November 24, 2025 • 24 mins
Week 12 didn’t just move the needle – it ripped the entire playoff picture off the wall and hung it back up sideways. In this episode of Football Army, we dive into one of the most chaotic weekends of the season, where both the NFL and college football landscape got completely reorganized in a matter of hours.We start in the NFC, where everything now runs through Los Angeles. The Rams move to 9–2 with a ruthless 34–7 dismantling of the Buccaneers, powered by a surgical Matthew Stafford performance and a McVay game plan that had Tampa’s defense spinning. From schemed-open Devontae Adams touchdowns to backup tight end Colby Parkinson stepping in seamlessly, this was the definition of a complete team statement. On the other side, the defense smothered the Bucs, with Emmanuel Forbes Jr. posting a perfect coverage day and the pass rush feasting to turn this into a “message win” for the rest of the conference.Then it’s over to Philadelphia, where the Eagles suffered a collapse that will live in rivalry infamy. Up 21–0 on the road in Dallas, they somehow lose 24–21, going scoreless for the final 41 minutes and 30 seconds. We break down how a statistically bad Cowboys defense suddenly looked like the ’85 Bears, why first-year OC Kevin Petullo is under the hottest spotlight in the league, and how CeeDee Lamb’s nightmare outing and sideline tantrum clashed with George Pickens’ breakout and composure in Dallas’ comeback.From there, we zoom out to the NFC playoff race, where the Chicago Bears have completely changed the math. Now 8–3 after a gritty win over the Steelers, Caleb Williams and OC Ben Johnson are building an offense around quick-game timing, anticipation and smart scheming that hides offensive line flaws and punishes defenses. Even with catastrophic injuries at linebacker, the Bears’ “next man up” defense keeps delivering, turning the North into a three-way war with the Packers and Lions, while the Seahawks and 49ers slug it out out West. Every game is basically a playoff game now, and we walk through just how razor-thin the margin is between a home playoff berth and missing out entirely.In the AFC, the “dead” dynasty might not be so dead after all. The New England Patriots have quietly ripped off nine straight wins to move to 10–2, reclaiming control of the AFC East from the Bills for the first time since Brady left. We break down how the Mike Vrabel–Drake Maye combo is winning with defense, discipline, and mistake-free football – and what the Will Campbell injury means for their stretch run. But the biggest individual story of the week is in Cleveland: Myles Garrett is on a truly historic tear, with 18 sacks in 11 games and a record-breaking four-game stretch. We explain how the Browns’ beefed-up interior line is forcing quarterbacks into Garrett’s path, turning every dropback into a horror movie and making his DPOY case feel almost too small for what he’s doing.We also take you through the coaching fallout and identity crises across the league: Shédeur Sanders gets his first win behind that Browns defense while his performance helps push Raiders OC Chip Kelly out of a job. The Jets continue to sink behind risky fourth-down decisions even as Aaron Glenn shows real leadership with his players. The Falcons, meanwhile, might finally be building something real with a young, relentless pass rush and a throwback, under-center, ground-and-pound offense that just unlocked vintage Kirk Cousins.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Football Army. We are here to break down
what was I mean, just a chaotic Week twelve, the
entire playoff picture, both in the NFL and in college.
It feels like it got completely reorganized.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It absolutely did. This is one of those weeks where
you get definitive answers. You know, we saw the NFC
hierarchy just get flipped on its head in a matter
of hour.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Right, and in the AFC, a dynasty that we all
thought was over might be might be finding new life exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
And on top of all that, we saw an individual
defensive performance that is, and I'm not exaggerating, it's truly
one for the history books.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
So that's our mission today. We are going to unpack
the upsets, the dominant performances, and you know, some of
the coaching decisions that were just baffling. Frankly, it's all
setting the stage for Thanksgiving and the playoff push.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, everything has changed. Let's get into it all right.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Let's start in the NFC, because that's where the biggest,
the biggest shift happened. The whole conversation now is centered
on Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
It has to be. The Rams are nine too, and
they didn't just beat the Buccaneers. They dismantled them thirty
four to seven. They now have sole possession of the
number one seed in the conference.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
And it all started with Matthew Stafford. I mean, we've
seen him be good, but this was something else. It
surgical is the only word for it, it really is.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
He came out of the gate twelve for twelve passing.
You could tell immediately he was in a rhythm, and
by halftime the numbers were just absurd. He was nineteen
of twenty three for two hundred and ten yards, three
touchdowns and no picks.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
That is how you get a thirty one to seven
halftime lead. I saw a stat that it was tied
for the second highest first half score the Rams have
ever had under Sean McVay.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah, and you know, it's not just the numbers, it's
how they did it. Mcveigh's scheme was just perfectly designed
to attack what Tampa Bay was trying to do on defense.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Okay, so break that down for me. What was McVeigh
seeing that allowed Stafford to just pick them apart like that.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, McVeigh knew the Bucks had to respect the outside speed,
so he just leaned into play action but he paired
it with all this movement from the tight ends and
the slot receiver.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Ah, so it creates confusion for the linebackers and safeties exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
You see Stafford just you know, hold a safety with
his eyes for a split second and that's all it takes.
Look at DeVante Adams's two touchdowns. They weren't just him
winning a one on one battle. They were schemed open,
perfectly schemed open. A shallow crosser with a deep, clear
out route from the other side. The corner has to
make a choice, and Adams just wins underneath every single time.
(02:21):
Five catches sixty two yards and those two scores. I
think that's nine touchdowns for him in the last five games.
Just incredible.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And it wasn't just the superstars, which is always the
sign of a truly elite team. Right, Tyler Higbee.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Was out Yep, no Higbee and the backup Colby Parkinson
steps right in catches his first four passes for forty
one yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
See that's what I'm talking about. When a backup tight
end can just slot into a complex system like mcfay's
and not miss a beat, that says everything about the
coaching and the preparation.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
It really does. And while the offense was doing all that,
the defense was just completely dominant. This was the definition
of complimentary football.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Emmanuel Forbes Junior had what zero completions allowed on eight targets.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Eight targets, zero completions, an interception, and five pass breakups.
It was a textbook performance in coverage. He was just
all over their receivers.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And that frees up the pass rush.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
It does. They didn't have to blitz all day. The
front four could just eat and you saw Kobe Turner,
who's been a big quiet he gets two sacks, and.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Then's Kobe Durant, the land Shark. The land Shark. Yeah,
he lived up to the nickname. An interception returned for
a touchdown. That was the play that just broke Tampa's spirit.
