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Goal Line: Gold Rush
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The Fig God and friends discuss all things football as we head into the season finale of the NFL
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Transcript
Introduction and Football Fandoms
00:00:13
Speaker
What is up, Goldline listeners? I am back for another week to talk about all the football action from this past weekend. And I've got some special guests with me today. So hope you guys are ready for this. Let's just get right into it. We're going to around the room, introduce the boys. They'll tell you about their teams and everything, and we'll get into it.
00:00:31
Speaker
To my left is Toby. go ahead, Toby. Hey, peeps. Nice to see y'all. Actually, talk to y'all. Can't anyone. Yeah. So my name is Toby, like you said. Unfortunately, I'm a Cowboys fan.
00:00:44
Speaker
Been a Cowboys fan for a long time. Seen the ups and definitely a lot of downs. Also college team. I'm a big Husker fan. Lived in Nebraska forever. So that's about all I got. Happy to be here.
00:00:59
Speaker
Go ahead, Mike. Yeah, my name is Mike and glad ah glad to be here today. I was ah from the Northwest, so I'm a big Seahawks fan. My first game was in 1999. They played ah the Cincinnati Bengals, crazy enough, back in the day. So just kind of born and raised out that way. So, ah you know, at the end of the day, University of Washington Huskies fan, Michael Penix forever, obviously. But I do cheer on the Huskers just because everybody here in Nebraska is a big Husker fan. So when they do well, that's ah that's a good thing too. So life is good.
00:01:35
Speaker
right, Tony. Hi, guys. My name's Tony. i am also a Husker fan, born and bred here in Nebraska. And my NFL team is the Chicago Bears, even before this year.
00:01:48
Speaker
So it's ah been ah it's been nice to have ah have a good year this year. um So I stayed city-specific. was a Cubs fan in baseball and found they had a – Chicago's got a football team. I'll take them too. So bear down and happy to be here.
00:02:04
Speaker
look all right, boys. Well, thanks
College Bowl Games Debate
00:02:07
Speaker
for being here. you guys have obviously heard the show, so let's ah let's get right into it, and we'll talk some college football.
00:02:24
Speaker
right, we're going start with some bowl games. We're not going to go into any game specific. I just kind of wanted to get everybody's take on how the bowl games have been and what your thoughts have been. Obviously, the group of five teams, it seems like are way more interested in playing these games than the power five, power four teams. Well, we'll just go around the room. Toby, what what's your thoughts so far on the bowl games that you've watched?
00:02:47
Speaker
I thought they were, um you know, pretty much the way that everybody expected. James Madison and can't even think of the other team that was invited, but showed up for a little while. Figured that the other ones would go the way they are. Pretty excited to get the next rounds going, so...
00:03:07
Speaker
Well, no no, no, I'm just talking bowl games, not playoffs. Oh, bowl games. Yeah, bowl games are – they're different nowadays. It's, you know, who wants to be there kind of depending on what city the bowl game is being held in. But, um yeah, other than that, go Big Red.
00:03:25
Speaker
Mike? I haven't watched a ton of bowl games yet. I did focus in on the l L.A. Bowl and, ah you know, all of the 18 people that were in attendance at that game. But the Huskies taking care of Boise State did ah put a smile on my face. I think Jed Fish got a good squad there.
00:03:41
Speaker
And there were some rumors that he was going to take that Michigan job there for a second. And I got real stressed real quick because... ah Unfortunately, the Huskies, they're just a stepping stone program. And we all saw Caelan DeBoer leave right after. And so I feel like it's always a constant rebuild, but it was good to see. I dislike Boise State. So beating them anytime in a bowl game was ah fantastic. And i'm excited to see what the Huskies roll out next year. And they got some talent. So we'll see what happens. And rest in peace to the Pac-12. But I guess it's almost back.
00:04:16
Speaker
Tony? I always try to catch a little bit of each bowl game every every year. It's kind of like a tradition. um And like you guys kind of talked about it earlier, too. it's the you know You get the ah the lesser schools. Like yesterday, i think it was like Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. And that game, like they were really going at it and, you know, have have a fierce rivalry.
00:04:39
Speaker
The Celebration Bowl, which I think was the first one on the schedule, went four overtimes. It fantastic to watch. You couldn't take your eyes off it. So I ah i i enjoy the games. You it just depends on, you know, who's playing in them and, you know what the you know, what their deal is, what their mindset is coming in. But it's always a good time.
00:04:58
Speaker
So, so far, I don't know how much of this game you guys caught, but the North Texas San Diego State game, me and Mike were actually watching at the bar the other night.
Bowl Games Entertainment and Expansion
00:05:06
Speaker
That was by far the best game that I've seen so far. It was forty nine forty seven San Diego State scored with like one second left, so it was pretty much the end of it. But I did see North Texas has like 60% of their roster in the transfer portal right after that game ended. Wow.
00:05:21
Speaker
These are going to just be like stepping stone programs, unfortunately. And then my favorite is always the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Like, I just, I love the way they present that game. I hope they eventually move that to be one of the playoff games because it is really fun to watch.
00:05:34
Speaker
But, ah yeah, I'm with you guys. It's just, it's not obviously not the same since they expanded the playoff. Like, when it was four teams, I felt like there was still a lot of interest in bowl games. Yeah. don't know.
00:05:45
Speaker
These schools just don't care anymore. San Diego State did score late to cover the spread. They did, yeah. Interested in that as aspect of it. That's about the only interest I've had in bowl games is the gambling portion, which I'm doing absolutely awful at, but either way. Same here. I think i think ah ah you know they need to take the way of minor league baseball. The more gimmicks like the Pop-Tart Bowl or the Bush or But the mayo where they dump the the mayonnaise on everybody, which is pretty sick and disgusting. But, you know, if they if they go that route, I think, you know, they get more interest in it because everybody loves to see the Pop-Tarts go in the toaster and get mutilated. So why not? so
00:06:24
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. Okay, let's ah let's talk about the playoff games we got this week. so they start tomorrow, New Year's Eve. We have ah number 10 Miami against number two Ohio State.
00:06:36
Speaker
Tobe, who are you picking? Ohio State big. Cover the spread. Bet the house. Yeah, Ohio State, they're just – they are that team this year, and it's going to take a miracle if they were to lose somehow, some way. It would ah be cool to see a little bit of an upset. It was cool to see Miami do what they did to get to this point so far. But Ohio State, they're just a well-run risk machine right now.
00:07:00
Speaker
Make it unanimous. I think Ohio State rolls. I think the glass slipper falls off, and ah you know Miami was playing with house money to get to this point. Yeah, Ohio State definitely has too many weapons.
00:07:12
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I think Ohio State still is the best team in college football. We'll we'll see how it ends up playing out, but I agree. I think Ohio State steamrolls Miami.
College Football Matchups and Predictions
00:07:22
Speaker
Then we have number five, Oregon, against number four, Texas Tech. This one I do think should be a really good game. I think this should be the game of the weekend, personally. to what do you think? I agree with you. I'm not real sure. i'm still Jury's still out on the Big 12. I don't know what kind of defense they'll have, if they'll be able to stop Oregon, but i as well think it would be a really good game.
00:07:47
Speaker
As a University of Washington Husky fan, I can never pick Oregon ever. They can just ah sail off into the Pacific Ocean for all I care. But it is cool to see. I've spent some time in Lubbock, Texas, and it reminds me a lot of Lincoln, Nebraska. And so seeing Texas Tech put a squad together and get this far is fantastic. I think that they're just going to be playing playing lights out. And if they can ah they pull this off, I think they would have a lot of good momentum getting past Oregon.
00:08:16
Speaker
um Unfortunately, I've got to go the other way. i think ah I'm going Oregon Ducks on this one. i think the offense is too is too potent, and they're going to find a way to get it done. so Yeah, i I do think Oregon wins this game. I hope they don't. I would prefer to see Texas Tech win. I like their linebacking crew, all the mustache crew, whatever they call themselves. yeah It's pretty cool, and it is cool to see a team like Texas Tech be in the top four. Yeah.
00:08:42
Speaker
I hope they play well. Also, side note, the audio is probably not go to be the greatest for this episode. There's a bowling alley right above us. It's not a huge bowling alley or anything, but we're in my office at work, so I just wanted to address that.
00:08:53
Speaker
um Next game is the Rose Bowl, which is number nine Alabama against number one Indiana. I have a bad feeling for Indiana in this game. I do too, man. It's Bama's Bama. Indiana, I know they just like talk so much shit.
00:09:10
Speaker
Not a huge fan of Cignetti. Cignetti, yeah. He's a pure jackass in my opinion. But um Mendoza's solid. I just don't know if Bama's defense is so fast. i I'm going to probably have to go with Bama in this one.
00:09:27
Speaker
As much as it pains me to say Alabama is good, obviously for personal reasons, but, uh, you know, Indiana, they weren't supposed to win any game this year, you know, and they've been the underdogs all year long. And, uh,
00:09:40
Speaker
I mean, you got to Google him. He wins. And so, I mean, as much as you much as you hate him, and and I get a lot of people are on that on that that track there to to not liking that team. But I hope it's a close game. I hope, and I'm going to pick Indiana. I hope that they sneak this out. And they got some they got some guys, and some ballers that that want to win and want to be there on this massive stage.
00:10:04
Speaker
Yeah, and I think Alabama already used up all their voodoo getting by ah Oklahoma, you know especially having to come back the way they did in the first round. So unfortunately, yes, Signetti is a walking advertisement for Summer's Eve, but ah I'm going to go Indiana for ah Indiana to roll in this one.
00:10:24
Speaker
I think it'll be a close game. I do not love the way Alabama's offense has played this season. I'm going to go Indiana. i just I'm hopeful more than anything Indiana wins, even though I hate Signetti. I don't want Alabama in the Final Four. I just i want it to be someone different. i mean theres There's an actual chance that we get three Big Ten teams in the yeah Final four. like Now will there be a chance uspm like yeah ESPN and will actually talk about the Big Ten if that happens. so I just think it's funny. like Everybody shits on the Big Ten. I'm not saying that I'm like some Big Ten homer. I'm just a Nebraska fan. I don't really give a shit about the rest of the Ten. is If Nebraska wins, it's all I care about. But, yeah, I just – I think it's wild the way people talk about the Big Ten and just, like, completely act like it's not even there, even though they've won the last two national titles. Like, it it's a thing. Like, the Big Ten is actually a good football conference. I get it. SEC the big, huge giant and everything like that. But I'm telling you, like, the Big Ten has some really good football teams this year.
00:11:25
Speaker
Yeah, and the Gibeana does have something to prove. so They do. Put some respect on the Big Ten. Yeah. All right, last game of the week, we have number six Ole Miss against number three Georgia.
00:11:37
Speaker
um I'll go first on this. I think Georgia's team rolls Ole Miss. Georgia's just playing so well. I want to see Ole Miss play well just to stick it to Lane Kiffin because I hate that fuck.
00:11:48
Speaker
But i would' much i did' i I just think Georgia's going to roll them. Yeah, I agree with you as well. Georgia's defense is so fast. ah I'm not sure what Gunnar Stockton's going to do, but um I just don't think Ole Miss without Lane Kiffin, who, like he said, is a – yeah, he's that guy nobody likes. It might be a good thing, actually, Ole Miss not having him around, but I do think that Georgia just puts an asshole up in two.
00:12:20
Speaker
Is Lane Kiffin just kind of a distraction? i don't know, Jordan, it sounds like yeah we struck a nerve there a little bit if you hate him so much. Is there a reason why you hate him so much? He's just a tool. like he He went to the LSU game the other night, didn't even stay until the end of it, just leaves in the middle of the game. like Dude, he's just a tool.
00:12:35
Speaker
ah is. I don't understand how Ewan Weiss is going to do college football. yeah It seems like that's something that he does. He just gets something good for a couple of years and then he's gone after it after that. just doesn't care.
