First Things First - LeBron James debuts in Year 23, Chiefs & Mahomes under pressure, Kyle Van Noy joins, Nick’s Tiers

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

(0:00) Lakers beat Jazz in LeBron James’ debut in Year 23, How much pressure is on Mahomes? (27:35) Kyle Van Noy joins the show (40:02) Has Drake Maye replaced Joe Burrow on the AFC QB Mount Rushmore? (48:15) Nick’s Tiers (01:11:13) Must-Win: Chiefs vs. Colts, Eagles vs. Cowboys,  Steelers vs. Bears (01:23:02) Joe Burrow a full participant in Bengals practice (01:28:45) Packed Stats, Biggest LeBron James takeaways (01:51:53) Bills expectations vs. Texans, Can Mahomes bounce back vs. Colts?  (02:03:35) How dangerous are the Rams? (02:10:03) Should Bears fans want Aaron Rodgers to play? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from New York, it's a show that has to apologize right off the bat. Yeah. We are sorry as a group, but mostly your fault. This is why this is a good reminder of why it's important to have a committee. Tears has a committee. No, Tears has a committee. Mahomes Mountain is a solo enterprise. And as you guys can tell, I've been a little on tilt this week.

We made an error. We forgot to include a starting quarterback. He happened to be the number one pick of the draft. Cam Ward was nowhere. Imagine being a Titans fan and seeing, oh, Cam's not off the mountain. Then they see row seven. They're like, oh, he's not a row seven.

Damn, right. And they're like, oh, I thought that one drive was pretty good, but not this goes. All the way to the top. Like, oh my God. It's going to be staggered. And then it's just he's not there. I am, I sincerely apologize.

It's embarrassing. Now, is that. Now, where was he supposed? supposed to be? Off the mountain, but still. But still, you should have at least got his headshot on. We apologize. We got to talk more Cam Ward. We just did. We led the show. I love Cam Ward. Oh, yeah, you picked him to go to the playoffs. You know what? With an asterisk. Okay. Let's start the show. I actually pick Denver to go. No, start. You didn't. Yes, I did. You didn't. Yes, I did. You didn't. I went back and looked at it. I said, I think I'm the best predictor. Thank you. I picked Denver.

Today, LeBron's back. Lakers win. What does the return of the king mean for the Lakers and the entire league. Meanwhile, fresh off another win for the Ravens. Patriots great in front of the show. Kyle Van Nuoy is back as Brew again tries to convince him that his take on the Ravens is better than Kyle's take. Ravens he plays for the Ravens and finally he's got to understand. The committee met deep into the night.

Where will the Chiefs fall in this week's edition of tears? Plus, some news. We have must win coming up. Nick has won two must wins in a row on the verge of the unprecedented three-peat. Correct. Rare three-pete. No, unprecedented. It's like what the chiefs were going on for last year.

It's never happened. So this episode of must win for you is a must win. Wow. What about great? I've won plenty of must wins. I haven't won three in a row, but I've been. The segment that you shine. Several back to backs.

I don't think that's true. My championships, though, were just more memorable. That's true. You know what I mean? I mean, mine, you remember. It was like LeBron with the block. That's right. I mean, there's those kind of Jordan shot against you.

This is minor kind of like the 2019 wrappers. Yeah. How did that happen? It's a great take. We start with the King's Court. LeBron's debut marked the start of his 23rd. season. Played 29 minutes at 11 points, 12 assists. Lakers scored 140. Most of this year, here's LeBron after the game. It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. Like I said,

it's been rough. Like mentally for me, like it's the first time I started a basketball season and not played since I've started playing basketball at like nine years old. I've never missed the beginning of a basketball season. And so, you know, just going through, you know, going through that, you know, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and everything, just texting me and just keeping my head down, you know, with the work and then keeping my head up with faith. You know, it's gotten me to this point today. And just great, a lot of joy, a lot of pricing me smiling and talking a lot on the court today. Just being out with those guys just so far.

How impressed were you by LeBron's debut? Well, first of all, if I may just respond to something he said, because there was a lot of chatter about LeBron's disposition during the first game. of the year about him not clay him sitting there and I thought it was I thought that chatter was ridiculous but I did think his disposition was odd and then you saw really shortly thereafter his disposition changed and I think he gave us a little window into what that was about which was he was bummed and we talked about at the time that he'd never missed a Christmas day game never missed a playoff game never missed opening night he's sitting there like damn I don't know

how many of these I have left and I'm missing this one um However impressed I was, well, I mean, throw up, we can show you the records. And I think these will hold in perpetuity. That's all time ranks for a year 23. All time leader in year 23 minutes, points, rebounds, assistant steals. Not in the game for a season. Already done. And by the way, it goes in line.

One steal. Right, one steal. It's year 22 ranks, by the way, he's first in everything. And year 21 ranks he's first in everything. So he's just. In Vince the only other player to play 22 years? 22, yeah. Yeah, so again, it's a small, and nobody's ever played 23.

But in all seriousness, to me, there is an odd statistical story to his game yesterday and his season, what it could be. Because, listen, I think what LeBron cares about more than anything is winning. But I also do think he has historically cared about his numbers, the way every great player cross-NBA history has, and certainly cared about. his accolades and awards and, you know, stacking those things. Because he,

there is nothing less to, left to accomplish in the counting stats stuff. You know, he passed Kareem. He's not going to get to Stockton and assist like he is where he is in counting stats. And because he is

essentially already ineligible for any end of season awards, all NBA, MVP, votes, considerations. I think he is far more likely to be really at peace playing that style. That's the fewest shots he has ever taken in a game he did not lead with an injury. Last night, in 23 years, that is the fewest shots he's ever taken in a game.

Right, and it's not like he played 15 minutes. Now, I do think he will try to make sure he keeps that double-digit scoring streak alive. And he ain't going to average 11. Right, no. No, and I don't think he's going to. But you understand what I mean? Like, I think that there is whatever kind of devil on your shoulder of, man, like I still can be first team all.

Let me show these guys what I can do. Might be quieted by the fact he could average 40 a game and not be first team all NBA because he's not going to hit the minimum game threshold, which allows him brew to be as good of a connector IQ Swiss Army knife as we have in the league in year 23 or not. So that to me was my takeaway from a very past first. Hey, I'll hang out in the corner, do what you need me to do, joyful LeBron last night.

Yeah, that's interesting. I think that makes a lot of sense. First thing is year 23. Nobody's ever played 23 years. When you think about guys like loving the game, Like Jordan and Kobe are who comes to mind for most people of recent, you know, basketball viewing. Magic and Bird maybe a little while ago. But that's part of like Jordan and Kobe's whole legend.

Oh, they wanted it so badly. They loved it. People don't think of LeBron as that type having this insatiable, you know, thirst to win and compete and play the game and all that. But to play 23 years, particularly at this level, to do all you have to do in the off season, during the season, to get ready to play 23 years. And when you've accomplished all that he has for championships, you know, 40,000 points only player to do that, like all the individual things he's done to still have the hunger, you can't say anybody loved the game more than LeBron. You really can't. Now, again, people would think Kobe, Jordan. You can't say it.

To play for 23 years, it was like Joe Flacco. I heard Dominique Foxwork on ESPN say, I want to love something as much as Joe Flacco loves football, or I don't love anything as much, you know, something like that. And so you have to, like, LeBron has to be included in those guys that just love the game. And I don't think people have thought of him that way. Love of the game power rankings.

I'm like going through I'm like, ooh Not right, but I mean I am I wrong? No I can't To your point on 23 years I think he now

has played more I think he is now at the same number of years played as Bird and Magic combined Well I think Byr play 13 Magic I think played 12

Oh I was leaving Okay so he's one shot I'm not counting magic's The magic's comeback Yeah that was on this few games And so, but like that's, I mean, that's, Jordan played 12 full seasons with Chicago. Right. Well, you know, and so like that's what, but go ahead.

Um, as far as last night, what struck me the most was the joy he was playing with. I haven't seen LeBron on the court like that with that much joy. Like I've seen him in the locker room at practice joking with players, things like that, looking like that. But on the court, it feels like, let's, we got to be honest. Throughout LeBron's career, there's been this narrative. Some of it he created, some of it others have created, just that because he has to win championships, he has to top Jordan, just championships overall, whatever it be,

there was almost a feeling there's this burden on him. And that kind of sometimes spilled over into the team. You know, you heard KD say, you know, people, it's not fun playing with LeBron. the pressure of playing with LeBron. A lot of that was because he has, there was so much pressure on him. He put on himself and others put on him to be Jordan and reach Jordan and top Jordan and all that.

And last night, some of maybe what you said, but he had this joy. He just looked like he was happy to be out there. He looked, it was like Magic Johnson, the joy he played with, smiling all the time. And on top of that, he played a lot like Magic Johnson. He had six.

six of his 12 assists came in a three and a half minute stretch. Actually a little three minutes, 15 seconds. He has six assists with Luke on the bench. So one it shows you for the Lakers, when Luca's out, LeBron can cook and keep them, you know, in the lead or the score the same. But also to your point, Nick, this, if he averaged 18, nine and nine, or something. That might be just what the doctor ordered.

Now, again, I don't think they're OKC or Denver necessarily, but because he still can probably get you 20 something a night if he wants, if he plays like he did last night, obviously he's going to score more than that. That's infectious. You saw it last night. They were overpassing. The ball was moving. That was, LeBron set that tone by passing himself.

And during throughout the season, if he has that aspect, I think that will spill over to everybody and be contagious. It'll be a lot of ball movement. Look, if LeBron, he's clearly their second best player. But I don't know that he necessarily needs to be the second leading score. If it's Austin Reeves averaging 24 and LeBron that 1899 or something, that might be good for him. I don't know that that will happen. I totally agree that that would be great because LeBron can just help the team out in so many ways other than scoring.

in ways that Austin can't right now. Go ahead, Katie. Lakers ranked last and passes per game. I didn't know that until. Last night, it looked like that ball was. And they looked great. How much of this do you think was the jazz, where it's like, all right, a lot of joy playing against the,

a lot of teams of joy playing against the jazz. I mean, some certainly, and I agree with, listen, right now it feels to me like the whole league is kind of at OKC's mercy. You know, like that they are the, they're going to have some bad luck or something weird, and so it feels hard for me to talk about any team other than maybe Denver because of Joker as a contender with them existing.

But Luca playing at the level that he is and then seeing what version of LeBron we get makes them intriguing. And I listen, I get people can think I go over the top at times and this is my favorite athlete in the history of sports. I do sports for a living. But there's just so many things And when you're talking about how much he loved the game,

what I was thinking about is how certainly no one has given the game more, just literally, from like a minute and, like, amount of time spent, you know, working for the NBA. And there are things that I'm just still, that just pass under the radar that I find remarkable. Like last night, LeBron James, who when he came into the league, the biggest knock and fairest knock on him was amazing at X, Y, and Z,

not a really good shooter. And in fact, Darren was shoot. Last night, he passed Reggie Miller in threes for his career. Like that, and I understand he's played longer. I'm not saying he's a better shooter than Reggie Miller. It's not my point. But, like, it was a huge deal a few years ago when Steph Curry was going to pass Reggie Miller. Reggie was at the, like, because it's like, man, that's the greatest three-point shooter ever in Reggie.

And Steph, who's the greatest of all time, is passing him. LeBron is in year 23. and instantly comes on the court and it's like, oh yeah, he's still, like you said. So he's not as good as Luca. He's the second best player on the team. He has the ability to dictate the pace and tempo and everything of the game.

And he said, and people didn't like it, Drew, but he said a couple years ago something about, I don't remember what question he was asked, but his answer was, everything is extra credit at this point. Do you remember that? And he was like, no, he goes, at this point, it's all extra credit. And people can disagree with that.

But he's gotten to play with his son. He passed Kareem's record. He's won a title with every franchise he's been with. If he has the freedom of, and he finally now doesn't have the pressure of, man, I have to be the best player on this team. You know what I mean? Like for us to win, I have to be the reason. If that allows him to play with a freedom and to your point of joy we haven't seen before,

I'm excited to see what it looks like. All right, turn our attention to the Chief's huge game for Kansas City. sits at 5 in 5, hosts the Colts who have the best offense in the league. They're averaging 32 points a game. Mahomes leads the ninth best scoring offense. Brut, how much pressure is Mahomes under to keep up with the Colts? Oh, I think it's the most pressure he's ever faced in a regular season game in his career.

I think their worst record, Nick, was back in 2021. They were three and four. They were three and four, and then that was they escaped against the Giants. and then they had the passer around the world against the Packers, but they didn't play well in those games, but they won them and they went on a run. But three and four is still so early in the season.

It's different than five and five. Yeah, like, so this is the most pressure he's faced because it's the first time they actually, it's a real, real threat that they could miss the players. Correct. But beyond that, and he's having certainly a better year than the last two, but it's not your vintage type of Patrick.

