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Goal Line: Bryce Is Right
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The Panthers may actually make the playoffs and the rest of the happenings from this week in football, brought to you by the Fig God
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Transcript
Introduction and Christmas Greetings
00:00:15
Speaker
What is up, Goal Line listeners? I am back for another week of the Goal Line podcast, and I am ah really excited to get into everything with you guys. yeah We had a good weekend of football. We had college football playoffs. We had a good weekend NFL. um Yeah, I'm really excited to talk about it with you guys.
00:00:33
Speaker
I am recording this on December 24th, Christmas Eve morning. um This has just been a really busy week, so... Yeah, just a little late getting it done this week. This shouldn't be a super long podcast either. I'm just going to kind of go through everything and yeah take it from there.
00:00:52
Speaker
i just want to wish all you guys a Merry Christmas. i hope ah I hope you guys have a great time with your family and everything this week. And hopefully it's not too stressful.
College Football Highlights
00:01:01
Speaker
So with that, let's ah let's get into some college talk.
00:01:14
Speaker
All right, let's start with the Friday night game, Alabama-Oklahoma. um Alabama does eventually win the game. Oklahoma went up 17-0. Alabama scored that.
00:01:27
Speaker
thirty four of the next forty one points or something like that Um, this kind of went how I thought it was going to go. I just thought Alabama was the better team. Um, Norman was absolutely electric on Friday night. That crowd was unreal.
00:01:42
Speaker
It's just, I just felt like Alabama had more playmakers and Oklahoma made some really bad mistakes. Uh, they ended up costing them the game, but overall, this was a fun game to watch. Uh, I really enjoyed it. This was a good way to start off the weekend. And, um, yeah, it was just, it was a fun game to watch.
00:02:02
Speaker
ah Saturday morning we started with Miami and Texas A&M. This was just the definition of a rock fight. like It was just hard-hitting football. Wasn't a whole lot of offense in this game. Both teams missed some field goals.
00:02:18
Speaker
ah Miami ends up winning, like I said. um ah They looked like the better overall team in that game. A&M just couldn't get anything going offensively in that game. Not that Miami was like great by any means, but did enough to win. um And yeah, it's going to be interesting.
00:02:37
Speaker
ah These next couple games will be really interesting. So yeah, another good game. Ole Miss rolls two lane. I don't really think this is much of a shock to anyone that this happened. Yeah.
00:02:53
Speaker
I want to see Ole Miss do well just because Lane Kiffin left, so I think it's hilarious that they're in the the final eight now. So I i like it. I like Ole Miss. i I just think it'd be cool if they did well.
00:03:06
Speaker
ah Oregon beats James Madison. The second half of this game, Oregon just kind of let their foot off the gas. I mean, this game was a massacre. It just it was never really close. um Oregon looked really good.
00:03:19
Speaker
Again, there's not much you can take out of this game is the problem because I i don't know what we're going to see moving forward now because now all the games are going to be tough from here on out, obviously. um i do want to hit on like the group of five teams.
00:03:33
Speaker
um I had read something like, this is not like college basketball. like the The Cinderella stories don't generally happen. And while I do agree with that, I just...
00:03:46
Speaker
I mean, this is the rules that were in place. Like, it was the the top five ranked um conference champions, and these two teams just happened to be two of the teams ranked in the top 25.
00:03:59
Speaker
I don't love the blowout aspect of these games. I would much rather see tighter games. um I always do. I would like to see one group of five team always make it. If they earn it and they're in the top 25, I would like to see them make it just because who knows, man? Who knows what could happen? One of these teams could win one of the games
Challenges in College Football
00:04:17
Speaker
one year. like I'm not saying they're going to run the table or anything, but it's cool to see these teams get in like It's an honor to play college football and to get to this point. So I don't hate that they're letting group five teams in, but obviously you don't want another year where there's two in.
00:04:33
Speaker
um The other thing I wanted to mention, just because I've watched, obviously, I take in a lot of football. Like I watch any football that's on and I have watched a lot of the bowl games.
00:04:47
Speaker
I get why a lot of these guys sit out and obviously the transfer portal and all that stuff. But to me, like a lot of these guys, this is the last college football game they'll ever play. There's this is the last game. A lot of these guys will ever play as far as football in general.
