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Divisional Danger?
100 Plays2 years ago
In this first episode, Dawson and Mario discuss the upcoming Divisional Round NFL Playoff matchups, breakout players of the week, and the 2023 NFL season awards.
Should some of these divisional teams be on upset alert?
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Going For Two' Podcast
00:00:05
Speaker
What's going on everyone? My name is Dawson Danner and this is Mario Edwards. We are launching our first episode of our new podcast called Going For Two. We're super stoked for this opportunity to give you guys a little bit of knowledge about sports and just everything going on in the
Background and Motivation
00:00:27
Speaker
sports world. We're huge sports fans and
00:00:29
Speaker
Uh, me and Mario have been great buddies, you know, for, for five years, we met at college at Boise state. So we're super stoked for this. And yeah, Mario. Yeah, no, I'm Mario. And I'm definitely excited to finally be part of a show like this. Um, me and Dawson had talked about this for a while, just kind of talking some sports, you know, we've been, uh, kind of those average Joes, as you will, you know, playing high school sports, intramurals, intramurals, never really kind of done the.
00:01:00
Speaker
college or the pro level, I mean, I wish, but just have a passion for sports. So we're just here to kind of talk about, you know, some of the hot topics that we see in the NFL, NBA.
Dawson and Mario's Sports Background
00:01:10
Speaker
We got some potential prospects as in some, maybe some NFL players, maybe some collegiate players being get on this podcast and kind of talk with them and see kind of their thoughts on their seasons and kind of how they go about their everyday lives and all that stuff. Also, another thing for this, for this podcast, and one of our goals for it is actually,
00:01:30
Speaker
Um, and the future, hopefully if we get enough listeners to kind of make some money and donate to some good causes, some different charities, um, just kind of give back to the community. Um, so yeah, that's just a bonus that we're just talking about sports and hopefully, uh, you guys will enjoy. So, um, yeah, it's great to be here and, uh, awesome. Uh, what do you think, which we start with after it? Uh, just thought maybe for the first episode, you know,
00:01:54
Speaker
Give a little bit of background on the both of us. So, um, like I said, uh, I graduated from Boise state, uh, along with Mario, uh, back in 2020. So right in the middle of COVID, uh, and I'm originally from, uh, Santa Cruz, California. So, uh, representing the Bay area out here, my, my, my favorite teams include, uh, the golden state warriors, the Oakland A's and.
00:02:21
Speaker
Since my dad has been a fan of this team, since he was a little kid, I'm a Los Angeles Rams fan. So Super
NFL Divisional Round Matchups
00:02:28
Speaker
Bowl champ still, that's all I got to say. It's pretty funny, weren't you? You just became a Rams fan last year, didn't you? Oh, no chance. I've been a Rams fan since day one. So what about you, Mario? A little background? I do have to say, Dawson is a true fan. I will give him that, unlike some of our other friends. Got a lot of Niner friends that kind of appeared out of nowhere over these last few years.
00:02:50
Speaker
We'll save that for another time. But yeah, I'm from Grass Valley, California. Went to Boise State with Dawson right now. I'm currently going to school to get my doctorate physical therapy. I just have loved sports my whole life, more of a basketball player. But as far as NFL goes, it's probably my favorite sport to follow. I'm a Philadelphia Eagles fans, as you could imagine. People are probably going to give me some shit about that because they're so good right now.
00:03:20
Speaker
the story of how I became an Eagles fan. Dad grew up in Philadelphia, was born in Philadelphia, and they're born in Pennsylvania and grew up liking the Eagles. And so I kind of went after him with that. As far as my NBA team, I'm a Sacramento Kings fan. So we're on the upshot to the Kings, third place right now, baby, let's go. Yeah, it's about time, dude. Yeah, I know. It's been pretty much my entire life where my team has been on the wrong side of the standings here, so.
00:03:49
Speaker
Finally, you know, on the up and up, but in the Eagles as well, there's some big match-ups this weekend. Speaking of the NFL, is there some match-ups you want to talk about? Is there anything that's catching your eye? Just right from the get-go, we got four games this weekend, the divisional round. Game one on the slate is
00:04:08
Speaker
the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Kansas City Chiefs. And let me tell you, Mario, the Jaguars barely escaped a pretty pitiful first half, if I have to say so myself, to beat Justin Herbert and the Chargers. But I really like the Chiefs in this one. I mean, Andy Reid coming off a bye is just
00:04:34
Speaker
pretty much close to undefeated, I'm pretty sure. And when you got Patrick Mahomes and in that Arrowhead Stadium, it's just electric. That place is going to be going nuts. Jacksonville, I don't think they're going to be, who knows if they're going to be used to playing in that weather. I mean, so I love the Chiefs here. The spread is nine and a half. It actually moved up.