00:12:47
Speaker
It's funny how this obviously this narrative keeps going with college football and players leaving all the time. And now it's coaches are just like, you made the playoff and you're going to bounce, you know? And as much as ah so many people, angry men on Twitter are yelling at college students and, hey, why would you do this? And it's like, no, like,
00:13:04
Speaker
That all starts from the top. And if your coach is about to bounce, I don't blame any player forever transferring. but Good point. And that's been going on for so long, too, even before NIL. These coaches would they come to your come to your kid and say, hey, we're going be here forever. We're going to this together. And then they were always leaving for the bigger, or better deal. And it's it's ridiculous. So, yeah, if the if the coaches can do it, then kids should have the same option. It's that simple.
00:13:32
Speaker
At the end of the day, though, I think Georgia rolls um that team. That defense is good. Those linebackers are good. That defensive line is unbelievable. So hopefully it's a close game and we have a fun game to watch. But I think Georgia takes care of business.
00:13:45
Speaker
yeahp my My heart says Ole Miss, my wallet says Georgia. So that's – unfortunately, i want to i want to see old Miss, you know, go, you know, do what everybody thinks they can't. But at the end, the dogs are going to – the dogs are going to be barking and it's going to a bad day at ah at Oxford. To be fair, Ole Miss did play this team earlier this season and they they were ahead in the fourth quarter in this game. They ended up blowing it at the end, but – I just – I do not see a way Ole Miss wins this game.
00:14:17
Speaker
All right, let's let's briefly touch on all of our – well, Mike's second favorite team, me, Toby, and Tony's favorite team. Nebraska plays Utah tomorrow in the Las Vegas Bowl.
00:14:30
Speaker
Toby is like the most like hopeful Husker fan ever. He's always going to believe they're going to win until the game's 56 to zero. I have no hope for this game. think we're going to gets slaughtered. Like I don't even think it they could have a toddler coaching Utah and I still don't think we could win this game. It's just, this is going be bad. don't know. I just, I do not feel good about it Well, let's see. So think it's going to be a little bit different. I like the people that Nebraska's hired and brought in. I know they haven't had any time to work with the kids, but um yeah, it's, it's not going to be good. And this is probably going to be one of them times where I'm actually going to be able to watch a game and not get too upset about losing. Cause it's pretty much in the cards right now, but I don't just don't know if they can cover the 14. No.
00:15:21
Speaker
And that's just the first half. It's always interesting to me sitting back. I attend as many Husker games as I can. And, you know, a year ago, I think any Husker fan would be over the moon that they made a bowl game. And last year was the GoDaddy.
00:15:36
Speaker
Big boy mowers, big boy mower, foster farm, whatever, know, yeah. And that game was just a total disaster, but they won. And so, um, you know, being on the outside looking in, you know I go to to, Memorial stadium and I look up and last time they won anything was 1999, which is kind of crazy to think. So, You know, I always say I'm a Husker fan because when they win, it's better for the local economy. And so hopefully the Huskers can pull it out. But I think i think the other boys, they got they got a lot a lot to play for. And we'll just see what happens. I mean, as your guys is take a question to you guys, is has this been beneficial, do you think, for the Huskers to practice these extra couple weeks and prepare for this game? I mean, as a Washington fan, I mean, they've been they've been done for a couple of weeks now. and they're just hanging out, you know. extra week of practice. Yeah. I mean, I don't think it would hurt. I think anything you can get, any anything you can do to sharpen your iron, do it and make it happen and, you know, find out who's ready for next year. And, know, that's my take. I think the biggest problem for this game is Emmitt Johnson not playing. Like, I mean, he he was our offense, and I just – I do not feel good about this game at all. I mean, it is Utah, and Kyle Whittingham is gone now. –
00:16:53
Speaker
I mean, their defensive coordinator was already named the coach before he was going to retire anyway, which we don't even need to get into that. How the hell Kyle Whittingham goes from, I'm not going to coach anymore to sure. I'll take five years at Michigan. be ah And how his name did not come up for jobs in the last five years is beyond me. Like that guy is a great coach. That's a really ta been that's a really good hire for Michigan. I probably should have talked about that. Like that is a really good hire, especially for how this hiring process went. Like, It seemed like Michigan was just going to get shunned by everyone. And they ended up with Kyle Whittingham, which absolutely wild. Like I didn't see anybody that said, oh, this is a bad hire. I mean, it's a home run hire for Michigan. It's was funny. We were talking about jumping off points for schools. Utah seems to have that ah coaching jump off too. If you're going from back of the day with –
00:17:42
Speaker
it Was it Meyer? Urban Meyer. and and And that's the last time they switched coaches. yeah Kyle Whittingham was our Urban Meyer's hand pick replacement. And he picked him over Ryan Day. So, I mean, there's there's something to be said about that. Yeah. So it's going to be interesting. but Yeah, no not a lot of hope. Can't wait to talk to you guys next week about the Huskers losing by 40. But, yeah yeah, we'll just briefly touch on that next week.
00:18:07
Speaker
All right. anybody anything and got Anybody got anything else about college? Well, I was just going to say with all the debacle and shit that has been going on in Michigan, I'm really surprised that Whittingham, they were able to pull something like that. It's like, man, I can't believe it. I mean, but they got three-year penalty yeah still that they have to deal with. and Yeah, it's bad. yeah but There's going to be a lot to clean up there, too.
00:18:34
Speaker
Really gives definition to the word Michigan man. like Rich Eisen and all of them always like to say, like he's a Michigan man. It's like, that that was your Michigan man. They they can go ahead and retire that vernacular now. We're done with Let him go.
00:18:49
Speaker
All right, let's get into some NFL talk.
Falcons' Coaching Critiques
00:18:53
Speaker
Let's get into some NFL talk.
00:19:07
Speaker
All right, as always, let's... ah stop Start with the Falcons. It's just, i do I do not understand this team at all. These guys, these guys are going to fuck with me about this, but it's not funny at all. like It's just absolutely the most annoying thing ever. Like I just assumed the Rams are going to win this game by 20. We're up 21, zero at halftime. And I texted all these guys together. I'm like, they're still going to lose this game. And they probably should have lost this game, but whatever, either way, it's neither here nor there. Uh,
00:19:42
Speaker
i The way they've used B. John Robinson this season is still just like baffling to me. i mean, yeah, he had a great game last night, but he still ended up with 25 touches in a game that you were leading the entire way. Like, I don't i don't know, like Derrick Henry had what, like 35 touches the other night? Like, well I just, the usage of B. John will forever confuse me.
00:20:05
Speaker
the The last three plays of the game, they're in field goal range. Like, Bijan can literally break a long run on any play, and they bring Tyler Algier in, and that dude just literally runs right into the person at the line. Like, not even in an attempt of trying to make someone miss. Everybody's like, oh, well, he just doesn't fumble.
00:20:24
Speaker
I don't give a shit if the guy fumbles or not. Like, dude, Bijan is like one of the top five players in the NFL, and you you have him on the sideline. You're not winning either, by the way. Like, you still got to kick a field goal, and everybody's like, oh, it's just a 51-yarder. Like, what the hell did this all of a sudden become? like Like, we have Zane Gonzalez, not Brandon Aubrey. Like, yeah, if you have Brandon Aubrey and you're over midfield, it's like, okay, he can make it from anywhere at this point. let's fucking Zane Gonzalez. We're really thinking, like oh yeah, mean let's let's trot Zane Gonzalez out here for a 51-yarder. It'll go fine. Don't worry. Raheem Morris just looks like a fucking idiot on the sideline. I i fucking eat this guy. i do that That's their third kicker this year because they started with
00:21:06
Speaker
Young Way Koo, and we saw how that went. And so, yeah, just putting that much faith in ah in a kicker on your third kicker of the season. And a guy that has ADHD. Like, I don't know if you guys have watched him, but like he has to do the same thing every time walks on field. He brushes his hair to the side like 20 times, puts his helmet on, like rubs the side of his helmet. I'm like, what the fuck are we doing? Like, a dude, this guy is a head case, and we're just like, oh, 51 yards, he's got it. And mind you, this is after the last kick that he kicked.
00:21:34
Speaker
was blocked when Jared first just came through the line unblocked. Cause apparently Elijah Wilkinson just thinks, Oh, I'll just keep my head down and fucking watch the guy go. Well, he didn't even watch him. He just let him go right past him. And then that fucking guy gets on post game. Like Bijan brings Elijah Wilkinson and k Chris Lindstrom. Lindstrom I get, but like, what the hell is Wilkinson doing here? The dude had two full starts and allowed Jared verse to block a kick and return for a touchdown, even making a game like that.
00:21:59
Speaker
This fucking organization just pisses me off. And I have to watch Arthur Blank stand on the sideline like a fucking moron every week. I got to say, too, on the Algier point, Joe Buck was hitting that so hard. He never fumbles. he never I was waiting for him to just wait or cough it up. and You know, it's not like Bijan didn't run for a 93-yard tutty just, you know, out of the blue. I mean, we don't need that. We'll just put Algier in there. Not like Bijan had 230 yards last night, and he needed five yards for 200 yards rushing. But, yeah, whatever. Just fucking keep running Tyler Algier straight to the back of the center. It's fine. There's a reason why Algier stayed on my bench on my fantasy team. He should have been on the bench on the actual team. And just to let it go as well, too, you just won Puka catch away from that game going probably going overtime. Oh, yeah. It was one Puka catch away from the goal line fantasy league. Tom Montalto ended up winning. Congrats to him. He was going against David Brooks, who had Mivas. He's the kicker of the Rams. And he won by like half a point. He was just absolutely panicking. He kept texting me, and I'm just like, dude, it's just all about luck, man. There's no skill in fantasy, believe me. It's all like I've had the best team, and I've had the worst team. Like, dude,
00:23:14
Speaker
You can't ever tell. It's just, it's straight luck. I mean, none of us can control what any of these players do or how they use Bijan or when, like, Bucky Irving's, this is the, to me, this is like the biggest selling point for fantasy that it it's all luck. Bucky Irving, since he came back, has zero goal line touches. The other two running backs have like 20. Like, fantasy is just a crapshoot, man. It's just all luck.
00:23:39
Speaker
Go ahead, boys. You can talk about the Falcons all you want. It's a real joy for me. I just have a question for you, Jordan. Why is Tyler Elgier still on this team? well if He's a free agent after this year. why didn't they trade him? I mean, you have the best running back. and just he he could get He could be but a third or fourth round pick at the deadline. He could start for half the teams in the NFL. I don't know where this whole like thunder and lightning where you have to have two good running backs thing came from.
00:24:06
Speaker
But whoever created that is a fucking asshole. Like, dude, we don't need to retroit we don't need two running backs. Well, the Detroit has even went away from it now. Yeah, that's true. I mean, yeah Gibbs gets the – as he should. Yes. Like, these guys are like once-in-a-lifetime talents, and you're giving carries to guys that – I'm sorry, David Montgomery and Tyler Algier are really good football players. They are not Jameer Gibbs and B. John Robinson. Like, I just – Agreed. These teams overthink it so much. Like – I don't know. i mean, shit, the Rams are doing it now, too. Kyron Williams is really good, and for some reason they are just sold that Blake Whorham is the future, which I'm not going to ever doubt Sean McVay. I mean, he turned Puka Nakua into an all-pro, and the guy was a fifth-round pick. So, not doubting that guy. my My thing, and I texted you last night, is it's it's frustrating watching the Falcons because you see what the offense should be.
00:24:59
Speaker
You know, they were putting up points at will. on you know a playoff on a playoff team that a lot of people consider one of the top five teams in the NFL. Yeah, should have Super Bowl congenital. Yeah, absolutely. And like you said, get Bijan, just let him let him cook. Let him do what Derrick Henry did the other night against Green Bay.
00:25:18
Speaker
He's got the same qualities that he does. Make it happen. It's not that hard. My favorite thing is that everybody's like, oh, Falcons offensive line is really good. It's not. Bijan is just really, really good. Like, there's numerous times, probably every play, he had to make at least one guy miss because the guy just didn't get blocked. Like, Jared Verse was on his face three different times in that game trying to tackle him. It's just...
