First Things First - DK Metcalf suspended, Patriots beat Ravens, Bears beat Packers, Chargers beat Cowboys

Episode Date: December 22, 2025

(0:00) Patriots beat Ravens, Chiefs offense sputters vs. Titans (26:35) Bears beat Packers, What did Caleb Williams prove? (40:23) Jaguars beat Broncos, Jacksonville a Super Bowl contender? (47:54) Ravens written off, Time to take the Steelers seriously? (01:11:32) Brou grades Cowboys following loss to Chargers, Biggest reason Lions lost? (01:22:57) Bills beat Browns (01:28:38) Bears beat Packers in SATISFYING game, Ravens or Patriots bigger story? (01:49:41) DK Metcalf suspended (02:01:05) He Said, We Said (02:09:40) Are the Chargers contenders? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from New York, the show it's back in the playoffs, and by show, I just mean me. Of course he got the first hour. You still got life. I actually kind of believe in the Ravens. No, you don't.

I do. I kind of do. Brew doesn't believe in the Ravens. John Harbaugh doesn't believe in the Ravens. Lamar doesn't. Lamar doesn't believe in the Ravens. I mean, it's a bad year. Put me out of my misery.

Please. Please. Will you stealers? Take care of business. Put me out of my misery. First our first thing first today. After a good loss, this can't be what we're showing. Are the Patriots back on the doorstep of destiny?

Look at this back. This wasn't a good loss. This was a great win. After a good loss. It was the good loss to Buffalo. And then we took the lessons from that game and brought them down to Baltimore. It was a lot of talk about it. A lot of talk about it.

Meanwhile, come back Caleb. Come back, Caleb. What did the Bears prove with a win over the Packers and? That's beautiful. It's not a chance too many comebacks. Honest question, maybe, but honest question, that right there, is that the play of the year? In the NFL, a 50-yard walk-off strike in a game that puts you in the playoffs. No, because I feel like they would have kicked a field goal regardless.

I'm trying to think of what are the- It's outdoors. They're not in field goal range yet. It's a cool play, but they were going to march down. Well, then by that definition, his fourth down throw before was bigger. Maybe. Well, I don't know. I think that's arguably.

I'm trying to think of all the points. I mean, that might be the play. It's in there. It's in there. It's definitely in there. Oh, boy. And finally. Is it time for the prince to return to first things first?

He never left. The prodigal son. The first thing's first to return to the prince. You know what? I'm not going to let you guys ruin this for me. It's exactly right. You, I'm going to tell you, thank you. That's right.

Because you gave them motivation because you decided to go heal. Well, after covering the Jaguars for three years to no avail and lackluster ratings, we ignored them and then all of a sudden they got good. And now the show's cooking, so. I put him on the Bud list. And you put him on the Bud List. Let's just keep your reading. Exactly right.

You're taking Bud List credit. I know he was on the bud list and he cooked. Let me tell you something. 34 in Denver. He's been on the bud list a lot. I don't think he's ever been on it. That's not true. We haven't spoken about the Jacksonville Jaggars in months.

That's coming later. But right now, we start with the team of the century. Drake, Drake May, May led the comeback after being down 11 points in the fourth. His first fourth quarter comeback, his first 300-yard game. Here's the Patriots post game. Watch this. Holy cow. Finally, what is this team capable of?

Next week. I get one next week. One and no. Hey, I'm not saying what I'm saying. Not saying what I'm saying. What did the Patriots prove in a comeback win? We said going into it that, for me at least, they had to win this game to be a contender.

That if they lost this game, I was going to say, great season, love the quarterback, positive moving forward, but blow the game to the bills, then lose to a Ravens team that I don't think going into the game didn't think was that good, you're not championship caliber. Winning that game in that fashion with their most important player and their best player turning what could have been his worst game of the year into his best game of the year, that makes you a real legitimate big boy contender.

So I'll give you that. It also speaks to why I feel so highly, and I know some of what was supposed to be Drake made compliments for me Friday came across understandably because I delivered them as such as Lamar Jackson insults. When I was saying I trust Drake May more in this game, I'd rather have Drake May more moving forward. I understand why people took them as digs at Lamar rather than compliments to Drake. It could be both.

Honest to God, it was both. To be fair, I'm not trying to run from it. But it feels like they were taken as only insults Lamar when it was, you know, a little bit of both. Listen, I think that guy's a star. And I think that the fact that it almost feels like when you're watching the Patriots, if you're rooting for the other team, you rather them being third and four than third and 13. The fact that he makes those happen is so nice. His ability on these third and longs and deep passes has been so dynamic all year.

And I thought the touchdown pass to Kyle Williams was brilliant. And the fourth and two play, they lose the game if he doesn't throw away bullet on fourth and two. So, Brew, they checked a lot of the boxes that Wilds has wanted them to check. Well, am I going to get to talk? No, yes, of course. They proved, first and foremost, Wiles, I hate to break it to you. Break it to me. That they can accept a gift.

Because that was a gift. The Ravens had it in the bag, and they crumbled as they have so many times before. That said, Drake made me. I was not to give you a comment on it. I was going to be. He's got to stop doing this two years old. I'm trying to tell them. I'll take the compliments now.

I'm interested in the compliment. Sorry. Drake was great. Drake is the man. And, uh, you ruined Bruce. What you said, what you said,

yeah, was how people felt about Mahomes. Like, oh, the third. Yeah. Watching him like, uh, he's got it.

He's going to get it. You know what I mean? Yeah. So, I got nothing but love to give to the Patriots. Like I said, the Ravens, if it's not, we'll get to them. Yeah, the Ravens found a way to raven. Yeah, they found a way to lose.

But I'll give your boys credit. They could have melted again. They were probably thinking about last week. We blew a big league last week. Now we're losing to a team that's 500 on the road. Do you feel like that came into effect, the fact that they? Oh, the loss. Not really.

Yeah. Can I say something? If you guys, the reason that I just can't buy this good loss thing is because if you were going to go one-in-one in this stretch, like if you were saying beating the Bills would have made, you would have lost the Ravens game. That would have been better. The Bills game was the critical moment. But go ahead. I mean, Drake said it.

He was. They learned from being down. I mean, I thought it was going to be two great quarterbacks, but, you know, Lamar was out. I thought that he made a leap last night. For an MVP guy, as good as Stafford is, Stafford is not like making leaps within the season. He's just being normal Stafford. Down 11, he had turned the ball over.

It's on prime time. Guys are going down all over the place. Ref's made one of the worst calls of all time. He delivers. You're talking about the non-call? Yeah. No, the non-offrey tackle. Drake last night, does you have this full screen,

complete 70%? of his passes for 380. He does that all the time. Two for two on touchdowns turn. We're passing rating 100. Here's the other thing. And if this guy was, let's say, challenging in Minnesota, challenging in Buffalo, got hurt in Texas, and then came to New England, everybody thought, you know what, you overpaid for Stefan Diggs, he's over the hill.

This dude is unbelievable. experience is a question mark. He answers it. Leadership, energy. Also, he catches the ball. He made some great catch. Last night, nine for 10, 138. That fourth and two goes for 21 in the final drive.

The fourth and two was an underrate, like, I don't know if I can say it's underrated. The game happened last night. It was awesome. Yes. That's the game if he doesn't catch him. And I thought it was going to get tipped. Sorry, go ahead.

Keep going. This is a shot. This is highest completion percentage by a quarterback, wide receiver duo this century. Breeze Michael Thomas. Drake made a Stefan, golfed on Monterey. It just feels like, and I asked Josh to look into it, it feels like he catches the ball every time.

I agree. So the guy is unbelievable, and he caught a lot of slack for a lot of off-the-field stuff. The fact that he's delivering and is like a real leader on the team, it's just excellent. He's played great. Drake was phenomenal. But I got to be honest,

and I wouldn't be surprised if you agree with me. I didn't think they played, They didn't look that great until the end. It was a great comeback. Yes. The injuries, I chalked it up as injuries. They were missing a lot of guys. And everybody.

But I don't think you're totally wrong. But the way, I mean, the Ravens ran for, what, 171 yards or something like that. Like, you know, they were gashing them. Great credit for the comeback, you know. But because they, you know, they still going to make the playoffs regardless. So for them to fight back like that, it was impressive. And because. But I didn't think they've looked great throughout, you know, early for most of the game.

I think that's fair. No, I think there were, that's probably the kids with a handful of teams this weekend that we're going to talk about. We're going to talk about the bears soon. The bears were dead for 57 minutes and then ended up having the greatest win the franchise has had in more than a decade. I agree with you, Brew. I thought, and this speaks to where Drake is. The reason they didn't look great was because he didn't look great. Like, in my opinion.

Like, he, I thought Drake was playing certainly poorly by his standards and maybe poorly by just quarterback standards. He threw the pick. He had the fumble as well, right? And there were also some, there were a few couple passes over the middle that just like bounce, you know, we were off target. And so it just felt like, oh, okay, like he's having a rough night. And I don't think the team, while Diggs, I have to own it on Diggs. I didn't know that Diggs would be able to stay healthy, and I thought if he did stay healthy, they had overpaid. He has been somewhere from an A minus to an A plus in everything since the season started.

And the way they talk about him like in the locker room, I'm including. I'll give you credit because his attitude in Houston as well. You didn't hear any problems with him being the third receiver. And so the last two years, no attitude issues at all. But so Diggs has been one of the better free agent acquisitions anyone made in the United States. NFL this offseason. I never saw that coming. It felt like he was their third choice because other receivers, girlfriends didn't want to go there. And they had to overpay for him and it ended up working out great. The other thing was a loss would have been not crushing as far as can

we make the playoffs, but crushing as far as the missed opportunity. Because Denver lost earlier that day. And Jacksonville had, by virtue of that, had won. And so because, because Because of the win, you guys are now super alive again now for the one seed. And had you lost, you'd be the three seed today because Jacksonville would have passed you. So it is super important. Gentlemen, thank you as always. Would you like to play us out? I love the Patriots colors today, too.

I don't know how much we spent on. I kind of missed the world. On the other side of the ball, the Ravens lost Lamar to a back injury. And then Derek Henry to confusing coaching, bro. Henry scored the touchdowns, put the Ravens up 11. And let you know something, we can't stop the run. Then was spotted on the broadcast in one of those huge comfortable coats on the sideline since he didn't play the rest of the game.

Here's Harbaugh on that decision. Looking back, what I'd rather have Derek starting to drive? Yeah, but you know, Derek was kind of ready for Keaton to start that drive. And then he was planning on coming in next. So they were working that rotation. You look back on it, I think it's pretty easy to say, hey, he should have been in there or shouldn't have been in there. but we're rotating those guys throughout the game as two backs, you know.

But yeah, game winning drive. Do I want Derek Henry on the field? Sure, I do want him on the field. That's just the way it goes. It wasn't his turn. What? Silly me. I thought John Harbaugh was the head coach.

I thought it's the head coach that had the power to do whatever you wanted with the team. I mean, obviously we saw. saw they were alternating series a lot throughout the game. I guess it wasn't Henry's time. But when the game is on the line, you're up, what, 11?

Yes. With 12 minutes, or five minutes, about five and a half minutes left, and you got the best running back of the generation, who still is a great running back, who had been running all over them. Last time he touched the football, it was a touchdown. Two times before that,

he ran for 20-something yards. And he doesn't see the ball again? I mean, I'm sorry. I just don't. And look, I said this before. I don't know how well I said it, but throughout this tough season, when the defense was playing poorly, the focus was just on, if they just got to get this defense together.

And then the offense starts struggling. But, you know, so the focus kind of just became, well, just start winning games, getting the playoffs. It really took us away from their problems. these last few years when I've been picking them to win the AFC, it's always something. It is always something. Early in the year, it was the defense.

Then it became Lamar and the offense. But that made me forget about, well, if those two things are clicking, it's special teams, it's bad coaching, it's fumbles. Yeah, I mean, Zayflowers, you know. And so they just find a way to beat themselves. and they're still a look. I'm not going to just, I mean, I'm spiritually done with them this year. I mean, I think Steelers going to beat the Browns next year and the Ravens will be out.

Next week and the Ravens will be out. I'm not going to abandon them until they're officially out. But, I mean, it's just a nightmare season for them. And there's no really reason to believe that they'll get to the playoffs. And if they do get there, that they would do anything. They were the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Not one of the favorites, the favorites, the start of the year. And I am, I think, and I'm not saying you're doing this,

I think focusing just on like the Derek Henry, we're really talking about one drive. Because they went up, right, with him scoring. The Patriots then had the long drive with the two-point conversion to cut it to three. And then the next drive is the only other time they had. had the ball ahead that he wasn't on the field. Talking about a couple, he was talking about really just a couple plays.

And then when they did get the ball back and he still wasn't on the field, that's just because right or wrong, Derek Henry is not considered a three down back. Derek Henry is not your receiving back. And this was the case at some part of his career with the Titans and his whole career with the Ravens. When you're in obvious passing situations with two minutes left down, and they viewed his obvious passing.