00:05:01
Speaker
It started at a touchdown, so seven points, but looks like the public is on the Chiefs as well. And yeah, I mean, one stat I do like to point out, though, that I've been seeing a lot of analysts talk about is supposedly Trevor Lawrence is undefeated while playing on Saturdays. I saw that. Yeah, isn't that crazy, man? It goes back to him in high school and when he played college ball at Clemson. But I think
00:05:31
Speaker
This is the weekend he goes down. Yeah, well, I mean, let's be honest here. He's. Trevor Lawrence was a stud in high school, right? I mean, I probably won't. I don't even know the exact stats on it, but I'm guessing he won a few state championships wherever he was. College obviously went to Clemson was a baller there. Never played on a Saturday and then it felt so you know, I don't think or did they plan Saturday last week?
00:05:58
Speaker
Yeah, last weekend they did. They actually did. So they continued his undefeated stretch. Yeah, I just really don't think that's going to happen. I mean, that guy pretty much did anything you, I mean, with the exact opposite of what you would want to do. What did he throw? Four interceptions in the first half? Four interceptions, but then pretty much played a perfect second half. So if you can play like that, the Chiefs defense is pretty, pretty bad this year. I mean, especially their secondary against the pass.
00:06:29
Speaker
Yeah, I don't know. I think we can both agree here that the Chiefs are our pick. Yeah, no, definitely. I think you got to go the Chiefs. I mean, especially there's there's no way if Trevor Lawrence has that game. First patch my homes in Arrowhead. There's just there's no way there's. Yeah, I think we can both agree on that, but. Yeah, what do we what else? What else we got? So then the second game on Saturday we got the.
00:06:57
Speaker
out of nowhere, kinda red-hot New York Giants going to your Philadelphia Eagles. And one thing I gotta, I'll let you go first here, Mario, but damn, man, one thing I gotta say is Jalen Hurts, in the last week of the regular season, I mean, he looked very, very hurt playing out there.
Bengals vs. Bills Analysis
00:07:21
Speaker
And it only makes me think to myself, like, is that gonna transition into this wild card or into this,
00:07:27
Speaker
divisional game against one of their division foes and for the third time, I mean, come on. Yeah. Yeah. I see what you're saying because I mean, if you look at it last year, I mean, the Niners beat your Rams twice, same kind of scenario. And then they met, um, and that's playoff game. And then the, you know, the Rams finally got, had their number on that, the most important one. And I'm a little worried about that, but when it comes down to it, you know, we look at the, the week 18 game versus the giants.
00:07:56
Speaker
Jalen hurts coming off the injury. I watched that game and they really, you know, the Eagles were not doing anything like that. They normally would do Jalen hurts. Wasn't running the ball at all. They weren't, it didn't seem like they knew they had that one seed locked up, right? Yeah. I mean, they, they knew that they were, the giants were going to sit there starters. They knew that they were starting. There's the Eagles were going to start their starters. They knew that was going to happen. So I don't know. Jalen.
00:08:22
Speaker
He didn't look great, but I mean, he would, he'd been off for two, three weeks. Um, same thing. I think they're kind of just, they were just trying to get him conditioned because they knew he was going to have the bi-week if he got the one seed. So they needed, they didn't want him to be, you know, off four weeks. They want him to at least have one week of rest. He didn't do anything crazy. So I don't think he took too many hits or anything, but yes, it was a concern of how he looked. So, but I still think we're going to be strong. You know, I think, uh, you know, it'll be interesting because the giants look good last week. They looked really good. And like, I mean,
00:08:52
Speaker
Daniel Jones, that guy has been pretty cheeks his like his first couple of years in the NFL. Like I think we can agree on that, but that Brian Dable has really changed that team, I think for the better. And even if the Giants lose this week, I think the season was a, was a dub in their eyes because I've been, I've been hearing reports that Brian Dable has been at the podium saying that he was expecting this year to be a rebuild year.
00:09:22
Speaker
And the fact that they're in the final eight is pretty impressive. But I agree with you. I think Philly, they're the one seed for a reason. When Jalen Hurts was healthy, they were pretty much, in my eyes, the best team in the NFL all around. Their defense, their special teams, and that offense that can seem pretty unstoppable at times, if I do say so myself.
00:09:51
Speaker
The spread is pretty interesting. It's seven and a half. So I like the Eagles and a close one here. I think it comes down to the wire. Daniel Jones is going to have one final drive maybe to tie it to go into OT or to win. And I think he falls short. So I like
Cowboys vs. 49ers Predictions
00:10:10
Speaker
the Eagles here. Yeah.
