November 22, 2025 • 40 mins
A Football Friday preview of the weekend includes the Bears destined beatdown of the Steelers and an NFC North showdown between the Packers and Vikings. NBA insider, Marc Stein weighs in on the big night for Cooper Flagg, Lakers drama going forward and more. Chiefs face a must win vs the Colts and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Carmen podcast. Be sure to catch us
live every weeknight from ten pm to two am Eastern
seven to eleven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find
your local station for The Jason Smith Show with Mike
Harmon at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every night on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This is the Best of the Jason Smith Show with
Mike Harmon on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Part of our Football Friday as it is every Friday night,
we look at all the big games in the NFL.
And really, I mean we previewed the Browns and the
Raiders earlier in the show because it's Shadora Sanders start.
I mean, congratulations. We may not do it again. It
may be the only time we ever break down to
Brown's end or Raider game the next couple of years.
(00:50):
But we did it, and we may do it again
later on in the show. But shador Sanders only gets
one NFL start. Mike Carmon, we gotta make the movie.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Well, but that's the thing, right for ones, we will
be paying attention to two squads that really give us
no reason to. I mean, we watched the Raiders on
Monday Night Football because they were there and which gave
us lots of content on Geno Smith in an appreciation
moment for Max Crosby, but also reminding folks he chose
(01:17):
to stay there. People, he took the money. I would too,
but just don't feel bad for him.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
He made a choice.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
As for Cleveland the other side, Miles Garrett great defense, disruptive, destructive,
he decided winning didn't really matter either because he accepted
a long term deal with the Cleveland Browns. I think
we should just settle it by those two guys fighting
at midfield and just be.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Okay, I'm with you there. I think I think that's
pretty good.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
And Gino could be the cornerman. But other than that,
I got nothing.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
So don't worry if you miss any of that. Again,
our best of podcast goes up right after the show
is over. Wherever you get your podcast from, just search
Jason Smith and my carbon We told you who's gonna
win that game and how many big play Shador Sanders
is going to have against that Raider thirty seven but
in a row. But on Sunday, the first place team
(02:15):
in the NFC North. Yeah, facing another prove it game.
And if I told you a year ago today, when
I say first place team in the NFC North, we'd
be talking about the Chicago Bears. You'd have told me
I'd be crazy. But I told you the era of
good feeling was coming to Chicago, Mike. I told you
was coming. I told you, and I know you're you've
(02:36):
been scarred by years of bareness. But I told you
it was coming. And look where we are. Here, we are,
we're edging in on Thanksgiving and the Bears are in
first place.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
I told you, winners of seven of their last eight.
Are they pretty?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
No?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Are they style point worthy? No?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Is it reminiscent in the nineteen eighty three Chicago White Sox.
Winning ugly a very nice slogan, yes, But dramatic comebacks,
dramatic finishes, big plays by your second year quarterback, and
growth in terms of his decision making all for positivity.
Now this week they play with no linebackers. I think
(03:15):
they've actually outlawed the position. All starting linebackers are out
for this game against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
But you want to know what get in is?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
They're gonna run for seven, four linemen and seven defensive backs.
That's what they're gonna run.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
No, this is an interesting, uh interesting one, right. Not
often do you just say hey, who's in or out
for the lineback and go, No, they're all out.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
They're they're all gonna miss this.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Everybody's missing everybody's start, and they're already banged up in
the secondary.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
So this gets a little bit curious.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I mean it helps the fact that Aaron Rodgers can't
throw the ball beyond about eight yards by that, you know, one,
one thousand and two, one thousand, the ball's gotta be
out of his hand kind of prospect. And they're gonna
be dodgy about this up until game time as best
they can. Uh. But certainly what we are paying attention
to is a team in the Steelers that's still very
(04:07):
much alive at six and four. Are you believing in
a long term? No, it's like every Pittsburgh team we've
seen since Ben Roethlisberger walked away, and they're gonna limp
towards a five hundred finish or just above, and then
we all celebrate Mike Tomlin for having them limp.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Along for the Bears.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Yeah, it's it's been an uneven, uneasy ride, and depending
on who you listen to, this guy's still falling. But
you're seven and three. The rest of the division has
plenty of problems, and people are willing to pay up
to four hundred and twenty three dollars for get in.
That's right, Pittsburgh. It's a nice easy drive from Chicago.
(04:46):
You can make that drive and now here you Oh yeah,
you are leave early in the morning, get out there,
you get out there for the game.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
You're all good.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I mean they're saying, well, Aaron Rodgers has ownership shares,
so I mean, we're gonna get his best effort of
the year.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Aren't we.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
You like how he's backing away from that. The last
couple of days he said, no, no, I'm not the with
the Packers anymore. This is all new. It's like, oh,
now that I'm on a team that's not gonna protect
me and I'm not as good. Yeah, I don't want
to talk any smack and say I own you like
I did in the past. Not I'm not gonna do
that anymore. Yeah. I see through Aaron Rodgers game. I
see compared.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Here's the thing, though, the bulletin boards are still fresh
with all of that that ink of the past. There's
nothing that you're gonna say now and be all complimentary.
I really like the cut of Canleb Williams gym No.
I love Ben Johnson. He's fun to watch his offenser.
You could say all in that flowery language. It doesn't
(05:38):
erase twenty years of history, man.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
And I'll tell you what. It's not going to matter
because the Bears are gonna win this game. Okay. The
Bears feast on turnovers, right, Their defense is not great,
but number one in turnovers in the NFL. Don't break maybe,
and Aaron Rodgers is dinged up already, whether he plays,
whether it's Mason Rudolph, whether it's Bradshaw, whether it's Cliff Stout,
(06:02):
the Bears are gonna get turnovers. And quite honestly, look,
you gotta stop hating on the Bears because the Bears
are a good team. They've won games any way possible.
If the Chiefs winning games like the Bears, you would say, oh,
what a great job Patrick Mahomes is doing. Look at this,
pulling out games at the end. This is what champions do.
But the Bears do it, and it's all they had
to rely on. Pulling out a game at the end.
(06:24):
Now you make excuses who you want to make excuses for.
The Bears have won a lot of games. They're in
first place. Aaron Rodgers is hurt and ineffective. And you
can see this is where the downfall starts to Rogers.
If he plays on Sunday, the offense should have little
trouble moving the football against the Steelers. Look, Jalen Warren
just came back to practice. He was dinged up as well.
(06:44):
This is going to be a huge game for the Bears.
They're gonna win. Continue to prove it and continue to
prove the doubters wrong. The only thing I can say,
here's the only thing that frustrates me about the Bears
is that you know, the Bears have become like a
like a lion's light or or a big or or
like the Chiefs light in their heyday, where you have
(07:05):
no idea what weapon is going to have the big
day in fantas right, it could be romandonsday. It could
be DJ Moore. Dj Moore could catch zero passes. It
could be DeAndre Swet, It could be Coulton, lovel them,
it could be none of them. Like it's so unpredictable.
Every week who's gonna have a big week? But somebody does.
Every week you go back and say, Wow, what a
(07:25):
game for for the What a game for this play?
What a game for this player? What a game here?
What a game here? And the Bears offense is deep
with good enough weapons they get the win on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
It's it when you're talking about from the fantasy purpose,
I mean, Roman Dunsay has had a couple of big
games that don't show up in the box score. Well,
fantasy just ask us that dad's still salty h until
he actually starts reading, and maybe you can see how
people like stole the virtues of what his son's doing
for other players. But that's deeper NFL stuff. And that
(07:57):
clip the Bears put ups like hey dad and they're
tapping on the glass. Watch this, Watch what your kids doing.
But he's got four of his last six games where
he's been more or less a bystander in terms of
targets and yardage. So tough to endorse from a fantasy perspective.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
There.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Monning guy has added some big games. He and Swift.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
The run game has been immense up towards the top
of the NFL at this point a top five as
we sit here ready for Week twelve. But it's a
curious game. You know, we talk about the plus sixteen
turnover margin and that's leads all the NFL. So I
mean that bodes well Pittsburgh sitting at plus eight and
you know one thing, Aaron Rodgers isn't gonna give give
(08:41):
you too many opportunities that way. But you're not stretching
the field. You can you can shorten things up. I'm
fearful of that middle of the defense being hurt that
you can feast with friar Mouth, John Neus Smith and
a little bit of gain well maybe out of the backfield.
But all of that to say, you know, sure handed dackling,
they're gonna have to settle for threes. So Bear should
(09:02):
win this game at home, and at your point with
the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Is apt right.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Last year we had to talk about it, right, it
was a year of living dangerously. Margin of victory wasn't huge.
We talked about it a little bit earlier with how
they're losing this year five games and they've lost by
a total of twenty two points. Those were all games
they used to win and historically have won pulling it
out of the fire. Right now, that's what the Bears
(09:29):
are doing. And each week it gets a little cleaner
between Ben Johnson, the communication of what he wants and
what he gets from Caleb Williams. Now the schedule on
the back end gets pretty pretty brisk and pretty heavy.
