leonard
has said, you know, he's a year removed from his
a c L even he said he doesn't think he's
going to be fully healthy the entire year. It's gonna
be into maybe next season. So look, the Clippers, even
with all of their talent, and you live that out perfectly,

(50:41):
there's just some crazy inconsistency about this team. About a
week and a half ago, they beat Charlotte and the
next night they blew a twenty point lead against Orlando
and losing overtime. That you're right, that just doesn't look
like a playoff team to me. Yeah, And look, they
have time on their side, and they very well could
experience a scenario where all the stars are the line
when the moment counts in the playoffs. I think to

(51:03):
the Clippers credit why they're being so cautious with their guys,
explains that that gives them the maximum chance to be
able to use their deep and talented roster for a
championship run. But there's also very well scenario that what
we're seeing now in October, November, December is what we're

(51:26):
also going to see in April, May and June. And
if we see that in the spring, we're not even
gonna see a June because there's just gonna be so
many injury challenges that won't be uh enough to overcome
against other really good playoff teams. Wrapping up with Mark Mdini,
NBA dot Com, our Fox Sports Radio, NBA Group. I'm Mark,
I'm I'm glad you are. I'm glad you mentioned Devin

(51:49):
Booker's performance tonight. I'm wondering though, if we didn't bury
the lead, because I know he scored fifty eight. You
think that's the lead. It sounds we're down by tonight again,
the team they lost to twice last week, and the Pelicans.
The Sons were a trendy team two years ago and
fell short in the playoffs. Couldn't they finally get it

(52:09):
together under Monty Williams and get to the NBA Finals.
I think they can, But to your point, they've dealt
with a lot of inconsistency. And I know, talking with
guys on the team this week when they were in
l A. Devin Booker, Chris Paul, McHale Bridges, the head coach,
Monty Williams, you know, they on one hand talked about, hey,
this is a product of it's early in the season,

(52:32):
and they've had a lot of injuries, most notably to
Chris Paul, but there's been also a lot of self
inflicted wounds where you know, they've had inefficient offensive nights.
They haven't been disciplined on defense, and those were their
two calling cards where they had just predominant scores as
far as their star players and their bench, and they

(52:54):
are a pretty disciplined defensive team in the past two seasons,
and we just haven't seen that on a consistent basis
so far this season. And it's puzzling because I know that,
you know, they're all the distractions to open training camp with,
you know, the allegations about the Robert Sarver, the owner
and everything with that. But you know, I think, to

(53:15):
a man, that didn't really affect how things were last season.
When the first story came out, they were still dominant.
So I think the way the Sons are looking at
it is, hey, we're glad we're dealing with these issues now.
Then a post later on this season, which would happened
last year when they seemed like, hey, they're unstoppable, They're
saying a franchise record for most regular season games, and

(53:38):
then all of a sudden chemistry issues hit in the playoffs.
So it's their hope and I think optimism that they
can rectify these things in the regular season move forward.
I know, talking to mchail Bridges specifically, he was very
encouraged this week after their Clippers win UH that he
felt like the team didn't disband together and they had

(53:59):
a lot of heart to hearts both with coach Monty
Williams and amongst players about how to correct some of
their defensive lapses, and I think they're bullish that they
can move forward with up a lot of start power
in that game. I mean, Booker had thirty six points
in the second half, including twenty in the third quarter
when they were down by a ton. And by the way,

(54:19):
Zion he combined with CJ. Mccollin for fifty seven points.
Let to start powering. That game just got about thirty seconds.
Sion looks like he's coming into form. Yeah, without a doubt.
I mean he is powerful, he is healthy, he's a
team guy. He's versatile, I mean a knock on wood.
As far as his health goes for the Pelicans are
very pleased with his talent, his work ethic, his coach ability,

(54:40):
and as well as his different tweaks made to his
regiment to try to maximize full health. Mark great stuff
was always Let's get you back next Friday to preview
the NBA quintuplet suite. All right, look at all right?
Thanks Mark, Thanks so much, buddy. It's Mark Madina, NBA
dot Com, our Fox Sports Radio NBA guru. You hear
him all around the network on the various shows, and

(55:01):
you know why he brings it. Uh, coming up, I
want to go back to the NBA NFL give the
playoff picture entering week fifteen. What would happen if the
season in and today, who would have the buys? What
would the match us be? And oh, by the way,
who's on the outside looking and trying to get in
bottom of the hour. I want to give remembrance and
pay tribute to the great Mike Leach who passed away

(55:22):
earlier in the week. You all know who he is,
and uh, shock waves have gone through the coaching fraternity
as well as the media in general, because Mike Leach
was the last bastion of this eclectic renaissance man coach
who was not only quotable and brilliant and educated, but
he was a hell of a football coach as well.
I'm Bernie Frauderware Company A live from the tire Rock

(55:44):
dot Com studios here in Las Vegas. Stick and stay.
You're listening to the Bernie Frauder Show on Fox Sports Radio.
All right, back on the Bernie Fadder Show, Fox Sports Radio.
We're coming to you alive from the tire Act dot
Com studios here in Las Vegas. Will take you up
to three am Pacific, six am Eastern. We've got a
ton of stuff to get to. Congratulations to the Minnesota

(56:06):
Vikings who clinched the NFC North today, and they will
most likely enter the playoffs as the number three seed,
and they will certainly have at least one home playoff game,
and they'll be able to answer their critics. All Right,
they're eleven and three. I don't think you can call
a team who's eleven and three of fraud. On the
other hand, I've mentioned many times over the past few

(56:27):
weeks and earlier in the show, and also with Jason
Martin eron Torres earlier, that when you're eleven and three
yet your point differential is only plus three and you're
being outyard per game, you're asking for trouble. That doesn't
mean it's gonna happen. The Vikings will decide this on
the field and there won't be any subjectivity to it.

(56:48):
The leither winner, they won't. Speaking of that, what does
the playoff picture for the National Football League look like
as we continue on with Week fifteen, Well, let's look
at the current a FC picture. Buffalo gets the W tonight.
That was huge. They're eleven and three. Now you would
presume Kansas City, who is a fourteen point favorite heading

(57:10):
into Houston. Later today, we'll get to w but if
the season in it today, Buffalo would be the number
one seed in the a f C and they would
get a buy. Remember under this new playoff format, they've
hadded an additional team in each conference, but only one
team gets a by, which means the number two seed
would be Kansas City. They would host the number seven

(57:32):
seed New England. Again if this is in it today. Now,
Baltimore heading into today was nine and four, which is
good enough for the number three seed. They would host
the Dolphins at eight and five, probably not a lot
changing their Tennessee would also host the Cincinnati Bengals are
actually they would. Well, the reason they would host this
since Sinnati Bengals is probably because they're gonna win their

(57:53):
division even though they've got a better record. So Miami's
dropped three in a row. There's still very much alive.
But now being eight and six, you open the door
for the l A Chargers, who are seven and six,
and you open the door for the New York Jets,
who are also seven and six, And you know you
can't completely count out. I know it's a little crazy,

(58:14):
right If you're If you're five and eight, you've basically
got a two point one percent chance of making the playoffs.
But don't tell that to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They host
Dallas tomorrow. Jackson Jacksonville has become kind of a trendy
play as a home underdog. The Raiders five and eight.
I think people have pretty much jumped ship on them.
But you watch the Raiders beat the Patriots tomorrow, then

(58:36):
going to Pittsburgh and win, and then all as other
seven eight people knuckleheads to start talking playoffs again. The
Browns nicely done today, there's six and eight. Mathematically there's
still alive. Not much old for the Steelers or the Colts.
I think are pretty well cooked, all right. Only two
teams in the a f C have been officially eliminated,
the Denver Broncos at three and ten. Very revealing how

(58:57):
Russell Wilson cleared the place to day but they said no,
I don't think so go ahead and take the day off.
Set this one out. In the Houston Texans one eleven
and one uh, they are technically the number sixteen seed
if you're scoring at home, and by the way, double
check the rules. The sixteen seed does not get to
go to the playoffs. All right, let's look at the

(59:17):
NFC playoff picture. The Philadelphia Eagles, who will have an
interesting tussle in Chicago Sunday, but they're nine point favorite.
I think Philly gets it done. That doesn't mean the
Bears won't compete. But season in it today, the Philly
UH the Eagles at twelve and one, they're the number
one seed. It's almost a certainty that they'll stay the
number one seed. I believe in the NFC, and it

(59:40):
looks like the road to the UH Super Bowl, at
least from the NFC is going to go through the
city of brotherly love. Give it up to the Vikings.
You're now eleven and three. If the season in it today,
they would host the number seven seed, the New York Giants.
But again, they're gonna have their hands full as they
play the Commanders Sunday Night Bowl team seven, five and one.
Both teams are still alive to be in the playoffs.

(01:00:01):
That's basically a de facto playoff game. But again, if
the season of today, the Vikings would host the Giants
in San Francisco. Forty Niners, who continue to kick butuck
take games at defenses for real, And I'm very impressed
with Brock Purty. He looks like he can play the
position at a major league level. He doesn't have to
do a lot. He's got a lot of weapons around.
He processes very well. You can see this position you

(01:00:22):
play with your eyes. He understands how to do that.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I know, you gotta hold your
your nose now. And this is perhaps we've seen this before. Okay,
we're a team under five wins their division. We've seen
this before. We saw it with Beast Mode in Seattle
in two thousand and ten when they were at least

(01:00:42):
seven and nine, won the division and beat New Orleans
in a playoff game. So look, anything can happen. But
Tampa Bay would host the Dallas Cowboys. Let's just okay again,
if if the season of today Cowboys or ten of
three to Buck six and seven, the Bucks got Cincinnati Sunday,
will not surprise me at all. If Tom Brady is
a home dog prevails Sunday. But they would host the
Dallas Cowboys. Who's in the hunt, Well, the Seattle Seahawks

(01:01:06):
sort of the seven and seven, the Detroit Lions. But
they've got to beat the Jets. Sunday, there's six and seven.
I'm not so sure I see that happening, and again
because it's the a f C South, or check that
the NFC South and all the wackiness. The Carolina Panthers
at five and eight are still very much alive. Now
the Green Bay Packers very much on the outside looking

(01:01:27):
in at five and eight, but I expect him to
spank the Rams on Monday. Forget the Cardinals, forget the Saints,
Forget the Rams. The Chicago Bears the only team so
far the NFC that's been eliminated a lot of interesting
key matchups this we most have some sort of plow
implication one way or the other. Look at the Patriots
against the Raiders. The Patriots loose Sunday, they followed to

(01:01:49):
seven and seven, right, you saw it happen to night
with Miami and Buffalo. Miami was the number six hea
heading into the night. Now they're precariously hanging on the edge.
So really tough card this week. A lot of what
I would consider to be yes de facto playoff games
on officially playoff games, but they're gonna be like playoff
games based on the result, various teams are going to need.