00:10:13
Speaker
Yeah, that's, I mean, I'm gonna have to agree with you as you could imagine. I'm definitely taking the Eagles here. I do think the Giants, you know, that defense, a healthy Saquon, a full offense this year, really. I think that was the difference maker was their, you know, Saquon was unbelievable this year. Dana Jones really, you know, kind of sprouted into what the Giants probably thought he was gonna be from the beginning. Yeah, no, totally. But I do have to say,
00:10:41
Speaker
Just, just a quick little thing here is everyone was talking so much smack on the NFC East this year, which was, you know, totally understandable considering, but look at this now. I mean, you got the giants, the Cowboys and the Eagles. All a part of, um, you know, the last four teams, um, and the NFC playoffs here on the divisional rounds there. And then, I mean, the Redskins almost made it too. So it's like, you know, that division's not, it's, uh, the commanders know.
00:11:08
Speaker
But yeah, sorry. I always get that mixed up. I'm just used to saying the Redskins. I don't know. I can feel so hard. No, I agree. I think the NFC East, I mean, they got three teams now in the final four of the NFC. That division is definitely on the come up. But yeah, so we both like the Chiefs and we both like the Eagles on Saturday. That brings us to the first game on Sunday. And this one is interesting.
00:11:38
Speaker
You got the Cincinnati Bengals traveling to Buffalo to play the Bills. Damn, this one is so tough for me because Joe Burrow has really proven himself as a top pretty much in the conversation over there in the AFC with Mahomes and Allen. But I don't really like the Bengals here because they are down three offensive linemen. Did you know that?
00:12:07
Speaker
I did remember seeing last week when one of them went down, I knew they were talking. That was their problem in the Super Bowl. Yeah, they've had a horrible offensive line since Burroughs been in the league. And this year they made some trades in the off season to get some help. But here they are right back at square one with no offensive line help going into Buffalo.
00:12:37
Speaker
The Buffalo Bills have been struggling. I think we can all see that. I mean, they barely scraped by the Dolphins last week with a backup quarterback. Actually, the third string quarterback and Skyler Thompson, but. The the Bengals are. It's so tough, because when that game got canceled, you know with the with the Demar Hamlin injury. And by the way, speaking of that, I think we can all agree that we are so. We are so thankful that he is.
00:13:05
Speaker
alive and just well, he got released from the hospital. But anyways, that the Bengals here are a tough play, I think, because just because the offensive line help, I do think it's going to be a pretty high scoring game, though. What do you think about that? I mean, anytime you got the bills in any type of playoff game,
00:13:29
Speaker
it seems that they always have some type of high scoring game, especially when you got two quarterbacks, you know, it seems like in the playoffs, they're always going to see someone like Emma Holmes, a burrow,
Playoff Standout Players
00:13:38
Speaker
you know, any of those guys that are kind of on the come up, you know, Lamar, they're probably going to put up some points. So I think it's going to be, I think it's going to be a high scoring to who'd you say, who did you want? Who do you think was going to take that dub? You think the bills? I think the bills by a, by a touchdown or so. I do think that Josh Allen gets back to form this week. He's been,
00:13:58
Speaker
Thrown some red zone interceptions all year. And he's been kind of shaky. I mean, last week even, I think three turnovers. But I think he gets back to form in front of his home crowd on a, that place is also just like Arrowhead. That's a tough place to play at. Yeah, that place is going to be rocking. That place is going to be rocking. So what's your final score prediction? Final score. I got the, let's see, the over under set at 49. So you know, Vegas,
00:14:29
Speaker
it's got to hit around that. So I'm going to go the bills winning. I'm going to go 27 to 23 bills. Okay. I like that. That's my, that's my pick. You know, he's always got a reference Vegas. This guy's a degenerate. I don't know if he wants you guys to know that, but uh,
00:14:52
Speaker
He knows his stuff when it comes to betting. So I mean, that's safe to say. I mean, Vegas is usually pretty close. I like that score prediction. I'm actually going to go 34-28 bills as well. I'm going to go with the bills here. I think while the Bengals are a great team and they have been on a hot streak, I don't know. I think the bills are really going to come together as a team right now. They've been through so much.
