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NFL Playoff Preview & CFP Semis Preview
35 Plays5 months ago
The Goal Post is back after the end of the NFL regular-season!
Damien and Patrick start off the show by catching up on Week 18 in the NFL and the recent coach firings before ultimately breaking down every single game in Wildcard Weekend. They both think the Texans are being overlooked, the Eagles are primed to squash the Packers, and that the Steelers are in incredibly tough against the Ravens.
The Boys then recap the season-totals for their ‘Goal Post Picks’, which Damien won handedly! He gets the regular season crown, and they reset the board and give two picks each for the Wildcard Round.
To finish, the boys break down the College Football Playoff Semi-Finals: The Orange Bowl with Notre Dame being favoured over Penn State, and the Cotton Bowl in which Ohio State is favoured over Texas. All four teams have top-ten defences - who will break through?
Enjoy!
NFL Regular-Season Clean-Up: 0:00-12:13
Chargers vs Texans: 12:14 - 21:38
Steelers vs Ravens: 21:40 - 30:32
Broncos vs Bills: 30:34 - 38:29
Packers vs Eagles: 38:31 - 45:14
Commanders vs Buccaneers: 45:15 - 52:17
Vikings vs Rams: 52:19 - 1:00:32
NFL Wildcard Picks: 1:00:37 - 1:04:58
Orange Bowl: 1:04:59 - 1:16:13
Cotton Bowl: 1:16:14 - 1:27:14
Recommended
Transcript
NFL Regular Season Wrap-Up
00:00:32
Speaker
all right welcome back to another episode of the goal post we're coming at you after week 18 we are officially done with the nfl regular season 18 weeks we've been with you every single week and now it's over as patrick mentioned last week we finally trim the fat uh including the miami dolphins but that that's what we'll keep that at for this episode um But Patrick, we're here.
Week 18 Highlights: Lions vs. Vikings
00:01:00
Speaker
It's playoff time. It's semifinal time and in college football. It's a glorious weekend ahead of football. We finally made it, Damien. We survived what was a pretty horrible week 18. There were some games that we thought were going to be huge. ah We thought there was a lot of ah matchups at stake and playoff implications. None of it really lived up to the hype. There was really no ah
00:01:23
Speaker
You know no chaos involved from sunday and week eighteen uh we had a little bit of a worry in the buccaneers falcons instance in the nfc south but aside from that it was pretty much business as usual a little bit of a letdown but hey we're here the playoff time is what it's all about and i'm excited for it there's a lot of good matchups i i think it's just This is what you do it for. And I'm happy we finally made it all the way to the end. It it took a while. The last couple of weeks, it was just kind of dragging on a little bit. But now finally, like you like I said before, the fat is gone. It's been trimmed. And now the best remain.
NFL 'Black Monday' Surprises
00:01:58
Speaker
Yeah, it's I can't believe that that Lions Vikings matchup didn't even live up to the hype, like a horrible afternoon slate, a horrible one o'clock slate. And then the Lions demolished the Vikings 31 to nine.
00:02:11
Speaker
ah For the night game they grabbed the one seed really impressive night from the Lions defense and alone being back I thought like immediately was so noticeable for that team getting him back But yeah, what a what a letdown from the Vikings in that night spot Yeah, like I thought it was gonna be you know I mentioned it was gonna be a low slower scoring matchup than the 56 and a half total that they set and which it was, but it was basically only from one team that didn't score. The Lions showed up on both sides of the ball and they just dominated them. It was a bit of a ah battle in the first half. The Vikings were in it, but then that second half came Damien and it was just the Lions took over, could do whatever they wanted on both sides of the ball.
00:02:52
Speaker
and you know we kind of saw some vintage Sam Darnold a little bit in that matchup. Dan Campbell he had the he he actually used his brain a little bit on that on that fake fourth down got the Vikings to jump to just solidify that win and he had a nice quote to Kevin O'Connell after the game a nice a nice embrace between the two and I believe it's ah it's a good sign of respect. He just said, hey, see you in two weeks. we We think that you're going to take care of business this week in the playoffs. And we'll see you in the divisional round, which I think will be a great matchup again in the playoffs because I think the Vikings and Kevin O'Connell have a lot to learn from from what happened on Sunday night.
Coaching Carousel Drama
00:03:29
Speaker
Big time. I agree with you there. I think that the second matchup of that will be a lot better if the Vikings win that first game. They'll kind of get a bit of a tune up and then get back on to business.
00:03:39
Speaker
ah We had a lot of coach firings. They call it Black Monday. ah Gerard Mayo fired, I don't know, eight minutes after the Patriots lost that game. Gronk's unloading on on the ownership on Fox and then they make them cut to commercial. I don't know how to feel about this. I think they gave him such a short leash. Like there was no expectation.
00:04:00
Speaker
that the Patriots were going to do anything this year and they didn't do anything. I think it's kind of hilarious that Patriots fans are celebrating this. like it's They're almost slipping into Bears territory where they're you know super happy that they're done with this one head coach without really having a direction of where they're going to find their next head coach.
Tom Brady's Influence on Raiders
00:04:20
Speaker
Yeah, this was the firing that I think was the most like to Patriots fans. It doesn't seem like it was a surprise to them, but I think to the general public, it's a little bit surprising because like you said, this was the guy that was, he was handpicked supposedly by Robert Kraft in the ownership.
00:04:36
Speaker
ah for about five years I believe the the number was and he wasn't horrible like what do you want this team to be the you know you find your quarterback you're developing you're trying to you know create a new culture post Tom Brady it was not going to be pretty this year and it wasn't and i wonder if uh you know winning that game and maybe blowing the one seed i don't know if that was like a drawn may i was like hey we're gonna win this game because they're gonna fire me no matter what and i'm gonna send a message to ownership or you know maybe they fired him because he won the game and screwed up the first overall pick but i do have some quotes from robert craft which i don't know it's like you said the the patriots and robert craft it's just
00:05:16
Speaker
I'm not used to the dysfunction of this organization. And so he goes, this whole situation is on me. I feel
NFL Playoff Preview: Texans vs. Chargers
00:05:23
Speaker
for Gerard because I put him in an untenable situation. I know he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job. I don't understand that because like you said that you sought this guy five years before he was a coach in waiting, and then you give him an opportunity And then you fire him after one single year when it wasn't a horrible season by any means. It was wasn't good, but the Patriots had no expectations. And, you know, I think he was trying to build a culture in that room. Didn't work out. I think the play calling was rightfully scrutinized at times, but that doesn't necessarily fall on him either. So I think, you know, Kraft was feeling some pressure from the fans. And I think he gave into the pressure, which is very unpatriot like.
00:06:09
Speaker
It is very unpatriot like and and you're right, it's just such a weird conundrum to say that you hand pick this guy. We were so all in on him and all of a sudden were completely out on him. I don't know if that's more of a reaction to what the head coaching market is right now, um but there is quite a few openings right now. i Broke about an hour ago, the Raiders fire Antonio Pierce. We saw that one coming, I think.
00:06:36
Speaker
And then finally, finally, Patrick, we've been talking about it since I don't know, week six, Doug Peterson is finally fired from the Jaguars. But somehow Trent Balki, the GM who has survived both Urban Meyer.
00:06:50
Speaker
And now Doug Peterson, he sticks around. Shod Khan is like saying quotes that like we will be fine to fire him if the head coach doesn't want him there as they're on a ah split screens zoom meeting. That was insane. Yeah, that was that was shocking to me. um Yeah. The Doug Peterson, we weren't wrong. We are just too early. We were too early on it. We saw it coming. He was just ah a walking, you know, he was a dead man walking basically the entire season. and I don't think that's the right thing to do to the coach. I think he kind of owe it to him. I don't actually, I don't know. It's like, would you rather been fired on week eight or would you rather, you know, run out the season knowing that you're going to be gone the second it's over? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if it's like players. Like do you get game checks as a coach?
00:07:34
Speaker
This is a whole lot more game tracks if he does the issue with nfl coaching contracts is you don't know what's involved you know what's guaranteed you don't you have no idea how much they're making which i understand because the other private organizations you don't have to disclose it so why would you but you know spin zone for the jaguars It could be the most you know sexy coaching position out there. Because I think you have a quarterback in place. I don't think it's like an amazing quarterback. But he
Playoff Matchups: Steelers, Broncos, Packers
00:08:00
Speaker
is your guy. You've signed him to the contract. So he's going to be there for the future. You have Brian Thomas Jr. as a you know he will be a number one receiver. Christian Kirk will be healthy next year as a complementary piece. The running back situation's a little you know blurry because Etienne kind of had a down year. Bigs be like, we don't know who's the starter next year. But I think
00:08:20
Speaker
It's either Jacksonville to me or the Bears because, you know, everyone wants to work with Caleb Williams. It seems those are the two positions that I think are the most attractive in the NFL right now. But I like the weather in Jacksonville a lot better than Chicago. That much is very true. I would agree with you there. Yeah, it's Raiders.
00:08:37
Speaker
The current openings are Raiders, Jets, Jaguars, Bears, Saints, Patriots, which is just, what a collection of teams that is. Yeah, quick, quick sign out on like Pierce and the Raiders, uh, their next coach, whoever it will be, will be their 12th coach in the past 24 seasons. So they average, uh, a tenure of two years as a Raiders head coach. That's the average in the past 24 years.
00:08:59
Speaker
Yeah, and and now it's being reported that Tom Brady is going to have a huge hand in whoever the next head coach is. So I have no idea. Does he just do pull like a Belichick and bring Flores in? Like, I don't know. i it Tom, are you a broadcaster? Are you an owner? Are you? What what are you, Tom? Because I think he got a pickle lane. And yeah, I don't know. Tom Brady is he just doesn't know what to do with himself post football. I know he's all over the place and it felt like he was kind of like playing down the owner part now that he was in the booth and and they didn't want that to be a constant conversation
00:09:38
Speaker
now it's right back open again like yeah but it's it's pretty clear he is very involved in ownership responsibilities yeah it's uh it's all over the place ah last thing uh for some cleanup here the two gms who i think people thought were most likely to be fired in in the colts chris ballard and the dolphins chris greer both of the chris's are staying and i think to the dismay of both fan bases That was just that hit the timeline like a nuclear bomb that hit the Miami Dolphins fan timeline. I think that's been the only thing that Dolphins fans can agree on the entire season ah is firing Chris Greer, especially when Andrew Van Genkel makes a Pro Bowl as a starter this year. That was like the last kind of knife in the back, I feel like. So both of those organizations, the Colts and the Dolphins, I feel like are just in complete limbo right now.