He's not going to be on the field. And now we can say that's dumb, and I think to a large part, it is dumb. Like the Patriots could not stop Derek Henry and the Raven's best chance of getting in-field goal range with a Tyler Huntley at quarterback, most notably. And if they're expecting the pass. Right, run the ball and see you weren't.

It wasn't 40 seconds. It was two minutes and three seconds with a timeout remaining or one or two timeouts remaining. But the problem is that, that this team has been a massive disappointment, and we are 15 games in, and they haven't played one great game. Probably the one without Lamar.

The one against Chicago without Lamar is the closest example, and the second best one was the one where they're often scored 17 points against Cincinnati a week ago. Like those are the closest things we've had, Right, we've had. And so. Mars first. And so they're one in six against winning teams.

And this, right. So this is, this has to fall. It's going to fall on the head coach. And it is, if you're a Ravens fan coming out of the 2020s with three seasons of zero playoff wins and two, total playoff wins, which when it, to me, appears, you might look at the 2020s as the peak of Lamar, who got hurt again yesterday, and who, and they talked about it on the broadcast, and credit to them because I've been trying to bang this point home, Lamar doesn't run anymore. Oh, yeah.

And the fact that he is going, I mean, he's banged up now. We'll see what he does the final two weeks of the year, but he might end the season without a 20-yard rush. end the season without one, it feels like it's one of the bigger squandered what-if eras in NFL history. Because I don't think you are going to get first team all pro level Lamar into his 30s the way that I think the bills believe you will, Josh Allen, the way I believe the chiefs will of Patrick Mahomes. Maybe you will and maybe it's just on Harbaugh. But if Lamar goes from where he's been to really good but not. But why would you see, I think, first of all, I agree with your synopsis that if he's not the running threat he has been historically, then he's not the same level of quarterback.

Sure. But he is a very good passer. Yes, very good. He is very good passer. And everything that's he, you know, people have said, you can't do this. You can't do that throughout his career. I mean, for him to even become this level of pocket passer, no one really thought that was possible.

So my view is if he can't run anymore like he used to, it's still run okay, then I think he will become that much better of a pocket passer. I think they need to improve the receiving court. Like we talked before, you know, it's a good, adequate receiving court. He runs a lot so you may not need it. But now if he's going to be passing most of the time,

then they need to upgrade the receiving core. And look, Harbaugh, you said it's probably going to fall on the coach. I think at this point it should fall on the coach. 18 years, it's time for a new voice. Like I said, if it's not the offense, the defense, fumbles, penalties, it's baffling play calls or game plans where we're like, what was that? Why did they not run Derek Henry, you know,

or why did they stop running the ball or whatever it might be? And also, we're not even talking about it. The Ravens do weirder stuff than any championship, alleged championship level team than in the league. Like, the Mark Andrews play. That's just,

was, and I think that was all him for some, I don't know what he was thinking. But that's, but so. I still don't understand this. Because Harbaugh said it wasn't, you know,

there was no, it wasn't a pitch or anything. But then, to me that's, but it almost looks like, because. Yeah, they're undisciplined. They're undisciplined.

And by the way, I know you were talking about the non-call DPI. This also, the Ravens got incredibly lucky that they said this was roughing the passer. Yeah. Because that's what made it offsetting. Like that was, now, we're all used to shaky roughing the passer calls, so it didn't. And they're like, oh, that's off setting. But that, I, I, I, I don't know if it was safe flowers.

What's safe flowers are close? Because. No. What's you just. I mean, the whole thing's bath. It's just time for, look, I think Harbaugh will get a job somewhere else. He went. Wow, I'm shocked.

But they need, you don't think they need to. No, I think Lamar's hurt. I mean, you're like Lamar's hurt too, but it's three years of underachieve. I know. But watching the beginning of this game, when Lamar got hurt, this is honest to God's truth. When Lamar got hurt, I was upset for two reasons. One, personally, I root for Lamar. I've told you a story.

My son met Lamar at the SB's. He was like, could not have been like nicer. We have a bunch of pictures. And I just like, you know, like him as a guy. So I want Lamar to be in the game. Two, I was like, ooh, I'm not sure I want Huntley on the field. Instead of Lamar? Lamar did not look like Lamar.

He just did not pass the Danny Parkins eye test of moving like Lamar, throwing like my. I mean, his pack grade a hundred. He was seven for 10 for 100 yards. He was passing five. He did not look like Lamar. I'm telling you, I had no. The running? Well, he wasn't running.

I was not worried about Lamar. I had no, like, pit in my stomach when Lamar got out of the pocket. And that's where we might disagree, Brew, is, I think Lamar Jackson, if it was flag football rules and it's a quarterback's not allowed to run, Lamar Jackson is not, to me, a scary quarterback. He's a good quarterback, but he's not a scary court. Like, to me, the scary piece of Lamar is, the dual threat and what he is able to do throwing because people are so afraid he's going to run, like all of that.

And I just feel like I haven't seen that all year, certainly since the Chiefs game. We certainly ever seen him also. Nine touchdown, seven turnovers in his last eight games. Hopefully he's back for Green Bay. Moving on, we're going to head to Tennessee for the Music City, miserable. Dynasty crumbling.

Minchu hurt his knee out of the game. Chiefs were win number three for the Titans body score 26 to 9. Nick, you warned us about this. Yeah. But were you surprised they looked this bad? No. No, I, listen,

this year, particularly once the offensive line, you started losing people, I believe Patrick is one of maybe just one and at most two human beings alive who could have made the offense look functional. And functional is all it looked at the end. Barely functional, you know what I mean, at the end. And I said going into this game that this is what I expected,

and you guys were like, the Browns and Shador scored 30. And I was here to tell you that this team has presently constituted, given the offensive line injuries, given Rishi Rice being out, and given the fact that you are going from the most talented quarterback ever to live, to Gardner Minshu was not going to be able to... Right, the emotional letdown. Right, and the emotional letdown as well, which I think was a huge piece of it.

And then they went from Minchu to Chris Oludukin, who God bless him, but I mean, he's a practice squad player trying to make his way. And so, well, I wouldn't have heard of him if it wasn't my team and watching preseason games. And so what I would just hope is this, Brew, that the chiefs, this was a forced mirror to hold up to the chiefs, that, you know what,

we are at, Patrick Mahomes next year is going to be whenever he comes back off in ACL and he we need to have an offense that can function with as if he were not going to play which means if you show the running back numbers

we have to get better running the football because the Chiefs were a non-competent running team and that's we without without Mahomes. You remove Mahomes is running. Right. And so it just doesn't work. How much

Do you, because the offensive line went healthy is... I like the offensive line when healthy. But how much of the run game, because there are guys or lines that actually hold lines that are really good pass blocking but not run blocking or vice versa. How much do you put on that on the offensive line? I think that they have the least investment in the running back room of any team in the league, literally. It's a seventh round pick who's coming off a broken leg and Cream Hunt who is awesome at third and one,

but was out of the league for a reason. And so I think that combined with... So it's more in the back. I think it's the back and a little play calling. I think it's a little bit of scheme and a little bit of the back. But I mean, this is a team that they're going to get annihilated by the Broncos and they absolutely can lose to the Raiders in the final game of the year. Look, you were up 3-2 when Minshue went down.

I think you could have forced extra innings had east. Caleb's come back next on FS1 on the Fox Sports. Jet odds. That might be the plan of you. I mean, I'd have to look through all of them, but that was... You're going to look through all of them? You know, I do things like that. You ever been on the road to Hana?

I have. Me too. Now we're on the road to one billion views. Wow. How closely? I was going to sing the Road to Hanna song. No, don't. That guy who does the app, will sue you.

34 million away. Wow. We're getting close to a billion views. But remember, if we don't get... to a billion by the kickoff of the Super Bowl. Gianna's fire. Gianna's fire. That's rough.

So if you want Gianna's job, don't watch. Bears pulled off one of the most shocking comebacks of the year, down 10, two minutes to go when they had a field goal on side kick. Caleb TD in the play of his career to DJ Moore to end the game in overtime. Here's DJ Moore post game. What does it mean to get this one, DJ? And it means a lie.

And at the end of the day, is after Packers always. Come on that right here. I'm not there right here. Well done, DJ. Well done. Go and enjoy it. Appreciate it. What do you think Caleb proved, Nick?

That he has the ability to be the guy that those of us that loved him as a what we considered an actual, you know, decade, once in a decade type of prospect. I'm not going to say generational because that gets overused. But the best prospect that you will see, you know, over the course of 10 years is the level of player I thought he was, that he has that in him. Now, can he consistently put it together? He hasn't done that yet, but he's stringing more and more together as this season goes on. And I think the fact that that last play was to DJ Moore is sneaky but wildly important because there has been a lot of talk about particularly earlier in the season about Caleb and DJ not being on the same page

about DJ not necessarily being happy people speculating that one of the that next year DJ might be somewhere else moments like that can change some things. Oh yeah. And now some of it was a little forced because going into the game burdens out a Dunezay's out but I I think that Caleb and Ben Johnson

this year coach have proven mostly for good and a little for bad that what everybody said about them is true. Like Ben Johnson is a touch too cute at times. That fourth and one early in this game was an outrageous. Look at me, Louis type of moment that you just didn't have to do. And then three hours later, it's like, that was the best chance for a touchdown for the whole game. But he obviously has been really good this year.

And Caleb does still miss some layups. But man, the 40 footers that he hits, and the ability, his ability to, in an offseason coach, go from sacked more than anybody to basically never sacked and always escaping, that's already elite. And so I do think they're a real contender, and I do think Bears fans should feel like for the first time in almost every Bears fan's life, yeah, this guy's just going to be our quarterback for, you know, the foreseeable future. Yeah, look, the last play, the walk off in overtime was great, but I really thought the

play that he made on, it was fourth and four. That to me was a great play because they had an unblocked defender coming off the edge. He had to roll out to his right. He didn't really know where the unblocked guy was going to come, but he's rolling his right. And then they kind of blow the coverage where they both jumped the underneath player. And for him to get that off and then where he placed it, I thought this was an awesome play. In terms of his production in the whole game, though, remember, there's a 99% chance that Green Bay would win that game. And the fact that the Bears were in that position to me is problematic. Jordan Love got hurt early in the game. So there's that part of it. There's no Micah Parsons. He's out of it. There's that part of it.

And the fact that the bears were that far behind and had to do that many dramatic things to come back to win it. I don't think that's great. So, Brew, let me show you this graphic, Caleb I Drive, first seven, last two. First seven, mediocre or last, pass rating is 70. Last two, 141. So it, He pulled it all out of the fire post onside kick, really. So the question is like, how are you viewing the game? I don't know. The ending, he was like you would think it's the best game of all time, but it was pretty

Well, like I said about the Patriots, this was far beyond that, though. They got a gift and the Bears accepted the gift. I mean, Romeo Dobbs, you know, you're a receiver. That's why they put you out there on the kickoff because you're sure hands. And for him not to get that onside kick when you know the. sidekick is coming. It's just, that's unforgivable. But I think Caleb showed that he's clearly clutch.

Because we've seen it a few times this year. And he has that button that I think every kind of big time clutch player needs, coach, where you can turn off the noise, not only the outside noise. Because you're right. I mean, we all know the article you're talking about and all the criticism he was getting And earlier in the year, there was talk. It made it seem like Ben Johnson didn't even really think he was going to be that good. So he has to turn that off.

Then he has to turn off the noise in his head when he wasn't playing well. He was looking terrible. Like you said, with Malik Willis playing quarterback, Green Bay is winning by double digits. And he had, he had before the last drive of the regulation, he had thrown five straight incompletions. So he has to get that out of his head. And I think when he's kind of playing instinctively and not really thinking is when he's at his best and in those clutch moments

or when you're down and your backs against the wall, you can't really be thinking too much. You just have to rely on your instincts. And that's where he seems to excel. So the question for him is going to be just throughout the game. He still was what, 55, 56% completion. So throughout the game, is he going to be able to get that down

to go with the big playability. Before you just go to the Packers, I think the point you guys are making is a thousand percent correct, which is, if not for an actual less than 10% probability event, recovering the onside kick, none of the great Caleb moments have a chance to happen.

You know what I mean? They just lose to a team that lost their quarterback and we're like, oh my God, are they going to collapse, right? Because it's the Niners next and then the lions and you'd be legit. They could have been in danger. They could have been, that's what I mean by collapse.

So something Caleb literally had nothing to do with allowed him to then walk through that door and have those moments. But that is an element of pro football, right? And he delivered in those moments. And we don't have to answer it right now, but I just like to have the audience do this in their head because I think it's a fun once a quarter ask yourself again, hey, that quarterback draft from line,

last year, how would it go right now? I know you're not talking to me. No, I know. I think everyone would agree. Drake would go now. Drake would go one. But that was the case a month ago when we did it. But right now this moment, again, maybe a little fat and happy off this.

