January 9, 2026 • 27 mins
Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks open the show with their Offensive and Defensive Coordinators of the Year (1:36). Then, the guys preview Super Wild Card Weekend by analyzing the key matchups in Rams - Panthers (6:33), Packers - Bears (9:37), Bills - Jaguars (12:29), 49ers - Eagles (15:24), Chargers - Patriots (18:00) and Texans - Steelers (23:08).
Move the Sticks is a part of the NFL Podcasts Network.
NOTE: Timecodes approximate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
What's up everybody? Welcome to move the sticks DJ and
Buck with you? Buck? How are you doing? Man? Man,
I'm good. DJ.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Like you know, ITEA is like we're in full playoff mode.
When you guys take off, we check off.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Yeah, it's late later today, so we were taking off
and uh we'll be up there Friday night and uh
we got a Sunday night game, so I've got a
lot of time there. I think we're in Providence is
where we're staying. We've got help me out on this book,
worth it or not? Regular season NBA basketball, We've got
Wimby at the Celtics Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Amen Spurs. Spurs are good and Wimby's coming off the pitch.
I think they beat the Lakers last night or early
Wednesday night. Yeah, and seven and one since he's returned, okay,
I mean I think he's a bit of a freak
show to see it. And then Jalen Brown, I think
it's averaging thirty like just going to absolutely boxers.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I might try and talk money into making the track. Yeah,
go check that one out. Got to kill you. Gotta
all the nerves.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
That's a long time to be the Friday on this Sunday.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Game, Sunday night, Sunday night, that's long going to get home,
you know, get home like seven am, West Coast probably
something like that. It's coming back, so it'll be a
tough turnaround, but it'll be a fun game looking forward
to it. We're going to get to those games too.
In just a minute, we're gonna preview, uh, these these
wildcard playoff games, which are a lot of fun. But
before we do that, buck we need to get to
(01:27):
our coordinators of the year. Allright, Buckets Stime for Hot
or Not, brought to you by with Sabby Hot Cloud Storage.
Let's get into our coordinators of the year. Give me
your offensive coordinator of the year and your defensive coordinator
of the year.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, offense of the years. We're gonna start with. Think
Kubiak up in Seattle. The job that he's done refreshing
this offense, helping Sam Donald continue play at a high level.
I think it deserves a ton of credit. This offense
in Seattle is interesting because they're run for offense with
a seventeen hundred yard receiver in JSN and what they've
(02:05):
been able to do with Sam Donald playing at a
very high level, being able to finish games, win a
division number one seed. A lot of that is due
to the offense and the run game, the sneakiness of
the run game, even though they run it over toyty
percent of their plays. But Kennith Walker, Zach Sherman at
being able to be effective and the things that they're
done incorporating so many pieces he deserves to not on
(02:27):
offense and then on defense. Look, I got to talk
about the Denver Broncos and just how they're able to
just scheme it up to get sack at the sack
at the sack, so many people being involved, Nick Benito,
Zach Allen, John Franklin, Like, they just have so many
people that are making contributions, and a lot of that
is vance Joseph blissing his way home, they bringing five
six men, pressures, they get after it, They did it
(02:49):
with him without Patrick Shirtan. Just really well constructed defense.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
And look, their version.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Of the Orange Crush can be overwhelming, and they're gonna
need to be overwhelming to deal with the teams that
they got the face in the tournament.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Well, I think they've done a phenomenal job without question.
I look at that Seattle offense and to me, you
see a group is just getting better and better throughout
the entire season. And seeing an offensive line that's come together,
and it does look like his dad's offensive lines. Where
you see those guys, I think you like to use
the phrase like all on a string. Yeah, these guys
(03:25):
all connected? Is uh? That is fun to watch man.
To me, when you look on the on the defensive
side of the ball, it's it's hard not to be
impressed with it. As fast as Vance Joseph's defense plays,
they're just so aggressive. It's always going forward, it's always
attack mode. There's lots of speed coming off the edges.
They've got some premier players. But I love the job
(03:47):
that he's done. So two good calls for you. I'm
gonna go with mine too. I'm gonna go Matt Burke
on the defensive side of the ball first, the number
two scoring defense, the number one total defense with the Texans.
Demiko Ryans handed him the reins and Matt is a
very sharp guy, and that to me, it's the best
defense in the league in my opinion, just watching the
way they get to the football with violence with bad intentions.
(04:07):
They are physical at all three levels. They're excellent tackling team,
which is a sign of not only good scouting, but
also good coaching. Good teaching. And then the offensive side
of the ball. The transformation of Drake May and this
New England offense has been nothing short of spectacular. I mean,
they revamp that offensive line on the fly. But to
go to a team where they were last year to
be where they are right now as the number two
(04:30):
scoring offense, the number three total offense in the NFL,
with the likely MVP at quarterback, I don't know that
we've seen anything quite like it in some time. No,
we haven't seen it.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
And DJ, you know, because we talked about that evaluation
with Drake May. Just waited it as pop for him
in the second year, DJ is dude, second year player.
Lee's the league in completion percentage, passer rating, averaging almost
nine yards of pass attempt, has over four thousand yards
and thirty five total touchdown.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Just a great year for Drake May.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And we talked about him having the superstar talent and
ceiling or for him to realize that so early in
his career, to me, man, that's coaching and as they
continue to add pieces around him, it's only going to
get better. I mean, And so pass off to Josh
mcgannels for being able to take a young quarterback and
fast tracked him to superstar success.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, they've done a phenomenal job. And Mike Rabel as well,
you know, assembling helping assemble the roster, but assembling the
right coaching staff man when you've got a young quarterback.
Doesn't necessarily always have to be the head coach, but
just putting the right voices in his ear, you know,
being a position coach, a coordinator. Buck. I just think
it's not talked about enough.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
No, it's not talked about enough, just the way that
they've been able to do it and to keep the
band together and to do it. But I would say,
like a young core because you talking about him, talking
about Travon Henderson, you talk about BOOTI like they have
a bunch of young player rookie offensive linemen on the
left side, Wilson and Campbell being on the left side
(05:58):
being able to hold it down that doesn't happen. That
is a terrific job of them coaching it. And I
mean it's going to be like as much as people
didn't want to see it, but man, the Patriots are
back and they can be in full effect for a
while as long as they keep all this stuff together.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
All right, Well, there you have it. That was this
week's Hot or Not segment, brought to you by with
Sabi Hot Cloud Storage, store more and do more with
your data. I try them for free at Withsabi dot Com.
Let's pause, let's say quick break, we come back. We'll
jump into these these wild card game previews here. We'll
be back right after this, all right, buck to four
to five game. The Panthers, the four seed, not a
(06:35):
great record, didn't finish off the year they wanted the
way they wanted to. The Rams come in as really
a super Bowl favorite in the five seed, which is unusual.