But for this week, big home spot against Pittsburgh. Yeah,
this is a very eminently winnable game.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Elsewhere, let's stay in division because we have Minnesota and
Green Bay, and now Minnesota has been in the ruor
mill all week that potentially this could be a death
the nation for Mac Jones next year. Look, we talked
about Mac Jones last. Mac Jones and Davis Mills are
going to be at the top of the list of
Bridge quarterbacks for next year, right mac Jones hoping I
(10:09):
can be the next Geno Smith, the next Sam Darnald
because I've shown that I can get it done in
San Francisco. I have a pretty good track record this year.
I can be that next Bridge guy. I was a
first round pick. I can be darnalded. I can be
Geno Smith. Davis Mills thinking the same thing a little
bit shorter amount of time and CJ. Stroud coming back
next week most likely, but Davis Mills has been pretty
(10:30):
good and maybe, okay, maybe next year I could be
one of those guys, one of those guys in the
quarterback of the Jets next year. I just know it.
But it's so embarrassing for Minnesota that that we're even
talking about this, and it really shows you how in
nept they might be in decision making because you went
from here's Sam Darnold, who shows up right? And again,
(10:51):
I keep going back Pro Bowl quarterback. You try for
years to find guys. And maybe because Minnesota had success
with Kirk Cousins, because they autumn from the from Washington
and they paid. They gave eighty nine million dollars guaranteed.
That was the beginning of the full guarantees for quarterbacks,
and they had pretty good quarterback play. So they think, yeah,
we've had good quarterback play. We're just just gonna continue
(11:12):
for us. So yeah, we can kick Sam Donald to
the curb because we love JJ McCarthy. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Forty touchdowns are thirty five touchdowns four thousand yards? What
are you doing? You said, saying, okay, get in. Sam
Donald is shown I'm still that guy. I'm in a
great syst now. I turned the ball over a lot
because I'm Sam Donald. But still we're winning one of
the best teams in the NFL, and I got a
(11:33):
one hundred million dollar contract. You booted me to the curb.
You booted Daniel Jones with the curb, who was having
a Pro Bowl season for the Colts, all because no, no, no,
we love a guy we have never seen play in
the NFL. And JJ McCarthy. And now the fact that
you're seeing these rumors that hey, maybe they got to
go get somebody else in case JJ McCarthy stinks. Everybody
should be Everybody who was in on that JJ McCarthy
(11:54):
decision should be fired. Everybody should be. I don't care
what kind of coach you are. And look, they got
some great offensive minds here. O'Connell's a great coach. But man,
you decide to go all whoever was the let's stay
all in on JJ McCarthy. If he doesn't come through, Man,
that's coaching. Mal Pratt. You let two guys who turned
out to be Pro Bowl, all Pro type quarterbacks walk
(12:15):
out of the building. Now you didn't know about Daniel Jones,
So I understand that, but still, if he gave in
the chit, you think he wouldn't be throwing touchdowns at
Justin Jefferson every week. I'm pretty sure he would. Right,
he had the weapons in Indianapolis, he has a weapons
in Minnesota, I think he would have been. Okay, the
one guy we know that hasn't done it so far
has been McCarthy. And now you're gonna go play green
Bay and a green Bay defense that is hungry, that
(12:36):
is playing well, and while they're very difficult to predict
each week, this is definitively an hour up week for
green Bay. They win this game and win it big,
and all of a sudden, Minnesota looks even worse decision
making than they have in the past.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, I mean, I'd love to be a fly on
the wall of anything the Wolf Wilf family, Quasi Adopha
Mensa and Kevin o'co if they get together on a
conference call to talk about the quarterback position. I want
those tapes. Yeah, the curiosity going through even if you
were to just franchise Sam and you talk about the turnovers.
(13:12):
Right now, Seattle leads the NFL with twenty giveaways on
the year. But if you got halfway decent quarterback, you
don't have to be good. I mean, this is a
six and a half point spread. There is way too
much talent on that Minnesota squad and the Packers offense
has been two hit or miss for that point spread
(13:32):
to be that big. That shows the level of lack
of respect, disrespect for what you're getting out of JJ
McCarthy right now. It's only a matter of time before
all those high priced, high powered offensive weapons start to
chirp a little bit between Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Hockinson,
go on down the line, because right now they're just
(13:56):
muttering and muddling through what is a miserable experience because
we see the misses, right we watched it, and I
don't want to pick on Geno, I don't want to
pick on the early part of Davis Mills from yesterday.
I mean, you're missing guys by five yards. That's what
we're seeing with McCarthy with some regularity here. And you
didn't know what he would be after missing a year
(14:19):
of action because of the injury. So the fact that
you didn't have yourself protected there, Yeah, you tried to
get by with wentz a little bit, but that you
had those guys leave your locker room and still putting
up numbers, still getting stuff done. As you say, with
Daniel Jones, you had no idea it would work quite
so well. But O'Connell, the stiking. We've been waiting Stikeen's
(14:42):
been waiting on a quarterback for a decade. Isn't that
how long it was since the captain Andrew Luck rode
into the night? Seems like it at this point right
it's several years and several failed veteran quarterbacks and an
Anthony Richardson later that we're sitting here. But yeah, this
is one with the Packers defensive feast, you'll have some
more Emmanuel Wilson alongside, waiting on the last iteration of
(15:07):
and acknowledgment of what Josh Jacobs is doing for the week.
But all of that, you've got a big spot here
divisional game that they need. Jordan Love hasn't been great,
won't need to be On Sunday.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Speaking of belief. A big night finally, you can say
on the court for the Dallas Mavericks, they got to
see eighteen year old Cooper flag go for a career
high twenty nine points in their win over New Orleans.
We have big NBA stuff to get to. With a
guy joining us now in the hot line, nobody better
(15:52):
to chop it up with longtime NBA insider friend of
the show Mark Stein. He is on Twitter at the steinline.
That is at the Stein line, Mark, congrats. I guess
everybody can take a breath for a night in Dallas
after Cooper flag Man.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
This better be important because I'm not even I thought
I was going to get home in time before you
guys rang ran into some unexpected Friday night traffic. So
I'm like less than a minute away from getting home.
You guys knock some good music off the radio. This
better be pressing, pressing stuff to get into. I'm just
(16:29):
telling you.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
A Friday night or way.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
I'm being honest. I'm vietnamed. Look today it was a
really I'm just I'm just playing. It was a very
interesting show because the MAVs and the Pels are both
teams mired in the mess that is the bottom of
the West. And to see both Cooper Flag and Derek
Queen put on a show, and honestly, Fears was great too.
(16:59):
All the rookies were really good tonight. But I have
to say in both cases, like Cooper Flag, you know,
all the talk coming into the season was Cooper Flag
is so fortunate. We never see a rookie, We never
see a number one overall pick go to a situation
(17:21):
like this where he's got veterans and he's got a
team that's ready to win. What an advantageous situation this
is going to be for Cooper Flag. And the truth is, obviously,
as you guys know, it has been very rocky in Dallas.
The Mavericks lead the league in clutch games. This was
only the fourth they've won out of thirteen already. It
has been far from advantageous. But the thing I love
(17:43):
about Cooper Flag is he just keeps playing. He's had
a bad shoulder, he's had a bad thumb, his team
has already fired. It's GM, He's already up to three
GMS in his career because the MAVs currently have co
interim GMS, and the guy just keeps playing. And same
with Derek Queen, who's you know? We focus on him
(18:04):
for all kinds of reasons that are beyond backtball, because
of the trade in which New Orleans got him, and
they both were sensational tonight.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Honestly, how's that co GM thing working? I mean, doesn't
Finley get a little bit of extra juice for having
to take the beer away from Luca?
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Oh? Come on, please tell me you're not you clearly
you clearly don't read me. After I after I it
was within the last week or two I wrote a
long thing explaining what actually happened there. Did you know?
Did you know that the beer was actually returned to
Luka Dantics once they were out of public view, once
(18:43):
they were back in. It was a complete It was
just it was not really a story. But that video
lives on and look at you guys still focused on
it after.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
All that story.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
I do love that story.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Loves that story, Mark, he loves.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
It well in look did pictures worth a billion words?
Speaker 5 (19:03):
My car? I thought Mike Carmon was an avid reader
of the sideline, but was just exposed as as that
is not the case.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Not not as in depthly in tune as I should be.
So I should be flogged publicly for it.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
He had to watch, he had to watch the Bulls
not show up on an NBA Cup night.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
I'm really disappointed about that, having a tough night, right,
that's sure.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Well, I would also say that's one of the few
times the Bulls have let you down this season, because
they've they've been a great surprise. I mean, how about
how about my guy Vooch with the game winner the
other night. So look, can't win them all. You're gonna
survive if they don't go on a long Cup run.