But with Jaden having the year he had, Bo a week ago probably a little higher than now, like it just that is going to. Honestly, I think it's a good question. I think it really depends on the system kind of at your team. If you just run more of a guy being on time instead of you might go with Bo Nix. But if you want the higher ceiling stuff, I'll tell you what, these guys are clutch, though. Drake we saw yesterday, Caleb has shown him,

and Bo Nix obviously has had moments. Let's not forget everything Jaden did last year. See, and that's the thing. If he stays healthy, he's right up there. But only where there was like a dynamic quarterback who could run like Jaden, but also super accurate. We can dream. Meanwhile,

I'll get to the age six happy to there. Packers fall to nine, five, and one. Jordan left. Jordan Love left in the second quarter with a concussion. Obviously, no Micah and their Super Bowl odds are steady, actually. I thought they were falling, but they're still steady, bro. Nevertheless, your optimism might be waning.

Take a look at these defensive stats. Now, since Micah was gone, no sacks in the Broncos game, and then no sacks in the Bears game and the YARC. The run defense probably got better, though. And you want to 4. 100. Who are you worried about your package? Well, to talk about the defense,

and look, if you want to put it on the Bears, but I had no problem with their defense for the first 59 minutes or so. I mean, really, like, that even if you want to put it on Caleb and the Bears, they still held them to nine points

for the bulk of the game, three field goals. That is amazing in today's NFL. So, look, obviously they need to get Jordan back now Malik Willis is out I mean with the shoulder we'll see if he plays one of them plays in the next game against

Baltimore but I do really think if Jordan is healthy coach look I don't they're not the favorite with Mike and everything I would have felt like my pick they're the favorite in the NFC now they're certainly not the favorite but

when I look at that field there's nobody I'm like they absolutely cannot beat if Jordan Love is healthy. But he's going to miss a few games. Well, he might miss the rest of the regular season. But no one's come, right? No one is.

They seem to be pretty long in the weeks. It seems like there might be a few weeks. But as long as they get in and if he's ready for the playoffs, then I think they got, I say more than a puncher's chance. I mean, I just think the field is open in the NFC. And so the key for them is to be healthy. Yeah, and we're looking at the last two in a row. but the two teams they lost to were Denver and Chicago,

which are number one seeds or vying for the number one seed in each of the division. What worries me about a game like this is when you do have that higher percentage of winning, what, 99%, and then you fumble the onside kick, and they come back and they score and you lose an overtime. A loss like that can linger. It can really affect confidence because now you're wondering, okay, are we going to be able to rise up in the big moments or not? Now, Jordan Love not being there helps that to some degree because, you know, it was with the league.

But now we fast forward to a short week, so they play on Saturday. They have the Ravens. Hopefully the Ravens have some fighting him, but you would think they would have a ton of fight in them. And this could be now a three-game losing streak. And I feel like throughout the course of the season we've had, there's been high expectations for Green Bay. And they found ways to disappoint in different key moments. so I don't know going into the playoffs this is the type of momentum

he want to be riding into the playoffs with. So I agree with you. I want to say one positive thing about the Packers first. I think Matt LaFleur deserves some of this credit and obviously Malik Willis deserves some of this credit. But since Malik Willis got to Green Bay, whenever we've seen him play,

it's been like, that's an excellent backup quarterback who maybe at some point gets a chance. And I actually think that has real value for the franchise long term because if you are a quarterback that thinks, man, it didn't go right for my first stop.

I want to rebuild my value. You'd want to go to Green Bay. Like Green Bay should always have good backup quarterback situation. Exactly right. Like San Francisco, like I think the Rams have with McVe. Minnesota. Right. Where it's like this coach is going to help me

right. Rebuild my confidence and whatever. Because Malik Willis, stepped in and I thought looked awesome. He played well. I thought he looked really well. Here is where I'm at on the Packers. Because if they make the playoffs, we know they won't win,

they're not going to win the division, and we know that they're not going to be the top wild card seed because that's going to be whoever, you know, whoever doesn't win the NFC West. So we basically know if they make the playoffs who they're round one opponent will be as the six or the seven. They will either be playing Philadelphia

or the Chicago Bears for a third. third time. I would give them a real shot in either of those matchups. But I think that's where it is. Favorite against the Barrett. They'd be favored against the Barrett. I don't know. How could you not? They beat him the first game. They really

should have beat him his last game. I mean, the only reason I'm saying that, coaches, this game, because they were a point and a half dogs in this game. So I don't think, well, I mean, they lost my six. It will be in Chicago. But I'm telling you, I don't, but regardless, you'd call it close to a pick them. I'm pretty sure it would be bears by a point, point in a half.

But they could win either one of those. They could beat Philly. They could beat Chicago. But I think that's their ceiling. I think right now, without Michael with the injuries, their ceiling is the divisional round of the playoffs, which has been their ceiling for a few years now. We're actually Matt LaFour's whole 10-year-olds.

Quickly, before we go, we're going to introduce something new on the show. Spot bonuses from Nick's wallet for whoever wrote not good enough. So congratulations. Come on down on this video, Nick will give you 50 bucks. Ian did it. Yeah. It had been a lot more, Ian,

if Baker had come through from this year. You know, last 12 teams that went into Denver scored an average of 16 points and left with L's. Trevor flipped his hair and flipped the script. Lit up the Broncos defense the tune of 34 points to improve to 11 in 4. Liam Cohen talked about the lack of respect

that his team faced. Take a listen. We don't care. You know, we really don't care about the narrative. You know, it's, I'm sorry to say that, but it's only helping us. So I want the narrative to keep coming. Before we start, this is the holiday season. And you have famously given us lots of gifts, and I think Brew and I gave you a gift certificate to chilies one day.

Gucci loafers and all sorts of... I left something under the desk for you. You did. appreciation for a day. I'm very excited to talk about the Jags here, and all you do is make fun of the Jags. So if this, if this spoils this, nope, it's Christmas season. I wouldn't do that in a Christmas season.

Very nice to you, Kevin. I think I know what this is. Because you know what that says, I don't want to show their phone number. Says King's Brass. For a long time. Which means it can only be one thing. you're gonna show them one number maybe get a more business let me open it up oh you should know w let me tell you he's back we are so back though we're like we never left

oh oh with a uniform change my guys a wardrobe change my guys oh have the trumpeters back i can have them so you're down with them i'm not done he's up 11 wins we What are you supposed to do? I can have them back. Oh, yes. You can make fun of the sports medium putzman again. And as it turns out, the tackle that turns the tide, I didn't, don't need it either. Coach, I'm here to tell you something.

This is not working. No, it looks great. I'm going to do my best. Thank you. Who could have seen this coming? This guy? Right here. Years ago.

Well, it's funny you say that, Brew. So let's show Trevor these last four games. I'm taking this off. Let's show Trevor the last four games, Dust, where he's been the best. player in the league. And it's like, I mean, no, this is an aberration. We've never seen anything like this from him or have we. The graphic that you guys banished from the show.

Trevor Lawrence, no, this is more than a season from week nine of 2020 until he got injured in 2023. That's an extended. No, I mean, what a minus. It is an uninterrupted stretch of time. That's still not close though. That's not close to this. Pass.

He was only year, too, is a young player. So here's the deal about Trevor, and then we'll get to the Jags. And I said this to Wilds earlier, and I think you might agree, Brew. I'll say it to you, coach. I don't think his better got better. I think he eliminated the awful. So, like, the reason that I could never quit Trevor is when we show you any year of his career, his 10 best throws.

They could line up to the 10 best throws any other player mate. The problem was he would have to go along with it some of the goofiest worst plays just dropping the ball or red zone interceptions and what he has done

the second half of this year is keep the high level stuff eliminate the awful stuff. The team has rallied around the hate from the national media, most notably Kevin Wilde, And they are a real threat. With the quarterback playing like this and a defense that is as opportunistic as that one, they are a real threat.

He sounds a lot like Caleb. And it's so funny that Nick is talking about this because I just thought of what a terrible trade Nick made earlier in the season when he originally traded away the trumpeteers. And now here that was so kind of you, Kevin, in this holiday season, to give those trumpeteers back to him. And you have to take Jacksonville seriously. And I do, to your point, the huge mistakes seem to be being drawn back in. And even collectively as a team, I kept waiting during that game for Jacksonville to do a Jacksonville-type thing. And especially against Denver in Denver, who's historically been able to come back late. They're so tough deep.

All the things that we know about Denver. And then Jacksonville was able to rise up. And this is, again, without Travis Hunter, where I'm... I wonder how much of an impact he could have made in this moment and in this run. But I'm really impressed by the way that he's been able to not recover, but just get back to the quarterback that I think a lot of, especially you, thought he could be. No, they're legit.

Like, they could get to the Super Bowl. Wow. I'm not saying whether I'll pick them or not, you know, if the race. Wow. They can. What a moment. And here's why. Look at the quarterbacks in the field.

Aaron Rogers is old. Obviously, you got Josh Allen, but everybody else, Bo Nick. I'm taking him over Bo Nicks. Drake, even. You're not taking him over Drake. If he's going to play like this because he's somewhat proof. No, for this playoff run. You're taking Trevor Lawrence over Drake.

I'm not saying I would take him like if I was starting a team. But for Drake, we don't know how he's going to respond to his first way off. Okay, we'll see. We do know how Trevor is going to play. Trevor has experienced, though. That's experience. Even if he was bad. He's played four haps.

He's had one bad hat. How bad is that half? It was a horrible half. It was awful. But that's a playoff experience. That's playoff experience. I guess so, sure. I mean, CJ has not, I mean, this weekend, the Raiders gave him trouble because

CJ struggled. Like, if you look at the field, other than Josh Allen, you could say argue you would take him over anybody when you talk about experience. And then the defense. Defense is second in the league and takeaways. They got a run game with ATN. Look, they are very live. They could win the AFC.

Look, this game was televised. I thought they're not just on the BBC. It was on national television. Doing that against the Broncos, very impressive. We ran this type of graphic saying every QB that went into Denver, just straight up lost and it wasn't close. So your 0 and 2, Trevor wins by 14. Total yards 226.

Trevor was at 300. The 12 previous quarterbacks had 13 total touchdowns and Trevor had four. Passer rating below 70. Trevor's at 115. And you jumped on me for saying? No, I thought it was, look, you light up the jets who I think had given up. I thought it was like, eh, pump the brakes.

You go into Denver and do that. I have to respect. Play us all. We are so bad. It's arguably the best win any teams had in the league this year, Going to Denver in that setting, it's as good as anyone. You got it. We are so bad.

Wow. We are so back. There is go. We do a lot of jazz stuff on this show. Live from New York is discussing Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul. Where did you land on Jake Paul's performance? Were you impressed at all? He's got hurt.

No, I mean, that ring coach, I've never seen to ring that big. But it was right. man around and then he got tired and had the fight and that's when it ended. But he's got heart, man. He's got heart. No jaw left. Listen, I can't root for the guy. And I respect the fact that he got in there and took the beating.

But the way, the tongue out stuff he was doing during the fight, it's just to be fair. He was getting punched in the face. I understand. I'm not myself if I get a little. He tried. He had the antics of Ali without the. He's just a bit of a clown. But he won us some money.

It was a fun thing to watch. I enjoyed it. And I give him some credit. Shout out to Netflix. I'm just glad Joshua, Florida. Yeah. If that had gone to disson. It would have been a, no.

Also, Anthony Joshua, it looks a little slow. I thought that's what he said. Take his heart. Yeah, take his heart. Yeah. I like it. Checking out of our first things for it today. Look at this, Reed.

Have we come to the end of the robe? It's through giving up on the Ravens. Meanwhile, the final grade is in for the Cowboys. Season over, class is dismissed. But right now, we're going back to Baltimore. Ravens are now under 500. Patriots beat up on another tomato again. Lamar left the game with a back injury.

Derek Henry had 128 and 2 TD. but barely played in the fourth. Here's Jim Harbaugh, or maybe John. Didn't enough to win the game. Didn't do the winning things that we needed to do to win the game. Made plays, but not enough. And made some mistakes it cost us. You've got to protect the football.

We all got to protect the football. That's a lesson that has to be understood. If you want to play winning football, it's been that way, you know, it's been that way for a long time in football. It's been that way for a long time here. And we have not done a good enough job of that on offense this year. Brew, are you ready to write off your Ravens?

Well, yes. But I will not officially abandon them until they are eliminated. So I will say this. If somehow some way, coach, Cleveland beats Pittsburgh and maybe with Green Bay being so banged up, if Jordan Love doesn't play, heck, Malik Willis might not play. They might be down to their third quarterback, Clayton, something. I don't even know his name. It's not Sean Clifford.

I don't know. It's Clayton something. Actually, Josh Jacobs and Jaden Reed are like their emergency quarterbacks. So if Josh Jacobs is behind center, I feel all right about the Ravens' chance. But if somehow, Nick, that game, Week 18 becomes, like, legit for the playoffs, I will, you know, I will back my Ravens and see what they can do. But for all intents and purposes, they are done, and I'm actually looking forward to being put out of my misery. Yikes, girl. Because it is exhausting rooting for the Ravens because, Coach, like I said, I got so caught up in, oh, just get the defense together.

