Richard Sherman breaks down a wild Week 16 across the NFL — from the Chicago Bears’ comeback win over the Green Bay Packers to the Cleveland Browns pushing the Buffalo Bills to the brink. Sherm dives deep into Steelers-Lions, Jaguars-Broncos, Eagles-Commanders, the chaotic NFC South with Panthers-Buccaneers, and the AFC playoff race featuring the Chargers, Broncos, and more. Tap in as Richard gives his unfiltered analysis, big-moment breakdowns, and what these results mean for the playoff picture heading into Week 17.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, everybody, I appreciate you joining us as always. You
guys are phenomenal. You're the best in the world. You're
watching the Richard Sherman Podcast. But if you could do
me a huge favor and hit that sub button, it
would be greatly appreciated. You would do a service for
your boys. Sherm. And I'll tell you what. I got
you back, You got my back, all love. Welcome back
(00:27):
to the Richard Sherman Podcast. And we had some incredible
action in Week sixteen. Some Saturday games between the Bears
and the Packers and the Commanders in the Eagles. I
thought those games could win either way. The Bears game especially,
I thought they had a chance to beat the Packers
the last time they played. Keishawn Nixon made an incredible
play to end that game and give the Packers to win.
(00:49):
Last time these two teams played, but this time Rose
were reversed.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Mitchell, no question about it, Richard, this was a wild one.
I mean, the NFL's gotta love these last couple games.
You witnessed a thriller in Seattle on Thursday night, and
then Saturday night turn around the Chicago Bears with an
epic comeback. Was so much on the line, Richard, I mean,
this NFC North Division is up for grabs. The Chicago
(01:15):
Bears seem to want it the most. And what happened
to the Packers though up sixteen to six with three
minutes left in this game, Bears kick a field goal,
go on to recover an on side kick, and then
ultimately score a touchdown down the stretch to four to sot.
Caleb Williams did not have much success until the final
(01:36):
I guess half of the fourth quarter in the overtime.
What switched for the Chicago Bears And how impressive of
a win is this for this organization.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
It's really impressive. And I couldn't tell you what switched.
I mean, things just start working out for him. Sometimes
you just get momentum and it jumps on somebody side
and it never leaves. And it jumped on the Chicago
Bears sideline. And when momentums with few, everything that could
go right starts to go right. I mean, there have
been very few on side kicks recovered in the NFL
(02:07):
this season, and that was one of them in a
very critical moment. Obviously all of them are kicked their
critical moments, but when the Bears got that. I mean
there was I think a little bit over a minute
to go in the game. Then you knew they had
great field position, they had time, and they had a chance.
And you got to give Kayleb Williams a lot of
credit right now. Now he keeps doing this cold celebration,
(02:28):
but he was ice cold right there. The player to
win the game, the touchdown to DJ Moore, that was
ice cold, ice senior veins delivered a dime over the
outstretched arms of my guy in friend of the program,
Keyshawn Nixon. And it wasn't bad coverage. It was great coverage,
better offense, and you got to give Dj more credit
(02:51):
for catching that football. But this Chicago Bears team is real.
It seems that they're a legitimate contender this season. And
I know every week we're kind of waiting for them
to come back to earth and and and go back
to the same old Bears, but they haven't been. And
on the flip side for the for the Green Bay Packers,
it leaves a lot of questions. Their defense played well
(03:13):
majority of this game. You talked about it in the
in the fourth quarter, with with about eight minutes to go,
they were up double digits in this game, and the
defense was playing really well. They obviously gave up plays
down the stretch and in overtime, but you gotta you
gotta give them credit for keeping them in this game.
And you gotta give La Floor credit for for coming
(03:33):
up with a game plan after a starting quarterback Jordan
Love gets injured. Elik Willis played well nine for eleven
for touchdown, was also doing it with his legs. Had
forty four yards on the ground. The combination of E. J.
Wilson and uh And and Josh Jacobs was really effective,
but there was a there was a huge Josh Jacobs
(03:53):
fumbling there by No Sean Wright, who's having a who's
having an incredible season, a guy who nobody expected a
ton from this season is playing really well. A lot
of intercessions. I think he's leading the league in forced
turnovers this season. So yes, the Chicago Bears. And again
on a defensive side, I gotta look at Al Harris.
(04:16):
Al Harris has had a huge impact on this defense,
a huge impact on this secondary. Who's continuing to make plays,
the huge reason that this team is eleven and.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Four, no question about it. And when they signed or
where they hired Ben Johnson. I mean, you thought the
Chicago Bears were going to be a better team, but
eleven and four, I don't know if anyone saw this coming.
Taking care of this division right now, Richard, Let's talk
about the Philadelphia Eagles. They go on the road against
the Washington Commanders, and this was a game that I
would assume most thought Philly was gonna walk away with
(04:48):
and they ultimately did, but didn't come without a fight.
And this Washington Commander team, you know, brought it to
him specifically in that first half until Philly finally pulled away.
Philly just hasn't looked like themselves over last month. Let's
be real here. You know, they suffered some losses and
then they play at the opponent like the Washington Commanders
and don't look themselves again. Do you view Philly as
(05:10):
a threat in this NFC.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
You gotta view them as a threat because they're the
defending Super Bowl champions, So I think you have to
always give them that respect. They have championship pedigree and
and and that'll show in the playoffs. The playoffs are
a whole different beasts. We've seen this with the Kansasee Chiefs.
Every season pretty much. Hey, they could, they could kind
of cruise their way into the into the playoffs and
then flip the switch and they're playing outstanding football when
(05:40):
it counts the most. And so I expect the same
thing for the For the Philadelphia Eagles, obviously, this was
a game they should win against the division opponent, and
in regardless of record, division games are going to be
a dogfight, and that's what it was for the most
part in this game. And then eventually the Eagles pull away.
Sakuon Barkley with one of the best games of the
(06:00):
season twenty one carries one hundred and thirty two yards
in touchdown, AJ Brown nine for ninety five and the
defense got got a turnover and got to the quarterback
a few times. And so you if you're an Eagles
fin you feel good. But you got a tough game
against the Buffalo Bills, who haven't played as well this season.
But they're eleven and four and at the end of
(06:21):
the day, we all that matters is getting yourself into
the tournament. They pretty much secured that spot and I'm
looking forward Toddy playing mind genuine no question about it.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
They've secured the NFC NFC East now with this loss
by the Dallas Cowboys today and the Eagles, they're gonna
have a test going forward. They're playing against the Bills
next week, so let's see if they can you know,
string a couple of wins here and go into the postseason.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
On a high note.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
One thing I will mention is that the combination of
AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts seems to be clicking. Despite
these you know, this last month where that they haven't
been winning as many games. AJ Brown has been a
lot more concerned. And if they can keep that going,
and we see this rushing tack continue to get better
with Saquan, maybe Philly does have some life left in him.
(07:08):
We shall see.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Richard.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Let's let's move down the line here the NFC South.
This this division has been an absolute dog fight, and
I don't know which team really truly wants to win.
It doesn't look like Tampa does the Carolina Panthers take
care of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before we get into
the Carolina's success and you know they're you know, closing
(07:31):
in on this division. We got to talk about Baker Mayfield.
He frankly has not looked like himself for these last
eight games. What in the world is going on with Baker?
We saw an errant throw to end this game that
looks like the receiver and him or not in lockstep together.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What is going on with Baker Mayfield? I wish I
could explain to you what's going on. I think maybe
we'll get an answer at the end of the season
and in their post game or something. Excuse me, I
think he's been injured. But even if you're injured, to
make some of the decisions that he's made, I just
(08:11):
don't get it. And like you said, nobody wants to
win this division every year. I feel like where we
get to the point that we're like, who's gonna win
the NFC South, and it's like more like who really,
who's gonna lose it? And it seems like everybody loses
the NFC South. And this year looks like, for the
first time in five seasons, it looks like the Buccaneers
(08:34):
are gonna lose the NFC South. And I'm not sure
how confident this Panthers team is gonna be in the
playoffs if they have to play the Rams or the
Seahawks or the San Francisco forty nine ers. But they
beat the Rams, So I don't know. I really don't
(08:54):
know how it's gonna turn out. It's just a weird,
weird division every single season where it never looks it's like, hey,
they you feel like they're a dominant team in the NFL,
but at some point they find a way to win
a playoff game, wild card game. But I mean, good,
congratulations to the Carolina Panthers winning this game and and
moving on. They obviously have to play a game in
(09:17):
the next I think the next few weeks, but well,
we'll see. I just I'm not feeling great about the
NFC South honestly.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Well, the Panthers get to take on your Seattle Seahawks
next week. Let's see if they can, you know, keep
things going here. But Richard, we got to look at
Bryce Young a little bit. This guy has been criticized,
you know, the last couple of years in this league,
but he looks like he's found his footing and he's
led this Carolina resurgence this year, if you want to
call it that. Three years later, are you looking back
(09:48):
and saying, yeah, Bryce Young should have been the number
one pick.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
I don't know. I don't know, because it seems like
every year, the answer is different. You got to give
him credit for how he played like late down the
stretch last year, last season, and how he's playing this season.
Dave Canalis has done a phenomenal job with him in
this team. I mean, surrounding him with more talent, giving
him Tetarol McMillan, and how productive he's been here at
six caps for seventy three yards in this game. They've
(10:16):
also given him a rush attech with Chubba Hubbard and
Enrico Daldell. So they've done a great job of supporting
him in the way you need to support a young
quarterback to allow them to have this kind of success.
And if this season ends up with them winning the
NFC South and getting to the playoffs, you definitely consider
that a huge success. But you got to remember he
(10:37):
was in the same draft classes CJ. Stroud and it
looks like they'll be in the playoffs this year and
he'll he's playing well as well, so I think that's
still I think both teams would still say they're happy
with the decision they made.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
I'm kind of leading in that way as well, Richard.
Before we leave this game, we got to talk if
you're in the competition, Commit Richard, at what point do
you really consider making a change to the playoff structure,
Because the reality is somebody out of the NFC West,
whether it's the Rams, the Seahawks, or the Niners, is
going to be going on the road to play these
(11:13):
Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the wild card round.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Is it time?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Is it reached the point where it is truly time
for a change in the way that at the playoffs
is seated.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I mean, I would have thought it was a long
time ago when the Seattle Seahawks beat the New Orleans Saints,
and I think that was eleven or twelve win New
Orleans Saints team coming to Seattle to play a seven
and nine Seattle Seahawks team, and that's when they had
to be beast quaking in that chaotic game where the
Seattle Seahawks found a way to win. So I don't
know if that proves hey, the division champs and they
(11:48):
earned it and this is why you do do it
this way, or it proved hey, you handicapped a team
that won as many games as they possibly could and
just played in a tough division that year and it
cost them in the playoffs, it cost him a chance
to advance. But I don't think they're gonna change it.