But a lot of folks feel like this is the
best all around team, and you can make a very
strong case with how well coached they are. They're getting
guys back healthy, DeVante Adams being at the top of
that list late coming back like those are two key
(06:56):
pieces for that Rams team. I feel like everybody just
kind of chalk this up as a win for the
Rams and the little old plucky Panthers. There, you know, oh,
they did beat the Rams earlier this year, but it
doesn't feel like anybody's giving that much of a chance.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
No, it doesn't feel like that. And I think the
reason why is because people feel so strongly about the
RAMS being really complete, maybe the most complete team in
the league offensive defense, and special teams.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Man, they get a lot of things. Special teams stunk
for a good portion of the year, but they've gotten
better since they made changes.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
They have gotten better since they've been able to make
those changes, and hass off to them for making it happen.
I will say the thing about the RAMS and why
people are optimistic on the RAMS with Matthew Stafford is
the experience, the expertise. But I would say the adaptability
that Sean McVay has shown with this scheme. You pointed
out very early in the year before people were really
(07:45):
talking about thirteen personnel and how they were using one
back in three tight ends to create mismatches and to
dictate the terms, particularly down in the red zone, and
how much milage did we getting out of that crew
then using multiple backs and Karen Lace and Karen Williams
being able to share the load, and you know they
did it with Puka Nakua one hundred and like just
(08:08):
they are a well constructed offense. In their offense is
their best defense because they force you to play ketchup.
They forced you to chase points, and that plays into
those passers did they have up front.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
So how did the Panthers beat them the first time?
They beat them the first time because they ran the
ball twice as much as they threw it. At forty
to twenty, they one time a possession by ten minutes,
and they turned Matthew Stafford over three times. So that's
that's a tall task to be able to pull that
off again. But that's the formula. I mean, they've got
to shorten the game. They got to run the ball.
They got to find a way to steal a possession,
(08:40):
whether that's you know, with a turnover, whether that's with
a fake punt. You know, however, they got to do it.
They've got to get the possessions in their favor. And
to me, buck you when you look at them, Derek
Brown has a chance to take over a football game,
which is rare to say about an interior defensive lineman.
That's their best hope. He's got to be dominant. He's
(09:00):
got to he's got to completely disrupt the rhythm and
flow of this offense. He's capable of doing it versus
the run and the pass. Yeah, he's capable of doing it.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
But you talked about so many things going right for them,
with a whole lot of things, a long checklist, man, turnovers, run, game,
time of possession, dominance, all those things.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Can they do it again?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I think what you have is a more doubt in
and focused Rams team. Man, this is hard for me
to imagine them losing to the Panthers with all of
this that is online, even though look it's hard to
win on the road in the postseason. Man, I just
don't have it in the cards. I just think this
is one where the Rams get this thing done.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
All right. Remember the You remember the line, I love
the opportunity to beat Matt Lafleur twice a year. Well,
people thought, people thought Ben Johnson wasn't gonna get that
shot because they lost the first game, close to losing
the second game at home, even after they'd knocked out
Jordan Love. But they had a miracle comeback. Caleb Williams
leads them the big throw to DJ Moore. They split,
(09:58):
so got to get a second against him. You got
to play them a third time. Well that's what they got.
First round matchup here, a two to seven game. The
third meeting between the Packers and the Bears. Yeah, third meeting.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
And if I'm mad with the fluor arming like this,
I love it because anyone who has watched those two games,
these are the second game.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
The Packers were.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Dominating the game, like dominating the game. They lost the
last five minutes of the game like something that never happens,
you don't get an outside kick. Yeah, I mean they
were dominating the game. You have a lot of confidence
in this. If you're the Green Bay Packers. You rested
you guys, You get Jordan Love back, get some other
people back. You feel good about your approach because they
went up and down the field. They've had success. Now
(10:35):
you got to go on the road and get it done.
But a very confident Green Bay Packers team is going
to run out of that tunnel and soldier field.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah. I would say of all the units, the Bears
defense is clearly the worst. You can debate, you know
what's the best, but you know the Packers defense hasn't
They have not been able to rush the passer since
Mike had got hurt. That's a fact. But I still
think personnel wise, they're better than the Bears on that
side of the ball. The Bears are relying on turnovers.
(11:03):
They've got to get turnovers to be able to get stops.
But I do think that I think this Bears offense.
I think Caleb I'm excited to see him on this stage,
the playoff stage. I think he kind of built for it.
I think you see the best of Caleb Williams in
this game. And I think that the way they stubbed
their toe in the last game against Detroit, I know
Ben Johnson very upset about it. I think is probably
the best thing that happened to him. It was a Hey,
(11:24):
we don't bring our best. We're not beating any We're
not beating teams that aren't making the playoffs. We'm sure
as he aren't beating the teams in the playoffs. We've
got to bring our best, and we've got to bring
it from the first quarter. These six comeback wins is
cute and all. We can't live like that, man. We
got to start faster.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah, they got to start fast, and you know the
experience the playoff experience of the packs is going to
come into it. This will be interesting to see how
Caleb Brienams reforms in a big game, primetime game, all
eyes on him. He's always performed well. He's dazzles at time.
But the last two weeks have been good. They've had
tough losses against really, really good teams. Maybe that'll refocused them.
(11:58):
Here's the challenge their defense is. I mean, it's almost
a boom or bust defense. That's the best way to
scrap it. They're going to either take it away or
they're gonna give up a bunch of points. If you're
Jordan Love and Matt Lafoll, you just say, hey, guys,
let's just finish the strap with a kick. Don't give
them anything because they feed off the turnovers, like, don't
give them anything. If they do that, they can be
(12:18):
well positioned because they had an opportunity to win the
second one.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
By doing that, they don't turn it over, they're going
to win the game.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
No question. Looking forward to that contest should be fun.
All right, Let's get to your game, Buck, that little
small market team in Jacksonville and just a little overachievers
you got down there, you know, I mean all those games,
but not a lot of hype, not a lot of love,
not a lot of attention on the Jags, the three
seed as they walk theme in the Bills here, I
mean love it.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Yeah, just like a home dog, home dog team wins
thirteen games a year, home dog on the road, I
mean at home. Josh Allen coming into the building, I
would say this, this is gonna be an interesting game
because Josh Allen has a lot on him. The Buffalo
Bills are a team that they play possession like they squad.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
On the ball.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
They hold it over thirty three minutes per game, and
so they don't give you a lot of possession. They're
gonna run the football number one rush offense there James
Cook making plays all over the field. And then Josh
Allen in these games, he lives for it like he's
gonna put on the superhero costume and he's gonna do
everything that he can to make it happen. The thing
that he has to do, and the common denominator in
their losses is they turn it over. If he doesn't
(13:25):
turn it over, they're a very difficult team to beat.