You could see it.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
So when you put it all together, the interior push
from Turner, Durant making plays in the secondary, Stafford's precision,
you get that thirty four to seven beat down. It
was a message to the rest of the NFC.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Absolutely, the road to the Super Bowl right now it
goes through La.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Okay, so let's pivot to the team that gave up
that number one spot the Philadelphia Eagles. They go into
Dallas at eight to two, holding the tiebreaker, and they
just they suffer a historic meltdown.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Historic is the right word. You're up twenty one to
nothing in the first half against your rival and you
lose twenty four to twenty one. The stat that blows
my mind is zero points in the final forty one
minutes and thirty seconds of the game. That's almost three
full quarters of getting completely shut.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Out, seven straight possessions to end the game with zero points,
three and outs, turnovers on downs, punts. I mean, it
was a total.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Collapse and the blame, you know, it's landing squarely on
the first year offensive coordinator Kevin Bittullo. Yeah, but here's
my question. Dallas's defense has been statistically one of the
worst in the league. How did they suddenly look like
the eighty five Bears.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
It's a great question, and I think it points directly
to Petullo's lack of in game adjustments. Dallas saw what
Philly was doing in the first half, lots of early
down runs, lots of play action, and they completely changed
their scheme at halftime.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
They started bringing more pressure.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
More man coverage, and more disguise blitzes from the slot,
and Petula just he had no answer. He just kept
calling the same predictable pass plays on third down that
Dallas knew was coming.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
It felt so passive, so uncreative. It's like the initial
script worked great, but as soon as they had to improvise,
the whole thing fell apart.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
That's been the knock on him all season, and this
game just put it under a microscope.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
And it's wild is that even with this huge comeback win,
Dallas had its own drama. Ceedee lamb, what was going
on there?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah? That was bizarre. He had what some are calling
a shameful outing, three really bad drops, one that should
have been a walk in touchdown, and then he's seen
on the sideline having a full on tantrum.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
While his team is in the middle of a comeback.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Right, and the eisend is just so thick Because George Pickens,
the guy they traded a third round pick for, He's
the one who stabilizes the offense. He had nine catches
for one hundred and forty six yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So Pickens, who the Steelers basically gave up on because
of supposed maturity issues, is the mature, calming presence, while
Lamb is having a meltdown exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Pickens even said he was meant to get this fresh
start in Dallas. And you look at the numbers. His
receiver yards this year are more than all the remaining
Steelers' whiteouts combined.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
That trade is looking worse and worse for Pittsburgh every
single week.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
It's a tough look. It just shows how much a
player's environment really matters.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And while Dallas celebrates Timpa Bay, their whole season just
got a lot darker. They dropped to six' five and
Now Baker mayfield is.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Hurt, yeah that's a huge. Blow left the game in a,
slang a left shoulder. Sprain it happened on that failed
Hail mary attempt right before the.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Half he's getting miss time and that breaks the streak
of what forty eight straight starts for. Him, yeah he's
been the definition of. Durable he.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Has and now you're turning To Teddy. Bridgewater but it's
not just about the BACKUP. Qb the whole team just.
LOOKED i saw it described as heartless and checked out
in the second.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Half that's a coaching.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Issue it points directly To Todd bowles and his. STAFF
a six' five record doesn't mean much if the team
just quits when they face a. Little adversity, all right let's.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Stick WITH, the nfc but move north BECAUSE The nfc
north has become maybe the most interesting division, in football
and it's because Of The. CHICAGO bears, i mean who
would have.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Predicted This the bears are. Eight three they just Beat
the steelers thirty one twenty eight for their fourth. Straight
win and this isn't. A fluke this is real sustainable
development from their, key.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Guys and it Starts With. Kayleb williams the narrative around
him is really starting. To build You Have, mike tomlin the,
opposing coach just openly praising him after, the game and.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That's not something you hear. Every day tomlin was talking about,
his anticipation, his, arm talent. His poise it just validates
what you see on. The tape the Pairing Of caleb
williams and Offensive Coordinator ben johnson is becoming a serious problem,
for Defenses.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
And johnson seems to be tailoring the offense perfectly. For
him lots, of crossers lots of quick. Hitting patterns it's just.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Smart coaching they know their offensive line can, Be inconsistent
so what do? You do you design plays that get
the ball out of the quarterback's hands. Quickly right it
neutralizes the, Pass rush it completely. Neutralizes it williams can
throw to a spot before his receiver even makes. The
break it cuts down on the hits, he take and
it really stresses out the opposing linebackers. And safeties it's
(08:04):
a much smarter approach than the deep dropback stuff they're
trying to. Run before so they're winning with.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Smart offense but they're also WINNING despite i mean catastrophic injuries.
On defense They beat pittsburgh without their top, Three Linebackers, TREMAINE.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Edmunds, Tj Edwards, noah sewell well. All out that's the
heart of your.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Defense gone and The Backups DeMarco Jackson And, ogbong bemiga
they just stepped in and. Played great that's the next
man up mentality you always, hear about but you rarely
see it work. This well it.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Really shows you the quality of the coaching and the depth.
They've built when you can lose that much talent and
still find a way to win a, tough game it
tells you your foundation. Is solid, the scheme, the culture all.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Of it So the bears at eight three just throw
THAT whole nfc playoff picture. INTO chaos, i mean let's
look at it feels like an eight team race for.
Seven spots it.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Really is you've Got the rams And, the eagles who
are Probably despite, philly's collapse still near locks to. Make
it but, after that after.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
That it's a. Total. Dog ye you Have the seahawks at,
eight Three the niners at seven, to Four the lions at,
seven Four the packers at seven three, to one and
Now the bears.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
At, eight three And the buccaneers are still technically hanging
around at six' Five though the mayfield injury.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Really hurts them So what about dallas that big Win.
Over the eagles how much did that? Help their chances.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
It, helped a lot but they're still kind of on the.
Outside looking in their chances, are probably, around you know ten.
To thirteen percent the real battle is that cluster of
teams with seven. Or eight Wins right.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
The seahawks And forty nine ers are beating each other Up,
in the West, While, the Bears lions and packers are
all Fighting.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
For the north every single game from here on out
is basically. A playoff game. For those teams the difference
between getting a home playoff game and missing the postseason
entirely could come down to. A single tiebreaker it's going.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
To, be wild okay let's slip OVER to the afc
because there's a power shift. HAPPENING there, that i mean nobody.
