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Goal Line: Pack It Up
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The playoff race is heating up and the Fig God is back to talk about it all.
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Transcript
Introduction and Weekly Recap
00:00:10
Speaker
What is up, goal line listeners? I am back to recap the week that was in football. And it was an exciting weekend. We had ah the championship weekend of college football. And then, of course, we had ah week 14 of the NFL. So we are getting down to the end of it. um I'm really excited to talk about everything. i hope everybody's doing well. I hope ah your Christmas shopping and all the holiday stuff is is moving along well. um Yeah, that's really all I got for anything other than football. So let's ah let's get right into it.
College Football Championships Overview
00:00:59
Speaker
All right, let's get it started. James Madison wins the Sunbelt Conference championship game. um They looked impressive in that game, but we'll get into that once we get into the bracket talk. But I just kind of want to go through everything and just kind of give you my thoughts. Tulane beats North Texas. This one kind of shocked me. I thought North Texas was a better team. um Did not look great, but, um I mean, credit to Tulane. They got the job done, and, yeah.
00:01:29
Speaker
Texas Tech, and this team is – this is just seems really something. Like, their defense is so fast. They just fly around the ball. um Their linebacking core is just unreal. It's just – it's a pleasure to watch them play defense. Their offense does enough. Their running back's really good. um They put it to BYU. It was a close game at halftime, and then second half they just put them away. BYU had like three or four turnovers.
00:01:59
Speaker
um Texas Tech just kind of squeezed them out. like There was just nothing they could do. And, um yeah, I mean, Texas Tech looked good. And I'm excited to see what they do in the playoff. So, yeah, fun team to watch.
00:02:12
Speaker
um Georgia destroys Bama. This was just a thorough beating. Like, Bama could never get anything going. um They've been kind of leaking oil on offense the last month or so. just – They just haven't looked like the machine that we're used to with Bama, you know? um...
00:02:31
Speaker
um It was interesting. Georgia's just playing. They're playing incredible football. I know during middle of the season, I didn't think they were playing the best and kind of had my worries about them, especially offensively, but they've really turned it up a notch.
00:02:46
Speaker
I mean, Bama did make some really bad errors that gave Georgia short fields and things like that, but I still don't think it would have mattered. um I just, I felt like Georgia was the better team this whole game and Yeah, they they earned the SEC championship again, and I think that was the first time they beat Bama in Atlanta. So, um impressive win for them.
00:03:07
Speaker
ah Duke upsets Virginia and just absolutely causes chaos for the playoff. um i kind of part of me feels bad for duke i mean they ended up eight and five so it's kind of hard to feel bad for them but uh eight and five they obviously didn't even have a shot at making the playoffs i mean i i don't think that would have been ah a good choice at all by the committee to get an eight and five duke team in so um but yeah they they handled business and they they beat virginia that's an incredible win for duke i mean
00:03:39
Speaker
Duke is a basketball school and they just won an ACC title. Granted, the ACC was down this year, but still, I mean, you can't take that away from That's an incredible win for Duke. It's definitely a program-winning, program-building win. Sorry. ah So, yeah, i just, it was cool to see them win.
00:04:00
Speaker
Let's go to the Big Ten Championship game. Indiana beats Ohio State. Man, i just I'm one of those guys that has always wanted to doubt Indiana and the legitimacy if they're good or not.
00:04:14
Speaker
But them beating Ohio State, just i mean I don't know what else she can say about this team. They could go one and done in the playoff. i mean It's completely possible, but you cannot overstate the significance of what Kirk Signetti has done at Indiana.
00:04:29
Speaker
ah Two years ago, this team won three games. Indiana has never, i mean not in the last 20 years, been good at football. He completely changed the trajectory of that program football-wise. And again, another basketball school. they don't They have pumped more money into football, obviously, the last couple years, and it shows on the field. But, I mean, historically, Indiana didn't pump any money into football. It was all about basketball. Yeah.
00:04:54
Speaker
You know what? It paid off, man. they ah yeah they They beat Ohio State and they looked good doing it. um Ohio State did miss a field goal that would have tied it with like two minutes left. But I don't know. I just feel like Indiana was the better team in that game and they came out on top. So...
