Alex Curry and Nikki Kay talk CFP, NFL prediction check-ins, and more!

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hey, welcome to Fox Football Saturday.

Speaker 3 (00:06):
Everyone.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm Alex Curry here with Little Nikki Kate.

Speaker 3 (00:10):
I love.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
She is live recording us right now as we are
live on the airwaves. Thank you for spending your Saturday
afternoon with us, which is the Saturday before Christmas.

Speaker 3 (00:18):
We have such an epic football.

Speaker 4 (00:21):
Day, like I keeps getting better. It's just get huge
right now, starting last night, today, tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
We are in it, baby, we are in it to
win it.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Huge congratulations right off the bat. Here to Miami who
just beat Texas A and m I got to give
a shout out to my brother in law Marcos who
in the family chat. There is a video of him
running around my sister's backyard waving his Miami flag, going ham,
I love him when there's a personal connection, So like
yeay go, Mich's all about you. It's all about the you,
Joy Taylor, her whole family, like we love, we love Miami.

Speaker 3 (00:54):
Congratulations they're moving on. Was again great?

Speaker 4 (00:57):
It was that was something else.

Speaker 3 (00:59):
Like goreless into the third quarter.

Speaker 4 (01:02):
A lot of wind, a lot of miss sure.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Sure you want to put the excuse on the wind.

Speaker 4 (01:06):
Like at first, like some field goals like that was
I thought, I'm.

Speaker 3 (01:11):
Not an exciting That was a messy game, right but
at that.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Point, like just win and move on. That's that's when
it's that style of a game and it's your team minute,
you're like, please just win and let's move on. I
mean last night was also great. We're going to dive
into that a little later. But Alabama beating Oklahoma, come
and come behind.

Speaker 4 (01:31):
That was football playoff history.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
That was incredible.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
We have Ole Miss in Tulane going on right now,
will Miss up fourteen nothing over Tulane, Oregon and James
Madison tonight. Two NFL games today, Eagles and Commanders in about.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
An hour on the line. Dude, well that's that's next.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
Eagles can clinch the NFC East with the winner of
the Commanders Packers at Bears.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
That one that is like gonna be the winner.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Clinch is a playoff berth and then but they also
need the Lions to lose this weekend in order for
that to happen. But that division is like the NFC
North in the NFC West are so tight, so messy,
and I love it. It's like we're also going to get
into that a little later too, just like how wild
the NFL is.

Speaker 4 (02:18):
The football started last night. I lied, it started Thursday.

Speaker 3 (02:21):
It did.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
That was quite possibly We're going to get into that
in just a second. Quite possibly one of the greatest
games of the season. We're also instant classic. We're also
going to get to like I think we have a
new king. We're going to have a new king in
the AFC because Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are own
not so dynasty. Come on, it's over. We'll get to
that a little later. We got some great guests. We

(02:43):
have Tracy Sandler to break down the NFC West Battle
of Rosch, Mark Cosey, who was at that Thursday night game.
We'll have them a little later, producer both with US Today,
Technical producer Chris Ppherveett, Martin Wise at the news desk.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
But yeah, let's dive into.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
That NFC West because that was I think so far
the best game of the season on Thursday night.

Speaker 4 (03:02):
The implications everything everything on the line.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
Literally like first place in the NFC, first place in
the West on the line. Rams had already clinched the
playoff spot, but the Seahawks had a playoff berth on
the line. Now It wasn't easy to watch as a
Rams fan, but you have to hand it to the Seahawks.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
Like the way they came back. The two point.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
Conversions were the star of the show in that game,
the first one that tied it. I don't think anyone
seen a two point conversion like that before. It was
so casual and it was so nonchalant like. And then
the two point conversion to win the game in ot
clinched the playoff Berth. The Seahawks are the first team
in NFL history. You guys do win a game on

(03:46):
a two point conversion and you can't like, he can't
be mad. And the Rams had it, and they blew
a sixteen point fourth quarter lead.

Speaker 3 (03:55):
The Seahawks were down to a three percent chance to
win with just eight minutes left in regulation.

Speaker 4 (04:02):
Listen Stafford was dealing hooka was wheeling. Yeah, but the
Seahawks didn't stop believing, Listen. They therefore they didn't quit.
And and that uh Sobert two point conversion. So listen
to this. He's a he's a veteran blocking tight end. Yeah,

(04:23):
you probably haven't heard his name a lot this season.
Why because he's only had two catches this season that's
so sad. And what's more is that two point conversion, Yeah,
doesn't count in your statistics as a catch, so he
still only has two catches this season.

Speaker 3 (04:40):
That's wild.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
Did you see the like the post game in the
locker room or coach hands on the game ball?

Speaker 4 (04:46):
Yeah? And is I love those videos?

Speaker 2 (04:48):
By the way, my face coming those are my again,
Like we're in the we're in a lot of rock
locker rooms. That's where I spent the first part of
my career. And to get that kind of like insight
behind the scenes because we're like antached after after the speeches,
after all, that is just gold. And you really see
the that's where you see the raw emotion from these

(05:08):
players and the appreciation. Like he even said, I've bounced
around a bunch, but like you guys made me feel
like this was my home and like I was family
immediately when I came here.

Speaker 3 (05:18):
And the unsung.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
Heroes like that's literally that's what wins championships. We saw
it with the Dodgers, like it's everybody's got to step up.
It's the next manned up mentality, like it doesn't matter who,
it's just how are we gonna get there? And how
are we gonna win? And as you mentioned, like Stafford
and Puka had solid games. Yeah for the Rams, Puka
twelve catches, a career high two hundred and twenty five

(05:39):
receiving ers and two touchdowns.

Speaker 3 (05:42):
But you got to hand it to Sam Donald.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
You have really handed to Sam Donald because he has
lived up and I think exceeded the expectations that we
had of him in Seattle because again, like the beginning
of the season, there was always like, can he be
that same quarterback with out Kevin O'Connell who kind of
like turned his career around, And he has.

Speaker 3 (06:04):
He's won.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
I think he's the last thirty of thirty nine games,
the first quarterback with back to back twelve win seasons
with two different teams. Like and it's not always pretty well,
it's actually most of the time not pretty.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
He overcomes his struggles.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
He will have turnovers, but the biggest part is he
doesn't let it get him down.

Speaker 4 (06:20):
What I really have to commend him on is the
last time these two teams met, he did not have
a good game. No, and you know there's the whole
confidence factor. His team stood by him. Then you look
at this game, right, he has two back breaking interceptions.
They're in a sixteen point hole, and what does he do?
He has the composure I read that before every time

(06:44):
he takes the field, no matter what happened to drive.
Before he warms up throwing the ball, he gets up
in there. You don't see a lot of quarterbacks doing that.
He gets up and passes to his guys and just
kind of like locks in. Yeah, and to have that
like overtime mentality locked in, unflappable. Yeah, it was really impressive.

(07:05):
And it's, like you said, a microcosm of his entire
career to this point, right, Like the hits keep coming,
but you keep getting back up.

Speaker 3 (07:12):
Wild wild. Okay.

Speaker 2 (07:14):
This is going to lead us into a fun little
segment that we're gonna call nailed it or failed it
on our hot takes. Either nailed the hot take or
you failed the hot take. And this is going to
go back to start of the season or things that
are happening right now. Right, Okay, I'm gonna start with
a nailed it because I like to start on the

(07:34):
happy side of life. Nailed it, nailed it, and they're
also playing today and can make the playoffs for the
first time since twenty twenty, I said, Ben Johnson will
be a generational hire for the Bears, and he would
be the best thing for that team, and he can
turn this franchise around. In his first season, you guys,
as head coach, he's led the Bears to a ten

(07:57):
and four record. They haven't won at least ten games
in a season since twenty eighteen. They're currently leading the
NFC North. They are the two seed in the NFC.
Like I said, they haven't been to the playoffs since
twenty twenty, and they can clinch a playoff Berth today
with the winer of the Packers and the Lions loss
to the Steelers. The Bears offense is Chef's kiss. Fifth

(08:19):
in yards per game, ninth in points per game if
you look at years past, last season, they were last
in yards per game and tied for twenty eight in
points per game. So the way he is completely turn
this team around in one season. And again, if you
watch those postgame locker room right after moments he has

(08:40):
with his team, like he created a culture. He created
a culture that this team so desperately needed. And it's fun.
Like Chicago's a great sports team, so great sports town.
So when you have those legendary franchises that are good.
It's just good for the league. It's good for the game,
and it's fun. So I nailed that one.

Speaker 4 (09:02):
Go me, listen, I was just gonna go with what
was a risk and what was nailed like nails when
you consider a successful gamble, okay, and that was Jacksonville
betting on Liam Cohne du the literally, I mean, honestly,

(09:24):
you know, you always wonder what's going on with the Jags, right,
Trevor Lawrence builled as a generational quarterback, and to this
point he had underperformed, Right, but now he is playing
the best football of his career.

Speaker 5 (09:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (09:39):
The Jacksonville Jaguars are also ten and four. Yeah, Lawrence
has had nine touchdowns and for the first time, three
games in a row without a turnover. He has triple
digit passer ratings in three straight games and just absolutely
on top of this offense, right, which I think, so ultimately,

(10:03):
where I'm going with this one is that Jacksonville took
the risk they poached con Maybe he didn't leave Tampa
in the best of circumstances. Yeah, but what he's doing
with Lawrence right now, I'm excited to see it. Only
continue to grow.

Speaker 2 (10:17):
I'm just going to say, start of the season having
the Patriots, Steelers, Jags, and Broncos lead their AFC divisions.

Speaker 3 (10:25):
Was not on my Bingo card.

Speaker 4 (10:26):
Absolutely not.

Speaker 3 (10:27):
Not on my Bingo card.

Speaker 4 (10:28):
And the Chiefs not making the playoffs not on my
Bingo card.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
Okay, now we're going to go to the other side
to call out myself with a.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
Failed it hot take. Last week, I.

Speaker 2 (10:41):
Had zero faith in forty four year old grandpa Philip
Rivers making his comeback after playing his last game and
retiring in twenty twenty. I said he was watched. I
did not have faith. I was worried about his safety.
This man had them in the game all the way
down to the final minutes. Like he only got sacked ones.

(11:01):
He threw a beautiful touchdown pass like under a minute ago.
It was the Seahawks that kicked the game winning field goal.

Speaker 3 (11:09):
To get it. But like he had them in it,
he had them in it.

Speaker 4 (11:13):
I don't really know if you could. I think you're
being a little hard on yourself with this. Because Philip
Rivers wasn't playing football.

Speaker 3 (11:19):
It doesn't matter.