My Home season. I think I have a graphic where shows where his ranks. Okay, so pass the rating, I mean, right in the middle, completion percentage, which, you know, not a huge deal, but still, yards per pass, 12th. The passing yards

are a lot, but that's about it. Touchdown the interception ratio is right in the middle. Can I show you a counter graphic to see how you square it? Yeah. And I'll let you keep going. So here's passing yards he's second. Total yards. first. Total touchdowns he's

third. Touchdown to turn over. He's fifth. So he has not been wildly efficient. You know what I mean? Which is the completion percentage and the passer rating. Also, he doesn't get credit in his passer rating for the rushing touchdowns, which is, you know, helping

here. But obviously, they are you know, whether, they're not push touchdowns. I know those count the same, but they are, you know. His have been. They felt like they've had some heft to them. So I agree. It doesn't It doesn't feel to me like he's having a vintage Mahomes season, but I do feel like...

He's not having a bad year, but he's not having a best quarterback in the league year. I agree with that. And you know, I'm not belittling total yards. But, you know, Daniel Jones, I think, leads the league in yards, passing yards. So a lot of times passing yards can be deceiving, you know, because if your team is down or you're just a team that throws a lot, that's why, like you said, I like yards per attempt a lot because that really shows something different. But my point is this, if they miss the playoffs and certainly if it's Josh or Lamar finally gets

to a Super Bowl, I think going in the next season, a lot of people will be saying, people have already alluded here and there to it, but that he is not the best quarterback in the league anymore. Now, I still, I mean, with his pedigree, I don't know that I would go there, but I think a lot of people will be like, he's not the best quarterback in the league anymore. They didn't even make the playoffs and Josh Allen won the Super Bowl or whatever. Can I say

something about that? I think that would be fair. Now, I think it is outrageous how many people right now say Josh Allen's better than Patrick. I think in this moment right

here today, it's an outrageous opinion because it's the same people that were saying it last year, and then again, and I know some people hate this, they played each other, and once again, Patrick outplayed him in the biggest spot. But if the Chiefs missed the playoffs and if the bills make the Super Bowl, that to me is fair if you're like, hey, there's different conversations about ranking quarterbacks historically and who is the best right now. And so, like, nobody is going, nobody in their right

mind is going to argue that any active quarterback after this season, except for I guess maybe Aaron Rogers, if they were to go on a running when Super Bowl passes Mahomes in the historical hierarchy. But if they, to your point, if one of those guys who's won MVP's, you know, wins a Super Bowl and Patrick's team misses the playoffs, then I think that is fair. Like, I would think, I would disagree with it. I think he's the most talented player in the history of the league. but that to me is fair.

And one of the reasons I think Mahom's stats are maybe more impressive than you, because you mentioned Daniel Jones in the yards where he's with him. Patrick's, the Chief's offense for good or for bad is Patrick. He is their best rusher. He, you know what I mean? He is, Daniel Jones, to your point, has the opposite of that, and Jonathan Taylor. And I do think he's had back-to-back bad games.

There's no denying it. the Chiefs, he hasn't made a lot of mistakes this year, but the mistakes he's made have been costly, which is unlike last year where I think, right, where he made maybe more mistakes, but none of them cost them. And so the Waters found its level there. But I, the only comp I would have for this weekend's game is a game that we have kind of forgotten, which is the year that the offense. seemed truly broken

with all the drops. And they got blown out. They lost on Christmas to the Raiders. They walked into week 17 knowing that week if they lose and Denver wins were not leading the division anymore and there's one week left.

And so there was and they were playing the Bengals with Jake Browning actually. And that was, if you guys remember that game, that was the game. They kicked six field goals. The offense still didn't look really good but they escaped with a win,

locked up the division and then went on to win the Super Bowl. So they have had a few precarious spots. You're saying that's the only one that's close. That's the only one that's close. But not equal to this. No, I think this is the biggest regular season game of his career. Can I show you a headline from The Athletic? It took me by surprise as we've tried to unpack the why the chiefs are mediocre

since a lot of the numbers are better. The 2025 chiefs are trending to be one of the most unclutch. NFL teams ever and the true media stats are the scores within eight points either way final five minutes no kneel downs this is from Jesse Newell the chiefs offense had 11 snaps in the close and late scenario detailed above on those plays mahomes is two for 10 passing for 29 yards in a sack yeah so those used to be the oh oh you gave mahomes too much time and he hasn't been he's been less than the homes no it's been bad and by though and that on top of that the stat that Scott Casimir had that I used yesterday, the defense in the opposite of those situations. Close, late, have a team in third and 10 plus. Didn't give up a single one of those last year,

and they've given up four already this year. So what do we think the Y is? Certainly Mahomes is clutch. It's not like he lost his clutches. I think it's a, you know, you just, what did you say? It's 11 plays? Yeah, 11 steps. Yeah, you know what I mean?

It is, it's as simple as. the third and two with the game tied against Denver. Burchard Smith, their seventh round rookie, who I like, is open in the flat. He keeps going up field. You know what I mean? It's just

and the past, Mahomes thinks he's going to flatten out. And it's like, okay, that one little, you know, that one little bit. And that I want to make this, I will keep saying this. I don't think that is unlucky. I think because I was on here last year saying

this team isn't lucky they know how to win. This year they're not doing those small things. Joanne Taylor's illegal formation that two plays later instead of having

first and goal from the two, it's a pick for Denver. Like those, the margins have been that thin and what I think the other thing that's hurt them in the clutch categories, the games

when everything's rolling, there's no clutch moments because their wins are all blowouts. So, you know, when the offense is really, humming, they haven't had the opportunity to help their clutch stats. When we do that point differential thing, like, well, they lost three more games. But it helps your point differential staff.

I think we're going to go to break. Let me talk to Dusty. No, we're going to do Eagles Cowboys. You're in for some bonus first things first here. Eagles three point favorites in Dallas. Dusty again, asking me to dust off my one team is scoring. The other team is boring mantra. I'm not sure I'm going to do it.

The numbers might warrant it. Cowboys average second most points. Eagles are at 16th. Total yards, 25th to 3rd. Opponents points 31st to 8th, so the defense is good. The Eagles being 25th in yards is stunning. That's stunning. Yeah.

It's not stunning having watched the games. It would have been stunning going into the year. Yes. For watching the games like 25th, I could see 27. Stunny news. the Eagles are vulnerable to a Cowboys upset. Absolutely. Not because the Cowboys have arrived.

Oh, the defense is back. But? No. Not because they're better than Philadelphia. Just because this is an NFC East game in Dallas. And look at Dak Prescott's numbers against the division and the Eagles at home. Career numbers. This is an old my graphic.

And two. Yes. Six and one against the Eagles. And beyond that, I mean, the Eagles have won four straight. They have been struggling. They're going to lose two, three, one, two, maybe three more games this year. You know? And so I don't think if Dallas beats them, which I think is very possible, I'm not, I don't think a lot of people will think, oh, my gosh, the Cowboys have arrived.

the Eagles are in trouble. I won't think that. I think it's the NFL. Yeah, I think it's the NFL. Because I just saw these Eagles lose to the Giants a month ago. So it happens, and I think it's very possible. It would continue to give the Cowboys life and hope. And for the Eagles, maybe it would be crazy because of their situation with A.J. Brown.

But this is the NFL, any given son. So, listen, I think that the Cowboys all. a year, I have felt that they can beat anybody. When the offense that good, you can beat anybody. You can also lose to anybody with a defense that bad. Now, the defense appears a little bit better. Here is, so I agree with you. Three points line is, you know, not a significant line.

So I agree with your take. Here is where it would be more meaningful to me, Brew, potentially. This Eagles offense has looked, let's call it, unsteady and herky jerk. all year. Fair. I do think it is on the board that it looks even worse without Lane Johnson. And that would concern me greatly. That if they were a team that was already leaking oil offensively and dealing with some

discontent because of it, if now they're like, man, we can't even, we don't even want to call a lot of dropback passes because we don't want Jalen to get lit up. Like those, that element of could this Eagles offense have one of its worst performances when we've seen some bad ones? That would be highly concerning to me. And I think because of the lack of Lane Johnson, and it's not a short absence he's going to be out for, that's a real concern. Coming up next, Kyle Van Noy, friend of the show. That's right. That's right, baby.

Next. Welcome back to first things first. Check out the podcast if you get a chance. And you know that we're streaming now? Yeah. Gianna made a new handle for me. I'm gonna be in the chat tomorrow at noon. What's your handle?

I think Kevin Wilde's 99 or Kevin Wilds Fox Sports One or something. What is it, Gianna? It's one of those, whatever. The one that says Wilds, that's me. Well, there could be an imposter. No impostors. Don't act like you haven't been in there for years. I haven't, no, it's the chat, bro.

Ravenstar, Kyle Van Noye with us now. And before we start, Kyle, we wanted to play Bruce, tepid enthusiasm after another Ravens win. Take a listen. The box! I gotta be honest. I actually moved a little further away from the robe yesterday. Wow!

I almost took the Jordans off. A win in the NFL is a win. And every win is tough and hard to come by. So with that said, I will take the win. The robe, not yet. That's for darn sure. I thought it was a good win, bro. It was a good win.

I'm just waiting for the perfect moment, Kyle. I haven't worn this bad boy in a month, and I can't wait to put it on my bones. But I'm waiting for the perfect, you know, in a few weeks, I think it'll be ready. I think it'll be ready. Now, here's the thing. Welcome to the show, of course.

Great win. Two weeks ago, I, you know, I tried to sell you on TV. The toy toss that transformed the tacklers. Now, you shot it down, and I get it. You don't want to count your chickens before they hatch and all that. We had some work to do. But I want to show you a graphic. You've been doing the work.

Look at this graphic, huh? I mean, that is incredible. The difference since the toy toss that transformed the tacklers became official. I mean, congratulations to you guys, props to you guys. So are you ready to accept T7? I mean, evidence is clear as gay. Brew, let's just say a hell no to that, all right? But what I will say is I appreciate the robe getting closer.

I do. And it's also getting closer on Nick because he's wearing purple today. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. See, I waited. During the break, I waited to say something and say, hey, They're starting to feel a little purple in his heart. Okay.

Kyle, I'd love to throw the wonderful person who picks out my suits under the bus. But unfortunately, that's my wife. So I just have to say, listen, she's always been a Lamar fan anyway. So maybe she's working against me to agree. But yeah, you're right. It is very Ravensett tie. And Wilds is wearing a Broncos tie to try to stick it to me. I like winners.

I'm sorry. All right. Well, back to what Brew was saying, I do like the robe being closer. And I think he can wait for the perfect time and moment for the robe. And I'm just going to put that trust in him. Just don't peek too early, okay? That's right. That's right.

And I appreciate that. Now, let me ask you this. You guys, obviously, I think, a four-game win streak. The defense we just showed is playing very good football. Lamar, obviously, since he got back from the injury, hasn't been himself. But I actually kind of think that's encouraging because you know he's going to get back to playing elite football. So is that encouraging to the team that, hey, we've been winning these games without Lamar playing at his usual level. So once he gets there, we're going to really be rolling.

I think it's good to win a game like that. Obviously, it was a grimy game. And grimy games for us against the Browns haven't gone the way for the Ravens. So it was the first time we've swept the Browns in about five years, which is crazy to say, because they've always given us fits, and they play really good at home. We knew it was going to be a tough game and a tough environment, and they came to play. I mean, Miles Garrett went crazy. Their defense went crazy out of pick six, two other turnovers.

And so they kept them in the game as long as possible. So finally, it was like a grinded out game that we came on the right side. I felt like at the end of the game, we were playing complimentary football, which is what you want to win the football game. You want to be able to play defense, get some stops, and then special teams getting a stop, giving the ball back to the offense, and then able to capitalize with a touchdown. And we were able to do that in the fourth quarter, which is very, very happy for us as a team, like, hey, if we just got to keep grinding it out, and we're going to be on the right side of things. And this week we have another challenge. I know the record is like, you know, hey, it's not good. Let's be honest.

But they're one of the best running teams in the league. They're going to get a little bit of juice with Tyrod Taylor. The defense actually played pretty well against the New England Patriots on the road. So they're going to come in ready to play. And we got to do what we got to do to get a dove. And, you know, to be honest, our last three home games have been L's. So we got to write the ship, get everybody pumped up. at the MTV bank, and let's go.

I like it. Kyle, you reference Miles Garrett. Brew had him fifth on Bruce's ballot yesterday for MVP. I thought, which again, he's going to break the record, Kyle. He's going to shatter the sack record. Don't worry about the MVP piece of this because you're not to do that. I really kind of want you to make fun of Wilds at the end of this. Because Wilde's big believer.

Yeah, but you also think ad rushers don't really matter. You're like, you're like, oh, we're all the wins. That's not true. He's like, he's like, oh yeah, a whole lot of wins for Miles Garrett and Max Crosby. It's what he always said.