00:25:40
Speaker
Regardless of how good the ah Falcons offensive line was, you still had old primetime cousins back there. no But he hasn't lost a primetime game this year. like Also, the Falcons just need to go back to the throwbacks. They haven't lost one a game in those jerseys in like three years. Like, dude, just make them your permanent jersey again. Seahawks should too, but whatever. yeah Plus it was a Monday night or so they were actually able to serve Chick-fil-A in the, in the building. I mean, that's huge. So you never know.
00:26:05
Speaker
The big win there. and Absolutely. Kirk. Go chains. All right. Let's talk about Seth's team real quick. I'll just go quickly on this one. Cause I don't want to talk about the saints. Titans, Titans lose a shootout to the saints. That actually was a really good game. Cam Ward is going to be really, really good. Once they put some more stuff around him and,
00:26:24
Speaker
As much as it pains me to say, I don't know how this dude is good, but Tyler Shaw looks really good. I did not see that coming. Like, the the Falcons and Saints play this weekend, and that, like, seems like who should be winning the NFC South Bowl. Those teams are on fire right now. But instead, we're getting the Panterds and the Bucs in a game
NFC South Playoff Scenarios
00:26:43
Speaker
that, like, if the Bucs win – well, if the Falcons – first of all, if the Falcons win this weekend, Carolina is automatically in the playoffs, which – Also, fucking stupid. Hosting a playoff game. Yeah, hosting a playoff team against an NFC West team that's lost four games. Yeah, that rule has to change as well. it's yeah I mean, I get it, but it's still not fair. No, it's not. And it's just...
00:27:06
Speaker
i Like somehow the Falcons and Saints game has somehow more importance than the Bucs and Panthers game, which i'd i don't know. I'd much rather see one of these two teams go to the playoffs. Well, not the Falcons because they probably score one point somehow. ah But, yeah, Titans just – they've got some talent and Cam Ward's really good. It's just they've got to build more around him. But I kind of like the team that they've got moving forward. They just – they need a little bit more – Uh, it needs some more weapons and obviously they're going to need a head coach, but yeah, they, they looked all right. All right. Let's go to Toby's team. Uh, the first game on Christmas day, Cowboys beat the commanders.
00:27:44
Speaker
I mean, I don't have a whole lot to say about this game. Like, this is kind of what I expected to happen. him Like, a I mean, the Cowboys were going to win this game always. Like, it was Josh Johnson, for God's sakes, on the other side of the field. Man, you could never say that the Cowboys were going win that game and you knew it was going to be because the Cowboys were always going to Cowboy.
00:28:02
Speaker
And Dak is going to have a great year again, but unfortunately that defense, I feel as a Cowboys fan, it's We have to score every time we have the ball, and it's like, I don't know.
00:28:13
Speaker
Josh Johnson, yeah, what's his 14th team? Something like that. Like 16th year, team. Like, dude. and yeah And that guy has gotten paid by 14 teams to hold a clipboard. Like, he never plays. And, like, you can see when Mariano got hurt, he's like, shit, I've been hit in four years. Where's my helmet?
00:28:34
Speaker
Yeah, i don't I mean, I don't know. it's Dallas has got some things to do. The offense looked pretty decent at times this year, but the defense just, ah man, I don't know.
00:28:45
Speaker
Might have to bring Al Harris back. I'm not sure. but What are you going to do, though, because they've got to pay Pickens this offseason. You assume they're going pay him. So this was my thing with the Bengals, and it came to fruition. You can only pay so many guys on offense before you're just neglecting your defense. Cowboys are already neglecting their defense because it's ass already. like yeah I mean, paying Pickens top wide receiver money, is that like the smartest choice? Yeah.
00:29:10
Speaker
I think you have to pay him. I mean, I'm not sure what what he's asking for what it's going to take to keep him, but I think you have to pay him. I mean, it's – I don't know.
00:29:21
Speaker
the The problem is is like outside of Quinton Williams, who I do love him, but like what the hell you build your defense around? like Oh, it sure would have been nice to have an all-pro pass rusher on the end of the line. Oh, wait, they did. Who got hurt, by the way? Sorry, Green Bay. but I just don't understand this team, though. like I agree with you. I think they are going to pay pickets, but...
00:29:45
Speaker
I mean, at some point you have to make the defense better. That's why you keep losing every year because you can't stop anybody on defense. Well, keep one the main reason why they keep losing every year is because Jerry Jones still has breath. So until that goes away. Well, I don't think Steven Jones going to be much better, or unfortunately. Learn from the best. That's true. I mean, it because if you look, like Al Davis died and then Mark Davis took over and it's still sad as well. Oh, is that guy fast? All right, we'll take him. Chuckie alone, man. Come on. Like, dude, it's just, I don't know. right I just don't know what they do moving forward. I can tell you right now having Matt Eberflus as your defensive coordinator is not a good thing. like That gets a big no from me, dog. But the problem is, is like that's who Jerry hires. He hires people that are just going to fall in line. He doesn't want anybody that will. all about yes, man. Always has Because that's why when they were talking about hiring Bill Belichick, I was like, there's no way. Bill Belichick would cuss Jerry Jones out in the draft room, guaranteed. For sure. And that's all you need is Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick with their 1980s ideas on how to build a football team. Like,
00:30:47
Speaker
well And Jerry's all about the headlines anyway. He wants to be general hospital as opposed to a Super Bowl contender. My favorite thing is that they trade for Quentin Williams at the deadline and they're like, yeah, this was this was just always our goal of to find a pass rusher and everything like that. And like I'm just like reading this thing to myself. I'm just laughing. I'm like, what the fuck are you talking about? like Jerry always makes stupid ass moves just to say that he's doing something. And that's it. It's a fluke and it's It's just unbelievable that we still allow him to do it. I mean, I know he's the owner and everything, but yeah, it's getting old.
00:31:24
Speaker
Has old been old for a long time. I was just about to say too, like I don't even know how long Quentin Williams' contract is. It looks like he signed a four-year extension in 2023. So they basically got two years left to him.
00:31:37
Speaker
Oh boy. Yeah, it's going to be great. Everything's going to be great. It's fine. um All right. Second game of the day on Christmas was Vikings and Lions.
00:31:47
Speaker
um I'll let Tony talk about this game just because they're in his division. Dude, what an embarrassing year for the Lions, though. Like, I i mean, yeah they had a lot of bad luck. they They probably have more injuries than anybody I've ever seen. Like, I think half their defense has been on IR since like week five. Yeah.
00:32:04
Speaker
I don't know. i Maybe the Dan Campbell thing has worn off. I don't think it has personally, but I saw people yesterday are like, they've gone as far as they can with Dan Campbell. I'm like, what? And everybody's bringing up the Ben Johnson thing. I'm like, they're still averaging more points per game than the bears are. Like their offense is not the problem. They can't stop anyone because their defense sucks. Like,
00:32:26
Speaker
i don't know. You can definitely tell Aaron Glenn's not there anymore as the defensive coordinator. I'm not saying Aaron Glenn's anything special, but whatever they did for schemes from last year to this year, it completely changed. And even before the injuries, they looked like shit. so Yeah, and I do think that's the big difference with the Lions this year. Yeah, the Ben Johnson thing is great, and obviously the Bears benefited from that, so God bless you. But, you know, you know the defense – seems like that's more missed than Ben Johnson. That offense can still run circles around half the league. And it doesn't help when the Vikings turn you over six times. And, you know, their defense, not exactly anything home to, you know, to write home about, I should say. And they had a backup quarterback as well. Backup, backup. Backup, backup. Max Grossman. Yep.
00:33:16
Speaker
I just don't. I don't know how you can move forward with Jared Goff still as your quarterback if you're Detroit, honestly. like I'm not saying he's a bad quarterback. He's not bad. But I think he's like the fifth highest paid quarterback in the NFL next year because his contract kicks in.
00:33:33
Speaker
let's i mean, there was a reason why the Rams got rid of him. so That trade still worked out for both of them. i mean, granted, the Lions blew both their playoff appearances. More Stafford, for sure. Yeah, Stafford had definitely worked out for it. i mean, Detroit did get a ton of picks out of that, and they used them properly. Very well. The other problem is is I feel like Detroit, just like all their rookie contracts came up at the same time, and they have to pay all these guys. Like, I mean, Panay Sewell obviously should be the number one highest paid off offensive lineman. Like, don't even think that's an argument. but
00:34:04
Speaker
they lost a ton offensive linemen too because they have no money. Like, it they're this is what happens when you get good. I mean... And that's how they really established themselves over the last couple of years. They had that Sonic and Knuckles, but you ain't doing none of that without a defensive line or offensive line.
00:34:19
Speaker
It's just... it's just a weird team. And all of a sudden the Vikings are just on fire. I mean, like five straight games or something like what the hell is wrong with these teams? You get eliminated from the playoffs. Yeah. I know you're, there's nothing to be scared of anymore. And you're playing with house money, but dude, it's so frustrating as a fan to watch your team go on a run when you're already out of the playoffs. Like,
00:34:41
Speaker
God, it's stupid. I hate the NFL. Yeah, I hope Aaron Glenn's enjoying his time in New York. Well, somehow that team beat the Falcons, so whatever. Just it right back home. ah The Thursday night game, Broncos clinched AFC. Well, they didn't clinch it that night, but they beat the Chiefs in one of the ugliest football games I think anyone could have ever watched.
00:35:03
Speaker
Dude, these Thanksgiving and Christmas Day games are absolute dog shit. None of them are good. they're They're all bad. These guys do not want to be playing football. Let these people spend time at home with their families. Like, I get it. It's a money-making tactic. I understand it.
00:35:19
Speaker
I hate that the NFL took over Christmas Day. Like, that's NBA's day. It always has been. That's always been a thing. Like, dude, just let the NBA play their Christmas Day games. NFL doesn't need to be on every goddamn day of the week. And I feel bad for the Lions players. So they played on Thanksgiving and Christmas. So did the Cowboys. And the Cowboys. And some of these teams where it's – You know, Almond Raw, the same round came out and goes, well, we're playing on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don't any kids, but Vikings, they can just go home and celebrate, you know, like that's that takes a lot. And those Thursday night games sometimes are a good Thursday night game, you know, and sometimes it is a crap shoot. That is a short week coming off of playing on Sunday. I mean, at the beginning of season, when you looked at these games, was like, holy shit. Cowboys and Commanders should be awesome. Jaden Daniels obviously be playing.
00:36:04
Speaker
Vikings and Lions, whatever their division rivals. Chiefs and Broncos, like, that should have been, like, game of the week. And we end up with the Chiefs' third-string quarterback.
00:36:15
Speaker
I'll give it to Chiefs fans, man. I seriously thought they were to just throw in the towel and not go to another game this season. I thought that stadium would be full of orange. They packed it out, and that's probably – I would assume that's Travis Kelsey's last game. like I just would say so.
00:36:28
Speaker
Like, what what does he have to play for at this point? Everybody's like, well, the competitor in him. Competitor in what? he got three Super Bowls. He's on the Mount Rushmore of tight ends already. The only thing he can do is, like, beat Tony Gonzalez's yards and stuff like that, which I don't even think that matters to him. No.
AFC Teams' Playoff Potential
00:36:44
Speaker
Tony Gonzalez is his mentor. I don't think he's worried about beating his yardage or anything like that. so And since his brother retired, too, they're close, obviously. And, i you know, the brother's just hanging out, podcasting. They have the most successful podcast. Yeah. Like, dude, they don't need – Second most after goal line. Oh, yeah. You're Staying corrected. Roger Goodell and me are having a meeting today. ah But, yeah, I just – don't know. I mean, that game was ugly, but Broncos win. The Clicks AFC West.
00:37:15
Speaker
Did not see that coming. Man, I'm to tell you what. i'm I'm out on the Broncos. ah there're Their luck has to go away. I mean, the teams that they've come back, how many fourth quarter wins do they have this year? but Almost all of them. Seriously, look at the teams that they're against. They're against shit teams. and And a lot of backup quarterbacks now, too. Yeah. I mean, Bo Nix is Bo Nix, but yeah I just don't know if the Broncos can continue to – hit that lucky button all the time. i don't know. It's crazy.