I promise, I promise he'll he'll rebound.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
All right, now, you mentioned the Bulls, and tonight Oklahoma
City beat Utah. They were losing this game in the
third quarter eighty four eighty one, and they won one
forty four to one twelve. They have one loss on
the season. Can they break the Bulls record of seventy
two wins? Can they? I mean, this Oklahoma City team
(20:06):
looks like nobody can even can even on a nightly
basis mark they can't even get close to them.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Well, first of all, I should point out that the
Warriors have already broken that record with seven wells, So
I met the Warriors.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
So I was bulls with harm You just wanted to
make fun of me.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Yeah, well I did because I got harmon on the brain.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Secondly, they can. It really is going to be up
to them as long as health cooperates. I mean that
is the thing is like, I think we've talked about
this before, but it's just, you know, Houston and Denver
have both gotten off to tremendous starts, and the Lakers,
to be honest, have gotten off to a great start
(20:45):
when you consider that they just got Lebron James back
and they had to survive fifteen games without him. But
you can talk about anyone you want in the West
and they've all got the same problem. The Oklahoma City
Thunder should be unbeaten. They should be undefeated at this point.
The game they lost, they out resounded and outshot Portland,
(21:08):
And this stat is not completely up to date, but
at the time it was furnished to me, the Thunder
had won. They were like sixty four and one in
the previous sixty five games that they did out shooting,
out rebound the opponent. So it's like that even the
loss was a freak loss. We haven't seen Janeln Williams. Yet,
I mean, it really is just a matter of do
(21:28):
I think they're going to do it? Do I think
they're going to go for it? No, I don't anticipate
that because we know the Thunder always operate with extreme
caution and you know, as methodically as possible in everything
they do. But can they do it? Do they have
the team to do it? Do they have the depth
to do it? Yeah? They do.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And then we get the fun story out here in
Los Angeles with the Bus siblings dismissed from their jobs
as the Walter group fully takes over more the Dodgers
executives being involved day to day. But it just seemed
like this is the next push in the evolution of
the business. And congratulations on a job done from the
(22:12):
Boss family.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Well coming. Look, when you take the totality of the ownership,
I mean, the family has you know, been one of
the most successful in sports history. Obviously, over the last
ten years we have seen various headlines that have revealed
some contentious stuff behind the scenes. And obviously, you guys
are in southern California, You're not far from Hollywood as
(22:38):
you're speaking to me. You guys love drama out there.
We all know it. But you know, is this more
than you know a day or two story. I mean, again,
they traded for Luka Doncic, which you know I was.
I was talking to someone today in the league and
(22:58):
it's just like it almost ten months now, December December
second will be ten Yeah that right, eight yeah, ten months.
Ten December second is basically December one. December second is
ten months. And even next week, you know, next week
the Mavericks play the Lakers for the first time in
(23:19):
the regular season. Another NBA Cup game, Mavericks at Lakers
next Friday, and that's basically right around the two year
anniversary mark of the Mavericks sale to Patrick Dumont. So
it's like I'm again Luca. You know, the Lakers are
off to this great start, Luca is in the heart
of the MVP conversation, and we've had ten months to
(23:40):
get used to this thing and I still can't get
used to it. So like, yeah, like again, this was
this was a big story for a day or two,
but I would say, you know, the Lakers, they've acquired
Luka Doncic. That's the hardest thing to do in the
NBA is to get the unquestioned franchise player. You know,
(24:03):
Luka Dancic is whatever you any way you want to
analyze it. He is one of the best four players
in the world at all times. They have that. Now,
are the Lakers, who've never had trouble attracting talent, going
to gradually put the right team around him as they
gain flexibility? I would say, yes, that is what I
(24:26):
expect to happen. But the hardest part they did the
hardest part on February second.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Well, maybe the second hardest part Mark Stein with us
here Fox Sports Radio is Lebron James's return, and it
went as well as you could possibly expect. Facilitator Lebron
James coach on the court. That was exactly what I
think people were hoping to see. Can this Lebron James continue?
Can he continue being this hey, I'm okay being the
(24:54):
maybe the third option at times behind Luca and Austin
Rees are eventually Lebron's going to get back being the
alpha because I think if if this Lebron can stay boy,
all of a sudden, those Lakers titles odds are going
way up. If this is Lebron, we get that can
affect the game so many ways.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
Yeah, Look, I think when Lebron was out, he was
excited by what he saw. He saw Austin Reeves go
to another level and the Luca Austin Reeves backcourt. For
any issues you want to raise. Defensively, they have such
a high offensive ceiling. I think he's excited. And you know,
the Lakers are at the forefront of what I said
a few minutes ago. They have a good thing going.
(25:33):
If Lebron can come back and more importantly stay back,
he's you know, they need him. That was the concern
because obviously this is year twenty three, he's nearing his
forty first birthday. Can he stay back? I have no
doubt he can play like that. I mean, he's still
such a good player. The question, you know, the questions
will be can they can he? Will he stay back?
(25:53):
Can he avoid setbacks with the sciatica? But not just that.
It's like their problem is, okay, see if the Lakers
hit their ceiling, can they play with the thunder? And
it's and again it's not just the Lakers asking that question,
it's everybody. I mean, the Nuggets and the Rockets have
both been sensation. We look at the Rockets We don't
(26:14):
talk enough about the Rockets, who lost Fred van Vliet
in September at a team mini camp, and they've had
the number one offense in the league without him, without
a recognized point guard. So I mean, Houston and Denver
have done everything you could have asked them to do
in the first twenty percent of the season to establish
themselves as contenders. And now the Lakers are getting Lebron back,
(26:36):
and you know what, everybody's looking up at the thunder
and that's that's the painful reality that all these teams
are facing.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
And we talked a little bit. You got Luca, we
hit on.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Okay, see a bit sandwiched in the middle there of
offensive leaders. Tyrese Maxie at thirty three to four a game,
a full seven points better than a year ago and
far beyond previous best. And how good is has he gotten?
Is this a short term front of the schedule mark
he's got to run?
Speaker 5 (27:08):
This is his team now, I mean they the sixers.
I mean, that's the thing in the West. Some surprise
teams are on the limited side. You know, Phoenix has
been a great surprise and they were again tonight with
the way they beat Minnesota. But in the East, we've
really had, you know, Detroit, Toronto your bulls, but Philly's
(27:28):
up there too with Embiad's limited availability and just getting
Paul George back, I mean, Tyrese Maxi has been sensational,
but it also just you know, the MVP race is
so tough to crack and as you guys know, we
have not had an American born MVP since James Harden
(27:49):
all the way back in twenty eighteen. But as I said,
the four, if you ask league wide, who are the
four best players in the league, you will get the
same answer from their front offices, in whatever order you
want to say. Jokic, Doncic, Antetokumpo, Gil just Alexander, those
are the four best players in the league. We haven't
(28:10):
even mentioned Wemby yet. Who is emerging so Maxie and
Caid Cunningham, who've both been absolutely sensational, and Aid Cunningham
another player and another team that we're not talking about enough.
But just how challenging it is for the for Maxi,
for Cunningham to burst into a conversation with when you know,
(28:32):
four of the top five spots.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Are those guys, and.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
There's you know, there's a lot of you know. The
injury story is a massive one. Obviously, what happens with
the gambling stuff is a massive one. But individual talent
is not something the NBA is lacking. In twenty twenty five,
twenty six.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
He's on Twitter at the steinline. That is at the steinline.
Notice how smooth like Luca on a fan let break,
Mark Stein segued from his car into his house to
finish the interview with us. Mark is always.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
Actually, I'm actually, I'm actually in my driveway. I haven't
even gone into the house yet.
Speaker 3 (29:10):
I'm twah, when will these guys shut up?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
No, as always, thanks for staying up late.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
A fault, I miss I miss tigned it all my fault.
See you guys next time.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I appreciate thanks. We'll talk to you next week. Take
it easy, Mark, There goes Mark Steinde. I mean, I mean, look,
the Tyre Smaxi thing is so much fun because we
saw you and I talked about this the end of
last year. They're Tyres Maaxy driven and Joel Embiid needs
to become the one A to the one we kind
of forgot about. Option B, which is j Edgecombe comes
(29:45):
in is really good and Joel Embiid doesn't play.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Yeah, draft somebody and bring it.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Yeah, we forgot that Joel Embiid doesn't play. Part of it.
That could be he plays twenty minutes or doesn't play
at all. That's how they figure out. Joel Embiid's roll.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Six games playing twenty three and it's per at about
twenty points. Remember he famlessly said, if I'm going to
do twenty minutes a night, what am I even doing.
You've gotten almost seventeen a game out of grimes off
the bench. Thus far Oubre has been good for them
edge Combe, as you said, averaging about sixteen per and
they've got six guys averaging fifteen or more points a night.