Saw this coming we have to Talk About The. New
england patriots it's, kind of.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Stunning Isn't it the patriots just won their. Ninth straight
game They beat the bengals twenty six to twenty and
they're now. Ten to two they have a huge Lead
over the BILLS In. The Afc east.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
The bills have owned that division for five Straight years,
since brady left and now all, of a sudden there's
seven to four after Losing to the texans and they're
Looking Up. At new england it's a harsh. Reality for.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Them It is josh allen got beat Up in. THAT
texans game i think he was, hit twelve times, sacked
eight times and meanwhile You've Got the Mike Rabel and
drake May Duo in new england just quietly.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Getting it done rabel's, defense Is legit and may is
just he's not making. The big mistakes he's the perfect
game manager for what they, want to do and that's.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
All they need they finally ended that five Year run
of buffalo's dominance, in the division but that win came.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
At a cost their Rookie Left tackle will campbell went
down with. A, knee injury yeah that's.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
A tough one sounds. Like an mclsprain he's gonna, miss
multiple weights probably lands, on injured reserve which means at.
Least four games.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
That's a huge blow to their offense line right as
they're heading into the toughest part. Of their schedule that's
really going to. Test their.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Depth it will it's a real stress test at the.
Worst possible, time.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
But look as Big as the, patriots story is the
biggest individual STORY, in the afc maybe in the whole
League Is what miles. Garrett, is doing.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Oh it's unbelievable he's not just having, a great season
he is having a. Historically great season he's got eighteen sacks,
through eleven games and.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
The stat that just. Breaks my brain fourteen of those
sacks have come in the. Last. Four games Fourteen That
breaks michael strahan's record for a.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Four game span when you're putting up, numbers like that
the conversation changes, from you know is he the defensive
player of the year to is this the greatest defensive season?
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Of all time he's on pace for twenty seven sacks
that would just. Shatter the record so how is? He
doing it teams are, double teaming him they're sliding. Protection
his way how is he?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Still?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Winning? It this right it's the.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Inside out synergy and you have To give the browns
front office a ton. Of credit here they went out
and Got Guys, Like Malite, Collins Mason grant shelby harris
to beef up the interior. That.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Defensive line ah so you can't just focus all Your attention.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
On garrett anymore you can't because, If you Do collins
or graham is going to be in the. Quarterback's lap
immediately and what does a quarterback do when there's pressure?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Up the middle they try to step up or. Escape
the pocket.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
They step up in the Pocket Right, into miles garrett
who has been patiently waiting. On the outside the interior
rush is forcing quarterbacks to hold the ball for just a,
half second Longer and for garrett that's all the. Time
he needs.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
It sounds terrifying the whole unit had ten Sacks, against the, Raiders.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Ten sacks collins had two and, a Half, himself and
garrett who was apparently, sick all week still managed to
get three sacks and. A strip sack that's just a
normal day at the, office.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
For, Him now insane and that performance led to a
twenty four to ten Win, over the raiders which was
also the first career win for Rookie. Quarterback shitter sanders
it was, and.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You know he. Had some moments he had that incredible
Deep ball to bond where he avoided a sack and.
Just launched it but he had.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Some, rookie moments too the head scratchers as.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
They, were fault yeah he had a really bad interception
into double coverage that. Was just, unnecessary but overall you,
saw the flashes you, saw, the arm. Talent the poise
and now The debate, in cleveland, is you know is
he good enough to keep The starting job.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
And after a win with that, defense behind him you
have to think the, answer, is yes right let the
kid learn, ON.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
The job i think so you trust that elite defense
to keep you in games and let him work.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Through, the mistakes well that loss was the final nail
in the coffin. For One coach the raiders fired Their
Offensive coordinator chip kelly after. Just, ten games.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Brutal but you. Can't be surprised their offense. Has been
terrible they failed to score more than twenty points in
six of their. Last seven games there was, just no,
identity no creativity.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
And the, irony, is just. Yeah It's, incredible chip kelly
who just won a national title as The Oc, at
ohio state gets fired After Losing To, shedder or sanders
who went To one OF kelly's first qb Camps back
when kelly WAS. Coaching at ucla the football.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
World is a very small and sometimes. Very cruel circle kelly,
will Be fine though he'll have a Top college job.
By next week the coaching carousel. Is officially spinning and.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Speaking, of Big games the thanksgiving slate is Here and
the Lions hosting THE packers, is i mean it's a
massive game for. The playoff picture it's.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
A huge one it's A rematch, from week One which
the packers won pretty easily twenty. Seven to thirteen But
now the lions are seven to four at home and their,
three point favorites.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
The leverage in this game is just, off the Charts Especially.
FOR green bay i saw a projection That if, the
packers win their playoff chances jump from seventy seven percent
all the way up to.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Ninety, one percent wow that's, a huge swing and a
loss drops them down to. Sixty eight, percent so yeah
this one game has a massive impact.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
On their season they needed to keep Pace with the
Bears while the lions are trying to hang on after
that crazy overtime Win, against the giants.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
A game that really showed both the best and Worst of.
This lions team their, resilience is, incredible but man their defense.
Has some holes but.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
That overtime that Was Just perfect. Dan campbell football, he
basically said my only play call is get The ball,
that jamier.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Gives and gives it the first play of overtime sixty
nine yards. For the. Touchdown game over he just rewarded his,
Coach's faith instantly and.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
That game only even got to overtime because, Of Their,
kicker jake bates a fifty nine yard franchise record tying
field goal.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
To tie it, an INCREDIBLE kick and i love the
detail that He recites A bible verse hebrew's twelve point
one as part of his routine on. Those big, KICKS whatever.
Works i guess on the other.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Side, of That game the Giants Introim, coach mike kofka
he put on a trick. Play master class they put
up over five hundred yards of Offense on.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That lion's defense it was amazing To watch, the giants
offense which is, usually so boring was suddenly the most
exciting show. In the league had double, pass touchdown.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Right and then the craziest play of The Year, where jamis,
winson the quarterback catches a thirty three yard touchdown pass
from His Wide. Receiver gunnerrol zevsky.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
It Was wild and kofa's creativity has to put him
in the conversation for a full time.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Head coaching job but he also made the decision That
let the lions back in the game going forward on
fourth and goal late up by three instead of just kicking.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
The field goal that's the other side of the coin.
With aggressive coaches, when it works. You're a genius, when
it fails you get second. Guests all week and that
failure led Directly to the lions getting the Ball back
and baits hitting. That monster kick So.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
While The lions and packers, battle it out another team.
