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NFL 2023 - Week 18
24 Plays1 year ago
It's do or die time for teams on the verge of the playoffs. Who will sneak in during the last week of the regular season? And who's year will come to a close? Join Mack and Bob as they break down every game for week eighteen of the 2023 NFL season.
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Transcript
Introduction to NFL Week 18 and Confidence Pool
00:00:01
Speaker
It's week 18.
00:00:03
Speaker
Do or die.
00:00:04
Speaker
Let's dive right in.
Holiday Experiences and Travels
00:00:28
Speaker
Welcome back to Making Waves, an NFL Confidence Pool podcast.
00:00:33
Speaker
I'm your host, Mac.
00:00:35
Speaker
And I'm your host, Bob.
00:00:37
Speaker
And it has been three weeks too long, away from the mic, out of the studio, traveling around for the holidays.
00:00:45
Speaker
How are your holidays, Bob?
00:00:47
Speaker
Merry Christmas.
00:00:47
Speaker
Happy New Year.
00:00:48
Speaker
Welcome to 2024.
00:00:50
Speaker
Thank you.
00:00:51
Speaker
Merry Christmas.
00:00:51
Speaker
Happy New Year.
00:00:52
Speaker
Happy 2024.
00:00:54
Speaker
The holidays were great.
00:00:56
Speaker
Spent about 10 days back in Michigan, Michigan in the Mitten.
00:00:59
Speaker
And it was great.
00:01:00
Speaker
Saw a lot of family.
00:01:02
Speaker
Saw a lot of loved ones.
00:01:03
Speaker
Saw a lot of friends.
00:01:04
Speaker
It was a really good mixture.
00:01:05
Speaker
Definitely exhausting.
00:01:07
Speaker
Definitely slept in a lot of different beds and sleeping arrangements.
00:01:11
Speaker
I was very happy to get back to my apartment yesterday early morning.
00:01:16
Speaker
But it was a fantastic Christmas.
00:01:18
Speaker
Christmas and holiday break.
00:01:20
Speaker
More importantly, how was Europe?
00:01:21
Speaker
How was yours?
00:01:22
Speaker
Oh, well, first of all, love to hear that.
00:01:25
Speaker
Glad you made it back safely to the Windy City.
00:01:27
Speaker
Thank you.
00:01:28
Speaker
There was a lot of football sprinkled in there as well between all the celebrations.
00:01:32
Speaker
But yes, our holidays were great.
00:01:35
Speaker
Spent a good amount of time over in Europe, bouncing around a couple different countries.
00:01:40
Speaker
And it was just magical.
00:01:43
Speaker
Going to all the little Christmas markets, the little fairytale towns.
00:01:48
Speaker
10 out of 10 recommend doing that.
00:01:49
Speaker
Just do a little something for yourself every once in a while.
NFL Week 18 Unpredictability and Playoff Dynamics
00:01:53
Speaker
Strongly recommend.
00:01:54
Speaker
And, you know, my therapist would recommend it as well.
00:01:56
Speaker
So I really like that.
00:01:58
Speaker
Shout out to all therapists out there and shout out to Europe for Christmas.
00:02:01
Speaker
10 out of 10 sounds amazing.
00:02:05
Speaker
And yeah, I bet it's a little tough to get back into the word grind, but thank goodness for week 18 and playoff football right around the corner because we have a lot to look forward to here in the next coming weeks.
00:02:15
Speaker
We do.
00:02:16
Speaker
We absolutely do.
00:02:17
Speaker
And yeah, it is tough getting back into the swing of things here.
00:02:20
Speaker
It was a little easier spending some of my day trying to pick through and look at some of these choices for week 18.
00:02:28
Speaker
But I got to say, this is going to be a tough week.
00:02:31
Speaker
And it always is a tough week because...
00:02:33
Speaker
There are a lot of wrenches thrown into the plans for teams that are playoff contenders, teams that are completely eliminated, trying to play spoiler in week 18, teams that have things locked up and that are benching their starters.
00:02:47
Speaker
So it's a really unpredictable week.
Fantasy Football Successes and Challenges
00:02:50
Speaker
It's notoriously unpredictable.
00:02:52
Speaker
It's going to be a tough one for us to win the Bucco Bucs, but we got to do it, is my understanding.
00:02:58
Speaker
Unfortunately, we do have to do it.
00:03:00
Speaker
The last couple of years, the hooligans have been really good about winning at least, I think we've won at least two the last two years, if I'm not mistaken.
00:03:07
Speaker
I think you're right.
00:03:09
Speaker
Yeah, I know we got at least two last year, and I believe that we got at least two the year prior.
00:03:14
Speaker
So we've been struggling a little bit here in 2023, but it is no longer 2023.
00:03:20
Speaker
It's now 2024.
00:03:22
Speaker
And like we were telling you all a couple weeks ago, we tend to do pretty dang good with
00:03:27
Speaker
around the holidays.
00:03:27
Speaker
And it is still technically the holiday season.
00:03:29
Speaker
So last week, the last three, unfortunately, as I'm sure all of our wave riders are picking up on, we didn't win the Bucco Bucks yet.
00:03:38
Speaker
Haven't really become, been too close, unfortunately, but this is our last chance and we got to do it.
00:03:43
Speaker
So let's, let's put up or shut up here.
00:03:46
Speaker
I don't know what's in the water.
00:03:47
Speaker
I don't know if we're so focused on beating each other for the Waffle House challenge that maybe it's kind of
00:03:53
Speaker
clouding our judgment on our picks together.
00:03:56
Speaker
I don't know what it is, but we haven't been on our game this year, but it's not over yet.
00:04:01
Speaker
We have one week left.
00:04:03
Speaker
And then typically, isn't there some sort of pool for the playoffs or is that an old Survivor League?
Waffle House Challenge Reflections
00:04:10
Speaker
I believe that there's a pool for the playoffs.
00:04:12
Speaker
So we'll definitely get in that.
00:04:13
Speaker
I'm not sure if it's additional moolah, but as we'll get to, me and you have just
00:04:18
Speaker
come across a little additional moolah.
00:04:20
Speaker
Thanks to Fentany.
00:04:21
Speaker
We both have.
00:04:21
Speaker
We both have had a slight influx in our bank accounts over the past few weeks.
00:04:26
Speaker
Do you want to talk about why you had a slight influx and then I'll jump into mine?
00:04:31
Speaker
Glad to.
00:04:32
Speaker
Yeah.
00:04:32
Speaker
So as Bob and I have mentioned in the past couple of, you know, episodes, seasons, everything, we also play fantasy football in addition to these confidence pool leagues.
00:04:44
Speaker
We play against each other in one league.
00:04:46
Speaker
I'm in another league with,
00:04:47
Speaker
my wife, Nick, and her family.
00:04:50
Speaker
And thankfully, feeling very honored to have made it to the finals, the championship game in both of those leagues, both my family's league with you and then in the Nick's family's league as well.
00:05:03
Speaker
I went one of two this year, so I'm happy for the one win.
00:05:07
Speaker
You win some, you lose some.
00:05:09
Speaker
I did win the league against Nick's family.
00:05:12
Speaker
Took out good old, soon to be, I guess he would be my brother-in-law, right?
00:05:17
Speaker
Marrying also in and marrying the family, Mario took him out in the finals.
00:05:22
Speaker
He had CMC who really got him there, but CMC didn't really show up this last week.
00:05:27
Speaker
And I think hurt a lot of people that have him in the championship game.
NFL Playoff Picture and Key Predictions
00:05:31
Speaker
I would have to agree.
00:05:32
Speaker
He, he definitely helped guide a lot of managers to the championship game.
00:05:37
Speaker
And yeah, I think he had his worst experience.
00:05:39
Speaker
point total game of the season on Sunday, which was not good timing for those in the championship games, including Mario.
00:05:45
Speaker
So unfortunately for him, very fortunate for you that he got the win.
00:05:49
Speaker
Congratulations.
00:05:50
Speaker
And wait, so you said you're in a league with your family and the Knicks family.
00:05:54
Speaker
You won your family.
00:05:55
Speaker
So I think that means that I won the other league.
00:06:00
Speaker
I won Knicks family.
00:06:01
Speaker
And I didn't say that you were in the championship with me, but yes, you were in the championship with me.
00:06:07
Speaker
And I lost that one.
00:06:09
Speaker
So process of elimination.
00:06:12
Speaker
Congratulations, Robert.
00:06:13
Speaker
Thank you so much, Mackenzie.
00:06:14
Speaker
I appreciate it.
00:06:16
Speaker
I've had some dark days in fantasy, as you know.
00:06:19
Speaker
I've had a lot of last place finishes, second to last.
00:06:21
Speaker
So it's really just a good change to be in the championship game, to get that fantasy crown.
00:06:27
Speaker
And I definitely plan on keeping it moving forward.
00:06:29
Speaker
So it was a good feeling.
00:06:30
Speaker
We'll see about that one.
00:06:33
Speaker
We definitely will.
00:06:35
Speaker
I think I'm going to crack the code.
00:06:36
Speaker
So I am planning on keeping this going for many years into the future.
00:06:40
Speaker
I'm assuming that Mac's not going to let that happen too, too easily.
00:06:44
Speaker
But yeah, on a Sunday where my boys, unfortunately, were eliminated from the playoffs, but got a win.
00:06:50
Speaker
I also was able to get a win.
00:06:52
Speaker
So look at us.
00:06:52
Speaker
You win some, you lose some.
00:06:54
Speaker
You win some, you lose some.
00:06:55
Speaker
And we both won some money.
00:06:56
Speaker
So we'll probably go and lose it in the playoff confidence pool.
00:07:00
Speaker
Probably, knowing us, that's exactly what's going to happen.
00:07:05
Speaker
All right.
00:07:05
Speaker
Well, yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to it.
00:07:08
Speaker
It is very sad to see the regular season of the NFL come to a close, but I must say, as a Lions fan, I am very excited to see what we do in the playoffs.
00:07:17
Speaker
Please don't rip my heart out, boys, like you did.
00:07:20
Speaker
Well, you didn't.
00:07:21
Speaker
The refs did this past weekend, which I'll get into that later.
00:07:24
Speaker
Don't want to spend too much time on it.
00:07:27
Speaker
I was going to say, we already promised.
00:07:29
Speaker
Well, I guess not publicly, but I promised that this, being the last regular season episode of the year, this will be New Year's... Under an hour.
00:07:39
Speaker
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
00:07:41
Speaker
How did you know that?
00:07:43
Speaker
I don't know.
00:07:43
Speaker
Just a wild hunch.
00:07:46
Speaker
The New Year is all about...
00:07:47
Speaker
New resolutions, new goals.
00:07:51
Speaker
And one of my goals in 2024 is to be a better host, be a little bit more cognizant of our WaveRiders time.
00:07:58
Speaker
And I hereby in 2024 promise to never, in all caps, N-E-V-E-R, go north of one hour on the air.
00:08:07
Speaker
And I'm just going to prove my honesty in that resolution here this afternoon.
00:08:13
Speaker
All right.
00:08:13
Speaker
Well, I can say with certainty that I am probably most of our wave riders are looking forward to seeing you try to follow through on that promise.
00:08:23
Speaker
I appreciate that.
00:08:25
Speaker
And I, I meant to text you earlier about this, but I figured we would just chat about it online.
00:08:30
Speaker
I know we were texting about possible punishments for the fantasy championship game.
00:08:34
Speaker
I know we had it down to two.
00:08:35
Speaker
I'm not sure if we actually came to a conclusion about which one we were going to go with, but did we, did we ever, uh,
00:08:42
Speaker
single out one?
00:08:43
Speaker
I guess you're right.
00:08:44
Speaker
I don't know that we did.
00:08:46
Speaker
I think we said it was going to be something when you came to visit in a few weeks.
00:08:50
Speaker
I think one of the things on the line was...
00:08:52
Speaker
maybe me buying you a beer or something or having to make sure everybody got you the money.
00:08:57
Speaker
I don't know.
00:08:57
Speaker
I don't remember.
00:08:58
Speaker
We'll have to come up with something retroactively.
00:09:01
Speaker
As long as it's not too crazy, I'll agree to it.
00:09:04
Speaker
Yeah, it won't be too, too crazy.
00:09:05
Speaker
Something like you drinking a whole bottle of like the Scoville 1 million or something like that.
00:09:10
Speaker
Or like you buy- Nothing too crazy.
00:09:12
Speaker
Nothing too crazy.
00:09:13
Speaker
Or you buy like all my food and drinks when I'm in Asheville.
00:09:16
Speaker
Nothing too crazy because I know I've never owed you any beers and not-
00:09:20
Speaker
you know, not giving those out to you.
00:09:22
Speaker
Not follow through on those.
00:09:23
Speaker
So we'll discuss offline.
00:09:26
Speaker
Max, good sport about it.
00:09:27
Speaker
She did beat me twice in the regular season, but you know what?
00:09:29
Speaker
My team decided to show up when it mattered and we're both champs.
00:09:33
Speaker
So I think this is a perfect segue into how we're going to become champs for the Bucco Bucks for the first time this year.
00:09:40
Speaker
I totally agree.
00:09:41
Speaker
But before we do that, we do got to talk about one more thing.
00:09:44
Speaker
One of us will be a champion and one of us will not in the Waffle House challenge.
Playoff Scenarios and Key Games Analysis
00:09:49
Speaker
And things were looking great.
00:09:51
Speaker
Things were looking great.
00:09:53
Speaker
It was storming outside.
00:09:55
Speaker
Things were not looking good for Mac.
00:09:57
Speaker
I believe I was down six or seven at one point.
00:10:00
Speaker
I have fought and clawed my way back.
00:10:04
Speaker
Folks, I don't know if you remember, I think it was week two.
00:10:08
Speaker
Bob and I chose five games separate.
00:10:11
Speaker
He got all five correct.
00:10:13
Speaker
I had the opportunity the first week that we were not here on air.
00:10:18
Speaker
We, again, chose, I think it was five or six separately.
00:10:21
Speaker
I got all of them correct and made my way back to one.
00:10:25
Speaker
I've been taking some Hail Mary shots, so I'm back down to now two behind because I did some crazy attempts at trying to take the lead.
00:10:34
Speaker
It didn't pan out for me, but that's okay.
00:10:36
Speaker
I'm still in this, heading into week 18.
00:10:39
Speaker
And spoiler alert, we have a lot of games that we have chosen differently.
00:10:43
Speaker
for week 18.
00:10:45
Speaker
So this is coming down to the wire.
00:10:46
Speaker
It's anybody's game at this point.
00:10:48
Speaker
And I just got to say, overall, I am very pleasantly surprised with how evenly matched we are with picking games, getting them correct, choosing accurately.
00:10:59
Speaker
I'm impressed with us.
00:11:00
Speaker
We know our stuff.
00:11:02
Speaker
We know our stuff.
00:11:03
Speaker
We love football.
00:11:04
Speaker
I think that's
00:11:06
Speaker
the most obvious statement that anyone's heard in 2024, but I'm also impressed with us and I'm impressed with your resiliency.
00:11:11
Speaker
Uh, like you said, it was, it was looking dark for you.
00:11:13
Speaker
It was looking very bright for me.
00:11:15
Speaker
I was up by six and I thought that was just going to be too much to, uh, to come back from.
00:11:18
Speaker
And Mac almost got it all back.
00:11:22
Speaker
Um, I'm clawing for my life and you know what?
00:11:25
Speaker
I'm making things happen and who knows one of us is going to be eating a lot of waffles and for a while it was for sure going to be me.
00:11:33
Speaker
I don't know.
00:11:34
Speaker
It's not as for sure anymore.
00:11:36
Speaker
It's not as for sure.
00:11:37
Speaker
It's pretty sure, but... It's not very, very sure.
00:11:41
Speaker
I'm up by two right now, spoiler alert.
00:11:43
Speaker
And I think I can speak for everybody, all of our wave riders, when I think everyone's pretty much cheering for me in this.
00:11:49
Speaker
How are they?
00:11:50
Speaker
People want to see you eat the waffles.
00:11:52
Speaker
I did a couple Instagram polls when you were gone.
00:11:54
Speaker
Did you?
00:11:55
Speaker
You probably weren't too connected.
00:11:56
Speaker
Yeah, I remember seeing those.
00:11:58
Speaker
Yeah, you probably weren't too connected because I know in Western Europe, there's not a lot of really...
00:12:02
Speaker
clean, faster.
00:12:03
Speaker
Yeah, no Wi-Fi whatsoever.
00:12:05
Speaker
No Wi-Fi in those hotels in Paris and Zurich and places like that.
00:12:08
Speaker
But I had a couple pulls up and it was a resounding, we want to see Mac in the Waffle House eating waffles.
00:12:13
Speaker
So I'm doing this for you, Wave Riders.
00:12:16
Speaker
I'm doing this for all the little guys.
00:12:17
Speaker
I'm doing it for the people that just got to prove something.
00:12:22
Speaker
And I was way up.
00:12:24
Speaker
Then I was a little down.
00:12:25
Speaker
I'm up by two.
00:12:26
Speaker
Spoiler alert.
00:12:27
Speaker
I think I've said that like four times already this episode.
00:12:29
Speaker
I think you've asked.
00:12:31
Speaker
This is a record...
00:12:32
Speaker
amount of games that we have different.
00:12:34
Speaker
I think we had six one week and I believe we've never had seven.
00:12:39
Speaker
This is a new record for sure.
00:12:41
Speaker
We have seven games different this weekend.
00:12:44
Speaker
As Mac alluded to, good word, new word, new me.
00:12:48
Speaker
There's a lot of teams resting.
00:12:49
Speaker
There's a lot of teams with a lot on the line.
00:12:51
Speaker
There's some teams that don't have anything to play for it.
00:12:53
Speaker
And there's some teams that are just trying to spoil it for the other guy.