Or just start winning games so you can get back in the playoff race that I kind of lost sight of the problems every year or the last three or four years where they will find a way to lose a big game. And last night, they found a way. You're up 11. Remember, now under Harbaugh, they've tied the record for most blown double-digit leads in the fourth quarter in a four-year stretch. Oh, I didn't even think about that. Yeah, I mean, but that's the thing. All the other problems made us forget their history of blowing fourth quarter leads and all of that stuff. And I just, coach, I just think I don't like saying coaches should get fired or whatever, but I just think it's time for a change.

John Harbaugh's been there 18 years. If Andy Reid can get fired, if Tom Landry can get fired, if Bill Belichick can essentially get fired, then I'm sorry, John Harbaugh can get fired. They just need a new voice. I think they need something fresh in that building, and it's time. Here's where I really struggled yesterday is they're running the ball. I knew it.

As I was saying. As I was saying. I knew it. I knew it. For 128, 7.1 yard average and two touchdowns. And he doesn't touch the ball for the last 12 minutes of the game. And then when they talk about it afterwards, like, oh, yeah, I would have liked him to be in the game. But he wasn't in the game.

So there's that component of it. And remember when we were going, I don't remember the last year or the year before, but playoffs, they decided not to run the ball. We had the same results. So we didn't really learn anything from that. Chiefs game they didn't have Derek Henry, right? That was because this happened. No, but they had a great run game. No, but I'm adding to your point.

The Chief's game, they didn't have Derek Henry. So then they got Derek Henry so they wouldn't make that mistake again. And then they consistently did it. But to me, it gets a little bit worse in the sense that so Lamar Jackson's missed a practice once a week for, what, six weeks now? Yeah. This will be seven. And he gets hurt on a quarterback-driven run that's run inside the tackle box.

Like, why? Why? Why are you running? If he's going to carry the ball, he's obviously got some sort of injury because you see the way he moves, you see the way he scrambles, you see the things he's doing, but now you're going to call a quarterback-driven run, not outside, which I'm not, look, any quarterback-driven run can have its risk, but it's inside the tackle box with a guy that's been dinged up throughout the course of season.

I don't get it. And there was obviously a rationale. There were coaching meetings. There were decisions made. And this is how it came out. And it's just not very good. And I can't imagine very many people are happy there. I'm definitely ready to ride off the Ravens.

You can spend more time on that in a second. But I want to ask a question. Now that we know Lamar that it's not broken ribs, it's a bad contusion. Am I the only one that was surprised he didn't go back in? He said he took a shot at. He said he took a shot of Torridol on it. Yeah.

Couldn't throw up. And still just couldn't. It was just the, because I, the whole time, once they did the X, like I assume they did the X-rays found out. So when I saw, I guess what I'm saying is when I saw I didn't go back in, I thought the news was going to be broken ribs. And then when the news was bruised ribs, it just, that part. Didn't we have this a few years ago, kind of the same exact scenario where he was sort of dinged up. And every week they were saying, well, he should be able to play this. week.

He should be able to play this week. And then he kind of disappeared, but it was never really clarified. That was about five weeks stretch. Yes. And they were kind of like this. They were sort in the playoff mix. And then he just, then something happened. That was strange.

And they made the playoffs. Well, so they didn't play in that game. And Huntley had a dive at the goal line to like tie the bangles. Here we are again. And that's, no, the Lamar's injury stuff has always been weird. The hamstring this year was weird. because Harbaugh said he's going to be back after the buy, and then the by game, he wasn't back.

I just, I, it is, I do not question Lamar's toughness, which makes me then question the Ravens messaging about his injuries consistently. Like, it just seems like they are always on a different page than him. But that's, whether he were fully healthy or not going into these final two weeks, I'd be ready to write him off because we've had 15 games of this team. being below average. Like I was looking at the, forget somebody plays,

the Vikings are on key team schedules coming up. Oh, the Baltimore plays, no, the Packers play the Vikings, and Detroit plays the Vikings. That's what I was thinking of. The Vikings play a big part in the NFC North race. And I'm like, oh, well, that should be, you know, for both those teams,

those should be easy wins. Vikings have the same record as Baltimore. And we're 15 games in. Like I, for the first time all year, I now feel the other AFC playoff teams hope Baltimore gets in over Pittsburgh. I think right now Pittsburgh feels like the scarier team, which is sacrilegious when 28-year-old Lamar Jackson is the quarterback of one of the teams. And I'm saying that even if Lamar, I'd feel that way even if Lamar hadn't gotten dinged yesterday. They just, they don't have an identity as an offense. They don't seem to all, like the coaches don't seem to recognize the stakes of the game,

which is to your point, okay, we're in a running back rotation between Derek Henry and Keaton Mitchell. On a drive that might define our season, the rotation's over. And they're not equal. Well, they're not Sonic and Knuckles, and we know Javier Gibbs is better than mine. But still, you know, it's not even close. Yeah. It's like Derek Henry is to be in there. Very fast. I saw that graphic.

I didn't realize that he was that fast. Which one? Mitchell. Like 20 miles per hour runs. It's like Mitchell and Jonathan Taylor. No, Keaton is, he's a good back. But come on. We're talking about Derek.

And I just, and especially late in the game, you pound the defense is a little worn out. He was like falling forward for six yards. Yeah. And this is your old thing. What was the other team hoping? As a Pats fan, KW. Yeah, I texted you. Wiles thought Derek Henry might have been in trouble.

No, I saw him. He had his coat on. Lamar was out of the game. Lamar was ruled out. He had the coat on no helmet. Derek Henry was right next to him. Coat on no helmet. I said, did he get a suck in?

I might have gone Wildcat at that point. I'm like, what's going on? One guy's out for the game and one guy. I'm like, oh, is there something happening here? But that's unbelievable. It's odd coaching. You get a lead so you can run the ball and work the class. I agree.

You agree. And then we can move on. If the goal is to win a Super Bowl with Lamar, which obviously it is, if you knew, if they win the division, they're going to keep Harbaugh. Do you think it's better for them to miss the playoffs? Because I do. And I don't think Harbaugh is like the biggest problem. But I just think at this point the combos, like you need to switch something up. Look, I definitely feel like they need a coaching change.

No question about it. But if they could win this division, and you're right, they haven't looked good all year. But with this field, coach, I would just be like, hey, they got a puncher's chance. You know, let's see what happens. They were out playing the Patriots yesterday. I remember three weeks ago, everybody wanted to get rid of a guy in Pittsburgh.

That's the thing. Right, right. But now, but I don't think, I think that's different, though. I think they definitely got to get rid of horrible. I just, I think the guy in the guy, Mike Tomlin has even, maybe this has been part of his own doing, but he has had an excuse of not having a quarterback. Baltimore's had the opposite.

They've had a guy who's since he's been in the league, has been first team all pro quarterback more than any other quarterback in the league. And so it just feels different. Drake May on the other side of the ball. It's pretty good. Goes for 400 total yards. Leads an 11 point fourth quarter comeback, avoids back to back.

losses for the first time this year, clinches a spot in the playoffs for the Patriots. Here he is post game. It was kind of a wake-up call last week. We got a chance to win the game with the game winning drive. And this week it was like, man, let's not have that same feeling two weeks in a row. And I felt like that. And it was kind of elephant in the room, kind of going out there and that last, once the defense got the ball back. And like I said, it's just trust and belief.

And I like our chances when we're in those scenarios. I like our chances. Thank you. One fourth quarter drive that didn't work. One fourth quarter drive that did work. It's called learning. It should be a lifetime learner. You know what I say?

Lifetime learner. That's what you say? Yeah, I say it all the time. Coach, do you think Drake May made a leap yesterday? I thought he made a couple of nights plays. I didn't really see it as a leap. Low-key, Drake May realist. Get on board.

Hold on. He did throw an interception in the red zone. That wasn't great. Yeah, he did. Right. So there's that. He did get strip sacked in the red zone, which then cost him another three points. Learning moments.

He was playing the Ravens, which seemed determined to figure out a way to give that game away. And they do have a history of double-digit collapses. So it's not like this was a team that hadn't done that historically. So there were a lot of moments in that game where I thought his throws were high and the receipts. receivers went up and made some great catches. They were behind him. Receivers went up and made some great catches. Now, I do give him a ton of credit.

He's working behind a total makeshift offensive line and finding ways to not be sacked more than he is. And look, he's young. He's learning. These moments keep getting bigger and bigger. They responded to that moment again yesterday, however it came out. Although, you know, there were a lot of times during the course that game

where I thought he doesn't really have his fastball today. I don't think he took a leap. I think it was obviously probably his best, well, one of his best games, obviously, yardage. It was the first time he threw almost 400 yards. But he just gained maturity and he gained through playing through the adversity. Because they haven't faced a ton of adversity this year. So facing a good team, certainly a historically good team in the last few years,

you know, I think winning on the road there when that team needed it for the playoffs and Being down and facing that. I think this is all good for him. It's all stuff you pour into him that will make him better. But I don't think, I think he's played well all year. I don't think he took any type of leap where, oh, wow, now he's arrived. I think he has been showing that all year. Here's where I do think he took a leap.

I think this was potentially his first real bout of adversity in games that count. Like last year there's plenty of adversity, but none of the games matters. You know what? I know that sounds bad, but they were, he was a rookie, they were a rebuilding team. The fact that they had blown the lead against Buffalo, they were getting beat by Baltimore, they are on the road, they have, he is not playing well, because I think to your point, through two and a half quarters, he was on pace for the worst game of his season. and then to rally the way he did with clutch play after clutch play, third and long conversions, the non-called DPI was a great pass. So the non-called, I mean, this was just like kind of like a Steph Curry moment. Dusty, if you can run the non-call DPI, and again, I am not, that was just beautiful.

I am not the quarterback of the Patriots for a few reasons, mostly just I don't have the bulk, but otherwise I have all the, I like to think I have the intangibles. If this play happened to me, I would be lost for the game. This is the game. This is a third. It's 3.10 left in the fourth down. So like that we, I would feel like we were just robbed of the game winning play that would have put us out the six yard line.

And the guy is stoic to the point where after the game, Stefan Diggs was like, you know, I tried to get him pumped up. But he's even keel. to have this go, not go his way and just saying, you know, it's not a big deal. We'll keep on driving down the field. And three plays later, he has the fourth and two where he has to throw a laser. That almost goes to the other way. Right.

That's where arm strength at times can be overrated. Where it's not overrated is when a corner is breaking on a ball and you have to fit it in. And if you look at, if it shows road numbers. I thought that should have been if the pick six. Yeah, it could have been. But here's Drake on the road this year. Perfect. I mean, he's been unbelievable.

And so I believe he is going to be moving forward to top five quarterback. And I think that now I reserve the right to adjust that if he's one up, you know, feels like one in four. If he isn't? No, no, no, no. I'm saying, sure, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But what I'm saying is I, I feel like one. one in four excellent quarterbacks are shells of themselves in the playoffs.

I don't think it's like super rare. I think that you just go through it. And so that's, and you have no way of knowing who that's going to be until you see it. And one game won't dictate it, but it will give us an idea. So I reserve the right if he, I'm like, man, I've never seen him look like that come to the playoffs. I just think he checks all the boxes. No chance that happens. Don't worry.

I mean, that's what every, that's what I, I don't want to pay. pick on guys, but that's what Peyton Manning or Justin Herbert or Lamar Jackson fans all would have said too. No, I could see that. Another season, another season of being over 500 from Mike Tomlin, Steelers now 9 and 6. Rogers throws for 250. The Steelers run for 230. So time to take Aaron and the Pittsburgh Steelers seriously. Brew? Yes. Maybe this is your team as you're a bachelor again.

That'd be tough. Within the division. Wow. Oh. And look, you guys... You talk about me stepping out on somebody. That's moving in with her sister. That's friend's girlfriend.

That win yesterday was impressive. Like, I did not think... I was convinced Detroit was going to beat them. I really gave them hardly any chance of winning that. No respect for your upset alert, Wilds. I mean, I think all of us but Wilde's off. The feeling was Detroit, in Detroit, needing a victory. I feel like they're the better team.

Yeah. I was like, there's no way Pittsburgh's winning that game. They ran for 15 yards. Yeah, well, that's, to shut. Save it, coach. Hold them to 15 yards, ran on them for what? Was it 2.30? 2.30.

Yeah, I mean, and look, I don't think they're going to keep doing that. But that's been a weakness for the Steelers that everybody thought might be a strength in the season. So if they can get somewhat of a good run game, Rogers has been good. Yes. He's been throwing it well. So you guys know I've said this since I've been on the show. He has, since he went to that Super Bowl and won it 15 years ago, he's had a sealing of the NFC championship game or the conference championship game.

It hasn't played well in those games. So I'm not saying they can get to the Super Bowl, but in this AFC, I think they can finally at least win a game. Well, that would KW. And now if they made Buffalo, that's right. If they win the division, they're probably playing Buffalo. Yeah, I would pick Buffalo. But I think KW might not.

If you're going to run for $2.30 and Buffalo is not stopping the run. And maybe I'm a big recency bias guy, but I was not, again, not impressed with Buffalo against the Browns, who ran for, I think, 160. So if you can just run the ball and Josh did nothing yesterday. I was going to want him that to happen against the Patriots. But if he doesn't put on its cape, you can get a nothing game out of Josh. Don't get mad at me. Just look at the box score. Coach, what do you think?