The NFL gets stuck in their ways and they say, hey,
(12:08):
you wanna, you wanna, you wanna a home playoff game,
win your your division, no matter how tough it is.
So I think they'll continue to go with that narrative.
And you know, I don't know if it's right or
if it's wrong, but it's the way it's been. And
if you're a championship team, you'll find a way and
win on the rope.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I for one thing, it is time for a change.
We've seen it over the last couple of seasons, and
no question about it, that Seattle Seahawks one a half
full of years ago was a wild one.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
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Speaker 2 (13:40):
Today, we got to talk about these Buffalo Bills. They
barely hold off the Cleveland Browns thanks to Shadora Sanders
getting sacked multiple times down the stretch.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
The Bills.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know, I know these Cleveland Browns have a good defense.
I know Miles Garrett is on pace to break the
sack record. I get it. But the reality is these
Cleveland Browns are three and twelve. The Bills squeaked out
a three point win at what point? Because this AFC
is so wildly up for grabs, and we've never seen
this in the last ten fifteen years. It's been Tom Brady,
(14:15):
it's been Patrick Mahomes, et cetera. If there is a
window for this Buffalo Bills team to make a run
in the AFC, it's this year with no Patrick Mahomes. Richard,
how nervous are you for the Buffalo Bills, because frankly,
they just do not look good right now.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Yeah, I'm really nervous for him because despite their record,
and usually you're saying this about teams like the New
England Patriots, teams that you didn't expect to have such
a great record, even the Denver Broncos. You could make
that argument where you didn't necessarily feel great about this
team coming into the season, so it's surprising that they're
(14:53):
doing so well. You're not really surprised by Buffalo's record,
but sure, if you really take a detailed look at
it and set your expectations of what you thought they
would be this year versus what they've actually done, I'm
sure there are Buffalo Bills fans if they're being honest
with themselves that are a little nervous going into this
playoffs because sure they can make a deep running You
(15:13):
can make an argument that they'll be in a super
Bowl this year, but you can also make an argument
that you would not be surprised if they went home
in the first round and went home in a wildcard.
And when you have that kind of team and you
have an MVP candidate, that quarterback, that makes you nervous.
When you have the number thirtieth ranked rush defense, that
makes you nervous going against teams that a lot of
(15:34):
these teams in AFC can run the ball, and they
can run it effectively. And that's the kind of things.
Those are the kind of things that decimate you in
a playoff, in a playoff game, and they hurt you
because you're gonna be depending on Josh Allen, who was
a little banged up in this game. And I know
they said they X rayed his foot, but on the
play where he got sacked in the end zone or
(15:57):
right in front of the end zone, whatever it was
in safety, it looked like he grabbed his handstring And
and so when when people say the X ray's foot,
I think I think there was a little gamesmanship with that,
but you you hope he's healthy going into the playoffs
because they're so dependent on him that if he's not
one hundred percent, they don't have a chance at all.
(16:19):
And their defense did make some plays today. They tipped
up some passes, intercepted Shador Sanders multiple times, gave their
offense the ball in favorable positions multiple times. But that's
what's even more concerning. You're going against a three win
Browns team. You get your your your three sacks, you
get multiple interceptions, and you still barely win the game.
(16:43):
You still struggle to win the game. And that's where
that's where we're gonna be concerned going into the playoffs,
depending on the matchup they get. If the New England
Patriots somehow win this division and they get home field
avenge and the Buffalo Bills have to go to, say,
I don't know, the huge Houston to play the Texans.
If they can pull off the win a division, the
(17:05):
division win in AFC South, Oh, you got to go
to Jacksonville, who who hasn't hasn't been playing the best
football necessarily always offensive, but they've been in the last
few weeks, they've been playing a lot more consistent. Their
defense is still turning the ball over at a high level.
So there are a lot of ways you could you
could feel like, hey, if even if Buffalo is eleven
(17:28):
and four are twelve and four are twelve and five,
they could go in the playoffs and lose in the
first round. And what does that do for McDermott, What
that does that do to this team? What does that
do to the future of the Buffalo Bills. Those are
the questions they're going to have to answer. It in
a game like this again, they sit keon Coleman, make
him a healthy scratch and you only you only muster
(17:50):
one hundred and thirty yards through the air. Those are
those are things that Hey, if you lose this game,
you question McDermott. Those are big questions you have to answer.
And even now with the win, you question, hey, was
that the right decision? Like what's going on here? This
is you don't have a talented enough receiving corps to
(18:13):
sit a guy like this, Not saying he's the best
receiver and he's a world beater, but you don't have
a lot better right now, and you need to play him.
And if you're not playing him because of disciplinary reasons,
then they're gonna have to say that, and no question
about it.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
The one thing that Bills do have going for them
that has been as steady as as ever is James Cook.
This guy is averaging over one hundred yards a game
on the ground and he performed again today at a
high level sixteen carries, one hundred and seventeen yards and
two touchdowns. I feel like James Cook does not get
a much as much as touching as he deserves, especially
during fantasy playoffs. Right now, Richard, James Cook, whoever has
(18:51):
him on their team has got to be very very happy.
So listen, if Josh Allen happens to have an off game,
James Cook is someone that they can certainly lean on.
But like you said, a road for them in the
playoffs if they do not win this division is going
to be very very difficult because, like you said, whether
they're going on the road to Jacksonville or Houston, I
(19:12):
would never want to play in either of those environments.
With the way those teams are playing right now, both
of them are clicking on all cylinders. And I know
Buffalo has won four straight games, but we saw him
lose in devastating fashion to Miami and we just saw
him escape today.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
So they got a lot to prove as we go forward.
A team that is and you gotta like go sorry,
like you said, you got to give James Cook a
lot of credit. I mean, he statistically might be the
best running back in the National Football League and making
that impact weekend and week out. But even in a
game where he has incredible production sixteen from one to
seventeen and two touchdowns, they barely win.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Exactly, imagine a game without him because that would not
be pretty. Another team that is is making life diffen
cult is the LA Chargers. I mean, these Denver Broncos
have you know, relatively run away but LA is not
making it easy on them, and they go into a
hostile environment in Dallas and they take care of business.
(20:13):
Reality is, yeah, is Dallas more likely out of the playoffs? Sure,
they were not mathematically eliminated going into this game, so
they had something to play for. The Chargers doubled them
up when in thirty four to seventeen, justin Herbert a
beautiful game, three hundred your passing yards, two touchdowns, a
rushing touchdown. He got Quinton Johnson heavily involved lab McConkie
involved this LA Chargers team. Man again similar to the
(20:36):
Buffalo Bills. It looks like the AFC is gonna be open,
and the Chargers to me, look like a team that
might be able to make a charge. Here pun intended
that in that AFC, do you like this LA Chargers
team as much as I do?
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Yes, I do. And what I think you gotta give
them a tremendous amount of credit for is being able
to do this with the loss of two of your
best players. You lose Joe aut You're All World tackle.
You lose Rashaun Slater, one of your highest paid players,
one of your best players on the team. And when
(21:10):
you look usually when you lose both tackles, you call
that season a rap. It's over with no matter who
you have at quarterback, no matter how well your defense
is playing, because it's too difficult to overcome those kind
of things. And for the Chargers to be eleven and
four at this point, knowing they didn't have them for
the majority of the season, you got to be talking
(21:30):
about coach Harball the same way we're talking about Kyle Shanahan.
Overcoming the things that they did this season and still
being able to put together a team that if it
wasn't for the Denver Broncos and bone Knicks having such
an incredible season, they'd have a chance to win this division.
I mean, if you're them, you're like, of course, you
(21:51):
guys have one of your best seasons in franchise history.
When we're having a great season because it and the
Kansas City Chiefs are out of the running, you really
feel for him. But I think if this scene plays
the way they have right this, you know this game,
their defense is playing well, they're opportunistic, Quinton Johnson is
playing his best football, justin Herbert is playing consistently through
(22:13):
the air and with his legs finding lanes to get
out of there. Omrion Hampton seems like he's found this rhythm.
You never know how far they can go again. It's
wide open in the NFC, in the AFC, especially without
the without the behemoth and the cloud of the Kansas
City Chiefs just overshadowing everybody. And you know, hey, no
(22:35):
matter what, no matter what cool store you have, in
these playoffs, you just know Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid
and the Kansas City Chiefs are waiting and they're gonna
put out the fire and end up in the super Bowl.
They're not gonna be there. So it's gonna be a
fun playoffs because it's gonna be the unexpected. You're gonna
have a team that you're not expecting to be in
in the championship game, and that's gonna be fun. It's
(22:57):
gonna be good for football. And the Chargers be that team.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
They're gonna be going to the playoffs. But they got
a couple of playoff opponents that they're gonna be playing
in these next two games, the Houston Texans and the
Denver Broncos. So while I love the LA Chargers and
the way they look right now, these next two games
are really gonna determine how good they truly are. And
you gotta love those type of matchups going into the
playoffs because you would assume it's gonna sharpen this team
(23:24):
up and get them ready come playoff time.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
No question about that, no question about that. It's it's
going to be fun. It's gonna be fun down a stretch.
Can a Houston Texans continue what they've been doing? Can
can the Denver Broncos continue what they've been doing? Or
is it gonna be the Chargers showing up. I mean again,
I don't think seeding matters this year. I don't, I
really don't. I don't think it matters. I mean, obviously
the Chargers going to play somewhere cold would be it
(23:47):
would be an issue if you expect them to go
to New England and not be a different than difference
than playing in Sofi stadium. I think you're out of
your mind, but I think these teams anybody can beat anybody,
and we're going to have some obvious upsets in terms
of the seating, the way things are seated, But it
wouldn't be a surprise upset if you've watched the tape
and you see the record, and you see the way
(24:09):
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Speaker 2 (25:36):
Unfortunately, we got to go to Detroit, and I just
want to lead by saying this. I want to cry
and I need you to uplift my spirits right now.
The Detroit Lions lose a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers
at home twenty nine to twenty four, and Frankly, I'm
shocked they were even in this game late and had
a shout to win it, and unfortunately it came down
(25:56):
to another one of these these plays where the officials
had to get together and see what the heck actually happened.
But Richard, I'm gonna lead by saying this, the Detroit
Lions look broken right now. Obviously, they're battling injuries. Three
quarters of their secondaries on ir their offensive line is
in shambles. But coming into this season and having Frank
(26:20):
Reraig now announce his retirement, you know, you kind of
would have expected the Lions to have a queue of
that and know that that was coming down the pipeline
at some point, and for them to not even address
the old line. I think that's why this team looks
so different. Flat out, they can't run the football. Fifteen
rushing yards, Richard, fifteen rushing yards. You got one of
the best running back duos in the league and Jamier
(26:42):
Gibbs and David Montgomery. I didn't even see David Montgomery
for you know, three quarters of this game, and Jamier
Gibbs has only only got fifteen rushing yards. Richard. Credit
to the Pittsburgh Steelers. You know, they come into Fordfield,
they take care of business. Obviously, they got a lot
on the line with the the AFC North up for contention.