00:37:44
Speaker
We're going to find out in the playoffs because they're going to come up against big boy competition. That's true. Are they, though? Because the AFC is not the greatest conference ever. like The wild card teams the AFC outside of the Texans, like who is scaring you? Would you be scared of the Chargers with Herbert, who can't even stay upright behind that offensive line? like That's the problem with the AFC. Who's Who the hell are you scared of in the AFC? I just really want to know if that's his real left hand or if it's just like some kind of fake shit that they have. to cross their out and they yeah I mean, they already announced he's not playing this week because they have nothing to play for at this point. Like that the seating for them doesn't matter. They're not getting a home game either their way. So the Broncos are just going to get handed the one seed now. It's just like.
00:38:28
Speaker
Eventually, they're to have to come up against New England, and that's going to be, you know. See, I don't think they're good either, though, is the problem. that They have the easiest schedule in the NFL. Well, they play in a crap division as well, but who like when you're shitty, that they definitely have a better schedule. They beat the Bills once, but, like, who the hell has New England beat?
00:38:45
Speaker
oh I got faith in that. in in that ah They got a nice one-two punch at running back as well. Here we go again with the thunder and lightning. No, I'm just saying i I like what they did this year. I think i thought they played really well. so They did beat the Jets on Sunday, so congratulations to them.
00:39:00
Speaker
That's about as solid as you can get right there. All right, let's move to Saturday. Texans over the Chargers. I'm honestly surprised the Chargers kept this game close. I seriously thought Justin Herbert was going to on the field on Saturday against that team.
00:39:15
Speaker
The Texans are hot. I would not want to play this team in the first round of the playoffs. mean they can still win the division if the Jags lose, which the Jags are not losing this weekend. and I think they have the Titans, so I don't think the Jags are losing.
00:39:26
Speaker
Actually, being in San Diego ah this past weekend and watching the Chargers in a San Diego bar almost kind of felt like I was watching the Husker game as quickly as they went down. But, um yeah, the Chargers, i there's nothing left, I don't think, man. i just The Texans actually look pretty good. CJ's always been well.
00:39:47
Speaker
I think I like the Texans. so Plus that defense travels, and that defense can take them a long way in the playoffs. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know how to get a read on either one of these teams. like it don' know I guess we're just talking about the playoffs. I guess I would be – in the AFC, I guess I'd be most concerned about playing Buffalo at this point, which you never know what team's going show for them either. like well We'll get into playoff talk after this. um Saturday night, Ravens over the Packers. They finally decided to give Derrick Henry the ball, which –
00:40:23
Speaker
Still don't understand how they lost that game the previous week just because they didn't want to give him the ball in the fourth quarter. Like, what the fuck are you doing? This guy's an animal. Like, dude, I don't care if he's going to wear down. He is going wear a down. I know he's going to age out, but when it happens, it happens. Just make sure you're the reason it happened. like don't let him sit on the bench. like Don't worry about the mule. Load the wagon. Just get it done. They just kept running the ball, and the Packers just had no answer for it They just hammered it. I mean, that's what they should be doing. Like, wasn't this the point of getting Derek Henry? and They didn't even Lamar, and they still looked like a juggernaut on ah offense. It's just –
00:41:00
Speaker
That's what you're supposed do. You're supposed to throw off of Derrick Henry just running the ball down your throat. This isn't hard. Do an RPO every other play and then throw it if you have to on third down. He was tossing people too. There was one run where he just stiff-armed some poor schmuck and just tossed him five yards deep. Whoever 24 is on the Packers, that's... I can see his number as he's getting tossed right now in my head. Like whoever that guy is, just go ahead hang her up. You're probably done. I kind of think that's just the theme of the AFC. It's, you know, we've talked about all these AFC teams and who is good, who is not good. And one team is going to get hot. Is it the Jaguars? Is it...
00:41:40
Speaker
or are the Browns just going to be a quick exit early. It's just, there's just no consistency. Yeah. No consistency. The Browns definitely are not in the playoffs. Sorry, the Broncos. Formerly the Cleveland Browns. yeah Bring it back. All right. Let's, ah let's go to Sunday. Seahawks just dismantle the Panthers. I'm going to let Mike talk about this, but Seahawks offense is absolute ass at this point. Like I,
00:42:08
Speaker
I don't even know. that If it wasn't for their defense, I just don't know what this team would be doing right now because – I don't trust Sam Darnold to do anything. yeah I don't even think I trust McCare, my groceries in the house. It is frustrating because we have a great coach. Mike McDonald is absolutely unbelievable. And we're so thankful to do that. And kudos to ownership and everything for letting Pete Carroll go and not settling with mediocrity and going and getting a really good head coach. And that'll be interesting to see what some of these head coaches do or what some of these teams do with their head coaches in the off season.
00:42:42
Speaker
um Yeah, that first half of the game, 3-3 going into half, I was i was not well. And so, you know, it's it's extremely frustrating. The defense is a ton of fun to watch. Mike McDonald always comes out and says, well, it's complimentary football. And it's like, it's frustrating because if the defense lets up, I feel like then the offense comes. It's like, all right, now we need a step up. But the offense always goes out there and Sam McDonald goes out there and goes, well, our defense is playing really well. I'm going to be super protective of the ball. But i I don't know this for sure. I need to look it up. But he might have the smallest hands in the NFL. Because if there is a whisper, he is going to fumble that football every single time. And it's tough because he can make a great throw and JSN can make him look really, really good. Or he just throws a horrible interception. And it's just like the the it the interceptions and the turnovers are through the roof. And then somehow, someway, they keep finding a way to win. I honestly had no idea how this team has 13 wins, but in, in their three losses, they were all one score games too. I mean, we lost to the Rams a couple weeks ago. He threw four picks and we only lost because Jason Marsden connect on a 61 yard field goal. So like they were in all of those games and we lost to the bucks, which another team who just fell off a freaking cliff. Like I thought Baker was going to win NAP easily and they got hurt and healthy and now they're, they might win the division, I guess. But
00:44:02
Speaker
Yeah, overall, the Seahawks, they keep finding a way to win. I will pull this up really quick. Bryce Young is Bryce Young, you know, but coming into that game, it's really interesting. So the leading up to this game, he went up up against the Rams and he had 206 yards, three touchdowns. They lost to the Saints. He had another 163 yards and touchdown.
00:44:25
Speaker
And then last week they beat Tampa Bay and he threw for 191 yards with two touchdowns. The Seahawks only allowed him 54 yards, which is crazy. The average offensive play for the Panthers was 2.3 yards per play. That's not passing or rushing. That is combined.
00:44:44
Speaker
That defense steps up. They do what they have to do. I'm really nervous for this Saturday night against the Niners. But it is a fun team to watch. The offense might put me in the hospital, but the defense sure is fun to watch. yeah Dude, it's it's just crazy watching this team. They're like the exact opposite of the Falcons. Like the Falcons always come on the first half and it's like, all right, man. that Like they look really good offensively in most games. And then it's like we go to halftime it's like, all right, well, let's just take a quick nap and not go over anything. We're going to change anything. Just keep doing what works. The other team won't catch on to anything. but Just keep going. It's fine. And the Seahawks are like,
00:45:20
Speaker
Well, Mike McDonough's like, well, we shit the bed in the first half offensively. Why don't we come out of the half? Let's just get a quick punt return or a pick six or something. Let's just, let's start the half off the right way. And then Sam, why don't you throw the ball on the field a couple times? Maybe not throw it to the other team, but we'll see what works. Just toss it up to JSN and see what happens.
00:45:37
Speaker
That's the only thing I worry about that team in the playoffs is what happens when everybody starts bracketing JSN and he can't get open. Like, What the hell is Sam Darnold going to do when his first weapon is always taken away? Because that's what teams are going to do. and Absolutely. That's what every team does in the playoffs. They take away your best player. I mean, somehow the Falcons did it last night with Puka.
00:45:56
Speaker
Yeah. Like, every team targets your best player, and that's they're going take out. And, yeah, they need to run the ball more. But – like Again, are we are we trusting Kenneth Walker to win you a playoff game? And it's crazy because the Seahawks run the ball 52% of their plays, the highest in the NFL. And everyone goes, well, they're not running the ball. Well, no, we're running the ball, but just not very effective. And of course, we got this.
00:46:19
Speaker
Thunder and lightning, you know, Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker, and who's going to work, who's not going to work. But I will say if they run the ball a little bit and that play action pass is huge because AJ or yeah, Barner is huge. And then Shahid is now in concussion protocol. Hopefully he plays on Saturday night. There's some other people out there that can make some, some moves out there.
00:46:39
Speaker
I mean, at this point, Cooper cup is just a coach with, with a helmet right now, but he has helped out that team so much and he blocks so, so well. Can they squeak it out on Saturday? We'll get to that. But it's it's been a great season. i I bet them to win over eight and a half games, and somehow they won 13 games. So, cash it. It is wild. Like, dude, they played the exact same game against the Panthers and the Falcons. Like, it was 3-3 at halftime with both those games. They looked like hammered shit in both those games. They did. And they come out after half, and it's just, like, completely different team. Turned it on somehow. Yeah.
00:47:15
Speaker
I'm all in on the Seahawks. I love watching that defensive
49ers and Bears' Performance Analysis
00:47:18
Speaker
team, man. theyre not I'm obviously not a Sam Dyer fan. I love Charbonnet, and I obviously love JSN, but I just love watching their defense, man. it's They fly around the ball.
00:47:32
Speaker
They go get it. Oh, God. If twelve ti Toby's all one on your team, you're fine. You brought up a good point about Cooper Cup. I mean, you get veteran experience, and you know somebody could talk to the young guys, and really give them, you know, give them focus. And that's invaluable coming into this late in the year. So, yeah, they're they're a good team. I'm not saying they're not a good team. I love watching this team play. Like their defense is the funnest defense to watch in the NFL. It's just,
00:48:00
Speaker
I just don't trust Sam Darnold at all. you know what would w with that the The last three times we've seen this dude in big game, the Lions game last year, then the playoff game, and then we'll see what happens Saturday night what he does. like He has a chance to completely redeem himself Saturday night and just ball out. Totally. redeem I mean, dude, you're playing for the one seed. Like this is an important game. Like it's, it's a very important game on Saturday night. Did he help rewrite the narrative a little bit beating the Rams on that Thursday night game? I think it's a small step in the right direction. And they're saying that's the biggest win that they've seen in Seattle in a long time, which is exciting. So, But it all comes down Saturday night. Is it one seed or five seeds? Is it at Seattle? It is in San Francisco. Oh, yeah. San Francisco. They've have been talking about it. Like if they the niners if the Niners win, they will not have had to play a game out of San... If they make the Super Bowl, they won't have had to leave home for like nine weeks.
00:48:53
Speaker
Man, Brock Purdy... Not a fan. Well, we'll talk about it when we get to the next game. I'm going to give you hope, Mike. I'm going to give you hope. We need it. All right. ah Patriots destroy the Jets. I don't think we need to go too much into this. This game was over at halftime. Like,
00:49:10
Speaker
Are the Patriots rebuilt, though? Like, do we believe in them? I mean, they have Vrabel, who I think is one of the best coaches in the NFL. I'm buying in, man. Still don't understand how we went through an entire coaching cycle without Vrabel getting hired. And what the fuck the Titans were thinking firing him. Like, oh, we'll choose the shitty GM over him. Oh, that guy's gone now, too. Like, yeah just, oops, I don't get it. Sorry, Seth. Yeah, Patriots look like a machine against bad teams. But, again...
00:49:35
Speaker
We'll see how they look against good teams. ah Dolphins beat the absolutely sliding Buccaneers. I don't even know what they're doing at this point. Todd Bowles is going to to get fired if they don't win the division. yep like he He has to be fired now.