00:10:31
Speaker
Yeah and two teams that I mean Miami has had more success I guess over the Colts in i guess in their times but I mean it's it's all the same thing if you're not going to win playoff games and you know it's something has to change in these organizations and I don't know they're just not making the change that seems necessary and it's just you're going to run it over and over and over again sounds like a team that I'm cheering for that's in the playoffs. It's just kind of Groundhog Day, year after year. And until something changes, it's like, why should I, why would there be hope with this team? um i I think the, I'm more surprised that Ballard wasn't fired than, you know, Greer, because I think Greer has the excuse of too, I didn't play a full season, or at least he should use that as an excuse not to get fired. ah But to me, it's just, those are two organizations where it's like, I think you're going to be
00:11:19
Speaker
in the exact same spot next year where it's, you know, you you might not be eliminated going into week 18, but you need a lot of things to happen to get into the playoffs. So something's got to change over there. And I don't know, they're just not bringing hope to the fans to make it an exciting year next season. Yeah. And it feels like Ballard, if anybody had a hand in like the dismay of the Colts this year, like his that whole Richardson Flacco benching, starting, benching, starting had his fingerprints like all over it.
00:11:46
Speaker
Ballard just hangs his hat on the Andrew Luck draft pick, it seems, and he goes, you know, he's still kind of, it feels like he's still using the retirement as an excuse, but it's like, man, there's been, it's been a long time since Andrew Luck retired. Only 40 year old quarterbacks. And you bring in for one season until it's like, Hey, this probably isn't a solution. Maybe, you know, telling her say Anthony Richardson's the guy, you got to give me time. Let me work with them. But that's more the head coach's job than the GM there Ballard. So agreed. But speaking of the playoffs,
00:12:16
Speaker
We will now get into our wild card weekend playoff preview We will go through all the games here and tell you what to look for Split it up kind of match up I've got one-on-one matchups to watch and then I've got an interesting fact for each game, which is gonna be fun ah We'll start with the classic classic Texans Saturday spot Saturday at 430 I think I saw this dad every single playoff game they've ever played in in their entire franchise history has been in this timeslot This is the second lowest spread in the wildcard round Chargers are favored by two and a half points and it opened at three ah and this is also Nickelodeon's NFL wildcard game live from bikini bottom as Patrick ah We mentioned hates fun. I'm sure he won't be tuning into that one, um but this is an interesting matchup I feel like last year everybody was talking about how the Browns were gonna kill the Texans and
00:13:13
Speaker
I'm getting kind of similar vibes there like Rex Ryan said on TV yesterday that this is basically a bye week for the Chargers and I don't know like this Texans team is very very low it's like them in the Steelers who are going into the playoffs on very low notes I don't know something about the way that people are talking about this game ah It gives me a bit of a lean that the Texans will at least be live in it How do you how do you view it? I'm I see it very similarly Damien where you know this team the Texans team It feels like people wrote them off about five weeks ago And they said you know they're gonna win the AFC South they're gonna get a home playoff game, but it won't matter It's just like you said Rex Ryan people are seeing this as a buy game
00:13:55
Speaker
Well, there's one team that actually has playoff experience between these two, and that is the Houston Texans and they're hosting the game. LA has got to go travel from the West coast. There's a lot of, you know, like just implications at play here that benefit the Texans to me.
00:14:10
Speaker
I under I the line makes perfect sense. I think they got this right. The Chargers should absolutely be favored. And I think, you know, the Steelers and Chargers, they wanted to play the Texans as opposed to the Ravens. So like I'm not confident in the Texans by any means in this matchup, Damian.
00:14:26
Speaker
But CJ Stroud, second year quarterback, he, you know, started the game as a rookie. You bring in Nico Collins, Joe Mixon's a veteran running back. I think this team is just kind of a little bit better than it was last year. They're not showing it. Don't get me wrong. They're not showing it. But I think that, you know, when all the chips are down, they can use that as a bit of a rallying cry where the Chargers, they're flying high, you know, everything's going well over there.
00:14:49
Speaker
But this is a very inexperienced team in l LA and how are they going to respond to a playoff atmosphere? um And I just I don't know. I think I would lean Chargers to win this game. Don't get me wrong. But I think the Texans like they have a chance and I wouldn't write them off.
00:15:05
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I think experience is a huge benefit to them, and I think their defense is still a huge benefit to them. The te Texans rank ah sixth in total defense, eleventh in rushing defense, and for a Chargers team that has sometimes struggled to score points this season when the run game doesn't get going, that's a bit concerning. like versus the Steelers early, they had 10 points. They put up 27 points over two Chiefs games, and then they put up 17 points against the Buccaneers. Those are all top 10 run defenses. And if they can't get the run game going, and then they have two great pass rushers that are gonna force Herbert to stay in the pocket, I think that's kind of a winning recipe for them. That's how they're gonna win this game.
00:15:52
Speaker
Yeah and you know the it's a it's a cliche but defense does win championships especially at home when you can get that crowd involved. it's You got to think it's going to be a raucous atmosphere in there. It's going to be all Texans fans because you know the Chargers fan base, shout out to Calder, shout out to Volden.
00:16:08
Speaker
you know pretty small and i don't think they're gonna have much of a presence in this game whatsoever and like you said if lad mcconkey he is the guy for them quinton johnson had a nice week 18 but i think you know you're going against the raiders this is like you said a way better defense on the texans and they're gonna make it tough for you like you said they're gonna come off the edge they should be blitzing hard and yes stop the run game put the ball into Herbert's hands and you know try and get some interceptions, try and make some plays where you know the tech the turnover bat excuse me the turnover battle will matter in this one. I think it's going to be a defensive battle on both sides. I think both teams are going to ah try to run the ball, and the Texans included, and whoever can get it going and get the rhythm of an ah offense in this game is going to be the one that I think comes out on top.
00:16:54
Speaker
I think in the first quarter, I think you could see zero zero three
Buccaneers vs. Commanders: Key Battles
00:16:58
Speaker
nothing, something like that. And then as this game goes on, which coach and offensive coordinator is going to make the adjustments to finally get the offense going and make the big plays to get this win down the stretch. Yeah, it's ah the Chargers go into week 18 with the NFL's number one scoring defense. I think it's still that. So it's like you mentioned the turnover battle. L.L.A. is going to lean on their defense here.
00:17:22
Speaker
I think that two points versus the Baltimore defense is still lingering hard for that Texans team. ah That was like the worst we've seen them. They still have to get off ah ah off the mat in this game. The Chargers are seventh in passing defense and Stroud and company have kind of struggled to score against top teams this year. So yeah, I agree with you. I think it's going to be a defensive battle. And the last thing I had here was the coaching battle. I think that's another thing that the Chargers kind of have on their side in this game is you know We've talked about on on this podcast questioning a bit D'Amico Ryan's coaching ability and some of the decisions he's made, especially in that Monday night game against the Cowboys. You gotta pound Joe Mixon in this game. like He's been had a bit of a quiet end to the end of the season. He's had only over 100 yards once in the last six
Close Contest: Vikings vs. Rams
00:18:08
Speaker
games of the season. He's gonna kind of be a key here and I kind of trust Harbaugh a bit more in this spot.
00:18:16
Speaker
Yeah, I'll take the Super Bowl winning coach over a second year head coach in D'Amico Ryans. A lot of this, you know, one of the most attractive names in the offseason last year, offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans, Bobby Slowik. He's been under scrutiny. He's been scrutinized heavily this season. Like you said, the running game has been Jekyll and Hyde. One game, it's 100 yards. and Joe Mixon looks like an All-Pro.
00:18:37
Speaker
The next, it's like, okay, it's time to hang them up, Joe. So they need to find at least a healthy medium in this game because CJ Stroud needs some play action. He needs to be able to just find rhythm in this pocket and then it'll change everything for you. Whoever gets the running game going in this matchup, it'll be huge for them. And yeah, Harbaugh is going to go in there with, you know, a smash mouth defense offense. Like we are going to be physical.
00:19:02
Speaker
And I think Houston has the guys on both sides to match up, but that offensive line for Houston, man, it's been brutal all year long. CJ Charles has been fighting for his life in most of these games. So they got, you know, they basically had a bye week last week. So I think you had two weeks to prayer that they didn't know who they were playing, whether it was going to be the Chargers or the Steelers. But I think the teams, the Chargers and Steelers, similar style of play, I would argue. They both look to run the ball first to open up the deep ball and play action.
00:19:30
Speaker
I this Houston Texans offensive line has to hold up for them to have a chance in this game. Absolutely and that on the opposite side of things kind of brings up my one-on-one matchup is the Chargers offensive line is great like it there is no two ways about it. Joe Waltz been fantastic this year and the one-on-one matchup I'm watching is Texans finished the season tied for fourth ah with 49 sacks as a team. Big part of that was Daniel Hunter. He had 12 sacks, 23 QB hits. It's going to be him against Rashawn Slater. It's going to be a big match for them or Will Anderson, whichever one ends up kind of matching up with him throughout the game. Slater's coming off of like a being a top tackle
Wildcard Weekend Overview
00:20:12
Speaker
all year. The path for the Texans to win this game includes making Justin Herbert's life a living hell. And the reverse of that is you're right. This Texans offensive line
00:20:22
Speaker
kind of holding up and giving Stroud time to do anything. Yeah, I mean, the the Chargers have a massive edge in that in in just in terms of the offensive line matchups. But Houston has the defensive line, especially off the edge. It's it's you're right. That is the best matchup because it's just best on best from both sides of the ball where it's like someone's going to have to win the middle of the offensive line and defensive lines. Whoever can get the push. So I think they're going to try if running the ball with J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards, whoever gets the ball, I think they're probably going to try and stay away from the edge and try and you know take advantage of the middle of the line.