Well, so what I've liked, first of all, I won three games in a row, so there's that. And then in terms of running the ball, Jalen Warren's averaging 4.5 yards of carry, and Gainwell's at 4.9 yards of carry. I don't remember it's been a while since Pittsburgh had two backs with those types

of averages. That's for the season? For the season. Okay, that's... So they're fourth in Sacks. They're fourth in takeaways, so there's that. And then the Scotty Miller shows up yesterday out of the blue. Adam Thieland Yeah, Rogers just wants old receivers. Well, here's what I'll say about that.

You got Valdez, Scanling. So I've talked about this a lot, that this is an older team. And older teams, when they hit the middle of the season, there's this drop off because, you know, it gets hard. It gets hard for those guys. But as they get towards the playoffs or into the playoffs, those guys can rise up again. It's like that's sort of a, you know, they know the end is near, the light at the end of the tunnel, how we want to look at it. So you can get some great games out of those great players, guys who have historically been great. So the fact that they've got Thieland, you know, Scantling and he have that connection.

Scotty Miller's showing up out of the blue. Like there's some depth to the receiving core that wasn't there that could actually really benefit of moving forward. Listen, I think they're going to get, if it is Buffalo, I think they're going to get absolutely clocked in round one. However. In their building? In their building. I mean, the Steelers have, the Steelers in the playoffs. have not, not breaking news here, not only if they not won a game,

they have gotten beat by double digits more often than it's been a close game. I think they've been down by 21. In almost all of the game, six of seven or something. With that said, I have to, I have to be fair to this. If this last month from Rogers is the level he's going to be able to play at the rest of the year when keep, like this is what it is. He was fine the first 11 games. He's been excellent.

And look at the yardage jump. At 60 more yards a game and the yards per pass from below league average to right above league average. And this was after the worst game. Correct. And here's the other part that I think is critically important for this team. If they beat Cleveland, they get a buy. Week 18, they can rest them.

They're an old team. They can rest everybody. rest everybody. Like we, if they beat Cleveland, week 18 is meaningless. And Aaron knows it. Aaron said after the game, we're going to go,

we're going to go turn on Sunday football and root for the Patriots. He knew that if they, if the Steelers won out, it doesn't matter what the Ravens do. They didn't need the Ravens to lose. They only needed the Ravens to lose if they want to have week 18 off.

And they're now positioned where they can by beating Cleveland. That would give them a legitimate boost. A little bit nervous. He ever played basketball? ball bruised and you're like, oh, I'm going to sit this one out and then you try to play the next one, no go. That's true.

At that age, you're right. Oh, this one's more digital. That's cool. It's actually, what are those things called? I've been messing with some new technology. Yeah, QR code. That's good. New technology.

Oh, that's cool. Yeah. More great football coming your way. The Trust and Will Holiday Bowl, Arizona, SMU. January 2nd, 2026. next year but still mark it down in your calendars 730 Eastern only on Fox oh look at they're moving I didn't know that thought it's still photo in technology cowboys get gassed yet again they lose 34 17 6 8 and 1 in the year mathematically eliminated once the

Eagles won for the game here's Jerry Jones from what we expected what we thought absolutely we did we all underachieved really and the fact we're not in the playoffs says that for you. Okay. Brew, I don't know how long we're going to do this grade bit. They're mathematically eliminated. Is this the final grade? I think next week I might grade the whole season.

Oh, I like that. But this is on yesterday's game. And Jerry was asked, have they underachieved? He thought they underachieve. It is like a broken record. I think they've underachieved for the bulk of the the last 30 years. Every year they weren't good, but there's so many years

with Tony Romo, with Dak Prescott, where they were good. You thought they could maybe get to the Super Bowl. They're talking about the Super Bowl, and they are a tease. They are a tease. That's what they are. So I know a lot of people,

Jerry said later on, we got some things to look forward to next year. And I know a lot of Cowboys friends, look Pickens and CD, Dak, we're going to build up the defense, we got some draft picks. No, it's going to be the same old thing because here's the deal.

Remember, they beat the chiefs and they beat the Eagles and that was right after the trades, they get Quentin Williams and everybody's starting to think, oh my, they can do something, the defense is stout. As soon as the expectations lifted, and there really was thought that either they can make the playoffs or they might not make the playoffs. It's too late, but they're going to look good the rest of the season,

and next year we're going to be a contender. As soon as that happened, they gave up 44 to Detroit, 34 to Minnesota, and then 34 yesterday to the Chargers. So I think I was kind with this grade. I was kind. I did not give them their typical F. I gave them their typical D for, duh. they are not going to be a contender next year.

They'll be, you know, they'll be in the mic. Maybe they'll make the playoffs next year, but what is, forget the Super Bowl. You tricked me because I wrote, I thought you were going to give them a T for, I really thought you were leading up to, it was done. Yeah, I don't know if they've underachieved or just consistently overpromised. Because it seems like every year, to your point, it's, hey, this year, we've got some magical things that we're,

doing this off season's going to be hot. We got some big deals brewing, got a lot of draft picks. Just wait. Just wait. It's coming. And so you get set up, you get set up, and then you're kind of in the same mix again. And look, I'm a big supporter of Brian Schoenheimer. I thought that was an actual gutsy call on Jerry's part to do that. But over the 30 years, they haven't made the NFC championship game one time. So as mad as you want to be at, Matt Iber Fluse, or as mad as you want to be it, Matt Eber Fluce, or as mad as you want to be, be at Chati if that's what you want to be, or take your pick of who you want to be mad at. There's only been one constant throughout this process.

So at some point, you may have to take a step back and say, I really want to achieve this goal before, you know, I can't achieve this goal. So maybe I've got to do things a little bit differently. You're really blaming a lot on Michael Irvin. So here's the, I'm not trying to encroach on brew your grading, but I'm going to, I would give DAC for the year. I know you're doing year-end grades. B-plus A-minus?

I thought the, I would give Schottenheimer. Yeah, I'd give Schottenheimer B-B-plus. I'd give the running backs, B-plus, a-minus maybe. I'd give the receivers. It wasn't A, and then George Pickens punched the teacher, so yeah, he got

docked to A-minus. So why was the team so bad? And I promise this is the last time I'll do it, but it warrants mentioning as they are officially eliminated. Jerry wrecked the season by trading away Micah Parsons, and that's why they're in this boat. And I know that Mike ended up tearing his ACL, but ACLs are not ticking time bombs.

Like, like he could have- So if they had Micah, what do you think they? I think that they would still be alive for the division. The Phillies not, Philly has five losses. Philly's not running away with it. You know, I think that. And they then took 80% of what they got for Mike and traded for Quentin Williams. And he, you know, is a very good player that at times is an excellent player, but does not have the week-to-week impact Micah does.

And it just detonated their season over ego. And that trade was made really late in the season. Right. Late the end. Right. That's a good, that's a really good point. Maybe if the day after trading Micah then traded for Quentin, maybe it's a little different. But the quarterback played better than.

expected this year, or at least as good. The coach was better than I expected. The receivers were better than anybody expected. They did. The running backs. And the defense was awful, and the player they traded away up until a week ago, was when he got hurt, one of the three or four best defensive players in football this year.

And Jerry swore it was, don't lose sleep. I love Micah. We're going to sign Micah. All of it. And they didn't sign him. And it wrecked their season the moment it happened. All right, moving on to the Lions. Lions offense got called for two pass interferences on their game winning drive that wasn't.

Goff throws for 346. The Lions run for 15 more yards than Coach Manjini. He had none. Coach, we'll start with you. What was the number one reason the Lions lost this game? What do you think I'm going to say to? I don't know. There was some questionable calls.

I know you like to blame the officials. 230 yards against. 15 yards. Yeah, that's unbelievable. How is that, like how is that? That's so off brand. I had to go back and check the box score like 17 times to see if it really was 230 to 15 because that couldn't be the case.

But this has really been Detroit the whole season, right? They win a game, they lose a game, they win a game, they lose a game. This is the first time they actually lost two games in a row since, what, what, 23? Two and a half years. Yeah, two and a half years. And as much as we think that losing two coordinators, you can overcome that because Philly did such a good job with it last year. It's been a real problem for Detroit.

And he felt like he had to make the move with the offense coordinator Johnny Morton in the middle of the season. That I'm sure took a lot of his attention away from coaching the whole team. So it's just been the inconsistency of Detroit. and then culminating in yesterday of absolutely not Detroit Lions football in the most fundamental way possible, they should have lost. They deserve to lose. Well, and so there was an OPI before the one we just showed from the one yard line. To coach's point, you can't be the bite the kneecaps team.

If we're just, if we're against the, go back to the Chiefs game when they were at the one yard line and they threw a pass to Jared golf and they had the illegal formation. Remember, guys, you have a timeout. It's first and goal. A touchdown wins you the game. Punching it. Yeah. That's the, again, I'm not, and I'm not Mr. Old School run the ball, but football. But that's what your ethos has been.

It's your identity. It's your identity. And then on the golf play, I don't, sorry, the, the next OPI play. I don't know whether or not this is or is an offensive bas interference. I do know this. His forward progress is stopped and that's not a touchdown in any universe of football ever. I know the refs were like, we called it a touchdown. That's nonsense.

Like if this had been, he's push back five yards. He can just push back five yards. Right. Everyone stops. I mean, credit to golf for continuing to play. They both got a lot. But I mean, 97 knows if I hit him, I'm going to get a penalty. Yep.

And so the idea that they got screwed here, it was fourth and goal. And it was offensive PI, I think. Definitely. He shoved him. He runs up and. Yeah. And so they just haven't been, they have not been good enough all year long. They have been a team that has brew all this talent on offense, but has not been able to overcome the fact.

that for the second straight year, they're banged up on defense and they can't get stops when they need it. That's just I don't, I don't, Dan Campbell was right two years ago when he said this was our chance. They are up 15 or 17 in the conference championship game and it was like, we might never get back here.

I think he was right. I agree, and obviously that's just a true statement. I'm not, I don't know, especially now, should he have said that publicly at least? You say it to your team. I'm sure you know you got ways of motivating your team. But now that has almost become like a mantra about this team. Like everybody's asking, is the window closed?

Is the window closed? And they go back to that statement. I'm not, again, I think he was totally right. But I just wonder now is that in people, in the players' minds? Because coach said this. This is turning out to be true so far. You know, I just wonder if that may have backfired on it. I don't think the players look back that far.

I think that, you know, two years ago is a long time. But do you worry, though? Gained by 220 yards. Well, yeah, that's the reason they lost. Just, do you worry, coach? Because they can't bring Johnny Morton back now, right? You can't kind of demote him within the year. The reason I ask is I have another new.

Well, but and also it's not going to be, I thought they kept Johnny Morton because it's like, we love the offense we're running. We love the Ben Johnson system. And they did lead the lead. No, and the offense has not been the problem. My worry is, is golf now next year going to have a new offensive coordinator when this system has gotten the best out of him? I would be worried about that.

They could probably bring them back. Oh, okay. They got to fix their defense. That's really there. They'll squeak by the Browns. And I have a great take on this. Great take. Tonight right here on FS1, Missouri, taking on number 18, Illinois.

in downtown St. Louis. Dusty told me Murphy Lee is going to be there. All tips off at 8 p.m. Eastern right here on FS1. We're headed to Cleveland right now. Buffalo squeaked past the Browns 2320. Josh had an injury scare. I couldn't believe that. It came back in the game.

James Cook had two touchdowns, one 17 on the ground. Josh completed 12 passes, no TDs. His brief MVP push ended. Thank you. Yeah. Shadour at times look at times look great. Other times, no. Brew, what was your number one takeaway from this game?

My takeaway was Shadour. I think, Coach, I think he's done enough where the Brown should feel like going in the next season, he'll be in the mix. We'll give him a chance. Not that he, so what I would do is I would try to bring in like a Jacoby Brissette. So they're not going to drive the guy.