(01:02:11):
Coming up, we remember Mike leach We've got I think
some interesting stories you're like his coaching tree, and certainly
of course will chronicle what you know, what his makeup
was and why he was such a special person. But
first let's go back to our guy, Nick Cope with
the latest. All right, Bernie, I'm looking forward to the

(01:02:31):
Mike leach tonk coming up. He He was a favorite
of mine. Love just listening to him and all his
stories and his advice for for various people. He's a
really interesting cat. Ye. Anyways, let's start with the NFL
triple header on Saturday. Buffalo Bills back in the playoffs
a fourth straight year, thirty nine. They complete a fourth
quarter come back over the Dolphins. Miami's now dropped three

(01:02:54):
in a row. By the way, Minnesota biggest comeback in
NFL history. The Vike and is overcoming a thirty three
point deficit, stunning the Colts thirty nine thirty six in overtime.
Vikings clinched the NFC North, still the number two seed
in the NFC as you just mentioned. And then Cleveland
they are still alive and the home debut for the
Browns for de Shaun Watson. He helps lead the Browns

(01:03:17):
to a thirteen to three win over the Ravens, who
yet again did not have Lamar Jackson. Looking ahead to
Sunday's games and Who's in and Who's Out. Cardinals receiver
Hollywood Brown expected to play to spine an illness. Patriots
receiver Kobe Myers is also expected to play. Running Back
Romondre Stevenson will go through pregame warmups before they will
determine if he can play. They're going against the Raiders

(01:03:40):
and Oakland running back Johns Jacobs is on track to play.
Chiefs receivers can Areas Tuning and McCole Hardman Bolt set
to play, and Jets defensive tackle Quinn and Williams will
be a game time decision. College football at the First
Go Bowl, Boys, he stayed out lasta North Texas thirty
two b O y U hung on against Smue in

(01:04:00):
the New Mexico Bowl. Mustangs went for two in the
win at the end of the game, but did not
convert bowl game. In Mobile, Alabama, Southern miss running bank
frankcore Jr. Ran all over Rice. He said an n
C double a bowl record with three hundred twenty nine
yards on the ground as the Golden Eagles won thirty
eight to twenty four. Fresno State completed a ten win

(01:04:21):
season at six win over Washington State in the l
A Bowl. Number fourteen Oregon State crushed Florida thirty to
three at the Las Vegas Bowl, and in the Fenway Bawl,
Louisville handed Cincinnati a twenty four to seven loss for
the Bearcats. College basketball had a lot of top twenty
five match ups at the end of the night. On Saturday,

(01:04:42):
Number nine Arizona moved to ten in one as they
got a seventy five to seventy home win against number
six Tennessee in New York City. Number sixteen U c
l A held off Number thirteen Kentucky sixty three fifty three.
Number two Virginia loss for the first time this season
six sixty one at the hands of numb or five
Houston in the NBA, the Sun's got fifty eight points

(01:05:03):
from Devin Booker overcame a twenty four point deficit beat
the Pelicans fourteen thunder beat the Grizzlies one fifteen one.
On nine, John Moran was ejected from the game for
quote questioning the integrity of an official end quote in
baseball shortstop Dan's by Swans on the free agents signing
with the Cubs. Seven years, hundred seventy seven million, Dodgers

(01:05:25):
have brought in a designated hitter J D. Martinez come
to Los Angeles on a one year, ten at million
dollar deal. Bernie, back to you, all right, thanks so much, Nick. So,
Mike Leach passed suddenly earlier this week and there have
been shock waves. Um. You know, Mike Leach's record as

(01:05:48):
a coach is one thing, but it's effect on people.
I think he's where I want to begin. And let's
take players for instance. There have been only five teams
in FBS history to average at least four seventy seeing
yards per game. Mike Leach coached three of those teams,
the two thousand three Texas tex team, the two thousand
seven Texas Tech team in Washington State, and the not

(01:06:11):
exactly before Leech got there haven't exactly been bastions of
what you would consider to be offensive prowess. Speaking of bastions,
to me, Mike Leach was the last bastion of an
error gone by, long gone by. Not only a football coach,
he was a genius of football, genius had success in

(01:06:32):
the field, and no one could hold court like Mike Leach.
You know, he would give you the historical references and
the colorful analogies and clever anecdotes, and of course he
had an incredibly whip smart sense of humor. But again,
the effect on people, perhaps one of the most notable
things that flew under the radar happened Mike Leach's second

(01:06:53):
year at Texas Tech. His starting quarterback the year was
Cliff Kingsbury, and course you know who he is, and
he presided over some very prolific offenses. Kingsbury's backup was
a guy by the name of b J. Simons, and
b J Simons was a quality quarterback through for four
hundred yards multiple times, I think even through for like
six hundred yards in the game once. But QB three

(01:07:14):
walked into his office one day, because coach meets a
Leach called a meeting and said, son, I just want
you to know something. I like you, but you're never
going to see the field here at Texas Tech. But
I see something in you, and I'm curious, are you
possibly interested in being a student assistant coach? He didn't
like that. This young man stormed out of the office
ticked off, came back the next day and said, Coach,

(01:07:37):
tell me a little bit more about that student assistant
coaching opportunity. The young man his name was Lincoln Riley.
And in a minute, I'm going to get to the
coaching tree that has been developed under Mike Leach, as
it were. But one of the things that that I
missed tremendously is most coaches these days, virtually all of them,

(01:08:01):
don't have much of a personality, and Leach had that.
He was entertaining. He was a type of guy that
when he talked, you really stopped to listen. And over
the years we used to have these guys. A couple
of names come to mind. Back in the day, there
was a coach for the Texas long Runs when Texas
was really good named Fred Acres, an amazing personality, very quotable,

(01:08:21):
similar to Mike Leach. Couldn't really put him in Leach's category, close,
very close. And I remember back in the day when
Texas in Oklahoma went back and forth. These were great
Texas teams. Nationally ranked Texas teams top five every year,
way before the playoffs. But dominant and coach Acres was

(01:08:42):
recruiting three brothers, Johnny Jones, Johnny Lamb Jones, Johnny ham
Jones and Johnny jam Jones. That was their name, track Stars.
So they said, coach will come to Texas, but only
if you let us run track while playing football. Well,
that conflicts was spring football. Well, Coach Akers looked at
him and said, sound the only thing I hate worse
than track his field. But he relented and allowed all

(01:09:04):
three guys to come. And you can google these guys,
Johnny Lamb Jones, Johnny jam Jones, Johnny am Jones. They
were part of some great Texas teams that were ranked
number one. And what's interesting is back then, of course,
we were a little bit different society. Coach Acres wants
to received the call from an academic advisor who said, coach,
do you know that your star quarterback is currently getting

(01:09:25):
four fs at one d. What do you think about that?
He said, I think he's spending entirely too much time
on one subject. Doesn't that sound a little like Mike Leach?
How about Jimmy Valvano who once went up to a
referee and said, you know, I gotta ask you a question,
can I get a technical just for thinking something? And
the rest said no. He says, good because I think
you suck, and then he got a technical. Those guys

(01:09:48):
are gone. They add texture to the game. They had
flavor and spice. Look, Mike Leach was a trend sitter.
He was a creator. Look what he did with the
programs he had. He was a visionary. Frankly, a ledge
football icon, and he's a legend coaching legend. Now I'm
a notorious name dropper because I met a lot of people,
but I never met Mike Leach. And I wish I

(01:10:08):
would have because everybody who talks about them so they
were better for having known Mike Leach. And it's not
just the production on the field. For the nine highest
passing single season yardage accomplishments in FPS history, and seven
of the top twenty five come from quarterbacks that were
coached by Mike Leach. And how about the Mike Leach
coaching tree. Dave Randa, the Baylor head coach, he was

(01:10:31):
a graduate assistant under Leach at Texas Tech in nearly
two thousands when Leach was the head coach of Texas Tech.
Sunny Combe, who's currently at Louisiana Tech. He played under Leach.
Is a quarterback at Texas Tech and then later in
the decade he served as a graduate assistant as well.
Sonny Dikes Sunny Dikes, you know him. TCUs got his

(01:10:51):
team in the final four. They beat Michigan UH two
weeks from or a week from next Saturday and New
Year's Eve. They're in the College Football Finals. Are undefeated
this year in regulation. They did lose to Kansas State,
but they had already beat in Kansas State earlier in
the year. Sunny Dikes the TCU head coach. He coached
wide receivers and it was a co offensive coordinator under

(01:11:11):
Mike Leach again at Texas Tech. About Josh Hypel, the
Tennessee head coach. Look at the offense they had this year, well,
Josh Hypel was a quarterback under Mike Leach when Mike
Leach was at Oklahoma and Leech was the offensive coordinator
for the Sooners. Dania Horgerson a guy who's been around currently,
they head coach at Houston. He coached alongside Mike Leach

(01:11:33):
as an assistant way back in the early nineties when
they were both at Valdosta State, but then also served
as wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator under Mike Leach
while Leach was the head coach of Texas Tech. And
I already mentioned Cliff Kingsbury, head coach of the Arizona Cardinals,
played quarterback from Mike Leach. Lincoln Riley, the USC head coach.

(01:11:54):
I just told you that story. There are about ten
more names I could give you. I'm gonna stop right there,
but here's the key, and this is why we love
Mike Leach. He was genuine, He was in conventional. He's
the type of guy, very idiosyncratic. He would call place
from a folded piece of paper smaller than an index
card on the sidelines, and he would take guys you've

(01:12:14):
never heard of. B J Simons who averaged four hundred
forty yards per game when he started for Texas, That
Graham Harrold average four thirty, Connor Holiday, Anthony Gordon. These
guys come to campus, no one's heard of him, and
they become record centers and Heisman Trophy contenders. That was
Mike Leach. Mike Leach, his hundred and fifty eight career
wins ranked fifth among active FBS coaches this season. I

(01:12:37):
believe Leech would have coached another ten years. I do
and we'll never know. Now it's sad. And here's what's
really sad. Mike Leach deserves to be in the College
Football Hall of Fame. But well, guess what one of
the criterion is. You have to have a winning percentage
of six hundred. Mike Leaches winning percentage five. Well, someone

(01:12:59):
needs to round up or something, because when you look
at the quotes from other coaches, truly heartfelt, from Nick
Saban all the way down, it's a who's who coaches.
Every one of them are heartbroken. Every one of them
know the effect that Mike Leach had on them in
the game in college football. And you look at the

(01:13:19):
offenses that he developed a Texas Tech and quarterbacks like
Kingsbury and Harold the Raiders by the way, eleven and
two and two thousand and eight, they finished in the
top twenty five. This is Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas. While
each was there, they finished in the top and Leeches
five seasons, his last five seasons, they haven't done that
since I don't think. I don't think they have won

(01:13:41):
more than nine games since he left. And I know
there was some controversy. He had a situation with Craig
Jameson back in two thousand nine, but all the lawsuits
ended up I believe getting dropped in. Leech goes to
Washington State. Washington stated at eight straight nine winning seasons
until Mike Leach got there in plue into thousand twelve.
Leads the Washington State Cougars to a bowl game in

(01:14:04):
his second season and then for four straight years won
at least eight games. Then he headed to Mississippi State
where they wanted if his offense would work in the
SEC and frankly it did, by the way. One last
thing about Mike Leach. Because he took over more bun programs,
there were many opportunities where as the coach of an
unranked team, Mike Leach would have an opportunity to play

(01:14:26):
a team in the AP Top twenty five. Well, guess what,
Mike Leach, as you can well imagine, they have many
notable upsets as a head coach. As a matter of fact,
in his career, Mike Leach had eighteen wins as the
coach of an unranked team over a top twenty team.
That's the most in history, by the way. Just in
his three years in Mississippi State, they were predominantly unranked.

(01:14:49):
Mike Leach had seven wins while coaching the unranked Mississippi
State team over the last three years versus ranked teams.
I would have loved to have seen what Leech would
have continued to do in the SEC. It's it's sad,
sixty one years old. Suffice it to say, Mike Leach
may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. Rest

(01:15:11):
in peace. Uh, Mike Leach, you were one of a kind.
You were one of one. Coming up, The Bernie Fraddle
Show continues. Keep it locked right here, you're coming. We're
coming to you live from the Tireract dot Com studios
here in Las Vegas. You're listening to the Bernie Fradle
Show on Fox Sports Radio. Back on the Bernie Frado Show,
Fox Sports Radio, or coming to you alive from the

(01:15:33):
tire Act dot Com studios here in Las Vegas. Top
of the Ar'm gonna switch gears. There are forty one
college football bull games. There are about ten that have
really caught my eye, and I'll tell you why. But first,
we are six hours and ten minutes away from a
game that will be watched by a billion people. You
heard that a billion with a B France will take

(01:15:54):
on Argentina, and there are storylines all over the place
for starters in Argentina was seated three, in France number four.
And what's the what's the key storyline here? Well, Lionel
Messi get his first Cup or will France repeat with
thirst star killing him Bobby? And by the way, the
race for the Golden Boot is still alive. And look

(01:16:16):
when the World Cup brackets first came out, and you know,
you look at possibilities, just like you do with March Mattness.
You look at the potential Argentina and France that would
be considered I think, a dream matchup. But you know, look,
soccer can be a very cruel sport. I mean, you
know the sixty four games, there's thirty two teams, thirty
one go home unhappy. Only one can can win it.