00:20:55
Speaker
Uh, so I think someone's going to have to step up on the, you know, Houston, Texas defensive line, the center of the chargers. Someone's going to have to get the push and just try and, you know, make something happen out there. But, uh, I think Daniel, Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. Are game records, but I think, you know, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are the ultimate, you know, silencers to the game records. Yeah, absolutely. That'll bring us to our interesting fact here.
00:21:20
Speaker
Interesting fact about this game, Harbaugh won the national championship with Michigan at NRG Stadium a year ago. I didn't need that. That's not i don't like that's not interesting to me. I hate that's that stat. But yeah, clearly he has some good memories of the stadium and he's going to want to make them come true again in this matchup. Absolutely. ah We will move now to the AFC North where the Steelers will travel to Baltimore Ravens open as a nine and a half or I think they opened as a nine point favorite It's now gone gone to nine and a half. This was originally a matchup You said you could get your head around they split the season season series one one Most recent game was in Baltimore and the Steelers lost 34 to 17 Steelers obviously riding a four game losing skid heading into the playoffs This one's tough Patrick
00:22:12
Speaker
Man, it's ah nine half points nine nine and a half points is the biggest spread of any of these wildcard round matchups. And I understand why it is why it is that way. ah Russell Wilson in the offense of the Steelers has looked horrible. um They look like the Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph and Mr. Biskey led Steelers of last year, where they're going to have to win games with 18 points, 16 points, something like that, and just you know win a turnover battle.
00:22:39
Speaker
Whereas you look on the other side, the Ravens, they're they're they're flying like everything's clicking for them. They're winning these games. Lamar Jackson's just. You know, he he's it's the the MVP is right in the MVP conversation when everyone thought that Josh Allen had it wrapped up with about three weeks left in the season. Lamar said, don't forget about me.
00:23:00
Speaker
You know, and now we got the we got the playoff Lamar. Is that is that storyline going to hold up in this one? Are the Steelers going to find a way
Playoff Betting Competition
00:23:08
Speaker
to you know make him look the worst? This is this is just a scary game. This is not the one that the Steelers wanted. You would much rather play Houston in a dome. I think you have to get Justin Fields involved in this game. I believe that they didn't play him a lot down the stretch. He was inactive for two of those games in the three three games and 11 day stretch.
00:23:29
Speaker
because um the the trade, it was a conditional pick. He did not meet the standard for that to go to a fourth rounder. So the Steelers kind of, they got the sixth rounder. I think Mike Tomlin had a lot to say about that. And that's a big reason why he wasn't playing ah in those games down the stretch. But Mike Tomlin has been on the record saying we will absolutely see some Justin Fields packages.
00:23:51
Speaker
Get the running game going. That's the way they've been struggling as of late to do that. And
Orange Bowl Preview: Notre Dame vs. Penn State
00:23:55
Speaker
Russell Wilson will also be, you know, he will benefit big time from the running game going with the deep balls to play action passes. But yeah, I mean, Baltimore, Baltimore looks good. I would argue the Steelers are playing the worst football out of any team in the playoffs right now. And Baltimore is probably licking their chops with this matchup.
00:24:13
Speaker
Yeah. and And you mentioned the run game like the Ravens, their past defense has been awful all year. Like, yeah, I think they have the 30 second ranked past defense. They have the number one rush defense, which you almost wish it was flipped ah for this game because the Steelers love to run the ball. They love to get things going through that through setting up play action. And that's going to be a challenge for the Steelers to to kind of establish the run. I like where your heads out with Justin Fields because it at least gives them some sort of different look that the Ravens then have to prepare for.
00:24:42
Speaker
And on the other side, can Pittsburgh stop Derek Henry? Like the first time they played, they limited him to 65 yards on only 13 carries when they beat him. And then the second time around, he had 24 carries and 162 yards. He's coming into the playoffs hot. He's got 447 yards and three touchdowns over his last three games. And it's all about stopping him on offense. Obviously, then you have to deal with Lamar Jackson. It's part of what makes the Ravens so dangerous to play against.
00:25:12
Speaker
But I think the start of the game here is going to be huge. Baltimore ranks third in the league with 14.8 first half points per game. They got the fourth highest at home at 15.1. The Ravens led the Steelers at half 17 and 10 in the last meeting. But in the first meeting, they trailed nine to seven in the first half of the first matchup. So that's kind of where I find like you're going to tell early in this game, like the Ravens come out hot. It's going to be a tough hill to climb. But if the Steelers can kind of keep their head above water early, that'll like make it a game going down the stretch.
00:25:45
Speaker
Yeah, and I don't trust the Steelers offense to come out hot. They haven't scored an opening drive touchdown in, I believe, like two seasons, something along those lines. It's the second longest streak to the Seattle Seahawks, which was also quite surprising to see that the Seahawks haven't scored an opening drive touchdown in a long time. But to me, the way the Steelers win this game, Damian, is exactly the way they won the first one. It's got to be a disgusting game. 18-16, they beat them with six field goals, and they just turn they got so many turnovers.
00:26:13
Speaker
Lamar, Derek Henry, they were going backwards. they There was no chunk plays, no nothing was being broken off. And the defense just stood tough and they won the game through defense and special teams and the offense didn't turn the ball over. That's something that's really concerned me over this four game losing streak with the offense is the turnovers. That's something very uncharacteristic of the Steelers that we've known under Mike Tomlin.
00:26:35
Speaker
And that's got to change. And whether it's Russell Wilson, whether it's Justin Fields, whoever it is, they cannot turn this ball over and the defense is going to have to find a way to create some. And then like I said, Boswell, just keep making those field goals and they will have a chance in this game. Yeah, he's been money lately, which is a good thing to kind of rest some confidence on. and I don't know if there's like a better kicker in the league right now. Like he he's seriously at the top of the charts for me right now. ah So reliable.
00:27:00
Speaker
ah But you mentioned turnovers like that brings me to my one-on-one matchup I think it's got to be like in it in a weird like conceptual way TJ Watt versus Lamar Jackson like these Any way you slice it are gonna be the two best players in the game going head-on-head against each other Watt hasn't had a sack in the last three games. They're gonna throw everything at him They're gonna throw chips at him the Steelers D has to find a way to get at Lamar they limited him to a Way fewer rushing yards than most teams this year, especially in that second matchup. They actually limited him to 22 yards. ah But yeah, it's got to be your game record in TJ Watt has to wreck this game and find a way to leave his imprint on it.
00:27:44
Speaker
Yeah, and if TJ Watt can't step up, someone else has to on this defensive line. that' ah you know It's the most expensive defense in the NFL. So if he can't, there's got to be playmakers all over the field. Cameron Hayward's been operating at an extremely high level this year. Then you got Highsmith off the other side ah to TJ Watt.
00:28:02
Speaker
Someone's got to win their matchup. ah You're right. TJ Watt has been far too quiet for me over this stretch. And that's probably a big reason why they're losing these games, right? Because they need TJ Watt being a game record that he was when they were 10 and three. He was a he was the massive favorite to win defense player of the year. He had like six force fumbles. He was just every time he got a sack, there was a 50% chance that it was a ah fumble coming with it. So if he can find that edge again, I don't think he was fully healthy. Like I said, that that Baltimore was part of it too. So there's no excuses, but I think he was pretty banged up in that three and 11 day stretch and Man, it's ah it's concerning. It's concerning. I don't I'm not getting ah up for this game But ah like I said, it's it's a division rival So I think there's they know each other quite well and whoever game plans the best in this one is gonna come out on top But like I said
00:28:55
Speaker
Don't let Lamar or sorry, the do we have an update on the Z flowers? I meant to look up on that because he exited that game pretty early. I know there's no reason to, you know, play him in a game against the Browns when you're 19 and a half point favorites in that one. And you've already locked up your your game. But I think he was Harbaugh said it wasn't season ending injury and like called it day to day. But I don't think he's but yeah I think he still looks at his questionable yeah that would be practice today.
00:29:22
Speaker
That is huge, Damien, because Rashad Bateman is definitely not a number one receiver in the in this league and say Flowers has had a pro bowl year. And, you know, it's just that is huge for them, because if he's not playing, then you can almost sell out for the run game if you're the Steelers. Yeah, that's huge. um That would was going to be another one of my points is is this isn't, you know, an all star cast of receivers. And if Flowers is out, that makes and a giant impact on this game. But you mentioned it. It's the AFC North matchup.
00:29:53
Speaker
Anything could happen really. um Interesting fact, you'll like this one a bit better. This is the fifth time these teams have met in the playoffs and the Steelers are three in one all time.
00:30:05
Speaker
Those are the big Ben days, though. Those are some different days. It was Ben first Flacco. It's been a long time since they play in the playoffs, I believe, for 10 years or so. ah So I'm excited for it. You know, I think it'll breathe some more life into a heated rivalry of two teams that have known each other very well and have been very successful with their two head coaches. ah So, yeah, I'm I'm excited for this one. I just don't know how it's going. Nine and a half points is pretty telling of what might happen in this matchup.
00:30:33
Speaker
Agreed moving on to another matchup with a huge spread the second largest spread It is the Denver Broncos who squeaked into the playoffs by beating just demolishing the Chiefs Chiefs put up zilch against them at As the Chiefs were playing some third stringers But they got to go all the way to Highmark Stadium and play the Buffalo Bills who are favored by eight and a half points I think that came down from nine and a half Uh, an interesting, interesting matchup here. Tony Romo during the chief's game said it's the worst case scenario for both teams for Denver. It's the last team you want to play with how well they're playing with one of the best players in the world. And for Buffalo, I'm going against the team that leads the league in s sacks and keeps the quarterback in the pocket. So it's an interesting matchup in that sense. I think Tony's actually kind of onto something there, but what he forgot is that Buffalo also leads the league in the least sacks allowed. I think that's.
00:31:29
Speaker
a testament to how good their front offensive line has played this year, but it's also a testament to how good Josh Allen is at avoiding pressure. um They've only allowed 14 sacks all season. Broncos are leading with 63 sacks. So I think this is a game that kind of comes down to the trenches first and foremost off the bat.
