First Things First - Brou Grades Cowboys, Nick’s Picks Week 14, Can Bears Upset Packers?

Episode Date: December 6, 2025

(00:00) Brou grades Cowboys after loss to the Lions, guys react to Team USA Draw Group(24:13) Can Steelers upset the Ravens?(34:53) Upset Alert & Nick’s Picks(57:06) Scores & Storylines for Week 14 slate(01:08:29) Can the Bears beat the Packers?(01:13:42) Weird & Wonderful(01:15:28) Parkins’ Picks(01:37:45) Will Greg’s Packers beat Danny’s Bears?(01:47:31) Would you rather…(01:55:09) Final pick for Bears-Packers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Okay, Lions are at 44% to make the playoff, to our athletic playoff. They control their own destiny. If they went out, they're up in like the night. Like 75% of the teams in the league, if you win out, you're in good shape. Turns out the path of the playoffs is never living here from December 5th on. You're usually in good shape. What did Detroit prove last night? That they are very alive.

And that if you can protect golf, that offense can still be a nine out of 10 even without Ben Johnson. I don't think it's quite as creative. I don't think it has as many wrinkles. They tried a wrinkle yesterday. They didn't understand because, man, something about that eligible ineligible two-point conversion from two years ago against Dallas has still kept Dan Campbell up at night

to where he's like, hey, Dan Skipper, go in motion and we're going to throw you a screen from the 30. And so some of that stuff's not going to work as well. But if golf is upright and clean, when you have Amonara St. Brown who was not expected to play and played and Jemir Gibbs, who is one of the most talented running backs

of the last decade, I think that's fair to say as far as raw talent and his production is insane, that offense is going to hum. And so the nitty-gritty of it brew is the NFC East is guaranteed one and only one playoff team. This is all like the Eagles. If the Eagles don't win the division,

it means they have collapsed and they won't get in. The NFC South is guaranteed one and only one playoff team, and both the Rams and the Seahawks are, as we sit here today, better than 94% to make it. So four spots are gone. So Chicago, Green Bay, the Niners, and Detroit. It is those four. And so again, Dallas could make it,

but it has to be through by winning the division. Carolina could make it has to be through. Those four teams are competing for three spots. So the Lions not only stayed alive, the sneaky second biggest loser yesterday was whoever loses Chicago Green Bay this weekend. That team hates that Detroit just got that way. Look, I have felt this way all year, and I still feel this way, particularly after last night. I think that Green Bay is the best team in the division.

We'll see. They've got to beat Chicago Sunday. But they clearly are better than Detroit right now. They're beating them twice. I think Detroit's better than Chicago. Now, they have to get in the playoffs above them, but I think they're better than, they beat them by freaking 31 points.

I get it, it was early in the season, but they'll play them again. I thought they showed a ton of heart. Amun Rai St. Brown was questionable. And he didn't just play. He was fantastic. For him to run, we know he's one of the greatest yak guys in the league,

yards have to catch. For him to do that, yesterday on that bad ankle, that was exceptional because that's one of the things, the weaknesses of that Dallas defense, we saw Rashie Rice carve him up after the catch. For him to do, that was a critical part of that game. So I thought that was huge. I thought their defense, you know, stepped up and like I said, went zone. That seemed to throw Dallas off, particularly George Pickens. And so I, look, I don't think they're as good as they have been the last two years.

The NFC is wide open. I don't think the Rams are ahead and shoulders above everybody else in the NFC. We'll find out because they play next, Detroit and the Rams. But, like, I think Detroit can be right there with anybody. Now, Green Bay has handled them. Can they beat them three times in the season? You know, will they even meet? I kind of like that sometimes.

Right. It's hard to beat a team three times. That's why I don't want to beat the bills and seem like three times. No, that's very true. But twice and not the playoff. Very true. So I think that I would not say they should be the favorite at all in the NFC if they make the playoffs. But I think they're right there in the hunt with everybody else.

Before we get to the World Cup, Dusty, can we just put up the optostat about Jemir Gibbs? Because this is just, I feel like sometimes stat companies have a contest to see who can write them more amazing stats. Okay, over his last seven games, he's had a game with 250. A game with 200 rush. A game with 200 rushing. receiving yards, 10 catches, 14 yards, three games with three TDs, the 75-yard rush. And what was the final one? 75-yard rush TV.

And no one else in NFL history has ever done that in their entire career. He's done it in the last seven weeks. I mean, he also just tied. Barry Sanders for most touchdowns before 25. I think it was before turning, maybe both. It's first three years. And he has more games. He's going to break it.

Yeah. I haven't looked at the carries, but my guess. is Barry Sanders had a lot more carriers. I'm not saying he's better than Barry. No, but he is, he is ahead of Barry right now up to this point in their career in yards per carry. Yeah. No, I mean, again, Barry Sanders has an argument.

He's the greatest running back ever. I'm not saying that. He's a special player. And he's a player that when they drafted, everyone made fun of them for the record. People are like a running back that high. Unbelievable. It's been a nice resurgence.

Right. I probably were. He's like smart people. Really, you know, guys in the no right, they didn't like it. I mean, who knew? 47 touchdown. Nice running back resurgence, though. And 45 gauge in his career.

All right, as Brew mentioned, the lines on extra rest before taking on the Rams in L.A. Okay, World Cup draw was today on Fox star-studded affair. We were in in Group D. We will face Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of a playoff between Turkey A, Romania, Slovakia. and Kosovo will know who comes out of that in March. Yep. Here's Alex Lee Lalas in the post game with USA men's coach, Pogetino. Take a listen.

When I look at the group, it would be an absolute disaster for the US not to get out of this group. What do you want them to see from your players? What do you want them to see from this team when they tune in and watch the US play? I understand that you are in another side, but my message to the player is, We need to compete better than Paraguay that is going to be difficult.

Australia is going to be difficult, and the team that is going to join us is going to be difficult. We need to build our journey step by step. Okay, your reaction to the draw. About to as good as imaginable as possible. So listen, I had Josh do a very, very simple, you know, ranking of the draws by this. So because the fourth team in each region or in each pod, you don't know who it is for half of them. That's why, so just the world rankings of the top three teams in each group, the easiest by that metric is Canada's, but that is in part because they got a higher seed than they should have because they're a host nation.

The second easiest is Mexico and the third easiest is the U.S. The host countries came out really well. Like the, you were worried about the group of death. The group of death without question is Group L. Poor England. It's England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, which is a disaster. The U.S. does not have a team in its group ranked in the top 25 in the world other than the U.S. And so we got-

Australia is 26. Right, but that's, but again, keep in mind, that group two, or the population, B, whatever it is, they were the lowest, we got the worst, the lowest ranked pod two team possible. Yeah. So they, 26 was the lowest we could have gotten and we got it. Paraguay is not a very high ranked pod three team. Now, Turkey A, if we get them, is better than the average pod four team. But this worked out great.

And to your point earlier, we just played Paraguay and fought them. We just played Australia and they hurt. ballistic. And so there's real, we played them both recently. I'd say this is a eight and a half out of ten as far as ideal draws. We beat them both in the friendlies, but two

one, I mean, you know, the score doesn't always tell how close or not close it was, but still two one. I agree with everything you said, Nick, we should obviously come out of this group shining, but, you know, they're going to hear a lot of this. They're hearing a lot of this already and they're going to keep hearing it.

So just, you know, stay focused and don't take these teams lightly because we're not at the level where we can take anybody like that. It's funny, like the friendly matches that we know, we would put them in weird and wonderful. But the fact that there's real drama coming out of both matches where the Paraguay game was a pretty big fracas at the end. It wasn't just a little pushing and shoving. It was a whole sideline affair. and Richards quote post-Australia because Polisick got hurt. They said we weren't trying to hurt Polisick on purpose was they're lucky it wasn't friendly.

I was ready to go. And if the referees didn't give me a blank yellow in the corner, I probably would have killed somebody. That's Richard's quote. So he is fired up for these teams that we can get another shot at. Good. Just real quick, for the World Cup at. large. Spain and Argentina, who are the top two ranked teams

in the world, got absolute ideal draws. And so if you're a soccer fan, like the odds of them not making the knockout round was very close to nil, and now with them getting these draws, it's basically zero. And England and France, England

drew Senegal, which is really good out in Norway, which is far and away in Holland, the best team in Pod 3, if you will. And England dealing with Croatia, the best team from Pod 2, and Ghana, which is way better than most of the Pod 4 teams. England got a brutal, brutal draw. So England and France, probably a little upset.

Spain and Argentina thrilled, and the U.S. in a really good joke. USA Paraguay, 188 days in SOFI. Match schedule comes out tomorrow, so we'll see who's in Kansas City. Yeah, well, if the seatings hold, if you will, Christiana Ronaldo and Portugal will play their first knockout game in Kansas. Oh, that's cool. Dealers at Raven Sunday afternoon, Lamar did not practice yesterday, a pattern of

missing some practices to deal with a series of injuries. Now, the good news is, Brew, he was good to go today, but here's how the season has played out. First five games, he was excellent, remember? I do remember. You were like, I don't care about the bad defense. He was great, the defense was horrible.

Then they said, you know what, take the toys out, and the defense loved it, and Lamar hated it. What is, just real quick, The final game of that first five when he had four touchdowns was after he came back from injury. So that was a... Oh. So he's played five games since he came back from injury.

The first he was awesome. Yeah. He had four touchdowns and almost perfect. And that was as far as we know, he was healthy. Yes, that was healthy. But then after that is when it went to the knee, the ankle, the toe. Right. Bro, do you need to see a huge game from Lamar Jackson?

I need to see a win. that's it. Now, sure, the best win would be Lamar looking like he looked earlier in the season and leading him the victory. That'd be great. But I'll take a win. At this point, it's getting the playoffs. Now, I said yesterday, I've been saying, and I feel this way 100%,

I am confident he's going to turn it around. I don't know that he'll get back to having 130 passer rating every game, but I think he'll definitely start playing not only better, but good, really good football. But I'm not saying it'll be Sunday. I just think by the end of the year, he will gradually start to get better and be playing well going into the playoffs.

But what I think they will end up doing with Pittsburgh, I think it's a run game, especially if Lamar isn't cooking. Correct. Like last week, Buffalo put 250 yards on them, right, 249. Buffalo now, you might say, they're the best run defensive. or run the offense in the league.

Baltimore's fourth, you got Derek Henry. They got James Cook. You got Derek Henry, Keaton Mitchell's okay? So I see this could be a big Derek Henry game. And that's what,

if Lamar is not playing great, John Harbaugh has got to just make it a Derek Henry game. Maybe you go into it like this is a Derek Henry game. We're going to run the football. On their five-game win streak, Henry average 20 carries a game.

And he didn't always have great game. Sometimes he was averaging three and a half yards of carry, but he was still getting 19, 18, 21 carries. The loss of Cincinnati, 10 carries, even though he averaged six yards of carry. The loss of Kansas City, eight carries. Detroit, 12 carries. I get it. You got down in some of those games. Still, if you're down, it's not like you're down 40 points, you can be down and still run the football. So I could see this being a big run game for them. and maybe that lightens things up on Lamar and he starts to play better.

Big game for Lamar is off the board in this matchup. Wow. It's just not what he does against the Steelers. Like when you look at his overall statistics against the Steelers, they are not glowing. He was pretty good last year? He was good, the last two games.

He was 16 in Wildcar game. He was good in those matchups. But his career against the Steelers is not good. He's going to turn the ball over. He's not going to throw for a lot of touchdowns. He's not going to throw for a lot of yards. That's not what he does against the Steelers.

They tend to have his number. And so I don't need to see a big game. What I do need to see is him not look like what we've seen the last three weeks. I agree. Period. Or this team is done, whether it's going to be this week or next week or whatever it is. If Lamar Jackson does not show us any sign that he can get back to being what we have become accustomed to, this team is done. Well, and to, I mean, I totally agree with them.