(01:16:37):
And this is an incredible tournament and I've really enjoyed it.
France is the defending champion. No country has won back
to back World Cup titles in sixty years. Brazil did
it back in two and I think I want to
say Italy did it in the thirties. But let's start
with killing him Boppy because one of the reasons I
think people, the average fan perhaps isn't as you know,

(01:17:00):
gigg about soccer as some folks is because I don't
know who's playing. Well, if you don't know, kill him
Boppy's name. By now, you really haven't paid attention. He scored,
He scored five goals this tournament place for France. He's
tied with Lanol Messi. And when France won it, ineen
em Bobby scored four goals. He was only nineteen years old.

(01:17:22):
Then this guy has unbelievable speed, his ball handling, his trickery.
He's like he's from another plan. I think ty Tyree
killed type of guy. And again he's only twenty three,
but he's already being compared to Pile, the legend from Brazil,
and more than one person has has, you know, compared

(01:17:43):
him with that kind of greatness. Because first of all,
Emboby not only scored four goals in eighteen, he was
the first teenager to score at the World Cup since
Pele did it back in ninety eight. And this year
Imboby surpassed Pele's World Cup scoring for a player under
four nine total goals and unlike Messy and Bobby actually

(01:18:06):
has a World Cup. Well, I'm not picking on I'm messy.
He's had twenty six games. Look, soccer is a team sport.
You've got another you got ten other players on the
on the on the field with you, right, And I
know mostly attention goes to him, Bobby or Olivia. Your
old Francis all time UH score leader and Francis loaded
right coming into this Cup, both countries had won this

(01:18:27):
tournament twice before. Argentina hasn't done it since eighty six.
He did it in seventy eight. France did it now.
But here's the angle. Will Argentinian star Lionel Messi win
the loan trophy that's been missing from his illustrious curis
thirty five years old. He's clearly one of the finest
players to ever be on the pitch. He's played twenty

(01:18:49):
six World Cup games. When he takes the field, he'll
set a record Sunday for the most number of games
played in men's World Cup competition, and he scored he's
eleventh goal earlier in this term. He's eleven goals in
World Cup competition, but no cup. Thirty five years old,
one of the finals to play the game but again
that rare thing. He's never been able to say he's

(01:19:11):
a World Cup champion, though they did make it the finals.
Argentina made it to the finals, but they lost to Germany.
You can't miss this game. I'll be getting up early forward.
This is expected to be Messi's last World Cup match,
and Messi is an elite club just but despite all
his records and all his successes, he's always going to

(01:19:32):
be in the shadow of the great Diego Maradona, former
argentinean unless he can win the World Cup for his trophy.
Can you imagine the pressure a billion people watching. By
the way, I still think Argentina is probably gonna win,
but I'm not that confident. I might bet there to
be a draw heading into extra time. Coming up, we
talked about college bull football games. The Bernie Fraddle Show continues.

(01:19:55):
Keep it locked. You're listening to The Bernie Fraddle Show.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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Radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app
search f s R to listen live. Well, you heard
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(01:20:18):
in Las Vegas. Tirac dot com will help you get there,
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Pacific six am Eastern. A ton of stuff to get

(01:20:40):
to and we will get back into some more NFL
headlines as we continue with Week fifteen, but hot and
heavy the bowl season. The college football bull season has
begun on earnest forty one bull games. You may or
may not have interested in all or any, but there
are a handful that really have caught my eyes somewhere
more obvious than others, but I'm gonna share with you

(01:21:01):
the ones I don't think you should miss, and the
first one is obvious. Ohio State versus Georgia and the
Peach Bull Gotta love it Atlanta. Tons of weeks of
hype after Ohio States stunk into the playoffs against the
National champions, a chance for redemption after the Buckeyes got
pull axed to get to Michigan at home, and look
Ohio State's got their work cut out for them. You

(01:21:23):
gotta play the Bulldogs essentially on their home turf in Atlanta. Okay,
I won't call it the home game. They're not playing
between the hedges. But Ryan Davis said his team they
believe their experience in a second lease on life after
USC lost to Utah and the pactoral of championship game
that opened the door. And so what Ryan Leaf and

(01:21:44):
the Ohi State Buckeyes are telling us They want to
make their most other opportunity. This is a spotlight game
again following a loss to Michigan. Can you imagine now
Ohio States about seven point underdog? Can here's the storyline?
Can you imagine if Ohio State beats Georgia it would
be an upset and they advanced to play Michigan assuming

(01:22:04):
Michigan beats TCU. There's no guarantees. Can you imagine Ohio
State in Michigan not after Thanksgiving Day on a neutral
site for the National Championship. Are you kidding me? Oh
my goodness, my head. People's heads will explode. But look,
Georgia is on a Mischigan man. They want to continue
to dominate. They want to be the last team standing.

(01:22:26):
They're gonna be an extremely tough out for Ohio State
and ohiuse State. No Travia and Henderson or Jackson and
Jabi Smith. That's a bummer because with those two guys
in the lineup, I think this, and and by the way,
you learn to expect the unexpected. Would it shock me
if Ohi State beat Georgia. No, it wouldn't. I'm not
predicting that. And I haven't really gotten down to handicap

(01:22:47):
the game yet, but got into my head I might
be inclined to take the points State to touchdown on
a neutral Yeah. Now the Roles Bull, the granddaddy of
the mall Okay long gone of the days, seemingly a
Michigan USC, Ohio State USC, you name it, whatever the
case you've got Utah and Penn stated, it's still gonna
be the hell of a game. Penn State was last
in the Rose Bowl. Uh in and uh By the way,

(01:23:15):
Utah is the return trip to Los Angeles. Last year
they got into a giant shootout with the aforementioned House
State Buckeyes. That was the game where Jackson Smith and
Jigba the wide receiver I just talked about who's decided
to turn pro won't play at Hamstring issues had like
three yards in that game. Here's the key this. If
you're if you're a football A peer, they look it's

(01:23:37):
the Rose Bowl. Okay, if you're a football A purists,
you're gonna be looking at two teams that are very
well coached, They're both looking for their eleventh win, both
are gonna be top ten finishers, and which you're probably
very much gonna see, is a four quarter game that
could come down to the wire, a final possession scenario.
Pack twelve versus Big ten. You know, not your traditional

(01:24:01):
again USCU Michigan, but Utah Penn State. It'll be a
very good football game. This is another game I'm interested
to see, even though it's unfortunate that Hendon Hooker is
not playing. But Tennessee and Clemson in the world and
the Orange Bowl. Now these teams, obviously they have a commonality.

(01:24:21):
As Yogi Barat would say, they have different similarities. Both
of them had their playoff hopes ended by South Carolina
and late November, but Clemson did rebound with a conference championship,
went over North Carolina and by the way, Tennis Tennessee
just completely hammered Vanderbilt during rivalry weekend. Right, But here's
here's why you might want to. You might really get

(01:24:42):
a kick out of this game. You're gonna see a
quarterback matchup between two players who basically didn't play at
all this season. Joe Milton is going to start for
tennessee the injured Hendon Hooker. And if that name is
for mayor to you, he went to Michigan with all
these accolades. You know it was supposed to be the
second Coming. I remember people putting stuff on message boards. Boy,

(01:25:03):
what do you see? Joe Milton? He could throw the
ball seven years from his knees. Okay, why would he
be on his knees? That's stupid. But the other guy
you want to watch because he's very much Clemson's future,
uh their freshman kid club Nick. He basically begins a
new era for Clemson. As dju I think that you
know he tried but he fell short, which didn't surprise me.

(01:25:27):
It's my understanding. Dju u u Yaga Leley, the quarterback
who entered Clemson with all kinds of accolades. He's entering
the portal if he hasn't already done so. So you
get an interesting matchup again between Josh Hypel Mike leads
to uh disciple, he's the head coach of Tennessee and
they had a hell of a year, hell of a

(01:25:47):
year to beat Alabama. Clemson. Not your typical you know,
rock and rolling Clemson. You I'm sure dabble swingey. They
you know, they've been a fixture in the Final four
for years, not this year. But that doesn't mean it's
still not going to be a great game to watch.
Another game if you like college quarterbacks, that should be
a blast. Texas and Washington in the Alamobile. Now Washington
quarterback the transfer from Michael from Indiana, Michael Pennocks Jr.

(01:26:11):
He announced about a week ago that he's returning for
another season with Washington, And so you're gonna get a
glimpse of a guy who should be one of the
Hindsman front runners for you know, for that award next year.
And he lied Washington to a very impressive ten win
season this year. And the game will be played in
San Antonio. But hey, he's gonna be matched up with

(01:26:33):
another quarterback who's gonna get enough again, He's already gotten
a ton of attention already I'm talking about Queen yours.
I think it's fair that if if Quinn eers hadn't
gotten hurt in the Alabama game starting for Texas, I
like Texas might have won that game. And remember Quinn
you were started his career at Ohio State, was one

(01:26:53):
of the young men who was the recipient of a
reported one million dollar or n i L deal and
couldn't get on the field their transfers to Texas. But
he's done quite well now. It's interesting because Washington, I
think they'll have motivation. They had designs. They were sitting
on the edge of their seat because had USC beaten Utah,

(01:27:18):
Washington would have gone to the Rose Bowl. But their
first year coach Kalin de Boor, and he is a
very good coach. I do expect Washington to show up
with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. And uh,
I have not heard yet. But if if for more
dramatics and more great athletes and more great sensational potential highlights.

(01:27:39):
Easily the best running back in the country, Texas is
b John Robinson. If he suits up for the game
before the NFL Draft, that'll be something to watch, all right.
I will always watch a game Notre Dames in just
because but they play South Carolina. I'm very intrigued by
this matchup because South Carolina came out at the end
of the year like a hossifier. They really looked tremendous

(01:27:59):
and uh, the Gator Bowl considers this, this is a
Gator Bowl. Notre Dame in South Carolina they considered to
be sort of a dream scenario and they really had
to do some I think some finagling to get Notre
Dame in South Carolinas. You're both top twenty five teams. Uh,
South Carolina, you could you could make a case they
entered the the end of the year is the hottest

(01:28:21):
team in the nation outside of the playoff invites, right there,
coming off back to back wins over top ten competition
for the first time in their program history. And this
is three years you know in the making. Really but
this is a very prolific offense South Carolina. And you
saw what they did some teams down the stretch. Right.