(27:03):
But my gripe is with these Detroit Lions right now.
I think they can get better going in the next season.
But Brad Holmes has got to get get it together
himself and he can't be so cute this offseason. They've
got several needs that they need to address immediately. And frankly,
it's frustrating Richard because everyone talks about these championship windows.
Do you think the championship window for the Detroit Lions
(27:24):
has closed?
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Do? I think the championship windows closed? Not necessarily, but
I know it's it's It's definitely foalgy. It's definitely foalgy
because you guys are built in such a unique way.
I think you paid aman ross a Brown, right decision.
You paid the quarterback, I think the right decision. You
have two really, really good running backs. Jamier Gibbs honestly
(27:49):
maybe one of the most talented running backs in the
National Football League. You got a talented player in Jamison
Williams that they gave the money to. But then you
flip to the other side of the ball, you got
two of the best safeties in the league, but injury issues.
I think you got a solid secondary. I think Aiden Hutchinson,
you just paid him. He's a legit cornerstone piece, but
you gotta find him a running mate. And so on
(28:10):
the offensive line, it was one of the strengths for
you guys last year, which is why you were able
to go as far as you did because you had
a great offensive line. You can run the ball, you
can control the clock, and like you said, they're gonna
have to address that, but you have so many other needs.
There's so many needs on that defense. Now you're talking
about Taylor Decker. You need a tackle, you need a center.
(28:34):
There aren't a lot of great offensive linemen out there.
That's that's always they They're just always at a premium.
So that's gonna be tough to to really for Brad Holmes,
he's got his work cut out for him, because it's
not easy to just hey, say, hey, we're gonna we're
gonna just draft a few good offensive linemen. Maybe you
get lucky, maybe you don't. But this is disappointing. This
(28:54):
is this is really disappointing for the Detroit Lions and
the fan base because they coming of last year an
incredible disappointment being put out in a divisional by the
Washington Commanders, a game that nobody expected them to lose.
They were coming in the top seed in the NFL,
in controller destiny, real high expectations. They get put out
(29:16):
in a divisional and you say, oh man, you lose
your offense coordinator, lose your defensive coordinator. There's question marks, Hey,
how are the replacements gonna do? I think it's it's
been a solid job in terms of play calling, in
the scheme on both sides of the football, But at
the end of the day, for them to be eight
(29:37):
and seven at this point in the season is incredibly
incredibly disappointed, and for them to have missed the playoffs
at this point, it's it's an indictment. It's an indictment
on the personnel decisions. It's another year of injuries happening
down the stretch, and just like the San Francisco fort
nine ers, they're gonna have to address that. They're gonna
have to get that figured out. Why are they so
(29:58):
beat up down the stretch every single year? Is it
the way they're practicing is it the way they're taking
care of their bodies that the diet. Those are things
you have to start talking about as an organization when
you have these issues that keep showing up in these moments.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
No question about it. And credit to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aaron Rodgers is very familiar in playing in ford Field,
and he looked like it his old self. Two hundred
and sixty six yards touchdown. The Lions could not get
them off the field. The Lions had three offensive plays
in the third quarter, and that's really when the Steelers
took over. And really they could have had this game
in hand a lot earlier but for the fumble by
(30:35):
Washington at the goal line there, you know, and then
they immediately forced the safety. The Steelers defensively looked really good.
Aaron Rodgers looked vinta'd Aaron Rodgers and Jalen Warren, I
mean another credit to him. Fourteen carres, one hundred and
twenty six yards, one hundred forty three yards and two touchdowns,
two hundred and thirty rushing yards on the day. They
controlled this game because of their ability to run the football.
(30:56):
And you know what, I think they got something special
in Kenneth's gain. Well, I mean, this guy's on a
couple of different teams now, but he seemed to find
a home in Pittsburgh. And I, for one, was very
impressed with their offensive play calls. How they line up
John news Smith in the backfield and they run him
on a sweep. They do a lot of a lot
of motion in the backfield to get the defense off balance. So,
you know, Pittsburgh. I know, we don't think extremely highly
(31:19):
of the AFC North this year, just with how everything's
played out, but Pittsburgh proved to me that hey, maybe
they maybe they are deserving to be this champion of
the NFC North.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Yeah. I don't want to leave this Pittsburgh Steelers game
because there's a number of things that we still have
to talk about that that controversial ending. I don't understand,
like incredible play, cool your cloth, offensive pass interference end
of game. I don't understand what the discussion was. I
don't understand what the point of of announcing that the
touchdown that there was a touchdown in the play when
(31:53):
it was after the pass interference which negated everything and
ended the game. All you have to say was past
interference on the play. Offensive passing game over, like you
don't have to say, hey, the touchdown was complete. You
could hear the confusion in the stadium with the crowd,
the crowds cheering a touchdown complete like it. It was
the most heartbreaking way to announce a penalty. I think
(32:14):
I've ever heard where you say you got the home
team or just waiting the home team fans waiting to
hear touchdown and you tell them it's touchdown, but pass
interference on the offense, Like there's no point of doing
that other than just bringing these fans as high as
you can, giving them as much and dropping them on
(32:35):
a pit of knives like that. That was one of
those insane things, however, I've ever seen. And another insane
thing happened in this game was ZK Medcalf DK Metcalf
going to the stands and what appeared to be punching
a fan. I don't think I've ever seen that, not
(32:56):
in the NFL. And I don't understand how you can
how you can do something what could get you that
riled up in a game that your team eventually wins,
Like there's team players that get frustrated and you fans
chirp back and forth cool like maybe you I'm round
(33:16):
up to the point, Hey we just lost the championship,
we just lost the Super Bowl, and I'm super emotional
and rowed up, Like I wouldn't understand you punching a
fan in the face, but I could understand the emotional
like you get emotional emotionally hijack. But for it to
be the middle of the game and you just casually
go over to to a fan, hold his hair and
(33:39):
then give him a decent shott, I don't even know
what the league is gonna do. They're gonna suspend him
and find him. I mean, I would have guessed that
the fan presses Chargers or something, but I just don't
get it. And it's sad because that storyline is gonna
overshadow the win, at least for DK Metcalf, maybe not
(33:59):
for the Witsburgh Steelers in general. But this is in
this day and age of media, in the way you know,
it's it's headlines, this, it's it's this. They don't care
about the football game. Hey, you punched a fan. That's
what will get them clicks. That conversation will be the
the one that overshadows what was a great win by
Pittsburgh Steelers, no question about it.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
And like you said, Richard, this was like early in
the game. I think this was like midway through the
second quarter or something. And do you feel like he
should have been kicked out of the game, because you know,
if you throw a punch on a player, you're out
throwing a punch on a fan. I mean, he's certainly
gonna get fined a hefty amount of money. But I'm
surprised that there wasn't more discussion about him being booted
(34:41):
from the game altogether.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Well, there's no presidents for it, and I think that's
the issue. I'm sure if the league understood and saw
it and could have, they would have that's what they do.
The rest had no idea, and I don't I don't
think they ever want to get in the world, especially
with all the gambling and all everything that's going on,
where they sit there and say, hey, player ejected from
(35:05):
the game on something that isn't necessarily written that way
in the rule book, because I don't think you ever
expected it. I don't think there's a rule in a
rule book that says, hey, player punches fan ejection like
on the ejection list. I think it's kind of assumed
and understood. But I don't know. I don't think they
(35:27):
I don't think they want to operate like that in
those moments. You know, things on the field are on
the field, things off the field are off the field.
I think that's the way they want to keep it.
But I'm sure they're gonna have a lot to say
about that one. I can't. I'm looking forward to seeing
with the league and with the Steelers and what DK
says about that. But in other news, the Pittsburgh Steelers
(35:49):
are rolling heading into the playoffs. They're one of the
hottest teams. They're playing some of their best football on
both sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers, I mean, who
wants to see him looking like vinta Jaron Rodgers in
the playoffs? Like not many teams. And if they can
just figure out these these frustration issues for DK Metcalf,
(36:12):
They're gonna be a fun team in the playoffs, no
question about it.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
They proved it, proved it to me today. But before
we leave this game, Richard, let's go back to that
final play a game. I know I've told you this before,
but there is a saying in Detroit called same old Lions,
and I thought we were past that, we were calling
ourselves the brand new Lions. And with the same old Lions,
it was the Lions always found a way to lose
or were bit by some terrible play call or terrible
(36:36):
uh call by the officials. And today reminded me just
of that. And not to say it was a terrible
call by the officials. It looked like it was OPI.
But just like you said, the way that it was
all drawn out. If you're gonna, if you're gonna tell
me we lost, just tell me we lost. Don't don't
huddle up for five minutes and give us the false
information that there's a touchdown followed by theirs OPI and
(36:58):
that the touchdown doesn't count in games. Over this group
huddling of the officials, I know they're going to New
York and they're trying to get all their intel they can,
but man, oh man, it is starting to affect the
game in a somewhat negative way, I would think. I mean,
you see a lot of positive from it, but at
least from my experience and being in the stadium and
seeing how it all operates, there's a different feel this
(37:21):
season with the way New York is interjecting themselves it
often throughout these games. So you know, I'm wondering if
there's going to be any changes with that or if
we're just going to see it play out how it's
been playing out this season.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Yeah, I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell you. I mean,
I know if I was a Detroit Lions fan and
I heard that announcement, I would have been devastated by
the end of it. Oh I was, But please please
walk me through your emotional, emotional rollercoaster of Hey, touchdown but.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
Two touchdowns, two pass interferences. You know what, rich Sure,
this is just one of those seasons.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Man.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
You gotta just you gotta take it as it is
and try to try to be happy because it's just football.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
But this is man.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
This was a devastating loss, and I know it certainly
hurts the fan base in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
But again, kudos to Pittsburgh. They came in and got
the job done. Richard.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Let's turn the conversation to these Houston Texans. I know
you like Houston a lot. They certainly have been showing
a new life down in Houston over these last month
and a half, certainly, but they take on the Las
Vegas Raiders today and barely squeak out a win twenty
three to twenty one. Are you still feelings as confident
in the Houston Texans as you were coming into this game.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
I mean it's hard. It's hard to be the confidence
when you struggle against a team like that. It's the
same way with the Buffalo Bills, and you think the strength,
you know, the strength of his deep team is their
defense and their pass rush and their secondary And yes,
our guy Derek Stingley made an interception, picked six huge
(39:02):
plays in the game, but they also gave up huge
explosive plays to ash him genty where it just looked
like he was I mean it looked like Brian Marshawn
Lynch couldn't tackle him, couldn't tackle him, and he made
this a game. I think he had fourteen by himself.