00:05:02
Speaker
i I don't think you'll ever be able to get the the true. um bowl game back like yeah I don't think you'll be able to get it to where everybody just wants to play in these games like the stars are gonna sit because they're gonna be drafted and I get that but it just kind of sucks watching some of these bowl games like these teams put in so much effort and um they practice so hard and everything and then they go out there and they just they look horrible because half their team isn't playing or their coach left I mean
00:05:34
Speaker
there's just got to be something to this. And coaches leaving before postseason play is just ridiculous to me. I know there's recruiting to do and stuff. Like, I get that part of it. But, like, dude, your your team played this entire season to play in this last game, and you're just bailing on them. Like, I don't love that part of it. But, again, it's just kind of where we're at with college football. It's just – it's never been more about money than it is now. And, unfortunately, that's just kind of what what we got to deal with. But – Yeah, i I just wish there was a little bit more put back into these bowl games. I mean, these universities are getting money. The conferences are getting money, all that stuff. So, yeah, I just I wish there was
NFL Game Reactions
00:06:16
Speaker
more of it. But again, I understand why these kids sit out and why the coaches leave and all that stuff.
00:06:23
Speaker
Um, next week when I talk to you guys, uh, I'll, I'll preview the, the next playoff games. I'm not going to get into those right now. We'll talk about those next week, but, uh, with that, let's, uh, let's get into some NFL talk.
00:06:47
Speaker
Okay. As always, uh, let's rip the bandaid off and start with the Falcons. Um,
00:06:55
Speaker
These last two weeks have been really fragged frustrating for me as a fan. um I know what this what this team has the talent and is capable of. There's a lot of top-end talent on the Falcons roster.
00:07:11
Speaker
um Bijan crossed the 2,000-yard plane this week for all scrimmage yards.
00:07:20
Speaker
It's just really frustrating for me to watch this team week in and week out. um Yeah, they did win, and it was nice. I know.
00:07:30
Speaker
There's just... It's not enjoyable watching this team at all. like it's It's frustrating at this point. i love watching B. John. I love Drake London. I like Kyle Pitts a lot. Some guys on defense that are fun to watch. But overall, it's just in the grand scheme things, it's not enjoyable to watch this team because there isn't a lot of future for this team. We do not have a quarterback. We do not have a coach. I don't think we have the right GM. It's just...
00:07:57
Speaker
And that's all the stuff that I think about. And granted, this year of all years, like I want them to win games down the stretch because we don't have our first-round pick, so I want that pick to look worse. um But, yeah, it's just it's one of those things. so um They do beat the Cardinals, which i did pick them to win that game because I did feel like this was a game they should win. That's probably the last game they win this year. They got the Rams on Monday night this week, and then they got the Saints to finish it out, and the Saints are actually playing well. So we'll see what happens. But again, ah just to reiterate it, this has just been a really frustrating season for me as a Falcons fan, which is pretty common. But
00:08:37
Speaker
Just looking at the NFC South and um what could have been this season, it's just it's frustrating to watch as a fan. So, yeah, I mean, I think I've talked about this until I was blue in the face, and it's just it's one of those things where it's not it makes it not enjoyable to watch it week to week just because there's nothing to play for now Um, let's talk about the Titans. Titans beat the Chiefs. This, this is going to be the win of the season for the Titans, obviously. um
00:09:09
Speaker
the, the Chiefs have quit. that That team just looks like they don't want to play anymore, which I get it. They're not playing for anything. So this is not a situation that they're, none of these guys are used to being in. So I get it. Um,
00:09:23
Speaker
I'm really starting to feel like this is the last two games for Travis Kelsey. I just, his heart doesn't look like it's in it anymore. And I get it, man. Like he's got a billion dollar wife, fiance sitting at home. Like I'd much rather be focused on that than um playing at the end of my career, considering there's not much left of it. So, but yeah, ah Titans, Cam Ward looked really good in this game. Um,
00:09:50
Speaker
yeah this to the To me, this is the best our offense looked all year. They just they had a really good game, and it was a good win for them. like Tanking out when you were the number one pick last year just would not have made sense for this team. and These guys are fighting for jobs, so yeah, it was a good win for the Titans.