I don't know. I happen to think, Kyle, I think you play a pretty important position. But could you as someone who's, you know, has done what you've done for so long at such a high level,

contextualize for us what it is that makes Miles Garrett historically different from maybe anyone that's played that, position certainly anyone but a handful of guys. I mean, I think it just starts with, you know, his mom giving birth to him. Like, the dude's a freak, right?

Like, let's just start from there. I'm sure when he was five years old, he looked like he was 12. So let's start there. He's just a man child of a human being. And just his athleticism just jumps off the chart. If you watch him, he aligns so wide. So he puts pressure on the offensive linemen. because you're like, no way is this dude lining this far away from me and still going to get the

quarterback. But he puts that pressure on offensive linemen being that far and being that athletic, like you got to come out to the deep water. And he's going to take you to the deep end and see how long you can swim for. And he does it for 60 minutes. And you got to sign up for that. You got to be ready for that. And I think he just knows he's on top of his game. I actually do put him in a top three category for me of MVP this year. I really do believe if he was on a better team, statistically, he would be up there. And just because of what he's done, I mean, not only the sacks, but the pressures, the relentless attitude, how, I mean, the defense, you could say, is historic with the Browns.

So I do put him high on my MVP list this year. I think edge rushes are important. That's why they get paid so much damn money now. So it's only going to go up because getting to the quarterback, especially in a rush four, we saw the Eagles last year rushing four in the Super Bowl. It's a high priority. And if you're starting a football team right now with the edge rushers,

you're picking him number one. Take that while. I'm not saying they are not important. Well, it's kind of what you were saying. I those two past rushers with the Broncos are important. Exactly. You brought up the Super Bowl there. You could have brought up the Broncos.

Yeah. We're a nice little detentee here. It's enough. No, that's, I honestly, we want to stay. The confusing part to me is when Miles Garrett played Drake May, I said, this doesn't make any sense, but I'm going to say it. He is going, he can wreck the game, and I think we're going to have no problem. with the Browns. And that's what happened.

I think he had five and a half sacks and we scored 30 points. So it was just a very an odd contradiction in how well he played in the fact that we had our way with the defense. That was what was confusing for me. It happens like

that. It happens like that. It's just part of the game. I think when you have a player like that at playing at his level, I just want you to think about this for a sec last year on film or two years ago, excuse me, on film, he was playing the Tennessee Titans against Mike Vrable. Mike Vrable was picking up two tight ends and putting them on the opposite side

during a play to chip them. And then Miles, as soon as they would chip, would go to the other side. And they were going back off, back and forth until someone they called a timeout because they wanted to chip Miles Garrett. That's what he can do to a game. He puts the fear of a lot of things in defensive, offensive, offensive coordinators and tackles. Kyle, me and brew, we all get it.

I just want them on a better team. I want to see great players on a great team. Sorry, I just start going. Kyle, I want to ask you, so you guys were there. Everybody's been talking about Shadoura Sanders all year. He played against you guys. We heard a lot. There's so many places to go.

one we heard his offensive linemen talking about they hadn't heard his cadence before or maybe two or three times that lack of chemistry between them and how can if so how can that like affect the defense like was that an advantage for you guys and you could tell it was there

brew you want me to storm that flame a little bit huh? I'll be honest. I'll be honest. I think you could tell you could get the cadence because obviously he's coming into the game. He does all the prep to go throughout the process.

He gets thrown in the fire. I think he just wanted everything to go smoothly, operational. And I feel like he did a good job, especially in the two-minute. I just feel like we ended up doing. a better job. Cheeto, Woosier had a great play in the end zone, and then Dremont Drones has an elite getoff. And I think that's to your point. I think it's just because you understand game on the line. You understand, you know, it was empty. So he was trying to read the defense,

and you were able to just hone in on that call, and Dremont got a great getoff. I don't want to say it was like a huge tell that you could tell. I'm not going to go that far, but I, I did feel like in the two minute on the last play of the game with the time winding down, Drey just had an elite get off. He wasn't off-size for anyone. Not officially. Not officially. But I'm not going to light that flame, Bruce.

I'm going to stay away from that one. Ravens Jets this weekend. Have a great game. Hopefully momentum keeps rolling. We can see the debut of the robe pretty soon. Thanks again, as always. When the road does go on, I'm coming back on the show. I want to go that one.

Absolutely. My man. You all go get them first. All right. We're on to Cincinnati Patriots heavy favorites against Jamar Chaseless Bengals squad news today. Joe Burrow set to practice 11v. 11 return still TBD.

So we're going to miss the Drake versus Joe battle. But we're going to battle it out on the show. Year two numbers for young Drake men. and Joe Burrow. Very similar. Joe Burrow, of course, had 36 touchdown, 16 turnovers,

went to the Super Bowl. Drake May on pace for 34 and 11. I made some bold claims on the call. Is anyone ready to say that Drake has replaced Burrow on our AFC QB, Mount Rushmore? Which also has basically been the whole NFL QB, Mount Rushmore. I'm not ready to say that.

I know. No, I know, but it has been. Stafford may be in. Jalen have made cases, but over the last three or four years, if you've said, hey, who are the four best quarterbacks in football? It's Patrick, Josh, Lamar, and Joe. And it's been the argument really has started after them. So you're saying, you're asking if made.

Well, I just don't want to hold the court for 20 minutes. I want to kick it around. Listen, I think this can become a real discussion this year. And I think it's already becoming one. Joe is not, Joe's, listen. Patrick's won multiple MVP, has been to five Super Bowls, won three Super Bowls. So he's separate. Correct.

Josh has won an MVP, has seven playoff wins, has been to three Pro Bowls. Lamar has won two MVP's, has three playoff wins, has been to four Pro Bowls. Joe has zero MVP's, has five playoff wins, two Pro Bowls, and has, of course, been to a Super Bowl, which is his seminal achievement. You showed it. he also has not played in a playoff game since Drake was a sophomore in college. And right now this moment, I would take, I would rather have Drake than Joe moving forward. I would.

And I think that if Drake, Joe's never finished top three in MVP voting, Drake could do that this year. If they're the one seed, something Joe's never been. If he finished his top three in MVP voting, something Joe's never done. and he wins at least one playoff game, which would put him in the conference championship game, and Joe misses the playoffs for the third straight year. Injury, I understand, is the main reason. I think that would be totally fair, KW.

Thank you. I do. Way too early. Way. Like, did we put, did C.J. Stroud replace Joe Burrow two years ago? He took a three-win team to the ball. playoffs. True.

And didn't have Josh McDaniels as his OC. Now Josh McDaniels is brilliant. No, I'm just saying I'm just giving the facts.

But don't you think Joe's standing has dropped a bit? Yes, I think the injuries have obviously hurt him. But my point is, Drake wasn't

spectacular last year. He showed signs at an 88 pass rating through for less than 200 yards. And I don't even think it was bad, but he was up and he

wasn't great. He's at 11 great games or, you know, an 11, game run where he has been fantastic but I need to see him do something in the playoffs like to me for him to pass

Burrow this is what has to happen this season and or next season. Burrow has to come back next year and play not up to his typical standard or be heard again. Right? Which is possible I guess. Be heard again. Drake has to this year win a playoff

game or two and cook in those games. All right. And or three, Drake needs to win a playoff game this year and next year or play great football next year and New England is in Super Bowl contention again. Like if he, even if he doesn't win a playoff game this year, but he comes back next year, plays like he is now and the Patriots are right there can win the division, can win the Super Bowl in our minds, then I can consider putting him ahead of Joe Burrow and maybe will if Burrow meets the things I said. But right now it's too early. I'm with Brew as it's too early right now. He's making a strong case, though.

He's making a strong case. A lot of it kind of weighs on what we will see come to postseason. Because we all agree they're going to make the postseason. How he shows up in the postseason is going to determine where we start to slot him. The reason why, and I would say it's really the sole. reason why, and this may be unfair, but it's heavy-weighted, why we have Joe Burrow there is because he beat Patrick Mahomes to get to the Super Bowl. Correct.

In the AFC championship game, yeah. Arrowhead. Right. Like, that's, we weigh that very differently than any other win. Drake May has an impressive regular season win this year against Josh Allen. But mostly tomato cans. In Buffalo. I don't even care about that.

But I don't need, he, in order to be in this discussion, he's had to beat those tomato cans and perform well. And he's done that. But if he gets to the playoffs, he excels, and he finds himself in the AFC championship game, regardless of whoever it's against. And he performed, he's, the case is being made. If they make the Super Bowl, KW, if they make the Super Bowl this year, he replaces Burrow. 100%. It's hard for him not to. 100.

I mean, again, and I agree with you, Drew, I would not have felt that way if CJ had done it two years ago because Burrow at that point was so much closer to the back-to-back agency title games. You know what I mean? Yeah, he was close. But that was the year where he was, I think, was that when he was five and five? That was when he was five and got hurt. But so, but that was, it's like, oh, okay, one kind of down year, but he got injured.

This is, but if Drake equals borough's greatest postseason accomplishment. A Super Bowl loss. In year two. In year two with a, and so, but you should go. No, I wonder, I feel very confident that we're there now. It's not even necessarily a pro-Drake-May argument, more so that like it's not the Supreme Court. You don't get to be on the greatest quarterback's playing list for the rest of your life. And you outlined it.

He's played two games this year. It's not there. Last year is unreal. Didn't make the playoffs. Before that, you won five games. To me, I'm being a quarterback wins guy, and he can spin it, and the numbers were crazy last year, led to league in completions, attempts, yards, and through 43 touchdowns. But didn't win. But that...

I'm willing to put Drake over them right now just because I haven't seen Joe Burrow in a long time. I feel like I see flashes of Joe Burrow. And the other thing is, like, the other thing is, and that's why I'm in... mentioned the individual accolades. Burrow at this point, it's like, yeah, but the numbers are so crazy. At the end of this year, Joe Burrow will have one more Pro Bowl than Drake May. At the end of this year, Drake May... And that's because of his injuries.

Yeah, right, but Drake May might have more all pros than Joe Burrow, because he's got zero, and Drake May right now is probably the favorite to be second team all pro. Might just be bad luck for Joe Burrow. Yeah, but it might be, but I, the... If you were to ask me, hey, next five years, forget 10, next five years, quarterback draft. For me, right now this moment, I would go Patrick, Josh, Drake. That's how I feel, and maybe it's too early. I believe in the kid.

Over Lamar. Wow. Over the more. Stay tuned to see these Josh Allen, Drake May stats that I got coming up. One down. One to go. I believe in your guy, KW. Lamar and Patrick, I got a buffoff.

Right from New York, it should show that is again apologizing. The number one pick Cam Ward for leaving him off of Mahomes Mountain. We apologized in the first hour, but again, that one was mostly two fans of the Titans. This one is to can himself, I think. Yeah.

I'm sorry. I was sitting there thinking, man, Cam is rising. No, you were not. And everybody in when I saw he wasn't. Number one, it was too late to say something. The music came in. So, Cam, I knew you.

Second hour, first thing for us today. Nick is going for his third consecutive must-win championship. What can Greg and Brew do to thwart him? Meanwhile, does Josh Allen's, quote, devil-may-care attitude make the bills the best team in the league? The stat that took me one second to come up with that you have to see. argument. But right now, you're in for a special treat. Last night, while camped out in front of a hair salon,

an elite group of analysts, savants, and people who love frisbee dogs, they're going to be performing at halftime of the Ravens game, I learned. Really? Yeah, dogs throwing. No, dogs are not going to be throwing the frisbee. Dogs catching frisbies. Dogs catching frisbee. That's a good.

An elite level is right there behind diving dogs. Honestly, you go to some of these programs. They got some great half time stuff. NBA, NFL. Nothing like the Frisbee dogs, though. Fought and twilled and burned the midnight oil to deliver the best segment in all of sports television. I know you're thinking, what about the sports media

ombudsman? That's our great, man. I agree. This is even better. It's an honor and a privilege. It's time for the committee's tears. Thank you so much, as always, Kevin Wilde. And true professionalism. I like show the audience some. audience some. Yeah, I don't know. This is what Wilde uses for his teleprender on this. And you might

be like, hey, this adapter, did you get this from a local dentist office where they print things off on the dot matrix? And I'm like, yeah, we actually did. That's how we would use the telebrother. And amazingly, it crapped out on us. And Wilde just went straight off the dog. Believe it's not, I didn't have all that. You're not freestyle. You don't freestyle. But that was, but he did a great job. He did a beat on the table. He did a great job there. Listen, it's very interesting. intro uses technology that was incomprehensible 18 months ago. AI videos. Mahomes Mountain intro, or the tiers intro uses the technology from

1976, both make it work. All right, we sadly have some new elimination. Oh no. And Falcons, sad for Michael Pinnix, I want to Rob and the Cardinals. What's up, KW? Shout out to the Titans. The, yeah, well, we've never left the team off There's 30.

