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Goal Line: Wild Card Weekend
56 Plays2 days ago
The Fig God covers the past week in football including what was possibly the greatest Wild Card Weekend in NFL history
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Transcript
Football Weekend Recap
00:00:13
Speaker
What is up, Goal Line listeners? I am back for another week of exciting football action. We had a lot going on last week between college football playoffs and NFL playoffs wildcard round. It was a really good weekend of football, and I cannot wait to talk about it with you guys.
00:00:30
Speaker
um I hope you guys' as New Year's are off to a really good start and everything's going well for you. um The only housekeeping news, I do want to touch a little bit on the Falcons just because um something has happened since last week. They did hire Matt Ryan as the president of football operations.
00:00:47
Speaker
um I'm happy with it. I love Matt Ryan. I mean, he's the best quarterback in Falcons history, are arguably one of the best players in Falcons history. i mean, he's definitely in the top five. So I'm excited. We'll see what they do. They have had a couple interviews so far. Yeah, I just...
00:01:06
Speaker
We'll see what they do. It's the Falcons. So anything can happen um and anything will happen. So, yeah, we'll ah we'll talk about that as it goes along. But um with that, let's get into some college football talk.
NIL and Transfer Portal's Impact
00:01:29
Speaker
OK, there is one thing I want to talk about before we get into the actual college football ball action. I know we've talked about it before, but I just kind of want to hit on um the transfer portal and NIL and all that stuff.
00:01:41
Speaker
I mean, we obviously, i think everybody is in agreement here. This is not good for college football. it's It is ruining um the core of what college football is. I mean, literally now it's just all about money. It's just it's the NFL feeder league. I mean, it always has been, but like these kids are getting paid just as much money, if not more, than they'll make in the NFL right now. And it's just it's not good for the game. um It's definitely not good for the schools, but I get it. college football in the NCAA has just been milking college athletes for so long. So the NIL stuff doesn't bother me as much. It's more of this transfer portal thing. I mean, you've got guys that are playing for four schools in four years. Like there needs to be some kind of limitations on it. And,
00:02:26
Speaker
I don't know. We've got to figure something out where it's just it's not a free-for-all in the Wild West all the time. And I also hate that there's the transfer portal is open while teams are playing in the playoff. like That's ridiculous. i just I think that's so stupid and I don't know. it's just They're just ruining what college football is supposed to be. And to me, at least, I mean, I get it. it It kind of makes high school recruiting kind of pointless when you think about it, because the amount of guys that are staying at their school for three or even four years is, I mean, it's dwindling by the day. So,
00:03:00
Speaker
I don't love it. I don't like what it's doing to college football, but it's here and it's here to stay. So we're just going to kind of have to deal with it.
Miami vs. Ole Miss Playoff Recap
00:03:07
Speaker
ah Let's talk about last Thursday night, Miami and Ole Miss.
00:03:11
Speaker
This was just, this was a fun game to watch. It was just, it was a really good game. It was a really well-played game at times. um Hats off to Ole Miss. what ah What a run in the playoff with without their head coach. um Golden did a great job coaching that team.
00:03:29
Speaker
I liked what I saw from both teams in this game. um Miami made enough plays at the end to win. Ole Miss had a shot at the end. you can say there was or was not pass interference. I mean, I could see it both ways. it just It's one of those bang-bang plays, and they don't want to call it on the last play of the game. Like, I get it, but – I mean, there were definitely he was definitely tugging on him, so it's just one of those things. But, i mean again, hats off to Ole Miss. They played an excellent game. They did already say that Chambliss is not getting his sixth year, so he'll be in the NFL next year. i don't know what his draft stock looks like, but –
00:04:05
Speaker
He's just a fun player, exciting player. On the flip side, I hated what I saw from Carson Beck in the first half of that game. He just looked really timid, and I didn't like the way he was throwing the ball. it didn't seem like they were going downfield enough. But ah he he turned it on in the second half, and Miami can just run the shit out of the football.
00:04:21
Speaker
um And that defense, I mean, they made enough plays at the end of the game to win it. So, yeah, hats off to Miami. um They're in the national championship game now, as I'm sure everybody predicted at the beginning of the playoffs. So, yeah.
Indiana's Championship Journey
00:04:35
Speaker
The other game, Indiana just absolutely steamrolled Oregon. Indiana is just doing things that that make no sense, honestly, at this point. Kurt Cignetti is – he's as as advertised. I mean, he's the guy that said Google him, he wins. And he's not wrong. Two years, two playoff appearances, and now a national championship appearance. I mean, he's taken Indiana to places I don't think anybody even thought Indiana could go.