00:31:48
Speaker
Absolutely. And you know, the bills off offensive line, I believe they just, they don't get injured. That's how they've been it for the past two seasons. They just, they're playing every snap. They're being, they're working as a cohesive unit. And like you said, they're just not giving up sacks. Josh Allen has gone way better as you know, he's developed at, you know, feeling pressure, getting rid of the ball and running and using his legs when he needs to. I think you're going to see that a lot in this one. Cause this is like we were talking about last week.
00:32:14
Speaker
Denver's kind of just happy to be here a little bit. Buffalo's got those Super Bowl aspirations. They've been locked up in a playoff spot since week 12, week 11. They were the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the NFL this year. And yeah, I mean, you know, Denver had the hero game against the Chiefs third team. So they're going to be feeling good. But I think Buffalo is kind of that wild card hero team. They just seem to destroy teams in the wild card. They played the Steelers a couple of times. They beat them like 14, 42 to 14.
00:32:43
Speaker
um So I think Buffalo is going to look to, you know, get out of the gates, if make them feel their presence and just kind of run over them if they are able to. To me, what the biggest matchup in this game, and you know, you're going to have yours, Pat Sertin, he's going to be able to put whoever he wants on this Buffalo Bills wide receiver court in his back pocket. Because unfortunately, and this is a big reason why Josh Allen is leading in, is the favorite to be the MVP is they don't have an elite wide receiver.
00:33:13
Speaker
And Patrick Pat Sertan is now the favorite to win defense player of the year. He's unquestionably the best corner in the NFL. So whoever he's following around the field, they will probably have a very minuscule impact on this game. So it's who can step up um on either side of the ball. Is Riley Moss going to be able to you know stop the number two wide receivers, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, um or Mack Hollins, whoever it is.
00:33:38
Speaker
Can they step up if they're not being guarded by Pats or 10? That's what I'm going to be keeping an eye out for on this game. And I mean, shout out to James Cook. He's, you know, he elevated his game this year, he became a thousand yard rusher. So hopefully he can get involved in this game. But, you know, I think the bills they're going to look to, you know, send a message, make a statement to the chiefs and say, hey, we're still gunning for that Super Bowl. Do not forget about us.
00:33:59
Speaker
Yeah, that was, you stole it right out from under me. It, my one-on-one was Pat Sertan versus Khalil Shakir. Uh, they don't have a thousand yard receiver. Shakir led the team in yards. Um, but you're right. He's leading deploy odds. And for a team that can keep the QB in the pocket, like the Broncos do, and Alan might be forced to kind of rely on passing, that will be a huge, huge matchup to watch because it'll also kind of limit that. You mentioned James Cook.
00:34:26
Speaker
Another plus for Denver is that they rank third in rush defense. Like they only average just 96 yards per game against. So that is going to be another huge matchup. Weathercook can kind of break that open and give the Bills another option other than passing the ball. And then we've mentioned it for weeks now, the lack of a rushing attack for the Broncos here. We always said, when's it going to bite them in the ass? This might be the game because the Bills at times have struggled against the run.
00:34:54
Speaker
They still ranked 12th in rushing defense, um but it's kind of a dream matchup in that sense for Buffalo where they can kind of just focus on keeping Bo Nix throwing the ball because we've seen teams have success when Nix is like solely reliant on passing the ball.
00:35:12
Speaker
Sean Payton and the Broncos have to find a way to get creative, ah whether it's, you know, jet sweeps, getting the ball and wide receivers, quick screens, something where Bo Nix can get in a rhythm quickly. And this offense can find some rhythm because yeah, they don't have, they have three number two running backs. It feels like in their backfield and you don't know who's going to get the most carries in a game. But what I saw about Bo Nix last week, and it's kind of gone on for the second half of the season, I'll say.
00:35:39
Speaker
He's playing carefree and he's confident. So I think you know, Sean Payton's got to reiterate to that to him. Hey play easy, man It's we're playing with house money right now. These guys are looking to win a Super Bowl and we're just happy to be here. We're we're ah His post game speech to the team young and hungry is dangerous. We're young and hungry and he kept trying to reiterate that to his team So I think he's that's gonna be the message for Denver. I think they're gonna come out flying We know Sean Payton is He's had some tricks up his sleeves in playoffs past. We've seen it before. So I think he's going to come in with a pretty, you know, creative offensive game plan and just kind of look to just create some havoc early and let bone next get in a rhythm. And I think you're going to I don't know if they're going to completely abandon the run game, but I don't think they're going to be reliant upon it in their game plan.
00:36:26
Speaker
agreed i think the last thing i want to include here is the broncos have struggled versus playoff teams this year there are two and five against playoff teams one of those wins includes arrested chief's team two losses to the Chargers lost to the Ravens, the Chiefs and the Steelers. And the other thing you add in home field advantage. The bills are eight and oh at home this year. It's going to be cold on Sunday. Denver is just four and five on the road this season. They lost four of their last five games on the road to finish the season with the lone win on the road in that stretch coming against the Raiders. So that is going to be a huge plus for the bills in this game. The fans are just going to be rabid.
00:37:06
Speaker
Like that is going to be another one like where you got to start the game. Well, like you mentioned, you got to come out hot here with some blood at like fiery or else I think the bills will like pounce on them early. Find a way to score first. If you're the Broncos, even if it's a field goal, send a message to the fans, send a message to the bills. Hey, we're not going to be easy. You're not going to just walk over us. I don't know if they're going to be able to do that, but that's got to be the game plan for champagne. If you win the toss,
00:37:33
Speaker
Take the ball go down the field find a way to get a score and just say hey This is not gonna be an easy game. and It's gonna be a long day for the bills. I Don't know but this to me was the perfect Sunday one o'clock game um And yeah, i I hope the Broncos Bring out the bring out the throwbacks if you can. I don't know what the jersey matchups are, but they just look so much better in those jerseys. That would be huge. Interesting fact about this one. This is the Broncos first playoff game since they won Super Bowl 50 nine years ago.
00:38:03
Speaker
which is a crazy stat. but Yeah, that that is crazy. And those. Wow. I did not put that into consideration. So they they really are playing with house money. This is a new generation of the Broncos, a new ah offense and yeah, just a new era with bone necks. And hey, let's start it off on the right foot with a playoff win. Like you imagine if you became a Broncos fan because they won that Super Bowl like that that night you became a Broncos fan. I know a couple who did. Yeah. ah Moving.
00:38:32
Speaker
to the NFC where the Green Bay Packers are going to Philadelphia. The Eagles finished the season 12 in one in their last 13 games with the lone loss coming when Jalen Hurts was injured against the commanders while the Packers just lost to the Chicago Bears. ah The Eagles are four and a half point favorites here and this is an interesting matchup in a lot of different ways.
00:38:59
Speaker
You've got two injured quarterbacks really coming into this game. Jordan Love injured his hand against the Bears, came back into the game when they thought they needed to win. He's also been kind of injured throughout the season, his hamstring. ah And then on the other side, Jalen Hertz has missed two games now with a concussion and also had the broken finger this year.
00:39:19
Speaker
So he might not be 100% assuming he even plays. I think he will play in this game. ah He's still in concussion protocol, I think, or is just out of it, one or the other, um which is kind of makes it a bit of a mess both ways here. Feels like both of these quarterbacks have kind of played around the same level this season. Love started with that insane streak of 11 interceptions in the first eight games, and then he threw none for the rest of the season. And Hurts kind of has had good points over this stretch but he's also had some issues issues with accuracy in seeing the field and seeing his receivers so i feel like to me we can talk about the run game but it comes back and it sounds so stupid to put it out this way but it comes but down to like the quarterbacks and the run game It does because both teams are going to look to run the ball. Both teams have absolute horses at running back in, you know, you could argue Jalen hurts is had a positive impact on a scene, but the offenses are led through the running game, which opens up things for the passing game from both of these teams. I, and, and there is a quarterback that is also, you know, more mobile than the other. I think Jalen hurts his legs are a huge advantage in this game, especially with Jordan love. He said he's got not,
00:40:32
Speaker
minimal feeling in his hand, which is doesn't sound good when you're about to go into a game. Christian Watson tears his ACL against the Bears. There goes your deep threat. I know they have a pretty deep wide receiver room. It feels like they have just all their wide receivers are as good as each other. But to have you know your number one deep threat guy out and you know he has no chance applying for the rest of the season, that's got to hurt you know your chances, the locker room.
00:40:59
Speaker
the Eagles are they they're they're like the bills of the NFC to me you know you didn't get the one seed that was your goal all year but you've still had an excellent season and now they just have to find a way to just use it as motivation and I think they're gonna come out strong here these teams played week one in Brazil you know the Eagles won in a in a pretty in a one score game I think you can toss that game out the window when you're playing in Brazil who cares ah this is just you know kind of it's it's a fresh matchup it's a fun one ah the Eagles hosting it makes this huge whereas like Green Bay they got to go travel they don't get to have their snowy weather game in Lambo and I think Saquon is just gonna come out and make an impact and I think the Eagles
00:41:43
Speaker
They're they're more motivated to me than the Packers where the Packers, you know, you lose to the Bears and first time in 10, 10 games, 11 games to the Bears. It's not the way you want to end your season. Whereas the Eagles, they're trying to fly high and just keep going and continuous momentum.
00:41:59
Speaker
Syriani, he's we don't know what we're going to get from him, but he just keeps finding ways to win games. And I think, you know, Jalen hurts is more of an X factor in this game than you know Jordan love, especially when I don't think Jordan loves going to be 100 percent. I think Jalen hurts wrestling the past two or three weeks is going to be beneficial to the Eagles. Yeah, I agree. I think in terms of throwing out that first game, I totally agree with you there. I think the only thing I might take from that first game sake one had three touchdowns in that first game like he had two rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, 109 yards. The Eagles run game with him is just a different beast. He's had over 100 yards in five of his last six games, finishes the season with 2005 yards. If Saquon gets going, it's going to be hard to stop the Eagles. like It's just a fact. They'll have long drives. They'll be able to control the time of possession. so I think that is something that if you are the Packers, you're going to be kind of selling out to stop the run.