00:49:49
Speaker
Agreed. i mean like what What are you doing, dude? Their offense looks horrible. And how? And they got healthy during the stretch. Everybody's back. everybody say They had injuries, but now they don't have that excuse. They were winning... while everyone was injured, then they get everybody back. at Like, Mike Evans looks furious that he's even playing right now. i got I don't get it. Like, they they literally have Evans, Godwin, Egbuka, and what the hell happened to him after second half of the season? He just disappeared. Great question. i I don't get it. But, yeah, this was ugly. This was a really bad loss for the Bucs. I mean, they had a chance to get back to.500, but 7-8 and somehow they could still – or seven and nine they can still somehow win the division. right
00:50:30
Speaker
Falcons are also 7-9 for those points. Yeah, it's it's embarrassing. but Let it go, bro. Let it go. Jags beat the Colts. Are you rebuying this team?
00:50:44
Speaker
Man, it kind of just seems like ever since Travis Hunter got hurt, it's like they've just caught fire. I don't get it. And it's Brian Thomas Jr. isn't even doing anything. oh Sunshine's taking them to the promised land, I guess. i don't know. Their defense is good, too. Their defense is fast. They're the little engine that could at this point. They just keep trucking, keep trucking, keep stockpiling wins. for How the hell are they winning with Liam Cohen, who did the Duvall thing at the beginning of the season? like How are they winning with him? He looks like the biggest dork ever. i think for that team, though, getting Jacoby Myers was a huge pickup for them. That was a huge trade. He gets open, and and ETN has talent. So it's, again, the AFC biggest question mark.
00:51:27
Speaker
Well, I mean, that's a team that just decided, hey, we're going all in our number one running back when they traded Tank Bigsby. It's like – Again, why the fuck do these teams all feel like they have have two number one running backs? yeah I'm not going to lie to you. I was a little pissed off at the Colts because I really wanted Phillip Rivers, you know, you know do one for the old guys, do a solid, and celebrate with a drink and some Icy Hot, you know, just make it you know make it happen. it Couldn't get it done. So I was pretty pissed off at the end of that. Dadgum it, boys. The Colts 7-1 not making the playoffs. Like, ouch. Good God.
00:52:02
Speaker
their Their last win was in Germany against the Falcons, by the way. I'm sensing a pattern. I'm sensing a pattern. You just roll it all back to the Falcons. Once you play the Falcons, you're seasoned tanks. Not good for the Rams.
00:52:15
Speaker
ah Browns beat the Steelers. After this game, like the post-game press conferences and stuff were like extremely telling. Miles Garrett's press conference when he was like, they were only concerned about me not getting the record. It didn't even look like they had a game plan. Their only game plan was don't let me hit Aaron Rodgers.
00:52:34
Speaker
And then like thinking about after watching that game, that seriously did seem like that was their only goal in that game. yeah They didn't even run offense. No. and But that team without DK Metcalf is crazy as that guy is, and he deserves every suspension ever.
00:52:50
Speaker
ah Aaron Rodgers is just a shell of himself. I mean, that team cannot run offense, though, without somebody like that. I wonder who their offensive coordinator is. Arthur.
00:53:02
Speaker
Good God. I... So now we have a scenario where the Ravens and Steelers are playing for the division. And like I said it a month ago, the Ravens don't even look like a team that wants to play football.
00:53:13
Speaker
Do the Steelers want to play football? Like, everybody celebrated, again, Mike Tomlin's not going to have a losing season, which I get it. Like, yeah, that's an achievement. But you haven't won anything in, like, 10 years. I don't think they've won a playoff game since Ben retired.
00:53:26
Speaker
Correct. So, like, I mean, like, is this a success? I feel like they brought Aaron Rodgers in for this one year to see if Aaron Rodgers could do it one more time. But also, can Mike Tomlin get, like, a playoff win? Mm-hmm.
00:53:42
Speaker
I feel like they have to fire him at this point. I have a Steelers fan in my family ah from Pennsylvania. So she basically feels about the Mike Tomlin record, always having a winning record. That's yay. That's so sweet. She basically, that's like being the nicest guy in prison. It does not matter anymore.
00:54:02
Speaker
Results are not there. They're not winning big games anymore. I think they're in a lot of trouble and coming this week, and they were so lethargic and just bland on offense.
00:54:13
Speaker
There's nothing going. and oh, yeah, Derrick Henry's coming to town. Good luck. the And the thing is, is like the Browns didn't even do anything in that game. Like their offense looked awful that entire game and somehow won.
00:54:25
Speaker
I don't get this. i still just think Mike Talon has something on the Rooney family that ah that's an can keep his job. Say rooney it, Got this file of pictures here you might want to take a look at.
00:54:37
Speaker
Yeah, there's got to be something to that because – I just don't know how you keep bringing this guy back. Like, i mean, he's giving you every reason to fire him. Like, dude, get the winning record thing. I get it. i To me, like, the the Mike Tomlin winning record thing is like the Nebraska sellout streak at this point. Like, yeah, everybody buys all the tickets. That's a really good comparison. It's there, but, like, what is it doing for anyone? Like, every time someone brings that up, I'm like, who gives a shit? Like, who what are we still tracking this for? yeah that The other comparison i keep hearing is they're so proud they've only had three coaches in their entire tenure. Which that is something for us. That absolutely. And coming from a team who has had about, oh, 550 coaches in the last three years. that And for a max. See, we ain't got to bring that up. so
00:55:22
Speaker
So we talked about coaching. No, ah but yeah, I mean, that's another thing. It's like, if it's not working, you got to fix it. The the definition of insanity is doing it over and over and over again without results.
00:55:34
Speaker
Got to have something done here. This is a – I mean, obviously, it's a big game for the Steelers, but, like, for a franchise as a whole, like, yeah, for the team, it's obviously a big game. But, I mean, it like, dude, seriously, the Ravens did not look like they wanted to play football a month ago, and now they're playing for a division title.
00:55:52
Speaker
If the Steelers somehow lose that game – I think you have to fire everybody. Like, I just – I don't know how you could bring any of those guys back at this point. Not like – not saying all the players and everything, but coaching staff. I mean, you just got to go scorched earth on the coaching staff.
00:56:07
Speaker
A lot of this is on the GM, too. Like, this is not a great team that they've built. And, granted, they are missing TJ Watt right now, which that is – I mean, that's their entire defense. So, like – but still, it's not good.
00:56:21
Speaker
Bengals destroy the Cardinals. I mean – The Cardinals are just everyone's get-right game at this point. but Not that the Bengals had need a get-right game. They're 5-10 or 6-10.
00:56:33
Speaker
Whatever. Jamar Chase got Nanzo for the first time in nine weeks, which absolutely is crazy. that How does that happen? I don't even know. Everybody was talking about it. like oh If you have Jamar Chase on your fantasy team, he's really lighting it up in the championship. I'm guessing if you took Jamar Chase first, you're probably not in the championship. Yeah, bingo. like you Yeah, bingo.
00:56:51
Speaker
Wild team. And again, it before the season, I just did not understand going all in on just offense. Like, They have no defense. and I'm still trying to figure out what Joe Burrow got his offensive line as a gift. Was it like some dinosaur? oh yeah, real dinosaur fossils. What? I don't know. It must have worked. They scored 40 points this week. Well, that's another team. It's it's what could have been you know, with that offense. You know, like obviously no defense. They're to have to be shootout every single week.
00:57:24
Speaker
But, damn, that offense would be fun to watch. Yeah. Yeah. um Giants beat the Raiders and the nobody wants to win a game ball. da The Raiders have to fire Pete Carroll. There's no way you can bring him back again. like ah He's not going to build that team.
00:57:40
Speaker
No, I and know little side note here. So I, whoever was working at CVS a couple weeks ago, because you know, this past Sunday, there were just only two late games. Right. And it's funny because I'm sure CVS sat down and they're like, Oh wow, we got, We got Eagles, Bills, and then we also have the Giants, Raiders. And just shout out to CBS for televising that game because nobody was watching that game when you have the Bills and the Eagles, America's Game of the Week. So just a quick shout out to CBS for pulling a a short straw on that one. me and Mike still the funniest story ever though. We went to the Falcons Raiders game last year and there was this guy outside that we were standing at why at the bar and he's like talking to about the Falcons. what He was a cool dude. There was nothing wrong with him. But then like that, right as we're about done talking to him he goes, Raiders are only like two pieces away. Like they just need a quarterback and a coach. And i I looked at him and I was like, there's no way you believe that they're two pieces away. And he goes, I think they are. Then they get Pete Carrollman. He brings in Gino it's like,
00:58:40
Speaker
hmm, maybe it will work. Week one, they looked pretty good. like Yeah, they did. I was like, huh. They beat the Patriots week one. Yeah, I'm like, huh, maybe that guy was right. He was not. They're a team away from being competitive. About 200 pieces, I believe. The best thing about the Giants-Raiders game Sunday was just the fight on the sideline. That was probably the most excitement and hustle I've seen From that referee to get over there. He ran like 40 yards. Yeah. And looped over a bench. I love going to Vegas to watch a football game. It is, it's incredible. I encourage everybody to do it. It is really fun, but I can just like imagine all these giants fans booking this trip at the beginning of the season weekend of Christmas or like, Oh yeah, this can be a really fun game. Then they're like, the game comes around and it's like,
00:59:28
Speaker
fuck i don't even want us to win. It's like, dude, I can't imagine. I mean, that Falcons Raiders game we went to last year was really bad. It was Desmond Ritter and fucking Kirk Cousins. Like it wasn't enjoyable at all. So I don't know, man. I just, you're paying a lot of money to go to an NFL game and being like a fan of some of these shitty teams. Like I'm, I'm in the same boat. Like sometimes it does pain me to pay money to go watch my team play. It's like, how much money am I actually going to sink into this? But you're talking Vegas on Christmas weekend, the week right before new year's, like all these Husker fans are in Vegas right now. I'm like, are you on drugs? You're paying money to go watch this. Like it's, and those people knew what the team was. Yeah.
01:00:09
Speaker
It's so funny. After that game, I don't know if anybody follows a Cringy Russell Wilson on social media, but he goes and gets photos with Pete Carroll, Tyler Lockett, Jamal Adams. He's like, these are my brotherhood. you know five Five years ago, they're all in Seattle winning games, and now they're on both terrible teams. And Russell Wilson is a – and then at the end, he goes, it's just great to get a big W today. Like, bro, you're the third-string quarterback as a New York Giant. Jameis had to break up a fight at Jameis Winston is my king. like If that guy came to the Falcons, I'd be so happy. like You think the Falcons go with Crab Burglar next year? Oh, I would love it if they won. Kirk Cousins will be starting quarterback week. I'm not kidding you. At least Jameis Winston's exciting. He's going make the game exciting. He's to throw it to the other team quite a few times, but at least it's going exciting to watch. You're either getting Johnny Unitas or you're getting Jamarcus Russell. It's fantastic. A or F, baby. No, no, no, no. Because Jamarcus Russell could never do the things Jameis Winston does on a football field. Like, dude, Jameis can throw for 500 yards, five picks, and five touchdowns. That's way more than Jameis Winston ever did. From his knees, though? I love Jameis Winston, but whatever. Crap burglar. All right. um The game of the week on CBS, as Mike said, was Eagles and Bills. Like,
01:01:30
Speaker
I still don't even know what I watched in this game. I mean, like coming out of this game, I'm like, what the hell was that? Yeah. Like how the hell do the bills look so bad? So bad. They just look like they didn't want to be there. I mean, I don't know. That's their last game ever in orchard park now too. Like they'll, they're not going to get another home game unless they somehow get the five seed everybody ahead of them loses. So like, that's how you sent those fans out was that shit game. And,
01:01:56
Speaker
I get it. Everybody always brings up the, like if Josh Allen was treated the same as like Jalen Hurts and stuff when he has a bad game, it's like, what the fuck is Josh Allen supposed to do?