00:15:22
Speaker
especially over these last few weeks, there was a lot of, you know, as we said, we're very thankful that DeMar is okay. Um, but I think there was a lot of, um, you know, distraction obviously from the team. And I think now that they've, that he's well, and they've been able to, um, get a game under their belt, a game or two, I think they're really going to come together even stronger than they were before. So, um, yeah, I just think that, I mean,
00:15:47
Speaker
We still haven't gotten into the last game, but out of these three games that we've mentioned, I think this is the biggest toss-up for me. And the Bengals, you know, they got probably the best receiving core in the NFL, in my opinion. But why does that matter if Borough doesn't get protection? And I think that's what this game is going to come down to. Can the Bengals protect Joe Borough in the pocket? Because you know Josh Allen is going to be putting up points.
00:16:16
Speaker
can burrow survive in a shootout. And that's why I'm leaning towards the bill is because I do not see that happening. Yeah. And the thing is, too, though, you have to think about, I mean, they did have a close game with the Ravens last week. The Ravens got they've got a pretty good defense. So they do. I will give them that divisional opponent. You know, when they're when you anytime you got a divisional opponent, same thing with the Eagles, you know, they kind of know what you're doing. They've seen you a few times already this year. You know, that always makes it tougher.
00:16:47
Speaker
But, uh, with the bills, I don't know. I, I just have a feeling, man, it seems like every year now, the AFC championships, always chiefs bills. So I'm just going to keep up with that same trend. I think that's totally right. I am on your side for that one. We are going to get burrow or Josh Allen at my homes round three. Crazy, crazy. This guy's a stud. This last game on the, in the divisional round Sunday night,
00:17:17
Speaker
At 430, we got the Cowboys going to the Niners who have won, I believe, 12 straight. 12 straight, wow. 12 straight, I know, but let's be honest, man. I'm a Rams fan. Mario knows that. I would say I'm a Rams
MVP Debate: Mahomes vs. Hurts
00:17:39
Speaker
fan the same amount as I am a Niner hater. And the Niners, don't get me wrong, yeah, 12 in a row.
00:17:47
Speaker
I get it, but let's check their schedule out in this 12 game winning streak, shall we, Mario? Yeah, if you got it lined up, I mean, I got it lined up right here and we'll go through it. Okay, so they beat my Rams to start the streak. We can never beat them except for to beat them in the NFC championship to then be the Super Bowl champs, just saying. And then they got the Chargers barely scraped by with that one.
00:18:18
Speaker
22-16. Then they had the Cardinals. That's a dub. They were horrible this year. I think we can both agree on that. The Saints. Who's the quarterback over there? Oh, yeah, it's Andy Dalton. Then you got the Dolphins, which I remember. This was back in early December. This game had so much hype around it because the Dolphins were, you know, pretty red hot as well. But Tua.
00:18:47
Speaker
I think he showed in that game, that was the game that he started his stretch of kinda like dumpster fires in my opinion. Like he just kinda showed the league his true colors in that game against the Niners, a tough defense. So then they just demolished Tampa Bay. Tom Brady, I'm still convinced that he went in there and just handed them the win, but that's just me.
00:19:17
Speaker
What? Okay. Okay. And then, uh, Seattle, they beat them commanders, Raiders, Cardinals again, and then Seahawks in the wildcard round. So, I mean, what do you think Mario? Those are, that's a pretty soft schedule. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's easy to say that though. I mean, anytime you come in the NFL and you went 12 games, so you got to, you got to give some respect because that's, that's tough to do.
00:19:45
Speaker
While it was an easy path, I mean, you can kind of make the same argument for the Eagles, you know, have the kind of that same easy pathway besides the divisional rounds. We didn't play anybody special, but I think it was, I think with the hype comes around with the Niners
Defensive Player of the Year Discussion
00:20:00
Speaker
is the way that they're winning, you know, their defenses or defenses, you know, making it tough. They're making it tough. Other teams are putting up nearly any points, which just makes it, you know, so hard for
00:20:14
Speaker
opposing opposing teams to compete, especially when the Niners offense is actually looking pretty good. We haven't even got into yet. Yeah, no, but we can get into that right now. I mean, I will 100% give props to Brock Purdy. I mean, getting
00:20:30
Speaker
put into that situation being the third string on the depth chart to start the year off and now leading your team in to make a Super Bowl push right now. It's pretty impressive what he's doing, but I know I mentioned the schedule of their winning streak, but I also have to point out. I totally get your point about if a team wins 12 straight, that's you gotta give it to him. But in since Purdie's been the quarterback, it's been pretty weak and I think this
00:20:59
Speaker
with Micah Parsons on the other side, uh, that he's going to be coming after him. And I think this is going to be his first real test being the starter for the Niners. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. It's pretty funny shot to Brock pretty. That's a good looking guy. Um, I'm just kidding. He's, everyone keeps telling me that I look like him. So I guess that's my doppelganger. So I'm going to ride with him this week all the way.