Speaker 4 (11:20):
He was a season, So if you tell him washed,
that is fair.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (11:25):
Well, I was like, there's no way this is gonna
be catastrophic, this is gonna be horrible.

Speaker 3 (11:30):
I don't know what the cultu were thinking.

Speaker 2 (11:31):
I went harder than paint on the opposite side with
zero faith, but I was like, you know what proved
me wrong because if this goes well, beautiful movie plot,
beautiful movie plot.

Speaker 4 (11:39):
I'm just really happy he's getting insurance back for him
and his ten children and his grandchildren.

Speaker 6 (11:45):
I know.

Speaker 2 (11:46):
So like the bad part is like now he has
to wait another five years to be considered for the
Hall of Fame, but now he gets another five years
of health and trance.

Speaker 4 (11:53):
We're fine with that. Go Philip, go, that's a pretty
good trade. It's nostalgia too.

Speaker 2 (11:58):
It's but it's like he's a grandpa and he's not.
He's not Tom Brady forty four. So it's just yeah, I.

Speaker 3 (12:08):
And who they have. They're playing the forty.

Speaker 2 (12:09):
Nine ers on on Monday.

Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yeah, we're gonna talk to Trace about that one.

Speaker 4 (12:20):
I mean, I'm I'm I'm sure she's almost like fangirling
at the I mean literally fangirl Sports Network. But I'm
sure she's almost excited to see Philip back in action
and the Shanahan narrative that he almost brought Philip out
of retirement. There's the story that if he had made
the NFC Championship game or one of the final round,
he would have brought Philip out of He would have

(12:42):
called Philip.

Speaker 3 (12:43):
So Shanahan wanted yes when back.

Speaker 4 (12:46):
It was either one or two two, I think two
seasons ago. We have to ask about that.

Speaker 2 (12:51):
He's been on a lot of coaches radars, right, I
don't know, that is wild?

Speaker 4 (12:57):
And then did you hear like Cam Newton being like
it's disrespectful.

Speaker 3 (13:00):
Ro He's just not everything is about you?

Speaker 2 (13:04):
But again he it is because he's also a quarterback
that probably still could have played, was in good shape,
and he's not getting a call.

Speaker 3 (13:12):
So it's he's but hurt. It's not like it's more
of like, excuse me, what?

Speaker 4 (13:15):
Right?

Speaker 2 (13:18):
I just yeah, there was more faith in Philip Rivers
being a game manager, which is what he did and
what he's doing. And okay, yeah, so he's not in
the game anymore, but he's been a high school coach,
so he's still kind of throwing the ball. I would
imagine at practice, like again, not in the same shape,
not working out and lifting like you would be like
everyone else you're playing against that has been like lifting

(13:40):
and playing and fighting for their lives for the last
five years.

Speaker 3 (13:43):
But I again like I had zero faith.

Speaker 4 (13:46):
Listen, I had zero faith and and to so go
up with myself, Yeah, to put myself in in the
same corner as you. I was a fer. I was
firm believer in the Chiefs until until I literally saw
the mathematically is this your failed it? Yeah? So your
fail it failed it is Chiefs will make the postseason.

(14:07):
I was always, you know, count them in till they're out.
And they're out, and I mean, man, what a what
a tough what a tough moment. But I think the
Chiefs are going to be back sooner, sooner than a
lot of people might be believing. What Yeah, I just
I just trust. I trust that franchise. And uh they

(14:29):
put on that Dynastics show.

Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah, we're gonna we're gonna dive into that a little
later in the show.

Speaker 3 (14:35):
So I'm gonna hold my.

Speaker 2 (14:37):
Hot take at Okay, I was, I was too, and
I also feel like I failed that take. So okay,
let me end it with one more here. Another fail
take I had was that Joe Burrow and the Bengals
are going to be good this year. I was buying
Burrow and the Bengals stock this season. Joe coming in healthy,
they paid both their big guys in Jamar and Jason T.

Speaker 3 (14:59):
Higgins.

Speaker 2 (15:00):
It felt like they were on the up and up.
It was the first two oh start of the season
for the first time in Burrow's career. But you can't
win games when your defense is horrible, worst in the league.
You guys in yards per game, in points per game,
and they got eliminated last weekend.

Speaker 4 (15:16):
Burrows seems really I don't interesting.

Speaker 3 (15:21):
He's had some interesting comments last week. I think people
were like, is he like hinting at retirement.

Speaker 2 (15:30):
Like this week was asked if he sees himself like
going on with the Bengals.

Speaker 3 (15:37):
There's a lot but again, like, well, you get the guy.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
You got to get the guy a moment to Breathe
like his season is over and he still has more
games to play, which is so frustrating because he has
been playing amazing. He has been playing great, But again,
you can't win games when your defense is the worst
in the league.

Speaker 4 (15:51):
Joe's one of those like kind of esoteric guys too.
When he talks it's a word, oh thank you. I
don't want to put him in the same category as
Aaron Rodgers, but like sometimes it's like they're aware they
have aura.

Speaker 2 (16:03):
Right, he literally captivates a room no matter what he says,
what he's wearing. You watched Quarterback Netflix special, and he
goes with a stylist like he he understands what he's
doing in the effect that he has on the field
and off the field.

Speaker 4 (16:19):
So that being said, you just put the first puzzle
piece down. I think his comments were a and acting,
maybe sad. I don't know if that's the way you
would categorize his presence at the podium. I think that
was a way of showing unhappiness without necessarily asking for

(16:41):
a trade from Cincinnati. Remember he's an Ohio kid, so
I think he was fine playing for the Bengals, you know,
hoping to restore them, you know, bring up to the postseason,
et cetera. But I do think that the way he
delivered it might be eight. There might be something larger.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
So here, let me just like last Wednesday, it was like,
if I want to keep doing this, I want to
have fun doing it. I've been through a lot and
it's been fun. But and it's not been fun, then
what am I doing it for? So that's the mindset
I'm trying to bring to the table right now. And
then this Wednesday, he was asked if he could see
a world in which he wasn't playing for the Bengals
in twenty twenty six. He said, I can't see that, no,

(17:23):
and then he thought about ever playing elsewhere. He said,
you think about a lot of things. So I think
it was just like, hm, hmmm.

Speaker 3 (17:31):
Okay, Joe, we see you. We're going to take a
quick break here.

Speaker 2 (17:34):
But when we come back, you guys, college football playoffs
are in full swing.

Speaker 3 (17:38):
Who's moving on? We're talking about that next year. Listening
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Speaker 2 (18:28):
Be anything, police Navi done. Hey, Welcome on to Fox
Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry along with Nikki k broadcasting
live from the Fox Sports.

Speaker 3 (18:38):
Radio studio on Angelis. See that hit it girl go.

Speaker 2 (18:42):
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us our
football Saturday. I love your confidence in your voice though
you're like lidam just you get a microphone in front
of me.

Speaker 3 (18:50):
Hey, oh okay, how are we gonna go?

Speaker 4 (18:55):
Let me get going?

Speaker 6 (18:56):
Why?

Speaker 4 (18:57):
I will encourage because I'll be turning down the no
blast maybe change in, don't change the stage, turn it up.

Speaker 5 (19:05):
You guys.

Speaker 2 (19:06):
Oh, it's such a good football Saturday. I mentioned this
off the top of the show. You guys, college football
playoffs like full swing all day.

Speaker 3 (19:15):
Two NFL games.

Speaker 2 (19:18):
Congratulations to Miami beating Texas A and M right before
we came on the radio. Not a great game, but
a win's a win. And in the playoffs you had
just move was it. It was into the third quarter
like that, right if you're going into halftime and there
was no score.

Speaker 4 (19:37):
I mean, like again, point you get me, like, hey,
close battle here.

Speaker 2 (19:41):
It was with every with every sport, you know, you
love a good like defensive battle. No, I don't. I
want an offensive explosion. I want like scores points at
the Wazoo. So that's what I want.

Speaker 4 (19:52):
I covered that historic Oklahoma Texas Tech football game where
it was Baker Mayfield versus Patrick Mahomes in college in
in Lubbock. I just got it was it was an
offensive explosion. I was loving it. And my coworkers like, oh,
this is disgusting defense.

Speaker 3 (20:09):
What's happening. I'm like good.

Speaker 4 (20:11):
Meanwhile, I like, bring it on another one, another, one,
another one.

Speaker 3 (20:15):
We love it.

Speaker 2 (20:16):
Last night was also a great game, Bama winning. They're
now going to play Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Like
Bama came from a seventeen point deficit. Yeah, and in
the first half to come back and win thirty four
to twenty four. Like they're the first team to win
on the road in the first round of the College
football playoffs because last year all home teams won.

Speaker 4 (20:39):
And you know, first of all, well, we gotta we
got to check in on our fans in Oklahoma right now,
because man, oh you're in Oklahoma.

Speaker 3 (20:47):
I forgot, Yes, that was that was one of your
stops on.

Speaker 4 (20:49):
Your on the on your tour, the media tour. Yeah,
on the media tour. No, I've covered the Sooners. I
was there when Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray.

Speaker 3 (20:58):
That makes sense.

Speaker 4 (20:59):
Why you link it that, Lincoln Riley? Yeah, So you know,
Norman is a beautiful place, and in Oklahoma, I would
say it's predominantly oh U fans. There's a lot a
good contingent of Oklahoma State fans, but it is OU football.
Boomer Sooner baby, Yeah, you've got grandma too. Who knows
the fourth string safety's name on the right, Like this

(21:20):
is everything Oklahoma parenally in the playoff conversation, hasn't won
a postseason game since twenty fifteen. Last night they gave
up the largest like lead, right, the biggest comeback.

Speaker 2 (21:33):
Yeah, I mean, and hometowns you had the advantage. You
good home teams have had the advantage. And this was
the second time they met the season. Oklahoma won the
first meeting. Like everything was on their side. I mean,
they're eight to nine rankings. So like, again, anything can.

Speaker 4 (21:46):
Happen, Anything can happen.

Speaker 3 (21:49):
Yeah, that was that was wild.

Speaker 2 (21:51):
Right Now we have two more games today, we have
ole Miss and two lanel Misses up fourteen to three.

Speaker 4 (21:58):
The last time they played, I think it was a
four five win, so yeah, I think it was yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 (22:04):
Earlier this season.

Speaker 2 (22:05):
I mean ole Miss is a seventeen and a half
point favorite. Yeah, winner will play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Speaker 3 (22:11):
I mean.

Speaker 2 (22:12):
The only knock on ole Miss I think is the
fact that they're dealing with the loss of Lane Kiffin,
like leaving the team and going to LSU, like before
the season is done.

Speaker 3 (22:22):
Weird.