I mean, unless you absolutely love one of these guys, which I don't necessarily see that guy in this draft. I don't know. If you love somebody, then sure, you got to take them. Josh, what do they have? But just to take a quarterback. Right now, top five pick. I don't think you just draft a quarterback just to draft a quarterback

because he's the best one this year because there are years where a guy that. Now, again, if the fans get or whoever is in charge loves Fernando, you know, Mendoza or whoever it is, then I guess you got to take them. But outside of that, I would say bringing a James Winston. a Jacoby Reset to battle with not like a Daniel Jones type because Jones would beat him out most likely but like somebody that if Shadur is not

if he beats him out he beats out Shadur but a guy that you can start if Shadur's not got I think he's shown enough because obviously yesterday his past rating's low because of the two picks the first pick wasn't really his fault it was a little behind the guy but that's catchable the second pick was his fault

I just think he's the way he kind of managed the game. He obviously can make big throws and throw it downfield. I think he's shown enough coach where you might think maybe he can become our guy. Wow. We're not certain yet, but we'll bring in another older guy that can kind of battle with him. Again, look, if they love a guy, draft him. I just don't see that guy in this draft. Yeah, it's hard because expectations are pretty low for him.

come in and then say what you want to say about Dylan Gabriel, but he didn't set the bar very high either. So now he comes in, he throws a couple picks, his quarterback ratings low, they lose a game. It's kind of close to Buffalo. You're thinking, well, Buffalo is a good team, a playoff team. Buffalo, my takeaway was Buffalo had this game sandwich between a really emotional win against New England, and they're about to play Philly. And then in between they have Cleveland, so they're kind of taking the day off, figuring that Cleveland's going to lay down,

and this is what I thought was going to happen with Green Bay, but it kind of translated into Buffalo. So it's hard for me to imagine they have the conviction on Chador based up of what he's done so far to rule themselves out of a young quarterback. I think Shador's had one excellent game, one truly awful game, and then a couple below average but fine rookie quarterback. quarterback games. So I certainly, the only way I'm, if I'm not drafting a quarterback, if I'm

Cleveland, is either A, if I'm, if I'm like, this is the worst class I've seen, or the other thing that's possible is you're drafting at four and quarterbacks go one and two. Well, giants are at one. Right, but people can trade. You know what I'm saying? So, like, I agree with, I wouldn't draft the quarterback for the sake of drafting a quarterback, but I do not think Shador has earned incumbency, at least as of yet. No, I agree with that. But my biggest takeaway about this game, and this is what I want to say for 30 seconds, we have to stop saying, listen, I think Josh Allen is the best quarterback in the league that's currently healthy.

I believe that. I think Stappert's having the best year, but I think if I were ranking quarterbacks, I'd have Josh Allen two, and I'd have him two for a while. I think I'm probably going to pick the bills, maybe the Jags, But maybe the bills to make the Super Bowl off the strength of Josh Allen. But we have to stop saying Josh Allen doesn't have any help. Josh Allen has a very good offensive line. The rushing champion in James Cook, awesome tight ends.

Josh Allen doesn't have great receivers. There is not a team in the league that has an awesome quarterback and awesome everywhere. Great receivers, great running back, great offensive line. Say it again. One of those tight ends drop that touchdown pass. I, I, I, true, but the way we talk about the bills is as if the offense is a one-man show when James Cook is consistently awesome. I underrated him coming into this year. I said I wouldn't have paid him the money. He's going to have 1,700 yards this season and another double-digit

touchdown year. So, the, there are times where in an effort to build up Josh and whether it's MVP conversation or best quarterback alive conversation, those things, we tear down his supporting cast and he has a very good offensive line and a great running back and I think very good tight ends that's good it's a good offense Browns ran for 160 yards and had the ball for 35 minutes it will be the undoing of the bills come playoff time heard it here well hi from New York it's a show that's delivering pure analysis no fandom as brew likes to say we wave the pom-poms for no one someone has to wear a robe around here wow you You retire your robe?

Sean Spired, bro. Clenched. That's a nice robe too. It's a nice, why is his robe so much more plush than mine? It is a nice, but it doesn't have little sandwiches on it. Yeah, or pictures of it. Brew, we didn't even, you were so out on the Ravens, he didn't even do the box. I'm saving that for when they're officially eliminated.

Or one of the things about that's real quick before you get to the bear. By all means, take your time. We're also so beyond the Ravens as. to the Ravens as like a real contender. I know that you didn't do. I know. You went into their house. I ate a sandwich.

Your team went to Baltimore and kicked their ass and And you guys were about to talk about it. You know what? I was going to write a tweet as working on something. You're going to write it. I had a tweet draft. I was like, oh, this win was just like airplane food. Like it got the job done.

It's nothing to brag about. Yeah. You're lucky I don't follow you on. Just a below. Honestly, today, you're very lucky. He's got some odd retweets. No, I do not. The tweets aren't endorsements.

No, I do not. First of all, it's pro-patriots everything. Ravens. Speaking of. Regressing. Rue's not ready to write them off to them mathematically eliminate. Say flowers never fumbles in a big spot.

You know what? Say, go forward. Thank you. Oh, is that your take? But it's he said he was going to stop running backwards this year. And then he keeps running backwards. Same thing with the Chargers. Chargers are giving up the ball.

I want an upgrade. I want to upgrade the receiving court. You want to get rid of him? But make him a number one. He's their number one. I need a better number one. Meanwhile, the Steelers are surging. Guaranteeing a Roger Rogers Renaissance.

Sure. We're just talking about guaranteeing stuff all the time. But right now, Buckle up, we're headed to Chicago. Caleb delivered an epic comeback and an all-time victory in the Bears Packers rivalry. He came on late and won the game. The best pass of his life? Even though he had the best pass of his life last week. Yeah, I don't know.

I didn't write that, but it was really professional. I think we could say that, right? It's pretty impressive. The biggest, certainly the biggest. Certainly the biggest. All right, let's head to the locker room. Oh, no. Yeah.

This is a special group. Say it. This doesn't happen everywhere, gentlemen. Where we are right now, what you guys are doing, it's no fluke. Caleb, I love you, I love you, all right? But this one's not going to y-e-h-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Because this guy battled through man, he went down early, he got back up, he knew, he knew this team needed him for 60 minutes.

DJ Moore! Turn me up, man. Get better bad! That's right. I love it. It's my ring-touch. wild task before the show. He's like, are you going to do good, better best?

I was like, don't worry, it's coming. It just plays very summer camp to me. You got to admit the vibes are through. Wait, that plays very summer camp, but your coach giving out, you know, horned, scorn swipes and high five everyone. That's nice.

Danny's right. He's like, oh, nice capri-sun. Good up forever. The broadcast on Sunday night football was like, we got to get Brable quickly because he has to greet everyone before they get to locker room. I do a good reason for everybody.

Let's go, let's go. Oh, little drake. You did such a nice job today. All right. Put this win in perspective. Can I ask a favor as well? Sure. Don't start talking about when you were a little kid and all this stuff.

He's definitely going to. He's definitely going to. I was a great. I'm sorry. I didn't know they're like only, we can only talk about the Chief's history. The last seven straight is. We only talk about your... Seven straight is five, but not like I was in third grade.

We only talking about your dynasty. Let me take you back to 2006. No, it was truly one of the most satisfying bears wins of my life. I don't need to explain to you how sad that is. I'm like, you know, the 2018 game against the Rams when they won 15 to 6? That's in the top five. So this was a truly incredible moment, and it was extra satisfying. because of the scar tissue and the packers and the rivalry and all of it.

But sometimes in life and in sports, things can't really be explained logically. And sometimes I like pray at the altar of logic and reason. But just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Like, do not deny the magic of this season. Sometimes there are magical seasons and magical moments. And it feels like that's what's happening to the beach. bears. And I am not sitting here guaranteeing the Super Bowl or anything like that. Well, they have magic on their side. I mean, what are you saying? I was going to stop

high acting. There's a little bit of an angels in the outfield field to it. Okay, if you want to talk about my childhood. Yeah. But seriously, man, like, okay, let's go through it. Caleb this season, you guys can talk about the numbers. You're like, oh, he's not completing 60% of his passes. What about when he's tied or trailing in the fourth quarter of overtime? He becomes the best quarterback in football. It doesn't make any sense how this happens situationally, consistently, time after time after time. Drake May doesn't get a chance to do.

Right. If we were better, right. Sure, because you guys play the easiest schedule in the NFL. But then, all right, well, is it just Caleb? No, since they're by week in week five, they're the best fourth quarter team in football. Across the board. You can never count them out. Clutch, Ben Johnson Factor, vibes,

like whatever you, magic, like whatever you want to call it, there's something going on. And that situation specifically in that game, they have now been in, shockingly, 10 times this year, as in trailing in the final two minutes of the game. They are six and four. They've won 60% of them. The rest of the NFL wins 12% of the time in that spot.

So instead of magic is. I don't know. Is that playing with fire? Listen, is it sustainable for 10 years? Obviously not. But can it a belief, a vacuum, a situation, a circumstance of events? Because it's not like they never blow teams out. They just blew out Cleveland.

Like, they have wins that are comfortable this year. The win over Philly on Black Friday was a comfortable win. But like a belief that in close spots, in playoff spots, because that was a playoff atmosphere and a playoff type game, that they can get it done, there's something to it, man. I have no better explanation for it than Matt. I will give you this last year we all, I mean, remember,

they were five and two, I believe, playing well or at least winning games. And then that- Four and two win the Hail Mary. Okay, Hail Mary magical moment in the reverse happened, ruin their season. So it is interesting to me that I've thought about that, like, wow, they're getting these types of wins where they got that loss that kind of ruined their year last year. So that's good. Look, I think.

they're alive in the NFC. I mean, that was a good win. I think it was a gift. And I think the fact that they were getting beat by Malik Willis, you know, is not good. I mean, that defense held without Micah, obviously, held them to three field goals through the first 59 plus minutes. Malik Willis played great in that game. He played really well. And he won games for them last year when Jordan Love got hurt.

He's 26 years old. He was 2 and O. Yeah, but y'all should be in a must win game, a must win game. where they had beat you before, that should not have been the situation. But they came through at the end. Romeo Dobbs handed you the gift, you know, on the on-side kick. Magic.

But I'll give you credit because Caleb has been clutch, and I like the fact that he can tune out the noise in his own head and that's happening around him to be clutching those moments. Yeah. None of it happens without the on-side kick recovery, and that Caleb and the Bears' offense, didn't earn and you like that's all true. Yeah.

But what is true is the onside kick recovery wouldn't have mattered if the bears didn't dominate every snap of football after that. They, you get the onside kick down a full touchdown, the execute on fourth down, making one of the most clutch plays in the NFL this season. And it was also kind of perfect that two weeks ago, Caleb was in a very similar spot, down seven. That was a fourth down, right? The one he threw the pick on? Yeah, it was fourth, not in goal. Fourth and one. And they took shot to the end zone. And he throws the pick. This week, he's in that spot and makes one of the better throws he's made in his career. In overtime, the defense stood up. They forced the turnover on downs to make this matter. And that is to an undrafted rookie, by the way, because multiple Bears receivers were hurt. We talk about the injuries on Green Bay. Bears, everyone has it. And then this is. Michael Parsons and Jordan loved a little.

So you think it's different than Luther Burden in Roma, Junze? I don't know. Reasonable minds can disagree. No, but that, but DJ Moore, who had not been Caleb's favorite target, I think is fair to say. Them having this moment when DJ Moore is the most gifted player on their offense outside of Caleb, in my opinion. Like, I think that really matters. I, the tweak I would have is this. And I like Ben Johnson.

But I said it. it last year, and what do they call me, KW? Mr. Consistency. Mr. Consistency. But everyone calls. Everybody knows it. Yeah. Ben Johnson did this nonsense too much last year, and he's done it too much with the Bears.

The fourth down, you can't be running a fourth and one inside the 10, and you do a, the play calls for, you're going to snap the ball through the legs of your tight end. To your 5-9 running back to try to. think then throw a pass to Caleb Williams. That's what I think the play design was. Like, that is. He'll never not do that, though. Right.

And that worries me. You have to live it because when it hits, it does look great, and it is part of what gives them a high ceiling offensively. No, no, no. So that's why I disagree with you. It's part of it. It can be part of it and be like, but early on in a critical game on fourth and one, we don't need it.

Like, it's not figure skating. You don't get style points. So I understand wanting to keep people on their toes and, you know, I'm not saying you have to be conservative at all times. But no, it's similar to how I felt about the Patriots running a fake punt when the other team's quarterback's Tyler Huntley. I'm like, the hell are you doing? Like, you had time and place for things. But I do think the Bears are live and I do think that Caleb responding to the way the game ended against the Packers two weeks ago is a really great moment. Iceman?

You guys like that celebration? I don't know. Is that what it is? Is that official now? Oh, yeah. They're all calling him Iceman. Ice man? Yeah.

Like from Top Gun? Well, he's got ice in his veins. He's got ties Peyton Manning for the most fourth quarter comebacks in a season by a player under the age of 25. From NFL. Not bad. He's got the most touchdowns in the fourth quarter of overtime of any quarterback this year. More than Josh Allen, more than Stafford.

You know that. In one score games. I've had some breakthrough analysis on this program. Yeah, sure. I'm like a maverick of sports world. That's a top gun, too. Yes. No, Top Gun 1.

Both great. Like, I had one. Guard Travis Kelsey. Sure. Like, he was on Stopper while. I was like, get a hand in front of him. How Caleb is so good in the fourth quarter. Just hear me out.

Whole game. Like, don't wait until overtime the last two minutes to be down. Yeah. If next time Ben Johnson's on the show, like, What's a wacky idea. Play well the whole game. Rather than just at the very end. Yes, exactly.

Yeah, yeah, okay. I'll pass that note along. Thank you. No problem. Head down to Baltimore. Patriots went to Baltimore, played with their food for a while before drink. May said, you know what? Make me a sandwich.