00:05:11
Speaker
It was interesting. I mean, just interesting to watch Indiana play and just to kind of see how far they've come. Their offense is fun to watch. Their defense just flies around. Like, I think that's what shocked me more than anything is how much they kept Ohio State in check and they just kept all the receivers in front of them. Like, Ohio State could just never get the big plays going. And it was impressive. I mean, it was that was the Big Ten game you wanted. It was a grinded-out win for Indiana. So, yeah.
00:05:38
Speaker
Yeah, congrats to Indiana. That's absolutely incredible for them and should be nothing but proud about this season, no matter how it ends up.
College Football Playoff Bracket Discussion
00:05:47
Speaker
um Let's go into, let's talk about the playoff bracket, just because I kind of want to give you my thoughts and just kind of what I saw from Saturday and the whole season as a whole.
00:05:59
Speaker
The number one seed was Indiana. that That was a no-brainer. I mean, they deserved to get it. They went undefeated. They won the Big Ten. Like said, beat Ohio State. So... Yeah, they deserved it.
00:06:11
Speaker
Number two, Ohio State. They were number one all season. I mean, i get the talk that Georgia should should have overtaken them as the two seed. I get it. To be quite honest, I don't think it really matters. I don't. I mean, i the two and three seed, you're kind of splitting hairs on who you're playing in the second game.
00:06:29
Speaker
Ohio State's playing A&M, most likely. A&M or Miami, I guess I should say. Yeah. So, yeah, we'll so we'll see how it turns out. But for the most part, I was okay with the top four seeds. Georgia is the three seed, like I just mentioned.
00:06:46
Speaker
SEC champs. Going to be a handful for anybody. So, yeah, it's exciting. Texas Tech is the four seed. Again, I can't stress enough how impressive Texas Tech is.
00:06:57
Speaker
Just to... Incredible, incredible turnaround for this program. Their first Big 12 title, I think like 60 or 70 or something like that. um Yeah, just incredible for them.
00:07:10
Speaker
ah The five seed is Oregon. I mean... This is who it should have been as a five seed. Six seed is Ole Miss without Lane Kiffin. I'm rooting for this team pretty hard.
00:07:21
Speaker
I can't lie to I'm rooting for them pretty hard. and Lane Kiffin's a douche. and just I cannot believe he left them in the middle of this. ah Seven is Texas A&M. That's about where they should be. Six or seven would have been fine.
00:07:35
Speaker
ah Eight is Oklahoma. Again, they earned it. Their offense has just not been good the last month of the season, but, well, basically all season, but, I mean, they earned it.
00:07:47
Speaker
Here's where the controversy started. Nine, in Alabama. So, I'm going to give you my thoughts on this and just kind of leave it at that. um I felt like Alabama belonged. i just Granted, they have not played well the last month the season. They did have a really bad loss against Florida the State to start the season. but They also have the best win. i mean They beat Georgia in Georgia, breaking their three-year home winning streak. like that It was impressive. Very, very impressive to win there. um
00:08:18
Speaker
I just, I don't know how you wouldn't have made them a team. I get it They had three losses. I completely understand, but they did play for the SEC title in the hardest conference. I just, I don't know. I felt like they were in no matter what happened on Saturday to me personally.
00:08:37
Speaker
10 is Miami. So the the coin flip ended up being Miami and Notre Dame, which I think that's what it should have been. And you have to reward a head-to-head matchup. I don't i don't care when it was.
00:08:48
Speaker
I don't care what you think about it. a Final score was the final score. Miami won. If you would have put Notre Dame in over Miami, you might as well just say head-to-head doesn't matter in season anymore. It doesn't matter if you lose to a team. They can still get in ahead of you with the same record. i just I think it would have looked really bad for the committee.
00:09:07
Speaker
Tulane at 11. Again, i get it. I get people's complaint about this. the The playoffs never going to be perfect, but this is the way they did it. They did the five highest ranked conference champions. Unfortunately, the ACC champion did not rank at the end of the season, so they weren't eligible.
00:09:25
Speaker
And then 12 is James Madison. Again, man, I get it. These teams are probably going to get rolled first round. I completely understand the complaints about it, but this is the way the rules are written. So those two teams were guaranteed in as of Saturday night when Duke won. So um overall, I don't have a ton of complaints about um the bracket.