01:02:08
Speaker
he' He's throwing to Shaqir and yeah Brandon Cooks. Like, dude, outside of James Cook, like, what the hell is Josh Allen working? That cover is bare. Yeah, that cover is bare. Like, yeah, when Jalen Hurts has a bad game, he's throwing to A.J. Brown and Devontae Smith and Dallas Goddard. Like, yeah, you shouldn't be having a ton of bad games with those three guys. And he has Saquon. Like, yeah, when he has him in one of the best offensive lines in football, like,
01:02:34
Speaker
but Josh Allen hate gets way too forced. Jalen Hurts hate gets way too forced too. But this was easy for me as Cowboys fan. But Jalen Hurts didn't complete a pass in the second half of this game.
01:02:45
Speaker
Yeah. Like, what the fuck are we watching? Those are two supposed to be two of the ten best quarterbacks in the NFL, and that's the game we got. Now, granted, the Bills should have won. I don't know how the hell Josh Allen missed that throw on the two-point conversion. Everybody's like, why didn't they just go for the tie? Well, they had already missed one extra point in that game. Mm-hmm. I just – Yeah.
01:03:04
Speaker
I don't know. I always respect going for two. so You had to go for it there. Yeah, and there's no point to not to. It doesn't really change their seating. No. Yeah, they called the right call. just missed it. Yeah, exactly. He just flat out missed it. Yep.
01:03:17
Speaker
All right, let's go to the game of the week. Sunday night, 49ers beat the Bears in an absolute thriller. No defense necessary in this game at all, apparently. Apparently we're just offense only, just running scout team defense out there. Tony is a Bears fan, so I'll let him go into this game more than me because I definitely have some thoughts about this game. So, you know um so yes, I think the text at the end of it was summed up, Bears offense, good.
01:03:44
Speaker
Bears defense, ass. So, it's it's, you know, they've they've been living very high off getting turnovers. But when that does not come, look out. You can run on them. You can toss it all over the field.
01:03:57
Speaker
The secondary is, you know, baby shit soft. Just there's nothing to it. God bless. I never thought I would live to see. where I would say the Bears offense is carrying the franchise. It's always been since I've been alive, it's always been the monsters of the midway, the defense.
01:04:16
Speaker
And there is nothing to them this year outside of getting all those turnovers. And they've been living fat off that all year long. um God bless them. You know, they've they've had a lot of the fourth quarter come back. So I wasn't, you know, too concerned. I wasn't even mad about the result.
01:04:33
Speaker
You know, they're, they're playing what they're hanging with the good teams. And if you'd have told me at this point this year, that the bears would have the two seat as we stand now and win the division, I'd have said you're on some high premium diesel meth or something, because there was just no way, right?
01:04:52
Speaker
They, you know, they made a lot of changes. Great line. Caleb's still making stupid ass decisions and missing passes. He should not, but Damn, if they're in some dimes that he throws, there was some great you know great throws to Burden, um you know good running back core.
01:05:09
Speaker
um We knew the the schedule was going be brutal down down the road for the Bears. they played ah They played a good game, and they just need to handle business this week.
01:05:21
Speaker
But I did tell you there is hope at the end of the tunnel, Mike, for the ah the Seahawks. You just look. The 49ers have zero defense. Wow. I mean, if if you wanted an offensive game. I know, but if you want an offensive game to get right, it's there for you.
01:05:36
Speaker
It's there for you. And as a Bears fan, I mean, you guys have been through a lot, but that's how you want to lose a game with the ball in your best player's hands. And, yeah, I mean, if he throws that ball, what, six, ten inches higher, you know, touchdown, boom. yeah i will Again, i I have no – there's no shame. More than TJ Markers,
01:05:53
Speaker
you Yeah. And that's a that that you bring up a good point because there are games where DJ more the Packers game they lost one. I think one target the entire game cannot happen. I know Caleb is in love with Roma Duns.
01:06:06
Speaker
Great. But DJ more is a number one also. So he's got to get the rock and he can help you out. I mean, he proved, uh, proved pretty handy in that, uh, the Packers game at the end. So the one they won, so they got, they got find a way to get him and Caleb on the same page. But again, um no, no, Hey, not going to hear any bitching from me. It was a great game. It was fun.
01:06:30
Speaker
If you love ah offense, if you love defense, this was not the game for you. It was a good time. So, I think the the one glaring thing that came from this game for me, and it is about the Bears' defense, Trent Williams went out on the third play of the game. They had a backup left tackle, a backup left guard, and a backup right guard.
01:06:48
Speaker
The Bears could not get home. to so They have the second highest paid defensive line in football right now, and they couldn't get even close to Brock Birdie. I agree. agree. And they ran the ball at will. Like,
01:07:01
Speaker
When their linebackers aren't making out-of-world plays, their defense cannot stop anything. That's correct. And, you know, yeah the thing is, and I was so worried about run CMC in this game because you knew he was going to get – I thought he was going to have 250 like Derrick Henry, but – like derickk henry but um Yeah, and they were missing. They were in the backfield.
01:07:24
Speaker
You know, they were all around Purdy. They just could not get, you know, you know, they get a finger on him and then, oh Purdy takes off for 10, 15 yards and or just throws down to a backup tight end as well. So that entire line was out and they still couldn't do anything. That's embarrassing. Well, they brought up that stat when Trent Williams went out. Like, when him and Kittle don't play, they've won, like, four games in the last five years when he did what they don't play. And that that's a testament to the 49ers. They find ways to get it done, and they're they're still in it for the number one seed. I just don't understand. Like, Montez's sweat sucks. Like, what the fuck happened? He fell off. He got paid.
01:08:00
Speaker
He got paid. I don't know, you know, that's – we We also don't need to really get into this because I already knew this was going happen. Grady Jarrett is way too old. I was just getting ready to drop Grady Jarrett. you know I don't know why they paid him. He comes off the milk carton in witness protection for one play about every three games or so. It's all right. He's just not good, dude. Like last year when I was watching him when he was playing, like he just – he cannot – his job is to take on a double team. He cannot do it anymore. Like they single – Oh, he's taking a double team all right. That's just – No, they single block him every time, and then his guy gets downfield. He's getting pancaked by two people the entire game. it's I just i don't understand how their defensive line is that bad. like I'm sitting there watching that game. When Trent Williams went out, I'm like, the Bears are going to win this game. There's no way they have any excuse not to win this game.
01:08:48
Speaker
and They just cannot get off the field. like don they you do Whatever. Shanahan is a great coach. like Whatever. I was happy they got the 49ers to punt. like You know, that was just – that was like – they didn't punt in a month or whatever. it's It's incredible.
Packers and New England's Upsets
01:09:04
Speaker
So, the two things that worry me the most about the Bears, obviously I think their defense. We don't even need to get into that. The other thing that worries me is if what happens if Ben Johnson turns into dan are Campbell in the playoffs and starts going for fourth down all the time. Because to me, that's what killed the Lions the last two years in the playoffs. I agree.
01:09:23
Speaker
kick a field goal like yeah and and i'll give i will give ben johnson credit for the most part he has taken the field goal when he needed to but the problem is it gets so tempting when you get to the playoffs it's like you can't bring a field goal to a playoff and cairo santos has not exactly been lightening up this year he he saved him against the packers he put him in a but in a you know gave him a chance to win last week against the packers but he has not been reliable So that to me is like the two biggest concerning things for the bears going into the playoffs is like their defense probably can't stop anybody. Like if you're relying on, cause it was like, Oh, they played so well against the Packers offense.
01:10:00
Speaker
What Packers offense? yeah like if The Packers don't even have an offense. i i mean When they run out of the field, the fans are just like, oh, well, here comes another three and out. I just see them tweeting all the time. they're like They cannot run an offense. and yeah and i Don't get me wrong. 49ers offense is really good. I don't know how.
01:10:18
Speaker
Kittle didn't even play. Jawan Johnson or Jennings is their number one receiver. Yeah, Pearsall. That team makes no sense, but Any prediction on what color finger fingernail polish Caleb Williams goes through the playoffs?
01:10:39
Speaker
Give me Aqua. I'm going to go Aqua. I think he's going to go with a solid black. With one orange. You know, Halloween, it's good. All right, let's go through the playoff standings real quick, and then I got a couple questions ask you guys, and then we'll do picks. So, as of right now, Denver would be the one seed in the AFC. I'm pretty sure that's going to stick because the Chargers aren't even trying. New England's the two seed.
01:11:02
Speaker
Dude, just like reading through this, like New England's a two-seed, Jaguars are the three-seed. Like, what fucking year is this? like Like, dude, I hate New England. They didn't even have to suffer.
01:11:14
Speaker
They had to go through two bad years, and now they got another fucking all-pro quarterback that's probably going to win MVP after last night. Boy, it hates to play the Jets twice a year, doesn't it? No, that's not even it, though. Like, dude, like they don't even have to suffer. Like...
01:11:28
Speaker
here we Like, all of our teams have went through really bad spells. Like, me, Tony, and Toby have obviously taken the worst of it. Mike hasn't had it as bad because he had Pete Carroll that just, like, kept that old thing going for a long time. Grant, they didn't have always the greatest year, but you didn't have just a straight-up down-and-out year ever.
01:11:46
Speaker
And, like, the fucking Patriots go from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to, oh, we'll just get Mike Vrabel and Drake May. Like, Where the hell did I go wrong in life? Like, what the fuck, man? I couldn't have picked the Patriots when I was seven years old? didn't really predict. I didn't think Drake May was going to end up being as good as he is. He's so good, man. He just throws such a great ball even when he's outside the pocket and he's moving.
01:12:12
Speaker
Anyway, Jaguars 3 seed. Pittsburgh as of right now is the 4. I don't think that sticks. I think Baltimore does win that game. Houston's the 5. Chargers the 6. And Buffalo's the 7. I'm telling you right now, I would not want to be playing Houston or Buffalo in the first round. So if Buffalo ends up going to New England, danger zone for New England round 1. Can't believe that Buffalo's the 7 seed. That's last thing I thought it was going to be. yep In the NFC, Seattle's the 1 seed as of right now. Chicago's the 2 seed.
01:12:41
Speaker
Philadelphia, three, Carolina, the four, san Francisco, five, Rams, six, and Green Bay is locked into the seven seed. Oh, that was the other thing I was bring up. The amount of of Bears fans that I saw that were saying, oh, just tank this game this week to make sure everybody's healthy. You dumbasses. If you lose and the Eagles win, you play the Rams round one. That is 100 times worse than the Packers. If you win against the Lions, that is minimum two home games if you handle business in the playoffs.
01:13:13
Speaker
With a possibility of hosting the NFC Championship. Exactly. You do not have to split Adams to know what you have to do this week. Everybody's got to be on guard. Plus, you don't think the Lions are going to want to come in there against Ben Johnson and wreck ass?
01:13:27
Speaker
I do. I mean, they only scored 52. Yeah, and that's another thing. You have something to prove now against Detroit. You have something to prove. Get it done. All right, um let's we'll just go around the room.
01:13:41
Speaker
Toby, who is your most dangerous team in the AFC going into playoffs? In the AFC, Buffalo. Yeah, I'm going to go with Buffalo too, but just kind of for fun, a little bit of a sleeper, I think the Jags might do something, which it's kind of weird and it's probably stupid to say because i'll probably exit week one or first round, but I don't know. they're They're putting it together, and I mean, I just wish Hunter didn't get hurt because lot of fun to see him the rest of the way.
01:14:07
Speaker
so i'm gonna go the texans uh you know i love me a good defense and they're you it doesn't get much better than that that defense travels and can really ruin a ruin a team come postseason i want to say buffalo too but every time i buy into this fucking team they just they play like shit in a play their defense is so bad it's just josh allen literally has to just carry the team for them to do anything
01:14:37
Speaker
I'm going to – personally, I seriously think if the Ravens get in, I would not want to play them. Like, if they finally are going to commit to running the ball with Derrick Henry, I would not want to play that team in the playoffs because if you can run the ball, that's a winning formula in the playoffs. So, I'll say the Ravens if they get in, but I would obviously love to say Buffalo, but they burn me every time. ah Same question, NFC.