00:05:03
Speaker
um Fernando Mendoza just absolutely sling it in this game. I mean, this team is just – they don't make mistakes. Like, they don't beat themselves. And – I know that's like a term that a lot of people use too much, but they don't. Like, this team just doesn't beat themselves. I mean, we've seen it all season. it If they don't beat themselves, it's going to be tough to beat them.
00:05:27
Speaker
um On the flip side, Oregon, man, they just they keep getting so close. they They spend so much money on their roster every year, and they just can't get over that hump. Um, I think better days ahead for Dante Moore. I didn't, I didn't love what I saw to him. Um, it's pretty tough to rebound from a pick six on the opening play.
00:05:47
Speaker
So it's just one of those things. I mean, Indiana is just, they're absolutely on fire right now. And it's, uh, it's incredible to watch. I'll i'll just say that I, they're really fun to watch and I'm excited for this national championship game.
Championship Game Preview: Indiana vs. Miami
00:06:02
Speaker
Um, Yeah, so let's just get into Indiana-Miami in the National Championship game next Monday night. I think this has potential to be a good game, but I also think this has potential to be an absolute massacre.
00:06:19
Speaker
ah I'm picking Indiana either way. i just I think they are the better team. um They're better coached. they're just They're so well-rounded. They just do things the right way, like I said. and they're They're just going be tough to beat. so I am going to go Indiana for the win. I know it's not outside the box or anything, but and just I truly feel like they're the better team, and they've just caught lightning in a bottle, and they're just they're going with it. I mean, there's hardly any four stars on this team. There's no five stars. It's just kind of unreal to watch what they're doing, honestly.
00:06:54
Speaker
um But, yeah, I think it will be a fun game. um Hopefully it doesn't get out of hand. early because that would really suck i mean we've had those in the past for national championship games it's just not what you want to see it's the last college football game of the year you want to be a good game so hoping for a good game but uh yeah in the end i think indiana prevails so uh that is it for college football talk let's get into some nfl
00:07:33
Speaker
All right, let's ah let's start with Saturday.
Rams vs. Panthers Game Highlights
00:07:36
Speaker
ah The Rams escape in Carolina. This was a good game. I mean, it came down to the final minutes of that game, and the Rams escape Carolina. um I just think that's the best way to describe it. Carolina did not look good. start that game. It looked like it was going to massacre and they clawed back and got back into it. Stafford made a couple of bad throws. i mean, he he wasn't playing horrible by any means, but he was sailing some th throws and the Rams looked kind of out of sync on offense for a good chunk in the middle of this game. And,
00:08:09
Speaker
um Yeah, but Rams win, man. Sean McVay does it again. um This one wasn't a surprise. the The final outcome was not a surprise me, I should say. The fact that the Carolina Panthers stayed in this game until the very end of this game was a surprise to me. I just i didn't think they were built for moments like this. and I mean, they ended up losing, so you could still say that they're not. I get that. But the the Rams just they did what they needed to do, and they they won the game. Yeah.
00:08:40
Speaker
Yeah, it's just, it's one of those things. And I came away from this game really impressed with Bryce Young. I thought he did play a good game. um Just couple more plays go your way and you're you're in the second round of the playoffs. So hats off to Carolina. Really good season for them. i know their overall record doesn't so like speak, man, great season. I mean, with the playoff loss, they end up eight and 10, but You know what? This is why we have divisions, man. There's going to be years where divisions are really bad and ah under 500 teams going to win them. I do think we need to look at playoff receding. I think that needs to happen sooner rather than later, but it is what it is right now. So, yeah, ramsza Rams move on.
Bears vs. Packers Comeback
00:09:26
Speaker
Saturday night, we got Bears and Packers.
00:09:31
Speaker
i If I didn't watch this game, I really would not believe what happened. I mean, the Packers just jumped all over them. It was twenty one to three at one point. They just looked like they had it in total cruise control.
00:09:44
Speaker
And then for whatever reason, it just seemed like they stopped running with their offense the way they were doing it in the first half. Maybe it was just that the Bears adjusted. It didn't seem like it, but it just seemed like the Packers just stopped doing what was working and I don't know. That's that's a lot of Packers fans' complaint about LeFleur is that he does get away from what works. and um Yeah, it it was not a good second half for the Packers at all. They had many chances to put this way away. They missed a field goal. They missed two extra points. They they had numerous chances to put this game away. And with this Bears team, if you don't put them away, they're going to come back. And if you give them a shot in the final...