(01:28:41):
I mentioned earlier the Fiesta Bowl TCU in Michigan. Now
TCU had a perfect season came to an end in
the Big twelve Championship game after the horn Frogs got
stuffed at the goal line by Kanda State. But it
bears repeating this could be the team of destiny. It
sounds a little meldramatic, right given their breakthrough into the

(01:29:05):
playoff and what they did, and this Max dug and
Kid refuses to lose. Look, TCU is no slouch. They
had six wins this year over top twenty five teams.
They beat everybody under schedule. Yes, they did lose to
Kansas State in the Big twelve Championship game, but they
got to the Big twelve Championship game and other teams
who were making acclaim Alabama they didn't get to their

(01:29:27):
Big twelve championship game. They had two losses. Tc you
might have had the one loss, but they had already
beat in Kansas State. So not only did TCU beat
everybody under schedule, but they were undefeated in regulation. Kansas
State it took two overtime to beat TCU. Meanwhile, on Michigan,
they're back for a second straight years Big Ten Championships.
Now they got hammered by Georgia, and I know for

(01:29:47):
my moles in Michigan they remember that and haven't been
there last year. They got a wealth of experience and
I think You've got a team that will be very motivated. Uh,
not that they weren't last year wasn't. But they've got
a little bit better weapon at quarterback to this year
with J. J. McCarthy. But a couple of outliers will
determine whether this game is competitive or the Wolverines run

(01:30:10):
through them. And that's going to be Max Duggan and
and the other thing is TCU. To be fair, they've
got to prove they can stop the run. This is
why this look. Styles make fights, and these are two
different teams. But Max Duggan has shown in the fourth
quarter of multiple games this year he's magical. And I'm

(01:30:34):
not I'm not totally sold on Michigan's defense, by the way.
I know that may sound a little crazy to you,
but they're gonna really be tested. This is a game
that's intriguing to me because on the face of it,
you said, you might say, Hi, what the Cotton Bowl
usc will play too Lane and Caleb Williams he uh
the Heisman Trophy winner. The Trojans clearly have a high
powered offensive attack and the Green Wave of Delane. Green

(01:30:58):
Wave a coach by a guy named Willie Fritz who's
one of the best offensive minds in UH in college football.
Now I realized USC was a little embarrassed by Utah.
They were even though they led by two touchdowns and
saw their playoff hopes get hammered. Uh kayleb. Williams played
a gutty, gritty, gutty game. He was hobbled in the
second half by hamstring Pool and frankly, let's not lie

(01:31:20):
USC's defense didn't know hold up the end of the bargain.
Now Tulane plays a very similar physical brand of football.
They haven't played at USC in seventy years. So this
is a program builder game for two lane and UH,
it'll be a lot of fun. Would be a lot
of fireworks. Another game that will have a hell of

(01:31:40):
a lot of fireworks a Holiday Bowl. San Diego always
promises you heard about b y U they beat s
m U. One of the greatest Bowl games of all
time was Holiday Bawl. B y U beat SMUT. That
team sm you had Eric Dickerson and Craig James. B
y U had Jim McMahon. B y U trail twenty
five with five minutes to go in the game. VL
edwards By has coached sent the punt team on the

(01:32:02):
field and Jim mcmannon looks at him and says, get
the f out of here. They scored three touchdowns in
five minutes. They began calling it the Miracle Bowl December.
Incredible game. So hopefully you get Drake May and bow
Nicks and they decided to both play. If you if
that's the case, you're you're this is basically going to

(01:32:22):
be a feeding frenzy on the defenses. Uh. Now, again,
one of the problems with Bowl games. You know, you
talk about motivation, but between coaches leaving, transfer, portal players
opting out whatever. You know, do we know if the
the organ Ducks will have their star quarterback Christigan Salaz right? Uh?

(01:32:44):
Do the Tire Hills have Josh Downs? You don't know.
But these teams in the style they play and for
some reason. Uh and and by the way, I think
I think North Carolina has got a chip on their
shoulder because they lost three games to end the season
and they fell out of the top fifteen, and the
Ducks had a bit of a swoomp. So here's a
chance for these two programs to kind of right the

(01:33:05):
ship a little bit in terms of how they feel
about themselves and building some momentum heading into the three season. Finally,
Kansas and Arkansas and the Liberty Bowl. And you may say,
why Kansas and Arkansas, But come on, look at the
job lancell Iphold did against in Kansas this year. In
Arkansas is a team very much on the rise. In Arkansas,
quarterback kJ Jefferson said he would return for another season,

(01:33:28):
so he's going to be available. And this is the
first poleseason game in football for Kansas since two thousand
and eight. And you worry about teams being motivated in
bowl games and in a factor here, so you know
Kansas Arkansas Actually when you turn on the tube the
Liberty Bowl and uh you if you have followed college

(01:33:49):
football this year, you will know that these two teams,
they have storylines behind them and they also have up
and coming programs that are better than you might realize.
Kansas for a while was the story of the year
when they started on six and oh they did come
back to earth. But for crownout Lot, it's Kansas, give
me a break, it's the holiday season. It's football Alabama,

(01:34:11):
Kansas State and the Sugar Bowl. This is gonna be
a classic matchup about who actually wants it more. This
is New Year six Bowl. As a Monday, I hadn't
heard of any Alabama opt outs. Hopefully we see Bryce Young,
Hopefully we see Will Anderson Jr. But if you don't,
you're gonna see a kid named hy Simpson uh from

(01:34:33):
Alabama who I think is the future in But Kansas
State coming off the biggest one of the campaign in
their conference championship against TCU. They've never Kansas State has
never played Alabama and football, you talk about trying to
end your season with a bang, how about that Kansas
State in Alabama. Those are just ten games that I think.

(01:34:53):
I don't know if they're you know, you'd call them
must watch, but certainly I think they're gonna be very
enjoyable games with storylines. And if you're a FIP football
purist and you enjoy this time of year during the holidays,
just kicking back watching a little football, maybe a couple
of cream de mens, you know, I just don't drink
and drive. But the bottom line is sometimes he's turned

(01:35:15):
out to be very entertaining games. Just from a pure
football standpoint, you can call these games exhibitions, you can
call these games meaningless. But if you've ever been there,
or around, or worked or covered a college football program.
They don't see it that way. They want to go
to bowl games. Coaches like the extra twenty days of practice.
It helps recruiting. There's all kinds of pluses. And I

(01:35:36):
know people can say, well, look at that grazzy friend wayble,
what were their twelve people there? They may be right,
but don't tell those to the two schools and the
programs who got to go and play TV and again
have the extra game under schedule to put a notch
in their belt. It's more important to these schools. And
you realize, and we really enjoyed this time of year
college football season. We wait nine months for it to

(01:35:56):
get here and it seems to go by so fast.
So not only these is, by the way, are just exhibitions.
Is you would call them your term not mine? Again,
TCU Michigan and Georgia Ohio State could be full of surprises.
Can't wait for those two games. Hey, football fans, be
sure to tune into Fox Sports radios Countdown to Kickoff
presented by bet MGM every Saturday and Sunday morning, three

(01:36:16):
hours before kickoff. Tune in Saturday morning nine am Eastern
Sunday morning at ten Amy Extunents, we take you live
all the way to kick off on Fox Sports Radio
and the I Heart Radio app presented by Bett MGM.
Coming up more NFL headlines. What do I think we
know as we are now well into week fifteen? You

(01:36:38):
heard me right? The Lions in the playoff hunt? Yes,
yes true? Brock Purty, the legend continues to grow. Yes,
that's true. How about the Carolina Panthers. They keep pounding
the rock and clawing away. They lose Christian McCaffrey, they

(01:37:00):
fire other coach, yet they're alive for a potential playoff birth.
Can't make this stuff up, folks. I'm Bernie Frattower, come
to you live from the tire Act dot Com studio
is here in Las Vegas. Don't go away. You're listening
to the Bernie Fratto Show on Fox Sports Radio. Back
on the Bernie Fraddo Show, Fox Sports Radiohere, coming to
you live from the tire Act dot Com Studios here

(01:37:20):
in Las Vegas. Coming up top of the hour, the
dance sensation sweeping the nation? What kind of brand new
fool are you? Followed by what my name? A lot
of stuff to get to before we send you on
your way at three am Pacific, six am Eastern. Again,
we're just about eight hours and thirty four minutes away
from the resumption of NFL Week fifteen, and of course,

(01:37:42):
which is about five and a half hours away from Argentina, France.
But some things to get to. I mentioned the Lions. Uh,
there are there are some teams that secretly very much
root for the Bills are one Buffalo Bills, the Lions
of Cleveland Browns. Give them their turn. The Lions are
in the playoff. Funt, you heard that right, They're actually
in the playoff. Fun And at the start of November

(01:38:05):
the Lions were just one in six and all the
Dan Campbell afterglow and the fun and the high jinks
and coming out of hard knocks and how likable he was, frankly,
and how authentic he seemed to be, and people were
buying in. Well, that was starting to you know, fade
and fall like an anvil and a bugs Bunny cartoon.

(01:38:26):
The offense that hit the skids. The defense was completely tattered,
coaches were getting fired. Things were starting to look out.
All of a sudden, the Lions rip off five wins
in six games, and now they're just one game from
being five. The Lions still have a ton of work left,
and as I mentioned earlier in the show, no NFL

(01:38:47):
team has ever made the playoffs after a one in
six start, but the Lions have an outside shot now
following what I thought was a very impressive win over
the Vikings last week. The Vikings, who are eleven and
three and just clinch the NFC North. Allions are three
and one in the NFC North and they have a
big head to head victory. Suddenly, now the Giants who

(01:39:10):
the Lions beat that could you know, come prove that
could be big if you get into the play tiebreaker situation.
Easy for me to say, but for now, I think
you really got to give the Lions a lot of
props for where they're at. And now now now you
add Jamison Williams. He's finally on leads too, speedsterroughout of Alabama,

(01:39:32):
and uh he can only help that offense. Now you
heard me mentioned earlier, and I'll probably repeat it for
the end of the show. I think the Lions are
gonna have an issue um with the Jets on Sunday.
I just that game is scary for a lot of
reasons the Jets defense is absolutely real, Tay, what else
might be real? Because the brock Purtty legend for the

(01:39:54):
fortys continues to grow and years from now. You know,
when Tom Grady is sitting around, you know, having some
avocado ice cream with his grandkids and telling the story,
he says, you know, kids, once upon a time Grandpa
actually played against Brock Purdy. And brock Purdy's first ever
NFL start, he beat Tom Brady. Doesn't doesn't happen. He

(01:40:16):
smoked him. Of course, the defense something to do with that.
I get that. I'm not mixed up. But consider the
situation that brock Purdy has inherited, and he is absolutely
making the most of it. Speaking of making the most
of it the Carolina Panthers. And by the way, brock Purdy,
he's the first quarterback to beat Tom Brady while making

(01:40:38):
his first career start. Brady has faced this other situation
six other times. Brady, of course, was six and oh
and those six quarterbacks combined for only QB rating. Purdies
was one thirty four on Sunday. So could the Niners
win a Super Bowl with brock Purdy? Yeah, I think
they could, But we're nowhere near, So let's not talk

(01:41:00):
about that tonight. The Panthers. This is amazing. This is
why again I always stay at the top of the
show every other week or so, Sports of the greatest
reality show and vented you can you can, you can
script everything but the ending. The Carolina Panthers. They completely
ran over Seattle last week. From the jump, they controlled
the line of scrimmage. Frankly, Carolina played bullyball in Seattle

(01:41:23):
last Sunday. I was on the air with Dan Buyer
watching this thing, and I could not believe. The Panthers
ran the ball forty six times for over two twenty
five yards. Steve Wilkes, who wasn't given much of a
chance in Arizona, used the committee you know, uh running
back by committee approach. Deant Foreman Cuba Hubbard rahean black shear.
You can't count out the Carolina Panthers for one simple reason.

(01:41:46):
They're in the NFC South and none of them are
gonna finish aboth five and the Tampa Bay might, but
none of them app here that they might finish above
five dred. So what are you gonna do? And as
long as Carolina keeps winning, I have to do the math,
they may very well find themselves in the playoffs. Now again,
we're nowhere near that point. They have four games left.