00:42:58
Speaker
um My one on one matchup in this game is very similar to the Broncos and the Bills game. ah It's going to be Xavier McKinney and A.J. Brown. I know McKinney plays safety, um but finished second in interceptions this year. um He's going to be helping out lots and covering the Eagles number one option in this game for a team that is probably going to have to win the turnover battle to win this game in the Packers. He's an absolute X factor for me.
00:43:24
Speaker
And then AJ Brown as well, like it's it's him and Devontae Smith, they kind of go back and forth of being 1A, 1B. But if he breaks this game open, and if he's getting open, you have to deal with both AJ Brown and Saquon Barkley at the same time. If they're both you know playing well, that's gonna be kind of a nightmare for the Packers.
00:43:41
Speaker
And that's where I think, you know, Christian Watson being out is a huge detriment to their team. And like you said, Xavier McKinney can put one of them and shut, take one of them away. It's going to be tough to take both of them out of the game. And I think the Eagles are going to look to kind of go away from McKinney and that's a good game plan from them.
00:43:58
Speaker
ah The Packers, someone's got to step up on their offense outside of Josh Jacobs. Even if it's Jordan Love, someone has to you know play above their heads a little bit than they were in the regular season. Jayden Reed has been one of those guys that's been extremely quiet in the second half of the year.
00:44:14
Speaker
I don't know I just expect more from this packers team that they have to get a little more creative get jayden read the bonus hands they were like he was a second running back for the first half of the year he was just getting the ball getting touches and then they've kinda gone away from that and i don't know with christian watson out.
00:44:30
Speaker
You've got to change some things up. And then the Eagles, like you said, that's a huge matchup with McKinney and A.J. Brown or whoever he's covering, because I'm sure he's going to kind of go all over the field. um But yeah, I think that I think, you know, the Eagles have a huge edge in the wide receiver matchup, and I think their ah offense is just too powerful to stop. I agree. I lean the Eagles pretty hard in this game. ah It's one of the only games that I really have a feel in, like for sure, kind of in that sense.
00:44:55
Speaker
um but wouldn't that be the ultimate spurn to fantasy managers if like Jaden Reid goes and gets two touchdowns and 140 yards in this game. Yeah, you're speaking to one right here. you youre Yeah, we're both fantasy owners of Jaden Reid and he just let us down in the second half. Big time. We'll stick in the NFC here though for another finally another close spread. ah Commanders versus Buccaneers. Actually, sorry, my interesting fact was kind of lame for the Packers and Eagles game. It was a this is a rematch of the very first game of the season. I don't know. That would that was brazil ball in in Brazil. There we go. ah Commanders versus Bucks. This is a rematch of the last time Washington made the playoffs back in 2021. This time, no Tom Brady. Our Buccaneers are favored by three points. And I feel like the the matchup to look at to start this whole thing off
00:45:44
Speaker
is the QB matchup. it's It's impossible to ignore in this game. On one side, you have Baker Mayfield finishing his best season as a starter in the NFL, former first overall pick. He gets 4,500 yards, 41 touchdown passes. He's got third most yards in the NFL, second most touchdowns. He's playing really well this year and he's up against ah the third ranked passing defense, which I was shocked to see because the commanders, their whole MO early in the year this year was that their passing defense was awful.
00:46:13
Speaker
and they have come a long, long way in that category. On the other side, Jane Daniels, you're almost for sure rookie of the year, 3,500 yards, 25 touchdowns. He's been especially good in coming back in games this year, ah and the Buccaneer's secondary is banged up. Jordan Whitehead, Bryce Hall, Christian Isian are all on and all unavailable for this game. Mike Edwards got hurt against the Saints and is questionable. Jamal Dean and Antoine Winfield Jr. are also questionable heading into this game.
00:46:43
Speaker
So that to me is going to be like the big X factor in this game, which secondary shows up, which quarterback shows up and pretty much who wins the game that way. Yeah, this is this is one of those games where it's a perfect matchup to me, where you have a Buccaneers team that's been like, you know, scrappy fighting, but like they still have double digit wins. They've had a successful season. They've rightfully earned their way into the playoffs, in my mind. And then you got the commanders who, ah you know, and I went on record last pod. I'm a little low on them. Well, not low because they've exceeded expectations. They've had a great regular season.
00:47:17
Speaker
To me, though, it's just this is where your your luck runs out a little bit and you run into what, you know, playoff football is. I don't think this team has any taste of it. ah It's I'm not sure when the last time the commanders made the playoffs was, but it's probably 21. Yeah. Oh, yeah. The covid year, it was all messed up. It was all that year didn't exist to me. um But yeah, the Buccaneers Mayfield, that's a team with a chip on the shoulder. And I think, you know, they got Mike Evans, this is, you know, 11th year of a thousand yards went out of the way to get it. And you just, my, what I took away from that was the reaction of that team, how important it was for everyone to get them the ball. And that's clearly a team that's, you know, they've been unified together and they're fighting for a greater goal.
00:48:01
Speaker
Whereas like the commanders, you know Dan Quinn has has been a successful ah defensive coordinator in Seattle. He took the Falcons as a head coach to the Super Bowl. We all know what happened in that one, the 28 to 3 game. This is a game where the Buccaneers are going to probably come out trying and firing. I think you're going to have to use both running backs because it's pretty evident that they're going to try and take away Mike Evans. The emergence of Jalen McMillan, though,
00:48:26
Speaker
over these past couple of games. He's getting touchdowns. He's but he's become a very strong wide receiver, too. I think he's going to be the the key in this one ah because Marshawn Lattimore is probably going to be mashed up on Mike Evans. Hopefully we get a fight but between the two. They've got quite the history, but it's going to be signers drill.
00:48:45
Speaker
Probably mispronounced it. It's the the lettering there struggles for me. It's going to be signed Strill against McMillan. It's the number two corner versus number two receiver. That's the matchup to me where, you know, who's going to come out on top because Baker Mayfield is going to look to throw the ball a ton. He always has. And I think the Buccaneers just come out slinging, get Rashad White involved in the passing game. Bucky Irving running the ball. And I don't know. I just that's the matchup. I have my eye on what. What do you think about this one?
00:49:13
Speaker
Yeah, that's definitely the more savvy matchup. I think like it for an analysis wise, I had Marshawn Lattimore versus Mike Evans because it's no secret that these two guys hate each other. That's the fun one. And everyone's going to be glued to a nine pump for two. Yeah, it's ah it also happens to be two of the best players in this game. Lattimore has been resting the past kind of like two weeks, came off an injury. He's kind of been banged up a bit this year. They rested him like precautionarily against Dallas.
00:49:40
Speaker
ah Evans obviously coming off of like a huge week a huge high and getting that 11 straight season at a thousand yards um But yeah, like the the secondary and receiver matchups are huge in this game And then also Washington's defense against the tandem of Rashad white and buck earring commanders have the 29th ranked rushing defense They've kind of switched from the start of the season um and they haven't been able to defend the run kind of at all late in the season and Irving has only gotten better and better and better as the season has gone on. He's got 202 yards and two touchdowns ah or and a touchdown in his last two games. He's essentially kind of taken over Rashad White's main role as the RB1, but they do get White going in the in the passing game. So yeah, I think the run game is like sneaky important in this game because Washington loves running the ball.
00:50:29
Speaker
And the Buccaneers have a great, great run defense, Vida Villa just making his presence felt. And then on the opposite, their run defense is not great. And the Buccaneers also love running the ball. ah So very, very interesting matchup in this one. My interesting fact for this game is their week one matchup that Tampa Bay won 37 to 20 was the only time all season that the commanders lost the game more than a touchdown.
00:50:55
Speaker
So that's got to be kind of lingering there. I know that was early into this commander season. They didn't really know what they had yet in this team. um But that type of stuff, I know coaches will say, you know, that's out of the window. ah Even in our next game, like Sean McVeigh refuses to acknowledge that the the Rams beat the Vikings back in week eight. um But yeah, I think that is something to kind of keep an eye on in this game.
00:51:19
Speaker
Yeah. And in that game, I mean, obviously not the result that the, the commanders were looking for, but Jane Daniels, he was using his legs but massively in that one. He had 88 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. It was just, he lacked, you know, his passing game, but that was also his first regular season start.
00:51:36
Speaker
in the NFL. So I think he's you know developed as a passer since then. He only had 184 yards in the air in the first matchup. And you know that you know you're down in the game, so you're throwing it a lot more than you usually would. So I expect Jaden Daniels to find a way to improve in the passing game. But also he's going to have to use his legs a lot in this matchup. And I think that's it could be the X factor between the two quarterbacks, even though we have seen Baker Mayfield use his legs a little bit more than we usually have.
00:52:03
Speaker
yeah interesting interesting matchup i think that'll be a fun game i think that's on sunday uh in the four o'clock slot um no night game the night game yeah packers egos at the four o'clock one yeah sunday night game for the commanders and buccaneers who would have thought um moving to our last match up here on the Monday night is the Minnesota Vikings the 14 team or 14 win wildcard team going to LA to play the Rams um and Almost unfair matchup ah for the Rams that is somehow the closest spread
00:52:34
Speaker
of any of these wild card games one and a half for the vikings and kind of feels like that week eight game did a number on this spread so the rams were the only team other than the detroit lions that could beat minnesota this year um so the matchup here lot of different stuff like first of all this is similar ah To that game with Harbaugh and Mico Ryan's where the coaching battle is gonna be huge in this game Sean McVay going up against one of his former disciples Kevin O'Connell was the offensive coordinator there for the Rams during their 2021 Super Bowl win But I also think it extends to Brian Flores and Chris Shula ah in the defensive coordinators This feels like it's gonna be an absolute chess match on both sides of the ball here.