In That division the vikings are. In real trouble they're
four to seven after getting Blown Out, by GREEN bay
and jj McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Is really struggling he looked bad in that game twelve
of nineteen for eighty seven yards. And two picks and
now you're starting to hear the Whispers about The Vikings letting,
sam darnold go who's having a pretty Good. Year in
seattle it's.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Tough because it's not. All McCarthy's fault that offensive, line
is terrible the run game. Is non existent it's a
really bad situation for, a rookie.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Quarterback it is but you can't. Bench him now you
have to. See it through what they need to do
in the off season is bring in reliable veteran to,
compete with him or at least provide some insurance if he.
Continues to struggle.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Right the, Other thanksgiving game Ravens, At the bengals, baltimore
Is Favored but lamar jackson. Hasn't, looked right.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
No he hasn't since he came back from. That hamstring
injury he hasn't thrown for two hundred yards and three
Straight games and. Their big problem their fatal flaw is
still their inability to score touchdowns in.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
The red zone is that a play calling issue or
is it a Physical thing with lamar not being. ONE
hundred percent i think it's a.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Little of both he seems hesitant to really step, into
his throws especially in the tight windows of, the red
zone and that makes the predictable play calls.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Even Less effective The bengals, get joe burrowback which is,
huge for them but they still have one of the
worst defenses in the league and a bad offensive, line.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Right So even with lamar not, at His best the
ravens should still be able to run the Ball. ALL
over cincinnati i think, the talent gap, especially on defense is.
Just too big baltimore should.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Win this one let's talk about two more teams who
are trying to figure out, who They are the Jets.
And the Falcons, for the jets it's just more. The
same misery they're two nine now after Losing.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
To the ravens it's, tough to watch but you have
To Give coach erin glenn credit for how. He's handling
it you saw That after bres hall fumbled at the,
two yard line which basically lost.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Them, The game yeah glenn came right out, and, defended him,
said st Happens and that hall. Is my Guy he
knows hall is really hard on himself and he wanted
to get in. Front of that, that's great, leadership.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
It is but that great player management is in sharp
contrast to a really questionable coaching decision he made earlier.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
In that game the fourth and two from their own forty.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Two, yard line yes down by only three points in.
The third quarter there was just no reason to. Take
that risk you, punt the ball you, trust your defense
and you play the. Field, position game, instead.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
They Fail give the ravens the ball near midfield and
basically hand them.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
A field goal it felt like a, moment of desperation
and it's that kind of gamble that. Gets coaches fired
the risk just did not justify the reward. There, at all.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Now contrast That With. The atlanta falcons They beat the
saints twenty, four to ten and they were suddenly building
a real. Identity on defense.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
It's amazing they've had five or more sacks in. Four
straight games only ten OTHER teams in nfl history have.
Ever done that and the best part is all the
guys getting their sacks are first or, Second year players.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
So you're talking About Guys, Like, James Pierce, Junior Brandon.
Dorles xavier watts this is the kind of young core you.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Can, Build around absolutely pierce is starting to look like
the star pass rusher they drafted. Him to be and
that young pass rush Completely Shut, down taysom hill who
has Always given.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
The falcons fits and the offense changed its identity in.
That game too they were under center, a lot more
using three.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Tight end sets it was a clear shift to a
more physical ground and pound style. And it worked They
bullied the saints that the line of scrimmage controlled the
clock and it took a lot Of Pressure, off Kirk.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Cousins and cousins had maybe his best game in. Over
a year the play action game was working. Perfectly for him.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
It was the only guy who didn't seem To Benefit.
Was kyle pitts he had a couple of, really bad
drops one of which led.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
To an interception and that's the, concern With him right
can he be a consistent contributor in a run first
offense that needs him to block and. Make tough catches
the jury, Is, Still out okay let's switch over to,
the college game because the biggest rivalry in sports is this,
week the game and the stakes could. Not, be higher no.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
They could Not Number, one ohio state undefeated eleven zero
goes on the road to Face number fifteen michigan at,
nine to two and the Historical Pressure on ohio state.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Is just immense they're trying to avoid losing five Straight
games to michigan for the first time since. The nineteen twenties.
The nineteen twenties.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Can you imagine That Weight on. Ryan day's shoulders if
he loses a fifth straight time, to his archrival the
calls for His job in columbus. Will be deafening even
with an eleven.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
To one record and it's not just. About bragging rights
this has huge college. Football playoff Implications.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Massive a michigan win could send Them To the big,
ten title game and It Could, force ohio state height
the number one team, in the country to play in
a first round playoff game instead of getting.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
That crucial buy so where's this game going to be?
One or lost it's.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Always a battle, In The trenches but i'm Looking At
the ohio state Secondary against the Michigan Wide Receivers if
ohio state can prevent the big play Downfield and force
michigan to, be one dimensional they have. A great Shot but.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
If michigan can, run the ball, control the clock and
Keep That explosive ohio state offense, on the sideline then
it's a.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Whole different ballgame it's going to be. Fascinating, to watch.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
MEANWHILE on the, Sec the lane kiffin saga is just
completely dominating. The coaching carousel.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
It's a mess he's being LINKED to the lsu job
and it's creating chaos. For both schools one day there's
a report he bought A House. In baton rouge the
next day he's demanding a New contract From ole miss.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
And the timing. Is just Terrible With the Egg Bowl
against mississippi state, this.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Week exactly his team has to play their biggest rival
and they have no idea if their coach is going
to be. Their next year it's a HUGE distraction and
lsu needs to hire a coach before the. Recruiting dead
period this whole thing is hurting everybody involved and.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
It could EVEN impact the. Sec championship game george is sitting,
at number four but they could end up playing only
missed for, the title Right and.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
If kiffen and his team are distracted by all this off,
the field drama It could make george's path to the.
Playoff even easier the coaching chaos has real. Hon field,
consequences all.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Right let's set a few other big stories from. The
College world Jeremiah Love at notre dame had. A monster game.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
He was Incredible He tied jerome bettis's school record with
his twentieth touchdown. Of the season, and get this he
had one hundred and seventy one yards on. Just eight, carries.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Eight carries it's over twenty one. Yards of pop. Just
absurd Efficiency.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
In acc miami is now the highest ranked team. At
number thirteen they're quietly putting together a. Really solid season.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
On, The Flip side florida state. Is in trouble they're
five to six and they need to win their last
game Just to. Become bowl eligible.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
It's been a rough, slide for them and THEIR Loss
to nz state was just full of what we're called, mind,
boggling mistakes punts questionable. Late game decisions it. Was just
ugly but.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
They Announced that mike norvel will be back as coach through.