00:21:24
Speaker
Um, him and the Niners, I'm, I'm taking them on versus the Cowboys, but you're same thing with you. Like you're a Niner hater. I'm a cowboy hater. I hate the Cowboys. No, I think everything about them is terrible. I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, as much as I've been ragging on the Niners, this in this, uh, point in the podcast, I got to give it to them that they're going to, they're going to come out victorious again. Um, I think that, that offense since McCaffrey got there. I mean, that just adds another weapon to.
00:21:53
Speaker
uh, that offense that's looking top notch right now. And let's say that pretty, I would say right there, right up there with the chiefs in terms of what they can bring at what, what type of plays they run, what they can bring at any defense at any point of the game. So yeah, we'll see. We'll see. We'll see. I think, I think you're really going to have to look and see if, if the Cowboys can, if the Cowboys got a good defense, they can stop that run game and you make pretty
00:22:25
Speaker
What's that? If the Cowboys stop the run game, they stop McCaffrey, they stop Mitchell, you know, Deebo's not doing much on the run game. It's going to be tough because Purdy's, you know, he's a rookie. Yeah, I mean, exactly. That's why I kind of mentioned what I said, that I think that this is going to be his first real test and seeing what if, like you said, if the Cowboys do their homework and stop the run game like Shanahan loves to do,
00:22:54
Speaker
Can Brock Purdy lead your team down the field in crunch time? That's if Dak shows out on the other side, just like he did against Tampa Bay. And God, can we talk about him for a sec? How crazy is that guy? I mean, one week he plays the commanders in the final week of the regular season and looks horrible. I mean, he led the league in interceptions, Mario, and he missed what, four or five games?
00:23:22
Speaker
at the beginning of the season. I didn't, I didn't know he led the league in interceptions. Yeah. Oh yeah. And he, then he comes right, right back for the wildcard round and faces the greatest quarterback of all time and plays the best game of his career in my opinion. Yeah. He looked good. He did. And that's what's interesting. Is it like a flip flop? Like now this week you'll have kind of like a, a mad game, you know, like,
00:23:50
Speaker
I guess we'll find out, but yeah, I mean, what's up, his, his, his weakness, his weakness has been consistency in the playoffs. It seems like the Cowboys are good almost every year. They're almost going to be, they're almost either going to be in the playoffs or on the cusp, but it's just once they get there, there's something that just doesn't
Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Jefferson
00:24:13
Speaker
click. And I'm so happy about that. I'm so happy. Speaking of that, like they're,
00:24:19
Speaker
Collapse in the playoffs, Dak Prescott going into the Tampa Bay game was one in three in his career in the playoffs. And I think we can all, we can both agree that, I mean, if you take the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL, I got Dak in there, but it just, it's weird that once the playoffs come, you either get A plus Dak or D plus Dak. And I think that it's going to be, you're going to get the Dak
00:24:49
Speaker
against the Niners, you're going to get the doc that is a C. He's going to have a couple turnovers, but he's going to look good at some points of the game. But yeah, like we both agreed on, I think the Niners come out with this one that sets up a pretty, pretty intriguing NFC championship. So both of us, we got Bill's Chiefs in a
00:25:17
Speaker
round three, right? And the Niners going to Philly, which, damn, that's another tough place to play at, especially for the Niners. I mean, going across the country like that. Yeah, definitely. I mean, we'll save those picks for next week. Yeah, we'll save those ones for sure. But I think it's pretty crazy. We both agreed on all four of those. Look at that. I know. It's weird that it
00:25:44
Speaker
Sometimes during the regular season, you don't see that where it's like we pick the same winners. But I think once the playoffs come, it's pretty, based on the standard eye test, you know what teams are hot, you know what teams can make a run. And I mean,
00:26:05
Speaker
looking on the AFC side, I think we picked the top two quarter bucks in that conference Mahomes and Allen. Yeah, definitely. AFC was easy to see all year, I think. I mean, in my opinion, I think we all saw that it was going to be Bengals, Buffalo, or Chiefs. I think the only one that was really kind of a sleeper right here right now is Jacksonville. Yeah, yeah. No, I agree. And like, so I mean, going back to the
00:26:34
Speaker
first game, Jacksonville, Kansas City. I mean, we both know that the type of studs that Kansas City has on their offense. I mean, when you got Mahomes, they had a Juju this year, Travis Kelsey, even a Jerick McKinnon just came out of nowhere this year in the winning back position. But I mean, who do you like here player wise to kind of have a
00:27:01
Speaker
a good game and kind of get nuts. So what I'm going to do for you right now, I think this would be a perfect time to kind of do. I'm going to give you one player that I think is going to go off and all the playoffs this week, you know, who's going to exceed a normal stat one. They usually do. And then you're going to give me yours. Okay. Okay. Sounds good. All right. So this is who I got. Of course, I'm going to go to my Philadelphia Eagles. I got Boston Scott. I don't know if anyone's heard of Boston Scott. This is a backup running back for the Eagles. He's probably second string.