They don't give up explosive plays on defense. They force
you to drive the length of the field. They are
hurt when they turn it over, so it's gonna be
on him to take care of the ball to make
sure when they get into the red zone they finish
off drives the right way. If they do that, it's
gonna be a tall task for the Jacks. On the
other hand, for the Jaguars, it's about Trevor Lawrence continue
(13:47):
to be who he is. They are really well constructed
and well balanced on offense. He's leaning into everything that
Liam Cohn has talked to him about in terms of
being aggressive and dolling in and pushing it over the middle.
I can't wait to see what this looks like because
these two quarterbacks are interesting because Josh Allen reigning MVP.
Trevor Lawrence is trying to be like Josh Allen. When
(14:10):
you talk about the way his game is transitioning, it's
gonna be.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
A good one. I can't wait to see it. Yeah,
when you look at the combination of how physical the
Jags are upfront on defense and how physical the Bills
are in the run game on offense, you got best
versus best, good versus good that can go a long
way and decide in the game right there, who's able
to win the line of scrimmage and when those two
units are on the field.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, look, it's gonna be a physical game.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
And I can tell you man that the Jacks are
gonna try and lean into making it a very physical
game from the jump because physicality has been their calling card.
They've had a lot of success being able to run
the football, being able to play that way. One of
the things that came up, and I talked about this
in a meeting. I used your reference in terms of
when you attack Josh Allen, you have to be able
(14:57):
to have enough people that can get him down. It's
to Ben Roethlisberger thing all over again. It's one thing
to get hits on them, it's another thing to get
them to the ground. So this game has to be
a game where you have your big boy pads on
and you got to rep and you got to hold
on for dear life because he is a big, physical
dude when it comes to being able to throw from
the bike.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I think that's gonna be the most physical game of
the entire weekend. I'm looking forward to that one. That
the middle game in that triple header on Sunday, is
the Niners at the Eagles. Man. The Niners stumble into
the finish line buck the defense does not look good.
It looks like a great time for Philly to catch them.
But it's still Kyle Shanahan and Rock Perty is still
capable of getting the heat on a heater, So got
(15:37):
to be careful for you the Eagles. But that's a
rested group. I think they made the right decision resting
up by the way. I know they could have got
the two seed and people saying, ah, that was a
missed opportunity. Now they're good enough to take that show
on the road if they have to down the line.
So to me, I thought they needed their horses healthy
and ready to go, and they should be. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
The interesting thing about this one is Vic Fangio versus
Kyle shan and Kyle shan one sided. Yeah, Kyle Shanahan
and being on record talking about how difficult it has
been to deal with that defense, and so some of
that confidence in sitting those guys out is knowing that
you have a really good plan for out of defendom.
And it's easy to have a good plan when you
(16:16):
got Jalen Carter in the middle. Dyl Carter makes it miserable.
And if you're the forty nine ers and you have
the prospect of potentially not being able to have Trim
Williams or compromise Trim Williams, Man, you're the Eagles. You
love that to think about the Eagles. Though you have
got to score some points. You cannot allow this game
to be one of those low scoring games they got
away with it in Buffalo being able to win. They
(16:39):
cannot think that twelve or thirteen points is gonna.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Be enough to knock off the nine. Yeah, and it
just feels like Jalen's been a reluctant runner all year long.
And part of me is like, man, he might be
just saved himself for this time. Right now he can
just go like he needs to. To me, I like
to see him run the ball ten times, eight to
ten times in this game. Just do it. Add that,
make them hold it, make them honor you. It's gonna
help a kwon in the run game. And then also
(17:03):
you know you'll be able to get some I think
they'll be able to find some explosive plays there. There
there were plays in that Niner Seahawks game where the
Seahawks are pulling a guard buck and he's up in
the hole and he's seven eight yards and there's nobody
to block, Like there's nobody there. Fred Warner injury as
much as the Nick Bosa thing hurt. I think the
Fred Warner injury man that was that was crucial. That hurt.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
I mean you lose two blue chip players.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I mean it's just hard to play with how blue
chip players on your defense and at the level you
pass rusher and you might linebacker guys that really get
it done and impact the game more than anybody else. Look,
I think the Eagles win, but they're not. Is it
gonna make this very challenging dead offense. I've just seen
Kyle Shanahan like poor rappers out of hats too often
(17:45):
to make it a very difficult game. I think this
gonna be a much harder game. You remember when they
beat him a couple of years ago. They knock brought
pretty out Brockberty's available. It changes the equation a little bit. Yeah, no,
I have at least I got Kittle back. That helps.
It'll be a fun game. Looking forward to that one.
The nightcap is the game I'll be at. That is
the Chargers traveling of taking on the two seed in
the New England Patriots and presumptive MVP in Drake. May
(18:07):
you know, from the Chargers side of things, I think
opponent wise, you know that this is not the most
dominant defensive front that's in the AFC playoffs.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
It's a good group. They play well together. Milton Williams
coming back is a big key for them, is a
really good player. But I you know, I think from
the edge rush standpoint, with the backup tackle situation, I mean,
they're all good in the playoffs, but I think this
is probably the best they could have hoped for in
terms of a matchup there. Maybe they get their offense going.
They rested everybody last week against Denver, including Herbert, so
(18:37):
give that hand a chance to heal up a little bit.
So I think that matchup wise, I think there's a
chance for the Chargers to do some things there. I
know it's hard to believe they went in there. Last
year these two teams played in November was forty to seven.
The Chargers won the game. And I'm sitting here going
if you'd told me at that time that the Patriots
would would revamp the rosters so much so that they
would be hosting as the number two seed in the
(18:59):
playoffs with an MVA quarterback the next year. It's remarkable
what they've done, but it is still new. I know,
you've got you know, Vrabel with a ton of experience.
You know, you've got Josh McDaniels. This guy's got a
lot of rings. Now they've been through these wars. They're
gonna be able to impart a lot of knowledge. But
the key players on that team do not have a
ton of that experience.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, there's a lot of that, and there's a lot
of newness in this postseason.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I mean, look, think about it, like three teams that
or at least two teams that we expect to being
in the quarterbacks are not available, not gonna, not gonna
be there.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I mean, so now you I mean look at Nomes,
no Burrow and no Lamar.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yeah, I mean, so you think about those guys didn't
being available. It's it's all new. What opposed to you
is all the noise around the Charges is like, hey,
we haven't performed well in these moments. If you could
waive the magic wand to get the Charges to play
well right out the gate, what would be the things
that need to go well.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
For the Chargers Early. I think you'll know in this
game if it's going to be the Chargers day, it's
gonna it's gonna be very simple. You're gonna see a
big hit from Derwin James or Tony Jefferson or Denzel
Paraman who's back off for a two game suspension. That
when they their defense stepped up in the at the
end of the season, really after that Jags game, they
had to buy They played really good defense all the
(20:14):
way down the home stretch. And I'm a I'm a
big believer and this goes back to my Baltimore roots,
which is, you know, there's not you can have the
same play in the box score that's a two yard
tackle for loss or an incomplete pass over the middle,
and they can be two totally different versions of that.