So I think there's a conversation there where where they're
gonna have to figure that out. They're gonna have to
(39:25):
figure they're gonna have to tighten those things up. Maybe
it was just an aberration, maybe it's just an off game.
But the same is true for the Denver Broncos. You know,
two of the top defenses in the league, and the
Denver Broncos give up thirty four points to the Jacksonville Jaguars,
and that's concern. That's concerning because this is a team
(39:46):
they could likely see in the playoffs and it gave
I'm sure it gives the Jacksonville Jaguars a ton of confidence.
It's sure he gives the Raiders. It may help save
Pete Carroll's job if it was ever in jeopardy. Just
showing hey against one of the top defenses in the
AFC without Chip Kelly and you're just running a normal offense.
This team can be competitive and that's what they did,
(40:07):
and they made some stops and made some plays on
the other side of the football. But yes, there is
a bit of concern. If you're the Houston Texans, sure
you've got ten wins on the season, it looks like
you're working your way into the playoffs. But what are
you going to do to fix these issues that just
popped up against the Raiders? And you got a tough
(40:28):
You got some tough games to finish the season.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
No question about it. I mean, La Chargers looming and
then Indianapolis Colts, who are you know not the same
without Indiana Jones back there. But obviously there's still a
very competitive team, got a good offense and a great
defense themselves. Do you still view this Texans defense as
the best in the AFC?
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Sure? I guess you know. It's hard to say anything
matter of fact right now because of how they just played.
I mean, are they have? They played like the best
defense in AFC for most of the season, no question
about it. Did they this week? They did not? And
the other team that I would say would have a
case would be the Denver Broncos, and they played even worse,
(41:16):
obviously against the better team. But yeah, it's hard to
make matter of fact statements like that when when both
defenses struggle like they did in this game. Obviously the
Broncos struggled more, but they played against a better team,
So it'll all be. It'll all be figured out in
the playoffs in a couple of weeks. But no, this
wasn't a great, great defensive week for either team. Well,
(41:38):
let's stick in the AFC South, your friends in Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Jaguars take down the Denver Broncos. And I
know you love the Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrens Richard,
I mean, but my favorite.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
Let's be real, you gotta be impressed with the way
they won this game. They dominated Denver, who was top
seed in AFC. What they got to do to prove
to you that, you know, they're a legitimate squad and
what do they have to do to earn Richard Sherman's respect.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
That's a great question. It'll it'll come, like I said before,
it'll come into playoffs. It'll be what they do in
the playoffs. This was an impressive win because the Denver
Broncos were the number one seed and the AFC, and
now this gives Jacksonville shot out being the number one
seed if the Broncos can't win out and so you
got to give them credit for a for execute and
you got to give Trevor Lawrence etn credit. They played
(42:31):
well offensively, but on the other side, they created a
lot of chaos. They forced fumbles, they got an interception
in the game. They caused a lot of chaos on
the defensive side of the ball, and they overcame some issues.
Denver Broncos had five sacks in the game, and it
didn't look like it affected them at all. And I
know Bowl Knicks had three undred and fifty three yards
(42:52):
passing and a touchdown, but it wasn't that. It wasn't
it wasn't that kind of three fifty three, Just like
you said, you don't know how Jared Golf threw for
three sixty four. Like sometimes all stats aren't created equal,
And a lot of this was bo Nicks being behind
and chasing yards and chasing stats and then them getting
it to fourth down situations in the Jacksonville Jaguars defense
(43:14):
coming up with a stop. So uh yeah, you know,
we'll see in the playoffs that's where that's where I
can be impressed. This is a franchise that has not
been to a Super Bowl in the history of their
franchise and could could this team be the one that
changed that. I'm not sure, but we'll see. That'll impress
me if they if they can find a way to
get to an AFC Championship or Super Bowl game, yeah,
(43:36):
I would consider this a really impressive team. But until
we get to the playoffs, we won't know. But if
they this is about as impressive as they could be
during the regular season in the.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Game, and no question about it. And what's changed with
this team. First off, they addressed a crucial need at
the trade deadline, So kudos to their GM James Gladstone
and bringing in Jacoby Myers. You know, this guy has
totally changed this wide receiver room. We saw Brian Brian
Thomas Junior struggling, you know, after coming into his sophomore campaign.
During his rookie year, he was dominant and they thought
(44:07):
they had a true you know, star on their on
their team. But you know he's been struggling for whatever reason.
So they bring in a veteran Jacoby Myers, and you
can tell that he's just injected life into this offense.
Trevor Lawrence is a totally different player himself. You know,
when they get in the red zone, he relies more
on his legs, which just provides a totally different dynamic
for this offense. So to that point, Richard, with what
(44:29):
we're seeing in this maturation of Trevor Lawrence, if you
want to call it, is your mindset change when when
you watch him play now, because I knew obviously and
rightfully so you know the last couple of years he
has not been playing great football, and he's paid as
if he's a great player. You know, is your mindset
of him changed the way he's been playing over this
(44:49):
last month.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
No, because the the resume is what it is right now.
You know, if I let a month change me one
way or the other, I'm wrong. I let the f
scope of the resume dictate what I think about him.
He's played good football over the last month, great football
in some some respects, but getting to the playoffs and
getting wins and playing consistently and getting your team over
(45:13):
the hump will go further to show who he is
and what he is. If he goes to the playoffs
and plays well, we'll give him a lot of credit
and a lot of respect, rightfully. So if he goes
into the playoffs and doesn't play well and they lose,
then all of this is for not And this was
just a great month and it was an aberration. So
it looks like Liam Liam Cohen has has done a
(45:34):
great job with him and and got this offense to
be what they're capable of being. Jacobe Myers, like you said,
they went out and traded for him and then paid
him five games in. I think they decided that was enough.
They've seen enough to pay him twenty million dollars a year,
and that's saying something in itself, and maybe he's saying
(45:55):
something about Travis Hunter and the way they see him
going forward in the future. Because you got Thomas Junr,
you got you got Jacoby Myers. Where does Travis Hunter
fit in? Is it on the offensive side with those
two or is it on the defensive side where he
was making a great impact. So we'll see. Uh, this
is a wait and see league. But this is a
big time win for them, and and and a good
(46:17):
performance by Trevor Lawrence against one of the best defenses
in the league. So uh. Again, in the playoffs, that's
where resumes are dictated. If you if you can't get there,
that says something. If you can't win there also says.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
And obviously, Richard, let's talk about the playoffs a little bit.
You know, clearly this first place in the AFC is
up for grabs and tie breakers are going to come
into play and strength to schedule, all that good stuff.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
But who is the class of the AFC? If you
had to pick one team, who is the best team
that you believe is in the AFC right now? I
think it's hard to argue against Josh Allen and the
Buffalo Bills with with what their their history has been.
But New England Patriots. For me, I think that the
New England pay have played good football. They lost the
(47:02):
game to the to the Buffalo Bills recently, but I
still feel like they're complete. And Drake May if he
can't figure out his woes and figure out his issues
that he had against the Buffalo Bills, he can be
he can get this team over the top and they
can have some success in the playoffs. But it's hard
to say. It's hard to say. You could argue the
Denver Broncos because of that defense, but they just got
(47:25):
they just got whooped on by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and
you could say Jacksonville for some people, and but you
could point out their issues and their flaws. So you
just don't know. You just don't know right now. And
that's what's the fun of this season. That's the fun
part of this NFL season more than any in recent memory.
(47:46):
In the playoffs, I don't think I know Vegas is
gonna have a really difficult time figuring out who's gonna
be favored and who's not gonna be favored, and what
the point spreads are gonna be because depending on the matchups,
that the lower seats could be fair on both sides
of that, no.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
Question about it. There's a lot of parody in this league.
It's gonna be exciting to see how it all plays out.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
All odds and lines come from our partners at hard
Rock Bet. We've got the forty nine Ers at the
Colts on Monday Night Football tomorrow. Hard Rock Bet had
the forty nine Ers as a five and a half
point spread in this game, and I think that's about right.
I know that the Indianapolis Colts have played really good
football down the stretch. You got Jonathan Taylor, but without
(48:28):
Daniel Jones at quarterback, you got Phillip Rivers. Are you
gonna have the same offensive production that they've had all season?
They do. They are getting divorced Buckner back, which will
be a huge addition former forty nine er, But without
your guys on the edge, Tarvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner,
I think there's gonna be some openings. I'm with you, Rich,
(48:50):
and I gotta do a hat swap here.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
I got the San Francisco and forty nine Ers winning
this game as well, and I got them covering. I
think this is gonna be a high scoring game, at
least on one side of the ball. I think the
forty nine Ers are going to be scoring a lot
of points. Philip Rivers will see. I mean, he held
his team in it against Seattle last week. Can he
do the same against another NFC West opponent. I don't
(49:13):
think he's going to have that much success, Richard. I
think the San Francisco forty nine Ers team still has
a lot to prove. They've won a handful of games
in a row, but this division is still up for grabs,
and I think they're gonna want it more. I got
a little three three person a three player anytime touchdown
score parlay that I personally like. I like CMC, Juwan Jennings,
(49:34):
and Jonathan Taylor all to find the end zone.
Speaker 1 (49:36):
I like that. I like that. I think you gonna
be right on Richard.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
It's always a pleasure sitting down with you on Sundays.
This concludes our Week sixteen recap. We only got two
weeks left of this regular season. At time has flown by.
You're gonna be covering Thursday night football on Christmas, Richard.
That's gotta be a different have you ever been on
the road for Christmas if you played game on Christmas before, Like,
(50:01):
what are your thoughts about, you know, being on TNF
on Christmas.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
I played on Christmas Eve before, but the we're on Christmas,
it's different. It's it's it's part of the job. It's
part of what you sign up for. It's great for
the fans, it's great for football. But you know, we're
gonna have to have the kids open presence to the
night before and you know, all that good stuff. But uh,
you know, you do what you gotta do. I think
it's it was gonna be a great game with Patrick
(50:28):
Mahons before the season, you would have thought it would
it's gonna be a fun game. But without Patrick Mahons,
And it looks like Gardner Minshew may be out. Sam,
you're gonna have to brush up on the quarterbacks name
before you get there. Rich Yeah, yeah, I mean that's
that's the problem. We're gonna be brushing up on the
quarterbacks name and in Week seventeen of the season, and
(50:52):
that's that's probably the story of this game. And and
Broncos licking their wounds after this devastating loss to the
Jacksonville Jaguars. But it's gonna be fun. It's football, it's
Thursday night. We're excited about it. It's our last game
of the regular season, and then we go on and
have our wildcard game and that's gonna be a lot
of fun. And as always, Mitchell, we appreciate these people
(51:13):
joining us. You fans make this all possible. You make
this whole thing go, and we surely do appreciate you.