To Greg's point, what he has looked like these past four games, you showed it side by side, but here it is with league ranks. It's not a stretch to say he's been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league for a month. That's just, and now that's shocking. It is. That's a kind of piece of evidence in your column of he's really hurt. A piece of evidence against it is Todd Munkin was asked about. it yesterday and he described these as quote little nagging injuries that doesn't like the and so

there is always this and evidently the reason he missed practice yesterday was because on Wednesday someone stepped on his foot in practice which is what led him to miss the practice that's the local reporter that almost made me think that it again we're just it's just conjecture if someone steps on your foot you miss a whole game of practice or no for real or is it like there's something underneath. Well, yeah. He had been dealing with the toe. Right.

He had been dealing with the toe. Again, we don't know left or right still. And so, but here's, your guy, Sicilian, Andrew, Andrew, Sicilian. I have this quote. You have it?

It's shocking. Yeah. What is it? I haven't seen it. Friend of the show. Yeah. He did our draft for us. All right.

So his first seven years of Lamar's career, he led all quarterbacks with 104 miss tackles on design runs. This year, He's got 20 designed runs. Guess how many mistackles? Zero. Force mistackles.

Zero. You can just see. The eyes. He clearly isn't running. Even when he was throwing the ball well, he wasn't running like he usually. I expect one guy. And so this is, but this is where this is a tenuous spot for Lamar. Because due to his compared to the other guys in the quarterbacking big four, you know, before.

Josh. Oh, gosh. Just wait on Drake. He, his playoff performances are a negative on his column. Oh, you know what I mean? Patrick's, it's all time. Josh has been really good. Burrow made the Super Bowl.

Lamar has none of those things. The thing Lamar has been able to hang his hat on is, yeah, but in the regular season, I might be the best ever. You know what I am the, I am as dynamic and unstoppable, a unanimous MVP as My second year, almost another one two years ago, unanimous, that is, and then almost another, man, it really hurts Lamar to have a bad regular season in a way it doesn't hurt the other guys.

Because the regular season, I know it sounds mean, I don't mean it to. The regular season is his thing. Now, a bad regular season where they back into the playoffs and then he's awesome in the postseason, it would be great. He'd sign up for it. But I think a bad regular season would prevent them from getting into the playoffs this year.

Like, so. I mean, look, and if he, if he continues to play poorly, say they missed the playoffs, get bouncing in the first round, whatever. But he comes back next year and it's great. And it's fine. Yeah, because we saw Burrow have a bad regular season a couple years ago. See what that was? I'm always, I'm out here like this guy already.

That's the first next year talk we've gotten from bro. That's the first one on. Yeah, next year, you know, it'll be all right. Chiefs hosting the Texans Sunday night. Malmes through four touchdowns last week. Texans defense has allowed four passing touchdowns in the last four weeks. Chiefs defense hasn't come up with the stops they need late. Are we doing the sound here from Spags here?

I'm not 100% percent. Excellent. Here's what's at stake. We're not, we're going to save some sound that you're going to love later. Yeah. 37% chance to make the playoffs entering this game. If they win, up to 51. Call it.

51% is enough. If they win, call the season. That's right. The loss down to 11% Who's under more pressure The Chief's offense or defense? Listen, it's not fair. It's always Patrick.

He's always the one of the most pressure. And so I want to... Patrick Mahomes is the greatest... Full sentence here. Greatest quarterback in NFL history against the best defense in the league. We've never seen a quarterback have this type of success

against number one defenses. We can show it to you the 7 and 2, 300 yards, 17 touchdowns, eight picks. And so normally, Greg, I'd puff my chest out today and be like, Patrick, that's what to expect from Patrick Mahomes on Sunday night. That's not what I expect from Patrick Mahomes on Sunday night because I think that one of those two losses came in a Super Bowl with a beat up offensive line. And another one came, it wasn't the Super Bowl. I can't remember it.

I apologize. But it was, again, when he was running for his life. Like, I fear maybe he will be Sunday night with three offensive linemen potentially out. So there is going to be more external pressure on Patrick. Internally from the team, what they need is the defense to make this charge. Show the chiefs when they blitz. The chiefs for three years when they blitzed, that's how they got off the field. for three years, made three straight Super Bowls.

They were one of the best blitzing teams in football. And this year, they're one of the worst, which is a big problem, Greg, because they can't get pressure without blitzing. Exactly. And so they have to blitz more than most teams do. Yeah, and this is why I say it's more pressure on the defense, because we all expect Patrick Mahomes to step,

rise to the occasion based on what you even said. And when you really quick on the Texans defense, the difference between them and Denver, Denver will, they'll blitz you. They can get pressure with their front four, and they're going to play man behind it. The Texans aren't going to do that. They tend to play zone behind it,

which is beneficial to Patrick in that receiving course. So I think he'll have more success than what we probably think. But this defense cannot let C.J. Stroud, who has been struggling for two years now, to run this offense and get it opened up and get it to look like anything we saw in year one. this defense has to dominate that offense.

They don't run the ball particularly well. They don't throw the ball particularly well. They don't have the weapons that they just faced last week against the Cowboys. There is no excuse for this defense to not dominate in this game and get off the field when it matters. And when Chris Jones, the fourth quarter comes, if the game is tight, he dominates. He has to do that. Yeah, I'm glad you said defense because Nick, you were clear. It's offense.

it's Mahomes, and I was torn. I think it's really close because both are under pressure. I'm going to go with the offense just because they're facing a much better unit. I get what you're saying, and that probably is the path for them winning, is the defense being great. But the offense is facing such a, like you said, they're not facing a good offense at all. Maybe not even a mediocre offense. But the Chief's offense is facing a terrific defense without, at least it's, best offensive lineman and then a couple

guys that might be out as well. So it's, I think it's going to be tough on the Chiefs. And we, like you said in that graphic, we've seen Mahomes struck. When he's been at his worst, it's been because he's just getting pressured constantly. And they guard well in the back.

You know, so I think it's going to the pressures on the offense. It's kind of weird that we've been talking about this game like the Texans are favored and they're not. Yeah. Maybe it's like we're playing a better football. I honestly think, this is this is

this is the first game the Chiefs have played in years that I go into not feeling great and so maybe that's why we're you know because the Chiefs opened

as three and a half point favorites and they have stayed as three and a half point favorites that we knew all week we knew from the end of last week they were probably going to be without these three offensive linemen they're like that nothing but I It's just, it is, so I don't know. I do like, here's what I like. I will tell you this.

I like that it's going to be 20 degrees. I like that it's going to have a playoff feel. And I like that the Chiefs have a lot of familiarity with this opponent. Like they played in December and in January. So for a non-divisional opponent, that's a ton of reps against them. But I do not like their deline against the Chiefs. The reason why it's going to be this defense, because when you look at it, at the Kansas City Chiefs and the performance that they had last week.

I just don't see them not being able to get off the field against a C.J. Stroud-led-led offense. I hope so. That has been struggling all year. Quickly, Greg. If the Texans win this game, I mean, they've been the bills, they've beaten the Colts, they've beaten the Jags, they've beaten the Chiefs. What are you willing to say about the Texans on Monday?

This defense is going to carry them into the postseason, and we're going to be riding with this defense to see how great. great this defense can do. I'm not willing to... Rational. I'm not willing to... It's a back... You're a Patriots guy.

Like, there'll be a playoff team. I'm great. You got to believe in it. Hopefully it can happen for you guys that the U.S. can reach a quarter or a semi, and then France wins it. Look, it... Stuck that one in there, nice and tight. Welcome to a wonderful episode of Weird and wonderful.

Also, welcome Tiare Henri, to the Foxx. to the Fox family. It's exciting. Yeah, that is. Our opening match is set USA versus Paraguay. June 12th on Fox, 188 days. It'll be from SOFI. Nick, we played Paraguay 1-2-2-1.

You feel good about our draw this morning? Yeah, listen, with the new format with 32 teams advancing, it would be a it's unfathomable the U.S. doesn't advance. But given the draw they got, they are the favorites in the group,

And the expectation should be to win the group so you have the best possible seating going into the knockout round. I think they will. I'm feeling good. We'll find out the match schedule tomorrow. So there'll be games in Kansas City. We're beloved.

It'll be fascinating. Wonderful. Dallas was flirting with a comeback in Detroit. Jamir Gibbs with his third touchdown on the day. Ties Barry Sanders for most touchdowns in first three seasons. Quick trivia, both players played for the Detroit Lions. Yeah. People don't really know that.

Well, because Nick and Danny do all this trivia with Gianna, and we're out left in the cold. I was going to say, Bruce, I guarantee there are, there are some people watching, certainly, that never saw a single Barry Sanders game. Oh, yeah, yeah. Of course. Yeah, we trend very young.

Yeah, I know. I'm backing you up, KW. I talked to someone yesterday at a little party, and it came up to me and said, Hey, my dad loves the show. I said, oh, that's nice. That is nice. Also, why are you going to parties on work nights?

Is that why you're late for the show? Networking. Wilde came into work today at 2 p.m. George Pickens, not giving it his all. Nine targets, five catchers, 37 yards. Fewest since his first game with the Cowboys. We're going to talk to Greg about this. What if Greg had a super hot take?

He's trying his best. Final wonderful. This was great. Warriors up one under 10 seconds to go. Maxi's minutes. tipped in by BJ Edgegling. Warriors tried to get a quick play. Maxi with the block.

He has 35.6 or 12. That was awesome. Warriors fall below 500. Nobody played because they are old. But that also was a great play by the Warriors. Oh, yeah. You know, like to have 0.9 and no timeouts, brew, and turn it into a layup is.

That's smart. It's crazy. And what a play by me. I give you a quick take. The NC State Airball. always works. It always works. End of an arrow.

LeBron's streak of 1,297 regular season games of his scoring at least 10 points is over as he passes up a chance at the tie, which would have gone to 10 hits Rui for the game winner. Here was LeBron after the game. Oh, this is the best way on ending the streak. If it had to end, the perfect ending for the streak is tonight. It's literally who I am. That's who I am. It's always been about how can I win the game?

How can I make the right play and win the game? That streak just happened. Nick, your reaction. This was perfect. And this happened. The final two minutes of this were at halftime of Cowboys Lions. Right. So, like, I was watching this on my phone.

Cowboys Lions goes to halftime. I switched it. And I was acutely aware of that when I turned it on, LeBron had six points. Like, oh, and he's been flirting. He had a shot blocked. Right, he'd been flirting with it ending. But then he gets a lay up, and then all of a sudden,

when he has the ball in that moment, brew, he has the opportunity if he wanted to. To win it. To essentially get, but to win it or if he takes the shot, if he makes it, the street continues and they win, and if he misses it, it goes to overtime, and the streak almost assuredly continues anyway. Instead, he did what he said, made the right play.

I tweeted something that could have ended up being LeBron's quote that he said an hour later, and it just, and I think you'll like this, Brooke, because I had them pull some film. Because when he says, this is who I've always been, one of the first hot, really high leverage playoff moments of his career, Eastern Conference Finals in 2007. He drives to the. basket in a tie game.

Danielle Marshall is wide open and he misses. And you know what people said afterwards? This is 2007. This streak at that point, by the way, is five months old. Should LeBron have passed from Chris Sheridan? He got crushed for passing

the ball with Chuck after the game saying Kobe wouldn't have passed. Michael wouldn't have passed. Smash cut to a decade later in the finals, a game I know all three of us might have been at. Game three of the finals, Kyle Corver, you're in your spot, you're open. I'm going to trust the process.