(30:19):
But Max, he's uh, just the kickup and watching his
evolution these last couple of years. Fifty five games played
last year and what he's done through the first fifteen
just incredible operational efficiency at its best.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
The Jason Smith Show with My best friend Mike Harmon's
I mean, unless you're a Bulls fan, because you lost
by fifty.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
The Balls well, hey, it only counts as one. I mean,
it hurts you in the cup standings. I know that
that's a that's a killer.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Well that's what they did. Hey, teams, run it up, man,
you got you gotta get that margin of victory up.
It's an NBA Cup night. It is not for the
feint of art Friday nights.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
And as much as you know, I'm excited about some
of the strides, they're.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Still an eight and seventeen.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
It's not like they're running away and hiding with anything here.
So you know, temper and expectations that have the other
feel good story in the city with the with the Bears,
so you know, things running concurrently. And now the Blackhawks
released those sweet alternate black sweaters that sold out immediately.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
There's a lot of good going on there.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Yeah. No, hey, hey, you're happy. Man, you are safely
in the playing round right now.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Eah, you're there now. Football Friday continues on here through
the rest of the show. And I gotta say I
laughed out loud when I saw this story and heard
this star say this today. So ahead of the Colts
Chiefs game on somewhere the biggest games in the NFL.
We'll give you our picks for that coming up in
(31:57):
a couple of minutes. Travis address the big R word
when it comes to retirement. He said he's going to
wait until after this year to make a decision. On
twenty twenty six, here he is. Take a listen of
Travis Kelcey explaining his decision. But the best part is
(32:17):
at the end when he's asked about, hey, do you
want a retirement tour?
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Take a listen, you know, seeing my brother go through
it and seeing I don't know just how the league works,
you know, the season kind of restarts in April, and
I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity to
you know, whether I come back or not, and vice versa,
like whether they want me back or not. It's one
of those things where I'd like to make that decision
before they got to get draft picks and the free
(32:46):
agency open, so that gives them an opportunity to go
out there and fill the roster appropriately. So all that
will be at the end of the season. I won't
be thinking about it until then. On that note, could
you rather, you know, like go out because some guys
want to you like a Kobe tour. Right, I love Kobe, Man,
I love Kobe, I love I love everything about him. Man,
(33:08):
But that's not me. I'd like to take it day
by day, year by year and just evaluated like that.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Yeah, that was the part I laughed out loud about.
Oh that's not me. So let's see Catching Kelsey his
own show, his own reality show.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
On E Yeah that's years ago.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Yeah, I look, and I love Travis Kelcey. Right, Like
I said, I love Kebe. I love Travis Kelcey. We
knew at the Super Bowl about seven years ago we
met him. He's going to be a big media star.
He was fun, he liked chopping it up, he told
great stories. We knew he was going to be the next,
the next coming, and that was right before Catching Kelsey started, right.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
So he was there to promote that being in the offing.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
But he's a retirement tour. I'm not that guy. Catching
Kelsey hosting Saturday Night Live, executive producing and acting in
TV movies, the New Heights podcast, which he makes news
on every week, and every commercial possible on television, including
Dix McDonald's, Nike, Papa John's, bud Light, Old Spice, Walgreens,
(34:14):
Pfizer Direct TV Experience Low's Campbell Soup. No, you absolutely
are that guy Travis Kelson and that little relationships.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Oh, by the way, the tiny little bit of the
whole Taylor Swift thing. You are absolutely that guy. Now,
I don't want to say that he went for Taylor
Swift because she's famous. That's why I wanted to, you know,
carpetalize this here a bit. But he is daddy the
most popular woman in the world, and he loves the
attention and he seeks it out. Dude, you are absolutely
(34:46):
that guy that wants to I don't know if maybe
he was just saying, Okay, I really do want a
farewell retirement tour. But I don't want to say I
want it because it sounds that sounds really bad. I
sound really elitist and full of myself if I say that.
So I'm gonna say, no, I don't want that. That's dude.
Speaker 8 (35:01):
Look at your career, Look at the last seven eight
years of your life. That's absolutely that's you, up and down.
That's you every single day of the week. Man, come
on with I'm not that guy.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
No.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
The best of that is that it now becomes the
bidding war between all of those sponsors and partners that
he has to Who wants to pony up the money
to sponsor said retirement farewell tour? Who comes up with
the best, best chotchkes and everything else. Look, and part
of this is obviously there's still very much alive, as
(35:33):
much as they've struggled. We talked about it, five losses
by a total of twenty two points the AFC. It's
the YouTube video at Jason Smith's show that went up yesterday,
just talking about in the AFC, who do you trust,
who do you believe in? Who scares you? And the
answer is nobody. Spoiler, But great discussion as we went
(35:55):
through it. But you know, for those with us here
on a Friday into Saturday morning, like the Chiefs, until
they're officially declared dead, it's like, hey, can we reboot
this series, this franchise for an eighth installment?
Speaker 4 (36:11):
Yeah, all right, it's not dead. It made enough money
we were in the black on it. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
That's where Kelsey and the Chiefs are at this moment
heading into this weekend's game.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
I mean, I mean, come on, man, I'm not that guy.
I've not that guy. No, you are every bit that guy.
You are every bit that year.
Speaker 4 (36:27):
I want to see Jason's response to that on camera.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
No, that's my brother. He doesn't he want anything about
the fame. As we talk here on a podcast, we
get paid thirty million dollars a year to do right now,
he's not about that. He's not about that life Now
you would think for this game Colts and the Chiefs. Oh, Jason, Ah,
you know you hate the Chiefs. Nah, I've just been
your Kansas City Chiefs whisper all year long. I told
you this is exactly what they're going to be. It's
(36:52):
stock up Mahomes. Stock down on the Chiefs. Why Mahomes
with the good enough weapons around him, and after the
last two years of being a game manager, he's gonna
have a big year. And he is right top of
the MVP race again number two fantasy quarterback depending on
how your stats go in your league. He's been that good.
(37:12):
But stock down on the Chiefs because, yeah, they're getting
older and they're getting surpassed by the younger, more athletic,
deeper teams. Right, that's what's going on with the Chiefs.
And here they are at five and five, right exactly
where I said they were they were going to struggle
to make the playoffs because other younger teams are improving
and they're better than they are now. The thing is
(37:34):
this week, I like the Chiefs. It's a big game
for them. They simply are the more desperate team, and
for a team with a championship pedigree of the Chiefs,
when they know they're desperate. Kelsey even talked about it
earlier this week on his podcast. Hey, we got to
put everything aside and put ourselfish just aside. We got
to come out and win. They are the more desperate team.
(37:55):
It's been a great run for the Colts, and the
Colts are terrific, but at five and they know they
maybe can afford one more loss, maybe two the rest
of the way. When you're a five hundred team, you're
saying only two more loss rest away. That's a big thing.
They are the more desperate team. They are playing at home.
There'll be a lot of points. I like the over,
but this is one of those games where the Chiefs
(38:17):
find a way to win. You know, maybe extra roughing,
the passer penalty home.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
Look what you did.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
They find a way to win. A Butker field goal
of Mahomes drive at the end. Again, tons of points.
I love the points, but the fact that Daniel Jones
is dinged up a little bit. You don't know what
his status is. A midweek practice injury likely has him
on the injured list for a little bit for this weekend.
I expect him to play, but you never know how
healthy he is. This is a game the Chiefs pull
out and they win to get to six and five,
(38:44):
and now Monday, everybody's gonna say, oh, there they are.
They beat the team of the best record of the AFC.
The Chiefs are back to Now the Chiefs will simply
be six and five and still struggling for the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Chiefs a three point favorite, fifty as you're over under
right now. And we did see it last night and
it trickled into the morning. Remember when Adrian Hill, the
NFL referee, left Thursday night football with the injury.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
And the non contact injury.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Yeah, alright, well he avoided a major injury. But I
saw him attributed Chief Star avoids major injury was trending
out the interwebs. Yeah, no, certainly there. But you know
the point that Jones is dealing with an injury, it's
(39:27):
a big deal. Coming out of a bye week, look,
I expect with the new insertions on defense, an extra
week and a half of meetings, that the Colts defense
will be gamed. They had some issues in the secondary
addressed at the deadline and everything, but this is one
to the desperation mode that comes into play now, Rashie
(39:49):
Rice another week, keep waiting for heroics. They haven't really
seen it except for those first two weeks. That's normalized
a bit. The run game remains sporadic, whether it's a
check go or Kareem Hunt or Briushard Smith. You're not
seeing continuity there in the offensive line. We highlighted some
of the stats a little bit earlier in the show
(40:10):
to where you're talking about the fourth most pressures in
the NFL, number one, far and away obviously justin Herbert,
but for Patrick Mahomes, there's not a whole lot of
set your feet and deliver the ball, go figure. That's
exactly what we were talking about with Josh Allen a
bunch last night, right that you're not getting that extra
beat to look down field and set up and work
(40:32):
on timing and that'll.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Be key here.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
But looking for that Chiefs defense no slouch themselves to
handle the Indie high powered offense and get a much
needed win at home.