Put his feet up on the coffee table to the tune of 380 yards, two touchdowns, and a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Lamar left the game with a back injury. The Ravens couldn't hold on to the ball, and Harbaugh iced out Derek Henry in the fourth quarter. Daniel will start with you yet again. What was the headline here for you? The Pat's win or the Ravens' loss? I think it's the Ravens' loss. Both stories are fascinating, and I love Drake May,

and legit Super Bowl contender, obviously. But if a team that is SBOP is going to miss the playoffs, and this is the final nail in the coffin, even though I know they are mathematically still alive, to me, that's it. And there's so many parts of the Ravens' loss that deja vu all. over it. Like the Lamar injury, how many times have we seen that this year?

Derek Henry fumble, say flowers, fumbling has been an issue for the Ravens and weirdly Derek Henry. It's like the one blemish on a Hall of Fame resume. Weird coaching decisions. Going away from Derek Henry with 12 minutes left in the game and then kind of defending it or rationalizing it after the game. Well, we rotate our backs or you could not. They're not equal. It is an option when Derek Keying only has 18 carries with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter to not stick to your pregame plan for a rotation there. So I just thought while the Patriots win was very impressive, they've been impressive.

And this Ravens thing was just a continuation of the end of their S-Bob chances. So I put it more on the Ravens side. It was absolutely the Ravens. I mean, it was a good win for you guys, especially the way you came back. But you guys are in. the playoffs. You've had, you beat Buffalo, you know, you've had some good wins. So you just named it. The one. Right. You had that one good win.

But, I mean, this may have ended John Harbaugh's tenure in Baltimore. Yes. And I honestly, I think it should. You mentioned, I mean, how many losses have, big losses, have we come back and been like, why did they do this? Their strategy was out. What happened there? Where was Derek Henry? Where was the run game? Whatever it was. And so I just think it's time for a regime change there. And everything, you know, it was all about the Ravens losing more so than the Pats.

I'm going to echo it, but maybe for a slightly different reason, because I think it's worse than you guys are describing. I think this is the end of an era in Baltimore. Wow. It is Lamar turns 29 in a couple weeks. He is, this year has been the year he has been most plagued by injuries. I think that's totally fair to say. I know he had the 21 and 22 seasons. He missed the end of the year with a single injury.

This year he missed the middle of the, he missed a few games, and then it's dealt with multiple different injuries throughout his lower body, and now it's up to his midbody with the ribs. To me, he is playing stylistically this year a different style than he's played in any year of his career where running is not even his... Running used to be his fastball, then it became his off-speed pitch.

Now it's like his ephist pitch. Like you're going to see it rarely, if ever. Yeah. That concerns me. Lamar, maybe it's good. I agree with you, they are going to move on from John Harbaugh. Now you're spinning the wheel.

Like maybe you hit the right coach. But, you know, but it's, there is a real risk in moving on from. Plenty of coaches get fired. And plenty of coaches, you realize, oh, wait, this guy has no idea what he's doing. You know what I mean? It's like, oh, this guy's not head coach. And I don't see, we'll see who else gets fired, whatever it is. But there isn't that Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh, you know, coach in waiting.

Right. It's like, oh, we thought Belichick maybe was going to be, the established coach. that is going to have his pick of jobs. That doesn't seem to the case right now. Baltimore was the standalone Super Bowl favorite going into this year. They were, I think, second Super Bowl favorite behind only the Chiefs going into last year. They went into the playoffs the year before as the Super Bowl favorite. I don't think that's happening next year.

I think that they are the – and so it is a potential to have squandered Lamar's prize. It is the end of an era if Harbaugh gets fired, and this is Lamar's age 28 season, and in his age 27 season he was the runner-up for MVP. Yeah, I know. So I'm just saying it's very possible that in his age 29 season he's back to MVP form, or are you writing that off? No, I don't think we are going to see that peak, that level of Lamar again, because he doesn't run. Well, I'm claiming he didn't run this year, and I don't remember.

He wasn't hurt all year, bro. Yeah, I don't remember. Was he running in the first few games? I don't really remember. Game one against Buffalo. He hasn't run a lot. Correct. I mean, so.

But to your point, the first four games, whatever, he was phenomenal, you know? And so I hear you, because I used to think, Nick, and I actually remember talking about this with you on this show before I was a co-host. but I thought his career would be short because he's a running quarterback, you know, and you're just going to take the hits and eventually he's going to catch up with you. But he's become a much better passer than I

or probably anybody thought he would become. And I think everything they said he couldn't do, he's done. And even to the point of getting better in the playoffs, now he hasn't gotten over the hump, obviously, but he has had some really good playoff games. And I think, yes, it'll be different if he can't. It's not a running threat anymore. But I think he will just become that much better of a passer.

And again, I'm calling for them to get a better receiving court if he's going to be throwing a ball more than he ever has. Because he's still young. I mean, so he's very young. No other quarterback are you saying at 29 is not going to have five more years of front. I think it is part of the stylistic piece. I also think that a lot of the arguments that are probably fair that people use, that I have heard about why when Mahomes comes back, like the chiefs,

when people say the dynasty is over, why they're going to have trouble, you know, having that level of dominance, apply to the Ravens in triplicate. Like the AFs, we're going to come into next year. one of these quarterbacks is going to be coming off either winning the Super Bowl or getting to a Super Bowl. We assume Drake May is only going to be better. The people, I'm not one of them, but people think that the Bengals, at some point, they are going to bounce back. I'm not a huge believer in Bo Nix, but they're 12 and 3 and other people think he's better than I am, that that team is going to be around.

We're not getting to it because we've filibuster on this. Thank God. seems like the Chargers are a little hot. Justin Herbert. And so I just, I think, I think that their best chance at making and winning a Super Bowl has passed them. Doesn't mean they won't have other chances, but I don't think they are, I think the Ravens are going to enter another season in Lamar's career as the Super Bowl favorites. No, I don't. And I think that that's a wasted opportunity.

That's interesting. Coming up next. How should Steelers fans feel? I think they should feel great. All right. Welcome back. We start with the Steelers. Pittsburgh went into Detroit.

There was seven point underdogs. They got a wild win. Very confusing win late. It was 266 yards and a touchdown for Aaron Rogers. Massive spot, given the situation with the Ravens and the AFC North. They can win another division, lock in another winning record by the way from Mike Tomlin. They get to nine wins. But now we also have some breaking news.

Because there was the altercation between D.K. Metcalf and that fan in the front row. The NFL has just announced that D.K. Metcalf will be suspended for two games, which obviously is the rest of the regular season. As you see it here, file that away. And there are things that you cannot do. Willie, how should Steelers fans feel now with this news but the win? Well, this right here is asin. I was frustrated when I saw this because not only it cost them money, but you cost your team an opportunity to win the last two games, which are important, especially if you want to seal up the division.

And now you're looking at a young man who, listen, he was brought here to be the difference he has thus far. But this is what the still is who was afraid of. His immaturity. And now it reared his ugly head. Like, coach, you've been on the field. I've been on the field. I've said worse things and done work things verbally, right?

But I also understood, and I had to understand as I grew into my career, either I was hurting my team or helping my team. That right there is hurting his team. And you have to understand. Hopefully he understands that. So I think the NFL did the right thing. I hate it for the Steelers. But moving forward, man, watching that game, it felt like the Steelers got their identity back,

especially on the ground. Jalen Warren had those two 45-yard touchdowns, he ran for, rushed for 143 yards. And it felt like they were finally in sync with Aaron Rogers. I think that was the biggest thing with Aaron Rogers in his office. It felt like he was always two steps ahead of where the offense needed to be. And now it seemed like everybody's caught up to him, and they're playing better, and they're looking better. And defensively, man, without T.J. Watt, and you're able to kind of suppress Jared Gough the best you can at home on the road, I mean, on the road against the Lions, you know, you have to feel good with the win. So I'm happy.

It feels like a validation in nine and six. Now you've got to go finish it. Yeah, the fans at stadiums can be brutal, and especially if it's quiet and sometimes those pre-game warmups. It's nasty. I've had all types of things said to me. Yeah, I have too, but it's part of the business. It just happens. It doesn't make it right necessarily, but you've got to be able to control that side.

I'd say where the Steelers should be happy, especially considering this, is the emergence of Marcus Veld as Scantling. So he's come on a little bit. And then Adam Thielen, he had three catches this last game. Scotty Miller, he had three catch. These are three guys that weren't really part of the offense even a month ago, but now all three these guys contributed this last game. And I think they're going to continue to be able to contribute and pick up some of the slack of losing DK. In terms of the overall feeling, they've got to feel great.

They go in and they beat a team that's just as desperate as they are. So it's essentially a playoff game. They do it on the road. They do it in a convincing style. They're running the ball really effectively, not just in this game, but collectively, they've gotten better and better throughout the course of the season. And then the Ravens lose. It's a great day in Pittsburgh Nation outside of the suspension with the asterisk of these three other guys are picking up some slack.

This is, the thing is, like, the D.K. thing, I'd actually feel lucky. I mean, it's only two games. He could have been, they could have said, you're suspended for the season. Wild card round, divisional round. Well, he's going to have to deal with most. Like, this fan could sue one. That can be, and they can press charges on it. Sure.

All of that's still on the table. But I'm saying that's a D.K. Metcalf problem. Like, for the, how should a Steelers fan feel? You should be able to beat Cleveland without D.K. Metcalf. And if you do that, you're going to the playoffs. And then when you get to the playoffs, you're going to get D.K. Metcalf back. So, like, for the steel, like, obviously you can't do what D.K. Metcalf did. But from where I'm sitting, that punishment actually could have been harsher for him.

Sure. And if they beat the bronze, they probably would rest D.K. McCaffee. Anyway, exactly. But the big picture part of it, I have to be honest, I can't really relate to Steelers fans because I cannot relate to being bored and upset with just being good. Because, like, this locks in another winning season, right? Mike Tomlin will not have a losing record, everyone's favorite thing. But they will go into the playoffs, having won a bad division, almost assuredly, hosting a playoff game,

and they will play the chargers or the bills in round one, and I will pick them to lose that game. You know, which would be then they still haven't won a playoff game since 2016, extend the record. So it sounds like you're saying this is a Steelers' worst nightmare. Well, it's just kind of, it's where they've been. It's where, how many times have we seen the Steelers won nine, ten, or eleven games, made it to the playoffs and lost in the first round. Here's something that's encouraging. And as an older team about mid-season, that really wears on you. And typically there's a drop-off.

But as you get close to the playoffs, when you've got a bunch of talented older guys like they do, they see light at the end of the tunnel. And they can play up. Yeah, they can play up to their skill. level again for that brief amount of time and suddenly a team that looks pretty average or has been looking average now doesn't look so average get dangerous and they're good they're really good in giveaway takeaway they're really good in sacks they're improving in running game they're broadening the range of receivers and there's light at the end of the tunnel with guys that have won a lot of games historically I wouldn't totally just slot them in for for you know one and well I also said think how the start of the season how we viewed the Pittsburgh still especially the back five of this season. We thought they were going to be done, right? They was like they got, you know, if back five could be brutal, the stillers could

be wiped off the planet. They've answered the bell every week and got strong and gotten better to Coach's point, and they're doing it without TJ Watt. And now you're looking at this team come together and they're believing, but they're rallying behind Mike Tom and all the stuff that came with him. Aaron Rogers doesn't seem as frustrated. He seems like he's in sync with the offense. And the defense now responding to the level where they're able to stand up in a situation or moments. So I'm with coach. You can, you can say what you want, but now they're starting to arrive. And so you should be aware if your other teams in the AFC.

All right. So I know you're a Steeler. I understand that. Would you pick them to win against Buffalo in the 4 or 5? You would. Okay. Would you? I would not.

I'm not sure if I would or not. But I wouldn't. I don't think I have the conviction that you have that it's just a, you know. He's talking like we just going to get mopped up and down the field. It's kind of a buy for Buffalo if they get the Steelers. I don't think it's that. Okay. I mean, and then the other possibility would be the Chargers.

That's what it would be actually right now. The Chargers have a tougher schedule down the stretch than Buffalo. Chargers beat them 25 to 10 back in early November. So I just, that was an impressive win. And Jalen Warren looked really good. And Rogers has looked better recently. So I understand reason for some optimism.

I just, until I see otherwise, it feels like I'm just going to see deja vu and the same thing with the steel. Make the playoffs and then lose in the first round. Let's go to the other team, though. Talk about it when we get there. All right, we will. Lions fall short,

potential game winning touchdown was nullified due to an offensive pass interference and it was he pushed off they're now eight and seven not quite mathematically eliminated yet but obviously hopes are looking grim they need a lot of help here's dan campbell after the loss we fought our way back in that and had an opportunity to win the game which is ultimately what you want but we weren't able to close it out and you know at the end of the day we that's that's on us I mean we did that you know we We're the ones who put ourselves in that position and where we had to try to score on the last play. But some of the efforts were outstanding, and it was just too little too late. All right, Coach, what went wrong for the Lions? Well, there's been a lot of things that have gone wrong for the Lions during the course of the season.

They've been very inconsistent. Win a game, lose a game, win a game, lose a game. This is the first time they've lost back-to-back games. And what, two and a half years, I think it is? So there's that. But the main reason is they were so often. off-brand. Steelers had 230 yards rushing. They had 15. That is so inconsistent with how, with how Detroit's not only one, but dominated games and, and their personality. I don't,

I don't know what the line would have been for, for a, like a gap in rushing like that, but. For the Steelers to outrush the lion by over 150 yards? It's unfathomable going into the game. thinking that. And I had to check the line like two or three times because I couldn't believe it was so lopsided. And even late in the game, instead of they had a timeout, they could have run the ball at least one of those times.

