Christmas Day Triple-Header NFL Preview

Bucky Brooks and Rhett Lewis open the show by setting the stage for a marquee Christmas Day slate in the 2025 NFL season and how each game impacts the playoff picture. Then, they preview the key matchups fans will be watching all day, starting with Cowboys - Commanders (1:15), followed by Lions - Vikings (6:58), and wrapping up with Broncos - Chiefs (9:58).

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
Oh very merry Christmas from the Move the Sticks family
to your family. As we close in on the first
games of week seventeen in the NFL, Netflix is back,
and boy do we have a terrific duo on Netflix.

(00:23):
Before finishing up on Prime Video. We'll start with the
Netflix doubleheader, which begins in Washington Dallas. So it's Cowboys
and Commanders renewing that NFC East rivalry, two teams whose
playoff of hopes are long gone, but that rivalry always plays,
and that's gonna be a great one to start on Netflix.
And then it'll be the Lions and the Vikings clinging

(00:46):
to playoff hopes. There are the Detroit Lions. That will
be the second game there on Netflix. And then we'll
close out with the Prime Video. So the typical Thursday
Night or will be the Broncos and the Chiefs, and
strange to talk about the Broncos as the playoff team
of notes in that matchup with the Chiefs now eliminated

(01:07):
but Broncos in despite the loss to year Jaguars this
past week, Bucky in a pretty good spot. So Red
Luis Bucky Brooks ready to rocket roll here. Let's start
to go chronologically here with the first game of the
day Cowboys Commanders. I think this is an interesting one,
you know, listening to Jerry Jones talk about, you know,
what happened last week and so far this season, saying
the team has underachieved, I don't know if I agree

(01:29):
with that, Like I you know what I mean. I
feel like Shoty has done an incredible job with all
that all that he's been dealt there with personnel, you know,
for one thing. Now, defensively, I think they've probably you know,
they they have not they've underperformed. I don't know if
they've underachieved. How do you how do you see it?

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:46):
I look, I felt like Brian Shaanenhammer did one of
the best coaching jobs of anybody in the league with
all the things they're tasked with. Like remember, not only
from a personnel standpoint, they trade Michael Parsons, like on
the eve of the season, we didn't have to deal
with the death of a prominent player in Marshawn Kneeling.
And they're trying to figure out how to integrate all
these pieces on offense while breaking in a new defense

(02:10):
that completely flipped at the line of scrimmage in terms
of Quinn Williams coming in, Kenny Clark, all the stuff
that they're.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Doing, and your Trayvon Diggs, who.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
Was a multiple time Pro bowler who has been in
and out the lineup, and when he's been in the lineup,
he's had a tough time playing at a high level.
I know, like Jerry Jones might want to blame that
on coaching, but I don't know if this roster was
better than the record of achieved. I feel like they're
right at what the potential of the roster would give you.
Because offensively, they've done everything thousand yeard rusher, two thousand

(02:41):
yeard receivers, four thousand yard passer.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
I don't know what else they could do.

Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, you know, Shaenhammer has done a really good job there.
And defenially, I just don't know if they had enough
horses to be a really good defense.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
Well, they certainly beefed up the interior of the defense.
Now moving forward, and these were trades that were not
just rentals, right, I mean Quinn Williams, I mean, you
spend that kind of capital, you're gonna you're gonna figure out,
you know, and you get the you know, the contract
all worked out there, you know, Kenny Clark. We'll see
what happens with that one moving forward. But they've got
the first round picks now and the draft resources. It
feels like, you know, they did spend some you know,

(03:17):
to bring Quinnen in to continue to beef this thing up, right.
I mean, obviously you got to figure out what to
do with George Pickens, you know, and how to keep
harnessing that talent, right, and then you know, CD CD
had a kind of a weird kind of up and
down year. I'll say, you know, right, the drops were
a thing. You know, availability was a thing. But you know,

(03:39):
when when available, when healthy, he's one of the very best.
We know that. So I think give give that team
another year. I don't know. Maybe there's a change it
at the coordinator spot on defense, I don't know, but
I think they got to continue to get more more
edge rush, more pass rush ability. Uh and and maybe
they can do that in the draft.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, Offenly, Look they loaded, man, they there what they hit.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
I think Shotty has done a really good job not
only of running that offense, but of leading the team. Sure,
and look, you know him really well. Yeah, I know
him well through his dad. But he is a much
better head coach than I ever can imagine. And I
think if you ask people that have been around him
when he was in OC, I don't know if many
would envision him having the kind of command and the

(04:23):
kind of eq to be the head coach that he
looks like he is going to be.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah, they got to fix the defense.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
But one thing that I know, they always do a
pretty good job in the draft. I find in the pieces.
It's just a matter of stylistically, do they want to
play the Matt eber flu style, which is very similar
to what they had with Rob Mary Nelly and other guys.
Do they want to be more aggressive? And if they
do want to be more aggressive, it's a matter of
getting the right pieces in the back end to do

(04:49):
what they want to do philosophically on defense.

Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, and as it plays now against Washington, it felt
like maybe the Commanders were a little bit ahead of
schedule and Jaden Daniel his rookie year now his availability
it was a big part of the downturn this year
for Washington. I think they've got to figure out, you know,
their running back spot. They've got to figure out, you know,

(05:13):
probably continue to work on that offensive line. Obviously they
figured out the term McLaurin thing, but it's you knows
Deebo Samuel around for good. Like, what where do they
need to go to make this game? If we see
this game in week seventeen next year, like a battle
for the top of the NFC east.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
Man, it's such a weird thing, right, So everything they
went right for the Commanders last year went wrong this year.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
Injuries heard them. It was a veteran laden team.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
They made upgrades that we thought on paper, Deebo Samuel
coming over. They had a few other veterans that they
picked up that they thought would helped him pop. I mean, look,
Marshall Lattimore that they traded for last year. We thought
he would be a mainstay in the secondary and those
things haven't worked. So now it's not necessarily a cultural reset,
but I think they have to dig into the draft

(05:59):
and development movement and get those guys going. And let's
be honest, if the quarterback is healthy and playing well,
some of the issues that popped up are probably masked
by his talent.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
They just had bad not didn't have a lot of.

Speaker 3 (06:12):
Good fortune when it came to Jayden Daniels, and I
think that's kind of the trickle down effect of his
lack of availability hurt their production and hurt the ability
to maybe mass some of the things that plagued them
this season.

Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, so that's how we'll start the Christmas Day doubleheader
on Netflix, one o'clock Eastern Timekick. Cowboys and Commanders always
a great rivalry and remember being a part of it,
you know, when my dad was with Steve Spurrier with
Washington for those two years, and it was always always
kind of you know, those weren't playoff years for the
for Washington, but it was always fun when the Cowboys

(06:50):
came to town. And that's a great Christmas Day matchup. Okay,
let's get to this second game here of the day,
and that's the Lions visiting the Vikings. This was a
division where it felt like these two teams, you know,
would be right up there in terms of fighting for
the division crown, which now certainly feels like is sitting
squarely in the Chicago Bears' hands at this point, and

(07:13):
it's going to be a stretch at this point for
the Lions to just make it to the playoffs, which
is kind of crazy. The Lions only path to the
playoffs is to win both of their next two games
and have the Packers lose both of their next two games.
That's slim and obviously we're not really talking about the

(07:33):
Vikings here at this point. So how do you see
this matchup as it pertains to the Lions trying to
stay alive?

Speaker 3 (07:40):
Well, I think if you Dan Campbell, I think you
can make a reasonable case to your team, Hey, guys,
we win the next two it could have breaken our favor.
With the injuries that the Packers are having to deal with,
Jordan Love with a concussion, Michael Parrison's going out, other
guys going out, there is a realistic chance that we
can get this done. I think the Packers played the
Baltimore Ravens and I can't remember who they.

Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, Ravens and Vikings who they finish with.

Speaker 3 (08:01):
Yeah, So I mean there's an opportunity and the only
thing that the Lions can control is what's right in
front of them, and so if they take care of business,
they are a scary team. But I will say this
about the Lions, so much change in turnover caught up
with them, not only with the coaching staff, like the
coordinators kind of moving around Ben Johnson leaving and what
he had on the offense, Dan Campbell eventually having to

(08:23):
takeover play calling duties. Defensively, there's still adapting and adjusting
to Kevin Shepherd, but they've had injuries that have given
them that's it if they're able to somehow sneak in
the back door. They have played a bunch of competitive
games against the top teams, and when you can wipe
the slate clean as the seventh seed, there are a

(08:44):
lot of good things that could happen for them. So
if you're Dan Campbell, you're just trying to lock in
and hey, let's do what we need to do to
knock off the Vikings. The Vikings we don't even know
Max Broseman. Is he going to be the quarterback? Is
it JJ McCarthy, like whatever that is. There could be
advantages for them depending on which quarterback line up. Because
JJ McCarthy hurt his hand last year, wanted the helmet.