00:10:08
Speaker
Let's go to Thursday night. Seahawks beat the Rams in probably what's going to be one of the games of the year, if not the game of the year. Yeah. the The Rams had this game in full control, and then it it just went absolutely haywire. Like, good on the Seahawks, and I'll be the first to admit it. I i thought Sam Darnold was going to throw a pick on that final drive. i just I'm always waiting for the Sam Darnold mistake. He didn't do it. He played really good football in the fourth quarter and brought his team back, and they ended up winning the game. um
00:10:41
Speaker
Stafford did not look great in the second half. He was sailing a lot of balls, so... They were missing Devontae Adams, so i don't know if I'm put too much into this game. And they are playing the Falcons this week, so I'm sure they'll get right this week. But, dude, Seahawks, number one team in NFC right now. They control their own destiny. They do got a tough schedule to finish, though. They got to play the at the Panthers this week, and then they got the 49ers to close it out. The Rams have the Falcons and the Cardinals, so um they definitely did not do the – Seahawks any favors and the 49ers are also right there 49ers got the Bears this week and then obviously they finished with the Seahawks so yeah NFC West is going to come down to the last minute of the season uh Saturday games Eagles beat the Commanders there's really not much to go into in this game um Commanders just look like a defeated team um
00:11:36
Speaker
I just wonder about Dan Quinn all the time. I just, don't know. They've had a ton of injuries, and obviously Jayden Daniels isn't playing. I get it, but the team just does not look as spirited. Like said, that rah-rah stuff does wear off, and don't know, kind of feel like it does. The Eagles haven't looked great at all, but they're in the playoffs. They won the division already, so, I mean, good for them.
00:12:03
Speaker
Saturday night, Bears and Packers. This was a another rock fight type game. like it The Bears really didn't do anything all offensively until the end of this game.
00:12:14
Speaker
um They were covering onside kick, a score of the tying touchdown. um go to overtime, Packers get the ball, don't do anything with it, and Bears go down the field and score a touchdown. So Bears are leading the NFC North. So, I mean, again, another team that controls their own destiny, but they got a tough finish to the season. We'll we'll see how it all shakes out. But, i mean, all signs kind of point to them winning the division at this point. So it's going to be interesting. Their defense is playing well enough.
00:12:45
Speaker
Offense is definitely carrying the team, I feel like. But, yeah, we'll we'll just kind of see how they play it out from here. ah Panthers beat the Buccaneers in the NFC South showdown.
00:12:57
Speaker
So now the Panthers have a one-game lead on the Bucs with two to play. They have the Seahawks, then they have the Bucs again in Week 18. I think the Panthers are going to get it done. i don't trust this Bucs team at all. i just There's just a lot of about this team that I don't like. Mike Evans looks pissed at the at the end of both of the last two games. He just does not look happy at all. and I get it. they're They're losing games that they shouldn't lose, but there's just There's a lot on this team that I don't like. Their defense is just getting shredded. It's just it's not good. um Offense is not moving the ball as well as it should. They have way too many playmakers to be as stagnant on offense as they have been lately. So we'll see. But, yeah, Panthers have the upper hand on winning the division now.
00:13:43
Speaker
ah Vikings beat the Giants. J.J. McCarthy gets hurt in this game. It's just...
00:13:51
Speaker
Vikings are just stringing it together. Kevin O'Connell is a hell of a coach. um It's kind of just been a lost season for the Vikings, but they're they're winning some games and they're playing well. So, um yeah, good on them. ah The Saints win their third in a row against the Jets. The Jets and the Giants might be collectively the two worst teams in the NFL. And by might be, I think they are.
00:14:13
Speaker
Um, but the saints are playing really well. Tyler Shaw is playing, um, really good football. I mean, I think we kind of all made fun of this pick when they, when they made it, but he's, like I said, he's playing really good football and they're winning games and yeah, it's going be interesting to see where they go from here.
00:14:32
Speaker
Uh, the bangles beat the dolphins. Obviously we know two was benched before this game. Uh, he's probably played his last snap as the dolphins quarterback. would assume, um Bengals just destroyed them from the beginning of to the end of this game. And to me, none of this was on Quinn yours or anything like that. Like their defense just got shredded by the Bengals and the Bengals looked like what a lot of people thought the Bengals would look like. So Chargers beat the Cowboys.
00:15:01
Speaker
This was the game that eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs, which I don't think there was much going on from here anyway, but yeah, Chargers win. um And if they can just keep Herbert upright and have a good run game, they play good enough defense. Like his team can be dangerous in the playoffs. I just, I feel like their offensive line is going to be the thing that lets them down in the end.
00:15:27
Speaker
ah The Bills survived the Browns. Josh Allen played horrible in this game. Like, this was just one of those games where he did not play well. The offensive line for the Bills deserves a shout-out. They played exceptionally well in this game.