Speaker 4 (22:23):
It's just the saga keeps going. You know what I
got on a niche part of social media, and it
was old like it was Oxford ole Miss is an Oxford, Mississippi.
Oh okay, okay, so I just say, yes, okay, yes
it was. It was Oxford, Mississippi yoga studio slander on

(22:44):
Lane Kiffin because apparently he would go do hot yoga
in Oxford, Mississippi. And then yeah, I can finally play
my playlist without your commentary. Oh oh great, like I
can finally do my yoga without your incessant jumping Jackson
the back, like just all the yes, all the direct

(23:07):
shade cast.

Speaker 3 (23:08):
Oh, it doesn't feel right.

Speaker 2 (23:09):
It doesn't feel right if your team is in the
playoffs and you have a chance to go and move on,
Like it's really unfortunate because again the transferporter of all
these different things that come into play in college football.

Speaker 3 (23:20):
But it just it does not feel right to leave
before the job is done.

Speaker 4 (23:23):
Okay, So I went to UCLA. We just got Bob
Chesney from James Madison University. I went to I met
Chesney his intactresss conference. Really cool because he said it
wouldn't sit right with me or I wouldn't want to
go to a new university that wouldn't let me see
out the mission I started. So he is with James
Madison and he's talking about how his heart and head

(23:45):
are in two different places right now, and that's a
beautiful privilege to have.

Speaker 3 (23:48):
It is, but that's the right thing to do, right,
it's the right thing to do. I don't know.

Speaker 2 (23:53):
It's hard though, because once you make the announcement as
the players, it's like you're already one foot in, one
foot out. So that it was probably a vote decision
to see what happens, because that's all.

Speaker 4 (24:02):
I just never want to go to Lane Kiffin to
leave college football. He is good for the sport like
he has drama and I love it.

Speaker 3 (24:09):
It's beautiful.

Speaker 5 (24:10):
All right.

Speaker 3 (24:10):
Now, let's check in with Martin Wise and see what's trending.

Speaker 8 (24:16):
He golden coaching his first game as the head coach
of the Old Miss Rebels. You guys just talked about
it because Lane Tiffin is in Baton Rouge twelve minutes
left in the first half, the Rebels with a fourteen
and three lead over Twu Lane, but just punting.

Speaker 9 (24:28):
The ball back to Tulane Trinidad.

Speaker 8 (24:30):
Chamberlains six for eight for one hundred yards, passing fifty
nine yards on the ground for Old Miss. Keiwan Lacy
with a Russian touchdown, trading at chamberas.

Speaker 9 (24:39):
With the other one.

Speaker 8 (24:40):
Early today we saw Miami be Texas A and m
it was ten to three the score. Carson Back with
a quick touchdown pass to Maleca Toni in the final
minute of regulation. Bryce Fitzgerald with a game seiling interception
in the end zone for Miami. That's two freshmen coming
up big for Mario christal Ball's team, the Hurricane is
now facing the number two two seed Ohio State in.

Speaker 9 (25:01):
The Cotton Bowl on New Year's Eve.

Speaker 8 (25:03):
James Madison and Oregon they square off seventh and thirty tonight.
Last night, he saw Alabama overcome a seven seventeen to
nothing deficit to beat Oklahoma thirty four to twenty four.

Speaker 9 (25:14):
Advanced to the semifinals.

Speaker 8 (25:15):
There I a host a Big One, the Big Ten
champion and number one seed overall Indiana. In the NFL,
the Rams fire special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn and the
Buccaneers have activated Jason Pierre Paul for Sunday versus Panthers.
JPP hasn't played in an NFL game since December eleventh,
twenty twenty three, and in college basketball, he had wins
for ninth ranks Michigan State, eleventh frank Louisville, Kentucky upset

(25:39):
twenty second ranked Saint John's, and with at the start
of the second half, twelfth rank North Carolina has a
thirty four to thirty one lead over Ohio State.

Speaker 2 (25:47):
Back to you guys, thank you Martin. You're listening to
Fox Football Saturday. I'm Ale's court here with NICKI k.
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us. It
is time for our first guest. He is the founder
and CEO of the Sporting Tribune. A good to the show.
Please welcome rash Marcazi. Hello, Yeah, he the best.

Speaker 4 (26:05):
Hello, I've hello.

Speaker 2 (26:08):
Okay, Arash, you were at that crazy Ram Seahawks game
on Thursday. First of all, what was it like in
that stadium for that Seattle comeback with the two point
conversion to win it?

Speaker 6 (26:20):
O T It was surreal? You know, you know, you
you go to you know, late in the fourth quarter,
the Rams are up to thirty to fourteen, You're thinking
the game is over, and then all of a sudden,
it flips, you know. I mean it's just I had
heard that the loominfield literally shakes like it is an earthquake.
And that's when it felt like when they had tied
up the game of certainly the walk off two point

(26:41):
to win the game, so, you know, game of the years.
I mean, that was certainly the hepes going into the game,
and it lived up to it.

Speaker 3 (26:47):
Yeah, did Arash?

Speaker 4 (26:49):
First and foremost, I got to ask you about that
clam chowder bread bull you.

Speaker 3 (26:53):
Got was the best?

Speaker 4 (26:55):
Was it?

Speaker 3 (26:55):
The best you've ever had.

Speaker 4 (26:56):
That just looked insane, and I know Seattle is the
place to get clam chowder.

Speaker 6 (27:00):
It was. It was incredible. By the way, I am
such a tour so if I go, I'm going to place, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (27:06):
I'm gonna did you it's gross fun I've done.

Speaker 4 (27:11):
It, okay well, And second, Hirash, you know you're you're
a proud Trojan. You've known Sam Darnold and you've seen
his career just evolve. So first of all, he's just such.

Speaker 3 (27:24):
A likable guy.

Speaker 4 (27:25):
And to be able to see him succeed against you know,
from the being drafted by the Jets to then you know,
just bopping around and now having this success in Seattle
despite some bad games, to just overcome that even in
that game itself, overcoming the two turnovers and uh, you know,
thriving in the in overtime there. What's it? What's it

(27:46):
like to see him bounce back time and time again?

Speaker 6 (27:49):
It was the one silver lightning And someone obviously who
covers Los Angeles sports and was hoping quite selfishly that
we would have some home games, home playoff games for
the Rams. We've seen Sam Donald having the season that
he's had the last two years for the Vikings in
this season for the Seahawks, but it was something when
he went up against the Rams and it certainly looked
like this was going to play out this way where

(28:09):
he's a different quarterback. I mean, he was in three
going into Thursday Night against the Rams to go to
the playoff game a year ago. You go to the
Thursday night game a year ago when he was with
the Vikings. I he's just amazing quarterback these last two seasons,
but it's not been that way when he has gone
up against the Rams. And so for him to turn
it around and come back and again in the most
unlikely of ways with that weird two point backward past

(28:33):
fumble that didn't look like a fumble from whatever. I
am happy for.

Speaker 10 (28:36):
Sam Donald, right, I am.

Speaker 6 (28:39):
I am hoping. I think all football fans, by the way,
are hoping this is because of how great these the
two games have been. Maybe we get Ram Seahawks one
more time in the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (28:48):
Right, Okay, So do you see the Seahawks as a
legitimate threat to win the NFC even the Super Bowl?
They are I think the second favorites right below the Rams.

Speaker 6 (28:59):
It's like this it's so crazy that I still think
the Rams are the best team. They had a ports
propecial team and we saw the newest today about the
special team work. I mean, they are really three. You know,
in again, there's a clear reasons why you lose a game,
But you go to the Philadelphia game, you go to
the San Francisco game, and you go to the game
against Seattle. Really kind of like a couple of plays
on these special teams may have decided that that things

(29:21):
that Seattle is certainly a contender. San Francisco is, but
the Rams offense, defense, and if they can get special
teams short up, I still think that the team to be.
But to your question, Seattle can certainly win it. But
just to why this season is so great, nobody knows
who's gonna win.

Speaker 10 (29:39):
There is not a Chiefs team, There's not.

Speaker 6 (29:41):
A Philadelphia dominant team. It is wide open this season.

Speaker 4 (29:45):
Now, I was just saying the parody. This season has
been so fun when you don't have an inevitable team
like the Chiefs, it's like some teams look great one
week and then it's like what's going on the next
But the Rams have been kind of in the contender
conversation and the most consistently I would say, And it's
just so wild when you think at the start of
the season Matthew Stafford was lying on a glass table

(30:07):
because of his back.

Speaker 3 (30:08):
Can he make it right? How much longer is he
going to play?

Speaker 4 (30:12):
A rash from being around the team, the partnership between
him and McVeagh, the emergence of Puka nakua, Like what
what is it about it that makes them work?

Speaker 6 (30:23):
They are just so comfortable together, you know, Stafford and mcdagh.
It's just such a great play caller, quarterback combo. But
to your point, we we like at the end of
training camp and at the end of that preseason, I
was really questioning, is Matthew Stafford began to play this
name He's going to retire? Because they were so secretive.

Speaker 10 (30:43):
I go back to the last preseason game at home
and they didn't even confirm or deny whether Stafford showed
up to so fight not played obviously, but like, was
he like.

Speaker 6 (30:54):
Even in the building? And I was like, well, we'll
address that later, And I'm like, is he even retire?
So for him? Now I have this season and I listen,
I still think he's by a hair the favorite again.
It's a good thing for the Rams and they closed
out the season as they're going up against the Falcons,
going up against the Cardios. If Stafford can has two
more big games, I think he's you know, one of

(31:16):
his first most valuable player in a season where I
was really questioning if he was even in a plate
in the season, which.

Speaker 3 (31:22):
Is absolutely wild.

Speaker 2 (31:24):
There was also last week there was a lot of
noise around Pukaakua. He was reportedly fined for his comments
about the officials. He also issued an apology for the
gesture he made on a live stream.

Speaker 3 (31:37):
I just I saw you.

Speaker 2 (31:40):
McVeigh was asked about it right after the game. Puka
was also asked about it right after the game. What
was the vibe with the team and how do you
see them dealing with this a young player who is
like obviously you know he's learning hard action, he's learning hard.

Speaker 6 (31:55):
It was the first time I had seen mcveigh's fluster
during the press conference. The press conference in totality, there's
a point at the midway part where he regathers himself
and realizes, okay, wait a minute, I am talking in
a press conference, like I need to gather at myself.
He did not know about the Fuka Nakua tweet post game.
That is the one indefensible party. Sometimes you agree to

(32:19):
go on on a live stream and maybe you don't
know certain things.

Speaker 10 (32:22):
Whatever, you can kind of use it.

Speaker 6 (32:23):
Although he's an adult, sad thing said for you to
run to the locker room, like literally minutes after that game,
stick up your phone, go on social media when you
just know the hot water you were in before. That
is indefensible. So again, we've got a long week ahead.
They'll need one change with special teams. Fukaku is going
to be talked to and they're gonna behave that like,

(32:44):
what the heck are you.