There can be a rap drag get you down to
the ground, and there can be a run through your chest.
You can hear the pads popping. And when the Chargers
(20:36):
have been playing like that, and one of the underrated
guys who does that is Tony Jefferson, who flies around,
smacks people. Denzel Paraman flies around, smacks people. They need
that physical edge to them. Derwin's always had that, but
they've got more guys. Khalil Mack plays that way. Two
Lead's a physical player, like, they have to be a violent,
physical team. If they are, I think that's that would
keep you from blowing a big lead in Jacksonville. That
(20:58):
would you know, that would keep you, you know, from
kind of falling apart a little bit against c. J.
Stroud in the Houston Texans.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yeah, it's funny you say that, DJ.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Like people always talk about the postseason and you've been
around that vibe and energy. More it's the team that
out hits the other team. I can't properly represent what
playoff football is like, but you can feel the energy.
It's a different tenor different level of intensity and urgency,
and the physicality goes up tenfold as we get into
each and every round. This is one where you can
(21:29):
tell your team. You can tell your team is ready
to play by Windy delivered that ooh we hit early
in the game. It needs to happen early. You got
to sit the tone. You got to let the other
team know we're going to play on these terms and
you have to match us to have a chance to
beat us.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Today. Do you remember I don't remember if it was Gosh,
was it Chancellor or Brown or whoever it was in
that Super Bowl against the Broncos. Early in the game,
game is get over. Yeah, it's over.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I think they hit the Marius Thomas on the crossing
route really and just obliterated him. And that that changes
things like it has to be that and the finality
of the postseason changes the urgency and that physicality has
to be a part of you.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Is talked about all the time, but it has to
be executed upon on game day.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
That was what Rex Acts used to talk about and
when we were going through draft meetings, I remember it
there in Baltimore was he would say, what's the biggest
momentum changing play for a defense. Somebody said, Oh, it's
a sack. Somebody said no, no, no, it's an interception, it's
a stop on fourth down. No it's a red zone.
He goes, no, it's a big hit. He said, A
big hit energizes your defense way more than a sack.
(22:40):
You know, a force fumble, an interception. He said that
you get a big hit, it energizes the entire group.
It energizes the sideline. If you're playing at home, it
energizes the whole stadium.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah, it changes everything. Man, It's about hit or be hit.
If you're going to walk them around, you're going to
have to get hit. And it has to be like that,
not just on defense, but it has to be like
that on offense. The way you're offensive lineman finished blocks,
the way your running backs finish runs, all of it.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
It is a physical affair and it has to be
like that from the jump.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Last game Monday night, the Steelers who come off a
dramatic win after that, that miskick, they march on and
their rewards they get to walk in the Houston Texans
and that nasty defense into Pittsburgh. Tough game.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
You talk about the most physical game, I think this
has a chance to be the most facial. Good point,
because these are two maller brawlers. They have no finesse
to their game. They can't play finest wel. They have
to resort back to who they are and that's gonna
be a street fight. And we know what the Texans
bring because their defense is about swarming to the ball.
They talk about knocking folks out at every turn. And
(23:44):
then the Steelers, whenever they're desperate, they ratchet up the
physicality that is the best part of their team, that
has always been the best part of them. When they're
backed into the corner, they're just gonna thug it out.
They gonna make it a very physical affair. They have
to do it.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
But I don't I don't know how Pittsburgh can get
to twenty points.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Yeah, I don't like when you.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Look at the Texans, the Texans old everybody under twenty
and I just don't know how Pittsburgh's gonna score twenty
points against the Texans D So.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
I don't either. But that's why I, uh, I was.
I think they only want all these previous I'm the
only one who picked the Steelers. Everybody picked the Houston
to win, and I don't even know, you know, I
don't have a great reason I picked the Steelers to
win this game. Seventeen to sixteen, seventeen to sixteen, and really, really,
I'm just sitting there going I'm coming off of watching CJ.
Stroud in person, where he turned it over a couple
(24:36):
times against the Chargers and kept him in the game.
And I think that Aaron is smart enough and sharp
enough where they could steal you know, you get a
short field, it's a touchdown. You get a short field,
it's a field goal. You know, it just there. I
always get nervous when it's just oh, it's kind of
a I mean, Houston's gonna run in there and run
them over, like the Houston defense. I'm still maybe I'm
(24:57):
just holding on to old my old days. But I'm
like Pittsburgh at night in the playoffs and now TJ.
Watt healthy and Derek Harmon's playing his butt off and
Hayward's playing awesome like that is a really really good front.
Now their secondary scares the crud out of me. That
to me is how that game gets won for Houston.
C J. Stroud should have a big game attack in
the secondary with those receivers that have all come together,
(25:19):
these young rookies to go along with Nico Collins. They
got a good group out there. That's where the Houston
wins the game. But man, I just like sack force fumble,
like you know, I don't know, I just I picked
Pittsburgh to win in a kind of an ugly, ugly
seventeen to sixteen game. DJ.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I think they have some ridiculous record on Monday Night,
Like in terms of like the number of wins that
they have and the Mike tunnet there, like they don't
lose typically in prime time on Monday Night, Like that's
the thing Renegade is gonna be playing.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
I'm sure you hate the sound of it. Give me
your Ravens size.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
I mean, but they gonna be fully frothy, and it's
a perfect situation for Mike Tomland. Like whatever about the
Steelers their mystique when they are backed into the corn,
when everyone doused him and counts them out, they tend
to rise to the occasion, and I understand it.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
But I also understand that they gonna have a tough
time score point. I just know know how to get
the twenty points. I know how to get the twenty points.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Well, they have to hold them under twenty. That's how
they win the game. I think if the game gets
a north of twenty, I don't think they win it.
So they got to They got to try and figure
out a way to muck it up and make a
role ugly, ugly performance good enough to win. But I'm
looking forward to these games, block. I cannot wait. Can't
wait to get back on here and recap them next week.
As well.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Anything you want to add before we get out of here,
not too much, man like, it's it's great, man. I'm
looking for I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait
to see this action. We've talked about it all season,
but now that we're in the tournament. The game is
just so much better when you get to the postseason
because everyone is on it.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Yeah, we cannot wait. We'll see see it. Maybe the
Chargers and the Jacks collide down the line here. That'd
be fun. All right, that's going to do it for us.