A year later, when he's playing what I believe to be the single greatest game of his entire career, sitting at 49 in the finals, has a chance to, nope, I see George Hill going to the basket. It is something that 90 seconds later, J.R. Smith forgot to call time out. point is this, brew, it truly is who he's always been. And some people have, it might be the thing he's most criticized for of, I don't have to take the last shot. So if the streak was going to end, ending that way, I thought was perfect. It's interesting you brought up that Doniel Marshall play.

That's the first thing that came to my mind. I knew it would be. Him making that pass and everybody killing him. And you showed on the highlight, there wasn't anybody 12 feet within 12 feet of Danielle Marshall. I mean, he was, you can't get any more wide open than that.

But he missed, so LeBron was criticized for that play. I think, here's the thing. And some, I know you know this thing, but the way it's written is, you know,

LeBron, you know, kind of chose winning over the street. I don't think LeBron's going, making his move, thinking, should I go for the streak or should I pass it? That's his instinct.

You show several times. His instinct is just to make the right play. And so I don't think it was a struggle in his mind. I think he just naturally made the right play. I got to say this too. Watch, because, you know, there's this thing called multi-view now that Nick apparently doesn't. I don't have an old-school cable subscriber, so I don't have the YouTube TV.

So watching that game and watching LeBron be on the court and Austin Reeves dominated. Austin Reeves had 44. And LeBron struggled at 4 for 6 to 17. Was bizarre. To see LeBron, I mean, we've rarely seen LeBron not play great, you know. And so it was bizarre. And he's looking at his age now.

Now the passing is still top notch. And that might be what he does best this year. But like the last three games, he's 12 for 40. 30 that's 30% shooting that's like unfathomable for LeBron because he missed training camp and that he'll ramp back up maybe but he's averaging 10 points and three and a half rebounds

it's only three games but it is it looks like the age is okay which is I mean it's not a knock on LeBron it kicks in to everybody but it looks like it's only three games we'll see but that is bizarre not seeing him at 24

7 and 6 at least you know so but no that was it was the perfect way for the streak to you. Durant is the new active leader, 267. So can I show those two lists real quick? If we could show the all-time list and then where they are now, because

listen, he passed, Jordan had the record forever. And this is, so here's the thing on it. It is true that this is like a record that, quote, no one cares about in that nobody knows the numbers. But it's also true that

arguably the five most consistent and scores in the history of the league are the top five. You know what I? So like the, it can. Six of six. Right. And so, but so that's the all time number. Oh, no, that's fine.

But here is the current number. So Katie is at 267. Shea is at one seven. So if Shea plays every single game for the next 14 seasons, he can break it. That's the context for it. The first game Shea could, and I, I'm obviously being a little facetious, But LeBron started this streak 18, almost 19 years ago. Like you also can't twist her ankle in the first quarter.

Correct. And so can I add since you said that? Can I just do one last thing quickly? Because LeBron, he already had the record. He was a little over a thousand. Did twist his ankle in the first quarter. I like this one. The only real injury he's ever suffered that made him miss time

was the Solomon Hill thing. I don't know if people remember this. He had seven points where he had seven points. that happened. So I don't know if last night the streak mattered, but he stayed in, brew, for one more play, kept the streak alive,

and then missed two and a half months of basketball. So, like, that happened. They called time out. He's sitting on seven points. He played one more possession for two months, hit that shot, and then was done until the playoffs.

I think also, because people don't think, crazily, of LeBron as a score. Yeah. Even though he's the all, time leading score, the only got to hit 40,000, and then you got this streak. He is one of the best scores ever.

I don't care if you don't think he has a bag, all right? He is one of the best scores ever. Some would say the best. Maybe. I mean, some would say that for sure, but so just, I mean, stop it with the, he's not a score. Lakers Celtics tonight. And LeBron's not playing tonight. Oh, foot arthritis.

Some old guy injuries are popping up too. I'd like to see LeBron. I don't know how many more games in Boston there is. Live from New York, the show that is excited for the World Cup draw. We're feeling okay. We've got Paraguay in our sights. Absolutely. Had a brawl.

Rudge match. Yeah. We won, two, one. Feeling good? Yep. I've got some Australian friends, too. They're going to be on tilt. Well, I think, yeah.

Tilt. I mean, you're talking about us going to the different World Cup sites, which we should. But before the World Cup, we probably should go do. some scouting in Australia. Great. I agree. Long flight. See, it's not that bad. It's 18 hours.

And we gotta go. 18 hours from where? NYC. I did it. It's 18 hours by the clock. It's by the clock. In the, in the. It was like three days as far as with the international date line.

Who knows? I flew it. I think you were, I think you were unconscious for six hours. I was on. Yeah. It's doable. Josh, you look up direct flights. I think you had to flight L.A.

No. No. You can fly to. of Dallas, you can also play out of New York. We got to go see what that carousel team's about. Technically, I flew to New Zealand. Today, which is four hours away. That is it.

Balls and playoff hopes. On the line against the Texan Sunday night, we're not really talking about it. We've all we've done is talk about it. No, we're not. You're just like, ah, you know, it's a Chris Jones game. Moles right missed the playoffs. We haven't talked about it in that in that room. Well, because Wilde's beloved athletic playoff predictor

says he's still got 11%. Even if he loses. Drop this one. Meanwhile, a fresh edition of Upset alert and a red hot Knicks picks. Locks are 2 and O. Coach is going to come by to literally put Greg on his back like he's been doing all year. He's already done that. Yeah.

I'm looking forward to your pick. Good. We all are. Right now, Lions put up 44 points on what we thought was an improved Cowboys defense. Didn't really look like your last name. They moved to 8 and 5. Lions playoff hopes shoot up to 45%. Bad news, Brian Branch tore his Achilles last night.

Not good. No. Greg, you rock with this team. Do you think the Lions are back? I don't. Really? I know, man. Too many injuries?

Yes. Here we go again. And if you are a fan of the Lions, you are saying the same thing. Man, we get two steps forward and then we take a step back. Watching this team play last night, obviously we wanted to see a couple of things. Can they get pressure on DAC? They were able to get pressure on DAC, created that pressure. They were able to cover a guy who was torching the NFL in George Pickens

and made him just look like up. That's why Pittsburgh got rid of him. And then you get the Brian Branch injury. First, before that, safety goes out. The safety that was already filling in for Kirby Joseph, he goes out. It's like they can't get over the hump. And it's unfortunate, but when I watch them offensively, They look great, right?

Yeah. The issue with what they look like offensively is I don't think this is sustainable. When they're not running the ball as great as they previously have in the years prior, and your offense is almost exclusively surrounding the skill set of Jemir Gibbs. Same. Amon Ra was really good. Amon Ra was great, excellent, superb. Jameson Williams was good in this game.

But Jameer Gibbs, in the postseason, when you think about a team that's back, they have so many different ways to beat you or that one way that they beat you is just unguarded. And Jemir Gibbs, he very well may be that. But I just feel like watching this team play, they play one style and it's the injuries are going to catch up to them. Once again, they give up a lot of points. When they score a lot of points, I just don't like the way it looks, even though they score points. get excited about it. I hear you and I agree with a lot of that, but I'm saying, and I think Green Bay is better.

They've beaten them twice, okay? But we talked about it earlier. It's tough to beat a team three times in a row in a season. And who in the NFC? I don't think they are as good as they've been the Lions, and I don't think they're the best team in the NFC. But I think the NFC is just all bunched up. It's like the AFC without the Chiefs.

Everybody's bunched up together. So I think the Lions have a shot. I think they can be anybody in the NFC in head-to-head one game, but I just because they haven't a string, because they haven't been as consistent. The only time they put together a winning streak is when they was the healthiest. And then the injuries came Kansas City and then it was over. And I also, listen, I think that if golf has time, this offense is as good as any offensive in the football.

So like when you're looking at like potential playoff matchups, like if they got Tampa, I think they could do damage if they got... Tampa gives them problems. Tampa... You're right in that and that. I was just thinking about the teams don't have the dominant pass rush. But I would be really... They do play the Rams coming up.

Yeah, we'll get to see that. But, like, I feel like, man, is this a team that I could see being... Like, if they got Chicago in the playoffs, dominating them, because Chicago doesn't have a real pass rush, but if they got Seattle in the playoffs, getting clocked. And, by the way, I'm not putting them in the playoffs.

playoffs. It's them, San Francisco, Chicago, and Green Bay. There's three spots available for those four teams. But I do think that they are a scary matchup if you can't get to go. I think they're better than Chicago and better than San Francisco. Now, I don't know

if they'll make the playoffs, but I do think they're better than those two teams. Greg, I know you touched on it, but I want to dig in on the George picking stuff on the other side of the ball. Look disinterested. Nine targets, five catches, 37 yards. It's fewest since week one. What was your overall take on?

This was disappointing to see because his track record is going to be brought right back to the forefront. What we used to see with him in Pittsburgh, him doing this type of thing, him having issues there, finishing games, and just the effort. Like, I was telling us to Brue, like, there's a lot of things that coaches look for in players and feel like, you know what, I can maximize this. I can, I can definitely get them to do that. Effort is

never on that list. A will to want to go and compete and fight is never on that. And it's just the look, I've never seen a player that has this type of ability just almost irate. Look at like, and again, this is what he does, but he's gotten away with it. He's had a tremendous season. And then yesterday, watching him against the Lions, it was like, you know what? We're going to take away pickings.

We're not going to just go. man to man on you. We're going to zone you up. We're going to double coverage you a couple times and we're going to get into your head. We're going to play a mind game and it was almost like he just shut down. And so I feel like when if you're a team looking for a number one receiver

it's hard to, it's hard to sell that like in for them to erase that right there. Especially after CD went out. Yes. You have even more of it. I mean Flourneau. I'm going to say. He had a little bit. Yeah, I said his name wrong. I apologize. He stepped up more.

He did. One CD went out. It was, it was just disappointing for a number one receiver just to not show that fight and that desire to go and compete for the ball. The ball is in the air. Is that no, you go. I was going to say that if we can see the long pass,

the, the one down 14. Yeah, I want to ask you, Greg, like here it is. Is this nitp I mean, I'm like, die for that ball. But this is what we start doing. We start nitpicking. Right. Because of what we've seen throughout the course of the game and what he hasn't shown up to be. Right.

He can go. He can go for that, right? He didn't even make an effort. You're right. He didn't even make an effort. You can't pass interference there. Like you just kind of go around. Right.

I've been in those positions and situations before. And it looks like, okay, you were closer to the ball than what, that's what I'm wondering, what you actually were. In this case, it's tough, man, because I watched all of this game and then this happens. And it's like, dude, George is out of it. Like mentally. And I know we got to move on.

What it made me think of. And this player ended up pivoting was Mike Singletary on Vernon Davis. Can't win with him. Oh, yeah. Remember that? Again, that's a throwback for. Very good.

But Vernon Davis was, I think, the sixth pick of the draft, super talented tight end. And Singletarian took over the Niners kind of flipped out about him. And one of the famous quote was, he's like, he can't win with him. And that's the field. I got there.

Like, no matter how talented you are, no matter how high the peaks are, if you don't make at least some type of attitudinal adjustment, hard to win that. And for what game for it to happen in? Yeah. It's bad. Any national TV, everything on the line. Yeah, this isn't Carol lining a game to do. Time now for a segment so hot you can put it in your pocket and it'll warm your hands up. That was a good one.

Well. At the holidays, did your family say stop making fun of Grandma? Is that what happened? issue. It's time for upset over. First, let's look at the scoring. Wow! Whoa.

Do we have to keep showing this? Yes. My goodness. Brew. I don't know what to say. He has, Brew, it is, it's literally exactly five times your total is what coach and

Greg had. And it's almost all coach. I wonder if next year coach is going to ask for you guys to be bifurcated. Greg and hire about time. But KW, nice one, though. I'm rolling. You're right there. You know what?