Speaker 10 (32:45):
Doing with that?

Speaker 4 (32:46):
And it's interesting because being around Pooka and hearing him
speak and watching him maybe and he'll go to other
sporting events and take pictures with every fan.

Speaker 3 (32:55):
He's a calm, chill doo.

Speaker 4 (32:56):
And he's also young.

Speaker 3 (32:57):
Yeah, he's so young.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
And when you're young and you're in the spotlight, you
don't realize how big your platform is and what you
say and how big of an effect it has until
you do something right into and he's learning hard.

Speaker 6 (33:12):
Book has never been involved in a controversy really so
not only this, but like if you loop in like
his brother and stuff, just like the worst like week
you could probably have. I think he learns from this.
I think he gathers himself to move on. But just
a really bad week.

Speaker 4 (33:28):
I want to take a real big detour here and
ask you, Okay, what the heck is going on with
the Clippers, because it's like drama after drama and.

Speaker 3 (33:36):
Chris Paul had a Halloween party.

Speaker 4 (33:37):
And no one showed up.

Speaker 6 (33:38):
No, and you guys know the party.

Speaker 4 (33:44):
I know we would have gone.

Speaker 3 (33:45):
That's so sad.

Speaker 6 (33:46):
Wedding and you guys were at my wedding. Like if
I had a party and no one showed up, like
that was devastating, but me, it would kind of tell
me where I stood with this team. And so that's
like the really the unfortunate thing on a night where
the Clippers are fading the Lakers, you were really hoping
both teams would be. The really unfortunate thing is if
this was a normal season, he'd be.

Speaker 10 (34:06):
Like, all right, tank and get a top five pick
and move on.

Speaker 6 (34:09):
Their pick belongs to the Open City.

Speaker 10 (34:12):
Yeah, the Tank and they.

Speaker 6 (34:14):
Got a top five pick. And by the way, guys,
if they lose tonight to the Lakers, which they probably will,
they will be tied for the worst record in the West,
which is something that I never thought what happened doing
in the wall.

Speaker 4 (34:23):
And it's like the news around the team just I mean,
we start with the Kawhi controversy.

Speaker 2 (34:28):
Yeah, yeah, so clips are gonna clip, and the.

Speaker 3 (34:34):
Just extend that invite. You know, we got your buddy, Ash.
We love you. Thank you so much for coming on.

Speaker 6 (34:41):
I thought you guys all right when we come back.

Speaker 3 (34:43):
You guys, the dudes and the don'ts and sports. You're
listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (34:47):
Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here
with Nikki k We are broadcasting live from Los Angeles.
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us.

Speaker 4 (34:56):
For the best pregame show every weekend. Be sure to
tune into Fox for it's radios Countdown to Kickoff presented
by BET MGM. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, We'll count
you down to all the biggest games for three hours
right up until kickoff. For all the best plays and
up to the second injury news, tune in to Countdown
to Kickoff, presented by BET MGM every Saturday and Sunday
morning right here on Fox Sports Radio, and the iHeart.

Speaker 3 (35:19):
App nailed it.

Speaker 2 (35:20):
Okay, Now it's time for the dudes and don'ts in sports.

Speaker 1 (35:26):
Highlighting the dude so I love that, and putting a spotlight.

Speaker 9 (35:29):
On the dots.

Speaker 3 (35:30):
The subject brings me no joy.

Speaker 9 (35:33):
That's insane.

Speaker 1 (35:34):
Next time for the dues and the dons in sports.

Speaker 2 (35:38):
I'm starting with ad do mess around and find out.
Jake Paul caught knocked out last night by Anthony Joshua
a broken jaw in two places.

Speaker 3 (35:50):
And the Internet had a field day today. Jake Paul's
reaction to the knockout just doing a big.

Speaker 2 (35:54):
Wow every time he got hit, like having his tongue out,
like it's not.

Speaker 1 (35:59):
A big deal.

Speaker 3 (35:59):
I'm okay.

Speaker 4 (36:00):
Is that kind of my face Jack's makes when Alex's baby,
it looks perpetually surprised and enamored with everything. Wow, my
mom is.

Speaker 3 (36:10):
Crazy, but I love her.

Speaker 2 (36:13):
It's his first fight, like not against an old man,
and his last one, I think was Tyson, So like,
you're facing one of the scariest knockout artists and he
got knocked on his booty.

Speaker 3 (36:22):
He's lucky.

Speaker 2 (36:22):
It was just a broken jaw, Like that's all I
gotta say. But again, like that was like, I think
one of the highest paydays in boxing, Like you don't
even want any the amount of millions of dollars both
those men made.

Speaker 3 (36:33):
It's wild. He's a draw.

Speaker 2 (36:35):
I'll give it to him. Jake Paul is a draw.
But that was like naughty, Like that wasn't close.

Speaker 4 (36:40):
Okay, do you want me to give you a do
or don't you tell me? Okay, I'm gonna start with
a don't okay, don't pick it and flick it? Did
you did you hear? Did you hear about him amon
Ra Saint Brown's touchdown celebration or it was a pick
your nose and flick it boog boogie celebration. But the
NFL said.

Speaker 3 (37:00):
We aren't doing any of that. It's harmless. It's a
good boogie.

Speaker 4 (37:05):
He took to I think he took to Twitter press
conference after and he was like, I don't understand why
we can't do that? Yeah, and so you know what,
Oh he said, NFL, why can't I dig in my
nose and flick it? What is bad about that? Honestly,
I'm like, you know, why are we no fundly.

Speaker 3 (37:19):
Let the boys, let the voice pick it.

Speaker 4 (37:21):
And click it.

Speaker 3 (37:22):
That's hilarious.

Speaker 2 (37:23):
Okay, I'm going with another player reaction.

Speaker 3 (37:26):
Do know your worth?

Speaker 2 (37:27):
Yannis has been the talk of the town during trade rumors,
and he knows it.

Speaker 3 (37:31):
He said in his presser this week, I am the
hottest chick. I love the game right now.

Speaker 4 (37:36):
It was play Diva.

Speaker 3 (37:38):
He's like my.

Speaker 2 (37:39):
Kids, and everyone just keeps hearing my name everywhere every
day on TV. And I've been saying this for a bit.
It's I mean, it's his time, like to go out him.
He did when he came to DO.

Speaker 3 (37:51):
In Milwaukee, he got them a title and twenty twenty one. Like,
it's it's time.

Speaker 4 (37:56):
I think talk about with like like athletes that generally
have of very good approval ratings. He is one of
them up there for me, He's just so likable.

Speaker 2 (38:05):
Did you watch his Was it a Disney movie that
he produced kind of about his life.

Speaker 4 (38:10):
Oh, I haven't watched it.

Speaker 3 (38:11):
It was so good. I was crying. I mean, his
whole life stories insane.

Speaker 2 (38:14):
And him getting into basketball and getting drafted into the NBA.
I mean a lot of the European players, they feel
like there.

Speaker 3 (38:23):
Is what's the word. I'm looking for loyalty.

Speaker 2 (38:25):
Where's loyalty to that team that gave you that and
took a chance on you. But like he is, he
is such a face of the league, and it's time.
It's time for him to move on.

Speaker 4 (38:36):
All right, I've got to do okay, do gift your
teammates alternative modes of transportation First and foremost, Luca Duncicic
surprising the entire Lakers team staff, broadcast crew with e
bikes and so Luca lives and now a very you know,
vicable place in Los Angeles. So I can't wait till

(38:56):
I see him scooting around on one of those.

Speaker 3 (38:58):
Yeah, and how about this, see in our hometown?

Speaker 4 (39:00):
Yes, okay, Kyrie Irving gifting his teammates golf carts.

Speaker 3 (39:05):
How fun?

Speaker 4 (39:06):
And these are like souped up golf.

Speaker 3 (39:07):
Welcome to the South Bay, baby, I know.

Speaker 4 (39:09):
But if you're in.

Speaker 2 (39:11):
Any beach towns around LA, it's golf carts and ebyits well.

Speaker 4 (39:14):
And Kyrie reason in Dallas. So they're just you know,
but I just love that. I love the alternative gift ideas.
You know, who needs a watch? Yeah, get me an
e bite.

Speaker 3 (39:24):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:25):
No, I'm here for that and I'm gonna like piggyback
on that. Do have fun because I'm obsessed with Luca
and Austin Reeve's friendship. Oh this season it is hilarious.
Like the way they just it's almost like a brotherly like.

Speaker 4 (39:38):
It's like we're not friends, but we're.

Speaker 3 (39:40):
Not friends, but we're bet as.

Speaker 2 (39:41):
Yeah, it's you're you're around the team like a lot.

Speaker 3 (39:46):
Is it like that at a time?

Speaker 4 (39:47):
It's it's the joy there. I mean there there's different
little friendships within the group, but the energy is very
youthful and fun. Luca has brought that into that franchise.
It's and you know what, they all show up to
the G League games when one of their two yes.

Speaker 3 (40:03):
The other night when Dalton Connect was playing the other.

Speaker 4 (40:06):
Night it was Luca, Austin, I uh, Jake Laurabia JJ came.

Speaker 3 (40:13):
It was cute.

Speaker 4 (40:13):
It was really cute.

Speaker 3 (40:15):
I love that sports you bros.

Speaker 2 (40:16):
I mean, that's that's how you get back to being
a championship team, right. You need that chemistry on and
off the court. And you can tell, you can tell
kind of the future direction that this Lakers team is
going in, Like no knock on Lebron we love him,
but he is at the end of his career and
Luca is the leader.

Speaker 4 (40:32):
I'm Mark Waltzer coming in with the branches.

Speaker 3 (40:34):
We love it.

Speaker 2 (40:35):
We're gonna take a quick break here. When we come back,
who will we crown the new king of AFC. Don't
go anywhere. Our two is coming up next. Welcome back
to our two of Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry
here with Nikki ks carry.

Speaker 11 (40:48):
Miss miss Happy Honka right on time, because uh we
are in like the thick of holiday parties right now
and like holiday weekend, like we had two very different
holiday party celebrations last night, Like I was at my
family holiday party.

Speaker 2 (41:04):
You guys, I put down seven to ten Locke's. If
you don't know what lacas are, they are the best
thing that has ever happened to a potato.

Speaker 4 (41:13):
It is a potato cake many forms and are arguable
mass hash.

Speaker 2 (41:18):
Oh my god, I will you guys. I don't think
you understand items. I am the fry monster, you guys.
My favorite food, if I was gonna put it down,
is probably a potato all like hash mashed baked like
however you want it, Like I will potato chips, frat
everything French fry number one, hands down, and then I'm

(41:40):
gonna put Latka up there.