00:09:47
Speaker
I do feel bad for Notre Dame, BYU, Vandy, yu vany in Texas. BYU lost two games, and they lost in a championship game on one of them. I do feel bad for them, but they did get blown out in both of them.
00:09:58
Speaker
To me, Vandy had the strongest case. Like, Vandy's only two losses were Bama and Texas. Like, I just felt like Vandy had every right to be there. But, again, I mean, it just kind of is what it is. You got to win the games. Texas, it is what it is, man. I just – They didn't play well until the end of the season. They are hot right now. like i I think if they would have made it, they would have caused some problems. But, um again, you've got to win your games, man. Games are important. So, Notre Dame, I've already talked about it. But also, and then I see this the same day. So, as part of um something that was signed last or this last spring, Notre Dame is assured of a college football playoff berth of it is ranked in the top 12 starting next year.
00:10:43
Speaker
If this year's situation unfolds next year, the final at large team Miami would have gotten bumped for a number 11 Notre Dame. I just – I don't even know how this is a thing. I mean, Notre Dame kind of just gets what they want in college football. I mean, college football is not going to make them join a conference. They kind of just do what they want. they give They get all their money. They get the NBC money.
00:11:05
Speaker
Just kind of is what it is, man. I just – I That's why it's tough for me to feel bad for them for not getting a playoff. Like, dude, it's just – It is what it is. So that's it for college football talk. Let's ah let's talk some NFL.
NFL Season Challenges and Disappointments
00:11:30
Speaker
Okay. As always, we have to start with my Falcons. Unfortunately, i just... I don't even know. i mean, I knew they were going to lose Seattle. I'd never expected them to beat Seattle, but just tied at six at halftime.
00:11:46
Speaker
Just come out asleep in the second half. Like third quarter, they didn't even look like they wanted to play football. um I don't know. I feel like I've told you guys everything on my thoughts on the Falcons and the direction of the team and all that stuff. Like I just, I don't i don't know what else to say about them. They're just poorly coached.
00:12:07
Speaker
um ah offense clearly misses Drake London. Kirk Cousins is doing an admiral job, I guess, filling in for Penix. It's just such an average football team to watch. They're they're poorly coached, as I say, every week.
00:12:23
Speaker
So, Last year, the Falcons started ended eight and nine This year, they started 3-2, and they're 4-9 right now. i just, I don't know how you keep Raheem Morris after this season. I mean, it is the Falcons, so it's completely possible.
00:12:40
Speaker
This guy's a loser. He's proven he's not a good head coach. I mean, I did see something the other day. Arthur Blank has never hired a head coach with a winning record when they came to the Falcons. Like,
00:12:53
Speaker
i mean, it ain't surprising. i guess that I guess that's why he wanted to hire Bill Belichick, which think that would have been a disaster too, but it's neither here nor there. um I don't know.
00:13:06
Speaker
I'm just kind of looking forward to the offseason. Like, there's just – well, it's kind of looking forward to it. There's just nothing for me to be excited about these next four weeks. um I hope they beat the Saints. That's about all I've got left for this season. It's just not good. They're a bad team.
00:13:22
Speaker
Very, very bad team. So, like I said, I could talk about this with you guys for an hour. i will do a state of the Falcons in the offseason. I'll do an 80% Falcons episode and then just kind of go through the NFL, things like that. But I just, I don't know. Like I said, we'll get into that in the offseason. There's no point me to keep harping on the Falcons.
00:13:43
Speaker
ah Titans win against the Browns. Shadour looked really good in this game. Cam Ward made some really good plays.
Recent NFL Game Highlights
00:13:51
Speaker
I just, I don't know, man.
00:13:55
Speaker
I don't even know what to think of this game. Like, the the Browns defense I thought was just going to control the line of scrims the entire game. And Tony Pollard ran wild in this game. Like, I did not see that coming.
00:14:06
Speaker
um But I didn't think the Titans would win another game. I just truly didn't. And as much as I would like to say it's Shadour's fault, definitely not. Shadour is the reason the Browns were even in this game. So, but yeah, Titans win.