(01:42:07):
But if you've watched Carolina play and watch the way
they run the ball and play physical defense, don't commit mistakes,
don't blow assignments, don't you know, have a lot of
dumb penalties. They look fast or they look physical, and
they look purposeful. And you cannot count this team out.
And I you know, their home against Pittsburgh uh later

(01:42:30):
today and I will tell you if they win that game,
look out because they are better. They want their record shows.
Coming up, we continue NFL playoff contenders. There are big
questions that still need to be answered for about five teams,
including the Bills, including the Lions and Eagles. I'm not
done yet. A lot to get to you, but first
let's go back to our guy and Nick Cope with

(01:42:51):
the latest. Well, if it wasn't for the biggest comeback
in NFL history, my Niners would be looking at the
number two seed right now. However, the Colts not hang
on a thirty three to nothing lead, Yes, biggest comeback
in NFL history. On Saturday, Vikings were down thirty three
zip They ultimately win and stunned the Colts thirty nine
thirty six in overtime. Vikings clinched the NFC North and

(01:43:15):
they hold on to that number two seed in the NFC. Afterwards,
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell he heaped praise on his quarterback,
Kirk Cousins. Kirk deserves a huge amount of credit for,
like I said, willing our team. Regardless of the plays
that are called. That guy just keeps playing at a
high level um and he was a huge part of
us winning this game. The Buffalo Bills have clinched the
playoffs spawn for the fourth consecutive season, thirty two twenty

(01:43:36):
nine over the Dolphins on a snowy, cold night in
Western New York Miami. By the way, they've now dropped
three in a row, but Josh Allen knows there's a
lot more to be accomplished for the Bills. That's goal
number one down, go number two now to clinch the division,
and then again, that's that's how we'll take it. We'll
take it one game at a time to be ready
for next week and his home debut for the Browns,
Deshaun Watson helped lead Cleveland to a thirteen to three

(01:43:57):
win over the Ravens, who did not have Lamar Jackson
in the final game of Saturday's triple header. Looking towards
Sunday's games now in terms of who's in and who's out,
Cardinals receiver Hollywood Brown expected to play the spine in illness.
Raiders running back johnsh Jacobs on track to play they're
going against the Patriots, and for New England, receiver Jacobe
Myers expected to play running back from Andre Stevenson will

(01:44:19):
go through pregame warmups before they figure if he can go.
Jets defensive tackle Quinned Williams will be a game time decision.
Chiefs receivers could Areas Tuney and McCole Hardman, both on
track to play college football bowl games. At the First
Go Bowl late night Saturday, Boise staying outlasted North Texas
thirty two, and in the New Mexico Bowl b y

(01:44:40):
U hung on against Smuree. Mustangs went for two and
the win at the end of the game, but could
not convert. In late college basketball action, number nine, Arizona
now ten and one to start the year as they
got a seventy five to seventy home win against number
six Tennessee. He also had a ranked on ranked matchup
Top twenty match up in New York City number sixteen

(01:45:02):
u c l A pulling away from Kentucky number thirteen Wildcats,
and late in that when it was sixty three fifty
three the final score. In baseball, shortstop Dansby Swanson a
free agent, he was one of the big names left
to be signed, reports saying he is going to the
Chicago Cubs. Seven years, one hundred seventy seven million dollars
the deal, and in late NBA action, the Sun's coming

(01:45:26):
back down twenty four points to the Pelicans. They ultimately
win one eight teen to one fourteen, thanks in large
part to Devin Booker, who scored fifty eight points. Bernie
back to you real quickly, Nick, Did you have any
thoughts on Mike Leach you wanted to share. I just
really enjoyed his banter, just you know, all the different

(01:45:47):
press conferences from talking about how much he hates coffee too.
Who would win in a pack twelve mascot battle Royal?
That was one of my favorites. You know what kind
of mythical powers does a Sun devil? We gotta dress
you know just you know, no no personal relationship or
anything there, but really appreciated his uniqueness on and off

(01:46:09):
the field very much. So he had a lot de
Greeve though it didn't practice law, actually played rugby at
b Y. You had a went to Finland for his
first football job. Well he did, he coach, Did you right?
That was his first sort of head coaching job as
it were. Yes, I forget the name of that team.
It's like a like plug or some stupid goofy little name.

(01:46:29):
All right, good stuff, soul. Look, it's hard to believe,
but we're thirteen days away from New Year's Eve and
then New Year's and that means we are into January football,
which means playoffs. And given the new format and the
fact that there's really a lot of parody in the
National Football League this year, there are a lot of
teams that are alive. But as the playoffs approach and

(01:46:53):
you start to get the clearer look at the team's
identity and you look at some interesting week fifth matchups
that will answer questions about some of the contending teams
or teams that want to be contenders, it raises questions.
So the Eagles, they faced the Bears Sunday, and the
Bears are running for a hundred ninety yards a game.
So you have to ask yourself a question because Eagles

(01:47:14):
aren't perfect. The run defense hasn't been great. Is the
Eagles run defense fixed right? And the two games after
their two first round pick, you know, Jordan Davis was
hurt and then they signed Linval Joseph, a veteran. Believe
it or not, their run defense in what you would
call defensive success rate wear means they didn't stop the

(01:47:35):
run and key situations on the Eagles or twelve and one.
So we may it may sound like we're, you know,
making fun of the ward on Lincoln's nose, but the
we the Eagles face the Bears and justin Fields he
you know, he leads the Bears and this sort of
big time resurgent rushing attack and the Bears ranked fifth
and EPA per rush ever since the big you know,

(01:47:55):
their coaching staff taylor their offense around fields rushing ability.
So this will a unique challenge and a good test.
The Eagles have revamped their new front seven. You got
to be able to stop the run to win the playoffs.
This will be a question that will need to be answered.
And of course Dallas on deck after the Eagles played
the Bears and the Dallas and they're two headed monster

(01:48:15):
running attack as well. All right, So the Dolphins lost
to the Chargers and then they lost at first they
lost to the Niners and the Chargers, and tonight they
lose to Buffalo. I'm not one of those people who
like to pick on tour pick on the Dolphins. I
don't get it. But before the Dolphins played the Chargers, uh,
their passing game looked unstoppable, right, But the Chargers kind

(01:48:36):
of somehow did that. They played a more aggressive man
coverage then the Dolphins were used to, and they it
seemed to confuse the Dolphins and and their passing game. Tonight,
earlier tonight or last night, excuse me. The Dolphins face
the Bills in a Saturday primetime game, and the Bills
major in his own coverage, but they have the corners
to play man carriage. But the Dolphins passing game looked

(01:48:58):
pretty good. So look, is the Dolphins passing game and
their offense good enough to rally and get them into
the playoffs? And um, you know the key is is
that teams want to throw off to a and his
rhythm and force them to hit receivers when they're not
in full stride. But the Dolphins have to take away

(01:49:20):
take a little bit more advantage of their speed against
man coverage. They do well in zone, but not as
well in man. Uh. The Dolphins a good story. I
think Mike McDaniel is a good story. We'll see how
they finish the season. But that's the big question with
the Dolphins. Can their offense adjust after what the league
will have observed what the Chargers did to them? All right,

(01:49:41):
here's another sixty four dollar question, and this is a
game I've talked about a lot. Can the Lions and
their offense perform against an elite defense? The Lions, make
no mistake, are facing an elite defense against the Gets
in about eight and a half hours, and there's six victories.
The Lions have faced defenses that rank anywhere between one

(01:50:05):
and twenty nine. The Jets defense ranks third. And by
the way, the Lions are five and one of the
last six games and their offenses is absolutely on fire.
Their fifth in the NFL and EPA per played just
below the Chiefs, Eagles, Bills, and Bengals. That is saying
a lot now the Lions offensive line is delusent injuries,
and some of their key skill players like DeAndre Swift

(01:50:28):
and missed games. But for now, this is the good news.
The Lions are as healthy as they've been all season.
In their first round draft pick out of Alabama, Jamison
Williams made his season debut December four, scored a touchdown
on his very first NFL reception, and that was against
the Vikings. By the way, Jared Goff no doubt playing
some of the best ball of his career. And I
like Jared Goff. I'm not a people one of those

(01:50:49):
guys who pick on Jared Golf put golf in his
career under forty degrees, six wins, seven losses, or checked that,
four wins, five losses, six touchdowns, seven interceptions. You also
got a situation where the Lions on the road the
only average eighteen points a game eight team point four,
where the average thirty two at home. On the road,

(01:51:12):
the Lions only converting their third downs at home. You
take a hothouse team, a team that plays in a
dome in their comfy confines, where they've been the last
three weeks, almost a whole month. Now after three in
a row at home, you get to go on the
road in the elements. At New York, things have a
tendency to change when you put a dome offense outside

(01:51:32):
in the elements. This is gonna be interesting. The Bill's
defense was the best Allions faced pretty much all year.
They lost to Buffalo. Yes, and they did turn the
ball over twice, and yes there was a safety, and
so again. The five wins in the ongoing six game
span have come against defenses that rank below twenty three,

(01:51:52):
and the Jets is third. So it's gonna be interesting
to see if Jared Goff can continue to strong play
against the Jets defense that is best at taking away
one of his strengths. This is a situation where Golff
likes to thrive off play action and the Jets ranked
first in defensive EPA per dropback off play action. What

(01:52:15):
a great chess match Sunday. It's gonna be a hell
of a game. If there can only watch one game
Sunday would be Lions Jets. Finally, the game being played
here in Las Vegas. The Patriots come to town and
they still have designs on making the playoffs to claim
the Raiders who are reeling, but this is a very
dangerous game. Pats or seven and six the pat If

(01:52:35):
you haven't watched the Patriots or defense is better than
people get them credit for. But they feature a fore
man pass rush. The question is can the Patriots four
man pass rush and this is a pass rush that
is is good with four men? Is Bill Belichick has
ever had? You don't believe me. Matthew jude On is
second and league at sacks with fourteen and a half

(01:52:57):
behind Nick Bosa. And and and there's another player, Geotric
Wise Jr. He he's an he's an and but he
can kick inside. He's got seven sacks. So between jude
On and Wise, they've got twenty two sacks. So and
by the way, I haven't seen the injury report yet,
but the Patriots could be getting back Christian Barmore, who

(01:53:18):
was there setting number two pick last year. He only
had a couple of sacks last season, but he's a
very powerful run stuffer who can kind of control the
line of scrimmage and pushed the pocket, which would be
important against the Raiders because the Raiders feature Josh Jacobs,
who has been an absolute beast this year. But the
real story is the emergence of the Pats in their
second round pick from three years ago. Josh ucha Cha

(01:53:40):
has had injuries in the league, but he's finally coming out.
He has ten sacks this season, all all in the
last seven weeks, and he's tied for tenth and win rate.
This is the guy. So or what am I getting? At?
The Patriots and their defensive four man rush will be
facing actually a decent Raiders offensive line. And the Raiders

(01:54:03):
are actually getting Darren Waller Hunt a runfrow back and
that will that can only help the Vantie Adams to
Josh Jacob so the Raiders have their full cash a
weapons so it makes it even more pertinent. Can the
Raiders get home with four men? Derek Carr doesn't like pressure,
of course who does, but it really affects car Coming up.

(01:54:25):
I have a question about the Bills. As much as
I think the Bills are probably the best team in
the a f C, and the record bears it out,
and if the season in it today, they'd get to
buy and they owe the tiebreaker over Kansas City, and
the Bills just keep winning. You know, don't ask Kyle,
just Tom Anny. The Bills keep getting it done when
it matters most. And this maybe this may pulle well

(01:54:47):
for them, the fact that they've been in so many
type games and know what it's like when they get
into higher leveage situations and it gets hot and it's
hard to breathe. And Josh Allen has really become a
team leader. But it's also a complete team effort. The
Bills make plays on defense, special teams, you name it,
and they're gonna be an absolute bear. You did you
really want to be the team that has to go
to Buffalo in January? But again, a couple of questions

(01:55:11):
about the Bills on Bernie Fratto or come to you
live from the entire rock dot Com studio is here
in Las Vegas, or keep it locked right here. You're
listening to the Bernie Fratto Show on Fox Sports Radio.
Back on the Bernie Fradder Show, Fox Sports Radio. Come
to live from the entire ROC dot com studios, top
of the hour, just ten minutes away for the dance
sensation sweeping the nation. Yet you got it? What kind

(01:55:32):
of brand new fool are you? Followed? Of course by
what my name? All Right? I think it's gonna come
down to the Bills in the Chiefs in the a
f C. Now, it could be, it could be Cincinnati,
could be I just got a feeling it's Bills or Chiefs,
and I kind of feeling it could be Bills. But
there's no secret. It's no secret that the Bill's offense

(01:55:54):
heavily depends on Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, and uh,
you know, according to Pro Football Focus, Uh, you know,
you you you got Isaah McKenzie in there and Gabe Davis,
but neither of them have really panned out in terms
of the playmaking busted busted out guys that you thought

(01:56:15):
they would potentially be. And so Diggs is still doing
a lot of the heavy lifting in the offense, and
the Bills have ways of schematically making sure he gets
favorable matchups. But at some point in the playoffs, you
know how this works, Uh, they'll face the defense that
that's gonna try to take him out of it and

(01:56:36):
put him in advice and make it so someone else
to beat him, So someone else gonna have to stuff up. Now,
both Nate Davis and mackenzie did last postseason, and they've
made plays different points this year. There just hasn't been
the real consistent you know, production and uh, you know,