01:15:01
Speaker
Oh, man. ah Well, you already know how feel about the Seahawks, but the Rams – they're just they're just They've got it on both sides. I mean, Puka, in my opinion, is the best receiver in the league right now. And I just think that if you can get the ball to him, I mean, I know he's going to get double covered, but somehow he still finds a way to get open.
01:15:23
Speaker
There's a couple catches that he almost made last night that were still, I don't even know how he saw the ball, but... My other favorite thing last night, they were announcing how many wins McVay has, and they're like, oh, yeah, he turns 40 next year. I'm like, what the – this guy has been in the league nine years. He's not even 40 yet. like Great.
01:15:41
Speaker
Yeah, so it's – for me, it's probably going to be either Seahawks or the Rams. Yeah, just as a homer, I'm going all in on Seahawks to rebuttal the Rams a little bit just because I need throw some negativity out there. I will say the Rams against the Seahawks and the Rams, I think, did lose that game last night. Stafford missed like two throws against the Seahawks in in towards the end of the game. And if Stafford hits that ball last night to in that throw, to lose that game night. Rams win that game, you know, so he does wear down a little bit. i mean, he's been playing for how many years now, you know, so he's missed a couple throws where it's if he hits that throw, those games are over.
01:16:21
Speaker
So, but honestly, I do not want to mess with the Eagles. I mean, they did just go into Buffalo and beat them and they're coming. I mean, they won the Super
Playoff Contenders and MVP Candidates
01:16:30
Speaker
Bowl last year. That team wins and Sirianni and the boys, they get that figured out. We were talking about their offense. They can get going and Dejean and all those guys on defense. They're kind of a sleeper, but they they could get hot and start rolling.
01:16:43
Speaker
you know I'm going to have to go with the Rams as well. i think Stafford's the MVP. yeah You almost brought that team back yesterday from you know three touchdowns down. it was against the Falcons. I know, but but still. Everybody comes in. On the road, you know he's they're always in it. He's got three fans, though. I know. i But i i think they got the loss out of their system now. Two in a row. you know i wouldn't I wouldn't want to play them. like Again,
01:17:09
Speaker
Not hoping the Bears can handle business, so we ain't going to see them for a little while in playoffs. But you like said, offense, defense, total package. Give me the Rams. Yeah, I think the older that Stafford gets as well, the better that he's gotten. Yeah.
01:17:25
Speaker
I do agree. i think the Rams are extremely dangerous. i Dude, I think it's the 49ers. I seriously, they're already talking about Fred Warner possibly playing in the playoffs. If they get him back, and obviously Kittle will be healthy, their offensive line going to be healthy.
01:17:40
Speaker
The way Purdy is playing right now, like, dude, his last three games, I mean, it's like MVP level stats the last three games. No matter if they get the one or – I think whoever loses the game on Saturday night I think is still completely fine because you're going to have to play Carolina or the Bucs, whatever happens in that game. So I think you're still completely fine.
01:17:57
Speaker
And, I mean, yeah, the the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks are going to be the 5-6 seed. Like, two of those teams are going to be the five and sixteen team seeds. Like – i mean I'm sorry, if you're a higher seed, you do not want to see either one of those teams coming to play you. Absolutely not. like Dude, the the NFC South team is for sure losing. And then whoever gets third, whether it's the the Bears or the Eagles, like dude, you're going to get the Rams or the 49ers round one or or the Seahawks if something crazy happens.
01:18:24
Speaker
I don't think you want to see that. Definitely not. Like, dude, I mean, no matter what, you're going to have to deal with either Shanahan or i think that the Seahawks do win on Saturday night. i truly do. But, like, so you're going to use to either deal with McVay or Shanahan for your first game. Like, best of luck. Have fun.
01:18:41
Speaker
So, I just, if 49ers get healthy, I just, I don't know, man, the way they're playing, it's going to be crazy. Who's your MVP, Toby? Oh, man. There's only two people that I think can win it at this point. I looked to the odds last and there's only two people that are even within 10,000 to one.
01:18:59
Speaker
I think it's probably going be Drake May for me. I wish it wasn't a quarterback award because what Bijan is doing is absolutely unbelievable, and having the most scrimmage yards out of any other player out there, I wish it could be him, but it could most likely be Drake May.
01:19:18
Speaker
I'll go Stafford. but I kind of telegraphed that in the last conversation, but I think Stafford gets his first MVP. I think Stafford lost it last night. i just – don't know how you can throw three picks against the Falcons and end up getting the MVP. I i do think Drake may win it. Like, they're going to probably end up 14-3. Like, i just – I don't see how he doesn't get it. Coach of the year.
01:19:42
Speaker
Man. ah Holy moly. I don't even –
01:19:47
Speaker
I mean, the job that the Bears coach is doing right now is, I can't even think of his name right now. Ben Johnson. Ben Johnson, yeah. I don't know how you go any other way than what the Bears are actually doing.
01:20:02
Speaker
Or your buddy in broon Denver right now as well, too. Fuck him. champ now here I'm going to go. later Yeah, give me a list. i'm gonna get I'll give you what the betting favorites are right now, and this shocked me last night because looked at it. So the top four, Mike Vrabel's odds-on favorite.
01:20:20
Speaker
Kyle Shanahan is second. Mike McDonald's third. And Leon Cohen is fourth. Ben Johnson's plus 4,000 to win coach of the year. Wow. Yeah, I mean, I'm going Ben Johnson. I think the things that he's done for the Bears to win the NFC North, it was unbelievable to me. So that's who I'm going with.
01:20:40
Speaker
I think everybody slept on the Patriots. I mean, I was for sure. So I'm going Vrabel just because of how they put everything together. and he is just a great coach. And why did the Titans fire him? It's beyond me.
01:20:52
Speaker
Titan's going to Titan again. Sorry, Seth. ah I'm going homer it up on this one. It's Ben Johnson. i can tell you from last year to this year, it's so not only night and day, but it's a total culture shift.
01:21:05
Speaker
It's like they're winning close games. They're in it with the big boys. um Last year, it was a rudderless ship. He's the rudder. He's the captain. He's the man, Ben Johnson.
01:21:17
Speaker
I think it will be Vrabel. I just – NFL loves the Patriots, man. That's true. i think You get no argument from me. i think they're going to give it to Vrabel. You're the Chiefs. I wouldn't be surprised if Shanahan got it too, like with the amount of injuries they've dealt with. and Like, dude, um I was shitting on that team before the like season started. i seriously just thought they would win like eight games tops.
01:21:36
Speaker
and There's a lot of contention this year. I mean, Jaguars. Yeah. You know, that, you know. Yeah, Liam Cohen. mean, he's the first coach to take a four-win team to 12 wins. Yeah. like it Yeah, that's still crazy.
01:21:48
Speaker
The Panthers, too. I can't believe that the Panthers are. Mike brought up Bijan as MVP. I'm going to really blow your mind here. He's the fourth favorite for offensive player of the year. He's not even in the top two. Wow.
01:22:01
Speaker
It's JSN, Christian McCaffrey, and Nakua, and then Bijan's plus 5,000. He gets just disrespected, and he's so good. Yeah, he's not even on the MVP list. I know. That's brutal. It's insane. What's your most surprising team this year?
01:22:18
Speaker
The Jaguars, for sure, for me. Yeah, I thought once Henry went out um that they'd be done. I didn't think that they'd have – I don't know what Trevor Lawrence would do without Henry. But, yeah, I'm surprised that they've done as well as they have.
01:22:35
Speaker
I mean, ah the most surprising team for me would be the Cowboys. Yeah. I thought they were going to win it all this year after training Micah Parsons. You live under a rock. You mean surprising that they were as bad as they were? Yeah. I mean, I thought they were going to run. i mean, that that's a good offense. You know, I thought every game would be a shootout, but thought they would show up.
01:22:56
Speaker
To be honest, though, the most surprising thing for me, because so many people were high on J.J. McCarthy, I didn't think that the the Vikings were going fall apart as much as they did. I mean, they i mean they got receivers. They got everybody there. The defenses stood up a little bit. And Kevin O'Connell is a great coach. and he win coach the year last year, I think? you Yeah, absolutely. I mean, for them, I mean, that was just surprising to me. that they just kind of let Sam Darnold walk, which is, you know, jury's out on that still. But just kind of interesting to see that the Vikings just kind of fell apart.
01:23:26
Speaker
And now they're winning games again. Yeah. I mean, I'd love to say the Bears, but I think it's either got to be the Jaguars for me or the Panthers because these are two very malign franchises.
Surprising Team Performances and Coach of the Year Discussion
01:23:37
Speaker
ah Nobody expected anything from them, and here they are, playoff contention. So um if I could pick one, i'll I'll go the Panthers. I'm going Chiefs. I don't even know how he didn't break. there They're 6-10. Like, dude, this is the Kansas City Chiefs. I know Mahomes is hurt now, but they were bad when he was playing.
01:23:54
Speaker
Like, did they have the – probably, if not the best coach, one of the best coaches in NFL history. I mean, Andy Reid's right there with Belichick for me. Like, Andy Reid's awesome. they have kelsey i mean they got all their offense got healthy by the end of the season like how the hell is this team six and ten there's so much talent on this team like i mean don't get me wrong i'm not sad that they're not good but like dude if you had told me before the season the chiefs could possibly go six and eleven which i don't think they're losing this weekend they the raiders but So even still, I told you you're out of your mind. And being eliminated from the playoffs two, three weeks ago.
01:24:29
Speaker
Before Christmas, they got eliminated from the playoffs. That was crazy. I'm going to have to disagree with you a little bit. I mean, I don't think that ah the Chiefs ah offense, I don't – man, Travis Kelsey hasn't run a route since he met Taylor Swift.
01:24:42
Speaker
He just like jogs in like four yards and then turns around and expects to be open. mean, when you're trying to throw to Hollywood Brown – Or Rasheed Rice. They got Rasheed Rice and Xavier Worthy to like spread the field and neither one of them could do it. No.
01:24:58
Speaker
yeah like would I knew Rasheed Rice would probably have a down year. I mean, dude, he tore his ACL. like You're just not going to come back from that. But what the fuck happened to Xavier Worthy? He doesn't even look like the same dude from last year. he Like last year when they gave him the ball, it was like, oh, shit, he might score on that play. Now when they gave him the ball, it was like he got buried for like a five-yard loss. He's trying to juke 18 people. Yeah, Pacheco's not their answer, and neither is Kareem Hunt.
01:25:24
Speaker
That's a team that's to end up getting Jeremiah Love and it's just going to piss me off. It's going to absolutely irritate me when they get him. All right, boys, let's ah let's do some picks and we'll get out of here.
01:25:37
Speaker
Saturday at 3.30, the NFC South is on the line. The 8-8 Panthers travel to the 7-9 Bucs. I'm going Bucs. Baker's going to light it up.
01:25:48
Speaker
Yeah, Bucs all day. I just think Baker's going to dig deep, and he's going to figure it out, and I do not think Bryce Young is good. I don't either. However, I'm going for the fighting sir purrs here. I'm taking the Panthers. I'm rooting for the Panthers because I really do not want this to come down to the fact that the Falcons could end up tying for the division. So please win, Panthers. Do not even give me this. Do it for surper damage. just Just please win. I swear to God, if the Bucs win and the Falcons win on Sunday, I'm going to freak out. Tied for first place and the Panthers go to the playoffs.
01:26:23
Speaker
All right, Saturday night, 13-3 Seahawks travel to the 12-4 49ers for the one seed and the NFC West. Seattle, baby. Let's go Legion of Doom. hu I would love to see it, but this happened five years ago. Seahawks came one yard short back in 2019, and they lost at home to the Niners.
01:26:45
Speaker
I think Kyle Shanahan is really, really good. And Mike McDonald, second year, I think we lose by a one possession game, unfortunately. So I think the Niners win. i It hurts me to say that.