We'll see you next time. Right here on MOVI, the
Sticks want to mot
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
What's up everybody? Welcome to move the sticks DJ and
Buck with you? Buck? How are you doing? Man? Man,
I'm good. DJ.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Like you know, ITEA is like we're in full playoff mode.
When you guys take off, we check off.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Yeah, it's late later today, so we were taking off
and uh we'll be up there Friday night and uh
we got a Sunday night game, so I've got a
lot of time there. I think we're in Providence is
where we're staying. We've got help me out on this book,
worth it or not? Regular season NBA basketball, We've got
Wimby at the Celtics Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Amen Spurs. Spurs are good and Wimby's coming off the pitch.
I think they beat the Lakers last night or early
Wednesday night. Yeah, and seven and one since he's returned, okay,
I mean I think he's a bit of a freak
show to see it. And then Jalen Brown, I think
it's averaging thirty like just going to absolutely boxers.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I might try and talk money into making the track. Yeah,
go check that one out. Got to kill you. Gotta
all the nerves.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
That's a long time to be the Friday on this Sunday.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Game, Sunday night, Sunday night, that's long going to get home,
you know, get home like seven am, West Coast probably
something like that. It's coming back, so it'll be a
tough turnaround, but it'll be a fun game looking forward
to it. We're going to get to those games too.
In just a minute, we're gonna preview, uh, these these
wildcard playoff games, which are a lot of fun. But
before we do that, buck we need to get to
(01:27):
our coordinators of the year. Allright, Buckets Stime for Hot
or Not, brought to you by with Sabby Hot Cloud Storage.
Let's get into our coordinators of the year. Give me
your offensive coordinator of the year and your defensive coordinator
of the year.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, offense of the years. We're gonna start with. Think
Kubiak up in Seattle. The job that he's done refreshing
this offense, helping Sam Donald continue play at a high level.
I think it deserves a ton of credit. This offense
in Seattle is interesting because they're run for offense with
a seventeen hundred yard receiver in JSN and what they've
(02:05):
been able to do with Sam Donald playing at a
very high level, being able to finish games, win a
division number one seed. A lot of that is due
to the offense and the run game, the sneakiness of
the run game, even though they run it over toyty
percent of their plays. But Kennith Walker, Zach Sherman at
being able to be effective and the things that they're
done incorporating so many pieces he deserves to not on
(02:27):
offense and then on defense. Look, I got to talk
about the Denver Broncos and just how they're able to
just scheme it up to get sack at the sack
at the sack, so many people being involved, Nick Benito,
Zach Allen, John Franklin, Like, they just have so many
people that are making contributions, and a lot of that
is vance Joseph blissing his way home, they bringing five
six men, pressures, they get after it, They did it
(02:49):
with him without Patrick Shirtan. Just really well constructed defense.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
And look, their version.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Of the Orange Crush can be overwhelming, and they're gonna
need to be overwhelming to deal with the teams that
they got the face in the tournament.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Well, I think they've done a phenomenal job without question.
I look at that Seattle offense and to me, you
see a group is just getting better and better throughout
the entire season. And seeing an offensive line that's come together,
and it does look like his dad's offensive lines. Where
you see those guys, I think you like to use
the phrase like all on a string. Yeah, these guys
(03:25):
all connected? Is uh? That is fun to watch man.
To me, when you look on the on the defensive
side of the ball, it's it's hard not to be
impressed with it. As fast as Vance Joseph's defense plays,
they're just so aggressive. It's always going forward, it's always
attack mode. There's lots of speed coming off the edges.
They've got some premier players. But I love the job
(03:47):
that he's done. So two good calls for you. I'm
gonna go with mine too. I'm gonna go Matt Burke
on the defensive side of the ball first, the number
two scoring defense, the number one total defense with the Texans.
Demiko Ryans handed him the reins and Matt is a
very sharp guy, and that to me, it's the best
defense in the league in my opinion, just watching the
way they get to the football with violence with bad intentions.
(04:07):
They are physical at all three levels. They're excellent tackling team,
which is a sign of not only good scouting, but
also good coaching. Good teaching. And then the offensive side
of the ball. The transformation of Drake May and this
New England offense has been nothing short of spectacular. I mean,
they revamp that offensive line on the fly. But to
go to a team where they were last year to
be where they are right now as the number two
(04:30):
scoring offense, the number three total offense in the NFL,
with the likely MVP at quarterback, I don't know that
we've seen anything quite like it in some time. No,
we haven't seen it.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
And DJ, you know, because we talked about that evaluation
with Drake May. Just waited it as pop for him
in the second year, DJ is dude, second year player.
Lee's the league in completion percentage, passer rating, averaging almost
nine yards of pass attempt, has over four thousand yards
and thirty five total touchdown.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Just a great year for Drake May.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And we talked about him having the superstar talent and
ceiling or for him to realize that so early in
his career, to me, man, that's coaching and as they
continue to add pieces around him, it's only going to
get better. I mean, And so pass off to Josh
mcgannels for being able to take a young quarterback and
fast tracked him to superstar success.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, they've done a phenomenal job. And Mike Rabel as well,
you know, assembling helping assemble the roster, but assembling the
right coaching staff man when you've got a young quarterback.
Doesn't necessarily always have to be the head coach, but
just putting the right voices in his ear, you know,
being a position coach, a coordinator. Buck. I just think
it's not talked about enough.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
No, it's not talked about enough, just the way that
they've been able to do it and to keep the
band together and to do it. But I would say,
like a young core because you talking about him, talking
about Travon Henderson, you talk about BOOTI like they have
a bunch of young player rookie offensive linemen on the
left side, Wilson and Campbell being on the left side
(05:58):
being able to hold it down that doesn't happen. That
is a terrific job of them coaching it. And I
mean it's going to be like as much as people
didn't want to see it, but man, the Patriots are
back and they can be in full effect for a
while as long as they keep all this stuff together.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
All right, Well, there you have it. That was this
week's Hot or Not segment, brought to you by with
Sabi Hot Cloud Storage, store more and do more with
your data. I try them for free at Withsabi dot Com.
Let's pause, let's say quick break, we come back. We'll
jump into these these wild card game previews here. We'll
be back right after this, all right, buck to four
to five game. The Panthers, the four seed, not a
(06:35):
great record, didn't finish off the year they wanted the
way they wanted to. The Rams come in as really
a super Bowl favorite in the five seed, which is unusual.