00:14:21
Speaker
ah Detroit beats Dallas on Thursday night. This is the offense that I expected Detroit to look like. like Their offense looked like a a well-oiled machine on Thursday night. i I hope that's kind of what that they're going to round into form here these last four weeks of the season because Detroit is fun to watch, man. i Dan Campbell is just an awesome coach. I love Dan Campbell. I love his passion. I just i like everything about him. They are a fun team. Jared Goff is a likable guy.
00:14:50
Speaker
Gibbs is a joy to watch. Hutchinson's fun. They are a fun team. I seriously expected Dallas to win this game. I thought Dallas was absolutely rolling going into this game, and I just felt like it was a bad game for Detroit.
00:15:03
Speaker
um But, yeah, Detroit kind of turned it on, and Dallas did not have their best game offensively and definitely not defensively. So we'll see where they go from here. Dallas is still right in the hunt for the NFC East, so we'll kind of see where it goes from here.
00:15:17
Speaker
ah Bills beat Bengals in a thriller. Thriller is not even a probably the proper description. i mean, that it was snowing. This was just an incredible football game. i just Josh Allen, is he's one of the best players I think I've ever watched. like Just some of the plays he makes are unreal.
00:15:37
Speaker
um They were down 28-18 with like eight minutes left. They ended up winning thirty nine to thirty four Joe Burrow threw two of the worst picks I think I've ever seen him throw in my life. This is the one thing I'm going to say.
00:15:50
Speaker
If the Bills cannot win in a year where it kind of looks like Mahomes is not going to be in the playoffs, Lamar is probably not going to be in the playoffs, and Joe Burrow is probably not going to be in the playoffs, this is the year the Bills have to get to the Super Bowl. I'm not saying they're going to, but this is the year it has to happen. like You'd have some pride, win now, and I don't care. this There will never be an asterisk next to your name if you if you get there. like you You have to get there this year.
00:16:17
Speaker
i just feel like they're destined to get there. They're not playing the greatest football. still don't love their skill position players. Cook's going to start holding on to the ball. Their defense still is not good enough, but i don't know.
00:16:29
Speaker
Josh Allen is the only quarterback, and obviously, since these four joined the league, to beat Mahomes, Burrow, and Lamar in the same season. so Yeah, I hope they do it.
00:16:43
Speaker
ah Steelers defeat the Ravens. Dude, I said it two weeks ago. The Ravens do not look interested in playing football, and I'm sticking by it. They do not look like they care about playing football at all. like they They literally look like they could care less on what happens for the rest of the season. Steelers are not a good team. they're They're not a good team. No one can convince me that they're a good team.
00:17:05
Speaker
Their offense stinks. I just i i don't know what the Ravens are doing at this point. Jags beat the Colts. Danny Dimes done for the year with an Achilles injury. I feel so bad for him. He played through a broken fibula, ends up tearing his Achilles, walks out in a walking boot to still support his teammates. Like, dude, I changed my completely changed my opinion on Danny Dimes this season. Like, just an absolutely incredible season for him.
00:17:32
Speaker
Unfortunately, it looks like the Colts are probably not going to win another game. They went 7-1, and it looks like they're probably going to end eight nine
NFL Playoff Standings Overview
00:17:40
Speaker
this is a bad collapse. Um,
00:17:43
Speaker
There's no way around it. They traded two first-rounders to get sauce. At the time, I thought it was genius because they were playing really good football. Now it's probably going to look pretty bad. i mean, getting granted, you can't know that at the time, but the optics of it are not going to look good by the time the season gets over. i feel bad for the Colts, man. they They were fun to watch.
00:18:03
Speaker
There was a lot of things that I was worried about, and Daniel Jones not playing well was one of them. um I don't feel like he played his best football the last couple of weeks, and Now they're talking about bringing in Phillip Rivers.
00:18:16
Speaker
God, dude. Five-year retired Phillip Rivers. I just, I don't know. through All three of their quarterbacks are hurt. Riley Leonard came on in relief, got hurt. Anthony Richardson still hurt. i This team's in deep trouble.
00:18:32
Speaker
Saints upset the Bucs.