00:27:31
Speaker
Nicknamed the giant killer. This man goes off
Closing Remarks and Audience Engagement
00:27:35
Speaker
versus the Giants. I'm telling you, he does not even know. Yeah, man. I mean, I think like most of his touchdowns, the majority of his touchdowns, I'd have to check the stats on it, but it's against the Giants. It's crazy. He, for some reason just has this thing when he plays them and he just goes off. So I'm going to say, I think Boston Scott's going to have at least one touchdown versus the Giants this week. Um, and then he's going to rush for over 60 yards, which is
00:28:01
Speaker
which is better than what he used to over 60. Wow. Okay. That's interesting though, because I mean, you obviously know your Eagles. I currently have a bet going that miles Sanders is going to score a touchdown. So do you think him and Scott get one or should I switch it to Boston Scott? You know, personally, I think the safe bet is to go Boston Scott, which is crazy. But, um, okay. You know, I think,
00:28:30
Speaker
Sanders is obviously going to get the yardage here. He's going to, he's going to win the yardage battle, but touchdown battle. I do not think that, uh, you go away from, you know, history, what's been going on. Boston Scott telling you, um, moving on. Who do you got? Who's your player? So you're asking for the entire slate of games. Yeah. Entire, not just one team. I'm just talking entire slate again. You got one player that you think.
00:28:57
Speaker
is going to be going, you know, exceeding what they probably wouldn't normally do in a game. Exceeding what they normally do. I got you. I got you. Well, I'm going to go. This is an interesting one here. I am going to go with the in the Bills, Bengals game. I think that Tyler Boyd of the Cincinnati Bengals, he's going to go for a touchdown and 70 yards or more in receiving.
00:29:27
Speaker
And part of the reason why I think I'm picking a guy like him is, I mean, we both know that Jamar Chase is the number one over there. T Higgins, number two. I really think Buffalo, I mean, Sean McDermott over there, he really is experienced on the defensive side of the ball in coaching. And I think he's really going to put a game plan together to shut down Jamar Chase. And I think that Tyler Boyd, a guy like him is going to
00:29:57
Speaker
He's going to see some openings and Burrow's going to find them. I really see that happening. I like that. I like that. Yeah. And I think, yeah, like you said, I think Chase is going to be kind of focused in on for sure. So I think that's going to open some stuff up. So no, no T Higgins, though. No, I think T Higgins, man. He's been out in and out of the lineup a lot this year just due to injury. And obviously, he was a part of that play with DeMar Hamlin.
00:30:28
Speaker
He, he's kind of been, he's kind of been rusty lately is what I've noticed. So I think a guy like Tyler Boyd is going to be a hidden gem in that Bengals offense that is that burrow is going to take advantage of. So, okay. I like that. I like that.
00:30:47
Speaker
Um, all right. And I think this kind of leads us into one of our last topics here on our, our very first podcast. Um, so regular season awards at this point before that we're talking before, you know, NFC championships, AFC championships this far in. Give me your first of all, give me your MVP. Who you going? Oh, this, the MVP it's, it's been tough for me to decipher this all year, you know, but
00:31:17
Speaker
I think that, you know, all year I had two guys in mind and that was Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. And I am, I think when it's all said and done, I really looked back on the seasons they both had. And when I think of MVP, I think of if you remove him from the lineup, how would the team be? Would they still be a winning organization? And it's interesting.
00:31:46
Speaker
that the two players I picked are the two of the top records in the NFL. But I think I gotta go Patrick Mahomes here. I think Patrick Mahomes is very, I think we take for granted how truly great he is. And we just expect him game in and game out to put up the numbers he does. So he kind of gets thrown under the rug a little bit. You know what I mean by that?
00:32:12
Speaker
No, definitely. And I just, I mean, I honestly, a hundred percent agree with you. I'm, I'm a huge Jalen hurts fan. I'm an Eagles fan, obviously. So I love Jalen hurts. I think if he plays kind of those, those two or three games that he missed, there's a possibility the Eagles go, you know, 15 or let's see, it was games eight, I know they have 16 and one, you know, then maybe something like that. But I mean, if you look at the stats here, um, Patrick Mahomes,
00:32:39
Speaker
5,250 yards. He's got 5,250 yards. Jalen Hurts, 3,700. So there is that. Yep. You know, TDs passing touchdowns. Patrick Mahoney was 41. Jalen Hurts, 22. Almost doubled. Almost doubled. Wow, I did not know it was that big of a difference. What about Russian?