00:12:57
Speaker
So
00:12:58
Speaker
There's a lot to dive into.
00:13:00
Speaker
A couple injuries, nothing too crazy.
00:13:02
Speaker
But yeah, it set up perfectly for, it's going to be some waffle, some craziness.
00:13:08
Speaker
Yeah, a lot is going to happen in this challenge this week.
00:13:12
Speaker
It sure is.
00:13:12
Speaker
It's going to be big time.
00:13:14
Speaker
So let's go ahead.
00:13:15
Speaker
Let's go ahead.
00:13:15
Speaker
And without further ado, why don't you set us up, Bob, tee us up, paint the picture for us.
00:13:20
Speaker
What's the current NFL playoff picture looking like?
00:13:24
Speaker
Who's still got stuff to play for?
00:13:27
Speaker
I'll go ahead and talk.
00:13:28
Speaker
touch on who has nothing to play for anymore.
00:13:31
Speaker
What's, what's the picture looking like here?
00:13:34
Speaker
Yeah.
00:13:34
Speaker
So the picture is looking pretty blurry.
00:13:37
Speaker
There is only a couple of teams that have locked up their spot in cement with the exact seating and spot and all that good stuff.
00:13:45
Speaker
So as of now in the NFC, we got the Ravens at number one, they have already clinched home field advantage in the AFC throughout.
00:13:52
Speaker
So the playoffs have to go through, I'm sorry, Mr. Jackson Lamar,
00:13:58
Speaker
Very nice.
00:13:59
Speaker
They have to go through Lamar, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Ravens.
00:14:02
Speaker
And yeah, the Ravens are locked in at once.
00:14:04
Speaker
So they have nothing to play for this weekend.
00:14:07
Speaker
As of now, the two seed in the AFC is the Dolphins playing the seven seed, the Colts, obviously in Miami.
00:14:13
Speaker
The current three seed is the Kansas City Chiefs who have been struggling against the six seed Bills in Kansas City.
00:14:20
Speaker
And the last two teams in the AFC right now are the Jags playing at home in Jacksonville against the Browns.
00:14:27
Speaker
So that's the current AFC playoff picture as it stands today.
00:14:31
Speaker
January 3rd, 2024.
00:14:32
Speaker
Weird to say that in the NFC, the Niners, just like the Ravens, their counterpart have locked in the number one seed.
00:14:39
Speaker
So everybody in the NFC has to go through Mr. McCaffrey and beautiful San Francisco and the Ravens.
00:14:46
Speaker
So they don't have anything to play for this Sunday.
00:14:48
Speaker
As of now, the Cowboys, a little bit of a,
00:14:52
Speaker
A little bit of drama from Saturday night.
00:14:54
Speaker
They are currently the two seed hosting the Packers.
00:14:58
Speaker
Not at the Bears, I've had to say about that.
00:15:00
Speaker
So we got Cowboys 2 at home against the Packers as of now.
00:15:02
Speaker
We got, gasp, what?
00:15:04
Speaker
Something's got to be wrong here.
00:15:06
Speaker
The three seed, does that say Lions?
00:15:09
Speaker
Okay, Matt, I think I got to- Detroit Lions?
00:15:11
Speaker
I think I got to double check my notes because it says Lions on the three seed, but that can't be right, right?
00:15:17
Speaker
I think it's wrong.
00:15:18
Speaker
Wow.
00:15:19
Speaker
Okay.
00:15:20
Speaker
I guess as of now.
00:15:20
Speaker
And let's just be real.
00:15:22
Speaker
It should be Lions at the two seed.
00:15:26
Speaker
No.
00:15:27
Speaker
Would we be the one seed?
00:15:28
Speaker
No, we'd be the two seed.
00:15:29
Speaker
You'd be tied, recordized at the Niners, but still with a chance of the one seed.
00:15:33
Speaker
So, yeah, there was a lot of drama.
00:15:35
Speaker
We will dive into that.
00:15:36
Speaker
No pun intended.
00:15:36
Speaker
Dive in.
00:15:37
Speaker
So, yeah, as of now, the Lions, the Detroit Lions hosting their first ever playoff game in Ford Field against their old friend Matthew Stafford and the Rams.
00:15:45
Speaker
And finally.
00:15:46
Speaker
I'm scared.
00:15:47
Speaker
I'm scared.
00:15:48
Speaker
I'm nervous.
00:15:48
Speaker
I'm so scared.
00:15:49
Speaker
I'm so scared.
00:15:51
Speaker
And the last two teams, the NFC, we got the buck.
00:15:53
Speaker
Someone's got to win the NFC South, right?
00:15:55
Speaker
As of now, they're in first place in the NFC South hosting the absolutely recently dreadful, sorry, big T Eagles who have just been really trying to give away their positioning the last four or five weeks.
00:16:06
Speaker
So yeah, that is how the playoff picture currently stands in the NFC.
00:16:11
Speaker
Okay.
00:16:12
Speaker
Thanks for running through all that, Bob.
00:16:15
Speaker
I appreciate that.
00:16:16
Speaker
So now that we know who's currently in the playoffs, we'll go ahead and take a look at who's eliminated.
00:16:22
Speaker
So everybody left still has a chance from the AFC.
00:16:27
Speaker
Sadly, the Denver Broncos, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Las Vegas Raiders, the New York Jets, the Tennessee Titans, the Los Angeles Chargers in the New England Patriots have all been eliminated from playoff contention.
00:16:43
Speaker
Wah, wah, wah.
00:16:45
Speaker
So that still leaves the Steelers and the Texans on the bubble fighting for a playoff spot.
00:16:51
Speaker
Yes.
00:16:52
Speaker
For the NFC, it's a little bit blurrier.
00:16:56
Speaker
I would say there's a few more teams that are in contention here.
00:16:59
Speaker
Unfortunately, the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants, the Washington Commanders, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Carolina Panthers have all been eliminated.
00:17:09
Speaker
That leaves the Seattle Seahawks, the New Orleans Saints, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Atlanta Falcons all still in contention fighting for a playoff spot, but just outside looking in at the current moment.
00:17:24
Speaker
So lots to consider, lots going on as we head into this weekend.
00:17:29
Speaker
And it's coming down to the wire for us for Waffle House.
Team Insights and Motivations
00:17:32
Speaker
It's coming down to a lot of these teams for Week 18, trying to get in the playoffs, clawing their way.
00:17:38
Speaker
It's going to be fun.
00:17:39
Speaker
And I have a strong feeling the playoff picture is going to look different after week 18 than it is currently.
00:17:46
Speaker
I have a feeling a lot is going to change.
00:17:47
Speaker
I want to do a quick side note.
00:17:50
Speaker
The Bears are seven and nine.
00:17:51
Speaker
A couple of those teams on the list are still seven and nine, but some bad tiebreakers and we're out of it.
00:17:55
Speaker
So shout out to my boys.
00:17:56
Speaker
You fought and clawed, but onward and upward to 2024 or 25.
00:18:01
Speaker
And let's talk about the teams that still do have a chance.
00:18:03
Speaker
Should we just kind of dive right in?
00:18:05
Speaker
I think we should.
00:18:07
Speaker
Thursday, or sorry, not Thursday night.
00:18:09
Speaker
There is no Thursday night game this week.
00:18:11
Speaker
There are only Saturday and Sunday games this week.
00:18:14
Speaker
I'm so used to saying Thursday night.
00:18:16
Speaker
Sadly, no Thursday games.
00:18:19
Speaker
We're going to have to wait all the way until Saturday, January 6th.
00:18:23
Speaker
Here we go.
00:18:24
Speaker
Kicking it off, 4.30 p.m.
00:18:25
Speaker
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens.
00:18:29
Speaker
And if you're trying to keep track, this is game one of seven that Bob and I have chosen to
00:18:36
Speaker
I think I can safely determine what your argument is for why you chose the way that you did.
00:18:45
Speaker
But I'll just say for my team, I went ahead with the Baltimore Ravens.
00:18:51
Speaker
if this was at any other week, I think we for sure both would a hundred percent go Baltimore Ravens here.
00:18:56
Speaker
They have been dismantling teams left and right all season long.
00:19:03
Speaker
Not to be overlooked was the dismantling of both the Miami dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers, two teams that arguably could be super bowl contenders currently.
00:19:15
Speaker
And the Ravens just absolutely tore them apart.
00:19:17
Speaker
And,
00:19:18
Speaker
I got to say, I felt, I texted Bob about this.
00:19:20
Speaker
I felt so much better about the way they destroyed my boys.
00:19:25
Speaker
When I watched them then go destroy the 49ers and the dolphins made me feel a lot better.
00:19:30
Speaker
Doesn't make me feel good for anybody beating them in the super bowl, but Hey, you never know anything can happen and they've lost a couple of games.
00:19:39
Speaker
What is it?
00:19:39
Speaker
Three, four games they've lost.
00:19:41
Speaker
So I think they have lost three right now.
00:19:42
Speaker
Yup.
00:19:43
Speaker
So it can happen folks.
00:19:45
Speaker
It's not impossible.
00:19:47
Speaker
But all that to say, I'm sticking with the home team here.
00:19:51
Speaker
I do believe they're going to be resting probably all of their starters.
00:19:55
Speaker
Just before we started recording, Bob told me that officially they did say they are resting Lamar Jackson and that Tyler Huntley would be playing.
00:20:03
Speaker
He has played a little bit this season, and he's been doing okay.
00:20:07
Speaker
I don't know.
00:20:08
Speaker
I think ultimately what it's going to come down to here for me
00:20:13
Speaker
is that the Ravens have an opportunity here to take out the Pittsburgh Steelers, a divisional opponent, an absolute rival.
00:20:22
Speaker
They have an opportunity to completely knock them out of the playoffs.
00:20:27
Speaker
The way this team has been playing incredibly well, I feel like that has to extend beyond just the starters on the field.
00:20:35
Speaker
So I'm hopeful that that
00:20:37
Speaker
energy, that motivation, those levels of play are going all the way through the entire team, not just the starters.
00:20:45
Speaker
And I think they're going to be hype.
00:20:46
Speaker
I think they're going to be ready trying to go into the playoffs.
00:20:49
Speaker
They've got a first round by, I think they're going to try and end on a high note.
00:20:53
Speaker
And yes, their starters are going to be resting, but they still have the same coaching staff.
00:20:58
Speaker
They still have these people that have been playing with them all week long.
00:21:01
Speaker
And Baltimore just looks unbeatable right now.
00:21:04
Speaker
I don't care who you throw out there.
00:21:06
Speaker
Maybe me.
00:21:06
Speaker
I think I could win at Baltimore right now.
00:21:09
Speaker
So that's how I'm going with them.
00:21:11
Speaker
Go ahead and jersey up.
00:21:13
Speaker
Yeah, I might as well.
00:21:14
Speaker
That's why I'm going with them.
00:21:15
Speaker
I'm going with them pretty scary high because we have seven games different this week.
00:21:22
Speaker
So I'm going with them at six.
00:21:25
Speaker
At six.
00:21:26
Speaker
Okay.
00:21:26
Speaker
Well, I am going with the other team at eight.
00:21:29
Speaker
So a little more dangerously high.
00:21:32
Speaker
And you actually made a lot of really good points there that I didn't think about.
00:21:35
Speaker
And something that also is probably going to go against my argument here.
00:21:37
Speaker
So I wish I could switch now, but the Ravens, the Ravens already locked in the number one seed, which means they have an off week between this week and their first playoff game.
00:21:45
Speaker
So I don't think they're going to want to be too, too cold.
00:21:47
Speaker
So I'm assuming they're going to be resting.
00:21:49
Speaker
Some people as Mac alluded to, they are resting Lamar, the Ravens,
00:21:54
Speaker
the eventual MVP it looks like.
00:21:56
Speaker
And probably a couple of guys, he's going to be the MVP for sure.
00:21:59
Speaker
It looked like McCaffrey was the only guy that could stop him and him getting injured and having a not great game and Lamar having five touchdowns, I think pretty much cemented that.
00:22:08
Speaker
So we'll send him a little swag.
00:22:09
Speaker
He deserves it.
00:22:09
Speaker
He'll get some hardware and some swag, but yeah, the Ravens probably aren't going to want to rest to too many players just because they don't want to get too out of this unbelievable rhythm that they're in.
00:22:19
Speaker
The reason that I had the Steelers is because as Max said, they have everything to play for.
00:22:24
Speaker
And their current situation is this.
00:22:26
Speaker
So it gets really murky here.
00:22:27
Speaker
And I wrote down, like, there's like nine different scenarios with like ties.
00:22:31
Speaker
So me and Mac decided to save some time.
00:22:33
Speaker
We're not going to talk about the ties because there's been zero ties in the NFL this year.
00:22:36
Speaker
So probably not going to happen.
00:22:38
Speaker
Now that I said that probably be a bunch of ties this weekend, but every single game ends in a tie, all 16 tie, tie, tie, tie
00:22:52
Speaker
I guess more realistic ways that the Steelers could get into the playoffs are they get in with a win plus a bills loss or a win plus a Jags loss.
00:23:04
Speaker
So they need to win no matter what.
00:23:06
Speaker
And then they need some help no matter what.
00:23:07
Speaker
So Steelers are definitely up against it.
00:23:10
Speaker
Side note, first nugget of week 18.
00:23:12
Speaker
Hope you're hungry.
00:23:13
Speaker
Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.
00:23:15
Speaker
And 2024 is about new nuggets and new, like I said, just new New Year's resolutions.
00:23:22
Speaker
Oh my gosh.
00:23:23
Speaker
I'm over here nodding my head, but I know where this is going.
00:23:26
Speaker
It's not a new nugget.
00:23:28
Speaker
I think you might be a little surprised because this is a brand new nugget we've never talked about on the podcast.
00:23:34
Speaker
Coach of the Steelers, Mike Tomlin.
00:23:35
Speaker
Don't know if you've heard of him.
00:23:36
Speaker
He's a stud.
00:23:37
Speaker
He has never had a season coaching the Steelers.
00:23:40
Speaker
He's been there for a long time, more than 20 years.
00:23:43
Speaker
He has never had a season where the Steelers were not at least 500.
00:23:47
Speaker
And by them beating the Seahawks on New Year's Eve, it's guaranteed another season above 500 or better.
00:23:56
Speaker
And this is a season where Pickett's been hurt.
00:23:58
Speaker
Pickens has been hurt.
00:23:59
Speaker
Mason Rudolph has started multiple games.
00:24:01
Speaker
Mitch Trubisky has started multiple games.
00:24:06
Speaker
And this guy still figures out a way to get his team, always it feels like, in the hunt or into the playoffs.
00:24:12
Speaker
So shout out to you, Tomlin.
00:24:13
Speaker
I know that nugget is brand new and everyone's probably like, what?
00:24:15
Speaker
Well, either way, he's finished above 500 because right now they're 9-7.
00:24:19
Speaker
So even if they lose, they'd be 9-8.
00:24:21
Speaker
Exactly.
00:24:22
Speaker
So he's already guaranteed another year of not
00:24:26
Speaker
having below 500 record as the coach of the Steelers, which is just incredible with all the injuries they've had and all the uncertainties.
00:24:31
Speaker
How would that impact him winning this week?
00:24:33
Speaker
It doesn't.
00:24:34
Speaker
I just wanted to give him a shout out and just talk about that nugget.
00:24:37
Speaker
That is just fascinating to me.
00:24:40
Speaker
I found that the other night and sent it to Mac and I'm like, oh my God, I wish we would have said this on the podcast.
00:24:43
Speaker
Oh my gosh.
00:24:45
Speaker
That's a really good one.
00:24:45
Speaker
For anyone that hasn't listened to episode one of this season, please go back.
00:24:50
Speaker
Oh shoot.
00:24:50
Speaker
I think that might get deleted.
00:24:51
Speaker
Dang it.
00:24:52
Speaker
That's kind of crazy how that happened.
00:24:52
Speaker
Shoot.
00:24:54
Speaker
All that to say, like I said, I had the Steelers.
00:24:56
Speaker
I had them at eight.
00:24:57
Speaker
But this is a game that I would be very willing to switch for our own confidences for the hooligans.
00:25:03
Speaker
So we'll talk offline.
00:25:04
Speaker
But yeah, I had Steelers just because they have so much to play for.
00:25:07
Speaker
They need a win and they need some help.
00:25:08
Speaker
So they're going to be putting it all on the line on Sunday.
00:25:11
Speaker
All right.
00:25:12
Speaker
Sounds good.
00:25:14
Speaker
I like it.
00:25:14
Speaker
I appreciate it.
00:25:15
Speaker
And I appreciate you throwing out that nugget.
00:25:18
Speaker
And I am going to actually offer the first true new nugget of 2024 because I got a pretty juicy one.
00:25:25
Speaker
So I don't know.
00:25:26
Speaker
Have you eaten dinner yet?
00:25:27
Speaker
A late lunch?
00:25:28
Speaker
Anything?
00:25:29
Speaker
I had a late lunch on my little stuff, but I'm always ready for some nugs.
00:25:32
Speaker
Okay.
00:25:33
Speaker
Well, buckle up because here's a nugget.
00:25:35
Speaker
Nom, nom, nom.
00:25:37
Speaker
Heading in to week 18.
00:25:40
Speaker
Teams that are in a must-win situation.
00:25:43
Speaker
So Week 18 is a pretty new thing.
00:25:45
Speaker
Keep that in mind.
00:25:46
Speaker
Yep.
00:25:47
Speaker
Teams that are in a must-win situation.
00:25:49
Speaker
So they win and they're in.
00:25:50
Speaker
They cannot lose or else they're out of the playoffs.
00:25:54
Speaker
Teams that are in this situation for a chance at reaching the playoffs are 18 and 28.
00:25:59
Speaker
Whoa, that's not a great win percentage.