01:26:58
Speaker
I'm going hopefully throw some good vibes your way. Seahawks, it's going to be close Last play, Seahawks get it done. I just, yeah, I think Seahawks just kill Purdy.
01:27:11
Speaker
I would love to see him. I mean, yeah, I i don't think Purdy's just. They got the defense to do it. I mean, so yeah, just don't think he's as good as he's playing right now. but I think this game's extremely close. i just I'm going to go with the team that actually has a defense. I'm going to go Seahawks as well.
01:27:28
Speaker
Granted, Sam Darnold could just completely ruin this entire thing and throw four pick sixes, which would not surprise me at all. Very possible. that's ah That is the the number one wild card is what does Sam Darnold do in this game? Because i seaers ah the Seahawks, if if they just play a clean game, they should win this game. yeah I'm not saying easily by any means because the Niners are good. like I'm not going to just discredit what they're doing. But I think if Darnold plays a clean game, I think they win this game.
01:27:57
Speaker
But I could easily see Sam Darnold throwing three picks too. Like that's the problem. You just never know what you're going with this dude. By the way, how dope is it that we have all these games in the the last week of the season that are so much important? Yeah. That's so cool. Thank God. NFL, baby. All right. Let's go to Sunday. Six and ten Saints travel with seven and nine Falcons.
01:28:17
Speaker
I mean, I guess I'm going to pick the Falcons. like ah It's going to piss me off when they end up eight nine and have the same record as everybody else the division. But whatever. I'll pick them because I can't pick the Saints. I'm probably going to to go with the Saints, meaning it's a Sunday game, no Chick-fil-A. That's what I'm going with.
01:28:37
Speaker
and I'm going Falcons on this one. I thought their defense really stepped up against the Rams, and that defense flies around, and There's some there's some talent on there. What did they say on the Monday night game? It was the defensive tackle. He has the doorless. doorless He's the youngest one to have, what, eight, eight and a half Eight a yeah. And then Watts has four picks. Six picks. Six picks, and he's a rookie, too. you know So they got some really, really good young talent. And Tyler, how do say his last name? Shook?
01:29:04
Speaker
Shook. Shook. He's going to throw a couple picks. Falcons all day. Shook in the corner. I would like to see Xavier get the new... Rookie record, yes. He's second in the NFL in picks. I did not know that until last night. I was like, what? yeah and he Dude, he had like an eight-game stretch where he was not playing well at all. He could have been the reason Stafford threw some of those picks last night. you imagine if he would have actually started playing defense initially when he got to Notre Dame, how good he'd really be?
01:29:31
Speaker
Yeah, he's already a baller, and it's it's crazy. Everybody's making such a big deal, and the Falcons don't have their first-round pick this year. They got James Pierce Jr., who had a sack in seven straight games, and Xavier Watts is the other guy that was in that trade. like go ahead, have the first-round
NFL Draft and Season End Speculations
01:29:46
Speaker
pick. i don't know if you've looked at the first round this year. It's not exciting at all. It's real deep.
01:29:51
Speaker
And, yeah, I'll take Bichon to the Falcons to get it done. All right, we have the 4-12 Browns traveling to the Bengals. i mean, I guess I'll go Bengals.
01:30:03
Speaker
Yeah, Bengals for me. Dude, if Myles Garrett does not get a sack record, I'm going to be so pissed. That dude was on pace for 30 fucking sacks. If he doesn't get it. Well, Burrow just lay down like Brett Favre did. he better He better do it. First straight hand. Yeah. yeah No, Browns defense is legit. I'm taking the Browns is the as the big winner there.
01:30:21
Speaker
I'll go Bengals as well. Yeah. All right, 9-6-1 Packers traveling to the 8-8 Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are favored by six points in this game. then play well I just don't think the Packers are even going to play anybody. like And for what reason? They're already locked into the seven seats. They've got to get everybody healthy because they're they're a walking mass unit right now. Yeah, I'll go Vikings just because I don't i think the Packers are going to try. I agree as well. I think Packers are just going to play whoever and Vikings get it done. Over-under in this game is 36.5. Yikes. Is JJ going to start this weekend?
01:30:54
Speaker
I doubt it. Why would they even risk rolling him out there at this point? He needs reps. so Vikings, though. I'll go Vikings for my son, Nolan. 7-8-1 Cowboys traveling to the 3-13 New York Giants.
01:31:10
Speaker
um The Cowboys have to win this game. The Giants aren't even going to try to win this game. Cowboys. I mean, it's just because Dak just owns the Giants. It is true. yeah Cowboys by a mile. How about them? Cowboys.
01:31:27
Speaker
All right, 3-13 Titans traveling to the 12-4 Jaguars. This going to get ugly, Jaguars. Jaguars, I think they'll rest. Once they get a lead, they'll Rest their starters. If they even play, who knows? No, they're going play. They're playing for a high seed. Okay.
01:31:44
Speaker
I wasn't sure if they were already set in it. No, they can still get the two seed if the Patriots somehow lose. but I think it might be a little bit closer than we expect. I mean, the Titans. they think They're scrappy. They're scrappy. Very scrappy. Jags by seven.
01:31:58
Speaker
Yep. Shag Wars. All right, 8-8 Indianapolis Colts trying to end the game on earth season on a six-game losing streak, traveling to the 11-5 Texans.
01:32:09
Speaker
It's going to get ugly. yeah And they're starting Riley Leonard. They're not even letting Phillip Rivers start his last game. Yeah. Garbage. Yeah, that pisses me off. So Texans all the way. Big. Shout out to all the Colts fans because I texted one of my Colts fans ah friends and when they were 8-2 like, hey, you guys are looking alright. 8-9. And they lost 6 in a row and make it 7 in a row this weekend.
01:32:32
Speaker
Texans big. All right, 3-13 Jets traveling to the 11-5 Bills. the The Bills better win this game. Yeah, I think it's a get-right game for the Bills.
01:32:42
Speaker
Get ready for the playoffs. Yeah, Bills all day. Bills. 8-8 Lions traveling to the 11-5 Bears. The Bears have to win this game. Like, dude, if they cannot go into the playoffs on two-game losing streak. I will lose a lot of face faith in the Bears if they lose this game. Yeah, me too. Is that an afternoon game or a night game? 3 o'clock.
01:33:03
Speaker
Oh, boy. Man, i hope the Bears do it. I hope they get it done because I'm not a Lions person at all, though I do like Dan Campbell. And if he's available, please send him our way. But I think the Bears get it done.
01:33:17
Speaker
It's in Chicago. ye I want the Bears to win, but I unfortunately think the Lions win this game. I understand. All right. I stick up for you. i defend you.
01:33:28
Speaker
And this is the motherfucking thanks I get. Damn it, Bears. Get it done. We're rooting for you. Bears get it done. It's tight, but they got to do it. like Dude, this line's only three.
01:33:39
Speaker
Wow. I saw yeah ESPN's out this morning. They have the Lions winning. They have them like 57% chance. That means you got a good chance then, Bears. yeah It's disrespectful, but I mean, again, they got they got tossed all over the field in game two this year. So so basically it's a pick-em game.
01:33:59
Speaker
Yeah. All eleven and five Chargers resting all their starters, going to the thirteen and three Broncos. This is a blowout. Broncos by a lot. Agreed.
01:34:09
Speaker
Broncos all day. Big. Broncos big. And that will clinch the one seed for them, too. Oh, boy. 6-10 Chiefs traveling to the 2-14 Vegas Raiders. Oh, my God. I'll go Chiefs just because I don't think Vegas is capable of winning a game.
01:34:25
Speaker
Yeah, I'm going have to go Chiefs as well. I don't even – who's – what's their quarterback's name now? Aluicon. Man, that sucks because I wanted to see the stash. Gardner. Yeah, Gardner. Yeah, this is Pete Carroll's last game, and he's going to get the win, though, in Vegas there. No Max Crosby. No, they they're definitely not trying to win. This is for the number one pick. It is true. You're going to get Fernando Mendoza in Vegas. I got it. Kelsey goes out on top, Chiefs.
01:34:53
Speaker
Yeah. 3-13 Cardinals traveling to the 11-5 Rams. This might be a game where the Rams win by 30 points. Yeah. I'm with the Rams, yeah, big time.
01:35:05
Speaker
The Cardinals lost their last three games by at least 21 or more. So, yeah, that's not changing. Anything, anytime soon, Rams are going to come out pissed off. I believe this is ye olde get-right game, Rams. so seven and nine Dolphins traveling to the thirteen and three Patriots.
01:35:21
Speaker
I'll go Patriots. Patriots big. Yeah, Patriots all day. Is it in New England? Doesn't matter. Well, I'm just saying. Well, two is not playing. Well, either way. That's good thing for them, though. The rest of them can't play under 40 degrees either, so Patriots.
01:35:36
Speaker
All right, 4-12 Commanders traveling to the eleven and five Eagles. The Eagles have to win this game, too. like there's There is someone win in this game because the Eagles and Bears play at the same time, so I'll go Eagles.
01:35:51
Speaker
If it wasn't Josh Johnson, I'd probably go Commanders. But okay, Eagles. Fuck Philly, by the way. Yeah, Eagles get this one done.
01:36:02
Speaker
Eagles. All right, Sunday night to decide the AFC North. 8-8 Ravens traveling to the 9-7 Steelers. I'm going to Ravens. I think the collapse is going to be complete after this game for the Steelers. Yeah, I'm all dirty birds for sure. Yeah, Ravens, they've got a lot to play for. And I think they're going dial it up. And DK's still out. And the Steelers are not ah not playing good ball right now. So, Ravens. They have no offense without DK. Hail to the king. and King Henry, another big one. Ravens.
01:36:33
Speaker
All right, boys, that's it. I'm going to let you guys do some closing thoughts and give everybody your your closing for your your debut on the goal line. So it go ahead, Toby. All righty. Well, thanks for having me here. i appreciate it It's been a good time. I always like talking sports with you guys.
01:36:50
Speaker
I'm going to just jump back real quick to the college football playoffs. and I'm just going to have to say, i think it's Ohio State again. They're loaded and I just don't, I think they get it done, but um should be some good football to end the season. yeah.
01:37:06
Speaker
Again, thanks. That's all I got. Yeah, appreciate you having me on today. As a big Seahawks fan, I got to give a shout-out Cole Musgrove. He tweeted this out, and this is this is breaking news that we're here, okay? So back in 2005, a new pope was elected, and the Seahawks win 13 games in advance to the Super Bowl. They should have won that one. We'll talk about that another day. They got screwed by the refs, but it's fine. In 2013, a new pope was elected, and the Seahawks win 13 games in advance to the Super Bowl and win.
01:37:35
Speaker
2025, a new pope has been elected. The Seahawks win 13 games. Well, what if they win 14? How's this breaking news? this well He's been dead for a while. yeah so what So you're saying the Seahawks can't win Saturday night? No, I'm saying it i mean it's it's a win-win. You know, 13 wins back then it was a lot of wins. It was. But that seems like that's the the number. No, right.
01:37:58
Speaker
We need the one seed. And the Pope is from Chicago. He's from Chicago. He's a Bears guy. So the Seahawks will beat the Bears in the NFC Championship. Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl. All right. Well, I just want to say thanks for having me. This was a lot of fun. And, you know, appreciate it.
01:38:18
Speaker
And bear down, baby. All right. Talk to you guys next week. I feel the master. ready. ready. ready. We ready. We ready. ready. ready. We We ready. We ready. ready.
01:38:28
Speaker
ready. ready. ready. We ready. ready. We We ready. ready. ready. ready. ready. We We ready. ready. We ready. ready. We ready. We ready. ready. We ready. ready. ready. ready. ready. ready. We ready. ready.
01:38:38
Speaker
We ready. ready. We We ready. We ready. We We ready. We ready. ready. We We We ready. We We ready. We We ready. We ready. ready. ready. We ready. We ready. ready. We ready. We ready. ready. We We We ready. ready.
01:38:48
Speaker
ready. ready. We ready. We We We We We ready. ready. ready. We ready. We ready. We We ready. We ready. We