Speaker 4 (40:44):
Nothing else.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
It's an extra storyline for the back end. Folks can
get excitable as you say and say, hey they're back. No,
it's a win, one of many they'll need to string
up if they want to play meaningful football in January
Thanks for listening to the best of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Carmen podcast. Be sure to catch us
live every weeknight from ten pm to two am Eastern
seven to eleven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find
your local station for The Jason Smith Show with Mike
Harmon at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every night on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This is the Best of the Jason Smith Show with
Mike Harmon on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Part of our Football Friday as it is every Friday night,
we look at all the big games in the NFL.
And really, I mean we previewed the Browns and the
Raiders earlier in the show because it's Shadora Sanders start.
I mean, congratulations. We may not do it again. It
may be the only time we ever break down to
Brown's end or Raider game the next couple of years.
(00:50):
But we did it, and we may do it again
later on in the show. But shador Sanders only gets
one NFL start. Mike Carmon, we gotta make the movie.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Well, but that's the thing, right for ones, we will
be paying attention to two squads that really give us
no reason to. I mean, we watched the Raiders on
Monday Night Football because they were there and which gave
us lots of content on Geno Smith in an appreciation
moment for Max Crosby, but also reminding folks he chose
(01:17):
to stay there. People, he took the money. I would too,
but just don't feel bad for him.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
He made a choice.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
As for Cleveland the other side, Miles Garrett great defense, disruptive, destructive,
he decided winning didn't really matter either because he accepted
a long term deal with the Cleveland Browns. I think
we should just settle it by those two guys fighting
at midfield and just be.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Okay, I'm with you there. I think I think that's
pretty good.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
And Gino could be the cornerman. But other than that,
I got nothing.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
So don't worry if you miss any of that. Again,
our best of podcast goes up right after the show
is over. Wherever you get your podcast from, just search
Jason Smith and my carbon We told you who's gonna
win that game and how many big play Shador Sanders
is going to have against that Raider thirty seven but
in a row. But on Sunday, the first place team
(02:15):
in the NFC North. Yeah, facing another prove it game.
And if I told you a year ago today, when
I say first place team in the NFC North, we'd
be talking about the Chicago Bears. You'd have told me
I'd be crazy. But I told you the era of
good feeling was coming to Chicago, Mike. I told you
was coming. I told you, and I know you're you've
(02:36):
been scarred by years of bareness. But I told you
it was coming. And look where we are. Here, we are,
we're edging in on Thanksgiving and the Bears are in
first place.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
I told you, winners of seven of their last eight.
Are they pretty?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
No?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Are they style point worthy? No?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Is it reminiscent in the nineteen eighty three Chicago White Sox.
Winning ugly a very nice slogan, yes, But dramatic comebacks,
dramatic finishes, big plays by your second year quarterback, and
growth in terms of his decision making all for positivity.
Now this week they play with no linebackers. I think
(03:15):
they've actually outlawed the position. All starting linebackers are out
for this game against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
But you want to know what get in is?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
They're gonna run for seven, four linemen and seven defensive backs.
That's what they're gonna run.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
No, this is an interesting, uh interesting one, right. Not
often do you just say hey, who's in or out
for the lineback and go, No, they're all out.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
They're they're all gonna miss this.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Everybody's missing everybody's start, and they're already banged up in
the secondary.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
So this gets a little bit curious.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I mean it helps the fact that Aaron Rodgers can't
throw the ball beyond about eight yards by that, you know, one,
one thousand and two, one thousand, the ball's gotta be
out of his hand kind of prospect. And they're gonna
be dodgy about this up until game time as best
they can. Uh. But certainly what we are paying attention
to is a team in the Steelers that's still very
(04:07):
much alive at six and four. Are you believing in
a long term? No, it's like every Pittsburgh team we've
seen since Ben Roethlisberger walked away, and they're gonna limp
towards a five hundred finish or just above, and then
we all celebrate Mike Tomlin for having them limp.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Along for the Bears.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Yeah, it's it's been an uneven, uneasy ride, and depending
on who you listen to, this guy's still falling. But
you're seven and three. The rest of the division has
plenty of problems, and people are willing to pay up
to four hundred and twenty three dollars for get in.
That's right, Pittsburgh. It's a nice easy drive from Chicago.
(04:46):
You can make that drive and now here you Oh yeah,
you are leave early in the morning, get out there,
you get out there for the game.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
You're all good.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I mean they're saying, well, Aaron Rodgers has ownership shares,
so I mean, we're gonna get his best effort of
the year.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Aren't we.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
You like how he's backing away from that. The last
couple of days he said, no, no, I'm not the with
the Packers anymore. This is all new. It's like, oh,
now that I'm on a team that's not gonna protect
me and I'm not as good. Yeah, I don't want
to talk any smack and say I own you like
I did in the past. Not I'm not gonna do
that anymore. Yeah. I see through Aaron Rodgers game. I
see compared.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Here's the thing, though, the bulletin boards are still fresh
with all of that that ink of the past. There's
nothing that you're gonna say now and be all complimentary.
I really like the cut of Canleb Williams gym No.
I love Ben Johnson. He's fun to watch his offenser.
You could say all in that flowery language. It doesn't
(05:38):
erase twenty years of history, man.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
And I'll tell you what. It's not going to matter
because the Bears are gonna win this game. Okay. The
Bears feast on turnovers, right, Their defense is not great,
but number one in turnovers in the NFL. Don't break maybe,
and Aaron Rodgers is dinged up already, whether he plays,
whether it's Mason Rudolph, whether it's Bradshaw, whether it's Cliff Stout,
(06:02):
the Bears are gonna get turnovers. And quite honestly, look,
you gotta stop hating on the Bears because the Bears
are a good team. They've won games any way possible.
If the Chiefs winning games like the Bears, you would say, oh,
what a great job Patrick Mahomes is doing. Look at this,
pulling out games at the end. This is what champions do.
But the Bears do it, and it's all they had
to rely on. Pulling out a game at the end.
(06:24):
Now you make excuses who you want to make excuses for.
The Bears have won a lot of games. They're in
first place. Aaron Rodgers is hurt and ineffective. And you
can see this is where the downfall starts to Rogers.
If he plays on Sunday, the offense should have little
trouble moving the football against the Steelers. Look, Jalen Warren
just came back to practice. He was dinged up as well.
(06:44):
This is going to be a huge game for the Bears.
They're gonna win. Continue to prove it and continue to
prove the doubters wrong. The only thing I can say,
here's the only thing that frustrates me about the Bears
is that you know, the Bears have become like a
like a lion's light or or a big or or
like the Chiefs light in their heyday, where you have
(07:05):
no idea what weapon is going to have the big
day in fantas right, it could be romandonsday. It could
be DJ Moore. Dj Moore could catch zero passes. It
could be DeAndre Swet, It could be Coulton, lovel them,
it could be none of them. Like it's so unpredictable.
Every week who's gonna have a big week? But somebody does.
Every week you go back and say, Wow, what a
(07:25):
game for for the What a game for this play?
What a game for this player? What a game here?
What a game here? And the Bears offense is deep
with good enough weapons they get the win on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
It's it when you're talking about from the fantasy purpose,
I mean, Roman Dunsay has had a couple of big
games that don't show up in the box score. Well,
fantasy just ask us that dad's still salty h until
he actually starts reading, and maybe you can see how
people like stole the virtues of what his son's doing
for other players. But that's deeper NFL stuff. And that
(07:57):
clip the Bears put ups like hey dad and they're
tapping on the glass. Watch this, Watch what your kids doing.
But he's got four of his last six games where
he's been more or less a bystander in terms of
targets and yardage. So tough to endorse from a fantasy perspective.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
There.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Monning guy has added some big games. He and Swift.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
The run game has been immense up towards the top
of the NFL at this point a top five as
we sit here ready for Week twelve. But it's a
curious game. You know, we talk about the plus sixteen
turnover margin and that's leads all the NFL. So I
mean that bodes well Pittsburgh sitting at plus eight and
you know one thing, Aaron Rodgers isn't gonna give give
(08:41):
you too many opportunities that way. But you're not stretching
the field. You can you can shorten things up. I'm
fearful of that middle of the defense being hurt that
you can feast with friar Mouth, John Neus Smith and
a little bit of gain well maybe out of the backfield.
But all of that to say, you know, sure handed dackling,
they're gonna have to settle for threes. So Bear should
(09:02):
win this game at home, and at your point with
the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Is apt right.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Last year we had to talk about it, right, it
was a year of living dangerously. Margin of victory wasn't huge.
We talked about it a little bit earlier with how
they're losing this year five games and they've lost by
a total of twenty two points. Those were all games
they used to win and historically have won pulling it
out of the fire. Right now, that's what the Bears
(09:29):
are doing. And each week it gets a little cleaner
between Ben Johnson, the communication of what he wants and
what he gets from Caleb Williams. Now the schedule on
the back end gets pretty pretty brisk and pretty heavy.