We've never loved a team. Those teams, so 10 have been eliminated. We know obviously that at the end of the, there'll be 18 ultimately eliminated. 14 teams make the postseason. So who is facing elimination this week? Just one. And what many are calling the Greg Jenningsville.

Vikings at Packers. I don't know if they're going to call on it. They play twice a year anyway, but the Vikings, they're facing elimination. Next. fun to watch here. It's just what it says. Listen, when Jamar chas isn't spitting on people,

Bengals are quite fun to watch. The Panthers are, Bryce was dealing this weekend. He was. Through for 450. Like, he was dealing. And the Cowboys, that offense has been fun to watch all year. And I haven't been a believer in the Cowboys. And I'm not a Cowboys fan. However, if there's a way to get a little of my attention and affection,

it's like, wait, C.D. Lamb and George, Pickens were aware doing what at a casino gambling all night and then balled out. Those are my types of guys. I mean, that's the reporting. I mean, it gets you to wide receivers that could do both. Good job, fellas. Yeah, you're fine. Can't blame the quarterback.

And by that, I mean, just not allowed to. Like, listen, just not allowed to play. I know the Texans offense looks no different with Davis Mills versus C.J. Stroud. And I know it's been two straight years that the offense has been awful. But did you see C.J. Stroud sumo wrestling? Did you see it? He's done with that. I know, I'm telling you, you can't blame him. He was awesome as a rookie. Obviously, it's everyone else's fault. And Justin Herbert, my God. Like, Danny Park is going to come in here and hit me with a shovel. Like, the, he can't blame the quarterbacks.

Now, should the teams be better, do they have excellent defenses? Do they have coaches we love? Do they have skill position players we respect? Of course. The reason they're not better, I don't know, but it's not the quarter. LinkedIn. And here's what I mean. I've never run a business, KW. I don't know if you've ever run a business. I don't think so.

I worked at Ben and Jerry has. I think Greg, Greg's got his, you know, Bruce, Brew owns nightclubs and his best. Maybe too many when he can talk. Like West African minds, like Bruce got a lot going on. It's just true. Wait till it pops. Hey, so my stuff.

So here would be my concern if I owned a business and I was thinking about hiring someone based purely off LinkedIn. They might have a very impressive resume. But are they untrustworthy? That's how I feel about these two teams. They have really good resumes. I don't trust them at all. I just like the Jags have some really good wins. The Steelers have really, they beat the Patriots.

The Steelers have really good wins. I just don't trust these teams going into games or during games. And so right now they're both firmly in the AFC playoffs. I don't know that I trust either one of them to stay there, but that's where they are right now. The resume is good. Is this really real? The Colts and the Bears. The Bears' last second magic to the tune of leading what many people believe

going into the year to be far and away, the toughest division in football. Ben Johnson's good, better bests, leave them with the rest or I don't know. Danny has a tattooed in back of his eyelids, but I, uh, whatever, is that real? And the cults will, listen, that's a, I think it's fair. Is this really real with the Colts that are they really going to have this high power of an offense all year long, particularly when the weather gets called and more outdoors circuitous paths back here. So here's what I mean.

The Eagles and the Rams are the two NFC teams that of this era have hardware. These three teams, though, have been in the mix. And the Niners obviously been to Super Bowls. Packers and Lions have been close each the last few years. But how they found themselves on the same tier this year is very, very different. The Packers go all in and the all. off season. It looks great. Then it looks a little shaky and now it looks better than it looks shaky as can be as of late. But they're sitting at six wins. The Niners dealt with all of these

injuries before the year Shanahan was talking like, hey, it might be, you know, a pump the brakes year, but they're right back in the mix. And the Lions lose both coordinators have some great moments this season, also some really head scratching losses, but they're right in the mix as well, as these three teams are trying to finally break through for the conference. The Nair has obviously been to Super Bowl, but get over the home. We don't like to have the same tier name

in back-to-back weeks, but sometimes it's just too apropos. Yet again, bruise biases. I mean, one team, one team loses a hardfalled high-scoring game to the Buffalo Bills, and it's no big deal. The other team does, and they're cute. The other team does.

One team is sitting at four losses and they're fraud. The other team is sitting at five losses and nobody wants to play them. I mean, one team's quarterback goes in a little bit of a slump and it's like, okay, back down to earth. The other one, I actually think this is good for them. Now, because we know he's got to be back. 2011 Giants or 2012 Giants? Chiefs. 2011 Giants looked decidedly mediocre

for the first three quarters of the season. Then got hot, started playing their best football, and won the Super Bowl. The 2012 Giants, by any statistical measure or media coverage, Vegas odds, anything, were better than the first. the 2011, better than the 2011 Giants, but had some kind of head scratching close, unlucky losses early. And then late in the year, didn't, all of a sudden, they're like,

wait, we want 11, we missed the playoffs. We're defending Super Bowl champions. We're better than last year's team. We missed the playoffs. Chiefs are going to go one of those two directions. We'll see which one. So this is a little inside, but devil may care it here. Oh, my goodness. So Dusty wanted to us to do a whole topic that assumed you guys, the audience knows if we say Josh's devil make air play style, everyone knows what he means, which we looked it up, someone that's, you know, kind of tempting fate. But the reason the Patriots are on this tier as well is because, yes, Josh is, you know, playing maybe a reckless but necessary style of football, almost tempting fate. one could argue Kevin Wilde is doing the same thing on behalf of his own Patriots by simply every chance he gets being like, I'm not scared of the bills. I'm not.

You know the team that has owned my franchise in the regular season and the playoffs the last six years? Well, how about the previous forever? Okay, well, since Josh Allen's been there, buddy, Josh Allen's entire career. Again, I'm looking at the uniform. I'm looking at this century. Okay, yeah, nobody else is. And so it just, you are also tempting fate. I just, that's all.

Feared, respected, doubted. Broncos Seahawks. They are feared because of their defenses. They are respected because of their resumes. They are doubted because of their quarterbacks. Fair or not, they're really good team. Seahawks were at top the tiers. The Broncos just beat the Chiefs Fair and Square.

That's where they're at. Chekhov's gone. It's the Eagles. People aren't into it. Chekhov's gone. and it's gone on the stage and the play, at some point it's going to be used. That's kind of how I feel about the Eagles offense problems.

Like it's been sitting there all year long. At some point, when they ultimately fall short of their goal, are we gonna be like, yeah, probably should have seen that coming. All year long, it seemed to be a problem. And atop the tears for the first time this season by themselves, the Los Angeles Rams rewriting legacy, in real time. Here's what I mean. If they were to win the Super Bowl this year and Matt Stafford wins MVP, Sean McVeigh, three Super Bowl appearances, two wins, Belichick, Noel, Reed, Walsh,

Gibbs, Landry, Shula Parcells, McVeigh. Quarterbacks, League MVP, and two Super Bowl wins. Brady, Bradshaw, Montana, Mahomes, Elway, Peyton, Star, and Stafford. That would be the list, And they would move ahead of Philly for kind of the, not kind of, for the best NFC team of the post Brady era. So those are, I got to say, some of the best years ever. Time now for the most obvious change ever featuring Greg Jennings. What's the obvious change? I mean, this was as soon as I saw it, I bit my tongue. I had a devil make hair attitude.

What is it? You know what? I saw it too wilds and I felt like. You know, that's low-hanging fruit. What is it? He wants me to attack it, so I'm not going to even address it. I don't even know what it is. Are you kidding me?

I'll take care of. I'm not going to even address it. What is it? I got my man's back. I'm going to go right around the 2011 giants or 2012 giants. What we do know is there are the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs, and that ain't been that good. So move them down if we were moving them. Look, let's just go straight to the facts.

If we look at their schedule, one could pose a question, who have they beaten? The lions. And you would answer the lions. The Ravens. So let's look at, let's look at their schedule. And then let's look at the teams that they actually have beaten because they beat the lions. We'll give them that. Well, you don't have to give it to them.

No, no, no. That's a good win. We'll give them the idea of that being a good win. The Ravens they beat when they were spoiled milk. They were won. They were the lowly raven. They couldn't beat anybody. No one chalked up that win as a good win when you beat the Ravens early in the season,

unless you were the Chiefs because you were lowly too. And then when we look at, you know, there was this, there was this moment that happened. One called it the tackle that turned the tide. How dare you great. Pre the tackle that turned the tide, the numbers look like that on the left. Oh my. And now the last two. The last two games, the last two games, are we, are we, wow.

Did they, what happened? He's back to that. Is he back? Is he back? Is he back? Because it looks really similar to what we saw. Wait, let me, let me add this to. This is, wait, they have Rashid Rice.

We were like, man, we were excited when that happened. It was going to be electrifying offense. They were going to be back. And then Xavier Worthy. Oh, my gosh, the whole arsenal is back. Yeah. Well, Patch of Mahomes clearly going to be better. What is going on?

This is why this team needs to drop. At some point, I got to be, I got to stay true to who I am. And yesterday I said I wasn't going to doubt this chief team in Patrick Mahomes. I did. I did. I did. I did. And now I'm just going to be what their record are.

I'm 50-50. You throw it in the air. Maybe they win, maybe they don't. You said what their record is? Well, certainly you are all but guaranteeing a loss. I mean, we know who your upset alert is going to be this week. There's no doubt about it. We're getting Daniel Jones and we're not going to change the topic against a bad team.

We're not going to change the topic right now. We're not changing the topic right now. Right now, what we're identifying is the Chiefs at 5 and 5. And having lost to a team that you can guarantee they weren't going to lose to last week. Listen, I was wrong about that. Yeah, you were. This is also the committee. It's not in the chat.

That is true. I also listen, Marshall, who does what? You got more? Go ahead. You see that never a doubt? Scratch that out. That's fine. That's fine. I like that.

It will make it all the more glorious when for the sixth time in the last four seasons. You truly are doubting this Chiefs. That's why you have them as 2011 or 2012. Again, again, I'm going to get to the naming in a moment. For the fourth time in the last three seasons, Greg Jennings has to come on here at some point. I'm not doing it this year. And be like, guys, I'm not doing it. I promise next year I won't do it again.

But I told Marshall, who again, has full autonomy on the tier names, Greg's on the show. 2011 Giants might be a little triggering. It was, you know, the team that ripped away his ability to go back to back. One of the greatest seasons ever, 15 and one. Like I told him he was like, no, Greg's a professional, we'll be able to deal with him.

Well, look. Well, look. Look, I have Greg's back. What is this? And I actually agree to the chief should drop to with the Ravens and the Buccaneers. And the team that should replace the chiefs is the Colts. Can we give the Colts a little more respect? I mean, look at my line.

Are the Colts being disrespected? Yes, indeed. I'm just going to. Yes, indeed. Who is doing that? Who is this? Thank you, Ramsey. I like it.

Ramsey did that way. I like it. That's good. Wild's shooting it down. I love that. That's so good. But I mean, that's far.

Yes, indeed. Indeed. We get it. All right. Anyway, here's why, Nick. First of all,

they're 8 and 2, and I get it, it's not the standings. But still, 8 and 2, I mean, that, that is a heck of a record. They also have the best running back

in the league right now. Jonathan Taylor, who's trying to break records and just might do it, trying to become the first running back in, what, more than a decade to win the MVP and just might do it. And here's the other thing. They beat Denver. Yeah.

I mean, beat Denver. Yeah. You got Denver hired than them. What? We do this thing in sports. We do to figure out who's better, right? You play a game. They beat Denver.

Okay. That's true, too. They also beat the Chargers. They're way ahead of them. But the Charger are a good playoff team. right now. They beat the charges by two touchdowns. All right. And then one of their, one of their losses,

they only have two, but to the top team, the Rams who are rewriting legacies in real time, they were beating them midway through the fourth quarter. Let me finish. Let me finish. They were beating them midway through the fourth quarter. The game was tied with less than two minutes left. And they lost at the end of the game. But what happened in that game?

Let me toilet brother talk. Adonai Mitchell. Get anybody here. Looking free. Touchdown. Tries to be cool. Let me drop this ball and look cool right before the goal line. Cost them a touchdown.

That right there would have tied the game. I mean, you know, theoretically speaking. And then Adonai Mitchell hurt them again. Jonathan Taylor. spectacular run. 53 yards spin move. 53 yards he's gone

Adonai Mitchell Holden. Holden. Where's Adonai Mitchell now? He's with the Jets. All right? So my point is even that loss

was, they outplay, they outplay your top teams and you got them like 13 teams down. The cults looked awesome the first month,

month and a half of the season. They have not not looked quite as awesome as of late, and nobody, not even Greg Jennings, like how they played in Germany. Winning is a skill. I keep hearing that, right? Yeah, it is. They showed their skill.

They were tough games. We'll talk more about the cults at most point. They were in the fog and all of that. No problem. It was a little bit of a problem. No problem. Daniel Jones, a little slippery hands. I didn't put a pun on my bar, but it was a long sentence.