We hope you guys have a very merry Christmas or
a happy holiday no matter where you are in the world,
understand this the Richard Sherman Podcast. We appreciate you. Hit
that sup button if you know
Hey, everybody, I appreciate you joining us as always. You
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you back, You got my back, all love. Welcome back
(00:27):
to the Richard Sherman Podcast. And we had some incredible
action in Week sixteen. Some Saturday games between the Bears
and the Packers and the Commanders in the Eagles. I
thought those games could win either way. The Bears game especially,
I thought they had a chance to beat the Packers
the last time they played. Keishawn Nixon made an incredible
play to end that game and give the Packers to win.
(00:49):
Last time these two teams played, but this time Rose
were reversed.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Mitchell, no question about it, Richard, this was a wild one.
I mean, the NFL's gotta love these last couple games.
You witnessed a thriller in Seattle on Thursday night, and
then Saturday night turn around the Chicago Bears with an
epic comeback. Was so much on the line, Richard, I mean,
this NFC North Division is up for grabs. The Chicago
(01:15):
Bears seem to want it the most. And what happened
to the Packers though up sixteen to six with three
minutes left in this game, Bears kick a field goal,
go on to recover an on side kick, and then
ultimately score a touchdown down the stretch to four to sot.
Caleb Williams did not have much success until the final
(01:36):
I guess half of the fourth quarter in the overtime.
What switched for the Chicago Bears And how impressive of
a win is this for this organization.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
It's really impressive. And I couldn't tell you what switched.
I mean, things just start working out for him. Sometimes
you just get momentum and it jumps on somebody side
and it never leaves. And it jumped on the Chicago
Bears sideline. And when momentums with few, everything that could
go right starts to go right. I mean, there have
been very few on side kicks recovered in the NFL
(02:07):
this season, and that was one of them in a
very critical moment. Obviously all of them are kicked their
critical moments, but when the Bears got that. I mean
there was I think a little bit over a minute
to go in the game. Then you knew they had
great field position, they had time, and they had a chance.
And you got to give Kayleb Williams a lot of
credit right now. Now he keeps doing this cold celebration,
(02:28):
but he was ice cold right there. The player to
win the game, the touchdown to DJ Moore, that was
ice cold, ice senior veins delivered a dime over the
outstretched arms of my guy in friend of the program,
Keyshawn Nixon. And it wasn't bad coverage. It was great coverage,
better offense, and you got to give Dj more credit
(02:51):
for catching that football. But this Chicago Bears team is real.
It seems that they're a legitimate contender this season. And
I know every week we're kind of waiting for them
to come back to earth and and and go back
to the same old Bears, but they haven't been. And
on the flip side for the for the Green Bay Packers,
it leaves a lot of questions. Their defense played well
(03:13):
majority of this game. You talked about it in the
in the fourth quarter, with with about eight minutes to go,
they were up double digits in this game, and the
defense was playing really well. They obviously gave up plays
down the stretch and in overtime, but you gotta you
gotta give them credit for keeping them in this game.
And you gotta give La Floor credit for for coming
(03:33):
up with a game plan after a starting quarterback Jordan
Love gets injured. Elik Willis played well nine for eleven
for touchdown, was also doing it with his legs. Had
forty four yards on the ground. The combination of E. J.
Wilson and uh And and Josh Jacobs was really effective,
but there was a there was a huge Josh Jacobs
(03:53):
fumbling there by No Sean Wright, who's having a who's
having an incredible season, a guy who nobody expected a
ton from this season is playing really well. A lot
of intercessions. I think he's leading the league in forced
turnovers this season. So yes, the Chicago Bears. And again
on a defensive side, I gotta look at Al Harris.
(04:16):
Al Harris has had a huge impact on this defense,
a huge impact on this secondary. Who's continuing to make plays,
the huge reason that this team is eleven and.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Four, no question about it. And when they signed or
where they hired Ben Johnson. I mean, you thought the
Chicago Bears were going to be a better team, but
eleven and four, I don't know if anyone saw this coming.
Taking care of this division right now, Richard, Let's talk
about the Philadelphia Eagles. They go on the road against
the Washington Commanders, and this was a game that I
would assume most thought Philly was gonna walk away with
(04:48):
and they ultimately did, but didn't come without a fight.
And this Washington Commander team, you know, brought it to
him specifically in that first half until Philly finally pulled away.
Philly just hasn't looked like themselves over last month. Let's
be real here. You know, they suffered some losses and
then they play at the opponent like the Washington Commanders
and don't look themselves again. Do you view Philly as
(05:10):
a threat in this NFC.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
You gotta view them as a threat because they're the
defending Super Bowl champions, So I think you have to
always give them that respect. They have championship pedigree and
and and that'll show in the playoffs. The playoffs are
a whole different beasts. We've seen this with the Kansasee Chiefs.
Every season pretty much. Hey, they could, they could kind
of cruise their way into the into the playoffs and
then flip the switch and they're playing outstanding football when
(05:40):
it counts the most. And so I expect the same
thing for the For the Philadelphia Eagles, obviously, this was
a game they should win against the division opponent, and
in regardless of record, division games are going to be
a dogfight, and that's what it was for the most
part in this game. And then eventually the Eagles pull away.
Sakuon Barkley with one of the best games of the
(06:00):
season twenty one carries one hundred and thirty two yards
in touchdown, AJ Brown nine for ninety five and the
defense got got a turnover and got to the quarterback
a few times. And so you if you're an Eagles
fin you feel good. But you got a tough game
against the Buffalo Bills, who haven't played as well this season.
But they're eleven and four and at the end of
(06:21):
the day, we all that matters is getting yourself into
the tournament. They pretty much secured that spot and I'm
looking forward Toddy playing mind genuine no question about it.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
They've secured the NFC NFC East now with this loss
by the Dallas Cowboys today and the Eagles, they're gonna
have a test going forward. They're playing against the Bills
next week, so let's see if they can you know,
string a couple of wins here and go into the postseason.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
On a high note.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
One thing I will mention is that the combination of
AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts seems to be clicking. Despite
these you know, this last month where that they haven't
been winning as many games. AJ Brown has been a
lot more concerned. And if they can keep that going,
and we see this rushing tack continue to get better
with Saquan, maybe Philly does have some life left in him.
(07:08):
We shall see.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Richard.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Let's let's move down the line here the NFC South.
This this division has been an absolute dog fight, and
I don't know which team really truly wants to win.
It doesn't look like Tampa does the Carolina Panthers take
care of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before we get into
the Carolina's success and you know they're you know, closing
(07:31):
in on this division. We got to talk about Baker Mayfield.
He frankly has not looked like himself for these last
eight games. What in the world is going on with Baker?
We saw an errant throw to end this game that
looks like the receiver and him or not in lockstep together.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What is going on with Baker Mayfield? I wish I
could explain to you what's going on. I think maybe
we'll get an answer at the end of the season
and in their post game or something. Excuse me, I
think he's been injured. But even if you're injured, to
make some of the decisions that he's made, I just
(08:11):
don't get it. And like you said, nobody wants to
win this division every year. I feel like where we
get to the point that we're like, who's gonna win
the NFC South, and it's like more like who really,
who's gonna lose it? And it seems like everybody loses
the NFC South. And this year looks like, for the
first time in five seasons, it looks like the Buccaneers
(08:34):
are gonna lose the NFC South. And I'm not sure
how confident this Panthers team is gonna be in the
playoffs if they have to play the Rams or the
Seahawks or the San Francisco forty nine ers. But they
beat the Rams, So I don't know. I really don't
(08:54):
know how it's gonna turn out. It's just a weird,
weird division every single season where it never looks it's like, hey,
they you feel like they're a dominant team in the NFL,
but at some point they find a way to win
a playoff game, wild card game. But I mean, good,
congratulations to the Carolina Panthers winning this game and and
moving on. They obviously have to play a game in
(09:17):
the next I think the next few weeks, but well,
we'll see. I just I'm not feeling great about the
NFC South honestly.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Well, the Panthers get to take on your Seattle Seahawks
next week. Let's see if they can, you know, keep
things going here. But Richard, we got to look at
Bryce Young a little bit. This guy has been criticized,
you know, the last couple of years in this league,
but he looks like he's found his footing and he's
led this Carolina resurgence this year, if you want to
call it that. Three years later, are you looking back
(09:48):
and saying, yeah, Bryce Young should have been the number
one pick.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
I don't know. I don't know, because it seems like
every year, the answer is different. You got to give
him credit for how he played like late down the
stretch last year, last season, and how he's playing this season.
Dave Canalis has done a phenomenal job with him in
this team. I mean, surrounding him with more talent, giving
him Tetarol McMillan, and how productive he's been here at
six caps for seventy three yards in this game. They've
(10:16):
also given him a rush attech with Chubba Hubbard and
Enrico Daldell. So they've done a great job of supporting
him in the way you need to support a young
quarterback to allow them to have this kind of success.
And if this season ends up with them winning the
NFC South and getting to the playoffs, you definitely consider
that a huge success. But you got to remember he
(10:37):
was in the same draft classes CJ. Stroud and it
looks like they'll be in the playoffs this year and
he'll he's playing well as well, so I think that's
still I think both teams would still say they're happy
with the decision they made.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
I'm kind of leading in that way as well, Richard.
Before we leave this game, we got to talk if
you're in the competition, Commit Richard, at what point do
you really consider making a change to the playoff structure,
Because the reality is somebody out of the NFC West,
whether it's the Rams, the Seahawks, or the Niners, is
going to be going on the road to play these
(11:13):
Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the wild card round.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Is it time?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Is it reached the point where it is truly time
for a change in the way that at the playoffs
is seated.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I mean, I would have thought it was a long
time ago when the Seattle Seahawks beat the New Orleans Saints,
and I think that was eleven or twelve win New
Orleans Saints team coming to Seattle to play a seven
and nine Seattle Seahawks team, and that's when they had
to be beast quaking in that chaotic game where the
Seattle Seahawks found a way to win. So I don't
know if that proves hey, the division champs and they
(11:48):
earned it and this is why you do do it
this way, or it proved hey, you handicapped a team
that won as many games as they possibly could and
just played in a tough division that year and it
cost them in the playoffs, it cost him a chance
to advance. But I don't think they're gonna change it.
The NFL gets stuck in their ways and they say, hey,
(12:08):
you wanna, you wanna, you wanna a home playoff game,
win your your division, no matter how tough it is.
So I think they'll continue to go with that narrative.
And you know, I don't know if it's right or
if it's wrong, but it's the way it's been. And
if you're a championship team, you'll find a way and
win on the rope.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I for one thing, it is time for a change.