00:18:35
Speaker
Of things I did not think I would see this weekend, Saints upsetting the Bucs is pretty high up the list. I just, I don't know what's going on with Bucs. They are regressing very, very badly.
00:18:46
Speaker
Their defense is not playing well. Offense is not doing enough. I just, don't know. I thought when they got Bucky back, their offense would just flourish. they're They're still using all three running backs. i that I don't know, man. i Talk about this with the Falcons, with Bijan and Algier.
00:19:05
Speaker
Playing three running backs is not a good decision. like it's It's just not it's not going to win you football games. You have to have a lead back, and it has to be identified. like i just I don't get it.
00:19:18
Speaker
ah Dolphins win their fourth straight by beating the Jets. The Jets are so bad. Dolphins have the same record as the Kansas City Chiefs right now. And five weeks ago, the Dolphins looked like they were about to fire everybody and burn it all down, and now they're 6-7. Still not a good team, but they're playing well, so...
00:19:38
Speaker
ah The Vikings shut out the Commanders after the Vikings were shut out last week. Commanders, why would you play Jaden Daniels at this point? He's been hurt three times this season. Now he's hurt again.
00:19:50
Speaker
Like, what what is the point of playing him at this point? I know he probably wants to play, but you got to protect your asset. And the the Commanders are not winning anything this year. Like, dude, protect Jaden Daniels. That is your franchise quarterback, and you need to protect him from himself.
00:20:05
Speaker
ah Broncos win their 10th straight game by beating the Raiders. Again, everybody beats the Raiders, so I shouldn't be like super enthused by this game. I do think the Broncos are playing really well, though. Defensively, they're doing a lot.
00:20:17
Speaker
um Bo Nix, he's just doing what he needs to do, so I still like this team a lot. The Rams run it up on the Cardinals. The Rams just look like a machine most weeks. The the Panthers game is just going to be a – a weird game for them. um But yeah, the the Rams look really good. Stafford's playing unreal football. Blake Corham had a breakout game.
00:20:42
Speaker
They are, they're dangerous. This team's to really hard to beat in the playoffs. um Packers beat the bears in a very, very good game. I did think the bears were going to win this game going into it. um They ran the ball so well in this game and,
00:21:01
Speaker
I just, I don't know, man. They're just a weird team. Sometimes they just, Packers did enough to win, obviously, but I didn't love that what they did in this game either. Michael Parsons was getting held every play and I never got called. i I don't know what the refs are looking at at this point, but yeah, good win for the Packers.
00:21:20
Speaker
Texans beat the Chiefs. um This was kind of what I expected in this game. I ah kind of thought the Chiefs would find a way to win it. They're just doing so many things on offense that they haven't done during the Patrick Mahomes era. like Nobody can catch the ball. Travis Kelsey looks completely washed at this point.
00:21:38
Speaker
Texans defense is just they're just a bunch of hitters. like They're so fun to watch. um I feel like they're going to end up being in the hottest team in the league going into the playoffs, depending on how they perform these next four weeks, but Man, they're they're playing really good football right now.
00:21:54
Speaker
ah Chargers win an OT against the Eagles last night. This was quite possibly one of the worst games I've watched, and well, other than the Falcons, because every one of those games is the worst games I've ever watched.
00:22:05
Speaker
ah Hurts had five turnovers. like it just... This was an awful game to watch. Herbert was just fighting for his life in this game. His line can't block at all. It's just, I feel bad for him. But, dude, what a stud. Had hand hand surgery on his left hand on Monday, last Monday.
00:22:24
Speaker
Plays Monday night football. Just gets smoked the entire game. they He leads them on a drive in overtime to kick a field goal. That ends up what went... And ah ended up winning the game. um Yeah, I just, I don't know what to what to say about the Eagles, man. there They looked so good like a month ago. And we all said, I obviously said I still had a hesitation about their offense, but five turnovers by Jalen Hurts is unacceptable. He had two on one play. Like, I...
00:22:55
Speaker
I don't know, man. I don't have good feelings about the Eagles moving forward. ah Let's look at the playoffs real quick. Denver, as of right now, is the one seed at eleven and two New England is the two seed, also at eleven and two Jacksonville is the three seed at 9-4. Pittsburgh is the four seed at 7-6.