00:26:02
Speaker
That's not a great win percentage.
00:26:04
Speaker
So it's just something to keep in mind.
00:26:06
Speaker
I know we put a lot of stock into these teams that,
00:26:09
Speaker
have to win it all to get it into the playoffs, but it's really not that good of a percentage, honestly, looking forward.
00:26:15
Speaker
So maybe we put too much stock into it.
00:26:18
Speaker
Just something to consider.
00:26:20
Speaker
Well, that's a good nugget.
00:26:21
Speaker
The second new and, you know, exciting nugget of the episode.
00:26:24
Speaker
Thank you for that.
00:26:25
Speaker
Less juicy than the Mike Tomlin one.
00:26:28
Speaker
Talmud's super juicy.
00:26:28
Speaker
This one's pretty juicy, but yeah, I think there's a little less meat on that, on that nug, but thank you for that.
00:26:33
Speaker
Don't know how the heck you found that.
00:26:34
Speaker
That's a awesome nugget.
00:26:36
Speaker
And hopefully the bears can make that win percentage in green Bay this Sunday, a little, a little, a little worse.
00:26:43
Speaker
And I know your, your boys have hurt that.
00:26:47
Speaker
Hurt that win percentage by beating green Bay last year.
00:26:49
Speaker
So we have.
00:26:50
Speaker
All right.
00:26:53
Speaker
Well, with all that being said, let's go ahead and move along to the second game of the Saturday slate, 8.15 p.m.
00:27:00
Speaker
This is a must-win game for both of these teams.
00:27:03
Speaker
So one of them is going to end up on that percentage in a good way, and one of them is going to end up in a bad way of that nugget I just shared.
00:27:10
Speaker
We have the Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts.
00:27:14
Speaker
Spoiler alert, number two out of seven that we chose separately.
00:27:18
Speaker
Kick us off, Bob.
00:27:19
Speaker
Game number two of the week.
00:27:20
Speaker
Game number two that me and Mac have different in the Wallflower Challenge.
00:27:23
Speaker
So I'm going to dive right in here to talk about, do you want me to talk about both playoff scenarios for these teams?
00:27:29
Speaker
Yeah, go ahead.
00:27:30
Speaker
Why don't you let us know about the playoff scenarios?
00:27:32
Speaker
Bob's our playoff scenario guru.
00:27:34
Speaker
He sent me over a text earlier with all the different options.
00:27:37
Speaker
Also broken down was like, if team's tied.
00:27:39
Speaker
So these were multiple pictures worth.
00:27:42
Speaker
A lot of research that you did, which I appreciate.
00:27:45
Speaker
You're welcome.
00:27:45
Speaker
But yeah, why don't you give us just a quick synopsis of what we're looking at?
00:27:49
Speaker
Yes.
00:27:50
Speaker
In, in, in the process of keeping this under an hour, I am going to not talk about the ties as I alluded to.
00:27:56
Speaker
So I'm not going to say that again, save some time, just wasted some time saying that again, but okay.
00:27:59
Speaker
So we got Colton Texans is in Indy.
00:28:01
Speaker
It's Saturday night.
00:28:03
Speaker
Everything's on the line.
00:28:04
Speaker
So for the Texans, if they win, they clinch a spot.
00:28:08
Speaker
So all they need to do to clinch a wildcard spot is get a win to win the division, the AFC South,
00:28:14
Speaker
They need to beat the Colts and have the Jags lose.
00:28:17
Speaker
So the Jags are in the driver's seat for the division, but Texans can clinch it with a win and a Jags loss.
00:28:23
Speaker
So Texans win, they're in.
00:28:25
Speaker
Plain and simple.
00:28:26
Speaker
Texans win, Jags lose, they win the division.
00:28:28
Speaker
Moving on.
00:28:29
Speaker
Colts.
00:28:30
Speaker
Obviously, they're at home.
00:28:31
Speaker
Indy's going to be rocking Lucas Oil Stadium.
00:28:33
Speaker
Let's go, baby.
00:28:34
Speaker
They clinched the division, the AFC South, with a win over the Texans, obviously, and a Jags loss slash tie.
00:28:41
Speaker
Sorry.
00:28:42
Speaker
And they make the playoffs with just a win.
00:28:44
Speaker
So both of these teams, they win, they're in.
00:28:46
Speaker
They need a little help to win the division.
00:28:48
Speaker
Jags are in the driver's seat, like I said.
00:28:49
Speaker
But both win, and they're in the playoffs.
00:28:51
Speaker
Everything's on the line.
00:28:52
Speaker
I think the Texans are going to win this game.
00:28:55
Speaker
And as Max said in the last game, some of these have to be a little scary high, even though they're kind of 50-50 games.
00:29:01
Speaker
Oh, my gosh.
00:29:01
Speaker
This is really high.
00:29:02
Speaker
I have the Texans at 9.
00:29:05
Speaker
I have the Texans at nine, and I know that's a little scary, but the Texans have been struggling a little bit because CJ Stroud's been hurt, Nico Collins has been hurt, and both guys are healthy, and they look dominant against the Titans.
00:29:19
Speaker
Colts are just kind of a weird team for me.
00:29:21
Speaker
Sometimes they look okay.
00:29:22
Speaker
Sometimes they look horrendous.
00:29:24
Speaker
I believe the Colts just beat the Raiders on Sunday, but it wasn't by a ton,
00:29:31
Speaker
Yeah, I'm pulling it up right now.
00:29:32
Speaker
It's like this guy wasn't ready.
00:29:34
Speaker
Yes, 23-20.
00:29:35
Speaker
Yes, they won 23-20.
00:29:36
Speaker
But last weekend, they lost 29-10 to a Falcons team, who I just had a front row seat watching them at Soldier Field, go Bears.
00:29:43
Speaker
And the Bears absolutely dismantled the Falcons.
00:29:44
Speaker
So Colts are just one week.
00:29:47
Speaker
They look great.
00:29:48
Speaker
Beat the Steelers 30-13.
00:29:48
Speaker
Lost to the Bengals 34-14.
00:29:49
Speaker
Crazy.
00:29:53
Speaker
beat the Raiders by three loss to the Falcons by 19.
00:29:55
Speaker
I just think the Texans have a better defense.
00:29:59
Speaker
I think the Texans have a much better quarterback.
00:30:01
Speaker
No offense to Gardner Minshew.
00:30:02
Speaker
Cool story.
00:30:03
Speaker
I think CJ Strout is a much better playmaker.
00:30:06
Speaker
I think he's got better playmakers around him.
00:30:09
Speaker
Jonathan Taylor's not really been the same since his injury almost screwed me a fantasy championship.
00:30:13
Speaker
So I got the Texans.
00:30:14
Speaker
I feel pretty confident with them.
00:30:15
Speaker
So this is probably one I'm a little, a little bit more stuck in the cement on in terms of moving.
00:30:20
Speaker
Wow.
00:30:20
Speaker
But yeah, that's a, that's what I'm at.
00:30:22
Speaker
I'd love to hear your expert analysis.
00:30:25
Speaker
Okay.
00:30:25
Speaker
Sounds good.
00:30:26
Speaker
So this is one, I mean, I, I wouldn't say I'm, I'm certainly not as confident as you.
00:30:32
Speaker
I, if we do switch to Texans, I don't necessarily think I want to go all the way nine though, because I do think there is an argument to be made for the Colts.
00:30:40
Speaker
One, they already beat the Texans once this year.
00:30:42
Speaker
I know it was way early on in the season, totally different.
00:30:45
Speaker
It's a lifetime ago.
00:30:46
Speaker
Anthony Richardson was playing, you know, it was just the beginning of the season.
00:30:51
Speaker
So yeah,
00:30:51
Speaker
That can't be taken into consideration too much.
00:30:55
Speaker
I would push back a little bit on the Jonathan Taylor stuff.
00:30:58
Speaker
I know he maybe fantasy wise has been doing great, but he seems to be kind of going back up in upward trajectory.
00:31:05
Speaker
Bob's crashing it down to the bottom, but it feels like
Humorous Interlude with Sponsor Shoutout
00:31:09
Speaker
he's getting back in there and being a playmaker for them.
00:31:12
Speaker
And then finally, I think the biggest thing for me with this win-and-in scenario for both of these teams, obviously, as you mentioned, whoever loses is done.
00:31:20
Speaker
There's no shot.
00:31:22
Speaker
This is how you're getting your wild card spot is to win this game.
00:31:27
Speaker
With it being in Indianapolis in such a 50-50 game already with this interdivisional matchup, it just feels to me like that's the slight edge that Indianapolis may need to
00:31:39
Speaker
being at home against CJ Stroud.
00:31:41
Speaker
The fans are going to be rocking.
00:31:42
Speaker
They're going to be rolling.
00:31:43
Speaker
They're going to be trying to do anything that they can to push their team ahead.
00:31:47
Speaker
I will say, obviously, playmaker-wise, I think CJ Stroud is way better than Gardner Minshew.
00:31:53
Speaker
Again, nothing against him.
00:31:54
Speaker
CJ Stroud's just been incredible and honestly was in contention for, and possibly still is for, rookie of the year.
00:32:00
Speaker
Obviously, he had an injury, which set him back, I think, a little bit in some of that.
00:32:05
Speaker
But all that to say,
00:32:07
Speaker
Yes, I agree.
00:32:08
Speaker
I kind of believe a little bit more in CJ Stroud on offense.
00:32:13
Speaker
The Colts for me just have that slight edge being at home.
00:32:19
Speaker
Not to mention also, I know they lost a few weeks ago, but that was when the Jonathan Taylor injury was occurring.
00:32:24
Speaker
So I don't know.
00:32:25
Speaker
There's just a lot of factors that I think it's going to shake out and be a very close game.
00:32:31
Speaker
And I'm going into here.
00:32:33
Speaker
I also...
00:32:34
Speaker
was pretty certain you were going to go Texans because you've been a fan of them all season long.
00:32:38
Speaker
So if I'm completely honest, I knew I needed at least three games separate than you this week.
00:32:44
Speaker
And so that was one that I was trying to be a little strategic about.
00:32:49
Speaker
Well, hey, you wanted at least three.
00:32:50
Speaker
You got that.
00:32:51
Speaker
And then some.
00:32:52
Speaker
And then some.
00:32:53
Speaker
Nicely done.
00:32:54
Speaker
And did you say your confidence in the Colts?
00:32:55
Speaker
Oh, sorry, I didn't.
00:32:56
Speaker
This is my number one confidence.
00:32:58
Speaker
Oh, okay.
00:32:59
Speaker
That makes me feel a little better.
00:33:00
Speaker
Okay, so all that to say, if we're like meeting in the middle, we'll probably –
00:33:04
Speaker
Go like seven or eight for the Texans.
00:33:06
Speaker
Oh my gosh.
00:33:07
Speaker
We'll let you all know for sure.
00:33:09
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see.
00:33:09
Speaker
All right.
00:33:13
Speaker
Well, that sounds good.
00:33:14
Speaker
That wraps up Saturday.
00:33:15
Speaker
So moving into Sunday, kicking it off, we have the Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals.
00:33:22
Speaker
And wow, three for three right off the bat.
00:33:24
Speaker
We're choosing three separate.
00:33:27
Speaker
So for me, this is what I went back and forth on.
00:33:30
Speaker
I definitely...
00:33:31
Speaker
considered choosing the Bengals here, but spoiler alert, I went ahead and chose the Browns.
00:33:37
Speaker
I do think there's a pretty big potential that the Browns are going to be resting some guys.
00:33:42
Speaker
I believe they are locked into the number five seed.
00:33:45
Speaker
I don't think they can move up or down.
00:33:48
Speaker
That is where they'll be.
00:33:49
Speaker
So I think there's a good potential.
00:33:51
Speaker
They're going to rest some guys, try to prep for the playoffs.
00:33:55
Speaker
That being said,
00:33:56
Speaker
I don't know that they will rest Joe Flacco 100% of the time, considering he's still fairly new to the Browns scheme.
00:34:05
Speaker
I could definitely see them trying to get him some plays, some looks, just trying to really get him to continue his groove that he's been establishing there in Cleveland.
00:34:16
Speaker
And he's been looking phenomenal.
00:34:18
Speaker
Who would have thunk at the start of this season that Joe Flacco would be leading the Cleveland Browns by the end of the season?
00:34:25
Speaker
taking them, turning them into a playoff team.
00:34:28
Speaker
And here they are looking pretty darn good.
00:34:31
Speaker
I mean, 11 and five, unbelievable.
00:34:34
Speaker
They can win 12 games.
00:34:36
Speaker
Really grew that.
00:34:36
Speaker
Sorry.
00:34:36
Speaker
I kind of cut you off.
00:34:37
Speaker
I don't think we heard your confidence.
00:34:39
Speaker
No.
00:34:40
Speaker
Yeah.
00:34:40
Speaker
I didn't finish yet, but, but no, that absolutely.
00:34:43
Speaker
I think that's team that I don't think anybody would want to see in the playoffs.
00:34:47
Speaker
So a good on Joe Flacco.
00:34:49
Speaker
All that to say, I know this game is in Cincinnati.
00:34:53
Speaker
Cincinnati's out of it, though.
00:34:54
Speaker
I think their only motivation here would be to go and try and play spoiler for Cleveland.
00:34:59
Speaker
They can't really spoil anything, though.
00:35:02
Speaker
So I don't really know that they're going to be doing too, too much other than just to
00:35:07
Speaker
get one last win under their belts, Jake Browning, maybe try to make a name for himself a little bit.
00:35:11
Speaker
Cincinnati's been doing fine.
00:35:13
Speaker
I just think Cleveland's the better team through and through.
00:35:16
Speaker
And I don't know for sure if they're going to rest all of their starters.
00:35:19
Speaker
If they come out on Sunday saying we're resting every single one, okay, maybe I'll consider switching.
00:35:24
Speaker
Right now, if some of them play, I think Cleveland's still the better team.
00:35:28
Speaker
So that's why I went with them.
00:35:30
Speaker
Again, kind of scary high because we have seven different.
00:35:33
Speaker
This is a seven for me.
00:35:35
Speaker
Oh my goodness gracious.
00:35:37
Speaker
We have a lot to talk about tomorrow.
00:35:39
Speaker
Smokey the bear.
00:35:43
Speaker
Yeah.
00:35:43
Speaker
You make a lot of good points there for sure.
00:35:45
Speaker
And a little side note, little caveat, not caviar caveat.
00:35:49
Speaker
This is one of the few games that has literally nothing on the line.
00:35:53
Speaker
Browns, as Mac said, are stuck at the five.
00:35:56
Speaker
They can't move.
00:35:57
Speaker
Bengals have been eliminated.
00:35:58
Speaker
So this truly has nothing on the line in terms of spoiling, seeding, or getting into the playoffs.
00:36:04
Speaker
So this is,
00:36:05
Speaker
Really a meaningless game when it's all said and done.
00:36:07
Speaker
But for the Waffle House Challenge, it means just as much as any other game.
00:36:10
Speaker
It means a lot for the Waffle House Challenge.
00:36:12
Speaker
It means a lot.
00:36:13
Speaker
It means exactly as much as all the other games.
00:36:15
Speaker
And I also went back and forth on this like crazy.
00:36:18
Speaker
I was looking up Brown stuff to see if they were sitting people.
00:36:21
Speaker
I was looking up Bengals stuff.
00:36:22
Speaker
And the reason that I went Bengals was because I think that that's a team with a lot of pride.
00:36:26
Speaker
They have had a really good three-year stretch of making the Super Bowl, making the AFC Championship game, and making the AFC Championship game again.
00:36:32
Speaker
And they've had a couple tough games in a row to eliminate them from the playoffs as of last week.
00:36:38
Speaker
But that defense is still proud.
00:36:39
Speaker
It's at home.
00:36:40
Speaker
And I think they're going to want to end on a positive note and not finish last in the division.
00:36:45
Speaker
And the Browns have nothing to play for.
00:36:47
Speaker
So I do not think a 38-year-old Flacco is going to be out on the field very long.
00:36:52
Speaker
I do think they'll want to get him some reps, as Max said, but I don't think they're going to want to
00:36:56
Speaker
have him taking hits in a January game in Ohio.
00:37:00
Speaker
So that's why I have the Bengals winning at home to finish their season on a positive note.
00:37:04
Speaker
I only have them at one.
00:37:05
Speaker
So this is my least confident game, but I am kind of confident.
00:37:09
Speaker
So that's what I'm thinking.
00:37:11
Speaker
Okay.
00:37:13
Speaker
Well, then that makes me feel better.
00:37:15
Speaker
If my one made you feel better, then your one makes me feel better.
00:37:18
Speaker
Really good points there, Bob.
00:37:19
Speaker
Thank you so much for talking about that.
00:37:22
Speaker
Really good points there, Bob.
00:37:23
Speaker
Thank you so much.
00:37:23
Speaker
Thanks for adding that commentary.
00:37:26
Speaker
Well, thank you for saying that.
00:37:27
Speaker
I appreciate it.
00:37:29
Speaker
All right.
00:37:29
Speaker
Next up, finally, our first game that we better agree on or else I'm going to find you and destroy you.
00:37:35
Speaker
Oh, my gosh.
00:37:35
Speaker
The Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions.
00:37:41
Speaker
Wow.
00:37:41
Speaker
And I get this game.
00:37:43
Speaker
Isn't that swell?
00:37:44
Speaker
So, yeah, there's not much on the line in this game.
00:37:47
Speaker
In terms of seeding, I'll give you the mic here.
00:37:49
Speaker
I'm sure everyone is just chopping up the bit to hear your reaction.
00:37:52
Speaker
Oh, yeah, give me the mic.
00:37:52
Speaker
You'll have to rip it back from me.
00:37:54
Speaker
Oh, I'm going to rip it back for sure because we're keeping this under an hour.