(01:56:57):
the playoffs are just a different animal. What you look
at are the things that may concern you, because whatever
weakness your may may not have, how much, however slight
it would be, it's gonna come out in the playoffs.
That's why I talked about the vikings earlier in the defense. Um,
they're not frans at eleven and three, but there are
gonna be real questions. They're gonna have to be answered

(01:57:18):
because the way they gave up chunk plays and and
and the way that their defense has been so susceptible
two allowing teams allowing under five hundred teams to move
the ball at will against him has to be a problem.
But back back to the Bills, Okay, the key is
that the Bills can can maintain a strong running game

(01:57:39):
that will punish teams who will try to neutralize Josh
Allen and neutralize the fine Diggs and mackenzie and Isa
McKenzie and gave David for that matter. Um, because they're running,
you know that, and if they fall into too deep defenses.
The bottom line is that a that a strong, punished

(01:58:00):
running game by Buffalo could help neutralize that. And that's
why they are are you know, dependent on the running game,
whether it's Uh, you know, Devin Singletary, whether it's Alan
you know himself. These guys Alan and Diggs are like
otherworldly and they're the elite of the elite, and maybe
they can carry the offensive the playoffs. They've done it

(01:58:22):
in the regular season. Actually, Josh Allen did it last
year in Kansas City. It's just the defense could stop
Patrick Mahomes in overtime. You saw what happened there. But
here's the deal for the for the Bills to win
at all, you would wonder if they'd be willing to
go out and get one more piece. Do you do
you take a chance? Do you get a Cole Beasley?
I don't think they're interested in Nodell Beckham Jr. And

(01:58:43):
I don't even know if at this point of his recovery,
Uh Beckham would be the type of guy that would
help destroy coverages. But you wonder, you wonder if Bill's
general manager Brandon Bean is gonna try to make something happen. Okay, now,
the Jets are The Bills were really tested against the Dolphins,
a very very blitz heavy team, and the Dolphins man

(01:59:05):
coverage hung in there with the Bills. So this is
sort of an opportunity for the Bills to see what
the playoffs might look like when things get a little
tighter and points get a little harder to come by,
and you are playing real playoff teams and you win
or go home, and you have to either you know,
you define the moment or the moment defines you. We'll

(01:59:26):
see coming up. What kind of brand new fool you
keep it locked right here? This is Bernie Fratto Fox
Sports Radio. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart
Radio app search f s R to listen live. Well,
that's right, you hear the man. The Bernie Fratto Show

(01:59:46):
continues rolling right along. We are broadcasting live from the
tire act dot com studios here in Las Vegas. Tireract
dot com. We'll help you get there and unmatched selection, fast,
free shipping, free road hazard protection, and over ten thousand
commented installers tire act dot com the way tire buying
should be. You've come to that time in the week

(02:00:09):
where you know it, you love it, you can live
without it because it's simply something we referred to as
the dance sensation that's sweet in the nation, a bit
we affectionately call what kind of brand new fool are you? Yeah,
you see, every day, every week, as the time goes by,
across this great land of ours, and even around the globe,

(02:00:30):
people do things that just cause you to scratch your head.
They're stupid, they're nefarious, sometimes they're innocuous, sometimes they're criminal,
but they always leave you asking what kind of brand
new fool are you? So let's that to little Town,
Pennsylvania and meet a gentleman by the name of Cole Williams.
He's only nineteen years old, but he actually pleaded guilty

(02:00:52):
earlier this month. Wait for it to three summary accounts
of unlawful importation of wildlife and two summary accout us
of failing to acquire required permits. It gets better. State
game wardens they seized the kangaroo a kangaroo last month
of Adams County because they were following a tip that Mr.

(02:01:14):
Cole Williams was trying to sell a six month old
kangaroo on Facebook and a concerned citizen saw the post
and contacted the Gaming Commission or the Game Warden Commission.
Now Williams allegedly denied having the six month kangaroo in
his possession when the game wardens came to his home.

(02:01:34):
But guess what, they just took a look around and
found the kangaroo hiding in the bedroom closet. Of course,
the sees the kangaroo, took it to a facility whereould
be cared for in Pennsylvania. And as you know, it's
a league of the possessed import or sell exotic wildlife
species without the primary permits, proper permits, excuse me, and

(02:01:55):
he didn't have any of those. He's trying to do
it on Facebook now, officials, see, these laws are in
place to protect the public as well as the native
wildlife species. So there you haven't They did their job.
I didn't know there were kangaroos in Pennsylvania. But thanks
to Cole Williams who got the kangaroo illegally and tried

(02:02:16):
to sell the damn thing on Facebook, we are now
treated to another rousing edition of Mr Cole Williams. What
kind of brand new fool are you? Brandon Truffa, What
do you got buddy? All right, Bernie, let's head to Arizona.
Now I assume, Bernie, that you've driven in the car
pool and in your life. Is that correct? Yes, sir,

(02:02:37):
you're very perceptive. Well, we all know the car pool
land requires two or more passengers to be able to
you know, use uh. Some some places it's actually called
the h o V lane. Uh. So a driver in
Arizona was in the h o V lane mining their
business uh and driving at a high speed. They were

(02:02:58):
pulled over by an Arizon on A state trooper who
spotted them kind of speeding. And it was on I
Tan at about eight am. They stopped the driver and
in the passenger seat was an inflatable grinch uh from
the Grinch stole Christmas and so the Arizona state trooper

(02:03:22):
obviously ticketed the person not only for speeding, but also
for violating uh the laws of the h OV lane,
and they tweeted out. Last week in Arizona state trooper
spotted a driver in the high occupancy vehicle lane with
as with a suspicious looking passenger on IT Tan and

(02:03:43):
Avenue Bolvard to d eight am. The trooper stopped the
driver and determined the grumpy green guy was in fact
an inflatable Grinch. No other passengers were in the car,
so although they appreciated, you know, the festive mood for
the holiday season, Uh, I do have to say to
this anonymous driver, what kind of brand new fool are you? So? Brandon?

(02:04:05):
I know you live in California now, and I lived
in California. They used to call it the Diamond lane.
They still call it that or is it's something different now? Yeah,
it's uh, there is a diamond signal to signify, uh
you know that this is a carpool lane or the
h OV lane. Um. I don't think I've heard it
be referred to as the diamond lane. Um. Yeah, I

(02:04:26):
don't think we refer to it out here as that. Okay,
So I haven't lived in California, and I know in
the five Freeway in the four or five it was
like eight eight when they started it, and these types
of incidents would happen and then finally instituted a two
hundred and fifty dollar fine. This is like that, that
kind of cobosh, But good information because in Texas it's

(02:04:47):
called the h o V, which stands for high high
occupation Vehicle lane. Do you know what the fine is
for that? Now? In California I do not know what nick.
I think it's about like three forty or some then
like that. Yeah, yeah, because as you know that traffic
in l A. Forget it, man, I drove it for many,
many years, and it's everything is advertised, so people would

(02:05:09):
get desperate. I mean at first law enforcement was they
were slow to figure it out at first, and to
get this a year ago, but by now, But to
put a grinch, come on, man, well, I mean that's
a game in the system. I'm not gonna like, you know,
I'm not gonna fault them for that. That's pretty awesome.
But the green is so obvious even Yeah, just use

(02:05:29):
something else. I was just gonna say, Bernie, like these days,
in my experience, if it's rush hour, cheating in the
car pooling wouldn't even help you. It's all the same.
I actually, I think my dad had a former boss
that would just take the fine. He don't care. Yeah,
he would just do whatever. Yeah. No, yeah, I've heard that,

(02:05:50):
and again I give him. I'll give him credit for
style points on the grinch, you know, because it's the holidays,
of course, right, But come on, man, you gotta be
a fool to think of getting away with that one.
All right, good stuff, Brandon, buddy, all right, we're going
international this week, Bernie, going to Berlin, where the world's
largest free standing cylindrical aquarium dominates the atrium of the

(02:06:14):
Radison Collection Hotel, or at least it used to. On
Friday morning, the aquarium had to crack in it and burst,
spewing d exonic fish at about two hundred sixty four
thousand gallons of water into the hotel and out onto
the street. Now, fortunately this happened early in the morning,

(02:06:36):
about five fifty local times. You didn't have a busy
lobby down there. Only two people were injured by shards
of glass, non life threatening, however, not good news, as
you can imagine, for the numerous fish. Large portion of
them did not survive the incident, although some were found
in pools of water to be okay. Police and fire

(02:06:56):
personnel are still trying to figure out how this happened
because the awkward to him as it's called, has been
around since two thousand three, so this isn't some new thing.
We don't yet know who the fool is here yet,
the engineer's maintenance personnel or maybe the folks responsible for
the refurbishment of the aquarium that occurred in but rest assured, Bernie,

(02:07:18):
someone is going to be found as a brand new
fool here just a matter of time. That's a little spooky.
I don't know if you guys ever been to the uh,
the Mirage Hotel here in in Las Vegas. But they've
got a giant, giant fish tank. Well you know what,
you can't even call it that. It's a wall and
then fisher behind. And I've walked by the bazillion times

(02:07:40):
and you always wondered, is this damn thing secure? Because
if someone is standing near that, you're just gonna get blasted.
I well, somebody's a fool because for that to happen
is uh is a little uh, a little maybe a
little unnerving, you know't checking into their addison was how
is your state? You know? I was just sitting have

(02:08:00):
my little uh, you know, continental breakfast or International Continental breakfast,
and boom, next thing, you know, you know, surf and turf,
whether I order it or not, Bernie, Bernie, here's another
wild one. If you're if you ever go to Sea
World in San Diego, Yes, they have a they have
this track. It's like a moving side, you know, moving
sidewalk like you would in the airport, and it goes

(02:08:22):
under this tunnel and the whole tunnel is a shark encounter.
So you got sharks swimming over you. Yeah, have you
ever thought like what if that breaks? You know, the
sharks are falling on you? And stuff? That would be crazy.
That Sharknado, that would be nicely done. Sharknado, that would
kick it to a whole different level. Life imitates hard.

(02:08:43):
All right, good stuff, guys. That'll do it for this weekend.
This week's edition of brand New Food, which leads us
to the second most favorite bit that we lovingly refer
to as what my Name? Alrighty, so guys, I am
one of two South Dakota State football players to score

(02:09:06):
a touchdown in the National Football League. Nickole what my Name?
By coming at us with the jack rabbits right out
of the gate, no idea? All right, all good? Sometimes
we start slow and you guys pick up. I'm one
of two South Dakota State football players to score a

(02:09:26):
touchdown in the NFL. Uh Brandon, truth of what my Name?
I don't recognize South Dakota State because it's the thick
st s u um. But I'll just guess it's not
Carson Wentz. I'll guys, Smiles Sanders. Okay, so good guess.
But here's the key. He just did it, just did
it Monday Night. Pierre Strong Junior. Pierre Strong Junior. Guys

(02:09:50):
remember that name from Monday Football? All right? Maybe not? Okay, Well,
I'll give you a clue. This guy played for the Lions.
I'm the other South Dakota State football player to score
a touch down in the NFL. Nick Cope played for
the Lions. T J. Hawkins. I love it, nicely done.
But he of course went to Iowa de Pride of
sam Kinsley. All right, yeah, he seems like an Iowa guy.

(02:10:12):
He very much is an Iowa guy. I am the
other South Dakota State football player to score touchdown in
the National Football League. Brandon Truth for what my name?
Ahman Ross st Brown actually done. He went to day
A for effort. Zack Center. Do you guys remember the
name Zack Center, the big fullback? All right, all good?

(02:10:35):
On this day in nineteen sixty five and an NFL
game played at Wrigley Field, I scored six touchdowns to
set an NFL record. Nick Cope, what my name? Walter Payton.
Before you close, you're close close, you'll recognize his name
on this date five. That's the key. Peyton wasn't playing.