Twenty twenty six a big.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Vote of confidence they clearly believe he can fix. These execution, issues.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
And finally the coaching carousel has. Its first Victim Cal
fired justin wilcox after they lost the Big. Game to
stanford that was.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
The last straw it guaranteed he would finish with a
losing record and conference play for the. Ninth straight season
you just, can't survive that especially when you lose to
your rival who has. An interim coach.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
And a big Recruiting win for utah they landed a
top dual threat quarterback for, Twenty Twenty, six kane.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Archer a massive. Get for them he's a blue chip
prospect who joins what is already the highest rated Recruiting class.
In utah history it shows they're serious about building an offensive.
Powerhouse out west.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
So to wrap, It all up week twelve COMPLETELY. Reshaped
The nfc the rams looked like the clear, team to
Beat and the eagles suddenly. Look incredibly vulnerable.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
AND, in The afc the, patriots are back which, nobody
saw coming creating a real RACE In, the Afc East
and miles garrett is on, a historic pace on track
to Completely rewrite the, sack record book and.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
We head into thanksgiving with the game looming over college
FOOTBALL with massive csp Implications While the lane kiff and
circus continues to SWIRL. Around the sec it all came
down to a few critical plays and a lot of
critical decisions. From the sideline.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
It really did and you think about all the huge coaching,
Calls This week chip, Kelly Getting fired aaron glenn's huge gamble,
On Fourth down mike kafka's aggressive call That costs the.
Giants The game so i'll leave you with this, to
think about what single coaching decision, from this week, win
or lose do you think we'll have the biggest long
term ripple effect. For that franchise something to chew on
(24:43):
as we get ready for the home stretch. Of the
season
Welcome to Football Army. We are here to break down
what was I mean, just a chaotic Week twelve, the
entire playoff picture, both in the NFL and in college.
It feels like it got completely reorganized.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It absolutely did. This is one of those weeks where
you get definitive answers. You know, we saw the NFC
hierarchy just get flipped on its head in a matter
of hour.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Right, and in the AFC, a dynasty that we all
thought was over might be might be finding new life exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
And on top of all that, we saw an individual
defensive performance that is, and I'm not exaggerating, it's truly
one for the history books.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
So that's our mission today. We are going to unpack
the upsets, the dominant performances, and you know, some of
the coaching decisions that were just baffling. Frankly, it's all
setting the stage for Thanksgiving and the playoff push.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, everything has changed. Let's get into it all right.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Let's start in the NFC, because that's where the biggest,
the biggest shift happened. The whole conversation now is centered
on Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
It has to be. The Rams are nine too, and
they didn't just beat the Buccaneers. They dismantled them thirty
four to seven. They now have sole possession of the
number one seed in the conference.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
And it all started with Matthew Stafford. I mean, we've
seen him be good, but this was something else. It
surgical is the only word for it, it really is.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
He came out of the gate twelve for twelve passing.
You could tell immediately he was in a rhythm, and
by halftime the numbers were just absurd. He was nineteen
of twenty three for two hundred and ten yards, three
touchdowns and no picks.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
That is how you get a thirty one to seven
halftime lead. I saw a stat that it was tied
for the second highest first half score the Rams have
ever had under Sean McVay.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah, and you know, it's not just the numbers, it's
how they did it. Mcveigh's scheme was just perfectly designed
to attack what Tampa Bay was trying to do on defense.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Okay, so break that down for me. What was McVeigh
seeing that allowed Stafford to just pick them apart like that.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, McVeigh knew the Bucks had to respect the outside speed,
so he just leaned into play action but he paired
it with all this movement from the tight ends and
the slot receiver.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Ah, so it creates confusion for the linebackers and safeties exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
You see Stafford just you know, hold a safety with
his eyes for a split second and that's all it takes.
Look at DeVante Adams's two touchdowns. They weren't just him
winning a one on one battle. They were schemed open,
perfectly schemed open. A shallow crosser with a deep, clear
out route from the other side. The corner has to
make a choice, and Adams just wins underneath every single time.
(02:21):
Five catches sixty two yards and those two scores. I
think that's nine touchdowns for him in the last five games.
Just incredible.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And it wasn't just the superstars, which is always the
sign of a truly elite team. Right, Tyler Higbee.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Was out Yep, no Higbee and the backup Colby Parkinson
steps right in catches his first four passes for forty
one yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
See that's what I'm talking about. When a backup tight
end can just slot into a complex system like mcfay's
and not miss a beat, that says everything about the
coaching and the preparation.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
It really does. And while the offense was doing all that,
the defense was just completely dominant. This was the definition
of complimentary football.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Emmanuel Forbes Junior had what zero completions allowed on eight targets.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Eight targets, zero completions, an interception, and five pass breakups.
It was a textbook performance in coverage. He was just
all over their receivers.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And that frees up the pass rush.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
It does. They didn't have to blitz all day. The
front four could just eat and you saw Kobe Turner,
who's been a big quiet he gets two sacks, and.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Then's Kobe Durant, the land Shark. The land Shark. Yeah,
he lived up to the nickname. An interception returned for
a touchdown. That was the play that just broke Tampa's spirit.
You could see it.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
So when you put it all together, the interior push
from Turner, Durant making plays in the secondary, Stafford's precision,
you get that thirty four to seven beat down. It
was a message to the rest of the NFC.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Absolutely, the road to the Super Bowl right now it
goes through La.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Okay, so let's pivot to the team that gave up
that number one spot the Philadelphia Eagles. They go into
Dallas at eight to two, holding the tiebreaker, and they
just they suffer a historic meltdown.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Historic is the right word. You're up twenty one to
nothing in the first half against your rival and you
lose twenty four to twenty one. The stat that blows
my mind is zero points in the final forty one
minutes and thirty seconds of the game. That's almost three
full quarters of getting completely shut.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Out, seven straight possessions to end the game with zero points,
three and outs, turnovers on downs, punts. I mean, it
was a total.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Collapse and the blame, you know, it's landing squarely on
the first year offensive coordinator Kevin Bittullo. Yeah, but here's
my question. Dallas's defense has been statistically one of the
worst in the league. How did they suddenly look like
the eighty five Bears.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
It's a great question, and I think it points directly
to Petullo's lack of in game adjustments. Dallas saw what
Philly was doing in the first half, lots of early
down runs, lots of play action, and they completely changed
their scheme at halftime.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
They started bringing more pressure.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
More man coverage, and more disguise blitzes from the slot,
and Petula just he had no answer. He just kept
calling the same predictable pass plays on third down that
Dallas knew was coming.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
It felt so passive, so uncreative. It's like the initial
script worked great, but as soon as they had to improvise,
the whole thing fell apart.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
That's been the knock on him all season, and this
game just put it under a microscope.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
And it's wild is that even with this huge comeback win,
Dallas had its own drama. Ceedee lamb, what was going
on there?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah? That was bizarre. He had what some are calling
a shameful outing, three really bad drops, one that should
have been a walk in touchdown, and then he's seen
on the sideline having a full on tantrum.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
While his team is in the middle of a comeback.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Right, and the eisend is just so thick Because George Pickens,
the guy they traded a third round pick for, He's
the one who stabilizes the offense. He had nine catches
for one hundred and forty six yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So Pickens, who the Steelers basically gave up on because
of supposed maturity issues, is the mature, calming presence, while
Lamb is having a meltdown exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Pickens even said he was meant to get this fresh
start in Dallas. And you look at the numbers. His
receiver yards this year are more than all the remaining
Steelers' whiteouts combined.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
That trade is looking worse and worse for Pittsburgh every
single week.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
It's a tough look. It just shows how much a
player's environment really matters.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And while Dallas celebrates Timpa Bay, their whole season just
got a lot darker. They dropped to six' five and
Now Baker mayfield is.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Hurt, yeah that's a huge. Blow left the game in a,
slang a left shoulder. Sprain it happened on that failed
Hail mary attempt right before the.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Half he's getting miss time and that breaks the streak
of what forty eight straight starts for. Him, yeah he's
been the definition of. Durable he.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Has and now you're turning To Teddy. Bridgewater but it's
not just about the BACKUP. Qb the whole team just.