00:37:56
Speaker
22 minutes left, folks.
00:37:58
Speaker
He says as we're at 37 minutes, 38.
00:38:02
Speaker
Only about 13 games left, and we've got 20 minutes.
00:38:03
Speaker
Easy peasy.
00:38:05
Speaker
There's not too much on the line for Detroit thanks to Saturday night.
00:38:09
Speaker
They can still get the two seed, which does have some significance.
00:38:12
Speaker
That means you have two home games rather than one.
00:38:15
Speaker
which is a big deal.
00:38:16
Speaker
So if the lions win and the Cowboys lose, the lions clinch the two seed.
00:38:21
Speaker
They are locked in at either the three or the two.
00:38:23
Speaker
As of now, they're the three.
00:38:25
Speaker
Now for the visiting Minnesota Vikings, they have a lot more on the line and they're the team holding onto the playoffs with the hopes of a hair on their chinny chin chin.
00:38:35
Speaker
They're literally the last team holding on and they need a lot folks.
00:38:40
Speaker
Don't mean to offend you here, Minneapolis, but don't hold your breath because this is a lot.
00:38:44
Speaker
So this is going to get a little murky.
00:38:46
Speaker
Stay with me.
00:38:47
Speaker
Buckle up.
00:38:48
Speaker
So for the Vikings to clinch a wild card spot, they need to beat the Detroit Lions, a mad Lions team, as Dan Campbell described them, looking for vengeance, looking for vengeance, looking for vengeance,
00:39:02
Speaker
They need to beat the Lions in Detroit.
00:39:03
Speaker
They need the Bears to beat the Packers in Green Bay.
00:39:07
Speaker
And they also need the Seahawks and the Bucs to lose.
00:39:11
Speaker
So not only do the Vikings need to beat the Lions in Detroit.
00:39:14
Speaker
The Vikings need a miracle.
00:39:15
Speaker
They need a lot.
00:39:16
Speaker
They need a win and three teams to lose.
00:39:19
Speaker
So I'm not going to really dive into that too much.
00:39:21
Speaker
Vikings aren't looking great, but that is what's happening.
00:39:25
Speaker
And yeah, I mean, like I said, Lions don't have too much to play for.
00:39:27
Speaker
I...
00:39:29
Speaker
You do not need to find me and destroy me.
00:39:30
Speaker
I am going with your boys.
00:39:31
Speaker
I'm going with them pretty high as well.
00:39:33
Speaker
Oh, thanks, Bob.
00:39:34
Speaker
Of course, of course.
00:39:35
Speaker
I'm just doing that for you.
00:39:36
Speaker
Happy New Year.
00:39:37
Speaker
New Year, new me.
00:39:38
Speaker
Thank you.
00:39:39
Speaker
I think in another scenario, the Lions might be arresting some people, but they're pissed.
00:39:43
Speaker
I think they're trying to make a statement to the league and to all the naysayers.
00:39:47
Speaker
And I think they're going to play their starters for most of the game.
00:39:50
Speaker
And they do still have a chance to get the two seed, which is huge, as I said.
00:39:52
Speaker
So just at the Vikings, they have this QB carousel.
00:39:56
Speaker
I feel like they start Dobbs or Mullins or Hall in descending weeks.
00:40:01
Speaker
It's just every week I feel like they have a new starter.
00:40:04
Speaker
It ain't working for them.
00:40:05
Speaker
I think the Lions are going to defend the den, the kitty den.
00:40:09
Speaker
And I think they're going to win at a confidence of 11.
00:40:11
Speaker
Wow.
00:40:12
Speaker
Okay.
00:40:13
Speaker
Thanks, Bob.
00:40:14
Speaker
Mac, did you happen to watch that game on Saturday?
00:40:16
Speaker
We'd love to hear your thoughts on just that game.
00:40:20
Speaker
I did.
00:40:20
Speaker
I did watch the game.
00:40:22
Speaker
And what Bob is referencing, if you have not heard or seen, which I'm sure pretty much everybody has heard or seen, whether or not you follow football at this point, there was a question at the end of the game that,
00:40:36
Speaker
against the Cowboys that was a very questionable call on part by the refs on the part of the refs.
00:40:45
Speaker
So what happened was the Lions were down back and forth game.
00:40:50
Speaker
We were holding our own pretty well against the Cowboys.
00:40:54
Speaker
Honestly, this is a Cowboys team that has scored an average of 40 points at home against all their opponents.
00:41:00
Speaker
They have won every single game at home this year.
00:41:03
Speaker
I was going into it with some lower expectations and that's probably not fair to put on my boys, but I was trying to protect myself, but we were doing an incredible job.
00:41:12
Speaker
There's a few minutes left.
00:41:13
Speaker
Jared Goff gets the ball.
00:41:15
Speaker
The game is in his hands.
00:41:16
Speaker
He marches down, scores a touchdown to none other than Amon Ross-Ate Brown.
00:41:22
Speaker
And lo and behold, Dan Campbell is an absolute madman.
00:41:26
Speaker
Bob sent me that text during the game, which is incredibly true and very accurate.
00:41:31
Speaker
He goes for two to try to win the game.
00:41:34
Speaker
He's not going to kick the field goal.
00:41:35
Speaker
He's not going to send it to overtime.
00:41:37
Speaker
He's going to go for two to win the game.
00:41:40
Speaker
They line up.
00:41:42
Speaker
They pass it to none other than offensive lineman Taylor Decker in the end zone, number 68.
00:41:49
Speaker
I know that now because of all the things I've seen.
00:41:53
Speaker
They put this big dude out there in the corner of the end zone.
00:41:56
Speaker
He catches it.
00:41:57
Speaker
Two points.
00:41:58
Speaker
Everybody's celebrating.
00:42:00
Speaker
The place is just wild with Lions fans.
00:42:03
Speaker
You know, I was going crazy.
00:42:05
Speaker
I couldn't believe it.
00:42:06
Speaker
A couple seconds later, the refs throw a flag.
00:42:10
Speaker
All this to say, supposedly the refs were confused and thought somebody else reported as eligible.
00:42:19
Speaker
If you're a lineman that doesn't typically go out to catch a play, you have to report yourself as eligible that you are going to then go catch a play because the refs will let the defense know who to essentially cover.
00:42:32
Speaker
All this to say they thought a different number reported, not the guy who caught it.
00:42:36
Speaker
They pull it back.
00:42:38
Speaker
We didn't have to go for it two more times.
00:42:41
Speaker
We could have just then kicked the field goal at that point and sent it to overtime.
00:42:44
Speaker
So that part I'm not very happy with Dan Campbell with, but it was pretty unfortunate.
00:42:49
Speaker
There's a video of him literally going up to the refs.
00:42:53
Speaker
It looks like it was just a confusing scenario, confusing situation.
00:42:57
Speaker
It didn't work out in the line's favor.
00:42:59
Speaker
Obviously, they were very upset.
00:43:00
Speaker
I think Lions fans around the world are pretty upset because it definitely is going to impact us into the playoffs if we face the Cowboys.
00:43:10
Speaker
Instead of hosting them at Ford Field, we would now have to go play them.
00:43:14
Speaker
If things stay as they are, we would now have to go play them in Dallas again.
00:43:19
Speaker
So, yeah.
00:43:21
Speaker
I don't know, some big impacts on one play of the game, but there were a lot of other plays of the game that we could have made.
00:43:27
Speaker
We could have kicked the field goal earlier.
00:43:29
Speaker
We could have done some other things differently as well.
00:43:31
Speaker
So can't put a hundred percent there, but it is definitely frustrating.
00:43:35
Speaker
Definitely frustrating.
00:43:37
Speaker
Sorry.
00:43:37
Speaker
10, 10 of our last 20 minutes.
00:43:41
Speaker
I was just going to say, I did make a promise.
00:43:43
Speaker
My cohost did just talk about the game for about 10 minutes.
00:43:46
Speaker
So just want to let you know, I was planning on under an hour.
00:43:49
Speaker
It's not Bob now.
00:43:51
Speaker
It's definitely not me.
00:43:52
Speaker
It's a Mac thing.
00:43:52
Speaker
New year, new us.
00:43:53
Speaker
Apparently we're switching roles.
00:43:55
Speaker
This will not be under an hour.
00:43:56
Speaker
Spoiler alert.
00:43:57
Speaker
I don't want to, you know, people that have, you know, Friday supper or something to be waiting for this to be done in 19 minutes.
00:44:03
Speaker
It's not going to be.
00:44:05
Speaker
But yes, all jokes aside, that was crazy.
00:44:08
Speaker
Lions had a game, a snatch from them.
00:44:10
Speaker
And I told Mac, I knew not much that I could have said was going to make you feel much better.
00:44:14
Speaker
But I said, no one had beaten the Cowboys in Dallas or even come close all year.
00:44:19
Speaker
And if it wasn't for that BS mess up and mishap by the refs, your boys would have done that.
00:44:25
Speaker
And it showed that you can...
00:44:26
Speaker
beat anybody anywhere in the league.
00:44:29
Speaker
And it's gotta be, it's gotta be a little promising.
00:44:31
Speaker
It does feel promising.
00:44:32
Speaker
The way we played feels very promising.
00:44:34
Speaker
I think we absolutely will carry that rage into the playoffs and you know, it could end up being a really good thing for us.
00:44:40
Speaker
Maybe it's enough to fuel, fuel us forward.
00:44:43
Speaker
I know Dan Campbell said that he's using it as fuel.
00:44:46
Speaker
I can't remember the exact word he used, but essentially he's using it to fuel him moving forward.
00:44:52
Speaker
And hopefully it does the same for the team.
00:44:54
Speaker
Maybe it could be really good.
00:44:56
Speaker
It could be.
00:44:57
Speaker
I don't think he needs much extra fuel.
00:44:59
Speaker
The guy that's biting people's kneecaps off.
00:45:01
Speaker
The guy that's putting like six shots in the press.
00:45:03
Speaker
But hey, him with extra fuel, watch out.
00:45:04
Speaker
I think they're going to take anybody down.
00:45:06
Speaker
That's a pretty scary thought, him with extra fuel.
00:45:08
Speaker
I saw the post-game press conference and he was, I wouldn't want to be.
00:45:11
Speaker
Pissed.
00:45:12
Speaker
They were all pissed.
00:45:14
Speaker
I wouldn't want to be in a room with him alone when he's angry.
00:45:16
Speaker
That's for sure.
00:45:16
Speaker
Because he's got, he's a big guy.
00:45:19
Speaker
He's quite the presence.
00:45:21
Speaker
But yeah, one follow-up question since we are not going to keep this under an hour.
00:45:24
Speaker
Sure, yeah.
00:45:25
Speaker
At this point, let's just full send.
00:45:27
Speaker
Let's just do it.
00:45:28
Speaker
Let's just shoot for the stars here at this point.
00:45:31
Speaker
What are your thoughts on – obviously, he's created quite the reputation that he goes for it.
00:45:36
Speaker
Most fourth downs, if he's not 10 or more yards to go on fourth.
00:45:41
Speaker
The punter and the kicker don't really do much throughout the games.
00:45:44
Speaker
They really don't.
00:45:45
Speaker
What are your thoughts –
00:45:47
Speaker
in a one point loss, the fact that he went for fourth earlier in the game, rather than taking a field goal.
00:45:54
Speaker
And obviously after that penalty from the seven yard line, then again, he went for it three times when he could have, you know, rolled the dice on the team in overtime.
00:46:01
Speaker
What are, what are your thoughts on that?
00:46:04
Speaker
I think it's hard.
00:46:04
Speaker
Cause I think it's very easy to, you know, look back hindsight's 2020 as they say.
00:46:10
Speaker
So I think it's very easy to look back and say it was a one point game.
00:46:13
Speaker
We should have kicked that field goal or we should have just,
00:46:17
Speaker
kick that extra point and send it to overtime.
00:46:19
Speaker
So I think it's pretty easy to say that knowing the outcome.
00:46:24
Speaker
In the moment, I was slightly frustrated that we went for, or we didn't take the field goal.
00:46:31
Speaker
I feel like in a game that's that close, it just is important to take points.
00:46:35
Speaker
I know our defense was playing lights out.
00:46:37
Speaker
So I think the belief there was that if we didn't get the field goal, they would just stop them again.
00:46:44
Speaker
No problem.
00:46:46
Speaker
But as we saw with that crazy, like what, 92, 96 yard play, mistakes happen and things happen.
00:46:52
Speaker
So I think it's easy to say we should have, could have, would have.
00:46:56
Speaker
In a moment, I definitely wanted him to kick the field goal and just get the points, take the lead.
00:47:01
Speaker
Or make it a one point game or whatever it was in that current scenario.
00:47:05
Speaker
But he is a madman and he doesn't change for anybody.
00:47:08
Speaker
So I guess that's something you got to respect that doesn't matter what the game script is.
00:47:13
Speaker
He's going for it on fourth.
00:47:14
Speaker
He's doing his thing.
00:47:16
Speaker
And that's why they hired him.
00:47:17
Speaker
So yeah.
00:47:19
Speaker
You got to respect it.
00:47:20
Speaker
Like you said, he's unapologetically himself.
00:47:23
Speaker
And I was also texting him back during the game.
00:47:24
Speaker
I was like, man, if this is what it's like to be a Lions fan, I want no part of that.
00:47:29
Speaker
Because a lot of things, a lot of teams would have just been, all right, we tied it up.
00:47:32
Speaker
We're going to overtime.
00:47:33
Speaker
Oh my God.
00:47:34
Speaker
That was like one of the most unbiased, stressful 10 minutes of my life trying to figure out what the heck was happening in those last 25 seconds.
00:47:41
Speaker
So that was insane.
00:47:42
Speaker
He's himself.
00:47:43
Speaker
He's gotten the Lions to where they're at.
00:47:45
Speaker
Yeah.
00:47:45
Speaker
So who am I to second guess that?
00:47:48
Speaker
But man, I will say, I think more often than not, we're harder on the calls that don't work.
00:47:52
Speaker
Whereas like that fourth down fourth and whatever that they fake punted worked and got us to a position where we could then go do more things later on in the game.
00:48:02
Speaker
So that's obviously not taking any consideration as much as when it doesn't work.
00:48:08
Speaker
Right.
00:48:09
Speaker
He a madman.
00:48:09
Speaker
He going to do his thing.
00:48:10
Speaker
He is a madman, though.
00:48:12
Speaker
He's going to shave ears off of everyone's life that likes the Lions.
00:48:15
Speaker
Oh, yeah.
00:48:16
Speaker
You know, in my best friend's case, he better chill out a little bit, especially when the playoffs come.
00:48:20
Speaker
But after all that, I don't think we got your confidence.
00:48:24
Speaker
All that to say, and I just got to preface it with give me a break on this one.
00:48:32
Speaker
But, yes, all that to say, I'm going with the Lions.
00:48:35
Speaker
The Lions are the best they've ever been in my lifetime.
00:48:38
Speaker
And with that being said, them being as good as they are this season, I still have not chosen them at 16.
00:48:44
Speaker
So to end the year on an incredible note, I'm choosing the Detroit Lions at 16.
00:48:52
Speaker
Oh my gosh.
00:48:53
Speaker
Well, folks, I was not expecting that one.
00:48:58
Speaker
You know what?
00:48:58
Speaker
I understand it.
00:48:59
Speaker
Kudos to you.
00:49:00
Speaker
I'm not sure if we'll go with them at 16, but hey.
00:49:03
Speaker
That's fine.
00:49:04
Speaker
I had to do it.
00:49:05
Speaker
I had to do it.
00:49:06
Speaker
You got to throw the bone to your boys at one point with the most confident pick.
00:49:11
Speaker
Exactly.
00:49:12
Speaker
I get it.
00:49:12
Speaker
If they're heading into playoffs, I got to be confident in them.
00:49:15
Speaker
You got to show them the confidence.
00:49:16
Speaker
They're probably listening all fist pumping right now.
00:49:19
Speaker
Shouts out.
00:49:20
Speaker
JG.
00:49:21
Speaker
They're probably real pumped right now.
00:49:22
Speaker
So I get it.
00:49:23
Speaker
I get it.
00:49:26
Speaker
All right, now that we just spent 15 of our last 20 minutes on that game.
00:49:29
Speaker
That was a long one.
00:49:31
Speaker
One that we agreed on, too.
00:49:33
Speaker
Why did we do that?
00:49:34
Speaker
Classic us.
00:49:35
Speaker
Classic us.
00:49:37
Speaker
We can move ahead to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans.
00:49:42
Speaker
Okay, and I believe this is Yo Game.
00:49:45
Speaker
Oh, yes.
00:49:45
Speaker
My cheeks hurt from talking so much about the Lions.
00:49:47
Speaker
Oh, my gosh.
00:49:48
Speaker
Yeah, I'll jump into this one.
00:49:50
Speaker
So for me, this one was, I wouldn't say easy, but...
00:49:56
Speaker
The Jags could clinch, correct me if I'm wrong, the South with a win here, right?
00:50:03
Speaker
Correct.
00:50:03
Speaker
All they need to do is win and they win the South.
00:50:06
Speaker
Okay.
00:50:07
Speaker
AFC South, sorry.
00:50:08
Speaker
Correct, yes.
00:50:09
Speaker
Yes, the Jags could win the AFC South with a win.
00:50:13
Speaker
I think that they've been doing fine enough to win.
00:50:16
Speaker
The Tennessee Titans, on the other hand, have been kind of up and down and all over the place.
00:50:20
Speaker
Not really sure where they're at.
00:50:22
Speaker
I think there's enough motivation on the line here for the Jags to win this game, even though it's in Tennessee.
00:50:27
Speaker
Remind me, Tennessee is not playing for anything or is playing for something.
00:50:33
Speaker
The Titans have been eliminated.