But a lot of folks feel like this is the
best all around team, and you can make a very
strong case with how well coached they are. They're getting
guys back healthy, DeVante Adams being at the top of
that list late coming back like those are two key
(06:56):
pieces for that Rams team. I feel like everybody just
kind of chalk this up as a win for the
Rams and the little old plucky Panthers. There, you know, oh,
they did beat the Rams earlier this year, but it
doesn't feel like anybody's giving that much of a chance.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
No, it doesn't feel like that. And I think the
reason why is because people feel so strongly about the
RAMS being really complete, maybe the most complete team in
the league offensive defense, and special teams.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Man, they get a lot of things. Special teams stunk
for a good portion of the year, but they've gotten
better since they made changes.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
They have gotten better since they've been able to make
those changes, and hass off to them for making it happen.
I will say the thing about the RAMS and why
people are optimistic on the RAMS with Matthew Stafford is
the experience, the expertise. But I would say the adaptability
that Sean McVay has shown with this scheme. You pointed
out very early in the year before people were really
(07:45):
talking about thirteen personnel and how they were using one
back in three tight ends to create mismatches and to
dictate the terms, particularly down in the red zone, and
how much milage did we getting out of that crew
then using multiple backs and Karen Lace and Karen Williams
being able to share the load, and you know they
did it with Puka Nakua one hundred and like just
(08:08):
they are a well constructed offense. In their offense is
their best defense because they force you to play ketchup.
They forced you to chase points, and that plays into
those passers did they have up front.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
So how did the Panthers beat them the first time?
They beat them the first time because they ran the
ball twice as much as they threw it. At forty
to twenty, they one time a possession by ten minutes,
and they turned Matthew Stafford over three times. So that's
that's a tall task to be able to pull that
off again. But that's the formula. I mean, they've got
to shorten the game. They got to run the ball.
They got to find a way to steal a possession,
(08:40):
whether that's you know, with a turnover, whether that's with
a fake punt. You know, however, they got to do it.
They've got to get the possessions in their favor. And
to me, buck you when you look at them, Derek
Brown has a chance to take over a football game,
which is rare to say about an interior defensive lineman.
That's their best hope. He's got to be dominant. He's
(09:00):
got to he's got to completely disrupt the rhythm and
flow of this offense. He's capable of doing it versus
the run and the pass. Yeah, he's capable of doing it.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
But you talked about so many things going right for them,
with a whole lot of things, a long checklist, man, turnovers, run, game,
time of possession, dominance, all those things.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Can they do it again?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I think what you have is a more doubt in
and focused Rams team. Man, this is hard for me
to imagine them losing to the Panthers with all of
this that is online, even though look it's hard to
win on the road in the postseason. Man, I just
don't have it in the cards. I just think this
is one where the Rams get this thing done.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
All right. Remember the You remember the line, I love
the opportunity to beat Matt Lafleur twice a year. Well,
people thought, people thought Ben Johnson wasn't gonna get that
shot because they lost the first game, close to losing
the second game at home, even after they'd knocked out
Jordan Love. But they had a miracle comeback. Caleb Williams
leads them the big throw to DJ Moore. They split,
(09:58):
so got to get a second against him. You got
to play them a third time. Well that's what they got.
First round matchup here, a two to seven game. The
third meeting between the Packers and the Bears. Yeah, third meeting.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
And if I'm mad with the fluor arming like this,
I love it because anyone who has watched those two games,
these are the second game.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
The Packers were.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Dominating the game, like dominating the game. They lost the
last five minutes of the game like something that never happens,
you don't get an outside kick. Yeah, I mean they
were dominating the game. You have a lot of confidence
in this. If you're the Green Bay Packers. You rested
you guys, You get Jordan Love back, get some other
people back. You feel good about your approach because they
went up and down the field. They've had success. Now
(10:35):
you got to go on the road and get it done.
But a very confident Green Bay Packers team is going
to run out of that tunnel and soldier field.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah. I would say of all the units, the Bears
defense is clearly the worst. You can debate, you know
what's the best, but you know the Packers defense hasn't
They have not been able to rush the passer since
Mike had got hurt. That's a fact. But I still
think personnel wise, they're better than the Bears on that
side of the ball. The Bears are relying on turnovers.
(11:03):
They've got to get turnovers to be able to get stops.
But I do think that I think this Bears offense.
I think Caleb I'm excited to see him on this stage,
the playoff stage. I think he kind of built for it.
I think you see the best of Caleb Williams in
this game. And I think that the way they stubbed
their toe in the last game against Detroit, I know
Ben Johnson very upset about it. I think is probably
the best thing that happened to him. It was a Hey,
(11:24):
we don't bring our best. We're not beating any We're
not beating teams that aren't making the playoffs. We'm sure
as he aren't beating the teams in the playoffs. We've
got to bring our best, and we've got to bring
it from the first quarter. These six comeback wins is
cute and all. We can't live like that, man. We
got to start faster.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah, they got to start fast, and you know the
experience the playoff experience of the packs is going to
come into it. This will be interesting to see how
Caleb Brienams reforms in a big game, primetime game, all
eyes on him. He's always performed well. He's dazzles at time.
But the last two weeks have been good. They've had
tough losses against really, really good teams. Maybe that'll refocused them.
(11:58):
Here's the challenge their defense is. I mean, it's almost
a boom or bust defense. That's the best way to
scrap it. They're going to either take it away or
they're gonna give up a bunch of points. If you're
Jordan Love and Matt Lafoll, you just say, hey, guys,
let's just finish the strap with a kick. Don't give
them anything because they feed off the turnovers, like, don't
give them anything. If they do that, they can be
(12:18):
well positioned because they had an opportunity to win the
second one.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
By doing that, they don't turn it over, they're going
to win the game.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
No question. Looking forward to that contest should be fun.
All right, Let's get to your game, Buck, that little
small market team in Jacksonville and just a little overachievers
you got down there, you know, I mean all those games,
but not a lot of hype, not a lot of love,
not a lot of attention on the Jags, the three
seed as they walk theme in the Bills here, I
mean love it.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Yeah, just like a home dog, home dog team wins
thirteen games a year, home dog on the road, I
mean at home. Josh Allen coming into the building, I
would say this, this is gonna be an interesting game
because Josh Allen has a lot on him. The Buffalo
Bills are a team that they play possession like they squad.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
On the ball.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
They hold it over thirty three minutes per game, and
so they don't give you a lot of possession. They're
gonna run the football number one rush offense there James
Cook making plays all over the field. And then Josh
Allen in these games, he lives for it like he's
gonna put on the superhero costume and he's gonna do
everything that he can to make it happen. The thing
that he has to do, and the common denominator in
their losses is they turn it over. If he doesn't
(13:25):
turn it over, they're a very difficult team to beat.