You're in a hunt. Wow, Greg's against a quarterback with a broken leg. It was pretty obvious. All right, Greg, the ball is yours. All right. I'm going to the Steel City, who will be playing, obviously, in Baltimore. I got the Steelers over your Ravens. And I, you know what, I'm a pull of Brew line.

Somebody else is Ravens, too. Brew, you're not going to like this. But I got the Steelers over the Ravens. That's how you would frame it if it was the Colts. And here's what. Then you picked the Ray was to make the Super Bowl? No, absolutely not. I'm thinking coach.

A lot of the talk obviously started in the stadium against the Buffalo Bills, fire Tomlin. It's just everywhere. This buzz of fire Tomlin. Then you get the former quarterback, Ben Rothesberger, talking and putting in his two cents. Cam Hay will respond saying, I only care about the guys in this locker room. When you start hearing talk like that,

you understand it's only, It's only about us. And somebody has to step up to the plate and say, you know what? We can't just let coach be the only one to take the heat for it because he agreed. He said, I share the fans frustration. John Smith deserves it. Absolutely. And so when you start hearing things like that, you rally behind the coach.

You want to play. You're playing the Ravens, a team that you feel really good. If you turn on the tape, you want to feel good about yourself. The Ravens is this team in purple. Yeah, we dominate them. We don't care who they are. And eight. And number eight on in purple doesn't look like what we've come accustomed to seeing.

Oh, we got this. The defense has been struggling, but the one thing that they do, they take the ball away. When you look at this defense, they are alarming when it comes to takeaways. 22 takeaways, second in the NFL. They can get after the quarterback. They're obviously going to force fumbles. They blitz great. Lamar, your guy has played in nine.

games. He's been sacked 27 times. You mean against the Steelers? No, just this year. He's been sacked 27 times. And when he plays against the Steelers, he's struggle. Stop the run. Stop the run. You think they're going to have that on their agenda? Absolutely, because of what happened last week. They already got the Mike Tomlin plan, which is the Lamar Jackson plan. Single high, five down lineman, get after him, clog the lanes. Guess what? He's not going to run. So we're going to put pressure on them to throw in the windows, he hasn't been accurate. And number three, do what you do best. Take the ball away. Steelers upset. The Ravens. That a lot, bro. That was cute. That was more than cute.

You up there getting excited about Mike Tomlin's quote. He obviously didn't see the Marlon Humphrey quote. That was a quote. All right. That was a quote. I'll just leave it at that. I'm I feel fully confident. You keep going back to you don't. No, I do. You keep going back to this Lamar struggles against the Steelers. Did he struggle in the playoffs against the Steelers? Did he struggle at the end of the season in that second regular season game against the Steelers?

They can do both. They'll be fine. The fact that you rebuttal me right now, you're going back and forth, you're nervous. He's on top. Even if they lose, they're not out of it.

Even more, I'm just saying it's over. They don't. They'll play them again. They play them again in a few weeks. Was your upset alert? No. Even if they look at that.

Oh my goodness. My upset alert, I, I, I, I hate to do this for a few reasons. Okay, let's hear it. One, I hate to do the, I'm a, every time I pick against this team, I get burned. Number two, I hate to do it to my beloved co-host. No. But I am going, Nick. No.

With the Texans. It's a good pick. Plus three and a half over the chiefs. Y'all like this. It's a good bet. I'm sorry. Neither one of y'all with it. I just think Nick, and I am concerned about the Texans' ability to score.

I mean, because the Chiefs, it is a legitimately good defense. It has not been as great as in the past, but it still is not just getting run over by people. So that concerns me. I'm going to say, I think C.J. Stroud, he wasn't bad last week. He wasn't great. He threw for a lot of yards, but one interception, no touchdown. But that was his first game back from the injury. I think he will play better.

And I think that defense is just going to, I think they're going to have Patrick running for his life. With that depleted offensive line, and that's when we've seen Patrick look most vulnerable, not surprisingly, is when he's under a lot of duress. And I think they're going to put that pressure on him. And they can guard in the defensive backfield. So it's not like they just rush you, but they can't cover.

So I think that, and look, And I know it's desperation time for the Chiefs, too. But if you're the Texans, I bet you can vouch. You are, when have you ever seen the Chief? Nobody's ever seen the Chiefs as vulnerable. Nobody in the NFL has seen the Chiefs under Bahams this vulnerable. And so you have got to be like, man, this is the time. They've been beating up on us and everybody else for years.

This is the time to end them. So I think the Texans going to pull it out. I don't like that one, but. I don't like it. I love it. You don't love it? You don't love it? Not because I really don't like it.

Time now. Pucks and Tony Phil is back, everybody. Time now for the Pucks and I feel of football to make his upset alert. People are like, why are they going to Puckstonia football again? Is it because you're covered for living a log? You find a piece of corn on the ground? No, just a coincidence. I'm going with straight up Bengals over bills.

Surprise, surprise, I do not believe in the bills. Don't don't get me wrong. wrong I know they have no championships and they put a claim into Darius Layak good news you get to join the bills like actually rather retire no interest thanks though not good that's a strong thanks but no thanks like asking somebody out on a day not actually just gonna sit home do nothing also it's pro Bengals because I believe in Joe Burroughs is back do you see the Joe Burrow interview they're like so are you You a genius?

Did you see this one? No. They just start peppering Joe Burrow. So do you have a photographic memory? Are you, he's like, yeah, pretty good at taking test. Joe Burrow's really feeling himself now and it's showing up. Burrow has four point underdogs in the last five years. He's excellent.

Six and three against the spread, nine and oh. That's good for Nick's picks, you know? Just saying, it would also get me one point. Bengals are also very good. Also, I've been singing this and no one wants to listen. Brewer, maybe I should bring your guys back. I have my own little group. It's called Josh.

Josh Allen's not the same. Not the same, not same, not the same. Not the same. Last eight games, the bills are four and four. They're just a 500 team. Look at the touchdowns to turnovers, because this is the big thing. The first 20 games in the last two seasons,

I don't know it's kind of wacky, 50 touchdowns, nine turnovers. Last eight, 20 touchdowns, 11 turnovers. He's giving you the ball. Finally, this is a wild special. This is like a trademark because it's just me and the Bengals DC are the only people who believe this. But I watched the Bengals play the Patriots say, this team's not too bad. And I warned everyone.

I said, man, this Bengals defense is not that bad. Then they went into Baltimore and shut down everybody. First 10 games, they were bad. The last two games against Drake May and the Patriots and Lamar Jackson, two of the best quarterbacks in the AFC, they've played pretty good. Straight up, Bengals over Bills. You like that one? No. Okay.

I don't like that either. You love it? Well, no. Quick, if we, do we have a moment and I want to do your opinion. If the Bengals do win this game. They're alive. Then to win the AFC, they're alive. No.

To win the AFC? No, if they beat the bill, I'm just saying, if they beat the bills, they still might not make the playoffs. If they beat the bills and make the playoffs, you don't think they could win the AFC? No, I do not. Oh, wow. With a research and. The defense is still bad.

They would be rolling. You see a little bit more. All right. Time now for Nick Spicks. Red Hot, by the way. Oh, it's smoking. Four one and one last two weeks. Two and one last week.

KW. What do you think the locks are this year since you made me do them? Undefeated. Undefeated. It should be in gold. Undefeated for the locks. The chiefs let me down in more ways than one. But that's okay.

It happened. It brought a lot of joy in my life. Bears getting seven. Do I need the seven? Of course not. No. They won outright. I said on this show, how many points did the Seahawks need to cover the 11 and a half?

I said 12. Guess what? They would have covered with 12. Old Max Brosmer got you zero. So we're feeling great. And speaking of that Seahawks defense, we're going back to the well. Seahawks minus seven. What do we know against Atlanta?

What do we know about Sam Darnold? Doesn't play his best in big spots. know when Sam Darnold loves to play, one o'clock with nobody watching at the Atlanta. That's when the guy cooks. Plus, that Seattle defense against Kirk Cousins with no, exactly. That's all it's going to be. You're going to be watching Adam Shines going to be like, oh, in Atlanta, Sam Darnold,

we're like, all right, now back to the game we actually care about. So listen, I thought that Seahawks Stevens against Kurt Couss, no Drake London, Sam Darnold in a dome cooking seven points. They'll be covering it half time. It'll be nice and easy. Next. Prince, we are back. I thought I was getting two.

I guess I'm getting a point in a half. Doesn't matter they're going to win outright. Do you know the last time Indianapolis won in Jacksonville? A half decade before the Prince was drafted. The last time, Jacksonville, the Colts won in Jacksonville, the Prince was three years away from, being the Gatorade National High School player of the year. It was 10 years old.

20 years. No way to tell. I'm just telling you it's a fact. Here's another fact. The Jags in the last decade, 16, 3 and 1 against the spread versus the cults. The cult are falling apart. Their quarterback has a broken leg that he's fixing with a buddy's school project. And the prince is out here cooking.

It's the better team. They're at home. I'm getting points. And then finally, strange bedfellows I know. Eagles, go ahead and win. The argument here is very simple. Justin Herbert's got a broken hand. Yep.

Your, now, and bonus galaxy brain take. This is better than a home game for the Eagles. Here's why. This is a great take. I see it. Their home crowd booes them because they're sick of them and angry with them. You're listening to WIP. You're like, are you in it?

Right. And also the crowd, even if they're winning, they're booing, they're being all Philadelphia. The Philly fans that either have moved to Southern California or traveling for the game. Having a blast. Exactly. They're just happy for you. So you get the home field advantage of the loud noise without the mean stuff from the actual home crowd. Herbert's got a broken hand.

Can't run a quarterback sneak. Might see some Trey Lance, who some people still believe in kind of, but still. Philly, you got to win minus two and a half. So there are the picks. Seattle laying seven. Jacksonville plus two. Philly minus two and a half. KW.

You have a question for me? You're just fading broken. bones really that that that broken bones and and Matt Ryan do you have to ask me what the lock is because I don't oh I forgot what is the lock well again I don't I don't do locks but I'll take Seattle minus seven love it wow three and oh are we doing with Dan and against then I am I am if if I go three and no and he goes o' and three I'm ahead but the locks are perfect locks are perfect it's time for a new episode of scores and storylines Joe burroughs in Buffalo game two in my borough's comeback tours he's trying to keep the bengals afloat brew has him going to the Super Bowl all of a sudden to win that Josh is five and one at home this year. Nick, what's your score and your storyline for my upset alert pick? 3127 bills and the storyline is the bills prove wild wrong twice over, not just because of your upset alert, which is very pro bangles,

but because of your feeling that the bills quote stink. I, you do like that. You've never said that. Oh, shoot, did he actually go through stuff? Did I actually say, play the tape. I said it. There is an element. is an element of watching a team play the Patriots that for you perverts how you view that

team the bills stink the bills do stay the bills do stay the bills aren't good that's me being a good team no that was not saying no i'm in a good team me brew was saying what you have said. I was like, no, he said it. You had evidence. You just said it. KW. He said it. He said it. And one of my own saying, stop down. That's inappropriate. You only don't just trying to keep the flow. Listen, it is, and I noticed it. And I noticed even more during your upset alert. It is maybe, I thought there were unique things about my personality that made me the way I am.

And maybe it's just if your team's the best team in football, or at least you believe it is. these things come out because all of a sudden you're doing a lot of like anti-john Josh Allen not that good anymore America he's giving the ball to that he's a bit of a roller coaster huh like that's so I just I'm just telling you the the Joe Burroughs really good the Bengals have not all of a sudden gotten a great defense and while the bills do have a weakness in the ability to stop the run that's not what the Bengals want to do and the bill's offense is awesome I just go before you go, Greg. For sure. That's rich.