00:10:27
Speaker
five minutes of football game. They're going to, they're going to take their shot. Caleb Williams is going to do his thing. And it happened again. Caleb Williams did his thing and the bears win the game.
00:10:38
Speaker
Um, I mean, i knew this was to be one of those games where it was like it was going to be a great finish. I did not expect it to to go down the way it did. I just I didn't think the Packers were going to jump out 21 to three, obviously, and then the Bears would make a ferocious comeback. But they did. And it was a fun game to watch. Yeah.
00:11:00
Speaker
as much as I ripped on it being on prime, which I still think is ridiculous because it just felt so stupid for a playoff game. But um yeah, it was it was a really fun game. And was a fun way to end your Saturday. Like NFL is just football in general is so great, but the NFL is just so, so much fun to watch. It's just, it's so good when it's good. And Saturday it was good. We had two really exciting games. So yeah, bears move on.
Bills vs. Jaguars: Defensive Battle
00:11:29
Speaker
um Sunday noon game was Bills and Jaguars. This game did not go at all how I thought it would through the first three quarters.
00:11:40
Speaker
i I seriously just thought this was going to be a back and forth kind of scoring game. i I thought it was going to be all offense. and For that first half, it was all defense. i mean and Much of the third quarter, it was all defense. like the Defenses were making stops. They were making plays. and i was I was honestly shocked. like i just I did not see that happening. I thought these two quarterbacks would um be able to throw it all over the field. and We got it in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was really exciting. It was a very exciting 15 minutes of football, and the Bills ended up winning in the end. So, yeah, Bills move on. um
00:12:18
Speaker
i I know we talk about it all the time, but I just can't say it enough. Josh Allen is just – he literally puts his team on his back and he just carries them to the finish line. Whatever they need him to do, that's what he's going to do.
00:12:30
Speaker
And I know we probably don't give this guy enough criticism, but if you look at the team he has around him, like it's just really hard for me to criticize the guy. I mean – their receivers are just so bad and they lost Gabe Davis in this game he's out for the season i mean they had Brandon Cooks ah and Khalil Shakir it's just kind of unreal their two tight ends are good obviously you got Dawson Knox and um can't ever think of his name uh you guys know who I'm talking about though but yeah and obviously James Cook but
00:13:06
Speaker
Josh Allen just carries this team and he continues to do so. And I love Josh Allen. I'll I'm just, I'm obviously going to root for him because I would love to see them win a Superbowl. I, Bill's fans are awesome. So, um, yeah, I was happy to see him win tough loss for the Jags. Great season though. Liam Cohen is going to be a really good head coach for years to come.
00:13:27
Speaker
Um, The Trevor Doubters are always going to be there, but he had a really good season this year. That wasn't the greatest finish ever for him, but I feel like they're they're moving in the right direction. The Jags got a bright future, got a young team. um Yeah, I'm excited to see what the Jags do moving forward. But yeah, Bills get them and Bills move on.
49ers vs. Eagles: Overcoming Injuries
00:13:50
Speaker
3.30 game, we had the 49ers and Eagles. Let me just start with the Eagles here.
00:13:57
Speaker
I don't know what has happened to this team, what the worth their identity is offensively, and clearly they don't know either. i i don't know how a team has Jalen Hurts, Dallas Goddard, Devontae Smith, A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley,
00:14:17
Speaker
And they just can't get an ah offense together. I just, I don't get it. It makes no sense to me why this offense looks as bad as it does at so many times during the season, especially during a playoff game. Like I thought, okay, they rested everybody week 18. They're going to have it together for this game. And, you know, it was just more of the same. It's just, it's ugly offense. They just, they look completely,
00:14:44
Speaker
They just look helpless at times, and it's crazy. 49ers' defense is so banged up, and...
00:14:52
Speaker
But now let's move to the 49ers side. Kyle Shanahan has these boys ready to play week in, week out. They could have mailed it in. They got beat week 18 by the Seahawks, and they got beat badly. They didn't look good on offense. They didn't look good on defense.