(02:10:58):
Probably in an NFL game played at Wrigley Field, I
scored six touchdowns to set an NFL record, Brandon True
for what my name, I'm gonna go with Gale Sayers, Bam.
I know you guys would get it. Excellent. Good job
mark on all the Sounders, Good job right on que

(02:11:18):
all right. Uh now the thing about real quickly on
Walter Payton, as you guys know, one of the greatest
players to ever come out with Jackson State. And of
course Diana if she saw that game is really good game.
In celebration once he said, I really really enjoyed that,
and I I really wanted to get a good look
at Shadoor Sanders. And there's not a question in my
mind he'll do well in the PAC twelve. And but

(02:11:40):
you know he was recruited by USC in Alabama. But interesting,
a lot of fun today to watch that game. All right,
after all these years, Steve Hartman, you know, if you've
listened to Steve Show, he talks about this guy. After
all these years, I still hold the NFL record for
most passing yards in the game five fifty four yards
back in nineteen fifty one, Brandon Truth of what my

(02:12:02):
name y A tittle good guess not him, but but
you're you're, you're circling around it. After all these years,
I still hold the NFL record for most passing yards
and game yards back in Nick Cole with my name,
So Steve has bent my ear quite often. So I
got this one, Norm van Bronklin. There you go, there

(02:12:24):
you go, Steve, Well, what happened is it's just a
few weeks ago. I might have been Joe Burrow had
like four eight yards going into the fourth quarter or
some gosh darn thing, and he says, well, maybe maybe
it'll finally happen today. Can you believe it? Not only

(02:12:44):
is the record five and fifty four yards, but it
happened seventy years ago and it still stands. And then
what happens is these quarterbacks end up sitting in the
final series and you know, play all right, Final one.
I rushed for two hundred ninety six yards in a
single game back in two thousand and seven, and I
still hold the record for most rushing yards in a
single game. Nick Cope with my name. It's gotta be

(02:13:07):
all day, Adrian Peterson. Look at you, guys, so after
going over two on band, you got a good job.
Not how you start, how you finish right that. That's
not how you drive, it's how you ride. Right Yeah, nicely,
brand Look at that. Now you're just showing off. Now

(02:13:28):
you're just showing off. Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the
Brandon Truphis Show. I'm just here for the beer. Uh,
Pierre Strong, Junior Zaczer No, but you wrap it up
with Gayl Seares, Nor Van Brocklyn and Adrian Peterson. I'll
tell you what, what the hell? Let's do one more.
I did it many years ago. I recorded three hundred
and thirty six receiving yards in a single NFL game,

(02:13:49):
and the record still stands. Nick Cope with my name. Oh,
Brandy Moss not a bad guess, but it was even
before him. Okay, Brandon, will see if you can save
the day. This one also has a segue. I did
it many years ago, but I recorded six receiving yards
in a single NFL game, and the record still stands.

(02:14:11):
Brandon truthful? What my name? Well? You said it was
before Randy Moss. So that's gonna get my other guests
out of the way. So I'll go with Jerry Rice.
Not a bad guess, not a bad guest. But I
am sorry. But you're gonna like who it is because
you had the Sea World reference, Brandon. It's called a callback. Kids,
Willie Flipper Anderson. See what I did there? See what

(02:14:33):
I did there? Yes, sir, yes, sir, folks free Willie.
Why was it called Flipper? Okay, So that's a good,
good question. It turned out when he was just a
young little kid, like three or four or five years old,
as you folks know, because this is a very learned
crew and a very educated audience. Back in the sixties,
there was a TV show called Flipper about the dolphin.

(02:14:56):
You guys, you know about that show? Okay, had a
pretty good run, all right, Probably find it on TV
land somewhere. Flipper made a very distinctive noise. I'm not
gonna try to imitate him. We can probably find it
in the system. However, when Willie Anderson was just a kid,
I'm talking like three or four or five years old,
apparently he made that noise sounded just like Flipper, so

(02:15:17):
they called him Flipper. And it's stuck. And actually, when
he got to u c l A. They always called
him Flipper Anderson. I didn't even know his name was
Willie for a while because they always called him Flipper Anderson.
He had an excellent career with the Rams, but I
remember that big night he had and it was I'm
gonna guess it was probably in the late eighties. So
some of these offensive records have have have been around actually,

(02:15:39):
uh for for quite a long time. Coming up, speaking
of records. Good job, guys, good job all the way around. Uh.
Coming up, speaking of records. The free agency craziness continues.
And you saw her Dansby Swanson. What was it next?
Seven years? A hundred and seventies seven million? Yes, that's correct.

(02:16:00):
So what's distinctive is it wasn't ten years. And by
the way, it's my understanding that it's my understanding that
Dan's By Swanson, who has been an Atlanta staple, came
up homegrown guy. Uh married a young lady who's a
professional soccer player for the Chicago team. So met made
it kind of a nice deal to go to the Cubs.
But what throws me is not that the money is

(02:16:20):
what the money is. It's that there have been so
many contracts recently where players have gotten north of ten years.
And let's take a little walk down memory lane and
I will tell you that signing a player in the
Major League Baseball for more than ten years doesn't exactly
work out. I'll fill in the blanks. Coming up. I'm
Bernie Fratdo. We're Company Alive from the Tireract dot Com

(02:16:42):
Studios here in Las Vegas. Keep it locked. You're listening
to the Bernie Fratder Show on Fox Sports Radio. We're
back on the Bernie Frawder Show, Fox Sports Radio and
Bernie Frado Company Alive from the tire Act dot Com Studios.
I want to um really quickly revisit the MLB free
agency season in the sense that the hostel has been crazy.

(02:17:05):
Yaron Judge got his nine year deal three hundred and
sixty million dollars. All kinds of big names have gotten
big money. Justin ertlin enderg Jacob to Grimy. Heard Nick's
update earlier yesterday. The Cubs are finalizing a seven year,
one dred and seventy seven million dollar deal with Dan's
By Swanson. The free agent shut stop from Atlanta uh

(02:17:26):
the day before the end of Andrew ben to Tenney
ben In Tendee heads to Chicago for seventy five million
dollar deal. Okay, I got no. The money is the money.
It's all good. These guys are it. The money's there.
What throws me is when you see a contract like
Carlos Korea, who I think he is is It's it's fair.
He's a He's a cheater, Okay, but uh is America.

(02:17:50):
People get second chances. Twenty years old agrees to turn
up with the Giants for on a thirteen year, three
D fifty million dollar deal that follows up on the
deal that surpasses Francisco Lendo or the Mets. He got
ten years three forty one. Trey Turner guy like eleven
years three hundred million with the Phillies, and Xander Bogarts
recently got two from the Padres. Here's the key. When

(02:18:12):
their contracts expired, Corea, Turner, Bogarts are all gonna be
in their freaking forties. Do you really expect these guys
to be in an all star caliber in their forties?
And if you don't believe me, just take a look
at Albert pool Holes forty one years old. He had
signed a ten year, two forty million dollar contract with
the Angels back in he was released in a ten

(02:18:34):
year of the contract. He was very underwhelming and every
one in Anaheim and pool Holes regressed every year. Now
I get it. When he got to St. Louis and
two had he contributed, he found new life again. You
can't tell me that that deal worked out with the Angels.
About Robinson Canal when he left the Yankees to go
to Seattley got a ten year deal two twenty eight

(02:18:56):
million dollars washed out of the game in the summer
of when he wanted age thirty nine, following two suspensions
for p E d s. By the way, Canal still
has one season left on that contract. Another tenure deal
gone bust. A Rod had the distinction of signing two
ten year deals in his career. The first one was

(02:19:16):
with Texas back in one. This was the Scott Boris
when he engineered two hundred and fifty two million dollars
ten years. But just three seasons later, a Rod was
traded to the Yankees. You think Texas got value on
that deal? Seven seasons, three m VP awards into the deal.
Give him credit. He exercised an opt out clause, and

(02:19:38):
the Yankees gave him a second year contract, a second
tenure contract, excuse me, two and seventy five million dollars
and to be fair, a Rod helped him win the
World Series in twenty nine, but then was suspended the
entire season. The Yankees gave him that tenure contract because
it was presumed he would be the one to pass
Babe Ruth. He would be the one to pass Hankar

(02:19:58):
and pen Stripes didn't war out, got suspended. You're not
gonna tell me that they got their value on that deal. Finally,
Fernando Tatist Jr. Big time rocky start. He got a
fourteen year contract. He signed with the Potteries before one season.
And I realize they're still whole full optimism, right, But
you got Julio Rodriguez, you got a twelve year deal

(02:20:20):
with options that can make an eighteen. Tampa Bay's Wander
Franco got an eleven year deal, Atlanta's Austin Riley got
ten years. Go back to to tease, you already had
the situation on the motorcycle accident in the p d S.
Why the teams signed guys north of ten years who
can possibly look that far into the future and determine

(02:20:41):
that it's going to be it's going to pan out.
But what do I know? I know a lot, and
I know wouldn't I wouldn't do that, okay, And the
only thing we had Larry Sanson on Friday Night tenure
Major League or twenty year, thirty years in the broadcast booth.
We both agree part of the reason they do it
is to keep the annual average value down. And it's
kind of a sneaky way to standard the sary cap.

(02:21:02):
But there is no sary Capitalre's a luxury tax. Be
that as a man, you commit to a guy for
twelve years, you get what you pay for. I just
gave you multiple examples, and these were good players coming up.
Chris Poer, Fens World the soccer. But first let's go
back to our guy and Nick Cope with the latest
well dansby Swanson. Bernie wasn't the only notable name getting
a deal on Saturday. J D. Martinez speaking of guys

(02:21:24):
who are getting later in their careers. He's thirty five
years old. Martinez signing a deal with the Dodgers. The
design hit her getting one year, ten million to come
to Los Angeles from Boston and so him and Swanson
inking deals on Saturday and Baseball news and NFL news,
Buffalo Bills mount a fourth quarter comeback against the Dolphins,

(02:21:45):
went on home field thirty twenty nine. They have clinched
a playoff spot, not quite the division yet, but that
is certainly on the horizon. Earlier on Saturday, we had
history in Minneapolis, the largest comeback in NFL history, Vikings
coming back from down thirty three points, stunning the Colts
thirty six and overtime, and doing so, Minnesota clinches the

(02:22:06):
NFC North and they hold on to the number two
seed in the NFC. And the third game of that
NFL triple header, it was Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland
Browns knocking off the Ravens thirteen to three. No Lamar
Jackson again for Baltimore. As we look ahead now to
Sunday's games and get you cough up on who's in
and who's out. Reports St Chief's receivers could Areas Tuning

(02:22:29):
and Icole Hardman are on track to play. Cardinals receiver
Hollywood Brown expected to play the spine in illness. Jets
defensive tackle Quinnin Williams will be a game time decision
for the Patriots. Receiver Jakobe Myers expected to play, and
running back Romandre Stevenson will go through pregame warmups before
they determine if he can go. Patriots will be taking
on the Raiders in Vegas. Running Back Josh Jacobs is

(02:22:52):
on track to play at Lake College Football action by
U hung On against Smuree in the New Mexico Bowl.
At the Frisco Bowl, Boise State outlasted North Texas thirty
thirty two, had a bowl game in Mobile, Alabama. Southern
miss running back Frank Gore Jr. Ran all over Rice
and n C double a bowl record three hundred twenty

(02:23:14):
nine yards and a thirty eight twenty four win for
the Golden Eagles. College basketball Number nine Arizona now ten
and one, a seventy seventy home win against number six Tennessee,
Number sixteen u C l a over number thirteen Kentucky
and Madison Square Garden sixty three fifty three. Number five
Houston handed number two Virginia its first loss of the year,

(02:23:35):
sixty nine to sixty one. And in the NBA, the
Sun's got a big game from Devon Booker fifty eight
points as they erased the twenty four point deficit to
beat the Pelicans one eighteen to one fourteen, and the
thunderbeat the Grizzlies one fifteen to one o nine. And
in that game for Memphis, John brand is actually ejected,
questioning the integrity of an official. Is the official wordage

(02:23:59):
give been from the pool report, apparently Morant muttered something
about the officiating to fans on the front row there Bertie,
and that got him a sect second technical and ejected
back to you, thanks so much, Nick. I can't not
hear the word dance by Swanson and think TV dinner,
you know, the fried chicken and the potatoes, and h
just be careful those apple slices when you heat him