00:53:19
Speaker
Yeah, and I mean, I i give the edge to Sean McVey, a coach who's won a Super Bowl there and you know is was regarded as, you know aside from Kyle Shanahan, as like the next Wonder Kid head coach. And he has kind of lived up to that billing, especially with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback in the Rams. And this is the team who You know, we're underwhelming to start the year, but they've caught fire at the right time here. They obviously lost to the Seahawks last week, whatever. But before that, they won five games and or sorry, six games in a row down the stretch to put themselves in this position, win their division and now they're hot. And it's like a team who is kind of rallying around a and ah nice offense in their.
00:53:59
Speaker
but like finding their stride at the right time is an important thing in the playoffs where the lot the Vikings now have to get up off the mat. They were fighting for the one seed last week and then just kind of got blown out by the Lions on the road. Now you got to go to LA. I think that's a huge factor of travel here. that they didn't like you know the one seed wasn't a foregone conclusion for them but when it's right in front of you and then you lose to your ah division rival in a blowout fashion that's gotta to be tough to come back from whereas the Rams they're winning games they're feeling confident they're playing free and I think they're that the defense of the Rams is something that's been kind of underappreciated recently the aside you know
00:54:38
Speaker
throw that Bill's game out the the shootout. They haven't given up more than 14 points in that six game winning six out of seven games they've won recently. So I think the defense of the Rams is something that a lot of people, you know, kind of not undermined, but they, you know, they look at Matthew Stafford, Cooper cup, Karen Williams, Puka Nakua, and that's the flashy part of them. But this defense has been huge for them down the stretch. Absolutely. We'll go back to the matchup, but that's my one on one matchup is Braden Fisk versus Cam Robinson.
00:55:07
Speaker
I think that yeah you Robinson replaced Christian Daresaw, who was injured for the rest of the season back in that week eight game against the Rams. Fisk leads the Rams with eight and a half sacks. He's having an absolutely incredible year as a rookie.
00:55:38
Speaker
This matchup on the line is super interesting to me because I think that is kind of where the Rams get their footing in this game, is if they can get pressure on Darnold, then they will be able to open up some stuff, force them behind the sticks, force them to hard downs, hard third and longs. And that is super interesting to look at for me. Another one for me in this game is the red zone offense. The Rams have a 41% success rate in the in the red zone. Vikings also 41%.
00:56:07
Speaker
That was very clear in their game against the Lions. Both of those offenses are very well under the league success rate of 47%. and they're both in the bottom of the league in the metric. So similarly, they are going to have to take advantage of opportunities in the red zone. And on the other side of the ball, both of Rams and the Vikings ranked fifth and sixth in red zone defensive success rate. So it's like an immovable force and an an unstoppable object. Both of these teams aren't good in the red zone on offense, and both of them are great in the red zone on defense. I think this could be a really low scoring game as well.
00:56:41
Speaker
I love that prediction out of you. that's ah That's some good analysis. the and You saw it last week in the the red zone. That was especially glaring for me in the Vikings against the the Lions. you know joe Jefferson kind of like dropped the one ball, but the Vikings were settling for field goals early in that game. And it probably wouldn't have been the difference with the the Lions scoring as much as they did.
00:57:02
Speaker
But just to get touchdowns over field goals is massive, especially in playoff games. You know, if this one's going to be low scoring, like you believe in the total under 50, I think they're kind of pointing towards that as well. Touchdowns are going to be the difference in this one and who can finish the drives, especially in the red zone, but who can.
00:57:18
Speaker
I think Justin Jefferson is going to have to make, you know, break a big play in this game, guys especially as a game breaker. Cooper Cupp's been kind of quiet on the other side, and Nakua has kind of stepped up as that number one receiver. But Justin Jefferson is going to be the best player on the field in this game, and he's going to have to make his presence known. Let Sam Darnold get ah like give him opportunities to make easy completions, because like you said, the pressure that the the Lions brought against him last week it turned them back into the New York Jets, Sam Darnold for one game. I'm not going to, you know, I'm going to, I'm going to choose to say that that game was an outlier and give him, you know, look if you look at his full season of ah of a product, he's been good and he's been an accurate quarterback and he's made the right decisions. So if, you know, Kevin O'Connell, who's a good coach should, you know, make a game plan of getting Justin Jefferson involved
00:58:13
Speaker
And you know who was extremely quiet in that game? Jordan Addison. The number two, he had one catch for you know no yards. So that can't happen if the Vikings want to win this one. Find a way to get both receivers involved. And then this, I mean, I know Aaron Jones was a little bit banged up last week. He was kind of in and out, but they had pretty much a non-existent running game when they were clearly trying to impose the running game early in it. They just couldn't. And the lion just said, we're bringing pressure and we're going to make Sam Darnell beat us. And they, he couldn't.
00:58:40
Speaker
Yeah, and you look on the other side, Karen Williams has been great this year. So the running game is going to be a huge, huge factor in this game. Last thing, hot starts. The Rams have failed to score a touchdown in 13 first quarters this season. They've been shut out completely in 11 first quarters and have the second worst first quarter offense in the NFL this season. Vikings average six point four one points per quarter or per first quarter, which is tied for second in the league.
00:59:08
Speaker
and allowed just 2.8 points per first quarter, which is tied for third. So back in week eight, the Rams scored seven in the first quarter. They added another seven before halftime. They held the Vikings scoreless in the second quarter. That was a huge aspect to that game. You mentioned how big touchdowns are gonna be. It's gonna be touchdowns and early touchdowns. Like whoever gets up in this game and has the hot start, similar to that Steelers game, ah is gonna be huge in this game. My interesting fact, the playoff history before between these teams,
00:59:37
Speaker
um has seen the Vikings win five of the seven meetings, so they're kind of dominant in that sense. However, the Rams won their most recent meeting 49 to 37 back in 2000. That was when the Rams beat the Vikings on route to their Super Bowl win with Kurt Warner. So the last time the Rams beat the Vikings in the playoffs, they went on and won a Super Bowl.
00:59:59
Speaker
We'll see if history can repeat itself. I am holding the Rams at 70 to one. ah So that's i'm I'm rooting for them big time in this one. I think this we could see this being like ah like a college game where it's could be 50 50 Vikings fans Rams fans.
01:00:15
Speaker
Yeah, know that's kind of been like the LA stigma of this, you know, their playoff. They have no fan base and the Vikings, you see that stadium. It's always rocking. It's a passionate fan base. I think they're going to travel. Hopefully the Vikings, you know, they travel with them and show up in this one and give them a good performance. Absolutely. ah Very, very interesting wild card weekend ahead of us here. That'll do it for our recap, which will bring us to our goal post picks.
01:01:00
Speaker
which gives me the regular season crown. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. ah And we are going to reset things for the playoffs. We are going to do an 0-0 blank slate for the both of us. And we're going to do two picks a side leading up to the Super Bowl here. this is you know Regular season crowns mean nothing here. I got to re-establish my dominance in this picks battle.
01:01:27
Speaker
Um, more impressive for us of like, that's a lot of picks to make. We did a lot of picks throughout the season. So good on us. Um, and I think overall, if we combine both of our picks, I think we're still plus money.
01:01:40
Speaker
yeah man and what you did is very impressive and you know i you dominated me in terms of like the difference but like hey i wasn't horrible i what you know i mean it wasn't it wasn't the worst thing and uh week 18 didn't matter i know you and one and two i went oh and three who cares you know i tried to pick the one i should have gone with the under in that sunday night game like i had a feel on But I thought the Vikings could kind of you know stay in that game. They I was very wrong about that. But all those other games, you're just taking shots in the dark. So I'm not going to let it, you know, fall right off me, not letting it stick. And we're on to the playoffs with greater and bigger focus. Yeah, I'm going to start off, I think, not only because I won the last week, I think the regular season crown gives me that right. I'm going to start off with over 50 and a half in the Bucks Commanders game.
01:02:30
Speaker
Tampa Bay's 12 and five to the over this season Washington is 11 and six to that number um and these two teams I think are just gonna duke it out like I think this is gonna be the highest scoring game it reflects that with with the totals it's the highest total in any of these wildcard games ah and I just think it's gonna be electric Sunday night I Think they're both gonna try and come out hot and put points on the board. I like that over Yeah, that's that's a fun one. I think the the commander's defensive stats might be a little inflated based or maybe they have gone better. But in my mind, I still am holding that very average defense in my mind. But yeah, that's a fun pick. I think I might be stealing one from you here because you mentioned it, but I liked it, too. I'm taking the Eagles at home minus four and a half.
01:03:16
Speaker
Uh, I just think that it's a healthier team. I think Jalen hurts having ah those three weeks he's gone. He's, he should not be concussed after three weeks, because especially when you were trying to return to the game that you had to leave. Uh, and then I just think that Christian Watts and injury, uh, you're going to be able to really focus on Jaden Reed and kind of just take away a lot of what they have to offer on offense. And then, yeah, I just say Quan Barkley is a little bit more explosive than Josh Jacobs. Give me the Eagles minus four and a half on Sunday afternoon.
01:03:44
Speaker
ah Shouldn't have mentioned that I was going in anyway, but I knew now I had to like I have urgency I can't let it sit for the second one. I almost took it first, too Alright bit of a scramble here But since we just talked about that game and I kind of laid out what I thought was gonna happen I'm gonna go under 47 and a half in that Vikings Rams game. I'm i'm a total merchant this week Yeah, trust your sports gut, though, like I should have done that when I thought a game was going under and it did. If you have a feeling on a game, absolutely stick with it. ah Last pick here. Oh, I'm kind of I'm with you on the same thing. I think I'm going to go under 42 and a half in the Saturday afternoon game Chargers Texans.
01:04:27
Speaker
The Texans are a sneaky under team. They're 6 and 11. They've gone under 11 times as opposed to going over 6 times. ah The Chargers are 8 and 9 in the over under department. and It's you know a bit of a sleepy Saturday afternoon.