00:15:08
Speaker
But you know what, man? He rallied those boys, and they came out on Sunday, and they were ready to play, and they won that game. They did enough on offense. Brock Purdy... played an okay game. McCaffrey's going to do what McCaffrey's going to do. They did lose George Kittle for the season, so that's going to be a tough one to recover from. That guy just cannot stay healthy. I feel awful for him, but I mean, it's just each season adds up where he just cannot stay healthy, and this one was an Achilles, so it's obviously not good. um But yeah, overall, it's just an ugly game. It was a rock fight type of game, and 49ers came out on top, and again,
00:15:46
Speaker
but I think any year the Eagles go out this way, there's going to be questions. Sirianni's not going anywhere. i thought that was the most ridiculous thing ever that that was even brought up.
00:15:58
Speaker
They just won a Super Bowl last year. It's. People are so short-sighted and so short-minded on everything. It's just it's crazy to me. But, ah yeah, 49ers move on.
00:16:11
Speaker
The Eagles did fire their offensive coordinator today or yesterday, I did see. So, and hopefully that will give the Eagles fans some solace.
Patriots vs. Chargers: Domination and Future Needs
00:16:19
Speaker
uh, Patriots and Chargers on Sunday night, Patriots just absolutely dominated the Chargers. Just the, the Chargers never even had a shot in this game.
00:16:29
Speaker
Um, if I'm the Chargers, whatever you have to do this off season, whatever money you have, whatever draft picks you have, just put it into the offensive line. I know they're going to get their two starting tackles back and that is going to help a lot, but the interior of that line is absolute garbage too. Like,
00:16:44
Speaker
that They just – they need to be going all in on on offensive line help. They need a back – obviously a couple backup tackles just in case. I mean – I know it's wild to say just in case, but it seems like this offensive line is always banged up and they're always just getting cooked. I feel so bad for Justin Herbert. He just stands back there and just gets destroyed. There was a couple of plays that I didn't even expect him to get up, but he did. He's he's tough as nails and he does everything he can to keep that team afloat. So um hats off to him. And Harbaugh's got him two straight playoff appearances, but no wins. So I guess...
00:17:23
Speaker
They just got to figure out a way to get over the hump. On the flip side, the Patriots, did they do a ton offensively that was like super impressive? No. Drake made made the throws he needed to make. They ran the ball really well.
00:17:36
Speaker
Defense just swarmed Justin Herbert, like I said. um They played a good game. yeah Yeah, I mean, that's kind of where you got to go with it. They played a good game, and they won, moved on, and ah I don't really want to dig into that game too much because it was just – fucking lulling me to sleep on Sunday night after the weekend we had.
00:17:58
Speaker
Let's move to
Texans vs. Steelers: Defensive Showdown
00:17:59
Speaker
Monday night. um Texans and Steelers, another game that was lulling me to sleep. Just absolute piss poor offense by both of these teams.
00:18:09
Speaker
Hated the way C.J. Stroud played in this game. Absolutely hated it. I just, I did not like anything he was doing in this game. Nico Collins went out. Hopefully that's not going to be a season ender.
00:18:22
Speaker
i haven't seen if it is or not. Yeah. But yeah, just did not like anything that Sherrod was doing in this game. Christian Kirk had a game that I don't think anyone expected. That was unreal. Woody Marks ran the ball really hard.
00:18:36
Speaker
Steelers offensively, just absolute garbage. Arthur Smith is a terrible offensive coordinator, so not surprising. Texans defense is unreal. um They continued that again, two pick sixes.
00:18:48
Speaker
Thank God their defense scored in the fourth quarter because it this game was so bad. This is another really bad game. um Steelers are the first team in NFL history to lose five straight playoff games by double digits.
00:19:03
Speaker
yeah You'll be shocked to know that that's not a Falcons record. So I guess we got them there. Yeah. Yeah, obviously Aaron Rodgers is probably done. that was probably his last game.
00:19:17
Speaker
um Great career for him. ah Mike Tomlin did step down today. i think that was just them avoiding the embarrassment of saying he was fired personally. I just – I think that organization feels like they owe him so much that they just let him step down. Yeah.
Divisional Round Excitement
00:19:35
Speaker
So, yeah, moving forward, i don't i don't know what future looks like for the Steelers or who they hire or even look like next year, but they got a lot of work to do. That ah offense is bad. i would start with firing Arthur Smith. I hope to God that they're not going to even consider hiring him as their head coach because he's garbage at – Just a terrible coach. um So, yeah, we'll see what the Steelers look like moving forward for the Texans. Like i said, moving on, Tomiko Ryans has those guys playing really hard, and it's going to lead to some really good games this weekend. i am I'm very excited. Divisional round is usually one of my favorite rounds of football.