(02:24:21):
in a microwave, they're lethal. They're like nuclear, all right.
And then there was one The World Cup uh terminates
in about four and a half hours with what I
would consider and I think most people would agree as
a dream matchup between Argentina and France. It is time
for Chris per FETs World of Soccer. The greatest goal,

(02:24:46):
the thrilling finishes the international druma. It's all here in
this report from the World Upside that's right, Bernie. We
are barreling down towards the final hours of the World Cup.
It's long run, from from late November here into the

(02:25:10):
middle of December. It's almost all over. But before we
preview Argentina and France, I want to take a moment
and think about what the legacy of this World Cup
is going to be. You know what, what what have
been the biggest storylines that have come out of this,
What has been the the the impressions that are going
to lay it's that are going to lay itself before

(02:25:32):
us as we go through the next four years before
the next World Cup. I think the biggest thing from
this is let's start local. Let's start with the United States.
This was a young team that came out here with
a lot of talent that clearly was just working through
a few things. And they're young. They'll have a chance
now coming up here in to really grow improve upon themselves. Look,

(02:25:56):
they they made a very good showing against England in
this term ornament. Not a lot much else going for them. Uh.
We've talked at length about the drama between Greg burr Halter,
the US coach, and Giovanni Raina, one of their very young,
very talented strikers that has to be resolved. So there's
going to be a question as always who is the

(02:26:17):
right leader for the United States team. But moreover than anything,
I feel like this World Cup Bernie is a turning
over of generations for multiple multiple teams. We talked a
lot about the disappointing end to Belgium, who was going
to be saying farewell to their quote unquote golden generation.
A lot of their great players like Romelo Lukaku are

(02:26:37):
simply going to age out, and there's going to be
a question of whether Belgium can continue to be Belgium
can continue to be one of the top five nations
in the world under FIFA without that generation. Croatia, who
won their third place match against Morocco today, they're saying
farewell to a lot of their golden generation too, especially
to Luka Modric And this is a team that is

(02:26:58):
now kind of eclipse. They're here rows from who won
the third place metal uh in that World Cup and
Croatia walks away with a second place in a third place.
In the last two World Cups, they've performed very well,
but quite frankly, this is the end of the run
for a lot of their players and some of the
elite players in the world. Christiano Ronaldo probably his last
World Cup. Lionel Messi after today on Sunday, it will

(02:27:21):
probably be his last World Cup as well. There's a
lot of turnover. What about Germany after after winning the
World Cup in to group stage exits now for Germany
in Russia, Yeah, in Russia and in ends here in Qatar.
So what there's questions about Germany's resilience about whether or

(02:27:43):
not they can get back to the stage of quite honestly,
if they're just not that good anymore. And then, of
course I think the other big story from this has
been the rise of Africa. We talked about how Senegal
was kind of crippled a little bit by the injury
of Sadio Money, their superstar player, but they still performed
admirable in this World Cup, and Morocco stunning the world,

(02:28:03):
taking out two Iberian heavyweights in port in Spain and
then in Portugal in in unprecedented fashion, moving their way
into the third place match, losing to Croatia, but losing admirably,
never really giving up that that game finished to one
and they I once again I feel like the rise

(02:28:24):
of Africa is going to be a story before the
next World Cup, if even if it's just you know,
might not be Morocco again, but we will definitely be
talking about Senegal again. We'll be definitely be talking about Egypt,
will probably be talking about Algeria. Africa is coming and
they they want to hang tough with South America and
with Europe and oh sorry, go on just quickly, Chris.

(02:28:49):
You know how at the end of March Manness every
year they play, they have a montage of video moment, right,
they could do something for this year's World Cup like that.
And the first one that sticks in my mind, I'm
glad you mentioned Christiano Ronaldo. He's thirty seven years old.
How much time does he have left in this game? Right?
He's the only male player to score in five World Cups.

(02:29:11):
He scores the goal against Ghana, but he doesn't start
against Morocco in the quarterfinal they lose, and there was
the video of him heading into the tunnel crying his
eyes out. That got to me a little bit that
that that really did, because Ronaldo he had a rough tournament.
And by the way, one last thing, Chris uh Argentina

(02:29:32):
I expect to win, and we'll get your prediction here
in a second. But how odd will it be to
know Messy wins his for first World Cup having lost
to Saudi Arabia and their opening game. It would be weird.
It wouldn't be the weirdest thing I've seen out there,
but it will be. It'll be one of those really
funny notes, and it'll be a great story about Hey, look,
Argentina looks dead as a doornail coming up against Saudi Arabia.

(02:29:54):
And who is Saudi Arabia? You know, this team who
doesn't win anything else at any other points in their
run in the World Cup. And you know it'll be
a funny little footnote. I've got to include some other
shining notes on there. I mean, Japan taking down Spain,
I'm sorry, not taking down Germany to start this tournament
absolutely would be in there. And you know the one
last story I'll have is, and this is more about

(02:30:16):
FIFA itself at this point, is that, once again, for
two Cups running now, there's been questions about the host.
First it was Russia, now it's guitar. There's been plenty
of ink spilled about a guitar as a host. First off,
there on the field performance ranks them among one of
the worst host countries of fielding a team out there
to be have a minus sex goal differential, no points,

(02:30:39):
no three losses marks them as the worst host country
in a World Cup on the field, but also just
on how this this has come about, be it from
the corruption and the griff on how they got the
cup itself to uh the literal blood spilled to build
many of their stadiums across their country, and unfortunately that's

(02:31:00):
something we kind of swallow in the world of soccer,
that we just kind of soldier through. But honestly, if
it's it's two years running now, it won't happen in
the United States. But it's something we need. I think
the soccer community needs to hold FIFA too going forward
as they continue to sell these these World Cups, that
this this can't happen again. It was, It's a beautiful

(02:31:20):
World Cup. There's a lot of storylines do it, but man,
some of this was brutal and obviously this World Cup,
you know, the passing of Grant Wall heavy on our hearts.
But anyway, right, yeah, it which is hard and I
know he had had some nasty symptoms going into that too,

(02:31:43):
so you know it's hard on, hard on everyone for that.
But yeah, we look forward to the final here Argentina France.
We've covered this at length. Um. Speaking of my one
shining moment, Alvarez is run against Croatia is definitely in
their Julian Alvarez, who has had four goals in this tournament,
looking to, you know, help back up Lionel Messi in

(02:32:05):
his quest to add the one last thing he needs
in his trophy case, which is the World Cup itself
against the just the fire power, the power of France
trying to be one of those only trying to be
the third nation to go back to back in World
Cups with Drude imbop A with all of their power,
doing all this without Kareem bends him up by the way,

(02:32:27):
who was probably one of the greatest players, one of
the great players for France going into this tournament. It's
been unreal for them. Uh. I've said this before. My
my heart is with Argentina. Half of my head is
with Argentina, but also the other half of my head
is probably with France. I I lean Argentina in this game,
but I will not be shocked if France beats them.

(02:32:49):
Sounding these are two of the best teams I've seen
play this game. I want Lionel Messi to have a
storybook finish, but obviously sports never really works out that way.
So we'll see at seven am as Argentina takes on France.
All the firepower around them, I think Argentina, if their
players get out in space, they are able to NiFe through.

(02:33:10):
I think some of Argentina's defensive midfield is going to
come into play as there. They have been great there
and France can take advantage of that if they let them.
But I think Argentina's goalkeeper has also stood on his
head this tournament as well, and if he can stay hot,
if if if he can stay hot, then I think
Argentina will probably take this. Yeah, in terms of the

(02:33:33):
betting OTTs, it's pretty even. It's it's really gonna be
a hell of a match. It's a dream matchup and
uh so we shall be watching and uh it kicks
off here in about four hours and seventeen minutes coming up.
You saw what happened to the Indianapolis Colts today. I
am not one of the people that cares to make
fun of Jeff Saturday. I never believed he was going

(02:33:54):
to be the coach next year. Eat here. I think
it's a part time, uh you know, concigliary job as
it were, to report back to Jim Rsay. But there's
one coach I think Jim Mercy has in mind, and
my molest tell me he is going to get an
offer in January and this could be a real developing story.
I'll share that in a second. I'm Bernie fadder Ware,

(02:34:15):
come to you live from Las Vegas, Fox Sports Radio Studios,
the tire Rac dot Com studios. Keep it locked right here.
You're listening to the Bernie Fratto Show on Fox Sports Radio.
Wrapping it up on the Bernie Fratto Show, Fox Sports Radio.
Coming you live from the Tirac dot Com studios here
in Las Vegas. For I go any further one to
take my broadcast team back in Los Angeles. They've been
with me since eleven PM Saturday night, turning all of

(02:34:38):
Donalds keeping U School together. Be Mark Ramsey, Chris Perfett,
Brandon Truffa, and Nick Cope on the updates. Thanks guys.
Uh in a minute, I'll get to who. I will
tell you that I believe Jim Mercy will offer a
job to But the more I think about it, I
can't sign off without giving a formal prediction. I'm gonna

(02:34:58):
call it Argentina to France one. This is my rationale.
It feels like Argentina is a team of destiny and
if you've watched their games that I've made a point
to watch their games, they've really frankly dominated. In the
most competitive game against the Netherlands, they actually Argentina actually
had eight more shots and three more on target. And

(02:35:19):
the French style of play could lean toward allowing a
player like Messi to find some gaps in the defense
because France doesn't really play a high press like some clubs,
and those types of openings like they saw with England
could lead to, you know, real opportunities for a guy
like Messi who can fitballs in the gaps that no

(02:35:43):
one else can do. And if you've watched this guy
plays magical there There's a couple of other things that
I haven't been talked about a lot. Argentina actually had
one extra day to recover. Remember they played their game Tuesday.
In the French played Wednesday, and this other part has
been talked about. I think it's real. The French side
has had to battle some illness in camp and it

(02:36:06):
feels like, whether it's too or not, there's something there.
So you added up on dextra dat to recover France
having battling some illness and the way that I've observed
Argentina dominated points this year, it just feels like Argentina's
offense has been really explosive. They're averaging two goals a
game in the tournament, and I think they played better

(02:36:27):
defensive teams in France did. Netherlands and Croatia both at
excellent defensive teams. But again, I do not want to
pooh pooh France because they can attack as well. Outside
of the one game that France didn't really give an
effort their last group stage game because the group has
already clinched. France has also scored two goals every game
and they've actually scored three goals or more twice. And

(02:36:49):
when you look at you watch Killium and Boppy play.
He is again think you know Tyree kill and soccer
explosive forward, Tricky can do things with the ball, can
score our goals and uh, oliver your garrow. He's a
he's a big guys like six ft four. So there
you have it. I'm gonna go with Argentina, all right.

(02:37:09):
I never believed Jeff Saturday was going to be the
coach next year for the Indianapolis Colts, and I think
today might have sealed it. But I don't think. I
don't think he even wants it. This has become such
fun media fodder for people who got nothing else to
do than or hate on people. Let me just say
this way, Jim er Say, I believe wait for it,
will offer yes, Jim Harball the job in January. Hardball

(02:37:31):
may even become the highest paid coach in the NFL.
These guys have a thirty five year history. Remember Jim
er Say loves Jim Harball. He named him captain comeback
when he was a quarterback for the Colts back in
the day. And when Chuck Podonald was fired as head
coach of the Indianapolis Colts back in sev of the
fans in the Straw poll said they wanted Jim Harball.

(02:37:51):
So stay tune. Remember back on March nine and Hardball
told his boss, Ward Manual, he was done with the NFL.
I'm not so sure I believe that by the way.
Here's why Hardball signed a five year, thirty seven million
dollar extension back in March. But the buyout is only
three million. Compare that to other major biots coaches have
and it drops incrementally every year, all the way down

(02:38:13):
to seven fifty thousand in twenty. Why would they structure
it that way if Hardball was going to be a
lifer in Michigan. I don't know what's gonna happen, but
I'm telling you what my moss tell me is Jim
Orca will offer Jim Harbaugh the job, and January we'll
see if he takes. It's gonna do it. For this
week's edition of The Bernie Frattle Show, back next Friday.
Keep it locked up next They're great, Andy Furman

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