01:04:42
Speaker
ah The Houston Texans haven't looked explosive at all on offense. I think both teams are gonna look to run the ball, kill the clock, and I'm taking the under. Yeah, there you go. There you have it. Those are our four picks. ah We're gonna be going back and forth here for the rest of the playoffs. And yeah, see who gets the playoff crown. um And moving on from the NFL, we got two important, important college football games this week, Patrick. It kind of gets not blown over like they're avoiding the nfl we're doing thursday night and friday night which is going to be weird um it's going to fill in that nice thursday night football gap which is nice um but thursday night we start off hot in the orange bowl down at hard rock stadium at least least some playoff game is being played there. um With Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish taking on Penn State, the Nittany Lions, God, that word always gets me. I don't understand it, because like you look at it, you should be able to, but I struggle with it too. I don't know, just call this Penn State. yeah it' Penn State, Notre Dame, no secondary names. I got cute. um Notre Dame favored by two points over and under is 44 and a half. This is the 20th meeting between these two teams who carry a 9-9 in one record. The tie is hilarious to me, um but the the split is as even as you could possibly get.
01:05:57
Speaker
hence Penn State seeking their first national title game appearance since 1987. Notre Dame looking for its first since being blown out in 2012 against Alabama. Love this matchup. We talked about it a bit last week, but I think this is going to be a defensive battle, Patrick.
01:06:14
Speaker
Yeah, the under or the under has dropped a full point since it opened. It's now at 45 and a half. ah ah Yeah, I think it's going to be a defensive battle. These are two like I would consider them blue blood programs, if that makes sense for culture. We'll definitely in order game Penn State's kind of right on that edge there.
01:06:30
Speaker
ah But these are two teams, you mentioned it, they're looking to end three decade-long national championship droughts of winning the national championship. Notre Dame has mixed an appearance in there. But man, this is two strong defenses. Notre Dame has ranked third nationally in turnover margin plus 18, Penn State 20th plus 10. And they're both two run heavy teams. So I don't necessarily think turnovers are going to have a huge impact in this game.
01:06:54
Speaker
um But yeah, like Notre Dame beat Georgia 23 to 10. I think you're going to see a score somewhat similar. I think, you know, like a 2013, 2017, something along those lines. I definitely lean under in this one. ah But yeah, this is two run heavy teams. Katron Allen, Nick Singleton.
01:07:12
Speaker
combined for over 2000 yards in just in the regular season. So there they have their strategy laid out for them. And then you got Riley Leonard, who almost ran for as many yards as he threw against Georgia. He had finished the year with like 831 yards, 15 touchdowns.
01:07:29
Speaker
The issue is Jeremiah Love has not been healthy since that USC game. And he is questionable in this game. So I think if he can't go, that's going to be a huge matchup advantage for Penn State in that department. ah And I just, I don't know, it's going to be huge for Notre Dame. They're going to have to find a way to run the ball without him, whether that's with Price, whether that's with Leonard. Someone's going to have to step up in the running game because that's definitely going to be the game plan for both teams in this one.
01:07:56
Speaker
and that this is not the game that you want your star running back out like the Penn State's run defense was just able to bottle up Ashton Gente the best running back in the nation and the Fiesta Bowl that's no small feat the ranked fifth nationally against the run this season they're allowing just like a smidge over a hundred yards per game before that they held sm u fifty eight rushing yards they'll load everything up even if he is in this game to stop the Uh, getting the running game going for them is going to be huge to take pressure off of Drew Alar, but you're right. Like a lot of this revolves around injuries like Notre Dame loss, uh, their defensive tackle Riley mills in that game to a knee injury against Georgia. Um, and then you're right. Jeremiah loves questionable. Uh, certainly not going to be a hundred percent, even if he does play.
01:08:55
Speaker
And then Abdul Carter, we mentioned the the Darth Vader, the the echo chamber there or the or the re regeneration chamber. ah He got hurt early on in these playoffs with an arm injury. I think he's going to play in this game, but again, he still won't be at it at his full ah he's second amongst FBS players with 21 and a half tackles for loss this season. Those are like similar to, you know, T.J. Watt and Lamar Jackson, like the those are the two clear best players in this game kind of going head on head. Absolutely. And I don't think either are going to be at 100 percent if they do play. ah Yeah, like Abdul Carter has been the heartbeat of this Penn State defense. Jeremiah, I love the heartbeat of the offense. Yeah, you you touched on it. Riley Leonard's got to make some throws in this one. You were not going to be able to throw for under 100 yards and beat Penn State.
01:09:46
Speaker
that that plays right into their hands. They like, because if we're looking at the offenses, Penn State is a little bit more explosive. I don't consider Penn State on explosive offense, but then you look at that big 10 championship against Oregon.
01:10:00
Speaker
They were throwing it all over the yard. They were doing whatever they wanted on the ground, but they still lost. Whereas you the other side, Notre Dame, that's a team built to protect leads, Damien. They ah they they've given up the second least amount of points this season with 13.6 points per game. So if they jump out to a quick, like 10 nothing lead, which seems very reasonable to me, they're in the driver's seat and Penn State is just going to have to play catch up.
01:10:24
Speaker
but Notre Dame's built perfectly to stop that and i that. Whereas the other side, Penn State, this is a huge step up in competition, man. you've had you know we've taught We've mentioned it, I would argue the easiest path of this playoffs. You played SMU, handle business, you covered the spread. You've played Boise State, you you you know bottled up Ashton Gente, you covered that spread. Now you're playing a real team. like This is where the playoffs kind of start for Penn State.
01:10:51
Speaker
and I go back and forth. I'm like, it shit yeah have we just seen this, you know, a big 10 team, like an elite big 10 team, just take care of business against lower seated teams that maybe were borderline playoff teams. And then Notre Dame has to go play Georgia. I know that a backup quarterback, but that doesn't matter.
Notre Dame's Strengths vs. Penn State
01:11:09
Speaker
That's a big, strong physical team for that they handled and kept them to 10 points. So I just go back and forth where is Penn State, like am i yeah like this line is surprising to me. I would have had Penn State as like minus one and a half, minus two and a half and it's flipped. So I think that might be telling me something. I don't know. What do what do you read into this one?
01:11:27
Speaker
Yeah it it is such a big step up like you mentioned it last week I think Indiana is likely better than both SMU and Boise State so they already beat Indiana a team that's probably better than any team that Penn State has played in this playoffs and then Georgia is better than Boise State again and SMU so if they had to beat both of those teams and then now to me this is where like it's gone quiet because james franklin has won those two first playoff games but like to me these are where the james franklin allegations kind of creep back in because you're right this is when
01:12:03
Speaker
the playoffs start for Penn State. And this is a big game for him. We mentioned Kotal Nikki getting cute last week, you know, on third and shorts when the run game was working well. Like this is a big step up, not only for the players and playing a physical good team in Notre Dame. It's a step up for the coaching. Like you can't get cute in this game. And that is where the biggest worry for me in Penn State in this game comes. I like Notre Dame.
01:12:30
Speaker
Interesting. Yeah. I mean, when I just saw it, like I mentioned, I just immediately went Penn State just because I've seen their offense do more. But then when you take into consideration the teams that they've played and the defenses they've played, like I completely ignored the Indiana part. Nor did Dame dominate them. I don't care if Signeti put makeup on the scoreboard there and it was a 10 point loss. That was just pure domination over Indiana. And like you said, yeah I believe Indiana is also better than Boise State and SMU.
01:12:57
Speaker
The game plan's so obvious for Penn State, you know what I mean? It's if you can't run the ball, then you give it to Tyler Warren. So it's those are your three guys where it's Katron Allen, Nick Singleton, Tyler Warren. Whereas, you know, you take the Notre Dame part, feels like anyone can kind of step up on that offense. You got Jordan Faison probably as the go to receiver, especially on the second half of the season. He stepped up, especially on third downs. He's definitely their go to guy.
01:13:22
Speaker
but Riley Leonard's going to have to, he's going to have to have a step up where I think drew LR is definitely the better quarterback in this matchup. He's played in some bigger games, big 10 championship. Uh, he's played at Ohio. He played against Ohio state. Sorry. Uh, lost that one, but that's a team where, you know, they blew a 10 point lead in Notre Dame is not going to blow leads. Like I mentioned before.
01:13:44
Speaker
I just go back and forth. If I had to make a pick on this one, it would just be the under. But to me, it's just, yeah, this is a battle between two teams that are kind of built similarly on defense. But I just, in my mind, Penn State has a little bit more offensive firepower. And that's why I kind of lean Penn State if I had to pick a side in this one. Yeah. Riley Leonard is really the big question mark for me. That's what gives me pause in this game. And then it's really comes down to Jeremiah love like he's gonna be such an X factor if he can still manage to produce in this game that is where Notre Dame I think will find grounding and footing in this game to do something but yeah
01:14:21
Speaker
like big question marks I still have question marks but drew lara like it's it's doesn't look fantastic I think you you mentioned that that actually could be a benefit to Penn State is like you question them and but then it's like okay they still haven't played their best game yet in this playoffs has Notre Dame played its best game like you're right this is to me like such a split I, yeah, and Colneke, you mentioned it, just simplify things, man, because Notre Dame is going to expose you like Ohio State did. When you play the elite tier of teams, and I would throw both these teams into elite tier this season in college football, they're, you know, ranked, I would say, you know, where they're supposed to be. If you take out Arizona State and Boise State in the rankings, they're both top five in the nation.
01:15:05
Speaker
It's you're not gonna be able to get cute against a physical football team in Notre Dame and you're gonna have to just run the ball Just go downhill and then find Tyler Warren Hopefully a Penn State receiver can step up if Tyler Warren is, you know double triple covered Because otherwise, Notre Dame is just going to expose you. And like you said, Drew Allard is not a perfect quarterback. I just think he's a little bit better than Riley Leonard, which isn't saying a ton. ah But I also think Riley Leonard is one of those veteran corps I mentioned it last last week. It's why you go out and get a little bit of an older quarterback. He's a veteran. I don't think the moment's going to be too big for him. And his legs,
01:15:41
Speaker
Could be an x-factor and it could be like his running games better than drew lr And it's just is he gonna pick the right spots? Uh, I don't think there's gonna be a ton of turnovers in this one. Like I mentioned before I think it's gonna be a lot on the ground Uh, I just yeah, I I don't know i'm excited for this one because it's just is gonna be a smash found like a real playoff game fifth in scoring defense for Penn State, eighth in scoring defense for Notre Dame. So it's like, I don't think turnovers will be a big deal because I think that both teams might be able to get them and just kind of go band for band in that sense. um But moving finally to the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State.