Speaker 4 (41:41):
All right, let's have let's have latka.

Speaker 3 (41:44):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
So okay, we're gonna go around the table here, we're
gonna do We're gonna do. No, we're gonna do one potato.
I'm gonna do top two for everybody because there's a
lot of us here. Talk to potato form because potatoes
are I'm biased here, but the best food out there, uh,
French fry and then like a hash brown Latka or
my two.

Speaker 4 (42:02):
Okay, I'll go to mix it up French fry and
potato chip Martinus.

Speaker 9 (42:09):
The sweet potato, oh curve.

Speaker 2 (42:14):
Like just a straight up you're eating it like sweetato
sweeptaoto fry.

Speaker 8 (42:18):
I mean, in general, I prefer this sweet potato to
the standard potato.

Speaker 3 (42:22):
Okay, wow, okay, so.

Speaker 9 (42:24):
Like anything you're doing with the regular potato.

Speaker 3 (42:26):
Okay, so you're you can do. You're gonna do French
fries or what are you gonna do?

Speaker 4 (42:28):
Sure, I don't think i've ever seen mash sweet.

Speaker 2 (42:32):
Oh it's delicious. It's one of my favorite things. It's
it's also up there all right.

Speaker 12 (42:38):
Control Room number one wingstop fries. Okay, Number two potatoes.

Speaker 4 (42:47):
Likes baked potatoes. I think you might be listening right now.

Speaker 3 (42:49):
Yeah, hi dad, Yeah, hi dad. All right, let's round
it up, all right.

Speaker 13 (42:52):
So I'm half of mine with Martin and sweet potatoes,
especially since I just came back from my grand my
mother's sweet potato rollover Thanksgiving. But number one in potatoes
for me has to be uh.

Speaker 4 (43:06):
Oh yeah with the cheese.

Speaker 3 (43:07):
That has the cheese cheese. Otherwise I'm like, well, there
will destroy me.

Speaker 13 (43:11):
There's scaloped potatoes and cream instead.

Speaker 3 (43:13):
I know both.

Speaker 13 (43:14):
That's like one one a for.

Speaker 3 (43:15):
Me, and okay, I mean after that's French fries. French
fries are king.

Speaker 4 (43:19):
I'm not really a potato person, so I was just participating.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
Yeah, tater tater tots at North End the best tater
tots around.

Speaker 4 (43:28):
My sister loves the mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving.

Speaker 3 (43:31):
Up, that's all I eat. My whole plate was mashed potatoes.

Speaker 4 (43:33):
Gravy just over everything else. But not that I don't.
I don't really mess with mashed potatoes.

Speaker 3 (43:38):
Whoa woman?

Speaker 4 (43:38):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (43:39):
Whoa psycho path whoa whoa? Okay, so obviously I was
having a Laca party.

Speaker 2 (43:46):
Last night, Nikki was at our SOHO Christmas party and
so yeah, so I's a yoga studio in her Mosa Beach.
It's also the best six man team in the South Bay.
It's just facts that were stay.

Speaker 4 (43:58):
Legends made there.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
But let's shout out to our founding fathers, Richard Jefferson
and Nicki Maestrall, Like it's just we we love it.
Nikki was representing for the two of us last.

Speaker 3 (44:09):
Night, right.

Speaker 4 (44:10):
It was very festive and it's really cool because this
is normally a crew that we meet once once a
year and in the summer, in the thick of summer,
and we got to be festive, and you know, we
called it six Miss Mary, six mouths. I love that.

Speaker 2 (44:23):
Yeah, Okay, I might have an unpopular opinion here.

Speaker 4 (44:27):
I just said I don't like potatoes.

Speaker 3 (44:29):
That is okay. We both might be geting attacked here.

Speaker 2 (44:32):
I love the weeks leading up to Christmas more than
the actual day of Christmas.

Speaker 4 (44:39):
Can I say I love it all?

Speaker 3 (44:40):
You can?

Speaker 4 (44:41):
Okay? Yeah, I do love this time. And I've really,
i think, grown into trying to cherish every moment that
you can create.

Speaker 2 (44:50):
That's why I like the weeks leading up because I
think there's just there's like there's so much pressure on
the actual day for it to be perfect, and you're
making all these stuffs. F you gotta do this, and
you gotta do that, and you gotta do this. One
of the weeks leading up, it's just like, oh, I'm
so happy.

Speaker 3 (45:05):
Everyone's in a good school. Soon we're going to party.
Everyone throws like, let's make cookies. Yeah, diets out the window.

Speaker 2 (45:12):
Everyone's having a good time, and you're just like you're
here for joy.

Speaker 4 (45:15):
Yeah, and all the day is blend together and all
of a sudden you're like, oh my gosh, I'm not
don my holiday shopping.

Speaker 10 (45:20):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (45:21):
I'm like that's the in between between Christmas and New
Year's where like time does not exist and no one
knows what day it is unless you work in sports,
because like we're still on the clock.

Speaker 3 (45:29):
Yep, we're here to.

Speaker 2 (45:30):
Tell you what day it is and how to have
a good time. But ah, I love it. I love
our holiday tangent. Nikki's wearing a great holiday sweater today,
says game over, and it's got a t Rex eating
three gingerbread men.

Speaker 4 (45:42):
Yes not the gum drop bush. My first ugly Christmas sweater.

Speaker 3 (45:46):
I'm not the gum drop.

Speaker 4 (45:49):
I've never owned an ugly Christmas sweater. And I was
on a Christmas walk, yeah, and saw a rack of them,
So this is like authentic.

Speaker 3 (45:56):
Oh.

Speaker 2 (45:56):
I love vintage. That's my favorite. That's my favorite. I
love I have a Star Wars one.

Speaker 4 (46:01):
I don't know how dinosaurs have entered the Christmas chat why,
because I've seen a couple. Now I've seen it's a theme.
Since when did Dino's become festive?

Speaker 3 (46:09):
Dinah Rock?

Speaker 4 (46:10):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (46:10):
Hell yeah, the drop? No, Okay, Okay, let's let's get
back on the road.

Speaker 2 (46:17):
Let's get back. We took a hard left, which I
love doing. Okay, let's dive back into the NFL because
it's a new era. You guys in the AFC, I
think it's no, it's a new era. Mahomes and the
Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time
since twenty fourteen. It's kind of having this feeling that
it might be Travis Kelcey's last season. Nothing has been

(46:39):
reported and like no one has actually said it, but
like it was a big story this week, like is
he going to play the last three games? Of course
he's going to play the last three games. Why because
Patrick Mahomes isn't there. I it's feeling and leading towards
the way that this that this might be it for him.

Speaker 4 (46:59):
I just Okay, So we just watched Philip Rivers come
back at forty four years old, and I know he's
not running around different than.

Speaker 2 (47:08):
A tight end, yes, different than a tight end who
just takes a beating constantly throughout the entire game.

Speaker 4 (47:12):
Do you see a world And I kind of want
to make this a take. I'm I'm like, lightly, I'm
one foot standing on business with this take. Let's say
you know Travis theoretically retires at the end of this season. Yeah,
and you know Patrick heals from his ACL tearr. You know,
they're not back in the Super Bowl next year, but

(47:33):
it's the year after and they're knocking on the door
of another AFC championship and they pick up the phone,
Travis want to come join us?

Speaker 2 (47:42):
I mean, we saw Tom Brady do with Gronk, right,
Tom Brady Buss saw Gronk out of retirement, and this
is the this is the only other comparable quarterback tight end.
Do I think of our generation that we can talk
about and do because I mean, I would love that.
That's the I'm rooting for Mahomes. Kelsey's like postseason numbers

(48:03):
are legendary. They have the most completions, they have the
most yards, they have the most touchdowns, like from a
quarterback target combination in the postseason in NFL history. It's just,
you know, it's this whole season is just it was heartbreaking,
like seeing Mahomes go down and Tear's ACL. He already
had surgery on Monday. You never want to see the

(48:24):
best of the best go down with injury. But his
timeline to be back is at least nine months. That's
early September, maybe the start of the season. But you
don't want to rush him back and then have them
get injured and then deal with this whole situation that
you're dealing with right now, where if he could injure
himself again. I mean, their last home game this season,

(48:45):
I think is Christmas against the Broncos.

Speaker 3 (48:48):
Will that be the last time Travis plays an arrowhead?

Speaker 4 (48:50):
Well, okay, before we go there, I also think you
have to look at this Chief's organization, which is a
championship organization.

Speaker 2 (48:58):
They were dynasty, the last dynasty after the Patriots.

Speaker 4 (49:02):
And I feel weird saying we're like, I'm not I'm
not ready to say past tense yet, but I mean,
but also.

Speaker 3 (49:10):
It's not getting better.

Speaker 4 (49:11):
You think about how much football these players have played
over the past five years and the extended runs, and
it's really crazy to think that they'll be playing a
meaningless regular season game.

Speaker 2 (49:23):
Yeah, they're gonna be the ones trying to upset who
they're playing opposed to.

Speaker 4 (49:27):
Yeah, like, let's just cause a little chaos for the
heck of it.

Speaker 3 (49:31):
But that's all it is. But it's hard.

Speaker 2 (49:33):
Like again, going back to Travis Kelsey the way he's
been talking about this season. We heard him talk about
how much training and work he put in this last
offseason because he came off the worst statistical season of
his career last year.

Speaker 3 (49:47):
And this is just.

Speaker 2 (49:49):
I think Father Time being undefeated because he came in,
he did the work, he was in good shape. It's
your body at some point when you play a position
like tight end, as we saw with again Gronk, like
your body just kind of gives up at a certain time.

Speaker 4 (50:06):
I'm rooting for late a late run return.

Speaker 2 (50:10):
I mean two or three years. Don't call it a comeback.
You never know again. Like I don't think anyone had
on the beach of card Philip Rivers five years later
coming back out of retirement to start a game for
the Colts and like having them in it and like
doing a good job.

Speaker 3 (50:26):
Like that is wild.

Speaker 4 (50:28):
So anything can happen.

Speaker 2 (50:30):
Don't cry because it's over. Be happy that it happened.
You know, Chiefs fans like, take a breather. You guys
have been the kings of the AFC for as long
as Patrick Mahomes has been in the league. It's gonna
be the first time since twenty ten that Mahomes or
Tom Brady I would be in an AFC championship nugget.

Speaker 3 (50:49):
Yeah, Like that's wild.

Speaker 2 (50:51):
So the question is who is going to be crowned
the new king of the AFC.

Speaker 3 (50:57):
Right, Burrow is out Lamar Jackson and is on the
outside looking at.