We've seen it over the last couple of seasons, and
no question about it, that Seattle Seahawks one a half
full of years ago was a wild one.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
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Speaker 2 (13:40):
Today, we got to talk about these Buffalo Bills. They
barely hold off the Cleveland Browns thanks to Shadora Sanders
getting sacked multiple times down the stretch.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
The Bills.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know, I know these Cleveland Browns have a good defense.
I know Miles Garrett is on pace to break the
sack record. I get it. But the reality is these
Cleveland Browns are three and twelve. The Bills squeaked out
a three point win at what point? Because this AFC
is so wildly up for grabs, and we've never seen
this in the last ten fifteen years. It's been Tom Brady,
(14:15):
it's been Patrick Mahomes, et cetera. If there is a
window for this Buffalo Bills team to make a run
in the AFC, it's this year with no Patrick Mahomes. Richard,
how nervous are you for the Buffalo Bills, because frankly,
they just do not look good right now.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Yeah, I'm really nervous for him because despite their record,
and usually you're saying this about teams like the New
England Patriots, teams that you didn't expect to have such
a great record, even the Denver Broncos. You could make
that argument where you didn't necessarily feel great about this
team coming into the season, so it's surprising that they're
(14:53):
doing so well. You're not really surprised by Buffalo's record,
but sure, if you really take a detailed look at
it and set your expectations of what you thought they
would be this year versus what they've actually done, I'm
sure there are Buffalo Bills fans if they're being honest
with themselves that are a little nervous going into this
playoffs because sure they can make a deep running You
(15:13):
can make an argument that they'll be in a super
Bowl this year, but you can also make an argument
that you would not be surprised if they went home
in the first round and went home in a wildcard.
And when you have that kind of team and you
have an MVP candidate, that quarterback, that makes you nervous.
When you have the number thirtieth ranked rush defense, that
makes you nervous going against teams that a lot of
(15:34):
these teams in AFC can run the ball, and they
can run it effectively. And that's the kind of things.
Those are the kind of things that decimate you in
a playoff, in a playoff game, and they hurt you
because you're gonna be depending on Josh Allen, who was
a little banged up in this game. And I know
they said they X rayed his foot, but on the
play where he got sacked in the end zone or
(15:57):
right in front of the end zone, whatever it was
in safety, it looked like he grabbed his handstring And
and so when when people say the X ray's foot,
I think I think there was a little gamesmanship with that,
but you you hope he's healthy going into the playoffs
because they're so dependent on him that if he's not
one hundred percent, they don't have a chance at all.
(16:19):
And their defense did make some plays today. They tipped
up some passes, intercepted Shador Sanders multiple times, gave their
offense the ball in favorable positions multiple times. But that's
what's even more concerning. You're going against a three win
Browns team. You get your your your three sacks, you
get multiple interceptions, and you still barely win the game.
(16:43):
You still struggle to win the game. And that's where
that's where we're gonna be concerned going into the playoffs,
depending on the matchup they get. If the New England
Patriots somehow win this division and they get home field
avenge and the Buffalo Bills have to go to, say,
I don't know, the huge Houston to play the Texans.
If they can pull off the win a division, the
(17:05):
division win in AFC South, Oh, you got to go
to Jacksonville, who who hasn't hasn't been playing the best
football necessarily always offensive, but they've been in the last
few weeks, they've been playing a lot more consistent. Their
defense is still turning the ball over at a high level.
So there are a lot of ways you could you
could feel like, hey, if even if Buffalo is eleven
(17:28):
and four are twelve and four are twelve and five,
they could go in the playoffs and lose in the
first round. And what does that do for McDermott, What
that does that do to this team? What does that
do to the future of the Buffalo Bills. Those are
the questions they're going to have to answer. It in
a game like this again, they sit keon Coleman, make
him a healthy scratch and you only you only muster
(17:50):
one hundred and thirty yards through the air. Those are
those are things that Hey, if you lose this game,
you question McDermott. Those are big questions you have to answer.
And even now with the win, you question, hey, was
that the right decision? Like what's going on here? This
is you don't have a talented enough receiving corps to
(18:13):
sit a guy like this, Not saying he's the best
receiver and he's a world beater, but you don't have
a lot better right now, and you need to play him.
And if you're not playing him because of disciplinary reasons,
then they're gonna have to say that, and no question
about it.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
The one thing that Bills do have going for them
that has been as steady as as ever is James Cook.
This guy is averaging over one hundred yards a game
on the ground and he performed again today at a
high level sixteen carries, one hundred and seventeen yards and
two touchdowns. I feel like James Cook does not get
a much as much as touching as he deserves, especially
during fantasy playoffs. Right now, Richard, James Cook, whoever has
(18:51):
him on their team has got to be very very happy.
So listen, if Josh Allen happens to have an off game,
James Cook is someone that they can certainly lean on.
But like you said, a road for them in the
playoffs if they do not win this division is going
to be very very difficult because, like you said, whether
they're going on the road to Jacksonville or Houston, I
(19:12):
would never want to play in either of those environments.
With the way those teams are playing right now, both
of them are clicking on all cylinders. And I know
Buffalo has won four straight games, but we saw him
lose in devastating fashion to Miami and we just saw
him escape today.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
So they got a lot to prove as we go forward.
A team that is and you gotta like go sorry,
like you said, you got to give James Cook a
lot of credit. I mean, he statistically might be the
best running back in the National Football League and making
that impact weekend and week out. But even in a
game where he has incredible production sixteen from one to
seventeen and two touchdowns, they barely win.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Exactly, imagine a game without him because that would not
be pretty. Another team that is is making life diffen
cult is the LA Chargers. I mean, these Denver Broncos
have you know, relatively run away but LA is not
making it easy on them, and they go into a
hostile environment in Dallas and they take care of business.
(20:13):
Reality is, yeah, is Dallas more likely out of the playoffs? Sure,
they were not mathematically eliminated going into this game, so
they had something to play for. The Chargers doubled them
up when in thirty four to seventeen, justin Herbert a
beautiful game, three hundred your passing yards, two touchdowns, a
rushing touchdown. He got Quinton Johnson heavily involved lab McConkie
involved this LA Chargers team. Man again similar to the
(20:36):
Buffalo Bills. It looks like the AFC is gonna be open,
and the Chargers to me, look like a team that
might be able to make a charge. Here pun intended
that in that AFC, do you like this LA Chargers
team as much as I do?
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Yes, I do. And what I think you gotta give
them a tremendous amount of credit for is being able
to do this with the loss of two of your
best players. You lose Joe aut You're All World tackle.
You lose Rashaun Slater, one of your highest paid players,
one of your best players on the team. And when
(21:10):
you look usually when you lose both tackles, you call
that season a rap. It's over with no matter who
you have at quarterback, no matter how well your defense
is playing, because it's too difficult to overcome those kind
of things. And for the Chargers to be eleven and
four at this point, knowing they didn't have them for
the majority of the season, you got to be talking
(21:30):
about coach Harball the same way we're talking about Kyle Shanahan.
Overcoming the things that they did this season and still
being able to put together a team that if it
wasn't for the Denver Broncos and bone Knicks having such
an incredible season, they'd have a chance to win this division.
I mean, if you're them, you're like, of course, you
(21:51):
guys have one of your best seasons in franchise history.
When we're having a great season because it and the
Kansas City Chiefs are out of the running, you really
feel for him. But I think if this scene plays
the way they have right this, you know this game,
their defense is playing well, they're opportunistic, Quinton Johnson is
playing his best football, justin Herbert is playing consistently through
(22:13):
the air and with his legs finding lanes to get
out of there. Omrion Hampton seems like he's found this rhythm.
You never know how far they can go again. It's
wide open in the NFC, in the AFC, especially without
the without the behemoth and the cloud of the Kansas
City Chiefs just overshadowing everybody. And you know, hey, no
(22:35):
matter what, no matter what cool store you have, in
these playoffs, you just know Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid
and the Kansas City Chiefs are waiting and they're gonna
put out the fire and end up in the super Bowl.
They're not gonna be there. So it's gonna be a
fun playoffs because it's gonna be the unexpected. You're gonna
have a team that you're not expecting to be in
in the championship game, and that's gonna be fun. It's
(22:57):
gonna be good for football. And the Chargers be that team.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
They're gonna be going to the playoffs. But they got
a couple of playoff opponents that they're gonna be playing
in these next two games, the Houston Texans and the
Denver Broncos. So while I love the LA Chargers and
the way they look right now, these next two games
are really gonna determine how good they truly are. And
you gotta love those type of matchups going into the
playoffs because you would assume it's gonna sharpen this team
(23:24):
up and get them ready come playoff time.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
No question about that, no question about that. It's it's
going to be fun. It's gonna be fun down a stretch.
Can a Houston Texans continue what they've been doing? Can
can the Denver Broncos continue what they've been doing? Or
is it gonna be the Chargers showing up. I mean again,
I don't think seeding matters this year. I don't, I
really don't. I don't think it matters. I mean, obviously
the Chargers going to play somewhere cold would be it
(23:47):
would be an issue if you expect them to go
to New England and not be a different than difference
than playing in Sofi stadium. I think you're out of
your mind, but I think these teams anybody can beat anybody,
and we're going to have some obvious upsets in terms
of the seating, the way things are seated, But it
wouldn't be a surprise upset if you've watched the tape
and you see the record, and you see the way
(24:09):
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Speaker 2 (24:24):
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Speaker 2 (25:36):
Unfortunately, we got to go to Detroit, and I just
want to lead by saying this. I want to cry
and I need you to uplift my spirits right now.
The Detroit Lions lose a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers
at home twenty nine to twenty four, and Frankly, I'm
shocked they were even in this game late and had
a shout to win it, and unfortunately it came down
(25:56):
to another one of these these plays where the officials
had to get together and see what the heck actually happened.
But Richard, I'm gonna lead by saying this, the Detroit
Lions look broken right now. Obviously, they're battling injuries. Three
quarters of their secondaries on ir their offensive line is
in shambles. But coming into this season and having Frank
(26:20):
Reraig now announce his retirement, you know, you kind of
would have expected the Lions to have a queue of
that and know that that was coming down the pipeline
at some point, and for them to not even address
the old line. I think that's why this team looks
so different. Flat out, they can't run the football. Fifteen
rushing yards, Richard, fifteen rushing yards. You got one of
the best running back duos in the league and Jamier
(26:42):
Gibbs and David Montgomery. I didn't even see David Montgomery
for you know, three quarters of this game, and Jamier
Gibbs has only only got fifteen rushing yards. Richard. Credit
to the Pittsburgh Steelers. You know, they come into Fordfield,
they take care of business. Obviously, they got a lot
on the line with the the AFC North up for contention.