00:20:15
Speaker
um This is our last, like, Because obviously once you get to conference championship games, you just have one day of football. So this is our last weekend of football. we got Saturday, Sunday, Monday with the College Football National Championship. So, yeah, let's ah let's get into some
Playoff Predictions and Analysis
00:20:30
Speaker
picks here. And I'm going to get out of here after that. I forgot to ask for listener mail again. So forgive me on that. It's been a busy start to the week.
00:20:38
Speaker
All right. Saturday at 3.30, have the 12-5 Buffalo Bills traveling to the 14-3 Denver
00:20:48
Speaker
I'm going to go with the Bills. I just – know. There's something about this Broncos team that I don't trust. It's not that I don't think that they're good. I do think they're a good team. I also hate Sean Payton, so that doesn't help. That probably clouds my judgment a little bit.
00:21:02
Speaker
don't know, man. I just – I feel like the Bills are going to – that was their first – I think they said first ever or – first and 30-year road playoff win. I think they get it done again this week. I think Josh Allen makes enough plays, and they score enough points to get it done. i just i don't trust Denver's offense. I like Bo Nix, but they just have so many games where it just looks like their offense doesn't look smooth at all. So I'm going to go with the Bills in this game.
00:21:32
Speaker
Saturday night, we've got the 49ers traveling to the fourteen and three Seahawks. I think the 49ers road ends here. I just, I feel like the Seahawks are such a good team.
00:21:44
Speaker
I mean, rolling into the playoffs, we all talked about them and gloated, a talk saying their praises. They're just, they're a really good football team. ah just don't think the 49ers can score enough points to ah to win this game. So I think the Seahawks defense controls this game and they win.
00:22:02
Speaker
ah Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, we have the 12-5 Houston Texans traveling to the 14-3 New England Patriots.
00:22:14
Speaker
God, I do not like the way that C.J. Stroud played at all in that game. I think the Texans' defense is just so good, and I think they make enough plays. I'm going to go the Texans.
00:22:28
Speaker
I think the Texans win this game. It might be crazy. I might be insane to pick against the one and two seeds in the AFC, but I said this rolling into the playoffs. I felt like the AFC was wide open, and I don't feel like the top two seeds were just head and shoulders better than everybody, so I am going to go with the Texans in this game. i just I feel like they're just going to make enough plays and on defense, and hopefully Stroud doesn't make too many stupid mistakes in this game.
00:22:56
Speaker
ah Sunday evening, we have the twelve and five Los Angeles Rams traveling to the 11-6 Chicago Bears. This one's tough for me because i do really like what the Bears did in the second half of that game the other night. I really do.
00:23:12
Speaker
But I really hate what they did in the first half of that game. And Sean McVay is not just going to let them... i just... i
00:23:25
Speaker
I'm going to go Rams. i just i It's not that I don't believe in the Bears. I do. i just i did not like what I saw from them in the first half the other night, and I feel like Sean McVay has a star like that. He's just going to bury this team.
00:23:40
Speaker
I'm not saying that I think they're going to get beat by a lot, but I just i really feel like the Rams are just going to do enough to win this game. I don't love how the Bears defense is playing.
00:23:53
Speaker
i do like how the Bears offense is playing, but I just feel like the Rams have a better defense than the Bears. So I'm going to go with a better defense in this game because feel like the offenses kind of cancel each other out a little bit.
00:24:05
Speaker
Maybe that's stupid to say, but i I do feel like they cancel each other out. So I'm going to go with the the defense that I think will make a play at the end. And I think that will be the Rams defense. So I'm going to Rams. I think it's going to really close game, but yeah, just leaning Rams, but it would not be surprised if the Bears won. The other three I'm pretty much locked in on. Like I thoroughly believe that those three teams will win.
00:24:29
Speaker
That one I'm a little shaky on, so... ah Yeah, we'll see what happens this weekend. um
Season Reflection and Listener Thanks
00:24:35
Speaker
That's it. That'll wrap up another episode. Again, as always, I appreciate you guys listening. I appreciate the feedback. The messages I get on Instagram are always fun to read. um Yeah, it's ah like I said we've got three weeks of football left. We've got seven NFL games left on the season, and then that's it. um Yeah, so for another week, thank you, and we'll talk to you next week.
00:24:59
Speaker
Welcome to the good life.
00:25:05
Speaker
Welcome to the good life. The wait is over. Welcome to the good life. And after all talk, all I got to say is, welcome to the good life.
00:25:17
Speaker
You're welcome. You're all welcome.
00:25:24
Speaker
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.