Speaker 4 (51:02):
It going on with him and Harba by the way,
I don't.

Speaker 2 (51:04):
Know, man, but he's also been in like his knee, ankle, toe,
hammy sickness. He's just I feel like he's constantly injured
this season, which is tough. They still, you know, they
still have the chance, but they have to beat the
Steelers but there are some There are some solid quarterbacks,
like who have a chance now that Mahomes the King

(51:25):
is not in the postseason? Uh, this year you got
Josh Allen and the Bills, Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers,
Justin Herbert and the Chargers, Drake May and the Patriots,
who like has been the pleasant surprise I think for
everybody this season.

Speaker 3 (51:39):
Bonnicks and the Broncos.

Speaker 4 (51:40):
And put some respect on Trevor Lawrence and the Jags.

Speaker 2 (51:43):
Okay, I yeah, I know you're hot on them. That
was your nailed it and failed it. I don't know
if I trust them in the postseason against all of
these other Well, I'm kind of.

Speaker 4 (51:59):
Like I've like bo Nicks and the Broncos might be
a little bit of a farce. And I think it's
like approved, I know they've got the best run.

Speaker 3 (52:05):
I mean it could.

Speaker 2 (52:06):
He got into the playoffs last season, but he lost
to the Bills, so he doesn't have the playoff experience.
And this is where I think it's tough with a
lot of these quarterbacks who don't have playoff experience. Everyone
that I just listed what Rogers, let's tells like Rogers
has the most playoff experience currently leading the AFC North.
He's also the only quarterback with a Super Bowl ring

(52:27):
that we just listed off. But again, like they have. Okay,
it's not an easy road Josh Allen and the Bills.
He's seven and six in the playoffs, but Mahomes has
always been his biggest hurdle to get over.

Speaker 4 (52:38):
In the past.

Speaker 2 (52:39):
Is this feels like it should be Josh Allen's year,
But that means all the pressure is on him because
it's a season with no Mahomes. Can he carry this
team to a super Bowl? He hasn't been able to.
I guess what, like lead the division because here you
have Drake May and the Patriots, Like.

Speaker 4 (52:57):
Herbert hasn't had any postseason success.

Speaker 2 (52:59):
Helo, he's Ohen too and one of those losses was
to the Jags and he blew a twenty seven point lead.

Speaker 4 (53:06):
Yeah, so what I like, Let's say we're doing AFC
quarterback tiers right now. Of the elite group we just mentioned,
I'm gonna have Alan alone, Yeah, right below him, I'm
gonna put May, Herbert, and I'm gonna put Laurence up there,
and then below that, I'm gonna put Rogers and Nicks.

(53:30):
What are your tears.

Speaker 2 (53:32):
I'm gonna put Rogers a little higher up there, Okay, Like,
this is a guy who has the experience. Again, I
didn't have a lot of faith in him coming into
this season. Again, coming off of an achilles injury, this
late in your career, bouncing around teams and just not
having the success I think everyone thought he was going
to have with the Jets and then Steelers at the

(53:53):
like literally at the buzzer, being like, all right, we
got him, let's go. It's definitely been a more positive
situation than I expected. He hasn't been in the media,
like outside of the game as much as we're used to,
Like he's not on the Pat McAfee show, nobody. I
feel like it's a little more just kind of focusing

(54:17):
on everything. So I I anything can happen. I'm gonna
pu Yeah, I'm gonna put Josh Allen at the top.
Okay here, and again this is postseason, not regular season, right,
It's hard. I think they're all kind of right there

(54:37):
because the Herbert not having playoff success, Drake May having
an incredible sophomore season.

Speaker 3 (54:46):
Bo Nick's also just.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
And I think my tier was Sean Payton is like
as it's insane.

Speaker 3 (54:54):
That's the reason.

Speaker 2 (54:55):
Like he is where he is and he is having
the success that he is having in his career so far, Alan.

Speaker 3 (55:03):
It has to be like if it has, it has
to be. This has to be.

Speaker 4 (55:06):
And he's got the baby bump, like I always call
it when players have babies, they always I feel like
they're games after they.

Speaker 3 (55:14):
There is there is a stat I remember hearing this.

Speaker 2 (55:18):
I don't want to butcher it, but like players who
like just become parents have like their best years ever
after the kids.

Speaker 4 (55:27):
So are you saying you're in your MVP year right now?

Speaker 3 (55:30):
I mean I'm always in Miami.

Speaker 4 (55:31):
Yeah, oh duh yeah?

Speaker 2 (55:33):
Also not yeah, not on the field anymore. We are
decades retired.

Speaker 4 (55:39):
Any studio though, MVP studio.

Speaker 3 (55:41):
I'll take that.

Speaker 4 (55:43):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (55:44):
I it's hard because.

Speaker 2 (55:49):
I thought, again my failed it situation and take is,
I thought Burrow was going to be in this conversation
and he's not. So who's going to be the new king?
I'm putting my money on Josh Allen me too.

Speaker 4 (56:02):
That's not that's not very like, you know, controversial of me,
but I looking at that list, it's Alan and I
also just I mean I I was kind of looking
at those names in terms of pure play, not necessarily postseason.

Speaker 2 (56:15):
No, no, this is postseason where anything can happen. Who's
going to be the new king of the AFC. I'm
gonna go Josh Allen? Yeah, yeah, yeah, all right. You
don't have to agree with me. You were hot for Lawrence?

Speaker 4 (56:27):
No, no, no, no, no, I'm but I'm taking me take.
I know, but I believe in Josh Allen and I
think he's sensational, and I think he's MVP. You know,
he's the reigning MVP for a reason. And I what
they did against the Patriots, like, I just think he's
the man.

Speaker 2 (56:45):
Yeah, and when he wants to, he can step up
and he can get it done. All Right, guys, we're
gonna take a quick break here when we come back.

Speaker 3 (56:50):
Who is on the hot seat. You're listening to Fox
Sports Radio. Welcome back to five.

Speaker 1 (56:55):
Never heard that?

Speaker 3 (56:55):
Say?

Speaker 2 (56:57):
I'm Alex gr with Nikki k. Thank you for spending
your Saturday afternoon with us. This the song comes in,
and I'm like, ooh, I kind of want to listen
and sing along to this, but no, I gotta I
gotta let everyone.

Speaker 3 (57:06):
Know that we're back. I don't know if I've ever
heard this one before. I just tradition?

Speaker 4 (57:10):
Is it?

Speaker 3 (57:10):
I just started listening. What's the tradition Christmas music this week?

Speaker 6 (57:13):
Well?

Speaker 13 (57:13):
You know when Santa goes to Italy, the reindeer can't
climb the hills of Italy.

Speaker 3 (57:17):
What so he needs a donkey? What? Listen to the song? Well,
I never heard it before. Okay, sons he'll be.

Speaker 13 (57:25):
Because the reindeer can not climb the hills of It's
uh lee hekay.

Speaker 4 (57:30):
Hey, all right, I hear the donkey?

Speaker 2 (57:33):
Yeah, ew, that's funny, that's wild. Do you what do
you start listening to Christmas music? Are you like a
right after Thanksgiving? Or you like I like, literally this
week week before Christmas? I'm ready.

Speaker 3 (57:46):
I have to have as much as I can give.

Speaker 4 (57:48):
I have to have an event that I'm I'm getting
ready for and then I'll be like, you know what,
let's put on Justin Bieber drummer boy.

Speaker 3 (57:56):
I don't know if I've heard that.

Speaker 4 (57:57):
Oh my god, Justin Bieber's Christmas album so underrated. Okay,
you got to you gotta put it out.

Speaker 3 (58:02):
Okay, No, I don't listen to that. On the way home.

Speaker 2 (58:04):
I've been doing Christmas jazz, a jazzy Christmas elitist. Okay,
I'm a I start my day with like I go
through like my different phases and playlists.

Speaker 3 (58:14):
I wake up with jazzy morning.

Speaker 2 (58:16):
Like coffee table jazz, and it's like peaceful and fun,
and then we get into like Fleetwood Mac Radio, and
then we get into Jimmy Hendricks Radio, and then we're
like we get into rock and blues, and then it's
pop midday for the pick me up, and then we
go back to Christmas jazz at night.

Speaker 4 (58:33):
All right, Yeah, that is way more sophisticated than my
than my girly pop Spotify playlist that I have and
listen to on repeat.

Speaker 3 (58:42):
I love it. We love it, though.

Speaker 2 (58:43):
Okay, let's talk about who's in the hot seat, Okay,
because what we got three games left for a lot
of these teams, and this might be the last three
games for I think a few of these coaches with
their franchise, and I'm gonna start with Mike McDaniels and
the Dolphins.

Speaker 3 (59:07):
It has not looked great.

Speaker 2 (59:10):
I think the biggest move was that they benched Tua
this week, who was benched for a rookie and two
whistle has three years remaining on his contract, with fifty
six point four million dollars guaranteed in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 3 (59:25):
I'm betting his time is done.

Speaker 4 (59:26):
I'm I'm in Miami with you. I just too, you
know why. Okay, there's a great article by Marcel Luis
Jacques on ESPN dot com and he detailed who Mike
McDaniel is to these players.

Speaker 3 (59:43):
Yeah, oh we know. I am a huge Mike McDaniel fan.

Speaker 4 (59:47):
But the investment he has in that locker room, and
I think for a franchise that has they've got problems,
and they started off, they started off bad, but they
they I found a little bit of momentum here and
I think benching Tua was the right move.

Speaker 3 (01:00:05):
His time's done. I think that's that's it for him
in Miami.

Speaker 4 (01:00:09):
I don't think that's a McDaniel problem.

Speaker 2 (01:00:11):
He's been leading this team right, but I don't sometimes
you need like a full shift change.

Speaker 4 (01:00:19):
I would. I think he's safe. I don't think his Yeah,
who do you.

Speaker 3 (01:00:23):
Think something hot seat?

Speaker 4 (01:00:25):
Well, not for virtue of his problems, but just the problems.
Like another franchise that's just mired in trouble, are the
Oakland Raiders. I think Pete Carroll needs to walk away
from the job. I don't think you stay for another year.
I think you leave your with your dignity INtime.

Speaker 2 (01:00:41):
I mean he's signed a three year deal with option
this season, no more two to twelve. I mean it's
hard because he's a like Pete Curle's a defensive coach,
and the Raiders defense is sixteenth in points allowed in
twenty fifth.

Speaker 3 (01:00:57):
It just it's it's bad.

Speaker 2 (01:01:00):
I think he's got to get out of Raiders offenses
last in both total yards per game and points per game.
They're like, they're clearly in a rebuild and Pete Carroll
turned seventy five next September.