Speaker 1 (09:04):
Yeah that was the latest ailment. X rays were negative,
but you know, we'll see where that ends up here.
It is a tight turnaround, so maybe we do see
Max Brosmer for another start, get a chance to show
more of what he's capable of. It is it is
kind of cool to see, you know, Kevin O'Connell, you know,
talk about the success that they had kind of had late,
right they're starting to kind of find it together. I

(09:26):
mean O'Connell talking about it's just been a blast coaching him,
seeing the growth of a young player, getting the opportunity
to go out there and grow and develop, and so
proud of the way he's played these last few weeks,
really showing growth. So obviously they'd love to have him
Two straight home games to finish the season for the
Vikings and big ones here against divisional foes. So we'll
see how that ends up with the Lions, and then

(09:47):
they'll finish with the Packers. So that's Lions Vikings four
thirty Eastern time. That is game two of the tripleheader,
but the final game of the Netflix two for to
open the Christmas Days. We'll finish with the Broncos and
the Chiefs. Chiefs are eliminated from playoff contention. Who's going
to play quarterback?

Speaker 3 (10:05):
I mean, I think they signed Shane Bouchell.

Speaker 1 (10:09):
He's been with them before, so there's some familiarity there.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
Of Texas Lord.

Speaker 3 (10:12):
But I will say this having watched their defense up close,
and I know the Broncos lost to the Jacks, but
it is not an amiable position for Shane Bouchell to
have to start against that defense with the pass rush,
with the sticky coverage. Yeah, if you have Kancity Chiefs
guys on your fantasy thing, I may you may want
to sit them down.

Speaker 2 (10:33):
Giving their quick situation.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
It's gonna be tough. But for the Broncos, this is
a perfect storm. They lose a game that probably allows
Sean Payton to refocus the team. They're playing a wounded
animal in the Kansas City Chiefs where they can go
and kind of knock them around and get back on track.
I would expect to see the Broncos play very well
in a short week where they want to get back

(10:55):
on track and get that nasty taste out of their mouth.

Speaker 1 (10:58):
Yeah. Chris Oladokin was the quarterback who came in for
Minshew when Minshew got hurt there. So we'll see if
they roll with Oldadkin or if they do roll out
Chaine Bouchelle, who they signed off the practice squad of
the Buffalo Bill's Bouchelle was with them in twenty one
and twenty two, so that's kind of where Casey is.
But for Denver, this is really a state of the Broncos, right,

(11:19):
first diversity they've faced in the last twelve weeks in
terms of a loss, you know, an element in the
in the lost column, and it was your Jaguars that
get it done. You know, the way they were rolling early,
I thought, you know, Bo Nicks and Courtland Sutton, we're
gonna have an epic day like they were just they
were in sync. And then boy figured out, you know,
how to kind of slow that roll a little bit

(11:40):
and Trevor Lawrence took over again. What was your what
was your takeaway from watching the Broncos in person?

Speaker 2 (11:46):
Really good team. Yeah, and it was a little bit
of a perfect storm.

Speaker 3 (11:50):
They had a turnover on a mesh with with Bo
Nicks that gave the Jaguars some life, and then later
in the game the Jacks did a better job of
slowing him down. But I'm gonna sy this rep. Bow
Knicks has exceeded anything that I ever thought that he
would be as a pro. Anyone who watched him first
at Auburn. Then at Oregon, you felt like there was
a kind of a cap on what it could be.

Speaker 2 (12:10):
And I'm sitting here telling you.

Speaker 3 (12:11):
Right now and looking at bow Knicks, I think there's
a path for Bownicks to be a top seven player.
I think eventually Undershot Peyton he can be a top
five quarterback man. His athleticism, his accuracy and anticipation and
just his overall thing. I'm not saying he's Drew Brees.
He can't see the appeal that bow Knicks.

Speaker 1 (12:32):
Just say it, Just say it, just say it.

Speaker 3 (12:34):
I can see why he was appealing to Sean Payton
because his IQ, like his toughness, his athleticism, he brings
a lot to the table. And they're just kind of
beginning to figure it out because remember they win Sally
cap Hell Purgatory and they're still.

Speaker 2 (12:49):
Playing with a bunch of young guys doing it when
they shit that, man, this is a really good team.
I mean a really, really, really good team.