00:15:41
Speaker
um They ran the ball really well. James Cook played really well in this game. They got it done. I mean, it was not a pretty win, but they got it done. that's what you have do in the NFL. They don't always have to be pretty. You just got to win them.
00:15:55
Speaker
Jags all over the Broncos. The Jags offense moved the ball at will against his Broncos defense, which I did not see happening. um Yeah, yeah we we got to start talking about the Jags as one of those contending teams. like They're playing well. Is it always the prettiest thing? No, but they're playing good football, and...
00:16:16
Speaker
This league, winning is everything. So they they broke the Broncos' 11-game winning streak or 10-game winning streak, whatever it was. um Yeah. ja I mean, the Jags still have a shot at the number one seed. I know it's ah it's a long shot, but they still do have a shot at the number one seed. So we'll see how they play it out.
00:16:37
Speaker
ah Texans survive against the Raiders, and this is the epitome of surviving. They did not look good in this game. Gente had a really good game against the Texans, which I did not see happening.
00:16:49
Speaker
Their offense just did just enough at the end to get the win. But again, just keep winning. all you got to do is stack wins to get in the playoffs. You get enough wins and you're in the playoffs. And in the end, that's all that matters.
Playoff Standings Analysis
00:17:00
Speaker
It doesn't have to look pretty.
00:17:02
Speaker
ah The Steelers beat the Lions in another really good game. Came down to the final minute, final second, final play. ah Detroit looked like they had scored a touchdown, and ah there was a penalty thrown, and they called a Monra for an offensive pass interference.
00:17:20
Speaker
I guess. Okay, by by the law and by the the rule of the law, like this was offensive pass interference, but I have seen them keep the flag in their pocket for way less than what he did on this play. i get it, but yeah, um that effectively eliminated the Lions from the playoffs. I know they're not mathematically out, but they're probably out of the playoffs now.
00:17:44
Speaker
ah The Patriots have a comeback win against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. It ain't, again, what we're going to keep talking about, it it's not always pretty. This was another definition of this is it's not always going to be pretty, but they got the job done.
00:17:58
Speaker
I don't know what the hell Harbaugh was doing. Derrick Henry scored that touchdown in the fourth quarter, and he didn't play again in that game. Like, that's They were running the ball so well. He looked really good in that game.
00:18:10
Speaker
um It looked like they kind of had the game in hand, and then they just they didn't bring Derrick Henry back in, and it ended up costing them the game. So ah another good win by the Patriots, though. like it's just It's so weird.
00:18:22
Speaker
Top three teams, Patriots, Jags, and Broncos in the ac like Who would a thought before the season? ah Monday night, 49ers defeated the Colts. 49ers offense is just absolutely humming. They have not punted since November. Purdy's playing really well. Christian McCaffrey is playing MVP football. He's not going to win the MVP, but he's playing at an MVP level.
00:18:46
Speaker
um Yeah, their defense just does enough. offense is just rolling. um I do want to say Phillip Rivers did play really well in this game. Like for a 44-year-old man, he he did enough to keep them in the game, and they had a chance at the end, and that's really all that matters.
00:19:05
Speaker
Um, let's go through the playoff picture real quick, and then I'll go into the picks for week 17. So in the AFC, we have Denver as the one seed currently at 12 and three, New England, the two seed also at 12 and three Jacksonville in the three seed with 11 and four.
00:19:23
Speaker
Pittsburgh nine and six in the 4 seed. ah Chargers are at 11-4 in the 5 seed. And Buffalo at 11-4 as a 6 seed. And rounding out Houston in 7th at 10-5.
00:19:37
Speaker
Indianapolis is the only team knocking on the door at eight and seven um they're not the The top seven is who's going to be in the playoffs, I think. the the pits Unless Pittsburgh loses their last two games and Baltimore wins out,
00:19:51
Speaker
This is who we got for the playoffs in the AFC. um NFC, you have Seattle and at top at twelve and three ah Bears in second at eleven and four Philadelphia is 10-5 and in third. And Carolina is 8-7 in fourth. ah You have San Francisco as the top wild card at Rams as sixth at 11-4.