That's really rich coming from you. The clip that you used, when you're like, oh, you have, you know, rose-colored glasses for teams. Was about the Bengals defense. That I made a prediction that the Bengals defense was going to shut down the Ravens prediction. And they said I was a fool. Yeah, because the Bengals didn't shut it down. Have you seen those Lamar highlights? He's just dropping the ball and doing weird stuff.

I think that was more Ravens futility. Oh, okay. I couldn't be right. It's just the Ravens. reigning MVP. No, listen, again, the flip side is you have an opportunity to be proved right twice over. Maybe the bills aren't that good and the Bengals' defense is awesome. But here is the reason I say it.

And let me ask you this. If the bills hang 30 on Cincinnati, especially because we all know Cincinnati's defense is greatly improved. Resurgent. Are you going to start to be open to the idea the bills might actually be good? I think the bills are pretty good. No, you just said they stink. You said they stink.

And then you said the bills are not good. That's probably a mischaracterization. They're pretty good. They're pretty good. So I picked the bills that obviously represent the AFC and the Super Bowl. This week, I'm kind of with Wilds. Wow. And I know it sounds strange because of the past defense, and that's the strength of the bills.

But Joe Burrow coming back, you can. convince me with that defense. The last two games, I'm giving, I'm giving them a chance. Don't you feel like to. I feel like it's more likely of an upset than it is the bill is just running away with this. The bills, desperate is too strong. The bills need this W. They do.

I mean, that's what I'm saying. The Bibles do more, but I'm just saying like, I feel strongly that the Bills win this game. Chase Brown. And I even think they win it a little bigger, wider margin than Nick gave. I think they're going to put 30 plus on the Bengals. What do you think the Bengals are going to do? 20 plus. Chase Brown's got six straight games 100 yards from scrimmage.

Like, okay. It's game time, man. Listen, I hope you're right. I'm telling you, if the Bengals win this, they're live for more than just a playoff berth. Oh, I like that. I still don't think they'd make the playoffs, but if they did. Headed to a frigid Kansas City Sunday night, Mahomes buying a makeshift offensive line versus a defense that has been terrorizing QBs.

This is your ball. What's the scoring story? I've already said it. It's my upset alert. Maybe that's good news for Nick, because obviously I've had a rough year with the upset alerts. But I just think that defense is playing like they're the best defense in the league. And I think I have a graphic.

They do everything well. Like points per game, they're first in the league. They defend the run well, fourth in the league. The pass well, fifth. They get takeaways. You know, third down. they're good. Sacks, they're good. They get some pressure. Like, I mean, there's no weaknesses in that defense. And look, if Mahomes' offensive line was intact, then I would feel better

about the chief's chance. And look, I'd certainly give the chiefs a chance. But I just think that they're going to have a lot of pressure on him. And I think C.J. Stroud, I don't think he was as bad, probably as Nick does last week. He wasn't great by any stretch. But I think he played better than he had been playing for most of the season. And I think he comes back and has an even better game. I think they are looking at this as this is our chance. We have not seen the Chiefs as vulnerable ever. Let's get it done.

And the whole league is pulling for him. Yeah, well, they can't end the Chief season. I just, if they stand on business and say, we're going to beat you up front and we're going to play zone behind, kind of like how Detroit last night had to switch it up. You can't continue to do the same thing and get torts and know that Dallas have. But you don't think they'll switch it up before the game. No, no.

No, no. You don't switch it up before the game. But in game adjustments are a thing. You can't be afraid to make in game adjustments if it's not working. And then they've had great defenses going up against the chiefs before. And guys making comments like, yeah, he's in trouble and all the things. You remember you put me on the board, speaking of the board. Who was that other guy on the board?

All year. There was a winning ear. The Chiefs aren't the defending Super Bowl champion, so I thought the board was important. Ah, got it. Tim. Yeah, there was a great comeback. Tim Settle.

Tim Settle is the one. It's just true. We haven't had the board all throughout the regular season. Go ahead. No, I thought, I just want to ask great a question, but I didn't know. Go, go, go, go, go. It's getting, it's December.

It's cold in the north. When is it so cold it becomes a real factor? And what will tip you off like, ooh, the Texans are this is going to affect the game. So the interesting thing about the Texans is they're not led by their offense. So it's defense. So when you talk about cold against defenses that dominate, it doesn't change anything. When guys have short sleeves on, that's intimidating.

They're not going to lie. But I do think that if the weather helps any team in this game, it's Kansas City. Oh, yeah. Like, and so, but I agree with you. It's not like the advantage you have if it were, not picking on them, but the cult's in this spot, an offense-led team. Listen, I think that the Patrick's going to have to do three or four special things, but this game has to be about the Arrowhead crowd, the Chiefs defense, the elements,

and this being a playoff atmosphere, and they force some turnovers, and they get some short fields, and they are the team that takes advantage of those. I'm back on the chiefs. That's exactly what it's going to happen. That is exactly what is going to happen. It's supposed to be rocking. They got their cardboard. Finally, Steelers in Baltimore, Battle of I'm not sure I recognize you guys. Lamar is ineffective in the Steelers'

defense getting gashed. Greg, what's your scoring storyline here? So I got this 1917. Obviously, I picked this as my what a perfect in AFC North's score. Absolutely. 1917. 1917. Boswell just out there the whole game. And the Steelers take it to Ravens in gritty fashion.

Like, these are the types of games that they live for. If there is one thing about the Steelers, they can grind out a game and make it as ugly as they need to. And with Lamar playing the way he's been playing, this is right up their alley. Coaches on the hot seat, all the things I talked about in the upset alert, like coaches on the hot seat, you're trying to defend your coach because your coach is really taking the heat for what we haven't been able to do as, players. This is a team that you, it's in your division. This is a rival. You get up for these games. You like the Marlon Humphrey quote. Love their quote. No one cares if you're the Steelers. Line it up. See who straps up and see who shows up because Lamar hasn't shown up in a very long time. Really quick nugget. If the Steelers can run the ball and get their play action game

running and they get, Arthur Smith gets Aaron Rogers out of this quick dink and dunk and they take shots down the field vertically and just open it up a little bit to make the defense believe that man they're they're shooting it down to d k metcalf it's it's definitely they don't run the ball well i'm what i'm saying is if they are able to run the ball well and then push the ball down vertically you got to you got to get some create some questions you're talking about backing up tomlin the raven's going back up their quarterback he's carried us for years It's time for us to carry him. So you're basically saying Lamar is...

No, he'll be good enough. He'll be good enough. He'll be good enough. But hand off to Derek, hand off to Derek. So can I... Student body left, student body. Can I say one part of this game that we haven't talked about yet this week? I like the Steelers plus the points.

You know, I just think these two teams are getting more than a field goal. These games feels like are always a field goal. I know the last two games last year were not. What's Aaron Rogers going to look like? Yeah. Aaron Rogers, we saw him play one game with a broken wrist. He fell on it once. He came out, came back in.

Then he's whining about John O' Smith and talking about meetings and stuff. He did have a nice birthday party, evidently. I'm sure he took attendance at. I am just very interested in how Aaron Rogers looks in this game. I think that is like, because the other piece of it is, if the Steelers win and the Ravens look like kind of a team

on the brink, are the Steelers also, even in a win, maybe going to look like a team on the brink because of how their quarterback looks? And does that then open things up for Burrow like you're talking about? That's to me the other part of this game. Okay, that was a great segment. A heated

first things first, bears in Green Bay. Winner will be at top of the NFC North. Micah Parsons, feeling disrespected, brew your reaction. I'm going to be honest, Wiles. I do want to hug that quote.

I do want to hug that quote. I'll leave it at that. That's what I'm talking about. I mean, that's not. I like that quote. If I'm a Packer, I love that quote.

And I think it's accurate, Nick. I do feel like they've been disrespected. Now, it's not because of my, I feel like they're disrespected because of J-Lo. And somewhat rightly so. But everybody's like, I don't trust Jordan Love. I don't trust Jordan Love. Now, he has made some bad decisions in the past.

And at times you wonder, he's got three interceptions this year. Like, that is great. He's been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league. His passer rating is one of the tops in the league. So I think that's, I'm not sure if that's what Mike is thinking. But I look at that as people are really disrespecting Jordan Love. and because of him, the Packers as a whole. Now, they haven't looked great, but in a couple of games.

But still, they're 8, 3, and 1. They're one of the most talented teams in the league. They have some playoff experience. You just got Micah Parsons this year. I think they're going to come out and put it on the Bears. And I think they're looking at the Bears as the little brother. We don't think y'all that good. We saw what Detroit did to you.

We owned Detroit this year. I think it's going to be a tough, sledding for the bears. I looked at this completely different. Obviously, Michael Parsons, this is first year in Green Bay, so the rivalry, he's not as familiar, but he's going to have his guys back who's in the locker room, who's going through this rivalry.

But the style of play of which the bears perform running the ball, we hear these phrases, we just going to line up and punch them in the mouth. That's not a passing game. That's a running. game. That's disres our will. Exactly. That's disrespectful to opposing defensive fronts. Where does Michael play? What has he been knocked for? And he's been great this year. So when you

when you see on film and you watch them going to Philly and Carolina came to you, ran all over you and you had to answer those questions, what's going on in the running game with the run defense. You already have Van Ness is out, he's been out Wyatt is out because of the ankle. Like we know what this team is coming to do. They're coming to punch us

in the mouth. I take that very, I take the offense to that if I'm Michael Parsons and that's what he's talking about. Yeah, so because here's what's interesting because he's asked about the rivalry. That's what, and so when he said I see the disrespect, I thought

he was saying disrespect, not from like the outside world brew, but from the bears. And so the, it's either, right, it's either what Greg said. Yeah. That just their style of play, I'm going to say is disrespectful because you think you're going to run on me like just basically creating something like great athletes do. Or it's the Ben Johnson. Yep.

The Ben Johnson, you know what I mean? I like to beat Matt LaFle. It's fun to beat Matt LaFleffour twice a year. What, and so I don't, for me, this is, it is good sound. I know you guys love it. It's less noteworthy to me because I just put it in the bucket of great athlete finding someone to be mad at to be hyped up for the game, which is totally fine. But where it is noteworthy to me is Micah is one of, I don't know, 8, 10, 11 people in the world that can just wreck a football game by themselves. I thought that's what happened on Thanksgiving.

I thought Micah Parsons just blew that game to pieces by himself. I don't know that the Bears are going to give him that opportunity because I don't know if they're going to ask Caleb to put the game in his hands a ton or if they're going to try to stick with their run game. If I was Caleb, I'm like, what's the game plan? Well, it depends on what the Packers' defense can do. And Caleb's done a great job on not taking sacks this year

compared to last year. But that's how I read this. I think this is a potential backfire quote. for Micah. The rare quote that is if they just get run on, the bear is posted in their locker room. Oh, they will.

Oh, yeah, that's definitely going to happen. The old double billboard game, the ultra rare. Every team shows a highlight reel and they throw in little things before the game. You put them on billboards like in the cities? Yes, you have to call that billboard. Got you. Remember when you asked our bosses put billboard in your hometown about the show? No, you did that.

I asked for his hometown. No, you did not. Part of the marketing campaign. No. I said I thought it would be cool for KW. And I said I would be horrified if that happened. He's like, no, I want to do it at my ex-girlfriend's house. That's weird.

Your initial reaction to looking at the two known teams that you're taking and then the unknown from Europe? Yes, I think the reaction is with expectation, no? See how we are going to arrive in six months. But already we know, we play recently with, again, Paraguay, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia and Denver in Australia. We already have the registered and everything that we know is very fresh. And then the four that is going to see one of a very good team in front Europe. I see we need to be optimistic.