But for this week, big home spot against Pittsburgh. Yeah,
this is a very eminently winnable game.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Elsewhere, let's stay in division because we have Minnesota and
Green Bay, and now Minnesota has been in the ruor
mill all week that potentially this could be a death
the nation for Mac Jones next year. Look, we talked
about Mac Jones last. Mac Jones and Davis Mills are
going to be at the top of the list of
Bridge quarterbacks for next year, right mac Jones hoping I
(10:09):
can be the next Geno Smith, the next Sam Darnald
because I've shown that I can get it done in
San Francisco. I have a pretty good track record this year.
I can be that next Bridge guy. I was a
first round pick. I can be darnalded. I can be
Geno Smith. Davis Mills thinking the same thing a little
bit shorter amount of time and CJ. Stroud coming back
next week most likely, but Davis Mills has been pretty
(10:30):
good and maybe, okay, maybe next year I could be
one of those guys, one of those guys in the
quarterback of the Jets next year. I just know it.
But it's so embarrassing for Minnesota that that we're even
talking about this, and it really shows you how in
nept they might be in decision making because you went
from here's Sam Darnold, who shows up right? And again,
(10:51):
I keep going back Pro Bowl quarterback. You try for
years to find guys. And maybe because Minnesota had success
with Kirk Cousins, because they autumn from the from Washington
and they paid. They gave eighty nine million dollars guaranteed.
That was the beginning of the full guarantees for quarterbacks,
and they had pretty good quarterback play. So they think, yeah,
we've had good quarterback play. We're just just gonna continue
(11:12):
for us. So yeah, we can kick Sam Donald to
the curb because we love JJ McCarthy. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Forty touchdowns are thirty five touchdowns four thousand yards? What
are you doing? You said, saying, okay, get in. Sam
Donald is shown I'm still that guy. I'm in a
great syst now. I turned the ball over a lot
because I'm Sam Donald. But still we're winning one of
the best teams in the NFL, and I got a
(11:33):
one hundred million dollar contract. You booted me to the curb.
You booted Daniel Jones with the curb, who was having
a Pro Bowl season for the Colts, all because no, no, no,
we love a guy we have never seen play in
the NFL. And JJ McCarthy. And now the fact that
you're seeing these rumors that hey, maybe they got to
go get somebody else in case JJ McCarthy stinks. Everybody
should be Everybody who was in on that JJ McCarthy
(11:54):
decision should be fired. Everybody should be. I don't care
what kind of coach you are. And look, they got
some great offensive minds here. O'Connell's a great coach. But man,
you decide to go all whoever was the let's stay
all in on JJ McCarthy. If he doesn't come through, Man,
that's coaching. Mal Pratt. You let two guys who turned
out to be Pro Bowl, all Pro type quarterbacks walk
(12:15):
out of the building. Now you didn't know about Daniel Jones,
So I understand that, but still, if he gave in
the chit, you think he wouldn't be throwing touchdowns at
Justin Jefferson every week. I'm pretty sure he would. Right,
he had the weapons in Indianapolis, he has a weapons
in Minnesota, I think he would have been. Okay, the
one guy we know that hasn't done it so far
has been McCarthy. And now you're gonna go play green
Bay and a green Bay defense that is hungry, that
(12:36):
is playing well, and while they're very difficult to predict
each week, this is definitively an hour up week for
green Bay. They win this game and win it big,
and all of a sudden, Minnesota looks even worse decision
making than they have in the past.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, I mean, I'd love to be a fly on
the wall of anything the Wolf Wilf family, Quasi Adopha
Mensa and Kevin o'co if they get together on a
conference call to talk about the quarterback position. I want
those tapes. Yeah, the curiosity going through even if you
were to just franchise Sam and you talk about the turnovers.
(13:12):
Right now, Seattle leads the NFL with twenty giveaways on
the year. But if you got halfway decent quarterback, you
don't have to be good. I mean, this is a
six and a half point spread. There is way too
much talent on that Minnesota squad and the Packers offense
has been two hit or miss for that point spread
(13:32):
to be that big. That shows the level of lack
of respect, disrespect for what you're getting out of JJ
McCarthy right now. It's only a matter of time before
all those high priced, high powered offensive weapons start to
chirp a little bit between Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Hockinson,
go on down the line, because right now they're just
(13:56):
muttering and muddling through what is a miserable experience because
we see the misses, right we watched it, and I
don't want to pick on Geno, I don't want to
pick on the early part of Davis Mills from yesterday.
I mean, you're missing guys by five yards. That's what
we're seeing with McCarthy with some regularity here. And you
didn't know what he would be after missing a year
(14:19):
of action because of the injury. So the fact that
you didn't have yourself protected there, Yeah, you tried to
get by with wentz a little bit, but that you
had those guys leave your locker room and still putting
up numbers, still getting stuff done. As you say, with
Daniel Jones, you had no idea it would work quite
so well. But O'Connell, the stiking. We've been waiting Stikeen's
(14:42):
been waiting on a quarterback for a decade. Isn't that
how long it was since the captain Andrew Luck rode
into the night? Seems like it at this point right
it's several years and several failed veteran quarterbacks and an
Anthony Richardson later that we're sitting here. But yeah, this
is one with the Packers defensive feast, you'll have some
more Emmanuel Wilson alongside, waiting on the last iteration of
(15:07):
and acknowledgment of what Josh Jacobs is doing for the week.
But all of that, you've got a big spot here
divisional game that they need. Jordan Love hasn't been great,
won't need to be On Sunday.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Speaking of belief. A big night finally, you can say
on the court for the Dallas Mavericks, they got to
see eighteen year old Cooper flag go for a career
high twenty nine points in their win over New Orleans.
We have big NBA stuff to get to. With a
guy joining us now in the hot line, nobody better
(15:52):
to chop it up with longtime NBA insider friend of
the show Mark Stein. He is on Twitter at the steinline.
That is at the Stein line, Mark, congrats. I guess
everybody can take a breath for a night in Dallas
after Cooper flag Man.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
This better be important because I'm not even I thought
I was going to get home in time before you
guys rang ran into some unexpected Friday night traffic. So
I'm like less than a minute away from getting home.
You guys knock some good music off the radio. This
better be pressing, pressing stuff to get into. I'm just
(16:29):
telling you.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
A Friday night or way.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
I'm being honest. I'm vietnamed. Look today it was a
really I'm just I'm just playing. It was a very
interesting show because the MAVs and the Pels are both
teams mired in the mess that is the bottom of
the West. And to see both Cooper Flag and Derek
Queen put on a show, and honestly, Fears was great too.
(16:59):
All the rookies were really good tonight. But I have
to say in both cases, like Cooper Flag, you know,
all the talk coming into the season was Cooper Flag
is so fortunate. We never see a rookie, We never
see a number one overall pick go to a situation
(17:21):
like this where he's got veterans and he's got a
team that's ready to win. What an advantageous situation this
is going to be for Cooper Flag. And the truth is, obviously,
as you guys know, it has been very rocky in Dallas.
The Mavericks lead the league in clutch games. This was
only the fourth they've won out of thirteen already. It
has been far from advantageous. But the thing I love
(17:43):
about Cooper Flag is he just keeps playing. He's had
a bad shoulder, he's had a bad thumb, his team
has already fired. It's GM, He's already up to three
GMS in his career because the MAVs currently have co
interim GMS, and the guy just keeps playing. And same
with Derek Queen, who's you know? We focus on him
(18:04):
for all kinds of reasons that are beyond backtball, because
of the trade in which New Orleans got him, and
they both were sensational tonight.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Honestly, how's that co GM thing working? I mean, doesn't
Finley get a little bit of extra juice for having
to take the beer away from Luca?
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Oh? Come on, please tell me you're not you clearly
you clearly don't read me. After I after I it
was within the last week or two I wrote a
long thing explaining what actually happened there. Did you know?
Did you know that the beer was actually returned to
Luka Dantics once they were out of public view, once
(18:43):
they were back in. It was a complete It was
just it was not really a story. But that video
lives on and look at you guys still focused on
it after.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
All that story.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
I do love that story.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Loves that story, Mark, he loves.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
It well in look did pictures worth a billion words?
Speaker 5 (19:03):
My car? I thought Mike Carmon was an avid reader
of the sideline, but was just exposed as as that
is not the case.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Not not as in depthly in tune as I should be.
So I should be flogged publicly for it.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
He had to watch, he had to watch the Bulls
not show up on an NBA Cup night.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
I'm really disappointed about that, having a tough night, right,
that's sure.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Well, I would also say that's one of the few
times the Bulls have let you down this season, because
they've they've been a great surprise. I mean, how about
how about my guy Vooch with the game winner the
other night. So look, can't win them all. You're gonna
survive if they don't go on a long Cup run.