00:20:12
Speaker
rams is the six seat at eleven And four and the Packers as the at
00:20:18
Speaker
This would be, if the season ended today, this would be really interesting because,
00:20:25
Speaker
i mean, it would be Chicago and Green Bay, Philadelphia and the Rams, and Carolina and San Francisco. I would not be surprised if all the wild card teams won those games. Maybe not the the Packers. i don't I don't love what I'm seeing from them right now, but either way. Detroit is at eight and seven Like I said, they're not eliminated, but they're right on the verge of being eliminated, so Yeah, that's it for the on a playoff picture. Let's
Week 17 Picks and Reflections
00:20:52
Speaker
get into week 17 picks.
00:20:56
Speaker
All right, so tomorrow, Christmas Day. Good Lord, this slate is so bad now. We have the 6-8-1 Cowboys traveling to the 4-11 Commanders. I'll go Cowboys in this game.
00:21:10
Speaker
ah We have the eight and seven Lions traveling to the seven and eight and Vikings with matt Max Brosmer as the starting quarterback. Lions have to win this game. 12-3 Broncos traveling to the 6-9 Chiefs with whoever is their quarterback. and Broncos are going to steamroll them.
00:21:30
Speaker
ah Saturday, we have the 10-5 Texans traveling to the eleven and four Chargers. This should be a really, really good game. um
00:21:40
Speaker
I'm going to Texans. i just I think they keep winning. It's not pretty, but they I think they're going to keep winning. ah Saturday night, 7-8 Ravens traveling to Lambeau to play the 9-5-1 Packers. I'll go the Packers in this game.
00:21:54
Speaker
I don't love either team, but I'll go the Packers in this game. 3-12 Cardinals traveling to the 5-10 Bengals. I'll go Bengals. Steelers traveling to the three and twelve Browns. I will go Steelers in this game.
00:22:11
Speaker
5-10 Saints traveling to the 3-12 Titans. I will go Saints in this game. I think they just keep it rolling. 11-4 Jaguars traveling to the 8-7 Colts. Jags.
00:22:23
Speaker
Seriously, don't think the Colts win another game this season. 7-8 Bucs traveling to the 6-9 Dolphins. that This is a must-win game for the Bucs. They absolutely cannot afford to lose this game.
00:22:35
Speaker
I'm going to go Bucs. I don't feel great about it, but they just can't afford to lose this game. 12-3 Patriots traveling to the 3-12 Jets. I will go Patriots. 12-3 Seahawks traveling to the eight and seven Panthers.
00:22:50
Speaker
Seven-point line in this game kind of seems disrespectful to me, but I'm going to pick the Seahawks, but that line seems very disrespectful to me. 2-13 Giants traveling to the 2-13 Raiders.
00:23:05
Speaker
I mean, I guess I'll go Raiders. that That's going to be an ugly game. Sunday afternoon, we get the 10-5 Eagles traveling to the 11-4 Bills. I'll go Bills.
00:23:17
Speaker
i I don't love it, but I'll go Bills. Sunday night, we get the 11-4 Bears traveling to the 49ers. I'm going
00:23:28
Speaker
to go with the home team here. I'll go 49ers, but I do think this is going to very close game, and I could easily see the Bears winning. i don't I'm not hating on the Bears here. The 49ers are rolling right now.
00:23:41
Speaker
ah Monday night we have the 11 and 4 Rams traveling to the 6 and 9 Falcons. This is blowout city. Rams by a lot. So um I did have one listener mail question and it was from Seth.
00:23:56
Speaker
Let me get to it. I thought I had it pulled up here.
00:24:01
Speaker
Okay, Seth asked me, um where does this rank for all-time worst Falcon seasons for me? um It's high up there, especially based on how the NFC South is playing out. It's definitely up there.
00:24:18
Speaker
um I do not love a lot of things about this team. Again, we have no quarterback. I have no first-round draft pick. I just... It's not good.
00:24:29
Speaker
i I definitely put it up there. I think it's top three. i don't i can't place them in order, but this one's definitely in the top three. um it's just It's been a long season, and it's been a depressing season. and yeah i just i don't know what they're going to do moving forward. so we ah We'll see how it goes, but yeah this is a very disappointing season to be a Falcons fan, which is not surprising at all.
00:24:54
Speaker
That's going to do it. um It actually wasn't that short of an episode, about 25 minutes. So um I appreciate you guys listening again. I hope you guys have a great holiday season, a Merry Christmas. And ah yeah, I look forward to talking to you guys next week.
00:25:40
Speaker
I'll give you my heart. But the very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I'll give you my heart.