00:50:36
Speaker
Okay, yeah, so they're not really playing anything.
00:50:37
Speaker
All it would be is trying to play spoiler.
00:50:40
Speaker
I don't think that the Jags allow that to happen.
00:50:42
Speaker
I've got them at 10.
00:50:44
Speaker
Okay.
00:50:45
Speaker
This is really close.
00:50:46
Speaker
I'm going to save us all the time because we've got 10 minutes and we will keep this under an hour.
00:50:49
Speaker
I agree.
00:50:50
Speaker
Jags got everything on the line.
00:50:51
Speaker
Titans got nothing.
00:50:52
Speaker
They've been really underwhelming.
00:50:53
Speaker
This is in Tennessee and it is a division opponent, so they could be spoiler technically.
00:50:58
Speaker
I think the Jags are already locked and loaded basically into the playoffs unless a bunch of stuff happens.
00:51:03
Speaker
But yes, they clinched us out with a win or...
00:51:07
Speaker
a tie with Houston and Indy, which is, I said, we weren't going to talk about ties, but if that happens, they win the division.
00:51:12
Speaker
So Jags have everything on the line.
00:51:14
Speaker
Titans got nothing.
00:51:15
Speaker
I got the Jags for a dozen.
00:51:19
Speaker
Okay.
00:51:20
Speaker
Not too far off.
00:51:23
Speaker
Pretty dang close.
00:51:25
Speaker
Another game on the schedule here.
00:51:27
Speaker
That means absolutely nothing.
00:51:29
Speaker
I know we've already talked about one, but another, another one that means absolutely nothing, no matter what happens.
00:51:34
Speaker
Is this next game the New York Giants versus the New England Patriots?
00:51:39
Speaker
Man, Battle of Boston versus New York City.
00:51:43
Speaker
Sorry, Eli.
00:51:44
Speaker
Sorry, Amo.
00:51:45
Speaker
Sorry, Baby Ivy.
00:51:47
Speaker
Shouts out to you guys, though.
00:51:48
Speaker
You've definitely climbed out of the bottom of the ocean.
00:51:50
Speaker
Giants have become kind of a fun story at the end of the season.
00:51:52
Speaker
They play people hard.
00:51:54
Speaker
They almost beat the Eagles on Christmas night.
00:51:56
Speaker
They're always fighting until the end.
00:51:58
Speaker
They won a couple games that people didn't expect them to.
00:52:00
Speaker
And the DeVito, unfortunately, after we had our whole Italian episode, the DeVito story has fizzled into the bottom of the Hudson River, unfortunately.
00:52:08
Speaker
It has.
00:52:09
Speaker
He has not played in a couple of weeks.
00:52:11
Speaker
He's still living with mom and dad.
00:52:13
Speaker
And his five minutes of fame looks like it has, unfortunately, ended.
00:52:19
Speaker
This is not really... It was fun while it lasted, though.
00:52:21
Speaker
It was really fun.
00:52:22
Speaker
We had our fun with it.
00:52:24
Speaker
Tommy, Tommy.
00:52:25
Speaker
Tommy, tomato.
00:52:26
Speaker
What are you doing?
00:52:28
Speaker
Tommy, Tommy.
00:52:29
Speaker
We had fun with it.
00:52:30
Speaker
I think America had fun with that for a couple of weeks.
00:52:32
Speaker
And he definitely took advantage of his fame.
00:52:37
Speaker
This is a weird game because neither team has anything on the line.
00:52:40
Speaker
I think as it stands right now, the Patriots have the number two pick.
00:52:44
Speaker
I'll get into later in the podcast who clinched officially the number one pick.
00:52:49
Speaker
But as it stands right now, the Patriots hold the vaunted number two pick, which there are two or three really stud quarterbacks on everyone's list.
00:52:58
Speaker
A couple of stud wide receivers.
00:52:59
Speaker
So that number two pick is huge.
00:53:01
Speaker
I think,
00:53:02
Speaker
I think the Patriots might be tanking a little bit.
00:53:06
Speaker
Giants are still fighting.
00:53:08
Speaker
Yeah, this one was hard for me.
00:53:09
Speaker
I went back and forth, but ultimately, why can I not find this on my... Oh, there it is.
00:53:15
Speaker
Why do I have Eagles Giants on my thing right now?
00:53:18
Speaker
It's not Eagles Giants, right?
00:53:19
Speaker
It's Patriots Giants.
00:53:20
Speaker
No, we're talking about the Jets Patriots.
00:53:23
Speaker
Okay.
00:53:24
Speaker
Oh, my God.
00:53:25
Speaker
I know.
00:53:25
Speaker
There was some talk about the Giants.
00:53:28
Speaker
I just thought you were talking about them because they were a New York team.
00:53:30
Speaker
I don't know.
00:53:32
Speaker
Dang it.
00:53:32
Speaker
Well, as you see, I was very prepared.
00:53:35
Speaker
We got the Jets.
00:53:35
Speaker
We got the Patriots.
00:53:38
Speaker
I got the Jets in this game.
00:53:39
Speaker
I think the Patriots, that still stands from my last analysis of the game.
00:53:42
Speaker
It's not happening.
00:53:43
Speaker
I think the Patriots are tanking.
00:53:45
Speaker
I think the Jets are still fighting.
00:53:46
Speaker
Wilson is not playing.
00:53:47
Speaker
He's kind of a sour, you know what, Travis, Travis Simeon will be starting for the Jets.
00:53:53
Speaker
I think they're going to end the year on a strong note.
00:53:57
Speaker
I think everyone's pumped to get Aaron Rodgers back in New York.
00:54:00
Speaker
And I think their defense is going to show up to try to put the league on notice for next year.
00:54:04
Speaker
I got the Jets and I got them at five.
00:54:08
Speaker
All righty.
00:54:11
Speaker
I disagree with you.
00:54:15
Speaker
Just straight off the bat, just jumping into it.
00:54:18
Speaker
I went with the Patriots here in this one.
00:54:20
Speaker
Reason being, this is at home for New England.
00:54:24
Speaker
And this is most likely the last game.
00:54:29
Speaker
for Bill Belichick as the coach for the New England Patriots.
00:54:32
Speaker
This is an era coming to an end, folks.
00:54:35
Speaker
This is history being made right before our very eyes.
00:54:40
Speaker
And I just can't see a scenario in any lifetime where he does not end on a win in New England.
00:54:47
Speaker
I don't care who he's playing, what he's doing.
00:54:50
Speaker
He's got to win this game.
00:54:51
Speaker
And I'm putting that into the atmosphere that he wins this game and goes out on a high note.
00:54:55
Speaker
I'm just believing in it.
00:54:57
Speaker
And that's really all I had for the basis of my decision.
00:55:00
Speaker
And I'm just hoping that they can get it done for him.
00:55:03
Speaker
So that's, that's why I decided then.
00:55:06
Speaker
And that's why I have the Patriots at two.
00:55:09
Speaker
Dang it.
00:55:09
Speaker
I wish I could switch.
00:55:10
Speaker
That's a good point.
00:55:12
Speaker
Spoiler alert, fifth time of the episode.
00:55:13
Speaker
We'll end up going Patriots on that one.
00:55:18
Speaker
Did not even put two and two together.
00:55:19
Speaker
This is most likely Belichick's last game, and it's in New England.
00:55:22
Speaker
Yeah, yeah.
00:55:23
Speaker
But I'm just going all off of heart on that one.
00:55:27
Speaker
I just feel like he's got to end on a win.
00:55:28
Speaker
What a crazy end to an era.
00:55:31
Speaker
Good call out.
00:55:32
Speaker
I mean, the Jets did get heartbroken by the Patriots a lot over the last couple decades.
00:55:36
Speaker
I think that'd be pretty sweet for them to spoil his finale, but I think the football guys will probably be in his favor one more time.
00:55:45
Speaker
They've been in his favor many times and that's going to be an emotional game.
00:55:48
Speaker
So, okay.
00:55:49
Speaker
That's another one we will have to discuss.
00:55:51
Speaker
Okay.
00:55:51
Speaker
Sounds like a plan.
00:55:53
Speaker
Moving on to the Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints.
00:55:58
Speaker
This game is in New Orleans.
00:56:00
Speaker
There's a lot on the line for both of these teams.
00:56:02
Speaker
They both need wins.
00:56:04
Speaker
And then I think some of them also need Bucs losses maybe.
00:56:08
Speaker
But both these teams are currently on the bubble.
00:56:10
Speaker
They have a chance to win playoffs.
00:56:11
Speaker
This is kind of a must win situation for both of these teams as well.
00:56:18
Speaker
And ultimately, I think it's going to come down to this game being in New Orleans.
00:56:24
Speaker
The Saints have been looking pretty good under Derek Carr the past few weeks.
00:56:28
Speaker
Their defense has been pretty solid.
00:56:30
Speaker
And on the other hand, as you already mentioned, the Bears dismantled the Falcons this past weekend.
00:56:36
Speaker
It's not to take anything away from your boys at all, but clearly the Falcons are not right with whatever they're trying to do.
00:56:45
Speaker
Yeah.
00:56:46
Speaker
All that to say I'm going Saints.
00:56:48
Speaker
I got them at eight.
00:56:50
Speaker
Okay.
00:56:51
Speaker
Very similar with me.
00:56:52
Speaker
I'll just go over the scenario real quick.
00:56:54
Speaker
Like you said, both are fighting for the NFC South.
00:56:57
Speaker
Someone's got to win it.
00:56:58
Speaker
Neither have a chance to win and get in the Tampa Bay Bucs are in the driver's seat, but yeah, both teams win or both teams win the division with a win and a Buccaneers loss.
00:57:08
Speaker
So they both need to win and then have the, the Bucs lose to the Panthers.
00:57:12
Speaker
Don't hold your breath on that one guys.
00:57:14
Speaker
So,
00:57:14
Speaker
Yeah, I agree.
00:57:15
Speaker
I got the Saints, Falcons.
00:57:17
Speaker
Is it Ritter?
00:57:17
Speaker
Is it Heineke?
00:57:18
Speaker
Does it really matter?
00:57:19
Speaker
They both played in Chicago on Sunday.
00:57:20
Speaker
They both looked pretty bad.
00:57:21
Speaker
They're not giving the ball to their playmakers.
00:57:23
Speaker
B. John Robinson's not getting touches.
00:57:25
Speaker
Kyle Pitts isn't getting the ball.
00:57:27
Speaker
It's just disarray in Atlanta.
00:57:29
Speaker
They're looking to try to get Justin Fields.
00:57:31
Speaker
They're not getting my boy.
00:57:32
Speaker
I got the Saints, and I got them at 10 in Narlins.
00:57:35
Speaker
Okay.
00:57:36
Speaker
I like it.
00:57:37
Speaker
And also a quick note.
00:57:38
Speaker
So the Bucs play at the exact same time.
00:57:40
Speaker
So this isn't a situation where, where they will know, like if the Bucs win or lose ahead of time, they're not going to know.
00:57:47
Speaker
So they're going to be fighting all out just in case, regardless of that.
00:57:50
Speaker
So that's just a good thing to know.
00:57:53
Speaker
Okay.
00:57:55
Speaker
Consider it noted.
00:57:56
Speaker
All right.
00:57:57
Speaker
Moving on now.
00:57:58
Speaker
Speaking of those Bucs that if they win, they clinch the NFC South.
00:58:04
Speaker
They are kind of getting handed a little bit of softball here.
00:58:07
Speaker
Let's see if they can smash it out of the park.
00:58:10
Speaker
They're going up against the Carolina Panthers for the last one o'clock slate game.
00:58:17
Speaker
Last one o'clock slate game.
00:58:19
Speaker
Buccaneers have been stumbling.
00:58:20
Speaker
They've been fumbling.
00:58:21
Speaker
They have been
00:58:23
Speaker
kind of crawling to the finish line here in the NFC South.
00:58:26
Speaker
Baker Mayfielding is what they've been doing.
00:58:28
Speaker
They have been Baker Mayfielding for sure.
00:58:30
Speaker
Someone's got to win it.
00:58:32
Speaker
They are on top right now with the tiebreakers and lucky for them.
00:58:36
Speaker
They are playing the worst team record wise in the NFL to end their season with a win and in scenario.
00:58:42
Speaker
They don't really have many wildcard possibilities.
00:58:44
Speaker
I was reading it.
00:58:44
Speaker
There's like a bunch of, they need to, if they lost is have to be tied for this team, lost for this team.
00:58:49
Speaker
I'm not going to go into that.
00:58:50
Speaker
If they beat the Panthers, they win the NFC South.
00:58:52
Speaker
I am very confident that Baker and Rashad White and Mike Evans are going to be returning to the playoffs.
00:58:58
Speaker
Is it deserved?
00:58:59
Speaker
Probably not.
00:59:00
Speaker
Is it going to happen?
00:59:01
Speaker
Probably.
00:59:02
Speaker
I think the Panthers are going to continue their dismal season.
00:59:05
Speaker
They have literally nothing to play for.
00:59:07
Speaker
I've got the Bucs going into Carolina, beautiful North Carolina, and beating the Panthers, like everybody else has been, at a confidence of 13.
00:59:16
Speaker
Ding-da-ling-da-ling-ding-ling.
00:59:18
Speaker
Woo!
00:59:19
Speaker
I'm glad.
00:59:20
Speaker
I'm so glad this last week we got at least one match.
00:59:23
Speaker
Heck yes.
00:59:25
Speaker
Bingo.
00:59:25
Speaker
Ding-da-ling.
00:59:26
Speaker
Well, I don't think I have much to add there.
00:59:28
Speaker
I completely agree.
00:59:29
Speaker
I think Bucks are going to take the win here.
00:59:31
Speaker
And let's move along.
00:59:32
Speaker
Let's move right along.
00:59:34
Speaker
The Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers.
00:59:39
Speaker
And you got my voice, and now I get your voice.
00:59:42
Speaker
But don't worry.
00:59:43
Speaker
You'll have a chance for a rebuttal.
00:59:45
Speaker
Honestly, if I'm just talking about heart here, I would love for your boys to play spoiler for the Green Bay Packers.
00:59:53
Speaker
Because if they win this weekend, the Packers are out, right?
00:59:55
Speaker
Correct.
00:59:56
Speaker
Yes.
00:59:56
Speaker
So I am wholeheartedly going to be cheering for your boys this weekend.
01:00:02
Speaker
Thank you.
01:00:04
Speaker
Honestly, and I think your boys could do it.
01:00:05
Speaker
They've been looking...
01:00:07
Speaker
Chef's kiss.
01:00:08
Speaker
I'm a little scared of them.
01:00:09
Speaker
They've got the two top 10 picks this next year.
01:00:12
Speaker
I don't know.
01:00:12
Speaker
The Bears are trying to figure it out and getting some things together, it looks like.
01:00:16
Speaker
Thank you.
01:00:17
Speaker
Still a long way to go, but they've been looking pretty darn good.
01:00:20
Speaker
So I think they actually have a chance.
01:00:23
Speaker
It is in Green Bay, which is a hard place to play.
01:00:25
Speaker
We know that.
01:00:26
Speaker
Notoriously, obviously, this matchup is one for the ages between the Packers and the Bears.
01:00:31
Speaker
And the Packers do have everything on the line here.
01:00:35
Speaker
So all of that combined with the fact that in my head, I knew you were going bears again.
01:00:40
Speaker
I was trying to think of at least three games to choose separate than you.
01:00:43
Speaker
I ended up with seven.
01:00:45
Speaker
This was one of those.
01:00:46
Speaker
So that's why I went green Bay, but yeah, I will be cheering for your boys.
01:00:51
Speaker
That's, that's all I'll say.
01:00:53
Speaker
And that's why I chose green Bay strategically.
01:00:56
Speaker
I do think they have a chance to win because they have so much to play for, but I kept them fairly low at five.
01:01:03
Speaker
Okay.
01:01:03
Speaker
Okay.
01:01:04
Speaker
Appreciate that.
01:01:05
Speaker
Thank you for cheering for my boys in advance.
01:01:07
Speaker
And thank you for that nice little compliment that my boys are making some positive moves in the right direction.
01:01:12
Speaker
New year, new me.
01:01:13
Speaker
New year, new me.
01:01:14
Speaker
New year, new you.
01:01:15
Speaker
This is unbelievable.
01:01:15
Speaker
Maybe we'll be the squad.
01:01:17
Speaker
Maybe we'll be friends this year.
01:01:18
Speaker
We'll see.
01:01:19
Speaker
Maybe.
01:01:20
Speaker
Maybe.
01:01:20
Speaker
Fat chance with this podcast and all that, you know.
01:01:23
Speaker
Yeah, fat chance.
01:01:23
Speaker
And the bickering and the back and forth.
01:01:25
Speaker
But hey, you know, stranger things have happened, so we shall see.
01:01:27
Speaker
But no, you're right.
01:01:30
Speaker
Packers have everything on the line and the Bears don't have anything on the line.
01:01:34
Speaker
We already clinched, as I'm sure people could put one and one, two and two, three and three together.
01:01:39
Speaker
Bears via the Panthers.
01:01:41
Speaker
It's a really good feeling having the number one pick and not having it because you're the worst team in the NFL.
01:01:47
Speaker
That is pretty nice.
01:01:48
Speaker
It's really nice.
01:01:49
Speaker
Last year we had that honor because we literally were the worst team in the NFL.
01:01:52
Speaker
So it's a little embarrassing when you're picking number one, usually because it means your team is the worst out of all 30.
01:01:57
Speaker
As of now, we've got the one in the 10 pick and we've won five out of our last seven games and a couple of things, a couple of bounces, a couple, you know, catches that should have been made and bears are looking at a wildcard spot.
01:02:08
Speaker
So are we going to keep Justin Fields?
01:02:10
Speaker
We better off.