I think my sentence is. For the millionth time, the Patriots are better than the bill. I argued for this strongly. The committee said they disagree. Now, don't get me wrong. I know that we have a new version of Josh Allen, who is turning the ball over, which is good now. For a long time, it wasn't good. The offense changed.

He had unprecedented success, won the MVP. And he's had multiple turnovers against the Patriots and lost, against the dolphins and lost, against the Falcons and lost, and against the Bucks, and he won. He also had six touchdowns that game. He's like, well, that's the one that we should point to. He should turn the ball over. That's the key to six touchdown. He didn't have six touchdowns in the other game. The argument, it's not all on the turnovers.

It's a, you know, it's a full game. That's true. They didn't lose all because of the turnovers. It's also because of this defense, which is not the Bill's defense of old. It is literally the second worst rushing defense in the league. Here's the list from the bottom up. Bengals, not good. Buffalo, not good. The Giants, Miami, the Falcons, the commanders, the Titans, bears Dallas and the Jets.

That's a list of teams that give up a lot of yards rushing. What about James Cook and Josh Allen? They can rush the ball too. Great point, straw man in my conversation. They average as a team 148 yards, right? That's the best rushing attack. They give up 153. So basically every time you play the bills,

you become Josh Allen and James Cook plus five yards. Also, Don Kincaid's out, and he's very valuable to the team because the guy that they thought was going to be the answer to their problems. Dion Dawkins came on here and said, wait to you, find out about Keon Colourne. Now he's getting benched like for how long? Series like no.

Look quarter? No. Half? Mm-mm. Just sit out. Full game. Full game. We saw plenty of guys get in trouble. We did.

Cid Lamb, hey, you're out for 10 seconds. A snap. We only need a couple of snaps. That's it. Then get back in the game. Don't do that again. How long was that little Carter out for? Yeah, drive.

Two minutes. No, that's all true. Listen, this. This is a couple. This is, I argued against Danny's top 10 having the Patriots too long. And then you did that's why I know it's a committee. I got, yeah. My, again, my vote carries double, but there's 11 people on it. So I agree with you.

I'm not willing to say it. I got my eye on this Texans game for the bills. I got my eye on it. Thursday night, yeah. I'm like, oh, Josh Allen will be able to move the ball. I got my eye on it. You know, it was against the Texans in the playoffs when you did the, whoop the, whoop the,

That is not happening. I'm telling you, they're not beating a bit. You got to start your Saturday. Strong Big Noon Saturday. So Ohio State, the Buckeyes, you know, going up against Rutgers. Big Noon kickoff set 10. Then it's Rutgers, Ohio State only on Fox. Trap game?

Maybe. Never know. Doorstep. This actually would qualify as a trap. Thank you. Good job, Wiles. Doorstep of a must-win destiny. Must-win Dynasty.

Dynasty. Going for three wins in a row. And this is apropos. Colts in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes, looking to avoid a third straight loss. What? Chiefs are favored, but look who's on the other sideline. Your least favorite defensive coordinator,

Lou Enarumo. Three losses, but three wins. In a row. Passer rating, not Mahomesian, let's just say. Oh, I mean, passer rating is actually quite good, except for the 80. Except for that one. Yeah, the last one.

You're in charge of the board. You can pass the play on this. I'm going to play. Not only three minutes left. Not as rare as it once was, but a literal and definitive double must win. Wow. It is a must win for the Chiefs for obvious reasons. They, in order to guarantee they make the post season, they have to go seven and

O, but to almost guarantee it, they have to go six and one. So they probably have one loss to play with. So they are. are truly in must win territory now, the remainder of the season. Nick, why would the Colts be on there? After all those amazing things, Bruce said while Greg was the A. M. Inquirer over here, well, I don't know if you've been watching the cult to that closely America, but they haven't looked like they did the first couple months

since before Halloween. The last few weeks, they've been leaking a little oil. And by leaking oil, we mean Daniel Jones been fumbling the ball and throwing picks and not looking great. And if you look at, wait, do the Colts have the hearty schedule in the NFL left? Well, it's the fourth hardest by winning percentage opponent.

I don't know if we can throw it up there. But then you keep in mind, their two easiest opponents remaining, are the Chiefs, 5 and 5 fighting for a playoff spot, the Texans, 5 and 5 fighting for a playoff spot. Every single game they play the rest of the way, are teams fighting for their playoff lives. You lose this game, then back-to-back divisional games,

and then that's Seattle defense? Uh-oh, double must win. 15 already? We're doing the whole thing. Double must win. He went a little four. How's the draft going to play out? He went a little.

Urgency, must win. Yeah, it is a must win for the Chiefs without question. Don't do a double must win again. No, here's the other thing. This is their season. This is their season. If they lose this game, while I never really, never write off Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid,

as long as they're not mathematically eliminated. I would look at them and say they're not good enough. They're not good enough to win out, which is what they'd have to do if they lose this game. And here's the other thing that's on state. Greg, get ready. Travis Kelsey, the great Travis Kelsey, if he were to step away after this season,

we know it's coming soon. His last two years, you can't send him out. getting blasted in the Super Bowl and then missing the playoffs. So this a must win for Travis Kelsey? Yes. And another individual, Daniel Jones. Because nobody believes. Nobody believes in Daniel Jones.

So it's a must win for the Chiefs, must win for Kelsey, must win for Daniel Jones. A triple must win? Because people are saying, oh, when he shows me in the playoffs, no, you can show him now. Because a victory over Patrick Mahomes weighs a lot. I don't know. A victory over Patrick Mahomes weighs a lot. This is just. People would believe.

Greg, it's nothing sexy about it. This is a double-knit. Guys, what are you doing? This is strategic- This is the only one why he played some new one. You're just stuck with traps. Hold on. I'm curious why Greg thinks it's for the Colts.

I'm going to talk about the Chiefs really quickly. The obvious, Nick said that. But for the Colts, for the Colts, they're literally putting the entire AFC on their back right now. Like, if they can go into Arrowhead and upset the Chiefs and beat the Chiefs

and leave them literally on their last breath? Do you know how excited every team that are about to play the Chiefs following that would be? Why? The Chiefs aren't that good. Because everyone wants to say

we were the team to do it. We were the team to end their season. I can't. Guys, that was wide open. That's right. That was even close. Yeah, it was pretty good. Greg said it's a double-

must win. First of all, everything Nick said. I mean, but that hurts. Yeah, you cannot give anybody else props. Eagles and Dallas Sunday afternoon on Fox. Stack versus Jalen. Oddly, they haven't played each other. One guy's always hurt missing the game. They've split their matchups.

Two wins apiece, completion percentage. Goes to Jalen. Doesn't matter. I think. Passer rating. Dax got the edge. Brew, the ball is in your court here. Well, at the risk of,

of upsetting the judge, they actually did play earlier this year and Jalen beat it. I'm just not to upset you, but you said they don't play. There was always hurt. They've been in the league for a long time. They've only played four times. And before week one, it was three times. He's starting off negative way. I'm just about the facts.

Y'all know I wrote for the New York Times once upon time. The truth, all the truth, this fit to print. All right. It's obviously a must win for the Cowboys. Their season is at stake. If they want to stay in the playoff hunt, they have to win this game. All right.

But here's the twist. Oh, okay. Everybody these two are going to say, it's a must win for Philly. Don't let A.J. Brown go crazy. He's just dying to say something and tweet something. Here's my thing. If they lose, yes,

AJ will wreak havoc on X. Instagram, TikTok, something like that, Facebook, MySpace, I don't know, something,

but the Eagles live here. They are comfortable being uncomfortable. They live in this space. What was going on last year? Nick Siriani's job was on the line. Every loss, every close win,

it was like, is Siriani on the hot seat? Is he about to be fired? and A.J. Brown is reading self-help books on the bench, and all they do is win the Super Bowl. I'm not saying they want the distraction, but when it comes, they abide in it. They are comfortable there.

So it's not a must-win for the Eagles by any stretch of the imagine. It is a must-win for these. See, really quick before you go, so who said it's a must-win for the Cowboys? And he did a whole eight-mile, he thought we were going to say it's a must-win for the Eagles. Greg is. It's a must win for the Eagles. It's simple. They are the one seed.

They want everybody to have to come through Philly. And this is a team that everyone seemingly uses as we get right on offense game. The Bears did it after the Lions destroyed them. Then the Packers did it after they lost to the Cleveland Browns offensively. And then you look at the Arizona Cardinals, they did it. Shoot, the Broncos even had a great showing. after their comeback win against the Giants was only the fourth quarter, but they played actually an entire game of offense.

So yes, Philly, if you want everybody to come through Philly, beat the Cowboys, put them to sleep. They're already halfway sleep already. Everybody has to come through Philly. Must win. KW, we're short on time, and I thought Greg did a great job there, so I'll just pass. Wow.

Does Greg? What a strategist, yes, Greg got it. I just know we don't have a lot of time. Don't have a lot of time. We have 3.30 per. No problem, buddy. This, I was just told that they're working together. They're in cahoots.

This is the bonus round. Notice he didn't say, just throw it out. Just give it to the one more. Well, I knew you weren't going to get it. We have three minutes, Dusty says. This is the bonus round. Aaron Rogers broke his wrist. He's still going to try to play against a bear's team that he owns.

Remember that? He scores touchdown. And he literally, 25 wins, five losses. This guy crushes. Greg, the ball's in your court. Who is this a must win for? Double must win. Wow.

The one's rare. And I'm really just going to talk about this guy, Aaron Rogers, because he's playing with the broken wrist. He's trying to put the team on his back because he doesn't lose to this team. He owns them. They can't win if Aaron Rogers is on the field. And if you are the Bears, you're like, wait, new regime. We're not the old regime. You're not in green.

you're actually in black and gold. You're not the same type of Aaron Rogers. We can beat this version of you. We got Caleb. We got Ben. You're coming into our house. We got to get it done to set the tone the right way. But it's a double must win.

Aaron Rogers got a chance to put the team on his back with the broken. Really trying to make that a brain. Team on your back. Greg Jennings.com to grab your merch. This is not a double must win because this is not a must win. for the Steelers because contrary to what Brew's propaganda operation would like to have you believe, even if the Steelers lose, they're still going to be in first place in their division. They still have two games left against Baltimore.

They always play well against Baltimore. The Steelers are fine. The Bears, on the other hand, despite being in first place in the NFC North, they know Detroit's coming, they know Green Bay's coming, and Ben Johnson also knows that he was hired to beat the past. hackers, and that kind of means beat Aaron Rogers. Oh, I like that. And we are going to be subjected to so much Chicago bear fan PTSD on the show Monday in the

5 o'clock hour where Danny's telling us about Mitch Trubisky and Sid Luckman if Aaron Rogers with a broken wrist beats the Bears. So it's a must win for the Bears. It's a must win for Ben Johnson. It's a must win for this show's sanity. I like it a lot. I do too. You're going to love this, man.

All right. It is a must win for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, first Nick said the Steelers always beat the Ravens. Really? Did they beat them last year? Once. Yeah. Yeah.

They did. They did. It's over. It's over. It's three weeks. I thought it was. He beat him in the playoffs. It's over.

Wow. It's over. It's over. unfortunately. The Lord of Pied him in a regular they had to pay off. Three p. Yeah, wait.

A three feet on a result. They said it couldn't be done. I think I can route. Can we get him free? They said it couldn't be done America. They said it couldn't be done America. He literally followed. Burrow was back.

I talked all that trash. Great college basketball tonight. Number four, Arizona at Yukon, and then it's Bama versus Illinois at nine. I want to lock into this one. That game's a little early. I'm going to be on the train watching that one. Watching the Husky's solo ball.

That's tonight right here on FS1. Don't even make me to change the channel. Well, I ran my mouth earlier in the show. I said, Drake May is better than Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow said, oh, yeah, I'm going to play. Oh, oh. It was owing in the train. It was more of like a symbolic discussion about how he's not available.

Now he's running around full speed 11 v 11. The line has dropped from Patriots by 8 and a half to Patriots by 7.5. So there's still some trepidation. Should the Patriots be worried if Burrow takes the field? Remember, no Jamar Chase. You obviously be more worried if Burrow plays. I still think the band. I do not think the Bengals would have been a playoff team if Joe Burrow were healthy all year

because we saw him last year and the defense somehow is worse. So I still think you guys would be in good shape. And I also think it would be foolish to assume Burrow when his first game back is going to be fully functional Joe Burrow. I also feel, and I know this doesn't directly answer the question with this kind of breaking news real time stuff, this makes what Jamar Chase did even worse. That's a good take. like your team if they were to go

and the Bengals scheduled the rest of the way is very hard it's not going to happen but if they were to run the table just like at 3 and 7 and get to 10 and 7 it would mean you know the ravens are dead because they would have beaten them

you know Ravens are dead they beat them twice and maybe they're in the mix and if Joe Burrow is fighting you know toe and nail to get back in the game and Jamar is not going to be out there. I think it's a real shame for the

second best player and the best healthy player and highest paid healthy player they have. That's a great take right there. For me, I still wouldn't be afraid if I'm the New England Patriots. I know you have the orange on your tie. It's more of Denver

I think. It's basically Bengals now. You got Borough right behind you. But no, I still wouldn't be worried because of that reason. Because there is no Jamar Chase because Burrell coming back, you still have issues on that offensive line. You would assume that he still has the inability to be as mobile as he would like. And just naturally, you're going to kind of shy away from extending plays if you are Joe Burrell to make that extra effort to get guys open. And so if he can't be his 100% self,

which is seemingly what you have to be against his New England Patriots team, then no, if I'm the Patriots, I'm not worried. He obviously poses a greater threat than Joe Flackle. Yeah, if the Patriots lose this game, it's just because they had a no-show, which happens during the season.