Cotton Bowl Clash: Ohio State vs. Texas
01:16:19
Speaker
Minus six against Texas. This is just the fourth meeting all time, the first since 2009 with Texas leading the matchup two to one. This is a banger of a matchup. Something tells me this won't be nearly as much of a defensive battle as the Orange Bowl, even though these are two top defenses. Ohio State's number one in total defense and number one in scoring defense. I feel like that flies so under the radar.
01:16:47
Speaker
when anybody talks about Ohio State. Texas is ranked third and fourth in both of those metrics, ah especially though, if Ohio State's playing at the same level it did in the Rose Bowl, this will be some fireworks in this game, I think. Yeah, and I think you're going to know right away. I think Ohio State set the tone in both of their playoff games, just going right down the field on both of their opening drives. ah there're there They're outscoring opponents in the playoffs, 35 to nothing, just in in the first quarter.
01:17:16
Speaker
That's just the first quarter combined through the two teams. So it's very important for Texas. to either stop them out of the gates or get some points on the board in the first quarter to just be like, hey, we're playing football here. This isn't, you know, you're not playing Oregon, you're not playing Tennessee. We're a real football team and we're going to show you that we can compete with what looks to be the best team in the country right now. The look at headline, man, I mentioned it last night, it was going to be the Ohio State minus one and a half. It's moved four and a half points to six. I think that's pretty telling of what we saw last week.
01:17:47
Speaker
And I mentioned in the last one, I was like, Penn State's had the easiest path. Texas has had a pretty easy path as well. And they have somewhat struggled with it because the two closest games this playoff have included Texas. They've been on the winning side of it. I'll give them that. But they haven't really dominated in any fashion. um I mean, the running game against Clemson was dominant. And that's the big reason why they won. But their defense kind of broke down in the second half against Arizona State. And that's my biggest concern in this one.
01:18:16
Speaker
um So they got it like and then Ohio State's defense, you mentioned they're just they're physical. They were fast. They were just dominant in that one or eight sacks over Oregon. So Texas has got to find a way to not only come out of the gates hot, but they're offensive game plan. They have to stay ahead of the chains and can't make it for the oh Ohio State defensive. Just dial up plays, throw blitzes out there and just make life hell for quinniers. Yeah. Buckeyes allow just twelve point one points per game.
01:18:43
Speaker
they've allowed one 300-yard passer and 200-yard rushers the entire season. They sacked Dylan Gabriel eight times after he had been sacked, what was it, like 13 times yeah in the rest of the entire season. Like, there's just dudes everywhere on this Ohio State defense. Caleb Downs, Jack Sawyer, I'm going to butcher this, J.T. Tui Milloa.
01:19:05
Speaker
close now advices called jt i see j t yeah and and that's a big matchup in this game for me is quinn ews like this is the time man this is the time to silence the haters like you're going up against what will be the closest thing to being like an nfl defense that you're probably going to face in college This is the time to silence doubters and haters of which there are many um of whether that you're like a top quarterback like we mentioned how often he floats balls. Arizona State was able to get that huge interception off of him late in that game, which kind of spurred that comeback.
01:19:41
Speaker
And that is like a huge matchup to me in this game. It's it's much less of a ah matchup to me on the other side. I think Will Howard is more battle tested in the sense that he's played tougher defenses and tougher games already. ah Interesting fact in this one, he was 0-3 against Texas when he was at Kansas State. He summed up the Longhorns defense this way. They got some dudes, man.
01:20:04
Speaker
Uh, and they do, they do have a lot of dudes. Uh, Jay Baron won the Thorpe award nation's top defensive back. Uh, Andrew Makuba sealed the win against Arizona state with that huge interception. And then they got Colin Simmons on the, on the line. He has team height nine sacks, won the Sean Alexander award as the top freshmen in the nation.
01:20:23
Speaker
So to me, it's going to be this game is a lot on Quinn Ewers, but it's also a lot on this defense against this receiver room in Ohio State. like You're going to have to try and get your offense back on the field. and Absolutely. And it's it's strength on strength with Ohio State's offense against Texas's defense, specifically in that secondary. like They've only given up eight touchdown passes all year and have gotten 21 interceptions. So you know that Ohio State's going to look to throw the ball. And to me, the most important thing for Ohio State's offense Everyone's going to look at receivers. Everyone's going to look at, you know, Will Howard, Big Pressure, 0-1-3 against Texas. It's this makeshift offensive line that has been basically perfect for the past two weeks. I mean, you' you're missing your starting center who won the best center award. And then, you know, you miss your starting left tackle. You got a left guard playing tackle. It's just, it's a mismatched offensive line that has been perfect and has held up to every test they face for the past two weeks.
01:21:17
Speaker
Can they continue to do that against a big SEC-built defensive line and front seven, including the linebackers? it That is like what I'm going to be focused on, because if they can hold up and just give Will Howard the protection, you know the wide receivers are going to get open for him. Someone will, and he's going to have someone to throw to. ah Can they create lanes for Travion and Quinshaun to get the the downhill running game going?
01:21:41
Speaker
I, yeah, I trust the offense and it's just what Ohio state has done in this playoffs. I mentioned before, it's just, they've come out of the gates hot. And if they can continue to do that, they'll be strong. But Texas, man, find ways to get longer possessions, like keep the ball in your hands, run the ball, kind of like you did against Clemson. I mean, if you're gashing Ohio, I don't think you're going to gash Ohio state like you did that. But if you can just, you know,
01:22:07
Speaker
First down, second down, third down, convert. you know just Just convert first downs. Keep the offense of Ohio State on the sideline. You're going to be in this game. And like you said, I don't think this is going to be you know it's in Texas as well in Jerry's world. I think there's going to be a lot of Texas fans in the building. And I don't think Ohio State's going to necessarily like blow them out of the water like they have the past two games.
01:22:32
Speaker
i think they I think Texas is gonna be focused on this one. They're gonna be motivated. Gwen Ewers, former transfer. There's a little bit of a storyline. Used to be roommates with Jack Sawyer, so hopefully they can meet in the backfield once or twice. ah But yeah, this is gonna be one of those games where I think Ohio State can just kind of wear them down.
01:22:51
Speaker
if they don't jump out of the gates like they have the past two weeks, because that Arizona State game and that was just the second half of it. It was just very concerning to me because I thought Texas had that game one at half and then Arizona State just climbed their way back when he was throws the interception. And then, you know, they took care of business in overtime, but i so I took I was quite concerned with what I saw in the second half of that Texas game.
01:23:14
Speaker
and judging by our instagram comments seemingly texas fans aren't rattled by uh by that performance for some reason i don't know why because that was worrying to me to give up 24 to 8 uh lead uh you talk about wearing them down travion henderson has kind of hit another gear very quietly in this playoffs like he is against Tennessee and Oregon, two top run defenses in the entire country, rushed for 174 yards and four touchdowns. He's averaging almost 10 yards a carry in the playoffs right now. He's had four runs of at least 20 yards, three of which have gone for touchdowns.
01:23:50
Speaker
you talk about extending drives and and kind of wearing down this Texas team. It's a matchup nightmare in the sense where it's like you got Jeremiah Smith and Amika Ibuka to worry about as receivers. And then if you kind of play into that too hard, they're going to just pound you with Henderson on the ground.
01:24:09
Speaker
And Quinn, Sean Jokins of trade like when you got two horses going, they can do it the entire game. Will Howard has a little bit of a running threat as well. He hasn't had to use it as much in in the playoffs because they're just kind of cruising to these victories. ah but Yeah, the offensive Ohio State right now is perfect. And then the odd the d you look at the defense. They're perfect. Everything right now is perfect. Jayden Fielding's even making field goals, which is the most shocking thing to me. Texas, they're ranked 73rd in the nation.
01:24:39
Speaker
And that's gone up from the playoffs. It was like ah in the hundreds before the playoffs in red zone efficiency team that struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone. We mentioned that I forget one of the in the Vikings Rams playoff matchup in the NFL. You have to score touchdowns against Ohio State, you know, in the playoff game and in the NFL.
01:24:58
Speaker
You can kind of go back and forth in college football, especially against an Ohio State team. It's going to be high scoring. And if you aren't scoring touchdowns, you're going to get left in the dust. So Quinn Ewers is just got to find a way to um get touchdowns, not float those balls and, you know, just keep it, keep them in the game. And like I said, long possessions, I think are the key for Texas in this one. Well said. I think Texas has got, got a lot on their plate in this game.
01:25:23
Speaker
um But Ohio State, you just got to be able to kind of take care of business. like I don't expect them to be perfect, like you said, on both sides of the ball. But this is just about getting to the national championship for Ohio State, not just blowing this team out. um But yeah, a lot on the line for both of these teams. Two programs who I think are really dying for it. Ohio ohio State probably more than anybody, just to kind of vindicate this season and get back to the national championship.
01:25:50
Speaker
Um, but I think that just about does it for us on the goalpost this week. We got a lot, a lot of football to watch this weekend, and then we're going to be back next Tuesday to break it all down.
01:26:00
Speaker
Yeah, Thursday all the way through Monday, it's just ah the scheduling worked out perfectly for us. ah The Steelers have also kind of become a college team because they just don't play on Sundays anymore. ah So I don't know. i'm I'm pumped for it. Not as excited for the NFL playoffs as a Steelers fan. But yeah, the college football playoff, I think you're going to get two great matchups. And then I think most of the NFL matchups will be tight. If you look at the spreads, I think that they're seeing it the same way we are.
01:26:27
Speaker
Obviously, you're gonna get one or two blowouts it happens ah But yeah, I mean playoff football is what it's all about single-game elimination If you don't bring your best you're gonna go home. So there's a lot at stake this weekend and I can't wait for it Yeah, I think I mentioned it last week I'm rooting for Ohio State and Penn State in the national championship just for the takes and for this podcast itself But we will see how it all shakes out Until next week Patrick. I'll see ya. See ya Damian
01:27:01
Speaker
By the man that I've been