01:02:11
Speaker
I'm going to burn soldier field to the ground.
01:02:12
Speaker
Are we going to pick Marvin Harrison?
01:02:14
Speaker
Number one, are we going to trade the pick down and get a bunch of resources like we did last year?
01:02:18
Speaker
That shall be determined.
01:02:20
Speaker
All I know is that Eberflus, who was also just said to most likely be coming back as the coach.
01:02:25
Speaker
And if you had told me that eight weeks ago, I would have had, I would have been sassy and I would have been having a, a little, a little sass fest on this.
01:02:32
Speaker
The fact that I heard that I was like, okay, I'm okay with it.
01:02:35
Speaker
Shows how far we've come as a team and how far we've come, we've come a long way.
01:02:41
Speaker
And the fact that I heard that I was not so bitter and just swearing and driving to soldier field.
01:02:48
Speaker
shows that we've come a long way.
01:02:49
Speaker
So all that to say, this is one of the most bitter rivalries in the NFL.
01:02:54
Speaker
Max boys were able to go into green Bay week 18, 2023 and ruin the Packers playoff hopes and Aaron Rogers Packers career with a loss.
01:03:05
Speaker
I hope that my boys can play the same spoiler that Max boys played last year.
01:03:09
Speaker
I think we're going to go into green Bay, Justin Fields.
01:03:12
Speaker
This is the biggest game of his career.
01:03:14
Speaker
He has a lot on the line.
01:03:15
Speaker
If he has a great game,
01:03:17
Speaker
We knock out the Packers.
01:03:18
Speaker
I think there's no way we're going to get rid of them.
01:03:20
Speaker
I've got the Bears going into Green Bay and winning in a confidence of four.
01:03:24
Speaker
Come on, boys.
01:03:26
Speaker
Let's go, baby.
01:03:27
Speaker
All right.
01:03:29
Speaker
Not too bad.
01:03:31
Speaker
I can't complain.
01:03:32
Speaker
Thank you.
01:03:33
Speaker
Like I said, I was pretty confident you're going to go with the Bears.
01:03:36
Speaker
And I really will be sure for them.
01:03:39
Speaker
So knock out those Packers.
01:03:42
Speaker
You know what?
01:03:42
Speaker
We're going to do the best we can.
01:03:43
Speaker
We'll see what we can do.
01:03:45
Speaker
All right.
01:03:46
Speaker
Moving along, and actually, real quick, before we move along, I was waiting to see, but we already reached an hour and didn't follow through on Bob's promise.
01:03:54
Speaker
So once a few more minutes, it is time for the first word from our sponsors.
01:04:01
Speaker
Oh, my God.
01:04:03
Speaker
I haven't done one of these in three weeks.
01:04:07
Speaker
Oh, boy.
01:04:07
Speaker
I was not prepared for this.
01:04:09
Speaker
This week 18 final week of the regular season sponsor is brought to you by Lazy Boy.
01:04:21
Speaker
Lazy Boy.
01:04:22
Speaker
Lazy Boy.
01:04:24
Speaker
We love Lazy Boy.
01:04:25
Speaker
Put your feet up or sit in style.
01:04:28
Speaker
Lazy Boy make you want us go cry.
01:04:31
Speaker
Ha ha ha ha.
01:04:34
Speaker
Lazy Boy, available at your local Target for $49.95 or two for $65.99.
01:04:38
Speaker
I thought you were going to say, put your feet up, it'll make you smile to rhyme with style.
01:04:46
Speaker
See, it'd be nice if I could come up with rhymes like that on the spot like you can.
01:04:50
Speaker
Instead, I just sing hi so people just think it sounds good when I can't think of anything to rhyme.
01:04:57
Speaker
Lazy Boy, Lazy Boy, da-da-da-da, Lazy Boy.
01:05:02
Speaker
Did it at least sound vocally pleasing?
01:05:04
Speaker
Vocally, it was appealing.
01:05:06
Speaker
Vocally, it was appealing.
01:05:07
Speaker
Thank you.
01:05:07
Speaker
Very good.
01:05:09
Speaker
Not sure if Lazy Boy is going to steal that ad from us moving forward, but Lazy Boy, get yourself a Lazy Boy before the playoffs.
01:05:15
Speaker
I'm sorry, what was the pricing of the Lazy Boy?
01:05:17
Speaker
I missed that.
01:05:18
Speaker
They're on massive sale this January.
01:05:21
Speaker
One for $49.95, and I believe it was two for $60.
01:05:24
Speaker
It was like two for $60-something.
01:05:27
Speaker
So honestly, you might as well get two Lazy Boys while you're at it.
01:05:29
Speaker
Honestly, incredible pricing.
01:05:31
Speaker
Incredible.
01:05:32
Speaker
Inflation has not touched Lazy Boy.
01:05:34
Speaker
It's got to be the best deal in 2024 so far.
01:05:37
Speaker
So go out and get yourself a Lazy Boy at your local Target.
01:05:41
Speaker
They're selling like hotcakes right now.
01:05:45
Speaker
Amazing.
01:05:45
Speaker
Great job, Bob.
01:05:46
Speaker
Great job.
01:05:47
Speaker
Thanks for that.
01:05:48
Speaker
Thanks for that.
01:05:49
Speaker
With that in mind, let's move along to the next game.
Team Struggles and Player Decisions
01:05:53
Speaker
We have the Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders.
01:05:58
Speaker
And again, another game that means absolutely nothing because both of these teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.
01:06:05
Speaker
They really have been.
01:06:06
Speaker
And now that I'm completely pitting out from that stress of trying to rhyme, put your feet up with something, I'm going to dive right into this game.
01:06:12
Speaker
Please do.
01:06:14
Speaker
Like you said, there's really nothing, literally nothing, truly nothing on the line for these two teams.
01:06:19
Speaker
And it's been weird because the last three weeks, these teams have gone in completely opposite directions.
01:06:23
Speaker
Raiders have been eliminated for a couple of weeks, but they have been putting together some good games.
01:06:27
Speaker
They almost beat the Colts on Sunday and their new coach Pierce has really been rallying the crew, rallying the crew, man.
01:06:33
Speaker
I'm really rattled.
01:06:35
Speaker
The Broncos on the other hand have, that has been crazy.
01:06:39
Speaker
This, the Broncos story that you guys have missed in the past three weeks.
01:06:43
Speaker
It's insane since we have last been with y'all.
01:06:46
Speaker
Uh, not only did max boys absolutely dismantle them on Saturday night football, they have not won a game since we have been offline.
01:06:52
Speaker
They have lost some games that they absolutely should not have.
01:06:54
Speaker
They went from right in the thick of the wild card hunt to completely eliminated.
01:06:59
Speaker
They actually were one game back at the chiefs a couple of weeks ago, and now they obviously have been eliminated.
01:07:03
Speaker
And Russell Wilson has inexplicably, and I know we've been pretty public with our, I don't know, I guess our, uh,
01:07:12
Speaker
hardness and our criticism of Russ Wilson.
01:07:14
Speaker
He did not deserve what he just got from Sean Payton.
01:07:18
Speaker
They basically benched him for the rest of the season so they don't need to pay him X amount of million more.
01:07:24
Speaker
They've been starting Jared Stidham, I believe it is, and they have no desire to re-sign him.
01:07:30
Speaker
And they just signed him for like a mega deal literally last year.
01:07:32
Speaker
So I think it's because Sean Payton never wanted Russ.
01:07:36
Speaker
All that to say, things in Denver do not look good.
01:07:38
Speaker
They gave up like all of their picks for the next couple of years for Russ.
01:07:42
Speaker
Now they're giving up on him just like that.
01:07:44
Speaker
Things are not good in Denver.
01:07:46
Speaker
I think things are a little better in Las Vegas.
01:07:48
Speaker
They've been fighting to end the season.
01:07:50
Speaker
I think they are going to win in Las Vegas, the future home of the Super Bowl here in about a month.
01:07:58
Speaker
So I think the Raiders are going to give their fans one last thing to cheer about.
01:08:01
Speaker
That's why I got the Raiders on Sunday afternoon with a confidence of half a dozen.
01:08:06
Speaker
Okay.
01:08:08
Speaker
Half a dozen.
01:08:09
Speaker
So six.
01:08:11
Speaker
I like it.
01:08:11
Speaker
I'm a little more confident.
01:08:14
Speaker
Eight.
01:08:15
Speaker
What?
01:08:16
Speaker
Six.
01:08:17
Speaker
Where'd you get six from?
01:08:19
Speaker
Half a dozen.
01:08:20
Speaker
Sorry.
01:08:21
Speaker
I was just, I was trying to be a jackass.
01:08:22
Speaker
I just wasted 20 seconds.
01:08:23
Speaker
It is six.
01:08:23
Speaker
Correct.
01:08:26
Speaker
You took that very seriously.
01:08:27
Speaker
I was like, am I well?
01:08:29
Speaker
You're like half a dozen is six.
01:08:33
Speaker
I am a little, I was also reading something really quick about one of these upcoming games, just doing a little prep work.
01:08:40
Speaker
So I was half listening.
01:08:42
Speaker
So I'm glad I guessed right.
01:08:44
Speaker
Okay.
01:08:48
Speaker
I'm a little bit more confident in the Raiders for all those reasons you mentioned and a little bit more.
01:08:53
Speaker
I won't go too much into it.
01:08:55
Speaker
The only thing that I could see that's on the line for either of these teams is for Pierce to kind of solidify his
01:09:02
Speaker
his position as the coach for the Raiders moving forward.
01:09:05
Speaker
I think he's going to want to end on a strong note.
01:09:07
Speaker
And as you mentioned, very in depth, the Broncos are falling apart.
01:09:12
Speaker
So I've got the Raiders at nine.
01:09:14
Speaker
Wow.
01:09:15
Speaker
Okay.
01:09:16
Speaker
Raiders for nine Raiders for six.
01:09:19
Speaker
Let's go Raiders.
01:09:20
Speaker
All right.
01:09:21
Speaker
Moving along to the Philadelphia Eagles at New York giants.
01:09:25
Speaker
And my confidence level is not reflective of how scared I am of this game.
01:09:31
Speaker
If I'm honest,
01:09:33
Speaker
I have this really high simply because I don't really know what else to do.
01:09:37
Speaker
But the Eagles, man, they have been sputtering the last few weeks, tripping over themselves.
01:09:43
Speaker
They just lost to the Cardinals of all teams.
01:09:46
Speaker
I feel like we need to get Big T on this show and ask him what the heck is happening in Philly because they have not looked good.
01:09:54
Speaker
I think it was something like
01:09:56
Speaker
I read some stat that out of the last five or six weeks, they've won one or two games.
01:10:01
Speaker
So this is not a good time for them to be sputtering as we head into the playoffs.
01:10:06
Speaker
Things are not looking good, and if they don't get it together, they're going to be out quickly in the playoffs.
01:10:10
Speaker
I truly do believe that.
01:10:13
Speaker
The Giants, as you already mentioned, just almost beat them on Christmas, and they looked pretty darn good doing it.
01:10:20
Speaker
Ultimately, for me, this is about what I think needs to happen.
01:10:25
Speaker
I'm not certain that it will, but if the Eagles want any shot of anything throughout these playoffs, this needs to be a get-right game for them.
01:10:34
Speaker
They need to come in and they need to dominate the ball.
01:10:37
Speaker
They need to get back to how they started the season.
01:10:40
Speaker
I'm putting my money on them to hopefully do that.
01:10:44
Speaker
Again, confidence-wise, I'm probably way too confident after they just lost to the Cardinals.
01:10:50
Speaker
But the Giants have literally nothing to play for.
01:10:53
Speaker
So I'm hoping that plays in our favor a little bit.
Playoff Needs and Team Performances
01:10:56
Speaker
And I'm going with the Eagles.
01:10:57
Speaker
Scary high at 14.
01:10:59
Speaker
Oh, well, if you think that's scary, buckle up.
01:11:03
Speaker
Because I'm going even higher.
01:11:06
Speaker
Not my highest.
01:11:07
Speaker
Not my highest.
01:11:08
Speaker
I'm going 15.
01:11:09
Speaker
I completely agree.
01:11:11
Speaker
Big T, I don't know what's going on.
01:11:13
Speaker
We all got to chat.
01:11:13
Speaker
We got to get you on the pod, like Max said.
01:11:15
Speaker
But Eagles losing.
01:11:18
Speaker
To the Cardinals at home when they were up by three scores is inexplicable.
01:11:22
Speaker
They have totally fumbled.
01:11:23
Speaker
They were 10-1, and now they're literally, I think, 11-5.
01:11:28
Speaker
So they are 1-4 in their last five.
01:11:30
Speaker
Yeah.
01:11:30
Speaker
They have...
01:11:31
Speaker
completely bombarded themselves.
01:11:33
Speaker
Now all the Cowboys need to do is win and they win the division.
01:11:37
Speaker
So the only thing on the line in this game is if the Eagles win and the Cowboys lose, they win the East.
01:11:43
Speaker
If the Eagles win and the Cowboys win, the Eagles are going to be the five seed, which was looking like they were going to be the one just a month ago.
01:11:50
Speaker
So that's a pretty drastic difference.
01:11:53
Speaker
You're playing all road games or you're playing some home games.
01:11:56
Speaker
Like that's a pretty big deal.
01:11:58
Speaker
So they really shot themselves in the foot.
01:12:00
Speaker
They have shot themselves in the foot, and then some, especially with Philly fans being so boisterous and rowdy, that's a huge home field advantage, and they are not going to get any home games at Lincoln Financial Field.
01:12:12
Speaker
So I also agree with Mac.
01:12:14
Speaker
This is going to be a get-right game.
01:12:15
Speaker
We'll see what happens.
01:12:17
Speaker
But they're down pretty bad.
01:12:18
Speaker
So I got them at 15, and that's just because they got to get right, and they got to get right biased.
01:12:26
Speaker
They do got to get right fast.
01:12:27
Speaker
Absolutely.
01:12:28
Speaker
Couldn't agree more.
01:12:29
Speaker
This is a big one for them.
01:12:31
Speaker
So we'll see what they do with it.
01:12:33
Speaker
We shall see.
01:12:34
Speaker
Moving on.
01:12:35
Speaker
Another big game on the line for one of these teams, the Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals.
01:12:42
Speaker
Yes, this is a big game for one of the two teams, the Cardinals, who aforementioned beat the Eagles.
01:12:48
Speaker
They're still fighting.
01:12:49
Speaker
Kyler Murray does not want the front office to draft one of those young QBs.
01:12:52
Speaker
He's trying to prove himself.
01:12:53
Speaker
But yes, the Seahawks need to win, and they need some help.
01:12:57
Speaker
So the Seahawks, who obviously the Lions helped slide into the playoffs last year, they still owe you some moolah for that because you did a lot for them.
01:13:05
Speaker
Yeah, they do.
01:13:07
Speaker
The Seahawks, where are the Seahawks?
01:13:09
Speaker
Okay, so to get a wild card spot, they would need to beat the Cardinals, and they would also need my boys.
01:13:15
Speaker
So am I going to be the Seahawks' new best friend?
01:13:19
Speaker
Because this is kind of crazy, actually, too.
01:13:21
Speaker
It just hit me.
01:13:22
Speaker
Hope you're hungry.
01:13:22
Speaker
Nugget.
01:13:24
Speaker
Last year, the Seahawks needed to win and have an NFC North Bowl beat the Packers, and now they need to win and have a team go into Green Bay and
01:13:32
Speaker
and beat the Packers.
01:13:33
Speaker
So the only way they get in is a win.
01:13:36
Speaker
And my boys beating the Packers.
01:13:38
Speaker
So we'll see if they, they always pull some beers.
01:13:41
Speaker
I got the Seahawks winning this game.
01:13:43
Speaker
I got it pretty high because the Cardinals don't have anything to play for.
01:13:45
Speaker
Seahawks have everything.
01:13:46
Speaker
That's why I got Gino and co at 14 in the desert.
01:13:52
Speaker
Okay.
01:13:54
Speaker
Sounds good.
01:13:55
Speaker
Yes.
01:13:55
Speaker
I also have the Seahawks winning.
01:13:57
Speaker
I have them just slightly lower.
01:13:58
Speaker
So that whistle sound was a little dramatic, but okay.
01:14:02
Speaker
I am a little bit nervous about the Seahawks in general heading into the playoffs.
01:14:06
Speaker
They kind of just seem like they're limping their way there.
01:14:10
Speaker
Like you said, they need some help.
01:14:11
Speaker
They need to get in with other people doing things.
01:14:14
Speaker
It's not always a good situation when you don't control your own destiny.
01:14:19
Speaker
But yeah, they just seem to be limping a little bit.
01:14:21
Speaker
They've got to get some things going, get some things situated if they want a shot at
01:14:25
Speaker
taking down some of the bigger names throughout the playoffs.
01:14:28
Speaker
But all that to say, I do think they will win this weekend.
01:14:31
Speaker
We'll see if they get the help that they need.
01:14:34
Speaker
I've got them at 11.
01:14:36
Speaker
And another note, that game going on against Green Bay, that's also going on at the same time.
01:14:44
Speaker
So similarly, they're not going to know what's happening in that game necessarily.
01:14:49
Speaker
So they are going to be playing all out.
01:14:52
Speaker
Honestly, if I'm a Seahawks fan, I'm feeling confident from what I've seen from the Bears, from what I've seen from the Cardinals.
01:14:56
Speaker
I mean, hey, Seahawks, you might want to book your playoff tickets because my boys are going to take care of business.
01:15:03
Speaker
You heard it here first.
01:15:03
Speaker
She seems really, really convinced over there, folks.
01:15:05
Speaker
You heard it here first.
01:15:06
Speaker
She seems very convinced.
01:15:07
Speaker
I wouldn't be surprised.
01:15:08
Speaker
I really do think your boys could do it.