I think we need to keep pushing, keep evolving. But I think at the moment what we can say is only analyze the teams and see what is going on in a few months. But I see the smile on your face. Welcome back to first things first. USA World Cup draw. We know we've got Paraguay. We know we've got Australia.

We'll know our other opponent at the end of March. I thought Pochitina was a little bit of coach speak. You won't want to say we're going to roll, but you feel confident, Nick. Well, listen, it was if you were grading best case scenario on, you know, this was a B plus a minus as far as the draw we could have gotten, as far as far. as competent it should give you that not only will the U.S. advance to the knockout stage, which is now round of 32 instead of round of 16, but should win the group. And so, and that positions you best in that knockout stage. You obviously hope Turkey A doesn't win their little tournament, but even if they do,

you're still in a really good spot. That's real takeaway. We've gotten two, we've beaten both of these teams already to one. And we had little fisticuffs. Yeah. I'm from New York. It's a show that's going to be giving the cold shoulder to my Australian friends. We're friends with one Australian couple.

Not alone. Wow. I'm starting. I'm getting focused. Coach Manjini's brother lives in Australia. He'll be a problem. House divided. Yeah, exactly.

Great World Cup. Great World Cup draw this afternoon for the USA. And that guy on Pluribus lives in Paraguay. Don't like him now. I'm not there yet. Yeah, a few episodes behind. There's no spoiler. Just a character lives in bar.

Yeah. I guess I can tell what kind of innovation. Overtime, first thing for us today. Is there a chance Patrick Mahomes is not making the playoffs? And does that? Let's flip it around. Is there a chance the chiefs are in in the Texans season? But the Texans.

What? What about them? They won a playoff game last year. They're supposed to be a big, bad number one defense? Maybe. Meanwhile, are the best? Bear going on offense. In the driver's

of the Packers' rivalry. And as Micah have something special plan for that bear's offense? Watch out. Can I add a question? Sure. Is it possible Micah's quote

was about Danny Parkins? I love that. Maybe. That would be possible. He was talking about the media. It wasn't possible he was talking about Danny specifically. By disrespect.

That would be a need. And about beating the bleak. deep out of them. Micah, I respect it. We're headed back to Detroit for this Lions Cowboys Games Cowboys. Now just a coin flip if they win out. It means winning every single game. They got the Vikings next week, Danny.

Are you officially writing off the Cowboys? This is official, not just writing off, officially writing off. Yeah, in pen, not one of those pencils. Done. It's official. It's official. I said it yesterday. I felt like that was the first playoff game of the year.

and you couldn't make a credible case for the loser to make the run, and the Cowboys lost it. So I'm going to stay true to it, and there's nothing that happened in that game. It was like, ah, it was a bad call or it was fluky. Detroit was better. You were right about that. I was wrong.

And I thought the biggest story of the game, like I understand the focus on Pickens. I think it's a little bit of an overreaction, frankly, to how he played yesterday. It wasn't great, but I've seen way worse from him. But that was about the Cowboys defense. the Cowboys defense before all of the trades was awful. And then yesterday, it was awful again.

This specific combination of factors should be impossible for one team to do. Allowing 40 or more points, 400 or more yards, only getting one or zero sacks and forcing two or fewer punts. They've now done it three times this year. It's basically showing up in zero aspect of the game. We allow the yards, we allow the points, we don't turn you over, and we don't force you to punt. And so they did it against Denver, Green Bay, and then last night. And now they would officially be the worst defense of the Super Bowl era in terms of points per game allowed to make the playoffs if they made it. Worst than the greatest show on turf ramps.

The offense is great, but you'd have to overcome a historically terrible defense, even post the traits. And I know they have been better, but man, they were awful. Last night against a team with no Leporta with a supposedly banged up Amman Ross St. Brown. A team, a lot of people picked and are still picking to go to the Super Bowl and a team that if you can't get past Rush on, it still has a superstar receiver and a superstar running back. I don't think the Cowboys are dead. Now, that is partially an Eagles take because the math in this regard stays the same. They need two more wins than Philadelphia the rest of the way. That's how they get in.

And so, can, is it plausible that the Eagles finish the season two and three? I think that's plausible. And do I think the Cowboys, I don't want to say are likely, but absolutely can finish 4 and O? For sure. They play the Giants, Washington, Minnesota, and a tough game against a Chargers team that will see what shape they're in. That will be the Chargers going Philly, Kansas City, Dallas, and Herbert already is the broken hand. So that's why I'm not writing them off because of a similar reason, I think, as to why you believed in your two Super Bowl picks so much.

Man, if you have a top five offense, you're in it. And if I thought that defense was still the worst defense in football, then I would feel differently. I think those numbers that show would be the worst defense to make the playoffs in however long. The Super Bowl area. Right, in the Super Bowl. ever, all of it. Is, is, doesn't take into account that I think they went from, you know, bottom three or worst defense.

They're not the worst defense in the NFL, but bottom three defense to the 22nd ranked defense, which is, to me, closer to what they've been post the trades. I, I thought it was an overreaction that Quinn and Williams was, you know, a life changer for them. But I do think they, he makes them better. Oversome being back makes them better. them getting healthier makes them better. So I just think they are better than the four teams left on their schedule. And I think it's possible Philadelphia falls apart.

So those two things make me feel like I'm not comfortable totally writing them off. I don't think it'd be a good even money bet, but I'm not writing them off. Yeah. To write them off, you have to think Philadelphia is just going to plummet. And I don't think that's going to happen right now. But as I've said all week, if the Eagles lose to the Chargers, that's three straight losses where most likely the offense hasn't played well, then I think the supernatural funk is right there at the doorstep.

In fact, like what I say, it'd be riding home with a moment. And that's where maybe they could collapse. But Dallas still would have to essentially win out. Yeah, they would. I mean, I don't know that they've shown us any, even though they are better than those teams on their schedule, I mean, I don't know that they've shown us any reason to believe they're going to just going to forward.

Well, you think they're going to beat the Vikings, right? Yeah. It's the Charger game. It's just the Chargers game. Well, the last few games are road- They have Washington. And Jayden's back. And Jayden will be back.

No, listen, I think that the Chargers game at home is tough. And I think at Washington might be tough. We also, Jaden is back. We also. He could be gone again. Right, they also might shelve it. But Washington gave Denver all it wanted. I mean.

I am not saying that those are, and walkovers, even the Giants, you know, as playing spoiler if the Cowboys are playing some divisional game, not a walkover. I just think the Cowboys are right now better than those four teams. They are. The best team they play is the Chargers in Dallas. I also think, I don't know if we can put up Philly's schedule or not. Philly has one

walkover game and then like we were saying the divisional games which are tough, the Chargers this week and they have a tough team in week 17 that I'm forgetting but it's not a divisional game because they go Washington somebody tough Washington the bills and so like that

like it is I think DAC played really well yesterday like I know this sounds ridiculous if you take away the two picks but if you those two picks both of them, he threw the ball exactly where he wanted, the receiver

had them in his hands, both of them. He throws for 375 yards in a touchdown despite it. That game got away from them. And again, I picked Detroit to win, so I'm not surprised by what happened, but I didn't walk away from yesterday's game feeling way worse about Dallas than I did going into the

game. And one of his wide receivers stopped playing. Yeah, well, so that I think is just going to happen. Like in this regard. Well, that could happen during these last four games at the Pickens has been awesome this year. Until last night. I know.

Nobody doubts. You're giving him a pass for last night. It's not a complete pass. There were some bad moments. I thought that Richard Sherman overreacted saying that he was the story of that game. The reason they lost is because of the defense. We are two weeks removed from C.D. Lamb dropping the ball multiple times in that game against Philly and openly sulking on the sideline.

Physically dropping the ball. Right. But Cedie was just giving up. But that's not. not giving up during the game. I just, how can I say something real quick? Let me just add some insight to how my dear friend

Danny Parkins processes sports. Here we go. He actually doesn't think character matters. It's just a talent thing. It's just a pure He's greatly talented. He is super talented therefore everybody's making too big of a deal.

You don't. Go ahead. So the idea that because he had a couple of bad moments in one game last night, he's now not worth paying money to be on the team next year when he has been a top five receiver in football this year? Yes, but so I, so you

so let, hold on. Of course I would want him on my team. A couple bad moments. Yeah, I think that it didn't drop a pass. He just didn't run out several routes. He, he played, he, that led to that led to he also. He was, he was not good. I'm saying his season

has been excellent and there were a few bad moments last. Right, but it was, but it is to me, if you're a player, who everyone's like, wow, the Steelers sure didn't get much back for this guy. They couldn't wait to get out of the seat of George Pickens' business, and then he is having this great year, and everyone's like, wow, they really messed that up. And then you see, oh, yeah, reminder, that's who he was consistently in Pittsburgh. So I guess let me.

But now that he has a great quarterback and a good offense, he's also a top five player in the sport because of his talent. for last night in a must win game. So if you were to crystal ball it and three times a year he's going to do that, you'd still want him. Does the other 14 times a year, does he do what he's done this year? Yes. Yes. Okay.

That's insane. Yeah. And I think that's why I said, it's unfair when I said Danny doesn't care about character. It is a fundamental difference in how I view at least, and I think you two, football. I think that is a toxic. within a locker room that prevents you from achieving at high levels. But you said earlier that you could win with those guys. No, I said 100%.

I think that you don't have to have all Boy Scouts on your team. And we gave the different examples of that. I think that George Pickens, if he is going to consistently be the, I might just quit guy, I would be super anxious about paying him like a number one receiver. And I think that it would be bad business to pay him. right now like a number one receiver. Like I would franchise tag him with the concern being he's going to throw a fit if I franchise tag him.

Like that is, it's why Pittsburgh got rid of it. You would agree that though this year last night is the outlier. And yes. And for his career, the previous 12 games. But I don't think you can have that out. I don't view, I understand how you're framing it. Not to be argumentative, but I like reject the framing of it. That's fine.

of just like, look, the pilot, like, look, it crashed into a. Oh, come on. You had a bad day. Bad day. But I just, I think that if you're going to do that, I think it's almost, I'm going to phrase this so I'm not putting words in your mouth. It sounds disrespectful to guys at the top of their field and what they bring to a team every, every day.

What Justin Jefferson is bringing every day talking up J.J. McCarthy who can't hit the side of the bar. I believe in you. Like the guy, I think there's a level of leadership that goes beyond, if you're getting paid that much, that goes beyond just catching the ball. Yeah, I was going to say, when you're equating lack of effort with just, oh, he dropped a couple passes.

And pouted about it. Yeah, but he pouted on the sideline. He didn't pout during a play. You know what I mean? Like, I could view Piggins as pouting when he's not running out routes as hard as he can. You know, so I just, that's how it during a route is wild. Pouting on the sidelines, okay. You want to read a book?

Like, if A.J. Brown read the book on the sidelines wasn't great. Reading a book during a route. I do. I think A.J. Brown, like, I, by the way, A.J. Brown has been a problem this year. They won a Super Bowl like you can. He's been a problem this year. Chief's favorite against the Texans in Arrowhead Sunday night. Texas defense ranked first in points, yards, and passer rating.

But Spag says, hey, don't forget about R.D. Defense. Chiefs defense last two games. No sacks. Not good. Zero's first time since 2021. What do you expect from the Chiefs, Nick or Danny? Go ahead. Listen, I expect the Chiefs to lose and I don't think Mahomes is enough to overcome an obvious X's and O's mismatch in this spot that is just extreme. And I know we don't do a ton of individual offensive linemen rankings here, but you're pretty familiar with the inner workings of the chiefs. How would you describe the downgrade from Josh Simmons to Wanya Morris? I mean, it's massive.

I mean, it's a third string tackle. That's the left tackle downgrade. What about from Joanne Taylor to Jalen Moore? Not as big but significant. And then the Tray Smith to Mike Calliando. It was huge. Yeah. So it's, these are not, it's not close, right?