(27:03):
But my gripe is with these Detroit Lions right now.
I think they can get better going in the next season.
But Brad Holmes has got to get get it together
himself and he can't be so cute this offseason. They've
got several needs that they need to address immediately. And frankly,
it's frustrating Richard because everyone talks about these championship windows.
Do you think the championship window for the Detroit Lions
(27:24):
has closed?
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Do? I think the championship windows closed? Not necessarily, but
I know it's it's It's definitely foalgy. It's definitely foalgy
because you guys are built in such a unique way.
I think you paid aman ross a Brown, right decision.
You paid the quarterback, I think the right decision. You
have two really, really good running backs. Jamier Gibbs honestly
(27:49):
maybe one of the most talented running backs in the
National Football League. You got a talented player in Jamison
Williams that they gave the money to. But then you
flip to the other side of the ball, you got
two of the best safeties in the league, but injury issues.
I think you got a solid secondary. I think Aiden Hutchinson,
you just paid him. He's a legit cornerstone piece, but
you gotta find him a running mate. And so on
(28:10):
the offensive line, it was one of the strengths for
you guys last year, which is why you were able
to go as far as you did because you had
a great offensive line. You can run the ball, you
can control the clock, and like you said, they're gonna
have to address that, but you have so many other needs.
There's so many needs on that defense. Now you're talking
about Taylor Decker. You need a tackle, you need a center.
(28:34):
There aren't a lot of great offensive linemen out there.
That's that's always they They're just always at a premium.
So that's gonna be tough to to really for Brad Holmes,
he's got his work cut out for him, because it's
not easy to just hey, say, hey, we're gonna we're
gonna just draft a few good offensive linemen. Maybe you
get lucky, maybe you don't. But this is disappointing. This
(28:54):
is this is really disappointing for the Detroit Lions and
the fan base because they coming of last year an
incredible disappointment being put out in a divisional by the
Washington Commanders, a game that nobody expected them to lose.
They were coming in the top seed in the NFL,
in controller destiny, real high expectations. They get put out
(29:16):
in a divisional and you say, oh man, you lose
your offense coordinator, lose your defensive coordinator. There's question marks, Hey,
how are the replacements gonna do? I think it's it's
been a solid job in terms of play calling, in
the scheme on both sides of the football, But at
the end of the day, for them to be eight
(29:37):
and seven at this point in the season is incredibly
incredibly disappointed, and for them to have missed the playoffs
at this point, it's it's an indictment. It's an indictment
on the personnel decisions. It's another year of injuries happening
down the stretch, and just like the San Francisco fort
nine ers, they're gonna have to address that. They're gonna
have to get that figured out. Why are they so
(29:58):
beat up down the stretch every single year? Is it
the way they're practicing is it the way they're taking
care of their bodies that the diet. Those are things
you have to start talking about as an organization when
you have these issues that keep showing up in these moments.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
No question about it. And credit to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aaron Rodgers is very familiar in playing in ford Field,
and he looked like it his old self. Two hundred
and sixty six yards touchdown. The Lions could not get
them off the field. The Lions had three offensive plays
in the third quarter, and that's really when the Steelers
took over. And really they could have had this game
in hand a lot earlier but for the fumble by
(30:35):
Washington at the goal line there, you know, and then
they immediately forced the safety. The Steelers defensively looked really good.
Aaron Rodgers looked vinta'd Aaron Rodgers and Jalen Warren, I
mean another credit to him. Fourteen carres, one hundred and
twenty six yards, one hundred forty three yards and two touchdowns,
two hundred and thirty rushing yards on the day. They
controlled this game because of their ability to run the football.
(30:56):
And you know what, I think they got something special
in Kenneth's gain. Well, I mean, this guy's on a
couple of different teams now, but he seemed to find
a home in Pittsburgh. And I, for one, was very
impressed with their offensive play calls. How they line up
John news Smith in the backfield and they run him
on a sweep. They do a lot of a lot
of motion in the backfield to get the defense off balance. So,
you know, Pittsburgh. I know, we don't think extremely highly
(31:19):
of the AFC North this year, just with how everything's
played out, but Pittsburgh proved to me that hey, maybe
they maybe they are deserving to be this champion of
the NFC North.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Yeah. I don't want to leave this Pittsburgh Steelers game
because there's a number of things that we still have
to talk about that that controversial ending. I don't understand,
like incredible play, cool your cloth, offensive pass interference end
of game. I don't understand what the discussion was. I
don't understand what the point of of announcing that the
touchdown that there was a touchdown in the play when
(31:53):
it was after the pass interference which negated everything and
ended the game. All you have to say was past
interference on the play. Offensive passing game over, like you
don't have to say, hey, the touchdown was complete. You
could hear the confusion in the stadium with the crowd,
the crowds cheering a touchdown complete like it. It was
the most heartbreaking way to announce a penalty. I think
(32:14):
I've ever heard where you say you got the home
team or just waiting the home team fans waiting to
hear touchdown and you tell them it's touchdown, but pass
interference on the offense, Like there's no point of doing
that other than just bringing these fans as high as
you can, giving them as much and dropping them on
(32:35):
a pit of knives like that. That was one of
those insane things, however, I've ever seen. And another insane
thing happened in this game was ZK Medcalf DK Metcalf
going to the stands and what appeared to be punching
a fan. I don't think I've ever seen that, not
(32:56):
in the NFL. And I don't understand how you can
how you can do something what could get you that
riled up in a game that your team eventually wins,
Like there's team players that get frustrated and you fans
chirp back and forth cool like maybe you I'm round
(33:16):
up to the point, Hey we just lost the championship,
we just lost the Super Bowl, and I'm super emotional
and rowed up, Like I wouldn't understand you punching a
fan in the face, but I could understand the emotional
like you get emotional emotionally hijack. But for it to
be the middle of the game and you just casually
go over to to a fan, hold his hair and
(33:39):
then give him a decent shott, I don't even know
what the league is gonna do. They're gonna suspend him
and find him. I mean, I would have guessed that
the fan presses Chargers or something, but I just don't
get it. And it's sad because that storyline is gonna
overshadow the win, at least for DK Metcalf, maybe not
(33:59):
for the Witsburgh Steelers in general. But this is in
this day and age of media, in the way you know,
it's it's headlines, this, it's it's this. They don't care
about the football game. Hey, you punched a fan. That's
what will get them clicks. That conversation will be the
the one that overshadows what was a great win by
Pittsburgh Steelers, no question about it.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
And like you said, Richard, this was like early in
the game. I think this was like midway through the
second quarter or something. And do you feel like he
should have been kicked out of the game, because you know,
if you throw a punch on a player, you're out
throwing a punch on a fan. I mean, he's certainly
gonna get fined a hefty amount of money. But I'm
surprised that there wasn't more discussion about him being booted
(34:41):
from the game altogether.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Well, there's no presidents for it, and I think that's
the issue. I'm sure if the league understood and saw
it and could have, they would have that's what they do.
The rest had no idea, and I don't I don't
think they ever want to get in the world, especially
with all the gambling and all everything that's going on,
where they sit there and say, hey, player ejected from
(35:05):
the game on something that isn't necessarily written that way
in the rule book, because I don't think you ever
expected it. I don't think there's a rule in a
rule book that says, hey, player punches fan ejection like
on the ejection list. I think it's kind of assumed
and understood. But I don't know. I don't think they
(35:27):
I don't think they want to operate like that in
those moments. You know, things on the field are on
the field, things off the field are off the field.
I think that's the way they want to keep it.
But I'm sure they're gonna have a lot to say
about that one. I can't. I'm looking forward to seeing
with the league and with the Steelers and what DK
says about that. But in other news, the Pittsburgh Steelers
(35:49):
are rolling heading into the playoffs. They're one of the
hottest teams. They're playing some of their best football on
both sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers, I mean, who
wants to see him looking like vinta Jaron Rodgers in
the playoffs? Like not many teams. And if they can
just figure out these these frustration issues for DK Metcalf,
(36:12):
They're gonna be a fun team in the playoffs, no
question about it.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
They proved it, proved it to me today. But before
we leave this game, Richard, let's go back to that
final play a game. I know I've told you this before,
but there is a saying in Detroit called same old Lions,
and I thought we were past that, we were calling
ourselves the brand new Lions. And with the same old Lions,
it was the Lions always found a way to lose
or were bit by some terrible play call or terrible
(36:36):
uh call by the officials. And today reminded me just
of that. And not to say it was a terrible
call by the officials. It looked like it was OPI.
But just like you said, the way that it was
all drawn out. If you're gonna, if you're gonna tell
me we lost, just tell me we lost. Don't don't
huddle up for five minutes and give us the false
information that there's a touchdown followed by theirs OPI and
(36:58):
that the touchdown doesn't count in games. Over this group
huddling of the officials, I know they're going to New
York and they're trying to get all their intel they can,
but man, oh man, it is starting to affect the
game in a somewhat negative way, I would think. I mean,
you see a lot of positive from it, but at
least from my experience and being in the stadium and
seeing how it all operates, there's a different feel this
(37:21):
season with the way New York is interjecting themselves it
often throughout these games. So you know, I'm wondering if
there's going to be any changes with that or if
we're just going to see it play out how it's
been playing out this season.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Yeah, I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell you. I mean,
I know if I was a Detroit Lions fan and
I heard that announcement, I would have been devastated by
the end of it. Oh I was, But please please
walk me through your emotional, emotional rollercoaster of Hey, touchdown but.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
Two touchdowns, two pass interferences. You know what, rich Sure,
this is just one of those seasons.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Man.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
You gotta just you gotta take it as it is
and try to try to be happy because it's just football.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
But this is man.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
This was a devastating loss, and I know it certainly
hurts the fan base in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
But again, kudos to Pittsburgh. They came in and got
the job done. Richard.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Let's turn the conversation to these Houston Texans. I know
you like Houston a lot. They certainly have been showing
a new life down in Houston over these last month
and a half, certainly, but they take on the Las
Vegas Raiders today and barely squeak out a win twenty
three to twenty one. Are you still feelings as confident
in the Houston Texans as you were coming into this game.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
I mean it's hard. It's hard to be the confidence
when you struggle against a team like that. It's the
same way with the Buffalo Bills, and you think the strength,
you know, the strength of his deep team is their
defense and their pass rush and their secondary And yes,
our guy Derek Stingley made an interception, picked six huge
(39:02):
plays in the game, but they also gave up huge
explosive plays to ash him genty where it just looked
like he was I mean it looked like Brian Marshawn
Lynch couldn't tackle him, couldn't tackle him, and he made
this a game. I think he had fourteen by himself.
So I think there's a conversation there where where they're
gonna have to figure that out. They're gonna have to
(39:25):
figure they're gonna have to tighten those things up. Maybe
it was just an aberration, maybe it's just an off game.