01:15:09
Speaker
I already said that.
01:15:11
Speaker
You did, and I appreciate that, and I appreciate it again.
01:15:13
Speaker
New year, new us, and we are almost to an hour here, folks.
01:15:18
Speaker
We're actually 15 minutes above, but we're going to keep rocking and rolling here.
01:15:22
Speaker
Yes, we are.
01:15:22
Speaker
Moving along to the Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers.
01:15:29
Speaker
And this is my game, I believe.
01:15:31
Speaker
This is your game, yeah.
01:15:31
Speaker
This is my game.
01:15:33
Speaker
So a couple of teams here that are not doing great.
01:15:36
Speaker
Kansas City Chiefs, they similarly got to get it together.
01:15:39
Speaker
Hot wings, a hot take.
01:15:41
Speaker
A few weeks ago, Bob had mentioned, and I completely agreed with what he said, that the Chiefs are probably going to lose out on their opportunity at the Super Bowl due to their wide receivers.
01:15:51
Speaker
And I'd say it's looking like
01:15:52
Speaker
All of them just need to get it together.
01:15:54
Speaker
The Chiefs have not been looking like the Chiefs that we have all gotten used to seeing.
01:16:00
Speaker
Patrick Mahomes is not as magical as he usually is.
01:16:04
Speaker
And the Chiefs are just kind of fading, fading fast.
01:16:07
Speaker
I think that people should be able to take care of him in the playoffs, but we'll see what happens.
01:16:11
Speaker
Either way, we know they're in it.
01:16:13
Speaker
The Chargers, on the other hand,
01:16:15
Speaker
Not good for them.
01:16:16
Speaker
They've been having Easton stick play.
01:16:18
Speaker
Justin Herbert obviously got hurt, was out for the rest of the season.
01:16:22
Speaker
Even before that, the charge were kind of going downhill.
01:16:25
Speaker
I think the Chiefs are going to have no problem winning this game.
01:16:27
Speaker
They still have...
01:16:29
Speaker
seeding to play for, I believe, or are they locked in at three?
01:16:34
Speaker
So I was actually going to say, this is yet another game.
01:16:36
Speaker
I made it so dramatic that there was only a couple of games with literally nothing on the line.
01:16:39
Speaker
Chiefs are locked and loaded at the number three seed.
01:16:42
Speaker
Two is either going to be the Bills or the Dolphins, so literally nothing to play for.
01:16:45
Speaker
Interesting.
01:16:46
Speaker
Well, I guess that maybe would impact confidence level slightly, but I don't really know where to move them just based on everything else.
01:16:53
Speaker
So I'm going to stick with it for now.
01:16:54
Speaker
I've got Chiefs winning this game and I've got them at 12.
01:16:57
Speaker
Yeah.
01:16:59
Speaker
Oh, my God, we are on different planets for this game.
01:17:02
Speaker
I got the Chiefs and I got them at two.
01:17:05
Speaker
I was thinking they were still playing for some seeding.
01:17:09
Speaker
So definitely that's something that I would be willing to look at confidence-wise, especially because they have been poop.
01:17:15
Speaker
But I feel like they're going to play their players because they need to get some stuff situated before the playoffs.
01:17:22
Speaker
That's kind of my thought.
01:17:23
Speaker
And I'm not sure if you saw this, but the Chiefs already announced that Mahomes is not playing on Sunday.
01:17:28
Speaker
They're arresting him.
01:17:29
Speaker
So that also.
01:17:30
Speaker
Oh, he's not.
01:17:30
Speaker
Oh, well, no, I didn't see that.
01:17:32
Speaker
So, yeah, definitely we can move that to two.
01:17:34
Speaker
So, AK, we're putting this at 12 is what you're saying.
01:17:37
Speaker
Yeah, I did not see that.
01:17:39
Speaker
I assume they would still be playing because they've been they've got some ish to do.
01:17:43
Speaker
You would think that they'd want to prove some stuff and make sure the offense is firing on all cylinders, but apparently Andy Reid's not too worried.
01:17:50
Speaker
Therein is the three seed.
01:17:51
Speaker
And are you ready for a nugget?
01:17:52
Speaker
I don't know if you're hungry because we've been going for an hour and 20.
01:17:55
Speaker
I am.
01:17:55
Speaker
I'm pretty hungry.
01:17:56
Speaker
Okay.
01:17:57
Speaker
Well, this is for all you Swifties, including you.
01:18:01
Speaker
I'm sure you've seen this, but since Taylor Swift said, comma is the guy on the Chiefs, right home to me.
01:18:08
Speaker
Yeah.
01:18:09
Speaker
Yeah.
01:18:10
Speaker
I don't know if those are the words, but since then.
01:18:12
Speaker
You changed it to Karma's the guy in the Chiefs, yes.
01:18:15
Speaker
Coming right, what's it next?
01:18:17
Speaker
Coming right home to me?
01:18:18
Speaker
Coming back home to me?
01:18:19
Speaker
Yeah, like coming home to me.
01:18:21
Speaker
Yeah, basically along those lines.
01:18:23
Speaker
And then there was the viral video.
01:18:24
Speaker
Coming straight home to me, I think.
01:18:26
Speaker
Coming straight home to me.
01:18:27
Speaker
I'm sure...
01:18:28
Speaker
Paige is going to be commenting on whether or not that's correct and all the other Swifties.
01:18:32
Speaker
But yeah.
01:18:33
Speaker
And then the viral video of Mr. Swift and Travis next to each other.
01:18:37
Speaker
It was, you know, it was a great moment.
01:18:39
Speaker
Unfortunately, we might be discovering that Taylor is a little bit of a bad luck charm with,
01:18:44
Speaker
don't want to hear this narrative she is wet she is wagging her finger at me hard right i don't want to hear this narrative i'm not even gonna let you finish because people are on it as if taylor swift is the problem and isn't that so typical of our society to blame the woman for the fact that the chiefs are not playing well that travis is not playing well people are saying he's distracted all of these things uh
01:19:12
Speaker
I will not have it on this podcast.
01:19:14
Speaker
No way.
01:19:15
Speaker
No how.
01:19:15
Speaker
She is still wagging her finger at me.
01:19:17
Speaker
Move along.
01:19:18
Speaker
All I was going to say is that he has not gotten a touchdown since then.
01:19:21
Speaker
It's not a Taylor thing.
01:19:22
Speaker
I know he's probably having the best time of his life with her.
01:19:25
Speaker
And I hope that they are great and I wish them nothing but the best.
01:19:29
Speaker
But just wanted to put that out there, see your reaction.
01:19:31
Speaker
I was hoping for a strong reaction and we got it.
01:19:33
Speaker
Oh, it was a strong reaction because I am not okay with that narrative.
01:19:37
Speaker
People do that all the time in professional sports when
01:19:40
Speaker
men, specifically men on professional teams, NBA, MLB, whatever it is, start doing bad.
01:19:47
Speaker
They start blaming the girlfriend or the wife or whoever.
01:19:51
Speaker
Not on this podcast.
01:19:54
Speaker
Not today, my friend.
01:19:56
Speaker
It is not Taylor's fault that Travis has been dropping balls.
01:19:59
Speaker
So if anybody has something to say, I'll fight him.
01:20:02
Speaker
Wow.
01:20:03
Speaker
She said, literally, come at me, bro.
01:20:04
Speaker
I will fight you.
01:20:05
Speaker
Come at me.
01:20:06
Speaker
DM me.
01:20:06
Speaker
Show up at my house.
01:20:08
Speaker
Let's go.
01:20:08
Speaker
I'll take it to the streets.
01:20:10
Speaker
Oh, my God.
01:20:10
Speaker
That went from zero to 100 real quick.
01:20:13
Speaker
I was expecting a strong reaction.
01:20:14
Speaker
I was not expecting that.
01:20:15
Speaker
I'm surprised you didn't throw that throw blanket off your back.
01:20:17
Speaker
Yeah.
01:20:19
Speaker
I've got a blanket on my shoulder.
01:20:20
Speaker
I should have ripped it off like a boxing robe, how they take them off before the round starts.
01:20:24
Speaker
Yeah, I was surprised you didn't get your gloves on right after that.
01:20:26
Speaker
Obviously, it goes without saying, of course, it's not her fault.
01:20:29
Speaker
I just wanted to see your reaction to people trying to spin that.
01:20:33
Speaker
People are trying to spin it.
01:20:36
Speaker
Yeah, clearly, as you can tell, I have a strong reaction to that.
01:20:39
Speaker
It seems like it might bug you a little bit.
01:20:42
Speaker
For good reason.
01:20:42
Speaker
She's not the one putting the pads on.
01:20:43
Speaker
She's not the one dropping the passes.
01:20:45
Speaker
He is, and they've got to figure it out if they're going to
01:20:48
Speaker
make some noise in the playoffs.
Game Analysis and Team Positions
01:20:50
Speaker
We know how we feel on that.
01:20:52
Speaker
Let's, let's move on to the next one.
01:20:54
Speaker
Okay.
01:20:55
Speaker
Let's get you out of this, this hole you're thinking for yourself.
01:20:57
Speaker
Before I get, before I get absolutely destroyed right now.
01:21:00
Speaker
Yeah.
01:21:03
Speaker
All that to say, absolutely.
01:21:04
Speaker
We can move that way down.
01:21:05
Speaker
I had no idea that they were resting starters for the chiefs.
01:21:08
Speaker
So yeah, that disregard my 12.
01:21:11
Speaker
Okay.
01:21:11
Speaker
We will disregard that and we'll talk offline.
01:21:14
Speaker
Okay.
01:21:16
Speaker
With that, moving along to the Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers.
01:21:23
Speaker
And again, another game that there's really not much to play for here.
01:21:27
Speaker
The Niners have locked the one seed.
01:21:30
Speaker
And the Rams, I think, are pretty locked in at what?
01:21:34
Speaker
The six seed?
01:21:35
Speaker
They're locked and loaded at the six.
01:21:37
Speaker
So they're either going to go to Detroit or to...
01:21:43
Speaker
Philadelphia, there's no in between unless the Cowboys and the Eagles both lose.
01:21:47
Speaker
And what perfect timing is this that my fantasy app literally just updated me that Kyron Williams, Cooper Cup, and Matthew Stafford are all sitting out on Sunday.
01:21:59
Speaker
Wow.
01:21:59
Speaker
You've got the latest news alerts.
01:22:01
Speaker
Thanks for this.
01:22:02
Speaker
I know.
01:22:02
Speaker
Fantasy Yahoo app, shouts out.
01:22:05
Speaker
I will be switching mine to
01:22:08
Speaker
This is hard.
01:22:09
Speaker
I'm going to have to think about this one because I have Rams.
01:22:11
Speaker
I have Rams.
01:22:12
Speaker
I believe you have, you have Niners.
01:22:14
Speaker
I have the Niners.
01:22:16
Speaker
Yep.
01:22:16
Speaker
And like we've said, this could be, this can be adjusted to based on who's been sitting and who's not similar to how we do with the injuries.
01:22:23
Speaker
So feel free to take, take a think or take, think, take a minute to think about that one.
01:22:29
Speaker
I'm going to take a think.
01:22:29
Speaker
Discuss it offline.
01:22:30
Speaker
But what, what was your argument for the Rams?
01:22:33
Speaker
I guess, just quickly.
01:22:35
Speaker
I guess I just thought the only person they had out was,
01:22:39
Speaker
Maddie staff.
01:22:40
Speaker
And I know this is in, in San Fran, but as I said earlier, the Niners literally have clinched everything.
01:22:48
Speaker
I know CMC is out.
01:22:49
Speaker
I know Purdy's not playing.
01:22:50
Speaker
It sounds like I, you and Kittle are all not playing.
01:22:52
Speaker
So this might just be a lot, a lot of backups.
01:22:56
Speaker
And I put the Rams because I know their backup is Wentz.
01:22:59
Speaker
And the Niners backup is, I believe, Trey Lance.
01:23:04
Speaker
Trey Lance got traded away earlier this season.
01:23:06
Speaker
Oh, yeah.
01:23:07
Speaker
He's a cowboy now.
01:23:07
Speaker
So I actually don't even know who the 49ers backup would be.
01:23:10
Speaker
But he would have had to play for a little bit because Purdy was out.
01:23:13
Speaker
Sam Darnold.
01:23:14
Speaker
Okay.
01:23:14
Speaker
So it's going to be Darnold.
01:23:14
Speaker
Darnold.
01:23:15
Speaker
Okay.
01:23:16
Speaker
So, I mean, it's two somewhat seasoned vets who have played.
01:23:20
Speaker
Right.
01:23:21
Speaker
But, yeah, CMC's out, too.
01:23:23
Speaker
I saw something that Trent – they're sitting Trent Williams.
01:23:25
Speaker
They're sitting Debo.
01:23:27
Speaker
They're probably sitting –
01:23:29
Speaker
Kittle.
01:23:30
Speaker
They're probably sitting pretty much all of their studs.
01:23:32
Speaker
So that's why I had Rams.
01:23:33
Speaker
I thought they would at least be playing some of the boys.
01:23:35
Speaker
Not sure if they're going to be playing Puka because he can break some rookie receiving records if he gets like a hundred more yards.
01:23:42
Speaker
I'll probably stick with the Rams just because the Niners are a shell of themselves.
01:23:45
Speaker
I had Rams at three just because this is not like a real game because nothing's on the line and Rams are locked.
01:23:51
Speaker
Niners are locked, but these are two playoff teams.
01:23:53
Speaker
And yeah, as of now, I'll stick with Rams at three.
01:23:57
Speaker
Okay.
01:23:58
Speaker
Well, let me know if that changes anything.
01:24:00
Speaker
I have the 49ers also at three.
01:24:03
Speaker
Similarly, I just kind of was going for, you know, with neither of them having much to play with or to play for.
01:24:10
Speaker
I just was going to go with the team that, number one, they're at home.
01:24:14
Speaker
Number two, overall, they just seem like a great team.
01:24:17
Speaker
I am a little nervous considering the fact that when some of these players sat earlier in the season was when they had their downfall and things were not looking good.
01:24:26
Speaker
But I also thought the Rams were going to be sitting everybody.
01:24:29
Speaker
So ultimately, this is, again, a battle of the backups.
01:24:33
Speaker
I just went with the home field advantage, and that's why I went San Francisco.
01:24:36
Speaker
And we will have to keep an eye on all those players that are sitting this week.
01:24:41
Speaker
The battle of the backups in San Fran, and it sucks for us because this still counts as a game in the Walfall's Challenge.
01:24:48
Speaker
Oh, I know.
01:24:48
Speaker
Counts in the Walfall's Challenge, counts in the confidence pool.
01:24:50
Speaker
We still got to get it right.
01:24:51
Speaker
Still got to get it right.
01:24:53
Speaker
So we're going to have to chat, and we'll figure it out.
01:24:55
Speaker
We'll do some research.
01:24:56
Speaker
We will indeed.
01:24:57
Speaker
The last game of the afternoon slate on Sunday is the Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders.
01:25:07
Speaker
This is my game, I believe.
01:25:09
Speaker
This is your game.
01:25:10
Speaker
Okay.
01:25:11
Speaker
So for me, this is one that I desperately want to be wrong on.
01:25:16
Speaker
I will give everything to be wrong on them.
01:25:19
Speaker
It's amazing how now Dallas is like the team that I hate the most.
01:25:24
Speaker
All thanks to the refs.
01:25:25
Speaker
They didn't do anything to you.
01:25:26
Speaker
It happens.
01:25:26
Speaker
All thanks to the refs.
01:25:28
Speaker
If Dallas loses this weekend to the commanders, which, hey, I'm not saying that's impossible.
01:25:33
Speaker
I know the commanders have nothing to play for.
01:25:35
Speaker
I could see them, number one, wanting to play spoiler for a divisional opponent.
01:25:39
Speaker
Number two, Cowboys, all the games that they've lost have been on the road.
01:25:43
Speaker
So they're not so good on the road.
01:25:44
Speaker
So we'll see.
01:25:45
Speaker
Maybe the commanders can make something happen.
01:25:48
Speaker
Let's pray for a miracle.
01:25:51
Speaker
All that to say, I'm going to go with the statistics here, and I'm going to go with Dallas in this one.
01:25:55
Speaker
But if the Cowboys lose, then they then jump down to the five seed.
01:26:00
Speaker
Is that correct?
01:26:01
Speaker
Yes, that is correct.
01:26:02
Speaker
And if the Eagles win, they would go to the three seed, and the Lions would bump to the two seed.
01:26:07
Speaker
Is that correct?
01:26:08
Speaker
Right?
01:26:09
Speaker
Okay.
01:26:10
Speaker
Yes.
01:26:10
Speaker
So I'm praying for a Dallas loss today.
01:26:14
Speaker
I don't think it's going to happen, and I have them super high clearly demonstrating that.
01:26:19
Speaker
But, hey, I'll be cheering super hard for the Commanders this weekend.
01:26:23
Speaker
I also think maybe their coach, his job is on the line, so maybe he'll want to win.
01:26:27
Speaker
Rivera's job very well may be on the line.
01:26:29
Speaker
And what was your confidence for the boys?
01:26:30
Speaker
Oh, sorry.
01:26:31
Speaker
Yep, I didn't even say.
01:26:32
Speaker
I put them at 15.
01:26:35
Speaker
Whoa.
01:26:35
Speaker
Okay.
01:26:36
Speaker
Well, this is my most confident game of the week.
01:26:39
Speaker
I got the Cowboys at 16.
01:26:41
Speaker
So don't cheer for the commanders too hard because it's looking like this is going to be our 16.
01:26:47
Speaker
Yeah.
01:26:47
Speaker
As Matt said, you're not going to put the lions at 16, you know, you know, 16, 11, 15, 16,
01:26:55
Speaker
The weight kind of feels a little stronger on the 15, 16.