They don't give up explosive plays on defense. They force
you to drive the length of the field. They are
hurt when they turn it over, so it's gonna be
on him to take care of the ball to make
sure when they get into the red zone they finish
off drives the right way. If they do that, it's
gonna be a tall task for the Jacks. On the
other hand, for the Jaguars, it's about Trevor Lawrence continue
(13:47):
to be who he is. They are really well constructed
and well balanced on offense. He's leaning into everything that
Liam Cohn has talked to him about in terms of
being aggressive and dolling in and pushing it over the middle.
I can't wait to see what this looks like because
these two quarterbacks are interesting because Josh Allen reigning MVP.
Trevor Lawrence is trying to be like Josh Allen. When
(14:10):
you talk about the way his game is transitioning, it's
gonna be.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
A good one. I can't wait to see it. Yeah,
when you look at the combination of how physical the
Jags are upfront on defense and how physical the Bills
are in the run game on offense, you got best
versus best, good versus good that can go a long
way and decide in the game right there, who's able
to win the line of scrimmage and when those two
units are on the field.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, look, it's gonna be a physical game.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
And I can tell you man that the Jacks are
gonna try and lean into making it a very physical
game from the jump because physicality has been their calling card.
They've had a lot of success being able to run
the football, being able to play that way. One of
the things that came up, and I talked about this
in a meeting. I used your reference in terms of
when you attack Josh Allen, you have to be able
(14:57):
to have enough people that can get him down. It's
to Ben Roethlisberger thing all over again. It's one thing
to get hits on them, it's another thing to get
them to the ground. So this game has to be
a game where you have your big boy pads on
and you got to rep and you got to hold
on for dear life because he is a big, physical
dude when it comes to being able to throw from
the bike.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I think that's gonna be the most physical game of
the entire weekend. I'm looking forward to that one. That
the middle game in that triple header on Sunday, is
the Niners at the Eagles. Man. The Niners stumble into
the finish line buck the defense does not look good.
It looks like a great time for Philly to catch them.
But it's still Kyle Shanahan and Rock Perty is still
capable of getting the heat on a heater, So got
(15:37):
to be careful for you the Eagles. But that's a
rested group. I think they made the right decision resting
up by the way. I know they could have got
the two seed and people saying, ah, that was a
missed opportunity. Now they're good enough to take that show
on the road if they have to down the line.
So to me, I thought they needed their horses healthy
and ready to go, and they should be. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
The interesting thing about this one is Vic Fangio versus
Kyle shan and Kyle shan one sided. Yeah, Kyle Shanahan
and being on record talking about how difficult it has
been to deal with that defense, and so some of
that confidence in sitting those guys out is knowing that
you have a really good plan for out of defendom.
And it's easy to have a good plan when you
(16:16):
got Jalen Carter in the middle. Dyl Carter makes it miserable.
And if you're the forty nine ers and you have
the prospect of potentially not being able to have Trim
Williams or compromise Trim Williams, Man, you're the Eagles. You
love that to think about the Eagles. Though you have
got to score some points. You cannot allow this game
to be one of those low scoring games they got
away with it in Buffalo being able to win. They
(16:39):
cannot think that twelve or thirteen points is gonna.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Be enough to knock off the nine. Yeah, and it
just feels like Jalen's been a reluctant runner all year long.
And part of me is like, man, he might be
just saved himself for this time. Right now he can
just go like he needs to. To me, I like
to see him run the ball ten times, eight to
ten times in this game. Just do it. Add that,
make them hold it, make them honor you. It's gonna
help a kwon in the run game. And then also
(17:03):
you know you'll be able to get some I think
they'll be able to find some explosive plays there. There
there were plays in that Niner Seahawks game where the
Seahawks are pulling a guard buck and he's up in
the hole and he's seven eight yards and there's nobody
to block, Like there's nobody there. Fred Warner injury as
much as the Nick Bosa thing hurt. I think the
Fred Warner injury man that was that was crucial. That hurt.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
I mean you lose two blue chip players.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I mean it's just hard to play with how blue
chip players on your defense and at the level you
pass rusher and you might linebacker guys that really get
it done and impact the game more than anybody else. Look,
I think the Eagles win, but they're not. Is it
gonna make this very challenging dead offense. I've just seen
Kyle Shanahan like poor rappers out of hats too often
(17:45):
to make it a very difficult game. I think this
gonna be a much harder game. You remember when they
beat him a couple of years ago. They knock brought
pretty out Brockberty's available. It changes the equation a little bit. Yeah, no,
I have at least I got Kittle back. That helps.
It'll be a fun game. Looking forward to that one.
The nightcap is the game I'll be at. That is
the Chargers traveling of taking on the two seed in
the New England Patriots and presumptive MVP in Drake. May
(18:07):
you know, from the Chargers side of things, I think
opponent wise, you know that this is not the most
dominant defensive front that's in the AFC playoffs.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
It's a good group. They play well together. Milton Williams
coming back is a big key for them, is a
really good player. But I you know, I think from
the edge rush standpoint, with the backup tackle situation, I mean,
they're all good in the playoffs, but I think this
is probably the best they could have hoped for in
terms of a matchup there. Maybe they get their offense going.
They rested everybody last week against Denver, including Herbert, so
(18:37):
give that hand a chance to heal up a little bit.
So I think that matchup wise, I think there's a
chance for the Chargers to do some things there. I
know it's hard to believe they went in there. Last
year these two teams played in November was forty to seven.
The Chargers won the game. And I'm sitting here going
if you'd told me at that time that the Patriots
would would revamp the rosters so much so that they
would be hosting as the number two seed in the
(18:59):
playoffs with an MVA quarterback the next year. It's remarkable
what they've done, but it is still new. I know,
you've got you know, Vrabel with a ton of experience.
You know, you've got Josh McDaniels. This guy's got a
lot of rings. Now they've been through these wars. They're
gonna be able to impart a lot of knowledge. But
the key players on that team do not have a
ton of that experience.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, there's a lot of that, and there's a lot
of newness in this postseason.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I mean, look, think about it, like three teams that
or at least two teams that we expect to being
in the quarterbacks are not available, not gonna, not gonna
be there.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I mean, so now you I mean look at Nomes,
no Burrow and no Lamar.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yeah, I mean, so you think about those guys didn't
being available. It's it's all new. What opposed to you
is all the noise around the Charges is like, hey,
we haven't performed well in these moments. If you could
waive the magic wand to get the Charges to play
well right out the gate, what would be the things
that need to go well.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
For the Chargers Early. I think you'll know in this
game if it's going to be the Chargers day, it's
gonna it's gonna be very simple. You're gonna see a
big hit from Derwin James or Tony Jefferson or Denzel
Paraman who's back off for a two game suspension. That
when they their defense stepped up in the at the
end of the season, really after that Jags game, they
had to buy They played really good defense all the
(20:14):
way down the home stretch. And I'm a I'm a
big believer and this goes back to my Baltimore roots,
which is, you know, there's not you can have the
same play in the box score that's a two yard
tackle for loss or an incomplete pass over the middle,
and they can be two totally different versions of that.