I promise, I promise he'll he'll rebound.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
All right, now, you mentioned the Bulls, and tonight Oklahoma
City beat Utah. They were losing this game in the
third quarter eighty four eighty one, and they won one
forty four to one twelve. They have one loss on
the season. Can they break the Bulls record of seventy
two wins? Can they? I mean, this Oklahoma City team
(20:06):
looks like nobody can even can even on a nightly
basis mark they can't even get close to them.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Well, first of all, I should point out that the
Warriors have already broken that record with seven wells, So
I met the Warriors.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
So I was bulls with harm You just wanted to
make fun of me.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Yeah, well I did because I got harmon on the brain.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Secondly, they can. It really is going to be up
to them as long as health cooperates. I mean that
is the thing is like, I think we've talked about
this before, but it's just, you know, Houston and Denver
have both gotten off to tremendous starts, and the Lakers,
to be honest, have gotten off to a great start
(20:45):
when you consider that they just got Lebron James back
and they had to survive fifteen games without him. But
you can talk about anyone you want in the West
and they've all got the same problem. The Oklahoma City
Thunder should be unbeaten. They should be undefeated at this point.
The game they lost, they out resounded and outshot Portland,
(21:08):
And this stat is not completely up to date, but
at the time it was furnished to me, the Thunder
had won. They were like sixty four and one in
the previous sixty five games that they did out shooting,
out rebound the opponent. So it's like that even the
loss was a freak loss. We haven't seen Janeln Williams. Yet,
I mean, it really is just a matter of do
(21:28):
I think they're going to do it? Do I think
they're going to go for it? No, I don't anticipate
that because we know the Thunder always operate with extreme
caution and you know, as methodically as possible in everything
they do. But can they do it? Do they have
the team to do it? Do they have the depth
to do it? Yeah? They do.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And then we get the fun story out here in
Los Angeles with the Bus siblings dismissed from their jobs
as the Walter group fully takes over more the Dodgers
executives being involved day to day. But it just seemed
like this is the next push in the evolution of
the business. And congratulations on a job done from the
(22:12):
Boss family.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Well coming. Look, when you take the totality of the ownership,
I mean, the family has you know, been one of
the most successful in sports history. Obviously, over the last
ten years we have seen various headlines that have revealed
some contentious stuff behind the scenes. And obviously, you guys
are in southern California, You're not far from Hollywood as
(22:38):
you're speaking to me. You guys love drama out there.
We all know it. But you know, is this more
than you know a day or two story. I mean, again,
they traded for Luka Doncic, which you know I was.
I was talking to someone today in the league and
(22:58):
it's just like it almost ten months now, December December
second will be ten Yeah that right, eight yeah, ten months.
Ten December second is basically December one. December second is
ten months. And even next week, you know, next week
the Mavericks play the Lakers for the first time in
(23:19):
the regular season. Another NBA Cup game, Mavericks at Lakers
next Friday, and that's basically right around the two year
anniversary mark of the Mavericks sale to Patrick Dumont. So
it's like I'm again Luca. You know, the Lakers are
off to this great start, Luca is in the heart
of the MVP conversation, and we've had ten months to
(23:40):
get used to this thing and I still can't get
used to it. So like, yeah, like again, this was
this was a big story for a day or two,
but I would say, you know, the Lakers, they've acquired
Luka Doncic. That's the hardest thing to do in the
NBA is to get the unquestioned franchise player. You know,
(24:03):
Luka Dancic is whatever you any way you want to
analyze it. He is one of the best four players
in the world at all times. They have that. Now,
are the Lakers, who've never had trouble attracting talent, going
to gradually put the right team around him as they
gain flexibility? I would say, yes, that is what I
(24:26):
expect to happen. But the hardest part they did the
hardest part on February second.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Well, maybe the second hardest part Mark Stein with us
here Fox Sports Radio is Lebron James's return, and it
went as well as you could possibly expect. Facilitator Lebron
James coach on the court. That was exactly what I
think people were hoping to see. Can this Lebron James continue?
Can he continue being this hey, I'm okay being the
(24:54):
maybe the third option at times behind Luca and Austin
Rees are eventually Lebron's going to get back being the
alpha because I think if if this Lebron can stay boy,
all of a sudden, those Lakers titles odds are going
way up. If this is Lebron, we get that can
affect the game so many ways.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
Yeah, Look, I think when Lebron was out, he was
excited by what he saw. He saw Austin Reeves go
to another level and the Luca Austin Reeves backcourt. For
any issues you want to raise. Defensively, they have such
a high offensive ceiling. I think he's excited. And you know,
the Lakers are at the forefront of what I said
a few minutes ago. They have a good thing going.
(25:33):
If Lebron can come back and more importantly stay back,
he's you know, they need him. That was the concern
because obviously this is year twenty three, he's nearing his
forty first birthday. Can he stay back? I have no
doubt he can play like that. I mean, he's still
such a good player. The question, you know, the questions
will be can they can he? Will he stay back?
(25:53):
Can he avoid setbacks with the sciatica? But not just that.
It's like their problem is, okay, see if the Lakers
hit their ceiling, can they play with the thunder? And
it's and again it's not just the Lakers asking that question,
it's everybody. I mean, the Nuggets and the Rockets have
both been sensation. We look at the Rockets We don't
(26:14):
talk enough about the Rockets, who lost Fred van Vliet
in September at a team mini camp, and they've had
the number one offense in the league without him, without
a recognized point guard. So I mean, Houston and Denver
have done everything you could have asked them to do
in the first twenty percent of the season to establish
themselves as contenders. And now the Lakers are getting Lebron back,
(26:36):
and you know what, everybody's looking up at the thunder
and that's that's the painful reality that all these teams
are facing.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
And we talked a little bit. You got Luca, we
hit on.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Okay, see a bit sandwiched in the middle there of
offensive leaders. Tyrese Maxie at thirty three to four a game,
a full seven points better than a year ago and
far beyond previous best. And how good is has he gotten?
Is this a short term front of the schedule mark
he's got to run?
Speaker 5 (27:08):
This is his team now, I mean they the sixers.
I mean, that's the thing in the West. Some surprise
teams are on the limited side. You know, Phoenix has
been a great surprise and they were again tonight with
the way they beat Minnesota. But in the East, we've
really had, you know, Detroit, Toronto your bulls, but Philly's
(27:28):
up there too with Embiad's limited availability and just getting
Paul George back, I mean, Tyrese Maxi has been sensational,
but it also just you know, the MVP race is
so tough to crack and as you guys know, we
have not had an American born MVP since James Harden
(27:49):
all the way back in twenty eighteen. But as I said,
the four, if you ask league wide, who are the
four best players in the league, you will get the
same answer from their front offices, in whatever order you
want to say. Jokic, Doncic, Antetokumpo, Gil just Alexander, those
are the four best players in the league. We haven't
(28:10):
even mentioned Wemby yet. Who is emerging so Maxie and
Caid Cunningham, who've both been absolutely sensational, and Aid Cunningham
another player and another team that we're not talking about enough.
But just how challenging it is for the for Maxi,
for Cunningham to burst into a conversation with when you know,
(28:32):
four of the top five spots.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Are those guys, and.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
There's you know, there's a lot of you know. The
injury story is a massive one. Obviously, what happens with
the gambling stuff is a massive one. But individual talent
is not something the NBA is lacking. In twenty twenty five,
twenty six.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
He's on Twitter at the steinline. That is at the steinline.
Notice how smooth like Luca on a fan let break,
Mark Stein segued from his car into his house to
finish the interview with us. Mark is always.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
Actually, I'm actually, I'm actually in my driveway. I haven't
even gone into the house yet.
Speaker 3 (29:10):
I'm twah, when will these guys shut up?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
No, as always, thanks for staying up late.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
A fault, I miss I miss tigned it all my fault.
See you guys next time.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I appreciate thanks. We'll talk to you next week. Take
it easy, Mark, There goes Mark Steinde. I mean, I mean, look,
the Tyre Smaxi thing is so much fun because we
saw you and I talked about this the end of
last year. They're Tyres Maaxy driven and Joel Embiid needs
to become the one A to the one we kind
of forgot about. Option B, which is j Edgecombe comes
(29:45):
in is really good and Joel Embiid doesn't play.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Yeah, draft somebody and bring it.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Yeah, we forgot that Joel Embiid doesn't play. Part of it.
That could be he plays twenty minutes or doesn't play
at all. That's how they figure out. Joel Embiid's roll.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Six games playing twenty three and it's per at about
twenty points. Remember he famlessly said, if I'm going to
do twenty minutes a night, what am I even doing.
You've gotten almost seventeen a game out of grimes off
the bench. Thus far Oubre has been good for them
edge Combe, as you said, averaging about sixteen per and
they've got six guys averaging fifteen or more points a night.
(30:19):
But Max, he's uh, just the kickup and watching his
evolution these last couple of years. Fifty five games played
last year and what he's done through the first fifteen
just incredible operational efficiency at its best.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
The Jason Smith Show with My best friend Mike Harmon's
I mean, unless you're a Bulls fan, because you lost
by fifty.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
The Balls well, hey, it only counts as one. I mean,
it hurts you in the cup standings. I know that
that's a that's a killer.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Well that's what they did. Hey, teams, run it up, man,
you got you gotta get that margin of victory up.