01:26:58
Speaker
We'll talk about that.
01:26:59
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see.
01:27:00
Speaker
We'll talk.
01:27:01
Speaker
We'll talk.
01:27:01
Speaker
My heart has a lot of weight, though, too, in it.
01:27:03
Speaker
And my heart will be with the commanders.
01:27:06
Speaker
It does.
01:27:06
Speaker
And actually, after my Taylor Swift little questioning there, I might have to go with the lines at 16.
01:27:15
Speaker
That might be my only way out of the hole here.
01:27:17
Speaker
Yeah.
01:27:18
Speaker
Maybe we're going to Troyes at 16, but yeah, like you said, Cowboys have everything to play for.
01:27:25
Speaker
They were looking like they were going to be the wild card again.
01:27:29
Speaker
And thanks to the Eagles stumbling and bumbling and Jalen Hurts in the last couple weeks.
01:27:34
Speaker
No offense, Jalen, you're still a stud.
01:27:36
Speaker
Cowboys own the rights to the NFC North.
01:27:39
Speaker
If they beat the Commanders, they win the division.
01:27:41
Speaker
If they lose and the Lions win, they are dropping down to the five seed.
01:27:44
Speaker
So that's all that's at stake in this game.
01:27:46
Speaker
Commanders don't have anything to play for.
01:27:47
Speaker
I did see that Howell is starting.
01:27:49
Speaker
So they're starting their big boys.
01:27:52
Speaker
And the Cowboys are not great on the road.
01:27:54
Speaker
But out of all these other games, I couldn't convince myself.
01:27:58
Speaker
that anything was more likely than the Cowboys beating the commanders.
01:28:02
Speaker
So that's why I got them at 16.
01:28:04
Speaker
And you said this was the last afternoon game.
01:28:08
Speaker
No, I think there's one more.
01:28:09
Speaker
Huh.
01:28:10
Speaker
I'm looking at it.
01:28:11
Speaker
Actually, it looks like this was the last afternoon game.
01:28:13
Speaker
Very nice escape attempt there.
01:28:15
Speaker
And with that, without giving her too much time to prepare here, we would love to hear our second advertisement of this, this podcast.
01:28:23
Speaker
Okay, well, let me just preface this advertisement here with the fact that over Christmas, as we mentioned, we did go overseas.
01:28:31
Speaker
And one of the locations that we went to was Zerk, Switzerland, where we took a tour of the Lint Chocolate Factory.
01:28:38
Speaker
So this NFL Week 18 Making Waves episode is brought to you by Lint Chocolate.
01:28:48
Speaker
And I have a little wrapper right here from a little Lint Ball I was chewing on.
01:28:52
Speaker
Wow.
01:28:53
Speaker
Lint Chocolate Factory.
01:28:57
Speaker
It is so yummy.
01:28:59
Speaker
Lint Chocolate.
01:29:01
Speaker
Delicious and in my tummy.
01:29:04
Speaker
I love Lint Chocolate.
01:29:07
Speaker
It's so good.
01:29:09
Speaker
Yeah!
01:29:10
Speaker
Lint Chocolate Factory.
01:29:12
Speaker
It's sponsoring all your chocolate needs and making waves.
01:29:18
Speaker
I was wondering how long that was going to go.
01:29:21
Speaker
I was too.
01:29:22
Speaker
I really didn't know where it was going.
01:29:24
Speaker
You know what?
01:29:25
Speaker
I like the tune.
01:29:26
Speaker
It was very light, which is great because it's chocolate.
01:29:29
Speaker
Everyone loves chocolate.
01:29:30
Speaker
Did you mention the price or is it just free because it's in the factory?
01:29:33
Speaker
It's free actually.
01:29:34
Speaker
And that is true.
01:29:35
Speaker
If you take the chocolate tour, unlimited free chocolate.
01:29:39
Speaker
Wow.
01:29:40
Speaker
Everybody head to Zurich.
01:29:42
Speaker
Yeah, super cheap.
01:29:43
Speaker
Super cheap.
01:29:44
Speaker
Just buy a flight over to sweats.
01:29:45
Speaker
Super cheap.
01:29:47
Speaker
Just go to Zurich and yeah, enjoy some chocolate.
01:29:50
Speaker
And yeah, Mac is still enjoying it a week after they got back.
01:29:54
Speaker
I am.
01:29:55
Speaker
Yeah, I had to be rolled out of there.
01:29:56
Speaker
I'll tell you that much because it was a lot of chocolate.
01:30:00
Speaker
I mean, hey, sounds like you got your fair share of chocolate.
01:30:03
Speaker
So you did it right.
01:30:04
Speaker
Tickets for the tour is like $15.00.
01:30:07
Speaker
So you definitely get your fair share of the $15 by endless unlimited chocolate when you're on the tour.
01:30:14
Speaker
Okay.
01:30:14
Speaker
So 15 bucks, all you can eat, all you can drink.
01:30:17
Speaker
It sounds like it doesn't get better than that.
01:30:19
Speaker
No drinking, but there is liquid fountains that you put a spoon under as many times as you want.
01:30:24
Speaker
I guess that's kind of like drinking.
01:30:25
Speaker
I was going to say kind of drinking the chocolate because I saw the videos of you and Nick enjoying yourself.
01:30:29
Speaker
So all you can eat chocolate, all you can drink chocolate.
01:30:31
Speaker
Lint, thank you so much for sponsoring this episode.
01:30:33
Speaker
We love you.
01:30:33
Speaker
Lint, chocolate.
01:30:36
Speaker
Factory, it's so yummy.
01:30:40
Speaker
Very nice.
01:30:42
Speaker
So yummy in the tummy.
01:30:44
Speaker
And with that, speaking of yummy in the tummy.
01:30:46
Speaker
With an hour and a half under our belt, let's move into the final game of week 18.
01:30:54
Speaker
The arguably...
01:30:55
Speaker
The best game on the docket.
01:30:57
Speaker
Both teams have so much to play for.
01:30:59
Speaker
Both teams are electric at times.
AFC East Showdown and Episode Conclusion
01:31:03
Speaker
This is a big one, and I think that's why they moved it to the last game of the week.
01:31:06
Speaker
They flexed it?
01:31:09
Speaker
Yep, they did.
01:31:09
Speaker
They flexed it down, and it's a big one.
01:31:11
Speaker
So I'll be tuning in for sure.
01:31:13
Speaker
I hope you will be as well.
01:31:14
Speaker
I have no doubt.
01:31:15
Speaker
We have the Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins.
01:31:19
Speaker
Speaking of yummy, speaking of lint, this is the yummiest and most attractive game of the week.
01:31:23
Speaker
Oh, this is yummy.
01:31:25
Speaker
This is a yummy game in my tummy.
01:31:27
Speaker
This is yummy in the tummy.
01:31:29
Speaker
Mmm.
01:31:29
Speaker
This game's good.
01:31:30
Speaker
Can't wait to watch it.
01:31:32
Speaker
There's a lot on the line in this game.
01:31:35
Speaker
And I'm going to run through real quick.
01:31:36
Speaker
Is this my game or yours?
01:31:38
Speaker
This is you.
01:31:38
Speaker
This is all you, my friend.
01:31:40
Speaker
Thank you so much.
01:31:42
Speaker
I'm sure your cheeks hurt from singing that little jingle.
01:31:45
Speaker
So I'll give you a couple minutes to recoup there.
01:31:47
Speaker
Oh, yes.
01:31:47
Speaker
Thank you.
01:31:47
Speaker
I need to prep my argument as well.
01:31:50
Speaker
I figured as much.
01:31:51
Speaker
I know this is the seven out of seventh game that we have differently.
01:31:55
Speaker
So I'm going to jump into the clinching scenario.
01:31:57
Speaker
So a lot on the line here.
01:31:59
Speaker
So for the Buffalo Bills, they're going into Miami for the last game of the 2023-24 regular season.
01:32:07
Speaker
And, ooh, boys and girls, buckle up.
01:32:10
Speaker
There is a lot, like I said, on the line.
01:32:12
Speaker
So,
01:32:12
Speaker
With a win, they clinched the East straight up, which is crazy because a handful of weeks ago, it looked like the Bills were done for.
01:32:20
Speaker
They'd lost a string of games.
01:32:22
Speaker
They were under 500 and they had the hardest portion of their schedule coming up against all odds with all their injuries.
01:32:28
Speaker
They have won week and week and week out weekend.
01:32:33
Speaker
And the Bills, if they win, they clinched the division straight up to, to clinch a wild card.
01:32:39
Speaker
They just need to tie.
01:32:40
Speaker
So if they lose, basically, they would need a Steelers loss or a Jacksonville loss to get in the playoffs.
01:32:47
Speaker
So to make this clear, they win, they win the division.
01:32:50
Speaker
No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
01:32:52
Speaker
If they lose, they need a Steelers loss or a Jacksonville loss to clinch one of the last two wildcard spots.
01:32:58
Speaker
For the Dolphins, a team that just suffered a pretty horrific loss.
01:33:03
Speaker
Sorry, Noah.
01:33:04
Speaker
to the juggernaut Ravens on Sunday, they clinched the AFC East, just like the bills with a win.
01:33:11
Speaker
They have already clinched a playoff spot, no matter what.
01:33:13
Speaker
So if they win, they win the East.
01:33:15
Speaker
With that being said, jumping into the game, this was tough.
01:33:19
Speaker
And I was going back and forth because the bills are red hot.
01:33:21
Speaker
The bills have won a lot of games in a row and the bills are looking like the Buffalo team that we all expected to see this season.
01:33:28
Speaker
But the dolphins have been very good at home.
01:33:30
Speaker
The dolphins have had the most electric offense in the NFL for a lot of the season and
01:33:34
Speaker
And I think that Hard Rock Stadium is just going to be rocking.
01:33:37
Speaker
I think McDaniels is going to have a really good game plan.
01:33:41
Speaker
And I just think Tyreek and Tua and A-Chain and Mostert and all these guys are going to be a little too much for a banged up D in Buffalo to handle.
01:33:50
Speaker
So I am a little high on this one.
01:33:53
Speaker
I was going back and forth, but somehow I ended up with the Dolphins at a confidence level of a touchdown with an extra point.
01:34:02
Speaker
Seven.
01:34:04
Speaker
Uh-oh, are you talking?
01:34:05
Speaker
Nothing's coming through.
01:34:07
Speaker
Oh, yep, I am.
01:34:08
Speaker
Sorry, I apologize.
01:34:09
Speaker
I was muted.
01:34:10
Speaker
There you are.
01:34:10
Speaker
Yes, I assumed it was a seven.
01:34:13
Speaker
I had looked at what was left, and so if it wasn't a seven, there was going to be a duplicate somewhere.
01:34:16
Speaker
So, yeah, touchdown of a seven.
01:34:18
Speaker
Thank goodness.
01:34:20
Speaker
I went Bills here, and this is actually one that I went Bills, not because I thought you were going to choose the Dolphins, but I truly do believe the Bills are going to win this game.
01:34:28
Speaker
In this must-win situation for the Bills,
01:34:32
Speaker
I mean, talk about script writing, right?
01:34:34
Speaker
This is what the schedule makers hope for and dream for is a scenario like this, the last week of the season, and it's teams that are so good and so solid and have the potential to be Super Bowl contenders fighting it out for a playoff spot.
01:34:51
Speaker
Love to see it.
01:34:52
Speaker
Love to see it as a fan.
01:34:53
Speaker
But all I have to say, the reason I think the Bills are going to win this game for them, and I'm sorry you said this, but for the Bills, they lose.
01:35:01
Speaker
They have some other options and ways to get in.
01:35:04
Speaker
That's the same for the Dolphins, right?
01:35:06
Speaker
If they lose, it's not necessarily you're out, but it's either you're the two seed or you're further on.
01:35:11
Speaker
Dolphins have clinched the playoff spot already.
01:35:13
Speaker
The Bills have not.
01:35:14
Speaker
So worst comes to worst, the Dolphins with a loss are still in.
01:35:17
Speaker
Yeah.
01:35:17
Speaker
Okay.
01:35:17
Speaker
All right.
01:35:18
Speaker
Perfect.
01:35:18
Speaker
So yes.
01:35:19
Speaker
So either way, they both have a shot with a loss, but it feels like the stakes are so high that for the Bills, it feels like they have to win.
01:35:27
Speaker
They've got to control their own fate.
01:35:28
Speaker
They've got to control their own destiny.
01:35:30
Speaker
The reason I think they're going to be able to do it, one, the Bills have been on an upward trajectory as of late.
01:35:36
Speaker
The past few weeks, the Bills have been looking pretty solid.
01:35:38
Speaker
The team that I think we all hoped for and planned for and thought about when we thought about the Bills preseason, when Bob made the Bills pick preseason for the Super Bowl contender, I think they've been looking more like a team that we have been anticipating to see.
01:35:53
Speaker
Josh Allen's been kind of coming into his own with all of his rushing touchdowns.
01:35:57
Speaker
Obviously, he's such a dual threat.
01:35:59
Speaker
throwing, running, all the things.
01:36:01
Speaker
Yep.
01:36:02
Speaker
Beyond that, this matchup in particular has been one that has heavily favored the Bills.
01:36:08
Speaker
And the reason I was muted is because I was just looking at the numbers.
01:36:11
Speaker
So since 2020, the Dolphins and the Bills have played eight times.
01:36:20
Speaker
And of those eight times,
01:36:22
Speaker
The Bills have won seven of those games.
01:36:26
Speaker
So they have won seven of the last eight meetings with the Dolphins.
01:36:30
Speaker
It stretches well beyond that, but I was just looking at the past couple of years since 2020.
01:36:34
Speaker
Obviously, Josh Yellen's been in his prime.
01:36:38
Speaker
Tua's been kind of in his prime.
01:36:39
Speaker
So I was trying to look at those matchups specifically.
01:36:43
Speaker
That stat held true this year when they played earlier this season, and the Bills dismantled the Dolphins 48-20.
01:36:53
Speaker
Beyond that, the Dolphins are kind of coming off of a really brutal loss to the Ravens.
01:36:58
Speaker
I know they've got some of the proof heading into the playoffs after that loss.
01:37:01
Speaker
I know they're going to be looking to bounce back.
01:37:03
Speaker
I don't know.
01:37:04
Speaker
I just kind of feel that the Bills are going to be able to capitalize on that, jump on that bandwagon, kind of stick the knife in a little bit further, control their own destiny, make their way into the playoffs, snag that number two seed.
01:37:18
Speaker
And I just see it all unfolding right before me.
01:37:20
Speaker
And that's what I'm going with.
01:37:22
Speaker
I've got the bills and I can I guess?
01:37:24
Speaker
Yeah.
01:37:24
Speaker
If I guess right, can you Venmo me like a hundred bucks or something?
01:37:28
Speaker
No, I won't Venmo you, but I will say good job.
01:37:31
Speaker
Okay.
01:37:32
Speaker
I'm going to guess.
01:37:33
Speaker
I know this is like a one in a 16 odds.
01:37:35
Speaker
I was going to say like four, maybe.
01:37:36
Speaker
Good job.
01:37:37
Speaker
Yeah.
01:37:38
Speaker
Four.
01:37:39
Speaker
That's amazing.
01:37:39
Speaker
You don't seem that surprised, which is kind of a good point.
01:37:41
Speaker
No, you know, I don't know.
01:37:43
Speaker
Just, you know, process of elimination, but so proud of you, Bob.
01:37:45
Speaker
Great job counting.
01:37:46
Speaker
Thank you.
01:37:47
Speaker
Okay, sorry to steal your spotlight there at the end.
01:37:49
Speaker
I know it's kind of anti-climatic.
01:37:51
Speaker
Okay.
01:37:51
Speaker
No, no, you're fine.
01:37:52
Speaker
But yep, I'm going Bills at four.
01:37:54
Speaker
And that is one that I actually truly, truly do believe.
01:37:57
Speaker
So if you do want to go Dolphins, and if we end up going Dolphins, certainly do not think they should be at seven, because I actually really do believe the Bills are going to win that game.
01:38:05
Speaker
No, I agree that it should be pretty low, and I figured that you would be
01:38:10
Speaker
not at one or two on the bill.
01:38:11
Speaker
So we will, we'll chat.
01:38:12
Speaker
We'll discuss.
01:38:13
Speaker
There's only really two games out of the seven that I'm really passionate about.
01:38:16
Speaker
My boys are absolutely one of them.
01:38:18
Speaker
No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
01:38:19
Speaker
Unfortunately, I'm going to have to, I'm going to have to skip my ground on that one.
01:38:23
Speaker
And maybe we'll get your boys at 16 in that case.
01:38:26
Speaker
But yeah, this is great.
01:38:28
Speaker
It has been an awesome welcome back episode.
01:38:31
Speaker
I've missed this the last three weeks, but I'm glad that we hit the ground running.
01:38:34
Speaker
There is a lot to dive into next week, folks.
01:38:37
Speaker
We're going to know the playoff,
01:38:39
Speaker
set up.
01:38:40
Speaker
We're going to know the seating.
01:38:41
Speaker
We're going to know exactly what we have to look forward to in wildcard weekend.
01:38:44
Speaker
And most importantly, we're going to know whether or not the hooligans finally got the bucco bucks.
01:38:49
Speaker
And we're going to know who's going to be chowing down on waffles.
01:38:51
Speaker
So definitely tune in next week.
01:38:54
Speaker
We're going to know a lot.
01:38:55
Speaker
Tune in next week.
01:38:55
Speaker
It'll be a big one.
01:38:57
Speaker
It's going to be a big one.
01:38:58
Speaker
Thanks y'all.
01:38:59
Speaker
Peace.
01:39:13
Speaker
F the cowboys.
01:39:14
Speaker
Wow.