But it's not because Burrow is back, especially without Chase. If Chase was there that'd make them scarier, but the Patriots still should be able to win this game. To me, the question, and I want your guy's opinion, is the Bengals are three and seven? Yeah, should he play now?

And there's a lot of reason to say, no, just look, hold him out the rest of the season. Chase isn't playing this game. You lose this, you're probably out of it. But if he is healthy, I'm just throwing this out there. If he's as healthy as, you know, doctors like, hey, he can play, he's fine. Football players play. And he is also a guy that it just shows, I mean, he could get injured at any moment, any moment. Like, remember he got injured just rolling out in a practice?

So I kind of lean toward this is what we're paying him for to play. So if he can play, you should play. You play because when you look within your own division, it's still right there. Like, if you just look in that division, your Ravens are only two games up and you got them twice. You just showed the schedule. You don't really believe that you can't beat the Steelers. or catch the Steelers, like, if you have your number one quarterback, it's to your point, it's why what Jamar Chase did,

if he knew that Joe Burrow had the opportunity to possibly come back next week, which would have been next week when he was spitting going, obviously Jaylon Ramsey, like, that's foolish. It's selfish. You're not thinking about the ramifications of what this might do to us as a whole. Can we just real quick, I know we have like 20 seconds of us, to show the Bengals schedule one more time. It's not for playoff purposes,

but just what it means for. If Burroughs a full participant today, I think it's fair to say they expect him. I didn't think this was possible, but to play Thanksgiving at Baltimore. I mean, that would be amazing. But so that, this is probably a Ravens conversation.

That's what I was about to say. For the Ravens and the Bills, like the Patriots might duck him because I think he's so unlikely to play also in part because they play four days later. You know what I mean? So they play Sunday and then Thursday. So I assume he's not going to play against the pads. So that's what Lamar did, right?

Lamar was Sunday and then played the Thursday game. Correct. And so, but for the Ravens ability to make the playoffs and the Bill's ability to catch the Patriots, all of a sudden facing the Joe Burrow Bengals is a hell of a lot harder. Yeah, no, there's no question. New York. It's a show that's congratulating Nick Wright on his third consecutive must-win championship.

Danny, did he see it backstage? It was eventful. I feel like it was right there for the taking for Greg. What about for Brew? Brew, I think you were drawn dead this one? I got to be honest. But Wilde's had a great take to end it. I'm like the Chiefs of Must Win.

Yeah. No matter what his record is, if you get over on Brew, it's still. They're so excited to beat me. It's like their Super Bowl. It was like their Super Bowl. It was like their Super Bowl. Who's the team that's had a dynasty on the Chiefs watch?

Because I just pulled one off. Watch out for those eagles. Watch out for those eagles. That's all I'm saying. It was a walk off. Like the last one was very bad. First thing's first overtime. Today, what's the coolest segment in all sports that involves statistics?

Special episode of packed stats featuring a stat about Patrick Mahomes downfield throws. We've been thrilled with them, but perhaps your stats say otherwise we're about to find out in about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, how effective will Josh Allen be against this Texan's defense? That's a great deal. What did you laugh at? I mean, this is behind the curtain, as Joan Rose likes to say. Dusty leans towards devil-may-care attitude.

Yeah. Christina leans towards Superman game. Well, there was a big controversy on the show yesterday about this, on the O.T. Because she said that he was going to put on his cape and become Superman again. like Peter Parker. Oh, more Clark cats than Peter Parker. Wow. Wow.

That's a big mistake. That's a thing that happened. Did I just tell you something? Yeah. Not knowing superhero backstories, actually cool. Yeah. Well, I'm going to be a briefcase full of stats. Well, we're starting in Los Angeles.

LeBron back for season 23, 11 points, 12 assists. 23? Wow. Numerologist over here. Several of the passes wowed me. Here's LeBron. I think it's something I will really enjoy once I'm done to be able to look back and see some of the things I accomplished

and a great group of guys I was around and coach staffs I was around when I was playing the game. So I can sit back and think about what you just said as far as seven guys not being born when I started this journey. And yeah, that just made my back hurt. So I do got a group. I got a few days before we play a game, so I'll be okay. Danny, what was your number one takeaway from LeBron's debut?

I honestly just thought it was amazing. I mean, it was kind of, these are my favorite kind of LeBron's stories because I don't love every conversation being a referendum on the goat debate. Right. And I really don't like every conversation being a referendum on like, well, can this team win a title? Because I think it just totally takes away from the present thing. tense. Right? And I just, I love watching sports. I love watching games. And like, you can't win a title in November. So this was just, you could watch something that you had never seen before

because it had literally never happened before. And I was thinking about the old saying, like, Father Times undefeated, Father Times got a loss. Like he, whenever he retires, he will still be able to do it. You know, like, it was just, he just came back and he came. And he came. And he kept his double-digit streak going, and then he was a facilitator, and sure, it was against the jazz, but it was just like, oh, yeah, LeBron is in year 23, older than me. I got pointed out of having gray hairs yesterday, like, still an awesome basketball player. And those are my favorite LeBron things. Like, LeBron has played with or against 36% of the players in the history of the NBA.

Yeah, that's always cool. Like, I love that, right? Like, LeBron has a 40-point game against every franchise. It's just, like, cool things that you would have never even thought were possible. Last night passed Reggie Miller for career three-pointers. Right, like, things that when you think, he has more points than anyone, more steals than Pippen, more threes than Reggie, and you could just like keep doing it. Like, he was the first 30,000 point, 10,000 assists, 10,000 rebound guy, into. 2022. You know, there's just so many things that break your basketball brain with it,

that it was just, it was just another one. And it was cool to watch. It's an 11.12 assist game. Like, I don't think I'm going to remember that for LeBron in 10 years, but it was just like, we still get to watch it. Well, think about along the lines of what you're saying, how remarkable it is. Think about the guys he came in with. I was thinking about that too. And Mello is like the youngest one you think of. Wade, Bosch. I think Kirk Heinrich might have been in that class. Oh, yeah.

These are guys that have been retired for years. Mello was just enshrined into the Hall of Fame this year. Yeah. When he was enshrined in the Hall of Fame three years ago. No, it's unbelievable. The thing that stuck out to me the most was just the joy he played with. Like, I have not seen LeBron like that on the court. I've seen him at practice like that.

I've seen him in the locker room like that and stuff. But the joy, I mean, and it was like. Like to your point, Danny, he wasn't feeling anymore that burden of I got to be the goal or I got to win the championship or obviously he still wants those things and stuff. But it seems like there's been a release or he was just so happy to be on the court. And I said earlier, it reminded me of like the joy that Magic Johnson played with. And LeBron actually played a lot like Magic last night with the passes. I mean the 12 assists in 30 minutes, six assists. in like a three and a half second stretch.

And the reason I'm bringing that up is because that could really be important for the Lakers this year. Like the way he played, you could see it was contagious. At points, they were almost overpassing. And they're a team that, you know, Luca has the ball in his hands a lot.

And Austin does too at times, Austin Reeves, but they were passing the ball. The ball was moving. And it generally doesn't do that with them. if LeBron were to say this year, I'm going to defer to Luca and even Austin to some degree in terms of scoring,

and maybe he's a third leading score average is 18, 20 points, whatever. But a lot of assists, a lot of rebounds, I think that would actually really be great for their chemistry because the players would know he can still do it. It's not like he can't go out there and it looks like at least average 24 points a game. but he is doing this because he thinks it's the best way for us to win he's stepped aside so Luca can shine and Austin to a degree

and so I think that would actually be good for their chemistry and maybe make them the best version of themselves whatever that could end up being. Do you want to go, Kate Lowe? No, you know, I said earlier that I wanted to spend the year appreciating LeBron and that we've, you know, I thought maybe a few years ago when I was being scolded into appreciating LeBron.

I didn't appreciate it. But now I've kind of gotten to a different place. I'm like, oh, I am going to appreciate it. Try to get my kids to see LeBron. You need to see it. At the same time, though, but the criticism of LeBron is so over the top. I'm trying to find a nice level.

The criticism is a compliment of like, hey, you need to win. That is a compliment because Vince Carter was brought up. Man, we never talked about Vince Carter. It was literally like, hey, go. Steven's card on the, I think it was on the hawks at the time. Hey, but there was never any like you can take the hawks deep into the playoffs.

So it sounds weird, but the I don't want to have just a, it sounds strange. You don't want to clean the competition out of it? Yeah, I still want it to be drive to win. And we saw a little bit of it with like Kershaw this year. So, oh, like,

you know what, big moment, you can rely on this guy. But it wasn't all like. No, but this is where congratulatory. This is and I'm not going to, this is not a goat conversation. This is, but the, I know I can't stop you for talking LeBron. I actually don't, and I don't even want to.

This is just a, I think, an objectively true point to what you're saying. This is where he is a victim of the fact that he'll never be bad. Yeah. And because he'll, he will never appear to be such a greatly diminished

version of himself that criticism will feel outrageous. Yeah, like, you're not friticky, like, Michael needs to get to the corner on that. And so, and this is, like, again, it's different eras, it's different

lives, it's all of it. Jordan was so clearly a different player in Washington that whenever anybody you mean usually tongue-in-cheek brings up those Washington seasons, people reflexively and correctly be like, that's ridiculous.

That wasn't Michael Jordan. You know what I mean? That wasn't Michael Jordan. And the fact that LeBron, he turns 41 in December, last night was to your point, the first game anyone's ever played in year 23 in the nearly 80-year history of this league, you still watch him. And you're like, well, yeah, I mean, he could on any given night, like, look like LeBron from a decade ago.

And LeBron, by the way, a decade ago people thought was like, okay, he's passed his prime. And so there is going to be that element of we can appreciate it in the real time, but they have a three-game losing streak when they're fighting for playoff position. People fairly will. And he did sign up for that. He will want that. He wants to be helpful.

Yeah, you don't want people to, you know, to patronize you or patronize you. And so, but the, my other major takeaway was because I know he only played 30 minutes, But 30 minutes is a fine amount. That's the fewest shots he's ever taken in the game. He was not injured. So the game, Dekheembe Mutumbo once elbowed him. This is from Dave McMillan. Elvled him in the face and he missed the second half.

And the Solomon Hill game are the only two games in his career where he took fewer than seven shots. He was out there a lot. I think the fact that, and, you know, it's a separate debate, the 65 game threshold, whether it's going to be effective, whether we like it, it is. But because he missed the first 14, nobody expects him to play 65 of their final 68. He's not going to be eligible for MVP consideration, all-MBA consideration. I'm not saying

he necessarily would even play to that level. But the fact that he will know, I can't get any of that, I think will make him either consciously or subconsciously way more okay with, the numbers don't really matter. Like the I'm going, he's going to be an all-star no matter what. He's going to have the most successful, he already has had the most successful year 23 in the history of pro basketball if he never plays

another game. And he already has all the counting stat records. So Bruce point earlier that for the Lakers this year, if they could have, say he could do it, 27 point per game, LeBron. Would that be better than

18, 7, and nine assists a game, LeBron. I think he is probably more, assuming he could do both would be more accepting of that other role because the numbers, the accolades don't matter this year. And

whatever they need that he can do, he'll do, because he's a basketball genius. So, like, he'll figure that out. But just also in just the appreciation piece of it on the podcast that he did this week with him and Steph Curry that got aggregated for a lot of different reasons, they talked about the 2028 Olympics.

And LeBron was like, well, no, I'm not going to play. I'll be watching in Cabo. But the guy last night I was like, I don't know. You know what I mean? Like, I saw LeBron play in high school and we're talking like he feels like if he wanted to. He could play for, he could, until he's 45? Yeah. Yes.

Which is just, it breaks your brain. It just breaks your brain. And I don't think he's going to. Short, short games in the Olympics. Yeah. That's what's saying. The U.S. I'm going to say, we need something.

Right now. Lakers at the jazz for the next game. Well, good news. If statistics surfed and played electric guitar, this would be the segment they would love. These stats are cool. Patrick Mahomes preparing for the Colts who have the best offense in the league.