LOOKED i saw it described as heartless and checked out
in the second.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Half that's a coaching.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Issue it points directly To Todd bowles and his. STAFF
a six' five record doesn't mean much if the team
just quits when they face a. Little adversity, all right let's.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Stick WITH, the nfc but move north BECAUSE The nfc
north has become maybe the most interesting division, in football
and it's because Of The. CHICAGO bears, i mean who
would have.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Predicted This the bears are. Eight three they just Beat
the steelers thirty one twenty eight for their fourth. Straight
win and this isn't. A fluke this is real sustainable
development from their, key.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Guys and it Starts With. Kayleb williams the narrative around
him is really starting. To build You Have, mike tomlin the,
opposing coach just openly praising him after, the game and.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That's not something you hear. Every day tomlin was talking about,
his anticipation, his, arm talent. His poise it just validates
what you see on. The tape the Pairing Of caleb
williams and Offensive Coordinator ben johnson is becoming a serious problem,
for Defenses.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
And johnson seems to be tailoring the offense perfectly. For
him lots, of crossers lots of quick. Hitting patterns it's just.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Smart coaching they know their offensive line can, Be inconsistent
so what do? You do you design plays that get
the ball out of the quarterback's hands. Quickly right it
neutralizes the, Pass rush it completely. Neutralizes it williams can
throw to a spot before his receiver even makes. The
break it cuts down on the hits, he take and
it really stresses out the opposing linebackers. And safeties it's
(08:04):
a much smarter approach than the deep dropback stuff they're
trying to. Run before so they're winning with.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Smart offense but they're also WINNING despite i mean catastrophic injuries.
On defense They beat pittsburgh without their top, Three Linebackers, TREMAINE.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Edmunds, Tj Edwards, noah sewell well. All out that's the
heart of your.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Defense gone and The Backups DeMarco Jackson And, ogbong bemiga
they just stepped in and. Played great that's the next
man up mentality you always, hear about but you rarely
see it work. This well it.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Really shows you the quality of the coaching and the depth.
They've built when you can lose that much talent and
still find a way to win a, tough game it
tells you your foundation. Is solid, the scheme, the culture all.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Of it So the bears at eight three just throw
THAT whole nfc playoff picture. INTO chaos, i mean let's
look at it feels like an eight team race for.
Seven spots it.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Really is you've Got the rams And, the eagles who
are Probably despite, philly's collapse still near locks to. Make
it but, after that after.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
That it's a. Total. Dog ye you Have the seahawks at,
eight Three the niners at seven, to Four the lions at,
seven Four the packers at seven three, to one and
Now the bears.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
At, eight three And the buccaneers are still technically hanging
around at six' Five though the mayfield injury.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Really hurts them So what about dallas that big Win.
Over the eagles how much did that? Help their chances.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
It, helped a lot but they're still kind of on the.
Outside looking in their chances, are probably, around you know ten.
To thirteen percent the real battle is that cluster of
teams with seven. Or eight Wins right.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
The seahawks And forty nine ers are beating each other Up,
in the West, While, the Bears lions and packers are
all Fighting.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
For the north every single game from here on out
is basically. A playoff game. For those teams the difference
between getting a home playoff game and missing the postseason
entirely could come down to. A single tiebreaker it's going.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
To, be wild okay let's slip OVER to the afc
because there's a power shift. HAPPENING there, that i mean nobody.
Saw this coming we have to Talk About The. New
england patriots it's, kind of.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Stunning Isn't it the patriots just won their. Ninth straight
game They beat the bengals twenty six to twenty and
they're now. Ten to two they have a huge Lead
over the BILLS In. The Afc east.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
The bills have owned that division for five Straight years,
since brady left and now all, of a sudden there's
seven to four after Losing to the texans and they're
Looking Up. At new england it's a harsh. Reality for.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Them It is josh allen got beat Up in. THAT
texans game i think he was, hit twelve times, sacked
eight times and meanwhile You've Got the Mike Rabel and
drake May Duo in new england just quietly.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Getting it done rabel's, defense Is legit and may is
just he's not making. The big mistakes he's the perfect
game manager for what they, want to do and that's.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
All they need they finally ended that five Year run
of buffalo's dominance, in the division but that win came.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
At a cost their Rookie Left tackle will campbell went
down with. A, knee injury yeah that's.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
A tough one sounds. Like an mclsprain he's gonna, miss
multiple weights probably lands, on injured reserve which means at.
Least four games.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
That's a huge blow to their offense line right as
they're heading into the toughest part. Of their schedule that's
really going to. Test their.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Depth it will it's a real stress test at the.
Worst possible, time.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
But look as Big as the, patriots story is the
biggest individual STORY, in the afc maybe in the whole
League Is what miles. Garrett, is doing.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Oh it's unbelievable he's not just having, a great season
he is having a. Historically great season he's got eighteen sacks,
through eleven games and.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
The stat that just. Breaks my brain fourteen of those
sacks have come in the. Last. Four games Fourteen That
breaks michael strahan's record for a.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Four game span when you're putting up, numbers like that
the conversation changes, from you know is he the defensive
player of the year to is this the greatest defensive season?