There can be a rap drag get you down to
the ground, and there can be a run through your chest.
You can hear the pads popping. And when the Chargers
(20:36):
have been playing like that, and one of the underrated
guys who does that is Tony Jefferson, who flies around,
smacks people. Denzel Paraman flies around, smacks people. They need
that physical edge to them. Derwin's always had that, but
they've got more guys. Khalil Mack plays that way. Two
Lead's a physical player, like, they have to be a violent,
physical team. If they are, I think that's that would
keep you from blowing a big lead in Jacksonville. That
(20:58):
would you know, that would keep you, you know, from
kind of falling apart a little bit against c. J.
Stroud in the Houston Texans.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yeah, it's funny you say that, DJ.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Like people always talk about the postseason and you've been
around that vibe and energy. More it's the team that
out hits the other team. I can't properly represent what
playoff football is like, but you can feel the energy.
It's a different tenor different level of intensity and urgency,
and the physicality goes up tenfold as we get into
each and every round. This is one where you can
(21:29):
tell your team. You can tell your team is ready
to play by Windy delivered that ooh we hit early
in the game. It needs to happen early. You got
to sit the tone. You got to let the other
team know we're going to play on these terms and
you have to match us to have a chance to
beat us.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Today. Do you remember I don't remember if it was Gosh,
was it Chancellor or Brown or whoever it was in
that Super Bowl against the Broncos. Early in the game,
game is get over. Yeah, it's over.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I think they hit the Marius Thomas on the crossing
route really and just obliterated him. And that that changes
things like it has to be that and the finality
of the postseason changes the urgency and that physicality has
to be a part of you.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Is talked about all the time, but it has to
be executed upon on game day.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
That was what Rex Acts used to talk about and
when we were going through draft meetings, I remember it
there in Baltimore was he would say, what's the biggest
momentum changing play for a defense. Somebody said, Oh, it's
a sack. Somebody said no, no, no, it's an interception, it's
a stop on fourth down. No it's a red zone.
He goes, no, it's a big hit. He said, A
big hit energizes your defense way more than a sack.
(22:40):
You know, a force fumble, an interception. He said that
you get a big hit, it energizes the entire group.
It energizes the sideline. If you're playing at home, it
energizes the whole stadium.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah, it changes everything. Man, It's about hit or be hit.
If you're going to walk them around, you're going to
have to get hit. And it has to be like that,
not just on defense, but it has to be like
that on offense. The way you're offensive lineman finished blocks,
the way your running backs finish runs, all of it.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
It is a physical affair and it has to be
like that from the jump.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Last game Monday night, the Steelers who come off a
dramatic win after that, that miskick, they march on and
their rewards they get to walk in the Houston Texans
and that nasty defense into Pittsburgh. Tough game.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
You talk about the most physical game, I think this
has a chance to be the most facial. Good point,
because these are two maller brawlers. They have no finesse
to their game. They can't play finest wel. They have
to resort back to who they are and that's gonna
be a street fight. And we know what the Texans
bring because their defense is about swarming to the ball.
They talk about knocking folks out at every turn. And
(23:44):
then the Steelers, whenever they're desperate, they ratchet up the
physicality that is the best part of their team, that
has always been the best part of them. When they're
backed into the corner, they're just gonna thug it out.
They gonna make it a very physical affair. They have
to do it.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
But I don't I don't know how Pittsburgh can get
to twenty points.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Yeah, I don't like when you.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Look at the Texans, the Texans old everybody under twenty
and I just don't know how Pittsburgh's gonna score twenty
points against the Texans D So.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
I don't either. But that's why I, uh, I was.
I think they only want all these previous I'm the
only one who picked the Steelers. Everybody picked the Houston
to win, and I don't even know, you know, I
don't have a great reason I picked the Steelers to
win this game. Seventeen to sixteen, seventeen to sixteen, and really, really,
I'm just sitting there going I'm coming off of watching CJ.
Stroud in person, where he turned it over a couple
(24:36):
times against the Chargers and kept him in the game.
And I think that Aaron is smart enough and sharp
enough where they could steal you know, you get a
short field, it's a touchdown. You get a short field,
it's a field goal. You know, it just there. I
always get nervous when it's just oh, it's kind of
a I mean, Houston's gonna run in there and run
them over, like the Houston defense. I'm still maybe I'm
(24:57):
just holding on to old my old days. But I'm
like Pittsburgh at night in the playoffs and now TJ.
Watt healthy and Derek Harmon's playing his butt off and
Hayward's playing awesome like that is a really really good front.
Now their secondary scares the crud out of me. That
to me is how that game gets won for Houston.
C J. Stroud should have a big game attack in
the secondary with those receivers that have all come together,
(25:19):
these young rookies to go along with Nico Collins. They
got a good group out there. That's where the Houston
wins the game. But man, I just like sack force fumble,
like you know, I don't know, I just I picked
Pittsburgh to win in a kind of an ugly, ugly
seventeen to sixteen game. DJ.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I think they have some ridiculous record on Monday Night,
Like in terms of like the number of wins that
they have and the Mike tunnet there, like they don't
lose typically in prime time on Monday Night, Like that's
the thing Renegade is gonna be playing.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
I'm sure you hate the sound of it. Give me
your Ravens size.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
I mean, but they gonna be fully frothy, and it's
a perfect situation for Mike Tomland. Like whatever about the
Steelers their mystique when they are backed into the corn,
when everyone doused him and counts them out, they tend
to rise to the occasion, and I understand it.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
But I also understand that they gonna have a tough
time score point. I just know know how to get
the twenty points. I know how to get the twenty points.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Well, they have to hold them under twenty. That's how
they win the game. I think if the game gets
a north of twenty, I don't think they win it.
So they got to They got to try and figure
out a way to muck it up and make a
role ugly, ugly performance good enough to win. But I'm
looking forward to these games, block. I cannot wait. Can't
wait to get back on here and recap them next week.
As well.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Anything you want to add before we get out of here,
not too much, man like, it's it's great, man. I'm
looking for I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait
to see this action. We've talked about it all season,
but now that we're in the tournament. The game is
just so much better when you get to the postseason
because everyone is on it.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Yeah, we cannot wait. We'll see see it. Maybe the
Chargers and the Jacks collide down the line here. That'd
be fun. All right, that's going to do it for us.
We'll see you next time. Right here on MOVI, the
Sticks want to mot
Hosts And Creators
Daniel Jeremiah
Bucky Brooks
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!