Instead of doing that, they decided just to abandon what really is what's made them so good for so long. Yeah, this was a playoff getting for the lines and they failed at it. And I'm glad Dan Campbell was honest about the overall game at the end of his presser. He was like, listen,

we're going to point the, If we're going to point a finger, let's start with the thumb. Inconsistencies, bad run fits all night. They didn't tackle well. Jack Campbell was probably their brightest star on defense. And when you talk about playing with a level of desperation they needed to start with, that didn't happen to the fourth quarter. So when you talk about off-brand and not being on time and looking at a team that doesn't look like themselves,

that's who the Lions are right now. And so you have to be flushered because, you know, golf was out there. Amman St. Brown was out there. Gibbs was out there. Montgomery was at the every time they needed to win this game was out there, and they just couldn't get it done. And so you have to feel disappointed if you're a Lions fan. Yeah, and just like I said, I feel like I'm watching a rerun of the same movie with the Steelers.

I think it's the same thing with the Lions, but just the other side of the ball. Like the Lions last year, they were my pick to go to the Super Bowl. They were my pick to go to the Super Bowl this year. But their defense just got decimated by injuries. And eventually it got to be too much, right? Beginning of the season, it's pretty good. In some category is great. At the end, it was like they got 15 guys on IR all on defense.

It's like, well, okay, you can't win. You score 31 in a playoff. game and you get blown out. Their defense was decimated. Now if you go to this year, Arnold, Joseph, they've got a bunch of injuries, especially in their back seven, and the same thing is happening. And I just, they spend more money on the offensive side of the ball than defense. I know they have to be carried by their offense. So coach, to your point, the running game being abandoned, like they're not going to win games in that spot. But you have to do something. You guys always tell me it's complimentary football. I don't think the lions have enough on that side of

the ball. Well, yeah, and if you're having consistent problems with injuries year in and year out, then you're going to have to take some time to try to look organizationally if there's some things we can do differently. Now, now if there's soft tissue injuries, that, you know, that could be training related. If it's just sort of a two-year stretch of fluke injuries, maybe not so much, but we can't every year say the same thing about the same team and just sort of raise our hands like, hey, that's just the way it is, that there's got to be some sort of root cause for this. Yeah, I think now you're changing the brand of philosophy. I don't know if old man Campbell wants to do that at all.

I don't think he does. How legit are the Jaguars as aFC contenders we discuss? All right, let's play he said we said. The best sound from a wild weekend of football, really start to finish, an incredible slate of games, giving you the best analysis off of that sound. First up, Jags head coach Liam Cohen, well, he had something to say. about Sean Payton's comments leading into the game. Take a listen. As you look at him and you watch the tape, it's a smaller market, but you see a real good team.

Great team effort. Just thankful that, you know, a small market team like us can come into a place like mile high and get it done. I mean, listen, I'm a huge Liam Cohen guy now because he went at Robert Sala for the signs stealing thing. He barked back at him in person. Then he takes a shot. He doesn't, I don't care about your accolades or your rings or you're going to take a shot at me. And by the way, like note to Sean Payton, market size doesn't really matter. This isn't baseball. Yeah, I was trying to figure that out too. What is the market? There's a salary cap. Like everybody has a same amount of money. It's a revenue sharing is equal. Very odd. It's like he's still in the media. Like, it's a small market. It was kind of like a backhand comment with somebody

says like, oh, you have that little business. Yeah. You got that little store. Oh, That's nice. I got a little business going. But also, the Jaguars are playing the nobody believed in this card very well. Like their social media team is putting out all of the talking heads who are making comments about him. Kevin Wilds is apparently the face of that. And Wilds is devastated because he's not made to play the villain. Like Nick and I can handle being the villain.

Oh, he doesn't do well. Brew and Wilds are like the nice guy. So Wilde's like destroyed. He's like, Duval Nation's mad at me. Wait, do they have trouble getting people that didn't believe in him? Well, if you say the first person of him. The first person on the clip is wilds. And so I just find it funny and I love that William Cohen is steering into it.

Wilde's enemy number one in Duvall. Yeah, it's tough. This was a big win for the organization. And I'm trying to, you may you can help me with this, DP. Is this, do you think this is the biggest win in Trevor Lawrence's career? Because it felt like, he's won a playoff game. But to go into mile high, on the road, they break their 11 game, winning street. He plays great.

The defense stood up in a situational moments. And I thought, if this is a true, Trevor Lawrence were going to get come to, come January. A lot of teams better. They better come with their lunch pail because it's going to be a long day for them. Yeah. The company is one of the people that didn't believe in them. And I didn't believe in them in Denver against that defense with that streak.

And throughout the course of the game, I kept thinking, when is Jacksonville going to revert back to being Jacksonville? When is Trevor Lawrence going to do the Trevor Lawrence type things? He didn't. They didn't. That's a huge, huge win for them. They went four for five in the bird zone. That's efficient, baby. Liam got a career year out of Baker Mayfield.

now he's got a career year out of Trevor Lawrence, sign of a great coach. Grown and a half man, I told you, do you? Jackson. Okay. Next up, Josh Allen and the Bills. They pulled out that win, closer than they'd like, over the Browns. We feel like we're in playoff mode down. It's just find a way to win a football game. It wasn't, obviously wasn't the prettiest way we can win. Got some stuff to clean up, but we'll take a victory. They get paid too on that side to make adjustments and make plays.

And, you know, I feel like, starting with me, just didn't make enough plays especially that second half, taking the boneheaded sack. They're right before half, not giving us a chance to double dip. So a lot of stuff to clean up, a lot to learn from, but we'll take it. Felt to me like they were playing with their food a little bit. Like just sleeping on Cleveland, not taking them too seriously. They're not really being, they're not going to get the one seed. The Patriots are out in front of them.

Like they're pretty comfortably locked into where they're going to be, but they're in the playoffs. It just felt to me like they didn't take the Browns terribly seriously. I would not overreact to the style points for the bills in this spot. Yeah, this is a very predictable result in a lot of ways because they had the emotional game against New England. And then next week, they had Philly. So in between, they've got Cleveland. And I'm sure they're thinking, we're going to go in there.

We'll roll the ball out there. Cleveland will make a little bit of a game early. But Ceduro throws a couple picks. We'll run away with this thing. And it stayed closer a lot longer than they were comfortable with. or I'm sure they wanted it to be. Yeah, the game was clunky, but they also had to feel good. You know, Josh Allen didn't have his A-plus game, and they got out the building with a W.

And I think the fact that James Cook really kind of led the way, and I've said it time after time at the desk, when the ball goes through him, they have a high success rate, and they were able to do that. He ran for 117 yards. But I also think the bills right now have to be careful because at this point, your habits are who make you, right? So if you don't win a dominant fast, you don't show up and be who you need to be, and you do go against a team who can really knuckle up against you, you can find yourself in trouble. So they have to play better. And we're going to just say it 100 times between now and the playoffs.

The AFC is wide open. Yes. Anybody can get got in any spot so you don't want to play down to your opponents. You would assume that's not going to happen in the postseason. But we've seen Buffalo's best. This was very far. It was very far from their best. But you play like that in a playoff spot, they can lose to anybody.

I feel like the AFC and the NFC are wide open. To me, this season is so different than most seasons I can remember where multiple amount of teams could win the Super Bowl. And it's hard to say this team is definitively the favorite. I felt that way about the Rams and it's Seahawks beat. And then the Eagles will be in the playoffs, but they're the champs, but they don't look as good as they do yet. So Buffalo is just everyone's going to pick them because of Josh Allen,

but that performance was not very good. All right. Let's get to my guy, Caleb Williams. I mean, listen, we saw the throw. We should probably hear what Caleb had to say after making the throw. Let's take a listen. Yeah, I knew it was good. You got that belief, you got that confidence, you got that swagger as offense.

You practice well. You hit plays like that in practice. I mean, it was pretty identical to practice. And, you know, when the play gets called, you know, the moment, you know, the moment comes up like that. It's time to go hit it. Time to go into game. So maybe you guys who have coached and played the game would say that this is just such an obvious. observation. But Ben Johnson said many times in the preseason and early in the year,

we're going to be playing our best ball at the end of the year. I feel like people like me sometimes talk about like the leap that a player makes from year one to year two or the second year in a system. It is very obvious that Caleb Williams is getting better over the course of the year. And I know it still isn't consistent throughout games and these throws are incredible late and he's clutching. We can talk about all of it. And it was one of my favorite moments as a Bears fan in my entire life. Honestly, like, legitimately top five. But I do

think they are dangerous because he is clearly getting better as the season goes on. And I think that's a thing, though, coach, you're smirking at me. Like, you don't agree. Look, I struggle with it. It was a great win. Okay. Thank you. But we're talking about a team that was two for 11 on third down. Yeah. They had 10 penalties.

Terrible. 26 minutes time of possession. They had a 1% chance to win the game. And recovering, recovering that onside kick was fluke. And look, you have to make these plays at the end of the game. But he didn't play a very good game for the majority of this game with no Jordan Love, with no Micah Parsons, and to come out and be like, yeah, you know, that's how we drew it up.

And I like confidence, but there should also be some realism in this victory, too. Listen, I get all that. But this team feels like they're destined in a weird way. And I hate to say that because I love poking fun at Danny. but when you, everything you mentioned, especially without, you know, they didn't have Luther Burden, they didn't have a dunce, they were still stagnant running the ball, defense, you know, they were able to stand up in sudden death. But overall, they got out the building and they pretty much ignited the rivalry.

And so you're talking about all the momentum they've gained out of this win. You have to feel good as a Bears fan. It doesn't, they've been in the dumps long enough, and you finally have a great quarterback who's growing as he goes, you have an explosive number one receiver. You have a defense that's playing ahead of their skis. They just feel like this is like Disney really. wrote this for them. It feels like we may see them at the show. Yeah, I was, this may not have a happy end.

Okay, listen, it's been a happy season. There's six and four when trailing in the final two minutes of these games. It doesn't make any sense. I was standing on my couch for minutes after that game. And my wife said, can you get off the furniture? I'm like, I don't think I can. It was one of those shocking things I'd ever seen in my entire life. It's unbelievable. Thank you. Thank you. I'll accept. And it still is up. You know what I wanted for Christmas? to do two shows on the 20th.

Yeah! Come on, boys! 10 to noon, this trio? Gotta love it more of it. It keeps on giving. It's unbelievable. Your gifts, we've got three games to react to an unbelievable slate to preview, and then we'll still be here from 5 to 6.

Gotta keep it light on an egg now, it's gonna be a long day. Call it working a double on the 26th. All right, let's get to, you know, Nick was like, I don't want to do this in the A block. Allegiant. Maybe I told a little why there. little why there. Justin Herbert.

Your guy, balled out. And here's the thing. Nobody likes the guy who says, I told you so, which is why we should probably stop putting Justin Herbert topics into the show. Because I told you also on Justin Herbert. He was spectacular against Dallas. And I want to show you guys this,

because the league average for being pressured for a quarterback is 34%. Okay. Justin Herbert was pressured against a bad defense, still pressured 39% of his traffic. So above league average, but well below average for him. If you just give Justin Herbert that, he is the MVP of the league. Now, against Houston or Denver, their offensive line is not capable of that.

You're going to see him get pressured over 50% of the time. But to me, it is just very clear that he is one of the three best quarterbacks in the league. If you just give him average pressure, and I thought he proved that yet again against the Cowboys. Yeah, so when Burrow went down, I got to repick my MVP. And as you know, Justin Herbert was my MVP pick. So there are two guys of the guests. Great football minds. Although, although I don't think I love them nearly as much as you do.

I do obviously respect his toughness to play with the broken hand or the, he's got a broken non-throwing hand. That to me goes a long way in the locker room. And then they put up the numbers like he's put up. That's been fantastic as well. Yeah, I sat here and I didn't, I was expecting a letdown. game out of the charges, especially Herbic. This is how Dak plays at home, has his team plays at home.

I just thought Dallas is going to have their edge. That didn't have it. He looked surgical. He was efficient. He looked decisive. He looked like how you need to look like a quarterback that's ready to take a deep run in coming January. And I was impressed.

Like he continues to impress me. We know he's a tough quarterback, but he was slicing and dicing. Like, it was just like, all right, we, Godzilla has walked on onto the field and the Cowboys had nothing for him. And people were mistaken. They're like, Danny, your charger. I'm like, listen, I'm a Herbert guy. I firmly believe the Chargers have let him down throughout his career at this point.

And I just, some of it is bad luck, some of it is organizational stuff, but he is that dude. And I hope he makes a run this year because he's playing at the peak of his powers, but also next year. When his offensive line gets healthy, all my picks will be validated, coach. Our guy. Our guy. Maybe Caleb v. Herbert in the Super Bowl. A boy can dream. You would explode.