Like these are a great defensive line. Against the best pass rush in football, them are the Broncos, are the best defense in football, certainly. So I just think extreme strength, Texans pass rush, against now extreme weakness, Chiefs backup offensive linemen, 60% of their backups,

including two of their best three offensive linemen. I think it's too much to overcome. You know what? Dude, I think you made a, go ahead. I think it made a horribly strategic misstep. Why? Why? What is it?

Let me hear. I think you did a horrible job just then. Why? What did they do? because when your offensive lineman for the Justin Herbert was out, he ripped you to shreds. God forbid we ask Justin Herbert to do something without a few offensive lines. He can't play without Joe all.

Joe, got, Justin Herbert's got a broken hand and no offense. Can he not win a game? Is that too much to ask? And now his guys are gone. Are they high school kids? By the way, do they have to go to like? Herbert is better when pressured this year.

Benno. Oh, my goodness. You are a great, you are a great friend. What he's saying. One of the best. But regardless, of any strategic errors. Go ahead. No, that's not where I was trying to go with it.

All week long, I've been terrified of this. Yes. I no longer am. Oh, he is lying through his team. Let me tell you why. Just an hour ago, you were terrified. A hundred percent. A hundred percent.

I had a moment of clarity. Oh, God. In hearing Danny go over the backup offensive linemen, just one by one, which is something we've talked about all week, but we haven't gone through it. Sure. The chiefs know that. Yeah. And Patrick knows it.

And Andy knows it. And the whole story of the game is that. And that combined with what you said, which is why are they still favored? when everybody knows it. Why has this line sat at three and a half the whole week and sat there? And I think the answer is because we saw Chiefs with an offensive line in similar shape twice 10 months ago and nine months ago, play this team and be like, we have a game plan that will neutralize your pass rush.

And that they are unlike the other spots this year where an offensive lineman's gone out during the game or where they thought they were going to be able to hold up, but they weren't like against Dallas, but they still scored against Dallas. All week long, the objective for the Chief's offense and the game plan has clearly been, how are we going to be able to function offensively if everything has to be within a second and a half? And I trust Andy to figure that out. And so then the question becomes, can the Chief's defense hold up its end?

and I think they will in 20-degree weather at night narrowhead. So much so, I almost wish you to go back in new Nick's picks. I could take the Chiefs minus three and a half. I can't. My picks are already locked in stone, but I feel better. It took me until 5.18 on Friday? I've been on tilt for a month. Ever since they lost to Bo Nix, I've been on tilt.

But I am back, and they're going to win Sunday night, and we are going to be dropping banners on Monday. That's why Justin Herbert is not Patrick Mahal. Exactly right. That's right. No excuses. Remember the quarterback quarterback? Exactly.

We'll see the excuses he makes when the chiefs lose. Exactly. I can't wait. Coming up now, Parkins picks. Buckle up. I am seeing the NFL very clearly. This is the official pick segment. I plug into the matrix.

I see the league clearly. I'm not going to let three and no change me. I'm not scared of picking big games. Taking the points with Detroit. Playing the wood with the Chicago Bears. Easy, easier and easiest. I know that I'm right. Mark and fix is back. Hey, Nick, do me a favor. Find the loss on the screen there for me, if you don't mind. It's going to take you a while. Because there was none. I'm not even certain these were your picks. What do you mean? We weren't here. This was Black Friday. I don't even. Who's to even tell? Someone checked the tape. Oh, the tape has been checked. People were watching. Some of us were working on Black Friday. I outright wins. I honestly can't decide which was the easy.

easiest one. You tell me. I mean, 26 to 7 was the bills. I only had to lay three and a half. Texans and outright winner and I got three and a half. Bears plus seven outright. There were no sweats. No sweats across the board, 21 and 18 approaching 54% for the season. And you know what they say about things that aren't broke? Don't fix it. Let's get to our first pick of week 14 if you don't mind. We go back to the well with the bears as an underdog plus. six and a half. They're going to win outright, just like they did last week against Philadelphia. Jordan Love, he has been better this year than Caleb Williams. But you know why that won't matter? Because the Bears are going to run the ball. Wyatt, the best defensive tackle for the Packers out with injury. How's the Packers' rush defense been the last couple of weeks? Big

yikes. Six rush touchdowns allowed the last four weeks, 125 yards per game. The Bears, the second best rushing team in the NFL this season, the best since their byweek Packers. Man, big trouble. Bears taking ownership of the rivalry. Keep their lead in the division. Keep their hold on the one seed, by the way. Last week, I took the Texans. Let's do it again.

Texans plus three and a half. The same teams? Well, I'm two for two. Let's see if we establish a little of a theme here, Nick, on Parkins' picks. We just talked about the Chiefs backup offensive lineman, the Texans pass rush. We know that that means Patrick Mahomes is going to be under pressure.

You asked for a graphic brew? I got you. Patrick Mahomes, when pressured this season, 31st in the NFL. Yikes. Aaron Rogers style, except good. I mean, he's two his teammates. Ranks among 33rd quarterbacks, he's 31 out of 33.

That's a big thing. Nobody cares about completion percentage. I know, I know. This guy can't because he's the Caleb guy. And it was throwing at 57%. His second year as a starter. We're talking about it compared to Patchwell home. Yeah.

Day focus, you're perfect, man. I am perfect. Well, so I did the Bears last week. It was easy. last week is easy. They're playing different teams. Yeah, but I like the matchups. I see the NFL. It's the same. Bill! Minus five and a half. Wow. Against the Bengals, we go back to the well again.

Wow, this is why just like the concept of pick. So he swayed. What I want to see the bills do against bad defenses? Sorry. Wilds, they are still a bad defense. They destroy them. Yes. Five and O against defenses ranked in the bottom third of the league, scoring nearly 35 per game, outscoring them by 13 a game. Josh Allen has been spectacular. They're going to run all over them. They're going to post a big number.

They're going to win easily. Are you talking about the Bengals? I'm talking about the Bills. The Bills. Blow out Victor. He's going to run all over who? Yeah. Go ahead.

Can I make a request? It's not a bet because I have nothing to offer. It's just a request. Yeah. Because this really, I hate to say it. But this feels like O and three. Whoa. Feels like the bills win by three or four points.

The Texans lose by six. And the bears get what usually happens to the bears when they go to Green Bay. Oh, really? They won last year. If they go, if this goes 0 and three. Yeah. Next week, we either either the crown or the chain. Just just set it.

I'll never take off the chain. Okay, the crowns. The crown. Well, you get one show a year. Poor Christine has to stay late every Friday. We had to put a robe on you in the crown. If you go O and three next week, you just got to do it in regular regalia.

I don't agree. Okay. If I did below 500, which I would never do. Okay. Then I'll be fair. If you believe in the soccer gods, you should be thanking them. I think this is not just a good group.

This is a great group. great group and this isn't a group that you should expect this United States team under Mauritio Pochititino to win and go through. So thank you to the soccer gods. Big World Cup draw today on Fox. It was quite a show. The USA and Group D, we will face Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of a playoff between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. We won't know that, the fourth member of the group until March. Like Alexei said, soccer gods we're looking out. Looks to be one of the easiest groups. Host country, big expectations. Eight of 12 third place teams now because the

round of 32 is the knockout stage. We'll get out, but US not going to be thinking about that. Got to make a run. Host country haven't been passed around to 16 since 2002. Go make a run for the US men's national team. Let's talk some American football though. That's it. In the NFL, Lions, I know Greg was happy. Got back to bullyball routed the Cowboys, 44, 3.3. 30 last night. Bounce back game was vital for a Lions team looking to stay competitive in a tight race for the NFC North. Willie, how dangerous do you consider this version of the Lions to be?

Well, they're dangerous because their offensive identity is back. Run first with Gibbs, watched Jared Cook, cook off for play action. And what that did was a lot of them to play ahead of the change, stay on time, they had rhythm. And then we witnessed Dan Campbell. You know, his superpower is calling the run. And he did the damn good job of it. And then I also think defensively, man, they responded. And I think the biggest shock for me, to be honest with you,

I expected the plight, excuse me, the Cowboys to play a lot more, with a lot more execution, play a lot more desperate. That's what the Lions did. They played like a desperate team and they got it done. So congrats to the Lions, man. Eight and five, they're alive. I think they threatened the Bears right now in the division solely because of how they played last night. So when I watched this game, like obviously huge implications on this game,

seasons on the line literally. And they found a way to win. Like you said, Willie, they play with a little bit more sense of urgency. I don't know how dangerous they are moving forward, though. Because the same... The branch injury. The branch injury is devastating when you're looking and you're going into a game already without Kirby Joseph at safety.

And then the safety that's filling in gets injured like the second play of the game. And then branch goes down. It just gives the feel if you're... You're a Lions fan like, here we go again. Regardless of what you look like offensively, we've seen this music playing before. We've had this music playing before and it didn't end sounding the same way it started. And so for me, they can beat anybody. They can definitely beat anybody but they also can be beaten because we saw what the Cowboys

were doing. Yeah. And get ready for if they make it the... home road splits, more the indoor-outdoor splits, and then the cold weather splits. Like, their offense does tend to look great on a fast track and a dome. Like most offices. Sure, most offenses look better, but like Jared Gough in particular, it's been something that's hung over him. I know he pushes back against the narrative and he has a few good moments.

But the top of the NFC, you could be going to Chicago. Yeah. You could go to Lambo. You could go to Philly. These get tight and cold weather. Yeah. And so it's just, it is a team built for their home stadium. So they could go to L.A.

That would be something that they, you know, and they played great games against the Rams the last couple of years. Those games have all been really close and really exciting. But I just, I think their offense is electric. Jermibis is one of the best players in football. Amon Ross St. Brown. How good he looks, given the injury last night was, was incredible. But I do think that they're, they're less scary outdoors in the cold.

And how it's shaping up right now as them likely being a wildcard team. in the NFC. That makes me downgrade them a little bit. Yeah, I mean, I understand that, but I also think what you needed to see was them respond defensively. I thought they did outside the injuries and on special teams, they stepped up in a big way. So you got all three levels cooking, man. That's a good time to beat the Lions right now. All right. Let's get to the main event of the weekend.

The rest of the NFC North. Don't laugh, Greg. You're a little scared. I'm not. My Bears, Greg's Packers. That Bears. Oldest rivalry in football, live and well. And they're talking the talk on both sides of the game.

Say, I love it. I love it. I love it. Here's why. Here's what I like so much about it. I like it. Because it is true that it is a time-honored tradition for bears coaches to talk about the Packers when they get introduced. And it's because we are the little brother, right?

Like, we are, it is a rivalry in the same way that a hammer is a rival with a nail. Like, we have been the nail. Yes. Right? And Ben Johnson is trying to change that. And now, because the Bears are making some noise, the Packers are actually. responding a little bit. Normally it's like, eh, not even worth a response.

But now the Packers are lobbying back, which to me is it like a sign of respect. Like we are like we are closer to being equals and I just, I can't wait for the game. It is only the second time in the history of this rivalry where both teams have met in December or January with both teams being at least five games over 500. They're never good at the same time. Yeah. They're never good at the same time. And so the stakes of this game are massive.

And so I got a little good better best for you, if you guys don't mind. Go Floyd. Jordan Love's going to be good. Jordan Love has been good. He is coming off of maybe the best game of his career. First time ever where he had four touchdowns and no turnovers. He only has three interceptions this year. Jordan Love has been great.

I do think he will throw at least one, maybe two interceptions against the defense that leads the NFL and takeaways this week. But Jordan Love, I expect to have his moments and be good. I respect him. You know who's going to be better? DeAndre Swift and Kyle Monungai. 280 yards rushing last week against the Eagles. It's going to be cold in Lambo.