00:33:00
Speaker
rushing. I mean, obviously J1 hurts, you know, regular season, 760 yards. We almost made a thousand yards. That's like a pretty solid season for running back. And he had 13 touchdowns. So that's, I mean, you, you put that in a running back category. That's, that's a good running back. And then you add that on top of his, you know, it's passing touchdowns. He's good, but still at the end of the day, you know, um, I think you just have to still give it to Patrick Mahomes. You throw him.
00:33:26
Speaker
You know, you're throwing 41 touchdowns and then he out, he also rest for four. So, you know, that guy, that guy had 45 touchdowns this year. That's nuts. That's nuts. Nope. Yep. And I was fortunate enough to have him in my fantasy team and came out with the dub of the year. So wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Before we say dub, let's just clarify that it was a. Hide for first. No, no chance. Uh, me and Johnno.
00:33:55
Speaker
which shout out Johnna if you end up listening to this. We both agreed that that final game since it was canceled between the Bills and the Bengals, I had Jamar Chase and he had Stefan Diggs in the championship and I held a 15 point lead, everyone. And Mario is pretty much the only one in our league that is saying that since the game got canceled, we should have split the payout.
00:34:25
Speaker
No, sir. That dub is going to me. And also the option of using their week 18 stat lines was mentioned, which ended up being turned down by me because I'm the commissioner. But if we did use those stat lines, I still would have won, so. But you didn't. You should have done it. You should have taken it when you had it, man. But you know. I know. You know. I guess, I guess.
00:34:55
Speaker
What's that? Who cares if there's an asterisk? Yeah, there's definitely an asterisk. I don't even know if I'd count that as a, as a first place one in my book. I had the same thing. I'm just gonna, I had the same thing happen to my other league. You know, I tied for first. I probably would have won, but we couldn't decide. It was a little different situation, but, um, you know, we still still have an asterisk by it. And, uh, next year I'm coming back to the league and I'm, I'm getting first. So that's happening.
00:35:24
Speaker
One thing I wanted to mention, though, is about the you mentioned hurts his stats for the year. It was interesting, though, because when he went out those final two games of the year and in came Gardner Minshew. I mean, it really showed that the Eagles offense is revolved around Jalen Hurts. And that's why it's such a tough pick. But I think a lot of the analysts are even saying to that you can't
00:35:53
Speaker
You can't not give it to my homes after the year he had because no, no, you can't. You just can't. I mean, he pretty much outdid. Jaylen in every category besides rushing and rushing touchdowns. Yeah, yeah, so that's that's tough. You know, I mean, it might. We'll see what happens at the end of these playoffs here. That's that's going to be a teller, I think. And I mean, it's it's obviously going to be my homes in my in my opinion, but yeah, I'm pretty sure they announced the
00:36:23
Speaker
regular season awards like before the playoffs are over. Don't they? I think they do. Maybe right. Maybe it's like right before the Super Bowl or something. Yeah. Okay. I think that's what it is. Um, but yeah, I don't know. I just like, like you were saying, I just think that it, it shows how much Jalen means to this team. And you know, they do the same thing with the chiefs. My homes is out that chiefs are nothing without my homes. And I think it's, I don't want to say the Eagles are nothing without hurts because they have a solid team all around without hurts.
00:36:53
Speaker
But it does show what he means to that team and just the ability to have a running quarterback, a dual threat quarterback, which is the way the kind of league is going these days. Oh, yeah, totally. Totally. I mean, next award, we got defensive player of the year. And it's pretty funny that I think the entire NFL world, both players in the league and fans, I think we can all agree that it's
00:37:23
Speaker
It pretty much was a two-man race the entire year between Nick Bosa of the 49ers and Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys. But if you want my honest opinion, I think you have to give it to Nick Bosa here. He had five and a half more sacks than Micah Parsons. And I think that without Bosa, that defense of the Niners is not as big of a well-oiled machine as it is, you know what I mean?