What's up with the Chiefs offense? Let's find out on the coolest segment with stats, pack stats. Do you think I need to execute a trade? Like, was Wilde's all in on the cell there? If it being cool, it's cool. Here's the thing, Parker. And I don't, don't take this the wrong way.

I don't think you have anything he wants. Yeah. Stat number one. That hurt a little bit. I had the trumpeteers. I'm sorry. That's true. You have Chicago Bears.

All right, all right. All right. All right. All right. An answer for this one, Mr. Kansas City Chiefs. The deep ball for Patrick Mahomes wants a strength has become a legitimate problem. I buy this. Patrick Mahomes has the second most deep ball attempts in the NFL at 44.

Yet he has the second fewest touchdowns on deep ball attempts if you've thrown at least 20 of them. One touchdown on 44 attempts. There's a passer rating stat coming later, but the passer rating is also not good for Mahomes on the deep ball. And if you just want to see the company that he keeps here in terms of quantity of deep balls with that little production, I don't like that. It's J.J. McCarthy and Cam Ward, and he's got the receivers, and he's got the offensive line. So because I don't have anything to offer Wilds, I will bite his style here and say, hey, what's going on?

So listen, I think, so my answer is multi-layered. I think some of it is bad luck in this regard. He had the, I forget which game, the bomb to Hollywood Brown that was caught, that Hollywood Brown then got tackled at the two. So that's, you know, in this last game, the 60 yarder to Tyquan Thornton, where he's then tackled at the eight. So there, you know, some of it is circumstantial. Passer rating of 71 on deep balls.

Right. Which would be obviously greatly helped if those were touchdowns. No doubt. No doubt. But what he also has is what you saw there, which is some misses. Like the, I think the one touchdown on deep balls was Tyquon Thornton and the Giants game, which came right after, it might not have been the Giants game, might have been the Eagles game. I don't know. It came right after he had missed him. Remember, Brew? It was the Eagles game. He missed a guy

wide open. And then, Brady killed him for it fairly. And then he hit it the very next one. He has missed some of these, or more than usual. He missed the open of that game. Xavier Worthy has the corner cooked. And Pat just didn't put enough underneath it. And so, So I, yeah, I mean, I think it is not to me something that I think he, you know, is not going to get back to, but it certainly has not been good this year. Brew, can I tell you something? Yeah. No analysis whatsoever, just gut. When he rears back on those, I used to be nervous.

And now I'm like, that's not going to be. Wow. No, I mean, am I the only. You saw the numbers. Look, he's obviously been able to throw the deep ball very well throughout his career. there were some of those Tyreek Hill touched those bombs were hill finding spate almost like Kelsey but 50 yards down the field you know they were off schedule the homes is scrambling they weren't some were but a lot of them weren't just dropping back and heaving it and you hit him in stride and so yeah I mean there's no question he's missing guys deep by a yard here there but it's enough to it was just such a thing before the year. It was such a huge story. We're going to throw the ball deep. And they are. To your point, they are. They've done it the second most. They're just not coming. That was cool. That was cool.

One for one. I got more in my briefcase. Excellent. Good. All right. I think Brew, because he's the Eagles guy, will like this one. Oh, wow. The Eagles, we should talk more about their defense. They got a habit of shutting down elite quarterbacks. Those guys in the picture, Baker, Gough, Stafford, Mahomes, DAC and J-Lo combined have a pass-a-rating of 74.1. Who had the best? Against the Eagles. Baker. Oh, wow.

Baker. It's a cute little player. No, he's a talented football player. He was a talented player. In a loss. But the Eagles defense has taken those six quarterbacks and given them that pass-a-rating. As a side note, Cam Ward's pass-a-rating this year? 73.8.

Oh. So the Eagles have basically turned those six top flight. guys who at some point this year, I think all of them, maybe not golf, have been on Bruce Ballot. The guys we talk about in the MVP context, basically have turned them into Cam Ward. That's phenomenal. And remember, a lot of that was those games were before they got Jalen Phillips. So their defense has been spectacular. And I think about the offense, and I'm not, they're not going to do it every game, but they can do just enough. Like they had to score 10 against Green Bay. They scored 10. They had to score 10. They had to score.

33 against or 30, you know, against the Rams, they did it. So I feel like that offense has shown us enough that they can rise to the occasion most of the time. And the defense is just getting better and better. So it's scary. Speaking of trades, you should start just considering. And you might be able to get a bidding war. This could be a seller's market. He doesn't want the Eagles.

He might. His pick was. Who's your own FCT? The lion. The lion's who he doesn't believe in. All of his lions believe is based on how good they used to be. Like, look at their numbers last year. They should have been at the Super Bowl.

They should have. You have the Packers. I have not fully given up on the Pack. W, I'm just telling you, you, these two guys seem to be a little more bullish about the Eagles than you. You might be able to work out something good. Flinching faith in Jalen Hertz. My galaxy brain take is the pass rush has been great. Quinyon Mitchell, his numbers are insane.

There's an element of conservative, there's a conservative nature to the offense now because the defense is so good. I wouldn't mind, because remember, I'm not a true Eagles guy, when you know, Hertz guy. I wouldn't mind if that got open a little bit. CD starts catches one.

And then we can force Jalen in the, not really force Jalen. Of course, Kevin Boutula open it up a little bit. That's the other part of it. Fun test for this. Yeah. Dack, how he looked this past week at home in a must-win spot for Dallas against Philly's defense. Pretty good.

Well, you couldn't care less about the Eagles. Oh, Jalen Hertz guy. Who does he play for? He plays for the Eagles. You're a QV wins guy. I would become a Broncos guy. I don't have much here, but the lights are down. Sorry, it's a cool segment.

This is this status so cool. This was redacted in the rundown. Redacted. My gosh. Because I had a Chiefs one for Nick and an Eagles one for you, but Wilds, the redacted stat is for you. And the number is 739. As in days since Drake May's last 300-yard game.

I watched this game. I was like, man, Drake May or Caleb Williams, top quarterback in the draft. It's a real debate for that class two years ago. It was incredible against Duke. But I just remember, everything you said about Aaron Rogers and everything you're trying to sell me on Drake May

who I do love by the way he's awesome but I mean 739 days Duke needs one is a real sealing needs one against the Bengals defense which is one of the two or three worst in the league it is an interesting stat thank you and I don't know if I would like him in love with this

stat because I would prefer an occasional like game that pops but when you watch Drake May he doesn't do a lot of of spectacular stuff. He does, he plays an excellent game. But we're not airing it out all the time.

We're, where it isn't, I don't quite have the analogy for it. Can I tell you what's happening here? Go ahead. Because I actually, I'm not, I know how closely you watch Drake May in the past. But I disagree with the analysis. I think he does do spectacular stuff. His deep ball numbers had been, had been phenomenal. I think this is probably subconsciously.

You are trying to get yourself to the take of. Drake May is playing the opposite style that everyone loves when Josh Allen plays. All this spectacular stuff, but the mistakes. And meanwhile, we are going to play a winning, smart, it can't go broke, taking a profit style. Yeah, we're not looking for empty yardage either. Oh, yeah. It's like, oh, wow.

Well, I don't know. We're in first place. I'm feeling pretty good. Like, whoa, you guess what you do? I ran 50 miles this week. You don't need to do that. You'd like to see him have one against Cincinnati, though, right? You'd like it to happen in the NFL at some point?

I wouldn't mind it. Okay. But when I was big on the Aaron Rogers thing, I thought it was an indicator that his arm wasn't what it used to be. Drake May is walking around with a horridor cannon on this thing right here. I think it's how it's sort of a good thing. That's that was cool. I'm on my cannon.

That stat was cool. I'll be honest with you. He might have been the valid Victorian of his choice. That's an oldie. That's what a question. Do you know it's not valid Victorian? I didn't know that. Did you not?

Well, you must have been a valid Victorian. So Patrick Mahomes met the media today. to talk five and five Chiefs and eight and two Colts, just like we all had it before the year. Lots of concern around the Chiefs after their loss to the Broncos last week for my homes. And I was able to confirm this by checking with the calendar. The season is not in fact over. Take a listen. You just know what's at stake.

And so you try to prepare yourself throughout the week and do the little extra stuff so that your mind can be set out on game day. And then you can go out there and just play knowing that you need to go out there and win the football game. and know we're going to play against her we're planning it's a really good football team that's playing great football right now and um it's a great opportunity at the end of the day like uh obviously we're five and five not where we want to be at um but we get the right the rest of this this season's story um and it starts this week with the colts at arrowhead and i'm excited for us to go out there and do it all right gregg mr colt you buying them a homes can and will bounce back on Sunday? I personally, I don't believe that they will bounce all the way back, but does he have

it in them to do it? Yeah, that's what that's when you are a Super Bowl champion, when you have the makeup that he has, this is a, this is a scary place for you to be in, but this is what you thrive off of. When your backs against a wall, when you are the ultimate competitor and you want to bet on self, which he always has done, you're five and five. You really have no room for error. Bet on self. And no, there is no other quarterback in this league that probably is more confident than Patrick Mahoney. I would hope so. I mean, it is what it is. And they might have better talent around them. It does not matter. He's been in the, the most challenging situations. about whether or not that he can be enough for the offense.

I don't personally believe that it's going to happen for them as it pertains to getting into the postseason. You think they're missing the playoffs? I do believe now that they're missing. Willie was in on this early in this early this season. Yeah, but I can't go back. I can't jump forward and go back. I just don't believe it's going to be enough. Yeah, we can't just go around the wind blows.

So you're in on the playoffs. I'm in on the playoffs. You have them missing. Yeah. I think one playing an arrowhead would be a big reset for this team. They need it. I agree with Greg. They don't have a talent issue.

This is a championship makeup, pedigree. Patrick Mahomes is arguably best quarterback in the NFL. But when you pop on the tape Sunday, their issue is red zone production. They are simply not getting it done. I got a graphic for you. You know, I love my graphics. I see what we get popping up right here. This is what they look like against the Broncos, right?

Four drives, three penalties. Every time they got in red zone, they had a penalty on first and second down, Whether it was Jujus hold or it was Juan Jennings, Taylor. I mean, it was issues all over the place. And you're talking about 21 points that potentially could have had if they would have executed in the red zone. They only came away with six. So you're talking about, yeah, can they make it?

Can they bounce back? Sure, if they clean this aspect of their game up. And because of who they are and what they've been through and what they continue to go through, we got to understand. This team was 0 and 2 to start the season. Oh, and 2. And I sat here and said, in the Dynasty, they put a whoop into the lines. I'm saying, okay, let me choke on my,

let me choke on my words. I still believe they can get into the playoffs, and I still believe they're dangerous enough team where they can rally and get back in this thing. Can, obviously, he can. No one is saying Mahomes can't play great football anymore. Right, right. When I was questioning the Chief's offense early in the year,

and it was, you know, worthy was injured, and Rice was suspended. I was like, man, I don't think that they can do it against Baltimore. And then they put up 37, and I know Worthy is. just come back. But like, they put up 37. And then you mentioned that lion's game. So, like, it's in there. It's just not consistent. And Nick and I argue about this all the time about, like, the sample size and how relevant it is in football. But, like, I do think that one of the things that's happening to the Chiefs is regression. Like, last year, they should not have been 15 and 2.

They should not have been undefeated in one score games. There were weird things that happen, blocked field goals and penalties and drops. It was just like everything was going their way. And this year, I don't really think they should be 0 in 5 in one score games. So I think that it's somewhere in the middle, and this isn't the most logically sound analysis, but I think they're just kind of due to win a close one. If you just think law of averages, they even out.

I will be very surprised if we come in here on Monday and the chiefs have a losing record, but I also was very surprised that they lost coming out of the buy against Denver. Yeah, look, this has been a team. You said it yesterday. They haven't been able to finish. Your graphic pretty much shows that in the red zone, that's when you have to finish. And it's not the other guys either.

Mahomes is a part of the problem as well. He's been bad at the last week. He admitted that too. Yeah, no question. Absolutely. And so I'm not saying, yes, I'm saying they're going to miss. And I'm saying this because they've pretty much. much been giving you their best shot.

Like we talked about once Worthy got back, oh, this offense is going to look better. Now everybody's in their rightful positions. Then it was Rashid Rice. They're going to be even better. Josh Simmons is back. And so it's how many more things do we need to go right for them to end up saying it's just not enough this year? Because I think the other teams have caught up and gotten better. And that's just the way it goes sometimes.

I don't disagree that other teams have caught up. But one of the things that was a big, I guess, not an issue, but something that popped off the tape was the fact that they were productive in the run game. When you don't have Isaiah Pacheco, and Corrine Hunt is pretty much a shell of himself, you're taking a good portion of your playbook away because that takes, that's more added pressure on Patrick Mahomes than the receiving corps to deliver. If they get Pacheco back and they can get him back to be somewhat of what he was during the championship run, then I think we'll have a better feeling about this chief's offense.