Bears are going to get off the bus running. Wyatt, best defensive tackle for the Packers out for the season. Massive injury on their defensive line. So who's going to be best? The man who talked trash at the introductory press conference. Oh, my God. No shirt on. That is Ben Johnson.

Oh, shocking. Good, better. Yeah, listen, is there bias in that? But it's Danny's most impact. players of Bears Packers. Greg, scared? No. It's not a little fear.

Not at all. A little fear. Especially, I mean. I hate how you're down playing this. This man just gave you a hell of a monologue. He's telling you the bears have arrived and you get me. Ah. Ha.

Because when you, when you've sat on this side. Yes. Okay. And you listen to Little Brother talk about how good he's gotten, how much he's improved. I'm going to beat you this time. Right. You feel the. same exact way. You look at them and you say, let's just wait to the game.

Period. But I will say this. Like the Packers have to be focused on this running game. Like Michael Parsons, his comments, I listen to those. And for someone who hasn't been involved in this rivalry talking about, you know, I don't like the distress. I hear the disrespect and all those things. I listen to that and I transcribe that in my mind as somebody who understands the style in which the bears choose to play. Bulleyball. We're going to punch you in the mouth. You don't hear that about passing attacks.

We're going to impose our will. Different things like that. That is aimed directly and exclusively at defensive fronts. So the Packers, you alluded to Wyatt being out, they are going to have to, and it's mandatory to stop this running game, or you're going to be in the dog fight for the duration. If they can stop this running game, you alluded to the two guys, Swift and Menungai.

Curtains. Little scared. I'm acknowledging what you laid out. All right. Thank you. Yeah. Well, I say this. I do agree with you, Danny. A win, a bearer's win against the Packers shifts the narrative about the franchise.

I agree with you in that standpoint. I also agree from this standpoint. We know what the run game can do. But if they can somehow get DJ Moore and co-commit to be effective and be X factors in the game, the Packers are in trouble, the bottom line. And I know defensively what the Packers are. I recognize you got on Packer Green right now? No, I recognize I got Miami Hurricane Green.

No, you got, that's Packer Green. Whatever. We talked NFL football. My end-all, be-all to it is, I think right now, if they make progress in the run game, excuse me, in the passing game, and they have the run game, I don't think the Packers can match up with it. I really don't. I think the Bears are going to roll the Packers. Wow.

I really do. I'm sorry to say it. Don't apologize. I'm just telling you, I just know where your heart's at. I just know how it's looking. It's just, it is just, it is just, it is. It is interesting to me, like, and I know that I'm the sports gambler out here, but like the Bears were basically a seven point underdog against the Eagles, one outright. They are virtually, six and a half, seven point underdog again against the Packers.

People still do not look at the Bears as a team in that tier one of NFL team. So, like, this is another time where they can legitimately believe. Nobody believes in us and all of that. And I think the disrespect that Mike is talking about is what Ben Johnson said at the introductory press conference. because the Packers' offensive coordinator comes down and, yeah, we heard it. Feels like they played that in the meeting rooms. I play with a coach like that. His name was Rex Ryan.

That fires the guys up in a locker room. When you start playing your flag early, boys are spawning. You've been Johnson, you've got to come out and say stuff. Oh, it's red meat. It's red meat to the face. Yeah, you just don't want to say it. Time now for a little game of Would You Rather, discussing some of the biggest storylines of an awesome slate, frankly, of NFL games this weekend.

It should be spectacular. What do we got first? Steelers at Ravens, would you rather have Aaron Rogers or Lamar Jackson? I think we've gone a little too far. What's me? What are you doing? I will take. We're right where we need to be.

I will take Lamar Jackson. Listen, they're both hurt, but one guy's in his 40. I'm just being honest. They're both hurt. Neither one of them is playing well by their own standards recently, but Lamar Jackson. I mean, Aaron Rogers has been almost as bad as Lamar over the last month.

He's completed 58% of his passes in the last four games. He's got three turnovers in the last four games. He has a broken bone in his hand. The Steelers pass defense isn't very good. We've gone a little too far here. I'll take Lamar, Willie. Listen, a dog's most tenacious when his backs against the wall.

We know the walls are coming down. We look desperate. We signed 35-year-old Adam Thielen. But when I look at Aaron Rogers, I have to believe in his resume. We talk about equity all the time, DP, right? I got to believe that he's going to deliver it. I have a little graphic for you.

This is what he looks like versus the blitz. He still has it. Versus the blitz, he's still cooking. It's versus that pass rush, the pressure that he receives. That's when he kind of slides down the hill. So if the Ravens choose the blitz him, he's going to cook him up. If this O line can stand up and really stand up in a major way

and give Aaron Rogers time where he can dissect the defense pre-snap and do what he does in between the 20s, this thing can go on the side of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which I'm praying for right now. Yeah. Maybe your parents will be answered. I picked the Steelers in my upset alert.

There you go. I did. But it wasn't because I believe I would take Aaron Rogers over Lamont. So I'm gonna be honest. I'm going Lamar. You're gonna stop there. You gonna stop right there. Like look, if there's anyone in this matchup between these two that I feel like can turn it around, it's that number eight.

Like I believe- He didn't look good against the Bengals. He hasn't. But I believe he has a quicker choice. chance of turning it around and flipping everything that we've seen the last few weeks on his head and being back to what, getting back to what he was at the beginning of the season quicker than Aaron Rogers has a chance of, you know, back against his wall and being put down as a dog. I'm sorry.

The dogs are back against the wall at this point. It's very confusing. Listen, dogs still got a bite. Dogs still can eat. You carry the analogy all you want. The Steelers defense. The fifth worst defense in the NFL. It's the fifth worst pass defense in the NFL.

They've got 22 take away. which is a nice number. Half of them, though, have come in two games. Like, it's just, it doesn't feel to me, like, I think Baltimore's defense is better. I think, which is crazy given what Pittsburgh's paying for, but I do think the Ravens defense at this point is better. I can't argue that. I mean, the tape tells you that. But I also think if you're the run game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, you have to attack

their edges, tosses, screens, get on the outside where we can wild out, run the backs, like gangway on these guys to go do what they do. So we'll see what happens. But listen, I'm going down with Oman Rogers. All right. You should, too. He was your quarterback. He was your upset alert and your teammate.

What do we got next? Take him to win. He would like that way. Texans at Chiefs. Would you rather have the Texans D or Patrick Mahomes? It's hard for me to get my mouth to say these words, but I will choose. Go ahead and say it. I'll choose the Texans defense over Patrick Mahomes.

I will. It's the Texans defense. The Texans defense has been the best defense in football. They have only allowed two teams to score over 20 against them. Ten of their 12 opponents. would be in the playoffs if the playoffs started today. So they've done it against a real schedule. They've been dominant against everybody.

They have the best edge duo in DeNeil Hunter and Will Anderson. Oh, oh, don't. The best in the league. And the Chiefs, 60% of their offensive line are backups, including their two starting tackles. It's just, this is just an X's and O's thing. I wouldn't do it for the next five years. I wouldn't even maybe do it in two weeks.

But for this moment in time with these injuries, I'm taking the Texans defense. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm taking the Texans defense. as well. When you look at this defense and defenses that have given Patrick Mahomes issues this season, Denver Broncos come to mind, obviously. And when you look at what they have, they have a front seven that can get after you both with pressure, without pressure, and then they can cover in the back end. What can this Texan's defense do? They can get after you without pressure, with pressure, and they can cover in the back end. They pose a great deal of issues and problems this week, especially if Patrick Mahomes is being protected by your defense.

three backups on the offensive line. He is. It's, yeah, Texas. Yeah, it's all for the Texas. I can see them living in too high, man, and allow, as we're all saying, a lot of that four men rush to get home. But I think the key to this match,

they have to bracket Travis Kelsey. They have to find a way to kind of really suppress him. If they're able to do that, they have a legit shot at putting the dagger and the chiefs. And we also have to stay up, they eliminate the chunk plays. That's how the chiefs really eat, man.

Those big chunk plays to Hollywood Brown and Kelsey all those guys. And also, listen, they've been better in the red zone. They were three for three last week against the Cowboys. So they got to force the Chief to kick field those. If they can do that, they can get it done. Can I just say one thing? I don't know how often you guys are online.

But this moment in time right here, this is just like where. This is the moment in time. This is never good. It's where it's just like, it's like Sunday night, 11 p.m. Eastern, a bunch of Chief's accounts, take a screenshot of this. like a couple Super Bowl champions and some dope who used to do radio in Kansas City. Well, they're expected out of me and Greg. It's you. I know. Kansas City, I still love you. I'll see you. I'll see it. I'll see it Jackstack in February.

But I'm just saying it's weird that three for three we are picking a team's defense against one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Arrowhead in primetime. But I'm doing it too. I think it's the correct thing to do. But it does give me a little pause. Do you not believe he's clutch? No, he is. I think that there are just some things in football that you cannot overcome. Like the drop to Juania Morris at left tackle from Josh Simmons is significant.

Trey Smith is one of the best guards in the NFL. Yeah, going down to Mike Calliando. That's significant. She rice may be out. It's just like they're not playing the Colts. They're playing the worst possible opponent. Absolutely. To have your injuries in this.

This exact spot. So it's not really about Mahomes. It's just the reality of the situation. If you were at you have heart, because we didn't go against, even when the odds say we should go against our beloved teams. But even that full strength, this defense would be a problem. The one thing that I will say, like, if the Texans, you obviously got to start off doing what you do. And they plays a lot of zone behind their front seven or behind, yeah, behind their front seven. Where Denver, they play a lot of cover one, man behind their front seven.

If the Texans, which Patrick Mahomes has been able to pick them apart in zone, if that zone isn't working, you have got to make an end game adjustment and play man to man. You have the personnel to do it. Get that done because you don't want Patrick Mahomes just finding holes all throughout your defense. One thing you don't want to do is blitz because that's when he gets nasty. That's when Patrick Mahomes puts him on the cape and things get ugly out there. I don't think they're going to need to. I don't think they're going to need to.

But it just this graphic right here scares me. That one not as much because it's going to be a great game. They flipped it on me. Sunday, four Eastern on Fox, Bears Packers. The good guys, the Bears are currently the one seed in the NFC. Trying to take back the driver's seat in this rivalry, which that's been a question. Can the Bears take back ownership?

I just want to be clear. I've literally never seen the Bears own this rivalry. No. I am 39 years old. They've won 16 times. Oh, well. They play twice a year. 16 and 51 since 1992.

as long as I can remember Bears and Packers playing football. But Greg, for Bear Steelers, we did a little steak dinner. Willie and I are taking the significant others out for dinner this week. Our little OT Bowl here, your team against my team. My team is a significant underdog in the game. Can I reveal to the audience what the stakes are? Sure. Okay.

Go for it. These teams play again in two weeks on the Friday show leading into it. If the Bears win, you have to do this segment as Mike Ditka. Love it. If the Packers win, I have to wear a cheesehead and do the whole get up as one of those crazy people at Lambo. Can't wait to see you in cheese head. It's the type of thing that would be a real problem for me.

No, it's okay. My entire paternal side of the family. You look good in it. I'm going to tell you right now. No one looks good in it. You look, you look in particularly great. I really do. Greg Jennings.

You look like a stuff to do teacher in that thing. You look like, this is amazing. It is. It's a two pay two? Well, Greg. You know Gray takes pride in his head now. Yeah, that's a good point. That's a good point.

We'll see how big we can do it. And I'll be honest, America, I'm an honorable guy. I'm not even making him give me the six and a half points. Oh. I'm just doing it outright. Straight up. Why would you? Look, I'm, these colors don't run.

I'm not scared. I love it, D.P. Bears. That bears. Still suck. Okay. I walked into that one.