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Of all time he's on pace for twenty seven sacks
that would just. Shatter the record so how is? He
doing it teams are, double teaming him they're sliding. Protection
his way how is he?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Still?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Winning? It this right it's the.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Inside out synergy and you have To give the browns
front office a ton. Of credit here they went out
and Got Guys, Like Malite, Collins Mason grant shelby harris
to beef up the interior. That.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Defensive line ah so you can't just focus all Your attention.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
On garrett anymore you can't because, If you Do collins
or graham is going to be in the. Quarterback's lap
immediately and what does a quarterback do when there's pressure?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Up the middle they try to step up or. Escape
the pocket.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
They step up in the Pocket Right, into miles garrett
who has been patiently waiting. On the outside the interior
rush is forcing quarterbacks to hold the ball for just a,
half second Longer and for garrett that's all the. Time
he needs.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
It sounds terrifying the whole unit had ten Sacks, against the, Raiders.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Ten sacks collins had two and, a Half, himself and
garrett who was apparently, sick all week still managed to
get three sacks and. A strip sack that's just a
normal day at the, office.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
For, Him now insane and that performance led to a
twenty four to ten Win, over the raiders which was
also the first career win for Rookie. Quarterback shitter sanders
it was, and.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You know he. Had some moments he had that incredible
Deep ball to bond where he avoided a sack and.
Just launched it but he had.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Some, rookie moments too the head scratchers as.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
They, were fault yeah he had a really bad interception
into double coverage that. Was just, unnecessary but overall you,
saw the flashes you, saw, the arm. Talent the poise
and now The debate, in cleveland, is you know is
he good enough to keep The starting job.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
And after a win with that, defense behind him you
have to think the, answer, is yes right let the
kid learn, ON.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
The job i think so you trust that elite defense
to keep you in games and let him work.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Through, the mistakes well that loss was the final nail
in the coffin. For One coach the raiders fired Their
Offensive coordinator chip kelly after. Just, ten games.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Brutal but you. Can't be surprised their offense. Has been
terrible they failed to score more than twenty points in
six of their. Last seven games there was, just no,
identity no creativity.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
And the, irony, is just. Yeah It's, incredible chip kelly
who just won a national title as The Oc, at
ohio state gets fired After Losing To, shedder or sanders
who went To one OF kelly's first qb Camps back
when kelly WAS. Coaching at ucla the football.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
World is a very small and sometimes. Very cruel circle kelly,
will Be fine though he'll have a Top college job.
By next week the coaching carousel. Is officially spinning and.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Speaking, of Big games the thanksgiving slate is Here and
the Lions hosting THE packers, is i mean it's a
massive game for. The playoff picture it's.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
A huge one it's A rematch, from week One which
the packers won pretty easily twenty. Seven to thirteen But
now the lions are seven to four at home and their,
three point favorites.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
The leverage in this game is just, off the Charts Especially.
FOR green bay i saw a projection That if, the
packers win their playoff chances jump from seventy seven percent
all the way up to.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Ninety, one percent wow that's, a huge swing and a
loss drops them down to. Sixty eight, percent so yeah
this one game has a massive impact.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
On their season they needed to keep Pace with the
Bears while the lions are trying to hang on after
that crazy overtime Win, against the giants.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
A game that really showed both the best and Worst of.
This lions team their, resilience is, incredible but man their defense.
Has some holes but.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
That overtime that Was Just perfect. Dan campbell football, he
basically said my only play call is get The ball,
that jamier.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Gives and gives it the first play of overtime sixty
nine yards. For the. Touchdown game over he just rewarded his,
Coach's faith instantly and.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
That game only even got to overtime because, Of Their,
kicker jake bates a fifty nine yard franchise record tying
field goal.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
To tie it, an INCREDIBLE kick and i love the
detail that He recites A bible verse hebrew's twelve point
one as part of his routine on. Those big, KICKS whatever.
Works i guess on the other.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Side, of That game the Giants Introim, coach mike kofka
he put on a trick. Play master class they put
up over five hundred yards of Offense on.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That lion's defense it was amazing To watch, the giants
offense which is, usually so boring was suddenly the most
exciting show. In the league had double, pass touchdown.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Right and then the craziest play of The Year, where jamis,
winson the quarterback catches a thirty three yard touchdown pass
from His Wide. Receiver gunnerrol zevsky.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
It Was wild and kofa's creativity has to put him
in the conversation for a full time.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Head coaching job but he also made the decision That
let the lions back in the game going forward on
fourth and goal late up by three instead of just kicking.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
The field goal that's the other side of the coin.
With aggressive coaches, when it works. You're a genius, when
it fails you get second. Guests all week and that
failure led Directly to the lions getting the Ball back
and baits hitting. That monster kick So.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
While The lions and packers, battle it out another team.
In That division the vikings are. In real trouble they're
four to seven after getting Blown Out, by GREEN bay
and jj McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Is really struggling he looked bad in that game twelve
of nineteen for eighty seven yards. And two picks and
now you're starting to hear the Whispers about The Vikings letting,
sam darnold go who's having a pretty Good. Year in
seattle it's.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Tough because it's not. All McCarthy's fault that offensive, line
is terrible the run game. Is non existent it's a
really bad situation for, a rookie.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Quarterback it is but you can't. Bench him now you
have to. See it through what they need to do
in the off season is bring in reliable veteran to,
compete with him or at least provide some insurance if he.
Continues to struggle.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Right the, Other thanksgiving game Ravens, At the bengals, baltimore
Is Favored but lamar jackson. Hasn't, looked right.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
No he hasn't since he came back from. That hamstring
injury he hasn't thrown for two hundred yards and three
Straight games and. Their big problem their fatal flaw is
still their inability to score touchdowns in.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
The red zone is that a play calling issue or
is it a Physical thing with lamar not being. ONE
hundred percent i think it's a.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Little of both he seems hesitant to really step, into
his throws especially in the tight windows of, the red
zone and that makes the predictable play calls.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Even Less effective The bengals, get joe burrowback which is,
huge for them but they still have one of the
worst defenses in the league and a bad offensive, line.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Right So even with lamar not, at His best the
ravens should still be able to run the Ball. ALL
over cincinnati i think, the talent gap, especially on defense is.
Just too big baltimore should.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Win this one let's talk about two more teams who
are trying to figure out, who They are the Jets.