00:23:16
Speaker
Chargers of the five at nine and four Buffalo nine and four as the 6th seed, and Houston at eight and five is the 7th seed. Indy is a game, but they're they're right there. The Texans just have the tiebreaker, but again, I don't think the Colts win another game this season. so ah Yeah, that's where it is in the AFC. NFC, you've got the Rams on top at ten and three Packers in second at 9-3-1.
00:23:43
Speaker
Philadelphia at 8-5-3. Tampa Bay at 7-6-4. Those two teams are in disarray. You've got Seattle at 10-3 as the 5 seed. San Francisco at 9-4 as the 6 seed. And Chicago at 9-4 as the 7. Man, Chicago literally fell from the 1 seed all the way down to the 7 seed in one week. so It's just kind of where NFL is right now.
00:24:06
Speaker
All right, let's ah let's do some picks.
Upcoming NFL Game Predictions
00:24:09
Speaker
Thursday night, the 4-9 Atlanta Falcons travel to the 7-6 Bucs. If the Bucs can't win this game, you might as well shut the season down because this would be a bad loss for the Bucs. Like, very, very bad loss.
00:24:21
Speaker
ah Browns 3-10 traveling to the 9-4 Bears. brown should win sorry Bears should win this game. they They need to win this game because their last three games are extremely tough.
00:24:34
Speaker
Ravens at 6-7 traveling to the 4-9 Bengals. I'm going to go Bengals. I just i don't like anything about what the Ravens are doing right now. ah Nine and four Chargers traveling to the six and seven Chiefs. This is basically the Chiefs season on the line. They lose this game. Season's over at this point. i I don't see a path where they make the playoffs if they lose this game. So I'm going to go Chiefs with their backs against the wall. I just i don't think they go go away quiet.
00:25:01
Speaker
o This is going be a good one. Nine and four Bills traveling to the 11 and two Patriots. feel like the Bills need this game more than the Patriots. Patriots coming off a bye.
00:25:14
Speaker
I'm going to go Bills. I say the Bills win this game. You got the 3-10 Commanders going to the 2-11 Giants. Boy, this one should be exciting. I'm going to go with the Giants in this game. 2-11 Raiders traveling to the 8-5 Eagles. The Eagles have to run them out of the building. like They need this game really bad, and they need to win it convincingly.
00:25:36
Speaker
3-10 Jets traveling to the 9-4 Jaguars. Jaguars by a lot. 3-10 Cardinals traveling to the 8-5 Texans. Texans are going to destroy them in this game. This is another good one. 9-3-1 Packers traveling to the 11-2 Broncos.
00:25:52
Speaker
I'm going to say the Packers win this game. i just I feel like they need to win this game. so ah I'll go Packers. I feel like the Broncos have they won 10 in a row. I mean, you're due to lose one.
00:26:06
Speaker
8-5 Lions traveling to the ten three Rams. I'm going go Rams. I just feel like they're such a good team. so seven and six Panthers traveling to the 3-10 Saints. Panthers are going to win this game.
00:26:20
Speaker
Titans traveling to the 49ers. will go by lot. just...
00:26:27
Speaker
I do not see a way that the 49ers don't hold them. ah Eight and five Colts traveling to the 10 and three Seahawks. Seahawks buy a lot. This is going to be a blowout of a game. Sunday night, we've got the five and eight Vikings traveling to the six, six and one Cowboys. I'll go Cowboys in this game. I think they do win.
00:26:44
Speaker
And then Monday night, we've got a real barn burner. We've got the six and seven Dolphins traveling to the seven and six Steelers. I'll say the Steelers win this game. And, keep their playoff hopes going so um that's it for this this week on goal line um again as i always say and i know i keep hammering this home i always appreciate you guys listening i love hearing your feedback this is fun for me like it's obviously different without seth um doing this by yourself can sometimes be tough and um but i i just enjoy talking about football and it seems like you guys enjoy listening to me so we'll keep it going. I mean, we're just going to keep it rolling. We got four weeks of regular season left and yeah, like I said, ah our I'll leave it there and I'll talk to you guys next week.
00:27:33
Speaker
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
00:27:57
Speaker
Bye. Bye. Bye.