00:37:53
Speaker
Yeah. And I, I mean, one of my first hot takes right now is I think Micah Parsons is a little bit, uh, overrated in the media. And I think he gets, he gets way too, I mean, people are comparing him to, uh, Lawrence Taylor. And it's like, dude, you you've been in the league two years. I get that you've had, you've had two great years, but
00:38:19
Speaker
Get show me some accolades and some rings or something to prove that like you can be in that conversation. Yeah. Yeah. No, definitely. The rings conversation. He's only been in the league for two years. So it's tough. It's tough to say that for him because, you know, the Cowboys have been just a shit team for so long. But yeah, no, I could I could totally see that. I mean, I think
00:38:46
Speaker
Cowboys defense is solid though so I don't know I just think there's a anytime the Cowboys player does good I think there's a lot of hype you know their America's team you know everyone likes the Cowboys that's like probably the biggest following in football you know so I do understand where you're coming from and I do have to agree I think he's a little overrated but you know someone that actually saw was in the race I don't know if this is true or not but sauce Gardner was up there I thought for defensive player of the year not even just rookie
00:39:16
Speaker
Oh, I mean, I would not be surprised if he was in the, in the race and could get a vote or two here, here and there. But I think that like, it was pretty much a two man race between Bosa and Parsons midway through the year. Everyone kind of understood that. And I think that it is tough that kind of what we mentioned about the, uh,
00:39:42
Speaker
MVP award how like all these awards are announced before the playoffs are over because I mean those two are getting are Matching up this weekend, you know, so it's interesting that like I think that could have been it opportunity for both of them to showcase why they're the guy and But I think that voters minds have already been made up that it's gonna be make bozo. So Okay. Yeah, I think I'm gonna have to I'm gonna have to agree there I think that you kind of hit that right on the
00:40:11
Speaker
The nail right on the head there. Nick Bosa, Defensive Player of the Year. We got our MVP and I think the last thing before we wrap this thing up, Offensive Player of the Year. Who are you going with? Yeah, I'm going to let you go first with this one, man. I got to think about this. Offensive Player of the Year. You know, that's really a tough, tough call. I mean,
00:40:37
Speaker
Obviously you can't put my homes there since he already won the MVP. So I mean, running backs that jog in my mind, you know, actually speaking of just running backs, I thought McCaffrey got snubbed this year. Probably should have made the Pro Bowl. Um, he should have, you know, he should have made it over who miles Sanders or the Philadelphia Eagles. Yeah. I mean, I could, I could see that just because.
00:41:06
Speaker
McCaffrey is such a dual threat guy. He runs and he can also catch the ball. Sanders did have a great year though. He did have a great year, rushing wise, rushing wise. But yeah, I don't know who, what about offensive, what do you think about possibly a Justin Fields or if a Jaylen Hertz, if Patrick Mahomes doesn't make it?
00:41:34
Speaker
Yeah. So it's interesting because last year the, uh, what I've noticed the trend is year after year for these awards is the MVP is always a quarterback award. Um, I think that's pretty obvious. And then for offensive player of the year, it usually goes to a skilled player, whether it's a wide receiver or running back. And so like, for example, last year, last year, offensive player of the year, it went to Cooper cup.
00:42:00
Speaker
And yeah, actually, this year, this year, I think I got it. So I got to interrupt you here because I think I know who I'm going to put in for my office for the year now. Yeah. And I should be honest, I think after you say your name, I'm going to agree with you. You're going to. Yeah, I'm going Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings. Yeah. And I totally agree. He had a couple stinkers to end the year. But I mean, that guy was putting up
00:42:27
Speaker
stat lines that were ridiculous. I mean, with three games left in the season, uh, he had the, he was on pace to break the all-time single season receiving yards record. But like I said, if it wasn't for a couple, couple duds to end his, uh, campaign, he, he was definitely the offensive player of the year this year in the NFL. And I think you got to give it to him a hundred percent, a hundred percent. Well,
00:42:56
Speaker
Um, you know, I think that does it, that kind of wraps up our first podcast. Uh, I hope you guys enjoyed, um, this was kind of just an introduction, just a quick few topics. And like we mentioned in the beginning, hopefully, uh, we can bring on some more guests. Um, you know, possibly some, some pro athletes, some collegiate athletes, um, maybe even just some average Joe's just like ourselves. Um, so, uh, hit us up, follow us on Instagram. We're going, uh, going for two podcasts.
00:43:24
Speaker
Um, and we're really thankful that you guys tuned in if you did. And, uh, we hope to, uh, no, see you guys soon. Dawson, do you have any last words? No, I just wanted to clarify that, uh, Instagram handle. It's a going for the number two dot podcast. Uh, we, we just, uh, obviously with this being our first episode, we just launched it and we're going to attach the link to all our episodes on that Instagram. That's.
00:43:52
Speaker
the way you can contact us and we are really interested in what you guys, any feedback you guys have and please DMS questions if you have any and we'll answer those right here on the Going For Two podcast. So yeah, like Mario said, I think that wraps it up. So thanks everyone and we'll see you next time. See you guys.