It's an NBA Cup night. It is not for the
feint of art Friday nights.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
And as much as you know, I'm excited about some
of the strides, they're.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Still an eight and seventeen.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
It's not like they're running away and hiding with anything here.
So you know, temper and expectations that have the other
feel good story in the city with the with the Bears,
so you know, things running concurrently. And now the Blackhawks
released those sweet alternate black sweaters that sold out immediately.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
There's a lot of good going on there.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Yeah. No, hey, hey, you're happy. Man, you are safely
in the playing round right now.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Eah, you're there now. Football Friday continues on here through
the rest of the show. And I gotta say I
laughed out loud when I saw this story and heard
this star say this today. So ahead of the Colts
Chiefs game on somewhere the biggest games in the NFL.
We'll give you our picks for that coming up in
(31:57):
a couple of minutes. Travis address the big R word
when it comes to retirement. He said he's going to
wait until after this year to make a decision. On
twenty twenty six, here he is. Take a listen of
Travis Kelcey explaining his decision. But the best part is
(32:17):
at the end when he's asked about, hey, do you
want a retirement tour?
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Take a listen, you know, seeing my brother go through
it and seeing I don't know just how the league works,
you know, the season kind of restarts in April, and
I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity to
you know, whether I come back or not, and vice versa,
like whether they want me back or not. It's one
of those things where I'd like to make that decision
before they got to get draft picks and the free
(32:46):
agency open, so that gives them an opportunity to go
out there and fill the roster appropriately. So all that
will be at the end of the season. I won't
be thinking about it until then. On that note, could
you rather, you know, like go out because some guys
want to you like a Kobe tour. Right, I love Kobe, Man,
I love Kobe, I love I love everything about him. Man,
(33:08):
But that's not me. I'd like to take it day
by day, year by year and just evaluated like that.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Yeah, that was the part I laughed out loud about.
Oh that's not me. So let's see Catching Kelsey his
own show, his own reality show.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
On E Yeah that's years ago.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Yeah, I look, and I love Travis Kelcey. Right, Like
I said, I love Kebe. I love Travis Kelcey. We
knew at the Super Bowl about seven years ago we
met him. He's going to be a big media star.
He was fun, he liked chopping it up, he told
great stories. We knew he was going to be the next,
the next coming, and that was right before Catching Kelsey started, right.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
So he was there to promote that being in the offing.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
But he's a retirement tour. I'm not that guy. Catching
Kelsey hosting Saturday Night Live, executive producing and acting in
TV movies, the New Heights podcast, which he makes news
on every week, and every commercial possible on television, including
Dix McDonald's, Nike, Papa John's, bud Light, Old Spice, Walgreens,
(34:14):
Pfizer Direct TV Experience Low's Campbell Soup. No, you absolutely
are that guy Travis Kelson and that little relationships.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Oh, by the way, the tiny little bit of the
whole Taylor Swift thing. You are absolutely that guy. Now,
I don't want to say that he went for Taylor
Swift because she's famous. That's why I wanted to, you know,
carpetalize this here a bit. But he is daddy the
most popular woman in the world, and he loves the
attention and he seeks it out. Dude, you are absolutely
(34:46):
that guy that wants to I don't know if maybe
he was just saying, Okay, I really do want a
farewell retirement tour. But I don't want to say I
want it because it sounds that sounds really bad. I
sound really elitist and full of myself if I say that.
So I'm gonna say, no, I don't want that. That's dude.
Speaker 8 (35:01):
Look at your career, Look at the last seven eight
years of your life. That's absolutely that's you, up and down.
That's you every single day of the week. Man, come
on with I'm not that guy.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
No.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
The best of that is that it now becomes the
bidding war between all of those sponsors and partners that
he has to Who wants to pony up the money
to sponsor said retirement farewell tour? Who comes up with
the best, best chotchkes and everything else. Look, and part
of this is obviously there's still very much alive, as
(35:33):
much as they've struggled. We talked about it, five losses
by a total of twenty two points the AFC. It's
the YouTube video at Jason Smith's show that went up yesterday,
just talking about in the AFC, who do you trust,
who do you believe in? Who scares you? And the
answer is nobody. Spoiler, But great discussion as we went
(35:55):
through it. But you know, for those with us here
on a Friday into Saturday morning, like the Chiefs, until
they're officially declared dead, it's like, hey, can we reboot
this series, this franchise for an eighth installment?
Speaker 4 (36:11):
Yeah, all right, it's not dead. It made enough money
we were in the black on it. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
That's where Kelsey and the Chiefs are at this moment
heading into this weekend's game.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
I mean, I mean, come on, man, I'm not that guy.
I've not that guy. No, you are every bit that guy.
You are every bit that year.
Speaker 4 (36:27):
I want to see Jason's response to that on camera.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
No, that's my brother. He doesn't he want anything about
the fame. As we talk here on a podcast, we
get paid thirty million dollars a year to do right now,
he's not about that. He's not about that life Now
you would think for this game Colts and the Chiefs. Oh, Jason, Ah,
you know you hate the Chiefs. Nah, I've just been
your Kansas City Chiefs whisper all year long. I told
you this is exactly what they're going to be. It's
(36:52):
stock up Mahomes. Stock down on the Chiefs. Why Mahomes
with the good enough weapons around him, and after the
last two years of being a game manager, he's gonna
have a big year. And he is right top of
the MVP race again number two fantasy quarterback depending on
how your stats go in your league. He's been that good.
(37:12):
But stock down on the Chiefs because, yeah, they're getting
older and they're getting surpassed by the younger, more athletic,
deeper teams. Right, that's what's going on with the Chiefs.
And here they are at five and five, right exactly
where I said they were they were going to struggle
to make the playoffs because other younger teams are improving
and they're better than they are now. The thing is
(37:34):
this week, I like the Chiefs. It's a big game
for them. They simply are the more desperate team, and
for a team with a championship pedigree of the Chiefs,
when they know they're desperate. Kelsey even talked about it
earlier this week on his podcast. Hey, we got to
put everything aside and put ourselfish just aside. We got
to come out and win. They are the more desperate team.
(37:55):
It's been a great run for the Colts, and the
Colts are terrific, but at five and they know they
maybe can afford one more loss, maybe two the rest
of the way. When you're a five hundred team, you're
saying only two more loss rest away. That's a big thing.
They are the more desperate team. They are playing at home.
There'll be a lot of points. I like the over,
but this is one of those games where the Chiefs
(38:17):
find a way to win. You know, maybe extra roughing,
the passer penalty home.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
Look what you did.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
They find a way to win. A Butker field goal
of Mahomes drive at the end. Again, tons of points.
I love the points, but the fact that Daniel Jones
is dinged up a little bit. You don't know what
his status is. A midweek practice injury likely has him
on the injured list for a little bit for this weekend.
I expect him to play, but you never know how
healthy he is. This is a game the Chiefs pull
out and they win to get to six and five,
(38:44):
and now Monday, everybody's gonna say, oh, there they are.
They beat the team of the best record of the AFC.
The Chiefs are back to Now the Chiefs will simply
be six and five and still struggling for the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Chiefs a three point favorite, fifty as you're over under
right now. And we did see it last night and
it trickled into the morning. Remember when Adrian Hill, the
NFL referee, left Thursday night football with the injury.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
And the non contact injury.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Yeah, alright, well he avoided a major injury. But I
saw him attributed Chief Star avoids major injury was trending
out the interwebs. Yeah, no, certainly there. But you know
the point that Jones is dealing with an injury, it's
(39:27):
a big deal. Coming out of a bye week, look,
I expect with the new insertions on defense, an extra
week and a half of meetings, that the Colts defense
will be gamed. They had some issues in the secondary
addressed at the deadline and everything, but this is one
to the desperation mode that comes into play now, Rashie
(39:49):
Rice another week, keep waiting for heroics. They haven't really
seen it except for those first two weeks. That's normalized
a bit. The run game remains sporadic, whether it's a
check go or Kareem Hunt or Briushard Smith. You're not
seeing continuity there in the offensive line. We highlighted some
of the stats a little bit earlier in the show
(40:10):
to where you're talking about the fourth most pressures in
the NFL, number one, far and away obviously justin Herbert,
but for Patrick Mahomes, there's not a whole lot of
set your feet and deliver the ball, go figure. That's
exactly what we were talking about with Josh Allen a
bunch last night, right that you're not getting that extra
beat to look down field and set up and work
(40:32):
on timing and that'll.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Be key here.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
But looking for that Chiefs defense no slouch themselves to
handle the Indie high powered offense and get a much
needed win at home.
Speaker 4 (40:44):
Nothing else.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
It's an extra storyline for the back end. Folks can
get excitable as you say and say, hey they're back. No,
it's a win, one of many they'll need to string
up if they want to play meaningful football in January
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Jason Smith
Mike Harmon
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