Speaker 4 (01:01:12):
Why would he sign himself up to deal with this again.

Speaker 3 (01:01:15):
Well, when you love the game.

Speaker 2 (01:01:16):
I just I think they thought there was a chance
and the Raiders just have a lot more work to
be done than just.

Speaker 4 (01:01:23):
Tom Brady walking around in a Raiders sweatsuit. Really had
a selling like.

Speaker 2 (01:01:30):
Ownerships now, But it's it's more than just coach who again,
I don't know, we thought maybe like he could.

Speaker 3 (01:01:38):
Be the culture the culture fit that they needed. I
don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:01:44):
I like your I like your take that, like maybe
he should just walk away opposed to them firing him,
But like, are you going to walk away from millions
of dollars? I think he's like a job that like
you think, like, okay.

Speaker 4 (01:01:55):
But two and twelve it's not fun.

Speaker 3 (01:01:58):
It's not fun. Like are they going to go back?

Speaker 2 (01:02:00):
Are they going to go out and get acause this
is a really good quarterback draft. Do you go out
and get a star quarterback? Or do you go out
and fill all the needs that this team needs to
be a contending team again, because again that's another fun
franchise that when they're good, Raider fans are gnarly.

Speaker 4 (01:02:18):
But then again it goes it goes the other way too,
like if they miss in the draft and they're terrible again,
like this is just an it'll be a bad mark
on Pete Carroll's legacy as a coach if I were
him walk away.

Speaker 3 (01:02:32):
Interesting, All right, let's check out with Martin Wise and
see what's trending.

Speaker 8 (01:02:38):
Got an NFL game here on the Saturday afternoon, Washington
with a three to dozing lead over Philadelphia early in
the full about halfway through the first quarter. Now Jalen
Hurts with twenty two passing yards Marcus Mariota was sixteen
hurs is a seventeen rushing yards, Chris Rodriguez leading the
Commanders in rushing with twenty four. Philly has the ball

(01:02:59):
about ten yards out of their own red zone as
aj Brown kept the pass and scratch that they're in
the red zone. Now they'll be first intent Philly on
about washing nineteen yard line in the college football game.
At the half, are getting ready to come back to
the third quarter. Now, Old Miss and two Lane, see
if the Green Wave you can put up more of
a fight in the second second half, because it's been

(01:03:19):
pretty much all rebels seventeen to three in Pete Golden's
first game coaching Old Miss as Lane. Kipton went on
to LSU John Summer all the coach coaching Tulane right now,
he'll be the head coach at Florida when this whenever
two Lane loses, which could be the next two quarters,
could be who knows, but he'll be there at Florida
allowing him to come back and coach at the two

(01:03:41):
lane for the playoff run. Speaking of that playoff run,
Miami advancing beating Texas A and m ten to three.
Carson back with the touchdown pass in the last minute,
Marshall Reid do an interception in the end zone and
steal to win for her for the Hurricanes. They'll go
on to face two seedt Ohio State and the Cotton
Bowl New Year Zeve Oregon James Madison seven thirty to night.

(01:04:01):
Alabama advanced last night thirty four to twenty four over
Oklahoma Dell ho'st Big Ten champions and one seed Indiana.
Other NFL news, the Rams fire special team coordinator Chase Blackburn.
Buccaneers activated Jason Pierre Paul for Sunday against the Panthers.
JPP hasn't played in the NFL game since December eleventh,
twenty twenty three. And in college basketball, we have wins

(01:04:25):
for ninth ranked Michigan State, eleventh rank Louisville, Kentucky upset
twenty second ranked Saint John's, and with four point four
seconds left in the game, North Carolina, the twelfth ranked
team in the nation as a seventy one to seventy
lead over Ohio State.

Speaker 9 (01:04:38):
Ohio State's ball back to you.

Speaker 3 (01:04:40):
Guys, Thank you Martin. You're listening to Fox Football Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:04:43):
I'm Alex Coury here with Nicki Kay and it is
time for our next guest. You guys know her well
since she was keeping my seat warm quite often while
I was out on maternity leave. She's the CEO of
Fangirl Sports Network. Forty nine Ers beat reporter Tracy Sandler.

Speaker 5 (01:04:57):
Hello, alex Hei Nikkei, Hi Trace.

Speaker 3 (01:04:59):
Yeah ahead, Tracy.

Speaker 2 (01:05:01):
What a great time to come on right now because
the NFC West is cruisy, and with the Seahawks win
over the Rams Thursday night, the forty nine Ers can
get the one seed in the NFC if they win
out their last three games. How have you seen this
team stay it really in the moment and take it
one game.

Speaker 3 (01:05:21):
At a time.

Speaker 5 (01:05:23):
Well, it's pretty incredible because it's not just even losing
Nick Botha and Fred Warner for the season, which were
obviously two devastating injuries. They didn't have Rock Prity for
six games, they didn't have George kill for five games.
They're going to be on their seventh game Monday not
having Ricky Piersal he was ruled out safe, and that
Tatum but Soon was injured. Like there everybody that could

(01:05:43):
be injured honestly has been injured. So it's been such
a shuffle and I think it's such a credit to
Kyle Shanahan and Robert Sala for keeping them focused and
to the veterans on this team for keeping everybody focused.
They really have taken it one game at a time.
They obviously got tremendous play out of Mac Jones when
Brockbury was out, but it's pretty amazing there in this position.

(01:06:04):
Will they went out that, I'm not so sure, but
to be in this position when it looked like you
go back to the Tampa Bay game in Week seven,
where it looked like the season was basically over, to
be here now, it's really attestment to the coaching staff,
and I think Kyle Shanahan should be in that Coach
of the Year.

Speaker 4 (01:06:22):
I was literally just gonna say, Trace, Okay, you're you're
walking into an elevator, give me your elevator pitch for
Kyle Shanahan as coach of the Year.

Speaker 5 (01:06:32):
Well, the forty nine ers is going into Week sixteen
controlled her own destiny and to get their number one
seed in the NFC and when the NFC West, and
that is about Nick Bosa. Fred Warner brought pretty out
six games, George hil out five games, and all the
Plesora of injuries. Coach of the Year Kyle Shanahan, how's
the elevator Fishers?

Speaker 4 (01:06:50):
I did, Sharks, I'm asking you for ten percent. No,
I'm just kidding.

Speaker 3 (01:06:54):
Yes, that was it, you got it.

Speaker 2 (01:06:56):
It really is wild when you think that's remarkable, the
injuries that they overcame this season. It does help that
they have one of the easier schedules in the NFL.
Like I think, you also have to like strength of schedule.
You have to add that into the mix. But what's
been the most impressive thing you've seen from this group

(01:07:16):
when kind of party goes down, top players go down
to really just keep it going and be ten and
four this season.

Speaker 5 (01:07:26):
Well, I know a lot of teams talk a lot
about well we block out the noise. The people in
this building don't listen to it.

Speaker 4 (01:07:32):
They really don't.

Speaker 5 (01:07:33):
I mean, they've gone into every game thinking they could
win it, and I think this team blocks up the noise.
For Granted, I don't cover other teams, so I don't know,
but it seems to me that they block out the
noise as well as you possibly can. And I think
I noticed it a lot with Christian McCaffrey when we
talk to him every week, and Christian is always saying,
we're focused on this week. It is so easy to

(01:07:55):
lose in the NFL, and we have to go into
every game and take it no matter what. And there's
something about the way he says it. There's a consistency
of his message, which means a consistency along the team.
And I just think that's been really, really impressive because
even when Botha went down, when Fred Warner went down,
everybody was really emotional, and he's such a leader on

(01:08:17):
the team, he said face of the franchise, such a
big part of the Bay Area community, and they were
very emotional. But by the time they got back to
practice on Wednesday, it was like, okay, but this is
what it is, and now we move forward forwards Data Bassoon,
You're up and let's go. And I think that has
put them in this position. Yes, the strength of schedule
has certainly helped. I think these next three games will

(01:08:39):
give a more realistic idea of where this team stands.
But for them to be in this position is pretty impressive.

Speaker 4 (01:08:48):
And Tracy a funny overlapping storyline right facing the Colts
with Philip Rivers, what is the lure? Didn't Kyle Shanahan
say there was one point in a postseason where he
was this close to calling up Philip and asking him
to come play for the forty nine ers in a game.

Speaker 5 (01:09:08):
It sure he sure did. It was the year that
Trey Lance went down, Jimmy Garoppolo stepped in, Jimmy Garoppo
went down and in Camp Rock party, and that was
the season in the playoffs that they'd consider it. Apparently
he was on a couple of Zoom meetings. George Kittle
said he had no idea he was there, which I
think is very.

Speaker 3 (01:09:24):
Funny, But he was on a few of the Zoom.

Speaker 5 (01:09:27):
Meetings, and I mean, it's it's quite the lore. In fact,
I believe that Jason Pinnock the Fortnight are Safety. I
think his uncle may have played with Philip Rivers. That's
how old Philip Rivers is. And that's kind of just
the wow side back on this whole thing. But it's
really a fun storyline and the four hours of course

(01:09:47):
running right into it. And I think this is a game.
Five six weeks ago this looked like one of the
toughest games in the schedule. Obviously, the Colts have suffered
quite a few injuries of their own, including a quarterback.

Speaker 4 (01:09:57):
So forty four ye old Philip.

Speaker 5 (01:09:58):
Rivers is stepping in. It's a game where they got
to be careful because the cults are fighting too. And
Philip Rivers, for somebody who has not played in five
years and at his age, did not look terrible. Kyle
Shanahan said, he didn't look as fast by any means.

Speaker 3 (01:10:14):
Well for five years.

Speaker 5 (01:10:16):
He's a game. The ball still going where he wants
it to go, and that's obviously a huge thing for
a quarterback. But it's definitely going to be a fun storyline.
A few nights before Christmas, Monday Night Football Old Man Phillips,
old Man Rivers under center for the Cold.

Speaker 2 (01:10:32):
I mean, it's just wild because the forty nine ers
can clinch their playoff spot with a win.

Speaker 3 (01:10:38):
So does the mentality change.

Speaker 2 (01:10:40):
At all because you are going up against a forty
four year old grandfather in Philip Rivers.

Speaker 5 (01:10:47):
No, I don't think the mentality changes at all, and
I think that's why they're in this position. The mentality
has not changed week after week, so we don't think
to them it matters or makes any difference. So they
look at this one as just and it is difficult.
You're on the road in Indie, you're a different time zone,
and it's a tough game. No matter what, they're still
playmakers on that team. The War's run defense has been

(01:11:09):
pretty leaky as of late or pretty much all season,
and they're going up against Jonathan Taylor. I mean, this
is going to be a tough game for them and
a tough matchup, so I would say they have to
be really focused. And then today, kind of a surprise,
one of their cornerbacks, Ronardo' Green is out with a
neck injury and he's been very good for them. He's
a starting corner so now you're adding that into the

(01:11:31):
plesor of injuries. They're getting a couple guys back, but
they've got to be really focused on this no matter
who's playing. Even if I was playing quarterbacks, they would.