And the Falcons, for the jets it's just more. The
same misery they're two nine now after Losing.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
To the ravens it's, tough to watch but you have
To Give coach erin glenn credit for how. He's handling
it you saw That after bres hall fumbled at the,
two yard line which basically lost.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Them, The game yeah glenn came right out, and, defended him,
said st Happens and that hall. Is my Guy he
knows hall is really hard on himself and he wanted
to get in. Front of that, that's great, leadership.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
It is but that great player management is in sharp
contrast to a really questionable coaching decision he made earlier.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
In that game the fourth and two from their own forty.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Two, yard line yes down by only three points in.
The third quarter there was just no reason to. Take
that risk you, punt the ball you, trust your defense
and you play the. Field, position game, instead.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
They Fail give the ravens the ball near midfield and
basically hand them.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
A field goal it felt like a, moment of desperation
and it's that kind of gamble that. Gets coaches fired
the risk just did not justify the reward. There, at all.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Now contrast That With. The atlanta falcons They beat the
saints twenty, four to ten and they were suddenly building
a real. Identity on defense.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
It's amazing they've had five or more sacks in. Four
straight games only ten OTHER teams in nfl history have.
Ever done that and the best part is all the
guys getting their sacks are first or, Second year players.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
So you're talking About Guys, Like, James Pierce, Junior Brandon.
Dorles xavier watts this is the kind of young core you.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Can, Build around absolutely pierce is starting to look like
the star pass rusher they drafted. Him to be and
that young pass rush Completely Shut, down taysom hill who
has Always given.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
The falcons fits and the offense changed its identity in.
That game too they were under center, a lot more
using three.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Tight end sets it was a clear shift to a
more physical ground and pound style. And it worked They
bullied the saints that the line of scrimmage controlled the
clock and it took a lot Of Pressure, off Kirk.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Cousins and cousins had maybe his best game in. Over
a year the play action game was working. Perfectly for him.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
It was the only guy who didn't seem To Benefit.
Was kyle pitts he had a couple of, really bad
drops one of which led.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
To an interception and that's the, concern With him right
can he be a consistent contributor in a run first
offense that needs him to block and. Make tough catches
the jury, Is, Still out okay let's switch over to,
the college game because the biggest rivalry in sports is this,
week the game and the stakes could. Not, be higher no.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
They could Not Number, one ohio state undefeated eleven zero
goes on the road to Face number fifteen michigan at,
nine to two and the Historical Pressure on ohio state.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Is just immense they're trying to avoid losing five Straight
games to michigan for the first time since. The nineteen twenties.
The nineteen twenties.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Can you imagine That Weight on. Ryan day's shoulders if
he loses a fifth straight time, to his archrival the
calls for His job in columbus. Will be deafening even
with an eleven.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
To one record and it's not just. About bragging rights
this has huge college. Football playoff Implications.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Massive a michigan win could send Them To the big,
ten title game and It Could, force ohio state height
the number one team, in the country to play in
a first round playoff game instead of getting.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
That crucial buy so where's this game going to be?
One or lost it's.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Always a battle, In The trenches but i'm Looking At
the ohio state Secondary against the Michigan Wide Receivers if
ohio state can prevent the big play Downfield and force
michigan to, be one dimensional they have. A great Shot but.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
If michigan can, run the ball, control the clock and
Keep That explosive ohio state offense, on the sideline then
it's a.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Whole different ballgame it's going to be. Fascinating, to watch.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
MEANWHILE on the, Sec the lane kiffin saga is just
completely dominating. The coaching carousel.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
It's a mess he's being LINKED to the lsu job
and it's creating chaos. For both schools one day there's
a report he bought A House. In baton rouge the
next day he's demanding a New contract From ole miss.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
And the timing. Is just Terrible With the Egg Bowl
against mississippi state, this.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Week exactly his team has to play their biggest rival
and they have no idea if their coach is going
to be. Their next year it's a HUGE distraction and
lsu needs to hire a coach before the. Recruiting dead
period this whole thing is hurting everybody involved and.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
It could EVEN impact the. Sec championship game george is sitting,
at number four but they could end up playing only
missed for, the title Right and.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
If kiffen and his team are distracted by all this off,
the field drama It could make george's path to the.
Playoff even easier the coaching chaos has real. Hon field,
consequences all.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Right let's set a few other big stories from. The
College world Jeremiah Love at notre dame had. A monster game.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
He was Incredible He tied jerome bettis's school record with
his twentieth touchdown. Of the season, and get this he
had one hundred and seventy one yards on. Just eight, carries.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Eight carries it's over twenty one. Yards of pop. Just
absurd Efficiency.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
In acc miami is now the highest ranked team. At
number thirteen they're quietly putting together a. Really solid season.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
On, The Flip side florida state. Is in trouble they're
five to six and they need to win their last
game Just to. Become bowl eligible.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
It's been a rough, slide for them and THEIR Loss
to nz state was just full of what we're called, mind,
boggling mistakes punts questionable. Late game decisions it. Was just
ugly but.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
They Announced that mike norvel will be back as coach through.
Twenty twenty six a big.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Vote of confidence they clearly believe he can fix. These execution, issues.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
And finally the coaching carousel has. Its first Victim Cal
fired justin wilcox after they lost the Big. Game to
stanford that was.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
The last straw it guaranteed he would finish with a
losing record and conference play for the. Ninth straight season
you just, can't survive that especially when you lose to
your rival who has. An interim coach.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
And a big Recruiting win for utah they landed a
top dual threat quarterback for, Twenty Twenty, six kane.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Archer a massive. Get for them he's a blue chip
prospect who joins what is already the highest rated Recruiting class.
In utah history it shows they're serious about building an offensive.
Powerhouse out west.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
So to wrap, It all up week twelve COMPLETELY. Reshaped
The nfc the rams looked like the clear, team to
Beat and the eagles suddenly. Look incredibly vulnerable.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
AND, in The afc the, patriots are back which, nobody
saw coming creating a real RACE In, the Afc East
and miles garrett is on, a historic pace on track
to Completely rewrite the, sack record book and.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
We head into thanksgiving with the game looming over college
FOOTBALL with massive csp Implications While the lane kiff and
circus continues to SWIRL. Around the sec it all came
down to a few critical plays and a lot of
critical decisions. From the sideline.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
It really did and you think about all the huge coaching,
Calls This week chip, Kelly Getting fired aaron glenn's huge gamble,
On Fourth down mike kafka's aggressive call That costs the.
Giants The game so i'll leave you with this, to
think about what single coaching decision, from this week, win
or lose do you think we'll have the biggest long
term ripple effect. For that franchise something to chew on
(24:43):
as we get ready for the home stretch. Of the
season
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