But the same is true for the Denver Broncos. You know,
two of the top defenses in the league, and the
Denver Broncos give up thirty four points to the Jacksonville Jaguars,
and that's concern. That's concerning because this is a team
(39:46):
they could likely see in the playoffs and it gave
I'm sure it gives the Jacksonville Jaguars a ton of confidence.
It's sure he gives the Raiders. It may help save
Pete Carroll's job if it was ever in jeopardy. Just
showing hey against one of the top defenses in the
AFC without Chip Kelly and you're just running a normal offense.
This team can be competitive and that's what they did,
(40:07):
and they made some stops and made some plays on
the other side of the football. But yes, there is
a bit of concern. If you're the Houston Texans, sure
you've got ten wins on the season, it looks like
you're working your way into the playoffs. But what are
you going to do to fix these issues that just
popped up against the Raiders? And you got a tough
(40:28):
You got some tough games to finish the season.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
No question about it. I mean, La Chargers looming and
then Indianapolis Colts, who are you know not the same
without Indiana Jones back there. But obviously there's still a
very competitive team, got a good offense and a great
defense themselves. Do you still view this Texans defense as
the best in the AFC?
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Sure? I guess you know. It's hard to say anything
matter of fact right now because of how they just played.
I mean, are they have? They played like the best
defense in AFC for most of the season, no question
about it. Did they this week? They did not? And
the other team that I would say would have a
case would be the Denver Broncos, and they played even worse,
(41:16):
obviously against the better team. But yeah, it's hard to
make matter of fact statements like that when when both
defenses struggle like they did in this game. Obviously the
Broncos struggled more, but they played against a better team,
So it'll all be. It'll all be figured out in
the playoffs in a couple of weeks. But no, this
wasn't a great, great defensive week for either team. Well,
(41:38):
let's stick in the AFC South, your friends in Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Jaguars take down the Denver Broncos. And I
know you love the Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrens Richard,
I mean, but my favorite.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
Let's be real, you gotta be impressed with the way
they won this game. They dominated Denver, who was top
seed in AFC. What they got to do to prove
to you that, you know, they're a legitimate squad and
what do they have to do to earn Richard Sherman's respect.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
That's a great question. It'll it'll come, like I said before,
it'll come into playoffs. It'll be what they do in
the playoffs. This was an impressive win because the Denver
Broncos were the number one seed and the AFC, and
now this gives Jacksonville shot out being the number one
seed if the Broncos can't win out and so you
got to give them credit for a for execute and
you got to give Trevor Lawrence etn credit. They played
(42:31):
well offensively, but on the other side, they created a
lot of chaos. They forced fumbles, they got an interception
in the game. They caused a lot of chaos on
the defensive side of the ball, and they overcame some issues.
Denver Broncos had five sacks in the game, and it
didn't look like it affected them at all. And I
know Bowl Knicks had three undred and fifty three yards
(42:52):
passing and a touchdown, but it wasn't that. It wasn't
it wasn't that kind of three fifty three, Just like
you said, you don't know how Jared Golf threw for
three sixty four. Like sometimes all stats aren't created equal,
And a lot of this was bo Nicks being behind
and chasing yards and chasing stats and then them getting
it to fourth down situations in the Jacksonville Jaguars defense
(43:14):
coming up with a stop. So uh yeah, you know,
we'll see in the playoffs that's where that's where I
can be impressed. This is a franchise that has not
been to a Super Bowl in the history of their
franchise and could could this team be the one that
changed that. I'm not sure, but we'll see. That'll impress
me if they if they can find a way to
get to an AFC Championship or Super Bowl game, yeah,
(43:36):
I would consider this a really impressive team. But until
we get to the playoffs, we won't know. But if
they this is about as impressive as they could be
during the regular season in the.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Game, and no question about it. And what's changed with
this team. First off, they addressed a crucial need at
the trade deadline, So kudos to their GM James Gladstone
and bringing in Jacoby Myers. You know, this guy has
totally changed this wide receiver room. We saw Brian Brian
Thomas Junior struggling, you know, after coming into his sophomore campaign.
During his rookie year, he was dominant and they thought
(44:07):
they had a true you know, star on their on
their team. But you know he's been struggling for whatever reason.
So they bring in a veteran Jacoby Myers, and you
can tell that he's just injected life into this offense.
Trevor Lawrence is a totally different player himself. You know,
when they get in the red zone, he relies more
on his legs, which just provides a totally different dynamic
for this offense. So to that point, Richard, with what
(44:29):
we're seeing in this maturation of Trevor Lawrence, if you
want to call it, is your mindset change when when
you watch him play now, because I knew obviously and
rightfully so you know the last couple of years he
has not been playing great football, and he's paid as
if he's a great player. You know, is your mindset
of him changed the way he's been playing over this
(44:49):
last month.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
No, because the the resume is what it is right now.
You know, if I let a month change me one
way or the other, I'm wrong. I let the f
scope of the resume dictate what I think about him.
He's played good football over the last month, great football
in some some respects, but getting to the playoffs and
getting wins and playing consistently and getting your team over
(45:13):
the hump will go further to show who he is
and what he is. If he goes to the playoffs
and plays well, we'll give him a lot of credit
and a lot of respect, rightfully. So if he goes
into the playoffs and doesn't play well and they lose,
then all of this is for not And this was
just a great month and it was an aberration. So
it looks like Liam Liam Cohen has has done a
(45:34):
great job with him and and got this offense to
be what they're capable of being. Jacobe Myers, like you said,
they went out and traded for him and then paid
him five games in. I think they decided that was enough.
They've seen enough to pay him twenty million dollars a year,
and that's saying something in itself, and maybe he's saying
(45:55):
something about Travis Hunter and the way they see him
going forward in the future. Because you got Thomas Junr,
you got you got Jacoby Myers. Where does Travis Hunter
fit in? Is it on the offensive side with those
two or is it on the defensive side where he
was making a great impact. So we'll see. Uh, this
is a wait and see league. But this is a
big time win for them, and and and a good
(46:17):
performance by Trevor Lawrence against one of the best defenses
in the league. So uh. Again, in the playoffs, that's
where resumes are dictated. If you if you can't get there,
that says something. If you can't win there also says.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
And obviously, Richard, let's talk about the playoffs a little bit.
You know, clearly this first place in the AFC is
up for grabs and tie breakers are going to come
into play and strength to schedule, all that good stuff.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
But who is the class of the AFC? If you
had to pick one team, who is the best team
that you believe is in the AFC right now? I
think it's hard to argue against Josh Allen and the
Buffalo Bills with with what their their history has been.
But New England Patriots. For me, I think that the
New England pay have played good football. They lost the
(47:02):
game to the to the Buffalo Bills recently, but I
still feel like they're complete. And Drake May if he
can't figure out his woes and figure out his issues
that he had against the Buffalo Bills, he can be
he can get this team over the top and they
can have some success in the playoffs. But it's hard
to say. It's hard to say. You could argue the
Denver Broncos because of that defense, but they just got
(47:25):
they just got whooped on by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and
you could say Jacksonville for some people, and but you
could point out their issues and their flaws. So you
just don't know. You just don't know right now. And
that's what's the fun of this season. That's the fun
part of this NFL season more than any in recent memory.
(47:46):
In the playoffs, I don't think I know Vegas is
gonna have a really difficult time figuring out who's gonna
be favored and who's not gonna be favored, and what
the point spreads are gonna be because depending on the matchups,
that the lower seats could be fair on both sides
of that, no.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
Question about it. There's a lot of parody in this league.
It's gonna be exciting to see how it all plays out.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
All odds and lines come from our partners at hard
Rock Bet. We've got the forty nine Ers at the
Colts on Monday Night Football tomorrow. Hard Rock Bet had
the forty nine Ers as a five and a half
point spread in this game, and I think that's about right.
I know that the Indianapolis Colts have played really good
football down the stretch. You got Jonathan Taylor, but without
(48:28):
Daniel Jones at quarterback, you got Phillip Rivers. Are you
gonna have the same offensive production that they've had all season?
They do. They are getting divorced Buckner back, which will
be a huge addition former forty nine er, But without
your guys on the edge, Tarvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner,
I think there's gonna be some openings. I'm with you, Rich,
(48:50):
and I gotta do a hat swap here.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
I got the San Francisco and forty nine Ers winning
this game as well, and I got them covering. I
think this is gonna be a high scoring game, at
least on one side of the ball. I think the
forty nine Ers are going to be scoring a lot
of points. Philip Rivers will see. I mean, he held
his team in it against Seattle last week. Can he
do the same against another NFC West opponent. I don't
(49:13):
think he's going to have that much success, Richard. I
think the San Francisco forty nine Ers team still has
a lot to prove. They've won a handful of games
in a row, but this division is still up for grabs,
and I think they're gonna want it more. I got
a little three three person a three player anytime touchdown
score parlay that I personally like. I like CMC, Juwan Jennings,
(49:34):
and Jonathan Taylor all to find the end zone.
Speaker 1 (49:36):
I like that. I like that. I think you gonna
be right on Richard.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
It's always a pleasure sitting down with you on Sundays.
This concludes our Week sixteen recap. We only got two
weeks left of this regular season. At time has flown by.
You're gonna be covering Thursday night football on Christmas, Richard.
That's gotta be a different have you ever been on
the road for Christmas if you played game on Christmas before, Like,
(50:01):
what are your thoughts about, you know, being on TNF
on Christmas.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
I played on Christmas Eve before, but the we're on Christmas,
it's different. It's it's it's part of the job. It's
part of what you sign up for. It's great for
the fans, it's great for football. But you know, we're
gonna have to have the kids open presence to the
night before and you know, all that good stuff. But uh,
you know, you do what you gotta do. I think
it's it was gonna be a great game with Patrick
(50:28):
Mahons before the season, you would have thought it would
it's gonna be a fun game. But without Patrick Mahons,
And it looks like Gardner Minshew may be out. Sam,
you're gonna have to brush up on the quarterbacks name
before you get there. Rich Yeah, yeah, I mean that's
that's the problem. We're gonna be brushing up on the
quarterbacks name and in Week seventeen of the season, and
(50:52):
that's that's probably the story of this game. And and
Broncos licking their wounds after this devastating loss to the
Jacksonville Jaguars. But it's gonna be fun. It's football, it's
Thursday night. We're excited about it. It's our last game
of the regular season, and then we go on and
have our wildcard game and that's gonna be a lot
of fun. And as always, Mitchell, we appreciate these people
(51:13):
joining us. You fans make this all possible. You make
this whole thing go, and we surely do appreciate you.
We hope you guys have a very merry Christmas or
a happy holiday no matter where you are in the world,
understand this the Richard Sherman Podcast. We appreciate you. Hit
that sup button if you know
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
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