Speaker 2 (01:11:38):
Have to be pretty focused, which is better than I'm not,
you know, and a little different there. But Jersey, I mean,
the forty nine ers have always been in the playoff
conversation in the NFC in the NFC West for years,
but this year how close the NFC West is is
absolutely wild, especially after watching that game on Thursday with

(01:12:00):
the Seahawks coming back to beat the Rams. What was
kind of the reaction in the locker room with this
forty nine ers team now seeing that and knowing that
they do control their own destiny, and were they watching it.
Was there even a reaction they were watching it.

Speaker 5 (01:12:16):
They all admitted that they did watch the game and
they thought it was crazy and obviously an incredible game.
The two point conversion was a big topic of conversation
and everybody being on a high alert. You pick up
that ball no matter what to make so you know,
so that doesn't happen to you. But Rob pretty made
a good point. He said, the reality is is we

(01:12:36):
don't handle business Monday, then none of it matters. So yes,
they could get the one seed, but they lose Monday
and now they can't. And if they lose Monday, then
they have two tough games against the Bears and the Seahawks.
They have to win one of them to even go
to the playoffs. And Kyle is just saying this, for
the last two weeks, you could win out, you could
lose out, yes, and easily it could go either way.

(01:12:58):
So they have to be focused. But they he definitely
did watch that game, and I think they were all
just kind of amazed by the excitement entertainment level of
the game. But Brock is right, if they lose, it
doesn't really matter. All that excitement goes away. You had
three days of being super excited and then it's gone
if you lose Monday.

Speaker 4 (01:13:14):
Night Tracy, George Kittle is one of my favorite personalities
to assume. His quotes from AFAR What has been your
favorite thing? He said? This season?

Speaker 3 (01:13:26):
Oh wow, that is such a.

Speaker 4 (01:13:29):
Give me a couple of give me a couple of kittles.

Speaker 5 (01:13:33):
Could I give you a kittle? Can I give you
one from last season? And then I can think of
one of this season too. Last season they're playing the
Bill Sunday Night football. Last season was obviously awful for
San Francisco. They get absolutely destroyed by the Bills. And
we're in the postgame press conference and I started to
ask him a question. I was wearing a beanie with
like a big birth thing on the front, and I

(01:13:53):
start to ask him a question and he says, goodness gracious, Tracy,
that is the biggest fur I've ever seen on top
of the beanie. Also, congratulations on Michigan beating O House,
Like this is the.

Speaker 3 (01:14:06):
He's a lot. He is just always locked in. We
love him for it.

Speaker 2 (01:14:09):
We love his Taylor Swift moment, we love everything about it.

Speaker 4 (01:14:12):
He really is.

Speaker 3 (01:14:13):
He really is, Tracy, thank you so much for coming.
Happy holidays.

Speaker 2 (01:14:18):
Oh, by the way, I have to give you a
shout out the caviar on your loachas. I brought that
to my family honka party last night and it was
a hit.

Speaker 3 (01:14:27):
Yeah, I ate like seven to ten.

Speaker 4 (01:14:29):
We had a potato ranking earlier on the topic of
blocks number two.

Speaker 3 (01:14:33):
We love it.

Speaker 2 (01:14:35):
So proud.

Speaker 3 (01:14:37):
Hell you, Thank you, Tracy.

Speaker 4 (01:14:39):
Best holiday party.

Speaker 2 (01:14:41):
All Right, We're gonna take one more break here when
we come back. You guys are making our NFL picks.
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Yeah, welcome back to
Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Nikki Kay
and one epic Saturday of football. It's been We have
the college football playoffs, we have two NFL g We
got the Eagles and the Commanders playing right now. Eagles

(01:15:04):
finally on the board seven to three. They are up
in the second over the Commanders and they can clinch
a playoff spot with a win. So with that being said,
we're gonna kind of go through our NFL game picks
for today and tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (01:15:22):
Producer, Bo, you're gonna lead us through.

Speaker 4 (01:15:24):
How are you feeling about your Eagles?

Speaker 3 (01:15:26):
Bo? Right, yeah, it's all right, we'll see I'm.

Speaker 4 (01:15:29):
Just gonna play under center, like, what are what are
we gonna see him?

Speaker 12 (01:15:32):
I was just yelling at him to snap the ball
with more than one second on the play clock, would
be nice. We don't have to talk about this game anymore.

Speaker 3 (01:15:40):
Thah, we do, Yeah, we do.

Speaker 1 (01:15:42):
The game of the.

Speaker 12 (01:15:43):
Day today on a Saturday. The last is Packers at
Bears in Chicago. The Bears a one and a half
point favorite. Dude, what are your thoughts here?

Speaker 2 (01:15:53):
I mean, it's going down in just a couple of hours.
Bears currently first in the NFC North, and the winner
can clinch a playoff birth an the Lions lose, but
division games are always spicy. Bears have just been the
comeback Kings this entire season. I I'm wrong with the

(01:16:15):
Bears and Ben Johnson. I just I feel like this
is their time, Like this is this is their time
in the division. This is their time to finally make
a stand and be good.

Speaker 4 (01:16:24):
What we're seeing in Chicago right now is believe I mean,
and you got CJ. Gardner Johnson talking about this being
the moment where teams separate themselves. Belief has been foreign
in Chicago until this season.

Speaker 2 (01:16:36):
I will even bring in Carmen about this, right, Like
we were talking about it last week.

Speaker 3 (01:16:40):
I was like, girl, your bears are good. She's like, no, no, no, no, no,
we're not talking about it. I can't.

Speaker 2 (01:16:44):
I can't even talk about it. Like, it's just it's stressful.
Like they it's hard because they can't have nice things
that they have, right, It's.

Speaker 4 (01:16:52):
Like and I think it's like whispers, right, And I
think it was good that Chicago dropped their last meeting
degree just a.

Speaker 3 (01:17:00):
Couple of weeks ago.

Speaker 4 (01:17:01):
There the fire. This is a rivalry and so yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:17:04):
Is this gonna be wild?

Speaker 4 (01:17:05):
Yeah, I'm going to Chicago much a good.

Speaker 3 (01:17:07):
Game, Tony.

Speaker 12 (01:17:09):
All right. Next up tomorrow, we have the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers heading to Caroline to take on the Panthers. The
Buccaneers uh favored by three in this one for some reason. Yeah,
I don't know. So what do you guys think here?

Speaker 2 (01:17:21):
I mean, this is a big game for the NFC South.
One of them will win the division and they play again.

Speaker 4 (01:17:28):
Week eighteen, the NFC South is just like it's so
wild and how bad it is.

Speaker 2 (01:17:34):
Yeah, yeah, I'm still just gonna go and Baker, we
trust and I'm gonna take the Bucks.

Speaker 3 (01:17:39):
I'm gonna go with the favor here.

Speaker 4 (01:17:40):
I'm gonna I'm gonna take the Panthers. I think they're frisky,
no pun intended, but the Bucks, I just feel like intended.
I feel like the Bucks have been just trending the
wrong way. Baker had you know, what was the making
of an MVP campaign earlier in this season, and it
just seems like every time, I mean, they've they've had
their fair share of injuries, right, But I yeah, I'm

(01:18:01):
gonna just go opposite.

Speaker 3 (01:18:03):
I'll pick Charlotte, Okay, keep pounding.

Speaker 12 (01:18:06):
Team that will not go away. The Pittsburgh Steelers in
Detroit to take on the Lions. The Lions a full
touchdown favorite in this one.

Speaker 9 (01:18:14):
Though.

Speaker 3 (01:18:16):
It's big.

Speaker 2 (01:18:17):
I mean, Steelers are top of their division, Lions are
on the outside looking into the playoff picture. If they lose,
the winner of Bears Packers clinches of playoff birth. Today
it's in Detroit, they got I'm taking the Lions here,
like it has to be you.

Speaker 4 (01:18:36):
Want to know why I'm taking the Lions. Okay, since
Week three they've flip flopped wins losses every week, and
so their last game they lost. So I'm gonna say
Lions win.

Speaker 2 (01:18:49):
I love like keeping the pattern Alie picking games.

Speaker 3 (01:18:53):
It's a quick flip. Anything can happen.

Speaker 12 (01:18:55):
Yeah, speaking of anything can happen, the Patriots in Baltimore
take on the raven again. I said this to my
friend who's a Patriots fan last week watching the game
when they were Yeah, I'm like, how are the Bills
favored in this game? How are the Ravens favorite in
this game?

Speaker 9 (01:19:10):
I don't get it.

Speaker 12 (01:19:11):
But the Ravens three points favorites at the home here.

Speaker 3 (01:19:14):
That I don't get.

Speaker 2 (01:19:15):
Patriots have been great on the road six and zero.
Like I just they've been the better team. I'm taking
the underdog Patriots like this feels, especially with like whatever's
going on.

Speaker 3 (01:19:29):
Yeah, I don't not good vibes. I Yeah, I'm taking
the Patriots.

Speaker 4 (01:19:34):
I'm also putting my money on Drake May. I'm sure
like their last outing, they're they're all gonna want it
a little bit of redemption and.

Speaker 2 (01:19:41):
Then to get knocked down towards the end of the
season if your playoff bound, just to be like, oh yeah, okay,
I don't want to feel that again.

Speaker 3 (01:19:47):
Let me use this.

Speaker 4 (01:19:48):
I think that's how Rams fans are feeling right now too.

Speaker 12 (01:19:51):
They're gonna be yes, fine, all right, and then last
one real quick. The forty nine Ers take on America's team,
the Colts. Colts a five and a half point dog here.

Speaker 2 (01:19:59):
Dude, yeah no, I The forty nine ers destiny is
in their own hands. If they win their last three games,
they could be a one seed. They're also playing forty
four year old Philip Rivers. My retirement, I got forty one.
It's going to be forty nine ers. I just yeah,
it has to.

Speaker 4 (01:20:16):
Be, right, professional ball team, it has to be forty
nine ers.

Speaker 3 (01:20:19):
I know. I This is fun. Happy holidays, everybody.

Speaker 4 (01:20:24):
Happy weekend, Excited for more football tonight too. It just
keeps getting better.

Speaker 2 (01:20:30):
It just, I mean, it's I'm so happy. Thank you
for spending Mecca I have to do with us. Have
the best holiday week with your loved ones. We'll see
you next week's, says Erry mid plays Hi

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