I don't have any reason to expect that, though. Thank you. Right. I do think that if they're going to win, it's going to be in the arm of Patrick Mahomes. Right. Like I will be, I will just be shocked if it's like, and now Pacheco after the broken leg from a year plus ago, whenever it was, like looks great.

Like, my guess is it's going to need to be Mahomes and Spagnolo and the Chief's defense. Like if we came in and they're like, man, Jonathan Taylor, 80 yards on 22 carries. great job by the Chiefs defense. Like, that's on the board. And I'll say this, and this is not like a conspiracy theory. Like the league has it in for Kansas City, but it's just like, I'm going to have to see eliminated next to their name. Like, I, and that is fair.

Like, because, yeah, like, I'll be like, maybe they'll put eight teams in the playoffs this year. You know, like, it's going to be very hard for me to believe until I actually see Wild Card weekend happen, and the Chiefs are in Cabo. Like, I'm going to just need to see it until I actually believe it. But this Colts game and a game, Cowboys game mean everything to them right now.

Every single game remaining on the schedule. But you can't lose to the Colts. Like this is a got to happen. When you're playing an Arrowhead, Arrowhead, however you said, excuse me. Arrowhead. And the crowd is rocking and it's cold and the barbecue in the air. Like there's something to you that has to deliver for your home fans. And they don't want to see an end of a dynasty and it's looking like right now.

This easily could be a playoff rematch, by the way. Easily could be. Six-three matchup. Tomorrow night, Bill's and Texans. C.J. Stroud is out. Bill's ruled out Dalton Kincaid, Nicole Hardeman, Curtis Samuel. Josh Allen, of course, is coming off his six touchdown performance against Tampa. He wasn't that impressed.

Here's Josh Allen. I don't, I, yeah, I didn't play too well. I don't think so. Obviously, in that second half, we got things rolling. The done boneheaded decision early on, trying not take a sack. And, you know, the one that Dawson, fourth down, trying to sneak one in there. those plays are happy. That first one just can't happen.

But there was a couple throws throughout the game that I just feel like I want back. All right. So the question is about expectations for Josh tomorrow. My expectations are that he will do enough to beat the Texans, though the Texans defense is great and they will present a challenge. I expect the bills to win the game. I'm curious how that hits you guys as a player. He's like, I didn't play that well.

I know he had a bad interception and I know there were a couple of turnovers. We had two picks in the first half. he had six touchdowns. It's like the old, like, if you want to like break it down to that movie where it's like, it's the only argument I need for Jordan over LeBron where he's got six and like, come on. He had six touchdowns. Like, do you think he really believes that he didn't play well? Yeah, 100%.

He had six touchdowns. Well, because this is it. Tomorrow night isn't about him put, you know, him putting on the cape into fireworks. Tomorrow is about him being efficient. C.J. Stroud is not playing in this game. If it takes a hercling effort for the Josh Allen and the bills to beat the Texans, that's concerning, right? Because for me, the issue right now is they're not able to run the ball at an efficient rate.

I got a graphic. Another one for you, Greg. I know you love my graphics. Graphic, man. Listen, they're 11 and 1 when James Cook rushes for over 100 yards. James Cook last game, only average three point a pop on the ground. So I'm talking to Josh Allen right now is you and Joe Brady. You got to find a way to get this man to football.

When he rushes for over 100 yards this season, they're 5 and 0. The bottom line is Josh Allen doesn't need to be that guy like he was Sunday. If he has to be this guy, that guy Sunday tomorrow night, that's a problem for the bills. That's where I would be concerned. Yeah, you wanted to clean up some of the things. But to answer your question, like as far as do I believe what he's saying, 100% I do. Because as a player, when you watch film, you don't go in there excited to see all the good things that you did. Like, don't get me wrong.

Don't get me wrong. I looked for my pancake. I did. You're going to see those things and you're going to feel good about them. But the things that last, the things that you walk away, kind of scratching your head about are the dumb plays. The plays that are missed, the opportunities that you left out there. Those are the ones that eat at you. No great player that I know of ever walks away, well, with the exception of probably LeBron James,

walks away and just, man, that was it. That was the game. Did you see I had six touchdowns? No, they're going to walk away saying, man, why? I shouldn't have done what I did. And at the goal line, I panicked. Like, you're going to be critical of yourself and of your play, and that's what makes them different. So I don't know that Houston's offense is enough to fully exploit it, but the thing I pushed back on what you were saying, Willie.

And I agree, obviously, James Cook in the running game is huge for them. But, like, I don't know that there's a solve coming for Buffalo's defense this year. Yeah. Like, I think Buffalo is going to give up points to good teams. So therefore, Josh Allen's going to need to be great to win shootouts. Yeah, I mean, they're horrible against the run. When they didn't make a transaction during the trade deadline and they didn't get a bee feeder that kind of plug those holes for them,

you know that was going to be an issue for them for the rest of this season. And I would imagine that seeps into Josh Allen's psyche of like, oh, I got to do a lot to overcome this thing. Yes, but again, he should have to do that against this team. He should not. Yeah, he should not. All the marks and Chubb. Davis Mills, Davis Mills. It could be a Davis Mills game.

Coming up, the Rams. They were number one on top 10 Tuesday. Are we in agreement? They're the most dangerous team in the NFL. Next on FTS. All right, I'm pumped to talk Rams with you guys here. They got the bucks on Sunday night in prime time. The last time Sean McVeigh played in the same game as Baker Mayfield was back in 2022,

when Baker was traded to the Rams and led them to a 17, 16 win over the Raiders. That was a crazy game when Baker came there in like the middle of the week and started basically right away. McVeigh talked about how Baker gave that team with Spark, and he's kind of compared it to Stafford giving this team of Spark. And we want to talk about how dangerous this Rams team is, whole season coming out of that Seattle game. And there's so many different things that impress me about them. And we've talked about Stafford as an MVP.

But like the totality of the team now, this is their profile. And I could go deeper than this, but this is pretty simple. Stafford is leading the league in touchdown passes. And their defense is second in points per game allowed. Right? So that's that, Stafford's got 27 touchdown passes. And they're allowing 17 points per game, is good for second most.

In NFL history, Super Bowl era, you combine those two things. And I don't know if this will trend for the whole season. Maybe they'll end up outside of the top two defensively, whatever the case may be. But it's only happened three other times where you've been able to combine those two things. Farrv won the Super Bowl in 96. Bradshaw won the Super Bowl in, what was it, 78. And never forget, Earl Morale, who lost the Super Bowl back in the 60s. It is such a tried and true formula of we've got a quarterback who produces and our defense doesn't give up points.

This team to me, to me, has to be number one atop everyone's power rankings right now because they just dominate on both sides of the ball. Look, you're spot on. And when you watch this team, what makes them so dangerous is when they get in the red zone, they are money good. They lead the league in red zone scoring attempts. And then they're second in the league in red zone scoring. and largely due to that quarterback and the acquisition of Devante Adams. And I got some footage here in the film to show you guys what makes this work. When you look at these, they're unselfish.

There is no Pugin'Koole on the field. 13 personnel, Devante Adams, man to man right here matched up good on good. That's what you want if you're Sean McVeigh. He has a skill set that is unmatched. You're going to identify if you're Matthew Stafford. Well, let's see what they're really in defensively. So the job that I have to do is made easier knowing it doesn't even need to be. Now you leave a guy who is electric at the line of scrimmage, Devante Adams,

and a quarterback that has vision like this with no one, no one in sight with all this field to play to make a throw. You beat the guy that you need to beat as a quarterback. You know he's going to win at the line of scrimmage. This is what makes this team such danger when they get inside the low red. They can run the ball because this is a run play, but you can't guard that. I don't care who you are in the national football league

with a condensed split. You believe that he's either going to run that fade. You don't think that he's going to go for an inside slant like that. These are the type of plays and the draw up schemes that makes this team very dangerous and hard to beat when they get in that low red area. Yeah, and Greg is right. I mean, it comes down to their scheme

in quarterback players what makes them elite. And you talk about the 13 personnel, three tight ends, one receiver, one running back. And what these tightens are doing from the Rams, they're putting so much stress on these safeties, right? And they're putting so much stress on these linebackers it's a mismatch, especially a matchup nightmare overall, what I'm trying to say.

But especially on the outside, like when you show Devante Adams, that's one-on-one, it's one of the hardest receivers in the lead to guard, bottom line. But I think when you put it all together and how they're playing on defense and staffing and their scheme, I love the fact that, yeah, they are elite, but there's one team, I put them, I put them right there over them. And that's the Philadelphia Eagles.

And that's just the bottom line. And it kills me to say it out loud. No, I mean, we saw the game. Yeah, it kills me to say it out loud, but the Eagles right now own the Rams. And anytime they put their foot in the middle of the ring and bang it out, it's always been the Eagles. So I love what the Rams are doing the offense. I love what they look like on defense. But the Eagles right now, especially the way they're playing on defense, man, you have to believe the number one team in the NFC is the Philadelphia Eagles.

Okay. And listen, they played, Philly got them. Yeah. We've seen it in the playoffs. I think that's totally fair. And maybe we'll see them again in the NFC playoffs and it would be a great game. What's impressed me about this Rams team is, you know, Les Sneed had that thing. Their general manager is like, F them picks, right?

Because he went all in for that Super Bowl. And he got it. And he got his Super Bowl. But then when he got picks, he, like, totally retooled their defense in one year. Immediately. Like, verse, a monster. Fisk, really good. Like, it's a really well-run organization that they're, like, they're older with, like, Devante and Stafford.

But it's like, oh, but he also, like, has the young pipeline of talent coming. The defense is great. The coach is great. Like, I don't know what I would say to the answer of, like, what's the Rams weakness? Unless it's just they can't beat the Eagles, which, okay, fine. But, you know, it feels like a complete operation. Yeah. And one of the things that you just, we gloss over is they had one of the best defensive

players that we've ever seen, retire. Right. When Aaron Donald retires. Aaron, Aaron Donald retires. And then it's like, well, they're going to be down at least defensively. But then they were able to retort. And they were for like a second. But it's because he has gotten these guys specifically offensively to buy in.

We know how good they are defensively. but offensively, when you can be as unselfish to have your best offensive weapon and Puka Nakua say, you know what, I'm on the sideline, Devante's in, and you understand if you're Sean McVeigh, we got, we brought him here because he has a unique skill set. And we're going to utilize that skill set like no one else has ever done in his career at the goal line the way that he does because we know he's a great route runner, but he's an even better releaseer at the line of scrimmage.

It's a match made in heaven when you pair that with Matthew Staff. And Luck plays a factor. I mean, the Rams went into this season praying that Matthew Staff was back, didn't go out of it. Sure. You know what I mean? And it's holding up. Right.

And it's holding up. He's been brief. And he might win an MVP. Correct. Caleb Williams coming up. Time now for first things last. I find myself in a tricky spot this week as a sports fan. Aaron Rogers has a broken bone in his non-threat.

throwing hand and is reportedly angling to play against the Bears. And I badly want him to. And I know that makes no sense because I also badly want the Bears to make the playoffs and a win on Sunday is more likely against Mason Rudolph than Rogers. But I don't care. Sometimes you have to give in to short-term desires knowing it's bad long term. That's why fast food is good business. And for this Bears fan, a win over Rogers would be as satisfying as a trip to the drive-through.

Aaron Rogers is an astounding 25-5 against the Bears. the Bears. He made Bears Packers into a rivalry the same way that a hammer has a rivalry with a nail. And I'm sure part of the reason Rogers wants to play is because he knows it. Back when he was a paltry 22 and 4 against the Bears, he famously taunted Chicago fans. This guy. And it hurt because it was true. He came into our house and told us that it was actually his. Rogers wins 80% of his games at Soldier Field, which is the best win percentage in Chicago for any quarterback with at least five starts and Rogers has 15. And it's historic dominance. Rogers's passer rating against the Bears is the highest of any quarterback in the league against any opponent with at least 25 starts against

that team. So why do I want him to play? The changing of the guard is a story mechanism that just works when Luke takes over for Obi-1, when MJ took the league from Magic and Larry. I want Caleb to take this from Rogers. And I know Rogers isn't in his prime and he obviously isn't a packer. But But with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, this is a new era of Chicago Bears football. And for Caleb specifically, based on how he's talked about Rogers in the past, I know it will mean a lot to him. I try to model my game after a bunch of guys, but Aaron Rogers, I would say, is number one. All right, and then who would your favorite NFL player be of all time?

Aaron Rogers. So maybe I'm setting myself up here for maximum pain and Rogers just gets one more win at his home away from home. But if Caleb can keep this magical season going and have Aaron Rogers' last game against the Bears be a loss and move him to 0-1 lifetime against Caleb, it would be the most satisfying win of the year. So give it a go, Aaron. You know you want to. That's all for me. Thanks so much for being with us on First Things First.

We're back tomorrow.