Speaker 1 (12:58):
Yeah. So two divisional matchups here for the Broncos to
close things out in Kansas City, and then they'll close
it out at home against the Chargers. As it currently
stands for the Broncos, they are the number one seed, right,
they are guaranteed to spot in the playoffs at this point,
but they have not yet clinched the AFC West Division title.
And if they fall here to Kansas City and they
go to you know, twelve and four, you've got the

(13:20):
Chargers sitting here at eleven and four. They go to
twelve and four, and that game in Week eight, teams
all will decide it. Again, that's just the scenario. I'm
not saying that's going to happen, but that place is
that'll get you focused up for playing a non playoff
team pretty quickly, and a team probably playing you know,
a practice squad quarterback in the chips, they'll get focused

(13:42):
up pretty quick.

Speaker 3 (13:42):
Well, I think, regardless of whether it because what is
isn't that twelve wins.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
Twelve The Broncos. Broncos are currently twelve and three, Chargers
are eleven and four.

Speaker 3 (13:51):
So even if they win, because the Chargers knock them
off early, Yeah, the Chargers probably can swipe the division
in that Week eighteen matchup if they win the game.

Speaker 1 (14:01):
That's what I'm saying.

Speaker 3 (14:02):
Yeah, yeah, So regardless of whether they win and lose,
like Week eighteen is whatever, If you're a Sean Payton,
you want to make sure you're going to.

Speaker 1 (14:08):
Week eighteen, right, Roland, that's a good point. So looking
at the divisional matchups here, uh in the division, the
cheap the Chargers of five and oh in the division,
so they're going to have that one. They've got the
the Broncos have the common opponents tiebreaker, and then the

(14:29):
Chargers have a better conference record. They are eight and
two in the conference right now, Broncos are seven and three.
But if they yeah, so, I mean there's a there's
a lot of there's a lot of variables and a
lot to play for. That's that's really that's the multistically.

Speaker 2 (14:42):
In these games, the more motivated team wins.

Speaker 3 (14:45):
Oh yeah, right, so you have you have the kan
City Chiefs right now, we can make vacation plans.

Speaker 2 (14:50):
Uh honey, where we're going. We're going to Cancun, where
we're going to Bahamas, like where we're going for vacation
or whatever.

Speaker 3 (14:57):
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are trying to load up and
worry about the playoff tickets.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
And what seating can get to buy week and those things.

Speaker 3 (15:04):
And normally, yeah, there's teams a lot, particularly on the
Christmas days in the business.

Speaker 1 (15:10):
Well, but yeah, nobody know. That's the thing that's a
great motivator though on all these holiday games is nobody
wants to go home to the family and being you
know the Grench right, because you're lost, you know what
I mean. But read you're the last game. Yeah, you're
not doing much with the fam. It's over. Yeah, yeah,
we're done with and everything. But I think about that
a lot, like for the Cowboys who play every year

(15:32):
on Thanksgiving, you know, and then you know they're playing
the first game here on Christmas Day, although they're on
the road, but you know, the game finishes at four thirty.
You know, home, you know, sixty might have a dinner,
you might have a dinner at the house, but like,
is it going to be a happy dinner? Is it
not going to be a happy dinner?

Speaker 2 (15:46):
You know? But that's that's tough for jeeves. It's bad.
It's kinde Yeah, no playoff bonuses.

Speaker 1 (15:55):
Yeah, the morale is low.

Speaker 2 (15:57):
The morale is low into.

Speaker 1 (15:58):
Building I shoot is yeah, not great tough one, all right, buck,
that's your Christmas Day slate. They're a triple header, so
great way to keep you company. It's gonna be raining
out here in southern California, so great day to sit
around and watch ball on Christmas Day all day long.
And then we've got our NFL Network exclusive game that's

(16:20):
coming up on Saturday that I'm pretty fired up for
doing some of the pregame coverage for that one, which
will be the next day, right, one of the next
kickoffs of week seventeen, once the Broncos Chiefs finished up,
that's the Texans and Chargers and that is an NFL
Network kickoff. So fired up for that one. I mean,
that's gonna be that's huge, right, Just we're talking about

(16:41):
the Broncos. Great game, right, leads right into the next one,
which is the two hot teams, right, I mean, Texans
and Chargers. Texans have been really streaking, although barely got
by the Raiders this past week, which was which was
kind of interesting. But so fired up for that one
as well. So a lot to come here for the
rest of the week. While the best of Moved Sticks
coming up on Christmas Day. You'll hear from Brian Hartline

(17:02):
on Friday. There's a lot on the way, so stick
it right here on Move the Sticks. DJ will be
back with us here coming up in the next couple
of days as well. So for Bucky Brooks, sign right
Lewis Mary Christmas. Everybody